Isaiah 32:17-18
The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine...”: the first line of a hymn written by Francis J. Crosby back in 1873. It’s baffling to see how Christians have forgotten this fundamental truth that is crucial to understanding the gospel and receiving God’s infinite grace in our lives.
Today we live in a world full of turmoil and strife; wars are being waged on nearly every continent. The Taliban is a threat to the U.S. lifestyle. Domestic terrorists are plotting to get us. The “Lone Wolf” is making his move. Economies are on the verge of collapse; governments are preparing to shut down. Droughts, diseases, famines, global warming, torrential rains; the list goes on, all threatening our way of life.
Sadly, seeing these things happen has put many people into a state of constant fear and worry. Even more alarming is the number of Christians who live their lives in fear, forgetting their Blessed Assurance, Jesus Christ. Well, if you’re one of those Christians living in fear, worrying about the state of the world or the economy, I’ve got some wonderful news for you!
First and foremost, the redeeming work of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and His full satisfaction of God’s righteous judgement has left us in a state of perfect peace. This is a spiritual peace; we are at peace with God. He is no longer mad at us for sinning; He does not have to punish our sin. Our punishment was placed on the cross in the body of Christ. The effect of that righteous sacrifice, the substitute for us, is a calm, quiet assurance, forever.
Because of Christ’s finished work on the cross, we are God’s people, sanctified and redeemed by the blood. He [God] tells us in His word that we will dwell in peaceful, secure, quiet resting places. This means no worries, no fear of war, terrorists, or economic collapse. We are His people; we are His children; we are His bride. Ask yourself the following questions:
Would a ruler not protect his country?
Would a father not protect his children?
Would a husband not protect his wife?
That all sounds good, but what about the struggles going on in the world around me? The answer is found in the remaining verses of this chapter in Isaiah (Though hail comes down on the forest, and the city is brought low in humiliation. Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey. Isaiah 32:19-20)
Though everything around you is falling apart, you are blessed.
Friends, Christ did not come to give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10); He left us with His peace (John 14:27) so that we could rest in His finished work, under His covenant of Grace.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Content?
1 Timothy 6:8
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
It’s easier to say these words when you possess a whole bunch of stuff than it is when you have next to nothing. I know from experience; there have been times that words very similar to these have been spoken to me about my career or about my apparent lack in time of need. Funny thing is, I didn’t think kindly of the person telling them to me. Instead, I thought, “I’d rather punch you in the face right now than hear you tell me how to be content with the little that I have!”
I think that when we hear something like this our human thought goes immediately to the “be happy with what you have” attitude. We instantly think that when someone says they’d like a better car or house or job, that means they’re not content with the one that they have. Sometimes that may be the case, but sometimes not. When I think about my own life, I am confident that I am perfectly happy with the house in which I live, the car that I drive, and the job that I have. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I wouldn’t like a bigger house or newer, more reliable, car.
This is where we get all twisted up and turned around in our Christian walk. We read a scripture like this and immediately assume that we shouldn’t ever desire any better than what we currently have, that is, food in the cupboard and clothes on our backs. I don’t believe that’s the true meaning of this verse. Jesus came to give us life “more abundantly” (John 10:10), so why would Paul tell us to be content with the little that we have? Isn’t that contradictory to Jesus’ message? The fact is: Jesus tells us to ask for things and whatever we ask for, we will receive (Matthew 7:7-8). So why then do we believe that we should live a contented lifestyle with little, when the King has promised us so much?
The way I see it: Paul isn’t speaking (entirely) about our physical food and clothing here, he is referring to our spiritual contentedness. The Greek word used here for content is “arkeo” (ar-kay-oh) meaning: to be possessed with unfailing strength. Are you possessed with an unfailing strength and resolve when you know you only have the food in your cupboard and the clothes on your back? (I’ll challenge anyone who says that they are!--this was a rhetorical question.)
So what does give us an unfailing strength? How about the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ; isn’t He the Living Water that never leaves you thirsting (John 6:35)? And what about your clothing? (I knew you were going to ask.) Christ has clothed us with His robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). He has given us His armor to wear as we go through this life (Ephesians 6:11; this is the armor of God, that is, God’s personal armor!) for protection and comfort. These are the things that give us unfailing strength: consuming Jesus on a daily basis and wearing His clothes!
So while the teaching of Paul can be applied to our physical lives in the sense that we need to be worldly content with the things we have, we also need to realize that in our spiritual lives food and clothing aren’t the bottom of the barrel; they are the highest reaches of our happiness. In this world we can ask God for much more than we already have, physically. But having Jesus to feed on and His righteousness to clothe us is far more than enough to give anyone unfailing strength!
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
It’s easier to say these words when you possess a whole bunch of stuff than it is when you have next to nothing. I know from experience; there have been times that words very similar to these have been spoken to me about my career or about my apparent lack in time of need. Funny thing is, I didn’t think kindly of the person telling them to me. Instead, I thought, “I’d rather punch you in the face right now than hear you tell me how to be content with the little that I have!”
I think that when we hear something like this our human thought goes immediately to the “be happy with what you have” attitude. We instantly think that when someone says they’d like a better car or house or job, that means they’re not content with the one that they have. Sometimes that may be the case, but sometimes not. When I think about my own life, I am confident that I am perfectly happy with the house in which I live, the car that I drive, and the job that I have. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I wouldn’t like a bigger house or newer, more reliable, car.
This is where we get all twisted up and turned around in our Christian walk. We read a scripture like this and immediately assume that we shouldn’t ever desire any better than what we currently have, that is, food in the cupboard and clothes on our backs. I don’t believe that’s the true meaning of this verse. Jesus came to give us life “more abundantly” (John 10:10), so why would Paul tell us to be content with the little that we have? Isn’t that contradictory to Jesus’ message? The fact is: Jesus tells us to ask for things and whatever we ask for, we will receive (Matthew 7:7-8). So why then do we believe that we should live a contented lifestyle with little, when the King has promised us so much?
The way I see it: Paul isn’t speaking (entirely) about our physical food and clothing here, he is referring to our spiritual contentedness. The Greek word used here for content is “arkeo” (ar-kay-oh) meaning: to be possessed with unfailing strength. Are you possessed with an unfailing strength and resolve when you know you only have the food in your cupboard and the clothes on your back? (I’ll challenge anyone who says that they are!--this was a rhetorical question.)
So what does give us an unfailing strength? How about the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ; isn’t He the Living Water that never leaves you thirsting (John 6:35)? And what about your clothing? (I knew you were going to ask.) Christ has clothed us with His robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). He has given us His armor to wear as we go through this life (Ephesians 6:11; this is the armor of God, that is, God’s personal armor!) for protection and comfort. These are the things that give us unfailing strength: consuming Jesus on a daily basis and wearing His clothes!
So while the teaching of Paul can be applied to our physical lives in the sense that we need to be worldly content with the things we have, we also need to realize that in our spiritual lives food and clothing aren’t the bottom of the barrel; they are the highest reaches of our happiness. In this world we can ask God for much more than we already have, physically. But having Jesus to feed on and His righteousness to clothe us is far more than enough to give anyone unfailing strength!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Unconventional understanding
2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Have you ever lost your way? It’s scary when you don’t know where you are, how you got there, or how you’re going to get out. It’s happened to me before, and sadly, it’s probably going to happen again. I know, when I lost my way, it wasn’t on purpose. I didn’t wake up one morning and think to myself, “Hey, while you’re on your way to Boston today, why don’t you make a left instead of a right and see how lost you can get?” I just made a mistake, and the next thing I knew, I was lost.
I know you’re probably assuming that this is going to go into depth about “God’s plan for your life.” Conventional teaching is what caused you to think that. But, in case you weren’t already aware, I’m all about being unconventional! Let’s look at this scripture under a different light, shall we?
I’ve stated it before, but just for clarification, I’m going to state it again. I believe that the Bible is not only an historical account of the world and a teaching tool for gleaning everyday life lessons, but I believe that the Bible is God’s photo album of Jesus Christ. Every story, every lesson, every word holds in it a snapshot of Jesus. It’s just a matter of finding the right light to read by.
That said, why don’t we dissect this scripture? What is God’s way? The best way to answer that question is with scripture. “God’s way” is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). What about the word of God? Again, the word is Jesus (John 1:1).
Before we go any further, let’s clarify: what does it mean to say, “the word of the LORD is proven”? Well, another way of saying this would be, “the word of the LORD is tested and true”. But looking further at the verse, we see that the word “is” is in italics meaning that it didn’t appear in the original Hebrew text. It’s an implied word; for all we know it could be “was” or “will be”. “Is” is just what was printed. (Incidentally, the word “is” also appears in italics earlier in the verse as well as the words “and for”; it also appears at the end of the verse.) So I’ll ask the question: was Jesus tested? Was He proven to be true? The answer to that question also lies in scripture. The Pharisees tested Jesus (John 8, Mark 3), not just on His knowledge of the law, but on His ability to effectively use it. Pontius Pilate tested Jesus; He had him scourged and interrogated only to declare that He [Jesus] was without fault (John 19:4). So, we know that the word of the LORD is proven.
What about the shield? Is Jesus our shield? Of course He is. Not only does He protect us though faith against the attacks of the Devil (Ephesians 6:16), but He has also protected us from the wrath and judgement of a righteous God (1 Peter 2:24, 1 Corinthians 5:21).
To sum up: while I am well aware that this scripture was written by David near the end of his life and career as king of Israel and that He is talking about the life he has had, I believe that it is also a snapshot of Jesus Christ. “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The key is “in righteousness”; we are made righteous because of His righteousness and we live in His righteousness. It’s all about Jesus.
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Have you ever lost your way? It’s scary when you don’t know where you are, how you got there, or how you’re going to get out. It’s happened to me before, and sadly, it’s probably going to happen again. I know, when I lost my way, it wasn’t on purpose. I didn’t wake up one morning and think to myself, “Hey, while you’re on your way to Boston today, why don’t you make a left instead of a right and see how lost you can get?” I just made a mistake, and the next thing I knew, I was lost.
I know you’re probably assuming that this is going to go into depth about “God’s plan for your life.” Conventional teaching is what caused you to think that. But, in case you weren’t already aware, I’m all about being unconventional! Let’s look at this scripture under a different light, shall we?
I’ve stated it before, but just for clarification, I’m going to state it again. I believe that the Bible is not only an historical account of the world and a teaching tool for gleaning everyday life lessons, but I believe that the Bible is God’s photo album of Jesus Christ. Every story, every lesson, every word holds in it a snapshot of Jesus. It’s just a matter of finding the right light to read by.
That said, why don’t we dissect this scripture? What is God’s way? The best way to answer that question is with scripture. “God’s way” is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). What about the word of God? Again, the word is Jesus (John 1:1).
Before we go any further, let’s clarify: what does it mean to say, “the word of the LORD is proven”? Well, another way of saying this would be, “the word of the LORD is tested and true”. But looking further at the verse, we see that the word “is” is in italics meaning that it didn’t appear in the original Hebrew text. It’s an implied word; for all we know it could be “was” or “will be”. “Is” is just what was printed. (Incidentally, the word “is” also appears in italics earlier in the verse as well as the words “and for”; it also appears at the end of the verse.) So I’ll ask the question: was Jesus tested? Was He proven to be true? The answer to that question also lies in scripture. The Pharisees tested Jesus (John 8, Mark 3), not just on His knowledge of the law, but on His ability to effectively use it. Pontius Pilate tested Jesus; He had him scourged and interrogated only to declare that He [Jesus] was without fault (John 19:4). So, we know that the word of the LORD is proven.
What about the shield? Is Jesus our shield? Of course He is. Not only does He protect us though faith against the attacks of the Devil (Ephesians 6:16), but He has also protected us from the wrath and judgement of a righteous God (1 Peter 2:24, 1 Corinthians 5:21).
To sum up: while I am well aware that this scripture was written by David near the end of his life and career as king of Israel and that He is talking about the life he has had, I believe that it is also a snapshot of Jesus Christ. “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The key is “in righteousness”; we are made righteous because of His righteousness and we live in His righteousness. It’s all about Jesus.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Rainbows
Genesis 9:13-15
I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
I like the story of Noah’s Ark. Even though Christianity has made it into more of a children’s bedtime story than the actual horrific event that it was, I like it. Even though Hollywood has made millions of dollars revamping it for Evan Almighty, I still like it. Even though the scientific world believes that the great flood was nothing more than a localized event, I like the story. Would you like to know why I like the story? You’re about to find out.
In the simplest of ways, I like the story because it contains a hidden picture of Jesus Christ. Before I get into that, however, I’d just like to state that I believe the flood happened; I believe that it covered the whole earth. I believe the Biblical account of the event and accept it as true and accurate.
After destroying everything on the face of the earth except Noah, his family, and the animals in the Ark with them, God made a covenant with Noah, with the animals, and with the earth itself. Graciously, God declared that He would never again flood the earth to destroy mankind; as a reminder to Himself, He set a rainbow in the clouds. The greatest part of the story is this rainbow in the clouds and the two purposes it serves.
One, the rainbow is a sign to all mankind that God will not destroy the earth. Two, and this is the coolest one, it’s a reminder to God as well as to us. When we see a rainbow it reminds us of God’s love for us. It is there for us to look to, to admire, and rest assured in the knowledge that God won’t destroy the earth with a flood. When God sees a rainbow it reminds Him that He has already punished the earth with a flood and that He has promised not to destroy it again.
Friends, there is more to this than a rainbow in the clouds. The Beloved Son of God Almighty, Jesus Christ, is represented by this rainbow. It is Christ who is set in the clouds as a reminder to us and to God. (Ezekiel 1:28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.) When we look out and see God’s rainbow in the sky we should be secure in the knowledge of who it represents: Jesus Christ. God said, “I set My rainbow...”, not just any old rainbow, but His rainbow. I can make a rainbow with a hose on a sunny day; that’s not God’s rainbow, it’s mine. Jesus Christ is God’s rainbow.
The feel-good message here is this: when we seek Christ, and see Him revealed, we are reminded of God’s love for us. When God sees Christ He is reminded of His promise to us. Our punishment was upon Christ. Our sins, our sicknesses, our death, were all borne in the body of Christ on the cross. We can rest easy knowing that Jesus is God’s reminder to Himself that our sins have already been punished; we are the redeemed. We are saved.
I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
I like the story of Noah’s Ark. Even though Christianity has made it into more of a children’s bedtime story than the actual horrific event that it was, I like it. Even though Hollywood has made millions of dollars revamping it for Evan Almighty, I still like it. Even though the scientific world believes that the great flood was nothing more than a localized event, I like the story. Would you like to know why I like the story? You’re about to find out.
In the simplest of ways, I like the story because it contains a hidden picture of Jesus Christ. Before I get into that, however, I’d just like to state that I believe the flood happened; I believe that it covered the whole earth. I believe the Biblical account of the event and accept it as true and accurate.
After destroying everything on the face of the earth except Noah, his family, and the animals in the Ark with them, God made a covenant with Noah, with the animals, and with the earth itself. Graciously, God declared that He would never again flood the earth to destroy mankind; as a reminder to Himself, He set a rainbow in the clouds. The greatest part of the story is this rainbow in the clouds and the two purposes it serves.
One, the rainbow is a sign to all mankind that God will not destroy the earth. Two, and this is the coolest one, it’s a reminder to God as well as to us. When we see a rainbow it reminds us of God’s love for us. It is there for us to look to, to admire, and rest assured in the knowledge that God won’t destroy the earth with a flood. When God sees a rainbow it reminds Him that He has already punished the earth with a flood and that He has promised not to destroy it again.
Friends, there is more to this than a rainbow in the clouds. The Beloved Son of God Almighty, Jesus Christ, is represented by this rainbow. It is Christ who is set in the clouds as a reminder to us and to God. (Ezekiel 1:28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.) When we look out and see God’s rainbow in the sky we should be secure in the knowledge of who it represents: Jesus Christ. God said, “I set My rainbow...”, not just any old rainbow, but His rainbow. I can make a rainbow with a hose on a sunny day; that’s not God’s rainbow, it’s mine. Jesus Christ is God’s rainbow.
The feel-good message here is this: when we seek Christ, and see Him revealed, we are reminded of God’s love for us. When God sees Christ He is reminded of His promise to us. Our punishment was upon Christ. Our sins, our sicknesses, our death, were all borne in the body of Christ on the cross. We can rest easy knowing that Jesus is God’s reminder to Himself that our sins have already been punished; we are the redeemed. We are saved.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Treasure Hunt
1 Samuel 16:1
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons”
Most likely while God spoke these words to Samuel, David was out in the field somewhere tending to his sheep. Maybe he was fighting off a bear; he might have been sleeping. Who knows? Does it matter? No, God spoke to the prophet and said what was going to happen in the not too distant future, and it happened.
I’m sure you’ve heard the story of David and Goliath. If not, I’ll sum it up for you. The Philistine army was pitted against Israel. Both lines faced each other. Each day the Philistines sent out Goliath, a giant of a man, to taunt the Israelites and blaspheme God. Not one of the mighty men of Israel was willing to go out and fight for his country, for his God. They were all stricken with fear.
This went on for forty days before David came down to the front lines. David was a shepherd; he was a young boy. He had been sent down by his father to bring bread to his brothers who were soldiers in the army. When David heard the things that Goliath was saying, he became outraged. He took his sling and some stones, approached the giant, and fought for his country; he fought to defend the name of God.
With a single stone David was able to bring the mighty Goliath crashing to the ground. And with a swing of the giant’s own sword, David cut off Goliath’s head and secured victory for Israel. At that moment this prophecy was coming to fruition; or was it?
The answer: yes and no. Yes, David was going to be the king of Israel, but a further look at this very scripture reveals an even greater King. The secret is hidden cleverly by God, by the King Himself, in the last line of the verse; “I have provided Myself a king among his sons.” Why did God say it like this? Why didn’t He say, “I have provided a king among his sons.”? For that matter, why didn’t God say, “Jesse’s son David is going to be king.”?
The answer: He was concealing His own Son, Jesus, in the verse. We know from the historic genealogical account listed in Matthew that Jesus Christ was a descendant of Jesse. What God is saying to Samuel is so much more than “David is going to be the king of Israel.” He’s telling Samuel, “I, Myself, will come through the sons of Jesse; I will be the King.”
Jesus Christ is the purpose, the driving force, the reason behind every story and event in the Bible. God wrote history to be His story. Every verse is a treasure hunt. We’re not looking for diamonds or One-eyed Willy’s gold; we’re looking for Jesus Christ, The Treasure of the ages. Have fun, refresh your heart, and open up God’s word to see The Word revealed!
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons”
Most likely while God spoke these words to Samuel, David was out in the field somewhere tending to his sheep. Maybe he was fighting off a bear; he might have been sleeping. Who knows? Does it matter? No, God spoke to the prophet and said what was going to happen in the not too distant future, and it happened.
I’m sure you’ve heard the story of David and Goliath. If not, I’ll sum it up for you. The Philistine army was pitted against Israel. Both lines faced each other. Each day the Philistines sent out Goliath, a giant of a man, to taunt the Israelites and blaspheme God. Not one of the mighty men of Israel was willing to go out and fight for his country, for his God. They were all stricken with fear.
This went on for forty days before David came down to the front lines. David was a shepherd; he was a young boy. He had been sent down by his father to bring bread to his brothers who were soldiers in the army. When David heard the things that Goliath was saying, he became outraged. He took his sling and some stones, approached the giant, and fought for his country; he fought to defend the name of God.
With a single stone David was able to bring the mighty Goliath crashing to the ground. And with a swing of the giant’s own sword, David cut off Goliath’s head and secured victory for Israel. At that moment this prophecy was coming to fruition; or was it?
The answer: yes and no. Yes, David was going to be the king of Israel, but a further look at this very scripture reveals an even greater King. The secret is hidden cleverly by God, by the King Himself, in the last line of the verse; “I have provided Myself a king among his sons.” Why did God say it like this? Why didn’t He say, “I have provided a king among his sons.”? For that matter, why didn’t God say, “Jesse’s son David is going to be king.”?
The answer: He was concealing His own Son, Jesus, in the verse. We know from the historic genealogical account listed in Matthew that Jesus Christ was a descendant of Jesse. What God is saying to Samuel is so much more than “David is going to be the king of Israel.” He’s telling Samuel, “I, Myself, will come through the sons of Jesse; I will be the King.”
Jesus Christ is the purpose, the driving force, the reason behind every story and event in the Bible. God wrote history to be His story. Every verse is a treasure hunt. We’re not looking for diamonds or One-eyed Willy’s gold; we’re looking for Jesus Christ, The Treasure of the ages. Have fun, refresh your heart, and open up God’s word to see The Word revealed!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Light em' up!
Isaiah 24:11
There is a cry for wine in the streets, all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
It’s not every day that encouragement can be found in a very discouraging scripture, but I hope to bring it to you today. This verse is straight out of chapter 24 of Isaiah, a chapter that has been labeled in my Bible (NKJV) “Impending Judgement on the Earth”. Before I ever got to verse one I was already thinking about the depressing nature of this passage. As I read through, however, something happened: the more I read about God’s judgement, the more Jesus was revealed to me.
If you haven’t read a paper or watched the news lately, the world is in disarray. Countries are falling apart; there’s an economic global crisis; disease and famine are killing people. Earthquakes, devastating floods, severe storms, and drought are plaguing our world. Just like this verse says “all joy is darkened, the mirth (laughter, happiness) of the land is gone.” Gone is a strong word. I read that word and wondered: how do we get it back?
Fortunately, the answer to my question is found at the beginning of the verse. It’s in the wine; more specifically, it’s found in Jesus Christ. Christ told us that He is the light of the world (John 8:12) and that when we follow Him, we have that light with us. When we make it our goal to bring Jesus Christ (not rules, regulations, principles, or to-do lists) to the world, we have the ability to bring back joy. Through the preaching of Christ and His infinite grace, we have the ability to bring happiness back to the land. Christ empowered us, He commanded us, to bring the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:19).
Friends, there is a cry for wine in the streets today. It’s not a cry for physical wine, but for spiritual wine. The people are crying for salvation; they are crying for healing. Their cry is for redemption, for light, for joy, for peace, for happiness; their cry is for Jesus Christ. We possess the Light within our hearts; it’s time for us to start shining. Go, light em’ up!
There is a cry for wine in the streets, all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
It’s not every day that encouragement can be found in a very discouraging scripture, but I hope to bring it to you today. This verse is straight out of chapter 24 of Isaiah, a chapter that has been labeled in my Bible (NKJV) “Impending Judgement on the Earth”. Before I ever got to verse one I was already thinking about the depressing nature of this passage. As I read through, however, something happened: the more I read about God’s judgement, the more Jesus was revealed to me.
If you haven’t read a paper or watched the news lately, the world is in disarray. Countries are falling apart; there’s an economic global crisis; disease and famine are killing people. Earthquakes, devastating floods, severe storms, and drought are plaguing our world. Just like this verse says “all joy is darkened, the mirth (laughter, happiness) of the land is gone.” Gone is a strong word. I read that word and wondered: how do we get it back?
Fortunately, the answer to my question is found at the beginning of the verse. It’s in the wine; more specifically, it’s found in Jesus Christ. Christ told us that He is the light of the world (John 8:12) and that when we follow Him, we have that light with us. When we make it our goal to bring Jesus Christ (not rules, regulations, principles, or to-do lists) to the world, we have the ability to bring back joy. Through the preaching of Christ and His infinite grace, we have the ability to bring happiness back to the land. Christ empowered us, He commanded us, to bring the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:19).
Friends, there is a cry for wine in the streets today. It’s not a cry for physical wine, but for spiritual wine. The people are crying for salvation; they are crying for healing. Their cry is for redemption, for light, for joy, for peace, for happiness; their cry is for Jesus Christ. We possess the Light within our hearts; it’s time for us to start shining. Go, light em’ up!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
It's all about Jesus
Isaiah 25:6-9
On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;
He will swallow up death for ever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
In that day they will say, surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.
I love the grace of God. I find it interesting to find little hints and glimmers of hope sprinkled in and among all of the doom and gloom of the apocalyptic writings of Isaiah. Not just hope like that “hopey-changey” thing we’ve all heard about; true, honest, Biblical hope, that is to say, a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation.
As I was reading Isaiah 25 the other day verses 6 through 9 jumped off the page and smacked me right in the side of the head. It was as if Jesus Himself was sitting right next to me and said, “Hey! That’s about me, you know.” So now I have the privilege of sharing with those of you who are willing to read though to the end of the page what I learned the other day. This may be a refresher for you; if it is, I ask that you read as well because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17) That said...
Verse 6:
On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.
“This mountain” is a representation of Calvary. (I know there are some who will say it is Zion, but since no one can determine the actual location of Mt. Zion or whether or not it is the same place as Calvary or Moriah; I’m saying in this scripture it is Calvary.) On Calvary the Lord prepared a feast for all, a banquet of the finest meats and wines. Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), is the perfect sacrifice, the best meat. He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35) and His blood is the finest wine (Matthew 26:28) shed for the remission of sins. Christ is the banquet prepared by the Lord for all mankind to consume.
Verse 7:
On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;
On Mount Calvary Christ destroyed the curse of the Law and the strength that it gave sin in our lives (1 Corinthians 15:56). The veil that separated us from God was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), giving us free access to God through the atoning sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ.
Verse 8:
He will swallow up death for ever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
On the cross Christ conquered death, both physical and spiritual. He did not die as a man would, but He chose the exact moment when the sacrifice was completed and gave up His Spirit, conquering the power that death had over mankind (Luke 23:46). His blood completely cleansed us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). As a result, God no longer sees our sins (Jeremiah 31:34) but instead sees the perfect work of His Son, Jesus Christ making us perfect in His eyes.
Verse 9:
In that day they will say, surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.
I don’t think I have to explain much in this verse. The Bible is ageless and timeless, like our Creator and God, and so we who read it have to consider that right here, right now, this is for us. When Isaiah wrote these words he was speaking about the the restoration of Israel. When we read these words, however, years after the restoration of Israel, we have to realize that there is more than a history lesson involved. This is for us, the Christians of 2011, to read and to meditate on, to embrace as our stronghold in an increasingly troubled world. We have put our trust in Jesus Christ and His grace at the cross, and He has saved us. Let us, as the scripture says, rejoice and be glad in His salvation.
On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;
He will swallow up death for ever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
In that day they will say, surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.
I love the grace of God. I find it interesting to find little hints and glimmers of hope sprinkled in and among all of the doom and gloom of the apocalyptic writings of Isaiah. Not just hope like that “hopey-changey” thing we’ve all heard about; true, honest, Biblical hope, that is to say, a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation.
As I was reading Isaiah 25 the other day verses 6 through 9 jumped off the page and smacked me right in the side of the head. It was as if Jesus Himself was sitting right next to me and said, “Hey! That’s about me, you know.” So now I have the privilege of sharing with those of you who are willing to read though to the end of the page what I learned the other day. This may be a refresher for you; if it is, I ask that you read as well because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17) That said...
Verse 6:
On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.
“This mountain” is a representation of Calvary. (I know there are some who will say it is Zion, but since no one can determine the actual location of Mt. Zion or whether or not it is the same place as Calvary or Moriah; I’m saying in this scripture it is Calvary.) On Calvary the Lord prepared a feast for all, a banquet of the finest meats and wines. Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), is the perfect sacrifice, the best meat. He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35) and His blood is the finest wine (Matthew 26:28) shed for the remission of sins. Christ is the banquet prepared by the Lord for all mankind to consume.
Verse 7:
On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;
On Mount Calvary Christ destroyed the curse of the Law and the strength that it gave sin in our lives (1 Corinthians 15:56). The veil that separated us from God was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), giving us free access to God through the atoning sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ.
Verse 8:
He will swallow up death for ever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
On the cross Christ conquered death, both physical and spiritual. He did not die as a man would, but He chose the exact moment when the sacrifice was completed and gave up His Spirit, conquering the power that death had over mankind (Luke 23:46). His blood completely cleansed us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). As a result, God no longer sees our sins (Jeremiah 31:34) but instead sees the perfect work of His Son, Jesus Christ making us perfect in His eyes.
Verse 9:
In that day they will say, surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.
I don’t think I have to explain much in this verse. The Bible is ageless and timeless, like our Creator and God, and so we who read it have to consider that right here, right now, this is for us. When Isaiah wrote these words he was speaking about the the restoration of Israel. When we read these words, however, years after the restoration of Israel, we have to realize that there is more than a history lesson involved. This is for us, the Christians of 2011, to read and to meditate on, to embrace as our stronghold in an increasingly troubled world. We have put our trust in Jesus Christ and His grace at the cross, and He has saved us. Let us, as the scripture says, rejoice and be glad in His salvation.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Red red wine...
1 Timothy 5:23
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
I guess the Baptists didn’t read this scripture. Nah, I’m just kidding. But seriously, did you know that just a little red wine on a daily basis is good for you? Doctors say that it can reduce your risk of heart disease. It’s true. Red wine is full of antioxidants (anti-aging and cancer fighting properties). Red wine helps your brain function and counteracts the onset effects of Alzheimer's disease. It can lower your cholesterol, help prevent cancer, aid with inflammatory pain caused by joint diseases like Arthritis, and it help prevent colds. Red wine is pretty cool. But I’ll pose the question: are we to think that Paul is speaking purely on the physical properties of red wine or could he be writing to Timothy on a spiritual level?
Have you ever done something wrong, sinned, and had your conscience wreak havoc on your stomach? A guilty conscience can be a debilitating disease. Not only can it make you anxious and worried, but physically, it can cause serious digestive problems. But why are we talking about sin when Paul is talking about “frequent infirmities”? Because, I believe that Paul is writing to Timothy about sin, recurring sin.
Timothy, though a devout believer, is no different from the rest of us in that he still has his sin nature. Just because you and I are Christian doesn’t mean we have stopped sinning. Sin is our collective “frequent infirmity”. It flares up when we least expect it and at the most inopportune times to causes us great stress.
In the Old Testament water was used in the purification process for those people who were declared unclean in order to make them clean (Leviticus 14:8). Water was used to wash Aaron and his sons before the rest of the priestly anointing could take place (Leviticus 8:6). Water was used by God Himself to purify the earth in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:17). But with all of these things, the flood included, there was also bloodshed. Sacrifices were made for sanctification and purity. So the water, in and of itself, was not enough.
So it’s possible that Paul is making the connection with Timothy, and with us, that though water is good, blood is also necessary. He doesn’t tell Timothy to no longer drink water, he just tells him to add a little wine to his diet. This is of the utmost importance because it is the wine that aids with the frequent infirmities, not the water.
Hebrews 9:22 tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Christ said on the night of His betrayal that the wine in the cup was a symbol of the New Covenant, His blood shed for all mankind. I see two things in this writing by Paul: the Holy Spirit poured out like water for the help and comfort of mankind and the blood of Christ shed for the remission of sins.
It’s important that we don’t forget the Lord’s Supper. The healing power of the blood of Christ is to be remembered, and added to our diet in order to continually remind us of our forgiveness through the cross. That’s not to say that new sins haven’t already been forgiven, but rather that partaking in the Lord’s Supper is a physical reminder to the believer that they are forgiven and through the remembrance of Christ once and for all sacrifice, the anxiety and worries disappear. The “frequent infirmities” no longer trouble the stomach because when you’re reminded of the grace imparted through the cross, you can’t help but feel good!
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
I guess the Baptists didn’t read this scripture. Nah, I’m just kidding. But seriously, did you know that just a little red wine on a daily basis is good for you? Doctors say that it can reduce your risk of heart disease. It’s true. Red wine is full of antioxidants (anti-aging and cancer fighting properties). Red wine helps your brain function and counteracts the onset effects of Alzheimer's disease. It can lower your cholesterol, help prevent cancer, aid with inflammatory pain caused by joint diseases like Arthritis, and it help prevent colds. Red wine is pretty cool. But I’ll pose the question: are we to think that Paul is speaking purely on the physical properties of red wine or could he be writing to Timothy on a spiritual level?
Have you ever done something wrong, sinned, and had your conscience wreak havoc on your stomach? A guilty conscience can be a debilitating disease. Not only can it make you anxious and worried, but physically, it can cause serious digestive problems. But why are we talking about sin when Paul is talking about “frequent infirmities”? Because, I believe that Paul is writing to Timothy about sin, recurring sin.
Timothy, though a devout believer, is no different from the rest of us in that he still has his sin nature. Just because you and I are Christian doesn’t mean we have stopped sinning. Sin is our collective “frequent infirmity”. It flares up when we least expect it and at the most inopportune times to causes us great stress.
In the Old Testament water was used in the purification process for those people who were declared unclean in order to make them clean (Leviticus 14:8). Water was used to wash Aaron and his sons before the rest of the priestly anointing could take place (Leviticus 8:6). Water was used by God Himself to purify the earth in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:17). But with all of these things, the flood included, there was also bloodshed. Sacrifices were made for sanctification and purity. So the water, in and of itself, was not enough.
So it’s possible that Paul is making the connection with Timothy, and with us, that though water is good, blood is also necessary. He doesn’t tell Timothy to no longer drink water, he just tells him to add a little wine to his diet. This is of the utmost importance because it is the wine that aids with the frequent infirmities, not the water.
Hebrews 9:22 tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Christ said on the night of His betrayal that the wine in the cup was a symbol of the New Covenant, His blood shed for all mankind. I see two things in this writing by Paul: the Holy Spirit poured out like water for the help and comfort of mankind and the blood of Christ shed for the remission of sins.
It’s important that we don’t forget the Lord’s Supper. The healing power of the blood of Christ is to be remembered, and added to our diet in order to continually remind us of our forgiveness through the cross. That’s not to say that new sins haven’t already been forgiven, but rather that partaking in the Lord’s Supper is a physical reminder to the believer that they are forgiven and through the remembrance of Christ once and for all sacrifice, the anxiety and worries disappear. The “frequent infirmities” no longer trouble the stomach because when you’re reminded of the grace imparted through the cross, you can’t help but feel good!
Monday, July 11, 2011
What are you looking at?
Isaiah 11:10
And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.”
Sometimes it’s difficult to see the road ahead, the light at the end of the tunnel, especially when the problems of everyday life have us completely focused on ourselves. For some of us these problems are physical (sickness, disease) and for others they are spiritual (sin). Whatever your problem may be, it seems to hold your attention.
This is exactly what the devil wants. He wants you to become so internally focused that you fail to see the road ahead. By keeping you preoccupied with your problems he can keep you from seeing the stumbling stones in your path. And by keeping you focused on your flaws (or perceived flaws) Satan is able to keep you from seeing your perfection in and through Christ. When this happens even the “best” of Christians can stumble and even fall!
When the Israelites were in the wilderness with Moses they were attacked by serpents. Because of their sinful actions, God allowed these terrible creatures into their camp. The bites were excruciatingly painful; there was no rest for the afflicted. But when they cried out to God He gave them healing and rest. God instructed Moses to raise a bronze serpent on a pole for the people to see. When they looked at it, their pain would cease; they would be healed.
This imagery in Numbers 21 is spoken of by Jesus Himself in John 3. (“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” John 3:14) Jesus knows that when we focus on ourselves the pain and suffering is excruciating. But when we focus on Him, healing happens, pain retreats.
When we are focused inward on our own physical or spiritual sicknesses, we are blind to the healing that is readily available through looking outward at the cross. The sting, the pain, and the suffering associated with our afflictions becomes like a god. Our obsession with removing sin from our lives becomes a love affair with self-righteousness and only serves to bring about more pain.
Friends, what we need to do is look to the cross and see the perfect work of Jesus Christ completed there. We need to see our cancer, asthma, obesity, bankruptcy, crack addiction, selfishness, porn-hungriness, etc. nailed through the hands and feet of Jesus in order receive the healing that His grace has provided. When viewed through human eyes, the cross is a symbol of suffering and shame, but in the throne room of God, the cross is the glorious place where Christ was finally able to rest His head. (Luke 9:58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”, John 19:30 “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” [The word “lay” and “bowed” in these scriptures is the Greek word klino meaning “a deliberate putting of the head into rest” Strong’s word 2827]) The cross is a symbol of forgiveness, love, redemption, healing, and right-standing with the Father. It is a symbol of perfection! Look out, look up, and look to Jesus.
And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.”
Sometimes it’s difficult to see the road ahead, the light at the end of the tunnel, especially when the problems of everyday life have us completely focused on ourselves. For some of us these problems are physical (sickness, disease) and for others they are spiritual (sin). Whatever your problem may be, it seems to hold your attention.
This is exactly what the devil wants. He wants you to become so internally focused that you fail to see the road ahead. By keeping you preoccupied with your problems he can keep you from seeing the stumbling stones in your path. And by keeping you focused on your flaws (or perceived flaws) Satan is able to keep you from seeing your perfection in and through Christ. When this happens even the “best” of Christians can stumble and even fall!
When the Israelites were in the wilderness with Moses they were attacked by serpents. Because of their sinful actions, God allowed these terrible creatures into their camp. The bites were excruciatingly painful; there was no rest for the afflicted. But when they cried out to God He gave them healing and rest. God instructed Moses to raise a bronze serpent on a pole for the people to see. When they looked at it, their pain would cease; they would be healed.
This imagery in Numbers 21 is spoken of by Jesus Himself in John 3. (“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” John 3:14) Jesus knows that when we focus on ourselves the pain and suffering is excruciating. But when we focus on Him, healing happens, pain retreats.
When we are focused inward on our own physical or spiritual sicknesses, we are blind to the healing that is readily available through looking outward at the cross. The sting, the pain, and the suffering associated with our afflictions becomes like a god. Our obsession with removing sin from our lives becomes a love affair with self-righteousness and only serves to bring about more pain.
Friends, what we need to do is look to the cross and see the perfect work of Jesus Christ completed there. We need to see our cancer, asthma, obesity, bankruptcy, crack addiction, selfishness, porn-hungriness, etc. nailed through the hands and feet of Jesus in order receive the healing that His grace has provided. When viewed through human eyes, the cross is a symbol of suffering and shame, but in the throne room of God, the cross is the glorious place where Christ was finally able to rest His head. (Luke 9:58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”, John 19:30 “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” [The word “lay” and “bowed” in these scriptures is the Greek word klino meaning “a deliberate putting of the head into rest” Strong’s word 2827]) The cross is a symbol of forgiveness, love, redemption, healing, and right-standing with the Father. It is a symbol of perfection! Look out, look up, and look to Jesus.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
No obstacles
Luke 24:2
But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
I’ll ask you this one question: are you still looking for Jesus through the Law? Well, honestly there are probably going to be more questions to follow, but I’m starting with that one.
In the Gospel of Luke we find “certain women” coming with prepared spices to finish the burial process that had begun just days before. Because the Passover was upon them, they had been unable to fully prepare the body of Christ for the grave. So, naturally, they assumed they’d be able to come back after the Passover feast and ceremonies and finish the job. Boy, were they in for a surprise!
When they came to the tomb they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. What in the world had happened? Roman guards were supposed to make sure that no one could get at the body of Christ. They were ordered by the governor, Pontius Pilate, to stand guard under penalty of death if someone were to steal the body of Jesus. Certainly these men wouldn’t have willingly allowed the disciples to steal the body.
I’ll tell you what happened. During the finishing stages of Christ’s restorative mission here on earth, through His painful death, hasty burial, and triumphant resurrection, more than just a big rock was moved out of the way. The removal of the stone that was blocking access to Jesus Christ was not only a literal event that took place, but also a spiritual representation of what had taken place.
The stone that sealed Jesus in the tomb was a representation of the Law (written on stones, i.e., the Ten Commandments) that had been a hindrance to all mankind and had blocked access to a personal friendship with God. Jesus, at His death, became our sins, diseases, shortcomings, failures, worries, troubles, blasphemies; He became our Savior. He put Himself under the Law for the sake of releasing us from the curse of the Law. He satisfied the requirements of the Law for perfection, became our substitute, and released us from its grip.
Sadly, there are still people today who believe that the stone is still blocking the entrance and access to Christ. They haven’t realized the fact that the stone has been pushed aside. They haven’t realized that they don’t have to go through the stone to be in with Christ, but that He has moved the stone to come out and be with them.
Jesus didn’t destroy the stone when He came out of His tomb, holding true to His word (Matthew 5:17); He simply moved it aside. That’s what He’s done for us today. He hasn’t destroyed the Law of God; He’s simply rolled it aside, come out from behind it, and chosen to be with us.
But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
I’ll ask you this one question: are you still looking for Jesus through the Law? Well, honestly there are probably going to be more questions to follow, but I’m starting with that one.
In the Gospel of Luke we find “certain women” coming with prepared spices to finish the burial process that had begun just days before. Because the Passover was upon them, they had been unable to fully prepare the body of Christ for the grave. So, naturally, they assumed they’d be able to come back after the Passover feast and ceremonies and finish the job. Boy, were they in for a surprise!
When they came to the tomb they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. What in the world had happened? Roman guards were supposed to make sure that no one could get at the body of Christ. They were ordered by the governor, Pontius Pilate, to stand guard under penalty of death if someone were to steal the body of Jesus. Certainly these men wouldn’t have willingly allowed the disciples to steal the body.
I’ll tell you what happened. During the finishing stages of Christ’s restorative mission here on earth, through His painful death, hasty burial, and triumphant resurrection, more than just a big rock was moved out of the way. The removal of the stone that was blocking access to Jesus Christ was not only a literal event that took place, but also a spiritual representation of what had taken place.
The stone that sealed Jesus in the tomb was a representation of the Law (written on stones, i.e., the Ten Commandments) that had been a hindrance to all mankind and had blocked access to a personal friendship with God. Jesus, at His death, became our sins, diseases, shortcomings, failures, worries, troubles, blasphemies; He became our Savior. He put Himself under the Law for the sake of releasing us from the curse of the Law. He satisfied the requirements of the Law for perfection, became our substitute, and released us from its grip.
Sadly, there are still people today who believe that the stone is still blocking the entrance and access to Christ. They haven’t realized the fact that the stone has been pushed aside. They haven’t realized that they don’t have to go through the stone to be in with Christ, but that He has moved the stone to come out and be with them.
Jesus didn’t destroy the stone when He came out of His tomb, holding true to His word (Matthew 5:17); He simply moved it aside. That’s what He’s done for us today. He hasn’t destroyed the Law of God; He’s simply rolled it aside, come out from behind it, and chosen to be with us.
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