Evangelism: "Creating Need"

"The Gospel of God creates the need it satisfies." [Oswald Chambers]

I love Oswald Chambers. He really makes me want to write! There is not a writer alive today who does that for me.

I've been wrangling with this devotion in My Utmost (Dec 17) ever since the first time I read it, which was probably on this day in 2008. Because it sounds like the Lord is doing something which I don't like when men do: Creating a need that people are largely ignorant of, or what Zig Zigler might call "selling". Zig Zigler, a Christian sales guru, doesn't see selling as most of us see it. He sees it as helping people with innovative things to make their life better. He sees selling things (even pots and pans) as a kind of service to humanity, and as the thing that has made America great (not to mention rich). He sees it as noble. And I think it is, when the salesman is noble and the product is noble.

Now, if God does this too, that is, helping us see that the one needful thing is what HE has to offer, that is His Gospel, and since He is certainly noble and his Gospel is of all things most noble, then it is a great service to mankind if WE take that gospel to people and "sell" it to them---and I don't mean charging them money, I mean "closing" with them.

Should this be our understanding? OC seems to agree. He says, quoting from Jesus,

"Ask and it shall be given you," but God cannot give until a man asks. ... By means of asking, God gets processes into work whereby he creates the thing that is not in existence until we do ask. The inner reality of Redemption is that it creates all the time...

Yes, it makes us into new creations, and creates joy and peace in us, and life and wisdom and righteousness, all things that are not within us until we ask and He creates them. In fact, they are not within us because what IS there is the gaping need we cannot even see, because we've learned to live with it. I think OC is trying to argue that the Gospel creates the need. But I think rather that the lack of redemption---the fact that we are lost---IS the need, and that it is created by our sin and fallen nature.

So the Gospel doesn't so much create need as it identifies the need for which it is the one and only true satisfaction. But for the sake of discussion, we'll call this process "creating need". Everyone does this nowadays. Doctors cook up new labels for practically nothing, so that people who sneeze a lot or have dry eyes think they are sick, and then go out and spend money on drugs. Advertising is huge in America, perhaps even bigger than manufacturing! It's maddening, really, to have so much junk mail, spam, and a continuous barrage of commercials while watching House, MD. What can a body do?

Well, for one, get the one thing that is needful, that is, Jesus Christ and his Gospel, into your heart. Then all the other junk that distracts us is shown for what it is, just junk. And then make THIS your passion... become a salesman for Jesus. Again, I don't mean to make money, I mean evangelism. You know, come to think of it, it's been years since I saw a real evangelist. They had one in Chicago named Greg Laurie, but I wasn't able to be there and see him. There certainly aren't any here in Virginia... that I'm aware of. I know one in Raleigh (Jonathan). These days all my desire is to get out and preach the Gospel, esp. on the university grounds. But I seem to lack faith or courage. It is probably conviction that I lack, the strong conviction that this gospel is THE ONE THING NEEDFUL, and that everything else I do is "meaningless, meaningless" by comparison, and not even worthy to be compared to it.

What can I do to get this conviction and courage and empowering of the Holy Spirit to be an evangelist, a salesman for Jesus? Where can I go to find this strength? I know for sure it only comes from Jesus, and that He has promised it to those who wait for Him. But his command is "GO". And as we go, to preach (Mark 16:15), make disciples (Matthew 28:19) and be his witnesses (Acts 1:8).

Father in Heaven, soften my calloused heart to receive your Spirit and power, that I may courageously go and give Jesus to a world that desperately needs Him, but doesn't even know Him. Despite our riches, Americans are spiritually destitute and our land wasted and ruined. Please open my mouth, and their hearts. IJNA

It is time for Christmas

Greetings, now that the Christmas season has begun!

The newly updated NIV Bible

Newsflash:
This is probably old news to many of you. But today I discovered I couldn't search for familiar Bible phrases like, "The spiritual man" and "If any man is in Christ". I kept checking to make sure I was using the right translation. I found that "New International Version" is no longer the right one for me.

The NIV Committee on Bible Translation has surreptitiously replaced the NIV on BibleGateway with a gender-neutralized, "updated" edition. This bothers me almost more than the random changes they've made. They state plainly that "transparency to the original text" is their goal, rather than the usual goal of Bible translators, which is always "faithfulness to the original text". Whatever "transparency" means can only be understood from long study to detect just what has been changed.
Professor Douglas Moo explains (here) that they have retained 95% of the original NIV, thus admitting they have changed 5% of the original meaning. This means they admit that the previous NIV translators were 5% in error. They admit they have determined that the Bible could use some improvement based on "the fruits of our efforts" and "cutting edge research on English usage".

No doubt the NIV bibles you see in the stores will also soon be adulterated.

I should have jettisoned the NIV years ago, when I noticed they had even relegated part of The Lord's Prayer to a footnote. Now I must do so. I am going to use BibleStudyTools.com, which currently still has the older NIV version, instead of BibleGateway. And in general, I will be replacing my NIV with a different translation altogether, such as the RSV or perhaps the new ESV.

Thirty years ago when the NIV came out, there were so many who opposed it violently and insisted it was tampering with the meanings. I did not listen to the opponents, but insisted the changes were immaterial. Now I feel as they did and see the real motives of the current crop of NIV translators. Now I understand why they never released the NIV to the public domain. They wanted to have control so they could further change it to conform to the times. I should have jettisoned the NIV years ago, when I noticed they had even relegated part of The Lord's Prayer to a footnote. Now I must do so, or from a different metaphorical perspective, jump ship!

Empowering the next generation

There are many ways to empower someone. We empower our children to succeed by sending them to school and college. We empower them morally by teaching them truth, helping them to know God. And we empower them physically by helping them exercise, eat right and get plenty of rest. But power for doing God's work ultimately does not come from these things. It comes from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit must empower us, or evangelism and discipleship in a church will founder. Sadly this was only mentioned, but not emphasized at all, in a recent conference I attended.

What would we have said? Only the obvious: that we must pray more and be more united in prayer, as the first century Christians, until the Spirit is given and the power to be his witnesses falls upon us afresh; and that we and our children can and should GO, not just think or talk or write, but also GO and preach and make disciples, heal the sick and help the poor, and do it all explicitly in Jesus' Name. HE must be lifted up if he would draw all men unto himself through our labor. [Jn 12:32]

Furthermore, we would have discussed that depending on the Spirit includes striving against temptation and sin. Far too little is said of this these days. If we do not teach the evilness of sin, how can we impress on anyone the need for a Deliverer? How will God be glorified if Christians live worldly, un-christlike, selfish lives?

I truly thank the Lord for this conference, despite the shortcoming. It is the simple truths that we must constantly reiterate, both to ourselves and our children. May God empower us all to do so. May God UNITE US IN PRAYER, for spiritual power, revival, strength, victory over temptation, and help in teaching our precious children the truths and values of Jesus Christ.

Economics debate ...

... and a totally cool new way to make movies in one!

We Need Men of God Again

As I have been struggling to obey God's will for me, namely, to "go and preach the good news" here at the university, I am frustrated by the fact that I have the desire and the strong conviction to go and stand at the gates and preach prophetically, but not the courage. I am saddened greatly by this lack of boldness. But I am waiting, praying, preparing and expecting the anointing from the Lord that will empower me. Such encouragement as this I have found this week, from my dear brother A.W. Tozer, in his book Of God and Men:

The church at this moment needs men, the right kind of men, bold men. The talk is that we need revival, that we need a new baptism of the Spirit–and God knows we must have both; but God will not revive mice. He will not fill rabbits with the Holy Ghost.

We languish for men who feel themselves expendable in the warfare of the soul, who cannot be frightened by threats of death because they have already died to the allurements of this world. Such men will be free from the compulsions that control weaker men. They will not be forced to do things by the squeeze of circumstances; their only compulsion will come from within–or from above.

This kind of freedom is necessary if we are to have prophets in our pulpits again instead of mascots. These free men will serve God and mankind from motives too high to be understood by the rank and file of religious retainers who today shuttle in and out of the sanctuary. They will make no decisions out of fear, take no course out of a desire to please, accept no service for financial considerations, perform no religious act out of mere custom; nor will they allow themselves to be influenced by the love of publicity or the desire for reputation.

Much that the church–even the evangelical church–is doing these days she is doing because she is afraid not to. Ministerial associations take up projects for no higher reason than that they are being scared into it. Whatever their ear-to-the-ground, fear-inspired reconnoitering leads them to believe the world expects them to do they will be doing come next Monday morning with all kinds of trumped-up zeal and show of godliness. The pressure of public opinion calls these prophets, not the voice of Jehovah.

The true church has never sounded out public expectations before launching her crusades. Her leaders heard from God and went ahead wholly independent of popular support or the lack of it. They knew their Lord’s will and did it, and their people followed them–sometimes to triumph, oftener to insults and public persecution–and their sufficient reward was the satisfaction of being right in a wrong world.

Another characteristic of the true prophet has been love. The free man who has learned to hear God’s voice and dared to obey it has felt the moral burden that broke the hearts of the Old Testament prophets, crushed the soul of our Lord Jesus Christ and wrung streams of tears from the eyes of the apostles.

The free man has never been a religious tyrant, nor has he sought to lord it over God’s heritage. It is fear and lack of self-assurance that has led men to try to crush others under their feet. These have had some interest to protect, some position to secure, so they have demanded subjection from their followers as a guarantee of their own safety. But the free man–never; he has nothing to protect, no ambition to pursue and no enemy to fear. For that reason he is completely careless of his standing among men. If they follow him, well and good; if not, he loses nothing that he holds dear; but whether he is accepted or rejected he will go on loving his people with sincere devotion. And only death can silence his tender intercession for them.

Yes, if evangelical Christianity is to stay alive she must have men again, the right kind of men. She must repudiate the weaklings who dare not speak out, and she must seek in prayer and much humility the coming again of men of the stuff prophets and martyrs are made of. God will hear the cries of His people as He heard the cries of Israel in Egypt. And He will send deliverance by sending deliverers. It is His way among men.

And when the deliverers come–reformers, revivalists, prophets–they will be men of God and men of courage. They will have God on their side because they will be careful to stay on God’s side. They will be co-workers with Christ and instruments in the hand of the Holy Ghost. Such men will be baptized with the Spirit indeed, and through their labors He will baptize others and send the long delayed revival.

Lord, empower your people to preach prophetically. You are the God of all power, through that Word which created the worlds and IS our life. Give that word-life to us that will overflow as a spring of living water to people on campuses throughout this land. I find myself one of the weaklings in your church. Here, on my knees, I plead alone: Lord, please embolden me as those who first received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and glorify your Son through me, even Jesus. Amen.

Learn to run barefoot

Learning the Skill of Barefoot Running from Terra Plana on Vimeo.

The Root of Americas Obesity Epidemic: Fructose

Dr. Lustig makes a strong case for eliminating all fructose (except that which occurs naturally together with high fiber) from diets, and fingers the FDA and USDA as negligent in a very major way for not doing so. He claims, "Fructose is a toxin, just like ethanol", and proves it biochemically. We WILL be changing our diet at the Kelly home immediately.

An hour and a half of excellent nutrition education that YOU NEED NOW!

Death in the City

"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. [2Kings 6:16-17]

28 years ago, in 1982, Francis Schaeffer lamented the "post-Christian era" in Death in the City. It was as clear to him as it is to us now that America and Western Europe no longer possess a Christian culture. This he regarded as "death in the City. As Jeremiah was certain in his proclamation that Jerusalem was doomed to destruction and its people to captivity in Babylon (or death), I am sure now that there are more and more in our times who really have no commitment to the authority of Christ and his word in their lives and society. As Elisha's servant was alarmed at the siege of Jerusalem by the Arameans, we may well be just as alarmed at how those who reject and hate Christian values and morals have seized control of our governments, schools, cities and institutions.

But there can be no more wonderful encouragement than that Elisha gave: "Don't be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Lord, open our eyes so that we may see as Elisha did.

Now I am not trying to posit that there are really more Christians out there than we can see. No. More likely as not, there are fewer than we imagine, since so many are Christians in name only. What I am saying is that the power of God is with us, and Jesus Christ is with us, and the angels are with us, and all the saints in heaven are praying for us. Moreover, the Holy Spirit is with us now, to empower and embolden those who would be used of God in these days.

Even so, few Christians are really living in a way that sets them apart from the world. I know I am not. I wish I could preach on the street corners what I know and believe, but I don't have any power or conviction that it will do any good. I wish my children were able to understand me and believe what I believe, but I cannot compel them to do so.

So there are certainly not more of us believers than of non-believers. But if, as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit be upon us, how shall we not see only victory before us? Our eyes being opened, would we not see that the everything God has belongs to us? and that the mighty Holy Spirit is standing ready to "take from what belongs to Christ and make it known to us"? [Jn 16:15] Would not our eyes see our gloriously wealthy Father in heaven and become bold in asking for his power and wisdom in the work of evangelism, trusting that "he will give us whatever we ask in his name"? [Jn 16:23]

Will death come to the city---America's cities to be more precise? Probably some. Others may repent where the people of God will stand up and proclaim "Thus saith the Lord!" May God give us less enthusiasm in the way of blind patriotism, and more in the way of the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, I have not received because I have not asked. Please pour out your Holy Spirit on me to enable me to preach powerfully to the students at UVa in the Name of Jesus. Assure me of your eternal Authority, Lord Jesus, that I may be bolder. Amen.

Barefoot running

I'm not a health freak. But running barefoot has gotten my attention. I've been running in minimalist shoes since March 2010. I have the Vibram Five Fingers KSOs. They are great. This summer, my running slacked off dramatically as the heat rose, and I regret that. I have tried to pick back up since mid-September. After seeing the MovNat videos, I'm really inspired to try actually running barefoot, without the minimalist shoes. Even now, running more than 4 miles is a stretch for me. Running bare footed for more than one or two would probably kill me! So I will do as all the barefoot running proponents suggest, and really "listen" to my body.

I'm also going to have more fun, as Erwan La Corre does in his videos. What a cool idea of exercise. It really is just what I enjoy, walking, running, jumping into the water, climbing, exploring, and doing some useful trail cleanup as I go. No more "tempo runs". I'm going to really enjoy the wild areas I have here in VA, and get down into the Rivanna, climb up the hills, and have fun when I go out on the trails.

New sermon idea: Pulpit Condescension

This a.m. at the Jefferson Area Men's Bible Study (JAMBS)---this group really does exist, but not by this name (write me if interested)---we discussed Mt 5:8,

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Heart includes intellect, will and emotions. If these be impure, the person cannot see God, neither in eternity, nor all about him everywhere. We who have been made clean in Christ have new eyes to see God at work in us and all about us in nature, and one day we will see him in heaven.

What Vance said is, "Atheists CANNOT understand what we are saying. This needs to be part of our message to them." His reasoning was good. The point was, if we speak to them as though we expected them to accept our apologetics, as if we expected them to understand and agree, then we fail to relate to them the real spiritual Gospel. We must speak as to spiritually blind people, yes, even in a condescending tone. This unpleasant tone is the same as that used by Jesus, when for example he says to the Pharisees, "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." Pride is the hallmark of the unbeliever. We need more than ever not to stroke their pride with pleasantries.

If they cannot understand the message, what should we aim to do? We must plant the seed, sowing generously. And if we plow the ground a little first, as by making the hearer mad, well that will allow at least some of the seed to germinate, by God's grace.

One thing the emerging church does well is make people comfortable with the gospel. I'm convinced it is the wrong approach with Pharisees and other proud folks. The prophets heaped insult upon insult to the hearers. John the Baptist was very direct about sins, e.g. the sins of Herod and his mistress. What are we doing trying to make our churches more friendly and sensetive? We have demons to slay!

So the sermon idea is not really a text but a tone. Whatever message I preach, it needs this "edge", this spiritual hoe with which to plow the hard-packed ground. The "edge" is that tone God gave to Isaiah,

"Go and tell this people: Be ever hearing but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving."

Let's call it, bluntness about the spiritual depravity of the listeners. They will merely see this as condescension or rudeness; but when God speaks thus, it is designed to make them spiritually aroused, mad if you will, enough to either act upon the Word or further reject it.

"Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes."

This was God's exhortation to Isaiah. Now I think I see why and how this is the only way to get through to the proud American also. For until they see how impure their intellect, they cannot begin to see God, nor comprehend the things of God.

God in heaven, raise up preachers, prophets like Isaiah, who can at least make people mad, that is, somehow stir them to think honestly about why they reject your Son, love evil, hate truth and harden their hearts. Lord, make me pure, that I may see you, see your hand at work, see your Spirit poured out, and see the glorious faces of many who will come to faith in your blessed Son Jesus. AMEN

Rivers of living water

I think what most of my friends and I want in life is to be used by God to bless others. When others are thankful for me and my life, it is about the most satisfying thing I could hope for---to be remembered the way I remember my grandma, or parents, or my Bible teacher David Baik, and my pastors Dr. Samuel Lee and Sarah Barry.

Why is being used so blessed? For one thing, it is what Jesus promised. He said,

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. [Jn 7:38]

How does God turn one man who believes in Jesus into the source for a stream? My mentor writes so beautifully, saying, "You can see God using some lives, but ... you do not seem to be of any use." It really hits home. Yet I know it is true that Jesus promised, "Whoever believes in me..." would be living water to others. A stream flows and cares not where its water flows. The stream cannot control where the water goes, except that it goes out. God is the Source. We are just the spring, the opening where His great supply breaks out from the depths onto the surface.

OC adds, "God rarely allows a soul to see how great a blessing he is." This must be a blessing also, to keep us from becoming conceited, saying, "I saved 20 souls today! God must really be pleased with me. I feel good about myself." Perhaps this is the special struggle for ministers. How risky it is for God to use one in any great way. I know I would be unbearable if I were to hvae a growing church with many disciples. I'm already unbearable with a one-family church and only 2 or 3 disciples.

But there is hope. A stream doesn't stop. It gathers in a pool about the spring, then overflows and goes somewhere, watering the ground as it goes, supplying water to those who are thirsty, and making any land more beautiful. What is more, it gathers together with other streams, flowing from different believers, and becomes a great river. This is why united prayer is so important. May God move us to pray together and work together for one another, lending our streams to theirs, till God may be glorified.

Till Jesus may be glorified---this was the point. John knew it and came to it in v.39.

"By this [streams of living water] he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not ben given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."

The Spirit was poured out after Jesus was glorified. And the purpose was to continue to glorify Jesus. There, then, is HOW that living water flows, from whence it comes: it streams from us as glory given to Jesus. If we work miracles, we do it for the glory of Jesus Christ alone. If we save souls, preach powerfully, write or argue persuasively, serve others, encourage, or whatever we do, if we "do it all for the glory of God", we will flow as a stream of living water, and His power will flow from us into the lives of others.

Sometimes the river flows slowly. The Rivanna which flows near my house is hardly moving by late summer. But behold it in the early spring, or during a tropical storm, and this little raging river will take your breath away! Such revivals are short term. But may God send even a small storm of revival. In the words of Robert Murray M'Cheyne,

Might not the Christian ministers and people of Scotland, while separated in body, in this manner maintain union in prayer, and so the cloud of blessing, that is now like a man's hand, might spread over the whole sky, and bring times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord?

Father, send us revival as we flow with your glory and praise, especially as we unite in prayer for the Holy Spirit. IJNA

"God's unutterable waste of saints"

"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." [1Peter 4:19]

How blessed it is to know that, even if I am completely "useless" in the world's view, I am loved and precious to God. My suffering in life has been small, I think. Being under-employed these days takes its toll. I'm trying to trust my Lord, whose preamble to the Sermon on the Plain was,

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." [Lk 6:20]

Suffering people tend to want (and think they deserve or need) sympathy. But my mentor (O.C.) says "sympathy enervates", and I believe it.

What then? God just wants his saints to suffer? He puts us in these places where we are helpless and dejected so that we can merely glorify Him? Exactly. He "wastes" us (in the world's view). As Paul wrote in 1Cor 4:9,

"For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men."

Why would our loving Lord "waste" his saints, instead of making us rich and honored among men, powerful, influential? Why did our Lord Jesus have to be a Savior who was rejected and cast out by all the wise and powerful? Why would we want to follow him?

Because we are "living sacrifices". That is our calling; that is our greatest glory. "The first shall be last and the last first." To be like Him is our greatest aim, not to be like Bill Gates or Ted Kennedy. So we are sacrificed for our generation.

I believe the result is good for our nation and community. It isn't a tangible "usefulness" or success; we don't get any pats on the back for being living sacrifices. But GOD sees our lives, and blesses all around us. He "blesses those who bless us, and curses those who curse us." He pours out his help all around us. I know this is true, though I will not try to prove it. He promised, that's enough.

Still I see the evidence that it is so, though successes of a tangible sort in my life and ministry and family are hard to enumerate. I see his blessing on my community, my neighborhood, in the businesses I frequent, the schools I send my children to, the friends I have who accept me (despite my eccentricities). I experience God's help in almost everything I put my hand to for my company, th0ugh it wasn't always appreciated in the past. So I know God's promise is true, and in his time, he will bear fruit, not just a little but MUCH fruit. [Jn 15:8]

I noticed that the garlic, okra, apples and grapes did very well this year, though it was especially hot and dry. Like those bumper crops, I know God will help us more in the leanest of times, and grow His church. Praise be to our great Creator, who is faithful to keep his promises in us. Lord, show me how to "continue to do good", though I'm worried about many things and tempted to hunker down in survival mode. Show me how to be generous to my children, though we have little for the time. Provide for our needs here in Charlottesville, if you would have us remain here (as we hope). And renew my faith that you will bless me and my family, though we deserve nothing good. Glory be to your holy Name, Lord Jesus. Hosanna!

"That all of them may be one"

I hear so much talk about unity, lamentations about how disunited the Church is today, calls for greater unity among Christians of all sects, reunification of the Catholics and Protestants, and so forth, till I am inclined to ignore all of it. But I cannot ignore what my Lord has prayed, "that all of them may be one." [Jn 17:21a]

I feel the same ecumenism that they feel. I want unity of believers. But not at the cost of truth, not at the expense of His great mission, "that the world may believe that you have sent me." [17:21b] Genuinely missional churches aren't inward-focused, but seeking outward, to the lost. To work for unity, as a means of reaching the lost (by glorifying God) is correct. But letting the means replace the end is incorrect. What Jesus clearly teaches in the upper room is that the glory of God is the ultimate goal. Countless times he speaks about his glory and the Father's glory, and how he has made the Father known to us, and desires that all may come to know the Father. [13:35; 14:7,31; 16:14; 17:3,25,26] We strayed from God when we sought the knowledge of good and evil. But Jesus restores to us the knowledge of God, revealing himself, as in Eden, that we may be restored to God in glory, true freedom, eternal life. No mere worldly knowledge can save us. But this knowledge, if we believe it and obey it, can save us. This is what the Lord came to reveal, not merely an organizational reunion of believers. Our diversity is itself glory, that we are not materially united, yet working in unison for his glory.

Of course, that isn't the reality. We do fight and disagree, especially ministers and other church leaders. But it is not primarily because we lack unity with one another. It is primarily because we lack unity with the Lord, and then because we lack devotion to his cause. Instead of the deep desire for unity, we desire glory for ourselves. I am convinced that this is the deepest desire of the human soul. I am speaking of myself, though, and don't claim to know the deepest desire of anyone else. What my soul constantly hankers for is glory. I want to be somebody, a power-broker, sitting in the best seat, with everyone clamoring to talk to me and hear my opinions. I want to have servants who will do all the menial things for me, so I can devote myself to reading and writing and preaching and teaching the high things of God. I want to be given gifts, and have others do my gift shopping for me. Etc.

This is idolatry of The Self. I feel it constantly, and wish I could somehow crucify this desire. And though I confess such wretchedness, I am not blind. For I can see that it is the same desire which drives so many of the well-meaning Christians all around me. Maybe I am the only ignoble sinner among them all. I can accept that. But they also confess they are sinners. And their speech gives them away, for often they keep on prattling about themselves and their work and their ideas. And the books! A veritable deluge of books is swelling every day, books that have already been written 10 times before (usually by much deeper writers), with no end in sight. What are all these books, each of them so inferior to The Book, yet held in such awe by all those who read them, if they are not little idols of the one who wrote them?

Richard Baxter, a great Puritan writer, said of ministers: “But consider plainly that the great and lamentable sin of ministers of the Gospel is that they are not fully devoted to God. They do not give themselves up wholly to the blessed work they have undertaken to do. Is it not true that flesh-pleasing and self-seeking interests - distinct from that of Christ - make us neglect our duty and lead us to walk unfaithfully in the great trust that God has given us? Is it not true that we serve God too cheaply? Do we not do so in the most applauded way? Do we not withdraw ourselves from that which would cost us the most suffering? Does not all this show that we seek earthly rather than heavenly things? And that we mind the things which are below? While we preach for the realities which are above, do we not idolize the world? So what remains to be said, brethren, but to cry that we are all guilty of too many of the aforementioned sins. Do we not need to humble ourselves in lamentation for our miscarriages before the Lord?” [Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor]

What is "the blessed work" to which so many are not devoted? It is the Lord's own commands, which Matthew records as "Go and make disciples" and Mark as "Go and preach the gospel". These are the works the Lord himself did, and they are to be our main work. Yet we are so busy with our books and manifestoes and labor for unity that even those in the mission fields are criticized for not working more with each other, though they are suffering greatly to obey the mission they were sent for, and these criticism come from those who are sitting in ivory towers.

The Lord's desire wasn't unity for its own sake, but for the glory of God. Minister, is your desire for this? Is your heart devoted to His glory? If not, you will find endless complaints and meet people who get under your skin at every turn. Remember, disunity was God's punishment at Babel for those who were seeking human glory, who wanted their name to be great. Those who truly seek God's glory don't see disunity as a threat, but as yet another opportunity for Christ and his people to glorify Him and Him alone.

E pluribus unum. This was our nation's first motto. It means "Out of many, one". We cannot BE one except by the spiritual union we have in Christ. If we are one by any other pact or device, it is man's attempt to unify, not that union Christ prayed for. Even America, as men turn away from God, will perish, probably sooner than later, just as did Babel. And the Church, is it immune? Spiritually God has prayed for us to be one. But the institutions we call churches, inasmuch as they depart from serving the Word, and focus instead on unity of the human sort, will likewise be scattered, as Israel was thrust into Babylon.

And so, I resolve to struggle to be devoted to the mission and to glorifying the Lord Jesus and his holy Name, rather than the unity of our church, churches or nation, or any political or social cause. These I may advocate for, but I will not lose my focus for idealogical things too great for me. It is enough to preach, teach and make disciples. This was Jesus' foremost work and his great commission for us. Others may choose lesser work for themselves, but I cannot.

... as you see the Day approaching

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. [Hebrews 10:23-25]

If we see the Day—which is the day of Jesus' Second Coming—approaching, then we will be encouraged to serve the Lord, take risks for his glory, sell all and give to the poor, testify boldly to the grace of our Lord Jesus, and encourage others to do the same.

The enemy of this vibrant, spiritual activity (as OC calls it) is spiritual sluggishness. People (like myself) want to live a quiet life of obedience and retirement, that is, "resting in the Lord" and living as if the Day had already come and we are now in Beulah Land, feasting and celebrating and living the dream.

This week I saw a documentary on the life of Charles Spurgeon. As a mere lad of 19 he left an idyllic life preaching in the country to preach at New Park Street Chapel in London, where he was often the center of controversy. He wrote that he hated London, and longed to go back to Cambridge. I, on the other hand, fled Chicago and moved to a quiet country town in Virginia very much like Cambridge. I have an idyllic life in my quiet home, and a small house-church where I can preach without controversy or strife. I am like a retired man at 47. Is this what God would have of me? Do I really see His Day approaching? If I did, would I not rather go to the campus every day and preach till they believe? or at least stir up some controversy? Should I not be used of God, and am I not rather using God for my peace and joy and success as a family man?

What should I do? For one, I must not get too attached to this place, for God may at any moment move me yet again to new works.

I must also spur others on to good works, and strive myself to do good works. Among these, the preaching of the gospel and the making of disciples for my Lord are primary. He called me to these, and sent me to this good land. How dare I accept so many blessings while refusing to take up my cross? I thank God for my friend Beth, who told me she is praying for me to go and preach at UVa. I know there are many others who I have asked to pray for this also.

Alas, I am a spiritual sluggard, who is "asleep in the light" (acc. to a Keith Green song). I know my work ethic is greatly weakened by the ease of life in America; I know it partly because I see it in my offspring, while I myself have no drive to get a job, but only to dream of easier ways to make money and have servants to do my daily chores, leaving me free to study, pray, write and preach. But I know I would probably just garden all the time, had I more of this freedom.

Lord, thank you for my mentor OC, who spurs me on to good works with his piercing devotional. Have mercy on me, that I may come out of my "retirement" and take up the cross daily. Lord spur me on. Help me see the Day approaching, that glorious day when you shall come to give us our reward and punish the evildoers. Grant me this vision that I may go and preach to people everywhere and make disciples of them, especially here at the university, especially here and now. Come, Holy Spirit and work through me as you will. And come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Hosea 11 and America

⁷ My people are determined to turn from me.
Even if they call to the Most High,
he will by no means exalt them.

⁸ "How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.

⁹ I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man—
the Holy One among you.
I will not come in wrath. ^c]">[c]

There were so many times, I think, when God was about to give up on his nation Israel. But he never did. That is the love of God. And it is the spiritual example and pinnacle of fatherhood, the goal worthy fathers all strive for. "Ah! But a man's grasp should exceed his reach", wrote Browning, "or what's a heaven for?" So we strive to be compassionate like our heavenly father, and at the same time to be just and teach our children right from wrong.

At times---particularly as teens---our children seem bound and determined to turn from us. But compassion is suddenly aroused and our heart changed. We find ourselves crying out, "How can I give up on you, Ephraim?" So the Lord felt toward his people, who were determined to be their own man, go their own way, and reject God's law, leading and love.

I am often guilty of giving up on my country. If I read the news and listen to the pundits, or think very deeply about the ways politicians are eviscerating our Constitution and diminishing our freedoms, I feel the end is near and I am ready to give up on America. This is not the heart of God. He has not decreed captivity for America, at least I have not heard of it. But there was a time when he did this to Israel, finally, and I'm sure he will do the same for America if we continue on our selfish, godless path.

Yet even then, God did not give up on Israel. He brought them back, much humbled, and much poorer, and did give them back their land after 70 years in Babylon.

And so I feel it is time for God to greatly humble America. Many WILL go into captivity, or perhaps bankruptcy or poverty or will leave for some other place. But this isn't the end. It is God's discipline, which is reserved for those He truly loves.

Praise be to the Lord, who disciplines us. Father, I am not worthy of your blessing and discipline. But help me not to reject the one or doubt you when hardship comes to me and my nation. Lord, give us faith that bears the cross of shame and suffering and commits our spirits to you, when you discipline your sons. Turn Christians in America back to their faith and trust in God, and commitment to proclaim your truth at any cost. IJNA

Self-realization is the wrong focus

OC writes (June 10) that if we ask for things from God from a desire for self-realization, we are asking amiss, as in Jas 4:

"You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives..."

He comments, "The more you realize yourself the less will you seek God." I truly wonder about this. Even Oswald Chambers isn't infallible. But I have also thought in the past that seeking to "know thyself" is truly depressing without God. What I discover as I know myself deeper is depressing (usually), since I admit that I am a sinner. I never stop finding new depths of evil in me, if I look closely. We are so inundated with propaganda from what I call the Disney philosophy. (Watch one of their 90s era movies, like Pocahontas. "It's all about ME.")

Nevertheless, it's hard to find anything in the Bible encouraging us to make such an effort to self-realize. Colossians 3:2,3, for example, says the opposite:

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

Paul encourages us to set our minds on heavenly things, which certainly cannot include myself. And in Romans 6:6 Paul says,

"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin."

The most important thing we must seek to realize, then, is Christ. So Paul says in Philippians,

"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord"

This doesn't say we shouldn't know ourselves. It just points to a better way. But it is true that knowing myself draws me away from God, as OC asserts? I'm not going to answer this, for I am tired of intellectualizing. I'm just going to make less effort to know myself, and more to know Christ. How?

That's a good question. Probably I need to spend more time in solitary prayer, as Jesus did, more time in ministry, as Jesus did, and definitely more time in Bible study, and make a little more effort to memorize scripture, at least a few verses each week, since I know Jesus had plenty of verses memorized. I think today I must memorize James 4:1-9:

"¹What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? ²You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. ³When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? ⁶But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."

⁷Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

Lord, I don't want to "grieve, mourn and wail." I don't want to be humble. By myself, I want to be a friend of the world, at least in the sense that Jesus was "a friend of sinners." But please break my heart those you love. Show me how to pray for them, preach to them and win them lost—not by effort or clever words, but by lifting up Jesus. Take away my penchant for intellectualizing and fill me with your Holy Spirit. IJNA

Don't Slack Off

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." [John 14:13,14]

"Don't Slack Off" is the heading for today's OC devotion. Intercession is the point of this kind of prayer. To slack off in prayer is the worst mistake for a Christian, because we can't DO the work of God; we can only ask HIM to do His work. Can I make a sinner change his ways? Can I make an unbeliever change his mind? Many intellectuals think they can, with reason or argument, persuade others. But only the Holy Spirit can convict and bring regeneration to unbelievers. If I would see this happening, Jesus says I must ask, and he will do it.

So while I am often tempted from every direction to fritter my time away in study, self-improvement, writing, and so many other things---the one most important work that is truly God's work, the work of intercession, I neglect. How can we let this happen? Do we Christians today think, as the world does, that knowledge is power, or money is power, or that with political influence we can help the Church or God's saving work to be advanced? These things may help, but they cannot be the central thrust of our effort. Intercession must be the center, as only prayer is directly connected to Jesus himself. It is in his Name and TO HIM that we pray. "Do I give one minute out of sixty to concentrate on Him?" Then spend all my effort in thinking and working and arguing and talking? When will I learn? When will I grow up?

Lord, move me to prayer today, and tomorrow and every day. Draw me to your presence, that I may pray and not merely fritter away my life in lesser business. IJNA

Christ Jesus our hope

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope. [1 Timothy 1:1]

Paul's letters always began with an introduction of himself. But they were not grandiloquent summaries of his own credentials. They were expressions of glory to God. His name alone refers to him.

"Apostle" refers to Christ Jesus, Paul's Master, the One who sent him. In this world, it is considered an honor to have servants one can send out to do ones bidding. Even gangsters and politicians want to have several lackeys to do their work for them. Some professors treat their graduate students no better. But to Paul, the greatest joy of his life was being the apostle who Jesus sent out. Christ Jesus was his God, his Savior, and his Hope. So to go out in Jesus' Name was better than having a thousand servants to wait on him.

Great people love to measure their greatness. This is a deception. Paul was not deceived by his greatness. He measured only the greatness of the One who sent him. He was somebody only by virtue of the One he served. His confidence was not in the flesh nor his accomplishments and credentials. He drew all his confidence from above, from God his Savior and Christ Jesus his hope. By this he could go out to face rejection and persecution, hardship and poverty. By this confidence, he could stand before scary people like Agrippa and Festus. He could have courage during a shipwreck, and not freak out when he was bitten by an especially poisonous viper.

Christ Jesus was his hope, not a longer life. Christ Jesus was his hope, not a greater degree of recognition.

Thus, Paul was free. He was not obsessed with himself or his position, success, comfort, needs, freedoms, rights or recognition. Oh to get free of such obsessions and simply go forth as Jesus' apostle! Why have I so seldom gone out to the campus? Why do I still fail to preach evangelistically? I cannot as long as He has not sent me, and this is plain from the fact that I am looking for my confidence other than in Him, looking for someone to validate me, or some sending or invitation from men.

Paul, in fact, received a supernatural commission from Jesus. He later saw a vision of the man from Macedonia. Do I need such a commission? Probably I do. Yet I believe God has sent me to Virginia, via my ordinary need for a job; I believe he sent my wife to me, via ordinary friends who introduced us; I believe God sent me to Chicago through ordinary events and desires. So it is inconsistent to now think I need some miraculous sign to go out and preach on campus or give my heart to teaching the Bible. Has my Lord not said, "I will bless thee"? Either I have not been sent, or I have not been empowered, or I have simply not obeyed. Alas, the last is the case, for

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [2 Peter 1:3]

Lord, forgive my disobedience, and help my unbelief. You have commanded, yet I have not gone out, at least haven't gone to preach the gospel to all creation. Please increase your Spirit in me, till your Word may be like a burning fire that consumes me within and drives me to speak in your Name. Father, what a wretch I am! Rescue me from this chicken-heart, this body of death, to go forth as your apostle. Please Lord! In Jesus' name, amen.

He has given us all we need for life and godliness

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires." [2 Peter 1:3,4]

God's divine power is almighty. By it he created the heavens and the earth. Why is it we so often think we are destined to be poor and penniless? If God Almighty is our God, then HE ALONE is our "very great reward", and all that we need is in Him.

Not only does He give us everything we need spiritually, but this verse says, "everything we need for life and godliness", meaning the life needs AND spiritual needs. Maybe we will lose much in this world. But the wealth of all the universe is at the disposal of our Lord. Will he not "tax the last grain of sand and the remotest star to bless us, if we will obey Him"? [Oswald Chambers, May 16] Surely it is so, as He has solemnly promised, "I will bless you," and, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you will bear much fruit," and, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," and, "How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him," and, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."

I will not preach a prosperity gospel. But rather a gospel of "The Lord will provide." God alone knows all our needs. If he knows our needs, he will provide our daily bread, surely.

But what of the shortages so many godly people face? How many churches and ministries are begging for help and barely able to maintain operations in these days? It is most certain that God has not failed them. They are doing what he has not provided, nor commanded. He has commanded, "Preach the gospel to all creation," and, "Make disciples of all nations." These people want to make radio broadcasts. That's easy, it just takes money. To make disciples, THAT is another matter. It takes not money, but the Holy Spirit.

And God has abundantly given us of His Spirit, to those who ask, just as He promised. Last Sunday, my own poor message on Luke 11 was so abundantly blessed by GOd, that I was myself moved by it to pray more. I almost couldn't believe God had led me to read the most ideal Psalm before the message, which I had selected almost at random. And the message was fine and powerful, not because I prepared well, which I assuredly did NOT, but because THE LORD GAVE THE WORD.

I will not claim the credit, but give the glory to God, that I can preach. It is not a message I would bother to give anyone to READ. But to preach it, by God's help, I have been helped greatly, greatly. This I cannot but thank and exalt him for, with all my heart and soul.

What Peter writes is that God HAS given us all we need for doing God's work. Provided we are doing HIS work, and not merely trying to be a popular preacher, or history-maker, or Great Man, or power broker in our community, or a successful religious professional---God has provided all the wealth we need already! How positively sad it is when ministers cannot get anything done if X number of dollars aren't forthcoming from their supporters by such-and-such a date.

What then has God called ME to do? To preach the gospel right here and now in UVa, and make disciples. What do I lack? Why have I not started? Am I short on education, or credentials, or human authority? Do I need a helper or some kind of prayer squadron, like Billy Graham always had? There are those who are praying for me, such as Mother Sarah Barry, Kevin Albright, Grace Koh. If these three agree and support me, how is it their voices are not enough, not loud enough, to reach God's ear? Surely I have all I need in God to do His work powerfully here in Charlottesville. Surely! Surely!

Why then do I hesitate to preach? to go to the campus? to ask people to study? Why do I hesitate to open my mouth and proclaim God's word? There is, I fear, only one thing I lack: faith. Like the Tin Man, I lack a heart. Instead of caring for the lost and misled people all around me and on the campuses, I am engulfed with the cares and worries of this world and desires for other things, weeds that make the seed unfruitful, even though the soil is very good. As the saying goes, "The rankest weeds grow also in the richest soil."

What are these weeds? They are interests, cares, worries and desires for things like money and fame and security. I want security for myself and my family. I know God will provide. Perhaps he will open up a job for me to provide, or inspire me to write something powerful that will sell. I am sure He has given me all I need, though, to do HIS work already. I need only GO. That word... it is so unpleasant and inconvenient. I have to go the campus before I can possibly meet students and bring them. I cannot preach in my empty house, but must preach to those who are not really that interested in hearing, so as to encourage their interest, to give them that word by which they can believe. "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent?" [Ro 10:14,15]

Lord, forgive my unbelief. If you have already given me all I need, send me to preach now. Lord, I cannot go if I am not sent. Please assume me that it is YOU who are sending me, and not any man, nor my own idea. Here am I; send me!

Am I happy?

Today my wife told me I am not happy. She thinks this. And as she knows me objectively, I must agree that she is right. But it is not that I am an unhappy person, nor that I have not found happiness in life. It's just a funk.

Even so, the Word says:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

[Phil 4:4] Therefore, to rejoice not is to sin. Being joyful is commanded. For

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

[Nehemiah 8:10] So what have I missed this week, that even my family are sure I am not happy?

Clearly, I have been reading too much Jonathan Edwards. I think his preaching is entirely too strong a medicine for me. Perhaps I need such strong medicine, and must get worse before I get better. But even if there is a great deal of truth in his message, I do not find it to be "full of grace AND truth", at least not yet. Only the cold, hard truth. And that alone cannot make any man truly happy.

So I must leave off Jonathan Edwards for awhile and come back to Jesus himself, for His word gives life, not that of any other man. What bothers me is that, as Edwards constantly teaches, to not live up to the image of God is inexcusable. To fail to pray is hypocrisy. To avoid ones spiritual duty is unrepented sinfulness. I find myself only a failure.

Yet God always used those who failed humanly if only they remained in Him. Remaining IN Jesus is the one and only guaranteed means to bear fruit, not bearing the fruit themselves. I would aim to pray more, prepare and preach more excellently, trust more, bear the fruits of the Spirit, and live a life of self-control and purity. Aim. "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp. Or what's a heaven for?" Surely I cannot reach God's standard, or I am not a fallen sinner, but a Christ to myself. This cannot be. I must only keep on reaching though I fail.

Fail? Yes. It is less sinful to attempt and fail than to never attempt a good work at all. But no matter what I attempt, I must not fail to have the joy of the Lord, for THAT is my strength. He within me is my joy, and only strength. Apart from Him I have no good thing.

Then let me resolve this alone today: I will rejoice in the Lord. Habakkuk 3:17,18 says,

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

What has caused this funk? I think it's just that I cannot have everything I want in life. I cannot live like Adam in Eden. I cannot live like St. Paul. I am not a full-time servant of God, but a lay minister. I am not a great parent nor a good shepherd nor a sacrificial husband. I am just a very ordinary man. But I can go on, aiming for all these, for the glory of God, who promised to bear fruit through me in his own time. Lord, let me remain in Jesus, and in your joy today. Amen.

Sarah Barry visits Virginia

There are a few people in my life who have had more influence the Mother Sarah Barry. I can't say how thankful I was to have her visit us here in Charlottesville and Richmond last week (April 22-25, 2010).

She said a few things to me. The main direction she offered was: "Shepherd Chris, teach your children the Bible", and, "Stay in Charlottesville for a good while. This is a good place."

I was so humbled to hear her message on Genesis 1,2. The beginning of Genesis is one of my most favorite passages in all the Bible, probably because I have studied it with so many students over the years. I am thankful to have her message available for further study. I plan to use it as the basis for my first live open-air sermon at UVa this week. Today, in fact.

Life has been good to me. But I am at a singular crossroad in my life. I must either seek to further my high-tech career, or live as a tentmaker. I know this decision is not easy, since it will affect the lifestyle and comfort of my family. I don't intend to give up anything as a sacrifice to God, because I know he doesn't need it and it isn't worthy compared to the sacrifice of His Son. But I do want to obey my Lord and preach and teach His word on the campus, even if it means having no steady job.

Still it was comforting that Mother Barry prayed for me to have a steady job in Charlottesville. I am deeply thankful for this prayer, and am convinced the Lord will answer it soon.

Perhaps the moment that was so true to form, was when before her beautiful message, she took me aside and said she felt her message was too long and "weird". I told her I love long messages that are non-conventional, and try to preach such messages whenever I have the chance. She asked me to pray for her. Wow! It's like Jesus asking to be baptized by John.

She preached a beautiful message on Genesis 1-2, and read "The Creation" a poem by James Weldon Johnson, so beautifully, so tenderly. This man does a comparable job reading it:
I was ashamed to admit I had never heard this poem, though I grew up in the town where Johnson was born, Jacksonville, Florida, and went to a school named for him. I can say I am properly educated because I have known and learned under Sarah Barry.

But that is the soul of Mother Sarah Barry, like Jesus. I thank the Lord who raised up such a humble woman for our times, not to be in the papers and appearing with the President and such, but serving everyone around her, even at 80. (She was born 1/22/1930).

The Lord bless you, Mother Barry. May he answer your prayers for Virginia and save many souls here through one-t0-one Bible study.

The Body and Blood of Jesus

For centuries, the Jews offered sacrifices every year to atone for their sins.

God promised in Isaiah 52,53 that he would send a Savior to take our sins away. How? But crushing him and sprinkling many nations with his blood.

On the even of Jesus' crucifixion, he was about to go to the cross and offer his body and blood for the sins of his people. The disciples didn't see what was coming. They had vague notions, but they were not theologians, and could not see the fulfillment of the prophesies about to transpire. But they noted Jesus' words and took the bread and wine with him that night, and from then on, they did it in remembrance of him. It is a most special feast, because it IS THE PASSOVER for those who are atoned for through Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Before we take the Lord's supper, let's think about this Passover with the serious and prayerful mind.

I. The reason for the Passover

We can't begin to understand the Lord's Supper without understanding the problem it solves, which is sin. Jesus didn't come to end poverty, stamp out oppression, save the environment, or give people a better life generally. These are all good causes, which we should do with our lives. But Jesus' cause was much more important than all of them. It was to solve the original problem of all mankind, the root of all troubles: That we are sinners before God and before each other, that we are filled with sin, and that our sins separate us from God.

Isaiah spoke about this in ch.59 of his great book, saying:

² But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.

There are no other problems that are as unsolvable as this. For nothing we can do to make things right can change the fact that God has hidden his face from us. How can we get his attention? How can we break down the spiritual barrier that separates us from our Maker? We cannot. We are lost.

7 Their feet rush into sin;
they are swift to shed innocent blood.
Their thoughts are evil thoughts;
ruin and destruction mark their ways.

⁸ The way of peace they do not know;
there is no justice in their paths.
They have turned them into crooked roads;
no one who walks in them will know peace.

⁹ So justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;
for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

¹⁰ Like the blind we grope along the wall,
feeling our way like men without eyes.
At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;
among the strong, we are like the dead.

¹¹ We all growl like bears;
we moan mournfully like doves.
We look for justice, but find none;
for deliverance, but it is far away.

¹² For our offenses are many in your sight,
and our sins testify against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
and we acknowledge our iniquities.

Our sins don't go away. Think of your mind. Can you actually and truly forget the evil things you have done in the past? or wicked things others have done to you? Of course not. They are events that really happened. They are written on your mind just as clearly as if they were written on stone. Some people drink or take drugs or smoke dope to forget their troubles and sins. But as soon as the are sober, their sins come back to haunt them. Some become hedonistic, partying and seeking endless pleasures. But when the party is over, or their money runs out, they fall into depression as deep as their pleasure was high.

God knows we are stuck in sin. He loves us so deeply that he doesn't want to abandon us to sin. So Isaiah wrote,

¹⁶ He saw that there was no one,
he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm worked salvation for him,
and his own righteousness sustained him.

¹⁷ He put on righteousness as his breastplate,
and the helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments of vengeance
and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

God came in flesh himself to save us. He put on flesh and blood and came in the form of a man. We can say that God came as the "Son of God", as when we have a baby, a little bit of ourselves comes out in a new person, even though before they are born, they are part of their father and mother, and actually connected to and living inside their mother's body. So Jesus IS one with God the Father, and is himself God, not a different God, but the same God, only in a different form. The fact that God came in flesh and blood is a very important teaching known as the Incarnation. We should study this theology more deeply, because it affects not only how we think about Jesus, it teaches us that the bodies we have are also good and precious to God. Many have fallen into the false teaching that the spirit is good and the body is evil. This is impossible, for Jesus also had a body. And he served God with his body, and offered his body as a sacrifice for our atonement. The theology of the body is very beautiful, and sets us free from the self-hate and shame and confusion of those who are, in reality, influenced by the Gnostics. Ask me later if you don't know what the Gnostics were (what they taught).

So on this night, Jesus sat down with the disciples to eat the Passover. Look at Matt.26:17.

¹⁷On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

The Passover was instituted as a yearly feast in Exodus after the Jews had left Egypt. They were set free by Pharaoh because of the angel of death, who killed every firstborn son, but passed over the houses of the Israelites, because they put the blood of the Pascal lambs on their doorframes. The Passover was like Independence day for them, which marked the day they were set free from slavery. It was symbolic of our enslavement to sin, from which we can only be set free by the atonement for sins. And so the Passover was celebrated annually by Jews as a national as well as a solemn religious feast.

Now Jesus and his disciples were celebrating this feast. It would be a most memorable time, so they wanted to prepare it very thoughtfully, as one prepares a wedding or a special anniversary celebration or the inauguration of a new leader. Jesus sent them into town with an ominous message:

¹⁸He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " ¹⁹So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

_Jesus' appointed time was near._ This meant that he was about to leave his disciples, and return to the Father. He had told them this, and all about his suffering, death and resurrection. They didn't really know what he meant. For like us, they argued about whether Jesus was speaking literally or in parables, even when he was rather clearly not speaking in parables.

As they sat eating, Jesus took bread and dipped it into the bowl of wine. This was the way they ate the Passover. It wasn't about eating as much food as fast as possible, like we eat. It was solemn and thoughtful eating that had spiritual meaning. They thought back on the Passover, and ate as though they were reliving that anxious night. As they reclined at the table, while they were eating, Jesus said,

"I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

This was a bombshell that set all the disciples into a sad, worried, self-doubting frame of mind. They all said, "Surely not I, Lord!" Then he indicated that it was the one who had already dipped his hand into the bowl with Jesus. This didn't really help them, as they hadn't been watching that carefully. But Judas, who had dipped his own hand with Jesus knew. He too said, "Surely not I, Lord." But Jesus said, "Yes, it is you."

And so one of the Twelve ate the bread and wine with Jesus, and then later that night went out and betrayed Jesus. It's hard to imagine that Judas could sit there pretending so well, pretending that he was a believer; fitting in with the others, though he was of an opposite mind; pretending to be Jesus' friend while he had already decided to go out and take the side of Jesus' enemies. Judas ate the Passover with Jesus. But he rejected Jesus as Lord, and rejected the atonement for his sins with Jesus' body and blood.

I believe this story is why Paul later wrote these solemn words in I Cor 11:

²⁷Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ²⁹For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

The Lord's supper is a sacrament. Bu tit isn't a sacrament that saves you. It doesn't make you any more spiritual or religious than you are. No one can atone for his own sins by doing good works, being a better person, trying harder, working harder, or taking any sacrament. The ONLY thing that can save us from our sins and give us forgiveness and restore us to a right relationship with God is this\: The body and the blood of His Son Jesus. The Lord's Supper that we will take in a few minutes is NOT the actual body and blood of Jesus. For nothing in this world could ever substitute for the precious body and blood of Jesus, that was broken and poured out for us.

But the bread and wine are a symbol and a memorial to his body and blood. Jesus took the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take and eat; this is my body." According to Luke 22:19, Jesus said,

"This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

Jesus gave his body to be beaten and crucified for us. To recognize the body of Jesus we must remember what he did for us, accepting the beatings, mocking, the crown of thorns, carrying the heavy cross, marching through the city while people laughed and spit on him, and all the while, overcoming the desire to show them his power and destroy his enemies with one word. He accepted the pain, which was excruciating, without complaining at all.

And so he took the bread as a symbol for his own body, and said, "Do this in remembrance of me." So we take the bread in remembrance of Jesus, as the Jews at the passover remembered how God saved them from slavery in sin and the angel of death.

When they ate bread, they dipped it in the wine. But when they had finished the bread, he took the bowl of wine and passed it around to them to finish drinking it. Look at Mt 26:27--29\:

²⁷Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

"This is my blood." These words have troubled people from the time of Jesus until now, who worry that it is improper for humans to eat the flesh of other humans and drink the blood of humans or any other animal. God even forbade the Jews from eating the blood of their sacrifices. It was to be poured out on the altar entirely. Leviticus 17 says,

¹⁰ " 'Any Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any blood—I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from his people. ¹¹ For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.

But now Jesus was telling them to drink the wine as a symbol of drinking his blood. In short, Jesus was giving himself to them as _spiritual_ food. And he was giving them his blood to atone for their sins. For a time, the Romans ridiculed the Christians as people who taught cannibalism. They found the Christians' teachings repulsive. Maybe you do to.

But Jesus' blood is not really wine, and this wine is not physical blood. It is just grape juice that has been treated and preserved through fermentation. As wine is filled with amazingly good and healthy compounds, and has the most complex and varying taste of any other substance, Jesus' blood is uniquely beneficial to our soul. It not only atones for our sins, but cleanses our sins and restores us to health. It is spiritual medicine that is not natural, but supernatural. And there is no other way to be saved than to come to God with the blood of Jesus sprinkled on our insides, on our hearts and minds, and on the door frames of our body, our lips.

And when we take this body and blood of Jesus, we proclaim with the same mouths what he has done for us with his body and blood. So Paul wrote in 1Cor 11,

²⁵In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." ²⁶For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

You who are here now have heard that Jesus died for your sins. He gave up his body to be whipped and beaten and killed to suffer the justice for your sins, that you deserved. He gave his own sinless blood to be poured out on the eternal altar of God in heaven so that your sins might be atoned for and cleansed. Paul wrote in Hebrews 9,

¹¹When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. ¹²He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,^c]">[c] so that we may serve the living God!

We celebrate Easter as the Jews celebrated Passover. It is our highest holy day, for on this day we are saved, by the body and blood of Jesus. He gave his blood to forgive our sins and cleanse our consciences. As I said earlier, no one can truly forget the sins he or she committed. I can never forget the sin I committed when I yelled at my family recently, and once when I cursed a minister long ago, and when I often lusted after sinners and their pleasures, and coveted the honor of my fellow-shepherds and missionaries, envying those who were successful and wishing they would fall.

But the blood of Jesus cleanses my conscience so that I am no longer condemned even though I am most assuredly guilty. I am ashamed of my sins and the sins of my people. But I am not ashamed of the gospel! I am not ashamed of Jesus who suffered and died for me! I want nothing more in this life but to proclaim His death and resurrection until my children and all my people may know him and love him as I do.

Let us proclaim the Lord's death through taking the Lord's Supper now. Do not take it if you do not believe Jesus' body was torn for you, and his blood was shed for you. Do not eat it if you do not want Him as Lord and King. Do not proclaim if you do not believe. Paul says "anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself," like Judas Iscariot. No one will keep count or take note. Instead, kneel down and ask God to smite your heart with the power of the gospel, until you may know that you believe. You will not miss a blessing if you do not take the bread and wine. But you will die in your sins and spend eternity in hell if you do not ask Jesus to forgive your sins and cleanse your heart with the blood of Jesus Christ.

May God's Spirit speak to you as you take the bread and wine.

We're going to begin the Lord's supper now. Each person just come out and stand there until one of the stations is free. Then come and kneel down, take the bread and dip it in the wine and eat it.

As you come, remember Jesus suffering and death for your sin. Perhaps the crucifix is the best way to remember Him at this moment. This is what Jesus did for you. [Begin Crucifixion slides]. See his body, broken and hanging on a cross? That was for you. See his blood dripping down from his many wounds? That was for you. See his head hanging in sorrow? That was for your sins and unbelief and rebellion and pride and greed and lust and selfishness. He did this to save you from enslavement in sin, addictions, obsessions, compulsions, bitterness that will not go away, complaints that will not yield to thanksgiving, legalism that chips away at your freedom, shame that makes you hate the beautiful person you are, and fatalism. Jesus did this so that you can be the glorious sons and daughters of God. He adopts you as his own when you simply say, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Start coming forward now. Don't hurry. Take as long as you like. May God help you to open your heart as you open your mouth and take the body and blood of Jesus for your spiritual food this evening.

Dismay as a necessary lesson

Again today, I'm so thankful for my mentor. In thinking about Mark 10:32,

"They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid."

He is thinking about how they were so astonished and afraid as they saw their Lord going steadfastly toward Jerusalem, where, he kept saying, he would be crucified. They were lagging behind, uncertain of the direction, even though he was going on before them apace. And we are lagging behind in uncertainty like them, though our Lord is marching on confidently. OC writes,

At the beginning of our life with Jesus Christ, we were sure we knew all there was to know about following Him. It was a delight to forsake everything else and to throw ourselves before Him in a fearless statement of love. But now we are not quite so sure. Jesus is far ahead of us and is beginning to seem different and unfamiliar.

Jesus seems to easy to follow for new Christians. He is so wonderful. But when we see that he is willing to let us suffer with him---sharing in his sufferings and then in his glory---and that he often leaves us in the wilderness for many days or months or even years, it is nothing less than dismaying.

But this is his will.

The discipline of dismay is an essential lesson which a disciple must learn. The danger is that we tend to look back on our times of obedience and on our past sacrifices to God in an effort to keep our enthusiasm for Him strong (Isaiah 1:10-11 ). But when the darkness of dismay comes, endure until it is over, because out of it will come the ability to follow Jesus truly, which brings inexpressibly wonderful joy.

To endure the darkness and uncertainty is a trial we NEED? Oswald! People don't think this way today. Even Christians shirk the hardship as if it were from the devil. Somehow we just don't recognize Jesus. But how blessed I am to have a time of dismay... working away in DC and distant from my precious family and ministry, really unable to do anything except pray and study. Lord, be with me here and now, that I may not give in to dismay but abide with thee.

Who do you obey?

"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey---whether slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness." [Romans 6:16]

Once again, my mentor Oswald has astounded me. He writes on March 14, "The first thing to do in examining the power that dominates me is to take hold of the unwelcome fact that I am responsible for being dominated." Just as Paul said, when you "offer yourself"... you wind up enslaved. To OC "offering" is "yielding" oneself. If a child yields to selfishness, he will become a slave of selfishness. So parents must help their children to overcome selfishness, to not yield to it. Some people yield to despair. Some yield to their ill health, or laziness, or pride, or lust, or greed, or the bottle, bitterness, hatred, and a host of evil spirits. Then they can never overcome it, because they are not in control anymore, but enslaved. This is how habits become so terribly hard to break.

How could we be so stupid, to let ourselves be enslaved? "Give me liberty or give me death!" is the battle cry of Americans. Yet we are enslaved to debt, to pornography, drugs, and so many things that clearly lead to death. We are a people given over to greed, to the instant gratification of everything we fancy. So we have given away our freedom and liberty for convenience or fun or pleasure or ease. It is so sad.

What is more, many Christians (who claim to be servants of Christ) have yielded almost nothing to Him, have given him nary a token of actual obedience. One would think they feel that Jesus actually wants us to have all these gratifications, rather than holiness, and that his words, "If you love me, keep my commands", is some kind of code that no one can really understand. So we obey one another, our bosses, the law, the cultural norms, but never obey his commands.

Lord, help me to yield to Jesus, rather than the desire for more possessions and more time and more enjoyment. Even more freedom is meaningless apart from that freedom that comes from You, Who are the Truth that sets us free. Lord, help me to teach this true obedience to my children, before they become slaves of self and of society. Please set us free, Lord Jesus, as we obey your commands, little by little.

Rushing Wind

by Keith Green (1953-1982)

Rushing wind blow thru this temple,
Blowing out the dust within.
Come and breathe your breath upon me,
I've been born again.

Holy Spirit, I surrender!
Take me where you want to go.
Plant me by your living waters,
Plant me deep so I can grow.

Jesus, You're the One!
Who set my spirit free.
Use me, Lord, glorify
Your holy Name thru me.

Separate me from this world, Lord.
Sanctify my life for You.
Daily change me to Your Image.
Help me bear good fruit.

Every day you're drawing closer.
Trials come to test my faith.
But when all is said and done, Lord,
You know, it's been worth the wait!

Jesus, You're the One!
Who set my spirit free.
Use me, Lord, glorify
Your holy Name thru me.

Rushing wind blow thru this temple,
Blowing out the dust within.
Come and breathe your breath upon me,
For I've been born again.

Hymn, by Isaac Watts

Spiritual and eternal joys; or,
The beatific sight of Christ.

1 From thee, my God, my joys shall rise,
And run eternal rounds,
Beyond the limits of the skies
And all created bounds.

2 The holy triumphs of my soul
Shall death itself out-brave,
Leave dull mortality behind,
And fly beyond the grave.

3 There, where my blessed Jesus reigns
In heaven's unmeasur'd space,
I'll spend a long eternity
In pleasure and in praise.

4 Millions of years my wondering eyes
Shall o'er thy beauties rove,
And endless ages I'll adore
The glories of thy love.

5 Sweet Jesus, every smile of thine
Shall fresh endearments bring,
And thousand tastes of new delight
From all thy graces spring.

6 Haste, my beloved, fetch my soul
Up to thy bless'd abode,
Fly, for my spirit longs to see
My Saviour and my God.