This is one of my favorite Christmas stories!
On the first Christmas day of World War I, British and German troops put down their guns and peacefully celebrated the Advent in the no-man’s land between the trenches. The war briefly came to a halt. All along the lines that Christmas Day, soldiers found their enemies were much like them.
In some places, festivities began when German soldiers lit candles on trees. Elsewhere, the British acted first, starting bonfires and letting off rockets. Pvt. Oswald Tilley of the London Rifle Brigade wrote to his parents; “Just you think that while you were eating your turkey, etc., I was out talking and shaking hands with the very men I had been trying to kill a few hours before! It was astounding.” The soldiers in gray and khaki sang carols to each other, exchanged gifts of tobacco, jam, sausage, chocolate, and traded names and addresses. They even played soccer between the shell holes and barbed wire.
This day is called “the most famous truce in military history.” It did not originate in the hearts of the national leaders, or even in the minds of the generals, in fact they were highly concerned as to whether the troops would have a will to fight afterwards. It started in the trenches, among the troops! In the midst of the fierce fighting, peace came as they remembered the birthday of the Prince of Peace!
Jesus said it this way, “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. I do not give unto you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) On the occasion of Christmas 2007, He is still our Peace!
Friday, December 14, 2007
History Shaped in Cradles
The year was 1809. The international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria; blood was flowing freely. Nobody then cared about babies. But the world was overlooking some terribly significant births.
For example, William Gladstone was born that year. He was destined to become one of England’s finest statesmen. That same year, Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner. On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allan Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life. It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby’s name? Abraham Lincoln.
If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I’m certain these words would have been heard: “The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today.” But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America.
Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news on that first Christmas when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all: the birth of the Savior, who changed the world. And we celebrate His wonderful birth at Christmas… He truly is the reason for the season.. and the greatest news of all!
For example, William Gladstone was born that year. He was destined to become one of England’s finest statesmen. That same year, Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner. On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allan Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life. It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby’s name? Abraham Lincoln.
If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I’m certain these words would have been heard: “The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today.” But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America.
Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news on that first Christmas when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all: the birth of the Savior, who changed the world. And we celebrate His wonderful birth at Christmas… He truly is the reason for the season.. and the greatest news of all!
Monday, October 22, 2007
The Feeding of the Five Thousand - John 6:1-14
This miracle is the most public of all the miracles of Jesus. It is the only one of the miracles that appears in all four gospels.
Because of the many miracles at the hand of Jesus, His popularity was growing to such an extent that large crowds began to gather. Weired by the crowd, Jesus decides to get away to a private place. He and the disciples board a small boat and sail across the Sea of Tiberius to Bethsaida. The people see their direction of travel and they follow them along the shore.
I. The Problem: A Hungry Multitude (V1-5)
According to the Gospel of Mark, Jesus saw the crowd and He was so moved with compassion, because they were like shepherd-less sheep. Israel was no longer sovereign. They were under the control of Rome. They were looking for a messiah-king
After some time, Jesus brought the issue of the crowds lack of food to the attention of the disciples.
And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." Mark 6:35-36
Jesus uses this situation to demonstrate His sufficiency to the disciples… and to us.
II. The Question: A Test of Faith (V5-6)
Jesus turns to Phillip and poses a question designed to test his faith. We know from previous accounts that Phillip was from the area where this miracle took place. When he had come to Christ, he told his friend Nathanael about him.
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. John 1:45
III. The Answer (V7-9)
Phillip responds with an "F" answer. He fails the faith test. Phillip never really answers the question. He just gives statistics. He goes to the bottom line - the size of the crowd. He looked at the size of the crowd and came to the conclusion that they did not have the resources to feed the multitude. Even if we has eight months worth of income (200 denarii), they couldn’t make a dent on this crowd
Phillip was a man who always wanted physical evidence. We see this from earlier glimpses into his life. In John 1:46 - he says to Nathanael - “come and see”
In John 14:8, in the Upper Room he says to our Lord,"Lord show us the Father and that is enough for us."• He required visual evidence.
Remember what he said to Nathanael - We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Apparently, he had forgotten that God had fed Israel, under Moses for 40 years
He also had forgotten that God thru Elisha had fed the sons of the prophets
"And Elisha said,(to his servant) "Give to the men, that they may eat." 43But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred men?" So he repeated, "Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some left.'" 44So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD."
So Phillip flunks the faith test.
Andrew weighs in on the subject. On the surface Andrews response appears to be an improvement, at least he has been out searching the crowd to see what they have
But then he joins Phillip - what is this among so many? We don’t have the resources so send them away, we can’t feed them and they should have prepared better.
IV. The Miraculous Solution (V10-14)
The five barley loaves are significant. Barley was always regarded as simple fare, more often fit for animals than for men. In the Talmud, there is a passage where one man says, "There is a fine crop of barley" and another man answers, "Tell it to the horses and donkeys."
The miracle resided in the hands of Jesus, not in the distribution.
It multiplied as He broke it. (Mark 6)
Little is much in His hands.
Look at the ways he shows His sufficiency here. He is able to multiply the little
He takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary, barley bread apparently became very tasty in his hands. v.12 "Filled" literally means "glutted." He takes that which is dead and brings life from it. Bread comes from grain, which has the power of multiplication and reproduction within itself. But when it is made into bread, the grain is crushed, making it "dead" - no one ever multiplied wheat by planting flour. Jesus can bring life from death.
What an amazing miracle!
We need to think about what this miracle means to us today.
Are we not prone to calculate? Are we not haunted by feelings of inadequacy.. insignificance? I can easily identify with the lad who brought his loaves and fish. More than likely you can as well. If the only thing you have to offer God is a broken heart, you offer a broken heart. If before you stands an enormous challenge offer Him that. We must learn to simply give what we are and what we have to Him as the little boy gave Jesus his five loaves and two fishes - even with the same feeling of the disciples when they said, “What is the good of that with such a crowd.”
I find that in almost everything I offer to Christ that is my reaction.
But here’s the point - The use he makes of it is none of my business; it is His business, it is His blessing. So, the challenging task,the grief, the loss, the suffering, the failures, this pain - whatever it is, which at the moment is God’s means of testing my faith.. a test which results in my recognition of who He is,
this is what I give, believing
YOUR NOTHING.. PLUS GOD… IS EVERYTHING!
Because of the many miracles at the hand of Jesus, His popularity was growing to such an extent that large crowds began to gather. Weired by the crowd, Jesus decides to get away to a private place. He and the disciples board a small boat and sail across the Sea of Tiberius to Bethsaida. The people see their direction of travel and they follow them along the shore.
I. The Problem: A Hungry Multitude (V1-5)
According to the Gospel of Mark, Jesus saw the crowd and He was so moved with compassion, because they were like shepherd-less sheep. Israel was no longer sovereign. They were under the control of Rome. They were looking for a messiah-king
After some time, Jesus brought the issue of the crowds lack of food to the attention of the disciples.
And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." Mark 6:35-36
Jesus uses this situation to demonstrate His sufficiency to the disciples… and to us.
II. The Question: A Test of Faith (V5-6)
Jesus turns to Phillip and poses a question designed to test his faith. We know from previous accounts that Phillip was from the area where this miracle took place. When he had come to Christ, he told his friend Nathanael about him.
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. John 1:45
III. The Answer (V7-9)
Phillip responds with an "F" answer. He fails the faith test. Phillip never really answers the question. He just gives statistics. He goes to the bottom line - the size of the crowd. He looked at the size of the crowd and came to the conclusion that they did not have the resources to feed the multitude. Even if we has eight months worth of income (200 denarii), they couldn’t make a dent on this crowd
Phillip was a man who always wanted physical evidence. We see this from earlier glimpses into his life. In John 1:46 - he says to Nathanael - “come and see”
In John 14:8, in the Upper Room he says to our Lord,"Lord show us the Father and that is enough for us."• He required visual evidence.
Remember what he said to Nathanael - We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Apparently, he had forgotten that God had fed Israel, under Moses for 40 years
He also had forgotten that God thru Elisha had fed the sons of the prophets
"And Elisha said,(to his servant) "Give to the men, that they may eat." 43But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred men?" So he repeated, "Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some left.'" 44So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD."
So Phillip flunks the faith test.
Andrew weighs in on the subject. On the surface Andrews response appears to be an improvement, at least he has been out searching the crowd to see what they have
But then he joins Phillip - what is this among so many? We don’t have the resources so send them away, we can’t feed them and they should have prepared better.
IV. The Miraculous Solution (V10-14)
The five barley loaves are significant. Barley was always regarded as simple fare, more often fit for animals than for men. In the Talmud, there is a passage where one man says, "There is a fine crop of barley" and another man answers, "Tell it to the horses and donkeys."
The miracle resided in the hands of Jesus, not in the distribution.
It multiplied as He broke it. (Mark 6)
Little is much in His hands.
Look at the ways he shows His sufficiency here. He is able to multiply the little
He takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary, barley bread apparently became very tasty in his hands. v.12 "Filled" literally means "glutted." He takes that which is dead and brings life from it. Bread comes from grain, which has the power of multiplication and reproduction within itself. But when it is made into bread, the grain is crushed, making it "dead" - no one ever multiplied wheat by planting flour. Jesus can bring life from death.
What an amazing miracle!
We need to think about what this miracle means to us today.
Are we not prone to calculate? Are we not haunted by feelings of inadequacy.. insignificance? I can easily identify with the lad who brought his loaves and fish. More than likely you can as well. If the only thing you have to offer God is a broken heart, you offer a broken heart. If before you stands an enormous challenge offer Him that. We must learn to simply give what we are and what we have to Him as the little boy gave Jesus his five loaves and two fishes - even with the same feeling of the disciples when they said, “What is the good of that with such a crowd.”
I find that in almost everything I offer to Christ that is my reaction.
But here’s the point - The use he makes of it is none of my business; it is His business, it is His blessing. So, the challenging task,the grief, the loss, the suffering, the failures, this pain - whatever it is, which at the moment is God’s means of testing my faith.. a test which results in my recognition of who He is,
this is what I give, believing
YOUR NOTHING.. PLUS GOD… IS EVERYTHING!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Growing Faith - John 4:46-54
George Mueller once said, “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.”
The Apostle John has brought us full circle. The narrative began in the first verse of chapter two in Cana of Galilee. Then Jesus journeys to Jerusalem, Samaria and now we are back once again in Cana of Galilee. The first sign of the glory of Jesus was performed in Cana of Galilee, transforming water into wine at the wedding feast. Now, in Cana of Galilee a second sign is to be performed.
In the performing of this miracle healing, the Lord Jesus puts His finger on the weakness of the faith that is often times professed.
Before we examine the text, a little background is needed. In verse 46, the word for official in the Greek is "basilikos" a nobleman, the king’s man. Evidently he was an official in Herod’s court. He was a man of great influence and power, a man of great wealth. He was used to getting his way. He had everything he could possibly want... except one thing. His son was seriously ill, life was slowly draining from this young son death was imminent. The “basilikos” was in profound misery, so He comes to Jesus.
I. Jesus Grieves Over an Imperfect Faith (V48)
The Lord’s reply is rather startling (v48). On the surface its seems to be a detached statement, unsympathetic, cold. But,His words are mercifully surgical. "Unless you." is in the plural tense. (V48) Jesus was not just talking to or about the nobleman, but also about the Galileans whose tendency the nobleman represented. They were following Jesus as if He were a religious side show, "Hurry, Hurry - don’t miss the latest miracle!" Jesus knew that the major issue was not a sick son, the major issue was a weal faith in the nobleman’s life
The nobleman asked Jesus twice to “come down."(V47, 49)Come down and work your magic for my son. His focus was on the miracles, Now, its always that way with sensationalism. The focus is seldom on Christ who alone is sufficient! Jesus’ words to him were not a rebuke, but the beginning of a miracle of grace in his life.
II. Jesus Tests and Strengthens a Growing Faith (V49-52)
The royal official did not deny Jesus’ charge. He doesn't refute the claims of Christ or defend or even debate. He didn't pull rank. What he does do is display an amazing persistence. Jesus was his last hope and he knew it.
Jesus responds with a partial granting and a partial denial. (V50) Jesus granted the healing. He refused to go down to Capernaum with him. He gave the man no sign.
The only thing He gave the man was His word!
The nobleman responds with belief and a trusting faith. (V50b) He believed!
18 miles lay between him and his sick boy. he had no way of verifying if the word of Jesus were true. He simply took the word of Jesus!In his mind he saw his boy healed!
This is extremely counter-cultural! The world says: "Seeing is Believing," does it not? Faith on the other hand says, "Believing is Seeing!" The nobleman believed so he saw. That’s faith!
We need to understand how prevalent this is in the Scriptures. In John 8:56 Jesus said,"Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day." In Hebrews 11:13,27, tell us that by faith they saw.
What caused them to see? Hebrews 11:1 reveals the answer, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Dr. Ravi Zacharias helps shed some light on why so many of us fail to see the truth here. Ravi contrasts convictions with opinions. According to Dr. Zacharias, an opinion is, "a view that we hold in vary degrees of intensity, based almost entirely on personal preference." A conviction on the other hand, is "something we hold so powerfully that to change it requires doing business with our conscience."
Far to many of us live for Christ based upon opinion. We dine at a spiritual buffet, so to speak. We like to pick and choose from the items on our spiritual serving table. "Lets see… Heaven: oh yes.. give me some of that...Angels, two choices huh?
Cute little pudgy cherubs..Fiery sword death angels.. hmmm...I’ll take some of the lil cherubs thanks.. Free grace, really.. as much as you want? Load me up! Whats this...Judgment seat of Christ.. nah.. I’ll skip that...always gives me indigestion." We exist on opinions about faith, about church, and about other people. Most all of them are based upon personal preference.
The nobleman came to Jesus with an opinion..."You turned water into wine I hear...Heal my son?" But I believe he left with conviction! Let me show you why I say this. He is on his way back home. On the way he runs into servants who are coming to tell him his son has recovered. He asks about the time in verse 52. They tell him, the seventh hour (1 PM) yesterday! The man could have easily made the return trip before the end of the day but it is clear by their use of the word yesterday that he doesn't meet them until, the day after his sons healing. He lingered an entire day! He was so confident in the reliability of Jesus' word to him! What faith! This nobleman discovered that God has used his experience of adversity in order to bring him to see that only one thing matters.
III. Jesus Rewards a Tested Faith (V53)
Not only was his son healed, his household came to Christ. In this text the nobleman is un-named. But in Luke 8:3, the Bible speaks of the wife of Chuza. Most believe this is the very man whose son was healed. Right there in Herod's court was a man transformed by the power of the Gospel. This nobleman had to be struck over the head so God could get his attention.
Some of us today may be experiencing emotions similar to those of the nobleman. In your life there is a sense of closing darkness... a feeling of futility in life. If this is you...you may well be on the verge of great blessing. If you will turn to God, abandon your opinions, examine your convictions and take God at His word and believe so you can see, like the nobleman you will find a life of growing faith.
CS Lewis - The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of man, and his compulsion is our liberation.
The Apostle John has brought us full circle. The narrative began in the first verse of chapter two in Cana of Galilee. Then Jesus journeys to Jerusalem, Samaria and now we are back once again in Cana of Galilee. The first sign of the glory of Jesus was performed in Cana of Galilee, transforming water into wine at the wedding feast. Now, in Cana of Galilee a second sign is to be performed.
In the performing of this miracle healing, the Lord Jesus puts His finger on the weakness of the faith that is often times professed.
Before we examine the text, a little background is needed. In verse 46, the word for official in the Greek is "basilikos" a nobleman, the king’s man. Evidently he was an official in Herod’s court. He was a man of great influence and power, a man of great wealth. He was used to getting his way. He had everything he could possibly want... except one thing. His son was seriously ill, life was slowly draining from this young son death was imminent. The “basilikos” was in profound misery, so He comes to Jesus.
I. Jesus Grieves Over an Imperfect Faith (V48)
The Lord’s reply is rather startling (v48). On the surface its seems to be a detached statement, unsympathetic, cold. But,His words are mercifully surgical. "Unless you." is in the plural tense. (V48) Jesus was not just talking to or about the nobleman, but also about the Galileans whose tendency the nobleman represented. They were following Jesus as if He were a religious side show, "Hurry, Hurry - don’t miss the latest miracle!" Jesus knew that the major issue was not a sick son, the major issue was a weal faith in the nobleman’s life
The nobleman asked Jesus twice to “come down."(V47, 49)Come down and work your magic for my son. His focus was on the miracles, Now, its always that way with sensationalism. The focus is seldom on Christ who alone is sufficient! Jesus’ words to him were not a rebuke, but the beginning of a miracle of grace in his life.
II. Jesus Tests and Strengthens a Growing Faith (V49-52)
The royal official did not deny Jesus’ charge. He doesn't refute the claims of Christ or defend or even debate. He didn't pull rank. What he does do is display an amazing persistence. Jesus was his last hope and he knew it.
Jesus responds with a partial granting and a partial denial. (V50) Jesus granted the healing. He refused to go down to Capernaum with him. He gave the man no sign.
The only thing He gave the man was His word!
The nobleman responds with belief and a trusting faith. (V50b) He believed!
18 miles lay between him and his sick boy. he had no way of verifying if the word of Jesus were true. He simply took the word of Jesus!In his mind he saw his boy healed!
This is extremely counter-cultural! The world says: "Seeing is Believing," does it not? Faith on the other hand says, "Believing is Seeing!" The nobleman believed so he saw. That’s faith!
We need to understand how prevalent this is in the Scriptures. In John 8:56 Jesus said,"Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day." In Hebrews 11:13,27, tell us that by faith they saw.
What caused them to see? Hebrews 11:1 reveals the answer, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Dr. Ravi Zacharias helps shed some light on why so many of us fail to see the truth here. Ravi contrasts convictions with opinions. According to Dr. Zacharias, an opinion is, "a view that we hold in vary degrees of intensity, based almost entirely on personal preference." A conviction on the other hand, is "something we hold so powerfully that to change it requires doing business with our conscience."
Far to many of us live for Christ based upon opinion. We dine at a spiritual buffet, so to speak. We like to pick and choose from the items on our spiritual serving table. "Lets see… Heaven: oh yes.. give me some of that...Angels, two choices huh?
Cute little pudgy cherubs..Fiery sword death angels.. hmmm...I’ll take some of the lil cherubs thanks.. Free grace, really.. as much as you want? Load me up! Whats this...Judgment seat of Christ.. nah.. I’ll skip that...always gives me indigestion." We exist on opinions about faith, about church, and about other people. Most all of them are based upon personal preference.
The nobleman came to Jesus with an opinion..."You turned water into wine I hear...Heal my son?" But I believe he left with conviction! Let me show you why I say this. He is on his way back home. On the way he runs into servants who are coming to tell him his son has recovered. He asks about the time in verse 52. They tell him, the seventh hour (1 PM) yesterday! The man could have easily made the return trip before the end of the day but it is clear by their use of the word yesterday that he doesn't meet them until, the day after his sons healing. He lingered an entire day! He was so confident in the reliability of Jesus' word to him! What faith! This nobleman discovered that God has used his experience of adversity in order to bring him to see that only one thing matters.
III. Jesus Rewards a Tested Faith (V53)
Not only was his son healed, his household came to Christ. In this text the nobleman is un-named. But in Luke 8:3, the Bible speaks of the wife of Chuza. Most believe this is the very man whose son was healed. Right there in Herod's court was a man transformed by the power of the Gospel. This nobleman had to be struck over the head so God could get his attention.
Some of us today may be experiencing emotions similar to those of the nobleman. In your life there is a sense of closing darkness... a feeling of futility in life. If this is you...you may well be on the verge of great blessing. If you will turn to God, abandon your opinions, examine your convictions and take God at His word and believe so you can see, like the nobleman you will find a life of growing faith.
CS Lewis - The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of man, and his compulsion is our liberation.
The Ministering Heart's Approach to Life! - John 4:27-42
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to keep the important things, important. Keeping things in their proper priority, is a life long struggle.
The Samaritan woman was transformed by her encounter with Jesus (V28) Her life had been radically changed and transformed by Jesus. She indulged a bit of pardonable exaggeration, given the fact that it was impossible in such a short time for the Lord to recite everything she had ever done. But,she felt like He knew her inside and out. Her life was instantaneously changed, and renewed.
Meanwhile, the disciples return from town with food and supplies. (V27) They had not gotten beyond the social and cultural issues of the day. The timing here is uncanny, about the time this encounter is wrapping up the disciples came back. They were surprised that He was talking to this woman. To the disciples talking with this woman was a grave breach of convention. They were not unjustified in their thinking.
Listen to this Rabbinical ruling - "He that talks much with womankind brings evil upon himself and neglects the study of the Law and at least will inherit Gehenna."
So, the scene is set. The disciples were uneasy, judgmental, out of sorts.
The Samaritan woman on the other hand was happy and exuberant. Out of this scene comes some amazing instruction, namely,what it means to have a ministering heart!
I. A Transcending Priority (V31-34)
The disciples encourage Him to eat, but Jesus seems distracted. Their actions were in response to what they had come to know earlier. In John 4:6 we learn that Jesus was wearied, hungry, tired, and thirsty. That’s how the left Him, but now He declines their offer. So, they reason,someone bought Him some food while we were gone
Jesus makes an amazing statement. (v32) "I have food to eat that you do not know about." The “I” and the “you” are emphatic,“I” have something that “you” do not have. He was attempting to draw them to what he wanted to say and teach. When their curiosity was aroused, He goes on, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work."(v34) In this statement,Jesus put the highest emphasis on God’s will and work. "This is my food," He states. • Above all else Jesus lived to do God’s will. The word in(V34, "accomplish", is the Greek word "teleioso." This word means,"to bring to an end." The same word was used later by Jesus in John 17:4 - when he prays the high intercessory prayer - "I have done(tele-osas)what you asked."
Then, on the cross, "tetelestai - It is finished - its the same word, This was His food!
God desires for this to be the transcending priority of our life! Doing God’s will energized Jesus, but this also works in the life of the believer. Being used of God brings strength. For example take the life of the great Scottish preacher - John Knox. As an old man he was very feeble, so much so that he had to lean on the pulpit to balance himself. As he began to preach his voice would be very weak, his words slow and calculated. But, before long his voice would become strong. One observer described his voice as having the power of a trumpet call. The message completely filled the man. Knox experienced super-natural sustenance, the food that Jesus also possessed.
Doing God’s will must be our transcending priority.
II. A Sense of Urgency (V35-38)
There were 4 months between sowing and harvest. This works agriculturally, but it is not so with a heavenly harvest. Dr. H.V. Morton, sat one day at that very well in Sychar. Listen to his reflections, "As I sat by Jacob’s well a crowd of Arabs came along the road from the direction in which Jesus was looking, and I saw their white garments shining in the sun. Surely Jesus was speaking not of the earthly but the heavenly harvest, and as he spoke I think it is likely that he pointed along the road where the Samaritans in their white robes were assembling to hear his words."
To the disciples, Jesus was making a point. They thought there was time, plenty of time. They focused on an earthly kingdom and the eventual over-throw of Rome, even though they had been told that His Kingdom was not of this world. h
So, they lived in the future tense and fixed their attention on things that will happen later. But Jesus wanted them to look...right now...see them coming! If they were going to follow Him, they had to know the secret of His heart - a sense of immediacy, even urgency about the harvest.
Whats amazing about this story is that they were going to reap a harvest that they had nothing to do with. (V36-38) So then, who did the sowing? The Samaritan woman! Imagine that..she could not give theological explanations...She didn’t know the four spiritual laws..She probably quoted no scripture, but they saw the transformation of her life! And as a result, they wanted to know about the Power that had so changed her. (V39-42) What even more amazing is the depth of their understanding. The Samaritans were the first to call Christ, “The Savior of the World”
John Hutton a famous Welsh preacher was preaching, when suddenly a man jumped up and lead the church in the Doxology. Hutton was unable to continue. Hutton later spoke with the man. "I have only been a Christian a few months and I cannot sit still while the Word is being preached. You see, I was a bad lot sir! I drank, pawned the furniture,and I knocked my wife about. Hutton asked the man how he was faring with his fellow workers in the mine. The man replied, "Well,just today working down in the mine they asked me, 'You don’t seriously credit that old yarn about Jesus turning water into wine do you?' I told them, 'I know nothing about the water and the wine, but I know this, in my house Christ has turned beer into furniture and that is a good enough miracle for me.'"
I think that is how it was for the Samaritan woman.
A transcending priority and a sense of urgency are the characteristics of the ministering heart!
The Samaritan woman was transformed by her encounter with Jesus (V28) Her life had been radically changed and transformed by Jesus. She indulged a bit of pardonable exaggeration, given the fact that it was impossible in such a short time for the Lord to recite everything she had ever done. But,she felt like He knew her inside and out. Her life was instantaneously changed, and renewed.
Meanwhile, the disciples return from town with food and supplies. (V27) They had not gotten beyond the social and cultural issues of the day. The timing here is uncanny, about the time this encounter is wrapping up the disciples came back. They were surprised that He was talking to this woman. To the disciples talking with this woman was a grave breach of convention. They were not unjustified in their thinking.
Listen to this Rabbinical ruling - "He that talks much with womankind brings evil upon himself and neglects the study of the Law and at least will inherit Gehenna."
So, the scene is set. The disciples were uneasy, judgmental, out of sorts.
The Samaritan woman on the other hand was happy and exuberant. Out of this scene comes some amazing instruction, namely,what it means to have a ministering heart!
I. A Transcending Priority (V31-34)
The disciples encourage Him to eat, but Jesus seems distracted. Their actions were in response to what they had come to know earlier. In John 4:6 we learn that Jesus was wearied, hungry, tired, and thirsty. That’s how the left Him, but now He declines their offer. So, they reason,someone bought Him some food while we were gone
Jesus makes an amazing statement. (v32) "I have food to eat that you do not know about." The “I” and the “you” are emphatic,“I” have something that “you” do not have. He was attempting to draw them to what he wanted to say and teach. When their curiosity was aroused, He goes on, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work."(v34) In this statement,Jesus put the highest emphasis on God’s will and work. "This is my food," He states. • Above all else Jesus lived to do God’s will. The word in(V34, "accomplish", is the Greek word "teleioso." This word means,"to bring to an end." The same word was used later by Jesus in John 17:4 - when he prays the high intercessory prayer - "I have done(tele-osas)what you asked."
Then, on the cross, "tetelestai - It is finished - its the same word, This was His food!
God desires for this to be the transcending priority of our life! Doing God’s will energized Jesus, but this also works in the life of the believer. Being used of God brings strength. For example take the life of the great Scottish preacher - John Knox. As an old man he was very feeble, so much so that he had to lean on the pulpit to balance himself. As he began to preach his voice would be very weak, his words slow and calculated. But, before long his voice would become strong. One observer described his voice as having the power of a trumpet call. The message completely filled the man. Knox experienced super-natural sustenance, the food that Jesus also possessed.
Doing God’s will must be our transcending priority.
II. A Sense of Urgency (V35-38)
There were 4 months between sowing and harvest. This works agriculturally, but it is not so with a heavenly harvest. Dr. H.V. Morton, sat one day at that very well in Sychar. Listen to his reflections, "As I sat by Jacob’s well a crowd of Arabs came along the road from the direction in which Jesus was looking, and I saw their white garments shining in the sun. Surely Jesus was speaking not of the earthly but the heavenly harvest, and as he spoke I think it is likely that he pointed along the road where the Samaritans in their white robes were assembling to hear his words."
To the disciples, Jesus was making a point. They thought there was time, plenty of time. They focused on an earthly kingdom and the eventual over-throw of Rome, even though they had been told that His Kingdom was not of this world. h
So, they lived in the future tense and fixed their attention on things that will happen later. But Jesus wanted them to look...right now...see them coming! If they were going to follow Him, they had to know the secret of His heart - a sense of immediacy, even urgency about the harvest.
Whats amazing about this story is that they were going to reap a harvest that they had nothing to do with. (V36-38) So then, who did the sowing? The Samaritan woman! Imagine that..she could not give theological explanations...She didn’t know the four spiritual laws..She probably quoted no scripture, but they saw the transformation of her life! And as a result, they wanted to know about the Power that had so changed her. (V39-42) What even more amazing is the depth of their understanding. The Samaritans were the first to call Christ, “The Savior of the World”
John Hutton a famous Welsh preacher was preaching, when suddenly a man jumped up and lead the church in the Doxology. Hutton was unable to continue. Hutton later spoke with the man. "I have only been a Christian a few months and I cannot sit still while the Word is being preached. You see, I was a bad lot sir! I drank, pawned the furniture,and I knocked my wife about. Hutton asked the man how he was faring with his fellow workers in the mine. The man replied, "Well,just today working down in the mine they asked me, 'You don’t seriously credit that old yarn about Jesus turning water into wine do you?' I told them, 'I know nothing about the water and the wine, but I know this, in my house Christ has turned beer into furniture and that is a good enough miracle for me.'"
I think that is how it was for the Samaritan woman.
A transcending priority and a sense of urgency are the characteristics of the ministering heart!
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Heart That Ministers - John 4:1-9
James Gilmour was a missionary to Mongolia in the late 1800’s. When he first arrived he prayed this prayer, "Oh Lord, suggest by the Spirit how I should come among them. And guide me in gaining the language, and in preparing myself to teach the life and love of Jesus Christ."
He labored there for over 21 years. In the end he wrote this in his journal, "In the shape of converts, I have seen no results. I have not as far as I am aware, seen anyone who even wanted to be a Christian."
James Gilmour came from a prominent family in England. He had every opportunity to do whatever he wanted to do with his life. One can well imagine that had he remained in England, he would have enjoyed a very productive and successful life.
As believers we must choose again and again between two very distinct courses.
One is to cultivate a small heart. This is by far the safest way to live because it minimizes our sorrows. The other path will subject us ti sorrows that a shriveled heart knows nothing about. Enlarge your heart, cultivate a ministering heart, and you will at the same time enlarge the potential for pain.
The second path is the path James Gilmour chose, consequently it is the path that Jesus chose as well. in our text Jesus gives us a vibrant example of the heart that minsters.
1) A ministering heart reaches our even through it is tired. (V1-6)
Very often the ministering heart is a tired heart. In this text our Lord was weary in the service of souls. Unending questions from His disciples, coupled with the constant scrutiny of the Pharisees, along with the long walk from Jordan brought Jesus to a point of physical weariness. (v4) We should never minimize the fact that Jesus was fully God and fully man at the same time. At no time did her ever lay down His deity, but at the same time he also was fully man experiencing weariness.
He was resting by Jacob's well in Sychar in the middle of the day. A Samaritan woman approaches the well. How easy it would have been for Jesus to rationalize this situation. He had just traveled a long way on foot. He could very simply have kept His silence and let this opportunity go right on by. That choice was surely available to Him. But, that is not what He did. Our Lord in fact, went for her heart, because He had a ministering heart.
Oswald Sanders believes that. "The world is run by tired men." Anne Ortlund states, "No where in the Bible are we told to slow down and take it easy."
Most souls are won by tired people continuing to share their faith. The best sermons are preached by tired men. The best camps are run by exhausted youth ministers. The world is evangelized by tired missionaries. And, you show me a successful Vacation Bible School and I will show you some very tired workers.
this has been true in the lives of some of the men God has used down through the ages. Martin Luther, worked so hard that when he went to bed he literally fell into bed. DL Moody often prayed at bedtime, "Lord, I am tired, Amen!" Calvin's biographers marveled at his output. Wesley rode 60-70 miles a day on horse back and preached an average of 3 sermons a day.
Our Lord's example is a call to us to expand our heart, and when we do we will see much to do for the work of His kingdom.
2) A ministering heart overcomes barriers (V7-9)
The Samaritan woman responded to a heart that crossed barriers.
First, she was a Samaritan. The bitter hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans was long standing. Here's where it came from. In 721 BC the Assyrians swept thru Israel, The Northern Kingdom. They took the inhabitants of Israel back to Assyria.
While there, many of them inter-married with the Assyrians, resulting is a people who came to be known as the Cuthites. These folks became the Samaritans. A bit later in 587 BC the Babylonians took the people of Judah, the Southern Kingdom captive. In Babylon, there was no intermarriage, these Jews maintained unadulterated Jewish blood. They came back to Jerusalem eventually during the time of Cyrus. They despised the Northern Kingdom because they saw them as half-breeds. They often prayed, "O Lord do not remember the Samaritans in the resurrection." The Rabbi's of the day taught, "Let no man eat bread with the Samaritans, for he who eats their bread is as he who eats swine’s flesh."
In reaching out to this woman Jesus overcame the prejudicial barrier of religious and cultural hatred. He even went so far as to ask her to use her ladle. Under the Jewish law he would have become defiled as a result of this action.
He also broke another barrier, she was a woman. Rabbi's forbid their devout men to speak to women in public. There was actually a sect of Pharisees who became known as "the Bleeding and Bruised Pharisees." When they was a woman coming they would cover their eyes and consequently run into walls or fall down stairs, etc.
Yet, the ministering heart of Jesus spoke to this woman.
Alexander Maclaren shares this insight, "When these words were spoken, the then-known world was cleft by great, deep gulfs of separation, like the crevasses of a glacier.. Racial animosities, class differences, language, religion, national animosities, differences of condition, and saddest of all, difference of sex.. these things split the world… each group standing on opposite sides of a gulf, flinging hostility across. But then the Gospel came! Then barbarian, Scyhtian, bond and free, male and female, Jew and Greek. Learned and ignorant, clasped hands and sat down at table, and felt themselves “all one in Christ Jesus."
The great glory of the church is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ crosses barriers. It crosses geographical barriers, driving committed believers like James Gilmour to far off places for the cause of the Gospel. It crosses cultural and language barriers. It crosses condition barriers, free men ministering to those in bonds.
The very nature of the Gospel of Christ causes it to break down the walls that divide, making us one in Christ Jesus. The ever enlarging ministering heart understands this.
3) A ministering heart sees Providence in relationships (v4)
I find this verse to be most interesting. Jesus went through Samaria on purpose. The ministering heart has an awaremess of the sovereign ordering of life. This meeting at the well in Sychar was a divine appointment. God's will and plan were evidently involved.
You and I must realize this as well. We never talk to a mere mortal!
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers about death, he told them that, "this mortal must put on immortality." (I Corinthians 15) We often assume that this truth is for believrs only. But Revelation 20:5 tells us that, "the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended." The "rest of the dead" here speaks of those who have refused salvation and are now under the judgment of God. Everyone we meet will live eternally, either as a glorious being or as a dreadfully lost soul. The ministering heart sees this and treats all encounters accordingly.
A ministering heart is an expansive heart that ministers even when it is weary. It is a heart that intentionally crosses the normal barriers of life. It also sees the divine potential in all relationships.
Yet, this enlarged heart is remarkably vulnerable... just as Christ's was.
CS Lewis states it so eloquently, "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is ...Hell."
He labored there for over 21 years. In the end he wrote this in his journal, "In the shape of converts, I have seen no results. I have not as far as I am aware, seen anyone who even wanted to be a Christian."
James Gilmour came from a prominent family in England. He had every opportunity to do whatever he wanted to do with his life. One can well imagine that had he remained in England, he would have enjoyed a very productive and successful life.
As believers we must choose again and again between two very distinct courses.
One is to cultivate a small heart. This is by far the safest way to live because it minimizes our sorrows. The other path will subject us ti sorrows that a shriveled heart knows nothing about. Enlarge your heart, cultivate a ministering heart, and you will at the same time enlarge the potential for pain.
The second path is the path James Gilmour chose, consequently it is the path that Jesus chose as well. in our text Jesus gives us a vibrant example of the heart that minsters.
1) A ministering heart reaches our even through it is tired. (V1-6)
Very often the ministering heart is a tired heart. In this text our Lord was weary in the service of souls. Unending questions from His disciples, coupled with the constant scrutiny of the Pharisees, along with the long walk from Jordan brought Jesus to a point of physical weariness. (v4) We should never minimize the fact that Jesus was fully God and fully man at the same time. At no time did her ever lay down His deity, but at the same time he also was fully man experiencing weariness.
He was resting by Jacob's well in Sychar in the middle of the day. A Samaritan woman approaches the well. How easy it would have been for Jesus to rationalize this situation. He had just traveled a long way on foot. He could very simply have kept His silence and let this opportunity go right on by. That choice was surely available to Him. But, that is not what He did. Our Lord in fact, went for her heart, because He had a ministering heart.
Oswald Sanders believes that. "The world is run by tired men." Anne Ortlund states, "No where in the Bible are we told to slow down and take it easy."
Most souls are won by tired people continuing to share their faith. The best sermons are preached by tired men. The best camps are run by exhausted youth ministers. The world is evangelized by tired missionaries. And, you show me a successful Vacation Bible School and I will show you some very tired workers.
this has been true in the lives of some of the men God has used down through the ages. Martin Luther, worked so hard that when he went to bed he literally fell into bed. DL Moody often prayed at bedtime, "Lord, I am tired, Amen!" Calvin's biographers marveled at his output. Wesley rode 60-70 miles a day on horse back and preached an average of 3 sermons a day.
Our Lord's example is a call to us to expand our heart, and when we do we will see much to do for the work of His kingdom.
2) A ministering heart overcomes barriers (V7-9)
The Samaritan woman responded to a heart that crossed barriers.
First, she was a Samaritan. The bitter hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans was long standing. Here's where it came from. In 721 BC the Assyrians swept thru Israel, The Northern Kingdom. They took the inhabitants of Israel back to Assyria.
While there, many of them inter-married with the Assyrians, resulting is a people who came to be known as the Cuthites. These folks became the Samaritans. A bit later in 587 BC the Babylonians took the people of Judah, the Southern Kingdom captive. In Babylon, there was no intermarriage, these Jews maintained unadulterated Jewish blood. They came back to Jerusalem eventually during the time of Cyrus. They despised the Northern Kingdom because they saw them as half-breeds. They often prayed, "O Lord do not remember the Samaritans in the resurrection." The Rabbi's of the day taught, "Let no man eat bread with the Samaritans, for he who eats their bread is as he who eats swine’s flesh."
In reaching out to this woman Jesus overcame the prejudicial barrier of religious and cultural hatred. He even went so far as to ask her to use her ladle. Under the Jewish law he would have become defiled as a result of this action.
He also broke another barrier, she was a woman. Rabbi's forbid their devout men to speak to women in public. There was actually a sect of Pharisees who became known as "the Bleeding and Bruised Pharisees." When they was a woman coming they would cover their eyes and consequently run into walls or fall down stairs, etc.
Yet, the ministering heart of Jesus spoke to this woman.
Alexander Maclaren shares this insight, "When these words were spoken, the then-known world was cleft by great, deep gulfs of separation, like the crevasses of a glacier.. Racial animosities, class differences, language, religion, national animosities, differences of condition, and saddest of all, difference of sex.. these things split the world… each group standing on opposite sides of a gulf, flinging hostility across. But then the Gospel came! Then barbarian, Scyhtian, bond and free, male and female, Jew and Greek. Learned and ignorant, clasped hands and sat down at table, and felt themselves “all one in Christ Jesus."
The great glory of the church is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ crosses barriers. It crosses geographical barriers, driving committed believers like James Gilmour to far off places for the cause of the Gospel. It crosses cultural and language barriers. It crosses condition barriers, free men ministering to those in bonds.
The very nature of the Gospel of Christ causes it to break down the walls that divide, making us one in Christ Jesus. The ever enlarging ministering heart understands this.
3) A ministering heart sees Providence in relationships (v4)
I find this verse to be most interesting. Jesus went through Samaria on purpose. The ministering heart has an awaremess of the sovereign ordering of life. This meeting at the well in Sychar was a divine appointment. God's will and plan were evidently involved.
You and I must realize this as well. We never talk to a mere mortal!
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers about death, he told them that, "this mortal must put on immortality." (I Corinthians 15) We often assume that this truth is for believrs only. But Revelation 20:5 tells us that, "the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended." The "rest of the dead" here speaks of those who have refused salvation and are now under the judgment of God. Everyone we meet will live eternally, either as a glorious being or as a dreadfully lost soul. The ministering heart sees this and treats all encounters accordingly.
A ministering heart is an expansive heart that ministers even when it is weary. It is a heart that intentionally crosses the normal barriers of life. It also sees the divine potential in all relationships.
Yet, this enlarged heart is remarkably vulnerable... just as Christ's was.
CS Lewis states it so eloquently, "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is ...Hell."
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Happy... I forgot what that feels like!
If you have lived for any length of time, you have more than likely made a significant discovery. Life is not always fair and things at times don't work out as we think they will. In the process of life there is inevitable pain. It’s enough to make us depressed and bitter isn’t it?
In these times, we so wish for relief! Oh, to be beyond the current challenge! I once had a lady say to me, "Pastor, its been so long since I have been happy, I have forgotten what it feels like."
Use your imagination and go back with me into history, to the city of Rome. There in a drab musty prison cell sits an old man whose body bears the marks of a painful life. During the span of his life he was extremely successful, well educated, influential. He was well traveled. He preached and planted churches. Oh, but now shackles are on his hands and feet. He is chained so that it is difficult to walk or move. He is regarded now by most with disdain, as nothing more than a worthless criminal. His shoulders are stooped; his head almost bald. If you linger at all in your gaze, you’ll see the physical scars that mar his aging body.
His name is Paul, a devout and faithful servant of God. As you gaze at him you notice that he is writing a letter. No doubt it is a complaint letter. No doubt he will present a long list of grievances. None of us would dispute the fact that he surely has every reason to be bitter and complain. I mean who could ever have imagined this to be the outcome of answering a call from God? But that's not the sort of letter that he is writing! He is writing to the Philippian believers, a letter that over two thousand years later is still known as a great treatise of joy. Joy.. now imagine that coming from an old man in a Roman jail. Isn’t it amazing that he is still able to keep perspective? The difficulties and challenges, though hard, were never able to rob him of his joy for life.
I woke up early today. I am afraid my internal clock is still set on England time. I have spent some time praying, talking to the Lord out of my own life and remembering others that need prayer. Two people that I know are near death. Others are seriously ill. Some are battling unfair and challenging situations of various kinds. Any and all of these things have the capacity to rob us of any contentment and peace we might wish for. Then I turn my gaze to my own life, to a day filled with its fair share of challenges. There are moments when we all feel like we should be entitled to fill out a complaint form and submit it to the heavenly Father. Then we realize that there may also be things that we have no warning of, in reality not one of us know what a day holds. We have no idea the challenges we will be required to endure. Happiness can surely be a fleeting thing.
But go back to the mental image of the aged apostle Paul. It must have been uncomfortable sitting in chains and shackles. The dreariness and stench of that place is beyond imagination. Look over his shoulder, peek at what he is writing to those Philippian brothers. Amazing words...“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)
Remarkable! It wasn't enough just to tell them to rejoice in life's circumstances, he makes it even more emphatic by repeating his exhortation to them. Rejoice... I say rejoice! When our happiness evaporates, God makes available to us an internal sense of joy, which is not affected by the external circumstances of life. Eating chocolate, going to the mall, or indulging in our favorite "it makes me happy" activity can bring at least a temporary relief from our anxieties. But, God gives joy. I love the old song, "This joy that I have...the world didn't give it to me, and the world can't take it away." That's what Paul is writing about, and that's how he could pen those words out of the misery of incarceration.
May you be blessed today in the living of life with God ordained joy! I would desire for you that your day be one of peace and contented purpose, but we know that it may well be littered with the challenges of this life. Take the advice given to us by this saintly old apostle... no matter what... Rejoice! and again.. I say, rejoice! Right now, ask the Father who gives to us freely from His abundance, for a joy that is unspeakable, and full of glory!
Now, doesn't that feel better?
In these times, we so wish for relief! Oh, to be beyond the current challenge! I once had a lady say to me, "Pastor, its been so long since I have been happy, I have forgotten what it feels like."
Use your imagination and go back with me into history, to the city of Rome. There in a drab musty prison cell sits an old man whose body bears the marks of a painful life. During the span of his life he was extremely successful, well educated, influential. He was well traveled. He preached and planted churches. Oh, but now shackles are on his hands and feet. He is chained so that it is difficult to walk or move. He is regarded now by most with disdain, as nothing more than a worthless criminal. His shoulders are stooped; his head almost bald. If you linger at all in your gaze, you’ll see the physical scars that mar his aging body.
His name is Paul, a devout and faithful servant of God. As you gaze at him you notice that he is writing a letter. No doubt it is a complaint letter. No doubt he will present a long list of grievances. None of us would dispute the fact that he surely has every reason to be bitter and complain. I mean who could ever have imagined this to be the outcome of answering a call from God? But that's not the sort of letter that he is writing! He is writing to the Philippian believers, a letter that over two thousand years later is still known as a great treatise of joy. Joy.. now imagine that coming from an old man in a Roman jail. Isn’t it amazing that he is still able to keep perspective? The difficulties and challenges, though hard, were never able to rob him of his joy for life.
I woke up early today. I am afraid my internal clock is still set on England time. I have spent some time praying, talking to the Lord out of my own life and remembering others that need prayer. Two people that I know are near death. Others are seriously ill. Some are battling unfair and challenging situations of various kinds. Any and all of these things have the capacity to rob us of any contentment and peace we might wish for. Then I turn my gaze to my own life, to a day filled with its fair share of challenges. There are moments when we all feel like we should be entitled to fill out a complaint form and submit it to the heavenly Father. Then we realize that there may also be things that we have no warning of, in reality not one of us know what a day holds. We have no idea the challenges we will be required to endure. Happiness can surely be a fleeting thing.
But go back to the mental image of the aged apostle Paul. It must have been uncomfortable sitting in chains and shackles. The dreariness and stench of that place is beyond imagination. Look over his shoulder, peek at what he is writing to those Philippian brothers. Amazing words...“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)
Remarkable! It wasn't enough just to tell them to rejoice in life's circumstances, he makes it even more emphatic by repeating his exhortation to them. Rejoice... I say rejoice! When our happiness evaporates, God makes available to us an internal sense of joy, which is not affected by the external circumstances of life. Eating chocolate, going to the mall, or indulging in our favorite "it makes me happy" activity can bring at least a temporary relief from our anxieties. But, God gives joy. I love the old song, "This joy that I have...the world didn't give it to me, and the world can't take it away." That's what Paul is writing about, and that's how he could pen those words out of the misery of incarceration.
May you be blessed today in the living of life with God ordained joy! I would desire for you that your day be one of peace and contented purpose, but we know that it may well be littered with the challenges of this life. Take the advice given to us by this saintly old apostle... no matter what... Rejoice! and again.. I say, rejoice! Right now, ask the Father who gives to us freely from His abundance, for a joy that is unspeakable, and full of glory!
Now, doesn't that feel better?
Monday, July 30, 2007
“He Must Become Greater,I Must Become Less." - John 3:22-30
There were two groups administering the baptism of repentance, those following the Lord Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist. (V22-23)
Now, the rub came in that John’s ministry was being eclipsed by the ministry of Jesus, and the loyal disciples of John were jealous. (V25-26)
John’s response to his angered disciples is a great lesson for us, as our competitive society is structured to compel us to measure our achievements against those of others.
The story unfolds in a most interesting way.
1) The Baptist, Displays a Proper Philosophy of Life and a Contentment with God’s Purpose (V 27-28)
Do we believe that God orders the path of our lives? Is the Lord responsible for our gifts and abilities? Does he ordain us to a purpose in life and direct our way? Icertainly believe the Bible teaches that this is true. Proverbs 16:9 - The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
It is apparent that the Baptist believed this and this text reveals that he was very content and even found great joy in God’s appointed purpose for his life.
Some of his disciples did not see it that way. There is a clear tension here in these verses. It is clearly not between John and Jesus. The loyal disciples of John feel that his ministry is being eclipsed and they are filled with envy. They come to him about it with an air of flattery. They address him as Rabbi, (V26). John was not a Rabbi. It seems that they had heard Jesus addressed by that title, so in an attempt to demonstrate John’s equality with Jesus they attach the title to him.
There is a great lesson for us here. In life and even in Christian service and ministry there are these kinds of tensions. The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. Others are getting ahead while we seem to be lagging behind. Another church is growing at a more rapid rate than ours, or the other Sunday School class is bigger. See it? Feel it?
Many of us are not content with our position in life, or our gifts. We crave the gifts of others. The end result is envy and strife.
It is not a new situation. This was one of the major areas of contention in the Corinthian church. Joshua struggled with this jealousy - Numbers 11:26-29
In the camp of Israel there were two men upon whom the spirit of prophecy had come, Eldad - Medad. They were prophesying in the camp NOT at the Tent of Meeting.
“Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, "My lord Moses, stop them." (Numbers 11:26-28)
Joshua was filled with envy!
Notice the response of Moses: But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!" (Numbers 11:29)
John had the same contented humility as Moses did.
His response displays his proper attitude toward his life purpose, “A man can have nothing except what is given him from heaven.” (V27)
Do you understand what he is saying? John was saying in essence, “I am perfectly at ease with the providence of God, for what I am, is what God has made me. In the role God has given to me I find my joy, in fact my fullness, my satisfaction, my contentment, comes in resting in the providence of God.
Paul captured this idea when he wrote to the Corinthians. “What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?” ( I Corinthians 4:7, NLT)
Here is a wonderfully practical illustration from William Law. “If someone is leaving you behind and you are becoming jealous or embittered, keep praying that he may have success in the very matter where he is awakening your envy’ and whether he is helped or not, one thing is sure, that your own soul will be cleansed and ennobled, that you will grow a little nearer to the stature of the Baptist.”
It is impossible to harbor resentment toward one for whom we are praying.
John grounded his philosophy of life and ministry in contentment with the providential plan and working of God.
2) The Baptist Displays a Proper Attitude in His Role (v29)
John portrays his feelings toward the ministry of Jesus in a rich illustration - the Hebrew wedding
William Barclay brings great light to this:
“The friend of the bridegroom, the shosben, had a unique place at a Jewish wedding. He acted as a liaison between the bride and the bridegroom; he arranged the wedding, he took out the invitations, he presided over the wedding feast, He brought the bride and the bridegroom together. And he had one special duty. It was his duty to guard the bridal chamber and to let no false lover in. He would only open the door when in the dark he heard the bridegrooms voiced and recognized it. When he heard the bridegroom’s voice he was glad and let him in and he went his way rejoicing for his task had been completed.”
John the Baptist found his joy as the shosben for Jesus. Not once did he desire to be the groom, he was overwhelmingly joyous - as he saw his role as the friend!
3) The Baptist Displays the Proper Conduct (V30)
The word “must” here is rendered in the imperative tense in the Greek. Literally translated it means, “It has to be.” It is a must!
Jesus is to go on growing, becoming greater and greater, while I go on decreasing, becoming less and less.
Do you hear the surrender of will in John? There is no other way to live the Christian life!
William Carey, was dying. Near death he turned to a friend and said, “ When I am gone don’t talk about William Carey: talk about William Carey’s Savior. I desire that Christ alone might be magnified.”
This captures the spirit of John the Baptist!
This involves an eclipse of life. How do we do this?
First, following the example of John the Baptist, we always point to Christ and give him full credit, (v27) realizing that we have absolutely nothing unless it is given to us from heaven.
Second, we must realize that no Christian assignment truly belongs to us. It is not ours, we are but stewards of it.
All of this was so marvelously fleshed out in the life of Dr. F.B. Meyer. His motto for life was: “Make the most of me that can be made for Thy glory.""
Dr. Meyer preached at Christ Church in London at the same time that Charles Spurgeon was preaching at the great Metropolitan Tabernacle. His church was running a few hundred at that time.
Meyer would stand on the steps of his church and watch the carriages flow by to Spurgeon’s church. It was difficult for him, but he did it.
Later in his life, he was preaching in America at the invitation of DL Moody. At that same time Dr. G. Campbell Morgan was preaching. Again, the larger crowds were going to here Morgan, but very small crowds coming to hear Meyer.
Later he was heard saying to people, “Have you heard Campbell Morgan preach? Did you hear his message this morning? God is upon that man.
During his long and fruitful life, he preached more than 16,000 sermons.
Said one author: "The phrasing of [Meyer's] sermons was simple and direct; his speech was pastoral....In his day, great wars raged. Those who went to hear him forgot the battles."
It is amazingly ironic, that Spurgeon would later write regarding FB Meyer - "Meyer preaches as a man who has seen God face to face."
Oh, truly He must increase, I must decrease… it has to be!
Now, the rub came in that John’s ministry was being eclipsed by the ministry of Jesus, and the loyal disciples of John were jealous. (V25-26)
John’s response to his angered disciples is a great lesson for us, as our competitive society is structured to compel us to measure our achievements against those of others.
The story unfolds in a most interesting way.
1) The Baptist, Displays a Proper Philosophy of Life and a Contentment with God’s Purpose (V 27-28)
Do we believe that God orders the path of our lives? Is the Lord responsible for our gifts and abilities? Does he ordain us to a purpose in life and direct our way? Icertainly believe the Bible teaches that this is true. Proverbs 16:9 - The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
It is apparent that the Baptist believed this and this text reveals that he was very content and even found great joy in God’s appointed purpose for his life.
Some of his disciples did not see it that way. There is a clear tension here in these verses. It is clearly not between John and Jesus. The loyal disciples of John feel that his ministry is being eclipsed and they are filled with envy. They come to him about it with an air of flattery. They address him as Rabbi, (V26). John was not a Rabbi. It seems that they had heard Jesus addressed by that title, so in an attempt to demonstrate John’s equality with Jesus they attach the title to him.
There is a great lesson for us here. In life and even in Christian service and ministry there are these kinds of tensions. The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. Others are getting ahead while we seem to be lagging behind. Another church is growing at a more rapid rate than ours, or the other Sunday School class is bigger. See it? Feel it?
Many of us are not content with our position in life, or our gifts. We crave the gifts of others. The end result is envy and strife.
It is not a new situation. This was one of the major areas of contention in the Corinthian church. Joshua struggled with this jealousy - Numbers 11:26-29
In the camp of Israel there were two men upon whom the spirit of prophecy had come, Eldad - Medad. They were prophesying in the camp NOT at the Tent of Meeting.
“Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, "My lord Moses, stop them." (Numbers 11:26-28)
Joshua was filled with envy!
Notice the response of Moses: But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!" (Numbers 11:29)
John had the same contented humility as Moses did.
His response displays his proper attitude toward his life purpose, “A man can have nothing except what is given him from heaven.” (V27)
Do you understand what he is saying? John was saying in essence, “I am perfectly at ease with the providence of God, for what I am, is what God has made me. In the role God has given to me I find my joy, in fact my fullness, my satisfaction, my contentment, comes in resting in the providence of God.
Paul captured this idea when he wrote to the Corinthians. “What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?” ( I Corinthians 4:7, NLT)
Here is a wonderfully practical illustration from William Law. “If someone is leaving you behind and you are becoming jealous or embittered, keep praying that he may have success in the very matter where he is awakening your envy’ and whether he is helped or not, one thing is sure, that your own soul will be cleansed and ennobled, that you will grow a little nearer to the stature of the Baptist.”
It is impossible to harbor resentment toward one for whom we are praying.
John grounded his philosophy of life and ministry in contentment with the providential plan and working of God.
2) The Baptist Displays a Proper Attitude in His Role (v29)
John portrays his feelings toward the ministry of Jesus in a rich illustration - the Hebrew wedding
William Barclay brings great light to this:
“The friend of the bridegroom, the shosben, had a unique place at a Jewish wedding. He acted as a liaison between the bride and the bridegroom; he arranged the wedding, he took out the invitations, he presided over the wedding feast, He brought the bride and the bridegroom together. And he had one special duty. It was his duty to guard the bridal chamber and to let no false lover in. He would only open the door when in the dark he heard the bridegrooms voiced and recognized it. When he heard the bridegroom’s voice he was glad and let him in and he went his way rejoicing for his task had been completed.”
John the Baptist found his joy as the shosben for Jesus. Not once did he desire to be the groom, he was overwhelmingly joyous - as he saw his role as the friend!
3) The Baptist Displays the Proper Conduct (V30)
The word “must” here is rendered in the imperative tense in the Greek. Literally translated it means, “It has to be.” It is a must!
Jesus is to go on growing, becoming greater and greater, while I go on decreasing, becoming less and less.
Do you hear the surrender of will in John? There is no other way to live the Christian life!
William Carey, was dying. Near death he turned to a friend and said, “ When I am gone don’t talk about William Carey: talk about William Carey’s Savior. I desire that Christ alone might be magnified.”
This captures the spirit of John the Baptist!
This involves an eclipse of life. How do we do this?
First, following the example of John the Baptist, we always point to Christ and give him full credit, (v27) realizing that we have absolutely nothing unless it is given to us from heaven.
Second, we must realize that no Christian assignment truly belongs to us. It is not ours, we are but stewards of it.
All of this was so marvelously fleshed out in the life of Dr. F.B. Meyer. His motto for life was: “Make the most of me that can be made for Thy glory.""
Dr. Meyer preached at Christ Church in London at the same time that Charles Spurgeon was preaching at the great Metropolitan Tabernacle. His church was running a few hundred at that time.
Meyer would stand on the steps of his church and watch the carriages flow by to Spurgeon’s church. It was difficult for him, but he did it.
Later in his life, he was preaching in America at the invitation of DL Moody. At that same time Dr. G. Campbell Morgan was preaching. Again, the larger crowds were going to here Morgan, but very small crowds coming to hear Meyer.
Later he was heard saying to people, “Have you heard Campbell Morgan preach? Did you hear his message this morning? God is upon that man.
During his long and fruitful life, he preached more than 16,000 sermons.
Said one author: "The phrasing of [Meyer's] sermons was simple and direct; his speech was pastoral....In his day, great wars raged. Those who went to hear him forgot the battles."
It is amazingly ironic, that Spurgeon would later write regarding FB Meyer - "Meyer preaches as a man who has seen God face to face."
Oh, truly He must increase, I must decrease… it has to be!
Harmony at Any Cost
There is probably not a person on the face of the planet that craves peace more than me. In fact, to be very honest, I tend to shy away from conflict.
I like to be liked, it’s a part of my personality and it's how I am wired it seems. I lose a fair amount of sleep when I feel that I have been a disappointment or when someone is not happy about a decision that has been made. I have come to understand over the years, that decisions have to be made at times which can be unpopular. It comes with the territory so to speak.
A good friend of mine sent me a wonderful devotion taken from a book by the esteemed Dr. A.W. Tozer, entitled , “This World: Playground or Battleground?”, Christian Publications, May 1989, pages:112-113.
It was so timely for me and I trust it may well be meaningful for you.
The Church: Harmony at Any Cost
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. - 1 Peter 5:8”
Some misguided Christian leaders feel that they must preserve harmony at any cost, so they do everything possible to reduce friction. They should remember that there is no friction in a machine that has been shut down for the night. Turn off the power, and you will have no problem with moving parts. Also remember that there is a human society where there are no problems - the cemetery. The dead have no differences of opinion. They generate no heat, because they have no energy and no motion. But their penalty is sterility and complete lack of achievement.
What then is the conclusion of the matter? That problems are the price of progress, that friction is the concomitant of motion, that a live and expanding church will have a certain quota of difficulties as a result of its life and activity. A Spirit-filled church will invite the anger of the enemy.”
Let us be sober and diligent, preferring love toward one another, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus my beloved.
I like to be liked, it’s a part of my personality and it's how I am wired it seems. I lose a fair amount of sleep when I feel that I have been a disappointment or when someone is not happy about a decision that has been made. I have come to understand over the years, that decisions have to be made at times which can be unpopular. It comes with the territory so to speak.
A good friend of mine sent me a wonderful devotion taken from a book by the esteemed Dr. A.W. Tozer, entitled , “This World: Playground or Battleground?”, Christian Publications, May 1989, pages:112-113.
It was so timely for me and I trust it may well be meaningful for you.
The Church: Harmony at Any Cost
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. - 1 Peter 5:8”
Some misguided Christian leaders feel that they must preserve harmony at any cost, so they do everything possible to reduce friction. They should remember that there is no friction in a machine that has been shut down for the night. Turn off the power, and you will have no problem with moving parts. Also remember that there is a human society where there are no problems - the cemetery. The dead have no differences of opinion. They generate no heat, because they have no energy and no motion. But their penalty is sterility and complete lack of achievement.
What then is the conclusion of the matter? That problems are the price of progress, that friction is the concomitant of motion, that a live and expanding church will have a certain quota of difficulties as a result of its life and activity. A Spirit-filled church will invite the anger of the enemy.”
Let us be sober and diligent, preferring love toward one another, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus my beloved.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Off to Oxford
I covert your prayers as I attend the Oxford Round Table, St. Anne's College, University of Oxford, England this next week.
I am both honored and humbled by this opportunity. I fly out of Jacksonville tomorrow and will arrive on Saturday morning in London. I plan to attend the Metropolitan Tabernacle on Sunday where Rev. Charles Spurgeon preached.
Pray for Dottie as well while I am gone. We appreciate so many who are providing attention and care for her while I am gone. You are a wonderful church and a gracious people.
I love being your pastor!
David
Galations 2:20
I am both honored and humbled by this opportunity. I fly out of Jacksonville tomorrow and will arrive on Saturday morning in London. I plan to attend the Metropolitan Tabernacle on Sunday where Rev. Charles Spurgeon preached.
Pray for Dottie as well while I am gone. We appreciate so many who are providing attention and care for her while I am gone. You are a wonderful church and a gracious people.
I love being your pastor!
David
Galations 2:20
How Can This Be? - John 3:9-21
Our Lord brought Nicodemus face to face with the necessity of being born again. This wise man pondered all that Jesus had shared with him.. His final question is most noteworthy, “How can these things be?” (V9) "Teacher, I hear your analogies, but how does this new birth really happen. Where does it spring from?"
Jesus gently chides Nicodemus (V10) Jesus is basically saying, you have all this learning and yet you do not understand? Then in verse 11 He states, "I have spoken to you earthly things, and you do not believe, How will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?"
Have you ever spoken with someone who has gone to Heaven and returned? No one has ever gone into heaven - except the One who came from Heaven So Jesus helps him to understand that His authority comes from the fact that He is the pre-existent One who came to earth from heaven.
Then to help Nicodemus understand, Jesus takes him back to a marvelous illustration of the new birth contained in the Old Testament, Numbers 21:4-9. With these words Nicodemus’ mind spun back thousands of years… he was on very familiar ground.
The picture in Numbers 21 is one of both glory and horror.
First, the horror. The Israelites were beset with venomous snakes. These snakes inflicted a burning fever in the lives of those they bit. The people could not escape, and their bodies were inflamed with fever. They were on the verge of death in fact, many died.
But also note the glorious. God provides a way of escape. Moses was directed to make a bronze snake. This could well have been a moment when Aaron was wondering if Moses was reverting to his old Egyptian ways. The snake was to be a source of healing and life.
Jesus left no doubt about the application! (V14) In fact the analogies are remarkable.
Snakes and serpents remind us of sin. The serpent brought temptation into the garden
The bronze snake represents faith, they had to look at it for it to be of any blessing to them, but, when they did look at it, they were healed and delivered. What an illustration of the new birth.
This great illustration is followed by a marvelous explanation. John 3:16 is the best known and most often quoted verse in all of the Bible. We seldom read it or recite it within its context, but when we do we see that it offers a vivid explanation of the new birth we have in Jesus Christ.
DL Moody said that John 3:16 brought him to an understanding of the love of God.
Dr. R. Kent Hughes has done a marvelous job of dissecting this marvelous verse.
God - The greatest Lover
So loved - To the greatest degree
The world - The greatest company
That He gave - The greatest act
His one and only Son -The greatest gift
That whoever - The greatest opportunity
Believes - The greatest simplicity
In Him -The greatest Attraction
Shall not perish - The greatest Promise
But - The greatest difference
Have - The greatest certainty
Eternal life - The greatest possession
In Jesus we have eternal life and new birth!
As that snake was lifted up in the wilderness, and the people by faith believed and looked at it and were healed, so was the Son of Man, Jesus lifted up... so that those who by faith look to Him for new life.
Have you looked upon our wonderful Lord?
Jesus gently chides Nicodemus (V10) Jesus is basically saying, you have all this learning and yet you do not understand? Then in verse 11 He states, "I have spoken to you earthly things, and you do not believe, How will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?"
Have you ever spoken with someone who has gone to Heaven and returned? No one has ever gone into heaven - except the One who came from Heaven So Jesus helps him to understand that His authority comes from the fact that He is the pre-existent One who came to earth from heaven.
Then to help Nicodemus understand, Jesus takes him back to a marvelous illustration of the new birth contained in the Old Testament, Numbers 21:4-9. With these words Nicodemus’ mind spun back thousands of years… he was on very familiar ground.
The picture in Numbers 21 is one of both glory and horror.
First, the horror. The Israelites were beset with venomous snakes. These snakes inflicted a burning fever in the lives of those they bit. The people could not escape, and their bodies were inflamed with fever. They were on the verge of death in fact, many died.
But also note the glorious. God provides a way of escape. Moses was directed to make a bronze snake. This could well have been a moment when Aaron was wondering if Moses was reverting to his old Egyptian ways. The snake was to be a source of healing and life.
Jesus left no doubt about the application! (V14) In fact the analogies are remarkable.
Snakes and serpents remind us of sin. The serpent brought temptation into the garden
The bronze snake represents faith, they had to look at it for it to be of any blessing to them, but, when they did look at it, they were healed and delivered. What an illustration of the new birth.
This great illustration is followed by a marvelous explanation. John 3:16 is the best known and most often quoted verse in all of the Bible. We seldom read it or recite it within its context, but when we do we see that it offers a vivid explanation of the new birth we have in Jesus Christ.
DL Moody said that John 3:16 brought him to an understanding of the love of God.
Dr. R. Kent Hughes has done a marvelous job of dissecting this marvelous verse.
God - The greatest Lover
So loved - To the greatest degree
The world - The greatest company
That He gave - The greatest act
His one and only Son -The greatest gift
That whoever - The greatest opportunity
Believes - The greatest simplicity
In Him -The greatest Attraction
Shall not perish - The greatest Promise
But - The greatest difference
Have - The greatest certainty
Eternal life - The greatest possession
In Jesus we have eternal life and new birth!
As that snake was lifted up in the wilderness, and the people by faith believed and looked at it and were healed, so was the Son of Man, Jesus lifted up... so that those who by faith look to Him for new life.
Have you looked upon our wonderful Lord?
On Being Born Again - John 3:1-8
Growing up in rural West Virginia, we attended a country Methodist church. I will never forget a feature that was in that white clap-board church. At the front in large letters was a plaque that said: Ye must be born again! That phrase comes from this very text.
One of the greatest Biblical terms has been stolen. It has been emptied of its true meaning and dragged through the muck so that today being born again can mean almost anything or nothing at all!
For instance, Bono, the lead singer of the popular Irish rock band U2 recently pointed at the symbols on his headband—first to the cross, then to the star, then to the crescent moon—and he began to repeat: “Jesus, Jew, Mohammad—all true. Jesus, Jew, Mohammad—all true.”
Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem. His new CD, which is inspired entirely by Bible verses, based on the Old Testament, presents no discernible departure from his bloodthirsty rants filled with vulgarity.
We need to rescue it and return it to its proper place.
Our text relates Jesus’ classic conversation with Nicodemus. He explains what it means to be born again.
Verse 1 of our text introduces Nicodemus to us. It is hard to imagine that there could be a better person for our Lord to use in explaining this matter. First, he was a Pharisee, very earnest about his faith. He was also desperately fervent. He was also a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, comprised of 70 men, who had jurisdiction over every Jew on earth. He was Israel’s teacher (V10) considered to be the greatest teacher in Jerusalem. He was a highly educated man - no ones fool. His family was from the aristocracy - tracing their lineage back to the Maccabees.
Yet, on a quiet Palestinian evening, a perplexed man walked along the backstreets of old Jerusalem. He desired to speak to this young amazingly brilliant Rabbi, from Galilee.
He was about to come face to face with Jesus.
He came to Him respectfully - Rabbi (V2) No doubt, he was prepared for an exchange of philosophical ideas. He was not prepared for how the conversation ended up going, for Jesus cut him off and went straight to the heart of the matter.
In an instance our faith was given one of its greatest concepts - born again
Nicodemus pondered the question, the wheels of his head began to turn. I believe that often Nicodemus is viewed as being terribly inept if not ignorant. This is surely not the case. I believe he had some idea of what Jesus meant. The Rabbi’s had a saying: A proselyte who embraces Judaism is like a newborn child. So being born again in a religious or spiritual sense was not a foreign or new topic to him.
Yet, it was confusing and perplexing to him, so he posed a question to our Lord, "How?" (V4) Nicodemus was not being naive and he surely was not a theological dummy. No, his question stemmed from a deep yearning to know HOW this happened. His reasoning I think may have gone something like this: "You speak of being born again and there is nothing I would want more, but I don’t know “how” this works. in fact, you might as well tell me that I have to go back inside my mothers womb."
Tennyson caught the idea when he wrote: O for a man to rise in me, that the man I am might cease to be.
This is really the heart cry of man down through the ages. We desire to change... We want to be different...We want new minds, new personalities...We want to be “born again!" But it is as difficult as going back into our mother’s womb.
We think it has to do with our finding something… but Jesus explains it in the form of a two-fold question.
First, we must be born of water (V5). here he is clearly referring to water baptism - and repentance. Again Nicodemus knew what Jesus meant, John had been baptizing people in water, before and after this, as a sign of their inward repentance. (John 3:23) No one is truly born again unless there is repentance.
Lets think about this for a moment. In a December 1979 Gallup Poll:
· 39.5 million Americans claimed to have asked Christ to be their Savior
· 1 in 5 adults in the Unites States were evangelicals
If these statistics are true.. why has the sinful pace of our country not slowed down? Why is pornography on the upswing? Why do we have a corporate immorality epidemic?
How can this be is 1 in 5 adults are evangelicals?
I believe there are 2 main reasons.
1) Incredible ignorance about spiritual/biblical things
The same Gallup poll - 3 in 10 did not believe the devil was a personal being, few knew the books of the Bible or the names of the Apostles. Get this - 6 in 10 could not identify “you must be born again” as the words of Jesus. It follows that the moral ethical teachings contained in Scripture are less understood
2) Many who claim to be born again know nothing of repentance.
Repentance involves a change of mind. The biblical word comes from two words: One means - after, the other - thought, mind. It is not simply making a decision...It is not just a new direction...It is not education...It is not religious experience - Nicodemus had that. Now pay attention, is it also not merely - asking Jesus into your heart.
If any of those things happen without repentance they will not bring regeneration.
The second part of Jesus' answer is, "and the Spirit." (V5) Spirit baptism - Regeneration
Repentance is the pre-cursor. Being born again is a radical change in which we through repentance and a work of the Spirit we are given a totally new nature. (2 Cor 5:17)
What are the tangible evidences of this Spirit regeneration?
A Changed Life (V6-8)
This change cannot be accomplished by human energy. We do not evolve spiritually. What is vegetable is vegetable. What is animal is animal. What is flesh.. is flesh. There is no evolution from flesh to spirit.
You must be born again.
You must realize you are a sinner and repent. You must receive the work of the Spirit into your life. and must - is an imperative
Have you been born again according to the definition of John 3?
Do you see the non-negotiables? Do you see your sin, your need to repent?
John 19:38-39 tells us that at some point in his life, Nicodemus was born again.
Here's a great story that illustrates this great truth.
There is a song entitled: Lord, With Glowing Heart I'll Praise Thee
Lord, with glowing heart I'll praise Thee
For the bliss Thy love bestows.
For the pardoning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows.
Help, O God, my weak endeavors,
This dull soul to rapture raise;
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.
Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,
Wretched wandrer far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee,
From the paths of death away.
Praise, with loves devoutest feeling,
Him who saw thy guilt-born fear,
And, the light of hope revealing,
Bade the blood-stained Cross appear.
- Johnny D. Pyles
The author, Johnny D. Pyles, of the poem was on death row in Texas from 1982-1998 when he was executed.
He says of his conversion: I spent eight years on death row for murder before Jesus became my Lord and Savior. The consequences of my sins have not been removed. I will still reap that which I have sown. Thought I still face the death penalty, I have nothing to fear for Jesus is my Savior and Lord.
His last statement was: "I want to tell you folks there, that I have a love in my heart for you. I hope you don’t look for satisfaction or comfort or peace in my execution.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I want him to be yours. I’m sorry for the pain and heartache I’ve caused your family. Too many years I’ve caused all my family problems and heartache. I’m sorry. I wanted to let you know that the Lord Jesus is my life and I just want to go. I’m gonna fall asleep and I’ll be in his presence shortly. I got reason to rejoice and I pray to see all of you there someday."
What transformation - the vile becomes virtuous…
The power - you must be born again
One of the greatest Biblical terms has been stolen. It has been emptied of its true meaning and dragged through the muck so that today being born again can mean almost anything or nothing at all!
For instance, Bono, the lead singer of the popular Irish rock band U2 recently pointed at the symbols on his headband—first to the cross, then to the star, then to the crescent moon—and he began to repeat: “Jesus, Jew, Mohammad—all true. Jesus, Jew, Mohammad—all true.”
Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem. His new CD, which is inspired entirely by Bible verses, based on the Old Testament, presents no discernible departure from his bloodthirsty rants filled with vulgarity.
We need to rescue it and return it to its proper place.
Our text relates Jesus’ classic conversation with Nicodemus. He explains what it means to be born again.
Verse 1 of our text introduces Nicodemus to us. It is hard to imagine that there could be a better person for our Lord to use in explaining this matter. First, he was a Pharisee, very earnest about his faith. He was also desperately fervent. He was also a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, comprised of 70 men, who had jurisdiction over every Jew on earth. He was Israel’s teacher (V10) considered to be the greatest teacher in Jerusalem. He was a highly educated man - no ones fool. His family was from the aristocracy - tracing their lineage back to the Maccabees.
Yet, on a quiet Palestinian evening, a perplexed man walked along the backstreets of old Jerusalem. He desired to speak to this young amazingly brilliant Rabbi, from Galilee.
He was about to come face to face with Jesus.
He came to Him respectfully - Rabbi (V2) No doubt, he was prepared for an exchange of philosophical ideas. He was not prepared for how the conversation ended up going, for Jesus cut him off and went straight to the heart of the matter.
In an instance our faith was given one of its greatest concepts - born again
Nicodemus pondered the question, the wheels of his head began to turn. I believe that often Nicodemus is viewed as being terribly inept if not ignorant. This is surely not the case. I believe he had some idea of what Jesus meant. The Rabbi’s had a saying: A proselyte who embraces Judaism is like a newborn child. So being born again in a religious or spiritual sense was not a foreign or new topic to him.
Yet, it was confusing and perplexing to him, so he posed a question to our Lord, "How?" (V4) Nicodemus was not being naive and he surely was not a theological dummy. No, his question stemmed from a deep yearning to know HOW this happened. His reasoning I think may have gone something like this: "You speak of being born again and there is nothing I would want more, but I don’t know “how” this works. in fact, you might as well tell me that I have to go back inside my mothers womb."
Tennyson caught the idea when he wrote: O for a man to rise in me, that the man I am might cease to be.
This is really the heart cry of man down through the ages. We desire to change... We want to be different...We want new minds, new personalities...We want to be “born again!" But it is as difficult as going back into our mother’s womb.
We think it has to do with our finding something… but Jesus explains it in the form of a two-fold question.
First, we must be born of water (V5). here he is clearly referring to water baptism - and repentance. Again Nicodemus knew what Jesus meant, John had been baptizing people in water, before and after this, as a sign of their inward repentance. (John 3:23) No one is truly born again unless there is repentance.
Lets think about this for a moment. In a December 1979 Gallup Poll:
· 39.5 million Americans claimed to have asked Christ to be their Savior
· 1 in 5 adults in the Unites States were evangelicals
If these statistics are true.. why has the sinful pace of our country not slowed down? Why is pornography on the upswing? Why do we have a corporate immorality epidemic?
How can this be is 1 in 5 adults are evangelicals?
I believe there are 2 main reasons.
1) Incredible ignorance about spiritual/biblical things
The same Gallup poll - 3 in 10 did not believe the devil was a personal being, few knew the books of the Bible or the names of the Apostles. Get this - 6 in 10 could not identify “you must be born again” as the words of Jesus. It follows that the moral ethical teachings contained in Scripture are less understood
2) Many who claim to be born again know nothing of repentance.
Repentance involves a change of mind. The biblical word comes from two words: One means - after, the other - thought, mind. It is not simply making a decision...It is not just a new direction...It is not education...It is not religious experience - Nicodemus had that. Now pay attention, is it also not merely - asking Jesus into your heart.
If any of those things happen without repentance they will not bring regeneration.
The second part of Jesus' answer is, "and the Spirit." (V5) Spirit baptism - Regeneration
Repentance is the pre-cursor. Being born again is a radical change in which we through repentance and a work of the Spirit we are given a totally new nature. (2 Cor 5:17)
What are the tangible evidences of this Spirit regeneration?
A Changed Life (V6-8)
This change cannot be accomplished by human energy. We do not evolve spiritually. What is vegetable is vegetable. What is animal is animal. What is flesh.. is flesh. There is no evolution from flesh to spirit.
You must be born again.
You must realize you are a sinner and repent. You must receive the work of the Spirit into your life. and must - is an imperative
Have you been born again according to the definition of John 3?
Do you see the non-negotiables? Do you see your sin, your need to repent?
John 19:38-39 tells us that at some point in his life, Nicodemus was born again.
Here's a great story that illustrates this great truth.
There is a song entitled: Lord, With Glowing Heart I'll Praise Thee
Lord, with glowing heart I'll praise Thee
For the bliss Thy love bestows.
For the pardoning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows.
Help, O God, my weak endeavors,
This dull soul to rapture raise;
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.
Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,
Wretched wandrer far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee,
From the paths of death away.
Praise, with loves devoutest feeling,
Him who saw thy guilt-born fear,
And, the light of hope revealing,
Bade the blood-stained Cross appear.
- Johnny D. Pyles
The author, Johnny D. Pyles, of the poem was on death row in Texas from 1982-1998 when he was executed.
He says of his conversion: I spent eight years on death row for murder before Jesus became my Lord and Savior. The consequences of my sins have not been removed. I will still reap that which I have sown. Thought I still face the death penalty, I have nothing to fear for Jesus is my Savior and Lord.
His last statement was: "I want to tell you folks there, that I have a love in my heart for you. I hope you don’t look for satisfaction or comfort or peace in my execution.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I want him to be yours. I’m sorry for the pain and heartache I’ve caused your family. Too many years I’ve caused all my family problems and heartache. I’m sorry. I wanted to let you know that the Lord Jesus is my life and I just want to go. I’m gonna fall asleep and I’ll be in his presence shortly. I got reason to rejoice and I pray to see all of you there someday."
What transformation - the vile becomes virtuous…
The power - you must be born again
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