Magic or Miracle?

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31 ESV). The Apostle John ends his Gospel with this wonderful statement about the many works of Jesus. He did list seven “signs” in the writing of the Gospel, one of them being the raising of Lazarus from the dead. However, there were many more things that Jesus did during his ministry preceding his death, burial, and resurrection. They were all amazing I’m sure. Yesterday when I told you about our trip to Beech Bend, I didn’t tell you all of the things we did do. I had a pretty exciting time. You know. I rode things like the bumper cars, the Tin Lizzies, and of course, I did a round or two through the House of Horror. Pretty tame, but then that seems to be my level of tolerance for pain. I did attend two of the magic shows. On the first one, we were entertained well. We decided to attend the later show because of the promise of an act by the escape artist that would “baffle” us all. We arrived in time to sit very near the stage. The magician came out and introduced the show. When it came time for the last act, he selected two participants from the audience. I was one of those selected. I went on stage and began to “help.” He showed us two ropes, one short one and one much longer. We examined them and found them to be ordinary ropes. He put a long, black coat on me. Then he began to tie his assistant with the ropes. First, he tied her hands behind her back. Then he tied the longer rope around her neck, wound it around her arms tying them on each arm, and then around her waist and tying it with a double knot. To make sure every knot was secure he asked me to examine them as we went along and to tie another know on the final securing of the rope. They were secure and tight. I was instructed to step inside a frame on the ground holding a curtain that was pulled up from my feet to above my head. The assistant, still tied up, stood behind me. Within seconds, I felt the coat stripped off and the curtain fell. I was standing there without the coat on and the assistant had it on with the ropes still tied on her. The only difference was the ropes were on the outside of the coat! And, no, I do not know how they did that! Isn’t it strange how we are compelled to ask “how?” that’s why John points us away from “how” to “who.” Jesus did all these things. I’m sure the apostle was amazed, wondering how he did them. What he learned was none of that was important. Jesus did them. And he did them so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Stop worrying about the how or even the what. Concentrate your energy on the Who. Believing in Him will bring you life! That’s the miracle. There’s no magic, just the miraculous!

The Festivals of God - Pt 4

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4 ESV). Pentecost was known in the Old Testament as the Feast of Harvest. It was a name that reflected the fact that this day marked the end of the spring grain harvests in the Holy Land. Though this was the end of the barley and wheat harvests, farmers still looked ahead to the large fall harvests. “Pentecost” is a name related to how this festival was counted. Instead of being on a fixed day on the Hebrew calendar each year as the other festivals are, it is counted starting with the Sunday during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Seven weeks were counted to the 50th day, another Sunday. This explains the names "Feast of Weeks," or "Pentecost," which is from a Greek word for 50th. The key to understanding the fulfillment of this feast in Christ is in the word “first-fruit.” The spring harvests were always a sign of things to come. They signaled the beginning of the long harvest season. As is true for us today, we harvest in spring, summer, and fall. By celebrating at the beginning of the harvest season they were signaling their faith in a good harvest at the end of the season also. We ought to connect the “first-fruit” of Jesus’ resurrection with the coming of the Holy Spirit as he is our guarantee for our own resurrection. This is the source of our hope for this life. Here’s Matthew Henry’s explanation: All who believe in Christ have hope in Him; all who believe in Him as Redeemer hope for redemption and salvation by Him; but if there be no resurrection, their hope in Him must be limited to this life. And if all their hopes in Christ lie within the compass of this life, they are in a much worse condition than the rest of humanity, especially at that time and under those conditions in which the apostles wrote, for then they were hated and persecuted by all people. Preachers and believers therefore have a hard lot if in this life only they have hope in Christ. Better to be anything than a Christian under these terms! It is a gross absurdity in a Christian to admit the supposition of no resurrection or future state. It would leave no hope beyond this world, and would frequently make his condition the worst in the world. Indeed, the Christian is by his religion crucified to this world, and taught to live upon the hope of another. Carnal pleasures are tasteless to him in a great degree, and spiritual and heavenly pleasures are those which he pants after. How sad is his case indeed, if he must be dead to worldly pleasures and yet never hope for any better! Early, God was teaching through this feast in the Old Covenant. This life was never intended to be the final word. Our final word came through the resurrection of Jesus. We have the Holy Spirit a small taste of the glory of that great day!

The Festivals of God - Pt 3

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:14-20 ESV). The festival of the Passover has been celebrated by Israel for thousands of years. It is the retelling of the great story of how God redeemed Israel from their enslavement in Egypt. The celebration itself was given to the Jews while they were still in Egypt. The original celebration focused around the Passover lamb, which was sacrificed and its blood put over the doorposts as a sign of faith. This sign of faith would allow those within the house to escape the judgment of God. God instructed Moses that angels would come into the land and every first-born of Egypt would die. Only the faith represented by the blood of the lamb would save them from the same fate. Jesus gives the completion of the Passover in the last meal he celebrated with his disciples. He declared he was the final “Passover Lamb.” The day Jesus was crucified was the day of the Passover celebration and the day that the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. For over twelve centuries, the priest would blow the shophar at 3:00 p.m. It was at this moment the lamb was to be sacrificed, and all the people would pause to contemplate the sacrifice for sins on behalf of the people of Israel. It was at this hour, when Jesus was being crucified, that He said, "It is finished." The sacrifice of the lamb of God was fulfilled at the hour that the symbolic animal sacrifice usually took place. At the same time, the veil of the Temple, a three-inch thick, several story high cloth that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple, tore from top to bottom. This was a clear representation of the removal of the separation between God and man. Fifty days later, on the anniversary of the giving of the law, Pentecost, God came in the person of the Holy Spirit to inhabit those who call on the name of Jesus. There is more symbolism in the Passover. Early in the Seder three matzahs are put together, representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The middle matzah is broken, wrapped in a white cloth, and hidden, representing the death and burial of Jesus. The matzah itself is designed to represent Jesus, since it is striped and pierced, which was prophesized by Isaiah, David, and Zechariah. Following the Seder meal, the "buried" matzah is "resurrected," which was foretold in the prophecies of the prophets and David. When Jesus instituted the Supper, it was to complete the Passover. It was Jesus’ way of informing the disciples that the work of atonement was finished. God has always pointed people to the ultimate solution to their sin in His Son. As Christians we have so much to celebrate. My prayer is that you will make your celebration daily. Don’t just wait for a special occasion at your church. Jesus has redeemed us finally and forever!

The Festivals of God - Pt 2

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11 ESV). There is no doubt that God created a Sabbath for men. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day made much ado about the keeping of this weekly observance. In answer to this Jesus reminded them that the Sabbath was created for man, not man for the Sabbath (cf. Mark 2:27). It is natural for us to ask whether it still matters. One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had. "I don't get it," he said. "Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did." "But you didn't notice," said the winning woodsman, "that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest." There is some of that truth within the importance of keeping the “Sabbath” today. There are those who would call us to a very strict interpretation of the time of Sabbath. For the Jew it was to be observed from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. J. Vernon McGee tells this story about a man who wanted to argue about the Sabbath. The man said, "I'll give you $100 if you will show me where the Sabbath day has been changed." McGee answered, "I don't think it has been changed. Saturday is Saturday, it is the seventh say of the week, and it is the Sabbath day. I realize our calendar has been adjusted, and can be off a few days, but we won't even consider that point. The seventh day is still Saturday, and it is still the Sabbath day." He got a gleam in his eye and said, "Then why don't you keep the Sabbath day if it hasn't been changed?" McGee answered, "The DAY hasn't changed, but I have been changed. I've been given a new nature now, I am joined to Christ; I am a part of the new creation. We celebrate the first day because that is the day He rose from the grave." That is what it means that the ordinances have been nailed to the cross (cf. Colossians 2:14). There should be a time set aside in your life to gather with the community of Christ and study, pray, and worship. However, it is not because of the requirement of the Law; it is due to the great gift of reconciliation through the work of Christ. It is a time of celebration we are called to observe. Once a week is not too often to set aside for that kind of party! That will bring rest to your weary minds and hearts!

The Festivals of God - Pt 1

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” (John 4:21-26 ESV). There are seven major festivals proscribed in the Old Testament. Jesus fulfilled the old covenant and its commandments; and with that fulfillment comes a release from observing these rituals. However, there is much to be learned from each of them. In the next few days we’ll look at each one in some detail. Each miracle and each time Jesus taught the disciples, there was a design to enable his audience, and ultimately us through the inspiration of Scripture, to help us grow and receive eternal life. Many of Christ's teachings used agricultural analogies to help illustrate spiritual truths. That is true of our reading today. Consider the scene as Jesus tried to open His disciples' eyes to their role in God's spiritual harvest. John 4 describes Jesus and His disciples traveling through the area of the despised Samaritans, the foreign peoples placed in the land by the Assyrians when they took Israel captive (cf. 2 Kings 17:24-41). Though the Samaritans had some elements of biblical truth, the Jews avoided them because they had combined it with pagan religious customs. Jesus was wearied and sat by the well while His disciples went into town to buy food. When His disciples came back, they were astonished to find Him breaking the Jew's taboos by talking with the Samaritan woman at the well! Perhaps they heard Him reveal to her that He was the Messiah. As the woman rushed off to tell everyone what she'd discovered, Jesus used this surprising setting as a teaching moment for His disciples. “Do you not say, "There are still four months and then comes the harvest"? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together'" (John 4:31-36). Jesus was calling His disciples to work in His great spiritual harvest. Whether in the chance encounters of life or the intentional missionary work in our assigned field, we need to be ever ready to give such an account of our faith. We’ll see this in each of the festivals also. The seven festivals occur during three harvest seasons in Israel. Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread occur at the beginning of the barley harvest in the spring. The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, occurs at the end of the barley and wheat harvests. The last four festivals are all in the late summer and autumn harvest season. These are known as the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day (which we often refer to as the Last Great Day). Tomorrow we will consider the importance of “Sabbath.”

Our Enmey, the DEvil - Pt 12

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV). There is one last instruction the apostle leaves us with: praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. After listing six traditional pieces of Roman armor, the apostle Paul urged his readers to pray. This instruction is the key to it all. There is no doubt that God's armor is comprehensive. In this series we have spent time examining it, from the ideas behind it, to its purpose and application. It is an absolutely essential part of surviving and winning our battle against Satan. However, without prayer, it is all for nothing. Barnes' Notes comments, "No matter how complete the armor; no matter how skilled we may be in the science of war; no matter how courageous we may be, we may be certain that without prayer we shall be defeated. God alone can give the victory; and when the Christian soldier goes forth armed completely for the spiritual conflict, if he looks to God by prayer, he may be sure of a triumph". If we equip ourselves with God's armor, we must also be determined to keep a steady stream of connection with Him. He is the commander of His spiritual army, and He alone knows how to lead it to victory. This is the effect of consistent prayer. In one region of Africa, the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying. In fact, the believers each had their own special place outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these “prayer rooms” by using their own private footpaths through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these trails, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much. Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare, a unique custom sprang up. When ever anyone noticed an overgrown “Prayer path,” he or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!” Perhaps as we close this series, I simply need to ask, “How’s your path?” I know you are in the battle. Life is harder than I have ever seen for more people than ever before in my lifetime. If you are one of those folks, get your armor on and pray! Slay that old dragon, the Devil!

Our Enemy, the Devil - Pt 11

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV). The fifth piece of armor Paul mentions in Ephesians 6 is the “sword of the Spirit." Throughout the world, there are certain individuals, real and fictional, whose identity remains almost inseparable from their weapon of choice. From England, there is King Arthur and his sword, Excalibur; from the Middle East, Ali and his scimitar, Zulfiqar; from Spain, El Cid and his long sword, Tizona; and, from Scotland, William Wallace and his unnamed claymore. The sword is the only item listed by Paul that serves in an offensive capacity. Even if we have all the rest of the armor equipped perfectly, without our sword, we amount to little more than heavily armored moving targets. The Roman gladius has become known as "the sword that conquered the world." Adapted from a Spanish design, the prowess of the gladius in close range combat made it a fearsome tool in the hand of a skilled Roman warrior. When sharpened, its dual edges wreaked havoc on unarmored foes, while its tapered point could pierce through even heavy metal armor. A Roman infantryman would go into battle armed with more than just his gladius. He would also have a dagger (pugio), several one-time use spears (pila) and lead-weighted darts (plumbatae), but the sword was his main means of attack. The sword is the only weapon Paul lists as part of the Christian arsenal. Unlike all other pieces of the armor of God, which are solely defensive, the sword is uniquely suited for both defensive and offensive roles. A solid defense is invaluable, but the sword is the only way we can complete the work we have been given to do. The Romans relied in part on assailing their enemy from a distance with javelins and darts, but God does not give us that option as Christian soldiers. If we were able to fight our battles from a distance, we would never experience an actual trial. Paul only lists one weapon because we only need one weapon. There is no enemy the Word of God cannot defeat. And so, armed only with our sword, we step out to fight our enemies head-on. The struggle is real. It is immediate, and it is in front of us. We need not worry over the outcome. We already have the promise of victory. We only need to suit up and engage the enemy!

Our Enemy, the Devil - Pt 10

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV). The fourth piece of armor Paul mentions in Ephesians 6 is the “helmet of salvation." The Roman helmet, like helmets today, protected the head from the attacks of the enemy. There is some evidence to suggest that the Romans had special ceremonial helmets used in parades that denoted rank and standing. Regardless, the function of the helmet is our concern today. At the outset, let’s simply be reminded that salvation cannot be earned. It is a gift from God and not something we can obtain through the right actions, thus obligating God to give it to us. In no way do the efforts of good works, however worthy they may seem, make up for our sin that caused the death of Jesus to be necessary for our redemption. It is first and always a work of God’s grace. So, “putting on the helmet of salvation” is not our work. That being said, we ought to realize that the helmet will do us no good sitting in the corner of our souls. Paul is talking about the battle ongoing in our lives daily. This is a part of sanctification, not justification. Salvation describes the ongoing conversion process. I find people often confused at this point. When we are born again it merely begins the journey that was set into motion before the foundation of the world by the sovereign choice of God. It is a journey that involves our participation. We walk the walk through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. That requires taking a step. It is also an indicator that the greatest part of the battle is in our mind, not our body. Paul references this truth when he talks about being transformed “through the renewing of our mind” (cf. Romans 12:2). This involves having God's truth written in our hearts and minds. That requires we search for it through diligent familiarity with the Scripture. We will never be covered in our minds without an ample dose of Scripture. Daily we should put on this helmet with the reading of God’s word, praying for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as we come to the understanding of it. The apostle will speak to this with the next piece of equipment.

Our Enemy, the Devil - Pt 9

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV). The third piece of armor Paul mentions in Ephesians 6 is the “shield of faith." Up until now, Paul's description of the armor of God has been limited to items we wear. We put on the belt, the breastplate and the shoes, and they essentially hold themselves up. The shield is different. Paul tells us that the shield is something we must take up, something we are required to raise. Just strapping it to our arm won't do any good at all if we don't make the effort to hold it aloft and use it. The Roman shield, the scutum, was not the standard "medieval-esque" shield most picture in their minds upon hearing the word. It was instead a very large, slightly curved rectangular shield featuring at its center a large metal knob called a boss. The scutum presented an impressive line of defense. Because of its sheer size, soldiers were afforded a great deal of protection from enemies. Because of its slight curve, it was able to deflect attacks without transferring the full force of the assault to the man holding the shield. Because of its boss, it was able to deflect even the more vicious blows and function in a limited offensive capacity as a means of knocking an opponent backwards. There are some particular applications for believers. First, a shield guards. While a physical shield protects us physically, faith can protect our spiritual lives even in the middle of physical trials. When Satan (through Nebuchadnezzar) attacked the values and beliefs of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they were able to stand resolute and unwavering because of their faith. Second, a shield deflects. Satan is always hurling his fiery darts of fear, doubt and worry in our direction, but the only time they can hit us is when we let our shield of faith down, when we stop believing that God is in control; that He is working everything out for our good; that whatever happens is for the ultimate best of everyone involved, however little it seems to be that way. Third, a shield is the first line of defense. While the rest of our armor helps protect us from Satan's onslaught, it is not what you ideally want to be using to absorb every hit. You do not, for instance, go out into battle intentionally blocking everything with your head. Fourth, a shield can incapacitate the enemy. When Christ was being tempted by Satan, His faith in the Word and commands of God repelled Satan. The boss (the metal knob in the middle) on the Roman shields allowed soldiers to give their enemies a stun-inducing shove that would allow them to follow through with an attack. Our faith in God, as demonstrated by Christ, can also give Satan a good shove backwards and give us a chance to fight back the attach of our enemy.

Our Enemy, the Devil - Pt 8

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV). The third piece of armor Paul mentions in Ephesians 6 is the shoes of "the readiness given by the gospel of peace." Imagine a fully armed soldier. He has his sword, his shield, his helmet, his breastplate and his belt, but his feet are completely bare. The picture probably seems strange, and it should! Just by thinking about it, we can tell something is missing. But the problem goes beyond just looking odd. A shoeless soldier could run into real trouble in the heat of battle. The battlefield is not a carpeted artificial surface. It is riddled with debris, rocks, and other things to cause us to stumble. One of the last things you want to deal with in the middle of a fight is worrying about where you step. In short, shoes allow us to step freely and without fear while we turn our full attention to the battle at hand. It allows us to maintain a position of strength during the heat of battle. The question for us is what are these shoes made from the “gospel of peace”? The gospel of the Kingdom, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of the Kingdom of God, the gospel of the grace of God, the gospel of peace are some of descriptions attached to the word gospel throughout the New Testament. Do all these different qualifiers mean that there are multiple gospels set forth in the Bible? Of course not. The Greek word translated gospel, euaggelion, simply means "good news." This raises a question: The good news of what? The first description used in the Gospels also summarizes all the others: The gospel of the Kingdom. The good news of the Kingdom of God includes the good news about Jesus Christ, His grace, and His plan of salvation for all mankind. This plan gives us peace now, and will bring peace to the whole world! This is the message God's people are eager to share with others. Our loving Father is preparing us all for a future beyond imagination and description. This is the message that gives us sure footing in the midst of the enemies attacks. No matter what he might whisper in our ear, God’s “good news” has already been shouted from the heavens! Jesus is alive!

Our Enemy, the Devil - Pt 7

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV). Next the apostle lists “the breastplate of righteousness.” The breastplate was a central part of the Roman soldier's armor; it provided protection for the torso, which contains vital organs like the heart, lungs and so on. Without a breastplate, a soldier would be asking for death, as any attack could instantly become fatal. With a sturdy breastplate, the very same attacks become ineffective and useless, as blows glance off the armor. To be righteous is to do what is right in God's eyes. God's commandments are righteousness. In contrast, lawlessness is sin, and sin is the opposite of righteousness. So to be righteous is to obey God's laws of love. Iniquities and sins are actions and thoughts that go against God's laws. Since they are in conflict with God's way of living and are harmful to ourselves and others, we cut ourselves off from God and His protection! It should not be lost on us that there are none of us who may make a claim to any measure of righteousness. The prophet Isaiah says, We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (Isaiah 64:6 ESV). Some translations use the phrase “filthy rags” when translating “polluted garment.” The meaning is very clear. No matter how good we may behave, our good deeds are no more than trash. They are polluted by our sin and rebellion. Once we recognize this truth, we must turn our attention to the one man who entered our race and lived fulfilling every law, Jesus. Unlike any other, Jesus makes the claim of righteousness on our behalf through his work on the Cross. Of course, this does not preclude us from being righteous in our lives; it does mean without Jesus our efforts are in vain. To defeat our enemy we must put on the person of Jesus Christ, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Get your breastplate on!

Our Enemy, the Devil - Pt 6

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV). Today we begin looking specifically at each piece of armor provided for us in this battle we find ourselves. It is “the belt of truth.” The belt, known as the cingulum or balteus played a crucial role in the effectiveness of a soldier's armor. It was the belt that held the scabbard, without which there would be no place to put a sword. Imagine an overzealous soldier, fired up and charging out into battle, but without his belt, and consequently without a weapon! In addition, from the belt hung strips of leather to protect the lower body; it secured all the other pieces of our armor. There are two things we ought to pay close attention to in our examination of this piece of armor. First, recognize that the ultimate truth is Jesus (cf. John 14:6). For us we find the truth of Jesus in the Scripture. His promises, His commands, His words, they are all truth, plain and simple. If God says something, there is no force that can stop Him from doing it; we can rest assured that it will be done. Second, like a belt, the truth should encompass us. Jesus had some interesting words to say about oaths and vows when examined by the religious leaders of his day: Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil (Matthew 5:37 ESV). Truth is not merely something we utter; it is much more than mere words. The truth should be our lifestyle. It is how we live surrounded by a world that is our enemy. One of the devil’s best weapons is a life of partial truth. I like the story where the Devil was walking along with one of his cohorts. They saw a man ahead of them pick up something shiny. "What did he find?" asked the cohort. "A piece of the truth," the Devil replied. "Doesn't it bother you that he found a piece of the truth?" asked the cohort. "No," said the Devil, "I will see to it that he makes a religion out of it." Put on the truth… the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. You will then stand against the enemy!

Our Enemy, the Devil - Pt 5

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV). We get to the meat of the matter in our resistance against the devil today. It will take us a while to get through today’s reading. There is so much of importance here. Today I want us to concentrate on the first statement by the apostle: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. We should not miss the enjoinder of the apostle. Our strength does not come from our armor or weapons; it comes from the Lord. I found this to be true as I did a study some years ago through the Biblical refere4nces to armor. The first time I did a study on the armor of God, I looked up all the Bible references to armor, searching for passages that would support and enhance the importance of wearing armor when charging off into battle. I was a bit disappointed to find that Saul’s armor did not fit David and that Goliath’s armor was useless against David’s stone. I also discovered that a stray arrow found a crack in Ahab’s armor, killing the wicked king. “So much for the value of armor!” I thought. But then I realized that we are not called to wear the faulty body armor of Saul, Ahab, or Goliath. Rather, we must put on the unfailing armor of God! In fact, at the very moment that Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, he might well have been chained to a soldier sporting the armor of the Roman Empire. Paul could see firsthand how frail the defenses of man were against the prince of darkness. This is why he twice emphasized “the armor of God.” It is also clear that Paul was expanding on the words of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah: Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives. (Isaiah 59:15-19 ESV). Trust in the Lord! He will not let you down. He has won the battle for us over our enemy!

Our Enemy, the Devil - Pt 4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:3-10 ESV). Dadgummit! Or at least something to the effect is often thought or said every time we do something we know better than to do. It’s called guilt. Like the pain we feel when we step on a sharp piece of glass, guilt is our moral warning system. Guilt is not necessarily a bad thing, because it is a reaction to something in our lives that is not right. However, the devil can use guilt to drive us to despair, losing hope, and feeling defeated and rejected. This is why it is important to distinguish between Satan's accusations and the Spirit's conviction. A feeling of guilt and shame is not a bad thing if it comes from the Spirit of God. But if it drives us to despair and hopelessness, then we have listened to the wrong voice. The devil is called the accuser (cf. Revelation 12:12). He has no remorse or shame in leveling the cruelest of accusations against the people of God. His personal mission is to convince us that we are not worthy to approach God. Unfortunately, there is some truth to that accusation. We were never worthy. We will never be worthy. On our best day, we weren't even close to being worthy. The only means of becoming worthy to approach the presence of God Almighty, Creator of the heavens and the earth is in the work of Jesus Christ, His Son and our Savior. As believers, we have been made acceptable to God through what Christ did for us on the cross. We have been made acceptable in the Beloved. It is because of Jesus that we can come to God. So don't ever let the devil's accusations drive you away from the cross, where you will find forgiveness. You have a choice. The next time you sin, you can either give up in despair, or you can come back to the Lord and repent. Remember this simple truth: Satan will always seek to drive you away from the cross, but the Holy Spirit will always draw you back to the cross. There will never be a time we are not welcome there!

Our Enemy, the Devil - Pt 3

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by. (Zechariah 3:1-5 ESV). If you are very much like I am, then you often are perplexed with the frequency of taking one step forward just to take two steps back! It would be wonderful if our Christian journey were just one steady rise to perfection with very little, if any, setbacks. However, we all know that simply is not the case. In fact, the Scripture instructs us that this life will be one of trial and challenge. If we are not very careful it can lead us to a sense of failure and a desire to quit. Be that as it may, I have some good news for you. Failure and guilt need never be a motivation to quit again. This is a tactic the devil uses over and over again. He first tempts you to sin and then accuses you once you give in to that sin. And having led you into sin, he doesn't just leave you to suffer the consequences. Instead, he wants to make sure that you are doubly defeated. He wants to drive you away from the presence of God. This is the backdrop of our reading today. Zechariah was given this wonderful vision from the Lord. It concerned Joshua. He was standing condemned, just like us when we sin. The devil was going for the kill, but suddenly he stopped in his tracks because God made this incredible declaration of his protection and redemption. He was “a brand plucked from the fire.” He belonged to God. John Wesley's father, Samuel, was a dedicated pastor, but there were those in his parish who did not like him. On February 9, 1709, a fire broke out in the rectory at Epworth, possibly set by one of the rector's enemies. Young John, not yet six years old, was stranded on an upper floor of the building. Two neighbors rescued him just seconds before the roof crashed in. One neighbor stood on the other's shoulders and pulled the young boy through the window. Samuel Wesley said, "Come, neighbors, let us kneel down. Let us give thanks to God. He has given me all my eight children. Let the house go. I am rich enough." John Wesley often referred to himself as a "brand plucked out of the fire." In later years he often noted February 9th in his journal and gave thanks to God for His mercy. Samuel Wesley labored for 40 years at Epworth and saw very little fruit; but consider what his family accomplished! Aren't you glad you are His? Don't let the devil drive you away from the presence of God.

Our Enemy, the Devil - Pt 2

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5 ESV). In the Garden of Eden, the devil was clever. When he wanted to lead the first man and woman into sin, he was subtle in his dissimulation of the truth. It is a trait that is passed on to many in our human nature. By the way, he has not changed at all through the ages. His attacks and temptations in the Bible make it clear that he still uses the same tactics today. This is essential for us to understand. Once we see the strategies of our enemy, it is much easier to recognize the attacks and stand firm without faltering in our commitment. So, let’s go back to our reading today and see exactly how Satan tempted Eve in the Garden. In the verses above we see two things that Satan did to bring about Eve's fall. First, he called into question the honesty and truthfulness of God. God had not hidden his will from the first couple. He had told Adam and Even that everything within the garden on every tree was good to eat. However, they were also told that should they eat the fruit of this one tree, they would surely die. Satan began his temptation by calling God a liar. Second, he substituted his lie for the truth they had already heard. Isn’t this really what sin is all about today? It is so easy to believe a lie when the truth is disagreeable to us. From the earliest of age we can see the evidence of this sin in our base human nature. Eve was in the wrong place at the wrong time, listening to the wrong voice, which led to her doing the wrong thing. But don't blame Eve or Adam. If we had been in the Garden, we would have done the same thing. The easiest path for us is to be very aware of the tactics of the devil. Don't be in the wrong place, listening to the wrong voice, and doing the wrong thing never works out well. John Piper says that sin "gets its power by persuading me to believe that I will be happier if I follow it. The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier." The only way to happiness is following the direction of the will and purpose of God in our lives. The defeat of our enemy begins with a commitment to follow Christ and his example of submission, even to the point of death on the cross.

Our Enemy - the Devil - Pt 1

How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15 ESV). This Sunday I am continuing in the exposition of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. I will begin with a message, continuing for the next few weeks, dealing with the reality of our true enemy, the Devil. Perhaps, if you are in the area, you may wish to worship with us at Santa Fe Baptist to hear them. Additionally, I will be doing a few devotionals that I pray will serve as background and further inspiration. So, let’s begin at the beginning. I am often asked whether I really believe in a literal “devil.” Sometimes, I am asked a follow up question as to where the devil came from in the first place. There are others who want to know how a good God could create such an evil being as the devil. First, let me be very clear in my assertion that I do believe in a “devil.” I would give him the same name the Scripture assigns to this being. In our reading today he is called “Day Star, son of Dawn.” In other passages he is called “Lucifer.” If I am going to believe other passages in the Scripture, it is absolutely unavoidable that I also believe in a created being who is the antithesis of Christ. I usually just call him the devil. Second, let me also say that God did not create someone as horrible as the devil. The devil became this way. He made a deliberate choice that turned him into what he is today: an intelligent, wicked, spiritual being who is bent on the destruction of humanity. In fact, I find it interesting to read in the first chapter of Genesis that God saw everything He had made and it was good (cf. Genesis 1:31). So apparently at that point, all the angels were still under God's direction. There was no rebellion. But then in Genesis 3, we see the serpent, or Satan, tempting Eve. Something drastic happened between Genesis 1 and Genesis 3. This once high-ranking, beautiful angel known as Lucifer rebelled against God. I believe Lucifer was not satisfied with the preeminence of God. He wanted to be placed ahead of God. He desired to be worshipped. Like man, when he made that choice, he lost his former, exalted position in heaven. By the way, Lucifer means "son of the morning," which he was. But Satan means "accuser," which he is. So Lucifer became Satan when he fell. He lived with God in heaven, but because of his bad choice, his destination is a bottomless pit and a lake of fire and brimstone forever. He knows the finality of the judgment of God; and, he desires that as many of us join him in his eternal damnation. He is our enemy. God has given us a means of escape and victory. His name is Jesus! That is the beginning. Join me there!

GPS

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf. (Colossians 1:3-7 ESV). Did you know that you were prewired for hope? We all have been given a preset GPS that marks “home.” There is a restlessness in the human heart for something more than this world can offer. As Augustine said, "You created us for Yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you." As believers, our hope is built on a sure foundation, and that is the hope of heaven. The apostle Paul spoke of faith that springs from this hope: Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth" (Colossians 1:4). It is a bit like the Golden Plovers. Native to Hawaii, these little birds migrate during the summer to the Aleutian Isles, some 1,200 miles away. There they mate and lay their eggs. Then, after their little fledglings are born, they return to Hawaii. Even more amazing is that their little fledglings, which are too young to return with their parents, fly to Hawaii once they have grown a little. God has given them a homing instinct that makes this possible. In the same way, God has given us a homing instinct for a place we have never been. We have never been to heaven, but we long for it, because heaven is our home. C. S. Lewis calls it the “inconsolable longing.” This is what the Bible means when it says that God has set eternity in our hearts (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:11). Like the Golden Plovers, we have a heavenly GPS. This truth has incredible repercussions for us in the circumstances of life. Whether we find ourselves in a time of peace or a time of trial; whether we have made a good choice or a poor choice; we are bound for our heavenly home. And, we will arrive safe and complete. For me this gives me great hope in the future. Regardless of my limitations, I know God being limitless will never lose me to some other person, place, or thing. Even the choices I make, though they may take me far afield from my “perfect” path, God will not let me stray so far that his presence is not affecting the outcome of my final disposition. He is bringing me home. I can make that a lot easier on myself if I will merely trust him. How about you? Maybe it’s time to set your path to take you home the best route!

Forrest Gump

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:3-10 ESV). Today, in our church, we are having a very special guest speaker, “Forrest Gump.” Actually, we will have one of the premier Forrest Gump impersonators in our church to deliver a wonderful message of encouragement and hope in character. Paul Dengler is known throughout the country for his work as Forrest Gump. You remember back in 1994, when the film Forrest Gump became an unexpected summer blockbuster and cultural phenomenon, riding the crest all the way to six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, and Actor. Tom Hanks was the leading character and did an incredible job in portraying this character. One of the principles that strikes me as a key message in the film is the difference in the philosophies of Lt. Dan and Mama. This difference is usually reserved for theological discussion boards and accompanying threads dealing with Free Will in contrast to Predestination. Lieutenant Dan represents the latter. He says, "We all have a destiny! Nothing just happens! It’s all part of a plan!" And Mama the former, as she says, "Well, I happen to believe you make your own destiny." This debate is a universal struggle, because not only do the answers we arrive at affect our destiny but also our identity. Is there an overarching design and plan we were born into? Or are we the masters of our own fates? Or, more troubling still, are both views wrong? Are we instead simply like the floating white feather that bookends the film, randomly taken to wherever the wind wills? Forrest goes back-and-forth between these ideologies not knowing where to land, until late in the film when he has a gravesite epiphany. I believe there's truth to the conclusion he draws. He is speaking to Jenny, who has died, and says, "Maybe both is happening at the same time." His story, like any life with its unexpected surprises and challenges, makes a credible case for it. Certainly the Apostle Paul indicates as much in our reading today. While our redemption is of God from beginning to end, once we are born again we are then empowered by the Holy Spirit to make those choices within the parameters of His work of sanctification that will determine our immediate circumstance. God never abandons us to our choices; and, He always uses every experience for our good. However, remember there are always consequences to our choices. We reap what we sow (cf. Galatians 6:7). The question I am forced to ask is: “What have I chosen in this great life of grace God has given me?”

Our Children's Children - Pt 5

Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. (Isaiah 43:16-21 ESV). I hate goodbyes. I really do. This week has been a week of “goodbyes.” I must remind myself that goodbyes don’t mark endings, but beginnings. They should not come with sadness, but joy. I must hold onto the hope that God gives to us. Our reading underscores that principle as God gave the Israelites this wonderful promise. God reminds Israel that He brought them up out of Egypt and rescued them in one of the most amazing miracles imaginable. I love the verses in Scripture that detail God’s rescue of His people. I love them because they instill hope; they remind me that God is with us and will go before and behind us. When God places a new path before us that calls us to move in a different direction than we had planned, we are reminded that he intends good for us. These are thoughts of hope, not sorrow. Maybe we hold onto the here and now because that less clear-cut path that God is calling us to take is scary. The known is easier. Goodbyes are scarier. But His word reminds us that a new beginning is His way. He allows goodbyes so that He can give us even more hope. Goodbyes open doors to new beginnings. The Gospel message was a new beginning, a new covenant between God and all mankind. It also marked a new way of coming before God, directly rather than through a man. There is peace in knowing God’s plan is a new one, that He doesn’t expect us to say goodbye, but rather to remember His faithfulness and trust that whatever path He has put us on is good. That is hope. Hope in the future God calls us to, the path that may seem less certain. There is peace in knowing that goodbyes are necessary. They are necessary to following the path God has for us. They are necessary. They can be sad; but, they are not endings in the sense that they are left behind. Rather, they are, like the history the Israelites took with them as they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, reminders of the plan God has for us. It is a plan to give us hope and a future. So, for now, as I wave goodbye to the kids going out the drive to make their home in Texas, I can be absolutely certain that God has placed before me a plan for a path full of grace. Are there some goodbyes you are saying this week? Rest in his plan and purpose. It is for your good! What a great principle to practice and teach to our children!

Our Children's Children - Pt 4

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:6-8 ESV). In our little series titled “Our Children’s Children” I’ve sought to walk you through some of my thought processes as we transition in our lives over the next few months. One of the great things about moving back to Texas is that we will be living within a short walk from Faith and Logan. Faith is especially excited about the prospect. I have told her that since I get up early every morning, it wouldn’t be any problem for her to stroll over and enjoy grandpa’s pancakes any time she wants. That thought brought me to another principle of truth found in our reading today. The writer encourages us to remember “our leaders.” The word may be better translated as “pilgrims,” or “travelers.” I’m told that along the old Oregon Trail in Idaho there is a marker, a giant lava boulder known locally as Register Rock. It’s located in an area which was one of the favorite overnight camping areas for westbound immigrants who traveled the trail in the 19th century. Travelers often inscribed their names on the rock as a memorial to their passage. Register Rock stands as a monument to their courage and tenacity. When I think of Register Rock, I think of other pilgrims who have passed by us on their journey. Hebrews 11 lists some of those hardy souls - Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel, to name a few. But there are other more recent pilgrims in my life who have passed this way. They may not have inscribed their names on rocks, but they’re written in my memory. Men like Bailey Stone, Bill Shamburger, and D. L. Lowry, who were early mentors in the ministry. Each had a special part in the forming of my theology and practical application of it in daily life. There have been many others, too many to name really. However, the point is each of them helped me along the way by simply traveling the path. Thinking about each of them reminds me of my responsibility to be such a pilgrim. I ought to remember that there will be others who will travel beside and behind me, especially my children’s children. I wonder what will be said of the way I walked in my journey. Was it done in faith or fear; was it in hope or despair? I pray it will be the former of those and not the latter. I may insure that by keeping my eyes clear focused on the principle “pilgrim.” Jesus has walked this way and shown us exactly how we may be triumphant in our own journey. I need to follow in his steps and thus lead others to do the same. How are you leading your children and their children? Point them to Jesus!

Our Children's Children - Pt 3

Two things are happening today. First, it is Kyle’s birthday! Then, it is also moving day for his family. They will depart for Texas today. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching how they have prepared for the move over the last few weeks. It has been controlled chaos in some ways. Once they decided to make the move the first step was to sell their home. They contacted a realtor and before it was listed formally, they had multiple offers and accepted one of them. That put everything into fast forward! I am proud of the way they have handled all the challenges of the move. It is never easy to do so and maintain some semblance of family life at the same time. It seems to me that Faith and Logan are looking forward to the new “adventure.” Onc e again I am instructed by the Lord through my children. Let me draw your attention to the Scripture first; then I’ll mention a couple of things that may help you in your journey with your family. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. (Hebrews 11:8-12 ESV). Regardless of how much “home” they will be relocating to, there is a sense of the unknown. Much has changed in the last twenty years. Some things will be familiar, while others will seem foreign and unusual. In our reading today, Abraham was faced with such a challenge. He was leaving his home to travel to an unknown country at the behest of God. All of that country would be foreign to him. He would have his family with him though. That would provide for him the anchor point for all the future unknowns he would experience. Isn’t that really what life is all about? As Kyle celebrates his 41st birthday, it is a great time to remember the anchor points. It helps me as I begin to look forward to my own future. While our present plan is that we won’t be leaving Tennessee for six months, I know my anchor point. It is not merely my earthly family, though that is significant; it is my heavenly family. A home, whether in Tennessee or Texas, is really temporary. God is leading all of us to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. It will be ready right on time. There won’t be any last minute challenges with home closings or movers. I won’t be the least bit challenged in that last move. That gives me an incredible sense of peace. Do you have that peace? Happy Birthday, Kyle! Have a safe and wonderful move!

Our Children's Children - Pt 2

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:15-19 ESV). Today we continue down the journey. I am reminded of a second principle beyond taking the first step trusting the Lord. It is the importance of learning how to talk to yourself; and, it is learning to silence the condemnation of our enemy and rest in the hope we have in Christ. For an answer to how we practically do this, I’d like to highlight two observations. First, remind yourself of what the LORD has done. Sin, pain, or sorrow can blind us to God’s present working and, occasionally, even the miraculous ways he's worked in our lives in the past. And while we might argue with our journal or with our memory, God’s work in redemptive history is unassailable. David says, But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. David takes us back to the most pivotal event he can think of. And it's not in the valley of Elah with three smooth stones in his hand and a sling by his side. In fact, it's not even an event from his lifetime. Instead, David brings us back to Sinai. It is the moment when the LORD worked powerfully and victoriously and decisively to redeem his people out of Egyptian bondage. He brings us back to the moments when God demonstrated his covenant-keeping love. We should follow David’s example to get our minds around concrete, unassailable realities of his work in redemptive history. Revisit the redemptive work of God in others and in yourself. Remember! Second, cling to the truth about the Lord. David says, The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. David is quoting Exodus 34:6. David, Moses, Jonah, Jeremiah, Joel, Nehemiah, and Hezekiah all went here for help. And David, having to mind this text, begins to spin out all its implications. God’s anger does not last forever, sin has been cast as far as the east is from the west, God’s compassion will not fail because David is his. David is moved. A heart that was faltering is now soaring. When you’re talking to yourself, are you reminding yourself of what God has done for you in Christ Jesus? I have found it very important to remember what the Lord has already done. The next step in my journey then becomes very easy. After all, it’s no step for a stepper. And the Lord is a stepper!

Our Children's Children - Pt 1

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:15-19 ESV). I have a confession to make today. For the first time in a very long time, I don’t know which direction to go with Morning Devotionals. So, I have decided to take you along with me on this part of the journey that God has begun on my life. It has been exciting the past few months to say the least. Almost a year and a half ago Kyle told me that he would likely be looking for another position apart from the research position at Vanderbilt. There were very good reason for this, of which none are really important to my journey. The short story of this event is that it ultimately led him to a decision to move back to Ft. Worth, Texas, very near where we have called home. Most of the family still lives in the area for both he and Brandy. As has been the case in my life, I was faced with my own decisions to make. Do we stay in Tennessee? Do we move back to Texas? What about the church I pastor? What will happen with the ministry we have started here through Grace Restoration Ministries? Swirling in my mind were so many questions that I forgot the most important principle in life. I had forgotten how to silence the noise around me and listen to the voice of God within me. Fortunately that didn’t last long. I was reminded of the Psalm of David which is our reading today: But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. I will talk more about this psalm tomorrow; but, today I want you to concentrate on one key truth. The steadfast love and righteousness of the Lord is passed through us to our children and their children as we keep his covenant and do his commandments. At first glance that is a harsh, discouraging word. Who of us can really keep God’s covenant and do his commandments. There is not a day that passes that I don’t succumb to the press of the world, the flesh, or the devil in some way. I simply cannot be perfect. At that moment grace breaks into my desire to do the works of grace and reminds me of the work of Christ, who has already done all of these works on my behalf. That’s the covenant I keep. I have come to him for forgiveness of sin and he has eternally given me that restoration. I had nothing to give him but my failure; he has nothing to give me but his love and acceptance. That gave me the first step to take in the newest part of the journey! Perhaps that’s where you are today. Take the step for your children’s children!

Independence Day - Pt 3

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” (John 8:31-38 ESV). The second principle is that a Christian's conversion is a declaration of separation. The Patriots of the Revolution knew that they could not remain as colonies of the British Empire if they were ever to be free. It was separation, or oppression. They had tried to blend the two. It ended in only in oppression. They knew there was no middle ground. So it is with us. If they stayed under the dominion of the English Crown, the colonists would never be free. So, they declared a complete separation from England; likewise, when a Christian makes their “declaration of independence," there must be an intention to make a clean break with sin and anything that God considers unclean. Jesus had this kind of separation in mind when He said to the ancient church of Laodicea, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." (cf. Revelation 3:16). There is no neutrality in this war. Christ rejects the "neutrals." There is no middle ground. The Christian, at conversion, makes an end of all allegiance to sin and a beginning of full allegiance to God. It is the only way to freedom. He intends a clean and total break with the god of this world and an allegiance to sin and a beginning of full allegiance to God. It is the only way to freedom. Like the eagle, if you're going to be free to soar and do what God intended, you have to make a break with the barnyard. You cannot live in both places. The story is told of two young boys who heard of a very old and very wise man who lived up in the mountains and decided to go up there to play a prank on him. They wanted to discredit him in the eyes of his followers below. The old man agreed to see them and they immediately put him to the test. "Old man," one of the boys said, "I hold a sparrow in my closed hand. If you are so wise, I ask you, is it alive or is it dead?" Their plan all along was that if he answered "alive" that they would crush it to death; if he answered "dead" that they would release it instead. The audience of onlookers was silent as they awaited the old man's answer. Finally, with sadness in his heart, for he knew the state of their soul, he answered, "My child, its life is in your hands." I leave you with this thought as we close this little mini-series. The life Christ has won for you is now in your hands. Our sanctification requires our complete dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. If you are living this free life with an air of neutrality or a sense of mediocrity, please spend a moment in repentance. He calls us to freedom. It was won by the terrible price of His death. It will be accomplished through our death to the old way of life. What’s your choice now?

Independence Day - Pt 2

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” (John 8:31-38 ESV). In our reading today, Jesus plainly told the Jews they were slaves to the sin of their lives; yet he came to set them free from that slavery. Slavery is not the only option available to the people who are the recipients of his grace. The new birth, secured through his death, burial, and resurrection truly sets us free forever. No one, not any man, nor Satan himself, can pry that freedom from our grasp. We are free already in our spirits, even though today we fight for the spiritual freedom of our own generation and our children and grandchildren from the oppression of the god of this world, Satan. We look ahead to a day when the oppressor will have been defeated. We know that, though the world around us is enslaved, "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and of death" (cf. Romans 8:2). We no longer have to be dominated by sin and the destruction and death it brings. There are two principles at work in these verses. We’ll look at one today and another tomorrow. The first is that our conversion is serious. It is a declaration of war. Some people believe Christians are pacifists, people who desire peace at any price, even if it means submitting to bondage. That is not what the Bible teaches. Yes, the Bible does say, "Blessed are the peacemakers." but those who understand Scripture know that peace is not obtained by non-action. It is obtained by taking up arms. No. I don't mean guns and bombs; but arms, nonetheless. Paul pointed this out: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Doesn't sound much like pacifism, does it? Paul says it is "war." But look more closely at the key words: “speculation, knowledge, thought.” This is a war of ideas. It is a battle for minds, and, as a direct result, it is a battle for the souls of men. We fight to keep men and women from losing their souls. When a Christian is called by the gospel of Christ and enlists as a servant of God, he enlists in an army at war with the errors and false ideas of this world. It is a conflict with long entrenched despots that go beyond this realm. You may be thinking that you don't want to see any war. All I want to see is peace. I want to feel good about myself and I want God and take care of all my needs. I don't want to feel any opposition. The day is gone when that choice is even remotely possible. We don’t live in that kind of America any more. Perhaps we never did. The conversion of a Christian is, like the Declaration of Independence, a declaration of war with Satan and his forces. Like it or not, that is the truth.

Independence Day - Pt 1

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” (John 8:31-38 ESV). The beginning of the Declaration of Independence begins: "When, in the course of human events, It becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. " It was signed in the Continental Congress July 4, 1776. The document proclaimed the independence of 13 British colonies on the eastern seaboard of North America from Britain. The document was the culmination of a political process that had begun as protest against oppressive restrictions imposed by the mother country on colonial trade, manufacturing, and political liberty. The signing of the Declaration would lead ultimately to a revolutionary war and the establishment of a new nation. It was a declaration of independence from a dominant oppressor; and as such it was a serious matter. It is, therefore, not something people do for amusement, or on a whim. They do not do it to be comfortable or fashionable, or with a flippant notion that somehow just saying it will make it happen. They do it because they are deeply convicted of the idea that freedom is infinitely more desirable than oppression and that it is worth the risk of pain and suffering. It was the kind of statement that called for shouts of "Give me liberty or give me death!" It is that kind of an issue. The stand taken against oppression in the Declaration of Independence is, or should be, well known to every citizen of this country. However, to many , this is boring history. It hardly raises our blood pressure one point. To the Signers of the Declaration, though, their lives and fortunes were on the line. In the same way that members of those original 13 colonies took their stand against the oppression of the King of England 239 years ago, so Christians, through the ages have taken their stand against the oppressor of this world. We have decided that it is worth risking all we have in order to be free from his domination. We "signed" our declaration publicly the moment we declared our allegiance to Christ. What we may not understand is the commitment it calls us to make. When we did that we tied our future and our fortunes to the outcome of the battle that would inevitably come at that great day when Jesus shall come riding a white horse to tread the winepress of the wrath of God Almighty! How “independent” are you today from the world, the flesh, and the devil?

Which Way Do I Go, God?

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV). Mary and I are in the midst of making many decisions that will affect our immediate and long-term future. I’ll have more to say about that as I share our situation with you in the coming days. For now, I merely want to call our attention to the need to know that God does still speak to people today. I do want to know that He has a master plan for my life. I know you do also. So, the question becomes, how do we discover it? How can we know the will of God? Which way do I go? The Bible is clear, God still speaks to people today. But let me also say that after years of walking with the Lord, I have not discovered a foolproof method for knowing the will of God under all circumstances. However, I have discovered certain principles from the Scripture that will better enable us to hear and respond to the direction of the Lord. The good news is that God does not play hide-and-seek. He wants you to hear His voice even more than you want to hear it. Now, we may not like what God is saying. However, God's will is always better than ours. Because there are times when we have difficulty understanding why God is doing certain things or why He is not doing certain things, we should come to the conviction that God’s way is always the best way. Remember that God is always looking out for your spiritual and eternal welfare, where we tend to look out for our physical and immediate welfare. What is good now is not necessarily good for eternity, and what is difficult now may be the best thing for eternity. We tend to look at things in the short-term: What will benefit me now? What is easier for me now? But God looks at eternity, and the ultimate plan of molding and shaping me into the image of Jesus Christ. I am interested primarily in the physical, while God is interested in the spiritual. Today, God primarily speaks to us through His Word. The Bible is the clear revelation by which we must measure all so-called human revelations. The only way we will be conversant with the Scripture, however, is by spending time in it in on a daily basis. God has given us His Word, but we must look for His will. As you apply the principles of Scripture to your life, pray and ask the Lord to lead you. Nothing is too insignificant or too minute to pray about. As the Jewish proverb says, it is better to ask the way ten times than to take the wrong road once.

Pass the Salt, Please

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 ESV). When Jesus taught his great sermon sitting beside the sea, he used two very common images of his day: salt and light. Today we are going to look at the first of those. In the ancient world, salt was used as a preservative. It still is today. Ham (my favorite), corned beef, olives, pickles, and even anchovies are preserved in brine, a saltwater solution. The purpose of the salt is to stop the food from spoiling, to prevent its corruption. Now when Jesus says we are to be salt, it means that you and I, as Christians, should seek to be a preservative wherever we are. For example, if you are a parent, you can guide and model for your children those things they watch on TV and what they read. You can teach them Christian values, and live as an example to them. If you are the only Christian in your family, then you are probably always the one who is asked to give the blessing over the Thanksgiving meal. That is good, because it means they notice that you are a Christian. They know you are the salt. You also need to be salt in the place where you work. You can refuse to gossip about coworkers, you can do your work without grumbling, and you can be an encouragement to others. Maybe a bunch of the guys are getting together and telling a joke, but when you walk in, everyone falls silent all of a sudden. Why is that? Because they know you are a representative of Jesus. You are functioning as a preservative in that situation. Or maybe you are that one Christian student in your classroom. You need to stand up for Christian values. You can refuse to participate in harmful activities and tell your friends why. Now that is being salt. I didn't say it would make you popular. I said you are being salt. It's hard at times. But you need to do it. As you let the Holy Spirit help you and guide you, you can be a good, salty preservative for those around you. The great thing is that there really is no substitute for the kind of preservative God has placed within you. There are those who claim to have that quality, but none have been proven to last. Be kind. Stay salty through the modeling of grace and peace in your life.