Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this Friday. I trust you had a productive and profitable week and are ready for the weekend of rest, renewal, worship and praise. We are getting ready for an awesome weekend. We will gather for our November men's breakfast at 7:30 tomorrow. It will be a full breakfast, with all the trimmings. Our friend Chris Seavey will be the speaker for the morning. Chris is a distinguished professor at Davis College.
Sunday will be our Friend Day and Homecoming Sunday. The Russian Men's Ensemble will bring the special music at both 8:30 and 11:00. They will present a full concert program at 7:00 PM. There will be a Thanksgiving Feast at 12:30 PM, following the second morning worship service. The meal will include plenty of home-cooked turkey, homemade mashed potatoes, homemade pies, and the works. The University students from Father's Love, many of whom are international students, will be joining us.
Shane Hipps wrote an intriguing article in Leadership Magazine called, “Praise That’s Premature.” He suggests that when worship is just celebration it becomes a kind of pep rally to inspire excitement about who God is. Because grief is an unpleasant emotion we tend to deny our suffering in favor of celebration. “Authenticity and integrity in worship means expressing both lament and praise. Each element completes the other. Without lament, praise is little more than shallow sentimentality and a denial of life’s struggles and sin. Without praise, lament is a denial of hope and grace, both of which are central to our life of faith...” (www.leadershipjournal.net) Hipps points out that the Psalms and books like Habakkuk employ “a narrative arc, a movement from grief and lamentation to celebration and joy.” It’s not wrong to ask questions, or even complain to God. The Book of Job and many of the Psalms express serious questions to God. For example, Psalm 10:1 begins rather abruptly, “Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” It is as if the men were saying, "God, you may be powerful and you may be personal, but why can’t I sense your presence right now?" The psalmist is expressing his frustration at the aloofness of the Almighty.
The psalms are saturated with these kinds of questions. Here’s just a sampling.
* Psalm 13:1: “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
* Psalm 44:23-24: “Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?”
Habakkuk 1:3: “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?” He’s basically charging God with being both indifferent and inactive.
When tragedy leaves us teetering, it’s not unspiritual to declare our questions to God. He’s big enough to handle your cries. Some of us have been rocked by some pretty tough stuff.
What do we do when we are faced with an avalanche of agony and we feel like God is playing “hide and seek” with us? Some of us think that Christians shouldn’t question God and so we keep your concerns bottled up. I turn to Hipps again: “By incorporating expressions of sorrow, pain, and grief into our worship…the hurting are ushered into God’s presence with honesty. At the same time, the rest of the congregation is reminded of the suffering community gathered in their midst.”
The word question has as its root the word “quest.” If we are on a quest to understand, if we are serious about seeking answers, then let us not hesitate to declare our doubts. If we don’t ask, we might miss out on some surprising answers and ultimately short-circuit some growth that God wants to accomplish in our lives.
After declaring his questions to God, Habakkuk next gets very specific and describes his complaints. His main complaint is that it doesn’t seem fair that God would use a wicked people like the Babylonians to punish God’s people. Habakkuk spells it out in 1:13: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”
I love the faith progression that takes place in this little book. The hurting follower begins with a “how long” question, followed by two bold “why” questions and then he spells out his complaints in specific detail. As a result of being honest with God, and after questioning and complaining, Habakkuk is now in position to move to the next step in the praise process. Check out 2:1: “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.” Habakkuk is now ready to hear God’s answer even though he’s not going to like what God has to say. We can learn from this same process.
God answers Habakkuk but never really answers his “how long” or his “why” questions. He does give him two anchors to hold on to. In verse 2, God tells him to “write down the revelation.” Anchor #1 is the Word of God. In verse 3, God tells him that the Babylonians will destroy them even though it will be delayed for awhile. God sets forth the second anchor in verse 4, which is quoted in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38. In the midst of the mess of life, when problems are pummeling you, hold on to this: “…But the righteous will live by faith.” In other words, “Hold on to me Habakkuk, because I know what I’m doing.” When our faith is anchored to the Word of God we will be able to handle what comes our way.
It is possible to praise even when you are in pain. We can love the Lord, even when we experience loss. In fact, the most authentic times of adoration are often when we feel the most awful. As we come to chapter 3, let’s learn from Habakkuk as he followed a process that moved him from pain to praise. Worship is not complete until we follow the arc from agony to adoration. When pain has been acknowledged, we are invited to focus on God’s faithfulness in the midst of suffering. Verse 1 tells us that this chapter is really the prophet’s prayer: “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet.” He’s moved from a complaint about problems to a composition of prayerful praise.
John Walvoord writes, “Habakkuk’s book begins with an interrogation of God but ends as an intercession to God. Worry is transformed into worship. Fear turns to faith. Terror becomes trust. Hang-ups are resolved with hope. Anguish melts into adoration.”
Thank you Jesus.
In Him,
Brown
The St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble
Sunday, November 11, 2007
The St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble will be in concert at the Union Center United Methodist Church during the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services, and in full concert at 7:00 p.m. This group consists of four gifted and talented male vocalists, who sing a cappella. They sing a wide repertoire of musical styles, including classic songs of the Christian faith and Russian folk songs.
The church is located at 128 Maple Drive, Endicott, NY. For information, please call (607)748-1358.
Lawns & God
GOD: St. Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there in the USA? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.
ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers weeds and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it, sometimes twice a week.
GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
ST. FRANCIS: No, sir -- just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
ST. FRANCIS: Yes, sir.
GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stoke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they
fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.
ST. FRANCIS: You'd better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD: No. What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?
ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
GOD: And where do they get this mulch?
ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE: Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about ...
GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 11-8-07
Good Morning.
One of the familiar stories of the New Testament is the story of Zacchaeus, who met Jesus. In a deeper way Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost, came to Jericho, the oldest city on earth, seeking Zacchaeus. Jesus is the "Hound of Heaven" who, even today, seeks to save and to rescue. There was a dramatic transformation in the life of Zacchaeus. His priorities and perspectives on life changed after his encounter with the living Lord. He became a very generous and giving person. The Lord baptized him, including his bank accounts.
One of the visible signs of a redeemed person is giving and generosity. When we look at chapter 11 of Ecclesiastes, we read these familiar words, “Cast your bread upon the waters.” It meant that sometimes we do things for others that may appear to be wasteful, extravagant. Who would take good bread and throw it in the water? This “casting of bread” means that we should be willing to take a chance where we perceive a need exists. This is a faith venture. The bread of charity goes forth, like ships transporting their cargo over the waters.
One day C.S. Lewis was walking with J.R.R. Tolkien in Cambridge when the two were approached by a shabbily-dressed man asking for money. Lewis fished out of his pocket all his spare change and handed it to the man. Tolkien chided Lewis, saying that the man would likely use it for drink. “Well,” said Lewis, “I’d probably use it for drink myself.” We should give wisely, but sometimes we simply give out of the goodness of our hearts.
In his book, The Power of Generosity, Dave Toycen maintains: “Panhandlers deserve to be treated as human beings. Whether we choose to give money or not, our first obligation in a caring society is to acknowledge their presence. Looking away is a form of denial that diminishes and distances at the same time. Generosity sets a standard that builds relationships rather than destroys them.” Some people who go to the city bring extra sandwiches to give to panhandlers. On the other hand, he saw a t-shirt that read, “No change--don’t ask.” We can be mean-spirited, or we can communicate grace. It’s wiser to give to shelters and soup kitchens, and steer people to them, particularly if we suspect our money may aid someone’s addiction.
Are we generous or greedy? If we fantasize about winning a magazine sweepstakes, what first comes to mind? a) What we could buy for ourselves; or b) what we might do for others? Proverbs 11:24 says, “the world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller” (The Message).
Generosity isn’t something religious fanatics do; it’s a lifestyle of sharing that enriches the giver. Jesus commended a poor woman who gave to the temple two “mites”, an insignificant amount, yet Her giving received special notice from God. We do not give to gain favor from God; we certainly don’t do it to get to Heaven. We give because we are grateful for all God has done, and we want to give cheerfully.
We need to keep from limiting our giving; verse 2 says to “give portions to seven, eight”, whatever is needed. Seven is the Hebrew number of completeness; eight goes one step further. Giving becomes habit, a way of life--in good times and times of disaster. We don’t wait for an earthquake or flood--we give regularly. In verse 3 our kindness is compared to clouds swelling with rain, the natural outflow of a full life. We empty ourselves again and again. Our lives are filled with God’s blessings, and we in turn shower others with our bounty. We don’t know what disasters may come upon the land -- in other words, this could be our last day, so we are and we must be benevolent.
In verse 3, Solomon uses a symbol of trees falling to the south or north. Whatever direction a tree falls, that is where it is meant to be according to God’s providence. In the same way, we are placed where God wants us, for His purpose. Things don’t happen by accident. The people Solomon is writing to are struggling with causality; they see life as meaningless. Does anything matter in life? As people of faith, we accept God’s will and we try to bloom where we are planted.
Sometimes we lack faith, and so we hesitate to act. Verse 4 cautions that we lose out by waiting for the perfect time and occasion to proceed. Waiting for perfect conditions can keep us from growing, and failure to get things done. Time and events wait for no one. Procrastination is the thief of time. Faith means trusting God, especially when His timing disagrees with ours.
One thing we eventually discover about life is just how little we really know. We are frequently baffled over what God does in His world, and why, and we have no control over His activity. Verse 5 reminds us that we do not know the path of the wind, nor can we comprehend the mystery of birth. We don’t need to know all the answers to life’s mysteries. We marvel at Creation and are humbled by all that God has wrought. The winds are directed by His command. Until God takes us home we will not grasp the mystery at work in all He does.
God expects us to continue sowing our seed, verse 6. We can’t foresee whether our efforts will be fruitful, but we labor on, nonetheless. We don’t stop; we don’t give up, and we don’t know how our work will turn out in the end.
Verses 7 and 8 speak of light and darkness. When the sun breaks through a darkened, cloudy sky we thank God for getting us through the storm. There will be many days of darkness, many inevitable trials in life. God helps us grow through them, and He intends that we help others. The true source of the world’s light is the Lord Jesus, and we are His hands in the world, bringing comfort to those in need.
Solomon is not saying in verse 8 that after death there is nothing; he’s pointing out that death is final. He’s saying in effect: “You only have one life to live.” To unbelievers, death is shrouded in mystery. To people of Jesus the Risen one,it is the gateway to New Jerusalem.
In Jesus ,
Brown
The St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble
Sunday, November 11, 2007
The St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble will be in concert at the Union Center United Methodist Church during the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services, and in full concert at 7:00 p.m. This group consists of four gifted and talented male vocalists, who sing a cappella. They sing a wide repertoire of musical styles, including classic songs of the Christian faith and Russian folk songs.
The church is located at 128 Maple Drive, Endicott, NY. For information, please call (607)748-1358.
One of the familiar stories of the New Testament is the story of Zacchaeus, who met Jesus. In a deeper way Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost, came to Jericho, the oldest city on earth, seeking Zacchaeus. Jesus is the "Hound of Heaven" who, even today, seeks to save and to rescue. There was a dramatic transformation in the life of Zacchaeus. His priorities and perspectives on life changed after his encounter with the living Lord. He became a very generous and giving person. The Lord baptized him, including his bank accounts.
One of the visible signs of a redeemed person is giving and generosity. When we look at chapter 11 of Ecclesiastes, we read these familiar words, “Cast your bread upon the waters.” It meant that sometimes we do things for others that may appear to be wasteful, extravagant. Who would take good bread and throw it in the water? This “casting of bread” means that we should be willing to take a chance where we perceive a need exists. This is a faith venture. The bread of charity goes forth, like ships transporting their cargo over the waters.
One day C.S. Lewis was walking with J.R.R. Tolkien in Cambridge when the two were approached by a shabbily-dressed man asking for money. Lewis fished out of his pocket all his spare change and handed it to the man. Tolkien chided Lewis, saying that the man would likely use it for drink. “Well,” said Lewis, “I’d probably use it for drink myself.” We should give wisely, but sometimes we simply give out of the goodness of our hearts.
In his book, The Power of Generosity, Dave Toycen maintains: “Panhandlers deserve to be treated as human beings. Whether we choose to give money or not, our first obligation in a caring society is to acknowledge their presence. Looking away is a form of denial that diminishes and distances at the same time. Generosity sets a standard that builds relationships rather than destroys them.” Some people who go to the city bring extra sandwiches to give to panhandlers. On the other hand, he saw a t-shirt that read, “No change--don’t ask.” We can be mean-spirited, or we can communicate grace. It’s wiser to give to shelters and soup kitchens, and steer people to them, particularly if we suspect our money may aid someone’s addiction.
Are we generous or greedy? If we fantasize about winning a magazine sweepstakes, what first comes to mind? a) What we could buy for ourselves; or b) what we might do for others? Proverbs 11:24 says, “the world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller” (The Message).
Generosity isn’t something religious fanatics do; it’s a lifestyle of sharing that enriches the giver. Jesus commended a poor woman who gave to the temple two “mites”, an insignificant amount, yet Her giving received special notice from God. We do not give to gain favor from God; we certainly don’t do it to get to Heaven. We give because we are grateful for all God has done, and we want to give cheerfully.
We need to keep from limiting our giving; verse 2 says to “give portions to seven, eight”, whatever is needed. Seven is the Hebrew number of completeness; eight goes one step further. Giving becomes habit, a way of life--in good times and times of disaster. We don’t wait for an earthquake or flood--we give regularly. In verse 3 our kindness is compared to clouds swelling with rain, the natural outflow of a full life. We empty ourselves again and again. Our lives are filled with God’s blessings, and we in turn shower others with our bounty. We don’t know what disasters may come upon the land -- in other words, this could be our last day, so we are and we must be benevolent.
In verse 3, Solomon uses a symbol of trees falling to the south or north. Whatever direction a tree falls, that is where it is meant to be according to God’s providence. In the same way, we are placed where God wants us, for His purpose. Things don’t happen by accident. The people Solomon is writing to are struggling with causality; they see life as meaningless. Does anything matter in life? As people of faith, we accept God’s will and we try to bloom where we are planted.
Sometimes we lack faith, and so we hesitate to act. Verse 4 cautions that we lose out by waiting for the perfect time and occasion to proceed. Waiting for perfect conditions can keep us from growing, and failure to get things done. Time and events wait for no one. Procrastination is the thief of time. Faith means trusting God, especially when His timing disagrees with ours.
One thing we eventually discover about life is just how little we really know. We are frequently baffled over what God does in His world, and why, and we have no control over His activity. Verse 5 reminds us that we do not know the path of the wind, nor can we comprehend the mystery of birth. We don’t need to know all the answers to life’s mysteries. We marvel at Creation and are humbled by all that God has wrought. The winds are directed by His command. Until God takes us home we will not grasp the mystery at work in all He does.
God expects us to continue sowing our seed, verse 6. We can’t foresee whether our efforts will be fruitful, but we labor on, nonetheless. We don’t stop; we don’t give up, and we don’t know how our work will turn out in the end.
Verses 7 and 8 speak of light and darkness. When the sun breaks through a darkened, cloudy sky we thank God for getting us through the storm. There will be many days of darkness, many inevitable trials in life. God helps us grow through them, and He intends that we help others. The true source of the world’s light is the Lord Jesus, and we are His hands in the world, bringing comfort to those in need.
Solomon is not saying in verse 8 that after death there is nothing; he’s pointing out that death is final. He’s saying in effect: “You only have one life to live.” To unbelievers, death is shrouded in mystery. To people of Jesus the Risen one,it is the gateway to New Jerusalem.
In Jesus ,
Brown
The St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble
Sunday, November 11, 2007
The St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble will be in concert at the Union Center United Methodist Church during the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services, and in full concert at 7:00 p.m. This group consists of four gifted and talented male vocalists, who sing a cappella. They sing a wide repertoire of musical styles, including classic songs of the Christian faith and Russian folk songs.
The church is located at 128 Maple Drive, Endicott, NY. For information, please call (607)748-1358.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 11-7-07
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for His promises, for His provisions, for His presence, for His protection, and for His power. What a wonderful and awesome God, the Lord Almighty, we serve.
Often the television programs we are caught up with depict the ethos of the people. Programs like "Desperate House Wives", "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire", "Wheel of Fortune", or "Survivor". According to the show, "Survivor" we succeed by being ruthless, conniving, and deceitful, following a pragmatic, win at all costs, ends-justify-the means mentality. It’s no wonder that the show has been compared to the book Lord of the Flies. In today’s world it seems like good guys finish last…or at least that’s what people want us to think.
Winning, from God’s point-of-view, is different. In the end you may not wind up with a million dollars, but you have God’s approval. True happiness in life comes from living right, with a clear conscience. When we trust in the Lord, we experience victory and we survive not only this world, but we have a guarantee for the world to come.
The prophet Nahum delivered a sober message of judgment to Ninevah, but in the middle of his harsh prophecy he offered hope, vs 7: “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” God knows us and wants to protect us. Nahum’s name means “comfort” or “consolation”. But for those who reject God, the prophet cries, 3:7, 'Where can I find anyone to comfort you?” Nahum presents God as our refuge, a shelter in the time of storm.
Protection doesn’t mean a carefree life. As many of you know I spent a few days of this year in the hospital, in considerable discomfort, yet with the confidence that Jesus was my refuge. He was watching over me. I’m an experienced former hospital chaplain, but it has been few years since I’ve been an in patient. Therefore, the experience was useful for me and it has helped me better appreciate what others are facing. My experience was a gift disguised.
When trials come we trust in Jesus,and seek His refuge. Faith requires trust without full knowledge; it means living with uncertainty. God chooses our circumstances and trials; we choose our attitudes and reactions to them. I’m reminded of an affirmation found written on a cellar wall in Germany where Jews hid from the Nazis: “I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I am feeling it not. I believe in God even when He is silent.”
Nahum wrote 150 years after the time of Jonah. Under Jonah’s reluctant preaching the Ninevites repented and God withheld His wrath. At the time of Nahum, however, it appears their repentance has “worn off” and they have sunken deeply into all kinds of sin. Ninevah was again a place of unparalleled wickedness. It was also the wealthiest city in the world, furnished with priceless objects taken as plunder from conquered nations.
God made it plain that He was angry at Ninevah. We don’t like to think of God as being angry, yet the Bible is clear that He hates sin. You have likely heard about billboards along the highway with messages from God. One says, “Don’t make Me come down there.” There’s an old children’s hymn that begins, “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild.” This is perfectly true about our Lord, but it is not all the truth. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem and prophesied that this city which rejected Him would be destroyed. The Hebrew word used by Nahum for anger literally means “heavy or hot breathing”. Yet, even when God is angry at sin, He is patient with us. Verse 2 says “The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. This can mean God stores up wrath, but it also can mean that He holds back His vengeance. He waits for us to repent; He doesn’t "slam dunk" us the moment we step out of line. He is “slow to anger.” He has control over His wrath. He gives us many chances to repent. However, God clearly warns us in Genesis 6:3, “My Spirit will not contend/strive with man forever.” There is a limit to God’s patience.
Many people today are spiritually blind. They don’t believe God will punish sin, and they won’t believe that He will pardon sin through the blood of His Son. In John 3 we’re told, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the Name of God’s one and only Son….Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (vs. 17-18, 36).
When we place our trust in Christ God, in His grace, gives us what we don’t deserve—eternal life. God, in His mercy, does not give us what we do deserve! By rejecting Christ, people are turning their backs on eternal life—they will receive what they deserve--justice.
When considering the wrath of God, there are two words we tend to confuse. One is retaliation; the other retribution. To retaliate is to seek revenge and get even. God does not retaliate. Martin Luther (in his typical manner) said, “If I were God and the world had treated me as it did Christ, I would kick the wretched thing to pieces.” In His justice, God brings retribution. Paul makes this clear in Romans when he says “The payment for sin is death” (6:23). For those who serve sin, there is a pension awaiting them as well. Punishment for sin is effective, not in its severity, but in its inevitability. Nations like Ninevah can overlook God, but God overrules them. He has the power to deliver or destroy. He offers us the option to decide which one it will be.
The warden of a state prison once said, “My hardest job is to convince a young delinquent that he has done anything wrong.” We live, as did Ninevah, in a culture that thinks ethics are arbitrary, that we can make our own rules, and there is no right or wrong. This is a terrifying world view. The Russian author, Dostoyevski, said, “If there is no God, anything is permissible.” When we turn away from God and reject authority and accountability, we in effect become our own gods. What is God’s response to this lawlessness? 3:5, “’I am against you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” He goes on to say (vs. 6-7) that those who walk their own path will be stripped of their glory and made defenseless.
We can offer hope to our lost world, a world going its own way, a way that leads to destruction. We have the roadmap, the right directions. 1:15 announces, “Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!” We can be that one offering the good news. We should have a sense of urgency towards those who don’t know the Lord. We need to offer prayer for our community, care about those who need the Lord, and share what God had done for us. God will give us opportunities if we ask.
In the end, Ninevah was overthrown so completely that archeologists only uncovered the remains of this once mighty power in 1845. In 2:6 we read, “The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.” Here’s what happened: The Babylonian army laid siege to Ninevah for 3 months. Then, after a period of heavy rainfall, the river overflowed and broke down part of the city wall. The ruler of Ninevah and all his concubines perished in his burning palace. The invaders sacked and utterly destroyed the city. So complete was the destruction that armies have actually marched over the city of Ninevah without knowing the ruins of this once proud city lay beneath their feet.
No nation is immune from judgment. Among those who reject God, who refuse to turn from their wickedness, there will be no survivors. Proverbs 29:1 warns, “Some people are still stubborn after they have been corrected many times; they will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.” Twice God says to Ninevah, “I am against you” (2:13, 3:5). Paul says in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us.” But if God is against us…? God is just and will punish evil. This is a lesson urgently needed today.
Rudyard Kipling understood Nahum when he wrote: “Lo, all the pomp of yesterday, is one with Ninevah and Tyre. Judge of the nations, spare us yet—Lest we forget, lest we forget!”
May the Lord provoke us to love Him and love one another. May He teach us to pray and intercede for one another. One of our prayer warriors and saints reminds me that the fervent prayer of the righteous moves the Hand of the Lord.
Keep in prayer: Peter Gernes, Jack Hoppes, John Pipher, George Cameron, Andy Morse, Linda Allen, Linda Ayer, Juanita Griffin, Julie H, The St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble, our short term Mission Trip to India in June, our church's new Building project. Pray for all the Missionaries serving around the corner and around the globe, and for the persecuted church. Let us come in prayer against, terrorism, oppression and injustice .
In Christ,
Brown
My soul is more at rest from the tempter when I am busily employed.
Francis Asbury
A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.
Henry Ward Beecher
he sound of 'gentle stillness' after all the thunder and wind have passed will the ultimate Word from God.
Jim Elliot
Wherever you are - be all there.
Jim Elliot
Praise the Lord for His promises, for His provisions, for His presence, for His protection, and for His power. What a wonderful and awesome God, the Lord Almighty, we serve.
Often the television programs we are caught up with depict the ethos of the people. Programs like "Desperate House Wives", "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire", "Wheel of Fortune", or "Survivor". According to the show, "Survivor" we succeed by being ruthless, conniving, and deceitful, following a pragmatic, win at all costs, ends-justify-the means mentality. It’s no wonder that the show has been compared to the book Lord of the Flies. In today’s world it seems like good guys finish last…or at least that’s what people want us to think.
Winning, from God’s point-of-view, is different. In the end you may not wind up with a million dollars, but you have God’s approval. True happiness in life comes from living right, with a clear conscience. When we trust in the Lord, we experience victory and we survive not only this world, but we have a guarantee for the world to come.
The prophet Nahum delivered a sober message of judgment to Ninevah, but in the middle of his harsh prophecy he offered hope, vs 7: “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” God knows us and wants to protect us. Nahum’s name means “comfort” or “consolation”. But for those who reject God, the prophet cries, 3:7, 'Where can I find anyone to comfort you?” Nahum presents God as our refuge, a shelter in the time of storm.
Protection doesn’t mean a carefree life. As many of you know I spent a few days of this year in the hospital, in considerable discomfort, yet with the confidence that Jesus was my refuge. He was watching over me. I’m an experienced former hospital chaplain, but it has been few years since I’ve been an in patient. Therefore, the experience was useful for me and it has helped me better appreciate what others are facing. My experience was a gift disguised.
When trials come we trust in Jesus,and seek His refuge. Faith requires trust without full knowledge; it means living with uncertainty. God chooses our circumstances and trials; we choose our attitudes and reactions to them. I’m reminded of an affirmation found written on a cellar wall in Germany where Jews hid from the Nazis: “I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I am feeling it not. I believe in God even when He is silent.”
Nahum wrote 150 years after the time of Jonah. Under Jonah’s reluctant preaching the Ninevites repented and God withheld His wrath. At the time of Nahum, however, it appears their repentance has “worn off” and they have sunken deeply into all kinds of sin. Ninevah was again a place of unparalleled wickedness. It was also the wealthiest city in the world, furnished with priceless objects taken as plunder from conquered nations.
God made it plain that He was angry at Ninevah. We don’t like to think of God as being angry, yet the Bible is clear that He hates sin. You have likely heard about billboards along the highway with messages from God. One says, “Don’t make Me come down there.” There’s an old children’s hymn that begins, “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild.” This is perfectly true about our Lord, but it is not all the truth. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem and prophesied that this city which rejected Him would be destroyed. The Hebrew word used by Nahum for anger literally means “heavy or hot breathing”. Yet, even when God is angry at sin, He is patient with us. Verse 2 says “The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. This can mean God stores up wrath, but it also can mean that He holds back His vengeance. He waits for us to repent; He doesn’t "slam dunk" us the moment we step out of line. He is “slow to anger.” He has control over His wrath. He gives us many chances to repent. However, God clearly warns us in Genesis 6:3, “My Spirit will not contend/strive with man forever.” There is a limit to God’s patience.
Many people today are spiritually blind. They don’t believe God will punish sin, and they won’t believe that He will pardon sin through the blood of His Son. In John 3 we’re told, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the Name of God’s one and only Son….Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (vs. 17-18, 36).
When we place our trust in Christ God, in His grace, gives us what we don’t deserve—eternal life. God, in His mercy, does not give us what we do deserve! By rejecting Christ, people are turning their backs on eternal life—they will receive what they deserve--justice.
When considering the wrath of God, there are two words we tend to confuse. One is retaliation; the other retribution. To retaliate is to seek revenge and get even. God does not retaliate. Martin Luther (in his typical manner) said, “If I were God and the world had treated me as it did Christ, I would kick the wretched thing to pieces.” In His justice, God brings retribution. Paul makes this clear in Romans when he says “The payment for sin is death” (6:23). For those who serve sin, there is a pension awaiting them as well. Punishment for sin is effective, not in its severity, but in its inevitability. Nations like Ninevah can overlook God, but God overrules them. He has the power to deliver or destroy. He offers us the option to decide which one it will be.
The warden of a state prison once said, “My hardest job is to convince a young delinquent that he has done anything wrong.” We live, as did Ninevah, in a culture that thinks ethics are arbitrary, that we can make our own rules, and there is no right or wrong. This is a terrifying world view. The Russian author, Dostoyevski, said, “If there is no God, anything is permissible.” When we turn away from God and reject authority and accountability, we in effect become our own gods. What is God’s response to this lawlessness? 3:5, “’I am against you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” He goes on to say (vs. 6-7) that those who walk their own path will be stripped of their glory and made defenseless.
We can offer hope to our lost world, a world going its own way, a way that leads to destruction. We have the roadmap, the right directions. 1:15 announces, “Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!” We can be that one offering the good news. We should have a sense of urgency towards those who don’t know the Lord. We need to offer prayer for our community, care about those who need the Lord, and share what God had done for us. God will give us opportunities if we ask.
In the end, Ninevah was overthrown so completely that archeologists only uncovered the remains of this once mighty power in 1845. In 2:6 we read, “The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.” Here’s what happened: The Babylonian army laid siege to Ninevah for 3 months. Then, after a period of heavy rainfall, the river overflowed and broke down part of the city wall. The ruler of Ninevah and all his concubines perished in his burning palace. The invaders sacked and utterly destroyed the city. So complete was the destruction that armies have actually marched over the city of Ninevah without knowing the ruins of this once proud city lay beneath their feet.
No nation is immune from judgment. Among those who reject God, who refuse to turn from their wickedness, there will be no survivors. Proverbs 29:1 warns, “Some people are still stubborn after they have been corrected many times; they will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.” Twice God says to Ninevah, “I am against you” (2:13, 3:5). Paul says in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us.” But if God is against us…? God is just and will punish evil. This is a lesson urgently needed today.
Rudyard Kipling understood Nahum when he wrote: “Lo, all the pomp of yesterday, is one with Ninevah and Tyre. Judge of the nations, spare us yet—Lest we forget, lest we forget!”
May the Lord provoke us to love Him and love one another. May He teach us to pray and intercede for one another. One of our prayer warriors and saints reminds me that the fervent prayer of the righteous moves the Hand of the Lord.
Keep in prayer: Peter Gernes, Jack Hoppes, John Pipher, George Cameron, Andy Morse, Linda Allen, Linda Ayer, Juanita Griffin, Julie H, The St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble, our short term Mission Trip to India in June, our church's new Building project. Pray for all the Missionaries serving around the corner and around the globe, and for the persecuted church. Let us come in prayer against, terrorism, oppression and injustice .
In Christ,
Brown
My soul is more at rest from the tempter when I am busily employed.
Francis Asbury
A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.
Henry Ward Beecher
he sound of 'gentle stillness' after all the thunder and wind have passed will the ultimate Word from God.
Jim Elliot
Wherever you are - be all there.
Jim Elliot
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 11-6-07
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord. He is good all the time. His mercy endures forever. His love never fails.
The Apostle Paul began most of his letters in the Bible, with thanksgiving. To the church in Rome he wrote. “First, I thank my God for all of you.” (Romans 1:8) To the church in Corinth,“I always thank God for you." (1 Corinthians 1:4) To the church in Ephesus, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you; remembering you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1:16). To the church in Philippi he wrote, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3). To the church in Colossi, “I always thank God when I pray for you.” (Colossians 1:3). Paul made sure that he let people in the churches know that he was thankful for them. Imagine how much better our church and our relationships would be if we expressed our thanks for each other.
Do you know what I have found to be true in my life? I have found that I have an overwhelming need to give thanks. Harriet Martineau was an atheist. One morning she and a Christian friend stepped out into the glories of a beautiful fall morning. As Harriet saw the brilliant sun peaking through the haze, & the frost on the meadow, and the brightly colored leaves making their way lazily to the ground, she was filled with the beauty and burst forth with "I am so thankful. I’m just so grateful for it all." Her believing friend asked, "Grateful to whom, my dear?"
There is something inside of each of us that needs to give thanks to God. When I spend time giving thanks to God for all I have, I feel close to him, don’t you? I think that is exactly why 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It is God’s plan and his will for us to give thanks to him. He made us for that.
Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” It reminds us that it is a privilege that God has loaned us everything we have. 1 Corinthians 4:7 says, “What do you have that you did not receive from God? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”
Dr. Dale Robbins wrote, “I used to think people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain. Complaining doesn’t change anything or make situations better. It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord, and can invoke an invitation for the devil to cause havoc with our lives.” Complaining makes us miserable. Psalm 77:3 says, “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.” Complaining is the archenemy of thanksgiving. The two cannot co-exist in the same heart.
Ephesians 5:19 says, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.” Always is the key word. We are not just to give thanks to God on Thanksgiving, but every day.
In Daniel 6 we read that Daniel got down on his knees three times everyday and prayed and gave thanks to his God. I read recently that if you own one Bible, you are abundantly blessed, because a third of the people in the world do not have access to a Bible. If you awoke this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than 1 million people who will not survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of war, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are more fortunate than 500 million people on earth. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, twenty dollars in your pocket and a place to sleep you are richer than 75 percent of the world. George Herbert said" Lord You have given us so much, give us one more thing, give us a grateful heart".
In Him,
Brown
More than any other religion or, indeed, than any other element in human experience, Christianity has made for the intellectual advance of man in reducing languages to writing, creating literatures, promoting education from primary grades through institutions of university level, and stimulating the human mind and spirit to fresh explorations into the unknown. It has been the largest single factor in combating, on a world-wide scale, such ancient foes of man as war, famine, and the exploitation of one race by another. More than any other religion, it has made for the dignity of human personality. This it has done by a power inherent within it of lifting lives from selfishness, spiritual mediocrity, and moral defeat and disintegration, to unselfish achievement and contagious moral and spiritual power and by the high value which it set upon every human soul through the possibilities which it held out of endless growth in fellowship with the eternal God.
... Kenneth Scott Latourette, Advance Through Storm
Praise the Lord. He is good all the time. His mercy endures forever. His love never fails.
The Apostle Paul began most of his letters in the Bible, with thanksgiving. To the church in Rome he wrote. “First, I thank my God for all of you.” (Romans 1:8) To the church in Corinth,“I always thank God for you." (1 Corinthians 1:4) To the church in Ephesus, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you; remembering you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1:16). To the church in Philippi he wrote, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3). To the church in Colossi, “I always thank God when I pray for you.” (Colossians 1:3). Paul made sure that he let people in the churches know that he was thankful for them. Imagine how much better our church and our relationships would be if we expressed our thanks for each other.
Do you know what I have found to be true in my life? I have found that I have an overwhelming need to give thanks. Harriet Martineau was an atheist. One morning she and a Christian friend stepped out into the glories of a beautiful fall morning. As Harriet saw the brilliant sun peaking through the haze, & the frost on the meadow, and the brightly colored leaves making their way lazily to the ground, she was filled with the beauty and burst forth with "I am so thankful. I’m just so grateful for it all." Her believing friend asked, "Grateful to whom, my dear?"
There is something inside of each of us that needs to give thanks to God. When I spend time giving thanks to God for all I have, I feel close to him, don’t you? I think that is exactly why 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It is God’s plan and his will for us to give thanks to him. He made us for that.
Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” It reminds us that it is a privilege that God has loaned us everything we have. 1 Corinthians 4:7 says, “What do you have that you did not receive from God? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”
Dr. Dale Robbins wrote, “I used to think people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain. Complaining doesn’t change anything or make situations better. It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord, and can invoke an invitation for the devil to cause havoc with our lives.” Complaining makes us miserable. Psalm 77:3 says, “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.” Complaining is the archenemy of thanksgiving. The two cannot co-exist in the same heart.
Ephesians 5:19 says, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.” Always is the key word. We are not just to give thanks to God on Thanksgiving, but every day.
In Daniel 6 we read that Daniel got down on his knees three times everyday and prayed and gave thanks to his God. I read recently that if you own one Bible, you are abundantly blessed, because a third of the people in the world do not have access to a Bible. If you awoke this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than 1 million people who will not survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of war, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are more fortunate than 500 million people on earth. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, twenty dollars in your pocket and a place to sleep you are richer than 75 percent of the world. George Herbert said" Lord You have given us so much, give us one more thing, give us a grateful heart".
In Him,
Brown
More than any other religion or, indeed, than any other element in human experience, Christianity has made for the intellectual advance of man in reducing languages to writing, creating literatures, promoting education from primary grades through institutions of university level, and stimulating the human mind and spirit to fresh explorations into the unknown. It has been the largest single factor in combating, on a world-wide scale, such ancient foes of man as war, famine, and the exploitation of one race by another. More than any other religion, it has made for the dignity of human personality. This it has done by a power inherent within it of lifting lives from selfishness, spiritual mediocrity, and moral defeat and disintegration, to unselfish achievement and contagious moral and spiritual power and by the high value which it set upon every human soul through the possibilities which it held out of endless growth in fellowship with the eternal God.
... Kenneth Scott Latourette, Advance Through Storm
Monday, November 5, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 11-5-07
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. I trust you were blessed by the Lord this weekend. One of the readings for yesterday was take from Luke 19. This is story of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus illustrates the truth that “things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (v. 27). Zacchaeus, meant “righteous one,” how ironic for he was an unscrupulous tax collector. Tax collectors in Jesus’ day were little more than government sanctioned crooks, in the Gospels they were mentioned together with “sinners” and “prostitutes.”
Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, was a part of a crowd trying to see Jesus. But Zacchaeus, being a short man, was unable to see so he climbed a tree. That is the nice part about being filthy rich - he did not care what people thought. Zacchaeus was free to do something others might think was silly, like climb a tree.
But why did Zacchaeus want so desperately to see Jesus? It may be that he had heard of Jesus through the acquaintance of another tax collector, Levi, also called Matthew, who had also been a tax collector prior to becoming a disciple of Jesus (Luke 5:27-31). Perhaps Matthew, reaching out to his former circle of friends, had told Zacchaeus about Jesus and what a change he had made in his life. Regardless of the reason, Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus.
In verse five, we read, “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." When Jesus stopped under the sycamore tree in which Zacchaeus had hidden himself, he would have naturally tensed, perhaps even broken out in a sweat. Terror is likely to have grasped Zacchaeus’ heart as he braced himself to be made a spectacle for ridicule by Jesus. And then Jesus called him by name and invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home. Notice that Jesus did not say “I would like to stay at your home,” he said, “I must stay at your home.” “Must” is a translation of the Greek word (dei) meaning it was necessary. This meeting was ordained before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6). I believe that Jesus came to Jericho for the purpose of seeking Zacchaeus. “So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.”
Have you ever wondered why, out of all the city of Jericho, that Jesus zeroed in on Zacchaeus. Though Zacchaeus may have seemed like the least honest or religious person, it is possible that he was the most hungry for a new life that only Jesus could give him. In the eyes of the world Zacchaeus was a traitorous, despised, nobody, but in the eyes of Jesus he was a precious lost sinner.
This was Zacchaeus’ moment. Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good fortune, and delighted to take Jesus home with him.
“But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." The reaction to Jesus’ choice of a host did not meet with popular approval. The religious leaders judged that Jesus had chosen to be “… a guest with a man who is a sinner" and “they all complained.”
Although it is not stated I believe that Jesus sat down to dinner with Zacchaeus. At some time, probably after dinner, verse eight discloses that “… Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
Let’s give Zacchaeus his due. When Zacchaeus got saved, he got saved all over. When he got saved, he immediately put his faith into practice. But it is easy to misunderstand Zacchaeus’ actions. More is going on than just a surface examination will gather! The text says that Zacchaeus says, “… if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation,” but in the original Greek it is a first class condition meaning “it is true, I have cheated.” Roman law dictated that if you defrauded someone you were to repay them fourfold. He was only meeting the requirements of the law, where he went beyond the law was his willingness to give away half of all his goods. He in effect placed his entire fortune in jeopardy in an effort to make things right. That was entirely voluntary.
I like what Kent Hughes says concerning this verse; “Jesus said over and over that it is useless to talk about loving him and trusting him and having the sweet assurance of forgiveness and the glorious hope of Heaven unless it makes a difference in our material attachments…. Jesus’ repeated emphasis is that though generosity is not the means of redemption, it is an evidence of redemption. In fact, generosity and giving are pillars of discipleship.” [Kent R. Hughes. Luke: That You Might Know the Truth Volume 2 (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1998) page 226]
It is my fear that this is a sticking point in the spiritual development of some Christians. You read your Bible, you are honest, but your just not sure about stepping out on faith in the area of giving. It may be that this is the very thing that is stifling your spiritual growth. Zacchaeus was not saved because he promised to do good works. He was saved because he responded by faith to Christ’s gracious words to him. The apostle Paul explains in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace have you been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. (10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
From the words that Jesus spoke to Zacchaeus in verse nine, we can learn two things. Jesus spoke to Zacchaeus and said, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.” First, anyone who is genuinely saved can be assured of that salvation immediately. In John 5:13 we find, “These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the son of God, that you might know that you have eternal life….” It is possible to know and to know immediately that you are really saved. And secondly, once a person is saved, the evidence will be a changed life. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the apostle Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” The deliverance that comes to us in the form of Jesus Christ is truly life changing.
In His Promises and In his Mercy,
Brown
Remember - The Russians are coming! They will be with us next Sunday, November 11, in the morning worship and for evening concert.
Sunita has returned safely from Africa, and is back in Washington, DC. Praise the Lord! All of Sunita and Andy's wedding pictures have now been posted on AyerPhoto.
Micah turned two on Saturday. Janice took her to the children's museum for her birthday, and then yesterday Janice and Jeremy took her to the Boston Aquarium.
Please Keep the following in prayer:
George Cameron, John Pipher, George Kossler, Linda Ayer, Jack Hoppes, Linda Allen, Kim Soundrajan, Becky Maney. Peter Gernses, Katherine B.
Dear friends in Christ,
Peggy Jones here! Early in the morning tomorrow (Nov. 5) 7:30 AM (Leroy is scheduled for cataract surgery. Would you please join me in prayer for successful surgery! The second one will be done on Friday, November 16. Leroy scheduled this surgery to be performed now at the end of the fall preaching schedule. As you know, Leroy's first love is proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord! Thank you for praying that he will be even better equipped to follow the call on his life as a result of improved vision. We place our faith in the ophthalmologist surgeon and in the healing power of Jesus Christ.
I hope you are having a wonderful day. Thanks for joining me in prayer!
With love,
Peg Jones
Praise the Lord for this new day. I trust you were blessed by the Lord this weekend. One of the readings for yesterday was take from Luke 19. This is story of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus illustrates the truth that “things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (v. 27). Zacchaeus, meant “righteous one,” how ironic for he was an unscrupulous tax collector. Tax collectors in Jesus’ day were little more than government sanctioned crooks, in the Gospels they were mentioned together with “sinners” and “prostitutes.”
Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, was a part of a crowd trying to see Jesus. But Zacchaeus, being a short man, was unable to see so he climbed a tree. That is the nice part about being filthy rich - he did not care what people thought. Zacchaeus was free to do something others might think was silly, like climb a tree.
But why did Zacchaeus want so desperately to see Jesus? It may be that he had heard of Jesus through the acquaintance of another tax collector, Levi, also called Matthew, who had also been a tax collector prior to becoming a disciple of Jesus (Luke 5:27-31). Perhaps Matthew, reaching out to his former circle of friends, had told Zacchaeus about Jesus and what a change he had made in his life. Regardless of the reason, Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus.
In verse five, we read, “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." When Jesus stopped under the sycamore tree in which Zacchaeus had hidden himself, he would have naturally tensed, perhaps even broken out in a sweat. Terror is likely to have grasped Zacchaeus’ heart as he braced himself to be made a spectacle for ridicule by Jesus. And then Jesus called him by name and invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home. Notice that Jesus did not say “I would like to stay at your home,” he said, “I must stay at your home.” “Must” is a translation of the Greek word (dei) meaning it was necessary. This meeting was ordained before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6). I believe that Jesus came to Jericho for the purpose of seeking Zacchaeus. “So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.”
Have you ever wondered why, out of all the city of Jericho, that Jesus zeroed in on Zacchaeus. Though Zacchaeus may have seemed like the least honest or religious person, it is possible that he was the most hungry for a new life that only Jesus could give him. In the eyes of the world Zacchaeus was a traitorous, despised, nobody, but in the eyes of Jesus he was a precious lost sinner.
This was Zacchaeus’ moment. Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good fortune, and delighted to take Jesus home with him.
“But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." The reaction to Jesus’ choice of a host did not meet with popular approval. The religious leaders judged that Jesus had chosen to be “… a guest with a man who is a sinner" and “they all complained.”
Although it is not stated I believe that Jesus sat down to dinner with Zacchaeus. At some time, probably after dinner, verse eight discloses that “… Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
Let’s give Zacchaeus his due. When Zacchaeus got saved, he got saved all over. When he got saved, he immediately put his faith into practice. But it is easy to misunderstand Zacchaeus’ actions. More is going on than just a surface examination will gather! The text says that Zacchaeus says, “… if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation,” but in the original Greek it is a first class condition meaning “it is true, I have cheated.” Roman law dictated that if you defrauded someone you were to repay them fourfold. He was only meeting the requirements of the law, where he went beyond the law was his willingness to give away half of all his goods. He in effect placed his entire fortune in jeopardy in an effort to make things right. That was entirely voluntary.
I like what Kent Hughes says concerning this verse; “Jesus said over and over that it is useless to talk about loving him and trusting him and having the sweet assurance of forgiveness and the glorious hope of Heaven unless it makes a difference in our material attachments…. Jesus’ repeated emphasis is that though generosity is not the means of redemption, it is an evidence of redemption. In fact, generosity and giving are pillars of discipleship.” [Kent R. Hughes. Luke: That You Might Know the Truth Volume 2 (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1998) page 226]
It is my fear that this is a sticking point in the spiritual development of some Christians. You read your Bible, you are honest, but your just not sure about stepping out on faith in the area of giving. It may be that this is the very thing that is stifling your spiritual growth. Zacchaeus was not saved because he promised to do good works. He was saved because he responded by faith to Christ’s gracious words to him. The apostle Paul explains in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace have you been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. (10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
From the words that Jesus spoke to Zacchaeus in verse nine, we can learn two things. Jesus spoke to Zacchaeus and said, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.” First, anyone who is genuinely saved can be assured of that salvation immediately. In John 5:13 we find, “These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the son of God, that you might know that you have eternal life….” It is possible to know and to know immediately that you are really saved. And secondly, once a person is saved, the evidence will be a changed life. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the apostle Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” The deliverance that comes to us in the form of Jesus Christ is truly life changing.
In His Promises and In his Mercy,
Brown
Remember - The Russians are coming! They will be with us next Sunday, November 11, in the morning worship and for evening concert.
Sunita has returned safely from Africa, and is back in Washington, DC. Praise the Lord! All of Sunita and Andy's wedding pictures have now been posted on AyerPhoto.
Micah turned two on Saturday. Janice took her to the children's museum for her birthday, and then yesterday Janice and Jeremy took her to the Boston Aquarium.
Please Keep the following in prayer:
George Cameron, John Pipher, George Kossler, Linda Ayer, Jack Hoppes, Linda Allen, Kim Soundrajan, Becky Maney. Peter Gernses, Katherine B.
Dear friends in Christ,
Peggy Jones here! Early in the morning tomorrow (Nov. 5) 7:30 AM (Leroy is scheduled for cataract surgery. Would you please join me in prayer for successful surgery! The second one will be done on Friday, November 16. Leroy scheduled this surgery to be performed now at the end of the fall preaching schedule. As you know, Leroy's first love is proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord! Thank you for praying that he will be even better equipped to follow the call on his life as a result of improved vision. We place our faith in the ophthalmologist surgeon and in the healing power of Jesus Christ.
I hope you are having a wonderful day. Thanks for joining me in prayer!
With love,
Peg Jones
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