LOVE | ACCEPT | FORGIVE – Page 25 – Revival in Christ's Church

Anticipat..

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

As Paul expresses in this effusive prayer springing up out of nowhere in his letter to the Thessalonians, may love abound. Our celebration of Christmas differs from the secular day of red and green. We celebrate the greatest love, that of the Father giving us His Son out of his mercy. Pray that this same love for others causes you to burst into prayer midday for the lost that surround us. Pray that our hearts might be so attuned to the broken heart of God that we seek holiness for those that He seeks holiness from.

image lel4nd

Antici..

        “ ‘In those days and at that time
         I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
         he will do what is just and right in the land.
        In those days Judah will be saved
         and Jerusalem will live in safety.
         This is the name by which it will be called:
         The LORD Our Righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 33:15-16)

Be the bearers of that righteousness in the world until the Lord returns. Judgment is not ours, but the call and ability to bring justice to the suffering is. Extend a hand, be the gospel message.

image coffeeaddict_nl

Anti..

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6)

Our celebration this week will include in most cases the exchange of gifts. Step back. Don’t look upon this as a chore or expectation. Ask yourself if you are giving out of love. Put yourself into the exchange just as your salvation is given with the mercy and love of the Lord.

image Mrs. Magic

Radical–David Platt

Uncomfortable.

It’s been a few days since I turned the last page of Platt’s Radical and I’m still unable to identify the source of my discomfort. The book is wildly successful by any measure. It racks up sales and plaudits in equal measure and yet, I find myself in disagreement with the majority opinion as to the quality of this volume.

The message, convoluted and scattered as it is, is sound. The sub-titled idea of separating Christian faith from the materialism of American life threads its way throughout the chapters. The cost of following Jesus (cf. Luke 9:57-62) has largely been lost in the program-laden and comfortable church of today and Platt attempts to steer the reader’s thinking to the spiritual benefits of sacrifice in the service of His Lordship.

Living sacrificially, in terms of our time, treasure and talents, is encouraged by Pastor Platt through equal parts illustration and Scriptural authority. The Spirit will nudge you as you contrast your church home and life with those in the majority world who may, the very next day, give of their life in order to remain faithful to the Lord. You will begin to see many areas of your life in which material blessings have become a millstone around your neck that impedes the full expression of your faith.

The discomfort in reading the book for me came in terms of the author himself. The chapters are filled with Platt’s globe-trotting, suspense-filled-secret church meetings and philosophical musings while sitting in the Sudanese desert. Does all of this travel come for free? Did the fistful of degrees earned in his short life come without tuition, books and board? The reader cannot help but contrast the author and the message he wants to deliver and find them incongruent.

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422217

Multnomah graciously provided this copy for review.

An..

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:7-9)

The final rushing days of anticipation are near, our day of celebration close at hand! Temptation calls its siren song to push things along in our own power. Forget about patience! Take what is rightfully yours, instead of waiting patiently on the timing of the Lord to reward your perseverance.

Stand firm and persevere through circumstance confident in the promised return.

image Mikko Luntiala

Faithfulness Despite Appearances–Fourth Sunday in Advent 2010

Our Advent meditations have to do with an event that none of us were present for. The life and death of our Lord passed before our era and, despite numerous predictions, His return has yet to come. Our entire system of faith is rooted in the apologia that supplements our intellect and the discernment provided by the indwelling Spirit who tells us that we can trust in the words recorded long ago. Every Christian since that day at Golgotha has had to trust the beliefs passed from one to another through the centuries. We trust in the work of Christ by faith alone.

Every Christian since that Friday afternoon has lived in a world of chaos. The dimensions of this chaotic environment have varied from era to era and person to person. Many have looked upon the severity of their trials or the universality of evil and pointed to these as proof that God does not exist. Many of us might be tempted to believe them when we see the horrors that man visits upon man or in the death and loss caused by natural events. Disease surrounds us, getting stronger in some cases. Limited resources threaten the existence of many. Pregnant women are run down and left for dead in the intersections of our cities. Evil abounds.

Joseph looked upon his pregnant fiancée tempted to act on appearances. His scriptures provided a way out for him and he loved Mary enough that he planned to divorce her quietly. By all appearances, her story was incredible–almost unbelievable–and yet, at the prompting of an angel, he remains faithful. He trusts the word of God provided for him, despite outward appearances.

There is subtle encouragement in the angels words to Joseph, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife” (Mt 1:20). God does not command him to stay with Mary. Instead, the angel tells him not to be afraid, that despite what things may seem to be all will turn out well. These words echo for us as well.

This Christmas may not be the best time in your life. You and your family may be facing difficulties. It may be the first holiday without a family member at home. Your faith may be being tested to the very limits of your endurance. Despite appearances, there is reason to celebrate. Christians, you know the end of the story. You know that God has proven faithful to his promises time after time through history and He will continue to be faithful until the end of this history. Trust Him, do not be afraid. Celebrate your Savior.

Grace and peace to you.

image by VickyV

Building Fires Rather Than Boats – Uncle Sam’s Plantation

When the Emancipation Proclamation effectively put an end to slavery in 1863, few could anticipate that only one hundred years later, the government of the United States would be responsible for enslaving millions of people all over again. Star Parker’s updated edition of Uncle Sam’s Plantation pulls back the shell of the destroyed generations of Americans who have been pulled into the entitlement culture and made dependent upon the government for their existence. It is a pitiful existence without values, responsibility and most egregiously, hope.

Miss Parker knows of what she writes, as a one-time member of the dependent culture. She describes an early life in which she was inculcated by the mantra that she was ‘owed’ something by others due to the color of her skin. Star was immersed in a culture which valued what you can get right now ( high, sexually satisfied, money from burglary) over what could be earned by responsibility tomorrow. The effects of these attitudes on generation after generation have led to the tragic destruction she sees within her racial community, and in the widespread attitudes of many of the dependent class.

“Like a castaway who uses all of the wood on an island for fires before making a boat” is a paraphrase of Miss Parker’s analysis of the short-sightedness of the government programs that purport to aid the poor. First, there is little consideration for the unintended consequences that ‘fixes’ generate. Rent control, for example, may help a renter by initially making housing affordable. The owner of the building though has little incentive to upgrade the facility or even keep it in good repair since the return on his investment will be negligible. Second, the values-free nature of government solutions ensures that this damaging attitude will infect those who participate in them. Staying in the housing discussion, why is government housing so bad? Because none of the tenants has an ownership stake in the building, none of them cares how it is taken care of.

This book is bracing and it can be a disheartening read. Some will read the accounts she includes and say, “see, I told you that is why those people act that way!” This is a response out of ignorance. Reading these pages should make you angry and broken-hearted. Though Parker offers no solutions, there is a clear message that reform comes through a realization of self-worth, one that she received along with the Spirit. The problems may seem massive and nearly hopeless, but see if there isn’t one life that you can affect by teaching, mentoring or some other one on one activity.

This book was graciously provided by Thomas Nelson publishers.

Magnificat–Third Sunday in Advent 2010

Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

The Physician alone records this effusive greeting (Luke 1:45) from Elizabeth to Mary. The Virgin has accepted reality of her calling and has the first encounter of its outworking in the effect that the Divine child in her womb has on His brother in Elizabeth. As the Spirit moves, Mary is overcome and speaks these words,

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.” (1:46-49)

As your celebration of the Lord’s birth comes one week closer, it is an excellent time for you to reflect on your life and compose your own Magnificat. Despite the fact that struggle and persecution and trouble may be your companions this year, God is mindful of the state of His servant. Whether you are enjoying providence or lack, Jesus knows where you walk and He is mindful of your limp. Good or bad, rich or poor, in sickness or in health, God knows our lives and has them well under control despite what we may see immediately in front of us. For this alone, the Spirit within raises praise in our hearts and minds. We can take this opportunity to be as effusive as Elizabeth, as expressive as Mary. Let your Magnificat glorify the Lord so that others may see the blessings in your life.

Grace and peace and joy to you.

image storebukkebruse

Baptizo–The Word Study

I’m going to initiate the series of posts regarding the Church’s baptismal beliefs and application with a word study. As many of you already know, we engage in a word study to discover the meaning ( or range of meanings ) of a specific word in its native language, and then to compare it to our understanding of its equivalent in our modern tongue. Our objective in study is to gain a deeper understanding of the Scriptures in order to assess our application of the Word to life. In the case of baptism, we are blessed by the fact that the meaning of the word is not in dispute and the English cognate verb carries the same meaning as the Greek verb.

Βαπτιζω [ transliteration = baptízō ]

Baptízō is a derivation of the word Báptō [βαπτω], both of which start from the stem bap-, meaning ‘dip’. The New Testament use of báptō is in the literal form only, that of dipping an object into another substance:

Luke 16:24 … ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue…’

John 13:26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”

In the same sense, the word is also used to describe the action involved in dying a piece of fabric. This usage is found in Revelation:

Rev 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

Baptízō is used in its familiar sense in the NT. When the word is encountered it is clear in its meaning as the act of ceremonially washing for the purpose of spiritual purification. The book of Acts provides a summary example:

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”

The word carries a further connotation as the cause of a religious experience:

Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Mark 10:38 “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

No sources dispute the meaning of the term, so why do a word study? The doctrine of baptism raises three main questions, the meaning of the act, the proper method of baptizing and who should be baptized. We will discuss sprinkling versus immersion in later posts, but much of the discussion will surround the root meanings of the word that describes the practice. Examining these topics cause us to dig into the definitions, semantic domain and usage of the words in order to arrive at a God honoring conclusion.

Grace and peace to you.

Hope–Second Sunday of Advent 2010

One of the great reminders that our observance of Advent brings, is that we have not been left alone to patiently endure until the Lord returns for us. As Paul wrote in the verse that precedes the passage above, every word of the Scriptures was written that we may be encouraged and have hope. Perusing those scriptures we find that we not only have hope from these words, we are surrounded with like hope in our family, community and church. We are both recipients and providers of this hope, from and to other Christians. Together, we look to the flame that edges closer to His coming with each week and together, we await his second arrival.

Paul uses the scriptures to remind the reader of a promise from years past that applied to them in that day, and which remains applicable to us in our hour:

“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in Him.” (15:12).

Jesus, the ‘Son of David’ is that root. He is the source and center of our hope. His life provides the model for our endurance and servanthood to others. Others within the church know the source of our hope. Our calling is to take that hope outside of the church and into the world, living lives that exude such joy and assurance that it sparks the spirit in others to seek out the fount of promise.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (v13)

Grace, peace and hope to you.

image Per Ola Wilberg