Life is hard…

In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me. Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you. (Psalm 71:1-6 NRSV)

Life is hard. That is a statement everybody understands. We all look for the thing the thing that will make life easier. And that is not God.

Many think that when they come to accept that they are accepted by God that everything will get easy and good things will happen. No where does the bible or God say or promise this. He will give us good things. However life is full of humans and we are sinful and we are battling that every day.

I for one can say that I take refuge in God and He is a strong fortress, to save me, for He is my rock and my fortress. The last year has been a battle with trying to find a job, not empty the bank accounts, and keeping the families life “normal”. Through all if it God has been with me and my family. We have not had it easy ans we are buckling down and seeing what we have been truly blessed with. God has never left us, nor forsaken us. God has been a stronghold for me and has helped me maintain my life during this down portion of my life.

Look to God and know that He will always be there for you.

Just got wet…

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed uthrough the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and dprophesying. There were about twelve men in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that kall the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19:1-10 ESV)

Here we see a different take on baptism… Here they were baptized into John’s baptism and not the cleansing of Jesus. Reminds me of a question I was asked by the father of a friend after my baptism at the Baptist Church I was attending. He asked me, “if I believed Jesus died for me and had cleansed me of my sins?” Then he said if I didn’t believe this I just got wet…

Did you just get wet? You see it is not about what we do, it is all about what God does. These men did not know about the Holy Spirit, and the baptism they heard they needed was one of repentance, but that is not the baptism we partake in. We are claimed by God at our baptism, which is the baptism that Jesus also participated in. And since Jesus was without sin, it is not for cleaning. It is for acceptance. One that allows us to speak boldly about what we have been given and what we have. It is a time to speak boldly about what we have been accepted into. We are accepted by God and given His spirit.

So live into the gift you have been given.

Which came first?

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. (Acts 10:44-48 ESV)

The gift of the spirit is given to all. And then all are given the gift of water baptism.

Isn’t it interesting that we think that baptism with water has to come first. We say that someone has to be baptized in order to be part of the community but here we see someone was given the gift of the Holy Spirit before water baptism had been given to them and then water baptism was offered to them.

So which needs to come first? Do we have to be baptized with water in order to get the gift of the Holy Spirit where does the gift of the Holy Spirit come when we don’t necessarily understand when it comes?

The Lutheran understanding and Martin Luther says you have to be baptized in order to be saved. But is that what the Bible tells us? Clearly here people were given the gift of the Holy Spirit before they have been baptized with water. So baptism by water was not necessary in this case, but is this a special case?

I believe the Bible is not clear on whether baptism by water happens first or baptism by the Holy Spirit happens first. We think we can put God in the box and say things have to happen in order that we dictate, but that is absolutely not how God works. We can see from this passage that God works in and through the things that He is created in this world for the advancement of His mission.

Do not put God in the box and don’t think that things that God wants to happen won’t happen. God’s mission will happen in us through us or in spite of us.

So follow our God is leading you expecting him to do great and marvelous things.

Where you belong

And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, You are the Son of God! But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. (Luke 4:38-41 ESV)

Jesus went to Peter’s house and his mother-in-law was I’ll, Jesus healed her and she got up and started to serve them. She was restored to her right place. She was not able to do what she needed to do. Now upon first reading in our day this is sexist. She was healed only to get up and serve. But when you realize that that was her place in her society, the you see she was restored to society. She was restored to do what she was created to do.

You see that is what God does through Jesus, He restores us to the place we belong in society. He frees us to not worry about anything. He frees us to serve others and not worry about ourselves, because in being where we belong our life is richly blessed.

Broad

Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. (Psalm 119:89-96 ESV)

Forever is a mighty long time, but that is how long the word of God is firmly fixed in the heavens…

So why then are people claiming they have some secret knowledge that they know who is in and who is out? Or is it just me because people are saying that some sins are worse than others, even if Jesus didn’t talk about it.

The interesting thing about this portion of this psalm is the way it ends. “Your commandments exceedingly broad.” That is wide is the commandment of the Lord. Many Christians today would say as Jesus did narrow is the way, and therefore the rules are tight and clear that the people who follow the rules are in and those who don’t are out. But what rules do we have to follow, because some of the rules we over look. Like wearing mixed fibers in our clothing. Eating lobster and shrimp and crab and bacon… But these rules don’t apply any more. Why don’t they apply? Isn’t all of the bible the word of God and it stands forever in the heavens so none of the rules pass away. Or is it only the rules that God gave us…

But I digress… Broad is the commandment, what does that mean? That the commandment is able to allow some give and take or is bigger than we think? Maybe the commandment can’t belayed into a box that we can neatly hold and keep to ourselves but it is bigger than us or anything we can think. Just like God. When we try to keep Him in our neat .little box and make Him who we want Him to be He surprises us and does something that doesn’t fit the box…

Don’t keep God or His commandments in a box…

unintelligible

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their up building and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. (1 Corinthians 14:1-12 ESV)

Have you ever heard someone speak in tongues? Well you could say that it depends on what I mean by tongues… Here in southwestern Texas people speak in tongues or should I say a different tongue all the time. It is not uncommon to hear Spanish being spoken and that is a tongue. So if you have ever heard some speak in a different language than you have heard someone speak in tongues. What was it like to hear them but not understand them? What would it be like to live some where where everyone else spoke a different language, and you could not understand what was happening?

How do you think people who do not attend a gathering feel when we start using insider language in our worship services? How do you think those who are not attending a community feel when different communities take shots at other communities for what they do that is “wrong”?

We are causing people to walk away from God through our insider language and holding the gospel prisoner. We are not helping the advancement of the gospel by talking talk that people do not understand and by tearing at each other.

Seek to speak the gospel in language the world can hear. That is not watering it down or changing it, that is evangelizing. Taking the good news to the streets which is what we are commanded to do.

Bad News…

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:14-21 NRSV)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” This is good news isn’t it?

It is good news if you are poor, captive, blind, and oppressed. If you are not any of these things then this message does not pertain to you. And most of us in today’s society would say we are not poor, captive, blind or oppressed. We are just fine all on our own and we don’t need anyone or anything to help us out. We are self made people and have it all together all on our own. So then this good news is not for us. This good news is only for people who are willing to admit they are broken, poor, captive, blind and oppressed. We have to admit we can not do it on our own.

The good news of Luke is only good when we first see it as Bad News. The bad news that we are not who we can be. We are not who we should be. We are not who we ought to be, and we never will be on our own. But if we can admit we need His assistance, then He will be there to give us everything we need.

So admit you don’t have it all together and lean on Him…

Where?

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. (Luke 2:39-52 NRSV)

Isn’t it funny we are always looking for something…

Ever lose your keys? Or how about your cell phone? Or your purse? (I have never lost my purse, and my wife does not carry one, so I have never been here, but I have been around people who have…) Or how about a child?

Have you ever been in a store and turn around and the child that was there with you a second ago is now gone? And you call their name and they do not answer. Panic sets in. And you frantically search the store for them. And when you find them you don’t know if you should feel the relief you feel from finding them or the anger you feel for them not staying with you…

Imagine how Mary and Joseph felt when they finally realized Jesus was gone and then the search and then they found him… sitting at the feet of the teachers in the temple. He was listening to and learning from and teaching in the temple. A small boy leading the teachers into deeper understanding…

Isn’t that where we should always look for things? Ok maybe we won’t find our keys, cell phones, or purses, or always our children in God’s house, but isn’t that where we can find all of the answers to our lives?

If we were as Jesus was, wanting to dig deeper into what God has for us, to better understand who we are in God, then maybe the problems in our lives would not be problems but we would see them as blessings. God gives us a great life and if we would spend more time in the relationship He gives us, it would help us see the many blessings He has given us.

Do not conform…

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:1-8 ESV)

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” In the ESV Bible there is a footnote next to the word world in the quote here and the footnote says that the word in the Greek in age. Now that could mean the world, but it could also mean this current time… Now you might be saying, what is the difference? The world and the current time are really the same things. We live in a world that is so far from God and Jesus. We need for the world to be conformed to God. Or do we?

Is it a good thing for us to be a Christian nation where we all get complacent about our faith and just go through the motions of being the community God has called us to be? Where we follow rules and do what others want us to do because that is the polite thing to do, and it will make everybody happy. Do not be conformed to this age could mean that we are conformed to the age of the community that says they follow God when really they are following after what they want and not what God has called them to be or do. We are not to think more highly of ourselves that we have it all together and we know what to do. We have to constantly look at what God is leading us to do and be and to go and do that even if it flies in the face of the tradition we know of as the church. Because really that is what Jesus did. He rebelled against the powers of the religion of the day and was killed for it. He was trying to show those who were “following God” a better way and they wanted nothing to do with it because it was different from what they knew and was not the way we follow God because it was not following the rules.

But you see as Mumford and Sons shows us love will only set you free. Rules enslave us and make us do things we do not want to do for the sake of another. Love frees us to serve the other and that is different. When we do something out of love it is freeing to be serving. and when we do something to be right it is captivating and enslaving because we are doing it to please someone. Love is freeing and empowering, not enslaving…

Do not be conformed to any world that enslaves you and does not free you in the wonderful love that God has for you.

Way of the Spirit

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. (Romans 7:1-6 ESV)

The law is only powerful over you until you have died… Then the law has no power over you. If a woman is married and her husband has died, then she is released from the law that holds her to him. But if she has sexual relations with a man while her husband is still living then she commits adulatory…

But we are released from the law having died to that which held us captive. So we can serve in the new way of the Spirit and not worrying about what rules we have to follow. You see the rules can not save us. We can not be saved by living a certain way because that is what our parents did, or the elders of our congregation did. We can not be saved by acting the way all Christians before us have acted because they have not all acted the same. There are no rules that will get us to heaven! We must live in the Spirit and love as we were loved.

The old is dead and the new Spirit has enlightened us to what we must do. And that is to love justice, to live mercy and walk humbly with God, allowing our lives to shine forth His love.