I think that there's an interesting link between the mission of Jesus as detailed in the John 4 and John 9 passages, and our Back to Basics courses on the Holy Spirit.
When we do God's will and God's work, it seems that people can't help but notice. And I really believe that something happens, some sort of manifestation, that makes it clear we are engaged in the work of God.
I often think of Acts 6, a passage we discussed in one of our Back to Basics lessons. And I will say to you, as I said in one of my classes, that this selection of Stephen is something to reflect on in light of the will of God and the work of God.
The twelve apostles did not choose Stephen. In Acts 6:3 we see that the selection of the seven men (for overseeing food distribution, and that's a blog for another time) was a task delegated to the community. What was the selection criteria?
A man with a degree in hospitality and food management? No.
A man who was fluent in Greek and Hebrew? No.
A man who held political clout and had friends in the Sanhedrin? No, that wouldn't work either.
The apostles basically said:
1. Choose seven men from among you;
2. Choose seven men who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.
I did check this verse in my husband's Greek New Testament (Pastor Benji and Pastor Sam seem to have started a little brush fire with this Greek thing), where I once again saw the word "kai"- which we translate as "and", but which can also be translated as "even"- so perhaps we could say that the second criteria was for seven men full of the Spirit, even wisdom. It's reminiscent of the list we see in Isaiah 11:2:
And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Well, here's the question. How is it that a community of thousands had no trouble pointing out Stephen as a man with these qualities?
There are really only two possible answers:
1. Declaration- It was something that they heard Stephen say;
2. Manifestation- It was something that they saw Stephen do.
In the Church of the Nazarene we seem to be a little nervous about certain public, or charismatic, expressions of Spirit-fullness. I think that perhaps people are afraid of not being able to distinguish the work of the Spirit of God from the counterfeit works of the enemy.
Well, there is counterfeit money in the world... does that stop you from using real money?
We Nazarenes tend to promote the fruit of the Spirit more so than the gifts of the Spirit, because our love for others is a key evidence of our standing in God (see First John 3). But God has also designated particular gifts of the Spirit for the purpose of buiding up His body, the Church (see First Corinthians 12). To be a healthy church, we need both in operation.
I pray that you will choose to allow the Holy Spirit to have full control in your life, and that you will not block His working in you and through you.
God bless you my friends.
Showing posts with label Back To Basics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Back To Basics. Show all posts
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Escha- M.O.'s
On Sunday Pastor Sam made reference to a statement made by Pastor Gabriel (our guest speaker at the launch of our Ministerios Latinos): "Your eschatology will determine your ethics": that is, what you believe about the future will have a direct effect on how you live your life in the present.
I am so grateful for the forgiveness and mercy of God. For years, my 'modus operandi' (M.O.) was to live a dichotomous lifestyle: I claimed to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior, but in my day-to-day living I was making decisions that I knew were displeasing to God and grievous to the Spirit of God. Back then, I didn't care.
Things are different now. What made the difference? An encounter with the Holy Spirit. I shifted from being a nominal Christian to being a true Christian, one whose sole desire is to please God regardless of what it might cost me personally or professionally.
A few nights ago I was listening to Pastor Sam's sermon from January 6, 2008 ("There Ain't Nothing But The Real Thing, Baby"). During that sermon he quoted a song I used to sing as a little girl in church: Sweet will of God, still fold me closer, till I am wholly lost in Thee... and that is all I want. That is my prayer, to be so full of the Spirit of God that people forget who I am, and that they will just remember that in some way the power of God reached them and changed them.
How will that happen? I have to live a life that points people to Christ. I can't point people to Christ if I'm embracing the ways of the world. I can't point people to Christ if I'm maligning His servants. I can't point people to Christ if my lifestyle is one of disobedience to His word.
Let's end this reflection on the 'basics' by reviewing the pattern set in Hebrews:
-Jesus Christ is superior to all things and all peoples;
-We are entreated, tenderly, to walk in obedience to Him;
-We are warned, sternly, of the consequences of disobedience to Him.
Let's keep living for Jesus. Not for ourselves, but for Him. His Spirit is here to help us. If you have not experienced the baptism of the Spirit, the Lord can present Himself to you in a way that will transform your life forever. All you have to do is ask Him.
I am so grateful for the forgiveness and mercy of God. For years, my 'modus operandi' (M.O.) was to live a dichotomous lifestyle: I claimed to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior, but in my day-to-day living I was making decisions that I knew were displeasing to God and grievous to the Spirit of God. Back then, I didn't care.
Things are different now. What made the difference? An encounter with the Holy Spirit. I shifted from being a nominal Christian to being a true Christian, one whose sole desire is to please God regardless of what it might cost me personally or professionally.
A few nights ago I was listening to Pastor Sam's sermon from January 6, 2008 ("There Ain't Nothing But The Real Thing, Baby"). During that sermon he quoted a song I used to sing as a little girl in church: Sweet will of God, still fold me closer, till I am wholly lost in Thee... and that is all I want. That is my prayer, to be so full of the Spirit of God that people forget who I am, and that they will just remember that in some way the power of God reached them and changed them.
How will that happen? I have to live a life that points people to Christ. I can't point people to Christ if I'm embracing the ways of the world. I can't point people to Christ if I'm maligning His servants. I can't point people to Christ if my lifestyle is one of disobedience to His word.
Let's end this reflection on the 'basics' by reviewing the pattern set in Hebrews:
-Jesus Christ is superior to all things and all peoples;
-We are entreated, tenderly, to walk in obedience to Him;
-We are warned, sternly, of the consequences of disobedience to Him.
Let's keep living for Jesus. Not for ourselves, but for Him. His Spirit is here to help us. If you have not experienced the baptism of the Spirit, the Lord can present Himself to you in a way that will transform your life forever. All you have to do is ask Him.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Unappealing.
In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam made reference to the Revelation 20 passage that gives us a snapshot of the final judgement that will occur. Verses 11 through 15 indicate that everyone will be judged "according to what they had done".
We are judged based on our record. The passage speaks of books that are maintained by God- books that hold data on what we have done, and a particular book called the book of life where names are written down. But, as we see in the passage, not everyone's name is in the book of life. By default, if your name is not in the book of life, you are not going to have the benefit of eternal life with Christ; you will be destined to eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
As was shared so poignantly on Sunday, there is no appeal process in this final judgement. Let's revisit some of the things we heard in the sermon:
-the resurrection of all people is for the purpose of judgement (Acts 17:31);
-God, our Owner, is the only one who has the right to be our Assessor;
-God's justice requires judgement;
-God's judgement is based upon His complete knowledge of our motives as well as our actions;
-God will bring every deed into judgement, whether good or bad (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14)
There are some who believe that they can live a life of dichotomy and still back their way in to eternal life with Christ. If that's you, may I ask you why you believe that? What Scriptures are you using to support that assumption?
God doesn't want you to perish. That's why He's given you the opportunity now, during your earthly life, to repent and live for Him. Don't wait. You aren't guaranteed tomorrow.
We are judged based on our record. The passage speaks of books that are maintained by God- books that hold data on what we have done, and a particular book called the book of life where names are written down. But, as we see in the passage, not everyone's name is in the book of life. By default, if your name is not in the book of life, you are not going to have the benefit of eternal life with Christ; you will be destined to eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
As was shared so poignantly on Sunday, there is no appeal process in this final judgement. Let's revisit some of the things we heard in the sermon:
-the resurrection of all people is for the purpose of judgement (Acts 17:31);
-God, our Owner, is the only one who has the right to be our Assessor;
-God's justice requires judgement;
-God's judgement is based upon His complete knowledge of our motives as well as our actions;
-God will bring every deed into judgement, whether good or bad (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14)
There are some who believe that they can live a life of dichotomy and still back their way in to eternal life with Christ. If that's you, may I ask you why you believe that? What Scriptures are you using to support that assumption?
God doesn't want you to perish. That's why He's given you the opportunity now, during your earthly life, to repent and live for Him. Don't wait. You aren't guaranteed tomorrow.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
500 Pieces.
Several weeks ago in a conversation with Pastor Sam, I explained my crazy faith by comparing it to a jigsaw puzzle: that is, I don't have all the pieces of the puzzle in place, but God has given me one piece of the puzzle- and I hold that one piece and know that there is a completed puzzle, even though I'm not seeing all of the pieces... the 'one piece' is my proof that other pieces exist and will fall into place.
In Sunday's sermon we learned about Jesus as "the firstfruits of them that sleep" (First Corinthians 15:20). The fact of His resurrection is the evidence we hold on to, and we are assured that we too shall be raised from the dead. As Pastor Sam mentioned, the first fruit of the harvest is the indicator that an entire harvest will follow.
When will we experience the entire harvest? No one knows but God (see Matthew 24:36). But the day will come when we will stand before the Lord of all, and He will judge us for what we have done (or failed to do) while we lived on this earth.
What will our life be when we have transitioned from temporal life to eternal life? There are two, and only two, choices- eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. Through the resurrection of Christ, the wheels have been set into motion and we are on a course to the final judgement that will seal our eternal destiny. It's inevitable and irreversible.
Unfortunately some of us are living as if there's no such thing as judgement, or as if we have unlimited time to repent. Let me say this: neither are true. Our days are numbered, and there is such a thing as judgement. That should be incentive for us to live each day as if it's our last- in pursuit of holiness and a godly lifestyle.
In Sunday's sermon we learned about Jesus as "the firstfruits of them that sleep" (First Corinthians 15:20). The fact of His resurrection is the evidence we hold on to, and we are assured that we too shall be raised from the dead. As Pastor Sam mentioned, the first fruit of the harvest is the indicator that an entire harvest will follow.
When will we experience the entire harvest? No one knows but God (see Matthew 24:36). But the day will come when we will stand before the Lord of all, and He will judge us for what we have done (or failed to do) while we lived on this earth.
What will our life be when we have transitioned from temporal life to eternal life? There are two, and only two, choices- eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. Through the resurrection of Christ, the wheels have been set into motion and we are on a course to the final judgement that will seal our eternal destiny. It's inevitable and irreversible.
Unfortunately some of us are living as if there's no such thing as judgement, or as if we have unlimited time to repent. Let me say this: neither are true. Our days are numbered, and there is such a thing as judgement. That should be incentive for us to live each day as if it's our last- in pursuit of holiness and a godly lifestyle.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Manifesting The Unknown Thing
Today we continue our reflection on the last two components of the "elementary things" from Hebrews 6:1,2: resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement.
God specializes in doing things that, in our estimation, are impossible. Let's think about two things He has done in Christ:
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). God's physical presence, in the earthly ministry of Christ, begins with the impossible. But this is the power of God, to even bypass His own system for the creation of human life; this is the power of God, to send a word by an angel to this perplexed young woman Mary. In the eyes of the world, Mary was a disgrace because she was pregnant before her marriage to Joseph was finalized. But God, in that situation, was bringing fulfillment of the prophetic word from Isaiah.
My friends, somtimes the fulfillment of the promise of God does not appear in a way that makes us comfortable. But I hope that you will have the same answer as Mary: that once you have received the revelation of 'how this will be', your answer will be 'May it be as You have said' (see Luke 1:26-38).
"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent... He has given proof of this to all men by raising him (Jesus) from the dead" (Acts 17:30,31). As Pastor Sam mentioned in Sunday's sermon, there were previous accounts of Jesus raising people from the dead (most notably Lazarus, who had been dead for four days). But, the day came where Lazarus once again died, and that was the end of his life. The distinctive feature of the resurrection of Jesus is that Jesus rose from the dead and has been alive ever since (see Revelation 2:8). How is that possible? Well, the answer was given by the angel who spoke to Mary: "For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37), and reiterated by Christ during His earthly ministry: "Everything is possible for him who believes" (Mark 9:23); "With men this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27).
So, this is the One we serve- the One for whom nothing is impossible. Perhaps if we keep that thought at the forefront of our minds, we'll take a different perspective on what can be accomplished in our life and ministry.
God specializes in doing things that, in our estimation, are impossible. Let's think about two things He has done in Christ:
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). God's physical presence, in the earthly ministry of Christ, begins with the impossible. But this is the power of God, to even bypass His own system for the creation of human life; this is the power of God, to send a word by an angel to this perplexed young woman Mary. In the eyes of the world, Mary was a disgrace because she was pregnant before her marriage to Joseph was finalized. But God, in that situation, was bringing fulfillment of the prophetic word from Isaiah.
My friends, somtimes the fulfillment of the promise of God does not appear in a way that makes us comfortable. But I hope that you will have the same answer as Mary: that once you have received the revelation of 'how this will be', your answer will be 'May it be as You have said' (see Luke 1:26-38).
"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent... He has given proof of this to all men by raising him (Jesus) from the dead" (Acts 17:30,31). As Pastor Sam mentioned in Sunday's sermon, there were previous accounts of Jesus raising people from the dead (most notably Lazarus, who had been dead for four days). But, the day came where Lazarus once again died, and that was the end of his life. The distinctive feature of the resurrection of Jesus is that Jesus rose from the dead and has been alive ever since (see Revelation 2:8). How is that possible? Well, the answer was given by the angel who spoke to Mary: "For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37), and reiterated by Christ during His earthly ministry: "Everything is possible for him who believes" (Mark 9:23); "With men this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27).
So, this is the One we serve- the One for whom nothing is impossible. Perhaps if we keep that thought at the forefront of our minds, we'll take a different perspective on what can be accomplished in our life and ministry.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Resurrexit!
Dear Friends, I don't usually talk shop here, but I think I should explain why Devon- and you- have to "eat leftovers" every weekend...
I'm sure that by now you've noticed that my blog postings are just five days per week (Tuesday through Saturday). In praying about how to be a better steward of my time, I'm finding that it's better for me (and my husband) if I don't stay up all Sunday night blogging a Monday posting. Also, the spring semester is in full swing and I'm taking four classes (!!!). Oh, and I'm also writing my dissertation proposal which I hope will be approved this June. Add this to my duties as a wife and homemaker and minister, and you'll see that my 'dance card' is full.
For reasons that I won't detail now, I have resigned from dance ministry. This has opened up several hours in my schedule, and I think that the removal of dance and the removal of the Monday blog post will be enough to help me manage this semester. As always, your prayers are greatly appreciated. I hope I won't have to cut anything else.
(For my "midnight" people, my apologies for not posting today's blog at midnight- I will try to do better next week!)
Okay, let's get to the sermon!
Pastor Sam finished the series on the "basics" of our faith this past Sunday. As a recap, these are the basics- "the elementary things"- noted by the writer of Hebrews in chapter 6, verses 1 and 2:
-repentance from acts that lead to death;
-faith in God;
-instruction about baptisms;
-the laying on of hands;
-the resurrection of the dead;
-eternal judgement.
Those last two, the resurrection and eternal judgement, are what we'll look at this week. But for now I want to reiterate something that Pastor Sam said at the beginning of the sermon in the second service: "we must pay the most earnest heed to what we have learned".
So, let's add some brief summaries to the first four 'elementary things' that we learned already:
-repentance from acts that lead to death (you have to be born in order to grow; if you have not repented from dead works, you are not a Christian);
-faith in God (never put your faith in anyone or anything other than God; God is a jealous God, and He will destroy any competing idols);
-instruction about baptisms (water baptism as clear identification and complete commitment to God; Spirit baptism as public manifestation of the spiritual engagement between God and you);
-the laying on of hands (God deals with us through other people- for blessing, healing, ordination, and being set apart for ministry).
Tomorrow we'll start to unpack the final two 'basics' of our faith. In the meantime, if you click on the link below that says "Back To Basics", it will pull up every blog that's related to the Hebrews 6:1,2 passage. A little something to munch on while you're waiting for the next meal (smile)...
I'm sure that by now you've noticed that my blog postings are just five days per week (Tuesday through Saturday). In praying about how to be a better steward of my time, I'm finding that it's better for me (and my husband) if I don't stay up all Sunday night blogging a Monday posting. Also, the spring semester is in full swing and I'm taking four classes (!!!). Oh, and I'm also writing my dissertation proposal which I hope will be approved this June. Add this to my duties as a wife and homemaker and minister, and you'll see that my 'dance card' is full.
For reasons that I won't detail now, I have resigned from dance ministry. This has opened up several hours in my schedule, and I think that the removal of dance and the removal of the Monday blog post will be enough to help me manage this semester. As always, your prayers are greatly appreciated. I hope I won't have to cut anything else.
(For my "midnight" people, my apologies for not posting today's blog at midnight- I will try to do better next week!)
Okay, let's get to the sermon!
Pastor Sam finished the series on the "basics" of our faith this past Sunday. As a recap, these are the basics- "the elementary things"- noted by the writer of Hebrews in chapter 6, verses 1 and 2:
-repentance from acts that lead to death;
-faith in God;
-instruction about baptisms;
-the laying on of hands;
-the resurrection of the dead;
-eternal judgement.
Those last two, the resurrection and eternal judgement, are what we'll look at this week. But for now I want to reiterate something that Pastor Sam said at the beginning of the sermon in the second service: "we must pay the most earnest heed to what we have learned".
So, let's add some brief summaries to the first four 'elementary things' that we learned already:
-repentance from acts that lead to death (you have to be born in order to grow; if you have not repented from dead works, you are not a Christian);
-faith in God (never put your faith in anyone or anything other than God; God is a jealous God, and He will destroy any competing idols);
-instruction about baptisms (water baptism as clear identification and complete commitment to God; Spirit baptism as public manifestation of the spiritual engagement between God and you);
-the laying on of hands (God deals with us through other people- for blessing, healing, ordination, and being set apart for ministry).
Tomorrow we'll start to unpack the final two 'basics' of our faith. In the meantime, if you click on the link below that says "Back To Basics", it will pull up every blog that's related to the Hebrews 6:1,2 passage. A little something to munch on while you're waiting for the next meal (smile)...
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The Laying On Of Hands: My Story
The date was Sunday night, October 21, 2007. We were at the "altar call" portion of the service with our guest, Reverend Joseph. As people came to the altar for prayer, I came up to be a "catcher": in the morning's services we'd had several persons who were slain in the Spirit, and my intent was to stand behind the people being prayed for in order to catch and ease them to the ground if they began to fall.
I stood behind a woman who was being prayed for. As Reverend Joseph began speaking, she began moving. Within seconds, she had lurched backwards. Since I was directly behind her, I too fell backwards. On my way down, the back of my head hit the wooden armrest on the pew and I suffered a concussion.
When I came to, I got up and went back to the altar (not a logical move, but I felt compelled to get back to where the action was). One of the nurses in the congregation gave me a small ice pack so I could apply it to the area where my head was beginning to swell. But I found that I could not assist with only one hand free, so I put down the ice pack and continued to stand behind those being prayed for.
The altar call lasted around two hours, and much of the congregation left the service during the altar call because it was getting so late. After the last person had been prayed for I went to the kitchen and filled a plastic bag with ice, came back upstairs, and sat by myself on the first row in the sanctuary.
As I sat down, Pastor Sam walked over and asked me how I was doing. I said, "I'm okay except for this lump on my head." He reached and touched my head, moving his hand across from the back of my head almost to the crown.
Then Pastor Sam said, "There is no lump on your head."
I could not believe that he was so unaware- how could he not feel that huge knot on my head? I replied, "Yes there is. It's right here-" and then I touched the back of my head to show him where it was... and I couldn't find it. It wasn't there. No knot, no swelling, no nothing.
Though I did not realize it at the time, this was my introduction to the "basic thing" of the laying on of hands. There was a man of God acting in obedience to God's instruction (God's Person); there was submission to God and to the person God gave earthly authority to (God's Protocol); there were two people gathered together with God in the midst (God's Presence); and there was, in my case, an experience of physical healing (God's Power).
I am so grateful to God! He chose to manifest Himself on my behalf that night and, as the song says, I will never be the same again. My prayer is that you will be encouraged from my story, and that you too will see the manifestation of God's power in your life as you humbly participate in this community of faith.
I stood behind a woman who was being prayed for. As Reverend Joseph began speaking, she began moving. Within seconds, she had lurched backwards. Since I was directly behind her, I too fell backwards. On my way down, the back of my head hit the wooden armrest on the pew and I suffered a concussion.
When I came to, I got up and went back to the altar (not a logical move, but I felt compelled to get back to where the action was). One of the nurses in the congregation gave me a small ice pack so I could apply it to the area where my head was beginning to swell. But I found that I could not assist with only one hand free, so I put down the ice pack and continued to stand behind those being prayed for.
The altar call lasted around two hours, and much of the congregation left the service during the altar call because it was getting so late. After the last person had been prayed for I went to the kitchen and filled a plastic bag with ice, came back upstairs, and sat by myself on the first row in the sanctuary.
As I sat down, Pastor Sam walked over and asked me how I was doing. I said, "I'm okay except for this lump on my head." He reached and touched my head, moving his hand across from the back of my head almost to the crown.
Then Pastor Sam said, "There is no lump on your head."
I could not believe that he was so unaware- how could he not feel that huge knot on my head? I replied, "Yes there is. It's right here-" and then I touched the back of my head to show him where it was... and I couldn't find it. It wasn't there. No knot, no swelling, no nothing.
Though I did not realize it at the time, this was my introduction to the "basic thing" of the laying on of hands. There was a man of God acting in obedience to God's instruction (God's Person); there was submission to God and to the person God gave earthly authority to (God's Protocol); there were two people gathered together with God in the midst (God's Presence); and there was, in my case, an experience of physical healing (God's Power).
I am so grateful to God! He chose to manifest Himself on my behalf that night and, as the song says, I will never be the same again. My prayer is that you will be encouraged from my story, and that you too will see the manifestation of God's power in your life as you humbly participate in this community of faith.
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Laying On Of Hands: God's Person With Us
You know I really wanted to subtitle this "God's Man With Us", but since I've been using the letter "p" all week I thought it would be better to hold to the alliteration we started with... and, as in the case of the judge Deborah, sometimes God chooses a woman to lead... so here we are, considering the idea of the laying on of hands as evidence of God's person with us.
At the end of the sermon we were reminded of the use of the laying on of hands as God's way of designating leadership, especially in the process of choosing a successor or demonstrating a key mentoring relationship. Pastor Sam spoke of God's selection and God's sufficiency evidenced in two successions: Moses to Joshua, and Paul to Timothy.
God's selection. God instructed Moses to publicly lay his hands on Joshua in the presence of all the people: to identify Joshua as his successor, and also to impart a measure of authority from himself to Joshua (see Numbers 27:18-23).
God's sufficiency. Paul mentions his laying on of hands as not merely an indicator of God's choosing Timothy, but also speaks of the laying on of hands in context with the resultant spirit that Paul imparted to Timothy: "... I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (First Timothy 1:6-7, italics mine). Here again we see the implication of God being, as Pastor Sam said, "uniquely present" when there are at least two persons gathered in God's name.
In both these points I've used the word "impart", which to my recollection was not a word used in Sunday's sermon. And I think we might benefit from a deeper dive into the concept and process of impartation, but I really am reluctant to jump into that sort of a conversation because it hits too close to home for me. I'll be honest- I want it, I want to know what it feels like, but then I think of how toddlers reach for a hot stove not realizing the danger in their desire. So I'm not going into any deep water this time. However, if one of you pastors out there wants to be a guest blogger and take us, as my husband would say, "to the bottom of the ocean", please feel free!
Okay. Since I'm avoiding the ocean, here's my little comment from the shore. Impartation seems to be a distinct function of the laying on of hands. It occurs in the presence of the community, but the impartation is not for the community- it's for the individual whom God has chosen as successor: for him or her to be specially gifted and equipped/authorized by God, to carry on a work that was begun by someone else. It also seems, based on our two examples, that impartation is a means by which leaders obtain the courage necessary to carry out their assignment.
So, there we have it! I hope that you've enjoyed this week's reflections on a fascinating "basic" of our faith.
Tomorrow I'll share a testimony of my experience with the laying on hands.
At the end of the sermon we were reminded of the use of the laying on of hands as God's way of designating leadership, especially in the process of choosing a successor or demonstrating a key mentoring relationship. Pastor Sam spoke of God's selection and God's sufficiency evidenced in two successions: Moses to Joshua, and Paul to Timothy.
God's selection. God instructed Moses to publicly lay his hands on Joshua in the presence of all the people: to identify Joshua as his successor, and also to impart a measure of authority from himself to Joshua (see Numbers 27:18-23).
God's sufficiency. Paul mentions his laying on of hands as not merely an indicator of God's choosing Timothy, but also speaks of the laying on of hands in context with the resultant spirit that Paul imparted to Timothy: "... I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (First Timothy 1:6-7, italics mine). Here again we see the implication of God being, as Pastor Sam said, "uniquely present" when there are at least two persons gathered in God's name.
In both these points I've used the word "impart", which to my recollection was not a word used in Sunday's sermon. And I think we might benefit from a deeper dive into the concept and process of impartation, but I really am reluctant to jump into that sort of a conversation because it hits too close to home for me. I'll be honest- I want it, I want to know what it feels like, but then I think of how toddlers reach for a hot stove not realizing the danger in their desire. So I'm not going into any deep water this time. However, if one of you pastors out there wants to be a guest blogger and take us, as my husband would say, "to the bottom of the ocean", please feel free!
Okay. Since I'm avoiding the ocean, here's my little comment from the shore. Impartation seems to be a distinct function of the laying on of hands. It occurs in the presence of the community, but the impartation is not for the community- it's for the individual whom God has chosen as successor: for him or her to be specially gifted and equipped/authorized by God, to carry on a work that was begun by someone else. It also seems, based on our two examples, that impartation is a means by which leaders obtain the courage necessary to carry out their assignment.
So, there we have it! I hope that you've enjoyed this week's reflections on a fascinating "basic" of our faith.
Tomorrow I'll share a testimony of my experience with the laying on hands.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Laying On Of Hands: God's Protocol With Us
What is God's protocol? It can be summed up in one word: submission. Let's take a brief look at Acts 13:2-3.
Submission to God's authority. "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting..." (v.2a). The community gathered together to proclaim the sovreignty, power, and rule of God in their lives as a corporate entity.
Submission to earthly authorities that God ordains. "... the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'" (v.2b). The Spirit of the Lord was present in a room full of leaders: the first verse of Acts 13 mentions five by name. God's specific calling of two of the five is a clear indicator of His choice, His right to choose, and His expectation that the community would submit to His choice by allowing Saul and Barnabas to minister in a new capacity.
Submission to the community of faith. "So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off" (v.3). As Pastor Sam mentioned in his sermon, here we see repeated the idea of the laying on of hands as a public confirmation of what the Spirit of God had already set into place. It is an indication of the community standing in agreement with the word of God by His Spirit, uniquely demonstrated by this physical activity in response to spiritual activity.
Tomorrow we'll continue with a look at some more examples of the laying on of hands in relation to ordination.
Submission to God's authority. "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting..." (v.2a). The community gathered together to proclaim the sovreignty, power, and rule of God in their lives as a corporate entity.
Submission to earthly authorities that God ordains. "... the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'" (v.2b). The Spirit of the Lord was present in a room full of leaders: the first verse of Acts 13 mentions five by name. God's specific calling of two of the five is a clear indicator of His choice, His right to choose, and His expectation that the community would submit to His choice by allowing Saul and Barnabas to minister in a new capacity.
Submission to the community of faith. "So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off" (v.3). As Pastor Sam mentioned in his sermon, here we see repeated the idea of the laying on of hands as a public confirmation of what the Spirit of God had already set into place. It is an indication of the community standing in agreement with the word of God by His Spirit, uniquely demonstrated by this physical activity in response to spiritual activity.
Tomorrow we'll continue with a look at some more examples of the laying on of hands in relation to ordination.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Laying On Of Hands: God's Power With Us
Well, it was a tough choice to decide which part of Sunday's sermon to grapple with in regards to the relationship between Christian community and the releasing of God's power. There was the Mark 16 passage, and the First Corinthians 6 passage, and Acts 5, and Acts 28... but I think it might be interesting to look at First Corinthians 5.
Paul says: "Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgement on the one who did this, just as if I was present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord" (First Corinthians 5:3-5).
The community of faith is not often viewed as a vehicle for the execution of God's judgement. But, this passage clearly indicates that the apostle Paul expected the community at Corinth to act on his behalf in pronouncing judgement on the man who was sexually involved with his father's wife (if you don't know what I'm talking about, you may want to take a few minutes to read the whole of First Corinthians 5).
There is a curious phenomenon that Paul alludes to in this chapter: Paul had already pronounced judgement against the man, but the judgement could not be put into effect until there was a gathering of the community of faith where the power of God was present. This reminds me of Old Testament passages where we see, for example, the process of the anointing of kings: God would tell a prophet to go and anoint the new king in a private setting, then at a later point in time the king would be anointed again in the presence of the whole community. The community was merely giving witness to something that was already fact. I think it's the same idea in First Corinthians 5, except that the congregants at Corinth weren't just witnesses to fact: they were agents demonstrating (or performing) on earth what had already been settled in heaven- the expulsion of an unrepentant community member.
The concept of Paul being with the Corinthians "in spirit" might be a bit uncomfortable to reflect on, as it might sound metaphysical or even weird. But let's approach this from our main point of this week's series: this is a basic function of our faith. As we learned yesterday, the concept of "two or three" implies that Paul on his own could not access the power of God that was necessary for judgement to be meted out. But Paul seems to be saying that, as the community of faith gathered, he would counted among them because he was in agreement with them. It didn't matter that he wasn't physically present.
We have seen this before in scripture. Perhaps one of the more famous examples is in Numbers 11:16-30, where the Lord took of the Spirit from Moses and put the Spirit on seventy elders. Two men, Eldad and Medad, chose not to show up at the meeting, and the Spirit rested on them anyway: even though they were not present at the meeting, they had been identified by God as members of the community of elders... and God's Spirit was not hindered by the physical distance.
Some of you have experienced this, and it may make more sense if I use a modern-day example. There have been occasions where we have been asked, as a congregation, to hold hands and pray for an individual who was sick or in crisis. And, sometimes months or even a year later, the individual has come to our church to testify of what God did in their lives as we were praying. In this regard, the laying on hands can be a spiritual activity with physical results/consequences. We did not touch the sick person with our own hands, but we "touched" him by standing in agreement with one another in the presence of God.
I hope you'll visit tomorrow, as we continue with our third point: protocol.
Paul says: "Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgement on the one who did this, just as if I was present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord" (First Corinthians 5:3-5).
The community of faith is not often viewed as a vehicle for the execution of God's judgement. But, this passage clearly indicates that the apostle Paul expected the community at Corinth to act on his behalf in pronouncing judgement on the man who was sexually involved with his father's wife (if you don't know what I'm talking about, you may want to take a few minutes to read the whole of First Corinthians 5).
There is a curious phenomenon that Paul alludes to in this chapter: Paul had already pronounced judgement against the man, but the judgement could not be put into effect until there was a gathering of the community of faith where the power of God was present. This reminds me of Old Testament passages where we see, for example, the process of the anointing of kings: God would tell a prophet to go and anoint the new king in a private setting, then at a later point in time the king would be anointed again in the presence of the whole community. The community was merely giving witness to something that was already fact. I think it's the same idea in First Corinthians 5, except that the congregants at Corinth weren't just witnesses to fact: they were agents demonstrating (or performing) on earth what had already been settled in heaven- the expulsion of an unrepentant community member.
The concept of Paul being with the Corinthians "in spirit" might be a bit uncomfortable to reflect on, as it might sound metaphysical or even weird. But let's approach this from our main point of this week's series: this is a basic function of our faith. As we learned yesterday, the concept of "two or three" implies that Paul on his own could not access the power of God that was necessary for judgement to be meted out. But Paul seems to be saying that, as the community of faith gathered, he would counted among them because he was in agreement with them. It didn't matter that he wasn't physically present.
We have seen this before in scripture. Perhaps one of the more famous examples is in Numbers 11:16-30, where the Lord took of the Spirit from Moses and put the Spirit on seventy elders. Two men, Eldad and Medad, chose not to show up at the meeting, and the Spirit rested on them anyway: even though they were not present at the meeting, they had been identified by God as members of the community of elders... and God's Spirit was not hindered by the physical distance.
Some of you have experienced this, and it may make more sense if I use a modern-day example. There have been occasions where we have been asked, as a congregation, to hold hands and pray for an individual who was sick or in crisis. And, sometimes months or even a year later, the individual has come to our church to testify of what God did in their lives as we were praying. In this regard, the laying on hands can be a spiritual activity with physical results/consequences. We did not touch the sick person with our own hands, but we "touched" him by standing in agreement with one another in the presence of God.
I hope you'll visit tomorrow, as we continue with our third point: protocol.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Laying On Of Hands: God's Presence With Us
"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:18-20).
An interesting thing about the name Emmanuel is that it doesn't mean "God is with you", it means "God is with us" (see Matthew 1:23). The implication of Matthew 18:20 is that if you are alone, there are some levels of relationship with God that you won't achieve because a minimum of two persons is required. Similarly, you cannot achieve the basic function of participation in the laying on of hands if you're a lone ranger. This aspect of the Christian faith can only occur in concert with other Christians. I've heard some Christian leaders say that you can lay hands on yourself, but thus far I have not been able to find Scripture that supports that statement. But I'm open to dicussion- so for any scholars out there that want to dialogue on this, please send me your verses and let's talk.
At the start of the sermon during the first service, Pastor Sam made a statement that makes perfect sense in light of the Matthew 18 passage above: the engagement that God has with people occurs through human beings. We are His body (Ephesians 4:4) and He has granted us gifts for the purpose of buiding up the community of faith (First Corinthians 12).
So, our question to ponder:
Are you really in the community? Or are you one of those people who just goes to church and goes home without interacting with anyone? If it's the latter, consider opening up yourself to the pains and crises of working together in community. As we'll see in the blogs to come, your participation is a critical key needed to unlock the doors of healing, commissioning, and discipline/correction.
An interesting thing about the name Emmanuel is that it doesn't mean "God is with you", it means "God is with us" (see Matthew 1:23). The implication of Matthew 18:20 is that if you are alone, there are some levels of relationship with God that you won't achieve because a minimum of two persons is required. Similarly, you cannot achieve the basic function of participation in the laying on of hands if you're a lone ranger. This aspect of the Christian faith can only occur in concert with other Christians. I've heard some Christian leaders say that you can lay hands on yourself, but thus far I have not been able to find Scripture that supports that statement. But I'm open to dicussion- so for any scholars out there that want to dialogue on this, please send me your verses and let's talk.
At the start of the sermon during the first service, Pastor Sam made a statement that makes perfect sense in light of the Matthew 18 passage above: the engagement that God has with people occurs through human beings. We are His body (Ephesians 4:4) and He has granted us gifts for the purpose of buiding up the community of faith (First Corinthians 12).
So, our question to ponder:
Are you really in the community? Or are you one of those people who just goes to church and goes home without interacting with anyone? If it's the latter, consider opening up yourself to the pains and crises of working together in community. As we'll see in the blogs to come, your participation is a critical key needed to unlock the doors of healing, commissioning, and discipline/correction.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Emmanuel: God With Us, Through The Laying On Of Hands
Dear Friends,
On November 29 I wrote that there would be a shift in the blog format for Advent, and that I would be blogging on traditional Advent readings instead of blogging on the Sunday sermons. That was the original plan. And that is what I did last week.
But, God... Yesterday in both services, God presented Himself powerfully as Emmanuel: God with us. And I really can't keep yesterday's sermon to myself: I would be doing God, and you, a great disservice if I doggedly cling to the "original plan". So, for this week, I'll be sharing portions of Sunday's sermon. And I think we will all benefit from this discussion of Advent through the lens of expecting God to be with us in various ways: not just as a retrospective of what happened in past millenia, but as a living active element of our lives today.
During the earlier Back To Basics blogs I presented a list of things considered "basic" to our faith (see Hebrews 5:11 through 6:12) which Pastor Sam has been unpacking:
Repentance from works that lead to death;
Faith towards God;
Instructions on baptisms;
The laying on of hands;
The resurrection of the dead;
Eternal judgement.
Yesterday Pastor Sam preached on the fourth topic, "the laying on of hands". Sometimes we relegate this topic to the sidelines as something supernatural, sensational, or superfluous. But, according to the Hebrews passage, this is a natural, normal, and necessary component of the Christian community. I'll say it again plainly: THE LAYING ON OF HANDS IS BASIC. It is one of the things we all engage in as part and parcel of our faith.
A second misunderstanding is that the laying on of hands is relegated to the ministry of physical healing. That is part of the picture, but the laying on of hands is more than just a means of healing. As we go through this week, we'll dive into Scripture and see the ways in which the laying on of hands functions in Christian community.
I hope you have your SCUBA gear, because we'll be diving deep!
On November 29 I wrote that there would be a shift in the blog format for Advent, and that I would be blogging on traditional Advent readings instead of blogging on the Sunday sermons. That was the original plan. And that is what I did last week.
But, God... Yesterday in both services, God presented Himself powerfully as Emmanuel: God with us. And I really can't keep yesterday's sermon to myself: I would be doing God, and you, a great disservice if I doggedly cling to the "original plan". So, for this week, I'll be sharing portions of Sunday's sermon. And I think we will all benefit from this discussion of Advent through the lens of expecting God to be with us in various ways: not just as a retrospective of what happened in past millenia, but as a living active element of our lives today.
During the earlier Back To Basics blogs I presented a list of things considered "basic" to our faith (see Hebrews 5:11 through 6:12) which Pastor Sam has been unpacking:
Repentance from works that lead to death;
Faith towards God;
Instructions on baptisms;
The laying on of hands;
The resurrection of the dead;
Eternal judgement.
Yesterday Pastor Sam preached on the fourth topic, "the laying on of hands". Sometimes we relegate this topic to the sidelines as something supernatural, sensational, or superfluous. But, according to the Hebrews passage, this is a natural, normal, and necessary component of the Christian community. I'll say it again plainly: THE LAYING ON OF HANDS IS BASIC. It is one of the things we all engage in as part and parcel of our faith.
A second misunderstanding is that the laying on of hands is relegated to the ministry of physical healing. That is part of the picture, but the laying on of hands is more than just a means of healing. As we go through this week, we'll dive into Scripture and see the ways in which the laying on of hands functions in Christian community.
I hope you have your SCUBA gear, because we'll be diving deep!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Something To Consider
We are at a critical point in the life of our denomination, The Church of the Nazarene. Last month Nazarenes around the world celebrated the centennial of the denomination, and we are so grateful for all that God has done in the past. But, we also have to deal with the present and the future.
Are we still interested in the ministry of the Spirit? Or are we just using that as legend, or as the legacy of people like Phoebe Palmer, something quaint that sounds good in small doses but has no place in our day-to-day lives?
I hope that Nazarenes everywhere, that Christians everywhere, are experiencing a hungering and thirsting for more of God's Spirit in them. I hope we all are willing to demolish our idols, ideologies, and idiosyncracies, and that we'll kiss the Son lest He become angry and destroy us in an instant (see Psalm 2:12). Jesus knew we could not make it on our own, and as He neared the end of His earthly ministry He asked the Father to send us the Holy Spirit (John chapters 14 through 16). God answered: The Holy Spirit has been sent. The Holy Spirit is available.
I hope, and pray, that the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Are we still interested in the ministry of the Spirit? Or are we just using that as legend, or as the legacy of people like Phoebe Palmer, something quaint that sounds good in small doses but has no place in our day-to-day lives?
I hope that Nazarenes everywhere, that Christians everywhere, are experiencing a hungering and thirsting for more of God's Spirit in them. I hope we all are willing to demolish our idols, ideologies, and idiosyncracies, and that we'll kiss the Son lest He become angry and destroy us in an instant (see Psalm 2:12). Jesus knew we could not make it on our own, and as He neared the end of His earthly ministry He asked the Father to send us the Holy Spirit (John chapters 14 through 16). God answered: The Holy Spirit has been sent. The Holy Spirit is available.
I hope, and pray, that the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Friday, November 21, 2008
When The Spirit Is Present: Dunamis
Let's continue our reflections from this past Sunday's sermon. Today we will consider the role of dunamis (miracle-working power) as a component of the ministry of the Spirit.
The word dunamis has been mentioned in previous blogs. It's the Greek word we translate as "power", but dunamis is also the root from which we get our word "dynamite": in other words, this is way more than just turning on a light switch. We are talking about dramatic, loud, unmistakable evidence that something has happened. Unlike the fruit of the Spirit, which reflects the agricultural analogy of a slow and steady growth process, dunamis carries with it the notion of instant change.
The ministry of the Spirit gives us this privilege of being the vehicles of God's power. Pastor Sam mentioned an Old Testament passage, First Samuel 16:18-23, where we read the account of young David's ability to not just play the harp, but to play the harp in such a way that King Saul was instantly freed from the oppression of an evil spirit that was sent to torment him. We also mentioned in previous blogs the accounts in Acts where the power of the Spirit was so present that even seemingly useless things (like Peter's shadow) were used by God to bring instantaneous healing to the sick.
In the midst of these amazing phenomena we must heed the cautionary tale of Simon the Sorcerer, who wanted to purchase from Peter and John the ability to heal and do wonders (see Acts 8) . Our God is not just about signs and wonders, He's deeply interested in the condition and motives of our hearts.
So, we want to be vehicles for the power of God, but we want to be found with the right attitude and approach. What does Paul say?
- Don't boast, except in the cross of Christ.
- What counts is a new creation.
- Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule (Galatians 6:14-16).
Engagement. Victory. Transformation. Dunamis. Spirit of God, I long for Your presence. Breathe me in.
The word dunamis has been mentioned in previous blogs. It's the Greek word we translate as "power", but dunamis is also the root from which we get our word "dynamite": in other words, this is way more than just turning on a light switch. We are talking about dramatic, loud, unmistakable evidence that something has happened. Unlike the fruit of the Spirit, which reflects the agricultural analogy of a slow and steady growth process, dunamis carries with it the notion of instant change.
The ministry of the Spirit gives us this privilege of being the vehicles of God's power. Pastor Sam mentioned an Old Testament passage, First Samuel 16:18-23, where we read the account of young David's ability to not just play the harp, but to play the harp in such a way that King Saul was instantly freed from the oppression of an evil spirit that was sent to torment him. We also mentioned in previous blogs the accounts in Acts where the power of the Spirit was so present that even seemingly useless things (like Peter's shadow) were used by God to bring instantaneous healing to the sick.
In the midst of these amazing phenomena we must heed the cautionary tale of Simon the Sorcerer, who wanted to purchase from Peter and John the ability to heal and do wonders (see Acts 8) . Our God is not just about signs and wonders, He's deeply interested in the condition and motives of our hearts.
So, we want to be vehicles for the power of God, but we want to be found with the right attitude and approach. What does Paul say?
- Don't boast, except in the cross of Christ.
- What counts is a new creation.
- Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule (Galatians 6:14-16).
Engagement. Victory. Transformation. Dunamis. Spirit of God, I long for Your presence. Breathe me in.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
When The Spirit Is Present: Transformation
Today we continue our reflection on this past Sunday's sermon.
Too often we limit the ministry of the Holy Spirit to just physical manifestations. If we hear someone speaking in tongues, or giving a prophetic word, or we witness a miraculous healing, we then conclude that the Spirit of God has shown up. You may recall, though, in an earlier sermon, Pastor Sam warned us: "Not every miracle means that God is in the house: remember the magicians of Egypt?" (see Exodus chapters 7 and 8 for details)
But, there is something amazing that happens when the Spirit is present, and it is often not as instantaneous or dramatic as some of the public manifestations we see: lives are transformed.
Galatians 5 gives a contrast between the acts of the sinful nature and what Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit. Later on in Galatians 6 Paul brings in the powerful metaphor of sowing and reaping: wherever we expend our effort is where we will see fruit.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to do what we cannot do on our own: express love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). It becomes an outflow of who we are: not because of our own efforts, but because of the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
Paul says at the close of the book of Galatians, "what counts is a new creation" (Galatians 6:15). Perhaps we as Christians would be taken more seriously if our evidence of Spirit-fullness does not begin and end with a prophecy or a shout, but with seeds of the love of God that over time bear good fruit.
Too often we limit the ministry of the Holy Spirit to just physical manifestations. If we hear someone speaking in tongues, or giving a prophetic word, or we witness a miraculous healing, we then conclude that the Spirit of God has shown up. You may recall, though, in an earlier sermon, Pastor Sam warned us: "Not every miracle means that God is in the house: remember the magicians of Egypt?" (see Exodus chapters 7 and 8 for details)
But, there is something amazing that happens when the Spirit is present, and it is often not as instantaneous or dramatic as some of the public manifestations we see: lives are transformed.
Galatians 5 gives a contrast between the acts of the sinful nature and what Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit. Later on in Galatians 6 Paul brings in the powerful metaphor of sowing and reaping: wherever we expend our effort is where we will see fruit.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to do what we cannot do on our own: express love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). It becomes an outflow of who we are: not because of our own efforts, but because of the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
Paul says at the close of the book of Galatians, "what counts is a new creation" (Galatians 6:15). Perhaps we as Christians would be taken more seriously if our evidence of Spirit-fullness does not begin and end with a prophecy or a shout, but with seeds of the love of God that over time bear good fruit.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
When The Spirit Is Present: Victory
Today we continue our reflection on the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we forget.
Sometimes we forget that the strategy that brings victory involves wellness and wholeness. Prior to the accounts in the book of Acts, we have other accounts of individuals having the ability to heal the sick and cast out demons. An example of this is found in Matthew 10:1. Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Sometimes we forget that the strategy that brings victory involves war. We are in a war against demonic forces. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12. For our war is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Sometimes we forget that the strategy that brings victory involves waiting. The resurrected Christ told His disciples, "...wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4-5).
How do we get this ability to heal the sick, cast out demons, wage war for the kingdom of God? Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who gives gifts: "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good" (First Corinthians 12:7).
Victorious living is not just temporal, but also eternal: "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:8). When the Spirit is present, we can look to Him for help in living a life that is pleasing to God. And we can look to Him for power (see Acts 1:8) that will equip us to be agents of healing and deliverance, for the purpose of drawing souls into the kingdom of God.
When the Spirit is present, we expreience victory over demonic bondage. But the ministry of the Spirit extends beyond victory to transformation. We'll get more into that with tomorrow's blog.
Sometimes we forget.
Sometimes we forget that the strategy that brings victory involves wellness and wholeness. Prior to the accounts in the book of Acts, we have other accounts of individuals having the ability to heal the sick and cast out demons. An example of this is found in Matthew 10:1. Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Sometimes we forget that the strategy that brings victory involves war. We are in a war against demonic forces. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12. For our war is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Sometimes we forget that the strategy that brings victory involves waiting. The resurrected Christ told His disciples, "...wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4-5).
How do we get this ability to heal the sick, cast out demons, wage war for the kingdom of God? Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who gives gifts: "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good" (First Corinthians 12:7).
Victorious living is not just temporal, but also eternal: "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:8). When the Spirit is present, we can look to Him for help in living a life that is pleasing to God. And we can look to Him for power (see Acts 1:8) that will equip us to be agents of healing and deliverance, for the purpose of drawing souls into the kingdom of God.
When the Spirit is present, we expreience victory over demonic bondage. But the ministry of the Spirit extends beyond victory to transformation. We'll get more into that with tomorrow's blog.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
When The Spirit Is Present: Engagement
As we continue in reflection on this past Sunday's sermon, let's think about the idea of engagement with God.
We are looking at Luke 3:16, where John the Baptist states that when Jesus comes He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. In the sermon it was noted that the Greek word "kai" can be translated not only as "and", but as "even" or "indeed". The essence of John's statement is that the Holy Spirit is indeed fire, a consuming fire that reveals who we are at the core.
Jesus, during His own ministry, elaborates further on this concept of the Holy Spirit: "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement" (John 16:8). Jesus also uses the term "the Spirit of truth" (John 14:17; John 15:26)- the One who reveals what is right and wrong.
In First Samuel 19, we have an account of the Spirit of God in engagement with King Saul. In this engagement, as is also the case in the more famed passage of Acts 2, things happen when the Holy Spirit shows up. As Pastor Sam said on Sunday, "there is public manifestation of a supernatural engagement between God and you". And, we don't get to pick how God shows up... but Scripture is consistent in indicating that there is some form of expression. King Saul walked along the road prophesying. The disciples spoke of the awesome works of God in languages they had never learned. Pastor Sam spoke of his own experience of weeping before the Lord.
I have my own story of engagement, and perhaps you have yours as well. But when the Spirit is present, there is more to the experience than just physical or verbal manifestations. Tomorrow we'll turn our lens to the concept of victory in relation to the presence of the Holy Spirit.
We are looking at Luke 3:16, where John the Baptist states that when Jesus comes He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. In the sermon it was noted that the Greek word "kai" can be translated not only as "and", but as "even" or "indeed". The essence of John's statement is that the Holy Spirit is indeed fire, a consuming fire that reveals who we are at the core.
Jesus, during His own ministry, elaborates further on this concept of the Holy Spirit: "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement" (John 16:8). Jesus also uses the term "the Spirit of truth" (John 14:17; John 15:26)- the One who reveals what is right and wrong.
In First Samuel 19, we have an account of the Spirit of God in engagement with King Saul. In this engagement, as is also the case in the more famed passage of Acts 2, things happen when the Holy Spirit shows up. As Pastor Sam said on Sunday, "there is public manifestation of a supernatural engagement between God and you". And, we don't get to pick how God shows up... but Scripture is consistent in indicating that there is some form of expression. King Saul walked along the road prophesying. The disciples spoke of the awesome works of God in languages they had never learned. Pastor Sam spoke of his own experience of weeping before the Lord.
I have my own story of engagement, and perhaps you have yours as well. But when the Spirit is present, there is more to the experience than just physical or verbal manifestations. Tomorrow we'll turn our lens to the concept of victory in relation to the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Water-Baptized, Or Just Wet?
Welcome! In this past Sunday's sermon Pastor Sam extracted one of the "elementary things" listed in Hebrews 6: "instructions on baptisms". This week we'll review some of the things mentioned in the sermon.
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, baptism is a symbol of commitment. Water baptism was a common practice of proselytes who converted to Judaism, and who wanted to demonstrate their decision in a public display of allegiance.
John the Baptist put a new spin on the significance of water baptism, as he implored the Jews of his day to participate in a baptism signifying repentance. John specifically told them that this was a preview of the new wave of baptism that would come with the ministry of Jesus: not a baptism of water, but a baptism of the Holy Spirit's fire (Luke 3:16).
John the Baptist's statement helps us recognize that the use of the plural word "baptisms" found in Hebrews 6 is appropriate: water baptism for repentance and public identification with Jesus, and Spirit baptism- also a public indicator of our identification with Jesus, but one in which the Spirit of God determines how that identification is manifested. We'll take a closer look at these as the week unfolds.
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, baptism is a symbol of commitment. Water baptism was a common practice of proselytes who converted to Judaism, and who wanted to demonstrate their decision in a public display of allegiance.
John the Baptist put a new spin on the significance of water baptism, as he implored the Jews of his day to participate in a baptism signifying repentance. John specifically told them that this was a preview of the new wave of baptism that would come with the ministry of Jesus: not a baptism of water, but a baptism of the Holy Spirit's fire (Luke 3:16).
John the Baptist's statement helps us recognize that the use of the plural word "baptisms" found in Hebrews 6 is appropriate: water baptism for repentance and public identification with Jesus, and Spirit baptism- also a public indicator of our identification with Jesus, but one in which the Spirit of God determines how that identification is manifested. We'll take a closer look at these as the week unfolds.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
A Day To Pray V
This is our fifth "Day To Pray", and in keeping with this past Sunday's sermon let's pray that our congregation and our leadership will be willing to humble themselves before the LORD so that He will lift us up at the appointed time (James 4:10).
Specifically, let us pray that everyone will be willing to review (or, for some, learn for the first time) these things that the apostle Paul termed "the elementary teachings of Christ" (Hebrews 6:1-2):
Repentance from dead works;
Faith in God;
Baptisms;
The laying on of hands;
Resurrection and eternal judgement.
Bronx Bethany is going Back To Basics. The Bronx and the world will never be the same again.
Specifically, let us pray that everyone will be willing to review (or, for some, learn for the first time) these things that the apostle Paul termed "the elementary teachings of Christ" (Hebrews 6:1-2):
Repentance from dead works;
Faith in God;
Baptisms;
The laying on of hands;
Resurrection and eternal judgement.
Bronx Bethany is going Back To Basics. The Bronx and the world will never be the same again.
Friday, November 7, 2008
When Presence And Power Are Not Enough.
Some time ago we talked about the indictment against "the many" (see Matthew 7:22-23), and today I'd like to revisit that in light of this past Sunday's sermon.
There are some churches that are full of bench-warmers. People come in, they listen, and at the end of the service they go home. But during the week there is no evidence to support their claim of faith in Jesus Christ: they are tyrants at work and at home, they don't pray or read scripture or engage in spiritual disciplines... yet there they are, back the next Sunday, sitting in that same row, as if the act of being in church once a week is sufficient to save their souls.
Being present is not enough.
To compound matters, the Matthew passage indicts not the bench-warmers, but the first-string players. The ones who have prophetic giftings. The ones who can exorcise demons. The ones who can do miracles. The ones who have won the respect and love of the congregation because of the marvelous gifts being used among God's people. What does Jesus say? Get out of My sight; you are not on My team.
Being powerful is not enough.
What is God looking for?
Growth. Growing in grace, being submitted to the Holy Spirit who teaches us to say no to ungodliness (see Titus 2:12), learning to recognize the voice of God and be swift to obey Him.
Love. Our demonstration of love for God and love for each other points the world to Jesus, and prevents us from stumbling into sin (First John 2:10). Additionally, our increased love for God leads us to obey Him, and to reject any love for the things of this world (First John 2:15-17).
Certainly there are other things God expects of His children, but for today let's just reflect on these: to grow in the grace of God, and to demonstrate God's unconditional love. Two acts of humble obedience that far surpass our presence and power in ministry.
There are some churches that are full of bench-warmers. People come in, they listen, and at the end of the service they go home. But during the week there is no evidence to support their claim of faith in Jesus Christ: they are tyrants at work and at home, they don't pray or read scripture or engage in spiritual disciplines... yet there they are, back the next Sunday, sitting in that same row, as if the act of being in church once a week is sufficient to save their souls.
Being present is not enough.
To compound matters, the Matthew passage indicts not the bench-warmers, but the first-string players. The ones who have prophetic giftings. The ones who can exorcise demons. The ones who can do miracles. The ones who have won the respect and love of the congregation because of the marvelous gifts being used among God's people. What does Jesus say? Get out of My sight; you are not on My team.
Being powerful is not enough.
What is God looking for?
Growth. Growing in grace, being submitted to the Holy Spirit who teaches us to say no to ungodliness (see Titus 2:12), learning to recognize the voice of God and be swift to obey Him.
Love. Our demonstration of love for God and love for each other points the world to Jesus, and prevents us from stumbling into sin (First John 2:10). Additionally, our increased love for God leads us to obey Him, and to reject any love for the things of this world (First John 2:15-17).
Certainly there are other things God expects of His children, but for today let's just reflect on these: to grow in the grace of God, and to demonstrate God's unconditional love. Two acts of humble obedience that far surpass our presence and power in ministry.