When we think about betrayal and the episodes of it in the Bible we inevitable and almost by reflex think about Judas. Much debate has surround this act of betrayal which is probably the most known and definately the most significant act of betrayal in the history of the human race. Some of the schools of thought out there are;
- Judas and Jesus worked together to conjure the perfect fullfillment of prophecy concerning Jesus' death
- Judas' actions were not that of betrayal, but simple a handing over of Jesus to be interrogated by the legal systems as to his claim
- Judas cannot be held responsible for his actions since Christ knew and did not stop him
- Judas cannot be held responsible since God ordained his role in Christ's death and he had no choice and the list goes on.
This is not the betrayal that I want to bring to our minds as we read this. The betrayal that I am hoping to look at is one that should ellicit a certain sense of gratitude. I must confess that I do not fully understand this act and most if not all translation of the Bible that I have seen do not contend with this, not even the paraphrased versions dare to take it on.
The etimological root of the word used for betray - paradidomi is found in some many instances throughout the Bible. Its not always translated as betray or a derivative of betray. According to the lexicon here are the a range of meanings
to give over into (one's) power or use
a. to deliver to one something to keep, use, take care of, manage
b. to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented, put
to death
c. to deliver up treacherously
1. by betrayal to cause one to be taken
2. to deliver one to be taught, moulded
I want us to think about 2 scriptures and think about the range of meanings above and if they could fit in place of the words used.
Romans 8
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Bold added - gave him up = paradidomi)
Ephesians 5
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Bold added - gave himself up = paradidomi)
The texts above if paradidomi was translated as betray would read that Christ betrayed himself for us as a sweet smelling sacrifice to the Father and the Father betrayed Christ for us and we can use that as a mark of God's willingness to keep us and feed us. I will go into more details on both of these passages as I have been working them out. I think there are some truths to be had from these two passages and in deed others if we took an uncoventional look at them and dared to inject the word betray(ed) in them.
We will look at these in some more detail next time, God's willing.
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Thursday, 28 February 2008
We Wrestle Against Flesh and Blood
The above caption is not a typo. I know very well that Paul declares that we wrestle NOT against flesh and blood, but I want to say the reverse is true. NO!!! I am not disagreeing with Paul. But both statements are correct and it depends on which side of the glass you are standing on. Paul, looking on matters relating to spiritual warfare hits the nail squarely on the head. Externally we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.
Ezekiel in some sense enacted this principle in his discourse with or about the King of Tyre. He starts out talking to the"flesh and blood" on the throne, then he changes the tone of his address and addresses the spirit behind the throne. Much in the same way we would see modern day empires that are built on greed and exploitation or individuals who we encounter who stand in opposition to the reality of the Kingdom of God. So don't think I am in opposition to Paul at all.
But went I place the internal elements of this walk in juxtaposition to each other and take into account the different predilections of my flesh I came to the conclusion that we do wrestle against "flesh and blood". We have read the three foxes of the life...Lust of the flesh, Pride of Life and Lust of the Eyes. All these are products of the flesh and elements of life that we are struggling with. Yes they call into play the mind, but they are embedded in the flesh.
I have wondered what one day for me would be like if I didn't have the hormones of my flesh that leads to me desiring sex, or the mental capacity needed to be greedy, covetous or proud. What would a day off from the flesh be like? What would happen if my the senses of my flesh fall into alignment with the desires of my spirit? Would I find it as hard as I do to pray, to read the Word, to love my neighbours and/as myself?
Paul left us a trail to follow in Romans that speaks about the law of the flesh (and blood) that wars against the principles of God and the spirit. I am not engaging in any Platonic dualism that posits that the flesh/matter is evil and the spirit is good, but from what Paul says there are elements within the flesh that's just evil and we wrestle against the flesh daily. We are called to mortify...crucify...render ineffective the deeds of the flesh. And I find it easier to say than do.
Whoever came up with the notion that being victorious in the war against the flesh is as simple as the saying "Mind over Matter" is dreadfully mistaking. Transformation does come through the renewing of the mind, but where are the formulas? Where is the A x A - 10 = 90, (find the value of A)? Well...there are none. In my struggle against flesh and blood I have grown more and more appreciative of grace and more and more puzzled by it as well. I am thankful that Christ bore my sins in His flesh shedding his blood to give me both the upper hand and the victory in this battle. I am grateful that even when I don't get it right I am still the righteousness of God IN CHRIST. My inability to live as I want to for the pleasure of God does not devalue my salvation, but in fact brings to mind the reality of how valuable a price was paid for it.
The Law (Baccra Masta...in Jamaica parlance) was good, but the flesh was unable to keep it. Grace on the other hand did not obliterate the law, but gave us the ability to keep the perfect law of God through Christ and at the same time made provision for our lapses. In this wrestling against flesh and blood I am happy God holds me eternally secure in the palm of His hand. I look forward to that day when my body will be transformed into the incorruptible and immortal. Till then...we wrestle against flesh and blood.
Ezekiel in some sense enacted this principle in his discourse with or about the King of Tyre. He starts out talking to the"flesh and blood" on the throne, then he changes the tone of his address and addresses the spirit behind the throne. Much in the same way we would see modern day empires that are built on greed and exploitation or individuals who we encounter who stand in opposition to the reality of the Kingdom of God. So don't think I am in opposition to Paul at all.
But went I place the internal elements of this walk in juxtaposition to each other and take into account the different predilections of my flesh I came to the conclusion that we do wrestle against "flesh and blood". We have read the three foxes of the life...Lust of the flesh, Pride of Life and Lust of the Eyes. All these are products of the flesh and elements of life that we are struggling with. Yes they call into play the mind, but they are embedded in the flesh.
I have wondered what one day for me would be like if I didn't have the hormones of my flesh that leads to me desiring sex, or the mental capacity needed to be greedy, covetous or proud. What would a day off from the flesh be like? What would happen if my the senses of my flesh fall into alignment with the desires of my spirit? Would I find it as hard as I do to pray, to read the Word, to love my neighbours and/as myself?
Paul left us a trail to follow in Romans that speaks about the law of the flesh (and blood) that wars against the principles of God and the spirit. I am not engaging in any Platonic dualism that posits that the flesh/matter is evil and the spirit is good, but from what Paul says there are elements within the flesh that's just evil and we wrestle against the flesh daily. We are called to mortify...crucify...render ineffective the deeds of the flesh. And I find it easier to say than do.
Whoever came up with the notion that being victorious in the war against the flesh is as simple as the saying "Mind over Matter" is dreadfully mistaking. Transformation does come through the renewing of the mind, but where are the formulas? Where is the A x A - 10 = 90, (find the value of A)? Well...there are none. In my struggle against flesh and blood I have grown more and more appreciative of grace and more and more puzzled by it as well. I am thankful that Christ bore my sins in His flesh shedding his blood to give me both the upper hand and the victory in this battle. I am grateful that even when I don't get it right I am still the righteousness of God IN CHRIST. My inability to live as I want to for the pleasure of God does not devalue my salvation, but in fact brings to mind the reality of how valuable a price was paid for it.
The Law (Baccra Masta...in Jamaica parlance) was good, but the flesh was unable to keep it. Grace on the other hand did not obliterate the law, but gave us the ability to keep the perfect law of God through Christ and at the same time made provision for our lapses. In this wrestling against flesh and blood I am happy God holds me eternally secure in the palm of His hand. I look forward to that day when my body will be transformed into the incorruptible and immortal. Till then...we wrestle against flesh and blood.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Struggle to Come Last
Sometime ago I was asked to preach a sermon on servanthood by a friend of mine (I feel like an old man who has stories to tell). That Sunday morning as decided to talk about the Ministry of the Towel. I had asked my friend to arrange with someone from the community to sit in, someone who the Church might not know. The aim of having this person sitting in was so I could wash his feet, this was someone I didn't know either. My friend pointed this person out to me on my arrival.
On Monday night on my way back from speaking to the Boy's Brigade in Kilkeel we stopped in on an alcoholic support group in the Kairos center called Cheers. We were just in time for the reading of the scripture by one of the members. He was reading the story of Jesus watching the feet of his disciples. This was the story I used as my reference that Sunday morning. The central message of that picture of Jesus wrapping himself with a towel and getting down to a dog's view of things still challenges my heart.
Maslow tells us that human nature is always to thrive for actualization. One of this D-needs is that of Esteem; self esteem and esteem from others. Our drive for esteem causes us to seek glory, to seek first place. No wonder one of the most recorded quarrels among the disciples was which of us will be first or the greatest. A mother wanting the best for her sons asks this favour of Jesus as well. Maslow's diagnosis seems right in explaining the disciples behavior as well as ours. One of my struggles in earlier years when I was being told how good a speaker I was by my peers and even those I respected was keeping my head on the earth. Thank God that I had enough trials and persecutions around me to keep my feet anchored firmly to the ground. There were times when I was tempted to probably wear a jersey advertising how good I was...no just kidding. But there were times when my gifting deceived me into thinking I am all that and a bag of chips.
The truth is that I am in this struggle to coming last...my struggle is not to coming in first. Jesus demonstrated this when he mantled himself with the ministry of the lowest of servants. The task of washing feet was not for just any house servant, but for the lowest of slaves. No wonder Peter (although his love was somewhat defective) could not stand the thought of his Lord washing his feet. Christ was not deficient in anyway, not emotionally nor psychological. He had great self-esteem as the preceding days would show and he is probably the only fully actualized human to have lived. I think it is the fact that He was so balanced and satisfied with who He was that gave him the ability to serve in this way.
Servanthood is not abasing...it does not erase our esteem when done with the right motive. It sometimes help to lift the esteem of those we serve. On the Sunday morning that I spoke at my friend's church the person who we had original planted in the congregation left before I was through speaking...probably had to go and sort out his rice and peas. I had to call someone else from the crowd. It turned out that this man was a taxi driver and not a member of the church. As I washed this man's feet along with my friend's, illustrating the need for more service that's motivated by selfless love and not just sentiments, this man broke down and wept.
That was probably the most loving thing someone had ever done for this man. When was the last time we really made an attempt to be the least in a crowded room? Can I challenge you as I challenge myself to strive to become the least. Not through self-abasement, because that's not humility nor is it godly. But as you go through the rest of your days, find a reason to praise someone, find a reason to serve the next person. Take out your untouched towel and get it dirty. Get a dog's view on things. With this there is also promise...because some of those who end up last will reach the podium in first place.
On Monday night on my way back from speaking to the Boy's Brigade in Kilkeel we stopped in on an alcoholic support group in the Kairos center called Cheers. We were just in time for the reading of the scripture by one of the members. He was reading the story of Jesus watching the feet of his disciples. This was the story I used as my reference that Sunday morning. The central message of that picture of Jesus wrapping himself with a towel and getting down to a dog's view of things still challenges my heart.
Maslow tells us that human nature is always to thrive for actualization. One of this D-needs is that of Esteem; self esteem and esteem from others. Our drive for esteem causes us to seek glory, to seek first place. No wonder one of the most recorded quarrels among the disciples was which of us will be first or the greatest. A mother wanting the best for her sons asks this favour of Jesus as well. Maslow's diagnosis seems right in explaining the disciples behavior as well as ours. One of my struggles in earlier years when I was being told how good a speaker I was by my peers and even those I respected was keeping my head on the earth. Thank God that I had enough trials and persecutions around me to keep my feet anchored firmly to the ground. There were times when I was tempted to probably wear a jersey advertising how good I was...no just kidding. But there were times when my gifting deceived me into thinking I am all that and a bag of chips.
The truth is that I am in this struggle to coming last...my struggle is not to coming in first. Jesus demonstrated this when he mantled himself with the ministry of the lowest of servants. The task of washing feet was not for just any house servant, but for the lowest of slaves. No wonder Peter (although his love was somewhat defective) could not stand the thought of his Lord washing his feet. Christ was not deficient in anyway, not emotionally nor psychological. He had great self-esteem as the preceding days would show and he is probably the only fully actualized human to have lived. I think it is the fact that He was so balanced and satisfied with who He was that gave him the ability to serve in this way.
Servanthood is not abasing...it does not erase our esteem when done with the right motive. It sometimes help to lift the esteem of those we serve. On the Sunday morning that I spoke at my friend's church the person who we had original planted in the congregation left before I was through speaking...probably had to go and sort out his rice and peas. I had to call someone else from the crowd. It turned out that this man was a taxi driver and not a member of the church. As I washed this man's feet along with my friend's, illustrating the need for more service that's motivated by selfless love and not just sentiments, this man broke down and wept.
That was probably the most loving thing someone had ever done for this man. When was the last time we really made an attempt to be the least in a crowded room? Can I challenge you as I challenge myself to strive to become the least. Not through self-abasement, because that's not humility nor is it godly. But as you go through the rest of your days, find a reason to praise someone, find a reason to serve the next person. Take out your untouched towel and get it dirty. Get a dog's view on things. With this there is also promise...because some of those who end up last will reach the podium in first place.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
The Blind Spot
I sent out an email reminding us of the 10/40 window and the urgent needs for prayer and missions in this region. But lets consider a region that I want to call THE BLIND SPOT
''Church attendance in Ireland, though still among the highest in Western Europe, has fallen from about 85% to 60% from 1975 to 2004, according to the Dublin Archdiocese.''
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-08-10-europe-religion-cover_x.htm
''The Methodist Church suffered a net loss of about 300 churches, and the Church of England fell by more than 100 during this period. It follows figures released by the Church of England at the beginning of the year, that showed little sign that its long-term decline was being reversed.'' http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_060228cres.shtml
Western Europe has been experience a large decline in Christian over the last 20 years or less. When we consider this region we have much to give thanks for in history, but it seems as if little can be celebrated in the present. Church history seems to have happened largely in Europe. The emergence of Roman Catholicism, The Reformation, St Patrick and his preservation of Christianity during a period when the flame seemed to have been extinguished.
The so-called 'Ages' of history is staged on the landscape of Europe...The Dark Ages, The Middle Ages, Pre-Modern and Age of Discovery. Many of these characters of history also find their significance in the iconic religion of Europe: Christianity. Films that portray these different periods are often filled with wonderful cinematography, but I am often left repenting and celebrating at the same time. The Crusades against the Muslims in the name of God...the Islamic retaliations. God using frail men to preserve HIS truths and the hinging of these men in history because they have been chosen by God.
I must confess that my decision to serve in this area of the world was sparsely influenced by the above factors of this epoch making region. I came simply out of obedience to God. God didn't have to perform any great fete, He only needed to open the door and foot the bill that would have been incurred by my willingness to serve. He has done that!! Even in the midst of my unfaithfulness and disgrace, he has shown His Grace to me.
But history is just that, history. If one should take a survey of Christianity in Ireland, both north and south, the figures would be misleading. Majority of the persons here consider themselves either Catholic or Protestant. Nominally this country though split is Christian. A friend of mine would normally say, ''Its not about orthodoxy, but orthoproxy''. Catholic and Protestant means little here I have found in terms of allegiance to God as PNP or JLP in Jamaica or Republican or Democratic in the USA or left-wing or right wing. It is just another badge not any serious statement of conviction or conversion.
The reality of Western Europe is that there is a surge of ideologies that tame the truth of the Gospel...salvation is only through Jesus Christ through faith by Grace. This region has gone BLIND in a sense. Spirituality is pursued without allegiance to God, the Christian God. The influx of Islam in many regions pose a threat to religion freedom. One debate that was on prompted this headline, Europe Is Christian, but Turkey's Crescent Moon Shines in its Skies. That reality is pretty much evident and is growing not just as it concerns Turkey, but many parts of Europe.
I have been looking at the state of Newcastle, the area that I work in and asking myself a question...'Have the churches here stopped short of the ideology of the reformation?' Luther and the other precursory contributors to the reformation sought to make the Scriptures the only rule of the Church. Not to form another group of people who are stopping short of obeying scripture in its entirety. There is a silence that exists here in the Spiritual Realm. This silence is not in words, but in action. This seem unwillingness to attempt full surrender to Holy Spirit in every sphere, come what may. Most of these kids will go through there life sitting in church pews (those who go) not knowing anything about the Holy Spirit or His active role in the lives of believers.
The state of the church in Western Europe might seem to be getting a lifeline since 'The Pentecostal Churches...started nearly 500 churches since 1998, the research showed.' This too can be misleading, since it is also stated that, 'Christian Research has previously suggested that churches may be heading for extinction by 2040 - with just two per cent of the population attending Sunday services and the average age of congregations rising to 64.'
In your prayers consider the above and pray. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send reapers. Pray for the state of the church and the mobilization of Christians in this region by the power of the Holy Spirit.
''Church attendance in Ireland, though still among the highest in Western Europe, has fallen from about 85% to 60% from 1975 to 2004, according to the Dublin Archdiocese.''
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-08-10-europe-religion-cover_x.htm
''The Methodist Church suffered a net loss of about 300 churches, and the Church of England fell by more than 100 during this period. It follows figures released by the Church of England at the beginning of the year, that showed little sign that its long-term decline was being reversed.'' http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_060228cres.shtml
Western Europe has been experience a large decline in Christian over the last 20 years or less. When we consider this region we have much to give thanks for in history, but it seems as if little can be celebrated in the present. Church history seems to have happened largely in Europe. The emergence of Roman Catholicism, The Reformation, St Patrick and his preservation of Christianity during a period when the flame seemed to have been extinguished.
The so-called 'Ages' of history is staged on the landscape of Europe...The Dark Ages, The Middle Ages, Pre-Modern and Age of Discovery. Many of these characters of history also find their significance in the iconic religion of Europe: Christianity. Films that portray these different periods are often filled with wonderful cinematography, but I am often left repenting and celebrating at the same time. The Crusades against the Muslims in the name of God...the Islamic retaliations. God using frail men to preserve HIS truths and the hinging of these men in history because they have been chosen by God.
I must confess that my decision to serve in this area of the world was sparsely influenced by the above factors of this epoch making region. I came simply out of obedience to God. God didn't have to perform any great fete, He only needed to open the door and foot the bill that would have been incurred by my willingness to serve. He has done that!! Even in the midst of my unfaithfulness and disgrace, he has shown His Grace to me.
But history is just that, history. If one should take a survey of Christianity in Ireland, both north and south, the figures would be misleading. Majority of the persons here consider themselves either Catholic or Protestant. Nominally this country though split is Christian. A friend of mine would normally say, ''Its not about orthodoxy, but orthoproxy''. Catholic and Protestant means little here I have found in terms of allegiance to God as PNP or JLP in Jamaica or Republican or Democratic in the USA or left-wing or right wing. It is just another badge not any serious statement of conviction or conversion.
The reality of Western Europe is that there is a surge of ideologies that tame the truth of the Gospel...salvation is only through Jesus Christ through faith by Grace. This region has gone BLIND in a sense. Spirituality is pursued without allegiance to God, the Christian God. The influx of Islam in many regions pose a threat to religion freedom. One debate that was on prompted this headline, Europe Is Christian, but Turkey's Crescent Moon Shines in its Skies. That reality is pretty much evident and is growing not just as it concerns Turkey, but many parts of Europe.
I have been looking at the state of Newcastle, the area that I work in and asking myself a question...'Have the churches here stopped short of the ideology of the reformation?' Luther and the other precursory contributors to the reformation sought to make the Scriptures the only rule of the Church. Not to form another group of people who are stopping short of obeying scripture in its entirety. There is a silence that exists here in the Spiritual Realm. This silence is not in words, but in action. This seem unwillingness to attempt full surrender to Holy Spirit in every sphere, come what may. Most of these kids will go through there life sitting in church pews (those who go) not knowing anything about the Holy Spirit or His active role in the lives of believers.
The state of the church in Western Europe might seem to be getting a lifeline since 'The Pentecostal Churches...started nearly 500 churches since 1998, the research showed.' This too can be misleading, since it is also stated that, 'Christian Research has previously suggested that churches may be heading for extinction by 2040 - with just two per cent of the population attending Sunday services and the average age of congregations rising to 64.'
In your prayers consider the above and pray. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send reapers. Pray for the state of the church and the mobilization of Christians in this region by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
TREASURED, YET NOT UNDERSTOOD
Luke 2:49-51"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them . . . But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
As I was in the Baptist Church in Newcastle on Sunday the speaker spoke from the entire section that pertains to the only mention of Christ's life between his birth and his appearance on the scene at about age 30. His presentation has a bit abstract as most sermons I have heard here are give and take a few. They seem to pretty much lack the intimacy of being spoken to and not being spoken at or just listening to a tape. But as I struggled to stay attentive through this, these verse jolted something in my "liver"...lol...and I began in a sense to preach this in my spirit.
Our faculties are of such that it seems as if different parts of our beings sometimes function independently of the other yet we are one being. The body dies regardless of the fact that the spirit is everlasting and can't cease except by the command of God, who gives no hint that he will command such a think. The spirit of a terminally ill person brings joy to visitors while the spirit of a wealthy person brings the opposite. There are other times though when one facet affects the other in such a way that it brings to our mind how intricately linked these facets are. Pains in the body induced from mental fatigue or stress. Ulcers or even cancers developing because of unforgiveness in the heart.
The passage above in some way seems to put the mind and the heart before us functioning at different levels. The prefix to the above has Jesus being away from his parents for at least 5 days, it might be proper so assume a week since he was obvious in the temple while the feast was going on. Now any parent in this situation would need some kind of explanation from the child that would appease his or her understanding. his parents received no such thing.
I won't look on the statement as much as the impact of the statement. "They did not understand", which of us can claim full understanding or even adequate understanding of most of the statements of God or the mysteries of the Christian faith. For the most part our minds will forever thirst for understanding, at times we even grow frustrated because of this lack of understanding the foolish things of God let alone the profound things. Which of us can adequate fathom the process of redemption through the blood of Jesus or grasp the magnaminity of the incarnation; the Word becoming flesh. At best our minds let us down on these quests to conquer the mystery of the scriptures.
My own struggle as I read the books I have taken up a habit of reading these days, The Jesus I Never Knew - Philip Yancey, A Case for Christ - Strobel, has to do with the beginning of creation and the Creator. I try to philosophize an adequate explanation within my mind. A poem I wrote begins each verse with "the human mind is desigend to philosophize..." But not even the greatest of us can fully fathom the these mysteries that God has left us.
If we cannot understand these mysteries what should be our response. Mary leaves us the most appropriate one I have seen in my limited reading of scripture. She "treasured all these things in her heart." Although her intellect was not fed, her emotions were fattened. We do not need to understand the mystery to treasure and enjoy the ministry. Our heart has the ability to hold dear the things that our minds do not understand. Too many times we down play the importance of the emotions in right Kingdom living. I have been guilty in some sense of this in my relating to people who say "I just don't feel like it". While the "knowing" is important so is the "feeling". This heart connect with the words of Christ.
I do not understand in the least how the crucifixion and public disgrace of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago translates into my salvation and secures my life from the foe now and forever. But I must admit that I would not trade in the truth of this that I have treasured in my heart for an understanding of it. Too many times we allow the truths of God's Word to pass us by because we seek understanding. Don't get me wrong...we should seek understanding but not to the point where our hearts cannot treasure the "un-understood". The realities of the mysteries of God will be there until eternity becomes our dwelling place, until then treasure the ministry of His Word.
As I was in the Baptist Church in Newcastle on Sunday the speaker spoke from the entire section that pertains to the only mention of Christ's life between his birth and his appearance on the scene at about age 30. His presentation has a bit abstract as most sermons I have heard here are give and take a few. They seem to pretty much lack the intimacy of being spoken to and not being spoken at or just listening to a tape. But as I struggled to stay attentive through this, these verse jolted something in my "liver"...lol...and I began in a sense to preach this in my spirit.
Our faculties are of such that it seems as if different parts of our beings sometimes function independently of the other yet we are one being. The body dies regardless of the fact that the spirit is everlasting and can't cease except by the command of God, who gives no hint that he will command such a think. The spirit of a terminally ill person brings joy to visitors while the spirit of a wealthy person brings the opposite. There are other times though when one facet affects the other in such a way that it brings to our mind how intricately linked these facets are. Pains in the body induced from mental fatigue or stress. Ulcers or even cancers developing because of unforgiveness in the heart.
The passage above in some way seems to put the mind and the heart before us functioning at different levels. The prefix to the above has Jesus being away from his parents for at least 5 days, it might be proper so assume a week since he was obvious in the temple while the feast was going on. Now any parent in this situation would need some kind of explanation from the child that would appease his or her understanding. his parents received no such thing.
I won't look on the statement as much as the impact of the statement. "They did not understand", which of us can claim full understanding or even adequate understanding of most of the statements of God or the mysteries of the Christian faith. For the most part our minds will forever thirst for understanding, at times we even grow frustrated because of this lack of understanding the foolish things of God let alone the profound things. Which of us can adequate fathom the process of redemption through the blood of Jesus or grasp the magnaminity of the incarnation; the Word becoming flesh. At best our minds let us down on these quests to conquer the mystery of the scriptures.
My own struggle as I read the books I have taken up a habit of reading these days, The Jesus I Never Knew - Philip Yancey, A Case for Christ - Strobel, has to do with the beginning of creation and the Creator. I try to philosophize an adequate explanation within my mind. A poem I wrote begins each verse with "the human mind is desigend to philosophize..." But not even the greatest of us can fully fathom the these mysteries that God has left us.
If we cannot understand these mysteries what should be our response. Mary leaves us the most appropriate one I have seen in my limited reading of scripture. She "treasured all these things in her heart." Although her intellect was not fed, her emotions were fattened. We do not need to understand the mystery to treasure and enjoy the ministry. Our heart has the ability to hold dear the things that our minds do not understand. Too many times we down play the importance of the emotions in right Kingdom living. I have been guilty in some sense of this in my relating to people who say "I just don't feel like it". While the "knowing" is important so is the "feeling". This heart connect with the words of Christ.
I do not understand in the least how the crucifixion and public disgrace of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago translates into my salvation and secures my life from the foe now and forever. But I must admit that I would not trade in the truth of this that I have treasured in my heart for an understanding of it. Too many times we allow the truths of God's Word to pass us by because we seek understanding. Don't get me wrong...we should seek understanding but not to the point where our hearts cannot treasure the "un-understood". The realities of the mysteries of God will be there until eternity becomes our dwelling place, until then treasure the ministry of His Word.
Thursday, 13 December 2007
WORK
Every Christian...well let me not say that...As a Christian there have been times when I have questioned the propositions of the Christian faith. If what we profess is true, why are some many of us behaving like atheists? If my Christian walk hinged on the fact that Christians were the best people to know I would have gone astray long time and mostly because of ministers of the Gospel. I have had too many encounters with pastors who have done me wrong to belief that these men in ministry are perfect. I have failed God too many times as a minister to not know the imperfection that dwells on the inside of some many of us men in ministry.
As a young man growing up I thought they was a certain peculiarity about deacons and those person on the church board. The first church I attended quickly shattered that utopia. I saw church politics at it heights when by-laws that were never read out in the church were used to lock the young people out of a meeting and deny us the opportunity to vote on keeping our pastor. When I was appointed a deacon in the church I am now a member of it final came home to me that deacons are humans of the lower nature just like the rest of the church. This revelation was not due to the quality of the other deacons, but when I thought that I was a deacon with all my issues and with God working overtime on setting me straight I knew I was not the only one.
Paul in Philippians 2:12 says we are to "...continue to WORK out your salvation with fear and trembling," The truth is that those who are set over us are accountable to God and the scripture is clear on the punishment of anyone who leads another person astray. Still the responsibility is mind to "work".
Over the last 14 years I have had many discouragement, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost my best friend in a car accident in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost my brother to a bullet in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost my sister in law and my niece in child's birth in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost my cousin to a brain tumour in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost one friend to a bullet less than 100 meters from my house in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost another friend to some unknown illness in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
(I feel something lifting me up)
I lost my fiancee in 2003, she just left mi, but I am better for it, because I made up in my mind to work.
I lost my job in 2004, they fired me, but I am better for it, because I made up in my mind to work. (I feel like preaching it)
I lost all that, but I didn't lose my mind...because I made up in my mind to work.
I have failed God so many time, but he is still bringing me through, because I made up in my mind to work.
I didn't have much to call my own in the way of assets, but I made up in my to work.
I have lived without knowing where my next dollar is coming from, but I made up in my mind to work.
Your life is in a whirlwind...Have you made up in your mind to work?
Your brother is hooked on crack...Have you made up in your mind to work?
Your sister is sick with cancer...Have you made up in your mind to work?
You are sick and in constant pain...Have you made up in your mind to work?
Your ministry seems meaningless and trite...Have you made up in your mind to work?
Your marriage isn't going right...Have you made up in your mind to work?
You find it hard to stay away from that woman or that man...Have you made up in your mind to work?
What every you are going throughHave you made up in your mind to work?
Because the beauty of all of this is that its God himself who is working in me to work according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13) "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." In verse 11 Paul had declared that every knee will bow and every tongue with confess. Not a group of knees and tongue, but every...individual. It is against that background that I and you as individuals must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, but also with the assurance that God is working in us to will and to do according to his good pleasure and purpose.
Well a suh mi si it...wha yu think?
As a young man growing up I thought they was a certain peculiarity about deacons and those person on the church board. The first church I attended quickly shattered that utopia. I saw church politics at it heights when by-laws that were never read out in the church were used to lock the young people out of a meeting and deny us the opportunity to vote on keeping our pastor. When I was appointed a deacon in the church I am now a member of it final came home to me that deacons are humans of the lower nature just like the rest of the church. This revelation was not due to the quality of the other deacons, but when I thought that I was a deacon with all my issues and with God working overtime on setting me straight I knew I was not the only one.
Paul in Philippians 2:12 says we are to "...continue to WORK out your salvation with fear and trembling," The truth is that those who are set over us are accountable to God and the scripture is clear on the punishment of anyone who leads another person astray. Still the responsibility is mind to "work".
Over the last 14 years I have had many discouragement, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost my best friend in a car accident in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost my brother to a bullet in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost my sister in law and my niece in child's birth in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost my cousin to a brain tumour in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost one friend to a bullet less than 100 meters from my house in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
I lost another friend to some unknown illness in 2002, but I made up in my mind to work.
(I feel something lifting me up)
I lost my fiancee in 2003, she just left mi, but I am better for it, because I made up in my mind to work.
I lost my job in 2004, they fired me, but I am better for it, because I made up in my mind to work. (I feel like preaching it)
I lost all that, but I didn't lose my mind...because I made up in my mind to work.
I have failed God so many time, but he is still bringing me through, because I made up in my mind to work.
I didn't have much to call my own in the way of assets, but I made up in my to work.
I have lived without knowing where my next dollar is coming from, but I made up in my mind to work.
Your life is in a whirlwind...Have you made up in your mind to work?
Your brother is hooked on crack...Have you made up in your mind to work?
Your sister is sick with cancer...Have you made up in your mind to work?
You are sick and in constant pain...Have you made up in your mind to work?
Your ministry seems meaningless and trite...Have you made up in your mind to work?
Your marriage isn't going right...Have you made up in your mind to work?
You find it hard to stay away from that woman or that man...Have you made up in your mind to work?
What every you are going throughHave you made up in your mind to work?
Because the beauty of all of this is that its God himself who is working in me to work according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13) "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." In verse 11 Paul had declared that every knee will bow and every tongue with confess. Not a group of knees and tongue, but every...individual. It is against that background that I and you as individuals must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, but also with the assurance that God is working in us to will and to do according to his good pleasure and purpose.
Well a suh mi si it...wha yu think?
Spiritual Warfare
Introduction
Creation came out of the goodness, infinitude and immensity of God. It wasn’t that God was bored and just thought, “Well, I will make myself some toys.” It wasn’t that man had a desire to be created. Although there is much mystery surrounding the pre-creation mindset of God if we can use such a phrase to speak about God.
God created man in the complexity of His divine self as the crowning ornament of His material creation. I believe that what Christ taught us to pray in the so-called Lord’s Prayer existed in the creation of Adam and Eve in the atmosphere of perfect fellowship with God. The pre-fall state of the created world was in a sense fashioned from the order of heaven. The laws of heaven governed the earth. In other words, the kingdom of earth was existing in a sense in the Kingdom of Heaven.
We can link the fall of Lucifer to the fall of man in that it was this enemy of God who disguised himself as a serpent and tempted Eve and beguiled Adam. With the fall of man creation was thrust into the middle of a battlefield. It became kingdom against kingdom. The kingdom of Light against the kingdom of darkness. The reality has always been however that the King of kings rules in the Kingdom of kingdoms. Hence victory is guaranteed.
BC (Before Christ)
Israel’s understanding of warfare was of a more physical nature, I do believe though that God’s decrees to Israel to fight, there was an underlying spiritual reason.
Isaiah 14 gives us an understanding of Lucifer being behind kings whose powers are used for oppression and evil.
In the verses before it is clear that it is a reference to the king of Babylon.
But as if Isaiah changes his focus to not just the king but also the power behind the king.
No where in the scriptures can we point to God sending Israel to war against a nation that was not wallowing in corruption and being anti-God.
David’s Understanding of war and victory seemed to be deeply embedded in the spiritual than the physical. When we look at the Psalms we find verses like these:
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple. (27:3 & 4)
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine. (33:16-19)
The reality is that Israel found warfare to be both physical and spiritual at the same time.
AD Anno Domini
The New Testament is littered with evidence of the belief that most if not everything we face on earth has some spiritual undertone.
The Gospels
According to the four biographies of Christ, His central focus was not to ushering a new brand of religion called Christianity nor was it primarily to institute a universal gathering of grace-rescued humans called the Church.
In Mark one we learn that the central thing in the mandate of Christ when he stepped out of eternity and became an inhabitant of time was to make manifest and to declare the kingdom of God.
The beatitudes of Matthew speaks about the kingdom inheritors and the application of the laws of the kingdom in mercy, grace, joy, comfort and so on. The Sermon on the Mount was another citation of kingdom principles.
Luke in his second chapter speaks as a true historian and gives events of celebration fitting only a king. He speaks about the God-ward praise uttered by Anna a prophetess and Simeon a righteous devout.
John begins holding nothing back as he immediately proclaims the immensity and infinitude of the Word. Then he announced that it was this very God who created and rules everything who allowed himself to call the confines of Mary womb home.
Throughout the pages of the Gospels we see the authority of Jesus being demonstrated our demons and even over Satan. If anyone was mindful of the fact that there was an immanent warfare it was the Christ. He was not assuming that intellectual reasoning could wrought the salvation of a man. He was not of the assumption that carnal swords and shields could bring about the deliverance of Israel. He took the fight to the enemy where it was meant to be fought in the first place. The battlefield was the spiritual realm.
The Epistles
Of course the first scripture to be mentioned from the epistles in this regard is Paul’s. When we look at Acts 19 we see that Paul’s experience in Ephesus was one of
Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believers who had not been baptized in the Holy Spirit. (v1-7)
Rejection of his persuasive intellectual arguments in the synagogue paralleled by the spreading of the Gospel of the Kingdom through Asia (8-10)
Miraculous signs and wonderings by God through Paul. (11-12)
Demons overpowered of the seven sons of Sceva who had been using the name of Jesus without the power of the Holy Spirit on their inside. (13-16)
Repentance by the believers from their evil deeds. Persons gripped with reverence and fear burnt scrolls of witchcraft worth over 136 years worth of wages. (17-20)
The revival in Ephesus became bad for business for evildoers and idol makers. (23-41)
It’s along these lines that Paul would have written his pastoral and doctrinal letters to the believers in Ephesus. Under the leading of the Holy Spirit Paul penned, Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Quotes from the Contemporary
Spurgeon
…for the world is a battlefield, and the Christian’s occupation is war.
Christians are expected to fight with their feet in the battle against sin and Satan. Indeed, they must fight with all their powers and faculties. That grand promise has been given to us, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom_16:20).
Luther
Christ and Satan wage cosmic war for mastery over Church and world. No one can evade involvement in this struggle. Even for the believer there is no refuge—neither monastery nor the seclusion of the wilderness offer him a chance for escape. The Devil is the omnipresent threat, and exactly for this reason the faithful need the proper weapons for survival.
Questions:
Is there a real hand to hand, foot to foot combat against demons and Satan now?
How do we fight this battle?
Does it go away when we ignore it?
Creation came out of the goodness, infinitude and immensity of God. It wasn’t that God was bored and just thought, “Well, I will make myself some toys.” It wasn’t that man had a desire to be created. Although there is much mystery surrounding the pre-creation mindset of God if we can use such a phrase to speak about God.
God created man in the complexity of His divine self as the crowning ornament of His material creation. I believe that what Christ taught us to pray in the so-called Lord’s Prayer existed in the creation of Adam and Eve in the atmosphere of perfect fellowship with God. The pre-fall state of the created world was in a sense fashioned from the order of heaven. The laws of heaven governed the earth. In other words, the kingdom of earth was existing in a sense in the Kingdom of Heaven.
We can link the fall of Lucifer to the fall of man in that it was this enemy of God who disguised himself as a serpent and tempted Eve and beguiled Adam. With the fall of man creation was thrust into the middle of a battlefield. It became kingdom against kingdom. The kingdom of Light against the kingdom of darkness. The reality has always been however that the King of kings rules in the Kingdom of kingdoms. Hence victory is guaranteed.
BC (Before Christ)
Israel’s understanding of warfare was of a more physical nature, I do believe though that God’s decrees to Israel to fight, there was an underlying spiritual reason.
Isaiah 14 gives us an understanding of Lucifer being behind kings whose powers are used for oppression and evil.
In the verses before it is clear that it is a reference to the king of Babylon.
But as if Isaiah changes his focus to not just the king but also the power behind the king.
No where in the scriptures can we point to God sending Israel to war against a nation that was not wallowing in corruption and being anti-God.
David’s Understanding of war and victory seemed to be deeply embedded in the spiritual than the physical. When we look at the Psalms we find verses like these:
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple. (27:3 & 4)
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine. (33:16-19)
The reality is that Israel found warfare to be both physical and spiritual at the same time.
AD Anno Domini
The New Testament is littered with evidence of the belief that most if not everything we face on earth has some spiritual undertone.
The Gospels
According to the four biographies of Christ, His central focus was not to ushering a new brand of religion called Christianity nor was it primarily to institute a universal gathering of grace-rescued humans called the Church.
In Mark one we learn that the central thing in the mandate of Christ when he stepped out of eternity and became an inhabitant of time was to make manifest and to declare the kingdom of God.
The beatitudes of Matthew speaks about the kingdom inheritors and the application of the laws of the kingdom in mercy, grace, joy, comfort and so on. The Sermon on the Mount was another citation of kingdom principles.
Luke in his second chapter speaks as a true historian and gives events of celebration fitting only a king. He speaks about the God-ward praise uttered by Anna a prophetess and Simeon a righteous devout.
John begins holding nothing back as he immediately proclaims the immensity and infinitude of the Word. Then he announced that it was this very God who created and rules everything who allowed himself to call the confines of Mary womb home.
Throughout the pages of the Gospels we see the authority of Jesus being demonstrated our demons and even over Satan. If anyone was mindful of the fact that there was an immanent warfare it was the Christ. He was not assuming that intellectual reasoning could wrought the salvation of a man. He was not of the assumption that carnal swords and shields could bring about the deliverance of Israel. He took the fight to the enemy where it was meant to be fought in the first place. The battlefield was the spiritual realm.
The Epistles
Of course the first scripture to be mentioned from the epistles in this regard is Paul’s. When we look at Acts 19 we see that Paul’s experience in Ephesus was one of
Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believers who had not been baptized in the Holy Spirit. (v1-7)
Rejection of his persuasive intellectual arguments in the synagogue paralleled by the spreading of the Gospel of the Kingdom through Asia (8-10)
Miraculous signs and wonderings by God through Paul. (11-12)
Demons overpowered of the seven sons of Sceva who had been using the name of Jesus without the power of the Holy Spirit on their inside. (13-16)
Repentance by the believers from their evil deeds. Persons gripped with reverence and fear burnt scrolls of witchcraft worth over 136 years worth of wages. (17-20)
The revival in Ephesus became bad for business for evildoers and idol makers. (23-41)
It’s along these lines that Paul would have written his pastoral and doctrinal letters to the believers in Ephesus. Under the leading of the Holy Spirit Paul penned, Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Quotes from the Contemporary
Spurgeon
…for the world is a battlefield, and the Christian’s occupation is war.
Christians are expected to fight with their feet in the battle against sin and Satan. Indeed, they must fight with all their powers and faculties. That grand promise has been given to us, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom_16:20).
Luther
Christ and Satan wage cosmic war for mastery over Church and world. No one can evade involvement in this struggle. Even for the believer there is no refuge—neither monastery nor the seclusion of the wilderness offer him a chance for escape. The Devil is the omnipresent threat, and exactly for this reason the faithful need the proper weapons for survival.
Questions:
Is there a real hand to hand, foot to foot combat against demons and Satan now?
How do we fight this battle?
Does it go away when we ignore it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)