Transformation through God's Word

Last night I was asked if I'd ever been in ministry. This morning reading John Eldridge's Walking with God I read where John was walking to a creek to fish. He'd seen it on a map, that it was off the beaten path and that he'd walk up a river to reach it. The river itself proved very beautiful and he fished it along the way, catching 6 really nice fish. When he reached the creek, his goal, he realized it was unfishable. He was very disappointed. He had walked all this way for nothing. John was upset.

Then he recalled a recent lesson. It's not what God isn't giving, it's what He is giving. The river was beautiful and fruitful. He enjoyed it and the fish he caught there along the way. God had provided the river, that was His provision.

The question was had I been in ministry at some point. I moved my family back to the Dallas / Fort Worth area to attend seminary in 2003. I assumed it might take a year or two for me to acquire a staff position. I had been doing some traditional and non-traditional ministry since 2001. For the last several years now I have been frustrated focusing on what God wasn't providing. I wanted to be on a church staff or some other full time role where I could focus on teaching God's Word.

These last three years our family navigated through the tragedy of my wife's cancer. In that tragedy God provided several ministry opportunities.

My friend and mentor Todd Phillips has been encouraging me along the way. Todd has emphasized it's not what God isn't providing, but what He is providing. Todd encouraged me to do the ministry laid before me, love my wife and daughter, and embrace what God is doing here in the now.

Several people who had been far from God were drawn close to Him. We got to watch this and were told by these folks that watching our situation unfold had inspired them. God used this situation to draw Stacie and I, Bai and I closer together. He used our family as a lamp in the lives of others.

Though we were aware of some of these situations I am certain there were others which we participated in completely unaware. Father, thank You for allowing us to be used in this way. Forgive me for not being satisfied with what You were providing. Help me to be content with whatever ministry you lay before me. Keep Bai and I close.

Jesus talks about how much it costs to follow him in Luke 14:25-33. He makes a statement that unless we hate our parents, spouse, kids, etc for Him then we are unworthy to follow Him. Many a pastor or teacher uses this statement to justify leaving their family or neglecting them in order to do ministry.

This is a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the Word. Jesus is saying that we must be ok with what He has for our loved ones, trust Him. He is also saying that our priorities for us and our familiar are trumped by His priorities for them and us. If we need to chose between something Jesus has made clear to us and what we want...we should chose His way, not our own.

Luke 14: 12-24 talks of a banquet prepared. There were many people invited and when the feast was ready a servant was sent to gather those invited. Most of them had excuses at that time though and did not come. The owner of the house was angry and told the servant to go find the poort and needy, bring them in for the feast. Though they came there was still more room. The servant was told once more to go out this time to the highways and find anyone who wants to come. The owner also stated that those who had originally been invited will not get to enjoy the feast at all.

Initially I think of the pharisees and the Israelites because they were Gods people. Yet they often turned from him. Also this may relate to believers who though they have pledged to follow God are reluctant when He gives them direction. There are too many things to do, other priorities and God will understand, so they figure. Or I am having too much fun, or that would be no fun are some of the thoughts that may run through our mind.

What is the consequence for this inaction? See the story above.

This morning as I was journaling I began to think about change. We all have images in our mind of places we've been or lived. Things from many years ago. If we visit them again often we're disappointed because that place has changed. People are the same way. We may have lunch with a friend we haven't seen in years and we're disappointed because they seem so different than before.

God never changes. I rejoice today in Him because of who He is and that He never changes. I love the fact that no matter what is going on in my life He never has a bad day and takes it out on me. No matter what He's been doing, He's never too tired to visit with me. He always gives good advice. I can always count on Him.

Matthew 7 has Jesus talking to the Pharisees. They asked him why his disciples don't wash their hands before eating. The Pharisees washed their hands, cups, dishes and even dining couches before eating. It was a tradition.

Jesus took the opportunity to quote Isaiah:
"This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

Then he points out that they reject God's commandment in order to follow their own tradition. Moses said 'Honor your father and your mother; and 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die'. But their tradition is if a man tells his father or mother, that whatever they would have gained from you is Corban (given to God) - then they no longer permit that person to do anything for his father or mother. Thus they void God's word by their traditions.

As I think through this I must wonder, what do I do, what are my own traditions which my conflict with God's Word. So, I'm now asking myself and God regularly to point out these traditions in my life which conflict with God's Word.

Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus talks about forgiveness. When reading this in the MSG version I get a clearer picture than before. God is not with holding His forgiveness from me if I don't forgive someone else. I limit myself from His forgiveness if I fail to forgive others. It's like a two step process. I cannot get to step two if I do not complete step 1.

Yesterday I was visiting with my pastor about my lack of intimacy with God. He pointed me to the Lord's prayer in the Msg version. It seemed significant in a way that I'd not noticed before. Matthew 6:9-13 (Msg)

Our father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right, Do what's best - as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals, Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes

I haven't really thought of it as that casual before. I knew that God wants us to talk to him like he's our daddy, not just formally as father. This was described very well in Ken Hemphill's book called 'The Prayer of Jesus'.

Matthew 12:33-37. Two things catch my attention.

1. Jesus says out of the abundance of the mouth the heart speaks.
   This phrase is thrown around a bit, often as a way to make someone feel bad about what they've said. There are times when a friend says something that is offensive or hurts. The first thing I do is to evaluate that against what they normally say. If it's consistent then...'out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks'. However, if it's a one-off then I don't hold it against them. Maybe they've had a bad day or the plethora of other things that could contribute. Or....just maybe I had it coming.
   
   Then there's the concept that out of the abundance of my heart my mouth speaks. Oh boy. I'm currently in a work environment that uses Lotus Notes. I don't like Lotus Notes. I come from an Exchange background and often when I'm having any sort of trouble in Notes you'll hear me say 'Notes sucks'. Now, if I say that often enough I'm liable to slip up and say it when I shouldn't, like when I'm in front of the Notes admin. That would be offensive to him. And if I think and say that about a software program, how much more important is it when it comes to people?
   
   
2. ...people will give an account for every careless word they speak.
   So, it's important to pay attention to what we're thinking, as it will manifest itself through our words. Jesus says here that we will all have to give an account for some of the careless words we say...no every careless word we've ever spoke. WOW! I think I've spoken enough careless words to last multiple people's lifetimes. I cannot really afford any more. When believers speak carelessly it's not only the other person they offend. Sometimes we are another person's only representation of the church or Christ. When we say something careless in this situation, those people within earshot can be turned off to the church and to God altogether.
   

Yesterday and today I read Matthew 7:7-14(below). This is where Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is talking about asking, receiving, and then the Golden Rule. First of all I selfishly think about how I've been repetitively asking for my wife to be healed from this cancer. He states right here that so much more than I want to give good gifts to my daughter, does he give good gifts to us...to me...to my wife....

7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Then I think about James 4:3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." So is the problem that I have the wrong intentions? I want to live with her the rest of my life. I know that's not wrong. But are there other internal motives that I cannot quite pinpoint that are incorrect?

Then I read the Golden Rule: Matt 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

Am I doing this? I keep thinking of this one guy in my life who I am not really treating as I would want him to treat me. I can justify that if I were doing what he is that I would not expect people to treat me well. But that's not what this is saying. I am to treat everyone well.

Matthew 3 records the story where Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist. It states that John would have declined the baptism stating 'I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?' Evidently he did not but was intent on saying that. But instead Jesus said 'Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.'

My first thought here is the statement made by John internally to refuse Jesus. This is the acclaimed John the Baptist, this great man of God, who had received word from God directly and was able to apply it so well to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming for baptism. And yet, he didn't quite understand. Frankly, I don't either. I mean if baptism is needed because we've sinned (at that time Jesus had not atoned for us), then why in the world would Jesus need to be baptized? My thought here is that because he would be teaching God's word and had not yet revealed himself as the God Man, it would be one less thing for people to argue about in regards to whether or not to listen to his teaching.

Then I was reminded of the story later on when John the Baptist is in prison. He sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is really the Messiah, the one he'd been waiting on. Now, John knew Jesus was his cousin, they'd already discussed this. He knew when he saw him that he was the Messiah. And still he had to ask again. Why? Because God was not revealing himself in the way that John the Baptist expected.

How often do we misunderstand the Bible? How often do we misunderstand how God is working in our lives?

It is commonly known that Jesus Christ is a descendant of King David. What is not commonly talked about is how that story fits into the genealogy of Christ. Look to 2 Samuel, chapter 11 for the answer. Matthew 1 gives the genealogy of Jesus and regarding King David says that King David had a son, Solomon. That's cool, so Solomon was in the genealogy of Jesus.

However, the end of vs 6 says that David had Solomon by the 'wife of Uriah'. Uriah was married to Bathsheba.

Read the story in 2 Samuel 11 for the full picture. So, in Jesus' genealogy was an adulterous affair, resulting in a child. That just jumped off the page at me.

Loving one another. It's really the hardest thing to do isn't it? Well, it is for me. It's much easier to be mad at someone than to love them when they have hurt me. It is much easier to let the hurt turn to anger. It is much easier to let that anger grow, even to cultivate it and feel righteous about it.

Not only are we not commanded but also the Bible does not allow us to get our way, to get even, or to justify our actions. But it's much easier to do that than to love one another.

1 John 3: 11-24 talks about

1. We should love one another, don't be like Cain who murdered his brother
   
   (and why did he murder him? it was because he was hurt, and his hurt turned to anger and he let it fester and grow. His brother was not even the one who hurt him when you think about it. God accepted Able's gift as pure, and Cain's as not. In their case the problem was sourced in Cain, no one else. It was his greed that got him into trouble. Then when he didn't get what he wanted, he blamed it on someone else and then even murdered him.)
   
   
2. what is love? that Jesus laid down his life for us, and therefore we should do that for others.
   
   (he's not talking about physical dying, but putting aside our wants & desires to help others who need us. Oh, and he makes it very clear that if we hold on to the blessings God has given us and not give it away as well to those around us who need it, then we are in violation of not loving. It says that if we don't do that, we don't have God's love in us. That's pretty sharp isn't it?)
   
   he ends this with a reminder that its like this: do not love in word or talk but in deed or action.
   
   
3. our conscious gets us when we don't follow this
   
   (he says that if we are believers, then our own heart condems us when we don't follow this, but God is stronger than our conscious and he knows everything already. God knows before we do what our actions will be.)
   
   
4. whoever does what God says (the stuff above) belongs to God, and God is part of them, and we know that how? by the holy spirit in our lives
   
   (the conscious, the guider, etc)
   

God is light. Jesus is the light of the world. We are to walk in the light. But what does that mean? What does that look like? 1 John 1: 6-10 tells us. First we need to know that God is completely light, he defines it. There is NO darkness in him (v5). That means when we see God kill Pharaoh in the Red Sea, when he allows Job to go through so many trials, when he 'creates some for destruction', when he makes David go mad temporarily, anything he does that seems questionable to us is right to him. That does not mean that we can do those same things. God is a jealous god, but it would be sinful for us to be jealous. He alone is the Creator, and thus he enjoys certain privileges which we by nature do not. Who are we to say 'why can He do these things and I cannot'. We are so arrogant.

So, what does it mean to walk in the light? Vs 6-10 give us basically some dos and don'ts. It tells us what walking in the light is and what it isn't.

• If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (v6)
  
  This means if we claim to belong to Him, to be a believer, and yet we continue in our old ways, not improving, not laying aside our old selves, then we are lying.
  
  
• If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (v7)
  
  When we walk in the light, we will have shared lives with one another. God meant for us to live in community with others, not isolated like a hermit.
  
  
• If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (v8)
  
  We're lying to ourselves if we claim to have no sin in us - what nonsense.
  
  
• If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleans us from all unrighteousness (v9)
  
  But if we confess our sins, he will forgive us and cleans us from all our wrongdoings.
  
  
• If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (v10)
  
  The bible says that ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So, if we say that we have not sinned at all, we're calling God a liar. He has nothing to do with us. We cannot claim to be His and also claim to never have sinned. That is an oxymoron.

Todd Phillips in his book, Spiritual CPR, says that there are only two places where the Bible talks about having 'complete joy'. I do not recall where the other one is but it is mentioned in 1 John 1:4. John tells us that sharing the gospel results in complete joy for us. It is in the sharing, not in the receiving, not in the praying of the sinners prayer, not in the fruit.

Complete Joy is about sharing the gospel with a lost world. I am convinced and convicted that in my generation it is not about handing out tracks, or asking strangers or people I barely know if they know where they are going when they die (apart from the Holy Spirit). I to have experienced such events as speaking to a stranger who accepts Jesus, but they are much rarer than speaking to a friend.

Father, Show me opportunities where I can share your gospel, your love to others who need you.

I generally stay away from Revelation and end times passages because I haven't studied or understood them. Revelation is somewhat confusing to me. This chapter is about the end of time and what amazes me is the reference to the galaxies themselves burning up. That is something I cannot fathom. This passage also warns against error in understanding of the Scriptures. It reminds us that some twist passages that they do not understand...to their own destruction.

This reminds me that even if someone sincerely believes a lie it does not mean they will get heaven as a reward. It is important that we understand the truth.

v6 - humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time He may exalt you.

You cannot exalt or lift up something which is already raised. Only something lower can be raised.

Humble is the opposite of being proud or arrogant. It is being meek in heart. This is not so much something to look down upon. Dictionary.com has several negative looking words and explanations for this.

However, God tells us several times in the Bible to humble ourselves. I am sensing a need to become and stay humbled soon. I am about to enter a new environment. He has put me there, no one else. He can quickly take me away. God cannot lift me up if I am already raised high. It is not proper for me to put myself there.

No, I don't think there is any significance to the order Peter chose for this chapter, suffering for Christ right after marriage.

We have some direction in 1 Peter 3 on how to work together, to live together, to treat each other in marriage. Her way of getting my attention when I'm not following God is by submission and restraint. Peter is not saying that women normally talk, and so the way to bring your husband around is to not talk and thus he'll know something is wrong. That is not what he's saying. Look further. Peter also says that I am to be understanding to my wife, honoring her. Sometimes this instruction we've just received is easier than others. When it's easy, well...that's great. When we're frustrated that's another story. Peter's point here is that we should be concerned about what we are supposed to do. Let God get our spouse' attention if needed.

The next section is a little harder for me. I've been learning and doing better as a husband over the last few years. My wife would agree. But suffering without complaining...what is that all about. My life and background show that I don't do this. If I'm suffering, I complain, I moan, I complain, I buck the system, did I mention that I complain?

Though I think I've gotten a little better at this, it is still very hard for me. There are other passages where we are told to correct injustice (Isaiah 1:17; Prov 31:8-9; the list goes on). I like correcting. I get to point at someone and say 'hey...stop...what you're doing is wrong'. I look like the hero for standing up. But I am not the avenger, God is. ( Luke 18:7; Psalm 18:47; 2 Samuel 22:48; etc).

So, what should I do? Peter says to keep doing good, but do so with gentleness and respect. So that, (don't you love how the Bible gives direction, then tells you why, so you don't have to ask?)

So that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. Then he goes on to say that Christ suffered much more for us, and he didn't deserve it. So, we can just suck it up.

Submission to authority has never been my strong suit. I tend to speak out, to hold out, rather than to comply. I've never had a problem with law enforcement. Heck, I used to be one. But, when it comes to those over me having me do something I don't like, I tend to find loopholes. Eventually, if things don't straighten out to my satisfaction, I leave. Peter talks about submission in 1 Pet 2:13-25. He seems to cover everything from federal, state, and local authorities to bosses and even to pastors.

When reading this passage I usually get stuck on whether it's talking about bosses when it talks about slaves. I typically argue that if we wanted to include hirelings or other hired people he would have said that. There were other roles than slaves or servants.

However, vs 13 says be subject to EVERY human institution. That includes bosses & employees. He says it is God's will that we would silence foolish people by doing good.

Some versions say 'submit' rather than 'be subject'. If I really submit that means I don't just give lip service and then find ways or reasons not to perform my orders. If I really submit I cannot say 'I was going to but I got busy'. I have failed to do this many times.

vs 17 reminds me to honor everyone and fear God.

And then as if Peter knows what I'm thinking he says in vs 18 to not only serve and honor the good authorities but the unjust. Well, I really have a great boss now. But what about those I don't care for? He just answered that. I don't like it, but God didn't ask me what I wanted.

v19 he says that it is a gracious thing when a believer, being mindful of God, when loving and serving God more than wanting ones own way, that person endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

He says that it is no credit to me if I suffer while being punished for sins I committed, that just makes sense. But it is credited to me if I suffer while doing good.

And if complain, moan, or tell others what I'm unjustly going through, then I'm not really suffering am I? I'm attempting to put my suffering on the source of my suffering. That doesn't fit in here. It's what I tend to do, but it doesn't fit.

Then Peter reminds us that Christ suffered unjustly at the hands of Pilot. And because of His example, we to can suffer unjustly at the hands of others. In fact we should, and not complain about it.

I've got to think about this some more.

James 5: 1-6 is not about people with alot of money. It is about those who are arrogant, and have alot of money. Those to whom God allowed, not blessed to have this money. They put their security in the $, not in God and it will work against them.

Who is patient? Not me. Vs 7 - 12 James tells us to be patient. He gives an illustration that is much like Isa 55:10-11. It is that of a crop growing. This is a slow process. The farmer knows it is slow, but that it will come. Be patient like the farmer who knows what must happen before the crops are ready for harvest. And a little tag at the end, don't make promises. Just say yes, or no, and keep to your word.

final instructions (v13+):

• Are you hurting?
• then pray
  

• Do you feel great?
• then sing

• Are you sick?
• then call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of Jesus. Believing prayer will heal you. if you've sinned you'll be forgiven, healed from the inside out.
  

• confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.

• the prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful, to be reckoned with.
• elijah for example, was a man like us, he prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't, not a drop for 3.5 yrs. then he prayed that it would rain. the showers came and everything growed again..
  

• if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. go after them. get them back.
• and you will have rescued them from lives of destruction, prevented them from an epidemic of wandering away from God.

Picking up in vs 6, James gives us a hint that God will give us grace (something we don't deserve) if we are humble. We are to

• stop sinning
• purify ourselves
• get serious as this is serious business
• get down on your knees before God as this is the only way to stand.

James starts out Chapt 4 by telling us the things that create quarrels and fighting among believers:

• our passions at war within us (right vs wrong struggling to win). this could be temptation and sin warring with the desire to be holy, righteous.
  

• we get what we want because we don't even ask

• or we ask but not with the right intentions in our hearts, because God knows better than us when we'll spend it inappropriately or it will end up causing us more heartache.