Only Jesus

I was in the truck yesterday scanning the radio for a football game when I stopped to listen to a religious program that caught my attention.  As I listened I heard mentioned a number of times the name of the religion and the spotlight was on a particular New Testament Bible figure (not Jesus).  I listened for quite a while but there was no talk of Jesus nor the gospel so I moved on.  Later in the evening I was again scanning the stations and like before landed on this same station which was again was talking about the same Bible character and that particular person's holiness.

I tried to listen for a while but was grieved in my spirit. I though for a few minutes then prayed about this.  I asked God to give me insight because as I have read the scriptures the focus never seemed to be on anyone but Jesus (even the Old Testament pointed to him). All others who were lifted up, worshipped, or revered tore their garments and got low. I mean they knew their utter weakness and need for Christ.  Paul said he was the least of the Apostles and called himself "wretched".  When John fell at the feet of the angel who appeared to him the angel exclaimed, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!" Isaiah, when given the chance to be in God's presence, admitted his unholiness, "'Woe to me!' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips."

I woke up early this morning, forgetting about the radio program, I asked the Lord to give me something to say today.  I admitted to him that if I said anything from my own power it would be useless or worse, it might be dangerous.  I opened to the Book of Ephesians and began to read.  It hit me like a Mike Tyson right hook.  "Jesus Christ", "Christ", "God's Son", "in him", "through him", "Through Jesus Christ our Lord", "by the blood of Christ", "through his blood", "through the cross". It was all about Jesus. It wasn't about Paul or Peter or Moses or Mary.  From Genesis to Revelation it was about God's plan of salvation through his Only Son - Jesus - the Christ.  

Paul's letter to the Ephesians was not like his other letters.  He wasn't writing to correct one particular error but instead to encourage and build up the church. It was to remind them of the faith for which Paul himself was suffering.  It was to point them in the right direction and to focus their eyes on their only hope, Jesus.

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves it is a gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:4-10 (emphasis mine)

In this letter Paul reminds us through whom our salvation comes (Jesus), how it was obtained (through the shedding of Christ's blood), how we receive it (by faith), and for what purposes are we saved (so that we might be blessed by God with the incomparable riches of his grace and that we might do good works).

Jesus was mentioned directly 50 times in the six short chapters and that doesn't include the indirect references (e.g. "him"). We are reminded that our lives, our holiness, and our access to the Father are "through him", "in him", "in Christ", or "through Christ" thirty times.  It was and is all about Jesus.  When we begin to focus on other people or put our hope in religion we, like Peter who took his eyes off of Jesus, will find ourselves sinking in the waves around us.  

I urge you to find twenty minutes this week to read Ephesians. Go slowly. Let each verse sink in.  God says that his Word never returns void but accomplishes the purpose for which he sends it. I promise you will be changed.

Love you guys,

David

Worship - It's a Heart Thing

Worship?

What is worship really?  I think we've contorted its meaning in many ways and I am equally guilty at times, so I'd like to address the idea of worship.

1)  I think it would be good to start with it's definition.

noun

- the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity

2)  I want to focus not on the "feeling" but the "expression" of reverence and adoration for a deity.  Not just any deity but the one true God.  Feelings come and go but expression is a choice.  How do we express our reverence and adoration toward God?

It's interesting that when we speak of worship in the church we often mean the musical portion of the Sunday service.  There is worship, communion, the sermon, prayer time, etc.

"Wow, worship was great today.  I loved that song by Third Day"

Worship may happen during the "praise" or during the delivery of the message but it's also possible that worship doesn't occur at either time because worship is a thing of the heart.

3)  It's also important to see the direction of worship.  It's up.  From us to HIM.  It's not about how a song made us feel, which instruments were played, or even exclusively about music at all.  It's about pouring out our love, appreciation, adoration, and hearts to God.

Let me give an example:

Imagine that your spouse, or child, best friend, or parent has been shipped overseas and you haven't seen or heard from them in 3 years.  Out of the blue a call comes in telling you to head to the airport because there is a surprise waiting.  When you get to the airport you walk to the baggage claim.  Off in the distance an unmistakable smile reaches your eyes.  Your heart pounds and when the person is within your reach you run and wrap your arms around them.  You cry tears of joy and squeeze them, not wanting to let go ever again.  You pour out words of love.

"I love you so much!  I missed you!  Please don't leave again.  You have no idea how much you mean to me!"

You lavish them with your love.  Now worship is that on steroids.

4)  You might ask, "How can it be more than that?"  The answer is in the recognition of position, that God is high and lifted up.  He is holy and awesome.  With your friend or relative the position is theoretically equal.  But worship acknowledges that it is not equal with God.  He is God and we are not.  He does indeed love us but he will not bow down to us.

5)  Worship is also about posture, not our physical posture (although it can certainly lead us to fall prostrate before him or to our knees in prayer).  It is more of a reflection of our heart's posture.  It comes out of a humble heart.  It's impossible to be prideful and boastful before God and truly worship.

Worship is what we do at work, in our kitchens as we prepare to feed our families, in our heads as we fall asleep, in our church gathering as we sing songs of praise.  I know as a member of a praise band that if someone is out of tune, if there is nasty feedback, or if someone forgets which key we are in it can be annoying and distracting but it does not affect true worship.  Satan may try really hard to get our attention and attempt to turn our focus from God to ourselves.  Let's not let him.  I have a friend who loves the Lord.  His voice is mediocre at best from a worldly standpoint but when he pours out his admiration to God in song or praise I know God smiles.  By the way, I usually don't get a microphone during worship but I know God smiles when he hears my voice even if I am flat, sharp, or two beats behind.

As we move into this next week let's remember the definition, the expression, the direction, our position, and our posture before the Lord.

Worship Him friend!!!  

Love you all,

David

Wow! God Really Showed Up Like He Said He Would!

I often wondered what it would be like to just show up with no agenda but to seek God; I mean with no plan, no notes, no songs selected, no set time to wrap it up, and no one in the driver's seat - except for the Holy Spirit that is.  Who would want to join me for a moment like that?  What if we all just sat there and nothing happened?  What if we all just looked at each other for a while, got bored, then packed up and left?  Worst yet, what if one person decided it was his time to take the stage and it became an out of control, prideful fiasco?  But what if God showed up and rocked our world, then what?

Over the past few months God has led me to a number of people who were hungry, I mean REALLY hungry for God.  They wanted to get past the routines and the man made protocols and go to into the inner sanctuary.  They were people who would call me at eleven PM sounding like they just won the lottery and when I ask what all the fuss was about they would share "an amazing scripture that God opened up" to them that night.  They were people who would talk to me about grace and not be able to finish because they couldn't stop crying.  They were people who would give up nights, lunches, and free time to talk about Jesus.  They were people who went to Cambodia, Haiti, and homeless shelters here in the states because they realized when they were saved that they were now not there own but were bought with a price.  They were people who wanted to worship God in Spirit and truth.  God wanted me to gather them together.  For what I wondered?  That's right.  That wasn't my issue.  So I sent out some emails:

“Dear _ _ _ _ _ ,

God has placed it on my heart to gather this group of people together on Sat. March 6th and seek his face.  I don't have any idea what this means or what this looks like.  I have no plan or agenda.  I hope you can make it.  

Peace, David”

That wasn't the exact Email but it was close.  I sent it to 16 people that God put on my heart.  They were from 21 to 80 years of age.  They were black and white.  They were Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, and Non-Denominational Christians but they were all believers.  There were eight men and seven women.  There were married people and single people.  There were 16 sinners and 16 saints.  Most people knew one or two others and no one knew everyone but we were all brothers and sisters with the same father.

As we gathered in an urban warehouse turned photography studio (Thank you so much Bob, Julie, and Rob) tears began to flow as one man began to pray then share how God turned his life from one of hostility and anger to one of love and gentleness.  God opened men up to share their previous lives of porn addiction, drug addiction, adultery, and abuse and then turned the power of their testimonies into songs of praise.  Papa Stokes (a wise and Spirit filled, eighty year old, pastor) shared some things God put on his heart but later said with tears in his eyes, "I learned something today...  I was humbled".  We laid hands on him, anointed him with oil and prayed over him as another was led to do.  We were in the Word and grew in the knowledge of God.  We started at 10 AM and when we looked up it was 1PM.  No one was tired, bored, or ready to leave.  Some wanted to stay.  God was glorified, people built up, and I was humbled.  As we were ready to leave it was said that while we were gathered to grow in our faith it was in preparation to "Go" out. The church was never meant to be "in" but to always be going "out".  

I have said this before and I'll say it again, "I love the Church!"  I mean the bride of Christ, the redeemed, the Body of Christ, the Born Again, the Children of God.  I also love those who don't know God yet, those still dead in their sins, those still weary and heavy ladened.  Jesus said, Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy ladened and I will give you rest."  Are you weary?  Come  

Please, Please, Please, if you need prayer, if you aren't sure about your salvation, if you have done some religious activities but have never known the power of God then drop us a note.  We'd love to listen to your story and help you along your journey.  

As always, Grace and Peace,

David