Advice for America

Advice for America

Proverbs 3:5-6

On July 4, 2016, we observed the 240^th birthday of the independence of the United States of America.  History tells us that our forefathers left Europe to come to a land where they could be free from tyranny and having to submit to British rule.  They wanted to have the opportunity to worship freely and to build this great land on the power and Sovereignty of God.  In fact, they penned what we know now as the Declaration of Independence.  The last line of this great document states, “And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”  It is no doubt that this great country was built on the principles of Christianity.

Michelle Anderson, on her website www.faithofourfathers.net writes “The pilgrims, as you will recall, were, Christians fleeing Europe in order to escape religious persecution, and they literally began their stay in their new land with the words, ‘In the name of God, Amen.’ The pilgrims were followed to New England by the Puritans, who created bible-based commonwealths. Those commonwealths practiced the same sort of representative government as their church covenants. Those governmental covenants and compacts numbered more than 100, and were the foundation for our Constitution.

New Haven (Connecticut) and Massachusetts were founded by Puritans who wanted to reform the Church of England, who later became known as Congregationalists. Roger Williams founded the colony of Rhode Island based on the principle of freedom of conscience. Pennsylvania was established by William Penn as a Quaker colony. Maryland was a haven for Catholics from Protestant England.

America was indeed founded by bible-believing Christians and based on Christian principles. When they founded this country, the Founding Fathers envisioned a government that would promote and encourage Christianity.”

Did you know that of the first 108 colleges and universities in our country only 2 were not founded on the principles of Christianity.  Harvard and Yale were developed to help promote Christianity.  In fact, in order to be admitted to the University of North Carolina in 1819, a student had to have studied the Book of John and the Book of Acts in Greek.  I spent over years as the Associate Dean of Students at a small Presbyterian affiliated college and I can assure you that was not a requirement of those students to be admitted.  In fact, there were absolutely no requirements whatsoever that had anything remotely to do with Christianity.  We did offer opportunities for worship and clubs that could be on campus promoting Christianity, but these certainly were not the main reason for the existence of the college. 

So are we as a country still one that is based on the principles of Christianity?  Somewhere, somehow, the tide had turned and today every principle that was held near and dear to our forefathers seemingly has gone by the wayside.  The principles of Christianity that were the strongholds that built this country seem to have become annoying out of date suggestions that really just do not matter.  I have found myself to be troubled by this.  I have shaken my head at those trying to run for political offices and thought we are just hopeless.  I have even jumped on the bandwagon of the old Hee Haw song…. “Gloom, despair and agony on me.  Deep dark depression, excessive misery.  If I had no bad luck, I have no luck at all. Gloom despair and agony on me….”

But I have realized something… this is not the first time in the history of mankind in which it seems that all mankind is doomed.  In fact, in every era of history there has been this sense of gloom despair and agony on me.  But we do not have to live that way.  In fact, the Word of God portrays a message that is quite au contraire.  As long as you and I have breath, we have hope.  And for those of us who have come to the place in our lives where we have asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, we will have hope for all eternity.  So what do we do? 

Proverbs 3:5-6 was introduced to me when I was a senior at Statesville High School.  My English teacher, Mrs. Jolly had the courage to sign my yearbook with the wisdom of these verses.  Although I had been a Christian since I was 8 years old, I really don’t remember hearing much about these short pearls of scripture.  Quite honestly, I can’t tell you the last time I have even heard a sermon centered on these verses. But I can tell you this:  if you and I start adhering to the concepts of these verses, the world as we know it will change and change for the glory of God!  Let me share them with you!

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.^[1]

Look at that very first word, TRUST.  Think about what you have put your trust in just in that last few hours.  You trusted your spouse this morning with a cup of coffee that didn’t have poison in it.  You trusted a shiny little object that you stuck in a hole in your car and started a 200 horsepower engine.  You trusted that car to get you from your home to this wonderful church building.  Along the way, you trusted those drivers coming toward you to not veer over into your lane and cause you to have a wreck.  You trusted this pew that you are sitting on to hold you up and the really big person just down the row from you.  We could go on and on, but the point is made.  You and I trust a whole lot!  The bible is telling us to put our trust in the Lord.  How are you doing with that?  Do you find that as you go through this thing called life that you are trusting other things more than you are trusting the Lord?  Sometimes, I bet you, like me even trust things that are not even real!  Just because someone said it on Facebook does not mean it is real!  We must understand that if there is one thing we can wholeheartedly trust, it is the LORD!  But we must make sure it is of the Lord!  Watch this.  If you take the word TRUST as an acronym, you can begin a process that will help you make sure it is of the Lord. 

TOTALLY

RELY

UPON

SOVEREIGN

TRUTH

In my mind, using this acronym, I can test my trust!  First and foremost, I have to have an understanding about who God is and what He has done for me.  If I am willing to learn about Him, allow His love to come into my heart and mind, and then experience Him fully as I learn more about Him through His word, then I ought to be able to grow in that relationship to TRUST Him!  So if I am TOTALLY RELYING UPON SOVEREIGN TRUTH, then there is no argument, there is no misunderstanding, and there is no wavering.  I have to come to a place where I am willing to allow that to happen.  If I can do this, then the rest will fall in place!  First, I simply TRUST IN THE LORD!  I am not going to place my trust in a politician or a concept, I am going to trust the Lord! 

Look at how this first step makes the rest of these verses flow:  If I put my trust in the LORD, if I am TOTALLY RELYING UPON HIS SOVEREIGN TRUTH, then I am not going to lean on my own understanding.  A few weeks ago, we were sitting at the dinner table eating supper.  I was sitting in this chair that I had made sure a few days earlier that the screws that held the legs on were tight.  I had this understanding that this chair was very solid.  After a couple of bites and conversation with my family, I felt this chair suddenly just collapse underneath me and down I went!  The screws were tight, but the frame was not!  That chair needed to be re-glued and tightened up in an area that I failed to see!  My own understanding was that it was a good chair.  The reality was it was not.  What would have happened if I had prayed, asking God to give me wisdom about that chair?  My God is sovereign!  My God knows ALL. His word tells me that if I need wisdom, to ask and He will give it to me.  Leaning on my own understanding has too often caused me to be embarrassed, hurt, and surprised!  However, when I trust the Lord, and lean not on my own understanding, what do you think happens?  Well, I am glad you asked!

Trusting the Lord has never left me hurt, embarrassed, or ashamed in the long run.  The very nature of God is to love us exactly where we are, but love us enough to not let us stay in that condition!  The remainder of these verses indicate that very concept.  Trust in the Lord.  Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.  Notice what these verses do not say:  They do not say if you trust in the Lord, your life will be sunshine and daisies!  They do not say that you won’t have hardships and trouble!  They do not say you might have straight paths!  They do not say that He won’t give you understanding!  But they do say, God is trustworthy, God cares for you and me, and if you and I acknowledge Him in everything we do, He is going to be faithful and He will make our traveling less weary.

There’s an underlying theme in these verses that tells us about the nature of God.  Throughout the word of God, we can see His desire for His people to be in fellowship with Him.  He wants that more than anything, but we have this problem.  The bible tells us that because He is so Holy, we cannot have a relationship with Him because we are not holy.  In fact, even if we have committed only just a white lie, we are unholy and are separated from God.  God however because of His great love for us, provided a sacrifice, a bridge if you will that purifies us and cleanses us through the shedding of life.  The bible tells us that God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have life and have it eternally!  In other words, so that you and I can have a relationship with this holy God, a sacrifice had to be given.  That sacrifice was named Jesus and because of His great love for his father and for you and I, he paid the price.  The only thing you and I have to do, is to simply say thank you, acknowledge him as Lord and Savior by turning from ourselves and selfish ways, and allow him to come into our hearts and take over our lives.

Want to make America better?  Start by making yourself better by

5   Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6   in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.^[2]

Here are a few questions to consider:

·        Are you really putting your TRUST in the Lord?

·        Are you really making your Lord SOVEREIGN?

·        What of your ways could you acknowledge Him better?

Consider this prayer:

Holy Father, thank you that you are trustworthy.  Thank you for wanting your children to depend on you, your ways, and your word.  Forgive me when I try to lean on my own understanding.  Help me begin to make this country great again by beginning to practice first and foremost trusting you, leaning not own my understanding, but acknowledging you in all that I do!  Show me your faithfulness.  Guide me.  Lead me.  Help my light shine for you and only for your glory.  Help me to be that instrument of peace, love and help me show Jesus in everything I do!

Because He Lives,

Amen.

---

^[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Pr 3:5–6). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[2] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Pr 3:5–6). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Blessings or Curses?

Lately I have been studying blessings and curses.  I find it quite controversial in the portrayal of being bound by the law and the sufficiency of grace.  Nevertheless, we all experience strongholds sometimes from which we need to learn how to be released.  In my study, I found this 7 Step method that just may be helpful to those who continue to struggle with habits that are controlling.

Seven Steps to Release  

Adapted from Blessing or Curse, authored by Derek Prince, 1990

1.       Confess your faith in Christ and in His sacrifice on your behalf.

a.      Romans 10:9-10

b.      Hebrews 3:1

2.      Repent of all your rebellion and your sins.

a.      Mark 1:15

b.      Matthew 3:2

3.      Claim forgiveness of all sin.

a.      1 John 1:9

b.      Hebrews 10:22

4.      Forgive other people who have ever harmed you or wronged you.

a.      Mark 11:25

b.      Luke 11:4

c.      Colossians 3:13

5.      Renounce all contact with anything occult or satanic.

a.      2 Corinthians 6:14-15

b.      Ephesians 5:1-7 (emphasis on verse 7)

6.      You are now ready to pray the prayer for release of any curse.

a.      Mark 11:24

b.      Matthew 7:7

c.      John 14:13-14

d.      Prayer of Release

Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that You are the Son of God and the only way to God; and that you died on the cross for my sins and rose again from the dead.  I give up all my rebellion and all my sin and I submit myself to You as my Lord.  I confess all my sins before You and ask for Your forgiveness- especially any sins that exposed me to a curse.  Release me also from the consequences of my ancestor’s sins.  By a decision of my will, I forgive all who have harmed me or wronged me- just as I want God to forgive me.  In particular I forgive… I renounce all contact with anything occult or satanic- if I have any “contact objects” I commit myself to destroy them.  I cancel all satan’s claims against me.  Lord Jesus, I believe that on the cross You took on Yourself every curse that could ever come upon me.  So I ask you now to release me from every curse over my life- in Your Name, Lord Jesus Christ.  By faith I receive my release and thank You for it.

7.       Now believe that you have received and go on in God’s blessing!

a.      Ephesians 3:20

           b.      Deuteronomy 28:2-12

c.      Galatians 3:13

d.      John 16:13-15

Pretty Cool for a 53 Year Old....

It happened out of the blue.  Several family members gathered to honor my mom's 75th birthday.  We had been laughing and eating there in the local Mexican restaurant in my hometown.  Conversations were happening on both ends of our table of 13.  My mother starts talking about the success of a local church since their new pastor has come on board.  She mentions that they were looking for a youth minister. We had been talking about my job possibilities as I had been looking for work for a couple of months, so I immediately said that my days of youth ministry were over since I was 53 years old.  Then it happened.  My 13 year old daughter Madison Joy blurts out, "I don't know Dad, you are pretty cool for a 53 year old!"  Wow!  Did I hear that correctly?  My teenage daughter, who is active in the local Young Life group, a leader in her school and our church's youth group, put me in the category of "cool!"  I wasn't wearing skinny jeans nor did I have a messy hairstyle.  I didn't have a guitar close by nor did I have a crazy game ready to play.  In spite of not having access to the things that I think make a youth minister cool, my daughter thought I was cool enough to be a youth minister. I was humbled and honored. My mind flashed back to the 17 years I spent in youth ministry and I pictured those students I had the privilege to serve.  In just a few moments, I had fond memories of students and how their lives were changed because they encountered the love of Christ.   Some of them have been in contact recently through social media.  It has been interesting over the years to see pictures of their families, hear about their jobs, and see their involvement in their respective churches.  Some of them are youth ministers now.  Some are pastors.  Some are leaders in their churches.  I am amazed at their stories and how their faith in Christ has grown.  A flood of memories came pouring in because my amazing 13 year old daughter voiced out loud that she thought I was pretty cool for a 53 year old.  A day later, I was driving her to youth group, just the two of us.  I thanked her again for saying what she said and told her what it meant to me.  She smiled and said, "Dad, it is true.  You are pretty cool for a 53 year old!"  I don't know if I am cool or not, but I must be doing something right.  I dropped her off at church and smiled as I saw the crazy middle-schoolers gathering for their weekly meeting.  I prayed and thanked God for cool youth ministers and cool youth leaders, and for a daughter that thinks her dad is pretty cool for a 53 year old.  

Allowing Christ to Become Greater While I Become Less: Five Practical Ways to Start Doing This Today

John 3:30 “He must become greater; I must become less.”

The ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus are overlapping.  John has been preparing the way baptizing and calling for people to repent of their sins.  The other gospels portray him wearing clothes made from camel’s hair and wearing a leather belt.  They have him eating locusts and wild honey.  Isaiah 40:3 is quoted as a prophecy fulfilled, “A voice of the one calling in the desert, ‘prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all highlight Jesus being baptized by John.  All the gospels reveal that when John baptized Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus “like a dove.”  God revealed to John that Jesus was the Son of God.  So when someone came to John saying that others are going to Jesus to get baptized, John quickly responded that Jesus was the Christ, not himself, and others should be going to Jesus to be baptized.  He talks about a joy he has in knowing that Jesus is the Christ and his preaching has been fulfilled.  John the Baptist then makes this statement, “He must become greater; I must become less.”  John’s statement is quite profound.  It is the truth of the gospel. You and I could learn much from this attitude and idea.  Christ must become greater.  You and I must become less.  Well, how do you do that?  How do we make Christ greater and how do we become less.  I am glad you asked!  I want to share with you how you can begin this process today.

First and foremost, in order for Christ to become greater and for us to become less, we must have an understanding about who Christ is.  The Bible has hundreds of names for Jesus.  Understanding who Jesus is means that we have an understanding what each of those names mean.  Many men and women who are much better scholars than I could ever be have devoted their lives to studying scripture and examining these names of Jesus.  Let’s just take one of these names:  Lord.  In the New Testament alone, Lord is used 3,322 times in 3,058 verses.  Dictionary.com defines lord “as a person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler.” With this definition in mind, making Jesus Lord means you are giving Him authority, control, and power over your life.  Have you come to the place in your life where you have allowed this to happen?  It is interesting to know that just because Jesus is Lord, He only becomes Lord of your life when you allow Him to do so.  John the Baptist simply stated here, “He must become greater; I must become less.”  If you allow Jesus to be Lord of your life, you are allowing Him to become greater.  Romans 10:9 states “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  2 Corinthians 4:5 states, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”  1 Peter 3:15 states, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”  Can you answer the question when asked if Jesus is Lord?  He must become greater, I must become less.

Secondly, in order for Christ to become greater and for us to become less, we must forgive as we have been forgiven.  In Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer, we hear that familiar line Luke 11:4 “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.  And lead us not into temptation.” Ephesians 4:32 reads “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 reads “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  Hebrews 8:12 reminds us just how much we have been forgiven:  “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  Psalm 103:11-12 also remind us “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”  You and I have been forgiven greatly! What would happen in your world if you forgave as you have been forgiven?  You will become less and Christ will become greater!

Thirdly, in order for Christ to become greater and for us to become less, we need to love as we are loved.  In John 15:12, Jesus said “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reminds us that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  A few chapters later in 1 Corinthians 16:4, Paul simply states “Do everything in love.”  How’s your love life?  Is your love evidence that you are allowing Christ to become greater and you becoming less?  There are times when I will argue with the Lord about who I should love.  Just this week I was driving down the road in a 55 mile per hour zone behind a car from Florida driving 35.  I promise you that my thoughts and actions did not reveal that I was becoming less.  I certainly did not love that driver very much, but when they turned on their turn signal, I rejoiced!  Are you like me?  Are you conditional with your love?  If so, are we allowing Christ to become greater and ourselves to become less?  Ephesians 5:1-2 reads, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  Honestly, there have been times when my lack of loving others has not produced a fragrant offering.  In fact, I am certain that it has stunk all the way to heaven.  In order for Christ to become greater, I must become less by living a life of love.

Fourth, in order for Christ to become greater and for us to become less, we need to become students of His word.  2 Timothy 2:15 reads, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  Can you correctly handle the word of truth?  Are you a student of God’s word? 

Hebrews 4:12 reads, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

1 Peter 1:23-25 reads, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.’  And this is the word that was preached to you.”

Colossians 3:16 reads, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Are you a student of the Word of God?  If not, why not?  What is keeping you from being one? 

Last of all, in order for Christ to become greater and for me to become less, I need to live a life of prayer.  There is something about praying that allows you to become less and Christ to become greater.  Tim Keller in his incredible book Prayer, states that “the greatness of prayer is nothing but an extension of the greatness and glory of God in our lives.”  If you want to experience the greatness and glory of God in your life, simply pray.  Jesus taught His disciples to pray.  He prayed often and regularly.  He even died praying.  Jesus, in being submissive to His Father’s will, even became less so that God could become greater.  Jesus recognized and taught the value of prayer.  He prayed, “Not my will, but thine.”  In doing so, Jesus became less and allowed God to be greater.  Have you seen the movie Warroom?  This movie is a great reminder of the call to prayer and how prayer can allow us to become less and Christ to become greater!

So there you have it.  If you want to have the mindset of John the Baptist and allow Christ to become greater and you to become less, understand who Jesus is, forgive as you have been forgiven, love as you have been loved, become a student of God’s word, and spend time with Him in prayer.

Overwhelming?  Go back to this.  God created you and has a purpose for you.  However, our problem is that we are imperfect people and our imperfection provides problems when we try to connect with a perfect God.  Yet because God loves us so much, He provided a means for us to have access to Him.  For God so loved the world that He gave us His son and whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  All we have to do is to begin with a step of belief.  The simplicity of the gospel is found in the lyrics of this children’s song:  “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to him belong, they are weak but He is strong!!”  Do you know that Jesus loves you?  Do you know that He is strong?  Ask Him about it.  He is ready to tell you so.  Allow HIM to become greater and you to become less. Start today.  Renew it every day, and watch what happens.

Becoming Like a Wise Man

Matthew 2:1-12
2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 

We don’t know much about the Wise Men of the traditional Christmas story.  Matthew’s depiction leaves lots to the imagination.  We don’t know the number of these wise men but tradition suggests three.  Some scholars hold that there were three because three gifts were given so therefore it must have been three kingly wise men that presented those gifts.  Some scholars suggest that there were many of them each had a great entourage that accompanied them from the east. Nevertheless, we do know that these men, however many there were, had knowledge from their studies that made them search for the promised king of the Jews.  Matthew shows these men being from the East.  It is not certain but this could have meant Arabia, Persia, or Mesopotamia.  Daniel 2:48 tells us that “the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him.  He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.”  Could it be that these wise men mentioned in the Christmas story were descendants of those that had been influenced by Daniel’s teachings?  It would make sense for God in His created order to do something that would set the precedent for something else later on down the road.  God has a way of orchestrating things that seem to be a domino effect, one thing leading to another.  This is very evident in Matthew 2:1-12.  You have these scholars that somehow knew enough theology to search for the promise of the messiah.  They knew about prophecies that we now know as part of the Old Testament like Numbers 24:17 that states “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near.  A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”  Or Micah 5:2 that states “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.”  These scholars had long studied the stars and the way they affected human lives.  They were first influenced by these sacred writings now seeing these signs and prophecies coming to fruition.  It is interesting to note that the coming of the Messiah was announced to Jewish shepherds through angels and to these gentile philosophers by a star. God speaks to us through our own language and reveals Himself to us in ways that we can understand.  This reminds the readers that God’s gift of Christ is for all nations and all mankind!  The wise men were intrigued by this star enough to follow it.  They operated with certainty.  They knew it was the sign of a king being born.  Their wonder propelled their action.  The wise men had a sense of wonder.
Had they been fans of old hymns and gospel music, they may have heard the song that George Beverly Shea used belt out:
The Wonder of It All.
There's the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder as sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that God loves me.

Refrain
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.

Verse 2
There's the wonder of springtime and harvest,
The sky, the stars, the sun;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is a wonder that's only begun.
The wise men were fascinated by their wonder.  But notice that their wonder led them to worship.
Verses 10 and 11 state “when they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts.”
The worship of the wise men is significant, but how they worshiped him is extraordinary.  They bowed down.  When was the last time you heard about someone that was scholarly and well-studied that bowed down?  Just the other day I was in a conversation with a young lady that talked about her college psychology professor.  He would not allow any discussions except on what he had written.  This student made the observation that this professor needed to have his ego stroked.  While it is understood that there are many great scholars that have great faith, it seems that they are in the minority.  It is very interesting how these scholars approached the Christ Child.   They found where the star had stopped and they were overjoyed.  When was the last time that you entered into a place of worship overjoyed?  Once they came into the house, we are told they bowed and worshiped.  They opened their treasures and gave Him their gifts.  Matthew is very clear about the gifts that were presented.  There is much significance in these gifts from which we can learn much.  These kingly scholars presented Him with a little more than pampers, baby wipes and a rattle.  They presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Through their studies that led them to be looking for that star, they knew that this child was more than just a cute baby.  So they presented Him gifts that indicated they understood this child to be so much more.  The gifts came from their personal treasures and seemingly were planned with great consideration.  How many times just this week did we take gifts to another house or presented gifts to those we love.  Hopefully, there was some thought put into your gift giving.    The wise men presented 3 gifts to this holy child.  The first gift that Matthew shares with us is the gift of gold.  A golden gift in that day and culture meant you thought of your recipient as a king.  These wise men had confirmed through their studies that this child was not going to be a king, but this child was a king.  They presented him with gold.  Secondly, they presented him with frankincense.  Frankincense was used as part of the sacrificial giving in the temple.  It was presented by the priests as an offering for the atonement of sins for the people.  In doing so, the priests were mediators that helped the unrighteous people be made right with a very righteous God.  This purification ritual had to be done on many occasions.  The third gift was myrrh.   Myrrh was used as an embalming fluid.  It was
placed on the body of one that died so that body could be made ready for burial.  Do you see the significance of these gifts?  These very wise men recognized Jesus as the King of all Kings.  They saw Him as the priestly mediator between a sinful world and a Holy God.  They knew one day He would die as the Savior.  I am not sure if they knew for sure that His death would be for the atonement for all people, but they knew enough to present Him with gifts of great significance.
Matthew describes the wonder and the worship in specific detail. He also gives us some insight into the fact the after they worshiped Him, they were different.  They were able to recognize that a change had happened in their lives.  Verse 12 of this passage states, “And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”  An interesting note here, that the word “warn” is used later on in this chapter in verses 13, 19, and 22.  It is also used in Matthew 27:19 when Christ was being tried by Pilate.  “While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife went him this message: ‘Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of Him.’”  In Hebrews 11:7, we are reminded that “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”  The wise men wondered about what they had seen and heard, they worshiped the king, priest and savior, and they received a sense of wow that caused them to live different lives.  When was the last time you were “wowed?”  When I study scripture and see how it continually interprets itself and how it comes to fruition in my life, I simply say wow.

What gifts are you bringing to the Christ child right now?  Perhaps, like me, you don’t have gold or frankincense or myrrh to bring.  However, in our heart of hearts, we can acknowledge this Christ Child as King.  We can understand Him to be the priestly mediator between a sinful people and a Holy God.  We can recognize Him as Savior and Lord, having died so that once and for all our sins, our unrighteous condition, could be atoned for and that you and I can have life and have it abundantly.  If we come this day recognizing and giving these gifts, we can live a life that guided by the very presence of God, and we can be WOWED.

What We Can Learn from the Shepherds

Luke 2:8-20

We have heard this story forever.  I remember my mother challenging as a young boy to be able to do what Linus did in the beloved “Charlie Brown Christmas” and recite from memory this great passage found in Luke 2 known as the Christmas Story.  Perhaps even you have heard and seen like I did for the first time this year that as Linus recites this passage and gets to the part we have already read where the angel says “Fear not,” then drops his security blanket.  There seems to have been a great buzz about this on Christian radio this year, so I watched it.  Sure enough, Linus starts his recitation and gets to “Fear Not” then drops his blanket.  But one thing I noticed, is that at the end of his great oration, he picks it back up and walks off the stage.  Sometimes you and I are like that and return to the familiar.  This morning I want to invite you to look at this story that you have heard over and over and listen for something new.  I invite you to hear the Revelation of Christ being born, the Realization of Christ being worshipped, and the Response of Christ being shared.

The Shepherds were outcasts.  They had a dirty job.  Their work made them ceremonially unclean and kept them away from the temple for weeks at a time which prevented them from being made clean.  Perhaps they even cared for the sheep that were to be used at the temple as sacrifices, yet they were forbidden to enter the gates of temple.  So they had to remain out in the fields.  The fields were open and dangerous.  As a shepherd, they were protect their sheep from danger so they had to be alert and wide awake.  They were men’s men.  They were practical and not easily persuaded to believe in things that could be mythical or fantasy.  It was their job and way of life to protect the sheep at all costs.  Then it happens.  An angel appears in a way that all of these shepherds see it.  The glory of the Lord is revealed and they are terrified.  Can you imagine what that was like?  Years ago, I had a friend from college that was driving a back road from the Blue Ridge Parkway back to Mars Hill.  On this particular road there was a church in one of the curves that had a very bright fluorescent lighted cross that would blind drivers coming down the mountain.  My friend had been drinking and partying and decided he could make his way home.  On the way home he lost control of his car, ran into ditch and the impact temporarily knocked him out.  When he came too, he was at the foot of that cross being blinded by the light.  In his drunken state, he thought he had died and was about to be judged for his actions and confessed his sin and vowed to never drink again.  He was afraid of that light and the seeming glory of that light.  It caused him great fear.  Have you ever seen the glory of God?  Scripture tells us in Exodus 40:34-35 that the glory of God was contained in the tabernacle.  “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”  The people could perceive and experience the greatness of God when His glory was revealed.  2 Chronicles 7:1-3 also shows us something about the glory of God:  “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.  The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because of the glory of the Lord filled it.  When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord saying, ‘He is good; His love endures forever.’”  Surely the shepherds had heard stories from their ancestors how God revealed His glory to Moses and Abraham and the prophets.  They recognized that this was not from this world and Luke shares with us here that they were terrified.  I bet they have the “pujoobies” scared out them.  These rugged, earthy men were afraid.  But notice what the angel does next, “Do not be afraid.”  The King James Version says “Fear not.”  He goes on to say “I have for you the greatest news of the history of the world!  I am giving you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today, in the town of David, over there in Bethlehem, a Savior has been born.”  It was not the good news of a soldier being born nor a great judge being born, nor a reformer being born, but it was the good news of a savior being born!   It was a message of peace to the world that had known much war.  Even though the Pax Romana had been in place for many years, there was turmoil in the land.  People were taxed excessively, wages were hard to come by, and there were arguments in the religious community about how one should live.  Sounds like today doesn’t it?  One writer states “the absence of war does not guarantee the presence of peace.”  In fact, the Stoic Philosopher Epictetus said “while the emperor may give peace from war on land or sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief and envy.  He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than ever for outward peace.”  This angel said I have good news and it is going to give you great joy.  Joy produces peace.  In fact, after the angel makes the pronouncement “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger,” the one angel is joined with a great company of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”  It is interesting here to note that the Hebrew word SHALOM means well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness, and completeness.  It is more about character than circumstances.  This can only come from God!

Great Joy.  Great Peace. Great God.

No doubt these shepherds had heard the prophets proclaim of a coming messiah.  They knew of the promised one.  Isn’t interesting that the first ones to hear about the birth of Christ were shepherds.  The Messiah came to be both the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God!  They had a revelation that Christ is born!

With the revelation that Christ is born, the shepherds also had a realization.   Verse 15-16 states “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger.”  They realized this was no dream.  They knew this was to be true.  They had just experienced the glory of God and they were ready to enter into the presence of Christ.  It was immediate:  “they hurried off.”  There was no delay.  They left their jobs and went in search of what they had been told.  The revelation led to a realization.  The realization was to pay reverent honor and homage to Christ the Lord.  By the way, if you look up the word worship on www.dictionary.com, the very first definition listed is “to pay reverent honor and homage to God,” Their realization was to WORSHIP.  Listen to this another way.  When you and I realize this Christmas that Christ, a Savior, was born to reconcile our sinful, filthy lives and give us access to a Holy, righteous God, we will worship!  The Glory of God was revealed to these dirty, nasty, hardworking men and they immediately go to find this Christ.  They didn’t get cleaned up.  They didn’t wait for the right moment.  They didn’t wait until the stars were properly aligned.  They didn’t wait until there was a better time.  They went immediately.  The use of the word found in this passage means they had a search to find this baby.  Perhaps they ran from door to door shouting and disturbing the whole town, “hey is there a baby here?” Then finally, they found him.  Do you think they said, “Oh cool, there he is, doesn’t he look like his daddy?”  Do you think they picked him up and held him?  That’s an awkward thought, or is it?  Or do you think that they bowed down and worshipped that baby?  I have tried to put myself in their sandals, having experienced what they did, I would think I would have come into that barn or cave or whatever it was, and just sat there in awe thinking of how a Mighty and Holy God just gave to me in the form of a baby, the greatest gift of all, that how through Him I could have life and have it abundantly.  My sins being forgiven and my relationship with God being restored.  Just the mere thought of that leads me to worship!  Hallelujah what a savior!

We don’t know for sure what happened there or how long they stayed.  The Revelation that Christ is born led to the realization and Christ was worshipped.  You know, the same happens to you and I if we think about it and are really honest.  When it is revealed to us that Christ is born for the redemption of our sins and we truly realize it, we are going to worship Him.  Verse 17-18 states “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”  The revelation was that Christ is born.  The realization caused for Christ to be worshiped.  The response is that Christ must be shared.  The shepherds were the first missionaries if you will.  They shared the good news and joy of Christ coming to this world.  We know from the text that the shepherds left.  “Mary treasured up these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned to their work glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

Now begs the question, what are you going to do with what you have been told?  My prayer for you is that you will have a revelation about Christ being born, a realization that will lead you worship Him, and by doing so, you will respond by telling others what you have heard and seen, which is just what you have been told.

Luke 17:11-19

Picture this:  you find yourself with the most dreaded disease of your day.  You have places on your skin that look atrocious.  You have nerve damage and you can’t move well because this disease makes your muscles weak.  You are in constant pain.  You are required by the law of the land to shout “unclean” anytime others get close to you.  You have heard about this man that is going through the land healing people and showing compassion.  But you have no hope because your sickness will surely keep him away from you.  You are banned to hang out with others that have the dreaded disease as well.  Even though you are with those of another tribe or nation, you band together just so you can belong to something.  You have to be always alert so you can warn others as they approach to stay away.  All of the sudden one of the others says, “Get ready, here comes some people!”  This crowd is a different kind of crowd.  Looks like there are 13 of them.  You think, “Wait a minute, that man travels with 12 others.  Could it be him?  Could this be the Jesus that we have heard about?”  They get closer….you recognize him and call out “Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us!!”  He does not move away but moves closer.  You hear his gentle voice simply say, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” You are confused, but he said it with great authority and you and 9 others begin to leave.  As you go, you have feeling back that you had lost.  Your skin is miraculously healed!  You have no more sores!  You celebrate and have five one another without fear you fingers will fall off!  They take off running to show themselves to the priests!  You stop.  You turn around and run back to Jesus shouting praises to God.  And you fall at the feet of Jesus and you thank Him for this incredible gift.  “Thank you Jesus for healing me!  Thank you for making me whole!”  Then he speaks, “Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?  Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

What a beautiful story.  This thankful Samaritan was cleansed just like the other nine.  He was restored and given a new chance at life, just like the other nine.  But what made him different?  He noticed.  Once he noticed that his life was forever changed, he returned to say thanks.  The English Poet and Artist Dante Rossetti said “The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful, and has nobody to thank.”  The Samaritan Leper knew that he had somebody to thank and he stopped dead in his tracks, left those that were running to the priests, and thanked the one who made him whole.

There are a few things you and I can learn from the example of the Samaritan Leper.

1.       We don’t have to be shy about praising God and being thankful for His goodness.

a.       Remember that praise is looking at God’s face

b.      Thanksgiving is looking at His hands

2.       Our race and social standing are the same in the eyes of Christ. 

a.       The ground is level at the foot of the cross

b.      The gift comes to us whether we receive it or not

3.       Sometimes we just have to believe that God will do what he says He will do.

4.       When we notice the gift and appreciate that gift, the gift gets bigger.

a.       Zig Ziglar wrote: “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.  The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”

What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you this week to take some time alone and thank God for the blessings He has given you.  After you spend that time alone, I encourage you not to be shy about sharing it with others.