You are the Christ!

Earlier this week on one of the cable TV religious programs, the host was interviewing a man who stated he had given up on churches. He recounted several instances where his family had selected a church home and attempted to become involved, only to suffer through various problems that caused them to leave.  His concluding statement was something like this, "We are giving up on churches. We want to follow Jesus Christ and his teachings, but we don't want anything to do with the church."

There are two basic points which need to be considered here.  1) There are no perfect churches because churches are made up of imperfect humans.  If I were to find the perfect church, and join it, it would immediately become an imperfect church because I am not perfect.  2) It is impossible to separate Jesus from his church. 

If we really consider the first point, we will admit to its truth. If we have trouble believing the second point, there are some scriptures we need to consider. 

Matthew 16:13-18  When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ,  the Son of the living God.”
 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter,  and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

It is on the basis of Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, that Jesus promises to build his church. That confession of the deity of Jesus serves as the foundation for the church of our Lord. 

That is the reason we say Jesus and his church are inseparable.  If we belong to Christ, we belong to his church. He is the foundation on which the church is built. 

There are lots of species of trees that grow tall but appear to be just sitting on the ground. We know those trees can face the strength of wind storms without falling because their roots are deep and strong. I always questioned the construction of sky scrapers because the construction workers always started by digging a huge hole in the ground. I later understood this was going to be the strength of the building with a foundation deep enough and strong enough to support the entire structure.  Just so, Jesus, the foundation of the church, proves to be its strength. 

 

We often sing, "On Christ the solid rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand." May we recognize our error when we try to separate Christ from his church. Build your life on him as your foundation and share in the community of believers which comprise his church. 

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Remember the PWA?

Do you remember that Sunday sermon when Max Lucado confessed to being a recovering member of PWA (Prayer Wimps Anonymous?) The crowd chuckled, and as the laughter died down, you could see it on every face. It was as if the entire crowd wanted to admit....."So Am I!"

The Christian discipline of prayer has been talked about, written about, studied, memorized, and even prayed about, and for the most part, we Christians don't get it.  Prayer is mentioned in the writings of those chosen to be led by the Spirit to write scripture. It is apparent from the New Testament writers that prayer was a vital part of the Christian's existence. They got that idea from Jesus himself who not only taught his disciples to pray, but also spent time in prayer himself. 

We have had several articles in the past on the subject, we've heard sermons on it, we have even marveled at some of our Christian brothers and sisters at how much their prayer life means to them.  Yet when we are honest about it, we join Max in the PWA.   I must tell you Max was quick to point out he was a recovering member of the "tongue-in-cheek" group, so join me in saying the same thing. It's a sign that we do not wish to be a prayer wimp forever, so we can join those determined that we are going to learn more about prayer, and utilize the power of prayer in our lives. 

Another thought crossed my mind when I was thinking about prayer. In the entire scheme of things from creation to the return of Jesus, God desires his people to communicate with him.  It is a simple task for our hearts and minds to become focused on conversation with the God of the universe.  He has established in scripture that we are much more important and valuable than the birds that fly, and yet he knows every detail about every one of them. He clothes the lilies of the field and knows everything about each one so it stands to reason if he considers us more valuable than them, he is going to take care of us. 

So it boils down to this:  In times of praise, times of worship, and in our day to day activities, God is interested in us and desires that we talk to him about everything. Maybe this is why Paul thought prayer was so important for the Philippians when he told them, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

It's also interesting to note when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, there were no classes or courses they needed to take. He just prayed what we know as "The Lord's Prayer" as an example. I think Jesus was teaching them prayer is not the difficult duty we make it out to be. It is an acknowledgement of God, a time to express thanksgiving, a time to ask for our needs, and a time for us to anticipate answers.  

Give it a try. Let's join together in becoming more diligent in prayer and watch God change us from a prayer wimp to a prayer warrior. 

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Where do you go to church?

Where do you go to church?  I recently spent an afternoon thinking about the church I attend, aware of its many accomplishments in the community and its growth.  Yes, I also considered some of the things where we learned by the mistakes that were made. We established some goals as individuals while also considering goals for our church family.

My purpose in sharing these things is not to list our accomplishments or failures. I simply wish to make some observations where most churches can strengthen themselves in their task of reaching others and striving to maintain a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere in which to worship. Here are some things for your consideration in reaching that goal.

1.  A congregation of disciples with a focus on strengthening and making disciples.  The church which was established on Pentecost, following the resurrection of Jesus, was a group devoted to fellowship, teaching and prayer. That composed the catalyst of strength for members of the Lord's body.  Even through hardship and struggles, their discipleship led them to bring others into the church and even establish churches throughout the regions.  They were devoted to God and devoted to each other.  That's how discipleship leads to strong churches. 

2.  A knowledge of the gospel and a desire to share it with others.  The power of the preaching from our pulpits is the power of the gospel.  Likewise, the power of the gospel in our lives brings the desire  and determination to share the gospel's power to save with everyone. Paul says the gospel is the power of God that brings salvation.

3.  Worship from the heart with the dynamic of praising and honoring God.  It's usually easy to see the genuineness of worship on the faces of those who fill our pews. During the singing, the prayers, even the sermon, it is detectable if we are "into" what's happening, or if we are sitting and observing, or if our hearts and minds are a million miles away.  The truth is, Jesus has promised to be present when we gather together, so in worship we have as the honored guest, the one who died for us. 

4.  Each member using his/her spiritual gifts for God's glory in building up the body.   God has blessed and equipped us all with a gift or gifts.  As we become more active in the area of our gift, the result is a stronger body of believers, and a stronger witness to our neighbors. 

The considerations could continue with a limitless list. Let's begin by praying about these and seeing our congregations grow in number and in spirituality as we become useful in the hands of God and determine to be more like Jesus.

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This is Love

1 Corinthians 13 (New Living Translation)

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.  If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;  but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud  or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!  Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!  But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.  All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

I read this chapter today from the New Living Translation for the first time. I am not promoting this translation above others. I read it, and prayed about love in our world, and wanted to issue a challenge to you. I do not know your Bible reading habits. I do not know which of the translations you have found easier to understand. I use a variety of translations, sometimes comparing them to each other. 

So here is the challenge. In a quiet time today, read the above chapter aloud with specific emphasis on how the word of God is speaking to you about love. You may wish to read it more than once. Then if you wish, read it again from another translation,  allowing God to speak to you from his word. 

Now go. Today in your activities and encounters with other people, examine yourself in the light of what God has taught you today.   God bless your study and the application of what you learn. 

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Our God is Faithful

Vindicate me, Lord,
    for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the Lord
    and have not faltered.
 Test me, Lord, and try me,
    examine my heart and my mind;
 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
    and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.  Psalm 26:1-3

First glance at this psalm might cause us to think David is writing these things from a boastful point of view.  Closer examination of the entire segment of scripture opens our eyes to the deeper meaning of integrity.  Who are the Christians at your church that you know to be people of integrity?  What is it about them that makes you classify them as such?

In the bold printed text above, David is establishing himself as a man who really desires to live according to the principles of God.  God's truth is primary to him and this has come about through David's total reliance on the faithfulness of God.  I often wonder if we would be as inviting as David when he asked the Lord to test him and examine his heart and his mind.  It takes a person of integrity to be that open. 

The verses which follow give us more information about David, all of which are points of reference for us to make similar evaluations about ourselves.  David briefly proclaims he is not going to be influenced by those who live lives of wickedness and hypocrisy.  Instead, he spends his time and focuses his influence on proclaiming the goodness of God and sharing the news about God's wonderful deeds. 

My favorite picture of David comes in the next section of the psalm where he says, "Lord, I love the house where you  live."  Now let's ask ourselves if we really know where God lives.  He isn't isolated to one place, he isn't limited by borders, and he isn't bound by pretty structures of bricks and wood.  When we come to fully understand that God dwells inside us, we then grasp the truth that where we are, God is.  In the form of His Spirit, God makes his abode in the hearts and lives of his people.  This carries tremendous connection to the Christian and worship.  Don't think this means God lives in the church building.  That building is just a building until the people of God assemble.  Then there is a multitude of hearts, filled with God, joining together to worship and praise him.

The two lines which end Psalm 26 are these:

  My feet stand on level ground;
    in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.  Psalm 26:12

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Oh How He Loves Me

After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. ² They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”  ³ When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. ⁴ Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.

 

So begins Chapter 9 of the Old Testament book of Ezra. Things were not well with God's chosen people. Their unfaithfulness had led them to violate the commands of God, and not only was their sin a picture of horribleness before God, their leaders were continuing to direct them down a path of unfaithfulness.

The scripture continues with the prayer of God's prophet, Ezera.  Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God ⁶ and prayed: “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. ⁷ From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.
 
Could things be worse than this? Wouldn't it be understandable if God completely dismissed these people as a lost cause because of their continued unfaithfulness?  Aren't we glad God has not written us off as a lost cause because of our sins?

The key to all of this is seen in the very nature of God. Yes, his wrath was stirred because they were not obedient to him. But in spite of their unfaithful ways, God loved them. That love is shown in the verses that follow.

“But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. ⁹ Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem."

Look again at the verses to see the blessings God's love provided for them.....and for us.

1.  A firm place in his sanctuary.

2   Light to our eyes.

3.  Relief in our bondage.

4.  Kindness in the sight of our aggressors

5.  New life so we can rebuild and repair.

6.  A wall of protection.

Thanks be to God for his unending love.

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