"Another disciple said to him, 'Lord, first let me go and bury my father.' But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Just so we're all on the same page as to what is going on here -quite a few people were following Jesus around listening to Him teach and watching Him do miracles. The disciple being talked about here likely wasn't one of the 12 hand-picked by Jesus, rather was one of these that were following Jesus around.
Nevertheless, the call of Christ to everyone who will follow Him is the same: "Leave everything, and follow Me." There is no part-time with Jesus. The exchanged life is all or nothing. We do not have the option of adding a little bit of Jesus into the daily routine and thinking everything is all right.
This disciple was considering the seriousness of the call and was telling Jesus, "I have other priorities and commitments right now, but maybe later. Perhaps after my father has passed away and I have all of my family issues in order -maybe then I can leave everything and follow. I really can't afford to risk losing my inheritance, Jesus -surely You can understand that. After my father has died and been buried, I won't be risking so much."
Jesus' response is the same to this man is it would be to you or I today: "Let the (spiritually) dead be concerned with temporal and material things. If you want to follow me, you've got to set aside everything that was -hopes, dreams, plans, because I have new plans for those who will follow."
There are two kingdoms: the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of the god of this world. The god of this world is constantly warning, "Don't be a fanatic; don't go crazy with this; you don't have to go overboard; a little of Jesus goes a long way." Jesus simply says, "Yes, it's going to cost you: but follow Me."
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
"The Cost" Matthew 8:18-20
When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Here is the dilemma of following Jesus...truly following Jesus. It is uncomfortable. Many of us say with our mouths, "Jesus, I will follow you wherever you go." But when the reality of where Jesus is leading sets in, we tend to settle back into routine, back to normal life, back to comfortable.
And let's be honest, the exchange that Jesus offered to those who would follow Him -and the exchange He offers us today is "Leave everything. Put away your plans and dreams. Set aside your goals and agendas. Forget what you think you know and need. Leave everything and follow me." This not easy. But it is the only offer on the table. And where Jesus is leading is directly into the rubble of destroyed lives and abused people (and abusive people) and corruption and violence and pain.
The book of 1 John tells us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Yes, that involved (for Him) dying on the cross and rising again from the dead so that we could be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with Father. But it also involved confronting evil and injustice. It involved comforting the afflicted -and often afflicting the comfortable. It involved touching the lepers and eating with the outcasts. The bottom line is that Jesus, in one way or another, stood against every way in which the devil has harmed and destroyed and corrupted. And Jesus called to those who would follow, "Leave everything and join me in this." The works of the devil cannot be destroyed from our easy chairs. The works of the devil cannot be destroyed comfortably. Jesus said to those who would follow Him: "Be aware of this -foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but I have no place even to lay my head. If you want to be comfortable, follow someone else."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Here is the dilemma of following Jesus...truly following Jesus. It is uncomfortable. Many of us say with our mouths, "Jesus, I will follow you wherever you go." But when the reality of where Jesus is leading sets in, we tend to settle back into routine, back to normal life, back to comfortable.
And let's be honest, the exchange that Jesus offered to those who would follow Him -and the exchange He offers us today is "Leave everything. Put away your plans and dreams. Set aside your goals and agendas. Forget what you think you know and need. Leave everything and follow me." This not easy. But it is the only offer on the table. And where Jesus is leading is directly into the rubble of destroyed lives and abused people (and abusive people) and corruption and violence and pain.
The book of 1 John tells us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Yes, that involved (for Him) dying on the cross and rising again from the dead so that we could be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with Father. But it also involved confronting evil and injustice. It involved comforting the afflicted -and often afflicting the comfortable. It involved touching the lepers and eating with the outcasts. The bottom line is that Jesus, in one way or another, stood against every way in which the devil has harmed and destroyed and corrupted. And Jesus called to those who would follow, "Leave everything and join me in this." The works of the devil cannot be destroyed from our easy chairs. The works of the devil cannot be destroyed comfortably. Jesus said to those who would follow Him: "Be aware of this -foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but I have no place even to lay my head. If you want to be comfortable, follow someone else."
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
"Faith, Authority, Deliverance & Healing" Matthew 8:14-17
"When Jesus went to Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with a fever. Jesus touched her hand, and the fever went away. So she got up and prepared a meal for him.
In the evening the people brought him many who were possessed by demons. He forced the evil spirits out of people with a command and healed everyone who was sick. So what the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 53:4) had said came true: “He took away our weaknesses and removed our diseases.”
It is not coincidental that this true story follows on the heels of the story of the Centurion. Here again we see the vital connection between authority and faith. Remember, our faith is not so much in giftings and anointings and abilitites, although Jesus obviously had these; rather, our faith is in the nature and character of Jesus, our healer. People brought the sick to Jesus because they had not only observed His ability, but also because they had observed His compassion and His goodness and His willingness to heal them. People trusted Jesus' character, not just His ability.
In the context of people having faith, Jesus simply spoke the commands, exercising true authority, and demons were gone and people were healed. There was no big battle. There was no carnival side-show atmosphere. There was no hysteria. Why not? Because all of that was unnecessary. All that was necessary was people exercising simple faith in Jesus, and Jesus exercising authority over sin and disease and demons. It seems clear to me that what was true then is still true now.
What we need most for effective Kingdom ministry to occur in our lives is a faith that is rooted firmly in the nature and character of Christ, and to properly minister in His authority.
In the evening the people brought him many who were possessed by demons. He forced the evil spirits out of people with a command and healed everyone who was sick. So what the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 53:4) had said came true: “He took away our weaknesses and removed our diseases.”
It is not coincidental that this true story follows on the heels of the story of the Centurion. Here again we see the vital connection between authority and faith. Remember, our faith is not so much in giftings and anointings and abilitites, although Jesus obviously had these; rather, our faith is in the nature and character of Jesus, our healer. People brought the sick to Jesus because they had not only observed His ability, but also because they had observed His compassion and His goodness and His willingness to heal them. People trusted Jesus' character, not just His ability.
In the context of people having faith, Jesus simply spoke the commands, exercising true authority, and demons were gone and people were healed. There was no big battle. There was no carnival side-show atmosphere. There was no hysteria. Why not? Because all of that was unnecessary. All that was necessary was people exercising simple faith in Jesus, and Jesus exercising authority over sin and disease and demons. It seems clear to me that what was true then is still true now.
What we need most for effective Kingdom ministry to occur in our lives is a faith that is rooted firmly in the nature and character of Christ, and to properly minister in His authority.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Authority & Faith Matthew 8:5-13
"...Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!..."
In this story we find two of the most needed tools of ministry if we desire to effectively minister to others: proper understanding of authority and faith. We need a right understanding of authority because when we do ministry we are, by definition, entering into spiritual warfare against a powerful enemy who can easily overwhelm us and overpower us if we think we can do any ministry in our own strength and by our own authority. How often we hear people say, "I went here, and I said that, and I cast out a demon, and I healed someone who was sick, and I made these plans, and I had this idea, and I, I, I, I..." What a foolish and dangerous game. Jesus himself said that apart from the Father, He did nothing.
When we engage the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, it is not a matter of overpowering them or outsmarting them or somehow working up enough faith in our ability to use our spiritual giftings and anointings effectively. They have us beat in all those departments. After the resurrection, however, Jesus announced, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me."
This means for us today that although our enemy is powerful, he has no authority. When we are "in Christ" ministering to others by the power of His Spirit, operating in His authority, relying on His guidance and wisdom, our ministry will be powerful and effective and the Kingdom of God will grow. The enemy does not have permission to overpower us if we are truly operating under the covering of Jesus' authority. On our own, though, we are literally on our own.
The second part of this is faith. True faith is not an act of blindly and desperately working up an emotional belief that God will do whatever I command or desire -that would be more like witchcraft. Witchcraft (even witchcraft using "Christian" terms and vocabulary) has no efffect on God and does not compel Him to do our bidding. The Word of Faith movement. the Name It, Claim It crowd, the Declaration people are misguided. While our words may have consequences and we should be aware of how we speak, faith is not something we work up to make things happen -faith is a firm trust in the goodness and trustworthiness of God. We have faith in God because we trust His character and nature to be good. And if we are walking in communion with Him, walking in the Spirit instead of the flesh, we can trust His guidance and inner promptings. Our faith is in Him.
This story of the Roman Centurion demonstrates this principle. He had observed the goodness and compassion of Jesus, and recognized Christ's authority, so he made a reasonable request, trusting that goodness and authority. And Kingdom ministry happened.
8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!..."
In this story we find two of the most needed tools of ministry if we desire to effectively minister to others: proper understanding of authority and faith. We need a right understanding of authority because when we do ministry we are, by definition, entering into spiritual warfare against a powerful enemy who can easily overwhelm us and overpower us if we think we can do any ministry in our own strength and by our own authority. How often we hear people say, "I went here, and I said that, and I cast out a demon, and I healed someone who was sick, and I made these plans, and I had this idea, and I, I, I, I..." What a foolish and dangerous game. Jesus himself said that apart from the Father, He did nothing.
When we engage the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, it is not a matter of overpowering them or outsmarting them or somehow working up enough faith in our ability to use our spiritual giftings and anointings effectively. They have us beat in all those departments. After the resurrection, however, Jesus announced, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me."
This means for us today that although our enemy is powerful, he has no authority. When we are "in Christ" ministering to others by the power of His Spirit, operating in His authority, relying on His guidance and wisdom, our ministry will be powerful and effective and the Kingdom of God will grow. The enemy does not have permission to overpower us if we are truly operating under the covering of Jesus' authority. On our own, though, we are literally on our own.
The second part of this is faith. True faith is not an act of blindly and desperately working up an emotional belief that God will do whatever I command or desire -that would be more like witchcraft. Witchcraft (even witchcraft using "Christian" terms and vocabulary) has no efffect on God and does not compel Him to do our bidding. The Word of Faith movement. the Name It, Claim It crowd, the Declaration people are misguided. While our words may have consequences and we should be aware of how we speak, faith is not something we work up to make things happen -faith is a firm trust in the goodness and trustworthiness of God. We have faith in God because we trust His character and nature to be good. And if we are walking in communion with Him, walking in the Spirit instead of the flesh, we can trust His guidance and inner promptings. Our faith is in Him.
This story of the Roman Centurion demonstrates this principle. He had observed the goodness and compassion of Jesus, and recognized Christ's authority, so he made a reasonable request, trusting that goodness and authority. And Kingdom ministry happened.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
"Be Clean" Matthew 8:2-3
"A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.' Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing," he said. "Be clean!' Immediately he was cured of his leprosy."
I'm reminded of another story -the one where the lame man lay beside the pool waiting for someone to help into the healing waters. Jesus asked that man, "Do you want to be well?" These are two sides of the equation of spiritual healing. One the one side we must actually desire to be made whole and clean. On the other side, our desires must align with the Lord's desires as to how and when.
The man by the pool could not walk; the man in this story had leprosy. Our issues may be different than either of these. But in a sense, they are the same. When this man asks Jesus to make him clean, it means more than just physical healing. According to Mosaic law, leprosy made a person ceremonially unclean, meaning that they could not participate in the required rituals and ceremonies at the temple. Because they could not participate, their sins could not be forgiven and they could not be right with either God or other people -that was the Old Covenant. This man is not only asking to be healed (although he is asking for that), he is also, and maybe more importantly, asking to be restored and made acceptable to God. This is the same need that each of us has.
To put this in a context for us today, I believe that God moves to bring us into right relationship Himself and others through the blood of Jesus when our motives for being made right and clean and whole align with His motives and desires. When in the deepest regions of our hearts we are longing for what God desires, we are made clean and whole. This is not a result of repeating a prayer after a preacher (although that sometimes is a catalyst), and God cannot be manipulated or conned. When our hearts are in alignment with God's heart, however, we are restored.
"Clean before my Lord I stand, and in me not one blemish does He see;
When I gave all my burdens to Him, He washed them all from me."
(Nancy Henigbaum)
I'm reminded of another story -the one where the lame man lay beside the pool waiting for someone to help into the healing waters. Jesus asked that man, "Do you want to be well?" These are two sides of the equation of spiritual healing. One the one side we must actually desire to be made whole and clean. On the other side, our desires must align with the Lord's desires as to how and when.
The man by the pool could not walk; the man in this story had leprosy. Our issues may be different than either of these. But in a sense, they are the same. When this man asks Jesus to make him clean, it means more than just physical healing. According to Mosaic law, leprosy made a person ceremonially unclean, meaning that they could not participate in the required rituals and ceremonies at the temple. Because they could not participate, their sins could not be forgiven and they could not be right with either God or other people -that was the Old Covenant. This man is not only asking to be healed (although he is asking for that), he is also, and maybe more importantly, asking to be restored and made acceptable to God. This is the same need that each of us has.
To put this in a context for us today, I believe that God moves to bring us into right relationship Himself and others through the blood of Jesus when our motives for being made right and clean and whole align with His motives and desires. When in the deepest regions of our hearts we are longing for what God desires, we are made clean and whole. This is not a result of repeating a prayer after a preacher (although that sometimes is a catalyst), and God cannot be manipulated or conned. When our hearts are in alignment with God's heart, however, we are restored.
"Clean before my Lord I stand, and in me not one blemish does He see;
When I gave all my burdens to Him, He washed them all from me."
(Nancy Henigbaum)
Friday, May 21, 2010
"House Building" Matthew 7:24-27
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Although this word picture works in almost every culture -houses need to be built on solid foundations -this was a particularly vivid word picture for the people of the region around the Sea of Galilee. During the dry season, it was hot and arid and the sand along the seashore was baked hard. It may have seemed like it was stable enough to provide an adequate foundation. In the rainy season, however, that same sand was wet and spongy. If someone were to build a house during the dry season without digging down to the bedrock, it was going to be a big problem when the rains came. Digging down to the bedrock was hard work, but resulted in a stable house, able to withstand the rains and storms.
Jesus likens this to hearing and obeying His words and teachings. We can build our lives around cultural perspectives and political correctness and whatever is the latest trend in thinking, or we can can build our lives around eternal Truth. It is our choice. But only one of these is going to get us through the storms of life.
Jesus' teachings are considered by many to be culturally irrelevant, and by others to be simply wise teachings -wise but optional. The reality is, however, that His words are truth. Real truth. Eternal truth.
Although this word picture works in almost every culture -houses need to be built on solid foundations -this was a particularly vivid word picture for the people of the region around the Sea of Galilee. During the dry season, it was hot and arid and the sand along the seashore was baked hard. It may have seemed like it was stable enough to provide an adequate foundation. In the rainy season, however, that same sand was wet and spongy. If someone were to build a house during the dry season without digging down to the bedrock, it was going to be a big problem when the rains came. Digging down to the bedrock was hard work, but resulted in a stable house, able to withstand the rains and storms.
Jesus likens this to hearing and obeying His words and teachings. We can build our lives around cultural perspectives and political correctness and whatever is the latest trend in thinking, or we can can build our lives around eternal Truth. It is our choice. But only one of these is going to get us through the storms of life.
Jesus' teachings are considered by many to be culturally irrelevant, and by others to be simply wise teachings -wise but optional. The reality is, however, that His words are truth. Real truth. Eternal truth.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
"I Never Knew You" Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?’ Then I will tell them publicly, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you evil people.’"
This teaching is a hard teaching. We naturally assume that those who wield spiritual authority and spiritual power -those who get the job done -are operating with God's favor. Jesus says that this is not always the case.
There is such a thing as spiritual anointing. And there is both power and authority in the name of Jesus. Power, authority and anointing do not impress God. He could raise up monkeys, dogs and cats to do Kingdom work in His power and anointing if He wanted to. Proof of God's favor is not in anointing and demonstrations of power -although people with God's favor generally operate in His favor and anointing and walk and live in the resurrection power of Jesus. The point is that external things may impress people, but they don't impress God. What impresses God is intimacy -a truly right relationship.
In this passage Jesus calls people who were actually preaching and teaching and performing miracles in His name and authority "evil." This is strong language considering that Jesus doesn't suggest that they are lying or misrepresenting their accomplishments -His rebuke is, "I've never known you." In effect, Jesus is saying, "You may have done miracles in the authority and power of my name, but you did not have a relationship with me; there has been no intimacy; you never opened your heart; I don't know you; we are not friends."
For practical application of this principle, we should not follow people simply because of demonstrations of power and anointing -whether this manifests as miracles or even as powerful teaching and preaching. Instead, we should follow those who have godly character as this only comes from spending time with Jesus. The natural result of godly character is good fruit. Follow those whose godly character evidences love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; the devil has no duplicate for these.
This teaching is a hard teaching. We naturally assume that those who wield spiritual authority and spiritual power -those who get the job done -are operating with God's favor. Jesus says that this is not always the case.
There is such a thing as spiritual anointing. And there is both power and authority in the name of Jesus. Power, authority and anointing do not impress God. He could raise up monkeys, dogs and cats to do Kingdom work in His power and anointing if He wanted to. Proof of God's favor is not in anointing and demonstrations of power -although people with God's favor generally operate in His favor and anointing and walk and live in the resurrection power of Jesus. The point is that external things may impress people, but they don't impress God. What impresses God is intimacy -a truly right relationship.
In this passage Jesus calls people who were actually preaching and teaching and performing miracles in His name and authority "evil." This is strong language considering that Jesus doesn't suggest that they are lying or misrepresenting their accomplishments -His rebuke is, "I've never known you." In effect, Jesus is saying, "You may have done miracles in the authority and power of my name, but you did not have a relationship with me; there has been no intimacy; you never opened your heart; I don't know you; we are not friends."
For practical application of this principle, we should not follow people simply because of demonstrations of power and anointing -whether this manifests as miracles or even as powerful teaching and preaching. Instead, we should follow those who have godly character as this only comes from spending time with Jesus. The natural result of godly character is good fruit. Follow those whose godly character evidences love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; the devil has no duplicate for these.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)