Remember Your Identity!

I read through the Story of Jesus' birth in Matthew this morning, During this next couple weeks leading up to Christmas day, please read through the narratives on Jesus' birth found in Matthew 1:1-2:12 and Luke 1:26-35, and 2:1-21. 

"Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with Child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us'" (Matthew 1:18:23).

Before the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph of his destiny, the angel reminded him of his identity.  The angel said, “Joseph, Son of David”, Joseph was a "son of David." He came from the royal bloodline of the King of Israel.  He was a member of the chosen people of God. Though he was carpenter and probably a very simple man, living a very simple life, he also had royal lineage.

Once he was reminded and secure in his identity, Joseph could then fulfill his destiny. "When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a Son; and he named Him Jesus" (v. 1:24-25).

You need to be reminded and secure in your identity. Like Joseph, you are also a royal son or daughter with a royal bloodline. Through Christ, you are a son or daughter of God, a child of the one true King.  "For in Christ (we) are all children of God through faith" (Galatians 3:26). Through Christ, I am also a rightful heir according to the promises of God (Galatians 3:29).

Through Jesus the Messiah, who came and saved you from all your sins, you are cleansed by His royal blood and can take your place in His royal bloodline (1 John 1:9). You can rest secure in your identity and fulfill your destiny as a part of "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that (you) may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called (you) out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, You are sons and daughters of the King of Kings! Take Time today to meditate on this identity.  I pray through time spent in the Holy Spirit, you will know the security of your identity as a child of God in the royal bloodline of Jesus Christ and live out your destiny serving and glorifying Him with your life today in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

 Please share your reflections and/or questions in the comment box below.

Those That No One Else Wants.

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." -Luke 23:39-42

I am serving on the Kairos prison ministry team going into St. Clair Correctional Institution for 4 day this coming Thursday –Sunday, the 10th-13th.  We are going in to share the Gospel with a group of its inmates.  St. Clair is a level 5 maximum security prison.  In the past year, there were more deaths per inmate in St. Clair then any other prison in the U.S.    One of the things each of the team members do is write each of the 29 men a letter they get Sunday afternoon.  I sat down now to start this and I am going through the list of 29 men I will be spending 4 days locked up with, and now I am beginning to write letters to them.

·      24 have murder, manslaughter or attempted murder convictions

·      9 have rape, sodomy, sexual torture, and/or child molestation convictions

·      Most have robbery and burglary charges

·      Only one has a sentence of 20 years or less

·      28 have sentences or 40 years or more

·      Over half have LWP (life without parole) sentences, they will die in prison.

All three of the prison chapel workers serving on the weekend have LWP sentences and will die in prison, two have murder convictions.

There are ten cha-chas (inmates who serve as table runners and servers on weekend)  All ten have LWP sentences and murder, rape, sodomy convictions.

My daily prayer for myself and One Direction Community is “Lord, send us the ones no one else wants.”  The Lord is sending me to them next week.  And I know the Lord is going before me, because if he does not my time and the time there of our Kairos team will not bare fruit.  Changing and restoring these guys are way above our “pay grade,” but not above the one who out of love paid the ultimate price on the cross.  His love and blood covers a multitude of sins: mine, yours and those of these 29 men.  It is the covering of his blood that allows me, you and these men to be numbered with those who; “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Rev.7:9.)

And my prayer and hope is that because of these 4 days in prison, convicted rapists and murders, the ones no one wants, will be among the multitude standing next to you and I before Christ’s throne.

Read Luke 23:39-42; Matt 11:19, 25:35-40, Mark 2:15-17; 1 Peter 3:18-19

Each morning in prison, we will begin each gathering with this prayer that follows.  Pray it out loud into your community and your environment.  Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to put in your path those that no one else wants.    

Jesus, come join us

in our journey

as we seek your will

for this community

in this environment.

Teach us to love each others

as you love us

to give ourselves

as you give yourself

that the kingdom of God

might be made present to all.

Are you prepared?

First, both my voice and heart are a little rough this morning after my Cleveland Indians came up one run short in their 8-7 loss in extra innings to the Chicago Cubs last night in Game 7 of the World Series.  As we Cleveland fans are so often heard saying,  "There's always next year!"

I’m often asked how our organic simple church movement is doing and if I feel we are accomplishing all that I had hoped. I had that conversation yesterday at a Starbucks with a fellow brother in Christ.  The answer is no. We are not the movement that I hoped for… yet.  But that is partly because I have always felt that part of what we were doing was preparing the church for what is coming: persecution. I see our work as sowing seeds for a future harvest, and I believe that future is getting closer every day. Am I some fringe conspiracy theorist or “prepper”?  No.  But I’m not impartial on the question. In all of history, the freedom we have experienced in America in our lifetime is actually an anomaly. The Bible makes clear that those who follow Christ will be hated and will endure persecution. I suspect there is good reason for my thinking, but if I am wrong and persecution doesn’t come, I have not lost anything. But if it does and we are unprepared then we have lost much. We have this generation to make a difference in and will give account of what we did with the time given to us. I feel called to prepare God’s people for a future that is less open and free, but far more fruitful.

One of the heroes of my faith is Watchman Nee. God used him (and others like him) to prepare the church in China before the Communist revolution took over. He launched the “Little Flock” movement, which was a radical departure from the Western church model that had been planted in China prior. It was smaller, simpler in structure, in houses, inexpensive and reproducible. The churches met in smaller gatherings in homes led by ordinary people with real jobs. He brought the same sort of preparation that I have been devoted to enacting.

When the communists took power they arrested the church leaders (like Nee), seized all church property, kicked out all missionaries and burned all Christian literature. The organic expressions of simple churches meeting in homes not only survived…they thrived. The Cultural Revolution of Mao Zedong sought to eliminate all religion from society in China, but instead mobilized the church and it grew from about 2 million Christians in 1949 to over 60 million. It is estimated today that there may be upwards of 80 million Christians in China.

Contrast this with the church of Russia. The Russian Church was dependent upon three things: holy buildings, holy men in robes, and holy services performed by those men in those robes and in those buildings. When the communists took over Russia, they seized all the buildings and arrested and persecuted all the leaders of the church. The church was devastated. It did not thrive. Granted, there was a remnant that struggled to survive underground, but the Christ followers were not able to see the exponential growth the Chinese church did.

I carry deep inside a feeling that part of everything I am doing now is just preparing the bride of Christ for what is to come. Like Nee, I have been striving to bring health and simplicity back to the church, and with that an ability to ride out any storm that may come.

If tomorrow the church you attend and all those around you were seized and all the buildings, worship centers, and materials burned to the ground, pastors and priests arrested and/or killed, what would surface out of it?  What would reproduce? What would you do?  Are you being prepared to share the Gospel, your testimony, make disciples and lead a simple church?  Are you prepared to “Go and make disciples”? (Matt.28:19)

Read John 15:20-21; 1 Timothy 3:12; 1 Corinthians 4:8-13; Matthew 5:10-12; and Luke 2:10-12.  Then spend time in prayer reading again the last paragraph above and reflect on how persecution proof and reproducible is your faith.

 Please post your reflections, questions, and prayers below in the comment box. 

Jesus is Lord

At the core, the DNA of your identity and the identity of The Church has to be the belief in and surrendering to the statement, "Jesus is Lord."  Belief and conviction in the Lordship of Jesus is at the heart of discipleship and the heart of being a follower of Jesus.  I don't believe the church in the west is doing "Jesus is Lord" well.  We have a "Jesus is Lord" problem. 

 My morning comments are shorter this morning because my attached video is longer.  The video is a recording of an one hour webinar I participated in with  Alan Hirsch, Jessie Cruickshank, Neil Cole & Dave Rhodes.  The conversations and reflections in the video get to the heart of "Jesus is Lord,"  and real Christianity.

 I highly encourage you take the time to watch this video and I would love to hear your comments.   

Why Jesus wouldn't attend the "Harvest Party" at your church.

Or 3 PRACTICAL WAYS TO BE MISSIONAL THIS HALLOWEEN 

Halloween is coming upon us.  It’s interesting to me that for many this becomes a “hot button” topic to discuss. I was sitting in the Waffle House yesterday morning with an ODC member I love and and grateful he is in our life.  Our talk over coffee came to Halloween.  He stated how he hate's Halloween and went on to explain why.   So today I want to address the question: Should we as Christians engage in Halloween or should we abstain? In actuality if you start reading about Halloween’s roots, it’s hard to find an answer of where it came from. But, regardless of where it comes from, the question at hand should be: Why is Halloween celebrated today?  For most of us, Halloween isn’t a time where we celebrate the dead and go and skin a goat and sacrifice it to Satan.  For most of us, it’s a time to dress up our kids as a super hero and send them to strangers’ houses to get free candy.

It has become just part of our culture in the West and has very little to do with the “darkness”…it’s not good, it’s not evil…it’s just something we celebrate, like the 4th of July.  I know we might have stories of darkness, but there are also many stories of overdrinking and evil happening on our other holidays as well.

The whole of the Bible talks of God bringing reconciliation and redemption to all things back to himself.  To bring peace to all things.  Not only that but Paul speaks (1 Cor 8) to us about pagan festivals and says that there is nothing in them that is powerful, because there is only one God and everything and everyone comes through him and are because of him.

Paul then talks about eating food sacrificed to idols…saying…it’s no big deal, unless you have a brother who would be deeply hurt by it because they struggle with the idol and eating of that meat because they actually used to do those things.

 

Here’s how to contextualize for Halloween:

If you have a brother who used to worship Satan and they used to sacrifice goats and drink its blood, then it might be a good idea to work through Halloween with them and whether or not it would make that brother stumble.  This does NOT mean, if you have a brother who thinks it’s merely wrong to celebrate Halloween then you should put it to the side. That’s never the intent with any of the passages of making a brother stumble…if that was the case, many of us would be in sin because of all the things we do that make other Christians merely uncomfortable.  Jesus was not about making people comfortable.

And Jesus would have made many people stumble with the life that he led around sinners as he ate and drank with them.  Again…making a brother stumble and making a brother uncomfortable are completely separate issues.

With all that said, what are we to do with Halloween?  If we are to look to redeem Halloween, what does that mean?  If we are to do all things to the glory of God, what does that look for Halloween?

 

First, a few things you should probably STOP doing:

1  Dressing Your Kid Up as St. Paul or Moses

2  Calling the Halloween Party at your church building a “Harvest Party” and taking all your people away from their neighborhoods

3  Wrapping a tract around an apple and handing it out to the kids who are trick or treating and calling it “evangelizing”

None of these things redeem anything, but just add to the notion that Christians want to be apart from the world and create their own subculture.  Instead, let’s be like Jesus and celebrate like he would have.

 

When we look at the life of Jesus and our God, we see that they always pursued the sinner and the world.  They loved us right where we were and engaged us in the ways that we’d understand who God is and what He has done.

Not only that, but Jesus used the everyday celebrations as a way to build relationships so he could speak into the lives of those around him.  He was continually at parties.  So much so, that when Matthew was called to follow Jesus, it seemed normal to Matthew to invite Jesus and all the apostles back to his house to party with all his “sinner” friends. (Matthew 9:9,10; Mark 2:14-17)

People knew that Jesus was about celebrating, he was about truth, he was about pursuing and he was about building relationships with people. With that in mind, how can we then show people THAT Jesus to our communities during Halloween?

1. Be THAT House

You know “that” house.  When you were a kid and you went to a house and said “trick or treat” and they handed you a full size candy bar, it was like winning the lottery.  It was such good news, you’d tell strangers dressed up like a clown zombie where to find the goods.  Everyone knew that house in the neighborhood and if you didn’t have one in your neighborhood, you’d travel what seemed to be miles to get to that house. Be THAT house.  We have been blessed to be a blessing.  Think about how this shows people the Father.  Everyone is expecting to get a small fun size bar.  It’s what they’ve earned by dressing up and having the courage to knock on your door and say “trick or treat.” What they know they haven’t earned is a full size candy bar…it speaks to this idea of grace and blessing.

You don’t need to tell the kids this, but it starts to tell the story of what your house is about to the neighbors.  It tells a different story than what they expect or are used to and this is exactly the story of the gospel. Spend the extra cash to make that happen.  If you can’t afford it, get your Missional Community to all pitch in.  Ask your church to put it in the budget for next year…whatever you gotta do…be that house! You’ll be amazed at what doors that opens with your neighbors.

2. Be a Welcoming Presence

If our God is about pursuit, blessing and welcoming then what would it look like to be about pursuit on Halloween?  How about instead of staying inside your house, be in the driveway or front porch.  I know this isn’t available for everyone because of weather, but what would it look like in your neighborhood for people to feel welcomed to come to your house and feel blessed by it?

For The Liederbach's, we are going to have fire pit in our front yard. We will be cooking hot dogs over the fire and making s’mores.  We put invitations in all our neighbors mailboxes  It’s a way  for us to come together and hang out and bless our neighborhood.  It shows that we are more than about handing out candy, but we are here to bless the entire family and in a sense, welcome you into our lives.

Again, it shows something quite different than every other house.  I’ve heard of people doing this for years and the neighborhood now expects it and people come and hang out and have a great time meeting neighbors.

If you can’t be outside, how can you bless the families that are walking around your neighborhood?  Maybe offer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc. to the parents and trick or treaters that come to your door.  Again…think, “How can I be a blessing and show that we are a welcoming and pursuing people like our Dad?”

 

3. Celebrate

It is not secret that Jesus loved to party.  So much so, that people kept inviting him to parties.  Pretty amazing to think about.   If we have a Dad in heaven that loves us and accepts us, not for what we do or have done, but because of what his Son has done for us and now we are heirs to the throne of heaven…don’t we have the most to celebrate?

We should be defined as Jesus was defined: a glutton and drunkard.  He was celebrating so much that the religious saw him as a glutton and drunkard but the sinners and the world saw him as a dude that they’d like to hang with. Where have we gone wrong here?  Christians shouldn’t be the ones avoided for parties, but should be the ones that people are most excited to have come around because they bring the “better wine.”

 made it almost a rule in our house that if we are invited to a party…we are going and we are going to think through how we can bless that party as much as possible.   We are always invited to parties because of this. People know what Nancy and I are about, but they also know that when we enter a room we won’t make it weird, but we hopefully make it more enjoyable by being there.  We have literally had people say, “if Jesus is like this…he was a lot different than we’ve ever been told.”

If you aren’t quite there by being invited to parties…this Halloween is a great time to throw one.

Throw a costume party, a pumpkin carving party, a cookie decorating party, have a photo booth at the party, have a party with games for kids.  You can do all kinds of things for Halloween…it’s a party holiday.  By doing this, meaning throwing an awesome party, you start to show off something different about you as a follower of Jesus and showing off who Jesus was and what he was about.

He was about parties because that’s where people were and that’s where people connect and share stories and start and continue relationships.  Halloween is a really funny holiday when we think about it.  But, it’s a holiday that is so easy to build relationships and bless the community and start (or continue) to show off what our Dad is like.

If instead, we turn off our lights, go to our church buildings and we have a “harvest party” we show the world exactly what they’ve always seen about our God.  He is closed off, judgmental and waits for us to come to him.  This isn’t our Dad…he is quite different.  He is welcoming, he is gracious and merciful and he pursues us and can’t wait to celebrate with us. Don’t use this holiday to make a point.  Use this holiday to point to the true reason we all get to celebrate and bless…Jesus.

My guess is that if Jesus lived in our neighborhood, everyone couldn’t wait to go to his house to see what he was going to hand out this year.  Everyone would be excited to go to Jesus’ Halloween party and couldn’t wait to invite him over to their party.   My only question I wonder is “Who would Jesus dress up as for Halloween?” Who knows…but you know it’d be a killer costume.

 

Please add your thoughts or questions in the comments box below.

 

 

Ephesians 6

My wife and daughters are in their Bible group are in a study of putting on the "Full Armor of God."  Hearing her talk about it, prompted me this morning to just spend time again in Ephesians.  A few months ago I went through Ephesians 6:10-20 inserted supporting passages from other parts of the Bible into it to enforce Paul's call to each of us to daily seek to completely cover ourselves in the power and presence of God. So that is were I camped this morning.  

Everything below is taken from Scripture.  Read through it and may these inspired words from God strengthen and encourage you today.  Please share any reflections or revelations of the Holy Spirit from your time spent in God's Word in the comments box below.

Ephesians 6:10-20 (in italics) with corresponding Scriptures inserted.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” 2Tim 2:1

“I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” 1 John 2:14

Put on

“I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

my justice was like a robe and a turban.” Job 29:14

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Rom. 13:12

the whole armor of God,

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” 2 Cor.10:4

that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  

“so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Eph 4:14

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” Col. 1:13

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. 

“When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:53

in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” Eph 2:2

Therefore take up the whole armor of God,

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” 1 Pe 4:1

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

“making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Eph. 5:16-19

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth,

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” 1 Pet. 1:13

“Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” Isa. 11:5

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,” Isa 61:10

“He put on righteousness as a breastplate,

and a helmet of salvation on his head;

he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,

and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.” Isa 59:17

and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

“How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of him who brings good news,

who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,

who publishes salvation,” Isa 52:7

“And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Rom 10:15

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith,

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1Joh 5:4

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,

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.“ Heb 4:12

“He made my mouth like a sharp sword;

in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

he made me a polished arrow;

in his quiver he hid me away.” Isa 49:2

praying at all times

"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart" Lk. 18:1

 in the Spirit,

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit" Jude 1:20.  "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."  Romans 8:26

 with all prayer and supplication.

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak" Col 4:2-4

To that end keep alert with all perseverance,

"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake." Mark 13:32-34

 making supplication for all the saints,

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people," 1 Tim 2:1

 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth

"At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—" Col. 4:3.  "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you," 2Th. 3:1

boldly to proclaim

"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness," Acts 4:29

 the mystery of the gospel, 

"how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly." Eph. 3:3

for which I am an ambassador

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" 2Cor. 5:20

 in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

"For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” Acts 28:20

Imitation and Access

“I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.” 1 Corinthians 4:14-17

Jesus’ life was one of discipleship by allowing people to have access to his life to be able to model it and become disciples themselves.  Jesus’ Great Commission to us at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, vs. 28:19, is “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations….”  Discipleship, becoming and making disciples is at the heart of out Christian faith.  The word “disciple” is contained throughout the four Gospels and all through The Book of Acts of the Apostles up until chapter 21:16, then the word “disciple” never appears again in the Bible. Paul never uses the word once in his letters.  Neither does the word “disciple” appear in John, Peter, Jude or James’s letters, or Hebrews or Revelations. Did making disciples cease to be important to Paul and others?  Absolutely not!!  His whole ministry and journey in life was creating disciples!

Paul however, was focusing and sent to converting gentiles, non-Jews, to faith in Christ.  These non-Jews did not know the word “disciple” in the way the Jews and we do.  The Jews then, and we in the church today have heard this word most of our lives.  The gentiles did not. They did not know of the Rabbi-student process of modeling and imitation.  So Paul used words, terms and action familiar to them.  I posted above 1 Corinthians 4:14-17.  Read it again.  Paul does not use the word “disciple”, but it oozes of discipleship.  “be imitators, remind you, my ways, teach them, guides in Christ, father, beloved children” all these speak and model discipleship in ways those listening could understand.  Paul urged them to “imitate me.”  For him to urge this of people means he had to have given them access to his life where they could walk with him and observe his life, his daily rhythm, to be able to imitate it.

When I meet someone out in the community at the Waffle house of somewhere and someone asks me what I do for a living, I rarely answer I am a “Church Planter, Elder in the UMC, or Pastor.  They of loaded words that only have meaning in a church gathering.  I usually reply I am in “Community Development.”  And then through sharing and giving them access to my life I bring the conversation around to their story and the Gospel story in a way that is relevant and they can understand.  I firmly believe that Christians failing to allow non-Christians and those in the church access to their lives in real tangible ways is why creating disciples in the church is such a struggle. 

Church leaders and others in Sunday services and Bible studies use the word “disciple” and give listeners massive information, definitions and theologies on “Disciple” but never allow people real access to their daily lives, their daily rhythms and walk as a model  and allow them to imitate it.  So people leave those church gatherings full of information and knowing where in the Bible to find the verse on “Love your neighbor” without ever seeing or experiencing what it is like to actually “love your neighbor.” The church gives people vast information on Sunday, and expects them to be disciples and innovators on Monday. The church lives on the tread mill of new information.  If people can just get enough information, hear the word “disciple” enough times in sermons, power points, mission statements and various other ways, it will promote transformation and create disciples.

Discipleship requires imitation. Moving from downloading of information to imitation of a person, mentor, teacher, or parent who gives them access to their lives; their morning, day and evening routines, rhythms, characters, and competencies. Timothy was a disciple of Paul, an imitator of Paul, because Paul gave Timothy access to him, and Timothy went on to greater things than him. We in the church have to give people access to out lives.

Read I Cor. 4:114-17; Acts 17:16-23, heck read the Gospel stories of the life if Jesus.

Then reflect on this in the presence of the Holy Spirit, “Who am I giving access to my life?”  To where and to whom am I intentionally stepping outside of my home (and going to church does not count) to allow others to be exposed to my life, see it, and have discipleship modeled to them so they can imitate it?   Who are your Timothys?  Also, who is your Paul?  Who are you intentionally spending time with to help module your life after Christ? Jesus’ great commission began with the word “go.”  He knew for the people to make disciples, they had to go and give people assess to their lives. 

Please share your thoughts and comments below.   Also share and encourage us with examples and ways you intentionally create margins in your life to allow others to have access to your life.

Ephesians 6:10-20

Good morning!  Yesterday we finished our 30 Day Challenge.  Please contact me or post a comment of your experience from going through the challenge and share any tangible impact on your walk with Christ.  I am praying over what subject, Scriptures to next seen time in.  Let me know if you have any requests.  This morning in my time in the Word I finished time spent in Ephesians 6:10-20 enforcing with Scripture Paul's exhortation to cover ourselves in Christ in our battle against Satan and his demons. Take seriously Paul's call to put on the full armor of God and arm yourself with the sword of the spirit. Press into Jesus who's battle it is and who's victory it is.  So when the evil spirits look at you, with terrified eyes they will see Jesus, and tremble with fear. Take time today to read these Scriptures over your self, your family, and your ministry.

Ephesians 6:10-20 (in bold italics) with corresponding Scriptures inserted.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” 2Tim 2:1

“I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” 1 John 2:14

Put on

“I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

my justice was like a robe and a turban.” Job 29:14

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Rom. 13:12

the whole armor of God,

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” 2 Cor.10:4

that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  

“so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Eph 4:14

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” Col. 1:13

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. 

“When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:53

in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” Eph 2:2

Therefore take up the whole armor of God,

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” 1 Pe 4:1

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

“making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Eph. 5:16-19

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth,

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” 1 Pet. 1:13

“Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” Isa. 11:5

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,” Isa 61:10

“He put on righteousness as a breastplate,

and a helmet of salvation on his head;

he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,

and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.” Isa 59:17

and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

“How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of him who brings good news,

who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,

who publishes salvation,” Isa 52:7

“And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Rom 10:15

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith,

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1Joh 5:4

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,

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.“ Heb 4:12

“He made my mouth like a sharp sword;

in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

he made me a polished arrow;

in his quiver he hid me away.” Isa 49:2

praying at all times

"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart" Lk. 18:1

 in the Spirit,

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit" Jude 1:20.  "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."  Romans 8:26

 with all prayer and supplication.

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak" Col 4:2-4 

To that end keep alert with all perseverance,

"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake." Mark 13:32-34

 making supplication for all the saints,

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people," 1 Tim 2:1

 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth

"At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—" Col. 4:3.  "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you," 2Th. 3:1

boldly to proclaim

"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness," Acts 4:29

 the mystery of the gospel, 

"how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly." Eph. 3:3

for which I am an ambassador

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" 2Cor. 5:20

 in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

"For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” Acts 28:20

30 Day Challenge: Day 3

How do you make a disciple?

First and for most in my desire to make disciples is to personally answer this question, “Am I a disciple worth multiplying?” God does not desire to multiply mediocrity.  He desires to multiply those who exhibit immediate, radical, costly, obedience.  Discipleship is the act and process of modeling and conforming yourself to Christ.  I have come to understand that there is no “easy button” to achieve this; to become or make a disciple.  It requires reading Scripture more than I ever have before, praying more than I ever have before, and being openly accountable to others in the body more than I ever have been before.  How I become or “make” a disciple is simple, but it is not easy.  If I am not willing to consistently embrace and model this, then I cannot effectively lead others to become disciples.  I cannot lead them to a place I myself am not willing to go.  And no program, training, technique or tool, including this 30 day Challenge, I try to use alone can replace lack of obedience.  Am I a disciple worth multiplying?

Day 3 Challenge:  Day 3: Real Disciples

Posts any questions or comments to my thoughts above or in today's challenge as a comment below.  If you want to contact me privately, my email is garyl@odcmadison.com

30 Day Challenge: Day 2

In day two of our challenge we are asked to invite someone to join in taking this challenge with us.   Making Disciples is about making relationships.  For most people who attend a traditionally structured church, wether it is in fact a traditional or contemporary service, they are used to and conditioned to invite people "to" something: They invite people TO their church, TO meet their pastor, TO a worship service, TO an event.  Discipleship however is about about inviting people "INTO" something, a relationship with you.  The goal is not to get them walking into a service or pastor's office, but walking in a relationship with you where you can disciple and hold each other accountable.  Big difference.  However that is not what we have been conditioned or called by the church to do. But a study of the life of Jesus reveals it is what he calls us to do.

Here is the link to day 2:  Day 2: Recruit Another

post your comments below

30 day Challenge: Day 1

One Direction Community is spending the month of August taking a 30 day challenge. We would love for you to spend the time together with us!  Invite your circle of friends to join you!  You can sign up at:  http://moredisciples.com/sign-up-odc/  This will give you a direct access to daily links.

For the challenge: Daily:  Go to link for that day of challenge, read daily Bible passage and commentary, watch the 3-4 minute video, and spend time in prayer.

Weekly: spend one day a week fasting in prayer overcoming a deeper disciple of Christ.

30 Day Challenge: Day 1

Today is the first day of the challenge.  You are asked to reach out and ask another person with the gift of prayer to prayer you daily to keep you on track daily in the challenge.  The video explains the basis of discipleship, the resistance of Satan to you completing this challenge of becoming a disciple, and House Churches.  The video calls House Churches, Disciple Bible Studies. 

Here is the link to today's challenge: http://moredisciples.com/partner/  

Please post any reflections you have during this process as a comment on this conversations blog page for all to discuss.

Morning Encounter with Christ

Good morning everyone,

Yesterday morning I had to go give blood for tests as part of my annual health check-up.  I went to Quest Diagnostics off of Governors Drive.  I went in, signed my name at the window and went and sat down in the waiting room.  It had a large glass window facing the street , and there where about 15 people in the waiting room.   I was there about 5 minutes when outside the window, a woman he was apparently homeless pushing a shopping cart of stuff walked up to the window.  She was dressed sweat pants, a jacket, and winter hat, far more clothes than was needed on a 100 degree day.  She parked her cart in front and came in the door.  Everyone’s eyes in the lobby was looking at her.  She signed in and handed the nurse some kind of if Medicaid form, then turned around looking for a seat to sit in.  Every ones eyes in the waiting room dropped or turned away from her, hoping that she would not sit next to them.  As fate would have it she walked and sat down next to me.

It was apparent to me and others, by the strong smell of body odor that was filling the air around us she had not bathed in awhile.  After she sat down, she bent over and started digging through a large beach-bag type bag she brought in with her filled with items.  She pulled something out and when I looked over I noticed it was a Bible.  I looked over and saw she had turned to 1 John chapter 4.  Her eyes caught mine looking at the Bible and she asked me if I read the Bible.  I said yes mam and I love 1 John.  She said God has been convicting me that I am not loving others like I should.  That I am becoming judgmental and I need to love others more freely.  I said mam, thank you so much for that.  It is a sermon myself and everyone in the waiting room needs to hear. My name was called by the receptionist and I got up and went into the office.

I encountered Christ this yesterday morning, and he smelled and looked like nothing I expected or preferred him to look like.  But then again, I have found he never does.

“Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world…If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.” 1 John 4:15-16, 21-22.

Isaiah Chapter 64

"If only you would tear apart the sky and come down!
The mountains would tremble before you!" V. 1

Isaiah's cry God fulfilled: 

"And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove."  Mark 1:10

Our cries for help have been answered.  Not only do we have a deliverer who tore apart the heavens, but tore apart the grave and the gates of hell when he rose from the dead.  

And that same spirit that tore apart the heavens and descended on Jesus at his baptism, and descended into hell and brought out of the grave, has descended on you at your baptism and all those cry out in faith to God.  

Those in Christ, remember who resides in you this morning.  Those of you who have not yet cried out to God, there is a Holy Spirit that longs to tear through heaven and earth to deliver you from any hell-like gates you find yourself trapped behind.

Isaiah Chapter 59

"No one is concerned about justice;
no one sets forth his case truthfully.
They depend on false words and tell lies;
they conceive of oppression
and give birth to sin" v.4

In chapter 57 Isaiah condemned Israel for its turning to false God’s and the decline and absence of leaders who are righteous and have a heart for God.  In chapter 58 he points out their hypocritical fasting and religious acts that instead of bringing God pleasure, actually disgust him. In chapter 59 Isaiah points to their lack of any desire of justice and honesty in their lives and treatment of others. 

 Each of these chapters speaks about prayer. In chapter 57 it was not answered because it was not addressed to the true God (57:13 but to other idols in their lives as well.   In chapter 58 God ignores their prayers because the petitioners are hypocrites (58:4) putting on a fake religious “show” for themselves while acting in sin towards others.   Here in chapter 59 their prayers are not heard because they pray for justice for themselves, while they lie to and don’t treat those around them with justice. 

When we communicate with someone, we know if they are “fake” with us and if effects our response to them.  If a co-worker is spreading lies about you and trying to make you look bad to others, and then comes and compliments you, it means nothing to you.   If you know your spouse is cheating on you, and they come home and say they love you, it makes your stomach turn.  If a friend breaks a date with you and lies and says they were sick, and you find out they went out with others instead and did not include you, then call you the next day asking for a favor you are hurt and resentful. 

Prayer is our communication with God.   All these things I mentioned above that effect our feelings and responses to others: honesty, respect, faithfulness, integrity, love, commitment, caring; somehow we feel do not effect God’s response to us.  Isaiah is saying here; we know that the way we treat others is important to that relationship and impacts it.  Why don’t we feel the same way about our relationship with God?  Will he always love you, yes.  But treating your spouse or parents like crap and taking advantage of them because you know they will always love you and be there for you is a pretty crappy way to respond to their love.  It is also a pretty crappy way to respond to God’s love for you.  

Take a few moments today and let God know, that though you may not have said it in a while. You do love him.  Then sit and listen to his response.

Isaiah 58

“Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires,

you oppress your workers.  Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments, brawls, and fistfights. Is this really the kind of fasting I want?...

Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves,

bowing their heads like a reed

and stretching out on sackcloth and ashes?

Is this really what you call a fast,

a day that is pleasing to the Lord” vs. 3-5

This chapter that addresses religion, fasting, and the Sabbath. God begins by declaring, and not in a calm voice but at the top of his lungs, that formal religion does not make a difference in human relationships, and can actually lead to the development of pride.  He speaks against the faithfulness and following of religion and religious practices that are superficial, simply routine, and that people do to be seen as “part of the church crowd” and not of their heart.  Persons who practice these assume they are people of God because of these superficial practices, because “they attend church,” because of their tradition and heritage. But because it is not from the heart (which God sees and knows) these practices do not extend to or impact the way they treat other people, especially people who do not have the same power, resources, or are not part of their “In” church crowd. The only reason they have received grace in the first place. Is to allow that grace to flow out of them, true worshippers of God, to everyone around them.

Isaiah declares that though people claim or think that their religious practices and purposes are to win special favor with God, the reason is to gain favor and an advantage in todays dog-eat-dog world and struggle to gain success, possessions, position and power.  Is this why God instituted forms of religion?  No! But to be symbols of an attitude of submission, surrender, trust, that will form a change in the heart and behavior of his people.  With that attitude which is evident in one's life by a change of heart and behavior, the forms of religion are not sources of divine pleasure to God, but of divine disgust.

Why do you do the forms of religion you do?  Why do you read the Bible, attend Sunday church, hang a cross on your wall or around your neck, and pray?  Is it to make you feel good about yourself, part of the in crowd, a source of pride and hoping God will bless you with a better job, more possessions and an easier more comfortable life?  Or is it to create in you a heart and behavior of surrender and submission that those forms of religion where intended to create?  One that allows you to imitate Jesus and his heart and enables you to do as God desires of you.  “I want you to share your food with the hungry and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. When you see someone naked, clothe him! Donʼt turn your back on your own flesh and blood!” v.7

Fast today and get real with your motives and your God.

Isaiah 57

The godly perish,

but no one cares.

Honest people disappear,

when no one minds

that the godly disappear because of evil. (V. 1, NET)

The righteous man perishes,

and no one lays it to heart;

devout men are taken away,

while no one understands.

For the righteous man is taken away from calamity (V.1 ESV)

These words hit home today.  Isaiah is pointing out that the leaders and leadership in the church and society have lost the sense of spiritual direction and truth that should give meaning to their lives, and they have settled for what always rushes in to fill a spiritual vacuum, the desires of the flesh.  The result is a downward spiral for them and those around them.  As they become more concerned in pampering themselves and in trying to find meaning in pleasure, the become less able to warn their people, and their lives become more meaningless. 

The end is that they become stuck in a rut spiritually and physically, they find themselves repeating the same monotonous tasks and religious routines over and over.  We will do tomorrow what we did today.

Those who are supposed to lead the church, lead their communities, and lead their families; are caught in a spiral of increasing concern for their own comfort, satisfaction, and pleasure and are unaware of its result.  And because of their failure in leadership, people are caught in the same trap and are unequally unaware of what is happening.  What is happening?  The righteous person is disappearing from society: faithful men (and women) are dying off and disappearing.  And hardly anyone notices it, and those that do notice, do not stop in their consumer driven life long enough to take it to heart.  Isaiah states that if they would stop and think about it for a moment, they would see that it is because of evil, and a result of evil that it is happening.

 Isaiah wrote this about Israel over 2,500 years ago, and it rings true in Huntsville and Madison today.  I may nod and agree with this statement, but what am I going to do about it? Am I going to nod and say it is a shame and continue in my frantic consumer-driven schedule, or am I going to listen to Isaiah’s cry, a cry that comes from the heart of God and take what is happening to heart.  Society does not need any more blind, selfish, gluttonous leaders.  It needs righteous leaders, but it is they who are disappearing.

I posted this online FB and sent out an email yesterday and I am posting it again here.  “Tomorrow Lets take time to pray throughout the day, and take to heart what kind of leaders we are.  Thursday the 7th: Day of Fasting and Prayer. We are reading through the book of Isaiah together. Thursday we will be on chapter 58. This is one of the greatest teaching on fasting in the Bible. I am asking that we fast starting at sunset Wednesday evening to sunset Thursday evening. Read Isaiah 58 Wednesday evening and Thursday morning and meditate and pray over it and your ministry, leadership, and that of ODC. All who can participate, for as long as you can participate, please do.”

Isaiah 56

“Thus says the Lord:

“Keep justice, and do righteousness

 for soon my salvation will come,

and my righteousness be revealed” v. 1

Isaiah is an amazing book. I hope you can see by are time already spent in it why it has such a great theological impact on the New Testament. 

As a side note, the word “Theology” comes from two Greek words: “Theos” meaning ‘God”, and “Logos” meaning “Word.”   So Christian theology is simply an attempt to understand God as He is revealed in the Bible.  When you hear some talk about the theology of a book, section, or passage of the Bible, they are asking what is what we are reading trying to teach us or reveal to us about God.  And a Theologian, is simply a person who invests time and wrestles with discovering and discerning these revelations from God.  In our house churches when after reading a bible passage and we ask each other; “What does this passage teach us about God?”  “What does it teach us about his relationship to people?  We are actually looking into the theology of that passage.   So above when I said, “why it (Isaiah) has such a great theological impact on the New Testament.”  I am saying that the Jews had an understanding of God and the “Servant” from their reading of Isaiah.  This understanding of God and the Servant, was the “lens” through which the Jews, as well as the apostles, Paul, and James experienced Jesus, and God through Jesus, and it comes out in their Gospels and letters.  It also comes out in the teachings of Jesus.  So it is important to understand this “lens” they are looking through, to understand some of what they experienced and wrote.  Just like understanding the “lens” though which someone sees God: Church of Christ, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Jehovah Witness, Holiness, Baptist, Morman..ect will give you an insight into how they experience and understand God.  

After reading the first 55 chapters, and the closing truths of chapter 55, you would think, Why add anything more?  What could possibly be added to the promise of return to their land and the forgiveness of their sins, both by the pure grace of God?  What theological understanding did Isaiah feel needed yet to be shared in the last 10 chapters?  The central idea of Isaiah I believe is the necessity in the living out of God’s righteousness, given to us by grace as explained in the previous chapters, and the inability of failure of people to do it.  Isaiah also looks at the question, What qualifies a person to be among God’s elect?  Is it a matter of grace by reason of ones birthright or is it a matter of works?

This whole book flows out of chapter 6 when a “man of unclean lips” sees something of the holy glory of God, receives a fiery cleansing from God, then steps out is trust and obedience to proclaim to Israel the message that there is only One Holy God.  In chapters 56-66, Isaiah looks at what happens when “people of unclean lips” get a vision of God, receive grace, forgiveness, and deliverance, and are now enabled to live as God lives. 

The grace of God in delivering from uncleanness is not for the servants, those in the churches enjoyment but in order for the word to get out to all that there is only One Holy God, one righteous Savior and that the whole world needs to know him.  The grace of God is free, but those who receive it are called to live it out and all its implications in their life,   And there is the problem.  It has been demonstrated throughout history over and over people cannot live out their God’s character.  Are those who have been delivered from their sins by the grace of God simply doomed to ruin God’s name over and over again?  Does the salvation of God involve something more? Is there power in God to enable one to live out the covenant to God in faithfulness-not a power one has gained in oneseslf, but a power that one can constantly draw from God?  The answer Isaiah gives in these last 10 chapters is a resounding, YES!!  Those who choose to make the Servant an offering for sin may also find in him the power to live the lives of the servants of God.

56:1-8 makes it shockingly clear those who are those servants especially pleasing to God.  It is not those who are in the blood line of Abraham.  Those who maintain the basic cultic way and religion that define the people.  His people are anyone who reveals a loving relationship with him by living his life.  It is not to whom or where you were born, but character that marks a servant of God. 

Isaiah 55

Isaiah 55

“..they will be a monument to the Lord,

a permanent reminder that will remain.” V.13

This chapter is one full of encouragement and hope!  Something has happened that has completely changed the picture.  If they will, God’s people can see the face of God, one that is welcoming!  What has happened to account for this change?  One thing only: Isaiah’s announcement of the work of the Servant.  Because of what he has done, God’s face towards his people is no longer stormy L but sunny J! The only thing they must do, is only thing we must do as well: accept the sin offering that the Servant has made and receive the mercy of God and all that that offering contains.

And as verse 13 states, if they do this, they, and we as well, will be able to be the servants of God in the world, a position the book has been hoping for and looking to at least since chapter 2.  Fulfilling God’s plan for us as his disciples to be his servants of hope in the world.  It is the same plan God had for designing and creating you.

Isaiah chapter 53

"Who would have believed what we just heard?

When was the Lord’s power revealed through him?" V.1

The nations will be shocked because they have never heard of a deliver who would be willing to fall so low in order to deliver them.  Who could have believed that when the “arm of the Lord” was made known and came to deliver his people it would look like this? The shocking essence of the Servant is expanded to include the entire unexpected nature of his ministry.

This man does not fit our picture of God’s deliverer at all.  We are not drawn to him or his plans, “He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth.  Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block.” V.7,  rather we are repulsed by him and them.

Jesus’ birth did not shake the Roman Empire, he was born in some back stable of a village in.  The revelation of him to the world was simply that of a man quietly coming to the great preacher of the day and asking to be baptized.  We were expecting s costumed drum major to lead a triumphal parade.  Our eyes get caught up in and love superficial spendor.  This man, says Isaiah, will have none of that.

“He was despised and rejected by people….v3” He was considered someone worthless, unworthy of attention.  In the eyes of the world, He is not one of the winners, he is one of the losers. And losers can not deliver other losers.  Thus the revelation of the Servant of the Lord who will deliver the Lord’s people is net with shock, astonishment, distaste, avoidance, and dismissed.

Yet in this Servant, God has found a way to both gratify his love and satisfy his justice.

Isaiah 53 is an amazing revelation of the both the extreme love and the extreme justice that is at the heart of God’s desire to save his people, and the instrument through which he will save his people, the Servant,  Jesus Christ. 

I have spent time in “church” today.  This chapter has drawn me to read it over and over.  And I could write pages of thoughts on it that are filling my heart and head.  I shared just a little of them.  I would love to hear your thoughts and revelations from this chapter.

Isaiah 48

Isaiah 48

“I did this because I know how stubborn you are.

Your neck muscles are like iron

and your forehead like bronze. “ v.4

Isaiah points out the central crisis of the Israelites faith not only in the exile in Babylon, but as far back as the Exodus was, Who is God?  Because of nations like Assyria and Babylon, powers in 750-550bc that seemed to dominate the events of the world they questioned, Who controls History?  The transparent, transcendent Lord that can not be seen, or the gods represented by nations, leaders, and materials with physical attributes that could be seen and touched and where on display all around them?  We wrestle with those same questions today, Who is God?  Who controls history? People get confused and mislead by theconstant and “in-your-face” presence of gods of finance, nationalism, governments, materialism, that appear to control everything in life.

The cry of Isaiah is, Will you trust God? Israel cried out they could not trust God to protect them from Assyria.  They cried out could not trust god to deliver them from Babylon.  Yet he did do both. 

Isaiah’s cry is to us today as well, Will humanity today respond and trust God?  Will you in whatever crisis you find yourself trust in God to deliver you?  God’s trustworthiness has been demonstrated over and over, his grace has been offered over and over, but it is for nothing unless we choose to trust in him and receive it. 

We are today of the same mold as the Israelites.  We have “iron necks and bronze foreheads” and we fight with pride to surrender to the trust of God because it does not come naturally to us who are also children of Adam and Eve. Our flesh is tainted with their sin of pride.  Thank God for Christ Jesus and his Holy Spirit in which all things are possible and only in daily reliance in him can we overcome our flesh, trust in God, and receive his grace and delivereance.

Trust and obey

For there’s no other way,

To be happy in Jesus,

Than to trust and obey.