Second Coming

Once again we find ourselves beyond Easter, the ascension and Pentecost. What's next? Jesus is coming again. This is the final event in God's redemptive story. It is the last chapter in the mighty mystery of God's redeeming love. It is the last revelation of Almighty God to the world. It will be a revelation unlike the incarnation, crucifixion, or Pentecost. The Gospel writer declares this same Jesus who you saw go into heaven will come again. The glory of that moment we can't comprehend. It will be a rude interruption to all the plans of mankind. The politicians of this world will have nothing to say as they are called to account before Christ. The mighty will call for the rocks to hide them from the wrath of God. Those who have lived in rebellion, sin, carnal selfishness, hedonistic pleasure and mockery of God and His holiness, will proclaim Jesus is Lord. They will do this from bended knee. Not because they want to, they will have to. Their littleness, will be overwhelmed by His greatness. Their emptiness will be exposed by His glory. It will be part of their eternal torment to admit their sinfulness and realize that Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life. His coming has nothing to do with Iraq, or Syria, or Russia, or anything else that the pundits attempt to make it. It has everything to do with God's sovereign purpose and plan. It has everything to do with His determination that now is the time. The preachers with their charts and graphs, with their books on signs and times, are empty voices. The Lord's own message is to live ready. Watch, pray, for you don't know when. A life of readiness, a life of expectation. A life of hope and holiness. A life looking forward to the new heaven and new earth, the home of righteousness. May the body of Christ in America begin to live up to the promise of His coming. May we be about he Master's business-loving God with all and our neighbor as self. The Gospel writer asks the question, 'when Christ comes will he find faith on earth?"

Call To Worship

Jesus' encounter with the lady at the well in John 4 has much to challenge us .Her hunger and thirst were deep and the emptiness of life's repeated failures brought great pain and frustration to her person. How simply and generously Jesus responded to her and enabled her to find the living water. In the course of the conversation, the topic of worship was addressed. She talked about places and the Lord talked about the heart. Worship is about the heart. The Father is seeking worshipers. He is seeking the individual whose heart is set on Him. We have made a mess out of worship in the American church. Worship wars, music styles, lights, sound, smoke-the presentation reflects our addiction to Hollywood and the need to 'feel' something. The result is the American church scene has often become inspirational, therapeutic, entertaining, man centered and presentation driven. It has become a show. It is culturally inspired and no longer driven by our awe of a holy God and humility concerning His amazing grace toward us. We are in bondage to our cultural climate and missing the transformation of heart and life that come from true worship. When we encounter the true and living God in all his holiness and purity, whether you feel anything or not, there should be a transformation taking place through that encounter. When we gather for corporate worship, it's not for a show, but to remember and celebrate Almighty God. We gather because of who God is, not because of who is preaching, singing, or what songs we sing, or the children's ministry. We gather because of Christ. The Father is seeking those who desire Him. Every day is a battle over our worship. Satan works to draw our attention, affection, and adoration away from Christ. As Hebrews states, 'let us fix our eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith."

The Right To Become

John 1:12 declares the heartbeat of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mankind, dead in trespasses and sins, with a heart deceitfully wicked is invited to become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ. This is a position of immense privilege, power, provision. This is made possible through the perfect sacrifice and provision of Jesus Christ, and through His life giving presence. The Holy Spirit brings the life of God to the repentant heart and we become what no human agency or effort could accomplish. We have deceived ourselves into thinking that the answer to the wickedness of the human heart is education, discipline or any other human attempt. This dark problem requires a Divine solution. Ours is to receive this gift, to throw ourselves at the feet of Christ and cry out for mercy and deliverance, healing and salvation. The good news is, Christ is able. We can be born from above, and become a child of the true and living God. We then begin to live with purpose-to love others. We live with confidence that grace is provided for each step of the journey. Let us abandon the empty self efforts, lay aside our selfish excuses and embrace this privilege of becoming a child of God. John tells this story as he moves through the Gospel narrative. Peter, Phillip were common people in that culture, but they were invited into the family of God. Nicodemus was the upper class, educated and influential but he too needed to be born again and was given the invitation. The woman at the well represented the 'least' of these-marred and scarred with the failures of life. Wearing the negative labels of her culture, yet the Master offered her living water. She too was given the right to become a child of God. Just as I am without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me, O Lamb of God I come.

HE IS HERE

What more do we want? What does our deepest desire really reflect? Have we overlooked the most awesome reality of everyday living? How easy we take this awesome truth for granted-like we take a breath of air for granted. He is here, now, the living Christ is within the heart of the believer and about him/her at all times and in all places. He has overcome this pain filled world and grants us peace, joy, hope, life for the journey of life. Because of His presence, here and now, the Christian has a distinct advantage over those who choose not to believe. Christ, the Good Shepherd, leads us each step of the way. He gives strength for the journey and enables us to discern and discover the eternal significance of each day. Let's practice the presence of the living Christ. The early church moved forward with a holy boldness that reflected their knowledge of His presence. They were confident and courageous in the middle of a hostile and difficult environment. His presence didn't make life easy for them, it brought purpose to their every day living. Christ lives and wants to live out his holy life through us. He wants to live His love through us, show His compassion and mercy through us and enable us to be light and salt. This is all possible because HE IS HERE! Let not your heart be troubled, I have overcome this world, I am with you to the end of the journey, my grace is sufficient for you-REJOICE! Christ lives. Let's believe it and live like it. For His glory. HE IS HERE!

He Lives

In John 11, Mary and Martha both make the typical human statement when something beyond our control takes place and we wish God had intervened to change the picture. "Lord if you had been here..." Later in the chapter those who were mockers of Christ used the same type of statement...He did this, why didn't He do that?! If we could only get God to behave like we wanted, when we wanted, with the outcomes we wanted. The resurrection of Jesus Christ does not nullify our desire for God to act like we want, but nullifies the need for it. God has acted on behalf of mankind in the most powerful and explicit manner. He sent the Son, gave the Son up to be crucified and brought Him out of the grave and back to His right hand. Let us not fear, doubt, complain or refuse to be grateful. Let us learn to live knowing that Jesus is with us now! Even when our Lazarus dies, even when the tribulations of this world seem overwhelming (Jn.16:33), Jesus Christ is here. If you had been here...is to be replaced with, "HE IS HERE-ALWAYS...even unto the end." Being with us does not negate the painfull realities of everyday life. His presence, practiced and embraced with a grateful and humble heart, brings peace and joy to the journey. Trouble? Yes! His Presence? Yes! Hallelujah-Christ lives!

The Lamb

John the Baptist broke 400 years of God's prophetic silence with the declaration, 'Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)." Wow! Really?! The Lamb of God. The lamb was a familiar image to the Jewish mind and the sacrificial system. A lamb was one of the choice animals for sacrifice. Every day in the temple a morning and evening sacrifice was made, usually utilizing a lamb. Those lambs were a reminder of sin, incapable of cleansing the human heart from sin. This Lamb, deals radically with the sin of the world. Rebellion, unbelief, carnal selfishness are no match for the blood of this Lamb. John baptised with water, but the Lamb baptizes with the Holy Spirit. One baptism reminding man of his sinfulness, the new baptism transforming the human heart. This Spirit baptism is possible because the Lamb was slain. Christ became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. The promise of Ezekial 36, the promise of the new covenant involved a new heart! Our heart can be purified from the world's sin!. We can love God with all our heart! Our will can be in harmony with the Father's. We can know an intimacy, a fellowship, a closeness, as a branch abiding in the Vine. The world's sin put the Lamb on the cross. The Father's work through the Son's life and death, put the Lamb on the throne of the universe. Let's 'look' to the Lamb. Let's fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith with the expectation and faith that He is able to do something about the 'world's sin' in each of us...today is the day of salvation! As we begin this passion week, open your heart to the Spirit's baptism. The cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb is mankinds only hope.

Jesus The True Vine

The branch that abides in the Vine is submitting to the Vine, cooperating with the Vine, alive only because of the Vine. It is the Vine's life in us, empowering, sanctifying, healing, cleansing, liberating and enlarging. The branch has nothing in itself, there is no power, no life to do anything. As Jesus said, it is good for nothing except to be burned. Kingdom living, abiding in the Vine, is purpose filled living. The great needs of the human heart are fully met when we abide in the True Vine. When we discover that 'apart from Jesus we can do nothing' we find the doorway to liberty and fulfillment. Our dependence upon the Vine becomes our freedom and fruitfulness. Destitution becomes the doorway to blessing. There is great blessing in abiding in the Vine. The shalom of God becomes the environment within us. We live to bear fruit and bring glory to His name. The focus and attention is upon the Vine. We abandon our self righteous efforts and any attempt to bear fruit on our own. In John 15 Jesus defines multiple blessings that are a result of His life in us. Focus on the Vine and give attention to abiding in Him. Practice His presence!

True Vine

Exhaustion, burn out, a general weariness with life and its pace seems to be a diagnosis of many in our world today. Where do you get your juice from? What is your life source? Where do you find refreshment in the middle of the daily race? Part of our problem is our lack of focus on the spiritual side of life. We spend the majority of time and energy, give most of our attention to the physical and material demands. Nothing in the physical and material world has the capacity to bring lasting renewal to our person. The promise of Isaiah is 'they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.' The spiritual side of life, which is really the foundation and heart of all of life, needs our attention. In John 15 Jesus paints a beautiful picture of the Christ centered life. He is the True Vine, the source for life and we have the privilege of being a branch. His invitation to us is , 'abide/remain in Me.' The eternal, Divine life flows from the True Vine into His branches. Christ's presence, His life in us is the source for renewal, refreshment and bearing fruit. Apart from Him, we can do nothing, except exhaust ourselves chasing life. I must learn to practice His presence, to cultivate this fellowship. As I focus my heart upon Jesus Christ, I find the Source that is sufficient, consistent and generous. In Christ is Life (John 1:4).

Jesus The Gate

Growing up in rural Ohio, farming was everywhere. Because of the presence of livestock, gates were everywhere. Fields were marked by fences and gates. Opening and closing gates was important to keep everything where it needed to be. In John 10 Jesus identifies himself as the "Gate." It seems a crude picture for Someone so full of grace and mercy. Yet it is a powerful picture. A gate gives us access to something, provides a way through a barrier, and controls who has access to something or someplace. Jesus is the gate to eternal life. There are not a bunch of gates, there is One Gate that gives access to the Father in heaven and eternal life. Jesus Christ is mankind's hope. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. As Jesus states, all others are thieves and robbers. Their intention is selfish, greedy. Christ's intent is to give the sheep access to life. His intent is to provide safe pasture for His sheep. Previous to this story, a blind man, a nobody in Jesus' culture walked through the gate of faith and began to see life as never before. The Pharisees refused to go through the gate and find that life, remaining blind in their arrogance and sin. Jesus the Gate gives us access to eternal life, to the heart of the Father. He provides the way through the barrier of sin, guilt, condemnation and shame. The Father in heaven has opened the gate wide. He stands at the gate inviting-whosoever will may come. There will come a day when the gate will be shut. Until then, 'today is the day of salvation'.

Christ Is

The Olympics are a great celebration of the strength and ability of man. I'm in awe of what these highly trained athletes are capable of. My fear factor is too high to even attempt what they do on a daily basis. They are to be celebrated and applauded for their effort and excellence. When Jesus walked the earth He never compared himself to another man, but came as the revelation of the true and living God. The "I AM" statements found in John's Gospel, reveal the greatness of His person. They set Him apart from all others who ever made any claim to deity, perfection, strength, or wisdom. He stands alone in the chronicles of history as the One who is the "I AM." Bread of Life, Light of the World, True Vine-bold statements coming from the Nazarene from Galilee. All statements that touch the need within the heart of man. Jesus came not for himself to win an award, or gain the applause of man, He came for the lost, dark, sinful world. He didn't compete to gain something for himself, He was the one 'sent' from the Father full of grace and truth. He competed with the forces of darkness to open the door to abundant life. He came to give the woman at the well living water. While on earth he was in constant conflict with political and religious forces that had lost the heart of God. He wrestled against the principalities and powers of darkness and in the ultimate moment of competition and conflict, He prevailed by declaring 'It Is Finished." Satan's world laughed, it appeared that darkness had won, but the competition wasn't over and Christ IS King of kings and Lord of lords today. Christ IS our champion. The Author and Finisher of our faith. Let us celebrate His victory for us-Light has triumphed over darkness. There is hope for whosoever will...Come to me...believe on me....Jesus

The Father's More

If the church of Jesus Christ is to come alive in the U.S., there must a new desire for Christ come alive within the heart of those who call themselves Christian. A divine discontent and a holy desperation needs to come alive through the invading presence of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, those hearing the message were 'cut to the heart'. From that conviction they cried out to know the 'more' of the Father. The lady with the issue of blood was desperate to know the 'more' of the Father. Legion was desperate to know the 'more' of the Father. None came to Jesus with a non-chalant attitude. They were seekers, hungry, desperate, sick and tired of what was going on. Ask, seek and knock is the call to align our heart with what the Father wants, who the Father is, and what he can do. He is able! I believe He is willing! Let's throw off the shackles of complacency and come before Him destitute and hungry. Humble and broken. The Father loves to give...more of himself to His people. Let's want and seek Him. Blessed are those who know their need of Christ for theis is all that Father has to give and He loves to give good gifts to His children.

The More of The Father

Matthew 7:11 Jesus speaks of discovering the 'more' of the Father. It's a call to faith, hope and love. It's an invitation to discover the abundant life. It's the spark to set the flame of holy passion alive in the human heart. This more connects to the trilogy that Paul defines in 1 Corinthians 13/Faith, Hope, Love. These three are tied to our discovery of the Father in heaven who loves to give good gifts to His children. The Father who knows what we need before we ask. The Father who sees, knows, hears, gives, rewards. The Father who is for us, not against us. The Father whose loving purpose is to make us like the Son Jesus Christ. As we journey through the days of this new year, let us be aware of the Father's purpose. Let us be aware and grateful for the Father's provision. Let us be hungry to discover the 'more'of the Father. John Eldredge in his book, Walking with God states, “Don’t let your experience of God up to this point limit what you might enjoy with him in the coming years." May this year be one of discovery and awe, wonder and worship, gratitude and humility as you walk with the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Advent 2 - Mighty God - Isaiah 9:6

What do you want God for? Before Pentecost the disciples thought they had the ultimate tool to get what they wanted. Jesus could do anything and if they could get him to behave according to their plans and wishes, meeting their needs and fixing their problems, making them powerful and successful-wow! It is the twisted attempt to make the Mighty God your servant. The 'prosperity gospel' is the same twisted / distorted message today. God will make you rich, healthy, successful if you know how to manipulate His promises and use His name. The real gospel picture is the Mighty God becoming a baby. Vulnerable, helpless, powerless-dependent on a Jewish teenager and her young husband. The real gospel is the Mighty God taking a towel and washing the feet of a group of ragamuffins, among whom sits the betrayer. The real gospel is the Mighty God laying down his life via the cross to open a new and living way to the heart of the Father. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not about God making me rich and powerful, but about God making me like His Son. The Mighty God is about heart transformation. Isaiah states this in 1:18-though your sins be as scarlet, they will be white as snow. A stain so deep no human effort or agent can remove, only the blood of the Mighty God. What do you want God for? The words of Thomas Chisholms' hymn, 'O To Be Like Thee' should reflect our heart's desire. He is able! •O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer; This is my constant longing and prayer; Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. •O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Advent 1 : The Little Guys

The Eternal King of Glory steps out of eternity into time and the first stop on the trip is a stable with no name parents and angels breaking the news to a group of no name shepherds. Nobodies in that culture. People with no voice, and no clout. In the opinions of men, they didn't count-but they counted with Almighty God. The Great Shepherd reveals himself to the lowest and the least. Jesus did not come to win an election. He did not come to hold an office or get a title. The shepherds whose report would have been looked at with question and rejection. Joseph and Mary whose story was ridiculous. Later on in the story the empty tomb is first witnessed by the women. Again, the Lord is not trying to impress, He is not trying to convince or make His case. Beyond the rise and fall of the powerful and mighty of men stands the person of Jesus Christ, whose Kingdom is without end. Two cheers for the little guys. Praise God for having no concern for human labels-He looks at the heart. He lives to transform the heart of man into His temple. Paul captures this concept in 1 Corinthians 1...not many of us were/are. Christ is the wisdom and power of God and the shepherds had enough faith to believe it; even as they knelt before a baby boy. On this first Sunday of Advent, three cheers for the little guys and gals. Whosoever will may come...

Tragedy

In the last few weeks two young men have left this world in an abrupt manner. Both of these young men have crossed my path in life. One was 31, the other 21. Young and alive, both deaths were a surprise, a sudden and pain filled interruption to the families. Tragedy comes across our path in various ways. We view the tragedy of the cyclone in the Philippines and we moan, but it is distant for most of the world. The tragic death of the two young men brings tradedy to my front door because of my connection with them. The fragile reality of life is often forgotten or ignored until tragedy triumphs over the routine of everyday life. The 'God' questions always surface during such times. Where, why, why didn't, etc. Our futile attempt to make sense of tragedy is a reflection of our lack of understanding concerning life. Statements are made concerning tragedy that put labels on God and makes God seem unreasonalbe. "God needed him more than we did." "God is punishing people for their sinfulness." "God knew something that we didn't know and put an end to it all." These statements make the tragedy more tragic. We attempt to deflect the horror, the pain, the unanswerable questions and pin them on a false notion about God. We are playing pin the tail on the donkey with the eternal God. We definitely are blindfolded, and it's impossible for us to comprehend or explain and in such an hour it would be wise to be silent. "Be still and know I am God." In the hour of tragedy let us practice being still. Let us give up the trite sayings and elementary explanations and declare that we are in pain and we don't know and we are going to wait before the Lord for His grace and healing. God didn't 'take him', and God doesn't 'need him' more than we do. God is...let's stop hanging labels on Him that make us feel better. We live in a sin cursed world, a world of death, dying, tragedy, and selfishness. Until the new heaven and earth come into being, this is the home of unrighteouness, suffering, injustice and death. I am thankful God is...

God's Pleasure

Twice in Ephesians 1 Paul references "God's Pleasure". (1:5,9). The Almighty God takes pleasure in forgiving His choice creation. He takes pleasure in adopting us into the family, blessing us with every spiritual blessing, and giving us the Spirit to witness with us that we belong to Him. The Father took pleasure in giving the Son to be the sacrifice of atonement for mankind. He takes pleasure in welcoming the prodigal home, in setting the leper free, in delivering the demon possessed. Christ manifested this pleasure in the many acts of compassion, power, and mercy He displayed during His ministry. Christ was pleased to offer the woman at the well living water. He took pleasure in setting Legion free from the hoard of demons. Jesus said the Father loves, takes pleasure, in giving good gifts to His children. We don't need to beg, fret, fear, or bargain with our Father, we must trust. He is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Want To

I was reading Oswald Chambers and he stated that Jesus lives to change our 'want to.' This is the heartbeat of the gospel. From a self centered existence to a life that is submissive to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Want to is the bottom line. Desire is king and when push comes to shove, if our heart has not been transformed, we won't want to follow Jesus. May our 'want to' be transformed so that our heart's desire is to please Jesus Christ. Awakening to each day with a single agenda, to live a life worthy of Christ. There is a list of things that can rival that desire. May the desire of our daily journey be Christ centered. It is a high calling, an awesome privilege, and a great responsibility. The sanctified, Spirit filled life is at the heart of having a different 'want to.'

The Father's Love

How deep the Father's love for us...He calls us to Himself. It is an invitation to intimacy. That unity of hearts that brings the shalom of God into our daily existence. That closeness that drives fear and uncertainty away. It is an invitation to relationship, to life, hope, peace, joy. A holy God inviting sinful man to come home. An invitation to leave the pig pen and sit at the Father's table and eat the Father's Bread. The Father waits to welcome the prodigal. The Father's love is the crucified Son reaching out His arms to embrace the world. As Wesley stated, "Amazing love how can it be that Thou my God should die for me?!" The Father calls us to himself, accepting us as we are and invading our emptiness with Himself. The woman at the well, Zachaeus the tax collector, the woman caught in adultery, Nicodemus the religious one, Saul of Tarsus, Judas Iscariot-all were called by the Father, all were loved, all had the opportunity of life.

A Prayer

The following is a prayer from Henri Nouwen and his book, A Cry For Mercy. May its simplicity and beauty be encouragement to you. "I call to you Lord, from my quiet darkness. Show me your mercy and love. Let me see your face, hear your voice, touch the hem of your cloak. I want to love you, be with you, speak to you and simply stand in your presence. But I cannot make it happen. Pressing my eyes against my hands is not praying, and reading about your presence is not living in it. But there is that moment in which you will come to me, as you did to your fearful disciples, and say, 'Do not be afraid, it is I.' Let that moment come soon, O Lord. And if you want to delay it, then make me patient. Amen." Let us continue to pray, He is listening. He is closer than we know-Thank you Jesus!

Joy

Recently I heard a freind say, "I know nothing about joy and have no joy." This individual is a believer and knows the Word of God, but senses they are missing a primary gift of Christ's presence and provision. In John 15 Jesus speaks of His joy being in us and our joy being full. Maybe one of our sources of frustration concerning joy is attempting to manifest it in our life through a feeling. H.Nouwen says this joy is a sign of new life. For Christ's people we awaken to this newness every day-outwardly wasting away but inwardly being made new (2 Cor.4:16.) For Jesus this joy was a result of being one with the Father and doing the Father's will. We have the same privilege. This joy is independent of circumstances and finds its source in relationship. The fruit of the Spirit is joy-a result of His presence in us. Going back to John 15, Jesus exhorts us to 'abide/remain' in me. The relationship is the source of joy. This joy is a result of being loved by others and loving others(Jn.15:17). This is the joy of knowing it is well with our soul. It is the overflow of the witness of the Spirit that we are children of God, loved by God, cherished by Him. Too often we work to attach joy to objects and circumstances. Joy cannot be purchased. Neither can peace, hope, life-these are gifts of God in Christ to those who believe. These are 'spiritual blessings' that flow out of the Spirit within. David cried out, 'restore the joy of your salvation' (Ps.51). The Christian has the joy of being alive in Christ and dead to sin. We feed this joy by abiding in the vine, walking in obedience (harmony) to Father's will, and remaining humble in heart. Joy, like salvation, is a gift. We must learn to be receievers of all Christ has provided for us. Stand on His promise, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (Jn. 15:11)." "I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow (Jn 15:11 NLT)!" Claim your joy in Christ-refuse to allow the thief to steal this gift.