This past Sunday I preached out of John 6.1-21, the feeding of the 5,000 and the walking on water. At the end of the service we took communion. I hadn't really planned what I was going to say for it, I found myself in one of those situations where I just trusted God would give me something.He did, but sadly I can only remember bits and pieces of it.
The people wanted Jesus as their King because He had feed them. They saw in Him, someone who could meet their needs. They had no interest in His way or the plan of God, they simply wanted Him because He had filled their bellies with bread. And these same people who now wanted to make Him King, would in a little over a year cry out for His crucifixion. Jesus knew that they only way they could ever really be satisfied was to have His body be broken for their sin. He had to take the punishment that their sin, and ours, deserved. He allowed His body to be broken so the world could freedom from sin.
But it wasn't enough for sin to deal out it's punishment, it had to be paid for. For that His blood had to be shed. Death was the only thing that could pay for sin. Romans 6 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Jesus couldn't simply take the punishment for us, He had to purchase us back.
The cross was the whole reason that He came to earth. On Christmas Eve during college I did something most people probably wouldn't do. I watched The Passion of the Christ. It was during college that I finally began to get it. The cross what why Jesus came. Jesus came to be King, but not one who was elected by popular vote; He came to be crucified that way. He came not to compromise and save the world by becoming like the world; but to life the world up to His level, to call the world to a higher standard, a higher quality of life.
Jesus came so that we could have life abundantly (John 10.10). He came to earth to show us how God would have us to live, to show us what God is like, and to make it possible for us to live in relationship with Him. Jesus came to bring us back to God, and to help us live as God would live life.
As December begins and the countdown to Christmas really starts, let's not forget the real reason we celebrate this time. God came down to save a lost and dieing people. He came to take our punishment, to buy us back, and to transform us into the people He created us to Be. Jesus made it possible for us to be Holy, for us to be Christlike. That is what we celebrate when we take communion. That is what we remember at Christmas.
Peace be with you
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
What is Green?
Yesterday I got to sit with my mentor and pick his brain about a ministry situation. I hope that everyone has someone in their lives like my mentor. Whenever I leave His presence I feel uplifted and encouraged, yesterday I almost shed happy tears.
As I listened to his wisdom I the big thing that stuck out to me was him asking, "What do you see that is green?" What is there in this current situation that is alive and growing? Where is the greatest potential? Where is there life?
As he asked me the question I began to think about the different things that are going on. There is a lot of brown, things that aren't going anywhere but we refuse to trim the branches because they've been there for so long. But among the brown, there are a few green buds poking through.
The different things that I'm getting to do in the community. The couple teen boys I'm getting to pour into. There is green there. My wife had some other thoughts, some things she sees. There is green, there is life.
In your life what is green? It may be a single blade of grass in a massive field, but there is green. Pray that God will show it to you. The green is where He's working. As we seek to do ministry, the prayer of our heart needs to be, "God open our eyes to what You're already doing." My mentor said that we have two options, we can do our way and ask God to bless our plans or we can be blessed as we fulfill God's plan.
When God shows you the green, grab a bucket of water and a bag of fertilizer, and pour into it. Watch it grow, and watch the green take over.
As this year draws to a close, and we prepare to begin a new one, begin to ask God to open your eyes to where He is already working. Ask Him to show you His plan for you in 2012. Ask Him to help you find the green.
Peace be with you
As I listened to his wisdom I the big thing that stuck out to me was him asking, "What do you see that is green?" What is there in this current situation that is alive and growing? Where is the greatest potential? Where is there life?
As he asked me the question I began to think about the different things that are going on. There is a lot of brown, things that aren't going anywhere but we refuse to trim the branches because they've been there for so long. But among the brown, there are a few green buds poking through.
The different things that I'm getting to do in the community. The couple teen boys I'm getting to pour into. There is green there. My wife had some other thoughts, some things she sees. There is green, there is life.
In your life what is green? It may be a single blade of grass in a massive field, but there is green. Pray that God will show it to you. The green is where He's working. As we seek to do ministry, the prayer of our heart needs to be, "God open our eyes to what You're already doing." My mentor said that we have two options, we can do our way and ask God to bless our plans or we can be blessed as we fulfill God's plan.
When God shows you the green, grab a bucket of water and a bag of fertilizer, and pour into it. Watch it grow, and watch the green take over.
As this year draws to a close, and we prepare to begin a new one, begin to ask God to open your eyes to where He is already working. Ask Him to show you His plan for you in 2012. Ask Him to help you find the green.
Peace be with you
Monday, November 28, 2011
Thanksgiving and the Following days
There is a lot on my mind, this is going to be one of those blogs with a bunch of random thoughts.
My favorite day of the year is Thanksgiving. I love the time with my cousins. Its the one day of the year my paternal grandmother wants her whole family together. My grandma has been an incredible pillar of our family. She is the reason my cousins and I are so close. She's poured time into us. Many of my favorite childhood memories are around her kitchen table, in her backyard, basement, and living room, and all of them take place with the cousins that she made me be friends with. Because of my grandma, we enjoy time together, and soak up every moment we have.
But this year I began to notice a change. Time has passed and we're grown up. Four of us are now married, two have children. One won't come to anything due to family issues. Our conversations have changed from hopes and dreams of the future, to grown up conversations. Instead of playing games and building forts, we fall asleep on the floor watching football. We've changed, we've grown up, and I'm finding myself wanting to move in different directions.
I love my family, especially my cousins. But my wife and I have our own life now, and as we go down this road together it takes me in some ways, away from the traditions of the past. And I'm excited for the future with her. We've talked about traditions we want, about how we'd love to spend holidays in the future with our kids and friends; and I can't wait for them to happen. Time passes, and things change.
I think of Black Friday. A few times I've gone out, simply to get a good deal on what I got my sister for Christmas, or so my mom wouldn't have to go out to get something for my little brother at 4 am. But over the past few years I've grown to hate Black Friday. And this year I asked a question, What does God think of Black Friday?
I've been kicking it around in my mind for the last few days, and I don't know that I have an answer. Many people go out as I have in the past, to get good deals on gifts for others. But over the last year my view of stuff has changed. A year ago I was cleaning out foreclosed homes with my cousin and her husband. You see the stuff that people treasured in life, but had no where to take it when they lost the house. You see the stuff that had mattered, but not enough to keep when they had to leave, it's the stuff that didn't matter as much as the other stuff.
I don't want a bunch of stuff. As I get older I look at things I used to collect, things I used to think were really cool, or that I'd used forever. My in laws brought everything my wife owned to our house a few months ago. My parents have some boxes of my old stuff in their basement. Honestly part of me just wants to throw it all out. If I don't know what's in there, if I haven't needed it for the past seven years, then there is no way I'll miss it if I get rid of it now. I had looked through some of it before I moved because there was something I needed, and I found stuff I had forgotten I had. My wife and I are now looking at things we have and realizing we don't need it, that we don't want all of this stuff just sitting around.
Today I was reading in Genesis 26, and I saw this, "Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him" (vs 12-14). God made Isaac rich; He blessed him and gave him abundantly more than he ever could have needed. God does stuff like that. His blessings are so great that He gives us far more than we ever could need. God is rich, and He loves to bless those who are faithful to Him.
If God provides wealth, then it can't be a bad thing. Wealth and possessions in themselves aren't bad. The love of wealth is what is bad, as it says in 1 Timothy 6. The drive for more wealth, the focus on wealth instead of the giver of it; that is what is evil. And just because someone voluntarily lives in poverty it doesn't mean that they are righteous. Paul says in Philippians 4.19, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." God says in Malachi 3.10, "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,' says the LORD of hosts, 'if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.'" And as it says in Genesis 26, God blessed Isaac and made him rich.
We are blessed by God to bless others. God has given us wealth, let's be generous with it. If you don't think you're rich, watch the Nooma Video by Rob Bell titled, Rich. Let's look for ways to serve. This Christmas my wife and I are giving away stuffed animals. In college a buddy and I gave away roses to people in a nursing home on Valentines day. The church I am currently serving is going to be looking at child sponsorship. There are so many ways that we can bless others, God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing.
The random thoughts that I've just shared are the things that have been on my heart and in my head for the last few days. I guess these are the things that I've been convicted about, and the questions that I don't have the answers to.
My simple request of all who read this is that we would be a blessing to others. There is a song by a group called Nickelback, it's their only song I've ever heard, and they aren't a group I listen to, but the chorus this one song I think gets the idea.
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died
What if everyone cared? What if everyone loved? What if everyone shared? What if all of us were a blessing?
There is one other song by Brandon Heath, and the chorus says this,
Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Ask God to open your eyes to see through His. See how you have been blessed, and be a blessing to others.
Peace be with you
My favorite day of the year is Thanksgiving. I love the time with my cousins. Its the one day of the year my paternal grandmother wants her whole family together. My grandma has been an incredible pillar of our family. She is the reason my cousins and I are so close. She's poured time into us. Many of my favorite childhood memories are around her kitchen table, in her backyard, basement, and living room, and all of them take place with the cousins that she made me be friends with. Because of my grandma, we enjoy time together, and soak up every moment we have.
But this year I began to notice a change. Time has passed and we're grown up. Four of us are now married, two have children. One won't come to anything due to family issues. Our conversations have changed from hopes and dreams of the future, to grown up conversations. Instead of playing games and building forts, we fall asleep on the floor watching football. We've changed, we've grown up, and I'm finding myself wanting to move in different directions.
I love my family, especially my cousins. But my wife and I have our own life now, and as we go down this road together it takes me in some ways, away from the traditions of the past. And I'm excited for the future with her. We've talked about traditions we want, about how we'd love to spend holidays in the future with our kids and friends; and I can't wait for them to happen. Time passes, and things change.
I think of Black Friday. A few times I've gone out, simply to get a good deal on what I got my sister for Christmas, or so my mom wouldn't have to go out to get something for my little brother at 4 am. But over the past few years I've grown to hate Black Friday. And this year I asked a question, What does God think of Black Friday?
I've been kicking it around in my mind for the last few days, and I don't know that I have an answer. Many people go out as I have in the past, to get good deals on gifts for others. But over the last year my view of stuff has changed. A year ago I was cleaning out foreclosed homes with my cousin and her husband. You see the stuff that people treasured in life, but had no where to take it when they lost the house. You see the stuff that had mattered, but not enough to keep when they had to leave, it's the stuff that didn't matter as much as the other stuff.
I don't want a bunch of stuff. As I get older I look at things I used to collect, things I used to think were really cool, or that I'd used forever. My in laws brought everything my wife owned to our house a few months ago. My parents have some boxes of my old stuff in their basement. Honestly part of me just wants to throw it all out. If I don't know what's in there, if I haven't needed it for the past seven years, then there is no way I'll miss it if I get rid of it now. I had looked through some of it before I moved because there was something I needed, and I found stuff I had forgotten I had. My wife and I are now looking at things we have and realizing we don't need it, that we don't want all of this stuff just sitting around.
Today I was reading in Genesis 26, and I saw this, "Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him" (vs 12-14). God made Isaac rich; He blessed him and gave him abundantly more than he ever could have needed. God does stuff like that. His blessings are so great that He gives us far more than we ever could need. God is rich, and He loves to bless those who are faithful to Him.
If God provides wealth, then it can't be a bad thing. Wealth and possessions in themselves aren't bad. The love of wealth is what is bad, as it says in 1 Timothy 6. The drive for more wealth, the focus on wealth instead of the giver of it; that is what is evil. And just because someone voluntarily lives in poverty it doesn't mean that they are righteous. Paul says in Philippians 4.19, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." God says in Malachi 3.10, "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,' says the LORD of hosts, 'if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.'" And as it says in Genesis 26, God blessed Isaac and made him rich.
We are blessed by God to bless others. God has given us wealth, let's be generous with it. If you don't think you're rich, watch the Nooma Video by Rob Bell titled, Rich. Let's look for ways to serve. This Christmas my wife and I are giving away stuffed animals. In college a buddy and I gave away roses to people in a nursing home on Valentines day. The church I am currently serving is going to be looking at child sponsorship. There are so many ways that we can bless others, God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing.
The random thoughts that I've just shared are the things that have been on my heart and in my head for the last few days. I guess these are the things that I've been convicted about, and the questions that I don't have the answers to.
My simple request of all who read this is that we would be a blessing to others. There is a song by a group called Nickelback, it's their only song I've ever heard, and they aren't a group I listen to, but the chorus this one song I think gets the idea.
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died
What if everyone cared? What if everyone loved? What if everyone shared? What if all of us were a blessing?
There is one other song by Brandon Heath, and the chorus says this,
Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Ask God to open your eyes to see through His. See how you have been blessed, and be a blessing to others.
Peace be with you
Monday, November 21, 2011
Blessed to be a Blessing
Last night I had a rare opportunity as a Protestant minister to speak at a Catholic church for a community Thanksgiving service. Here I want to share some of the thoughts I gave last night.
As 2011 ends and we prepare to enter 2012 we, in America, must brace ourselves for the barrage of political campaigning that will take place. As in every American campaign there will be a phrase that we hear a lot because it has become politically correct to say, "God bless America." As I look around I can honestly say that God has blessed America. We enjoy many freedoms that other nations don't, as well as one of the highest standards of living anywhere in the world. God has blessed America. The question we need to ask is not how can God bless us more, but how can we be a blessing to others.
In the Bible when God blessed someone the intention was that they in turn would be a blessing to others. Genesis 12.1-3, "Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” I will bless you and you shall be a blessing. In you all the families of the earth will be blessed. That is how God works, through people.
We are blessed to be a blessing. The problem is that humans are selfish by nature. Some of our first words are "No!" and "Mine!" It is our tendency to take things that we are given and hoard them for ourselves, that's human nature. But Christian nature is selfless. It is the nature of a Christ follower to be generous and to bless others.
The secret to generosity is contentment. If we learn to be content, we will have no problem with giving things away. Paul tells us the secret of contentment in Philippians 4.11-13, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
The word Paul uses for contentment is autarkeia and the Greco-Roman audience he wrote to would have understood that word as being entirely self-sufficient. There was a philosophy known as Stoicism, and self-sufficiency was their highest goal. They believed that the will of God could not be stopped, and sometimes His will involved loss of possessions or the death of a loved one, both of these caused pain. TO avoid this pain of loss the Stoics tried to remove desire and emotion from their lives, they tried to be dependant upon nothing and no one. But this existence is one without relationships and love, so it ends up being lonely and in some ways just as painful.
Paul says to his audience that he has attained their highest goal; he has become content in all things. The stoics believe that this was a human achievement attained by self-discipline. Paul says to them, it isn't through anything I have done, it is a divine gift. Christ is the one who gives me strength to endure any circumstances I face. Paul knew that the only thing that mattered was Christ, and that nothing would ever be able to separate him from Christ. Because he had Christ and would always have Christ, Paul was content.
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, let us reflect on all of the ways we have been blessed. As we gather with family, or remember family who are no longer with us, let us find strength in the presence of Christ that is available to us. As we prepare to celebrate the Christmas season, let us look for ways to be a blessing to others. We have been richly blessed, let us be a blessing to others.
May Thanksgiving be the Ash Wednesday of Advent. May Advent be to Christmas what Lent is to Easter, a time of preparation and reflection, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. His presence is the greatest blessing we have been given. Let us take it and bless others.
Do you know how a life of being content and blessing others ends? Genesis 25.8, "Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people." Abraham was blessed by God and a blessing to others. He died satisfied with life. 2 Timothy 4.7-8, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." Paul was content with the presence of Christ in his life. He knew that he would stand in the very presence of Christ and receive the crown of righteousness.
Their ending can be yours as well. You can die satisfied with life. You can face death with the same words as Paul. Embrace the person of Jesus Christ. We have been greatly blessed, let us be a blessing.
Peace be with you
As 2011 ends and we prepare to enter 2012 we, in America, must brace ourselves for the barrage of political campaigning that will take place. As in every American campaign there will be a phrase that we hear a lot because it has become politically correct to say, "God bless America." As I look around I can honestly say that God has blessed America. We enjoy many freedoms that other nations don't, as well as one of the highest standards of living anywhere in the world. God has blessed America. The question we need to ask is not how can God bless us more, but how can we be a blessing to others.
In the Bible when God blessed someone the intention was that they in turn would be a blessing to others. Genesis 12.1-3, "Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” I will bless you and you shall be a blessing. In you all the families of the earth will be blessed. That is how God works, through people.
We are blessed to be a blessing. The problem is that humans are selfish by nature. Some of our first words are "No!" and "Mine!" It is our tendency to take things that we are given and hoard them for ourselves, that's human nature. But Christian nature is selfless. It is the nature of a Christ follower to be generous and to bless others.
The secret to generosity is contentment. If we learn to be content, we will have no problem with giving things away. Paul tells us the secret of contentment in Philippians 4.11-13, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
The word Paul uses for contentment is autarkeia and the Greco-Roman audience he wrote to would have understood that word as being entirely self-sufficient. There was a philosophy known as Stoicism, and self-sufficiency was their highest goal. They believed that the will of God could not be stopped, and sometimes His will involved loss of possessions or the death of a loved one, both of these caused pain. TO avoid this pain of loss the Stoics tried to remove desire and emotion from their lives, they tried to be dependant upon nothing and no one. But this existence is one without relationships and love, so it ends up being lonely and in some ways just as painful.
Paul says to his audience that he has attained their highest goal; he has become content in all things. The stoics believe that this was a human achievement attained by self-discipline. Paul says to them, it isn't through anything I have done, it is a divine gift. Christ is the one who gives me strength to endure any circumstances I face. Paul knew that the only thing that mattered was Christ, and that nothing would ever be able to separate him from Christ. Because he had Christ and would always have Christ, Paul was content.
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, let us reflect on all of the ways we have been blessed. As we gather with family, or remember family who are no longer with us, let us find strength in the presence of Christ that is available to us. As we prepare to celebrate the Christmas season, let us look for ways to be a blessing to others. We have been richly blessed, let us be a blessing to others.
May Thanksgiving be the Ash Wednesday of Advent. May Advent be to Christmas what Lent is to Easter, a time of preparation and reflection, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. His presence is the greatest blessing we have been given. Let us take it and bless others.
Do you know how a life of being content and blessing others ends? Genesis 25.8, "Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people." Abraham was blessed by God and a blessing to others. He died satisfied with life. 2 Timothy 4.7-8, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." Paul was content with the presence of Christ in his life. He knew that he would stand in the very presence of Christ and receive the crown of righteousness.
Their ending can be yours as well. You can die satisfied with life. You can face death with the same words as Paul. Embrace the person of Jesus Christ. We have been greatly blessed, let us be a blessing.
Peace be with you
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Fit for Service
2 Timothy 2.20, "Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor."
It's one of those verses I never really understood, and didn't really care to look at to find the meaning. But yesterday my study of 2 Timothy took me there.
The Church is a large house, consisting of a lot of people. And in the church there are people who are the real deal. Christians who truly can claim that title. Those who do everything out of a love for God, and desire nothing but to become more like Christ. Everything they do is done out of love for God and so that they can become more like Christ. These are the gold and silver vessels. They are fit to be used for the service of God, the greatest honor there is.
These people are the fine dishes that you use for the holidays and family gatherings. The best plates that you take care of, because they were handed down to you from your grandmother. These are the plates that you use for the special occasions, and make sure they don't chip or break, because they have history and meaning.
But then there are other dishes. The ones you use everyday that you bought at goodwill or a garage sale. These dishes if they break you notice, but it doesn't hurt you that it's gone. Not all people in the church are genuine. Some people don't live up to the name they claim.
I read somewhere that people don't live up to it because they don't really believe it. If we truly believe something we have to live by it, we can't just proclaim it. What we truly believe transforms us.But in the church there is a mixture of people, and some of them are simply proclaimers.
2 Timothy 2.21, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." This should be the goal for all member of the Church. To be cleansed from impurities to be used by God for service.
Barclay said this, "No Christian should ever think of being fit for honour but always being fit for service." The Church is to serve, the members of the Body of Christ are to serve.
May we become vessels of honor. Let our motivation be an unquenchable love for God and for others. Let us always be fit for service so that we can be used by the Master.
Peace be with you
It's one of those verses I never really understood, and didn't really care to look at to find the meaning. But yesterday my study of 2 Timothy took me there.
The Church is a large house, consisting of a lot of people. And in the church there are people who are the real deal. Christians who truly can claim that title. Those who do everything out of a love for God, and desire nothing but to become more like Christ. Everything they do is done out of love for God and so that they can become more like Christ. These are the gold and silver vessels. They are fit to be used for the service of God, the greatest honor there is.
These people are the fine dishes that you use for the holidays and family gatherings. The best plates that you take care of, because they were handed down to you from your grandmother. These are the plates that you use for the special occasions, and make sure they don't chip or break, because they have history and meaning.
But then there are other dishes. The ones you use everyday that you bought at goodwill or a garage sale. These dishes if they break you notice, but it doesn't hurt you that it's gone. Not all people in the church are genuine. Some people don't live up to the name they claim.
I read somewhere that people don't live up to it because they don't really believe it. If we truly believe something we have to live by it, we can't just proclaim it. What we truly believe transforms us.But in the church there is a mixture of people, and some of them are simply proclaimers.
2 Timothy 2.21, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." This should be the goal for all member of the Church. To be cleansed from impurities to be used by God for service.
Barclay said this, "No Christian should ever think of being fit for honour but always being fit for service." The Church is to serve, the members of the Body of Christ are to serve.
May we become vessels of honor. Let our motivation be an unquenchable love for God and for others. Let us always be fit for service so that we can be used by the Master.
Peace be with you
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Sphragis
My study of 2 Timothy has been slower, more interrupted, and less enjoyable than 1 Timothy due to these circumstances. But yesterday as I was reading through William Barclay on 2 Timothy 2.19 I came across an interesting Greek word.
"Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.'"
The word for seal is sphragis. Sphragis is a seal that proves ownership of something. A seal placed on a sack would show that the contents were genuine and hadn't been tampered with. It would show who the sack belonged to and where it came from. But the seal also had other uses. It would function as a brand name or trademark. A sphragis would be placed on a bottle of eye ointment to show what kind of ointment it was. A sphragis would also be used in architecture. The mark of the architect would always be placed on what was built, a monument, statue, or building, to show who was responsible for it's design, or the purpose that the structure had been built for.
The text says that the foundation of God has a seal. It declares who it belongs to, and the function that it exists for. In this it shows the content to be good and focused on what is good. The firm foundation of God is the church, the body of Christ. Scripture tells us that there are many members that make up the body (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12). God has marked the church with His sphragis declaring that we belong to Him.
But the seal also declares our function. We are to abstain from wickedness. We are to turn our back upon sin and face God and His righteousness. As we abstain from evil we move towards God. The church is made up of those who belong to God and strive for righteousness. We are not perfect in the church, but our focus is on God, and we are striving towards Him. Paul says it so well in Philippians 3.12-14,
"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Jesus Christ sealed us with His blood. When we accept it we belong to and are sealed as His. With this must come a life transformation. We are to abstain from wickedness and purse the things of God. Holiness, righteousness, Christlikeness. We are sealed as Gods, and must live lives that show who we belong to. The Lord knows those who are His, and those who claim to be His must live out what they claim.
Allow God to place His sphragis on you, live out the function that He created you for, Christlikeness.
Peace be with you
"Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.'"
The word for seal is sphragis. Sphragis is a seal that proves ownership of something. A seal placed on a sack would show that the contents were genuine and hadn't been tampered with. It would show who the sack belonged to and where it came from. But the seal also had other uses. It would function as a brand name or trademark. A sphragis would be placed on a bottle of eye ointment to show what kind of ointment it was. A sphragis would also be used in architecture. The mark of the architect would always be placed on what was built, a monument, statue, or building, to show who was responsible for it's design, or the purpose that the structure had been built for.
The text says that the foundation of God has a seal. It declares who it belongs to, and the function that it exists for. In this it shows the content to be good and focused on what is good. The firm foundation of God is the church, the body of Christ. Scripture tells us that there are many members that make up the body (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12). God has marked the church with His sphragis declaring that we belong to Him.
But the seal also declares our function. We are to abstain from wickedness. We are to turn our back upon sin and face God and His righteousness. As we abstain from evil we move towards God. The church is made up of those who belong to God and strive for righteousness. We are not perfect in the church, but our focus is on God, and we are striving towards Him. Paul says it so well in Philippians 3.12-14,
"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Jesus Christ sealed us with His blood. When we accept it we belong to and are sealed as His. With this must come a life transformation. We are to abstain from wickedness and purse the things of God. Holiness, righteousness, Christlikeness. We are sealed as Gods, and must live lives that show who we belong to. The Lord knows those who are His, and those who claim to be His must live out what they claim.
Allow God to place His sphragis on you, live out the function that He created you for, Christlikeness.
Peace be with you
Monday, November 14, 2011
Virus
I was at a seminar a few weeks ago and was told about a virus. The Luke 10.2b virus. It's a prayer based out of Luke 10.2, "And He was saying to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'"
How it works is you set an alarm on your phone to go off at 10:02 am everyday, and when it does you stop and pray that God will send you out into His harvest as a worker and that He will send other workers into the fields to work. For the last few weeks I've been doing this. For the last month I've been preaching on joining the work, discovering and using our Spiritual gifts, and working together to "re-build the walls". This past Sunday the message was out of John 5, the healing at the Pool of Bethesda.
In this story Jesus commands the man who has been laying there for 38 years to get up and walk. He is healed, stands and walks by God's power, but he still had to stand up and walk. God doesn't call the equipped, they don't see the need to trust Him. Instead God equips those He calls. When God calls you to a task He will empower you to do it. When God tells you stand up and walk for the first time in 38 years, He will strengthen you to do it. When God calls us to do the impossible He will give us the power to do it, but we've got to be willing to take that first step of faith and trust that He will come through.
We are all called to serve. We are all called to be laborers in the great harvest. Catch the virus, set your phone alarm for 10:02, and each day, "beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Spread the virus. When your phone goes off and people ask you what's up, tell them about Luke 10.2. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;" spread the virus.
God has a great work that needs to be done, the workers are few, will you join them? Catch the virus, spread it, join the work.
Peace be with you
How it works is you set an alarm on your phone to go off at 10:02 am everyday, and when it does you stop and pray that God will send you out into His harvest as a worker and that He will send other workers into the fields to work. For the last few weeks I've been doing this. For the last month I've been preaching on joining the work, discovering and using our Spiritual gifts, and working together to "re-build the walls". This past Sunday the message was out of John 5, the healing at the Pool of Bethesda.
In this story Jesus commands the man who has been laying there for 38 years to get up and walk. He is healed, stands and walks by God's power, but he still had to stand up and walk. God doesn't call the equipped, they don't see the need to trust Him. Instead God equips those He calls. When God calls you to a task He will empower you to do it. When God tells you stand up and walk for the first time in 38 years, He will strengthen you to do it. When God calls us to do the impossible He will give us the power to do it, but we've got to be willing to take that first step of faith and trust that He will come through.
We are all called to serve. We are all called to be laborers in the great harvest. Catch the virus, set your phone alarm for 10:02, and each day, "beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Spread the virus. When your phone goes off and people ask you what's up, tell them about Luke 10.2. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;" spread the virus.
God has a great work that needs to be done, the workers are few, will you join them? Catch the virus, spread it, join the work.
Peace be with you
Friday, November 11, 2011
Not Home
Last Friday my wife and I went up to Michigan for the day. It was the first out of state trip we've taken since our honeymoon. We got up at 3:30am and drove five hours to Frankenmuth, MI, the home of Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, the world's largest Christmas store.
As we drove I passed things that held memories. I passed Cabela's, our final destination in Michigan, and thought of the time Casey and I got up at 6:30 and drove an hour and a half just to be two of the first 50 people in the store to get a free $20 stainless steel coffee mug. We passed exit 84 on route 23, the exit Casey, Colin and I had to push the car to when we ran out of gas on the high way coming back from another Cabela's trip. Exit 90 was where I used to get off to get to my apartment. Exit 117 was where I would go to meet with a group of youth pastors every Thursday morning, and the exit I took to go to Steve's, my hunting buddy's, house.
We spent a few hours in Frankenmuth, it was great to see my wife like she was, all excited like a five year old on Christmas morning, seeing her face when she saw the countless different ornaments, and the lights. We had a great time.
On the way back we stopped in Flint/Burton/Grand Blanc, where I had lived and ministered for ten months. We drove by the church I used to work at. I don't know what I was expecting to feel when I got there, it was the first time I'd been back since I left last October. Honestly though, I felt nothing. No feeling of being home, it felt kind of foreign, almost as if I'd never been there.
We went and got a pizza from Benito's, and then to Tropical Smoothie (just because they have kiwi and Robeck's doesn't), and then headed to Cabela's and then home. I'd remembered everything, exactly how to get everywhere I used to go, but it all felt strange. Whenever I go back to other places I've served, (Bedford, Mount Vernon etc.) it feels like going home. Even though things have changed, things are added other things are missing, it still feels familiar, warm and inviting. But Flint didn't have that feel.
Flint was never home. I love the teens and the young adults I got to do ministry with. I loved the youth pastors I got to spend time with, but never had Flint become home, never had I really been accepted and welcomed into the family there.
I took many lessons from my time there, and I honestly know that those lessons are the reason God sent me to Michigan. They were things I wouldn't have learned at home in Mount Vernon or at Bedford. Flint was part of my wilderness experience, a time of wondering and learning from God. It was hard, it was draining, and it hurt, but it was only temporary.
Our time in the wilderness is crucial, it's where we learn to depend on God, to rely upon Him for our very survival. He's the only one who got me through my time in Michigan. When I moved there I was alone except for Him, and most of the time I was up there He was all I had. He gave me some people who helped bandage some of the wounds I received, and He'll do that for all us in our time in the wilderness. But a majority of it has to be simply us and Him. I've never felt as alone as I did in Michigan (taking nothing away from the true friends I made there, I love and thank you all), God really was all I had most of that time.
When I sat to write this I didn't really know where it was going. I don't know who needs this, but just know that in your wilderness time, when it feels like you're all alone, God is there. I've started to notice that at stages of life there is a verse I constantly have to go back to. Right now it's 1 Timothy 4.12, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." For Michigan, the verse was Joshua 1.9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Whatever your Wilderness/Michigan experience is, be strong and courageous. Do not tremble and don't be dismayed. The Lord YOUR God is with you wherever you go.
Peace be with you
As we drove I passed things that held memories. I passed Cabela's, our final destination in Michigan, and thought of the time Casey and I got up at 6:30 and drove an hour and a half just to be two of the first 50 people in the store to get a free $20 stainless steel coffee mug. We passed exit 84 on route 23, the exit Casey, Colin and I had to push the car to when we ran out of gas on the high way coming back from another Cabela's trip. Exit 90 was where I used to get off to get to my apartment. Exit 117 was where I would go to meet with a group of youth pastors every Thursday morning, and the exit I took to go to Steve's, my hunting buddy's, house.
We spent a few hours in Frankenmuth, it was great to see my wife like she was, all excited like a five year old on Christmas morning, seeing her face when she saw the countless different ornaments, and the lights. We had a great time.
On the way back we stopped in Flint/Burton/Grand Blanc, where I had lived and ministered for ten months. We drove by the church I used to work at. I don't know what I was expecting to feel when I got there, it was the first time I'd been back since I left last October. Honestly though, I felt nothing. No feeling of being home, it felt kind of foreign, almost as if I'd never been there.
We went and got a pizza from Benito's, and then to Tropical Smoothie (just because they have kiwi and Robeck's doesn't), and then headed to Cabela's and then home. I'd remembered everything, exactly how to get everywhere I used to go, but it all felt strange. Whenever I go back to other places I've served, (Bedford, Mount Vernon etc.) it feels like going home. Even though things have changed, things are added other things are missing, it still feels familiar, warm and inviting. But Flint didn't have that feel.
Flint was never home. I love the teens and the young adults I got to do ministry with. I loved the youth pastors I got to spend time with, but never had Flint become home, never had I really been accepted and welcomed into the family there.
I took many lessons from my time there, and I honestly know that those lessons are the reason God sent me to Michigan. They were things I wouldn't have learned at home in Mount Vernon or at Bedford. Flint was part of my wilderness experience, a time of wondering and learning from God. It was hard, it was draining, and it hurt, but it was only temporary.
Our time in the wilderness is crucial, it's where we learn to depend on God, to rely upon Him for our very survival. He's the only one who got me through my time in Michigan. When I moved there I was alone except for Him, and most of the time I was up there He was all I had. He gave me some people who helped bandage some of the wounds I received, and He'll do that for all us in our time in the wilderness. But a majority of it has to be simply us and Him. I've never felt as alone as I did in Michigan (taking nothing away from the true friends I made there, I love and thank you all), God really was all I had most of that time.
When I sat to write this I didn't really know where it was going. I don't know who needs this, but just know that in your wilderness time, when it feels like you're all alone, God is there. I've started to notice that at stages of life there is a verse I constantly have to go back to. Right now it's 1 Timothy 4.12, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." For Michigan, the verse was Joshua 1.9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Whatever your Wilderness/Michigan experience is, be strong and courageous. Do not tremble and don't be dismayed. The Lord YOUR God is with you wherever you go.
Peace be with you
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Full Armor of God
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6.10-12.
My favorite book is Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. I just finished it for the third time. In it he talks about the heart of a man. He looks at how God created us and the longings of our heart. Inside the heart of every man there are two questions and three desires.
The questions: "Am I dangerous?" "Do I have what it takes?"
The desires: A battle fight, a beauty to rescue, an adventure to live
The armor of God is crucial for a man to put on. It is only with His armor that our desires are able to be fulfilled, the longings satisfied. Only with the armor of God on me am I ready for battle. Only when I am dressed in my God given armor am I able to storm the castle, slay the dragon, and rescue the princess. Only when I am covered with God's armor am I ready to set out on this adventure of life.
It is only when I am covered with the equipment that God gives me that I am able to not only endure the hardships of life, but victoriously conquer them through His strength and power. I can't have just part of the armor, I need each piece or part of me is left vulnerable. All of the armor is connected, each piece works with the others for the purpose of winning the battle. It is armor that is just for us, fitted to us, so that we can move with ease. It is armor that is ours to train with, to learn how it works and how to use it. It is armor that we must always have on so that we are ready for any attack at any time.
God wants us to be ready. He doesn't want us to be caught off guard, and so He has equipped us for combat. You are dangerous, and you have what it takes. Receive the armor that He offers you. Wear it, train with it, learn how to use it. And then join the battle. Suit up, it's time to march.
Peace be with you
My favorite book is Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. I just finished it for the third time. In it he talks about the heart of a man. He looks at how God created us and the longings of our heart. Inside the heart of every man there are two questions and three desires.
The questions: "Am I dangerous?" "Do I have what it takes?"
The desires: A battle fight, a beauty to rescue, an adventure to live
The armor of God is crucial for a man to put on. It is only with His armor that our desires are able to be fulfilled, the longings satisfied. Only with the armor of God on me am I ready for battle. Only when I am dressed in my God given armor am I able to storm the castle, slay the dragon, and rescue the princess. Only when I am covered with God's armor am I ready to set out on this adventure of life.
It is only when I am covered with the equipment that God gives me that I am able to not only endure the hardships of life, but victoriously conquer them through His strength and power. I can't have just part of the armor, I need each piece or part of me is left vulnerable. All of the armor is connected, each piece works with the others for the purpose of winning the battle. It is armor that is just for us, fitted to us, so that we can move with ease. It is armor that is ours to train with, to learn how it works and how to use it. It is armor that we must always have on so that we are ready for any attack at any time.
God wants us to be ready. He doesn't want us to be caught off guard, and so He has equipped us for combat. You are dangerous, and you have what it takes. Receive the armor that He offers you. Wear it, train with it, learn how to use it. And then join the battle. Suit up, it's time to march.
Peace be with you
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Dressed and Ready for Battle
We're suited up, covered and armed with the full Armor of God. We are surrounded by truth, protected by righteousness and salvation, ready to move with peace, and armed with faith and the Word. Here is a warrior who is ready to "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." as Paul said in 2 Timothy 2.3. We are ready to march out and meet the enemy, confident that our armor and weapons are ready to go to work.
But there is one final element that we must add before we charge the front lines of the enemy. Ephesians 6.18, "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," Prayer, our communication with our General. It is no good marching into battle if we have no communication from the one giving the lifesaving orders.
Paul tells us that prayer must be constant, not simply in our moment of greatest need. I think of the story of Elijah on Mt. Horeb. God tells him to go stand on the mountain because He is passing by. There is a wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in any of those incredible, powerful forces. Instead there is a gentle blowing, a still small voice, a quite whisper that God is in. In the midst of chaos and noise if you haven't heard the voice of God, if you don't know the voice of God, you won't be able to pick it out. But if we are like Elijah, spending constant time alone with God, where we know Him intimately, where we know His voice distinctly from all others, then even in the thickest battle we'll be able to hear His guidance and instruction.
Secondly, our prayer must be intense and focused. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5.8 that we must be self-controlled and alert because our enemy the devil is prowling like a lion, looking to devour us. Our prayers must be intentional, our prayer time must be something we covet and guard. We must be selfish about it, and let nothing distract us from it. Our prayers must be heart felt, not simple half-hearted, repetitive prayers we've been saying since we were five. Our prayers need to be communicating the deepest hurts and needs on our hearts to God. We must be focused on who we're talking with so that we can hear what He says in return.
Lions go for the animal that is off by itself, straggling behind, not paying attention. We must be focused in our lives, intentionally focused on God ready for battle at all times. But we must also make sure we don't get alone. I've talked about Spartans a lot recently, and a single Spartan is a force to be reckoned with. A single Spartan can do more than hold his own in a fight. But a single Spartan is nothing compared to that Spartan standing beside his brothers in the phalanx.
Third, we must pray for and with others. We must pray for those who are fighting beside us. We must pray for those who are fighting on another battlefield. No matter how strong we are, we cannot fight this war, we cannot win this battle on our own. We must have each other’s backs at all times. We must pray for others as they fight this battle with us.
Prayer is part of our preparation for battle; it's how we suit up. Prayer is part of what sustains us in battle; it's our communication with the General for instruction and encouragement. Let us pray, and let us firmly stand our ground, dressed in the full Armor of God, ready for battle.
Peace be with you
But there is one final element that we must add before we charge the front lines of the enemy. Ephesians 6.18, "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," Prayer, our communication with our General. It is no good marching into battle if we have no communication from the one giving the lifesaving orders.
Paul tells us that prayer must be constant, not simply in our moment of greatest need. I think of the story of Elijah on Mt. Horeb. God tells him to go stand on the mountain because He is passing by. There is a wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in any of those incredible, powerful forces. Instead there is a gentle blowing, a still small voice, a quite whisper that God is in. In the midst of chaos and noise if you haven't heard the voice of God, if you don't know the voice of God, you won't be able to pick it out. But if we are like Elijah, spending constant time alone with God, where we know Him intimately, where we know His voice distinctly from all others, then even in the thickest battle we'll be able to hear His guidance and instruction.
Secondly, our prayer must be intense and focused. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5.8 that we must be self-controlled and alert because our enemy the devil is prowling like a lion, looking to devour us. Our prayers must be intentional, our prayer time must be something we covet and guard. We must be selfish about it, and let nothing distract us from it. Our prayers must be heart felt, not simple half-hearted, repetitive prayers we've been saying since we were five. Our prayers need to be communicating the deepest hurts and needs on our hearts to God. We must be focused on who we're talking with so that we can hear what He says in return.
Lions go for the animal that is off by itself, straggling behind, not paying attention. We must be focused in our lives, intentionally focused on God ready for battle at all times. But we must also make sure we don't get alone. I've talked about Spartans a lot recently, and a single Spartan is a force to be reckoned with. A single Spartan can do more than hold his own in a fight. But a single Spartan is nothing compared to that Spartan standing beside his brothers in the phalanx.
Third, we must pray for and with others. We must pray for those who are fighting beside us. We must pray for those who are fighting on another battlefield. No matter how strong we are, we cannot fight this war, we cannot win this battle on our own. We must have each other’s backs at all times. We must pray for others as they fight this battle with us.
Prayer is part of our preparation for battle; it's how we suit up. Prayer is part of what sustains us in battle; it's our communication with the General for instruction and encouragement. Let us pray, and let us firmly stand our ground, dressed in the full Armor of God, ready for battle.
Peace be with you
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Piece 6: Sword
Ephesians 6.17b, "and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." The sword Paul is talking about is the Roman gladius. It's the sword carried by Maximus in Gladiator, and in this one case I choose the Roman weapon over the Spartan xiphos. The gladius was slightly longer, and very effective in combat. When combined with a shield, it's a great weapon.
The sword is a weapon both for offense and defense. It blocks and deflects incoming attacks, but it also enables the wielder to strike back. The sword is a crucial piece of the armor. It must be cared for, it must be sharpened and polished so it is kept ready for the fight.
The Bible refers to the Word of God as a sword. In Hebrews 4.12 it says, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." The gladius had an edge on each side of the blade, it was sharp, it penetrated whoever got in the way of the blade. It was an effective tool for battle.
We are in a spiritual battle with Satan. And God has not simply given us defensive protection, but He has equipped us to be able to go on the offensive. He's given us a sword to use in combat. The Bible is our weapon.
Jesus showed us how to use it in combat against Satan in Matthew 4. Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tested, and after forty days of fasting Satan brings the assault. He attacks Jesus identity, and tries to get Jesus to stumble. But look at each of Jesus' responses, "Jesus answered, 'It is written:'... Jesus answered him, 'It is also written:'... Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written:'..." (Matthew 4.4a, 7a, 10a). With each attack Jesus wields Scripture. He blocks each attack and then attacks back and puts Satan to flight.
We cannot win a battle without a sword. We cannot win a Spiritual battle that is waged against God, and those who serve Him, without God's sword. Scripture memorization is a Spiritual discipline that seems to have fallen by the wayside in past years. One pastor friend suggested that the reason for this is possibly the number of translations that are in print today. There are so many ways to word each verse that there is no standard translation of memorization. But we must discipline ourselves to memorize scripture.
Here are some suggestions that I have. Find a translation that you like and understand. Note that The Message is not a translation, but a paraphrase. It's great for reading but for memorization use a translation that breaks up the verses. There are many so find one you that you understand. I use the NASB because it's the most literal translation of the text.
Second, take a few verses at a time. Don't set out to memorize an entire book the first week, you'll get overwhelmed and probably give up. But a few verses at a time, and over time you will have the entire book memorized. My suggestion is as you read make notes of the main verses of the chapter. Read and re-read it until you see the theme and can identify the main verse in that section, and memorize that. As you do this, you'll be able to identify the different themes of the different chapters of the Bible.
Third, find a good way to review. One way I've found that helps is writing each verse on a 3x5 index card. Put the reference in the top left and bottom right corners and in the lines of the card break up the verse by punctuation. Put one phase per line, and memorize the verse phrase by phrase.
Here's an example.
In church we're working through John, and each week I pick out the main verse from the text I'm preaching on. This week it was John 4.50
John 4.50
Jesus said to him,
"Go; your son lives."
The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.
John 4.50
The nice thing with index cards is that they are easy to stack and are easy to review with. We need to memorize as many verses as possible. If you remember from Gladiator, Maximus doesn't just have one sword when he goes into battle. The first sword, the one he carries on his belt, gets stuck in a tree after he attacks an opponent. You think, "Dang, what now?" And then he pulls out a second sword that is strapped to his horse and continues the battle. The more vereses we have memorized the more swords we have available for the battle. Jesus had many swords at his disposal, not simply John 3.16 and Genesis 1.1, those wouldn't have done much in His wilderness battle. The more swords we have available, the better equipped we are for combat.
Secondly, we have to keep our swords ready for battle. They need to stay polished and sharp. A dull blade isn't much use in battle. We need to review the verses we have memorized. After a while you'll notice that you spend more time reviewing than memorizing new verses, this is a good thing. It means we've learned the Word of God, that it's "Hidden in our hearts" as the Psalmist says.
I'll admit, this is an area I'm working on, Scripture memorization is something I've slacked at recently. But the steps I've just shared with you are my plan to memorize verses. We cannot march into battle with no sword, God has given us the most powerful weapon ever, lets train with it, learn how to use it, and then take the fight to the enemy.
We are protected by Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, and Salvation. Let's take up our swords, and take the battle to the enemy. Suit up, prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
The sword is a weapon both for offense and defense. It blocks and deflects incoming attacks, but it also enables the wielder to strike back. The sword is a crucial piece of the armor. It must be cared for, it must be sharpened and polished so it is kept ready for the fight.
The Bible refers to the Word of God as a sword. In Hebrews 4.12 it says, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." The gladius had an edge on each side of the blade, it was sharp, it penetrated whoever got in the way of the blade. It was an effective tool for battle.
We are in a spiritual battle with Satan. And God has not simply given us defensive protection, but He has equipped us to be able to go on the offensive. He's given us a sword to use in combat. The Bible is our weapon.
Jesus showed us how to use it in combat against Satan in Matthew 4. Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tested, and after forty days of fasting Satan brings the assault. He attacks Jesus identity, and tries to get Jesus to stumble. But look at each of Jesus' responses, "Jesus answered, 'It is written:'... Jesus answered him, 'It is also written:'... Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written:'..." (Matthew 4.4a, 7a, 10a). With each attack Jesus wields Scripture. He blocks each attack and then attacks back and puts Satan to flight.
We cannot win a battle without a sword. We cannot win a Spiritual battle that is waged against God, and those who serve Him, without God's sword. Scripture memorization is a Spiritual discipline that seems to have fallen by the wayside in past years. One pastor friend suggested that the reason for this is possibly the number of translations that are in print today. There are so many ways to word each verse that there is no standard translation of memorization. But we must discipline ourselves to memorize scripture.
Here are some suggestions that I have. Find a translation that you like and understand. Note that The Message is not a translation, but a paraphrase. It's great for reading but for memorization use a translation that breaks up the verses. There are many so find one you that you understand. I use the NASB because it's the most literal translation of the text.
Second, take a few verses at a time. Don't set out to memorize an entire book the first week, you'll get overwhelmed and probably give up. But a few verses at a time, and over time you will have the entire book memorized. My suggestion is as you read make notes of the main verses of the chapter. Read and re-read it until you see the theme and can identify the main verse in that section, and memorize that. As you do this, you'll be able to identify the different themes of the different chapters of the Bible.
Third, find a good way to review. One way I've found that helps is writing each verse on a 3x5 index card. Put the reference in the top left and bottom right corners and in the lines of the card break up the verse by punctuation. Put one phase per line, and memorize the verse phrase by phrase.
Here's an example.
In church we're working through John, and each week I pick out the main verse from the text I'm preaching on. This week it was John 4.50
John 4.50
Jesus said to him,
"Go; your son lives."
The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.
John 4.50
The nice thing with index cards is that they are easy to stack and are easy to review with. We need to memorize as many verses as possible. If you remember from Gladiator, Maximus doesn't just have one sword when he goes into battle. The first sword, the one he carries on his belt, gets stuck in a tree after he attacks an opponent. You think, "Dang, what now?" And then he pulls out a second sword that is strapped to his horse and continues the battle. The more vereses we have memorized the more swords we have available for the battle. Jesus had many swords at his disposal, not simply John 3.16 and Genesis 1.1, those wouldn't have done much in His wilderness battle. The more swords we have available, the better equipped we are for combat.
Secondly, we have to keep our swords ready for battle. They need to stay polished and sharp. A dull blade isn't much use in battle. We need to review the verses we have memorized. After a while you'll notice that you spend more time reviewing than memorizing new verses, this is a good thing. It means we've learned the Word of God, that it's "Hidden in our hearts" as the Psalmist says.
I'll admit, this is an area I'm working on, Scripture memorization is something I've slacked at recently. But the steps I've just shared with you are my plan to memorize verses. We cannot march into battle with no sword, God has given us the most powerful weapon ever, lets train with it, learn how to use it, and then take the fight to the enemy.
We are protected by Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, and Salvation. Let's take up our swords, and take the battle to the enemy. Suit up, prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Piece 5: Helmet
Ephesians 6.17a, "And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION,"
It says "take" that word can also mean "accept". A soldier would accept his helmet from the officer in charge of distributing the armor. We accept salvation from God. It is nothing we do to earn it, but God freely gives it to us. He hands us salvation as we prepare to march into battle.
Salvation is being freed from sin. It is protection from the past, and it is assurance to march forward into the future. The helmet offers protection to the head during combat. Salvation is to guard our minds.
When Christ forgives us, when He sets us free, we receive salvation. John 8.36 says, "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." When Christ sets us free, we are free. We can be assured of our salvation, and our minds are to be guarded by that assurance. The assurance gives us protection so we don't give up the fight. We march forward confident of the salvation we have received from God, knowing that nothing can take it away from us. John 10.28, "and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
Salvation is ours in Christ. It gives us strength to overcome the temptations and sin we face in the future. The assurance of salvation gives us the confidence to fight, knowing that we are in the hands of Christ, and nothing can take us from Him. Salvation is our helmet.
Salvation is forgiveness and freedom, it is assurance that comes from faith in Christ and what He has done for us. Faith is strengthened through the peace God gives us through the message of His Gospel. We receive the peace of God when we have enter into a relationship with Him, and we do that by coming to Him through truth. Put on the armor; receive your helmet, and prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
It says "take" that word can also mean "accept". A soldier would accept his helmet from the officer in charge of distributing the armor. We accept salvation from God. It is nothing we do to earn it, but God freely gives it to us. He hands us salvation as we prepare to march into battle.
Salvation is being freed from sin. It is protection from the past, and it is assurance to march forward into the future. The helmet offers protection to the head during combat. Salvation is to guard our minds.
When Christ forgives us, when He sets us free, we receive salvation. John 8.36 says, "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." When Christ sets us free, we are free. We can be assured of our salvation, and our minds are to be guarded by that assurance. The assurance gives us protection so we don't give up the fight. We march forward confident of the salvation we have received from God, knowing that nothing can take it away from us. John 10.28, "and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
Salvation is ours in Christ. It gives us strength to overcome the temptations and sin we face in the future. The assurance of salvation gives us the confidence to fight, knowing that we are in the hands of Christ, and nothing can take us from Him. Salvation is our helmet.
Salvation is forgiveness and freedom, it is assurance that comes from faith in Christ and what He has done for us. Faith is strengthened through the peace God gives us through the message of His Gospel. We receive the peace of God when we have enter into a relationship with Him, and we do that by coming to Him through truth. Put on the armor; receive your helmet, and prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Piece 4: Shield
Ephesians 6.16, "in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Paul is writing about a Roman solider dressed for battle. In this case the shield he has in mind is a four foot by two and a half foot rectangular shield. I used to watch Deadliest Warrior, and the Roman Centurion representative said that this shield was the greatest shield ever made. I must disagree, when it comes to shields, I'm a Spartans fan all the way. Though it's not accurate to what Paul has in front of him, it's the one I have in my mind when I envision armor and battle.
The purpose of a shield is to defend from attacks. The text says to take it up so we can extinguish the flaming arrows that Satan hurls at us. Satan will through lies, temptations, and discouragements at us in order to get us to stumble. The shield is crucial because it provides another layer of protection. Arrows could pierce the breastplate of the soldier. An ax or sword could cut off an arm or leg; a mace could crush the skull even with a helmet on it. The shield absorbs these blows, it protects the body, and it's crucial for battle.
Our shield is faith. When Satan throws a fiery dart of a lie at us, our faith in who Jesus is and what He taught protects us. When Satan throws another dart of discouragement our faith in Jesus' view of us and His plan for our life covers us from it. When Satan throws the dart of temptation at us, our faith in Jesus keeps us focused on Him and guards our lives from sinning. Faith is crucial, faith protects us.
When people think of a shield they think defense, and in the case of the Roman shield that's what you get. It's big, it's heavy, and it protects the soldiers. But as I said before, I'm a Spartan at heart. The reason is that the Spartan Shield is much more versatile. It's a big shield, a circle that is three feet across. It covers the Spartan from the knee, where his greaves end, to his neck, until his helmet begins. It covers the carrier and the Spartan next to him when standing, and if need be he can crouch behind it and be fully covered from any attack.
But unlike the Roman shield, the Spartan shield is a great weapon as well. It is versatile and can be used to protect and attack an enemy. On Deadliest Warrior they tested the impact of being hit with this shield and it was at the same level as some car accidents, that's power. Faith is not simply a defensive protection; it allows us to go on the offensive. Our faith can be used as a weapon against Satan. We share our faith in Christ, we live out our faith, and lives can be transformed by it.
The shield is crucial. Faith is crucial. Our faith is strengthened through the peace God gives us through the message of His Gospel. We can receive the peace of God once we have entered into a relationship with Him, and we do that by coming to the truth. Put on the armor, take up your shield, and prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
The purpose of a shield is to defend from attacks. The text says to take it up so we can extinguish the flaming arrows that Satan hurls at us. Satan will through lies, temptations, and discouragements at us in order to get us to stumble. The shield is crucial because it provides another layer of protection. Arrows could pierce the breastplate of the soldier. An ax or sword could cut off an arm or leg; a mace could crush the skull even with a helmet on it. The shield absorbs these blows, it protects the body, and it's crucial for battle.
Our shield is faith. When Satan throws a fiery dart of a lie at us, our faith in who Jesus is and what He taught protects us. When Satan throws another dart of discouragement our faith in Jesus' view of us and His plan for our life covers us from it. When Satan throws the dart of temptation at us, our faith in Jesus keeps us focused on Him and guards our lives from sinning. Faith is crucial, faith protects us.
When people think of a shield they think defense, and in the case of the Roman shield that's what you get. It's big, it's heavy, and it protects the soldiers. But as I said before, I'm a Spartan at heart. The reason is that the Spartan Shield is much more versatile. It's a big shield, a circle that is three feet across. It covers the Spartan from the knee, where his greaves end, to his neck, until his helmet begins. It covers the carrier and the Spartan next to him when standing, and if need be he can crouch behind it and be fully covered from any attack.
But unlike the Roman shield, the Spartan shield is a great weapon as well. It is versatile and can be used to protect and attack an enemy. On Deadliest Warrior they tested the impact of being hit with this shield and it was at the same level as some car accidents, that's power. Faith is not simply a defensive protection; it allows us to go on the offensive. Our faith can be used as a weapon against Satan. We share our faith in Christ, we live out our faith, and lives can be transformed by it.
The shield is crucial. Faith is crucial. Our faith is strengthened through the peace God gives us through the message of His Gospel. We can receive the peace of God once we have entered into a relationship with Him, and we do that by coming to the truth. Put on the armor, take up your shield, and prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Piece 3: Sandals
Ephesians 6.15, "and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;" This is another piece that was misrepresented in my plastic Armor of God play set. The picture I had in my mind was a pair of greaves, or metal shin guards, which would protect the legs of the soldier that weren't covered by the shield. But that isn't what Paul is talking about.
Roman soldiers wore sandals that were thickly studded with nails. They functioned like cleats do today, providing grip and traction, allowing the solider to cover distances at greater speed. The nails in the sandals also gave the soldier sure footing during combat.
We are told that the sandals we are to put on come from the preparation of the Gospel of peace. There is peace of mind in knowing that you won't slip during battle; that you won't fall during a march. Sure footing gives a soldier piece of mind, and our sure footing comes from the Gospel.
Time spent in the Bible gives us sure footing. We are constantly reminded of God's promises and His provisions. Through time spent in the Word of God we are prepared for the difficulties of life. We can go over the mountains, through the valleys of life because of the peace given through the words of God.
The shoes also allowed for faster travel, and through the study of the Gospel, we are able to take it to those who haven't heard it. We prepare ourselves by studying the Gospel, by putting on the sandals, and then we go, and take the Gospel to others. Satan will try and keep us from this task. He'll try to discourage us, to make us stumble and fall, but the Gospel shoes are firmly fastened to our feet.
The truth of God leads us to a relationship with Him. That righteousness protects us in battle. Our relationship is deepened through study of the Gospel, and the peace of the Gospel fills our lives and gives us sure footing in combat and speed as we move towards the fight. Strap on the Sandals, and prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
Roman soldiers wore sandals that were thickly studded with nails. They functioned like cleats do today, providing grip and traction, allowing the solider to cover distances at greater speed. The nails in the sandals also gave the soldier sure footing during combat.
We are told that the sandals we are to put on come from the preparation of the Gospel of peace. There is peace of mind in knowing that you won't slip during battle; that you won't fall during a march. Sure footing gives a soldier piece of mind, and our sure footing comes from the Gospel.
Time spent in the Bible gives us sure footing. We are constantly reminded of God's promises and His provisions. Through time spent in the Word of God we are prepared for the difficulties of life. We can go over the mountains, through the valleys of life because of the peace given through the words of God.
The shoes also allowed for faster travel, and through the study of the Gospel, we are able to take it to those who haven't heard it. We prepare ourselves by studying the Gospel, by putting on the sandals, and then we go, and take the Gospel to others. Satan will try and keep us from this task. He'll try to discourage us, to make us stumble and fall, but the Gospel shoes are firmly fastened to our feet.
The truth of God leads us to a relationship with Him. That righteousness protects us in battle. Our relationship is deepened through study of the Gospel, and the peace of the Gospel fills our lives and gives us sure footing in combat and speed as we move towards the fight. Strap on the Sandals, and prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
Monday, October 31, 2011
Piece 2: Breastplate
Ephesians 6.14b "and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS," Righteousness is a right standing relationship with God. It is an essential characteristic of a Christ follower because it is the evidence that we are living for God. Righteousness means that there is nothing separating us from God, nothing is keeping us from going to Him, and nothing is keeping us from hearing Him. Righteousness is essential.
The breastplate is a crucial piece of equipment for a solider. It was made of metal and covered a solider front and back, from neck to thigh. This piece offers protection of most of the vital organs in the body. It allows the solider to attack without fear of injury.
Righteousness gives us protection for battle. A life that is righteous can stand up against any accusation and prove it false. A life lived in a right relationship with God has nothing to hide, and can proudly display all of it's deeds before anyone without fear of something being seen. Satan cannot accuse a solider of God, because that solider is covered in His righteousness.
Even though the breastplate covers the whole torso of the solider, it's main function is to protect the heart. The heart is essential to life, without it blood cannot flow through the body. The heart is also the organ we associate with love and relationships. The breastplate, righteousness, is there to guard our source of life, and to protect our ability to build relationships.
The righteousness of God covers us and clothes us for battle. We come to the righteousness of God through the truth of God. Fasten the belt around your waist, then cover yourself with the breastplate. The truth will not be believed unless it is shared from a righteous life. Righteousness is an essential part of the armor, it allows us to march boldly into battle, unafraid of any attack the enemy may hit us with. Strap on the breastplate and prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
The breastplate is a crucial piece of equipment for a solider. It was made of metal and covered a solider front and back, from neck to thigh. This piece offers protection of most of the vital organs in the body. It allows the solider to attack without fear of injury.
Righteousness gives us protection for battle. A life that is righteous can stand up against any accusation and prove it false. A life lived in a right relationship with God has nothing to hide, and can proudly display all of it's deeds before anyone without fear of something being seen. Satan cannot accuse a solider of God, because that solider is covered in His righteousness.
Even though the breastplate covers the whole torso of the solider, it's main function is to protect the heart. The heart is essential to life, without it blood cannot flow through the body. The heart is also the organ we associate with love and relationships. The breastplate, righteousness, is there to guard our source of life, and to protect our ability to build relationships.
The righteousness of God covers us and clothes us for battle. We come to the righteousness of God through the truth of God. Fasten the belt around your waist, then cover yourself with the breastplate. The truth will not be believed unless it is shared from a righteous life. Righteousness is an essential part of the armor, it allows us to march boldly into battle, unafraid of any attack the enemy may hit us with. Strap on the breastplate and prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Piece 1: Belt
Warriors don't go into battle unprotected, they wear armor. We are engaged in a war against an evil force, and our armor must be spiritual if we are going to withstand his attacks. God has provided us with armor that that we can stand firm against the devil. Each piece is significant.
The first piece of the armor of God is the Belt of Truth. Ephesians 6.14a "Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,". When we hear the word belt today you probably think of a strait piece of leather that wraps around your waist to hold up your pants. I used to have a plastic play set of the Armor of God when I was little. In it, the belt was a simple thing, very similar to a belt today. But the belt was very inaccurate to what Paul is talking about.
A Roman solider would have a belt, but it wasn't a belt like we think of today. Back then it was heavy leather, and it looked like a skirt. If you've seen the opening seen of the movie Gladiator you've seen this item. The belt was an important piece of the armor. It would wrap around the soldier's tunic and hold it in place giving him freedom to move. Likewise it also would be the place that his sword was hung from. The belt is crucial.
But the belt did more than just free up movement and hold the sword. The belt offered protection. The belt was designed to protect a soldier's reproductive organs. The belt is important.
Our belt is Truth. Truth frees us, and it allows us to move because we are no longer held in the bondage of the lies of sin. Truth is found in the Word of God. John 8.31-32, "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'"
Truth sets us free, but more importantly, truth is how we spiritually reproduce. We can only make new believers by passing on the truth of God, found in the Bible, to them. We must guard the truth, we must stand upon it and live by it.
Satan is the father of lies, John 8.43-44, "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." The only way we can hear from Jesus, the only way we can know what He is saying to us, is to be surrounded by truth. We must wrap the truth around us.
Truth is where preparing for battle against Satan starts. We must know the truth before we can stand against falsehood. Pour yourself into the truth which is found in the Word of God, devote yourself to it, and prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
The first piece of the armor of God is the Belt of Truth. Ephesians 6.14a "Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,". When we hear the word belt today you probably think of a strait piece of leather that wraps around your waist to hold up your pants. I used to have a plastic play set of the Armor of God when I was little. In it, the belt was a simple thing, very similar to a belt today. But the belt was very inaccurate to what Paul is talking about.
A Roman solider would have a belt, but it wasn't a belt like we think of today. Back then it was heavy leather, and it looked like a skirt. If you've seen the opening seen of the movie Gladiator you've seen this item. The belt was an important piece of the armor. It would wrap around the soldier's tunic and hold it in place giving him freedom to move. Likewise it also would be the place that his sword was hung from. The belt is crucial.
But the belt did more than just free up movement and hold the sword. The belt offered protection. The belt was designed to protect a soldier's reproductive organs. The belt is important.
Our belt is Truth. Truth frees us, and it allows us to move because we are no longer held in the bondage of the lies of sin. Truth is found in the Word of God. John 8.31-32, "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'"
Truth sets us free, but more importantly, truth is how we spiritually reproduce. We can only make new believers by passing on the truth of God, found in the Bible, to them. We must guard the truth, we must stand upon it and live by it.
Satan is the father of lies, John 8.43-44, "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." The only way we can hear from Jesus, the only way we can know what He is saying to us, is to be surrounded by truth. We must wrap the truth around us.
Truth is where preparing for battle against Satan starts. We must know the truth before we can stand against falsehood. Pour yourself into the truth which is found in the Word of God, devote yourself to it, and prepare for battle.
Peace be with you
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Warrior's Armor
The Bible is full of war stories and images of soldiers, weapons, and battles. There is a reason for this, we are engaged in a war that has been going on since the beginning. Satan, in his attempt to over throw God, began a war that is still going on. The Earth is the battle field, and there are no civilians. All of us are on a side whether we know it or not.
It's a war where the winner and loser has already been determined, but that isn't over yet. The tide of the war turned and victory was assured by an old rugged cross and an empty tomb cut out of a rock; the D-Day event of history. The death and resurrection of Jesus sealed the victory of good, but the war is still not over.
Those who have joined the side of Jesus have done so willingly and deliberately, no one can do it by accident. But those who have enlisted in the army of God don't go into battle unprotected. No warrior marches onto the battle field unequipped. Some are better equipped than others based on years of service, commitment to the cause, and resources available, but all are equipped.
With God as our general the same equipment is available to all of His soldiers, but it's usage depends on each troop's commitment and discipline to training.
Ephesians 6.10-13, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."
God has given us armor. And it isn't like the armor Saul gives David in 1 Samuel 17, which doesn't fit and is untested. It's armor that is custom made for each of us. Armor that we are given to train with, to learn how it functions, to learn how to use it in combat. It's armor that will protect us and enable us to be victorious.
God has given us armor, let's put it on, let's train with it and keep it ready for combat.
Peace be with you
It's a war where the winner and loser has already been determined, but that isn't over yet. The tide of the war turned and victory was assured by an old rugged cross and an empty tomb cut out of a rock; the D-Day event of history. The death and resurrection of Jesus sealed the victory of good, but the war is still not over.
Those who have joined the side of Jesus have done so willingly and deliberately, no one can do it by accident. But those who have enlisted in the army of God don't go into battle unprotected. No warrior marches onto the battle field unequipped. Some are better equipped than others based on years of service, commitment to the cause, and resources available, but all are equipped.
With God as our general the same equipment is available to all of His soldiers, but it's usage depends on each troop's commitment and discipline to training.
Ephesians 6.10-13, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."
God has given us armor. And it isn't like the armor Saul gives David in 1 Samuel 17, which doesn't fit and is untested. It's armor that is custom made for each of us. Armor that we are given to train with, to learn how it functions, to learn how to use it in combat. It's armor that will protect us and enable us to be victorious.
God has given us armor, let's put it on, let's train with it and keep it ready for combat.
Peace be with you
Monday, October 24, 2011
Servant Warriors
Very often I think about weapons and warriors, I'm a guy. If I wasn't a pastor my dream job would be US Navy SEAL, the most elite commandos in the world. That wasn't God's calling on my life, at times I'm grateful, but there are still times my heart longs for the adventure and the battle. I really wish I had served my country after high school, but again that wasn't what God had in mind. My wife constantly reminds me that if I had enlisted I never would have met her, and for that fact alone, I'm glad I didn't.
The Navy SEALs fascinate me, but there are ancient warriors that I love as well, my favorite are the SEALs of the ancient world, the Spartans. These men were some of the toughest human beings ever to walk the planet. They lived and breathed battle. I wasn't able to get to Sparta when I was in Greece (sadly), but talking with a friend I learned that there really is nothing there. There's a statue of Leonidas, the King at the time of the Battle at Thermopylae (a location I did get to go to), but that's really all that is in Sparta as I've been told. There is no art, no architecture; they didn't have time for it because it didn't relate to combat and training for battle.
There are a few material things in life that I really want. One of them is a Spartan shield. I've been looking for over a year now, and I found one on the internet a few weeks ago that is full size and looks authentic. I showed my wife and told her, someday I'd love one. The reason is threefold. One is that it's awesome, I'll be honest there. Second, we're in a war against evil, and all warriors need a shield, so why not have the greatest shield ever made. Third, is the reminder of how no Christ follower is to go it alone.
The strength of the Spartan army was in the phalanx. In this formation the warriors stand side by side, and their massive three foot shields not only protect them, but their brother next to them. One of the greatest shames for a Spartan was to lose his shield because without it there could be no phalanx, one weak spot and the whole thing falls apart. The church is similar.
I'm taking a two week break from John to look at the idea of joining the work in the second half of the story of the woman at the well. God has a work that He has invited us to share in. He's enlisted us as soldiers in the war Satan has waged against Him (2 Timothy 2). He's not only asked us to join Him, but He's also equipped us for battle. He's given us the Bible to prepare us (2 Timothy 3) as well as armor to protect us (Ephesians 6). But He's also given us gifts to serve.
1 Corinthians 12 tells us that there are many different gifts that all come from God. There is one body of Christ that has many different members, each with a unique function. When each part functions properly, the body is strong and healthy, the body is able to grow. But when part of the body doesn't function as it was made to, there is sickness and growth is hindered.
In a church there are many ministries, and there are many people with a passion of different ministries. The pastor isn't passionate about everything that goes on, and the pastor isn't able to do every job that needs to be done, though some try. We need the other people of the church, the other parts of the body, to fulfill their functions and serve others. We need the other warriors for Christ to pick up their shields and stand beside us to fight the battle with us.
Our focus must be on building the Kingdom. If something we do doesn't help it to grow we need to set it aside. The Spartan's focused on war, and they were the best, the SEALs are the same way. The church must focus on building the Kingdom because nothing else matters.
I'm not saying we have to spend all our free time in Church, not by any means. Take vacations with your family, go out with friends, build those relationships, and in them set an example of what a Christ follower is. That is helping to build the Kingdom. In our relationships show love for others, Jesus said that's how people would know we are His (John 13). Let all that you do be for the Glory of God and for the expansion of His Kingdom.
God has given each person at least one Spiritual gift. No one has all of them, and that's why we need each other. But since we have a gift, we must use it.
Romans 12.6-8, "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."
We are servant warriors. Let us use our gifts to serve so that we can build the Kingdom, and join in the victory over Satan.
Peace be with you
The Navy SEALs fascinate me, but there are ancient warriors that I love as well, my favorite are the SEALs of the ancient world, the Spartans. These men were some of the toughest human beings ever to walk the planet. They lived and breathed battle. I wasn't able to get to Sparta when I was in Greece (sadly), but talking with a friend I learned that there really is nothing there. There's a statue of Leonidas, the King at the time of the Battle at Thermopylae (a location I did get to go to), but that's really all that is in Sparta as I've been told. There is no art, no architecture; they didn't have time for it because it didn't relate to combat and training for battle.
There are a few material things in life that I really want. One of them is a Spartan shield. I've been looking for over a year now, and I found one on the internet a few weeks ago that is full size and looks authentic. I showed my wife and told her, someday I'd love one. The reason is threefold. One is that it's awesome, I'll be honest there. Second, we're in a war against evil, and all warriors need a shield, so why not have the greatest shield ever made. Third, is the reminder of how no Christ follower is to go it alone.
The strength of the Spartan army was in the phalanx. In this formation the warriors stand side by side, and their massive three foot shields not only protect them, but their brother next to them. One of the greatest shames for a Spartan was to lose his shield because without it there could be no phalanx, one weak spot and the whole thing falls apart. The church is similar.
I'm taking a two week break from John to look at the idea of joining the work in the second half of the story of the woman at the well. God has a work that He has invited us to share in. He's enlisted us as soldiers in the war Satan has waged against Him (2 Timothy 2). He's not only asked us to join Him, but He's also equipped us for battle. He's given us the Bible to prepare us (2 Timothy 3) as well as armor to protect us (Ephesians 6). But He's also given us gifts to serve.
1 Corinthians 12 tells us that there are many different gifts that all come from God. There is one body of Christ that has many different members, each with a unique function. When each part functions properly, the body is strong and healthy, the body is able to grow. But when part of the body doesn't function as it was made to, there is sickness and growth is hindered.
In a church there are many ministries, and there are many people with a passion of different ministries. The pastor isn't passionate about everything that goes on, and the pastor isn't able to do every job that needs to be done, though some try. We need the other people of the church, the other parts of the body, to fulfill their functions and serve others. We need the other warriors for Christ to pick up their shields and stand beside us to fight the battle with us.
Our focus must be on building the Kingdom. If something we do doesn't help it to grow we need to set it aside. The Spartan's focused on war, and they were the best, the SEALs are the same way. The church must focus on building the Kingdom because nothing else matters.
I'm not saying we have to spend all our free time in Church, not by any means. Take vacations with your family, go out with friends, build those relationships, and in them set an example of what a Christ follower is. That is helping to build the Kingdom. In our relationships show love for others, Jesus said that's how people would know we are His (John 13). Let all that you do be for the Glory of God and for the expansion of His Kingdom.
God has given each person at least one Spiritual gift. No one has all of them, and that's why we need each other. But since we have a gift, we must use it.
Romans 12.6-8, "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."
We are servant warriors. Let us use our gifts to serve so that we can build the Kingdom, and join in the victory over Satan.
Peace be with you
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Church is to Serve
Last week my wife and I went door to door to promote a community outreach event the church is putting on next Friday. I was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with a bunch of colorful fliers. People would answer the door, barley open it, or open it, step outside, then close it again. I’d tell them my name, introduce my wife, and then tell them I was a pastor. Their faces showed discomfort and honestly a little anger and skepticism.
I wasn’t there to evangelize by telling them that if they didn’t repent they’d burn in Hell, but I think that’s the idea people have when you tell them you’re from a church. I had one guy tell me he wasn’t interested as soon as I said the word "church", and closed the door before I could say “Have a nice day.” A lot of people probably had the same thought but were kind enough to listen.
People seemed very hesitant, and then we told them why we had come, to invite them to a free community event. Immediately their faces changed. There was relief. They were open and receptive to the invitation. People were excited that that was why we were there. We weren’t looking for anything from them, we didn’t have any words of anger or condemnation, we simply had an invitation to an event for the family.
People are open to that. My mentor has said more times than I can remember, “Separation of Church and State is never an issue when the church gets down on its knees with a basin and a towel and says, ‘How can we serve you?’” That statement is normally preceded with, “No one ever became a follower of Christ because they lost an argument; people become followers of Christ because they are loved. People are loved into the Kingdom.”
We have been blessed with an incredible message of hope and love. Why have we turned it into a message of fear and anger? We are to show love; Jesus said that is how people would know we were His followers (John 13.35). We are to serve; Jesus said that if He, our Lord and teacher, washed the feet of His disciples then we ought to wash the feet of others (John 13.14).
If Christians would live up to the name they carry then the church would be able to be the church it was called to be. If the church would be the body of Christ filled disciples who lived with love flowing out of them, the response from people when you told them you were with a church would be different. We’re here to love, we’re here to serve. Why have we missed that? Why are we refusing to do that?
One of the biggest failures in this area happened in the Late 1890's in South Africa. A young man from India had been studying the Bible and was very seriously considering becoming a follower of Christ. He found a church in the area and went on Sunday morning. When he arrived he was refused entrance because of his race, and was threatened that if he didn't leave he would be thrown down the steps. After this incident Gandhi never again considered becoming a Christian. What would have happened to India if that church had been the church it was called to be?
Who knows when someone who will have an impact like Gandhi will come into our path. Will they see Jesus in us, or will they respond as Gandhi did, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."
Peace be with you
I wasn’t there to evangelize by telling them that if they didn’t repent they’d burn in Hell, but I think that’s the idea people have when you tell them you’re from a church. I had one guy tell me he wasn’t interested as soon as I said the word "church", and closed the door before I could say “Have a nice day.” A lot of people probably had the same thought but were kind enough to listen.
People seemed very hesitant, and then we told them why we had come, to invite them to a free community event. Immediately their faces changed. There was relief. They were open and receptive to the invitation. People were excited that that was why we were there. We weren’t looking for anything from them, we didn’t have any words of anger or condemnation, we simply had an invitation to an event for the family.
People are open to that. My mentor has said more times than I can remember, “Separation of Church and State is never an issue when the church gets down on its knees with a basin and a towel and says, ‘How can we serve you?’” That statement is normally preceded with, “No one ever became a follower of Christ because they lost an argument; people become followers of Christ because they are loved. People are loved into the Kingdom.”
We have been blessed with an incredible message of hope and love. Why have we turned it into a message of fear and anger? We are to show love; Jesus said that is how people would know we were His followers (John 13.35). We are to serve; Jesus said that if He, our Lord and teacher, washed the feet of His disciples then we ought to wash the feet of others (John 13.14).
If Christians would live up to the name they carry then the church would be able to be the church it was called to be. If the church would be the body of Christ filled disciples who lived with love flowing out of them, the response from people when you told them you were with a church would be different. We’re here to love, we’re here to serve. Why have we missed that? Why are we refusing to do that?
One of the biggest failures in this area happened in the Late 1890's in South Africa. A young man from India had been studying the Bible and was very seriously considering becoming a follower of Christ. He found a church in the area and went on Sunday morning. When he arrived he was refused entrance because of his race, and was threatened that if he didn't leave he would be thrown down the steps. After this incident Gandhi never again considered becoming a Christian. What would have happened to India if that church had been the church it was called to be?
Who knows when someone who will have an impact like Gandhi will come into our path. Will they see Jesus in us, or will they respond as Gandhi did, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."
Peace be with you
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Removing the Footholds
Over the last two months I've thought a lot about the different ways Satan gets a grip on our lives. And as I've looked at each one my thought has been turning it into a sermon at some point in the future. For that to happen you have to be able to tell people how to prevent Satan from getting these footholds.
It's not easy, it requires intentional effort, but honestly that shouldn't surprise us. This is a war we're involved in, with a real enemy who prowls like a roaring lion. My wife and I recently watched The Ghost and the Darkness. It's based on a true story about two lions in Tsavo that killed railroad works for the pleasure of killing. Satan is like that. He prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5.8) simply because he enjoys it. There is a line in the movie that says, "The devil has come to Tsavo."
In the movie they were intentional about guarding against the lions. They took every measure possible to keep the workers safe and kill the lions, and eventually they do kill them both, but along the way many are killed. Some ignore the instructions, and some just get caught in the path of a deadly enemy who attacks as they sleep. That's how Satan works, he attacks when our guard is dropped; he comes when we are asleep, that's why Peter says to be of sober spirit and on the alert.
As I've been working through these I've tried to see ways to overcome them. Many of them can be overcome by intentional actions. For greed, selfishness and pride, give things away, serve others. Ignorance and apathy can be over come by intentional study, by intentionally looking for opportunities to put your beliefs into action. Anger we can work on overcoming by simply forcing ourselves not to give a reply when our emotions are high, it's difficult but doable.
But then there are ones like fear, doubt, and anxiety which are more difficult to do something to overcome them. These ones I think lead to the rest of them, we use the other footholds as defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from these ones. We build on a bad foundation, and the whole thing comes crashing down on us. Some of these can't be fixed, and honestly none of them can be removed from our lives without the grace of God.
Over the summer I read a book that I've wanted to blog about. I started writing about it two or three times, but each time God wouldn't let me finish it, He wouldn't give me the words to write. But now He's giving me the green light. The book was Walking with God by John Eldredge. In it he talks about the journey he took with God throughout the different seasons of a year. His point in writing is that we can really hear from God, we can really talk with Him. And in it he talks about things that keep us from being as close to God as we could be.
At one point he talks about praying against specific things, and I think that's where removing the footholds of the devil begins. Pray against them. Pray specifically against Anger, Anxiety, Fear, Pride, Greed, Selfishness, Ignorance, Doubt, and Apathy. As you pray tell them that they have no place in your life, that they aren't welcome. And as you pray against them pray that God will fill the space. In place of Anger, pray for Love. In place of Anxiety pray for Peace. In place of Fear, pray for Boldness. In place of Pride, pray for Humility. In place of Greed, pray for Generosity. In place of Selfishness, pray for Selflessness. In place of Ignorance, pray for Wisdom. In place of Doubt, pray for Faith. In place of Apathy, pray for Passion.
The Bible says that if a space vacated by a demon isn't filled with God, it comes back with seven friends who are worse that it is (Luke 11.24-26). It isn't enough just to get rid of the foothold for Satan, we have to replace it with a platform for God. God isn't just going to put the platform in place for us, that would be too easy and it wouldn't last. Instead He gives us the building materials, and He works along side with us to build the platform. We'll have the opportunity and the choice of which characteristic we exhibit. And the more we exercise something, the more instinctual it becomes.
We have two choices in our lives, be ruled by Satan, or submitting to God. Satan will come in and take over, God will lovingly lead us. God will never force Himself on anyone, that isn't how He works. If you want Him, you must choose Him, He's already chosen you.
John 10.10a, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;" Don't let Satan have control of your life, he'll destroy it. He is the thief. If you let him get a foothold, then he will kill you. Instead, let Jesus fill you with life. John 10.10b, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Peace be with you.
It's not easy, it requires intentional effort, but honestly that shouldn't surprise us. This is a war we're involved in, with a real enemy who prowls like a roaring lion. My wife and I recently watched The Ghost and the Darkness. It's based on a true story about two lions in Tsavo that killed railroad works for the pleasure of killing. Satan is like that. He prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5.8) simply because he enjoys it. There is a line in the movie that says, "The devil has come to Tsavo."
In the movie they were intentional about guarding against the lions. They took every measure possible to keep the workers safe and kill the lions, and eventually they do kill them both, but along the way many are killed. Some ignore the instructions, and some just get caught in the path of a deadly enemy who attacks as they sleep. That's how Satan works, he attacks when our guard is dropped; he comes when we are asleep, that's why Peter says to be of sober spirit and on the alert.
As I've been working through these I've tried to see ways to overcome them. Many of them can be overcome by intentional actions. For greed, selfishness and pride, give things away, serve others. Ignorance and apathy can be over come by intentional study, by intentionally looking for opportunities to put your beliefs into action. Anger we can work on overcoming by simply forcing ourselves not to give a reply when our emotions are high, it's difficult but doable.
But then there are ones like fear, doubt, and anxiety which are more difficult to do something to overcome them. These ones I think lead to the rest of them, we use the other footholds as defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from these ones. We build on a bad foundation, and the whole thing comes crashing down on us. Some of these can't be fixed, and honestly none of them can be removed from our lives without the grace of God.
Over the summer I read a book that I've wanted to blog about. I started writing about it two or three times, but each time God wouldn't let me finish it, He wouldn't give me the words to write. But now He's giving me the green light. The book was Walking with God by John Eldredge. In it he talks about the journey he took with God throughout the different seasons of a year. His point in writing is that we can really hear from God, we can really talk with Him. And in it he talks about things that keep us from being as close to God as we could be.
At one point he talks about praying against specific things, and I think that's where removing the footholds of the devil begins. Pray against them. Pray specifically against Anger, Anxiety, Fear, Pride, Greed, Selfishness, Ignorance, Doubt, and Apathy. As you pray tell them that they have no place in your life, that they aren't welcome. And as you pray against them pray that God will fill the space. In place of Anger, pray for Love. In place of Anxiety pray for Peace. In place of Fear, pray for Boldness. In place of Pride, pray for Humility. In place of Greed, pray for Generosity. In place of Selfishness, pray for Selflessness. In place of Ignorance, pray for Wisdom. In place of Doubt, pray for Faith. In place of Apathy, pray for Passion.
The Bible says that if a space vacated by a demon isn't filled with God, it comes back with seven friends who are worse that it is (Luke 11.24-26). It isn't enough just to get rid of the foothold for Satan, we have to replace it with a platform for God. God isn't just going to put the platform in place for us, that would be too easy and it wouldn't last. Instead He gives us the building materials, and He works along side with us to build the platform. We'll have the opportunity and the choice of which characteristic we exhibit. And the more we exercise something, the more instinctual it becomes.
We have two choices in our lives, be ruled by Satan, or submitting to God. Satan will come in and take over, God will lovingly lead us. God will never force Himself on anyone, that isn't how He works. If you want Him, you must choose Him, He's already chosen you.
John 10.10a, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;" Don't let Satan have control of your life, he'll destroy it. He is the thief. If you let him get a foothold, then he will kill you. Instead, let Jesus fill you with life. John 10.10b, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Peace be with you.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Part 9: Apathy
"So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." Revelation 3.16
The word apathy does not occur in the Bible. It didn't show up in the English language until the 1600's. But it is an attitude that is seen here in the New Testament with the Church of Laodicea, as well as with a well known prophet in the Old Testament.
The word for lukewarm is chliaros, and it is found only here in the Bible. It is used metaphorically for the church in Laodicea, which is located in present day Turkey. Six miles to the North of Laodicea are the ruins of the city of Hierapolis, a place still famous today for it's natural hot springs. The mineral water has medicinal use. The cliff faces, that are visible from Laodicea, are covered with white calcium deposits. I have a small bottle of water from hot springs that is now lukewarm as it would have been when it got to Laodicea.
Eleven miles to the south is the city of Colosse, a place with many springs that provided cold, refreshing, pure drinking water. But by the time it got to Laodicea and mixed with the calcium rich mineral water from Hierapolis, it too was lukewarm and useless. It was no longer refreshing and because of the calcium would make you want to vomit.
Lukewarm water is no good. The attitude of the Laodiceans toward the Gospel was lukewarm, it was indifferent. They had no interest in spreading the Gospel or living by it's standards. They were a wealthy city, famous for wool which made inexpensive textiles, and eye salve that was shipped around the world. But because of their indifference Jesus calls them poor, blind, and naked in Revelation 3.17. Indifference in a synonym for apathy.
In English apathy is defined, "absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement; lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting." It is indifference, neutrality, and it has no function in the use of Christ. People have taken the hot or cold from verse 16 to mean spiritually on fire or spiritually dead, but that isn't the case. Hot and cold water both have their functions and their uses. One is good for healing, the other for refreshing, both are good, but lukewarm water is useless. Jesus uses us in different ways based on our calling and giftedness.
Apathy hurts us, it causes God to find someone else to do the task we have been called for, but it also hurts others and puts them in danger.
This morning I was reading an article from Rabbi Melanie Aron on apathy in the Bible. She said that the best example of apathy in the Bible is Jonah as he boards the ship headed to Tarshish. As the ship leaves port and heads out to sea, Jonah goes below deck and falls asleep. As he sleeps God sends a storm. The sailors are terrified. They begin to pray to their gods and to throw the cargo overboard in an attempt to save themselves. The captain finds Jonah and wakes him up telling him to pray, Jonah knows that he is the cause of this, he knows he can stop this storm, but remains silent.
Jonah 1.7-10, "Each man said to his mate, 'Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.' So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, 'Tell us, now! On whose account has this calamity struck us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?' He said to them, 'I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.' Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, 'How could you do this?' For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them."
Jonah was a prophet, his job was to proclaim the word of God to the people. God told him to go to Nineveh, and Jonah refuses. He doesn't care about them being saved, he is indifferent about the mission God has given him to do, and his apathy not only gets him thrown into the sea and eaten by a giant fish, but it puts the lives of others in danger.
Apathy is a strong foothold of the devil. With apathy we have no desire to do anything, we approach situations with the attitude of someone else will do it. "I don't need to pray for them, someone else will." "I don't need to do that, someone else will take care of it." Apathy is a firm foothold for Satan because it pushes off responsibility, it takes no action, and leaves a task to someone else. Apathy has no place in the life of the Christ follower.
Jesus told us in Matthew 28.19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." The command is to be active, to go, to make, to baptize, to teach. It is not to sit around waiting for heaven letting everyone else get their hands dirty for Jesus. We are all called to get off the bench and into the game, out of the barracks and into the war.
Refuse to useless to the Kingdom, take away the foothold of apathy, and join the battle.
Peace be with you
The word apathy does not occur in the Bible. It didn't show up in the English language until the 1600's. But it is an attitude that is seen here in the New Testament with the Church of Laodicea, as well as with a well known prophet in the Old Testament.
The word for lukewarm is chliaros, and it is found only here in the Bible. It is used metaphorically for the church in Laodicea, which is located in present day Turkey. Six miles to the North of Laodicea are the ruins of the city of Hierapolis, a place still famous today for it's natural hot springs. The mineral water has medicinal use. The cliff faces, that are visible from Laodicea, are covered with white calcium deposits. I have a small bottle of water from hot springs that is now lukewarm as it would have been when it got to Laodicea.
Eleven miles to the south is the city of Colosse, a place with many springs that provided cold, refreshing, pure drinking water. But by the time it got to Laodicea and mixed with the calcium rich mineral water from Hierapolis, it too was lukewarm and useless. It was no longer refreshing and because of the calcium would make you want to vomit.
Lukewarm water is no good. The attitude of the Laodiceans toward the Gospel was lukewarm, it was indifferent. They had no interest in spreading the Gospel or living by it's standards. They were a wealthy city, famous for wool which made inexpensive textiles, and eye salve that was shipped around the world. But because of their indifference Jesus calls them poor, blind, and naked in Revelation 3.17. Indifference in a synonym for apathy.
In English apathy is defined, "absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement; lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting." It is indifference, neutrality, and it has no function in the use of Christ. People have taken the hot or cold from verse 16 to mean spiritually on fire or spiritually dead, but that isn't the case. Hot and cold water both have their functions and their uses. One is good for healing, the other for refreshing, both are good, but lukewarm water is useless. Jesus uses us in different ways based on our calling and giftedness.
Apathy hurts us, it causes God to find someone else to do the task we have been called for, but it also hurts others and puts them in danger.
This morning I was reading an article from Rabbi Melanie Aron on apathy in the Bible. She said that the best example of apathy in the Bible is Jonah as he boards the ship headed to Tarshish. As the ship leaves port and heads out to sea, Jonah goes below deck and falls asleep. As he sleeps God sends a storm. The sailors are terrified. They begin to pray to their gods and to throw the cargo overboard in an attempt to save themselves. The captain finds Jonah and wakes him up telling him to pray, Jonah knows that he is the cause of this, he knows he can stop this storm, but remains silent.
Jonah 1.7-10, "Each man said to his mate, 'Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.' So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, 'Tell us, now! On whose account has this calamity struck us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?' He said to them, 'I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.' Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, 'How could you do this?' For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them."
Jonah was a prophet, his job was to proclaim the word of God to the people. God told him to go to Nineveh, and Jonah refuses. He doesn't care about them being saved, he is indifferent about the mission God has given him to do, and his apathy not only gets him thrown into the sea and eaten by a giant fish, but it puts the lives of others in danger.
Apathy is a strong foothold of the devil. With apathy we have no desire to do anything, we approach situations with the attitude of someone else will do it. "I don't need to pray for them, someone else will." "I don't need to do that, someone else will take care of it." Apathy is a firm foothold for Satan because it pushes off responsibility, it takes no action, and leaves a task to someone else. Apathy has no place in the life of the Christ follower.
Jesus told us in Matthew 28.19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." The command is to be active, to go, to make, to baptize, to teach. It is not to sit around waiting for heaven letting everyone else get their hands dirty for Jesus. We are all called to get off the bench and into the game, out of the barracks and into the war.
Refuse to useless to the Kingdom, take away the foothold of apathy, and join the battle.
Peace be with you
Monday, October 17, 2011
Part 8: Doubt
"Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ' You of little faith, why did you doubt?'" Matthew 14.31
For the past week and a half I haven't been able to stop thinking about doubt, as much as I've tried. I'm ready to be done with the Footholds series, but I have to add this one.
Doubt in English is defined, "to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe." The Greek word used in Matthew 14.31 is edistasas which comes from distazo and means, "to doubt, waver, or hesitate" It is uncertainty as to which way to take. There are two options, but it can't decide which way to go. It is uncertain when the choice should be obvious.
In Matthew 21.21 we see doubt again, "And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, "Be taken up and cast into the sea," it will happen.'"
The word for doubt used here is diakrithete which is from the word diakrivo and in this context means "to hesitate, be in doubt, doubt." It refers to a lack of faith, not a weakness of it. It says faith, trust, belief, is absent and instead there is doubt. Nothing can be accomplished when there is no trust in the power you are calling out to.
Doubt is a foothold of Satan because it is the opposite of faith. It is hesitant instead of decisive. It wavers instead of being certain. It is blurred instead of focused. When doubt enters, faith is absent. When there is no trust in God, when there is no belief that God has the power to do all things, Satan has a firm grasp on us.
Satan wants us to be filled with doubt. Doubt in our selves, and doubt in God. That was the tactic he used in the beginning. In Genesis 3 he said, "has God said,..." trying to get Eve to question the word of God. He focused on the negative and the prohibition, not on God's generosity and love. When we start to question what God has said, we start to question God. When that happens doubt enters our mind, Satan gets a grip.
To combat doubt we must strengthen our faith and fill our minds with the truth of God. God has given us His word through the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived life as God would, setting a model for us to imitate. God has given us the incredible gift of the Bible, His written word. In it He shares His heart with us. We must fill our hearts, souls, and minds with the truth that fills the pages of Scripture.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 119.105-112, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and I will confirm it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances. I am exceedingly afflicted; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your ordinances. My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. I have inherited Your testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, even to the end."
Joshua 1.7-9 says, "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
God has told us how to stand firm in faith and have no doubt, we are to meditate on His word, it is to be our guide. It will show us the right path to take. It will remind us constantly of God's love and power. Fill your mind with the truth of Scripture, and remove the foothold of doubt from Satan.
Peace be with you
For the past week and a half I haven't been able to stop thinking about doubt, as much as I've tried. I'm ready to be done with the Footholds series, but I have to add this one.
Doubt in English is defined, "to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe." The Greek word used in Matthew 14.31 is edistasas which comes from distazo and means, "to doubt, waver, or hesitate" It is uncertainty as to which way to take. There are two options, but it can't decide which way to go. It is uncertain when the choice should be obvious.
In Matthew 21.21 we see doubt again, "And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, "Be taken up and cast into the sea," it will happen.'"
The word for doubt used here is diakrithete which is from the word diakrivo and in this context means "to hesitate, be in doubt, doubt." It refers to a lack of faith, not a weakness of it. It says faith, trust, belief, is absent and instead there is doubt. Nothing can be accomplished when there is no trust in the power you are calling out to.
Doubt is a foothold of Satan because it is the opposite of faith. It is hesitant instead of decisive. It wavers instead of being certain. It is blurred instead of focused. When doubt enters, faith is absent. When there is no trust in God, when there is no belief that God has the power to do all things, Satan has a firm grasp on us.
Satan wants us to be filled with doubt. Doubt in our selves, and doubt in God. That was the tactic he used in the beginning. In Genesis 3 he said, "has God said,..." trying to get Eve to question the word of God. He focused on the negative and the prohibition, not on God's generosity and love. When we start to question what God has said, we start to question God. When that happens doubt enters our mind, Satan gets a grip.
To combat doubt we must strengthen our faith and fill our minds with the truth of God. God has given us His word through the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived life as God would, setting a model for us to imitate. God has given us the incredible gift of the Bible, His written word. In it He shares His heart with us. We must fill our hearts, souls, and minds with the truth that fills the pages of Scripture.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 119.105-112, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and I will confirm it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances. I am exceedingly afflicted; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your ordinances. My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. I have inherited Your testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, even to the end."
Joshua 1.7-9 says, "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
God has told us how to stand firm in faith and have no doubt, we are to meditate on His word, it is to be our guide. It will show us the right path to take. It will remind us constantly of God's love and power. Fill your mind with the truth of Scripture, and remove the foothold of doubt from Satan.
Peace be with you
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Part 7: Ignorance
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance," 1 Peter 1.14
The word for ignorance in Greek is agnoian. No matter how it's used it refers to a lack of knowledge, training, or information, but depending on the context it can be either willful or unavoidable.
Ignorant is defined, "lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned; lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact; uninformed,unaware; due to or showing lack of knowledge or training." Ignorance results from a Christless life.
The Gentile world was haunted by the unknowability of God. The people believed that there was a God, but that He was unknowable and had no interest in humans. Philosophers felt that He couldn't be found, and even if you did happen to discover Him, you wouldn't be able to explain Him. Without Christ there is no help or hope to know God.
But Christ has come. Paul talks about this in Acts 17.23 "For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you." The days of feeling our way our of ignorance are over. We no longer have an excuse not to know God because Christ has come and has revealed God to the world.
Knowledge is available now. We live in day where we have a new website every few seconds, back then it took months to get a copy of something Paul would have written. But as soon as I finish this post, it will be available to people on the other side of the world. Never has the Gospel been more accessible than it is today. It has never been easier to share Jesus with people than it is today. And yet there are people who don't know about Jesus.
Many people feel that they don't know enough about the Bible to share. Something I have found is part of it is that Christians are some of the most ignorant people in the world. We always pull the faith card, thinking I don't have to have an answer because I just believe it. That isn't good enough, and it isn't an excuse.
2 Timothy 3.16-4.2, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
1 Peter 3.15 says, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;"
Faith isn't an excuse to be ignorant. We have been given the Word of God, more today than at any other time in history. We have the opportunity to read the most brilliant minds that have ever tried to interpret the Bible and understand God, and yet so many of us remain ignorant to the knowledge we have at our finger tips. There are atheists who study constantly for something that is a lie. They have no respect for the answer, "I just have faith." We as Christ followers must refuse to be ignorant. We have Christ, and therefore have no excuse for ignorance.
(This has gotten so far off of where I originally intended it to go)
Satan uses ignorance for his purpose. If the people of God are ignorant then our message isn't respected because we don't know why we believe, we just do. We can't be ignorant because there is no excuse for it. Knowledge is ours for the taking. Anything we want to know we can find in five seconds. Ignorance is a foothold of Satan because it is a refusal to learn, it is a refusal to be informed, and I think it's far more common than we realize.
Don't let Satan have this foothold in your life. Refuse to be ignorant. Jesus came to show us what God is like. He came to end the mystery of the character and nature of God. He came to show us how God would live life and how God intends for us to live. Jesus wasn't ignorant, and if we claim His name, then we have no excuse to be either.
Peace be with you
The word for ignorance in Greek is agnoian. No matter how it's used it refers to a lack of knowledge, training, or information, but depending on the context it can be either willful or unavoidable.
Ignorant is defined, "lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned; lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact; uninformed,unaware; due to or showing lack of knowledge or training." Ignorance results from a Christless life.
The Gentile world was haunted by the unknowability of God. The people believed that there was a God, but that He was unknowable and had no interest in humans. Philosophers felt that He couldn't be found, and even if you did happen to discover Him, you wouldn't be able to explain Him. Without Christ there is no help or hope to know God.
But Christ has come. Paul talks about this in Acts 17.23 "For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you." The days of feeling our way our of ignorance are over. We no longer have an excuse not to know God because Christ has come and has revealed God to the world.
Knowledge is available now. We live in day where we have a new website every few seconds, back then it took months to get a copy of something Paul would have written. But as soon as I finish this post, it will be available to people on the other side of the world. Never has the Gospel been more accessible than it is today. It has never been easier to share Jesus with people than it is today. And yet there are people who don't know about Jesus.
Many people feel that they don't know enough about the Bible to share. Something I have found is part of it is that Christians are some of the most ignorant people in the world. We always pull the faith card, thinking I don't have to have an answer because I just believe it. That isn't good enough, and it isn't an excuse.
2 Timothy 3.16-4.2, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
1 Peter 3.15 says, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;"
Faith isn't an excuse to be ignorant. We have been given the Word of God, more today than at any other time in history. We have the opportunity to read the most brilliant minds that have ever tried to interpret the Bible and understand God, and yet so many of us remain ignorant to the knowledge we have at our finger tips. There are atheists who study constantly for something that is a lie. They have no respect for the answer, "I just have faith." We as Christ followers must refuse to be ignorant. We have Christ, and therefore have no excuse for ignorance.
(This has gotten so far off of where I originally intended it to go)
Satan uses ignorance for his purpose. If the people of God are ignorant then our message isn't respected because we don't know why we believe, we just do. We can't be ignorant because there is no excuse for it. Knowledge is ours for the taking. Anything we want to know we can find in five seconds. Ignorance is a foothold of Satan because it is a refusal to learn, it is a refusal to be informed, and I think it's far more common than we realize.
Don't let Satan have this foothold in your life. Refuse to be ignorant. Jesus came to show us what God is like. He came to end the mystery of the character and nature of God. He came to show us how God would live life and how God intends for us to live. Jesus wasn't ignorant, and if we claim His name, then we have no excuse to be either.
Peace be with you
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Part 6: Selfishness
"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing." James 3.16
I have to add this one in to the list. As I was studying 2 Timothy this word kept jumping out at me. It's closely related to greed, and therefore a perfect foothold for Satan. Selfishness is similar to greed, but where greed is the unquenchable thirst for wealth and possessions, selfishness seeks personal prestige, admiration and respect. And in many cases, selfishness is a greater temptation than greed.
Selfish in English is, "devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others: characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself"
The Greek word is eritheia and is translated at rivalry. It carries the idea of gathering a following to promote and support your views and ambitions. I think many times we use the word selfish incorrectly in place of greed today.
Where greed is focused on financial gain, selfishness is focused on popularity and self-advancement. It's the desire for influence and recognition. Selfishness does whatever it has to do in order to take care of itself. It spares no relationship, no dignity, it drives people apart, and Satan thrives in it, because Satan is selfish.
Philippians 2.3-4 says, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." We are to do nothing selfishly, we are not to look out simply for ourselves, but for others. James told us that were selfish ambition is there is no unity and evil. Those are the things Satan strives for. Jesus said a kingdom divided cannot stand (Matthew 12.25), Satan is trying to divide the Kingdom of God by dividing His people. Satan tries to get us to look out for ourselves so that we're too busy to unite and advance God's Kingdom. But God's Kingdom cannot fall, and He wants His children to advance it, so He told us how to be unselfish.
Philippians 2.5-8, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Jesus came to earth to show us how God would live life as a human. He came to set an example for us to follow, to imitate. Jesus is the model of unselfishness. He gave up Heaven, and came to live on earth so that He could die a horrible death in our place. God, perfection, became sin and a curse for us to be free. Our response should be humility and gratitude, advancing the Kingdom out of love and thankfulness.
Satan wants us to be selfish, because in selfishness we isolate ourselves and advance ourselves over God. Selfishness is a foothold that Satan was the first one to take a hold of. He is the first selfish being that existed. Do we want to follow his example or the example of Christ?
Peace be with you
I have to add this one in to the list. As I was studying 2 Timothy this word kept jumping out at me. It's closely related to greed, and therefore a perfect foothold for Satan. Selfishness is similar to greed, but where greed is the unquenchable thirst for wealth and possessions, selfishness seeks personal prestige, admiration and respect. And in many cases, selfishness is a greater temptation than greed.
Selfish in English is, "devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others: characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself"
The Greek word is eritheia and is translated at rivalry. It carries the idea of gathering a following to promote and support your views and ambitions. I think many times we use the word selfish incorrectly in place of greed today.
Where greed is focused on financial gain, selfishness is focused on popularity and self-advancement. It's the desire for influence and recognition. Selfishness does whatever it has to do in order to take care of itself. It spares no relationship, no dignity, it drives people apart, and Satan thrives in it, because Satan is selfish.
Philippians 2.3-4 says, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." We are to do nothing selfishly, we are not to look out simply for ourselves, but for others. James told us that were selfish ambition is there is no unity and evil. Those are the things Satan strives for. Jesus said a kingdom divided cannot stand (Matthew 12.25), Satan is trying to divide the Kingdom of God by dividing His people. Satan tries to get us to look out for ourselves so that we're too busy to unite and advance God's Kingdom. But God's Kingdom cannot fall, and He wants His children to advance it, so He told us how to be unselfish.
Philippians 2.5-8, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Jesus came to earth to show us how God would live life as a human. He came to set an example for us to follow, to imitate. Jesus is the model of unselfishness. He gave up Heaven, and came to live on earth so that He could die a horrible death in our place. God, perfection, became sin and a curse for us to be free. Our response should be humility and gratitude, advancing the Kingdom out of love and thankfulness.
Satan wants us to be selfish, because in selfishness we isolate ourselves and advance ourselves over God. Selfishness is a foothold that Satan was the first one to take a hold of. He is the first selfish being that existed. Do we want to follow his example or the example of Christ?
Peace be with you
Monday, October 3, 2011
Part 5: Greed
"Then He said to them, 'Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed;'..." Luke 12.15a.
Greed, "excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions." It's a desire that is never satisfied and always needs more. It never gives but hoards everything. It is the exact opposite of the Christian life style.
The word used in Luke 12 is pleonexias and it's translated as covetousness. This word means, "inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy." It's a desire for more, and it has no place in the life of a Christ follower.
In Luke 12 Jesus warns us to be on our guard against every from of greed, and then tells the parable of the rich fool. Ephesians 5.3 says, "But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;" We're told in the first two verses of the chapter to imitate God, and to walk in love as Christ did. Greed is in no way to be associated with us because it cannot be associated with God.
Greed has no place in our lives because it causes us to focus on wealth and possessions rather than on God. It ruins our lives. I think of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5. He's the servant of Elisha, probably in a role similar to what Elisha had with Elijah. In 2 Kings 5 Naaman comes to Elisha with leprosy, and Elisha tells him how to be healed. After the healing takes place Naaman returns and offers Elisha a reward, but he refuses to take it. Gehazi goes after Naaman and lies to receive part of the reward. He had a bright future, possibly as Elisha's successor, but greed cost him not only that, but also his health and the health of all of his descendants. 2 Kings 5.27, "'Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.' So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow."
Greed has no place in the life of those who seek to serve God. 1 Timothy 6.10 says, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." Earlier in 1 Timothy 3 Paul gives a list of the characteristics of Church leaders. In this list it says, "free from the love of money." Hebrews 13.5 says, "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “ I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”
Colossians 3:5 states, "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." Greed amounts to idolatry. Jesus said in Matthew 6.24, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." If we aren't serving God we're serving an idol.
There is nothing wrong with wealth or having nice things. I think Christians miss this point. Wealth is not evil, money is not evil. The love of money is evil, devotion to wealth is evil. The issue is not having wealth and possessions, but when that wealth and those possessions take the place of God and our desires are not for God but instead for more wealth. If our thirst is for God then it will be satisfied, Jesus talks about this in John 4. But if our thirst is for wealth it's like drinking salt water, the more you drink the thirstier you get. Wealth is never satisfied, greed is never satisfied. It's the perfect foothold of the devil because it keeps demanding more.
We cannot serve God and money, we cannot love both of them, Jesus said so. So which is it God or money? Generosity or greed? It's ok to have wealth, just use it humbly for the glory of God and for building His Kingdom.
If greed is a foothold that Satan has in your life, then I want to turn to the solution Jesus gives to a rich young man seeking eternal life. He's seeking God's quality of life, a life that is lived for the glory of God. Jesus says to Him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." In the parable of Luke 12, we are told to be rich towards God, and that we don't have to worry because God will take care of us.
I close with Psalm 37.25, "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."
Be generous, refuse to love and serve wealth and give the devil the foothold of greed in your life.
Peace be with you
Greed, "excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions." It's a desire that is never satisfied and always needs more. It never gives but hoards everything. It is the exact opposite of the Christian life style.
The word used in Luke 12 is pleonexias and it's translated as covetousness. This word means, "inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy." It's a desire for more, and it has no place in the life of a Christ follower.
In Luke 12 Jesus warns us to be on our guard against every from of greed, and then tells the parable of the rich fool. Ephesians 5.3 says, "But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;" We're told in the first two verses of the chapter to imitate God, and to walk in love as Christ did. Greed is in no way to be associated with us because it cannot be associated with God.
Greed has no place in our lives because it causes us to focus on wealth and possessions rather than on God. It ruins our lives. I think of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5. He's the servant of Elisha, probably in a role similar to what Elisha had with Elijah. In 2 Kings 5 Naaman comes to Elisha with leprosy, and Elisha tells him how to be healed. After the healing takes place Naaman returns and offers Elisha a reward, but he refuses to take it. Gehazi goes after Naaman and lies to receive part of the reward. He had a bright future, possibly as Elisha's successor, but greed cost him not only that, but also his health and the health of all of his descendants. 2 Kings 5.27, "'Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.' So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow."
Greed has no place in the life of those who seek to serve God. 1 Timothy 6.10 says, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." Earlier in 1 Timothy 3 Paul gives a list of the characteristics of Church leaders. In this list it says, "free from the love of money." Hebrews 13.5 says, "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “ I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”
Colossians 3:5 states, "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." Greed amounts to idolatry. Jesus said in Matthew 6.24, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." If we aren't serving God we're serving an idol.
There is nothing wrong with wealth or having nice things. I think Christians miss this point. Wealth is not evil, money is not evil. The love of money is evil, devotion to wealth is evil. The issue is not having wealth and possessions, but when that wealth and those possessions take the place of God and our desires are not for God but instead for more wealth. If our thirst is for God then it will be satisfied, Jesus talks about this in John 4. But if our thirst is for wealth it's like drinking salt water, the more you drink the thirstier you get. Wealth is never satisfied, greed is never satisfied. It's the perfect foothold of the devil because it keeps demanding more.
We cannot serve God and money, we cannot love both of them, Jesus said so. So which is it God or money? Generosity or greed? It's ok to have wealth, just use it humbly for the glory of God and for building His Kingdom.
If greed is a foothold that Satan has in your life, then I want to turn to the solution Jesus gives to a rich young man seeking eternal life. He's seeking God's quality of life, a life that is lived for the glory of God. Jesus says to Him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." In the parable of Luke 12, we are told to be rich towards God, and that we don't have to worry because God will take care of us.
I close with Psalm 37.25, "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."
Be generous, refuse to love and serve wealth and give the devil the foothold of greed in your life.
Peace be with you
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