Saturday, April 15, 2017
SATURDAY: A High Sabbath Day of Rest Before the Resurrection
SATURDAY: Having endured the cross, Jesus was resting in paradise with the Old Testament saints and the thief who repented on the cross. On Earth, the Jews rest and observe the Sabbath, while the Roman soldiers carefully guard the body of Christ. How nice of the best trained, greatest fighting force in the world to provide security guards for the tomb, keeping the body safe until it was time for the Resurrection. Just before He died, Jesus had declared victory, shouting Teleo--completing the last line ...of Psalm 22, which means "It is Finished," or "It has been accomplished," but His disciples do not yet understand. All of Hell now sits aware that they have no claim on Christ. Jesus has made His appearance there, and being the sinless, perfect Son of God, has past right through the fiery gulf separating them from Paradise. The Saturday after Passover was a High Sabbath day of Rest for the Jews. Jesus observed that Sabbath rest as well. Now Sunday is coming. All the rules are about to change. Wait for it.................
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Thursday-Friday. 10 Lessons Jesus Taught During His Last 24 Hours
THURSDAY-FRIDAY: This is a bit quickly put together. But I was just thinking about the remarkable ministry Jesus performed during his last 24 hours.
1. Fellowship--He earnestly desired to share the Passover meal with His friends
2. Service--He washed his disciples feet. Not only did he show us how Christian leaders are to serve and not take advantage, but by washing their feet, he also for-shadowed the way that He would send us out into the world as His representatives. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)
3. Relationship--He spent time in prayer with His Father and came into agreement with His will
5. Healing--He healed a soldier's ear when Peter cut it off
6. Mercy and Forgiveness--His character convinced the thief on the cross to repent and recognize the goodness of Jesus. He saved the man and promised Him eternal life right then and there.
7. Intercession: He prayed to God to forgive those who crucified Him. (really-All of us)
8. Providential care--On the cross, He entrusted Mary to John's care and John to Mary's care. He made sure that His mother would be cared for and that his close friend would not be left all alone.
9. Trust--He committed Himself entirely into God's hands. When Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He was quoting Psalm 22. This Psalm declares the faithfulness of God to the generations of Israel and this phrase was a cry for help. Verse 24 declares He has not hidden his face from Him, but has heard when he cried to him. Heaven did NOT look away.
10. Strength--As he drew his last breath, even in the midst of suffering, He shouted triumphantly "TELEO." Which means "It is Finished." or '"It has been accomplished." In the last line of Psalm 22, which is a narrative of the cross, it reads It shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation, they shall come and proclaim the righteousness to a people yet unborn, that HE HAS DONE IT. Then the whole earth shook, the veil of the temple was torn in two, showing that we were no longer separated from God. And the Roman soldier declared that surely Jesus was the Son of God. The Christ didn't whimper on the cross. He shouted a great victory cry.
We can learn so much from Jesus' actions alone during that last 24 hours. The words He shared with His disciples go further still. John records the depth and wealth of the teachings that Jesus' shared that final evening and you can read about it John 13-17. Most importantly, On Sunday....................................HE ROSE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
1. Fellowship--He earnestly desired to share the Passover meal with His friends
2. Service--He washed his disciples feet. Not only did he show us how Christian leaders are to serve and not take advantage, but by washing their feet, he also for-shadowed the way that He would send us out into the world as His representatives. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)
3. Relationship--He spent time in prayer with His Father and came into agreement with His will
5. Healing--He healed a soldier's ear when Peter cut it off
6. Mercy and Forgiveness--His character convinced the thief on the cross to repent and recognize the goodness of Jesus. He saved the man and promised Him eternal life right then and there.
7. Intercession: He prayed to God to forgive those who crucified Him. (really-All of us)
8. Providential care--On the cross, He entrusted Mary to John's care and John to Mary's care. He made sure that His mother would be cared for and that his close friend would not be left all alone.
9. Trust--He committed Himself entirely into God's hands. When Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He was quoting Psalm 22. This Psalm declares the faithfulness of God to the generations of Israel and this phrase was a cry for help. Verse 24 declares He has not hidden his face from Him, but has heard when he cried to him. Heaven did NOT look away.
10. Strength--As he drew his last breath, even in the midst of suffering, He shouted triumphantly "TELEO." Which means "It is Finished." or '"It has been accomplished." In the last line of Psalm 22, which is a narrative of the cross, it reads It shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation, they shall come and proclaim the righteousness to a people yet unborn, that HE HAS DONE IT. Then the whole earth shook, the veil of the temple was torn in two, showing that we were no longer separated from God. And the Roman soldier declared that surely Jesus was the Son of God. The Christ didn't whimper on the cross. He shouted a great victory cry.
We can learn so much from Jesus' actions alone during that last 24 hours. The words He shared with His disciples go further still. John records the depth and wealth of the teachings that Jesus' shared that final evening and you can read about it John 13-17. Most importantly, On Sunday....................................HE ROSE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, April 8, 2017
The Scarlet Worm
Psalm 22 provides a narrative of Jesus on the cross. Verse 6 reads: "I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by the people." Some translations phrase it as a question "Am I a worm and not a man?" But this worm, isn't just any worm. This is the kermes worm, named for the type of tree it is usually found in. The Hebrew word towla, translated here as "worm," refers to a very special worm, coccus ilicis. Red dye was made from the body of this dried worm. As a matter of fact, the worm's name is synonymous with red. In the Bible, towla is frequently translated as "scarlet."
This phrase provides us with some incredible imagery. This worm would attach itself to a tree and lay its eggs, protecting them with its own body. It would die in order to give new life to it's children. The body would burst, covering the offspring with crimson fluid which provided nourishment for them, permanently staining the tree trunk. In the same way, Jesus was nailed to a tree, the cross. He died in order that we, His children, can be protected and covered by His blood. We observe the Lord's supper, drinking the fruit of the vine to represent Christ's blood. Our spiritual nourishment comes through His Spirit. Jesus died so that we might have new life through his sacrifice.
The worms body would also be crushed and used to make red dye for the coloring of wool. This type of red dye was used to tint a number of symbolic items for the tabernacle of Moses. A red-dyed cloth was even used in certain purification ceremonies. Jesus was crushed for us (Isaiah 53:10). The word Baptism actually comes from the word that describes the way wool is plunged into the dye. There is a wealth of rich symbolism to explore here, But I want to focus on one specific characteristic of this worm:
The Kermes worm was also known to have medicinal and anti-bacterial properties. Most "worms" in the Bible devour crops and life and steal nourishment in order to satisfy themselves. But the scarlet worm sacrifices itself to give life and nourishment to it's children and its broken body brings beauty and healing, not destruction and disease. Jesus' body was broken for us. He was crushed for us. His scarlet blood was poured out for us. 1 John 1:7 tells us that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. He is our healer, our Great Physician. Jesus constantly healed people physically while He was on earth. He still does. But more importantly, He heals our hearts, heals our minds, and brings us new life. Just like the Kermes worm, Jesus died on a tree to bring new life to His children. Just like this worm's broken body brings healing, Jesus' broken body brings healing. But unlike the worm's offspring, we have to make a choice, to accept or reject His offer. Jesus died to heal, renew, restore and allow us to be born again into new life in Him. Do you believe?
This phrase provides us with some incredible imagery. This worm would attach itself to a tree and lay its eggs, protecting them with its own body. It would die in order to give new life to it's children. The body would burst, covering the offspring with crimson fluid which provided nourishment for them, permanently staining the tree trunk. In the same way, Jesus was nailed to a tree, the cross. He died in order that we, His children, can be protected and covered by His blood. We observe the Lord's supper, drinking the fruit of the vine to represent Christ's blood. Our spiritual nourishment comes through His Spirit. Jesus died so that we might have new life through his sacrifice.
The worms body would also be crushed and used to make red dye for the coloring of wool. This type of red dye was used to tint a number of symbolic items for the tabernacle of Moses. A red-dyed cloth was even used in certain purification ceremonies. Jesus was crushed for us (Isaiah 53:10). The word Baptism actually comes from the word that describes the way wool is plunged into the dye. There is a wealth of rich symbolism to explore here, But I want to focus on one specific characteristic of this worm:
The Kermes worm was also known to have medicinal and anti-bacterial properties. Most "worms" in the Bible devour crops and life and steal nourishment in order to satisfy themselves. But the scarlet worm sacrifices itself to give life and nourishment to it's children and its broken body brings beauty and healing, not destruction and disease. Jesus' body was broken for us. He was crushed for us. His scarlet blood was poured out for us. 1 John 1:7 tells us that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. He is our healer, our Great Physician. Jesus constantly healed people physically while He was on earth. He still does. But more importantly, He heals our hearts, heals our minds, and brings us new life. Just like the Kermes worm, Jesus died on a tree to bring new life to His children. Just like this worm's broken body brings healing, Jesus' broken body brings healing. But unlike the worm's offspring, we have to make a choice, to accept or reject His offer. Jesus died to heal, renew, restore and allow us to be born again into new life in Him. Do you believe?
Sunday, March 12, 2017
How Does God Speak? 4 Ways God Reveals Himself
I was recently asked the question How does God speak? I believe that a better question is How does God reveal Himself? God introduces Himself through creation, reveals Himself personally through Scripture and unveils Himself relationally through the Holy Spirit. Here are 4 ways that God does speak and a word of caution about how He doesn't.
1. God Reveals Himself Through Creation
God reveals Himself through nature, His creation. We call this General Revelation. It shows us how creative and powerful He is. Nature shows the amount of love and beauty God poured into creation. The wonder and awe He has created, the intricate design of our bodies and the detail and craftsmanship He put into designing this world for us showcase many of His qualities. Creation also shows his goodness and His providential care. There are also many object lessons from nature such as comparing God's protection of His people underneath the shadow of His wings to that of a bird protecting her offspring.
Human beings, created in God's image are inherently inquisitive and nature is meant to cause us to ask questions. Satan tries to manipulate us into satisfying this curiosity in unhealthy and inappropriate ways. God does not reveal future events through nature, or general revelation. Horoscopes, astrology, trying to predict human behavior or future events based on the observance of the moon and stars or by consulting any other element of creation is specifically forbidden in Scripture and Christians today still struggle with this trap.
2. God Reveals Himself Through His Word
The primary way that God speaks to people is through His Word, the Bible. The Bible reveals God's justice and his righteousness. It also reveals his merciful love, kindness and grace. Most importantly, it shows his plan of salvation. All we need to know for life and godliness, all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom are found in God's word. Faith comes through hearing the Word of God. This type of revelation is called Special Revelation.
Jesus is the central focus of the Bible. Sinful mankind tends to cherry pick tiny fragments of Scripture and misuse them for their own purposes. Satan, himself, misquoted and misused Scripture when he tempted Jesus. To understand what God is saying through His Word, we must read it in context, compare and harmonize it with the whole counsel of Scripture and determine what God is saying.
3. God Reveals Himself Through His Spirit
God speaks to us through His Spirit, this is also a form of Special Revelation. It is the Holy Spirit that calls us to repentance. He convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness, right and wrong. He draws us to God when the Word is read. He helps us understand Scripture. He reminds us of what we have learned in the moments we need it. He is our teacher, helping us to understand the Bible. He is our guide, leading us as we walk through this life according to God's word. The Holy Spirit also speaks through us by words of knowledge and words of wisdom. Prophetic words are given for comfort, encouragement and building each other up. He allows us to give wise counsel and advice to guide other believers through difficult life situations. The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Bible and we should use the Bible to discern whether something comes from the Holy Spirit or not.
4. God Communicates Through Dreams and Visions
The rarest way that God communicates is through visions and dreams. These were used to reveal all that we need to know about God's future plans in the Bible. With the conclusion of John's vision in Revelation, there will be no more dreams or visions about events relating to God's plan for the end times. The canon of Scripture is closed and absolutely no words will be added to it. God does use dreams to warn of danger, as He warned Joseph and the Wise Men concerning Herod's nefarious plans. Throughout the New Testament, when a dream or vision occurred, it was always Gospel-centered and required work and sacrifice. Peter had a vision that led him to minister to Cornelius' household and revealed God's ministry toward the Gentiles. Paul had a dream of a man in Macedonia asking him to come share the Gospel. These dreams and visions led people to go share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and minister to others. Dreams and visions are a way for the Holy Spirit to warn, protect and guide people into the work of God and to prayer. Anyone who believes they have had a dream or a vision should use those truths as guidelines for how to react.
Outside of the book of Revelation, a future event was prophesied in the New Testament, in Acts 11:27-30. In this instance, the people of Antioch sacrificed, taking up a collection to provide for the needs of the believers in Jerusalem. No one wrote a book or went on a speaking tour to get rich. The prophecy required financial sacrifice and selfless giving.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a word from God go directly to Him for it. Consider this: When Gideon asked God for a sign, he did not have the Holy Spirit as we now do. If you need to hear from God, read the Bible, worship, be in relationship with other believers and pray. Prayer, worship and reading the Bible are ways that we have direct access to God. Just don't forget to listen for that still, small voice leading and guiding you.
1. God Reveals Himself Through Creation
God reveals Himself through nature, His creation. We call this General Revelation. It shows us how creative and powerful He is. Nature shows the amount of love and beauty God poured into creation. The wonder and awe He has created, the intricate design of our bodies and the detail and craftsmanship He put into designing this world for us showcase many of His qualities. Creation also shows his goodness and His providential care. There are also many object lessons from nature such as comparing God's protection of His people underneath the shadow of His wings to that of a bird protecting her offspring.
Human beings, created in God's image are inherently inquisitive and nature is meant to cause us to ask questions. Satan tries to manipulate us into satisfying this curiosity in unhealthy and inappropriate ways. God does not reveal future events through nature, or general revelation. Horoscopes, astrology, trying to predict human behavior or future events based on the observance of the moon and stars or by consulting any other element of creation is specifically forbidden in Scripture and Christians today still struggle with this trap.
2. God Reveals Himself Through His Word
The primary way that God speaks to people is through His Word, the Bible. The Bible reveals God's justice and his righteousness. It also reveals his merciful love, kindness and grace. Most importantly, it shows his plan of salvation. All we need to know for life and godliness, all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom are found in God's word. Faith comes through hearing the Word of God. This type of revelation is called Special Revelation.
Jesus is the central focus of the Bible. Sinful mankind tends to cherry pick tiny fragments of Scripture and misuse them for their own purposes. Satan, himself, misquoted and misused Scripture when he tempted Jesus. To understand what God is saying through His Word, we must read it in context, compare and harmonize it with the whole counsel of Scripture and determine what God is saying.
3. God Reveals Himself Through His Spirit
God speaks to us through His Spirit, this is also a form of Special Revelation. It is the Holy Spirit that calls us to repentance. He convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness, right and wrong. He draws us to God when the Word is read. He helps us understand Scripture. He reminds us of what we have learned in the moments we need it. He is our teacher, helping us to understand the Bible. He is our guide, leading us as we walk through this life according to God's word. The Holy Spirit also speaks through us by words of knowledge and words of wisdom. Prophetic words are given for comfort, encouragement and building each other up. He allows us to give wise counsel and advice to guide other believers through difficult life situations. The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Bible and we should use the Bible to discern whether something comes from the Holy Spirit or not.
4. God Communicates Through Dreams and Visions
The rarest way that God communicates is through visions and dreams. These were used to reveal all that we need to know about God's future plans in the Bible. With the conclusion of John's vision in Revelation, there will be no more dreams or visions about events relating to God's plan for the end times. The canon of Scripture is closed and absolutely no words will be added to it. God does use dreams to warn of danger, as He warned Joseph and the Wise Men concerning Herod's nefarious plans. Throughout the New Testament, when a dream or vision occurred, it was always Gospel-centered and required work and sacrifice. Peter had a vision that led him to minister to Cornelius' household and revealed God's ministry toward the Gentiles. Paul had a dream of a man in Macedonia asking him to come share the Gospel. These dreams and visions led people to go share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and minister to others. Dreams and visions are a way for the Holy Spirit to warn, protect and guide people into the work of God and to prayer. Anyone who believes they have had a dream or a vision should use those truths as guidelines for how to react.
Outside of the book of Revelation, a future event was prophesied in the New Testament, in Acts 11:27-30. In this instance, the people of Antioch sacrificed, taking up a collection to provide for the needs of the believers in Jerusalem. No one wrote a book or went on a speaking tour to get rich. The prophecy required financial sacrifice and selfless giving.
A Word Of Caution
There is much confusion today, with prophets for profit feigning divine revelation, claiming to predict the future through observing the times, reading the moon, the interpretation of signs, omens and so-called wonders. These practices are forbidden in Deuteronomy 18:10-11. In the Old Testament, God revealed His power through signs and wonders performed through nature. He was demonstrating his power and control over creation. In the New Testament, Jesus and the disciples only performed miracles in ways that healed and helped people and when the Bible talks about them performing signs and wonders it is referring to such miracles. In Matthew 24:24, Jesus warns us against false prophets performing signs and wonders to mislead people. In the day we live in, the fake prophets refer to various natural occurrences as signs and wonders and then use them to sell their worthless books, claiming to have received revelation from God. Don't be naïve. Don't be taken in. Any sign or wonder that is real will never be self-serving or naturally occurring in creation. If there is a real sign or wonder, it will be beyond the natural, in service to others and it will not foretell the future. This is not a method God uses to communicate future events. A sign might BE a future event, but it won't predict one. To put it a different way: The Bible might predict a certain sign or event, but signs themselves do not predict future events. Conclusion
If you are looking for a word from God go directly to Him for it. Consider this: When Gideon asked God for a sign, he did not have the Holy Spirit as we now do. If you need to hear from God, read the Bible, worship, be in relationship with other believers and pray. Prayer, worship and reading the Bible are ways that we have direct access to God. Just don't forget to listen for that still, small voice leading and guiding you.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Is The God of "The Shack," the God of the Bible?
Last night I went to see "The Shack." As a creative work, the film is poignant, powerful and provocative. It asks the hard questions and invites, even forces, the viewer to think, and this is good. The setting, and in particular the garden, is stunningly beautiful and symbolic. The story is compelling, heartbreaking, and even encouraging. "The Shack" engages the audience in a way that I've never seen. This too is good because, from the lady drinking her stinky wine next to me, to the teenage girl in the "Momma Tried," skullcap, this LionsGate production drew in an audience that looked quite different from the usual PureFlix crowd. The movie provides many opportunities to engage with our culture and to have discussions, and YES, there are discussions which must be had.
I will confess that when I read the book a few years ago, I was not aware that the author, Wm. Paul Young, is a universalist who believes that all people will be redeemed, or saved. I quickly recognized some theological mistakes, but I also respected the good aspects of the story. There are many moments in the movie that would lead one to believe he is a Christian, and a heartfelt defense put forth by his friend and famous Baptist blogger Wade Burleson attests to the fact. However, his personal theology is viewed by many as being heretical and some of these themes do surface in both the book and the movie.
First, I would like to say that there are many things Mr. Young gets right. The movie focuses on the relational aspects of God and His desire to have a personal relationship with us. This is very good. He affirms the Trinitarian nature of God and the roles of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in creation. He upholds the doctrine that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. He affirms the desire of God for all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. He attests that people will be saved from every tongue and tribe and nation. He shows that children who die before reaching the age of accountability go to heaven. He rightly explains that the sin of Adam has had a profound negative impact on all of humanity. He clearly teaches that God is not the author of evil and He teaches that Jesus Christ died for us out of necessity. He gives a nod to human volition, or choice, when it comes to our relationship with God. He rightly portrays Jesus as desiring friends, not slaves. He powerfully illustrates the principle of forgiveness. He shows the restoring redemptive work of God in families and highlights the importance of loving family relationships.
But there were also some very serious problems with his theology. Using a woman to portray God the Father, or Papa, part of the time was questionable, but I could have looked past that. Sadly, masked by the lovely performance of Octavia Spencer, was some serious false teaching and down right lies about the nature and character of God. Here are some examples:
1. As God, or "Papa," she makes the statement that she has never found a person she was not fond of. Proverbs 6:16-19 says that there are 6 things the Lord hates, 7 that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies and one who sows discord among brothers. That does not sound like fondness to me. God hates evil. 1 Timothy 2:4 expresses the fact that He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth---this is because then they will not do evil any more and will not hurt others any more. God is not fond of evildoers. He is willing to forgive, IF they repent.
2. Papa says "I don't need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish it. It's my joy to cure it." This is a great example of the type of half truth Satan likes to tell, twisting a true statement together with an outright lie. This statement has more twists and turns than a roller coaster. On the one had, it is true that sin can eat us up and destroy us from the inside. But on the other hand, it is also true that God loves justice and He does judge evil. To say that a just God does not need to punish sin is an outright lie. God is a defender and He destroys the wicked. The story emphasizes redemption. A redeemer is a seeker and restorer of justice. A redeemer sets things right. Part of the job of a redeemer is to buy back or restore what has been lost. But a redeemer is also an avenger of blood. Universalists believe that when the bible says "Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, that means everyone will be saved. The truth is that when Jesus comes back, those who did not acknowledge Him as savior during this life will bow down alright, BUT Isaiah 65:12 tells us they will bow down to the slaughter. God consistently punishes sin throughout Scripture. Sodom and Gomorrah were punished because of sin. Genesis 15:16 prophesied the destruction of the Canaanites because of their sin. Even His own people, Israel, were punished because of sin. God's judgement of sin is such a pervasive theme in Scripture that it is simply impossible for a Bible-Believing Christian to deny that God punishes sin.
2. Papa says "I don't need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish it. It's my joy to cure it." This is a great example of the type of half truth Satan likes to tell, twisting a true statement together with an outright lie. This statement has more twists and turns than a roller coaster. On the one had, it is true that sin can eat us up and destroy us from the inside. But on the other hand, it is also true that God loves justice and He does judge evil. To say that a just God does not need to punish sin is an outright lie. God is a defender and He destroys the wicked. The story emphasizes redemption. A redeemer is a seeker and restorer of justice. A redeemer sets things right. Part of the job of a redeemer is to buy back or restore what has been lost. But a redeemer is also an avenger of blood. Universalists believe that when the bible says "Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, that means everyone will be saved. The truth is that when Jesus comes back, those who did not acknowledge Him as savior during this life will bow down alright, BUT Isaiah 65:12 tells us they will bow down to the slaughter. God consistently punishes sin throughout Scripture. Sodom and Gomorrah were punished because of sin. Genesis 15:16 prophesied the destruction of the Canaanites because of their sin. Even His own people, Israel, were punished because of sin. God's judgement of sin is such a pervasive theme in Scripture that it is simply impossible for a Bible-Believing Christian to deny that God punishes sin.
3. Papa acts like she has no idea what Mack is talking about when he asks about God's Wrath and claims that she is not like that. 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 show how God's wrath comes upon people because of sin. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men, by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last! While it is good to know that those of us who seek forgiveness will not face God's wrath, God also loves justice and He will absolutely bring judgement on those who persist in doing evil as he has done throughout the entirety of Scripture. Going along with the role of a redeemer as an avenger of blood and bringer of justice. Revelation 6:10, 16 and 17 describe Jesus as an avenger of blood and describe the coming wrath of the Lamb. Revelation 14:10 and 19 specifically record God's wrath and anger being poured out. A redeemer sets wrongs right. A redeemer would seek justice for a family member who had been killed or wronged. Revelation 19:1-3 record God avenging the blood of his servants. For those who do not accept God's forgiveness, retribution is coming.
4. Mack's dad, who was evil and abusive, is shown to be a religious fake who was not a believer and never repented of his sin, yet he is shown to be in heaven. Mack's father becomes furious when his son revealed his true nature to a pastor and unleashed his wrath upon his son. No one enters heaven without repentance, forgiveness and being born again through faith in Jesus.
While the god of the Shack is relational, loving and creative, like the God of the Bible, unlike the God of the Bible that god is one dimensional. That lowercase g god is entirely lacking in justice or a true sense of right and wrong. That god does not punish sin. Papa is fond of everyone, including the most evil people on earth. She isn't concerned with rule following and does not even know what wrath is. That weak one dimensional god is not the Capital G, God of the Bible, the Great I AM.
The movie does make an admirable effort to portray one aspect of God's personality, His goodness and compassion. Over and over, Scripture tells us as it does in Psalm 103:8: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast, merciful lovingkindness. He is the God who forgives iniquity, the God who does not stay angry forever, the God who loves us and provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him.
However, Psalm 33:5 tells us The Lord loves righteousness and justice, the earth is full of his unfailing love. The love of right and justice is an aspect of God's personality that must not be overlooked. The god of The Shack is not interested in justice. The GOD of the Bible IS. Psalm 37:28 assures us: The Lord loves justice and will not abandon his faithful ones, they are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be cut off.
There is a powerful moment in the movie when Mack has to choose to forgive his daughter's murderer and trust Papa to do the right thing. When I read the book, I assumed that justice was implied if the man never repented. Now that I know the background of the author, this does not seem to be the case. Could you really place your faith in a God who did not care about justice? I can fully place my faith in a God who hates evil and will ultimately destroy it. I am grateful that God is patient and offers all people the chance to be saved, born again, redeemed and forgiven. I trust Him to deliver justice to those who refuse as only He has the right to do.
I believe that the author of The Shack is to be commended, not for his theology, but for the courage and conviction he has shown in attempting to answer some of life's most difficult questions in a well-crafted, compelling and artistic way. While he does make some serious mistakes, as we all do, if we discuss them in a healthy, Biblical and brotherly way, then we can all learn and grow. The ultimate take-away from the movie is this: God is loving and forgiving and wants to have a relationship with us. But unlike the god of The Shack, the God of the Bible also loves fairness and justice and He will punish evil. A relationship with God is available to all people, but only if we repent of our sins, accept Jesus as our Lord, ask for forgiveness and welcome the Holy Spirit's redemptive, renewing, restoring, healing work in our lives. This is the decision that Mack had to make in the movie and this is the decision each person must make in this life. What is your choice?
You have a strong arm. Your hand is mighty. Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of your throne. Faithful love and truth go before you. -Psalm 89:13-14
The movie does make an admirable effort to portray one aspect of God's personality, His goodness and compassion. Over and over, Scripture tells us as it does in Psalm 103:8: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast, merciful lovingkindness. He is the God who forgives iniquity, the God who does not stay angry forever, the God who loves us and provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him.
However, Psalm 33:5 tells us The Lord loves righteousness and justice, the earth is full of his unfailing love. The love of right and justice is an aspect of God's personality that must not be overlooked. The god of The Shack is not interested in justice. The GOD of the Bible IS. Psalm 37:28 assures us: The Lord loves justice and will not abandon his faithful ones, they are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be cut off.
There is a powerful moment in the movie when Mack has to choose to forgive his daughter's murderer and trust Papa to do the right thing. When I read the book, I assumed that justice was implied if the man never repented. Now that I know the background of the author, this does not seem to be the case. Could you really place your faith in a God who did not care about justice? I can fully place my faith in a God who hates evil and will ultimately destroy it. I am grateful that God is patient and offers all people the chance to be saved, born again, redeemed and forgiven. I trust Him to deliver justice to those who refuse as only He has the right to do.
I believe that the author of The Shack is to be commended, not for his theology, but for the courage and conviction he has shown in attempting to answer some of life's most difficult questions in a well-crafted, compelling and artistic way. While he does make some serious mistakes, as we all do, if we discuss them in a healthy, Biblical and brotherly way, then we can all learn and grow. The ultimate take-away from the movie is this: God is loving and forgiving and wants to have a relationship with us. But unlike the god of The Shack, the God of the Bible also loves fairness and justice and He will punish evil. A relationship with God is available to all people, but only if we repent of our sins, accept Jesus as our Lord, ask for forgiveness and welcome the Holy Spirit's redemptive, renewing, restoring, healing work in our lives. This is the decision that Mack had to make in the movie and this is the decision each person must make in this life. What is your choice?
You have a strong arm. Your hand is mighty. Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of your throne. Faithful love and truth go before you. -Psalm 89:13-14
Monday, January 30, 2017
5 Reasons To Include Students In Your Worship Ministry
It saddens me greatly to see so few students leading worship in churches. As churches have turned to hiring professional musicians or designed systems with rigorous auditions to make their worship ministry more and more exclusive, many willing and capable volunteers and especially students are being left out and left behind. While a handful of "superstars," hog platforms across the country, others are marginalized and ignored. As choirs have dissolved in churches, so has the place of service and ministry for many good people. And even before that happened, few students were given the opportunity to lead together with more mature believers.
As a music teacher, my goal is to help each student reach their fullest potential and to provide them with a safe place develop, express and display their talent while growing as people. There is great joy to be found in walking alongside the next generation to train them up and in worshipping together. I've been a learning jazz performer for nearly 30 years and a jazz teacher for 18 years and the most foundational aspect of what we do is that we pass down what we know. How much more should we do this in the church?Here are 5 reasons to include students in your worship ministry:
1. Passion. If there is one thing that defines this generation of students, from middle school through millennials, it is passion. They are passionate about what they believe in. Guide them. Give them something to be passionate about. Let their passion revitalize, re-invigorate and re-ignite your times of corporate worship.
2 & 3. Connection and Retention. The fastest way to make a student feel unwanted is to separate them and leave them out. The silo the church has built called "youth ministry," is really just a stronghold, a wall separating students from the rest of the church. And no matter how much a kid may act like they don't want adults around, the truth is, when you separate and ignore them, it makes them feel bad and when you pay attention to them and show them you care, it makes them feel special, needed and loved. One of the biggest issues facing the church today is that students leave the church after high school. Students need meaningful friendships and mentors in the church who care about them, miss them when they are gone, and value their gifts and input. And here's a secret from this veteran teacher, they WANT those types of quality, respect-filled relationships. For all of the Oscar-the-Grouch-ing that "grown-ups," do about the problem with millennials, stop and think about it. They are telling you that they want to be valued, appreciated and make a difference. Instead of whining about them when they reach their 20's and 30's, why not include them in their teens. And here's one more tip. If there is one thing that church members, and especially older folks, love, it is being around young people. It brings back good memories and makes them feel young. Just watch them light up when they see young people serving the Lord.
4. Legacy: Preparing For The Future. Including students in worship helps them to be a valuable part of the church that makes a contribution, NOW. If I hear one more celebrity "Christian" personality lecture the young generation on waiting to use their gifts, or waiting to serve the Lord, or waiting to receive permission, recognition or affirmation from some spiritual "leader" I'm going to puke. That attitude is so selfish, so self-serving and so Un-Biblical. Recognize the important gifts and contribution students have to offer and set them on a path of lifelong vibrant church membership by including them now. Do it for the well-being of the individual. Do it for the future of the church.
5. The Gospel. Ok, I'm going to be a little bit raw here about something lots of churches are doing nowadays. Which is more touching to the heart of a parent; Hired pros playing along with Nashville recorded enhancement tracks, or watching young people serve God? I would a thousand times rather here mistakes than listen to something fake. The learning process is beautiful. Flawless fake performances are boring and meaningless. Children learning how to worship the Lord and be part of the community of believers is precious, beautiful and my favorite thing in the world to watch. No one cares how perfect your church production is, or at least they shouldn't. The whole point of what we do musically in church is about learning how to become the family of God, growing and learning together and praising Him. I believe in musical excellence. But True Excellence is when everyone gives the very best that they have as an offering to our King. I don't think anyone is really impressed with pretentiousness, but that unbelieving parent who comes to see their child sing or play in church, just might find their hardened heart melted enough to let the good news of Jesus sink in. And you know that being included, fitting in and being a part of something special, will have a lasting impact on the life of that student.
Our musical gifts are meant to share the good news of Jesus, celebrate what He has done in our lives, lead us to repentance, help us to enter into God's presence through worship, offer thanks to Him and express corporate praise as a family. If students use their gifts to seek glory and honor for themselves, that gift can harm them. We need to teach them the right way to use those gifts, talents and abilities and we need to respect the Image of God in them enough to WANT to see them develop those gifts to the highest possible level and to use them for maximum impact in the Kingdom of God.
------------------------------------------------
Read the other posts in my series on Worship Ministry:
http://thetrustworthyword.blogspot.com/2017/06/christmas-planning-in-july.html
http://thetrustworthyword.blogspot.com/2017/04/are-patriotic-church-services-ok.html
http://thetrustworthyword.blogspot.com/2017/07/milli-vanilli-worship-thoughts-on.html
As a music teacher, my goal is to help each student reach their fullest potential and to provide them with a safe place develop, express and display their talent while growing as people. There is great joy to be found in walking alongside the next generation to train them up and in worshipping together. I've been a learning jazz performer for nearly 30 years and a jazz teacher for 18 years and the most foundational aspect of what we do is that we pass down what we know. How much more should we do this in the church?Here are 5 reasons to include students in your worship ministry:
1. Passion. If there is one thing that defines this generation of students, from middle school through millennials, it is passion. They are passionate about what they believe in. Guide them. Give them something to be passionate about. Let their passion revitalize, re-invigorate and re-ignite your times of corporate worship.
2 & 3. Connection and Retention. The fastest way to make a student feel unwanted is to separate them and leave them out. The silo the church has built called "youth ministry," is really just a stronghold, a wall separating students from the rest of the church. And no matter how much a kid may act like they don't want adults around, the truth is, when you separate and ignore them, it makes them feel bad and when you pay attention to them and show them you care, it makes them feel special, needed and loved. One of the biggest issues facing the church today is that students leave the church after high school. Students need meaningful friendships and mentors in the church who care about them, miss them when they are gone, and value their gifts and input. And here's a secret from this veteran teacher, they WANT those types of quality, respect-filled relationships. For all of the Oscar-the-Grouch-ing that "grown-ups," do about the problem with millennials, stop and think about it. They are telling you that they want to be valued, appreciated and make a difference. Instead of whining about them when they reach their 20's and 30's, why not include them in their teens. And here's one more tip. If there is one thing that church members, and especially older folks, love, it is being around young people. It brings back good memories and makes them feel young. Just watch them light up when they see young people serving the Lord.
4. Legacy: Preparing For The Future. Including students in worship helps them to be a valuable part of the church that makes a contribution, NOW. If I hear one more celebrity "Christian" personality lecture the young generation on waiting to use their gifts, or waiting to serve the Lord, or waiting to receive permission, recognition or affirmation from some spiritual "leader" I'm going to puke. That attitude is so selfish, so self-serving and so Un-Biblical. Recognize the important gifts and contribution students have to offer and set them on a path of lifelong vibrant church membership by including them now. Do it for the well-being of the individual. Do it for the future of the church.
5. The Gospel. Ok, I'm going to be a little bit raw here about something lots of churches are doing nowadays. Which is more touching to the heart of a parent; Hired pros playing along with Nashville recorded enhancement tracks, or watching young people serve God? I would a thousand times rather here mistakes than listen to something fake. The learning process is beautiful. Flawless fake performances are boring and meaningless. Children learning how to worship the Lord and be part of the community of believers is precious, beautiful and my favorite thing in the world to watch. No one cares how perfect your church production is, or at least they shouldn't. The whole point of what we do musically in church is about learning how to become the family of God, growing and learning together and praising Him. I believe in musical excellence. But True Excellence is when everyone gives the very best that they have as an offering to our King. I don't think anyone is really impressed with pretentiousness, but that unbelieving parent who comes to see their child sing or play in church, just might find their hardened heart melted enough to let the good news of Jesus sink in. And you know that being included, fitting in and being a part of something special, will have a lasting impact on the life of that student.
Our musical gifts are meant to share the good news of Jesus, celebrate what He has done in our lives, lead us to repentance, help us to enter into God's presence through worship, offer thanks to Him and express corporate praise as a family. If students use their gifts to seek glory and honor for themselves, that gift can harm them. We need to teach them the right way to use those gifts, talents and abilities and we need to respect the Image of God in them enough to WANT to see them develop those gifts to the highest possible level and to use them for maximum impact in the Kingdom of God.
------------------------------------------------
Read the other posts in my series on Worship Ministry:
http://thetrustworthyword.blogspot.com/2017/06/christmas-planning-in-july.html
http://thetrustworthyword.blogspot.com/2017/04/are-patriotic-church-services-ok.html
http://thetrustworthyword.blogspot.com/2017/07/milli-vanilli-worship-thoughts-on.html
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
As Scrupulous As Shepherds
The first people chosen to spread the Gospel, the good news about the birth of Jesus, were the Shepherds. You are probably familiar with Luke 2:8-20 which records the Angelic visit paid to those Shepherds, living in the fields outside of Bethlehem with their flocks. The Shepherd's listened to every word and then quickly and carefully followed the Angel's instructions to go and find the newborn Jesus lying in a manger. Afterwards, they faithfully and excitedly reported all that they had seen and heard, making the Good News widely known. Years later, Jesus would ask Peter to feed His sheep, His people. In fact, poimen, the word for Pastor comes from the Greek word for a Shepherd. I believe that the Shepherd's were chosen for a reason and there are some things we can learn from the diligent life of a Shepherd.
Bethlehem is just 7 miles from Jerusalem. The fields in between them would have been home to the flocks from which the lambs for sacrifices and the passover lambs came. With the entire nation being required to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem and the numerous and varied types of sacrifices that were required throughout the year, they would have needed tremendous numbers of lambs, these flocks must have been huge. Exodus 12:5 lists the requirements for the Passover lambs:
Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.
Deuteronomy 15:21 further explains that an animal offered to the Lord could not have any blemish, defect or flaw, that they could not be lame or blind. Leviticus 22:20 reads:
Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted for you.
Bethlehem shepherds had a very important job. The text tells us that they were WATCHING over their flocks by night. They were awake and watching. They lived out in the fields with their flocks. Some people might have brought their own sacrifices, but many would have needed to aquire a lamb when they got to Jerusalem. If an animal got injured, or blinded, hurt its leg or had any flaw, it could not be offered. They had to protect the animals, watch over them, prevent unauthorized breeding so that bad blood lines could not be proliferated and they had to make sure that no sheep wandered away.
For years, I have watched my Dad care for his cattle. He counts them morning and night, faithfully observes and treats any injuries, gives them medication when necessary, takes them to the veterinarian if needed. He observes each cow to know when she has been with the bull so that he knows when to expect a calf and then keeps an eye on them when they go into labor to make sure it goes smoothly. He keeps accurate records to have fall and spring calves, to avoid births during freezing winters and hot summers. He and Mom carefully choose and measure their feed, even watching them eat to make sure everyone gets some. He is a diligent grass farmer. Not only has he limed and seeded the land, but he has been seeking and choosing good hay sources for years, carefully moving the hay feeders to spread the good seed (and the naturally fertilizing manure) around. He wisely chooses good bulls and painstakingly selects the best cows to keep to improve the herd, breeding to promote the best characteristics.
In the same way, Shepherds had to be diligent about their business. This is, perhaps, why they were considered trustworthy to be diligent in sharing the Gospel. 1 Peter 5:2 tells us:
Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly.
Here are some lessons we can learn from the Shepherds.
1. Feed The Sheep
In the same way that Shepherds carefully feed the sheep, taking them to green pastures and leading them beside still waters, Pastors must carefully feed their people the word of God and discern what they need for growth. Dad always says that cattlemen are grass farmers. The "pasture," is a good metaphor for the atmosphere of a church. A faithful Shepherd of God's people must cultivate the ground, providing a healthy, thriving environment for them to learn, grow and teach in. In the same way that a cattleman seeds the land, Paul taught us that Christians sow the seeds of the Gospel, water them (bringing them to the Living Water) and patiently wait for God to give the growth.
2. Keep Watch
In the same way that Shepherds diligently keep watch over their flocks to protect them from harm, injury and predators, Pastors must diligently keep watch over their flocks to protect them from false teachers and temptations. Pastors watch over their flock to guide them away from temptation and to protect them from those who would expoit them, lead them astray or feed them poison, as the Bible calls them wolves in sheeps clothing.
3. Nurse them to Health
In the same way that a Shepherd tends a sick or injured sheep, a Pastor tends to both the physical and spiritual needs of people. As a church, we show people how much we care for their soul by taking care of physical needs such as food, clothing, medical help and offering various types of assistance and work when needed. In the same way that a cattleman takes a sick animal to the veterinarian, we take people who are physically sick, and much more importantly, those who are spiritually sick to the Great Physician, Jesus who heals.
4. Remember Whose Sheep These Are
Three times, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. When Peter replied "Yes." Jesus said Feed my lambs....Shepherd my sheep...Feed my sheep. While the tasks of a Shepherd symbolically show us the tasks of a Pastor, what happened in this story is very literal. The Shepherds faithfully and enthusiastically shared the Good News, the Whole story, with everyone they encountered. The whole story is all about Jesus. The Angel told the Shepherds that JESUS was the promised Messiah. He was the one the one that had been prophesied. He was the saviour. A multitude of angels praised God and declared what an incredible act of peace and goodwill this was on His part. The Shepherds immediately went to see Jesus and then told everyone about Him.
The Cycle of Faith
Ultimately, Jesus was sacrificed as our perfect Passover lamb, without spot and with blemish. Before He was qualified to be King, David was a shepherd, faithfully protecting his flock. It is fitting then, that Jesus, the Son of David is referred to as The Good Shepherd. All of these symbols point to one reality. We are Jesus' flock and He cares for us. There is a beautiful picture of the Great Commission given to the Shepherds and fulfilled by the Shepherds. In the same way that the Shepherds Heard the Good News, came to meet Jesus and then told others about him, we too are to share the good news so that others can meet Jesus and go on to tell even more people. I attend a service sometimes where the theme is "Hear, Believe and Obey." While the term is used to describe the life of a Believer, this is actually a great way to describe the 3 step process of the cycle of faith:
1. HEAR: We tell the good news of Jesus, just like someone told us
2. BELIEVE: They believe the word and accept Jesus as their Christ, their Messiah, their Savior
3. OBEY: They obey Jesus instructions at the Great Commission by going on to tell others and the cycle repeats.
The plan for spreading the Gospel is introduced in this passage from Luke 2. The good news of Jesus Christ is the hope of the world and the Gospel is the only way for a person to become a member of God's flock. The word SCRUPULOUS means to be diligent, meticulous and careful. We should all be as Scrupulous as Shepherds when it comes to the things of God.
__________________________________________________________________
Here is a link to my article on Psalm 23, which further demonstrates a Shepherd's care: http://thetrustworthyword.blogspot.com/2017/06/psalm-23-powerful-imagery-and-beautiful.html
Bethlehem is just 7 miles from Jerusalem. The fields in between them would have been home to the flocks from which the lambs for sacrifices and the passover lambs came. With the entire nation being required to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem and the numerous and varied types of sacrifices that were required throughout the year, they would have needed tremendous numbers of lambs, these flocks must have been huge. Exodus 12:5 lists the requirements for the Passover lambs:
Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.
Deuteronomy 15:21 further explains that an animal offered to the Lord could not have any blemish, defect or flaw, that they could not be lame or blind. Leviticus 22:20 reads:
Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted for you.
Bethlehem shepherds had a very important job. The text tells us that they were WATCHING over their flocks by night. They were awake and watching. They lived out in the fields with their flocks. Some people might have brought their own sacrifices, but many would have needed to aquire a lamb when they got to Jerusalem. If an animal got injured, or blinded, hurt its leg or had any flaw, it could not be offered. They had to protect the animals, watch over them, prevent unauthorized breeding so that bad blood lines could not be proliferated and they had to make sure that no sheep wandered away.
For years, I have watched my Dad care for his cattle. He counts them morning and night, faithfully observes and treats any injuries, gives them medication when necessary, takes them to the veterinarian if needed. He observes each cow to know when she has been with the bull so that he knows when to expect a calf and then keeps an eye on them when they go into labor to make sure it goes smoothly. He keeps accurate records to have fall and spring calves, to avoid births during freezing winters and hot summers. He and Mom carefully choose and measure their feed, even watching them eat to make sure everyone gets some. He is a diligent grass farmer. Not only has he limed and seeded the land, but he has been seeking and choosing good hay sources for years, carefully moving the hay feeders to spread the good seed (and the naturally fertilizing manure) around. He wisely chooses good bulls and painstakingly selects the best cows to keep to improve the herd, breeding to promote the best characteristics.
In the same way, Shepherds had to be diligent about their business. This is, perhaps, why they were considered trustworthy to be diligent in sharing the Gospel. 1 Peter 5:2 tells us:
Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly.
Here are some lessons we can learn from the Shepherds.
1. Feed The Sheep
In the same way that Shepherds carefully feed the sheep, taking them to green pastures and leading them beside still waters, Pastors must carefully feed their people the word of God and discern what they need for growth. Dad always says that cattlemen are grass farmers. The "pasture," is a good metaphor for the atmosphere of a church. A faithful Shepherd of God's people must cultivate the ground, providing a healthy, thriving environment for them to learn, grow and teach in. In the same way that a cattleman seeds the land, Paul taught us that Christians sow the seeds of the Gospel, water them (bringing them to the Living Water) and patiently wait for God to give the growth.
2. Keep Watch
In the same way that Shepherds diligently keep watch over their flocks to protect them from harm, injury and predators, Pastors must diligently keep watch over their flocks to protect them from false teachers and temptations. Pastors watch over their flock to guide them away from temptation and to protect them from those who would expoit them, lead them astray or feed them poison, as the Bible calls them wolves in sheeps clothing.
3. Nurse them to Health
In the same way that a Shepherd tends a sick or injured sheep, a Pastor tends to both the physical and spiritual needs of people. As a church, we show people how much we care for their soul by taking care of physical needs such as food, clothing, medical help and offering various types of assistance and work when needed. In the same way that a cattleman takes a sick animal to the veterinarian, we take people who are physically sick, and much more importantly, those who are spiritually sick to the Great Physician, Jesus who heals.
4. Remember Whose Sheep These Are
Three times, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. When Peter replied "Yes." Jesus said Feed my lambs....Shepherd my sheep...Feed my sheep. While the tasks of a Shepherd symbolically show us the tasks of a Pastor, what happened in this story is very literal. The Shepherds faithfully and enthusiastically shared the Good News, the Whole story, with everyone they encountered. The whole story is all about Jesus. The Angel told the Shepherds that JESUS was the promised Messiah. He was the one the one that had been prophesied. He was the saviour. A multitude of angels praised God and declared what an incredible act of peace and goodwill this was on His part. The Shepherds immediately went to see Jesus and then told everyone about Him.
The Cycle of Faith
Ultimately, Jesus was sacrificed as our perfect Passover lamb, without spot and with blemish. Before He was qualified to be King, David was a shepherd, faithfully protecting his flock. It is fitting then, that Jesus, the Son of David is referred to as The Good Shepherd. All of these symbols point to one reality. We are Jesus' flock and He cares for us. There is a beautiful picture of the Great Commission given to the Shepherds and fulfilled by the Shepherds. In the same way that the Shepherds Heard the Good News, came to meet Jesus and then told others about him, we too are to share the good news so that others can meet Jesus and go on to tell even more people. I attend a service sometimes where the theme is "Hear, Believe and Obey." While the term is used to describe the life of a Believer, this is actually a great way to describe the 3 step process of the cycle of faith:
1. HEAR: We tell the good news of Jesus, just like someone told us
2. BELIEVE: They believe the word and accept Jesus as their Christ, their Messiah, their Savior
3. OBEY: They obey Jesus instructions at the Great Commission by going on to tell others and the cycle repeats.
The plan for spreading the Gospel is introduced in this passage from Luke 2. The good news of Jesus Christ is the hope of the world and the Gospel is the only way for a person to become a member of God's flock. The word SCRUPULOUS means to be diligent, meticulous and careful. We should all be as Scrupulous as Shepherds when it comes to the things of God.
__________________________________________________________________
Here is a link to my article on Psalm 23, which further demonstrates a Shepherd's care: http://thetrustworthyword.blogspot.com/2017/06/psalm-23-powerful-imagery-and-beautiful.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)