iCrucified

Archive for the ‘Bible Speak’ Category

Please die.

“What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation…” [Galatians 6:15]

I wonder why we so often push back against the Holy Spirit? Here we are, heirs and inheritors of all the promises of God, every one, and so many times we are want to push back against Him and follow our own inclinations and desires. This summer has been a roller coaster ride for me in every facet of my being; emotionally, physically, and spiritually… and while I continue to implement the tools God has given me through the gifts of spiritual discipline I continue to wrestle and war against the nature of self within me. The flesh of “me” pushes back against the “perfecting nature of God” within me. I despise that. I give thanks and glory to God that I can choose to submit to His Spirit, but I don’t like for one minute that I have to choose in the first place.

“…and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” [Galatians 3:28] “And because we are His children, God sent the Spirit of His Son (Jesus) into our hearts, prompting us to call out ‘Abba, Father.’” [Galatians 4:6]

God has sent the Spirit of Jesus into our hearts… therefore; it would seem to me, that we can follow Him. We can truly, literally, and successfully live a life, walk a life, and exhibit the grace and presence of the life that Jesus lived [1 John 2:6]. So, back to my question, I wonder why such a battle rages within me. I wonder why I consider my wants first; I wonder why I filter things through my perspectives first? I wonder why I seek out my comforts first.  I generally will choose to make these thoughts subservient to the concerns and needs of others, but I wonder why, so often, I have to make the choice to choose their needs and thoughts over mine in the first place. It would seem to me that my old nature has not been completely crucified. [sigh]

“I have been crucified. With Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now love in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered himself up for me.” [Galatians 2:20].

And this is my cry… This is my prayer; that one day I will be able to say these words, as did the Apostle Paul, with conviction and authority. One day I will know that the war of my flesh and the raging “me” of self will be complete. I live by faith today that all the promises of God are yes and amen, but I live with hope looking forward to the culmination of all things Christ… including Him within me. May it be so, for the glory of  You, Christ Jesus, my Savior. Amen.

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I’m Special – You’re Special

I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father who raised Jesus from the dead.  [Galatians 1:1]

How freeing and affirming is the consolation that comes from this passage. While every child of God may not be “appointed” to do the work of a “Paul,” it does not diminish the reality that each child of God has been “appointed” or chosen specifically, individually, and particularly by the mind and hand of God. He chose us. He chose me. Jesus reached out for me from beyond eternity for His unique purposes and no “group of people” or “human authority” can alter that truth. This is a great reminder when life feels lonely or the pressures of our circumstance begin to rob us of our joy… Jesus chose me. Amen.

But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace. Then it pleased Him to reveal His Son to me so that I would proclaim the good news about Jesus… [Galatians 1:15-16] …God shows no partiality.  [Galatians 2:6]

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So, I’ve been thinking about this passage of Scripture for the past couple of days…

So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? [Galatians 4:9 ---NLT]

Before I get into what I’ve been thinking about, let’s look at a couple more versions (or translations) of this passage:

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? [NASB]

But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? [NIV]

The context of this passage is dealing with Gentile converts who had been proselytized by the Jewish Christians. These Judaizers had been following the missionary stops of Paul (the apostle) and introduced a different gospel to the new believers. In this letter to the young believers in Galatia, Paul sternly rebukes them for abandoning the message of truth and freedom he had preached to them. Great. Wonderful… and I mean this. The lesson, message, and encouragement gleaned from this story alone is fantastic, but is there something more the Holy Spirit would minister to me? I think there is…

First, Paul begins, “So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you).” My heart is cut to the quick with this statement. I go through my life rather confident that “I know God.” And I believe that I do. However, as I have let these words sink into the deep parts of my mind and heart over the last couple of days I wonder how far the reflection of my life falls short of “now that I know God.” I don’t mean this to be a false humility moment, I’m serious. I try to live my life above reproach and I’m striving to learn and grow in the ways of Jesus. I earnestly study, pray, and practice spiritual disciplines. I involve myself in the community of faith and Jesus-following disciples around me. I am conscious of the areas that need people who are purposing the Kingdom of God and try to join along in that work as best I can with what I am able to contribute; my money, my time, my talents, and other resources as they are realized. But, I still feel as though I fall short. “Now that I know God,” is an incredible statement packed with implication, indebtedness, inference, and invitation. I feel as though the weight of that realization is almost more than I can bear; the mere attempt at understanding what it means to “know God” is over my head, and I tremble.

Perhaps this is why we are not so unlike the Galatians. Paul asks them; “why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?” Going back to the comfortable and the known is not so scary as the unknown… even if this means being a slave to it; even if it means settling for a fraction of the life that we have been promised. The Bible is full of these examples throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, and our own history is full of examples as well. Honestly, I too am an example of this. I am an example in many ways. I’ve been distracted by the noises and tyranny of life around me. I’ve made excuses for not fully engaging in work that God is involved in… I’ve allowed my health; physical and mental, to affect my spiritual development. And, I could go on and on I’m sure. The truth is all of the examples I’ve given and more I’m sure, are examples of “going back again and becoming a slave to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world.” We are told the battle we wage is not of this world, but principalities that war in heavenly places for our soul (Ephesians 6:12). When I remove my eyes from the glory of God, when I allow myself to be distracted by the anxious things of this world… I am becoming a slave to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world. To my understanding, I do not think I am overly out of context with the application of this passage of Scripture. Might this strike us as closer to home and more in line with the text??? If all my actions are observing the rules of my particular church (don’t touch, don’t say, don’t watch, don’t think…) and the most I apply the words and teachings of my faith is in the context of the law’s letter (Sunday school, weekly worship services, the occasional service project), how am I different than those following the Judaizers? Or, if I do attempt to follow after the Jesus I profess my love, and my actions are to endear me to Him… am I attempting to earn His favor? Where is the freedom in this?

No. I don’t want to fall short. I don’t want to feel tired or fearful as I endeavor to become like Jesus. I want to live in freedom and I want to confidently say “I know God, or He knows me.” And, I don’t want to freak out about that. I desire to live in the freedom and confidence of position in the person of my Savior, Jesus. When we live like this, great things happen for the kingdom of God, and He is exalted before men. I pray this continues to serve as a reminder and a call to action. A call to drop the pretense, a call to abandon the useless spiritual principles of this world, and a call to embrace the always present Presence of the Living God who has enabled me and empowered me to share in His Person and His Spirit. Praise Him.

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So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? [Galatians 4:9 ---NLT]

Questions began to populate my mind rather quickly as I re-read this portion of the letter this morning. I will meditate upon it and post my thoughts later.

Prayer for the Day from St. Augustine

“O God, our Father, we are exceedingly frail, and indisposed to every virtuous and gallant undertaking: Strengthen our weakness, we beseech thee, that we may do valiantly in this spiritual war; help us against our own negligence and cowardice, and defend us from the treachery of our unfaithful hearts; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.”

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Morning Meds [2010MAY10]

“You will not hate any person, but some you will reprove, and concerning others you will pray, and some you will love more than your soul.” (Didache 2:7)

Lord, You opened for us the path to eternal life. Grant that we, born again of water and Spirit, may joyfully serve You in newness of life and faithfully walk in Your holy ways. Amen.

He is Faithful and True; His name is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:11,16)

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Prayer for the Day:

O Living and Eternal God, You are more ready to give than we are to ask. Grant us a new vision of yourself, that seeing you as you are we may desire you, and desiring you, we may surrender our lives to you. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

By virtue of our awakening to a new day, we Hear His voice. Therefore,

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah… For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, “they are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways…”   Psalm 95

Our response to the grace of His hand awakening us should be soul thirsting and hunger that is exclusively for Him, completely surrendered, and only to Him.

O God You are my God, earnestly I seek You: my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You… Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my Hands.   Psalm 63

Almighty God, give us wisdom to perceive You, intellect to understand You, diligence to seek You, patience to wait for You, eyes to behold You, a heart to meditate on You and life to proclaim You, through the power of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. (attributed to Benedict of Nursia)

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Lent Week 4: An Interactive Reflection

Personalizing the Readings from Week Four (An exercise interacting with God’s word to me) –Scripture References from Lectionary (Cycle C)

Joshua 5:9-12   ||   Psalm 32:1-11   ||   Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32   |||   2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Oh! My joy is complete! Today my sin has been put out of sight…my disobedience has been forgiven. The Lord says, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your reproach.” My confidence is restored; as I walked through the desert of disobedience, my body groaned all day long in my fear that I would waste away. Finally, realizing the folly of my rebellion, my heavenly Father made His appeal to me through my Older Brother; “Come home, he said. Be reconciled to our Father.” I have come to my senses; no longer will I wallow in the extravagant foolishness of my own self indulgence. Confessing my rebellion to my Lord, I stopped hiding my guilt…and He forgave me. I am reconciled! I am restored!

What joy for those whose lives are lived in complete honesty in pursuit of intimate fellowship with the Triune God. For He is my hiding place; He protects me from choices that lead to my undoing, because He leads me by His Spirit. He surrounds me with songs of victory. The Lord says to me, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” So I rejoice in the Lord and I am glad, for my joy rests in unflinching obedience to His righteous ways! I shout for joy, my heart is pure; His unfailing love surrounds me because I trust in Him, my holy God…my Savior King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and the Lover of my soul.

“What is the path, O Lord?” I ask with the obedient desire seeping from the pores of my soul. He speaks to me and reveals my mission…clarity coming in the form of the divine mystery…He will now make His appeal to my other wayward brothers and sisters through me! He is defining my path, giving me the task of reconciler; He is naming me Ambassador of the Older Brother, my proclamation is to speak for Him… “Come back to God, our Father!” Our Older Brother, who is the Christ, has provided the means for us to be made right with God. This is my path, bearer and crier of this marvelous message of reconciliation.  My old life is gone, a distant and disintegrating memory of my former self. My new life, my new path, has begun… I am new son; forgiven, reconciled, and restored… I sing a new song as a new son; my song is named Immortal Eternal Victorious Joy. Amen.   ~~Jeff Borden

The effect of prayer is union with God, and, if someone is with God, he is separated from the enemy.

Through prayer we guard our chastity, control our temper and rid ourselves of vanity. It makes us forget injuries, overcomes envy, defeats injustice and makes amends for sin. . .

It will refresh you when you are weary and comfort you when you are sorrowful. . . Prayer is the delight of the joyful as well as the solace of the afflicted. . . Prayer is intimacy with God and contemplation of the invisible. ~~Gregory of Nyssa

“I am not what I ought to be — ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be — I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be — soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”   ~~John Newton

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We are sharing a teaching series as we approach Resurrection Sunday (Easter) in our church called “The Road to Redemption.” I was honored with teaching the installment on the “Redeemed: Humans are Broken” yesterday. I have included with this post the outline, small group discussion questions, and my teaching notes as well as the audio of the message. We used a video to setup the teaching which I have also included here which adds some context to the first part of the sermon… As always, your comments and feedback are welcome.

• Sermon Notes
• Outline & Small Group Discussion

2010MAR14 Road2Redemption 2JB by icrucified

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Audiobook: provided for review from www.christianaudio.com

A Sweet and Bitter Providence by John Piper

I was recently invited to join the Christianaudio.com reviewer’s program. I was delighted to join them as I have been listening to their audiobooks for over a year now. One of the first titles offered for review (to me) was A Sweet & Bitter Providence by John Piper.  This volume is narrated by Grover Gardner, who must narrate on a regular basis, I recognized him from the spiritual theology series by Eugene Peterson that I listened to last spring among other titles as well. Speaking of the narration, Gardner is rapidly becoming to me as Morgan Freeman is becoming the next James Earl Jones for the Madison Avenue crowd. Grover Gardner’s voice is very easy to listen to and he is very capable of reading the written story in an audible form that invites you into the story…very conversational and engaging.

The work itself, A Sweet & Bitter Providence, is a wonderful story from the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament Scriptures. I enjoyed the exegetical and expository style of writing from Dr. Piper as he shared his insight to this great teaching about the character and providence of God. As “providence” would have it, I happened to have just finished reading the Genesis story of Joseph and was three-quarters finished with the story of Job at the time of my listening to A Sweet & Bitter Providence. These three great Bible stories together complimented one another in a beautiful way and helped me to solidify what John Piper was trying to get across to his audience.

From a technical standpoint, I appreciate the context of the MP3 files (my preferred medium). They are clearly titled and tagged for my audio player (iPod). This is important to me for filing and categorizing on my player as well as being able to have logical starting and stopping points for the chapters.

Personally, I recommend audiobooks for people who have super busy lifestyles, spend a lot of time over the road in travel, or folks who might be looking for a change from the written word. I enjoy the break in my routine and find this to be an excellent way to continue on the path of my education and make the most use of my time; I also listen to the books while dong my workouts at the gym. Thank you to Christianaudio.com for very affordable titles and a rapidly growing selection.

Summary:

Sex. Race. Scripture. Sovereignty. Read the rest of this entry »

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Installment #4 was my assignment for this weekend’s worship services. My title for this message was “Rules of the Road: God’s Way of Loving Ourselves and Loving Others.” As is my custom, I have included the manuscript, sermon outline, and small group discussion questions along with the audio file. I am always interested in constructive critique and feedback.

download manuscript (.pdf file)

download outline and sm.grp. discussion (.pdf file)

2010JAN24 ChristianJourney 4jb by valleychapel

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