Moments later a strong gust of wind almost blew me off of my bike and I briefly thought about heading home. And then I sensed God ask, “Still don't trust me, do you?” Then I remembered the story of Jesus calming the storm from a boat with the disciples. So with my faith renewed I pressed on to the next town. The winds seemed to blow harder and for a guy with broad shoulders like me, that's not good; it's like a sail on a boat, they catch all the wind and push me the other way. By the time I made it to the next town, the storm was gone. It was like God had slowed me down so He could move the storm from my path. After a quick water break I saddled up and headed towards the lake for some quiet time with God. As I topped a hill and looked past some fields I noticed the storm was now at the lake.
Again that fear and doubt bubbled up in my stomach and before I could mouth the words I was biking on wet asphalt and could see the rain puddles alongside the road. I had just missed the rain. It was like God was moving the storm from my path as He led and guided me. It kind of reminded me how God led the Israelites through the desert by a Pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night (Exodus 13:21-24).
Remember the Hebrew word for straight is yashar and it is also translated as righteous, correct and upright. According to the psalmist this is how God leads His children in life, it’s not necessarily a straight line or easy path (Psalm 5:8, 23:3, 27:11), but it is right, even if we don't like it. Later the psalmist uses the same word to describe the Lord (Psalm 11:7, 92:15). Kyle Idleman explains, “Jesus didn't expect followers to be perfect, but He does call them to be authentic.”
Brady Boyd continues in his book Sons and Daughters, “If you've been wandering around absentmindedly in darkness, God has a word for you: it's time to turn to the light. You won't accidentally end up on God's perfect path for your life; you’ve got to be directed to the steps He'd have you take. If you ignore His guidance and wisdom and plan, you will stumble through your days, acquiring unnecessary welts at every turn. But if you meditate on his word as the psalmist did and ask for help, the way will be made clear.” Hopefully this blog will open eyes to a CLEAR SIGHT CHRISTMAS.
A few weeks after that first ride I had planned on going to spend Thanksgiving with my mentor and his family; but I sensed God say "draw me close to you." So I decided to listen to God (duh, Martin) and I stayed home, and then had lunch by myself. Afterwards, since there wasn't a cloud in the sky and again it was unseasonably warm I decided to go for another half-century bike ride. This time it was pretty much an event free ride.
In hindsight I can honestly say that I enjoyed the previous ride the most, although the birds weren’t even out singing. Because not only did I have to trust God more, I was able to see Him do some pretty amazing things on the ride. I'm sure you could say that God was moving the storm for other reasons; perhaps a farmer needed the rain on his crops or maybe there were some livestock or cattle in a pasture that needed water. Regardless, I had the chance to watch God do what I couldn't do, my Heavenly Father was watching out for me, it was a not so average ride after all.. This helped me to realize that there is a difference between what I believe is good or perfect and what God knows is (Psalm 57:10 -11, 103:11, Isaiah 55:9).
Webster's dictionary defines perfect as, “Being entirely without fault or defect, pure. This brings me to a huge problem that I have with most Christians and it is a lie I used to believe myself when I was teenager. It really chaps my hide when I hear, “I'm only HUMAN and I can't be perfect like Jesus. After all that's what grace is for right?” During a recent Radical discussion time at my church we discussed how this mindset of perfection and grace has led to apathy in the church today.
Honestly, sometimes I just want to slap the GRACE out of some Christians’ mouths. Its grace that makes us new creations, our slate is clean and we are spotless, unless we choose to go back to living our old ways. Listen to what Solomon had to say about people like this (Proverbs 26:11-12). Grace is like a safety net for when we make mistakes, it's not a trampoline for us to play around on as an excuse to live however we choose.
It is written throughout the Bible for Christians to be perfect (Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 18:13, Matthew 5:48, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Philippians 3:12). Barnes' Notes on the Bible explains, “This word commonly means ‘finished, complete, pure, holy.’ Originally, it is applied to a piece of mechanism, as a machine that is complete in its parts. Applied to people, it refers to completeness of parts, or perfection, where no part is defective or ‘wanting’. Mature” Hence, I am complete in Christ. This is why I must be crucified, as long as one thing remains of me, I cannot be pure. Nothing but the blood can make us pure (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Hebrews 9:14, 10:10).
I've never understood how blood could make me white. But I do understand how it makes us pure. The psalmist cried out for the Lord to wash him clean with hyssop, depending on the translation you might read “purge me”. Hyssop when used in cooking has a minty aroma which explains why we often see goodies and sweets with mint pop up at restaurants this time of year. The herb is also used to flavor liqueur. Maybe that's why so many of us tend to drink this time year, we like the GOOD FEELIN’ don't we?
Medicinally, hyssop was used as an expectant. It soothes the throat and expells impurities from the lungs and throat. It was also used as an antiseptic for the mouth. The oil of hyssop can cause seizures in even low doses (2-3 drops) can cause convulsions in children. In biblical times seizures and convulsions often seen as a removal the evil spirits (Matthew 4:24, 17:14-16). Finally, it was used to brush the blood of the Passover lamb to the Israelite door frames. The use of hyssop in the founding of Passover was again made evident when the Lamb of God was sacrificed; a branch of hyssop was used to offer Him a drink of vinegar. Hyssop cleans from the inside out. It's not a change of appearance; it's a change of heart that results in a change of life.
Last month during New Life church’s guys’ night out author and speaker John Eldredge explained, “After women get married, they get messy. They've spent their whole lives trying to look good ..perfect hoping someone will pick them for marriage.” Then afterwards there is no need for the farce. They can let their hair down and take off their masks. Even I know married life is a change because it's a blood covenant. For the ladies reading this let me help you. If a man doesn't want you at your worst, then he doesn't deserve you at your best. There's freedom in not being perfect, is called grace…or love. Don't make a lie out of your life hoping for God's best, honesty is always the best route. It's like my father told me as a boy, “It's better to be hated for who you are, then loved for who we are not.“ Just be content in being a perfect you, even if it's not perfect. There's nobody like you. I’ve always said, I never trust a woman who doesn’t burp or fart..... ..“toot” around me. They’re hiding something. On one of the funnest dates I've ever gone on my date and I had a burping contest, hilarious!
For those of who know me, you know that I still have the hat I was wearing when I had my accident in college and you’ve seen the bloodstain from where the truck hit me in the head; as I mentioned in my last blog, that was the end of Martin Johnson, even though he is not in a PINE BOX. Blood represents life in the physical and New Covenant life in the spiritual.
Before Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood He declared “It is finished” (John 19:30). In a sense He was declaring that He had restored the relationship that was broken in the garden to how God had originally planned it in the beginning, perfect. The cross wasn't the beginning of God's LOVE PURSUIT of man, it was the end and He gave us the KEYS TO THE KINGDOM; He waits to see what YOU AND I will do with His gift. God did all the work for salvation on the cross, everything else is man's response to what God did; which leads me to the catalyst that sparked the idea for my book Crucified?.
About a year and a half ago I had a conversation with a local church deacon about the cost of following Jesus. His apathy and response, “Since Jesus died on the cross, I don't have to die to myself. Jesus died so I could live an abundant life and enjoy His good gifts,” left me heartbroken. I remember going home and turning my TV on and seeing a preview of Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ. I began to wonder why we always focus on the last days of Jesus when His entire life here on earth was meant to be a sacrifice for us to follow (1 Corinthians 11:1, 1 Thessalonians 1:6).
So I began doing some research about Bethlhem, Jesus’ birthplace. Most of us know that Bethlehem means “house of bread.” What I learned actually turned my world upside down. Bethlehem's primary export was sacrificial lambs which were sold to temples throughout the region; it was a Shepherd’s town. MARY'S BOY CHILD, the MESSIAH began His journey on earth in a town known for sacrifice, which is the BIRTH OF LOVE. This was NO ORDINARY LOVE, it was a message in a baby, and it was a perfect love.
I have often wondered if Jesus cried when He was born a baby boy or if it was a silent night. One thing is for sure, it was O HOLY NIGHT. For John tells us that God's plan from the beginning was perfection, through Jesus’ SACRIFICE (Revelation 13:8). And that is what this blog will be about.
Perfect?
It's been awhile since my last blog, but I'm going to pick up where my last BLOG left off, this one is for all my BLOOD BRUTHAS that have been beating themselves up over their mistakes and failures. As summer draws to a close, I can look back and say it was perfect. Not that it didn't have its disappointments or scares, it did. What made it perfect is best explained by Abigail Breslin's character in The Ultimate Gift. My summer started out with a trip to Florida to see family, then to north Georgia for a few trips to see my mentor. Next I had the opportunity to go back to Colorado to see some old Friends of my family. While I was there I got to see God's creation at its best and it was indescribable. Even my new friend Meghann started to see things in a new light by going horseback riding with me. Meghann (don't blush) this is where you need to understand we can be perfect and there is hope, even when we stumble or make mistakes. As the Apostle Paul told the church in Rome, EVEN WHEN we were dead in our sins, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). BY HIS WOUNDS we are HEALED and reconciled to God.
Evangelist Joni Eareckson Tada once said, "What makes us perfect, even with our disabilities, is when we follow JESUS." She goes on to quote the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Rome, that being transformed by God, we will know God's perfect will(Romans 12:1-4). In his book Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell points out that Jesus was angered by the Pharisees of His day and their fault finding of the people to the point of calling them, "Sons of hell." Brad Stine also noticed Jesus' anger towards the Pharisees in his book, Being a Christian Without Being an Idiot. However the apostle Paul told the church in Rome, "For those that are in Christ, there is NO CONDEMNATION(Romans 8:1-4." All of our sins, failures and wrongs are GONE. The Bible says God remembers them no more; they are as far as the East is from the West.
This is why I don't beat myself up when I am less than perfect and make a mistake. It is simple; confess your sin, repent, it is finished. No sense to linger here. HOW LONG will it take to see we are DIFFERENT NOW? I know I'M NOT WHO I WAS. It is nothing new that people have a hard time understanding this new life we have in Christ. The apostle John talks about an occasion when Jesus told Nicodemus (a Pharisee), I'm SORRY; you must be BORN AGAIN to enter the kingdom of Heaven; which this religious leader totally missed what Jesus meant. The apostle Paul told the church in Corinth, like I told my friends after my near death experience and spiritual RESURRECTION, the old me is DEAD AND GONE. Paul goes on to tell the church in Rome that when God looks at those in Christ, INSTEAD OF ME, He sees Jesus.
Next the writer of Hebrews says Jesus is perfect. So if we are in Jesus, we are perfect, now, not later. Paul later tells the church in Collosae that they are a CHOZEN, holy people, and YOU ARE LOVED (Colossians 3:12-22). The apostle Peter puts it this way; you are a royal priesthood, holy, set apart to declare the praises of Him who called you out of the dark (1 Peter 2:9). This is who we are in God's eyes, now. Peter goes on to tell us to be HOLY, because God, YOU ARE HOLY. One problem with the modern church is it has become a CAMOUFLAGE SOUL and try to fit into this world; while the apostle John tells us not to love this world or anything of it (1 John 2:15). James is a little sterner when he says that anyone who chooses to be friends with the world becomes the enemy of God (James 4:4), ouch.
Jesus goes on to tell us we are the salt of the earth and that when salt loses its flavor it is useless and should be thrown out and trampled upon. Bell tells us how the early church in the New Testament got it right when they identified themselves as "saints." The word Saints is a translation of the Greek word hagios which means "holy or set apart ones" and is where we get our word holy from. They knew who they who they were. The apostle Paul told the church in Ephesus to be holy, blameless, and spotless. With Jesus in your life there can never be a MORE BEAUTIFUL YOU. This was God's plan in the beginning with the one, until man messed it up and sin entered the world.
At this point we become imperfect and we have been trying to fix things ever since. I know because SO HARD I TRY. This leads me to the next aspect of being perfect. Although we are perfect through the SPIRITUAL BIZNESS, we are still going stumble from time to time and sin, our old nature will rear its ugly head. Both John and Paul point out all have sinned, but through Jesus we are reconciled to God. The apostle Paul goes on to tell the church in Rome, we know the law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. What I want to do, I don't do and what I will not to do, I do. And if I do what I will not to do, it is not me, but the sin living in me(Romans 7:14-25). Bell describes this as a constant, conscious decision to keep dying to the old self, so we can live. Or as Jesus told the disciples in Matthew, "If any one desires to follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily." This has become MY DESIRE and my YEARNING.
Now this doesn't mean we get a free ticket to live in sin like we may want, that would make us a HYPOCRITE. As Paul explained to the church in Rome, shall we go on sinning that Grace may increase? By no means, for we died to sin; how can we continue to live in it? Before my accident in 1997 my theology was jacked up. I had been taught and I believed that if I thought about sex or any sin, it was just as bad as doing it. So I felt justified goin' out and living apart from God, not the world for six years. I had come to the conclusion I was a sinner and I might as well enjoy my sin, if I was going to pay for it.
Bell talks of a man with the same problem I had in Velvet Elvis. Bell's conclusion was that the man's belief system was designed perfectly to get the results he was getting. I'm a sinner, I can't help it. There is no hope. Like me, the man didn't understand God's forgiveness or grace. Both the man and I thought we could work or earn our way into Heaven. But every time, I messed up I used it as an excuse to sin more. Can you relate to this? The apostle Paul told the church in Corinth that when we are weak, when we fail, we are strong. God's grace is ENOUGH ( 2 Corinthians 12:9). This is when we are strong, perfected by God's doing, not ours. So when you fail, He will TAKE YOU BACK. This is another shift of the Paradigm. All I had to do was say SAVIOR PLEASE forgive me and God's grace goes to work.
In his book Deliver Me, author and speaker Richard Exley tells the story of when he was tempted to lie over a trivial thing; it was then he realized that it doesn't matter who you are, a Christian writer, speaker or a pastor. We all have the innate capacity to sin. Even the religious elite have their VICES and at least one DIRTY LITTLE SECRET. And NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD of Jesus can save us, HE IS ALL we need. How else could God USE SOMEBODY like us with all of the sin in our lives? This is what is great about the story of David. Even though he commuted adultery and murder, the Bible describes him as a man after God's own heart. In his book Tempered Steel author Steve Farrar talks about how God used trials and David's failures to shape him into the leader God wanted him to be. Could it be that God uses our failures and weaknesses ALL FOR A PURPOSE of God's chisel to make us perfect? Don’t forget what Paul told the church in Rome (Romans 8:28). So In God's PERFECT TIME, if I HOLD ONTO JESUS, I will rise and in every sense be Perfect.
THE WAY 2.0?
I'm sure at this point many reading this would agree that JESUS IS THE WAY to God and to eternal perfection. But the divining rod here is the answer to this question. Are you willing to follow Him, completely; that's what disciples do, after all. And like good students we are called to obey our teacher. Idleman continues in Not a Fan,” Though I believe in the assurance of our salvation, I also believe that we are to work out I salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). When it comes to where we will spend eternity we can't be afraid to ask the hard questions and take an honest look at answers that our lives offer. Is it possible that when asked, ‘Are you a follower of Jesus?’ You quickly responded, ‘Yes’, but one day you will be exposed as nothing more than a fan?” Jesus told us Himself this would be the case for many (Matthew 7:19-23). Remember He was talking to the church, not the world, although they claim to believe in God as well. We are His and called to follow Him.Idleman explains, “Many people take the wrong road and never find the narrow path. If that is true, then wouldn't it make sense for us to slow down?... It's a narrow road, but it's a road that leads to life.”
Sure we may say that we follow Jesus and in our hearts we may even think that we will. Remember Peter's denial? However our WORDS don't validate our faith, our lives do. Francis Chan recently tweeted, “True faith manifests itself through our actions.” It's like saying your wedding vows and being married, but instead living like you're still single. You cannot have it both ways. Although Scripture specifically says for wives to follow (I'm not stupid), every man knows there are times he must submit to his wife; there's a mutual sacrifice involved for the sake of the marriage relationship. My wife should be able to LEAN ON ME.
Personally, I’ve dated many women who claimed to be Christians, but when it came to following Him, they were anything but…when it came to dying to the flesh and flesh music they called me a RADICAL and a fanatic. They want an open relationship with God. Jesus wants all of you and he defines the relationship, not us.
Idleman continues, “When we learn to truly follow Jesus, we find that obedience to God comes from the inside out. Submission to what God wants for our lives flows naturally out of that relationship. It's not to say that what we do or don't do doesn’t matter, but what we do or don't do must come from who we are as followers of Jesus… Biblical belief is more than something we confess with our mouths; it's something we confess with our lives.” Listen how Jesus’ half-brother James explained it ( James 2:21-24).
Since Christmas time is here, let’s look at it this way. In the songs we sing, we call Jesus Lords of Lords. Idleman explains, “When we read in the New Testament that Jesus is called ‘Lord’ as a synonym for ‘God.’ But in the New Testament when followers referred to Jesus as Lord, it's not a reference to His divine status or His heavenly residence. The word they were using wasn't Yahweh. Instead the word that is translated as Lord in the New Testament is most often the word kurios. It shows up hundreds of times. And Kurios is a slavery word. Kurios is the word given to the master or owner of the slave.” And what did God do for us on that cross. Come on, say it with me, “He paid a price we could pay.” That makes Him our owner, right? After all we boast arrogantly that we “Belong to Him.” But we don't live like it.
Idleman explains, “The other word we need to understand is the word doulos. That's the word used to describe a follower. The definition of this word isn't difficult. It is a word that is most accurately translated as slave. Really ‘slave’ is the only way the word should be translated. For a number of different reasons the word is usually translated as ‘servant’ in Scripture. But the most literal translation is ‘slave.’ Most of New Testament writers introduced themselves as bond servants or slaves. Slaves have no rights but it's the job of their owners to take care of them and keep them healthy. Hmm, sounds good to me. Idleman explains, “You can't call Jesus Lord without declaring yourself His slave… Luke chapter 1 tells us that when Mary is told that she would be giving birth to the MESSIAH, her response is, ‘I am the Lord's servant.’ But the word is ‘bondslave.” I wonder if Mary ever wondered WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
You see it's clear who we worship and who owns us. There's evidence of this in our lives, in all that we do and I'm not just talking about wearing a cross as a symbol of our faith. It's like getting married, even without wedding bands, you can pretty much tell who is married to whom ( well at least you should) by how couples act and interact with each other. Those of you who know me know that ever since I first volunteered at a soup kitchen with my mentor and his wife years ago, it's been a dream of mine to marry a woman with a servant’s heart. I want so bad to serve God together with her and get dirty doing it( get your minds out the gutter pervs, this is a Christian blog,lol.).
Idleman points out, “Choosing to become a bondslave was an act of complete self-denial. A bondslave gave up all the rights to the master he is agreeing to give up all his possessions to the master… Who signs up for that? Well did you notice in Deuteronomy 15 what the motivation is for someone to choose slavery? Look at it again. ‘But your servant says to you, ‘I do not want to leave you,’ because he loves you and your family and is well-off with you, then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. ” A slave realizes as crazy as it might seem to everyone else, as ridiculous as it might appear to those who don't understand, he's going to choose a life of slavery. He loves his master and realizes that he's better off as a slave. So out of love we become slaves of Jesus.”
Those earmarks identified the slaves and the master who owned them. Likewise in the classic by Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23, “He can just set men free from their own sins, their own fears. Though so liberated loved Him with fierce loyalty. Is this one who insists that he was the good shepherd, the understanding shepherd the concerned shepherd who cares enough to seek out, save and restore lost men and women. He never hesitated to make it quite clear that when an individual came under His management and control there would be a certain new and unique relationship between Him and them. There would be something very special about belonging to this particular shepherd. There would be a distinct mark upon the man or woman that differentiated them from the rest of the crowd. The day I bought my first 30 ewes, my neighbor and I sat on the dusty corral rails that enclosed the sheep pens and admired the choice, strong well-breed ewes had become mine. Turning to me he handed me a large, sharp, killing knife and remarked tersely, ’Well, Philip, they're YOURS. Now you’ll have to put your mark on them.”
John tells us in the book of Revelation that those who follow the lamb of God will have His name written on their foreheads to identify them as His. As opposed to those who refuse to follow Him and have taken the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:17-14:1). Do you see why it's important to understand who you are following?
Keller continues, “I knew exactly what he meant. For each sheep-man has his own distinctive earmark which he cuts into one or other of the ears of his sheep. In this way, even at a distance, it's easy to determine to whom the sheep belongs… It was not the most pleasant procedure to catch each ewe in turn and lay her ear on wooden block then notched it deeply with the razor-sharp edge of the knife. There was pain for both of us but from our mutual suffering an incredible lifelong mark of ownership was made that could never be erased. And from then on every sheep that came into my possession would bear my mark.”
The apostle Mark tells us that just before the Good Shepherd was betrayed He fell to his knees in THE GARDEN (Mark 14:32-42) and had ONE GOOD CRY on His way to the cross, and it was for you and I. Christian writer Steve Mays writes, “God desires that we give Him preeminence in all of life. The Lord requires that we surrender our lives to His authority. Too often, we are fearful that whatever we give to God, He will take away. But if it is taken away, that is ultimately good, because God knows it is dangerous to our hearts.”
It's important to understand that a Shepherd doesn't merely take care of sheep; they own them and have plans for them. Their whole purpose for living was for to benefit the owner. Some are milked, others slaughtered for their meat. Listen to the psalmist (Psalm 44:11, 22). Later the New Testament writers would capture this imagery in their suffering (Acts 20:24, Romans 8:36, 1 Corinthians 4:9, 15:30-31, 2 Corinthians 1:9)
Shepherds cared for their sheep in many ways. Not only did they protect the flock from vicious attacks of wolves, bears and coyotes, they also protected them from small nuisances like flies and worms. It was the shepherd that moved the flock from pasture to pasture in the appropriate season. He would also survey the fields for dangerous vegetation that could make the sheep sick if they ate it. He would rise early in the morning and sometimes keep watch over the flock all through the night.
Do you see why the psalmist declared, “I shall not want (Psalm 23:1)? Keller explains, “What a proud, positive, bold statement to make. Obviously, this is the sentiment of the sheep utterly satisfied with its owner, perfectly content with its lot in life. Since the Lord is my shepherd, then I shall not want. Actually the word ‘want’ as used here has a broader meaning than might at first be imagined. No doubt the main concept is that of not lacking-- in proper care, management.. But a second emphasis is idea of being utterly contented in the good Shepherd’s care and consequently not craving or desiring anything more." God is enough.
Recently pastor Glenn Packiam of New Life Church in Colorado tweeted, “Contentment is not a ‘stuff’ issue; it’s a ‘trust’ issue.” At this point in my life I can honestly say I'm content with where God has me, ALL I REALLY WANT is to be in God's perfect will no matter how tough it may be, that is my ONE DESIRE. Don't we Christians “claim” in God we trust? Christian apologist Francis Schaeffer explains,” Desire becomes sin when it fails to include the love of God or men. I am to love God enough to be contented. … I am to love men enough not to envy.”
Brady Boyd continues, “Pam (his wife) and I learned something on the heels of that emotionally and physically draining season. We learn that there is no cheap way to follow Jesus, that intimacy with Him will likely continue to require every single thing we have… A yes to God means a no to ourselves. It means that at times humiliation and disillusionment and pain. But I can tell you from first-hand experience that also means: being swept up in the magnificence of heaven breaking through the brokenness of this life we lead. Whatever dreams have been put to death on this path I am on have been replaced with richer reality still. Whatever price my God should ask me to pay will be worth it in the end.”
Keller also explains, “In the Christian life there is a great danger in always looking for the easy place, the cozy corner, the comfortable position where there is no hardship, no need for endurance, no demand upon self-discipline. The time will we think ‘We have it made,’ so to speak, is actually when we are in mortal danger. There is such a thing as the discipline of poverty and privation which can be self-imposed to do us worlds of good. “If you try and tell this to some Christians today you leave them KICKING AND SCREAMING like a little child who didn't get what they wanted for Christmas. I've known pastors who simply refuse to let go of their stuff and still insist on going their way, because they're “called of God.”
I learned years ago in men's ministry that no man wakes up and decides to cheat on his wife or become addicted to porn, its a result of one little compromise at a time. It's like sheep or cows, they're so busy looking down at the grass and feeding their flesh with what they want they never realize how far away from the shepherd they are. But here's good news, because of His love for us He will TAKE ME BACK and CLEAN ME. Shepherds often have to go outside of their boundary fences (the Law) to free their sheep from the briars and weeds the dumb sheep have become “entangled” in or rescue them from a mud pit, again. Charles Spurgeon once said, “When we deal seriously with our sins, God will deal gently with us.”
That word entangles is a very Jewish way of saying, “They’ve returned to their folly.. sin.” The writers of the New Testament often used this imagery to describe Christians who are walking away from God (Galatians 5:1, Hebrews 12:12, and Peter 2:20). Instead of being slaves and servants of God, they'd rather be slaves of the flesh (Matthew 6:24, Romans 6:16, 20). Now you can say, “GRACE, GRACE, GRACE. Brady Boyd notes, “And so we wrestle. We admit disappointment. We engage in direct dialogue with our God. But in the end, whether resolution is reached or not, we come around to the same about: ‘I will not fall away. I trust you father. I really do. And while I don't understand what you're doing, I know you are guiding me along righteousness’ path…. Whatever has you knotted up these days, God's word can untangle it.”
Keller explains, “First of all should you points out that most of us area stiff-necked and stubborn lot. We prefer to follow our own fancies in turn to our own ways. (Isaiah 53:6). In this we do deliberately, repeatedly even to our own disadvantage. There is something almost terrifying about the destructive self-determination of a human being. It is inexorably interlock with personal pride and self-assertion. We insist me know what is best for us even though the disastrous results may be self-evident. Just as sheep will blindly, habitually, stupidly follow one another along the same little trails until they become ruts that a road into gigantic gullies, so we humans cling to the same habits that we have seen ruin other lives... We don't want to follow.”
It is a far cry from the way the church presents Christianity, isn't it? We get the good life with all of the “blessings “and good things. no worries or hassles. After all, “Every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17).” Evangelist Billy Graham once said, “Why should we give God thanks? Because everything we have comes from God.” But who truly knows what is good? False teachers have taken a little bit of truth and twisted it into something totally un-biblical to make hurting and broken people feel good. The apostle Paul warned his protégé Timothy about Christians like this (1 Timothy 6:1-9). Unfortunately the church is full of pastors and teachers who are CASHIN’ OUT on their journey.
John Eldredge continued in his message At New Life, “There is a father to show us the way through the frontier years of life. Jesus chose to live life on earth to show us how to do it (Hebrews 2:17-18.)” Bill Purvis recently stated, “Not everyone in the church is going to heaven. That was the point behind Jesus’ parable about the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). They grow up together, but when the winds come, the wheat stands tall and the tares bend over. One is the real thing the other isn't. This is a picture of the church in the Bible belt.”
In another parable of Jesus talks about separating goats from the sheep (Matthew 25:31-46), a problem most shepherds have is when their flocks grow so large, it's hard to keep up with them and to keep the goats out of the flock. Remember goats don't listen. Thus it was common for shepherds to put bells on the sheep to help keep track of them. This was the CAROL OF THE KINGS to let them know who they owned; Jesus won't lose His sheep like little Bo Peep
. That's why my JINGLE BELL ROCK, because I'm a LITTLE DRUMMER BOY and my beat bangs. However, most of you know that up until my accident in college I used to play the guitar. Unfortunately I didn't use that gift for the glory of God and I lost it.
In one of my favorite passages of the Bible Jesus declared to the religious leaders that His sheep know His voice and would not follow another. He goes on to say He willingly lays His life down for them because He loves them and a hired hand wouldn't do that (John 10:1-18). And here is the crux of the message of the cross, it was a personal sacrifice out of love for the flock, no one crucified the King of the Jews, as if man to kill God. This arrogance was evident on the sign the Romans placed above Jesus, “King of the Jews.”
KINGS?
We celebrate Christmas because it's the BIRTH OF A KING and that's all When LOVE CAME DOWN. This is another title we give Jesus, isn’t it? KING OF KINGS and as God's children we become kings and queens with Him. Brady Boyd explains, “Freedom is not about what we have been set free from. Freedom is about what we have been set free to become. And who we can become is a son, a daughter, of the King.” Remember, we belong to and follow a perfect God and his ways are yashar, if we fully trust Him. If we live crucified, surrendered lives. I SIGNED UP TO DIE.
Brady Boyd points out, “When we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we become children of the King, immediately eligible for eternity with God in heaven and for abundance here on earth… according to Psalm 139. Once you surrender your life to Christ you become a carrier of the very spirit of God. And God doesn't place His Spirit inside of mistakes. “One of my favorite hymns from my childhood is there's power in the blood. As a Child of the King we become part of His bloodline.
Before anyone gets on their soapbox and brags about their AUTHORITY and power, listen to what Jesus explained to His disciples about position (Matthew 20:25-27), There's that word again, “servant”. It's our job as servants to exalt His name because we adore Him, instead WE EXALT OUR NAME. The King’s love and power isn't based on who we are or what we do. It all goes back to who He is; just, faithful, merciful and a strong God. The same principle applies to shepherds and sheep Masters and slaves and even husbands and wives. A man's love for his wife comes from who he is and what he does, not what she is or does. After all “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
My roommate from college’s wife is pregnant with their first child. She is in the “nesting” stage and has that baby wobble going on. Yet, he has never loved her more. Even though she isn't looking or feeling her best, he still thinks she's perfect. As her husband, it's still his job to protect and provide for her. This is the heartcry of every shepherd, husband and King. This is why I worship the king forever, for who He is; it’s crazy love. In the children's nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty, he falls and no one can put him back together again. I never read if the King tried to help. Only He can pick up the pieces and put them together, He can save the day.
It is a king’s job to look out for His kingdom's welfare and protect His servants, He supplies EVERYTHING I NEED. I am not ON MY OWN during this journey, He fights for me. As I watch the news and see the happenings in Israel, I laugh because I know who gets THE VICTORY. Bill Purvis explained in a recent message, “God has promised to always take care of His people. Not just Israel, but Christians who have been adopted into the family through Jesus’ blood. God promised that the sun and moon would fall from the sky before His people would perish (Jeremiah 31:35-36).”
Over the Thanksgiving holiday I talked to my uncle who lives in Maryland about the amusement park in Virginia I used to go to when I lived there as a child. He told me that Kings Dominion had grown so much that it was impossible to see it all in one day. That's what the kingdom of God is supposed to do as well. Jesus’ birth should bring JOY TO THE WORLD, not just us. As we serve God and take the good news to every nation, His kingdom and glory spreads as well. Instead we are more concerned about serving the gods of this world. Which ones do you worship: fame, reputation, marriage, sex, money, your family or the Christmas baby? Belgian writer Julio Cortazar notes, “Human history is the sad result of each one looking out for himself.”
Idleman explains, “We are surrounded by messages that emphasize romantic love as the ultimate experience. Pursuing love is the subject of countless books.. It's the theme of most every song…. There's the classic from Meatloaf, ‘I'd do anything for love.’ He sings about just how far he will go to pursue that love. ‘I'd run right into hell and back… I would do anything for love.. But I won't do that…’ I never knew what ‘that’ was.. I won't do what?” What will you do to feel good or make yourself happy that you won't do for your Lord? If we don't give Him everything then our love isn't too legit, it's just mere words. Are you FALLIN’ IN LOVE with Him or the world? Hopefully, you just died in His arms tonight, are you willing to be crucified? Our Lord was born for that, I can’t make it without Him.
Remember Jesus said all you have to do is listen to what someone talks about the most to see the OVERFLOW of their heart (Matthew 12:34). This Christmas what are you not just talking about, who are you serving? Regardless of what's important to you now, Scripture is clear that one day everyone will bow before the throne of God, because He is perfect(Philippians 2:10).
