Righteousness and Freedom

Recently my thoughts focused on the concept of hunger and thirst for righteousness. Our Lord declares that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be satisfied. Such a hunger and thirst seems to mandate a willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to take us on an inward journey that we might discover the attitudes and desires which fertilize our thoughts and actions with unrighteousness. Such an inward look is necessary, but it is difficult—difficult because we fear the discovery of sinful attitudes, strongholds, or experiences which shatter our self-concept or the images we project to others. Often we avoid such a journey because of deep hurts, disappointments, or failures that we have managed to bury without knowing deliverance from them.  An inward look is difficult but necessary.

In Romans 6:15-23 the apostle Paul reveals his understanding of the tyranny of unresolved sin in the inner person. He clearly states that choices we make will determine either our freedom in the Lord or enslavement to selfish, shallow desires. In Romans 7 Paul takes the inward journey and acknowledges that he recognizes sin in his members. It is a difficult but blessed journey because Paul did not remain in the frustration of chapter 7. The inward journey is just that—an inward journey. The inward journey intends to take us beyond ourselves into the very heart and love of God. Thus, Paul can say in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He goes on in Romans 8:11 and in verses 28-39 to describe the steadfastness of our Lord’s love for us, which fills us with hope and security.  

Therefore, as we dare to allow hunger and thirst to call us to an inward journey, the following wonderful things occur:  we find freedom from the tyranny of sin; we are filled with the steadfast love of God as we move beyond ourselves; we are enabled to love ourselves and others; we are enabled to fulfill the two great commandments—to the love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, strength and soul, and to love others as ourselves—upon which all the law and the prophets hang.

“Those who abide in Me will produce much fruit,” our Lord declares.

Piety—A Real Consequence of Abiding

It has been sometime since I offered an entry to my blog, for many reasons. Life has been very busy with moving, a daughter’s wedding, and other life considerations. The greatest reason however is due to what our Lord has been speaking into my life concerning faith and authentic Christian piety.

 

Once in my early experience I would hear the word piety used to negatively describe one person or the other.  It gave me the impression that piety was a term of derision for those who were overly spiritual.  I however have come to understand piety as a virtuous quality that has been lost in much of western Christianity.  It is true that a false piety feigned or projected in a rather nauseous manner seems to be an expression of self-righteousness or spiritual superiority, but this false projection or image does not negate true piety. 

True piety is the essential quality of Christian growth, and in my mind it results from an authentic poverty of spirit, a mourning of one’s sinfulness, an attitude of meekness, a spirit of mercy and a hunger for righteousness, all of which give rise to a pure heart. In brief, it is what sanctification is all about—to be conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of the Father. 

True piety is the result of an abiding relationship with our Lord that calls us to an inward cleansing and renewal. Such a renewal draws us deep into God’s love and nature, and thus creates a supreme love for Him and generates loving acceptance and ministry to others. In addition to saturating life in love, true piety results in a peace and joy, which only our Heavenly Father can bestow through the Holy Spirit.  It is a life of fruitfulness for the Kingdom of God.

John 17:19|ESV

And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Once again, let us abide.

What about Gethsemane?

I have been thinking of Gethsemane since preparing for this year’s celebration of the Holy Week. Yesterday I read an encouraging devotional about the need each believer has to know the recommissioning experience Peter had beside the Sea of Galilee with our Lord after the resurrection. It caused the question to rise in my mind about Gethsemane. What about Gethsemane in relationship to the daily lives of believers? 

In the shadow of the cross the Son of God knelt in agony beyond my ability to understand or empathize with. There He spoke the words which would change life and eternity forevermore: "Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." It seems to me that our Lord denied Himself, took up His cross, and followed the will of the Father. I think another way of saying it is that He loved the Father with all of his heart, mind, and soul (strength); and he loved us as Himself. My thoughts raise a question. If it is true that the Lord denied Himself and took up His cross (that is, loved the Father with all of His heart, mind, and soul; and loved us as Himself), should Gethsemane be a part of every believer’s life? 

My answer to this question is, "Yes, it should and will be a part of every believer’s life." Jesus clearly states in Luke 9:23 that anyone who would follow Him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him. We each are commanded to obey the Great Commandment, with the promise of the Father and His presence if we do so (John 14:20-24). When do we therefore encounter our Gethsemane?  

We encounter it whenever we are faced with a decision to do what honors the Lord, or what benefits us, or what provides for our comfort. We encounter Gethsemane when we are discouraged and want to change life to be less demanding or difficult rather than be faithful to Him. The minister faces it whenever he is faced with the unrelenting pressure of those who oppress and control. A wife faces Gethsemane whenever she is discouraged and feeling unloved. The businessman faces it whenever he must choose between what is right and godly or what is profitable. The Christian leader faces it whenever he or she has the choice to relate to people out of what is most comfortable, safe, or beneficial for him or her, rather than obeying the Great Commandment. The young person or student faces it when making choices of going along with the group or honoring God and parents. Yes, we each face our own Gethsemane, each and every day, each and every decision. Some days our decisions are more agonizing than others. The Lord therefore says to each of us, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”  

Abiding—well, it is all about prayer, and sometimes it is in the agony of our own Gethsemanes.

Faith, Relationship, and Prayer

My wife checks her email every day. She normally finds an e-mail with a new recipe from a website she subscribes to. When we go to a doctor, we are prescribed a course of treatment to enable us to return to health. Often we are counseled about living life in way which prevents illnesses or debilitating diseases. Appealing and satisfying food needs recipes, healing needs a prescribed plan, and the ability to live healthily requires goals, discipline, and often endurance.

  

This past week we celebrated Easter Sunday. For Christians it is an annual day of celebration and rejoicing. We rejoice because our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is indeed risen from the dead and is alive forevermore! In the words of the old hymn "I serve a risen Savior; He’s in the world today." We rejoice to know He is alive.  

Thinking on the implications of the resurrection I was reminded of two scriptures. One is Romans 6:5-11. In this text Paul explains that one who is born again has indeed experienced that the old person (the old person separated from God by sin and in bondage to sin) has been put to death. In the same way he declares the one who is put to death in Christ is raised in Him. Verse 10 is significant because it emphasizes that the one raised in Christ Jesus is to live a new life unto God—a resurrected life. Verse 11 commands the one who is truly born again to be aware he or she is to live a resurrected life. 

The second scripture is found in Romans 8:11 which declares that “… He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” As I write this moment, a third scripture comes to mind. In Galatians 2:20 Paul says as a Christ follower, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." All of the scriptures emphasize a born-again Christ follower is to live a resurrected life. The question is: How do we live such a life? What does living a resurrected life look like, as we live it in this crazy and confused world?  

Jesus anticipated this question prior to His crucifixion, and He sought to prepare His disciples by providing a recipe or prescription for them. In John 14:1-14 our Lord teaches that one will live the resurrected life by faith in Him—faith in Him who establishes a place, in the very heart and presence of God, for all who are born again—faith in Him as the One who will guide us in the way, instruct us in truth, and enable us to know His life as we live the resurrected life toward the fulfillment of the hope He establishes. He also tells us He has revealed the Father to us in all He said and did. 

Jesus was even more majestic when He declared, “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.” The resurrected life is therefore eternal life, as we live in a personal and real knowing relationship with our Heavenly Father (John17:3). Then finally He sends those who are His Christ followers into the world to do greater works than He did because they will be empowered to declare and serve the Kingdom of God. He explained that the preeminent need for a Christ follower is prayer in His name—to live the resurrected life in a consistent prayerful relationship with the Father through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

The prescription or recipe is to believe in God and in His Son Jesus Christ, to abide in a confident and real relationship with God as Abba Father, and to prayerfully live life in the hope of eternity. Thus Jesus explains that we abide in Him and He in us.  

Let us celebrate our Lord's resurrection by abiding in His love, praising our Heavenly Father forever, as we endure in His hope to His glory.

Dark Days, Angels of Light, and Glorious Grace

When reading through the Bible we find times when great people of God experience days of despair, disappointment, uncertainty, and even confusion. Most people recall the experience of Elijah who, after evoking and beholding the glory of our Heavenly Father on Mount Carmel, ran to a cave in despair. When reading the Psalms of David we often find him lamenting his plight before our God. Jeremiah and so many others of the prophets of God had dark days come upon them as they faithfully served their God. We know the Apostle Paul describes such an experience in his life in First Corinthians 1:8-11, and then he affirms dark days are experienced by most believers who faithfully serve the Lord in chapter 4, verses 7-9 of the same letter. Perhaps we can empathize with these experiences as we seek to live faithfully in Christ Jesus.

I was experiencing one such day recently. It seemed that concern for the future, obstacles to growth in the church’s ministry, and the grief expressed by some of the Lord's children over wrong attitudes and spirits they have experienced over the years from some who profess to be followers of Christ all seemed to coalesce to shroud my day in a dark cloud of despair. Of course such dark days are not pleasant for me, nor do I suppose them to be appreciated by others, but this day was a day of wonderful opportunity. It was in fact an opportunity to meet the Lord’s angels of light and experience His grace through them.

I encountered the first angel of light as I was seated with a fellow pastor and wonderful brother in Christ. He was sharing out of a pastor’s heart of care and concern for his people and the ministry the Lord had placed him in. He shared from his experience, but was speaking into my life words of encouragement and comfort which strengthened my soul.

After a time of wonderful fellowship and prayer I next found myself standing with a young man who was himself seeking to find how he might be faithful to His Lord. As we were speaking together the Spirit of God began to impress upon me the wonderful privilege afforded me. Here I was standing in a beautiful church building, speaking to a young believer who was a member of another church, and from a totally different cultural background half a world away. It was a moment of a marvelous and humbling reality. The question which came to my mind was: Who am I to deserve such a privilege as this? It was a moment of encounter with an angel of light further dispelling the darkness which seemed to have shrouded my day.

Then I went to a time of small group prayer. A wonderful brother of Christ came in to the small group and began to speak to another person about the song which was on his heart as he awoke that morning. It was to “give the sacrifice of praise unto the Lord.” It called to mind Hebrews 13, and as I turned to read this wonderful chapter, the Spirit of God spoke through the Word of God to shatter the darkness, dispel the cloud, and totally remove any remnant of the shroud of darkness as I realized anew our Lord's power and His presence. I was strengthened and renewed in joy as I heard my Lord call me once again to His side, instruct me from His hope, and pour His abundant grace out upon me. Truly I wonder, who is deserving of such a love and such marvelous grace?

In days of darkness we cannot seem to see the Light—yet the Light sees us and sends His angels of light. Through them He pours out immeasurable grace upon grace. How many times have we encountered His angels of light and missed them? How many times could we be angels of light in others lives but allow our busyness to keep us from it?

Let us abide so we might know His grace in the darkest of days, as He ministries through His angels of light.

Faithfulness, Opposition, and Faith

Christmas of 2010, the joy of celebrating Christ's day, has passed. All disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ have once again marveled at the wonder of God who has so loved the disenfranchised, the broken-in-spirit, the ones laboring in self-destructive self-centeredness, and the ones afflicted with the guilt of failure and sin. We continue to be amazed that He would send the Redeemer of the world to them. His disciples have once again gathered with the shepherds, the wise men, the innkeeper, and with Simeon in the temple to rejoice at the salvation of their Lord. As I reflect upon the incomprehensible grace of our Heavenly Father in Christ Jesus our Lord, the words of an old hymn come to mind: "Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble." 

We continue to marvel with amazement at the grace of our Heavenly Father even as we have now crossed the threshold of a new year. 2010 is now another of those years gone by, and 2011 lies before us with all of its unknown hopes, blessings, opportunities, possibilities and challenges. We know it is filled with some, if not all, of these things for each of our lives. 

How will I face and journey through 2011 as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ? This is the question which comes to my mind. Perhaps those who are reading this join me in the experience of prayerful consideration of our level of faithfulness to our Lord and the disciplines which enable us to abide in our Lord Jesus Christ as we journey through this next year. Our burden is not to just make it through the next year, but to do so faithfully fulfilling our Lord's will for us even when we encounter opposition along the paths of our lives.

Opposition comes from circumstances, from controlling or rebellious people, from strongholds in our lives, or our own personal failures. How do we faithfully continue day to day to follow our Lord and His redemptive activity in and through our lives? This would seem to be an appropriate question for churches as well.

I once again began reading through Deuteronomy as I continue to abide in the word of God through daily devotional reading. As I read in Chapter 2 of Moses’ recounting a portion of the journey of the people of God, I took note of three important aspects of a successful journey with God, which I offer for your prayerful considerations.

First I noticed Moses was able to discern the voice of God in the midst of many responsibilities, challenges, criticism, and even failures on the part of the people of God. This of course is a result of Moses’ response to God's call to cooperate with God the Father in His redemptive purposes. Moses had responded with a singular commitment to His call. All believers are saved by the grace of God in Christ Jesus. If we as disciples are to be able to discern the voice or will of God, we must respond with a singular commitment to cooperate with God in His redemptive purposes and love, in and through our lives.

Second, I noticed even as the people of God faithfully followed God’s leading, they encountered situations of potential or active opposition. Four such situations are recorded in Deuteronomy Chapter 2.

• First is the potential of conflict with the people of Esau as they were to pass through their land.
• Then we find the people of God in a similar situation as they journeyed through the lands of Moab.
• Again God’s people encountered the same scenario with the people of Ammon. 
• The fourth was very real opposition from King Sihon, who came out against the people of God as they were faithfully journeying with God.

When they experienced the first three occasions of possible opposition, God gave instruction to His people through Moses that they were not to go against the peoples that posed the possible challenges. The reason He gave for them not to do so is important. He was at work as the Sovereign of His creation, and His purposes were greater than the comfort, reputation, or desires of His people.

In our journey as disciples through this next year, we will encounter opposition. The opposition might be in circumstances, a change in direction, or through controlling or rebellious people around us. If we are to continue through 2011 faithfully, we will need to be abiding with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in order to discern His activity and cooperate with it.

Third I noticed that the instruction of our Lord was different when His people encountered King Sihon. The people of God were being faithful—even in the face of opposition. Even when God’s people follow Him faithfully, they may encounter intimidating opposition. Such opposition can evoke improper responses out of fear or even arrogance. The Israelites had learned a lesson at Kadesh Barnea where they rebelled against God because they thought the opposition before them was so great they could not continue the journey into the Promised Land as God was directing.

But this time they continued to be faithful to God's will and ways. They did not set themselves against King Sihon; they simply continued their journey with the Lord. King Sihon however rose up against them. He and his people stood against the people of God as they were seeking to be faithful. In verse 24 God spoke to Moses saying, "Go up against King Sihon for I have given him, his people, and his lands to you."

As disciples of Christ we will meet opposition, and we must abide in order to discern our Lord's activity in it. Sometimes we will simply move away from the opposition because of the Lord's activity, but at other times being faithful means we will meet and overcome the opposition. We need to exercise faith in the difficult circumstances. We must trust that our Lord is accomplishing His redemptive purposes, as we trust Him to work in us and sustain us in these difficult times.

We sometimes however must stand steadfastly and not submit to those people who would control or demand our submission to them when they stand in opposition to what we know is our Lord's will and ways as we continue our journey. We also must remember to stand steadfastly His way, empowered and guided by His Spirit, with complete faith in His presence and power.

We continue our journey with our Lord through life as we enter yet another year. Let us abide that we may be faithful on the journey, even in the midst of opposition, with complete dependence upon our Lord Jesus Christ who has loved us and given Himself for us. Let us abide as we remember His promise to never leave or forsake us.

Spiritual Lupus, Dry Bones, and Reconciliation

It has been some time since the last blog. Several significant events have occurred since my last blog. One of the most significant was the time I spent with fellow pastors and church members from the International Baptist Convention and the ministry of the guest speaker to the convention. It was a blessed oasis of spiritual refreshment. Recently the Lord has been very present to guide in significant messages for ministry, and a spirit of renewal seems to be growing among His people in His body at IBC Munich. It is an exciting time for the church.

Today I am mindful of a devastating disease which attacks joints, tissue, and blood cells of the body. Lupus for some unknown reason turns on the body and attacks it. It can have a tragic effect on the organs of the body and will severely limit the function of the body and the quality of life of the person afflicted by it.

As I think of this disease I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:18 as he speaks about the preeminence of Christ, who is the head of the church. He then identifies the church as His body. The image of the church as the body of Christ is used by Paul in I Corinthians 12 to describe the importance to the body of each member of the body. I highlight this in order to suggest that often we find the body of Christ afflicted with Spiritual Lupus as the members of the body seem to turn on one another. The consequence is that the body is so focused on itself that it eventually comes to a place of compromise and defeat. This can even result in the destruction of a local body of Christ. Spiritual Lupus is devastating when it afflicts a church, because it can reduce the church to a "valley of dry bones" as seen by the prophet Ezekiel.

The question which is put to Ezekiel is, "Can these dry bones live?" (Ezekiel 37:3) Dr. John James answers this question for churches that seem to be devastated by this dreadful disease of Spiritual Lupus. He declares it in the title of his book: Dry Bones Can Live: How to Be a Part of a Healthy Church. Dr. James emphasizes that the treatment of reconciliation and covenant should be applied when a church appears to be a "valley of dry bones."

Dr. James focuses us on Matthew 18:15-20. Today I want to highlight two points made by Dr. James. First, when we are offended, hurt, or perceive ourselves to be the object of someone else’s negative judgment of us, we should go to that person and seek to be reconciled. Second, if the person does not hear us, then we are to take one or two others along with us. These two points will determine our personal spiritual health and the health of the church, and could even provide the cure for Spiritual Lupus.

Note how this can be the cure. First we are to go to the one we believe has offended us and speak directly to him or her in love. This is a cure for Spiritual Lupus, because we often go to those that we know will support or empathize with us, and we deliver a negative report to them about the “one who has offended us.” I wonder if any of us have ever been guilty of doing such a thing. (Perhaps we should all read I John 1:8 before we answer the question.) The moment we deliver such a negative report, we introduce the dreadful disease of Spiritual Lupus into our spiritual lives and the life of our church.

Next note that if our brother/sister doesn't hear us, then we are to take one or two others with us. This will necessitate a discussion of the offense with others. It is here that those who are receiving the report bear the responsibility. Dr. James points out the question which must be asked when one person begins to share a negative report about another: "Are you telling me this in order for me to be part of the reconciliation process?" This question is the preventative medicine we need to have in our hearts and minds in order that we do not introduce Spiritual Lupus into our lives. We must apply the preventative medicine, but the cure also requires restitution. We need to be able to go to those about whom we have given a negative report, and we need to ask their forgiveness; then we must covenant with the Lord not to deliver a negative report about another in the future.

If Spiritual Lupus is affecting your life and the life of our church, then let me recommend that you reconcile with your brothers and/or sisters and covenant with our Lord not to do so in the future. Such action is, after all, the only cure. Let us be reconciled that we might fully abide.

Seasons, Life, and The Preacher

Today my morning walk took me through our beautiful little community south of Munich, along a gorgeous path through a beautiful park, and on the way into a very peaceful forest. As I walked, I noticed golden leaves floating from the branches where they lived and thrived through the seasons of spring and summer. The leaves fell and joined others, as together they formed a golden carpet over the paths along which I walked. As the cool breeze of autumn refreshed my face, I began to think how seasons change to offer a continual feast of beauty to those who can have the desire or capability to perceive it.

Such an experience often calls my attention to life and life experiences. I of course reflect on the glory of our Heavenly Father expressed in and through His creation, but today I was caused to think of the grief which had suddenly invaded the lives of people who are in some way very significant to me. Some from many years ago, others more recently, have been thrown into a time of grief. As I reflected on their lives and their losses, I allowed my thoughts to once again reflect on the realities of life. Life is beautiful in every respect. It is unimaginable that one could witness the birth of a child and not be humbled by the majesty of God as He once again bestows life. We then witness children growing up, and so often we fail to appreciate the beauty of all the changes involved in their lives individually and in their family’s life as they change and mature. Maturity brings with it preparation for an ultimate independence as they make their way through life.

The joys experienced, achievements made, the challenges overcome, relationships formed and relationships lost all can join together to weave a beautiful tapestry of life. Some tapestries portray a life filled with hope, even when loss is very real and often repeated. Even when joy fades, failures disappoint, or life becomes uncertain, hope sustains. Lives filled with such hope portray a special beauty through all the seasons of life, and this beauty glorifies God and sustains a joy. Other tapestries seem to picture lives lived in hopelessness. These lives seem to be characterized by despair, often bitterness, emptiness, and a tragic self-focus.

Life is wonderful, but no life is free from loss—and all loss will cause a sense of grief for each one who has experienced it. What makes the difference between the two is the subject of many explanations, philosophical discussions, sermons, and thoughts. As I walked, I thought of those who had suffered recent loss and the words of our Lord echoed in my mind, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." The question is, “From where does this comfort come?” The Bible explains that hope is not only the basis for our endurance, but it is also the source of our comfort. For hope flows from the very nature of our Heavenly Father's love revealed in His Son Jesus Christ, who has loved us so much that He gave Himself for us.

Solomon wrote a truth thousands of years ago which is relevant to life for each of us today. After his reflection on almost every aspect of life he wrote, "The end of the matter; all has been heard, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind." To understand this ultimate truth about life is to be able to know the beauty and wonder of life and the comfort of our Heavenly Father's love in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This leads me to once again encourage us to abide in Christ, for to abide in Christ is to know the hope of the very love of God. This hope reminds us of our purpose of life, and it provides the hope in the love of our Heavenly Father, which enables us to rejoice in life through all of its seasons and, yes, be comforted in our grief.

Good Seed, Weeds, and Harvest

My practice is to maintain a routine schedule of prayerfully reading through the Bible and interacting with the Scripture. As I do so, I experience the Lord's ministering to me through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I receive much needed encouragement; other times I receive instruction and wisdom concerning matters about which I am seeking answers and/or guidance. Often times I am convicted or even rebuked by the Spirit as I am confronted in the Word.

Recently I have been reading through the Gospel of Matthew. Each time I begin to read through Matthew I always look forward to the parables of Chapter 13. This past week I once again was enjoying reading these parables. My attention was arrested as I read "The Parable of the Weeds" in verses 24-30 and our Lord’s explanation of the parable in verses 36-43.

Most who are reading this remember the story. A farmer sowed good seed in his field, and he did so with the anticipation of a productive harvest. His success in raising a crop which would produce a good harvest was threatened when his enemy came and sowed bad seed in the field.

As I read this portion of the story, I was reminded of a conversation I once had with a wheat farmer. He explained that he had to be careful each year as he harvested his crop because there was a weed he called "cheat" that would grow in his wheat field along with his crop. He explained the problem was that the "cheat" (weed) would look just like the wheat until it was almost mature and ready for harvest. He also explained that he could not get rid of the "cheat" until harvest time because he would damage too much of his other crop to do so. He had to wait, and then when harvesting the wheat he had to be careful to sift out the "cheat" because he would destroy the integrity of the crop if it were allowed to be included with the wheat.

The dangers the farmer spoke of are represented in the parable told by our Lord. The first danger is that of the crop being destroyed by the weeds sowed by the enemy. We realize this danger and realize the weeds cannot be allowed in the final harvest. We therefore are often tempted to go and root them out of the field in some way—the second danger. Our Lord explains that if we were to make such an attempt, we would destroy the good crop while doing so. Our motives would be correct, but our self-reliant approach would be destructive.

This reminds me of those times when I have been guilty of falling prey to being the spiritual policeman for a congregation. I also am reminded of the destruction of churches and of many spiritual lives that have been compromised when the self-righteous of a congregation take it upon themselves to attack others because they have judged them to be weeds. Such people seem to have a sense of self importance and arrogance in their approach, which has more to do with their pride or agendas than it does with the holiness of God. Weeds can be destructive in more ways than just by contaminating the crop. They can be used by the enemy to tempt sincere people to wrong attitudes and actions which will be more destructive than contamination.

Weeds however cannot be allowed to be part of the harvest, or the harvest will be ruined. Here we find much instruction from our Lord concerning weeds. They are among us, but we must be guided by our Lord's wisdom in our relationship with them. First we must live as the good seeds—by honoring the ways and will of our Lord as we grow as citizens of the Kingdom of God. We must not allow ourselves to be tempted to hatred, resentment, or self-righteous behavior toward the weeds, but we must continue to trust our Lord. The harvest is the end of the age. The weeds may grow alongside the good wheat and may even look like wheat, but when the harvest comes (the end of the age) the weeds will be recognized for what they are and will be gathered out from among the children of the Kingdom and will be destroyed. How tragic for them. Perhaps if we remember the counsel of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love," some of the weeds might become true wheat and be included in the harvest.

As I read this parable once again I am encouraged, instructed, and challenged. I am encouraged to know that the harvest does not depend on my being the spiritual policeman. I am instructed by my Lord in how to continue, even when it seems like some weeds are around me, and I am challenged to take account of the hope that is within me.

Every person born of the Spirit knows and recognizes the destructive nature of unrepented sin in one’s life. All too many churches understand how the spiritual power of the congregation is limited by sin. In the same way many churches have experienced the destruction and compromise of their witness by the manner in which they chose to deal with the weeds. So let us so abide that we can respond to the weeds [and even those who destroy others as they try to remove the weeds] out of the Lord’s counsel, out of our trust in the Lord, and out of the Lord’s love.

Wisdom, Arrogance, and Peace

Today I am mindful of how dependent I am on wisdom. Not just any wisdom, however, will do. I must have wisdom from above. This being true, a legitimate question is How do we know wisdom which is from above?

To answer this question I turn to James 3:13-18. In this passage I find a type of wisdom which can best be described as arrogance. It seems everyone has an opinion, and everyone has a dominant yet basic motivation behind what he or she does. This is true in the Christian community as well as outside the church. It is even true of those who are faithful in attendance at church and in ministry.

According to this scripture arrogance is the expression of wisdom which is motivated by impure and selfish ambitions or desires. These ambitions can be legion. Motivations can be pure, or they can be selfish. Normally ambitious wisdom is characterized by a desire for and an insistence upon control or self-advancement. It is the kind of wisdom that cultivates important relationships, uses deceptive ploys, and manipulates people to achieve what one has determined to accomplish.

Ambitious wisdom normally breeds resentments, judgmentalism, self-righteousness, and even hatred toward others. It often seems to disregard the good of others and even the ultimate impact upon the witness of the name of the Lord and His church. It divides and condemns in order to justify itself.

However, wisdom from above, that is authentic wisdom, is discernable as well. Wisdom from above is first pure in its motives. It is wisdom that rises out of a sincere commitment to and love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Such wisdom enables obedience to His command to love God, oneself (appropriately) and others. It is reasonable—that is, it is willing to yield and give way when it recognizes an equal or more effective way of accomplishing the Lord's purposes.

Wisdom from above considers others and does not insist upon its own. Wisdom from above is peaceable. It may require sacrifice, but it will always defer to the truth of God. It does not compromise, but holds forth the teachings of the Scriptures as an authority intended to bring peace to life, family, community, and church. It is peace that flows from above through an abiding relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is the descriptive authority:

James 3:13–18 (ESV)
Wisdom from Above

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The final word in this portion of scripture is highly instructive to me: A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Jesus said it this way, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God."

Let us never call right wrong or wrong right, but let us be sowers of seeds in peace. Let us abide that we may know and exercise wisdom from above, be peacemakers, and avoid the evil traps of arrogance.

Church Growth

The commission of our Lord Jesus Christ to His people is to "... go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you, and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age." He is the one who has formed His local assemblies (church) through whom He desires to fulfill this commission. Each and every believer is sent into his or her home, workplace, community, and church with this commission. Every church must be sensitive to this commission.

It seems to me evangelical churches take this commission very seriously. There are many books describing many excellent methods for doing church growth, advancing philosophies of ministry, and many courses which teach leaders how to organize in order to accomplish church growth. Church growth is advanced as being obedient and fulfilling this commission. I admire and embrace many of these concepts, but I have being thinking about the basics. What is true church growth, and how do we really accomplish it, even after we are organized, mobilized, and philosphised up?

Two scriptures come to my mind as I think on this. Both are from the gospel of John. The first is John 4:13, "...whoever drinks of the water I give him (her) will never be thirsty again. The water I give him (her) will become in him (her) a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The second verse is John 7:38, "Whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

These words clearly indicate that true ministry is about people. Yet, it’s not just caring for human needs or providing encouragement through human efforts or affections. It is all these things, but it is much more. True ministry is first loving God, and as a consequence of encountering the infinite joy of His character, ministering to others. Then true ministry is bringing care to others out of the joy of knowing Him, in order that those who will can encounter the ministry of their Heavenly Father, in the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit. This seems to be the Lord's plan and provision for fulfilling the Great Commission.

It seems to me that church growth at its very basic level is about loving God and caring for people. Let us abide, so His divine power will meet the needs of those around us in family, workplace, community, and church. Let us fulfill His commission with His plan, knowing His promised presence, and in the joy of our daily encounter with Him.

Gratitude

Once again I have been considering life and ministry, and as I do so, one word comes prominently to mind. It is the word gratitude.

Through the story our Lord tells of the day laborers, our Lord reminds us of how central the mindset of gratitude is for our lives. The apostle Paul in Philippians includes the practice of thanksgiving as an important part of rejoicing in the Lord and prayerfully presenting our anxieties, needs, and even desires to the Lord. Paul explains that gratitude is central to knowing the peace of God, which only God can bestow upon us in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was reminded of this recently as a member of IBC Munich was discussing the world circumstances and some of the devastation so many in the world are experiencing. The normal approach would have been to compare the pleasant circumstances he and those who are a part of our church normally enjoy with those who are experiencing devastation and say, “I am grateful we are not experiencing such circumstances." That however was not the attitude expressed. Rather, his comment was, "We see these things others are going through, and yet we complain about every little thing." The comment is both an encouragement and a rebuke—a very insightful way of reminding us of how important it is to maintain a sense of gratitude.

So what am I grateful for today? I am of course grateful for my life circumstances, the security in which I live, the privilege of living in a country I can enjoy, the relatively good health my family and I are experiencing, the wellbeing of my children at present, the friends with whom I share life. I am grateful for these things, but I am reminded that our gratitude rises out of a much more profound reality—hope in Christ.

I recently stood at the bedside of a critically ill person, and as we spoke together, I was reminded in a very, very profound way of what we as believers have that cannot be taken away and that undergirds all of our life. It is the love of God, which provides an incorruptible hope that cannot be tainted by any earthly or eternal experience or circumstance. His love has been demonstrated for us through the death on the cross of the Son of God and through the power of the resurrection. When thinking on this hope and how much our Heavenly Father loves us (He allowed Jesus, who lived in perfect righteousness, to die for my unrighteousness so I can live with hope), I can only humbly say, "Thank you, Lord.”

Let me commend the reading of Romans 8:31-39 to you today, as we continue to abide with hope and gratitude in fellowship with Him who has loved us and given Himself for us.

The Best of Times and the Worst of Times

The quote from A Tale of Two Cities, "it was the best of times and it was the worst of times" is an appropriate description of this past month since my last posting. The anticipated visit by some friends was very much on my mind and deterred me from a focus on the visit to Interlaken, Switzerland, which our church had provided for my wife and me. However, the day of my arrival in Switzerland, I was reminded of the joy it is to be a part of the International Baptist Convention and to be the pastor of the International Baptist Church of Munich. Meeting old friends, and the fellowship we enjoyed with new ones, was an encouraging experience. The opportunity to travel around the lakes and view the beauty of our Lord's creation and to enjoy laughing with friends from all across the convention was truly refreshing and energizing.

The first evening of the conference worship set an expectation of tremendous teaching and preaching from the word of God. The remainder of the services did not disappoint. Each time either Stuart McAllister or Anthony Carter spoke, I was lifted in spirit and edified in my relationship with our Heavenly Father in Christ Jesus. There were many times the Holy Spirit challenged me in the word. These moments required that I spend time reflecting and praying. This resulted in much encouragement and a strengthened hope and faith in the Lord. There was also need for repentance and planned adjustments in my life, as I continue life with the Lord.

The promises of God for our church were renewed in my heart and in my mind. I was encouraged to remember the joy that is available to Christians, even in the midst of the life’s struggles.

The week was not without difficulty. However, the teachings of the apostle Peter, in I Peter 1:3-9, continue to be true. It is in our trials of various kinds that our faith is purified—the dross of selfishness and misguided priorities or attitudes surfaces. The real motives for our actions, even our ministry involvements, become apparent; and we are required to look to the Lord for forgiveness and encouragement in our personal growth. His faithfulness in both serves to strengthen our faith.

Another passage I reflected on is Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In Philippians 4:4-9 Paul gives us three important aspects of remaining steadfast in the Lord. First, rejoice in the sovereignty of God, knowing He relates to His children in steadfast love. This knowledge is the source of our strength, joy, hope, and help. Then Paul encourages us to manage life by faith in the Lord, who has so powerfully demonstrated His love for us. Paul says we are to seek the Lord, who is our resource, through prayer, supplication, and with gratitude whenever the daily experiences, or great struggles or disappointments tempt us to anxiety. Seeking the Lord in these ways enables us to receive the peace that God bestows— peace which we do not understand but can experience. In verses 8 and 9 Paul challenges us to remember that knowing the presence of God in our lives is a matter of where we set our minds. We can choose to set our minds on the negative experiences and realities of a very corrupt world, or we can choose to set our minds on those things which are pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. To choose the latter is to choose to know the Presence of the God of Peace in our lives.

Let us abide in the best of times and in the worst of times.

Heaven on Earth

Today as I was returning from a long walk in the forest I encountered a very precious young lady out enjoying the sunshine. She greeted me as her pastor and began to speak to me about her life and her recent experience of love after lamenting her life for several months. It reminded me of a common experience of many believers or churches.

We find ourselves having made the wrong decision in the face of temptation, or we say the wrong word in a moment of insecurity or anxiety. Churches find themselves embroiled in conflict and confusion without many, if any, knowing the real reason why. When these experiences occur we are heartbroken, and we grieve. Oh, how we wish we could take back the word, back up the clock and make a decision led of the Lord, or somehow unwind the confusion created by conflict in relationships and churches. We grieve and wish we could undo them, but sadly new beginnings and correction for past sins are not possible for us.

What is not possible for us, however, is possible with God in our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot undo our sin or wipe away some of the consequences, but we can be reconciled to our Lord by admitting our mistakes, asking Him to teach us and to strengthen us in Him at the point of our weaknesses. Such confession brings His forgiveness, and we are reconciled to Him. When we are restored we rejoice in His goodness and are able then to demonstrate the same goodness to others as they need our grace to be restored to relationship as well.

We cannot undo our sin or our mistakes, but we can be forgiven through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we can forgive others. Such restoration calls us beyond ourselves and our failures or our difficulties. It lifts us above the shortcomings and mistakes of others and draws us ever upward with an attitude of joy and thanksgiving for the love and grace of our Heavenly Father expressed in the sending of His Son Jesus Christ.

We at IBC Munich turn to the Lord with rejoicing and thanksgiving for His goodness. We invite all who will to come and join us as we learn and celebrate Heaven on Earth. This Sunday we begin a series of sermons from the life and teaching of Christ entitled “Heaven on Earth.” In the Pastor's Club we will be telling the story of a man named Christian, and in the youth time we will continue looking at how we can avoid wasting the life our Heavenly Father has given us. Come join us as we continue to abide.

Life Stability

Perhaps I am unique in life, but I suspect many can identify with me. I have always felt myself capable and believed that somehow I would make it through the difficult moments or the trials of life. This however does not prevent me from moments when I am filled with anxiety or times when stress seems to be the most dominant aspect of life for me.

However I know another experience as well. I have known and continue to know peace in conflict, rest in uncertainty, love when rejected, and hope when all seems lost and desperate. How do we know these things? For believers the word "faith" jumps into one’s mind. We are quick to declare life stability is by faith, and we are normally even quicker in prescribing "faith" to others.

Recently while reading the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) again my mind, and yes, my heart was impressed with the words of our Lord in Matthew 7: 24-27. You will recall this passage as our Lord's conclusion to His Sermon on the Mount. Here He describes faith as He prescribes "faith" as the ultimate remedy for anxiety. He says the ones who hear these words of mine and who do them will be like a house (life) built on a rock which withstands the torrents of life which may assail it with a barrage or threat, one after another.

This seems to be a picture of "faith"—believing enough to “do” what He teaches—and it is His plan for life stability. Let us abide, that we can "hear" and have the strength of the Spirit to "do" what He teaches as the way to life stability.

Blessed Are They Who Mourn

I have recently been drawn back to another passage of scripture from the Beatitudes. It is recorded in Matthew 5:4. One cannot easily understand this passage without understanding the first of the Beatitudes which states, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God." One very concise understanding of who the poor in spirit are is that the poor in spirit are those who have come to understand they are in reality lost and adrift in the sea of opinions, experiences, and futility—all of which are detached from the knowledge of God. The opposite of poor in spirit is arrogance; and arrogance shuts the door to the illuminating Spirit of God and denies one the ability to discover, rejoice in, and marvel at the goodness of God's glory.

Once one comes to a poverty of spirit and begins to taste the goodness of God, one can understand the paradox of "Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted." All of us are aware of the grief which invades one’s life when experiencing loss of one kind or another. The loss of a job, financial security, a valued friendship, one’s health, or the impending loss of the life of a loved one or friend all create a deep sense of grief. The one who relies on the Lord Jesus Christ and the counsel of Holy Scripture can find much comfort in these times. In fact such comfort is a part of the riches of the Kingdom of God.

The mourning this beatitude speaks of includes a deeper mourning over the realized sin in one’s life and the sin in the lives of others who reject the goodness of God. For me one of the most grievous of times is when I encounter an arrogance in myself (which is far too often) or in others upon whom I rely, which substitutes a shallow or simple pragmatic human opinion for a true understanding of the nature, ways, and will of our wonderful God. Such mourning always draws me back to the word of God and self-examination before the Lord, which allows for the ministry of the Holy Spirit to draw me closer to the heart and nature of my Heavenly Father. In these times I am brought to a purer dependence upon the Lord, and I find renewal through conviction and repentance, through instruction, or through the comfort of my Lord's renewed promises and presence. Thus, I am blessed by the Lord's comfort in my mourning.

This past week I was humbled to see just such comfort displayed by a child of God who is in a life-and-death struggle with metastasized cancer. As she was lamenting her health condition, she broke out into a beaming smile and a confident joy as she spoke of the hope which is hers in Christ Jesus. She is an abiding saint of God displaying the reality of comfort in response to her mourning.

Meekness

Two weeks ago I was asked to give a short explanation of why I understand the Lord's assignment for me at this time to be the under shepherd of IBC Munich. My reply was an honest but brief recounting of how my wife and I came to this unquestioned understanding. In the context of my reply I made a statement I have since come to regret. I stated I had to consider the life circumstances I was enjoying at the time as I was prayerfully considering the call back to Munich. I stated, "I was living the good life."

The "good life" was a reference to the fact that I was enjoying adequate and stable income; I was enjoying developing relationships; I was becoming more and more comfortable in the church we had joined; my job security was as reliable as it could be. In short, I was comfortable. We think of these as the characteristics of the "good life," but such thinking reflects the common values of a culture not conditioned by the ways and will of God. When we accept this definition of the "good life," it forms the foundation for our purpose and pusuits in life. We seek it by pursuing wealth or desiring to gain and assert power or influence in order to advance ourselves as we long for true happiness. More often than not we become self-centered, self-reliant, arrogant and consequently unhappy without even knowing it.

Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks a word in Matthew 5:5 which explodes this myth or mirage of our world. He declares wisdom which flows from the heart and nature of God as He says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Imagine inheriting the ability to live with a sense of fulfillment, of contentment with ourselves, and with an ever-increasing sense of love for others--to enjoy the beauty of this world as we experience the goodness of our Heavenly Father in Christ Jesus. It seems to me this concept of "inheriting the earth" brings a state of blessed joy and happiness which can be correctly defined as the "good life." Obviously standing between the words Blessed and the inherit the earth is the one character trait which enables one to experience "God's good life." It is meekness.

In both the Old and New Testaments meekness is always associated with quietness, gentleness, submission and humility. It has been defined by some as a quiet strength under the control of the Spirit. The study note in the ESV Study Bible describes the meek as "... those who do not assert themselves over others in order to further their own agendas in their own strength, but who will nonetheless inherit the earth because they trust in God to direct the outcome of events." Yet, another description of meekness is "the ability to live life with commitment to fulfilling the will of God as one lives in the ways of God and recieves His response with gratitude."

Meekness is a powerful life source, yet one cannot simply decide to be meek, for true meekness is bestowed by God in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Meekness is dependent upon one's faith in God, and one's faith in God will always result from an ever-increasing growth in one's understanding of the Heavenly Father's nature (His glory) as revealed by and in Christ Jesus.

To be blessed through meekness one must repent of unbelief and trust God for the forgiveness of unbelief based upon the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. To grow in this character trait of meekness one must continually seek knowledge of the very heart and nature of our Heavenly Father. Therefore, let us abide to live the true "good life."

Two Choices for Life

For serveral days now a very curious statement made by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians has been coming to mind over and over. It is found in Galatians 2:20. In Chapter 2 Paul adamantly declares that no one is justified by keeping the law of God, but that one can only be justified (declared to be just by God) by one's personal belief in Christ Jesus. Yet, Paul is very concerned that those who are true recipients of an additional birth by the Spirit of God do not think they can simply do as they please without regard for the holy nature of God. They simply cannot go on sinning, rebuilding those sinful habits, attitudes, and values; but rather they are to live a new life which is only available to them as followers of Christ. Thus he declares, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (ESV)

This statement of Paul in Galatians is similar to the one he makes in

Romans 6:9-13.

9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (ESV)

These verses from Paul's teaching in Romans 6 and from his own personal testimony in Galatians 2 make it abundantly apparent that everyone has a choice of two lives to live. One choice has devastating implications for life. A person can refuse any connection with God, either by ingnoring Him as the giver and sustainer of life or by relying only on one's ability to satisfy the law of God for acceptance with God. For those who would make this choice, they have only themselves to depend upon.

Those who make the choice now to accept Christ Jesus by faith have the ability to turn from the futility of life lived without hope or direction. They are the ones who do not rebuild the life of sinful attitudes, habits, or values; but rather they live by faith in Christ. They become aware of the soul-satisfying nature of the God of Creation, and His glory changes them into Christ-likeness and changes them to live in His ways, reflecting His glory.

The poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is often used to emphasize these choices which are available. The last stanza of his poem challenges each of us to consider how we will look back on life in the end. It reads,

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I wonder today what road we are choosing to travel, what life we are choosing to live. For those of you who are belivers in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us abide in the One who is living in us. For all of the members of our church, let us live unto God by faith in the One who has loved us and given Himself for us.

Two are better than one

Most will recognize the title of this blog as a quote from Ecclesiasties 4:9-12 in which we are reminded of our need for companions as we move through life. I was reminded of this wonderful life truth as I was contemplating a sermon I heard yesterday. The illustration of the Sandhill Crane was used to explain the relationship between those who lead and those who are led. One highlighted characteristic of these migrating birds was the fact that when one of the birds in someway becomes unable to fly and must land, a second bird drops from the sky and lands to be with the crippled or incapacitated bird. This illustrates that "two are better than one."

After declaring that two are better than one, the author of Ecclesiasties goes on to explain the benefit of having with us a friend, spouse, accountability partner, or other person who is abiding in Christ as we journey together into the presence and heart of God. The author says if one falls, the other can lift him up; the warmth of true Christian friendship warms the cold and difficult moments in life; there is a strength for the journey which rises from such true fellowship.

The value of such fellowship has been proven in my life as recent as this week. I was ill for a couple of days, I had not been sleeping well, and I had begun to think in critical and ungrateful ways. This led to my sharing with a friend, who challenged me to rethink life from the Lord's perspective and encouraged me toward a more thankful heart. Such a blessed experience should be shared by all of the Lord's children. At times one will be the weaker, the other the stronger. These roles reverse at other times. Let us not only abide, but let us abide together. For as we do so, we will form a three-fold cord with each other and our Lord; this cord is not easily broken. We are in fact a gift and provision to one another, given by the Lord for our journey together through life into the heart and presence of God.

Fruits as indicators

Enmity, strife, and divisions are discouraging and even devastating when conditioning relationships between family members, friends, Christians, and churches. I wonder what the causes are. The letter written by James in Chapter 4 informs us that the causes of war and strife are the unsatisfied selfish desires we have. He even explains that seeking only to fulfill one's own desires, ambitions, or agendas reveals we are not living in humility in relationship to our Heavenly Father.
Paul in Galatians 5:19 explains our attempts to justify ourselves or advance ourselves will always produce "fruits of the flesh," among which are counted enmity, strife, and divisions. Knowing these are the product of a life dependent on own efforts to fulfill God's will or advance oneself or one's agenda or unrepentent sin should challenge us when we find we are experiencing these "fruits of the flesh."

Perhaps we should look to see if we are truly humble before the Lord. Do we truly recognize how poor in spirit we are? Do we truly know the work of the Holy Spirit? The major questions we must ask are, are we truly alive in the Spirit and do we seek to keep in step with the Spirit, or are we doing our own self-exalting, controlling thing? James tells us God has a better life for us and then challenges us to humble ourselves unto Him. (James 4:1-11)

These things are a matter of daily prayer. Let us abide with a humble attitude, seeking to keep in step with the Holy Spirit of God.