THE OLD IS OUT THE NEW IS IN

Hebrews 10 (The Message)
1 The old plan was only a hint of the good things in the new plan. Since that old “law plan” wasn’t complete in itself, it couldn’t complete those who followed it. No matter how many sacrifices were offered year after year, they never added up to a complete solution.
2 If they had, the worshipers would have gone merrily on their way, no longer dragged down by their sins.
3 But instead of removing awareness of sin, when those animal sacrifices were repeated over and over they actually heightened awareness and guilt.
4 The plain fact is that bull and goat blood can’t get rid of sin.
5 That is what is meant by this prophecy, put in the mouth of Christ: You don’t want sacrifices and offerings year after year; you’ve prepared a body for me for a sacrifice.
6 It’s not fragrance and smoke from the altar that whet your appetite.
7 So I said, “I’m here to do it your way, O God, the way it’s described in your Book.”
8 When he said, “You don’t want sacrifices and offerings,” he was referring to practices according to the old plan.
9 When he added, “I’m here to do it your way,” he set aside the first in order to enact the new plan—
10 God’s way—by which we are made fit for God by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.
11 Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem.
12 As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God
13 and waited for his enemies to cave in.
14 It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process.
15 The Holy Spirit confirms this:
16 This new plan I’m making with Israel isn’t going to be written on paper, isn’t going to be chiseled in stone; This time “I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts.”
17 He concludes, I’ll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.
18 Once sins are taken care of for good, there’s no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them.
19 So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.
22 So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out.
23 Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.
24 Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out,
25 not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
26 If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice
27 and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be!
28 If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death,
29 what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit?
30 This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing” and “God will judge his people.”
31 Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me.
32 Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times!
33 Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends.
34 If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back.
35 So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing!
36 But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.
37 It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute.
38 But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy.
39 But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.


[1]
[1] Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002

Heaven Our Hope

Please read this passage from the Message Bible from 2 Cor. 5:1-14. It expresses clearly why heaven will be worth it all!

2 Corinthians 5:1-13 (The Message)
1 For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not hand-made—
2 and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies!
5 The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.
6 That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead.
7 It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.
8 Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.
9 But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions.
10 Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.
11 That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It’s no light thing to know that we’ll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That’s why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care.
12 We’re not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we’re on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are.
13 If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you.


[1]
[1] Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002

The Next Chapter

Officially as of 11-18-2009, I am retired! What does the next chapter of my young life hold? Right now, we are traveling in the South (Texas etc) and catching up with friends and relatives. I will have more to say later about this new chapter in our life.

Blessings to you and yours this Lord's day!

Your Business Is Life

Luke 9:43-62 (The Message)
43 They all shook their heads in wonder, astonished at God’s greatness, God’s majestic greatness. While they continued to stand around exclaiming over all the things he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples,
44 “Treasure and ponder each of these next words: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into human hands.”
45 They didn’t get what he was saying. It was like he was speaking a foreign language and they couldn’t make heads or tails of it. But they were embarrassed to ask him what he meant.
46 They started arguing over which of them would be most famous.
47 When Jesus realized how much this mattered to them, he brought a child to his side.
48 “Whoever accepts this child as if the child were me, accepts me,” he said. “And whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference.”
49 John spoke up, “Master, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t of our group.”
50 Jesus said, “Don’t stop him. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally.”
51 When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem.
52 He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality.
53 But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality.
54 When the disciples James and John learned of it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate them?”
55 Jesus turned on them: “Of course not!”
56 And they traveled on to another village.
57 On the road someone asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.
58 Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.” Jesus said to another, “Follow me.”
59 He said, “Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father’s funeral.”
60 Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s kingdom!”
61 Then another said, “I’m ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.”
62 Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”


[1]
[1] Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002

Why Does a Church Need Multi-Generations?

Milbre and I had a day off yesterday and took the opportunity to visit a church in Seattle we had heard so much about. We visited Mars Hill Church at the Ballard Campus. Lead Pastor Mark Driscoll was on vacation. Pastor "Bill" was the speaker. We were both struck by the enormous crowd of young people! Hundreds of twenty-somethings. What a testatment to this local church reaching this younger generation. The only anomally was there were almost no older people. I noticed only 4 or 5 couples (out of hundreds) that I would consider "Middle-Age".

Pastor Bill brought a great message on living the Christ life. I observed the youth in that service were totally immersed in the message. The service began at 11:15 AM. There were two worship choruses with up-beat music. Pastor began his message at 11:30 and wrapped up at 12:15PM. I thought that was a good balance--weighted to the Word.

After service, Milbre and I discussed the service and agreed that it was a terrific outreach--but where were the older people? It is my belief that church should represent and include all generatons. The elders need the younger set and the younger set need the influence of elders in their life. This is not criticsm, but a question of what happens if you do church with only your generation? Is this the trend? I know of a church in Phoenix AZ that has only 55 and older.

If you have thoughts or comments on this trend, please let me know. I believe that everyone needs Jesus Christ and no one should be left behind.

A Teachable Spirit

1 Samuel 26:8-11 (NIV)

8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won’t strike him twice.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?
10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

Abishai couched his comment in spiritual language:

“Today, God has delivered your enemy into your hand…”

I call this spiritual manipulation. Manipulating the Scriptures for a desired result. I think that is a danger we all must be careful of. That’s how cults are formed and false doctrines begin.

Abishai could withstand and accept correction. He had a teachable spirit. It is a requirement of those who would be serious followers of Christ.

Beware the Christian who thinks they have an inside track on spirituality and knowledge from God. Sometimes, in an effort to find acceptance, I have watched some as they tried to establish themselves as “the” spokesperson that God wants to use.

If God has told you something or directed you, then that word can stand challenge or correction from leadership. I am a little wary of those who constantly say, “God told me this, God told me that, I know what God wants.” Sometimes, God will speak to us for our own needs—not to show the world how spiritual and how close to God we are—or to set the church straight.

No one stands alone and no one person has a patent on the Word of Knowledge or the prophetic Word. God sets these gifts in the church “as He wills.” The gifts are not necessarily resident in the person—they are resident in the Body—the Church.

Denny points out that “every heresy has its beginning in the heart of an unteachable believer.” Because God anoints them for a special purpose, spiritual pride can enter their heart and they feel they have ownership of that gift in the Body.

The Abishai anointing is willing to receive teaching and correction.

A teachable spirit inhabits those who walk in humility and Godliness. As Paul admonished Timothy, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them.” He seems to indicate that it can mean the difference between being saved and reaching others as well.

King Saul in the Old Testament is an example of an unteachable spirit. It started long before our story in this book. It started when he was a young king and began to feel the power of his position. The first indication was when he became impatient and disobedient and stepped into the role of Priest and offered the sacrifice. On top of that, when he fought against the Amalakites, God told him to destroy them all—every living thing. Pride taught him that he knew better—so he spared the best of the flock and also King Agag. This led to Samuel’s challenge: “Does God delight as much in burnt offerings and sacrifice as much as he does in obedience?”

If Saul had possessed a teachable spirit he would not have found himself in this predicament of being told “Your kingdom will not continue.” “To obey is better than sacrifice and to listen is better than the fat of rams.”

THE PEOPLE WHO BOTHERED TO REACH OUT TO GOD

Isaiah 65:1-10 (The Message)
1 “I’ve made myself available to those who haven’t bothered to ask. I’m here, ready to be found by those who haven’t bothered to look. I kept saying ‘I’m here, I’m right here’ to a nation that ignored me.
2 I reached out day after day to a people who turned their backs on me, People who make wrong turns, who insist on doing things their own way.
3 They get on my nerves, are rude to my face day after day, Make up their own kitchen religion, a potluck religious stew.
4 They spend the night in tombs to get messages from the dead, Eat forbidden foods and drink a witch’s brew of potions and charms.
5 They say, ‘Keep your distance. Don’t touch me. I’m holier than thou.’ These people gag me. I can’t stand their stench.
6 Look at this! Their sins are all written out— I have the list before me. I’m not putting up with this any longer. I’ll pay them the wages
7 They have coming for their sins. And for the sins of their parents lumped in, a bonus.” God says so. “Because they’ve practiced their blasphemous worship, mocking me at their hillside shrines, I’ll let loose the consequences and pay them in full for their actions.”
8 God’s Message: “But just as one bad apple doesn’t ruin the whole bushel, there are still plenty of good apples left. So I’ll preserve those in Israel who obey me. I won’t destroy the whole nation.
9 I’ll bring out my true children from Jacob and the heirs of my mountains from Judah. My chosen will inherit the land, my servants will move in.
10 The lush valley of Sharon in the west will be a pasture for flocks, And in the east, the valley of Achor, a place for herds to graze. These will be for the people who bothered to reach out to me, who wanted me in their lives, who actually bothered to look for me.


Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002