John 14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do; that the father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
As low as my spiritual antenna was at the time, I knew something was cutting across the grace of Christ. We were in a Sunday School class when the prayer request came: "We would just ask y'all to pray as we found our dream house, and had to buy it quick. We still have our old house and a beach condo, so money is really tight. Please pray that God would help us sell our house". After someone prayed for this and other requests, they slapped the tag "in Jesus name" at the end. After class, I probed a little more about why the couple had rushed out and bought a house in a two day time frame. Like most of our motives in the "housing rush", it had nothing to do with the will of God, but rather the desire to live in a better, more prominent neighborhood and the market forces demanded a rash decision.
Looking back, I now can clearly see how gross that prayer must of seemed to God. In John 14 above, and throughout the Bible, Jesus is not suggesting that His name be added to the end of prayer to act as some magical "Hocus Pocus" trick so that we can get what we want. Jesus is saying that prayers which seek to advance His name, fame and glory will be answered. Whether we like it or understand it, Jesus mission was and is self Glorification first and foremost. The glory of Christ, the gospel, is our only hope. As we fall deeper in Love with Christ and see our need for Him, we can then pray into His will of advancing His kingdom, which will result in our greater good as a member of it. Our prayer and mission is to worship Christ and make much of Him, as we all need Him in a larger way than we know.
Prayers that build His kingdom, by sons and daughters that find full satisfaction in Him, are what he is referring to in these verses. When I look back at prayers like the one above, and frankly many of my own, they are the exact opposite of what He is after. They are prayers made to advance our own little kingdom and glory because we are not satisfied in Him and His Kingdom. Our discontentment drives us to search for satisfaction outside of Him and so we wrongly ask God who seeks to be the fulfiller of all we desire for something that we perceive is a little more "filling". The sin in all of this is heavy. It is as if we use God as the means to get what we want (and He is not it). As if there were anything better than Him! He is the end of all Cravings, yet we are so prone to miss that fact and find our pleasures elsewhere.
If Evie came to me and asked me for money so that she could hire a male prostitute to fulfill her sexual pleasure, I would be utterly shocked and hurt. I would wonder "am I not enough?". When we come to God and try to leverage Him so that we can get our satisfaction elsewhere, I believe that to God, it looks as evil as my wife degrading my name, by using using my provision to get her desires met from another lover. It is a wicked form of adultery that we all need to repent and run from.
Our God will not play second fiddle in anyone's life. Worship of God is simply experiencing the beautiful satisfaction of Him.
In your prayer life, whose kingdom are you asking God to build up? His or yours? Who are you asking to be elevated, Him or yourself? Is He the ONLY desire you seek, or are you asking Him to fill you temporary treasures which will in effect take His place as your soul's satisfaction?
Monday, March 21, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Eggs
2 Corinthians 8:1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
A dusty Honduran hillside full of cusachas (tin and cardboard shanties) and gringos sharing the Gospel. One of my favorite settings and views in all of the World. The rules are few: Pray , follow God, share the Gospel and after that is done take food hidden in your backpacks and bless the house that received you. (It is amazing how not having a script and schedule freaks people out). On a summer trip a few years back, I had a weird thing happen. After spending the better part of four hours working our way up, and then down a sparsely populated hillside, I was met with a gift. The lady of one of the houses we met with held out a bag of eggs and said that she wanted to bless us with them. My mind immediately began to race as to why would she give away precious food when she has so little. My flesh thought " if only she could see my house or bank balance, she would see that I have no need for the eggs". Have you ever noticed how deceiving the flesh can be? After about ten minutes of politely trying to tell her that I appreciated the thought, but I desired for her to keep her eggs, her insistence to give grew stronger. Capitulating after some soul searching to understand that she wanted to bless us, I grabbed the eggs, blessed her, and headed down the hill. As I neared the bottom I met another dear lady with another bag of eggs. I had learned my lesson, accepted her grace and blessed her before we headed back to the bus. As I sat on the bus, a myriad of emotions overcame me. I wanted to cry as these impoverished people had given me a gift out of their poor wealth, yet large heart. I thought I was the one who was the fragrance of Christ doing evangelism on the hillside, yet they were teaching me about grace. The Kingdom works just like that: Grace produces even more grace.
When you look at what Paul is saying to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians above, he is urging them to look at what happened to the Churches of Macedonia when they gave exceedingly and freely out of their extreme poverty. Grace exploded. By their sacrifice God was glorified (2 Corinthians 9:13) and they experienced the favor of God more richly as they sowed richly into the field of the love of Christ. In short, they were willing to give away money and stuff to experience God more deeply. How did this happen? Verse 5 above tells us that it was not because Paul told them to. They did it because they gave themselves to God first and He led them in this unbelievable act of Grace. It was an overflow of their exaltation of Christ. Not man made guilt, but God led Grace brought glory to God, supplied needed food for the hungry and allowed those who gave Joyfully to enjoy God deeper. That is How Jesus works into and through us as faithful followers.
Verse 4 gives me pause. They begged Paul to feed fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Why? It was the right thing to do of course, but there is a stronger undercurrent at work. They realized that the body of Christ was starving, literally. We don't think this way too much do we? I mean right now there are Christians dying of starvation, dehydration and preventable diseases around the world and do we care? I am troubled about my own level of concern. I mean, if we don't care about the body of Christ, we are in bad shape spiritually.
Christ tells us, shows us, empowers us, commands us and allows us to give ourselves away for His Glory. Our flesh works at every angle to cling to what is "Ours". It is a battle that is raging in my life. I love to give. I love receiving God's grace. Christ is teaching me through eggs and His Word that His Grace is way better than "my" stuff (as if it was really mine).
Where are you in this picture? Do you give? Do you give to get back something other than God? Have you ever begged to serve the Global Body of Christ with your money? Your time?
If not, your definition of grace will be a sentence that you memorized in Sunday School when you were a child, not an abiding rich walk with Christ. Christ invites the faithful to something much lovelier than stuff, he offers a deeper dose of Himself. the big question is what do you and I want more?
A dusty Honduran hillside full of cusachas (tin and cardboard shanties) and gringos sharing the Gospel. One of my favorite settings and views in all of the World. The rules are few: Pray , follow God, share the Gospel and after that is done take food hidden in your backpacks and bless the house that received you. (It is amazing how not having a script and schedule freaks people out). On a summer trip a few years back, I had a weird thing happen. After spending the better part of four hours working our way up, and then down a sparsely populated hillside, I was met with a gift. The lady of one of the houses we met with held out a bag of eggs and said that she wanted to bless us with them. My mind immediately began to race as to why would she give away precious food when she has so little. My flesh thought " if only she could see my house or bank balance, she would see that I have no need for the eggs". Have you ever noticed how deceiving the flesh can be? After about ten minutes of politely trying to tell her that I appreciated the thought, but I desired for her to keep her eggs, her insistence to give grew stronger. Capitulating after some soul searching to understand that she wanted to bless us, I grabbed the eggs, blessed her, and headed down the hill. As I neared the bottom I met another dear lady with another bag of eggs. I had learned my lesson, accepted her grace and blessed her before we headed back to the bus. As I sat on the bus, a myriad of emotions overcame me. I wanted to cry as these impoverished people had given me a gift out of their poor wealth, yet large heart. I thought I was the one who was the fragrance of Christ doing evangelism on the hillside, yet they were teaching me about grace. The Kingdom works just like that: Grace produces even more grace.
When you look at what Paul is saying to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians above, he is urging them to look at what happened to the Churches of Macedonia when they gave exceedingly and freely out of their extreme poverty. Grace exploded. By their sacrifice God was glorified (2 Corinthians 9:13) and they experienced the favor of God more richly as they sowed richly into the field of the love of Christ. In short, they were willing to give away money and stuff to experience God more deeply. How did this happen? Verse 5 above tells us that it was not because Paul told them to. They did it because they gave themselves to God first and He led them in this unbelievable act of Grace. It was an overflow of their exaltation of Christ. Not man made guilt, but God led Grace brought glory to God, supplied needed food for the hungry and allowed those who gave Joyfully to enjoy God deeper. That is How Jesus works into and through us as faithful followers.
Verse 4 gives me pause. They begged Paul to feed fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Why? It was the right thing to do of course, but there is a stronger undercurrent at work. They realized that the body of Christ was starving, literally. We don't think this way too much do we? I mean right now there are Christians dying of starvation, dehydration and preventable diseases around the world and do we care? I am troubled about my own level of concern. I mean, if we don't care about the body of Christ, we are in bad shape spiritually.
Christ tells us, shows us, empowers us, commands us and allows us to give ourselves away for His Glory. Our flesh works at every angle to cling to what is "Ours". It is a battle that is raging in my life. I love to give. I love receiving God's grace. Christ is teaching me through eggs and His Word that His Grace is way better than "my" stuff (as if it was really mine).
Where are you in this picture? Do you give? Do you give to get back something other than God? Have you ever begged to serve the Global Body of Christ with your money? Your time?
If not, your definition of grace will be a sentence that you memorized in Sunday School when you were a child, not an abiding rich walk with Christ. Christ invites the faithful to something much lovelier than stuff, he offers a deeper dose of Himself. the big question is what do you and I want more?
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Control
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
In Homer's The Odyssey, there were mythological creatures called sirens. They lived on a rocky coast line and made a living by capturing sailing vessels. They had an unconventional way of capturing well armed ships. Legend has it that the two sirens had such a lovely melody that was so enchanting to hear that when passing sailor's ears caught the tune, they were completely captivated. The call of the siren was so beautiful and overpowering the seamen lost all interest in anything else but being drawn to the origin of the majestic tune. Spellbound and defenseless the sailors would plow their boast straight into the rocky shore in front of the sirens and the boats and men were then nothing but helpless plunder.
Read through what Paul is saying about the love of Christ in the verses above. Unlike the evil plot of the sirens, the Love of Christ captivates us for our good. Though the end result is vastly different as we journey to a loving savior instead of a mythical killer, I believe that Paul is expressing His total helplessness within the Love of Christ. He has no power over it. He can not escape it. Nor does he want to. He is saying that Christ has captivated his mind, thoughts, actions, schedule, desires and soul. Just like the sailors who were on their way to a seaport before the sirens detoured them to a death, Paul says he was on a path of flesh until Christ captured him and redirected his fate. AS Paul's flesh met its fate, He found a life that is so beautiful and meaningful that his life in the flesh has no grip on him or meaning worth pursuing. He is completely captivated with the provocative love of Christ.
I love verse 15. Paul says clearly that those who have claimed Christ as a savior no longer live for themselves, but they live for Christ. In verse 17 Paul states "if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold the new has come". Paul is basically restating verse 15. If you are in Christ, you are no longer on your journey of the flesh, but have been captured by Christ and now live for His Glory.
I have a question for you: what controls you?
Whose glory do you live and strive for, Christ's or yours?
In Homer's The Odyssey, there were mythological creatures called sirens. They lived on a rocky coast line and made a living by capturing sailing vessels. They had an unconventional way of capturing well armed ships. Legend has it that the two sirens had such a lovely melody that was so enchanting to hear that when passing sailor's ears caught the tune, they were completely captivated. The call of the siren was so beautiful and overpowering the seamen lost all interest in anything else but being drawn to the origin of the majestic tune. Spellbound and defenseless the sailors would plow their boast straight into the rocky shore in front of the sirens and the boats and men were then nothing but helpless plunder.
Read through what Paul is saying about the love of Christ in the verses above. Unlike the evil plot of the sirens, the Love of Christ captivates us for our good. Though the end result is vastly different as we journey to a loving savior instead of a mythical killer, I believe that Paul is expressing His total helplessness within the Love of Christ. He has no power over it. He can not escape it. Nor does he want to. He is saying that Christ has captivated his mind, thoughts, actions, schedule, desires and soul. Just like the sailors who were on their way to a seaport before the sirens detoured them to a death, Paul says he was on a path of flesh until Christ captured him and redirected his fate. AS Paul's flesh met its fate, He found a life that is so beautiful and meaningful that his life in the flesh has no grip on him or meaning worth pursuing. He is completely captivated with the provocative love of Christ.
I love verse 15. Paul says clearly that those who have claimed Christ as a savior no longer live for themselves, but they live for Christ. In verse 17 Paul states "if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold the new has come". Paul is basically restating verse 15. If you are in Christ, you are no longer on your journey of the flesh, but have been captured by Christ and now live for His Glory.
I have a question for you: what controls you?
Whose glory do you live and strive for, Christ's or yours?
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Approaching Christ
Revelation 1:17 when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But He laid His right hand on me saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 And the living one. I died and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys to death and Hades."
How do we approach Christ? Is he fearful to approach?
The above passage was an John's account of his encounter with the unveiled Glory of Christ. John, who referred to himself as "The one whom Jesus loved" was exceptionally tight with Christ. He was part of the "inner circle of 3 disciples", and Christ appointed John to care for Mary His mother. They were intimate as it gets, yet when John bumps into Him what happens? His natural reflex is to drop down at His feet as though dead. I think that a healthy fear of His own flesh in stark contrast to the unbridled Glory of God is what caused John to drop and tremble at His feet.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the honored privilege to teach the men of Togoville , Africa. in this shed that was hot, God was worshipped. As I mentioned, they don't even think of doing a study without breaking a sweat in worship followed by quiet confession to meet their maker. One of the greater convictions that I have had in some time came on the last day of my teaching. After I finished, I sat down and began to pray. The men started all talking in their tribal dialect of ewe (pronounced a-way). I was deep in prayer rejoicefully thanking Him for a great week of worship when papa, one of the guys, poked me and motioned for me to stand up. I reactively did stand up and continued to pray head down with hands clasped in front. Ten seconds later papa again poked me and "suggested" with his eyes and hands that I raise my hands to a point of surrender. I did so. The words of the men echoed through the little shed as I prayed to God.
After we were finished I pieced together what had happened. The men had entered a time of confession. They had entered a time of surrender unto Christ. I later found out that in their Church when they speak of surrender they think it offends God if you don't show it in every physical and spiritually way possible. What a novel thought!
As I walked down the dirt roads later that day, I thought about the strong convictions of how those men approached God. Papa was more worried that my actions might offend God than His actions would offend me. Isn't that the essence of making disciples. Isn't that how we should act? Contrast that to our Churches in America. We have invented a way of doing Church so that no one is offended who comes. Who is being catered to in that scenario? Does anyone care that God might be offended? If not who is the center of the worship picture? We are. Many will say, "that sounds legalistic, you don't have to raise your hands to please God". I would answer that Christ doesn't receive us any other way accept fully surrendered.
It was an honor to worship with these brothers whose souls did not tread lightly on the riches of Christ. They did not haphazardly or casually approach Him, and they were bent on not allowing anyone else to either. I thank Him and them for their faithfulness and training me in righteousness. I believe that those of us on this side of teh Atlantic have MUCH to learn from our impoverished, undereducated brothers and sisters in Togoville.
How do you approach Christ? Casually and conveniently? Quite frankly, you will have a hard time finding anyone in the bible who is of faith that relates to the most high God that way. Think it through and ask God to show you Himself and your sin before Him. Praise Him for His grace.
How do we approach Christ? Is he fearful to approach?
The above passage was an John's account of his encounter with the unveiled Glory of Christ. John, who referred to himself as "The one whom Jesus loved" was exceptionally tight with Christ. He was part of the "inner circle of 3 disciples", and Christ appointed John to care for Mary His mother. They were intimate as it gets, yet when John bumps into Him what happens? His natural reflex is to drop down at His feet as though dead. I think that a healthy fear of His own flesh in stark contrast to the unbridled Glory of God is what caused John to drop and tremble at His feet.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the honored privilege to teach the men of Togoville , Africa. in this shed that was hot, God was worshipped. As I mentioned, they don't even think of doing a study without breaking a sweat in worship followed by quiet confession to meet their maker. One of the greater convictions that I have had in some time came on the last day of my teaching. After I finished, I sat down and began to pray. The men started all talking in their tribal dialect of ewe (pronounced a-way). I was deep in prayer rejoicefully thanking Him for a great week of worship when papa, one of the guys, poked me and motioned for me to stand up. I reactively did stand up and continued to pray head down with hands clasped in front. Ten seconds later papa again poked me and "suggested" with his eyes and hands that I raise my hands to a point of surrender. I did so. The words of the men echoed through the little shed as I prayed to God.
After we were finished I pieced together what had happened. The men had entered a time of confession. They had entered a time of surrender unto Christ. I later found out that in their Church when they speak of surrender they think it offends God if you don't show it in every physical and spiritually way possible. What a novel thought!
As I walked down the dirt roads later that day, I thought about the strong convictions of how those men approached God. Papa was more worried that my actions might offend God than His actions would offend me. Isn't that the essence of making disciples. Isn't that how we should act? Contrast that to our Churches in America. We have invented a way of doing Church so that no one is offended who comes. Who is being catered to in that scenario? Does anyone care that God might be offended? If not who is the center of the worship picture? We are. Many will say, "that sounds legalistic, you don't have to raise your hands to please God". I would answer that Christ doesn't receive us any other way accept fully surrendered.
It was an honor to worship with these brothers whose souls did not tread lightly on the riches of Christ. They did not haphazardly or casually approach Him, and they were bent on not allowing anyone else to either. I thank Him and them for their faithfulness and training me in righteousness. I believe that those of us on this side of teh Atlantic have MUCH to learn from our impoverished, undereducated brothers and sisters in Togoville.
How do you approach Christ? Casually and conveniently? Quite frankly, you will have a hard time finding anyone in the bible who is of faith that relates to the most high God that way. Think it through and ask God to show you Himself and your sin before Him. Praise Him for His grace.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Child Sacrifice
Leviticus 20:1 the Lord said to Moses 2 "say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death"
2 Kings 32:10 And he (Josiah) defiled Topeth, which is in the valley of the son of Himmon, that no one might burn his son or daughter as an offering to Molech.
About a month before our team arrived in Togo, the voodoo priest there had sacrificed a small child, carving out the heart before discarding the body. I honestly didn't know what to do with that piece of information. It seemed like something from a different time and place. I thought how could anyone sacrifice their child to a carved rock and then throw it away in a shallow water well like a piece of rubbish? It did produce some healthy fear of the dark evil that we were fighting against. It is indeed a war.
When I got back, I investigated what the word of God says about child sacrifice. In many spots in the Old testament, including the two above God states His hatred of Child Sacrifice to a false god named Molech. The passage from 2 Kings above is in reference to Josiah's reforms which brought child sacrifice to Molech to an end. God hates anything offered to false gods, but in particular His innocent children that He created.
As always when I observe such clear sin, I try to apply it back against my own life and the culture around me. Sure, there are no stories of people taking their kids and burning them on a fire or carving their hearts out that I am aware of, but how are other ways that kids are sacrificed in our society?
Do we sacrifice them when our time is focused on "more important" things like work, habits or fitness to build ourselves up?
Do we throw them to wolves if we do not pray fiercely and pour the Gospel into them intentionally?
Do we sacrifice their purity by not shepherding their viewing and listening habits?
Do we sacrifice their self dignity when we don't listen to them becasue we are too busy being entertained or talking on a phone?
Do we sacrifice them when we don't discipline them in a Godly way, but rather allow Oprah to guide us where "all is good" ?
Do we sacrifice them by allowing drugs to take the place of healing hugs, open ears, precious time and edifying words?
Do we sacrifice them when we are bound by lust of another, which corrupts our affections?
Do we sacrifice them as our vanity focuses our actions on us rather than serving them?
I would say that I have partially sacrificed my kids at times, falling prey to most of the above traps. I will state firmly though that as I worship the God who allowed His Son to be a Holy Sacrifice, he not only makes me aware of these things, but empowers my battle against them. He sacrificed His son in the most Holy act of sacrifice ever, and there is no sacrifice available that can improve upon it one little bit. It is only when we cease striving and know that God is God, and Christ has satisfied Him that we can give ourselves unto His lordship.
Our heart's desire should be in praise of Christ, and our first priority with Kids is to show and teach them Jesus at every turn. We only get one shot with our kids -may God give us the grace and energy to buld them up in His son Jesus.
2 Kings 32:10 And he (Josiah) defiled Topeth, which is in the valley of the son of Himmon, that no one might burn his son or daughter as an offering to Molech.
About a month before our team arrived in Togo, the voodoo priest there had sacrificed a small child, carving out the heart before discarding the body. I honestly didn't know what to do with that piece of information. It seemed like something from a different time and place. I thought how could anyone sacrifice their child to a carved rock and then throw it away in a shallow water well like a piece of rubbish? It did produce some healthy fear of the dark evil that we were fighting against. It is indeed a war.
When I got back, I investigated what the word of God says about child sacrifice. In many spots in the Old testament, including the two above God states His hatred of Child Sacrifice to a false god named Molech. The passage from 2 Kings above is in reference to Josiah's reforms which brought child sacrifice to Molech to an end. God hates anything offered to false gods, but in particular His innocent children that He created.
As always when I observe such clear sin, I try to apply it back against my own life and the culture around me. Sure, there are no stories of people taking their kids and burning them on a fire or carving their hearts out that I am aware of, but how are other ways that kids are sacrificed in our society?
Do we sacrifice them when our time is focused on "more important" things like work, habits or fitness to build ourselves up?
Do we throw them to wolves if we do not pray fiercely and pour the Gospel into them intentionally?
Do we sacrifice their purity by not shepherding their viewing and listening habits?
Do we sacrifice their self dignity when we don't listen to them becasue we are too busy being entertained or talking on a phone?
Do we sacrifice them when we don't discipline them in a Godly way, but rather allow Oprah to guide us where "all is good" ?
Do we sacrifice them by allowing drugs to take the place of healing hugs, open ears, precious time and edifying words?
Do we sacrifice them when we are bound by lust of another, which corrupts our affections?
Do we sacrifice them as our vanity focuses our actions on us rather than serving them?
I would say that I have partially sacrificed my kids at times, falling prey to most of the above traps. I will state firmly though that as I worship the God who allowed His Son to be a Holy Sacrifice, he not only makes me aware of these things, but empowers my battle against them. He sacrificed His son in the most Holy act of sacrifice ever, and there is no sacrifice available that can improve upon it one little bit. It is only when we cease striving and know that God is God, and Christ has satisfied Him that we can give ourselves unto His lordship.
Our heart's desire should be in praise of Christ, and our first priority with Kids is to show and teach them Jesus at every turn. We only get one shot with our kids -may God give us the grace and energy to buld them up in His son Jesus.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Presumptious
Romans 2:3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
In the last two posts, I have described the dark sin of voodoo that has permeated Togoville, Togo for centuries. Let me tell you that where darkness is thick, the light of Christ burns hotter and brighter and with urgency. I learned so much from my young brothers in Christ that I can not put them all down on paper. One thing that I want to share is their approach to God. Corporate worship in Togo is provocatively addictive. It is a massive celebration of dancing and singing before the Lord that produces a sweat. Even in the mornings as I taught the men of the blossoming small Church, they wouldn't think of starting a bible study without about 20 minutes of dancing,singing and worshipping before the Lord, followed by a quiet time of confession in preparation to receive God's presence and Word. Just as we in America expect a bulletin, they expect to workup a celebratory sweat of joy and then quietly prepare their hearts for the Glory of the Lord. I would describe it as joy, reverent, passionate, respectful and honoring.
After I got done teaching each day, I had a short walk down a dirt road to meet the rest of the team. It provided me a great time of reflection and praise for what God was doing among my new brothers in Togoville. The walk home on Thursday was a little different. Yes I was praising God and in a deep communion with the Spirit, but I felt like God was also trying to shape me with something. As I walked along the dusty road, God began to show me all of the ways that I can presume upon the riches in Christ Jesus. He began to unveil to me that I live in a society that is probably the most presumptuous society ever. Entitlement and self serving motives define America 2011. Below is a non-exhaustive list of what God is showing me, as you read it ask yourself how you approach them:
Morning quiet time / bible reading (we can approach it as okay I did it now God must honor that)
Giving money (we've been sold a bill of goods that puts God in a box where He must produce and ROI -His focus is our souls)
Attending small group or corporate worship (is 100% of your purpose to worship God or to get something for you)
Mission Trips (this is for the spiritual elite right? We can think this is a trump card for our faith {in place of Christ})
Scripture memorization (remember the Devil knows some, he just uses it for self advancement)
There is simply not enough time to flush out all of my thoughts here. Verse 8 of Romans chapter two reveals the markers of presumptuous worship: self seeking and disobedient. Verse 5 reveals the cause of it: A hard and impenitent heart. The end result is a lack of submission to Christ and wrath for those outside of Christ and a shrivelling of communion for those in Christ.
So how do you approach God. Casually, on your schedule looking for a benefit? Doesn't that mean you actually go to worship yourself and not God? think it through and pray!
In the last two posts, I have described the dark sin of voodoo that has permeated Togoville, Togo for centuries. Let me tell you that where darkness is thick, the light of Christ burns hotter and brighter and with urgency. I learned so much from my young brothers in Christ that I can not put them all down on paper. One thing that I want to share is their approach to God. Corporate worship in Togo is provocatively addictive. It is a massive celebration of dancing and singing before the Lord that produces a sweat. Even in the mornings as I taught the men of the blossoming small Church, they wouldn't think of starting a bible study without about 20 minutes of dancing,singing and worshipping before the Lord, followed by a quiet time of confession in preparation to receive God's presence and Word. Just as we in America expect a bulletin, they expect to workup a celebratory sweat of joy and then quietly prepare their hearts for the Glory of the Lord. I would describe it as joy, reverent, passionate, respectful and honoring.
After I got done teaching each day, I had a short walk down a dirt road to meet the rest of the team. It provided me a great time of reflection and praise for what God was doing among my new brothers in Togoville. The walk home on Thursday was a little different. Yes I was praising God and in a deep communion with the Spirit, but I felt like God was also trying to shape me with something. As I walked along the dusty road, God began to show me all of the ways that I can presume upon the riches in Christ Jesus. He began to unveil to me that I live in a society that is probably the most presumptuous society ever. Entitlement and self serving motives define America 2011. Below is a non-exhaustive list of what God is showing me, as you read it ask yourself how you approach them:
Morning quiet time / bible reading (we can approach it as okay I did it now God must honor that)
Giving money (we've been sold a bill of goods that puts God in a box where He must produce and ROI -His focus is our souls)
Attending small group or corporate worship (is 100% of your purpose to worship God or to get something for you)
Mission Trips (this is for the spiritual elite right? We can think this is a trump card for our faith {in place of Christ})
Scripture memorization (remember the Devil knows some, he just uses it for self advancement)
There is simply not enough time to flush out all of my thoughts here. Verse 8 of Romans chapter two reveals the markers of presumptuous worship: self seeking and disobedient. Verse 5 reveals the cause of it: A hard and impenitent heart. The end result is a lack of submission to Christ and wrath for those outside of Christ and a shrivelling of communion for those in Christ.
So how do you approach God. Casually, on your schedule looking for a benefit? Doesn't that mean you actually go to worship yourself and not God? think it through and pray!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Scars
1 peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
I wrote last week about the voodoo soul doctors of Togo making marks on their subjects faces when they come for healing or help. The mark made from a knife is usually about a 3/4" cut on the cheek, or above the heart. It is pretty grotesque to see some of the faces in Togoville, where the scars of "voodoo healing and power" are abundant. The people who practice voodoo believe that the pain caused by the cuts pleases the gods and that the resulting scars are visible markers of faithfulness to the voodoo gods.
As I thought more about this false religious practice, I began to compare it to my own faith in Christ. Voodoo teaches that people must cut themselves to induce a pain that pleases the gods. Christianity says that God came and took the stripes upon his back for us. Peter says in the baove verse that we are healed by His wounds. Voodoo, like all other false religions, tries to prescribe ways to please the gods. Christianity says that we can't please God, only Christ did, and His Lordship over our lives is the prescription that he filled on the Cross and offers to us freely. It really makes you think of the deep levels of mercy and love the father has. It also gives me great sorrow as I think about the billions that are trapped in religious systems that offer no hope, but only a mighty struggle.
The lie in all false religions is that we can stay in control of our lives and some how please the judge of the world. They are man made and so they are man centered thoughts that fall flat before Jehovah.
All of us are tempted to believe that we can be good enough for God on our own merits. It is the effects of our sin nature. Ask God to show you that there is no good thing in you apart from Christ. Let us praise the true God that stooped down from Heaven to take our due punishment and offer us eternal life. Praise God!
What a God we serve.
I wrote last week about the voodoo soul doctors of Togo making marks on their subjects faces when they come for healing or help. The mark made from a knife is usually about a 3/4" cut on the cheek, or above the heart. It is pretty grotesque to see some of the faces in Togoville, where the scars of "voodoo healing and power" are abundant. The people who practice voodoo believe that the pain caused by the cuts pleases the gods and that the resulting scars are visible markers of faithfulness to the voodoo gods.
As I thought more about this false religious practice, I began to compare it to my own faith in Christ. Voodoo teaches that people must cut themselves to induce a pain that pleases the gods. Christianity says that God came and took the stripes upon his back for us. Peter says in the baove verse that we are healed by His wounds. Voodoo, like all other false religions, tries to prescribe ways to please the gods. Christianity says that we can't please God, only Christ did, and His Lordship over our lives is the prescription that he filled on the Cross and offers to us freely. It really makes you think of the deep levels of mercy and love the father has. It also gives me great sorrow as I think about the billions that are trapped in religious systems that offer no hope, but only a mighty struggle.
The lie in all false religions is that we can stay in control of our lives and some how please the judge of the world. They are man made and so they are man centered thoughts that fall flat before Jehovah.
All of us are tempted to believe that we can be good enough for God on our own merits. It is the effects of our sin nature. Ask God to show you that there is no good thing in you apart from Christ. Let us praise the true God that stooped down from Heaven to take our due punishment and offer us eternal life. Praise God!
What a God we serve.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
