Witness of the Creation

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." ( Romans 1: 18-23 ESV)
     Tomorrow is the beginning of probably the best month of New England climate. Today I had the pleasure of taking a long walk along country roads praying to God as I received fresh air and exercise. Neither too hot or too cold, today was one of those rare, wonderful ones that we seldom receive here. Some cows grazed, a tiny rivulet bubbled along the road, the leaves are beginning to transform their parent trees with autumnal splendor, and God allows me to revel in it all.
     Yet sadness tinged my experience as some of the people that I prayed for do not know God with the intimacy that He has given to me through surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and entrance into His Kingdom through faith and obedience. Some are church goers. God requires more than this. Jesus will not be a part of our life, competing with other things. He wants to be our Life.
   Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) And the creation witnesses to Him every day.

The Words of Jesus

     Some years ago I heard a man with an encyclopedic knowledge of the Bible say that the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew chapters 5-7) were only for the Jews, and thus not relevant for "Christians." More recently i have heard others share similar sentiments. I wonder if they have any idea of the ramifications of their words. True Christ followers believe that Jesus is God. Are we to believe that the words of JESUS are not relevant to us today? Now I understand that the original audience that heard these words were Jewish. But they are written down as part of the inspired Word of God. ( 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Hebrews 4:12 et. al. ) Are we sinful humans the arbiters of what is and what is not important in the Bible? Some of the best counsel i ever received was to read the whole Bible from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22 and then to read it again and again and...
     Let's look at some of the words of Jesus. "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." ( John 6:63)
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." ( Mark 13:31)
"Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does and  teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." ( Matthew 5:19 NKJV)
"But you do not have His Word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe." (John 5:38)
     On a completely different subject i have heard a prediction that at the meeting of the Federal Reserve on Dec. 18th, the end of cash will be announced in the US. While i do not know if this is true, I suspect the technology is available to make this feasible. Many people do not use much cash at all. Yet the disappearance of cash is just another step in the ability of a few people to control many as every transaction of any kind will now be on record. We should not trust in the political or economic systems of this world but in Jesus Christ as Lord.

Very Nice Rebels

     Some of the nicest people that I know are rebels. If you spent time with them you would say, "Really nice people. Kind, considerate, loving, courteous and yet they are not surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. Now they may say that Jesus is their Lord. They may go to church on a regular basis, hear a good Biblically based sermon, give to charity, pray, and even read the Bible. I did this for many years but i was not surrendered to Jesus Christ. I was still the Lord of my life. I made the decisions, formed my values and convictions, to be sure with a Scriptural veneer or finish that looked glossy on the outside. And we are continually warned against this.
"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard, lest we drift away." ( Hebrews 2:1)
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is yet called 'Today' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end." ( Hebrews 3:12-14 NKJV)
  "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13 NKJV)
"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached unto you- unless you believed in vain." ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NKJV)
"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?- unless indeed you are disqualified." ( 2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV)
     The verses written above, and many others, are written to believers, not to unbelievers.
Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven." ( Matthew 7:21) The key is obedience. Have we submitted to the Lordship of Christ by our practical, daily obedience to His commands or have we been very nice rebels?

Reflections on Personal discipleship

     Personal discipleship is a rather foreign theme for most American "Christians," even though Jesus commands all true believers to make disciples. ( Matthew 28:19) But if we are to obey His command the implication is that one person disciples another (or more than one). The one being discipled may in turn disciple others but the basic building block is one person discipling another. We see Jesus doing this with the twelve, and even more so with the three. (Peter, James and John) We see Paul doing this with Timothy and other companions.
     Personal discipleship ties into the Lordship of Christ in the following way. The american christian idea of Lordship is very individualistic and subjective. I have a personal understanding of what the Lordship of Christ is in my life, usually without reference to anyone else. The discipleship that I saw and experienced in Brazil incorporates another person whose major concern is my welfare, growth and maturity in Christ. I need to submit to their more objective perspective of my life.
     I understand that is in direct conflict with the american cultural belief that i make my own decisions, live my own life, form my own values. But if this is how i think then i am still trying to be the Lord of my life, and Jesus is not. Recently I had a desire to do something which is not ungodly. Both the brother to whom i have submitted my life and another mature brother thought my desire was unwise. As I have submitted to their counsel I find their advice better than my own idea. God is faithful.
    One of the best spiritual tests is to look at the fruit produced. For me there is no contest. The system of personal discipleship, even with human frailty and potential abuse, is better than the anarchy of each part of the Body of Christ trying to operate separately.

Humility and leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ

     Jesus is the supreme example of humility for the true Christian. Even though He is God, "being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." ( Phil. 2:8 NKJV) He teaches that "whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." ( Matthew 18:4 NKJV) When Paul addresses the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 he says "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner i lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility..." (Acts 20:18b-19a) And Peter, also addressing elders writes, "nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." ( 1 Peter 5:3) Later in the same chapter he writes, "All of you be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He might exalt you in due time." (1 Peter 5:b-6 NKJV)
     When a person is genuinely converted many "external" sins can die at once. But pride seems to be an almost intractable reality, something we must put to death every day. Perhaps the key is understanding who we are as humans in contrast to a supremely infinite and holy God.
     I believe that personal insecurity and lack of trust in God are at the heart of our pride. True security comes from believing and walking in who God says that we are in Jesus Christ. Trusting in God is the opposite of the overpowering need to control the people around us. Sadly i have experienced this many times in the church. The truly humble seldom become leaders; those who have to control other people do.

Some Thoughts on Fasting

   Fasting is the practice of not eating for the purpose of concentrating on God. This was practiced by such Old Testament figures as Moses,  David, Ezra, Esther, Daniel and the men of Jabesh (1 Chronicles 10:12), and by Jesus and the early Church. (Acts 13:2, 14:23) When questioned about why His disciples did not fast Jesus replied that they would fast once He left. (Matthew 9:15, Mark 2;20, Luke 5:34) So it seems to be a practice for modern day believers.
   One purpose of fasting is to humble ourselves, (Psalm 69:10 ESV) something we all need. Another possibility is an increase in spiritual power depending on your understanding of the inclusion of Mark 9:29 in the canon of Scripture. A third is to use the time ordinarily consumed in the preparation, eating and cleaning up after meals to seek the Lord in prayer.
     Having just finished a time of this, I believe that fasting is an act of faith similar to believing that the Holy Spirit can reveal the Word of God to us when we read the Bible, or that God listens and responds when we pray. There is nothing magical about it.
    The physical reality for me was a significant decline in my physical strength. (Normally I am healthy and vigorous) I slept far more poorly than usual. Many years ago I was able to do my regular work while fasting. Now, probably not. I experienced worse breath than usual which is probably a release of the toxins in the body. This did not improve over time.
     DISCLAIMER:  I am not saying that anyone should fast. That is between you and the Lord. And if you do for any extended time don't sit down to a full meal when you stop but return to eating very gradually. I drink juice to begin and progress to apple sauce and plain yogurt. I also think it would be more fruitful to fast with a group if you can find anyone willing to do this.

Kingdom of God per Matthew

     The primary theme of most of the churches and people that i visited in Brazil this summer is the Kingdom of God. So i resolved that when i returned to the US that I would do a study on this subject, which i began yesterday. I found 129 references (may vary a little with other versions) in the New Testament. Forty-six are in the gospel of Matthew. Last night i had the opportunity to go through all 46 with seven brothers or sisters.
     For context we began in Genesis 1:26, 28 where God gives Adam dominion over the earth and everything in it, and where he is told to subject the earth. In the same place he is commanded to be fruitful and multiply so that he can have help in this responsibility. Unfortunately his sin ceded control of his kingdom to the devil. So it is of huge significance to find Jesus coming preaching the kingdom of God. After His temptation he begins his public ministry in Matthew 4:17 by saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven (essentially interchangeable with the kingdom of God) is at hand. Jesus has arrived to invade the devil's kingdom. In verse 23 of the same chapter we read that Jesus went around all Galilee teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
     Now when we think about the gospel we usually look at it from an  individual perspective; that Jesus came to save me from my sins. While this contains truth it is not the overarching theme. He came to proclaim his kingdom. Matthew 12:25-28 brings this out clearly. Jesus has been accused of casting out demons by the help of the devil. He replies that no kingdom divided against itself can stand. He concludes by saying, "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."
     A kingdom also requires a king. A king is one who rules. His subjects obey. Too often we receive a diluted message that Jesus only came to be our Savior. I find it impossible to maintain this view in light of the 129 references to Him as King of a kingdom, not to mention many more as Lord. We are kidding ourselves if we remain on the throne of our lives doing what we think is best, The identical proverbs of 14:12 and 16:25 say that "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death."
    A final thought for now is that most of the parables in Matthew are used to explain aspects of the kingdom of heaven. Check out chapter 13 for example.

Reality

     Returned from Brazil about a week ago and American reality has set in. I had no allergies there but can't stop sneezing here. Have met with two different groups of people that I get together with on a regular basis, and find both drifting from pure fervor for Christ. I find a precious brother suffering from yet another "leader" who will do anything to control the people around him. I miss Brazil already. Not just little things like farofa, a cooked grain with spices that looks like sand but tastes delicious sprinkled over just about anything, or the fact that I don't have to drive there, but larger things like God's order, the love of the brethren for one another, the accountability which prevents the dominating leader syndrome, and the emphasis on the Kingdom of God and making disciples rather than living for ourselves.
     But God is faithful, and He will build His church. Have had encouraging conversations and opportunities to share what God is showing me with others. Don't expect that very many will receive the message but Jesus didn't promise this. Instead He said that the way to eternal life with Him is narrow; the highway to eternal destruction wide. ( Matthew 7:13-14)
     And I thank God for the friends that He gave me in Brazil, some of whom are corresponding with me via e-mail. They are precious in His sight, and in mine. I am also enjoying the tape of the NT that my friend Gilmar gave me, which allows me to listen and hear the pronunciation while i follow along in the same Portuguese version of the Bible.
   "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, 'Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17 KJV)

Jesus Christ the Lord

       Have just finished rereading a book titled “Jesus Christ The Lord,” by Jorge Himitian. (Also available in Spanish, Portuguese and French.) I believe this to be one of the most important books that I have ever read; a good summary of what I have experienced in Brazil this past summer. In chapter 1 the author presents Jesus as Lord, not just as Savior, which is the focus of much preaching and thinking in the church in the US. He declares that the Lordship of Christ is not a title like governor or mayor but a term denoting ownership; that Jesus is Master and King. The second chapter shows that Jesus is to be the Lord of my life, and that of the church. Chapter three talks about the language of the Kingdom. Complaining and grumbling is the language of the kingdom of this world; praise and thanksgiving is the language of the Kingdom of God.

The fourth chapter explores the practical reality of Jesus as the Lord of our time, our money, and our home and family life. I found the fifth chapter the most crucial of all. The essential gospel message is not that Jesus will save you from your sins, although He will, but that we must surrender to the Lordship of Christ through dying to one's self. Do I (we) do what I want or what Jesus wants. The essence of sin is to please ourselves.

The author then proceeds to an understanding of baptism which accords with the New Testament. Baptism proclaims through action our surrender to the Lordship of Christ. In the nine cases of baptism enumerated in the book of Acts, only that of Paul is not immediately following initial repentance. In his case there was no one to baptize him at once. If someone does not consent to baptism then we can have no assurance that they have surrendered to Jesus as King.

Finally the author shows the dominion of Jesus over six kingdoms- that of nature, the living, human governments, the dead, demons, and angels. Jesus came to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom; that He has come to rule and reign in the hearts of His people.  

Retreat (Retiro)

     God is faithful. While in northern Brazil I stayed at the home of a brother who is one of the leaders of a church there. He told me about a conference that he was planning to attend about an hour from where i live in the U. S. When I returned a few days ago I got in contact with him, and was able to attend the retreat yesterday. Here is what makes this remarkable. For three months I experienced Brazilian Christians living what the pages of the New Testament describe. I had told one brother that i wish that i could put this in a box and bring it back home with me. Well I discovered that God has already planted here in the state that i live in. This is an annual get together, of almost five hundred people, including many young people, from a number of different states. ( About half from my state) But it is not just Brazilians who have moved to the US. There were Spanish speaking Hispanics, and some North Americans. There was even a couple from Ghana. When I spoke to them I discovered that he was from the same ethnic group as I had visited six years ago. (Ghana has about twenty-five different groups, each with their own language.)
     What encourages me even more is that these people have received the kingdom of God, personal discipleship, submission to authority, and other very unpopular teachings which i believe the church in the US needs to receive. I found the same hospitality, generosity, fervency, and faithfulness to the Scripture that I had experienced in Brazil. God further blessed me by giving the opportunity for fellowship with several of the leaders of this church, some of the North Americans, and several other believers. I also had time with Marcos, the apostolic brother who lives in Brazil, and also the primary speaker for the retreat. Readers with good memories may recall several posts some months ago about a brother named Moises. Marcos, about my age, is his son. Together with another brother, he provides covering for a number of churches in Brazil and other countries.
    To find all of this almost in my backyard is a powerful encouragement for me. May God's will continue to be done. Let me pass on three questions that were posed to us.
How is your family? ( Spiritually and otherwise)
Who are your disciples? (Who are you actively, regularly helping to grow in Christ)
Who are you submitted to? (Are you a lone Ranger or are you accountable to mature believers)