Won't You Help To Sing?

During Sunday's sermon, Reverend Cole used alliteration to describe the condition of ancient Israel following the exodus from Egypt. The people of God were:

*Free, and wandering;
*Free, and wasting;
*Free, and wanton.

They had been liberated from captivity. But, as was shared on Sunday, they became bound in other forms of slavery. They wore the chains of grumbling and complaining against God and His leaders. They wore the chains of longing for the land and culture of their oppressors. They wished they'd remained in captivity.

I find myself reluctant to pull this text into the present, because I don't know anyone who enjoys being indicted. But we must contemplate the Egypt in us.

Have we preferred feasts to fasts?

Is prayer a regular habit, or is it reserved for "Red Sea" emergencies?

Are we still embracing the things (or people) that God has urged us to leave?

The worship team, in one of their songs, sang the refrain "I'm never going back!" Amen. God has set us free. Why go back to slavery?

A Question From The Real Director Of Worship Arts.

I don't usually discuss service music on this blog. However, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the way in which God orchestrated the musical choices of the worship team and choir which were on duty this past Sunday.

On a human level, there was no coordination nor consultation. The worship team rehearsed on their own; the choir director independently chose the selection that his group sang; the organist played the hymns that had been designated for the day. No one knew what the guest speaker had prepared as the theme of his sermon.

The Spirit of God, though, had a message to send to the people of God. And it is He who guided the music and preaching decisions in light of that message. End result? A service of worship carefully knit together by a loving God, who used our sung and spoken words to confront Bronx Bethany with a question He has asked us before.

Do you love Me?

Our guest speaker, Reverend Donovan Cole, spoke on the wantonness of ancient Israel during the exodus from Egypt. In spite of the goodness of God shown through deliverance and provision, the people indulged themselves in idolatry, immorality, and excess.

Fast-forward to the twenty-first century. As was indicated by Pastor Sam during the altar call, there are persons who have logged many a year in their beloved church pew. They have eagerly absorbed the benefits of God's grace without surrendering their lives to Him.

Do you love Me?

We are perhaps (in a sense) cursed with talent, good music, and good looks. We can "do worship" and it seems to be anointed and authentic. Bronx Bethany is among the highest-ranked churches in the Metro New York district, according to the standards of men. But God, once again, is asking us to join with Him in a real love relationship. How sad that He has to keep asking. God help us.

Do you even like Me?

L.P.

This past Sunday's sermon was based on Deuteronomy 6. Today, let's consider the first two verses of the chapter.

Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgements which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.


Lands Possessed. God promised the children of Israel a geographical inheritance. "A land flowing with milk and honey" has long been regarded as a metaphor symbolizing God's favor, displayed through His provision of fertile land as an inheritance.

Lives Prolonged. The experience of long life is shown here as a consequence of obedience to the commandments of God. While we are familiar with the commandment "Honor your father and your mother" and its association with longevity (See Deuteronomy 5:16), the opening verses of chapter six imply that this blessing also extends to those who keep all the commands and laws set into place by God.

Speak, Lord, Your servants are listening.

A Day To Pray VIII.

Please pray for our pastors and leaders in the church locally and around the world.

*Pray that they will not lose their vision for the lost and hurting of society.
*Pray that they will preach the Gospel boldly.
*Pray that they will not be subsumed by ministries which have abandoned the call to holiness.
*Pray that they will be continually filled with the fruit of the Spirit, distinguished by a heart of love.
*Pray that they will not lose their joy under any circumstance.
*Pray that they will be protected from the strategic plan of the enemy who seeks to destroy them.

I encourage you to pray for them by name:

*in your district/region
*in your local church
*across the world

Lord, we embrace this opportunity to lay Your servants at Your feet.

Shiloh, 2012.

Shiloh is the poster child for compromised worship.

If God's response to Hannah's prayer were based upon the worship activity of the priests Hophni and Phineas, then she would not have had a chance of having her prayer answered. The priests were corrupt beyond repair (see First Samuel 2:12-25).

And we Christians in America see Shiloh's shadow cast across our nation. It is a shadow that has been expanding over the centuries, compromising the Eternal Light found in our Lord Jesus.

I'd like to clarify that this shadow hangs squarely over the church. Remember, our analogy is Hophni and Phineas "doing worship" in Shiloh. And our scripture tells us that judgement begins first at the house of God (Ezekiel 9:6).

When a governing body such as a local church or denomination states that behaviors condemned by God and canon are permissible in the postmodern age, what is a Christian to do? How do we embrace a liturgy being administered by those who preach the canon, but don't obey God?

Hannah, in First Samuel 1, gives us an example of how to conduct ourselves.

*She went to the house of the Lord to worship Him.
*She brought sacrifices to offer to the Lord.
*She shared a fellowship meal at God's house.
*She prayed.
*She received a prophetic word from God through Eli and took it seriously.
*She dedicated her son to full-time ministry.
*She returned to God's house to give Eli a testimony of God's faithfulness.

In other words, Hannah kept her focus on God. She was not the person called to indict Eli and his sons. God had two other people lined up for that task.

"Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, 'Thus says the LORD...the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house...all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age.' " (see First Samuel 2:27-34)

"Then the LORD said to Samuel: 'Behold, I will do something in Israel...I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.' " (see First Samuel 3:11-14)

Friends, we live in Shiloh's shadow. But we will faithfully worship our great God. And He will speak and act according to His word.

Press For Success.

"Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk." (First Samuel 1:13)

So, why couldn't Hannah just pray out loud?

Maybe Peninnah or Elkanah were close by and Hannah didn't want them to hear. Maybe the anguish of Hannah's soul was so deep that she thought she would burst into uncontrolled sobs if she talked out loud. We can hypothesize, but we really don't know why Hannah opted to speak "in her heart" as opposed to speaking audibly.

What we do know, though, is that God heard her prayer. And that is immense encouragement to us, a thing to remember when we are in the throes of anguished prayer.

Perhaps not everyone has had situations in which they were unable or unwilling to give voice to the prayer of their heart. But for those of us who have experienced it, we can nod in silent agreement and understanding with Hannah's petition to the Lord. There is a heaviness in prayer: an effort so taxing, an anguish so deep, that the person in prayer is unable to verbalize their request.

The New Testament helps us with this idea: "But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:25-27)

So, if your anguished prayers are being misinterpreted by friends and loved ones, take heart. You just might be on the fast track to seeing your requests answered.

Trump Card.

"But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, 'Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him,that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever.' " (First Samuel 1:22)

From time to time, prophetic action involves not doing something. Hannah, in keeping her promise to God, resolved that when she came back to the house of the LORD with Samuel, he would stay and she would return home without him. So, she waited until Samuel reached an age where her physical presence was not needed to sustain him.

This is a challenging thing for those of us who were raised to believe that, unless we are sick or dead, we must be in church every time the front doors open. And certainly we must be sure that it is the Lord leading our actions. But Hannah's life indicates to us that, on occasion, prophecy trumps tradition. And that's okay.

Though Scripture is silent, I imagine that there were some in Hannah's community who didn't understand why she would stay home with young Samuel, rather than going back to Shiloh where her prayer was answered. Sometimes our prayer triggers a chain of events or behaviors that may seem weird to the casual observer. Elkanah's response to Hannah, though, captures the heart of the issue: "Only let the LORD establish His word." (First Samuel 1:23). In other words, make sure that you do what you promised the LORD you would do.

What prophetic actions are you engaged in, towards the goal of fulfilling your promises to God?

God And The Babysitters.

"...I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life..." (First Samuel 1:11)

Hannah's prayer was really radical. And, on the first read, her prayer seems counterproductive. She had spent years in anguish because of Peninnah's bullying tactics. Why would Hannah promise God that her son would be given over to Him? How would anyone know that Hannah even had that one, if he were not in her home? Who would educate her son in the ways of the Lord?

But such it was. Hannah makes a transaction with God, Samuel is born and weaned, and given over to the care of... Eli?

Chapters 2 and 3 of First Samuel give details on the condition of Eli's heart and household. Suffice it to say that no spiritually sensible parent would drop off their young son into such an environment. But Hannah's promise was made with no strings attached! Samuel's place was in the house of the LORD, and God's power would not be compromised by the deviance of Eli and his sons.

It's a story for today. We have many pastors and leaders working in the company of "colleagues" who, like Eli and his sons, have given themselves over to thievery and sexual immorality. Our prayer is that, as in the case of Samuel, we will see godly men and women holding tightly to God's truth even as their co-workers fall away.

Hannah was not worried because she had a sure word from the Lord.
Have you heard from Him today?

"Peni"-ante.

There are a few people in the Bible that have the distinction of being known for their bad behavior. Parents, at least parents who know their Bible well, generally don't name their children Korah or Achan or Jezebel or Vashti. Or Peninnah.

Peninnah's "fifteen seconds of fame" appear in the first few verses of First Samuel chapter 1. She was married, she had sons and daughters whose names we don't know, and she consistently provoked Hannah over a period of years.

But the cloud of harassment had a silver lining. Because Peninnah subjected Hannah to years of sadness (the King James version uses a stronger term, "anguish"), Hannah drew ever nearer to God in prayer. And, ultimately, Hannah's prayer was answered.

So here we are in the twenty-first century. Is someone harassing you and provoking you? Are their words and acts a continual indictment against what you lack, whether children or beauty or expertise? Has the barrage of criticism reduced you to tears? Have you been driven to prayer?

Hannah prayed, received a word from the Lord, and "her face was no longer sad" (First Samuel 1:18). Hannah's first son, Samuel, was respected throughout ancient Israel as a true prophet of God. And Hannah stands in perpetuity as a reflection of the heart of God, as she kept her promise and offered her son's life in faithful service to the Lord.

Thanks, Peninnah.

The Affliction.

As is the tradition on Mother's Day, our sermon took another look at the first chapter of First Samuel.

This year, Pastor Sam commented on a phrase we tend to overlook in the story of Hannah: "the LORD had closed her womb." The phrase is repeated in verses 5 and 6 of chapter one.

A number of years ago, I received a very critical letter (from a solid Christian, by the way). What was the criticism? Well, to summarize, the person's philosophy was that "complete women" (huh??) have sons, and since I didn't have any sons I was therefore an incomplete person.

I imagine that Hannah endured similar comments in her day. And, unlike me, Hannah didn't have the advantage of ignoring the comments. I grew up in the shadow of Roe v. Wade, in an era where children were devalued and pregnancies could be classed as "unwanted" and easily dispensed with. But Hannah was part of a culture that valued children highly. Children were a sign of God's favor upon a household.

And the text jumps off the page: "but Hannah had no children" (First Samuel 1:2). It does not say that Hannah was barren or infertile, or that she was suffering the consequences of a life of drugs or sicknesses. It was simply God at work in her, receiving glory through her lack.

Has the LORD delayed something that you have been longing for? Take encouragement from Hannah's story. Her affliction was addressed by God on His timetable. Be assured that God knows our needs, and is behind the scenes: working not only for our behalf, but also for the sake of His kingdom.

God Bless You Mommy.

A blessed Mother's Day to all women, all over the world, who have faithfully and lovingly cared for their children. God bless you.

An excellent wife, who can find? for her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.
She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
“Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

-Proverbs 31:10-31

Building The Ark...

Congratulations to our brother Haughton and sister Amalia, who have been granted their local ministers' licenses!

For the past few years they have served faithfully as part of the Spanish-speaking ministry team at Bronx Bethany. In addition to their pastoral roles in our Latino ministry, they've also provided simultaneous translation for several of our combined English/Spanish events.

We pray that God will continue to use them for His glory.

Total Loser.

Nazareth?

Sometimes our background precedes us. People may hear that we were born in a certain place, or that we live in a certain neighborhood, and they may make value judgements based on our geographical location.

Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

Dr. Busic shared a profound insight with us this past Sunday: Nazareth is a place for losers.

The prophet Isaiah seemed to have picked up on this concept of the "loser" from Nazareth. Isaiah paints a stark picture of Jesus. It's a picture that we tend not to talk about, much less embrace. "He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him" (Isaiah 53:2b-3).

But this Jesus, despised and rejected, Jesus without form, Jesus with no beauty, this Jesus is the One we love! And we are so happy to be associated with the ultimate Loser, who gave up His Glory in order to save our wretched souls.

"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
"Come and see." (John 1:46)

Bum Rush.

"I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

Dr. Busic, who has a wonderful sense of humor, had us laughing at his tongue-in-cheek commentary on gates as offensive weaponry: "Don't make me bring out the gates!"

We know that, in reality, gates are not an offensive weapon. They are stationary objects, designed to protect and withstand forces. Gates don't beat us down. But how often do we speak as if "the gates of hell" are chasing us up and down the corridor?

Guess what? It is we who are on the offensive. We cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We who comprise the church around the world are called to put pressure on the gates of hell. And when we exert pressure as a collective, corporate, unified force, no enemy can withstand us. The gates will be torn down.

How do we tear down these gates?

*Obedience to God
*Faith in God (& in what God has said)
*Corporate prayer and fasting
*Corporate worship
*Appropriation of God's Word

"Bum rush" is a slang term used to describe the action of a group of people on the attack against a common foe, fighting with all their might. Pushing, shoving, exerting force. Fighting together as one. And fully expecting to win the fight.

Sounds like the church to me.

Back In The Day...

Dr. Busic, in his sermon this past Sunday, mentioned some names. Names of Christians that some of us had never heard of: men and women who, in the early twentieth century, caused their light to shine brightly in the world by reaching out to the "unwanted" of society. Their ministry was not engaged in for any sort of accolade. They just simply did what God asked them to do, His loving commendation their only reward.

And here we are, some one hundred years later.

Not everyone has the capacity to run an orphanage or to give compassionate care to hundreds of unwed mothers. But I'd like to believe that every one of us has something valuable to offer in joyful, exuberant service to God. Not for accolades, but simply because we love as He loves.

We do our ministry work as an offering of gratitude to God.
What has He asked you to do in His name?

Repeat Sign.

This past Sunday, we enjoyed the presence of two guests from Nazarene Theological Seminary- Dr. David Busic and Dr. Jerry Lambert.

We can go in a number of directions this week, because Dr. Busic's sermon was filled with points that are well worth reflecting on. For starters, though, let's consider one question.

What does it mean to be a true Nazarene?

Dr. Busic shared some things that Pastor Sam had already shared with us over the past few years. It seems God saw fit to remind us. And the reminder is really useful, especially as we are in our capital campaign for building a community center for children and youth of the northeast Bronx.

*True Nazarenes are friends of the disenfranchised.
*True Nazarenes are cross-cultural ministers.
*True Nazarenes engage in prevailing prayer as a means of transforming the world.

True Nazarenes live like their Lord Jesus, who grew up in a disrespected town called Nazareth. "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46). To be Nazarene in this twenty-first century is to be a Christian who seeks to reflect the goodness of Jesus.

*Jesus was criticized for being a friend of sinners.
*Jesus was misunderstood because He ministered to Samaritans and Roman soldiers.
*Jesus was consistent and intentional in His personal prayer life. And He indeed transformed the world.

Are you a true Nazarene?

"Ben"-Edictus: Watch Out, Watcher.

Today's post is written by guest blogger Reverend Ronald Benjamin, who has graciously agreed to contribute to Glossa Water as his schedule permits.

One of the paradoxical features of life is that every grace has a disgrace. Every occupation has a hazard. Persons who feel led into the ministry of intercession must be aware of the occupational hazards of intercession.

Let me mention a few that come to my mind:

1. pride
2. belief in the prayer prayed rather than in the One to whom prayer is offered
3. taking credit for what God does
4. A sense of superiority
5. territorial
6. be more engrossed in speaking to God than in listening to Him.


There is the danger of feeling that this is one's area of expertise. It should be noted that prayer, any kind, is to be offered from a relational position, a relationship with our Father, through our Lord Christ Jesus. And every gift that has been given has been graciously bestowed, even the gift of intercession.

Let us pray for one another.

Labor And Love!

Congratulations to Reverend Dr. Samuel C. W. Vassel on completing twelve years of ministry at Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene

Sunday May 7, 2000 - Sunday May 6, 2012

Lord Jesus, we are so happy to be under the watchcare of Your servant.
Have Your way in Pastor Sam and in us.

Nice Report Card.

Daniel and his friends Mishael, Azariah, and Hananiah give us a wonderful snapshot of how to live life successfully in exile.

They excelled in their Babylonian studies. Pastor Martha reminded us that these young men were required to be educated in the ways of the Babylonians, and they were obedient. They were expected to know the language, the literature, the astrology, and the politics of the land in which they were exiled. They participated fully in their educational process. Grade? A+.

They failed in their Babylonian worship. When given the opportunity to engage in activities that would cause them to be defiled by Hebrew standards of holiness and worship, they declined to participate. They did not eat the rich foods that were presented to them. They did not bow to the idolatrous Babylonian statue. They did not abandon their worship of God. Their grade for adapting to Babylonian worship? F.

And that is a good report card to have. It's a good thing to be bright, to know "the lay of the land" that we are exiled in, and yet not to fall into the idolatry of worshipping people and systems that run counter to the plan and program of God.

Be smart. Get an A and an F.

In Memoriam

On Thursday evening (May 3) we learned that our sister and mother in the faith, Dorothy May Cole, went home to be with the Lord after an extended illness.

Our prayers are with her widower, our founding pastor and Pastor Emeritus, Reverend Dr. V. Seymour Cole.

If death my friend and me divide, Thou dost not, Lord, my sorrow chide,
Or frown my tears to see;
Restrained from passionate excess, Thou bidst me mourn in calm distress
For them that rest in Thee.

I feel a strong immortal hope, which bears my mournful spirit up
Beneath its mountain load;
Redeemed from death, and grief, and pain, I soon shall find my friend again
Within the arms of God.

Pass a few fleeting moments more and death the blessing shall restore
Which death has snatched away;
For me Thou wilt the summons send, and give me back my parted friend
In that eternal day.

-John Wesley, 1762.

Seeking Intercessors: Interlopers Need Not Apply.

What’s the difference?

Interlopers are famous for sticking their noses into other people’s business. It’s like when a “colleague” steps in to work on your project that they were not assigned to. And if the project fails, the blame falls on you, because the colleague was never officially charged with executing the task. Interlopers love to appear as if they have been selected to participate in areas in which they lack expertise, and as such they demand inclusion even in the face of their inexperience.

Intercessors are famous for staying in the background. In the book of Daniel we see a clear layout of what I’ll call “the characteristics of the intercessor”:

They don’t broadcast their business. Pastor Martha made a point that is well worth further reflection: Daniel often did his intercessory prayer work at home, staying away from the people and projects for which he was praying (see Daniel 2:17-18; 6:10-11; 7:1).

They don’t promote themselves. Daniel, throughout his exile, never sought to gain position or promotion based on his work of intercession.

They suffer. As we mentioned in an earlier blog, Daniel's work of intercession brought him physical and mental exhaustion (and, sometimes, even illness).

Interlopers on one end, intercessors on the other. Friend, where do you fall on this continuum?

Expend-sive.

"Yes, while I was still praying, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen previously in a vision, was approaching me in my state of extreme weariness, around the time of the evening offering." (Daniel 9:21)

Pastor Martha mentioned in her sermon that we, like Daniel, should take our role in prayer seriously. Chapters 9 and 10 reveal that Daniel was intentional in lifestyle choices which he engaged as part of his prayer stance. I see seven components (though there may be more):

*Prayer sessions measured in days and weeks, not hours
*Fasting
*Mourning
*Change In Attire (Sackcloth and ashes)
*Change In Personal Care (Did not anoint himself with oil)
*Reading Scripture
*Change In Diet

Without getting into a deep discussion of asceticism, it seems that Daniel was somewhat ascetic in his approach to prayer. Scripture informs us, several times in the text, that Daniel's prayer life drove him to exhaustion. He went beyond just spending time in prayer, and spent himself in prayer. And what was God's response? "Lighten up, dude"? No. It was, "You are highly valued!"

Daniel, we are taking notes.

No Complaints. Just Complines.

This past Sunday, Pastor Martha turned our attention to the life of Daniel. She shared some insights about the types of prayer detailed in this book:

The prayer team. "Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter. He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven..." (Daniel 2:17-18a). In crisis, it's a good thing to have partners in prayer who will appeal to God alongside us.

The daily office. "When Daniel realized that a written decree had been issued, he entered his home, where the windows in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem. Three times daily he was kneeling and offering prayers and thanks to his God just as he had been accustomed to do previously." (Daniel 6:10) Daniel demonstrated a consistency in prayer that was non-negotiable.

Intercessory prayer. "So I turned my attention to the Lord God to implore him by prayer and requests, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes." (Daniel 9:3) In a context where it would have been easier for Daniel to lament his decades of captivity, he instead petitioned the Lord for mercy on behalf of the nation of Israel.

What forms of prayer are you engaging from day to day?

The Word On The Street.

Yesterday during the second service, I took a walk outside with a small trash bag in hand. There was a significant amount of trash on the block around our church: empty potato chip bags, bottles, and the like. As I walked on the avenue and put trash into the bag, a man passed me. He then paused. Not because of what I was doing, but because he was able to hear the sermon that was in progress.

Someone had opened the emergency exit at the front of the sanctuary. So, anyone walking in the vicinity of 227th Street and Paulding Avenue would have been able to clearly hear Pastor Martha preaching (along with our sister Sonia, who was providing simultaneous translation).

The man stood on the corner of 227th and Paulding for a few minutes, listening, then continued on his way. And I walked back into the building a few minutes after that with a half-filled trash bag, dirty hands, and a thankful heart. Thankful that someone had opened the emergency exit. Thankful that the sound system was working. Thankful that the garbage on the street made me uncomfortable and drew me outside. Thankful that God could encourage me through this stranger, a man "outside the gate" who for a moment turned his attention to the powerful word of God.

Dear Stranger, the Lord bless you for delaying your travel in order to hear His Word. I pray it will take root in you, grow hardily, and bear fruit to the glory of God.

Service "Interruption": Business As Unusual.

A few years ago I heard a message from Harvey Carey, pastor of Citadel of Faith Covenant Church in Detroit, Michigan. One of the things he said at that time was that, from week to week, no one knew what church service would look like. He and his congregation remained open to doing whatever God called them to do on that particular day.

That is an unusual way of doing church in the twenty-first century. We tend to be creatures of habit, and we love knowing things in advance. So we have planning meetings. We set agendas. Even here at Bronx Bethany, we spend a lot of time and energy on planning meetings and printing bulletins. (I wonder how high would the stack of papers be if we piled 48 years of bulletins one on top of another.)

Don't get me wrong. I am not denying the value of being well-prepared as we present our service of worship to God and for the people of God. And bulletins are a great thing to have. But when we become over-invested in "sticking to the script", we lose out on the chance to receive counsel and blessing from God Himself.

Just as God equipped us for ministry, He also reserves the right to put our ministry work on pause. He can say, "I know you were scheduled to preach but I want My people to pray." "I know you've worked on this ministry event for five months, but you never asked Me if that's what I want. Cancel it." "I am not giving you a reason: I just want you to trust Me and step down from ministry indefinitely."

And when He, the Lord of Glory, says such things, what is our response? Do we pretend that we don't recognize His voice? Do we justify our plans and move forward without His blessing? Do we love our ministry more than we love our Lord?

It's dangerous to be an expert. We know this church routine inside-out. It is the sin of the Pharisee, who does all the right things in the right way but never gains God's commendation.

God is good to us. Last week Sunday we set aside all we know about doing church in order to embrace God's foolishness, which is always wiser than man's wisdom. And He rewarded us. I pray that we will always be willing to set aside our expertise when God "interrupts".

Service "Interruption": Elijah's Cameo Appearance.

I love reading about the prophet Elijah. He shows up, seemingly out of nowhere. He does a bunch of amazing things as the oracle of God. He then leaves the earth in an awesome God-fire-chariot.

God did some radical things with, to, and through that man. As Pastor Martha shared months ago, and we keep referring back to it, Elijah was a regular person. But his prophetic ministry, and his prayers, were extraordinary. Miracles happened when he was around.

Pastor Sam referenced Elijah this past Sunday as he explained why we were taking a second offering, even though it was not the first Sunday of the month. And Elijah is a good man to think about concerning giving. He was a regular person charged by God to do irregular things, like asking a widow to use her last flour and oil to cook a cake for him (see I Kings 17).

So, we were asked to give even though it wasn't part of the regular routine. For some of us, that giving was our last flour and oil. And I am confident that God will multiply it as only He can, so that a little church in Jamaica can be blessed beyond measure. How exciting it will be to hear the victory report!

Lord, thank You for the example of Elijah. We are happy to be on board with Your unusual project in Your church and in Your world. Thank You for using ordinary people to do Your extraordinary work.

Blog "Interruption": Pen Pal.

Today's post is written by a special guest: Reverend Ronald Benjamin, my very dear friend and brother in the Lord. These are his reflections written in response to "Service 'Interruption': Children's Crusade".

Community. What does that word mean? This is a word that has been used to describe gatherings, groups, neighborhoods, locations, and places where we live. (My list is not exhaustive.) The sociologists have crafted their own definition of the term. Definitions are what we create about something. I'd rather have a description any day over a definition. One of the realities we must face in urban America (Corporate America has its own realities) is that it is an alien community.

Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene has been trying to create community within this alienated urban Bronx culture through the ministry of Care Groups. Those persons who have embraced the concept continue to experience community. The individuals who have not (and some may think they have justifiable causes) are the ones who continue to have major challenges when the needs arise for assistance.

Community is not selective or discriminatory. It is all embracing. I have seen the spirit of community demonstrated in Bronx Bethany oven and over. How many times individuals have helped others who were moving; gave rides to children going to school or college; took others to hospital or medical appointments and much more. Community is not experienced outside of relationships.

When individuals are prepared to enter the world of others, then others will be prepared to enter their world.

Service "Interruption": From Theory To Praxis.

During the 7:45 service, when it became clear that God had changed the order of service, our pastor followed the leading of our Lord. End result? No sermon.

Well, let me rephrase that: the sermon that had been planned was not presented.

After Faith's presentation, and after Pastor Sam's prayer, we listened to John 17. And as I listened to Pastor Sam reading, the thought came to me that we had just experienced John 14:31 through John 17 in our service. In that passage, the disciples had been enjoying the Passover service in the upper room, and Jesus said "Come on, let's go." And in a similar fashion, we had been enjoying another Sunday at Bronx Bethany, and the Spirit of Christ said "Come take a walk with Me. This is not what you usually do, but I want to take you somewhere. Let's go."

It is so good to be at a church where the pastor is unafraid to drop protocol for the sake of the kingdom of God. I have been in churches where such a move would be followed by intense criticism from various individuals or boards. Some years ago, for example, I once had a staff member share with me her concern about service ending at a certain time. I replied to her that God is not bound to time, and that I wished her watch would explode. (Since then, God has been teaching me to respond with less attitude and more grace!)

But such is the challenge when God jumps off the pages of the Bible and actually shows up in service. It would be more convenient to keep Him sealed up in His own book. But God is living, He speaks, He acts. He invites us, as a minister once said, to "walk with Him into the garden." And if, like the John 14 through 17 example, that garden is Gethsemane, there's no guarantee that we'll be comfortable in the experience. But we'll be in the right place.

My prayer is that we love our Lord deeply, beyond theory, and are willing to follow Him wherever He leads. Even if it isn't printed in the order of service.

Service "Interruption": Children's Crusade.

This past Sunday, several young children participated in service. And I believe that God was sending us a message through them.

We often refer to persons younger than us as "the next generation", "our future", and the like. The implication is that they are still in training, and at some point they'll be able to take our places in ministry.

But as I watched the children on Sunday, the thought came to me that they are in ministry now. Yes, there is plenty of room for growth and development. But they are on the battlefield along with us, now, doing their part to win souls for Christ.

As I reflect on this in light of autism awareness, I think that God has given us a great opportunity for soul-winning. I share Faith's vision of someday having a space in one of our church buildings where special-needs children and youth can be cared for. I also see in my mind a church where a special space will no longer be necessary, because every congregant will lovingly support all the children in every room at church. What a soul-winning opportunity for the kingdom of God, if parents could bring their children to our church without concern for social backlash.

In my mother's generation, babies and children were in worship service along with the adults. No one seemed to mind back then. Things have changed now. Children are in a different space for "age-appropriate" instruction. Babies are relegated to the nursery, where they will not incur glares from adults who have forgotten the joy we can experience in a child's cry. And special-needs children are often left at home.

I really am not advocating any particular children's ministry structure, though it may seem like I am. I'm just wondering if we, when we shuttle children to locations outside of the sanctuary, are missing an opportunity for adults to experience God's salvation through the ministry of a child.

Speak, Lord, Your servants are listening.

Service "Interruption": Word of Faith.

This past Sunday, our sister Faith shared a PowerPoint presentation on the subject of autism. And through this presentation, Bronx Bethany was able to see God's interest in the subject.

The clear word from God was that we are not merely to be knowledgeable, but that we must ask God what He wants us to do. Often at Bronx Bethany we speak of gaining information for the purpose of transformation. But is responding "practically and compassionately" just a nice tag line in our church bulletin? Can we really be practical and compassionate in this postmodern age?

Pastor Sam, in his pastoral prayer, gave expression to our challenges. We cannot ever pretend that we understand the day-to-day experiences of parents with autistic children. And we might even be uncomfortable in trying to "help", because we don't know what to do. But it seems that God is asking us to do. Not just pray, but do.

Faith spoke of the reality of inconvenience in serving. And perhaps that is the crux of the matter. Perhaps God is moving our hearts to be okay with inconvenience, to be okay with losing money and time in serving others. Pastor Sam underlined this theme by reminding us of the story of the Good Samaritan, who abandoned his own agenda in order to serve a Jewish man. (A man who, in a normal circumstance, would not even have greeted the Samaritan on the road.) The Samaritan lost money and time, and he embraced the inconvenience without looking for anything in return.

Lord, help us to open our hearts to those who You've asked us to serve. Not for the sake of a response from them, but merely because it's what You want us to do. Give us Your grace to embrace inconvenience.

Service "Interruption": Samuel Exiled.

On Sunday morning we had the profound experience of having God interrupt our service.

It's always a surreal experience. Here we are, with our planned protocol, our worship agenda which we intend to present to the Lord as a fragrant offering, and God rejects the agenda.

What is He saying? "Listen. I have something to tell you. And I will do whatever is necessary to get your attention so that you hear what I'm saying."

So it was a different service from start to finish. And this week, we'll reflect on the unusual move of God and what it means for us personally and corporately.

Let's start with Pastor Sam.

Traditionally, he sits in the front row. But for yesterday's first service, he stood at the back for the beginning of the worship service. Not the back of the sanctuary, but actually outside of the sanctuary in the back foyer.

And I've been reflecting on this unusual sight. But though it was unusual for him, it is normal for hundreds if not thousands of contemporary Christians. We are indeed in the building, but somehow we are not included in the corporate worship. We've been exiled from the body of believers. Or, we have exiled ourselves.

And we say that we have been in church, but in reality we've only stood outside the "gate". We stood in the hallway. We drank tea in the kitchen. We chatted with our friends in the parking lot. But we never entered into corporate worship.

May I encourage all of us to seek to worship the living God in our exile? Sing His praises in the parking lot. Pray for the households of those who are working in the kitchen. Speak words of encouragement to those who are hanging out in the hallway.

When Pastor Sam was in the foyer, his worship of God never stopped. And those who saw him, rather than trying to engage him in idle conversation, joined with him in the worship of our great God.

Has your tradition of worship been interrupted? Are you in exile? Worship God anyway. Perhaps you will become an agent of transformation for all who see you.

Yes, I'm Excited About Jesus: A Commentary On Passion.

During the week, my husband and I spent time reflecting on the sermon. At one point in our conversation he said, of Pastor Richie, "He preached with passion."

This year, so far, has indeed been a season where leaders and congregants alike have been experiencing a profound presence of God. And as our love for Him deepens, it is being expressed through impassioned conversation. Impassioned worship. Impassioned service.

Why are we excited? Because we know the story! We have the Scriptures, and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, which assures us of the finished work of Jesus Christ. Yes, shout it from the rooftops. Yes, preach with passion. Yes, sing exuberantly. Yes, serve selfLESSly. Let's give it all we've got.

Serve like you're serving the King. Because you are.
Worship like it's only between you and the Lord of glory. Because it is.
Converse like it's your last chance to share Christ with a dying world. Because it might be.

Love? Not.

In both services this past Sunday, Pastor Richie shared a criticism he heard from a friend. His friend said something to the effect of, "You think too many people are Christians. There aren't that many people who want to spend time with Jesus. They want something from Him, but they don't want Him."

What an indictment. And it might be true. Why are our churches full every week, for decades, but their surrounding communities remain untransformed? Perhaps it's because time spent in church is not equivalent to time spent with Christ.

How is love towards God expressed?

Jesus says that if we love Him, that love will be expressed through obeying His commandments. "If you obey My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and remain in His love." (John 15:10)

And what is His command? "My commandment is this- to love one another just as I have loved you." (John 15:12)

Wow. And how was the love of God expressed through Christ? Philippians 2:5-11 shows us that Jesus put aside His glory and came to earth in humility, choosing to experience servanthood, suffering, and death so that the world might be saved.

What about you? Do you want Jesus, realizing the cost of discipleship? Or do you just want to get things from Him?

Rich In Love.

This past Sunday, we were encouraged to reflect on times past when we experienced God in a deep, profound way. Pastor Richie gave the example of moments when one might be walking or driving, then suddenly one is overwhelmed with the loving presence of God.

It's a love that one is compelled to stop and acknowledge.

Friend, when is the last time you've had that feeling? Is your relationship with God still a love-fest, or has it become mere routine?

I pray that today, as you reflect on the goodness of God, you will have a testimony: a witness within you that recognizes and honors the power of God in your life. And beyond the testimony, I pray that you love God deeply.

Blessings and Peace to you.

Not Asking, Just Basking.

In the first service on this past Sunday, Haughton gave a prophetic word during congregational worship. He encouraged us to bask in the presence of God. Haughton's word was reinforced by Pastor Richie, as during the sermon we were reminded of the importance of spending time in the presence of the Lord: not to ask for anything, but just to enjoy being in His company.

When we speak of spiritual warfare, images come to mind: fasting, anointing with oil, casting out devils, and the like. But Pastor Richie emphasized the importance of, and I quote him here, "being in His presence just to know Him".

Jesus, can I spend some time with You?

As I have mentioned before, it's a good thing to get to know Jesus before a crisis comes. And this is what we see in Mark 9. While we define spiritual warfare as what occurred in Mark 9:14-29, the spiritual warfare perhaps got its start in Mark 9:2, or maybe even in Mark 6:46. Jesus, basking in the presence of His Father, was subsequently empowered to move in the miraculous. What did Jesus do after His prayer time? In Mark 6, we see Him walking on water. In Mark 9, we see Him conversing with Moses and Elijah, followed shortly thereafter with the profound healing of the boy with a deaf and mute spirit.

Yes, we have a war plan. Bask. Then tackle the task.

No. You Shut Up.

At Bronx Bethany we try to have "duplicate" services on Sunday mornings; that is, whatever is done in the 7:45 service is repeated at 11:15. That is true in some respects. But, as you can guess, no two services are ever exactly alike.

This past Sunday, Pastor Richie shared a particular point during the first service sermon that was not repeated during the second service. I believe it's worthwhile to reflect on this point today.

In the Mark 9 passage, there is a moment where Jesus identifies a spirit by name. "You deaf and mute spirit..." (Mark 9:25). The point made by our pastor was that, in some cases, we are called to make an open identification of the spirit that is keeping persons sick or bound or deceived. Calling the spirit by name bursts open the doorway to deliverance.

In the Mark passage, we see that the spirit prevented both hearing and speech. I believe we live in a time where this is still relevant. There is a spirit afoot in the world today whose task is to rob men of hearing and speech. And this is particularly relevant to those of us in the body of Christ. Why? Because our salvation, though rooted in our faith in Christ, is activated by what we hear and say. "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (see Hebrews 4:7)... "With the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (see Romans 10:10).

Where does the deaf and mute spirit keep its headquarters today? Perhaps there is more than one answer to the question. Television and other media lull us into a complacency where we hear many voices, but not the voice of the Lord. Political circles warn us that if we speak in support of the finished work of Christ, we will be labeled as intolerant or ignorant or insensitive.

In this postmodern age, it seems that Christianity in the so-called free world is the poster child for "shut up". But everyone else, from agnostics to Wiccans, can voice their truths. What shall we Christians do?

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:18,19)

Amen.

Blue Band Nation.

This week, we'll reflect on the sermon given by Pastor Richie. While we are remaining on the subject of prayer, we've transitioned from a review of The Lord's Prayer to a discussion of prayer as a means of spiritual warfare.

For today, though, let's meditate on the Scripture that gives us a hint of Jesus's approach to spiritual warfare.

And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?" Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not." He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."

Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you to come out of him and enter him no more!" Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." (Mark 9:14-29)

Post-Passion Depression.

Friends,

Have you ever felt really low after a high-powered event? Sometimes that is what pastors experience, particularly after Easter.

It's a challenge. Hundreds of people show up who have never been to church before. They sing, pray, and might even come to the altar during the appeal for salvation. Some are bold enough to fill out a visitor card.

And then they're gone.

And pastors wonder. I wonder too. What will become of these visitors, these dear ones so young in the faith, who have not yet learned the value of staying connected to the body of Christ? Of course we pray for them. But we agonize over their spiritual state. We wonder if we did enough on Sunday... if we said something that will sustain them, even if they choose not to come back to church.

Lord God, what can we do but appeal to You? Keeper of our souls, please preserve the lives of these who are young in the faith. I pray Your Spirit will direct them to a church of Your choosing so that they can grow in the knowledge of Christ. I ask this in Jesus's name. Amen.

In Quietness And Confidence.

Friends,

I pray that today you will have time to stop and reflect on the greatness of our God who gave His one and only, His Unique Son Jesus to live, die, be buried, be raised from the dead, and to reign as King Eternal.

Have a blessed and glorious Resurrection Day.

Passion And Pastoral Persuasions.

Good Friday.

Many know the story. And the temptation is to cast blame at the feet of a seemingly fickle crowd, who shouted praises on Palm Sunday and called for Jesus's crucifixion on Good Friday. (For those of you who may not know the story, see Matthew chapters 26 through 28.) But perhaps this Passion Week we should avoid casting a negative light on the crowd.

What does Scripture say?

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. (Matthew 27:20)

Chief priests and elders. The men loved and trusted and respected by their community. Conducting services, baby dedications, funerals, praying, pronouncing blessings, while wearing vestments that represented their connection to God... even as they kissed the face of the Roman Empire.

Three years ago (yes, I mean 2009) Pastor Sam, in his Palm Sunday sermon What Went Wrong Between Sunday and Friday, said "Don't let anyone do your spiritual thinking for you." It is as relevant a warning now as it was then.

Perhaps it is more relevant now. Earlier this week, in preparation for Holy Week services, I read through parts of the Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer. Guess what it says?

Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. (BCP, page 422) It's still in there. Perhaps page 422 was missing from the New Hampshire version of the BCP.

Really, though, this goes beyond New Hampshire. Our brothers and sisters in various little branches of Christianity have been, in effect, offered Barabbas by their chief priests and elders. Trusted leaders. Strong leaders. Masters of persuasion. Successful. Accepted. Tolerated. Persuading the people that God's word is irrelevant, yet fastidiously maintaining the rituals of the faith.

Perhaps these leaders are more prisoner than Barabbas ever was. (see Matthew 27:16)

But Jesus is here! Jesus, the One who came to set the captives free, the One that religious leaders had no power to destroy. Let us pray that every leader held captive by the deception of sin will be set free by the mighty power of the Spirit of the Living God, for the sake of His glory.

Passion.

Well, here we are in the midst of another Passion Week.

As part of our observance of the Passion of our Lord, several churches in the Bronx are once again meeting together for a series of ecumenical services. On Sunday evening, Pastor Sam spoke at St. Luke's Episcopal. On Monday evening, Canon McIntyre spoke at Bronx Bethany.

We have two more services planned. Tonight's service is at Butler Memorial United Methodist Church, and Wednesday evening closes the series at Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church. If you're in (or near) the northeast Bronx, please make an effort to attend. The services begin at 7:30 p.m.

One of the great blessings of the Sunday and Monday evening services was the prayer time after the sermon. How encouraging to see men and women, young and old, walk up to the altar for prayer. We are on our way to becoming a praying community.

Lord God, You have made us and You know us. You have met our deep need for communion and community. Thank You for this privilege of worshipping with other believers. Thank You that, in this country, we can still do so freely. Please help us to always be thankful and mindful of the grace You've poured out to us. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Fasting For Revelation

(Our Sunday blogs during Lent will focus on the subject of fasting.)

I turned my attention to the Lord God to implore him by prayer and requests, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Daniel 9:3)

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three whole weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine came to my lips, nor did I anoint myself with oil until the end of those three weeks. (Daniel 10:2-3)


Immediate access. In both of the examples above, Daniel's petitions were immediately heard by God. The angel Gabriel said, "At the beginning of your requests a message went out, and I have come to convey it to you, for you are of great value in God's sight." (9:23) Later on in chapter ten, an awesome angel pays a visit to Daniel. "Daniel, you are of great value... from the first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words." (10:11-12)

In-depth information. The angels give Daniel prophetic insight filled with details: specific days, specific countries, information about who would stand and who would fall.

Incomplete understanding. Though Daniel was valued by God, it did not mean that he was privy to all the details of the world's future. "Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end." (12:9).

Daniel's experience shows us that, even in our engagement of a partial fast, God hears the questions of our hearts. And, praise God, He answers! The LORD informs us of what we need to know, and He withholds information that, in His sight, is not our concern.

Lord, we are so blessed to have the privilege of fasting as a means of hearing clearly from You. Please help us to be intentional and faithful in our efforts to humble ourselves before You with fasting. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.

Repeat After Me...

In Luke 4:1-13, we are given a template of how the devil seeks to lure people away from the will of God. We can be sure that if Satan tried to sway Jesus from His calling, then everyone who submits to the Lordship of Christ is threatened with the same diabolic attack. The attack has three key elements, which Pastor Sam highlighted at the close of his sermon this past Sunday:

1) Pride of occupation (Luke 4:3). The devil wants us to believe that our worth is based in what we do, rather than in who we are.

2) Pride of possessions (Luke 4:6). The devil wants us to base our worth on the things we own, rather than in the Almighty Lord God who owns us.

3) Pride of reputation (Luke 4:9). The devil wants us to seek respect from people, rather than seeking redemption from the living God.

How do we escape the devil's onslaught of lies? In the Luke passage, we see that Jesus responded with the awesome, inerrant Word of God. We would do well to follow the example that Jesus has set for us.

Thanks You God, for giving us Your inerrant Word. Indeed, by it we are warned. And by it we are taught how to live a life pleasing to You, a life victorious. All we need is found in You! Thank You for teaching us these awesome truths. Please help us to not just learn Your word, but to live it out every day. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.

The Crumbs Taste As Good As The Bread.

From time to time Pastor Sam will toss out a little phrase or sentence that, on its own, is well worth reflecting on for days upon end. As we continue thinking about the Lord's Prayer, the strategies of our enemy, and the need for us as Christians to be conscious of the fight we're in, let's consider the following quotations from our beloved senior pastor.

"It's God's air you're breathing." Having recently returned from my father's memorial service, I'm very much reminded that it is God who has numbered our days. God controls everything. Not as a tyrant, but as a Lover who seeks union and communion with each of us. Jesus's prayer in John 17 is a wonderful reminder of the great love-fest we experience as children of God.

"When they see you, they see Jesus." Is the character of God evident in us? Do our lives reflect His tendencies? Are we loving and forgiving and patient? Scripture is filled with clear examples of the character of God. If you need some starter references, see Galatians 5:13-24 and Philippians 2:1-16.

"Diabolic things must not be petted and powdered." If you have not read C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, I urge you to read it. The book is a powerful example of how the devil seeks to lure us into complacency when we should be vigilant and alert. As we have discussed earlier this week, the presence of the diabolic must be met with an immediate rebuke (see Matthew 16:22-23; Luke 4:3-13; Zechariah 3:1-2).

Our Father, how we thank You for these little phrases that, on reflection, are not so little. Please help us to reflect Your love, Your forgiveness, Your truth. Please deliver us from the evil one who is relentless in his accusations. Thank You, Lord, for salvation and deliverance and freedom. We pray this in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

Screwtape...So Twenty-First Century.

During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam suggested that we read (or, re-read) the C.S. Lewis classic, The Screwtape Letters.

The book is a fantastic rendering of the hierarchies and strategies used by the devil in order to lure people away from the rule and reign of Christ.

Over the past few days I've had the pleasure of re-reading the book. There were moments I had to cringe, and pray, as I saw glimpses of my own faults and challenges revealed in its pages. Thank God for His grace that leads us to repentance!

I also read the associated short story, Screwtape Proposes A Toast. It is a prophetic warning, a warning that sadly we've failed to heed over the past several decades. It is a reminder that the devil even uses religion as a means of deceiving, disgracing, and destroying people. I hope this short excerpt (below) will be an impetus for earnest prayer.

All said and done, my friends, it will be an ill day for us if what most humans means by "religion" ever vanishes from the Earth. It can still send us the truly delicious sins. The fine flower of unholiness can grow only in the close neighborhood of the Holy. Nowhere do we tempt so successfully as on the very steps of the altar. -Screwtape, from Screwtape Proposes A Toast by C.S. Lewis (Copyright 1961)

Rapid Dismissal.

The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, 'Man does not live by bread alone.'” (Luke 4:3-4)

In reflecting on the Genesis 3 passage (noted in yesterday's blog), we see a key error in Eve's conversation with the devil: she engaged the conversation.

Rather than seeking to justify our status, our response to the enemy must be with swift, sure reference to the word of God. Jesus teaches us how to do this:

A rebuke of the enemy. As Pastor Sam has noted over the past few weeks, we must appeal to the sovreignty and greatness of God, invoking His authority over our enemy: “The LORD rebuke you!” (see Zechariah 3:1-5)

A reminder of the Word. As we see in the Luke passage above, Jesus's reply to the devil is grounded in the word of God. The Word is a living, inerrant, and eternal truth. The truth is the weapon we wield when faced with temptations from Satan, who is the father of lies.

Lord, thank You for Your word which is truth. Thank You for Your name, all-powerful and able to subdue the enemy of our souls. Give us Your grace, Lord, so that we might stand against the enemy and withstand his attempts to delude us. Help us to always, with immediacy, rebuke the devil in the name of the LORD.

"D" List.

In continuing the series on the Lord's Prayer, we at Bronx Bethany are taking more time to consider the petition "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (see Matthew 6:13).

The devil is our enemy. As we discussed last week, his goal is to deceive us, disgrace us, and destroy us.

This week we will consider the enemy's strategy of deluding the people of God. As preparation for the rest of the week's blogs, let us re-visit the Genesis passage Pastor Sam used on Sunday (Genesis 3:1-7).

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Fasting For The Nation(s)

(Our Sunday blogs during Lent will focus on the subject of fasting.)

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don't eat and don't drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I will also fast in the same way." (Esther 4:15-16)

When faced with the spectre of genocide, Queen Esther called for a complete fast to be conducted by the Jewish community living in Susa. Complete fasts are rarely mentioned in Scripture. Such fasts seem to be reserved for extreme emergencies (as we see in the book of Esther) or extreme crises of faith (as seen in the life of Saul/Paul, Acts 9:9).

This act of not eating for three days and three nights is a plea for God to step in swiftly and mightily. It may be for physical deliverance of a nation, as we see in Esther's appeal to the king. Or it may be for personal insight that will ultimately result in the spiritual transformation of nations, as we see in Paul's ministry to the Gentiles.

Has God shown you something so shocking that it pushes you into this extreme fasting mode? If He has, then fast faithfully with a sincere heart. God is no respecter of persons. As He answered Esther and Paul, so will He answer you.

War Course.

The devil has a strategy for destroying Christians. Pastor Sam outlined that strategy during his sermon. Let's reflect on it today, as a warning and as a reminder.

Deception. Satan seeks to confuse us, and to make us believe that God is withholding information or material from us that we "need" to have in order to be more like God. The devil's goal is to make us feel justified in our disobedience to God.

Disgrace. If the devil succeeds in causing us to sin, he will then seek to subject us to public humiliation. Satan wants to parade our weaknesses to the world as a means of discrediting the name of God.

Destruction. If the devil does not succeed in causing us to sin, he will appeal to God for permission to send afflictions and sufferings: an attempt to get us to deny or question God's love for us. We see this strategy clearly outlined in the early chapters of the book of Job.

What can we do? We can remind ourselves that the LORD is our anchor, our shield, our defense, our Lover, our Father. The Lord God, in His love and mercy, will always do what is best for us.

Lord God, help us to remember Your love that transcends all afflictions. We will cling to You no matter what happens.

"Jesus! Jesus! Deliver Me!"

During Pastor Sam's sermon, he told a little story about one of his relatives who would call out to Jesus in his sleep. I laughed. A lot of us in the congregation laughed. I think we were laughing because we thought it was so funny that a man who deeply loved the Lord would be compelled to cry out for deliverance, even in his sleep.

Something happened while I was laughing: the Spirit of the Lord told me that perhaps I should not be laughing so. And then Pastor Sam put words to the prompting that I felt: he told us that even though we might not be hanging out in places of ill repute, it is equally likely that the devil will seek to destroy us. Even in our own homes. In our own bedrooms. Even in our own minds.

We all stopped laughing.

Do you love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Have you made the commitment to follow Jesus no matter what? Then, my friend, you have a target on your back. The devil wants to destroy you. And the devil knows you are not in the bar and not in the club, so he has plotted other means of getting to you.

And that is why every believer who prays The Lord's Prayer must appeal to God for deliverance. We all need to be delivered from the evil one.

Have you prayed today?

Say Yes To The Mess.

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You! But He turned and said to Peter, Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:21-23)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam spoke of Simon Peter as a naive apostle. And between Sunday and today, I have noticed that I still cringe when I think of this part of the sermon. Perhaps it's the reality check of seeing that, in our efforts to "protect" the ones we love, we might actually stray outside of the will of God and be co-opted into the service of the devil.

Peter's challenge, when we look at it, does sound like the devil's strategy we saw outlined in Genesis 3. As we shared in yesterday's blog, Satan used language to imply that God's words to Adam and Eve were incorrect. In the Matthew 16 passage above, we see that Peter uses language to imply that Jesus's words to His disciples was incorrect.

What did Jesus say? He said He would go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and be raised. That was the plan of God.

What did Peter say? Peter rebuked Jesus with two points:

Far be it from You, Lord- in other words, “Jesus, may You be removed from experiencing Your calling.”

This shall not happen to You!- in other words, “Jesus, may You not complete the purpose for which You were sent.”

I am glad that Jesus didn't let Peter's comments slide. We must learn this lesson. Our love, respect, and concern for our friends and leaders does not give us an excuse to reject the Lord's commands concerning the sufferings they may experience as a part of their calling.

O Lord, forgive us for the times we have sought to shield the ones we love from the cost of following You. Help us to always do Your will, chasing obedience, whatever it may cost.

As Pastor Sam said some years ago, and it is still true now, “Embrace the pain in light of the purpose.”

Snake Cables.

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" -Genesis 3:1

On Sunday we were reminded that our enemy the devil presents himself as a crafty, cunning accuser. He uses argument and rationale to turn people away from the desire and will of God. Genesis 3 gives us a warning of the devices of the devil:

"Has God indeed said..." (Genesis 3:1) The devil tries to convince us that we heard God incorrectly, or (worse) that God spoke incorrectly.

"You will not surely die." (Genesis 3:4) The devil tries to convince us that God has withheld information from us, or (worse) that God is lying.

"You will be like God..." (Genesis 3:5) The devil tries to convince us that, though we are finite, we can acquire infinite wisdom by means of disobedience to the command of God.

The devil, through the ages, has used this tactic of sending false messages to our minds in an attempt to cause us to ignore what God has said. What is our solution? To know, believe, and appropriate the word of God in all circumstances.

Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously. I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart. (Psalm 119:27,29, 32)

Masquerade.

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam shared insights related to the devil's use of disguises in order to deceive the faith-filled Christian.

The Scripture tells us that satan disguises himself as an angel of light. In modern society, this disguise shows up in various forms. We have the academic, the intellectual, the one for whom church is merely a ritual. These persons are in the "right" places saying the right things, but their hearts are not turned towards God (see Psalm 50).

But God steps in and does an amazing thing: He heals, delivers, and sets men free. He gives us the desire to execute His will in the earth, for the sake of His kingdom.

We know His voice and follow His path.
We remain vigilant and diligent in prayer.
We keep at the forefront of our mind that we are in a fight.

Friend, what is the state of your soul today? Beware of those who, like Judas, are ever present but ever plotting against the ministry of our Lord.

Special Delivery.

In yesterday's sermon, Pastor Sam continued the sermon series on The Lord's Prayer. We turned our attention to “Part Two” of the petition “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (see Matthew 6:13).

As we learned on Sunday, the Bible clearly indicates that our appeal for deliverance is not a plea to be delivered from a general philosophy or abstract notion of evil, but from a specific entity. It is the devil himself, satan, the accuser. And our only hope of deliverance is to, each day, seek God's intervening power.

This week in our blogs we will consider the ways in which the devil deceives the people of God. Why? Because his primary modus operandi is deception, and if we have an understanding of his tactics then we will have a clearer platform from which we can pray specifically and intentionally.

Remember, friends, we are in a fight. Let's get battle-ready.

So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Fasting As Divine Imperative

(Our Sunday blogs during Lent will focus on the subject of fasting.)

The LORD's angelic messenger came back again, touched Elijah, and said, "Get up and eat, for otherwise you won't be able to make the journey." So he got up and ate and drank. That meal gave him the strength to travel forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. (First Kings 19:7-8)

This incident occurs as part of a curious scene: Elijah, the prophet of God who had just killed the prophets of Baal, was running for his life. Queen Jezebel had threatened his life following the deaths of her false prophets, and Elijah took her threat seriously.

How did God respond to Elijah's angst? By providing a meal that miraculously sustained Elijah through a forty-day fast. Some scholars believe that this may have actually been two forty-day fasts, as Elijah was later instructed to go back the way he came (see First Kings 19:15).

At Mount Horeb, Elijah received important instruction from the LORD: he was to anoint the new king of Syria (Hazael), the new king of Israel (Jehu), and the prophet (Elisha) that would succeed Elijah. Elijah also received important information concerning God's human resource management. The LORD told Elijah, "I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him." (19:18).

What an encouragement to know that as we journey in obedience to the living God, He miraculously sustains us. Let us fast according to His imperative, expecting to receive instruction and information that will advance the kingdom of God.

Radical Reconciliation: Memories of Dad.

Glossa Water was started on August 31, 2008. I started the blog on what we believed was my dad's birthday, although (as I mentioned in that first blog) the sketchy records of a Depression-era birth in the rural south left us wondering whether anyone knew his real birthdate.

On March 14th of this week my dad passed away. Though I and my family miss him, we are deeply grateful to God for Dad's time on this earth.

I am particularly indebted to Pastor Sam, who back in 2005 instructed me on the value of reconciliation. My parents divorced when I was a very young child, and in my early adulthood I drifted out of Dad's life, but in my mid-life years I was finally able to reconnect with my dad. It was wonderful to get to know Dad as he went into his twilight years, especially the past three or four years.

What will I remember about him? His incredible work ethic. His quick wit and humor. His consistency and transparency as he dealt with the challenges of old age.

The grace of God is indeed amazing. Thank You, Lord, for the gift of reconciliation.

Radical Revelation: A Vision Of Mission.

Dr. Las, in his closing thoughts, said that "we are not called to send missionaries; we are sent out as missionaries."

I wonder what the Bronx will look like, what the world will look like, when every Christian embraces the call to be missional.

Jesus's instructions in Luke 10 are so straightforward. We are sent out as lambs among wolves. And we are empowered to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. And not everyone will welcome us; but for those who do, we can become agents of salvation, deliverance, peace, and healing.

I pray that we will embrace this vision and engage in mission, to the glory of God.

Radical Joy: The Ultimate Book Signing.

Luke 10 is a wonderful look into the specifics of Jesus's ministry program. In Luke 10:17 we see that the disciples returned with joy, excited about their opportunity to be a part of real, radical, life-changing ministry.

And Jesus is filled with joy as well! But our Lord makes a critically important statement. This past Sunday, Dr. Las reminded us of the most important reason to be happy: "...rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:20)

And Pastor Sam underlined this thought. In the introduction to his pastoral prayer, we were reminded that there are people who are involved in powerful ministry, but they themselves have never surrendered their hearts to Jesus. It is a fearful thought to know that, after years of service, some will hear the Lord's rejection (see Matthew chapter 25). We would do well to heed the warning.

Friend, are you a part of this joy-fest?

Lord, thank You for giving us grace to receive Your revelation. Thank You for writing our names in Your book. Thank You for equipping us to do Your work. We are eternally grateful. The LORD has done great things for us and we are filled with joy!

Radical Risk: Lambs Among Wolves.

In reflecting on Luke 10, Dr. Las reminded us of a most radical analogy: The Christian in the world as a lamb among wolves (see Luke 10:3).

What can a lamb do in the face of wolves?

The battle is a lost cause unless we pray. Dr. Las shared, and I paraphrase here, that intercessory prayer is the one tool that can release more workers into the harvest field.

But, although we pray, we must keep in mind the words of Jesus: "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." (Luke 10:2) Dr. Las spoke emphatically about the work of ministry as "too few doing too much", and that reality will not change.

Pastor Sam picked up this thought during his pastoral prayer. He alluded to the passage where Jesus describes His people as "the salt of the earth" (see Matthew 5:13). And, as we know, it doesn't take much salt to transform a meal.

Yes! Let us be few! One lamb, covered in intercessory prayer, can take on a pack of wolves. At the end of the day, the wolves will be ravaged and the lamb will be victorious.

Radical Engagement: Get Up And Go.

In Luke chapter 10, as Dr. Las shared with us, we are given a snapshot of Jesus as the ultimate mission leader. There are two terms Dr. Las gave us:

1. Trial Run. This passage is the first account we have of our Lord sending out dozens of people whom He had empowered to do His work in the world. The specificity of the assignment implies that this was the first time these seventy-two disciples had gone on mission "on their own".

2. Training Exercise. These teams of disciples were receiving their first taste of what Christ Himself did as an itinerant minister of the gospel. Rather than the sick and needy of the world coming to the disciples, it was contingent upon the disciples to go out to the places where the need was.

A question for us to reflect on: Are we going out into the towns, or are we waiting for the towns to come to us?

A Las!

This week's blogs will reflect on Sunday's sermon. Our guest speaker, Dr. Las Newman, gave a powerful and challenging message based on Luke 10:1-12 and 17-24.

The passage details the mission of the seventy-two commissioned by Jesus to minister. Dr. Las shared several points related to what he termed "radical calls".

Perhaps it is best to begin with a recap of the scripture today, then over the next few days we'll reflect on the radical calls every true Christian must deal with.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. He replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No-one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no-one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

(Verses from the UK New International Version)

Fasting As Impassioned Plea

Our Sunday blogs during Lent will focus on the subject of fasting.

"The Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them." (Second Samuel 12:15-17).

Perhaps in our more skeptical moments we could say this engagement of fasting was a lost cause from the start. The prophet Nathan had already decreed to David that the child would certainly die (verse 14). But David had a depth of knowledge of the mercy of God which he expressed in this "against-all-odds" fast.

How do we know this? Because David said so. "While the child was still alive I fasted and wept because I thought, 'Perhaps the LORD will show pity and the child will live.'" (verse 22)

What about you? Are you facing a situation that seems to be a lost cause? In the face of hopelessness, you can still appeal to the mercy of God. Who knows? Perhaps the LORD will show pity.

Judas, It's 11:59 P.M.

Judas, sadly, never goes away.

Judas Iscariot was a person, but his name is also a metaphor for the presence of evil in the midst of ministry.

So Jesus said to the Twelve, "You don't want to go away too, do you?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God!" Jesus replied, "Didn't I choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is the devil?" (Now he said this about Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for Judas, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.) (John 6:67-71)

In our interactions with other believers, every now and then we find that a person has committed themselves to the works of the devil. It is a strange juxtaposition- seeing faithfulness and consistency and results in ministry work, but also seeing an undercurrent of selfishness, greed, or other vices contrary to the heart of God.

What do we do in such cases?
What did Jesus do?

Well, we see that Jesus didn't fire Judas. Up to the bitter end of his life, Judas was counted among the Twelve, Jesus's hand-picked disciples who followed Him for three years. Simon Peter reminds us that Judas was not a "fake" disciple: "For he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry" (see Acts 1:17).

Judas had three years of opportunity to repent and fully commit himself to Jesus. And during that time, Jesus never publicly called out Judas as a problematic ministry partner. What grace was extended by our Lord!

I believe we are called to extend that same grace to fellow believers: not making slanderous judgements, but seeking to teach and instruct them in the ways of the Kingdom of God. Seeking to keep them in community so that there is ample opportunity for repentance.

Judas, we are praying for you. Please turn your heart to the Lord while there is time.

Really Do The Right Thing.

In reflecting on this past Sunday's sermon, I found my thoughts turning to Old and New Testament passages that give us examples of how dangerous it is to give in to temptation. Today let's consider a conversation between the LORD and Cain.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast? Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it." (Genesis 4:6-7)

The LORD first addresses Cain in response to Cain's offering, which was unacceptable to God. And the implication in God's opening statement, "Why are you angry?", is that Cain himself knew the offering was unacceptable. In other words, "Cain, why are you pouting? You really expect Me to accept this? You know better."

God's second statement contained the "how-to": how to be positioned to experience shalom, true peace. "If you do what is right, you will be fine." Implied in the statement is that Cain was aware of what it meant to "do right".

Next, our Lord reiterated the how-to by explaining its opposite: "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door." Here we see an amazing connection between unacceptable worship and the entrance of sin into the life of the worshipper. Slipshod worship is an entryway for the influence of the demonic.

And fourth, God reveals the plan of the devil and how that plan can be thwarted: "It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it." Acceptable worship is a means of preventing the devil from having inroads into our lives. It gives us the means necessary to avoid being dominated by sin.

Thank You Lord, that You always show Your people the way of escape. Please give us Your grace so that we will not give in to temptation. But, if Your divine will demands that we face temptation, please stay close to us and cause us to experience Your deliverance. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.

Name, Rank, And Serial Number.

But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses's body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgement, but said, "May the Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 1:9).

Well, when Pastor Sam spoke on this verse during Sunday's sermon I really listened closely because Jude 1:9 is one of those verses that makes me stop and wonder. (Jude has other verses in that mode, like 1:14 where Jude refers to a prophetic statement made by Enoch.)

Jude, how is it you're saying these profound things?
But here we are focusing on verse 9.

Jude brings up a name and title: Michael, the archangel. The angel who fights and wins in the name of the LORD. I wonder if Michael was the "one angel" sent to destroy thousands of people, as we see in First Chronicles 21 and Isaiah 37. I don't know about those chapters. But we do know Michael gets mentioned by name a couple of times in Daniel chapter 10: "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia" (Daniel 10:13).

Michael, the go-to angel in spiritual warfare.
Michael, described by Pastor Sam as "the angel you DON'T want a visit from".
Michael, who can stand toe-to-toe in a debate with the devil.

But in the face of the argument and the debate over Moses's body, the great archangel does not make a slanderous judgement of the devil. Instead, Michael follows the model set up by God Himself which we read in Zechariah: "The LORD rebuke you!" Friends, the only way we can "win" an argument with the devil is to invoke the name of the LORD and declare God's sovreignty and power over all creation and all situations. It's the LORD's battle, not ours.

"Satan, the LORD rebuke you!"

Checking Account.

"Yet even angels, who are much more powerful, do not bring a slanderous judgement against (the unrighteous) before the Lord." (Second Peter 2:11)

In this second letter from Simon Peter, the famed disciple gives us a clue as to how things work in the heavenly realms. We are told that even the angels do not slander the unrighteous. How interesting, the use of this word "slander" in a context where there is clearly unrighteousness going on. Apparently, even if the judgements are true, it is still defined as slander. The implication is that if angels do not make judgements, then human beings should not do so either.

I am reminded of one of Pastor Sam's sermons from a few years ago. In discussing Psalm 50, our pastor gave the illustration of the psalm as a courtroom scene: the people of God were called to assembly, and God judged the people. The problem was that, though their sacrifices were regular and correct, their hearts were filled with malice and slander. And, the condition of the people's hearts made their sacrifices unacceptable. Who made the assessment? God Himself.

On Sunday Pastor Sam gave us a valuable phrase: "We can't manage the devil". On a parallel track, we can also say something like "We can't claim to be Christians and behave like the devil." Slander is never justifiable. Just a few verses down from the Matthew account of Lord's prayer, Jesus teaches that we are not to judge (see Matthew 7:1). May God help us to avoid the devil's trap by not giving in to the temptation to sit in judgement of others.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13)

Have You Met My Dad?

"The LORD said to Satan, 'May the LORD rebuke you, Satan! May the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Isn't this man like a burning stick snatched from the fire?'" (Zechariah 3:2)

On Sunday Pastor Sam spoke of the power of the name of God. The verse from Zechariah (above) shows that God, in His power, invokes His own name as a rebuke to Satan's accusations of Joshua the priest.

Who is our defender? He is God, past, present, and future. The one who was, is, and is to come! The one who formed the universe and formed you and me. The one who we address as "Our Father". The one who says of Himself, "There is nothing too difficult for Me" (see Jeremiah 32:27).

God alone has the power to rescue us from the grip of sin and temptation that the devil uses to cause us to fail in our faith. It is only right that when we pray, we follow the example that God has set. We pray, invoking the powerful name of our eternal Father, and He steps in on our behalf to defend and rescue us.

Lord, how we thank You for your powerful name. Please help us to remember that You are the one who, as is said in Malachi 3, "rebukes the devourer". We are so grateful for Your covering. Thank You for rescuing us. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.

"Ask and Keep Asking."

In yesterday's sermon, Pastor Sam continued his series on The Lord's Prayer.

"...lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one..." (Matthew 6:13)

In the sermon, we were encouraged to petition God: for His direction and guidance, and for His deliverance.

Though there were many interesting things pointed out by Pastor Sam, this week's blogs will focus on Scriptures that warn us of the reality of Satan's attack, and the reality of God's powerful Presence which delivers us from evil.

May I encourage you to meditate on these Scriptures as preparation for the remainder of this weeks blogs:

Zechariah 3:2
Second Peter 2:11
Jude 1:9
Genesis 4:7
John 6:70

Fasting As Preparation

Our Sunday blogs during Lent will focus on the subject of fasting.

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry." (Matthew 4:1-2).

After Jesus was baptized, He spent more than a month in the wilderness fasting. The temptations that followed his season of fasting were intense.

Temptation 1: Use Your creative power to re-order nature. The scripture tells us that Jesus was hungry, and as God He had the power to order stones to transform themselves into bread.

Temptation 2: Show the world who You really are. The Jewish people had long anticipated the arrival of the Messiah, and a demonstration of power to jump off of buildings without dying would certainly have been a dramatic sign to the people.

Temptation 3: Take a short-cut to regaining what Adam lost. In the fall of man, Adam lost his dominion and Satan took rule of the kingdoms of the world. By worshipping the devil, Jesus could regain those kingdoms without having to go to the cross.

But buried in each of these temptations are lies! The devil offered half-truths designed to trick Jesus out of fulfilling His purpose. The Old Testament prophecies spoke of a Messiah whose earthly life would be marked by rejection, suffering, and death (see Isaiah 53). No easy road, no short-cuts.

The extended season of fasting gave Jesus the spiritual strength He needed to withstand the onslaught of temptations designed to sway Him from the fulfillment of His purpose. Are you a person of purpose? Then fast. Fast for strength, so that the devil will never succeed in turning you from the path God has called you to walk.