Monthly Archives: April 2011

Some things don’t change.

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Sunday, as folks were connecting with God during the worship service, someone cut loose shouting a first person word from God – “Worship Me! Worship Me! I love you! Worship Me!”

Though the Summit Church believes all the gifts of the Spirit are still in operation today and such startling expressions used to be the norm, there was an immediate mood change from a God-focused time of worship to a man-focused time of wonder – some wondering why this fellow was shouting we should worship him.

I am amused at the way different generations experience God.  Ecstatic outbursts were expected when I was a young man but today they can spark confusion even in Charismatic churches. Because He looks at our heart I don’t think the Lord cares if we change the definition of proper worship behavior but when we change the definition of proper life behavior we drift toward disaster. Continue reading →

I’d kill for Jesus!

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John 18:10 (NIV)
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
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Some time earlier, during their last meal together, Peter boasted that even though the other disciples might all abandon Jesus, he was willing to die for Him. Evidently he was sincere. Here we see Peter was certainly willing to kill for Him. (Remember, Peter was a fisherman, not a swordsman. Certainly he was attempting to kill the man but was only able to clip an ear.) But the disciples were outnumbered and out armed so Peter’s attack could have led to his death, too. Apparently Peter WAS willing to die for Jesus.

But Jesus put a stop to Peter’s attack. The Lord was more interested in Peter living for Him than Peter dying for Him. Peter failed the ‘living’ test though and denied the Lord three times.

I can relate to Peter. I too find it easier to “go down swinging” than to commit myself to “him who judges justly”. It is easier to go on the attack than to trust God with my life, family, circumstances, career, future and reputation.

While I don’t openly deny knowing the Lord (but I also don’t live in a place that confessing Him really costs very much) I do find it “convenient” to sometimes look the other way, to not speak up when I should, to ignore sin and injustice, to not “rock the boat” and thereby deny Him through my silence and inaction. It appears I too am more ready to die for Him (to make the glorious stand, be the macho man and fight to the death) than to simply live for Him.

Lord, teach me to live for you.
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1 Peter 2:23 (NIV)
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

I’m not sure I believe this.

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John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
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Apart from Jesus I can do nothing? I’m not sure I believe this verse. At least I often don’t act like I do. I act more like I believe “I can do this but if God blesses it it will be so much better.”  So I ask for His help.

When I “help” someone they do most of the work and I just provide the little extra to put them over the top. When I ask God to help me or bless what I am doing, at least in my mind, there is an implied “I can and am going to do this but, God, it will be wonderful if You give it that little extra to put it over the top and make it great.”  God becomes the icing on the cake rather than the essential vine.

I am reminded again how important it is, instead of asking God to bless what I am doing, to find out what God is blessing and do that.  Jesus did what He saw the Father do (John 5:19).  Jesus said what He heard the Father say (John 5:28).  While meditating on that one time I thought, “Lord, if I only said what I first heard You say, I wouldn’t say very much.”  At that moment I sensed a small voice inside saying, “Now you are beginning to get the idea.”

Lord, In every situation I face today, help me to see what You are doing and do that, too.  Help me to only speak in ways that honor you.
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Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

 

Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

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John 16:7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
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While it is great to have the Holy Spirit in my life my natural inclination is to disagree with Jesus’ statement here, that it is better for Him to go so the Holy Spirit can come. After all, if Jesus was walking with me, I could see him, touch Him, talk with Him and clearly hear His response (even though his disciples often had no idea what His answers meant, at least they knew they were hearing Him clearly). So why is it better for us that Jesus is now with the Father and the Holy Spirit is with us?

I see at least two reasons. Continue reading →

We’ll outperform Jesus?

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John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
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Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. What could Jesus be talking about when He says we will do greater works than He did? What could be greater than raising a man from the dead?

As marvelous as the resurrection of Lazarus was, he came back to a world filled with poverty, hatred and fear.  In fact, he became a target for assassination because so many people were coming to Jesus because of what happened to him. (John 12:10)  Once he was resurrected his body continued the process of decay and eventually he died again.  I have visited his tomb in a church on the island of Cyprus.

But now that Jesus has returned to the Father we can share eternal life with people – life that does not end in a tomb.  Not a life in a world of sorrow, poverty and misery like Lazarus returned to but life without end in the glorious presence of God!  Life eternal where our bodies are not daily dying – in fact, nothing is dying – rather everything is alive with real life, eternal life.  How much greater is that?!  And the purpose of it all …?

Jesus said, “To glorify the Father”.  (John 14:13)  When we share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ the greatest work of all is done – the Word of God is sent to accomplish its purpose, eternal destinies are changed and the Father is glorified.
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John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.