Rustic wooden table with Passover Seder items: matzah, shofar, grapes, pomegranate, candle, olive branch, lemon, and scrolls.

Easter Reflections: From Exodus to Resurrection

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(For those of you who read my blog, you will quickly realize that I wrote on the subject of Passover a short while ago. I feel that it might prove helpful if we look a little more closely at the far-reaching ramifications of all seven annual feasts celebrated by the people of the Jewish faith. Why? Because, as you will see, Jesus is the main character in each of them!)

We have just been blessed to once again celebrate Easter, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This should be a season of great joy and gladness as we give attention to the most amazing event in all of human history. And yet, we often pass it by without giving thought to what Easter is really all about.

Let me take you back to times and places we read about in the Bible so that we might be able to better understand what we have once again memorialized. To find the story behind what we call Easter, we must go back, way back, to approximately 1500 years before the sacrificial death of Jesus. Think about the story of the exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt, under the leadership of Moses.

The Israelites had spent over 400 years in Egypt. They went there in a time of desperation, as they were experiencing a horrific famine in their homeland. Joseph, one of Jacob’s twelve sons, had through a series of events orchestrated by the sovereign action of God become a powerful leader – second only to Pharaoh himself – in Egypt. It was through the providence of God that Joseph was able to provide for his family, ultimately moving them to Egypt, where they took up residence at the invitation of Pharaoh.

Over the passing of time the Israelites grew in number in such a profound way that they were thought of as a threat to the welfare of Egypt, so the relationship changed from that of welcomed guests to that of slaves. Thus, their need of a deliverer who would lead them to freedom.

Center stage – Moses. God uses this man to lead the people of Israel – by the time numbering approximately 2,500,000 – out of Egypt to the land of promise. It was on the night of their departure from Egypt that God gave Moses instructions to the people of Israel concerning Passover.

When the angel came through the land of Egypt and saw the blood of the lamb, he would “pass over” the household of those protected by the blood!

God revealed that an angel would pass through the land of Egypt, killing the firstborn of every household in that country. However, the people of Israel would be safe from the death angel’s assigned task by sacrificing a lamb and smearing the blood of that lamb on the doorposts of their homes. When the angel came through the land of Egypt and saw the blood of the lamb, he would “pass over” the household of those protected by the blood!

This celebration of Passover became an annual tradition for the people of Israel. They participate in this tradition to remind them of this great deliverance God provided for their ancestors long ago. But Passover is only one of seven annual feasts of Israel. Under the leadership of Moses, God gave instructions for these annual feasts, and in looking carefully at each of them we see an amazing portrayal of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

God gave instructions for these annual feasts, and in looking carefully at each of them we see an amazing portrayal of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Those seven feasts of Israel, in the order in which they were to be celebrated each year, are:

  • Feast of Unleavened Bread
  • Feast of Passover
  • Feast of Firstfruits
  • Feast of Pentecost
  • Feast of Trumpets
  • Day of Atonement
  • Feast of Tabernacles

When we read through the Bible and come to those passages giving the tedious details of these feasts, our tendency might be to give them a cursory glance or just skip them all together. But to do so is a tragic mistake, because it is here that we see, in vivid detail, the story of the Messiah, our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Take a moment to look over the list of feasts and note particularly the order in which they are to be observed. God gave them a picture – a portrait – of His Son. The picture begins in the New Testament with John the Baptist seeing Jesus approaching, and making the announcement, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” From our New Testament perspective – and to be more accurate, from our twenty-first century perspective – we can easily miss the detail of this portrait. But the people who heard John speak these words would have known exactly what John was referring to – the Passover Lamb they had long anticipated.

My next blog will be an overview of each of these seven feasts. When we see Christ in the Old Testament, and realize how meticulously God gave Moses instructions for the annual celebrations, we will see Jesus Christ in all of His glory. It is a story that you don’t want to miss.

Hallelujah – what a Savior!

Wildflower meadow with daisies and clover under sunrise with mist and dew

Finding Wonder in God’s Creation

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This morning I awoke in one of my favorite places – the Great Smoky Mountains. Specifically in the city of Pigeon Forge, TN. I love these beautiful mountains and cherish the memories I have of many previous visits and relish the thoughts of yet another brief time spent here.

I often ask myself, “Why do I love these mountains like I do?” The answer to that question is not quite clear to me. As far back as I can remember, I have always loved the mountains. If you know me, even casually, you have probably heard me say at some point that I would love to live in the mountains of Wyoming or Montana (one winter might do me in, but I’d love to give it a try!). Teresa and I had the wonderful joy and pleasure of living in the Smoky Mountains for a brief stint (18 months), and we both loved every minute we were there. We hiked so many trails, visited so many waterfalls, took in so many sights of each season. We saw such beauty and majesty looking over the valleys far below, or the peaks far above. We heard the thunderous sound of the crashing water as it fell from high above to its destination far below.

We were talking just yesterday about so many memories of those 18 months. Yesterday, as we drove from Lancaster, SC, to Pigeon Forge, TN, we once again drove through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, enjoying yet again the beauty of that 35-mile drive between Cherokee, NC, and Gatlinburg, TN. We’ve driven this road countless times before, enjoying the beauty of each season. We’ve seen the breathtaking grandeur of the colors of fall, the pristine snow-blanketed serenity of winter, the cold, seemingly lifeless barren trees between winter and spring, the beautiful, bountiful colors of spring as new life bursts forth – I could go on, but hopefully this is enough to show how deeply my love for this small part of God’s creation runs.

But more than speaking of my love for these mountains is my love for the Creator who created such beauty. And why did He do it? I’ve often thought about the fact that God could have created the world in one monotonous color, with one never-ending season, with trees all of the same hue of green, with no variations in terrain, no changing of weather patterns, etc. Yes, He could have created a rather ‘blah’ world. He also could have created humans as automatons – all exactly the same height, weight, hair color, body build, eye color, preferences, etc.

I think we would all probably agree that we would not like to live in a world like that. But again, what prompted God to create things the way they are? I’m sure I can’t answer that question adequately. I admit that His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts than my thoughts. But I can’t help but believe that He created it the way He did because of His desire to give us a most enjoyable life experience. I believe that God gave us a world that would bring us joy and fulfillment, contentment and satisfaction. After all, He did create a perfect paradise to be home to His first human family. He created a place with an abundance of everything man and woman could ever possibly need to live a perfectly fulfilled life.

Let me get a bit personal. Have you taken time recently to thank Him for this beautiful world He has given us? I can’t help but praise Him when I ride through the towering peaks of the mountains, or see the vast expanse of the ocean, or see the flat lands of the Midwest, or the cornfields of Nebraska, or the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, glacier covered peaks of Montana, or the Badlands of the Dakotas. Yes, creation itself should serve as motivation for praise and worship.

He has given us all things to enjoy, but He has also given us all things to bring us into a state of reverence, gratitude, and thanksgiving as we realize that He did it for our enjoyment. Let’s be sure to take time to pause in the busyness of life to thank Him for the gift of His creation.

Unleavened bread and barley still life painting

Easter vs Passover: Clarifying Biblical Terms

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Where would we be without Easter? Before I address that question, let me take a moment to address the issue of the word itself. Is Easter found in the Bible? Well, yes, and no. The word is found in the King James Version of the Bible. Found in Acts 12:4, the verse reads: “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” This is in reference to Peter being arrested, and kept in his cell until after Pascha (Hebrew for Passover). Thus, it is a clear reference to the Jewish feast of Passover rather than to a day referred to as Easter.

Is this really important? I think that we will reach the solid conclusion that it is crucially important when we understand the significance of the word. Easter has no place in the original languages of the Bible. There are varying explanations as to how the word “Easter” came to be in English translations of the Bible, but the one that seems to have the most consensus is that when the King James Version (KJV) was translated in 1611, the word Easter was commonly used in reference to the Passover, and would have had that understanding to those in that era who read that particular translation. However, with the changing of the definition of words through the years, it is now a matter of confusion. Thus, it is far better to understand Acts 12:4 as Passover, not Easter.

Now let’s consider the ramifications of not using the word “Passover”. Passover is one of three Jewish feasts that take place within an eight-day period. It begins on Sunday, and concludes on Sunday. The first Sunday begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread, during which all leaven must be removed from Jewish homes for the duration of those eight days. It then concludes on the following Sunday, which is the Jewish Feast of Firstfruits. Between these two Feasts is the Feast of Passover, which is celebrated on Thursday.

The reason we should be careful to use the right terminology relative to each of these Feasts is because Jesus is the fulfillment of all three. Let’s consider carefully this extremely important part of those Feasts of Israel, and how each is related to Jesus.

To begin with, these are not to be thought of as being types of Christ found in the Old Testament. Think of a type of Christ as being a symbol, or picture, or foreshadowing, of the coming Christ. There are many of these types of Christ found throughout the Old Testament. However, we must be careful that we do not think of Firstfruits, Passover, and Unleavened Bread as being symbols, or types of Christ. Why? Because the New Testament makes it clear that Passover is not a type of Christ, but rather that Christ IS Passover. Firstfruits is not a type of Christ, but Christ IS Firstfruits. Unleavened Bread is not a type of Christ, but Christ is the Unleavened Bread.

Read the following verses carefully:

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I AM the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'” John 6:35

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:20

“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” 1 Corinthians 5:7

Jesus Christ IS the Bread of life, Firstfruits, and the Passover Lamb. This should make it abundantly clear that those Feasts of Israel are all fulfilled in our Lord, Jesus. We must not allow the world’s practice of changing the meaning of words to adversely affect these three terms that are so profound as we think about the season we refer to as Easter. We must maintain a commitment to the clear teachings of Scripture, especially those that teach us these phenomenal truths about Jesus.

So, what exactly should we call the day we have come to know as Easter? Simple: according to God’s plan as laid out in the Old Testament, we celebrate Unleavened Bread (we normally refer to it as Palm Sunday), Passover (Thursday after Unleavened Bread), and Firstfruits (we call it Easter). To understand the meaning of these terms, and the significance of the Old Testament feasts that were all fulfilled in, by, and through Jesus Christ, will shed so much light and provide so much clarity in why these Christian celebrations are rooted in Old Testament worship.

For over 3500 years orthodox Jews have participated in Communion every time they celebrate Passover

And now for the reason for this blog. Did you realize that for over 3500 years orthodox Jews have participated in Communion every time they celebrate Passover? And secondly, did you also realize that for over 2000 years the church has celebrated a part of Passover every time they have observed the Lord’s Supper?

For over 2000 years the church has celebrated a part of Passover every time they have observed the Lord’s Supper

It was during the observance of Passover that Jesus took a specific piece of unleavened bread, broke it, and said, “This is my body given for you.” Then, He took the third cup of wine served during the meal, and said, “This is my blood, shed for you.” That is astounding! Jesus IS the Passover. He is the ultimate Passover lamb whose life was given for others.

It is remarkable how God actually provided these graphic portraits of His Son approximately 1500 years before His birth. What a mighty God we serve – Amen!

Blessings!

Three wooden crosses silhouetted on a rocky hill against a vibrant sunrise sky.

The Passion of Christ

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Last night, Teresa and I watched the movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” This was only the second time we have watched this particular theatrical presentation of the crucifixion of our Lord. The first time was in 2004, shortly after the movie was released and was being shown in theaters across the country. Teresa and I went to see it with a group from our church. We traveled the 25 miles to the theater in our church van, laughing, talking, enjoying one another’s company as we made the trip. Upon our arrival we went into the theater, made ourselves comfortable in the nice, cushioned seats, and readied ourselves for the movie to begin.

At least I thought we were “ready”. Physically present? Yes. Chattering as the pre-showing ads ran on the screen? Yes. Still enjoying each other’s company? Yes. All was well as we enjoyed the comfort of the modern theater, and the company of our friends.

The movie began, and we watched as scene after scene was depicted on the large movie screen before us. As the movie progressed, I felt as if the screen was somehow getting larger and larger, and beginning to press in on me. I felt overwhelmed by the graphic depiction of the savagery of the soldiers as they hit and punched Jesus after arresting Him in the garden. I felt anger well up in me as the religious leaders were shown to be cold, callused, calculating, in their appeal for Jesus to be executed. I had to literally close my eyes to shut out the horrific scourging He was given. I actually felt nauseated as the scene of Him being nailed to the cross was shown, again in grotesque detail. I was in a state of stunned silence. I felt as if I needed to scream, but could not.

The movie finally ended. Not a sound was heard in the theater. No one spoke. The only sound I heard was that of crying, even after the movie had ended, and the credits had run. Silence, except for the crying.

We made our way back to the church van without a word. We all were seated, doors were closed, engine was started, van was moving. Silence. Twenty-five miles back to the church. We all sat in stunned silence. Not a single, solitary word was spoken. We arrived back at the church. No cordial “Good-byes” or “See you later.” We all made our way back to our vehicles and drove away. I later told Teresa that I would never watch it again. And I did not – until last night.

So why did I watch it again after saying that I would not? To be honest and completely transparent, it was only because Teresa wanted to see it again. Twenty-two years after watching it the first time, we sat and watched it again. And again – silence. No words were spoken between us. Once again I had to close my eyes several times to shut it out. It was too much to bear.

And yet, Jesus bore it all. He went through every moment of it, because it had to be done. And He was the only One who could do it. I have been preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ for over 45 years, I have preached many, many sermons on the crucifixion. I have tried, in many of those sermons, to give a verbal description of what His crucifixion might have “looked like.” But to see it displayed in such horrible, graphic detail on a huge screen right in front of me – well, that gave it a whole new meaning.

So, now I’ve watched it a second time. And once again I said to Teresa, “I will never watch that again.” I think I really mean it this time. I thought I meant it the first time, and yet, here I am, the day after watching, and saying it once again.

But, let me close by saying it does put things in a different perspective. It does cause us to think seriously about all He did for us. And it does make us so much more appreciative for Jesus’ willingness to go through all He did to secure our salvation. So this morning, I sit here typing these words with the scenes of the movie still playing in my head, and with every different scene, I have to say, “Thank you Jesus, for loving me so!”

Blessings!

Finding Clarity: Knowing God’s Will

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Through the 45+ years of my pastoral ministry, I have been asked literally hundreds, even thousands, of questions. They range from the silly to the serious, from the light-hearted to the life-altering, from the amusing to the amazing, from matters of this life to matters of the life to come. As I have given thought to those questions that seem to come up more often than others, the one that stands out clearly (from the perspective of my personal experience), as the number one most often asked is this: “How can I know God’s will for my life.” This is certainly a most important question to address. It is imperative that we seek God’s guidance in striving to determine our personal life-path.

However, I am inclined to believe that Henry Blackaby, in his most powerful and thought-provoking study, “Experiencing God”, hits on a key point. He suggests that “How can I know God’s will for my life” is actually the wrong question. He suggests that the correct question is this: “How can I know God’s will?” He then goes on to explain that once we understand God’s will, then we can make His will our will. That is certainly an interesting concept to consider, don’t you think? Let’s think seriously about the implications of that statement.

The first thing we need to address is, how do we know God’s will? And the first place to look is in the Bible. God’s will for the life of the believer is clearly laid out for us in Scripture. Think with me about a few statements Jesus made that will validate this truth. He made several “when you…” statements that give us some insight into things that are clearly actions that He expects of us. For example, in Matthew 6:6 He says, “When you pray…” Jesus is obviously making the assumption that part of the believer’s daily routine is prayer. He doesn’t say “If you pray”, but rather “When you pray”. He then goes on to give instructions on this matter of personal prayer. So, when you begin wondering about His will for you, make sure that you are involving yourself in the actions He assumes you are actively engaging in.

Another of these “when you” statements is found in this same passage of Scripture. In Matthew 6:2, Jesus says, “When you do a charitable deed…” The expectation, of course, is that believers will involve themselves in charitable causes. He also gives a word of explanation on this “when you” statement. He says clearly and specifically that we are not to do these charitable deeds to draw attention to self. Rather, they are to be done for His glory, as well as the good of the recipient of our charitable deed.

These two examples of “when you” statements are only given as examples, there being many others that are clear indications of certain actions and activities that are God’s will for every believer to engage in.

Another example of Biblical teachings on how to know God’s will is found in other types of statements made by Jesus. For example, He said, “Follow Me and I will make you become fishers of men.” Clear, isn’t it? To follow Jesus means that we will be witnesses for Jesus. And we need to make sure we understand the gravity of this statement: we are witnesses for Him! We are either good witnesses, or bad witnesses, but we are witnesses none-the-less.

Jesus also taught His followers that we are to abide in Him, because it is only as we abide in Him, the Vine, that we, the branches, can bear any fruit. And how do we go about abiding in Him? By personal surrender to His Word, His will, His teachings. We are to live daily in the awareness of His presence.

Perhaps a good way to facilitate knowing His will is to remind ourselves that everywhere we go, we take Jesus with us. He is always there, ever present. He hears every word, sees every action, witnesses every attitude. He is our ever-present Friend who is with us always.

Having said all that, there is still that looming question in the back of our minds, right? “How do I know God’s will for my life? And, yes, it is an important question. I am not suggesting that we should take it lightly. But I agree with Blackaby: ask the right question first, and the second will most likely make itself pretty clear. As we begin obediently doing what we know to be His will for all believers, then His will for us as individuals will make itself known as we obediently serve Him.

Blessings!

How to Discern True Christianity from False Religions

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Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 1 John 4:1-3

The world of the apostle John’s day, just like today, was filled with religious fervor. Judaism was one among many religious systems which competed with one another, presenting their views, inviting people in, indoctrinating those who would embrace their system of belief with their teachings and dogma. With so many different religions to choose from, how does one know what is true and what is false? How are we to test them, to put them through a strenuous trial, making sure that what we believe is the truth and not merely a fabrication, created ingenuously by the mind of man.

The apostle John gives us some very sobering words of warning, coupled with words of sound advice, on how to know what is true and what is false. It would be awful indeed to spend one’s life devoted to a religious system which in the end proved to be riddled with falsehood, presenting false hope that is based in fantasy rather than reality. Some of the major world religions that were present during the time of Christ were: Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism – all of which are still active in the world today. Into this mix, Christianity was added after the life, ministry, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

The vast majority of my readers are professing Christians, having embraced the teachings of the Christian faith. So this question is for us – professing Christians. How do we know that Christianity is the true religion? How do we answer those who adhere to other religious systems of belief?

Christians living in the United States are being faced with this question more and more as our country is becoming more and more the religious melting pot of the world. Adherents of other world religions are growing in number, as immigrants from other countries are now calling the US home. As they come, instead of assimilating into American life, they are maintaining the traditions and beliefs of their homeland – including their religious belief and practice. And, even more, they are in many ways demanding that the American people embrace their beliefs and practices, rather than respecting the longstanding traditional values and beliefs of America.

The results? They are very clear and evident. The United States has lost its Christian distinctive. As a past president of our nation stated, “The US is no longer a Christian nation.” And, sadly, it was due to individuals like him that this statement could ring true, since he, personally, was an adherent to a different religious belief system. Now, we are seeing politicians who embrace Islam being elected to high political offices, and we hear cries for the enactment of Sharia law. I believe that our founding fathers would be rolling in their graves if they were to realize the drastic turn in the religious fabric of their beloved nation.

But now, back to the question. How do we, as representatives of Jesus Christ, know that our manner of life, based on the teachings of Scripture, and specifically the teachings of Jesus Himself, is true? We can present all of our arguments, defending our faith, as the Bible teaches that we should be able to do. But the fact of the matter is, adherents to other world religions could defend their beliefs as well. So again, how do we test the spirits of these other religious systems, and have confidence that Christianity is true. Because, we must realize, that to say that Christianity is true we are in essence saying that all others are false. And the adherents of other religious belief systems are just as adamant that theirs is true as we are that Christianity is true.

We could defend the Christian faith by citing Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled, down to the most minute detail, in Jesus first coming. There are Old Testament passages that prophecy His birth, His miraculous conception, His sinless life, His death by crucifixion, He resurrection, His ascension back to the Father. We could also cite other prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled.

We could defend the Christian faith by sharing passages that speak of Jesus’ sinless life, His radical teachings, His ongoing influence that created a revolution throughout the entire world.

But, we could hear adherents of other religions speak of the influence of their religious beliefs and practices. Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism all have throngs of followers. It is estimated that there are 354 million Buddhists, 762 million Hindus, and 1.2 billion Muslim in the world, while Christianity is estimated to have 1.8 billion. These are not insignificant numbers. So, when we say that we believe the words of Jesus, that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him, we are suggesting that all of the adherents to these other religions are spiritually lost, without God in this world, and without hope for the world to come. Of course, they would say the same about us, but how can we know which one is true?

Well, actually we have already read the answer. Test the spirits. What do they say about Jesus? Do they believe He as a good man, a good teacher, an example of moral uprightness? Please read my following words very, very carefully. If they believe that He was a good man, a good teacher, and a person of moral integrity, but don’t believe He was God in the flesh, then they are dead wrong!

If anyone believes that Jesus was a good man, a good teacher, and a person of moral integrity, but don’t believe He was God in the flesh, they are dead wrong!

If Jesus was not God, then He was not a good man, nor a good teacher, nor a person of moral integrity. As a matter of fact, He was a dangerous liar who deceived multitudes with His fabrications about Himself. So, once again, how do we know that Christianity is right, and all others are wrong? Simple!

Buddha – DEAD!

Confucius – DEAD!

Mohammed – DEAD!

Dali Lama – DEAD!

Jesus Christ – Dead, Buried, Resurrected, Ascended, at the right hand of God the Father

What further proof could we possibly need? Jesus is the only one who promised that He would conquer death, hell and the grave, and kept His word. He changed the world, and continues to do so through His arms, legs, feet and hands – and that would be us. We are members of His body, the church. And one day, possibly soon, He will come for us, that we might be with Him forever.

Please never lose sight of what He has done for you. Your life is His gift to you; what you do with it is your gift to Him.

Blessings!

Walking in the Spirit: A Guide to Overcoming Fleshly Desires

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Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

Paul gives us some much needed, timely advice in this verse. But what exactly does he mean by this statement? It actually brings a picture to my mind from my brief stint in the marching band at Lancaster High School. I played trumpet in the band for a couple of years, and one of the highlights of playing in the band was being able to go to all the football games, where the band would perform at halftime. In order to be in the marching band, you, of course, had to learn to march in step. Every member of the band stepped in unison – where a hundred sets of footsteps sounded as one. We were all marching in step with everyone else.

The picture Paul is drawing is that of the disciple of Jesus Christ walking in step with Him by walking in the Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. It would mean being guided by the Spirit, allowing Him to direct our thoughts, our actions, our behaviors, and our attitudes. It would entail yielding ourselves to Him, allowing Him to have control of our surrendered mind, heart, and will.

Paul says that to do so will give us power to refrain from engaging in acts that are guided by the flesh, and he then goes on to give a list of the works of the flesh. It is a rather sordid list of sinful activities that every disciple of Christ should refrain from engaging in. It is not to be thought of as an all-inclusive list, as many other sinful acts could be added. Rather, it is a sampling of behaviors that every believer should guard themselves against.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissentions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5: 19-21

This is what it looks like to walk in the flesh. It does not mean that an individual would be characterized by all of these behaviors, but that their life would be recognized as being in alignment with the spirit which leads to these actions.

The person who is walking in the Spirit, on the other hand, would be characterized by a different list of behaviors. Paul says, in contradiction to the works of the flesh, that the fruit of the Spirit is:

…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

This list of the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit bears testimony to character traits of those who are walking in step with the Spirit. And Paul asserts that those who walk in the Spirit will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

In another of Paul’s letters – the letter to the Ephesians – he gives a graphic illustration of what living in the flesh looks like. He says:

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Ephesians 5:18-19

Here, Paul gives a contrast and comparison between being drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit. It is truly a picture that can’t be missed. If you have ever seen anyone under the influence of alcohol, then you can understand the imagery. We sometimes hear someone say that a person who is drunk is out of control. But that isn’t exactly true. They are actually under control – the control of the alcohol. They are being controlled by walking in the spirit of the drink.

In contrast, Paul says that the person who is filled with the Spirit – who is walking in the Spirit – will be living differently, as he/she is under the influence of the Spirit. They will be characterized by the things of the Spirit, and not by the things of the spirit of the world. It would mean that he/she is living a life that bears testimony to the reality of being in step with the Spirit.

A good question to ask ourselves periodically would be, “With whom am I walking in step? The Spirit God, or the spirit of the world?” And the answer will be found in your conduct, your behavior, your attitudes and your actions. Let’s strive to always walk in the Spirit so that we don’t fall prey to the lusts of the flesh.

Blessings!

Listening to God’s Creation: A Call to Worship

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The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The Lord is King!” Let the sea and everything in it resound; let the fields and all that is in them exult. Then the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. 1 Chronicles 16:30-33

It is obvious from these words that King David is overwhelmed by the presence and power of the Lord. This outburst of praise is filled with words of adoration to the Lord, and he is calling all of creation to worship and exalt Him. The occasion for this psalm of thanksgiving is the day the Ark of God is being carried to the city of Jerusalem after having been captured by the Philistines. There was great rejoicing in the city as the Ark, which represented the presence of God, was returned to its rightful place.

I find it very interesting that David calls for creation to be involved in this day of celebration. He refers to the heavens, the earth, the sea and everything in it, the fields, and the trees of the forest, saying they will shout for joy before the Lord. What a powerful way to describe how nature can lead one to worship and praise.

I remember one such occasion from many years ago. I was a student at Fruitland Bible Institute, located in Hendersonville, NC. Teresa and I were living at Chimney Rock while I attended the school. We had heard that there would be an Easter Sunrise Service on Chimney Rock and decided to attend. I remember that it was a cool, clear day as we made our way up the winding road to the parking lot far above the streets below.

I must admit that I don’t remember anything that was said during the time of worship. It wasn’t that I did not listen – I just didn’t hear. Why? Because the words of the preacher were being drowned out by the beauty of God’s creation. The glorious beauty of the panoramic view from the top of Chimney Rock was screaming so loudly that I could “hear” nothing else.

The pastor had completed his message, and he asked everyone to bow for the closing prayer. As much as I hated to close my eyes, I did as the pastor asked. He prayed a beautiful prayer of adoration, praise, and worship of our mighty God, and our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose resurrection we were celebrating on that Easter morning.

When he said “Amen” at the conclusion of his prayer, I opened my eyes to see one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen: the sun was just rising on the horizon. I was mesmerized. Tears of joy began to flow down my cheeks as I once again was enraptured by the “sounds” of creation, speaking much more loudly than the words of the pastor, even though he was speaking through an array of speakers which had been assembled for the occasion. Oh, it wasn’t a voice that you could hear – that is, unless you were listening.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one listening to creation’s message of praise that beautiful Easter morning atop Chimney Rock, but as far as I was concerned, I was the only one there. I was hypnotized by the message I was hearing. There have been other times when I experienced the message of creation, but none have ever topped the one that day long ago.

Is it important to realize the truth that nature gives testimony to the power and presence of God? The Apostle Paul certainly thought it was. Listen to the words he penned in his letter to the Romans:

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:20

Nature is a testimony to God’s invisible attributes! Paul even asserts that no one will be able to stand before God and say that he did not know God existed, because the creation itself bears testimony to His existence and power. The constant, consistent testimony of God’s creation is enough to convince anyone who will “listen” to its voice that there is a Creator, a Designer, a powerful, personal “cause” behind what exists.

Are you listening? Don’t get so caught up in the “voices” of the world that it causes you to miss out on the “voice” of God’s majestic creation. Let it, instead, bring you ever closer to God as you see His presence in the things He has made and given to us to enjoy.

Blessings!

The Power of Community in Worship: A Family of Faith

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Have you ever taken a few seconds to look around at the people with whom you worship? If not, the next time you are gathered for a time of congregational worship, take a moment to look around. Let your eyes take a survey of those gathered – think about what you know about them, individually. What is their background, their family make-up, their job, the number of people in the family, etc.?

Then, after a quick glance around, think about the fact that you are all together, in your place of worship, lifting your voices together in worship through song, uniting your hearts together in times of prayer, giving attention to the message being preached by your pastor. During that time together, you are as one – one body of believers, united in spirit and truth. You are seeking the same thing – the presence of the living Lord. You are desirous of the same thing – that the will of God would be done – right then, right there.

But as you take this cursory glance around, you also detect that, even though you are one in worship, in prayer, in desire, you are also very different from one another. Different backgrounds, different levels of education attainment, different career choices, living in different neighborhoods, with different preferences that drive you to make different choices.

So, as you look around, what is it that has brought you together, in that worship center, united as one in seeking the Lord? Why are you there? In that particular place? With those particular people? What is the driving force, the determining factor, that has brought you all together?

Then, think about the original twelve disciples. They were such a diverse group of individuals. At least four of them were fishermen. One was a tax collector. One, a political activist. The Bible doesn’t tell us the occupation of the others, but we can assume there were several other occupations among the remaining disciples.

Can you imagine some of the conversations they must have had? Can you picture a tax collector and a political activist being in the same room? Simon the zealot would have despised Matthew the tax collector. Simon would never have been a companion of someone who collected taxes for Rome, and yet there they were, following Jesus. For over three years they invested their lives together with a single focus: Jesus.

When you gaze around at your fellow worshipers, think of the diversity – the many, many differences you can think of. Then, think of the one common denominator: Jesus. It is Jesus who has brought you together. Chances are that you would never have any relationship with them outside of your worship of the Lord Jesus. Now, you love spending time together. You enjoy times of worship, times of fellowship, times of ministry and service. Why? Because of Jesus – He is the uniting factor.

What a powerful testimony to the reality of being changed through the new birth. We actually become part of a family – a huge, universal family made up of every person who has a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are now brothers and sisters in the family of faith. But then, we are also members of a local congregation of believers. It is there that we develop intimate relationships. It is there that we enjoy times of corporate worship. It is there that we enjoy ministry, fellowship, service – in short, we enjoy doing life together.

Let’s not take this family relationship for granted. It has to be nurtured, cultivated, developed through times of family gatherings. Take time to thank God for your faith family. Call members by name as you pray. Seek God’s guidance for each member, and also for the whole.

Enjoy one another, learn from one another, be encouraged by one another, love one another, carry one another’s burdens, laugh with one another, cry with one another. In short, be family. We all need each other to become all that God desires for us as individual family members, as well as a family unit.

Battling Emotional Turmoil: Insights from Charles Spurgeon

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Do you ever experience seasons of emotional distress, mental confusion, spiritual darkness? Have you gone through times and experiences that put you into a state of perplexity, causing you to wonder why God had seemingly abandoned you? (Please note the word “seemingly”, because the Bible testifies to the fact that God never abandons His children.)

You are not alone! Really – you are not alone. There are multitudes of people who have experienced the same thing. It is commonplace among humans to go through times that test us, and cause us to question ourselves: Does God really care about me; does He hear my prayers; is He not our ever-present help in times of difficulty; has He left me to deal with this alone?

Charles Spurgeon, known as “the prince of preachers”, by his own admission confessed that he battled seasons of depression. One of his most well-known quotes on the subject is, “There are dungeons underneath the Castle of Despair as dreary as the abodes of the lost, and some of us have been in them.”

There are dungeons underneath the Castle of Despair.

What a graphic, horrible image that creates in our minds. It is bad enough to be in the Castle of Despair, to be in in the throes of mental and emotional upheaval, to experience the fingers of darkness invading our thoughts and minds, filling us with a sense of foreboding, helplessness, and despair. But to have it engulf us to the point of being enslaved to it, to actually be taken from the Castle to the dungeon below.

The dungeon is where you go from the freedom of moving about in the castle above, to the place where you are chained, detained, unable to move, locked in that state of mental anguish and emotional turmoil. You begin to believe that there is simply no way out, that this will be the lot of your life forever. Spurgeon, again, gives more painful insight to this matter: “I think it would have been less painful to have been burned alive at the stake than to have passed through those horrors and depressions of spirit.”

I think it would have been less painful to have been burned at the stake.

Perhaps you see a bit of yourself in these quotes from Spurgeon. Perhaps you have spent some time in the Castle of Despair. And maybe, just maybe, you have at times felt yourself imprisoned in that deep, dark, dungeon, far beneath the surface, in the cold, dark clutches of despair and hopelessness. And maybe, someone reading these words, is actually there right now, this very moment. You are thinking to yourself, “How did he know? Has he been looking into my life? Has someone told him what I’m going through?”

No! I only know this because it is the common need of humanity. We are all prone to bouts of depression. One final quote from Spurgeon: “Fits of depression come over the most of us. Usually cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down.”

Usually cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down.

If anyone has been peering into our windows, it was the spirit of Spurgeon. He made these statements over 125 years ago, and they still ring true today. We are all prone to periods of depression – sometimes quite mild, sometimes extremely intense. So the question is how do we handle it? What are we to do in such times?

Spurgeon lived with it, as do many today. However, Spurgeon learned how to deal with it on those occasions in which he felt the fingers of depression wrapping around his mind. First, and foremost, Spurgeon looked at all of life through the lens of Scripture. Doing that, he believed fully in the fact that nothing happens in life outside of the will of God. Therefore, God brings into our personal experiences of life things that are uniquely designed specifically for us that will result in our good. His desire is that His children become more and more like Jesus as we go through life. He either personally ordains, or providentially guides, those things that will facilitate that desire.

Second, Spurgeon learned that a basic human need is rest, a time of getting away from it all in nature. A person cannot just go full speed through life without taking time to rest and refresh. Some of my most memorable moments of spiritual growth were in seasons of just getting away from the rigorous routine of life, taking a quiet walk, or going to one of my favorite places of solitude, and spending time allowing nature to remind me once again of the greatness and goodness of God. The psalmist often spoke of how the creation itself is testimony to God’s goodness and grace.

Finally, Spurgeon learned to look at everything through the lens of Scripture. In the pages of the Bible we learn the truth of God’s love for us. His desire is to see His children experience Him in His fullness. It is not to experience Him in what we can get from Him, but to experience Him, personally. To get to know Him intimately. To be so close to Him that we do as Jesus did, call Him “Abba.” The name is only found three times in the Bible (see Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6). In each, Jesus and Paul are referring to God in the most intimate way. To try to describe the difference between Father and Abba is difficult, but to think of it in the most simple of terms, Abba is like calling the Father “daddy”. It is an extremely intimate term, showing the close relationship between the one using it and the person being spoken of or to.

So, let’s try to learn lessons from someone who had truly been there – in the deep, dark recesses of the dungeon beneath the Castle of Despair. And lets remember – God, our Father, our Abba, is with us always and in all things. To Him be the glory for His goodness and grace.

Blessings!