Today starts a series of posts based on a sermon I gave on Sunday February 15th. Special thanks to Cecelia for transcribing my ramblings and for the initial edit. I hope you find these edifying – Jeff
Matthew 23:1-12 1Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3“Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4“For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5“But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7“greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10“And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
In these twelve verses Jesus describes for us what we are to watch for in those that lead us in the church. We must be discerning when it comes to those that we put our trust in. Before we begin looking at these qualifications however, I thought it would be helpful for us to take a look at the religious leaders of Jesus’ day – the Scribes and Pharisees.
The Scribes were the ones who would copy the law from generation to generation. They took their position of preserving the law very seriously and were extremely meticulous about insuring the accuracy of the text from one copy to the next. It goes to follow that if your life was devoted to copying and preserving the law from generation to generation you would also become adept at its interpretation.
The scribes can trace their beginnings back to the time when Israel came out of captivity from Babylon. I believe the title of scribe first appears in Nehemiah 8 where we are introduced to “Ezra the scribe”. If you remember from the book of Nehemiah they called Ezra the scribe to read the book of the law to the assembly of Israel. He read to the people for four to six hours while teachers milled about the crowd explaining the law (and my congregation thinks I’ve kept them a long time after 40 minutes). The Scribes continued in that tradition of copying, preserving and interpreting the law.
There is an old Jewish saying that says “God gave the law to angels, angels gave it to Moses, Moses gave it to Joshua, Joshua gave it to the elders, the elders gave it to the prophets and the prophets gave it to the scribes”. When you believe that the things that you are writing come directly from God’s mouth to your pen it is easy to become self-righteous..
Then you had the Pharisees. They were the dominant sect of the Jews and the most popular with the people for a couple of reasons. They were not as untouchable as the Sadducees (if you remember Paul was a Pharisee and also held a job as a tentmaker) and the people looked to them as models of righteousness because they were conservative in their view of God’s law and held a high view of it.
But along with that came some silliness. William Barclay did a study on the different types of Pharisees, let me share with you a few. There was the ”shoulder Pharisee” who would walk around with accounts of their good deeds written upon their shoulders for all to see.
There was the “bruised and bleeding Pharisee” who, to keep from committing the sin of lust when looking at a woman, would walk around with his eyes closed. Their piety was measured by how beat up they were as a result of walking into things.
There was the “humpback tumbling Pharisee” who would in a display of false humility walk around all bent over which would result in them getting caught up in their robes and tumbling to the ground.
And of course, there were the “God-fearing” Pharisees who’s hearts really were seeking God, men like Nicodemus.
These are the men that Jesus is going to challenge in our verses for the next couple of days. He is going to challenge them in their piety and in their self righteousness. We are also going to see what we should be watching for, both positive and negative, in the leaders of our church.
Before we begin our study in earnest however this would probably be a good place to stop and reflect on our service to God. Go back and read our passage again taking it purely for its face value. Is our service to God based solely upon how we are perceived by those around us? Do we do the things that we do simply to be seen by men? Do we do the things that we do because we feel that it somehow improves our relationship with God?
It is so easy for us to hop on the legalism train and start thinking that God owes us something for our service to Him. Let us never forget that it is His grace and mercy alone that saves us and it is the continued pouring out of His grace and mercy that keeps us.
Grace and peace to you all...
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Psalm 92:4
Psalm 92:4 For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
How is your day going so far? Would you categorize it under the “joyful and triumphant” column in your ledger?
Based on our verse for today we are to find gladness simply by being part of God’s plan. Look at the ground we’ve covered so far in the Psalm, we’ve talked of praising God for His kindness, His provision, and His faithfulness. Did you notice that the verses say nothing about the circumstances that are going on at the moment? There are no qualifiers – we’re simply to praise Him. It’s easy to praise Him when we are happy isn’t it? How about when we’re not? Is Jesus enough for us?
We’re not only to be glad but we’re supposed to realize the victory of Christ, our verse ends with I will triumph in the works of Your hands! Look at what the apostle Paul says about victory in 2nd Corinthians 12:
You have experienced victory today whether you realize it or not. God has already kept you from a multitude of sins this day. God has forgiven you for the sins that you have repented from. God has protected you from a multitude of attacks from the evil one. Victories – each and every one.
I’m not asking you to turn a blind eye to your circumstances. They are real and they are difficult. I do not know what your situation is as you are reading this. You may be coping with the loss of a child, the loss of a job, the ending of a marriage, who knows? But this one thing I can tell you in the middle of your storm, Jesus’ grace is sufficient for you as well. No matter how battered and bloody you are at the end of the day you can still say “Jesus is mine”.
Let us be proactive in our worship of the Lord, shall we? Think of His lovingkindness throughout the day. Find your delight and satisfaction in Him and Him alone. Understand and acknowledge that He has already achieved victory for you over sin and death. Think of Him and be glad. Think of the works of His hands and praise Him for the victory!
Chalk this day up under “joyful and triumphant” even in the midst of adversity. Jesus is yours!
How is your day going so far? Would you categorize it under the “joyful and triumphant” column in your ledger?
Based on our verse for today we are to find gladness simply by being part of God’s plan. Look at the ground we’ve covered so far in the Psalm, we’ve talked of praising God for His kindness, His provision, and His faithfulness. Did you notice that the verses say nothing about the circumstances that are going on at the moment? There are no qualifiers – we’re simply to praise Him. It’s easy to praise Him when we are happy isn’t it? How about when we’re not? Is Jesus enough for us?
We’re not only to be glad but we’re supposed to realize the victory of Christ, our verse ends with I will triumph in the works of Your hands! Look at what the apostle Paul says about victory in 2nd Corinthians 12:
7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.Do you think Paul understood the triumph of Christ. Paul acknowledged his discomfort and asked Jesus to remove his affliction. Look at Jesus’ response, “My grace is sufficient for you”. Boy, if we could only catch that truth! Simply to be in God’s grace is enough for us! Rejoicing God in our weakness – what a wonderful and beautiful thought!
You have experienced victory today whether you realize it or not. God has already kept you from a multitude of sins this day. God has forgiven you for the sins that you have repented from. God has protected you from a multitude of attacks from the evil one. Victories – each and every one.
I’m not asking you to turn a blind eye to your circumstances. They are real and they are difficult. I do not know what your situation is as you are reading this. You may be coping with the loss of a child, the loss of a job, the ending of a marriage, who knows? But this one thing I can tell you in the middle of your storm, Jesus’ grace is sufficient for you as well. No matter how battered and bloody you are at the end of the day you can still say “Jesus is mine”.
Let us be proactive in our worship of the Lord, shall we? Think of His lovingkindness throughout the day. Find your delight and satisfaction in Him and Him alone. Understand and acknowledge that He has already achieved victory for you over sin and death. Think of Him and be glad. Think of the works of His hands and praise Him for the victory!
Chalk this day up under “joyful and triumphant” even in the midst of adversity. Jesus is yours!
Monday, February 09, 2009
Deliver Us From Evil...
A little dose of Spurgeon on a rainy Monday night – enjoy… Jeff
“Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil [or, the evil one].” — Luke 11:4
What we are taught to seek or shun in prayer, we should equally pursue or avoid in action. Very earnestly, therefore, should we avoid temptation, seeking to walk so guardedly in the path of obedience, that we may never tempt the devil to tempt us. We are not to enter the thicket in search of the lion. Dearly might we pay for such presumption. This lion may cross our path or leap upon us from the thicket, but we have nothing to do with hunting him. He that meeteth with him, even though he winneth the day, will find it a stern struggle. Let the Christian pray that he may be spared the encounter. Our Saviour, who had experience of what temptation meant, thus earnestly admonished his disciples—“Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”
But let us do as we will, we shall be tempted; hence the prayer “deliver us from evil.” God had one Son without sin; but he has no son without temptation. The natural man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards, and the Christian man is born to temptation just as certainly. We must be always on our watch against Satan, because, like a thief, he gives no intimation of his approach. Believers who have had experience of the ways of Satan, know that there are certain seasons when he will most probably make an attack, just as at certain seasons bleak winds may be expected; thus the Christian is put on a double guard by fear of danger, and the danger is averted by preparing to meet it. Prevention is better than cure: it is better to be so well armed that the devil will not attack you, than to endure the perils of the fight, even though you come off a conqueror. Pray this evening first that you may not be tempted, and next that if temptation be permitted, you may be delivered from the evil one.
“Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil [or, the evil one].” — Luke 11:4 What we are taught to seek or shun in prayer, we should equally pursue or avoid in action. Very earnestly, therefore, should we avoid temptation, seeking to walk so guardedly in the path of obedience, that we may never tempt the devil to tempt us. We are not to enter the thicket in search of the lion. Dearly might we pay for such presumption. This lion may cross our path or leap upon us from the thicket, but we have nothing to do with hunting him. He that meeteth with him, even though he winneth the day, will find it a stern struggle. Let the Christian pray that he may be spared the encounter. Our Saviour, who had experience of what temptation meant, thus earnestly admonished his disciples—“Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”
But let us do as we will, we shall be tempted; hence the prayer “deliver us from evil.” God had one Son without sin; but he has no son without temptation. The natural man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards, and the Christian man is born to temptation just as certainly. We must be always on our watch against Satan, because, like a thief, he gives no intimation of his approach. Believers who have had experience of the ways of Satan, know that there are certain seasons when he will most probably make an attack, just as at certain seasons bleak winds may be expected; thus the Christian is put on a double guard by fear of danger, and the danger is averted by preparing to meet it. Prevention is better than cure: it is better to be so well armed that the devil will not attack you, than to endure the perils of the fight, even though you come off a conqueror. Pray this evening first that you may not be tempted, and next that if temptation be permitted, you may be delivered from the evil one.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
All Things Work Together for Good
This post is probably more for my own hearing but you’re welcome to walk along with me as I seek comfort… Jeff
Romans 8:18-31 18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (NKJV - emphasis mine)
This past Sunday in my Sunday School class we talked about Jesus walking on the water and my class asked me why the disciples went out on the boat if they knew a storm was coming. I had to explain to them that there was no doppler radar and they had to rely upon their “doppler windows”. The geography of the area also doesn’t allow for you to see the storm coming, it simply rolls in over the mountain range. By the time you can see the clouds its too late, you have to deal with the consequences of the storm.
Isn’t life a lot like that? While we are not ignorant of our surroundings how often are we surprised by the storm? Think of the storms that show up in our lives: sickness, injuries, death, loss of home, loss of job, etc.. How many times did you know the storm was coming? Even if you recognized the symptoms, weren’t you still surprised when the full force of the gale hammered against your body?
That’s who I want to talk to today. Those of us that are standing there naked, bloodied and cold in the aftermath of the storm looking around at the devestation that it has caused . As we pick up the fragments of our lives we look to the heavens and ask “why?”.
The passage that I have cited is one of my favorite ones to go to during these times in my life. Let’s walk through it together – shall we? Paul starts in vs 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time STOP! Do you hear what Paul is saying? Suffering is going to happen. Expect it. We live in a world that is cursed by the effects of the fall. When death and sin entered the world, Paradise was lost.
Look at the back half of vs 18 are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. That’s a pretty sobering thought isn’t it. There is nothing in this life that can compare to the next life. Heaven awaits the Christian! Hallelujah! Nothing we endure this side of heaven can compare to the beauty of being with Jesus! Read verses 19 through 23 above. All of creation longs to be restored to the time before sin entered the world. Creation longs to be set free from the bondage of sin as well. The world is as eager to see its redemption as we are.
Verse 28 is probably one of the hardest verses for us to accept. Notice that it does not say that only good things will happen to us. It simply says that all things work together for good to those who love God.
When Joseph was thrown in the pit would we call it good? Before you answer remember that this was the beginning of a chain of events that saved the tribe of Israel from death.
When David stole Uriah’s wife was that good? Before you answer remember that it was Bathsheba’s son who became one of the greatest kings of Israel and also gave us the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.
I would ask you the same question now. Is the storm that you are enduring good? Before you answer remember that you are limited by the tick of the clock. You have no way of knowing what is going to come to pass in your life. You have no way of knowing what chain of events has started with this one. Trust God in the midst of the storm, He knows exactly where you are and what you are going through. Go back and read vs 24-27 above – God has given us hope. More than that – He has given us the Holy Spirit to constantly remind us of Christ. Take comfort in the thought that the Spirit Himself is praying for you right now in exactly the way that you need. Trust God in the storm.
I want to share with you a piece of text from A.W. Tozier’s book The Root of the Righteous
I’ll close with vs 31. What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us. God is for you Christian, He has proven Himself to you time and time again. He expressed His complete love for you when His Son was sacrificed for our sakes. There is nothing that can separate you from Him.
Grace and Peace to you all…
Romans 8:18-31 18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (NKJV - emphasis mine)
This past Sunday in my Sunday School class we talked about Jesus walking on the water and my class asked me why the disciples went out on the boat if they knew a storm was coming. I had to explain to them that there was no doppler radar and they had to rely upon their “doppler windows”. The geography of the area also doesn’t allow for you to see the storm coming, it simply rolls in over the mountain range. By the time you can see the clouds its too late, you have to deal with the consequences of the storm.
Isn’t life a lot like that? While we are not ignorant of our surroundings how often are we surprised by the storm? Think of the storms that show up in our lives: sickness, injuries, death, loss of home, loss of job, etc.. How many times did you know the storm was coming? Even if you recognized the symptoms, weren’t you still surprised when the full force of the gale hammered against your body?
That’s who I want to talk to today. Those of us that are standing there naked, bloodied and cold in the aftermath of the storm looking around at the devestation that it has caused . As we pick up the fragments of our lives we look to the heavens and ask “why?”.
The passage that I have cited is one of my favorite ones to go to during these times in my life. Let’s walk through it together – shall we? Paul starts in vs 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time STOP! Do you hear what Paul is saying? Suffering is going to happen. Expect it. We live in a world that is cursed by the effects of the fall. When death and sin entered the world, Paradise was lost.
Look at the back half of vs 18 are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. That’s a pretty sobering thought isn’t it. There is nothing in this life that can compare to the next life. Heaven awaits the Christian! Hallelujah! Nothing we endure this side of heaven can compare to the beauty of being with Jesus! Read verses 19 through 23 above. All of creation longs to be restored to the time before sin entered the world. Creation longs to be set free from the bondage of sin as well. The world is as eager to see its redemption as we are.
Verse 28 is probably one of the hardest verses for us to accept. Notice that it does not say that only good things will happen to us. It simply says that all things work together for good to those who love God.
When Joseph was thrown in the pit would we call it good? Before you answer remember that this was the beginning of a chain of events that saved the tribe of Israel from death.
When David stole Uriah’s wife was that good? Before you answer remember that it was Bathsheba’s son who became one of the greatest kings of Israel and also gave us the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.
I would ask you the same question now. Is the storm that you are enduring good? Before you answer remember that you are limited by the tick of the clock. You have no way of knowing what is going to come to pass in your life. You have no way of knowing what chain of events has started with this one. Trust God in the midst of the storm, He knows exactly where you are and what you are going through. Go back and read vs 24-27 above – God has given us hope. More than that – He has given us the Holy Spirit to constantly remind us of Christ. Take comfort in the thought that the Spirit Himself is praying for you right now in exactly the way that you need. Trust God in the storm.
I want to share with you a piece of text from A.W. Tozier’s book The Root of the Righteous
It was the enraptured Rutherford who could shout in the midst of serious and painful trials, “Praise God for the hammer, the file, and the furnace.”Read vs 29-30, God is in the business of making saints. Sometimes we have to endure the hammer, the file or the furnace. If we will simply submit to His will in our lives and trust Him in the middle of what we are enduring we can be comforted. Trust in the Master – He knows exactly what He is doing.
The hammer is a useful tool, but the nail, if it had feeling and intelligence, could present another side of the story. For the nail knows the hammer only as an opponent, a brutal, merciless enemy who lives to pound it into submission, to beat it down out of sight and clinch it into place. That is the nail’s view fo the hammer, and it is accurate except for one thing: The nail forgets that both it and the hammer are servants of the same workman. Let the nail but remember that the hammer is held by the workman and all resentment toward it will disappear. The carpenter decides whose head shall be beaten next and what hammer shall be used in the beating. That is his sovereign right. When the nail has surrendered to the will of the workman and has gotten a little glimpse of his benign plans for its future it will yield to the hammer without complaint.
The file is more painful still, for its business is to bite into the soft metal, scraping and eating away the edges till it has shaped the metal to its will. Yet the file has, in truth, no real will in the matter, but serves another master as the metal also does. It is the master and not the file that decides how much shall be eaten away, what shape the metal shall take, and how long the painful filing shall continue. Let the metal accept the will of the master and it will not try to dictate when or how it shall be filed.
As for the furnace, it is the worst of all. Ruthless and savage, it leaps at every combustible thing that enters it and never relaxes its fury till it has reduced it all to shapeless ashes. All that refuses to burn is melted to a mass of helpless matter, without will or purpose of its own. When everything is melted that will melt and all is burned that will burn, then and not till then the furnace calms down and rests from its destructive fury.
I’ll close with vs 31. What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us. God is for you Christian, He has proven Himself to you time and time again. He expressed His complete love for you when His Son was sacrificed for our sakes. There is nothing that can separate you from Him.
Grace and Peace to you all…
Stimulated Yet?!?!?!?!
As I type this the President and leaders of Congress have retreated to Virginia to discuss the economic stimulus package currently over 900 billion dollars - thats $900,000,000,000.00 for those of you writing in your ledgers...
Contact your Senator and Representative and let them know what you think of the current package - I just did. Remember to be respectful (see Romans 13:1-7 if you need some admonishment).
A couple of helpful links:
Click www.senate.gov to contact your Senators.
Click www.house.gov to contact your Representative.
Contact your Senator and Representative and let them know what you think of the current package - I just did. Remember to be respectful (see Romans 13:1-7 if you need some admonishment).
A couple of helpful links:
Click www.senate.gov to contact your Senators.
Click www.house.gov to contact your Representative.
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