Listen to the Prophet

An interesting thing happens at the end of Matthew chapter 13. Jesus went to His hometown and taught in their synagogue. Amazing homecoming right? Wrong. They were astonished but not in a good way. They questioned His true identity. They wondered about His authenticity. They took offense at Him. They stumbled on the stone of stumbling and rock of offense. They were not blessed. Jesus' reply? He likened Himself to a prophet who speaks forth the very words of God, revealing things long hidden and undisclosed. One who speaks boldly and pays the consequences. It is not surprising that they rejected Him. He came for the cross.

We live in a time, not unlike the days of the prophets of old and not unlike the dusty streets of first century Palestine that Jesus walked, where people speak bold-faced against God and think nothing of it. They are ignorant, deceived, lost and blinded by Satan (2 Cor. 4:4). We do not hate them as enemies, we pity them, pray for them and seek their rescue. We who believe were not long ago just like that. As Micah 4:12 says, they do not know the thoughts of the Lord, nor do they understand His plan. Jesus graciously reveals both to the believing. So listen to the Prophet. He is speaking today through His Word. Pick up your copy and read.

Back to What?

When it comes to life in the Body of Christ, be that in our households or the local assembly of believers, people are often tempted to say we need to get back to what the early church said and did, or what the Reformers said and did, or what so and so said and did. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, it is easy in the process to make some of the mistakes they did.

I often benefit from the views of some of my favorite authors, pastors and friends, living and dead, using their views almost as a sort of compass as I navigate life, cultivate a biblical worldview and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. They can be helpful but certainly have their human limitations. The word of man about the Word of God is not inerrent or infallible. I am influenced by others I respect. But that must never be allowed to take precedence when handling Scripture. We must trust God more than man. To make an obvious point, it doesn't matter what era you choose from, human examples are not Jesus nor did they write Scripture. They merely commented on It. Often they pointed people back to Jesus and Scripture but we ought not to point people to people, but back to Jesus and the Scriptures.

We must take great care who we follow and why. Beware of the pitfalls inherent in any human viewpoint or opinion or system of thought, while benefitting from it's strong points. The only inerrent, infallible source we have is God and the only inerrrent, infallible document we have is Holy Scripture spoken by God Himself (2 Tim. 3:16). The Living Word of God and the written Word of God are our true north. We must always point people back to Jesus and Scripture, trusting the Spirit of God to apply the Word of God in the lives of the people of God.

Baring My Soul...on where to live

We live in the city of Irvine, Ca. The church I am privileged to pastor is in Orange, Ca. 8 miles away. Nothing to some, an eternity to others. Depends on where you live and how far you are from the center of your primary activities. Orange, especially the edge of Orange our church is located is not a long way off but two cities away. I've never lived so far from the people and the place where I serve. The church is not a building, but we gather somewhere and it is where our family spends a lot of our time. So we started thinking quite a while ago, that we need to be closer. We'd like to be closer. Of course monetary considerations are present, a higher property tax bill being one of them if we move. But I have other considerations and motivations swimming in my mind. My desire to be near the people is mixed with other desires. A bigger yard, a better house, a pool, more elbow room than Irvine affords. And yes, I do have a tendency to overspiritualize a practical concern. I also have a tendency to be really self-centered. Does God care where we live? I think only as far as I am redemptively interacting with those with whom and near whom I live. I guess I sense the need for a readjustment of my priorities as it relates to housing, where we hang our proverbial hat. I need to start praying like this: Lord, where geographically can I live to best serve Your purposes in this generation, where can I be best used for Your kingdom? Lord, give me grace to move there. Maybe I am already there. Maybe I will be moving residences. Maybe God is more concerned with the attitude of my heart and my very real actions towards people created in His image and for His glory. May the gospel transform my thinking and my actions in every sphere of life, including where I live.

Wheat, Weeds and Micro to Mega

In the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds in Matthew 13, Jesus gave His followers assurance so that they would know how to live in the world until His return. Believer's and unbelievers would coexist in the world, living in the same neighborhoods, frequenting the same stores and restaurants, and even being in the same local Christian assemblies until the end. Therefore we are to be wise, by God's Spirit, discerning in all our interactions; we are to be working, by God's grace, appropriately engaged in what God calls us to do; and we are to be waiting, by God's will, for Christ's imminent return. Solemn truths for solemn times.

Next up is Matthew 13:31-33 and the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven which show us the "micro to mega" nature of the kingdom of God, how God's kingdom grows. Once again God gives us some seeds and tells us how things in His kingdom grow. From relative obscurity comes extensive growth beyond all comprehension. From that growth comes pervasive influence for people's good and Gid's glory, leading to intensive transformation that only God can bring about. God intends for a growing body to experience transformation and that is what He brings about in His church.

I am glad to be a part of things in God's kingdom along with my fellow-workers and fellow-servants of the King.

How do We Know the Bible is the Word of God?

How do We Know the Bible is the Word of God? "We" is born again believers in Jesus, saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for God's glory alone.

Keep in mind that this list is for believers. Unbelievers will not come to saving faith on the basis of our eloquence or solid arguments. We will never argue anyone into the kingdom of God. Only God raises the dead and every person is dead in sin unless God does a work of regeneration in their hearts.

The reasons listed below are assurance for Christians.

We know the Bible is the Word of God because...

1. God says it is. Over and over again in Scripture God makes this assertion. I am well aware that circular reasoning and arguments from authority don't hold much water with many, but the fact remains that God is the ultimate Authority and the Author of Scripture. John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16.

2. It has come true. What God says will happen has happened. Fulfilled prophesies.

3. It agrees with and lends credence to scientific discoveries.

4. It is historically accurate. It is a historical document.

5. It's structure is amazing. God used over 40 writers over 1500 years to write down His 66 books.

6. It's unique effects. It changes us. 1 Thess. 2:13.

7. It exists! The fact that it still exists is testimony to God's supernatural preservation of His Word. Is. 40:8.

What God does when Christians gather around the Word of God

God does something amazing when Christians gather around His Word. We never really know when we gather where others have been, what they have done, what has been done to them, what they have seen, or heard or experienced. Some have been immersed in a culture that is hostile to God. Some immersed in the Word of God in the midst of an atmosphere hostile or indifferent to God. Some have not thought of Him at all. Others have been thinking and dwelling on God since the last time they gathered. Whatever your condition and level of investment in the cause of Christ, I do know that God has something to say to all of us through His Word And by His Spirit whenever we meet.

I am thankful because we all need to hear a word from God. We need to have our souls defrosted and sensitized once again to the things of God, with others who are sympathetic to the cause of Christ rather than opposed to it. I am amazed at what God does among believers when we gather to worship Him. When you put all our different backgrounds, personalities, preferences and challenges together in one place, the God who made the universe and everything in it including us, is pleased to speak to us. As a group, as members of households, as individuals who are personally accountable to Him.

Overcoming the Jonah Syndrome

It is so easy to get angry at the state of affairs in the world, or our own condition, or what we think is not fair. Jonah sure did and God had to open his eyes to some stark realities. You'll remember that Jonah was called to preach but didn't deem the objects of God's compassion worthy. The Word of the Lord came to him and he ran from the presence of the Lord. As if he could.

It is also easy to start wondering how the Church of Jesus Christ is going to survive and thrive in the midst of such seemingly insurmountable odds, how victory can be assured amidst so much hostility and unbelief. We see the winds and waves of evil, indifference and deception and discouragement sets in. Even after repeatedly hearing and reading the end of the story!

That Jesus should have first place in everything (Col.1:18) means that I should lovingly obey Him and my interacting in the world ought to be characterized by mercifully preaching the gospel rather than judging or shunning either my brothers or unbelievers. We who believe are to wait patiently for God to do what He says He will do, trusting His perfect will and plan. His timing is perfect and we should not demand either justice or blessing.

Christ's preeminence calls for loving obedience. Like Jonah we run, while God wants us to engage. God brought him to his senses and He will do the same for His own. Hello! God calls His own to own their responsibility while believing He will do His. Trust Him to do His job and give you grace to do yours.

Jesus, Preeminent

Colossians 1:18 is a statement of fact. A statement of the preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ. A statement of truth that isn't always realized in my life. It tells me that God decrees, demands and delights in my worshipping Him above all lesser things. It reminds me that all that is not God must be secondary to Him that is primary.

Social, yet Impersonal

We are social people. And there are more ways to get in touch with people than ever before. Yet it amazes me that so many can be "socially connected" and yet be so relationally disconnected. We are more socially connected yet we can spend less time in person with people, and that is sad because that is where the true connection takes place.

I've taken a brief hiatus from blogging but now I'm back. Sometimes you need a little break from the routine to be better at it and appreciate it more. I love to write but the thing I love most is knowing that people may be impacted by my words, especially my communicating of God's Word, the Bible, the perfect, innerant, infallible Word of God.

I think one of the reasons 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 are some of my favorite life and ministry verses is because it shows, as God uses mothers to make the point, the perfect combination, the perfect marriage of God's Word and people, the two things that last forever.

That's why, even though I love to write, and know that God might use my words for His glory in other's lives, I'd rather be face to face with a person and God's Word any day. May we redeem the time and may our social connections be personally encouraging and edifying to the glory of God in Christ.