God on the Move: “The Dream” – Colossians 1

newborn1When a brand new baby is first placed into the arms of a new loving parent, a universe of dreams is ignited. This much I have seen: new parents handle the baby with such care, you can tell they believe the child is far more “breakable” than they really are – but that is fine. It is better that they learn to be gentle than they learn how resilient that little child truly is. The first days, new parents often share with me that their fears are NOT about the baby, but about their ability to be good parents. They want to do things the “right way”. Should their little boy be circumcised? The hospital asked and they never thought about that. In the coming months, should the child get vaccinations when the time is right? What is the safest car seat on the market? Are all the garments for the baby made from the right materials? Is the crib really put together properly and is it safe? The list goes on and on…

The first part of parental life is about protecting a child – and new parents are painfully aware of the pitfalls of neglecting in that stage. Yet, that isn’t all there is to parenting. The second task, the one that emerges as the child grows through the stages of development, is increasingly to prepare a child – to help them become a self-sufficient yet God-dependent individual. Part of that process is helping them understand the POINT of life. The real dream most parents have for their children is for the child to become a happy, fulfilled and positive contributor to society. To do that, they must come to understand what life is all about – they must learn the POINT of the whole human experience.

Money will help them on the journey, but money cannot be the object. Reputation is important, but they cannot make life all about “being known”. Becoming competent and empowered to care for self is very important, but life cannot become simply about how much you can do, what you can build or what you can create. Joyful experiences are wonderful, but life cannot become focused on a mere series of fun engagements without a balanced role of responsibilities that bring about the greater long-term goals. Teaching a young man or young woman the POINT of life is one of the greatest pursuits an older person can engage.

At this point we should entertain the notion of mentoring and discipleship – but our thoughts are not about physical parenting – rather we have in mind a spiritual form of growing people to maturity. In fact, the story of Paul’s life and journeys that we have been pursuing over these past lessons, is very much a story about mentoring and discipleship. We left off in our story with Paul stuck in Rome awaiting for two years for his hearing before Emperor Nero. During the long wait, he wrote letters, sent messengers and engaged young followers in Jesus. We have been following those letters – those we now call “Epistles” – t0 make one point very clear: The Bible is concerned with the POINT of life, and so is disciple making. Here is an important truth…

Key Principle: God gave us life and then exposed our goal for living. We must learn a practical love for Him that works its way into our daily life choices.

Let’s be honest: Even a lot of believers don’t seem to get the POINT of our Christian walk – and that becomes painfully obvious when you examine their lives. In fact, some who once could be found careening through the unmarked road of life with great zeal in the beginning of their walk, are now pulled over into the rest stop called “life compromise”, while others have clearly crashed into the guardrails of public sin and disgrace. Some have moved toward the goal, but many have not. Some have produced spiritual children and the fruits of righteousness. Others have run out of spiritual fuel and sit beside the road in well-dressed but concealed spiritual boredom, waving on the passers-by, as thought this were a mere “rest break” on their arduous journey. They are stuck and they know it. They have lost the clear direction. Some don’t get the POINT of this journey at all.

Paul was concerned about the young believers who felt they were praying only to the ceiling, weakly walking in the power of their flesh and feeling spiritually overwhelmed and depleted? That burden grew inside the Apostle, when he heard about the small community of believers following the teaching of Epaphras at Colossae. Because the letter offers such important words that can be confusing, we want to take a few lessons to untie what God used Paul to tell a church struggling to get back on track.

Before we study it together, it is worth recalling the first chapter of Colossians can be broken into two major ideas:

• The first idea is “What are God’s goals for His children?” The answers to this particularly question are obvious from Paul’s elegant prayer for the Colossians 1:9-12, where he shares the POINT of God’s work in and through a believer – one who has truly trusted Christ for salvation.

• The second idea is “Why God has a right to “impose” His goals on us?” The answers to this question are particularly found in 1:13-29, where God offered through Paul’s pen some basic reasons He has rights to us.

God unlocked, through the prayer of Paul for that small church by the Lycus River, some very practical goals for a believer we want to lay bare today. Before we do, let’s get there in a quick read of the beginning of the letter:

The letter reads:

Colossians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ [who are] at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as [it has been doing] in you also since the day you heard [of it] and understood the grace of God in truth; 7 just as you learned [it] from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard [of it], we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please [Him] in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Now squeeze the text to it’s essence. It may read something like this:

Paul and Tim to Colossian Saints (1,2):

We thank God for you in our prayers! We heard about your faith and your earnest expectation of Heaven that you accepted in the Gospel message. That message is growing and it is producing fruit in your lives. Epaphras shared that truth with you, and word of you with us. (3-8).

After he shared, we ceaselessly began praying for you:

• That you would be filled with knowledge of God’s will.
• That you would live according to that knowledge – pleasing Him in every way and bearing all the fruit that delights Him.
• That you would grow in strength by His power to become steady, patient and joyful givers of thanks.

Stop there and consider more closely the prayer of Paul for these believers. What does the Apostle’s prayer reveal about God’s GOALS for a believer? I read several important words concerning these goals…

God wants us to know His desires

First, God expressed through Paul that these young believers ought to seek to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. Note that he didn’t say “that you would know what God’s will is” – he said something far greater in Colossians 1:9. Let me offer a painfully literal but long sentence of what he said:

He prayed for “filling” (playrao) which is better translated “domination by” the knowledge (epi-gnosis) which is literally “to know around”, i.e. to ascertain the precise and correct knowledge of God’s will (theleyma) which is rightly God’s desires and pleasures with wisdom (sofia) or practical ability and understanding (sunesis) that which brings it all together. In plain words, Paul desired that the people would become “dominated by a precise knowledge of God’s true desires with an understanding of the truths that tie all things together.”

Let’s say it this way: God’s first goal is that He wants believers to be knowledgeable of what pleases Him and with that to work out practical ways to live that way. We weren’t made to fumble around about the will of God.

How exactly can we do that? It helps if we know His family well, but it is critical that we know the acts in His past that are found in His Word. Jesus said in John 17:17 “Set them apart by Your Truth; Your Word is Truth!”

The Savior identified that it is the Word of God that was to set apart believers – because they believed it, followed it and tried to make it their rule for faith and practice. Take a moment and consider how whole groups of Christians – denominations, churches and other groupings have so wildly changed their positions over the past few decades.

Let me encourage you: Christians must labor for a Biblical world view if we are to provide our communities with a true moral compass. Moral ideas formed apart from the revealed boundaries of God’s Word eventually lead to an “alternative” way of looking at the world – one that inevitably will oppose God’s ultimate goals. Let me draw a line:

There is a direct connection between churches, denominations and fellowships that lose a careful focus on clearly transmitting the Scriptures to and through their followers, and the “social justice” crowds that grow from that old Bible root but move forward in their own sense of “compassion” to tolerate and promote the opposite of God’s stated agenda. They began with the position that matched the text of Scripture, now they proudly stand against clear, black and white text, to show they are truly “loving”. How did they move so far, so fast?

Let me say clearly that they don’t do it because they are bad people, they do it because they honestly don’t know what God said about many things, because their circle hasn’t been teaching that for some time. After a while, they take their spotty knowledge of the text and “fill in the gaps” with their own sense of morality that was formed without keeping God’s specific cautions and directions in mind. This is how a church can move in one century from proclaiming one set of values from God’s Word to proclaiming “morality and justice” that is in direct opposition to the clear reading of the text some years later.

Here is what we must remember: We are not more compassionate than God. We do not have a greater sense of justice than He. We are not more knowledgeable of truth or equity than our Creator- and He wrote His Word. To form standards of justice, mercy or tolerance without a carefully fixed understanding of God’s Word is terribly dangerous – and that isn’t God’s goal for us. He wants a people who KNOW HIS DESIRES based on His revealed truths.

God wants our life to count

God has a second goal that was expressed in the first part of verse ten: “10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please [Him] in all respects…”

Look closer at those words. Literally it says that our walk (peripateo) lit. “about-tread” which refers to the “course of your life journey” is to be in a manner worthy (axios: “with proper weight”) of the Lord. In a word, God wants our life to be Impacting. He desires the course of our life to have the impact that He can bring to it!

Again, we should ask the timely question – how? How can God make my little life count for an eternal purpose? In essence, the method is for me to walk where He wants, be there when He wants, and act in that place how He wants. Let me explain:

Most of us probably haven’t heard of a woman named Henrietta Mears. Henrietta was an education director in a church in California. Through her influence many in her church, including two prominent Christian leaders were influenced for Christ. Henrietta was faithful in many small ways to God and God blessed her work. One of the men she influenced was Bill Bright. He was President and founder of a group called Campus Crusade for Christ. It is believed that that group is responsible for over 2 billion people hearing the gospel message. Another man was none other than Billy Graham. We all know who Billy Graham is. He’s probably witnessed to more people in more places than anyone alive. Who knows how many people Henrietta influenced over the years by her impact on those who men alone. She was faithful to the task God called her to and God used her in awesome ways. (Story taken from In Touch Magazine, “Our Circle of Impact”, November 2003, pgs.8-9)

Here is what Paul wanted the believers to know: Our walk should “please” the Lord, a term (areskeia) that means “to conform one’s desires to bring joy to another”. This term was used of musical slaves in the period. They were to play in such a way as to “soothe” or “please the ears” of the guests at the dinner party. We are to do this for God’s pleasure in all respects (pas), literally in every area. Let me say it plainly: If you and I live with a focus on God’s desires and joy through the deliberate obedience of our life – God will get a “soothing break” hanging out with us. Even clearer: You can live for your pleasure or you can live to bring God pleasure – but you cannot do both. If you focus on bringing Him delight – the byproduct is that He will offer you a depth of satisfaction you could NEVER find search apart from Him. Jesus said if we try to keep our own life, we will lose it.

God wants us to change our appetites

Because we have a relationship with God through Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, you and I are called to conform our desires to His in every area of life (1:10b). The terms in Colossians 1:10b are: “…bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Let me make this plain. Did you ever go to a buffet and bring back a plate for someone else? The issue isn’t what YOU LIKE, but rather what THEY LIKE. Scripture teaches that we are to choose from the buffet of life as though we are bringing the plate back to the table for God’s enjoyment, not our own. How exactly are we to do that?

In well explored passages like Romans 12:2 we are reminded that we are not to be “conformed to this world…” In Colossians 1:10b, the believers were told to be busy bearing fruits (karpo-foreo) “deliberate outcomes” in every good work (ergon) performance or endeavor). We are to deliberately work toward things are productive. Let this be clear: God desires that your life produce something in each of your life endeavors (1:10b).

There are a number of ways we can do this. One that stands out is in the very famous “fruit bearing” passage found in John 15:4-8. Jesus presented a picture of a vine (Himself) and branches (His followers). He told them they could not produce fruit without “abiding” or “drawing life” from Him (15:4-5;8).

Look at the end of verse ten, where it says: “increasing in the knowledge of God.” Our life will be a rich, growing experience when it is increasing (auxano), literally “having a life deepened and augmented by” an intimate and thorough knowledge (epi-gnosis: lit. “to know around” precise and correct knowledge) of God Himself! When I know God, and I live to please His desires, I will naturally adjust my appetites to things that please Him.

God wants us to get stubborn about doing right

If you keep reading from Paul’s prayer in Colossian 1:11 he wrote…

Colossian 1:11 “…strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience…”

Paul wrote that God wanted their ability to be empowered (dunamoo) literally “strengthened or powered by” daily according to the measure of God’s great power (kratos: force), so that they would be immoveable and patient in the process. God doesn’t want believers to “tough it out” in their own will power. He has all the power we will ever need to accomplish a life that pleases Him. God’s desire is that we have an inexhaustible reserve of power drawn from Him! Our use of His power is specific: We are to become unmoved (hupomene) ability to remain under pressure) and able to endure trouble (makrothumeo: “long heat”). Our life will face pressures to buckle, but God desires to offer us a power that will help us endure and remain faithful.

I recently read an article that told this story, “The most sacred symbol in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a tree: a sprawling, shade-bearing, 80-year-old American Elm. Tourists drive from miles around to see her. People pose for pictures beneath her. Arborists carefully protect her. She adorns posters and letterheads. Other trees grow larger, fuller — even greener. But not one is equally cherished. The city treasures the tree not because of her appearance, but her endurance. She endured the Oklahoma City bombing. Timothy McVeigh parked his death-laden truck only yards from her. His malice killed 168 people, wounded 850, destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, and buried the tree in rubble. No one expected it to survive. No one, in fact, gave any thought to the dusty, branch-stripped tree. But then she began to bud. Sprouts pressed through damaged bark; green leaves pushed away gray soot. Life was resurrected from an acre of death. People noticed. The tree modeled the resilience the victims desired. So they gave the elm a name: the Survivor Tree.”

God gave that tree more stability than that blast could take away – and He wants to do that to your life as well. Jesus rose from the rubble, brimming with life. He walked out of a graveyard a whole new man – because the Father possesses the power to do that to a lifeless body. God wants that power to be in your life.

God wants us to get our smile back on

Look at the end of the prayer…

Colossians 1:11b “…joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”

Note that He wants to see us rejoice in all things, praising (eucharisto) saying thank you to the Father. He wants believers to learn to be thankful – vocally thankful – for the gift He gave us to be inheritors of new life! (1:12).

Cecil Conrad was a farm boy, tired of waking up at the crack of dawn to clean up after cows. He lied about his age, joined the Army and helped free Asia from the Axis. But it was in the next war, battling Communists in Korea, that Conrad might truly have regretted his change of career. In a too-shallow foxhole, somewhere north of Seoul, the 188th Airborne Division soldier held his gun close to his head, trying to shield himself from fast-flying ordinance that “whistled through the air like birds tweeting,” he said. Then the world exploded in his face. “It was like being smacked with a baseball bat. It knocked me backwards,” Conrad said. Dirt hit him, a chunk of sod flung up by a shell, Conrad thought, as he gradually accepted the fact that he was still alive. Then he touched his helmet, and felt the hole that a shell had torn out of the steel. “I knew a piece of sod couldn’t do that,” he said. By the laws of nature, that big bullet ought to have kept on going, making a fatal journey through his skull and brain. Instead, it struck the steel at such an angle that it cut through the metal and then deflected away. He had a bruise and a headache, but he lived to tell the story. Conrad still has that old helmet, with its tell-tale furrow in the brow. He is one Korean vet thankful for the helmet that saved his life. SOURCE: From “Korean Vet Thankful For The Helmet That Saved His Life” by Cliff Davis.

Here is the funny thing. Long after the engagement was over, he couldn’t put the dirty thing down! He CLUNG the helmet, because it saved him from certain death. I wonder if that isn’t what Paul had in mind when the Spirit nudged him to write how we would joy over the Father that gave us the one thing that saved us. We could never have breached the gulf of unrighteousness. We would surely have been lost.

Let me offer these simple words… God didn’t say life would be easy. That teaching isn’t growing spiritual people that press toward God’s real goals!

In the foreword of his book, Inside Out, Larry Crabb wrote: “Modern Christianity, in dramatic reversal of its biblical form, promises to relieve the pain of living in a fallen world. The message… is too often the same: The promise of bliss is for NOW! Complete satisfaction can be ours this side of heaven….. We are told, sometimes explicitly but more often by example, that it’s simply not necessary to feel the impact of family tensions, frightening possibilities, or discouraging news. [We are told that] life may have its rough spots, but the reality of Christ’s presence and blessing can so thrill our soul that pain is virtually unfelt. It simply isn’t necessary to wrestle with internal struggle and disorder. Just trust, surrender, persevere, obey. “The effect of such teaching,” continues Crabb, “is to blunt the painful reality of what it’s like to live as part of an imperfect, and sometimes evil, community. We learn to pretend that we feel now what we cannot feel until Heaven. But not all of us are good at playing the game. Those whose integrity makes such pretense difficult sometimes worry over their apparent lack of faith. “Why don’t I feel as happy and together as others? Something must be wrong with my spiritual life.” To make matters worse, these people of integrity often appear less mature and their lives less inviting than folks more skilled at denial. And churches tend to reward their members who more convincingly create the illusion of intactness by parading them as examples of what every Christian should be. [But] beneath the surface of everyone’s life, especially the more mature, is an ache that will not go away. It can be ignored, disguised, mislabeled, or submerged by a torrent of activity, but it will not disappear. And for good reason. We were designed to enjoy a better world than this. And until that better world comes along, we will groan for what we do not have. An aching soul is evidence not of neurosis or spiritual immaturity, but of realism.

It seems like so few get to the place that God desires, a place of fulfillment in Him and productivity in their spiritual walk. Yet the goals that Paul shared with Colossae so long ago tell us that the battleground is the WILL. We can shed our condemning past, trim off the expectations of those about us in the present and starve out the inner lusts that trip us up. Yet we can do NOTHING without allowing God to work in our WILL!

Paul argued that God could lay out His goals for us because of WHAT GOD DID FOR US (1:13-14). God orchestrated in Messiah three specific acts that are outlined by Paul:

Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

• God entered the prison of darkness in Satan’s dominion and set me free (1:13a).

• God relocated me to a new Kingdom that was part of the estate of His much loved Son (1:13b).

• God set aside my guilt by considering payment in full through the work of Messiah for me (1:14).

Beyond what God did for us, a second reason is given to explain why God cold expect me to follow His plan for me: WHO OUR SAVIOR IS (1:15ff).

It is clear that God has the right to ask me to surrender my will because I follow the Incomparable Christ.

He is at the center of our worship – and that is as it should be. As we mature, we must recognize one of the greatest truths concerning the study of the Bible is this: Knowing the glory of Christ is an end in itself, not a means to something more. Christ is not glorious so that we get healthy, wealthy or famous – or even that His church is victorious. The glory of Jesus Christ is such that whether rich or poor, sick or sound, prosperous or persecuted – we are able to find total satisfaction in Him – and the Father Who sent Him. Let us be clear: Jesus is worthy of worship if He had never done any of the things the Gospels assure us He did.

In Colossians 1, Jesus is described in remarkable terms. Though not an exhaustive list of qualifications and qualities, it is an impressive list that should lead us to understand God’s right to our submission of will. That is the point of Paul’s sharing it!

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, [both] in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Jesus possesses the privileged place of “first born” with all its rights and titles (1:15), He is the Creative agent of the Father (1:16a) who did His Father’s bidding in the creation of the world. He is the Owner of all things (1:16b). He has authority over creation because His Father has given Him ownership over all of it. He made it, but His Father said He could make it “for Himself!” If that is true, then I am made for Him. My life was initiated for His purpose. Knowing that gives my life meaning, purpose, focus and direction. God gave me life and then exposed my goals for living.

One of the greatest scientists of our time was Albert Einstein. He was a man who was so focused on his scientific theories. He was so focused, he often neglected even the simplest things of life, such as personal appearance (as evidenced by his hair). One time, Albert Einstein was taking a train out of town for a speaking engagement. As he sat in his seat engrossed in his work, the conductor stopped by to punch his ticket. Looking up in shock, Einstein realized he didn’t know what he had done with his ticket. Frantically, he began to search his coat pockets, and then his briefcase. Gently, the conductor said, “We all know who you are, Dr. Einstein. I’m sure you bought ticket. Don’t worry about it.” But, as the conductor moved along, he looked back to see Einstein on his hands and knees searching under the seats for his ticket. The conductor walked back, “Dr. Einstein, please, don’t worry about it. I know who you are.” Exasperated, Einstein looked up and said, “I, too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.

Though Dr. Einstein was unsure, I am not – and you don’t have to be either. You can know why you are here, and where eternity will take you – because of Jesus.

Following His Footsteps: “Anticipation” – Luke 18:35-19:27

anticipation2aaHave you ever had to wait for something with such expectancy that you could hardly contain yourself? Carly Simon sung to us about “anticipation”, and a number of years ago, the Ketchup company “Heinz” paid for the use of that old pop song to emphasize how much thicker their ketchup was than their competitors. Their argument was, “Ours comes out slower because it has less water.” They proudly pressed their claim that water was somehow a cheater’s way to make ketchup, and sitting there with a bottle that wouldn’t yield the condiment was somehow a symbol of its higher quality. I don’t know about that – it seemed to me the bottle was perhaps poorly designed if I couldn’t get the product onto my burger without imperiling the white shirt of others at the table. Maybe I am not technically minded enough, I don’t know.

We all know what it is like to look forward to something longingly, don’t we?

The quintessential moments for many of us come when we recall in our growing up years the days leading up to summer vacation from school – where the classroom felt like a prison and the days dragged on and on. The only worse experience I can think of was Christmas Eve, lying in bed and trying to sleep when the coolest toys ever lay beneath the tree a few dozen steps away in the living room. It was child torture in my little mind.

Anticipation…the longing to see, have or hold something…we all know the feeling. As we open Luke’s Gospel once again, we follow the footsteps of Jesus, and encounter a string of three stories of people stung and throbbing with anticipation. They didn’t all want the same things. They didn’t all look forward to the same events. Yet, they all looked with anticipation that something was about to happen…Here is the truth: we don’t control the future, our Creator does. We have to learn what He says is coming, so we learn how to prepare for the days ahead. We have to tune our ears to the Creator’s voice to recognize the times we live in. In effect…

Key Principle: We must listen carefully to God’s Word to know what to truly anticipate.

Let’s start with the story of a simple walk into Jericho near the end of the Perean Ministry of Jesus (the last six months before the arrest and cross). The winter always brought crowds to Perea, and Jesus traveled and spoke to the people in places where John the Baptizer had once preached. Now Jesus was heading into the oasis like city of Jericho, where our first two encounters are mentioned. Pick up your look at the story near the end of Luke 18. There you will meet some men near the road…

The first two independent accounts recall two men, each with a distinct physical challenge, each who anticipated seeing Jesus.

The first man was a blind, roadside beggar – his eyes wouldn’t work:

Luke 18:35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Look more closely at the scene. Jesus was coming into the city, and a crowd of people were surrounding Him while others were gathering in anticipation of His entrance. Beside the road approaching the city was a lone beggar, a fixture in ancient cities. People who were needy often sat in places of high traffic to ask those who HAVE to care for their needs. His problem was obvious, and I suspect he met along that road many who were willing to help him. The truth is that people with needs are abundant all around us. They don’t need a judge to examine how they got into that state, they need a friend to help them make it through that day.

The beggar in the story had bigger aspirations – he wanted more than to get through the day. He heard that Jesus could give him back his sight, and he longed to have Jesus pay attention to his need. Here is the problem: when we hurt, when our bodies break down – it is easy for us to feel that God isn’t looking at us anymore. He isn’t paying attention to us. The enemy uses the brokenness of our bodies (even though the temptation in the Garden of Eden was his doing and the broken bodies we live in are the result of his work) to try to get us to become impatient with God. That is his ploy. In this case, the man wanted Jesus to SEE HIM so that he could in turn be enabled to SEE OTHERS.

The blind man asked people around him what the “stir” was all about. When he heard, he started calling out to Jesus. It was, no doubt, nothing more than an annoyance to others who passed by him on the road. We must remember that some are desperate for Jesus to care for their needs, and the sound of their crying out can become bothersome to the rest of us. Let’s be honest, the thirteenth time someone is crying: “Jesus of Nazareth have mercy on me!” all of us who aren’t the naturally merciful types are starting to get a bit bugged. We rationalize that they don’t seem to be truly honoring Jesus – they are just asking to get out of their problem. “That isn’t right!” we say.

Yet, look at the account of the Master. Jesus heard the voice of a broken heart, and ordered the man be brought to Him. He didn’t ask the man FOR anything – but rather asked “What do you want from Me?” The man replied: “I want to see!” How interesting that Jesus didn’t require that the man truly know Who Jesus is when we first met Him – only believe that Jesus could care for his need. The issue to Jesus seemed to be more how he responded after he encountered Jesus.

People who come to Jesus to get what they want and then take it and GO, miss the true blessing of life. The man wasn’t blessed when he got his sight – but rather when he used it to follow the Master! From that day forward, walking with the One Who defines truth and righteousness – He learned to see the world the way it truly is. I contend that his blindness wasn’t healed in one day – though in one moment his eyes started working. His ability to see clearer and clearer grew as he followed Jesus – and so will yours.

Keep reading, there is another story of a man in anticipation of Jesus’ coming. He can see with his eyes, but is blocked because of the crowd.

This man was short – he couldn’t see because the crowd was too big:

You have heard this story since you were a child – the story of Zacchaeus and the Sycamore tree…

Luke 19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

This story reminds us that some don’t know WHO Jesus is – it is sheer curiosity that draws them to see Him, to listen to His words. Sadly, in the case of Zacchaeus, it was Jesus’ own followers that blocked the short man from seeing the Savior. They huddled around Him instead of moving into the crowd to get people to come to Him. They focused so much on Jesus, they didn’t recognize why Jesus came. His primary mission was to seek out the wanderers and reconcile them to God.

This problem continues into our time. Many who come to Jesus, don’t really grow up. They spend their lives as disciples and followers, but not as models and gatherers. Beloved, we need to grow past the elementary level of walking with the Master. We need to learn the disciplines that go with our incredible relationship with God – and then grow up. Like the poor soul that spends years in counseling and can name all their phobias but never see an end to any of them – many believers had saddled into the rut of “carnality” and decided they cannot be expected to grow up, get past their issues, and begin to bring others to Jesus. I do not mean to be hard hearted, and I am not perfect in my following of the Master – but I cannot license perpetual laziness and lack of growth in our lives either. We must grow up, get it together by allowing God to work in us, and then move on to helping others. A life focused on our own problems will not add one person to the kingdom; it will leave all our neighbors in darkness while we sort out our own hurts. Jesus found you in order that you would be transformed, and begin to draw others to Him.

We need to get people to Jesus – to give them time with Him. He can show them what they are missing, and in His tender sweetness, He can bring them to change. Time with Jesus was enough for Zacchaeus to give back his ill-gotten gain and restore the funds even above what was called for in the Law (Leviticus 6:5; Numbers 5:6-7). Time with Jesus’ followers left Zacchaeus distant from God – in a tree hoping for a glimpse – but a little while with Jesus brought Him to repentance, generosity and kindness. What will it take to bring people all the way into the presence of Jesus? For one thing, the church will need to focus on doing that – and not being in the way. We cannot focus on being center stage – but on bringing people into the place where they can hear the Words of the Savior, and see His loving hands. It is there they will be challenged to change. This cannot be about a preacher’s ego or a singer’s style – it must be about the Jesus we are trying to display.

Frankly, beloved, I get tired of the ways we block people from seeing Jesus. We can bicker incessantly over our theological finer points while the world hopelessly perishes. One group thinks they have the only true Bible – never mind that much of the world cannot read that language and those that do read it haven’t used that vocabulary for more than three hundred years! Others are so busy examining how God chose them that they aren’t listening to His call to share the Gospel with the rest of their city. Some are so busy using grace to cover their personal licentiousness they can scarcely open the Bible to a single instruction they feel bound to keep. At the same time, others are so busy thumping the ungodly behaviors out of people they invite people to God’s bountiful provision of salvation and rescue.

I want sometimes to stop and shout: “Stop blocking Jesus!” I want to exclaim: “People can’t see Him – all they see is YOU in the way, desperate to be right about the argument while they remain LOST in the darkness!” We will not win a true hearing in the world until we get the church out of the way so that they can see and hear Jesus. I LOVE the church – but I want people to see Jesus, alive, well. transforming us into His image. I want them to see Him even if they go to the “other” church, if they believe the “other” thing. I want them to cherish God’s Word and find God’s wholeness before it is too late. We must get out of the way and let them see Jesus.

I am not saying that what we believe about the Bible is unimportant. To be clear, I am making the argument that not all arguments are equal, and not all are relevant. I have heard the Gospel presented in the last few years by people who sound more like Jonah than Jesus. Jonah gave the truth to Nineveh hoping that they WOULDN’T repent – so he could have the satisfaction of seeing them destroyed. He ran toward Tarshish, not because he didn’t think Nineveh would listen, but because he was concerned they MIGHT. I am surprised when I hear about the condemnation of man from people who seem to enjoy that too much! What we learn from the Word is very important, but not every theological point is necessary to understand to come to Jesus. Don’t overcrowd the message of the Gospel with your political views, your theological fine points, and the like. Most of us came to Jesus with little knowledge beyond the fact that we are sinners and He seemed to know how to fix our unrighteous status before a holy God.

Jesus watched as Zacchaeus changed. He proclaimed the man truly was saved, not simply by hearing the Savior, but by changing the pattern of his life in response to the conviction of sin. Salvation isn’t that change – it is evidence of that change. Sin is of the heart, not the hands. Sin and spiritual separation from God are issues dealt with inside of you. At the same time, a change of world view (what we call faith) without the outworking of it is meaningless (James used the word DEAD).

Luke continued his account…

The third story tells of some who were anticipating the swift arrival of the kingdom:

In the next portion, Luke recalled Jesus’ teaching as a response to the conversion of Zacchaeus:

Luke 19:11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

When the people saw the tax collector powerfully changed by God, and they knew Jesus was heading for Jerusalem in the near future, they anticipated the coming of the Kingdom of God in short order. Powerful transformation of lives draw focus to Jesus and His power – that is to be expected. When people see God at work in the lives of people, when they hear the testimonies of God convicting people and the people responding – they begin to anticipate that God is about to work in a larger and more dramatic way. Jesus wanted to slow down the anticipation, and get them focused on the days ahead. It is the Word of the Lord that sets out sight on what to truly expect. He taught:

Luke 19:12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ 14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ 15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. 16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ 17 “ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ 19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ 20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ 24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ 25 “ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ 26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ ”

Just as the blind man and Zacchaeus didn’t know WHO Jesus was, others didn’t know what His Kingdom would be like, how swift it would arrive, and what it would look like. People had common and popular teachings concerning the Kingdom, but they bore little resemblance to the Kingdom as it was truly going to be. Since it is my observation that many STILL DON’T understand the use of the term “kingdom” in this context, that is where I believe we should invest the rest of the lesson – explaining carefully the story Jesus told to make that more accessible to us.

First, look at the elements of the story:

• The story began with a rightful prince, who was traveling to a territory that was his by right, and expecting the people to crown him in a ceremony when he arrived. He was not going to stay in that province, but rather be crowned and then return to his home country to rule from afar (19:12).

• Before his departure, he gave to each of ten servants an amount of money to invest on his behalf – each in the same amount (19:13). They were to use that money to grow his worth in his absence, expecting his return.

• The journey to his distant land wasn’t easy, and the people crowned him stubbornly, not desiring to have him as their ruler (19:14-15a). The prince left them and returned to his native homeland.

• Arriving home, he called the servants to give account of their investments, one by one (19:15b). He was pleased with the first, that had doubled the value – and gave him charge over ten cities of his kingdom (19:16-17).

• Another servant came before him, and this man had increased the value by half again, and was similarly rewarded with five cities of his kingdom to manage on behalf of the prince (19:18-19).

• The focus and theme of the story was on another servant. He appears to be the third who came before the prince, but we don’t know. We know his actions set up the moral of the story (19:20). Interestingly enough, he seemed to possess the same attitudes as the people in the far off country that didn’t like the prince when they crowned him. They hated the man, and this servant appeared to be like them (19:21-22). The servant felt the prince was a “hard man” who took the benefits of the labor of others and made his income off the backs of his workers.

Before we move past verse twenty-two, let’s make sure we understand the nature of the servant’s complaint. He didn’t argue the character of the prince was evil – merely that it seemed unfair to him that the prince should live in the benefits that he and other servants worked hard to produce. In every generation there are people who believe that there should be no rich or poor – but everyone should start at the same level and finish there – working in the field beside their fellows to all get the same thing. Karl Marx believed this. The rulers of the former Soviet Union espoused this. Mao and the Communist revolution taught this. The problem is, that in all those cases, there is ample evidence to show that the leaders of such movements also received more than their share of benefits. In essence, it doesn’t work. In the end, it kills productivity when there is no upward place to strive for. This isn’t a lecture on communism, but it is important we not read into the text some evil on the part of this prince – Jesus didn’t say it was his deportment that was the problem, but rather the belief system of the servant was the issue. Go back to the story…

• The prince chose to judge the servant by his own words. He told him: “If you thought that was unjust and that I was that hard, why didn’t you DO something with the money rather than hide it away?” (19:23). He ordered the money taken away from him, and told the servants it would go to the one who made the best investment (19:24). It is interesting in the story that the prince essentially had two kinds of servants – those who followed his word, and those who didn’t submit to him because (though they were called servants) they didn’t believe he was entitled to be who he claimed to be. They were like the people in the far country!

• The scene closed with others among the servant’ corps questioning the prince on his decision to give to the most rewarded servant – as if it wasn’t his choice (19:25).

The teaching or moral of the story is made clear in the end with these words: Luke 19:26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ ”

Don’t get lost in the verbiage. Jesus said the one who didn’t trust the prince’s right to rule and DO as he said, would be stripped of his association with the prince and his kingdom (19:26). In addition, those who were supposed to be under the prince but refused in their heart his right to rule over them would be done away with permanently.

Remember the context from the beginning of Luke 19:12: “…because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.” That reminder set the tone for the whole story…

Let’s not go crazy with the parable, but rather work to “keep the main thing the main thing.” Remember, we are never to extract theology from the detail of a parable – that is the wrong use of the medium (it is like trying to shove a flash drive in an electrical outlet, it won’t work out).

First, if the setting was people who thought Jesus was about to go to Jerusalem and set up a kingdom – deporting Roman authority and subjecting Temple authorities – the people could get excited because of coming change, even if they had no concept of what would happen next.

Second, the people to whom the prince was a rightful ruler didn’t want his rule. Could it be that when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, Rome and the Temple wouldn’t kneel to His authority? The crowd needed to consider that possibility, since the next story was about the “Triumphal Entry” at the end of the chapter, and the Temple leaders made clear they wanted Jesus to tell the Palm Sunday crowd to “Shut up!” The story looks, at least in part, as a preparation for that coming exchange.

Third, in the story, there was another group of followers that were with the prince – not just those in the distant kingdom – but those who were dubbed “servants” of the prince. They were closely associated with the prince, worked for his purposes (at least they were supposed to!) and they were rewarded by him for their labors. They seem to be the followers of Jesus that were with Him in Jericho; the ones who experienced the changes in Zacchaeus and celebrated. Now we see the tough part of the parable… Not all of them were the same. Some were followers in deed; others were follower in word alone.

Look at the servant who didn’t believe in the prince. Listen to his words. He said: “You are HARD. You take what ISN’T yours – you take what I WANT.” Can you understand his view? He believed that Jesus DIDN’T HAVE THE RIGHT to his life, his choices, and his labors. He wanted to work for HIMSELF. He wanted life to be under HIS CONTROL. Could he be a follower of Jesus who got “on board” because of the benefits, but not to be a real servant?

Step back for a moment and consider these three stories. First, a man who couldn’t see wanted Jesus, got his sight and followed Him – gaining clarity with each step he took following the Master. Next, a man who searched for fulfillment in THINGS sought Jesus, and time spent with the Master helped him see that ill-gotten gain hindered him from being truly fulfilled. Finally, some people anticipated that Jesus was worth following because of the benefits of a coming Kingdom – but they didn’t really trust Him to direct their lives and choices. His teaching also called them to consider carefully what serving Him truly meant. Remember: Just because someone is on the prince’s payroll, doesn’t mean he is truly serving the prince at all.

Let me ask you a simple question: What are you looking for? Why are you taking the time to look at this lesson? What is God saying to you? Do you trust Jesus, or do you just want His benefits?

Don’t skip that Jesus’ teaching cautioned them that there will be a delay in the lieral and earthly Kingdom of Messiah (something that is much clearer to us that would have been to them). Messiah came to die, was raised to show the acceptance of the payment for sin, and will return to take His place on the throne of David. This was the promise, and if it were a mere spiritualization, huge portions of the prophetic parts of Scripture are good for little beside balking up your Bible to make it a paper weight!

Beloved, even believers of our age consistently display impatience for the Kingdom and an earthly time and place of righteousness. Many long for heaven to take root in this time and land – and forget this world is not our home. Some rest in a prosperity doctrine, hoping wealth, health and fulfillment will be the absolute fruit of following Jesus in the here and now – but the whole idea of martyrdom doesn’t fit their theology. Don’t try selling that one in Iraq right now – they won’t buy it.

Here is the truth: Jesus is coming back. The Prince of Heaven will come, and those things He promised are coming – but not here and not now. They come with the Savior’s return.

Some express impatience by turning their attention to political enforcement of Christian morals and ethics, as if human government will ever eradicate poverty, racism or injustice – or truly promote our faith. While we should thoughtfully influence the state through informed voting and careful engagement, we are wholly unrealistic if we believe Caesar will promote Christ. If Caesar puts Christ on his placards and bumper stickers – it will be to get the church’s vote – not to promote the church’s Master. Incidentally, when the church had Caesar’s power in history, the world’s influence seemed more pervasive, impregnating the church with ungodliness, far more than the world was wooed by the church. That isn’t the best way for the church to take a stand… Bruce Larson wrote: “When I was a small boy, I attended church every Sunday at a big Gothic Presbyterian bastion in Chicago. The preaching was powerful and the music was great. But for me, the most awesome moment in the morning service was the offertory, when twelve solemn, frock-coated ushers marched in lock-step down the main aisle to receive the brass plates for collecting the offering. These men, so serious about their business of serving the Lord in this magnificent house of worship, were the business and professional leaders of Chicago. One of the twelve ushers was a man named Frank Loesch. He was not a very imposing looking man, but in Chicago he was a living legend, for he was the man who had stood up to Al Capone. In the prohibition years, Capone’s rule was absolute. The local and state police and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation were afraid to oppose him. But single handedly, Frank Loesch, as a Christina layman and without any government support, organized the Chicago Crime Commission, a group of citizens who were determined to take Mr. Capone to court and put him away. During the months that the Crime Commission met, Frank Loesch’s life was in constant danger. There were threats on the lives of his family and friends. But he never wavered. Ultimately he won the case against Capone and was the instrument for removing this blight from the city of Chicago. Frank Loesch had risked his life to live out his faith. Each Sunday at this point of the service, my father, a Chicago businessman himself, never failed to poke me and silently point to Frank Loesch with pride. Sometime I’d catch a tear in my father’s eye. For my dad and for all of us this was and is what authentic living is all about.” Bruce Larson, in Charles Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, p.124-5.

At the same time, there is a spiritual sense of kingdom we live with; (even today) that foreshadows the power and magnificence of our Prince above.

• He is unmatched in power and unmarred by evil.
• He is the victor over death and the Prince of life itself.
• He was crucified that I might live.
• He was beaten that I might be healed.
• He was rejected by men than I may be accepted by God.
• He was shamed before the world so that I could be lifted to glory in Heaven.

Yes, we must listen carefully to God’s Word to know what to truly anticipate… and that anticipation should lead us into the arms of Jesus to be a servant indeed.

Following His Footsteps: “The Temptations” – Luke 18

temptations1In this lesson, we have the privilege of meeting five temptations. The singing group named “The Temptations” has been successful for more than half a century – noted for their choreography, harmonies, unmistakable wardrobe, and their musical evolution. They sold tens of millions of albums, featuring five male vocalists originally formed in 1960 in Detroit, Michigan under the name “The Elgins”. The founding five members came from two rival Detroit vocal groups. The group, over the years of their performances gave the world some true Motown hits, including “My Girl” (1964), “Treat Her Like a Lady” (1984), “Just My Imagination” and “Get Ready”. They have performed in venues from small supper clubs to huge concert halls – and are known the world over…but they are not the five temptations I want you to meet today.

I have in mind a different “five temptations” – these even better known but lesser liked. I have in mind the five temptations that are highlighted by the teachings of Jesus in Luke 18 that easily inflict His followers. They were recorded as a warning and a call to self-examination for all of us who name Jesus as our Master and Lord.

Let’s start by understanding something…Every believer faces a series of distractions that can cause us to move away from our call to continuously seek the Master’s smile by our both our clear thinking and our dedicated behavior.

• Some get caught up trying to EARN the love of Jesus –when that isn’t the right perspective at all.

• Others are routinely overwhelmed by and subjected to the strong winds of feeling, and cannot remain resolute to walk as a child of God ought.

• Still others, led by poorly reasoned arguments of strayed leaders, convince themselves that their salvation is all that matters, and Jesus can get their obedience AFTER they get to Heaven. That, too, is deeply errant thinking.

It is easy for believers to get off track in our walk with Jesus. A straightforward understanding of our walk with God should lead us to this truth…

Key Principle: Every follower needs to consistently re-examine their willingness to truly follow our Savior’s direction, step by step.

When we pick up reading in Luke, we need to recall that Jesus had been telling His followers that His Kingdom would not come until a time of suffering for them (and the world) that would include their deep longing to see Him (17:22). He would seem as though He delayed during their intense struggles – and some would be tempted to fall away from following Him (Luke 17:26-36).

Jesus followed those statements, at least as Luke recorded them, with five simple temptations that would befall the believers of that time. Though the teachings will certainly be necessary for the days ahead, they are also temptations we all face today – so they are even more relevant than first glance would make a student of the Word believe.

Temptation One: Becoming Self-Reliant

Look at the first temptation as Jesus presented it:

Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

In every age, there is a temptation for followers of God to become self-reliant. We get distracted and discouraged from prayer – but God desires that we remain persistent. Look closely at the verses and see if the temptation has been dangled in front of you, and God’s prescription for dealing with it.

First, note that Jesus’ point is not in question – the parable was to make the ONE POINT that persistence in prayer is a key to success in our walk with God (18:1).

Second, note that Jesus didn’t hesitate to make the characters in His parable VERY DIFFERENT than their underlying “real world” archetypes. In this parable, God the Father’s part was handed over to “an unrighteous judge”. The praying follower of God’s part was played by a nagging old widow. Don’t let that bother you a whit; it is all part of the medium of parable in the time of Jesus. Stay focused on the main point, which was disclosed in verse one.

Third, note that the parable offered both a comparison and a contrast in verse six and seven between the unjust judge and the King of Glory – but they were connected by the result. Though God listens out of GOODNESS, the judge listened out of SELF INTEREST. That wasn’t the point. The point was that BOTH LISTENED. God is not LIKE the judge, He is good. Yet, He is LIKE the judge in that He will hear the call of His children – He will not ignore their voices.

Fourth, note that WHEN Jesus comes, justice will follow. It won’t come BEFORE Him, but WITH Him. That is the point of verse seven and eight.

fire chief kevin chochranBelievers are tempted to seek justice in the here and now, and increasingly that is becoming hard to find. Ask the Fire Chief in Atlanta who was fired recently because he wrote a book for his Sunday School men on sexual purity that referred to homosexuality as a perversion. He was fired because he believed such a heinous, terribly unjust book as the Bible, in spite of the lack of evidence that he had ever discriminated against anyone in his departmental responsibility. He isn’t allowed to say that he believes that – because he was a public employee. If he held the opposite view, he could say that… there is no penalty for holding the non-Biblical but popular belief. Increasingly, tolerance means “you are free to believe what WE say.”

What should we do about that? Shall we write letters? Maybe. Should be cross-post on social media our objections? Perhaps. Here is the real question… Will we stop and pray for the people involved? Will we seek Heaven’s intervention for our public officials that are trying to serve with integrity and follow the Bible? Will we still do it next month? How about a year from now or later when the case is brought before the courts for the firing? I suspect we will find this momentary issue to be quickly distracted from, and be off on the next outrageous move of the enemy while Heaven awaits our persistent voice.

Here is the truth: If we advertise free counseling for marital difficulties, parent-child relationships and time management – we will find a line forming outside the door. If we advertise that we will bow our knee beside you and pray with you and for your need – no line will form. Many of us have been thoroughly conditioned to believe the answers can be found on earth, and seeking Heaven is at least less effective and at worst a total waste of time. We won’t admit it (that wouldn’t sound Christian!) – but our footprints and schedule books tell the story. We are self-reliant Christians – people given to frantic picketing in place of fervent prayer and social network complaints in place of quiet but persistent seeking of God’s face over a situation. What more did Jesus need to say about this? We are tempted to do it on our own, or give up quickly – and both leave us in a state of self-reliant weakness. As darkness increases, some will begin to recognize anew the tall stature of the bent knee.

Temptation Two: Becoming Arrogant

The second temptation is just as convicting, and offers a different warning…

Luke 18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

The temptation for many followers of God is to become self-exalting and arrogant: We think of ourselves as “better” than others – but God desires we humble ourselves.

Look again at the verses, and you will see a comparable pattern to the first temptation’s revelation.

First, you see the aim and audience of the whole story in the phrase: “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else.” These were people DOING RIGHT in life behaviors, but going off course in ATTITUDES. They followed God, but they used their obedience as a whip to sting those who seemed further back on the path.

Second, Jesus’ story opened with an event – both a Pharisee and a tax collector went to the Temple to pray. One went to recite his obedience and goodness, the other went to sob and seek God’s mercy for his many sins. One boasted of his works as a display before Heaven; the other was so broken over his own faults, he wouldn’t look up. One sought PAYMENT for a life well-lived, the other pleaded for MERCY for a life that left a mess in its wake.

Third, Jesus made clear who “connected with God” at the Temple. One man messed up his life but then sought God honestly; in seeking undeserved mercy he found hope. The other man who felt God’s grace was payment for his good choices knew little of what God truly wanted – and left without Heaven’s approval. God knows that my best efforts done for self are not righteous deeds – they are selfish deeds. They reflect arrogance – and I wish I wasn’t so familiar with them.

When each of us first heard the Gospel message, those who gave their heart to Jesus were quickly overwhelmed by His love, and we began our journey with a full knowledge that we were not worthy of our Savior’s love – nevertheless we have it. We began our journey in humility. Then… slowly… something happened. We walked a few steps with Jesus. We began to DO right. We began to experience the empowering of God in our lives as we served Him. Time passed, and we got “better” at doing God’s will as revealed in God’s Word. We watched as others DIDN’T FOLLOW GOD, and their lives were increasingly messy. We tried not to judge everyone overtly, but inside we knew that our obedience paid off – and their stubborn disregard for the things God said only brought them increasing pain. After a while, we began to see ourselves as “good” and “obedient” – a silent creep toward the “deserving” category. We tried to hide it, but on occasion, especially when really dark people happen by in front of us – it pops out of the surface. We believers, the recipient of God’s rich mercy, began feeling “deserving” of God’s special favor. What began in brokenness morphed into arrogance.

Let’s be clear: God resists the proud. He avoids the arrogant. We have a choice – we can see ourselves as the wretched, judgmental, self-loving people that we are – or we can lie and act like we really see the world through eyes broken by the realization of the receipt of our own undeserved blessings. Only when I am convinced that God’s mercy isn’t, wasn’t and never will be because of me – will I know Him the way He wants me to, and only then will I see the world as He does. Stunned by the wonder of God’s mercy toward me, I can see lost men as objects of my Father’s magnificent obsession. He loves the broken.

There is an old story of an eagle who, on an early morning during the spring thaw, soared high above the forest looking for something to eat. As he followed the course of a river he looked down and spied a small rodent, trapped on a piece of ice that had broken free and was floating down stream. Seeing an easy meal, he swooped down, landed on the ice, killed the mouse and began to eat. As he continued his meal, he saw that his perch was rapidly approaching a water fall, but determined to finish eating and thinking he would rise into the air and to safety at the last moment, continued his course. As the ice neared the falls, the eagle finished his last bite. Satisfied with his breakfast he spread his mighty wings and attempted to rise skyward as the chunk of ice tipped over the edge. While enjoying his meal however, he had failed to notice that the warmth of his feet had caused his claws to become embedded in the ice. Try as he might, he could not dislodge them and free himself from what had now become the burden that would carry him to his death on the rocks far below.

People who think they are smarter than the average sinner, stronger than the average person, more able to resist temptation and more powerful in avoiding sinful situations have forgotten how quickly any of us can find ourselves stuck in the ice of our own cold hearts.

Temptation Three: Becoming Mistrusting

Luke 18:15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

The temptation for followers of God is to become too worried and doubtful – but God desires us to trust Him in handling our lives.

This passage is often misunderstood. The disciples were not “anti-baby”. They didn’t dislike children at all (so far as we know). The issue was one of “PROTECTING JESUS’ HONOR”. That was their assumption.

There are always believers who think they need to protect Jesus from those who do not know how to act – but that isn’t the case. Jesus is perfectly capable of dealing with the errant and the profane. We don’t want to imitate them, but we don’t need to somehow become “bodyguards for the Savior”, for He needs none. It is a nice sentiment to give Him honor in that way –but that is not something He asked for. What does that mean? It means we share Jesus openly, and we let those who want to follow Him learn, step by step, what it means to be in the presence of the Holy One. We honor Him. We revere Him. We address Him with respect and come before Him carefully, because He is the King about all kings. The “not yet” believer in our midst may not know how to carefully enter His presence – but they should SEE it in the way we do it. At the same time, we shouldn’t be so caught up in protecting Jesus and His reputation, that we don’t see that He came FOR THEM.

A number of years ago there was a riot on the Haram esh-Sharif, the ancient “Temple Mount” of the city of Jerusalem. I was there with a British group, and we got caught up in a full-scale meltdown in Jerusalem, complete with tear gas, bullets and helicopters. I won’t take the time to explain it all, because it isn’t necessary to the illustration. When the troubles began, I told all the people that I could see to “get down” and crawl toward the northern gate, where the El-Omariyeh School is located. The people crawled along and we got to the Via Dolorosa, made a right turn and ran down the hill into the Kidron Valley. When we got to the bottom, the crowds were growing exponentially. I ran to the head of the group and went up to the door of the Gethsemane “Church of All Nations” to get the Franciscan fathers to open up and let people in for safety. The guard at the gate was stopping people from coming inside because “some of them had shorts on”, despite the fact that shooting was going on and people’s lives were in danger. That guy would have kept babies from Jesus! Some people don’t get it.

Jesus took a moment to offer a teaching that was larger than a mere response to the situation. He taught: “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” His teaching wasn’t about honor at all – it was about something else. It was about the trusting nature of the little ones that came to Him.

When we meet Jesus, we are told of His love. Someone explains to us the story about how He took our place at Calvary, and how He died for our sins. We respond to the message, trusting the Word of God and the power of Jesus to save. Time moves on, and we find ourselves walking with Jesus through times of celebration, and other times of trouble. After a while, we grow up… that is our problem. As we grow, we hear many opposing voices to the One we hear in the Word. Some exchange trust for doubt, and doubt for disbelief – because they stop simply taking the Word for what it is…TRUTH. Jesus made the point that children BELIEVE what they are told and RECEIVE the Word completely – taking it at face value. Grown-ups often complicate simple things, because they have a way of hiding their ego behind a mask, and their rebellion in a religious costume. Children just believe it is true because Jesus said it is. That’s good enough – of such is the Kingdom of God. May God grant that you grow in Him enough to be reliable and strong, but never so much that you become more intelligent than your Savior in your own estimation. Accept His Word as your final answer to life’s questions.

Temptation Four: Becoming Resistant

A fourth temptation was also presented by Jesus in the text in the form of the answer to a direct question:

Luke 18:18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

The rich young ruler had a problem to which many of us can relate. Some followers of God attempt to make up the rules for what God SHOULD want from us – in spite of the fact that what God truly desires we surrender to Him is WHAT HE ASKS of us. Look it up: the antonym of surrender is resistance. The participants of a resistance are called “rebels”. Some of us are trying to play both sides in one life.

Look at the situation closely. The man approached Jesus with a question – but He wasn’t actually going to accept Jesus’ absolute authority over the answer. IF Jesus told him something that he was willing to do, then he would do it. If Jesus asked for something MORE than the man was willing to give, he’d find another rabbi and ask again. This isn’t new or rare.

Countless times I have watched people argue that they were not doing wrong when they were walking in direct violation of the Scriptures, because they KNEW God wouldn’t actually ask them to give up something they felt so deeply about. I have heard this reasoning applied from boats to illicit relationships – each time the line of argument was the same – if I feel this strongly, God wouldn’t want me to deny myself and follow Him. They never read this story. They never considered how hard it was for a rich man to set up a “yard sale” sign and let all his stuff go – only to give the proceeds to the poor. That is what Jesus said to do. Why? Because we don’t have anything in our lives that God didn’t provide – including the things we clutch hold of to make us happy. If we are willing to find our joy in Him, we will find that He knew from the beginning what we truly needed.

Recently I read a Pastor’s blog where he wrote about his two birds, Coffee and Charlie. I thought it might make the issue of resistance more clear…

My pet finch Coffee runs into a serious problem once in a while. Her claws grow so long she loses the ability to control them. They get stuck in the nest and she can’t get them out. Once we found her nearly dead, hanging for hours upside down with one claw ensnared in her wicker home. Carol rescued her and nursed her back to health. We decided we needed to regularly clip her claws so she could maintain control of them. I reach into the door and try to catch her while she desperately scrambles to the eight corners of the cage to escape capture. Once I do grip her gently in my palm, her heart races in a panic and she attempts to peck at my hand to free herself. I hold her steady, clip her nails, and release her back into the safety of her cage where she gleefully flies for months without getting ensnared. But when the nails grow again, we have to repeat the procedure, each time with her panic, pecking and distrust. It’s sad when she distrusts me. Charlie, Coffee’s nest mate, seems to enjoy being held and stroked, simply receiving the care for what it is as we clip his nails. I’m afraid I’m more like Coffee when God gets me in his grip. I fret and resist and at times turn hostile toward him as he holds me tight and gives me a trim. I wish I was more like Charlie. Actually, I’m going to try to be. (Clipped from “Pastor’s Round Table” – original author unknown).

Temptation Five: Becoming Befuddled

One last temptation needed to be addressed by Jesus beginning in verse thirty-one:

Luke 18:31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” 34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

The temptation for followers of God is to be selective in their hearing a assumptive in their conclusions – but God wants us to know His Word and let its truths sink deeply inside us.

When you read the account as Luke gave it to us, isn’t it a mystery on your first pass of reading why the disciples didn’t “get” what Jesus was saying? Perhaps that is “Monday morning quarterbacking” – because we know the end of the story already. If we look more closely, we may have clues to why they didn’t relate the story to the coming months of Jesus’ earth ministry.

First, Jesus didn’t just say, “I am going to die on the cross for your sins…” It was much more cryptic. He used a title, “Son of Man” that came from Daniel, and was one that He used of Himself. Was it that clear in His speech, or just clearer to us after knowing the story?

Second, Jesus wasn’t involved in a negative way with Gentile authorities at that point (though Herod Antipas was a Roman puppet and wanted to see Jesus). It is possible that they weren’t clear that the popular itinerant preacher would be turned upon so quickly – and it never struck them that their movement was about to be violently interrupted. If this is just after the raising of Lazarus the disciples seemed to know something bad was about to happen, which is why I believe Luke 18 was just before John 11 and not after. In John 11:16 the Apostle recalled: “Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

Here is the bottom line: Many followers of Jesus don’t listen closely to His Word. They pick out the parts they like, and don’t contextualize anything at all. You can make the Bible say anything you want if you cut it up into fortune cookie sized sayings and string them together without context. Let’s be clear: speaking from the Bible is not the same as teaching what is IN the Bible. In churches around the world people will lift quotes, but many will say little or nothing about what was before and after the quote. They will select out what they like, borrowing by implication the authority of the Word – but fail to really explain what God said.

I have been in theology discussions where people offer all kinds of re-shuffled Bible parts – like fast food chicken nuggets that are reassembled and fried until you cannot tell what part you may be getting. The theology was just about as spiritually nutritious. We must be careful to measure the difference between theological debate and actual Biblical instruction – they are not the same thing. We need to stop robbing the Bible of its richness, and really study it to hear our Father’s voice.

Do you all know much about Emperor Penguins? Emperor Penguins are monogamous; they have one mate for life. Perhaps even more interesting than that, though, is the fact that it is the male Emperors who care for the egg until it hatches. Every year, when mating season is over, the female Emperors take off for the ocean; all of them together in one huge flock traveling hundreds of miles so that they can fish and get plenty to eat to sustain them and their new chick for a year. Meanwhile, back at their home, the male penguins care for the eggs. Each male tucks his egg between his feet to keep it from breaking and to keep it warm in the cold, harsh, winter winds. When all those females return from the ocean, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of them, how do you think they find their mate in the equally large crowd of males? The Emperor penguins always find their mate by the sound of their call, by their voice. It seems impossible for a flock of thousands of penguins to sort themselves out by the sounds of their voices, but they do it. They have learned to block out the noise of other voices, and hear the important one. That is what believers need to grow to do. Only when we learn to pick out God’s voice will be truly listen to what He really said. We must resist the temptation to pick and choose lazily, and do the work of real study with open hearts!

It is easy for believers to get off track in our walk with Jesus. Every follower needs to re-examine their willingness to truly follow our Savior, step by step.

Most people don’t understand why it is important to follow God’s Word closely. We have a world of experts, and many of them think they know better than anything you will read in the Bible. Maybe this will help:

The doubleheader train was bucking a heavy snowstorm as its steam engines pulled it west. A woman with a baby wanted to leave the train at one of the little stations along the route. She repeatedly called, “Don’t forget me!” to the brakeman responsible to call out the stations they approached. Her husband was to meet her. The train slowed to a stop, and a fellow traveler rather certain of himself said, “Here’s your station.” She hopped from the train into the storm. The train moved on again. Forty-five minutes later, the brakeman came in. “Where’s the woman?” “She got off at the last stop,” the traveler said. “Then she got off to her death,” the brakeman responded. “We stopped only because there was something the matter with the engine.” They called for volunteers to go back and search for the woman and child. When they found her hours later, not far from the track where they stopped, she was covered with ice and snow. The little boy was protected on her breast. She had followed the man’s directions, but they were wrong—dead wrong.

Just because people think they know what will work – doesn’t mean they really do. God designed life. He is the One Who knows. Follow His Word – it will lead you home.

You have met our five temptations. Now I ask you to stop singing their tunes. Turn your attention to the songs of the Savior – our magnificent King!

• Trust Him – not yourself.
• Behold His humility – not arrogance.
• Trust Him as a small child trusts his parent to do good.
• Don’t resist. Don’t rebel. Don’t over complicate.
• Listen to His Word.

God on the Move: The Letter to Philemon

bridges2_1478275cBridges are important. If you have ever lived in a place where the bridge was necessary to access the rest of the world – you know that is true. For a number of years my parents lived (while my wife and I were overseas) on the “Outer Banks” of North Carolina. They made their way to and from “Southern Shores” in the “Kitty Hawk” area, by means of some bridges that were the KEY to being connected to the mainland. In times of storms, those bridges are often jammed as people flee the oncoming hurricane winds that occasionally pound that area. For those who live there, the bridge is essential.

Bridges are also places of supreme trust. When you begin to drive over them, in some cases, you may for just a moment find yourself wondering about the engineer and his abilities. It helps if you are in a “string” of cars and not alone. If the bridge “moves” or overtly “creeks” – it can be unnerving. My wife still has nightmares about a bridge that was near her home as a child – because of traumatic memories of driving over the ‘rickety bridge”. In truth, driving across a bridge is a public act of trust that the designer knew what he was doing, and the contractor didn’t cut costs on the materials.

I mention the importance of bridges, not because we are about to flee to anywhere, nor because there is any need in central Florida to cross over any perilous heights – we live where it is painfully flat. The bridge I have in mind is not between land masses – but between people. It is a bridge of reconciliation. It is a bridge over the troubled waters of interpersonal conflict.

One of the realities of our modern world is that we see broken relationships EVERYWHERE in our society. Obviously, our first thoughts go toward the myriad of divorced couples that have become all too common in our society. Yet, divorce is only one way we see broken relationships. I have sat with parents that admit it has been years, decades sometimes, since they have had a conversation with their now adult child. The issue that caused the split may have been years ago, but the pain is still alive today. I know siblings that are divided over an argument long ago, but they cannot seem to reconcile – no matter how much time passes. Is there any hope for people who have become so hurt by someone’s actions in the past that they do not seem to be able to move forward in the relationship? I am glad to say that there is! The Bible offers a pattern to build a bridge in damaged relationships in a little postcard sized epistle. It teaches an important truth…

Key Principle: Mature believers desire to rebuild the bridge of broken relationships– because the state of the body affects the health of our witness.

In fact, truly mature believers will work hard to resolve and reconcile relationships if at all possible. They do so with the full knowledge that God forgave them of their mutiny and crimes, so they need to forgive others to please the Master. Consider for a few moments the verses penned out by the Apostle Paul while waiting to see Emperor Nero in Rome in about 62 CE. He was arrested and sitting for years, while his case awaited presentation. During that time, he “ran into” a man who trust Jesus Christ to be his Savior, but was hiding some baggage of brokenness. When Paul found out what the man was hiding, he sent him home with a letter. God was superintending a great work of reconciliation while He was leaving us a record of how it was done… The letter is the small Epistle to Philemon which told an ex-slave owner that was stolen from to receive back the now believing brother as a servant. We will look at the brief letter in a moment. First I want to be sure something is clear, so the context of the letter is soberly recognized.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, do you recognize that you have no right to vengeance? Do you freely recognize that you are commanded to forgive those who do wrong to you?

Some believers today have found ways to justify in their own minds a permanent break from other believers that is not godly – and we have to face that and repent. If they don’t, it will break the testimony of the body of Christ in their lives. Consider a story for a moment (on our way to our text)…

One of the excellent Christian sites that can still be observed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland is that of the “door of reconciliation”. A dispute between two leading dynastic families the Butlers, (who were Earls of Ormond) and the FitzGeralds (who were Earls of Kildare) was resolved in 1492 at that door. The reason it is so famous is because of HOW it was resolved. A feud that may have begun over territory (others say it was about a public shaming and embarrassment) grew into a war between two clans. As a war erupted between the two clan armies, Black James, nephew of the Earl of Ormond, fled from FitzGerald’s Geraldine soldiers, and took sanctuary in the “chapter house” (an old “board meeting room”) of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The soldiers of Gearóid Mór FitzGerald surrounded Black James and his men, but FitzGerald (who was then Ireland’s premier earl) wished to end the bloody feud. He pleaded with Black James to negotiate a peace. Black James rebuffed all refused though surrounded. FitzGerald ordered soldiers to cut a hole in the center of the door. He explained how he wished to see peace and bravely thrust his hand and arm through the hole to shake hands with Black James. James’s men could have severed the Earl’s arm off; but James grabbed his hand and ended the dispute. The men reasoned that two families of the same faith in the same land shouldn’t be killing one another.

I have to admit there is no issue more painful to me, or closer to my heart, than the break-up of relationships between believers. When Christians decide they can no longer live in harmony – there is a particular bitterness that I feel about the situation. One reason for that is simply this: they have made clear by their lives that their testimony of God’s wonderful forgiveness to them does not extend past their own discharge of other people’s guilt. They don’t feel they have to forgive another as Jesus forgave them. They apparently don’t truly believe, as demonstrated by their actions, that their sin before God was as bad as the sins perpetrated against them by the one refuse to forgive.

Perhaps that is too bold. Maybe they simply judge themselves unable to rise to the level of a truly forgiving one – as Jesus did for them. In any case, when a believer decides they cannot live in harmony with another believer – the message of Jesus is negated in their life. Jesus came to reconcile broken man to a Holy God, and to give His followers a “ministry of reconciliation”. It is a fair question to ask how a man or woman of God can be used of God to bring a message of forgiveness of sin, when in the center square of their life they have refused to forgive another for sin done against them.

Jesus made it clear that we were not only to ask for God’s forgiveness – but we were to anticipate that God would hold us to the same standard with each other.

• In the last days of Jesus’ ministry on earth, before the Crucifixion, He said: (Mark 11:24) “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. 25 “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. 26 [“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”] **There is a manuscript argument about verse 26, but that doesn’t change the imperative of verse 25, about which there is no debate.

• The teaching does not stand alone, but echoes what is found in other Gospel places such as: Mt. 6:14: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

• The concept also clearly appears in the instruction to the Disciples on Prayer Jesus said: (Lk. 11:4) “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us…”

In other words, Jesus said His followers were supposed to FORGIVE as they sought God’s forgiveness. Now, let’s be careful here.

In my experience, the people who have abused the trust of others are often the first to quote Jesus’ standard of forgiveness. Yet, it was not a license to get out of jail free. If we are going to place the need to forgive on the shoulders of abused people by the word of Jesus, we need to set His word in the context of what He truly expected. There are cases in Scripture that Jesus would not have included in the need to reconcile because such forgiveness was NOT called on by God to be granted apart from other judicial solution.

Listen closely, because this is the part of “the all-forgiving Jesus” the Hallmark card believer has forgotten. Under the law, for an example, a man who physically or sexually abused the children of their home would not be tolerated by society, and would simply be put to death. We don’t live under that time or those laws – but Moses didn’t make them up. The same Jesus who forgave men of their sins with His own blood, collaborated with the Father and offered the Law at Sinai along with the subsequent additions added in the wilderness between Goshen and Moab. Essentially, a person who committed heinous acts in the family could be forgiven – but posthumously. The Law was clear, and the judgment was real. If we use the words of Jesus in a “standard of forgiveness” without the legal limitations that would have been in the context of the time of Jesus, we torque the words of Jesus out of their proper context and forget the exceptions that were already clear to those to whom He was speaking.

I am concerned that many well-meaning Christians have oversimplified the Bible on forgiveness and reconciliation. Don’t forget that even our forgiveness by God only came AFTER judicial payment. Jesus DIED for the payment of the sin, and God didn’t declare you righteous without full and complete payment for your guilt PRIOR to His release of debt declared over you. We aren’t set free from sin just because we asked, but because we asked AFTER the debt had been fully paid judicially by the Savior! Forgiveness happens when I release someone from their debt – but real reconciliation can only happen when they agree that they were wrong in what they did. If someone hurt you, it is in your power to forgive them, even if they are not asking for it. It is NOT in your power, however, to truly reconcile the relationship that has been severed by the wrong, unless the offending party AGREES they were wrong, and DESIRES to make it right.

Be careful here. Some have categorized any awkwardness in their relationship as “abuse” and thereby think this will be their escape hatch to walk away from reconciliation – and they are wrong. I have heard the claim that “my spouse abused me because they were thoughtless about the sacrifices I made in our marriage.” I want to be clear – that isn’t abuse in the sense we are talking about. Their behavior may have been wrong, and it may have been painful. It may have been thoughtless – but it was not ABUSE – it was perhaps hard-heartedness or maybe just stupidity. We need to be careful and deliberately avoid extremes – a “one size fits all” forgiveness is not called for in the Bible, nor is a super-sensitive “they hurt me so I have been abused and excused from forgiveness” – the Bible supports neither extreme.

• Jesus didn’t offer you a “free pass” from reconciliation on a broken relationship because you didn’t know Him as Savior when you made the relationship – that is covered in 1 Corinthians 7 and clearly has no bearing on your need to forgive and reconcile. If you believe that you don’t need to stay together, say as a couple, because you found each other before you knew Christ – you are Biblically flatly in error.

• Jesus didn’t say that if you argued incessantly for five years in your marriage, (or even much longer) that you could have an exception on the basis of “irreconcilable differences”. That term is a scar on a life reconciled to God. What bigger differences can be had then those found between a fallen man or woman and a Holy God? Yet God reconciled to you and I who know Christ. How can we now, in good conscience, act as though we are allowed to break a relationship in which we covenanted together?

I do not take theft and disrespect lightly, but our passage in this lesson is very applicable to instruct those who may have been economically and perhaps emotionally abused, though not physically beaten or sexually assaulted. They have a different path to resolution.

Here is the background. In the first century, Paul was moving about the Mediterranean world preaching the Gospel and making disciples, forming them into small accountability and study groups called local “churches”. In the process, he met the people of Colossae, Hierapolis and Laodicea – and was greatly encouraged by their salvation and growth into communities of faith. In one of them, a man named Philemon was sharing leadership with others of the tiny church. He was a man of some means, and had household servants that were common in that time to one of his stature in the community. One of those slaves worked poorly, and did not attempt to fit into the household. Ironically, he was named Onesimus – the word that translated “profitable” – although he did not fit his name in deeds. Eventually Onesimus fled the home, apparently stealing some of Philemon’s personal possessions. Philemon was a believer, a leader in disciple making, and now the victim of theft and disrespect. Much later, it appears that Paul met Onesimus, that very same runaway slave, in Rome while Paul awaited his hearing before the Emperor. Paul urged the return of the runaway slave – now a follower of Jesus Christ. He was guilty of theft and of unlawful departure, and now he came back. The normal Roman penalty of death lay upon his shoulders – and he brought with him a petition of Paul the Apostle. This is a record of that petition.

In the story, Paul petitioned Philemon to offer forgiveness and restoration to Onesimus who took advantage of him – robbed him of property and badly disrespected him in the past. This wasn’t a “he said, she said” case. This wasn’t a “two sided” case. One was wrong, the other wronged – and yet the one hurt was petitioned to restore the relationship. Paul did not make this request of one who had murdered someone in the family, nor of someone who had physically attacked the other – the context was property loss and disrespect. That context is important, or these principles can be un-righteously hoisted on a struggling and emotionally distraught victim of violence and physical abuse – and that isn’t the appropriate use of the passage.

Here is an important question: “How could Paul expect the one who was taken advantage of by a thief to forgive?” Paul knew the conditions very well. He wrote a request for reconciliation and forgiveness, based on VERY SPECIFIC conditions…Paul taught an important truth that we need to recall in our “broken relationship racked” modern world.

Remember: Mature believers desire to rebuild the bridge of broken relationships– because the state of the body affects the health of our witness.

For the sake of clarity, let’s say up front that we will refer to Paul simply as the petitioner – since he is the one with the request to Philemon. Let’s also agree to call Philemon in this case the “petitioned” since a request is being made of him to accept Onesimus back into his home without the requisite penalty of death.

Conditions: The appeal to repair the relationship is best when offered where the right three conditions prevail:

First, the petitioner stepped into the situation with a solid testimony of following the Lord (1:1a).

Philemon 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother…”

Don’t doubt the value of having a good public testimony – it may open doors to help people well beyond what you can easily see. Being known as a servant of Jesus that follows His Word will invite others seek you out. Not only will your life work better – but you will be seen by others as wise in life – because you follow the designs of your Creator. A walk with God lends credibility to your attempts at dealing with other’s needs in a proper way. It is imperative that we get and keep our house in order before we try to get others to do so.

Second, there was a direct and solid relationship between petitioner and the petitioned (1:1b).

Philemon 1 :1b “…To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, 2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

Look at the descriptions Paul used of believers. He called them beloved brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier. Don’t doubt the value of developing and maintaining a wide net of believing friends in a local church context– it will allow God to use your voice in many more ways. God’s work is most often about relationship and connection. We can be used of Him to connect people to each other, or people to HIM.

Third, the appeal was being made to another believer who was serving the Lord with their life (1:3).

It includes the general knowledge of the salvation of the petitioned – Philemon 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It also includes specific knowledge of the testimony of the petitioned believer – Philemon 1:4-5 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul knew that both parties in the broken relationship were now believers. He knew the offender had come to Christ AFTER the offense – because Paul led the man to Jesus. He knew that the ex-servant desired to do whatever it took for God to reconcile his past. He anticipated that even an offended believer could be made to understand the place of all believers before God and each other.

Trying to get someone to do a right thing that does not know Jesus as Savior is much harder, because you don’t share a common ethical standard. Trying to get a believer that is NOT living out their faith is also incredibly hard. The best case scenario then, is to reach into a situation that is broken but has a party that is actively following Jesus Christ. The letter offers particular insight about how a believer who has both a testimony of walking with God and a relationship with two other believers who have “fallen out”, where one of the divided parties is mature in faith – but needs some assistance.

It may be possible to reconcile people who are not believers, or with people who are not living out the faith – but it is much harder. The approach would not differ much – but it would have to be adapted…

When two people KNOW Jesus, and one believer has wounded the other, how can they be reconciled? That is the central question here. Our response won’t fit every situation, but it will fit SOME situations. It provides principles for when BOTH KNOW JESUS, and when the person who wronged the other LONGED NOW TO OBEY CHRIST and reconcile.

Here is the model process we have from the text, along with some principles the process revealed.

First, expect the wounded believer to CARE about the reconciliation and relationships, and make that clear.
8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment…

Note the word “appeal”. Don’t bully, show them relationship and love to get relationship and love.

Second, take the time to acknowledge the injured party – don’t bury the offense in love. (11a). 11 “who formerly was useless to you…”

Third, recognize the value of the offender as well as the offended (11b). “…but now is useful both to you and to me.”

Fourth, if at all possible, bring the parties physically together (12a). 12 “I have sent him back to you in person…”

Fifth, put your heart into their restoration, this is not simply an intellectual exercise! (12b). “…that is, sending my very heart”.

Sixth, state the rights of the injured and enlist their help for the solution (13-14a). “13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything…

Seventh, offer the injured party the means to respond willingly in the repair of the relationship (14b). “…so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

Eighth, look for and express a Heavenly perspective if you can, God was at work in this relationship even in the difficult times (15-16). 15 “For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”

Ninth, be direct in asking the parties to forgive each other (17). 17 If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.

Tenth, be warned. If you are truly willing to serve in the restitution of the relationship, it may cost you something, but the payoff is a restored relationship (18-19). 18 “But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).

Remember, the reconciliation must be worth it to you! If so, you should verbally encourage and anticipate the best in both the parties, encouraging them to act responsibly toward the Word of God and the relationship (20-21).

1:20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

I truly have long held concerns about believers not getting along – and I say this with no particular situation in mind (which is the best time to teach on such a thing!). Yet, I want to be clear to those who would lead God’s church – we must be people of reconciliation – and far too many bitter spirits are rising into places of leadership in churches across the land. Let me illustrate that with a story that will perhaps leave you with a smile. Pastor Gene Gregory told a great story that I think will tie together what we are saying to those who are maturing in their faith:

The story is told of a terrible traffic accident. Police officers were called to the scene and when they arrived they found a husband, wife, and two children lying unconscious in the car. They pulled them from the car, and as they waited for the paramedics to arrive they noticed a monkey in the car also. Seeing that the monkey was the only witness to the accident who was conscious, the officers decided to question him about the accident. Turning to the monkey they asked, “What was the dad doing at the time of the accident?” The monkey motioned, indicating that the dad had been drinking. The officers next asked what the mother had been doing at the time of the accident. The monkey took his finger and shook it angrily at the unconscious man. The officers then asked what the children had been doing. The monkey this time indicated by hand gestures that the children had been fighting in the back seat. The officers said, “Well, no wonder there was an accident with all of that going on in the car.” As they turned to leave, almost as a parting thought they asked, “By the way, what were you doing at the time of the accident?” To which the monkey signed that he had been the one driving. He went on to say this: My friends, I am afraid that there are many churches today headed for trouble. There are many churches heading for an accident because they do not understand God’s design for the church. They do not understand God’s call for leadership, and as a result they have allowed the noisiest monkeys in the group to run the church. My friends, noise does not equal leadership.

I am blessed to have in place godly men and women who lead, serve and care about the flock. Let us be warned, though, that it is easy for noisy people to take over the agenda. In the absence of strong leadership, strong personalities take over. We need to be growing in our understanding of forgiveness and deepening the roster of reconciliation – and that comes by following the model we have. We need to build some new bridges between people who have left the landscape broken.

Mature believers desire to rebuild the bridge of broken relationships– because the state of the body affects the health of our witness.

Following His Footsteps: “Learning to Listen” – John 11

Julian TreasureAuthor of the book “Sound Business” Julian Treasure knows something about listening. He wrote a book that wasn’t the story of an audio recording studio, nor was it a “how to” book on business practices – it was a book about the need for people to learn to listen in our modern world. Recently, he presented a TED talk in which he observed: “In a world that is filled with noise, we spend 60% of our time in communication listening – but we aren’t very good at it. We retain, on average, about 25% of what we take in. We subconsciously use “tricks” to get meaning from the sounds we hear. For instance:

• We use “pattern recognition”. In a crowded room, we may hear someone mention our name and we look – because we recognize that pattern above the ambient noise of the room.

• We learn to “block out” constant sounds, like the noise of a subway when listening to our friend talk as we walk sit in the metro on our way to work.

• We use “filters” that are encoded by language, culture, values, beliefs, attitudes, expectations and intentions – most of them without any conscious thought. They shape how we receive visual and auditory information.

• We can even close our eyes and use sound to “place ourselves” in the size and space of a room. We are intuitively aware of our location and the number of people around us.

Julian offered a warning that “we are not learning to listen as well as we should”.

There are reasons, he posited. First, as man developed abilities to “record” what was being said – first in writing, now in audio and video – the “premium” on accurate listening diminished. Second, as the cacophony of voices, signs, visual and auditory information was increasingly streamed at us – we became too tired to listen well. As a result, we can easily become impatient in this loud climate, listening for “sound bites” over longer oratory. In addition, the “art of conversation” can quickly be replaced by “personal broadcasting”. The net effect is that we are becoming desensitized. Advertisers know this. Our media companies have become a stream of “sensations, shocks, revelations, furies, scandals and exposes” – simply because media has to scream to get our attention.

I found it interesting that Julian noted that “Listening is our access to understanding,” because that was exactly what I discovered in the text for our lesson in John 11. Let me suggest that without conscious listening we don’t truly communicate at all. What is true in the physical world is also true in the spiritual world – we need to learn to listen. As we study a familiar story from God’s Word today, we will see this clearly…

Key Principle: Mature believers learn to listen to God’s Word and pick out the truth from the noise around them.

In our last lesson, we saw five temptations from Luke 18, the last of which was “Becoming Befuddled” – addressed by Jesus in Luke 18:31-34 with the words:

Luke 18:31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” 34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

We noted that there is a temptation for followers of God is to be selective in their hearing and assumptive in their conclusions – but God wants us to know what He said and let the truths sink deeply inside us. If we cut up His Word into “fortune cookie sized sayings” and string them together without context – we may be believed by those who hear us, but we become unreliable witnesses of the King. Truly we must recognize that speaking from the Bible is not the same as teaching what the Bible says. Lifting quotes and stringing things together without a grasp of context won’t teach people how to LISTEN to God and pick out what He is saying.

Selective hearing seemed to be a problem as Jesus faced His last winter of earth ministry. By Spring, He would be crucified and raised. For now, He was the Teacher – and He was trying to get His followers to become good listeners. It helps that the end of John 10, just before the account we are about to study, shares that some people DID her Jesus and recognize Him as the One promised – because they knew John the Baptizer’s ministry before Him.

People Turning toward Jesus

John’s account recalled: John 10:40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

This little reference reminds us that people were following Jesus, in part, because of what they HEARD about Him from John before the Baptizer was beheaded. John’s testimony, when matched with Jesus’ consistency of life and message, led men and women to see Him as the Lamb of God that was promised – but they weren’t sure what that meant in practical terms. They didn’t recognize the serious implications of the Lamb – that He would be killed and His blood would become payment for sin. Still, it shows some were listening…

Followers that Didn’t Listen

At the same time, some of those who were closest to Jesus didn’t seem to be able to really hear Him.

Word came that one of Jesus’ dear friends from Bethany of Judea was taken ill. His disciples heard Jesus’ words, but didn’t recognize His knowledge of the situation. John recorded: John 11: 1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

When Jesus heard the news, it appears He understood what the Father had planned. Lazarus was sick, but the end of the story was going to point to Jesus and exalt Him. His certainty is clear in verse four. The disciples heard the same news, but had no idea what was in store for them. Jesus delayed going to Bethany – but the disciples likely interpreted that as mere prudence. John recorded in John 11:6: “So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

His followers heard Jesus’ words, but didn’t grasp His explanation of the situation. When He made the plan to go near to Jerusalem again, they objected:

John 11:8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

Their question was reasonable, don’t you think? “Master, are you sure that is wise?” There are a number of problems with the question – the first of which is the One to WHOM the question is addressed! If Jesus makes a plan, who are His followers to question Him? Isn’t that JUST LIKE US though? Jesus said: “Love your enemies.” We reply, “Really, Lord? Do you have any idea what He did to me? Do you know how WRONG he has been? Jesus quietly smiles and nods: “Yes, Randy. It may surprise you to know that I knew all about it even before you did.” I look down – I am doing it again!

Look at Jesus’ reply. It may take a minute to catch what He said. He replied: “There are a set number of daylight hours. If you stick to walking in them, you won’t stumble in the dark.” In other words, “I have the time. They won’t get me yet.”

Some people can’t hear very well – and that is their chief problem with following God. Years ago, I read about a man who had a terrible hearing problem. One day he and his wife were driving through southern US states. They were pulled over by a state trooper who asked the woman if she knew how fast she was driving. The husband barked at her, “What did he say?” The wife replied, “HE ASKED IF I KNEW THAT I WAS SPEEDING.” Looking at the driver’s license the trooper said, “I see you’re not from around here.” The wife said, “No we are from Jacksonville.” The husband, annoyed that he couldn’t hear shouted, “What did you say?” The wife told him, “I SAID WE ARE FROM JACKSONVILLE.” The state trooper then commented, “You know, the meanest man I ever met was from Jacksonville.” The husband again interrupted, “What did he say?” The wife replied, “HE SAYS HE THINKS HE KNOWS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!”

The disciples were suffering from physical hearing loss – but they were still wondering why Jesus wanted to put Himself in danger (not trusting that He knew exactly what time it was), they heard Jesus’ words, but they didn’t understand His diagnosis for the situation.

John 11:11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

The problem is, when we start off believing God doesn’t have the whole situation well under control, we find ourselves unable to really listen closely to all His other words! Jesus tried to make clear that there was a purpose to going to Bethany that outweighed their thoughts of danger – and the disciples naively informed Jesus that His visit would be counter-productive. After all, if Lazarus was asleep – that was GOOD FOR HIM. Jesus had to make it even clearer… “HE IS DEAD. Now, let’s go!”

That made even LESS SENSE to disciples that were already worried about the outcome of such a visit. If their friend was dead, that was sad – but there was no point to walking into a trap to see the outside of a tomb and hug friends that lost their brother. It isn’t that such a thing wouldn’t be good – but really, should they risk their lives for it? It is clear that even though they heard Jesus’ words, but didn’t trust His control of the situation. You can hear it in their muttering…

John 11:16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

There is an upbeat response to the Master’s plan. “Fine! If you insist on this fool-hearty errand, I guess we will go and all die together!” Have you ever followed Jesus like that? You DID what He told you – but not with a heart that flowed with confidence in what He was doing!

I want to take a moment, while we are thinking about Thomas’ gloom, to pay closer attention to something. Often in Bible teaching, I find myself making a point about the way we, as followers of Jesus, really don’t measure up. It isn’t because I don’t feel there are many who DO know how to follow the Savior. I have, in my life, met a number of incredible believers – men and women who have inspired me and really shined as an example. I make the points concerning our failures because we live in an “out of balance” world. We live in a culture that insists on telling us that we are really good at things we really aren’t – we are victims of things that we really aren’t.

I love that the Bible is filled with characters that are shown, warts and all. Thomas can’t be herein mistaken for a man of great faith, can he? He decided to DO what Jesus said, but not without a heart so full of doubt that a bit of it spilled out his mouth. I find these moments a bit encouraging – as if we aren’t the first generation of people who wanted to follow Jesus, but may not have it all together. It was like that from the beginning. What Thomas lacked, what we all so often lack, is simple “faith”. We have made the point repeatedly in our study of the Bible that “faith” is “God glasses” – it is seeing things THROUGH the Word of God and not as my eye would see without the “world view” of His Word. Faith, truly comes from HEARING. More accurately, faith comes through LISTENING.

• When we don’t recognize God’s knowledge of the situation – we think we have to get worked up, come to Him and “make Him pay attention” to the troubles we see (as in Habakkuk’s case).

• When we don’t listen to His Word closely enough to grasp His explanation of the situation – we fill in His absolute truth with our flawed and fluffy interpretive filling, much of which is derived from flawed thinking.

• When we don’t carefully listen to His Word, we conclude that we know better what would help in the situation – and we question God’s direction.

• When we don’t trust the control God has of over our lives and our world, we easily become cynical and negative, like Thomas did.

Followers that Learned to Listen

We have seen crowds that believed because they listened to John the Baptizer, and we have seen close-up disciples who acted like they were obedient, but weren’t really listening. Now, look closely at the story that is at the heart of the account – and pay close attention to some followers that learned how to listen to Jesus…

John 11:17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Jesus arrived, probably at Ein Shemesh, the spring in the valley east of the village. Most caravans stopped there to get water before coming in to greater Jerusalem – the villages of Bethany, Bethpage and the leper colonies on top of the Mount of Olives. Martha came out to meet Jesus, while Mary received guests on behalf of the family in mourning. Martha’s words were telling: “Jesus, you are too late. If you had gotten here sooner, Lazarus would have been healed.” Jesus told Martha that her brother was not GONE, he would be raised. The problem is, the “Last Day” was a long way away – and Martha loved Lazarus. Jesus asked her a pointed question: “Do you believe that I hold the power of life and death?” Martha made clear that she believed Jesus was Messiah, as well as the Eternal Son of God who put on skin to become man. John remembered:

John 11:28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept.

It is interesting to follow the story and see that Mary had the identical set of feelings about Jesus’ arrival – disappointment and brokenness. Mary sobbed. She missed her brother. She wished Jesus had come before. Even though Mary was the one who sat at Jesus’ feet while Martha tended to the work of the house, it was to Martha Jesus shared the deep truth concerning Himself. With Mary, He just cried.

There are times when theology and the words of the learned are not what is called for – rather the shedding of tears. Jesus saw her heartbreak. Jesus saw her doubt. Jesus didn’t cry for Lazarus – He was about to see him again. He cried because the sorrow of His followers touches Him. Don’t forget that. You never cry alone – you have a Savior Who knows what hurts you and cares about every bit of it.

As strange as it is to admit, even the people who were standing by Him really didn’t understand what Jesus was really doing. The text says:

John 11:36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Stop that think about that. Apparently, because of Jesus’ many healings, it was clear to people that the Master had power over disease and could break a fever. The issue now was that Lazarus wasn’t SICK, he was dead. As the munchkin said in the Wizard of Oz: “He wasn’t merely dead, but really most sincerely dead.” Four days was long enough to get even those caught up in the theology of “soul sleep” to see no hope. Where ever the “spirit of Laz” was, they all thought it was a place Jesus couldn’t touch.

It is difficult to tell if the Hebrew tradition of the “Shemira” existed already in the time of Jesus, but clearly it was accepted within a few hundred years after Jesus, and may be in view here. The tradition refers “guarding the body of a deceased person from the time of death until burial. In Israel “shemira” refers to all forms of guard duty, but outside of Israel the word is used almost exclusively in regards to the religious ritual of guarding the body of the deceased. It was mentioned in the Talmud (Genesis Kabbah 100:7), that the soul hovers over the body for three days after death, so the “shomrim” sit and read aloud comforting Psalms or the book of Job. They are also encouraged to meditate and pray, but are prohibited from eating, drinking, or smoking in the shemira room out of respect for the dead, who can no longer do these things. Other Jewish writings explain that while shemira is good deed but not a commandment, it was a “minhag” or custom.

If the practice was accepted in an earlier form, as some have suggested, the fourth day was beyond the time that anyone believed the soul to still be available for comment – Laz was gone. Personally, I see little evidence that the tradition extended back that far, but that teaching continues to float around, so it is worth addressing the possibility.

Go back to the scene with John’s record, and this time pay close attention to the “hearing and the “listening” that is recorded. What we are watching for is BELIEF, listening with ears that are changed by what they hear:

John 11:38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

Right there is the momentary hesitation, the doubt that Jesus knew what He was doing. To doubt, God adds more revelation…

John 11:40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Martha could hear in Jesus’ voice the confidence that everything would be alright. There could be only two paths – obedience or mistrust and disbelief.

John 11:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.

Jesus thanked the Father that He always heard Him, and that He was about to hear Him that day. Lazarus heard Jesus and responded. The onlookers heard Jesus and obeyed – unwrapping Lazarus. Now look at the last part of the story…

John 11:45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Some who saw it now believed that Jesus was Messiah. They now heard the voice of Jesus with a different ear – ready to follow and obey it. One Who was a mere curiosity now became a Master and Commander. When Jesus is truly believed – He demands to be followed, to be obeyed.

Hearers with Cold Hearts

Not everyone who heard about the events of Bethany were open to changing their position concerning Who Jesus was. John finished the tale with some clear words about others who HEARD about Jesus’ work, but had no intention of LISTENING to Jesus’ voice.

John 11:46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. 55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

Step back and consider what we have seen in the passage.

• First, we saw the crowds at John’s old preaching ground. We saw people who heard ABOUT Jesus from John, watched what He did, and began to follow Him. We can call them the CONVICTED and following.

• Second, we saw some disciples who were CLOSE to Jesus in proximity – hearing His voice daily, but not truly trusting that Jesus knew what He was doing. They were negative and cynical, like Thomas, but they were there. We will call them the CONFLICTED and following.

• Third, we saw close friends who loved Jesus, but who hadn’t learned that He was not just a great friend and wonderful Teacher, but Master over life and death – powerful Sovereign Prince Who could call on His Father the King. We will call them the CONFUSED and following.

We saw people who heard an accurate report about the power of Jesus to request from the Father a new life for Lazarus and receive it – yet all they could see is WHAT THEY WOULD LOSE if Jesus took over their hearts. They were not wrestling with WHO Jesus was as He made that plain in front of them – they were wrestling with the place THEY held in their own heart as master and commander. We will call them COLD and fighting.

What kind of listener are you?

Pastor Jerry Flury wrote: “Husbands are notorious for being poor listeners. We are all familiar with the scene of a husband reading the newspaper while his wife is trying to talk. His response is “Yes, dear. U-huh. Mmmm. Is that so?” But we all know he’s not really listening. Suddenly she pulls down the paper and says, “Have you heard a word I’ve said?” He went on to write…Two men were talking one day. One of them said, “My wife talks to herself a lot.” His friend answered, “Mine does, too, but she doesn’t know it. She thinks I’m listening.” Too often, we feel that we are listening to what God is saying to us but we really hear only what we want to hear.”

It isn’t the AMOUNT of revealed truth we hear that makes the real difference, it is the amount we learn to LISTEN TO that make a difference. Some are following, but aren’t convinced that Jesus knows what He is doing. Mature believers learn to listen to God’s Word and pick out the truth from the noise around them. It is also true that we haven’t heard if we haven’t listened.

Some are fighting. You don’t want God to tell you how to live. Remember, God knows our hearts. I call on you to stop and consider Jesus today, so that you will truly be prepared to HEAR HIS VOICE. The Scriptures call Him:

• The Chief Cornerstone: (Ephesians 2:20) – the One who holds together His people.

• The Firstborn over all creation: (Colossians 1:15) – He occupies the rank and pre-eminence of a first-born son over all things, the most exalted rank in the universe, above all others.

• He is called the “Holy One”: (Acts 3:14; Psalm 16:10) – Christ is distinct in His nature, and by His death, we are made holy and pure before God.

• His is called the Judge: (Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:8) –He was appointed by God to judge the world offering the rewards of eternity.

• He is called King of kings and Lord of lords: (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16) – He is Supreme over all authority, over all kings and rulers, and none can prevent Him from accomplishing His purposes.

• He called Himself the “Light of the World”: (John 8:12) – Jesus said those who trust in Him have their eyes opened by Him and walk in the light.

There are more than one hundred other titles, but He is also called:

• The Alpha and Omega: (Revelation 1:8; 22:13) – He declared Himself the beginning and end of all things.

My question is simple. Will you hear Him? Will you LISTEN to what He has said?

God on the Move: The Letter to the Ephesians (Part Three, Ephesians 6:10-20)

UNIFORMDon’t you like to see a man or woman in a sharp, crisp looking uniform? Ever since the phrase rang out seventy years ago from the silver screen “There is something about a man in uniform!” it has been used as the title of articles, speeches, and even the opening of famous jokes. A sharp looking uniform attracts attention. The world over, we have come to appreciate a well-executed uniform that adds ceremony and distinctiveness to a setting. Cruise ships know that it is well worth it to maintain almost military style uniforms in relation to their crew – it makes passengers feel like the ship is in the hands of professionals. Police put on full regalia to honor their fallen because it shows their respect and the significance with which they hold the lives of their comrades. Even in a society that increasingly emphasizes the benefits of casual living, we continue to find comfort in the use of uniforms. They are a symbol of identity, belonging and special service.

There is a section of the letter to the Ephesians that carefully examined a kind of “uniform” – I have in mind more specifically the armored fighting apparatus of a Roman foot soldier. The purpose of the examination of armor was to offer a comparison to the powerful spiritual protections offered to the believer by God during the days of our current spiritual warfare. This “spiritual warfare armor” section of Ephesians is often cited in Christian circles (perhaps more than it is well-used), and the portion of Scripture has become familiar to most believers – but the importance of the battle and the potential of the damage of misuse demands that we take the time to re-visit the rich word pictures of that section with regularity.

If you have been following our series of lessons on Paul’s life, you know that we left him in the end of the Book of Acts, where he sat and awaited an opportunity for appearance before Emperor Nero. While he remained there, the Apostle Paul wrote four letters – Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. We took a few lessons to look at the letter to the Ephesians – a letter that can easily be broken into three parts: The Call of the Believer (1-3); the Conduct of the Believer (4:1-6:9) and finally the Conflict of the Believer (6:10-20).

In our lesson on the Call of the Believer, we noted that Paul offered encouragement to believers that they were neither a mistake nor a surprise to God, but were ADOPTED and GIVEN AN INHERITANCE – as would have been the case with conquered armies of Rome. In the Conduct of the Believer section, we saw that instructions for behavior were offered by means of common Roman word pictures. We continue with pictures, but this time focus on a single, cohesive uniform of a Roman foot soldier in battle. The uniform was not decorative –each piece functioned to offer protection and assistance to one in conflict. The armor was costly but necessary. It’s use needed to be instructed by veterans in the Field of Mars training camp in Rome. Here is the truth Paul conveyed…

Key Principle: God offered us instructions on preparing for defense of our spiritual walk through a series of close-up pictures of Roman weaponry.

Let’s think back to the images and word pictures, to allow us to set the teaching from the armor in a context. We examined briefly six images well known to the Ephesian Roman citizens to instruct them on HOW TO WALK as a believer – each attached to a “walk” command.

#1: THE ROMAN FORUM SLAVE MARKET:

In Ephesians 4:1-3, we looked at a WORTHY WALK as a command to walk in the way that matches the value of what our Lord paid to purchase each of you – and enlist you in His service – taken from the Roman slave market. In a strange way, Paul said, rise to the price you cost God, and that will please Him. There was a sign around your neck when Jesus chose you – and it showed what He could make out of your life. Read it, and then try to live accordingly.

#2: THE ROMAN TRIUMPH PARADE (Virs Triumphalis)

Telling believers they are “slaves to Christ” is accurate, but would have been no doubt humiliating to Romans, and there was a balancing truth of SIGNIFICANT VALUE that was also illustrated by a Roman victory parade in Ephesians 4:7-13.

Paul’s image was this: the conquest of Jesus over the enemy demanded a triumph parade where the demonic world would smell the aroma of death – and Jesus spreads out “sparsiones” – gifts of conquest – in the form of men who were “apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers,”. These were to be seen as treasures that Christ provided from His conquest – men who were liberated by Him and tossed into the crowds to transform the world.

#3: THE THERMAE (ROMAN BATH):

Paul evoked his next image from one of the most popular places in any Roman city – the all-important bath complex in Ephesians 4:17-24. Here, the instruction moved from a “WORTHY WALK” to a “DISTINCT WALK”. Paul urged the Ephesians to GET CHANGED into the clean outfit for their call in Jesus. Roman bath complexes had artwork with two themes – sexuality and pagan mythology – but Paul’s instruction was a direct contrast. They needed to recognize that the pagan mind had no connection to God, and therefore has NO SENSITIVITY to pleasing God. Lost men are self-centered about pleasure, and calloused about sensuality. They lived to please appetites, not their Creator. He said: “Believers need to take off the old clothing of that life and put on godly behavior” – distinctive behaviors of right acts and holy deeds.

#4: THE ROMAN THEATRE

Another image in Ephesians 5:1-6, illustrated a “WALK IN LOVE” command that was to characterize them. He knew Romans used spectacles and entertainment to tell tales of pagan mythology and morality – but the Romans liked violence, and contemporary theatre crowds exploded with laughter over crude groin humor. A mime didn’t act like they do in parks today – they were more like a “Saturday Night Live” presentation that was thoroughly base and filled with sexual innuendo. The coarse dialogue and ludicrous actions were to get the crowd laughing. Paul leaned into this image with the words “Be imitators of God”. Mimicking God meant to walk in love – to meet needs of those around them. Yet, mimes of God must NOT use coarse speech nor empty chatter. In other words, people should know we are believers by the way we speak. In this theatre image, Paul said: “Don’t imitate actors, imitate God!” His words are true, loving, encouraging and helpful – they are never base or inappropriately sensual. His children should speak like their Father speaks – not like the street speaks.

#5: THE VIGILES (Night Watchman) of Roman Street

Paul offered another image in Ephesians 5:7-14 when he wrote about “WALKING AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT”. Night in the Roman city was dangerous for respectable people as a range of seedy characters ventured about the dark side of Roman life. Theft and murder were much more common in a world that had so many poor in close proximity to the rich, and didn’t have the advantages of a “CSI” to find the guilty. Roman authorities established the Vigiles Urbani (“watchmen of the City”) as both firefighters and police of Ancient Rome. Paul told the believers to be like the night watchmen – these “vigiles”. They needed to wake up in the darkness, and use the light of their torches to expose the dark deeds of men. They weren’t to be naïve, but rather carry a torch in the darkness. They create safe places for people by their trustworthy character and their refusal to be involved in the shady work of wicked men and women. They work to please their Master.

#6: THE ROMAN PUB (Popinae and Tavernae)

A final reference to a “walk” can be found in Ephesians 5:15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil….

Here Paul had another image at his disposal. Roman’s celebrated Bacchus – the god of wine – and his gift daily. They had a fundamental belief that wine was a daily necessity to daily life. They made the drink “democratic” and ubiquitous: it was available to slaves, peasants and aristocrats alike. Wine bars are found all over Pompeii and Herculaneum – cities uncovered by archaeologists. The Roman popina (plural: popinae) was an ancient Roman wine bar, where a limited menu of olives, bread, and soups or stews were sold, along with a selection of wines of varying quality and taste. This was the common pub for plebians of the lower classes of Roman society – the part of Roman social culture where so many believers came from. Every one of them knew about the popina, as we would know about a “Chilis” or “Outback Steakhouse”.

The wine bar had simple stools and tables. They provided food and drink, but also often provided sex and gambling. Respectable Romans of the upper classes considered these as seedy places of crime and violence. Some of them, perhaps many of them, had players of music, and provided background for drinking songs that echoed into the night…. Paul told the believers not to be foolish as the people who gambled away their money and fell into a drunken stupor. He called to their attention a different kind of song they could sing-the spiritual and uplifting song both on their tongue and in their heart before God. Spirit-filled believers are filled with song that builds up, song that pleases the Master. Paul told the people to get out of the “spirits” of the PUB and into the Spirit of God.

ARMOR: A Seventh Image (Ephesians 6:10-20)

All of these images were important to help us know how to behave in a distinct way – noticeable to the world around us. Yet there is a seventh image that captivates the Bible student because of its complexity, while it warns us because of the offer of its essential protection.

The armor of God is an essential protection to us. We can deflect the influences of the world and we can discipline ourselves to limit the damage of the flesh – but the Devil cannot be blocked without the use of armor.

You see, believers have three adversaries we are fighting – all at the same time…

The World: By that, we mean the world system that lives in rebellion to God since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. We live in a fallen world of misplaced affections, filled with people who hunger for fulfillment and recognition because something they were designed to have (a relationship with God) is far from them and as a result, many who have strayed more deeply are characterized by a lack of respect for authority. The Bible makes clear it is easy to be “pressed into the mold of the world” (Rom. 12:1-2). It further makes clear that defeating the influence of the world for a believer is possible when we use a strategy He gave us. We must take care to guard against unwholesome influences in our lives while keeping our daily walk with God at the center of our lives.

The Flesh: By this, we mean the fallen nature that is still alive within us until we are freed from this body. We must realize we are set on a “default” to hunger for temporal things and the pleasure found in them – and we are apt to complain when anything doesn’t offer immediate satisfaction. We are easily inconvenienced by others; we are careful to excuse ourselves and make ourselves victims instead of owners of our choices. The Bible offers strategies to defeating the flesh (sometimes called “the old man” inside of us). The methods include training to discipline our eyes, keep honorable our thoughts and deliberately live a life of meekness and humility. We must also deliberately work to focus on others as a tool in God’s hand, and not become self-consumed and self-indulgent.

The Devil: By this, we mean the adversary of our Heavenly Father, who is described as a hungry prowling lion, who is deliberately looking for believer’s weaknesses so as to defeat them and thwart their testimony – all to bring shame on God’s reputation and discouragement to God’s people. He entices people to an agenda opposite of Jesus’ in their life. The Bible offers very careful defense plans for the believer to blunt the Devil’s attacks on each follower of God. First, we must learn to recognize those attacks while we learn to keep our armor on and weapons ready for the battle. His attacks are made using stealth, but they are strategies that have been uncovered in the Word of God. We must know the objective he has in order to defend the right places. The passage in Ephesians 6:10-20 is key in the strategy to fighting the “father of lies”.

Take a moment and look carefully at the text written by Paul from Rome to Ephesus:

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil [one]. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and [pray] on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in [proclaiming] it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

We should also mention the text is followed by some personal notes in the final verses: 21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible [love].

Step back and look at the verses. They describe one of the greatest reasons why some believers with seemingly good lives fall into collapse and ruin. They help explain why some young and zealous Christians are quickly “cooled off” and back away from their faith. Why does it seem some don’t have the fire in their walk with God they once had? It may be because believers are getting hit by shots of the enemy, and aren’t using the protection and power God offered. In 2 Corinthians 2:11 Paul stated that his ministry team was not ignorant of Satan’s devises. Sadly, we know today that many believers ARE ignorant of the war, let alone the strategy of defense.

The armor of the Roman soldier became the image of the protective covering God provided for the believer. Paul took inventory and assessed the implements for the fight.

roman-armor-labelledBefore you even look at the armor, remember what is NOT PROTECTED on a Roman soldier – his BACK. There was no protection given for a Roman to RUN from battle. Even withdrawals were done FACING THE ENEMY. They were orderly, and they were protected. Running left soldiers wide open… don’t forget that! The battle must be engaged valiantly, and running is not a safe option once the battle has been engaged.

Paul urged the believers of Ephesus “to be strong in the Lord” (10). Perhaps they had an immediate question…How?

First, they needed to grab the resources God gave them – to “put on the armor of God”. This suggests that though God makes possible the armor, He holds each believer responsible to appropriate the pieces. Rome issued armor, but individual soldiers had to put it on properly and be prepared – or be hit by the enemy’s attack. Lazy soldiers get hit. It isn’t God’s fault that we don’t put on the protections He provided. I am repeatedly amazed at the number of believers who have fallen victim to the thinking that “the war is supposed to be easy”. I believe one of the most destructive theological trends has been the one that set up young believers to believe that the implication of God’s power was that I didn’t have to be concerned about DOING ANYTHING. Let’s be clear: God saved you without any payment necessary on your part, but that doesn’t mean that following Him won’t come at a cost. You will need to recognize there is a war going on, and there is an enemy who is lurking in the bushes looking for straying believers that were inattentive to armor strapping.

Second, Paul told them they needed to identify the real enemy – “stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (11b-12). Here is another area where the Devil has been so effective – getting the weaponry of the church pointed at the wrong things. The battle for our courts is not in Washington, but ABOVE it. While Christians picket, but forget to PRAY – they set themselves up for defeat upon defeat. Either “the fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much” or it doesn’t. Either prayer, directed strategically at the enemy’s plans is the path to disrupting them, or it is a quiet, pious, Christian tradition that does little. What does the Bible say? It clearly says that we are to struggle – but not against the fleshly armies of fallen men – rather against the powers that stir them of which they are unaware.

Third, they needed to deliberately put on ALL the protection provided by God (6:13). The emphasis is on those who don’t realize when the darts are flying, they need the second type of armor. Paul explained two types of armor – daily armor and armor for times of attack:

The FIRST TYPE was that armor which must always be at the ready.

If there was a lull in the battle, the fighter was not to remove the first three implements. He indicated that in the verb form “always having” the:

Belt of truthfulness: (the Greek text said to “gird” or cover with protection the “osphýs” – properly, the reproductive area used figuratively in 1 Pet 1:13 of the “reproductive” (creative) capacity of the renewed mind, using alethia: (truth as content) over the vulnerable area (14); Paul was not addressing the truth of salvation but rather one’s own commitment to protect truthfulness within the believer!

The point is simple: Truth is easy to leave unprotected, and the enemy loves a soft spot that will truly cripple. We must strap on daily a deliberate commitment to believe truth, speak truth and not accept any less than truth from our lips or in our hearts.

Breastplate of righteousness (The breast cover is the “thṓraks” as in a “coat of mail” which protected the chest and extended down to the hips; figuratively it was that which protected the heart (the center of our moral choices). We are called to place deliberate protection over our heart and emotions or desires, insomuch as they bear on our decisions (resolutions and sympathies, etc.). Paul does not refer to self righteousness (Eph. 2:8-9), nor of imputed righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21), but of a life practice of righteousness, or holy living.

The point is direct: We are to cover our hearts with right choices NOW that protect our sympathies growing in ungodly directions. We must be careful how we allow our hearts to be tugged by ungodly enticements.

Sandle guard straps with cleats fixed in position to provide a firm stand with the Gospel: The term (hupodeó) is to bind under the sandal a string of metal tabs that gained traction on the surface of the ground to hold the soldier in place on slippery soil. The term “preparation” is actually (het-oy-mas-ee’-ah) which means a preparing device that readies us for “firm footing”. The issue here is that the soldier needed to put on the cleats before the battle, or he was unprepared to stand when the battle ensued. Paul referred to the unmovable faith in the Gospel to bring peace in the life of the lost, and the rooted IDENTITY the believer has in that Gospel.

The point is essential: We are to prepare to stand in our place as those saved by God, not those who earned a walk with Him. Our identity is a key to our stability.

Many believers grasp the idea of protecting the truth, making right choices and knowing our identity in the Gospel – but under fire those are insufficient to protect us from the darts flying at us.

There is a SECOND TYPE of armor was indicated in the translation of “In addition to all” at the beginning of verse sixteen.

The term (pás) at the beginning of the sentence adds “extensive-intensive” when the Greek definite article is lacking. The point would perhaps be better translated: “When necessary because of the intensity of the circumstances”. The next three items seem appropriate at a time of attack:

Blocking shield of faith: The (theuron) was a large shield to block arrows, normally some 4.5 feet by 2.5 feet. It was used in sequence – locked together. His reference of “faith” is not to “belief” as such, but to “trust” that changes our view of ourselves and the world around us. Paul said: “When the battle rages, use the shield by locking together; hold tightly and trust one another as you block for those behind you.

Helmet of salvation: The term (per-ee-kef-al-ah’-yah) refers to the covering protection of the transformed mind) when we understand that our salvation has a PAST aspect: justification; a PRESENT aspect: sanctification; and a FUTURE aspect, our eventual glorification. We must see things through God’s eyes and learn to call the battle by His Word! We must deliberately stand guard over the mind – it is deception the enemy uses to do his damage.

Sword of the Spirit: There is NO SWORD in this text. The “machaira” is rather a small dagger and not the broad sword, which is a word not used here (rhomphaia). The WORD (ray-ma) here is from the word “to pour, an utterance” of God. This refers to a specific Word from God that He gives to take a direct shot at the enemy! It doesn’t look deadly to your foe, because it is hidden and small – but when thrust at the enemy, it will cause him to recoil and run.

Paul made clear how can believers use the armor in verse eighteen (6:18): ”With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints…”

• It is used in prayer (for God wants us to ask Him for what we need)
• Believers use it when they persevere in troubles on their knees.
• Believers use it when they stay alert with one another in love.

Following Jesus means we watch out for where the enemy is going, and get praying NOW for believers that are about to get hit. Jesus is NOT LIKE His enemy:

Note some differences between Jesus and the enemy:

• Jesus gives life…The devil is a murderer (Jn. 8:44; Heb 2:14). Watch for places where people argue to justify KILLING and MURDER. The week following the French killings, the American radios were treated to scholars that tried to make the issue about how the killers were “not assimilated properly” by the French, and how their faith was not in any way involved in their motivation – though they clearly showed that it was. Watch for deception – especially in relation to “misunderstood killers”. Don’t be deceived.

• Jesus produces a productive life (fruit)… the devil sidelines us into wasted time and energy (Gal. 5:19-21). Be careful about your focus on leisure. The world needs those who will prayerfully and deliberately accomplish objectives for Jesus, not spend endless hours on digital distraction.

• Jesus tests us to help us mature (James 1:3)…the devil wounds us to hurt us and “devour” us (1 Pet. 5:8). God uses conviction that leads us back to Him, the devil uses guilt that pulls us to withdraw and feel badly – learn to distinguish between them.

• Jesus sets us free to serve His Father in love (Jn. 8:31-32)…the devil binds and enslaves with an end to destroy a life (2 Tim. 2:26).

• Jesus advocates for us – speaks on our behalf before the Father… while the devil “accuses us day and night” before God (Rev. 12:10).

We must recognize that we were born again into a war zone, in the late hours of a raging conflict that is set to destroy or renew the whole world.

Zig Ziglar told a story some years ago that may help pull together the issues of the text for a believer today:

Oil was discovered on some Oklahoma property belonging to an elderly Indian. All his life he had been poverty stricken, just eking out a living. But the discovery of oil had suddenly made him a very wealthy man. The first thing he bought was a very big Cadillac. He wanted the longest car in the county, so he added four spare tires on the trunk. He would dress up in his new clothes and everyday he would take his Cadillac into the hot dusty little town nearby. He wanted to see everyone and he wanted everyone to see him. He was a friendly old soul. so when he was riding through town he would turn in all directions to wave at all the people as he rolled by. Interesting enough, he never ran into anybody nor into anything. The reason for this was that directly in front of that big beautiful auto was two horses harnessed to it and pulling it. There was nothing wrong with the car’s engine. It was because the old Indian had never learned to drive it. He had never learned how to insert the key into the ignition switch and turn it on. Under the hood was 100 plus horsepower ready and willing and raring to go, but the old Indian was content to use the two horsepower hooked to the front of the car. The devil gets really happy (or as happy as a devil can get) when he can keep the believer chugging along in their Christian life on a two horse power faith level. At that rate, the spiritual progress is slowed down to a crawl, and this is what the devil is after in his warfare with us.” (Zig Ziglar—From the Book: See You at the Top).

God offered us instructions on preparing for defense of our spiritual walk through a series of close-up pictures of Roman weaponry. The question is whether or not we will use them – NOT if they are effective when we use them.

God on the Move: The Letter to the Ephesians (Part Two, Ephesians 4:1-6:9)

robotic assemblyJust before I was first married, I came back to the United States from Israel for a few years, working in an assembly plant of a computer robotics firm in Elkhart, Indiana. Dottie and I got married and moved out to a place where we knew no one, but it turned out to be, in some ways, a very fun time in our lives! Being newly married to my sweetheart and learning about life together in a big old broken-down house with excruciatingly tight finances, we had to figure it out and make it all work. At my job, it was a stimulating time for me, as I was learning about Cyber-basic as a programming language, and how to assembly electronic robots that in turn built everything from diapers to car stereos in plant locations around the Midwestern United States. I started on the factory floor in the assembly section, and was moved after a year to a training position for new people who were hired to do that work. The company taught me my first computer language, and I explored a whole new world of tools and robotic methods that I had never even heard of before. Here is what I know: The assembly of complex robots is nothing less than a thoroughly fascinating craft, in which thousands of parts are meticulously assembled and wired to a panel, and the misplacement of ANY single part can have devastating consequences.

Let me ask you a question: “Have you ever tried to put something together that was really complicated?” The truth is, if you are a Christian, you are in the middle of learning that right now! You are learning to allow God’s Spirit to help you assemble LIFE, to live according to God’s Word, and to walk with Jesus joyfully. Like any complicated arrangement, it is not easy to learn – but there are some instructions that will help.

I think there are three simple yet profound words that can strike fear into the heart of a parent of a toddler when they bring a large box into their home… The simple words “Some Assembly Required”. The problem is that many instruction sheets seem to be written by an engineer who originally came from a Swahili-speaking village with only a marginal knowledge of English grammar and syntax. Thankfully, some manufacturers help by mercifully embedding into the instructions a series of drawings or pictures that visually show how the assembly is supposed to come together.

If you think assembling yard toys is difficult, assembling a life that honors God is exponentially more complex. Yet, again we have instructions with pictures. In the second part of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we have a series of “pictures” (though they are admittedly “word pictures”) that show how a believer is to be “constructed”. Yet, because we live so long after the letter was written, the pictures may not pop out at us with the clarity they did when read two thousand years ago. I am referring to the clear and compelling word pictures Paul used in a letter to first century believers to give them clarity on the conduct of a believer – and how certain actions of the Christian should be patterned into their daily life to help them become what God intended.

Key Principle: God offered us instructions on life choices through a series of pictures that were designed to illustrate how He wants to work in and through us!

In our last lesson, we looked at the “Call of the Believer” in an effort to draw out some encouragement from the idea that believers are neither a mistake nor a surprise to God – and we found some consolation in God’s clear choice to love and care for us. Let’s move forward now into the next section of the letter that is referred to as “The Conduct of the Believer” (Ephesians 4:1-6:9). For an historian and archaeology student – this is the really FUN part of the letter – since it was relayed through a series of images from the Roman world.

Before I jump into the Roman past, let’s be clear about the direction the Apostle Paul took in the letter. Here was his bottom line: Paul argued openly that each Ephesian believer had a great calling of God, yet there was a practical side to His call. The rich inheritance believers received from the Father necessitated that they cease living as though they were still in “lost” society, following the desires of the fallen flesh. To make his point, Paul used pictures common to Roman life to address what the WALK of a believer was intended to look like.

There were six images well known to the Ephesian Roman citizens to instruct them on HOW TO WALK as a believer. In fact, Paul used that term “WALK” repeatedly between Ephesians 4:1-6:9, and we will try to make note of each as we study this section. Let’s begin with the first image…

#1: THE ROMAN FORUM SLAVE MARKET:

Roman slave marketEphesians 4:1-3: “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

When the Apostle Paul spoke from his “light chain of arrest” to the people of the church at Ephesus, he told them to WALK WORTHY (the terms “peripateo axios” mean literally: conduct your life in a worthy manner). The image was borrowed from the familiar shopping area or forum at Ephesus – the heart of the ROMAN SLAVE MARKET for the cities of Asia Minor. Even earlier in the letter, Paul made the point believers were “slaves to sin” that had been set free and that each believer was subsequently adopted by a family of great stature (Ephesians 2:11-13). This followed the familiar post war market pattern…

In the first century, when the Romans conquered a tribe from among the Gauls or Celts, they routinely enslaved the populace and eventually made them into Roman servants, transporting the best to the slave markets across the Empire. Each Gaul or Celt had to be legally adopted and registered as part of a family “gens” or clan of Romans – and they became in the patronage system like a member of the family. Yet they needed more than a name change – they were supposed to change their lifestyle to match their new name!

As Ephesians 4:1 began, Paul anticipated something about his readership. Romans fully believed they had the unmitigated right to own conquered peoples. These were not just for the wealthy – slave ownership was common among Romans. The law demanded that dealers disclosed the ethnic origin (natio) of the slaves they were selling. In the market placards (tituli) were hung from the necks of the slaves for sale detailing their place of origin, unique abilities, special talents and (of course) less frequently, their bad points. Most were sold with a “money back” guarantee.

Paul reminded the believers they were BOUGHT by Jesus, and need to live up to the titulus placard of their skills. Look closely at Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore (parakaleo: encourage) you to walk in a manner worthy (viewed as suitable because the cost “matches” actual value) of the calling with which you have been called…”

Paul said: As I sit here under house arrest, unable to travel about freely, let me encourage all of you at Ephesus to walk in the way that matches the value of what our Lord paid to purchase each of you – and enlist you in His service. You are a servant purchased with His precious blood – the highest price ever paid. Walk like you were right for your chosen position He placed you in.

Here is the point: Jesus paid an incredible price for us – and we should serve the role that He placed us in with certain specific character traits. What are they? We should serve with these five characteristics today:

1. 2 with all humility (other person centeredness) Put the other people in your life before yourself.
2. with gentleness (prah-oo’-tace: feminine noun from the root pra-, emphasizing divine sourced “gentle strength” which expresses power with reserve and gentleness). Care for others tenderly.
3. with patience (makro-thumia). Don’t easily boil or erupt with them.
4. showing tolerance (an-ekh’-om-ahee: endure, bear with) for one another in love (agape). Bear with their needs, and meet them where you are able.
5. 3 being diligent (spoo-dad’-zo: be swift, quick) to preserve (tay-reh’-o: to guard) the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Catch every opportunity to build up and keep people together.

I am walking with Jesus well when I put others before myself – just as Jesus did in dying for me. I am pleasing Jesus in my walk when I am tender to others, not snapping or angry in responses to them. I make Jesus smile when I look with understanding at my needy brothers and try to meet their needs – even when it will cost me. I please my Lord when I am swift to hold believers together, and keep the unity that He gave us in Jesus. In a strange way, Paul said, rise to the price you cost God, and that will please Him.

There was a sign around your neck when Jesus chose you – and it showed what He could make out of your life. Read it, and then try to live accordingly.

#2: THE ROMAN TRIUMPH PARADE (Virs Triumphalis)

triumph_chariotHow were the massive number of slaves brought from Gaul or Celtic territories to the ROMAN SLAVE MARKET? In grand Roman triumphalism, it was done by city “triumph celebrations” that began in Rome and were mimicked in major cities, along with the erection of monuments following the parades. Telling believers they are “slaves to Christ” is accurate, but would have been no doubt humiliating, and there was a balancing truth of SIGNIFICANT VALUE that was also illustrated by a common image from the Roman world – A VIRS TRIUMPHALIS Roman victory parade.

Paul followed up the imagery of the slavery with the imagery of THE TRIUMPH PARADE of Jesus, where he led the captives and spread out gifts before the crowds gathered in His honor.

Ephesians 4:7 “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” 9 (Now this [expression], “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

As Rome spread her control over the Mediterranean Basin and beyond, it was her custom to welcome her victorious generals and their troops with a massive procession that would work its way through the Forum under a series of “triumphal arches” showing the new triumph’s connection to the history of Roman domination. It was a day of celebration that eventually became the template for such parades across major cities the empire. It was a day for heroes! The crowds attended because “sparsiones” were tossed to onlookers, like tickets for free beer or conquered brass jewelry chains, etc.

In order to celebrate the Triumph legal conditions had to be satisfied: The general in attendance must have been the field commander. The campaign had to be completed, the region pacified, and the troops brought home. At least five thousand of the enemy must have died in battle. The conquest must have contributed to Roman expansion and civilizing of the masses of barbarians. It must have been against a foreign foe, not a civil war.

The Procession typically would follow this order:

1. State officials and the Roman Senate.
2. Trumpeters.
3. Spoils of war (eg., The golden candelabra, the Table of Showbread/Presence and gold trumpets in Titus’ Triumph of the Jewish War.)
4. Pictures of the conquered land, models of ships destroyed and citadels captured.
5. A white bull to be sacrificed.
6. Captives in chains: Enemy princes, generals and leaders to be executed.
7. Lictors: Minor officials bearing fasces (bound rods) who cleared the way for
the person(s) to be honored.
8. Musicians playing lyres.
9. Priests carrying censers of perfume. To the victors it was a perfume of joy,
triumph and life. To the following captives it spoke of defeat and death.
10. The general in a chariot drawn by 4 (white?) horses. The general wore a
purple tunic with gold palm leaves and over it a purple toga with gold stars.
11. The general’s family.
12. His army wearing their decorations and shouting “Lo triumph!”

The line of march there would have soldiers holding flowers and urns of burning incense. The aroma would be sweet to the victors. The days of celebration would follow during which many of the captives would be offered to Roman vanity and bloodletting in the arena. For the victors there were fame, fortune and honors. For the captives there was slavery or death. Do you recall how Paul related this to the early Christians? In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 Paul wrote: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.”

Paul’s image was this: the conquest of Jesus over the enemy demands a triumph ceremony where the demonic world would smell the aroma of death – completed in Revelation 20. For the saved, the same aroma was a fragrance of the life of Christ given to us – and meant to be flowing from what we are, what we do and what we say.

Paul again referred to the “triumph of Jesus” in Ephesians 4, noting that Jesus came to the “Lower parts of the universe, namely the earth” and in the triumph parade recalling his victory, He spread out sparsiones – gifts of conquest – in the form of men who were “apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers,”. These were to be seen as treasures that Christ provided from His conquest – men who were liberated by Him and tossed into the crowds to transform the world. Part of the Triumph was the reminder that Rome conquered, but left behind in those places men of honor that would “civilize” the barbarians and bring them into the world of Roman influence. In a way, these were also gifts spread to take the world into the cause of Rome. Jesus did it similarly with men who He prepared in one place, and then “tossed” them into a new place to grow His kingdom until the local population comes to the unity of Christ.

#3: THE THERMAE (ROMAN BATH):

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAPaul evoked his next image from one of the most popular places in any Roman city – the bath complex.

Ephesians 4:17 says: “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 2 1if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in [the likeness of] God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Let be careful to look at the words and see what Paul was saying to the believers through the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

roman bath2For the image of this WALK – the walk DISTINCT from the lost world, Paul went to the BATH (thermae) and urged the Ephesians to GET CHANGED into the right outfit for their call in Jesus.

• All free Romans knew well the inside of a Roman bath. Most business contracts in the city were forged either in the shadow of the union hall called a COLLEGIUM or in the bath complex. Lawyers in Rome took client meetings at the baths.

• Every Roman bath had a locker room called an APODYTERIUM, where slaves stood guard over their master’s clothing, or had that clothing cleaned while the master bathed and lounged in the hot, tepid or cold bathing rooms – or perhaps in the porches or athletic gym areas attached to the baths.

• In every Roman bath complex where the artwork is still visible archaeologically, there are two themes – sexuality and pagan mythology. Nude statuary abounds with some of it designed to be quite provocative.

• Paul’s instruction to the believers was to recognize that the pagan mind doesn’t have the connection to God, and therefore has NO SENSITIVITY to pleasing God. They are self-centered about pleasure, and calloused about sensuality. They live to please appetites, not to please the Creator that made them.

Believers need to take off the old clothing of that life and put on godly behavior –that includes the distinctive behavior of right acts and holy deeds. In the end of the chapter (4:25-32), Paul applied the practice of this walk to WORDS about each other, PATIENT BEHAVIOR to one another, PEACE between believers, and the IMMEDIATE CEASING of anything that hasn’t been pleasing to God. Here is what God instructed through Paul:

Don’t walk like the world. Be distinct in pure thinking and pure words. Show good behavior between believers – not lustful and shady acts and words. If you are taking what isn’t yours – quit. If you are letting your mind wander – stop. It is time to change your clothes into new garb God wants you to wear! In this image God simply said: “Put on the distinctive clothing of one who walks in purity!”

#4: THE ROMAN THEATRE

roman theatrePaul kept pressing common imagery, and we read more in Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. 3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and [there must be no] filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

Rome was a vast empire, spread across three continents, with a variety of people groups and national backgrounds. They didn’t have a common alphabet, or common background. They were ethnically diverse with no common history. How can you mold that variety into an empire that sees itself as a singular people? The Romans used spectacles and entertainment to do it. They borrowed from the Greeks the theatrical entertainment used in Greek cities to tell tales of pagan mythology and morality – but the Romans moved the plays into more action and less thought. They liked violence, and they exploded with laughter over crude groin humor.

The Greeks had “tragedies” – where the gods and goddesses would mess with men and bring a turn of fortune to human characters. “Comedies” emerged that were produced to show how the foolish slave may show more wisdom than his wealthy owner – and surprise endings like that. Rising quickly in the Roman theatre was another kind of play – THE MIME. A mime didn’t act like they do in parks today – they were more like a “Saturday Night Live” presentation that was thoroughly base and sexual in its speech. The characters and situations were farcically portrayed as they MIMICKED characters of government – much like Tina Fey imitated Sarah Palin on stage a few years ago. The coarse dialogue and ludicrous actions were to get the crowd laughing.

Paul leaned into this image with the words “Be imitators of God” (using the term “mimic” – a theatrical term). Mimicking God means to walk in love – to meet needs of those around you. Mimicking lost men was to walk controlled by insatiable lusts. Follow God meant NOT walking with a coarse speech. Our mouths should show our Savior. We should speak truth, not empty chatter. We should speak in a way that builds up – not sensual and base speech. People should know we are believers by the way we speak. They should know by the way we encourage. They should notice that some words we used to use – we WON’T use now. They should see that even our sense of humor was changed by Jesus.

In this theatre image, Paul said: “Don’t imitate actors, imitate God!” His words are true, loving, encouraging and helpful – they are never base or inappropriately sensual. His children should speak like their Father speaks – not like the street speaks.

#5: THE VIGILES (Night Watchman) of Roman Street

vigilesPaul offered yet another image in Ephesians 5:7 when he wrote:

Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light [consists] in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”

Roman cities were teeming with people in the daytime, but the streets were not full after dark. Because there was no refrigeration or way to keep food fresh, markets had to be resupplied every night for the next day’s commerce with fresh meat, fish, vegetables and fruits. Since the streets were so full, many cities would not allow load carts to occupy the streets during the daylight hours. As a result, the people on the street in the darkness of night were delivery carts, those leaving the brothels and pubs, and a range of seedy characters associated with the darker side of Roman life. “Respectables” traveled together from a dinner party as a caravan, and were accompanied by body guards. Theft and murder were much more common in a world that had so many poor in close proximity to the rich, and didn’t have the advantages of a “CSI” to find the guilty.

The Romans established the Vigiles Urbani (“watchmen of the City”) as both firefighters and police of Ancient Rome. In the beginning, the “Triumviri Nocturni” were privately owned slaves of the state, organized into a group that attempted to watch over the city at night. They were respected by law abiding citizens, and feared by thieves and thugs. They worked to please the magistrates of the city who called them to this excellent service. Paul told the believers to be like the night watchmen – the vigiles. They needed to wake up in the darkness, and use the light of their torches to expose the dark deeds of men. They weren’t to be naïve, nor were they to be ANY part of the dishonesty and darkness. The people of God carry a torch in the darkness. They help law abiding people to feel safe. They create safe places for people by their trustworthy character and their refusal to be involved in the shady work of wicked men and women. They work to please their Master.

Notice that Paul especially pointed out that when believers walk as children of the light, we get excited about learning what will bring our Master joy. Mature believers seek God’s delight – and not their own. They plan their day around things that will bring their Master honor – and not simply care for their desires. Paul told the people to be like the NIGHT WATCHMEN that walk in dark streets – but believers should carry the light of the truth – and that brings a measure of comfort to others around them while it makes God smile because of them.

#6: THE ROMAN PUB (Popinae and Tavernae)

roman pub tavernAnother reference to a “walk” is found in Ephesians 5:15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Here Paul had another image at his disposal. Roman’s celebrated Bacchus – the god of wine – and his gift daily. They had a fundamental belief that wine was a daily necessity to daily life. They made the drink “democratic” and ubiquitous: it was available to slaves, peasants and aristocrats alike. Wine bars are found all over Pompeii and Herculaneum – cities uncovered by archaeologists. The Roman popina (plural: popinae) was an ancient Roman wine bars, where a limited menu of olives, bread, and soups or stews were sold, along with a selection of wines of varying quality and taste. This was the common pub for plebians of the lower classes of Roman society – the part of Roman social culture where so many believers came from. Every one of them knew about the popina, as we would know about a “Chilis” or “Outback Steakhouse”.

The wine bar had simple stools and tables. They provided food and drink, but also often provided sex and gambling. Respectable Romans of the upper classes considered these as seedy places of crime and violence. Though gambling with dice was illegal, huge numbers of dice have been uncovered in excavations of popinae in cities like Pompeii that most people ignored this law. Several wall paintings from Pompeian popinae show men throwing dice from a dice shaker. Prostitutes frequented popinae, met their customers and took them elsewhere. Some of them, perhaps many of them, had players of music, and provided background for drinking songs that echoed into the night…. Paul told the believers not to be foolish as the people who gambled away their money and fell into a drunken stupor. He called to their attention a different kind of song they could sing-the spiritual and uplifting song both on their tongue and in their heart before God.

The term DRUNK is literally “dominated by” – and refers to an issue of control. Don’t be CONTROLLED by wine – it is a waste. Rather, be filled with the Spirit of God – dominated by HIM. That domination of the Spirit – as opposed to “spirits” will lead to SONGS for the believers, and placing others ahead of ourselves.

Drunks don’t care about how loud they sing in the dark streets. They aren’t concerned about the baby they will awake. They are unaware, and empty of caring and consideration. Spirit-filled believers are filled with song that builds up, song that pleases the Master. They have songs of the heart, and songs of the lips while the do service with their hands. Paul told the people to get out of the “spirits” of the PUB and into the Spirit of God.

Here is the truth: Slave markets, Roman Parades, Baths, Theatre shows and Pubs – were all places Ephesians and all Romans knew. Paul wanted to make clear that their lives needed to be distinct, worthy, wise and dominated by God’s Spirit – and he used the best images he could think of to make the point. In the end it comes down to this: Life is like a coin. You can spend it anyway you want, but you can only spend it ONCE. Will it be for you, or for Him?

God offered us instructions on life choices through a series of pictures that were designed to illustrate how He wants to work in and through us!

Beginning with the End in Mind: “Finding the Supporting Walls” – Revelations 21-22

PropertyBrothersOne of the HGTV shows that has garnered a lot of interest in the past few years is called the “Property Brothers”. The show follows a very predictable format, where an unrealistic couple or home buyer wants more than they can afford in a finished house, and so the hosts of the show take them to some older homes in need of renovation and promise to add into those old places the features of the new homes they like so much. The buyers are always skeptical until they see the design in a professionally prepared three dimensional video, and that is what finally allows people to decide what house they want to renovate. Most of the buyers were NOT willing until they saw the digital designs, but when they could see the vision clearly, they were prepared to sign the dotted line and buy the older homes.

The best way to start a project of any kind is to be able to grasp what the end will look like. That is especially helpful when we have to “make it that way” – as in building according to directions. Many of us confess that we don’t read assembly directions as much as we look at the picture on the box!

At the same time, looking at the END can also be helpful, when thinking about priorities. If we know exactly what the designer intends as the finished product, we see in that picture a clear view of what the designer thought was MOST IMPORTANT. Let’s take a moment and apply that idea to our lives. Since God let us know what the “eternal state” of those who know and follow Him, how can looking at the conditions of that place and time help us? They can show us what God values – what His underlying priorities are. If the world hadn’t plunged into the illegal renovations as a result of rebellion, we could see this in our world – but the original design of our world has been damaged and altered. As we look at the end of the Bible, let’s see if we can compare how life is designed at the end, and use that picture to see God’s priorities and finally ask how we may change how we live today because of God’s priorities.

Key Principle: The “eternal state” of the believer shows God’s underlying design for our lives.

God Suspends some common things in the eternal state:

The record unfolds between things that are MISSING in this place, and the FEATURES the place offers. It is like the vacation brochure that first promises a “break from traffic” (what won’t be there) and a “place to relax” (what will replace it). Revelation 20 offered a look at the final judgment of God. As we open Revelation 21, we see the “post judgment” era – a new time after time. All sin and rebellion has been fully dealt with. Eternity commences with all where they are supposed to be. Look at how the Apostle John recorded it:

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer [any] sea.

The ecosystem may be significantly different in the final era – because our planet depends on the existence of the sea. It is difficult to know if the “sea” referred to in the passage is used metaphorically – for the Hebrews held the “Yam” as a place of chaos, and that is reflected in ancient language and saying. In any case – it is clear in the text that the OLD WAY is GONE, and a new way has begun. In this new economy, rather than human construction, the emphasis is placed on a pre-fabricated construction of God:

Revelation 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

Take a moment and notice the short list of things tossed away with the old world:

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be [any] death; there will no longer be [any] mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

No Distance between God and man – everyone will walk with God and know Him personally in an intimate way. What a great place to begin the description – our walk with God!!

No Tears left in God’s follower’s eyes – whatever you have suffered as a result of the fall and sin’s destruction will be wiped away. Remember that when you feel under attack – it will all be over someday soon.

No death – all separation is over – and all the pain it brings is finished. When you stare at the grave and feel the pain of loss – the world wasn’t designed that way – sin did that.

No pain – in the context this referred to specifically the pain of the loss from death – that went out with the old when death was finally defeated by the Redeemer.

Some people treat the afterlife like it is a penalty – not a blessing. That isn’t right! I am thinking of a terrible story of Bob and Stan, who were good buddies and baseball friends. One day at a ballgame, they made a vow to each other that, whichever friend died first, that friend would send a message back to earth to let the other friend know if there was baseball in Heaven. Sure enough, one day Bob died. After a while, he sent a message back to earth to Stan: “Hey, Stan, this is your old baseball buddy, Bob. I have good news and I have bad news for you from Heaven.” Stan thought about it and said, “Let’s hear the good news!” Bob said, “Well, the good news is there is a lot of baseball going on in Heaven! I am hitting home runs a mile long and you should see some of the guys in the Heaven League hit a baseball up here, too! It really is baseball Heaven!” Stan smiled and said, “Hey, Bob. What about that bad news?” There was a long pause. Finally, Bob spoke from Heaven and said, “The bad news is……..YOU ARE SCHEDULED TO PITCH UP HERE TOMORROW NIGHT!” That isn’t right! For the believer, death is no penalty any more than birth was. It signals a change in what we do…

The final state is much different than our time…But it is deliberately planned by our Father. Note the way John recorded the words… Revelation 21:5 “And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” …Drop down past the measurements of the Holy City, all the way to the description in Revelation 21:22 and following…

Did you notice what ISN’T THERE?

Revelation 21:22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; 26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

When we reach the final stage of history, we will be PERMANENTLY HOME. Nothing will need to be renovated or restored. Everyone will be where they are supposed to be…

It reminds me of the story of a new believer, who was on a plane with an intellectual (a man educated beyond his intelligence). He sneered at her reading the Bible and asked if she believed it? “Yes.” “Jonah and the whale story?” “Yes.”
“How did it happen?” “Don’t know, but I’ll find out when I get to heaven.” “What if Jonah isn’t there?” “Then I guess you’ll have to ask him from where you are for me.” – Source: Galaxie Software. (2002; 2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

In fact, many of the things that took up our energy to provide in our old life will slip away – and we won’t need to work to keep it all together.

Notice each detail of what is MISSING. When you do, ask yourself, “What does that do to inform my focus as I walk with God NOW?”

1. We won’t need a temple – because God will live with us. Our focus shouldn’t be on the mechanics of religion as much as on the glory and exaltation of God.

2. We won’t need a celestial light – because God’s glory will shine for us. Our focus shouldn’t be as much on “branding” a church as much as showing what God is really like to a dark world.

3. We won’t need a nightlight – for God’s glory never sets. Our focus shouldn’t be on how to make the world see our ministry in some flashes of outreach as much as how we can steadily show them the incredible God that we serve. This should cause us to refuse to curse the night, but rather build constantly operating lighthouses to attract the wandering. Remember, “its lamp is in the Lamb”. When we exalt Jesus, we draw people to the Light.

4. We won’t need a key – for closed gates and locks will be meaningless. Our focus must be on pointing people to the open door, not keeping them focused on the walls. Yes, holiness and repentance are essential, but they are not the primary message – salvation by grace through faith must be.

5. We need no greater accomplishments – the “glory” and “honor” of the nations will be deposited in Heaven’s city of the King. Our focus cannot be to build a wealth apart from His glory, nor a success that is self-centered.

6. We won’t need guilt – for sin will have no more place there. Our focus must be on the forward movement of our walk with God by deliberately setting aside the hindrances. We cannot and must not make those distractions take more from us.

7. We won’t need defensiveness – for everyone we meet will be what God intended them to be. Our focus shouldn’t be on “winning the battles” in the here and now, but rather speaking with the confidence of those who know the end.

There are a number of reasons we won’t need these things – but a big part will be simply because God will complete everything He started at the beginning of the first book of the Bible….

• In Genesis 1:1 God created the heavens and the earth; in Revelation 21:1 God will create a new heaven and earth.
• In Genesis 1:16 God created the sun; in Revelation 21:23 there will be no more need for the sun.
• In Genesis 1:5 God established the night; In Revelation 22:5, God abolished night.
• In Genesis 1:10 God created the seas; In Revelation 21:1 God dispensed with the seas (which may have been a comfort to John who was exiled and separated by seas from his family and friends!)
• In Genesis 3:14-17 God announced the curse; In Revelation 22:3 God rescinded it forever. Satan would no longer touch the earth, let alone crawl its surface. The new earth would yield without question the fruits assigned to it.
• In Genesis 3:19 Death entered the world; in Revelation 21:4 Death will be dismissed forever.
• In Genesis 3:24 man was driven from paradise; In Revelation 22:14, he stands in Paradise regained.
• IN Genesis 3:17 Sorrow and pain grew from the rebellion; in Revelation 21:4, Sorrow will be cut off forever. Tears and pain are satisfied forever.

As an aged Christian lay dying, a friend called to say farewell. “I have just had three other visitors,” said the dying man, “and with two of them I parted; but the third I shall keep with me forever.” “Who are they?”

• “The first was Faith, and I said, ‘Goodbye, Faith! I thank God for your company ever since I first trusted Christ; but now I am going where faith is lost in sight.’

• Then came Hope. ‘Farewell, Hope!’ I cried. ‘You have helped me in many an hour of battle and distress, but now I shall not need you, for I am going where hope passes into fruition.’

• “Last of all came Love. ‘Love’, said I, ‘you have indeed been my friend; you have linked me with God and with my fellow men; you have comforted and gladdened all my pilgrimage. But I cannot leave you behind; you must come with me through the gates, into the city of God, for love is perfected in heaven.’” – The Sunday School Chronicle.

Part of the point of the words of Revelation 21 are to demonstrate that God is going to tear out everything “not built to code” and replace it entirely with what mankind should experience.

Eight Provisions: God’s new build…

Next, what WILL BE THERE? Revelation 22:1 “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

1. God’s life will flow as a river from His throne to His people – it will be clear, crisp and refreshing. All of life’s thirsts will be quenched! Our focus should be on having our deepest heart needs met by our Master – not our spouse, our children or our friends.

2. Spanning the river will be a tree of life – with its ever changing, always delicious fruit. All of life’s hungers will be satisfied! Our focus should be on training our tastes for the things that please God – and not feasting on things that we know do not.

3. Covering its branches will be bountiful and beautiful leaves – whose oils will produce a healthy and comforting balm for all to partake. All of life’s discomforts will be settled! Our focus should be to see pain and trouble as temporary, rather than allowing ourselves to be swallowed up in this world as though it will never change.

4. The ground will yield no weed – for the curse is forever broken. All of life’s disappointments will be contented! Our focus should be to live with understanding toward those who disappoint and even cause pain to us – they are living under a curse until they are redeemed.

5. Distance from God will evaporate – for we will see Him face to face. All of life’s strain will be eased! Our focus should be to grow our hunger to be intimate with God by asking Him to shape our will toward Him.

6. There will be no need to read the story of redemption – for our very salvation will be revealed on the markers upon our heads. All of life’s insecurities will be erased! Our focus needs to be on building trust in what God has promised in each other.

7. There will be no night for pain to increase and darkness to overcome – for God’s light will shine in unending power. All of life’s anxiousness will be calmed! Our focus should be on prayer and praise to relieve worry and anxiety.

8. There will be no need for rulers – for each will have his place to reign. All ego will recede for there will be One King – and He will be enough! Our focus should be to cede our importance and decrease before Him and that He may increase in us.

One Pastor wrote: There was once a little girl born blind. The only beauty she knew came from her mother’s descriptions of things like the flowers in spring, trees in fall, snow in winter, and the crashing surf of the ocean in summertime. The girl could only imagine what her momma described. At about ten years of age, an experimental surgery was developed and made available to to help the little girl see for the very first time. Oh, what she saw when the bandages were carefully and slowly removed! In a few minutes, after her eye adjusted to light, she ran to the window of the doctor’s office and stood breathless! She cried out: “Mother, why didn’t you tell me it was so beautiful?” Her mom replied: “I tried to, but words just wouldn’t suffice!” I believe that in Heaven we’ll run around breathless, and when some see the Apostle John they’ll say, “Why didn’t you tell us?” and he’ll say, I tried, but words wouldn’t suffice!

The Basis of All Truth

Revelations 22:6 And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. 7 “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Our faith is not made up – it was revealed by the God that made us. Our destiny is not the stuff of dreams, but the uncovering of truths revealed by a Sovereign who is timeless and already exists in that place. His Word is His bond, and His Word has been made known. The one who believes His promises awaits His appearing. The one who truly trusts in God’s words concerning the hereafter carefully measures his life in the hear and now. Sloppy living comes from slipping belief. He has promised me a future home, and demanded only that I trust Him to provide it as He said! God didn’t just promise a new day – He explained what kind of future He has planned for us. Want to join in? He has paid your way!

WHY?
By Jack Hyles

I have heard the white-tipped tapping cane,
Which leads a blinded eye.
And then a darkened, lonely voice
Cries, “Preacher, show me why.”

I have caught a fiancée’s burning tears,
And heard her lonely cry.
She held an unused wedding gown,
And shouted, “Pastor, why?”

I have heard the cancer patient say,
“’Tis gain for me to die;”
Then look into his daughter’s face,
And mutely whisper, “Why?”

I’ve heard an orphan faintly say,
Who gazed into the sky,
“Tho Mom and Dad have gone away,
My preacher will know why.”

I have sat beside a tiny crib,
And watched a baby die,
As parents slowly turned toward me,
To ask, “Oh, Pastor, why?”

I tiptoed to my Father’s throne,
So timid and so shy,
To say, “Dear God, some of Your own
Are wanting to know why.”

I heard Him say so tenderly,
“Their eyes I’ll gladly dry,
Tho they must look through faith today,
Tomorrow they’ll know why.”

And so I’ve found it pleases Him
When I can testify,
“I’ll trust my God to do what’s best,
And wait to find out why.”

It is great to know that by looking at the design of eternity, I can see the fingerprints of my God Who prepared it.

God on the Move: “The Letter to the Ephesians” (Part One, Ephesians 1-3)

An oil refinery is pictured 22 SeptemberGrowing up in a small town in South Jersey as a part of a big family, I learned early in life that dad’s role was to go off to “the plant” and work long hours at the oil refinery. I didn’t see my dad nearly as much as my children saw me growing up, but I knew he loved me, and I knew that he worked hard to keep food on the table. I also knew that he felt fortunate to be a part of a big corporation that offered not only a salary, but an array of what they called “benefits” to the employees. They expected much from my dad. He wasn’t available to come to school events, parties and many other things as we grew up – he had to work when they called. My mom said that in all the years he was at work she called him only a handful of time – because that just wasn’t done. The company owned your time – and you gave it to them. Why? Because they gave you what you needed for your family. They paid you and they held your benefit package.

Though many today cannot find employment that offers much more than a salary or even hourly wage, in some better companies, there are still offers of employment that include an entire benefit package. One of the problems with these benefits is that sometimes employees forget what ELSE their position costs the company beyond their salary. They see the paycheck, but they don’t see the astronomical rising costs of the benefit packages – which is why so many companies stopped offering them. The truth is that we often take for granted what has been supplied for so long it has become natural. We are Americans. We believe when the tap is turned, clean water should come out. When the light is turned on, the light should burn brightly. We have made incredible privileges into birth rights, when in fact we are a blessed people more than a deserving lot.

Even among believers today, we have some of the same afflictions of forgetfulness and privilege. We can easily take for granted and even forget both the cost to our Lord and the magnificent benefits that come in our relationship with God. It’s easy to lose track of what God has provided for us in our salvation in Christ. In fact, already in the first century, some believers were already doing it. They weren’t simply forgetful, they were being “picked on”, and many had come to believe they weren’t fully accepted by God because they weren’t fully accepted by other people. God responded by putting a burden on the Apostle Paul to tell those believers they were accepted, and remind them of incredible benefits they had in Christ!

Key Principle: A relationship with God through Jesus brings us certain hope, an eternal home and commanding help.

As we continue in this series of lessons, we have been following Paul’s life for some time. By the time he wrote the letter to the Ephesians – the letter that we want to address in this lesson, Paul had completed his three mission journeys, his three years of waiting on the coast of Judea, and a terrible journey that included a shipwreck, a snakebite and many new friends that he met along the way. Now he sat in Rome, together with Luke and probably Aristarchus. He was under “light chain” arrest – a supervised affair – awaiting a meeting with Emperor Nero, who didn’t publish his schedule ahead of time and didn’t wait for meetings when he wanted them.

We left off at the last verses of the Book of Acts:

Acts 28:30 And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

As Luke recorded in those words, Paul sat and listened to visitors and corresponded by letters and couriers with various churches and young leaders of the faith. Some of the Epistles from this time include Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and a tiny, personal sounding, postcard-sized letter to Philemon. For a few minutes, join one of the house churches at Ephesus.

For the next few minutes as we study some of the words he penned, pretend you are sitting in the atrium of a Roman villa and listening to the letter that was just received from the Apostle Paul. Imagine you are in the room as the leader reads each word and then explains some of the comments… The reader could have easily divided the letter into three parts:

• The Call of the Believer (a section on encouragement, Chapters 1-3);
• The Conduct of the Believer (a section on instruction, Chapter 4:1-6:9);
• The Conflict of the Believer (a section on warning, 6:10-20).

In this lesson, I want to focus on the ENCOURAGEMENT. To get the flavor of the letter, take a moment and look at the prayer in recorded in Ephesians 1:15-23. He wrote:

Ephesians 1:15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which [exists] among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention [of you] in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places], 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Paul told them he knew of their love and their faith, and he prayed continuously that God would reveal to them three specific things:

1) They would grasp the rich promises involved in their calling by God (18a);
2) They would recognize their magnificent inheritance because they were called to God’s Kingdom (18b);
3) They would grow into an absolute trust in God’s unstoppable might in the midst of any conflict they would face. (19-23).

Look at Paul’s beginning point in verse 18 – it was the SUPREME BENEFIT of following Christ. Paul knew that if the people could understand all the rich promises involved in the calling, the incredible benefits of knowing the Creator and having a relationship with Him, they would be able to stand up to the rigors of a troubled life. Chapters one through three address that very concept – the clear and rich benefits of knowing God and living life for Him. People throughout the centuries have had a far better concept of the COST of surrender than the BENEFITS of a life lived for God. Paul wanted them to remember and be encouraged, and that is what we want to do as we follow what he wrote.

Dive into the opening chapters of this letter, and don’t skip past their encouragement!

Paul opened the letter with the truth like the fact that God called them, knew what He was getting, and wanted them from the beginning. God loved them and accepted them – no matter what others told them about themselves. As we look at some of the words, consider this: Paul answered a painful question.

What can lift a believer that is suffering in an attack on his life and testimony?

Ephesians 1 opened with Paul greeting the church (1:1-2).

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and [who are] faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Immediately Paul set out to encourage the Ephesian believers as he told them that he continually praised God because of the work God did on their behalf:

1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ,

He wrote GOD HAS BLESSED US. Then he wrote HOW

• First, He chose His followers to be distinctly set apart (3,4).

1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love,

Did you notice that God initiated the relationship with men? Did you notice that God intended those who follow Him to CHANGE because of the relationship? Did you see His motivation? God said He did it because He loved them, each one of them.

• He adopted them (as Gentiles!) in the work of Jesus deliberately (5-7), that is both wisely and willfully (8,9) to bring everything together under Christ’s mighty rule (10).

5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, [that is], the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him..

Look at the words: predestined (placed boundaries around beforehand); redemption (purchasing us from our sinful state); forgiveness (settling the account of our sin once and for all time). Now stop and look at what riches belong to the believer: Wisdom and insight about a relationship with God – we can know God and understand His love in a way that those who do not know God cannot grasp. They don’t get it. They think God doesn’t care – if He is even there at all!

It was almost 1:00 AM when the phone beside his bed rang. Dr. Leo Winters, the highly acclaimed Chicago surgeon, was abruptly awakened. There had been an accident and his skill hands were needed for immediate surgery. The quickest route happened to be through a rather tough area, but with time being a critical factor, it was worth the risk. At one of the stoplights his door was yanked open by a man with a gray hat and a dirty flannel shirt. “I got to have your car!” the man screamed, pulling him from his seat. Winters tried to explain the gravity of the situation but the man would not listen. When the doctor was finally able to get a taxi to the hospital over an hour had elapsed and it was too late as the patient had passed away thirty minutes earlier. The nurse told him that the father of the victim had gone to the chapel wondering why the doctor never came. Dr. Winters walked hurriedly to get to the chapel and when he entered he saw the father… he was wearing a gray hat and dirty flannel shirt. (From sermoncentral.com, original author unknown).

Consider how many people you know are just like the man with the gray hat – running past the One who can save their life and the lives of those they love. We live in a world filled with those who suffer in emptiness, confusion, hopelessness, and enslavement to sin and deception, but they will not slow down and listen – for they are rushing to try to save themselves. The Bible teaches that God gives “heart knowledge” of a relationship with Him to those who truly have one. You don’t have to be uncertain!

It may help to know that there are three Greek terms translated “redemption” in the New Testament.

The first is Agorazo: “To purchase.” This is like the simple act of buying goods from the market. Since slavery was commonplace in first century Rome, there are times when that image is best for what Jesus did for us – purchased those who were slaves to sin.

• The second is Exagorazo: “To purchase out.” This is the word we just looked at, with a prefix placed in front of it meaning “out of”. The word picture probably follows the idea of one who is chosen from a group at the slave market and is removed from the group to be taken home –another great image for the believer.

• Lutroo or Apolutrosis: “To release or set free.” This is the word used by Paul in Ephesians 1, and denotes something a bit different. At the death of a Roman, sometimes the owner’s will allowed for the slaves to be offered the status of FREE MEN while giving them the name of their owner and allowing that slave to become a part of their “gens” or clan. This is what Paul said Jesus did for believers – He died and set them free, adding them to His clan and family. It is a rich image for a first century Roman.

Look at verse 11 for a moment…

• He purposely gave them an inheritance that they may be the first of many to praise and glorify God (11,12) when they trusted His Word and were cemented into a relationship through the Spirit’s power (13).

1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation– having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Believers have an inheritance – something we will gain that we did not earn and could never have produced. The seal that this will happen was not simply written on parchment, but on our hearts!

• He gave His Spirit as a promise of the new inheritance to reassure them (14).

Ephesians 1:13b “…you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of [God’s own] possession, to the praise of His glory.

The chapter closes with the assurance that Paul heard about their faith he began praising God for this (15,16) constantly praying that they would receive yet more wisdom and Divinely uncovered truth concerning implications of the great call of God for them: hope, riches of the inheritance, a deep understanding of His mighty power available to them, and a knowledge of the powerful exalted position of their Savior! Paul wrote:

Ephesians 1:15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which [exists] among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention [of you] in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places], 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Think about this next time you get knocked down by circumstances or put down by people:

• Because God recruits followers thoughtfully, He specifically chose the army to gain victory in the battle: You are not a “mistake” nor a surprise, and God is qualified to choose the right ones!

• Because God gave an unshakeable inheritance to believers, you have an incredible future planned for you, and God has guaranteed it with a down payment of His Spirit within you!

• Because God moved into our heart to offer incredible power and to reassure us when we feel beaten down, we can be lifted countless times – He has power to keep restoring and rebuilding you! The God who spun planets has secured your future!

Keep reading… there is MORE!

In Ephesians 2, Paul continued the encouragement by helping them look past the circumstances of their daily lives. Peering into the veil of the spiritual world, Paul told them a tale of God’s great rescue work and His eternal purpose:

Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Paul wrote that all of us were shackled in the dungeon of the dead, enslaved by a wicked prince that forced you to entertain him in the filthiness of the flesh (1-3)… Yet, God wouldn’t let you stay there!

Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

God was motivated by love and rescued each of us, giving us life! (2:4-5). He granted His children royal privileges that include full rights to His throne (6) in order that he might someday show all realms His true self! (7) He is gracious, our mighty Savior, a wondrous Creator of good things (8-10)… and He did this to create from our ruined self and NEW MAN or WOMAN.

Paul then carefully explained that because of what God called them to be a part of in Jesus, believers must remember their former state of distance from God (as part of the unbelieving nations) was something completely cared for by God in their salvation. There were two implications he highlighted:

• They were NOT second-class believers as some Messianic Jewish teachers were inferring (2:11-18).

• They were different, but fully part of the new structure that God built to be whole and unified (19-22).

When you are hurt by life, and you don’t FEEL in that moment God’s love – consider these truths:

When God found us, we were lost and unlovable, but that didn’t stop a God who sees through the present into the future (2:1-3). That same God made something happen, no matter who would dare to object or protest. When God says you are “in”, you are “in”! (2:4-5). The greatest privileges are God’s alone to give to His creation, and they have been poured out on those he rescued from darkness (2:6-7).

When you are overwhelmed with discouragement, remember, we play a role in eternal history whenever we choose to participate. We have the King’s ear, and access to His throne room. When we walk in the confidence of His work in us we show His victory over sin. When we walk in the sins of the flesh, we contradict what He has said that we were created for (2:7-10).

I love the truth that God flies everyone first class, and doesn’t distinguish between our backgrounds and former failures. He transforms failures – it is what He loves to do! (2:11-18). Because that is true, drop the differences of our past – for God wants us to share, and celebrate unity. We can find a thousand ways to divide us, but His objective is to build a united Body of Messiah that gives glory to Him! (2:19-22).

There is SO MUCH MORE in Ephesians 3, for Paul wasn’t done lifting them. Lest they be confused, God’s choice of them wasn’t some “late breaking thought” in God’s mind, but as part of His eternal purpose!

Paul called God’s plan a “mystery” in Ephesians 3:1-5 because it wasn’t clearly revealed. What was the mystery?

Ephesians 3:6 [to be specific], that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

Paul said that no Jew would have ever conceieved of this idea – but it was always God’s plan. He went on to make clear that God always had this planned:

Ephesians 3:11 [This was] in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

In eternity past, God had a secret. Not everything He was going to unfold was known to even the highest angels of Heaven. He waited for the right time and place, and whispered something that no doubt shocked the angels of His throne room. The name of every believer was part of that secret. Do you know what He said? God put forward YOUR NAME!

God’s covenant with Abraham did not limit His ability to bless the whole earth, even the pagan nations (3:1-8). Though men found this an unbelievable mystery (3:9), and even Heaven was shocked with the news (3:10), it was not an afterthought for God; it was part of His original Divine plan (3:11).

Paul told them exactly what I would tell you today: “When doubt assails, tell the enemy that you have bold confidence and use your access pass to the Father (3:12)!

Pastor John Stevenson told the story: “Dr. Stanley Livingston had a medical condition in which he was required to drink goat’s milk. He was visited one day by a tribal king and he noticed that the king was eyeing his goat. Livingston felt led of the Lord to give the goat as a gift to the king and, in return, the king presented him with the staff that he was carrying. Later that day, Livingston confided in a friend, “I don’t know what I was thinking. How could I have been so foolish as to give my goat away. I don’t know what I shall do with this stick.” His friend replied, “You don’t understand. That isn’t a stick. It is a scepter. You don’t just own one goat. Now you own all the goats in the tribe.” The Lord has given us an inheritance. It is a scepter. And we have been walking around thinking that it is just a stick.

While our old world faces constant conflict and strife I want to encourage the children of the Living God. Do not be preoccupied by a focus on the promises of comforts coming in Heaven. Speak of Heaven, not as a place of gold, but the place of Christ. Don’t simply seek Heaven’s comforts –long for the King Who made it possible for us! Our promise is found in a Person, not a place.

He is the One sung of through the ages; He is the One worthy of glory and exaltation. Beloved, we must look far past mere promises of coming comfort to celebrate their source – our coming Exalted One!

Believers must be unsatisfied with a song that reminds us that Heaven is a beautiful place – until we sing of Paradise as HIS place.

Let me say it plainly, as we grow in Him we must remember this: When troubles assail – we must exalt Him. When pain creeps and throbs about – we must long for Him. Long for the revealing of the One who IS comfort. The song writer of yesteryear told us: “He is everything that my soul ever longed for, everything He promised and so much more. He is more than amazing, more than marvelous, more than miraculous could ever be – He’s more than wonderful, more than wonderful – that’s what Jesus is to me.” How right he was with his song.

Let Him have our full attention, for focus on coming comfort can become yet another rouse of focus on self. Look at what God has given to you – and what He has given FOR YOU! Feel His love – for He planned for you to do so!

A relationship with God through Jesus brings us certain hope, an eternal home and commanding help to face each day.

Following His Footsteps: “Tough Talk about Tenderness” – Luke 17

lombardi-2Anyone who knows anything about the NFL knows the name Vince Lombardi, who took the Green Bay Packers in 1959 and shaped it into the league’s most formidable organization of the 1960s, while he simultaneously fashioned the lives of men that would be a part of the next half century in the history of the sport. On any list of names of the most influential coaches, Lombardi’s name usually appears at the top or near it. He was known as a tireless leader with strenuously exacting standards. It is worth noting that in fifteen seasons of play, his teams never had a losing season. He led the Packers and later the Redskins, before he died of cancer in the autumn of 1970, at the young age of 57. Though that was many years ago, Lombardi still holds the highest playoff winning percentage of all time (.900). He was posthumously inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame, and was universally acclaimed as highly deserving of that honor.

Bart Starr once said that Lombardi “turned men into champions and a rabble into a team”. Here is the thing people don’t say unless you specifically ask them to recall circumstances – it all came at a price. Lombardi pushed his men, expected much, and was known to have a very forceful speaking voice in a locker room. He explained plays to the team in such a way that there was no mistaking of exactly what he wanted. He didn’t mince words and his language wasn’t often appropriate for small school children. Yet, at the same time, he took a special interest in some disadvantaged players, and worked with extra vigor to help them secure a path to their own success. He clearly cared for his players, but he especially cared that there were high standards and absolute fairness on and off the field. By all accounts, he wasn’t a politician and probably learned his motivational speaking at the “General George Patton School of male motivation” – tact wasn’t his best quality.

I do not mention Lombardi for his personal faith (of which I have no knowledge) but rather because he illustrated with his work life the reality that one could be tough for a purpose, and yet tender toward those who had special disadvantages. I imagine that any coach, if he or she wants to transform players, has to find keys to motivating them to give more than they think they can, and yet be encouraged that there is a great purpose behind their talent. Coaches have to be men and women of vision. I suspect the first day Lombardi watched the Packers at practice he wondered if they could ever become a team that could win more than 50% of their regular season games, let alone the Superbowl. Let’s face it: good coaches focus on possibilities and press forward toward them.

If you agree with that assessment, you have to admire another leader who also transformed men – from long before Lombardi – for His toughness in life coaching, even as He offered tender help to the disadvantaged and hurting. I have in mind the greatest life transformer ever to visit the planet – Jesus of Nazareth. Here is the truth the emerges from a look at the Savior in Luke 17…

Key Principle: Jesus was both tough and tender. He showed particular kindness to those who were rejected, hurt and weak – but made clear He detested smugness and stubbornness.

We have been following the “harmonized journey” of Jesus’ life for many lessons, and as we look more carefully at our Savior, we see both aspects of His character revealed more completely – His toughness and His tenderness. In this lesson, we want to examine the interplay between the two character marks as they become plain in His teaching. We will do it by posing five contrasts from the chapter:

First, notice that the tender heart of Jesus toward the young made Him tough on those who thoughtlessly corrupt them (17:1-2).

Luke recorded a teaching Jesus offered to His followers that was more a comment than a fashioned truth. We don’t know what prompted the comment, but Luke remembered…

Luke 17:1 He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.

Whatever the Master saw that day as He traveled, He made clear that “stumbling blocks” would continue to be part of society, though they were terrible. He used the term “inevitable” – the only place in the Gospels that word appears. What
“stumbling blocks” did He speak about?

The term Luke offered was “skándalon” – the word from which we get the term “scandal” – but that is not the best translation of this idea. In fact, the term as used in the sentence at the time was properly “the trigger of a trap” (or the mechanism that caused the closing of a trap on the unsuspecting victim). Lexicons favor a definition like “the means of stumbling” because they more appropriately stress the means by which one is entrapped, i.e. the device used to ensnare them.

Jesus made the point that there will continue to be those who will deliberately bait traps for the innocent in order to ensnare them until the end comes. Human trafficking of young innocents is not a yesteryear phenomenon. The organization Rescue: Freedom provides two year old statistics, which are the newest I could find on the subject, and they note:

• There are an estimated 27 million people in slavery globally (U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report, 2012).
• Globally, there are 4.5 million victims of sex slavery (ILO 2012 Global Estimate of Forced Labor).
• Between 100,000-300,000 U.S. children are enslaved in sex trafficking each year (Ernie Allen, President of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children).
• In the U.S., the average age of recruitment into sex slavery is 12-14 years old (Polaris Project: Comparison Chart of Primary Sex Trafficking Networks in the U.S.).
• The CIA estimates that 45,000-50,000 women and children are trafficked into the United States. Approximately 30,000 trafficked annually from Southeast Asia, 10,000 from Latin America, 4,000 from the Newly Independent States and Eastern Europe, and 1,000 from other regions (O’Neill Richard, A. DCI Exceptional Intelligence Analyst Program.1999).
Approximately 20% of all internet pornography involves children who are victims of human trafficking (National Center for Mission & Exploited Children).

Jesus didn’t normally offer such colorful commentary as “they’d be better off dead” – but in this case that is exactly what He said. The Master made plain that those who deliberately draw in and ensnare the innocent and unsuspecting are a form of low life that will face their just deserts in the end. His tenderness toward the ensnared led Him to offer harsh commentary on the trapper. Make no mistake about it: every pusher who has ever sucked in a son or daughter to their poison, every cultist who has ever tricked and brainwashed a young man or woman, every pornographer who has ever demeaned the beauty of sexuality for a buck – all will be judged by the One Who made plain His disgust at their indifference and uncaring heart. Jesus was tender on the ensnared, but that made Him especially tough on the hunter or the innocent.

In a second teaching, Luke showed the tender heart of Jesus toward the stumbling follower made Him tough on the one who was stubborn about forgiveness (17:3-10).

The record included Jesus still speaking to the disciples…

Luke 17:3 “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

Jesus plainly told His followers that the one who did wrong but repented of the wrong and sought to be made right was to be restored, provided they repented of their wrong. This followed a saying on exploitation for a reason. It is very easy to see that if Jesus’ followers are too lenient on forgiveness, it will be easy to take advantage of them. A careful reading of the words of Jesus forces the Bible student to conclude that Jesus told us to be willing to take that chance – because forgiveness was THAT important.

Jesus did not say that everyone was entitled to endless restoration without repentance, but rather that with repentance the restoration had to remain unconditional in the heart of His follower – even if the offender should have known better based on past experiences. There is no way that was or is easy, and the disciples responded…

Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

No one wants, now or then, to be taken advantage of by another person. No one wants to be a “sucker”. Yet, Jesus said we should risk being taken advantage of because we are known as those who will forgive the person who repents. That is hard to hear, and even harder to obey.

The disciples assumed the secret to following this command was the addition of a great “amount of faith” bestowed by God. In other words, they thought something additional needed to be provided by GOD in order for them to take their ego-driven characters and embrace those who were repeat offenders that repent. Jesus told them they were WRONG – God didn’t need to send them anything additional. They had what they needed within already.

First, remember our classroom definition of “faith” is “seeing it the way God says it is”. When I have “faith”, I am walking in trust and belief of God’s record, taking as truth God’s expressed view of the situation. Forgiveness of an offensive but repentant disciple and seemingly endless patience with them was not going to require a special gift from God – but rather the simplicity of “seeing it the way God said it was”. Listen to the words of Jesus…

Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea; and it would obey you.

Don’t get distracted by the way Jesus made His point here. He isn’t interested in having followers do tree removal – that wasn’t the point. If He wanted a grove of mulberry trees in the ocean, He could have put them there. He was being absurd to make a very important point: the tiniest faith could have incredible results. It isn’t simply the AMOUNT of belief that makes us powerful and impacting – it is faith in the right Person or thing. If we believe what God says, even a little bit, that belief becomes incredibly energizing and powerful.

Truth doesn’t get stronger because more people believe it – it simply helps people more effectively when they don’t resist it. Kicking against the right answer not only exhausts the kicker, it can easily deceive them into thinking they are progressing when they are, in fact, expending energy and getting no closer to solving their underlying problems. Exhausted, they end up in the wrong place, sad and often cynical that an answer even exists. Welcome to modernity where the popular is often mistaken as the true. This is the reason that learning to distinguish the truth from contemporary mythology is so vitally important. You don’t need a new amount of power from God – you and I need to trust what God’s Word already says. Even a small amount of applied Biblical knowledge, trust and belief will bear results.

Let me give you a simple example: If you want to be healthy, but you decide that you can eat anything you want as much as you want and never exercise at all – as long as you eat one raw carrot every day before 8 AM – all the belief in the world won’t make that true. If you act on that self-invented truth, under normal conditions you will eventually gain girth and lose health. On the other hand, if you decide that a careful diet and some consistent amounts of exercise will help you be a healthier person, you don’t have to really understand how it all works, you just have to accept it to the point that you are willing to consistently act on it. You don’t need to become a nutritionist, nor do you have to hire a personal trainer – but the more you move into the path of living out the truth, the healthier you can expect to be. It isn’t a sure thing, because in the fallen world we live in, there are other factors that affect your health – but in general the point is the same. The less you resist living the truth, the more powerful the truth becomes in your life. The more you live in the land of your own made-up rules – the less things work out.

This is the fundamental problem in our modern view of things like the family. I recognize that some of our congregation grew up in single parent homes. I recognize that some are raising children in them right now. Yet, in the interest of making that seem less awkward, I will not “normalize” that situation. I want to be clear – God designed biologically, emotionally and spiritually a home to consist, whenever possible, of both a father and a mother for the child. No amount of polling in America will change that truth. The more we resist that and try to make other forms of “family” just as “normal” the longer we will prolong the mythology that will harm children. I am not asking those of you who had one parent to curse the memory of your home. I am not suggesting that those who grow up in single-parent homes are somehow destined to be delinquent. I am ALSO not saying it was the design God intended. It will take greater care, more intense effort to do it in a way it was not designed. It can and should be navigated successfully – but let’s not throw out the clear design of the home so that we can make people feel good about their home. Let’s know the design, and seek the design. When it doesn’t happen – let’s add extra support and care for the child.

I am calling on the men of churches to step out and help single moms with things like their automobile upkeep, physical needs around their property – and especially the care of sons who need guidance and modeling by men. We need to do this with wholesomeness, absolute care in our deportment so that no one is ensnared by sin – but we need to do it. People matter to our Master, and they need to matter to us. It isn’t enough to worship vibrantly, and live Christianity privately – we are part of a city set on a hill that cannot and must not be hidden.

The point here was this: Jesus expected the disciples to recognize that they didn’t need to have a full understanding of all the implications of forgiveness – they needed to trust what He told them to do – and forgive one another when repentance was clear. If they would just do that, God would do powerful things through their life. He also wanted to make clear that what He was telling them to do was not some EXCEPTIONAL THING – but the normal requirement of being His follower. He said:

Luke 17:7 “Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? 8 “But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and [properly] clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? 9 “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10 “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done [only] that which we ought to have done.'”

In His day, a slave worked all day and then prepared the meal for his or her master before they took in nourishment – and that was expected by both the slave and the master. They both knew the system, and they both recognized the regular expectations. Imagine it is much like what happens when a family with several children in diapers goes on an outing and arrives home after the long drive. Everyone comes in and everyone is famished. The children have slept, the adults have not. Does this mean that the toddlers pitch in to get dinner ready? Not at all! The toddlers plop down on the floor, hungry and start to cry. A tired mom and dad get the children in high chairs and get food in them – the adults can eat later when peace is restored. It is an inadequate illustration, but it may be more understandable, since we don’t have the same situation people did in the time of the Gospel story. Jesus wanted them to know forgiveness, even repeated forgiveness to hard-headed brothers and sisters that keep testing our patience – wasn’t a noble and unusual act – it was the normal expectation of our Master. It may mean we will be taken advantage of, but we have to trust that Jesus will deal with those who make snares in the end.

Third, the tender heart of Jesus toward a hurting stranger made Him tough on those who felt entitled to God’s help (17:11-19).

Apparently the setting had changed, and Jesus was now walking on the way as He came upon ten men who sat along a road leading into the heart of a village begging, for they were lepers. Their leprosy brought them together, though some were apparently Galilean Jews and others were apparently Samaritans (or at least one was!). Luke recorded:

Luke 17:11 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13 and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine– where are they? 18 “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.

Jesus encountered ten men with needs, but only one that felt the need to return to Him. What makes a person accept such a great gift from God and NOT say thank you? In a word, the answer is “entitlement”. When we believe we DESERVE something, we don’t become teary-eyed at receiving it. When we get a paycheck, we don’t view that as benevolence – because we feel we EARNED the money with our labors.

Look closely at the details of the story. Jesus was Jerusalem bound, heading south on the dividing road between Jewish and Samaritan territory. On the edge of the village were lepers who called out to Him for mercy. Jesus didn’t stop. He didn’t touch them. He didn’t turn and preach or even promise them healing. Jesus simply just replied: “Go and show yourself to the priests.” That is what they WOULD do if they were healed, but they weren’t healed yet. He told them to move BEFORE any healing took place. They got up, probably a bit puzzled, but thought… “Well, why not? We can always say that crazy teacher from Nazareth told us to do it!” Off they went… The text doesn’t say which man noticed first, but AS THEY WERE GOING the leprosy began to withdraw its devastating effects from their skin, and they were made whole. Nine continued to the priests, but one just couldn’t contain himself. He couldn’t go on and walk further from the One Who brought him healing. He burst into praise and returned to Jesus. Can you imagine why?

The Samaritan didn’t DREAM that God would heal him. He didn’t FEEL worthy! He didn’t FEEL accepted. He didn’t believe he was ENTITLED to get from God what God was more than willing to give him. I believe Luke placed this story after the last one about repeated forgiveness of brothers for a reason… people who are overwhelmed with God’s love offer God’s love. People who are stunned by the mercy of God, find it easier to see others through eyes of mercy. Yet, people who believe they are worth more than others, who feel “entitled” to the good life, have little patience with those who stumble about offensively with need for more love and more forgiveness daily.

Entitlement kills love. It kills grace. It crushes mercy. It severs sensitivity like LEPROSY. Nine guys lost their leprosy, but they never got sensitivity – they just felt like they got what others had – health – and that was their right. One man got back sensitive skin and a heart filled with praise, love and wonder. I submit to you that only one man was truly healed that day – the others simply got a body renewed. Jesus made the point that it was worth healing the group, to see the wonder in one restored worshipper. Wouldn’t you have loved to hear the sound of this man’s praise? Was there ever a song sung with more passion, more brokenness and more wonder? I doubt it.

A fourth short remembrance showed that the tender heart of Jesus toward needy made Him tough on those who saw power as more important than people (17:20-21).

Luke told it this way:

Luke 17:20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here [it is]!’ or, ‘There [it is]!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

The short clip from Jesus’ ministry began with a conversation Jesus had with some Pharisees. They wanted to see His “prophecy chart” and compare notes on when the glorious Kingdom of God was going to make them important in the story of history. They wanted to know what was next, what to look for… all the while hurting people were being neglected around them. They wanted to debate theology rather than feed hungry souls. They wanted to air out their theories rather than dirty their hands in the service of God. Jesus wanted them to get their head out of their scrolls and look around. He wanted them to let the Scripture PUSH THEM to a life that mattered, not let it become an artifact that gobbled up their time in endless projections and calculations. Let me be clear: I am a Bible teacher, and I believe knowing the text is the key to understanding God’s heart. I don’t want sloppy Bible study, and I demand that my students take the work seriously – in the study of every part of the Word. At the same time – the Word and its understanding is a tool, a means to an end. The end is relationship with God – not knowledge of a set of books. Yes, they are God’s Word. Yes, they are HOLY. Yes, they offer the key to answers. Yet, in the end, in HIM is life. The Word gets me to Him, but HIS ARMS are the destination for which I must long. The bottom line is this: Prophecy is not more important than people. Study should lead me to compassion, to witness bearing, to loving – or there is something wrong with my study. I want to deliberately encourage study of the Word that leads to a what Tozer called “a mighty longing after God”.

Finally, the string of stories in the chapter end with how the tender heart of Jesus toward those who would long for His return made Him tough on those who wanted to “talk theory” about the coming day of judgment (17:3-10).

Because our study of the Word should lead us back to people, gathering them to the Savior, the cold-hearted study of the Pharisees prompted Jesus to explain an important truth to His men. Luke wrote:

Luke 17:22 And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.

The Pharisees anticipated the Kingdom, but not the Tribulation that would unfold on the way to the Kingdom. They anticipated the special nature of the Jewish people, but overlooked the special judgment they would face in the days leading up to that moment. Prophets had promised it, but they didn’t take it as seriously as they should have. Jesus told His followers there would be days ahead that were painful, and they would long to have the Kingdom arrive. He went on:

Luke 17:23 “They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after [them].

Hearkening back to the theme of entrapment earlier in the passage, Jesus said that His people will become desperate in the days ahead, and be tempted to be drawn out of hiding to chase after promises of peace and Kingdom. The Master made it clear: Don’t go. Then He added:

Luke 17:24 “For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.

The cryptic reference was to say something quite simple: When it is really ME, it will be as obvious as the lightning across the sky. Jesus doesn’t plan on a quiet “manger entrance” next time He comes to stand before the Jewish people… Jesus went on:

Luke 17:25 “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Jesus made the point that first came rejection, then personal suffering – and only later Kingdom rule…

Luke 17:26 “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

This isn’t a reference to a rapture of the church. Look closely at the metaphor. Jesus said that like those TAKEN in the days of Noah (that is KILLED) while they were not ready, so will His coming to His people be. People will be killed, but a few will be preserved as it was in the ark. He made the same point in the story of Lot:

Luke 17:28 “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; 29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

His warning was straightforward – most people won’t be ready or watching…

Luke 17:30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

Those who are watching, those who are regarding this warning of Jesus know what when trouble comes, it will be a sign that the return of the King is drawing near, and they must hide and wait. People who obey will make it to the cave. People who don’t will end up like a salt pillar. He said:

Luke 17:31 “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. 32 “Remember Lot’s wife. 33 “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses [his life] will preserve it. 34 “I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 “There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. 36 [“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.]” 37 And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body [is], there also the vultures will be gathered.”

Jesus ended the story with a simple: “Watch the vultures, that is where the bodies are!” If you pay attention to the signs, you will see where they point. For Jesus, these weren’t theories or stories. Every person crushed in judgment wounded Him. He wasn’t hungry to judge, He was hungry to save. He warned. He cautioned – because He doesn’t WANT people to ignore the troubles that are ahead – He wants them to recognize the days for what they are – signs of the end.

Jesus was both tough and tender. He showed particular kindness to those who were rejected, hurt and weak – but made clear He detested smugness and stubbornness.

Because you know that is true when looking at this whole set of stories, should we not look at our days carefully and measure the tenderness of our hearts more carefully?

Pastor Jimmie Hale wrote: “During a terrible storm at sea that threatened every moment to carry the ship to the bottom, one of the ship’s crew was doing something on the deck when a great sea struck the ship and went fairly over the deck, striking this man with great force, disabling him and carrying him into the mad waters. Although he was a good swimmer, he was so disabled that he could only keep above water. They saw him lifting up his imploring hands through the white foam, signifying his desire for help. But the Captain said, “Don’t lower a boat, for no small boat can live in this sea, in this terrific storm. We cannot save the man. The most we can do is to save the ship.” The vessel was bearing farther and farther from the helpless man. Once more they saw his imploring hands come up among the white caps further off, which moved all hearts that witnessed it. Still the Captain said a small boat must not be lowered, as it could not live a moment among these wild billows. But one man who was an expert swimmer, was so moved by the imploring signals of the drowning man, that he threw off his loose garments, saying: “I will save that man, or die with him.” So plunging into the surging deep, he struggled so bravely with the mad waters, that he reached the poor man just as his strength had gone; he had given up and was filling with water, and sinking down unconscious. He grasped him, and strange to tell, he brought him so near the ship that a small boat was lowered, and both men were taken up and laid down upon the deck. The one that had been swept overboard, entirely unconscious and his deliverer nearly so. Appliances were used and both were brought to consciousness. As soon as the rescued man opened his eyes and found he was not in the ocean, his first words were: “Who saved me?” He was pointed to his deliverer still lying on the deck in his wet clothes. He crept to his deliverer, and putting his arms around his feet, and in the most tender and heart moving tone of voice cried out: “I’m your servant, I’m your servant.” He felt that he could never do enough for him. Let me ask all who read this incident, would you not put your arms about the bleeding feet of your great Deliverer and say from a full heart: “Jesus, I’m your servant, I’m your servant. Ask anything of me, Jesus, and I will do it the best I can.” (From a sermon by Jimmy Haile, My Father’s Business, 9/29/2011).