Questions...When the fullness of the times had come, God sent forth His Son...
Luke, chapter 20 records some of the final conflicts between Israel’s authorities and the Incarnate Son of the Living God. "And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor." (Luke 20:19-20, NKJV)
The chief priests and scribes sought to either excite government intervention or a popular rejection by laying before Jesus the landmine questions of their day:
~How are we to behave towards the Roman occupation? Pay their taxes or not? Is it religiously lawful? Answer ‘yes’; lose popularity. Answer ‘no’; be arrested.
~Why would any intelligent person believe in a resurrection? It isn’t reasonable; Moses didn’t teach it. With this question they hoped to portray Jesus as a fool before the crowds. Jesus, our Lord, deftly swept away their most clever challenges, exposing their false piety, false intellectualism, and their stubborn disbelief.
Although they were greatly concerned with the questions of politics and intellectual integrity, they were scarcely concerned with the most important question both in their day and in ours—who is the Christ, just a man or Lord of all? Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?" (Matthew 22:42-44, NKJV)
So who is the Christ--just a man or the Lord of all? Answer correctly by faith; inherit eternal life. Fail to answer; spend eternity in hell. Tragically they could not or would not answer that question...WILL YOU?
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
A Question of Ownership
God cannot be contained in temples (2 Chron. 6:18), however, His temple in Jerusalem is where he chose to manifest His presence, His glory, and his Name to mankind. Though the temple was built in Jerusalem, it ultimately belonged to God.
When Jesus entered the temple in Luke 19, He came as Prophet, Priest, and King. He cleansed the temple, proclaimed the truth, and reminded the Jewish leaders that the temple was not their own to do with as they saw fit, but it was “His Father’s house,” existing for His Father’s purposes.
The Jerusalem temple ceased to exist long ago, but let us, who claim the Lord Jesus as savior, be reminded of this truth: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NKJV)
Jesus Christ has cleansed us, proclaimed the truth, and taken ownership of us as His temple. We are not our own to do as we see fit, but each one of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit existing for the Father’s purposes. "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;" (1 Timothy 2:8, NKJV) A house of God’s Word, a house of prayer, a house of love, a house of welcome, a house of God-glorifying ministry. Peter put it like this: "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:7-11, NKJV)
It’s a question of ownership: to whom do you belong?
When Jesus entered the temple in Luke 19, He came as Prophet, Priest, and King. He cleansed the temple, proclaimed the truth, and reminded the Jewish leaders that the temple was not their own to do with as they saw fit, but it was “His Father’s house,” existing for His Father’s purposes.
The Jerusalem temple ceased to exist long ago, but let us, who claim the Lord Jesus as savior, be reminded of this truth: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NKJV)
Jesus Christ has cleansed us, proclaimed the truth, and taken ownership of us as His temple. We are not our own to do as we see fit, but each one of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit existing for the Father’s purposes. "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;" (1 Timothy 2:8, NKJV) A house of God’s Word, a house of prayer, a house of love, a house of welcome, a house of God-glorifying ministry. Peter put it like this: "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:7-11, NKJV)
It’s a question of ownership: to whom do you belong?
Faith and Obedience
In Luke Chapter 17, Jesus commanded “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” The response of the apostles is interesting. When faced with the daunting command to be constant forgivers, they asked the Lord to “increase our faith”. Without a faith that believes that God exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, it is impossible to please God. Jesus described the power of just a little faith, Luke 17:6, and then focused their attention on the real issue. When forgiveness of another is called for, are they WILLING to forgive and forgive again? From God’s perspective forgiving one another is our duty as His servant. Forgiveness is the one aspect of the model prayer that Jesus chose to expound upon, Matthew 6:12,14-15 “And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.” “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Forgiving one another is the subject of an entire parable that Jesus told Peter, Matt. 18:21-35, which ends, “Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” The disciple certainly has faith enough, but the question of forgiving is not about rewards but duty Luke 17:7-10 “And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ” Forgiving a repentant person is not requested, but commanded. It is not an extraordinary service of the super faith-filled, it is rather a basic daily duty that God expects of all who are called by His name. Colossians 3:12-13 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”(NKJV)
How Can They Hear without a Preacher?
The mission of the Church is to make disciples. Together we are to reach every nation on the earth for Jesus Christ. As we share the Gospel with the lost we often use verses from the book of Romans such as Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, and Romans 5:8. Some of my favorites are in Romans, chapter 10 such as verses 9 and 10 “...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”, verse 13 “...whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”, and verse 17 “...faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” In the midst of this collection of wonderful salvation verses these compelling questions are raised: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” Romans 10:14-15 If the Church is to accomplish its God-given mission it must produce preachers of God’s Word and it must send those preachers out to preach. Both of these essential components of missions work come from God’s own hand. (Eph. 4:11; 1 Chron. 29:12-14) Therefore we must begin with prayer. “...The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Luke 10:2 (NKJV) The mission of reaching the lost world is so great, what can WE do? We can pray, we can give, and we can go!
Welcome Here
God’s hand is against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. In Luke 4:14-30, when Jesus read Isaiah 61:1-2 in His hometown synagogue, He made it clear that the prophesy was fulfilled in Himself. He had been sent to the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the blinded, and the oppressed. He was sent to people who, aware of their neediness, were grateful that He had come with good news, healing, and liberation. But on this day, when Jesus’ teaching caused conviction, His invitation to come to Him and be made whole was rejected as Jesus had predicted, “No prophet is accepted in his own country.”
Perhaps they would not recognize their need.
Perhaps they would not humble themselves to believe. Most certainly they considered Jesus too ordinary and familiar to be extraordinarily honored and used by God among them. Isn’t this Joseph’s son; aren’t His brothers and sisters here with us?
God is working in extraordinary ways in places like China, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia, but in the United States, Christianity has become ordinary and mundane. Our faith has become small, the all too familiar stories of God’s mighty acts in His word fail to move us, and the idea of spending an hour in prayer bores us. Yet we wonder at the strength of believers in foreign lands, and we wonder why God does not often do His mighty acts here, where for so long Christianity has found a home.
Perhaps we don’t recognize our need.
Perhaps we need to humble ourselves to be captivated by the awesome wonder of God revealed to us through His word, the privilege of prayer, and His constant presence among us. When Jesus’ teaching causes conviction, perhaps we should just ask this question: “What does my daily life say?”
May it say in every way, “Jesus, You are welcome here.”
Perhaps they would not recognize their need.
Perhaps they would not humble themselves to believe. Most certainly they considered Jesus too ordinary and familiar to be extraordinarily honored and used by God among them. Isn’t this Joseph’s son; aren’t His brothers and sisters here with us?
God is working in extraordinary ways in places like China, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia, but in the United States, Christianity has become ordinary and mundane. Our faith has become small, the all too familiar stories of God’s mighty acts in His word fail to move us, and the idea of spending an hour in prayer bores us. Yet we wonder at the strength of believers in foreign lands, and we wonder why God does not often do His mighty acts here, where for so long Christianity has found a home.
Perhaps we don’t recognize our need.
Perhaps we need to humble ourselves to be captivated by the awesome wonder of God revealed to us through His word, the privilege of prayer, and His constant presence among us. When Jesus’ teaching causes conviction, perhaps we should just ask this question: “What does my daily life say?”
May it say in every way, “Jesus, You are welcome here.”
Persistent Prayer
John 4:47 “When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.”(NKJV) Prayer, imploring the Lord. Of all the areas in which believers struggle, prayer is perhaps the most common. Prayer is one of the most awesome privileges we are given during our earthly pilgrimage, yet it is frequently neglected and treated as a chore to be avoided. Prayer can become relegated to the desperate option of last resort. God will bring us to desperation if He must, but He desires, rather, that His children relate to Him through faith.
In Mark 11:24 Jesus said, “...whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
In James 1:6 we are instructed, “...let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
Sometimes the prayer of faith may be a single, confident prayer. At other times, because of God’s own purposes, the prayer of faith must take the form of a persistent, ongoing prayer as in the parables of the persistent friend (Luke 11:5-10) and the widow and the judge (Luke 18:1-8). The father in John chapter 4 implored Jesus to come and heal his son. When Jesus answered with a statement about lack of faith, the man implored Jesus yet again, thereby confessing confidence that Jesus could save his son. Jesus then called him to greater faith, “go your way, your son lives.” If the man was to show faith at this point, he must believe Jesus’ answer and show his faith by heading home.
When we pray, let us pray with faith, both in God’s good supply and His desire that we persist in prayer until He answers. Then we can rest in that answer as we wait to see the work He will surely do. But before we can see that, we must PRAY!
In Mark 11:24 Jesus said, “...whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
In James 1:6 we are instructed, “...let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
Sometimes the prayer of faith may be a single, confident prayer. At other times, because of God’s own purposes, the prayer of faith must take the form of a persistent, ongoing prayer as in the parables of the persistent friend (Luke 11:5-10) and the widow and the judge (Luke 18:1-8). The father in John chapter 4 implored Jesus to come and heal his son. When Jesus answered with a statement about lack of faith, the man implored Jesus yet again, thereby confessing confidence that Jesus could save his son. Jesus then called him to greater faith, “go your way, your son lives.” If the man was to show faith at this point, he must believe Jesus’ answer and show his faith by heading home.
When we pray, let us pray with faith, both in God’s good supply and His desire that we persist in prayer until He answers. Then we can rest in that answer as we wait to see the work He will surely do. But before we can see that, we must PRAY!
Come and See!
Most church bulletins are used in some way to remind readers of upcoming church activities and ministry opportunities. For multiple weeks I have enjoyed writing this short column to remind us not of the activities of our fellowship, but rather to remind us of the wondrous and challenging Biblical truths that must drive and under gird all of the activities and ministries of our lives. The title and concept for this column is based on Peter’s words in 2 Peter 1:12-13 “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you.” (NKJV) This week I again want to remind us of something we already know, simply stated: Jesus loves you! As we meditate on the Lamb of God’s invitation to His first followers:
“Come and see,” (John 1:39),
I am reminded of the wondrous day when I first looked to the Lamb of God and He said to me, “Come and see.” He opened my blind eyes, forgave my sin, washed me clean and made me His disciple, His brother, His friend. We are invited with every communion meal to pause and remember that blessed day, to behold the Lamb of God, and to remember how much Jesus loves us! 1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
Where will the Lord lead us next?
COME AND SEE!
“Come and see,” (John 1:39),
I am reminded of the wondrous day when I first looked to the Lamb of God and He said to me, “Come and see.” He opened my blind eyes, forgave my sin, washed me clean and made me His disciple, His brother, His friend. We are invited with every communion meal to pause and remember that blessed day, to behold the Lamb of God, and to remember how much Jesus loves us! 1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
Where will the Lord lead us next?
COME AND SEE!
Joy
During this Advent season, we have celebrated Christ’s gifts of hope, faith, and now joy. Webster’s defines joy: “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.” What really brings you joy? Jesus taught in John 3:3 that we have no hope of seeing the kingdom of God unless we are born again. In 1 Peter 1:3, the apostle joyfully praises God for the hope He has brought in the new birth: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:8 continues, “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,” When faith, the assurance of things hoped for, is combined with hope, an expectant anticipation of good to come, the resulting experience is JOY! In 1 Thess. 4, Paul explains the rapture because he does not want them to sorrow over death “as those who have no hope.” The hope we enjoy in Christ is so extraordinary that, through faith, we can have joy even when persecuted. (Matt. 5:11-12) Imagine the impact God could have through His people if we were to rejoice in the Lord always! Neh. 8:10 says, Nehemiah 8:10 “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
I Believe
I Believe! John 6:28-29 “Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”(NKJV)
Jesus asked two blind men who desired healing, “‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’”
I believe God is able to do it!
I believe God is good and loving!
I believe God is faithful and true!
I believe God’s ways are right!
We say we believe… does our life agree?
When tempted, the issue is always obedient trust or sinful unbelief. Every temptation is a crisis of faith.
Is God really able?
Is God really good and loving?
Is God really faithful and true?
Are God’s ways really right?
When life doesn’t make sense, are we willing to endure inconvenience, shame, or even pain, because we believe God is working all things together for good? Do we want God’s way even when we don’t understand? Do we truly believe?
When Jesus came to His hometown, He did not do many mighty works because of their unbelief! (Matt. 13:58)
As Jesus looks upon our town, does He see lives that proclaim belief in Him? Where is faith in Jesus Christ tested in your life? Believe Him, trust and obey Him, walk by faith, and discover His mighty works, grace upon grace and a greater knowledge of Him. Let us ascribe to God the glory due His name by living out our confession of trust in Him!
Jesus asked two blind men who desired healing, “‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’”
I believe God is able to do it!
I believe God is good and loving!
I believe God is faithful and true!
I believe God’s ways are right!
We say we believe… does our life agree?
When tempted, the issue is always obedient trust or sinful unbelief. Every temptation is a crisis of faith.
Is God really able?
Is God really good and loving?
Is God really faithful and true?
Are God’s ways really right?
When life doesn’t make sense, are we willing to endure inconvenience, shame, or even pain, because we believe God is working all things together for good? Do we want God’s way even when we don’t understand? Do we truly believe?
When Jesus came to His hometown, He did not do many mighty works because of their unbelief! (Matt. 13:58)
As Jesus looks upon our town, does He see lives that proclaim belief in Him? Where is faith in Jesus Christ tested in your life? Believe Him, trust and obey Him, walk by faith, and discover His mighty works, grace upon grace and a greater knowledge of Him. Let us ascribe to God the glory due His name by living out our confession of trust in Him!
Law
Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”(NKJV)
The Ten Commandments summarize the Mosaic Law (Ex. 20:1-17). The two great commandments to love God and love your neighbor distill those commandments even further: love God with heart and soul and mind (commandments 1-4), love your neighbor as yourself (commandments 4-10). 1 Timothy 1:5 says, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,”(NKJV) Gal. 3:24-25 describes the law as a tutor to bring us to Christ. Galatians also clearly teaches that we are not under law nor justified by the works of the law, but under grace through Jesus Christ. Romans 3:31 asks “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”(NKJV) On upcoming Wednesday nights as we study Galatians, I invite you to search the scriptures and be ready to discuss this important question: how does the law relate to the Christian life?
The Ten Commandments summarize the Mosaic Law (Ex. 20:1-17). The two great commandments to love God and love your neighbor distill those commandments even further: love God with heart and soul and mind (commandments 1-4), love your neighbor as yourself (commandments 4-10). 1 Timothy 1:5 says, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,”(NKJV) Gal. 3:24-25 describes the law as a tutor to bring us to Christ. Galatians also clearly teaches that we are not under law nor justified by the works of the law, but under grace through Jesus Christ. Romans 3:31 asks “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”(NKJV) On upcoming Wednesday nights as we study Galatians, I invite you to search the scriptures and be ready to discuss this important question: how does the law relate to the Christian life?
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