Glossa Water: June 2015

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Son Burn?

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam spoke on the parable many of us know as "The Prodigal Son" (Luke 15:11-32). But, as our pastor shared, we see that the story is the narrative of actions and interactions of a younger son, an older son, and a father.

Today, let’s consider the older son. What does the narrative reveal about him?

Disinterest in the well-being of his brother. The older son, who had remained at home the entire time that the younger son was gone, reacted in anger when he heard the reason for the household's music and dancing (see Luke 15:25-28). The father, however, had consistently been looking for the younger son and was overjoyed to see him return home (see Luke 15:20).

Disrespect for his own position as a son. The older son held incorrect, inappropriate heart-attitudes about his place in his father's house. As Pastor Sam noted on Sunday, the older son spoke as if everything he had was due to the hard work he had done rather than it being due to his status as a son, even going as far to describe himself in terms of servitude: "All these years I've been slaving for you..." (Luke 15:29) In the narrative, we see that the father had to remind the older son, “Everything I have is yours!” (see Luke 15:31)

Pastor Sam shared a phrase with us: “The older brother was in the house, but he was not at the party.” For those of us who have been in church-life a long time, this is a call for us to remember that we are beneficiaries. We did not earn our salvation; our Father provided it through the sacrifice of Christ. We did not purchase our spiritual gifts; our Father provided them by His Spirit. We have the privilege of celebrating all that our Father is and all that He does in and through us. Further, we have the privilege of interceding for “younger brothers”—those in our community who have wandered from the fold. May these lost ones return to find a family waiting with forgiveness, love, and joyous celebration.

How do you respond when wayward sons return home?

Thursday, June 11, 2015

In View Of This,...

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Bobby shared with us that we are called to view life with eternal eyes: eyes that comprehend not just the nuances of the physical realm, but eyes that “see” what God has revealed by His Holy Spirit. As Christians, our mandate is to live by faith. Second Corinthians 5:7 is a short verse that many of us have memorized: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Today, let’s consider a larger section of the passage, so that we might benefit from the context in which this truth was given to us.

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (Second Corinthians 5:1-10)

Pastor Bobby noted that our Christian journey is not a fun walk: it is a walk for soldiers. How do soldiers walk? They walk with purpose. They walk with the intent to carry out the orders they are given. And, yes, they walk by faith, because their individual orders are only a small part of a big plan. They don’t know the whole plan, but they are faithful in carrying out their part of the plan. Some of us, today, are guilty of having reneged on our responsibility to carry out our small part of God’s big plan. Why? Because we have laid down our shield of faith; because we have told God we won’t act until He tells us what everyone else is doing; because we have grown weary of laboring in our corner of the kingdom vineyard.

If you have laid down your shield of faith, if you have decided to delay obeying God because you want more details of His plan, I would encourage you to get back into the battle for souls. One day, we will be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, and all will be well, and all will be made clear. Until we reach our heaven-life, though, we are called to live our earth-life in a manner pleasing to God, living and acting in obedient faith. “We make it our goal to please him…” Amen. May Paul’s words be ours today.

Lord God, may everything I do be a confession of my faith in You.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Clause-Way.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

This past Sunday, we were blessed to have as our guest speaker Pastor Bobby Wilmot. Pastor Bobby was called by God to plant seeds of righteousness and holiness in a community in Jamaica that held a history of lawlessness. Pastor Bobby’s faithfulness in ministry, and particularly his ability to see transformation and change by faith, are an inspiration to those of us who are living in our own regions of crisis, whether geographical or spiritual.

Pastor Bobby based his sermon on Romans 15:13. The middle of this verse contains an important thought: “…as you trust in Him.”

Do we understand that the infilling of joy and peace walks in tandem with our sure faith? Do we really trust God?
Do we approach our belief in God not as a one-time assertion of His Lordship, but as a continual confession of our belief in His power to act on behalf of His children?

Today, as we pray and work, let us affirm and re-affirm our trust in God.

Lord God, we love You, and we trust You. Thank You for pouring joy and peace into our hearts.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Wisdom Of The Ages...

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (First Timothy 4: 12)

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Shane asked a question: What example are we setting? And it is not a question solely for children and teenagers: it is a question for everyone who professes to be Christian. As followers of Jesus, we are watched by the world. Our desire ought to be that those who see us will see the love and power of Christ manifested in us.

First Timothy chapter 4 shows the apostle Paul’s concern for Christians who have abandoned the faith. As Paul instructs Timothy to preach and teach, Paul adds a two-part mandate: 1) do not permit others to disrespect Timothy's ministry because of his age; 2) allow others to see Timothy’s example, captured in a five-fold structure of external actions reflective of his internal beliefs. Let’s dive in to First Timothy 4:12:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young...” In Paul’s context, as in ours today, there is the notion that young people are not as gifted or anointed as their older counterparts. However, God has indicated throughout Scripture that His anointing and the gifts of His Spirit are not distributed according to age; rather, He anoints and gifts people according to His pleasure (see First Samuel 16:10-12; Ephesians 4:7). Timothy, a church elder, was charged to address and correct those who dismissed his anointing because of his youth.

“Set an example for the believers...” Paul gives Timothy five areas in which to live as a godly example to others. As we consider these, let us pray that God will empower us to be living examples in our day as Timothy was in his.

v Speech: Do our words express godly comfort and encouragement? Do we impart the wisdom and counsel of God as we interact with others?

v Conduct: Do our personal and professional practices model the commands and counsel of God?

v Love: Are we in love with God? Do we show His love to everyone we meet?

v Faith: Do we believe God’s word and fully expect that He will accomplish all He has said?

v Purity: Are our sexuality, inner thought life, and outward behaviors bringing pleasure to the heart of God? Are we obeying His call to holiness?

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

See... And Hear.

On this past Sunday, Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene's morning services were led by our children and teenagers.

We are blessed to be in an environment where the act of worship, the art of worship, and the heart of worship are not novelties in the lives of the young people who attend our church. Though much of the adult population never sees it, our children and youth regularly experience authentic worship and community. Every Sunday, as the adults are in the main sanctuary, the next generation is in different areas of our campus. For our teenagers, their experience of God is not relegated to just a couple of hours on a Sunday. They meet corporately on Friday nights, and they hold the advantage of being encouraged and held accountable daily through the use of social media. Our children are learning to worship, and they are leading in worship. But, most importantly, they are in love with the living God.

The power of God was present as our teenagers encouraged us through a spoken word presentation. They exhorted us to appropriate the power of God, to rest in His promises, and to trust Him even as we experience difficulties along our Christian journey. My prayer is that we who are older will be wise enough, and humble enough, to take note and learn from this next generation of believers.

Will we, publicly, fearlessly, speak of the power of God to heal and deliver?

Will we engage in authentic, exuberant, extravagant worship and praise of our King?

Will we rest in God’s promises, unshaken by the storms that may rage around us?

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1-4)