This next statement that I make is contrary to the statement that I opened my last post with, but Imma say it anyways… (I just made all the grammar nazis cringe, didn’t I?)

I think I figured out why Jesus hung out with common people. Because they were not religious. They didn’t have boxes to put God in. I mean, we don’t know that for sure, but I just know it ;-p

The reason I say that is cause I am thinking I may start hanging out with more non-religious people. I was inspired recently by another non-religious person. I don’t know what her relationship with Jesus is, she curses like a sailor and I think she is one of the most sensible people I have ever met in my whole life. Her kids are amazing and she does more for our troops than any church person I have met, yet.

She got me thinking about things we quote as if they were Biblical. I myself wrote a recent post about the phrase, “When I am weak, He is strong.” It’s not in the Bible. You won’t find it. What you do find, is when I am weak then I am strong.

So finish these phrases:

1. God won’t give you more…
2. This too…
3. God helps those…
4. Spare the rod…
5. God works in …

None of these are in the Bible. Some of them are paraphrases. The problem with an often repeated paraphrase is that the real meaning, with the context and everything, is lost and people become misguided.

1. God won’t give you more than you can handle. Why on earth would we think that? Often when this phrase is spoken it is in the context of bad things happening. In which case, God didn’t give it. God only gives good things. It either happened because of people’s choices or in the rare case, the devil did it.
2. This too shall pass. Also quoted when people are going through rough times. Not in the Bible. I am unable to even find anything close. Of course things pass. But that is not a Bible verse.
3. God helps those who help themselves. No He doesn’t. Psalm 41:1 says, “How blessed is he who considers the helpless ; The LORD will deliver him in a day of “trouble.”
4. Spare the rod, spoil the child is a paraphrase of Proverbs 13:24. “He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.”
5. God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. This is actually a misquote of an old hymn by Willian Cowper. Yes, it is true that Isaiah tells us that God’s ways are not our ways, but it is also true that it is God’s glory to conceal a thing and Man’s (kings’) honor to uncover it. He wants us to seek out His ways.

So, I don’t want to be dogmatic, but… as believers, we need to KNOW what Scripture says. Then, and only then can an answer be given.

Just How Much Worse?

Just about the time I think I have figured something out, it seems God shows me that I, in fact, do not have it figured out.

Lately, I have been struggling with reconciling this impending cloud of doom that is coming from the mouths of those around me and knowing that the Kingdom is at hand. I know that sounds weird. Because I know at least half of the people who read this believe that things have to get worse to get better. I don’t want to argue that. I just don’t have the energy.

I have never been Pollyanna. But I am no extreme pessimist, either. However, I find myself searching for the bright spots in the clouds. Searching. Looking for the signs that God’s people are doing what they’re supposed to be doing and not sitting by, wringing their hands and saying “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”

That is why I am so thrilled when I read accounts from my high school friend’s son. He is disgusted that churches will raise money to build yet another building but can’t seem to find the funds to send to sick children in a foreign orphanage. I agree. I pray, “PLEASE GOD! Let this be the future of the Church!”

The Bible says that true religion is taking care of widows and orphans. Not gathering in buildings once a week singing our songs that make us feel good. One of my absolute pet peeves is when people say that “worship moved me this week.” Really? How nice. Did it move God?, is what I want to know.

Jesus said that HE would build His church. And yet, since the second century, the redeemed of the Lord have been striving to build it for Him. Alternately placating and punishing the masses to get them in.

Barna says that something horrific, like 90% of youth leave church when they leave their parents’ homes and go off to college. Of course they do. Because we haven’t presented them with the Real Jesus. We have entertained them and we have given them tickets out of hell. But we have not shown them how to have a relationship with the Living, Risen King.

That’s why I am excited by this generation. The generation that believes that Jesus is interested in healing the sick. That He is interested in giving life and more abundantly ~and that that doesn’t mean a two-thousand square foot home and two fancy cars!~ to the people. I am excited they are not interested in buildings and “church!” Good! Maybe we will actually SEE the Kingdom -Righteousness, peace and JOY IN the HOLY GHOST- manifest.

THIS is what I want to hear and to see. Not people telling me “it’s gonna get worse before it gets better.” Really? Tell that to Believers in Nigeria, burned alive inside their churches. How much worse can it get?

Peculiar for Him

Sometimes the things we say and do in the Christian world are weird. I am seeing somethings right now, that honestly make me question the direction of certain streams of Christianity. That’s all I’ll say about that….

You may be familiar with a verse or verses that say something to the effect of “You are a peculiar people….” I don’t find that word in my New American Standard, but I do find it several times, in the context of being a peculiar people, in the King James version.

Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey  my voice indeed , and keep  my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Deuteronomy 14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen  thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Deuteronomy 26:18 And the LORD hath avouched  thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised  thee, and that thou shouldest keep  all his commandments;

Psalm 135:4 For the LORD hath chosenJacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Titus 2:14 Who gavehimself for us, that he might redeemus from all iniquity, and purify  unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth  the praises of him who hath calledyou out of darkness into his marvellous light:

There really is nothing special about this word, “peculiar”. I find that it was probably more significant to the speakers of King James English. For us peculiar means “odd.” And this could cause the modern reader to misinterpret the context.

In each of the Old Testament verses, peculiar is a Hebrew word that means “treasure.” That’s all, and in two of the verses where the word treasure is, “peculiar” is not even associated with a Hebrew word. Moses and David both were simply saying that Israel was God’s treasure.

I really want us to think on that. I don’t want us to devalue “treasure” to our idea of treasure, either. Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God being like a treasure in a field. A man purchases the whole field just to find that treasure. He says that your heart is where your treasure is.

Now, let’s look at this verse from 1 Peter. I like Peter. Peter, the person, is a lot like many of us. We become impassioned and zealous, and yet will shrink away out of fear. Peter rose to the occasion, though. Peter is the one who stood up in Jerusalem on the Feast of Pentecost and said to the Jews that had gathered in Jersusalem to fulfill the command to assemble in Jerusalem for The Feast of Weeks, and said, “THIS IS THAT…” Peter understood the fulfillment of the Scriptures. He may have been a fisherman, but he must have had a good foundation in the Word to have this understanding.

Both of the letters from Peter that are in our Bible are to the Diaspora (the scattered Jews.) And of course, by extension through Christ, are to us, Christians. He writes in language that the jews understand. I love this verse in 1 Peter because he takes all these things that God told them about themselves, encapsulates them in one phrase and THEN gives the meaning. The WHY you are… He says you are #1 a chosen generation, #2 a royal priesthood, #3 a holy nation, and #4 a peculiar people. These are all things that God told Israel throughout their history.

I love Greek. It is a very specific language. This Greek word that the King James translators translated as peculiar means ”preserved, reserved, purchased property.”

The application of being these things is so that, “that ye should shew forth  the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” Being purchased by and for Him, means that there is a responsibility to represent Him. That’s all. It is not about you, it is always all about HIM. (And it has little to do with being odd.)

Worship This Week, April 29

That’s funny, I could have sworn that I wrote recently. I guess not. Looks like I haven’t posted since the tenth. sorry.

I haven’t done a Worship This Week Post in a long time. I’ve been using CD’s that I put together for worship from a year ago, if you can believe it. And of course once a month, we are having an actual real flesh and blood person lead out soaking worship. I cannot tell you what peace that gives me, Thanks RW!

We have a very special guest speaker tomorrow. He is from Nigeria. Love him so much. In honor of him, we are doing music from Christ For the Nations Music, because he attended CFN. And I have to tell you this last song, has broken me down every time I’ve played it as I prepare the PowerPoint slides. ohmygosh! Without further rambling from me here is this week’s weorship music lineup:

Seriously, this video is in Korean, I’m not making people sing in Korean, but this is the song, the lyrics are included on this video in English

For real! Again! Korean. It is the most beautiful song, though. Listen anyway. And watch the video, so you can see the lyrics.

Change Your Mind

I think I am finally getting back on track. You know how that goes, though, right? There is always something waiting to derail you. But if this is my year of steadfastness, then I need to forge ahead and not look back in order examine the “whys” to death.

This is part two of the Kindgom series. In this post, I want to look at Jesus’ message, as a traveling rabbi. There are many voices which say Jesus message was helping the poor, or not being religious, or loving God and people. His primary message encompasses all these things, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

The apostles Matthew and Mark both wrote in their accounts of Jesus that this was his primary message. (Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:13) Dr. Luke reported that Jesus warned his followers that if they did not repent, they would die a death that was similar to the tragic death of some other Gallileans. (Luke 13.) Why would the promised Messiah bring a message and not a sword?

I don’t know what you believe the word “repent” means. I know that for most of my life, I thought it meant saying I was sorry and asking forgiveness. According to the definition of the Greek word and even according to the context, this could not possibly be the case.

“metanoeo” means to change one’s mind for the better. In effect, to think differently than you have been thinking. The Kingdom requires it.

I spent most of my life thinking the phrase “the Kingdom is at hand” meant that if I died at any moment, there would be the Kingdom. But look at it literally, This is not figurative language Jesus is using. He is calling for the hearers to think differently NOW because the Kingdom is within reach.

How had they been thinking? How are we thinking? Well, they (Jews of the first century in Judea) were under an oppressive government. Their religious leaders were the most corrupt thieves that had ever been their history. People struggled with sickness, disease, heavy taxation, religious persecution. Very much like people today. (And yes, of all time.) Their minds were clouded with just getting through that day. The poor and crippled lay on the sides of the road, begging for handouts. Corrupt individuals worked the system to their advantage and stole from their countrymen. The gap between rich and poor was wide, with not much inbetween. The religious system, even, had been corrupted by greed for money and for power. And the government twisted and used it to its advantage.

When a person has lived in an oppressive, depressive state for their entire lives, it is difficult to begin to think differently. Difficult, but not impossible. Jesus didn’t just teach change, He demonstrated it. He showed that the Kingdom of God was for you and not against you. He showed that in the Kingdom health was possible. That economics were not dependent on the local tax collector. He showed that all the necessities of life are taken care of in The Kingdom.

The people expected that Messiah would abolish all these things. In case you didn’t know, and it’s obvious His followers misunderstood, God’s ways are not our ways. He did not come with a sword. The way that God intends for change to take place is to think, and then act differently – to repent. Thy Kingdom Come happens in individuals, then a family of individuals, then a community, until it spreads over all the earth.

Good News

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 

The Seed

They laid the body of the Teacher in the donated tomb, all their hopes and dreams dashed. Passover was supposed to be day they remembered their deliverance as a nation. But for Jesus’ family and friends, it had turned into a day of mourning. If they remembered His words, did they understand?

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John, 12:24

All of Creation

I was thinking this morning about what happened on the day Jesus died.

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, ”Truly this wasthe Son of God!” Matthew 27: 50-54

When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. Mark 15:33

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, ”Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MYSPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23: 44-46

The earth rended (split) and a veil was pulled over the sun. Creation itself mourned the death of the One who was present at Creation. The One for whom all things were made and through whom all things were made.

The Ground Has Been Held

Goodness! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I kinda went brain-dead for a week, or so. Spring Break, while we did not do anything monumental, wiped me out. Then, I had a week of meetings, and an overnight trip to San Angelo. Over-nighting to San Angelo will make anyone tired. I also started exercising again. It makes me tired, and hungry. I truly don’t know how people lose weight.

I have had several moments over the last two weeks where God’s invisible attributes as revealed by nature just “boinged” out at me. A year ago, the urgency to pray for rain and the drought in Texas was coming to the forefront. I was so conflicted about praying for rain. Honestly, I saw that some lessons were being taught and it felt so urgent that they be learned. Over the course of the long, 100+ degree summer, the grass died, trees died, shrubbery that can be neglected for years on end died. Our yard, which has never been a symbol of lawn care, turned to dust. The dog would go out and kick up a dust storm. Our lake went down over 40 feet. (Another lesson that I can’t get anyone to listen to.)

Slowly, and gently though the rains have come. And this has been the mercy of God. If the rains had come quickly, the hard ground would not have accepted the nourishment and refreshing. The weeds and the flowers have grown like crazy. There is more green stuff in our backyard, than there has been in a very long time. even when I attempted to seed it. There is grass growing under the tree where grass has not grown in 9 years.

One morning after a noisy thunder-storm, I walked out on the deck wondering, “How much of our back yard will have washed away?” This is the norm for our yard after a heavy rain, as I said, we have never been looked upon as lawn keepers. To my surprise, I did not see the signs of a total washout. Immediately, I realized it was because of all the greenery that had sprung up. And I thought, “The ground has been held, because of the goodness and mercy of God.”

The Ground Has Been Held. Wars are almost always over ground. Spiritual war is also over ground. For those who persevere in prayer and are steadfast in character during trials, ground that has been taken by the Lord is held by the persistent.

I say that the ground has been taken by the Lord, because the battle is His. Our job is to hold the ground. The Free Dictionary says that “hold your ground” means that “to refuse to change your opinions or behaviour, even if other people try to force you to do this” and “to refuse to move backwards, especially when you are being attacked.”

Selah.

Retracting a Statement I Made About Healing

Acts 17:10-15 is the account of Paul and Silas’ mission to Northern Greece. The people in Thessalonica sought to kill them for their words, they were whisked off in the night to a city called Berea. Verse 11 says, “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” 

The Bereans examined Scripture to see if what Paul and Silas were saying was true. How many of us do that? I admit that I don’t always. But I will say this, if you were to go through my notes that I take during sermons you would find a ? next to many statements. You would find “Look this up!” in the margin next to many statements. You would find notes directing me to look up some word. I say without pride that I consider myself to have the spirit of a Berean.

However, I don’t always follow through, or even have it enter my mind. This post is about a statement that I made, that I picked up at a conference that I have been asked to examine. I did and I want to share those results with you.

On March 11, I wrote about all the conferences I had been to. #5 was about a healing conference I went to. I stated, “Jesus healed every person who came to Him…” 

I write this post with some trepidation, because there are so many factors and it is wrong to make a blanket statement, which I did on March 11 and I apologize. Healing is not an area where I am well-educated, but am seeking to be. So here is the result of my friend’s prompting to look into further into this.

I want to start by saying I believe all sickness and disease is from the enemy of our souls. I do not believe it is put on us by God. That would make any healing by Jesus contradictory. I also believe divine, supernatural healing can be and is done today by YHWH (Jehovah) Rapha, the God that Heals, through the conduit of believers.

There are four verses I want to look at:
Mark 1:32-34, Mark 6:1-6, Matthew 4:23 and Matthew 12:15.

In Mark 1:32-34, that my friend pointed out, it says that all the sick were brought to Him and many were healed. Even in looking at the Greek, many does not mean all. It does not say why all were not healed. It was evening, perhaps people trailed off and went home to sleep. Perhaps, as we will see in Mark 6, unbelief was an issue.

In Mark 6, especially verses 5 and 6, we see Jesus is in His home town, and it says He could do no miracle there and in verse six, Jesus wonders at their unbelief. Unbelief and dishonor were the reasons miracles could not be done.

In Matthew 4:23, it says He healed all kinds of disease, it does not say He healed all the individuals.

The only place that I find where He healed ALL is Matthew 12:15.

Is it possible for all to be healed? Yes. Is it God’s will for all to be healed? Yes. Isaiah tells us that by His stripes we are healed. That Hebrew word is rapha, He is known by Abraham as YHWH Rapha, the God that heals.

Are there things that block healing? Mark 6 seems to indicate so. Is that a blanket statement, though? No. I think it would be wrong, like Job’s friends, for anyone to say, “This has happened to you because ____.” Or to say, “You will be healed if ____.”

I believe that God does not live in chronological time. Isaiah 46:10 indicates that God knows the beginning, middle and end (and that He makes it known). I believe He sees it all at the same time. From His perspective, healing has already happened. Our challenge is to believe it and receive it. (Yes… I just made a faith-movement statement.)