Sometimes we make the word of God simple – sometimes it is NOT that simple. Example – Paul says, The Righteous will live by faith. And we say, “oh yes, I will live by Faith, and I ‘got saved’ and now I’m going to heaven, there I live by faith.” But it is MORE than just that. Put it in the context of vv14-18 – go read that – Paul’s “faith living” affected all of his life and certainly his ministry. Look at 5 things about Living by Faith in Paul’s life.
He was eager to preach the Gospel because he lived by faith and that is an obligation. He was obligated because God had done so much for him. Also because God had told him that his job was to take the gospel to the Gentiles. So he had faith in his obligation, it was not a choice but a debt.
He lived by faith in the Gospel itself. This wasn’t just a story, it was Good News. It was life changing. If the gospel can change me, it can change anyone, and so Paul had faith in the gospel.
Paul lived by faith in the Power then of the Gospel. He said I’m not ashamed of the power (dynamis = miraculous power, mighty strength, ability) Do we have faith in the power? I think like some people are “practical atheists”, that is they believe in God, but live as if God doesn’t exist. In the same way, some are ashamed, practically, of the gospel. We don’t share because we don’t have faith in the power.
Paul lived by faith in the Righteousness of God available through the gospel working in our lives. Pual will build that case throughout this letter, but he believed that while we are righteously bankrupt – yet God can impart righteousness to all through faith in Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says the message of the cross is foolishness… but it is POWER to the one who is saved by it
And then Paul lived by Faith in the REALITY of the Wrath of God. We are ALL sinners and God’s wrath is revealed as the condition of our destiny without Christ. It’s not a possibility it’s a current condition. Jesus says in John 3, I came because you are already condemned. We must know and believe that this is an eternal problem for every child of Adam – and yet the first 4 things that Paul lived by – The Righteousness of God, imparted by the Power of God, Revealed in the Gospel of God, by Faith in God, gives Salvation from the Debt of Wrath! And as one living in that blessed position, I have an Obligation to Tell Somebody Else
I’m wearing my 1960s vintage DOXA watch today. I love this watch because I love the name DOXA. That’s the Greek Word for “Glory”.
In Exodus 32, Moses is up on the mountain meeting with God, speaking with him face to face. The people down below become impatient because v1 (they) saw that Moses delayed in coming down. I’m sure they saw the mountain glow, heard activity, but were dissatisfied with the delay in process, and they said, “come make gods for us who will go before us because this Moses – we don’t know what happened,” and they began to worship a substitute.
God told Moses to go down because they had turned away from the way commanded. He said they had acted corruptly. Then, very interestingly, God said that he was going to destroy them and start over with Moses. God is never rash, he is testing, he is letting us test ourselves. But in v11 Moses sought the favor of the Lord and his primary reason was NOT the people, but the Reputation of God. He said in essence, 1) what will the world (Egypt) say? and 2) Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel and your promises to them. So the Lord “relented”.
God is interested in his Glory, his Reputation, and he wants to know if WE ARE TOO.
Now you know and can read the story. Then Moses goes down and deals with the unfaithfulness of the people to the Lord. But then in 33:12 – he is back before the Lord and says, “you told me to lead these people (you said) I know you by name… if I have found favor… please teach me your ways.” And God said, “my presence will go with you” and Moses says an important thing, “if you do not go with us – don’t send us… how will it be known that we have your favor if you don’t go with us?”
Now back to my watch – DOXA – in Exodus 33:18 Moses says, “Please let me see your GLORY” That’s the Hebrew word, Chabod = glory, splendor, (root = heaviness) When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, The Septuagint, they translate chabod with doxa. And God told Moses, “I will cause my goodness to pass in front of you and I will proclaim my name, ‘The LORD’ before you, I will be gracious and have compassion. If you know that story, you remember that God told Moses to stand on the Rock… hide in a cleft in the rock, and God would cover him and let him see his glory from behind.
If you go read Exodus 34, God does just that. And the Chabod / Doxa of God – His Reputation and Action driven by Holiness, Grace, and Compassion are seen and heard in Exodus 34:6-9. God declares his GLORY. The LORD, The LORD, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and truth, but sin will not go unpunished… And Moses knelt low, worshipped the Lord saying, “Lord please go with us and accept us as your possession.
Now if we jump forward almost 2000 years we get to John 1:14 – in some of the most beautiful literary words ever written, John talks about the logos – the Word who was with God and what God, who was from the beginning, the maker of all things. And then it says in v14 the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us and we beheld the DOXA – GLORY of God full of Grace and Truth. There is it again. The Glory of God is the full weight of his reputation and the splendor of all God is. Jesus came to reveal it, to deal with it, to provide us that revelation, but also to provide for what our sin had cost us.
If we want to SEE GOD – we must Stand on the Rock – Jesus – in a Cleft called Grace – and his Nail-Scarred Hands cover us there, so that we can See God – Debt Paid, our Sin Forgiven. Jesus paid it all at the cross, but we must believe, we must receive. if you have – Praise Him for His Doxa – if you have not, COME to him, say “please let me see your glory, your grace, your compassion, I receive the forgiveness of my sin and commit to you as Lord”
Joshua 24 has a restating of the Covenant as Joshua nears the end of life and ministry. Most know well verse 15″choose this day who you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” That’s probably the way most of you remember it. We know it like that, or do we fully get this. This week I was reading it in the CSB and it renders this Hebrew word abad as “worship”. Choose for yourselves today who you will worship. v14 had reminded them that they previously served or worshipped other gods in Egypt and had seen others worshipped or served by the Amorites. The NLT uses BOTH English words “worship” and “serve” to render this same word, abad, in v14 when he says they should put away these other gods worshiped , and Serve the Lord.
I like using the word worship because Service IS Worship not just WORK. Sometimes we even substitute working for God, Service, for Worship.
And so back in Joshua 24 – after Joshua says choose for yourselves today who you will worship… my family, we will worship the Lord
And they respond strongly – “we will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods!” – And then give the long list of the things God has done for them and ensures they are going to serve God. And then aged Joshua, a veteran of slavery in Egypt for 40 years, 40 years a servant of Moses, and 30 years as Leader of the Children of Israel, replies as I have often done with people who come to me and say “I’m going to serve the Lord”. He says “you can’t serve / worship because it’s HARD.” Worshipping the Lord / Serving the Lord is a Dangerous Decision. It is a Life Changer, dare we say a life crusher? It is a dream crusher, a will destroyer to Serve / Worship the Lord. V19 he says, you will not be able to worship the Lord. Why?
Because He is a Holy God
He is a Jealous God
He will not forgive your transgressions
if you abandon the Lord, he will turn against you, harm you, destory you after he has been good to you.
Serving God is Worship Act not a vocational decision. It may BE a vocation, but it is not a self-serving decision. If you think serving God is going to make your dreams come true, or get God to look the other way on your other actions, that’s not the way it works. It is HARD. He wasn’t saying that God doesn’t forgive, but that serving God isn’t a vehicle to God ignoring, leaving you alone in your “off hours”. Service is NOT a Substitute for Worship – not an Excuse for NOT Worshipping. Service is a Worship Choice that then drives action.
And then they say, “NO! We WILL Worship / Serve the Lord” – And After I had a guy ask me years ago “why are you doing this?” And I spent a long time giving him all the reasons, then ultimately I said “God won’t let me do anything else, I must do this to worship him.” He said “OK then”.
Ok Then – that’s a dangerous decision, a selfless decision – and Joshua says you are witnesses against yourselves that you yourselves have choice to worship/serve the Lord” and They said “Yes We Are”
So then he tells them
Get rid of the foreign gods – remove false objects of worship and service. Check your calendar, check your bank statement, what drives, makes the decisions? Is it from God, toward God, or does it pull you away from God?
turn your hearts to the Lord – that word lebab means the inner person, mind, will, and emotions, heart – your desire, decisions, direction – turn to the Lord
he set up a stone – there need to be things in our life, on our wall, in our conversation that are reminders of our commitment to worshipfully serve the Lord. And he says then you see that stone… it will be a witness that the Lord has heard
In v27 Jesus said, “Have Courage! It is I. Don’t Be Afraid.
I’ll be the first to tell you that in my 54 years of following Jesus, in my 45 years of preaching, serving and following Jesus can be frightening. Jesus does scary things. Sometimes I look at things and I think, “I See Jesus” and it’s a little scary, which makes me think, “I hope that’s Jesus” – “and at the same time, “I hope that’s NOT Jesus.” Because if that’s Jesus, then I’ve got to get IN on it, and THAT’S Scary. and Jesus says, “Have Courage” (present active, imperative) You Must Right now Have Courage because you NEED it; and don’t be afraid because, “It is I”.
And Peter says, “IF it is YOU – command me to Come” – Oh my be careful what you ask for. Two dangerous things, 1) to say, “I could never” or 2) to say, “Lord, I’d love to…”. My wife and I were driving through Houston in 1989 in Rush Hour traffic and my wife said, “I could NEVER live in Houston.” We lived in an Austin Suburb. I said, “baby, don’t ever say never, with God”. And a year later, we moved to Houston – and lived there for 10 years.
Well, the Lord says, “COME” – I’ve been told that this word has the idea of “taking center stage” – to Arrive. “Come” – When God gives a command or reveals what he is doing, we often say something like, “Ok, Lord, just put me there.” We often express our desire but don’t get busy. But Look at Peter, “And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water toward Jesus.” He didn’t stand and wave, or start a cheering section, he Stepped Out. He climbed out and started walking – we might give Peter a hard time for sinking, but he stepped out and started – I’d rather sink IN the service than stay safely OUT of service. I’d rather struggle IN the service than settle for spectating. And then he saw the strength of the Lord, right? Well, NO. He saw the strength of the wind.
If we will stay focused on the Lord, “It is I”, then we can HAVE COURAGE, but when we take our eyes off the Lord and his command, we focus on the struggle, and we begin to sink. Notice these words, he Stepped out, Started walking, he was ready to Serve in the Struggle, but he looked away from the Savior and Saw the Strength of the wind, and he Started to Sink.
When we get distracted from the Lord and his command to “come” we struggle and can sink. And we have a choice then of sinking and drowning, or we can say, “Lord Save Me!” Peter cried out to the Lord, his focus returned to the correct source. And Immediately, v31, Jesus reached out his hand and caught hold… (saying) “why did you doubt”. He doubted because he took his eyes off the Savior, and set his mind on what he thought about his circumstances and abilities.
It is Jesus – Do not Be Afraid – Take the Stage when God Says, “Come”
John 17 – Jesus is praying in the garden, praying for his 12, perhaps 11. He prays knowing the hatred and vitriol that will come against them. He prays not for removal, but protection, because the task is important. He says, So sanctify them… That is, make them holy (hagiazo) dedicate, anoint, ordain – How? What sets us apart? Truth in the Word. Then he clarifies and expands in v20 NOT ONLY for these, but also for THOSE who believe in me through their word.
– That’s US
He prays for US, may they all be one… may they also be in us… SO THAT the world may believe you sent me…
It’s so simple and yet complex. What’s the defining image of this unity that Jesus prayed for in us? As you, Father, are in me and I am in you. So, we are not imagining that we become gods, nor perfection, but there is something we are striving toward. And I’m immediately mindful of 2 Peter 1:3-4, his divine power has given all we need for life and godliness… so that you may share in / participate in divine nature. How? Peter says, through knowledge of him who called us… he has given us great and precious promises so that through them we may share in divine nature, escaping the corruption in the world.
Hmmm… and Jesus prayed that we would believe in the word and that we are sanctified in the word. Could it be that his Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path that we might not sin against God? (Ps119:105) Hmmm… I seem to remember that verse being conveniently in nearly the middle of the Bible.
So, Jesus says we need to be ONE as he is one with the Father. And Jesus said, he only does what he sees the Father doing (John 5:19). And we know that the Father is glorifying the son and placing all things under his feet. Could UNITY be as “simple” as only doing what the Father is doing, seeking that the Kingdom Come, his will be done on earth as it is in heaven? Could unity be as simple as following the Father’s Will to Glorify the Son and place everything under his feet and NOT under our own thumb? Could it be that when unity escapes us that we are simply out of line with this simple purpose?
Oh don’t get me wrong – there will be assignments for us as individual churches that are different and even divide us in task, but there can be a difference in tasks without disunity being the result. Our human understanding even may separate our tasks – but we don’t have to be disunified from our desire to be ONE in our commitment to the Work of the Father to Glorify the Son and the Son’s commitment to follow the Father, and all happens in the power of The Spirit.
Why? So Thatthe world may believe that Jesus is FROM the Father. v22 says I have given them glory. Doxa – I love that word, it speaks of weight, reputation, heaviness, honor. Any good name we have is for the purpose of unity, being ONE – evhen = alike, alone, common. Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct and yet one, and so can we be one. I am in them and you are in me so that they may be COMPLETELY One. That word should sound familiar – teleioo – perfect, finished That’s a Cross Victory word. Salvation was finished at the cross, and yet he is still finishing, sanctifying us, and as we release self toward this unity, then we are moving toward the Bigger Picture
– v23 that the world may know you sent me AND have loved THEM as you have loved me …
Hmmm… could it be that when we aren’t committed to John 17:21-26 being a reality that it makes it harder for the world to believe John 3:16 is true for them? Praise God it isn’t impossible, but it certainly IS harder – yes.
Lord, let v26 be true of me/us I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known so that the love you have loved me with may be in them
We need to make sure we rejoice in the right things. Most all of us want to be “known”, but for what? In Luke 10 Jesus sent out 36 pairs of missionaries. Their job was to make preparations, to open doors. They were going ahead of Jesus, “to every town (v1) where he himself was about to go.” He told them, “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, pray the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into His Harvest. Now Go,”
It’s important that we know, who is sending; who we work for; that he is coming behind us; and that it’s HIS harvest.
There are plenty of good instructions here that Jesus gave them as they went. Their job was to proclaim peace and proclaim that the Kingdom of God has come near. He told them that if the people didn’t welcome them, STILL proclaim the Kingdom is near.
Now, I said that we all want to be known, but v13 we hear woe to Chorazin and Bethsaida. They were known, they got press, but it was for failing to Repent. And then Capernaum is also named for basically maintaining their destiny to Hades, instead of changing their path and becoming Kingdom Citizens – and Jesus says, whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me. This is the same warning of John 5:23 anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
So the 72 went out, and obviously has an amazing experience though it isn’t recorded here, but in v17 they are coming back feeling like Wow this is amazing. ” they returned with Joy“, and here is where you expect them to talk about all those who responded in faith and expectation of the coming of Jesus. But instead, their testimony is, “even the demons submit to us, in your name”. Well, at least they gave the name of Jesus some credit, but they missed the point. Jesus says, “Look, I have given you authority to trample on snakes… scorpions… and over the power of the enemy, nothing will harm you… HOWEVER… You see – Rejoicing has a point, has a target. Worship, celebration, rejoicing, have a focus – His Name is Jesus! If I am rejoicing on what I DID, then I AM the object of the rejoicing. And Jesus says, “Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, BUT rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24“This is what the Lord says, the wise should not boast in his wisdom… strength… wealth… boast in this, that he understands and knows me – that I am The LORD, showing faithful love, justice, righteousness on the earth, for I delight in THESE things, This is the Lord’s declaration.”
Rejoice in the Right Things
Then I was reading Malachi 3, oh I have read it before, but these verses never jumped out at me as they did in this context. 3:16 says, “those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the Lord and had high regard for his name.” Wow! It was common for Kings to have books written, even of daily events. The king in Esther was having trouble sleeping and he had the daily books read to him. And so Malachi says, God has a book written about those who spoke to one another about their fear of and high regard for the Lord.
So, let me finish – There is a book, well, a few books in heaven, I guess in the Lord’s Office Library. There is the Lamb’s Book of Life – My Name is written there because I have received his grace by faith and been reborn, a new creation, a child of God. And then Psalm 56 tells me that there is a book where God records all of my misery, all of my tears, God takes notice, why, because he cares for me. God doesn’t always take away my struggles, but he notices, and he weeps with me, and one day I believe he will show me that book, perhaps when he wipes away every tear from my eyes. But then we see another book in Malachi 3. There is a book that God has caused to be written to record those who fear him, who have a high regard for his name. I want my name to be in that book too, in God’s Library. God notices. Then 3:17 says, “‘They will be mine’, says the Lord of Armies, ‘my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. 18 So you again will see the difference… between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve him.’”
Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? If you don’t know, believe on the name of Jesus, receive him as Lord (John 1:12) and you will be a child of God, your name will be written in the most important book in Eternity. And then one day, in Heaven, I believe we will get a chance to see our names in some other books, and see how much we matter to the LORD.
“I am a friend of God” – we sing about, it think about, enjoy the thought of it, but is it reality?
I looked up “friendship” online the famous wikipedia says it is, “a relationship of mutual affection between two people… stronger than an acquaintance or association” (Friendship – Wikipedia) – We tend to say that we have many “friends” in our social media world – but then we have “good friends” and “best friends”. Certainly our age and station in life affects our friendships, but it is even said that our health is affected and can affect our friendships. Wiki says that friendships are based on choice and admiration as well as levels of intimacy. They quote U.S. News talking of how “like gaps” affect the quality of the friendship as well. (i.e. one party doesn’t LIKE at the same level as the other)
Britannica, the historic encyclopedia talks about friendship (Friendship | Britannica) as a “state of enduring affection, esteem, intimacy, and trust between two people”. But as I read I found something interesting in “chasing this rabbit”: they go on to point out 5 defining features of friendship 1) it is dyadic, involving a series of interactions 2) it is recognized by both parties so reciprocated 3) it is not obligatory (like a parenting relationship) but those parties choose to form a friendship… thus no formal duties or legal obligations 4) it is egalitarian… that is each has the same amount of power or authority in the relationship 5) it is characterized by companionship which is one of the primary goals
So – am I a friend of God? Can I even BE a friend of God? And perhaps based on those 5 definitions alone, you might immediately respond, “no” or “I can’t be”, or “I’ll never be equal to God…” And Yet… as I stopped and processed it, there IS a level in all of those things where I can be a friend of God. But there is a transition that needs to take place, from servant to friend.
In Genesis 18 is a story that has had my attention in the interaction between God and Abraham. Three men appear to Abraham, 1) to announce the coming of Isaac to this very “mature” couple; and 2) to see to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Some ask, “is this the Trinity?” I would say, “no” because John tells us “no one has ever seen God” (John 1:18). Paul says he is in “unapproachable light, whom no one has seen, or can see” (1Tim6:16) So, since no one by the First Century HAD seen the Father, and cannot see the Father, then this is not the Trinity. But then also 2 of the 3 in this story in are in Sodom in Genesis 19 and are “angels” – Yet, ONE of these 3 is referred to as YHWH – The LORD – so this is the one often referred to as “The Angel of the Lord – This is the Second Person of the Trinity, this is Jesus in his eternal, pre-incarnation revelation, before he was born to Mary. Here he speaks with Abraham. He is LORD, He is God, and he has a special relationship with Abraham. He has heard of the evil in Sodom and is going to destroy them, and he asks out loud to the angels, v17 “should I hide this from Abraham?” This is what got my attention more than 40 years ago. I’ve said to myself, since I was 15 years old, “I want to be so close to God that if he moves near me, I will see it, know it, be in on it, unless he hides it from me.”
How? Be near him, Believe Him, Join with Him, Know by experience, Talk to, Recognize, Pay attention and know this is God. Used to be when the phone rang we didn’t have caller ID, and if someone said, “Hi, it’s me”, did you recognize them? Maybe sometime you came into a situation and something had happened, been done, and you wonder, do I know, do I recognize this handiwork, the passion, the action, the purpose of a friend? If so, then do you join right in, do you celebrate, do you go to the known source?
In Isaiah 41:8, I notice something interesting. God calls Israel his “servant”, but Abraham “my friend” . That word in Hebrews, aheb = beloved, dearly, love, friend. That’s ebeb = servant, minister, official . Yes, that’s a good thing to be, but very different from friend. And then as I read the words of God that follow v8 I think God is encouraging Israel to not just be a servant but to be a friend. He says “I have chosen you” v9 (but he’s saying “choose me”) and do not fear for I am with you v10 (saying stay with me) and I will strengthen you / help you – and then v13 I am the Lord who holds your right hand (he’s saying walk with me friend) Oh my how beautiful an invitation.
Then I go over to James 2:22-23 in that famous discussion about Faith that’s active in works, and so made complete. And it says that scripture was fulfilled (from Genesis 15:6) when Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend”! Oh we are going somewhere now. Don’t get on a theological tizzy here, but interestingly, in application, could it be that this often discussed connection between Faith and Works is about Salvation and Friendship? We are certainly, clearly from the preponderance of scripture, saved by Grace through Faith, not of works, of which we can boast (Eph2:8-9,10) yet still FOR works already prepared for us to do. But is it that IN the Works, which manifest our Faith, that we become “Friends”? Stay with me theologian, walk with me believer. James then continues in 2:29 in the same way Rahab… receiving … sending… She joined the work of God in Jericho and in Israel by Faith joining God, and she was saved, and became great grandmother to David, no doubt a friend of God. Certianly there is a whole other discussion we could have here, but Back to Abraham…
I want to be a Friend of God. I believe in Jesus and So, remember that list from Britannica? 1) I had a series of interactions that caused me to hear, and know, and believe, and place my faith in Jesus becoming a Child of God 2) and now he recognized me and I recognize Him. and 3) But there is a choice in the friendship side. He chose me first (praise God) but I also chose him and choose to walk him, not FOR the relationship, but because of the relationship to extend and deepen it. And 4) the idea of an egalitarian relationship is a stretch at first to consider because he IS Lord and IS God, but we still do have a choice to daily walk with him to join him, to love him in action – so 5) the entire “friendship” is out of a desire by Him as well as by me to walk together, to know him, to join him, a Friend of God.
Asking questions is always good especially if we want answers. John 4 tells a story I often call “Soul Winning 201” – I always called John 1:29-51 “Soul Winning 101” – Point out Jesus, Invite to “Come and See” … but I digress. 201 is here in John 4 – Be intentional, be engaging, be listening, be inviting, be revealing.
John 4:11 – Jesus has just “coincidentally” met a Samaritan woman at a well. So, nothing Jesus does is an accident. In v4 he had to go through Samaria. Most Jews going from Judea to Galilee went AROUND Samaria, but Jesus had an appointment. He sent his disciples to the convenience store, and Jesus waits by Jacob’s well till this woman shows up and he asks for a drink. But it’s more of a directive, he gently says “give me a drink”. That word is in an imperative tense. That was a bit radical. And the woman responds rather shocked, “how is it that YOU (JEW) ask me (Samaritan Woman) for a drink?” – Sort of an “excuse me?”.
That’s question 1 – good question. Jews called Samaritans, “dogs”. So, she wants to know, “hey, you Jew, why are you talking to me? Why are you telling me to give you a drink?” And let me read between the lines here, Jesus’ response is sort of that “this was just an ice breaker, but I have something better for you, for you than I’m asking from you. Living Water“.
Then that prompts question #2 – “Sir…” Oh ok now, we have gone from “you Jew” to “Sir” that word is kyrios = Lord – A shift is happening. She liked the sound of Living Water, but then says, “you don’t have a bucket, and the well is deep…” But the next word is unexpected – I would expect how – but there seems to be a shift in her question – “Where do you get Living Water?” Very interesting, she doesn’t ask “how” but “where?” Why? Because even if he HAD a bucket, she knows this well, it’s good, but it’s not LIVING WATER.
Then if you read her question #3 because so, “who ARE You?” – She says, “you aren’t greater than Jacob. He dug this well himself, and he gave it to us, so who are you and where is this water?”
Good questions
And Jesus basically says… “I have a different source, a different product, and it ALSO is FROM ME and FOR You. And Jesus says, “Drink THIS water, and a) your thirst will be quenched b) the source will spring up within you, and c) give you eternal life!
Wow, and so she begins to open her heart, mind, soul to the “Well Provider”, and the questions stop, and confession begins.
I don’t have a husband
I see you are a prophet
we worship God here
I am waiting for the Messiah
I am looking
I am seeking
And Jesus says, “I Am He” – Oh my my the answer is in front of you. Then v28 says “the woman left her water jar and went to town and told the people”. She got a big drink didn’t she? She wasn’t thirsty any longer. She wanted others to know. She invited others to know – and she immediately is involved in Soul Winning 101 – “Come and See a man who told me everything… could this be the Messiah (decide for yourself but I believe)…” And then v39 many from that town believed
Questions are good when looking for answers. So, a question for those of us who know Jesus and interact with those who do not:
Do you recognize seekers?
Do you argue or engage the real issues?
Do you welcome or judge, invite or reject, condemn or seek to rescue?
Sometimes people don’t respond. Sometimes they need some time to process, sometimes they will reject – but do we keep the lines open?
Interestingly, Jesus knew his disciples wouldn’t be open to this so he sent them to the STORE before this appointment commenced. Does Jesus include us or exclude us because we won’t believe he can do it?
A quote to close –
“The thing that taxes almightiness is the very thing which as disciples of Jesus we ought to believe he will do. We impoverish his ministry to moment we forget He is Almighty.” – O.Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest – 2/27)
I wrote a song about 35 years ago that my mind was drawn to today. The song was titled “Come, let’s sing for Joy”. But my song was just a rendering of songs the Psalmist wrote 3000 years ago. they are in Psalm 94&95. those Psalms numbered in the 90s are great worship feeders. I love the honesty of David’s songwriting and I can’t wait to hear him sing them some day. He is honest and when we read this, and put some of them to our own tunes, we realize that Life is hard, but God is GOOD. God is Present, he is Persistent, He is Patient, He is Prescient, that is he knows before it happens, and He is Prepared.
Psalm 94 begins “O Lord, the god who avenges (NIV). The God of Vengeance (CSB) – Paul wrote in Romans 12:19 “Vengeance belongs to me” and he is referring to Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay… in time their foot will slip, for their day of disaster is near. Then Moses says, The Lord will indeed vindicate his people. Oh the thoughts flood our mind when things don’t seem right, when people act wrongly, unjustly, those thoughts, “why, when, how, come on people, come on Lord”. And WE want to DO something. But Vengeance is NOT for us. Why? Because Only God is LOVE ENOUGH, only GOD is JUST enough, only God is WISE enough to do vengeance correctly. And So, v2 of Psalm 94 asks God to, RISE UP . The singer says, “Judge the earth, pay back the proud what they deserve” and then comes “How Long?” And if we read through Psalm 94 says “They say the Lord doesn’t see, pays no attention”. Oh my the thoughts that run through our head.
But THEN the songwriter tells us – “pay attention you stupid people!” (CSB). Well alright then, He reminds us that God made ears, and he can hear, and he made eyes and he can see; and he teaches, so he KNOWS, and that he disciplines. All these thoughts are running through our head about right and wrong, and v14 says the lord will not leave his people. But the questions still run through our head. V16 who stands up for me, against the wicked, against the evil doers? But v17 comes back to reality, regardless of how it’s going, if the Lord had not… another translation says unless the Lord… Come on somebody. If it had not been for the Lord… what might have been. The singer says “I’d have died.”
For me 35 years ago, I formed my second verse from vv18-19 of Psalm 94. When I cried my feet are slipping, your love, Oh Lord, supported me… When fear was great deep within me, you brought joy to my soul…
Verse 19, CSB renders it when I am filled with cares. NIV says when anxiety was great within me ESV the cares of my heart are many, KJV in the multitude of my thoughts. You can put it many ways but we can all relate. The Young’s Literal Translation rendered it, in the abundance of my thoughts within me
What do we do when our hearts are full, racing, complex, seeming without any answer… What do we Do? COME to the Lord.
When our thoughts are running all over the place, don’t go the WRONG PLACE. Don’t seek wrong help. Don’t join forces with the forces that are driving the madness you see. the singer takes a turn and asks a hard question, can a corrupt throne be your ally? Listen… God is not allied with evil. And God will not lose to evil. God is still on the throne. Yes there is EVIL in the World and they are working against the people of God, the creation of God, the Love of God… but v22 the Lord is my refuge, my God is the rock of my salvation… v23 he will pay them back… and the song ends… The Lord our God will destroy them.
Oh people, I’ve read the back of the book, God wins! And if you continue Psalm 95 says, Come, let’s shout joyfully to the Lord, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving, let’s shout triumphantly to him in song. For the Lord is the great King above all gods.
Take some time and keep reading Psalm 95, and praise the Lord.
When your mind races, run to the Lord. Turn your thoughts to him, put your trust in him. Don’t wallow in your thoughts, Come to the Right throne, the right king. The Lord God Almighty is his Name.
Hmm I can’t finish without saying Philippians 4:8 tells us whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, praiseworthy, Dwell on these things. 2 Corinthians 10:4 says take captive every thought and make it obey Christ.
Oh I can’t always control my thoughts, but I CAN control what I DO with my thoughts. Shift your focus, sing for joy, take refuge in the Lord
Just for fun… Here’s a 1988 recording of that song… that’s a young Jim Goforth, in a demo recording – Enjoy
Zephaniah 3:8 “therefore, wait for me… until the day I rise up”
Zephaniah like many of the prophets, I think of Zechariah and Daniel, tells the story of how God responds to sin and rejection of God, while still telling that history is a moment in what is eternal for God. That God judges, but God saves. That this moment might be hard, but for those who trust God there is a day coming. Here in chapter 3 God’s word goes down through what is coming – restoration, faithful service, purity, removal of shame, right living. And God calls them to v14 Sing For Joy – Shout Loudly – Be Glad, Celebrate with all your heart. We need to keep God’s work and his promises always in our minds.
Then v16 – do not fear – don’t let your hands grow weak
Why? And here is the verse that started my thoughts today, Zephaniah 3:17 ” The Lord your God is AMONG you, a Warrior who Saves. He WILL rejoice over you with gladness. He WILL quiet you in his love. He will DELIGHT in you with singing” – Oh that is beautiful.
Don’t fear – do not let your hands grow weak. Fear is a powerful force against us. yare = dismay, distress. Fear manifested is often NOT fright, but DISTRESS, feeling like I can’t control my world, I can’ t make a difference. Jeremiah 6:24 says “We have heard, and our hands have become weak. Distress has seized us like a woman in labor.” And interesting comparison that Jeremiah makes also in chapter 50 of his prophesy. Like a woman in labor – sometimes we know good is coming, but we are afraid we can’t do what it takes to get there and when it comes, we won’t be equal to the task.
But the encouragement is … The Lord is here AMONG you – qereb = in, at, among, in the middle of, entrails” Entrails? Well the Lord is the GUTS we Need! Come on somebody. Let go of your flowing robe image of Jesus …
He is a WARRIOR who SAVES – gibbor = manly, vigorous, hero, champion, strong, mighty – See Jesus standing before you, the Warrior Hero. I think about Joshua on the road to Jericho and seeing a man before him with Sword Drawn, blocking the road. He asks, “are you for us or against us.” And the Angel of the Lord – Jesus – stands before him and says “neither, I’m the Commander of the Armies of Heaven”. Yes, Jesus is our Warrior, that SAVES – yasha = delivers, avenges, is victorious – He is not just an encourager, a spectator, he is our Victorious Champion.
He will rejoice OVER you – al=over, in front, before, above – Deuteronomy 30:9 The Lord will make you prosper abundantly in all the works of your hands… Again, this is the Lord at work for us, in us, through us.
He will be quiet in his love – I like that rendering. Elsewhere it is rendered renew you. But that word, as I looked, charash carries the idea of a farmer plowing – That doesn’t mean he is silent, but more like he is quietly plowing the field, preparing for planting, preparing for harvest, the desire, the victory. – stop a minute and think about the Lord when he seems silent, seems quiet, he is just preparing for what he is bringing.
He will DELIGHT in you with SINGING – This is such a beautiful simple picture. Oh, have you ever just spontaneously sung praises to your children, your spouse, your team? “You are great, You can do it, yes you can yes you can. We got this, good is coming.” That is our Warrior, Savior, Farmer, Celebrating what he is doing, what is coming.
Pastor Goforth 