January 10, 2011 [Monday]

          Yesterday’s service (I am referring to the one at the church I pastor) was, well it was what I sincerely believe church should be—a genuine experience of His Presence. I wish each of you could have been present. I really do mean that! The love the people expressed not only to one another, but also to our visitors, the affirmation the people gave to one another, the compassion the people demonstrated to the hurting, the prayers that were offered for the sick, the reading of the Litany of Penitence, and, certainly, the celebration of the Eucharist are all evidences of a true, Spirit-filled service.

          Yes, I am sure the service you attended was Spirit-filled, as well; however, I really wish you could have been with us today. There was something about this particular gathering of believers that would have made the trip to GCF (Grace Christian Fellowship) worth your while, regardless of how far you might have had to travel.

          On second thought, I do realize that God had who He wanted in attendance. Every person who attended did so because God had so ordered his/her steps. That is just the way He works, and the way He works is perfect. Even so, if you were not present, you missed something, something that was very, very good.

          We were especially blessed by a group from Reynolds, GA (the town where I grew up, if I ever did), who came to worship with us. My long-time friend, Heath Holly, brought his wife and children, along with a group who meet in his house on Sunday mornings, where they experience House Church, a fast-growing movement all across the world. The group consisted of several very precious young people, along with my first cousin, Lucy Jon (who is not so young!). One of Lucy Jon’s daughters is an incredible pianist. I was envious, as I listened to her! To top it off, my own son was present (he usually meets with Heath in Reynolds). It was he who read the Litany of Penitence. Needless to say, I was blessed and then some.

          It becomes increasingly obvious to me that Jesus really does reveal Himself in the Eucharist, in the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine. We can sing, share testimonies, pray, preach, do whatever; however, the highlight of the service (always!) comes when we gather around the Table and the bread and wine are shared—the bread that was given for us, the wine that was poured out for us. Yesterday’s experience was beyond wonderful.

          With all the adversity that is happening in the world in which we live, I truly treasure the kinds of experiences we enjoyed yesterday—true visitations of the Holy Spirit. They remind me that God is still God, that He still rules and reigns over His universe, that He is in control every time and all the time, that He is working all together for good for those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose, and that His Beloved Son, Jesus, is coming again—sooner, rather than later.

Below are the notes from yesterday’s message:

FROM LAST SUNDAY [January 2, 2011]—

In Macon, GA murder is almost as commonplace and the common cold (20+ in 2010), and that will get worse, not better.

Theft is even more common (Someone just entered an 82 year old man’s shop, a man I happen to know quite well, and stole thousands of dollars worth of equipment).

The illegal drug crisis is as critical as critical can be, but few have any clue as to its potential devastation (I can tell you this: when an addict is craving drugs, he/she will kill his/her own mother, if that is what it takes to get the money to buy the drugs, and, I might add, most of the crimes that are being committed right here in Macon are drug related).

The public schools are in shambles—physically, fiscally, and academically, with little hope of improvement.

The city is bankrupt, but won’t admit it. 

The policemen, firemen, and EMTs are so poorly paid, that I wonder why they even bother to work.

Most churches have more debt than they can possibly pay; consequently, their leaders are more interested in raising money, than they are in preaching the gospel.

Only God knows how many people have lost their homes (I saw with my own eyes a sign in front of a house that read, “Would you like to win this house?” I don’t know exactly what that meant, but I do know that someone is in trouble).

I am not sure that even God knows how many have lost their jobs (just kidding, I know He knows but He is the ONLY one).

The Med Center is overrun with those waiting for free medical attention (If you don’t already have a disease, spend a few hours in the ER, or in the same day surgery waiting area, and I promise you will be exposed to whichever one you prefer).

At the rate Medicare is paying the Docs, sooner, rather than later, the number of competent doctors (not all of them are!) will be so small that none of us will be able to get competent medical treatment (rest assured that no one in his/her right mind is going to spend 12-15 years in school, only to graduate and have the government decide what they will be paid).

Few, if any of you, will ever receive any of the money you are donating to Social Security.

And Medicare will fizzle out sooner than most think.

Not to mention the terror groups that are determined to kill all of us.

In other words, IF we are looking through natural eyes, the outlook for the future is rather dim, and we can, certainly, expect some ADVERSITY along the way, adversity that we will label as suffering.

FOR TODAY [1/09/11]—

TEXT:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God” (1 Peter 4: 12-19; emphasis added; NASB).

THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST:

1.    Jesus suffered, first and foremost, not because He sinned, but because we sinned, i.e., His suffering was vicarious.

2.    Jesus suffered because it pleased His Father to crush Him.

3.    Jesus suffered because He chose to please His Father, not the Jewish leaders.

4.    Jesus suffered because He chose to associate with sinners and to treat them with kindness and compassion.

5.    Jesus suffered because He chose, not to cast stones at His enemies, but to forgive them.

6.    Jesus suffered because He refused to compromise truth, i.e. He took a stand and He stood, even while being well-aware of the extremely high cost of doing so.

7.    Jesus suffered because He preached that losing is winning; that the first shall be last and the last shall be first; that we must die before we can live; that unless we eat His flesh and drink His blood we can have no part with Him; that He is the way, the truth, and the life; that no one can come to the Father, unless they come through Him; that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

8.    Jesus suffered because He called the religious of His day what they were—hypocrites.

9.    Jesus suffered because, well because He was destined to suffer, in order that we might have eternal life.

10. Jesus never suffered because of foolish choices.

Please notice that Peter makes a clear distinction between our suffering because of our foolish choices and our suffering because we have identified with Jesus.

Admittedly, there are times when we suffer because of the actions of others (actions that are out of our control), and there are times when we suffer because we are Christians (in this country, not often), but the truth is, much of our suffering is self-imposed—the result of foolish choices, the kind of choices that Jesus never made.

EXAMPLES:

1.    The foolish choices you have made, and probably continue to make, because you refused to listen to those wiser than you.

2.    The foolish choices you have made, and probably continue to make, because you didn’t bother even to seek the counsel of those wiser than you.

3.    The foolish choices you have made, and probably continue to make, because you ignored the clear direction of the Scriptures.

4.    The foolish choices you have made, and probably continue to make, because in your mind seeking help was a weakness, not a strength.

5.    The foolish choices you have made, and probably continue to make, because of unresolved anger.

6.    The foolish choices you have made, and probably continue to make, because you have not yet learned just how little you really know.

7.    The foolish choices you have made, and probably continue to make, because you refused to humble yourself.

8.    The foolish choices you have made, and probably continue to make, because of your fear of failing.

9.    The foolish choices you have made, and probably continue to make, because you see yourself as a failure.

10. The foolish choices you have made, and probably continue to make, because you have refused to accept Jesus’ love.

Now, to paraphrase Peter: the more you share in Jesus’ sufferings, the more you should rejoice. What a novel idea, that somehow sharing in Jesus’ sufferings is somehow related to a joyous life.

On the other hand, there is no joy in suffering because of your own foolish choices!

Yes, our foolish choices do offer an opportunity for growth, but from what I can see, very few ever take advantage of those opportunities; instead they continue making the same foolish choices, expecting a different result every time.

A SUGGESTION: With all that is in front of us, mostly the actions of others over which we have no control, it is time for us to seriously consider the advantages of making wise choices and, thereby, to know the joy of fellowshipping in His sufferings.

You can continue to do just what you are doing now, and in five years, you will be riding in the same boat you are in now, only it will be a wreck a wash on the beach.

         

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).    

Is God Finished with Israel?

          A friend of mine, Alan Turner, wrote a book which he titled, “Is God Finished with Israel?” Even a casual glance at the present-day international stage will confirm the fact that God is not finished with Israel; however, there is this deeper question: Is the church true Israel? Let me rephrase that question this way: In the heart of God, has the church become what He, apparently, intended for Israel, and, thus, in this sense, replaced her.

          Let me have one more try: Is the church, not merely the Israelites, His peculiar, chosen people? Is it possible that the Bride of Christ is what God had in mind from the foundation of the world?

          Regarding the former: the church will never replace Israel, as Israel will always exist, in spite of evidence that points to the contrary. I might add this: Israel, both the land and the people, has enjoyed a very special place in God’s heart, and this is not subject to change—ever.

          The question I want to get before you, however, is this: Is it possible that the church is true Israel? Is it possible that the Body of Christ, that Body that consists of both Greek (Gentile) and Jewish believers, is true Israel? Is it possible that God has only one family, and makes no distinction between His children?

          Paul had this to say: “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans 2:28-29 NASB). In my opinion this, at the very least, legitimizes my query.

          As you know, the Jews lived under what we call the Old Covenant, the covenant God made between Himself and Israel, the covenant of Law. One of the significant pieces of that covenant was Passover, the celebration of their freedom from Egyptian slavery. God gave very specific directions, as to how this feast was to be celebrated (see Exodus 12), and, to the best of their abilities, they followed His directions—year after year after year, with one exception.

          That exception occurred during the Passover meal Jesus was celebrating with His disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem—the night before the day of His crucifixion. It would be His last supper with them. The disciples, per Jesus’ directions, had set the table, just as it had been set every year since the Exodus, and they were expecting the usual Passover Meal. Jesus, however, had other plans—very unusual plans, plans that would not only move the disciples far out of their comfort zone, but also forever change the religious landscape.

          The unleavened bread and the cup of wine were on the table, per the usual Passover. Jesus, however, made some statements that were not usual. Listen carefully: “And He said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.’ And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood’ (Luke 22:15-20 NASB).

          Very obviously, Jesus put an end to the Feast of Passover and introduced another feast—the Feast of Grace. Shadow became substance! Throughout all the years, Passover had been pointing to this day, to this very moment, to this Lamb, the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world, and to the freedom from sin that He would provide for every believer—Jew and Gentile. This was, indeed, a moment of moments!

          In my opinion, this surely begs my query. Is the church true Israel? Is it possible, that, in this sense, the church has replaced Israel? The fact is this: there is but one Body of Christ, Jesus is its head, and it consists of every believer, both Jew and Gentile. It is this Body, the church, that He redeemed through His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

          He does refer to us as His Bride, you know. Surely, His Bride is not a house divided against itself.

           

Please do what I am doing, and think about this—

         

         

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).    

The Feast of Grace: By Invitation Only

January 6, 2011 [Thursday],

          Paul (the apostle) had this to say about the Eucharist: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged” (1 Corinthians 11:26-31 NASB).

          Ouch! However you cut it, this is a very serious warning from Paul, and, thus, from the Lord, Himself. Take a minute to ponder his words: whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. At first glance, this makes one want to avoid the Table at all costs, as the cost of “eating and drinking” in an unworthy manner is simply too high a price to pay. It would, apparently, be prudent to stay away from the table altogether.

          To be sure, based upon what Paul said, if one is to eat the bread and drink the wine of this Table, it would be behoove him first to understand what Paul meant by eating and drinking in an “unworthy manner.” I don’t think it takes the mental acuity of a rocket scientist for anyone to realize that his becoming “worthy” of this table is far beyond his abilities; however, we do still have quite a few modern-day Pharisee, who believe otherwise. Strangely, they actually approach the Table having convinced themselves (though usually no one else) that their level of obedience to God is sufficient to earn them a place at this Table of Grace.

          On the other hand, there are those, who are so convinced that they cannot measure-up to the standard required by God, that they refuse even to approach the table. In fact, many believers have never once celebrated the Eucharist. About the time they think they are getting close to the standard, something happens that reminds them that they fall far short. If and when they do approach the Table, the do so in fear, and they leave with guilt.

          Just for the record, I want to state what should be an obvious truth: If you are a believer, then Jesus has earned your place at this Table of Grace through His death on the cross. He has extended to you an everlasting, no-strings-attached invitation to His Feast of Grace. He paid the high cost, and He paid it in full!

          You come in an unworthy manner when you come convinced that you have measured-up, or almost measured-up, to the standard; however, you come in a worthy manner when you come convinced that He has imputed His righteousness to you—a thing of immeasurable grace.

          I hope to see you at the Table soon—very soon! Remember: It is by invitation only, and He has invited you!

                   

         

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).    

What I Do to the Least of These, I Do to Him

      The following is a quote from Mike Aquilina’s book, Fire of God’s Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist, p. x, xi): “The Eucharistic kingdom of Christ has arrived, for Jesus reigns in the sacrament. But Saint John Chrysostom urged his fourth-century congregations to hasten the day when that reality was no longer invisible, but abundantly evident everywhere—in city streets and beside rural roadways. Preaching on the Gospel of Matthew, he said, ‘Do you wish to honor the body of Christ? Do not ignore Him when He is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk only then to neglect him outside where He suffers cold and nakedness. He who said, ‘This is My body’ is the same One who said: ‘You saw Me hungry and you gave Me no food’, and ‘Whatever you did to the least of My brothers you did also to me’ . . . What good is it if the Eucharistic table is overloaded with golden chalices, when He is dying of hunger? Start by satisfying His hunger, and then with what is left you may adorn the altar as well’”

          I am very well aware that there is nothing I can do to earn a place at the Eucharistic table—The Table of Grace—but I am also very well aware that it is impossible to reconcile my (or your) indifference to the fact that He is “hungry and naked” while I am feasting at this Feast of Grace.

          You think about this—

         

         

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).

A New Passion for the Eucharist

January 3, 2010 [Monday],

          If I could accomplish one thing this year, as far as the Body of Christ is concerned, it would be to stir a renewed passion, actually a new passion, for the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist. From what I hear, most churches offer the Bread and Wine, at best, only once a quarter, and many, even less often than that. Obviously, this communicates to the congregants that the Eucharist is not a very important part of worship—a very sad testimony, indeed.

          The reason I most often hear for pastors not giving the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, its proper place of significance is this: It is a matter of time. We, simply, don’t have enough time in our service to incorporate the “supper” any more frequently than we do.

          To that response, I have these questions: How frequently do you receive the offering, and how much time does it take? How frequently do you sing songs, and how much time is spent doing it? How often does the pastor preach, and how much time does he spend doing it? How often do you sing a “hymn of invitation” and how long does that take? You see, we have time for what we think is important, and, obviously, most churches believe that receiving an offering, singing songs, having the preacher preach, and singing “hymns of invitation” are much more important than celebrating the Eucharist.

          I must say this: After 31+ years in the ministry, and 63+ years as a Christian, I have never heard even one sermon, and I have heard some good ones, that can compare with the power of the message of the Eucharist. The truth is this: most churches would fare much better, if the preacher would simply sit quietly, and allow the Bread and Wine to preach. Just so you know, I include myself in that comment; however, I should tell you that we celebrate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday, and we do so because it takes precedence over everything else, including receiving the offering, even my preaching.

          Just for the record: Sunday after Sunday, the most powerful time of our services, the time when He shows up and stirs the hearts of His people, happens around the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist. It is truly The Table of the New Covenant.

          I am trusting that we will be able to look back on 2011 and say, “That was the year when the Holy Spirit stirred a new passion in my heart for the Bread and Wine of the New Covenant—The Holy Eucharist.

PS: I would really appreciate your comments about this. 

         

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).

January 2, 2010 [Sunday],

          I really wish everyone of you could have been at Grace Christian Fellowship today, as He was there and He was not silent. There is nothing quite like being in His Presence, especially when it is so obvious that He is moving in the hearts of His people.

          To be honest, I love to preach, but that was not the centerpiece of today’s service. Oh, I enjoyed every minute of it, and trust that I get to do it again—soon—but it was the Eucharist, Holy Communion, that took center-stage today. Actually, that is always the case for us, but today seemed to be, well He was there and He was not silent. What more can I say?

          To those of you who seldom have the privilege of celebrating this sacred, holy Table, let me encourage you to find a place, where the Bread and Wine are offered frequently. You will be very glad that you did.

          This caught my eye the other day and it is fitting that I share it with you: “The Lord whom the seraphs fear to look at, the same you behold in Bread and Wine on the altar’ (Fire of God’s Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist, by Mike Aquilina).

          I will tell you what I will do, I will save you a seat for next Sunday, even add some extra Bread and Wine.  

         

         

         

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).    

Beginning the New Year

January 1, 2010 [Saturday],

          In my opinion, as we begin this new year, the following passage is very appropriate: “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in al his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:25-34 NASB).

          It is very good to know that because our lives are in His hands, and He has promised to provide us with what we need, we have no reason to be anxious about tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day, or any day, for that matter.

          You think about that—

         

         

         

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).