"If My People...": Hiding? Go Seek.

Sunday's sermon began with a warning: Pastor Althea reminded us that the church will suffer persecution. And, although this is not new information, her reminder hit us with a sense of urgency.  We in the West, and particularly in the United States, have grown accustomed to seeing Christians tagged as "intolerant"-- while, at the same time, the tenets of Christianity are not tolerated. It's an interesting juxtaposition. We can engage in meditation and mindfulness, vision-casting and 'imagineering', all with no backlash, but a desire prayed to Jesus can cost us our livelihood... asking Jesus to help us through life may cost us our lives.

Our pastor shared an important thought: our response to the threat of persecution is a better indicator of our relationship with Christ than any thing we might say in the absence of said threat. Pastor Althea pointed out that when persecution comes, some people will suffer gladly for the sake of Christ; others will hide, hoping to continue their faith-walk as an "undercover Christian" (or, to be blunt, they will engage in covert denial of Christ); and still others will switch sides, choosing to publicly deny Christ for the sake of their own physical safety or economic security.

In Second Chronicles 7:14, God gave King Solomon a set of criteria that are found in the kinds of people that are God's people. In the list is found a simple, yet profound, truth: God's people seek God's face. What does it mean to seek God's face? We seek through prayer. We seek through reading the scriptures. We seek through acts of worship and devotion. And, for the Christian, this face of God is found in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus encouraged His disciples with this truth: You believe in God; believe also in Me... anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father (see John 14:1-11 for context).

We have a precious case study in Scripture, and it keeps us from being too puffed up about our ability to stand for Christ in the midst of persecution. The case concerns Simon Peter: he was a man who sought after God, but when the pressure hit Peter the denials flew. The desire to stay alive at all costs was far stronger than his urge to seek the face of God no matter what the cost. Today, we face the same challenge. What is our response? Do we gladly suffer with Christ, or do we hide, or do we switch sides?

"If My People...": Have A Heart.

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea noted that King Solomon prayed and worked.

The first two chapters of Second Chronicles show us the heart-concern of Solomon. He prayed for wisdom to lead the people, and he undertook two concurrent building projects: one to make a temple for the worship of God, and another to make a home for himself. The first decade of his rule was devoted to the re-establishment of God's sanctuary, and God's ministers, as the foundation and hub of community life.

In our present context, the term ora et labora (Latin for "pray and work") is most commonly associated with the Rule of Saint Benedict. The Rule, a set of guidelines for community life, was used in several monastic communities and served as a key influence in medieval Europe. What was the heart-concern of this Rule? It was not merely to organize a set of monks. Rather, it was to ensure that the community enjoyed stability and security in health, safe housing, food production and distribution, respect for the elderly and ailing, consistency in prayer, balance between work and rest, and loving discipline of those who repeatedly brought offense to the community.

Do we Christians need to re-establish ourselves as the persons who serve as the bedrock of our communities? Do we Christians have a heart for honoring God in our prayers, and in our service to the communities we call home?

Where is your heart today?

"If My People...": The Backstory.

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea shared with us from Second Chronicles 7:14. When we read the verse in context we see that God is speaking in response to a prayer that had been offered by King Solomon.

For today's post, let's take time to read (or re-read) the events that occurred prior to God's response. While the passage is long, it is worthwhile to gain a sense of what Solomon and the people of God experienced. Please click here to read Second Chronicles 5:1 through 7:3.

“If my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (Second Chronicles 7:14, NET)

Same Threat, Different Day.

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this. But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, they began to confer with one another, saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny it. But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:13-20, NET)

In this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Andy noted that the response of Peter and John was critically important in the development of the early church. By refusing to keep silent regarding the way in which a miraculous healing occurred, Peter and John demonstrated the importance of faithfulness to God. They set a standard: Obey God rather than men.

As we go through our day today, let us consider this question: What does it mean to obey God? For Peter and John, obedience was demonstrated in their assertion: We will not stop speaking about the great things God has done in and through Jesus Christ.

Pastor Andy shared an important point with us that bears repeating. There are sometimes instances in which Christians, because of their relationship with God, assume that all of their personal/material desires are sanctioned by God (and that such desires make it "okay" to defy persons in leadership who they perceive as being hindrances to the desires being met) —but this is not what we find in the narrative. What we find in the narrative is an instance where God has permitted two men to participate in the miraculous, a rebuke in which religious leaders urged the men not to credit Jesus as the source of the miraculous, and a response in which the men described their testimony of Christ as an act of obedience to God. It is not a context of "name and claim"; it is a context of "proclaim the Name".

Perhaps this is our biggest challenge in modern Christendom. The temptation is to stay quiet, keep our faith "under wraps", or otherwise deny the works of God that have had a profound impact on our lives and/or the lives of others, while at the same time using the name of the Lord as a cosmic vending machine. Why? Because we don't like to suffer. Peter and John, when asked to shut up, chose to speak up. They suffered.

If you were in Peter and John's situation, what would you have done?

There is a perpetual lion’s den

Where Christians face the threats of men

And pressures to recant abound;

But in the face of threats, the faithful trust

The Lord who died for them, for us,

And through all Time our praise resounds.

We will not change our testimony:

“Jesus worked the miracle you see.”

(G.A.R.)

"Creed"-entials.

On this past Sunday, Pastor Andy shared with us concerning the Christian's response to adversity and pressure. During one point in his sermon, he made a series of short statements that I would like us to reflect on today. Whether we are personally experiencing hardships or not, our pastor's words are wonderful reminders of the power of God and His position as Lord above all circumstances.

As I listened to this section of the sermon again today, I began to understand and embrace Pastor Andy's words as a creed. They are true. They are good. I pray that these words will encourage you. (You may even want to commit these words to memory.)


What are we to do in a time like this?
Appeal to the sovereignty of God.
When I don't understand because I am limited, but God is limitless;
when I live in time, but He lives outside of time;
when I live in space, but He is Alpha and Omega--
He is the beginning and the end.
He is the first and the last.
God knows what He's about.
And so it is out of this backdrop that the apostles,
understanding the sovereignty of God,
and faced with a challenge,
understood that God was in charge.

It's One Or The Other...

“Sometimes life throws you curve balls... you cannot have a sovereign God and have luck. You cannot have a sovereign God and have chance. You cannot have a sovereign God and have fate.” –Rev. Andy Rubin

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Andy spoke of the importance of using the sovereignty of God as the reference point by which we understand and interpret life's circumstances. As an example, our pastor spoke of Job and Job’s wife. 

After a series of catastrophic events that caused them to lose all they had, Job and his wife responded in ways that were indicative of their reference points.

Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!” In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety. (Job 1:21-22)

Then his wife said to him, “Are you still holding firmly to your integrity? Curse God, and die!” But he replied, “You’re talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?” In all this Job did not sin by what he said. (Job 2:9-10)

Our pastor noted that if our circumstances serve as our reference point, then we will not have a consistency in our worship of the living God. Pastor Andy mentioned the analogy of curve balls. In baseball, a curve ball is a ball that the pitcher seems to be throwing in a straight line, but then the ball will suddenly break to the right or the left as it nears the batter. In life, a curve ball is an unexpected, unpleasant event that suddenly comes upon a person or place. For Job and his wife, there was a series of curve balls. For us in today’s context, we may face 'curve balls' that we had no idea would come to our doorstep: fires, tornadoes, job terminations, loss of loved ones, economic crises, or other things that will trouble our spirits and leave us with virtually nothing. In these times, we are warned by the example of Job and his wife: In your grief and shock, in your losses, do not withhold your worship of God. Instead, keep your focus on Him, making Him your reference point, and blessing His name even in the worst of circumstances.

What is your reference point today?

Reading Day.

During yesterday's sermon, Pastor Andy requested that we take time to read Acts 4:1-22 on our own. If you have not already done so, please take time to read the passage today.

Acts 4:1-22 (NET)

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, angry because they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. So they seized them and put them in jail until the next day (for it was already evening). But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

On the next day, their rulers, elders, and experts in the law came together in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family. After making Peter and John stand in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man – by what means this man was healed – let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this. But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, they began to confer with one another, saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny it. But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened. For the man, on whom this miraculous sign of healing had been performed, was over forty years old.

Relative-ity...

The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah. They came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, "Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah's followers, who banded together against the LORD, but he died for his own sins and left no sons. Why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives." (Numbers 27:1-4)

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Joy pointed out that Zelophehad was not part of the rebellion initiated by Korah. Zelophehad's daughters made this confession to Moses in the presence of the assembly: Our father sinned. But, he was not among those men who made a group effort to resist the authority and order that God had set into place... he was not a transgressor like Korah.

It was an important testimony for these women to give, because their appeal might have been interpreted as a group effort to resist the established protocol. As our pastor noted, they were asking for something that had never been permitted before. The women gave their rationale for their request: Moses, our father honored the system and order that the LORD had determined; our father was faithful to God and to your leadership; but he had no sons. Please make a way for our father's name to be remembered.

The reference to Korah is significant. Korah, a Levite, along with Reubenites Dathan and Abiram, had amassed a group of 250 well-respected community leaders to oppose Moses and Aaron's leadership. When the judgement of God fell upon Korah, all of Korah's family and property were swallowed up by the earth. There was nothing left of Korah's legacy. (Read Numbers 16 for the entire account of Korah's rebellion.)

The daughters of Zelophehad made their case in hopes of maintaining their family's legacy. They asked God to distinguish their fate from the fate of Korah's family, on the basis of two things:

• The thing within their father's control (his obedience to leadership and his refusal to align himself with Korah); and
• The thing outside of their father's control (the gender of his children).

We serve a God who hears petitions. Let us bring our cases to Him.

God, there are some things that are within our control, and there are some things that are outside of our control. Lord God, please give us Your grace so that the acts we can control will be acts that please You. And, please give us Your grace so that the things outside of our control will also be taken into account by You. Redeem us. Keep us. Teach us. Hear our prayers. We love You and we seek Your aid today.

Appealing.

So Moses brought their case before the LORD. (Numbers 27:5)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Joy shared with us from Numbers 27:1-11. In the narrative, we find that Zelophehad's daughters appealed to the Israelite leadership in the presence of the whole community. In response to their appeal, Moses made an appeal to God.

As our pastor noted on Sunday, the actions of these women were unprecedented. In the midst of a patriarchal society, the women were bold enough to ask for two things: preservation of their father's name in the clan, and allocation of the land that would have been given to a male in their family. Their ultimate concern was for the legacy of their father to be honored, and that concern overrode the cultural norm of women not being included in property ownership.

Moses, in turn, also engaged in an unusual act. Even though he had already received laws and clear instructions from God about the division of land, Moses took the time to ask God for specific direction concerning the appeal of the five sisters.

We serve a God who allows appeals! The Scriptures have an astounding roster of men and women who have asked, and received, answers to their appeals for God's compassion and intervention. Here are a few examples:

• Cain requested and received a mark so that he would not be killed by another man (Genesis 4:13-15);
• Rahab requested and received a promise of deliverance for herself and her family (Joshua 2:12-14);
• King Hezekiah requested and received an extension of life (Second Kings 20:1-6).

Is there something you are facing that seems inevitable, based on the laws and circumstances that surround you? Appeal to God. He may say yes, or He may say no, but He has blessed us with the ability to ask... and so we ask. Who knows what our Lord might change?

He answered, "While the child was still alive I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.'" (Second Samuel 12:22)

This Is "Center City"...

At the beginning of this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Joy asked us all to take some time to center ourselves. Our pastor shared that as we took time to contemplate the goodness of God and the blessings He has bestowed upon us, we should also understand that God’s works continue: “…the particular blessings you’re thinking of just now, the Lord can do so much more.”

What do we contemplate as we enter the presence of the Lord? What’s on our minds when we commune with Him? The cares and concerns of this world sometimes burden us so heavily that we cannot appreciate the good things God has given us. Or, to take this thought a step further, our own failures and lost dreams might even cause us to withhold worship from God—the One we are called to worship not because of what He gives us, and not because our lives are good, but simply because He is good… and because He is God.

Today, as we did on Sunday, let’s take a minute to center ourselves-- not on the problems we see, but on the Lord we know.

God, the chorus sung by ancient Israel remains true today: The LORD is good, and His mercy endures forever! That is my confession. Thank You for Your presence and Your power. Thank You for reminding me that even though hardships abound in this world, Your goodness surpasses every pain that has crossed my path. I love You and I am grateful for You! Remind me of all the blessings You have poured into my life. I look forward to seeing Your hand of blessing and intervention in my life today.

Take A Number!

After the plague the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel.” So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, “Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses.” These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt. (Numbers 26:1-4)

The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:21)

The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 15:38)

In yesterday’s sermon, Pastor Joy spoke primarily from Numbers chapter 27. For today, let us consider some background information.

Our pastor shared that the faith-stance of the five daughters of Zelophehad was expressed in a context where women were not even counted as part of the population. From ancient Israel through the time of Christ, women were not included in census reporting. Even the accounts of the feeding of the 5000 and the 4000 show adherence to the age-old protocol: the narratives in Matthew 14 and 15 and John 6 indicate a count of only the men.

In the New Testament narrative, though, we have encouragement: not everyone was counted, but everyone was fed. This is the face and nature of the Christian walk! Our Lord invites all people to come to Him for sustenance.

In his sermon on May 4th Pastor Sam referenced Joel 2 and Acts 2 (“your sons and your daughters shall prophesy”), and God has echoed the theme again through Pastor Joy’s reflections on Numbers 27. Let us take heed. God provides His inheritance to men and women. Will you, by faith, joyfully receive what He has made available for you?

God has taken a head-count… and you are on His roster. Be encouraged.

Richard The Seventh.

We at Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene are excited and happy for Richard Griffiths!

This morning, Pastor Richard will be ordained as an Elder in our denomination. And, while on the surface this may appear to be the culmination of years of study and practical ministry, it is actually the launch-pad for God to do even greater things through this man of faith.

Our pastor holds a particular distinction. He will be the seventh ordained elder Bronx Bethany has had on full-time staff (after Pastor Cole, Pastor Sam, Pastor Benjie, Pastor Joy, Pastor Martha, and Pastor Althea), and Pastor Richard is being ordained in the fiftieth year of Bronx Bethany's existence. The numbers 7 and 50 are significant in Scripture-- both numbers are indicative of God's mandate for us to honor Him not just by the work we do, but also in the disciplines of resting from our labors (7/The Sabbath) and releasing others from their bondage (50/The Jubilee).

So, on this day when we celebrate this milestone for Pastor Richard, we also take inventory of ourselves. Are our lives reflecting this God-ordained cycle of work and rest? Are we happy to partner with God in releasing people from the situations and issues that have bound them for years? Are we ourselves living lives that are free from bondage to sin?

God, our Father, we understand that Your ways are perfect. Help us to understand the depth of meaning that underscores Pastor Richard's ordination today. Give us grace to obey Your call. Yes, we embrace rest for our bodies and souls. Yes, we exact release for our brothers and sisters.

Blessed To Bless; Loved To Love.

“God has raised this church so that God’s presence and God’s power can be manifested in this city.” –Rev. Dr. Sam Vassel

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam noted that God has blessed Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene with a wonderful staff of pastors and leaders, a vibrant worship life, and a faithful congregation. But, he also noted that communities of faith do not exist in a vacuum: they exist to be a blessing to their home cities, and even to the entire world.

How can you and I bless? Here are a few practical measures:

v  Participation in local and global missions

v  Charitable giving

v  Living lives that reflect the character of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit

v  Intercessory prayer

God of love, teach us to love our neighbors.

God of blessings, help us to bless the world.

Let Him Tell You Something.

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam mentioned two examples of prophetic speech in the lives of men.

Amos was called by God to speak His truths to the nation of Israel. In the third chapter of his book we find one of God’s purposes for prophetic speech: it is a means by which people can be warned of impending judgement and urged to repent.

Certainly the sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? The sovereign Lord has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy? (Amos 3:7-8)

Abraham, the man chosen by God to be the great patriarch of the nation of Israel, was a recipient of a prophetic message from the Lord. Genesis 18 records the Lord’s reasons for revealing His truths to Abraham:

Then the Lord said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? After all, Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations on the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using his name. I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then the Lord will give to Abraham what he promised him.” (Genesis 18:17-19)

Over the ages, God has spoken to His people. He still speaks today. For those of us who love and serve Him, there is opportunity to hear His word… and opportunity to share what we have heard.

Lord God, equip us to obey, and to say, what You have said.

Proof Of Residence.

“After God had blessed them and showed them how to live, giving them laws and directions, immediately, it seems from Scripture, they turned away to attractive idols in their contemporary situation… the idols that are the competition to their God.” –Rev. Dr. Sam Vassel

In this past Sunday’s sermon, our pastor noted that God gave laws and decrees not for His own benefit, but for the benefit of His people. In the face of ancient Israel’s continual idolatry, God sent a word through the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah: I am going to do a new thing. I will take out their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh; I will put My Spirit in them. They will not have to be taught, because they will know the truth directly from Me. (see Ezekiel 36:26 and Jeremiah 31:34)

If the Spirit of God is resident in us, then we will walk in His truth.

If the spirit of idolatry is resident in us, then we will turn our backs on God’s truth.

But, what is the evidence of residence? How can we, and the world, know who influences our thoughts and actions? The apostle Paul shares a list that distinguishes the people ruled by self-will from the people ruled by God’s Spirit. Today, let us reflect on this passage prayerfully.

Holy Spirit of God, please help us to live lives that reflect the proof of Your residence in us.

Galatians 5:19-25

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God! But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.

This Is Inclusion.

But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel: 'And in the last days it will be,' God says, 'that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.' (Acts 2:16-18, NET)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam reminded us that prophetic speech is not limited to those who are tasked with full-time ministry. According to Acts 2, we Christians are a community of prophets. Whether male or female, whether young or old, all persons whose lives are submitted to the Spirit of God can be recipients of His outpouring.

What sort of speech pours out from you?

“Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.” (Frances Havergal)

“Stare” Tactics.

While the man was hanging on to Peter and John, all the people, completely astounded, ran together to them in the covered walkway called Solomon’s Portico. When Peter saw this, he declared to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. (Acts 3:11-13)

Have you experienced this?

Maybe you interceded for someone, and then God answered your prayer quickly, dramatically and publicly.

Or maybe you were prayed for by someone, and God’s provision of the answer caused you to behave in a way that made you don’t normally behave. Maybe you shouted, or cried, or laughed, or jumped, or ran.

Or, maybe you were a casual spectator—a person neither devoted to prayer nor to the God who answers prayer, but a person who is found talking about either the intercessor or the behavior of the person who was prayed for.

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Andy spoke on the phenomenon of spectators focusing on the wrong thing. Our Christian life does not revolve around the people who pray, nor does it revolve around the people whose prayers have been answered. Christians focus on Christ. We are exhorted in the book of Hebrews: “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2a)

In the Acts 3 narrative, Peter and John asked a question of the spectators that surrounded them. It’s a question that is just as important today:

“Why are you staring at us?”

Friends, let us commit to stop staring at people. Let us commit to fixing our gaze on the Lord.