Mark 13:20
“If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
Mark 13:22
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Mark 13:27
And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Titus 1:1
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—
Romans 11:5
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
Revelation 17:14
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
The message of this week’s lesson is not how bad it will be before Jesus returns, but that Jesus will return. In this interlude, Jesus is again addressing his disciples about the things that must transpire before He returns. Interestingly, at this time we can divide the disciples into three groups: One who forsakes Jesus and His message (Judas), the rest who all will eventually be martyred for the sake of the Gospel and John, the Beloved, who will live until his death in exile on the isle of Patmos. From then until now, these three groups have remained in Christendom, some grow weary of waiting and return to the cares and concerns of the world. Many have died as martyrs, even to this present day. And still more have lived their entire lives in hope, with the faith that Jesus would soon return without seeing the actualization of the Blessed event occur in their lifetime.
Subsequently, history records many strange events and prophecy provides glimpses of many more. Schisms have formed within the Church and cults and false ‘messiahs’ have formed out side of Her over the misinterpretation of end time events. Many within and outside the Church have prophesied the return of Jesus at this time or that, with themselves some how at a premier position of authority when He arrives. Dates and times have been set and reset, time and time again, only to be debunked after the date passes with no Return.
The strength of the lesson this week is not about when he will return or what will transpire up to that time. The strength of the lesson this week is that in Jesus rests the power and ability to return. He is the Resurrection. He is the Truth and the Light. All Power, all Authority rests with Him. Keep Jesus as the center of your focus. Don’t get distracted. Don’t lose Hope. Whatever the eventualities are before you, whether it’s financial ruin, sickness, disease, death. On a larger scale there’s world wide economic collapse, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and other natural disasters. There’s even theories of planet killing meteors passing near our earth.
Jesus is telling the disciples (and us) that no matter the circumstance, God is in control. Complete control. The other thing Jesus wants you to know: You are a part of His eventuality. He has reserved a place for you in eternity and He will come personally to bring you into the Glory that awaits you whenever that is. My advice to you: stay in the boat (see below). Keep the Faith. All of these things will one day cause us all to stand before Jesus and proclaim in wonder and worship, as the disciples did below, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Be encouraged!
.wb
John 5:25
Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
Matthew 14:33
Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 20, 2011: Jesus Came to Serve (Mark 10:35-45)
John 13:6
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
John 13:8
… Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
John 13:14
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
1 Timothy 5:10
and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
Romans 12:20
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Proverbs 22:29
Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings…
Psalm 116:16
Truly I am your servant, LORD; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.
Psalm 100:2
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Headed for Calvary, Jesus has to finish preparing His disciples for leadership. These are the men who will lead the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Future Apostles. Giants in the Kingdom. Counted among the twenty four elders. Chosen to sit at the very pinnacle of Glory, answering to the Holy Trinity only. Outranking, even the angels. And this particular moment offers an opportunity to put into place one of the foundational principles, literally one of the ‘pillars’ of the Church. He’s taken them to the mountain top at His Transfiguration. Exposed them to Divinity and Glory unparalleled as no others had been, then they come off the mountain and see His Power demonstrated in the deliverance of the child possessed by demons. James and John (and Zebedee in one account), the two ‘Sons of Thunder’ want a big piece of this. And they are willing to undercut the other disciples (including Peter) to get it. ‘Jesus’, they asked (gently demanded?), ‘ Give us whatever we ask’. Really? Really?? What kind of Church would have come out of that? Imagine for a moment (I can’t) how much hell would have come out of that. Yet, that was the heart of these men. Jesus seized the moment to make a point: The greatest in the Kingdom of God would take the position of the least: the position of the Servant. The Church could not have survived without this ‘teachable moment’. Power in Servitude.
I have a friend that I must mention in this writing. His name is Jim. At one time, he was occupied as a butler. Not a fireman, a nurse, a policeman; all most note worthy positions of service, but a butler. What kind of mindset does that require? To serve the wealthiest , the most affluent among us with such a spirit of excellence, that you actually compliment and augment the presence of the one you serve (unselfishly). Selah. Think about that for a moment.: the servant reflects the ‘glory’ of the master. Isn’t that what James and John wanted? Isn’t that what we all want? Listen, we’re big on words like prayer, faith, love, obedience, meditation; all keys to building ourselves ‘up’ in the Christ. But don’t overlook service, please don’t. In serving, you become ‘Christ’ on wheels, a true reflection of the Master of the universe, Jesus Christ, Our Lord in you own personal sphere of influence. Isn’t that what we want? To see the power Christ demonstrated through us? Serve and you will ‘demonstrate’ Christ to those you serve. Enjoy the lesson!
Blessings,
.wb
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
John 13:8
… Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
John 13:14
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
1 Timothy 5:10
and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
Romans 12:20
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Proverbs 22:29
Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings…
Psalm 116:16
Truly I am your servant, LORD; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.
Psalm 100:2
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Headed for Calvary, Jesus has to finish preparing His disciples for leadership. These are the men who will lead the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Future Apostles. Giants in the Kingdom. Counted among the twenty four elders. Chosen to sit at the very pinnacle of Glory, answering to the Holy Trinity only. Outranking, even the angels. And this particular moment offers an opportunity to put into place one of the foundational principles, literally one of the ‘pillars’ of the Church. He’s taken them to the mountain top at His Transfiguration. Exposed them to Divinity and Glory unparalleled as no others had been, then they come off the mountain and see His Power demonstrated in the deliverance of the child possessed by demons. James and John (and Zebedee in one account), the two ‘Sons of Thunder’ want a big piece of this. And they are willing to undercut the other disciples (including Peter) to get it. ‘Jesus’, they asked (gently demanded?), ‘ Give us whatever we ask’. Really? Really?? What kind of Church would have come out of that? Imagine for a moment (I can’t) how much hell would have come out of that. Yet, that was the heart of these men. Jesus seized the moment to make a point: The greatest in the Kingdom of God would take the position of the least: the position of the Servant. The Church could not have survived without this ‘teachable moment’. Power in Servitude.
I have a friend that I must mention in this writing. His name is Jim. At one time, he was occupied as a butler. Not a fireman, a nurse, a policeman; all most note worthy positions of service, but a butler. What kind of mindset does that require? To serve the wealthiest , the most affluent among us with such a spirit of excellence, that you actually compliment and augment the presence of the one you serve (unselfishly). Selah. Think about that for a moment.: the servant reflects the ‘glory’ of the master. Isn’t that what James and John wanted? Isn’t that what we all want? Listen, we’re big on words like prayer, faith, love, obedience, meditation; all keys to building ourselves ‘up’ in the Christ. But don’t overlook service, please don’t. In serving, you become ‘Christ’ on wheels, a true reflection of the Master of the universe, Jesus Christ, Our Lord in you own personal sphere of influence. Isn’t that what we want? To see the power Christ demonstrated through us? Serve and you will ‘demonstrate’ Christ to those you serve. Enjoy the lesson!
Blessings,
.wb
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 13, 2011: Jesus Is God’s Son (Mark 9:2-13)
Genesis 1:3
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
John 1:1
[ The Word Became Flesh ] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This took a little time. I apologize. Bear with me. Let me start with a brief historical reference and fact: Scholars believe that the Mount of Transfiguration was actually Mount Tabor. It was customary for the Jews to light beacons from Mount Tabor to inform the northern villages of Israel of the coming of the Holy Days. In that light :) , lets follow Jesus as he leads Peter, James and John to 'a high mountain'. You see, the Bible says He 'led' them there. He had a reason, a purpose. So what happens? When they are alone, Jesus is tranfigured: He becomes dazzlingly brilliant in apperance. A light unlike any other. A beacon to the world, that a most Holy event is on the horizon.
Appearing beside Him are Moses and Elijah. Many have pointed out that their appearance represents the Law and the Prophets, both of which point to Jesus. Or how about the 'Logos' and the 'Rhema'. The Logos representing the Word that establishes, the Word upon which the very pillars of creation rest, and the Rhema: the Word that reveals the very heart and nature of God. In the Logos, He is power, In the Rhema, He is love. In the Logos He is goodness, in the Rhema He is mercy. And in Jesus stands the very enbodiement of the Logos and the Rhema, The Law and the Prophets, Goodness (Justice) and Mercy, Grace and Truth.
Here's that Holy Intersection we've talked about before, where Heavan and Earth are manifest in the same place and time: an interdimensional moment that defies all that we understand. Peter and the others fall to their faces in fear. What's happening and Why? Peter says, " Lord, it's good for us to be here. Let's put up three temples." Then, the Father shows up, a Voice from Heaven, "This is my Beloved Son. Hear ye Him!". The Book is closed... or it's about to be. And God does not want the disciples looking back. To these men, God reveals (rhema) Jesus in all His Glory, then declares (logos) Him as the one and only answer to man's problem. The Christ. The Son fo God who came out of God. The Messiah.
In this moment, we need to see Jesus in all of His power and compassion. So great is the depth of our sin. It required the sacrifice of the One who was the very Son of God. Only He could pay the price. He loves us that much. Then, only He could throw off the chains of death, then release us as well. He is the Ressurection. God wanted us to see it through the eyes of His witnesses: Peter, James and John. In the mouth of two or three witnesses, the truth is established. Whatever it is you've been through, what ever it is you're going through, whatever lies in wait before you, Hope has a Name. A Name grater than every other. Jesus. If you need Him, cry out. If you have Him, He has you. Be comforted. He loves you and He cares for you.. like no one else can...
Blessings,
.wb
Luke 4:16-20
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. (Yours should be as well!! :)
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
John 1:1
[ The Word Became Flesh ] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This took a little time. I apologize. Bear with me. Let me start with a brief historical reference and fact: Scholars believe that the Mount of Transfiguration was actually Mount Tabor. It was customary for the Jews to light beacons from Mount Tabor to inform the northern villages of Israel of the coming of the Holy Days. In that light :) , lets follow Jesus as he leads Peter, James and John to 'a high mountain'. You see, the Bible says He 'led' them there. He had a reason, a purpose. So what happens? When they are alone, Jesus is tranfigured: He becomes dazzlingly brilliant in apperance. A light unlike any other. A beacon to the world, that a most Holy event is on the horizon.
Appearing beside Him are Moses and Elijah. Many have pointed out that their appearance represents the Law and the Prophets, both of which point to Jesus. Or how about the 'Logos' and the 'Rhema'. The Logos representing the Word that establishes, the Word upon which the very pillars of creation rest, and the Rhema: the Word that reveals the very heart and nature of God. In the Logos, He is power, In the Rhema, He is love. In the Logos He is goodness, in the Rhema He is mercy. And in Jesus stands the very enbodiement of the Logos and the Rhema, The Law and the Prophets, Goodness (Justice) and Mercy, Grace and Truth.
Here's that Holy Intersection we've talked about before, where Heavan and Earth are manifest in the same place and time: an interdimensional moment that defies all that we understand. Peter and the others fall to their faces in fear. What's happening and Why? Peter says, " Lord, it's good for us to be here. Let's put up three temples." Then, the Father shows up, a Voice from Heaven, "This is my Beloved Son. Hear ye Him!". The Book is closed... or it's about to be. And God does not want the disciples looking back. To these men, God reveals (rhema) Jesus in all His Glory, then declares (logos) Him as the one and only answer to man's problem. The Christ. The Son fo God who came out of God. The Messiah.
In this moment, we need to see Jesus in all of His power and compassion. So great is the depth of our sin. It required the sacrifice of the One who was the very Son of God. Only He could pay the price. He loves us that much. Then, only He could throw off the chains of death, then release us as well. He is the Ressurection. God wanted us to see it through the eyes of His witnesses: Peter, James and John. In the mouth of two or three witnesses, the truth is established. Whatever it is you've been through, what ever it is you're going through, whatever lies in wait before you, Hope has a Name. A Name grater than every other. Jesus. If you need Him, cry out. If you have Him, He has you. Be comforted. He loves you and He cares for you.. like no one else can...
Blessings,
.wb
Luke 4:16-20
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. (Yours should be as well!! :)
Friday, February 4, 2011
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 6, 2011 Jesus Is the Messiah (Mark 8:27–9:1)
Luke 12:20-21
20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
John 1:11-13
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Mark 8:35
35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Whose ‘Christ’ is He? Yours or God’s? Why do I ask? Because He came to fulfill the Father’s will, not ours. Last week, I shared some of my personal ‘testimony’ in this blog. During the ‘Before Christ’ period of my life, I had no ‘sin consciousness’. Most non-believers don’t. I could not imagine a real ‘Hell’, or fathom why a ‘loving God’ would send me there. After all, If you had asked me, I’d have told you that all of my problems were the fault of someone else. In my eyes, I was a victim. I needed God’s help, not necessarily His ‘Christ’, His ‘Jesus’, His Salvation. I didn’t know. But, God knew. He understood from before the beginning that I (we) would need a redemption so complete, that His wrath against us would forever be satisfied (propitiation). What? I didn’t even know He was mad at me(us). Did you? Really? Listen my ‘Jesus’ would have filled up my pockets with money, told me everything was going to be alright and given me some kind of ‘sign’ to verify to me that what He said was going to happen (all to my benefit). Most non-believers (and some believers) are looking for a Genie from a bottle, Not Jesus, sent from God. But God’s ‘Christ’ came to suffer. He came to die. In death, He conquered sin. He satisfied God’s requirement for the redemption of fallen mankind. And when He rose from the grave, He left death and the grave behind and made ‘new life’ available to us. It was not until all this was accomplished that God could dwell with us and in us in the person of the Holy Ghost and in the institution of the ‘Church’. The Kingdom of God has come to us. It has come by the shed blood of our Savior; Jesus, The Christ of God, The Anointed One of God. The Lamb of God, without spot or blemish (sin). Halleluiah! This Jesus: God’s Son, God’s Anointed had a little more on His mind than just my personal well being, a little more on His plate than just me and my situation. HE literally had the whole world in His hands.
What then is required of me(us)? First: acceptance. Can you get on board? Get with the program? Get on the same page with Jesus? If so, then: discipleship: to hear, to obey, to abide, to love, to preach, to teach, to give, to pray, to heal, to bind, to loose, to comfort. To let a dying world know that Hope has a name, a name above every other: Jesus. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Be Blessed!
.wb
p.s. This week marks one year that I’ve been sending out this weekly email. God has been gracious throughout. To Him be the Glory. I thank you all for participating in this effort. Every time you send a word of encouragement or share a point of view or pass this email along, you strengthen and encourage me. Thanks and Thank God for you. Blessings… .wb
20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
John 1:11-13
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Mark 8:35
35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Whose ‘Christ’ is He? Yours or God’s? Why do I ask? Because He came to fulfill the Father’s will, not ours. Last week, I shared some of my personal ‘testimony’ in this blog. During the ‘Before Christ’ period of my life, I had no ‘sin consciousness’. Most non-believers don’t. I could not imagine a real ‘Hell’, or fathom why a ‘loving God’ would send me there. After all, If you had asked me, I’d have told you that all of my problems were the fault of someone else. In my eyes, I was a victim. I needed God’s help, not necessarily His ‘Christ’, His ‘Jesus’, His Salvation. I didn’t know. But, God knew. He understood from before the beginning that I (we) would need a redemption so complete, that His wrath against us would forever be satisfied (propitiation). What? I didn’t even know He was mad at me(us). Did you? Really? Listen my ‘Jesus’ would have filled up my pockets with money, told me everything was going to be alright and given me some kind of ‘sign’ to verify to me that what He said was going to happen (all to my benefit). Most non-believers (and some believers) are looking for a Genie from a bottle, Not Jesus, sent from God. But God’s ‘Christ’ came to suffer. He came to die. In death, He conquered sin. He satisfied God’s requirement for the redemption of fallen mankind. And when He rose from the grave, He left death and the grave behind and made ‘new life’ available to us. It was not until all this was accomplished that God could dwell with us and in us in the person of the Holy Ghost and in the institution of the ‘Church’. The Kingdom of God has come to us. It has come by the shed blood of our Savior; Jesus, The Christ of God, The Anointed One of God. The Lamb of God, without spot or blemish (sin). Halleluiah! This Jesus: God’s Son, God’s Anointed had a little more on His mind than just my personal well being, a little more on His plate than just me and my situation. HE literally had the whole world in His hands.
What then is required of me(us)? First: acceptance. Can you get on board? Get with the program? Get on the same page with Jesus? If so, then: discipleship: to hear, to obey, to abide, to love, to preach, to teach, to give, to pray, to heal, to bind, to loose, to comfort. To let a dying world know that Hope has a name, a name above every other: Jesus. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Be Blessed!
.wb
p.s. This week marks one year that I’ve been sending out this weekly email. God has been gracious throughout. To Him be the Glory. I thank you all for participating in this effort. Every time you send a word of encouragement or share a point of view or pass this email along, you strengthen and encourage me. Thanks and Thank God for you. Blessings… .wb
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Sunday School Lesson for Jan. 30, 2011: Wounded for Our Transgressions (Isaiah 53:1-12)
Genesis 3:21
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Genesis 4:4-5
4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.
Hebrews 9:22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Hebrews 10:16
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Let me share a little something with you. There was a time when I wanted to hear God’s voice.. and couldn’t. Many years ago, before Christ, I was at a particularly low point in my life. I won’t go into details because it’s not integral to today’s lesson, except for this one little part: I prayed. I prayed to God. That prayer went something like: “God. I always talk to you, but you never talk back.” I was desperate. I needed help. More help than I could fathom coming from a human source. I needed divine intervention. I went on to pray: “God, if you ever let me hear your voice, I’m yours… all the way.” I didn’t hear anything. No thunder, no lightning, no voice from heaven, nothing.. for seven more years.
Then one day, I was playing dominoes and drinking vodka with a friend of mine and He invited my wife to church. My wife is a PK: a ‘Preacher’s Kid’ and even though we weren’t living ‘saved’ (nothing about me was ‘saved’ at this juncture in my life), she was ‘comfortable’ going to church (another lesson for another day). When she came home that day after ‘church’, she was ‘walking on air’. There was a visible difference in her countenance. She gushed about how much she liked it and how different it was than other churches we had visited. To make a long story short, about 3 weeks later I found myself sitting on a folding chair, in little room, in little store front church with 4 or 5 guys I didn’t know and bible that I had been given years earlier. Monday night was Men’s Brotherhood’ night and I had been invited to come. That’s when it started…
I’m sitting there with my bible open to the third chapter of John and the pastor is talking and… the words began to leap from the pages. I’m listening and reading and all of a sudden, it’s as though the bible and the preacher are speaking to me about me… I was having an experience. I was hearing God. I was caught; hook, line and sinker. I came back the next night for Ladies’ Missions and the next night for Prayer Service and the next night and the next…. I didn’t have a choice really. I had never experienced anything so wonderful, so dynamic, so moving as … hearing God. I had been waiting for a long time, all my life really and for at least the last seven years particularly. That prayer, so many years ago, so many miles away had never left me. When I heard His voice, I was His.
Not long after beginning this journey, I did what a lot of new believers do: I purposed to ‘read the bible’ cover to cover (I still haven’t made it yet… may be this year). When I got to Genesis, chapter four, I read the passage above and asked God a question about the passage: Why was Abel’s offering accepted and Cain’s not? You have to take my word for what happened next. Three days later, sometime before day, while still asleep, I had a dream unlike any I’d ever had before, an epiphany. I was suddenly in ‘the Garden’, yes ‘that’ Garden, watching as God made clothes from animal skins, ‘covering’ for Adam and Eve, to cover their ‘shame’. And I heard a voice, a loud voice from ‘somewhere’ say: “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin”. Trust me, I was only at Genesis 4, I hadn’t made it to Hebrews yet. Something ‘broke’ inside me that morning. When my wife woke up she discovered me; kneeling on the side of the bed, bawling. Not weeping, not just crying. Bawling, I couldn’t stop. I haven’t ever been the same since.
Beloved, Isaiah 53 represents (in my mind) the clearest, most succinct explanation of the Gospel in the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Right here, all parties are represented: God, Jesus and us: you and I. Please take note of the position each party takes in this prophetic look forward at the Cross. God punishes Jesus because of our sin. Jesus willingly accepts that suffering and punishment. We do nothing.. Nothing except, assume that He got what He deserved. Wander aimlessly away from the scene, like sheep, while He was healing us. It wasn’t enough that He died for us, but He suffered. And on that long road, that ‘Via Dolorosa’ meaning ‘the way of suffering’, Jesus healed, saved, delivered humanity. With the stripes He suffered during the beating ordered by Pilate, Jesus healed –ism and –itis, every malady, every virus, all sickness, all disease was dealt with in those moments. Then, with the burden of the Cross, down that long road to Golgotha, He bore our weakness, our infirmity, our sin. On the Cross, He bore our ‘shame’. Suspended between heaven and earth, the ultimate sacrifice, the propitiation (look it up) to God for our sins, our transgressions. Then, with His final breath, He spoke these words: ‘It is Finished” . In the Aramic, “Tetelestai” meaning “Paid in full”. The price for our rebellion, our disobedience, our sin then, now and forever more settled with God by the crucifixion of Christ. Glory! It’s feeling like Easter up in here!
Isaiah 53 ends by showing us how satisfied God is with what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf. He exalts Him. He rewards Him richly. A picture of the Resurrection. God raises Jesus from the grave and exalts Him above all principalities and powers. Gives Him a name above any other and…. He makes a place for us; you and I, in His Kingdom. A place where you cannot be accused, cannot be shamed, won’t ever get sick, want for nothing… the whole deal. In God’s Presence… eternally. Beloved, what we know is not all there is to know. What I have to say is not all there is to say. What we’ve seen is not all there is to see. It has not entered into our hearts, we cannot imagine, really, what God has accomplished for us, His Church, through Christ. I’ll close with theses simple words: Love never fails
Blessings,
.wb
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
epiph·a·ny
noun \i-ˈpi-fə-nē\
plural epiph·a·nies
Definition of EPIPHANY
2 : an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being
3 a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Genesis 4:4-5
4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.
Hebrews 9:22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Hebrews 10:16
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Let me share a little something with you. There was a time when I wanted to hear God’s voice.. and couldn’t. Many years ago, before Christ, I was at a particularly low point in my life. I won’t go into details because it’s not integral to today’s lesson, except for this one little part: I prayed. I prayed to God. That prayer went something like: “God. I always talk to you, but you never talk back.” I was desperate. I needed help. More help than I could fathom coming from a human source. I needed divine intervention. I went on to pray: “God, if you ever let me hear your voice, I’m yours… all the way.” I didn’t hear anything. No thunder, no lightning, no voice from heaven, nothing.. for seven more years.
Then one day, I was playing dominoes and drinking vodka with a friend of mine and He invited my wife to church. My wife is a PK: a ‘Preacher’s Kid’ and even though we weren’t living ‘saved’ (nothing about me was ‘saved’ at this juncture in my life), she was ‘comfortable’ going to church (another lesson for another day). When she came home that day after ‘church’, she was ‘walking on air’. There was a visible difference in her countenance. She gushed about how much she liked it and how different it was than other churches we had visited. To make a long story short, about 3 weeks later I found myself sitting on a folding chair, in little room, in little store front church with 4 or 5 guys I didn’t know and bible that I had been given years earlier. Monday night was Men’s Brotherhood’ night and I had been invited to come. That’s when it started…
I’m sitting there with my bible open to the third chapter of John and the pastor is talking and… the words began to leap from the pages. I’m listening and reading and all of a sudden, it’s as though the bible and the preacher are speaking to me about me… I was having an experience. I was hearing God. I was caught; hook, line and sinker. I came back the next night for Ladies’ Missions and the next night for Prayer Service and the next night and the next…. I didn’t have a choice really. I had never experienced anything so wonderful, so dynamic, so moving as … hearing God. I had been waiting for a long time, all my life really and for at least the last seven years particularly. That prayer, so many years ago, so many miles away had never left me. When I heard His voice, I was His.
Not long after beginning this journey, I did what a lot of new believers do: I purposed to ‘read the bible’ cover to cover (I still haven’t made it yet… may be this year). When I got to Genesis, chapter four, I read the passage above and asked God a question about the passage: Why was Abel’s offering accepted and Cain’s not? You have to take my word for what happened next. Three days later, sometime before day, while still asleep, I had a dream unlike any I’d ever had before, an epiphany. I was suddenly in ‘the Garden’, yes ‘that’ Garden, watching as God made clothes from animal skins, ‘covering’ for Adam and Eve, to cover their ‘shame’. And I heard a voice, a loud voice from ‘somewhere’ say: “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin”. Trust me, I was only at Genesis 4, I hadn’t made it to Hebrews yet. Something ‘broke’ inside me that morning. When my wife woke up she discovered me; kneeling on the side of the bed, bawling. Not weeping, not just crying. Bawling, I couldn’t stop. I haven’t ever been the same since.
Beloved, Isaiah 53 represents (in my mind) the clearest, most succinct explanation of the Gospel in the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Right here, all parties are represented: God, Jesus and us: you and I. Please take note of the position each party takes in this prophetic look forward at the Cross. God punishes Jesus because of our sin. Jesus willingly accepts that suffering and punishment. We do nothing.. Nothing except, assume that He got what He deserved. Wander aimlessly away from the scene, like sheep, while He was healing us. It wasn’t enough that He died for us, but He suffered. And on that long road, that ‘Via Dolorosa’ meaning ‘the way of suffering’, Jesus healed, saved, delivered humanity. With the stripes He suffered during the beating ordered by Pilate, Jesus healed –ism and –itis, every malady, every virus, all sickness, all disease was dealt with in those moments. Then, with the burden of the Cross, down that long road to Golgotha, He bore our weakness, our infirmity, our sin. On the Cross, He bore our ‘shame’. Suspended between heaven and earth, the ultimate sacrifice, the propitiation (look it up) to God for our sins, our transgressions. Then, with His final breath, He spoke these words: ‘It is Finished” . In the Aramic, “Tetelestai” meaning “Paid in full”. The price for our rebellion, our disobedience, our sin then, now and forever more settled with God by the crucifixion of Christ. Glory! It’s feeling like Easter up in here!
Isaiah 53 ends by showing us how satisfied God is with what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf. He exalts Him. He rewards Him richly. A picture of the Resurrection. God raises Jesus from the grave and exalts Him above all principalities and powers. Gives Him a name above any other and…. He makes a place for us; you and I, in His Kingdom. A place where you cannot be accused, cannot be shamed, won’t ever get sick, want for nothing… the whole deal. In God’s Presence… eternally. Beloved, what we know is not all there is to know. What I have to say is not all there is to say. What we’ve seen is not all there is to see. It has not entered into our hearts, we cannot imagine, really, what God has accomplished for us, His Church, through Christ. I’ll close with theses simple words: Love never fails
Blessings,
.wb
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
epiph·a·ny
noun \i-ˈpi-fə-nē\
plural epiph·a·nies
Definition of EPIPHANY
2 : an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being
3 a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure
Sunday School Lesson for Jan. 23, 2011: Light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:1-7)
1 Peter 2:7
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
Isaiah 49:6
6 he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
“Do the right thing. Even if no one else will.” Have you ever heard this expression? Have you ever been in this position? Ever been in a real confrontation, where you had to be the lone voice for truth? How did that work out for you? We are called to be a ‘light’ to the unsaved. Sometimes, our best witness is our lives, our character, the way we carry ourselves, especially in the company of the unsaved, the un-churched. I’m not talking about the ‘upright’, uptight, super spiritual thing that some of us can fall into. I’m talking about making a quality decision in mixed company. Speaking the truth and standing your ground. There are any number of ways this occurs, but when we do it, people take notice. Imagine the school kid who doesn’t take the bait when tempted to make a poor choice. Imagine the shopper who calls it to the clerk’s attention if they are under charged for an item at a store. There are so many opportunities to do the wrong thing instead of right thing, but when we make a good choice, people notice. And when we make quality choices over an extended period of time, not only will others take notice, but they will testify to it. And when they testify to your witness, the Kingdom of God is proclaimed in them. They are ‘preaching’, if you will, the ‘Christ’ they see in you. We live in a time where many call attention to themselves, only to bring shame to themselves and to the Church when the spot light gets too revealing. All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. However, If we believers will carry ourselves with quietness and dignity, the people around us will take notice and sometimes, they will be affected toward the Kingdom for surely they will have seen ‘Christ’ in you.
Blessings,
.wb
1 Timothy 2:1-2
1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
Isaiah 49:6
6 he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
“Do the right thing. Even if no one else will.” Have you ever heard this expression? Have you ever been in this position? Ever been in a real confrontation, where you had to be the lone voice for truth? How did that work out for you? We are called to be a ‘light’ to the unsaved. Sometimes, our best witness is our lives, our character, the way we carry ourselves, especially in the company of the unsaved, the un-churched. I’m not talking about the ‘upright’, uptight, super spiritual thing that some of us can fall into. I’m talking about making a quality decision in mixed company. Speaking the truth and standing your ground. There are any number of ways this occurs, but when we do it, people take notice. Imagine the school kid who doesn’t take the bait when tempted to make a poor choice. Imagine the shopper who calls it to the clerk’s attention if they are under charged for an item at a store. There are so many opportunities to do the wrong thing instead of right thing, but when we make a good choice, people notice. And when we make quality choices over an extended period of time, not only will others take notice, but they will testify to it. And when they testify to your witness, the Kingdom of God is proclaimed in them. They are ‘preaching’, if you will, the ‘Christ’ they see in you. We live in a time where many call attention to themselves, only to bring shame to themselves and to the Church when the spot light gets too revealing. All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. However, If we believers will carry ourselves with quietness and dignity, the people around us will take notice and sometimes, they will be affected toward the Kingdom for surely they will have seen ‘Christ’ in you.
Blessings,
.wb
1 Timothy 2:1-2
1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sunday School Lesson for Jan. 16, 2011: Reassurance for God's People (Isaiah 48:12-22)
Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate”, says the Lord.
1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
John 12:25
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Isaiah 48:20
Leave Babylon, flee from the Babylonians! Announce this with shouts of joy and proclaim it. Send it out to the ends of the earth; say, “The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob.”
There is no greater admonition for the believer than the admonition from the verse above. Flee Babylon! Flee the world! Flee worldly lusts, eschew the temptations that come your way. Pay attention though, to the part of the verse that exhorts us to announce or proclaim this warning with ‘shouts of joy’. What! How do these two things go together? A warning? Shouted or proclaimed with joy? A paradox of the Gospel for sure. But I get it. You see, The Proclaimer knows what it’s like on the other side. He’s been to the mountaintop. He’s seen the promise. He doesn’t want you to miss out, to live below your privileges. As Christians, we have the unique perspective of living in two worlds concurrently: the temporal and the spiritual. God wants to bless our temporal from the spiritual, but we have to have a heart and mind for Him and Him alone. He wants us to leave Sodom and not look back. Leave Egypt. Leave Babylon. Let it go.
When we let it go, really let the world go and seek the Rest that God has for us, Peace that is greater than our ability to comprehend will be the result. Peace in the face of the many challenges we face day to day, Peace like a river. Joy unspeakable and full of Glory! Heaven on Earth. And not in small measures. He’ll give you Peace and Joy, Love and Patience, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Compassion pressed down, shaken together and running over. Run from Babylon beloved. God’s got something special waiting on you on the other side. You ain’t seen nothing yet! Go git yo hat and come on!
Blessings,
.wb
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