The Discovery Bible (New Testament)

I love this Study Bible!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Discovery-Bible-American-Testament/dp/0802441599/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383757795&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Discovery+Bible%3A+New+American+Standard+New+Testament+Hardcover

Among other helpful items, the words that are emphasized in the Greek language, are printed in red, so as you read, you get a clearer sense of things.

For example, in Luke 1, when the angel Gabriel came to Zacharias and told him his aged, barren wife was going to have a son - John the Baptist - he replied, "How shall I know this for certain? For I, am an old man..." (Lk1:18)

The words "certain" and "I" are emphasized in the Greek. But look how Gabriel responds in the next verse. He says, "I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God..." Again the word, "I" is emphasized in the Greek.

Gabriel responded to Zacharias' authoritative "I" response with the same emphasis!
Here are verses 18 and 19 without the emphasis -

"Zacharias said to the angel, 'How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.' 19 The angel answered and said to him, 'I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 

And now with it -

"Zacharias said to the angel, 'How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.' 19 The angel answered and said to him, 'I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.'" 

I can't prove it, but I picked up a bit of a tone in Zacharias' answer that may very well be described as "patronizing" or "skepticism." And Gabriel's response seems to meet it head on with his own authoritative, "I..."

It's almost like he was saying, "You might be old Zach and know a lot, including that old men with barren wives don't usually have kids. But I know the God to whom you have just offered up the sacrifices on behalf of your people."

 (Zacharias must have forgotten about the founding father of his nation and faith! Someone I think went by the name of Abraham maybe...or something like that.)

In fact, Zacharias, was one of the privileged few who got to occasionally stand there in this Holy of Hollies. And when he did, who shows up? Not just any angel but Gabriel who's been standing in God's immediate, direct, manifest Presence a lot longer than this privileged priest had been in this sacred place.

True messages from God trump any common sense!

Creative Prayer

Prayer can be a difficult task. Often we don't know what to pray. Sometimes we are afraid we'll pray the wrong thing. Other times we think, "If God knows all, why should I bother praying? Isn't it all set in stone anyway? Do my prayers really matter?" Sometimes it feels like our prayers hit the ceiling and aren't getting through to God. 

Yes, we can pray the wrong things but I don't think God is upset with us when we do. I think He's thrilled that we took the time to pray and communicate with Him. If there is one major characteristic about Yahweh it's the He is a talker! He was talking before He created the world! He communicates! He loves to interact with others. He is forever telling His people to talk to Him and listen.  

We are made in God's image and when communication breaks down in our earthly relationships it's usually a bad sign. Until the communication barriers are addressed, often the relationship is stuck or even disintegrates. When our communication stalls with God it affects the relationship as well. I don't think we can lose our salvation over it but we are affected by it. And so is God. 

Besides having a fleshly nature that is naturally reluctant towards prayer, we often get stuck in a rut, praying the same things over and over again. 

Yes, Jesus did tell us to, "Ask and keep on asking" (Matt. 7:7). He even gave us a parable of a widow who pestered a judge until he finally granted her request. (Luke 18:1-8)

But sometimes we don't pray much because we find it so dry and boring. My question is, why? Why is prayer so boring? Think about it. Because of Christ, we can now go to God directly. We have access to the throne room of heaven! (Heb. 4:14-16)  

Imagine, what if you wanted access to the White House? Or Congress? Or Parliament? Difficult? You bet! Often impossible! Heck, even getting back stage passes to a concert is hard! But if we were granted access to our national leaders or to our favorite bands, would we use it? Most of us probably would. And if we learned that those people, in a some super-extraordinary way, cared about us and WANTED to meet with us, would we bored? No! If we knew we could talk to them about anything, would we take a casual approach to such a discussion? I doubt it! I'd guess we'd sit down and figure out ahead of time what we wanted to say. We may even brainstorm and consult with others on how to be effective with what we wanted to communicate. 

Granted, such an illustration isn't perfect as we can pray pretty much anytime and meeting with a band or a politician is a rare opportunity that may happen only once. But the point is, we have the ears of God! A God who loves us! A God who is interested in everything about us! He gave up His own Son for us! Yeah, I think He's probably interested in what we have to share with Him. 

But when I hear people pray and I look at my own prayers at times, I can't help but wonder if God gets bored with our prayers. Of all the things we could bring to Him, we often only focus on our needs - just our needs. Why not expand our prayer life to include other things like our feelings or desires or experiences or even jokes? Why not ask God for things we normally wouldn't think to ask Him?

Look at David's prayers in the Psalms. They're full of emotion and passion! They're raw at times! They're shocking! And they're real! Very, very real! No pretense. 

God once told a disobedient king named Ahaz, "Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or highest heights." (Isa. 7:10). Do you know what the twerp said, "I will not ask. I will not put the Lord to the test." (Isa. 7:11)

I read that and find myself incredulous! Incredulous to the point of being stupefied and speechless! Here God was willing to give this wicked king, who didn't fear Him at all, a sign of his own making and the dude turned God down with a feigned declaration of reverence! Are you kidding me?!

But if God is willing to make such an offer to a rebellious king in an ancient third world country, why do we think He wouldn't consider our requests significant? 

And why do we ask for such little things? Why do we ask God for a pleasant day when we could ask Him anything? We can ask Him ANYTHING! We can bring ANYTHING to Him! ANYTHING!! And yet we're bored and don't know what to ask?      

I've heard wonderful stories of people who got creative with their prayers. They asked God for all sorts of things and He answered them. I've heard stories of guys bringing their work problems to God and asking Him for solutions to problems that no one in their field could solve. And God gave them dreams that solved the problem! I've heard stories of people asking God for ideas for inventions and He granted them and they were able to quit their jobs and live off of the profits! 

I once prayed that God would increase my sense of humor and use it for His glory and He did! I once prayed, in passing, "You know Lord, it would be nice to have a flat screen T.V." That's all I said. I didn't have the money for a flat screen T.V. I didn't even think God heard me or would take such a request seriously. Yet within two weeks a friend called me up and GAVE me their 48" flat screen T.V.! I was shocked! She said that when she prayed about who to give it to, my name came to her mind.

When Job prayed to God about his problems and losses, God answered him in the most colorful way. He started talking about nature and the stars and the beasts and the weather. His answer was so beautiful! God answered people through His prophets of old in story and in satire, in parable and in poetry. Have we ever considered praying to God in such ways? Have you ever written God a poem and offered it up in prayer? 

Maybe our prayer lives are boring because we don't really value them. If all you cook for dinner is spice-less food, and you eat the same thing over and over again, it's gonna get boring. They say,"Variety is the spice of life!" Prayer is the same way. Spice it up a bit! Add variety to your prayers. Pray something new and different! Why not? We don't always have to put on a banquet for God in prayer but why not add a new dish once in a while?

Handcuffing God

Some try to fit God into a box - the coffin.

Others try to keep Him in a book - the Bible.

And yet others try to limit Him to the perimeters of their minds - their I.Q.

The first say, "God is dead!" The second, "God doesn't do anything outside of the Bible!" And the third, "God will only do things I understand!"

I believe at the heart of all three views is an unholy fear. They all attempt to keep God under control. They all try to limit Him - handcuff Him in some way. How can you handcuff a Spirit?

How can a clay pot manipulate its Potter? But we try! We try because we fear Him. We fear Him, not in a Holy, reverential fear but in an unhealthy, afraid He'll take advantage of us, sort of fear. Within such fear is both a lie and truth. The lie is - God doesn't love us. The truth is both sobering and terrifying - God is God and we are not. He is in control, and we are not. He can do as He wishes and we cannot stop Him.

One of the most arrogant and powerful men that ever lived realized this after God turned him into a beast and then after a while restored him. After his restoration, he said of God,

"...his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?'” - Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:35)

Yet in the end, like Nebuchadnezzar, all will praise Him. We will declare,

"Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!

Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!
4 Who will not fear, O Lord,    and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.

All nations will come    and worship you,for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

(Rev. 15:3-4)

When we try to control God, we are in essence saying that we know better. Such foolishness only begets more foolishness. Such foolishness denies the greatness of God and seeks to quench any expression of His glory we don't like or understand. This is one of the greatest dysfunctions of fallen mankind. We were created to express God's glory. But in our post-fall, poisoned minds, we doubt God's goodness and we hold onto the devil's evil insinuation that God is not out for our good and therefore can't really be trusted.

But thanks be to God who has set us free from the devil's lies! Thanks be to God for the sanctifying work of His holy word! In Christ, we are free to let God be God and do as He wishes. Because of Christ, and the freedom He brings, we can pray confidently, and without fear,"Thy Kingdom come! Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!" (Matt. 6:10)

Cessationism, the other popular heresy

In the early 1990's a commercial came out declaring that Pork was the other white meat. Although catchy, it was an untrue phrase that mislead people into thinking that it was healthy to eat pork. Today in the church, there is a similar campaign occurring by the promotion of a doctrine called, "Cessationism."

No doubt there has been great debate, discussion, and argument regarding if the gifts of the Spirit are truly in operation today or if they ceased after the death of the original Apostles or the canonization of the scriptures. Cessationism promotes the idea of the latter. I will discuss why I believe that view is untrue.

No scriptural basis 

First off, I see no scriptural basis for such a view. Often Cessationists quote Paul in 1 Cor. 13:8-10 where he wrote that the gift of tongues, prophesy and knowledge would eventually cease or pass away. In verse 10 he says that these partial things - these gifts of the Spirit - would pass away when the perfect arrived. Many Cessationists argue that Paul was referring to the Bible when he wrote about the perfect arriving. They claim the Bible is perfect and therefore that is what Paul was referring to when he wrote 1 Cor. 13:10. However they fail to show that the Bible is what Paul meant when he said, "the perfect." 

Besides being unable to show Paul meant the bible as being that perfect thing, they don't acknowledge that there remains many imperfect things in this life today, things which the Bible addresses them through the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. People are still sick. People are still in darkness needing direction for specific issues the Bible doesn't speak to. People still have communication barriers to overcome when presenting the gospel and when knowing what to pray. But these problems are often dismissed with flippant and shallow commands to "...just study the Bible more." instead of allowing the Spirit to address them directly through the supernatural gifts.

Cessationists also talk as if the Bible is all we need now. The Holy Spirit seems to be the unwanted, uninvited guest, replaced by our holy book. Cessationists seem to exalt the scriptures, to the point of ignoring the work of the Holy Spirit and almost to the point of Bibliolatry, which is the worship of the scriptures themselves. The way they talk, you'd think the Bible has replaced the Holy Spirit in the Godhead.

Some things have not changed. Didn't the Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus' day do the same? They rejected Christ and His work in favor of their Torah and their traditions made of men. Today we have pastors that reject the Holy Spirit and His work in favor of their man made doctrines. Doubtless, some will protest that statement as an unfair comparison but if the Holy Spirit is truly moving today in the gifts, then they are not merely rejecting the gifts, they are rejecting the Holy Spirit.  

Apostles Promoted the Gifts 

The early church had the Apostles who wrote the New Testament with them. These men had been with Jesus - closer than anyone else. They had witnessed His life and ministry up close and personal. They knew the scriptures thoroughly and even had the privilege of sitting directly under the teaching of Christ. The Word made flesh expounded on the word of God. He revealed its meaning and taught with authority. What an education! Talk about knowing the Bible! They knew the Bible! They knew the Living Bible Himself! And yet they themselves encouraged that the gifts of the Spirit be pursued and used in the churches. The operation of the gifts was normal for them. It was part of everyday church life and policy. If they, the writers of the New Testament, viewed the gifts as that important in those days, how much more should we? If they needed the gifts, how much more do we? There is no one on earth who witnessed the life of Christ more directly, except the Holy Spirit, and if we quench His work with our silly doctrines born of tradition then we will suffer for it.

But many today see no need for the gifts. We in the West, live in a culture that, for all intents and purposes, worships education, knowledge, and reason. We have great faith in science and medical science. Knowledge is often championed as the means to a better life, almost as a Savior that can create heaven on earth and get people out of the hell they've come from. The problem is there is some truth to that. Getting an education and obtaining the knowledge needed for decent paying careers to better oneself and one's station in life is important. Knowledge can change your life dramatically. But the downside of such a pursuit is that many are deceived into thinking that understanding and book knowledge is the primary means by which things are judged to be true. It's also seen as the primary solution to all of our problems. Bible study while essential to the Christian life can't meet all of our needs. We need God to move supernaturally in our lives if we are to be equipped to do all that He wants us to do and have all that He wants us to have.

Book knowledge is also seen as the primary method by which we experience God. This is not true. We were saved to be united to a Person, not to a book! We are spiritual creatures with supernatural needs.  Cessationism in effect denies such needs or realities. Not only that, it waters down this glorious salvation and glorious gospel to mostly a mind focused faith. It emphasizes the importance of renewing our minds in Bible study while ignoring the other very important aspect of our faith. Is it any wonder that we do the opposite of what Paul told the Corinthian believers to do? He told them to "earnestly desire the higher gifts" in 1 Cor. 12:39. He also told them to "... earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues." But many churches today don't desire the gifts whatsoever and they forbid people to speak in tongues. wants us to experience Him fully in our bodies and souls not just with our minds. 

Beyond and Chaotic

There is also a common belief in Cessationism circles that if God moves we will know it's God because we fully understand what's happening and we will be comfortable when He is moving.

While popular, this is untrue. People often fail to notice that the Bible reveals a God who does things that are beyond our understanding. He does things that

make His people uncomfortable. God does things that are beyond our understanding. Didn't He say, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways  and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9) ?

God has been known to do things that are chaotic. He does things that often look bizarre and strange. He does things that make us uncomfortable. Sure, He's a God of order but He's also been known to creates chaotic situations. Have you ever been in a hurricane or a blizzard? Have you ever seen a volcano erupt? Didn't the Psalmist write the God of glory thunders? (Ps. 29:3) Didn't He speak to Job out of a whirlwind? (Job 38:1) 

When God came down on Mt. Sinai didn't the people tremble with fear and terror? What did they do when that happened? They told Moses, in so many words, "You talk to God. We don't want to talk to Him. He scares us!" What were they doing? They were quenching His Spirit. Why? Because they were afraid. They were no longer in control. They were no longer comfortable. This God of order, who ordered their steps and their religious practices, even their social laws right down to what to eat or what type of clothing to avoid wearing, was so overwhelming in His glory that they felt uncomfortable and thus rejected Him. They valued being in control more than experiencing a Glorious God who was much greater than what they had imagined Him to be. Times have not changed.

Wasn't Pentecost chaotic and strange? 12 men rushed out of the Upper room and were speaking in foreign languages to the crowds in Jerusalem. There were tongues of fire resting on them. It wasn't as orderly as a Baptist preacher would like to make it out. There was confusion in the event. Some truly believed that the Apostles were drunk. That fact alone dismisses the idea that if the Spirit of God moves everyone who witnesses it will automatically perceive it with accuracy and clarity thus understanding what is happening. Not so!  Peter said that the prophets of old who spoke the word of God didn't know everything about that which they had prophesied. (1 Peter 1:9-11) They were moved by the Spirit to say and do things they didn't fully understand. Why should we expect to fully grasp all that God does these days? His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours. 

That is enough for now. I will continue on with this subject in future posts.

The Sound of Release

A poem I was inspired to write after reading the story of Deborah and Jael in Judges 4 from  Robert Alter's book, "Ancient Israel." 

The Sound of Release

A prophet woman's oracle is delivered to the rhythm of drums – Boom! Boom! Boom!

The warriors are released! 

Can you hear the hammering of the horse's hooves on their way to war?

Boom! Boom! Boom!

God hammering away at Israel's bonds of captivity -

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The sound of war is in the air-

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The climax of victory is heard from the tent of Jael -

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Between her legs his sleeping head lies,
his weary heart beats hard for the very last time -

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With strong swings, she hammers his skull into the ground -

Boom! Boom! Boom!

From his palace his mother cries, 
“Why is his chariot so long in coming?”

Her anxious tears fall to the ground -

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Silence.

Silence, the golden sound of freedom's peace reigns once again in Israel.

April 1, 2013

The Treasure

I have a treasure that is worth more than any other treasure! This One makes all other treasures seem like a "total waste." His name is, 'The Lord Jesus' and I have Him. I have Him like a married woman has a husband. Although the marriage supper hasn't come yet, I am engaged to Jesus with an engagement that is sure and certain. It is not like an engagement that "modern" man in the 21st century. It is not one that can be broken easily and for fickle reasons. No, it is a secure engagement - ABSOLUTELY secure! It has been firmly established and will last until the marriage supper.
For He gave up His life for me and God raised Him from the dead that He might live with me forever. Not even death can separate us anymore; nor shall my current weaknesses, nor my falleness, nor my temporary bouts of sinfulness for His love and grace for me greater than all these things. And it IS His love and grace that is changing me into the man I ought to be, yea, the man He predestined me to be.
I have Him and He has me ,for like a man named Paul once said, "I have given up all that was gain to me in order that I might have Christ and be found in Him." (Phil. 3) Jesus asks for nothing less from me because because He gave up all He had, even Heaven itself, to have me. And when I give up all for Him, including my "heaven on earth" I gain all of Him. I gain ALL of Him for He does not love sparingly nor partially. He loves me totally and without reservation for unlike human love, His Divine love holds nothing back. He is THE BREAD of life and does not give me bits and pieces of Himself, a.k.a. "crumbs". He gives me MORE than I can eat. He is a good Bridegroom for it pleases Him that I should be full and overflowing - not hungry or weak or starving.
And this TREASURE I've found & given up all for shall be mine forever for we are becoming one and to separate us is becoming more and more difficult - it's practically impossible!
You may ask, "What does it take to have Him?"
It takes coming to Him just as you are - honestly and humbly just like a child would. Don't try and impress Him for you can't. How can any of us impress The ONE who is the CROWN JEWEL of all of God's creation - Him who was before time and has always been? We can't. Just give ALL of yourself to Him, even when it costs you all of your other treasures, for in doing so you will find that you will have gained all that those fading and passing treasures promised you and more.
In the past I sought gold but once I had some I found it leaving me in want. I sought righteousness through my own religious "Christian" works but found it to be but filthy rags. I sought wisdom and knowledge and found it unable to quench my hunger and thirst for love and acceptance. I sought pleasure and found it to be but an empty cloud in a land desperate for rain. And then...
And then I found Him...well I should say, "He let me find Him. He put Himself in my path because He wanted to make Himself known to me. He WANTED me to find Him!"
He is the GREATEST TREASURE of ALL! He came to me that I might have abundant life and so He gave Himself to me; He IS ABUNDANT LIFE!!! Perhaps, that's His secret name mentioned in Rev. 19:12? I don't know. But I do know I could lose all else in my life and it would be o.k. I could suffer all kinds of loss and persecutions and sorrows and pains in this life and it would be o.k. - not because I find pleasure in pain or glory in suffering but because I have Him and no one and nothing can take Him away from me. He won't let that happen because He loves me too much. He'd give up His throne in heaven again if He had to for me because I am the apple of His eye, the desire of His heart, the one He sings about in the night. That's who I am - His Beloved, His Treasure