Light-work

Cancel-Proof Your Faith: First Principle

A Recent Sermon

https://vimeo.com/541382048

Ready for a New Day?

What a year 2020 was! Everyone seems ready to “get back to normal.” So I have to ask, “Is 'normal' a truly attractive prospect?” The term can refer to what is typical or to be expected. So what can we expect in 2021 and beyond? Is it reasonable to anticipate the coming new day as an improvement?

Jesus (and the other New Testament writers) have perfect insight into what we can expect in the days ahead. Their descriptions are a bit sobering. For example, on the night in which Jesus was betrayed, He prayed for His disciples, including us! Here is one of His prayer requests for you and me: “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14). The world views Jesus folk just as they view Jesus. We are aliens, as in off-world aliens. (Remember the movie Independence Day?) We are a threat, not an asset. We are a problem to be dealt with. The Apostle John got Jesus’ point and later cautioned us to do a reality check: Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you (1 John 3:13).

Jesus and John want us to understand what normal looks like for those who follow Jesus. We will be hated by the world. Do not look so shocked! As our world trends toward this normal, we who are devoted to Jesus will increasingly be considered a roadblock to “progress.”

Jesus provided an extended teaching session about what this approaching normal looks like. His description concerns the season before things ramp up at the end. In other words, Jesus is not describing the end. He is describing what we should expect life to be like before things ramp up. Jesus is describing the now.

And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Mark 13:5–13).

Wars and the threat of war, earthquakes, food shortages - these will be normal before we ever even come to the end. Daring to think or express what Jesus teaches will get you arrested, beaten, and condemned in court. You will not be safe at home, either. Fathers will turn in their children and children will turn in their parents and consign them to death. Doesn’t sound so good, does it? But this will be and even now is becoming the norm.

When Jesus talks about enduring to the end, He is not talking about physical survival. He is talking about staying true to Christ (enduring) right to the end of life. He is talking about losing your life in the name of staying true to Him.

I offer no comments on the recent election, economic developments, and the Covid crisis. These are but side-shows to a larger drama. Things are moving inexorably to “normal,” a normal in which naming the name of Jesus is costly. Persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ are already quite well acquainted with what we should expect. Get used to it - embrace it! We will be increasingly hated for our allegiance to Him.

You might object, "Yes, but I know a lot of folks who don't love Jesus but who don't hate me. Maybe Jesus and John are not talking about my normal?" Good question - stay tuned.

Sea-Quake Devo

 

We are not the first to feel like we are in over our head. Here are some two minute devotionals that explore a similar experience for thirteen men in a boat.  Click on a link to go to YouTube: Monday     Tuesday     Thursday     Friday

 

Where the Fire Has Fallen

I sometimes share the Gospel using what I call "The Darkened Circle" approach. You can download a PDF by clicking here. Learn this well enough and you will be surprised how often it comes in handy!

Survivor Strategy: Where are you safest?

What would you think if you invented something, made something brand new totally from scratch, only to discover it developed a mind of its own and defied you! That’s what happened at the dawn of time when God created mankind. You know the story: God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a garden where they enjoyed every good thing a man and woman could want. Sweet!

God is absolutely holy and nothing unholy can stand in His presence. So as long as Adam and Eve did not eat the forbidden fruit, enjoying God and His company was a natural delight. When they ate the forbidden fruit, everything changed: Something dark gained a foothold in their souls. Adam and Eve wanted to hide from God and instinctively knew that their unholiness separated them from God.

They were the first of our kind to experience this sickening sensation, but every son of Adam and daughter of Eve knows the feeling. We do something wrong and we experience guilt. We know we are doing what God despises. We KNOW that we deserve God’s judgment.

We are not mistaken! The Bible is clear that sin leads to judgment: Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry - On account of these the wrath of God is coming (Colossians 3:5-6). A day is coming. It hasn’t yet arrived, but it surely will! The wrath of God will fall like a consuming fire and every son of Adam and daughter of Eve stands in its path.

But this hasn’t happened yet. Why? The answer lies in something God reveals about Himself: Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “and not rather that he should turn from his way and live (Ezekiel 18:23-24)? Although we all deserve God’s wrath, God prefers something else for us.

“The Sin Problem” is not like going to the moon or smashing an atom. Meeting those challenges took tremendous amounts of time, money, and human effort, to be sure, but these problems were within man’s power to solve. The sin problem is something else. Even with all the time and money in the world, and all the human effort men might muster, the sin problem will still glare back at us, menacing and undiminished.

There is only one solution for this problem: If a sinless man volunteers to stand in the sinner’s place and receive the full brunt of God’s wrath as deserved by the sinner, then the sinner can be freed from God’s wrath! Did you notice the key characteristic of this volunteer? He must be sinless!

There is only one Son of Adam qualified to pull this off, Jesus. And the Bible tells us that the only one suited to fulfill the mission actually volunteered for it: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus died for sinners. Better yet, He succeeded! The fact that Jesus arose from the grave demonstrates that He successfully satisfied God’s wrath and defeated death.

It is hard to imagine what transpired on the cross when God’s wrath reserved for sinners fell on His own Son. Although Jesus was silent while being tortured and ridiculed on the way to the cross, He only cried out in anguish of soul when God’s wrath actually fell. As the cross was shrouded in darkness, He shouted, “My God, My God, Why have You forsaken me” (Mark 15:34)? The searing heat of God’s judgment of the sins of all men was concentrated and focused on God’s Son in a moment in time. Although the ground around the cross was stained red, we can also imagine a black circle of scorched earth where the wrath of God fell.

In a firestorm, everything in the path of the fire is consumed. There is only one safe place, the scorched earth where the flames have already passed. It is the same with God’s wrath. It will someday fall and consume sinners. But there is one safe place for sinners, the blackened circle where fire has already fallen.

Here is the most amazing truth! There is no admission price to step into the blackened circle!! God offers entrance to all who desire it. The only price of admission is an admission that you have nothing by which to purchase your access. Being able to stand in the blackened circle is a gift!

God says in the Bible, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). One man elects to receive what he deserves: He will reap death. Another man abandons the notion that he can earn God’s favor and instead chooses to receive salvation as a gift. This man receives all the benefit of what Jesus purchased on his behalf, eternal life in God’s presence.

So all men face a simple but profound choice: (1) Try to earn God’s favor or (2) despair of earning it and receive it as a free gift. If you want to do the latter, it is easy to do. God is here with you right now and you can talk to Him. He will hear you! And you can tell Him something like this:

“God, I know you created me and I am accountable to You. But I am a sinner who has defied You and disappointed You. I deserve your wrath, but I also believe that Jesus volunteered to die in my place. When He did so on the cross, He paid for all my sins and experienced the wrath that I deserve. I am choosing to stand right now at the foot of the cross where your wrath already fell and am receiving salvation in Jesus as your free gift to me. I am profoundly grateful for what you have done and am choosing to live, from this day forward, in a way that declares my unending gratitude. Thank you for your gift of salvation in Jesus – Amen!”

Waiting for Dawn to Break

It was an honor and privilege to speak at Central Church last Sunday. This sermon was intended to minister encouragement to those who are facing difficulty and seemed to connnect for many. You can check it out by clicking here. Maybe you know someone who yearns to see dawn break as they walk in a dark place. This message explains how to (1) identify fear talking, (2) follow the twin tail lights, and (3) wait in trust for maximum effect.

Mountain Appointment

Up to this point, the people knew about God as their deliverer from Egyptian bondage. But now they were scheduled for a face-to-face meeting at a mountain. Here's Moses summary: “So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain” (Exodus 19:16–17).

Yes, you read that correctly. Moses brought the people to meet God! They were to be introduced to the One responsible for their freedom, the One who had humbled the power of Egypt and defied the arrogance of Pharaoh to set His people free.

A meeting like this awaits us in the future! God will humble those who oppose Him and deliver us from His enemies. And then, we will come to a mountain for a face-to-face meeting with the One responsible for OUR deliverance! Can't wait!

Would you like to know more about this appointment with God? Check out the latest addition to the light work resource library - Revelation Sermon Sampler. These are audio only recordings of two selected sermons from the Revelation series delivered at Collierville Bible Church in 2009 / 2010.  (There are 61 sermons in the complete series on Revelation.) These two messages lay vital ground work for understanding The Book of Revelation and can help you get ready for your appointment with God.

Priorities, Part 4: Hat Trick

  

 

If you have tracked with me in the previous three posts (see links below), then you never ever have to say something stupid like “God is my first priority, then my spouse, then my family, then my church, then my job...” This notion of a hierarchy of priorities is neither biblical nor practical. In fact, this 123 plan has more in common with the worship of many gods than devotion to the one true God.

When God presents Himself as the God who is one, He means for us to replace attempts to juggle multiple allegiances with the freedom of pleasing just Him. Living for God alone is also the smart play: We are trusting in the only One who is worthy of perfect trust.

Perhaps you are saying, “That’s all well and good, but you haven’t told me how to relate to my wife and children if I live for God alone.” Let’s take care of that right now! Someone might construe living for God alone as a warrant to say farewell to the world, turn his back on his spouse, children, parents, and church and head to the woods (or monastery) to pray and meditate 24/7. This would be precisely the right thing to do, IF God is expressly asking for it. But in most cases, He isn’t.

God declares in the Bible exactly what He expects of those who live for Him alone. In many cases, these directives are role and gender specific. God wants husbands to conduct themselves in ways that honor Him in their role as husbands. Same for wives, parents, children, citizens, and even servants. The Bible is loaded with guidance about how to honor God in a variety of roles.

The illustration above depicts something similar to Dagon's debacle. A wheel with “God Alone” in the center is knocking down a series of 123 priorities. This wheel illustrates how we can live for God alone as we occupy different roles. The outer circle of this wheel specifies some possible roles occupied by followers of Jesus. I have listed six, but not every role, like “Servant,” “Parent,” or “Spouse,” is relevant to everyone. Further, there are more roles beyond the representative six in this wheel, roles like “Friend,” “Neighbor,” “Employee,” and “Student.”

Think of these roles as hats. At any given moment, you are wearing at least one of these hats. Sometimes, you must switch hats in the blink of an eye. But regardless of which hat you are wearing at any particular moment, your challenge and privilege is to conduct yourself in a way that honors God alone.

This approach to priorities is thoroughly biblical and eminently practical. Here is a general verse: “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Paul’s principle is: “Regardless of what you are doing, even the small stuff, do it for God alone.” It doesn’t matter what hat you are wearing, conduct yourself in a way that honors God.

Here are some verses that are gender and role specific: “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). When a woman operates in the role of wife, her response to her husband is the outworking of her response to the Lord. When men wear their husband hats, God expects them to love their wives the way His Son loves the church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

Here is a passage that is striking for its reference to an “obligatory role,” that of a slave: “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ” (Ephesians 6:5). The Bible is not advocating or endorsing servitude, but is advocating that those who find themselves wearing this hat should conduct themselves in a way that reflects well on the one true God whom they ultimately serve. For those who are wearing a hat that they wouldn’t choose for themselves, this passage encourages them to honor God while wearing that hat.

Understanding the hat rack with God alone in the center is not a complete answer to the question of priorities, but it is the perfect place to start. This is the ultimate hat trick, in which our lives are profoundly simplified for the fact that regardless of what hat we wear, our goal is to please God alone; trust God alone; serve God alone. Husbands, love God by loving your wives. Wives, respect God by respecting your husbands. Parents, serve God by seeking His best for your children. Sons and daughters, honor God by honoring your parents. Disciples of Jesus, love God alone by obeying the commands of His Son. Citizens, make God look good by living in accord with the laws of the state.

This is not complicated: Live for God’s pleasure, no matter what hat you are wearing. Would you like a handy copy of the “God alone” chart to post on your refrigerator? Click Here. Even better, make this question the starting point for every decision about what to do next: "God, based on your Word, how can I make you look good by how I conduct myself in this situation?"

Priorities, Part 3: Dagon’s Debacle

The Philistines were nothing but trouble in the days of Samuel the prophet. On one occasion, the Philistine army bivouacked at Aphek while Israel camped to the east in Ebenezer. When the Philistine army drew up in a menacing line, Israel deployed to bring down the hammer. The clash of two armies rippled outward drawing more soldiers into the fray. When the dust had settled on round one, Israel was defeated and lost 4,000 soldiers.

God’s people were incredulous. The one true God was supposed to be on their side! So how could they be defeated? Israel’s leadership assumed that the symbol of God’s presence, the ark, was too far away. They reasoned that if the ark were relocated and prominently positioned in the middle of the battle, this would better leverage God into acting on their behalf. In essence, Israel felt she needed to improve her technique for manipulating God.

God is not to be manipulated. Round two of the battle betrayed the flaw in their logic: Israel was thoroughly routed – 30,000 Israelite infantrymen were slain, the scattered remnant of the army went AWOL to hide in their homes, and the ark was captured by the Philistines. To be clear, the Philistines did not defeat God, they defeated a nation that thought God can be manipulated. God was teaching His people a lesson and using the Philistines as an instrument of His instruction. But once the Philistines carted the ark to the city of Ashdod, it was their turn to attend the School of Yahweh.

Dagon was a grain and storm god worshiped by the Philistines. (I’m not sure the artist’s rendering above really captures him.) The Philistines brought the ark to Dagon’s temple and put it on display. Early the next morning, Dagon was discovered face down before the ark of God. The Philistines promptly propped up their god. With the following sunrise, Dagon was back on the floor, prostrate before the ark. Only this time, his head and hands had been removed and unceremoniously plopped on the threshold to Dagon’s front door. The one true God was making a bold and inescapable declaration of Dagon’s inferiority and utter powerlessness: "Dagon can’t keep his head on straight. He can’t even lend you a hand because his are missing!" The Philistines may have bettered Israel in battle, but their god was no match for the God of Israel.

The Philistines had assumed they could add Yahweh to their collection of gods. After what they heard God did to Egypt in the ten plagues, they assumed it was a smart move to get Him on their team with Dagon. They assumed wrong! God didn’t knock Dagon down out of spite or a bruised ego – but to make a point: Dagon is nothing. He cannot even right himself when tumped over. Even a mere child learning to walk can do more than this. Giving ANY allegiance to such a pitiful god is worse than pointless. God was doing the Philistines a great service, showing them that their trust was placed in a dead lump of stone.

The facts were clear –  devotion to Dagon is dumb! (Like Dagon!) Alas, the Philistines had trouble accepting the facts, so God had to sign them up for some remedial education: “Now the hand of the Lord was heavy on the Ashdodites, and He ravaged them and smote them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories. When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, ‘The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god’” (1 Samuel 5:6–7). Amazing! The Philistines recognize that Yahweh is having His way with Dagon, yet they persist in revering him as their god. Sometimes men don’t get it when the facts are staring them in the face. Devotion to Dagon wasn’t just stupid, it was working their harm. An outbreak of some sort of genital tumors was laying waste to the citizenry because they refused to acknowledge the one true God.

The people of Ashdod passed the ark of God to Gath like a hot potato. Same result. So Gath forwarded it to Ekron. Ditto! There was mercy in all this – God did not utterly extinguish the people. But the plague was severe enough to get everyone’s attention and raise the question, “Is worshiping Dagon doing us any good?” Not!     

This was not an isolated incident. It simply illustrates the rightful place of God in our lives. In different words, Jesus once said the same thing of Himself: “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26–27). Jesus is not advocating familial hatred. He is declaring that not even devotion to parents, or spouses, or children, or siblings, or self can be allowed to compete with one’s allegiance to the Lord alone. When devotion to one’s children, or devotion to one’s spouse, or devotion to onself opposes devotion to Jesus, the consequences are severe and eternal.

In the previous post, I declared: “We have only one priority! It is our joy and privilege to serve God alone in all that we do, to love him with reckless abandon. Precisely here is the beauty of loving the God who is one.” To that I now add, “Whenever we elevate something, be it a person or a pursuit or possession, to compete for the worship that belongs to God alone, we invite God to demonstrate the vanity of that devotion.”

God does not do this out of spite or a bruised ego, but to help us. He wants us to learn that giving priority to anything or anyone other than Himself is vain and harmful. The Dagon Debacle is a case in point. Our true good is found in loving the one true God alone.

The Mega-Splash: A Galilean “Sea-Quake” Experience

In previous posts, we learned two principles pertinent to waiting on God in an escalating crisis. One, when waiting into the deep end, we are more prone to question whether God cares. Two, we are also at great risk of coming to the Lord out of fear, despite having every reason to seek Him in faith. Today, let’s pull back for a big picture view of what happened when Jesus stilled the storm. Doing so will arm us with another key principle on “The Art of Waiting on God.”

This incident on the Sea of Galilee occurs during a time of transition in Jesus’ earthly ministry. Opposition is growing and the fact that Jesus will be rejected is already baked into the cake. The need for the mobilization and training of harvest workers is now acute. So, Jesus is conducting an advanced course for the twelve that is designed to yield a greater understanding and appreciation of who He is. This is vital to their future effectiveness once He has returned to Father.

A night class was scheduled as a demonstration lab while transiting the Sea of Galilee. Both Jesus and the Father would co-teach. The Father would set up the perfect conditions for the demonstration, then Jesus would follow by putting on a convincing display. The demo would prove to the disciples a profound truth. By the end of class, they would not look at Jesus the same way!

Many commentators rightly point to Psalm 107:28–29 as an important filter through which to understand what Jesus did. According to these verses, when Jesus silenced the wind and calmed the sea, He was exercising divine prerogatives. But to fully appreciate what was going on during the class demonstration, we need to read the larger section of which these two verses are a part:

“Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters; They have seen the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; Their soul melted away in their misery. They reeled and staggered like a drunken man, and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet, so He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him at the seat of the elders” (Psalm 107:23–32).

Based on Psalm 107:28-29, we rightly see Jesus’ action in stilling the storm as evidence that He is God. But, I have not yet encountered a commentator who cites Psalm 107 to affirm God’s role in setting up the demonstration. Did you note what verses 25-26 tell us about God: "For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths." God does not just still storms, He also causes them. With mere words, no less!

Some might want to ascribe this storm on the Sea of Galilee to Satanic opposition. There is some support for this view: When Jesus rebukes the storm, He speaks to it as if it is a person. But, there is nothing in the text that clearly identifies Satan or his forces as the agents behind the storm. Further, even if forces of darkness had a hand in this sea-quake, we do well to remember that Satan is never allowed to do anything unless God permits. Whether directly or indirectly, God was the one responsible for this perfect storm.

This storm had a superb purpose. It was specifically designed to take the twelve to a place beyond their considerable sailing abilities, to escort them to a “no way” moment. In that precise moment, Jesus did what only God can do, and used but words to control the weather.

The Father and Jesus were like the ultimate tag team. First the Father immersed the disciples in a situation where they were ready for the lesson. Then Jesus tapped in and delivered big time! If Father had not taken the disciples to the brink, the lesson would have had far less impact. But because they were “at their wit’s end,” the truth about Jesus was etched on their hearts.

Imagine for a moment, that this demonstration was conducted in a calm sea, or perhaps even a moderately rough sea. The lesson would not have had the same impact. But put these seasoned fisherman in the perfect storm, allow them to fear for their lives, then rescue them with a mere word from the Lord, and the lesson was breathtaking. Dire peril prepared them for awe! The disciples grew in their ability to see in Jesus someone far greater than most men’s messianic expectations of the time. They encountered “God among us” and it left them in stunned silence and profound awe.

During the course of this demonstration, the disciples perceived themselves to be at risk of perishing, but they were in no real danger. As if riding a water park flume-ride designed to “safely scare people,” they were strapped into “The Mega-Splash, a Galilean Sea-Quake Experience.” Just when they thought they were goners, Jesus spoke the way God does, and the ride was over. Only this was no mere ride. It was real – breathtakingly real. But it was also safe, because, as they could now see, God was with them.

These men were now equipped to declare something new about their Master. They joined the club (Bumper stickers and T-shirts available at the gift shop: “I survived the mega-splash!”) and could use the Psalmist’s lyrics to sing about Jesus: “O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them” (Psalm 89:8–9).

Now let’s connect the dots between the disciples’ experience and ours. There are times when we are waiting on God, desperate for Him to intervene. But things might not be bad enough, yet! God might need to turn up the heat even more, and take things from bad to worse. Do not Panic! Trust Him! You are safe! Jesus has promised “I am with you” even as the storm intensifies.

God wants you to come to Him, not in panic, but because you trust Him. So keep coming boldly in the name of Jesus to the throne of grace to make your request known. Trust God to come through precisely when His deliverance will have maximum beneficial effect on your heart.

Waiting Into the Deep End, Part 2 of 2

Hit by a “sea-quake,” the disciples’ small fishing vessel was about to go under. Understandably, the disciples woke up the Master with cries for help. In a crisis, seeking the Lord is always the smart play. (It is the smart play in the calm, too!) But the twelve also betrayed something awry in their hearts when they asked Jesus, “Do You not care that we are perishing?” This sentiment is not unfamiliar to anyone who waits on the Lord while hovering on the brink.

In response to the disciples’ plea, Jesus asks some probing questions. Matthew, Mark, and Luke have each provided only part of Jesus’ words. To get the whole picture, we need to hear all three:

Matthew:  “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm” (Matthew 8:26).

Mark:  “ . . . it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?’” (Mark 4:39-40).

Luke:  “. . . it became calm. And He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’” (Luke 8:24-25).

Matthew reports what Jesus said to the disciples before He calmed the sea. Mark and Luke report what Jesus said after doing so. Taken together, these accounts tell us that Jesus administered a double dose of discipleship. When roused from sleep, His first act was to pose a diagnostic question to the twelve. Then He performed an unbelievable miracle of deliverance by rebuking the wind and sea. In the perfect calm that followed, He returned to His lesson.

We can make several observations based on these “before and after” lessons. One, it is instructive that, for Jesus, dealing with the “faith-quake” of the disciples mattered more than addressing the “sea-quake.” The fierce storm is not enough to awaken Him. When finally roused, His first concern is not bodily peril but the disciples’ crisis of faith. He zeroes in on their hearts. After stilling the sea, He comes back to them. The text doesn’t explicitly say this: But it is as if the ruckus of the wind and waves is distracting His panicked students from their lesson, so He stands and commands the elements to pipe down! Then, in the resultant calm, He continues class.

Two, Jesus’ remarks clarify that fear and faith are polar opposites. When we trust God, we have no reason to fear! Yield to panic and faith will go out the window. The disciples were filled with dread and thus had no faith. Their fear was unjustified: Before they began their voyage, Jesus had said, “Let us go over to the other side of the Lake” (Luke 8:22). He did not say, “Let us go to the middle of the lake and drown.” The Master’s command declared His purpose and guaranteed its fulfillment, that He and His associates would complete transit to the other shore. Whatever might befall the twelve en route, Jesus had already given His word that they would make it to the other side.

Three, Jesus answers the disciples’ initial question with a matching question of His own. The implications of how Jesus responds are profound and will take a few paragraphs to sort out. The disciples had awakened Jesus by shouting, “Do You not care that we are perishing?” This complex question can be broken into a statement plus a question. Statement:  “We are perishing.” Question: “Do You not care?” By their statement, the disciples reveal what they consider a fact, they are perishing. The only thing about which they are in doubt – hence their question – concerns Jesus’ view on the matter. They ask “Do You not care” because they suspect He doesn’t.

Jesus’ immediate reply (the one recorded by Matthew) is also a complex question, that is, a statement joined to a question. Statement: “You are so afraid.” Question: “Why?”  He was not asking the disciples to state the obvious, that is, to say, “We are afraid because of the storm.” He was calling them to self-assessment. He was inviting them to discern in their fear the evidence of having lost their trust in Jesus. After stilling the storm, He asks again, “Why are you afraid?”

Think of a basketball coach who counsels a key player after he has blown a game. He asks, “Why did they beat you?” If the player says, “Because they scored more points,” the coach will chew him out for stating the obvious. The coach’s question invites the player to examine his own performance, to discern key mistakes that contributed to the loss. This is what Jesus is doing: He is calling the twelve to analyze exactly how they had arrived at the place where fear was crowding out trust.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not tell us what conclusions the twelve drew. But, we can identify solid evidence worthy of their consideration. First, there is Jesus’ statement of intention noted above - If Jesus says, “We are going to the other side,” you can KNOW that you are going to the other side. Second, based on the chronology in Mark, not too many days prior, Jesus had publicly declared His disciples to be His brothers (Mark 3:34). In this, Jesus had definitively answered the question – “Do You not care?” Third, the disciples allowed what is seen (a perfect storm) to overshadow their trust in the Lord’s sure promise and brotherly commitment. In short, they had allowed scary circumstances to drown out the truth.

The bottom line is this. The disciples did well to come to the Lord, but they should have come in faith, not fear. Their words should have reflected a confidence that the Lord loved them like brothers and that He would do what is necessary to fulfill His good purpose and to get them to the other side. Jesus did not challenge the disciples for coming to Him; He challenged them for coming to Him out of fear. I am grateful that He did not cite their fear as a reason to ignore their pleas. He most certainly stilled the storm in response to the disciples’ request. (Praise God for the many times He answers prayers, including yours and mine, that arise from fear!) But through His questions, He offered them insight into a better way.

Their fear was unwarranted! They thought they were perishing, but they were wrong. They were simply inserted into the perfect storm in order to receive a new level of insight into the identity of the Lord (more on that in the next post). They were not in any danger even though it looked like they were about to die. The Psalmist clearly spoke to their situation: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4).

Whenever I wait on God in an escalating crisis, I must resist the siren call of my senses. I must not allow my imagination of all that might befall me to take control. If I do, these fears will compromise my trust. Instead, I must fix my faith on these twin truths, God loves me like His son (John 17:23) and God is with me always (Matthew 28:20).

When we come to God in faith during a raging storm, it is good to express to God all the ways we desire Him to work. It is best when we do so from a place of trust, where we ask, knowing God loves us and will accomplish our good.

Waiting Into the Deep End, Part 1 of 2

Jesus had presented Himself to Israel. But, opposition from the religious leaders was now hardened, His crucifixion a fait accompli. So Jesus focused on the training of the twelve – so much to learn, so little time. More than once, Jesus used the Sea of Galilee as the classroom for His course on discipleship. Accounts of one such teaching session are provided by Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Matthew 8:18, 23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25). Let’s audit His class.

A crowd had gathered around the Lord near the Sea of Galilee. As evening neared, Jesus announced His intention to travel to the other side of the lake and gave orders for His disciples to depart. Some in His crew were master fishermen and more than competent to handle their vessel. The Master promptly settled into a sound sleep on a cushion in the stern.

Once in the deep, a “sea-quake” unleashed fierce winds and great angry waves that crashed over the gunwales. At first, the disciples might have taken measures to ride it out. But things quickly went from bad to worse. Experts are the ones who know when to panic. The experts on this boat knew it was time! Their vessel was rapidly taking on water. Without an immediate miracle, the ship and crew would most certainly be lost.

As a last resort, the disciples roused their Teacher, still fast asleep amidst the chaos. Unchecked fear drove them to shout above the storm. The accounts in Matthew, Mark, and Luke each capture a different fragment of what they yelled:

Matthew: “Save us, Lord, we are perishing!”

Mark: “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?

Luke: “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

The common denominator in all three accounts is the declaration, “We are perishing.” Matthew adds the terse command, “Save us, Lord.” Mark addresses Jesus as “Teacher” and includes the question, “Do You not care?” Luke adds the double address, “Master, Master.”

It is easy for preachers dwelling in safety to berate the disciples for all manner of perceived failures as they braced for death. I find much to commend! First, they address Jesus as “Lord,” “Teacher” and “Master.” Obviously, they respect Him and are voicing their dependance on Him for guidance. Second, when someone has expertise in an area, like the fishermen, it is easy to keep thinking in a crisis, “I can fix this.” But the disciples prove capable of recognizing a situation in which they are in over their heads, despite their competence. They can admit they have a problem that is beyond them. Third, their pleas for help are deadly earnest, the very kind of asking, seeking, and knocking that Jesus elsewhere encourages His disciples to bring to Father. Fourth, their request, “save us,” possibly suggests a modicum of belief, if not at least hope, that Jesus can indeed do something about their plight. These are all commendable responses.

But in one particular, their words gives rise for concern. The question – “Do You not care?” – expresses doubt. The disciples are sure that they are perishing but unsure whether this matters to the Lord. Theirs is a crisis of trust in Jesus!

The disciples’ doubt is familiar to all who are waiting on the Lord in a crisis. In an impossible situation and desperate for a miracle, it is easy to wonder if the Lord cares. Our minds fixate on questions like these: Why don't You act? Where are You in this? Have I done something to disappoint You? Am I getting the silent treatment? God, does my plight even matter to You?

This incident on the Sea of Galilee presents a classic case of “waiting into the deep end.” Any acute and escalating crisis that threatens to deal us a crushing blow would qualify. When taking on water and at imminent risk of going under, asking God – “Do You not care?” – will seem a perfectly reasonable question. It is NOT, but it will seem so. Whoever waits into the deep must be prepared, indeed, he must anticipate the inexorable pull of the very reasonable lie embedded in these words, “Do You not care?”

God's Magazine Rack

Often, we must take a number and sit in God’s waiting room. We may be desperate for Him to break through; to put things to right; to rescue us; to perform miracles; to do it NOW! Instead, it feels like He is “off in the back somewhere” and not aware of, let alone particularly interested in, our problems. So we sit alone or with a friend or family member in His waiting room, sometimes for months, even years, listening to elevator music, marking time, and wondering when God will show up.

Waiting on God can seem like a penalty, perhaps even the consequence of having disappointed Him in some way. When in His waiting room, it helps to remember that sometimes God withholds the good He intends for us, for a season, in order to prepare us to receive His gifts. It also helps to remember His promises: If even despicable men give their children good gifts, how much more will our perfect Father give perfectly valuable gifts to His children who are asking? These two acts of remembering can go a long way toward fueling hope during an extended stay in God’s waiting room. Here is another vital strategy - check out what God has in His magazine rack.

Especially in the days before iPhones, I would sign in at the doctor or dentist’s office and then seek out some reading material. I might grab a magazine to which I would never subscribe, perhaps even something I would never choose to read outside the waiting room. But given the choice between boredom and reading a magazine about fishing, food, or forestry, I regularly chose the latter. I was often amazed by things I learned that I would have never otherwise known.

God often uses our time in the waiting room to show us things that cannot otherwise be discerned. In the previous post, I recounted how God kept us in His waiting room for years. Our son diligently applied for hundreds of jobs. Not once in the span of almost four years did a prospective employer say, “We want you!” Over and over, He was rejected.

As Austin’s father, it was excruciating to witness. This rejection was so profoundly out-of-step with my own assessment of my son. On our children’s birthdays, we give them their “birthday blessing.” My words to Austin during a birthday celebrated in God’s waiting room capture whom I knew him to be:

Here are some of the things I appreciate and admire in You:

• You have a robust conscience. You are strong in your desire to do whatever you are convinced is right.
• You have sought the Lord even as you have gone through deep waters.
• You love Scripture and love to discuss how it applies to our lives.
• You are willing to do hard things when God asks.
• You have sought to honor Mom and me by supporting us in the ministry at CBC.
• You are an amazing teacher - patient, gentle, and nurturing.
• You are a gifted musician - I marvel at your ability to sprinkle jewels on a song.
• You are passionate about the Lord and truth.
• You are teachable and responsive to our counsel. You are willing to receive from others who have something to contribute.
• You are a good friend - so many have been on the receiving end of your commitment to be true to them.
• You understand what confession and forgiveness are about!
• You are a disciplined individual who makes it a priority to do what is most important each day.
• You are my true friend.

What a joy and honor to call you my son and to celebrate a year of growth and a new year to come!

The bottom line was that I knew my son to be a good man. Not a perfect man, to be sure, but a good man. Yet the consistent response from every possible employer was unequivocal rejection.

I remember crying out to God and protesting, “How much more can he take? I am so tired of my son being rejected.” I cannot explain this, but it was as if God answered, “Tell me about it!” I gasped at the thought. My experience was mirroring God’s. He was allowing me, in some small way, to experience something of what He Himself felt. To be sure, His Son was not just a good man; He was perfect. And the rejection of Jesus was not just about a job but a cross: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed” (Mark 8:31). In that moment, I caught a glimpse of the pain of the Father.

As I looked through my experience to the Father's, I connected the dots between His pain and His love. Unlike me, God had chosen this pain. God loved me (and you!) enough to knowingly and consciously commit His Son to the supreme rejection of men. The pain I was feeling was God’s pain, but a pain He chose for Himself, in order to claim me. The anguish of soul that I would wish away God elected for Himself, in the name of love. In the quietness of God's waiting room, this breathtaking picture filled me with awe. I saw something precious and encouraging I would never have seen otherwise.

Waiting for Breakthrough!

By God’s delay to solve man’s “alone” problem in the Garden of Eden, Adam’s heart was prepared to greet God’s gift of a “suitable helper” with supreme joy. The delay was not the product of God’s displeasure with Adam but of His love.

Think of a young man who intends to “pop the question” to his beloved. He has covertly determined her ring size, found creative ways to benignly discover what she would like, and secretly purchased the perfect engagement ring. Now he delays to give his gift until he can arrange for the perfect moment. Love compels this delay as he plans a special occasion that will climax in dramatically revealing a ring and placing it on the finger of his intended. He wants everything about this moment to shout, “I love you with all my heart.”

While the young man is engaged in his clandestine activity, his bride-to-be feels the pull of two opposing forces. She can wait patiently, trusting in her heart that she is loved. Or she can yield to fear, doubting by what she sees (or actually doesn’t see) that her yearning will ever be fulfilled. The longer her wait, the easier it becomes to trust her eyes more than her heart.

This same battle makes waiting on God a challenge: We must hold fast in our hearts what we know from God’s Word while denying our perceptions the power to shake our trust. The longer the wait, the more easily our eyes convince us that there is no good gift coming.

In the summer of 2010 and shortly after our oldest son graduated from law school, he was diagnosed with cancer.  Praise God for two gifts He provided in the year that followed: He healed our son and delivered him from an overwhelming financial burden. But there was another gift that God withheld. We prayed; we pled with God; we cried; we battled discouragement; yet, we saw no daylight.

From the time of his diagnosis till March of 2014, our son applied for hundreds of  jobs with judges, law firms, and legislatures. He was personally interviewed dozens of times. He was told “you’re our second choice” for several positions. (Jobs are not given to the second choice candidate.) But not once in the span of almost four years did someone say, “We want you!”

These were dark days and it was hard to hold ourselves in a place of trust. This excerpt from my journal (dated December 23, 2013) captures it: “Today, Austin should hear back from [a firm where he interviewed]. In every respect, as far as we can see, this is an ideal setup. I have been praying non-stop for months and this looks like a perfect and impossible miracle. If he is rejected, the pull of despair will be overwhelming. A ‘no’ will bring us close to breaking – I am afraid of this one. Despite my fear, I am thanking You God, in advance, for whatever You give because I am choosing to trust in Your goodness more than my perceptions.” A few days later, my son learned he was their second choice.

Part of what God used to sustain me were the lessons from Beauty of the Barren Land and Blessed Deprivation in Eden. I fixed my trust on these statements: There is no such thing as delay in God’s gift giving; He gives His gifts in the perfect moment; That moment will yet come.

In sadness from watching my good son be unceasingly rejected, I added my voice to the Psalmist: “I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning” (Psalm 130:5–6). Did you catch the phrase, “in His word do I hope?” A bold declaration from the lips of Jesus became the word anchor for my hope: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11). If even despicable men give their children good gifts, how much more will my perfect Father give perfectly appropriate gifts to His children who are asking? My mind retraced its steps on this promise a thousand times over. Choosing again and again to rest on His Word and His character, I waited for breakthrough.

Peace or Fire on Earth

When Jesus was born, the angel chorus sang, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” So it is a little surprising to hear Jesus say something that sounds quite different: “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division” (Luke 12:49-53).

In the latter passage, Jesus is declaring that He will someday bring judgment on the earth and that it can't happen soon enough. Before that fire falls, however, Jesus Himself must be immersed in God's judgment. Peace will not flow from this baptism, but "division;" Even the most basic of family connections will be upset with fathers taking sides against sons and daughters taking sides against mothers. Their disagreement has to do with fire and peace.

It is not politically correct to say it, but the world stands under the shadow of God's wrath (Col. 3:6). Fire will fall! Here is some good news -- There is an escape plan! The Apostle Paul explained it to the Thessalonian church: For they themselves report . . . how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:9-10). When Jesus returns, He will save His own from the falling fire.

How can He do this? Remember that baptism Jesus underwent! When He died on the cross, He experienced the wrath of God as a substitute for men. The fire of judgment fell on Him so that it need not fall on us! He offers this supreme service as a gift for any who want it. Receive this gift and enjoy true peace. Or refuse it and fire will fall.

This notion of "targeted peace" aligns perfectly with what the angels promised: “And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Those with whom God is pleased will enjoy peace. Those who reject His Son and refuse the supremely costly gift for which He paid, will not.

When "Peace on Earth" is assumed to be a privilege enjoyed by all men simply because "it's Christmas," the very purpose for which Jesus came to earth is trivialized, men are dulled to the fact that the place is about to go up in flames, and the profound value of what Jesus accomplished is diminished.

The angel chorus understood it perfectly. A myriad of them came near Bethlehem to celebrate the first phase of a grand undertaking, a peace initiative that would make it possible for some to avoid the fire that would otherwise consume all. This is definitely something worth singing about!

Elusive Christmas Peace

The shepherds were doing what shepherds do at a certain time of year - hangin' with the sheep. It was all pretty routine camping under the stars until a terrible figure flashed onto the scene. He exuded an intense light "not of this world" and left the shepherds groveling in abject terror. Perhaps their fear began to fade when this angel announced some good news, namely, the date and location of a Saviour's birth. Next, a heavenly chorus beamed down, declaring “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:13-14). The fanfare was not lost on the shepherds who concluded something big was afoot. They acted on this angelic intelligence report and were not disappointed.

Since that night almost two millennia ago, Christmas cards have heralded the moment using the phrase "Peace on Earth" as the focal point of their cover art. The phrase seems to anchor a lot of our culture's Christmas sentiment, which ranges all over the peace map. Some celebrate God's initiative to restore peace between Himself and men through His Son, Jesus. The more politically correct celebrate a hippie inspired notion of world peace. For families in conflict, Christmas peace is a relational cease-fire, a brief truce where everyone tries to "get through the holidays" without igniting renewed hostilities. Merchants are looking for some sort of peace connection to their products which they can exploit to boost Christmas sales figures.

I found this ad a creative example: Having your septic tank cleaned for visiting family and friends is how to enjoy peace of mind at Christmas. Wow! Peace on earth from something as simple as septic service. Who knew?

So are we honoring the birth of Jesus in all this? I am not denying one jot or tittle of the angels report to the shepherds. But are we justified when we connect the angelic declaration to the enjoyment of some sort of generalized peace in our time?

Here is a passage that must be placed alongside Luke 2:13-14 because it seems contradictory. It captures words of Jesus uttered about 30 years after the angels' birth announcement. Jesus declares to his followers, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division” (Luke 12:49-51).

So who's right? The angels who suggest that Jesus came on a peace mission? Or Jesus who declares He has come to grant anything but peace? What do you think?

Enroute to Moriah

What a trip! In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to travel to a mountain He would designate and there offer up his beloved son, Isaac. Abraham arose early the next day to begin the three day trip.

There is no record of the conversation on days one and two, although I cannot imagine a lot of playful banter lightening the mood. Yet the brief interchanges that have been preserved from day three sound a note of hope. Abraham could envision how the situation might turn out differently. But no plan B was forthcoming. So Abraham kept his pace steady to fulfill God's original request. The altar and wood were arranged, the lad bound, the knife unsheathed, and Abraham's arm bared as he braced to plunge the blade into the heart of his son.

What would the journey to Mount Moriah have been like if I walked in the sandals of Abraham? Although my pace on foot would be labored, my mind would be racing in a tumble of questions like these, "How does this request square with God's previous promises? Isaac's birth was miraculous; his destiny was to become the first installment of God's covenant with me; he is poised to become a man who fears God and who is ready to serve Him. And now I am to extinguish all the hope and promise Isaac represents! God's request just doesn't make sense! And then there's the moral dilemma. How can the God of life advocate taking the life of the innocent? Surely this is the opposite of what I would expect of a holy God. Perhaps I have been confused. Perhaps, I have assumed that God is asking me to do this, when God couldn't possibly be the source of such a request! This is all a horrible mistake caused by  miscommunication."

Against the backdrop of such reasonable doubts, Abraham stuns us - he betrays no trace of flinching from God's request in the pregnant moment as the blade is raised. But then God interrupts: He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Gen. 22:12). Did you catch the connection God made? Fearing God and withholding a son are mutually exclusive. By his willingness to give God his son, Abraham proved the genuineness of his fear of God.

I would not presume to equate my experience with Abraham's. But I have recently joined the fellowship of those who journey to Mount Moriah and am striving to learn from Abraham's victory. Earlier this week, our son was diagnosed with cancer. That God would call our beloved son to Himself is among the range of possibilities. So I am asking God to grow in me the authentic fear of Him that is capable of releasing a son to his heavenly Father. I want to fear Him without doubt, without flinching, and without regret. I want to have the kind of regard for my God that considers it an honor to give Him such a precious gift.

God may choose to restore our son - we are fervently praying for precisely that. But even if God does not, we will still love Him and fear Him. Indeed our experience is only deepening our love. For in some small measure, we are experiencing something of what it was like for Father to journey to Mount Moriah and willingly consign His Son to death on a cross. The ghastly picture of what Abraham was about to do shows us what the Father actually did. God stopped Abraham but refused to excuse Himself. Through our tears and anguish of heart, we are seeing with even greater clarity the amazing love of our Father.

The Art of Asking, Part 3 of 3

In a previous post, we acknowledged that Jesus repeatedly affirmed this simple formula. If we will ask, the Father will do. Don't confuse its simplicity with its "degree of difficulty," however. There is something inside us that will put forth a plethora of reasons NOT to ask. Here are three:

1. Asking Implies Accountability – When we ask God for something, our actions are an acknowledgment that He is in charge. By asking, the "asker" is admitting that he is not the master of his own destiny. Who doesn't feel the pull of saying, "I can do it myself?" To ask God is to pitch this self-delusion and declare, "God is the One upon whom I depend - I need what only He can give."
2. Asking Invites Refusal - When we pose a question to God - "Will You do this?" - it is a question that allows for at least two possibilities: "Yes" or "no!" Who likes being told "no?" So when we ask God for something that we really, REALLY want, we are allowing for the possibility that God could say, "not now," or "not ever." That risk can keep us from asking. But consider this: If God says "no," is that a bad thing? Not at all, if you understand God's love, wisdom, and power. God is committed to our best (love), knows what would serve our best interests (wisdom), and is perfectly capable of accomplishing it (all-powerful). So when God says "no," knowing His love, wisdom, and power allows me to respond by saying, "Thanks for your 'no.' You have refused this request, because love wouldn't grant such a thing. Thanks for watching out for me."
3. Asking Requires Waiting - When we ask, we have to wait for an answer. That's a challenge, especially in America where we want it NOW! So rather than ask and wait, we are tempted to rush after it on our own. Asking is a declaration of a profound preference: "I want what God chooses to give me, regardless of how long it takes, rather than what I can seize for myself right now."

The mere act of asking is by itself the first and foremost element of the art of asking. It is a form of worship wherein a man (or woman) declares his dependence on God, his trust in God for an answer that will be the product of love and wisdom, and his willingness to respect God's discernment of the right timing. Simply, to ask is to worship God.

But several of the qualifying phrases referenced by Jesus in our master chart add to our understanding of the art of asking. In Matthew 21:22, the asking is qualified by the phrase, "in prayer, believing." It will not do to make a request of God while entertaining doubt and uncertainty about God's ability to do what is asked. We may ask God for the impossible, but such prayers will be ineffective unless they arise from a confidence that nothing is impossible with God.

Several times, Jesus speaks of asking "in My name." This is often the basis for adding a formula at the end of a prayer, "In Jesus Name, Amen," sort of a magic charm that makes a prayer more powerful. (There is nothing intrinsically wrong with closing a prayer with these words, but this is not Jesus' point.) There are two principles captured by this phrase. In a passage like John 16:23-24, praying in Jesus' name means making requests on His authority. To pray in Jesus' name means to come before the Father and declare, "I am making this request of You because Jesus has given me the authority to do so." It's a bold and gutsy move, but one for which the death of Jesus has qualified us. Amazing!

The second idea behind "asking in Jesus' name" is given a more expansive treatment in John 15:7: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.” Note two things: (1) The one who understands the art of asking is an abiding disciple. He maintains his vital connection with Jesus. (2) When Jesus' words abide in a disciple, his thoughts and actions are informed by and reflect Jesus' teachings; he is "in tune" with Jesus' desires. His requests are the kind of which Jesus would say, "Now that's exactly what I would ask for. Good request!"

The obvious implication is that growing in our skill to ask well will be accompanied by growth in our ability to use "Word-driven prayers." Before making a prayer request of God, locate Bible verses that speak to the issues. Figure out what Jesus would ask for if He was to bring the situation before God. Pray for that and you are praying "in Jesus' name."

One more element to the art of asking is addressed in Matthew 18:19. The clause, "if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask," underscores the importance of agreement. When two disciples are praying for opposite outcomes, their prayers are probably a prelude to disappointment, at least for one party. But when they agree, the prayer power meter jumps. To increase your effectiveness in prayer, work with one or two others to discern what Jesus would pray for. Then start praying with one voice. Then step back and see God work!

The Art of Asking, Part 1 of 3

Here is a remarkable incident from the earthly ministry of Jesus:

As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Luke 18:35-41).

Can you imagine having Jesus, the only One capable of accomplishing the impossible, asking you the same question? What if, today, Jesus personally stood before you and queried, "What do you want Me to do for you?" What answer would you give that is worthy of such a question?

This is not an isolated incident in the life and ministry of Jesus. The Gospels are rich with accounts in which Jesus seeks, listens to, and responds to requests. He also clearly and repeatedly taught the principle that is captured in John 14:14: "If you ask me anything in My name, I will do it."

There are twelve different places in the Gospels where Jesus teaches to this principle. In every instance, the term, "ask," is the pole around which His teaching orbits. In three cases, "ask" is a command. In three instances, "ask" is the first half of a conditional statement. In the remaining six, "ask" is at the center of a statement of fact. Here are all twelve with "ask" highlighted:

Commands

• “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
• “And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you” (Luke 11:9).
• "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full” (John 16:24).

Conditional Statements

• “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14).
• “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).
• Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name (John 16:23).

Statements of Fact

• “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).
• “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).
• “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive” (Matthew 21:22).
• “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you” (Mark 11:24).
• “And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).
• “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you” (John 15:16).

If Jesus revisited a topic a dozen times, and repeatedly affirmed what He taught by His example, you would justifiably conclude, "This matters!" There is no room here for doubt or confusion: Jesus desires to receive and respond to our requests. He wants us to ASK!

Love With A Will

In the letter to the church in Ephesus recorded in Revelation 2:1-8, Jesus affirms this congregation on several counts: They are hard working, persevering, devoted to the truth, and intolerant of false teachers. There is one warning sign: “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev. 2:4). The terms of Jesus' condemnation make it clear that the Ephesians' love has been trending in the wrong direction. They formerly possessed a "first love," but have lost it. Where you would expect someone to love the Lord more with the passage of time, the Ephesians actually love the Lord LESS. This is abnormal and definitely a sign of something serious!

Their sister church, Thyatira, demonstrated what should have been: “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first” (Rev. 2:19). The "deeds" of the Thyatiran believers are specified in the four terms, love, faith, service, and perseverance. In all four categories, this church has made progress. For example, their love has grown stronger with the passage of time. They mark a bold contrast with Ephesus where love has waned.

What, exactly, happened in Ephesus? And how would one who has "lost his first love" go about reclaiming it? Answering these question has been rendered more difficult for our culture's preoccupation with a type of "love" that is nothing of the sort. D. G. Myers has a fine post on his "commonplace blog" exploring the literary expressions of this pre-occupation. He elucidates, "All the literary world loves a lover, especially if passion overwhelms his commitments and will." Our Western culture is awash in glorious depictions of love as this powerful and external force prevailing over good sense, honor, and restraint. 

So, when contemporary Western Christians think of a "first love," they are quick to associate this phrase with the onset of an external force, something like the landfall of a hurricane. To "recover" a first love seems as attainable as conjuring the hurricane. How do you "recover" something that is not under your control, something that, in point of fact, controls you?

The problem, here, is created by a case of mistaken identity. The irresistible hurricane of passion is not love. It might be called as much by some, but it is diametrically opposed to what Jesus calls "love." In Jesus' dictionary, love is synonymous with unconditional commitment. This true form of love resists the hurricane; it boldly declares, "I will love you as a matter of choice. Despite whatever winds oppose that commitment, I will remain true to you."

Myers cites a McClatchy Newpapers post that provides a poignant illustration of the contrast between love that is commitment and "love" that destroys commitment. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has shown the latter by his adulterous relationship with an Argentine television journalist. The former shines forth in a statement by his wife, Jenny Sanford. Here is a key excerpt: "I believe enduring love is primarily a commitment and an act of will, and for a marriage to be successful, that commitment must be reciprocal. . . . I remain willing to forgive Mark completely for his indiscretions and to welcome him back, in time, if he continues to work toward reconciliation with a true spirit of humility and repentance."

Only when we understand that the "first love" of which Jesus speaks is commitment love can we understand His appeal to recover it. He is asking the Ephesian believers to renew their commitment to Himself. He is asking them, as a matter of the will, to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). When this commitment of heart is increasingly evident in a person's life, he is moving in the right direction. When it becomes less and less evident, he is courting danger and vulnerable to the hurricane.

Prayer That Packs a Punch

This verse ought to take your breath away:  “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). The speaker is Jesus and He is making a stunning offer. He, the Lord of the Universe, will put "whatever you wish" on His personal to-do list. You don't get a better prayer guarantee than this.

So what's the catch? It's captured in two conditional clauses that precede the promise: (1) "If you abide in me," and (2) "[if] My words abide in you." The promise is only relevant to those who meet these two prerequisites: They must be living "in Jesus" and His words must be living in them. Jesus is describing someone whose entire approach to life is defined by a devotion to Jesus and His Word.

The reward ("Jesus will do whatever you wish") is too great for us to ignore the prerequisite. So how, exactly, can we meet it? Here is one practical step: Learn how to pray "Word driven prayers." These are prayers that are informed by what the Bible says. They are NOT a mere dressing up of personal desires in Bible lingo. They ARE prayers which use the Bible to identify Jesus' desires and then declare, "That's what I want. too." In John 15:7, Jesus is describing the power of prayer when a man's (or woman's) heart beats in unison with His.

I have prepared a little booklet called "Only by the Hand of God," which gives you some examples of these kinds of prayers. Click here to download a copy. It uses Scripture to identify the things that matter to Jesus and express those desires in simple prayers tailored to different situations. This is NOT a prayer book - but an illustration of a kind of praying that occurs when the Word abides in us and leaks out in our prayers, the kinds of prayers of which Jesus says, "Now that's a prayer I want to answer."

Lest We Forget the Prodigal's Brother

The Prodigal Son is the celebrity sinner, the poster child for stories of failure and forgiveness. For parents of wayward teens, his tale gives them reason to hope. For those who have wandered far from God, the prodigal's return is a prototype for making a fresh start with God. I am not trying to take anything away from his "great comeback" story, but the prodigal is a secondary player in the parable that is named after him.

Parables are intended to make a point, and clues as to the nature of that point will often be found in context, in this case Luke 15. The entire chapter consists of three linked parables, "The Lost Sheep," "The Lost Coin" and "The Prodigal Son," that all answer to the need identified in verses 1-3:

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable, saying . . . (Luke 15:1-3).

Jesus' three stories are intended to turn the tables on His critics. The religious big-wigs are grousing because Jesus is ministering to riffraff. Instead of celebrating that losers are flocking to the One person who can help them, they're grumbling that Jesus doesn't dust them away like so much shoulder lint.

So Jesus recounts a trio of parables that swell in a crescendo of celebration. First he talks about the recovery of a lost sheep. Yes, this sheep was only 1% of the flock, but surely it's recovery would be reason for joy. Then he talks about finding lost wealth. Even though it was only 10% of someone's life savings, who wouldn't host a party to celebrate its recovery? Finally he talks of a lost son. If you celebrate when one sheep (out of a hundred) is found, or one coin (out of ten) is found, then what kind of celebration would attend the return of a lost son?

Right as Jesus' audience is catching the party vibe, a new character shows up, the prodigal's whining brother. He is the one in the harsh spotlight crashing the party, the party-pooper with an attitude, and the embarrassing spokesman for Jesus' complaining critics. I draw your attention to the prodigal's brother because he is the punch line in Luke 15. THE PRODIGAL'S BROTHER is the one Jesus wants us to examine and understand.

I confess that I see in myself much that reminds me of the prodigal's brother. I have not lived a life of rebellion or moral abandon. I came to Jesus at an early age, began living for Him in earnest as a teen, and have sought to stay true to Him to this day. (Don't misunderstand me. I am just as much a sinner as the most profligate prodigal - no difference. And my steady pursuit of Christ has not kept me from presenting a pitiful picture of what it means to be His follower on occasions without number.) Despite my failures, flaws, and growing pains along the way, however, I am a fair example of the classic "good kid."

So when I observe the prodigal's descent into the depths of loose living, I can't identify. But when I hear his brother protesting, “Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours” (Luke 15:29), I hear in his words the voice of my own dissenting heart. I have expressed words like his, words of disappointment in God for His seeming lack of appreciation.

There are prodigals and there are prodigal's brothers. The prodigal's obstacle is his sense of unworthiness to lay claim to the heart of his father. The obstacle of the prodigal's brother is his sense of entitlement, an insistence upon God's approval for his faithfulness. In its advanced stages, "Prodigal's Brother Disease" (PBD) can rob a man of his joy. He can become a spiritual scrooge who mutters "Bah, humbug" on occasions when even angels are pulling out all the stops.

The religious leaders called out by Jesus have a pronounced case of PBD. It has achieved a level of spiritual toxicity that is acute, perhaps from which there is no recovery. But for anyone who seeks to be faithful (at risk) and who is willing to learn (teachable) from their sad story, there is hope in timely self-screening (self-examination) and treatment (repentance).

Are you a prodigal? Come home to a Father whose grace is greater than your sin. Are you a prodigal's brother? Then serve without strings before it robs you of joy. Stay faithful to God without getting sucked into thinking that God owes you recognition. Your faithfulness matters. Never forget what Jesus says to the prodigal's brother, “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours’” (Luke 15:31). Staying true to God WILL BE WORTH IT. That is no less true for the fact that we party strong when a prodigal comes home.

Is God the Linchpin of our Message?

Lisa Miller raises questions about the ministry of Joel and Victoria Osteen in "What's God Got to Do With It?", a "Belief Watch" piece in the Oct. 20 issue of Newsweek. Ms. Miller is struck by the irony of the Osteen's considerable popularity compared to their lack of spiritual stature. She views them as spiritual midgets with a thin theology offering platitudes of inane comfort.

On the eve of Victoria Osteen's book release, I find the question - "What's God Got to Do With it? - more than a little provocative. Victoria told Newsweek that religion "is about appreciating what God's given us. He's given us this life, and he wants us to live it to the fullest." If I boil this mantra down to it's core, it would be little more than "live it up!" Lisa Miller rightly questions how essential God is to such a message? Is what we preach a message that falls apart without God? If not, it is unworthy of Him and a dubious candidate for men's allegiance.

Here is good news that robustly depends upon God: Man has a problem (sin) that he cannot fix. God alone has provided the solution (shed blood of His Son) but one He will not force upon any man. So God invites each one to claim for himself the saving grace that is offered in Jesus. Factor God out of such an equation and man is left striving for what doesn't exist. Put God back in the picture and you have the miraculous answer to an otherwise impossible problem. God is in the center of such an accomplishment and His success is occasion for all-out praise and worship.

"Live your life to the fullest" seems like much ado about me. God is little more than a bit player in such a production - so who do you think will get the applause? Hooray for me! To Lisa Miller's question I would answer,"God is not honored by a message that is, at it's core, a celebration of me."

Real Ultimate Taxpayer Protection

Two previous posts raised seemingly disparate ideas. Dumb Requests and Good Prayers posed this question: What is the best personal request you would make of God? In Ultimate Taxpayer Protection, I quoted and considered Henry Paulsen's testimony before the Senate Banking Committee. Both of these posts orbit around a single pole.

Last week, I was talking with someone from the East Coast who was exploring what God is doing in Memphis. As we were about to part, she asked, "How can I pray for you?" I said something at the time but kept rolling this poignant question over in my mind for days afterwords: What would I MOST WANT people to be praying for on my behalf? And is my answer to that question one of which God WOULD APPROVE?

Now about a week later, here is how I would answer the "how-can-I-pray-for-you" question: "Please ask God to help me become a man who is full of faith." Faith is simply believing what God has said. As faith is exercised, it changes the course of a man's life, it works. I want to become a man who is able to believe what God says when "what God says" is hard to grasp; I want to believe what God says when our culture disagrees; I want to believe what God says even when it requires a dramatic course correction.

So what does this have to do with the current economic situation? When people don't trust the other guy, they are unwilling to do business with him. A "crisis of confidence" is threatening to freeze the market. Freddie, Fannie, Lehman Bro's, and AIG (and countless others?) have really blown it. Congress, the Fed, and the Treasury have made it worse. They have all let us down, they have all given us reason to question whether they have our best interests at heart. But NOT OUR GOD - He can be trusted 100%.

If your security rests on the state of the economy, you're in for a bumpy ride. But if your trust is placed in God, it couldn't be better placed. I am convinced that Jesus wants me (and you?) to have a strong faith and that this is a request that He would be pleased to hear. I am convinced that the "current economic crisis" is a good reminder of why having an ever greater faith in God is the only true protection plan.

Much Ado Over Gabriel's Revelation

Time reported this week that a first century BC tablet, according to an Israeli scholar, "announces the raising of a Jewish messiah after three days in the grave." Dubbed "Gabriel's Revelation," you can check out the full article on the three foot high tablet by clicking here. Reporters David Van Biema and Tim McGirk seem to think this tablet constitutes another piece of vital evidence debunking the authenticity of the resurrection of Jesus.

Let's assume for the moment that the reported translation of the tablet is correct - this is no small assumption, by the way. How damaging is this revelation? Biema and McGirk think it is serious: "This undermines one of the strongest literary arguments employed by Christians over centuries to support the historicity of the Resurrection: the specificity and novelty of the idea that the Messiah would die on a Friday and rise on a Sunday."

I find it hard not to smirk at the logic of this. Suppose someone living before Jesus did indeed pen a literary work that mentions a third day resurrection. Does this have any value as a denial of later historical events as reported by dozens of corroborating witnesses? Let me illustrate the logic of this: On 9/11 many eye-witnesses observed two planes flying into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. What would you think of someone's claim that it is all an invention, a contrivance, and offers as proof a book (that predates 9/11) in which events that are eerily similar are described? He proposes that the idea was suggested to people through the book and that's where they came up with idea. It didn't really happen.

Would you find such an argument convincing? Me neither. If you have already concluded that the resurrection is an invention, if you can make a statement like this - "this could mean that Jesus' followers had access to a well-established paradigm when they decreed that Christ himself rose on the third day" - then I suppose Biema and McGirk's spin on Gabriel's Revelation might seem compelling. I'm not buying it.

Knowing People Who Count

In a previous post, I talked about the American Idol Effect (the AI Effect) by which contestants disconnect fame from greatness. They long to be well known, even if it means they are not well thought of. (At the start of a new season of American Idol, we wonder if people will finally get this. Nope. I loved Ryan's line - "the auditions never seem to disappoint.") But, I also think there is something profound going on.

The need to be known is a basic human need. It is precisely this need which is addressed here: But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? (Gal. 4:9). If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him (1 Cor. 8:2-33). The search for fame is a poor substitute for finding true significance, the significance of being known by the One who matters, our heavenly Father. If you love God, you are NOT a nobody! Don't let anyone, including presidents and celebrities, tell you otherwise.