Desperation Demands a Different Approach

“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,

but no one could heal her.

She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak,

and immediately her bleeding stopped.

 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said,

“Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had

touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Luke 8:43-48

 

 

How do you call out to God?

Do you kneel in the same spot every day, fold your hands and bow your head?

Is that the wrong way to call out to God?

Of course not!

But…Sometimes desperation demands a different approach.

Ask the woman with the issue of blood.

You will find nowhere in the Old Testament where the Children of Israel were instructed to approach God in the way that she did.

But…Sometimes desperation demands a different approach.

As a matter of fact, the opposite is closer to the truth.

Because she had a bleeding issue, the law required that she should not be touching anyone.

But…Sometimes desperation demands a different approach.

So let me rephrase my first question.

Are you desperate enough to push through the crowd of conformance to touch, by faith, the hem of Jesus’ garment?

In another posting we spoke of the Centurion seeing Jesus in a

way others, up to that point, had not seen Him.

Sometimes situations and circumstances can present us with no other options.

Either we kneel quietly, bow our heads, fold our hands and pray like we have a thousand other times or, like the woman in our story today we say, in essence, whatever it takes I am going to touch Jesus.

Some shouted, some begged, some pressed through a crowd, some broke up a roof and let down a friend, some caused Jesus to marvel at their faith.

Most didn’t follow the ‘decorum’ of the day.

Each touched Jesus.

Because…Sometimes desperation demands a different approach!

…As You Suppose…

“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”

 “…(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!”

Acts 2: 2-8; 11-15

 

On the day of Pentecost, not only were there 120 in the upper room but scripture tells us that Jerusalem was filled with “…God fearing Jews from every nation…”

When God poured out His Spirit (as promised by Jesus) on the 120, curious statements are made by some in the crowd that had gathered to see what was going on.

They admitted to hearing the 120 “…declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

 and they were declared to be “…God fearing Jews…” yet some still were able

(with a straight face no less) to accuse them of being drunk.

Imagine being able to speak clearly, fluently and intelligently in a tongue unknown to you and being accused of drunkenness.

I can’t help but chuckle when I think of how similar that logic is to those who support a Big Bang theory for the universe or evolution and then admit that you and I are indeed “…fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Such is the extent some will go to explain what they cannot understand!

You see, the Spirit of God came on those 120 with great power to be His witnesses.

But it didn’t fit the picture even some “God fearing Jews” had of how God should “behave”.

Some were old wineskins who wanted nothing to do with the new wine.

Are you a “God fearing Christian?”   

 Have you ever been guilty of pointing a condemning finger at something and declaring

“That can’t be God!”

Maybe you were right that time, but…

 before you point a finger, making that declaration again ask God if He is pouring out new wine that you need to receive rather than reject!

Suppose it is God?

You Are “You-nique”

“even the darkness will not be dark to you;

    the night will shine like the day,

    for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:12-14

 

Our “routines” can become very antagonistic to fresh moves of God.

We can do things religiously and call it faithfulness long after God’s anointing has departed.

It is such a blessing to me when I meet senior saints who are as much in love with God today as the day that they first met Him!

They have not allowed time and traditions to turn them into stale, sedentary saints.

The truth is though that even the young can become tuned out to Gods’ Spirit when they refuse to allow God to move in ways they may not be expecting.

Naaman is a great example in the Old Testament of one who was (at least at first he was) resistant to anything outside his own comfort zone.

He was offended by the prophet’s command for his healing of leprosy.

It didn’t fit his logic and he was prepared to miss out on exactly what he came seeking.

Too often, we are more resistant to God than we think we are.

We pray for His direction and help but when He sends it we reject it out of hand.

We are on the potter’s wheel and we have seen the fruit of the potters hand before but as He shapes us, what we see troubles us.

His shaping and the fashion of our call and giftings just don’t line up with the other ‘works’ of his hand evident in others.

We judge the potter to have made a mistake in our case.

After all, doesn’t He know that so-and-so, whom we really admire and want to be fashioned after is quite different in the shape, form and function of his ministry?

Yes he does.

Let God be God in your life and allow Him to fashion you according to His vision and His purposes.

I know that you know you are unique.

God knows it too.

He made you “You-nique”.

Yes, it’s partially true when people say: “God made me and threw out the mold!”

It’s only partially true because, while you are unique, there was no mold.

He fashioned you with His own hands in your mother’s womb.

Who better to direct you in your call and giftings!

Don’t resist the hand of God in your life especially when He visits you in unexpected ways.

Allow the Creator of the universe to be creative in you!

The Rescuers

“Rescue any who need to be saved, as you would rescue someone from a fire. Then with fear in your own hearts, have mercy on everyone who needs it. But hate even the clothes of those who have been made dirty by their filthy deeds.”

Jude 1:23 (Contemporary English Version)

 

Have you ever seen those ‘cash grab’ booths that you enter and then try to snatch the cash that is being blown all around you inside the enclosed booth?

There is always some time limit applied to how long you remain in the booth.

What motivates you to grab as much as you possibly can?

For most of us it is that we are already envisioning what we will do with the money.

It’s spent before we even leave the booth!

Each of us has a destiny.

But, like each of us, this earth also has a destiny.

This earth will pass away and there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

Gods’ desire is that none would perish.

His desire is to populate heaven with the redeemed.

It is not His desire to populate hell with those who reject Him.

Earths’ ‘time’ is quickly passing away.

The birth pangs are increasing.

We are on God’s timetable.

As you walk on this planet is it your desire to ‘snatch’ as many from hell fire as you can?

What motivates you in your daily walk?

Jesus often saw people beyond their present circumstances to what they could become in God.

We spoke yesterday of seeing Jesus differently like the Centurion was able to.

Do you see that co-worker, friend or stranger through Christ’s eyes or do you see them bound and stuck in sin only destined to hell?

Ask God to help you see others as He does.

Instead of being like the man or woman who enters the cash grab booth to gather as much as possible to consume on self, ask God to change those resistant parts of your heart and allow you to see others with a desire to rescue them “…from a fire.”

Simply Amazing

What do you suppose you could do that would cause Jesus to be amazed?

Is it the clothes you put on?

No!

How about your skill on the keyboards?

Nope!

I know, is it your great business acumen?

Nada!

What is it then?

Take a look at this passage and see if you can find it –

“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.

 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.

I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes.

I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,

“Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”

Matthew 8:5-10

 

If you answered: “great faith!” give yourself a pat on the back…

but don’t expect any points on the board!

To earn those points you have to tell me how that faith was evident.

The Centurion realized and expressed to Jesus his understanding that Jesus had the power to heal without touching his servant, without going to him, without being anywhere near him.

He believed Jesus was Lord and not restricted by space or time.

Everyone else came, or brought others, to Jesus that He might lay His hands on them and pray for them.

The Centurions faith was expressed in seeing Jesus as others had not.

He believed Jesus needed only to speak the word and it would be so.

This understanding amazed Jesus.

Some versions translate it as ‘astonished’!

Can you imagine causing Jesus to marvel or be astonished and amazed at your view of Him?

Ask God to open your eyes this week to see Jesus in ways you’ve not seen Him before!

Jesus, the “I AM”

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

John 8:58

 

 

Jesus Was Worshipped in the Old Testament.

Do you know that Jesus appeared in the Old Testament numerous times?

Not just as a symbol or a type but what theologians call a Christophany.

A Christophany is a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.

An appearance of Jesus Christ before he took on the body and nature of man.

Let’s look at one example of many:

 

 Joshua 5:13-15

“When Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a Man stood near him with His drawn sword in His hand.

And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, Are you for us or for our adversaries?

And He said, No [neither], but as Prince of the Lord's host have I now come.

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him,

What says my Lord to His servant?

And the Prince of the Lord's host said to Joshua, Loose your shoes from off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy. And Joshua did so.”

So we find that Jesus (or more accurately – Christ) was present,

and was worshipped, in the Old Testament.

The above text is but one example of many.

We have seen that it was an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ and not merely a symbol or type of Him, though there were also many of those. 

Anybody remember the answer Moses got when he asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you’, and they ask me ‘What is His name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM’. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you.

And we read in todays’ text:

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

Curious way that Jesus said that wasn’t it?

He didn’t say: Before Abraham was born I was, but He said before Abraham was, I am!

I wonder why He chose those specific words…

Jesus is worthy of our worship!

Worship Jesus

“Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:33

 

In today’s world and culture it may not be politically correct to say:

“I worship God”.

However, it is, it seems, more politically correct to say:

“I worship God” than it is to say “I worship Jesus.”

Just the mention of the name of Jesus is offensive to so many today.

As a matter of fact military chaplains (protestant or catholic) praying before a large public group are expressly forbidden from praying in Jesus’ name.

I am not speaking of when they are in a hostile country or some remote foreign base but it applies all over the globe including right here in the US.  

The name of Jesus, which the Bible tells us is above all other names,

seems to anger so many just by its mention.

You know it easier to describe Him as

“the big guy in the sky” or the “great spirit” or even the “father of us all”

but don’t you dare be so exclusive as to say you worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

After all, that’s not very inclusive.

You know what, you’re right, it’s not.

But we should make no apologies for the exclusiveness. 

So in the next day or two let’s get a better understanding of the “Who” of our worship and for you to be able to defend that position scripturally. More important than defending that position, it is vital that we know what we believe and why we believe it.

You need to be convinced before you can convince someone else.

Sometimes it is too easy to say we believe something simply because we think that is what we are supposed to hold to and yet we possess no real

understanding of the supporting structure of that belief.

That is not good.

Ignorance is not bliss!  

So…We worship Jesus and I would like to show you why.

We will begin by looking at Jesus receiving worship in the Old Testament.

We will move on to Jesus being worshipped in the New Testament.

Finally we will see in scripture of Jesus worshipped in heaven.

You might say: We will look at worship of Jesus past, present and future!

Wholesome Tweeting!

“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.”

II Peter 3:1-2

 

The old way of writing letters is pretty much gone.

It’s e-mails (though that is rapidly being replaced), Facebook and Twitter accounts.

There are probably even some new technologies that I didn’t list.

But whether it’s the technology of 2,000 years ago or the technology of tomorrow, they can both convey the value of the message Peter wrote to the church at large.

Whether posting on Facebook to a few friends, blogging to an ‘anonymous’ audience or tweeting to thousands of followers the question is this; are you stimulating your readers to wholesome thinking?

Most would acknowledge the use of those technologies has expanded our ability to communicate with others.

But how about recognizing them as a gift that can be used to edify and build up?

Maybe it would help if we viewed them in some ways as an extension of our tongues.

If life and death are in the power of the tongue, what power does your tweet hold to strengthen and encourage others?

Does your blog build up others?

Does your Facebook page draw people to Christ?

Do you view these tools we have to communicate as opportunities to bless and build up others or simply (and nothing more than) an extension of your own ego?

The next time you tweet, post or blog ask yourself a question:

What thoughts is this provoking in the one who reads it?

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do (blog, post or tweet),

do it all for the glory of God!

 

Deeper and Deeper in Love With Him!

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”

Matthew 24:12

 

As you read the scripture above please understand that if love is to be characterized by Jesus as growing cold then the implication is that at some point it was hot for God!

It is sobering to understand that He is speaking of

those once passionately in love with the Lord.

It is equally sobering that He used the word “most”.

Rubbing shoulders with wickedness divides the heart.

You cannot remain in love with the world and with Jesus.

One or the other will be impacted.

When you ‘hang out’ with wickedness and ‘court it’ you may be surprised how quickly you are ensnared by it.

We lecture our children about being on their guard around strangers and yet we fail to guard our hearts around wickedness.

Our flesh is ‘teased’ by it but instead of fleeing we loiter there.

Then we find ourselves drifting away from God without even caring.

What to do?

Come before Him in worship.

There is something about worship which not only honors Him to whom it is due

but it can re-ignite in us our love and passion for Him.

Don’t be in a hurry either.

Learn to linger in worship before Him.

As you adore Him and bless His name, He fills you up with His presence, His joy, His peace.

When it comes to your love for God don’t be one of the ‘most’ whose love has become cold.

Commit to being one who, each day, falls deeper and deeper in love with Him!

Worship Him From the Pinnacle And From The Pit

“I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;

    I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.”

Psalm 54:6

 

It is a good thing to worship the Lord!

When we worship Him in Spirit and in Truth we bring Him honor.

Corrie Ten Boom once said:

“There is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still.”

How sweet the worship to Him must be when offered by us from the deep pit.

When we are able to worship Him even when we find ourselves in a place of great struggle or despair, that worship becomes a sacrifice of praise and honor to Him.

I’ve heard a few people shout “Thank you Jesus!” when they have won the lottery.

I have yet to hear that same shout from someone exiting bankruptcy court.

I am not saying the winners praise is not sincere.

But I am recognizing how much more costly it likely is coming from that man or woman who is in a place of great trouble.

You and I usually find it effortless to praise and worship in the rarified air of the mountaintop.

But in the valley worship is often the last thing on our mind.

That is too bad.

Most of us would agree that our valleys are the places of greater sacrifice when it comes to worship.

  Don’t become limited by being only a “high-altitude” worshipper.

This week worship Him from the mountaintop but also from the valley!

Worship Him from the pinnacle and also the pit!

 

http://youtu.be/0i5MzJ9nLjo

Like a Boy Scout, We Should Always ‘Be Prepared’

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

II Timothy 4:2

 

Remember all the tricks you used in high school to avoid being called on by the teacher?

You didn’t raise your hand.

You didn’t shout out “Pick me!”

You certainly didn’t make eye contact.

And yet somehow they knew and guess whose name was called out to give the answer.

Yours!

Maybe that’s just a tiny bit like what Paul was exhorting Timothy about in this letter when he said: “…be prepared…out of season…”

Its’ one thing to have all our ducks in a row and a nice neat outline with three points;  but it is quite different when God ‘calls on you’ when you are not prepared.

What do you do then?

Fake it?

Of course not.

You rely on the Spirit of the Lord to speak through you.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:27 -

“What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight;

what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs”

Our ministry; whether it’s writing a blog, preaching before thousands or instructing our child, should “proclaim to others” what God has given us.  

Our words spoken should be a result of the relationship we have with Christ.

That is not always easy because sometimes our tongue is such an ‘unruly member’ as James speaks about.

“Out of season” does not mean out of relationship.

As we abide in Him and His words abide in us we have what we need in season and out of season to speak words that encourage, strengthen and build up others.

Are You ‘Seeing’ and ‘Hearing’?

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

 

Summing what we spoke about yesterday –

God wants to raise you up to let Him be the focus.

God wants to raise you up to give Him the glory in the earth.

Today we add this:

God wants to raise you up to be His witness in the earth.

A witness is defined as one who gives evidence after seeing or hearing something.

Yesterday’s title was: “All Eyes Are On You Lord”

A witness to Jesus Christ keeps his eyes and ears on the Lord.

Not only on the ‘historical’ record from the Bible but he or she is in relationship with the Lord  that is moment-by-moment and up-to-date with what God is doing.

God is active in the earth.

We have options concerning that.

We can join Him in His work.

We can sit on the sidelines.

We can deny He is doing anything at all.

What we do as His witnesses is up to Him.

The charge given to my 28 year old son and his wife may be quite different than what God requires of my 91 year old house-bound mother-in-law.  

But both are called to be His witnesses.

You are to.

No matter where you are in life, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in, you can be a witness for Christ in the earth.

Your ‘Jerusalem’ may be quite different from mine but we each are called to be witnesses where we ‘live’.

How will you be a witness today?

What will you ‘see’ and ‘hear’ about Jesus that you will ‘tell’ others with your life?

All Eyes Are On You Lord

“…For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled,

and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18:14b

 

Backup quarterback

Benchwarmer

Understudy

Second fiddle

All of these terms place a person below the ‘headliner’.

Like the stage hand called upon to do his best work in the darkened theatre,

we must let God’s light, and not our own, shine through our lives.

As we do, we bring honor and glory to Him.

Imagine that same stage hand remaining on the set seeking the applause of the theatre-goers when the lights come up for the next scene.

Are you o.k. with God getting the credit?

If someone is healed, do you make it a point to let others know that you prayed for them as if you were the one who brought the healing?

Do you have a hard time ‘sharing’ the limelight?

God loves us so much but He knows how quickly pride can puff us up and stop a move of God before it really gets started.

Very few want to show up and be a stage hand.

More often we insist on having our own ‘star’ on the door!

Jesus never sought to simply be ‘popular’.

He looked for ways to honor His Father through the obedient works that He did.

He humbled Himself.

His Father exalted Him.

Maybe it’s not only a question of pride but also one of trust.

Do you trust God enough that if you humble yourself before Him, He will exalt you?

Don’t look for all eyes to be on you.

Instead, live so that all eyes – yours included – are on Him!

 

http://youtu.be/coHKdhAZ9hU