A Troubling Truth...

In my own Scripture readings today, I found myself in 1 Kings, chapter 22. Here we have the story of Micaiah, the prophet of God, who stood against 400 false prophets. It is a story that got my attention, in more ways than one:

The world we live in needs people who will stake their lives on the reality and truth of the Word of God. King Ahab of Samaria invited King Jehoshaphat of Judah to go to battle with him. Jehoshaphat wanted God’s approval so Ahab sent for 400 prophets, but each one of them had the exact same message which made Jehoshaphat nervous. He wanted truth and truth alone. These prophetic messengers sounded “rehearsed” to him, so he said: Is there not a prophet of the Lord here, whom we can inquire of? At that request, Ahab sent for Micaiah, whom he despised, because all of his prophecies seemed to be against Ahab.

One of the false prophets exerted enough pressure on Micaiah, that his first prophecy was just a rubber stamp of what the other 400 had said. But recognizing the disingenuous and sarcastic tone of the prophet, the King asked him to speak the truth and tell what he felt God was telling him to prophecy – and, true to form, it was a prophecy from God against Ahab. God’s prophet stood alone against 400 other prophets who (it appears) were being bought off.

Ahab was so infuriated with Micaiah’s prophecy, that he ordered him thrown in prison until he (The King) returned home safely. At this, God’s prophet announced (in essence) that the only way the King would return would be to return dead. And as God’s will is ALWAYS right, that is indeed what happened. King Ahab disguised himself in battle so as to protect himself a little more, yet a random arrow took the King’s life and he returned to Samaria, in his chariot, but without any life left in his body.

These days, are days when people must attune their ears to hear God’s voice – regardless of what popular opinion may be saying, or else they may find themselves dead and out of the will of God. Sometimes we must go against the flow in obedience to God. The Word of the Lord is what we need … and we rally to men and women of God who speak the truth, regardless of the circumstances or the approval rating. I want to be one like that. Who obediently declares what God says and God alone – regardless of whether it is the popular thing to say or not!

But I found myself wondering what happened to the prophet of God. When we stay true to God and speak only what HE says … should we not then “succeed” in what we are about? Should we not find favor with God and should not all things work out well ??

You see in my studies, I find no place that indicates that Micaiah, ever got out of prison! It may be assumed, but for my mind – I needed to find it to be true. According to the King’s last edict, he would remain in prison until the King returned home safely. Since the King returned home dead (as he may have deserved in arrogantly defying God’s will for this decision) – it would appear to me that Micaiah remained imprisoned – for doing the right thing before God !! That bothered me … and I found in my prayer time, I was asking God … what ever became of Micaiah? He did what you told him to do? Should he not have been rewarded? Should he not have been released? Should life for him not have turned out “happily ever after” ?
While I cannot declare that God spoke to me audibly (it was much clearer than that) I believe He responded to me with this assurance:

When I asked: Whatever became of Micaiah? God responded to me: He is right here, at my side, enjoying the eternal rewards of heaven for his faithful obedience to me.

And it was as if God was reminding me … Lynn, success in this world is NOT what you should be working toward. This world is NOT your eternal home. This world is just the warm-up act. Your focus should be on absolute obedience to me – so that for all of eternity – you will be able to enjoy the rewards of being a faithful servant. Remember, HEAVEN is the REAL reality! The prophets time in prison – for doing the right thing – is quite insignificant compared to all the glory he is enjoying in my eternal heaven.

I will be the first to admit: that was not necessarily the answer I was looking for … but it was indeed the truth. I believe we focus way too much on wanting to experience our rewards here on earth, when the fact of Holy Scripture is, that our ultimate rewards and true rewards will not be experienced until we reach eternity. This world is not our home! And as disconcerting as this story may have been to me, to realize that an obedient prophet may have died in prison for doing the right thing, it helped me to remember that obedience is better than sacrifice and in truth: a far better, more glorious eternity is awaiting each of us – so we had better live allowing that truth to motivate our decisions and reactions down here.

Obedience to God is ALWAYS the best path of direction whether it is popular or not; whether it lands us in difficult circumstances or not – because we are all just passing through this world to a far greater world on high. Realizing that makes me want to live with my focus on eternity not on the transitory things of this world. Aren’t you thankful that God’s Word is so blunt and direct? Indeed, this may be a troubling truth … but it is indeed truth none-the-less.

See you in His house,
Pastor Lynn

Did you know...

God “likes” you ? …

So many times, we talk about the love of God in almost an obligatory way. The Bible teaches us that God is love. So it is very natural for us to think that since He is love, he has to love us – in fact, He has to love everyone! But do you realize that God actually likes you? He may not like everything you do – but He is drawn to you.

There is a vast difference between the relationships I have with people I love, (because I am suppose to love them in the Love of the Lord) and those people I actually enjoy being around because I like them. I actually love them too, in the love of the Lord – but I truly enjoy spending time with them and enjoy the relationships we share.

In John 15:14-16, Jesus said:
“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because
a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."

The God we read about in Holy Scripture enjoys being close to us. He is our friend and if you are friends with someone; if you like a person, you will allow that person to invade your personal space because you enjoy that relationship.

Is every area of your life accessible to God? Do you like God? Do you give him free reign in your home, your office, your schedule, your plans?

In the Old Testament, the reference of “tabernacle” was used. God “tabernacled” among his people – that meant he dwelled in their midst. There was a constant presence of God among the people because he enjoyed being close to his chosen ones and thus he invaded their personal space, he tabernacled in their midst.

Does your life reflect that ‘closeness’ with the Savior; that ‘friendship’ ?

In the world we live in, it pays high dividends to have Jesus as a friend that sticks closer than a brother. I would invite you to open up every area of your life to Him, and enjoy this deeper relationship, because … He really likes you !!

Dying to Self

Amazingly my ponderings and private times this morning had a common theme: Dying out to self. Holy Scripture refers to this experience as something very healthy and useful for the greater good of the Kingdom of God. It refers to this experience as a crucifixion of ‘self-sovereignty’ and for those us a little confused by that, it basically means: it is a funeral for the tricky three: me, myself and I.

In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The new life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Later on in this epistle he makes this observation: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).

I was raised in the church and know how it works. I have attempted to craft the skill of preaching and church administration. I have learned the “jargon” and know all the “tricks”. But in reality I have also been humbled and embarrassed by the motives &/or actions instigated by self-sovereignty. While I believe ‘self’ has been crucified, it sure seems to rear it’s ugly head periodically making one realize that while that moment of surrender was real there are yet many moments of continued surrender that follow.

One of the beauties of God’s working with us is that he deals with us in the context of “community”. He gives you what I need, and he gives me what you need. We must recognize that the giver of the gifts is the Holy Spirit (nothing I have done nor mustered up on my own). Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:7: Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. That means there is a communal nature to the gifts and graces we each possess. They are very dangerous if self has not been crucified and we view those gifts as ‘our own’. We must recognize that if self is truly off the seat of our heart’s throne then it is the Holy Spirit controlling those gifts and graces in us – which is the original design since He is the giver! If the spiritual gifts we possess are not under the control of the Holy Spirit our life will not be as fruitful and fulfilling as God designed it should be!

When I have totally yielded myself to God, then whatever gifts I possess can be mightily used by Him to help the ‘community of faith’ and in that disposition the gifts I possess become instruments used for God’s glory. I will also find that I am enjoying more joy and fulfillment in that posture and being used in a much more powerful and meaningful way. As E. Stanley Jones once mused: Yourself on your hands is a problem and a pain. Yourself in God’s hands is a possibility and a potential.

Today, pay attention to your motives. Enjoy the relationship you have with God, yet if you discern some self-seeking motivations or some self-glorifying motivations – recognize there is greater joy and greater strength in total surrender and yield yourself anew to our loving Lord. Allow the grave of the tricky three - to remain undisturbed and in the past for there is much greater joy in a life where God is completely enthroned on the heart!

See you in His house,
Pastor Lynn

Are you on Facebook yet?

… Seems that is the newest technical way to reach out and befriend somebody or re-establish friendships with buddies from yesteryear! It is absolutely amazing how fast this craze catches on and how in our society, where we’ve become far less social creatures than we were decades ago … we still crave that human interaction; that friendship; that connection.

God wired us up that way, you know. He created us to be ‘social’ creatures. Life functions best when you have friends; when you share in relationships; when you enjoy the company of others and have trustworthy friends to bounce ideas and dreams off of.

The need to “keep in touch” in our pull-up-into-our-garage-society-and-shut-the-door … is evidenced in our efforts to reach out with new technology and computer connections; view pictures and chat with each other from the safety of our lap-top or from in front of our computer screen.

For so long (it seems) one of the characteristics that Hollywood tried to teach us was to be “macho”. We had those macho types, like John Wayne. You never saw him looking for a friend. You never witnessed him pouring himself out to a confidant or friend about some of the tough issues he was dealing with. He was the American Hero who had True Grits in his jeans! He didn’t need friends – he had a horse!

But in real life … that macho image wears thin pretty quick. WE NEED FRIENDS! We need close relationships of honest authenticity. We need people who love us enough to tell us the truth, and who care for us enough that we can be vulnerable and honest with them and know they will still be our dearest friends.

So … beginning this week (April 19, 2009) … we are going to spend some time at Calvary Church talking about friendships/relationships. We are going to study the example of Jesus and the various levels of relationships He shared. All the way from an acquaintance (Zacchaeus) to a closer level (Peter) to the friend he loved the most (John).

I hope you will join us … and … bring a friend!

Easter

I consider preaching to be a very sacred privilege. I have the opportunity to serve as a mouthpiece for the Holy Spirit and I have the privilege to receive people’s attention for a few moments; therefore, I feel a tremendous responsibility not to waste people’s time. I kind of feel like the chicken who decided to lay an egg on I-40, the rooster said to the chicken: “Well, here is how you do it: you lay it on the line and you do it in a hurry!”
[ okay, okay, maybe I should be more responsible about my poor humor ]

But preaching is indeed a sacred privilege … and the Easter Season is by far the time when I sense that responsibility and urgency the greatest.

Jesus made some pretty outrageous claims during his short life on earth. He said things like: “I am the Son of God”
“I am the only way to Heaven”
“I am the Savior of the World”
“I and The Father are one”

In John 11:25, he said:
“ I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live,
even though he dies.”

We know that Jesus was humble. He taught humility and modeled it. So he would not make such notorious claims … unless they were true!

I know Him, as my personal Lord and Savior! I recognize Him as the Messiah, God sent to this world. I believe these claims are indeed true!

His willing sacrifice … paved the way for all of us to have our sins forgiven;
to enter into a personal relationship with the Heavenly Father;
and to receive atonement through His shed blood!

And at this very moment - if you are not living…as you ought to be living…before God
– you are belittling and scornfully dishonoring His precious sacrifice of love !!

You are also robbing yourself of the greatest blessing known to mankind …
because in that willing sacrifice …
death was defeated – once and for all;
the power of sin in our lives was broken;
and the promise of peace and joy was given to all
who would reach out and accept this atonement as their own personal gift.

Jesus Christ, willingly experienced the worst this world had to offer …
so that when our life is at it’s worst …
he could offer us hope and expectation of a better day …
… he paid the price – so we would not have to !!

He conquered hell, death and the grave…because we were unable to!

He accomplished for us…what we could not do for ourselves!

AND NOW…in love and mercy…He offers us the opportunity to live above the
hopelessness and helplessness of this world – by entering into a personal
relationship with Him; and by experiencing forgiveness and freedom
through His shed blood; and by experiencing victory …
through the same power that resurrected Him from the grave !!

In the Garden of Gethsemane … Jesus Christ was praying for you;
On the Cross … the eyes of his heart – were looking at you;
And now in victory; seated at the right hand of The Father in Heaven …
you – are still, the desire of his heart !!

THAT is what the celebration of Easter is all about !
Indeed, we have SO MUCH to celebrate !

On Easter Sunday this year, please know that I am taking this sacred privilege and responsibility very seriously. We will study the difference between a Saint, a Stumbler, and a Seeker. And simply ask the question: Which one are you?

I invite you to join us, it could be life changing…

Anger Management

A few weeks ago, I concluded a sermon series out of Proverbs, with a sermon on anger management. (The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about this subject). In all truth, the whole time I was preparing it and delivering it – I kind of felt like “Dr. Phil”. I was fearful it was too practical; the response from the congregation seemed “flat” – but what I discovered afterwards was that the congregation was drinking in every word. I have had more comments about that message than I have about other messages in a long time. Obviously God knew what we needed to be talking about and the precious Holy Spirit hit that message home to the heart of many individuals.

At another function, outside of the church later that week, someone approached me regarding that message and their discussion caused me to think that others may benefit from the response I gave. So I thought I would share the exchange:

This individual said to me: Pastor, was I the only one in the room Sunday? I felt like you were speaking directly at me. When you mentioned that most all of us are either like a “skunk” or a “turtle” with our anger – it hit me square in the face. I find myself telling my boys, ‘do this, do this’, but after about the 3^rd or 4rth time, I just blow up because I am so frustrated at them. And then when you mentioned that anger is a learned response, in horror I thought to myself, what am I teaching my boys. I really struggle with this.

The conversation that ensued may offer a practical suggestion to all of us who struggle with this issue with our children – because it is indeed a very common scenario. My suggestion was as follows: What you just described is perhaps more of a LISTENING problem than an ANGER issue. This methodology is teaching your boys to not pay attention to you, UNTIL you blow up. My suggestion would be that you speak in your normal tones, give them a couple of opportunities to catch it (in other words – it is okay, given their ages, to repeat demands and expectations a couple of times) but then – without blowing up, take away certain privileges from them. When they question as to why they lost those privileges – explain to them that you told them to do something 2 or 3 times, but because they did not obey these loss of privileges are the consequences. They will fuss about how they never heard you say that, but if you consistently take away privileges that get their attention (without blowing up) you will teach them to LISTEN more closely when Mom speaks, and keep your blood pressure down at the same time. It will also be teaching your boys that every decision or indecision carries consequences with it.

That was just a practical suggestion that I thought I would pass along from “Pastor Phil” … isn’t it wonderful how the Word of God is always so applicable to our everyday lives ?!