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(Isaiah 9:6)
Imbedded in this prophecy from Isaiah lies the only hope for mankind, as well as arguably the greatest of all Bible mysteries.
Often, especially at Christmas time, we read the first line, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and we just stop right there with the Baby Jesus. This really hit home for me today when I was standing downtown and heard a Hawaiian mother trying to explain to her little boy that Jesus was not a baby anymore. He's all grown up. He's not still lying in a manger. I then heard her express her frustration with Nativity scenes in general. She thought they sort of missed the point, to put it very mildly.
I agree.
Now I'm not saying that there is anything inherently wrong with a Nativity scene. It can be a beautiful sight, it's festive and a whole lot closer to the point of Christmas than that Jolly Old Elf. The thing that worries me, as it did that concerned and insightful mother, is that too many Christians are still kneeling around the manger. Their faith, their knowledge of Scripture, their relationship with Christ has not matured. Neither has Jesus. He's still a baby in their lives. They can't trust Him with any real responsibility.
But Isaiah is not describing a baby in this beautiful prophecy. This isn't the Little Lord Jesus No Crying He Make. This is Someone so powerful that He is government. He's a Ruler and a leader. His reign will be one of peace, shalom, which doesn't just signify an end of hostility, but health, well-being, prosperity and happiness. We call this salvation in the New Testament. It came through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, not His Birth, as wonderful as that event was. Now you may think this distinction is purely semantic and fussy but let me assure you, it's not. Jesus had a choice. Don't ever forget that! He did not have to die for us. He could have walked away from the Cross. The fact that He didn't is the only reason to celebrate His birth at all.
Isaiah says something else about this Birth, and herein lies the mystery, to my mind, the greatest of all. This Child is Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. God is being born as a man in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. It's hard to comprehend, but there it is. Jesus is God. Not just Lord, a distinction made by some religions, not just a good teacher, a good man, but the Second Person of the Trinity, wholly God and wholly Man. Anyone who does not see the Deity of Jesus Christ here please reread it until you do. It's important. It's the reason you can give Him the responsibility of caring for you, healing you, providing for you, guiding you, protecting you. It's the only reason He has the power to promise us eternal life.
So when you make your way down the road this Christmas and see all the beautiful lights, remember that He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Light. When you hear the carolers sing the heart-warming songs about His Birth, remember His Life, Death and Resurrection. And when you see the somber figurines and plastic sheep kneeling around a little curly-headed baby nestled in a cattle trough, remember one thing. He grew up.
Without the Resurrection, Christmas is just another birthday.
(Jeremiah 51:15)
The above verse from Jeremiah describes the creative process used by the Father in making and establishing our reality. For most of us, it's just that, a verse about how God does things. But I think there is more to this than is apparent at first reading. It applies to us as well.
We know that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17). So how does this verse profit us? What is instructive about knowing God's methods? How does knowing this equip us for every good work?
By applying His methods in our lives.
Now obviously we are not about to create a planet or hang a universe. But we are instructed to be imitators of God as dear children (Ephesians 5:1). Again, for those of you who are prone to such things, this does not mean to speak in a deep, thundering basso or to walk the streets in a long white robe with your beard down to your knees. We are not trying to be a million Rich Littles. We are to imitate, not impersonate. In other words, He is your example, follow Him. Let's look at the application of this principle with today's verse:
He has made the earth by His power. Okay, we're not going to make an earth. But we can remake it. In a few days we are going to celebrate a birth that changed this planet more than any event in human history. This Man gave us the power, indeed the mandate, to reclaim and remake this earth. We are not here to fill up pews. We are here to continue what He began 2,000 years ago. He has empowered us to be earth-changers, to affect the lives of people all over this globe. Sadly, most of us don't realize or believe we have any power at all.
He has established the world by His wisdom. We can establish our worlds, our personal spheres of life, with this wisdom. His wisdom, not man's, for God must be the starting point. Wisdom here, in the Hebrew chochmah, can be boiled down to right living, putting God's principles, found in His Word, into practice daily. If you don't think that will establish (make firm, solid and permanent) your world, I suggest a healthy dose of the book of Proverbs.
And stretched out the heaven by His understanding. Speaking of stretching, this may be a bit of one, but think in this case as heaven being your source of all things. We truly decide, by our understanding, what we can receive from God. You decide whether this heaven stretched out above you is open or closed, attentive or deaf, blind or one step ahead of you. The Hebrew for understanding here, sachal, deals with wise behavior as well as the process of arriving at a conclusion of belief. In many places it is also translated as prosper. I think of it this way: the more I understand, the more I benefit. My understanding of Scripture leads me to believe in a personal, loving, merciful, forgiving, healing, generous, surprising, miraculous, powerful, patient heavenly Father, just to name a few of His attributes. Without understanding He would just scare me.
This Bible we love so much is more than a book of rules and regulations. It's more than dos and don'ts. It's more than ancient history and dusty stories of great men and women long dead. It's more than religion. It's more than denominations, doctrines and dogma. It's life itself.
Jesus imitated His Father every day.
(Psalm 37:8)
All the modern gurus, as well as the the AMA, are finally getting around to recognizing something David was aware of more than two thousand years ago: anger is not good for you. People who live in a state of anger tend to get sick more easily. It weakens the whole man.
Think about the last time you really lost it. Did it make you feel good? Refreshed? Happy? Closer to God? Probably not. Yet we all still do it from time to time. For some of us, those times are too closely spaced to be healthy. Anger is rarely, if ever, good for us.
Yeah, but didn't Jesus get angry?
Yes, He did. But not for the same reasons you do. Jesus never got angry at peoples' treatment of Him, even when they executed Him. He only got angry when they disrespected His Father or the Holy Spirit. He never told us to get into a rage over anything. However, if you go to church some Sunday morning and see some guys selling doves in the hallway, feel free to knock their tables over.
Another point worth considering when discussing the few times Jesus got angry is the fact that He is the Son of God. He can control His anger. Just as He can stop the raging of a storm with a raised hand, He has mastery over His anger (good thing, too). When the weather bows to us this obediently, we will be ready to handle anger.
Somewhere out there someone is flipping madly through their Bible looking for that famous verse about anger. Let me save you the trouble. It's Ephesians 4:26-27, and it says: Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Please do not take this as an instruction to be angry. It isn't. What it is saying is, okay, you're going to lose it once in a while, but keep it short. Get over it! Don't make matters worse by allowing the devil an opening into your life through your prolonged loss of control. And if you need more proof that this is not some ridiculous pro-anger mandate, read on to verse 31 where Paul continues, Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
One thing I know for sure is that I really feel lousy these days after I lose my temper. I get a sick feeling in my stomach, I start trembling, and get a headache. It's not pleasant. Maybe you react similarly. There's a reason. See that word wrath in today's verse? It's the Hebrew word chemah, and besides meaning anger, rage, wrath and hot displeasure, guess what else it means? Poison.
Best leave even righteous anger to Him.
(Psalm 119: 89)
Here's a good verse to memorize: Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Few verses speak so eloquently, and so concisely, as to the absolute (unchanging) authority, as well as the timelessness, of God's word. This can have a tremendous impact on our understanding of Scripture and its personal application to our lives.
Most likely you have heard this verse used to dispel the notion that the Word of God should be malleable, elastic, and amendable as need (or convenience) would have it. There has never been such an aggressive campaign to modernize (or water down) the Church as exists today, and this verse is certainly timely, as well as applicable. Very clearly the psalmist states that the word of God is settled (stands firm) in heaven. That means God is not about to alter it to make life easier for us. He's not going to revoke His word because it messes up our lifestyle or makes us feel guilty. It's here to stay, every jot and tittle. God is not concerned with being fashionable. He's not taking any votes to see what we like and what we don't like about His Word.
That's why I am not surprised to hear this verse so often quoted by Christians who feel they are waging some kind of desperate war for the purity of the Church. Usually this truth is used to demonstrate to someone else that their theology, lifestyle, actions, etc., are wrong. And it's really hard to blame them when you see what's passing for Christianity in some places these days. But this verse is more than just a club to beat heretics and liberals to a pulp with.
What part of God's word is settled? Is it only rules we would apply to others we disapprove of? Is it only rules for that matter?
While I have heard this verse used over and over to tell people what they can't do, I rarely hear it used to affirm what we should do. Example: This is My commandment, that you love one another (John 15:12). Is not this just as settled in heaven as the ban on homosexuality we find in Leviticus 18? Christ calls it His commandment. How about this: And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mark 16:17-18). There are seven wills in that sentence. Jesus was as serious as only He knows how to be when He gave this job description for believers. Which part of it is not settled in heaven? Is it barely possible that those who teach that this verse is "not for today" are just as guilty of revisionism as those who would deny the Virgin Birth because it isn't scientific, who try to find meteorological causes for the parting of the Red Sea and see the Resurrection of Christ as purely symbolic? Just a thought.
God's word is settled in heaven. All of God's word. The fact that He is heals is just as settled as the fact that murder is a sin. The fact that stealing is wrong is just as firmly fixed for all time as the fact that God delights in His servants' prosperity. The fact that there is a hell is just as settled as the fact that there is salvation in the name of Jesus. In other words, all the tough things are settled, but so are all the wonderful, hopeful and beautiful things. God's word is settled, and when He gives His word, when He makes a promise, that's settled, too. For all time. Who would want to change that?
That settles it.
(I Thessalonians 5:18)
Well, another Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone. We have now entered Turkey ala King Week, a festival period designed to strengthen us for the grueling Festival of Malls which is upon us. Still, it is not too late for a message on thanksgiving.
Today's verse from I Thessalonians is my personal favorite on the subject of giving thanks. Besides telling us how to do it, it also reveals how not to do it. But before we get into that, let's put this verse back in context, because it is actually part of a longer sentence: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
These three elements of faith, rejoicing, praying and giving thanks, are the foundation of this Christian life, and are not separable. They are designed to work in harmony, not to give God a greater sense of Himself, but to empower, encourage and prosper us. The tone Paul uses in writing this sentence is not one of suggestion, but commandment. If we need further evidence of the importance of these three elements, Paul stresses that to do these things is God's will for us. Incidentally, if you ever feel you don't know what God's will is for you, you can rejoice, pray and give thanks. You'll be doing at least three things right and will be in a good position to have even more of His will for you personally revealed to you.
Rejoice means simply: be happy. Always means to make this a constant state of being. Sorry I can't make this more complicated. It does, however, require a decision on our part to be happy, but then what's the alternative?
Pray without ceasing is also a simple directive, but a little common sense is needed in understanding this. Paul uses the Greek word proseuchomai here, which can mean either to worship or to pray earnestly for something. Do both. By not ceasing he is telling us to make this an active, daily part of our lives. He is also saying, "don't give up." Pray until you have your answer. Remain worshipful. He is not encouraging some kind of prayer marathon. Scripture is not given to promote silliness. Even Jesus stopped praying long enough to eat.
In everything give thanks is similar to rejoice always. It's a proactive approach to life as opposed to a reactive one. Interesting how thanks is something we give, which makes it a gift. But notice that we are told to give thanks in everything, not for everything. Paul could have even said in spite of everything. For example, right now I have a really lousy cold. I am rarely sick, and don't like it. I don't like it a lot. I am not thankful for this cold and won't be sending any thanks for it heavenward. I am, however, thankful for the healing taking place in my body right now. I am thankful that I know sickness is not from God and I don't have to hang on to this misery. I am thankful for the innumerable times God has healed me in the past. I am thankful for the power of prayer that resides in each and every one of us as members of the body of Christ. I am thankful for Kleenex. Finally, I am extremely thankful you aren't able to see me right now. It is not a pretty picture.
If we can do these things, that is, choose to be happy instead of miserable, make prayer a constant part of our lives, and find opportunities for thanksgiving in every situation we face, come next Turkey Day we will be even more thankful than we are now. Why? Because it's simply impossible to live that way, smack-dab in the middle of God's will, without one's life getting better and better. It's inevitable because it's the Father's desire for us, in fact, it's the number one reason His Son gave for coming here in the first place (John 10:10).
The perfect gift for any occasion: Thanks.
(Job 42:7b)
Want to get God really ticked off? Most likely your answer to this would be: No thank you. But just in case you're feeling "lucky", lie about Him. Misrepresent His Word. Tell people things that are untrue about His character. This is precisely what Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar did, and it cost them seven bulls, seven rams and their reputations as counselors. Even Job's questioning, ranting (he does say a lot of dumb things), and self-pity didn't bother God nearly as much as these guys' misinformed pronouncements and judgments.
All this takes place in the most misunderstood (with the possible exception of Revelation) book in the entire Bible, the Book of Job. I say misunderstood because most often it is taught and preached from the very perspective shared by the three aforementioned guys already declared by God to be incorrect in their theology, that is: Job was suffering because God was punishing him for something.
Being as familiar as we are with the New Testament, this dogma should be easy to dispel. While sin in one's life will certainly bring an abundance of trouble, we can give example after example of devout men and women of God suffering, even while being clearly in the will of God. Paul is a prime example. The guy seemed to get beaten up or stoned everywhere he went, and it wasn't because he was a sinner. When the great apostle was finally beheaded, it was not due to any personal wickedness or backsliding. So why is it so often taught that Job suffered because he somehow deserved it?
Part of the answer to this is simply ignorance of Scripture, and a failure to look at it in its entirety. The Old Testament must be filtered through the New to be properly understood (something many religious people seem to forget). The Book of Job is no exception. There are many instructions and concepts in the Old Testament which we would never adhere to today. For example, we are instructed in the proper way to collect female war captives (Deut. 21:10) that one has the hots for and when to stone one's children to death for not listening (Deut. 21:18) and obeying (even the strictest Christian parents I know would opt for just a good spanking).
Another problem we have is with the Word itself. We believe this Book to be God-inspired, written by His Holy Spirit through the chosen hands of various writers, and well we should. It is. But while it's all God-breathed, it's not all true. Now don't have a heart attack! What I mean is, The Lord has intentionally included statements we are supposed to see as false. Example: This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24). We can safely say this is a false statement as it refers to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We would not use this to describe Jesus. It's untrue. Another example might be Solomon's Ecclesiastes, a work full of misstatements, but intentionally so. Do you really believe all is vanity, even your faith? Do you believe there is nothing new under the sun when the Word clearly states that you are a new creation? Yet people quote these two phrases all the time as if they were true.
We have to think this way when reading Job. What's more, we know that Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar were wrong in (most of) their assumptions because God Himself said so! If they (or we) need further proof of their error, God instructed them to take their seven bulls and seven rams to His servant (Ps.35:27) Job for a sacrifice and he would pray for them, in effect as their priest. A strange turn of events, but one that worked out great for Job: And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job:42:10).
What did Job eventually see that his friends missed? The sovereignty and the mystery of God: I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You... Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know (Job 42:2-3). It took him a while, even stumbling through near unbelief to get there, but he got it. He realized that he didn't understand everything that happened, but it didn't matter. He didn't have to understand it.God was in control. The result? Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters... After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days (Job 42:12-17). We can probably add "and happy". See, 99% of Job's life was really great. Which makes me wonder: Why is this always seen as a story of suffering and not of victory?
When you see someone in trouble, don't assume they asked for it.
(Psalm 57:2)
Today's verse is a perfect example of why, in addition to your Bible, you should invest a few bucks in a good concordance. You can even get the Strong's in paperback. It's a revelation in itself looking up key words in the Hebrew or Greek. Plus, you can go to the source and check up on me or anyone else that's giving you their interpretation of Scripture and see if we're fudging things just a bit to fit our messages or if we're dead on. It's very difficult to fool someone who has knowledge. And believe me, there are thousands of people out there trying to do just that. Don't let them. Get smart.
Anyway, I said this verse from Psalm 57 was a good candidate for dusting off the old concordance and here's why: that word performs. If you or I use this word today, our immediate connotation is perform equals do. Performing is to do something. People that entertain us are called performers. It implies action. This is partly true in this case but it's not the whole story. If we read this verse according to our modern way of thinking it sounds as if David is saying, "God does everything for me," or worse, "Everything God does is for my benefit."
Besides being naive and stupid, not to mention totally unbiblical (and therefore untrue), this interpretation just doesn't make a whole lot of sense in this situation. David was running for his life, ducking into a cave like a fox with the hounds on his heels when he wrote this. He was scared silly.
Now if you were to open up your concordance and look this word performs (or performeth) up, you'd find that it is the Hebrew word gamar. Let me show you David using this exact same Hebrew word again, this time from Psalm 138: The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Aha! Revelation. This word gamar can be perform or perfect. And the real meaning for either is: to finish, to bring wholly and totally to completion.
Now our verse makes more sense. David is saying that he will cry out to God who completes all things for him, in other words, God will fulfill His purpose for the psalmist's life. He is speaking in faith, declaring that God will accomplish those things He promised him, no matter how bleak things look now (he is hiding in a cave) or how far away an answer seems to be. Even if he has to spend the next next twenty years dodging Saul's murderous plots, he will see God's plan for Him fulfilled. He will reign, and produce the greatest King of all.
Finally, here's something I can't prove (and a concordance won't help, either) but I don't believe that the thought ever entered David's creative head that his sworn enemy, King Saul, would obligingly take himself out of the picture with his own royal sword. I just don't think, as David hid in the blackness of that cave, that he saw this as a likely outcome. Why should he? The man had been after him for years. He was obsessed, deranged and well funded. But that's what happened.
We should keep this story in mind when we are being hounded by our own personal Sauls. However terrifying they may seem, God is going to complete His plans for us, Saul or no Saul. Our enemies, our problems, no matter how tough, don't frighten or worry Him. He sees their end. He knows our future. He wrote the story. It's His stage, and He's the consummate Performer.
Encore.
.
HAVE FAITH IN GOD!
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