INDIFFERENCE!

 

Friday, April 26, 2024

 

INDIFFERENCE!

 

Matt 24:37-39

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 

Just like the world of that time, we have made great progress. But great luxury has produced scandalous immorality, cruelty, and widespread indifference to the claims of God. Confusion is preferred and so confusion is the result.

 

Our age is not moved by the gory details of the death of the Son of God on the cross. “The Passion of the Christ” was highly touted as the film that would turn America to revival. Theaters were packed with popcorn eating people who casually watched the Christ lacerated by the whip. Indifference was the result and the response.

 

Great tragedy has not turned our stony hearts into flesh either. The visual images of airplanes exploding into the World Trade Center shocked and frightened us. Mid-week services were packed with people who would never have considered a church prayer meeting, but it did not last. Tornados, floods, volcanoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes have not shaken us from our lethargy and unconcern. We were not prepared for such things and we still aren’t.

 

Few people plan to reject Christ ultimately. They plan to accept Him by-and-by, but they want the morning for themselves. They will turn to Christ in the afternoon or evening of their lives. Their thought is that life is too full of color to choose the drab of religion too soon. George Morrison puts it this way: “"Betwixt the stirrup and the ground, I mercy sought, and mercy found."

 

Matt 24:39

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 

The verse says “knew not” but the meaning is more “cared not” – were not aware of the danger. Why did they not know? Was the building of an ark by a family of fanatics for a voyage on a stormy sea not sign enough? Was the preaching of an old weary man not clear enough? No, the flood came, and took them all away.

 

Dear Lord, remove from me the indifference caused by luxury and cultural carelessness. Make my heart your home and renew a right spirit within me. AMEN

 

GROWING ANTISEMITISM

 

Thursday, April 25, 2024

 

GROWING ANTISEMITISM

 

John 16:1-3

16 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

 

          If you search for the historical roots of antisemitism, you will notice that there are two perspectives, and each tends to blame the other. The Jews blame the Christians, and the Christians hold the Jews accountable for the murder of Jesus. But then enters the Muslims. What is their complaint? All, I think, belong to the clan called the ignorant.

 

          The forensics go much deeper and highlight the spiritual and the demonic aspect of all sorts of racism. When Cain killed his brother Abel in Genesis, was it not because of religious jealousy? Abel’s offering of blood was accepted while Cain’s donation of vegetables was rejected. God tries to reason with Cain telling him that there was a lamb at the door. An available offering which was rejected by the petulant Cain. In anger he offered the blood of his brother.

 

          In Egypt, when they were killing all the Jewish boy babies, Moses was spared by a trusting mother. But what was the spiritual source of this evil? Was it not to hinder the birth of a race and ultimately to circumvent the birth of Messiah?

 

          In Germany, when an entire nation was afflicted with the same mental illness, some six million people died horrible deaths simply because they were Jews. We are still trying to understand the indescribable. It was viral insanity.

 

          Now we see this virus spreading again. Do you suppose that the demonic warfare has begun again? Do you not suppose that God will win? Do you think God is ready to inject Himself into the chronicles of man once more? I do.

 

Shakespear, in The Merchant of Venice, wrote, “I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? (3.1.49-61)”

 

Dear Lord, protect those who are right and prosecute those who are wrong. Vindicate yourself in this current insanity. AMEN

 

GRACE OR WORKS?

 

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

 

GRACE OR WORKS?

Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

 

This is another of my favorite portions of scripture. It makes you think. It stretches your mind. It begins with grace and ends with works! Maybe that’s the way it should be!

 

In the English New Testament grace is always a translation of (charis), a word that occurs in the Greek text over 170 times and in both Biblical and secular Greek it is used with far more meanings than can be represented by any one term in English. But the word has abundant use in secular Greek in the sense of unmerited favor, and Paul seized on this meaning of the word to express a fundamental characteristic of Christianity.

n  International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

 

For the Apostle Paul, GRACE was defined by experience.

 

Acts 9:1-5

9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance].  AMPLIFIED

 

Paul’s spiritual and emotional condition remained vile and violent. He travelled with evil authority, letters from the high priest. He was obsessed with a wicked intent, to bring believers into captivity. SUDDENLY, and without any initiation of goodness on his part, the resurrected and glorified Jesus met Paul and CHANGED him forever. That is grace!

 

But our original portion ends with the words… a peculiar people, zealous of good works. What about that? How do we reconcile the seemingly opposite aspects of grace and works? Well, one is the prod, and the other is the product!

 

Put on your thinking cap because Adam Clarke explains it this way.

 

Jesus gave his life for the world, and thus has purchased men unto himself; and, having purchased the slaves from their thralldom, he is represented as stripping them of their sordid vestments, cleansing and purifying them unto himself that they may become his own servants, and bringing them out of their dishonorable and oppressive servitude, in which they had no proper motive to diligence and could have no affection for the despot under whose authority they were employed. Thus redeemed, they now become his willing servants, and are zealous of good works-affectionately attached to that noble employment which is assigned to them by that Master whom it is an inexpressible honour to serve.

n  Adam Clarke's Commentary

 

More simply put – Jesus purchased us away from a cruel and abusive master, cleaned us up, healed our wounds of abuse and gave us honorable assignments. What servant would not joyfully engage in labor for such a kind Master as Jesus? So, beginning with GRACE we engage in WORKS.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for purchasing me away from a cruel task master and giving me duties that are a joy to perform! AMEN

 

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE!

 

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

 

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE!

 

James 4:5-7

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

2 Cor 12:9

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

 

          Only once, in James chapter 4 do we see this phrase. It is very interesting to me because James can sometimes come across as a bit harsh in his application of truth. Grace might have been reserved for John, or even Paul, but James also admits both the need and the supply. I don’t like being – or even feeling – weak. Neither did Paul! But in his weakness Paul experienced and learned to appreciate the grace of God.

 

          Your automobile is equipped with a gas pedal, or what we old timers used to call the foot-feed. When going uphill or in times of stress or strain the foot- feed fed more and more fuel to the engine which enabled the car to proceed. So, it is with the grace of God. It seems there is always sufficient grace for every need.

 

          Grace can be defined as God’s favor, kindness, and friendship. Dr. Charles Stanley said it is God's kindness toward humanity, without regard to the worth or merit of those who receive it, and without their deserving it. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the word “sufficient” has the idea of “raising a barrier.” So we see that God raises a protective barrier against those things that distress us.

 

Ann J. Flint has written an old song that I think is simply called He giveth more grace.

 

1.    He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

2.    When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

3.    Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

4.    His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

 

Dear Lord, all I can say this morning is thank you for your sufficient grace. AMEN

 

MERCHANDISE

 

Monday, April 22, 2024

 

MERCHANDISE

 

2 Peter 2:1-3

2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

 

          MERCH. It is a word familiar to many of us. It is a shortened form of merchandise. It is often used to alert “fans” of a celebrity that “stuff” relating to that celebrity is available for a price. This “merch” they eagerly buy.

 

          Peter writes that this is the goal of false prophets who draw followers through a more comfortable and acceptable belief system. Peter says they will succeed in their purpose by using “feigned” words. The word feigned in the original is plastos which means “molded, artificial, and fictitious.” This Greek word resembles our English word plastic. Adam Clarke, in his commentary calls these words, “counterfeit tales, false narrations, of pretended facts, lying miracles, fabulous legends.”

 

John 2:15-16

15 And when he [Jesus] had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

 

          Enough dazzling scenery, flashing lights, and costumes, can transform a talentless performer into a pop star. Jesus had no such performance aids when He preached. Truth needs none.

 

Lord, let us worship you today in spirit and in truth. AMEN

 

PLEASE TELL ME AGAIN!

 

Sunday, April 21, 2024

 

PLEASE TELL ME AGAIN!

Ps 119:33-38

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

 

          We are emotionally forgetful! We constantly require reassurance regarding our relationships. A marriage soon falls into disrepair if either party fails to reassure the other of their love and devotion. So, it is with our relationship with God. We are always asking God to tell us again how much He loves us.

 

          We are functionally confused! We need constant instruction and practice to become proficient at doing the will of God. The text this morning is clear when it gives voice to our heart. “Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord.” God keeps Himself invisible and He is non-verbal, so we are constantly needing to be told over and over again by reading His Word. Moreover, modern circumstances do not always fit comfortably into Bible language.

 

          We are directionally challenged! We are like sheep who go astray and soon lose sight of the proper path. Without the Shepherd’s rod, staff, and voice we become lost. We require constant contact and correction.

 

          We are stubborn and self-reliant! We need to be taught that the best plan is always His plan. We have some wonderful ideas and schemes, but they may not be His plans. We need to be reminded repeatedly.

 

Dear Lord, please tell me again how much you love me. Sometimes I forget. Please tell me that everything will be alright. My circumstances keep trying to make you a liar. Please show me the right way. All my ideas seem stale and doomed to failure. Please, Lord, tell me again. AMEN

 

THE LAND OF THE LIVING

 

Saturday, April 20, 2024

 

THE LAND OF THE LIVING

 

Ps 27:11-13

11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

 

The phrase, “the land of the living” can be found fifteen times in the Bible. Here, “the land of the living” signifies our earthly existence. David remains confident that he will witness God’s goodness before his death. It is another way of saying “there is hope.” In Jewish thought the verse might sound like this: “If I hadn’t believed that I would see Adonai’s goodness in the land of the living, . . .”  The thought trails off and indicates despair.

 

          David has seen God do marvelous things and his great desire is to simply inhabit the temple of the Lord and seek to understand and enjoy his God. He has salvation and now he desires light and understanding. In the unlikely, even unthinkable, thought that his parents would abandon him, he knows that his God will not.

 

          David was enduring great distress, but he reminds himself that the same God who had been faithful in the past would continue to be faithful now and in the future. It is another way of saying, “this too shall pass.” This trouble will transition to blessing.

 

          Finally, David encourages others to join him in trusting God.

 

Ps 27:14

14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

 

Lord, we are now living in a world of distress. You were not caught unaware of this. You warned us, but we didn’t listen and forgot. Let us not forget your tender mercies of the past. Let us live with expectation and hope of those same mercies now. AMEN

 

STRUGGLE AND SURRENDER

 

Friday, April 19, 2024

 

STRUGGLE AND SURRENDER

 

Mark 5:1-5

5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

 

Both Mark and Luke, the physician, tell of the struggle of the tortured soul of Gadera. In Doctor Luke’s account the story is just one pearl on a string of Messianic miracles. The electric emotions of this tale are more wrenching than the details.

 

1. Who was this man?

 

He was some mother’s child. How or when he went astray are hidden from us but his beginning was not unlike our own. He is all the more fearful because he represents our own potential for wickedness and anguish. There, but for the grace of God, go I.

 

2. What was his condition?

 

Both Mark and Luke refer to him as unclean. He was an arrested soul, bound by lustful, violent, and impudent impulses. His was a horrific conflict of wills. The townspeople had tried to help him, tried to contain him even with chains but his tormented soul broke them like string. He should have been among the living, but he dwelt among the dead. Morbidity was his habitat. So the skull and bones adorn the clothing and music of our culture. He loathed his own body and marked and abused it with cuttings, piercings and nakedness. He was on the highway to hell and could not himself change his path and would not.

 

Ah, but he recognized the master! Mark said that “immediately” upon reaching shore this man ran to Jesus and declared the truth of who he was. He knew that he was in the presence of Jesus the Son of the most high God. The impropriety and incongruity of his testimony assaulted Jesus. That wickedness should testify of Jesus and that self-righteousness should mistake his identity was the painful truth of Jesus’ culture.

 

3. What was Jesus’ response?

 

He did not say: “Thank you very much; how nice of you to recognize my royal person!” No, Jesus stopped him in his naked tracks, held him fast with the power of his person and demanded the evil to depart from this tormented man. You do not negotiate with nor placate wickedness! You must confront it! Wickedness does not leave a man willingly when man has long been a willing host. This is spiritual warfare and both angels and demons have made bare their arms and drawn their swords. The clash of sword and shield, could we but see them, would terrify us. Revival does not place man upon the battlefield. He is the battlefield and the prize!

 

4. What was the wonderful result?

 

Luke 8:35

35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

 

From being unclothed and out of his mind this mother’s child was restored to his sanity. He put on clothes and, to prove his lucidity, sat himself at the feet of Jesus for fellowship and instruction. Oh, to sit at the feet of Jesus! To be near Him, to thank Him and to learn from Him is true liberty.

 

Dear Jesus, wonderful Friend, like the tormented Gadarene I was once an embarrassment to myself and a danger to others. Then you found me and liberated me. Let me sit at your feet and be at peace. AMEN

 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST

 

Thursday, April 18, 2024

 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST

 

READ: Acts 8:16-20 and Matthew 19:16-20

 

Acts 8:20

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

 

Matt 19:16

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

 

          We have not advanced very far from the prevalent thinking of Jesus’ time. Both in Matthew and in Acts we see two examples of wrong thinking. Simon (the sorcerer) wanted to PURCHASE the ability to disburse the Holy Spirit and His effects. The rich young ruler wanted to know how he could assure himself eternal life and was willing to barter whatever necessary to obtain it.

 

          There is something incongruous about a “mega-church” and the life and times of Jesus. Now, there are larger churches that do not necessarily fit the term, but a huge church that promises more than can be delivered doesn’t fit Jesus’ template.

 

          Political “haninframus,” unjust justice, and positional entitlement were never part of Jesus’ plan. In fact, in John 16:33, He warned His followers that they would have tribulation and some trouble is an absolute side effect of believing in and receiving Christ. It is a package deal.

 

          The gift of God may not be purchased with money, or influence, or good deeds. While we, as beneficiaries, enjoy the things of God freely, the cost was incalculable to Jesus. These gifts are, therefore, to be received and enjoyed with thanksgiving and devotion only. Instead of riches and fame, Jesus indicated that the life of the Jesus follower would likely be one of need and obscurity.

 

Matt 6:19-21

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for promising that for all my needs there would be enough. AMEN

 

ROARING

 

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

 

ROARING

Ps 22:1

22 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

 

Matt 27:46

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

 

          Our English word “roaring” can be found in Scripture sixteen times using six original root words. Psalm 22 is a song of David describing his agony and rage regarding his circumstances and his inner question of abandonment by his God. Jesus quotes David in Matthew’s account of the crucifixion.

 

          Most of us have endured pain that caused us to growl in agony or rage in fury against it. We feel a kinship with both David and Jesus in this. Perhaps we have even questioned God regarding our circumstance. Perhaps we have felt abandoned, alone, and in need of rescue.

 

          Jesus warned us that, near the end, we would see our culture roaring and all of nature groaning and in need of relief.  “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.”  Luke 21:25

 

          James reminds us in James 5:11 that, “The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” Paul reminded us in Rom 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

 

          Turn your roaring into whispering. Breathe a prayer to the God who HAS NOT abandoned you because He is pitiful, and of tender mercy. Allow the Holy Spirit to plead your case and be at peace.

 

Merciful Father, bless those who roar in painful circumstances today. Give ear to the Holy Spirit who pleads our cause. Thank you, Lord. AMEN