Thought for the Week
We each posses some of Rebekah's travail, for within each one of us there are two natures wrestling one with the other. There is a little of Jacob and Esau within each of us because our flesh and our spirit are at odds with one another. There is within the believer the spiritual potential of Jacob. It is the potential to rise up, taking hold of the godly inheritance and become Israel. This is the redeemed soul, our new identity in Messiah. Yet there also lurks within each of us our old man, the bitter and angry Esau. He thinks only of satisfying his fleshly appetites, and he resents anything which prevents him from so doing.
Commentary
"Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents." (Genesis 25:27). Previously, the only hunter described by the Torah is the wicked Nimrod. Esau's passions led him away from the home, and he found his delight in killing things. Jacob, on the other hand, is described as "a peaceful man, living in tents." Unlike Esau, Jacob's priorities are in the home and with the family.
It is ironic that Western culture places so much emphasis on sporting activities and other things which keep children out of the home. We seem to be adept at raising Esau's. Our culture is one that praises hunters, conquerors and achievers. We celebrate the Nimrod's and dismiss the Abraham's. We worship the Esau's and ignore the Jacob's. But the blessing of God will rest on the Jacob's who find their delight among the tents and with the family.
We are then told that Isaac loved Esau because "because he had a taste for game." (25:28). Literally, however, the verse explains that Isaac loved Esau because "hunting was in his mouth." (25:28). The ancient Jewish commentary Midrash Rabbah suggests that the "hunting in his mouth" should be understood as Esau's deceit of Isaac.
Rabbi Abbahu said, "He was a hunter and fieldsman, hunting at home and hunting in the field. He hunted at home by asking, "How do you tithe salt?" and he hunted in the field by asking, "How do you tithe straw?" (Bereishit Rabbah 63:10)
Thus Esau duped Isaac into believing that he was a righteous son concerned with matters of Torah, and this was the "hunting in his mouth" for which Isaac loved him. By fixating on minutia, Esau created an exterior impression of extreme piety. There is no requirement to tithe salt and straw.
Yeshua invokes this tradition when He rebukes certain ones among the Pharisees for a similar pretense of righteousness. While they ignored justice, mercy and faithfulness, they preoccupied themselves with tithing even their spices. In so doing, the Pharisees sought to show that their observance went beyond the requirements of the Torah. Yeshua applauds their stringency saying, "this you should have done," but He rebukes them for ignoring the weightier matters of Torah.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Torah: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
How Much Is Enough?
This morning I want to continue with the Good News. Last week you’ll remember that we talked about how God never gives up on us, God desires our presence, deems us worthy and risks everything to bring us back. And when we come back all of heaven rejoices. This week I want to ask how well does God know you and what does that have to do with our faith and us? As I read Psalm 139 I just want you to listen to the imagery or feel free to read along if you are a visual learner.
This passage has been called-“The most personal expression about God in the Old Testament.”
Psalm 139
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
Wow!
Can you imagine if this was your prayer every day? What would your life be like if this was the kind of intimacy you experienced with God every moment of the day?
I have to admit I am jealous of the psalmist. She seems to know God intimately and have such a deep personal faith and connection with God. Whereas a lot of times I struggle, and I think we struggle. We struggle with questions and doubt. We struggle with sin and guilt.
We live in a world that works around the exchange of goods and services using money and credit and unfortunately, we treat our lives a lot the same way. Our relationships are based on a give and take mentality. I’ll do something for you if you do something for me. If you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. And so that same attitude bleeds over into our relationship with God. We can’t seem to fathom the idea of unconditional love.
We struggle with the knowledge that “even our darkness is not dark to God” and God knows us down to the last detail and thought, and yet still loves us and accepts us.
We have this idea that we have to earn it-we have to earn God’s love and grace. And there are some people who even stress and encourage this belief system. Well if you would just pray more, or read the Bible more, or serve more, or had more faith, then you will be blessed, healed, or whatever. I want to ask-How much is enough?
How much is enough prayer, enough Bible study, enough church attendance, enough service, enough faith? If I do all that 23 hours a day is that enough? If I have 67.8% faith, is that enough? If your faith is based on the exchange of behavior in order to get God to do what you want, what’s that called? Magic God is not a magician. And you can’t earn something you already have. It’s like being on salary-do you get paid for overtime? No matter how much our Max messes up, will I ever stop loving him? How much more do you think God loves us?
(From Relevant Newsletter) The Bible states that we will never be able to fully comprehend Christ's love, though we can experience it. We can know God, but only in part—as much as we seek to know Him, really. The way we live is our response to God’s love for us. When you love someone what do you want to do? Please them. Not to earn their love, but to show your love for them. So, on this thought of love and pursuit, what does it really all boil down to?
"What can I do for you?"
That is what love, pursuit and seeking anyone and anything boils down to—what can I do for you? What can I offer, give, contribute, do, help, etc.? That is how Jesus still pursues us.
And there is no where we can go or hide and not be in the presence of God.
As the Psalmist points out God is everywhere-from Sheol-where the dead reside to the places we don’t think or believe God could be-God is there. Thus, we can never be far from the Spirit/God’s presence. I really love it when I hear people say, “I can’t tell you, we’re in church” like this place is any more sacred or holy than anywhere else. God doesn’t just live at the church.
(From Relevant)
So if God is everywhere, is God in everyone? God’s very character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God’s Spirit is already in you ready and willing to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us. God takes us right where we are and invites us to the next step.
Thomas R. Kelly in his book “A Testament of Devotion” says that our intimacy with God is the root of our relationship with God. If we draw close to God, then we will bear the fruit of service to God and others.
Kelly says that “there is a way of ordering our mental life on more than one level at once. On one level we may be thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating and meeting all the demands of external affairs. But deep within, at a more profound level, we may also be in prayer and adoration, song and worship. .. It is this deep level of prayer and divine attendance that is the most important thing in the world.”
May we all have relationships with God, in which we can say, “O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me… you are familiar with all my ways.” And “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!... When I awake, I am still with you.” As we leave this place today, may we continue with God, keeping our thoughts on him, and awaking with thoughts of God in the morning.
This passage has been called-“The most personal expression about God in the Old Testament.”
Psalm 139
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
Wow!
Can you imagine if this was your prayer every day? What would your life be like if this was the kind of intimacy you experienced with God every moment of the day?
I have to admit I am jealous of the psalmist. She seems to know God intimately and have such a deep personal faith and connection with God. Whereas a lot of times I struggle, and I think we struggle. We struggle with questions and doubt. We struggle with sin and guilt.
We live in a world that works around the exchange of goods and services using money and credit and unfortunately, we treat our lives a lot the same way. Our relationships are based on a give and take mentality. I’ll do something for you if you do something for me. If you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. And so that same attitude bleeds over into our relationship with God. We can’t seem to fathom the idea of unconditional love.
We struggle with the knowledge that “even our darkness is not dark to God” and God knows us down to the last detail and thought, and yet still loves us and accepts us.
We have this idea that we have to earn it-we have to earn God’s love and grace. And there are some people who even stress and encourage this belief system. Well if you would just pray more, or read the Bible more, or serve more, or had more faith, then you will be blessed, healed, or whatever. I want to ask-How much is enough?
How much is enough prayer, enough Bible study, enough church attendance, enough service, enough faith? If I do all that 23 hours a day is that enough? If I have 67.8% faith, is that enough? If your faith is based on the exchange of behavior in order to get God to do what you want, what’s that called? Magic God is not a magician. And you can’t earn something you already have. It’s like being on salary-do you get paid for overtime? No matter how much our Max messes up, will I ever stop loving him? How much more do you think God loves us?
(From Relevant Newsletter) The Bible states that we will never be able to fully comprehend Christ's love, though we can experience it. We can know God, but only in part—as much as we seek to know Him, really. The way we live is our response to God’s love for us. When you love someone what do you want to do? Please them. Not to earn their love, but to show your love for them. So, on this thought of love and pursuit, what does it really all boil down to?
"What can I do for you?"
That is what love, pursuit and seeking anyone and anything boils down to—what can I do for you? What can I offer, give, contribute, do, help, etc.? That is how Jesus still pursues us.
And there is no where we can go or hide and not be in the presence of God.
As the Psalmist points out God is everywhere-from Sheol-where the dead reside to the places we don’t think or believe God could be-God is there. Thus, we can never be far from the Spirit/God’s presence. I really love it when I hear people say, “I can’t tell you, we’re in church” like this place is any more sacred or holy than anywhere else. God doesn’t just live at the church.
(From Relevant)
So if God is everywhere, is God in everyone? God’s very character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God’s Spirit is already in you ready and willing to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us. God takes us right where we are and invites us to the next step.
Thomas R. Kelly in his book “A Testament of Devotion” says that our intimacy with God is the root of our relationship with God. If we draw close to God, then we will bear the fruit of service to God and others.
Kelly says that “there is a way of ordering our mental life on more than one level at once. On one level we may be thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating and meeting all the demands of external affairs. But deep within, at a more profound level, we may also be in prayer and adoration, song and worship. .. It is this deep level of prayer and divine attendance that is the most important thing in the world.”
May we all have relationships with God, in which we can say, “O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me… you are familiar with all my ways.” And “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!... When I awake, I am still with you.” As we leave this place today, may we continue with God, keeping our thoughts on him, and awaking with thoughts of God in the morning.
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Search
We’ve spent a couple of weeks talking about the faults of Jonah and how we can, unfortunately, share the same sin. So I thought it would be a good idea to look a little deeper into the story of Jonah and try to explore more fully what God does and how God feels about us.
We mentioned that God has hope, but Jonah is unwilling to share that hope. I wonder how far is God willing to go. Do we worship a God that is willing to risk everything for just one? Or is God willing to sacrifice a few to save the many?
Who here has ever lost anything? One big support group. Who here wishes their remote control had a beeper on it? The 5 cars…
If we looked that hard for a remote or a few cars or your keys or cell phone or whatever you may have lost, do you think God looks even more passionately for just one of us when we are lost? Let’s take a look at Luke 15 for some Good News this morning.
Luke 15
1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
What were they saying? Guilt by association-if he eats with sinners, sinners for disciples, associates with sinners-must be a sinner.
What did Jonah not want to do?
Who does Jesus want to be with?
These next 3 stories are told in response to the Pharisees condemnation. Stories speak of God’s search for sinners… People invite division while God invites unity amidst our diversity. We feel better when we have things categorized, but God doesn’t work that way. God looks at the whole and no one is left out
Are you more like Jonah or Jesus?
The 2 parables we’re going to look at have Old Testament references to the original covenant.
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Throwback to a ancient story about Moses-tending flock of Jethro, one kid escaped, went after it, found it, and put it up on his shoulders.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Women would receive 10 coins as a wedding gift. Jesus as the bridegroom imagery and a reference to the original covenant on Mt. Sinai. The covenant in the desert was like a marriage.
These are very important parables because I believe they are meant to convey the heart of Jesus’ mission. His own description of what he hoped to accomplish. Each one is linked by a common story, theme, and meaning. (slide)
Lost sheep, lost coin, prodigal son
Shepherd, woman, father
99 sheep, 9 coins, 1 jealous son
There’s a few questions that come to my mind regarding these stories.
1) How does God know when we are lost? Well how do we know when we’ve lost something? When we miss its presence in our lives. Lord of the Rings-Gollum is always looking for precious and he’ll stop at nothing to get precious, and in the end he is willing to give his life for the ring. Sound familiar? Tolkein was a Christian.
2) How do you approach an animal separated from the flock or herd? Do you run in screaming and yelling? A group is much easier to move, but when you are chasing the one it can go any which way-even right back at you. When you approach an animal you do it calmly, tenderly, and with mercy. Jesus approaches us the same way when we are lost-tenderly and with mercy.
3) Are you worth searching for? Jonah didn’t believe the Ninevites were worth saving, but God did.
So I ask again, do you believe that you are worth searching for? I would venture to guess there are people who have never pondered that question and another group who truly don’t believe they are worthy.
To the first group I want to say don’t take your salvation so lightly and to the second group I’m here to tell you that you are worthy.
Addicts: Trust is broken-the people are uncertain when they return, but not God.
When we come back God always trusts.
This is the meaning of the stories. When you sin, Jesus comes looking for you because the other 99 sheep or 9 coins don’t need to repent. Jesus is desperately searching for what is lost…willing to risk it all for you..and in the end what happens?
The friends and neighbors rejoice and celebrate. What would those people represent? the angels rejoicing in heaven. Can you imagine what that must be like when we are found, when we return that all of heaven is rejoicing?
We may be able to understand a God who would forgive sinners who come to him for mercy. But a God who tenderly searches for sinners and then joyfully forgives them must possess an extraordinary love. This is the kind of love that prompted Jesus to come to earth to search for lost people and save them. This is the kind of extraordinary love that God has for you. If you feel far from God, don’t despair. God is searching for you.
When you are at your lowest, when you have wondered so far off from God or anything to do with God-God is right there and more than being there with you, God is searching passionately and lovingly for you.
That my friends is the Good News of Jesus Christ…are you sharing in it?
We mentioned that God has hope, but Jonah is unwilling to share that hope. I wonder how far is God willing to go. Do we worship a God that is willing to risk everything for just one? Or is God willing to sacrifice a few to save the many?
Who here has ever lost anything? One big support group. Who here wishes their remote control had a beeper on it? The 5 cars…
If we looked that hard for a remote or a few cars or your keys or cell phone or whatever you may have lost, do you think God looks even more passionately for just one of us when we are lost? Let’s take a look at Luke 15 for some Good News this morning.
Luke 15
1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
What were they saying? Guilt by association-if he eats with sinners, sinners for disciples, associates with sinners-must be a sinner.
What did Jonah not want to do?
Who does Jesus want to be with?
These next 3 stories are told in response to the Pharisees condemnation. Stories speak of God’s search for sinners… People invite division while God invites unity amidst our diversity. We feel better when we have things categorized, but God doesn’t work that way. God looks at the whole and no one is left out
Are you more like Jonah or Jesus?
The 2 parables we’re going to look at have Old Testament references to the original covenant.
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Throwback to a ancient story about Moses-tending flock of Jethro, one kid escaped, went after it, found it, and put it up on his shoulders.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Women would receive 10 coins as a wedding gift. Jesus as the bridegroom imagery and a reference to the original covenant on Mt. Sinai. The covenant in the desert was like a marriage.
These are very important parables because I believe they are meant to convey the heart of Jesus’ mission. His own description of what he hoped to accomplish. Each one is linked by a common story, theme, and meaning. (slide)
Lost sheep, lost coin, prodigal son
Shepherd, woman, father
99 sheep, 9 coins, 1 jealous son
There’s a few questions that come to my mind regarding these stories.
1) How does God know when we are lost? Well how do we know when we’ve lost something? When we miss its presence in our lives. Lord of the Rings-Gollum is always looking for precious and he’ll stop at nothing to get precious, and in the end he is willing to give his life for the ring. Sound familiar? Tolkein was a Christian.
2) How do you approach an animal separated from the flock or herd? Do you run in screaming and yelling? A group is much easier to move, but when you are chasing the one it can go any which way-even right back at you. When you approach an animal you do it calmly, tenderly, and with mercy. Jesus approaches us the same way when we are lost-tenderly and with mercy.
3) Are you worth searching for? Jonah didn’t believe the Ninevites were worth saving, but God did.
So I ask again, do you believe that you are worth searching for? I would venture to guess there are people who have never pondered that question and another group who truly don’t believe they are worthy.
To the first group I want to say don’t take your salvation so lightly and to the second group I’m here to tell you that you are worthy.
Addicts: Trust is broken-the people are uncertain when they return, but not God.
When we come back God always trusts.
This is the meaning of the stories. When you sin, Jesus comes looking for you because the other 99 sheep or 9 coins don’t need to repent. Jesus is desperately searching for what is lost…willing to risk it all for you..and in the end what happens?
The friends and neighbors rejoice and celebrate. What would those people represent? the angels rejoicing in heaven. Can you imagine what that must be like when we are found, when we return that all of heaven is rejoicing?
We may be able to understand a God who would forgive sinners who come to him for mercy. But a God who tenderly searches for sinners and then joyfully forgives them must possess an extraordinary love. This is the kind of love that prompted Jesus to come to earth to search for lost people and save them. This is the kind of extraordinary love that God has for you. If you feel far from God, don’t despair. God is searching for you.
When you are at your lowest, when you have wondered so far off from God or anything to do with God-God is right there and more than being there with you, God is searching passionately and lovingly for you.
That my friends is the Good News of Jesus Christ…are you sharing in it?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Are You Willing
This month we recognize and celebrate 120 years of ministry as a church.
Think about what this church has seen-the land run, Oklahoma state hood, it’s rang in 2 centuries, the progression of technology, the shrinking of the globe, and even survived y2k and 10/10/10 at 10:10…
Now think about what this church has done:
We’ve sponsored missionaries all over the world, was a huge part of Oklahoma Christian Missionary Society and Ladies Aid, helped found Phillips University and a preschool, countless groups and organizations have utilized our facilities for continuing education classes, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H, Professional Business Women, to name a few;
We’ve encountered thousands of people-performed hundreds of baptisms, weddings, funerals, VBS-with other churches, combined youth with other churches, built this wonderful facility, and that ministry continues with our outreach into El Reno through CARE, Habitat, Mobile Meals, Blessing Baskets, LOGOS, it stretches across the state and nation with our giving through outreach, and now around the world with our partnership with World Vision.
God has taken what others gave and multiplied it beyond anything we could imagine. God still does that today. We are truly a blessed church. Hopefully you know by now we are striving to be faithful stewards and set a goal 3 years ago of 10% and then some-we’ve said it before-we’re not stopping at 10%.
What if we could do 20% or more? What if we could be the leader in El Reno and Oklahoma for what a church can do for God’s Kingdom? When we pray “your Kingdom come your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven”…we need to take it seriously.
Jesus calls us to spread his Good News, and we all need to be a part of it. A couple of weeks ago we talked about how we can have an attitude like Jonah-that feeling of being entitled to what we have, but we need to have a different attitude-entrusted-when it comes to giving and being used by God. God wanted to use Jonah, but Jonah was not a willing servant.
Recap Jonah-now he’s ready to go…right?
Jonah 3: 1-10
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."
In his prayer from chapter 2, Jonah expresses no readiness to go to Nineveh; nor, when he reaches dry land, does he set off on his mission until he is again commanded to do so.
Sometimes we never learn, but God is faithful. Sometimes we make the promises, but never follow through, we have to be reminded. But God can take even the reluctant giver and do great things. Imagine what God can do with a willing giver. Are you willing?
Pick it back up in v. 3.
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."
Finally, after everything Jonah has been through he concedes to go to proclaim God’s message, yet he doesn’t fully embrace the message or his mission. This is evident by his half way travel through the city (1 day) and then he turns around…God I did it now I’m out of here…it’s evident in response to God’s forgiveness in chapter 4 as well…
Jonah’s unwilling entitled attitude also shows in the language he uses. The language is reminiscent of God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Gen 19. Jonah’s proclamation is extremely short and includes no call to repentance, unlike many other prophetic proclamations.
What do you think Jonah hoped or expected to happen? Even after everything that has happened is Jonah a willing servant? Who is being judgmental? Who has the hope?
This should give us all hope. That even when no one else believes in us, God always does. God believes in this church and in us-we can do more for the Kingdom. Are you willing?
5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:
"By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."
Their rapid reaction contrasts with the slow reaction of the prophet himself: he submitted to his God only after “three days and three nights” in the belly of the fish, but they did so after only one day.
Even though Jonah expected something else, hoped for something else, and probably preached in a way to be the least effective, it ends up being the most effective, since the entire city immediately turns from its ways and repents.
Jonah does not wish to be a prophetic voice calling for repentance, and does not ask for the divine judgment to be turned into mercy (again think of Abraham and Sodom & Gomorrah-Abraham asked God to spare the cities), but Jonah is still the most successful prophet in the Bible.
He achieves both repentance and mercy in an unparalleled complete, and immediate way-even the animals repent. The inclusion of animals in the acts of repentance is quite extraordinary.
If God can accomplish all this through one person in a half hearted, begrudging attempt, imagine what God can do if we are willing.
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
Do you see? The joy is that God blesses Jonah’s words in spite of Jonah’s attitude. Power of the gift is exponentially greater than we can grasp…that even when we aren’t the proverbial cheerful giver, God still uses it…once given the offering has power beyond the attitude of the giver
God blesses beyond us. Even though we battle entitlement we are entrusted. We don’t deserve it, we haven’t earned anything, and yet we continue to be reluctant and unwilling givers, like Jonah.
What if we took on the mindset of God instead of Jonah’s?
Our spirit would be more loving and the effect far more significant
If Jonah’s weak message can change Ninevah, can change the unchangeable, what would have happened had he gone in there with power, compassion, and the love and grace of God?
Think about a memorial gift-it’s a 3 way blessing for us, the family in whose honor we gave, and the charity we gave to and often when we give a memorial gift we can be overly generous and cheerful..even excited in our giving. Memorial gifts are a great example of what can happen when we are willing to share the resources entrusted to us.
How can we become more like God expecting and hoping for the best….are you willing?
Think about what this church has seen-the land run, Oklahoma state hood, it’s rang in 2 centuries, the progression of technology, the shrinking of the globe, and even survived y2k and 10/10/10 at 10:10…
Now think about what this church has done:
We’ve sponsored missionaries all over the world, was a huge part of Oklahoma Christian Missionary Society and Ladies Aid, helped found Phillips University and a preschool, countless groups and organizations have utilized our facilities for continuing education classes, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H, Professional Business Women, to name a few;
We’ve encountered thousands of people-performed hundreds of baptisms, weddings, funerals, VBS-with other churches, combined youth with other churches, built this wonderful facility, and that ministry continues with our outreach into El Reno through CARE, Habitat, Mobile Meals, Blessing Baskets, LOGOS, it stretches across the state and nation with our giving through outreach, and now around the world with our partnership with World Vision.
God has taken what others gave and multiplied it beyond anything we could imagine. God still does that today. We are truly a blessed church. Hopefully you know by now we are striving to be faithful stewards and set a goal 3 years ago of 10% and then some-we’ve said it before-we’re not stopping at 10%.
What if we could do 20% or more? What if we could be the leader in El Reno and Oklahoma for what a church can do for God’s Kingdom? When we pray “your Kingdom come your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven”…we need to take it seriously.
Jesus calls us to spread his Good News, and we all need to be a part of it. A couple of weeks ago we talked about how we can have an attitude like Jonah-that feeling of being entitled to what we have, but we need to have a different attitude-entrusted-when it comes to giving and being used by God. God wanted to use Jonah, but Jonah was not a willing servant.
Recap Jonah-now he’s ready to go…right?
Jonah 3: 1-10
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."
In his prayer from chapter 2, Jonah expresses no readiness to go to Nineveh; nor, when he reaches dry land, does he set off on his mission until he is again commanded to do so.
Sometimes we never learn, but God is faithful. Sometimes we make the promises, but never follow through, we have to be reminded. But God can take even the reluctant giver and do great things. Imagine what God can do with a willing giver. Are you willing?
Pick it back up in v. 3.
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."
Finally, after everything Jonah has been through he concedes to go to proclaim God’s message, yet he doesn’t fully embrace the message or his mission. This is evident by his half way travel through the city (1 day) and then he turns around…God I did it now I’m out of here…it’s evident in response to God’s forgiveness in chapter 4 as well…
Jonah’s unwilling entitled attitude also shows in the language he uses. The language is reminiscent of God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Gen 19. Jonah’s proclamation is extremely short and includes no call to repentance, unlike many other prophetic proclamations.
What do you think Jonah hoped or expected to happen? Even after everything that has happened is Jonah a willing servant? Who is being judgmental? Who has the hope?
This should give us all hope. That even when no one else believes in us, God always does. God believes in this church and in us-we can do more for the Kingdom. Are you willing?
5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:
"By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."
Their rapid reaction contrasts with the slow reaction of the prophet himself: he submitted to his God only after “three days and three nights” in the belly of the fish, but they did so after only one day.
Even though Jonah expected something else, hoped for something else, and probably preached in a way to be the least effective, it ends up being the most effective, since the entire city immediately turns from its ways and repents.
Jonah does not wish to be a prophetic voice calling for repentance, and does not ask for the divine judgment to be turned into mercy (again think of Abraham and Sodom & Gomorrah-Abraham asked God to spare the cities), but Jonah is still the most successful prophet in the Bible.
He achieves both repentance and mercy in an unparalleled complete, and immediate way-even the animals repent. The inclusion of animals in the acts of repentance is quite extraordinary.
If God can accomplish all this through one person in a half hearted, begrudging attempt, imagine what God can do if we are willing.
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
Do you see? The joy is that God blesses Jonah’s words in spite of Jonah’s attitude. Power of the gift is exponentially greater than we can grasp…that even when we aren’t the proverbial cheerful giver, God still uses it…once given the offering has power beyond the attitude of the giver
God blesses beyond us. Even though we battle entitlement we are entrusted. We don’t deserve it, we haven’t earned anything, and yet we continue to be reluctant and unwilling givers, like Jonah.
What if we took on the mindset of God instead of Jonah’s?
Our spirit would be more loving and the effect far more significant
If Jonah’s weak message can change Ninevah, can change the unchangeable, what would have happened had he gone in there with power, compassion, and the love and grace of God?
Think about a memorial gift-it’s a 3 way blessing for us, the family in whose honor we gave, and the charity we gave to and often when we give a memorial gift we can be overly generous and cheerful..even excited in our giving. Memorial gifts are a great example of what can happen when we are willing to share the resources entrusted to us.
How can we become more like God expecting and hoping for the best….are you willing?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Unity Around the Table
What is world communion Sunday? Why is it important?
This is a special Sunday in the lives of churches all over the world, it’s called World Communion Sunday.
What is World Communion Sunday?
World Communion Sunday (originally called World Wide Communion Sunday) originated in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 1936, for the first time, the first Sunday in October was celebrated in Presbyterian churches in the United States and overseas. From the beginning, it was planned so that other denominations could make use of it and, after a few years, the idea spread beyond the Presbyterian Church.
The National Council of Churches was first associated with World Wide Communion Sunday in 1940 when the executive secretary, Jesse Bader, led in its extension to a number of churches throughout the world. Now it has grown to over 60 denominations in 220 countries.
Communion is a call to unity, to return to God, Christ has provided us the ability to return…
The passage we are going to look at is from a time when Israel was disconnected and the prophet Jeremiah is trying to call the people to unity with each other and with God.
Jeremiah 2: 4-13
4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob,
all you clans of the house of Israel.
5 This is what the LORD says:
"What fault did your fathers find in me,
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.
6 They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and rifts,
a land of drought and darkness, [a]
a land where no one travels and no one lives?'
7 I brought you into a fertile land
to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
and made my inheritance detestable.
8 The priests did not ask,
'Where is the LORD ?'
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
following worthless idols.
Notice 2 things in this portion:
1) The accusation begins with a historical retrospective. First the ancestors of the present generation are criticized for turning away, despite God’s ongoing providence and protection. Then it moves on to priests, teachers, kings, and prophets all come under the judgment.
2) Begins with the ironic question “What wrong did your fathers find in Me that they abandoned Me?” and goes on to accuse them of never asking “Where is the Lord?” who brought them from Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and delivered them into the Promised Land. The implication is that the people have simply abandoned their historical God for no good reason, since the evidence of His presence and love is undeniable.
And that’s what God does-look at what you’re doing…and our response should be, yes! You are right I have turned away, I am worshiping idols, I have forgotten the God who has blessed and provided for me. Which is the first step when we approach the table-confession.
I like this next section because of what Jeremiah does-he utilizes the current context to drive home a point.
9 "Therefore I bring charges against you again,"
declares the LORD.
"And I will bring charges against your children's children.
10 Cross over to the coasts of Kittim [b] and look,
send to Kedar [c] and observe closely;
see if there has ever been anything like this:
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their [d] Glory
for worthless idols.
Do you understand what Jeremiah is saying? Even the pagans remain loyal and faithful to their gods and yet you who worship the one true God are turning to things that are meaningless.
What happens when we wonder off from God? What are the consequences?
Sometimes we wander off of the path not realizing it or still feeling safe, but before we know it, we’re lost and confused with no direction. When you were young by the killers
The devils water it aint so sweet you don’t have to drink right now, but you can dip your feet every once in a little while…
The idea that things look good on the outside or at first and before we know it we are consumed and separated from the things of God-from our relationship with God.
When we wander off the consequences are dire-charges against us and our children. But we have something that those early Israelites didn’t-Christ.
Communion-brings us together with each other and with God-because Christ unites.
12 Be appalled at this, O heavens,
and shudder with great horror,"
declares the LORD.
13 "My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
God told the Israelites they sinned first because they turned from him, the spring of living water, to the worship of idols. Not only that, but the cisterns they chose were broken and empty. Does everyone know what a cistern was? What was Jeremiah saying? Their new gods couldn’t hold water…
We don’t ever want to reach a point where God is pushed to the side. Where we have separated ourselves from God because of our busyness, because of the worthless things we have chosen to worship.
That’s where communion comes in-we may do or say things to each other, but we gather here around this table to confess, to reconcile, to forgive, and we also recognize that we have built worthless cisterns of our own that don’t hold water-and we need to confess, receive forgiveness, and worship again the one true God. That grace and forgiveness comes through Jesus who died for each one of us. This morning we recognize all sorts of boundaries that this table breaks down and we are thankful for it.
This is a special Sunday in the lives of churches all over the world, it’s called World Communion Sunday.
What is World Communion Sunday?
World Communion Sunday (originally called World Wide Communion Sunday) originated in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 1936, for the first time, the first Sunday in October was celebrated in Presbyterian churches in the United States and overseas. From the beginning, it was planned so that other denominations could make use of it and, after a few years, the idea spread beyond the Presbyterian Church.
The National Council of Churches was first associated with World Wide Communion Sunday in 1940 when the executive secretary, Jesse Bader, led in its extension to a number of churches throughout the world. Now it has grown to over 60 denominations in 220 countries.
Communion is a call to unity, to return to God, Christ has provided us the ability to return…
The passage we are going to look at is from a time when Israel was disconnected and the prophet Jeremiah is trying to call the people to unity with each other and with God.
Jeremiah 2: 4-13
4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob,
all you clans of the house of Israel.
5 This is what the LORD says:
"What fault did your fathers find in me,
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.
6 They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and rifts,
a land of drought and darkness, [a]
a land where no one travels and no one lives?'
7 I brought you into a fertile land
to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
and made my inheritance detestable.
8 The priests did not ask,
'Where is the LORD ?'
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
following worthless idols.
Notice 2 things in this portion:
1) The accusation begins with a historical retrospective. First the ancestors of the present generation are criticized for turning away, despite God’s ongoing providence and protection. Then it moves on to priests, teachers, kings, and prophets all come under the judgment.
2) Begins with the ironic question “What wrong did your fathers find in Me that they abandoned Me?” and goes on to accuse them of never asking “Where is the Lord?” who brought them from Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and delivered them into the Promised Land. The implication is that the people have simply abandoned their historical God for no good reason, since the evidence of His presence and love is undeniable.
And that’s what God does-look at what you’re doing…and our response should be, yes! You are right I have turned away, I am worshiping idols, I have forgotten the God who has blessed and provided for me. Which is the first step when we approach the table-confession.
I like this next section because of what Jeremiah does-he utilizes the current context to drive home a point.
9 "Therefore I bring charges against you again,"
declares the LORD.
"And I will bring charges against your children's children.
10 Cross over to the coasts of Kittim [b] and look,
send to Kedar [c] and observe closely;
see if there has ever been anything like this:
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their [d] Glory
for worthless idols.
Do you understand what Jeremiah is saying? Even the pagans remain loyal and faithful to their gods and yet you who worship the one true God are turning to things that are meaningless.
What happens when we wonder off from God? What are the consequences?
Sometimes we wander off of the path not realizing it or still feeling safe, but before we know it, we’re lost and confused with no direction. When you were young by the killers
The devils water it aint so sweet you don’t have to drink right now, but you can dip your feet every once in a little while…
The idea that things look good on the outside or at first and before we know it we are consumed and separated from the things of God-from our relationship with God.
When we wander off the consequences are dire-charges against us and our children. But we have something that those early Israelites didn’t-Christ.
Communion-brings us together with each other and with God-because Christ unites.
12 Be appalled at this, O heavens,
and shudder with great horror,"
declares the LORD.
13 "My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
God told the Israelites they sinned first because they turned from him, the spring of living water, to the worship of idols. Not only that, but the cisterns they chose were broken and empty. Does everyone know what a cistern was? What was Jeremiah saying? Their new gods couldn’t hold water…
We don’t ever want to reach a point where God is pushed to the side. Where we have separated ourselves from God because of our busyness, because of the worthless things we have chosen to worship.
That’s where communion comes in-we may do or say things to each other, but we gather here around this table to confess, to reconcile, to forgive, and we also recognize that we have built worthless cisterns of our own that don’t hold water-and we need to confess, receive forgiveness, and worship again the one true God. That grace and forgiveness comes through Jesus who died for each one of us. This morning we recognize all sorts of boundaries that this table breaks down and we are thankful for it.
Monday, September 27, 2010
More Than Enough: Entitled or Entrusted?
As we begin our stewardship campaign… You should have received your letter and pledge card in the mail already. Each week starting last week we have bulletin inserts to further challenge each of us in our relationship with God and our giving. We basically have two things to give-our money and our time. When I say stewardship I am referring to both.
This year on the message side of things, I want to focus on our attitudes. And I want to do that by lifting up the example of Jonah. How are you like Jonah when it comes to giving? Do you feel entitled or entrusted?
We are all familiar with the story of Jonah-Veggie Tales, heard it, studied, know it pretty much by heart-but I want to focus on the attitude of Jonah. Our attitude towards giving can parallel that of Jonah’s-let’s take a look.
Jonah 1: 1-17
1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."
Nineveh was one of the oldest and largest cities in Mesopotamia and arguably the most important city in Assyria. It was a rising world power of Jonah’s day and within 50 years Nineveh would become the capital of the vast Assyrian empire.
3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.
To make his escape Jonah was willing not only to leave his home but even to pay for his journey. This fare must have been high, given the duration of a journey from one end of the Mediterranean to the other. In Roman times the journey to Spain could take a full year.
But Jonah’s attitude is not unusual for his day. It is representative of Israel’s reluctance to share God’s love and mercy with others, even though this was their God-given mission. They, like Jonah, did not want non-Jews to obtain God’s favor.
Which leads to our attitudes. How do we respond to that which we see every day? We have the same message as Jonah did. Do we do what we want to do-go where we want to go-essentially that everything is about us? Or do we look at the world through God’s eyes?
In the story God believes God has a chance. God believes in the Ninevites. Jonah becomes the judgmental one…
As Christians we should be cultivating a mindset and an eye for what God hopes can happen in the world.
Jonah was entrusted with a message, but felt entitled to something different.
Are you entrusted or entitled?
4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.
But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."
Is Jonah remorseful? He’s asleep below. Sometimes using our conscience as a guide isn’t always the best practice. Our giving is between us and God, but we should be striving to give as much as we are called to give. 10% is a good starting place, but as we have been blessed with much, we should give more. If you make more than $24000 you are wealthier than 90% of the world.
7 Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
8 So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"
9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."
10 This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)
Notice here, when does Jonah finally admit it’s his fault? After the lots are cast. Jonah is being so stubborn, so defiant to what God has called him to do that he does not speak up. How stubborn are you when it comes to listening to what God is calling you to do or give?
The mindset of a giver like Jonah would say-That $ could be used for something else
Instead of forging our path-I’m not going to buy another tv, or a nicer car, but rather one that will suffice and use the other money resources for God’s plan
Giving time-mowing the lawn for someone else
Entitled or entrusted?
11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"
12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you."
13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.
17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
So again Jonah trying to escape his call from God and this time through passive suicide.
Jonah is willing to give his life to save the sailors, but not the Ninevites. Giving can be that way too. We give to things that are easy to give to, or even we give money so we don’t have to give our time.
It’s interesting the sailors do not want to be responsible for the death of God’s prophet. But Jonah sees death as an escape from God’s mission. Do we hate to give so much that we would rather die and have it go to our loved ones?
We should have the eyes of God-like Jonah should have had the eyes of God-to see our gifts, to see other people as God sees them. Unfortunately, we can be like Jonah-they don’t deserve it, they aren’t worthy, they’ll just waste it, I can use it, I really need it…
As Richard Stearns points out in “The Hole in the Gospel”-The American Dream often promotes this view of money: “I worked hard, I earned it, and it’s mine to do with as I please.” This suggests that we are entitled to any income that comes to us because we worked for it. But that’s not what the Bible tells us about our money and possessions. In fact, the biblical view of our resources is just the opposite. It teaches that all we have or receive comes from God; God has simply entrusted it to us. There’s a big difference between entitled and entrusted.
Example of stock broker-entrust them with your money. What if they went out and bought a brand new sports car with your money instead of investing. Their reply is simply-I earned it. I’m entitled to it. As a steward of your money you expect to pay them a commission, which he could spend on his needs, but you would have expected him to invest your money on your behalf. That’s exactly what God expects of us. He wants us to invest His money on His behalf by undertaking His kingdom work.
How do you view your money, time, possessions? Are you entitled or entrusted?
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