Reading, Revisited: A Second Appeal.

Last Sunday, Pastor Sam encouraged us to read three sections of Scripture which corresponded to the three individuals highlighted in the sermon: Genesis chapters 37 and 39 through 50 (Joseph); the book of Daniel; and the book of Esther.

How cool it would be if all of us could tell our pastor the next time we see him, "Pastor Sam, I did the readings!" Not because we want to please him, but because we want to please God by excelling in our attention to His word.

There are some of us who are not able to read, or not able to see, and are assisted by computer software that "reads" words on our behalf . Some of us have the Bible on CD or cassette; some of us have audio Bibles on our computers; and so we hear the written word of God. I say this to say that God has made a way for His word to be accessed.

That said, though, I will add a disclaimer: in the world, there are still areas where the word of God is not available in any form. There are still regions where Christian bibles are banned. Not everyone in the world can "do the reading" in that regard. But for those of us in Bronx Bethany who have heard our pastor's appeal these two Sundays in a row, I would imagine that we are well able to access the Scriptures, written and spoken, that are available for free. We have no restrictions imposed upon us. We can lay hold of God's word as we please. We are blessed beyond measure.

Unrestricted access to the written word of God is a blessing. Will you appropriate your blessing today?

God Will Vindicate Me!

"My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." (Daniel 6:22)

"At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lion's den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones." (Daniel 6:24)

Do people who see us recognize the power of God working on our behalf? Our pastor shared two things during Sunday's sermon that I would like us to reflect upon today:

We must know what they know without being what they are. As Christians living in a Christ-hating context, we do not shy away from the way the world functions. In fact, we endeavor to out-shine the world with our God-given abilities. The testimony concerning Daniel and his friends was that "in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in the whole kingdom." (Daniel 1:20) These young men distinguished themselves because, as servants of God, they refused the food that was offered to idols. They also distinguished themselves by gaining a solid grasp of the culture, language, and educational expectations of Babylon in only three years of study.

God can cause "natural outcomes" of events not to happen. Because Daniel lived his life in honor of his God, there resulted an outflow of jealousy from the other leaders in the region. When Daniel was thrown into the lions' den, God sent one angel to prevent the lions from acting upon their natural instincts. The shifting of nature was not a new phenomenon: in Daniel's youth he was witness to his friends Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego), who astonished King Nebuchadnezzar by walking out of the fiery furnace with no smell of smoke on them. In Daniel's old age, he astonished King Darius by surviving the night in the lions' den, walking out the next morning without even a scratch.

The Scripture, as if to underscore the fact that God trumps nature on behalf of His people, tells us that God did not adjust the natural outcome of events for the enemies of God. The men who threw Daniel's friends into the fire were consumed by the heat of the flames (3:22). The men who colluded to have Daniel thrown into the lions' den were, along with their families, consumed by the lions (6:24).

Most of us, I imagine, would prefer not to be thrown into a den of lions or a fiery furnace. But, as our pastor shared, God sometimes permits us to experience devastating situations for the sake of His glory. Pastor Sam referred to Hebrews chapter 11, which ends with a death-parade of men and women who were persecuted and martyred for the sake of God's gospel. We won't all have Daniel's testimony of dramatic rescue. But, whether we live or die, we have this assurance: God is a vindicator of His people.

Lord God, how I thank You that You have promised to vindicate Your people! I promise to continually seek Your face and exercise the gifts and abilities You have entrusted to me. I will not balk when You place me in the center of the fire or in the crags of the lions' den; I know You are with me even there. Thank You for Your word that even causes nature to abandon its normal course for the sake of Your glory. I give You glory and wait patiently for Your vindication, whether on earth or in heaven. Amen.

God Is Represented By Me!

"The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!'" (Daniel 6:16b)

The crisis of the nominal Christian? He or she wants representation, but does not want to represent.

One of the hallmarks of Daniel's life was that he chose to represent God. He represented God by excelling in his studies. He represented God by refusing to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols. He represented God by continuing to pray when the law pressed him to abandon that discipline for thirty days, knowing that his choice would land him into a den of lions. 

In what other ways do we represent God? Let us consider a few more actions engaged by Daniel:

• Corporate prayer. Daniel did not "go it alone"; he urged his friends to join with him in pleading for the mercy of God. (2:18)
• Praise. Daniel offered praise and thanksgiving to God. (2:19-23)
• Ascription. Daniel credited God, and God alone, for his abilities. (2:27-28)
• Intercession. Daniel, though he was exiled in Babylon, fasted and confessed sins on behalf of all Israel. (9:1-19)

Let us pray continually.
Let us praise and thank our God.
Let us give God His rightful place: first place.
Let us bear the heavy load of intercession.
Let us glorify God by caring for our bodies.
Let us demonstrate excellence in our endeavors.
Let us obey the laws of God without compromise.
Let us represent.

On Sunday, Pastor Sam asked a question that I would like each of us to reflect on today:
Are you known as someone who "serves your God continually"?

God Is With Me!

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam referred to the life of Joseph. Joseph's birth is mentioned in Genesis chapter 30, and the remainder of his life story is found in chapters 37 and 39 through 50. Joseph was a man who had "God-consciousness"; that is, Joseph's rationale for his personal conduct was based not on the opinions of men, but on his relationship with God.

It is interesting to note that Joseph, in addition to having God-consciousness, was sin-conscious. His response to Potiphar's wife, "How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (39:9), indicated the he had not just a sense of the presence of God, but also had a knowledge of what pleased and displeased God. Long before God wrote His laws onto stone tablets, He chose to impress His laws upon Joseph's heart.

Joseph had a challenging life. He was hated by his brothers, sold into a foreign land, re-sold into slavery, sexually harassed by his supervisor's wife, falsely accused of attempted rape, falsely imprisoned, and lied to by his brothers for years after their reconciliation. But in spite of the pains he suffered, Scripture carries a powerful testimony:

• The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered.
• Joseph's master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did.
• The LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph.
• While Joseph was in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

Pastor Sam shared with us:
Sometimes it doesn't feel comfortable or easy, but God is still with us.

What about you? Are the laws of God impressed upon your heart? Are you assured of His presence with you, even in the worst of situations? Can it be said of you, as Pharaoh said of Joseph, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?" (41:38)

The LORD was with Joseph. The same LORD has promised to be with us. I pray that we will always be found in Him.

Lord, You have exhorted us to remain in You and to faithfully represent You at all times, regardless of the sufferings we experience in this life. Please give us Your grace to not only endure every crisis, but to live Your overcoming life in the midst of our struggles.

I'm A Space Cowgirl.

“Adjust yourself so that they find space.” (Pastor Sam)

In continuing our series on Bronx Bethany’s mission statement, Pastor Sam began yesterday’s ministry using the metaphor of crowds.

Can we make space?

Pastor Sam began the introduction to the sermon with a reference to the overcrowded nature of public transportation (in particular, his culture's limited mini-bus system and the appeal of the bus conductor: "Small-up yourself! Make room for the lady, she wants to get home too!") Part of our challenge in truthfully living our mission is the challenge of making space.

Our physical plant is a challenge. We must keep in mind that the addition of our new building is primarily to alleviate the crowding experienced in the ministries of our children and teenagers. Our adult ministries, particularly our Sunday services, will remain in the same space. This means that we who are adults will continue to be crowded into the pews. Can we joyfully endure the crowd for the sake of God’s kingdom?

Our psyche is a challenge. If we are demonstrating the power of God’s love as we make room for everyone, then it means that from Sunday to Sunday we may be sitting next to a person who perhaps does not smell so nice. It may even mean that we must give up our seat in order to bless someone else, as we stay to experience the entire service watching the monitor in the lobby or standing in the back of the sanctuary. 

But, what is our mindset as we make space for others? Do we believe that some people are less deserving of sanctuary space than others? Do we believe that we “have the right” to place ourselves above others because we have been at Bronx Bethany longer, or because we gave a huge donation to the ministry, or because we have known Pastor Sam since the day he was born, or because we “always sit here”? Some of us are more than happy to shift or shimmy over for a friend who wants sit next to us. But what of the stranger? What of the person who we assume is of a different class or race or socioeconomic status? 

“Can we make space?” Absolutely. That is what God has called us to do. We are asked to make space with our bodies, and we are also asked to make space with our mindset.

Will you do these things in loving service to our King?

“Bronx Bethany is a Spirit-filled community of love with a place for everyone.” God, that is how You see us! Give us grace to become what You say we are. 

Prayer As Sermon.

Can these bones live?

During pre-sermon prayer, Pastor Sam quoted from Ezekiel chapter 37.  In the passage, Ezekiel sees a vision of a large valley of dry bones. The Lord takes Ezekiel through a process of seeing the bones form into what looks like a mighty army, but the result of the process is an army incapable of conquest. They are an impressively large group, but they are dead. They cannot stand. They cannot fight. Is that what we look like in the eyes of God and man? Do we gather faithfully each week with no intent of acquiring the God-life necessary to win the battle against sin? Are we just going through the external motions of corporate worship and ministry, with hearts fully intent on collaborating with the devil throughout the week?

The LORD tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath and speak life into the bodies. As the breath-life of God moves over the group, they are empowered to stand in fighting formation. This is our desire! We may not yet be ready to fight the battles through which our enemy the devil will attack. But though we are not ready today, we continue to avail ourselves to the word of God, prayer, and corporate worship. Our gatherings are an important component of our preparation process. So we come together to worship the Lord, who promises to be powerfully present when we approach Him (Matthew 18:19-20). To refuse corporate worship is to choose to live the Christian life ill-equipped to love and completely unprepared for spiritual war. Have we arrived? Are we perfected? No, but we are determined to stay on the path. 

“Can these bones live?” Absolutely. We obtain the power to live as we submit ourselves to the power of the word of God.

We have gathered as a community of faith, and we need Your breath of life to infuse and empower us. Please keep speaking to our community. We promise to listen and joyfully obey Your word. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Did You Do The Reading?

In last Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam encouraged Bronx Bethany to take time to read John chapter 17. I encourage us all to read (or re-read) it today.

We who belong to God have received the profound gift of Jesus's prayers and intercession on our behalf. "I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given to Me, because they belong to You." (John 17:9, italics mine)

Jesus, I am ever grateful for Your prayers. Thank You.

Click here to read John 17 (Amplified Bible)

Light Makes Right.

"Lord, make us different so that we might make a difference." (Pastor Sam)

Pastor Sam shared three ways in which we employ the strategy of incarnational holiness: relevance, revelation, and redemption. Today we'll consider the last of of these sermon points: redemption.

Redemption

Our pastor shared with us that "nobody can see the glory of God and remain the same." Redemptive influence occurs because we have been successful in infiltrating the world without being corrupted by it: and, our infiltration influences the world to turn to the Lord. We, like Jesus, have become involved with people so that they can be introduced to the ways of the kingdom of God.

Through us, God has a means whereby He can shine His love to the world. Our presence in church is not merely to entertain ourselves, but to be equipped to leave the church building and influence those who are closest to us. As people recognize that we care for them, the day may come when they care enough to listen to us on matters of faith.

"The light can only shine if you have the real Light. So, brothers and sisters: 'In the world, not of the world, for the world'." Pastor Sam exhorted us to commit ourselves to God so that we will not be corrupted and co-opted by the world.  Our church has a corporate commitment to being a redemptive influence, and our prayer is that each individual will be sufficiently changed in order to be an effective agent of change in the world.

At the start of the altar call, Pastor Sam shared a prophetic insight regarding those who are not yet ready to be a redemptive influence for a world that needs the Lord. Christ says: "You are not coming from a place in Me that will be able to sustain you with them." For some of us, redemption will need to be real and integral in our own experience before we can be a vehicle of redemption for anyone else.

As we go through our day today, let us keep in mind the heart of Sunday's altar call: "Lord, help me to be somebody that is sufficiently changed, that I will be an agent of change."

God, form Your character in me so that You will be able to use me as a means of redemption.
Forgive us, Lord, for having a desire to escape from the world instead of seeking to redeem the world.
Forgive us, Lord, for wasting opportunities that You gave us to be a redemptive influence in the places that You put us every day.
Forgive us, Lord, for masking Your Light and refusing to infiltrate our sphere of influence.
Let us show You to people simply by being who You have made us to be.

Amen. We commit ourselves to being a redemptive influence in the Bronx, and in the world, to the glory of God.

Carry Out.

On this past Sunday, Pastor Sam shared three ways in which we employ the strategy of incarnational holiness: relevance, revelation, and redemption. In yesterday's post we discussed relevance. Today, we'll consider revelation.

Revelation

Our pastor noted that we are relevant not simply to maintain the status quo, but to offer the world a glimpse into our Christ-transformed lives. We are different! We must be different than the world in order to help it. We cannot be relevant if we do not carry the revelation.

How do we reveal the transforming power of Christ to the world? We do so as salt and light. Pastor Sam, in referencing Matthew 5:13, used the salt and light analogies to remind us of our need to share our faith. Salt in the saltshaker doesn't make sense. Light under a bushel doesn't make sense.

Light illumines; salt preserves. When light is shined into a dark space, the light is not overcome. When salt is added to food, the salt is not overwhelmed. What an encouragement that God has given us this assurance! It doesn't take much light to drive out darkness. It doesn't take much salt to flavor food. Our small testimony is a powerful thing in God's hands.

Will you be salt and light in the world today?

Thank You, Lord, that through You we can live these analogies! You have called us to be salt and light. Give us grace to walk, and talk, and live, in accordance with Your calling.

Meeting Needs. Planting Seeds.

"Are you in the world at all?" (Pastor Sam)

Pastor Sam shared three ways in which we employ the strategy of incarnational holiness: relevance, revelation, and redemption. Over the next three blog posts we'll consider each of these sermon points.

Relevance

In this past Sunday's sermon, we learned that relevance requires deliberate relationships with people. At Bronx Bethany, we have a vested interest in maintaining affinity groups. We do evangelism in the context of activities specific to our personal areas of interest or expertise: students help students, parents serve as a resource to other parents, and so on. Pastor Sam referenced Joel Edwards' concept of earning the right to be heard: because we have shared a common experience with non-Christians over a period of time, they are more amenable to listening to us when we share our faith and hope in Christ.

A key aspect of relevance is meeting people where they are. If we are absent, we cannot be relevant. Evangelism is not so much inviting people to a church building as it is being the expression of Christ's love wherever we go. As our pastor said (paraphrased here), we make ourselves accessible to people and we offer them something they need.

Where do we find ourselves challenged?

• Sometimes we won't go to where the people are; we are choosing not to tell anyone of the good things that God has done for us.
• Sometimes we make ourselves accessible to people, but we are not expressing the love of Christ towards them.

Today, let's assess our relevance quotient. Is our love of people informed by the love of Christ? And, is that love demonstrated in the world as we live from day to day?

Crowd's Source.

Pastor Sam shared two ways in which people of God pursue holiness. Monastic strategy is one way; the other is incarnational strategy.

In yesterday's post we considered two types of monastic strategy (physical and psychological) that, though beneficial for a personal drawing near to God, do not afford us much opportunity to be a redemptive influence drawing others to God.

What is incarnational strategy? It is the plan of God expressed in the life and ministry of Christ Jesus. Our pastor reminded us of the words of Jesus in John 20:21: "As the Father sent Me, so send I you."

In what way did the Father send Jesus? Pastor Sam summed up God's incarnational strategy in a few words: "Jesus went to weddings; He sat down and talked to people that other people were not talking to; ...He 'became flesh and dwelt among us'."

Jesus, according to Scripture, spent His days in community. In fact, the significant amounts of time He spent with non-religious people drew criticism from the religious leadership. The hallmark of incarnational strategy (as demonstrated in Jesus's ministry) was that although He spent time with people whom religious leadership deemed unworthy of their company, Jesus was never influenced by either the elitist stance of the leadership nor the evil nature of persons bound in sin. Rather, He was the influencer.

Pastor Sam noted that incarnational strategy is harder and riskier than monastic strategy. If we are not secure in our faith, then there is the risk of failing in our attempts to be the means by which people are drawn to the Lord. But what other option is there apart from interacting with the people around us? How will people know of Christ if they are not experiencing His love through us? Incarnational infiltration is the means by which we engage people and permit them to watch us as we live lives of holiness. Why? Not for our own glory, but that they might "see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

There was a question asked during the sermon that we can reflect on today: If Jesus prayed that we not be taken out of the world (John 17:14-18), then why are we trying to take ourselves out?

Lord, You are sending us in the same way the Father sent You: we are in the world to influence the world. Help us to represent You authentically.

Leaving Home.

I love being in church buildings of all sorts: cathedral, fan-shaped auditorium, movie theater, storefront church, whatever. When I am in the places that God has desired His people to gather, the special places dedicated to His glory, I feel instantly at home.

About three years after I began attending Bronx Bethany, I attended a revival service there that ended around 1:30 in the morning. Not wanting to leave the atmosphere, I asked if I could hang out at the church until daylight. Pastor Sam answered: "You cannot stay here." And I knew exactly what he meant. His comment was not so much an indicator that I had my own residence to go to that night, nor was it an indicator of the church's inability to accommodate my request. Rather, he was prophetically pointing out my shadow mission: a desire to remain in the church without ever leaving it to become the reflection of Christ in the world.

The challenge of monastic strategy. During Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam spoke briefly on the two types of monastic life found in our faith tradition: physical separation and psychological separation. As holiness people, we are conscious of the need to live a life unstained by the world. We understand that we are called to live a life separated to God. Physical separation was first modeled by early church fathers who sold their earthly goods and lived a life of subsistence alone in the desert, only occasionally leaving their monasteries to make statements of faith to curious pilgrims. Psychological separation, a more modern strategy, is marked by a Christian's unwillingness to interact with any person or system which is not also Christian. As our pastor noted, this is the type of person who has no non-Christian acquaintances (and even shows reluctance to converse with non-Christians they see on a regular basis).

But if we are called to "be a redemptive influence in the Bronx and in the world", then we must be willing to walk into environments and engage conversation where our redemptive influence is needed. So we leave our church homes and our church friends, and we share God's grace and mercy with persons whose lives cry out for His healing touch. As Pastor Sam shared (paraphrased here), we live a life of holiness not to be elite, but to be an example in order to draw others to Christ. If we have been transformed by the Spirit of Christ, then we will have the strength and the means necessary to be a redemptive influence in the world.

First Things First...

As I sat in church yesterday, a question came to me: What percentage of our congregation attends Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene primarily because they have a vested interest in holiness, both as a tradition and as a personal lifestyle?

I'll repeat a story here from a few years ago. Back then, I was teaching a class for the School of Christian Maturity. During one session, I asked the students: "If Pastor Sam left Bronx Bethany and the denomination replaced him with another pastor, would you still attend this church?"

Let's be real. Some of us attend our church primarily because they love Pastor Sam and/or Pastor Cole. Others were present because, primarily, they loved Pastor Benjie; and when he left, they left. And this phenomenon does not just occur in Bronx Bethany. We live in a city where churches are as plentiful as cars, and several of us are free to make choices based on our personal preferences. So our souls, which crave the healthy spiritual food that only Christ can offer, are instead fed with our carnal desire to be comfortable, with a little bit of spirituality sprinkled on top for garnish. Some of us are sitting in the pews of a Wesleyan-Holiness church, but are not really interested in learning what it means to live as a holy people of God.

What is our primary position as members of a Nazarene church? At the start of yesterday's sermon, Pastor Sam noted that we are custodians of the holiness tradition. If we have not committed ourselves to lives of holiness, then we will find ourselves ill-equipped for carrying out the mission and vision of our church. That is, in order to be a "redemptive influence in the Bronx and in the world", we must have an experiential understanding of the life of the redeemed. We don't just learn the Word; we live the Word.

As we go through our day today, let's keep in the mind one Scripture passage that Pastor Sam shared (written below). I encourage all of us to memorize it, in whatever translation is easiest for you to retain. Tomorrow, we will continue our reflection on this aspect of our church's mission statement.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. (Titus 2:11-12)

Question: What is your primary reason for attendance and membership in your home church?

In A Scent.

Towards the end of Pastor Althea's sermon, she asked us: are we contributing to the funk, or the fragrance?

Sin, in its myriad manifestations, is common to life. But as we learned on Sunday, the Christian response to life's issues is supposed to be markedly different than the response of the world. As pursuers of holiness and promoters of healing, our desire is to daily be reflections of Christ's purity and power.

Today let us reflect on the following questions, taking time to confess and repent in those areas where we have neglected to show our love for God, our maturing faith, and our commitment to serving the world.

• Are there things that I am thinking and doing in my personal life that I know are damaging the corporate witness of the body of Christ? Have I become comfortable in acts that are a stench in the nostrils of God? (Psalm 50:16-23)
• Do I believe that God still answers prayer? If so, am I "praying without ceasing" (First Thessalonians 5:17)?
• Pastor Althea mentioned that Bronx Bethany's membership is about 900. Am I a member of a local church body? (Hebrews 10:25; First Corinthians 12:12-27)
• Our pastor also said, "I dream of a church where I don't have to pretend that I'm perfect." Am I living my life transparently before God and man, or am I wearing a mask?
• Is my response to known sin confession and repentance, with a heart cry to God for His Spirit to move me to change? Or do I respond to sin by further accommodating it, with a conscious intent to continue repeating the acts that displease God?
• When Jeremiah spoke the word of God, he was met with opposition and arrogance by the very people who claimed to be followers of God. How do I respond when the word of God is spoken to me? (Jeremiah 20:1-12)
• In light of the above questions, my prayer for today is... [complete the sentence]

When God sniffs at your heart, what does He smell?

Salt And Light And Dreams In The Night: A Reid's-Eye View.

"What do you dream of? Do you even dream?" -Pastor Althea

As we endeavor to be salt and light in the Bronx and in the world, are dreams even practical? Do dreams matter?

I would say yes. I believe that God plants dreams in our hearts, then gives us skills and opportunities to live out those dreams in reality. Let me use my little household as a case study.

My husband is an accomplished musician. Throughout his life God has blessed him to have excellent teachers. His most influential teacher, though, was a man who taught by example and not by precept. Dr. Paul Liljestrand, simply by loving God through musical and spiritual gifts, planted a dream in the heart of my husband when he was a young boy. My husband grew up, completed his musical training, and the dream became real. If you were to ask him today what his role is in the kingdom of God, he would tell you that he teaches the Bible through music. In his ministry he trains children and adults to not just play instruments and sing, but to do effective, relevant ministry appropriate to their skill levels and cultural/denominational contexts. He lives his dream by using music to turn people's hearts towards God.

I, on the other hand, did not begin dreaming until I was an adult. While growing up, I had no real sense of what "salt and light" looked like in my life. Then about five years ago, a conversation between myself and four people (Rev. Ronald Benjamin, Dr. Marilyn Maye, Ms. LillyJune Webb, and Dr. Sam Vassel) birthed a dream to have, in essence, an "e-mail forum" where discussion of the Sunday sermon could continue through the week. My dream morphed into what is now Glossa Water. Earlier this year God sent a fifth person, Rev. Joseph Henry Cortese, who encouraged me to post links to this blog through Facebook and Twitter. Pastor Joe's suggestion increased reader traffic from less than 300 to over 1000 views per month, with new readers viewing from as far away as Australia and the Far East. I now live my dream by using writing to turn people's hearts towards God.

Pastor Althea shared a very important point during her sermon last Sunday: "The church is not the building. It is the people of God." And we, the people of God, are privileged to take the church to the world. Most of us are not world-famous. I don't have millions of followers on social media. My husband doesn't have millions of students. But God can still use our ministries, no matter how small, to touch the world. He can use yours too!

I pray that we will surrender our gifts and our deep desires to the Lord. He may send us a dream that sets us on a path to touch millions, or thousands, or hundreds, or just one... but when the Spirit of God is at the core of our work, empowering us as we work, we can be sure that the work will bring glory to our great God. Dream! Pray! Be the salt! Shine the Light!

Be encouraged to dream God's will. Be empowered to do God's work.

Present And Accounted For.

"We're spending more time every place else except the presence of the living God." -Pastor Althea

We sometimes have a tendency to laud certain Scripture verses taken out of context. Jeremiah 33 is one of the chapters that often falls victim to this action. It is easy to quote Jeremiah 33:3, and in many churches it's easy to isolate the verse and preach a jump-and-shout message of hope: "God will answer you when you call to Him! He will show you unsearchable things! Hallelujah!" Run, roll, have a good time.

This past Sunday, we experienced Jeremiah 33:3 in its proper context: the first eleven verses of the chapter. Here is the complete message of hope: "Because you have chosen complacency and sin, the LORD has chastised you severely. However, if you repent of your rebellion, the LORD will forgive you."

Pastor Althea shared some things that I'd like us to reflect on today:

• God promises health, healing, peace, and security to those who love Him.
• Sin in the camp, continued in spite of God's grace and patience, will result in the wrath of God.
• The enemy seeks not just to disable us, but to destroy us. 

These three points read as if each stands alone, but they are interrelated. God longs to bless His people, but He is not a rewarder of unrighteousness and waywardness. Our love of sin will block us from inheriting what God has promised to us. Further, our adversary the devil holds an interest in preventing the people of God from seeking God's presence. I am reminded of a sermon by John Ortberg on shadow mission: in the sermon, he noted that a key strategy of the devil is to keep God's people just ten or fifteen degrees off course. Our being ten degrees off course may not be easily detected by the world, but it is immediately apparent to God, to the prophetic community, and to the person who is off course. A person who has become comfortable in this compromised position has "lost their first love" and is destined for destruction (see Revelation 2:1-5). (Click here to view John Ortberg's sermon.)

As Pastor Althea shared in Sunday's sermon, none of us is perfect. This is why we need to remain in the presence of God, the only One who can equip us with the power to live in accordance with His will. If we remain in Him, we will live our lives through Him and He will be glorified in us.

I encourage us all to take time to read Galatians 5:16-26 as a reminder and warning. God loves us and is calling us to love Him. I pray that today, and every day, we will take the time and make the effort to enter into His presence with prayers, love, and obedience to His word.

Oh, may we be found in Him.

Mapping Borders With Care; Crossing Oceans With Prayer.

Some years ago Bronx Bethany had a guest speaker who was involved in deliverance ministry. When he began praying for people, one person ran out of our main building and into the street, narrowly missing being hit by a car while attempting to run to the other side of Paulding Avenue against the traffic. Fortunately the person was returned to our church, and was blessed to experience deliverance from demonic influences. Back then I wondered, "Why run across the street instead of just running down the block, or why not just leave the sanctuary and sit downstairs instead of leaving the building? Why did the person try to bolt across the street?"

On Sunday, as I listened to Pastor Althea's sermon, God answered my puzzled question from over five years ago: It's a border issue.

On the morning of our Street Fair last Saturday, a few incidents requiring police intervention occurred just across the border from our church. Why do I say "across the border" instead of "across the street"? I say it because spiritual warfare is, among other things, a territorial activity.

During Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea referred to the incidents (homicide, fighting, and domestic violence) using a particular phrase: the audacity of the devil to wreak havoc at the perimeter. That perimeter (the line that divides the east and west sides of Paulding Avenue between 227th and 228th Street) is one of several spiritual border lines in our community.

Scripture reveals that spiritual borders are indicated by space, place, and time. The dividing lines between peaceful and chaotic lands are determined by the strength or weakness of the ruling spirits in their assigned areas. Earthly events, in turn, are affected by heavenly activities. The book of Daniel gives a clear example of this. Daniel's fasting and prayer were received in heaven immediately, but spiritual war delayed the response by three weeks. The angel assigned to communicate to Daniel was confronted by a territorial spirit stronger than itself, and the archangel Michael had to be called in to join the fight. (You can read the scripture by clicking here.)

The New Testament reinforces this concept of spiritual war as territorial activity. When Jesus confronted the demonic spirits in the region of Gerasenes, what was their plea? "Do not send us out of the region." To leave the territory would mean a loss of power and influence, so they begged Jesus to cast them from the demoniac into the bodies of pigs who lived in the same territory-- not realizing that pigs are smart enough to choose death rather than living a life of demonic bondage. (You can read the scripture by clicking here.)

A related point here: Scripture also reveals that the human body is a coveted spiritual territory. What does Jesus say? "When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it goes out into desert places looking for rest but it does not find rest." Jesus goes on to say that if a person is empty (that is, if a person is not filled with the Holy Spirit), then the unclean spirit will return with reinforcements, making the state of the person far worse. (see Matthew 12:43-45)

Case Study: The success of Jamaica Day of prayer - a model of concerted effort to participate in winning territories for God

For the past several years, in early August, a few hundred Christians have gathered in various parts of the world to engage in concerted prayer for the nation of Jamaica. I believe that the swift answers to prayer for that nation have occurred because we have made the commitment to pray together, at the same time, in agreement, with fasting, with contrition, with repentance, and with a desire to be led by the Spirit of God. And here is where we find an example of an interesting paradox. Although spiritual territories are bounded by space and place and time, our prayers are not bound. Our prayers are the means by which we forcefully impact and transform regions to the honor and glory of God. Whether the object of our prayer is across the street, or across 588 miles, or on the other side of the globe, we can be effective participants in the redemptive process.

Each week at Bronx Bethany we affirm our commitment to being "a redemptive influence in the Bronx and in the world, to the glory of God." It is what we say. It is what we do. It is who we are. And our redemptive influence is firmly anchored in prayer.

Pray prayers. Transform territories.

The Rebellious Silence Of Man; The Terrifying Silence Of God.

At one point in yesterday's sermon, Pastor Althea made a couple of important observations that we can reflect on today. Let's consider these observations using the life of King David as a case study.

1. Before there can be healing, there must be an admission of sickness.

One crisis of individuals is that we fail to acknowledge our tendency towards sin as a sickness that must be confessed to God. Without confession, there cannot be forgiveness nor healing (First John 1:9). Further, without confession, one sin leads to another. David's covetousness towards Bathsheba led to the establishment of an adulterous relationship, which then led David to enlist other persons as unwitting participants in his murder of Bathsheba's husband Uriah, a man who had done nothing to deserve death.

A second crisis is that we, in some cases, prefer sickness to wellness. Pastor Althea mentioned several cases in which we, by our silence, indicate to God that our love for sin exceeds our love for Him. King David, in writing Psalm 51, is an example of a man whose love for God eventually moved him to prefer wellness over sickness.

A third crisis is the absence of contrition. King David spent several months opting to go on with his life as if it were "business as usual", seemingly untouched by his sins of covetousness, adultery and contract murder. At the point of confrontation by the prophet Nathan, David had a change of heart and was truly sorry for having sinned against God. 

2. Extended grace does not preclude severe chastisement.

The silence of God is an extension of grace. God has amazing patience. We see His patience even in the building of His church. The Scripture says that in eternity a Bride (the church) will be presented to Christ, without spot, blemish, or wrinkle. In the present, He loves us in spite of our flaws and urges us to continue to draw near to Him, so that we might become more like Him each day.

The silence of God is never a condoning of habitual sin. Psalm 50 is clear in revealing what the Lord says concerning His silence: You have done all these wicked things, I have kept silent, and in your audacity you think that I am altogether like you. You are wrong. I will strike you down, and there will be no remedy. Serve me and love me now, while you have a chance, and run far from sin.

The silence of God is the warning that judgement is at our doorstep. Let us continue with the example of King David. God did not send a prophetic word to David for almost a year. During this period, David was going about his life as if everything were normal. But at the point of confrontation by Nathan, after David's confession, the Lord sent a word: Yes, David, you have confessed and I have forgiven you, but judgement is not suspended: the sword will never leave your house. The latter years of David's life were horrendous, and he suffered indignity and embarrassment as his favorite son (Absalom) made a public display of wickedness and betrayal for all of Israel to see.

Fast-forward to 2013. There are questions we must ask and contemplation we must engage in light of this word:

• Are there areas of habitual sin in my life that I know break the heart of God? If so, why am I choosing to continually grieve God?
• Having read the Scriptures, am I genuinely interested in doing what pleases God and actively avoiding whatever displeases God? Or am I choosing to no longer read the Bible? Why or why not?
• Am I silent about my sins, or am I daily engaged in confession and repentance?
• Do I believe that God is powerful enough to keep me from always falling into the same sin day after day? Have I asked Him to send His Holy Spirit to help me live for Him every day?
• Do I understand that when no further prophetic word of warning is given to me, it means that judgement is on my doorstep?

Sadly, there are many of us who continue to feed pet sins without recognizing (or without caring) that we are breaking the heart of God and damaging His witness in the earth. But our pastor gave a clear word. We would do well to heed the word of the Lord.

Lord, give us grace to hear You speaking, and to obey before Your judgement falls.

Prayers Versus Expectations.

So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. He jumped up, stood and began walking around, and he entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the man who used to sit and ask for donations at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with astonishment and amazement at what had happened to him. (Acts 3:5-10)

Peter and John did not say to one another, “Let’s go pray for the lame man who sits at Gate Beautiful.” The men were simply going to afternoon prayer with the rest of the community.

It seems that no one in the faith community was expecting the lame man to be healed. In Acts 3:8-10, we read that when the healed man walked into the temple courts with Peter and John, the crowd responded with amazement and astonishment. The only recorded praise in the chapter is attributed to the three people involved in the miracle: Peter, John, and the lame man.

How sad to see a praying community, in the face of a miracle, offering no word of thanks to God.

In Acts 3:11 through 4:22, we see that Peter and John had to explain their actions to both the praying community and the religious leadership. Even more disturbing is the fact that the leaders’ response was to tell Peter and John to stop healing people in the name of Jesus. As Pastor Sam noted in Sunday’s sermon, it seems there was a preference for maintaining “structural dependence on the religious system”—Stay sick, you lame man. Stay dependent on us. We don't expect you to improve.

I wonder if we, in spite of our prayer life, walk through our days with no real expectation of participating in the miraculous works of God.

I wonder if we, in spite of our alleged love for worship, fail to give praise and glory to God when we see a demonstration of His power.

I wonder if we, in spite of our knowing our own need for God’s healing, will not be His agents of healing to others who are “lame” according to the world’s system.

Lord, You have shown us a praying community in Acts 3, but it seems they were caught off guard when You acted. Help us to live our days expecting to experience Your Presence and Your power. Order our steps! Re-order our schedules! We, like Peter and John, will always be available to You. We pray. We expect.

Brother, Can You Spare Some Time?

When the lame man saw Peter and John about to go into the temple courts, he asked them for money. Peter looked directly at him (as did John) and said, “Look at us!” So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. (Acts 3:3-5)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam shared (paraphrased here) that the modern and ancient myth was that problems are solved only by those who have money.

In some instances, it is easier to write a check than to go through the rigors of spiritual service. In Acts 3, the lame man at Gate Beautiful had become accustomed to getting donations of cash. But Peter and John came along with a donation of attention, conversation, and Divine healing.

Peter looked directly at him (as did John) and said, “Look at us!” (Acts 3:4) Our pastor noted that the response of Peter and John was not just a response of “simple relief”. Simple relief throws coins and moves on. But when believers see human need, 1) money does not have to be part of the equation and 2) time is taken for genuine interaction.

Pastor Sam, in saying “You are an extension of the presence of God”, gave us the key to our interaction with those in need: “Look at us” mirrors the response of our God, who has called us to “Look and live.”

The ministry of Peter and John is a reminder of God’s mercy towards us. In Numbers 21:4-9 we have the account of the ancient Israel’s grumbling, and the resultant curse of poisonous snakes in their camp. Moses, under God’s instruction, made a bronze snake on a pole. The people (bitten by poisonous snakes) that obeyed God by looking up at the cast snake would live.

Our Lord Jesus, in describing His own saving power, made reference to this event: “Even as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that whoever believes in Him will live forever.” (John 3:14-15) Today we can say to the disenfranchised and needy, “Look at us!” Not because we can offer anything on our own merit, but because we carry the presence of Christ, the One whose compassion and power far exceeds the value of any donation we could offer in our own strength.

Lord, we look to You! And Lord, we point others to You. May they always see You in us.

Working The Works.

The time of prayer was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. (Acts 3:1)

Today, let's reflect on a few of Pastor Sam's points (paraphrased here) concerning the role of prayer in the Christian's responsibility to "respond compassionately and practically to human need in the name of Christ."

• Three o'clock was prayer time for the community, not just for Peter and John.
• Peter's intent was to participate in the core function of the community: prayer.
• In our focus on prayer, we must not miss the man at the gate.
• If you don't see need, you can't respond to it.
• God hears groans and sees needs; the people of prayer must share His perspective.

What does it mean to have a heart of compassion? Ultimately, it means that we have the heart of God. The things that interest Him interest us. The things that He does, we do. As we draw near to God in prayer, we are able to discern His desire not just for ourselves, but also for our community. As we commune with Him through the priestly act of regular times of prayer, we are then empowered to do the social act of community care.

Perhaps this is where some of us fall short. We are engaged in the social work of service, but have neglected the priestly work of prayer. But our desire is not merely to provide for needs. Our desire is to demonstrate compassion as we meet human needs. As Nazarenes we believe this can only be accomplished by the person and work of Jesus Christ, whose Spirit lives in us.

After the miraculous healing at Gate Beautiful, a group of religious leaders questioned Peter and John (see Acts 4:5-20). As their dialogue progressed, the leaders' focus shifted. The issue was no longer the miracle; the issue was, "these men had been with Jesus."

Lord, that is what we want! Give us hearts to engage in corporate prayer and compassionate care: not for personal acclaim, but so that people will recognize Your Presence working in, with, and through us.

I Give My Dime, He Serves My Line.

During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam yanked the covers off a most insidious Christian habit: the act of giving not because of our love for the person(s) in need, but because we want other people to see and laud us for our "generosity".

Some of us are engaging in what Jesus specifically warned us to avoid. Here is what He said:

Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:1-4)

I have seen the "photo opportunity" version of charitable giving. Perhaps you've seen it too. Pastor Sam gave a wonderful description of this phenomenon: if there are no cameras available to record the good will, then no gift is given. The needy are left in need until some sort of public accolade can be derived from the gift.

Here is the formula behind the phenomenon: Every time I (the consumer) give a beggar (the facilitator) ten dollars, he helps me to get high on the drug of recognition. He clearly needs help beyond my little donation, but he won't get more help. I need him to stay enslaved, so that he can continue to make me look generous. And, if no one is watching the transaction, I won't give a cent.

But is it worth losing heaven's reward?

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried up, who was placed at the temple gate called “the Beautiful Gate” every day so he could beg for money from those going into the temple courts. (Acts 3:1-2)

The lame man in Acts 3 is not on a side road fifty meters away. He is seated at the entrance to Gate Beautiful, the gate with the most traffic, where all the religious people can watch as other religious people give him alms. His placement there is an open invitation for the community of faith to disobey the directive of Jesus in Matthew 6.

What shall we choose? The attention of men, or the accolade of God?

Lord, give us pure satisfaction in knowing that You see our secret works, and that Your commendation is the only one that matters. You love us. You warn us. We are grateful.

Examen Nation.

In yesterday's English-language services, Pastor Sam spoke on a phrase from Bronx Bethany's mission statement: Responding compassionately and practically to human need in the name of Christ.

Our pastor made reference to the beginning of Acts chapter 3. Today, let's take a look at the passage and consider the following questions:

• Am I too busy to make time for daily prayer?
• Am I so busy praying that I fail to be compassionate and practical in meeting others' needs?
• How do I "pray without ceasing" (First Thessalonians 5:17) while still being sensitive to the needs of those around me?

Acts 3:1-10

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Can I Have An Allowance?

Now people were bringing little children to Jesus for him to touch, but the disciples scolded those who brought them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam shared with us that providing access to the grace of God includes the aspect of allowance; that is, we must permit people in need of grace to receive it. He noted that sometimes, in our zeal to “stick to the program”, we lose opportunities to bless other people. In the Mark 10 account of the blessing of children, we see Jesus’s rationale for taking time for the children: “The kingdom of God belongs to such as these… whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” The children, rather than being the problem set, were the answer key.

As another pastor (Pastor Joy) had shared with us in an earlier sermon, there is a developmental progression in the life of the Christian. Infancy and childhood are marked by vulnerability and lack of awareness, even though infants and children are great examples of unconditional love, trust, and joy. It is in this stage where the patience and graciousness of mature adults help little children to develop in a healthy way. In the same way, our goal as mature Christians should be to allow new Christians the joy of being touched by Christ. From time to time, this may require us to suspend our normal routine.

Clearly, the aspect of allowance is grounded in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were not sensitized to the heart of Jesus concerning His love for the people who sought His blessing for their children. Because they were not sensitive, they engaged in a response that was counter to the will of Christ. If we are not aware of the desire of the Holy Spirit in our corporate gatherings, if we are too busy following our pre-set agenda, then we too might mistake a ministry opportunity for a mere annoyance. As Pastor Sam shared, without Spirit-fullness, we will never get to the mission.

Lord, transform us, so that our interest in protocol will forever remain subjected to Your interest in blessing Your people. Give us grace to hear You speaking. With Your help, those in our community who need grace will always receive it: from Your hand, and from ours.

Well Said!

As we continue our reflections on providing access to God’s grace, let’s remind ourselves of the account of the woman at the well. In order to read the story in context we’ll need to read about 80% of John chapter 4. I hope we’ll all make the time to read the passage today, keeping the following points in mind:

The grace of God encounters us in the moments when we think we’re all alone. The woman’s choice to draw water in the heat of the day was an indication that she was reluctant to encounter anyone. But Jesus was there, sitting on the well in the noonday heat, positioned to meet with her. The Lord of Glory ordains kairos moments to meet with us.

The grace of God covers and protects for the purpose of redemption. Jesus, instead of condemning the woman for being involved in an adulterous relationship, instead pointed her to Himself as the way to life. The Lord of Glory, who is qualified to condemn us, instead showers us with His love and points the way to repentance.

The grace of God moves us to announce the good things He has done. As Pastor Sam shared with us on Sunday, when you have living water, you can’t keep it quiet. The woman, realizing that she had encountered the Messiah, left her waterpot at the well and returned to town in order to testify to her community. The Lord of Glory, who is good to us, inspires us to speak of His goodness to others.

Come and see! Go and tell!

John 4:1-42

Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were), he left Judea and set out once more for Galilee.

But he had to pass through Samaria. Now he came to a Samaritan town called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, so Jesus, since he was tired from the journey, sat on the well. It was about noon.

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me some water to drink.” (For his disciples had gone off into the town to buy food.) So the Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you – a Jew – ask me, a Samaritan woman, for water to drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is who said to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said to him, “you have no bucket and the cistern is deep; where then do you get this living water? Surely you’re not greater than our father Jacob, are you? For he gave us this well and drank from it himself, along with his sons and his livestock.”

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks some of this water will thirst again. But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or come here to draw water.” He said to her, “Go call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said to him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “Well you have said, ‘A husband I don’t have’, for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. This you said truthfully!”

The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming – and now is – when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ); “whenever that one comes, he will announce to us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”

Now at that very moment his disciples came and they were surprised that he was speaking with a woman. However, no one said, “What do you seek?” or “Why are you speaking with her?” Then the woman left her water jar, went off into the town and said to the men, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Surely he can’t be the Christ, can he?” They left the town and began coming to him.

Meanwhile the disciples were asking him, saying, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” So the disciples began to say to one another, “No one brought him anything to eat, did they?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work. Don’t you say, ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, lift up your eyes and see that the fields are already white for harvest! The one who reaps receives a reward and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. For in this instance the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”

Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the report of the woman when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them and He stayed there two days, and they believed much more. They said to the woman, “No longer do we believe because of your words, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this one really is the Savior of the world.”