Monthly Archives: October 2010

Psalm 104:14-15 (ESV)
You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth
[15] and wine to gladden the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine
and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

Animals cannot grow gardens. They cannot take the raw materials necessary for life and brew up a nutritious meal from them. All the nutrients and satisfaction they require is in them in their raw state. The grass grows wild, the cattle eat it and enjoy it and are nourished by it. The cattle never complain about the lack of variety or feel longings for something different today.

But we do. We are created in the image of God and that involves a love for variety and diversity and the ability to make something new out of basic raw materials. “Watch this” God says to the heavenly hosts and He bends down and makes a creature like Himself out of the mud. Not like the animals were we brought into existence. So when God made man he put in him, as part of God’s own image, the longing to create things of beauty and the desire to take raw materials and create something fabulous out of them.

Note what the verse says. God made grass grow for livestock to eat and he made plants for man to cultivate. Livestock eat it just as it is. We may do that as well, but we also cultivate.

Even the wine that is made to gladden the heart of man is not a raw material. It is the product of a combination of materials, and fermentation and ingenuity and skill. The bread referred to does not grow. It is the product of years of experimentation, study and knowledge passed on from one generation to another. Taking raw materials and making something new out of them is part of what it means to be made in the image of God.

Taking that ability to cultivate and think and then use it to make weapons for war, develop  technologies for the purpose of destroying the planet several times over, combining chemicals to make poisons that can kill whole countries, developing ingenious devices that torture and maim, gadgets for unthinkable destruction, immorality and self promotion, are all what it means to be fallen.  Thus we have today all the technological wonders created from the materials put here by God for us to use creatively. And what do we do with them? The exact opposite they were given in the first place.

The technological wonders of our age have not made mankind a better behaved bunch. They have made us use our depravity with greater technological skill. The abilities we have to save people and heal and benefit humanity are also used to kill. The ability God gave us to create has been turned on its head so that we can destroy. The answer to mankind’s problems is not found in science. What is needed is a fundamental change to the human heart so that human beings would no longer use their God given intelligence and skill for such horrifying purposes. What is needed is for God to intervene into the very soul of the pinnacle of His creation and change it from within.

And that is precisely what He has done. The history of humanity is a testimony of taking the good that God did and turning it around for evil. The story of the Gospel is God, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, doing something even greater to turn things back again.

Luke 4:[5] And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, [6] and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. [7] If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” [8] And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’”

[9] And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, [10] for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’
[11] and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

[12] And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” [13] And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

The devil knows the Scriptures. Well, he has a good bit of it memorized. That’s a great lesson in itself. For all the memorizing of Scripture that we do, we need to remember that it is not the recalling of Scripture that is the mark of holiness. It is the imbibing of the memorized Scriptures into the heart and life by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In any case, Satan can use the Bible to serve his purposes. He does not use it properly of course but that’s where the  the warning lies. If the father of lies can use the Bible to make it look like he is right then how careful do we need to be to make sure that we do not twist it to suit our own sinful desires and thoughts?

How much murder and mayhem and heresy have been believed and propagated and committed in the name of God because of faulty understandings of the Word of God? There is a clear link between the devil’s use of the Bible in his attempts to make Jesus sin, and Ephesians 4:14.

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Jesus does not fall prey to Satan’s devices with the Scriptures because He knew them and how they should be used. Jesus could not be duped into a false interpretation of the Word of God. If the church does not come to know the Bible and use it properly then it is going to fall hard, if it has not already done so.

How many believers are there who are described by Ephesians 4:14? How many could answer the attempts to make us sin through the use of the Bible with more accurate interpretations of the inspired texts? And saddest of all, how many believers simply do not care about doing the hard work necessary to come to an accurate understanding and application of the Word of God for their lives?

Far too many Christians use the Bible as a good luck charm, a how-to manual, a magic potion for telling the future, a justification for their own sins, a tool of oppression, and who knows what else? It is shameful.

Jesus used the Scriptures properly and the devil left Him until a more convenient time. There would never be such a time. Jesus would always be ready. Pastors are to study to be approved by God, unashamed workmen who handle the Word of God properly. This means that it can be handled inappropriately and we do not want to be numbered among those who do that. James 3:1 ought to ring in the ears of everyone who is called to teach in any way at all, the eternal truths of the Word of God.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness

The Bible is a rich treasure of counsel and teaching to us for our eternal good. It equips us for every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17).

[16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

It is a wickedness to turn the Bible into something that destroys or takes us away from God. Let us ensure that we do not do that. Let us be Christlike in this – that we handle the Word of God in such a way that the devil leaves until a more convenient time.

Luke 4:[1] And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness [2] for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. [3] The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” [4] And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” [5] And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, [6] and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. [7] If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” [8] And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’”

[9] And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, [10] for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’

[11] and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

[12] And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” [13] And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Satan offers Jesus all the authority and glory of all the nations. Wow. Jesus must have been really impressed. Satan is quite a conundrum in the Scriptures. He certainly knows who Jesus is. The first and third temptations of Jesus in this text begins with Satan saying , “if you are the Son of God…” He knows that getting Jesus to sin will be a major coup for him. But near the end of Jesus ministry, when Satan is influencing Judas and Jesus’ enemies, he does not seem to understand that he is accomplishing the very plan of God in orchestrating Jesus’ crucifixion. Satan doesn’t know everything and Christians need to remember at least that much about him.

This temptation is stunningly stupid. He tries to impress Jesus with the glory of the kingdoms of the world. Does he not know who he is dealing with? The temptation was real and Jesus was tempted to accept the offer. But look closely at the text. The real temptation is to rule under Satan’s supreme rule – “If you then will worship me, it will all be yours.” (Verse 7). The enticement is what Satan will give Jesus. The real temptation is to allow Satan to rule over Him. Satan says “You can rule over everything else if I can rule over you”.

This is idolatry. And idolatry is the essence of all sin. This may be an indication of what got Satan thrown out of heaven in the first place. He wanted to be in charge. He still does. And that sin is the one that marks all of us.  We know that disagreements would be solved if only those we are arguing with would see our point of view.  We know we are right, smarter, better. People know that if they were in charge everything would be running better. People even do this with God. That is where complaints against God come from – the knowledge that He just isn’t doing it right and the fact that they know how to do things better. They know that if they were God they would end suffering and pain. Everyone would be rich. The world would just be a better place – idolatry.

This does not disappear when a person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ. We want Jesus to save people but we want Him to use US. We want our churches to be “significant”. (Oh how I wish pastors and denominational leaders would stop talking about “significant churches”, “significant ministries” and “significant leaders”). We talk about “my good friend” and then mention some famous Christian preacher or singer. We brag about MY church, MY ministry and MY acceptance of Christ (which is supremely not the question – the question is, does He accept us?) We want the church to recognize MY GIFTS – well they are gifts, not earns, and the only reason anyone should want them displayed is so that people will not see him/her but HIM.

We are here for His glory. The good we do is to reflect Him and direct attention to Him. Humility is foreign to us and we need the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to truly have it.

We are tempted to think we know better, can do things better, are better people, should be in charge, that people should listen to us, that they would learn so much if only they would just shut up. Pray to see where you have it. Work hard at getting it out and rejoice that God can use you.

Psalm 20:1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
[2] May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
[3] May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah
[4] May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans!
[5] May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!
[6] Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
[7] Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
[8] They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.
[9] O LORD, save the king!
May he answer us when we call.

Psalm 20 – “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!” A high view of God makes such texts of Scripture as Psalm 20 utterly amazing. It is a person with a very small God who complains that God did not deliver him in the right way (or at all). People who say that if God is as big as we say that he is then He ought to come across for us, are very ignorant people. It could be that they are talking out of their pain and we perhaps should cut them some slack and understand that. But does pain give people the right to tell the Creator of the universe that He doesn’t know what He is doing? That is arrogance gone mad. We need to see here that the Psalmist does not gripe about his troubles here nor does he tell his readers that they have been given a raw deal by their Creator. Trouble is the result of the fall and we are going to have plenty of it. This Psalm is written to tell people where to turn when they have it. Do we go to Him with demands that He come through exactly the way we have determined He should? Are we the doctors who prescribe a cure and God is the pharmacist who reads the prescription and simply does what the wise doctor has dictated?  It seems that is how some view the situation. God is God and we are not. There will be unimaginable trouble for people in this world and the purpose of trusting Christ is not to get ourselves a trouble free life this side of glory.

But the fact remains that to be able even to ask God for help is an immense privilege. What does God owe us? Why should He who does whatever He pleases, who knows the end from the beginning, who ordains all things that come to pass yet is not guilty of anything that is sinful, even bend His ear to hear what my request is? Answer? Jesus Christ. God does what He does for us because we are in Christ. And we are in Christ because He loves us. This is stunning

Luke 3:[18] So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. [19] But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, [20] added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

Luke lists as the worst thing of all of Herod’s atrocious sins, the fact that he locked up John in prison. He imprisoned, and then beheaded him because John, in Luke’s word, “reproved him” for an adulterous marriage.

Exposure of sin will cause people to react in one of two ways. We will hear it and acknowledge it and therefore attempt to do something about it, or we will stop listening to the critique. This is what Herod does. He silences the truth being said about him.

The difference between Herod and us besides time and geography was his ability to actually put what angered him, in jail. But we can all do what Herod did when his sin was exposed – silence that which exposes it.

The Bible can be a very convicting Book. It aims at the heart and does not miss its target. What shall we do when it addresses our thoughts, motives and actions so accurately? Keep it closed. The sermon in church may zero in on my little darling sins so it is best to simply skip going to church. The concept of a God who knows the secrets of the heart and holds people accountable for their behaviour is too much to handle – deny that He exists at all. Convince yourself that God really doesn’t mind that you are flaunting His standards. There are all kinds of ways to put that which addresses our sin, out of our way. Herod is anything but unique.

James tells us that it is like looking in a mirror and turning away from the mirror and forgetting what one looks like. In other words, when you get up in the morning and look in the mirror and do not like what you see, instead of washing and combing your hair and making yourself presentable, you decide to simply not look in mirrors anymore.

The law of God is an incredibly merciful gift to humanity. It lets us know what God expects of His creatures. And then when we see that we have not, will not and simply cannot keep it, it directs us to the only One who ever did. But coming to Christ means facing up to our sin, as sin, turning away from it, seeking God’s forgiveness and trusting Christ and all He did. It is the most liberating truth there can possibly be.

But instead of heeding it people hide their sins, hide from God, plug their ears, create other gods. Putting the exposure of their sins away convinces people that their good outweighs their bad, that God would never judge them for them and that they are fine just the way they are. We are all little Herods when it comes to putting away that which shows us how sinful we are. It is, quite literally, a damning exercise and it is so unnecessary when we consider that the first step to being set free from the penalty of sin is facing them, confessing them and letting Jesus deal with them. And out of mercy, He does.

Luke 3:[15] As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, [16] John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Luke 3:15 – He will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Just a little thought about the meaning of what John The Baptist said and meant here. John the Baptist’s work was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Some people thought that he was the Messiah and he is quick to deny that and do his work of pointing to Christ. “All I can do”, John says, “is baptize you with water, but He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

A lot of Christians, some of them preachers and pastors, talk about the need and the desire to be baptized with fire. They are usually referring to being on fire for the Lord. Nice thought, but it sure isn’t what John is referring to here. John is talking about the two fold work of Christ of salvation and judgement. He will save people – that is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. And He will judge the wicked – that is the baptism with fire.

We know this from the context of John’s words. To bring home the point that he has just said, John gives an illustration. Jesus is pictured as a farmer threshing grain. He separates the wheat from the chaff. The wheat is collected and stored into barns – that is those baptized with the Holy Spirit. The chaff is thrown into the fire, that’s the baptism of fire. We even use the common expression of someone in deep trouble going through a “baptism of fire”.

After the resurrection, and just before Jesus ascended to heaven Jesus told His followers that they should not leave Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father. “John”, He said, “baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4)-5). Note the absence of any reference to being baptized with fire. Why? Because none of Jesus’ followers will ever be baptized with fire. Jesus has saved us from such a horrifying event.

We come into this world headed for the baptism of fire, but because of the great mercy of God we can be saved from that and brought into the glorious baptism of the Holy Spirit, which comes to all those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. It is what He came to do and there is a vast number of people who have experienced it and Jesus will not return until He has granted it to all that the Father has given Him. What a glorious thing God has done.

Luke 3 [1] In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, [2] during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. [3] And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [4] As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight.

[5] Every valley shall be filled,

and every mountain and hill shall be made low,

and the crooked shall become straight,

and the rough places shall become level ways,

[6] and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

[7] He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. [9] Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

[10] And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” [11] And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” [12] Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” [13] And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” [14] Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

Luke 3:10-14 – John the Baptist has been preaching to the people who have come to him and he has held nothing back. He calls them a brood of vipers, to repent, not to trust their religious or genetic back ground and told them that the time was pressing and that they were in danger of being thrown into the fire to be burned. One did not hear John the Baptist preach and have to ask what he was talking about. He was very plain, very blunt, and very to the point. And he got results.

The people in Luke 3 whom John is preaching to seem to have had the message get through to them and so they call out to John what they must do. So he tells them.

1) Those of who have two coats should give one to the poor.

2) Tax collectors should only collect what they are authorized to collect. (The common practice was for tax collectors to overcharge so that hey would have extra for themselves.)

3) Soldiers are told not to extort money from people and to be content with their wages.

Everything John tells them has to do with money or possessions and the treatment of the less fortunate. We could word it this way for our situations today:

1) Do not live extravagantly just because you can. Do you need two cars? Do you need all the shoes and coats and change of clothes that you have? Is it really necessary to have a different outfit for every work day for two weeks? Do you need to eat out as often as you do? Do you need all the cable stations you subscribe to and the dish on the side of your house? Do you need all the books you buy? Could you not, rather than buy such things for yourself, spend the money on others? Do you not have enough stuff that you could give much of it to the poor and still have sufficient for yourself?

2) Do not profit your self at the expense of others. Just because you can get ahead by treading on someone else does not mean that you should. Be willing to have your needs met and if getting more means that someone else will get less, just do not do it. Buy fair trade when you can. Don’t cut people off to get ahead in a line or in traffic. Excise the “me first” out of yourself. Do not climb up the ladder if it means that someone else must be one of the rungs.

3) Be content. If we have food and clothing that is enough. We hardly believe that comment except that it is from the Bible (I Timothy 6:8). We live in a culture that thrives on discontentment. The goal of advertising is to make you discontent with what you have and desirous of more. Do you really need the latest version of the i- phone? Do you really need that latest app? Does your income allow you to pay your bills, feed and clothe your family, keep a roof over your head and enjoy a few recreations? Then what are you griping about?

It is a very striking thing that the three things John mentions all have to do with using our resources for the sake of those who have less, not cheating others, and being content. And he is the one whose job is to prepare the way for Christ.

When Christ comes and people are renewed in Him then people will be able to live, from their hearts, in the way that John the Baptist called his listeners to live. Show real faith in Jesus Christ in how you spend your expendable money on the poor. Show it in honouring others above yourself. Show it in being content.

This will be a real demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 61:[1] Hear my cry, O God,

listen to my prayer;

[2] from the end of the earth I call to you

when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock

that is higher than I,

[3] for you have been my refuge,

a strong tower against the enemy.

[4] Let me dwell in your tent forever!

Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

[5] For you, O God, have heard my vows;

you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

[6] Prolong the life of the king;

may his years endure to all generations!

[7] May he be enthroned forever before God;

appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

[8] So will I ever sing praises to your name,

as I perform my vows day after day.

Psalm 61:8 – “So I will sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.” The Old Testament, as well as the New, make it abundantly clear that religious ritual without the heart is abhorrent to God.

David proclaims in his Psalm of repentance for his sin with Bathsheba that God does not require sacrifices and burnt offerings. If He did, then David would bring them. God pulls no punches when he tells the Israelites, through Amos, that He hates their religious festivals and sacrifices. He tells Jeremiah to preach repentance to those who are entering the temple to offer their sacrifices.

The examples of God hating heartless religion are many. It comes most forcefully across in the Old Testament but the New Testament has it as well. The churches of the Revelation are full of criticism from Christ to the churches for their sins, which were committed while they were busy doing all the religious stuff. To Sardis Jesus says “You have a reputation for being alive but you are dead”. To the church of Laodicea Jesus says that He will spew them out of His mouth.

Jesus, quoting the Old Testament says that the people of His day honoured God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him. And to those who beg to be allowed entrance into glory because of the preaching and miracles and exorcisms they performed, Jesus will say, “Depart form you who are accursed.” Strong language. The Scriptures are constantly warning us about the danger and possibility of doing religion while having no real heart for God.

In Psalm 61 David concludes with the phrase that he will do the religious rituals while singing praises to God’s name. He means that his praise of God is from the heart. This is the perfect combination of external and heart worship. God gave the intricate details regarding worship because He cared about how Israel worshipped. He cared very much. But observance of the details without a heart for the One who gave them is rank hypocrisy. Without the heart there can be no true obedience, no matter how meticulously the rules are obeyed. Without the heart they are not being obeyed at all.

When Hebrews 10 says that believers should not forsake the assembling together with other believers, it does not mean that one is scoring points for himself just by attending church. When we are encouraged to pray without ceasing God is not encouraging us to recite long memorized prayers that come out of our mouths thoughtlessly. Bible reading is not done by hurriedly rushing through a text in order to get one’s allotted amount of reading done and so not fall behind. He wants our hearts.

Do not neglect to worship God today. But do not merely go through some well worn ritual that could be performed in your sleep. Come to the eternal triune God and bow before Him and worship with your heart fully engaged. If your heart is not in it then pray to get it in. There can be no real worship without it. Travel through your day in a state of worship, from your heart by living in a manner that reflects the glory of Christ is not mere external motion.