Busy Lives Are Empty Lives

For the past year I have been too busy to read a small booklet that was mysteriously placed on my desktop. The booklet is titled Beating Busyness by Adam R. Holz. The quote on the back cover is what finally drew me into its pages. It says, “The emptiest lives are those stuffed with motion from morning to night” (David Henderson).

God wants us to make motion while we work. But our lives must also be open, peaceful, and rested up. The concept of not over stuffing your life is rooted in our Old Testament, which states: “But six days you shall labor and do all of your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work (Exodus 20:9-10b). To not stuff your life pleases God. Further, this is his design. Our lives are to be patterned into a work/rest cycle.

Stuffed lives have no rest cycle. Such lives do not include time for God, prayer, and have little peace. We think we are pleasing God by doing much but we are not. For example, take the story of Mary and Martha. Martha welcomes Jesus into her house. But as he is there she ignores him, while her sister Mary lays at his feet. She is fussing over meaningless details rather than enjoying her company. Obviously Jesus isn’t pleased, he says “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Mary had chosen Jesus over crazy busy.

Which are you choosing? Recently, one dear saint suggested to me that the word “no” was one of the godliest words we could use when asked to do something more. He was right!

The suggestion to say “no” often falls on deaf ears, which results in most everyone, including me, being too busy. Friends, this is a problem. It isn’t living, and I’m tired of it. I’m weary from weeks that never seem to end, which bleed into new months, seasons, and years. But there is hope; it may only be realized when we take some Sabbath time away from everything. That is what it took for me. It was the silence of the chukar hills, coupled with a full day ahead of me with nothing to do but nothing. It was time with no phones, no computers, no alarm clock, just soul rest. I was 15 again! I was without a care in the world except my thoughts and prayers to God.

Regarding cares, do you feel ruled by “the tyranny of the urgent?” If so, there is hope. And we can change together. Now, I’m not suggesting that anyone do what I do. You can find quiet and prayerful rest in your own home even with young children in the house. That is, you don’t need to go anywhere, but you must fight busyness in your life.

Now, how can we begin to deal with the frenetic pace of our lives? Consider your answers to these questions:

1. What does my life really look like?

2. Why am I so busy?

3. How do I set my priorities?

4. How can I learn to make decisions that reflect God’s wisdom?

5. What is my real mission in life?

6.  What place should quietness, rest, and personal retreat have in my life?

I am in the process of repenting and sorting through busyness in my life. My weeklong vacation led to me realizing that I must make better decisions with my time.

For now, may our Lord richly bless you as you seek Him instead of seeking that next urgent task. 

Highlights Of Turning The World Upside Down

Usually I don’t have the time to sit through an entire basketball game, that is why I love highlights. Since the eleven o’ clock KTVZ news airs Portland Trailblazer highlights, a guy can keep up with the team. Fortunately, sports news and the statistics of my favorite team matter little to the modern church. But the book of Acts matters very much. William Barclay states that “In one sense Acts is the most important book in the New Testament. It is the simple truth that if we did not possess Acts, we would have, apart from what we could deduce from the letters of Paul, no information whatever about the early church.” Moreover, Barclay reminds us that it is written in a way which “opens a series of windows and gives us vivid glimpses of the great moments and personalities . . .” Therefore, knowing Acts is vital. To that end, I’ve highlighted three principles from Acts. They are listed and explained below and in this statement. When we have the presence of God, when the word of God is proclaimed, and we baptize those who believe we are serving him faithfully. 

• God is constantly present with the church in power. From beginning to end Acts is a book about God and his people who are on his mission. He is the power and the strategy behind the function of the church and its growth.

• He is there to give his orders before the church began (Acts 1:3-1). He is there to cause people to repent and believe his gospel at the start of his church (Acts 2). 
• He is at Peter and John’s arrest and trial (Acts 4). 
• He is present and active in Annanias and Sapphira’s death (Acts 5:1-11). God refuses to be put to the test. 
• He is at Stephen’s trial and martyrdom. God strengthened Stephen and revealed himself to him (Acts 7). 
• He is undeniably presents himself to Saul, and calls Saul to himself for salvation and to be the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9).
• His presence and work was rather obvious in Caesarea, when the gospel was first preached among Gentiles (Acts 10:44-48, 11:15-18). 
• He is powerful among his preachers and the listeners as the gospel is proclaimed in Iconium. Many believed yet many did not believe. The city was divided over God’s truth, yet His power and presence were so obvious that Luke is careful to note that the apostles were relying upon God (Acts 14:1-4). Even when people do not believe, God is present.
• His power and direction prevented the missions team from preaching Jesus in Asia ( Acts 16:6). 
• His power and planning delivered a hardened man from his sin and delivered Paul and Silas from jail (Acts 18). 
• He was present with Paul and spoke to him, so that he would continue his Corinthian mission (Acts 18:9-11). The apostle stayed for one and a half years. God was with him. Many were saved and baptized. 

We could go further, but time and space will not permit. The second striking principle is how the word of God was frequently used in the ministries of the church, and was the content of most the sermons. 

• The word of God, the gospel is important. It has been said that the true test of a church is whether or not the Bible/gospel is preached and whether or not the ordinances are observed. Whoever said that got it right.  And since I don’t expect you to just take my word for it, take God’s. The sermons and speeches in Acts are packed with bible passages, that show the way of Christ. Also, often the sermons were followed with baptisms. 

• Peter’s first speech in Acts showed how Judas’ death was fulfillment of the Scripture, and then Peter quoted Psalm 69:25 and 109:8. 
• Peter’s famous Pentecost sermon employed numerous passages of Scripture (Acts 2:14-40). He quoted Joel 2:28-32; Psalm 16:8-11, 110:1 just to name a few. Right after his sermon those who believed were baptized and then they all continually devoted themselves to doctrine, fellowship, prayer, and communion (Acts 2:42). 
• The gospel from the Old Testament is rather obvious in Peter’s second sermon where he goes all the way back to Abraham, showing his connection to Jesus. Peter also teaches us that all of God’s prophets had announced that “Christ would suffer” and that “He has thus fulfilled” those prophecies (Acts 3:18-19). Of course, Peter also mentions the truth of the resurrection, showing Jesus’ resurrection tied into the book of Deuteronomy (Acts 3:21-22, cf. Deut 18:15). Peter preaches on, showing his listeners how God’s covenant with Abraham would ultimately bless all nations in Christ (Acts 3:25-26, cf. Gen 22:18). 
• As the first missionaries began their journey from Antioch it is extremely noteworthy how at every opportunity they speak out the gospel and the word of God. A quick search of the book of Acts for the ministry of the word turns up many verses. Here are some that I discovered in about five minutes: 

• Acts 4:31 includes a prayer for the apostles to boldly speak the word of God.
• Some passages that include the ministry of the word are: Acts 6:2, 4, 7; 8:4, 14, 25, 35; 10:36; 11:1, 14, 19; 12:24; 13:5, 7, 44, 46, 49; 14:3, 25; 15:7, 35, 36, 16:6, 32; 17:2, 11, 13; 18:5, 11, 24, 28; 19:10, 20. 

The citations here are not exhaustive, not even close. But one verse that stands out is the very last verse of Acts. It says “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered” (Acts 28:31). And now, it is up to us to carry on by preaching the kingdom and teaching the Lord Jesus Christ. 

• Baptism is a must. There are no shortages of baptisms in the book of Acts. Acts 8:12, “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.” Also, some other places where baptism occurs are Acts 8:13, 38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16.

Throughout vivid moments and great personalities God’s special revelation to us in Acts teaches us much. We are reminded that God always had a powerful presence with his people. His presence with believers is sure and constant. He is always with you. Secondly, we see that his people loved his word. Through it comes faith, and faith in Christ brings salvation to the world. Let us make the Bible a priority in life and in worship. Lastly, we see that his people were baptized. Thus, all who believe today must be baptized by the church. Since we are human, these things may become ritualistic and boring. Rather, when we remember where he is and how he wants us to serve him, we are set free from rituals and legalism. Since the only things that really matter in our faithfulness are the word and the ordinances (baptism and communion). 

Dear Christian, you have all you need to faithfully grow in Christ. His presence always with you. It is often more powerful when we are gathered. His word is at your side and in your heart. It is proclaimed and taught when the church is gathered. His water baptism was either given to you after your conversion, or it awaits you now. If we keep these highlights in mind as we serve Christ together, I believe we will do well. 

Reasons Why I Love the Church (And You Should Too)

Reason #1: Jesus loved the church. I sure am not Jesus, neither are you. But being called by him means we must actually be like him. His passion for his bride brought him to death. You and I ought to prize his beloved church above any program, ministry, school, or institution. 

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Eph 5:25-27). 

Reason #2: It began with the Apostles but it didn’t end with them. We long for connections beyond a current network of friends, family, and tradition. We want an ancient connection. One reason family genealogies are so popular is because most people long for roots. Christians have deep roots, our history began in chapter one of Acts and continues on through 28 chapters of Acts and right up to today. There are no new questions, nor are there new answers. We look to an ancient book (the Bible) for answers. And if we are still curious, there is nearly 2,000 years of historical theology to help us learn how the church taught the Scriptures in years past. 

Mike Horton says that “The church was born in doctrinal debate. It fought its way to dominance through centuries of arguments over doctrinal detail. The Reformation was a controversy between two different gospels.” Today marks a terrific vantage point for the church. There is no reason for heresy; it has all been worked out in history. For starters, we believe the Bible is a genuine book that came from God. The church has taught this since its inception nearly 2,000 years ago. Who are we to think that the Apostles got it wrong? 

Reason #3: The church is full of people who can help. I long to learn more, to be better equipped to serve Christ. I want genuine answers to my questions about God, and I want to mature in Christ with other Christ-followers. And I hope you do as well. If so, there is good news, the church exists to build you up. 

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:11-13). 

Reason #4: The church is commanded by its God to love everyone. Of all the groups of people in the world your local church ought to be the safest and most caring environment around. God’s people are not only called to weep with those who weep but to love one another unconditionally. God calls the church to love those that no one else will love. And to do so with no strings attached. We love because our Lord is glorified when we do so, and we want to show the world his love.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom 12:10-11). 

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8). 

Are you convinced? I hope so. Let’s remember that the church is not a building, a program, or a denomination. We are not scary either. We are God’s people, whom Christ has redeemed and prized as his own. If you don’t love it already, start cultivating a love for the family of God, you can begin with the few reasons I stated above. You can find plenty more in your bible or by discovering a local church on your own. Christianity is not for Lone Ranger types, we all must to belong to the family of God, via a local church. 

Loving Enemies

To love people who hate you seems impossible. Of the commands that Jesus issued in his sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) loving one’s enemies is one of the most difficult to follow (5:43-48). For Jesus, it isn’t enough that we simply stop hating, lusting, divorcing, and lying (5:21-42). To stop isn’t enough because we must replace disobedience with obedience, namely love. Love should displace hate, lust, divorce, and dishonesty. However, even the most loving people think it is acceptable to hate your enemies. For instance, I grew up during the last years of the cold war and I still don’t like Russia. Not many Americans do. But is it possible for a Christian to truly love his or her enemies? Can we love those who not only pose a potential threat (like the U.S.S.R. during the cold war) but even those who have harmed us the most? To be sure, the answer is not found within the strength of the flesh, or a niche of human wisdom, but it is within God himself. And God is leading his followers to love everyone, thus we must begin doing it. 

In his epistle to Rome, Paul sought to guide the church the same way Jesus did. He commands them to do things that are impossible. Notice how Paul instructs us:

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).

Now, each one of us has lost it at one point or another with another person who did us wrong. Let us remember that evil expressed toward someone can be ever so slight, it may be in a look, or a tone of voice. But no matter what it is, or who it is, we do not posses the right to retaliate. That is to say, we must esteem other people higher than we do ourselves. We treat them as good or better than we would want to be treated. This promotes peace, even among enemies. This is rare, otherworldly, and seemingly impossible, but is it? When someone understands the love of God given in Jesus Christ and is changed by it, should not their life be full of his goodness and love? John Stott, in his comments on Romans 12:17-21, puts it this way.

When we are moved by the mercies of God, and when our minds have been renewed to grasp his will, all our relationships become transformed. Not only do we offer our bodies to God (1-2), and develop a sober self-image (3-8), and love one another in the Christian community (9-16), but now also we serve our enemies (17-21). These have already appeared in the guise of our persecutors (14) and are about to reappear as evildoers (17). In fact, the last five verses of Romans 12 handle the question how Christians should respond to evildoers. 

Back to Jesus’ sermon. There he states that we (his followers) are the light of the world (Matt 5:14). The world is dark, sinful, and filled with hatred. But Christians are light. And because they abide in he who is love, they do good to others. They love everyone. Love and hate are like light and darkness. The one displaces the other. Also, to love an enemy is to do something that only God himself can do. Doing good, even to our enemies is what happens when  we “are moved by the mercies of God, and when our minds have been renewed to grasp his will” (Stott). To be sure, evil does not overcome evil and it never overcomes good. But good always overcomes evil; God is good. 

Therefore, God wants you to never retaliate, but to leave room for his judgment upon those who have harmed you. God wants you to feed your enemies, and to give them something to drink. Because when you do these things, you are validating that the goodness that you are giving is directly from him. Since he is the only one who can do it. Only God can love his enemies and often times he does so through you and me. This love which begins in him comes into us and, through us to the world, telling them that we indeed are his children. 

What The Trailblazers Taught Me

Basketball is my favorite sport and the Trailblazers are my favorite team. I was one year old when my family took me to the parade where they were celebrated as the new NBA champions in 1977.  Later, as I matured into a nine year old I began playing intramural basketball. By this time I knew some of the basic rules, like free throws, but I hadn’t yet grasped the concept of being a team player. During one of our games we were running a man-to-man defense. However, I was trying to defend any man who had the ball. The coach called me aside and explained that each player was to defend one guy (for the most part), thus I needed to stick with one guy, defend only him, and allow my teammates to defend their guys too.

Basketball is a team sport. Within that team there are various positions that each player plays. Every player does not have the same function, they work together and bring their own strengths or gifts to the game. This is basic; you know this. But do you know that the church needs team players too? Just as I could not defend every player, not one member is to do more than his or her share within the church. Each person’s share is to be done according to gifting, and may vary according to calling and time. Furthermore, another trailblazer (Paul) teaches us that “all the members do not have the same function” (Romans 12:4). If everyone had the function of preaching then we would not be able to do much in the way of serving. If everyone’s function was only to serve then the Word of God and baptism may be left behind. Within the church, God gives a variety of gifts so that when functioning properly the members work harmoniously unto the glory of God.

Several of the gifts given to the church appear in Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. Read the passage below and notice the details that he provides:

                       

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God,  [which is] your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, [each of us is to exercise them accordingly]: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Romans 12:1-8).

By gazing at verses one and two it is obvious that Paul’s instruction to the Roman believers is that they pursue actual Christlikeness. Then the rest of the passage teaches us what this new Christlike community (i.e. the church) should look like. These marks, as it were, are the things that we do, the thoughts that we think, and the gifts that we posses.

We who make up the church consist of many members and various gifts that differ according to God’s grace toward each one (12:6). We are to exercise our gift(s) according to our faith. This faith isn’t saving faith, but the faith that the Spirit has given us so that we would be good stewards of our gift within this local body called Prineville Community Church. Now, the gifts are many but limited, these are the ones listed in Romans 12:7-8:

Prophecy-the ability to clearly understand and proclaim Scripture with conviction, to preach.

Service-the ability to help or assist by performing certain duties, often with humility.

Teaching-the ability to understand the Bible and present it clearly, similar to prophecy (or preaching) but less emotive and spontaneous.

Exhorting-the ability to lift up and encourage someone’s heart.

Giving-the ability to give of one’s money and items freely and sacrificially.

Leading-the ability to guide others.

Mercy-the ability to show sensitivity and sympathy toward those who are hurting and suffering.

Now, you are probably expecting me to ask you to try to figure out your own gift. Well, I’m not; and I probably won’t anytime soon. Paul’s point in listing out these gifts wasn’t necessarily for us to pick one out and decide that it’s ours but to encourage us to be team players. To respect the diversity of gifts. If you are a believer, then you have a gift. And if you are part of a local church then you are using your gift. It just happens according to God’s design and our faith.

But I find it interesting that before Paul delves into gifts he speaks of humility and unity in the church (Romans 12:3-5). Then, after listing several examples of the various gifts, Paul instructs us to bless our persecutors and to “be of the same mind toward one another” (Rom 12:16). Could it be that the Bible lists the gifts given by the Spirit and instructs us to exercise them properly to give us a glimpse into what God is doing with the members who make up the church? I think so. Paul assumes that the members are employing their gifts. But he isn’t assuming that they do so with humility. He knows that certain people in the church like to hog all the ministry. On the other hand, he understands that some in the church think that they are immune from doing much of anything, expecting the energetic ones to do it all. When we understand Romans 12, we understand that the church is a team. Not all have the same role. We work together to advance His kingdom unto the glory of God. To do this, all of us need someone who will listen and cry with us as we deal with the pain that life chucks into our faces. To do this, we all need someone to give to us (money or otherwise) when we are facing a time of need. To do this, we all need someone, like Paul needed Barnabus, to stand up for us and excite us about life and serving Christ once again.

Are you thankful for this church? Are you thankful to God for this church? With little amusement, I’ve listened to a few one man bands. Not one of them was as good as a three piece band. The Central Oregon Symphony is amazing and so were those 1977 Portland Trailblazers because each team member had their own gift and they played with all their heart. Let’s be team players. We’ll amaze our neighbors and bring glory to our heavenly Father. 

The Genealogy Of A King

Most readers of the Bible find genealogies to be rather dull and flat reading. The first one appears in Genesis 5, the second in Genesis 10. It may be true that many who begin to read the Bible fall asleep in either Genesis 5, or Genesis 10, and lose interest. But genealogies are like family trees and your family tree should not be not boring. It is exciting to put the pieces of family history together. One uncle in my family tree invented the ripcord parachute. This was one piece of history that our Nana enjoyed keeping alive. Here is the wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Floyd_Smith. That’s our uncle Floyd. Similar to our family trees are the genealogies we find in Scripture; they give family lineage and in so doing tell a family history. King David is in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus, which tells us that Jesus Christ is King. 

Revealing Jesus Christ as King is part of Matthew’s theme. One way to discover the theme of a book of the Bible is to study the tip and the tail. That is, the first verses or chapters of the book and the last. But don’t just read it. Look it over closely and highlight any similarities. Be sure to mark down any repeated words, phrases, or ideas. For instance, in verse one of Matthew it says, “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”  Verse one is part of the tip. And then we look at the tail. Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’” Now, do you notice anything similar in Matt 1:1 and in 28:18? (Are there similarities that would make you think “king”?) 

Lets look at it from another angle. Who is Jesus? Or, who does Matthew describe Jesus as in the tip and in the tail of his gospel? In verse one Matthew’s Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David, and the son of Abraham. Then in 28:18 Matthew’s Jesus is One who has been given “all authority,” that is, Jesus Christ has total rule. His authority is over all of heaven and all of earth. 

Thus, we ask again; what word, phrase, or idea in verse 1 is repeated in 28:18? What about royalty or rule? To be sure, in those days kings had authority, unlike the current British royalty. In my humble opinion, British royalty exists to look pretty, and to exude national honor among the English. Further, it gives Americans a laugh. But the ancient kings of the Near East were much different (not to be snickered at); they exuded total authority over their domain. Furthermore, many demanded to be worshipped.  

Regarding kingship, several weeks ago (on Easter Sunday) we looked at Matthew chapter 28. It teaches that Jesus was raised from the dead. Now, Matthew doesn’t just hint at kingship, he envelopes his book about Jesus in it. We see it in the first verse of Matthew. Then he begins his narrative of who Christ is by stating that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David (v. 1). “Messiah” is an interesting term, the NASB decided to translate the Greek word “Christos” by transliterating a word from the Hebrew Bible into English, which was smart. That is to say, “Christos” is Greek for “Messiah.” Both words mean “anointed one.” But the fact that they borrowed a word from Hebrew to put in Matt 1:1 aids the reader in understanding just exactly who Jesus Christ is. He is Messiah. But how do we define “Messiah”? Well, we look it up. One source states, “While it may designate an office such as the high priest (Lev 4:3), . . . [Messiah] is almost exclusively reserved as a synonym for “king.”1

 Thus, Matthew 1:1 portrays Jesus as King. Furthermore, the inclusion of the phrase “Son of David” is reminiscent of Nathan’s prophecy of an eternal king. He spoke these words to David: 

2Sam. 7:12  “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 

2Sam. 7:13  “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 

2Sam. 7:14  “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 

2Sam. 7:15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took [it] away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 

2Sam. 7:16  “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 

Jesus Christ is the eternal Ruler over all things in heaven and earth. Though it will not be fully realized until Christ returns, this is a truth that Matthew is not shy about. He is not just dropping hints at Jesus’ worldwide authority, but with the genealogy he shows specifically how Jesus came through David’s line. In America our family trees exist to give us information of interest about our past, not necessarily to determine who we are. If so, I’d be jumping from airplanes. But what if I told you that I had 15 kings in my family tree? I do have British royal blood from my paternal grandmother, which amounts to nothing. But the point is that if one has much royalty in their family tree, it must be a big deal, big enough to mean that one is royal. Therefore, we ask, once again, who is Jesus? So far we’ve learned that in many places and with many words Matthew indicates that Jesus is King. But one of his greatest proofs is found right in his genealogy, a place most of us don’t want to read. However, genealogies are amazing, and Jesus’ genealogy is loaded with kings. What if I told you that His genealogy had 15 kings in it? Well, it does. Matthew includes a lineup of 15 kings (Read Matthew 1:6-11 to see the list). This links Jesus Christ to King David. And remember, in the Hebrew Bible kings father kings. 

In ancient times kings wanted their fame spread abroad. The same is true of Jesus Christ, our King. When He rose from the dead He proclaimed that He was the King over all the earth. Then He commanded his followers to go and to make more followers of Him. To help all people in the world realize that there is only one King. His name is Jesus Christ, and He is the only One who gives life eternal. Let us work together to make Him famous by boldly proclaiming the King’s  name so as to make more followers. 

¹ Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody, 1980), ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason Archer and Bruce K. Waltke, Accordance, Vers. 10.1.5, Oak Tree Software, 2013. 

Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow

In my 5th grade classroom, above the chalkboard, on the right side, Mr. Dale had hung a poster. It said, “You are what you eat.” Below this saying there were pictures of various foods, the only one I remember was a chicken drumstick that had a human face. Not supposing that anyone would actually turn into a drumstick, I thought the poster was funny and didn’t take it seriously. Now, suppose I said, “You are what you believe.” How would you respond? If I turned the saying into a funny poster with pictures of famous religious and non-religious thinkers would it make you wonder? 

Truth be told, we are what we believe and we do what we believe. An atheist does not worship anything but himself (likely not confessionally) since he or she would argue there is no God, no Mover, no Creator, no universal Sovereign. Now, take the various viewpoints that are commonly taught in places called sanctuaries or worship centers and sold in places called Christian book stores. Some would like us to believe that God’s purpose for our life is comfort, happiness and a lot of money. To be sure, this fits nicely with the American dream of prosperity, blanketed with a doctrine of positive thinking, Joel Osteen style. 

Unfortunately, this belief crumbles. In the real world people really work, get really sick, and they really die in poverty; no matter how positive their thoughts were. Thus, if one believes that God’s chief end is to make people happy and comfortable, then when those vaporous dreams vanish so does the praise. That faith is dashed to pieces, perhaps into agnosticism, since it is not grounded in good teaching or theology. 

Theology is of utmost importance, and good theology even more. Whom we believe God to be and what we believe God has done is our center. This is where we live, pray, respond, praise, think, play, worship, and love. Take praise. What would a person’s praise look like if he or she believed God to be stingy, not willing to offer blessings to His children? Furthermore, adding to His (supposed) stinginess, what if He were big, but not big enough, powerful, but not powerful enough, or smart, but not smart enough? Sadly, Christians often act as if God really is all these things, despite whatever they may say about Him. To some, God isn’t sufficient to give them what they want or He does not really exist at all. And this belief will be reflected in their praise.

Such anemic praise is going to be half-hearted, perhaps a quarter-hearted fake-a-thon. It was like the time when your Mom made you put on a shirt you despised, but because it was a gift from your favorite Aunt you had to wear it whenever she came over. You were ungrateful for the shirt because you didn’t much like it, but you slowly pulled it out of the dresser and put it on. The shirt wasn’t something you wanted; it didn’t connect with your perceived wants; it wasn’t cool. And your gratitude to your Aunt was heartless performance instead of passionate praise.

And so it is with our praise to God. Hollow, stiff-necked, meager, or burned-out praise tells God who you think He is and what you think of His blessings/gifts. He and His blessings are not worthy of much praise from this perception. But genuine, joy-filled and earnest praise can only come from a mind that truly knows Him. That is, when you who genuinely lift up your soul to God in private and public praise, thanking Him and praising Him with every fiber of your being, you show God that you get it. You know your God, His attributes, and His blessings. You are a true worshipper. 

Now, I don’t think any of us are always true worshippers. I don’t wake up with a smile on my face everyday, ready to praise God. It can be pretty ugly until my first coffee. That is why I need to hear Scripture, to be around other believers, and to fellowship. I need good Bible time, good Bible preaching to motivate my heart to praise. I need to be reminded of how to believe in God, of who He is, and what He has done for me in His Son. 

Oftentimes, toward the end of our worship service we sing a song called The Doxology. It goes, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye, heav’n-ly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. A-men.” Lately, we’ve asked something before we sing it. “Have you anything that causes you to praise God?” To answer this, to really praise Him, we must be mindful, dear Christian, of something true about our God; a belief. To borrow from Spurgeon’s little catechism he says this of God’s creation of man: “God created man male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.” And when one believes that they are created in God’s image, suddenly there is good reason to shout out praise to the living God. 

Take for example another hymn called What Wondrous Love is This, which says we are to worship God because of what we believe about His love. Since we are so awestruck by Him, and His love we never stop singing of it: “And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on [. . .] and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on.” The heart and mind that believes the truth about God never stops singing of Him and to Him.

Dearest reader, you are what you believe. Last Sunday we saw Stephen who, despite his life being poured out for Christ because he knew Him, saw His glory. Christ’s glory was his center. What is at your center? Certainly, there are hollow, worldly beliefs about God and yourself all around us; I’ve got those too. But are you willing to exchange your thoughts about yourself and God for the Bible’s? When you and I begin to do that we will be able to truly sing doxology to our matchless King. 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come (Ephesians 1:18-21).

On Resurrection

The resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a vital doctrine of the Bible. It appears frequently in Acts. In chapter 2, Peter’s Pentecost sermon magnifies Christ’s resurrection. He proclaims, “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:24). In verses 25-28 he quotes David’s vision of the resurrection from Psalm 16, specifically, “You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay” (2:27). Accompanying this quote is Peter’s comment, 

he [David] looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear (Acts 2:31-33). 

Peter points out that David did indeed foresee Christ’s resurrection. Also, that he and the other Apostles witnessed this miracle, which is now their good news that they will proclaim in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and throughout the world. But where did resurrection truth begin? 

Could it be possible that this resurrection overflow began before Peter’s sermon? Yes, Acts chapter one indicates that Jesus is alive. Verse two reads, “until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.” Jesus’ instructions to the 12 and His ascension infer His resurrection. That is, only living people instruct others and go places. Furthermore, in an obvious way the text gives us more resurrection proof: “To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3-5). These forty days are important. By witnessing the life, death and resurrection of Christ the men were qualified to be His witnesses. “Thus of the men who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with us, beginning from his baptism by John until the day he was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness of this resurrection together with us” (Acts 1:22).

Now the resurrection did not originate in Acts. In Luke’s gospel, he provides more post-resurrection narrative. Take note of the risen Jesus in this passage, “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” (24:39). To be sure, He plainly states, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day (v 46). 

Therefore, one can conclude that the words of Christ and the book of Acts contribute to resurrection truth. Now, regarding Acts, this little paper has barely cited its employment of Christ’s resurrection. In Acts we not only see resurrection in Peter’s Pentecost sermon but also in his others. His witness to Christ’s resurrection appears in 3:13, 15, 4:2, 10, 33, 5:30 and 10:34-42. In 5:20 the resurrection is seen in the angel’s command to the 12 when he releases them to proclaim “all the words of this life.” The resurrection is inferred by Stephen’s words. As he says his last, he has a vision of the living Christ (7:55-56) then he breathes his last as a prayer to Christ (v 59). Stephen, a deacon and the first martyr, witnessed the living Lord. But the resurrection overflow does not stop there. Paul’s conversion experience with the living Jesus (9:5, 27) and His message point it out too. 

And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead; and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm,  ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’ As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way:  ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and SURE blessings OF DAVID.’ Therefore He also says in another Psalm,  ‘YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.’ (Acts 13:28-35). 

Then, when Paul was before King Agrippa he says much of the resurrection, here is a snippet: “So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:23-24). This important teaching that began to be revealed with Moses and the prophets is carried on by Jesus and then carried on further by the Apostles. Thus, it is no surprise that Paul traces Jesus’ resurrection back to the Old Testament. Resurrection has always been on the mind of God. 

It is obvious how important resurrection is in Scripture but where do you and I fit in? What are we to do with this amazing truth? First, we should not water it down to make it more believable to the world. Jesus did rise from the dead, which is a hard truth for many to believe but it was hard to believe for the world in the 1^st century too. We trust that God will open hearts. Second, we must shout this glorious truth from the highest mountains. The Acts of the Holy Spirit did not stop in the 1^st century, He still saves people but the gospel must be communicated to them. They must believe in the resurrection of Christ to be saved. “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). 

The resurrection is the heart of Christianity. If Christ did not rise, there is no good news to proclaim, no power, no life for us, no church, and no Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God that Christ is risen! As we approach Easter, may this amazing truth empower you and transform you to be who God wants you to be. I pray that this little paper about the resurrection will give you cause to tell others about our risen Lord. 

Personal Bible Reading for 2013

For as long as I can remember there were Christians around me who began a bible reading schedule at the beginning of each year. I am one such Christian. It is a good and godly habit and one that can produce good fruit in a person's life. However, one must delight and meditate in the scripture. Psalm 1 eloquently brings us to this truth with its portrait of the godly person and the fruitful tree. 

Ps 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 

Ps 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 

Ps 1:3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 

Ps 1:4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 

Ps 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 

Ps 1:6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish. 

The word "meditates" is striking, meaning "to read in an undertone." Implying that as this one is reading the text he is speaking it quietly to himself. This reader is intentional, trying to pick up everything he or she can from the Bible. 

Another striking word is "delight." That is, the godly man gets joy from obeying the word of God.This reminds me of the way I delight in my wife's chicken enchiladas. When I hear those two golden words I fill up with joy and it intensifies as I eat them. However, I admit, I have not always delighted in knowing/living scripture nor in her chicken enchiladas. This love is learned. This love is progressive and living, it can grow strong or be choked out by other appetites. 

If the love is not choked out, it continues “day and night” (v 2) and the results are quite noticeable. Verse 3 gives us the picture of a flourishing tree. One that is securely planted near a constant flowing necessity for life, water. This tree is alive and flourishing, you might say a typical fruit tree. A tree that produces a specific fruit, thus making it valuable to its owner. A tree that doesn't produce all fruit all the time. But it does have the fruit it is designed to produce, according to its season. Further, this grand tree does not wane, its leaves remain green and lush and able. 

Dear reader, are you like this tree? If not, do you actually love God's Word? Does it cause joy to fill your soul? Do you want to read it intentionally to live out its words? Perhaps, you need to learn to love the Bible. One develops a love for the Bible no different than any other book, just read it. You'll find yourself reading it over and again, going back to passages and verses you marked. 

Of chief importance is that you delight and meditate in the word of God. Unfortunately, it is easy to take too much too quickly and forget to really meditate on it and let it change you. I've talked to many people whom I've encouraged to read it through in one year who indicated that they had read it but did not understand it. Thus, I highly suggest doing two things. First, get a good copy of the Bible. Get one that you admire, the text should be printed to suit you and in a version that is easy for you to read. There are many good ones available, the NASB, NET, NIV, ESV are some excellent choices for English readers. Second, get a plan. You do not have to read through the Bible in one year or two years. Clearly, Psalm 1 indicates two actions, that are vital. We must delight in the scripture and we must meditate in the scripture. For beginners these two are especially important. 

Now regarding your plan, there are numerous reading plans available. If you want a good one for reading it through in one year, I like the Discipleship Journal’s plan, it is free, click here. Also, take a look at Brandon Jones' recent post at his blog, he offers a 3 step plan that is very good, click here to read it. And lastly, for what it is worth, one of the greatest years of bible reading that I had was in 2004. My daily reading was focused primarily on the book of Ephesians and I found something new for my delight and meditation very often. Start small. Aim to read daily. Let it change your soul. 

• For "meditates" (Ps 1:2) the following lexicon is cited above,  Ludwig Koehler, Walter Baumgartner, The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (Accordance 10.1.2, 2012). 
• On "delight" (Ps 1:2) the nuance of  "obeying the word" is paraphrased from The NET Bible, Psalm 1:2, fn # 10 (Accordance 10.1.2, 2012).