Reading – January 25 2012

I don’t often post content to other sites, but there were a couple of things today…

Surely most people have heard Don McLean’s song American Pie? Well, Mark Altrogge has rewritten the lyrics – I am sure you will work out my snippet…

But something turned from joy to wrath
The day the bacon died
So…

Bye, bye Mrs. Chicken Pot Pie
No more patties, nothing fatty, no more double French fries
It’s fat free yogurt on a half piece of rye
Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die

 (see the whole song - Bye Bye Mrs. Chicken Pot Pie)

Make sure you take a look at the whole song! Classic! Also, while you are there, Mark has another great post Don’t Rent That Clown Suit Just Yet, talking about Gods Providence. Very timely for me in any case.

Totally off topic, but if you are into Motor racing, you might be interested in the Motor Racing Game being run. Just a community of enthusiasts guessing and learning, but lots of fun if that’s your thing (you will find me there…)

Lastly, my friend Richard Oddie from Whole Heart Music has another video out, this time, Amazing Grace.

It’s not all about You! Romans 10:14-17 (Part 2)

Romans 10:14-17 (ESV)
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

In part 1 of our study on these verses, we talked about how the good news of Jesus Christ needs to be shared before people can believe it! But there is one thing that is out of your control altogether- whether they will accept the message or not.

If you do not preach, they may never hear.

But at the same time, you can preach for hours and days on end with no result. Why? Because it is not up to you to ‘convert’ someone. You cannot make a decision to believe on behalf of someone else. Yes, there are things you can do, but ultimately, it is their choice.

For they will not call on Jesus unless they believe in Him.

So what affects belief?

First, the Holy Spirit needs to interpret the message to them, which will happen at the right time, in the right place. If you read the story of Phillip in Acts 8:26-40, you will see that the spirit called Phillip to a certain place to share, at the exact time that the Ethiopian was examining the Old Testament scripture. You can read here then that this wasn’t a ‘cold’ approach, like a door to door salesperson, but this person was already reading and interested. This person had also just come from Jerusalem, so they knew about God already. If you like, the time and place were set by God. The Ethiopian still had a decision – he could have chosen to reject Phillips message of the good news, as many of the Jewish faith did, but he didn’t.

1 Corinthians 2:6-14 (ESV)
Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

So what can we do to influence this?

Pray. Pray that the Spirit will interpret the good news of Jesus to that person. Pray that you will be given an opportunity to share. Pray that the opportunity comes at the right time, in the right place. Pray that you are given the right words to say.

You don’t need to be perfect. You can totally stuff the whole thing up, from your own perspective. Once the process is started, in many ways, it doesn’t matter! (I’m not saying don’t try, but that the power and conviction comes from God – not you). Once you have started to share, it is up to the Holy Spirit to guide and interpret, convict and direct, and that person to consider and make a decision either way.

Don’t expect immediate results (though they may well come!). Don’t expect anything at all, but pray that the message is received, and you have done what God wants of you in that moment in time. You may be called on again to share to that person – you may not. Someone else may also be called on to water the seed that you planted, or maybe you are watering the seed someone else planted.

The thing to remember is – it is not you. It is now between that person and God, and all you can do is pray. So pray!

Lord God, we are amazed that imperfect as we are, as useless at speaking correctly as we are, as fallen and weak as we are, that you would choose to use us for the most important tasks in Your Kingdom, that of sharing Your good news with others. What an amazing privilege, to partake in the good news of Jesus Christ and share it with others! Guide us Lord, lead us, because we don’t know what to say or when. Help us to more and more rely on you at all times, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Me? A Preacher? Romans 10:14-17 (Part 1)

Romans 10:14-17 (ESV)
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

As we move through our study of Romans, we come to these verses where Paul (the author) applies some simple logic to the plan of salvation. And it really breaks down simply.

First, someone has to be sent. This is essentially sent by God to preach the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, His perfect life, His atoning death on the cross and His resurrection to new life.

In a formal sense, this could also mean those we ‘send out’ as missionaries, or those we ‘send out’ with our blessing and prayers to start more churches. But this really is a second step, and only relating to formal ministry. This verse speaks of so much more than that!

What Paul is saying is that God has sent people to preach the good news. But who has God sent?

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This isn’t just missionaries and those called to full time ministry – while both are important, the call is much wider than this! God is calling me, God is calling you, to share the good news of Jesus Christ!

Yes, you. A preacher.

Don’t run out now and start preaching on the corner (unless you are called to do so!). Don’t jump up and down in your cubicle at work, suddenly proclaiming the gospel as something new that touched your life (though one day you may be called to do this!). But start to think of yourself as someone God has called to preach the Gospel.

How?

By being ready. First, you need to know what you have been saved from, and Who saved you! Then it is simple – when the opportunity arises, share the gospel with people. When people want to know why you are not absorbed into the things of this world, tell them. Tell them of the hope you have in Jesus. When people see your strength (and often not yours, but Christ shining through), they may come to you – when they do, share why you appear strong.

Yes. You. The preacher.

The other way to be prepared is to be in communion with God! Pray. Read your Bible. Be ready in season and out of season!

You may be called to be a missionary, or a preacher, or a pastor, or an elder, or any number of other things. But no matter where you are now, you have been called to share the gospel in the places where it needs to be heard, so that someone can respond.

Romans 10:14-15 (ESV)
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Heavenly Father, thank you for your saving work! Thank you that it is not exclusive, it is not hidden, it is not restricted, but that you freely call all people to salvation in you. And not only that, but you choose to use us to proclaim that message, despite the imperfect and weak people we are. Teach us to rely on you. Open for us doors of opportunity that we might share Your good news, and give us the strength, wisdom and boldness to share the right words at the right time. All this we pray in Jesus Name, Amen

(For those that don’t know of him, today’s picture is Tim Keller, a church pastor in New York City and respected author!)

Selfish! Self-Centered! James 3:13-18

James 3:13-18 (ESV)
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

One of my biggest personal frustrations is my selfishness, and my self-centeredness. I am constantly thinking of myself.

So often I look and see my motivation – self. Self glory. Self satisfaction. Selfish gain. My way.

You could easily excuse these feelings, and I know at times I do. You can easily say that they are natural – it’s just the way I am. But no! The only reason I am this way is that I am born in sin, and have become good at it through constant practice and training.

Even in our world today everything is about ‘self’. How to be successful. How to get what you want. How to get your own way with others. How to earn more. How to be happy. These are all worldly measures of self and success that are sold to us as the norm for society – there is nothing wrong with it, it is normal! This is the way you are, learn to make the most of it!

And again –No! I have read the Bible often enough to know that selfishness is not Godliness – but quite the opposite. I know that in many ways my life is significantly less self centered than it was 20 years ago, and yet, I still see so much of it! So, what does the Bible say?

Well, we could probably go for months looking at passages and examples, so I will just look at this one in James for now. So where selfishness exists, which is ‘wisdom from below’, earthly, unspiritual and even demonic, you will also find jealousy, disorder and ‘every vile practice’. Selfishness leads us far, far away from God.

So what is the answer? I think the key is the first item – purity – but let’s look at them all.

Purity. We need to remain pure before God, forgiven of our past sin, doing our best in Him to avoid any other sin. We need to keep our mind and thoughts on Jesus, and remain pure. I think if we do this, the rest will follow in due course!

Peaceable. This one is a tough one to define, but the way I see it is mostly staying off our personal ‘soap boxes’. We need to be honest and truthful, and call out error when we see it (and are called to – there are times to remain silent), but we need to do in an honest, sincere, loving way. Not a divisive, ‘I am right’ (see the selfish ‘I’ there?) way.

Gentle. Gentle with ourselves and others. Not condemning, but gentle and graceful in the love of Christ. Not divisive, but peaceable. This one goes hand in hand with the one before!

Open to reason. We all do things wrong from time to time. We can’t be right all of the time! We need to be open to reason from others, open to teaching from others, and open to correction from others. Obviously, we need to be wise to who we take these things from, but we all need to be open to others that they might be the vessel God uses to bring us closer to Him, through teaching or correction, counseling and guidance.

Full of mercy. Just as God has been merciful to us, we need to be merciful to others. It is terribly easy to see ourselves as right and just, and then judge and condemn others. But God has called us to a higher standard – to show mercy just as we have been shown mercy.

Full of good fruits. An outflow of our salvation and purity should be fruits of the spirit! We all have hopefully heard them many times, spoken, shared and maybe even sung if you went to Sunday school. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

Impartial. Not judging someone differently from another – for any reason. Maybe you judge because of color, or maybe you judge because of hair, or clothes, or the car they drive, or the house they live in. Or maybe you are more discerning, and you judge because of the church they go to, or the doctrines they preach. But God has called us not to judge one another – because we will be judged in return using the same measure! So instead of that, we need to leave our own opinions out of it, and be impartial to all.

Sincere. Genuine, Free from pretense and deceit. That is what it means to be sincere. Not ‘peddling religion’, or selling your own viewpoint (see the ‘your own’ in there?). But being honest and open, honest and sincere about God and what He has done for you.

So how do you measure up? If you are anything like me, sometimes, not so bad. The rest of the time, not so good at all! But know that there is hope. God hasn’t called us because He wants us to live under condemnation for eternity, but that we will be right and whole before Him once again. So as you go about your day today, keep these things in mind. Look at your actions with others, your actions when driving, your actions when racing down the supermarket aisles, your comments on Facebook, and measure them up to the above. And if possible, measure them before you act, and try to be less selfish!

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Call on Jesus – Romans 10:11-13

Romans 10:11-13 (ESV)
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

I get the feeling Paul is trying to get a point across to us. Over and over, the theme of salvation by faith alone is coming through! So let’s take a quick look at some of the themes in these verses in Romans.

Everyone!

Everyone who believes will not be put to shame. What shame is Paul speaking of? He means the shame of coming before God with your sins still in place, and the shame of being rejected by the Father when He is finally, fully revealed on the last day. It is the final shame of ultimate rejection by God, who in that very moment, you will know and understand to be God, your creator! The shame of knowing that God actually did love you, and what He did for you, but you chose to reject.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Again with the ‘everyone!’ One of the key themes in Romans has been to explain that before Jesus came, God used the Israelites, His chosen people, to be His witnesses in the world, and that salvation would come through them. Now that the law is fulfilled in Jesus, this time has passed – before God there is now no distinction between the ‘chosen people of Israel’ and everyone else, salvation is through Jesus who has finally met all of the just requirements of the law, and paid the penalty for all.

Salvation is not works. There is nothing you can do, on your own, to be saved.

Salvation is not obedience to the law. Prior to Jesus, obedience to all the Laws of Moses was a requirement, as were all the sacrifices in the temple. Since Jesus has fulfilled that, salvation is no longer by obedience to the law, but through the grace of God in Jesus.

Salvation is not devotion, poverty, service or anything else. Just like works – you can’t become a monk to be saved. You can’t devote your life to poverty to be saved. You can’t even devote your life to service to be saved – you are saved alone through Jesus. Some of these things (just like obedience) may come as fruits of that faith – but none of them will save you without faith.

Salvation is not hereditary. Salvation never was hereditary, however, the message of God was familial –the children of Israel were God’s chosen messengers. And yet, still ‘gentiles’ could choose to be grafted into that society and relationship with God should they choose. But now even the message of salvation is open to all and preached to all. Everyone.

So what is the key message? Call on the name of the Lord – Jesus. I mentioned it before – some of the things that we associate with salvation, such as good works, can be a fruit of salvation. But not a single one of them will bring salvation – only faith in Jesus, His death and resurrection will do that for you.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

So do it. Call on Jesus – and you will be saved.

Thank you again Lord God that you sent your Son to pay for our sins in your abundant love. Thank you that you have shown grace to us when we could not have done a thing to save ourselves. Teach us your ways, guide us to you, show us that without faith, works are nothing, family is nothing and commitment is nothing. Remind us daily that it is in You that we have salvation, and not in any other. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.