Power Praise!

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Pete

I can’t imagine how David could have packed anything more into a twenty-one verse psalm than he did into Psalm 145. Right out the gate, his purpose is clear, “I will extol You, my God . . . and bless Your name forever . . . I will bless You . . . and praise Your name forever . . . Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised and His greatness is unsearchable” (145:1-3).

David’s on a mission with this psalm. He is bound and determined to lift up the wonder and works of our great God . . . he barely takes a breath as he declares the greatness of God. He talks about what God has done . . . he sings at the top of his lungs about who God is. Though God’s greatness is unsearchable, does that stop David from searching? Nooooo! . . . “On the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate.” (145:5).

This psalm is an absolute powerhouse of praise. Talk about your “pick me up” . . . talk about your “lift Him up!” And, it’s in the midst of this symphony of awe and wonder and worship that a couple of verses in particular catch my attention . . .

All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, and all Your saints shall bless you!
         They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and tell of Your power, . . .       (Psalm 145:10-11 ESV)

I saw the words “your saints” and thought, “Hey, that’s me! Listen up Corak!” Ok, so I ain’t really no saint if you’re thinking of a saint as some super spiritual, has-totally-got-his-act-together”, perfect person . . . just ask my wife or daughters. But, if we’re talking about saint as in “those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (1Cor. 1:2) . . . and we are . . . then, we’re talking about me. A child of God . . . one of His redeemed . . . called and set apart as member of His family . . . a citizen of His holy nation. So, if I’m a saint, then these couple of verses in this song are directly and specifically talking to me.

And what will the saints (aka me) do? We are to bless God . . . speak of the glory of His kingdom . . . and tell of His power. And I hover over that last part, “tell of His power.” As a set apart one . . . as a meditator of the glorious splendor of majesty (145:5) . . . as a blessor of God (145:1) . . . as a commentator of the glory of His kingdom (145:11) . . . I am to tell of His power.

And so, I sit back and think, “What do I know about the power of God? What would I talk about? What would I declare?”

First, I would have to testify of His power to save because, without that, all other evidences of His power would be hidden to me, the “god of this age” having blinded the minds of unbelievers to God, His glory, and His gospel (2Cor. 4:4). I once was blind . . . I once cared nothing for the things of God . . . I once was so wrapped up in myself and my sin that God could have been standing in front of me and I wouldn’t have recognized Him. Blind eyes . . . deaf ears . . . heart of stone . . . that was me. But I will talk of His power to save. The LORD who is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy (145:8), took me to a place where He could do some spiritual “reconstructive surgery.” Unfortunately, it took some actual surgery first to get my attention, but the God of grace started to soften my heart such that I’d be open to hearing His word. He “tilled the soil” so that the powerful Word of God might be planted and take root. His word being received, He then gave me ears to hear what the Spirit says, and opened my eyes to love of God manifest in the person of His Son, Jesus my Savior!

Oh, this saint will talk of Your power! And not just of the power of the past . . . but Your power in the present, Your power to preserve this saint. Your mercies are new every morning, O Lord . . . great is Your faithfulness. Through the Holy Spirit, which You have sealed me with, Your power presides. By Your might You are able to uphold me when I fall and to raise me up when I am bowed down (145:14). You are near to all who call upon You (145:18) . . . You preserve all who love You (145:20).

And so, I will tell of Your power! Let my voice be lifted up with “Power Praise!”

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
       and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever.     (Psalm 145:21 ESV)

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The God Who Stretches Me

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Pete

Honestly, there are some passages of Scripture, I’d just as soon skip over . . . some I’m inclined not to think too much about . . . ’cause I get uncomfortable with what they’re saying. I don’t think that’s the norm with the “commands to obey” passages. And it certainly isn’t the case with the “blessings of God” verses. But it occurs every so often with those “what do I learn about God” portions of Scripture that place God outside the box I want to keep Him in. Those insights to the workings of God that are outside my comfort zone. But I think I realize that it’s because of my tendency to want to start with a view of God and wrap Scripture around it . . . rather than let God’s word teach me about God. Such is the case with an incident I encountered in 2Chronicles 18 this morning.

The background. King Jehoshaphat of Judah . . . good king . . . teams with King Ahab of Israel . . . bad king. Ahab convinces Jehoshaphat to go to war against an enemy of Israel. Jehoshaphat consents if it’s the Lord’s will. So Jehoshaphat says, “Inquire first for the word of the LORD” (18:4 ESV). Problem . . . Ahab’s not exactly walking with the Lord. Ok . . . maybe that’s understated. Ahab is over the top in rejecting God and His ways and pursuing the worst of the worst evils associated with pagan worship. But there is one prophet of God in Israel that Ahab can summon, Micaiah. “But,” says Ahab, “I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil” (18:7). Ya’ think?!? Nevertheless, the prophet of God is called . . . and the prophet of God speaks . . . and the prophet of God speaks the words of God (18:13). And, in doing so, the prophet provides an insight into some of the workings of God. And that’s where it gets a bit uncomfortable for me.

Micaiah tells the two kings that He “saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and on His left” (18:18). Ok, so far . . . that’s what I’d expect from a high and holy, majestic God. But then there’s this conversation in heaven. A conversation kind of like you find in the first couple of chapters of Job.

God has determined it’s time to judge Ahab . . . and, He will use this battle that Ahab is determined to enter into . . . and so, God says, “Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” (18:19). There’s some conversation with some angelic beings and then, what would appear to be a demon, in some manner approaches God and stands before Him and says, “I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” God says, “You shall succeed . . . go do it.” (18:20-22) And that, my friends, makes me a bit uncomfortable. The whole idea of God interacting with lying spirits and leveraging them to accomplish His purpose. What do you do with that?

First, I recognize that what is recorded here is “God-breathed” . . . all Scripture is inspired of God . . . and God has determined to provide this insight into “His world” and how it sometimes works. I also know that with God there is no unrighteousness . . . and that He is not the source of lying . . . and that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). But I also know that God is Sovereign . . . and that God will Judge evil. And, should God chose to allow demonic spirits, who are liars and who hate mankind and who delight in destruction, to be used for His purposes, then that is the prerogative of a Sovereign Judge.

And yet, I also see the grace of God working here . . . God providing Ahab every opportunity to come to his senses and repent. Here’s Ahab standing before someone he acknowledges speaks for God . . . and this prophet is telling him that Ahab’s other pagan prophets are being duped by a lying demonic spirit . . . and that God has determined to bring disaster upon Ahab because Ahab refuses to seek the One true God and instead follow the ear-tickling advice of these false prophets. It’s not like Ahab doesn’t know what’s going on. And it’s not even like he doesn’t believe it because he disguises himself in battle and sets up Jehoshaphat to “take the bullet.” No, despite the word of God being spoken to him, Ahab, in his arrogance and wickedness, determines of his own free will to listen to lies and to think he can outsmart God. Bad move on Ahab’s part.

So, as one commentator summarizes it, “It is not without the divine permission that the devil deceives men, and even thereby God serves His own purposes” (Matthew Henry). And while I get that . . . and believe that . . . it is one of those things that stretches my understanding of God rather than conforms to the image of God I tend to want to build. And as I sit back and chew on it a bit, isn’t that how it should be, from time to time, when I encounter the God whose thoughts are not my thoughts . . . and ways are not my ways . . “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9)?

I believe in the Sovereignty of God . . . I believe in the Righteous Judgment of God . . . I believe in the Grace of God. It’s just trying to package it all into this small earthbound brain that sometimes stretches me. But then again, it’s not about me.

Glory to the God whose ways are above my ways . . . yet, who draws me into relationship with Him . . . revealing Himself to me . . . even when it stretches me.

Amen?

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He Will Surely Do It

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Pete

Sometimes you just need some bottom line assurances. You know you gotta fight the good fight . . . and you gotta run the race . . . and you need to walk in a manner that’s worthy. And by God’s grace, and with some holy determination, you enter the battle . . . you set your face on the goal . . . and, relying the on Spirit’s power, you put one foot in front of the other as you enter another day of pilgrimage. But sometimes, it’s like a cup of fresh water to be reminded that, although we’ve been called to pursue and grow in our faith, . . . that, at the end of the day, He will surely do it.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. 
(1Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV)

You gotta know that Paul was a bit anxious concerning his children in the faith at Thessalonica. He had been able to spend only a very limited time with them. They had come to faith in the risen, saving Christ . . . and Paul had started to instruct them in the things of God and His Kingdom . . . but then opposition had forced him out of town. So, there he is . . . at a distance . . . hearing of their progress in the faith and the fruit of their salvation . . . but knowing that theirs was a hostile environment . . . and aware that some had already come in and were messing up their minds with false teaching.

And so he writes to them. Wanting to encourage them. Wanting to instruct them. Wanting them to be all in Christ that they were called to be.

And he wraps up his letter with a string of instructions concerning how they should live as God’s people. Commands to obey. Tips for fighting the fight . . . running the race . . . and walking in a manner worthy. But at the end of it all, though Paul wanted to be there to oversee their faith-fueled obedience, he commends them to the One who had actually begun the work in Thessalonica . . . and the One who promised to faithfully complete it.

It might be their obedience and effort, but it was God who would sanctify them completely. They might set their hearts wholly on being holy, but it would be the active agency of God through His Spirit who would make them holy. They might do their utmost to keep themselves from sin and the trappings of the flesh, but only through the finished work of the cross and the ever-cleansing blood of the Lamb would they stand one day before their blessed LORD blameless and without spot.

And, sometimes I just need to be reminded of that. He will surely do it.

Sure, my willful participation . . . but His wondrous work. My desire to seek the kingdom . . . His determination to set eternity within my heart. My confession of sin and failure . . . His once for all sacrifice the basis for a just God to forgive my sins . . . the blood shed that I might be cleansed from all unrighteousness.

Bottom line? It’s His work. And He who has called me is faithful. And He will surely do it.

For His glory alone . . . amen?

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Cave Prayers

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Pete

Sure, he had known the thrill of victory . . . many times! David could have thought back to all those occasions where God had shown Himself mighty on his behalf . . . before wild animals . . . before arrogant giants . . . before enemy armies. But now his spirit fainted within him . . . as did those memories.. He was trapped . . . the victor was now in desperate need of deliverance from his persecutors.

And sure, he was a man of many promises. Anointed by the prophet . . . promised to one day reign . . . waiting for when the time was right to ascend to the throne. But now, right now, there was no thought of a future kingdom, just the oppressive darkness of a cave . . . a dark abandoned cave. A cave where no one took notice . . . a place that offered no real refuge . . . a prison where “no one cares for my soul.” And it was there, in the cave, that David prayed.

With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before Him; I tell my trouble before Him. . . . I cry to You, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to Your name! The righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.    (Psalm 142:1-2, 5-7 ESV)

I’m guessing we all have known a cave at one time or another. Gloomy places . . . places where it’s hard to see a way out . . . places where we can feel so alone that only the echoes off of a cold wall keep us company. Places where, even if we could see a way out, we’re pretty sure it would be more dangereous out there than in here. Something about caves that saps our strength . . . both physical and mental. And it’s in these places where, by the grace of God and through the groaning intercession of the Spirit, we need to do perhaps the only thing we can do . . . cry out to the LORD . . . with our voices, plead for mercy and deliverance.

David would spill out all his anxieties . . . and he would spell out all his distress. Not because he thought God wasn’t aware of His situation . . . but because He knew God was . . .

When my spirit faints within me, You know my way!    (Psalm 142:3a ESV)

And so He would cry out, in faith, to the One he trusted as His refuge . . . the One, who when everything else seemed removed, was David’s “portion” in the land of the living . . . even when that land was but a small plot of dirt in a dark cave. Though the cave was where he hid . . . God was the ground on which He stood. Though it was dark and gloomy . . . the LORD had promised to be his light. Though his surroundings drained him of all his energy . . . Jehovah would be his strength. Though he had been brought very low . . . He believed His deliver would again lift him up. And so David prayed, and would later put to music, cave prayers.

He looked beyond his earthly circumstance towards His heavenly Father. He forced his mind beyond the hopelessness of the situation and back to the promises of His God. He anticipated, with all his heart, that time when his cry of despair would give way to offerings of thanksgiving. He believed that the cold walls which enveloped him, would soon give way to the righteous surrounding him. All because He knew the God who had promised to deal bountifully with him.

Cave prayers aren’t easy prayers. O’, but that by the mercies and lovingkindness of God, we would know such songs in the night . . . and then, joy in the morning.

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .

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Ho-Hum Holiness

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Pete

Sometimes the will of God is kind of hard to know for sure. And sometimes, it isn’t. Paul, writing to the Thessalonian believers says this, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification . . . ” (1Thess 4:3). Your sanctification . . . your holiness . . . that, in part, is the will of God for His children. Whatever else concerning His will we need to be figuring out, this is pretty clear.

God wants us to be who we are. We have been set apart and declared holy in Christ . . . and God’s will is that we would grow into who we are and actually be holy in the world. And sometimes I wonder if, when we consider being sanctified, we don’t “super-size” it in our own minds and make it something that only the “really spiritual” folks have a shot at. When, in fact, Paul says that sanctification is also manifest in the basics. You might call it a ho-hum holiness.

. . . aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.    (1Thessalonians 4:11-12 ESV)

To be sure our holiness is a call away from the things of impurity (4:7). Specifically, Paul says that God’s people are to free from sexual immorality (4:3b). And to be sure our holiness is a call towards the high and lofty things of the kingdom of heaven. But, for most, if not all of us, where the holiness rubber meets the road is in the day-to-day and the mundane.

Living quietly . . . minding our own business . . . working hard. You want to know the degree to which someone is growing in the grace of knowledge of Jesus Christ? Want to gauge how much their heavenly mindedness is impacting their earthly existence? Check ’em out as neighbors . . . as employees . . . as people you brush up against in the grocery aisles or on the freeway.

Sometimes I wonder if we think our sanctification is really about our “spiritual lives” and not really tied to our “secular lives.” That sanctification starts with “S” and that stands for Sunday. That holiness begins with “H” and that stands for high and heavenly. But if sanctification is the process whereby Christ is formed with us . . . where, we by God’s grace and through God’s Holy Spirit, are made like His blessed Son, then maybe its about a makeover . . . and that starts with “M” . . . and that stands for manifest in the mundane.

Not too flashy . . . living quietly. Not something you talk about a lot . . . minding your own business. Kind of something you expect for a day’s wages . . . to work hard. But it’s the stuff of holiness . . . the stuff of walking properly before outsiders . . . the stuff of being like the Son in a world in need of light by doing just what you gotta do on a daily basis.

Ho-hum holiness. Not that there’s anything boring about becoming Christ-like. But ho-hum in the sense that its in the normal and everyday things of being who we are that we emanate something of the holiness of who we are. God’s will . . . our sanctification . . . even in the ho-hum things.

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .

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Yes!!!

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Pete

Not to be irreverent . . . not, in any way, to lower Jesus to my level . . . but in the spirit of Jesus taking on full humanity and of being made flesh and blood like us . . . something I read in Luke this morning resulted in an image coming to mind of Jesus. An image that made me smile. I imagined Jesus doing something that I’ve seen many a goal scorer in hockey do. I imagined Him looking to heaven . . . pumping His arm by His side . . . and shouting to the Father, “Yes!!!”

What was the Biblical basis for such a “vision?” Here it is . . .

In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will.”    (Luke 10:21 ESV)

Off the top of my head, I don’t recall anywhere else where it says Jesus rejoiced . . . and that He rejoiced in the Spirit. Not sure there’s another place where He might have said something like, “Yes! Thank You Father!”

It happened “the same hour.” The same hour the seventy-two returned. The seventy-two that Jesus had appointed and sent out, two by two, to proclaim that the kingdom of God had come near. The seventy-two He sent out as “lambs in the midst of wolves.” But the seventy-two who He had sent out with authority to heal and perform signs and wonders as testimony to the truth of their message.

And when they returned, the seventy-two were pumped! “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” They had gone in obedience . . . they had lived the power of Jesus name . . . and they returned rejoicing. And to them, Jesus said, Of course . . . “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven . . . Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (10:17-20).

And in that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and gave thanks to the Father. He was exceedingly glad. In concert with the Spirit, you might say that He jumped for joy . . . that He exulted in His disciples’ experience . . . that He gloried in seeing God’s perfect will played out.

Does Jesus rejoice? Absolutely! Is His heart moved to gladness when He sees His people walking in the ways they were called to? Evidently! Does He express inexpressible joy to the Father when He beholds the fruit of God’s redemptive plan? I’m thinkin’

O that God could use sinners-saved-by-grace to move the King of Kings to rejoice . . . and look to heaven . . . and thank the Father . . . and exclaim, “Yes!!!”

What grace. For the followers were feeble. But they were faithful. And, by His Name, they became fruitful.

By faith they went. Through the power of His name they returned triumphant. And Jesus rejoiced and gave glory to, God.

Kind of makes me smile . . .

. . . and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
                                so shall your God rejoice over you.    (Isaiah 62:5b ESV)

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Singing Songs in a Foreign Land

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Pete

We finished dinner last night, read the last half of Romans 1, and then had a brief discussion about the state of the world we live in. Dark! And then, as we prayed, we asked that we might be light . . . and be bold to remain as light, anticipating that, more and more, in the name of tolerance and inclusiveness, our “religious views” will be less and less tolerated. Surely we live in a foreign land.

By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?    (Psalm 137:1-4 ESV)

The question arrested me as I read it this morning . . . “How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?” But isn’t that precisely what we’re called to do?

In Psalm 137, the songwriter kind of acts as a foreign correspondent . . . “reporting on location in Babylon.” And we see those who would look longingly towards Jerusalem, seeking not to forget Zion. Though, that is what had led to their downfall in the first place. They had grown complacent with the things of their holy God . . . they had desired more and more to be like the nations around them . . . eventually conceding to their values . . . and setting their hearts towards seeking their gods. Their foreign land experience was simply a physical indicator of where their hearts had already been for generations. The physical barrenness around them a reflection of the spiritual desert within.

And so, like the prodigal eating husks in the muck, they sat and wept by the waters of Babylon, and they looked longingly towards Zion. And as their captors mocked them with requests for some of those “good old tunes from the good old days,” you sense their longing for home, their desire to see again the glory of God, as they mused, “How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?”

And while I might relate to their “foreign landed-ness” . . . that really is where the comparison stops. Unlike those bound in Babylon, far from being held captive by the enemy, the people of God today are those who have been set free. We are those who have been rescued out of Babylon. Rescued not because we deserved it or were any better than anybody else, but rescued through God’s unmerited favor. The Father having sent the Son to conquer sin and death and set captives free. The Spirit having wooed us to the Savior, giving us ears to hear and eyes to see. And by faith, we believed . . . and were set free. And, though we wait to be taken to a city not built with hands, whose designer and builder is God, for now we have been left to live in a foreign land so that, through us, more may be rescued.

We may be in a foreign land, but we live in the context of a coming kingdom. And so, as we sit by the waters of this world longing to be home, how shall we sing the LORD’s song? With gusto! At the top of our lungs! With hope and anticipation wrought through the risen life of Christ. With joy and confidence fueled by the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit. That’s how!

We sing the songs of light amidst a world of darkness. We sing the songs of the redeemed . . . exalting the Redeemer . . . and informing those in need of like redemption. We sing the songs of glory! Not the glory of ourselves which is turning to dust . . . not the glory of this world which really knows nothing of glory at all . . . but songs of the glory of God . . . that glory come down in His Son . . . that glory which we will, one day soon, behold face to face!

If anyone should be singing songs in a foreign land, it should be God’s people.

O’ that God would keep us from embracing the world and falling into a captivity which we need not know. But that we would be ever mindful that this world is not our home . . . and keep singing songs of Zion in this foreign land.

By His grace . . . all for His glory!

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Theos Martus

Posted on July 9, 2014 by Pete

That I would encounter similar themes across my readings in the morning probably isn’t too unusual. But that I would notice them . . . that I would see them coming together . . . that, progressively, as I encounter them, they move my heart . . . that, I believe, is evidence of the Spirit saying, “Hey Corak, listen up!” It’s one of the amazing dynamics of reading the Scriptures . . . those times when you are so aware of the illuminating work of Him who has been given to, among other things, lead us in to all truth, convict us of sin, and refine as according to the Master’s plan.

Here’s what I encountered this morning as I was working my way through my reading plan . . .

In 1Chronichles 28, David is making final preparation for his death. He assembles all the officials at Jerusalem and gives them charge concerning the building of a temple for God, something that had been his heart’s desire since ascending to the throne. And then, he turns to Solomon, the son who would succeed him and oversee construction. And to him, King David says,

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”   (1Chronicles 28:9 ESV)

Then in Luke, I read of Jesus with His disciples, trying to inform them again that “the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they, apparently, have more important matters to consider . . . like who’s numero uno among them. An argument arises among them as to which of them was the greatest . . . and then Luke records this,

But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, . . .    (Luke 9:47-48a ESV)

Seeing the common thread? I started to . . . and then I dove into 1Thessalonians . . .

Paul thanks God for the evidence of salvation among this church which sprang up in only three weeks (Acts 17:1-10) . . . evidence of God’s calling upon them as “our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit with full conviction” (1Thess. 1:5). And in speaking further of the coming of the gospel to them, Paul writes this,

. . . but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed–God is witness.    (1Thessalonians 2:4-5 ESV)

God is witness . . . Theos martus. He knows. Solomon, serve God with all your heart and mind for He searches all hearts and understands every thought and plan. Disciples, quit your bickering, stop the focus on yourself, for Jesus knows the reasoning of your hearts. Paul, preach the word plainly . . declare the gospel boldly. Declare it with integrity . . . not dumbing-it-down or flowering-it-up in order to please the itching ears of men . . . but to please God who tests our hearts. Remembering that Theos martus . . . God is witness.

A Holy Spirit reminder this morning. Nothing hidden . . . nothing concealed . . . thoughts, intents, and motives fully known in heaven. Kind of strikes fear at first . . . remembering that I am wholly known by a holy God. But God’s perfect love casts out the terror fear and the dread fear . . . leaving only the reverence fear and awe fear. He knows my name . . . He knows my frame. I am His workmanship . . . created once through birth, re-created through rebirth . . . made new in Christ . . . given a stewardship to exercise for the kingdom. And, by His grace, and through His power, I am to pursue the kingdom and exercise my stewardship with integrity of heart . . . to serve Him with my whole heart . . . knowing that God is witness.

Yes, LORD!  By Your grace . . . for Your glory  . . .

Posted in 1Chronicles, 1Thessalonians, Luke | Leave a comment

Good That We Are Here

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Pete

Seems like maybe there was a bit of a pattern forming. Jesus retreats with His disciples to pray . . . and, while He communes with the Father, they sleep. I know it will happen in the garden (Matt. 26:36-45), and, as I’m reading in Luke 9, it happened on the hill, too. On that mount Jesus prayed and the kingdom of God came down . . . literally (9:27). Jesus’ countenance is altered . . . His raiment glows an ethereal dazzling white . . . He is transfigured in appearance . . . a foretaste of that day when He will come “in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (9:26). And the disciples slept.

And then two men appear talking to Him. Identified as Moses and Elijah, they also appear in a glorious state. The men who most embody the Law and the Prophets talk with Him who is the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets (Matt. 5:17, John 1:45). Though the night is dark, the mount is lit up . . . the light of heaven itself . . . the glory of the kingdom manifest. And the disciples slept.

And the three speak of Jesus’ departure (9:31). That word departure it literally “exodus.” Moses and Elijah, in their heavenly glory, met with Jesus, who shone with His coming again glory, and they talked about His exodus. Not a departure that would happen to Him, but the exodus “which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” This departure was not that of leaving the earth, His ascension would follow resurrection. But the exodus of death. For all that the incarnate Son had experienced as flesh and bone, He had not yet experienced “the valley of the shadow” (Ps. 23:4). O’ to have been privy to that conversation.

What did Moses and Elijah speak of? What “real life” experience did they relate . . . what heavenly insight did they offer? Did Moses speak of God’s presence as he was buried outside of the promised land? Did Elijah speak of God’s power as he was transported from the earth to heaven in a whirlwind, escorted by chariots of fire? Or were they the ones listening? Did Jesus speak of His exodus in the fullest sense . . . though not knowing exactly what the death experience would be like, knowing that through it, His Father would allow Him to lead many captive to sin and death out of bondage and into glorious life? I don’t know. I wasn’t there. But the disciples were . . . and they slept.

But eventually slumber gave way to wakening . . . the darkness of eyes closed became the bright shining light of eyes opened. And when they were fully awake and saw the glory . . . not knowing quite what to say, . . . Peter says the obvious, “Master, it is good that we are here.” Ya’ think?!?

Jesus could have counseled with Moses and Elijah alone. Instead He purposed to bring Peter, John, and James with Him . . . that they might see the glory . . . that they might be eyewitnesses of His majesty . . . that they might sample the power of the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ (2Peter 1:16). And though Jesus’ spirit was willing, the disciples’ flesh was weak . . . and they needed to sleep. But, in His grace, He would not let them miss the glory. And though they didn’t know what to say . . . and perhaps said too much . . . they encountered the Son as He would be at His second advent . . . and they heard the voice of the Father delight in the Son . . . and they learned something of the glorious preeminence of Messiah.

Jesus invites me to accompany Him to places where His glory might be known. And sometimes, maybe too often, I’m snoozin’. Though I want to be there . . . sometimes the flesh wins out and I’m found napping. But thanks be to God who, according to His abundant grace, and through His indwelling Spirit, awakens me to the light of the glory of Christ and of His gospel. And at times like those, what can you say but, “Master, it is good that we are here!”

For His glory . . . amen?

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He Will Build A House

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Pete

The story never grows old for me. The story of a king, David, who has ascended to the throne through the calling and favor of God. And, as he looks about the surroundings of his palace, he takes note of the ark of the covenant. While David lives in a “house of cedar” the place where the glory of God dwells is “under a tent.” And David thinks there’s something not right about this situation. And so, his heart is moved to build a house fit for the glory of God to dwell. And God’s response? Love this part . . . “the LORD will build you a house.”

The LORD, through Nathan the prophet, informs David that it will not be his hands which build a dwelling place for God. God will first establish David’s line . . . covenant with David to establish David’s throne forever through his offspring . . . and that it would be one of David’s sons that would build a house for God.

“When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to Me a son. I will not take My steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.”   (2Chronicles 17:11-14 ESV)

To a degree, this prophetic word was fulfilled through Solomon. A son of David blessed by God with wisdom, intelligence, wealth, and peace with his enemies. An offspring of David who fulfilled the desire of his father’s heart and built a magnificent temple for the ark to reside in . . . nothing like it in all the world. If anything on earth might be deemed worthy to be designated as the dwelling place for the glory of God, this was it. But, this wasn’t really it.

Solomon’s kingdom would fail. His heart would falter . . . his faithfulness would fade . . . and his throne would eventually be divided. The temple of Solomon would also atrophy. The worship would become mechanical . . . the courts would be defiled . . . and eventually the glory would depart. So, if Solomon and his temple weren’t the fulfillment of God’s promise to David, then who was? I know!!!

Jesus, the greater son of David, born through David’s lineage but not by human seed, would be the one to build a forever kingdom. It would be His throne established for eternity. The incarnate Christ would be the prophesied Son. The Son of God, forever rooted in the love of God as He Himself, being one with the Father and the Spirit, is the source of love. And, says the prophet, “He will build a house for Me.”

And the King has come and declared the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And He has been building a house ever since. A temple not made with hands, fit to house the glory of God. A place where the holy presence of God abides. A house not made with bricks and mortar, but with living stones . . . men and women, boys and girls, redeemed by grace through the work of the cross . . . being built into a “dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Eph 2:22).

He will build a house . . . and God will establish His throne forever.

O’ the wonder of David’s greater Son . . . O’ the assurance of God’s eternal promises . . . O’ the privilege to part of the house . .

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .

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