• Who is greater Servant or Served?

    September 20th, 2022

    Jesus is in the upper room, in Luke 22:27 he says who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Well, Greatness is about position and timing and fulfilling purpose, but the obvious answer that they understood was Jesus was greatest among them and yet, 1) he submitted to the Father and 2) He SERVED them. It is what he did because it was why he was sent.

    In the same timing, John 13:3-17 is the real-world example of what Jesus was doing and why, and it personified Paul’s teaching in Philippians 2:6-11. In Paul’s explanation, he says Jesus, who is God, emptied himself, did not think it offensive to become a human, a servant. He took up humanity, in all of its limitations and our sin-created unattractiveness, if you will, and he humbled himself, the role of, the responsibility of a servant – even with death as the end game. Why? Because it is what we needed. When you truly SERVE, you SERVE. You Meet the need. I you don’t fill the need, you didn’t serve. The need for us was death, a sacrifice, a perfect life, and Jesus served the need. So, then in John13 in the upper room, same thing. The disciples came in one-by-one, dust and dirt covered sandal feet. In their custom, the house servant would wash the guests’ feet. But if there was no house servant, the FIRST guest who arrived would wash all the others’ feet. None of the disciples had filled the need. There they were reclining at dinner, and Jesus did what was true about his work on earth, what Paul said in Philippians two – He…

    • Took off his outer garment – he laid aside his glory – He wrapped a towel, that is
    • he took the nature of a servant and washed their feet. The need was met.
    • Then he put back on his robe and took his seat – and Paul says God has highly exalted him.

    So, who is greater? The one who fulfills their purpose. They were worried about position and Jesus says, timing will take care of position. If you back up to v24 it says a dispute arose among them about who should be considered the greatest – This was a far too common discussion among the disciples. It was actually in my devotion from last week. Jesus says OTHERS argue over these things and they then call themselves Benefactors – a Title – the word euergetes = Doer of God – That was their title not their action. That was an example among the Greek Rulers. And Jesus says, “it must not be like that among you – in other words, we should DO GOOD – not just be called that as a title.

    Who is greater?

    And Jesus says I am the one who SERVES – diakoneo – it’s the verb of the same root where we get our work deacon – I am among you as one who serves – He is Lord, Creator, Savior, but among you as – this is a constant reminder, regardless of title, ability, or notoriety, I am among you as… I need this – pastor, leader, even because I tend to like to be private, keep to myself, and I also struggle with needing recognition, but I am among you as a servant

    Then he says: I bestow on you a Kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me. What is that? It is Inclusion and Provision – that you may eat at my table They were worried about a seat at the table, and he says, don’t worry about your seat. You will have a seat, but for now serve. Remember the prophesy about the coming Messiah, Jesus, Luke 1:32-33 he will be great… called Son of the Most High… will give him the throne of David… He will reign and the Kingdom will not end… And he says, I’m going to have a seat for you at the table to eat and drink, have inclusion and provision, with me. But Jesus is saying, everything has a time. Don’t fight over recognition in the temporary kingdoms. You serve NOW and I will place you at my table, I will have a role for you in my eternal Kingdom, and yes you will even have ruling greatness. But

    Just as you stood with me in trial – stand with me in service. Then you will stand with me, sit with me, sup with me in the Kingdom.

    Let me point out just one other thing: back up in this chapter. This argument over greatness comes on the tail end of the Lord’s final supper with them before his crucifixion. They are in the upper room, sharing a time of Passover remembrance. They are hearing a word of promise, body and blood, a coming Kingdom. Then Jesus says that one of them will betray him, and they start arguing over who would be, and that lead to who is greatest, and they missed the whole point. Can’t you just see/hear them – acting like we might be very familiar with – “well I would never betray him… I’m his most faithful one… I love him more than you… I’m greater, I will have a better seat… I’m the best servant…”

    Careful, as we serve that we stay focused on the service and let Jesus take care of the Kingdom and Kingdom Rewards and Recognition.

  • Be Perfect… As your heavenly Father is

    September 20th, 2022

    Matthew 5:48 Jesus says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. I read this and then went to Genesis 17:1 – Abraham is 99 years old and God says, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless.“

    In Matthew 5, Jesus is giving what we call “the Sermon on the Mount” – he is casting a big vision – not of the unreachable but of the “Normal Life”. He takes the commandments and applies them to our heart and intention in vv21, 27, &28. He talks about 2nd Mile Ministry, and then the closing section he is talking about loving your neighbors, but more, loving your enemies. That love, embraced and lived out makes us “children of God” in action. The sun shines on the evil and the good. Rain falls on both the righteous and the unrighteous – Love sees no reward, no relationship, it just sees people in the imagine of God as worthy and in need of love – So, LOVE and then he concludes by saying “be perfect, therefore, as your Father in Heaven is perfect”

    We hear that word, “perfect” and we exclude ourselves thinking it doesn’t apply to us, it’s just wishful thinking, but that word (teleios) is about completeness, maturity, that kind of perfection. so

    Finish – love your enemy AND your neighbor

    Be Mature – Grow Up – if you only (v47) greet your brother and sister, what are you doing that is out of the ordinary even pagans do that.

    Be Complete – love like the Father loves, give like the Father gives. If you only love those who love you… where is the reward in that? God is making us to be “out of the ordinary”. This is “Ordinary” that sin created, which is selfish and dying. He wants us to be selfless, complete, mature, Alive! And THAT is Normal – in the Kingdom of God in Christ

  • You Don’t Know What You Are Asking

    September 13th, 2022

    Matthew 20:22 – you don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink

    Often we don’t know what we are asking the Lord. We’ve all seen or read stories of a genie, “I wish for…” And we all think, “wouldn’t it be great if I had _______________”. But sometimes the literal fulfillment might not be what we thought. There is an important principle, “every change, changes every THING.”

    There is an “old school” way of praying that we need to come back to, “Lord if it be your will.” “Lord, I’d like you to move in this way, but bring about your best.” How did Jesus pray, “not my will but yours be done.” There is a slice of Christian Culture that says, “If I just have enough faith.” They believe that somehow it all comes down to man’s faith. But in that scenario we are assuming that 1) We know best 2) we know the by-product. It then is always important that we have faith, 1) in God’s Ability, 2) in God’s knowledge, 3) in God’s wisdom, 4) in God’s goodness, 5) to follow and trust God with the outcome.

    So, here Jesus says, “you don’t know what you are asking.” When you back up to v20, Momma Zebedee brings her boys to Jesus and says, “Promise that my boys can sit on your right and left in the Kingdom.”

    And Jesus says, “You don’t know what you are asking.”

    Kingdom reward DOES have earthly struggles. What she asked is like me saying, “promise me that I can WIN the Marathon I just signed up for, my first.” Yeah, the problem is, there is a price to be paid to prepare. There is an effort necessary to complete that task. I may not have the capacity for that task, even IF I do the work. I know of marathon runners that HAVE the capacity to do the pace needed to win, and yet still get to a place in the race when their bodies quit, and they have passed out from the exhaustion.

    Jesus asks, “are you able to drink the cup” – Mark adds, “to be baptized with the baptism which I am baptized” – Can you be immersed with what it takes? And surprisingly, a bit ignorantly, if not arrogantly – James and John answer, “Yes we are” – mighty bold statement. They were ready, at least they thought they were.

    Then Jesus makes a surprising statement – “you WILL indeed drink my cup.”

    boys, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you WILL drink the cup of suffering, the bad news is the results will be different that you are hoping or thinking.

    Following Jesus is about – Following JESUS, not about where we get to sit. Being In the Kingdom is the result of the work of Christ, and our faith filled reception of it, anything extra is, well, extra.

    Jesus says, “to sit at my right or left is not mine to give, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

    Wait, so if I obey, and follow Christ, and prepare, and I’m good at what I do… I don’t get a mega church, and big earthly success? Not Necessarily

    So, you are saying that God has a plan, a purpose, and my path doesn’t mean the same results as everyone else? Not Necessarily

    Jesus had already told them in Matthew 19:28 that they were going to have Twelve Thrones to judge Israel. So they had a huge promised task and reward, the Sons of Zebedee just wanted assurance of greater notoriety, “hey mom, can you help us?”

    The Call is to Deny Self and follow him. The certainty then is that the work of Christ has provided all we need for life and godliness, so any additional outcome, besides Heaven and inclusion in the Kingdom is wholly on the purposes and plans of God.

    Jesus, divine yet incarnate, subordinated himself to the Father, he relied on the power of the Holy Spirit, so what are WE to do? At the beginning of THIS chapter, Jesus tells the parable of workers who worked, full days, part days, and just a few minutes and they all got what? They all got the same reward. So then, we are quibbling about recognition not even reward, so regardless, let it go.

    This makes the other 10 disciples angry, and Jesus has to sit them ALL down in vv25-28. Service isn’t about Sovereignty but about Surrender, Subjugation. Jesus says, “the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them… it must NOT be THAT way among YOU. On the contrary, whoever wants to be great must be a servant… The Son of Man did not come to BE Served, but to Serve, and to give his life.

    Giving of my life doesn’t just mean to die. It means to release control and recognition, for the sake of a greater dominion.

    Let me add one thing:

    Don’t worry if there will be enough reward and recognition for you in Heaven, there WILL be. There will be reward, there will be crowns, there will be blessing, and it will be MORE than we can imagine. But when we get there and when we receive it, our response will be to feel unworthy, and to use whatever we receive as “worship tools”, throwing them at the feet of the One who provided it all

    What a day that will be

  • Is There A Balm?

    September 12th, 2022

    Jeremiah 9 – actually, back up to the end of chapter 8. As Jeremiah laments the self-imposed trouble in Judah, because of their unfaithfulness, he asks:

    Is there no balm in Gilead

    v14 why are you just sitting there. Gather together… the Lord has destroyed us… because we have sinned against the Lord. It says horses are coming… snakes are going to be sent that cannot be charmed. Then he says in v18 my joy has flown away; grief has settled… my heart is sick v22 … is there no balm in Gilead… no physicians there? The understanding is that there IS medicine, there ARE doctors… So why has the healing of my dear people not come about?

    And so then the weeping prophet, the tearful teacher starts ch9 “if my head were a flowing fountain of tears, I would weep day and night… v2 If only I had a traveler’s lodging place in the wilderness

    Sometimes we are so full of empty things, we can’t experience true satisfaction. And then Jeremiah makes his accusations about their unfaithfulness, and the result of their selfish sin and in v12 he asks, who is wise enough to understand thing? V13 The Lord said, “It is because they abandoned my instruction, which i set before them, and did not obey my voice or walk according to it.

    So then, in this understanding, I picture Jesus in John 7:37-38 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood and cried out…

    No wait… realize this is a weeklong festival of food offerings. Truthfully it was supposed to be seven days of offerings, but I am guessing that the “worship” side of this had been lost on them. This was the Feast of the Tabernacles. They are camping in tents, worshipping with food, remembering what God did for them. James Freeman and Harold Chadwick in New Manners and Customs of the Bible say that eveery day a priest would lead a procession to the pool of Siloam and with a gold pitcher would draw water. There would be singers and musicians and upon returning to the temple there would be 3 Shofar blasts and they would pour the water into a bowl on the western side of the altar. It had holes and the water would run out on the altar. It was to remember 1) water provided in the desert 2) the promise of “latter rain” (blessing to come) 3) the coming of the Holy Spirit when the Messiah came.

    In this feast, they did this every day, that was pretty, but it didn’t satisfy their thirst. And from Siloam to the Temple is a little walk and uphill. I can see this Seventh Day… the whole fanfare… then the Three Blasts of Trumpet… And then the voice of Jesus, at the perfect silent spot, “is anyone thirst?… Oh my, doesn’t Jesus know timing? If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink –

    pino = to drink = is in the present, active, imperative – that tells me this is saying “you must, right now, actively DRINK”.

    The one… – that means this is a possibility but must acted upon.

    the one who believes (pisteuo) – it’s not about knowing, but beleiving, entrusting, placing faith – so get in, get on, get under, get with – ME (Jesus) then, as the scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him – Oh my yes. We ARE sick. We NEED medicine, need a physician, we need our thirst quenched. Yes, the horses of warring armies are coming, the snakes are biting, and it is our own fault

    But there is a balm in Gilead – Do you know that Spiritual? I can hear it in my head…

    there is a balm in Gilead, there is a balm in Gilead… Jesus is the balm in Gilead…

    Jesus is the Messiah that would come and bring the gift of the Holy Spirit. And that water was poured that day on the altar and then it was gone. And no one had their thirst quenched and Siloam was a little walk away, but Jesus said “believe in me and I will put living water IN YOU

    One other thing to notice vv40+ many said “this is the Messiah” and other said “The Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee” and v43 says the crowd was divided” Then v53 days each one went to his own house and 8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives – Oh my, Jesus says if anyone believes … but everyone went home … No one invited Jesus home

    And my take my thoughts back to Jeremiah 9:13 the Lord said it is because they abandoned me

    Jesus is the answer to life, to death, to hope over hopelessness, to thirst being quenched, to the gift of the Holy Spirit springing up within us.

    Come, Believe, Right Now, You Must, unless you don’t want life, satisfaction, hope, and love.

  • A Conditional Reality

    August 29th, 2022

    When death comes, when tragedy strikes, there is an opportunity to see something we would not have seen otherwise. Most of the time, what is revealed is not something “new”, just unexperienced or unbelieved.

    John 11:40 – Jesus said to her, “didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?

    If You Believe -(then) You would See the Glory of God

    We must note first that Jesus references previous teaching, revelation – “Didn’t I tell you…”

    Everything we hear of God, read in his Word, experience in prayer and worship, is preparing us for faith; faith that changes us, faith that moves us, faith that reveals the glory of God. Sometimes we just aren’t paying attention. We aren’t applying the truth. We are stuck in previous understanding. We are clouded by our circumstances, and he says, “didn’t I tell you, haven’t we been over this?”

    Now we don’t here specifically which teaching the Master is referring to, but she did. It was so common as we walk with him, he teaches us. Most of his teaching with his disciples weren’t sit down, sermon on the mount moments, most were just along the way. So, have we been paying attention?

    Go back in chapter 11. When word reached Jesus that Lazarus was sick, he told the 12, “this will not end in death… but that the Son… glorified.” He told them, “Lazarus is asleep, I’m going to wake him.” The disciples weren’t following what he was saying, so he said, “He is dead. I’m glad… so that you may believe”. Faith is the goal.

    Then he arrives at Mary and Martha’s house, and Martha is saying, “if only you had been here, he wouldn’t have died.” Martha had faith, but her faith had a GPS location. If you had been HERE, you could have done something. And Jesus says, “your brother will rise again.” And Martha confesses her theological position, the right position. She says, “I know… in the resurrection.” Not everyone believed in a Resurrection. The Sadducees did NOT believe in a Resurrection which is why they were so SAD, You See. (Oh come on, laugh or groan but enjoy it) Martha had the right theological position, but don’t let your good theology get in the way of believing God for more.

    And Jesus says let me stretch your good theology, YES there is a coming resurrection from the dead, but “I AM the Resurrection and the Life… The One who believe… will live… never die… do YOU believe.”

    And she responds, “Yes Lord, I believe you are the Messiah”. Ok, again, good Theology, but that’s not what Jesus asked. He didn’t ask her if he were the promised anointed one, but did she believe HE was the Resurrection, The Life.

    And after her theological statement, which was the wrong answer, she walks off.

    Of course, the famous verse, “Jesus wept” – don’t forget, he feels, he hurts, he knows, he cares. Then we get to the tomb, v39 “Remove the stone” i.e. “I’m getting ready to do something, if you want in, if you believe.”

    And Martha says, “Oh Lord… it stinks… it’s been 4 days… the opportunity is gone.” and then he says… “Didn’t I tell you… If You Believe… you will see the glory of God“

    So much of our experience is shallowed by our lack of faith. What then is the “glory of God”? I love this discussion and we can spend a lot of time there, but let me paint a simple picture, a picture that God gives. The word, in Greek, is doxa, I love it. The word in simplest form means “Reputation”. So, then what is God’s reputation? Well, let’s go to the source. In Exodus 33 and 34. Moses begs to see the glory. God says, “well you can’t but I’ll show you my back, but then God does much more”. The Hebrew word for glory is the word “chabod” and in its root sense they tell me that it means “weight”. So God, covering Moses with his hand, walks by him and declares his Reputation in Exodus 34.

    The Lord, The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love and truth. Maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. He will not leave the guilty unpunished.

    That’s the glory of God – and Moses fell down on the ground and worshiped him. Oh the glory of Justice and Grace. Grace is not because he looks the other way for a select few, no, it is because the fullness of Justice was poured out on Christ on the cross – guilt was punished. So, for all who believe and receive it is available and life eternal is the result. If you believe, then the goodness of his glory is available, and life is the result.

    v41 – they removed the stone. The action of faith is NOT a work that secures salvation, it is just to remove the obstacle of unbelieve. If they don’t move the stone, then Jesus doesn’t do the work. If they DO remove the stone, THEY still can’t raise Lazarus, but Jesus can, and it happens according to their faith. God will do what he will do, it’s just a matter of if we get to join him.

    Lazarus come out… unwrap him and let him go

    v45 therefore many… who … saw did believe

    My belief reveals the glory of God

    My belief releases God’s power in my circumstance

    My belief inspires others to believe as well

    What has God been telling you? Are you paying attention? If we believe, then we will see the glory of God. It may not be what you wanted or expected, but what God wants, and it is always for His Glory

  • Just a Former Blind Man Bringing People to the One who gives Sight

    August 23rd, 2022

    We are NOT the END, Jesus is. I know that’s hard for us to accept sometimes. We play a role along the way, but Jesus is the power, Jesus focus, Jesus is the destination, Jesus is our reward.

    Matthew 3:8–12 (CSB) — 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. 9 And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”

    Pretty strong word from John The Baptist here. This word is for the religious elite, Sadducees and Pharisees, who think they are the story, the power, and the glory, but they were not, nor are we in the church either. In my message Sunday, I said the only way to see a sunrise after the sunset is to turn around. In the verse that precedes these, John calls them “offspring of snakes”. They had come to his Baptism, don’t know if they wanted it or just wanted to see what the commotion was, most likely the latter, but he responds in v8 that he wanted to “see fruit consistent with repentance” (that is a change of mind). There is only hope if a true desire for change is present.

    v9 don’t presume (to have an opinion/expectation) We can be very presumptuous in the church can’t we? We up a steeple and a sign and we think we are somebody that God needs. Praise God he wants us, and uses us, but he doesn’t need us. Oh come on, “we are the First Baptist Church”, “We are the Covenant Presbyterian”, “We are Grace Church.” Ok, good for you, maybe. But no one comes unless the Father draws them, the Spirit empowers then, in the name of Jesus the Son. John says, God doesn’t need YOU to fulfill his plan. If he wants “sons” for Abraham, he can raise up those from these stones. He doesn’t NEED us.

    v10 He is cutting down “church trees” if you will, if they don’t produce good fruit. kalos karpos – Beautiful Fruit / Crops. Notice, it doesn’t say “plentiful” but “beautiful”. So, it’s not about how BIG our harvest is, but if it is a God Move, Christ Glorifying, Spirit empowered produce coming from the tree that bears his name. If NOT, it is thrown in the fire and burned. We aren’t talking about hell here I think, we are talking about trash. Even churches have a timeline, a shelf life, and if we stop producing beautiful fruit, he may clear the way for someone else who WILL produce beautiful fruit.

    v11 – water for repentance – our job is NOT to be the end, the power, even the change agent, but our job is to call to repentance, to walk with them as they come to Jesus. And then John says, the one who is coming is more powerful than I. He is more worthy. Joh says, “I can’t even tie his shoes. What makes WORTH? Position, Power, Product, and Purpose. John is saying, “hey I just get people wet. I just encourage them to turn around, but HE / Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and Fire.

    Oh yes Lord, there is a place for the church, but it’s to clear the way for Jesus. And when we do that, then he blesses us and we relish our role.

    I was reading from Isaiah 4 yesterday – Isaiah 4:4–6 (CSB) — 4 when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodguilt from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning. 5 Then the Lord will create a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night over the entire site of Mount Zion and over its assemblies. For there will be a canopy over all the glory, 6 and there will be a shelter for shade from heat by day and a refuge and shelter from storm and rain.

    Do you see the beauty of what happens when we settle into our role, bring people to repentance, introduce them to Jesus and he makes all things new? Then, from our place of fulfilling our role, we because a “cloud of smoke” a “flame of fire” i.e. we become a place that points to the presence and glory of God in Christ Jesus. And we become a shade, a canopy over the glory. We become a refuge and shelter where people run to find the answer and that is Jesus.

    v12 says he has a winnowing shovel (fork) – Again, it’s not our job to do all the separating, but tossing it up in the air and allowing the wind of the spirit to do the separating, the good falls, the useless is blown away – wheat and chaff separated, and God brings in the good, and he gets rid of the bad, sent to the fire of waste.

    We must consistently be reminded church that we are being shaped and formed. We have been made alive, but we are NOT the power, not the purpose, not even the precedent – we are just calling people to turn around and come to Jesus. We are just telling people what God has done in us and inviting them to know it for themselves.

    I remember hearing of a man blind by cataracts on a mission field. He was brought to a missionary Doctor who performed surgery and gave him his sight. Now able to see, he traveled back home more than 100 miles. Sometime later, here he came – former blind man – now with sight. With him was a long line of blind people, all holding on to a rope, being led by the former blind man back to the place where they could gain sight. That’s it! We can’t make ourselves see, nor anyone else, but seeing, we can bring others back to where we got our sight and that is our purpose.

  • Complete Prepare Build

    August 16th, 2022

    Proverbs 24:27 Complete your outdoor work, prepare your field; afterward, build your house

    We must remember these are proverbs and not promises. They are mean to instruct not give inheritance. These are teachings from a father to sons, they lead to the best possibilities for success. The following of these principles give us best case scenarios. They also are a collection, each one stands alone, though they could be grouped by topic, but the verses stand alone for the most part.

    There is much instruction here about societal wisdom in Proverbs 24. Back up to the top. “Don’t envy the evil”… because they lead to trouble. v2 A house is built by wisdom…” v3 “by knowledge the rooms are filled with… treasures.” v5 “a wise warrior is better than a strong one…” v11 “rescue those being taken to death… save those stumbling toward slaughter.” v13 “eat honey… it is good” v14 “wisdom is the same for you…”

    I’ve always known and liked v16, “though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.” Point being, both the righteous and the wicked fall… but the “righteous” one gets up and keeps going toward better things, but wicked ra’ah – it means “to pasture, tend graze, consume.” Righteous living is found in getting back up, “we’re marching to Zion”, we are coming after Christ, so we don’t stay in the fall. The wicked stumble and they “pasture” there, they stay and feed in their failing.

    v17 “don’t gloat over the evil falling...” v20 “the evil has no future… their lamp will go out…” Then there are words about justice and blessing. Many of these proverbs in chapter 24 are 2 verse proverbs and there is a correlation among them about wise living.

    Then v27, for me, rises above them with instruction about Order. Everything has a proper order. In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul says, (v20) “…Don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking…” Then 14:33 says, “God is NOT a God of disorder but of peace…”

    So, with that instruction in mind, in this collection of wisdom proverbs… Solomon says, Complete, Prepare, Build

    First – Complete the Outdoor Work

    Second – Prepare the Field

    Third – Build the House

    Interestingly the first two, Complete and Prepare, are written in the Imperative Tense. Do It, Do It Well, Do It Now, Do It Whether you want to or not. THEN Build. He knows that everyone wants to end, we all want to build, we often have, and we just want different or better or fancier, but we leave the outside stuff undone. So, Solomon says, “let’s get things in order” because when we fail to do things in order, even “success” fails. But after the orderly struggle comes the timely success and reward.

    I like the verbs, “complete” = finish – “prepare” = destine – Build = construct, fashion, have offspring, set surely, restore. Then notice the defining calendrical noun, “afterward” = the hind part, or the following part.

    Not to belabor the point but drive home the truth, Solomon says complete, finish, the outside work, prepare the field, IMPERATIVELY, i.e. You Must! Then AFTER you have cleared and laid the foundation and destined the property, THEN we can build, from a land called “Afterward”.

    I’m mindful of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount about building on sand or on Solid Rock. Everybody wants to build, so Solomon just uses the normal tense for that last instruction, not the imperative tense. But “Complete” (determine, direct, establish) the Outside work = exterior, open, streets, outward. And “Prepare” (destine, make ready) the field = agricultural, battlefield, countryside, ground, soil, territory.

    Hmmm… we like to focus on the inside but God says, “yes, I look at the heart, but the outside, the battlefield, the planting field has to be made ready before successful building of the house, which by the way means armory, box, building, facing inward, hall, family.

    We want a storehouse, but we have no store goods

    We want a building, but we have not people

    We want a harvest, but we do no planting

    I hear the words, “the Lord is my shepherd… he prepares a table for me…” Phillip Keller says that this is talking about the High Tablelands where the Shepherd takes his sheep for the summer. He had to do a lot of prep work in the months before. He had to clear the land and plant often the right things for the sheep to graze, etc. There is much completion and preparation before moving into the house.

    Solomon has encouraged me in the last few days with these words about the importance of FIRST THINGS FIRST. He reminds me that this is imperative and must be in order… THEN

    Afterward – the Hind Part, the Following Part – that will be the land, the time, the season, to Build the House. That coming time will be important, but let’s keep it in order… Important Words for us Today.

  • Let Endurance Finish

    August 5th, 2022

    James 1:4 (CSB) Let endurance have its full effect so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing

    (Moffat) Let endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect

    James got a little late start as the brother of Jesus, having grown up around him, yet didn’t believe in him as Savior and Lord until after the resurrection. When he finally believed, resurrection proven, he was all in and his letter is like, “Hi, I’m James…” then he gets right to it.

    As an athlete, I relate to this, vv2-3 “consider it a great joy… various trials… the testing of your faith produces endurance.” But they have a purpose… v4 Let Endurance have its full effect… or Moffat says be a finished product. Gaining endurance is important for every athletic endeavor, but not just for the sake of endurance.

    So that… you HAVE endurance? NO. So that you have endurance FOR THE TASK, the full effect. The finished product is NOT endurance, but so that you may be mature, be complete, be lacking nothing.

    I’ve always been an athlete, but I was never a fan of running. Then a few years ago things happened, I had some surgery, and couldn’t work out or do anything with my shoulder, so I started running on a treadmill. I got into a routine, and it became part of my life. My brother is a marathoner and an ironman, I asked him a few months in, “am I a runner, even though I only run on a treadmill?” He said, “well, you run…” About 10 months later we chatted on Facetime and he said to me, “you look great, you are more fit than ever, and you have ‘runner’s face’”. And I said, “so you are saying, ‘I am a runner.’” He said, “yes, you are a runner.”

    My endurance is producing something bigger. So, “let endurance have its full effect.”

    Churches are full of people who know a lot and have been through hard struggles, and developed endurance, but is the endurance having its full effect? Is the work moving toward results so that you may be mature, complete, lacking nothing? You may be positionally “perfect” but has it completed something in you? The work has a goal, the endurance has a by-product. What does 2 Corinthians 1:4-7 say? You have affliction and God takes us through it, comforts us in it, “so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction… just as sufferings overflow to us, so also the comfort overflows… affliction is for comfort and salvation… which produces in you patient endurance. Then if you read on Paul says, don’t be unaware that it was more than our strength could handle, and we even thought we might not make it. But we DID… for you, for others, for maturity, Christ has delivered us, and we have hope that he will again! Back to James, he says if you don’t know what to do, ask God and he gives answers.

    Brethren, fellow travelers, let this struggle, trials, work, effort, give you endurance… but let the endurance have full effect. Let it reach its end, its purpose, making you what God intended, that you might bring someone along the way with you. God has a finish, and the endurance you have had built in you by what God is taking you through will get you there.

    Let God Take You… to the end

  • My Goal — Know Him

    July 11th, 2022

    Philippians 3:10-11 My goal is to know him, and the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead

    I’ve read and commented on, preached, memorized, and shared these verses more times than I can recall. These verses have been a driving force for my life. I understandably have paid a lot of attention to the process – i.e. to know the power of the resurrection, I must walk in the path of suffering and death.

    But this morning, the living active word of God got my attention with something fresh. Most translations begin v10 “that I may …” but the CSB renders that phrase, “my goal is…”

    There is a “that” or “so that” behind all that we experience in Christ, so that in the work of God, there is always a goal to be achieved. So, I like this wording, so I backed up behind and then looked after. Paul is giving a personal testimony, before. He talks of his upbringing in the Hebrew faith, his education and training as a Pharisee, but then he shifts in vv8-9 and says, “I have suffered … loss of everything”.

    But NOW, I have always seen this as “the resurrection” and “The suffering” and “The death”, all leading to The Power of the Resurrection. But Paul says in v11, that his assumption is that He will BE resurrected, at the end… and he says, “I haven’t already gotten that”. But – “forgetting the past… reaching forward… I pursue the prize promised”.

    So what is the GOAL?

    Power? Suffering? Death?

    NO… Look back at the common denominator… “that I may know… my goal is to know”

    HIM… HIM!

    Yes, I have a righteousness by faith, and I am positioned IN Christ, BUT I want, right now, to know HIM. the power of HIS resurrection… the fellowship of HIS sufferings… conformed to HIS death… Not just at the end, but TODAY… NOW

    Jesus, I received you, and I know you, but I need to KNOW YOU MORE.

    So, v7 everything that was a GAIN… all good stuff, but it is nothing, it is of no credit, other than and only that it brings me to and reveals Christ to me.

    He is the Answer

    He is who I seek

    He is my Hope

    I want to KNOW – ginosko – not head knowledge but experiential knowledge. Literally it translates here, “to come to know by experience” It is the fullness of knowledge

    Oh, some people or things you experience and move on – been there, done that, got the hat. But Jesus, I don’t want to be satisfied in knowing a similar power, or a similar suffering, or a similar death, I want to know YOURS. I want ot know YOU

    When you think you’ve learned it all you draw near and realize, I’m only just beginning to see a dim reflection – I want to know Christ MORE.

    Is it tough? Yep. Is it painful? Sometimes. Is it beyond value? ABSOLUETLY

    My Goal should not be a “divine experience”. My Goal is to KNOW JESUS by Experience, to participate jointly with him and his work, for his glory. He IS the goal, and everything else simply fades away as nothing more than a vehicle toward knowing Christ.

    v15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. If you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.

  • Fear in the Call

    June 28th, 2022

    Jeremiah 1:8 says, “do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you. This is the Lord’s Declaration.

    Fear – seems like I have spent a good portion of my ministry talking about fear or the lack thereof. I talk with people about following the plans of God, or dealing with conflict, or addressing a challenge, and the response often begins, “Oh, I’m afraid that ______________”.

    I’ve come to the conclusion that fear is based on lies we believe most of the time. We believe, “I can’t”, “I’m alone”, “No one knows”, or “No one cares.”.

    Notice in Jeremiah 1; this is the call of Jeremiah. When God calls, the evil one, the Father of Lies, knows that God is at work, that God’s Word is true, and so he comes against us with lies.

    Jeremiah 1:4 – the word of the Lord came to me…

    Here is truth. Here is an unthwartable plan. v5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb. I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

    BUT

    I appreciate the honesty in Jeremiah’s testimony here. “But I protested” – Can’t you hear the great liar whispering into Jeremiah’s ear? “Oh no Lord God!” satan always calls into question the Word of God and the Goodness of God… always… that’s how he got 1/3 of the angels to abandon heaven. It’s how he got Adam and Eve to Fall, and I guess first Lucifer, the lead worshiper in Heaven, had to lie to himself. He lied that God wasn’t good and his Word, his Plans, weren’t right and so he purposed in his heart to rebel. So, here Jeremiah, “Oh no Lord… Look…” Have you ever tried to correct God’s understanding of a situation? Or is that just me and Jeremiah? “Look…” and here come the lies. “I don’t know how to speak since I am ONLY a youth.” The lies are “I’m uninformed”, “I am unable.”

    v7 “Then the Lord said to me: do NOT say, ‘I’m only a youth.’” – Do not lie to yourself and say, “I can’t because I’m only________________ anything.” You are exactly who God made you to be and if he is calling, and you are where you are supposed to be, or are going where you should go, then you ARE able or you will be enabled.

    Do not say, I’m only…. for you will go to everyone I send… and speak whatever I tell you

    The reason we need not fear is because wherever God leads he always proceeds. He has already cleared the way, opened the door. So, say what he says to whom he sends. Because, where he leads he proceeds, where he guides he provides, so do not be afraid of anyone.

    My Father never directly quoted this verse to me, but he lived it and taught it as he lived. He was fearless. He taught me to be fearless when I was in the plan of God. I’ve done my best and been successful, I believe, in passing that down to my sons.

    do not be afraid… FOR 1)I will be with you – We are never alone, and 2) to rescue you. Someone cares, someone knows, someone is able, and if needed, He is my rescue, so do not be afraid

    v9 – the Lord reached out… touched my mouth and told me… Listen, I’m a firm believer in hard work and preparation, but we will never do that alone. If God is calling, he will touch you, has touched you, in the exact realm where he will use you. I have filled your mouth with words… The best way to get rid of bad water in a fixed container is to fill it with good water until all the bad has flowed out. If I want to empty myself of MY words and wisdom, I must let God fill my heart, my head, my mouth with HIS Words.

    And then God comes again with the fear eliminating word, “See” – ra’ah = access, become aware, consider – I have appointed you today – That word “appointed” = to root and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and to plant

    God has a plan – He has called you, he has charged you, he has commissioned you, he has conditioned you – So GO, without fear. You CAN, you Know How, God Loves you, You are NOT ALONE!

    Do not be afraid of anyone, anything, anywhere, anytime.

    If God is for us, tell me who can be against us

    Isaiah 51:16 (CSB) — 16 I have put my words in your mouth, and covered you in the shadow of my hand, in order to plant the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, “You are my people.”

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