Sermon Notes

Satan Works; Jesus Fixes

Genesis 3:1-7  8/18/2024

In identifying the work of Satan, it’s important to separate his influence from the condition established.  Just because Satan consistently takes certain actions, that does not necessarily make him solely responsible for the condition that is produced.

Many actions and conditions are attributed to Satan, but to really focus in on his core work, we need to find what actions of his affects all people, not just a portion.

And the place to look is in the beginning where he first starts to work.

He comes into the garden where Adam and Eve have already been placed.  They are in an ideal environment: all of their needs are taken care of and they live in innocence where fault does not exist.  They are also gullible, trusting and lack suspicion.  They haven’t even heard of deceit.  And they have only one restriction: Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Not content with God’s ideal creation, he has to mess it up.

He starts by misleading, deceiving and confusing Eve.

A. First, he makes God sound extremely restrictive: “You can’t eat any fruit.”

Eve tells him: “We can eat from any tree in the garden.  Just not the one in the center of the garden.”  Here, we encounter some of the confusion that Eve is already experiencing:

1. She doesn’t use the name of the tree, just its location.  There were actually two trees in the center of the garden:  The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the The Tree of Life.

2. She adds the restriction “...and you may not touch it.”  Touching it was not a problem (although not advisable.)

3. She shortened the consequence to: “...or you will die.”  This seems to suggest that she understood the consequence of death to be much more immediate that it actually would be.

Keep in mind she was not the one to whom the restriction concerning the tree was given.  Her information was second hand.

Next, Satan makes it sound like God is holding out on them.  God does not want them to know about good and evil, because then they would be on His level.  They would no longer just be made in the “image and likeness of God,” but they would be like God or equal to God.  The implication is that God wants to keep them in their place.

This activates their desires and ego.  “We can have more; we can be more!”

Satan offers and alternative based on deception  and build upon human desires and ego.  The choices we have in Jesus are based in truth, because Jesus is truth:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  John 1:17

B. In deceiving them, he presents them with a choice: to whom will you listen, God or Satan.  Who seems more realistic and desirable.  Who is making more sense to you.  Often , the decision is based on subjective criteria.

They choose to listen to Satan.  It was their choice influenced by Satan’s deceit.

Their choice resulted in a cascade reaction:

1. They learned that actions and decisions have moral implications.  A person can make good decisions or bad decisions.  But it is up to an individual to make a decision.  There can be outside forces blurring the issues, but, regardless, a decision is the responsibility of the decisions maker.

Satan continues to deceive, but Jesus has sent the Spirit of truth that will lead us into all truth:

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  John 16:13

2. With responsibility comes accountability and consequences.  One must accept the consequences that result from their decisions.  A good decision brings good consequences (rewards.)  A bad decision (sin) has bad consequences (a price).  (We know good and bad from God’s moral code.  We may also learn good and bad from our families and culture, but God’s word must remain the final authority.)  When we make a bad decision and follow through with it (sin), we must pay a price.  The ultimate price for sin is one’s life.

Jesus has accepted the price we should have paid by trading our unrighteousness for His righteousness on the cross.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  2 Corinthians 5:21

...and He Himself is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  1 John 2:2

Two questions always arise when talking about the Garden of Eden:

1. Does the Fall represent a failure for humanity and does it thwart the original design of God for humanity?

No, this was not a failure nor does it thwart God’s intentions.  This is exactly what God knew would happen and the outcome for which He planned.

Consider what our world would look like without the involvement of Satan:

Everyone would live in perpetual innocence, with no doubts or discretion, completely gullible.  No one would have any sense of right or wrong, good or bad.  Therefore no one’s actions would have any moral value.  Therefore there would be no accountability.

But we would still have egos and desires.

We would be like small children with no control and no boundaries.

Have you every dealt with a small child who very much wants something he or she can’t have?  It can be an ugly scene.  So imagine an entire human population functioning on this level.

There would be no natural mortality since humanity would still have access to the Tree of Life.  The human population  would grow unchecked.  Now, imagine this human population living on a planet that has surpassed the planets ability to sustain it?

Food for thought: this is the introductory sentence of a study done on St. Matthew’s island concerning the reindeer population from 1944 to 1963:

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), introduced to St. Matthew Island in 1944, increased from 29 animals at that time to 6,000 in the summer of 1963 and underwent a crash die-off the following winter to less than 50 animals.

The system we have now is far more efficient and compassionate than the alternative.  It is balanced and self-sustaining.

2. With the hardships, oppression and evil in this world, does this world really reflect the love of God?

This question is based on the idea that a loving God would not allow His “children” to experience any hardship or any evil.  Those making this claim see no benefit to the opposition experienced.

But what if comfort is not God’s priority?  What if development and maturity are God’s priorities?

Consider parenting children: is it better parenting to expose their children to challenges in order to improve skill and bolster self image, or is it better to coddle them in comfort?

And what do children prefer in the long run?

Statistics show that more rigorous practices produce better results.

If you research standards of education internationally, the United States has a lower ranking than one might expect.  As low as 31st in an international study, behind both China and Japan, which have more rigorous educational policies., have ranked signinicantly higher.

And, having just celebrated the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, it is noteworthy to cite that Chine, with a very rigorous Olympic training program, has ranked in the top 5 medal winner since 2008.

Olympic Training Methods in China. At the sports centers for young athletes, children are put through rigorous drills in old gyms on canvas mats in training sessions held several times a day throughout the day and sometimes into the night. The athletes rarely see their families. 

Characteristics of the Enemy and His Servants

2 Corinthians 11:10-23   8/11/2024

A couple of general points to make about servants of Satan:

1. They are regular human beings.  They are not demons in disguise in individuals possessed by evil forces.

2. They believe that they are right, and that they are doing the world a service by virtue of their views and actions.

3. Generally speaking, they look “good”.  They present themselves as holy, righteous and studied.

But there is more that should be considered…

1. They insist on being considered an equal opinion among many and that their cause is noble.  In fact, in our culture, they often insist that they speak for large numbers, even though their constituency is a small part of the population.

2. They “enslave” followers.  The root word refers to slaves who were bound to their masters for a period of time...sometimes an indefinite period of time.  Often followers are said to have an obligation to their leader or to the institution the leader leads.

3. They “exploit” people.  This means to devour or consume.  To “bleed someone dry” of resources.  This type of leader  requires more resources, more time and more responsibility of it’s members.

4. They take advantage of you.  Self explanatory.

5.  They “push themselves forward.”  They put themselves above others in importance and authority.  Their needs are more dire or crucial; their ideas more profound or practical and effective.  They are first in everything.

6. They “slap you in the face.”  They use physical violence as control or punishment.  They beat you about the face and head.

7. They tend to flaunt their credentials of service and authenticity.

Traits of the Enemy; How Do We Tell the Difference

Matthew 7:13-23   8/4/2024

Remember the old TV show, To Tell the Truth?  Four celebrity panelists tried to find the real contestant among two imposters.  The panelists asked the contestants questions ands then voted for who each panelist was the real contestant.

People of faith have a similar challenge in everyday life, but the stakes are much higher.  Of all the spiritual influences out there—all vying for our attention—we have to determine which are authentic and which are imposters (whose sole purpose is to misdirect us and mess us up).

Most of these imposters are people, human beings, under the direction of Satan.  (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 calls these false apostles servants of Satan.  While they may not be demons, they will exhibit much the same characteristics as Satan and can be put into the enemy’s camp.)

In all fairness, many of these false apostles and false prophets do not know they are false.  Many believe they are doing a good work—the work of the Lord.

Case in point, the people referred to in Matthew 7.  These people have strong expectation that Jesus will accept them.  They have their credentials all in line: they prophesied in Jesus name (under His authority); they cast out demons in His name and did miracles.  

Compare their testimony with what Jesus said would accompany those of faith in Mark 16:17-18.  The lists look essentially identical.  So, what are they lacking?

At the risk of stating the obvious, let me make several points:

1. These people believe they are doing the work of the Lord under the power and authority of the Lord.  In fact, they believe they have a personal relationship with Him.  They address Him directly.

2. While these miraculous signs will accompany true believers, they are not—in and of them selves—an endorsement of Jesus’ work or power.  Jesus makes a sharp distinction between those performing such actions and those doing His will.  These actions are not an essential or a central part of His will.

So then, what is the essential part that these people are lacking?  What does constitute Jesus’ will if it’s not that.  And what do we look to in order to make that distinction?   How do we tell a ravenous wolf from a sheep having a bad day?

The answer is finding the will of God expressed in an understandable way...

Traits of the Enemy

John 8:42-53   7/28/2024

The traits of Satan are evil opposites of the character traits of God.  Some examples

Light—Darkness; Good—Evil; Truth—Lie, Denial; Giver of Life—Murder; Love—Hate; Faith(fulness), Belief, Trust—Doubt, Disbelief, Unfaithfulness, Untrustworthiness; Justifies—Accuses; Defends—Slanders; Honor—Dishonor.

 If God and Satan are such complete opposites, why don’t we see more extreme and even complete examples of good and evil in human behavior.

                                    God                                                     Satan

                                   Spirit                                                World (money, power, fame)

                                  Truth (Word)                               Flesh (ego, desires, life experiences)

How do these interactions occur?  How does the enemy try to trap us?

It often plays out in how we interact with others.

Matthew 16:22  Peter addressing Jesus and telling Him to not go into Jerusalem and don’t talk about death.  This is sentimentality.  We want what we believe to be the best outcome according to our standards.  “Hey, come on, Jesus.  Don’t talk this way.  You have years ahead of You.  Look what You have accomplished in just a few years.  Just think how popular you will be in ten years.  And, You are the Messiah!  You will bring great things to Israel and the Jewish people.”

 This approach would only serve to discourage a person from following their mission given to them by God.

1 Corinthians 7:5    Paul addresses the matter of marital relationships (the church was apparently interested specifically in this matter).  While it would be better if each person could remain single, that is not realistic.  So he made a concession and allowed for them to marry.  They may refrain from intimacy by mutual consent and for a fixed time for the purpose of prayer, but it should be for a short and specific time.  His concern is that either  partner may be tempted to stray by the devil.

2 Corinthians 2:11  The matter of the person who had undergone punishment (probably the man from 1 Corinthians 7) and was reaccepted into the community.  In spite of the offence, the community needs to put that behind them and offer comfort and forgiveness.  Do this so that Satan will not be able to out with them and implement his plans.

Ephesians 4:27    Deals with the matter of anger.  The appropriate response is to resolve the issue by the end of the same day.  Unresolved anger sets up walls and is counter productive to relationship, and it gives Satan a foothold—an opportunity to work in the community.

1 Timothy 3:6-7  Concerning elders:  An elder should not be a new convert lest he become conceited and come under the judgement of the devil.  And he should have a good reputation with outsiders so that he will not fall into the devil’s trap.

1 Timothy 5:15   This concerns widows, but identifies behaviors of which anyone could be guilty.  Widows have extra, idle time.  This may give them the opportunity to go from house to house and gossip and be busy bodies, which may result in Satan having an opportunity to slander people of faith.  Widows should remain home, remarry and tend to a household.

Any of these matters may occur, and they may happen in conjunction with others, making a very convoluted and confusing mess. And so, we must focus on our relationship with one another and with God through Jesus Christ.

Judgement vs. Accountability

1 Corinthians 5:1-12  7/14/2024

The church of Corinth is being confronted with a serious sin from within its ranks.  (Not that sin is actually more serious than any other sin in God’s eyes.  But—within cultural settings—some sins present themselves are more dramatic and shocking than others)  There is a man committing adulterous incest.  And not only that, but it is common knowledge and, also, the rest of the church views it as a positive thing.

This is not unlike the situation in many churches in our country.  A variety of activities are being legalized by the government and sanctioned by the church.  And for those who do not comply, they wear the general label of haters.

This describes one of two ways that our society and many churches respond to this challenge: ignore it, embrace it, encourage it.  And many feel this is in line with the command ion 1 Peter 4:8  Love covers a multitude of sins.  The other way—an extreme opposite—is to oppose it, publicly criticize it, protest it.

This second response seems to be much more in line with Paul’s directions.  He tells the Corinthian church that they should grieve about it and expel the offender.

So which is it: loving toleration and permissiveness or active opposition.

The answer becomes clearer as the passage moves on.

First he builds a theological argument:  Jesus is the Passover lamb celebrated at the Lord’s table.  Passover was celebrated with unleavened bread.  In fact, before Passover began, the Jews would clean their houses thoroughly to get rid of even a crumb of leavened bread.  Yeast, in this example, represents evil.  And with yeast, it doesn’t take much to leaven a batch of dough.  The ratio of flour to yeast is roughly 70 to 1.  So yeast can quickly permeate a lump of flour 70 times greater than itself.  So, what you might think is a small problem and quickly become a pervasive problem. 

Also, this is very much a community problem.  The misconduct of one affects the entire faith community in a detrimental way.  So the focus is not just on the one; it is the effect on the entire community.

Now he goes on to clarify an earlier command he had given to the church: stay away from sexually immoral people.  But this was not a general order.  This didn’t apply to those outside the church.  If this applied to those outside the church, then faith communities would have to go to heaven immediately.  Paul was referring to other believers, Christian brethren that were living in open sin.

This point is particularly important.  Today’s church needs to realize that the early church didn’t protest issues, they didn’t demonstrate  or hold rallies in opposition to subgroups.  They simply shared the gospel wherever they went.

You might say, “But people must repent of their sins.  How can they repent if they don’t know what their doing is a sin?”  The Bible doesn’t say that people need to repent of certain sins or particular sins first.  The New Testament does not have a list which sins to repent of in order.  Whatever sins convict a person will do, as long as the person acknowledges that they have, indeed, sinned.  After that, they are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, who will get to things in good time.

Which is the strategy of this passage.  Help the person realize that they have sinned and they are affecting the entire church, and they need to stop.  It doesn’t mean that they will be perfect, but it does mean they will be different, and more aware of their impact on the community.

And, this expulsion is not supposed to be permanent.  2 Corinthians 2:5-11.  The man is reintegrated into the church community in forgiveness and love.

What Changes Us and How Do We Change?

Romans 12:1-2     7/7/2024

We will all change.  Change is an evitable part of life.  We will change physically, emotionally, intellectually, spirituality, etc.  So change is not an option.  What is an option is how we change to choose.

Romans 12 presents 2 ways we might change:

1. Conform (take the shape of a pattern or object) to out cultural setting, or

2. Be transformed  (to take the shape of a particular subject) by the renewing (redo, to make better) of your mind (thinking, insight, perspective, decision making).

So, how does this happen?

True transformation cannot happen without the Holy Spirit.

(Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.   And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

This meets the basic condition that transformation in that there is a particular subject or image (the Lord), and it’s an upgrade (this transformation is accompanied by the Lord’s glory, or His splendor and magnificence).  This also tells us that true transformation is not random.  We do not choose the image into which we are transformed.

What specifically is the process of transformation?

Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would have specific functions:

When He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 

1. about sin, because people do not believe in me; If people do not believe in Jesus, that’s because they  see no need of a savior.  In their eyes, their sins “aren’t that bad” or they are non-existent.  But the Holy Spirit will prove them wrong and people will come to accept the reality and the magnitude of their sins, and they will want to accept God’s solution found in faith in Jesus Christ. 

2. about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; People often believe they are “good enough” for heaven.  Or that God grades everyone on an individualized and personalized scale that works in reverse (the scale is set according to a person’s limitations, so—on any given day—they are doing their best on that particular day, so they always make the grade.  But the Holy Spirit will prove them wrong, because true righteousness is established by Jesus Christ who lived the perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, was raised from the dead showing His victory over death and Who continuously intercedes for us in heaven.  Jesus established and safeguards our righteousness. 

3. about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.  There is a growing belief today that there is no judgement and no condemnation, and that no matter how a person lives, that person will be welcomed into heaven.  There is also a growing disbelief in the devil or even evil.  But the Holy Spirit will prove them wrong and There will be consequences.  The prince of this world may lead people astray, but “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Testing Spirits and Responding Accordingly 

 1 John 4:1-6   6/9/2024

It becomes abundantly clear in the Bible that there have been forces in our world whose sole purpose has been to distort truth and lead people away from God.  From Satan in the garden to the antichrist in the end times, people have had to choose which voices they will heed and which ones to avoid.

It’s not that all of these teachers set out to do harm to Christian doctrine.  Most believe they have unique and true insight that will redefine or at least improve Christian belief.  They believe what they teach  themselves and invite others to listen and accept their teachings.

True

Walking in the light.  If we walk in the light:

  1. we have fellowship with one another, and

  2. the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.  That means any cosmic record of sin and lifestyle of sin.

John goes on to clarify: if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So, walking in the light means being aware of our sins and confessing them to Jesus so they can be removed. 

John is writing this so that his audience will not sin.  But, if anyone does sin, he is reminding them that Jesus is the sacrifice that paid the debt of all sin.

When sin is removed, that makes room for other activities, like following God’s commands.  As a result, we live a life that reflects the character of Jesus.

The commands are summed up in this: love your brother and you will live in the light.

The person who does the will of God lives forever.

There is an anointing that leads believers into the truth. 

Untrue

Walking in darkness; walking in darkness means  denying the fact of one’s sins (amoral position).  Even though the person may claim to have fellowship with God, this would invalidate that claim.  It amounts to calling God a liar and deceiving ones self.

Prayer Requests and Answers; How Very Different They Can Be

1 Kings 19:1-18   5/26/2024

We’ve been talking about prayer for several weeks.  One aspect of prayer that I’ve focused on is the Holy Spirit interceding in our prayers before God; that the Holy Spirit edits our prayers according to God’s will, so that by the time it gets to God, or prayer is in accordance with His will, and He will answer it.

What does that look like in practical terms.

Elijah gives us an excellent example.

Background

This particular story starts about 3 1/2 years before this incident.  Ahab becomes king of Israel (the Northern Kingdom).  He introduced Baal worship to Israel; built a large temple in honor of Baal and put an idol of Baal inside the temple.

Shortly after Ahab becomes, Elijah announces a 3 1/2 year drought in Israel, which comes to pass and it enrages Ahab so much that he makes it a priority to find Ahab.

Elijah then challenges the prophets of Baal and the prophets of Baal to a match of their respective God.  Each side is to prepare a sacrifice to their god.  Whichever god accepts the sacrifice with fire from the sky proves that he is the true god.

The prophets of Baal prepare a sacrifice and begin to call upon Baal.  They shout and dance and cut themselves most of the day, but there is no response.

Then it is Elijah’s turn.  He fixes the altar, arranges the wood and the sacrifice upon it, and then commands that 12 large jars of water be poured over the sacrifice so that is soaked and there is a puddle of water around it.  Elijah prays and fire comes down from the sky consuming the sacrifice, the wood and the water.

The people of Israel recommit themselves to their God and kill the false prophets.

Then Elijah prays and a heavy rain comes upon the land, breaking the 3 1/2 year drought.

In one day, Elijah sees two powerful events (fire from the sky and an end to the drought) and one powerful result (Israel recommitting to God).

Elijah is most likely on a spiri8tual “hi.”

But, just as there are mountain top experiences, there are also spiritual valleys, and Elijah finds himself in one almost immediately.

News of this event gets to Ahab, who in turn tells his pagan wife, Jezebel  (whose name means chastity).  She is really the driving force in Israel, and is one of the most powerful people in the world.  She issues immediate orders to have Elijah killed.

Elijah heard this, was frightened and he ran.  There are a number of other actions he could have taken, but three prominent facts stood out in his mine:

1. Jezebel was a powerful and compassionless ruler who did not like Elijah.

2. Jezebel had already had the other prophets of God killed.

3. There was no divine retribution spoken or taken against her.

1st Prayer

Under a broom tree, “Lord.  Take my life.  I’m a failure.  I’m no better than my predecessors.”  Elijah is depleted and despondent.  He has done all he can do, and he has nothing left.  He is physically, emotionally and spiritually depleted.

God’s Answer

“Let’s fix one part of the problem that will effect the other two.  Let’s replenish him physically.”  So God sends him water and cakes of bread.  He is replenished and makes a 40 day (23 mile) trip to Mt. Hebron.

2nd Prayer

(Same prayer first to the Word of the Lord and then to the Lord)  It is a lament: “Lord, I’ve been faithful.  (This is not my fault!  Where have you been?)  The people have been grossly unfaithful; they have killed the prophets and now they want to kill me.”

There are some discrepencies in his story and the events related:

1. The people had broken the covenant, but they had also—just recently—recommitted to God.

2. The altar had been destroyed, but Elijah had built it back.

3. The people were not trying to kill him, but Jezebel and Ahab were.

When presenting our requests to God, determine how much is real and how much is imagined or exaggerated.

God’s Answer

God doesn’t argue, correct, chide or dismiss Elijah.  God recognizes that, even though his story may not be completely true, Elijah believes it completely.

  1. God gives him an action plan: go and anoint these men.  They will be my instruments of justice and vengeance.

2. God gives him a new perspective; there are still 7,000 faithful people in Israel.  You are not alone.

In prayer, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to God’s will.  God hears what we need to fulfill our calling and His will.  We cannot derail it.  God is never out of strategy.

The Effects of Prayer on Us

Matthew 26:36-46   5/12/2024

There are some ideas or beliefs about prayer—spoken and unspoken—that affect the practice of prayer.  The idea of how you phrase your prayer or what words you use are important, and some of it seems kind of trendy; the idea that you are claiming God’s promises on the spot (in that respect people seem to be demanding or ordering God to act.)  People seem to forget that the Holy Spirit intercedes before God for us.  And that doesn’t mean that the Holy Spirit gives us the words to speak in prayer.  The word intercedes means to step in and mediate.  He changes our prayers for us.

I will apologize in advance.  If any of these methods truly enhance your prayer life, I don’t mean to step on your toes or discourage you.  If anything I want to prevent discouragement.

Having said that, there are some suggestions concerning prayer that we can take from the practice of prayer from the Son of God—Jesus Christ.

1. Pick a place for prayer, if possible; someplace that is comfortable, peaceful and safe.

2. Pick your confidents carefully and establish boundaries.  It can be beneficial to share prayer time and prayer concerns with others.  It can develop a sense of accountability.  

At the same time, do not count on other people too heavily.  People are inconsistent and they have their own issues.  God (through Jesus) is always present, accepting and supportive.

3. Be open about your feelings and your thoughts and your apprehensions.  Don’t try to hide them, because God already knows about them.  You don’t have to be polite with God.  You can’t make Him angry or hurt His feelings.  Besides, He already knows your thoughts and feelings; trying to hide them is useless.

Knowing this, prayer can be a part of your decision making process.  Many times when we address a decision or any matter, there is a tension inside of us between our head and our heart and it paralyzes our will.  

Jesus is in that state.  His head knows what is coming and why it’s coming.  He knows it is the only way to establish salvation, and He had agreed to this since before creation.  And there is prophesy confirming His destiny.  His head knows every reason why this must happen.  But His heart knows the anguish of what is coming; it knows the shame of ridicule and the disappointment of rejection.  And He is trying to move Himself to a decision, because, as it stands now, He wants another possible decision.  He is saying that He is open to another plan, another possibility.

And He can build a strong president.  Look at Abraham going to sacrifice Isaac—his only begotten son.  But, at the last minute God stops Abraham and prevents the sacrifice of Isaac.  He is open to something like that.

But after an hours of prayer, Jesus has moved from a very reluctant participant to a reluctant but willing participate.  “If this must be, then let it be so.”

At the end of three hours, He goes from reluctand turmoil to quite determination and acceptance.  He is willing to move forward into His destiny.

Sometimes we don’t know what God is up to or what He wants us to do.  And whatever things are leaning toward, we are reluctant to do that.

But prayer can make a difference—not in our circumstances but in our attitude and our resolve.

A Closer Look at What’s Going On

II Chronicles 32:9-23   4/21/2024

Hezekiah “inherits” a problem.  Judah is a vassal state to Assyria—the dominant ruling political power (Empire) to the North.  (A vassal state is one which is subservient to the ruling power.  It pays a yearly “tribute” so that it won’t be invaded, and it assists the ruling power as need arises.  Otherwise, it remains self-ruling.)

The Northern Kingdom had been a vassal state, but they rebelled first.  So, Assyria invades and conquers them, and then carries them off to captivity.  (That is the human side.  The Godly side is that they had been unfaithful to the covenant for decades.  God warned them; they did not respond, so God sends Assyria to conquer them.)

Hezekiah, seeing the problem and wanting to fix it, rebels against, which is what any ruler would have done.  First, he finds a powerful ally (Egypt) and then he rebels.  But his plan backfires.  He tries to “fix his fix” and agrees to pay whatever reparations Assyria requires.  But Assyria still invades, conquering all of the Judean walled cities in their path and landing a short distance from Jerusalem.

The king of Assyria sends his administrator to deliver taunts and threats to king Hezekiah and the people of Judah:

1. He implies that Hezekiah’s posture of power is unfounded.

2. He tells the people that—if they listen to Hezekiah—they will die.

3. The king of Assyria then points to recent events: Assyria has been capturing small nations, and none of their gods have saved them.  Why do the people think their God will save them?

The king of Assyria also keeps writing taunts in letters.  Basically, he is claiming to be more powerful than any gods in the land.

As this pertains to the New Testament and the church, there are strong parallels:

1. The church fights against a powerful enemy that makes false claims.

2. The church is accused of making false claims that it cannot fulfill.

3. Church leaders make outrageous moral slips, and one leader stands for all leaders.

4. Considering all the poverty, cruelty, oppression and evil in the world—all of which goes unchecked—how can there be an all-powerful, all knowing and all loving God?

5. Considering how many outspoken Christians reject the claim of the most highly regarded science, people of faith must be unrealistic and resist reality.

Many churches embrace much of this rhetoric, making positions even muddier.

In response to their situation, Hezekiah and Isaiah go to the temple to pray and seek answers.

How often do we leave prayer as the last resort.  If all else fails, pray.

The Value of Skepticism 

John 20:24-31   4/7/2024

People of faith live within a delicate and fluid balance.  On the one hand, we are told to live by faith, which accepts forces and precepts that have no definitive proof.   On the other hand, we are told to test all things to verify their positive quality or their harmfulness.

To complicate matters different people have different ways of accomplishing this.  So a number of people can look at a particular truth or historical event and each person can arrive at vastly different or contradictory conclusion.

Despite some philosophical trends, truth and reality are not subjective experiences.  There is truth to be found and make personal (different from understanding it differently and individually).

But before we look at how we arrive at the truth, let’s look at different words used to describe different aspects of processing information:

1. Doubt—To call into question the truth of, to be uncertain about.  This should be a motivator in exploring something more fully.

2. Skepticism—the attitude of doubting (calling into question) knowledge claims set forth in various areas.  The process of asking what principles or tenets are based upon;  the attitude of questioning the source of one’s knowledge; asking, “How do you know that?”

These two qualities are really a matter of degree.  And in fairness, one has to ask, “What do I need to hear/see in order to accept this?”  Otherwise it is just a ruse to avoid confronting the issue.

The next two qualities are filters of reality that obstruct a fair evaluation of an issue or an event.  These are answers before the question is asked.  

3. Cynicism—the belief that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere; people may manipulate or fabricate details; the topic may or may not be true, but there is a serious question of why this person is sharing this fact at this time with me. 

4. Pessimism--the tendency to see the bad side of things or to expect the worst in any situation, an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome, this can become a future forecast or self-fulling prophecy.  

The resurrection of Jesus has been the object of all of these qualities.  And there are ways to address these attitudes (if the person is open to it).  What are some ways that this has been handled?  The post-resurrection experience of Thomas gives a good model to look at.

The New Normal

Luke 24:13-27   3/31/2024

10:00 am Service

This time in which we live is being referred to as the new normal.  It is distinguished by periodic mandates to wear masks and the development of new boosters every 4 to 6 months that may of may not keep you from catching the newest variants of the flu.

Of course, this is not the first new normal. There have been several in the past 42 years.  In September of 1982 in Chicago, some still-unidentified individual slipped potassium cyanide into bottles of Tylenol, resulting in the death of seven people.  As a result, all over-the-counter medical products along with many food products now come with tamper proof seals.

And on September 11, 2001, four hijacked passenger jets were flown into several American buildings: both of the twin towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington.  The fourth plane—believed to be in route for the white house or the capital building, was purposely crashed near Shanksville,  Pennsylvania.  As a result, air travel has never been the same: luggage and passengers are subject to thorough searches, people are strictly limited to what can be brought as a carry on (no more than 3 oz. of any liquid)  and passengers seldom talk to each other.

We can debate whether these are good or not, but what we can’t debate is that these innovations are here to stay.  They are two of a longer list of new normal that have simply become normal.

This morning we have gathered to celebrate the most monumental event in the history of humanity: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after He had been crucified and laid in a sealed tomb.

And not only is this a monumental event, it has ushered in a New Normal through which the whole human race can benefit.

A. This new normal has changed the way that humanity relates to God.  

Under the old normal, also called the Old Testament, people were expected to follow the law of Moses, which consists of 613 separate statutes.  These 613 statutes cover every part of ones life and define right and wrong in virtually every situation.  A person—especially a good Jew—was expected to follow all of them consistently.  Breaking one law, no matter how seemingly insignificant, constituted the violation of the entire law.  And death was the penalty for breaking the law.

This covenant was external—it was a set of rules set down by God.  It was His idea and not people’s idea.  People were expected to follow these statutes—willingly, sincerely and as expressions of their relationship with God.  This was not a “Do-It-Because-I-Said-So” relationship.  This was a “Do-It-To-Show-Everyone-That-I-Love-You-And-You-Love-Me” arrangement.

However, when dealing with human nature and human free will, you can’t guarantee that people won’t make wrong decisions.  Sometimes people would give the law “lip service.”  They would pretend to endorse the law, but never follow it on a day to day basis.  Or, people would out and out rebel and take some other course that was antithetical to God’s ways.

God, being all-knowing—knew this would happen, so He made provisions for forgiveness and restoration.  First, He would send problems to the people to let the people know there was a problem.  This would include invasions and natural disasters.  Then, there was the sacrificial system.  When the people could admit they had sinned and wanted to restore relationship with God, there was a formula that the priests could perform.  It involved sacrificing an animal that would appease the death penalty.  The animal’s life was substituted for the human life and the penalty was appeased.

These were the terms and conditions of the Old Testament, the Old Normal.  Basically, it boils down to do the right thing, be a good person until you mess up.  Then, ask for forgiveness, sacrifice an animal so that you are good until the next time you mess up.

This system worked (if everyone cooperated), but an animal sacrifice was not full appeasement.  It was only a temporary fix, and mainly it was a teaching device to help people understand the sacrifice of Jesus and the terms of the New Covenant.

The moral code still stands.  God’s moral expectations are still expressed in the 613 statutes of the law are as valid today as they were on Mt Sinai.

People still have free will, so infractions, called sins, are bound to happen.

Breaking one law is the same as breaking the whole set of laws.  And the penalty is still death.

Those terms are still the same, but everything else changes after that.

Once we accept God’s standards and realize we have fallen short, in the New Normal or the New Testament, we don’t have to provide the sacrifice.  Jesus is the sacrifice.  And He is the perfect sacrifice.  He was without sin or blemish.  He became a willing perfect human sacrifice in exchange for the lives of fallen and imperfect humans.  And this is available to all people.
    But it’s not automatic.  There is a three step process in accepting His sacrifice on the cross and the operation of His resurrection:
    1. Acknowledge your sins and your need for forgiveness.  This is perhaps the hardest step, because no one likes to admit: “I was wrong, and I have no acceptable excuse.”
    2. Accept that there is nothing you can do to atone for your sins.  You are a fallen vessel incapable of perfection.  After all, you got yourself into this mess—you’ve made a number of mistakes by your own volition—why should anyone expect you to get yourself out of this situation on your own?
    3. Receive the gift of forgiveness that leads to salvation.  Believe that Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection is enough.  Accept that, through Jesus, you can stand before God without fear.  In as much as Jesus substituted His life for yours, He has switched your life for His, so when God looks at you, all He sees is the perfection of His Son.
    And this is a radical and an extreme belief.  The fact that this is for all and not just a select group of people, that anyone can be a part—regardless of any flaws, injuries or illnesses you may have, that everyone is seen as equals regardless of race, socio-economic status or gender and the fact that everyone had value was set the Christians apart from all other religions.  These are the new normal traits that should be marking the Christian church.  This is a new normal that should never become just normal or commonplace.  

Taking up Our Own Cross

Matthew 10:17-39  3/24/2024

I find that “taking up one’s cross” is an understudied and often misunderstood concept.  It is usually associated with accepting some burden in life, like a disability or a labor intensive member of one’s family.  The idea is that this cross is something with which you are stuck and you will never be able to rid yourself of it so don’t even try.

But this understanding has some weaknesses.

There are several places in scripture where Jesus gives us enough material, enough teaching, to build an understanding of the concept.

First, this is a phrase that applies only to Christians.  In the wider context of chapter 10, Jesus is addressing His twelve disciples just before they set off on their first missionary journey.  He tells them to go to the lost sheep of Israel. Proclaim the message: “The Kingdom of heaven is near.”  He gives them power and authority to heal the sick and exorcise the demon possessed.  This is a message that applies not only to them but to all Christians through the ages.

Then Jesus goes on to explain some of the dangers and risks involved—a message that also applies to all Christians through the ages..  He says that people—even one’s own countrymen and family—will hate them, hunt them, arrest them and have them put to death.

Then, Jesus shares His own example: people misunderstood Him and maligned Him when He was only trying to do the work of His Father.  The people called Jesus a devil, so the disciples can’t expect much more.

And this opens the topic at hand.  This passage presents seven areas where we need to take up our cross.  There are also two other passages I want to look at that pertain to this topic.  Generally speaking, taking up one’s cross means to take on an attitude or a position of humility and obedience that leads to letting go of something of ours and accepting something of God in its place.

1. Taking up our cross means forsaking public popularity and accepting the derisive accusations and misconceptions of people.

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of His household!  Verse 24-25  I’m always surprised when I hear a rumor about me.  But this happens in more general ways.  I have heard liberals say that Evangelicals want to control their people with feat of condemnation.

2. Taking up our cross means giving up on safety, security and living a quiet life and accepting risks. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  You will be hated by everyone because of Me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Verse 21-22  I heard a Christian missionary in the Middle East say that Christianity is divided into two worlds: Comfortable and Persecuted.  And the comfortable side wants to avoid the persecuted side.  The two worlds tend to stay separate so that each side is less effective.

3. Taking up our cross means putting off our fear of people and the harm they can do to us and take on a respect for God above all else. 

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Verse 28  This encourages us to take on a more eternal perspective.  We tend to look at the here and now, but God encourages us too look at the long game.  (Dentist)

4. Taking up our cross means letting go of our plans for comfort and security and accepting God’s plans and the security He offers.

  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Verse 29-31  God watches.  God cares, whether we notice of not.  A few months ago, our cat, Beans caught a blue bird.  Now that is not acceptable.  So I went out and rescued it.  At first, I wasn’t sure if it was alive.  After about 20 minutes, its breathing slowed and it righted itself.  So I put it down and about a half hour later it flew away.  I’m sure the bird was saying things like: “Why didn’t you come out two minutes earlier?  Keep that cat inside, or getr him a collar with a bell.”

5. Taking up our cross means putting off timidity and fear of public ridicule and being bold in witnessing for Jesus.  

“Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.   Verse 32-33  I’ve noticed that when certain homes receive a certain amount of work, that the company who did the work puts a sign in front advertising their work.  I don’t know if that’s in the contract, but why would anyone refuse.

6. Taking up our cross means letting go of family acceptance and choosing to make God and Jesus a priority.  

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to turn:

a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Verse 34-37  I have heard that, if a member of a Jewish family converts, the family hold a funeral service for that person.  That person is dead to them.  I have met some Jewish converts who said that their family didn’t talk to them for years. 

7. Taking up our cross means letting go of the plans, dreams, preferences and our personal purpose in life and accepting God’s plans and purpose for our life.  

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it. Verse 39  In short, this is about letting go of everything we like and embracing everything that God likes.  And this can be painful, because these things have value to us.

8. Taking up our cross means letting go of what we think is good and right (sentimentality) and cultivating God’s view of what is good and right and praise worthy

From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. Matthew 16:21-24  By human standards, the concerns of God are harsh.  But “dumbing down” what God wants from us or making it sentimental is just setting people up for disappointment.

9. Taking up our cross means accepting a new lifestyle led by the spirit and putting off our old lifestyle that was guided by our sinful flesh.  

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law... 

...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Galatians 6:16-18; 22-24  This gives us a broad scope of understanding of forgiveness.  Suppose you had a house guest or a roommate who was a slob.  They never picked up after themselves and you couldn’t keep up.  One day, you’ve had enough and you say: Get out!” and they go.  What will your house look like in a week?  Any cleaner?  When we are forgiven, our sins are sent away.  And that means not only the consequences, but also the behavior.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem five days earlier, He entered to the cry of people shouting “Hosanna.”, which means “Save” or “Save us.”  Little did anyone realize that their cry would be answered.  By going to the cross, Jesus procured salvation for all people.  He did save everyone, whether they knew it or not.

Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!  Romans 5:9 

And not only that, but He showed the world what it would take to be saved.

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it. Verse 39

This is a process, but a process we must embrace.  Let us strive together to help and encourage each other in losing our life and finding it for the sake of Christ.

Cleansing the Temple 

John 2:12-25     2/25/2024

Cleansing the temple is one of the few times where we see Jesus loose His cool and act out in an aggressive manner.  And, since we know that Jesus reflects the same quality as God, we can accept that God is equally angry.

But what is the problem here?

Some people see this as a prohibition against fund-raising.  They believe that God should be allowed to meet all the needs of the congregation.

But fund raising isn’t the issue.  The Old Testament law made provisions for funding the temple and the priesthood.  Tithes, First Fruits, First born, Temple tax, Burnt Offerings and free will offerings were all implemented to support the ministry of the temple as well as the priesthood.  “Was it enough?” you might ask.  It depends on whose is counting.  There may never be enough.

So, then, what was the problem?  The problem was a three fold, but all aspects basically point to the same issue.

1, Jesus found the merchants selling goods and exchanging currency in the temple courts.  The temple courts were the designated areas and limits where certain people could stand.  The largest and furthest away from the Holy of Holies was the Court of the Gentiles.  The next court in was the court of women.  (Then there was the court of Israelite men.  Then came the interior rooms of the main temple, where only priests could go.  The first room was the Holy Place.  And beyond that the  Holy of Holies.)  The court of the Gentiles in particular offered a large expanse in which many merchants could sell their livestock.  And where money changers could exchange coinage.  The merchants were trying to accommodate a crowd of about 2,000,000 pilgrims, so the amount of livestock must have caused a great deal of disruption.  The number of merchants, money changers and livestock would have caused turmoil.  (Imagine trying to hold a church service in the middle of a carnival.

2. There were also certain criteria that livestock and coinage had to pass.  For livestock, the animal had to be a one year old male with no faults or blemishes.  And it was the priests that inspected animals.  Ultimately, the only source of acceptable animals were the one’s the priests were selling.  For the coinage, it had to be without image or picture (temple coinage).  So every pilgrim was in a place where they were forced to avail themselves to the available items.  It was a huge and unavoidable market which everyone had to use; it was required by law.

3. The rate of exchange and the price for livestock was exorbitant.  And the people coming for the festival were trapped.  If they wanted to fulfill their obligations, they had to pay the price, and the price made it less accessible. 

Now these three factors: the sheer noise that everything created, the unavoidable position (physically and religiously) of venders and money changers as well as the high prices that were charged for each service became a barrior for the people to overcome.  Essentially they blocked people from experiencing God.

What are some of the ways churches block people.  It usually isn’t meant to block people, the churches actually believe they are doing what’s right and it isn’t necessarily all churches or all Christians.

Some examples:

1. Clergy misconduct in the past several years, especially with children.

2. Financial mismanagement among clergy.  Rich protestant pastors with huge mansions.

3. Negative views and feelings expressed toward LGBTQ populations by evangelicals.

4. Intolerance of “inappropriate” child behavior.

5. Music Preferences.

Exemplary Faith

1 Samuel 17:31-47   2/11/2024

David is seeing his brothers at the battle line between the Israelites and the Philistines.  While he is there he sees Goliath step out from the Philistine ranks and taunt the Israelite army, challenging them to pick a champion for one to one combat;  winner take all.

His interest in this matter is noticed, and he is asked to appear before King Saul.

Here we see several important steps in acting upon our faith:

1. Communication.  David tells Saul what he intends to do and how it will benefit the King and his people.  David does not go running down to confront Goliath on his own.  This is not “Lone Ranger” faith.

Communication avoids misunderstandings, confusion and missteps.  It can make a bad situation worse, or cause someone to miss a valuable opportunity.

2. Perception.  Don’t focus on the tangible and impossible aspects of the challenge.  From a logical, statistical, natural point of view, the challenge will seem undoable and only seem like an invitation to disaster.  But God must always be factored into the occasion.

Faith may conflict with outward appearances, but faith sees more than the eye can perceive.  Strategy looks around at circumstances.  Faith looks to the past to inform the present.  We look for what God has done and what God has taught us in the past to inform and to guide our present actions.

At the same time, we must be careful not to let our personal testimony become a set formula.  Just because God something in one particular way one time, He is not always obligated to always act that way.

3. Motivation.  We need to be honest about what motivates us.  Are our motives self-serving or God-glorifying?  This is an especially delicate question, because people can easily mask/justify selfish motivations with “God talk.”  

We may firmly believe in what God can do, but we need to focus on what we believe God has called us to do.  Has God taken the initive in this matter, or are we hoping God is going to follow our lead?

4. Beware of outside help and others offering their “spiritual” insight.  Other people may have profound experiences in life that seem compatible with your path, but your path is your path.  Don’t let it get mingled with someone else’s.  Don’t get sidetracked by the advise of: “Take this.  Do that.  You’re going to need a few of these.”  Outside advise can be helpful, and we don’t work in a vacuum,  

But having said that, we also need to establish healthy boundaries.  Working with what is available or what is familiar is usually the best course—unless other wise directed by the Holy Spirit.

5.  Don’t be intimidated by idle threats or trash talk.  Just because someone says they can do something doesn’t mean they can actually do it.  Opponents are arrogant, they are not prophets.

6. Remember that God brings the victory.  It is not by our talents or our strategy or our resources or our wisdom.  These factors may come into play, but God gets all the credit.

David’s Developing Adventure of Faith 

1 Samuel 17:17-31   2/4/2024

TIL an image of Jesus Christ that appeared on the side of a South American grocery store after a rain storm attracted hundreds of visitors and was claimed to be able to heal the sick. It was later discovered to be a whitewashed Willie Nelson tour poster.

Sometimes opportunities for great things unfold and surprise us.  We start on a regular and ordinary journey, but suddenly circumstances develop and the stakes get much higher.  What we have to answer for ourselves is: 1. Are we going to step up, and 2. how will we respond to those who do step up.

David has this choice to make in todays account.  But to appreciate the story, we need some background,

The Israelites had just finished their conquest of the promised land.  They were occupying as much of the land as they were going to for the time being.  But there were still enemies left to conquer and expel: the Philistines being the closest geographically and the most advanced technologically.  The Philistines kept showing up to war with Israel.

The people had decided that they wanted a king like all other kingdoms.  This was a breach of trust with God.  However, God gave them what they wanted, and Saul was chosen as the first king of Israel.  He was timid and hesitant at first, but he slowly became conceited, proud and comfortable with power.  At one point, he disobeyed God concerning the Amalekites and God disavowed Saul as king.  God withdrew His Holy Spirit from him and sent an evil spirit to torment him.  But, even so, Saul remained in the position of King.

David was the youngest of eight sons.  His three oldest brothers went off into military service.  David’s occupation was shepherding for his father, Jesse.  

One day, Samuel arrived and asked Jesse to bring out his sons, one at a time.  God would tell Samuel which one would be the next king.  David, the youngest, was chosen to be the next king of Israel as soon as Saul was removed.  He was anointed before all his brothers.

Shortly after that, David was conscripted into the service as musician for Saul to ease his discomfort when the evil spirit came upon him.  David was very successful so Saul took him on fulltime.  He would go between tending sheep for his father and playing music for Saul.

The Philistines show up again.  They take their position on one hill while the Israelites assemble on the opposite hill.  There is a valley between them.  Unexpectedly, a champion—Goliath of Gath—steps forward as the Philistine champion to challenge the Israel champion to battle.  The stakes: winner take all.  He keeps this up for 40 days.

Our story opens with Jesse giving David an errand: bring these supplies to your three brothers on the front, check and see how they are doing and bring back some assurance showing that they are alright.

David shows up at the battle line of the Israelites, finds his brothers and chats for a while.

And then Goliath steps out of the Philistine ranks and begins to taunt.  All of the Israelite army runs away from the line.

David had no idea that this was going to happen.  He is being drawn into the situation.  He is very indignant concerning the taunts and insults that Goliath is throwing out at the leaders for the Israelites.

He happens to hear some of the soldiers talking about what the Israelites will win if he can beat Goliath: wealth, Saul’s daughter in marriage and live free of tax.  He confirms this two more times.  David seems to have a two fold motivation: 1. defending the name of the God of Israel and  2. receiving generous reward.

David’s oldest brother, Eliab, becomes angry with David, and confronts him with ideas that have deeper meaning:

“Why have you come down here?”  Do you have permission and a purpose for being here?  Does Dad know you are here?

“Who is tending the sheep?”  You are being irresponsible.  You have shirked your responsibilities to come down here.

“I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is.”  This is plain and simple character assassination.  You have nothing to say for your self; no defense.  I KNOW who you are.

“You have come down here only to watch the battle.”  You are sluffing off from work today.  This is just amusement to you.

This is rapid fire.  David is given no time or opportunity to answer.  Eliab is David’s judge and he has already reached a verdict.

Conversely, David never berates the Israelite army for running from Goliath.  He never calls them unfaithful or cowardice.

And he never addresses the elephant on the battlefield.  “Why aren’t you out there fighting Goliath?”  It is easy to criticize others for doing what you are challenged to do but won’t.

David could have been insulted or intimidated by this, but he wasn’t.  He essentially ignores his brother (a good strategy.) and talks to other soldiers.

And that’s when Saul takes notice to him.

Who are you/where are you in the story?  Are you being discouraged for an idea that is still taking shape?  Are you being criticized for it?

Are you openly critical or discouraging about something which you see or experience?  Does this really help anyone?  Does it Glorify God?

Exemplary Faith

 Daniel 3:1-23   1/28/2024

The one necessary characteristic of faith is that it must be used.  The verb “walking” is often used with faith, partly because faith is a quality that is in motion with you.  It guides you, it protects you, it helps you to understand circumstances.  Faith is an active quality.

As such, it can be seen in action.  Our faith guides the decisions we make in life (both great and small) and faith opens the door for God to work with and through our faith.

1. The first thing to understand is that faith functions and is made visible in the culture of whatever  day it finds itself.  We don’t need special assignments or miraculous powers to demonstrate our faith (or to be available for God to show His power by means of our faith).  We don’t find opportunities; they find us.

That’s because we live in a world which is diametrically opposed to our faith—it is hostile territory.  Therefore, our faith should be distinguishable from cultural values.  If our faith isn’t different from social norms, we should be willing to take a closer look at our faith.

By the same token, whatever society expresses as their values, they believe that they are right and that everyone should agree and comply.

Sometimes these cultural incidents become very dramatic in their scope and impact.  While they may seem incidental to the church, they are of the utmost importance to the culture, demanding compliance from everyone.  These can quickly become life and death (mainly death) situations.

2. Not only are our values opposed to cultural norms: this difference, this distinction will often lead to conflict and difficult decisions.  Living by faith is risky.  Faith will not always lead us into being neutral (although that is sometimes the most faithful course of action).   But exercising our faith will always require a decision.  (Keep in mind that just because two sides disagree, that doesn’t mean that either side is necessarily right).

3. We need to remember that our position must be based on a responsible handling of God’s word.  Our faith is not based on long-term cultural customs or the wisdom of people.

Our faith is also not based on outcome.  When acting upon faith convictions, there is always a risk.  We may or may not get what we expect, or what we think we should.  We don’t have faith in God because He always gives us what we want of because He always lets us win.  Faith is a long—term relationship based on a commitment, both of which grow stronger over time.

4. When these conflicts occur, people often get angry (at us).  The cultural side will try to make people of faith look bad.  We will be accused of bias and hate and blamed for the situation.  We will be called intolerant and narrow-minded and made to look like monsters.

5. Some people will be out to get people of faith.  They will call attention to noncompliance and site incidents that support their position.  It will often present itself as a manipulative plot to enforce consequences.  It is not compliance with the law; it is more of a witch hunt.

6. People representing culture will try to appear open and cooperative.  The king gives the three men a chance to comply.  “The bell will ring and the music will play.  When that happens, bow down to the idle.  That will show everyone your loyalty.”  This is not really about giving them a chance; it is about manipulation and control.  The king knows the value of these men and does not want to lose them, so he’s giving them an out that will give the king the upper hand.  No matter the outcome, the kings sees himself as coming out on top.

7. The three men reject their “chance” for vindication with a profound faith statement: “Our God can save us from the fire.  But even if He doesn’t, we will not worship your god.”

With that, the king loses his temper. He orders the fire to be “stoked up” 7x it normal range and that the men be ties and thrown into the fire.  The fire is so hot that the guards are consumed by the fire. (back draught)

Faith can take us up to the edge of a situation and over.  God often does not save us from a situation, but He brings us through.

8. The event culminates with everyone seeing that the three men were unharmed, and the king giving God the respect and the praise that He is due.

How Is Your Vision?

Mark 8:14-25   1/21/2024

This Healing story has several elements that are unique to this story: Jesus spits in the man’s face; Jesus asks the man what he sees (Jesus doesn’t usually ask for a miracle evaluation); and the healing takes two steps to complete.  Usually healings are instantaneous and complete.

These two accounts have to do with vision, both literal vision and figurative vision.

The word vision has a range of meanings like: literal sight, perception, acumen, foresight and powers of observation.

The best way to understand this account is to understand the context in which it is set, starting with chapter 7.

Mark 7:1-23  There is a discussion about clean and unclean.  What makes a person unclean isn’t what is consumed, but what comes from his heart.  Following the law does not—in and of itself—make a person clean.  Not all Jewish people are clean—no matter how sanctimonious they maybe.

The disciples don’t understand this principle, so they ask Jesus about it.  Jesus asks them:  “Are you so dull?”

Mark 7:24-30   Jesus and His disciples are in gentile territory.  They encounter the Syrophoneician woman, and Jesus declares that she has: “Great Faith.”

So, with these two stories side by side, we can see an implies Jewish/Gentile comparison.  The Gentiles stand very strong.

Mark 7:31-37   Jesus heals the deaf and mute man by putting His fingers in his ears, spiting and touching the man’s tongue.  He is healed immediately.

Mark 8:1-13   Jesus feeds the four thousand with 7 loaves and some fish, with7 basketfuls left over.  The Pharisees show up again and ask Him for a sign (What do they think just happened?)  Jesus refuses to give them a sign.

Mark 8:14-21   Jesus tells His disciples to “...beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod.”  The disciples misunderstand, thinking that Jesus is referring to literal yeast and is chiding them because they forgot to bring bread.  Jesus says to them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?  He then reminds them of the two times He multiplied fish and loaves.

Mark 8:22-26   Back in Gentile territory.  Jesus heals a man who is born blind.  Jesus spits* in his eyes, lays hands on his eyes and asks what he sees.  The man says that he sees people walking like trees.  The healing is partial and essentially ineffective.  Jesus lays hands on his eyes again and the healing is complete.

Mark 8:27-30   Completing the train of though in this section, Jesus asks His disciples who He is.  Peter answers that He is the Messiah.  Jesus had just accomplished the Messianic mission described in Isaiah 35:5-6  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.  Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 

* The Roman emperor Vespasian (AD 9–79), while touring in Alexandria, spat upon the eyes of a blind man who implored him to do so, allegedly at the prompting he had received in a dream from the Greco-Egyptian god Serapis.  

Pliny the Elder praises the therapeutic powers of human saliva in his “Natural History” (Book XXVIII, vii). Not only is it the best of all safeguards against serpents, he says, but daily experience teaches that many other advantages attend its use. Surely the ancient Romans were sensitive to such notions: They spat upon the victim of an epileptic fit, and they spat to ward off the “bad luck that follows meeting a person lame in the right leg.” If deemed guilty of too presumptuous hope, they asked forgiveness of the gods by spitting in their own bosom. They spat into the right shoe before putting it on, for good luck; and, of course, they treated ophthalmia by applying a saliva-based ointment every morning. Pains in the neck were treated by applying fasting saliva (interestingly, to be useful the saliva had to be obtained during fasting) with the right hand to the right knee and with the left hand to the left knee. So powerful was the force attributed to saliva, wrote Pliny, that the Romans believed that spitting three times before taking any medicament sufficed to enhance its curative power.    https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-bizarre-cultural-history-of-saliva-as-powerful-therapeutic/

God Is on Our Side

Romans 8:23-32  1/14/2024

When life gets difficult, people have a variety of reactions: some people get angry or bitter, some people get depressed thinking they have been targeted by some higher power and still other people become jealous of those who seem to have an easier time of things.

While these reactions are all understandable, none of them are helpful.  It is a great irony that at the times people need God the most, they come up with reasons to stay away from Him.

So something has to be done about this.  Many people need a different way to perceive and to experience hardships.

And the book of Romans can help people do that.

To fully appreciate Paul’s message, it is best to start from the beginning.  (If you buy a house, you don’t just go straight to the attic, look around and say, “I’ll take it.”  The basement is usually the best place to start.)

1. Paul states that the gentiles disobey God by worshipping the creation instead of the creator.  And because of this, God has turned them over to all sorts of wicked depravity.  This describes society in Paul's time as well as their history.

2. Believers often do the same things.  Then they add to it: believers judger non-believers for doing those things that believers do, making them both sinners and hypocrites.

This is a basic picture of humanity: all humanity is guilty of sin and unrighteous by nature.

3. Sin and humanities failings are not justified by showing God’s grace more fully.  There is no justification for sin.  The only justification to which people can look is to faith in the atonement of Jesus on the cross.  It is not by observing the law.

4. Paul now offers an example of that from scripture: Abraham was declared righteous because he believed God’s promise of an heir  This occurred about 500 years before the law was given.  So righteousness by faith has always been the case.

The purpose of the law was to point out sin and to let people know when they had sinned.

Paul has identified the problem and introduced the solution.

5. All believers live in that grace through which righteousness is received by faith.

Now Paul offers a comparison/contrast of Adam and Jesus, which is a before and after picture of believers concerning grace.

Adam: Adam disobeyed God.  He (and Eve) committed the first sin.  From that, all people received the ability to: a. distinguish between good and evil, and b. freely choose between good and evil.  This is the essence of free will.  The natural conclusion of sin is death.  And this describes all people out side of grace.

Jesus: Jesus demonstrates God’s love in that He died for all people in spite of their spiritual condition.  He gave Himself as a sacrifice to save people from their helpless condition.  He died when humanity needed saving.  By faith, we live in this reality

6. In baptism, you repented (had a change of mind, started down a new direction in life) of your sins and renounced your former lifestyle with it’s sins.  And so, we are free from the influence of sin and the eternal consequences of sin.

7. When we (figuratively/spiritually/symbolically) died to our old self through baptism, we were set free from the law, which points to sin and empowers sin.

However, there is still a conflict between our flesh and our spirit within our soul.

Paul has described our condition in the eyes of God.  We are all sinners and no one can justify themselves just by being good (observing law.)  So God sent His Son in mortal form  to die as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity.  In spite of our disobedience, God freely provided the remedy for every person who ever lived.

8. Because of what Jesus has done, there is no condemnation.  By being led by the Spirit We show ourselves to be God’s children and heirs of eternal life with Jesus.

And so, we wait patiently for what will happen when Jesus returns.   In the meantime, we will suffer hardships and trials in this world.  They are nothing compared to the glory of eternal life. And we are anxious for that to happen.  In fact all of creation is anxious.

The Spirit helps us wait, and it also helps in our prayer life.  It adjusts all of our prayers to be in accordance with God’s will.

And now, in all of this, God is at work.  It may not be obvious.  It may not be pleasant.  It may not make sense.  But He is always at work on our behalf.  He takes all the stuff we experience (He does not cause it, but He is able to use it.) and uses it to teach us, to mold us and to transform us.

And, He has a particular goal in mind for this process: He wants to form us into the image of His Son.

That means we: Will act like Him, and in so doing we will draw people to God.

Joy

Luke 1:39-56   12/17/2023

(offer several examples of joy in my life).

I find joy to often be a very elusive quality.  There are so many other feelings and events that can cancel it out, like…

...anger, stress, fear, disappointment, etc.

...fixating on what one wants over what one has been given or is already there.

...people miss joy in their efforts to avoid the unpleasant realities of life: I have not achieved my goals, other people are better off and more successful than I am, I weigh too much.  We know the unpleasantries and the difficulties are there.  We simply choose to ignore them and deny that they exist.  We cut off our to reality, and in so doing, we numb ourselves to everything else: unpleasant, pleasant or joyful.

So, what is joy and where does it come from?

Joy is a positive emotion that is invoked by experiencing circumstances that are bigger than we are and out side of our control.  It is triggered by a power that is greater than us and gives the assurance of the outcome regardless of the quality of our immediate circumstances.  Specifically, it is invoked when we see God at work in us or around us.  It is a fruit of the Spirit.

Joy is often expressed by shouting, dancing, singing and feasting, but it can also be experienced in silence.

It is different from happiness in that happiness is rooted in our immediate circumstances,  (I just got a new car; I got a raise; I passed the history final; etc.)  Joy is about having a wider perspective that informs us about how we should respond to our circumstances.  We can have joy, even when we are not happy.

Some instances where people may experience joy are:

1. An abundant harvest, believing that this is a gift from God.

2, The birth of a child, knowing that it is God who gives life and builds families.

3. A wedding, knowing that “God is love.”

4. We should have joy over the saving actions of God, and experience joy again when we celebrate the anniversary of that event. 

It does not tend to be a constant trait, but it could be in varying degrees of intensity.  We can always have a sense of peace when our circumstances are dire.

It is rooted in a matter of perspective when we see the deeper meaning of our circumstances.

For example:

James 1:2-4  Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

Hebrews 12:5-6  ...have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.

When life gets hard and we feel like giving up, we are to rejoice and feel affirmed in our faith.

1.  It is part of a strengthening and a maturing process.  The testing of your faith produces perseverance

2. It makes us stronger and more valid witnesses for the faith. 1 Peter 2:11-12  Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.  Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

3. An Assurance that God is on our side regardless of our circumstances.  Romans 8:32-32   What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 

4. An assurance that--if I continue in faith—I will be accepted into eternity no matter what.  Short of renouncing my faith, I can mess up BIG TIME and still be accepted.  Hebrews 10:21:22   and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full 

assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 

Lessons to take home:

1. Rejoice about the right things.  Luke 10:19-20   I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 

2. Know the difference between being joyful FOR hardships (masochism) and being joyful IN hardships.

3. If you find yourself despondent because you are in despair and all is lost, ask yourself:

A. Is this an actual disaster, or am I perceiving things in a way that makes this a disaster?

B. If disaster is authentically on the way, how will I respond to it: with anger, anxiety and fear; or with Joy

Peace: Comparison/Contrast Zechariah/Mary

Luke 1:5-20  12/10/2023

People have noticed some of the similarities and some of the paradoxical differences between the stories of Zachariah and Mary.

Zachariah and his wife, Elizabeth,

...were both well along in years.

Zachariah was a priest...a very good priest.  He did his job and lived his life before God blamelessly.  One trait that was important in a priest was to be detail oriented.  God’s law gave very specific instructions—there was no “wiggle room,” no margin for error.  You did a ceremony right or you did it again.  Zachariah, being older and tending to be set in his ways, would have been used to having his actions precise (There was ONE WAY to do things) and his environment ordered and predictable.

Zachariah had his genealogical information in order (Priests without this could not perform rites in the temple).  Elizabeth was also an expression of righteousness.  If a priest married a woman from the line of Levi, that was considered an especially pious decision.

His training would have been thorough and he had decades of practice to perfect it.  His studies would have focused on the ceremonies of the law contained in the first 5 books of their bible: the Torah.  

He was associated with the temple in Jerusalem.  Judah was a very conservative place theologically, and the priests did not endorse beliefs that were not explicitly contained in the Torah, like the resurrection from the dead and the appearance of angels.  So Gabriel’s appearance was very unsettling and disorienting.

Gabriel gave Zechariah a lengthy description of what John would be like and what he would do (4 verses).  He even included the detail that he would come in the spirit of Elijah—a detail from prophesy.

Zechariah’s reaction was disbelief and fear.  He was doubting the word of God’s angelic messenger.

Mary

...was a young woman, just old enough to be married, so she was about 13.

Mary was a young and common Jewish woman, who was following regular Jewish customs.  Mary’s vocation in life would be wife, mother and housekeeper.     All of her training would have included only those  skills.  She had little organized religious training.   She “found favor with God.”  It isn’t revealed how she did that.

She was pledged to be married to Joseph, and they had their genealogies in order as well.  They were both descendants of King David; so they had ties to royal lineage on both sides.

She received little formal education; neither academically nor religiously.  She undoubtedly went to synagogue, and heard readings and homilies, so she picked up bits and pieces of bible history and theology, along with anything else the Rabbi might choose to share.

Galilean theology was different from Judean Theology.  It allowed for more “mystical” religious experiences, like dreams and angelic appearances. And Mary would have likely picked up on this tendency.  So, when Gabriel appeared to her, she wasn’t thrown completely off balance.

Galilee was considered by Jews to be culturally and religiously inferior to those living in Judea (Among whom was Zechariah).

Gabriel’s description of Jesus to Mary was more succinct (2 verses) and less detailed.

Mary’s reaction was one of wonder, curiosity and cooperation.

 With whom do you compare more fully in this story?

Who has peace in the situation?

Peace in the Jewish mindset is “shalom”—a harmony or a oneness with all aspects of one’s surroundings.  It is not found in one’s environment but can be expressed in one’s environment.

Where do you think you have peace?  What areas need more attention?

Acts 17:16-34

    1, What is on your mind and heart for the members of your community?  Paul was distressed by the amount of distracting apostacy found in Athens.  There were false religions and do-it-yourself philosophies.  Do you see any of these qualities in this community.

    2. Are you comfortable presenting and defending the gospel?  There are many objections and false beliefs out there.  Are you familiar enough to discuss those?   
    (Paul took on the worship of idols, saying that, since everyone is flesh and blood and children of God, they should not think of God as an idol or as something that needs anyone else’s help.)
    3. Can you make connections between God’s story and the story of those in your community?
    (Paul did this when he commended the Athenians for being so religious as to have several hundred  idols and temples throughout the city, including one to: “the unknown god.”  He also made connections when he quoted Greek philosophies and used them to validate the Bible.)

   4. How do you respond to rejection and ridicule?   Neither Paul nor Jesus batted 1000 when it came to conversion.  Do you focus on the failings and those who damage your reputation, or do you focus on the success that God has given?

Gates, Keys and Doors (Another Look at Unity)—part 2B
Acts 4:29-37   11/5/2023

    We continue to pursue the topic of unity.  Today, I will try to address the question: What does unity look like in action?
    This particular passage happens at a time that is significant to the church and which shows characteristics of unity at work in the church.  
    It is set just after Peter and John are confronted by the Sanhedrin for teaching about Jesus in the temple courts.  The Sanhedrin orders them to stop teaching about Jesus, but they said they were being obedient to God.
    They return to their faith community and relate what has happened and what they were told.  The whole community immediately joins in a corporate prayer session asking God for boldness and power in sharing God’s word.

    This introduction depicts the two-part priority of the church as well as the foundation of the purpose of the church:
    1. It is the proclamation of the gospel.  In this wider passage, we see the disciples preaching the gospel; defending their right to preach the gospel and praying for boldness and power in sharing the gospel.  The issue of sharing the gospel is mentioned 5 times in this passage, and not incidentally; it is a central issue.  God has chosen to use His people, the church, to spread his message of salvation.
    Unity also needs a common element upon which to build.  This element needs to be common to but also greater than those unified by it.  And the gospel qualifies in both capacities: it is common to all since everyone will one day face eternity.  As a result, all people need to hear the gospel.  
    It is bigger than us because it deals with all people, eternity and God’s will.
    It is also imperative because people with a true faith in Jesus are the only ones who are qualified and empowered to share this;     
    2. A natural result of sharing the gospel is resistance.  People of the world will be offended by the exclusivity and the simplicity of the gospel.  They will fight to maintain power and control in their own areas that are contrary to the gospel, and they will fight to retain their own right to self-autonomy.
    After a foundation for unity is found (claimed), then people need to be aware of how unity manifests itself among believers:

    1. It stems from an internal quality that involves both heart and mind, (emotions and rational).  There is no coercion or manipulation, no emotionalism or deceit.  It is sincere.

    2. There is an abundance of faith demonstrated by reaching out and renouncing materialism:  The disciples shared all things in common.  And those who were able sold property to help those in need.   No one laid claim to anything in particular.
    This would involve several aspects of faith:
    A. It would take a firm renouncing of materialism.
    B. It would require a greater faith in God providing for one’s needs.
    C. It would require a great respect for the system and the needs of others.  If someone borrows something from one person, what happens if it is lost or broken?  Having all things in common encourages community, but it shouldn’t encourage carelessness.

    3. Proclaiming the gospel (teaching about the resurrection) remained a central activity.

    4. There was an increase in openness, trust and sharing among believers.  People were able to share when they had need.  This applies to financial need in the story, but the principle can apply to other situations: domestic issues, repair of home, counsel, etc.  The faith community would have to be a very safe place for this to happen.

    On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate the practice of unity around you based on this criteria?
    Where is unity most apparent?
    What needs to be done to improve unity in our fellowship?

Gates, Keys and Doors (Love)—part 1D
1 Corinthians 13:5   10/08/2023

    A few points about love:
    Love is not a feeling.  We do not have to feel “warm fuzzies” about every person we meet.  Love is a code of conduct or a guideline we follow.
    We do not have to like, agree with or accept anything about the person to whom we direct our love.  We are supposed to love our enemies.  I can’t imagine someone liking their enemies or anyone who has wronged them.
    Love is about our actions and attitudes; it is not based on the actions or personality of others.  The way we express our love will vary greatly, but the basic principles will remain the same.

    Take notice to how these attributes are listed in the positive (direct order) or in the negative (prohibition).  It sets up a comparative structure of do-this-don’t-do-that with no gray areas.  Situations may not be clear, but our actions should be clear.

    Continuing the attributes of love.
    Is not Rude: shameful, crass, disrespectable, demeaning, embarrassing, dishonorable.  This can refer to how a person acts around someone or toward someone.  (1 Corinthians 12:23, Revelation 16:15)

    Is not self-seeking: a phrase: seek: look for something with the intention of finding it; look with intentionality.  Self: a reflexive pronoun, the action comes back onto the seeker.  Christians are not supposed to work with others for their own gain.

    Is not easily angered: a compound word: 1st part—from, issuing from an individual.  2nd part—to act  swiftly and sharply.  To snap at another; to react immediately, harshly and in anger.

    It keeps no record of wrongs: a phrase: record—a chronical of events, hold the thought that or the opinion that, be credited to someone (Romans 4:24, James 2:23).  wrongs—harm, evil, malicious actions.  (Matthew 7:21, John 17:15).

    A question that needs to be asked: Is the quality of the action most appropriately measured by the one who originated the action or by the one who received the action.  (We measure ourselves by our intentions, but others by their actions and how we experience them).

Gates, Keys and Doors (Love)—part 1c
1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:5   10/1/2023

    We are still working on understanding Gates, Keys and doors.
    I would like to recap the past few weeks of sermon topics to get a fresh start into this morning.

    We started in Matthew 16, which explores the idea of Jesus’ identity—as it relates to individuals.  Peter answers correctly: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  This confession is foundational to the church.  And it bestows eternal life on all who accept it; death cannot hold a believer.

    Next, we explore what binding and loosing mean.  Essentially, it means that the authority of the church to make specific decisions concerning offences rests among members.  Jesus teaches that one person causing trouble should be disciplined.  Concerning discipline, several factors must be in place: it should only be used at the end of a process of conflict resolution.  The whole church must be in absolute unity concerning the decision.  Simply not objecting or “going with the flow” do not count as unity.

    Then we looked at qualities that are important in developing unity—to make us one unit instead of a few dozen units in close proximity.
    1. We need to do a personal inventory of our character 
    2. As we are “cleaning house,” we have to be aware of what we are making room for, because that defines the process. The blueprint for renovation is of a divine nature: we are being recreated in the image of Christ.  And that is beyond human endeavor.  We cannot do it on our own.
    3. We can cooperate in this process by developing those qualities that reflect the nature of Jesus.  Clothe yourself with these qualities.
    As you are cultivating these qualities, be sure to make the foundation for them love. 
    And once you are in this process (it never really ends in this life) we will be on our way of experiencing Unity.

    Love becomes essential for forming a foundation for unity.  If we are to understand what “love” looks like, we need to dig into it.  The word gets used so much and in so many ways, it has become a little fuzzy.
    One classic passage addressing love is 1 Corinthians 13.  It lists several qualities that describe love.  These tend to be universal qualities: they apply in every setting, but their particular application is context sensitive.
    In opening, Paul makes a distinction between loving and exercising spiritual gifts.  Having spiritual gifts is good, but if they are not practiced in conjunction with love, they have no value.  This suggests that it is possible to practice spiritual gifts and great spiritual sacrifice but not love.  
      I. Patient (patience): to stay behind, to stand firm or in place, endure, persevere.  This applies in our relationship with people, concerning our faith in circumstances, during hardships.
With people: we don’t give up on people or cut them off.  We hang in there with them.  We have to recognize our main goal with people.
With circumstances and hardships: we don’t doubt God or abandon our faith.
In particular promises in certain situations: keep watching and waiting.

    How is patience developed:
Through hardships and trials (Romans 15:4-5; James 1:3).
It is inspired by hope in Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
Faith and patience go together (James 1:3-5).

     II. Kind (kindness): easy, good, loving, benevolent.
It is the opposite of malevolent (Romans 3:12).
It is favorable and more pleasant (Luke 5:39).
It is exemplified by how God has treated Humanity through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:7)

    III. Not Envious: (does not) desire, have ardent zeal or concern, have jealousy, have rage, have a morally corrupt zeal to do ill will.
It is expressed with enthusiasm (Acts 21:20; 22:3; Philippians 3:6).  It is not passive.  It is sometimes cited for the motivation for riots and protests.
     IV. Boast:  (Does not) brag about ones own accomplishments, Focus and/or put highlights on ones own work.  It is either implicitly or explicitly putting ones self above others. (appears only in this passage.)

      V. Proud:  (Is not) puffed up, inflated, thinks more of ones self that he/she should.

Gates, Keys and Doors—part 1b
Colossians 3:5-15   9/24/2023

    There is one important aspect of church life that most churches pass by with hardly a nod, and that is the power of unity.  There are several passages in the bible (and in particular the New Testament) that exhort Christians to be unified.  However, they don’t fully explain what that means.  So, what is unity?
    It’s not just being together in one place.  That is one important aspect, although not essential.  True unity is something deeper.  It is something which flows through us that connects us to one another.
    It’s important to realize some differences in true Unity and false Unity.
    Most people just want to get by quietly, so their expressed choices usually mimic their immediate surroundings, or they have found ways of being apparently neutral.  But they never reveal their true thoughts about a subject.
    Another scenario describes a church population like this: when a controversial topic comes up, 5% are set against it; another 5% are enthusiastically in favor of it, and the other 90 % is waiting to see who wins.  Their vote tends to lean toward the stronger of the two sides.
    One thing we seldom see happen is for a church body to come together with their bibles, study aides and any theology books and dig for a common answer.
    So, how do we attain that?  Colossians 3 gives some good instructions.
    1. We need to do a personal inventory of our character with the idea that each of us probably has a few things that need to be flushed out.  Each of us needs to see what characteristics of our earthly nature and our old self are still crawling around inside of us.  And, I can assure you, there is stuff down there, and repressing it doesn’t count.  You can have the most gracious and moral character in your demeanor, but have a great deal of hate towards people.  God knows your heart.  So, whatever actions of attitudes you may harbor really need to reflect what is in your heart.
    2. As we are cleaning house, we have to be aware of what we are making room for.  And the blueprint for renovation is of a divine nature: we are being recreated in the image of Christ.  That is not a project that we can supervise ourselves.  The goal is bigger that we can imagine or conceptualize.
    And the remake overwrites anything that was there before.  We can’t blame our temper on being Italian, or our arrogance on being French.  Not for yourself or for others.  We are all grasping for the same qualities.
    3. And we can cooperate in this process by developing those qualities that reflect the nature of Jesus.  Clothe yourself with these qualities.  Don’t just wear a Christian costume.  Be sincere in what you project.  When forgiving others, remember how fully God has forgiven you.  When being compassionate, don’t just give some charity, first give respect and then consider what you might be able to do to help the person improve the situation.
    As you are cultivating these qualities, be sure to make the foundation for them love.  Love isn’t always gushy or lenient or permissive.  Sometimes love is expressed in stern and strict actions, but it is always directed at helping and supporting the individual.
    And once you are in this process (it never really ends in this life) we will be on our way of experiencing Unity.

Gates, Keys and Doors--part 1
 Matthew 16:15-20   09/17/2023

    This particular passage opens with the question of identity.  Who is Jesus?  Not everyone (not even the majority) got it right.  But Peter did: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
    Jesus then identifies three things implicit in this confession:
    1. Belief is a supernatural experience by means of God the Father.  It does not negate free will, but rather offers guidance in the right direction and opens the door when we are ready to walk through.
    2. This acknowledgement of who Jesus is is central to the church.  It is the element upon which the church is built.
    3. A human institution cannot be built on an idea or a philosophy—even a true one.  People have to be involved.  Jesus uses language to give a picture of this combination of universal truth and concrete individuality.  He calls Simon bar Jonas “Peter” which means small stone, and then Jesus proclaims that upon this “rock”, which means large boulder or batholith, He will build His church.  Peter is a small part of this larger whole, but having the same essential qualities, so the Rock is a cohesive whole of individuals with the same core belief in Jesus.  Each believer is a “chip off the old block”.
    Hades is the realm of the dead—all of the dead, good and bad.  The implication of this is that death will not entrap the church.  The Church will prevail; the church will overcome; the church will be free of death.

    Now Jesus goes on to talk about another outcome of this acknowledgement: He is giving Peter (representative of all of them) the keys to the kingdom.  Keys open or lock doors.  These are keys to the kingdom—the earthly collection of believers.  And we have the authority of open and close those doors.  But what does that mean?
    There are two places we can go to determine that:
    1. For Rabbis in Jewish religious culture, it means that a Rabbi has the right to interpret the scriptures to determine right and wrong.
    2. We also find the same phrase used in Matthew 18.
    Matthew 18 is one comprehensive passage dealing with conflict, offenses, forgiveness, reconciliation  and accountability.
    Summary
    The chapter opens with the disciples arguing, “Who is greatest.”
    Jesus answers that the greatest must become like the least, like a young child.  This applies to every believer.
    He goes on to talk about offenses, or whoever causes a “little one” to stumble because of offense.  He uses two analogies:
    1. the body.  If a body part were to cause the whole body to sin, it would be better to go into eternal life maimed than into perdition whole.
    2. a sheep herd.  If one sheep out of 99 is lost, the shepherd goes out to find it.  Each and every sheep is important and valuable.
    By now, an implicit details should become clear:  everyone in the church should become like a “little one.”  No one should be left in an offense; everyone must be considered as equally important.
    Jesus now gets to the practical four steps of reconciliation:
    1. Talk to the offender privately.  The offender may not know that what they did was offensive.
    2. If that doesn’t work, bring along a couple of trustworthy arbiters to listen and authenticate the encounter.
    3. If that doesn’t work, tell it to the church—the collective assembly.
    4. And if that doesn’t work, shun the person.
    Then Jesus comes to the loosing/binding statement.  And it requires a) for people to gather together in an official capacity, and b) for those people to specifically recognize that they are acting with the authority of Jesus, and c) they must be in solid agreement.  And whatever is decided in this circumstance has divine endorsement behind it.

Gates
Matthew 16:13-23    9/10/2023

    This area of Ceasarea Philippi was the site of Pan, the god of the wild and of things rustic.  Temples and fortresses had been built in this area in honor of Pan.
    Which is possibly why Jesus chose this spot to ask His disciples His identity.  They were surrounded by vestiges of pagan beliefs.  It was a tangible reminder that people don’t always get the supernatural correct.  And this premise is proven true, because the disciples answer with a range of public opinions, showing that people often misunderstand, misinterpret and misperceive the supernatural, and not every belief is equally valid.
    Then Jesus gets to the heart of the matter and asks the disciples the most important question there is; the only question with eternal ramifications: “Who do YOU say I am?”   Jesus makes this question personal to each individual disciple.  He doesn’t say: “Who am I?”, or “Who have I said that I am?”  These questions, though valid, don’t have the same degree of personal attached to them.  It shows us that truth is a combination of objective truth and internal personalization of that truth.
    Peter answers with the correct answer: “You are the Christ, (the Messiah, the Chosen and Anointed One), the Son of the Living God.”  No one else can ever claim that title.
    Jesus’ response to Peter shows us three elements of that answer:
    1. Belief is a supernatural experience by means of the Holy Spirit.  It does not negate free will, but rather offers guidance in the right direction and opens the door when we are ready to walk through.
    2. This confession, this acknowledgement of who Jesus is is central to the church.  It is an element upon which the church is built—an element that changes each individual who accepts it.
    3. A human institution cannot be built on an idea or a philosophy—even a true one.  People have to be involved.  Jesus uses language to give a picture of this combination of truth and individuality.  He calls Simon bar Jonas “Peter” which means small stone, and then Jesus proclaims that upon this “rock”, which means large boulder or batholith, He will build His church.  Peter is a small part of this larger whole, but having the same essential qualities, so the Rock is a cohesive whole of individuals with the same core belief.  Each believer is a “chip off the old block”.
    He then goes on to make two promises or two assurances with possibilities:
    1. The Gates of Hades will not prevail against the church or over come or overpower the church.  A wonderful promise, but what exactly does it mean?
    The Gates of Hades were a real place in the real world.  It is a place where nature and mythology merged.
    In the ancient world, people believed that a stream flowing out of a cave was a natural passage to the underworld.  Within this cave was the actual passage that was guarded by a gate.   The gate was there—not to keep invaders out, but to keep everyone in.  Hades was the realm of the dead—all of the dead, both good and evil.  People believed that once someone entered Hades, there was no escape.  The Jews, with the belief in resurrection, believed there was escape.  Jesus took that belief to an assurance—the gates will not hold the faithful in.  They will be free!
    This opens the door to another understanding of this passage.  It is a tangible reminder that death will not hold us.  We will be resurrected.  We will live, and we will live with God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit for all eternity.

Humility—part 2
 Philippians 2:1-11   9/3/2023

    Humility is a very difficult subject to address.  You can’t talk about how humble you are: you would automatically disqualify yourself.  Besides, how can humility be rated; there is no objective scale.
    Humility becomes something that each person must seek—or accept—and is best measured by friends and peers who are around you.
    But that is still subject to personal opinion and understanding.  What criteria can we use?
    The Bible gives us some descriptions  of what humility is and is not.

    1. Humility is the opposite of pride.  Not only are they put in opposition in many passages, but the very definition of the words put them on opposite ends of the spectrum.
    Old Testament:
    Virtually every word translated as pride or proud had a root meaning of growing tall, being tall, being broad and spacious, surging, being exalted.  
    Every word translated as humble had the meaning of being brought low, afflicted or being of a lower social class with limited resources.
    So, even the imagery of each word are opposite and opposing.

    New Testament:
    The same is true in the New Testament.  Words translated as pride and proud come from two different word groups.  One means to glorify, and context tells us if this is a glory that goes to God or to the person.  The other word group means to inflate or puff up, to rise high and shine above others.
    The words translated as humble mean to be lowly or think of one’s self as lowly.

    One important distinction is that humility and low self esteem are not the same.  Low self esteem looks at one’s self and catalogues everything that the individual doesn’t have and can’t do.  In dynamic, that is a lot like pride.
    And, an important observation is that one cannot really be proud or humble alone.  Both terms are comparative terms describing where one puts oneself in regard to others.
    To bring the point home, I’d like to look at some examples:

    Luke 18:9-14  The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
    The Pharisee has eyes on himself and the great advantage he has in life (ironically thanking God for it.)  His claim to greatness is simply being who he is (and is not) and what he does, a pharisee, and believing that he is doing it on his own.
    The tax collector is burdened by the realization of his own sinfulness, which he could only understand by accepting God’s standard of right and wrong, He makes no excuses, but merely asks God for mercy.  (Note: He undoubtedly knows his place in society because of his occupation, but is in an awkward position.  He doesn’t quit his vocation.  We don’t even know if that is the source of his burden.  We know that if her walks away from his position, he would have no means of support and no sympathy from those around him.)

    James 4:1-12  The problem of strife, dissention and violence.
    There is undoubtedly a lot of turmoil with the group James is addressing.  He follows a line of reasoning: you covet because you want but do not have.  In order to obtain what you want, you quarrel, fight and kill.    You don’t have because you don’t ask God.  When you do ask God, it is for selfish and carnal reasons.  You have become a friend of the world, which is to be an enemy of God.  The solution: humble yourselves before God.

Building Humility—part 1
Deuteronomy 8:1-9   08/27/2023

    Did you ever have an adventurous journey that you didn’t expect?

    The Hebrew people are finishing a journey that they had started 40 years ago.  It wasn’t supposed to last that long.  There were twists and turns, opportunities lost and acquired, along the way.  So, Here they are at the end of their journey, about to embark on the next phase of national life.
    I want to focus on the first two statements of this passage:

    1. The Promise:  (the condition) Be careful to follow every command...          
                (the result)  ...so that you may: live, increase, and enter and possess the land.

    This is the key to their success.  God has given them the “winning hand” so to speak.  They now know how things are supposed to go, and it is their choice to prosper or not.

    2. (the action)  The Lord your God led you...in the wilderness these forty years, 
    (the reason) to humble and test you
    Humble: Oppress, afflict, subdue, make cooperative, able to accept correction or train.  There is a choice involved here: to submit or to resist.
    Granted, they had just left a similar experience as slaves in Egypt, but the aim was much different: Pharoah just wanted building built—there was no real interest in the character of the slaves.  God wanted to expose and improve their character so that they would be ready for what is coming next.
    Test: Press one’s limits to determine character. 
    (the result)  ...to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.  (would they be reliable.  Would they do what they said they would do.  The real person tends to emerge under pressure)

    There is a great deal of disparity between God’s actions and the people’s response:
    A. God was with them through their entire journey, guiding them, leading them, and protecting them.  It was God who enabled them to defeat their enemies.
    A. The people constantly complained.  They attacked the character of Moses, Aaron and even God; accusing them of wanting the people dead.  There was no gratitude nor acknowledgement of their sinning and hardly any remorse for their rebellions.
    What does this say about their character?

    B. God fed them with manna—a reliable food source through their journey.
    B. The people didn’t really like the manna and soon got bored with it.
    What does this say about their character?

    C. God brought them to the boarder of the Promised Land a little after a year of leaving Egypt.  They could have entered then and avoided the extra forty years in the dessert (Numbers 13).
    C. The people chose to listen to the 10 spies who offered an unfavorable report about the land, painting a dismal picture of their prospects.  As a result, the people rebelled.  They planned to go back to Egypt under new leadership and stone the old leadership (Moses and Aaron).
    This is when their journey was extended—by their own actions and faults.
    In a sudden “plot twist,” the ten spies who offered a     poor report were suddenly struck dead.  The people, upon seeing this, decided it was time to “get their act together” and act in obedience, so they invaded the land.  But God had already spoken, their opportunity was gone, and the inhabitants of the land routed them.
    For the people who rebelled and had to spend 40 years wandering, how might they have felt?
    How might the children of those people felt?

    How might the people have redeemed themselves before God?

Sharing the Full Gospel
Acts 17:22-34   8/20/2023

    Acts 17 presents us with a strongly and an intellectually sophisticated Gentile culture.  While Paul did visit synagogues, there is a lot more interaction with the Gentile Greeks of philosophy.  And in light of that, there are some significant characteristics in Paul’s preaching.

    But to appreciate them, we have to have a better understanding of the context.
    Athens was the cosmopolitan, intellectual, cultural and pluralistic center of Greek culture and had been for centuries.  Everything that was considered “good” about Greek culture could be found in Athens.
    A look at some of the more prominent deities of Greek religion gives insight into their moral perspectives:
    Zeus, the king of the gods—had many children out of wedlock (while he was married).
    Aphrodite—The goddess of intimacy, and not necessarily within the confines of marriage.
    Dionysus—The god of wine and festivity.  His followers would sometimes whip themselves up into a frenzy and tear their opponents to pieces.

    With Paul’s moral background of Judaism reinforced by Christianity, one would think that Paul might mention some of these moral flaws of the gods.  But he does no such thing.  His message holds no accusations nor criticisms of Greek culture or morals.  In fact, while pursuing the messages of Acts, there is a conspicuous lack of references to the lack of moral character in societies.
    This is significant for us to consider, because today, the evangelical faith seems compelled to target particular sins that our society is choosing to support.    In fact, I’ve seen postings that criticize ministers who don’t preach against particular socially popular sins.  But all sin is sin.  And if preachers are supposed to preach against sin, that would be an endless list, and we would never get to the solution.
    So, sin is sin, and we are all equally guilty of it.

    Some other qualities include:
    1. Paul has a sincere concern for these people.  He is distressed about their spiritual situation.  They have so many gods, but no truth.  He can’t help but share the gospel.
    Which challenges us to check our concern-for-people gauge.

    2. He finds points of connection between bible truth and his audience.
A. He affirms their devotion.  He identifies that they are very religious.
B. He tells them that God does not live in temples and does not need anything that people can provide.  In fact He gives all things to people.  We live and breathe in Him.
C. He supports his own position by citing their poets.

    3. He ends with a call to repentance and a declaration of judgement. 

    FIVE WISHES is an easy-to-use legal advance directive document written in everyday language. It helps all adults, regardless of age or health, to consider and document how they want to be cared for at the end of life. It is America’s most popular living will with more than 40 million copies in circulation.  This is unique among all other living will and healthcare agent forms because it speaks to all of a person's needs: medical, personal, emotional and spiritual. Five Wishes also helps to guide and structure discussions with your family and physician, making conversations easier. 
    We will holding a seminar on Sunday, 10/29 here at the church following the service.  It will be led by Kathryn Palen.  Cost is $5.00.  This is open to the public.

Confidence Part 3
1 John 5:13-15 6/18/2023

In the opening Scripture reading, there are three conditions attached to the assurance of answered prayer:

1. Having faith in Jesus.
2. Asking in the name of Jesus.
3. The Son brings glory to the Father.

What do each of these mean?

Unpacking the opening Scripture, preparing for the message.
1. “Having Faith in Jesus” means entrusting ourselves to Him. It is more than just agreeing to certain affirmations about Him. It is trusting Him completely and making Him THE “guide” of our life.
2. “Asking in the name of Jesus” means to act on His behalf according to His stipulations. Also, it means acting with or according to His authority.
3. “The Son Bringing Glory to the Father” has two parts: A. Glory going to the Father means that God is made to be even more important; His reputation is enhanced. This is the end result. B. The recognized conduit is the Son, Jesus. Those two get all the credit and the glory.

5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.

In this particular verse, John is giving a different perspective on the promise of prayer. He repeats the qualities of faith and asking in the Name of Jesus (which amounts to: “to entrusts oneself to the authority of Jesus.”, and then adds asking according to his will.
This last stipulation is both broad and deep. How do we know what God’s will is in any given situation?

We can know God’s will
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

1 Peter 2:15  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Romans 8:26-30  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

God’s will is knowable.
God does not anyone to fall into eternal condemnation, but wants everyone to turn to Him and live.
We are the instruments of God’s will on earth by stifling the foolish talk of non-believers.
God determined before creation that all believers would be conformed to the image of Jesus.

As a personal test, ask yourself how many of these conditions are actually met in your prayer life.

Confidence Part 2
Hebrews 10:15-25 6/11/2023

Background:
Paul explains that the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were essentially placeholders or a stopover provision. They satisfied an immediate need of substitutionary atonement and reinforced the reality of sin, but they could not actually remove sins. If this were the case, then animal sacrifices would have continued.

He also reminds his audience that there was a preamble to the second covenant roughly 750 years before it was instituted. Jeremiah 31 describes the qualities to the second covenant.
1. It would be an internalization of the law. The first covenant was external: do this; don’t do that. The provisions of the second covenant would be written on the heart and mind.
2. Also, sins would not be remembered (in the sense of “not brought to mind” or “won’t be dragged up.”) They are put away permanently. And he clarifies that where true forgiveness occurs, there is no longer a need for sacrifice.

But that could not be accomplished through the first covenant. A more permanent solution was necessary, which is found in Jesus. He is the source of once-for-all forgiveness.
However, this begs the question: How forgiven are we?
The forgiveness found in Jesus’ atonement is described as the ultimate forgiveness of sins, and Paul uses the most extreme example from Jewish law: The Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place. Paul talks about our confidence being able to walk into the most sacred place in the temple.
According to the law, only the high priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place and only on one day of the year: Yom Kippur—the day of atonement, and he could only stay for a short time. If anyone else were to enter or if the high priest were to enter on any other day, it would be fatal.
Furthermore, the high priest has to enter in a particular way: he must first bath and then put on a linen robe and turban. He also must make a sin offering and a burnt offering for himself before he enters the Holy of Holies. Only then—once his sins have been paid for and there is a “smoke screen” before God blocking His vision—is he allowed to enter and offer sacrifices. (However, the bulk of the ceremony of atonement is performed at the alter, which is open to public view. If he does not perform all of this ceremony correctly or if he enters at the wrong time, he will die.)
The reason for all of these conditions was that—more than anywhere else—the Holy of Holies was the place where the high priest came before God in a most direct way and concerning the matter of sin.
The New Covenant offers a very different perspective. Now, (figuratively speaking) everyone is able to access the Holy of Holies on any day and at any time without any fear of reprisal. This would have been a radical thought for the average Jew of the time.
This reality has several implications:
1. Now, any one who believes in the atonement of Jesus can come before God very directly with confidence and without fear or concern. This becomes even more remarkable when we realize we have this privilege when we are weak and our faith is wavering. We can come close to God when we feel the least worthy and have the greatest need.
2. Jesus, our compassionate and sympathetic advocate, has opened the way. This confidence is provided by Him. It doesn’t depend on us, so it is sure and reliable.
3. This is a source for encouragement and fortification. We come to God for help at our weak and vulnerable times, and we can have confidence that He will be there for us.
4. Along with the encouragement we receive from God’s presence, we can also be a source of encouragement to one another.

What Happens When We Get to Heaven? Part 2
Luke 20:27-38 5/28/2023

Luke 20:27-38 (see also Matthew 24:23-33)
At the resurrection:
A. we will be like the angels. We will be eternal and unchanging. We will see God face to face.
B. our relationships will be redefined. Previous blood relations and marriage relations will be of no more importance. We may recognize each other in heaven, but we won’t remember things from Earth or the people who aren’t with us. (Isaiah 65:17-18 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered; nor will they come to mind”.
C. the relationship that matters is our relationship to God the Father— because we will be His children; the children of the resurrection—and with Jesus. Who will be king.

2. Matthew 26:27-29
In heaven, we will eat!
A. We will specifically be eating a Passover meal, which:
1. Commemorates the saving action of God freeing His people from slavery and bondage.
2. Is eaten by all the people of the covenant at one time, standing for unity.

3. John 14:3 We will have single-unit dwelling spaces.
Our dwelling spaces will be interconnected yet single. And each will be newly and custom built. We won’t have to provide any labor or materials. Just like Salvation, it is done for us. We simply need to accept it.

4. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
Our bodies will be different. We will be imperishable (no end. lasting forever); glorious (splendid, excellence); powerful (having the ability to carry out a particular task); a spiritual body (having no material ((earthly)) substance or qualities); immortal (never dying, no expiration date).

5. Revelation 7:15-17; 21; 21:1-4
God will wipe away every tear.
But why are people crying? The context gives a great deal of insight.
7:16 The adverse conditions mentioned here are: hunger, thirst, unrelenting sunlight and scorching heat. This is also a reference to the promise in Isaiah 49:10 given to the captives returning from Babylon. In their situation the conditions would have been very literal and real. In time past, present and future, some of these conditions may be true for many Christians, but this is more an identification of all those in heaven who were traveling through the destitution of this world and have returned to “The Promised Land” where they have found relief.
21:4 This is a description of the New Jerusalem, and is referring to those who are inside of it. Here, the cause of sorrow is listed as: death, mourning, crying or pain.

What sort of people should we be now in light of what is to come>
Colossians 3:2-4 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Here are a few reasons I see profit in spending regular time dwelling on heaven’s realities:
1. To keep us from loving our stuff.
There’s no trailers behind hearses; there’s no pockets in funeral suits. Heaven is better anyway, so do I really need a new shirt?

2. To provide hope.
God knows we need it. That’s what Paul did in Romans 8 – he held up his sufferings, which were quite a lot, and said that the glory waiting for us makes these light afflictions pale in comparison.

3. To motivate us to action.
Heaven is a place where the rule of God is recognized fully and completely. And we are supposed to pray, and act, in such a way as to bring God’s will about on earth as it is in heaven. If we spent time thinking about how things will be, then we can be moved to change the way things are.

4. To remind us just who we’re dealing with.
C.S. Lewis, in The Weight of Glory reminded us that “You have never talked to a mere mortal. It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit.” Dwelling on heaven makes us realize the importance of the people around us. They are immortal, and they should be treated with respect and dignity.
https://thinke.org/blog/4-reasons-you-should-think-about-heaven-today

Acts 15:37-41
Paul, Barnabas and John Mark 4/30/2023

Occasionally, in churches and in ministries, things happen between people. They happen because churches are filled with imperfect people with varying personality traits. Sometimes relations end in unfortunate ways between people that can leave others in the wake of the damage.
Take the example of Paul, Barnabas and John Mark. Initially, Paul and Barnabas were good friends and partners in ministries. They traveled together for years in several mission trips. But when John Mark joins them, the dynamics change.
Let’s take a look at some of Paul and Barnabas’ personality traits.
Last week, we saw that Barnabas was an encourager. And some of the traits he demonstrated were a priority on people, generosity, bravery and risk taking for people, able to form conclusions without bias and loyalty.
A closer look at Paul reveals some different personality traits. Paul was goal orientated and mission minded, he liked to be in charge and up front (emergent leader), he liked to turn any situation into an opportunity to share the gospel, he didn’t like obstacles and--when he could—he liked to turn a situation strategically to his advantage. One example (Acts 25:10-12) He makes an appeal to Caesar. By doing so, he avoids going back to Jerusalem to be tried as well as sets up an opportunity to possibly share the gospel with the emperor.
Then enters John Mark. We first meet him in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12) where he is already a disciple. We also find that he is Barnabas’ cousin (Colossians 4:10). John Mark joins Paul and Barnabas when they leave Jerusalem and return to Antioch (Acts 12:25).
He joins Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5), but then leaves them during the trip (Acts 13:13).
So, now all the elements are set for the next piece of the story. Paul gets the idea to go and check on the churches he and Barnabas had established. This is Paul’s idea. There is no commissioning by the church or discussion with any leaders—Paul is going and he is taking Barnabas with him. We aren’t given any details about the trip (like from where will their support come?). This was also a decision at which Paul arrived without prayer. Paul seems to think that he has the authority to take this upon himself.

Watch out for Lone Ranger Christians.

Barnabas wants to bring John Mark along and give him another chance. (After all, last time he wasn’t really trained or prepared for a mission journey.) Barnabas is a people person who wants to give John Mark every chance to succeed. He is willing to take a chance on his cousin.
Paul, on the other hand, does not want loose ends and loose cannons. John Mark was given a chance and failed. He abandoned them mid—trip with out discussion. Paul does not see any way in which John Mark could be a help. He would only hold them back, and he would be a waste of time.

Based on past performances, what might people be saying or thinking about you? Are you comfortable about this? Is it fair to make decisions about people based on their past?

Was John Mark ultimately defined by the mistakes of his past? Certainly not.
He spends a significant time with Peter (1 Peter 5:13).
Paul later refers to him as an asset in ministry (Colossians 4:10, 2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 24).
It is generally believed that the same Mark referenced here is the same author who the Gospel of Mark.

Don’t limit yourself by other people’s opinions of you or by your own past mistakes. Don’t limit others by their past. Allow God to work through you to accomplish His Will.

The Purpose of Evil
Luke 22:52-53 04/02/2023

What I learned on my Winter/Spring Break. What has changed…
I. Where does evil, suffering and where do problems come from?
1. They do not come from God. No one should say that they are being tested, tried, troubled, or tempted by God (James 1:13). At least, not directly. God only gives “good and perfect” gifts (James 1:17). But God is aware of troubles and does allow them.
The most dramatic example of God allowing problems and evil is the crucifixion. Jesus was aware of his part in the plan of salvation before creation ever occurred (John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:20). However, the plan of salvation unfurled by the selfish motives of self-righteous and hypocritical people who did not want to give up their comfortable lives.
2. So, from where do problems and evil come?
A. The fallen and unredeemed nature of human beings (James 1:6, 14; 3:14-16; 4:1-6).
B. The “Spirit of the world” that is contrary to the Spirit of God (John 16:33; 1 John 2:16). This is a more general source of evil that is more corporate than individual.
C. Satan and evil spirituals have influence in the concrete world (Matthew 4:9-11; Mark 4:15; John 12:31 ; Ephesians 2:1-2; 2 Corinthians 2:11).

II. What is the purpose of problems in our lives (problems or troubles of any kind)?
1. To strengthen spiritual character and faith (Romans 5:1-5; James 1:3-4; 1 Peter 1:7).
2. To affirm that we are on the right track (Acts 9:15-17; Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 4:11-13)
3. To tell good from evil (1 Corinthians 11:19; 2 Corinthians 11:12-21).

III. Points to remember.
1. There is a peace that passes understanding.
2. When you think things are going to change:
A. They don’t.
B. They get worse.
C. They do change for the better, but you may not be out of the woods, yet.
D. Be careful of your standards of good and bad. Most people use a subjective standard of “I like that; I don’t like that.” Things are not always as they appear.

Understanding God’s Love
1 John 4:9-21 1/22/2023

This first epistle from John has several prominent themes that are repeated and presented in slightly different terms throughout this letter:
1. Jesus is the only literal Son of God.
2. Jesus appeared in a fully human form.
3. Jesus died to atone for the sins of all humanity and so secure eternal life for all who accept this.
4. Jesus’ appearance and His sacrificial death are tangible proof of God’s love.
5. God initiates His relationship with people. When Jesus appeared, it wasn’t because humanity had done anything to earn Him. People were not looking for ways to reach up to God. Most (Jewish and Pagan) had their own systems of belief and felt no need for additional elements.
6. In as much as God has loved humanity so deeply, people are to share this love fully with one another. This is one litmus test of authentic faith.
7. False teachers have come into the world who teach false doctrines of Jesus. People should be aware of this and put any doctrine and any teacher to the test.

We should also be willing to examine ourselves—our beliefs and our sense of security before God.
How do we deal with sin in our lives?
Do we justify it?
Do we try to minimize the impact it has on those around us?
Do we try to bolster the good things we have done in order to cancel out the bad things?
Do we try to show only the good side of ourselves to others thinking that hiding the bad reduces
its importance to God?

How secure do you feel in the idea of standing before God?
Do you hope you have been good enough to “make the cut?”
Do you hope there is nothing left unrepented for when you stand before God?
Will you try to blend in with the crowd on judgement day and not be conspicuous thinking
maybe He’ll overlook you until the end? “At least I won’t be embarrassed in front of
the entire human race that’s in heaven.”

God’s love, which comes from His very nature and does not depend on anything we might do—for better or for worse, is a constant on which we can rely.
We can rest assured that there will be no punishment in the afterlife for anyone who has accepted Jesus.
We can have the same confidence in this world, Actually, everyone can be assured that God is not punishing them in this world. Punishment is reserved for eternity. People may be disciplined or tried to strengthened their faith or given circumstances meant to draw them closer to God, but not punished.
The love of God and our response to it are the two factors that will have the greatest impact on our eternal life.

Simeon
Luke 2:25-35 1/1/2023

Who was Simeon? There are a lot of details we don’t know about him.
He was an adult, but we don’t know how old he was.
He is presented singly, but we don’t know about any relationships he may have had.
He is Jewish, but we know nothing more of his background.
We don’t know his socio/economic/political orientation.
We’re fairly sure that he is not a priest or a Levite or a rabbi.
We don’t know if he donated a large sum of money or performed some heroic feat (but probably not).
We know that he has no particular status in the community, because no one takes notice to him.
The fact that none of these details are included means they are irrelevant to the story. God does not look for them and neither should we.

What do we know about him?
His name means “one who hears,” or “obedient.” Often names signify one’s character or a significant event in someone’s life.
He is described as righteous—that he has fulfilled the standards of God, or he is right with God. The word righteous comes from the root word for penalty and signifies that someone has fulfilled the penalty attached to any unacceptable conduct.
He is also described as devout—This pertains to his actions on earth and visible to people. The word means literally well accepted or accepts well.  Today, we might say: “He wears it well.“ To be particularly well suited to a certain demeanor, attitude, title, role, etc.  https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/wearing+it+well So he wears his religion well.
He has a unique and personal relationship with God in that God made to him a promise: He would not die until he sees the Lord’s Messiah. This promise is made to no one else.
He is patient and trusting. He is willing to wait for the promise to be fulfilled, and he trusts God that it will be. And, indeed, God fulfills it.
The Holy Spirit was active in his life; it is mentioned three times in this section all pertaining to Simeon. While the Holy Spirit may not have been active for the nation, it was active for particular individuals.

So far we have learned:
1. God is not interested in the incidentals of a person’s life.
2. God cares about qualities that begin in the heart and manifest themselves in the character and demeanor of the person: righteousness, devotion and obedience.
3. God informs and guides by the Holy Spirit. This works on an individual and on a personal level.

What we learn from Simeon:
1. God keeps His promises to individuals and to the world.
2. The consolation—the definitive event in Israel’s history—involves the Messiah and salvation. And it is for the world: revelation will come to the gentiles and glory to the Jewish nation.
3. No one will be neutral concerning Jesus. Each person will either rise or fall, and each person’s attitude and actions will show where that person’s heart truly is.
4. Jesus will come to a tragic end (that only Mary will see).

What the Angels Said
Luke 2:8-14 12/25/2022

This time of year especially, we hear and we say a lot of simple phrases. Among them are: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. These are happy and festive greetings, but have you ever stopped and considered what you are actually saying when you say these things?

Is it a command: You have a Merry Christmas! This gives the person the power to have a Merry Christmas, and making it merry is completely within his or her realm of influence.
Is it more of a blessing: I hope you have a Merry Christmas! This puts the quality of Christmas outside of the person’s or anyone’s realm of influence and allows for uncontrollable circumstances, be they good or bad.
Is it a declarative statement: Christmas is Merry! The person offering the salutation is enjoying Christmas. Everything around this person appears Merry. It doesn’t matter what you think.

All of these may apply, but it does show that simple phrases can have a variety of specific meaning. And without considering the possibilities we can miss opportunities.
Take the three part pronouncement of the angels. These are simple phrases with profound meaning.
The structure of these phrases in the original language indicates that these are declarative phrases: they state a reality. As such, one could but the phrase There is in front of them:
These is glory to God in heavens.
There is peace on earth.
There is good will/good intentions among/with people.

There is also a distinct parallelism in these three phrases:

What Where to Whom
Glory in the heavens to God
Peace on earth (to people)
Good Will/Favor (on earth) to people.

This is stating that these qualities are currently available, and the last two are available to all people here on earth. But where do we find them? Certainly not in the news.
Glory—weightiness, importance. God receives this in the heavens.
Peace—reconciliation, mending of broken relationships on all levels.
Good Will—pleasure, favor. Favor is extended to all people.

However, these last two are not automatic, they take intention and choice. We must seek them and choose them.
We can have peace with God through Jesus Christ. And we can have peace with others as we accept His peace given through Jesus.
We can find favor with God through Jesus Christ. We accept His righteousness and stand in His pleasure.

The Circuitry of Love
Romans 5:6-10; 1 John 4:7-12 12/18/2022

God initiates the process of love. (People may say that all people love. And to a degree, that is true. But human love is different. It is based on compatibility, reciprocity and other expectations and conditions. People may love someone for money, power, prestige, security, physical attraction, etc. And, when these qualities fade, so does the love.)
God loves first. He loves a creation that has little interest in Him.
He is the source and the example of love.
God loves all people equally and fully—there are no favorites. He loves unconditionally.
God loves without the necessity of a return, but He desires a return.
His love comes from His nature, not because of our merit. He loves us when we are unworthy—still in our sins and unrepentant.
God showed us His love by freely giving Jesus to us to pay for our sins. Jesus is a universal, one-fits-all gift.
God gave us Jesus because that is what we needed, so godly love gives freely what is needed, not necessarily what is wanted. God did not take an opinion pole before sending Jesus.

When God’s love is realized and accepted, that starts a process of returning His love. “We love God because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
We love God by abandoning our egos and humbly obeying God. The command that God gives through Jesus is to love one another.

Mutual love comes from a love of God. And we love others in the same manner as God loved us through Jesus: by forgiving each other and treating each other in beneficial ways. Jesus becomes our role model. This type of mutual love is different from social/cultural love.

This expression of godly love is what compels us to share the gospel (God’s love) with non-Christians , which in turn attracts the attention of non-Christians. The non-Christian makes a profession of faith when he/she understands and accepts God’s love through Jesus. This causes the new Christian to love God, and at the same time brings him/her into a community of mutual godly love, which is noticed by other non-Christians.

Joy
Hebrews 12:1-3 12/11/2022

*What is Joy? It is a deep sense of delight and celebration.

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7

*It does not set its focus on current circumstances.
*It can have a far-reaching focus.
*Sometimes difficulties must necessarily be experienced before joy is realized.

For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime;
Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning…

You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
Psalm 30:5; 11

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

*It is complex and does not cancel sorrow or despair. Sometimes the two co-exist.

...sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10

*It can be found in the spiritual reality or maturity of other people.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, Philippians 3:1-3

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! Philippians 4:1

*It is given by the Holy Spirit.

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Luke 10:21

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…
Galatians 5:22

Peace
Ephesians 2:11-18 12/4/2022

In our crazy world, people look for peace—peace of mind, a peaceful spot, peace among family and friends, international peace. These are wonderful things to have in life, but there are two things wrong with looking for peace in these places:
1. All of these things have a will and a path of their own. We cannot control any of these things, Whatever peace we may find in these things is tenuous at best.
2. Peace is an inner quality that can’t be created by one’s outside environment. You can’t build the inside from the outside. Although people try.

People will look for peace in two places:
1. They will look for peace where they expect to find it, however they are very often disappointed. People will seek peace through relationships, but relationships of any kind take constant work and commitment and not everyone is willing to do that. People seek peace through money and success, but money and success can fall apart in an instant through unexpected circumstances. People will seek success even through religion (that’s religion, not a personal relationship with Jesus), but that kind of effort ends up feeling hallow.
2. People will often look indirectly for peace in places where they don’t find it, and they are never disappointed: We look at what we don’t have and then we fret about it: “If only I had more money; if only the kids would listen.” Then people will watch the news seeking to find peace by being informed. They may be informed but they don’t find peace. So then people will turn to social media and expect to find peace there, but social media is filled with drama, negativity, fluff and pride; and no peace is found there. All of these are dead ends—no one finds peace in any of those places.

Peace is found in our attitude and our perspective on the things around us. But where do we find that?
To understand the origins of peace, we have to go back to the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.
God created Adam and Eve, and placed them in the Garden of Eden, and the Garden of Eden was a wonderful and peaceful place: There was no death for humans, There were no predators or prey in the animal kingdom—everything was herbivorous. There was no conflict, no threats, there was nothing to fear. Adam and Eve could talk directly with God and stand in His presence, which means there was no sin. It was a perfect world, like a constant perfect vacation.
However, things did not remain that way. And there were two reasons why things didn’t remain that way:
1. Adam and Eve were created in innocence. They had no sense of right or wrong, and they had no inclination to rebel against God. Their relationship with God was unimpeded.
But one part of human nature was already in place from day one: free will. While they had no sense of right and wrong, they could choose to whom and to what they listened. And they fell for the line that the serpent—the devil—fed to them. They accepted that God was holding out on them, and that they could have more. This is the earliest record of fake news and its effects.
Ironically, they did get what the devil promised: they received the knowledge of right and wrong, good and evil. But what Satan didn’t tell them was what came along with it. Along with that knowledge came responsibility and accountability and consequences. The knowledge they received was personal. Right and wrong wasn’t something they could watch, it was something they did with every decision they made. In innocence they were like babies; at the moment they received knowledge, they grew up and became adults.
And that leads to the second reason:
2. Adam and Eve’s relationship with God changed. Now it involved obstacles and challenges and owning up to one’s own decisions. Relationship with God became much more difficult, because it wasn’t just about who you were; it also involved what you did.
Relationship without moral knowledge and without accountability is still a relationship; although it is a neutral relationship, It doesn’t take choice or effort or even awareness. Adam and Eve were without sin and so they could effortlessly stand in the presence of God. But that is a recipe for taking things for granted.
We all have neutral relationships: We go to the bank and see a teller of to the store and encounter a check-out clerk. We talk with them and even give them money. But there is no introduction and no follow up. The fact that you will interact with these people is a given. They may even help you with some personal issues. But the exchange ends as quickly as it began and you may never see these people again.
Now these two developments made for an opportunity. God did not want to have neutral relationships with His creation. He wanted to have relationships with depth and meaning and choice and intentionality. So He took this situation (which was no surprise to Him) and made it into an opportunity to form deeper relationships with human beings.
The first and most important task in this was to take care of the results of free will that led to sin. He wouldn’t take free will away because that was at the core of being human. At the same time, He couldn’t allow us to make up our own plan of restitution for sin. It was our free will that got us into trouble; the chances of unguided free will getting us out of trouble and keeping us out of trouble were slim.
Have you ever tried to fix something that you thought you understood, but it turns out you didn’t? You start to work thinking this will be easy, but then you run into problems you didn’t expect. And then, the more you work the worse things get until you can’t even get it back to the broken state in which you found it? That is what it is like trying to fix our own sins on our own.
So God said, “I need to take care of this one Myself.” So He developed a meaningful and an effective way of dealing with sins—substitutionary sacrifice where something else is given to atone for the sin that you committed. That was initiated with animal sacrifice and was culminated in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. His sacrifice on the cross paid the complete price for the sins of the world. Full payment was established on Calvary—full payment for the sins of the world. With His sacrifice, our sins are taken out of the equation of relationship for good. So, by faith, relationship is based on who we are and on what He did. And that is what we call, “peace.”

Hope
Isaiah 11:1-5 11/26/2022
1st Sunday in Advent

Advent, a time of preparation.
It is also a time to recognize “coming,” which is actually what the term means: (a coming into place, view, or being; arrival; the fact of an event happening, an invention being made, or a person arriving).

The New Testament says that a hope is something coming but has not yet arrived: For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:24-25

There are three aspects of “coming” that are recognized: past, present and future.
The past recalls Jesus’ first coming as a baby in Bethlehem, just as prophecy had foretold. Jesus did not just step onto the stage of history as a surprise. He had been expected for centuries. And while prophesy generally indicated that He would come during the time of the Roman Empire, it was not specific.
The present recognizes His presence in our lives as Savior, Lord and friend as we invite Him into our hearts and lives. Jesus is here and is active in the lives and hearts of believers.
The future anticipates the second coming of Jesus. And this last aspects builds on the first two. Jesus was promised to come, and He did: and Jesus said He would neither leave us or forsake us, and He hasn’t. So we can have assurance in the promise that He will come again in bodily form.

Advent also reflects 4 different characteristics on the 4 Sundays of Advent. And the first Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of Hope.

To appreciate hope we have to have a good understanding of what the word does not mean.
1. It is not a vague idea: I hope something good happens.
2. It is not a chance or a possibly: I hope the package comes today.
3. It is not based on a wish: I hope I win the lottery someday.
4. It does not disappoint: I was hoping to get an “A,” but I got a “C” even though I studied.

Hope is a concrete promise of what is going to come; it is an assurance. We know what is coming; but we don’t know exactly when it will come.

Recognizing Hope today:
1. We know that hope was fulfilled 2024 years ago.
2. We know that hope is renewed every time we experience the presence of Jesus in the many ways He can let Himself be known.
3. hope is bolstered by these two things as we wait for His second coming.

Now, where does hope come from?
Hope is built in the present, and it is built paradoxically.
...And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:2b-5

Hope starts with a promise from God. The promise of being transformed, the promise of being loved regardless of circumstances, the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ and of cosmic justice on the last day.

Then, things get tough. Hardships come into our lives. Our faith is challenged. Our friends turn away from us; family becomes distant or confrontational; work develops a negative undertone. And a life of faith becomes more difficult to maintain. Decisions have to be made; priorities have to be maintained, immediate consequences must be accepted.
At this point, the process becomes primarily passive yielding. Running around trying to fix the problem by making others happy or explaining one’s self is not the solution. That only interferes with the process. The attitude we should develop is: a. Oh, Lord, this challenge is beyond me. Please bring me through, and b. Praise be to You, Lord, in that You have provided a way for my faith to strengthen.From this develops the attribute of patience. Once you withstand the storms of life with little else to do than simply whether them, you learn how to wait and be patient about it.This in turn develops character. This does not exactly mean a moral disposition or a way of behaving with integrity. It means more that you have been proven, you are accepted. Your faith has been confirmed and shown to be true and you have received the stamp of approval.And, once this has happened, hope develops. You have been shown that God is faithful. You have been shown that He does stays with you. You build a foundation from the past upon which you can build for the future: to wait with patience and assurance until He comes again.

Overcoming Obstacles to Thanksgiving
Psalm 137 11/20/2022

This psalm was written about a time when the Hebrew people were in great distress for a number of reasons:
1. The Israelites had been defeated by Babylon, an empire to their northeast.
2. They had been forcibly and violently removed from their homeland by the Babylonians.
3. Their homeland had suffered great destruction at the hands of the Babylonians, including the demolition of the wall around the city of Jerusalem.
4. The Israelites were taken as slaves to a strange land with strange customs and religious beliefs very different from their own.
5. The temple of God had been destroyed: ransacked, burned and razed to the ground. This point is especially poignant. Military and political conflicts in the ancient world were seen as battles between gods. And the winner was considered to have the strongest god. The Israelites could not have imagined their God being beaten by another god or gods.
6. The Israelites knew that their situation was a product of their own unfaithfulness. They had many opportunities to change, but they did not heed any. (2 Kings 24:2 Isaiah 39:6-7 Jeremiah 20:4-6)

How well do you take responsibility for or accept consequences from your own choices and actions?

How were the Israelites responding to their situation:
1. They were holding on tightly to their past life in Judah. They even spoke a curse upon themselves if they were to ever forget Zion, their homeland. Closely related, they were not where they wanted to be.
2. They were harboring grudges and huge amounts of anger directed at the Edomites (verse 7).
3. They were imagining cruel revenge upon the Babylonians, even upon their infants.

They also had a problem with taunts from their captors. They challenged the Israelites to sing songs about Zion. This is a salt-in-the-wound tactic, emphasizing the Babylonians superiority over the Israelites.
(Some sources have suggested that this was a sincere attempt to lift the spirits of the Israelites. However, both tactics are inappropriate. Taunting them is just mean. And trying to cheer them up with songs of the homeland may have a temporary effect, but runs the risk of creating even more damage.)

What is the best way to handle someone in a state like this:
1. Active listening. Work to understand the problem and the feelings of the other person. Do not offer solutions or help unless the person specifically asks for it.
Active listening is mainly a lost art in our country. People do not listen to understand; people listen long enough until it’s their turn to tell their point of view and refute the speaker.
2. Offer encouragement. Another word for encouragement is coaching; patient, non-critical; non-judgmental coaching. A Socratic method can produce good results. Ask questions to determine what the person already knows—either what is helpful or what is hindering. Either way, this is bound to help them get a better grip on their situation and move toward their solution. Another therapeutic tool is the idea of the non-anxious listener. This is a person who listens, does not own the problem and keeps responsibility in the court of the speaker. This helps the listener avoid a lot of emotional traps.

Communion
1 Corinthians 11:23-32 11/6/2022

The church at Corinth had a problem, and this problem was causing serious consequences.
Paul says the church was taking communion in an unworthy manner. What does this mean? What were the consequences? What was the solution?

1. What does “unworthy” mean? The word itself means: in an unfitting way, inappropriately, in a way that does not fit the occasion. It could be a moral failing. But it could just as well mean an incongruent manner; like doing a tap dance routine for a ballet audition.
How did this play out? 2 Ways: 1. There were obvious divisions in the church. 2. The Lord’s table was practiced in an individual manner: each person indulged when they arrived without waiting for anyone else. Those that arrived first feasted; those that arrived later had “slim pickins”. Since this was related to socio-economic factors, it highlighted the class structure of Corinth.
Specifically this practice contradicted the meaning of communion, therefore each and every person who practiced it this way were: guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. And they ate and drank judgment on themselves Because: whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
The meaning of communion is rooted in the meaning of the Last Supper,
The Last Supper was a seder (Passover) meal, which was instituted when the Hebrew people were freed from Egypt. It commemorated the Angel of Death passing over the homes marked with the sacrificial lamb’s blood and protecting/saving the first born of that household.
Jesus figuratively placed Himself into the Passover meal as the lamb—the center piece of the meal. In doing so, He correlated His death on the cross with the Exodus event.

Passover vs. Communion

The blood of the lamb held off the Angel of Death.

The Passover commemorated the Hebrew people being given their freedom from Egypt and slavery.

The people became a nation in the desert; establishing a covenantal relationship with God and agreeing to a common code of behavior.

Everyone who was a part of the covenant was to celebrate Passover at the same time.
The Blood of Jesus saves us from eternal death and the wrath of God.

Communion commemorates Jesus winning victory over sin and death for all time available to all people.

Through the blood of Jesus and faith, we become a covenantal communion and a common people.

Communion is a corporate community event and should be observed that way.

2. What were the consequences? The church at Corinth was smitten with ill health and death. It isn’t clear how directly God initiated this directly, or if it was a natural consequence. While rare, it is not the first mention of some malady or death given by God as a consequence.

3. What is the solution? We need to be discerning the body of Christ, and more discerning with regard to ourselves.
Discerning: to evaluate, make a distinction.
Body of Christ = ourselves (the church corporately)
We need to make sure our actions are congruent with our beliefs.

Job: Faith and Despair
Job 13:14-16 10/30/2022

Several points about the book of Job:
1. Job does not understand why all these problems are happening to him. He maintains his integrity of character throughout the book. He has done nothing to deserve what he is experiencing.
2. Job is expressing his feelings about his experience.
3. His friends are expressing current beliefs of the time: God is doing this for a reason. Either Job is being punished for a (hidden) evil, or Job has erred—either knowingly or unknowingly—and God is trying to guide him back to a proper way of living. Job deserves what he is getting because God does not punish the righteous, but rather rescues and protects them.
4. His friends ignore Job’s expressions of emotions. If anything, they reproach him for them. They confine their comments to theological tenets about God in order to “fix” Job. Ironically, much of what they say is true or comes true.

So, the question arises: how much despair can a person express and for how long and still be considered an authentic believer?

Job is open about his despair:
1. How Job sees his life:

“I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul. I say to God: Do not declare me guilty, but tell me what charges You have against me. Does it please You to oppress me, to spurn the work of Your hands, while You smile on the plans of the wicked? Job 10:1-3

My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me. Surely mockers surround me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility. Job 17:1-2

2. How Job perceives God:

Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; He has shrouded my paths in darkness...If I hold my head high, You stalk me like a lion and again display Your awesome power against me. You bring new witnesses against me and increase Your anger toward me; Your forces come against me wave upon wave. Job 19:7-8; 16-17

If only I knew where to find Him; if only I could go to His dwelling...But if I go to the east, He is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find Him. When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him. Job 23:3; 7-8

3. How Job expresses his faith:

Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. Why do I put myself in jeopardy
and take my life in my hands? Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him; I will surely defend my ways to His face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before Him! Job 13:13-17

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet[e] in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 25:25-27

4. Job’s legacy:

“Son of man, if a country sins against Me by being unfaithful and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals, even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord. Ezekiel 14:13-14

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
James 5:11

The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:9-15 10/2/2022

Our Father in Heaven:
1. Our: This is a communal prayer. We are family, connected, bonded together.
2. Father: The father was the head of the household. He was the provider, the decision maker, the protector, etc. The ideal father carried out his role with kindness, compassion but also with discipline.
3. Father in Heaven: There is only one father in heaven. He is the holy, all-powerful, creator of all things who loves his creation very much.

Hallowed by Your Name
1. Hallowed: Holy, set apart, special.
2. Your Name: A name stood for someone’s character or reputation. People equated your name with your person. To have a holy name means that the person to whom it refers is holy, distinct, to be revered.

Your kingdom, come:
The Jewish people had been waiting for the reestablishment of their national/political/geographic kingdom for centuries. With the kingdom comes a king. God (or the Messiah—God’s anointed) was to rule righteously and victoriously. Ushering in the Jewish golden age. Jesus revealed that the Old Testament idea of a kingdom was not national/political/geographic, but spiritual consisting of believers who followed the rule of God through Jesus Christ.

Your will be done on earth like it’s done in heaven:
The end of this phrase carries an immediacy. While we don’t see many examples of God’s will being done in heaven (the Book of Revelation is probably the most likely place to find any) we an correctly assume that God’s will is done quickly and correctly in heaven.
So, what is God’s will? Some will claim it is being a good person and doing good things to earn God’s favor. Some will say it is getting everyone into heaven. Still others will say it is a mystery that will be revealed at some later time. While each of these “answers” have some degree of merit (and some more than others) each one focuses more on the end—what God wants to have happen; and not on the method—how does God want this to happen.
There are several verses that give insight into this:

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Repentance is an essential part of God’s will for people. Repentance acknowledges that we have done wrong and fallen short of God’s moral code, that something needs to be done about it, that we need to change our ways and that God needs to be a part of this. This also presents that everyone has a choice: repent or perish.

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, Who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:3-5
More that just getting to heaven, we are saved: saved from the wrath to come; saved from the consequences of our own decisions and actions. Our actions are not petty or neutral: everything we do has a consequence. Furthermore, God has chosen Jesus to bestow this salvation. He is the only one Who can mediate between God and humanity. And He wants people to come to the knowledge of the truth, not rely on their own opinions.

God’s will is universal, pertaining to every person who has lived, is living or will live. And it includes:
An acknowledgement of our moral shortcomings and the consequences involved;
an acceptance of God’s standards;
an acceptance of our inability to fix this;
An acceptance of God’s solution in Jesus Christ.

Opening Meditation notes:

MAGA hat wearing teens
Summary of events: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/23/18192831/covington-catholic-maga-hat-native-american-nathan-phillips

Video of Black Hebrew Israelites assailing the crowd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3EC1_gcr34

Teacher advocating for MAPS
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2022/09/09/texas-teacher-defending-pedophiles-termination/8023516001/

Students in class defend teacher: https://eurweb.com/2022/08/30/teacher-appears-to-promote-pedophilia/

A Reason for Unanswered Prayer
2 Corinthians 12:1-10 9/25/2022

In the closing chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul was addressing a negative influence that had crept into the church: false apostles, or men that had a slick presentation, a forceful demeanor and who commanded attention, but who had poor doctrine. These men were not shy in talking about their credentials and their experiences, and criticizing Paul in order to undermine his influence in that church. Unfortunately, they were popular among the people.
In response, Paul starts to present his credentials, although he calls this foolish. He first talks about how he shared the gospel “free of charge” with the Corinthians, and took no money from them throughout his ministry with them. Then he talks about his experiences of sharing the gospel and the many hardships he has endured—far more than these false apostles had experienced. (11:23-29. see also 6:3-10) He also presents factors from his background (i.e. being Jewish, et al. 11:21-23) wherein he exceeds the credentials of the false prophets.
After this, he goes on to present valid credentials. They are of two conflicting types:

1. Paul received visions and revelations. He experienced heaven and saw things that could not be expressed or described. This was done without choice or merit: he was caught up to heaven without explanation or justification.
He has been in the presence of God and heard divine utterances too fantastic to be explained. Along with his previous behavior, this gives an emphasis on spiritual experience. While spiritual experience is hard to objectively verify, it is best evaluated by: 1) God’s word, and 2.) the lifestyle of the individual.

2. On the other hand, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment him.
Much has been written and speculated about this thorn in the flesh. Some say it was a physical handicap of some kind; others say it was an inner conflict Paul was shouldering; still others say it was opposition and hard ship from people (which is mentioned specifically in the following verses); and still others say it was demonic opposition. In looking at the passage and the general context in the book, views 3 and 4 seem to fit the best: it is the human hardship motivated by Satan. He mentions his hardships in several places in the book. In particular, he uses thorn in the flesh, weakness and his hardships interchangeably in verses 7-10.
The purpose of this thorn was to keep him from becoming conceited because of these revelations. Being addresses directly by God is an exalting experience. Some people could likely come to think too much of themselves as a result. But God wants humble servants focused on Him, not themselves. Even though, by human wisdom, Paul would have been more effective without that thorn, but he probably would have thought too much of himself.

How does his testimony relate to your life experiences? Are there spiritual experiences about which you can speak? Are there weaknesses in your life (circumstances, relations, situations) without which you feel you would be a more effective witness for Jesus?

The Flip Side of Prayer
James 5:13-18 9/11/2022

I find there are some helpful principles in prayer: prayer for and accept what you need; God does not cancel anyone’s free will; prayers are addressed according to God’s will, so answers may not be recognized until after the fact; God wants us to listen to Him as closely as we want Him to listen to us. If these and other principles aren’t acknowledged in sincerity, prayer can become a frustrating experience.
But this doesn’t mean that prayer does nothing. In this section, James presents the promises of prayer within the boundaries of prayer.
1. Circumstances and Action.
A. Is anyone in trouble (a general term including any sort of distress)? Let them pray—approach God for His guidance.
B. Is anyone joyful? Let them sing praise.
C. Is anyone sick, feeble, weak, powerless (not limited to physical weakness or infirmity). Let them call for the elders so that they might pray.
This section uses several different words translated as pray. While all the words essentially mean to appeal to God, the word in verse 16 carries an implied emphasis. It means to beg or to petition, or to call out from one’s poverty ad want. It has a focus on the impossibility of any human to fulfill the need about which a person is praying.
This step combines both faith and practicality. It acknowledges the part of faith in prayer, but it also recognizes and encourages normal medical practices. Anointing a person has long been an Eastern form of medicine. It is believed that olive oil rubbed all over the body protects a person from impurities in the air, enhances the quality of the skin and heals illnesses.

2. Result.
A. Those who are weak, feeble or powerless will be healed/saved.
B. God will lift them up (either heal them or resurrect them).

3. Other Factors.
A James introduces a connection between illness, sickness and sin; and confession and healing. If the sick person has sinned, (who hasn’t) they will be healed. Everyone should confess their sins to one another and pray for each other so they will be healed.

So far, several factors are said to contribute to healing:
A. Prayer of faith.
B. Confession of sins.
Anointing with oil is mentioned, but is not directly attributed to healing.

4. Supporting Evidence
Elijah the prophet (an ordinary man) prayed and it did not rain for 3 1/2 years. Then he prayed a second time and it did rain. Note: Elijah was acting under the direction of God Himself. Elijah did not come up with the idea for a drought.

Why Pray, Revisited
Matthew 6:7-8 9/4/2022

I’m coming to realize that one of the obstacles to prayer is our concept of prayer, or how we conceptualize prayer:
1. We tend to think of praying as individuals. Prayer is about my prayer. And many of the messages we hear about prayer are about how an individual can be more effective in his or her prayer life.
It’s true that we come together each Sunday in our prayer time and life up common concerns, but what do we know about each other’s prayers for any given concern? And how much do we know about any given situation?
2. We tend to focus on the subject or the object of our prayers, or what it is that we are praying about or for. And that puts an automatic focus on results.

On an individual level, this makes sense. I pray about that which I am concerned, and I wait for the answer.
But if you look at it from a different angle, from a corporate angle, it looks very different. You know what your prayers are, but do you know your neighbors prayers? Are they in line with each other? And what about the other people connected to the situation? Are they in alignment? And what do you know about the situation, including the back story and the more personal details? How might that change the content of your prayer? And, with this perspective, how do you know when the results actually arrive?

Add to this the fact that God already knows what is needed, and He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). So how might we effectively pray when we have to realize that each of us has an acutely handicapped concept of prayer.

To address this situation, we need to find an analogy that helps us revisualize our idea of prayer.. What is some familiar activity that involves a number of people making a contribution of different parts to a common whole and where everyone knows the end from the beginning. And it occurred to me that I had the perfect analogy right ahead of me: an orchestra.

First, everybody in the orchestra knows what is coming up in detail. There are no surprises in the score. Also, every musician has had weeks to review and practice his or her part individually and together. And often, the audience also knows what is coming. Some people will go to certain performances knowing the piece.

One question we might ask is: why is there a conductor? If each musician knows their part and has a score in front of them, shouldn’t they be alright on their own?
One of the short comings in an orchestra is that the different musicians can’t hear each other that well. Without a conductor, each musician would be playing mainly on their own. Ego could easily become a problem. Imagine an ensemble of 50 or 60 musicians playing with their own part in the forefront of their minds. Each musician might be playing masterfully, but the end result would be a mess.

The conductor is the only one who hears all the instruments, so the conductor:
1. Keeps everyone together with a steady tempo.
2. Makes sure the sound of the instruments is balanced. No one section dominates or is drowned out, and everyone is heard.
3. Keeps everyone together through the “tricky parts.”

For this to work, several factors must be present:
1. Every musician must accept that their part is important, even if it seems small.
2. Each musician must accept that they are a part of a much larger whole.
3. Every musician must follow the score and watch the conductor.
4. The point of the performance is more than just music. The point is the live experience of making the music. This experience could not be duplicated by recording or airwaves. Everyone must be present together for this experience to happen.

The Problem of Unanswered Prayer
1 Kings 19:1-9 8/28/2022

The problem of unanswered prayer has plagued people for thousands of years. A number of cliches have arisen that allude to the situation: God said, “No.” Or, “When He closes a door, He opens a window,” and so forth.
But none of these cliches really offer much insight into prayer. If God said No, why did He say No, and when does He say, “Yes?” If he opens a window, how do you decide which window He opened? And does Satan open windows to distract you?
And these are important questions.
But this morning, I would like to look at the impact that spiritual disappointment—including unanswered prayer—can have on a person. Feelings of sadness and disappointment and failure and confusion can sometimes surround the experience of unexpected and unfavorable experiences.
In this situation with Elijah, the specific prayer prayed is, “Lord, take me out of this world. End my life.” A desperate prayer, and it’s no surprise that God not only doesn’t answer it; He ignored it.
What is important to look at are the feelings that surround this prayer and to deconstruct them.

1. As a point of general principle, God will not negate or over ride a person’s free will. If a person is set on a bad decision, God will allow it. He may send circumstances to help guide that person away from that decision, but ultimately it is that person’s decision.
You may be saying, “What about Paul on the road to Damascus? What about Pharaoh? Good questions, but ones that have responses. Concerning Paul, God did not negate his free will. God did send an unavoidable circumstance Paul’s way, but it was still Paul’s decision. And it was Paul’s decision to continue in the faith after he regained his sight. Concerning Pharaoh and the hardening of his heart, Pharaoh was already determined to harden his heart—God simply amplified what was already there.

2. Success of service is not on you. You can neither take credit nor blame for the outcome. Faithfulness is the only thing for which you are responsible. Elijah did not fail. He acted just as he should have, and the people were greatly influenced—a revival ensued. If anything, Ahab and Jezebel failed.

3. Always be aware of expectations. Having faith in God is one thing. Being presumptuous is something else. Presumption overshadows faith, because in presumption, you think you know what it is that will happen—you are predicting what God is going to do. But faith accepts what God does, whether we like it or not. Based on the success of his confrontation with the prophets of Baal and the prophets of Asherah, it seems that Elijah was expecting a more positive response from Ahab and Jezebel. He did not expect a death sentence.

4. Keep a balanced perspective on the situation. Somehow, human nature seems to focus on what we think is bad and forget about what is good. It was the king and the queen who were opposed to Elijah—and just the king and queen. The people were in favor of the God of Israel, and the king and queen—and any leader—retains power only in as much as the people support them. The people were in favor of the God of Israel, and that gives Elijah a great advantage.

5. God still has plans for you. He is still with you. We may think that we have ended our ministry and we are no longer of use to God’s purposes. But it is always important to remember that God has mercy on the sincerely repentant, and He does not rely on our credentials, but rather He uses our testimony for His purposes. Rven when things look to the contrary, God is always on top.

Unity-part 3
1 Corinthians 1:10-12 6/26/2022

I want to revisit some of the texts of the past few weeks along with a new one to get a practical view of unity. Specifically, what does it look like and what does it accomplish?
What does it look like?
A. I Corinthian 1:10 has two connected words: united and agree. They are compound words. A loose translation in modern speech would come out that everyone should be: into the same stuff or into saying the same thing.

B. We get a good picture of this in practice on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:42-47. Some of the practices were:
1. A unity of study and learning of the apostles teaching.
2. A unity of lifestyle—believers spent time with one another.
3. An economic unity—they shared all things in common, even selling possessions to help others.
And some of the results were:
1. Many miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
2. There was a general sense of awe and wonder.
3. Believers had a good public reputation.
4. God added to their number.

C. Unity gives us spiritual power and authority. Matthew 18:18-20. Some background:
1. This is in a process of conflict resolution. There has been a significant offense committed by one person against another, and the offended is refusing to make amends or acknowledge their wrong doing.
2. This is specifically about holding someone accountable. Binding and loosing refer to the process of forgiveness. Most things people should just let go of them, but somethings need to be addressed and people need to be held accountable.
3. Coming together in Jesus’ name refers to His authority. To act in someone’s name or someone’s stead means to function as if that person were present.
4. This situation presumes a result. If two or more people agree on what is asked for, they will receive. This must be done with the parameters of God’s will. And the wider context points to the process of ultimate reconciliation of the two parties.

Where Are You and I? Part 2
John 21:15-19 May, 29, 2022

The Rogues Gallery of the Misdirected, God’s response and what we might expect:

1. Saul, called Paul. Paul had a strong but misguided zeal for the Jewish faith. While he was in the process of persecuting Christians, he saw a bright light, fell to the ground and he heard the voice of Jesus. He was also struck blind for three days. (Acts 9:3-9) Paul imposed this same condition on Elymas the Sorcerer at Paphos. (Acts 13:6-12) Sometimes God makes a dramatic and unavoidable intervention.

2. Judas and Peter. Judas, overwhelmed with remorse, takes his own life. (Matthew 27:3-5) Peter is also filled with remorse for disowning Jesus. He expresses his remorse, but continues living. (Matthew 26:69-75) Both act on their own feelings with no outside advice.

3. The disciples. After his resurrection, Jesus rebukes the disciples for not believing the scriptures or the accounts of others. (Luke 24:25-27) He also simply affirms what they had been told and shows proof. (Luke 24:36-47; Thomas: (John 20:24-29) In these cases, Jesus refers to the Bible for proof and verification.

4. The disciples fishing on the Sea of Galilee.
Before getting into how Jesus approaches the disciples, I want to join the disciples on the boat during the unproductive evening they spent fishing.
Peter decided to go fishing and the other disciples joined him. It appears to be a “nothing better to do” type of decision. We don’t know how long they had been waiting for Jesus, but it was apparently long enough to become tedious.
They must have thought Jesus was going to extend His absence even longer. The disciples apparently didn’t expect Him to arrive by morning.
And so thoughts of: “Where is He? Is He really coming? Are we in the right place?” could have been occupying their thoughts.

What are your thoughts when God seems to be taking too much time to show up?

In an effort to break the monotony the disciples go fishing all night and catch nothing. This would add “insult to injury” or “pour salt in the wound.”

Was there a time when you made things worse for yourself when you were trying to make things better?

At first, Jesus shows up anonymously. It was usual for people to stand on shore and tell fishermen where to cast their nets. Because of the angle of refraction, people on shore could see things that the fishermen could not. So Jesus participates in their activity—He tells them where to cast their nets to catch fish, and the catch is remarkably large. That is when the disciples realize it is Jesus. Then He cooks breakfast for them. His initial contact is hospitable and kind.
His conversation with Peter (a leader and a strong influencer among the disciples) is about priorities: who or what do you love the most? Jesus asks Peter three times, causing Peter to be offended. But Jesus also includes a proof-test of priority: If I am a priority, go and minister. Follow my commands. Go ad teach people about Me.

There are several take-aways from these accounts:
1. Jesus is kinder and easier on us than we are on ourselves.
2. Jesus comes to us in our situation—whether we notice that it is Him or not.
3. Jesus does reprimand us and holds us accountable for our actions (or our lack of actions) but that does not define His relationship with us.
4. Jesus cites experience and the promises of scripture to guide us.
5. Just as the crucifixion and resurrection represent God’s solution to the human problem, so Jesus continues in like manner. Even though the disciples were “caught,” Jesus addresses them with grace and gentle accountability:

History Does Repeat Itself
Daniel 2:40-43 5/15/2022

The book of Daniel has several sections reporting dreams and visions concerning future political developments. In the first dream recorded in chapter 2, artistic materials in a statue represent different empires, and the order of succession goes from top to bottom.
The bottom of the statue, the iron and then iron mixed with clay, is puzzling. It starts out very strong—stronger than the others, but ends up divided and weakened.
There is also that final kingdom established by God that will destroy the other empires and will never end.
The final kingdom is the Roman Empire. Rome was known for it’s strong military as well as its severe and unbending expectations of subjugated people. So, does the description of Rome in the dream match Rome in real life?
In strength and scope, the dream matches real life. Rome subdued the territories of the other empires.
In the dream, Rome has a specific end. It describes the empire as divided, some strong and some weak. Also, it will not remain united. And this happens in the end.
Why does Rome fall.
1. The rise of the Eastern Empire—Division
In the 3rd century, the empire was divided into two halves—the Western Empire (Rome proper) and the Eastern Empire (Byzantine). The division made the empire more easily governable in the short term, but over time the two halves drifted apart. East and West failed to adequately work together to combat outside threats, and the two often squabbled over resources and military aid.
2. Invasions by Barbarian tribes—Foreign pressure and influx
A number of barbarian tribes bordered Rome on the North and West, and for centuries tried to invade, But when the Huns started moving East, barbarians fled into Roman territory.
3. Economic troubles and overreliance on slave labor—Economic Weakness
Constant wars and overspending had significantly lightened imperial coffers, and oppressive taxation and inflation had widened the gap between rich and poor. Rome’s economy depended on slaves to till its fields and work as craftsmen. When expansion ground to a halt in the second century, Rome’s supply of slaves and other war treasures began to dry up.
4. Overexpansion and military overspending—Inability to maintain its entire territory effectively
Rome conquered so much territory, it was difficult to maintain all of it. Military expenses took up 33% of its total budget.
5. Government corruption and political instability—Management
The leadership was often preoccupied by intrigue, and assassinations were a regular way to gain the throne. Also, leaders have varying degrees of competence.
6. Christianity and the loss of traditional values—Values
Christianity displaced the polytheistic Roman religion, which viewed the emperor as having a divine status, and also shifted focus away from the glory of the state and onto a sole deity. Meanwhile, popes and other church leaders took an increased role in political affairs, further complicating governance.
7. Weakening of the Roman legions—Military
Unable to recruit enough soldiers from the Roman citizenry, emperors began hiring foreign mercenaries like Goths to prop up their armies.  While these Germanic soldiers of fortune proved to be fierce warriors, they also had little or no loyalty to the empire, and their power-hungry officers often turned against their Roman employers.

By no stretch of the imagination, we can easily compare the declining Roman Empire to the USA now.
1. Division Division marks our political climate, as Democrats and Republicans vie for governmental control and conservatives and liberals strive to either maintain traditional standards or rewrite them.
2. Foreign pressure and influx Regardless of one’s position on immigration, the number of illegal immigrants crossing our Southern border is putting a greater burden on the country’s economic resources and stands to skew the political balance in our country.
3. Economic Weakness The Pandemic has also put a great self-appointed burden on the government in the form of stimulus checks. And printing money to cover this is causing inflation to rise quickly. Also, government subsidies are a disincentive for people to return to the work force.
4. Inability to maintain its entire territory effectively Aid to foreign countries (like the Ukraine) andmilitary conflicts in the Middle East have also put an increased burden on our country’s budget in the form of international aid and our own military budget.
5. Management and corruption Confidence in our political leaders has dramatically declined and a growing suspicion of corrupt practices has risen, as more information is leaked and more leaders are convicted.
6. Values Many people have lost site of traditional values, values that provided for a degree of stability and community. Family values, work ethic, personal accountability have weakened, and we are seeing the impact it has on the country.
7. Military issues The volunteer army of the US has been generally successful, but talks have begun exploring the question, “Will it continue to be good enough?” Also, US spending on military is coming under fire: The US spends 10% to 15% of its budget on military. It spends more on national defense than China, India, Russia, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Japan, and South Korea — combined. The Pentagon has never passed a financial audit, and hundreds of millions of dollars are unaccounted for.How might the church respond/conduct itself in this situation?
1. Understand—and give thanks—that the early church survived the fall of the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine empire.
2. The New Testament tells us to be good citizens and support the government unless the actions and edicts of the government contradict Christian values.
3. General and sweeping social reform has never been the goal of the true church. Individual, one-on-one ministries have been the course of action of the true church.
4. The true church has never relied on military or government protection (with rare exceptions).
5. The true church has ideally maintained an eternal perspective—No matter how bad this world gets, it won’t last and it gets better.
6. In this world, the church has always fared better in environments of resistance and persecution.

Testimony, Service and Distraction
Luke 10:38-42 5/1/2022

It has been said that if you want to know a person’s priorities, look at their checkbook and their appointment book. What ever takes up the most space is most likely a priority.
As helpful as this may be, the situation can be far more complicated than this. This first dawned on me on a winter’s night in Vermont about 27 years ago. I had just finished dropping off holiday baskets and visiting with some shut-ins. That evening I was driving 1/2 hour to be a part of a committee that was working to establish a homeless shelter in the area. Now, one would think that I should have a warm glow about me from all this holy work I was doing. But I didn’t. I was tired and stressed. And that’s when I realized that not all activity—no matter how Christian or ministerial it seems to be—is truly Christian service.
Take the story of Mary and Martha. A group of disciples arrives with Jesus. Even though Martha invited them in, she had no notice, no prep time. As a responsible hostess she is working to make sure all of the guests are tended to.
Mary, on the other hand, is just sitting and listening. She is sitting among men, which would have been frowned upon, socially. And she definitely was not helping her sister.
At first read, you may favor Martha and see her as the hero. She is busily serving Jesus and His disciples. Mary you might see as lazy.
But, when we look closer, we see another truth emerge: Martha is not as much a Christian servant as we might have thought.
Here are some points to consider:

1. No one told Martha to serve everyone or to continue serving as much as she did. Martha accepted the traditional social expectation of the hostess and she set the standard of service. Hers was a self appointed service. And even though she is (ostensibly) servicing Jesus, it is causing her to miss the presence of Jesus.

2. She was serving in a completely temporary manner that would provide immediate tangible temporary feedback. She was serving food. Food is temporary.
Satisfaction she would receive:
1. people like and appreciate the food.
2. She was able to serve everyone.
This is affirmation for Martha, but this kind of affirmation only lasts for so long. It will not last forever and people will be hungry again. On its own, this type of service could become a self-serving, non-stop treadmill. There is no end. Being momentarily caught up is the best one can hopeful.

3. Martha becomes angry and frustrated. Jesus says she was worried, upset and distracted. She shows this by complaining openly to Jesus and publicly embarrassing Mary—probably creating hard feelings. Furthermore, this is a power play on her part. She puts it in terms of: “Jesus, if You care about me…” Not taking her side would be equal to Jesus not caring about her. Her “Christian service” is producing works of the flesh.

4. Her service produces no “Fruits of the Spirit” in herself or in others. She is not feeding the 5000 with a couple of fish and some loaves of bread. There is nothing deeper here. Anyone could have done this in any setting.

Conversely, Mary’s decision produces opposite results.
1. She is not swayed by social expectations. Her conduct may have been considered scandalous and shameful by onlookers, but pleasing to God.
2. She is setting spiritual growth as a priority—she is taking necessary (but seemingly unproductive) time to do this.
3. She stays calm and collected. She does not become defensive or critical of Martha. This could have become a nasty public disagreement.
4. She is making a choice of the moment that will produce in her “fruits of the spirit, which she will be able to share with others.

How Is Christianity Different? (part 3)
3/27/2022

1. Belief in a transcendent and powerful deity.
2. Belief in some medium of revelation (visions, dreams, signs in nature, revelation) through people and that these pieces of revelation have been collected into manuscripts (sacred texts.)
3. Belief in a moral code prescribed by the deity, which has been shared through revelation and which all people are expected to follow. Sometimes that moral code is long, arduous and complex; sometimes it is straightforward and seemingly easy.
4. Belief in life after death encompassing an eternal existence of reward (heaven) or punishment (hell) based on how closely a person followed the prescribed moral code.

1. Deity
Muslims believe in one God, Allah. This means having absolute faith in the oneness of God. Allah is simply the Arabic word for God and is not the name of any other being. Muslims believe that nothing can be likened to Allah. It is important to note that Allah has no plural in Arabic, showing the belief in the oneness of God.
Al-Qadr is the concept that Allah knows everything and has already decided everything that will happen. This is called predestination. Everything in the universe is following a divine masterplan, which shows the importance of God’s will. Muslims believe that Allah knows or decides everything that will happen: In all things the master-planer is God. Allah is omniscient, meaning ‘knowing everything’, and omnipotent, meaning ‘having unlimited power.’

2a. Angels
Muslims believe that God’s greatness means he cannot communicate directly with humans. Instead, God passes messages to his prophets via angels, who were God’s first creation and who always obey him. Their qualities include: They are made from light; they have no free will, they tell Allah about the behavior of humans; they are limitless; they are invisible, although they may reveal themselves to humans on special occasions.

2b. Prophets
Muslims believe that Allah communicated with the prophets through the angels. Muslims believe the prophets should be respected but never worshipped. The prophets provide guidance from God and should be respected. This is especially so for Prophet Muhammad, as he was God’s final prophet and communicated the Qur’an to human beings.

2c. Sacred Texts
The holy books of Islam should be respected. This is especially true of the Qur’an, which is the direct and unchanged word of God. Muslims do recognize the Old and New Testaments, but believe that they have been corrupted and are no longer reliable.

3. Moral Code
The moral code has been revealed by Allah through angels to the prophets. The most significant prophets are: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed.
Following the moral code is of the utmost importance because it determines one’s destiny. Decisions are based on how closely one observes the 5 pillars: 1. testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, 2. establishing prayer, 3. giving to charity, 4. making the pilgrimage to the House, 5. and fasting during Ramadan.

4. The Afterlife
All Muslims believe that this life is a test. When they die, they will be judged by God and sent to either Paradise or Hell after the Day of Judgement. Muslims believe that no soul may die except with God’s permission at a predestined time
No Muslim knows if they are going to Paradise or Hell until after they die and stand before Allah.

Muslims do not believe in original sin. They see no need for a savior. Muslims accept that Jesus was a servant, teacher, and lover of God’s Word, but they do not believe that he was divine or the son of God. Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified. It was the plan of Jesus’ enemies to crucify him, but God saved him and raised him up to Him. And the likeness of Jesus was put over another man. Jesus’ enemies took this man and crucified him, thinking that he was Jesus.

Some inferences:
1. There are no demons and no Satan. Therefore, the only evil in the world is from human decisions.
2. Each person controls their future by their decisions. Each person must accept responsibility for their actions.
3. In essence, people become their own savior.

As far as witnessing to Muslims, there are some specific guidelines that were repeated constantly. These principles apply to general witnessing as well:
1. Get to know someone personally. Develop a sincere interest in and concern for that. Think of that person as God thinks of them; love them as God loves them.
2. Be honest about your own misgivings, and work on resolving them.
3. As questions about what they believe and what they know about Christianity.
4. Find common ground and similarities to discuss.
5. Pray with them.

How Is Christianity Different? (part 2)
Acts 17:22-31 March 30, 2022

Some basic similarities within religions:
1. Belief in a transcendent and powerful deity.
2. Belief in some medium of revelation (visions, dreams, signs in nature, revelation) through people and that these portions of revelation have been collected into manuscripts (sacred texts.)
3. Belief in a moral code prescribed by the deity, which has been shared through revelation and which all people are expected to follow. Sometimes that moral code is long, arduous and complex; sometimes it is straightforward and seemingly easy.
4. Belief in life after death encompassing an eternal existence of reward (heaven) or punishment (hell) based on how closely a person followed the prescribed moral code.
Some people believe that these similarities constitute conclusive evidence that all religions are essentially the same. However, a closer look at these characteristics shows the stark differences and contradictions between each religious institutions.

Universal Salvation or Universalism
There is a growing belief in universal salvation or universalism. This is the belief that every man, woman and child ((and possibly animal)) goes to heaven regardless of beliefs, actions or offenses committed in this world. Universalists believe that radical atheists and the piously devout will sit side by side, along with others that represent stark contrasts, and all be treated as equals.
However, not all universalists agree on some details. There are unanswered questions like:
Will people remember their actions on Earth once they are in heaven, or will memory be “rebooted?”
Will everyone go directly to heaven, or will some have to go through a purgatory-like cleansing? The length of the sentence is vague, but is not permanent. Even those in purgatory/Hell will eventually reach heaven. (Note: This is much like An nihilism that states the lost will be condemned and there they will simply cease to exist.)
Is universalism a hard and fast promise to all people, or is it an optimistic possibility that may or may not be fulfilled? This is referred to as Optimistic Universalism. It is not viewed as a hard and fast promise, but rather a hope. Sometimes the difference is hard to see.

What do Universalists believe regarding the 4 similarities?
1. View of God. A great emphasis is based on the love and the power of God, and conclusions about the love and nature of God are based on the Universalists understanding of love
A. Does God desire to save all people? Yes He does.
B. Does God have the power to save all people? Yes He does.
C. Has God provided a means by which all people are saved? Yes, in Jesus.
D. Does love endure forever, or does wrath endure? Love endures.
Since God desires to save all, can save all, has provided a means by which all are saved and His love endures, if God does not save all people, He is not God.
Also, how a person answers these questions determines their view of God as: A Torturer; A Destroyer or A Loving Parent.

2. View of Revelation and Scripture. Their views of revelation and scripture are fairly orthodox with two major differences:
A. Some reserve the right to reject scriptures that are not in line with their views.
B. Their interpretation of scripture is sometimes superficial or lacking in context. (They go “cherry picking.”)

Ex. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 ...their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
This passage is taken as a general statement to all humanity. That all will be judged by fire (purgatory). And those “cleansed by fire” are still saved (universal salvation)
However, what this interpretation ignores is: it is in the context of Christian service and, in particular, evangelism and discipleship (1 Corinthians 12:12), and it is addressing those who have believed in Jesus, not the lost world (1 Corinthians 1:2, 3:5).
C. Universalists are often relativists, meaning that they believe that truth is relative; your truth is not and does not need to be my truth. This “inoculates” the person against accepting (or even considering) absolute truth. Even if truths are blatantly contradictory, there is no need to choose or even make sense of the contradictions.

3. View of a moral code. Universalists believe in a moral code, but view it more as some guidelines or suggestions and not hard and fast rules reflecting the holiness of God. Furthermore, parts of the code can be rejected as archaic and irrelevant, and therefore no longer apply.
Some parts of the code may still be relevant, and that is the stuff that will burned by fire.

4. View of the afterlife. Universalists believe that, one way or another, all people go to heaven to be with God regardless of their beliefs or actions in this life.

Some problems with Universalism:
1. It reduces the need for responsibility and the impact of consequences. If I’m going to heaven anyway, why should I worry about what I do?
2. It reduces the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity. If Jesus’ redemption is automatically applied no matter what, then it’s like autopilot. I’ll just let it work.
3. It weakens the burden for evangelism. If everyone is going to heaven no matter what they believe, why try to change what they believe?

How might a person approach a universalist?
1. Affirm their high regard for the love of God.
2. Find points of connection between Universalism and Biblical Christianity. God is indeed love. Talk about some qualities of love.
3. Part of love is respect for an individual. Is it loving to completely ignore another person’s preferences and expressed belief, and make them go somewhere they do not want or expect to go. Is forcing someone’s destination loving?
4. Love does not preclude justice. Is it just and fair to absolve all people of wrong doing even if they do not accept that they did anything wrong?

We live in a religiously pluralistic culture. So, to talk about belief it is helpful to understand a little bit about other belief systems and what some implications are.

Some basic similarities within religions:
1. Belief in a transcendent and powerful deity.
2. Belief in some medium of revelation (visions, dreams, signs in nature, revelation) through people and that these pieces of revelation have been collected into manuscripts (sacred texts.)
3. Belief in a moral code prescribed by the deity, which has been shared through revelation and which all people are expected to follow. Sometimes that moral code is long, arduous and complex; sometimes it is straightforward and seemingly easy.
4. Belief in life after death encompassing an eternal existence of reward (heaven) or punishment (hell) based on how closely a person followed the prescribed moral code.

One of the main objections that people raise concerning the afterlife goes something like this: “You’re going to threaten to send me to hell just because I don’t believe the same things you do? Someone made that up to scare and control people.”
A response may be: “I understand your frustration. No one likes a consequence that they did not intentionally choose. And no one likes anybody who fault-finds—including a god. But please understand that I am not sending you anywhere; I am relating what other religions/my religion teach/teaches. And it doesn’t matter which religious system you look at: one fundamental characteristic that almost all religions share in the concept of eternal reward or eternal reward.
“And as far as controlling people, that is true. Rules and consequences are meant to control people. It is part of what makes us human. When you drive down the road and you see a speed-limit sign, the state has put that there to control you so that you keep your speed under the limit. And there are often signs that tell you the consequences if you exceed that limit. Furthermore there are state police officers and a whole legal system—agents of the state—commissioned to enforce these laws and dole out the consequences. And no one really complains about this, because it is commonly understood that these rules, these limits, are put in place for your safety and the safety of others.”
So the real question is why were these rules and consequences put in place? Were they put in place toexploit followers or to guide them to a safe place? If you look at the early history of Christianity and even Judaism, you find that these two religions were severely and violently persecuted. There was no benefit for the leadership to enforce these rules or doctrines. All the evidence points to the fact that these rules were enforced for the benefit—eternal benefit—of the people.
God, in His kind, merciful and beneficent nature has communicated to humans how one can attain eternal reward in heaven.
And that is very important, because one more characteristic of all religions is that people will follow the rules imperfectly—either accidentally or intentionally. And once that happens, how is forgiveness attained and relationship with the deity restored?

Ignoring One’s Own Reasoning
Acts 5:32-40 3/6/2022

Reasoning is what (or what should) guide out decision-making skills. If we follow logical steps, and if we have the right information, We should arrive at the proper conclusion. And not only that, but everyone else considering the same question should arrive at the same basic conclusion. Then, there is no reason that this conclusion shouldn’t be put into action.
If only it were that simple. But human nature can short circuit this process. No matter how intelligent a person, decisions are based on preferences, opinions and emotions.
Such is the case in Acts 5. The ruling council of the Jews—the Sanhedrin—is dealing with the apostles and the gospel message they are actively sharing. This council is comprised of the smartest, most learned and most successful men in Judaism of the time. And their best solution initially is to kill the apostles. But Gamaliel—a well-known and influential Jewish leader—proposes that the Sanhedrin let this just run its course. If it is a human endeavor, it will fade away (like other movements from the past). But, if is a divine endeavor, then the movement cannot be stopped, they would be fighting God.
After almost 2000 years, with the rise and spread of Christianity even in the midst of violent persecution, you would think that someone might have noticed that Christianity had passed the test that Gamaliel had proposed almost 2000 years ago.
Today, there are two main trains of thought used to discredit classic, established and historically accepted Christian doctrine.
1. The argument that Jesus never existed, based on a lack of any corroboration from non-religious works of the time. This is sheer propaganda and an early example of fake news. There are several prominent Roman historians from the first century AD that make mention of Jesus.
2. Jesus was a wise and kind teacher, but He was not the Son of God and He did not do any miracles. These were incorporated into the Christian story later. Again, propaganda and FN. All evidence points to the fact that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God at the start of His ministry, and the stories of miracles are an original part of the gospel. There are no later additions to the story. And since these stories were shared in places where the gospel was later proclaimed and where witnesses to the miracles still lived and no one objected, the lack of objections lends further credibility to the stories.
In short, it has been said: For Jesus to make the claims He made, He had to have been: a liar, insane or exactly Who He claimed to be.

God’s Mysterious Will—What Is He Doing?
Deuteronomy 8:1-5 2/27/2022

Have there been times in your life where things have been going pretty well for you and your family. You are living a faithful life; you are thankful for what you have. And then, suddenly, everything falls apart. A major deal at work falls through; you lose your job; you or someone close to you is diagnosed with a serious disease, you lose someone close to you. And you and others involved end up asking, “Why did this happen?” and the only words of consolation that you can offer are, “I guess it was God’s will.” This may give some people a sense of comfort, but it can also leave a person feeling like a victim, and it usually stifles any kind of discussion or examination.
But there is much we can know or discern from God’s word. We have read what God has done in the past and why; there are connections made between the Old Testament and the New Testament, and from this we can get a general idea of what God is up to and why. The two work in tandem.

A. Sometimes these things are revealed fairly early in a situation. For example:
Why did the Hebrew people wander 40 years in the wilderness instead of crossing into the Promised Land in the first year of their journey? The people had done nothing but complain and disobey since they had left Egypt, and, when they had the opportunity to enter the Promised land, they refused. They neither trusted nor obeyed God. So, God had them wander so that everyone over 20 would not enter the Promised Land. (Numbers 14:20-23)
As an example of their consistent attitude and behavior, These are all the recorded instances where the people asked: “Why did you bring us out to the desert to die…” (Exodus 14:10-12; 16:3; Numbers 14:2; 17:12-13; 20:3-4; 21:5; Deuteronomy 8:4; 29:5).

Acts 2 is an example of God’s immediate and constant will in action. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter preaches a message showing that Jesus is the Messiah. The people in Jerusalem are moved to action by his words:
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
God wants all people to be saved through the gospel and enter the eternal Promised Land, but it requires appropriate response to the message.
Also, in 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, Paul refers to those who wandered for 40 years. He correlates the journey of the Hebrew people to the initial rites of the Christians in church:For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
Paul’s purpose is to caution the church about their wants and desires, and remind them that there are behaviors that God does not like or approve. The 40 years in the dessert offers obvious proof of this and it shows the end of such behaviors. Just as God did not want His people to disobey and commit actions back then, God wants His people to have the same sensibilities now.

B. Sometimes His will (or His purpose) in a situation is revealed later, or His purpose is multilayered, and the grand scheme is revealed later. Either way, often we don’t get the whole picture (or choose to see the whole picture) until it’s revealed.
The book of Deuteronomy has sections where God is explaining His actions when the people wandered. (Remember, this is not the same crowd as in Numbers 14. These are their children who aren’t being held accountable for the sins of the previous generation. So why did they have to endure such hardships?) They have finished wandering and are about to enter the Promised Land. So this is the time for final instructions, reminders and explanations.
God affirms that He led them led them through the wilderness. (God led, they did not aimlessly wander). He did not leave them or forsake them. For this generation, His purpose was to:
Humble them: Put them through adverse conditions, bring them down through adversity. Specifically, humbling them by causing them to hunger and feeding them with manna.
And Test them: to prove one’s character and faithfulness.
The purpose of humbling them and testing them was to know what was in their hearts and to see if they would obey God’s commands. It was meant to expose what was honestly in their hearts and cut through what was on the surface.
God still uses adverse situations to test us and strengthen us:
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything...12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:2-4; 12)

Numbers 25:1-18

Forgiveness and Consequences-part 2 2/20/2022

Review from last week:

It was just and fair for God to hold the Hebrew people accountable for their actions. Numbers 25

1. The Hebrew people were commanded to avoid idols and idolatry.

2. The people saw miraculous events performed by God in their favor.

3. They had several military victories over various groups, in particular the Amorite people and the people of Bashan.

It was just and fair for Jesus to hold those in the New Testament accountable for their (lack of) decisions. Matthew 11

1. The people had God’s word prophesizing that a Messiah would come.

2. The majority of Jesus’ miracles (and teaching) occurred in the cities that was denouncing. They had been a focus of Jesus’ activity.

In both Old and New Testament there was teaching and their were observable beneficial actions that could only have been done by God.

The parallels continue:

1. Consequences

In Numbers 25, there is a final and irreversible consequence: all the men who engaged in sexual immorality and idolatry were to be put to death.

In Matthew 11, the clearly implied consequence will be doled out on Judgement Day when all these unresponsive people stand before God. Their fate will be worse than that of Tyre, Sidon and Sodom—cities notorious for their sin and receiving God’s wrath.

This shows one of the differences between Old and New Testament. In the Old Testament, consequences were meted out obviously and directly; they happened in this world. In the New Testament, consequences are given in eternity after death. The specific timing in which consequences were given was different, but there were still consequences.

This is the point with which people have the greatest problem, consequences. The general belief is that a loving God would not hand out severe consequences. But this shows how much people do not understand the situation fully.

All people start out in life within God’s love. However, many people decide to walk away from it, and receive consequences. “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved. Hosea 9:10

This does not mean that God’s love has ceased. God’s love continues: The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” Hosea 3:1

Suppose, as a parent, you had an adult child who was an addict, unemployed and was stealing money from the household. Would you allow the adult child to stay in the house? Would you accept the adult child if one activity was curtailed (no more stealing, he or she got a job, but drug use continued)? Extreme measures may appear cruel to an observer. However, would it be more loving to continue harsh measures to encourage a healthier lifestyle for your child, or to give up and cease all efforts.

The New Testament reflects the same thoughts: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Matthew 23:37

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

1. Expected response—Repentance

Numbers 25:6 the whole assembly of Israel is weeping. Weeping implies sadness and regret. Sadness and regret are outward indicators of repentance.

This is also an example of why God deals in different ways with different people who are guilty of the same sin. The assembly of the Hebrew people are weeping, showing their regret. Zimri walks openly in front are afraid that the answer will be in the affirmative. of this assembly with Cozbi. He takes her to His family tent. He is completely unrepentant and unaware that his actions may be a problem. The Hebrew people are aware of the situation and are acting accordingly.

In Matthew 11, Jesus is looking for a response of repentance, but none is forthcoming.

1. Atonement

Numbers 25 When Phinehas the priest—in his zeal for God’s honor—killed Zimri and Cozbi, That was considered an atonement in that appeased God’s anger.

Matthew 11 Jesus atones for the sins of the whole world by dying on the cross. 1 John 2:1-2

Numbers 25:1-18
Forgiveness and Consequences 2/13/2022

A popular trend in belief today has to do with God and forgiveness. It’s based on a quick look at the actions of God in the Old Testament and many people conclude He is unforgiving and wrathful. Whereas, reading the New Testament people come to think of God as caring, accepting, inclusive and forgiving, as seen in Jesus’ behavior. As a result, a sharp contrast is seen between the Old Testament God and the New Testament God, with the second being the most favored by far.
But the Bible tells us that God doesn’t change It even affirms that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. So how can we understand this apparent discrepancy.
The best way to understand it, I believe, is to basically debunk it by comparing some Old Testament events with passages from the New Testament featuring the teaching of Jesus. Some incidental details may vary, but the essential themes in these two accounts are essentially the same.
The passages I’m comparing are Numbers 25 and Matthew 11.

First, let’s look at Numbers 25.
The 40 year exodus journey of the Hebrew people was coming to a close. They were about to start their conquest of the Holy Land. The Hebrew people were camped along the border of Moab and Canaan.
The king of Moab can see the vast multitudes of Hebrew people, and he is afraid.
Balak sends for Balaam—a holy man from Babylon. The king, Balak, tells Balaam to curse the Hebrew people in order to weaken them so that his army has a better chance against them. But Balaam is only allowed by God to bless the people.
While they are camped there, the men of the Hebrews start to engage in sexual immorality with the Moabite women, and the men also participate in the pagan worship of the Moabites.
Before considering the consequences, what were some of the important lessons the Hebrew people should have remembered that would have caused them to make better decisions:
1. First and foremost, the Hebrew people were commanded to avoid idols and idolatry (Exodus 20:3; 23:13, 23; Leviticus 17:7 ), as well as sexuality immorality. And they knew that if they violated this command, consequences were clear.
A. This was already demonstrated to them with the golden calf (Exodus 32),
2. The people also saw miraculous events performed by God in their favor: The 10 plagues, the Parting of the Red sea and the defeat of the Egyptian army, bitter water turned sweet (Exodus 15) and water from a rock (Exodus 17).
3. They had also had several military victories over various groups, in particular the Amorite people and the people of Bashan. (Numbers 21–22). Balak, the King of Moab, knows about the recent conquest of the Hebrew people over the Amorites.
So, the Hebrew people had 40 years of instruction and demonstration of God’s words and actions. They could fully and justly be held responsible for their actions.

Matthew 11:20-24.
1. The people had God’s word prophesizing that a Messiah would come.
2. The majority of Jesus’ miracles (and teaching) occurred in the cities that was denouncing. They had been a focus of Jesus’ activity.
So, the people could fully and justly be held responsible for their actions.

Why is this important?
1. If God does change, then the Biblical record is inaccurate or at least arbitrary. Either way, it becomes unreliable.
2. We end up with a distorted view of God and of Jesus.
3. Human wisdom and preference become authoritative over and above the Bible, even deciding what texts are acceptable and which are not.

An Obvious God
Psalm 19:1-6 1/30/2022

Many people have had the experience of not seeing something that is right in front of them. It’s described in the saying, “If it was a snake, I’d be dead by now.”
There are things that many people cannot or do not see. And it’s not because these things are hard to see; it’s because people are not able or willing to see what is obvious.
At the top of that list is God. Many people claim that He exists, but also believe He is elusive and His ways are hidden. Other people collect evidence and try to build a case that God doesn’t exist.
However, God is a God Who reveals Himself. In fact, if God did not reveal Himself, we would have no way of knowing He exists or what He is like. But God wants all people to know about Him, and so He has left a revelation of Himself that is equally accessible to all people at all times, and has been throughout all history. And that revelation is creation itself.
Some scientists will debate this, but the interpretation of the evidence leans toward a creator for the creation. And the crux of the debate looks like this: Does it make more sense to believe that…
1. The universe came from inert material that has preexisted for an unknown number of years and has fashioned itself into a consistently complex and balanced system with no guidance whatsoever.
2. The universe came to be through an intelligent, eternal and all powerful being that has made the universe with purpose and intentionality.
While both concepts require a certain step of faith, the first point asks the listener to believe that inert, unguided and unintelligent material can in and of itself form into a complex interdependent system that contains intelligence (something from nothing; intelligent design from chaos). The second point asks us to believe that an intelligent and all powerful entity brought forth the materials of creation and has fashioned them with intelligence (something from something, intelligence and order from intelligence and design).
So, accepting that a creation makes more sense than a “big bang,” what does creation tell us about the creator.
I. There are some preliminary ideas that we can draw from the simple fact of creation.
A. A creator exists.
1. A creator that is superior to the creation.
2. A creator that is benevolent in what He does.
II. The psalm tells us more about the creator:
A. He is glorious. (magnificent, essential, central)
B. He is a God Who reveals Himself:
1. Constantly. Creation is a constant source of information about God. It never stops offering
testimony about God.
2. The testimony that creation gives is a universal testimony that all can understand in all places.
III. The next 2.5 verses are a metaphorical tribute to the sun as one example of the previous verses.
A. It is God who made the sun.
1. The sun is a magnificent part of creation, like a bridegroom or a champion.
2. It is a universally benevolent part of creation, giving its warmth to all things.

The psalm essentially presumes God as creator. But Paul takes this concept and gives it application in Romans chapter 1 when he writes in verses 19-20: since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Paul uses the quality of creation to support: 1. universal accountability. All people everywhere have been given the same testimony in creation and all will be held accountable by it. 2. Justice: Since all people have been given the same testimony, for those who ignored it or twisted it, God will deal with them accordingly.

Why These Details?
Luke 2:1-20 12/24/2021

By now I think everyone is familiar with the Christmas story: Mary and Joseph, the census and the trip to Bethlehem, no room at the Inn, shepherds and angels—You see figures and hear songs for weeks reinforcing the story.
But tonight I’m going to challenge you to go a little bit deeper with the story. You may know the story, but do you believe the story? Do you affirm that events unfolded literally just as they are recorded, or—like many people—do you believe there was some intentional embellishment and even some downright fabrications—especially concerning details like angel appearances and virgin birth?
Let’s look at some evidence. Why might we consider the Christmas story in the Bible authentic?
The basic historic, cultural and political details are all correct. For instance, there was a census around this time and people did have to return to their places of origin. That is documented.
There is also the matter of prophesy. There are literally dozens of prophesies that foretell of the coming and purpose of a Messiah. Some were recorded hundreds of years before Jesus was born.
And, in fact, these details would have to be correct, because a number of people who were living when the gospel was shared were alive when the events happened. They would catch mistakes.
Knowing that provable information is correct, that lends credence to the idea that the supernatural elements were also authentic.
One detail that stirs up a good bit of controversy is the date of His birth. Many people claim it was not in December, and cases have been made for virtually every other month of the year.
By most accounts, the birth was first thought — in around 200 A.D. — to have taken place on Jan. 6. However, at that time, the church did not celebrate the birth of Jesus because that was considered pagan. (note, Because of discrepancies in calendars, and because different calendars were used by different cultures, December 25 and January 6 are interchangeable dates.)
The Roman Christian historian Sextus Julius Africanus (late second century, early third century) dated Jesus’ conception to March 25...which, after nine months in his mother’s womb, would result in a December 25 birth.
The birth of Jesus wasn’t officially recognized by the church until the middle of the fourth century, and it wasn’t added to the church calendar until the fifth century. Christian authors of the time do note a connection between the solstice and Jesus’ birth: The church father Ambrose (c. 339–397), for example, described Christ as the true sun, who outshone the fallen gods of the old order. But early Christian writers clearly don’t think the date was chosen by the church. Rather they see the coincidence as a providential sign, as natural proof that God had selected Jesus over the false pagan gods.
Many claim that December 25 was picked because it coincided with other solstice holidays, like Saturnalia. Dr David Gwynn, lecturer in ancient and late antique history at Royal Holloway, University of London, has said, ‘The majority of modern scholars would be reluctant to accept any close connection between the Saturnalia and the emergence of the Christian Christmas.’
To read an excellent article dispelling such myths concerning the origins of Christmas, go to: https://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/1/1673/merry-saturnalia-and-other-myths-about-christmas-that-don-t-seem-to-go-away
Why is this a big deal? All the seemingly little details that people pick at slowly erode the foundations of Christianity. It becomes a slippery slope:
If December 25 isn’t His birthday, what is?
If Christmas details and traditions are taken from pagan holidays and reworked, what is real?
Was Jesus even born? Is He even an historical figure?
And if Christmas is just based on a bunch of pagan holidays that we already don’t believe, why should we believe anything about Christmas?
If people blindly accept these criticisms, the Bible becomes little more than a pleasant and moralistic story book. People then feel free to pick out the parts that are pleasant and marketable.
If you don’t believe the stories of the Bible are authentic and literal, that prevents you from taking the next crucial step: believing in the stories and the doctrines of the Bible. Knowing the stories and believing the stories are necessary steps, but the ultimate goal is believing in the stories.
And the Christmas stories in the New Testament give us essential information about Jesus; and we are urged to believe in that information.

There is a significant difference between believing the stories and believing the stories. Believing the stories means that you affirm the content—yes, it happened. Believing in the stories means that you are entrusting your life to them. These stories shape your attitude, your perception of life is changed, and they guide your moral decisions. Most importantly, these stories give you insight into the actions of God.
In the Nativity stories, we learn that Jesus will be called the Son of the Most High/the Son of God, Emmanuel. God with us. No other human being has ever been given that title, and no other human being has ever come close to filling that title.
Why is this important? If Jesus is the Son of God in a direct and literal manner, several things are implied:
He is a completely unique individual. He will have insights that are beyond human imaginations, and He will act in a way that no human would choose to act
He is a gift from God. God is reaching down to humanity—He is not compelling us to reach up to Him and arrive at His level. By the same token, we did not “earn” Him or His favor. God, in His wisdom and graces freely gave Him to humanity.
Jesus was promised, not asked for. No person or group of people appealed to God asking for any of this. And He wasn’t part of a bargain.
Jesus has the nature of God within Him. This is an important quality for His entire life. Jesus having the nature of God, did not sin. He had a nature that was not tainted by the fall.
We also find that Jesus is called Savior and Messiah:
Jesus came with a specific purpose. The term Messiah means the anointed one. It is usually applied to kings. It designates that someone has been appointed to a particular position or job.
Furthermore, Jesus is the only Messiah, the only one designated as the Savior. He is not one among many or an individual in a long line of equals. He is the one and only.
Jesus’ specific position was Savior. He was going to establish salvation for the entire human race. And what kind of salvation? Salvation from the consequences of our sins—consequences that come from God.

Everyone can be saved by faith in Jesus, but it isn’t automatic. Salvation must be intentionally accepted.

Favored by God
Luke 1:26-38 11/28/2021

Almost everyone has a favorite something (or something that they favor): a favorite movie, a favorite song, a favorite book, a favorite food, and so forth. And when people talk about things that they favor, they usually mean something that stands out for them in a positive way; something they like or prefer more than anything else.
So, when we talk about God favoring someone, or someone finding favor with God, what does it mean?
It does not mean that God likes that person better than anyone else. In fact, it is only indirectly related to God’s feelings about that person.
It means: the state of kindness toward someone, often with a focus on some benefit of gift that is to be or has been given. The word is most commonly translated as “grace.” I think many people think of grace as God’s attitude toward humanity. But grace is something given, or something is given by grace to believers. As such, it is something that applies to all believers.
Granted, Mary did have some qualifying characteristics that suited her for this gifting: she was a Jewess, (and possibly a blood descendant of David); she was engaged to a man who was a blood descendant of David; she was a virgin.
And this gifting has certain characteristics that are shown in Mary’s encounter:

1. It comes without specific forewarning, but is rooted in the prophecy and the message of the Bible. At the time, a coming Messiah was a part of regular Jewish expectation. But that did not prepare Mary for this event in her life. The fact that God sends prophecy concerning future actions gives the opportunity to evaluate the event and confirm its authenticity.

2. God does not ask us if we want to or would you mind. He neither asks a question or issues a command. He simply announces His plan and tells you your part in it.

3. You do not get to choose what gifting you are given. There is no discussion or negotiation.

4. The magnitude of the gifting seems to far exceed the station in life of the recipient. Mary was a young bride to be from a backwater town in the wrong neighborhood of Judea. She was not from a wealthy family, or one that could exercise its nobility.

5. It is not to be accepted out of obligation or grudgingly. This is not forced onto anyone. It is a kind and beneficent gift from God. And Mary was willing to accept.

6. No one is alone in God’s favor. Even if your gifting is unique, God will provide someone who can understand your situation.

7. God’s gifting lasts a lifetime. It is not a short-term assignment from which one can walk away. It will define the course of ones life until the end of his or her life.

8. It’s not always an easy road. Mary and Joseph had to “relocate” several times to protect Jesus’ life. (And there was a high degree of certainty that they were protecting their own lives as well. If a couple could produce one future king, it could more than likely produce another, unless extreme and permanent steps were taken to prevent that.)

Criticism and Complaining
Luke 5:17-32 11/14/2021

What we notice; what we focus on and how we react to it says a lot about who we are and shows the quality of our character. These events from Luke have a great deal of things to notice and presents a variety of reactions that tell us a lot about people.
Jesus was teaching somewhere in Galilee one day.
We don’t have a lot of details about the setting, but there are some details we can infer.
This was a planned event, or at least a regular and fairly long term event. A lot of people would have to travel a long distance to arrive here. It is unlikely that a lot of visitors would all happen to arrive at the same place just at exactly the right time.
Jesus was probably at the home of a local Pharisee. There were many Pharisees present and Pharisees had strict purity laws. It is unlikely they would randomly enter a commoner’s home—especially in Galilee. This would be true in particular of any religious figure from Judea or Jerusalem. Galileans were considered second class Jews by many from Judea and Jerusalem. One could never tell what one might encounter, unless the home had some guarantee of purity.
The home would have to be large to accommodate the large crowd. Just counting Pharisees and teachers of the law, there could be as many as 6,000 people there, not counting the anonymous crowd. The house of a Pharisee would have been large, and would have had a large central courtyard that could accommodate a lot of people.
So, a large number of people from a variety of walks of life and religious perspectives were present to hear Jesus teach and maybe to be healed.
Four men carrying a fifth enter the picture. The fifth man is a quadriplegic—unable to take care of himself or even to move on his own. He is being carried on a mat. The four try to carry him in, but the crowd is too dense, so they head for the roof top and prepare to lower him down to the feet of Jesus.
Jesus notices them first, and He sees their faith (Jesus recognizes the faith of all five men):
1. Faith in knowing Jesus is the solution.
2. Faith in persistence of meeting their goal.
3. Faith is observable.
Jesus pronounces forgiveness for the man. Through the scriptures, and especially in the gospels, there is a direct correlation between illness and sin. Therefore, forgiveness would bring about healing. Jesus is using this man as an object lesson to demonstrate that He does have the power to forgive sins. As a tangible demonstration, He tells the man to get up, which he does.
The Pharisees see an offense—They accuse Jesus of blasphemy (slanderous speech, insulting speech). This implies that they see a problem with Jesus “taking the place of” God.
However, they do not confront Jesus openly. They are thinking this (They all had the same thought.) And when Jesus offers tangible proof, they remain silent. (Not that they agreed or accepted His position. They put an emphasis on social status and didn’t want to be embarrassed by Jesus publicly. Also, it is easier to hold onto one’s position about something if the topic is not discussed.)
The crowd simply says, “They have seen remarkable (Originating from glory or having glory. Glory is attributed only to God) things.” The crowd recognizes the hand of God in this event.
The next event happens shortly after.
Jesus calls Levi (later named Matthew), Levi accepts and throws a big banquet in Jesus’ honor. A lot of people come: Levi’s colleagues and other less-than-reputable people.
Again, the Pharisees and teachers of the law find fault with this. They ask the disciples, “Why are you eating with tax collectors and sinners?” This is a classic manipulative communication pattern. It’s called a triangle. The Pharisees question the disciples about Jesus’ decision in an effort to weaken the disciple’s connection with Jesus. The disciples have to address questioning and being intimidated by the authority figures, trying to defend their association with “enemies of the state.”
Jesus offers an explanation laced with irony: the healthy don’t need a doctor; only the sick. He came to call sinners, not the righteous, to repentance.”
Who is in greater need of repentance than the Pharisees? However, they don’t see it.
I would like to point out several characteristics of those who complain:
1. They are convinced that they are right. However, they often use less-than-reliable criteria. The Pharisees based their life on the oral laws developed over several centuries and on their interpretation of the scriptures. They were inflexible on these points.
2. They tend not to address things directly. They either “store up ammo” for later use, or try to bring others into the conversation on their side.

Calling, Preparation and Excuses—part 4
Exodus 13:1-16 11/7/2021

As much as ministry can be daunting and discouraging; as much as we may not want to cooperate and invest ourselves into God’s plan; ministry still gets accomplished by the grace of God and sometimes in spite of ourselves.
And, as much as this is a truly divine achievement, sometimes our reaction to this is less than keen, or long-term. Most people suffer from what I call “spiritual amnesia.” We may initially give thanks to God for the help He has given, but in the next problem that arises we act and sound like we know nothing about God’s character or remember His past goodness. We also forget God’s priorities and make ourselves sound like a victim of the cosmos.
And so it is no surprise that God has worked into His law points of remembrance and reenactment.
When the people left Egypt, it is no surprise that God instructed them to perform certain actions that were based on the Exodus experience. They were to consecrate and to commemorate.
To consecrate something means to dedicate it to something or someone; to set it aside (keep it distinct from the rest); make it holy. God declares His ownership of the firstborn male of families and flocks. The first born of livestock have to be given over to the Lord (brought to the temple). Donkeys and sons must be redeemed with a lamb. If a donkey is not redeemed, the owner must break the animal’s neck.
To commemorate means to bring into memory; consider something.
Consecration of every firstborn male, be it human or livestock, commemorate Passover and the feast of unleavened bread.
This has several implications:
A. It is a reminder of what God has done: ...like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead… Jews actually wore phylacteries that were boxes containing small scrolls with parts of the law written on them and tied to one’s hand and forehead. They were a constant reminder of God’s law and a source of encouragement.

B. It points to Who God is:
1. He owns the first born of all things.
2. He freed the Hebrews by killing the firstborn of the Egyptians (every household that did not have lamb’s blood on the door.)
3. God is faithful and reliable. He keeps His word and remembers His promises. Part of the story refers to God’s promise to give His people the land of Canaan.
4. God is Caring and sympathetic. He cares for His people and is sympathetic towards His peo ple.

C. It is a teaching device for the home and family. Every time this is performed, it is an opportunity to teach the following generations about one’s history and culture and about one’s God. “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’ “

D. It also serves as a basis for further understanding the work of Christ and the New Testament.
1. The church is the firstborn who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
Hebrews 11:28 By faith he (Moses) kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
Hebrews 12:23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.
In a sense, all humans can think of themselves as God’s firstborn. The church is the redeemed firstborn. Those who have not been redeemed are cast out of God’s presence.

How well do we consecrate and commemorate?
How much do our rites help us to remember who God is and what He has done for us?
Who were you before you accepted Jesus?
How were introduced to Jesus?
Name one event where you can describe how God worked.

Faith and Government-part 3
Acts 22:17-30 10/10/2021

Our nation is in the middle of a credibility crisis. Our confidence in certain professions has lessened over the hears; it’s hard to know what sources are credible; and even if certain professions are held in relatively high esteem by the general public, many are still maligned. (There is a chart on the back page). This is the setting in which we live and minister.
Of course, every age has it’s degree of credibility concerning certain professions and even individuals. If a similar poll had been taken in the first century Israel, certain trends would have stood out (my unofficial poll based on general opinions from the New Testament and from history)
Religious leaders would have generally scored high.
Merchants in the market place also would have received a high score, although particular merchants may not have done as well.
Roman soldiers would have scored poorly, as would have the Roman leaders.
Generally speaking, at the bottom of the list would have been tax collectors, Samaritans and gentiles.
Paul would have held a particularly low score.
There are some observations that I take from this:
1. How much a person likes someone relates to how much a person trusts someone.
2. There is a dramatic and ironic twist in this account. Those who would have been held in high regard were actually not to be trusted. Those who would have been held in low regard should have received a higher score.

Paul is in a tough spot. His evangelistic activities and his view on the Jewish law have been distorted and passed along as gossip with no one trying to correct the problem. As he was following the direction of the church leaders to “disarm” the situation, the situation quickly developed into a mob scene with the inhabitants of Jerusalem trying to beat Paul to death.
The Roman authorities come and restore order.
Paul asks the commander if he can address the crowd. He is given permission and shares his testimony, to which the crowd listens. However , when Paul reaches the part where he claims that Jesus sent him to the gentiles, the crowd explodes. Because the crowd is so violent and unruly, Paul is taken into the barracks to be interrogated.

Through this ordeal, Paul exhibits several characteristics worth examining:
1. Paul remains calm, cooperative and respectful. He doesn’t argue or try to justify his actions. He doesn’t resist or accuse others. He respects the authority of those in charge who are trying to protect him.
The Romans valued several things: obedience, loyalty, order and the state, including its laws.
2. Paul knows his rights and he knows the law. He knows how to use it to his advantage, how to turn the tables with it and how to turn a situation into an opportunity.
Just before he is to be flogged, he announces that he is a Roman citizen, and the soldiers realize that they have violated Paul’s rights. This not only saves Paul from a flogging, but makes the soldiers uncomfortable and less willing to deal with him. Paul now has a degree of leverage in the situation.
The Roman army is now obligated to protect Paul. When word of a conspiracy to kill Paul reaches the Roman commander, the Roman commander expends considerable resources to keep Paul safe (see Acts 23:23-24)
3. Paul’s priority is not governmental reform or freedom. Paul’s priority is the gospel, and he uses this opportunity to share his testimony and the gospel massage. He goes on to use his citizenship to claim an audience with the Emperor so he can preach the gospel in route to Rome, while in Rome to all who guard him and provide for him and to the Emperor himself.

Faith and Government part 2
Acts 21:27-36 10/3/2021

Sometimes we assume “good guys and bad guys” in the world around us. Historically, The Roman government has been portrayed as cruel and insensitive and Christians and Jews were painted as victims. While that has historic precedent, it was not always the case. In Acts chapter 21, the Roman soldiers are doing their best to protect Paul. And it is the members of the religious communities who persecute Paul.

Background
Paul had made several missionary journeys throughout the western part of the Roman Empire. There are two key results from his evangelistic efforts:
1. In most of the towns he visited, many people—both Jews and Gentiles—responded to the gospel message.
2. As a result, the Jewish leaders, along with other citizens, were enraged at Paul’s actions. Some were offended by the gospel of Jesus the Messiah. Others were jealous of Paul’s popularity regardless of his message. Still other experienced Paul as an economic threat. In several cases Paul was asked to leave a town and never return.

In Acts 15, a debate arose within the church concerning Gentile converts: must they be circumcised or not. After hearing arguments for both sides of the issue, the leadership of the Jerusalem church issued a statement saying that Gentiles need not be circumcised, but should follow certain fellowship guidelines: stay away from foods offered to idols; do not eat animals blood; do not eat an animal that has been strangled; avoid sexual immorality. The church leaders commissioned Paul and others to share that message with the churches throughout the Roman empire.

Events (with Comments)
In chapter 21, Paul returns to Jerusalem years after the council in Acts 15 and things had changed.
1. The Jewish converts to Christianity were zealous for the law of Moses. They were living out their faith by following the Jewish laws and customs with enthusiasm.
2. The Jewish Christians were angry with Paul because they believed Paul was teaching Gentile converts to ignore Jewish law. (Fact check: This is untrue. Paul was sharing a decision upon which the leadership of the Jerusalem church had decided. He still practiced the law: He had Timothy circumcised, He still celebrated Jewish feast days and he still practiced customary behaviors when he made vows. Acts 18:18)

Instead of supporting Paul and clarifying the situation to the church, the church leaders devised a plan to “disarm” this problem. They instruct Paul to join 4 men in a purification rite; pay to have their heads shaved and then participate in the sacrifice at the end of the purification. This way, Christian Jews could witness Paul engaging in the law and they would know that the rumors were untrue. While it is not a deception per se, it is a fabricated situation meant to prove what the leaders already knew to be true.

Things go awry. Jews from Asia see Paul in the temple and publicly accuse him of teaching against the Jewish law, against the temple and against the people themselves. They also accuse him of defiling the temple by bringing a Greek into the temple. (This last was an assumption on their part.) None of these accusations are true and there is no substantiation.

Outraged, the crowd grabs Paul, drags him outside of the temple and tries to kill him. Ironically, the crowd that is accusing Paul of ignoring the law is, themselves, ignoring the law. The law requires a long and thorough investigation before a person can be put to death.
Even more ironically, it is unclear from the story if the people attacking Paul are Jews or Jewish Christians. However, what we don’t see in this event is anyone standing up for Paul or trying to defend him.

The Roman official hears about the riot and goes to restore peace.
The Romans valued several things: obedience, order and the state laws). And the main task of the Roman official becomes protecting Paul from the riotous crowd. In fact, A great deal of resources were spent to keep Paul safe.

Paul never protests or resists. He is respectful and amazingly calm, although he does become resourceful in his approach and timing. He actually manages to get the upper hand in the situation.

Who are you in this scenario?

Faith and Government
Romans 13:1-5 9/26/2021
What is the relationship between our faith and our government I know we live under the guidelines of “separation of church and state,” and we are no longer exclusively a Christian nation. But still, our faith connects (or should connect) with every part of our life—including government.
Right now, there is a great deal of controversy and confusion concerning our response to government policy and action. Opinions are all over the board, and many are filled with a malicious tone.
First, we have to start with the correct question. Many people start with the question, “What do I think the government is like.” But the first question should be, “What should I be like?” Because, our faith and actions should not be based on our reaction to the government; our faith and our actions should be based on the word of God.
General Principles of Christian attitude from chapter 12:

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath

20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The idea in this section includes non-militant, non-violent and nonresistant action.

Theological foundation for authority from chapter 13:

1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.

2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,

The idea in this section is that God ultimately appoints all in authority (whether they do well or not) And, ultimately, God’s decision must be respected. (see also John 19:10-1110 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.)

The purpose of Government:

4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

What did this look like in practice for the Christian church? Even though it practiced cooperation with the government, it did not just roll over and give up. There were some principles that usurped cooperation:

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! Acts 5:29

Yoked
2 Corinthians 6:11-18 9/18/2021

This short word of instruction has gotten a great deal of use. It is used to give advice in business, in marriage , in entertainment and in friendships. But what exactly does it mean for people to be “unequally yoked.” How do you determine if it is happening? Where are the boundaries.
Yoking is an agricultural term. It means coupling two animals with a yoke (like a stiff harness or a double horse collar) so that they can work together to pull some load. When yoking animals, it is important to match them as compatibility as possible. Otherwise they will be out of step and they won’t work efficiently. That seems to be the logic behind Deuteronomy 22:10:

Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.

Such an arrangement would be awkward and uncomfortable.
And this starts to reveal the deeper meaning to 2 Corinthians 6. There are two things to consider:
1. Being yoked is a long term process. Plowing a field would take days of long and hard work to accomplish. The two yoked animals would be spending a lot of time working together. And if they are not working efficiently they are going to put a lot more energy into the effort and tire out all the more quickly and possibly sustain an injury. They would have to be in sync with each other—if that is possible.
2. So, being yoked affects the two animals working together. They have to be aware of each other and adjust their efforts accordingly. Many animals adjust the way they work according to their working environment. That is often how some animals are trained.
That gives a clearer picture of what Paul is trying to say here.
It’s about spending long amounts of time “walking” with someone in a situation that will affect your lifestyle. All the terms he uses suggest long-term and close association:

...For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common (shared, owned jointly)?
Or what fellowship (community, a common social structure) can light have with darkness?
What harmony (bringing voices together, agreement) is there between Christ and Belial?
Or what does a believer have in common (mutual ground, same territory) with an unbeliever?
What agreement (collecting and setting together) is there between the temple of God and idols?

These contrasts also bring up the topic of identity. Are you righteousness or wickedness? Are you darkness or light? Etc. This is a distinction that is not determined by lifestyle choices, but by one’s spiritual relation with God through Jesus Christ. In chapter 5, Paul already established that righteousness comes through a person’s faith in Jesus Christ. And lifestyle should come from identity.
Paul’s argument is further supported by several Old Testament quotes. Each of them has to do with Israel’s relationship to God through obedience. Some of the quotes foreshadow captivity because of idolatry; some speak to the captives affirming the consequence but also assuring restoration (with no more idolatry.)
The problem with idolatry is:
1. It’s not God, so it is spiritual infidelity.
2. Idolatry comes with a variety of objectional practices.
And a person cannot sit on the fence concerning this issue. The choices in 14-16 are absolute and already established. A person can change his or her identity, but it is a complete change.
This principle has two levels of application:
1. Watch relationships and personal activities and how they affect you. We will always be in the world before death, but we should not be letting the world into us.
2. What do you bring to other Christians? Do you have a positive impact or a negative impact? Remember, each believer (especially in a faith community) is supposed to be yoked together.

Building Up, Edifying, Strengthening
I Corinthians 14:1-5 9/12/2021
Edifying, building up, strengthening, encouraging, exhorting, correcting—these words (and others) are used in the New Testament to describe how Christians are supposed to relate to one another. We are supposed to have an impact on each other—a specific impact. But what do these terms mean, and what do they look like in practice?
1. You cannot effectively edify yourself, or be edified in a vacuum. It is a group/community activity. It is something that we do for one another.
There are many self-help, positive visualization, motivational resources available, You can curl up with a book or pop a CD into the media player of your car and learn techniques to feel better about yourself and to overcome personal challenges. These have their place, but to use only these resources eventually runs counter to a process of edification, because:
A. These resources are aimed at insulating the reader or the hearer from the input of others. It limits or discourages personal interaction.
B. At the same time, it is impersonal input—the author of the book and the speaker on the CD do not know you. They may be experts in their field, but—for the most part—they do not know their audience personally, so the material has to be generic.
C. The process is unsupervised—the audience may or may not be getting it right. However, since the audience tends to be insulated from others, it is difficult to communicate this.

2. It is not empty or manipulative flattery meant to make someone feel good about himself or herself. It must be honest and true.
A. There is a trend in our country towards hyper-positivity. Everything must be presented as a positive: a positive quality or characteristic, or a positive action. In its extreme form, no one is wrong and no one is bad—just different. The task of society is not to question or investigate or challenge; it is to accept and support. And if a person fails to do so, that person is phobic.
B. I have also seen a use of edification for personal gain. If you want to present an idea (for personal gain) to a friend or acquaintance, build up a third person as an expert in the field who will be there for a presentation. There are three main problems with this:
1. The third person has no idea what has been said about him or her. Therefore, that conversation has no impact on the third person. The friend may think of the third person with a greater degree of respect, but the third person is unaffected.
2. The friend has no way of knowing if the recommendation is true—the friend is going on the recommendation of the first person. And since the first person stands to gain, a degree of suspicion is warranted.
3. This has nothing to do with faith. Edification is ultimately tied to a persons faith. It is about helping another person understand God more fully or hold onto his or her faith when life becomes difficult. It is not meant to aggrandize someone for another purpose.

3. Edification does not consist of platitudes and cliches. Many of the stock answers include: “It was God’s will.” “He has a plan for us.” We just have to accept it on faith.” “God needed something.” “God knew that you are strong enough to take it.” “He/she did it because that person cares about you. He/she just doesn’t know how to express it.” These and similar comments tend to be shallow, demeaning and even insulting and can be harmful. They are usually meant to make the speaker feel better, not the recipient.

4. It does not have to focus on the positive, but can also include constructive criticism and instruction and sometimes honest disclosure. A good foundation between two people is very helpful in sharing this sort of information, and must be done with apparent and sincere care for the other person.

We live in a culture where bullying, unkind criticism and dramatic presentation is the norm. The church is supposed to present a positive and attractive counter culture.

The Sheep and the Goats—the Afterlife
Matthew 25:31-46 9/5/2021
The afterlife is one of those truly mysterious matters of religion. One the one hand, we only have glimpses and summaries of the afterlife, and many of these are metaphorical so there may be some leeway in interpretation. On the other hand, the only truly objective account we have of the afterlife is from Jesus, because He came from there and has been there, so He speaks from experience. There are many more accounts of the afterlife in near-death experiences, However, these are not verifiable and cannot be confirmed.
And because nothing is really confirmed objectively, and because we live in a cultural where personal opinion is absolute, the afterlife is open to wide speculation. Generally speaking, 59% of Americans believe in a literal hell, 72% believe in a literal heaven. Those figures go up in evangelical groups. Now, 45% of Americans believe they are going to heaven (many because they have led good lives); where as .005% of Americans believe they will be going to hell.
Jesus did speak about the afterlife—both the bliss of eternal life and the agony of eternal condemnation. Much of His teaching addresses some beliefs that people hold today. So we can understand why He spoke of these matters: 1. They are true and eventually apply to everyone (whereas many Americans believe that heaven and hell are figurative, or states of existence in one’s mind), and 2. people have choices to make that will affect their eternal destinies. And these choices have to be made before these eternal destinies become a reality (Whereas many people believe in either universal salvation or eternal oblivion where there is no existence beyond this world).
This section in Matthew 25 is one of those sections that address many of these false beliefs.
Jesus is in Jerusalem. It is about two days before He will be captured, tried and crucified. Chapters 24 and 25 contain material on what is next to come. Chapter 24 is an account of the events that will transpire after His resurrection and up to His return. He tells two parables pertaining to His second coming, and the point of each parable is: Keep watch, because you don’t know when I will return. Always be ready.
In the last parable, He shifts focus from His second coming to Judgement Day—the final event before the new heaven and new earth and a reboot of creation. And He paints a pretty vivid picture of what Judgement Day will be like:
1. There are two distinct groups of humanity—sheep and goats or good and evil. There are no shoats or geeps—no hybrids or middle ground; no gray areas; no special cases. Every individual fits into one of these two categories. (There only two sets of books: the book of works and the Book of life. Everyone’s name will be in one or the other. Revelation 20:12.)
2. Jesus sorts the groups. People do not decide in what group they belong. And they don’t define the identity of their group. The list of each group is determined ahead of time.
3. Jesus already knows who belongs in what group before the process starts. Actually the people themselves don’t seem to know in what group they belong or why.
4. Contrary to popular belief, there is no weighing good works against bad works.
5. The members of each group are judged according to their works while here on earth. These register in the extreme: the sheep are credited with all good works while the goats are credited with all bad deeds or a lack of good deeds. But how can this be?
The sheep are Christians, and any temporal actions are burned in a fire of trial and all the good acts are preserved through the fire like gems or precious metals. So, when Christians stand before God (or Jesus), only the good works that person has done will be seen. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) Their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. And one’s name remains written in the Book of Life because that person has remained faithful to Jesus under persecution and not worshipped the false gods or the dragon (Satan). (Revelation 13:8; 17:8)
The goats are unbelievers whose sins have not been forgiven. This defines the unbeliever—their sins are their identity. And no actions on their part could cancel their debt of sin. This, essentially, is all God sees.
Note: everyone’s name starts out written in the Book of Life, that was written before people ever existed, so everyone starts in the winning edition. A person’s name is blotted out when that person definitely rejects Jesus and chooses to worship/follow something else. The verbs in 13:8 and 17: could be translated have remained written.
6. The rewards or consequences are permanent and eternal in nature. No one is ever “kicked out” of or “escapes” one’s eternal destiny. And no one is ever placed incorrectly.
7. Condemnation is real. Hell is a place of fire and torment. It’s existence does not depend on someone believing in it. Denying hell is like saying: “I don’t believe in cancer so I can’t get it.”

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 8/8/2021

When I was in college—my first year as a freshman—I had a roommate named Brian. Brian introduced himself to me as a Christian. This was before I had made a Christian commitment taking Jesus as my Savior. At that point, all I knew about Christians is that they could be annoying. I found out more when I got to observe his life style first hand. Brian’s lifestyle was no different from any other college student. He drank liberally. He had a girlfriend with whom he was intimate. His vocabulary was quite colorful. I would like to say that, as a non-believer at the time, I had a better life style than he had, but we were pretty much on a par. Still, not being able to distinguish between a Christian and a non-Christian by their life styles is a sad comment.

I also have to admit that back in college when I did become a Christian, I didn’t do any better.

This is one of the challenges and common pitfalls that many Christians have: making choices about one’s life style, especially considering the culture from which a Christian was saved.

The problem at Corinthians is that the church there was wrestling with several issues: sexual immorality (condoned by the Corinthians and Roman governments); factions and divisions; lawsuits and Christians defrauding each other; meat offered to idols; and social abuses of the Lord’s table.

Paul is addressing some of these issues in this section.

The first thing we have to answer is: “Why would Christians think that any of these practices are okay?” There are a few factors of consider: 1. What is the cultural and moral background of the individual and what was acceptable for him or her? 2. To what degree has the person been desensitized or accustomed? 3. How does the person justify or rationalize the behavior?

1. The first factor is very much a case by case issue. There are a number of cultures around the world, and some cultures practice habits that other cultures would consider objectionable. (ex: in South Africa, men walk down the street holding hands and they often kiss when they greet. Or consider the Oneida Community of the mid to late 1800’s:

(the founder’s) ideas concerning sexual union made him notorious. He considered sexual union very important but rejected monogamy and the idea that one man and one woman should become closely attached to each other. The application of his views led to the practice of complex marriage in his community, in which every woman was the wife of every man and every man was the husband of every woman. Though marriage was complex, the Perfectionists denied the charge of free love. Sexual relations were strictly regulated, and the propagation of children was a matter of community control. Those who were to produce children were carefully chosen and paired. Children remained with their mother until they could walk but were then placed in a common nursery. )

1. The second factor is like the first, except it deals with conditions to which an individual has grown accustomed but does not participate in or approve of these practices. Consider how the approved morals of TV shows have changed in the past 50 years. Or consider visual advertising (TV commercials, magazines and billboards). Many of these include attractive models in revealing clothing. Or consider public language. Words are heard commonly that were seldom heard in public before. Every generation has a moral baseline that pushes the moral baseline of previous generations.

Concerning Corinth, They had a sexually charged culture. Prostitution was a part of their religious culture, and pagan religions with objectionable practices abounded. That was their baseline.

1. How did they justify or rationalize their behaviors? They rationalized it logically:

2. Concerning what they ate, they figured that the stomach was made to take in food, and food was made to put in the stomach. And since it will all be destroyed, it has no lasting eternal value. Jesus said something like this in Matthew 15:17 and Mark 7:19. And dietary laws were essentially rescinded in Acts 10:10-15.

3. They applied this same logic to other “appetites” of the body, including sexuality.

4. A person has to be egocentric to support this view.

5. Also, a person has to have an incomplete view of forgiveness to support this view.

So Paul offers his counter argument:

1. He starts off by agreeing with them concerning forgiveness of sins. Yes, they have a right to do anything. (The phrase “have a right” means: permission, ability, license, not barred from. It can be used in cases where something may or may not be morally right.)

2. Then Paul goes on to explain that “having a right” is not the same as “it is good for you.” Some actions come with consequences, forgiven or not. They are not neutral actions. They can have a negative effecton a person, even being an addiction.

   1. God created things for a purpose. The human body is not made for uncleanness, but for God.

   2. We have been joined to Christ spiritually—we are one with him.

   3. We will be raised from the dead by God as Jesus was.

   4. For those who are united with Christ spiritually and also with a prostitute physically unites Jesus with a prostitute.

   5. Since our bodies house the Holy Spirit, we should consider ourselves a temple. And the temple was to be held sacred.

   6. We have been bought with a price—the blood of Jesus. We belong to God and should act accordingly.

Why Is the Sabbath so Important to God?
Exodus 16:13-30 7/25/2021

The Sabbath is a unique institution in the ancient world. It was observed by refraining from any kind of work. It was a mandatory day/year off. We have no record of any other culture mandating a day off from work for every citizen, visitor, servant and animal.
It comes from a word meaning “end” or “finish.”

The Sabbath (and the command to observe it) has a uniquely prominent position throughout the Old Testament:
1. It is the second universally applicable commandment (The first being the institution of the Passover as an annual festival). There were other commandments before the Sabbath was instituted, but they tended to be contextually relevant (don’t eat the fruit from the tree) or audience sensitive (circumcision applied only to men, and not to animals). The Sabbath applied to all citizens (the entire family), servants, traveling companions and animals.
2. It is often mentioned as a separate offense in God’s accusations against the people, listed as: “they have broken My laws and desecrated My Sabbaths.)
3. The term has multiple applications: 7th day of the week; particular days regardless which day of the week they fall; 7th year in an agricultural cycle; the year following the 7th year of 7, 7 year agricultural cycles.
4. It was instituted before the 10 commandments but is also specifically mentioned in the 10 commandments, #4.
5. Violating the Sabbath was punishable by death. Exodus 31:14-15; Numbers 15:32.

Upon what was the command to rest on the Sabbath founded?
1. God is our example. God—being holy—rested on the 7th day. If we are to reflect His holiness then we should follow His example, including resting on the 7th day.
2. It was a particular sign showing the connection between God and the people.
3. It would be faith—building. The people would have to trust God that all the necessary work could be done in 6 days, and that God could handle whatever may happen on the Sabbaths.

A modern application of the Sabbath.
In Hebrews 4, we see the development of the idea of “work” and “Sabbath rest.”
It is observed that the 7th day of creation never formally closed, so God’s “rest” is still available today.
In Psalm 95:10-11 entering the Promised Land is expressed as entering God’s rest.
In the New Testament, entering the Promised Land is equated with entering heaven, or Salvation.
So, entering God’s rest is the same as being saved.
We are not saved by our works, but by faith in Jesus, which is offered by God’s grace.
Anyone trying to gain eternal life by works is never going to be successful. We can never gain God’s favor with our works, but we can find God’s favor through His work through Jesus Christ.

How can we express the idea of “Sabbath rest” as salvation today?

What Does This Mean? And Is It True?
Luke 21:11 7/18/2021

In order for scripture to be trusted, it has to be reliable. And to know whether or not it is reliable, one has to know what it is saying. Especially with any kind of prophesy or prediction, being able to cite the fulfillment is essential for maintaining Biblical integrity.
Which brings us to Luke 21. The disciples ask Jesus a question about the timing of the destruction of the temple, His return and the end of the age. The disciples are asking what they think is one question—they were thinking all these events would happen simultaneously. But they are really asking two questions, one simple and one compound. The simple question is about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. The compound question deals with the return of Jesus and the end of the age or judgement day.
Different parts of His answer address all the events—sometimes individually and sometimes all together. And remember, some of the confusion stems from the fact that Jesus did not know the exact timing of His own return.
A general breakdown of His answer goes like this:
Verses 8-19 describe the general conditions that will exist before any of the events happen.
Verses 20-24 address specifically the siege and fall of Jerusalem and the temple.
Verses 25-31 address His second coming and the end of the age.
Verses 32-36 again describe the general immediate situation.

So, of the sections in this discourse, we should see the events described in verses 8-19 occurring on a somewhat regular basis since the first century, which we have:
1. False teachers, false prophets, false Messiahs and general charlatans have abounded. Both Acts and the Epistles cite false teachers and false teachings infiltrating the church.
2. Christian persecution started shortly after Pentecost.
3. International Conflict and Turmoil existed before the time of Jesus and certainly continued thereafter.*
4. Natural disasters have been occurring since creation began*
* Why would Jesus mention these events if they were already part of regular history? Jews believed that the Messianic age would be a time of international peace and harmony—both politically and naturally. Jesus is letting them know that such would not be the case.
What about “terrors and great signs from heaven?’ Where have we seen these?
(Terrors and great signs are both from heaven or the sky)

There are three ideas:
1. We don’t know. We believe it but aren’t really sure what Jesus meant.
2. It’s referring to a series of events that Josephus records before the invasion and fall of Jerusalem.
Josephus, in his relation of the signs and prodigies which preceded the taking of Jerusalem, mentions that a star hung over the city like a sword, and [an appearance like] a comet continued for a whole year; that the people being assembled to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread, at the ninth hour of the night, there shone so great a light about the altar and the temple, that it seemed to be bright day, and this continued for half an hour; that the eastern gate of the temple, which was of solid brass, and was scarcely to be shut by twenty men, was seen, at the sixth hour of the night, to open of its own accord, though fastened by strong bars and bolts, and could hardly be shut again; that, before the setting of the sun, there were seen, all over the country, chariots and armies fighting in the clouds; and that at the feast of Pentecost, the priests perceived, first a motion and noise, and then heard the voice as of a multitude, saying, "Let us depart hence." It may add some weight to this relation of Josephus, that Tacitus, the Roman, confirms every one of these particulars in his History. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tcc/luke-21.html
3. There were some commentators who ventured to suggest that UFOs fit the bill. And even if this is not specifically what Jesus meant, belief in UFOs as evidence of alien life is now mainstream in our society/culture. About 50% of the population believe that UFOs are real; 1 in 10 people claim to have seen a UFO; and 1 in 40 people claim to have had a UFO encounter—ranging from a sighting to an invasive abduction.

There are basically two differing beliefs about UFOs and alien life:
1. That UFOs and aliens are benevolent and have a superior intellect. They are trying to guide humanity to a harmonious future.

Alien beliefs according to Real, who claims to have gotten these directly from an alien.
Thousands of years ago, scientists from another planet came to Earth and created all forms of life—including humans, “in their image and likeness.”

The Elohim used DNA and advanced genetic engineering to create all forms of life starting with simple organisms and as their science progressed they created more complex organisms such as plants, animals, and eventually human beings, in their own image.

Throughout the Ages, the Elohim maintained contact with many PROPHETS, including Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed (to name just a few). They were all chosen by the Elohim to guide humans through the ages with messages of love, harmony and peace.

Maitreya Rael is the last messenger sent by our extraterrestrial creators, the Elohim. https://www.rael.org/

Some of his causes and events:
Gotopless is a U.S.-based organization founded in 2007 by Rael and claims that women have the same constitutional right that men have to go bare-chested in public.

(They) celebrate the second encounter of Maitreya Rael’s with the Elohim in 1975, when he was invited to their planet and able to discover a true paradise, the one referenced in all the ancient scriptures.

Sex Ed Day/International Day for Children’s Rights is focused to ensure the recommendations issued by UNESCO experts, in favor of Comprehensive Sexuality Education from the age of 5.

What are the general effects to Christian belief of a belief in alien life:
Andrew Burgess says, “As long as someone is thinking in terms of a geocentric universe and an earth-deity, the story has a certain plausibility. As soon as astronomy changes theories, however, the whole Christian story loses the only setting in which it would make sense. With the solar system no longer the center of anything, imagining that what happens here forms the center of a universal drama becomes simply silly.”

2. The other view sees UFOs as violent and detrimental to physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing:
Those who have been abducted have long term physical, emotional and psychological symptoms.
Those who indulge in occult or New Age practices are by far more likely to have a UFO encounter.
Active and Evangelical Christians seldom have close alien encounters.
In some encounters with aliens, it is said that the aliens can pass through walls, and that they have been driven away when the abductee calls upon the name of Jesus.

“It can now be determined who is behind the RUFO experiences. Only one kind of being favors the dead of night and lonely roads. Only one is real but nonphysical, animate, powerful, deceptive, ubiquitous throughout human history, culture, and geography and bent on wreaking psychological and physical harm. Only one entity selectively approaches those humans involved in cultic, occultic, or New Age activities. It seems apparent that residual UFOs, in one or more ways, must be associated with the activities of demons” (Ross, Samples & Clark, 2002, p. 123). https://christian-apologist.com/2019/06/03/are-ufos-space-aliens-or-demons/

The Contemporary Theological Scene
Jeremiah 38:1-5 7/11/2021

The prevailing beliefs in mainline Christianity in this country include concepts like pluralism, universalism, diversity, tolerance, progressivism and the like. The general thrust of these movements is to “actualize” the individual and encourage each person to become all he or she was meant to be. There is also a growing skepticism concerning the Bible and Christian doctrine.
I see similarities in our situation and the attitude of God’s people at the time of Jeremiah. In brief, the people had been involved in pagan worship, the lower class was being exploited by the upper class and moral standards had dropped. On top of that, there were many false prophets prophesying “peace” and “safety.” And the people liked that:

The prophets prophesy lies,
the priests rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way.
But what will you do in the end? Jeremiah 5:31

8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. Jeremiah 29:8

Jeremiah was a prophet that truly spoke for God, and the people did not like him because he predicted defeat and destruction as a consequence to their disobedience. Our scripture reading is tragically ironic because the people say that Jeremiah’s message is not good for the people; that he has no concern for anyone and he is demoralizing the soldiers—that his message is harmful. However, heeding his message was the only way the people could be spared.
Given a very similar view of historic Christianity today, how do we address this situation?
First, we have to accept some limitations: 1. God allows free will and gives people the right to reject Him. 2. God is more concerned and more interested in everyone’s conversion that we could be. Don’t try to do His job for Him.
On top of that, we need a way to discuss it.
An analogy has been on my mind these past few weeks. The analogy is supposed to show that the different religions in the world are really just different parts of the whole of God. It’s the analogy of the blind men and the elephant.
There were four blind men each trying to figure out what an elephant, and they were all feeling different parts.
The first man felt the tail and said, “An elephant is like a rope.”
The second felt the leg and said, “An elephant is like a tree.”
The third man was feeling the midsection of the elephant and said, “An elephant is like a wall.”
The fourth man was feeling the trunk and said, “An elephant is like a hose.”
It’s an endearing story, but it has several major problems that cause it to fall apart and even contradict itself.
Now, again, the point of the story is that each person—each blind person—has a part of the truth, and none have the whole truth. The deeper point is that no one—no one person or religion—has all the truth. Except of course for the narrator of this story. Somehow the narrator of this story has an absolute knowledge of the elephant. He has to have absolute knowledge to not only know that it’s an elephant, but he has to know which part of the elephant each blind man is touching, and he has to know that all that the blind men are touching is an elephant. (The guy who said, “An elephant is like a tree.” could have actually been touching a tree.) So, in order for a person to make his or her point in this manor—that no one has absolute knowledge—that person has to have absolute knowledge, and so the story contradicts itself.
This analogy also begs the question: How do you know what you know? What is your source of wisdom or knowledge and how is that reliable? In the analogy, each man gained information from limited, subjective sensory input. They knew what they felt. But they had no other source of input; no touchstone—nothing that had an objective quality.
Which brings us to the third point: the elephant has no interest in revealing itself to the men. The elephant might feel like these men are giving it a gentle full body massage, but that is the extend of its interest. The men can perceive the elephant any way they want, but the elephant has no vested interest or even awareness of how these men perceive it.

These last two points are especially poignant today because people use little more than their experiences, their preferences and their logical and rationality to form ideas about God. You may hear a man-on-the-street interview ask people what they believe about God, and the answer almost always starts with: “Well I think…” A person’s opinion has now become authoritative concerning matters of faith and the divine.
I find often times that people hold a double sided concept when they talk about God. On the one hand, God wants us to perform social, racial, economic and political justice. God commands us to be just in how we treat others, and He wants us to advocate for those who do not have a voice. However, since more and more pastors and churches are becoming universalists, that leads a person to conclude that what you do on Earth has neither consequence nor particular reward in eternity.
And we can be assured that there are reliable sources. First—unlike the elephant—we must accept that God wants us to know about Him so He has revealed Himself. He has thrust Himself into our reality and made Himself known.
And we have a reliable record of these events in the Bible. In particular the Old Testament has been subject to scrupulous transcription practices. There are very few variations in the Old Testament texts.
But there are degrees of interpreted text. Like our modern commentaries, the Jewish scribes and rabbis sometimes inserted explanations into the text, but these editions are clearly marked.
The New Testament I will admit to a freer style of transmission. There are many more variations in New Testament texts. However: scholars have pored over thousands of manuscripts to compile our current text of the New Testament using some simple principles to make choices:
1. Who wrote the text? Was it one of the apostles or a disciple of an apostle?
2. When was it written? Was it written close to the first century or is it a product of a later time?
3. How common is the story? Does the account appear in many places and in many manuscripts, or is it more isolated?
4. How far away was it written? The farther away, the more explaining that has to be done.
The reliability of the Bible has been substantiated over the centuries. And with modern science, not only are the manuscripts confirmed but the stories themselves gain substantiation.
We have a firm foundation for our beliefs.
What do other people have?

Washing Up before Dinner
Matthew 23:25-28 7/4/2021

We live in a time of hyper vigilance concerning hygiene and health. We have been living in an antibacterial world for several decades, and doctors are finding that our preoccupation with cleansers and antibiotics may be contributing to the rise of asthma, allergies and superbugs. But now, with the pandemic, many people are even more preoccupied with antiseptics, hand sanitizers, face masks, social distancing, rubber gloves and vaccines. There are still businesses that require people to wear a masks.
Furthermore, there is a tendency to see others through the lens of whether or not they comply with the regulations.
This trend is a lot like the Pharisees at the time of Jesus. They spent a lot of time washing the “outside” of the cup (see also Mark 7:2-4; John 3:25) while neglecting the inside. I believe there was even a tendency to think that if the outside was clean, then the inside must be clean as well.

...nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:10-12

Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore: “they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. Revelation 7:13-15

After considering this, we have to confess that we live in a conundrum. I have been washed by the blood of the lamb, but I still have areas that are need of a cleaning. So, am I or anyone who lives this dual reality a hypocrite?
There is an illustration from a movie that I think best describes our situation: The movie is called Minority Report starring Tom Cruise. The character he was playing needed some back alley surgery. I couldn’t go to a hospital for any medical services, so he had to hire someone discreetly. The doctor who did the surgery had a bad cold. He was coughing and sneezing and blowing his nose. The character that Tom Cruise played expressed his concern about surgery when the doctor was so sick. The doctor told him, “Don’t worry. I have you on antibiotics that are so strong, I could sew a dead cat inside of you and you would be fine.”
That describes the human condition well. We all have stuff about which we are not proud. We still have sin and imperfection and weakness and disobedience and brokenness inside of us. So how can we say we are clean? Because of the blood of Jesus. We know who we are. We all have dead parts inside of us. But the blood of Jesus is so strong, we stand clean before Go

Watchman
Ezekiel 3:16-22 6/27/2021

Watchman in the ancient world were essential for the safety of a city. They were the “early warning systems” alerting a population of impending disaster.
Ezekiel’s call is equated to him being a watchman for the Jewish people, both in Judea and in exile.
In 2 Corinthians 5, Christians are called to be “ambassadors” bringing the message of reconciliation to all people. While today ambassadors tend to be political emissaries opening up communication between countries and mediating friction, Paul uses the word “ambassador” as a herald, communicating messages from God to humanity. It is primarily a one way line of communication.
So, what is the job of a Christian watchman today? What aspects of “being on watch” should we hone?
1. Know what we are watching for. In the ancient world it was the advance of enemies.
The Christian has a different message. Essentially, we are to alert people that God is coming (or the people will one day be going to God) and all people must be prepared for that meeting.
Does this make God the enemy? Certainly not. God does not want eternal catastrophe to come upon anyone. So why do people need a warning?
A. God’s glory: God is glorious, and His glory radiates from Him constantly. But this is more than just a fantastic light show. “Glory” means importance, magnitude, priority. To talk about God’s glory is to talk about how magnificent and important and powerful God is. And that implies several things.
1. God is all important. We should not relegate God to one small part of our life. God should reign over the entirety of our lives, or we should at least be aware of the process of allowing God to reign over all parts of our life. The choices we have are: God reigns; we reign over our own life; we allow cultural ideas to reign over our lives.
2. If we allow God to reign, that means we must seek to learn Who God is and how He sees things. The only way that humans can learn about God is through His creation (general revelation) and through revealed revelation (the Bible—specific revelation). Any other means runs the risk of being simply personal preferences and human imagination.
3. We must be willing to do things God’s way and follow God’s instructions. God has determined how things work. God’s way is assured. God’s way is the best way for humanity. God provides for our success. Any other plans developed by people run the risk of being contrary to God.
There will be a point for everyone where each person will meet God, and eternity will depend on whether on not a person followed God’s revealed instructions or not.
Everyone is responsible for his or her response to God’s revelation, and decisions have positive or negative consequences.
Sharing the message is our responsibility. How others respond is their responsibility.
So, why would we not share God’s message?
1. We are afraid of rejection or losing friends.
2. We are afraid of personal or professional ramifications if we share publicly.
3. We are afraid of looking foolish if someone asks a question we cannot answer.
4. We are afraid of being ridiculed of gaining a reputation.
5. We have questions and doubts ourselves.

Obvious Examples
John 15:9-12 05/30/2021

This week we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and freedom of others. The extent of this honor reaches back to the Civil War, but has included all military persons who have fallen since then.
In considering military personal--especially those who have died--it is only fitting and good manners to honor them and show appreciation.
At the same time, we can recognize them as example of what Jesus taught about love--laying down one's life for one's friends. It's not that soldiers who have given their life go immediately to heaven--faith in Jesus is necessary for that. But these soldiers can give us some insight into what Jesus' love actually means.

Similarities:
1. Both make tremendous sacrifices.
Military personal give several years of their life in training and service. They also give up what is familiar and comfortable and safe. They take long periods away from family. They give up choice and freedom. They have to obey.
Jesus gave up everything transcendent and became fully human--limited and vulnerable.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8

2. Both enter hostile territory, risking harm and death, and are often rejected by the very people for whom they fought.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. John 1:10-11

3. The purpose of both is to save lives: milirary temporarily and Jesus eternally.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

4. The purpose of both is to safeguard freedom:
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

5. Both must be willing to lay down their lives for all people.
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:17-18

Pentacost
Acts 2:1-24 May 23, 2021

Attack on Christianity
Congressional document: https://seculardems.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/SecularDemocratsofAmerica_Blueprint_BidenHarrisTransition_11-30-20_FINAL.pdf
Summary and implications of the document: https://www.sgtreport.com/2020/12/democrats-in-congress-now-backing-a-group-calling-to-silence-christians-on-the-religious-right-and-a-purge-of-biblical-principles-in-america/
About QAnon: https://www.ccn.com/what-is-qanon-conspiracy-theory/

Pentacost Acts 2:1-24
Pentacost is considered the birth of the church. It was the day that Christians received the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit that would give them power to spread the gospel. And, the story goes: They were gathered together in Jerusalem for the feast of Weeks--7 weeks after Passover and the end of the grain harvest. All of a sudden the Holy Spirit is poured out upon them in a dramatic way and they are able to communicate the gospel to all the pilgrtims and travelers in Jerusalem--each in his or her own native language.
There are several conclusions that have been drawn from Pentacost: some insightful and some doubtful. How can we understand these, what lessons do we learn and how can we tell what is authentic?
The first question to answer is: what exactly happened that day? Especially concerning the gifts of tongues? Some people claim that this gift was different from the one operating in 1 Corinthians 14, because in 1 Corinthians 14 it seems to be referring to an unintelligible language whereas Acts 2 is referring to specifically known foreign languages.
Well, if you consider the basics in each case, there is a parallel: in both places: there is an utterance of some kind and there is resulting undertstanding. 1 Corinthians 14 talks about those who speak in tongues and those who interpret, but if you read the chapter carefully, it clearly implies that the speaker may also be the interpreter, so people may intrepret themselves, therefore, someone could speak in tongues, interpret him or herself (or a hearer could interpret) and people could hear and understand. So, each section could be describing different aspects of the same basic phenomenon.
Another place to consider is John 15-16, which also talks about Pentacost--although doesn't use that term. It says specifically that the Holy Spirit--the Comforter, the Counselor, the Paraclete (depending on your translation)--will testify about Christ and not Himself.
And that brings us to the more doubtful conclusions: current manifestations of the Holy Spirit. There are a number of excesses identified. Anything from riotous and tumultous services where people are laughing, roaring and rolling on the ground to dramatic healing "duels."
One of the challenges with evaluating any spiritual experience is that they are subjective. This makes them personal, but it also puts them in a catagory that is difficult to evaluate. If I claim that I am closest to God when I am driving 150 mph backwards, at first that has to be taken at face value, because there is no objective criteria by which such statements can be evaluated.
But that doesn't mean there is no way to evaluate an experience. There are three principles I would like to point out that go a long way is evaluating events:
1. There is group order and corporate consideration. While 1 Corinthians 14 is referring specifically to order in worship, the principle can be expanded to apply to any experience of the Holy Spirit (business, family, church dynamics, etc.). If there is confusion, misundestanding and turmoil leading to hurt feelings, the environment is contrary to the Holy Spirit.
2. Jesus is proclaimed, not the Holy Spirit. The emphasis is not on the working of the Spirit or the individual wielding the gifts.
3. There is authentic transformation. Experiences are not faked or manipulated, and it's not a "fix" of the Spirit.

The Lessons of Spiritual Gifts
2 Kings 13:20-21 5/16/2021
The brief account of a dead man being raised by a dead man (albeit Elisha) is interesting in both its content and its brevity.
Some men are burying a fellow Israelite. We don't know who is in the funeral party; we don't know the identity of the dead man; we don't know how the man or Elisha died; we don't know how long Elisha had been dead (although probably less than a year), we don't even know the location of this event--we don't to this day definitively know where Elisha is burried. This is both the most unusual and the briefest account of a resurrection in the Bible. There is no other account of a dead person working miracles of any kind.
We do know that burial was above ground in caves or in tombs hewn from solid rock. Elisha (or any corpse) was left on a slab, not buried, until all the soft tissue had decayed leaving only bones.
So, this funeral party, in the process of carrying a man's body to its final resting place, sees a band of invaders coming from the East--apparently coming fast. They don't have time to finish the burial (which would not actually have taken long). They take the closest refuge they see, which happens to be the tomb of Elisha. The funeral party was not looking for Elisha's tomb or expecting anything extraordinary to happen. There is no mention of their faith or their righteousness. They just needed a quick refuge.
In spite of its brief nature, there is much that we can draw from this account, and a few things we cannot.
One conclusion we cannot draw from this account is that you can absorb spiritual gifts by hanging around someone's grave. There is a practice called grave soaking where people stand on the grave of former reputed miracle workers in order to absorb their powers. There are a couple problems with that assumption:
1. The dead man had to come into physical contact with Elisha's body. No one else in the area seems to have been affected.
2. The gift functioned, but it was not passed along to anyone. No other miracles are listed resulting from this event.
3. This only seems to have happened once. Elisha's bones did not become a source of miracles.
So, what are some conclusions we can draw:
1. Spiritual gifts are not our possession nor are they under our control. They are a gift from God to be used under His guidance, in His timing, and according to His purposes. Not even Jesus was in control of His divine powers.
2. Spiritual gifts are not to be self serving. Elisha could not cure himself or bring himself back from the grave.
3. God is the God of the living. He is the source of life in this world and eternal life in the world to come.
4. The word of God given through Elisha was as potent after his death as it was before. Even though his body had ceased to function, God's truth remained and would come to pass. Not the death of a messanger or of a leader or of a friend--as hard as all these may be to experience--Can stop God's purposes. We may become attached to people or dependent on them, but we need to become attached to God and His word.

Conviction or Something Else?
2 Corinthians 7:8-11 5/9/2021

Many people believe that God is simply a reactionary moralist--be good or He will get you. So many people spend a lot of time and energy on being good, whether they mean it or not.
Here is a pyramid chart on how morality is developed and how each stage is ranked.
Many times, we find ourselves at the bottom of the chart.
But how does God want us to be? And what motivation does he want us to have?
2 Corinthians 7 is a prime example of how and why God wants people to behave and develop.
1. A realization that you have done something wrong. (but even before this, you must accept an authoritative source of good and bad, right and wrong, virtue and evil. And this is where you find yourself on the chart. Ideally, we appeal to the principles of God and the Bible.)
2. You react to this realization. You feel remorse, guilt, shame, embarrassed. The :Oops, I messed up stage.
3. Then you have another choice to make: what do you do with this realization and the feelings it invokes? There are two paths to take:
a. employ ineffective coping skills: denial, minimization, avoidance or distraction, shift blame and criticize others, perpetual guilt, hiding guilt and shame, self medication. These all lead to death--a slow and subtle death (a death of person, a death of relationships, a death of spirit, a death of your relationship with God.)
b. repentance. Repentance shows an acknowledgement and accepting responsibility for wrong doing. It means a change in how you think about about something and a different course you will take concerning behavior.
Repentance also implies forgiveness from God. If you truly repent and renounce your actions--understanding the problem--God offers forgiveness. And now he offers forgiveness through Jesus Christ. And if God has forgiven you, then He is not holding it against you. He is encouraging you to move forward into something new.
Being forgiven by God through Jesus also leads to salvation: Since God does not keep a record once you are forgiven, He never goes back to a previous time in your life (before repentance) and says, "Remember what you did 25 years ago. I do."
And this is why Godly repentance leaves no regret. Literally, it is saying that, after repentance, you have nothing more to repent. You know your slate is clean, and you are ready to lead that new life that was opened when you repented.
4. People should be able to see the change in you: in your attitude, in your actions, in your priorities, in how you treat others, etc. And it should be a positive change with some vigor behind it. It more than simply, "Stop what you are doing." Think of repentance as creating a void. At least one behavior is removed; with what will you replace it?

Why Is THAT in the Bible?!?

Exodus 4:21-26 4/25/2021

A strange story about Moses. Why would God suddenly turn on His appointed spokesperson and plan to kill him? What is going on with this passage? Why is it in the Bible? And what does it mean for us today?

Some background:

1) Moses was a Jew, raised in Pharoah’s house by Pharoah’s daughter.

2) He eventually became aware of his heritage, but it is unclear how much he was able to learn or practice his religion. The story indicates some knowledge, but is not specific.

3) Circumcision was a sign of the Covenant and necessary for every male in order to enter the Covenant Community if Israel. (See Genesis 17:9-14. In particular: 10 This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. And 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

4) The Jews practiced circumcision while in Egypt. (Exodus 12:44-48; Joshua 5:5) So, it is reasonable to assume that Moses had been circumcised as an infant.

5) Moses fled to Midian—a land with a different religion and different customs and where circumcision was not practiced. So Moses may not have understood the importance of circumcision, or may have deferred the procedure because of opposition from his wife and her family.

6) But regardless of the reason, Moses was in violation of the covenant command and was about to suffer the consequences directly from God.

7) Zipporah was aware of the covenant and understood its importance (she and Moses had undoubtedly discussed this matter in the past, but until now she was not persuaded).

8) Moses seems unable to act on his own behalf, so Zipporah preforms the procedure correctly, satisfies God and averts the disaster.

9) It is unclear what the phrase “bridegroom of blood” means. It could be a vow of commitment, or a reproach.

Meaning at the time:

1) We see that “ignorance of the law” is no excuse for ignoring the law. And, it is arguable that Moses was not completely ignorant of the law. He had some knowledge and was being held accountable.

2) God is just and decides fairly and impartially. Moses had just told Pharoah that, since he was not willing to let God’s son (euphemism for Israel) go, then God would kill Pharoah’s first born son. Disobedience is disobedience, and Moses does not get a break because he is God’s special servant.

3) This would lend weight to the warning delivered by Moses to Pharoah. The message was, essentially: “If God didn’t spare my son, why would He spare yours?”

4) God is not tolerant of sin or lack of compliance in any dispensation.

5) There is also a matter of credibility and being an example. Moses was to bring the law to the people. As such, it would be more effective if Moses followed the law as well as conveyed the law.

6) There was also the symbolic meaning to circumcision: it was never just about physical circumcision, but stood for a person’s spiritual attitude. An individual’s heart needed to be circumcised so that he or she would not be stubborn but humble and obedient before God (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6 and Jeremiah 4:4).

Meaning for us today

1) God is still intolerant of sin and noncompliance. However, the criterion is no longer compliance with the written code but now it focuses on one’s relationship to Jesus. God does not let anything “slide.” Sin is either covered by the blood of Jesus, or an individual’s sin still counts against that person.

2) No one has a special “in” with God; not because of service or who one knows or money donated to charities. People are judged by an impartial criteria.

3) Spiritual attitude is still most important, and circumcision is “of the heart” and by Jesus (Romans 2:28-29; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:11) which produces a new lifestyle. God wants His people to have an internal and personal faith, not a superficial one.

Meanwhile, in Other Parts of Jerusalem—part 2

Matthew 27:50-61 4/18/2021

1. And the earth did quake

Earthquakes were not unusual occurrences in this part of the world. Also, it was not confined to Judea, but was felt in other countries. It is mentioned by Roman writers:

Indeed Phlegon, who is an excellent calculator of Olympiads, also writes about this, in his 13th book writing thus: "However in the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad [32 CE], an eclipse of the sun happened, greater and more excellent than any that had happened before it; at the sixth hour [around noon] day turned into dark night, so that the stars were seen in the sky, and an earthquake in Bithynia toppled many buildings of the city of Nicaea." Eusebius, Chronicle (Chronicon), Book II

The truly miraculous quality of this event is seen in its timing. To coordinate the darkness, the tearing of the temple veil and the earthquake would require nothing short of divine intervention.

This is a website that goes into great detail confirming the darkness and the earthquake, dating the two events and confirming that they happened more or less simultaneously:

http://www.logosapologia.org/?s=israel+exploration+journal

There also may be an echo in this of the giving of the law of the Old Testament. It was accompanied by

the ground trembling (Exodus 19).

1. THE ROCKS SPLIT

Mr. Fleming (Christology, vol. 2. pp. 97, 98) informs us, that a Deist, lately travelling through Palestine, was converted by viewing one of these rocks. For when he came to examine the clefts of it narrowly and critically, he was convinced that the rent had been made in a supernatural manner, as he acknowledged to his fellow-travelers, saying, I have long been a student of nature and the mathematics, and I am sure these rents in this rock were not made by a natural, or ordinary earthquake; for by such a concussion the rock must have split according to the veins, and where it was weakest in the adhesion of its parts; for this I have observed to have been done in other rocks, when separated or broken by an earthquake, and reason tells me, it must always be so. But it is quite otherwise here, for the rock is split athwart and cross the veins in a most strange and preternatural manner. This, therefore, I plainly see to be the effect of a real miracle, which neither nature nor art could have effected.

1. And the graves were opened - “Graves” or sepulchers were most commonly made in solid rocks or in caves of rocks. There were often two chambers: one to lay the body for about a year so that the soft tissue of the body could decay, and the second, an ossuaries, to store the bones. These tombs were usually sealed with a stone or a boulder. The rending of the rocks, therefore, would lay them open. and doubtless they continued open all the sabbath, since the law would not allow of any attempt to close them on that day. However, opening the tombs would not expose the bodies.

6 And many bodies of the saints arose And came out of the graves after his resurrection And went into the holy city and appeared to many people

The tombs were located outside of the city (outside the wall) to the West and the North. It would have been a short walk.

Also, since the Feast of the Passover was a week long, the city would have been packed with people to witness the event and take word to the rest of the world.

Of course, it is not known who these “saints” were, nor what became of them. It is probable that they were persons who had recently died, and they appear to have been known in Jerusalem.

The graves were opened by this earthquake, but the dead in them did not rise until after His resurrection. as is implied in the last clause, and according to Bible doctrine: for He was the first-born from the dead, Colossians 1:18; and the first- fruits of them that slept, 1 Corinthians 15:20.

Those raised from the dead in the bible:

1) The son of the widow of Sarepta, (1 Kings 17)

2) The Shunamite’s Son (2 Kings 4)

3) The resurrection caused by the bones of Elisha, (2 Kings 13)

4) The daughter of Jairus, (Matthew 9)

5) The son of the widow at Nain, (Luke 7)

6) Lazarus, (John 11).

7) Dorcas called Tabitha (Acts 9)

8) Eutychus (Acts 20).

Those raised on Easter Sunday would make the count 9.

How did onlookers respond?

The centurion (a captain of a hundred soldiers. He was placed over the band that attended the crucifixion) and those with him were very afraid, and they had good reason to fear. These would have been the same guards who beat Him, ridiculed Him, scourged Him and crucified Him. Witnessing these events obviously had a profound affect on them. They had heard, probably, that Jesus professed to be the Son of God. Seeing these wonders, they believed that God was now attesting the truth of His professions

The women remained faithful and stalwart. They were not intimidated by the circumstances. This may have been due to their status in society. Generally, women were second class citizens whose opinions and beliefs counted little. Basically, they were not worth the effort. While that may be a demeaning role, it also gave them freedom to move about in a way that men could not.

The fact that the women were named shows the elevated position that the church gave to women. Far from being unreliable, these women were named (it is believed) so that first-century seekers could verify the stories by first hand witnesses.

These women may not have fully understood nor even anticipated the resurrection of Jesus, their situation positioned them to be first-hand witnesses to the resurrected Lord.

Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple (as were other Jewish elders). Caught between public office and belief in Jesus, this was probably the most overt action that Joseph could take safely. Anymore, and he would have become a public outcast.

The chief priests and the pharisees lived in a world of denial. Even though they had witnessed many of these events, they still saw Jesus as a deceiver and plotted to spread a story that would deceive others (note irony). In fact, this group of Jewish leaders use deception and manipulation to maneuver Jesus into a position to be executed. Before the Sanhedrin He is found guilty of blasphemy based on the testimony of two men who were encouraged to lie by the leaders. In front of Pilate, it was said that He spoke against Caesar. And in the end, it was crowd manipulation that sealed Jesus fate.

Meanwhile, in Other Parts of Jerusalem—part 1
Matthew 27:50-54 4/11/2021

I’m going to ask a few rhetorical questions: Do you believe that dinosaurs once walked the earth millions of years ago? Do you believe that alien races have visited the earth? Do you believe that Columbus discovered North America? Do you believe in Santa Clause?
I ask these rhetorically because any one of them could spawn a lengthy discussion. But what I want to get at is: Why do people believe what they believe, and not believe what they don’t believe?
Last week, Ron reviewed a number of events where people witnessed the risen Lord, and eye witness accounts are compelling. Of course, these eyewitness accounts are primarily focused on disciples—people who already had experience with Jesus and who would be His evangelists. This is the case with all except Saul and those disciples on the mountain in Galilee who were waiting for Jesus but didn’t believe.
The scripture reading this morning opens the door for a whole new level of witness, and becomes a prime instance of where this question is essential. Are these divinely driven occurrences; are they natural occurrences with uncanny timing; or are they a part of Christian myth—fabricated or greatly embellished stories meant to make a point?
Let’s take a look at each of the occurrences that accompany Jesus’ death.

1. THE DARKNESS:
There were some important details that the gospel writers don’t supply: questions like: How far did the darkness spread?” and “How dark was it?”
To answer these questions, we can turn to gentile/pagan writers.
A. Phlegon, a Roman astronomer, speaking of the 14th year of the reign of Tiberius, which is supposed to be that in which our Savior died, says “that the greatest eclipse of the sun that was ever known happened then, for the day was so turned into night that the stars appeared.”
B. Tertullian (Apol., cap. 21.) says that this prodigious darkening of the sun was recorded in the Roman archives; for, says he, “at the same moment, about noontide, the day was withdrawn; and they, who knew not that this was foretold concerning Christ, thought it was an eclipse. You yourselves have the account of the world portent still in your archives!”
In that quotation, Tertullian appealed to Proculus, a Roman senator; and it is certain Tertullian would not have made such an appeal to Roman records if it had not been true.
C. Pontius Pilate sent the following report to Tiberius, emperor of Rome: And when He had been crucified, there was darkness over the whole earth, the sun having been completely hidden, and the heaven appearing dark, so that the stars appeared, but had at the same time their brightness darkened, as I suppose your reverence is not ignorant of, because in all the world they lighted lamps from the sixth hour until evening. And the moon, being like blood, did not shine the whole night, and yet she happened to be at the full.
D. And Eusebius, in his Chronicle, at the eighteenth year of Tiberius, says, “Christ suffered this year, in which time we find in other commentaries of the heathen, these words: ‘There was a defection of the sun: Bithynia was shaken with an earthquake; and many houses fell down in the city of Nice.’”

The darkness was not the effect of an ordinary eclipse of the sun; for that can never happen except when the moon is about the change, whereas now it was full moon (Passover occurring on a full moon); not to mention that total darkness occasioned by eclipses of the sun never continue above twelve or fifteen minutes.
From these two quotations (B & C) it is plain that one of the strong arguments used by early Christians in urging the truth of the gospel was their appeal, again and again, to persons in highest authority, to whom they invariably accredited the universal knowledge that such a wonder had indeed occurred.

What does it mean? Two possible (probable) meanings:
1. Darkness accompanied Moses upon Mt. Sinai when he was receiving the details of the first covenant. It was a sign that God was present and at work. (Exodus 20:21; Deuteronomy 5:22-23) Jesus on the cross is the key element of the New Covenant. God was at work in Jesus on the cross reconciling the world unto Himself. (Romans 3:24-26; Hebrews 9:15)
2. Total and complete darkness was a sign in the Old Testament that God was unleashing wrath. (Isaiah 5:30, Amos 9:8). This could signify the penalty falling on Jesus for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:5), or it could be signaling judgement upon those crucifying (or simply not accepting) Jesus and the coming fall of Jerusalem. (Luke 19:41-44; 21:23-25).

The veil of the temple Torn in half - This was the veil, which separated the holy from the most holy place, dividing (the inside of) the temple into two apartments.

Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Exodus 26:31-33.

And behold — Immediately upon his death, while the sun was still darkened; the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom: so

1. while the priest was ministering at the golden altar, (it being the time of the evening sacrifice, thus providing a witness)

2. the sacred room with the Ark was laid open to full view. This was truly profound in that—prior to this—anyone gazing into the Holy of Holies at the Ark would be killed instantly.

3. It was tore from top to bottom signifying that it came down from heaven; an action of God. God thereby signifying:

4. The speedy removal of the Jewish ceremonies,

5. The abolition of the Mosaic dispensation,

6. The breaking down the partition-wall between Jews and Gentiles, both of whom were now to be admitted to equal privileges.

7. The opening a way through the veil of Christ’s flesh for all believers into the most holy place—heaven—and fearlessly into the presence of God. It is believed by some that this event is responsible for bringing a particularly large number of priests into the church. (Acts 6:7)

God made public display of the authenticity and significance of the crucifixion and the resurrection. He showed that this was all an actual and historical event with profound implications. Many people believed because of these; still others didn’t believe in spite of them.

Parting questions:

1. What do you believe about the crucifixion and resurrection?

2. Are you able to defend the literal truthfulness of these events and discuss their meaning?

As they approached Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.’”

They went and found a colt and untied it. When they brought the colt to Jesus, they threw their cloaks over it and He sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted:

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

He replied, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Then, when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked Him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read: ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

Receiving Praise; Making Way

Mark 11:15-18 3/28/2021

Psalm Sunday

Sermon Notes

In the past half century, we have seen a lot of global changes in commercial practices: 1. Self check-out and ATMs are replacing clerks and tellers. 2. Robots and automata are replacing human workers. 3. Chain stores and mega-stores are replacing “mom and pop” independent stores. 4. On-line shopping is replacing in-person shopping—even at mega stores.

People continue these shopping trends for two reasons: 1. Companies crunch numbers and find these replacements to be economically advantageous, and 2. People keep shopping at these places because they end up being less expensive.

Of course, a person may feel a little different if he or she is one of the people who have been replaced. In those situations, a person is not just replaced, he or she is displaced.

The difference between replaced and displaced is subtle but significant. Example: When I lived in West Chester, PA., the town was working at upgrading itself with renovations. On one block, there was a seedy little bar and grill (with bar patrons at 8:00am) that was replaced with an upscale restaurant. And when the bar and grill got replaced, the original cliental got displaced.

That may have been beneficial in this case, but being replaced and displaced can be traumatic and devastating.

And that gives us some insight into our scripture reading. Jesus is upset with what is going on in the temple to the point of physical intervention. This is an uncharacteristic action on His part. What would move Him to such action?

Simply put, those in charge of the temple (priests and Levites) had decided to repurpose the Court of the Gentiles and make it a marketplace for sacrificial needs. In so doing, they were displacing any and all Gentile God-fears who wanted to come to Jerusalem and worship the God of Israel; the merchants were a barrier. Also, the setting for this episode is near the beginning of Passover—when the city would have swelled with pious visitors—and the priests and merchants were set to exploit this situation, making it difficult for pilgrims to practice their faith.

So, what were the particular obstacles that people faced in coming to Jerusalem to worship at the temple:

1. The strict and rigid attitudes of religious leaders. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, His disciples (and in particular children) are cheering and celebrating. The Pharisees and the chief priests do not believe that behavior is appropriate and they tell Jesus to get them to quiet down. (Ironically, in their estimation, shouting and celebrating is not appropriate religious activity, but planning the murder of an innocent person is acceptable).

2. The merchants were placed in the court of the gentiles. The court was a large area (35 acres), however, tens of thousands of Jewish worshippers would have to go through this area in order that their pascal lamb could be appropriately sacrificed. Also all the livestock available for sale would have to be there. The money changers were there to exchange foreign currency for temple coins. So, there would have been a lot of people, a lot of animals and a lot of activity. The Court of the Gentiles would not have had much space for Gentiles to focus on prayer and worship. In this regard, the Jewish people were neglecting the missionary aspect of their existence and essentially working against it.

III. Prices and exchange rates were exorbitant. Priests had to approve of any animals offered for sacrifice. The animal could not have flaw or blemish. It would be difficult to transport livestock a long distance, let alone keeping it from getting a mark of some kind. So, priests offered animals at the temple—preapproved—for a greatly inflated price. Also, the exchange rate of the money changers would have been high. And this would have made access to religious practices more difficult.

So, all in all, the basic problem was the Jewish leaders making decisions that would block people from God, either by attitude or by space and volume of people of by economics. And people getting in the way of people trying to get to God angers Jesus.

This is not just an ancient problem, but a modern one as well. Many times, well intentioned people set up obstacles for new people or outsiders making it difficult for them to assimilate.

How might you feel about: unruly children or visitors sitting in your pew or taking your parking spot.

This doesn’t mean that we have to accept everything that new people or outsiders do, but there are effective ways of handling these things.

Blessings, Challenges and Being Raised from the Dead
2 Kings 4:27-37 3/21/2021

How do you feel about rollercoasters? Do you like the speed and the height; the dark tunnels and the cork screw twists; going upside down and backwards?
One of the appeals of rollercoasters is that they are safe danger. They are extreme, but you know you’re going to be alright—as long as you stay in the rollercoaster.
Sometimes rollercoasters happen that aren’t so safe or predictable, and we don’t know where we are going to end up. They have that same up and down feeling of thrill and descent, but you can’t see the course ahead of you.
These situations can be experienced in on again, off again relationships, up and down employment, or the dramatic fluctuations of the stock market.
These rollercoaster experiences can be challenging at best, and they can become particularly confusing when one’s faith is involved.
We encounter one of these up and down episodes in 2 Kings between Elisha and a Shunammite woman.
Some background information:
—Elisha regularly traveled a circuit that took him through the town of Shumen.
—During one of his journeys, he was noticed by a well-to-do Shunammite woman who urged him to come to dinner. This became a regular occurrence.
—After a time, the woman and her husband constructed a small room on the roof of their home and furnished it with a bed, a chair, a table and a lamp where Elisha could stay during these journeys.
—In order to show his appreciation to her, he asks what he can do for her in return. She needs nothing.
—Elisha’s servant points out that she has no son (an important member of one’s family) so Elisha tells her she will have give birth to a son within one year.
—She is reluctant to accept this, but it comes to pass. She gives birth and the child grows.
—One day the child tells his father that he has a terrible headache. A servant carries the boy back to the house where he dies in his mother’s arms.
—She goes to confront Elisha with the news.
We can see the first crest and dip in this story. After years of being barren, she has a son (like Sarah and Hannah and later Elizabeth. These are sons of promise). And while it might have been difficult to accept at first, it is a joyous occasion. But then one day she experiences what must be the ultimate drop: her son unexpectedly and suddenly dies. This sort of thing happens, but not to a child of promise; not to a son that God gave to you. At least, one might believe that to be true. And that makes the poignancy all the sharper.
This point of the story represents a crossroads for the woman. Does she vent to Elijah; then hold a funeral and be done with it all. Cut off God and Elisha? Or does she hang in there and see what else lies in store.
This is a crossroads that many people face in their lives when—in faith—they are confronted with grave disappointment and hardship or doubts. Does a person just “bail” because this faith stuff is too uncertain and God is too unreliable, or—as hard as it may be—does a person hang in there and see what happens next.
This question may seem peripheral or incidental, but is becoming and epidemic situation. More and more people are moving away from religion and toward agnosticism and atheism—Currently about 20% of the US population . And it is more common in younger generations.
There are multiple resources to help people let go of their faith. Web sites like recoveryfromreligion.org offers a large number of resources to help guide and support those who are questioning their faith—help them abandon there faith that is. And theclergyproject.org which focuses on helping clergy transition from religious leadership to atheism. I googled “pastors turned into atheists” and got a wealth of articles and

websites. And there are many stories of devout Christians who slowly lost their faith and found communities to support them. And this sort of transition often costs people their job, their family and their community.
On the one hand, I get it. There have been times when bailing on my faith would have been the easier decision. But easier does not always equal better. Faith is not the easy path—it is just the better path.
So what do we do if we find ourselves in the midst of a faith crisis—when doubts and questions seem overwhelming? Or how can we respond when we encounter someone going through that?
1. Find a safe place to discuss beliefs and doubts, or BE the safe place where others can discuss beliefs and doubts. On of the road blocks that people find when facing a faith crisis is Christians who want to argue their faith or don’t want to hear questions. And often when people are having doubts they tend to cloister themselves away, which only gives doubts a chance to grow. People often need to express ideas in order to process ideas.
2. Live your faith. Show a Christian character to these people. Often, Christians are their own worst representatives.
3. Be familiar enough with your faith to be able to discuss difficult topics (discuss, not argue. We can contend without being contentious.)
4. Encourage the person to hang in there—in honesty—and look for God.
In hanging in there and waiting on God, surprising things can happen.
As is the case with the Shunammite woman.
She remained in contact with Elisha, which was a great benefit for her: 1. Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the Lord has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years.” 2 Kings 8:1
2. At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land. The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, “Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done.” Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to appeal to the king for her house and land.
Gehazi said, “This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” The king asked the woman about it, and she told him.
Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now.” 2 Kings 8:3-7
And none of this would have happened if she had taken other action to “bail” on faith and sever ties with Elisha.

No one gets hurt on the rollercoaster ride, except those who jump off while the ride is still in progress.

Who Is in Charge Down Here?
Revelation 13:1-8 3/14/2021

For the past four plus years, we have been witnessing (if not directly experiencing) a great deal of animosity, distress and conflict concerning government and political leaders and the machinations behind current events. I thought it would be enlightening to look at what the early church faced and it how it dealt with—or didn’t deal with—the government..
Considering the way the Roman government persecuted the church, there is a conspicuous lack of certain reactions by the church:
1. We don’t see a barrage of derogatory and offensive comments placed in public forums and directed at the government and its leaders.
2. We don’t see a wave of protests and demonstrations.
3. We don’t see petitions and civil rights movements demanding Christian rights and reform laws.
4. We don’t see uprisings, vigil ante groups and Christian militia taking up arms to defend themselves against the government.
And why not?
The Christian church had a clear view of what they were up against. They were in hostile territory.
The book of Revelation gives readers a glimpse into the spiritual realm behind governmental power. The two figures represent power entities. The dragon is Satan, the devil, the source of earthly and temporal power. And we have seen this before in different places. When Jesus was being tempted, Satan showed Him all the Kingdoms of the world (Matthew 4:8-9; Luke 4:5-7) And Satan made this offer: ...he said to Him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.” And three times in the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to Satan as the prince of this world. (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).
So, what should our position be concerning the government?
1. Be intentional about focusing our efforts in accordance with God’s priorities. Realize that we are foreigners here in this world (Hebrews 11:13) but we are citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom (Philippians 3:20). God is much more interested in building and expanding His kingdom than fixing this world (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
2. We still need to be good citizens and spiritually supportive of our governmental leaders (Luke 20:20-25; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
3. Understand that mistreatment is a confirmation of our Christian faith and part of our visible testimony (John 15:18-20; 16:1-3; Hebrews 10:32-34).
4. Understand the laws, including when they are in our favor (Acts 16:37-38; 22:22-29; 25:20-27).

When Things Don’t Go the Way You Thought They Should
1 Samuel 4:1-11

Have you ever had a day when things just don’t seem to go your way? When nothing seems to run the way you expected they would? And we find ourselves asking, “What happened? Why did things go like that?”
We may chalk it up to “one of those days, “ scratch our heads and say, “Tomorrow is another day.” thinking tomorrow will be different. And maybe it will be and maybe it won’t be. The problem comes when we habitually assume that the first question had no answer. And the answer can be crucial.
The Israelites went out to fight the Philistines. They had been a constant irritation and challenge for about 100 years. They continued to hold onto a piece of the Promised Land that was part of God’s covenant promise to His people, and they even dominated the Israelites making the Israelites serve them. God promised the land to the people, and He promised to fight for the people, but the Philistines were proving to be stubborn.
On the first day of battle, the Philistines thoroughly defeated the Israelites, and Israel lost 4,000 men.
No one can understand what happened. There are explanations that we will see soon, but the people of Israel can’t see those, yet.
The solution they implement is to bring the Ark of the Covenant into the camp and into the battle. Certainly with God’s presence so close, the Israelites are bound to win. And so, there is a great cheer that goes up from their camp.
Meanwhile, the Philistines hear about the Ark coming into the camp, and they are scared to the bone. They have never fought against a god before, especially one that defeated the Egyptian army. So, the leaders give a stirring pep talk.
At this point, the odds are tilted strongly in favor of the Israelites, and one might say that both sides are expecting the same outcome.
And so, they go into battle. This time, the outcome is far worse for Israel than the first day of battle. 30.000 men have been lost, the ark has been captures, and Eli’s two sons have been killed. How could such a horrible defeat have happened?
There are a few important details that the Israelites overlooked.
1. Why were the Philistines there in the first place? The Philistines were a consequence for the unfaithfulness of Israel. (Judges 13:1) The Philistines plagued and oppressed the Israelites at that time for 40 years. How long does it take to realize that you cannot withstand the oppression and call out to the Lord for relief?
2. God had previously advised them of results of their choices of obedience and disobedience. (Deuteronomy 30:11-18).
3. We find that Israel had continued in their disobedience. (1 Samuel 7:3-4)

This story of the Israelites is an example of several principles:
1. Sometimes we are the ultimate cause of our troubles, whether we know it or not. It is always good (though never easy) to take a “look in the mirror” or have a candid conversation with a close friend to see if there are any issues that we may bring upon ourselves.
2. If we find there are some behaviors that bring negative consequences, then we have to take action. If we want to see change, then we have to be willing to make change in the way we approach life and respond to situations in life. People may resist this change we are trying to make, but we must be persistent in our efforts. Either people will eventually accept our changers, or they will depart and make room for healthier relationships.

Resumes 02/21/2021
Luke 18:9-14

Some people think they can rely on their accomplishments in life when they stand before God. The afterlife becomes a hope-for-the-best situation. But Jesus shows us that just the opposite is true. I want to look at two examples of people who have outstanding resumes of life accomplishments, but who are unable to impress Jesus with them.
The first is the Pharisee in Luke 18. He goes into the temple (probably during prayer time) and stands and prays. He prays about who he is and who he is not. He is not a sinner like others. He follows the law meticulously. He is probably even sincerely thankful. And, he makes a point of pointing out that he is not like that tax collector.
The tax collector, on the other hand, knows what others think of him. Tax collectors were considered traitors—working for the Roman government collecting the money that would support the very government that was oppressing the Jews. Tax collectors were ostracized in society. They were expelled from synagogues, and it’s surprising that he was allowed in the temple.
He can’t even look up, but simply asks for mercy knowing he will go back to the same occupation. But Jesus says he is justified and not the Pharisee.
The other example is from Matthew 7:21-23. This person has a very impressive resume. He presumes a relation with (or at least recognition by) Jesus, and even calls Him Lord. And he is doing the work that disciples were supposed: prophesying, healing, casting out demons and other miraculous signs. These are all gifts that are attributed to the Holy Spirit. But, Jesus claims no relationship with him.
So, what is the problem with these two people?
They have an unrighteous focus on what they do for God, not by God. They are not acknowledging God working through them; they are doing all for God.
This isn’t even what Jesus claimed. He did not function on His own, but had a direct reliance of God the Father.
Jesus does only what He sees His Father doing: Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 5:19
And, Jesus teaches only what He hears from His Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. John 8:28
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. John 14:9-10

Need to Repent
Luke 13:1-9 1/24/2021

Last week, we looked at the question of why does God rescue some people and not others. In the context of faith (as last weeks reading was set) martyrdom is a powerful testimony, and just as important as the miraculous rescues that were also performed. One thing we need to keep in mind is that: We are not in control of the rescue—God is in control.
This week is a different take on the same topic: Why them and not others, and the problem of attaching meaning to certain events.
Some people infer that people meeting tragic ends often deserve it, and likewise good people deserve to go peacefully? It is a presumption that many people had at the time of Jesus and it is one that some people still have today.

And I believe there are reasons explaining why people do that:
1. People want to make sense of the world. They want to find or establish some criteria by which they can evaluate circumstances around them.
2. People want to distance themselves from tragic and unpleasant events. If they can establish some standard which causes certain events to happen to the people who deserve them, then they can control their own behavior so the same fate won’t befall them; or they convince themselves that this is true.
3. If they can successfully distance themselves, then they can convince themselves that their behavior is fine, and there is no need to improve.

Given Jesus’ response, it seems that the small group that shared the news with Him had this correlation on their minds. And they thought they had plenty of evidence for that view. At the time, Galileans were a troublemaking group, not known for their wise and moral way of life. One rebellious movement around this time—led by John the Galilean—advocated for the complete disregard for the Emperor, including refusing to pay taxes. This movement was squelched, but not before causing trouble and confusion.
Jesus refutes this belief by saying that everyone (including His audience) is going to die and they need to be prepared lest on that day they be caught ill-equipped and unqualified for that event. They must repent.
It is difficult to elicit repentance if a person does not believe that he or she did anything wrong.
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Just a note: mingling their blood with sacrifices means that Herod’s men killed them while they were offering sacrifices.
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And—driving His point home—Jesus brings up His own news story: an event that happened in Jerusalem, most likely to people who lived in or near Jerusalem. (showing that it’s not just Galileans) A tower crumbled and fell over killing 18 men. And Jesus reiterates: everyone (including His audience) is going to die and they need to be prepared lest on that day they be caught ill-equipped and unqualified for that event. They must repent.
Then Jesus tells a parable to illustrate His point.
A vineyard owner has an olive tree that hasn’t produced for 3 years. He thinks it is time to cut the tree down because it is taking up space and depleting the soil of nutrients. The man who tends the vineyard tells the owner to wait one more year. He will fertilize it and give it special attention. If it doesn’t produce in the next year, then the man who tends it will cut it down himself.
This is a reference to the Jewish people. God has waited a long time for His people to come around and be faithful, but they (generally speaking) have not. Instead of cutting them down, a longer time will be given to them with extra encouragement (Jesus). If they bear “fruit unto righteousness,” fine. If not, God is long in patience, but still makes people accountable for their decisions or lack thereof. Everyone knows life in this world is finite, and the way a person leaves this world is not a reliable indicator of that person’s character.
This is not a world of retribution. A time of reckoning is reserved for a later time—beyond life in this world. Here, good and evil are mingled; the good and the bad suffer, and all are exposed here to calamity. The best course of action is accept our mortality and be prepared for immortality.
We must repent. We must all repent or we shall perish. “We” are sinners; “we” are to die; “we” shall be lost unless we repent. Let us, then, think of “ourselves” rather than of “others.”

The Wise Men
Matthew 2:1-12 1/10/2020

The wisemen have been somewhat of a mystery to us over the centuries. Tradition has filled in some gaps.
Gaspar (or Caspar), who has brown hair and a brown beard (or no beard!) and wears a green cloak and a gold crown with green jewels on it. He is the King of Sheba. Gaspar represents the Frankincense brought to Jesus.
Melchior, who has long white hair and a white beard and wears a gold cloak. He is the King of Arabia. Melchior represents the Gold brought to Jesus.
Balthazar, who has black skin and a black beard (or no beard!) and wears a purple cloak. He is the King of Tarsus/Macedonia and Egypt. Balthazar represents the gift of Myrrh that was brought to Jesus.
The truth of the matter is that there is no foundation for any of these details. We don’t know their names or countries of origin or even how many there were.
What we do know is:
They were not kings. They were magi who interpreted dreams and read the stars.
Two of their gifts, Frankincense and Myrrh, were produced in Arabia.
And they were unfamiliar with the details of the Roman empire, and with Herod in particular. If they knew anything about Herod (as Romans did) they would not have been so trusting.
We also know that they had long had access to important information. Daniel was in Babylon and then Persia, and it is there that he had a series of visions identifying political developments. And his visions identified that something special was going to happen during the empire of Rome. Numbers 24:17 predicted a strong ruler, and mentions a star:
“I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel.
And, just to round out the general information, we do not know what they saw in the sky. A number of celestial events happened around this time, but the specific one is uncertain.
So, what is the significance of the story of the magi? There are three themes that can be taken from this account.
1. This is the first time that Jesus was revealed to and accepted by gentiles. And so it foreshadows the ministry of the gospel to all gentiles.
2. It shows that the affect that Jesus would have on the world had already started. In the words of Simeon: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed…”
This shows the simple faith and humility of the magi; they bow in worship to this infant and present gifts fit for royalty. It doesn’t matter where He is or in what condition His housing is in.
This shows the insecurity and the greed for power of Herod. He immediately starts to plan to get rid of his “competition.” Even though Herod was well along in years and a child king would pose little threat until years later, he is taking no chances.
This shows the apathy and complacency of the Jewish leadership. They heard the news about a king being born, and they even knew some details about His birth. But never once did they check things out. True and devoted Jews would have celebrated this announcement.
3. This is one example of good versus evil. Where the powers of this fallen world oppose the power and the plans of God and try to stop His plans from unfolding.

Mary’s Journey
Luke 2:22-35 12/27/2020

Mary has a unique perspective on the birth and life of Jesus. She was there for the whole thing, and she is the only person recorded who can make that claim. Other family members may come close, but no one fulfills this claim as fully as Mary. As such, she makes an interesting study of spiritual development.
We first meet Mary in her exchange with the angel, Gabriel, who informs her of her up and coming pregnancy. And he tells here that the Child will be of divine origin and be called Son of the Most High, and He will rule on David’s throne forever. This is all very lofty. And she is completely willing.
Next she visits her cousin, Elizabeth, and receives confirmation from her that the pregnancies are indeed miraculous. Her response is one of joy and praise. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”
Things start to change when she and Joseph go to Bethlehem and the baby is born. They are visited by an unexpected group of shepherds who have seen an angel who announced the birth of the baby—with details. And they saw and heard a multitude of angels singing glorious things concerning this birth. This is the first time in the flow of the story that the term “Messiah” is used, and the first time that others are visited by angels. Mary is somewhat awestruck by all of this. Her response is to quietly treasurer up (preserve, protect) these events and ponder them (debate, dispute, engage—as to go to war) Mary is just quietly thinking about this and trying to work things out in her head.
It doesn’t take long for another incident to occur a little over a month later. They go into the temple for the rite of purification for Mary. While they are there, and elderly gentleman, Simeon, takes Jesus in his arms and declares that he can now die happy and fulfilled. He has now seen the means of salvation by which God will save the world, both Jews and gentiles. Mary and Joseph marvel (shocked, surprised, astonished). But then, talk about a roller coaster ride, Simeon tells Mary that her child is going to cause quite a stir. He will be loved, He will be hated; He will expose people for who they are. And then he adds that Mary will experience heart ache and grief over this child.
At 12 years old He stays at the temple without telling His family. When they find Him, they scold Him. His defense is simply, “Didn’t you know I would be at my father’s house?” They have no idea what He is talking about. Mary is again quietly treasuring (to protect or guard) these things.
As an adult, Mary and Jesus’ whole family have a very different idea of Him. In Mark 3:21it says His family thought he was: “Out of His mind.”
That is quite a journey that Mary’s faith has taken. This is not the end of her journey; this is just a place we where are pausing to look at the journey so far.
Mary has gone from joy and songs of praise to surprise to anticipating pain and even thinking He is out of His mind. What are some things we can learn from Mary’s journey?
1. God doesn’t always make sense. He is hard to understand. And sometimes, the more you know, the stranger it all seems.
2. God doesn’t get mad when we don’t understand Him. He doesn’t even get mad when we think He is out of His mind.
3. Hang in there and don’t cut off your lifeline with Him.

Genealogies 101 part 2
Matthew 1:1-6 12/24/2020
Christmas Eve

What do you want to accomplish in Life? For what do you want to be known or remembered? It’s a hard question that—for tonight—depends on two factors: 1. Do we consider short term or long term impacts? Are we counting what we do here and now in our lifetime, or are we looking down the line several generations or more? 2. What criteria do we use?
Such a question is personified in the life of David Livingstone. This was the explorer left for his travels in central Africa for six years until he was discovered by Henry Morton Stanley with the legendary question: 'Dr Livingstone, I presume?'
According to the title of one biography, David Livingstone was "Africa's Greatest Missionary". This is an interesting claim considering that estimates of the number of people he converted in the course of his 30-year career vary between one and none.
The convert in question’s name is Sechele, the half-chief of the Bekwena tribe. Sechele had a ravenous interest in the Bible and in Christianity and a staunch commitment to Jesus. But he would not give up certain native practices like rainmaking and polygamy, which is why Livingstone himself was reluctant to claim him as a true convert. But he had his influence.
From the time that Livingstone left the Bekwena tribe to the time that other English missionaries came to Africa, Sechele’s efforts had led to the conversion of tens of thousands of African natives to Christianity.
And so, the question at hand is: What contribution did Livingston make? And was he really a successful missionary?
As you consider this, I want to pose some other examples that are from the line of Jesus. We celebrate His birth every December, and we remember the pictures, the nativity scenes, the carols and the Bible account that tell the story. But what do we know about the ancestors listed in His genealogy? How did they live and how are they remembered?
If you think that Jesus had a straight and squeaky clean lineage, think again. There’s quite a bit more if you know where to look.
First, you have a foreign racial element in the line:
Tamar and Rahab were Canaanite women. There were tensions between Jacob’s family and the Canaanites that would only worsen with time. The religious practices of the Canaanites were particularly offensive to God.
Ruth was a Moabite—another enemy of the Israelites.
These three women brought gentile blood into the line of David. David was almost 20% gentile, and gentile nations who were not only racially distinct but were political enemies of Israel.
That could be a point of embarrassment. There could have been a movement to pick a blood line of someone who had not intermarried. Or to somehow cover up this peculiarity. But they didn’t.
In fact there is even more. There is great scandal—scandal at least equal to todays stories.
There is a complex scandal involving Judah and Tamar.
Rahab is a dicey entry here because of her profession.
And I think we all know the story about David and Bathsheeba, and how he tried to cover his tracks.
Again, this could be a cause for great embarrassment. This is the stuff that gets whispered at family gatherings.
Or, these point to a great opportunity for us to realize. Because these circumstances in our history point us to a greater reality. These people, with their faults and scandals and questionable blood lines, are still a part of the lineage of Jesus—the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Each person was an intentional link in the descent. God could have skipped them or chose people with cleaner backgrounds. But He didn’t. In fact, Matthew goes out of his way to point that out. And this shows us two things:
1. The gentiles were always a part of God’s plan. While some factions at the time of Jesus (and beyond) considered themselves superior to the gentiles, God had included them as fully a part of the family and entitled to all rights of eternal inheritance.
2. There is nothing that anyone can do that can outweigh or overshadow God’s grace and forgiveness—if that person is willing to accept it.
And there is nothing that can keep you from being a part of God’s plan to find fulfilment

Genealogies 101 part 1
Matthew 1:1, 17 12/20/2020

Most people don’t spend a lot of time in the genealogies. And even fewer people make them a part of the Bible verse memory program. The names are hard to pronounce; the lists are tedious and boring; and most of the names you never encounter again—except in some other genealogy.
Besides these factors, genealogies can be very confusing for several other reasons:
1. The terms “father” and “son” have more than one meaning. They can mean literally father and son; two side by side generations, or they can mean “ancestor” and “progeny,” and that can span an indefinite number of generations.
2. Names can vary because some people are given new names. Jacob is sometimes called Israel, and that designation goes back and forth through scripture. Also, some names have changed because of translation issues. Mainly because not every alphabet has letters for compatible sounds. For example:
The name “Jesus” Hebrew: Yeshua; Greek: Iasus; Latin: Iesus; English: Jesus.
The name “Jesus” Hebrew: Yeshua; English: Joshua.
What was the point of genealogies? They verified actual descent for legal and religious purposes. Through the Old Testament, all lines of descent are traced. Verifying one’s lineage was necessary to secure certain positions (King, priest or Levite) and to claim land rights.
The New Testament writers had a different agenda. Both Matthew and Luke include genealogies linking Jesus’ blood line to David’s. They weren’t concerned with everybody’s lineage, just the line of Jesus. He had to be a descendent of David. They both accomplish this, but with different methods. If you have ever compared the two genealogies, there are only a few similarities. They both include Abraham to David and both lists share a few other names. But other than that, there are no similarities. Yet they both claim to be Joseph’s blood line.
There are a few explanations for this:
1. Some claim that one genealogy is Mary’s and the other one is Joseph’s. Genealogies of women were often attributed to the husband.
2. A more likely explanation is that Matthew is tracing the royal lineage to the throne while Luke is tracing the biological line. After David, Matthew lists the kings of Judah up until the Babylonian captivity, whereas Luke has a list of biological descendants. This distinction allows for more “jumping around” The royal descent and the blood line can be different, and the royal line can jump generations and transfer to a different line of descent. This would account for the dissimilarities.
But, either way, we come to the main point of both genealogies: Jesus is the authentic Messiah; on two counts, both by biological descent and royal descent he is the authentic Messiah.
He starts the genealogy with Abraham, to whom God’s promises of the promise land were made and with whom God made a binding covenantal arrangement, pointing out that Jesus is a part of the covenant relationship between God and His people.
He also includes Ruth and Rahab, who were both gentile women, reminding his audience that the Jewish faith was always meant to include gentiles.

This next several points is something I discovered. I could not verify it in a cursory search of commentaries, but they are still worth considering.
1. Matthew groups the descendants into 3 groups of 14 generations each. This may be a memory device, but I think there is more to it. If you adjust the math, the sets of generations become six sets of seven. Jesus is finishing the sixth set of seven generations. If you take 7 as the number of the sabbath and of completion (both based on Genesis chapters 1 and 2) then Jesus is signaling the end of completion—God has now done all He had to do on Earth to finish His work on the Earth, And the birth of Jesus will begin a time of rest from works for all people (see Hebrews 4)
2. Six sets of 7 generations also equals 42 generations, There is an echo of Revelation 11 where the gentiles are trampling the outer court of the temple for 42 months. This is between the sixth and seventh trumpets of the seven angels. The 42, or six sevens, could symbolize a period of preparation culminating in a very different reality.

Questions

Luke 1:11-38 12/13/2020

Questions can be a sensitive issue for people, especially when it comes to religion. Some people have been told that things should not be questioned; matters of religion must be accepted on faith. On the other end of that spectrum, some people raise questions that act as criticisms meant to discredit matters of faith.

Adding to the confusion is the account in the opening chapter of Luke where two different people ask very similar questions and get two very different responses from the same source. What is going on with this and what can we learn?

First, let’s take Zechariah. He is a priest and has been one for a long time. He is a righteous man married to a righteous woman. There is a note of irony here because they are childless, which is usually seen as a consequence imposed by God. He is currently in the Holy Place of the temple fulfilling the daily obligations of priests.

Suddenly, the angel Gabriel appears to him in the temple, and Zechariah is understandably shaken and caught off guard. But Gabriel is full of good news for Zachariah: He is going to have a son who will be pleasing to God and do much good for God and for the nation of Israel.

Now, here’s the catch: Zechariah asks Gabriel how he can know that what Gabriel is telling him is true. In other words: “How do I know you are telling the truth? How do I know that you are not deceiving me or lying to me?” Zechariah is implying that Gabriel—the archangel of God—might be lying.

And that did not go over well. Gabriel explains why he is so offended by Zachariah’s question. “I’m an angel—you saw me appear; and I stand in the presence of a God who doesn’t tolerate any sin or dishonesty (it wasn’t easy to get there); and we are standing in His temple which is the most holy and sacred place on this planet. And you think I might be lying?”

Keep in mind three things: 1. He had prayed for this. It had probably been a while since he last prayed that prayer, but it was his prayer. 2. There was already a precedent for this: Abraham and Sarah. Sarah was barren and both she and Abraham were well advanced in age. 3. He was a priest and had been for quite some time, so he was well studied in the first five books of the Bible. He knew the stories.

But, in spite of all this, Zechariah is leaning toward rejecting Gabriel’s message. He needs some proof before he opens himself to it.

So Zachariah’s confirmation of the news given to him is also his consequence for cynicism, suspicion, skepticism and doubt—he is struck mute.

Then there was this young girl in Galilee who was pledged to be married. All we really know about her is that she is a virgin and her name is Mary. She was about 12 or 13 years old at the time.

The angel Gabriel appears to her as well and offers her a very positive greeting, telling her she is highly favored by God. And then the angel tells her that she is going to have a baby.

Mary’s answer is interesting. She wants to know the means behind the announcement. She’s not married, and she knows that having a baby out of wedlock is discouraged by those in heaven. Instead of recoiling in apprehension or fear or even disgust, she wants how this will happen and still meet all the moral demands. Her response is not one of skepticism or doubt, but more curiosity.

So Gabriel tells her: “It will be by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

And Mary is fine with that. She answers: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” She is willing and able. Her attitude is open to God, and seeking to understand and learn more.

But at the same time, it does not assume anything. A difference between faith and presumption has to be made. I have encountered people whose faith involves presumption—sometimes to an unhealthy extent. Let me try and demonstrate the distinction with a practical example:

We believe that God is love, and rightfully so. But how do we learn what love is? Usually itstarts with family. And whatever a child experiences at home becomes his or her baseline.
One family dynamic about which I have read and have seen is the interplay between a father and mother concerning the achievements of the child. The father wants the child to succeed and excel, and when that happens there is some positive response, but the child is always encouraged to do better and to do more, so the child never experiences the satisfaction of the parents—especially the father.
Now, when the child underachieves or even fails, the father becomes angry, confrontive, insulting and critical. The mother, wanting to console the child, offers comfort and warmth and encouragement. What the child learns is that you can never please anyone, but when you fail, you get love. And these people become underachievers or chronic self-destroyers.
And, what happens when that person encounters God? “All have sinned” gets translated into “You can never please God.” And the person intentionally fails waiting for God to come and comfort and soothe him or her. And the person is always disappointed, which reinforces the idea that “you can never please God” and the cycle continues.
God wants us to ask questions. He appreciates a curious mind.
He doesn’t appreciate skepticism and suspicion and ingrained doubt (no answer will do). He also doesn’t want us to presume we already have the answer. Presumption leads to disappointment.
God wants us to be open to honest answers that we receive by study and prayer.

What’s Next?
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 12/6/2020

Those who were able to resist immediate gratification and stay focused on delayed gratification performed better in school and were more successful in life.
This could stand as an analogy for eternal decisions in life. Do we focus on what we can get now in this life, or do we store up treasures in heaven? And what happens when we get to heaven? Being Advent, we look for the Second Coming of Jesus. Most people get caught up in when that will happen. But this morning, I would like to take a look at the what will happen.
To lead up to that, let’s take a look at the history of the afterlife. What has already happened and how does that prepare the human race for what is to come.
The Old Testament presents us with the idea of sheol. Sheol was a dark and shadowy place in the center of the earth where all those who have died dwell in a semi conscience state. There was some distinction between good and wicked, and each respective group had a particular place in sheol, but everyone was in sheol; from every social class and occupation, rulers to paupers, and both Jews and Gentiles. (see Job 3:13-19 and Ezekiel 32:22-27).
By the time of Jesus, details of the place were more clearly defined, which is described in Luke 16:19-31. There was a place of torment for those who were selfish and wicked; they were cast into a lake of fire also referred to as Hades. There was also a place of beauty and rest—a plush garden—where the righteous were, called paradise. And between these two places was a great abyss that no one could cross. Again, everybody who had died were there somewhere.
And then Jesus comes along, and everything changes. He is crucified, paying for the sins of the whole world. He also died and was buried. What was He doing at that time? He tells us in Luke 23:43 that He is going to paradise—to the good side of the place where all who have died go. And He preached the good news to them—He told them what He had just accomplished, and it was definitely to Old Testament saints (1 Peter 3:18-20). And not only did He preach to them, but He freed them and brought them up to heaven. (Ephesians 4:7-8). And then, by being raised from the dead, He opened the doors of eternity. And everything is in place.

So, what happens when we die?
1. There is a distinction: sheep and goats, good and evil, forgiven and unforgiven. (Matthew 25:31-34). Nothing of an immoral of corrupt nature will be allowed into heaven. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Revelation 22:15)
2. Our earthly body ceases to function (euphemistically, the body sleeps), and our soul goes immediately to be with God in heaven. “Being absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23)
3. Our relationship with people will change. (Matthew 22:23-33)

This is the case until the Rapture; the Second Coming of Jesus. And then:
4. We get an immortal and an imperishable body. (1 Corinthians 15:35-44; 2 Corinthians 5:1-6; Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 7:17, 21:4) No sickness, no aging, no aches and pains, no injuries, no weight problems, no sadness, no want, etc.

And then, after the tribulation and the millennial reign of Jesus comes Judgement.
5. We receive our rewards for the work done in this world. (Matthew 16:27; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; Colossians 3:24.) We are rewarded for enduring persecution (Matthew 5:11-12; James 1:12), for evangelism and ministry (Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:18-20 ) and for any good that is done (Colossians 3:23-25).
6. Justice will be done (Revelation 6:9-11)
7. We will sit in judgement. (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)

And all of these conditions remain consistent for ever and ever.
So, we have decisions of which we must be constantly aware. Where do we invest our time and energy? In the things that are immediate, or the things that are eternal?

Be Alert, Watch, Be Prepared
Mark 13:26-27, 32-37 11/29/2020

Advent is a tradition that has been practiced in the church for almost 1400 years. It has been associated with Christmas, and has become the time when people shop, decorate, send out cards, attend or throw parties and exhaust themselves. But the season of Advent means so much more.
It is a preparation to celebrate Christ’s birth and consider what He has brought to humanity. But it is more than that. It is a time to evaluate one’s life and make sure that you are ready for the Second Coming of Jesus. And honestly, that may be the most pressing significance of Advent.
Once you read the Bible aware of the Second Coming, it is curious Just how much space is devoted to the topic. The first three gospels all have a long discourse from Jesus about His Second Coming, and John also sections devoted to the topic; 1 Corinthians and 1 Thessalonians have sections about it; and the Book of Revelation is essentially devoted to the topic. Just like the Old Testament was filled with prophesies about the First Coming, the New Testament has information about His Second Coming.
Since His second coming is of such significance, it is appropriate that we spend some time on this topic.
And He talks in some length about this just days before He is crucified, where He not only describes the circumstances leading up to His Second Coming, but gives His disciples strong admonition concerning it.
Why is this warning so strong (it is repeated several times in the same narrative.) The answer can be seen from a few different angles.

1. What are the upcoming circumstances? What will the world look like for the disciples? Jesus tells of horrendous circumstances to come: false messiahs and false prophets will arise who will perform miraculous signs and be very deceiving; there will be wars and international conflicts; natural disasters will arise; Christian persecution with increase; and Jerusalem and the temple will be leveled.
Why does Jesus share these details? Wars, international conflict and natural disasters were already occurring and had been since history was recorded. Christian persecution along with destruction of Jerusalem and the temple were new ideas. But they all tie into each other.
The Jewish belief in the Messianic age was one of peace and prosperity where the Jewish nation would have preeminence in the world and the Jewish people would show themselves to be God’s chosen people (especially those that followed the messiah.) Jesus’ description of the future was completely opposite. As such, His disciples would have opportunity to prepare for it and would be able to change their expectations and avoid abysmal disappointment.

2. In the stories that Jesus uses to make His point, He uses the example of servants. And being a servant involves a certain mindset which was expected. Jesus describes the attitude this was:

“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” Luke 17:7-10

So, a servant must be humble, obedient and cooperative, expecting nothing more in return than agree compensation.

3. Also, Jesus gave specific instructions of what to do and not to do:

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. Luke 21:34

Both pleasures and pressures will affect people. These are probable the most distracting circumstances we have.

“...If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38

We must always be open about our relationship with Jesus and our faith in Jesus.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Being involved with each other is good, but being involved with each other to achieve the common goal of ministry and evangelism is not just the ideal, it is the main point.

Abundant Life

John 10:10 11/22/2020

Abundant life is a term that gets a lot of usage in the wider Christian community. Many Christians believe that the abundant life that Jesus offers includes (or is limited to) wealth, health and happiness. They believe that God is generous with His blessings, and His blessings tend to be material. In some instances, it is dependent on using the right words—a person can ask God for something, but if that person doesn’t use the right terminology or the right verb tenses, his or her prayer will go unanswered.

On the other hand, have you ever found yourself in a situation where the living does not seem abundant? And you ask yourself, “Where am I in life? And where is that abundant life?”

John 10:10 is at the center of this belief in the abundant life. The NIV translates the word as “have it to the full,” as do many other English translations. But the majority of translations render is as “abundant” or “abundantly.” But that still doesn’t give us a clear picture of what Jesus was saying.

To do that fairly, we need to look at context, grammar and general word usage.

The context is Jesus speaking to the Pharisees after He had healed a man born blind. The Pharisees presume offense, thinking that Jesus is calling them blind. But Jesus tries to explain what happened in His relationship to the man who was healed. Jesus uses the analogy of a sheep pen and gate, sheep that follow the voice of a shepherd. He further describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. This latter image is referring to the crucifixion, which is a foundation to eternal life.

Later on in a different setting (same chapter) Jesus again uses the analogy of sheep listening to the shepherd’s voice and following Him. And he specifies that the shepherd gives the sheep eternal life (10:27). In fact, of the 41 times the word “life” appears in the gospel of John, 17 of those times it is paired with the word “eternal.” Further more, John has the phrase “eternal life” twice as many times as the other three gospels combined. And about the same ratio appears concerning the word “life.” So John seems to have a unique interest in life.

So, how does John define “life.” His definition may not be exactly the one that we have. John seems to define life by it’s eternal outcome:

3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life…”

So John defines life in terms of its eternal outcome. Those who know Jesus have life; those who do not have Jesus are in death even now.

And eternal life involves relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent…”

So, the full life or the abundant life is synonymous with eternal life.

And eternal life has some benefits: It is given and maintained by God’s power and by the power of Jesus. It is not maintained by our own power or actions. In that respect it is assured and guaranteed.

10:28-29 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

We are given freedom from sin and darkness.

8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Passover to Communion—3  Connecting Dots

Exodus 12:3-11  10/25/2020

              We’ve been looking at the background from the Passover seder to the church’s celebration of communion.  This week, I want to connect the two and show associations.

1. First the elements:

A. The lamb.

It must be a male without spot or blemish. It must be roasted and eaten completely, or remains were to be burned the next morning. Burning became a common practice in the sacrificial system; the rising smoke was to be a “pleasing aroma” to God.  There is a great deal of speculation concerning the command to roast the lamb and not boil it or eat it raw: 1) Raw meat would still have blood in it.  2) Roasting was quicker and would be in line with eating in preparation to leave.  3) Roasting would be more sanitary than boiling.  Anything unsavory in the lamb would be spread through the entire animal, where as roasting would better contain any spread.

Jesus, the lamb of God, was without sin. He was “sacrificed,” (not by burning, but He was still an acceptable sacrifice.) Accepting Jesus is an “all or nothing” proposition.  We can’t take a part of what He stands for; we must take Him completely and it must be a sincere faith from the heart.

B. The unleavened bread.

They ate unleavened bread because they would not have had time for the bread to rise if it had been leavened. Also, leavened bread would have become rancid relatively quickly, where as unleavened bread would have kept longer.

In the New Testament, leaven is used symbolically for corruption or the qualities of the old life (malice and wickedness), unleavened bread is symbolic of the qualities of the new life (sincerity and truth.) 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

C. The bitter herbs.

The herbs were a reminder of the bitter labor and oppression they suffered in Egypt.

We call to mind the bitterness of sin (or the bitterness that led to sin) and the oppression of evil.

2. Similarities or correlations between the two.

A. Both events are commemorations of freedom and of God’s saving actions. The events focus or remembering the saving act.

--The Hebrew people were released from slavery and forced labor. Also, the blood was the means by which they escaped the wrath of God is the taking of the firstborn.

--Christians have been set free from the bondage of sin and the spiritual oppression of evil. And we are saved from God’s wrath against sin. Romans 7:14

B. Both events indicate the creation of a new people.

--The Exodus was the event that made the Hebrew people into a nation and that were defined and guided by the terms of a covenant. Genesis 12:2; Deuteronomy 26:5

--Christians are: “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…” and we are also guided by the terms of the New Covenant. 1 Peter 2:9

C. Both the Passover and communion are to be taken corporately and at the same time—everyone is to participate. It is a gesture and an expression of unity.

Serving One Another

Romans 14:13-15:3 11/15/2020

What is service? What does it mean to serve someone? Service is becoming one of the buzz words in our culture. Many people don’t like being put on hold, hearing recordings for instructions and pushing buttons to get the right menu. People want to talk to a real person who will listen and understand. Furthermore, people want prompt action. Many companies are rated on their customer service dept.

As much as this kind of service is important, it doesn’t fully capture the Biblical idea of service, because all of the people in these situations are paid to serve, which is a contradiction of terms. In the New Testament, the term “serve” means to act like a slave. Sometimes slaves were paid; sometimes they were owned. But either way, slavery meant that, as a slave, you do what your master tells you when he tells you to do it in the way he tells you to do it.

This opens the door for us to look at some common conceptions—and misconceptions—of service in the minds of some Christians.

Some Christians believe that service and humility are paramount to the point of being “milk-toast.” Don’t argue, don’t resist, just do what is asked of you. Just like Jesus went to the cross without resisting, we should do the same—all the time.

There are several problems with this:

1. It loses sight of whom we serve primarily. We do not serve each other first. We serve God (or we serve God through Jesus) and so we need to consider the FULL example of Jesus. He who went willingly to the cross also cleansed the temple, vehemently criticized the religious leadership and refused to do miracles “on demand” when requested to do so. Jesus shows that He is serving God, and every action springs from that attitude.

2. We also must be careful not to let our service (or our beliefs) be flat or one dimensional. And we see that a lot today. For example, a common liberal Christian mantra today is “God is love.” This is true, but define Godly love. What does God’s love look like, and is it different from human love, because God’s love today has come to mean: “Absolute acceptance and encouragement for whatever differences you choose to adopt” but with no consideration of the consequences from what those choices might entail. For instance, there have been studies in the past that indicate that people who live a homosexual lifestyle have shorter life spans—some estimate by as much as 20 years shorter than heterosexuals. While that has been changing in the past 15 years, I would guess that none of you have ever heard anything about that. This sort of information has not been widely circulated. Although, wouldn’t it be a morally superior tactic to make this information readily available in non-judgmental ways so people can make informed choices.

3. Many people think that serving someone means making them happy, or, if that person becomes angry, we have failed. And the Bible even says we should please them. But the word “please” does not mean “to make happy.” It means to fulfill or to satisfy. There is a difference. If you were to switch your diet to a maximally healthy diet, and you start to lose weight and feel better, you would be pleased. But it doesn’t mean you like the food.

4. And that is because making someone happy is not a part of serving. It’s great when it happens, but it doesn’t necessarily end up that way. Because, the goal of serving is to build up and strengthen their faith. And faith is like a muscle—it gets stronger by using it, and that is work.

Sometimes it is easy to know what to do to “serve” someone in this manner: someone calls and says: “I need to talk. Do you have some time?” or “What do you think of this? Be honest.”

But sometimes it is more difficult. When you have to have conversations like: “You’ve been missing a lot of work lately. What’s going on?” or “You were acting pretty erratic last night. Why was that?” or even, “A lot of money is missing from my purse or wallet and there things missing from around the house. Do you know anything about this?” This form of service may not be welcomed, or met kindly and honestly. And it may take a long time of “serving” this way to get results. But this is the more important kind of service that we can give to one another.

Considering God’s Anger
Psalm 78:56-66 11/8/2020

Anger is a misunderstood emotion, and has been distorted through time. As children, we are often taught not to make our parents or our teachers angry, and we aren’t supposed to get angry ourselves. Sometimes, when someone is angry at another person, he or she will withhold their love from that other person—temporarily or permanently. Many people think that being angry is a sin. And, as a result, anger is suppressed and misdirected and disguised as something else.
Considering how far people will go to avoid anger, we have to ask: “How should we view God’s anger?” Is it strictly an Old Testament thing? Did God’s temperament change? What is it we can learn if we consider God’s anger?
First, what makes God angry? When I looked up “God’s anger” and “God is angry,” the main circumstance upon which God’s anger was focused was upon the idolatry of His people. Psalm 78 is a long psalm about the folly of God’s people (and they were guilty of much folly) And paganism seems to be behind most of the incidents that made God angry. The Hebrew people found the paganism of their neighbors irresistible. Maybe it was their attempt to be on good terms with their neighbors. Maybe the carnal nature of paganism was too much of a temptation. But whatever the reason, idolatry was the leading cause of God’s anger in the Old Testament.
Another cause of anger, or at least a circumstance that compounded their sins, was unrepentant sin. One classic example of this is from Numbers 25:1-11

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.
The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”
So Moses said to Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death those of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.”
Then an Israelite man brought into the camp a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting. When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear into both of them, right through the Israelite man and into the woman’s stomach. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000. The Lord said to Moses, “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned My anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal.

On the one hand, it is pretty brazen to openly and blatantly commit the very sin for which your kinsmen are going to be killed, and for which they are lamenting.
But one the other hand, with one zealous action, the fate of many men among the Hebrew people was spared.
Is this immaterial since it is Old Testament? Does that have any bearing on us today?
I Corinthians 10:6-11 tells us that the lessons from the Old Testament very much apply to the New Testament.

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

There is still idolatry. Colossians 3:5-6

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

Greed (wanting to have everything) = idolatry.

God’s anger (or disapproval) is a good sign. He still cares about us and loves us in His anger.
Hebrew 12:4-11 sums up this thought:

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

And, in the ending of psalm 78, we find that God did not abandon His people in spite of their constant infidelity.

He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever. He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

The Early Church—part 4

Acts 21:17-22     9/6/2020

             What happens that causes the people of God to go off course?  How is it that some churches change for the worse?  And why can’t they see it?

             I’ve been looking at the early church as an example of the best that the church can be.  That is Christianity fresh and new, before major heresies have time to creep in.  The core leaders had been with Jesus.  They listened to His teaching, they watched Him perform miracles.  It doesn’t get much better than that.  So it is surprising and even alarming how quickly we see the church at Jerusalem change and not for the better.

PRELUDE

Paul is returning to Jerusalem from his third missionary.  He isn’t sure what is up, but he receives several messages that would make someone leery:

1. Acts 20:22 The Holy Spirit communicates that there will be hardship in every city he visits.

2. Acts 20:25 Paul does not believe he will see these people again.

3. Acts 21:10-16 The prophet Agabus shows and tells Paul what will happen in Jerusalem. But he goes anyway.

There are times we get “a feeling” that something is not right, but can’t quite “put our finger on things.”

PROBLEM

Acts 21:20-22 

1. The leaders of the church inform Paul that all the believers there are very “Zealous for the law.” They are Christians but want to live like devout Jews.

2. Word has gotten back to Jerusalem that Paul is teaching believing Jews to ignore the law completely. c. Furthermore, the leaders caution Paul that the people will hear that he has arrived in Jerusalem.

The implication is that this will create an unruly and dangerous situation for Paul.  (The church seems to assume that—since they are zealous for the law—all believing Jews should do the same.)

PROPOSED SOLUTION

Acts 21:23-24  The church elders instruct Paul to pay for and participate in the purification of several others.  The thinking is: if the believers see Paul participating in and paying for a Jewish ritual, they will know the accusations are not true.

THINGS GO AWRY

Acts 21:27  Jews from Asia (where Ephesus was located) come to Jerusalem, see Paul, and continue to stir up trouble for him.

THE CROWD’S REACTION

1. Acts 21:30 As an angry mob. They seize Paul.

2. Acts 21:31 The intent of the mob is to kill Paul.

DEBRIEF: WHAT ARE THE RED FLAGS?

1. Acts 21:20-22 The church leaders seem to have stepped back and taken a passive role. They say, “What shall we do?” suggesting that they feel powerless.

Where is the authority of and respect for the leadership of the church shown in Acts 15?

Where is the devotion of the people to “the teaching of the apostles” described in Acts 2:42

The decision of belief and practice seems to have been transferred to the people.  Where are the people who study the Bible “to see if these things are so?”

1. The accusations to which the people are responding are exaggerations and assumptions. They are not true.. Acts 21:27  Paul taught “against” nothing.  And his accusers assumed Paul had brought a gentile into the temple, but hadn’t witnessed it themselves.

Where are the fact checkers?

1. Both Jewish law and Roman law require a thorough trial before the death penalty can be carried out.

             When was the trial?  Where are the witnesses?  Where is the impartial judge?  This is a vigil ante lynching that the gentile law doesn’t even condone.

1. Where is the church? Where are people of faith who will stand up on behalf of what is right and fair and good?

In the turmoil of events, we never see the church identified.  The implication is that they have blended into the general population.  The church had lost its distinctive character described earlier in Acts (2:42-47; 4:32-33; 5:12-13)

The situation was so dire that it can be described as the church persecuting the church.

Early Church Life  part 3

Acts 17:16-34   8/30/2020

              Paul had not intended to go to Athens on this missionary journey.  He was brought to Athens for his safety, and he was waiting for his traveling companions.  While at Athens, he saw the widespread pagan idolatry, which distressed him.

(The idolatry of Athens was well known.  I offer two quotes as examples [there are many more]:  1. PETRONIUS, who was contemporary with St. Paul, says of Athens: “Our region is so full of deities that you may more frequently meet with a god than a man.”  2. Pausanias (Greek traveler, geographer, and writer [Description of Greece] of the 2nd century AD) said, “ There was no place where so many idols were to be seen.”

In Paul’s reaction to Athens there was a great irony: Athens was famous and held in high regard for literature, sculpture, drama, intellectual pursuits, architecture and philosophy to name a few.  It was the seat of culture and enlightenment in the ancient world.  However, Paul was not impressed by all that—he was disturbed by the paucity of true spiritual enlightenment.

Epicureans: This sect of philosophers denied that the world was created by God but was the effect of a fortuitous concourse of atoms.  They denied that the gods exercised any care or providence over human affairs.  They also denied the immortality of the soul.

        One of the distinguishing doctrines of Epicurus was that pleasure was the chief good, and that virtue was to be practiced only as it contributed to pleasure.  By pleasure Epicurus meant rational pleasure, properly regulated and governed.

Stoics:  The doctrines of this sect were: that the Universe was created by God; that all things were fixed by fate; that even God was under the dominion of fatal necessity; that the fates were to be submitted to; that nothing good was received from the hands of their gods; that the passions and affections were to be suppressed and restrained; that happiness consisted in the insensibility of the soul to pain; and that a man should gain an absolute mastery over all the passions and affections of his nature. They were stern in their views of virtue prided themselves on their own righteousness and that any good and wise man was equal to Jupiter himself.

        Both these sects agreed in denying the resurrection of the body; and the Epicureans did not believe in the immortality of the soul.

        The Areopagus was a hill not far from the Acropolis (upper city of Athens) where the supreme court of justice was held.  It was considered one of the most sacred and reputable courts that had ever existed in the Gentile world.

        Paul was brought there because the accusation that he was preaching strange gods and strange worship was a violation of the laws of both Athens and Rome.  He was essentially on trial.  Being on trial, the Athenians would think they had to right to judge Paul’s doctrine.

_ ______________________________________________________

What points remind you of modern day circumstances?

______________________________________________________

There are several aspects of Paul’s sermon that bear noting:

1. He takes a very positive approach, connecting with the culture and beliefs of the Athenians. He acknowledges that they are “religious;” he references the idol to the unknown god (this has been extensively substantiated through references of the time); and he references their poets to make a connection between God and people.

2. By referencing the idol to the unknown God, he avoids the accusation of presenting strange or new gods. He is explaining what they already believe in and honor. Since the idol was there long before Paul, no one can say it’s a new god.  And since it is acknowledged as “unknown,” no one can dispute Paul’s claims about that god.

3. He attributes creation to God and he affirms the resurrection of the body, both of which are points of dispute among the different parties.

        The response that Paul receives is underwhelming.  There is no rioting or violent persecution, but few people respond to the gospel.  The account offers several possible reasons why.

1. As noted before, when sitting in judgement on something, this puts one above whatever is being judged. The one judging holds the power of approval or disapproval.

2. The Athenians had no biblical/Godly criteria by which to judge.

3. The Athenians were known for hearing any idea. It doesn’t mean they accepted every idea. The ability to hold ideas at an intellectual distance can afford someone the ability to understand an idea without agreeing with it or subscribing to it.

_____________________________________________________________

How does this situation mirror our culture today?

What can we learn from Paul’s experience in Athens that could help us share the gospel today in our world?

______________________________________________________

Early Church part 2

Acts 12:1-4  8/23/2020

              The early church and in particular the first apostles got a widely mixed reception from their hearers.  On the one hand, people often flocked to the apostles to hear their message or to be healed.  And the early church grew at an unprecedented rate.  And the followers of the Way generally had the respect of their communities.

              However, there was also opposition and persecution.  A small but determined section of the population consistently and actively opposed both the message and the messengers of the gospel.

          Persecution started out mild.

1. Peter and his associates were put in prison three times:

2. The first time was for doctrinal issues. (from Acts 4:1-2)

4 The priests...and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were...proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  (the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection)

1. The second time was for disobeying the direct orders of the Sadducees. (Acts 5:28)

28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

1. The third time was political. (Acts 12:1-3)

...King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also...and put him in prison.

1. There were other circumstances leading to persecutions.

2. People do not like losing debates. It makes them feel insecure and threatened. And it threatens their comfort zone. (Acts 6:8-15)

9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen...who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.  11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

1. People do not like having their status or reputation threatened. (Acts 7:51-58)

51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.  (which led to Stephen being stoned.)

1. People become jealous of other people’s success. (Acts 13:44-45)

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

1. People don’t like it when faith interferes with business and cuts into profits. (Acts 16:16-19 and 19:24-27)

...we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling...Paul... turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.  19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.

24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

Early Church Life part 1

Acts 2:37-47   8/16/2020

              Have you ever thought what it would have been like to be a part of the early church—when the gospel was revolutionary and everything was fresh? 

Have you ever wondered how the current church stacks up when compared to the early church? 

The day of Pentecost, Acts chapter 2, is considered the birthday of the church.  It is the day where the disciples receive the power to fulfill the great commission.  And that chapter gives us some important insights about the church when it was very young.

1. The early church had a powerful and a convicting message. 37 When the people heard (Peter’s message), they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” and delivered it at every opportunity no matter the cost.-

   They did not conduct surveys to see what would attract people (marketing).-

   They did not water down the message in order to avoid offending people. (compromise)-

   They did not take parts of the message out of context to make their message more attractive.  (prosperity gospel)-

   They did not invite people to interpret the message in their own way. (relativism and individualism)

2. They had clear priorities. 42 They devoted themselves:

   A   to the apostles’ teaching (doctrine)

   B 1 to fellowship, to the breaking of bread (authentic fellowship )

   C  and to prayer. (devoutness)

   D 1   43  Everyone was filled with awe (positive public opinion)

   E  at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. (manifestation of God’s presence)  

   F  44  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  45  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (tangible faith-based financial commitment)

   B 2   46  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, (authentic fellowship)

   D 2   47  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. 

   G  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (God-directed results.)

   What weak areas do you see in the modern church?

   What strengths do you see in the modern church?

   Are their any weaknesses you have considered strengths?

Secrets

Ephesians 5:3-14   8/9/2020

Everyone—Christians included—live in an “All man’s land.”  It’s the opposite of a “No man’s land,” because all people live in this area.  It is the land of imperfection.  And everyone chooses how he or she lives with that reality.  Unfortunately, most people—Christian and non-Christian alike—choose to deal with it the same: people try to keep parts of it—the most embarrassing and compromising parts—secret and hidden,

Of course, you might say, “What’s wrong with that?  Are we supposed to wear our sins on our sleeve for the whole world to see?  Imagine what would happen.  In fact, we already know what would happen.  Just look at the news.”  And surely, our media and our culture are not good at handling the faults of others.  And sometimes, Christians are the worst at handling the sins of others.

But, as the people of God who stand for mercy, forgiveness and grace, we should be the best at handling the worst of people, and we need to understand that hiding and keeping secrets is as unhealthy as any sin itself.

What happens when we work at keeping our faults a secret?

1. We live a lie and have dual identities, and we are always focused on putting our “best foot forward” and making sure no one sees the other foot. This ends up being works based righteousness, and we stunt our own spiritual growth. (Galatians 5:2-3)  Also, consider that admitting our sins is how we deal with our sins.  (1 John 1:8-2:2)Sin and faults are a part of the human condition.  We were all “in darkness” at one time or another, and not all habits change or stop at the moment of conversion.

2. We harm our self esteem and believe that “no one would like me if they knew the real me.”

3. We become like non-Christians. Practically speaking, there is no difference.

4. We undermine the mission of the church, because we inadvertently communicate that you have to be good enough to come to church. If everyone is putting their best foot forward, people with no good foot will feel out of place and awkward in church.

   Take always:

   1. Our behavior springs from our identity. We do not establish our identity by our behavior. (Since we are light, let us live like children of light, not in darkness).  This suggests that we are in a process of becoming, but haven’t arrived completely, yet.

   2. We were part of darkness, so we should understand darkness and be able to speak to it “in the light.”

   3. We need to learn how to encourage people out of darkness into greater light.

Jeremiah 18:1-10

What Kind of Clay?  8/2/2020

Back in college, to fulfill my basic requirements, I took a ceramics course.  It was about the different methods used to make pottery—excluding the wheel.  I learned a lot about clay, which sheds some light on Jeremiah 18 and other passages with the same theme.Clay is an easily accessible and a versatile material.  All you have to do is dig it up and maybe mix in a little water and you have a pliable medium that can be used to make cookware, tableware and building materials.It’s asset lies in the fact that it’s very soft and pliable and can take just about any shape. That is the analogy that God is using through Jeremiah to describe His relationship with Israel: God is the potter, taking the prerogative to shape the clay into whatever form He sees fit.  The job of the clay is to be passively moldable into whatever shape the potter chooses for it.

However, the people of Israel were not anything like clay.  They were not cooperative, they were not moldable.  And God knows what their answer will be: (Jeremiah 18:11-12  11  “Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the  Lord  says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’   12  But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’”Why would they do that?  Why would they openly defy the command of God?  The answer lies in Jeremiah 44:16-18  16  “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the  Lord!   17  We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm.   18  But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.”The people were dug into their interpretation of reality. 

As far as they could tell, things were good when they served the Queen of Heaven, and they started to go down hill when they stopped.  The response of the people show two parts of their attitude:Their experience of the events is based on their wellbeing and its connection with serving the Queen of Heaven. There is no regard for messages from God through the prophets and how those affected their circumstances.They are going to serve the one that they believe will give them what they want at the moment. There is no regard for the character of the god they serve. (see Jeremiah 7:30-31)So, what steps must they take?  How might they solve their dilemma?They have to change their attitude and relinquish their pride. They have become “sassy clay” (Isaiah 45:9-10  “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground.  Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’  Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?10  Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’”Accept the “preparation” that makes the clay more usable and improves the quality. (Isaiah 41:25 “I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes—one from the rising sun who calls on my name.  He treads on rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter treading the clay.Confession, appeal, and renewal Isaiah 64:7-9  No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you;  for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.           Yet you,  Lord , are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.  9  Do not be angry beyond measure,  Lord ; do not remember our sins forever.  Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people.

About Promises 
Matthew 5:33-37 7/26/2020

I have been noticing a subtle but prevalent trend in television shows. Characters quite often make promises to other people of success before they even begin a task. It is especially common in adventure shows and police shows. Someone from the show is missing, and the main character tells the concerned family and friends, “Don’t worry. I’ll find them and bring them back safely.” They have no idea where to find that person or even what happened to him or her, but they are promising success. 
You might be saying, “Big deal. What’s wrong with that? We need to be more positive.” TV affects the culture that watches—especially young viewers. And to encourage this kind of behavior has a number of pitfalls, whether the promise is fulfilled or not.

If the promise is fulfilled: 
1. It gives the impression that a person with determination can solve any problem. 
2. It promotes the idea that people are self-sufficient. 
3. It promotes the idea that we are in control. 
All three assertions run contrary to faith. It encourages people to have faith in themselves, not in God.

If the promise is not fulfilled: 
1. It causes the person to whom the promise is made to lose trust in the one who made the promise. Since relationships are built on trust, it will harm or prevent a healthy relationship.. 
2. It causes the person to whom the promise is made to lose respect for the person who made the promise. Often more than respect for the person is lost, but also matters with which that person is associated. If the person is openly religious, it could cause others to lose respect for God. 
3. It creates low self-esteem in both the one to whom the promise is made and the one making the promise. The first feels devalued; the second feels guilty and self-critical. 
4. Broken promises cause disappointment. If the behavior is repeated, disappointment can become anger; anger can become resentment. This will destroy a relationship and the individual. 
5. People will tend to mirror this trait: especially children will copy the behavior and become promise breakers themselves. 
6. In casual conversation, people sometimes invoke the name of God with a promise/vow: “I swear to God…” This violates the first commandment, shows a low respect for the name of God and encourages others to do the same.

In Matthew 5:33-36, Jesus is addressing not just promises but the matter of swearing an oath by something: by heaven, by the earth, by Jerusalem or by one’s own head. At the time, swearing an oath had become quite a complicated matter with caveats and loopholes. A person could swear an oath that was not binding. (See Matthew 23:18-22) And people were prone to swear oaths often, which ultimately devalued oaths. (Note, this does not refer to swearing an oath in a formal judicial setting.) 
Jesus saw a problem with swearing by anything: to swear by anything is to swear by something that the person does not own, does not have consent to use by the real owner and cannot be controlled by the one swearing. Therefore it is useless at best and manipulative at worst. 

Then Jesus goes on to make another assertion, and to better understand it, you have to understand that oaths in common conversation in the Old Testament were never commanded per se. What was commanded was: if you are going to swear an oath, swear honestly with the intent of following through. So, Jesus is not negating the Old Testament when He says to not swear by anything. He is getting to the heart of the matter, emphasizing that a person’s word to do something or not do something should be enough (yes be yes and no be no). Swearing an oath on something or by something should not be necessary. 
There were others at the time who frowned upon making oaths or who forbade it. And these people were considered to have great integrity, because you knew that they meant exactly what they said—no more and no less.

So, how can we be true to our words and avoid breaking a promise? 
1. Be mindful of your words. A casual comment to one person can be a binding agreement to another. Practice clarifying, no matter which side of “the equation” you are on. Make sure you understand what is and is not being promised. 
2. Know your limitations and your priorities. There are practical limits we must acknowledge. 
3. Be considerate. Don’t weedle or fudge. And communicate if circumstances change. 
4. Understand yourself. Often we have personal psychological/emotional reasons that cause us to make promises, even if we know we cannot keep them. We may want to be liked, we want to see ourselves as the rescuer hero, we want to avoid conflict, we feel guilty if we say no. These motivations seldom serve us well or create good outcomes. We may need to do some self examination. 
5. Accept reality. We cannot change the laws of physics and time.

Lies

Romans 3:9-20  7/19/2020

             As many of you know, my undergraduate degree is in theater.  Because of that, I may be familiar with a few more stage plays than the average pastor.  I’ve got some favorites, but I also have my least favorites.  And among my least favorites is the 1945 musical Carousel by Rogers and Hammerstine .  The reason I dislike it so is because of the main characters and the plot.  The male lead starts out as a carnival barker—and a bit of a womanizer.  He is smitten by one of the carnival patrons, a young lady years younger than he, who is equally smitten by him.  Within a month, they are married.           

The male lead had lost his job over the relationship, and because of his lack of work, had become sullen and irritable.  We find that he had struck his wife, and is labeled a wife-beater.         

Desperate for money, he agrees to help with a robbery.  However, he ends up gambling his take away before he even earns it.  .Then, the robbery goes bad, he is caught and decides to commit suicide instead of get caught.          

Jump ahead 15 years.  He has a daughter who is graduating high school—a lonely, bitter and angry girl because of her father’s reputation.  Meanwhile, up in heaven, we find that the male lead did not have enough good deeds to get into heaven.  He is allowed one day back on earth to rectify that.  So he steals a star from heaven and goes to earth to redeem himself.          

At the very end, the male lead redeems himself by getting his daughter to stand up and join in the final chorus.  And that is all it takes to redeem him. I have several problems with this

1 Issues of spousal abuse and suicide are not matters for entertainment—especially when they get glossed over and are simply causes for sympathy without dealing with the deeper issues.

2 The show is a lie: people are not sent back to redeem themselves and there is no quota of good that people must do to get to heaven.

3 The show offers false hope in the face of tragedy.         

Now this show debuted on Broadway in 1945.  However these issues are still around today as prevalent as they have ever been.          Certainly abuse and suicide are still huge issues that keep growing from year to year.  And they tend to be “secret acts” that people don’t like to talk about.

But what I want to focus on this morning is 2 and 3.  The idea of people redeeming themselves and being good enough to get to heaven is patently untrue, and it gives a false hope to all who believe  it.           

The fact of the matter is, the bible (and God) do not have an “up with people” point of view.  Romans 6 states two basic principles: 1. People fall woefully short of God’s standard of perfection, and 2. This applies to all people equally.  No one (except Jesus) is exempt.         

But the idea of a loving, permissive God has overshadowed traditional theology and made repentance, forgiveness and redemption obsolete.  This new perspective of love has taken one of the most important concepts of God and made it one of the most harmful.         

And there a number of expressions of it:Some people say, “People are beaten down enough. They need to hear something positive and encouraging.” Well, in as much as it encourages something true and helpful, then yes, that is true.  But, if it perpetuates something harmful and untrue, then it’s a problem.         

The above is like someone saying, “I wish my doctor would stop interfering in my life and trying to tell me how to live.  His job is to give me prescriptions that make me feel better regardless how I live my life.”  Or a lawyer saying:  “I don’t want to discourage clients by telling them their case won’t win.  I want to give them hope (at $200.00 an hour.)Others say: “It’s all how you treat others, Right? Just be nice to family, friends and co-workers and God will be good to you.”            

But people don’t realize that doesn’t really count as anything.  Jesus said: (Matthew 5:46-48.) 46  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?   47  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?   48  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.Still others may say: “I’m not that bad. I’m not like this person or that person.” forgetting that Jesus told a parable about someone like that.  (Luke 18:9-14) 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’      13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”           

We only claim our righteousness by admitting our lack of it and sincerely appealing to God through Jesus.         

Sometimes, we only realize how much we need a savior in retrospect.  Paul, before conversion, was about as righteous as a person could get—in the eyes of Jewish religious leaders.  Paul described his pre-conversion self like this: (Philippians 3:4-6) 4  though I myself have reasons for such confidence.  If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:  5  circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;  6  as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.          

In contrast, after conversion, he described himself this way: 1 Timothy 1:15-16  15  Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.   16  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.          

He came to realize who he really was in the eyes of God, and how much mercy and forgiveness was worth.           

Saying that people are fallen sinners is not a criticism—it is a way of relieving the worry and burden of being good enough—a vague concept at best, and everyone describes it a little bit different.  But faith in Jesus Christ is sure, reliable and free to all who receive it. 

Your Life Matters part 3
Galatians 3:26-29 7/12/2020

I think the hardest challenge for the evangelical community today is how to address the LGBTQ community. On the one hand, church everywhere seem to be putting up rainbow doors to show support of the community. On the other hand, more conservative churches insist that an alternative lifestyle is unbiblical and immoral.There are three principles that I have found over the years that help me deal with the LGBTQ community:
1. Alternative lifestyle—especially same sex attraction—is not just one thing. By that I mean that I have known people who have lived gay life styles for different reasons: heterosexual relationships had been disastrous, curiosity and experimentation, anger at one’s parents and wanting to embarrass them just to name a few reasons. Some people struggle against it; others embrace it; and still others have expressed it as a dysfunction. Since each situation has unique circumstances, each should be dealt with individually. Broad general statements do not fit every situation.
2. Especially concerning transgender, I do not understand it. How you can be born with male DNA and male physicality but claim female gender identity and vice versa is beyond me. I simply don’t understand how that can happen, and happen as frequently as it seems to today. So, since I don’t really understand it, I cannot justifiably support it or approve it.
3. By the same token, since I don’t really understand it, I also forego my right to criticize it. To comment on something that is not understood is to speak in ignorance, not truth.These are some of my personal principles. What does the bible have to say? How might it speak to today’s situation?
First, let me say that some verses don’t really apply to the issue. The story about Sodom and Gomorrah is not about homosexuality per se. The action of the mob would have been gang rape and murder.
I believe that homosexuality is listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (some people debate the exact meaning of several terms), but it is listed along with other sins with no distinction made about it.
However, the most compelling perspective I find in the Bible is from Galatians 3:26-29. In Christ, there is no male or female, for we are all sons of God. This has several implications:
1. God does not make any allowance or special provision based on gender. Everyone stands equally before God, regardless of gender.
2. Everyone in the church being called “a son” (not just a boy) was a tremendous boon for women. The eldest son inherited the bulk of the father’s property and wealth. In all but a few rare cases, daughters did not inherit any of the estate. Women had very few rights. To put men and woman on the same level was an elevation for women.

This brings us to another realization: there is no gender in heaven.
In Matthew 22:30 & Mark 12:25 Jesus tells the Sadducees that there is no marriage in heaven. People are like angels before God.
In Revelation 7:9, the multitude before the throne of God is described as a multitude ethnically, but neither gender nor social class is mentioned.
If gender is temporal but souls are eternal, and emphasis should be put on the soul of a person, not the gender.

Your Life Matters—Eternally—part 2 
Your Life Matters—part 2 Immigration 
Numbers 15:13-16

7/5/2020

Immigration is an overwhelming and a shifting problem that has been an issue for a while. For that reason, any solution will take years to implement. 
And, I’m not so much as offering a solution as giving you some issues to think about concerning immigration and—more importantly—immigrants. 
And, for the most part, I’m using very broad brushstrokes to address this issue. I didn’t want to get into specific cases, because people often mistakenly take a specific incident and let it stand for the whole.

The first challenge in addressing immigration is to define it. Immigration is: large numbers of a particular people group (either geographic or ethnic) moving into the territory or among the ranks of a different people group in order to live there for an unspecified but long-term period of time. 
It is important to define it so that we can reasonably find a proper Biblical context. Some biblical passages have been applied to this situation, but most I find have not been used responsibly. 
Although, there is a wealth of information in the Bible concerning immigration. Starting in the Old Testament at the very beginning of the Jewish people as a nation, there were open boundaries concerning other people groups.

1. The Exodus from Egypt involved more than just Jewish people. (Exodus 12:38—many other people left with the Jews.)

2. The law from Mount Sinai addressed the issue of immigrants and foreigners living among and around the Jewish people. There were two main points: 
A. Do not mistreat foreigners. (Exodus 22:21) 
B. The same laws apply to the native-born and the foreigner living among you (same practices and consequences. Numbers 15:14-16)

3. The practice of incorporating foreigners into the nation continues throughout Jewish history: 
A. Boaz, (David’s great grandfather) was half Canaanite (His mother was Rahab.) 
B. Boaz married Ruth, a Moabite, making his son (Obed, David’s grandfather) half Moabite and one quarter Canaanite. 
C. David would have been genetically 18.75% foreign (12.5% Moabite & 6.25% Canaanite) but was considered 100% Jewish.

Interestingly enough, in the first century AD, Roman had one of the best immigration practices in history. The Roman government knew that their economy and power required a constant inflow of fresh blood. The Romans saw people as an exploitable commodity. 
Some foreigners came as slaves; others came voluntarily. 
When immigrants came to the Roman boarder, the Romans would: 
1. Confiscate all weapons. 
2. Divide the group into smaller groupings and distribute them to underpopulated areas. This helped make some regions more productive and increased the Roman tax base. 
3. Pledge a number of their men to the Roman military. 
4. Make them swear allegiance to Rome. 
5. Rome also stressed their core values throughout their culture, and they were successful in indoctrinating newcomers. These values included: honor, loyalty, the military and the state. It is thought by some that this program of indoctrination aided greatly in assimilating foreigners and keeping them in line.

So, from both scripture and history, what are some principles we can gather: 
1. Do not mistreat (or allow mistreatment) of foreigners or immigrants. Immigrants are a vulnerable group who are easily exploited. (Note: Some people believe that immigrants increase crime rates. While this may be true is some specific areas, overall, figures indicate that immigrants commit less crimes than native born citizens. Furthermore, when immigrants more into and areas, the crime rate either stays the same of decreases slightly.) 
2. Immigrants should observe and be subject to the laws of the land. This includes vetting individuals before allowing them into the country. There should be no special consideration for nor particular special bias against them. 
3. Immigrants represent a potential asset for our country. If they were more easily allowed citizenship, they could be taxed and traced more easily. Keeping them from becoming citizens encourages working under the table, thus reducing number of jobs and base salary for citizens. However, immigrants are still eligible for public assistance and do not pay taxes into that system to support it.

Your Life Matters—Eternally part 1 
Colossians 3:11-13 6/28/2020

There are several sensitive, pervasive and even explosive issues going around in our societies today, as you well know. Democrat verses Republican, Trump verses Biden, Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, Immigration and the rights and support of immigrants, Sexual orientation and gender identity. These are the main issues filling the headlines, but I’m sure more could be named. 
Bring up any of these topics, and there is a good chance that debate, argumentation, division, acrimony and anger will more than likely ensue. People are reluctant to express their views for fear abuse from others. We as human beings are being challenged as to how we should appropriately respond, let alone how we should respond as people of faith. 
Part of our duty as Christians is to seek justice and stand up for the oppressed. That is one of the things we should do. As much as we should pursue this, we need to be just as intentional about how we do it, which is what I would like to pursue in the next few weeks. This week, Racism. What is the biblical view of ethnicity and racial diversity. 
The Bible affirms the reality of racial diversity. There are lists of people groups and clans and races throughout the bible. 
However, those lists are not meant to divide, only identify. And they happen to show God’s universal acceptance of all people equally. And we see this throughout—especially in the Church: 
From the first day of its inception, the church was ethnically diverse. Acts 2:9-11 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs”. 
The vision of the future church is also a racially diverse picture: Revelation 7:9 9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

I fear society has manipulated the issues in such a way that a person has to pick a side, and society has dictated the sides. You are either a sympathizer and a full supporter, or you are an oppressor and a something-ophobe: a Xenophobe or a homophobe or an Islamophobe. 
This polarized view is incomplete and does not offer more insightful alternatives. In stead of Black Lives Matter or White Lives Matter or Blue Lives Matter or LGBTQ Lives Matter, I would like to suggest an alternative: Your Life Matters. Your Life Matters—Eternally. This phrase captures more of a biblical point of view, because God is not primarily concerned with what divides us, but rather our response to what should unify us. 
In Colossians 3:11-13, Paul makes a radical statement: 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. This implies that God doesn’t look at your nationality None of these things are of first importance. What matters is your relationship with Jesus.

I believe we should use the phrase “Your Life matters—Eternally.” 
1. Gives each person a dignity and value. Don’t listen to what others say about you. Your life matters. 
2. It reminds you that you are accountable for your actions. Your life matters, and what you do with it is important and how you treat others is important.. Their lives matter just as much. 
3. It makes any issue personal. To make a sweeping statement about any group or nationality is to keep the matter impersonal. Black lives, Blue lives, LGBTQ lives. Each group becomes little more than a stereotype of someone else’s biases. But to look someone in the eye and to get to know that personally puts the situation in a completely different light.

Lessons from Solomon

1 Kings 4:29-34  06/21/2020

              Solomon is known as the wisest and richest person in his time and, perhaps, for all time.  He brought the nation of Israel into it’s golden age—with the most prosperity, territory and international peace that the nation has ever known or would again.

              While Solomon stands on a pinnacle politically and economically, his spiritual condition is another matter.  In that respect, he is a paradox and stands as a warning to all people.

Ascent to  the Throne

He holds the distinction of being the third king of Israel (4th, if you count Adonijah, who was self appointed) and the last king of the undivided kingdom.  He was publicly coronated and announced as the king by King David himself (1:Kings 1:43-48.)  [This is in contrast to David, who was secretly anointed as king by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:12-13) but did not claim kingship until after Saul’s death (2 Samuel 2:7) and was not installed until all opposition had been quelled (2 Samuel 5:3)].  And he also established his kingdom by eliminating all opposition (1 Kings 2:46).

Spiritual Guidance

At several significant times, Solomon was given positive spiritual guidance to follow the whole law of Moses:

1. At David’s death-bed charge to Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-4)

2. God Himself appeared to Solomon several times, telling Him to follow His laws and decrees, stating the promise that will follow and the warning of what will happen if he does not. (1 Kings 3:14; 6:11-13, 9:4-7)

3. Solomon affirms his understanding and agreement with the direction given by his father and by God.

4. God gave Solomon more wisdom, understanding and insight than anyone had ever had before.

Solomon’s Weaknesses and Downfalls

1. Solomon continued to sacrifice to the pagan high places throughout the land (1 Kings 3:1-4). This was an notable and early exception to the laws and decrees of God.

2. Comparing the basic details of the temple to his palace, there was a disproportionate emphasis on his palace.: (1 Kings 6:2) The temple that King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty wide and thirty high. (1 Kings 6:38)  In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it. (1 Kings 7:1-2) It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace. He built the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty wide and thirty high.

3. He flagrantly violated a command given directly to the king (Deuteronomy 17:16-20) over 400 years before Solomon became king:

16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 

(1 Kings 10:26-29)  Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. ..Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue..They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty.

17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. 

(1 Kings 11:1-3)  King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.  (1 Kings 10:14-15)    The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the territories. (10:23) King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.

18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.  

There is no evidence that he did this at all, and ample that he ignored it completely.

Solomon’s unfaithfulness led to the near termination of the Davidic line in all but one tribe and the division of the kingdom  (1 Kings 11:9-13).

His life is a warning and a challenge to all of us: Are there issues in our lives that stand between us and God—or at least, that we allow to stand between us and God?

No one is perfect, but sometimes issues get the best of us, or we even inadvertently encourage them.  Honestly and prayerfully examine yourself to see what areas God might want you to open up to His love and holiness.

Pleasing God (Making God Happy) 
Ephesians 5:8-12 6/14/2020In Ephesians 5:8-12

Paul instructs the believers to “seek what pleases God.” This tells us: 
1. We can know what pleases God. 
2. We can do what pleases God. 
3. Knowing how to please God is not innate, instinctive or intuitive. It must be sought out.

Conditions for pleasing God: 
1. Hebrews 11:6 One must have faith in God to please God. That faith includes: 
a. Believe that God exists. 
b. Earnestly seek God. 
2. Romans 8:8 One must be led by the Spirit and not the flesh.

Some actions that are pleasing to God. 
1. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 Praying for those in authority, which (hopefully) results in leading peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and holiness. 
Some definitions: 
Holiness: To be set apart for a particular purpose, to be dedicated to something. This is more than an assignment; it becomes an identity that produces behavior.
Sanctify: Essentially the same as holiness. 
Godliness: devotion, worship.

2. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Sharing the gospel out of sincerity.

3. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-10 Paul addresses two basic issues here: 
a. A moral lifestyle. Paul admonishes them to abstain from sensuality and sexuality. 
b. Fellowship and community dynamics. Paul commends them for practicing brotherly love, and then encourages them to practice more of it.

Tough Times and Temptation
1 Corinthians 10:1-13

No one disagrees with the fact that we are living in tough times: Corona virus, murder hornets, race riots, flooding, etc. The way these circumstances impact your life might cause you to question God and weaken your faith. And if not you then maybe someone you know. This is a time of temptation.
The word temptation, along with the words trial and test, are almost always translations of the same Greek word in the New Testament. The word refers to: 1. anything that threatens a person’s relationship with God and weakens it, and 2. a situation that requires a decision—ultimately for God or not for God, but for something else (usually one’s self).
Generally, this section addresses those people who may be struggling with various issues of temptation. Specifically, it is addressing the issue of meat offered to idols and the affect it had on various people. The section is set in a discourse
This section is set in a discourse examining the pros and cons of the issue. On the one hand, Paul affirms that there is nothing wrong with eating meat offered to idols, in and of itself (1 Corinthians 8:4). On the other hand, one must consider the affect it can have on other believers who have been saved out of idolatry (1 Corinthians 8:7).
What are some modern analogies?
You are an ex-smoker, and you discover your church invests in the tobacco industry for a substantial return.
You are a recovering addict, and you see one of the deacons go into a marijuana dispensary.
You are a recovering electronics addict and you find that your pastor’s office looks like the bridge of the Enterprise: Computer, wide-screen monitor, speakers with led display, two printers, a tablet, a lap top, two cell phones.
In Chapter 10, Paul is addressing the mistakes of Israel’s past to show God’s attitude about certain practices as well as His heart toward certain things.
He opens this section with a spiritual comparison. The Israelites in the desert had made a spiritual commitment. They went through the Red Sea and under the cloud, and were baptized into Moses, and they all drank water from rocks that was brought about supernaturally. These were God’s people. And yet, God was displeased with many of them.
What did they do?
Paul mentions some major fails in the Hebrews journey in the wilderness.
1. They turned to idolatry with the Golden Calf. (Exodus 32:6) However, the golden calf was brought about because the people lost confidence in Moses and in God.
2. This involved sexual immorality as well as idolatry. The Moabite women invited the Hebrew men to come and “worship” with them. (Numbers 25:1-9)
3. They tempted God (put God to the test to see if He would do something for them.) by complaining about no food, no water and they detest the manna (day after day!) (Numbers 21:1-9)
4. They grumbled against God and Moses, and were planning on going back to Egypt. This is where it was decided that the Hebrew people would spend 40 years in the wilderness so that the current generation that grumbled would die out in the wilderness. (Numbers 14:1-4, :35)
These accounts are not listed here to imply: “This will happen to you.” But they are shared to indicate how God feels about these things.
The rest of the passage is a warning and then a promise:
Warning: If you think you are standing firm—if you think you are doing just fine—be careful that you don’t fall. Don’t be overconfident in your position. Things happen to everyone.
God will not tempt you beyond what you can handle (although we can take more on than we should, or we can simply decide to give in and cave to the temptation).
He will provide a solution so that you can persevere.

Where are the limits? 
Romans 14:1-9 5/31/2020

I attended a Rhode Island State Council of Churches awards breakfast several years ago. This organization has embraced interfaith diversity and inclusivity to the fullest degree. There were several speakers from the Islamic faith. When they referred to Jesus, each speaker would refer to Him as: “The Prophet, Jesus, may His name be praised.” It reminded me that the Muslim faith does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God—that His is a prophet. In fact, to consider Him more than that is blasphemy 
I asked myself, “Do I feel offended?” And I have to admit that I did—to some degree. But I wasn’t offended by how the speaker referred to Jesus—that is part of his belief structure. But I was very uneasy in a setting that considered all of the major religions to be equal, authentic and acceptable. 
It made me further question, “Where are the boundaries of acceptability?” 
The passage read from Romans can both confuse and clarify the question. 
It is confusing for two reasons: 1. The issues are very foreign. Eating meats offered to idols was a big deal in the ancient world, but not so much now. And the observance of religious days has become very secular. So this passage runs the risk of seeming irrelevant. 2. The passage does have a lenient, all-inclusive tone. A person might be tempted to insert any modern day issue into this passage so that just about anything becomes acceptable and a matter of choice. 
Certainly this passage must be understood in its context in the book of Romans and in it’s historical setting. 
The issues mentioned here were very serious at the time. You didn’t want to miss a Holy Day—either in Judaism or in paganism—it could make the Gods angry. Offering animals to pagan gods was a regular part of ritual. And eating that meat associated oneself with that pagan god. And a lot of other activities went with it. Also, for a Jew to eat in a Gentile home was unheard of—it was against the laws of purity. These issues would be comparable to Democrat vs. Republican; wear a mask or don’t wear a mask; is the corona virus a horrible pandemic or a conspiracy meant to manipulate the American public? So the issues may be different, but the dynamics are very similar. 
Concerning the matter of acceptability, this passage is not a license to accept anything a person prefers—it’s up to them. Paul presents a strong moral code in Romans. I Chapter 1, He talks about the wrath of God upon unbelievers. In chapter 2, he addresses hypocrisy (condemning sin while secretly practicing it.) In Romans 6, Paul talks about dying to sin. So Paul has not abandoned a moral code. In fact, he endorses the law as a valid expression of God’s holiness and an aspiration for lifestyle. 
There are two important conditions to consider in any lifestyle choices: 
1. This epistle is clearly written to a community of believers who are familiar with the gospel. These people are not moralists or almost—Christians. While they are not perfect, they are a part of God’s family, and they understand their sin. 
2. These decisions are not about abstract right and wrong. They are actions bore from one’s devotion to God (14:6) and in obedience to God (14:9). They are not just personal choices (and no one else’s business). They are dependent on God’s choices. If you cannot stand before God and make your choices, you need to seriously reconsider your choices and your standards.

5/24/2020 The Will of God  2 Peter 3:9
What is the will of God? What does God want to have happen? People ask this often, usually as it pertains to specific situations in their lives: What job should I take; Who should I marry; etc. At the same time, many people embrace the idea that God’s will is hidden and mysterious. 
It is important to commit all things to God and seek Him in all things. At the same time, God has told us essentially what He wants to see happen consistently all the time. 
Before we begin, there are several terms that are used that need some defining. God’s will: What God wants to have happen. God’s purpose: Why God does something, or what God is working to achieve. God’s good pleasure: What makes God happy. 
2 Peter 3:9 gives us some insight into what God wants to have happen. It’s stated in the negative: This is what God does Not want to have happen. He does not want anyone to perish. And we can only take that in the eternal sense. Eternal condemnation is referred to as the second death. God does not want that to happen to anyone. 
The fact that it seems to be taking a long time for Jesus to return is actually a sign of God carrying out His will. God is patient and gracious, because He wants as many people as possible to make the right decision for eternity. (There is something in that attitude that perhaps Christians should reflect. In stead of being in a rush for Jesus to come back, we should be thankful that God is allowing so much time to get as many people saved as possible.) 
In 1 Peter 1:20, we find that the plan for accomplishing that was set in place a long ago—before time began (there was no time without creation). Jesus’ role in God’s will was determined before anyone was around to know that they need it. This was not an afterthought or a “plan B” because of the fall. This is what God intended all along. 
And the plan included details: Ephesians 1:3-6. It was predetermined that believers would be holy and blameless in the presence of God in Jesus Christ, and believers would be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ. 
I want to take a moment to address a long-standing debate about this verse. Is the predestination presented here: 1. The details of the plan that God would accomplish in the future, or 2. God’s selection of specific individuals for salvation? 
While there is not absolute agreement, the following material seems to point more to a plan focused around Jesus than the selection of individuals. It is something that would be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment. And 1:13 specifically states: you were also included in Christ when you first believed which strongly suggests that the plan became effective in their life at the point of belief, not before creation. 
So, a central part of God’s will is focused around Jesus and His ability to save all people. 
But, God’s plan and His will does not stop there. 
Romans 8:28-29 talks about what happens after salvation. God works in our lives to transform us to reflect the image of Jesus. 
The context of this passage points to two things: 1. This happens through the hardships of this world, and 2. Our circumstances do not define God’s love and God’s power. Rather, our faith defines God’s love and power in the midst of our circumstances.

Problems and Hardship  Hebrews 12:4-13 5/17/2020

No doubt, we are living in a uniquely difficult time, at least we are told that all the time. The pandemic has affected finances and economies as well as social networks and families. There isn’t much that has not been affected. 
And that is on top of the problems that existed before the coronavirus: health issues, family upheaval, work pressures, addictions, political tension—just to name a few. 
And many people wonder: where is God in all this? What is He up to? Is He even listening? 
To answer that question, I need to adjust your concept of God. For many people, God is a fixer, trying to keep everything status quo. For others, God is a meditative counselor, offering a feeling of peace and quiet and calm; and that feeling of calm becomes their touchstone for decision making. Many people think of God as a grandparent indulgently smiling at the antics of His children. God is each of these things and many more. He is a judge and a warrior; He is jealous and vengeful; He is holy; He is full of grace, patience, mercy and love. All of these qualities describe a part of God. The problem isn’t the concept; the problem comes when we simplify God into one quality, because we run the risk of missing other parts of God that are active in our life. 
But the one quality we seldom attribute to God is that He is a coach and a trainer, pushing us beyond our limits and working us so that we attain more and become more mature spiritually. 
And that is an important perspective if we are going to make sense of our world, hardship and many passages dealing with hardship in the bible. 
Have you ever seen an athlete in training? Have you ever seen a professional team practicing? Have you seen how the coach acts? Can you imagine a coach saying things like: “You don’t have to run drills or do laps—you are already an athlete. Just believe you can do it.” Or, “It’s okay that you missed that ball. There will be other chances.” Or, “You have already received the victory. Claim it out loud to receive it.” No. Coaches yell and push; that is how the team and each player improves. 
Now, you might be saying, “God doesn’t act like. Christianity is not like a sport.” Well, in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 we read... Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 
Paul draws and analogy between a faith walk and sports training. 
In, Hebrews 12, the analogy changes, but the basic idea is the same: Hebrews 12:4-12 equates hardships of this world with parental discipline. 
What were some of the hardships these believers were facing? We see in Hebrews 10:32-34: The hardships included public ridicule, imprisonment and confiscation of property. 
There are several results or impressions that come from this: 
1. The things that are good for us are not necessarily fun or pleasant. We may not enjoy the experience, but we are encouraged to acknowledged the result. 
2. It is a confirmation that we are a child of God and He cares for us. 
3. It enables us to share in His holiness. 
4. It produces righteousness, which is more than just good behavior. Righteousness indicates that a debt was paid and a right relationship is restored. 
5. It produces peace. When the bible uses the word peace, it usually refers to the Hebrew work shalom. Shalom was a word that meant harmony with all around oneself. The other word for peace means a broken relationship now mended.

This is the same process that Jesus experienced through His life, which made Him Who He was. (Hebrews 5:8-9) We might think of Jesus as having arrived already complete—not needing any improvement. But it is important to understand that Jesus went through a human process in order to understand, appreciate and empathize with our experience. 
So, whatever you are experiencing, consider it a potential lesson from God. It may be that He’s developing patience and perseverance in you. He may be trying to get you to act on something yo0u need to do. Whatever it is, it probably isn’t pleasant, but it will be for your good.

5/10/2020 The Wedding Feast of Cana John 2:1-11

              The Wedding Feast of Cana is a familiar story, often used at weddings to show God’s sanctioning of marriage.   It is a story of greater depth and significance than may first meet the eye.

              Cana was a small village about nine miles North of Nazareth in Galilee.  Besides being the home of Nathanael John 21:2), it had no particular significance.

The practice of this wedding feast was common to the culture at this time.  There is nothing remarkable about the event in and of itself.

Why was Mary, Jesus and His disciples at the wedding?

It has been supposed that the groom was John son of Zebedee, and that his mother was Mary’s sister.  That would make John the cousin of Jesus.  This would explain why Mary feels an obligation to help when the wine runs out (John 2:3).

It was common practice to invite a rabbi and his disciples to wedding feasts.  This suggests that:

1. Jesus had been preaching and collecting disciples long enough to be recognized as a rabbi with disciples, and

2. Jesus established a preaching ministry and became known for it before He started performing miracles.

Note: since Nathanael was from Cana, another reason for the invite may have been his friendship (or even family relationship) with the groom’s family.

Certainly there had to be some significant connection for Mary, Jesus and disciples to be invited, but no one else from Jesus’ family appears to be present.

Wedding feasts often lasted a week to eight days.  So, when the wine runs out, the celebration is supposed to continue for several more days.

Mary expresses her concern to Jesus, and Jesus replies that—essentially—that circumstance has nothing to do with Him or her.

Why did Jesus give an uncooperative response?   It is not considered a harsh response or a rebuke, but resistance to Mary’s statement is clear.  It reflects the same dynamic as when Jesus and His disciples encounter the Canaanite woman whose daughter is demon possessed (Matthew 15:21-28)  At first, Jesus does not acknowledge her.  Then He refuses to help, saying: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”  But she perseveres, and not only does Jesus grant her request, but also identifies her faith as greater  than any Jew.  This is the same pattern with Him and Mary.  It may be an opportunity for Mary to demonstrate great faith.

Jesus tells the servants to fill 6 water jars with water.  These water jars would have been present for the Jewish people to perform ritual washing of hands, feet dishes and cookware.  Each Jar could hole about 20-30 gallons.  Then, without saying anything else, He tells the servants to draw some liquid out of a jar and present it to the steward of the feast.  The steward declares that it is better than the wine served previously.

This miracle is done with a conspicuous lack of fanfare.  Jesus calls no one’s attention to it.  The only ones who take notice are Mary, the disciples and the servants who filled the jars.  And the only ones who showed any impact was the disciples.  None of the guests nor any of the wedding party nor even family are made aware of this development (perhaps to shield them from a potentially embarrassing situation.)  In fact, it is unclear for whom the miracle is performed: the groom, the steward, Mary?

A great deal of time was spent by Bible scholars addressing the matter of wine.  Many were uncomfortable with the idea of Jesus making any beverage with alcohol.  Some of the ways that were tried to “clean up” the story were:

1. That the wine was simply pure, unadulterated, unfermented grape juice, common in the area; a regular beverage for the area and healthy.

2. That only the liquid that was drawn from the jars turned to wine. The rest inside remained water. This way, Jesus would not be making any excess wine and seemingly condoning overindulgence.

3. That everyone was well behaved and decorous because the guests included Jesus, Mary, disciples and possibly other members of the “holy family.” Such people would not attend an event if there was any unseemly behavior.

Instead of interpretations, these are more assumptions based on a prudish interpretation of religion and have no basis in fact.  Many passages in the Bible refer to alcoholic beverages—mainly wine. An abuse of alcohol is condemned, as is gluttony or an obsession with relaxation (called being lazy), but alcohol, food and leisure—along with many other things—are not a problem in and of themselves. What conclusions can we draw from this account?

1. Jesus can be found in the regular and common events of life. He does not wait for grand or solemn or monumental events to show up and show through.  Jesus shows up out of need, be it seemingly big or small.  The situation does not have to be “Life or death.”  It can be frivolous and fun.

2. Jesus is not opposed to people celebrating and having fun. True, He does not condone carousing, but fun and joy are fine. He even attends celebrations, and we are told there are celebrations in heaven (Luke 15:10).

3. Generally speaking, miracles are not meant to be a spectacle. They are not supposed to call attention to themselves. Miracles are meant to reveal the glory of God through Jesus.

4. Miracles can be very private and personal. We may not even be aware of a miracle that occurs in our presence.

5/3/2020

Book of Life—God’s Graciousness and Favor
Psalm 139:13-16
People often accuse God of being wrathful, capricious, insensitive and all around grumpy. The idea of God allowing only one way into heaven is now considered an archaic and elitist belief. A loving God is all inclusive and does not discriminate.
On one level, this is true. However, it falls short of the wider picture and completely misses the vast graciousness of God, Who is indeed gracious and Who does everything He can within His nature to get everyone into heaven.
And, one place we can see this is with the idea of the book of life

1. What is the book of life?
The book of life is a current record of God’s people, or those who are faithful to God. This group receives special consideration by God. (Daniel 12:1)
Ultimately, the Book of Life is a record of all those redeemed; all who are entering eternal rest in the presence of God. (Revelation 20:27)

2. How old is the idea of the Book of Life?
The first mention is in Exodus 32:30-32. The idea loosely weaves itself through the Bible up into the Book of Revelation 21:27; roughly 1600 years. It is significant when a term or a concept remains essentially unchanged over a long stretch of time. It strongly suggests that the term is based on an actual object, which regulates the term.

3. How important is it?
When the 72 disciples returned from their missionary journey, they were rejoicing at the feats they were able to perform through Jesus over the powers of darkness. However, Jesus told them not to rejoice over those powers, but rejoice over the fact that their names were written in heaven (where the book of life is). Certainly, having power over the works of darkness is important. But having one’s name written in heaven (being securely saved) is of even greater importance.

4. What does it mean when one’s name is not in the Book of Life?
Those whose names are not in the Book of Life—whose names have been blotted out of the Book of Life—have distinguished themselves as being enemies of God. Their sins are unforgiven (Exodus 32:32), They are scornful of God and those who worship God (Psalm 69: 7-9) and they are ultimately cut off from God forever Psalm 69:27-28). Ultimately, those whose names have been blotted out of the Book will suffer eternal condemnation (Revelation 20:15).

5. How does one’s name get written in the book of Life?
It is automatic. This happens for everyone, before birth—perhaps even before creation. Psalm 139:16 tells us that all of our days—the totality of each person’s life—was recorded in a book. It is unclear how much detail is included in that composition, but in the context of the Psalm, God knows each of us intimately and in great detail. He knows all that we say, do and think—for better or for worse.
So, what are the implications of this:
A. God knows everything about us—before we even know it. He knows how we have been created—He was a part of our creation. He knows all we have done wrong, and He keeps a record of it—not so much for His benefit, but to assure all that Justice is being served.
B. This also means that every person in creation starts out in with their names written in the Book of Life—the criteria for eternal life. We all start out in the winning column.
C. The only way a name is blotted from the Book of Life is if that person intentionally and irrevocably turns his or her back on God. So, the culpability of one’s condemnation rest on the decisions of that person, not on God. God has provided everything for our good and our salvation. Our only responsibility is to accept it.

4/26/2020

Now What? Part 2 
Romans 6:1-11

When we go through major events, many things change. Or, at least they change our approach to parts of life and certainly our perspective. 
The Tylenol murders of the early 1980’s permanently changed consumer packaging on almost all products. 
9/11 has dramatically changed air travel: you need to get the airport 2 hours ahead of time; No fluid containers over 3 oz. in your carry on; expect random strip searches; and people on planes tend to keep to themselves. 
The Coronavirus and Covid19 will have a permanent impact on our culture and our world. What that is remains to be seen. 
In the same way, the resurrection of Jesus Christ should have a permanent affect on people—individually and corporately. Whether a person believes in Jesus and His resurrection or not, the message of the resurrection remains the same for all people. 
And the first part of that message has to do with Jesus’ condition before resurrection: death. Before Jesus was resurrected, He was dead. And we, too, have to come to terms with our mortality. 
This is not a popular topic. People try to avoid the topic of death as much as possible—either the death of a loved one or their own death. However, ignoring the fact doesn’t change the fact. We are mortal. And that implies two things: 
1. We will encounter the end of our life at some time. (Lately, we have been fixated on the numbers concerning the Coronavirus. But these are not the only numbers concerning life and death. The world population meter shows that several hundred thousand people die world wide everyday.) 
2. Neither our opinion nor our preferences have anything to do with what comes after death. We have taken a: hope-for-the-best-what-will-be-will-be attitude. But we find that attitude unacceptable in every other part of life; why should it be acceptable concerning the end of life. There are no do-overs. 
The only way to maintain this view as acceptable is to: a. claim that truth is relative; b. consider the multiplicity of world religions as evidence that no one really has absolute truth; c. ignore any claims that anyone makes concerning sources of truth and relegate them to “opinion” without investigating them. Convince yourself that religion is only a human product. 
However, a central claim in the resurrection is that Jesus reveals what happens after death, and we have opportunity to accept the benefits. But we can’t accept those benefits if we don’t accept that they are real. 
However, to appreciate what changes, you have to consider how the resurrection impacts these issues. It involves admitting your need. 
1. You are imperfect, you do not measure up to God’s standard of perfection, which is righteousness. (righteousness means being in a right standing or relationship. Specifically, a state where the penalty for a crime has been satisfied. Because of your actions, there is a price to pay. In other words, you have outstanding traffic tickets, and the fines have too be paid before you can drive again.) 
2. You are mortal. Your life in this world is limited. And when this life is over, you have no control over what comes next. 
The conclusion is that your outcome is death: a physical death and an eternal death. And the only way to address it is to accept that the end of your lifestyle is eternal death, or eternalseparation from God, and you have to admit that your lifestyle is something to be renounced.  You realize the end of all this lifestyle is death, and that (figuratively) you have to die to that imperfect self. This is symbolized in baptism, where being immersed is symbolic of death and burial, and coming up from the water is symbolic of resurrection.  You have now entered life.And this life has several facets:

1. Jesus has paid the price and now we are free of any condemnation or consequences. We may have been a captive to unrighteous behavior, but now we belong to God. We have been redeemed.  Just like a soda can can be redeemed.  When you buy soda, you pay a nickel to own the can.  It is yours to do with what you please.  The company pays you the nickel to get the can back.  And that is what Jesus did.  He paid the price to get us back.

2. You are now guaranteed eternal life in heaven with God the Father, son and Holy Spirit. Since we belong to Jesus, where he goes, we go. And since He is guaranteed a place in heaven, so are we.

3. Finally, since the record and the consequences of our misconduct has been removed, we should show it in our lifestyle. Little by little, we should show that God is bringing out the nature of Jesus in our lives, actions, words and thoughts. It is a step by step process.  And it is not a result of effort, but of yielding.  We are like a sculpture that God slowly carves.  The statue does not shape itself, nor does it pick its shape.  But the artist shapes it according to His intentions.

Though Jesus’ resurrection, we can have the assurance of eternal life, and we can reflect that new life through our actions.

4/19/2020

We are all waiting to get back to normal life; for things to go back to the way they were. Some things will. However, we have to realize that things will never quite go back exactly to the way they were.
The same can be said for the resurrection of Jesus: Some things will be constant regardless of the resurrection; some things will not (or should not) be the same.
First, what will be the same? There are two things I want to look at this morning.
The first thing that will be the same is that we are fallen human beings who sometimes make poor decisions with the best of intentions.

The scene in John at first looks fairly harmless, until you delve into some details. Take note of how the disciples react to the appearance of the Risen Lord compared to other accounts:
Matthew 28:17 They worshipped Him, even though some doubted.
Luke 24:32 (on the road to Emmaus) Their hearts burned;
Luke 24:37 They were startled and frightened;
Luke 24:41 There was joy and amazement;
Luke 24:52 They worshipped Him and had great joy;
John 20:20 They were overjoyed;
John 20:28 (Thomas) “My Lord and My God!”

Now compare John 21:12 Even though everyone knew (and believed) it was Jesus, no one asked Him any questions. In fact, it doesn’t look like any of them said anything. This dynamic is called “The elephant in the room.” There is something big and obvious—plain to everyone, but no one wants to talk about it.
So, what’s the problem with fishing? Nothing in and of itself. But that was not what they were expected to do and they weren’t where they were expected to be. Jesus told them to wait for Him on a certain mountain (Matthew 28:16), but they weren’t there.
To give you an idea of the impact of their actions: have you ever made plans to meet someone someplace at a certain time, and when you get there—they are not there? You wait for a while and then go looking for them. And when you find them, you find out that they had taken a “little” side trip. To them it was no big deal; they didn’t think you would mind. But did you?
People make a lot of decisions in life that seem neutral, harmless or even good. But, ultimately, the decision takes you away from God’s way:
You accept a job with the promise of advances and big income, but you find you have to make compromises along the way. Little ones. Besides, that is what you do in business if you want to get ahead.
You enter into a relationship with some who you love madly. This person is your perfect soul mate. But this persons has different beliefs than you and a few habits that concern you. Concerning different beliefs, we live and let live—everyone makes their own choices, but you end up ignoring your own beliefs. And about those habits, they are nothing illegal—at least not anymore. And the person doesn’t do it all the time—just when it is time to relax. And after a while you find that you need to relax, too.
These aren’t big things like being a drug dealer or a hitman. The stream that erodes the rocks in its bed doesn’t have to be a raging torrent. Actually, the slower and more subtle things progress, the less likely we are to notice them. Until one day you suddenly realize how farfrom God you have drifted, but you are so entangled with the decisions that brought you there that you see no way of getting back.
And that brings us to the second thing:
2. Jesus treats us with gentle compassion. He does not yell at us or bully us.
A. He does come looking for us, and He sends us subtle but unmistakable messages to let us know He is there.
Here, in John, the disciples had caught nothing all night, so He tells them to drop their nets in the water, and suddenly they have an enormous catch of fish, so big they are amazed that their nets don’t tear.
It’s a lot like one of the first encounters Jesus has with Peter, John and James in Luke 5:4-5. They had been fishing but caught nothing. Jesus told them to drop their net into the water. They catch so many fish that it takes a second boat to haul in the catch, and even then both boats almost sink.
It is then that He tells the disciples that they are going to catch people—a topic He will address with Peter, soon.
Then there is the matter of the fish and the bread. It is reminiscent of the feeding of the 5000 (and then the 4000 in Matthew and Mark) in that it includes the same menu. (Matthew 14:13-31; 15:29-39, Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-10).
B. And, after revealing Himself, He offers them kindness and hospitality: “Have some breakfast.” This is a demonstration of His mercy and grace. They have not earned kindness, they don’t deserve hospitality. Most people would have given them a tongue-thrashing at least, or possibly fired them. But Jesus does not take that approach.
You may hear of some people who have talked about the harshness of Jesus. And Jesus can be harsh. But that really depends on our listening skills. The harder we are of hearing, the louder and more avoidably He has to speak.
That brings us to the “other side of the coin:” What changes (or what should change) in our lives because of the resurrection.
That’s next week.

Easter April 12, 2020

After almost 2000 years of celebrating and examining the resurrection the Jesus Christ, you would think that we would have had it all figured out by now.  However, after all this time, we are just like Peter trying to figure out what all this means.

There are essentially two camps concerning this matter:

1. Jesus actually and literally physically was raised from the dead three days after His burial and the gospels are eye witness accounts.  Or

2. It is an intentional fabrication or at least a well-intentioned embellishment that might be based on some actual historic teacher, but one that was not resurrected nor did He do any miracles.  (Note: in this discussion, miracles and resurrection are usually considered together.  Many skeptics are willing to admit that some man named Jesus probably lived in the first century, did some kind things, taught some good lessons and did acts of kindness.  But they do not allow for any supernatural activity) 

There is ample evidence supporting a literal resurrection.

However, It may be more helpful to consider what it would take to create, spread and maintain such a story.

1. Someone or a group of people would have to make up the story with all the necessary details, especially the when and the where.  It would have to have specific details that would convince hearers that those telling the story were there.

2. Then you would have to convince several hundred volunteers to learn the story, paying strict attention to the details.  Then, convince them to go throughout the country spreading the story without changing the details.  They would have to keep it up for years.

At this point, one of two things could happen that would cause the process to fall apart:

1. Those telling the story could get the details confused (or get questions that the details don’t address and they would have to start adding to the story) and end up telling contradictory stories.

2. Some of the hearers would speak up and say, “I was there at the time you’re talking about, and I don’t remember any such thing happening.”

However, we have no evidence of either circumstance happening.  While some parts of the Easter story may be challenging to reconcile, no part of the story plainly contradicts any other part of the story.  Also, we have no evidence that anyone from that ever refuted any of the events.  And keep in mind, the witness of the resurrection and the miracles were shared as early as two months after Jesus’ resurrection with people who lived in the towns where they occurred.  People would have known if the stories weren’t true.There are two other factors to consider that would have been obstacles to spreading the story

1. One of the central themes in the life of Jesus is truth.  So, these people would be spreading the story about a man who upheld the virtue of truth that was based on a lie.

2. From the very start, Christians were persecuted for their faith.  At first, Jewish converts would be shunned by the family, often imprisoned by vigil ante groups of Jews and sometimes killed.  Within about 20 years, the Roman government would make Christianity a crime against the state, punishable by death.  So, for the first 300 years of the Christian church, there was no benefit for being a Christian; only hardship and persecution.

And, considering these two factors, we have no record of anyone ever admitting that the stories were made up.  In fact, part of the power and the appeal of Christianity is that Christians showed that there was something more important than life.

  Actually, to think that the story of the resurrection is made up is to believe in a bigger miracle than the resurrection itself.

The next question is: What does it mean?  Why was Jesus resurrected?

Quite simply, He was resurrected because He was dead.  Or more correctly, executed.  And that begs the question: “Why was he executed?”

            To understand that, you have to understand the Jewish sacrificial system.  God gave laws on how the people were supposed to live.  Breaking one of these laws was called a sin.  And if anyone had a sin counted against them, the penalty would be death.  Of course, everyone sins, so God set up the sacrificial system where the death of an animal would be accepted for the sins of the people.

But that was only a temporary measure preparing the people to understand Jesus’ death.  He died as the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin.  Jesus, having the nature of God in human form, never sinned, and there for he could be the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for all time.  And the New Testament is clear on this:

1. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when he was baptized by John the Baptist, John saw Jesus and said: “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”  (John 1:29; 36)  Lambs were one of the main animals used in sacrifice.

2. At the last supper, Jesus took the cup (Symbolic of the lamb’s blood of Passover) and said: “This is the cup of my blood poured out for the sins of many.“  (Matthew 26:28)

3. In the book of Ephesians, Paul writes that people—Both Jew and Gentile—have been reconciled to God through the cross—the blood of Jesus.  (Ephesians 2:16)

4. In the first letter of John, the apostle says Jesus is the propitiation (a sacrifice that pays for sin) for the sins of the whole world.  (1 John 2:2)

Jesus death was a payment; the resurrection endorsed the payment. 

Romans 4:25 puts it: He was put to death for our sins, resurrected so we could be justified.  The word justified means: make righteousness, show the debt for the crime has been satisfied, put right with God.  Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all people can go from guilty to innocent, from condemned to set free, from death to life eternal. 

But it each person must take this step intentionally.  It is called a step of faith, and it is three simple steps: (Simple, but not easy)

1. You must admit that you need this.  You understand that Jesus died for your sins because you have sins.  They don’t have to be big or dramatic.  God, being completely holy, cannot abide imperfection.

2. You must accept that you cannot address this problem on your own.  Imperfect people cannot attain perfection by their own efforts.

3. Finally, you must accept that Jesus is is the only solution and the complete solution to your problem.