aSacredRebel

Faithful

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! (Psalm 36:5-10 ESV)

Have you ever wondered how far up the clouds are?

Remember when you were a little kid, or this past summer when you laid on the grass in the summer afternoon and looked up at the clouds and tried to find things? A bunny, a dog, a lion, an airplane… All the different things you can see up there. Did you ever stop to wonder how far away they are? Or how did they get created? I know they are water droplets… and the science behind it. I understand the science, but who set it all in motion and made everything so that science could explain to us how it works? God did it. Because He loves you and in order to give us an understanding of just how faithful He is. The distance to the clouds is how faithful He is…

He will be there for us to the clouds and back, and His love goes to heaven and back for us!

We will always be winners in life because one thing that will never change regardless of how dark things seem or the circumstances we find our selves in, God will always love us!

God’s Economy

Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (Acts 8:18-24 ESV)

Have you ever seen someone do something and really wanted to do it? Sometimes we want to do what we can not what we have not been gifted to do because we think it looks cool, and people will like us more if we can do the things others can do. We will do anything or pay anything to be able to get that. This again is because we think power and money or wealth go hand in hand. Someone who is wealthy or has more money will get what they want because they can afford it. But that is not how the economy of God works.

Money does not mean anything in God’s economy. We can not buy our way into the kingdom and making a show of what we do with what we have will not gain us favor with God either. We can not buy power from God, or give anything to get anything. We need to come to God the same way, on our knees asking for forgiveness, because we are all sinners and deserve nothing from Him. But He will accept us as we are if we put aside everything and come to Him…

Light

“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” (Luke 11:33-36 ESV)

The interesting part to this is we are the light…

So our lives can not be hidden, or put under a basket or locked away in a cellar. Are lives are to shine before others so they can see our good works and give glory to God in heaven.

We need to be connected with God so that the actions of our lives draw others to Him and not lead them to a place they are not connected to Him. Our lives are lights to the world and they must shine!

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The Biblical narrative is meant to be heard. God wants to have a conversation.

How shall we have our conversation with God?

What I’ve observed over the last several years is that in the life of the church we tend to talk a lot more than we do, and we tend to listen passively rather than actively understand. We refer to Jesus, scripture, and even preaching as “the Word.” Luther called the church “the mouth house” meaning it to be a place where “the Word” and our words came together. The modern world approached learning “the Word” this way – a group sitting passively, while listening to someone regarded as knowledgable. Now that we are in a digital, active and more collaborative age – that approach doesn’t always connect with people anymore.

In worship we tend to sit and listen more than we actively engage the scriptures. The same can be true concerning Christian Education. For decades…

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Is it really that clear…

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:13-21 ESV)

Is Faith as simple as black and white?

Do we really get whatever we ask for?

Does the new creation really stop sinning?

There are a lot of things in this world it would be great if they were black and white, however there is so much grey and that is not because of the world or interpretation. If we look at the Bible there is contradiction and that leads me to believe that the black answer is not always right and the white answer is not always right, but that does not mean that the grey answer is right either. Faith is a bridge which helps us get where God is leading us in this life. We do not go there alone and we do not go the way every one before us went, because we are each unique creations of God and therefore our faith journey is not like anyone elses. That does not mean there are not things that are the same from my journey and other believers, only that my journey in all of its complexities is unique to me as your journey is unique to you. There is not black white or shades of grey, there is always and will always be all of the above.

The above passage from 1 John does not say we get what we want if we ask for it, or even if we ask the correct way, by saying please and thank you… The reading says that if we ask in the will of God He will hear us and if He hears us then we know that He has heard our request. So He heard it, that does not mean that He is going to do anything about it or act upon it. It also does not mean that even if He does act that He will give us what we want. He might give us the opposite, like the great song from Garth Brooks Unanswered Prayers. Sometimes God says yes, sometimes He says not yet and sometimes He says no. All of these are answers, maybe not the ones we want to hear, but they are answers.

“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” Evil does not touch him and he stops sinning… WOW that would be great. I guess from this statement I have not been born of God, because I am still a sinner and evil is having a field day with me. But I know I have been born of God, I am a baptized believer! I have been baptized and named and claimed by God. I am His child, so why have I not stopped sinning? What does John mean by this?

It is not as simple as black and white, we don’t always get what we want, but we will always get what we need, and the new creation is still trapped with the old man who is a sinner… What is a child of God to do?

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (Ephesians 6:10-17 ESV)

Notice we are armored up and ready to go and stand against evil. We are not to go and fight evil, we are to stand up against it. The armor is for defense not for attack. And it is for defense against evil, which is spiritual and not against the flesh and blood of our neighbors, but against the forces of spiritual evil.

So next time you start swinging that sword of the word of God remember it is to defend against evil of the spirit, not to cut down our neighbors…

Who?

IMG_20130113_114110 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,^* John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with^* the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved;^* with you I am well pleased.’ (Luke 3:15-17; 21-22 NRSV)

The picture is what we think of when we think of Jesus’ baptism. John and Jesus there in the Jordan and John pouring water over Jesus or helping Him under the water… But is that what the gospel of Luke actually says happened? Notice the reading above reading leaves out 3 verses. Read them here:

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison. (Luke 3:18-20 NRSV)

So John is in prison and could not have been there when Jesus was baptized. So then who baptized Jesus?

The Holy Spirit did it. It is wholly God that does baptism. God announces to us that we are a part of His family. That is why Jesus is baptized and the gift we get. The announcement that we are God’s child. We are loved and claimed by our creator.

So know that you are loved and accepted by God as His beloved child and this is all His doing. You are loved just as you are.

The Mind of God…

For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:11-16 ESV)

Do you know what someone else is thinking?

Have you ever seen someone who looked like they were thinking something and you just wondered what it was that was going on in their head?

We all do this, because we are creatures that want to know and control situations. But no one can know the thoughts of another except the soul of that person. Only a persons spirit knows what they are thinking…

So who are we to think that we know what God is thinking? We are quick to pass judgement on someone or some group because they are obviously not doing what God wants them to do. For instance homosexuals are all against God because they are sinning and living a life that keeps them from God, there fore they are not in God’s good graces… But the people who are divorced and remarried are ok because God would not want them to stay in the relationship that was causing them physical/emotional damage even though the scriptures are clear that divorce and remarriage are sinful. But one is wrong and the other is obviously forgivable because God would not want us to be alone or in relationships that hurt us… Does any one else have a problem with the double standards of that line of thought?

No one knows what God is thinking or going to do. He has called us to love as He loved us, unconditional. People do not need to change in order for God to accept them, why do they have to to join our gatherings?

He above picture is not about knowing the mind of God, but about those who think they do… It is like the book by Dan Merchant Lord, Save us from your followers. We need to not judge but love and that will draw others to Him…

be weak…

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-10 ESV)

Wisdom is not something you can read and just get. It is not about knowledge of a list of requirements. It is not memorizing a specific text or sets of texts.

Wisdom is not something that is acquired by reading and knowing a bunch of stuff. Wisdom is living in a way that allows God’s love to shine in and through everything we do.

So any one who claims to know who is in and who is not probably does not have true wisdom or knowledge and should not be using lofty speech and telling others to turn or burn… True wisdom allows God to work on His time. It is not about being strong and making others follow you. It is about showing your wisdom and weakness by letting God shine through.

foolishness…

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-31 ESV)

The cross is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Why?

Because the Messiah was not suppose to die! He was suppose to lead the Jews out of bondage and into the wonderful life the covenant promised them. They should have over thrown the Romans and been removed from bondage. Yet that did not happen… How could the messiah up and die and especially die on a cross! That is the biggest humiliation there is. So that can not happen. It is a stumbling block, because they can not get past the fact that the messiah died, and that ain’t suppose to happen.

But what happens when you stumble over something? Well yes you fall, but what happens next? I always look to see what it was that I stumbled over… You see some might get hung up on the cross (pun not intended) but at least they are looking at the cross. They have been drawn to it, and will be transformed by it in His time…

And it is foolishness to the Gentile because what savior dies to save His people? It is like Superman being killed to save Lois… It is not what we want to happen, but then really when it is about us anyhow?

You see if you really stop and think about it, the cross is really not the way you wanted it to happen, but that is how God had it happen. Not how it had to, but how He had it happen. God chose to work through the messiah dying on a cross to draw all people to Him, so stumble and call it foolish, but allow it to work in and through your life so that you, like the disciples before you, are transformed!