So grateful for God’s love and grace. #escondido #socal #sunset
Last Words and Burial
Today we are burying my dad. Burial for loved ones of the person who has died can be an incredibly difficult time. It’s so final, so sad, grim even. But today won’t be as hard for me as it could be. It has to do with one of my dad’s last coherent sentences before he passed away,
“Righteousness…… .is a gift . . …from God”
Dad managed to get those words out in a tone of voice that caught my attention. He mustered extra strength to say it. As I reflect on this moment, those words sum up so much of what dad lived for, and they make today much easier.
Whether it was in the halls or classrooms of L.I.F.E. Bible College during the 60’s, or from the pulpits of places like Hillsboro, Oregon’s Evergreen Christian Center in the 70’s, and Escondido Christian Center in the 80’s and 90’s, or in the classes of Escondido Bible College, or out on the golf course, or at the dinner table, or at Spires Restaurant, or in the car, or on the phone, or just hanging out with me on Wednesdays getting ready to eat our notorious bacon, tomato, lettuce, and peanut butter sandwiches, dad would talk about righteousness.
Not some stuffy, works-based righteousness, but righteousness that is imputed to us by God through Jesus Christ. Nor some loosey-goosey, anything-goes grace, but grace that imparts a new nature in us through the Holy Spirit. This is what dad lived for, died speaking about, and will today be buried with the hope it gives.
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
Although my dad’s health has been failing for the last few years, he’s actually been dying for the last 65 years. He’d been dying to the flesh, the old man, to sin, and the old nature.
“We have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by…” (Romans 7:6)
This is not done through some kind asceticism or self-denial, but by faith. Faith is the only thing that vindicates our spiritual and moral failures. Paul said that we are “justified by faith apart from the law” (Romans 3:28). We are told that without faith we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). Yet the most profound and wonderful thing is found in a verse that my dad referenced all the time,
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)
Dad’s determination to teach these things to me was not to prepare me to be emotionally strong for the day of his burial, though it certainly helps, but to prepare me for everyday. To help me understand that sin cannot be controlled in my life until I consider myself dead to it and alive in Christ. To realize, and to teach, that the most powerful truth in the world is the one he died saying, “righteous is a gift from God.” Thanks dad. See you soon.
He’s the God of the Helpless
I’m standing outside of an ICU room staring at my dad who’s fighting for his life. His doctor and nurse are trying to put a feeding tube into his stomach. Suddenly, an alarm sounds off—he’s stopped breathing. The nurse moves quickly to call for another assistant, and within a few minutes they’ve managed to stabilize dad’s breathing.
I feel so helpless.
Events over the last month have added up. Added to the hospitalization of my dad, one of my wife’s best friends died from cancer. There’s also been a dissolving of several close friendships due to divisive gossip.
Many dear people have surrounded me with prayer and encouragement, but my heart is heavy and my energy is running low. Last night I couldn’t sleep. 3:30am and my mind was racing with everything going on. A sense of hopelessness and futility overwhelmed me. I could feel the assault of darkness. “Jesus, help me” I whispered into the night. Something happened.
Peace came into my room, and into my thoughts. I began to thank the Lord for His help, and for the next two hours I laid one thing after another at His feet. The settling of my worry and uncertainty really surprised me, but it shouldn’t have because I know better.
God has always been so faithful and helpful, but it’s amazing how long I can lean on the arm of the flesh. I know I can’t do anything without him, but I sure try. I know that he only gives grace to the humble and strength to the weak, but I don’t act like it.
The people who have come to the end of themselves are the ones who see the greatest move of God. This is why God’s Spirit is able to do so many things in places where there is so little. Think about the early church. It was dangerous to be a Christian. Herod was killing the apostles. He had killed John the Beloved’s brother James by the sword, and now set his sights on Peter.
Peter was put in a jail cell with 16 soldiers guarding him. What could the other Believers do when they heard about Peter’s arrest? They had no money. They had no political leverage. They had no influence. They were helpless. But they had God.
“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” (Acts 12:5)
Their prayers summoned God to send an angel who rescued Peter. His chains were broken and the angel led him out of the jail through a locked iron gate right under the noses of the guards. Peter came to the house where his friends were gathered. We are told many were there and that they were still praying.
Prayer is the key. It’s turning things over to God. It’s telling Him that you don’t know what to do, that you’re scared, that you’re helpless. While the “when” and the “how” of prayer are not always clear, one thing remains absolutely a fact: GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!
It’s when you give up on all other options, or don’t even have an option to give up on, that God moves.
“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13)
I’m learning to be thankful that God is allowing me to come to end of my own resources. When there is no plan B, C, or D, and I feel totally helpless, I’m actually in the best place, because it’s from here, and only from here, that I can access all the resources of heaven. He’s the God of the helpless! And He’s my God!
Totally Impressive, Almost Worthless
What was your New Year’s resolution last year? Did you stick to it? If not, don’t feel bad, only about 20% of people stick to their resolutions. Most fail within the first month.
Was there a time when your passion and love for Jesus was more fervent than it is now? Do you remember when you were more interested in sharing your faith with others? Do you remember when your joy and hope was greater than it is now? The fact is time has a way of taking passion away.
David was a man full of passion for God. He loved God with everything he had.
“God raised up David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all My will.” (Acts 13:22)
David’s son Solomon was one of the wisest men that have ever lived. He knew God and built the first temple for Him. But Solomon’s real passion was for things. 76 times in Ecclesiastes Solomon tells us,
“Nothing is better for a man than he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor.” (Ecclesiastes 2:24)
Solomon had a son name Rehoboam who also became king. But Rehoboam had no passion for God, he wanted nothing to do with God.
“When Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord.” (II Chron. 12:1)
Time has a way of taking away our passion.
One of the greatest churches of the New Testament was in the city of Ephesus. For three years the Apostle Paul was the pastor, followed by his favorite apprentice Timothy, and then the Apostle John. This church accomplished incredible things. Jesus said to them,
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.” (Revelation 2:2–3)
This was an impressive church with an impressive pedigree, doing very impressive things. They would not tolerate compromise. They were combatant against false teachers and teaching. And they were active in ministry—going, helping, doing, serving—working hard for the Lord. Over time they had grown to love doing things for Jesus more than anything, including him.
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4–5)
Their spiritual heritage was the best. Their doctrine was impeccable. Their commitment was thorough. Their determination was unmatched. The church at Ephesus was very impressive, but they were almost worthless to God.
God wants us to spend time with him more than he wants us to do things for him. He wants us to love being alone with him more than we love working for him. Our love for God is only satisfied with our love for God.
It’s Okay. He’s One of Us
We were halfway back to Jerusalem on our tour bus. Fifty of us had been down to Ein Ghedi visiting the Dead Sea. It was hot, the scenery was desolate, and we were tired.
Out of the bushes stepped a soldier carrying a machine gun in front of our bus. Rather than swerving to miss him, our bus driver pulled over to the side of the road, opened the door and let the soldier on the bus.
As our bus resumed its movement, every eye was on the young soldier who now stood in front of us. He flung his rifle over his back and made his way to the rear of the bus and sat down. His uniform had the Star of David on it, which meant he was a part of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). Sensing everyone’s nervousness, our tour guide got on the intercom and said,
“It’s okay, he’s one of us.”
Interestingly enough, that phrase actually defines the basic IDF structure. When young people first serve in the military, they are put in a squad of twelve others just like them. They will be in this squad for the rest of their military service.
Their training is intense and brings out the best and worse in all of them. Prior to the squad’s first assignment they select a leader from among themselves. This man becomes the squad Sergeant, or Samal. They all agree that he will be the best and most trustworthy leader in the heat of battle. They have seen him under pressure. They know him. He’s one of them.
King, Priest, and Prophet were the three main offices of leadership in the Old Testament. When God gave guidelines for who would fill these roles, there is a striking parallel.
“One from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.” (Deut. 17:15)“The Lord your God has chosen Levi out of your tribes to minister as priest in the name of the Lord, him and his sons forever.” (Deut. 18:5)
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.” (Deut. 18:15)
The leader must come from within the people. He must be one of them. This would create a bond of trust. The people knew their leaders understood what they needed because he was one of them. And it prevented the leader from getting prideful. Israel’s best leaders were those who remained humbly dependent on God, never forgetting they were just people. The Book of Hebrews illustrates it this way,
“For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men…he can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.” (Heb. 5:1–2)
A leader must be able to identify with the people. To know what they are facing. To know their fears, their needs, and their hopes. And this is what makes Jesus’ ministry to us so powerful and so effective.
“In all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest.” (Heb. 2:17)“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15)
Jesus understands what you are facing, because he’s faced it. He knows what it is like be attacked by the enemy, because he’s been attacked. He knows what it’s like to be afraid, to be uncertain, to be angry, to be tempted, because he’s also been. But what’s more amazing, is that Jesus knows how to face everything and anything without falling, and He wants to help you do the same.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)
So what’s stopping you? Go to him. Tell him anything. He’ll understand. There’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s okay. He’s one of us.
It’s time to bring people around you who you feel secure with and reaffirm your circle of love…then from that place of emotional stability we can embark on the arduous task of sorting out how we really feel about what happened.
Then planting what I call “a new normal,” because the old normal is gone. You’ll never be able to get that back again. It’s very, very important that you begin to replant a new normal. New traditions in the family. New ways of expressing the family. This is a huge task that you will spend many many years trying to do.
TD Jakes on CNN with Soledad O’brien discussing how to move forward in the wake of the Newtown shootings, 0545PST Dec. 18, 2012
But I Know His Heart
They were telling a small group of us what had happened. We could sense their hurt and frustration. We sympathized with them. What made it more personal was that we all knew the person they were talking about. Then someone in our group, who knew the person very well, spoke up,
“But I know his heart. You’re misunderstanding him.”
That simple statement changed the whole conversation. And as it turns out, there was a huge misunderstanding that was eventually worked out.
It’s one thing to know who someone is, and another thing to know his or her heart. When someone says they know a person’s heart, it means they have an intimate understanding of how the person thinks, feels, reacts, what they value, what they like or dislike, etc., and therefore are able to predict what the person would do or say.
Who knows God’s heart?
God’s power is revealed in creation. His holiness is revealed in the law. His awe and splendor are revealed in such descriptions as Isaiah 6, or Revelation 1. But God’s heart is revealed in Jesus.
“No one has ever seen God. But [Jesus], who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.” (John 1:18, NLT)
The Jews knew who God was, but they only understood God as distant and unapproachable. The letter had rule. Law, regulation, and sacrifice, were the operative words. But Jesus comes and reveals the grace, love, and tenderness of the Father.
Paul puts it this way,
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15)
When people talk about why Jesus came to earth, answers often include statements about the “sin problem” and fulfillment of the law, which are true. However, what Paul is describing in Romans 8:15 is something so personal, so compassionate, so incredible, that it causes the recipient to cry out, “Abba Father,” or, “Papa God.”
Jesus called his disciples and he did incredible things with them, but he also ate with them, slept with them, walked with them, talked with them. He then told his disciples,
“I’m going to prepare a place where we can be together forever…and if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father” (John 14:3, 9)
The truth is that Jesus came to earth because it’s God’s heart to be with us, eat with us, sleep with us, walk with us, and talk with us, to live with us!
We need to be reminded of God’s heart because there’s a tendency for us to let law, regulation, and sacrifice creep back into our lives. Things start to become routine and religious, rather than relational and heartfelt. Soon God seems distant and unapproachable. It’s possible to know God and to serve God, but to loose the kind of fellowship He wants to have with you.
So if you’re being tempted to feel like God has distanced Himself from you, you’re misunderstanding Him…I know His heart.
God Has Not Forgotten About You
The elderly pastor noticed a group of long-time members of his church talking before a Sunday morning service. Something seemed wrong. Nudged by the others, one of them approached the pastor. “Pastor,” he said, “we were just discussing the fact that something must be wrong with your ministry style or ability. Only one person has come to Christ in the whole last year, and he’s just a boy!”
The old minister listened. His eyes moistened as he considered what was being said. “Yes,” he replied, “I feel it too.” On that day the minister’s heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign.
After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him. The pastor’s face brightened as he saw the young man standing in front of him. “Hello Robert,” the pastor said. “What can I do for you?” The boy replied, “Do you think if I could ever become a preacher, or perhaps a missionary?” Again the old minister’s eyes moistened, but this time for a much better reason.
Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had helped many people come to Christ, reaching even some of Africa’s most hardened tribes. His name was Robert Moffat. It was the same Robert who years before had spoken to the old pastor that Sunday morning.
F. B. Meyer once said,
“Don’t waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention.”
John the Baptist’ father was a man named Zacharias. An angel appeared to him and told him of God’s plans to give him and his wife a son and how great he would become. And this came to pass. John the Baptist was born and became the one God chose to announce the coming of Jesus as Messiah. Jesus himself said that no person ever been born was greater than John the Baptist.
Yet you would’ve never predicted John’s greatness by looking at parents. They were not impressive people. They were not successful people. They were old and unable to have children. But one thing can be said about them: they were faithful. Luke records,
“Zacharias and Elizabeth were godly folk, careful to obey all of God’s laws in spirit as well as in letter.” (Luke 1:6, TLB)
Zacharias and Elizabeth are a picture of a people who might not believe what they are doing is even noticed, let alone making any difference. But they’re also a picture of people in whom the seed of God’s next step lies waiting. People who will see the reward for serving faithfully.
So the next time you run into someone who doubts you, your style, or ability; or the next time you feel like what you are doing is futile, unnoticed, and ineffective, remember these two names: Zacharias and Elizabeth.
The name Elizabeth means, “God is a God of His oath, to complete it.” In other words,
God will keep His Word to you!
“There has not failed one word of all His good promises.” (I Kgs 8:56b)
“For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him amen.” (II Cor. 1:20)
And don’t forget the name Zacharias, which means, “The Lord remembered.” In other words,
God has not forgotten about you!
“God is not unjust to forget your labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (Heb. 6:10)
How We Heat the Church
The greatest preacher alive during the 19th century, perhaps of all-time, was a man named Charles Spurgeon. He pastored a church in London, England called the Metropolitan Tabernacle. His sermons held thousands of people spellbound, and brought many to faith in Jesus Christ.
There were five young men who wanted to hear the famed Spurgeon preach, so they travelled to London. They arrived early for a Sunday morning service but found the doors locked. While waiting for the place to open, they were greeted by a man who asked, “Gentlemen, is this your first time hear?” They told him it was. “Well, let me show you around.” The man then brought them inside the church. He then asked, “Would you like to see how we heat the church?”
They weren’t really interested because it was a hot day in July, but they didn’t want to offend the stranger, so they consented.
The young men were taken down a stairway, a door was quietly opened, and their guide whispered, “This is how we heat the church.” Surprised, the young men saw 700 people throughout the room kneeling in prayer. They could hear people calling on the Lord and asking for His blessing on the service that was about to begin in the auditorium above. Softly closing the door, the man put out his hand then introduced himself. It was none other than Charles Spurgeon.
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jer 33:3)
Prayer is the most valuable, most powerful, and most far-reaching thing we can do. God’s child can conquer anything by prayer. Oswald Chambers said:
“The prayer of the feeblest saint who lives in the Spirit and keeps right with God is a terror to Satan. The very powers of darkness are paralyzed by prayer; no spiritualistic séance can succeed in the presence of a humble praying saint. No wonder Satan tries to keep our minds fussy in active work till we cannot think in prayer.” (My Utmost for His Highest)
The Welsh revival, which saw more than one hundred thousand people come to Christ, was greatly due to a man named Evan Roberts who had been praying for eleven years. The Azusa Street revivals, which resulted in one of the greatest outpourings of the Holy Spirit in recent history, began in a house prayer meeting.
Is it any wonder that Satan does his best to take this weapon from the Christian, or to hinder him from using it?
The Bible teaches that we are always either drawing nearer to God or falling away. There is no holding pattern. The presence of prayer signals revival. The lack of prayer signals backsliding. The prophet Isaiah sadly observed,
“There is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You.” (Isa 64:7)
Sitting safely in the shelter of Bible discussions among ourselves, or complaining to one another about the horrible state of today’s society or the church, does nothing to unleash the power of God.
The first century church, and all other overcoming believers throughout the ages, had one instinct: pray. When in trouble, pray. When intimidated, pray. When uncertain, pray. When persecuted, pray.
“Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. (Ps 80:18)
As we open up our lives and gatherings to God’s power, things will not always follow a predetermined schedule or order. Who can outline what God might have in mind? However, one thing’s for sure, God has not changed. He is still superior to anything the enemy can throw against us.
No situation is too hopeless for the all-sufficient power of the Holy Spirit. God will be no more eager to act tomorrow than he is right now. He is waiting for us to take his promises seriously and go boldly to the throne of grace.