Not As Strong As We Think

As most of you are aware by now, the focus of my messages, this summer, is on failure.  We’re looking at the failure of the great men of faith in Scripture, and on the grace of God given to them in spite of their sin.  We’re doing this as an encouragement for ourselves, that we might not grow discouraged, but trust in Christ alone in the face of our own shortcomings.

            Returning from Annual Conference, news reports were circulating about the moral failure of yet another prominent pastor.   Prior to my departure, we saw incessant reporting on a moral failure of a well-known Christian family.  And every time we see these reports, we’re shocked.

            We’re shocked because those who fell seemed so strong in faith.  They seemed to have it all together.  And we’re left wondering if it was all an act.  We’re left wondering if they are the people we always believed them to be.

            Although these feelings are normal, we really shouldn’t be shocked in the least.  We shouldn’t be shocked because we’re all failures.  As Paul tells us in Romans 3:23: “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

            This is why Paul gives us the above warning.  He begins 1 Corinthians 10 using the people of Israel as an example for us.  He begins the chapter, saying: “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.”

            What he’s telling us is that the people of Israel had received the redemption and the provision of God.  They were led by God, as he went before them in the pillar of cloud.  They were rescued from slavery, as God brought them miraculously through the Red Sea.  They were baptized into Moses, they emerged as a new people, as they were separated from the Egyptians by the cloud and the sea. They also received life through the miraculous provision of Christ.

            Yet, even though this was true of them, even though they had received these great blessings, they fell time and again.  They fell into idolatry.  They fell into sexual immorality.  They tested the Lord and they grumbled against him. 

            Paul says that these things are written for our instruction.  They’re examples for us.  If we think that we stand, we must take heed lest we fall.

            When we read about the failure of Israel, and when we hear about the failure of prominent Christians today, our immediate reaction is one of judgment.              We think that, knowing the blessings God has given them, they must be stupid to fall into these sins.  After all, how could they risk these blessings when God has given them so much?

We tell ourselves that we’d never do such a thing.  We tell ourselves that we could never fall in such a way.  Even acknowledging that we’re sinners, we think that we’re above such things.

            The reality, however, is much different.  We are all sinners.  We all possess a sinful nature.  We all face great temptation every day of our life.  And, because of this, the possibility of our failure is ever present.

            No matter how strong our faith, none of us is above the failures of others.  In fact, when we start believing that we are above it, when we start to believe that we stand, we are most susceptible to sin. We’re most susceptible to sin at this point because we’re looking to our own strength. 

We’re the safest when we look not upon our strength, but when we look upon our weakness.  Only then will we fully depend upon the grace and the provision of God.  And, as Scripture tells us time and again, we receive God’s blessing not because of anything in ourselves, but through faith.

            Let us, then, take heed.  Let us be aware of our own weakness.  And may we look to Christ, and to Christ alone, for the forgiveness of our sin and for the strength to live for his glory.

As I was at the AFLC Annual Conference last week, I never posted my message from June 14.  I began a new series, that week, looking at failure.  Each week, we'll look at a man of faith, in Scripture, who failed.  And more importantly, we'll see the grace of God given him in spite of his failure.  The first message of this series looked at Adam & Eve.  To hear this message, click on the link.

This week, we heard about the failure of Abraham, and of the grace God gave to him in spite of his sin.  To hear this message, click on that link.

The Blessing of Rest

"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

(Mar 2:27 ESV)

            This verse came to mind as I was driving home from Florida this past week.  Even though I’ve served for only two months, my new congregation allowed us some time away.  And this break was much needed after a year of work, along with the stress of our transition and move. 

            The Sabbath was made for man.  In other words, the Sabbath is God’s gracious gift to man.  But why did he give it?

            When we look to the giving of the Ten Commandments, in the book of Exodus, we see why.  In Exodus 20, we’re told that it’s a time of rest.  As God worked for six days and rested on the seventh, he gave the Sabbath to us.  So the Sabbath is a rest from our labors, something which all of us require.

            In Deuteronomy 5, we find that it’s not only a day of rest. It’s a day of remembrance.  It was a reminder to the people that they were slaves in the land of Egypt and that God had set them free.  The opportunity they had to rest from their labor reminded them of this great blessing which was denied them during their time of bondage.

            Further, we see in in Leviticus 23:3 that the Sabbath was a day of holy convocation, or a day of sacred assembly.  In other words, the Sabbath was a day for corporate worship.  The people were to gather in worship of the God who both made them and redeemed them.

            In addition, God also commanded several holidays that were to be celebrated by the people.  Again, no work was to be done.  The people were to worship God.  And each of these celebrations were remembrances of God’s salvation and provision.

            However, as we look at Mark 2, we see that, in the time of Jesus, the Sabbath was no longer being used for its intended purpose.  The religious leaders had made it something other than a day of grace for God’s people.  They had made it burdensome.  In fact, it was hard work to keep the Sabbath.

            One Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were walking through the grain fields.  As they walked, they plucked heads of grain.  They were then criticized by the Pharisees for working on the Sabbath.

            Even though the New Testament is clear that we’re not bound to certain days or months when it comes to our rest, many in the church think and act just like the Pharisees.  They say that all we can do on Sunday is go to church and take a nap.  If we do anything whatsoever, we’re criticized for working.

            For this reason, Jesus gave the above reminder to the Pharisees.  He told them that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  In other words, the Sabbath is God’s blessing to man.  It’s not another burden for his people to bear.

            This is the blessing I recently enjoyed during my vacation.  I was able to rest from my labors.  It wasn’t a burden, it was a blessing.  I didn’t have a set of requirements to follow.  I was able to simply get away from my day to day work.  And the same is true of my day off each week, and during our holiday celebrations.

            I don’t have to worry, with everything I do, that I’m violating the Sabbath.  I can simply enjoy my time free of labor.  I can sleep a little later.  I can enjoy my family.  I can enjoy activities for which I have no time during my regular work week.

I thank God who’s given me this gift.  And, as I rest from my labors, I’m reminded of the rest God has provided for me in Christ.  I’m reminded of the fact that I don’t have to work to receive God’s blessings, because the work of Christ has accomplished it for me.

Examples of God's Grace

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

1Timothy 1:15 ESV

            I’ve always found this statement, made by the apostle Paul, to be fascinating.  I’ve found it fascinating because, in our minds, the statement being made and the identity of the one making it seem like a complete contradiction.  It doesn’t seem that these words should be coming from his mouth.

             We think this way because, after all, Paul is a saint.  We read through the book of Acts and we see the great work he did for the Lord.  We see how he carried the gospel throughout the Roman Empire, starting churches wherever he went.  We see how he endured the persecution that resulted from his ministry.  And history tells us that he went to his death, that he was beheaded, as a result of his service.

            We also see that Paul wrote a huge portion of the New Testament.  So his ministry impacted not only the early church, but the church of today.  His teaching makes it clear to us what God has done for us and how we’re saved.

            Because of this, we tend to think that the apostle Paul is much greater than the rest of us.  We tend to think that he was a far better person.  But, in the above passage, we see that this is not how he thought of himself.

            Paul thought of himself as the foremost of sinners.  In other words, he thought that he was more sinful than everyone else.  And, while we might think he’s saying this to come off humble, this is far from the case.

            In verses 12 and 13 of this chapter, Paul points out that, before he was saved, he was a blasphemer, persecutor, and an insolent opponent.  In 1 Corinthians 15:9 he says that he is the least of the apostles, and doesn’t even deserve to be called an apostle, because he persecuted the church of God.  And in Romans 7, we see that his struggle with sin was not something that existed only prior to his conversion.  We see that, even after he was saved, he wrestled with his sinful nature each and every day.

            Paul genuinely thought of himself as the greatest of sinners.  And he believed that God showed him mercy as an example to those who were to believe in the Lord.  He believed that he was an example of the patience of God.

            In other words, if God could save someone like Paul, the foremost of sinners, then people could know that he’d save them as well.  If God could display patience to someone like Paul, then people could know that God would also be patient with them.

            This is something we often forget when it comes to our life and ministry.  We often think that, if we’re to be used by God, if we’re to successfully share our faith, we have to appear holy.  The problem with this is that, despite our best efforts, we continue to fail in great ways.  So we make up for this by putting on a façade.  We pretend to be better than we really are.

            However, I believe we should take the mindset of Paul to heart.  Although we should seek to serve the Lord faithfully, and although we should ask him to work in our heart that we might live obediently, we shouldn’t deny our failure.  Instead, we should understand that, because of our failure, the grace of God is seen more clearly.  We too should proclaim to the world that, if God could save a people like us, he can save them as well.

            It isn’t hypocrisy to proclaim the gospel while we struggle with sin.  After all, if we had no sin, there would be no purpose for the gospel.  In the gospel we hear that Christ came into the world to save sinners.  He came into the world to save a people like you and me.

As Christians, we often become weary.  As we look around at the world around us, and as we try to reach out to unbelievers, we feel that the situation is hopeless.  We forget that The Power to Save rests not in man, but in God.  We are simply called to proclaim the gospel, leaving the rest up to him. To hear this message, click on the link.

Hindrances in Ministry

            In Acts 16 we see how, as Paul was in Philippi, things seemed to go terribly wrong.  Paul cast a spirit out of a girl who’d been following him.  She had been crying out that these men were servants of God proclaiming the way of salvation.  And even though it seems that this might validate their ministry, it annoyed Paul.  It annoyed him because it happened for days on end.

            This upset this girl’s owner.  She was a slave, and the spirit was one of divination.  And she made a great deal of money for her owner by fortune telling.  So he started an uproar in the city, which led to the arrest of Paul and Silas.  They were put in the inner prison and their feet fastened in the stocks. 

            Outwardly, I’m sure it seemed to Paul and Silas that their ministry was being hindered.  After all, it’s hard to tell people about Jesus when you’re in jail.  However, we then see the power of God at work.

            As they prayed and sang hymns, a great earthquake shook the prison.  The doors were opened and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.  And when the jailer saw what had happened, supposing that the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself.

Paul called out to him telling him not to harm himself.  He assured the jailer that no one had left.  Trembling, the jailer asked Paul what he must do to be saved.  Paul was then able to share the gospel with this man’s house and to baptize them.

            This is a passage of Scripture that I find extremely comforting.  I find it comforting because, often in ministry, things don’t happen as we expect.  In fact, it often seems that our ministry is being hindered in some way.

            Yet, no matter how things may seem, we’re reminded that God is not hindered.  He’s at work in ways that we can’t always see or understand in the moment.  And he can use those hindrances as an opportunity for ministry.

            These hindrances can take many forms.  Perhaps our missionaries are being hindered by an individual on the field.  Perhaps government regulations are proving to be a hindrance.  Perhaps conflict in the church seems to be holding back its ministry.  Maybe a personal struggle seems to be keeping us from the ministry to which we’re called.

            Whatever the case may be, the Lord can work in and through these circumstances.  He can work in ways that we cannot even fathom.  He can use the circumstances themselves as an opportunity for us to share the gospel and to minister to people with whom we may otherwise have no contact.

            So as we endure frustrations in ministry, let us simply entrust ourselves and our work to the hands of God.  Let us acknowledge that we don’t always understand what the Lord is doing.  And let us trust that, no matter how things may seem, he can and will use us for his glory.

This week, at Prince of Peace, we talked about the confidence that we have in the promise of God. Yet, even though this is true, many of us struggle to trust the Lord. Many people, even among those who profess faith in Christ, have no assurance of salvation.  However, as we see in 1 John 5, as believers, we can know we're saved Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt. To hear this message, click on the link.

Keeping Faith in the Forefront

            A concern that’s been expressed repeatedly in the Church in recent years is the fact that our young people are leaving in droves.  This is true, especially, as our kids leave for college.  When they’re no longer under the daily guidance of their parents, they feel the freedom to leave this aspect of life behind. 

However, this is also true of younger children.  In many of our families, our children are leaving after confirmation.  We’re allowing our young people to make a choice concerning church involvement.

            This is a very real concern.  As Christian parents, we want to make sure that faith is a part of our children’s lives.  We share God’s desire for the salvation of all.  But, particularly, we want our own children to receive the grace of God.

            What’s the problem?  Where is the breakdown?  For many of us, I wonder if the problem is that faith isn’t a part of our home life.  It’s something we do on Sunday, and maybe even on Wednesday.  But once we’re home, faith becomes a non-issue.  It’s rarely, if ever, discussed.

            I believe we need to take the words of Deuteronomy 6 into consideration.  Starting in verse 4, we read: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

            Keeping it very simple, we see that God wants his Word to be a constant topic of conversation in the family.  He wants us to talk about it when we get up in the morning and when we’re going to bed at night.  He wants us to talk about it when we’re sitting at home or when we’re going somewhere.  He wants his Word to guide our thoughts and our actions inside of the home and out.

            How might this help our children?  First of all, they have the benefit of constant exposure to his Word.  And we know that God works through his Word (Romans 10:13-17, Isaiah 55:11). 

            Second, they see that faith isn’t simply one aspect of life.  They see that faith is life.  They see that the Word of God is something that speaks to us in every aspect of life.  It comforts, it convicts, and it directs.

            My question, then, is simply this: Are we making the Word of God a constant part of the conversation?  If the answer is yes, then we need to keep it up.  Perhaps we can find even more ways to incorporate it into our life.  If the answer is no, then it’s something we should seriously consider.

Yesterday at Prince of Peace, as we honored our mothers, we considered the crucial role that moms play in the lives of their children.  More than the practical roles they fill, they also have great influence when it comes to raising their children in faith.  We saw this in the case of Timothy, whose father was an unbeliever.  His mother and grandmother imparted God's Word in his life and passed on the faith to him.  To hear this message, click on the link.

Our Jealous God

            In Exodus 34, we see that Moses went back up Mount Sinai after the people of Israel had sinned by making the golden calf.  While he was there, God renewed his covenant with the people and once again wrote his commands onto stone tablets.  And God promised to drive out the peoples before them, giving to them the land of Canaan.

            However, God also warned them that they were not to make a covenant with the peoples of the land.  He told them to tear down the altars and the pillars used by the people of Canaan to worship their gods.  And they were to do this because they were to worship no other god.

            What’s interesting is that, as he gave these commands, the Lord described himself as a jealous God.  In fact, he said that his name is Jealous.  In this way, he’s telling us that jealousy is part of his character.

            This is confusing to many of us because we think of jealousy as a bad thing.  We think of it as sinful.  And in most cases it is.  However, we fail to realize that there’s a form of jealousy that is good and even healthy.

            Think of it in these terms: I’m married, and have been for almost 14 years.  And I can honestly say that I’m jealous for my wife.  I’m as jealous for her now as I was when we first began dating.  What I mean by this is that I love her and that I want her for myself alone. 

            I don’t mean by this that I forbid her from having friends.  Nor do I try to keep her from interacting with others.  However, I’m unwilling to share her with another man.  I want her affection for myself alone. If I found her giving her affection to another man, or if I saw a man trying to gain her affection, I would be insanely jealous and angry.    

            Even though this is a form of jealousy, it’s good because this is how God designed marriage to work.  He intended marriage for one man and one woman.  We’re commanded in various ways throughout Scripture to remain faithful to our spouse.  So it’s only fitting that this jealousy is a part of the marital relationship.

            The same thing is true when it comes to our relationship with the Lord.  His intent, as he states it throughout Scripture, is that he should be our God and that we should be his people.  He created us that we might be his people, and he redeemed us for the same reason.  And, because of this, he’s jealous for us.  He’s unwilling to share us with anything or anyone else.  He wants our affection for himself alone.

            When we think of it in these terms, the first commandment is more than a law for us to follow.  It’s a beautiful thing. It’s pure gospel. What it tells us is that the Lord loves us so much that he’s unwilling to share us.  It demonstrates his great affection for us.

            If your spouse was willing to share you with someone else, or if they desired to share you with someone else, it would cause you to feel unloved.  You would feel less than cherished.  And, once again, this relates to God’s jealousy for us.

            The fact that he is jealous demonstrates not selfishness.  It shows us how much he values us.  It reveals that we’re cherished.  It reveals that we are prized and precious in his sight.

Yesterday, as five of our young people confirmed their faith, we heard a message titled: Choose This Day.  We looked at the end of Joshua's life, and his charge of the people of Israel.  He told them that, because God had saved them, they were to serve him.  Yet, even though this was true, they still had a choice.  They could reject the Lord and worship other gods. To hear this message, click on the link.

Yesterday, we looked at Psalm 23 and considered The Wondrous Provision of God.  We saw that, because the Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want.  He will take care of our every need.  To stream this message, click on the link.  You can also subscribe to our podcast on itunes.

“And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”

(Act 4:1-2 ESV)

          I’ve been thinking about evangelism a great deal this past month.  I’ve preached on it a couple of times, and I’ve written blog posts on this topic.  We also recently heard from Colonel John Eidsmoe, who shared with us on the topics of God and government, along with matters of faith and the Constitution.  So all of this has been rolling around in my mind as I read the above text.

            Peter and John were, initially, going to the temple to pray.  And, while entering, the Lord used them to heal a man who’d been lame from birth.  This, for obvious reasons, caused a stir among the people and provided Peter with the opportunity to preach to them.

            However, as they were speaking, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them.  They were annoyed because Peter and John were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day.  And as they were questioned by the rulers and the elders the next morning, Peter used this opportunity to share the gospel also with them. 

            Because of the miracle they had performed, the rulers and elders could say nothing against them.  But they wanted to stop Peter and John from teaching in the name of Jesus.  So they charged them to speak no longer in the name of Jesus.  But Peter replied to this charge, saying: "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

            I don’t think that any of us have been arrested for proclaiming the gospel at this point.  However, we do see that many in our society are annoyed by our teaching in the name of Jesus.  Like the rulers and elders of the Jews, they want nothing more than to silence us.

            They do this in many ways.  They do this by applying social pressure.  They do this by filing lawsuits, trying to remove the expression of the Christian faith from the public square.  They enact laws, trying to define the truth of God as hate speech or as discrimination. 

            The question we must ask ourselves, as we face this pressure, is this: How will we respond to the charge of our society?  Will we be silenced?  Will we cease our proclamation of the Word of God?  Or, like the apostles, will we remain faithful to the Lord’s calling?

            As Peter expressed to the rulers, we must listen to the Lord rather than men.  Even though men can make life miserable for us, we must remain faithful to God and continue in our proclamation of the gospel. 

            More than that, proclaiming Jesus and his gospel should be something that we cannot cease.  As Peter stated, we shouldn’t be able to help speaking of what we’ve seen and heard.  Caving into the pressures of our society shouldn’t even be an option for us.

            The apostle Paul expressed a similar sentiment in 1 Corinthians 9:16, where he said: “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”

For Paul, there was no other option.  Proclaiming the gospel was something he had to do.  And the same should be the case for us as well.

            As we face pressure from society to cease our proclamation of Jesus, let’s ask the Lord to give us the spirit of the apostles.  Let’s ask him for a heart that cannot but preach the gospel.  Let’s ask him for the boldness to carry out his call regardless of the commands of men.

When People Refuse Jesus

            As I’ve been thinking about evangelism the past couple of weeks, a passage from Luke 9 came to mind.  Starting in verse 51, we see that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem as the time of his death approached.  And he sent messengers ahead of him, into a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.

            We see several times in Scripture the mutual dislike harbored by the Samaritans and the Jews.  And we see here that, because he was going to Jerusalem, the Samaritans did not receive him.  Because of his destination, they would not welcome him into their village.

            When James and John saw this, they were obviously upset.  They said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” Remembering the judgment of God that had fallen upon Sodom and Gomorrah, they thought that this was an acceptable punishment for their refusal of Jesus.

            In one sense, they were right.  It’s quite clear in Scripture that refusing Jesus can only lead to one outcome.  It leads only to hell.  As we read in John 3:18, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

            However, when Jesus heard this, he rebuked them.  This makes it clear to us that he didn’t feel the same way.  He didn’t feel that their refusal of him merited their judgment, at least not yet.

            The text in most of our Bibles doesn’t explain his reasoning for this.  However, some of the variant manuscripts do provide an explanation.  In addition to Jesus’ rebuke, they also include him saying: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them.”

            Even though this variant doesn’t have enough manuscript evidence to be included in the text, it is consistent with another statement of Jesus.  In John 3:17, he says: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

            As we saw from verse 18, which I cited above, this isn’t denying that there will be a judgment for those who refuse Jesus.  However, when Jesus was sent by God into the world, his purpose was salvation rather than judgment.  And this is what he was seeking during his ministry: the salvation of souls.

            Jesus’ response to the rejection of this Samaritan village was to simply move on to another village.  He moved on to another place where the people would receive him.

            In considering this passage, when people today refuse Jesus, we often respond in a way similar to the disciples.  We quickly become upset when they refuse the gospel.  And our immediate response is one of judgment.

            Obviously, their refusal of Jesus is not a good thing.  And if they persist in their refusal, they will receive the judgment of God.  However, in the meantime, the Lord continues to both desire and to seek their salvation.

            As his people, this should be our heart as well.  Even though it’s only natural for us to be saddened by those who refuse Jesus, we must bear in mind that it is still the day of grace.  And, until they stand before the Lord, we must continue to desire and to seek their salvation.

            When people refuse the gospel that we’re commissioned to bring, we must simply move on.  We must continue in our calling.  We must continually proclaim the message of salvation to those who are in need of his grace.

The Importance of Truth in Evangelism

            This past week, at Prince of Peace, we talked about evangelism.  This is an important topic because Christ has called us to proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.  He’s called us to make disciples of all nations.  And, as the people of God, we should share his heart for the lost.

            However, that being said, there’s a mistake that’s being replicated in church after church across this nation.  We often begin to think of evangelism and outreach as a numbers game. We count the number of conversions that have taken place in our church.  We count the new members.  We count the attendance.  We count the giving.  And we do anything we can to ensure that the numbers are continually going up.  As I was once told, “It’s about butts in the pews.”

            My response to this is yes and no.  It’s yes because, of course, we want to see people coming into the church.  We want them coming into the church because we want them to hear the Word of God.  We want people to receive the gospel and to look to Christ in faith.  We want them to join with us in the ministry he’s entrusted to us.  Again, as the people of God, we want to see the lost coming to faith.  We want to see the growth of God’s kingdom.

            However, my response to this is also no.  It’s not all about butts in the pews.  In order to achieve this, churches have made great sacrifices.  They’ve made sacrifices that ought not be made. 

            In order to get butts in the pews, many churches have softened their stance on the truth.  They either avoid the difficult issues, so that they won’t offend anyone or drive them away, or they compromise.  They will do just about anything to keep their membership heading in the right direction.

            We must never sacrifice truth for butts in the pews.  Consider with me the words of Paul in 1 Timothy 1.  Starting in verse 3, he says: “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.”

            In Paul’s instructions to Timothy, we see that it’s essential for us to proclaim right doctrine.  We must be concerned that no other doctrine be taught than the one given to us in God’s Word.  We must make sure that what’s being taught is not speculation and opinion, but truth.

            He says that the aim of this charge is love.  We teach right doctrine and insist on it because of the love we have for others.  We ensure that only right doctrine is taught so that people might receive the grace of God that’s in Christ.

            This goes against the way that many of us tend to think.  We think that it’s more loving to compromise the truth for the sake of people.  We think that it’s more loving to give them what they want so that they’ll join with us in our congregation.

However, I want you to think about this for a minute: If we compromise the truth that we might get butts in the pews, are we truly making disciples?  If we’re altering our doctrine, if we’re compromising truth, that we might grow the church, are we truly reaching people for Christ? If people are coming because they’ve placed their faith in a compromised version of the gospel, are we truly meeting their spiritual need?  Absolutely not. 

By doing this, we’re seeking only to build our own kingdom rather than the Lord’s. We’re showing more concern for our church than we are for the souls of men.  And this is not what Jesus means when he calls us to make disciples of all nations.

To faithfully carry out the call Christ has given us, we must reach out to those around us.  We should desire to see more and more people coming to church and placing their faith in him.  But we do this properly as we proclaim the truth and live in the truth. We do this rightly when we care enough to see not simply their butt in the pew on Sunday morning, but their soul in the hands of the Savior.

This week, at Prince of Peace, we talked about Spirit Empowered Evangelism.  We were reminded of the calling that Jesus gave to us as his followers, and of our reluctance to carry it out.  We often fail to reach out to those around us because we feel incapable.  However, God doesn't call us to fulfill this calling with our own strength, wisdom, or abilities.  He gives to us everything we need that we might carry out this mission.  Our evangelism is empowered by the Spirit of God.  To hear this message, click on the link.

Confession

            This week, at Prince of Peace, we’ll be looking at John 20:19-23.  And one of the things that stand out in this passage is the call that Jesus places on his followers.  He tells them that, as the Father has sent him, so is he sending them.  He then says, in verse 23: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

            This is what, in the Lutheran Church, we refer to as the Office of the Keys, which is drawn from a similar statement that Jesus makes in Mathew 16.  It’s a troubling statement for many of us because we don’t believe that man has any power to forgive sins.  And we really struggle with the thought that we have the authority to retain the sins of another.

            However, Jesus isn’t saying that we can arbitrarily forgive or retain the sins of men.  It’s not a decision we can make by our own authority.  This is something we do according to his Word and under his authority. 

We cannot forgive the sins of anyone that Jesus would not forgive.  Nor can we retain the sins of one whom Jesus has forgiven.  Jesus uses us to proclaim his gospel. He uses us to announce the forgiveness of those who repent and trust in him.  And he uses us to warn those who are unrepentant and who fail to believe in him.

            This ties in with a practice that has been largely lost in the church today.  The practice to which I’m referring is confession.  And the reason it’s been gradually lost is because of the abuses associated with it.

            The practice of confession in the Catholic Church is often tied together with acts of penance.  This has been shied away from because it promotes the belief that we can do something to earn the forgiveness of our sin.  And we know from Scripture that God’s grace is a free gift received by faith.

            However, even though there have certainly been abuses of confession over the years, this doesn’t mean that we should throw out the baby with the bath water.  Confession, in itself, is a good thing.  It’s even a Scriptural thing.

We can see this, for example, in James 5: 14-16: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

In the context of prayer, James calls on us to confess our sins to one another.  He then reassures us that, if we have committed sins, we will be forgiven.  And, in addition to this, he encourages us to pray for one another that we might be healed.

This is a struggle for most of us.  It’s a struggle because we don’t want to admit our sins to others. We’ll make a general confession of our sin during worship.  We’ll admit to the fact that we are indeed a sinner.  But we don’t like to get specific.  Instead, we like to put on a façade.  We try to convince people that we’re good and that we have no struggles.

We fear that, if we reveal our weakness, others will look down on us. We fear that, if our brothers and sisters in the church know our sin, they’ll reject us.  They’ll look down their nose at us because we’re not as godly as they seem to be.

We fail to realize that this mindset actually undermines the gospel.  After all, the Church isn’t for those who are perfect.  If this were the case, none of us would belong.  It’s a place for sinners.  It’s a place for those who recognize their sin and their need for the grace of God. Remember the words of Jesus, in Luke 5:31-32: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

I don’t know about you, but I’m in need of a physician.  I am not well. I need Jesus.  This is why I’m a part of the church.

For this reason, we can feel free to confess our sins to one another.  We don’t need to share them from the microphone.  But we can feel free to sit down with our brother and share with him our failures.  Knowing that we’ve come in faith, and knowing that we’re seeking mercy, he can then offer us the reassurance of the gospel.  He can announce to us that our sins have indeed been forgiven.

This week, I've been getting settled into my new congregation.  And, being Holy Week, we had several services.  On Maundy Thursday, I shared a message titled "As Jesus Loved." We reflected on the command that he gave to his followers as they gathered for the Passover, to love one another as he'd loved them.

On Good Friday, we reflected on the death of Christ.  We talked about why this day can be considered good, when it's a remembrance of Jesus' sufferings in a message titled: "A Required Sacrifice."

On Easter Sunday, we talked about the significance of the resurrection in a message titled "Why the Resurrection?"

To listen to any of these messages, click on the link, which will take you to the right place.

The Accomplishment of Jesus' Death

“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:22b-26

            This week, as I’m beginning to serve a new congregation, and as I prepare for Holy Week, I’ve been thinking about the sufferings of Christ.  And, as I’ve done so, the above passage came to mind.  It clearly presents what God has done for us in Jesus.

            We’re, first of all, reminded of why Jesus came.  He came into this world because we’re a sinful people.  He came to redeem us from sin and death by his sacrifice on the cross.  And, because of his sacrifice, we are justified through faith in Jesus.

            His death, then, accomplished two things.  We see at the end of this passage that he is both just as well as the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

            In sending Jesus to give his life for us, God demonstrates his justice.  We find in Scripture that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  This tells us that, because of our sin, we deserve to die.  By our sin, we have earned the consequence of death.  And, because of God’s just nature, that consequence must be satisfied.

By sending Jesus to give his life on our behalf, his justice and righteous nature are satisfied.  As we read in Hebrews 9:22, “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Without Jesus’ death, without the shedding of blood, we could not be forgiven.

            The death of Jesus satisfied God’s just nature for the sins of not only a select few, but all mankind. It satisfied the just nature of God for even those who’ve gone before us. As we read in 1 John 2:2, “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

            However, in addition to this, he’s also the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.  So, yes, by Jesus’ death God’s justice is satisfied.  But, in this way, we’re also justified by him as a free gift.  It’s he who sent Jesus into the world for this very purpose.  It’s Jesus who gave his life on the cross.  So, even though we are undeserving of this blessing, God has mercifully provided it for us.  Knowing this, I pray that your Holy Week, and especially your Easter celebration, will be rich and meaningful.

Yesterday at Ebenezer, we celebrated Palm Sunday, the confirmation of eight of our young people, and it was my last Sunday.  In the message, we looked at the crowd that assembled on Palm Sunday, and compared it with another crowd that gathered later that week to condemn Jesus.  And we asked: What Will You Do With Jesus? To stream or download the audio file, just click on the link.  This week, I'll begin serving Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Beulah, ND.

Last night, on our last Wednesday evening worship service of Lent, I shared about The Signs Accompanying Jesus' Death.  We saw that, as Jesus died, several things happened which revealed to the people who he truly is.  However, some recognized it and some didn't.  The same thing is true in our own time.  Some recognize the signs given by God and what they indicate to us about Jesus.  We receive him for who he truly is.  But other refuse him.  They deny the signs and what they mean, along with the salvation Jesus has provided.  The question for us is this: What is our response to Jesus?  What is our response to the signs that accompanied both his life and death? To stream or download this message, click on the link.

Thy Will Be Done

            On the night that Jesus was betrayed, we see how he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He prayed (Luke 22:42 ESV): "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

            A couple of things stand out as we read this prayer.  We see that, first of all, Jesus didn’t look forward to the suffering he was to endure.  He knew what was to happen.  But, if he could somehow satisfy God’s will without enduring this pain, he asked that he might not have to withstand it.

            I think that most of us can understand his feelings.  None of us like to suffer.  None of us enjoy pain.  If it’s possible, we would much rather avoid it.  And so it’s understandable to us that, even though he is God, Jesus felt that same way.  Because he was fully man, like you and me, he didn’t want to endure unnecessary suffering.

            However, he was willing to endure suffering that he might satisfy the will of God.  And we know that it was the will of God for Jesus to suffer.  It’s was God’s will that Jesus should die upon the cross that he might pay the penalty of our sin.

            The will of God for our life in no way compares to that of Jesus.  We have been given a great calling by God.  We’ve been called to proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.  But our suffering can never accomplish the end that his death produced. However, there are times when the will of God for our life involves pain of some sort.

            For this reason, like Jesus, we submit ourselves to the pain.  We submit ourselves to the Lord, that his will might be accomplished.  And we excitedly anticipate what God will do as he works in our life.

            This partially explains how I feel right now, as I leave the people of Ebenezer and Northwood.  In the few years that I’ve lived among you, I’ve grown to love the people of this church and this community.  And, for this reason, it pains me to leave.

            I am also not a person who enjoys moving around a great deal.  I like stability.  I prefer to build long-term relationships.  I feel that the best ministry can take place once the pastor and the congregation get past the “honeymoon” phase into the comfortable routine of life together.  And for this reason, in my mind, it’s much too soon for me to move on.

            However, that being said, I’m also excited to see what the Lord has in store.  I know that his will for me, and for all of us, is good and gracious.  And, for this reason, I believe that the greatest blessing will be experienced when we submit ourselves to his will, no matter how painful it may be.

            For this reason, I want to thank the people of Ebenezer and Northwood for allowing me to serve you the past few years.  Please know that you will be in my prayers.  And I hope that you’ll share my confidence that the Lord will work everything out for our mutual blessing.

            I ask for your continued prayers as my family and I move to Beulah, and I begin serving as pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.  Pray that God will smooth our transition and that he will use us to bless the people of that church and community.

This past week, I was on vacation as I began moving our household to our new home.  However, here is the message from a week ago, as I continued our series on major Bible stories.  We looked at the story of Joseph Sold into Egypt.  And we asked ourselves how we respond to feelings of jealousy and hatred.  To stream or download this message, click on the link.

Content in God's Blessing

In Genesis 29-30, we read about the children who were born to Jacob. And we see that his wives, who were sisters, had a competitive attitude when it came to children. It began when God opened the womb of Leah, because she was not loved like Rachel, and gave her four sons. She envied her sister because of the love Jacob had for her.  And she felt that, because she had given him children, Jacob would finally love her.

     Rachel, however, was barren and was jealous of her sister because of the children God had given her. So she gave her servant to Jacob as a wife that she might build a family through her. With this serpent, Bilhah, Jacob had two sons. When the second was born, she declared that she'd prevailed over her sister.

     The competitive attitude didn't stop there. Because she'd stopped bearing children, Leah also gave her servant to Jacob as a wife. And with this servant, Zilpah, Jacob had two sons.

     At this point, Leah conceived again. She bore two more sons to Jacob. And, again, she was convinced that her husband would honor her because she'd born to him so many sons.

     Then, finally, God opened Rachel's womb and she bore a son. She would later have one more son before dying in childbirth.

     We see in this that Rachel and Leah were jealous of each other. They envied the blessings that God had given the other. Leah envied Rachel and the love that Jacob had for her. And Rachel envied Leah for the children God had given her.

As we read this account, it seems almost ridiculous.  We realize that Rachel should have thanked God for the blessing of a loving husband.  And we realize that Leah should have thanked God for the children he’d given her.  But, instead, they focused not on the blessing God had given to them, but on the blessing given to the other.

     Even knowing that all we have is a gift of God, we often struggle in the same way. Even though God has richly blessed us, we envy the blessings God has given to others. We completely overlook the blessing God has given us.  We aren't satisfied with the grace God has given us. We want even more.

     Some women, who struggle to get pregnant, envy those who have several children. Mothers with many children sometimes envy the freedom of those who have no children. Mothers who work outside of the home envy mothers who are able to stay home with their children. And mothers who stay home with their children envy those who have an outside career..

     Even though they have a great job, men will often envy others who have a job with more responsibility, or a job that pays more. Even though God has given them a nice home, they envy those who have a bigger or nicer home.

     We even see this in ministry. Even though God has called them to serve him in ministry, which is a great honor in itself, some pastors become envious of others who serve in a larger congregation or who have more exposure.

     Instead of being envious of one another, we should rejoice in the ways that God has blessed others. And we should be thankful for the many ways in which God has blessed us.  Why God chooses to bless us in one way and someone else in another, we can't be sure. But, regardless of the reason, our own blessing is absolutely sure.

Longing for His Blessing

            In Biblical times, parents didn’t simply choose a random name for their child.  They didn’t go through the list of most popular names in their effort to choose the right one for their baby.  Names typically reflected the character of the child or, at times, the promise of God given to a child.

            We can see an example of this when we look at the story of Esau and Jacob in Genesis 25.  They were twins.  However, Esau was born first.

            When Esau was born, he was red.  His body is described as a hairy cloak.  And this is why he was given the name Esau.  It means “red.”

            Jacob came out of the womb with his hand holding Esau’s heel.  It seemed to his parents that he was trying to prevent Esau from being born first.  So they gave him his name, which means “he takes by the heel” or “he cheats.”

            When we consider their reasoning, we can understand why they chose this name for their second son.  He did emerge from the womb grasping the heel of his brother.  However, in another sense, this name hardly seems endearing.  After all, who would want to name their son “cheater?”

            Yet, even though his name may seem far from appealing to us, it reflects a quality in Jacob that’s essential for us to possess.  As an infant, it seemed that he desired to be born first.  And this was not simply a random occurrence.  We see that, as he grew, he desired the benefits of the firstborn.

            In their culture, the firstborn child was entitled to the birthright.  This meant that he would receive a double portion of the inheritance, and that he would be the leader of the family when their father passed.  In the case of Esau and Jacob, it also included the blessing of God which had been given to their grandfather, Abraham, and then passed to their father, Isaac.

            We see his desire as he took advantage of Esau.  After coming back exhausted from a day of hunting, and finding his brother cooking stew, Esau asked Jacob to share it with him.  Jacob, however, demanded Esau’s birthright in exchange for the stew.  It seems ridiculous that Esau gave in to Jacob’s demands.  But it seems equally absurd that Jacob was unwilling to share the stew with his brother and demanded something so valuable for so little a price.

            We see his desire again as Isaac intended to give his blessing to Esau.  Jacob, with the help of his mother, deceived Isaac.  And, in this way, he received the blessing instead of his brother.

            In no way am I suggesting that Jacob’s actions were right.  After all, God had told his mother before he was born that he would be greater than his brother.  And, for this reason, he should have trusted that God would be faithful to his Word.  He should have simply trusted that God would give to him the blessing.

            However, that being said, Jacob’s desire is one we should all share.  There’s, of course, no way we can scheme to gain possession of God's blessing.  There’s no way we can attain it by our own efforts.  However, knowing what God has done for us in Jesus, and knowing his promise that’s found in Jesus, we should desire his blessing above all else.  We should long for it more than anything this world has to offer.

            

Yesterday, we heard the next message in our series on major Bible stories.  We looked this week at Esau & Jacob and their contrasting attitudes.  We saw that, even though he obtained them wrongly, Jacob greatly desired the blessing of God.  Esau, however, despised his birthright.  We then asked the question, are we more like Jacob or Esau?  The audio file of this message can be streamed or downloaded by clicking on the link.

Abraham's Faith Tested

            In Genesis 22 we see how, after receiving the child of promise, God made a difficult request of Abraham.  God told him to take his son, his only son whom he loved, to a mountain and to sacrifice him as a burnt offering to the Lord.

            We see in this chapter that Abraham did just that.  In fact, we see that he did so without hesitating.  We see that he got up early the next morning, and saddled his donkey.  He took two of his servants, and his son Isaac.  He cut the wood for the burnt offering.  And then he left for the place about which God had told him. 

            As we read this account, it forces us to ask how Abraham could do such a thing.  This question arises for a couple of reasons.  First of all, after waiting 25 years for the fulfillment of God’s promise, after waiting this long for a son to be born to them, how could he kill this son?  How could he take the life of the son he loved?

            Second, as I mentioned, Isaac was the child of promise.  He’s the one through whom God was going to establish his covenant.  It was through Isaac that Abraham would become a great nation.  It was through Isaac that Abraham’s descendants would inherit the land of Canaan.  So how could God’s promise be fulfilled if this very child was put to death?

            We find the answer to this question in Hebrews 11.  Starting in verse 17, we read: “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”

            Even though the promise of God and this command of God seemed contradictory, Abraham believed that the Lord is faithful to his Word.  He believed that, even if he sacrificed his son as God had commanded, the promise of God would be fulfilled through Isaac.  Even if God had to raise Isaac from the dead, his promise would be fulfilled.

            What an example of faith this is for us.  If I were there, in Abraham’s shoes, I doubt that I would display the faith that we see in his actions.  I think I would begin to doubt and to question the Lord.  I think I’d get so rattled that I would fail to act on his command.

            In all reality, I’ve failed to trust in God’s faithfulness in lesser circumstances.  At times, I’ve allowed my emotions to hinder my faithfulness.  I’ve allowed by reason to sabotage my trust in the Lord.  I’ve allowed my own wants and my own desires to entice me away from the great blessing God has for me.

            We’ve all failed in this regard.  However, like Abraham, we can be absolutely confident in God’s promise.  As God asked when Sarah laughed at the notion of bearing a child: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” No matter how things seem outwardly, and no matter how unreasonable they may seem in our mind, God is certainly able to keep his Word.

            The question we must ask ourselves is this: Are we willing to trust the Lord no matter how unreasonable it seems?  Will we cling to the Lord’s promise even when it doesn’t seem rational?  If we truly know that the Lord is faithful, and if we truly know his power, there is no reason we should fail to do so.  Like Abraham, we can heed his Word leaving the outcome in his hands.

Yesterday, as we continued our look at major Bible stories, we talked again about Abraham.  And we looked specifically at: Abraham's Faith Tested.  We saw how God commanded him to sacrifice his son, the son of the promise, and how Abraham was able to do so.  From this, we saw that our actions are a direct response to our faith.  We saw that, if we have faith within our heart, it will be expressed in our life.  To stream or download the audio file, click on the link.

This past Wednesday, Pastor Nate continued our series on the Passion history by looking at Judas' Betrayal.  Again, for the audio, click on the link.

We held our annual men's conference on Saturday, with Pastor Jonathan Unverzagt.  Our focus was on passing the faith to the next generation.  Session 1 can be downloaded at this link.  Session 2 is found here.  And Session 3 is here.