Sunday, September 23, 2007

Pride and Urgency

When Mark records the high gear beginning of Jesus' ministry in Mark 1, he includes the nutshell of Jesus' method,

Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying'
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." 1:14,15

Method: "Proclaiming"
Proclaiming was to "herald loudly." Jesus was not timid or shy or ashamed of the gospel he proclaimed. He HERALDED it. Are you ashamed of the gospel? Jesus knew this was the glad tidings of God himself, the good news that lost hell-bound rebels against the universal KING have been given a way out from under the judgment they deserve. Paul wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" Romans 1:16.

Method: "Urgency"
"The kingdom of God is at hand." There is good news but you don't have forever to put it off or think about it. Today is the day of salvation. Turn from your sin and trust in the Savior. The offer of free forgiveness is being held out to you, don't delay to grab onto it with your whole heart!! Tomorrow is NOT guaranteed to you. Right now is given to you as a gift. You are hearing the summons of the KING, respond! Don't turn down this infinite offer of love.

Do you share Jesus' urgency with family and friends?

May God make us more like the urgent, heralding Jesus.






Saturday, September 22, 2007

Following Jesus is a BROAD path

Jesus' recorded invitation (command?) to Peter and Andrew and James and John in Mark 1 is,

"Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men" Mark 1:17

It is easy, with minds that can reason through a sinful grid, to see following Jesus as the invitation to the narrowest of all lives. We can think, "It's the end to true freedom. HE calls the shots, and all the shots ring with the sound of 'sacrifice." But think for a moment about how their "immediate" response to that invitation broadened their lives.

These men were Galilean fishermen. All their lives were lived in that relatively small geographical area, primarily concerned with boats and nets and weather and counts. "How many today?" was the question that really mattered at the end of the day. There were doubtless occasional trips to the big city of Jerusalem for required feasts. But all in all, these guys were "locals."

However, once they attached themselves to Jesus, their horizons were expanded.
  • It was no longer fishing just for fish, but for MEN, the "catch" mattered for eternity,
  • It was no longer just caring about JEWS but for GENTILES, ALL men were now in their sights,
  • It was no longer just ISRAEL, but the WORLD, their hearts were expanding, "God-size" me,
  • They were no longer just followers, they became some of the most impactful leaders in the history of the world,
  • They were no longer TIME BOUND in their interests, but ETERNITY was cemented to their hearts,
  • They no longer just knew ABOUT GOD, they came to know Him RELATIONALLY, to the point where they died for Him,
  • John became the pastor of pastors in Ephesus,
  • Peter eventually went to Rome (he was in prison there shortly before his death),
  • Andrew (so strong tradition says) went as far as the border of Russia!

So much for restrictive, narrowing of the arteries of life! May the BROADNESS of FOLLOWING JESUS on the NARROW road expand us all.

Friday, September 21, 2007

An Encouragement to Pray

God has graciously grabbed my heart for a renewed emphasis in prayer. That is, He has shown me once again how desperately I need Him and how my need and His provision are connected through prayer. He has also reminded me of how He is ready at all times to pour out the "riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7) on my life, to "lavish" His spiritual blessings already secured for me through Christ.

I have a somewhat wealthy friend. I asked my daughters, "What is my multi-millionaire friend Joe (fake name supplied to protect the innocent wealthy) called tonight at 8pm asking if there was anything I needed? 'Mike, do you need anything? Are your cars running well? Any unpaid bills I can help with? The house in good repair?' I answer, "Everything's in good repair and all the bills are paid, Joe." Tomorrow night the phone rings again at 8pm. It's Joe. "Mike, do your wife or kids need anything? Any hospital bills that need paying? Any mission trips I can help finance?" Again, I answer, "Everything's great, Joe. Thanks for asking!" Next night, 8pm, phone rings. You guessed it, it's Joe. Once again he's asking if he can help in any way.

After a few consecutive nights of calls from my wealthy friend, I am clearly convinced that HE REALLY WANTS TO HELP! HE IS WILLING TO GIVE ANY FINANCIAL HELP I NEED FOR ANY NEED. His persistence in asking has shown his readiness to give.

My friends, have you ever tried to count the number of commands, promises, and models of prayer there are in the Scriptures? "Keep on asking, and you will receive. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7. "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2. "Men should always pray and never give up." Luke 18:1. "Pray without ceasing." 1Thessalonians 5:17. "...Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perserverance, making supplication for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18. To quote a very few.

These commands to pray and these promises for prayer are all God's gracious encouragements for us to COME TO HIM AND ASK FOR HELP! It is as if God is calling every night at 8pm asking if He can help. "Mike, any need for love? Any heart for the lost I can supply? Any shepherding skills I can pour out on you? Any wisdom for how to parent your kids that I can lavish on you? Any passion for holiness needed?"

"YES, LORD!! There is. Right now. Always. I am desperately needy for your supply of grace. Thank you for reminding over and over and over that you stand ready to lavish all I need from your infinite supply if I will only ASK in faith."

Thursday, September 20, 2007

How Do You See Yourself?

I confess: I want so bad to see myself as somebody. But even more than that, I want OTHERS to view me as somebody. That is, somebody who is the best at something spiritual, the "holy man" who is the fount of wisdom and godly counsel; the believer who stands out, not just in my church, but among ALL the churches. This is what I want IN MY FLESH, that sinful remainder of Adam still so alive within me.

How does the Scripture say I should see myself? How should others view me?

"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." 1 Corinthians 4:1

One of the many problems in Corinth was the personality cult. "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos," etc. But Paul says, we are NOT faces on Apostle or Teacher trading cards, we are not contestants on "Corinthian Idol." We are servants. This word for servant was of one who was under an authority and waited to do his bidding; a subordinate. It was used in classical Greek of the rower on a ship. God wants me to be viewed as the rower below deck, not the CAPTAIN. When the rower wants to be the captain and looks for ways to make it happen, it is called MUTINY! There is much mutiny in my heart.

BUT...as a redeemed man with a new heart indwelt by God the Holy Spirit I can both choose and pursue the image and role of servant. One practical way I have found to do this (though it is not consistently enough true of me) is to INQUIRE HOW OTHERS ARE DOING. Instead of waiting for others to inquire of my welfare, so that I can talk about ME and polish my image as a leader or all around spiritual guy, I can choose out of Spirit-given love, to ask, "How are you today?" "How is it going with you and the Lord?" "How is your wife?" "How have you been fighting the fight of faith this week?" "Is there something I can be praying for you?" (NOTE: not, "Is there some problem-solving wisdom I can impart?") As a servant of Christ I am bound to address His concerns. What are His concerns? His people. The lost. These I am called to serve in the name and power and gospel of Christ.

Note also that Paul writes he is to be viewed as a "steward of the mysteries of God." The "mysteries of God" are basically the gospel. The gospel is a "mystery" in the sense that it was long hidden in the shadows of the OT but has now been revealed through Christ coming, dying, and raising from the dead. A steward is one who handles the property or goods of another, who dispenses the wealth of his master to others as it is due. As the servants of Christ, we are called to steward or dispense the goods of the gospel to others. This gospel is not just "turn from sin and trust Christ," though it IS that. But this gospel we are called to dispense as servants and stewards includes all that God has done for us and is doing in Christ. It is the gospel of hope for the lost. It is the gospel of help for every need for believers. We have it. Are we giving it to others? Am I? Are you?

If I see myself as a servant of Christ I will focus on His interests, not mine. I will look to dispense His gospel goods and not stuff to enhance my reputation.

But glory! I am a servant, an under-rower, a steward/manager of CHRIST! He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the God/Man Savior. He is the eternal Creator. I have had serveral opportunities to serve some great men in my life - men whom God has used greatly to impact the Christian world - I escorted some to breakfast, gave rides to the airport, did the errands of others. In each case I was filled with a sense of joy and purpose because I was able to serve them. I was not just a servant, but the servant of a men of consequence, men of wide impact.

Here's how we should joyfully, with awe, see ourselves: as SERVANTS OF CHRIST.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Delight and Desires

In the familiar Psalm 37:4 we are commanded,

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

If "delight" is a command, then it has to be something we can do by choice. Of course, not by unaided choice, but by Spirit-aided choice. This means that there is never a morning when my earth-bound heart is unable to delight in the Lord. This means there is never an unpleasant exchange with a family member or work associate when I cannot delight in the Lord. This means that there is never a day that faces me with an overflowing schedule and unending demands that I cannot face with delight in the Lord. If I am commanded to do it, God will enable me to do it.

But what does it mean to "delight" in the Lord? It means to find my joy in Him, to make Him the object of my desire and happiness. It means to believe that in Him is the greatest heart satisfaction possible. It means to believe that obeying Him yields the best that life has to offer. He IS delightful. His WAY is delightful. His COMMANDS are delightful. And His delightfulness is unchanging and never diminshing. If I have a bad taste in my heart from trying to find delight in something or someone else, I can, with the Spirit's help, turn my hungry heart to delight in the Lord. By faith I can say, "Lord, my soul appetite is all messed up. I have a taste for what does not satisfy. I know by faith that You are all-satisfying. Forgive my choices from the world's menu. Give me grace to look to You and see You as you are and to feed on the delight of Your love and mercy and grace."

From this choice to delight in Him flows from Him new DESIRES. "And He will give you the desires of your heart." "Desires" has to do with "requests." When my object of delight has become the Lord himself, my desires begin to change. When I choose to eat good food and drink healthy, pure beverages I lose my desire for junk. I may want a salad instead of nachos. I may desire a cold glass of apple juice instead of diet coke. Choosing to delight in Christ results in new, godly desires. This translates into prayer. I begin to pray for what is pleasing to Him who is my delight. I pray according to the will of God. I want what He wants. My whole "wanting" mechanism is transformed. Note this begins NOT with obedience out of threat of punishment or guilt, but with a choice to DELIGHT. True spiritual life flows from delight in God, the belief that the God who redeems at the price of His sinless Son is ultimately satisfying.

Could this be why my prayer life is so often lacking in passion and perseverance? My desires, that is, my requests to God flow from my delight in God. Is HE my delight? If so, passionate prayer for His desires that have become MY desires will flow.

"Lord, give us an overwhelming appetite for YOU."

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Job One

As I look at the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1, I see that the writer, in his brevity, chooses to include just those things that he thinks are crucial to understanding Jesus Christ and His mission. And so, he includes Jesus' baptism and temptation in the wilderness (marking Him out as the unique Son/Messiah) and then he focuses on how Jesus' public ministry began. In 1:14-15 Mark highlights Jesus' message: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel." Then in 1:16-20 Mark records Jesus calling His first disciples, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men" (v.17).

What strikes me here is the focus of Jesus' ministry from get go. Preach the gospel, make disciples. The MESSAGE of Jesus' ministry was the gospel. "Turn from your sin and trust in Me, the Son/Messiah who will give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). The METHOD of Jesus' ministry, if we can put it that way, was to make disciples. Jesus' time on earth was only a beginning of His work. He would ascend back to the Father after a short while and leave His work in the hands of a selected few (Mark 3:14). He would empower these disciples with the soon to be sent Spirit, but for 3 years He would pour Himelf into them teaching them to proclaim the gospel and obey all His commands. He discipled them, they discipled others, a third generation, a fourth, and on and on to today and you and me. The Great Commission was for them and it is for us to the "end of the age" Matthew 28:20. Are you proclaiming the gospel, the only saving message from God to men, which centers only and always on Jesus Christ? Are you making disciples? Are you pouring your life into someone, helping them to know Christ and OBEY His Word? Have YOU been discipled?

If not, ask God for someone who will pour themselves into helping you follow Christ. Then, ask God for someone to pour yourself into. This should be done in the greater context of a Christ-honoring local church, where group discipling can take place.

This is Job One the way Jesus did it: proclaim the gospel; make disciples.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Secure!

Will you make it to heaven? This question refers to the perseverance and eternal security of those who have been saved by trusting alone in the sufficient death and victorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are God's child...if you are "saved," will you make it to heaven?

There are many enemies that would destroy you along the road to Heaven. The WORLD is against you. This world system is not powered by Google but by Satan.
"For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride in possessions - is not from the Father but is from the world." 1John 2:16
The WORLD would lure you from loving the Father with a million "must have" objects from "Stuff Mart" and a never-ending stream of promises that happiness is only a new encounter or a newer image away.
SATAN is against you...not just as the moving force and architect of this world system...but as your personal, vicious, relentless enemy.
"Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1Peter 5:8.
The FLESH is against you. That ever-present power of remaining sin within you and me is at work warring against the Spirit who indwells us. When we want to do good, evil is present with us. Romans 7:21.

With this triad of vitriolic enemies against my soul and my salvation, will I make it to Heaven?

God's Word gives the voice of truth in answer to this question and the answer is a resounding, YES! Strengthen the weak knees and the timid with the infusion of courage that comes from considering Who is FOR MY SOUL! Overcoming the schemes of the unholy triad is the HOLY TRINITY!

GOD is for me perservering to heaven. "My Father, who have given them (believers) to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." John 10:29

JESUS CHRIST the SON is for me. "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." John 6:37

God the HOLY SPIRIT is for me. We have been "...sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it..." Ephesians 1:13-14.

Will I make it to Heaven? I have God's Word on it. I will. I hope to see you there!