HOLY SPIRIT

In I Corinthians 2, the Apostle Paul presents a brief but powerful theology of the Holy Spirit.  The Trinity is one of the most complex parts of our faith to grasp and understand.  Paul does his level best to clarify some issues.  For the record, the Athanasian Creed makes clear what we believe as Christians:

"...we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal."

I know, kind of hard to read, having been written in the late fifth century.  But, if you read it, you likely got the idea.  We believe in One God who presents God's self in three Persons:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  These three Persons are One!  They are equal!  They had no beginning - wrap your mind around THAT!  They enjoy perfect unity and fellowship.  

Now, here's what Paul clarifies in this chapter:

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

Let me try to put that in 21st century language:

When we speak of our spirit, we are speaking of the essence of ourselves including our inner thoughts that are rarely revealed to others.   God also has a Spirit - part of the Trinity - and this Spirit knows the inner thoughts of God!  Upon our salvation, God makes His Holy Spirit available to us!  How cool is THAT?  This Spirit helps us understand God's Word and how God works in our lives and in His world.  If you don't have this Spirit, you can't possibly understand the things of God!  

I've noticed over the years that people have a penchant for calling on God as "Our Heavenly Father" or "Lord Jesus" and many other similar forms.  But I rarely hear anyone call on the Holy Spirit directly.  Yet, this Spirit of Jesus is the Person of the Trinity who lives and resides within us!  It's not wrong to use the former addresses for God.  However, many of us may be guilty of neglecting the third member of the Trinity.  The One, who in some sense, is closest to us!  Hmmm....

Holy Spirit,

Forgive us for ignoring Your Holy Presence in our hearts and lives!  For whatever reasons, we are guilty of having ignored You, and we never meant to do that!  You are co-eternal with the Father and with Jesus!  You are the third Person of the Trinity!  If we have claimed Christ as our Lord, then You reside within us!  Hallelujah!  Glory to God!  Thank You for coming at Pentecost!  Thank You for the gifts You bring!  Thank You for Your constant presence and protection and guidance!  We love You and want the fullness of Your work to be made manifest in our lives!  Thank You for revealing God to us in such intimate ways!  Thank You for Your faithfulness!  

Help us to call on You and recognize Your work more consistently.  How could we ever live without Your power!  We give You a giant WOO HOO for all that You do for us day in and day out!  

In the name of the Father, Son and HOLY SPIRIT, we pray...Amen.

REACHING CORINTHIANS TODAY

 I'm reading I Corinthians 2 this morning.  It sounds so strange to hear the great Apostle Paul saying things like:

I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  [v.1]

I came to you in weakness and fear and with much trembling.  [v.3]

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words...  [v.4]

This just doesn't sound like the Apostle Paul that I visualize.  It doesn't sound like the same guy that:  [all taken from II Corinthians 11:24-29]

• Five times...received from the Jews forty lashes minus one.  
• Three times...was beaten with rods  
• ...once...was stoned 
• ...three times...was shipwrecked  
• ...spent a night and a day in the open sea  
• was in danger from rivers  
• was in danger from bandits 
• was in danger from his own countrymen
• was in danger from Gentiles
• was in danger in the city
• was in danger in the country
• was in danger at sea
• was in danger from false brothers
• had labored and toiled and...often gone without sleep
• had known hunger and thirst and had often gone without food
• had been cold and naked
• had faced daily the pressure of concern for all the churches

Are you kidding me?  He's like the Dwayne Johnson of the New Testament!!!!!

 It's hard for me to reconcile these two opposing pictures of this dynamic New Testament leader.  How could this guy come to Corinth with fear and trembling?  

But Corinth was the capital of the province of Achaia - taking precedence even over Athens.  It was famous for its wealth, culture and games!  Corinth was so associated with immorality that a form of its name, korinthiazai, had come to mean the practice of immorality!  On the summit of the Acro-corinth behind the city stood the temple of Aphrodite or Venus, the goddess of love, and a thousand of her female slaves roamed the city's streets by night as prostitutes.  

As hard as it is to admit, it seems that the great Apostle Paul was intimidated as he arrived in this city!  Intimidated, but not enough so to stay away from it.  No, he came, he preached, he influenced - and he established a church there!  This paramount church planter established a foothold in Satan's front yard!  AWESOME!!!

God rewarded his efforts.  It was indeed a troublesome church.  Paul had to write them four letters to answer their many questions and assist in resolving problems that developed. But we are richer today for these letters and gained tremendous insight because he wrote them [and they were preserved as part of God's Holy Word].  

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Truth be told, I'm a lot like Paul.  I can be so comfortable in a Christian environment;  but put me in a secular environment and I clam up.  I'm intimidated too.  I'm afraid of what people will think.  I'm afraid I'll look foolish or be out-argued.  I'm fearful that I'll lose my train of thought or say something wrong or stupid.  

In John 14:26, Jesus told His disciples, 

...the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you  [John 14:26, ESV].

In John 12:12, Jesus told His disciples, 

When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.

 Lord of All,

Forgive me for the times I've cowered and failed to represent You!  I'm so sorry!  You deserve better.  

Like Paul, there are times when I pull back into my shell from fear and intimidation.  I want to do better!  I want to be a voice for You anywhere and everywhere.  Help me to be more courageous!  Help me to trust Your faithful Holy Spirit!  Remembering II Corinthians 5:20,

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us (me). We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

This world - that I live in - is getting darker and darker all the time.  Those of us who love and serve You need to speak up!  

Holy Spirit, be the dis-comforter to me, until I yield and speak up for my Lord!  Amen.  

 

WHY I'M AMBIVALENT ABOUT LITURGY - PART 2

 What I love about liturgy:

• Using ancient prayers and readings that connect us to our roots.
• Ceremonial services such as Holy Communion or the Marriage Service that have been largely unchanged through the centuries.
• A well-chosen Call to Worship from scripture;  or even sung, such as "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty;  early in the morning, our song shall rise to Thee..."  or "Come, now is the time to worship, Come, now is the time to give your heart;  Come, just as you are to worship, Come, just as you are before your God - Come."
• The participation factor of a responsive reading based on scripture!
• The recitation (or reading) of the Apostle's Creed on special occasions.
• Prayers of confession that allow time for us to reflect on our sinfulness and then hear words of absolution.

What I don't like about liturgy:

• When leaders fail to creatively use the resources or use them poorly.
• When liturgy never changes and is presented ad infinitum (ad nauseam).
• I personally don't think the Lord's Prayer was ever meant to be prayed in unison as a part of worship.  I believe it was a MODEL for how our Lord wants us to pray.  
• When our liturgy becomes the hanger for our entire worship experience.
• If not structured by a spiritually sensitive, creative, designer, it runs a high risk of being downright boring.
• When it doesn't bow to the sovereign leadership of the Holy Spirit!

I mentioned in Part 1, that I worshiped at the Noon Mass on the campus of Franciscan University in Steubenville several days a week for two years.  Occasionally, the mass was even led by a young priest who was a classmate.  I fairly quickly learned that, rather than be an obstruction to the flow of traffic for the Eucharist, I could also go forward and just request a 'blessing' from the priest.  [Obviously, I respected their belief that the Eucharist is just for Catholics.]  

It didn't take long to notice that the ritual was consistent although scriptures and prayers would occasionally change.  But, I was particularly moved by the high drama of Catholic worship!  Later, in New Middletown, I would sometimes attend St. Paul's Saturday evening mass.  It was pleasant for me to worship and have no responsibility for the service!  :-)  

One day, at Noon Mass, something very uncharacteristic happened that marked me deeply!  The service progressed with joyful singing.  Being an energetic campus, the sanctuary was almost always crammed full of students, staff and faculty.  As we progressed toward the Eucharist, the priest lifted up the cup and said (as always), "This is the body and blood of Christ!"  [At this point a bell rings and the moment of transubstantiation occurs.]  

This particular day, I was shocked at the people's response!  Everyone simultaneously hit their feet and began praying, singing in the Spirit or speaking in tongues!  It had never happened before and never happened again while I was there.  It went on for about two minutes.  My classmate, Deanna, was singing beautifully in English in the Spirit!  I soon joined the congregation in lifting prayers of praise to God.  It was a SACRED MOMENT that took me by complete surprise!  I asked my classmates about it after the mass;  they seemed to barely recognize that something unusual had happened.  I, on the other hand, was awestruck!  

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If you've read both Part 1 and 2, you're beginning to sense the tension that I have with liturgy.

First, I would say that liturgy must always sublimate to the desires and work of the Holy Spirit!

Second, liturgy needs to be crafted and creatively used by spiritually sensitive leaders!

Third, a wise worship planner/leader will look for liturgy that engages and involves the worshipper!

Finally, those of us who love and use liturgy should NEVER look down on those who practice a style of worship that is less liturgical or non-liturgical!  

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For my last four or five years at the Oakland Church in East Liverpool, I had a Youth Pastor, Raeanne Thompson.  She was (is) amazing!  Our kids (my kids) LOVED her!  She filled the youth room on Wednesday nights.  She carted kids in from the projects.  She talked many of them into coming on Sunday mornings.  To be honest, she caused me (and our church) a ton of problems!  The kids were in-and-out of worship on Sundays.  Older people were disturbed by their behavior.  She also reached younger kids who attended our Wednesday programs.  Many were unruly and disrespectful.  We brought Alma Kelly into our office.  She was a highly respected principle at an elementary school two blocks from our church.  Unruly kids were taken to the 'Principle's Office'!  :-)  Alma worked patiently and sacrificially with them there until the hour ended!

Raeanne and I worked on worship together.  We had a guiding scripture:  [Psalm 122:1 - a David Psalm]  I was glad when they said to me:  Let us go to the House of the Lord.

We tried repeatedly to plan worship in such a way that people (including the youth) would go home saying the same thing!  During those years (the late 80's and early 90's) that meant using simple worship choruses as well as hymns.  Of course, we had David Kelly at the grand piano - so he was a HUGE blessing to our worship efforts.  It meant keeping our messages simple and understandable [Raeanne preached once a month].  It also meant using drama and humor to appeal to people's interests.  [I later wrote frequent dramas to illustrate messages while serving at New Middletown.]  By the way, during the latter years, the Oakland (and New Middletown) congregation blew through the 200 barrier and we saw scores of decisions for Christ!  

Well, I know some of you are waiting for this part and plan to share your thoughts.  Let the discussion (or roasting) begin!  I deliver these posts with sincerity and love!  Love for Jesus and His Church!  

WHY I’M AMBIVALENT ABOUT LITURGY - Part 1

Part 1 implies that there will be a Part 2.  Be sure to check in tomorrow to hear a contesting of my own thoughts and seek some resolution to the issues raised here today. 

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First, some background.  I was raised in the Free Methodist Church during the fifties and sixties.  No worship teams – unless the pianist, organist and song leader counts as one.  We enjoyed the ‘song service’ and then came the preaching and invitation.  It was simple;  freestyle.

I attended Asbury Theological Seminary for three years (1973-76 but did not graduate).  It was dominated by United Methodists (although they had a Free Methodist president for a spell).  I began to become acquainted with a more liturgical form of worship.  It was ‘comfortable’ and ‘reasonable’.  I enjoyed it and found that it had potential to add meaning and value to worship.

After a few years in the ministry, I saw the need to complete my seminary education.  Going back to ATS with my family was not a viable option.  Instead, I enrolled at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and attended for the next eight years completing my Master of Divinity degree.  These years the seminary was definitively split between four theological perspectives:  feminist theology (my classes usually had more females than males), liberation theology, process theology and Calvinistic theology.  It was like being in a free-fall before opening one’s parachute.  I told my superintendent at the time not to let just any FM candidate attend this liberal school. 

I encountered a newer level of liturgy in worship at PTS.  I experimented with it in the FM church I was leading at that time.  I found no strong backlash – people generally accepted the forms as I offered them. 

From 1990 – 1992, I attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville where I attained my M.A. Counseling.  Liturgy took a new leap in this charismatic Catholic environment!  I worshiped in this community every day that I attended classes (Noon Mass).  I became comfortable with the scriptures, responses and prayers.  My classmates seemed to enjoy seeing my responses to a different way of doing things. 

In 1997, through a turn of events too complicated to explain here, I ended up on staff at the Cornerstone Church (formerly FM) in Akron, OH.  This congregation was growing extremely fast under new (female leadership).  She estimated that 75% of the congregants were first-time-believers;  UNHEARD OF!  I would describe it as respectful chaos.  These people were new to church life and didn’t know how they were supposed to behave and respond.  Baptisms were met with hoots and hollering and exuberant applause and shouts.  People stepped into the aisles during the worship time to move to the music and express their joy!  Pastor Brenda Young’s messages were riveting and instructional!  Liturgy was not a word that anyone there would recognize.  It was COMMON. 

I deliberately tried to replicate this when I went to the New Middletown FMC.  The church grew and prospered with very little liturgy – although I did use some (especially regarding Holy Communion).  Worship was vibrant;  the church was nearly always full;  new converts were coming to faith! 

To finish the story, I’m now worshiping in an Evangelical Presbyterian congregation.  Sunday worship is TOTALLY predictable!  It reminds me of going to my daughter's new church in Connecticut.  As we took our seats and the worship team went to the front, my grandson leaned toward me and said:  “Poppy, there’ll be three songs, a prayer, the offering and announcements and the message.”  He nailed it!

There’s a creative gene somewhere in my DNA.  I like to keep people guessing.  I love to change things up.  There were a number of times that I opened the service of worship by preaching and then brought the worship team up to lead us.  Back in the days of Sunday night services, Martha Anderson once said to me:  “You know what I like about you, pastor?  When we come to church on Sunday nights, we never know where you’re going to have us meet!” 

I just read an incredible story in Jim Cymbala’s book, FRESH FAITH:  What Happens when Real Faith Ignites God’s People, (chapter five).  He speaks of enjoying the ministry of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, when suddenly he felt an impulse to get up and give his message.  He thought:  “…maybe I’m just getting a little emotional.  Or maybe Satan was tempting me into some kind of weird behavior.”  “Then I thought, my goodness we haven’t even taken the offering yet!  This isn’t the time to preach and give an invitation;  that comes at the end of a meeting, not this early.” 

Shortly after, he states:  “ I felt that if I did not respond I would be grieving the Holy Spirit.  I silently prayed, ‘God, I don’t want to fail You by not doing Your will.  I’m going up there at the end of this song.  Somehow stop me if I’m wrong.”

The choir and director (his wife, Carol) were obviously surprised when he stepped into the pulpit.  He gave a ten minute message and an invitation.  Dozens responded from across the auditorium.  The sound of weeping could be heard as people repented of their sins and embraced Christ.  After they prayed with every person, they simply resumed their worship where it had been interrupted. 

That week, a man called the church office asking for sheet music for a song the choir had sung on Sunday.  After a discussion with Jim’s daughter, he asked her to give Jim a message:

My family and I were just on a visit to New York for the weekend.  We have a nineteen-year-old son who has totally hardened to the things of the Lord.  We brought him up to be a Christian, but he has drifted away…

On this trip, we invited him to come with us.  I promised him we would enjoy the city together, but our real plan was to bring him to your church in hopes that God would somehow reach him.

On Sunday, as we took a cab to your church for the afternoon service, I checked our tickets and realized I’d made a terrible mistake.  We wouldn’t be able to stay for the whole thing.

But then early in the service your dad walked up to the platform and started to share the gospel.  Suddenly my son was standing up with the others and heading for the altar!  He broke down before the Lord, calling out to God for forgiveness.  When he came back to his seat, he was a different person.

This has been the most incredible transformation that you could ever imagine.

I know;  this could have just as easily happened in a liturgical church.  I get that.  But, I feel it would be less likely to occur in a liturgical church.  The liturgy tends to dominate.  We depend on it instead of the Holy Spirit to direct us to God. 

Don’t get me wrong;  I’m not anti-liturgical.  I’ve tried to clarify that above.  Given my personality, my love for creativity and my affection for unpredictability – I get bored pretty quickly with the same old format repeated  every week. 

OK, now let’s talk about something else – like saying the Lord’s Prayer together in worship.  😉   No, no, no, you’ve had enough of my opinions for one day…

JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN!

Matthew 18:1-14  -  Brace yourself for violent content! 

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  [Did they have their thumbs under their suspenders while asking this?]

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. [Gasp!]  Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away.  [Shock!]  It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. [Sucking air!]  It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.  [The New English Bible uses the term 'Guardian Angels']

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

We serve a God who has a special heart for children.  Their guardian angels have constant access to His throne!

It is essential to understand the Jewish attitude toward children in 1st century Palestine if we are to grasp the full force of Jesus' teaching here.

In the present day, we tend to idealize childhood as the happy age of innocence, carefreeness, and simple faith, but in New Testament times the child was considered of no importance, meriting little attention or favor.  "Children in that society had no status at all - they did not count."  [John Wesley]  The child was regarded with scorn.

For the disciples of Jesus, "becoming like a child" is a symbol of those who have the lowest places in society, the poor and the oppressed, the beggars, the prostitutes and tax collectors - the people whom Jesus often called the little ones or the least.  Jesus' concern was that these little ones should not be despised or treated as inferior.  See that you never despise any of these little ones.  [John Wesley - RENEW MY HEART]

If Wesley is right, then we have to re-read the above passage and put each of these groups into the text every time it speaks of children.  When we re-read the last paragraph with this understanding, it exhorts us to be pro-active in reaching out to and helping those who have been pummeled in our society.  

We must ask ourselves: 

• Have I done enough by writing a $25 check to the Rescue Mission every Thanksgiving?
• Is it sufficient that I give a dollar to homeless people once in a while?
• Or that I've had a couple of black, Hispanic, Asian friends throughout my life?
• Besides, occasionally I take food to the church for the local food pantry.  

But,

• Have you taught anyone to fish [so they can catch their own fish]?  
• Have you genuinely taken a down-and-out person under your wing?
• Do you REALLY KNOW a family that is struggling to make ends meet?
• How available are you REALLY to those who are suffering injustice?

Jesus was clearly concerned about justice!  He wanted those who were typically treated poorly to receive respect.  He was not a fan of arrogance.  He was a fan of kindness and generosity.  He condemns those who contribute to the injustice of others:  Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble!...woe to the person through whom they come!  Even by our lack of caring or involvement.  

It's not for me to say where He would be in regards to the horrendous racial tensions in America today.  It seems apparent that He would admonish those who are killing, looting and destroying property.  However, He would also look beyond their actions and into their hearts to see and touch the source of pain that brings them to this activity.   Somehow, I'm convinced, He would be among them.  

I attend an all-white church with very little diversity.  It's a good church with a good pastor.  I've thought a lot in recent months about trying to find a black church to attend.  Would I be welcome?  I've preached at least ten times in black churches - but not in recent years.  I had a black, Baptist preacher do a three-month Sunday evening series [at the Oakland Church], but I've since lost track of him.

Bottom Line:  I'm doing practically nothing to heal this terrible situation - except pray.  And I do pray about it;  that's probably part of the reason for this blog post.  

Oh Lord,

I want to be part of Your healing force to re-unite this nation and restore peace.  But I honestly don't know where to begin.  I'm open to Your guidance.  I need Your direction.  I'm tired of praying for Your protection!  It doesn't matter what happens to me.  What matters is that those who are hurt, angry, hateful, and violent be restored to You!  If You can figure a way to use me in that process, I'm willing.  

Wake up Your Church, Oh Lord!  Help us to be an active part of whatever You might be trying to accomplish - before it's too late!

For the Kingdom's sake.  Amen.   

 

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FAITH?

 I have been reading and re-reading Matthew 17:14-20 in my New International Version Bible for the last hour.  In this passage, a man brings his (probably) epileptic son to Jesus to be healed reporting that His disciples weren't able to do so.  After a short rant about people - apparently including the apostles - not having enough faith, Jesus heals the boy.  When the disciples seek a private answer from Jesus as to why they couldn't heal him - although they had clearly healed others - Jesus simply tells them:

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.'  [v.20]

By the way, an average sized aspirin bottle will hold about 180 mustard seeds!  One of these miniscule seeds, when planted in fertile soil, can produce a 10 foot bush within three months!  

My initial response was to feel badly for the disciples.  After leaving everything to follow Jesus and after already healing many people, they are reprimanded for not having enough faith?  Somehow, it just doesn't seem fair to me.  But, remarkably, there's no indication that they were frustrated or angry over this situation.  They simply took it in stride.  

After several read-throughs, I noticed a footnote.  Verse 21 was not included in the text but had been printed in small type as a footnote:  But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

So, Jesus did give them a hint of direction.  Apparently to have more faith and be able to accomplish the truly challenging, we must be more dedicated to prayer and fasting.  

Mark Batterson writes, 

“Faith is not logical.  But it isn’t illogical either.  Faith is theological.”     [Wild Goose Chase, p.79]

Prayer and fasting bring us into a closer connection to God!  He's the One that does the healing and transforming!

As I raise my eyes to the wall above my desk, I read a printout from my memoirs that I posted there as a daily reminder:

I believe that fasting is the most powerful spiritual warfare weapon that God has given us!  I also believe that fasting is the most underused spiritual weapon that God has given us!

I have fasted many times over the years, but not recently.  Fasting is hard, and yet when I do it - I often don't want to end the fast because I know I'll lose the closeness that I've developed with God!  

I'm a bit ashamed that with all the crisis of CoVid-19, I've never seriously considered fasting.  C'mon, one has to wonder what would happen if hundreds or thousands of believers worldwide would suddenly begin to fast and pray about this global pandemic or the horrible rioting and racial problems in America?  

 In the book, A Simple Path, John Cairns tells how (Mother) Teresa’s desired culture for her life and order was once printed on small yellow cards.  She called these cards her ‘business cards.’  Here’s what was printed on the cards:

            The fruit of silence is PRAYER.

            The fruit of prayer is FAITH.

            The fruit of faith is LOVE.

            The fruit of love is SERVICE.

            The fruit of service is PEACE.

Maybe you should read that again?  What is the initiative for PEACE?  

Yep!  SILENCE!  Waiting humbly and expectantly before God!   

Have you ever read Habakkuk 2:20?

The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

Maybe we need to start silence meetings?  Groups of people who gather - not to eat, but just to wait quietly before the Lord!  I'm quite confident that the fruit of silence would be prayer.  Then, increased faith!  Then, a spurt of love!  That might lead to an increase in service, which could lead to increased peace!

I suppose our faith would be strengthened.  It might not take long - if a mustard seed can reach ten feet in three months, maybe our faith can grow just as quickly.  

I'm going to rededicate myself to the practice of waiting respectfully before God regarding these crucial issues.  Will you join me?

 

HEARING GOD SPEAK?

There are three instances in the New Testament where God speaks in an audible voice.  Let's check them out:

FIRST, JESUS' BAPTISM - Matthew 3:17

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.  At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love;  with him I am well pleased."  

Most of us are familiar with this incident.  Some question that God may have just been speaking to Jesus.  But the context makes it clear that God is speaking to the people ABOUT His Son.

SECOND, JESUS' TRANSFIGURATION - Matthew 17:5/Luke 9:35/II Peter 1:17-18

Matthew 17:2,5   There he was transfigured before them.  His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light...a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love;  with him I am well pleased.  Listen to him!"  

Peter James and John's response is significant:  ...they fell to the ground, terrified. 

Peter later testifies:  "We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain."

THIRD, JESUS' PREDICTION OF HIS DEATH - John 12:28

(Jesus speaking) "Father, glorify your name!"  Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."  

Again, the people responded:  The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered;  others said an angel had spoken to him.  Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine."  

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I met a man while leading the New Middletown church who told me of hearing God's audible voice.  He was a humble man who was physically handicapped and the father of two of our attenders.  He attended regularly in his wheel chair and often wept as I preached.  He was quiet and only in the privacy of his home did he share his story.

He had been living in the Washington, D.C. area and was driving in his panel truck on the beltway one day when God audibly spoke to him.  It transformed his life from that day forward!  Interesting, no one thought of him as a great Christian.  He didn't turn into a dynamic evangelist.  He didn't become wealthy and successful.  But he exhibited a humble, quiet charm that was only evident to those who took the time to get to know him.  

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The Old Testament reveals God as One who spoke to people!  

Exodus 33:11  -  The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

Then, there's the wonderful story of Elijah.  He had a powerful experience on Mt. Carmel and won a spiritual victory over the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah (I Kings 18:16-40).  However, immediately after this spiritual high, Queen Jezebel threatened his life and Elijah fled to the wilderness.  Gradually, God directed him to Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God.  There, Elijah hid in a cave.  Once settled,

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."  

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.  And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  

Then, of course, there's the infamous incident of God speaking to the prophet, Balaam, THROUGH THE MOUTH OF HIS DONKEY!!!!  [Exodus 22:21-41]

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One of the hardest concepts I have tried to teach through the years is about God speaking to us.   He has never spoken to me in an audible voice - yet He has spoken to me on countless occasions!  We've seen in this study that God is CREATIVE and will go to great extent to get our attention and communicate His messages.  

His primary ways of speaking:

1. THROUGH WHAT HE HAS ALEARDY SAID IN HIS WORD!  God has given us a written book of guidance and inspiration.  If we neglect it, it's to our detriment.  [See II Timothy 3:16]

2. THROUGH MEDITATION.  Not eastern mysticism or yoga.  Through being quiet before the Lord and listening for that gentle whisper that Elijah heard.  

3. THROUGH PRAYER.  It's a dialogue - not a monologue!  Too often, we deliver our messages and then get up and run into our day without giving Him a chance to respond!

4. THROUGH OTHERS.  I Corinthians 12:7-11 speaks of special spiritual gifts that reside in believers for the benefit of the body of Christ.  Two of these are:  the message of wisdom and the message of knowledge!  

5. THROUGH NATURE.  Romans 1:20 - 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.

6. THROUGH WORSHIP.  Psalm 22:3 tells us (KJV) God inhabits (lives in) the praises of His people.  A called and trained pastor's messages offer insight, correction and direction!  Music moves us on several levels;  intellectual and emotional.

I'm sure there are other ways that He speaks, too.  God has consistently used books to inspire and correct me;  over and over I've realized that He had me reading a certain book at a specific time.  He is CREATIVE and will go to great extents to get your attention and call you to Himself!  

Just remember:  The Lord is your shepherd!  He leads you!  He guides you!  Even when you walk through the valleys, He is with you!  He comforts you!  He provides for you!  He restores you!  Give Him thanks!    

THE CONTINUITY OF GOD'S WORD

I love the continuity of God's Word!  

Let me cite two examples from where I'm reading today in Matthew 16-17.

In verses 13-20, Jesus asked His disciples Who do people say the Son of Man is?  [v.13]

They give Him several answers:  John the Baptist (raised from the dead), Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.

Then He asks:  Who do you say that I am?  [v.15]

No gap, no hesitation.  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  [v.16]

Jesus is very pleased with Peter's answer and gives him a huge Atta-boy!  

In the scripture, the very next thing to happen is for Jesus to announce for the very first time:  that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  [v.21]

No gap, no hesitation.  Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  "Never, Lord!"  he said.  "This shall never happen to you!"  [v.22]

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to me;  [v.23]  In the New English Bible He continues by saying, "You think as men think, not as God thinks."  

So much for the atta-boy!

Can you believe the progression of these events as recorded by Matthew?  

This passage illustrates why so many people identify with Peter so strongly.  He's brash, impulsive, outspoken, bold, courageous, and frequently in trouble.  All of this makes him one of our favorite New Testament characters.

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Jesus follows his correction of Peter with a brief monologue that is filled with powerful images and teaching!  Few have genuinely explored the depth of meaning and impact of His words here:  [vs.24-27]

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Let's focus on that last (underlined) verse.  It ends chapter 16.  Do you remember what opens chapter 17?  The story of Jesus taking Peter, James and John up a high mountain by themselves.  [v.1]

There he was transfigured before them.  His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.  Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.   [vs.2-3]

Remember, He had just previously (in scripture) said that some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

Six days later (but immediately in the scripture) three of those who were standing there that day got to see Jesus in all His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration!  You gotta love it!

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These are just two examples of the continuity of God's Word.  There are MANY more!  The Word is God's love gift to His people!  We are to treasure it in our hearts the same way that Mary treasured things in her heart [Luke 2:19].  There are daily delights tucked away in this book for us!  The same Holy Spirit who inspired the original writers is in you (if you love and serve Jesus).  This Holy Spirit will open the Word of God to you personally and inspire and instruct you!  Do you believe it?  Give Him a chance by opening the Word today!

ON THE RUN!

 When we think of the biblical David, we may think of several things:

• his failures
• his psalms
• his victories (killing Goliath)

Many of us, who are acquainted with God's Word will quickly remember that he was a man after God's heart.

However, Psalm 6 gives us a picture of a man in pain.  We must remember that for at least eight years, David was constantly running and hiding from King Saul.  He was a fugitive!  He camped out with his three hundred men.  They hid in caves and lived in the wilderness.  He was always looking over his shoulder.  What trap was Saul laying for him today?  He slept with his sword in his hand.  

This was much different from when he watched his father's sheep.  There was no time now for playing his harp and singing to the lambs.

Add to his stress the responsibility he had for finding food for three hundred hungry men.  They also offered protection to those who lived in these outlying areas.  

From time-to-time, David fell into periods of melancholy.  Psalms 6,32,38,51,102,130, and 143 are referred to as 'penitential psalms'.  They are psalms of confession and crying out to God!  

Listen to David's appeal in Psalm 6:

Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;  O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.  [v.2]

I am worn out from groaning;  all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.  My eyes grow weak with sorrow;  they fail because of all my foes.  [vs.6-7]

Remember the Hee Haw skit by Buck Owens & Roy Clark?

Gloom, despair, and agony on me

Deep, dark depression, excessive misery

If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all

Gloom, despair, and agony on me

David fell into this occasionally. Fortunately - for us - he wrote about it.

I'm not going to ask if you ever find yourself there - I know you do. We all do.

For a period of time, David had Jonathan (his covenant friend). Jonathan

wholeheartedly believed in David. He was a trusted friend! He had David's back!

Later, David had his mighty men! Read II Samuel 23:14-17,

At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

This is the essence of fellowship! It's why we are to covenant together in our walk

with God.

When you are 'down', your friends can help you out.

The wisest man who ever lived wrote about this: [Ecclesiastes 4:9-12]

Two are better than one,

    because they have a good return for their labor:

10 

If either of them falls down,

    one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

    and has no one to help them up.

11 

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

    But how can one keep warm alone?

12 

Though one may be overpowered,

    two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 

I read recently that as we age, our circle of friendships diminish. I suppose attrition
has something to do with that. Maybe that's why I find myself, more and more,
talking with our dog, Gabe. I tell him that, next to Debbie, he's my best friend.
There's something sad about that, I know. But, I no longer operate in the busy
world of church leadership. However, I guess it does fit the motif of a dog being
man's best friend! 🙂

Nevertheless, David ends Psalm 6 praising the Lord!

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. [v.9]' 

The Lord will also hear your cry! Cry out to Jesus! Reach out to your friends!

Use the resources of God to quench YOUR thirst! You will NOT be disappointed!

DO YOU CONSULT GOD?

In I Samuel 23, David and his men are hiding from King Saul.  David hears that the village of Keilah is under attack from the Philistines.  

He inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?"

The LORD answered him, "Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah." [v.2]

But David's men were resistant to this action.

Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, "Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand."  [v.4]

David and his men went to Keilah and inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. [v.5]

King Saul heard about David's appearance in Keilah and immediately sent his army to capture David and his men.  

When David learned that Saul was plotting against him,...David said, "O LORD, God of Israel,...Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to [Saul]?  Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard?  O LORD, God of Israel, tell your servant."  And the LORD said, "He will."  Again David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?"  And the LORD said, "They will."  So David and his men , about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place.  [vs.9-13]

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Is it really possible to have this kind of relationship with God?

Do you have daily dialogue with God?

Do you consult Him over the decisions you are required to make regularly through your life?

Do you want His direction?

Romans 11:33-36 ™

Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom?  It’s way over our heads.  We’ll never figure it out.

Is there anyone around who can explain God?

Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?

Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice?

 Everything comes from him;

Everything happens through him;

Everything ends up in him.

Always glory!  Always praise!

     Yes.  Yes.  Yes.

Sovereign Lord,

'

We are so prone to go it alone.  Forgive us for our independent spirit.  You, and You alone, know the future.  We are foolish to spurn Your input!  We should be driven into Your Holy presence consistently - for You have the ultimate wisdom and counsel.  Yet, we stand aloof and think we are wise enough to navigate on our own.  How foolish!  You must stand in the Heavens and shake Your head at our obstinance.  Again, forgive us.

Help us to learn that turning to You is the wisest and most advantageous thing we can do.  You love us and yearn to guide us.  You can help us avoid pitfalls and mistakes.  You can save us pain and humiliation (as You did David).  You can prosper us and enrich our lives - IF WE WILL JUST CONSULT YOU!

For the Kingdom's sake, Amen.

FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE BIRTH OF ISAAC

 At the time when the promise of descendants was made to Abraham, he and his wife Sarah were childless.  So God's promise strained their credulity to the limit.  How could they have a stream of descendants if they did not have even one?

Then the years passed.

Abraham turned to God at one point and complained that the heir to his estate would be Eliezer of Damascus.  But the Lord assured him that his heir would be his own son coming from his own body [Genesis 15:1-4].  And Abraham believed God.

Next, Sarah had the bright idea that she would give her Egyptian maidservant Hagar to Abraham as his concubine.  "Perhaps I can build a family through her," she said.  Abraham agreed, Hagar conceived, and Ishmael was born.  But Sarah became jealous, and it was obvious that Ishmael was not the promised child [16:1-6].

Fourteen years after the promise - they got it right, after the cynicism of laughter.  Isaac was born and the elderly couple took joy in counting his fingers and toes.

We are created in His image.  He gave us minds and creativity.  Most of the time, that's a blessing.  However, sometimes, we use our minds to try to fill in gaps that are better left to God and His timing.

When in debt, Debbie and I tried consolidation loans to resolve our problems.  It increased our debt!  We also tried raising our level of income;  that was before we learned that 'Expenditure rises to meet income!'  Increasing our income never helped reduce our debt.  Our ideas were creative, but never solved our problems.

I have a strong tendency to suggest ways for God to answer my prayers.  How audacious!  Who am I?  He is the Lord and Creator of the universe!  He needs my puny input?  I DON'T THINK SO!  Yet, I persist in this wasted effort.  

Oh God,

I trust You!  

I trust You to oversee and direct my life to Your greatest advantage!

I trust You to watch over, guide and protect me and mine with the utmost care and attention!

Help me to stop trying to solve my problems and simply bring them to YOU!

Amen.

[These thoughts triggered by an article, "The Birth of Isaac" Week 5:  The Patriarchs - From Creation to Christ]

GOD IS YOUR SOURCE!

 Max Lucado writes about Abram and Sarai:   [Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, pp.110]

"Let's now consider the case of Sarai.  She's in her golden years, but God promises her a son.  She gets excited.  She visits the maternity shop and buys a few dresses.  She plans her shower and remodels her tent...but no son.  She eats a few birthday cakes and blows out a lot of candles...still no son.  She goes through a decade of wall calendars...still no son.  

Finally, fourteen years later, when Abram is pushing a century of years and Sarai ninety...when the wallpaper in the nursery has faded and the baby furniture is several seasons out of date...when the topic of the promised child brings sighs and tears and long looks into a silent sky...God pays them a visit and tells them that they had better select a name for their new son.  

Abram and Sarai have the same response:  laughter.  They laugh partly because it is too good to happen and partly because it might.  They laugh because they have given up hope, and hope born anew is always funny before it is real.

They laugh at the lunacy of it all.

Abram looks over at Sarai - toothless and snoring in her rocker, head back and mouth wide open, as fruitful as a pitted prune and just as wrinkled.  And he cracks up.  He tries to contain it, but he can't.  He has always been a sucker for a good joke.

Sarai is just as amused.  When she hears the news, a cackle escapes before she can contain it.  She mumbles something about her husband's needing a lot more than what he's got and then laughs again.

They laugh because that is what you do when someone says he can do the impossible.  They laugh a little at God, and a lot with God - for God is laughing, too.  Then, with the smile still on his face, he gets busy doing what he does best - the unbelievable.

He changes a few things - beginning with their names.  Abram, the father of one, will now be Abraham, the father of a multitude.  Sarai, the barren one, will now be Sarah, the mother."  

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TRANSFORMATION #2 - CALLED TO BE HOLY!

 I love Paul's tact and strategy.  He begins his letter to the Corinthians by affirming and reminding them of some very important things:

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - their Lord and ours...[v.2]

Just a few verses later, he reminds them again that they are called:

 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.  [v.9]

Eugene Peterson - in THE MESSAGE - paraphrases verse two:

I send this letter to you in God's church at Corinth, Christians cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life.  [v.2]

Sanctified = cleaned up

Called = set apart for a God-filled life!

The Corinthians needed to be reminded of these facts.  So do we!

In his introduction to this letter, Peterson writes:

When people become Christians, they don't at the same moment become nice.  This always comes as something of a surprise.

Conversion to Christ and his ways doesn't automatically furnish a person with impeccable manners and suitable morals.

The people of Corinth had a reputation in the ancient world as an unruly, hard-drinking, sexually promiscuous bunch of people.  When Paul arrived with the Message and many of them became believers in Jesus, they brought their reputations with them right into the church.

Paul spent a year and a half with them as their pastor, going over the Message of the "good news" in detail, showing them how to live out this life of salvation and holiness as a community of believers.  Then he went on his way to other towns and churches.

Sometime later Paul received a report from one of the Corinthian families that in his absence things had more or less fallen apart.  He also received a letter from Corinth asking for help.  Factions had developed , morals were in disrepair, worship had degenerated into a selfish grabbing for the supernatural.  It was the kind of thing that might have been expected from Corinthians!

So, Paul writes them a letter - reminding them first of all that they were cleaned up by God and set apart to live God-filled lives!  

That's always the starting point!  I need to be reminded of these two things frequently.  Don't you?

Left to my own devices, atrophy sets in.  My nature - like a rubber band - tends to return to its natural position.  I need constant input to keep me growing and becoming.   The inputs that are most helpful to me include:

• reading the Word
• talking with God
• worship
• sacraments
• fellowship
• study
• acting out my faith
• meditation
• accountability

When I ignore these practices - I cease moving forward.  I become luke-warm.  I back-slide.  I need an intervention!

Paul's letters were interventions.  Fortunately for us, they've been preserved for two thousand years!  

Need an intervention in your life right now?  Open to I Corinthians and let the Apostle Paul speak into your heart!   

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSFORMATION #1

When I was growing up in the church, we heard LOTS about sanctification!  At that time, you couldn't be a minister in the Free Methodist Church without espousing your belief in this doctrine.  We believed in two works of grace:  salvation and sanctification.  

I was grilled on this topic repeatedly as I progressed through the steps to becoming ordained.  I have consistently preached on the topic of sanctification through forty years of ministry - I just NEVER used the word sanctification!  I found scores of other ways to talk about the perfecting work of the Holy Spirit!  

Although it's a theological topic, it need not be boring or unapproachable.  

When God made His righteousness available to us by His Son, Jesus Christ, He meant not simply to save us but to change us!  This process of change is called sanctification.  

Jerry Bridges, in Pursuit of Holiness, says:  

"True salvation brings with it a desire to be holy."  [p.6]

God's grace operates in our lives for a greater goal than simply forgiving us of our sins.  God wants to make us more like His Son, Jesus Christ.  In effect, we are already made "saints" and at the same time called to become "saintly."  

One of my friends while growing up used to testify saying:  "I'm saved, sanctified and satisfied."  Even as a teen, I sensed that something was wrong with this.  First, I don't think we should ever be satisfied!  I prefer the Apostle Paul's testimony in Philippians 3:12-14  (NIV),

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I also don't go around proclaiming my sanctification.  I find it to be an elastic thing.  I have a rebellious nature.  I am affected by moods, foods, weather, relationships, memories, thoughts and so much more.  Be it right or wrong, some days I am a better representative for Christ than other days.  I have to do a LOT of "...forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead!"  I wish it weren't so - but it is what it is.

I have to constantly remind myself that my being holy was initiated by God, is empowered by God and will be accomplished by God!  

He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  [I Corinthians 1:8  NIV] 

Believe me - I'm counting on that! 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CORINTHIAN

Corinth [in the first century] was a city in the province of Achaia located at the end of a narrow isthmus that links central Greece with the Peloponnesus.

 

It was one of the oldest and most powerful cities of ancient Greece and was an important trading center under the Roman empire. 

The Apostle Paul made his first visit to Corinth about the year 50 A.D. and remained for eighteen months.  He returned at least once, five or six years later, and wrote at least four letters to the congregation he had founded there. 

The Corinthians were folk like us. 

The name “Lord” is very prominent in I Corinthians:  1:31;  2:8,16;  3:20;  4:4;  5:4-5;  6:13 etc..  Much confusion had crept into the church at Corinth because the believers had failed to recognize Jesus as Lord! 

Corinth was the most important city of all Greece in Paul’s day.  Its wealth was fabulous.  Men spent their days in tournaments and speeches.  Luxury, dissipation and public immorality were rampant among the great industrial and seafaring population.  Corinth attracted great crowds of foreigners from the East and West.  Their gods were gods of pleasure and lust.  There was also much culture and art.  The city abounded in studios of language and schools of philosophy. 

The city’s reputation became so well known that its name became an adjective.  To be proud, arrogant, luxurious, wealthy and promiscuous came to be described as ‘Corinthian’.  We have a comparative adjective today in our 21^st century world – it is to be ‘American’. 

It may be surprising to us that Paul brought his strongest message of holiness to the church at Corinth!  He rebuked them strongly, corrected their behavior and encouraged their attempts to follow Christ individually and as members of congregations.