by David Scott Robertson
I'm ready.
I'm ready to let go of control of my life.
I'm ready to abandon myself to the Lord Jesus Christ.
At long last I'm ready.
It's taken a lifetime, but I'm ready.
I'm ready to release my future and destiny to God.
I'm ready to yield and submit fully to the lordship of Christ Jesus.
I'm ready to get radical and fanatical.
I'm ready to be politically incorrect.
I'm ready to get crazy for Jesus.
I'm ready to get buck wild for the vision to win souls and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
I'm ready to allow the Holy Spirit free reign in me to be His witness (Acts 1:8).
I'm ready to walk in the power of a New Testament believer.
I'm ready to lay hands on the sick and see them recover.
I'm ready to forsake sin, resist temptation and take my own thoughts captive for the praise of His glory.
I'm ready to be fully delivered so I can work with the Holy Spirit to get others delivered fully.
I'm ready to bear the cost of being a disciple.
I'm ready to pray the price of being a man of prayer.
I'm ready to be a man full of God's Holy Spirit.
I'm ready to study to show myself approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
I'm ready to take the promises of the Bible and walk them out in daily life.
I'm ready to preach, teach, and prophesy whenever, wherever, to whomever as the Spirit leads.
I'm ready to open my heart to Jesus, open my life to sinners, and open the way of life to persons lost and alone on life's highway wandering aimlessly.
I'm ready to receive the impartation of the anointing of the Holy Spirit for works of service for it is given only to those who will not squander it or sit idly by.
I'm ready to believe God for the supernatural to work in and through my life.
I'm ready to be like Jesus.
I'm ready to walk in the authority of a deputized follower of Christ who will do even greater works than Jesus because He said so.
I'm ready to fulfill those good works that God has prepared in advance for me to do (Eph. 2:10).
I'm ready to rise up and conquer, to be an overcomer and not overcome; to be a victor and not a victim; to walk in abundance and not lack; to be prosperous and in good health even as my soul prospers (1 John 3:2).
I'm ready to be about my Father's business and occupy until Jesus returns to earth in power and great glory.
Are you ready?
Ready or not, here I come!
DSR
7/30/03
Monday, July 28, 2003
Priceless
by David Scott Robertson
So you didn't win $20,000,000 in the lottery.
At least you had enough money to feed your family this week.
So you don't drive a Lexus.
At least you know the joy of reliable transportation.
So you don't live in what some would call a mansion.
At least you live in America where you can freely choose to live anywhere you want.
So you don't wear the finest and most fashionable clothes.
At least you own a coat to keep you cozy warm on a chilly winter morning.
So you don't have a big, lucrative position in a ultra successful career.
At least you work hard and honest and earn a decent living.
I suppose the comparisons in standards of living could go on endlessly but we don't need to in order to make the point.
The point is that wherever we happen to fall on the socio-economic scale, there are far more things of priceless value that money CANNOT buy than money CAN buy.
If you had $1,000,000 in the bank right now, would it affect the taste of your food?
Think about it.
You don't need taste buds to live but my oh my don't they increase the enjoyment of eating? If you can eat, that means you're alive. If you can eat, that means you have teeth, an appetite, and food readily available, and more than likely friends or family to socially enjoy the meal with. Once the food is eaten, your body uses if for energy. The energy gained from eating allows you to accomplish all sorts of things.
Finally, your body digests the food and eliminates it. All this happens without you even thinking about it. The only time you think about it is when these bodily functions don't work and then you'd gladly spend all the money you had in your bank account to get them to work properly if it were possible.
The joy and benefits of eating and tasting your food is just one example among thousands of simple pleasures that we take for granted that money CANNOT buy like…
Peace of mind, contentment, personal satisfaction, accomplishment, integrity and character, favor and a good name, the love of a committed spouse, the admiration of a child, the enduring fellowship of a faithful friend, the respect of a peer. Abilities, capabilities, faculties, opportunities, giftedness, talents, intelligence, reasoning, are but a few examples among innumerable privileges that money CANNOT buy. Money may be able to rent happiness but it CANNOT buy most things of TRUE value. (How you define "true value" will determine what kind of man or woman you are.)
The most profound expression of "true value", to my view, is found in the context of the spiritual realm. It's in the spiritual realm where things that on earth are perceived as "in-valuable" become "un-valuable".
For example, money can't buy salvation.
Money can't buy right standing with God.
Money can't buy access to heaven.
Money can't buy eternal life.
Money can't buy what the Bible calls "abundant life" (John 10:10).
Money can't bribe the devil to leave you alone or garner the favor of God to bless you.
Money is amoral -- neither good nor bad. How it is used and enjoyed or abused and misused is what we have to give a stewardship accounting to God for one day. It's been said that money makes a good servant but a terrible master. True indeed.
Therefore, my advice, for the reader today in this short thought is to not to worry about what you don't have nor boast in what you do possess. Simply be content with what you have, where you're at, whom you are with, and what you are while at the same time balancing that contentment with a continual dissatisfaction with status quo and perpetually pressing on to be all you can be for God.
The Apostle Paul wrote it much better than I ever could:
(Phil 4:11 KJV) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
(Phil 4:12 KJV) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
(Phil 4:13 KJV) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
DSR
7/28/03
So you didn't win $20,000,000 in the lottery.
At least you had enough money to feed your family this week.
So you don't drive a Lexus.
At least you know the joy of reliable transportation.
So you don't live in what some would call a mansion.
At least you live in America where you can freely choose to live anywhere you want.
So you don't wear the finest and most fashionable clothes.
At least you own a coat to keep you cozy warm on a chilly winter morning.
So you don't have a big, lucrative position in a ultra successful career.
At least you work hard and honest and earn a decent living.
I suppose the comparisons in standards of living could go on endlessly but we don't need to in order to make the point.
The point is that wherever we happen to fall on the socio-economic scale, there are far more things of priceless value that money CANNOT buy than money CAN buy.
If you had $1,000,000 in the bank right now, would it affect the taste of your food?
Think about it.
You don't need taste buds to live but my oh my don't they increase the enjoyment of eating? If you can eat, that means you're alive. If you can eat, that means you have teeth, an appetite, and food readily available, and more than likely friends or family to socially enjoy the meal with. Once the food is eaten, your body uses if for energy. The energy gained from eating allows you to accomplish all sorts of things.
Finally, your body digests the food and eliminates it. All this happens without you even thinking about it. The only time you think about it is when these bodily functions don't work and then you'd gladly spend all the money you had in your bank account to get them to work properly if it were possible.
The joy and benefits of eating and tasting your food is just one example among thousands of simple pleasures that we take for granted that money CANNOT buy like…
Peace of mind, contentment, personal satisfaction, accomplishment, integrity and character, favor and a good name, the love of a committed spouse, the admiration of a child, the enduring fellowship of a faithful friend, the respect of a peer. Abilities, capabilities, faculties, opportunities, giftedness, talents, intelligence, reasoning, are but a few examples among innumerable privileges that money CANNOT buy. Money may be able to rent happiness but it CANNOT buy most things of TRUE value. (How you define "true value" will determine what kind of man or woman you are.)
The most profound expression of "true value", to my view, is found in the context of the spiritual realm. It's in the spiritual realm where things that on earth are perceived as "in-valuable" become "un-valuable".
For example, money can't buy salvation.
Money can't buy right standing with God.
Money can't buy access to heaven.
Money can't buy eternal life.
Money can't buy what the Bible calls "abundant life" (John 10:10).
Money can't bribe the devil to leave you alone or garner the favor of God to bless you.
Money is amoral -- neither good nor bad. How it is used and enjoyed or abused and misused is what we have to give a stewardship accounting to God for one day. It's been said that money makes a good servant but a terrible master. True indeed.
Therefore, my advice, for the reader today in this short thought is to not to worry about what you don't have nor boast in what you do possess. Simply be content with what you have, where you're at, whom you are with, and what you are while at the same time balancing that contentment with a continual dissatisfaction with status quo and perpetually pressing on to be all you can be for God.
The Apostle Paul wrote it much better than I ever could:
(Phil 4:11 KJV) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
(Phil 4:12 KJV) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
(Phil 4:13 KJV) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
DSR
7/28/03
Monday, July 21, 2003
Scenes We'd Like to See in the Bible
by David Scott Robertson
SITUATION: SATAN TEMPTS EVE
(Gen 3:1 NIV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "DID GOD REALLY SAY, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
(Gen 3:2 NIV) The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
(Gen 3:3 NIV) but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"
(Gen 3:4 NIV) "YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE," the serpent said to the woman.
CONSEQUENCE: Sin, death, and disease entered the human race.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Eve (to the serpent): "Hey! You calling my Daddy a liar? We'll just see about that! I'm going right now to get Adam and we'll go see God and see just who the liar is, you or Him!"
SITUATION: CAIN'S OFFERING REJECTED
(Gen 4:3 NIV) In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.
(Gen 4:4 NIV) But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
(Gen 4:5 NIV) but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. SO CAIN WAS VERY ANGRY, AND HIS FACE WAS DOWNCAST.
CONSEQUENCE: Cain allows anger and rage to drive him to commit the first murder in the Bible.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Cain (to the Lord): "Lord, you are so right and I am so wrong! I'm sorry! I'm going to offer the right sacrifice next time and ask my brother Abel to help me get it together correctly."
SITUATION: ABRAM'S WIFE TRIES TO HELP GOD OUT
(Gen 16:1 NIV) Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar;
(Gen 16:2 NIV) so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. GO, SLEEP WITH MY MAIDSERVANT; PERHAPS I CAN BUILD A FAMILY THROUGH HER." Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
CONSEQUENCE: The descendents of Ishmael (Palestinian nations) and the descendents of Isaac (the Jewish nation) have been at war ever since.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Abraham (to Sarai): "Hold on there, Sarai! Who knows what the long term effects of such a decision might be? Let's have faith and not stumble in unbelief regarding the promise of God concerning our son to be born through us."
SITUATION: LOT LOOKS OUT FOR #1
(Gen 13:7 NIV) And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
(Gen 13:8 NIV) So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers.
(Gen 13:9 NIV) Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left."
(Gen 13:10 NIV) Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
(Gen 13:11 NIV) SO LOT CHOSE FOR HIMSELF THE WHOLE PLAIN OF THE JORDAN and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:
(Gen 13:12 NIV) Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and PITCHED HIS TENTS NEAR SODOM.
CONSEQUENCE: Lot pitches his tent toward Sodom and eventually lives in the wicked city and it torments his righteous soul, lowers his standards for men to marry his daughters, and ultimately costs him his own marriage.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Lot (to Abram): "Uncle Abram, you have been so kind and generous to me and my wife and kids. How about you take the fertile plain and I'll head for the hills?"
SITUATION: MOSES MISREPRESENTS GOD TO THE PEOPLE
(Num 20:8 NIV) "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. SPEAK TO that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
(Num 20:11 NIV) Then Moses raised his arm and STRUCK THE ROCK twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
(Num 20:12 NIV) But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
CONSEQUENCE: Moses forbidden from entering the Promised Land.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Moses (to the community of Israel): "Hey! Settle down, brothers! God is strong and powerful and loves you so much that all I've got to do is speak to this rock and water will flow out to water you, your little ones, your flocks and herds! After everyone is watered, I'll lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey!"
SITUATION: TEN FEARFUL SPIES POISON ISRAEL'S FAITH
(Num 13:25 NIV) At the end of forty days they [the twelve Israeli spies] returned from exploring the land.
(Num 13:26 NIV) They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.
(Num 13:31 NIV) But the men [the ten fearful spies] who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are."
(Num 13:32 NIV) AND THEY SPREAD AMONG THE ISRAELITES A BAD REPORT ABOUT THE LAND THEY HAD EXPLORED. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.
CONSEQUENCE: Every adult twenty years and older sentenced by God to wander and die in the desert for the next forty years (except Joshua and Caleb).
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: The ten spies (to Moses and the community): "We're with Joshua and Caleb! We can conquer these overgrown bullies without question because the God who brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand will bring us into the Promised Land with a mighty hand!"
SITUATION: JOSHUA FAILS TO "INQUIRE OF THE LORD"
(Josh 9:3 NIV) However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
(Josh 9:4 NIV) they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
(Josh 9:14 NIV) The men of Israel sampled their provisions BUT DID NOT INQUIRE OF THE LORD.
CONSEQUENCE: Joshua erroneously makes a treaty with an enemy and the whole assembly grumbles against him and the leaders.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Joshua (to the Gibeonites trying to trick him): "Hold on a minute fellas! Before I make my decision, let me go and check this out with God to see if you're on the up and up!"
SITUATION: SAMSON'S LUST BLINDS HIM IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
(Judg 16:6 NIV) So Delilah said to Samson, "TELL ME THE SECRET OF YOUR GREAT STRENGTH and how you can be tied up and subdued."
CONSEQUENCE: Samson betrayed to the Philistines by Delilah and is blinded while in slavery.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Samson (to Delilah): "You know what, Delilah? I've just come to the realization that every time I confide in you the secret of my great strength, the very next thing that happens to me is an attack in that very area. You're using your body to coax the truth out of me. I'm out of here, you traitor!"
SITUATION: SAUL'S IMPATIENCE CAUSES HIM TO OFFER UNAUTHORIZED SACRIFICE
(1 Sam 13:9 NIV) So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. " And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
(1 Sam 13:10 NIV) JUST AS HE FINISHED MAKING THE OFFERING, SAMUEL ARRIVED, and Saul went out to greet him.
(1 Sam 13:11 NIV) "What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash,
(1 Sam 13:12 NIV) I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord's favor.' SO I FELT COMPELLED TO OFFER THE BURNT OFFERING."
(1 Sam 13:13 NIV) "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
CONSEQUENCE: God abandons disobedient King Saul and Saul forfeits the kingdom.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Saul (to his soldiers): "Let's give Samuel another five minutes before we take matters into our own hands."
SITUATION: KING DAVID LUSTS FOR BATHING BEAUTY
(2 Sam 11:1 NIV) IN THE SPRING, AT THE TIME WHEN KINGS GO OFF TO WAR, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. BUT DAVID REMAINED IN JERUSALEM.
(2 Sam 11:2 NIV) One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,
(2 Sam 11:3 NIV) and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
(2 Sam 11:4 NIV) Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home.
CONSEQUENCE: Because David was not where he was supposed to be (he was in the wrong place at the wrong time), David falls into lust, commits adultery, and ends up masterminding a successful plot to murder his lover's husband.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: David (from his roof to Bathsheba): "Hey lady! Yeah, you! Close the curtains when you take a bath, will you? You're liable to cause the married men around here to stumble!
(To himself): "I'm going to join my troops! It's a whole lot safer on the battlefield than here on my roof!"
SITUATION: KING HEROD MAKES FOOLISH OFFER
(Mat 14:6 NIV) On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much
(Mat 14:7 NIV) THAT HE PROMISED WITH AN OATH TO GIVE HER WHATEVER SHE ASKED.
(Mat 14:8 NIV) Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
(Mat 14:9 NIV) The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted
(Mat 14:10 NIV) and had John beheaded in the prison.
CONSEQUENCE: One of the greatest men who ever lived (according to Jesus - see Matthew 11:11) was murdered.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Herod (to Herodias): "Great dance, Herodias! Outstanding! Tell you what…ask of me anything you want up to half my kingdom and short of murder and I'll give it to you."
SITUATION: PILATE CONDEMNS THE CHRIST TO DEATH
(Mat 27:24 NIV) When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"
(Mat 27:25 NIV) All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"
(Mat 27:26 NIV) THEN HE RELEASED BARABBAS TO THEM. BUT HE HAD JESUS FLOGGED, AND HANDED HIM OVER TO BE CRUCIFIED.
CONSEQUENCE: The spineless Pilate succumbs to the pressure of public opinion and becomes an accessory to the murder of Jesus Christ.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Pilate (to the crowd): "Crucify Him? You've got to be kidding! Why do you think I'm in authority and you're not? As long as I'm in charge around here I will not allow innocent men to be condemned. You may want Him to die but not on my watch!"
SITUATION: JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS WITH A KISS
(Luke 22:47 NIV) While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him,
(Luke 22:48 NIV) but Jesus asked him, "JUDAS, ARE YOU BETRAYING THE SON OF MAN WITH A KISS?"
CONSEQUENCE: Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus, commits suicide, and trades away a lofty position in heaven to the lowest place in hell.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Judas (to Jesus before he kissed Him): "Master, I've really messed up! Because of my greed, I've been betraying you and I am sorry, Lord! I repent! I can't go through with this! Please forgive me!"
SITUATION: THE RICH, YOUNG RULER CHOOSES UNWISELY
(Mark 10:17 NIV) As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
(Mark 10:19 NIV) You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"
(Mark 10:20 NIV) "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
(Mark 10:21 NIV) Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
(Mark 10:22 NIV) AT THIS THE MAN'S FACE FELL. HE WENT AWAY SAD, BECAUSE HE HAD GREAT WEALTH.
CONSEQUENCE: The rich, young ruler misses the opportunity of a lifetime and today we don't even know his name.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Rich, young ruler (to Jesus): "Lord, I will do as you say and come and follow you. You are worth more than all my possessions. I trust that the riches of knowing you are of far greater value than all my worldly riches combined."
SITUATION: THE PRODIGAL SON LAUNCHES OUT
(Luke 15:11 NIV) Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
(Luke 15:12 NIV) The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
(Luke 15:13 NIV) "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
(Luke 15:14 NIV) AFTER HE HAD SPENT EVERYTHING, THERE WAS A SEVERE FAMINE IN THAT WHOLE COUNTRY, AND HE BEGAN TO BE IN NEED.
CONSEQUENCE: The prodigal son loses everything and hits rock bottom.
SCENES WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Younger son (to his father before leaving): "Dad, you're the greatest! Where could I ever go on God's green earth to find a better place to call home? I don't want anybody or anything to ever come between us, father!"
SITUATION: PEOPLE ARE LOST AND SEPARATED FROM GOD
(Rom 3:23 NIV) for ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God…"
(Rom 6:23 NIV) For THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Isa 53:6 NIV) WE ALL, LIKE SHEEP, HAVE GONE ASTRAY, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
CONSEQUENCE: People who die without Christ are eternally separated from God.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO SEE: (Acts 3:19 NIV) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
(Acts 3:20 NIV) and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus.
(Acts 16:31 NIV) They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."
(John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:17 NIV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
(Rom 10:9 NIV) 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.
(Rom 10:10 NIV) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
DSR
7/21/03
SITUATION: SATAN TEMPTS EVE
(Gen 3:1 NIV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "DID GOD REALLY SAY, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
(Gen 3:2 NIV) The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
(Gen 3:3 NIV) but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"
(Gen 3:4 NIV) "YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE," the serpent said to the woman.
CONSEQUENCE: Sin, death, and disease entered the human race.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Eve (to the serpent): "Hey! You calling my Daddy a liar? We'll just see about that! I'm going right now to get Adam and we'll go see God and see just who the liar is, you or Him!"
SITUATION: CAIN'S OFFERING REJECTED
(Gen 4:3 NIV) In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.
(Gen 4:4 NIV) But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
(Gen 4:5 NIV) but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. SO CAIN WAS VERY ANGRY, AND HIS FACE WAS DOWNCAST.
CONSEQUENCE: Cain allows anger and rage to drive him to commit the first murder in the Bible.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Cain (to the Lord): "Lord, you are so right and I am so wrong! I'm sorry! I'm going to offer the right sacrifice next time and ask my brother Abel to help me get it together correctly."
SITUATION: ABRAM'S WIFE TRIES TO HELP GOD OUT
(Gen 16:1 NIV) Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar;
(Gen 16:2 NIV) so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. GO, SLEEP WITH MY MAIDSERVANT; PERHAPS I CAN BUILD A FAMILY THROUGH HER." Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
CONSEQUENCE: The descendents of Ishmael (Palestinian nations) and the descendents of Isaac (the Jewish nation) have been at war ever since.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Abraham (to Sarai): "Hold on there, Sarai! Who knows what the long term effects of such a decision might be? Let's have faith and not stumble in unbelief regarding the promise of God concerning our son to be born through us."
SITUATION: LOT LOOKS OUT FOR #1
(Gen 13:7 NIV) And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
(Gen 13:8 NIV) So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers.
(Gen 13:9 NIV) Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left."
(Gen 13:10 NIV) Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
(Gen 13:11 NIV) SO LOT CHOSE FOR HIMSELF THE WHOLE PLAIN OF THE JORDAN and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:
(Gen 13:12 NIV) Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and PITCHED HIS TENTS NEAR SODOM.
CONSEQUENCE: Lot pitches his tent toward Sodom and eventually lives in the wicked city and it torments his righteous soul, lowers his standards for men to marry his daughters, and ultimately costs him his own marriage.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Lot (to Abram): "Uncle Abram, you have been so kind and generous to me and my wife and kids. How about you take the fertile plain and I'll head for the hills?"
SITUATION: MOSES MISREPRESENTS GOD TO THE PEOPLE
(Num 20:8 NIV) "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. SPEAK TO that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
(Num 20:11 NIV) Then Moses raised his arm and STRUCK THE ROCK twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
(Num 20:12 NIV) But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
CONSEQUENCE: Moses forbidden from entering the Promised Land.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Moses (to the community of Israel): "Hey! Settle down, brothers! God is strong and powerful and loves you so much that all I've got to do is speak to this rock and water will flow out to water you, your little ones, your flocks and herds! After everyone is watered, I'll lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey!"
SITUATION: TEN FEARFUL SPIES POISON ISRAEL'S FAITH
(Num 13:25 NIV) At the end of forty days they [the twelve Israeli spies] returned from exploring the land.
(Num 13:26 NIV) They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.
(Num 13:31 NIV) But the men [the ten fearful spies] who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are."
(Num 13:32 NIV) AND THEY SPREAD AMONG THE ISRAELITES A BAD REPORT ABOUT THE LAND THEY HAD EXPLORED. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.
CONSEQUENCE: Every adult twenty years and older sentenced by God to wander and die in the desert for the next forty years (except Joshua and Caleb).
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: The ten spies (to Moses and the community): "We're with Joshua and Caleb! We can conquer these overgrown bullies without question because the God who brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand will bring us into the Promised Land with a mighty hand!"
SITUATION: JOSHUA FAILS TO "INQUIRE OF THE LORD"
(Josh 9:3 NIV) However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
(Josh 9:4 NIV) they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
(Josh 9:14 NIV) The men of Israel sampled their provisions BUT DID NOT INQUIRE OF THE LORD.
CONSEQUENCE: Joshua erroneously makes a treaty with an enemy and the whole assembly grumbles against him and the leaders.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Joshua (to the Gibeonites trying to trick him): "Hold on a minute fellas! Before I make my decision, let me go and check this out with God to see if you're on the up and up!"
SITUATION: SAMSON'S LUST BLINDS HIM IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
(Judg 16:6 NIV) So Delilah said to Samson, "TELL ME THE SECRET OF YOUR GREAT STRENGTH and how you can be tied up and subdued."
CONSEQUENCE: Samson betrayed to the Philistines by Delilah and is blinded while in slavery.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Samson (to Delilah): "You know what, Delilah? I've just come to the realization that every time I confide in you the secret of my great strength, the very next thing that happens to me is an attack in that very area. You're using your body to coax the truth out of me. I'm out of here, you traitor!"
SITUATION: SAUL'S IMPATIENCE CAUSES HIM TO OFFER UNAUTHORIZED SACRIFICE
(1 Sam 13:9 NIV) So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. " And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
(1 Sam 13:10 NIV) JUST AS HE FINISHED MAKING THE OFFERING, SAMUEL ARRIVED, and Saul went out to greet him.
(1 Sam 13:11 NIV) "What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash,
(1 Sam 13:12 NIV) I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord's favor.' SO I FELT COMPELLED TO OFFER THE BURNT OFFERING."
(1 Sam 13:13 NIV) "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
CONSEQUENCE: God abandons disobedient King Saul and Saul forfeits the kingdom.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Saul (to his soldiers): "Let's give Samuel another five minutes before we take matters into our own hands."
SITUATION: KING DAVID LUSTS FOR BATHING BEAUTY
(2 Sam 11:1 NIV) IN THE SPRING, AT THE TIME WHEN KINGS GO OFF TO WAR, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. BUT DAVID REMAINED IN JERUSALEM.
(2 Sam 11:2 NIV) One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,
(2 Sam 11:3 NIV) and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
(2 Sam 11:4 NIV) Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home.
CONSEQUENCE: Because David was not where he was supposed to be (he was in the wrong place at the wrong time), David falls into lust, commits adultery, and ends up masterminding a successful plot to murder his lover's husband.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: David (from his roof to Bathsheba): "Hey lady! Yeah, you! Close the curtains when you take a bath, will you? You're liable to cause the married men around here to stumble!
(To himself): "I'm going to join my troops! It's a whole lot safer on the battlefield than here on my roof!"
SITUATION: KING HEROD MAKES FOOLISH OFFER
(Mat 14:6 NIV) On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much
(Mat 14:7 NIV) THAT HE PROMISED WITH AN OATH TO GIVE HER WHATEVER SHE ASKED.
(Mat 14:8 NIV) Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
(Mat 14:9 NIV) The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted
(Mat 14:10 NIV) and had John beheaded in the prison.
CONSEQUENCE: One of the greatest men who ever lived (according to Jesus - see Matthew 11:11) was murdered.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Herod (to Herodias): "Great dance, Herodias! Outstanding! Tell you what…ask of me anything you want up to half my kingdom and short of murder and I'll give it to you."
SITUATION: PILATE CONDEMNS THE CHRIST TO DEATH
(Mat 27:24 NIV) When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"
(Mat 27:25 NIV) All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"
(Mat 27:26 NIV) THEN HE RELEASED BARABBAS TO THEM. BUT HE HAD JESUS FLOGGED, AND HANDED HIM OVER TO BE CRUCIFIED.
CONSEQUENCE: The spineless Pilate succumbs to the pressure of public opinion and becomes an accessory to the murder of Jesus Christ.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Pilate (to the crowd): "Crucify Him? You've got to be kidding! Why do you think I'm in authority and you're not? As long as I'm in charge around here I will not allow innocent men to be condemned. You may want Him to die but not on my watch!"
SITUATION: JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS WITH A KISS
(Luke 22:47 NIV) While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him,
(Luke 22:48 NIV) but Jesus asked him, "JUDAS, ARE YOU BETRAYING THE SON OF MAN WITH A KISS?"
CONSEQUENCE: Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus, commits suicide, and trades away a lofty position in heaven to the lowest place in hell.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Judas (to Jesus before he kissed Him): "Master, I've really messed up! Because of my greed, I've been betraying you and I am sorry, Lord! I repent! I can't go through with this! Please forgive me!"
SITUATION: THE RICH, YOUNG RULER CHOOSES UNWISELY
(Mark 10:17 NIV) As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
(Mark 10:19 NIV) You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"
(Mark 10:20 NIV) "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
(Mark 10:21 NIV) Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
(Mark 10:22 NIV) AT THIS THE MAN'S FACE FELL. HE WENT AWAY SAD, BECAUSE HE HAD GREAT WEALTH.
CONSEQUENCE: The rich, young ruler misses the opportunity of a lifetime and today we don't even know his name.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Rich, young ruler (to Jesus): "Lord, I will do as you say and come and follow you. You are worth more than all my possessions. I trust that the riches of knowing you are of far greater value than all my worldly riches combined."
SITUATION: THE PRODIGAL SON LAUNCHES OUT
(Luke 15:11 NIV) Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
(Luke 15:12 NIV) The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
(Luke 15:13 NIV) "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
(Luke 15:14 NIV) AFTER HE HAD SPENT EVERYTHING, THERE WAS A SEVERE FAMINE IN THAT WHOLE COUNTRY, AND HE BEGAN TO BE IN NEED.
CONSEQUENCE: The prodigal son loses everything and hits rock bottom.
SCENES WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN: Younger son (to his father before leaving): "Dad, you're the greatest! Where could I ever go on God's green earth to find a better place to call home? I don't want anybody or anything to ever come between us, father!"
SITUATION: PEOPLE ARE LOST AND SEPARATED FROM GOD
(Rom 3:23 NIV) for ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God…"
(Rom 6:23 NIV) For THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Isa 53:6 NIV) WE ALL, LIKE SHEEP, HAVE GONE ASTRAY, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
CONSEQUENCE: People who die without Christ are eternally separated from God.
SCENE WE'D LIKE TO SEE: (Acts 3:19 NIV) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
(Acts 3:20 NIV) and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus.
(Acts 16:31 NIV) They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."
(John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:17 NIV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
(Rom 10:9 NIV) 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.
(Rom 10:10 NIV) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
DSR
7/21/03
Monday, July 14, 2003
What Are You "In To" These Days
by David Scott Robertson
I live IN the United States of America,
IN the State of Tennessee,
IN Rutherford County,
IN the City of Murfreesboro,
IN a comfortable home in a nice neighborhood.
I'm IN love with my wife,
IN good relationship with my daughter and family who are all IN good health.
On top of that, I'm IN a good financial situation.
I enjoy good standing IN the community and I'm IN a great church.
Whatever you or I may be "IN to"
Does not compare to being…
"IN Christ."
Without Him you and I are
IN trouble,
IN hot water,
IN a state of confusion,
IN store for an eternity without God.
These two words: "IN Christ," change everything.
It means your name is written IN the Lamb's Book of Life.
It means you have a mansion reserved for you IN heaven.
It means you have God living IN you.
It means that you are IN God's Word, IN the faith, and walking IN truth.
You're IN the household of faith,
IN the family of God,
IN line for abundant life,
The blessings of God are IN store for you because you are abiding IN the secret place of the Most High.
All this because you and I are "IN Christ."
What are you IN to these days?
Whatever you may be involved IN,
Above all, make certain that you are IN Christ, for then, you will be IN position to be IN the center of God's will.
That's important because "IN [His] presence there is fullness of joy and at [His] right hand there are pleasures evermore" (Psalm 16:11).
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all IN the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17).
DSR
7/14/03
I live IN the United States of America,
IN the State of Tennessee,
IN Rutherford County,
IN the City of Murfreesboro,
IN a comfortable home in a nice neighborhood.
I'm IN love with my wife,
IN good relationship with my daughter and family who are all IN good health.
On top of that, I'm IN a good financial situation.
I enjoy good standing IN the community and I'm IN a great church.
Whatever you or I may be "IN to"
Does not compare to being…
"IN Christ."
Without Him you and I are
IN trouble,
IN hot water,
IN a state of confusion,
IN store for an eternity without God.
These two words: "IN Christ," change everything.
It means your name is written IN the Lamb's Book of Life.
It means you have a mansion reserved for you IN heaven.
It means you have God living IN you.
It means that you are IN God's Word, IN the faith, and walking IN truth.
You're IN the household of faith,
IN the family of God,
IN line for abundant life,
The blessings of God are IN store for you because you are abiding IN the secret place of the Most High.
All this because you and I are "IN Christ."
What are you IN to these days?
Whatever you may be involved IN,
Above all, make certain that you are IN Christ, for then, you will be IN position to be IN the center of God's will.
That's important because "IN [His] presence there is fullness of joy and at [His] right hand there are pleasures evermore" (Psalm 16:11).
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all IN the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17).
DSR
7/14/03
Monday, July 7, 2003
Your Love IS Better Than Life!
by David Scott Robertson
"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you" Psalm 63:3
I remember this verse.
As a 12-year old young person I heard this verse in church being quoted by the pastor.
I even remember where I was sitting that day - on the back pew.
The reason I remember it so well is because at the time I didn't believe it.
I remember having a conversation with myself after the passage was quoted.
In my mind I was challenging the pastor's declaration and the conclusion I arrived at was (employing the wisdom and mental faculties of a 12-year-old mind): "I disagree with that scripture. My life is better than God's love." I remember disagreeing with the pastor and rejecting outright what he said was true.
As a 7th grader who had not yet been born again, I had just gotten out of school for summer vacation. My mind was filled with thoughts of all the fun a 7th grader could get into being freed from prison for three months. After all, how could the "love of God" possibly compare with my friends, riding my bike, swimming, watching television, playing tennis, and getting into everything I could get in to? God's love sounding "boring" to me. At the time I thought trading my idea of fun for God's love was a poor trade. I concluded it was a crummy deal and I wasn't buying it.
Right then and there, as I was daydreaming (little did I know that I was doing what the Bible calls "counting the cost" of being a disciple of Jesus) I made up my mind, that my life was better than God's love.
I was wrong.
I spent the entire summer without God. I went on "vacation" and left God at church.
Oh, I visited God at His house on Sundays, but it was to me kind of like visiting an elderly aunt because your parents made you. I would have much preferred to go to my friends' house instead of God's house any day of the week.
Church and a relationship with the Lord were the furthest thing from my mind. After all, I was having fun! I was enjoying my life! I'm young, I've got a lot of living to do! (or so I thought).
I was spending lots of time with my friends, swimming, watching television, playing tennis and getting into everything I could get in to. But somewhere along the line, it happened. It hit me. Subtly at first, but the feelings grew. There came a time during that summer break that I came to an understanding that my life of exciting adventures apart from God was not all that it was cracked up to be.
Later, in retrospect, I have come to understand that the prayers of my parents and other Christians who cared enough about me to pray were laboring together with God and the result of their intercession for me was conviction.
Conviction is the best and worst thing a 12-year-old boy can experience. It is a grace gift from God that says "I've not given up on you".
As the crazy, lazy days of summer began to draw to a close, I had time to think. And during some of those "thinking times" up in tree, wading in a creek, riding my bike alone, somewhere along the line I began to review and evaluate my summer adventures. And when I tallied it all up, to my surprise, I came up short. And somewhere in all of that I made a startling discovery about myself - a realization that comes to every man and woman on the planet sooner or later, at one time or another - and that was that inside I was empty
And although I didn't understand it at the time (and I certainly didn't have enough theology in me to comprehend that God was working on me) I began to become increasingly aware of this profound, hollowness inside me that everything I tried to stuff in there didn't fill. Something was missing that friends, sports, and television couldn't replace.
And in those moments of "thinking" my belief system began to crumble. My firm conviction that my life was better than God's love began to waffle and waiver. The foundation of my faith had basically been built upon the trinity of me, myself, and I. (I was about to encounter the real Trinity!)
One Sunday morning I went to church as usual with my parents (thank God for parents who had enough on the ball spiritually to faithfully take the family to church!) I have no idea what the preacher preached that day but it was enough. He and the Holy Spirit were tag-teaming and putting the hurt on my pride, error, and sin.
It was enough and instead of crying "uncle" I cried "Lord" and gave up. When the altar call was given I irresistibly responded and knelt at an altar and invited Jesus to move in to my heart and life.
I got saved that day. I really did experience the "new birth" and became a child of God and I will never forget the peace that flooded my soul. I loved everybody and thought everybody loved me. And I began the greatest adventure of my life.
It's been thirty years since that day and this coming Sunday you will find me faithfully taking my wife and daughter to church.
Since that wonderful day I have developed the good habit of daily Bible reading. And each time I encounter Psalm 63:3 in my readings, thoughts similar to those I've shared surface.
I started my Bible reading today with Psalm 63:1 but I only got three verses into it when I stopped and began to write what you have now read.
Although I've only read three verses, I think I'm done with my Bible study for the day. It only took 15 seconds to have an experience with God this morning. Tomorrow morning I'll open the Word again and expect something fresh and new to flood my soul. But one thing I know for sure right now that I can tell you, and mean it with all of my heart…
GOD'S LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE, MY LIPS WILL GLORIFY HIM!
DSR
7/7/03
"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you" Psalm 63:3
I remember this verse.
As a 12-year old young person I heard this verse in church being quoted by the pastor.
I even remember where I was sitting that day - on the back pew.
The reason I remember it so well is because at the time I didn't believe it.
I remember having a conversation with myself after the passage was quoted.
In my mind I was challenging the pastor's declaration and the conclusion I arrived at was (employing the wisdom and mental faculties of a 12-year-old mind): "I disagree with that scripture. My life is better than God's love." I remember disagreeing with the pastor and rejecting outright what he said was true.
As a 7th grader who had not yet been born again, I had just gotten out of school for summer vacation. My mind was filled with thoughts of all the fun a 7th grader could get into being freed from prison for three months. After all, how could the "love of God" possibly compare with my friends, riding my bike, swimming, watching television, playing tennis, and getting into everything I could get in to? God's love sounding "boring" to me. At the time I thought trading my idea of fun for God's love was a poor trade. I concluded it was a crummy deal and I wasn't buying it.
Right then and there, as I was daydreaming (little did I know that I was doing what the Bible calls "counting the cost" of being a disciple of Jesus) I made up my mind, that my life was better than God's love.
I was wrong.
I spent the entire summer without God. I went on "vacation" and left God at church.
Oh, I visited God at His house on Sundays, but it was to me kind of like visiting an elderly aunt because your parents made you. I would have much preferred to go to my friends' house instead of God's house any day of the week.
Church and a relationship with the Lord were the furthest thing from my mind. After all, I was having fun! I was enjoying my life! I'm young, I've got a lot of living to do! (or so I thought).
I was spending lots of time with my friends, swimming, watching television, playing tennis and getting into everything I could get in to. But somewhere along the line, it happened. It hit me. Subtly at first, but the feelings grew. There came a time during that summer break that I came to an understanding that my life of exciting adventures apart from God was not all that it was cracked up to be.
Later, in retrospect, I have come to understand that the prayers of my parents and other Christians who cared enough about me to pray were laboring together with God and the result of their intercession for me was conviction.
Conviction is the best and worst thing a 12-year-old boy can experience. It is a grace gift from God that says "I've not given up on you".
As the crazy, lazy days of summer began to draw to a close, I had time to think. And during some of those "thinking times" up in tree, wading in a creek, riding my bike alone, somewhere along the line I began to review and evaluate my summer adventures. And when I tallied it all up, to my surprise, I came up short. And somewhere in all of that I made a startling discovery about myself - a realization that comes to every man and woman on the planet sooner or later, at one time or another - and that was that inside I was empty
And although I didn't understand it at the time (and I certainly didn't have enough theology in me to comprehend that God was working on me) I began to become increasingly aware of this profound, hollowness inside me that everything I tried to stuff in there didn't fill. Something was missing that friends, sports, and television couldn't replace.
And in those moments of "thinking" my belief system began to crumble. My firm conviction that my life was better than God's love began to waffle and waiver. The foundation of my faith had basically been built upon the trinity of me, myself, and I. (I was about to encounter the real Trinity!)
One Sunday morning I went to church as usual with my parents (thank God for parents who had enough on the ball spiritually to faithfully take the family to church!) I have no idea what the preacher preached that day but it was enough. He and the Holy Spirit were tag-teaming and putting the hurt on my pride, error, and sin.
It was enough and instead of crying "uncle" I cried "Lord" and gave up. When the altar call was given I irresistibly responded and knelt at an altar and invited Jesus to move in to my heart and life.
I got saved that day. I really did experience the "new birth" and became a child of God and I will never forget the peace that flooded my soul. I loved everybody and thought everybody loved me. And I began the greatest adventure of my life.
It's been thirty years since that day and this coming Sunday you will find me faithfully taking my wife and daughter to church.
Since that wonderful day I have developed the good habit of daily Bible reading. And each time I encounter Psalm 63:3 in my readings, thoughts similar to those I've shared surface.
I started my Bible reading today with Psalm 63:1 but I only got three verses into it when I stopped and began to write what you have now read.
Although I've only read three verses, I think I'm done with my Bible study for the day. It only took 15 seconds to have an experience with God this morning. Tomorrow morning I'll open the Word again and expect something fresh and new to flood my soul. But one thing I know for sure right now that I can tell you, and mean it with all of my heart…
GOD'S LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE, MY LIPS WILL GLORIFY HIM!
DSR
7/7/03
Friday, June 20, 2003
I Thank You, Jesus
by David Scott Robertson
I thank you, Jesus,
For initiating our relationship.
I had no rights to you,
No access to you,
No kinship or family tie to you
That would warrant you’re coming to rescue me from my sin.
And yet,
Notwithstanding,
You heard the distant and feeble cry for help of my fallen soul lost in a dark and lonely place.
You heard my voice long, long ago…
And though there were ten thousand times ten thousand angels
Worshipping you in a heavenly language,
Their worship, their song, their holy adoration
Could not drown out my voice crying in the wilderness.
“O God, help!”
“O Lord, I need you!”
“O God, I’m lost without you.”
And you came.
You left your place of perfection.
You left the throne of your glory where all recognized and responded correctly to your righteous and absolute power, authority, and holiness.
You left all that behind
And headed to a hostile and alien land that you knew,
In your foreknowledge,
Would despise and reject you
And ultimately require of you your life.
And you came to me.
You came to me by the way of the cross.
You came to me through the way of death.
You came to me not by taking the scenic route,
But by taking the brutally hard path up a hill called Mount Calvary.
You did it because you knew that this road was the only path that led to my heart.
And in that single act of selfless sacrifice in your sinless perfection,
You rescued me and mankind once for all through your profound love.
And I live to tell about it.
Me who was destined to self-destruct in one short life span and depart from light to darkness,
From temporary pleasures to eternal torment.
I live to tell about
Meeting a Man who told me all things I ever did --
One who knew me and loved me anyway.
I have met Jesus,
The Savior of the world,
The Lord of my life,
The greatest Hero who ever lived.
With that in mind, Lord,
I give you my heart, my life, my worship, my obedience, my labor, my token and pledge of my abiding love for you and your Word and your will and your ways.
I thank you, Jesus,
For being the inspiration of these words emanating from a transformed life.
DSR
6/20/03
I thank you, Jesus,
For initiating our relationship.
I had no rights to you,
No access to you,
No kinship or family tie to you
That would warrant you’re coming to rescue me from my sin.
And yet,
Notwithstanding,
You heard the distant and feeble cry for help of my fallen soul lost in a dark and lonely place.
You heard my voice long, long ago…
And though there were ten thousand times ten thousand angels
Worshipping you in a heavenly language,
Their worship, their song, their holy adoration
Could not drown out my voice crying in the wilderness.
“O God, help!”
“O Lord, I need you!”
“O God, I’m lost without you.”
And you came.
You left your place of perfection.
You left the throne of your glory where all recognized and responded correctly to your righteous and absolute power, authority, and holiness.
You left all that behind
And headed to a hostile and alien land that you knew,
In your foreknowledge,
Would despise and reject you
And ultimately require of you your life.
And you came to me.
You came to me by the way of the cross.
You came to me through the way of death.
You came to me not by taking the scenic route,
But by taking the brutally hard path up a hill called Mount Calvary.
You did it because you knew that this road was the only path that led to my heart.
And in that single act of selfless sacrifice in your sinless perfection,
You rescued me and mankind once for all through your profound love.
And I live to tell about it.
Me who was destined to self-destruct in one short life span and depart from light to darkness,
From temporary pleasures to eternal torment.
I live to tell about
Meeting a Man who told me all things I ever did --
One who knew me and loved me anyway.
I have met Jesus,
The Savior of the world,
The Lord of my life,
The greatest Hero who ever lived.
With that in mind, Lord,
I give you my heart, my life, my worship, my obedience, my labor, my token and pledge of my abiding love for you and your Word and your will and your ways.
I thank you, Jesus,
For being the inspiration of these words emanating from a transformed life.
DSR
6/20/03
Sunday, June 15, 2003
The Great-Ness of God
by David Scott Robertson
(Mat 8:23 KJV) "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
(Mat 8:24 KJV) And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
(Mat 8:25 KJV) And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
At one time or another we've all experienced a rain storm. Thanks to modern media and Doppler radar we even know about thunderstorms and enjoy the benefits of a National Weather Service who issues warnings of impending severe weather.
When a thunderstorm graduates into a tornado or hurricane this goes beyond "ordinary" and becomes a "great" or "severe" storm. People in a tornado or hurricane's path seek shelter and pray for personal safety and minimum property loss.
This was similar to the case in the scripture passage quoted above when the disciples, seasoned fisherman who were no strangers to storms, became so alarmed at the "great tempest" that they all thought they were going to die. Notice what happens when Jesus intervenes:
(Mat 8:26 KJV) "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
I love these words: "…and there was a great calm." Please note that it was not an ordinary, common, expected, or normal calm. It was not a customary or traditional calm. No, the Bible says it was a "great calm." It was a calm that could be felt.
Just like the "great tempest" provoked thoughts of fear of perishing in the disciples so the "great calm" provoked thoughts of wonder and amazement:
(Mat 8:27 KJV) "But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"
When God shows up on the scene of a tornado, hurricane, blizzard, earthquake, mudslide, volcanic eruption, or any other natural disaster that can be named…the "great-ness of God" can be seen in the midst. In a God-charged atmosphere, the ordinary can become extraordinary; unplanned meetings can become divine appointments; unexpected detours can become non-scheduled delights brimming with the simple pleasures of God's provision and power.
(Psa 16:11 KJV) "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
So there you have it, right there plain as day in God's Word - a "great tempest" followed by a "great calm" resulting from a three-word command from Jesus, the Author of Life.
Now here are a few principles from the passage I believe the Holy Spirit wants to teach us:
I firmly believe that the Lord wants us to come to such a place of security in our relationship with God that if Jesus is in our boat, all is well regardless of the storms raging around us. In other words, we become convinced that the safest place on earth is in the center of God's will. I also believe God wants us to learn to trust Him no matter what. I believe God wants us to experience a "great calm" IN the storm not just AFTER the storm. Not only that, I also believe that Jesus would have been extremely pleased if one of His disciples had taken the initiative to exercise "great faith" against the "great tempest" and commanded the "great calm" to come as Jesus was so painstakingly trying to train them to walk in the authority of the believer. That's a cue for us if we can take the hint.
(John 14:12 NIV) "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
Jesus, Prince of Peace, please help us to walk daily in a continual state of "the great calm" that you afford those who believe and trust in Your name and in Your Word. Amen.
DSR
6/15/03
(Mat 8:23 KJV) "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
(Mat 8:24 KJV) And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
(Mat 8:25 KJV) And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
At one time or another we've all experienced a rain storm. Thanks to modern media and Doppler radar we even know about thunderstorms and enjoy the benefits of a National Weather Service who issues warnings of impending severe weather.
When a thunderstorm graduates into a tornado or hurricane this goes beyond "ordinary" and becomes a "great" or "severe" storm. People in a tornado or hurricane's path seek shelter and pray for personal safety and minimum property loss.
This was similar to the case in the scripture passage quoted above when the disciples, seasoned fisherman who were no strangers to storms, became so alarmed at the "great tempest" that they all thought they were going to die. Notice what happens when Jesus intervenes:
(Mat 8:26 KJV) "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
I love these words: "…and there was a great calm." Please note that it was not an ordinary, common, expected, or normal calm. It was not a customary or traditional calm. No, the Bible says it was a "great calm." It was a calm that could be felt.
Just like the "great tempest" provoked thoughts of fear of perishing in the disciples so the "great calm" provoked thoughts of wonder and amazement:
(Mat 8:27 KJV) "But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"
When God shows up on the scene of a tornado, hurricane, blizzard, earthquake, mudslide, volcanic eruption, or any other natural disaster that can be named…the "great-ness of God" can be seen in the midst. In a God-charged atmosphere, the ordinary can become extraordinary; unplanned meetings can become divine appointments; unexpected detours can become non-scheduled delights brimming with the simple pleasures of God's provision and power.
(Psa 16:11 KJV) "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
So there you have it, right there plain as day in God's Word - a "great tempest" followed by a "great calm" resulting from a three-word command from Jesus, the Author of Life.
Now here are a few principles from the passage I believe the Holy Spirit wants to teach us:
I firmly believe that the Lord wants us to come to such a place of security in our relationship with God that if Jesus is in our boat, all is well regardless of the storms raging around us. In other words, we become convinced that the safest place on earth is in the center of God's will. I also believe God wants us to learn to trust Him no matter what. I believe God wants us to experience a "great calm" IN the storm not just AFTER the storm. Not only that, I also believe that Jesus would have been extremely pleased if one of His disciples had taken the initiative to exercise "great faith" against the "great tempest" and commanded the "great calm" to come as Jesus was so painstakingly trying to train them to walk in the authority of the believer. That's a cue for us if we can take the hint.
(John 14:12 NIV) "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
Jesus, Prince of Peace, please help us to walk daily in a continual state of "the great calm" that you afford those who believe and trust in Your name and in Your Word. Amen.
DSR
6/15/03
Sunday, June 8, 2003
Results in Short Order
by David Scott Robertson
Authority.
How you feel about this one word reveals much about you. Your understanding of it is paramount. Your submission to it will determine your success or failure. God ascribes incredible significance to authority.
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1).
I have observed that the higher up you rise (or are promoted) in levels of authority the less you have to speak to produce results. Action happens when true authority speaks.
MILITARY PERSONELL UNDERSTAND THIS…
"The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith" (Matthew 8:8-10).
DEMONS UNDERSTAND THIS…
"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he [Jesus] drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick" Matthew 8:16).
All it took was "a [single] word!"
THE DISCIPLES UNDERSTOOD THIS…
"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus" (Matthew 14:29).
DEAD PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THIS…
"He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!") (Mark 5:41).
"And when he [Jesus] thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth" John 11:43).
Authority brings results in short order. It's been this way since creation:
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Genesis 1:3).
And whatever God orders will continue to be until Creator God repeals His command.
JESUS HAS A FIRM UNDERSTANDING OF AUTHORITY…
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18).
SUBSEQUENTLY, GOD HAS DELEGATED HIS AUTHORITY TO HIS FOLLOWERS…
"I [Jesus] have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19).
Therefore, line up under God's authority and walk in it every day. Your times of refreshing through sweet communion with your Heavenly Father will expand as you begin to walk with a right attitude concerning His authority in you and over you. You may even begin to notice that your verbal declarations against Satan are transformed from "empty threats" into "powerful commands" that bear the non-negotiable authority of God delivered by one of His sanctioned deputies on the earth.
The more authority and government of God that you and I walk in, the more spiritual power we will possess. The more spiritual power we possess, the shorter our commands will need to be to see results. We will begin to see results in short order! Let me further illustrate this principle…
The prophet Elijah prayed a sixty word prayer (see 1 Kings 18:26-37) and the fire of God fell from heaven and so consumed the sacrifice in his contest with the Baal worshippers on Mount Carmel that the fire of God burned up the rocks!
The military general Joshua prayed a thirteen word prayer (see Joshua 10:12) and the sun and moon stood still for about a full day!
The obscure Israelite "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain...'" (1 Chronicles 4:10). And what was the result of that short prayer? "…And God granted his request" (1 Chronicles 4:10).
When we begin to walk in the governmental authority of God we can "with a word" destroy the works of the devil! (I John 3:8).
And do you know what else? It gets even better than this! Let me tell you where walking in obedience to the authority of God and respecting, obeying, and submitting to those whom He has delegated to rule over us as church, political, and civic leaders will lead you:
When you get a handle on this concept, your life will begin to radiate the power of God so that words are not even necessary to bring about results in short order.
"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment" (Matthew 9:20-22).
"As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed" (Acts 5:15-16).
":Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet" (2 Kings 13:21).
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Do you see it? If we get a firm grasp on walking "under" and "in" the authority and government of God, our very lives can become "an act of spiritual war" combating the forces of darkness and illuminating the world with the glory of God in us! And results with come in short order!
DSR
6/8/03
Authority.
How you feel about this one word reveals much about you. Your understanding of it is paramount. Your submission to it will determine your success or failure. God ascribes incredible significance to authority.
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1).
I have observed that the higher up you rise (or are promoted) in levels of authority the less you have to speak to produce results. Action happens when true authority speaks.
MILITARY PERSONELL UNDERSTAND THIS…
"The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith" (Matthew 8:8-10).
DEMONS UNDERSTAND THIS…
"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he [Jesus] drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick" Matthew 8:16).
All it took was "a [single] word!"
THE DISCIPLES UNDERSTOOD THIS…
"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus" (Matthew 14:29).
DEAD PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THIS…
"He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!") (Mark 5:41).
"And when he [Jesus] thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth" John 11:43).
Authority brings results in short order. It's been this way since creation:
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Genesis 1:3).
And whatever God orders will continue to be until Creator God repeals His command.
JESUS HAS A FIRM UNDERSTANDING OF AUTHORITY…
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18).
SUBSEQUENTLY, GOD HAS DELEGATED HIS AUTHORITY TO HIS FOLLOWERS…
"I [Jesus] have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19).
Therefore, line up under God's authority and walk in it every day. Your times of refreshing through sweet communion with your Heavenly Father will expand as you begin to walk with a right attitude concerning His authority in you and over you. You may even begin to notice that your verbal declarations against Satan are transformed from "empty threats" into "powerful commands" that bear the non-negotiable authority of God delivered by one of His sanctioned deputies on the earth.
The more authority and government of God that you and I walk in, the more spiritual power we will possess. The more spiritual power we possess, the shorter our commands will need to be to see results. We will begin to see results in short order! Let me further illustrate this principle…
The prophet Elijah prayed a sixty word prayer (see 1 Kings 18:26-37) and the fire of God fell from heaven and so consumed the sacrifice in his contest with the Baal worshippers on Mount Carmel that the fire of God burned up the rocks!
The military general Joshua prayed a thirteen word prayer (see Joshua 10:12) and the sun and moon stood still for about a full day!
The obscure Israelite "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain...'" (1 Chronicles 4:10). And what was the result of that short prayer? "…And God granted his request" (1 Chronicles 4:10).
When we begin to walk in the governmental authority of God we can "with a word" destroy the works of the devil! (I John 3:8).
And do you know what else? It gets even better than this! Let me tell you where walking in obedience to the authority of God and respecting, obeying, and submitting to those whom He has delegated to rule over us as church, political, and civic leaders will lead you:
When you get a handle on this concept, your life will begin to radiate the power of God so that words are not even necessary to bring about results in short order.
"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment" (Matthew 9:20-22).
"As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed" (Acts 5:15-16).
":Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet" (2 Kings 13:21).
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Do you see it? If we get a firm grasp on walking "under" and "in" the authority and government of God, our very lives can become "an act of spiritual war" combating the forces of darkness and illuminating the world with the glory of God in us! And results with come in short order!
DSR
6/8/03
Monday, June 2, 2003
The Blessings of Water Baptism
by David Scott Robertson
(Mat 3:13 NIV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
(Mat 3:14 NIV) But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
(Mat 3:15 NIV) Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
(Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
(Mat 3:17 NIV) And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Water baptism is a wonderful experience for new believers (or returning prodigals).
The symbolism in the act is rich. Water baptism helps one identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an outward demonstration of an inward transformation. It is a profound expression of obedience to the Lord's command to be baptized as a lasting ordinance of the church. It is following in the footsteps of Jesus and carries with it spiritual weight in the invisible realm.
There are countless blessings associated with being baptized in water for those who approach this biblical command from a heart of obedience, gratitude, and expectation.
First, we must settle in our hearts that this is the clear command of God and His will for every Christian. There are many scriptures we could point to, but perhaps the most famous might be the mandate to baptize (and be baptized) drawn from the Great Commission passage itself:
(Mat 28:19 NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Mat 28:20 NIV) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
That settles it for me! In this brief thought about God, I want to focus on four distinct blessings that I see so apparent when John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ.
BLESSING #1: (Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. AT THAT MOMENT HEAVEN WAS OPENED, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
Like Jesus experienced, I fully believe as His followers that the newly baptized believer will experience an "open heaven" over them as they begin a life of obedience before God.
BLESSING #2: (Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND LIGHTING ON HIM."
In the same way, the Holy Spirit will come upon us afresh and anew and heighten our sensitivity to His voice.
BLESSING #3: (Mat 3:17 NIV) AND A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAID, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
I believe those who are baptized position themselves to hear the voice of God more clearly and more frequently. This can happen through encountering God in prayer, while reading the Bible, listening to God's servants speak on His behalf in preaching, teaching, witnessing and testifying of His amazing grace, and most especially through the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.
BLESSING #4: (Mat 3:17 NIV) And a voice from heaven said, "THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED."
God the Father spoke an affirming word to His Son Jesus at His water baptism. When a believer is baptized, it confirms us as sons or daughters of God. It validates that we are the children of God since the act testifies of the Truth (Jesus, John 14:6) and bears witness with the Spirit of Truth. Our obedience delights our Heavenly Father and we please Him by doing His revealed will.
Not only do we obtain these blessings from God but we are publicly confessing our faith and allegiance to Jesus Christ.
I personally have been baptized in water on three occasions, each significant in the time and season of my life. Each was a relevant and unique spiritual experience signaling a renewed commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you have been born again but have never been baptized in water. Maybe you were sprinkled as a child or an adult and never really understood the full implication of the experience. It could be that you have recently come back to Christ after a period of wandering as a prodigal, estranged from your Father. Finally, perhaps God has recently led you through a process of deliverance that has broken chains that have bound you to the past…
Whatever the case, may I recommend that you consider the blessings of water baptism?
I will close out this thought with a true story reported by a pastor:
A young witch attended a church service and through the preaching of the Word and the power of God surrendered her life to Christ. The pastor wisely arranged for the new convert to be baptized immediately.
The next day the former witch called her boyfriend, a practicing warlock, and told him the "good news." Enraged, the boyfriend, who was steeped in the occult, immediately drove to the church, burst in the pastor's office, and with great insolence told the pastor sitting at his desk: "I've come to get my woman and Satan's woman and take her back to where she belongs!" As he was walking out the door, the warlock said to the pastor, "by the way, she hasn't been baptized yet, has she?" The pastor replied, "yes she has, we did it immediately after she got saved." The warlock shook his head and said, "We've lost her, then, and Satan can't touch her now."
The point in this true story is clear: While being baptized in water does not in itself provide salvation, it does carry great weight in the spiritual realm. The convert, in a sense, is "sealed" through their act of obedience as being a believer "in Christ".
It was the Romans who refused to feed a "Christian" to the lions unless they had first been baptized in water. Unless the alleged Christian had been baptized, the Romans refused to believe they were a Christian.
(1 Sam 15:22 NIV) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEED IS BETTER THAN THE FAT OF RAMS."
DSR
6/2/03
(Mat 3:13 NIV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
(Mat 3:14 NIV) But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
(Mat 3:15 NIV) Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
(Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
(Mat 3:17 NIV) And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Water baptism is a wonderful experience for new believers (or returning prodigals).
The symbolism in the act is rich. Water baptism helps one identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an outward demonstration of an inward transformation. It is a profound expression of obedience to the Lord's command to be baptized as a lasting ordinance of the church. It is following in the footsteps of Jesus and carries with it spiritual weight in the invisible realm.
There are countless blessings associated with being baptized in water for those who approach this biblical command from a heart of obedience, gratitude, and expectation.
First, we must settle in our hearts that this is the clear command of God and His will for every Christian. There are many scriptures we could point to, but perhaps the most famous might be the mandate to baptize (and be baptized) drawn from the Great Commission passage itself:
(Mat 28:19 NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Mat 28:20 NIV) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
That settles it for me! In this brief thought about God, I want to focus on four distinct blessings that I see so apparent when John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ.
BLESSING #1: (Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. AT THAT MOMENT HEAVEN WAS OPENED, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
Like Jesus experienced, I fully believe as His followers that the newly baptized believer will experience an "open heaven" over them as they begin a life of obedience before God.
BLESSING #2: (Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND LIGHTING ON HIM."
In the same way, the Holy Spirit will come upon us afresh and anew and heighten our sensitivity to His voice.
BLESSING #3: (Mat 3:17 NIV) AND A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAID, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
I believe those who are baptized position themselves to hear the voice of God more clearly and more frequently. This can happen through encountering God in prayer, while reading the Bible, listening to God's servants speak on His behalf in preaching, teaching, witnessing and testifying of His amazing grace, and most especially through the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.
BLESSING #4: (Mat 3:17 NIV) And a voice from heaven said, "THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED."
God the Father spoke an affirming word to His Son Jesus at His water baptism. When a believer is baptized, it confirms us as sons or daughters of God. It validates that we are the children of God since the act testifies of the Truth (Jesus, John 14:6) and bears witness with the Spirit of Truth. Our obedience delights our Heavenly Father and we please Him by doing His revealed will.
Not only do we obtain these blessings from God but we are publicly confessing our faith and allegiance to Jesus Christ.
I personally have been baptized in water on three occasions, each significant in the time and season of my life. Each was a relevant and unique spiritual experience signaling a renewed commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you have been born again but have never been baptized in water. Maybe you were sprinkled as a child or an adult and never really understood the full implication of the experience. It could be that you have recently come back to Christ after a period of wandering as a prodigal, estranged from your Father. Finally, perhaps God has recently led you through a process of deliverance that has broken chains that have bound you to the past…
Whatever the case, may I recommend that you consider the blessings of water baptism?
I will close out this thought with a true story reported by a pastor:
A young witch attended a church service and through the preaching of the Word and the power of God surrendered her life to Christ. The pastor wisely arranged for the new convert to be baptized immediately.
The next day the former witch called her boyfriend, a practicing warlock, and told him the "good news." Enraged, the boyfriend, who was steeped in the occult, immediately drove to the church, burst in the pastor's office, and with great insolence told the pastor sitting at his desk: "I've come to get my woman and Satan's woman and take her back to where she belongs!" As he was walking out the door, the warlock said to the pastor, "by the way, she hasn't been baptized yet, has she?" The pastor replied, "yes she has, we did it immediately after she got saved." The warlock shook his head and said, "We've lost her, then, and Satan can't touch her now."
The point in this true story is clear: While being baptized in water does not in itself provide salvation, it does carry great weight in the spiritual realm. The convert, in a sense, is "sealed" through their act of obedience as being a believer "in Christ".
It was the Romans who refused to feed a "Christian" to the lions unless they had first been baptized in water. Unless the alleged Christian had been baptized, the Romans refused to believe they were a Christian.
(1 Sam 15:22 NIV) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEED IS BETTER THAN THE FAT OF RAMS."
DSR
6/2/03
Monday, May 26, 2003
Too Little, Too Late
by David Scott Robertson
(John 19:19 NIV) Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
(John 19:20 NIV) Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
(John 19:21 NIV) The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."
(John 19:22 NIV) Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
Well, Pilate, you did it.
You finally stood up to them.
You didn’t cave in (again) to the righteously indignant chief priests of the Jews who demanded that you edit the sign “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”.
When the religious leaders objected, you replied “what I have written, I have written.”
Good for you.
While I appreciate you locating your spine and finally doing your job to combat corruption, sadly, it was a case of too little authority, too late.
Pilate, providence afforded you one, brief appearance on center stage standing next to history’s most outstanding citizen, Jesus Christ, nevertheless in your finest hour, the best your brand of leadership could produce was to preserve and protect a wooden sign.
Pilate, you actually had within your grasp one extraordinary opportunity to pull something off so significant that parents today may be naming their children after you.
You had the opportunity to stand for truth in its most literal sense.
But the best line you could muster as you looked Jesus Christ in the face was one of history’s most ironic lines: “What is truth?”
You didn’t recognize Truth when it was staring you in the face.
You exercised too little wisdom too late.
While it is true that Jesus of Nazareth would have ultimately went on to fulfill His destiny which had been spoken of by the prophets, that is, to die on a crude Roman cross as the Lamb of God to reconcile a lost race back to God, nonetheless it could have been mediated at the hands of someone else other than you, Pilate.
You played right into the hypocritical hands of the Jewish leaders.
You betrayed innocent blood.
And although you washed your hands publicly to absolve your responsibility,
By offering too little remorse, too late
You by default joined the ranks of those who cried out
"…Let his blood be on us and on our children!" (Matthew 27:25)
Pilate, you had your chance to stand for Truth.
It might have cost you your popularity, your career, maybe even your life.
Nevertheless you had your chance and you squandered it.
You spent all your valor and might and position and power to protect a wooden sign that published Jesus’ “crime” over His head on the cross.
A pitifully shameful example of too little guts, too late.
I don’t know who popularized the following statement,
But a wise person once remarked that “the opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity.”
Pilate, you had your opportunity, your day of visitation came and went and you frittered it away. You displayed too little authority, wisdom, remorse, and guts too late.
How about us?
In our hour of opportunity when suddenly and unexpectedly we are thrust center stage in a drama in real life, how will we respond?
Will we rise to the occasion and let it be our finest hour and defend Truth
Or will we fall in line with the politically correct crowd?
Will our response be to do the right thing at the right time for the cause of Truth
Or will we demonstrate too little authority, wisdom, remorse, and guts too late?
DSR
5/26/03
(John 19:19 NIV) Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
(John 19:20 NIV) Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
(John 19:21 NIV) The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."
(John 19:22 NIV) Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
Well, Pilate, you did it.
You finally stood up to them.
You didn’t cave in (again) to the righteously indignant chief priests of the Jews who demanded that you edit the sign “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”.
When the religious leaders objected, you replied “what I have written, I have written.”
Good for you.
While I appreciate you locating your spine and finally doing your job to combat corruption, sadly, it was a case of too little authority, too late.
Pilate, providence afforded you one, brief appearance on center stage standing next to history’s most outstanding citizen, Jesus Christ, nevertheless in your finest hour, the best your brand of leadership could produce was to preserve and protect a wooden sign.
Pilate, you actually had within your grasp one extraordinary opportunity to pull something off so significant that parents today may be naming their children after you.
You had the opportunity to stand for truth in its most literal sense.
But the best line you could muster as you looked Jesus Christ in the face was one of history’s most ironic lines: “What is truth?”
You didn’t recognize Truth when it was staring you in the face.
You exercised too little wisdom too late.
While it is true that Jesus of Nazareth would have ultimately went on to fulfill His destiny which had been spoken of by the prophets, that is, to die on a crude Roman cross as the Lamb of God to reconcile a lost race back to God, nonetheless it could have been mediated at the hands of someone else other than you, Pilate.
You played right into the hypocritical hands of the Jewish leaders.
You betrayed innocent blood.
And although you washed your hands publicly to absolve your responsibility,
By offering too little remorse, too late
You by default joined the ranks of those who cried out
"…Let his blood be on us and on our children!" (Matthew 27:25)
Pilate, you had your chance to stand for Truth.
It might have cost you your popularity, your career, maybe even your life.
Nevertheless you had your chance and you squandered it.
You spent all your valor and might and position and power to protect a wooden sign that published Jesus’ “crime” over His head on the cross.
A pitifully shameful example of too little guts, too late.
I don’t know who popularized the following statement,
But a wise person once remarked that “the opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity.”
Pilate, you had your opportunity, your day of visitation came and went and you frittered it away. You displayed too little authority, wisdom, remorse, and guts too late.
How about us?
In our hour of opportunity when suddenly and unexpectedly we are thrust center stage in a drama in real life, how will we respond?
Will we rise to the occasion and let it be our finest hour and defend Truth
Or will we fall in line with the politically correct crowd?
Will our response be to do the right thing at the right time for the cause of Truth
Or will we demonstrate too little authority, wisdom, remorse, and guts too late?
DSR
5/26/03
Monday, May 12, 2003
It's Not a Fair Fight
by David Scott Robertson
(Eph 6:12 NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
You and I were born in a battle zone.
Planet earth is under attack.
The devil and his angels have launched a full-scale war
Against the people of God in an attempt to hurt God by hurting His kids.
The hounds of hell are also adamant about preventing lost souls from finding Jesus
So that they too can become part of God's family.
Satan's arsenal includes lies, seduction, exaggeration and other forms of deception.
Now here's the good news.
It's not a fair fight!
If you are born again,
If you are a solider in the army of the Lord
Then you have a distinct advantage over the enemy.
It just plain isn't a fair fight!
Check it out…
THE ENEMIES WEAPONS DON'T WORK RIGHT
(Isa 54:17 NIV) no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
WE WALK IN THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST
(Luke 10:19 NIV) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
GOD HIMSELF FIGHTS FOR US
(1 Sam 17:47 NIV) All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
DEMONS MUST SUBMIT TO THE NAME OF JESUS
(Luke 10:17 NIV) The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
SATAN HIMSELF IS NO MATCH FOR OUR SUBMISSION TO GOD
(James 4:7 NIV) Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
DEMONS, SNAKES, POISON ARE OF NO EFFECT UPON THE MAN OF GOD
(Mark 16:17 NIV) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
(Mark 16:18 NIV) they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
GOD HAS ISSUED US A FULL SUIT OF ARMOR
(Eph 6:11 NIV) Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
TWO-THIRDS OF ALL ANGELS EVER CREATED ARE ON OUR SIDE
(Heb 1:14 NIV) Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
TWO MIGHTY WEAPONS REVEALED
(Rev 12:11 NIV) They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
WE CAN BE HEALTHY AND STRONG WHILE OUR ENEMIES ARE SICK AND WEAK
(Deu 7:15 NIV) The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.
JESUS WANTS US TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS AS A CONQUERER
(1 John 3:8 KJV) "…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."
EXPECT MIRACLES, SIGNS, WONDERS AND A MIGHTY HAND TO DEFEND YOU
(Deu 7:17 NIV) You may say to yourselves, "These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?"
(Deu 7:18 NIV) But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.
(Deu 7:19 NIV) You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.
GOD CAN EVEN USE NATURE TO ASSIST YOU IN THE FIGHT
(Deu 7:20 NIV) Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished.
GOD SENDS CONFUSION UPON THE ENEMY
(Deu 7:23 NIV) But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed.
SATAN HAS NO "SECRET WEAPON"
(Deu 7:24 NIV) He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them.
SOMETIMES VICTORY TAKES TIME
(Deu 7:22 NIV) The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.
So today be comforted in the fact that although you are involved in spiritual war,
It's not a fair fight.
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31 NIV)
DSR
5/12/03
(Eph 6:12 NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
You and I were born in a battle zone.
Planet earth is under attack.
The devil and his angels have launched a full-scale war
Against the people of God in an attempt to hurt God by hurting His kids.
The hounds of hell are also adamant about preventing lost souls from finding Jesus
So that they too can become part of God's family.
Satan's arsenal includes lies, seduction, exaggeration and other forms of deception.
Now here's the good news.
It's not a fair fight!
If you are born again,
If you are a solider in the army of the Lord
Then you have a distinct advantage over the enemy.
It just plain isn't a fair fight!
Check it out…
THE ENEMIES WEAPONS DON'T WORK RIGHT
(Isa 54:17 NIV) no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
WE WALK IN THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST
(Luke 10:19 NIV) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
GOD HIMSELF FIGHTS FOR US
(1 Sam 17:47 NIV) All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
DEMONS MUST SUBMIT TO THE NAME OF JESUS
(Luke 10:17 NIV) The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
SATAN HIMSELF IS NO MATCH FOR OUR SUBMISSION TO GOD
(James 4:7 NIV) Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
DEMONS, SNAKES, POISON ARE OF NO EFFECT UPON THE MAN OF GOD
(Mark 16:17 NIV) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
(Mark 16:18 NIV) they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
GOD HAS ISSUED US A FULL SUIT OF ARMOR
(Eph 6:11 NIV) Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
TWO-THIRDS OF ALL ANGELS EVER CREATED ARE ON OUR SIDE
(Heb 1:14 NIV) Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
TWO MIGHTY WEAPONS REVEALED
(Rev 12:11 NIV) They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
WE CAN BE HEALTHY AND STRONG WHILE OUR ENEMIES ARE SICK AND WEAK
(Deu 7:15 NIV) The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.
JESUS WANTS US TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS AS A CONQUERER
(1 John 3:8 KJV) "…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."
EXPECT MIRACLES, SIGNS, WONDERS AND A MIGHTY HAND TO DEFEND YOU
(Deu 7:17 NIV) You may say to yourselves, "These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?"
(Deu 7:18 NIV) But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.
(Deu 7:19 NIV) You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.
GOD CAN EVEN USE NATURE TO ASSIST YOU IN THE FIGHT
(Deu 7:20 NIV) Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished.
GOD SENDS CONFUSION UPON THE ENEMY
(Deu 7:23 NIV) But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed.
SATAN HAS NO "SECRET WEAPON"
(Deu 7:24 NIV) He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them.
SOMETIMES VICTORY TAKES TIME
(Deu 7:22 NIV) The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.
So today be comforted in the fact that although you are involved in spiritual war,
It's not a fair fight.
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31 NIV)
DSR
5/12/03
Monday, May 5, 2003
A Question of Doubt
by David Scott Robertson
(Luke 7:20 NIV) “When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"
John the Baptist.
The official forerunner of Christ.
The authorized, God-sanctioned voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord.
The prophesied one who would announce that the Prophesied One would come.
John was born of supernatural means to aged, barren parents.
No doubt John’s mother, Elizabeth, had shared the wonderful story of it all with her son.
Perhaps she even recounted how he had lept in her womb when she met her cousin, Mary,
Who was pregnant with the Lord Jesus Christ at the time (Luke 1:36).
John got the confirmation from God that Jesus was, in fact, the very Son of God:
(John 1:32 NIV) Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
(John 1:33 NIV) I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
(John 1:34 NIV) I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
Furthermore, the day after Jesus’ baptism, Jesus was walking towards him and John publicly declared:
(John 1:29 NIV) “…’Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
John was filled with joy as his ministry began the downward spiral transitioning to an inferior one in comparison with Jesus’ ministry:
(John 3:29 NIV) “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
(John 3:30 NIV) He must become greater; I must become less.”
John had revelation knowledge concerning the greatness of Jesus’ powerful ministry:
(Mat 3:11 NIV) "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
So you see, John knew,
Without a shadow of doubt,
That this one, Jesus, was the literal, historical, actual and scriptural
Only begotten Son of God.
So, why do you think John posed this incredible question?
(Luke 7:20 NIV) “When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"
Think about it!
What was going on in John’s head and heart?
Was he depressed? Confused? Discouraged? Doubtful?
Did he really question the identity of Jesus of Nazareth and all its ramifications to the world?
I don’t think so.
I don’t think so at all.
Could it be that John had strategically sent his followers to Jesus to ask this specific question -
Not for his sake but for theirs?
John had the matter of the identity of Messiah thoroughly settled,
But could John’s disciples say the same thing?
Why were they still his followers when Jesus was now on the scene?
I think it important to note that
When Jesus was asked the question,
He did not immediately respond.
(Luke 7:21 NIV) “At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.
(Luke 7:22 NIV) So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
(Luke 7:23 NIV) Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
John knew that every good Jewish boy would be very familiar
With the classic Messianic promises found in Isaiah:
(Isa 61:1 NIV) “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”
I think the Lord was helping John’s disciples to connect the dots,
To link prophecy with reality,
And to settle certain things in their hearts to help them once John was dead and gone.
Jesus and John both knew that John’s remaining time on earth was very short.
It is very possible since John knew that the time of his departure was drawing near,
That he was preparing his followers the best way he knew to follow Christ.
Perhaps John thought back to the time
When some of his disciples began becoming Jesus’ disciples:
(John 1:35 NIV) “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.
(John 1:36 NIV) When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
(John 1:37 NIV) When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
(John 1:38 NIV) Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
(John 1:39 NIV) "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.”
In conclusion,
The question of doubt
That seemed so uncharacteristic coming from the lips of John ,
May not have been a matter of doubt at all
But instead a carefully crafted matter of hope
To speak into the lives of the remaining disciples of John.
Note also that Jesus did not react negatively to this most unusual question from John.
The Lord’s typical response to the faithlessness of His followers went something like this:
(Mat 17:16 NIV) “ I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him."
(Mat 17:17 NIV) "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."”
But although John’s question sent through his followers to Christ appeared to be faithless,
Once they departed to report the Lord’s answer to John
Notice particularly what Jesus says about John:
(Mat 11:11 NIV) “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
There was no question of doubt what Jesus thought of His faithful friend, John the Baptist.
DSR
5/5/03
(Luke 7:20 NIV) “When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"
John the Baptist.
The official forerunner of Christ.
The authorized, God-sanctioned voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord.
The prophesied one who would announce that the Prophesied One would come.
John was born of supernatural means to aged, barren parents.
No doubt John’s mother, Elizabeth, had shared the wonderful story of it all with her son.
Perhaps she even recounted how he had lept in her womb when she met her cousin, Mary,
Who was pregnant with the Lord Jesus Christ at the time (Luke 1:36).
John got the confirmation from God that Jesus was, in fact, the very Son of God:
(John 1:32 NIV) Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
(John 1:33 NIV) I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
(John 1:34 NIV) I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
Furthermore, the day after Jesus’ baptism, Jesus was walking towards him and John publicly declared:
(John 1:29 NIV) “…’Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
John was filled with joy as his ministry began the downward spiral transitioning to an inferior one in comparison with Jesus’ ministry:
(John 3:29 NIV) “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
(John 3:30 NIV) He must become greater; I must become less.”
John had revelation knowledge concerning the greatness of Jesus’ powerful ministry:
(Mat 3:11 NIV) "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
So you see, John knew,
Without a shadow of doubt,
That this one, Jesus, was the literal, historical, actual and scriptural
Only begotten Son of God.
So, why do you think John posed this incredible question?
(Luke 7:20 NIV) “When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"
Think about it!
What was going on in John’s head and heart?
Was he depressed? Confused? Discouraged? Doubtful?
Did he really question the identity of Jesus of Nazareth and all its ramifications to the world?
I don’t think so.
I don’t think so at all.
Could it be that John had strategically sent his followers to Jesus to ask this specific question -
Not for his sake but for theirs?
John had the matter of the identity of Messiah thoroughly settled,
But could John’s disciples say the same thing?
Why were they still his followers when Jesus was now on the scene?
I think it important to note that
When Jesus was asked the question,
He did not immediately respond.
(Luke 7:21 NIV) “At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.
(Luke 7:22 NIV) So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
(Luke 7:23 NIV) Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
John knew that every good Jewish boy would be very familiar
With the classic Messianic promises found in Isaiah:
(Isa 61:1 NIV) “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”
I think the Lord was helping John’s disciples to connect the dots,
To link prophecy with reality,
And to settle certain things in their hearts to help them once John was dead and gone.
Jesus and John both knew that John’s remaining time on earth was very short.
It is very possible since John knew that the time of his departure was drawing near,
That he was preparing his followers the best way he knew to follow Christ.
Perhaps John thought back to the time
When some of his disciples began becoming Jesus’ disciples:
(John 1:35 NIV) “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.
(John 1:36 NIV) When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
(John 1:37 NIV) When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
(John 1:38 NIV) Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
(John 1:39 NIV) "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.”
In conclusion,
The question of doubt
That seemed so uncharacteristic coming from the lips of John ,
May not have been a matter of doubt at all
But instead a carefully crafted matter of hope
To speak into the lives of the remaining disciples of John.
Note also that Jesus did not react negatively to this most unusual question from John.
The Lord’s typical response to the faithlessness of His followers went something like this:
(Mat 17:16 NIV) “ I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him."
(Mat 17:17 NIV) "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."”
But although John’s question sent through his followers to Christ appeared to be faithless,
Once they departed to report the Lord’s answer to John
Notice particularly what Jesus says about John:
(Mat 11:11 NIV) “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
There was no question of doubt what Jesus thought of His faithful friend, John the Baptist.
DSR
5/5/03
Monday, April 28, 2003
Are You Worth Following?
by David Scott Robertson
"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
The Apostle Paul wrote the words quoted above.
Now there was a man worth following.
But even Paul was only worth following as He followed Jesus.
"You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit" (I Thessalonians 1:6).
What about you?
Are you worth following?
Could you rightly say with Paul, "follow my example as I follow the example of Christ"?
What if everyone in the church was like you?
What if everyone's financial stewardship matched yours?
Do you tithe? Do you give offerings above the tithe?
Could the church afford to pay the mortgage?
Could they pay the preacher and his staff?
Could they afford to keep the utilities on?
Would there be any money for missions?
What if everyone in the church served like you?
What if everyone's faithfulness level matched yours?
Could the church staff its classes with teachers like you?
Could they staff their nurseries?
Could they offer children and youth ministries?
Could they prepare communion and keep the building clean?
Would the needs of the poor and underserved be met?
Are you available or too busy for God's work?
What if everyone in the church won souls like you?
What if everyone's heart for evangelism matched yours?
Would the church be growing?
Would it even exist in ten years? (Experts report that there's nearly a 10% annual attrition rate in most churches.)
Would the kingdom of God be expanding?
Would people be added to the church daily such as should be saved?
Would there be more new believers on December 31st than January 1st of the same year because of your compassion (and corresponding action) for souls?
What if everyone in the church discipled people like you?
What if everyone's passion to make disciples matched yours?
Would there be any new disciples?
Would the harvest be conserved and retained?
Would there be any new leaders emerging?
Would there be a new crop of excited and motivated Christians ready to carry out the vision to win more souls and make more disciples?
What if everyone in the church had your zeal for God's work?
What if everyone's level of commitment to the vision matched yours?
Would they submit to the leadership of the church?
Would they support the church in prayers, attendance, giving, and participation in the vision?
Would they be "pillars in the house of God" that can be built on
Or would they be so unreliable that the leadership could not go forward with the God's plan because they never would know whether you were really in or really out?
If I were to follow your example,
How would I do on the Day of Judgment?
What would Jesus say to me when it's my turn to give an account for my life on earth?
Would He be able to say "well done, good and faithful servant" or "you buried your talents in the ground"?
Let me ask you again…
Are you worth following?
None of us are worth following if we live carnal, self-centered lives.
But anyone who makes it their determined goal in life to be like Jesus...
To do the works of Jesus in the power of the Spirit…
To fulfill His vision to win souls and make disciples (the Great Commission)…
And to love the Father and love our neighbors (the Great Commandment)…
That person is worth following.
DSR
4/28/03
"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
The Apostle Paul wrote the words quoted above.
Now there was a man worth following.
But even Paul was only worth following as He followed Jesus.
"You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit" (I Thessalonians 1:6).
What about you?
Are you worth following?
Could you rightly say with Paul, "follow my example as I follow the example of Christ"?
What if everyone in the church was like you?
What if everyone's financial stewardship matched yours?
Do you tithe? Do you give offerings above the tithe?
Could the church afford to pay the mortgage?
Could they pay the preacher and his staff?
Could they afford to keep the utilities on?
Would there be any money for missions?
What if everyone in the church served like you?
What if everyone's faithfulness level matched yours?
Could the church staff its classes with teachers like you?
Could they staff their nurseries?
Could they offer children and youth ministries?
Could they prepare communion and keep the building clean?
Would the needs of the poor and underserved be met?
Are you available or too busy for God's work?
What if everyone in the church won souls like you?
What if everyone's heart for evangelism matched yours?
Would the church be growing?
Would it even exist in ten years? (Experts report that there's nearly a 10% annual attrition rate in most churches.)
Would the kingdom of God be expanding?
Would people be added to the church daily such as should be saved?
Would there be more new believers on December 31st than January 1st of the same year because of your compassion (and corresponding action) for souls?
What if everyone in the church discipled people like you?
What if everyone's passion to make disciples matched yours?
Would there be any new disciples?
Would the harvest be conserved and retained?
Would there be any new leaders emerging?
Would there be a new crop of excited and motivated Christians ready to carry out the vision to win more souls and make more disciples?
What if everyone in the church had your zeal for God's work?
What if everyone's level of commitment to the vision matched yours?
Would they submit to the leadership of the church?
Would they support the church in prayers, attendance, giving, and participation in the vision?
Would they be "pillars in the house of God" that can be built on
Or would they be so unreliable that the leadership could not go forward with the God's plan because they never would know whether you were really in or really out?
If I were to follow your example,
How would I do on the Day of Judgment?
What would Jesus say to me when it's my turn to give an account for my life on earth?
Would He be able to say "well done, good and faithful servant" or "you buried your talents in the ground"?
Let me ask you again…
Are you worth following?
None of us are worth following if we live carnal, self-centered lives.
But anyone who makes it their determined goal in life to be like Jesus...
To do the works of Jesus in the power of the Spirit…
To fulfill His vision to win souls and make disciples (the Great Commission)…
And to love the Father and love our neighbors (the Great Commandment)…
That person is worth following.
DSR
4/28/03
Monday, April 7, 2003
Why Opinion Polls Mean Nothing to Me
by David Scott Robertson
How do Americans feel about President George W. Bush?
The Opinion Poll says…
Do Americans support the war in Iraq?
The Opinion Poll says…
How many feel that Osama bin Laden and his followers are a threat to world security?
The Opinion Poll says…
I am not impressed or influenced by what the opinion polls say.
To me, they are not a valid representation of the facts or the truth.
Granted, they can be useful as a “perception meter” but perception is not, in fact, reality.
Why do I believe this?
Because the undeniable, unalterable, indefensible truth is that man is fickle.
That truth has been effectively demonstrated throughout history since the dawn of time.
A crowd can be easily manipulated, intimidated, and/or influenced to react to carefully presented stimuli intended on evoking a certain emotion or response. This statement is not an opinion, it is a fact. Let me prove it to you.
Here are three examples (cited from the Bible, the inerrant, inspired, infallible Word of God) among billions that illustrate that God knew what He was talking about when He wrote that “a fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions” (Proverbs 18:2).
EXAMPLE #1: ACTS 14:18-19
The scene: The Apostle Paul and Barnabas are in Lystra preaching the Word of God. Paul sees a man lame from birth and heals him on the spot by the power of God. The crowd reacts saying “the gods have come down to us in human form!” (v.11). Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes in protest and with many words are scarcely able to restrain them from sacrificing to them. We pick up on the fickleness of public opinion in verses 18-19:
(Acts 14:18 NIV) Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
(Acts 14:19 NIV) Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.”
It took only one verse to go from the crowd wanting to sacrifice to them to Paul being stoned to death!
This is why opinion polls mean nothing to me!
EXAMPLE #2: LUKE 4:16-30
The scene: Jesus is in His hometown of Nazareth publicly reading Isaiah’s writings at church on the Sabbath.
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (vs. 18-19).
Jesus, rolls up the scroll and comments: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (v 21).
Now here’s what public opinion indicated: “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips…” (v. 22).
Five verses later, after Jesus makes one comment, the “amazed crowd” was furious and filled with murderous thoughts about Jesus: “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff” (v. 28-29).
No wonder Jesus boldly decried opinion polls when He said: “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).
This is why opinion polls mean nothing to me!
EXAMPLE #3: MATTHEW 27:20-25
The scene: Jesus amazed the multitudes time and again throughout his public ministry. At one point, they wanted to forcibly make Him their king (John 6:15). He had healed their sick bodies, fed their hungry stomachs, blessed their children, spoke with authority such words as had never been spoken, and invited them to experience Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Yet in spite of all the signs and wonders and authoritative expounding of the scriptures proving that He was the Christ, at the moment of truth, carnal and jealous religious leaders were able to effectively manipulate public opinion:
(Mat 27:20 NIV) But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
(Mat 27:21 NIV) "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered.
(Mat 27:22 NIV) "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!"
Jerusalem Opinion Poll: How many here today think it would be a good idea to kill the Son of God?
Yes – 90%
No – 10%
“But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand” (Luke 23:23-24).
This is why opinion polls mean nothing to me!
Jesus knew that opinion polls mean nothing. One moment the crowd could be laying palm branches and clothing on the road welcoming the Messiah into their town and lives declaring:
"…Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9).
Not too many days later the opinion polls took a drastic turn causing many of these same people who welcomed Him with shouts of joy to say:
"…Let his blood be on us and on our children!" (Matthew 27:25).
No wonder Jesus “…would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man” (John 2:24-25).
This is why opinion polls mean nothing to me!
DSR
4/7/03
How do Americans feel about President George W. Bush?
The Opinion Poll says…
Do Americans support the war in Iraq?
The Opinion Poll says…
How many feel that Osama bin Laden and his followers are a threat to world security?
The Opinion Poll says…
I am not impressed or influenced by what the opinion polls say.
To me, they are not a valid representation of the facts or the truth.
Granted, they can be useful as a “perception meter” but perception is not, in fact, reality.
Why do I believe this?
Because the undeniable, unalterable, indefensible truth is that man is fickle.
That truth has been effectively demonstrated throughout history since the dawn of time.
A crowd can be easily manipulated, intimidated, and/or influenced to react to carefully presented stimuli intended on evoking a certain emotion or response. This statement is not an opinion, it is a fact. Let me prove it to you.
Here are three examples (cited from the Bible, the inerrant, inspired, infallible Word of God) among billions that illustrate that God knew what He was talking about when He wrote that “a fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions” (Proverbs 18:2).
EXAMPLE #1: ACTS 14:18-19
The scene: The Apostle Paul and Barnabas are in Lystra preaching the Word of God. Paul sees a man lame from birth and heals him on the spot by the power of God. The crowd reacts saying “the gods have come down to us in human form!” (v.11). Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes in protest and with many words are scarcely able to restrain them from sacrificing to them. We pick up on the fickleness of public opinion in verses 18-19:
(Acts 14:18 NIV) Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
(Acts 14:19 NIV) Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.”
It took only one verse to go from the crowd wanting to sacrifice to them to Paul being stoned to death!
This is why opinion polls mean nothing to me!
EXAMPLE #2: LUKE 4:16-30
The scene: Jesus is in His hometown of Nazareth publicly reading Isaiah’s writings at church on the Sabbath.
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (vs. 18-19).
Jesus, rolls up the scroll and comments: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (v 21).
Now here’s what public opinion indicated: “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips…” (v. 22).
Five verses later, after Jesus makes one comment, the “amazed crowd” was furious and filled with murderous thoughts about Jesus: “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff” (v. 28-29).
No wonder Jesus boldly decried opinion polls when He said: “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).
This is why opinion polls mean nothing to me!
EXAMPLE #3: MATTHEW 27:20-25
The scene: Jesus amazed the multitudes time and again throughout his public ministry. At one point, they wanted to forcibly make Him their king (John 6:15). He had healed their sick bodies, fed their hungry stomachs, blessed their children, spoke with authority such words as had never been spoken, and invited them to experience Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Yet in spite of all the signs and wonders and authoritative expounding of the scriptures proving that He was the Christ, at the moment of truth, carnal and jealous religious leaders were able to effectively manipulate public opinion:
(Mat 27:20 NIV) But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
(Mat 27:21 NIV) "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered.
(Mat 27:22 NIV) "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!"
Jerusalem Opinion Poll: How many here today think it would be a good idea to kill the Son of God?
Yes – 90%
No – 10%
“But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand” (Luke 23:23-24).
This is why opinion polls mean nothing to me!
Jesus knew that opinion polls mean nothing. One moment the crowd could be laying palm branches and clothing on the road welcoming the Messiah into their town and lives declaring:
"…Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9).
Not too many days later the opinion polls took a drastic turn causing many of these same people who welcomed Him with shouts of joy to say:
"…Let his blood be on us and on our children!" (Matthew 27:25).
No wonder Jesus “…would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man” (John 2:24-25).
This is why opinion polls mean nothing to me!
DSR
4/7/03
Monday, March 31, 2003
You Are in Error Because...
by David Scott Robertson
(Mat 22:23 NIV) That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.
(Mat 22:24 NIV) "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him.
(Mat 22:25 NIV) Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.
(Mat 22:26 NIV) The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.
(Mat 22:27 NIV) Finally, the woman died.
(Mat 22:28 NIV) Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"
(Mat 22:29 NIV) Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
The Sadducees claimed there was no resurrection.
(One preacher explained that’s why they were “sad-you-see!”)
Where in the world did the Sadducees get the idea that there was no resurrection?
The answer is in my question.
They got that doctrine “in the world” not from God.
Jesus set the record the record straight once for all
As to why the Sadducees (a very sincere and religious people group)
Entirely missed the important doctrinal truth of the resurrection.
Jesus revealed to them two things they did not know:
1. The scriptures
2. The power of God
The same could be said of
Mormons,
Jehovah’s Witnesses,
Muslims,
Hindus,
Buddhists,
New-agers,
And any other cult or pseudo-Christian cult.
(Mat 22:29 NIV) Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
(Hosea 4:6 NIV) “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…”
(Col 2:2 NIV) My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
(Col 2:3 NIV) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
It takes God to know God.
It takes the Holy Spirit to lift words from the printed page
And transform them into spiritual food to a sincere and hungry heart.
(1 Cor 2:14 NIV) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Lord Jesus, help us to do two things better this year:
1. To know the scriptures
2. To experience the power of God
DSR
3/31/03
(Mat 22:23 NIV) That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.
(Mat 22:24 NIV) "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him.
(Mat 22:25 NIV) Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.
(Mat 22:26 NIV) The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.
(Mat 22:27 NIV) Finally, the woman died.
(Mat 22:28 NIV) Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"
(Mat 22:29 NIV) Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
The Sadducees claimed there was no resurrection.
(One preacher explained that’s why they were “sad-you-see!”)
Where in the world did the Sadducees get the idea that there was no resurrection?
The answer is in my question.
They got that doctrine “in the world” not from God.
Jesus set the record the record straight once for all
As to why the Sadducees (a very sincere and religious people group)
Entirely missed the important doctrinal truth of the resurrection.
Jesus revealed to them two things they did not know:
1. The scriptures
2. The power of God
The same could be said of
Mormons,
Jehovah’s Witnesses,
Muslims,
Hindus,
Buddhists,
New-agers,
And any other cult or pseudo-Christian cult.
(Mat 22:29 NIV) Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
(Hosea 4:6 NIV) “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…”
(Col 2:2 NIV) My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
(Col 2:3 NIV) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
It takes God to know God.
It takes the Holy Spirit to lift words from the printed page
And transform them into spiritual food to a sincere and hungry heart.
(1 Cor 2:14 NIV) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Lord Jesus, help us to do two things better this year:
1. To know the scriptures
2. To experience the power of God
DSR
3/31/03
Sunday, March 16, 2003
Love at First Sight
by David Scott Robertson
(Mat 20:30 NIV) Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
(Mat 20:31 NIV) The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
(Mat 20:32 NIV) Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
(Mat 20:33 NIV) "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."
(Mat 20:34 NIV) Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him."
Can you imagine what it must be like to be born blind?
How about being born blind thousands of years ago in a culture that offered no welfare, no social services, no handicapped helps, rules or protection?
How would you handle these assignments?
Describe to a blind person what a rose looks like…
Describe the color red…
Describe what a dog looks like…
Describe a camel…
Describe your mother's hair…
I wonder, which is worse: To have been born blind and never seen at all or to have seen and then lose the privilege?
At any rate, life was very, very hard for these two men the Bible describes.
Now, imagine this:
Jesus shows up in their world.
A light touch later of the Master's hand and behold!
The first sight, the very first sight the blind pair saw was the face of God!
It was love at first sight!
Their eyes, brain, and senses immediately began to function in an unprecedented way!
Talk about sensory overload!
Their eyes probably drank in the rivers of sights - everything, absolutely everything and everyone they looked at for the first time they looked at for the first time!
Oh, how I would have loved to have been there!
But the best part was that the two ex-blind men experienced love at first sight.
The love of God expressed through the compassion of His Son.
They had seen the face of Jesus…
…the face the prophets longed to see but never did.
…the face that modern-day Christians long to see but rarely do.
…the face that one steady gaze satisfies the deep places in your soul.
What a rare and unusual privilege these two obscure and extremely blessed former blind men had! How many people in the history of the planet can testify with them "I was blind but now I see?"
Out of dark tragedy these two blind men emerged into a bright world filled with hope.
Now only dark memories remained…
How disappointed their parents must have been on the day that they made the discovery that their sons could not see.
The hardships this must have created in trying to raise these handicapped children…
The inability to function properly in society,
The absence of a normal childhood,
The teasing of unkind teenagers,
The inability to work and make a living rather consigned to beg to sustain themselves,
The impossible thought of marrying and having a family…
Who among us that has the gift of sight to read these words can even begin to understand?
(John 9:2 NIV) His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
(John 9:3 NIV) "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
God had a plan from the foundation of the world for these two blind boys.
God knew them and loved them right from the start right up until the fateful day.
One day, God's watch read "due season."
One day was "the fullness of time."
One fine day two blind fellows were at the right place at the right time.
It was at this intersection that desperate need and God's power collided.
(Mat 20:34 NIV) "Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight AND FOLLOWED H IM." [emphasis mine]
Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands saw the face of Jesus of Nazareth as He walked the dusty roads and spoke words with authority like no other. Most saw Him but never knew Him, fewer still followed Him.
But the Bible specifically says that these two men followed Him.
Two nameless, happy men walked with God.
I like to think that they went on to live fruitful, productive lives in society.
Maybe they picked up a trade.
Every day was a wonder, every chore a delight, every mundane task tolerable, palatable, no, enjoyable, because of the gift of sight!
At last, at long last, they were able to "earn" a living and make a contribution to the family's income!
Maybe these men even went on to meet a special woman, fall in love, get married and raise a family. What bedtime stories these men could tell their own sons and daughters about the time that Messiah came to town and touched their lives!
For all we do not know about the lives of these two former blind men
This one thing we do know…
…they followed him (Matthew 20:34).
The conclusion of the matter to my view:
To be born blind is not the worst thing that could ever happen to a person.
To see Jesus Christ, and not become His follower, I should think, is a far greater tragedy than blindness.
DSR
3/16/03
(Mat 20:30 NIV) Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
(Mat 20:31 NIV) The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
(Mat 20:32 NIV) Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
(Mat 20:33 NIV) "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."
(Mat 20:34 NIV) Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him."
Can you imagine what it must be like to be born blind?
How about being born blind thousands of years ago in a culture that offered no welfare, no social services, no handicapped helps, rules or protection?
How would you handle these assignments?
Describe to a blind person what a rose looks like…
Describe the color red…
Describe what a dog looks like…
Describe a camel…
Describe your mother's hair…
I wonder, which is worse: To have been born blind and never seen at all or to have seen and then lose the privilege?
At any rate, life was very, very hard for these two men the Bible describes.
Now, imagine this:
Jesus shows up in their world.
A light touch later of the Master's hand and behold!
The first sight, the very first sight the blind pair saw was the face of God!
It was love at first sight!
Their eyes, brain, and senses immediately began to function in an unprecedented way!
Talk about sensory overload!
Their eyes probably drank in the rivers of sights - everything, absolutely everything and everyone they looked at for the first time they looked at for the first time!
Oh, how I would have loved to have been there!
But the best part was that the two ex-blind men experienced love at first sight.
The love of God expressed through the compassion of His Son.
They had seen the face of Jesus…
…the face the prophets longed to see but never did.
…the face that modern-day Christians long to see but rarely do.
…the face that one steady gaze satisfies the deep places in your soul.
What a rare and unusual privilege these two obscure and extremely blessed former blind men had! How many people in the history of the planet can testify with them "I was blind but now I see?"
Out of dark tragedy these two blind men emerged into a bright world filled with hope.
Now only dark memories remained…
How disappointed their parents must have been on the day that they made the discovery that their sons could not see.
The hardships this must have created in trying to raise these handicapped children…
The inability to function properly in society,
The absence of a normal childhood,
The teasing of unkind teenagers,
The inability to work and make a living rather consigned to beg to sustain themselves,
The impossible thought of marrying and having a family…
Who among us that has the gift of sight to read these words can even begin to understand?
(John 9:2 NIV) His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
(John 9:3 NIV) "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
God had a plan from the foundation of the world for these two blind boys.
God knew them and loved them right from the start right up until the fateful day.
One day, God's watch read "due season."
One day was "the fullness of time."
One fine day two blind fellows were at the right place at the right time.
It was at this intersection that desperate need and God's power collided.
(Mat 20:34 NIV) "Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight AND FOLLOWED H IM." [emphasis mine]
Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands saw the face of Jesus of Nazareth as He walked the dusty roads and spoke words with authority like no other. Most saw Him but never knew Him, fewer still followed Him.
But the Bible specifically says that these two men followed Him.
Two nameless, happy men walked with God.
I like to think that they went on to live fruitful, productive lives in society.
Maybe they picked up a trade.
Every day was a wonder, every chore a delight, every mundane task tolerable, palatable, no, enjoyable, because of the gift of sight!
At last, at long last, they were able to "earn" a living and make a contribution to the family's income!
Maybe these men even went on to meet a special woman, fall in love, get married and raise a family. What bedtime stories these men could tell their own sons and daughters about the time that Messiah came to town and touched their lives!
For all we do not know about the lives of these two former blind men
This one thing we do know…
…they followed him (Matthew 20:34).
The conclusion of the matter to my view:
To be born blind is not the worst thing that could ever happen to a person.
To see Jesus Christ, and not become His follower, I should think, is a far greater tragedy than blindness.
DSR
3/16/03
Saturday, March 8, 2003
Ten Considerations of the Power of the Cross
by David Scott Robertson
1. Consider that the cross -- Actually divided the Trinity
The King James version of the Bible says in 1 John 5:7: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
One God eternally existent in three Persons - that's the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. If you think too hard about the concept of the Trinity you can lose your mind, if you don't think hard enough about it you can lose your place in eternity with God! It's a large thought.
But when He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ - God necessarily turned His back on sin. That's why Jesus cried out while on the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" (Matthew 27:46 NIV) Answer: Because a holy God cannot tolerate sin. Isaiah 59:2 says: "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
So, at the cross, something that had never been before nor will ever be again - actually happened - the Trinity experienced separation. As God withdrew His presence from the sin of the world, embodied in His beloved Son, light went with Him and for three hours the light of the world was gone - and there was a great darkness. That day, the SUN/SON died. But during the darkness, the Bible says in Luke 23:45, "the curtain in the temple was torn in two."
You may be going through a dark period in your life. But I want to encourage you that something powerful might be going on behind the scenes and you wonder if God is even there? The I AM is there and He is very much at work through the power of the cross!
2. Consider that the cross -- Made God "our" Father
The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become the sons of God.
John 1:12 proves this when it says: "Yet to all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." That's what being "born again" is all about. Being adopted into God's family as a permanent relative.
This next verse I'm going to quote, when Jesus said it out loud for the first time, I believe it shook the devil to his core! Why? Consider the implications of Jesus declaration to one of His followers just after His resurrection:
(John 20:17 NIV) Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and YOUR Father, to my God and YOUR God."
And I can almost hear Satan gasping, in complete and utter horror and disbelief: "What do you mean THEIR FATHER? I know You are the Son of God, even my demons know that, but THE MOST HIGH IS NOW THEIR FATHER?"
You see, the New Testament scriptures had not yet been written - so Satan couldn't read ahead and find out what was going to happen next to Jesus - Satan had no idea that the cross wasn't going to end in defeat but was going to accomplish the purposes of God.
Had the devil realized the power of the cross and what Jesus' death on it would accomplish for mankind I believe he would have modified his strategy and forsaken his plan to kill the Christ. How do I know that?
Because the New Testament scripture written at a later time reveals God's manifold wisdom:
(1 Cor 2:7 NIV) No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
(1 Cor 2:8 NIV) None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
God is now OUR Father by the power of the cross!
3. Consider that the cross -- Scarred the body of Jesus Christ forever
(John 20:25 NIV) So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he ["Doubting Thomas"] said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
(John 20:26 NIV) A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
(John 20:27 NIV) Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Here we have the scarred resurrected Christ! But really, that's interesting but that's not even the point that blows me away! The point I want you to meditate on is what's called "the incarnation." That is, God becoming a man. There are lots of world religions that would have man to become God, but the Christian faith is the only one in which God becomes man.
I am convinced that this side of heaven you and I will never fully comprehend nor appreciate what it meant that God, the infinite God who created quadrillions of stars and has every single one of them named, condescended to become a man and live in a human body. The Son of God / the Son of man. Jesus Christ - fully God, fully man.
See here's the twist: the Bible teaches us in John 4:24 that:
(John 4:24 NIV) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Notice in the Old Testament that whenever Jesus appears in His pre-incarnate state, He is often referred to as "the Angel of the Lord." He didn't get a body until He was born of a young Jewish girl named Mary.
But notice this: Jesus, AFTER His resurrection, REMAINED in a body. God-in-a-body AFTER he had finished the work His Father had prepared for him to do! Think about it!
And to this day, to this hour, He remains in a glorified body, the first fruits of what you and I are going to inherit because of the power of the cross.
4. Consider that the cross -- Was very likely the scene of an unseen showdown
Don't you think that Lucifer and his fallen angels were there at Golgotha that day to boast, brag, and arrogantly belch out their apparent victory to their angelic counterparts?
We can't prove it, but I don't have any problem believing that the entire heavenly host turned out for the event of the ages - I think every last one of them was there to witness the most amazing scene that had ever been since the creation.
The very One whom the angels had worshipped was now terminally tacked up on a cross, bruised, beaten, naked, dripping with sweat and blood and foul smelling spit from the His enemies. How could this possibly be? Can you just imagine the party hell was throwing on a hill called Mt. Calvary?
Can't you just feel the tension and stress of Michael the archangel and thousands of his warring angels just hovering…totally powerless to intervene because they had not received a whisper of an order from Jesus or the Father concerning this matter?
I know they were they because the Lord told His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53 NIV)
Can you imagine the jeers and taunts of one-third of the fallen angles now established as principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places casting insults on the remaining two-thirds of the faithful angels who stayed behind with God as heaven's Champion lay nailed to a cross?
Did the demons taunt and tease the heavenly host with jabs like: "Who made the right choice? Did we not say join in the rebellion with us? Did not our master Lucifer rightly say he could be like the Most High?"
I don't know if this happened but I find it hard to believe that the devil and the hounds of hell weren't there to witness their finest hour and gloat in their alleged victory. But to the dismay and agony of the angels Jesus gave no command nor called on His Father to do so, but followed through with what He had said earlier: "But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:54 NIV)
The power of the cross.
5. Consider that the cross -- Forever established the "priesthood of believers"
When we come to the cross and repent of our sins, we are transformed by the power of God into what 1 Peter 2:9 says "…a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
In the Old Testament, to be a priest, you had to be a Levite. A male Levite. A male Levite between the ages of twenty and fifty unblemished without defect. And even if you made the cut, the farthest you go in your priestly role was into the holy place in the tabernacle or temple.
As a ordinary priest you couldn't get into the Holy of Holies, the place where the glory of God dwelt - ("the glory" was a miraculous, supernatural, physical, visible glory cloud called "the shekinah" that hovered over the ark of the covenant) - and only the high priest was permitted to go in to the Holy of Holies, and even then only one time per year.
But because of the cross, everything's changed.
Now YOU AND I, by God's personal invitation no less, extended to us in Hebrews 4:16: can "…come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
When the twelve tribes of Israel were receiving their royal inheritance from God, eleven tribes received land, one tribe received the priesthood - the Levites. God Himself was their inheritance. The priests were privileged to minister unto the Lord. In the same fashion, God has chosen us to be in HIS ministry and join Him in HIS work. And what ministry might that be?
(2 Cor 5:18 NIV) "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
(2 Cor 5:19 NIV) that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
(2 Cor 5:20 NIV) We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
Our job is to go and make disciples. It's called the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). It's God's dream and will and desire that none should perish but all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
The cross has transformed us from sinners to saints, from servants to sons, and from pagans to priests of God Most High to win the lost and make disciples.
The power of the cross!
6. Consider that the cross -- Proved that God loves us
(John 13:1 NIV) "It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love."
What was the full extent of His love?
(Rom 5:8 NIV) "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
(John 15:13 NIV) Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Since we were children many of us were brought up singing:: "Jesus loves me this I know / for the Bible tells me so…"
God loves me. God is love. We've heard it so much it's old news. If we're not careful we can become jaded, desensitized to its impact. How many of you reading this are parents? How many of you have only one child in your family? Would you be willing to give up your child to die for a terrorist? How about a child molester? What about sacrificing your beloved offspring for a serial killer? A backslidden housewife? Even if you had twelve children, would you be willing to let even one of them die for somebody else's mistakes?
But that's exactly what God did for us through the power of the cross. There's an old chorus of a hymn that says it so well: "Amazing love how can it be that thou my God should die for me?"
7. Consider that the cross -- Purchased forgiveness for mankind's sin: Past, Present & Future
God's not up in heaven with a cosmic baseball bat ready to thump us on the head every time you and I mess up. The Bible says that "…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20).
Another wonderful promise of God that we can count on concerning obtaining forgiveness for our sin, even those we consider most despicable, is found in Isaiah 1:18:
"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
We don't have a "revolving door" salvation experience. That is to say, that every time you and I make a mistake that God blots our name out of the Lamb's book of life.
1 John 2:1 teaches "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."
No matter how bad you think your mistake is, it cannot overcome the power of the cross:
(1 Cor 1:18 NIV) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
8. Consider that the cross -- Provided for all our needs in this life
Everything we need pertaining to life and godliness God provides. God knows you've got to eat, send the kids to school, pay your taxes, and put gas in the car.
Our Heavenly father knows that you need to pay your cable bill, buy that new bass boat, get a new set of clubs…(Sometimes what we perceive as a need God knows is really a desire.)
Goes DOES NOT have a problem with you having things as long as things don't have you. As a matter of fact, He LONGS TO BLESS YOU and give you the desires of your heart and put you on display to this entire world that there is a difference between those who serve God and those who do not. He's not trying to keep something FROM YOU but He's trying to get blessing TO YOU through your obedience!
The cross provides for all our needs and they come in a thousand varieties. (Phil 4:19 NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Every need supplied through the power of the cross and the resurrected Christ!
9. Consider that the cross -- Gives us power over the devil
Jesus said in Luke 10:19:
"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."
Because of the power of the cross, it's not a fair fight. You see, "No weapon formed against us shall prosper!" (Isaiah 54:17).
On the other hand, the weapons that God has equipped us with work very well:
(2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV) "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…"
Because of the cross, we have been clothed in the righteousness of God in Christ - we are dead and our lives are hidden with Christ in God - hidden - Jesus is our "cloaking device" that hides us in the secret place of the Most High under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91)!
Under our robes of humility we are encased in the full armor of God - we're covered with His blood. If the devil could get through the blood of Jesus he'd be a saved devil.
And if that's not enough, "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." (Psalm 34:7 NIV)
The cross gives us power over the devil!
10. Consider that the cross -- Breaks the chains that bind us
There's not a hook, a habit, a bondage, a chain, a scheme or a plot hatched in hell that is so strong and powerful that it can withstand and overcome the power of the cross of Jesus Christ.
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36 NIV).
The apostle Paul wrote in:
(Phil 1:19 NIV) "for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance."
Did you ever stop to think that you may be going through what you're going through so that later you can help somebody else get through what you got through?
What the devil means for harm in your life, God is going to turn around for your good! God absolutely delights in taking the arrows that the enemy shoots at you and has the splendid ability to catch them in mid-air and transform them into blessings to lay at your feet.
How is that possible? Through the power of the cross! Because Jesus reconciled us with our Creator and dealt a fatal blow to the sin issue that separated us from God, we have been set free from fear and lust and pornography and dope and any and every weight that we have tolerated or invited to be part of our lives.
The power of the cross of Jesus Christ and His mighty resurrection effectively deals with legal and illegal intrusion into our life by our adversary, the devil!
The writer of the old hymn was absolutely right when they wrote:
At the cross / at the cross / where I first saw the light / and the burden of my heart rolled away / it was there by faith / I received my sight / and now I am happy all the day.
DSR
3/8/03
1. Consider that the cross -- Actually divided the Trinity
The King James version of the Bible says in 1 John 5:7: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
One God eternally existent in three Persons - that's the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. If you think too hard about the concept of the Trinity you can lose your mind, if you don't think hard enough about it you can lose your place in eternity with God! It's a large thought.
But when He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ - God necessarily turned His back on sin. That's why Jesus cried out while on the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" (Matthew 27:46 NIV) Answer: Because a holy God cannot tolerate sin. Isaiah 59:2 says: "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
So, at the cross, something that had never been before nor will ever be again - actually happened - the Trinity experienced separation. As God withdrew His presence from the sin of the world, embodied in His beloved Son, light went with Him and for three hours the light of the world was gone - and there was a great darkness. That day, the SUN/SON died. But during the darkness, the Bible says in Luke 23:45, "the curtain in the temple was torn in two."
You may be going through a dark period in your life. But I want to encourage you that something powerful might be going on behind the scenes and you wonder if God is even there? The I AM is there and He is very much at work through the power of the cross!
2. Consider that the cross -- Made God "our" Father
The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become the sons of God.
John 1:12 proves this when it says: "Yet to all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." That's what being "born again" is all about. Being adopted into God's family as a permanent relative.
This next verse I'm going to quote, when Jesus said it out loud for the first time, I believe it shook the devil to his core! Why? Consider the implications of Jesus declaration to one of His followers just after His resurrection:
(John 20:17 NIV) Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and YOUR Father, to my God and YOUR God."
And I can almost hear Satan gasping, in complete and utter horror and disbelief: "What do you mean THEIR FATHER? I know You are the Son of God, even my demons know that, but THE MOST HIGH IS NOW THEIR FATHER?"
You see, the New Testament scriptures had not yet been written - so Satan couldn't read ahead and find out what was going to happen next to Jesus - Satan had no idea that the cross wasn't going to end in defeat but was going to accomplish the purposes of God.
Had the devil realized the power of the cross and what Jesus' death on it would accomplish for mankind I believe he would have modified his strategy and forsaken his plan to kill the Christ. How do I know that?
Because the New Testament scripture written at a later time reveals God's manifold wisdom:
(1 Cor 2:7 NIV) No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
(1 Cor 2:8 NIV) None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
God is now OUR Father by the power of the cross!
3. Consider that the cross -- Scarred the body of Jesus Christ forever
(John 20:25 NIV) So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he ["Doubting Thomas"] said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
(John 20:26 NIV) A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
(John 20:27 NIV) Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Here we have the scarred resurrected Christ! But really, that's interesting but that's not even the point that blows me away! The point I want you to meditate on is what's called "the incarnation." That is, God becoming a man. There are lots of world religions that would have man to become God, but the Christian faith is the only one in which God becomes man.
I am convinced that this side of heaven you and I will never fully comprehend nor appreciate what it meant that God, the infinite God who created quadrillions of stars and has every single one of them named, condescended to become a man and live in a human body. The Son of God / the Son of man. Jesus Christ - fully God, fully man.
See here's the twist: the Bible teaches us in John 4:24 that:
(John 4:24 NIV) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Notice in the Old Testament that whenever Jesus appears in His pre-incarnate state, He is often referred to as "the Angel of the Lord." He didn't get a body until He was born of a young Jewish girl named Mary.
But notice this: Jesus, AFTER His resurrection, REMAINED in a body. God-in-a-body AFTER he had finished the work His Father had prepared for him to do! Think about it!
And to this day, to this hour, He remains in a glorified body, the first fruits of what you and I are going to inherit because of the power of the cross.
4. Consider that the cross -- Was very likely the scene of an unseen showdown
Don't you think that Lucifer and his fallen angels were there at Golgotha that day to boast, brag, and arrogantly belch out their apparent victory to their angelic counterparts?
We can't prove it, but I don't have any problem believing that the entire heavenly host turned out for the event of the ages - I think every last one of them was there to witness the most amazing scene that had ever been since the creation.
The very One whom the angels had worshipped was now terminally tacked up on a cross, bruised, beaten, naked, dripping with sweat and blood and foul smelling spit from the His enemies. How could this possibly be? Can you just imagine the party hell was throwing on a hill called Mt. Calvary?
Can't you just feel the tension and stress of Michael the archangel and thousands of his warring angels just hovering…totally powerless to intervene because they had not received a whisper of an order from Jesus or the Father concerning this matter?
I know they were they because the Lord told His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53 NIV)
Can you imagine the jeers and taunts of one-third of the fallen angles now established as principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places casting insults on the remaining two-thirds of the faithful angels who stayed behind with God as heaven's Champion lay nailed to a cross?
Did the demons taunt and tease the heavenly host with jabs like: "Who made the right choice? Did we not say join in the rebellion with us? Did not our master Lucifer rightly say he could be like the Most High?"
I don't know if this happened but I find it hard to believe that the devil and the hounds of hell weren't there to witness their finest hour and gloat in their alleged victory. But to the dismay and agony of the angels Jesus gave no command nor called on His Father to do so, but followed through with what He had said earlier: "But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:54 NIV)
The power of the cross.
5. Consider that the cross -- Forever established the "priesthood of believers"
When we come to the cross and repent of our sins, we are transformed by the power of God into what 1 Peter 2:9 says "…a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
In the Old Testament, to be a priest, you had to be a Levite. A male Levite. A male Levite between the ages of twenty and fifty unblemished without defect. And even if you made the cut, the farthest you go in your priestly role was into the holy place in the tabernacle or temple.
As a ordinary priest you couldn't get into the Holy of Holies, the place where the glory of God dwelt - ("the glory" was a miraculous, supernatural, physical, visible glory cloud called "the shekinah" that hovered over the ark of the covenant) - and only the high priest was permitted to go in to the Holy of Holies, and even then only one time per year.
But because of the cross, everything's changed.
Now YOU AND I, by God's personal invitation no less, extended to us in Hebrews 4:16: can "…come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
When the twelve tribes of Israel were receiving their royal inheritance from God, eleven tribes received land, one tribe received the priesthood - the Levites. God Himself was their inheritance. The priests were privileged to minister unto the Lord. In the same fashion, God has chosen us to be in HIS ministry and join Him in HIS work. And what ministry might that be?
(2 Cor 5:18 NIV) "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
(2 Cor 5:19 NIV) that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
(2 Cor 5:20 NIV) We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
Our job is to go and make disciples. It's called the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). It's God's dream and will and desire that none should perish but all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
The cross has transformed us from sinners to saints, from servants to sons, and from pagans to priests of God Most High to win the lost and make disciples.
The power of the cross!
6. Consider that the cross -- Proved that God loves us
(John 13:1 NIV) "It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love."
What was the full extent of His love?
(Rom 5:8 NIV) "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
(John 15:13 NIV) Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Since we were children many of us were brought up singing:: "Jesus loves me this I know / for the Bible tells me so…"
God loves me. God is love. We've heard it so much it's old news. If we're not careful we can become jaded, desensitized to its impact. How many of you reading this are parents? How many of you have only one child in your family? Would you be willing to give up your child to die for a terrorist? How about a child molester? What about sacrificing your beloved offspring for a serial killer? A backslidden housewife? Even if you had twelve children, would you be willing to let even one of them die for somebody else's mistakes?
But that's exactly what God did for us through the power of the cross. There's an old chorus of a hymn that says it so well: "Amazing love how can it be that thou my God should die for me?"
7. Consider that the cross -- Purchased forgiveness for mankind's sin: Past, Present & Future
God's not up in heaven with a cosmic baseball bat ready to thump us on the head every time you and I mess up. The Bible says that "…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20).
Another wonderful promise of God that we can count on concerning obtaining forgiveness for our sin, even those we consider most despicable, is found in Isaiah 1:18:
"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
We don't have a "revolving door" salvation experience. That is to say, that every time you and I make a mistake that God blots our name out of the Lamb's book of life.
1 John 2:1 teaches "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."
No matter how bad you think your mistake is, it cannot overcome the power of the cross:
(1 Cor 1:18 NIV) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
8. Consider that the cross -- Provided for all our needs in this life
Everything we need pertaining to life and godliness God provides. God knows you've got to eat, send the kids to school, pay your taxes, and put gas in the car.
Our Heavenly father knows that you need to pay your cable bill, buy that new bass boat, get a new set of clubs…(Sometimes what we perceive as a need God knows is really a desire.)
Goes DOES NOT have a problem with you having things as long as things don't have you. As a matter of fact, He LONGS TO BLESS YOU and give you the desires of your heart and put you on display to this entire world that there is a difference between those who serve God and those who do not. He's not trying to keep something FROM YOU but He's trying to get blessing TO YOU through your obedience!
The cross provides for all our needs and they come in a thousand varieties. (Phil 4:19 NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Every need supplied through the power of the cross and the resurrected Christ!
9. Consider that the cross -- Gives us power over the devil
Jesus said in Luke 10:19:
"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."
Because of the power of the cross, it's not a fair fight. You see, "No weapon formed against us shall prosper!" (Isaiah 54:17).
On the other hand, the weapons that God has equipped us with work very well:
(2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV) "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…"
Because of the cross, we have been clothed in the righteousness of God in Christ - we are dead and our lives are hidden with Christ in God - hidden - Jesus is our "cloaking device" that hides us in the secret place of the Most High under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91)!
Under our robes of humility we are encased in the full armor of God - we're covered with His blood. If the devil could get through the blood of Jesus he'd be a saved devil.
And if that's not enough, "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." (Psalm 34:7 NIV)
The cross gives us power over the devil!
10. Consider that the cross -- Breaks the chains that bind us
There's not a hook, a habit, a bondage, a chain, a scheme or a plot hatched in hell that is so strong and powerful that it can withstand and overcome the power of the cross of Jesus Christ.
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36 NIV).
The apostle Paul wrote in:
(Phil 1:19 NIV) "for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance."
Did you ever stop to think that you may be going through what you're going through so that later you can help somebody else get through what you got through?
What the devil means for harm in your life, God is going to turn around for your good! God absolutely delights in taking the arrows that the enemy shoots at you and has the splendid ability to catch them in mid-air and transform them into blessings to lay at your feet.
How is that possible? Through the power of the cross! Because Jesus reconciled us with our Creator and dealt a fatal blow to the sin issue that separated us from God, we have been set free from fear and lust and pornography and dope and any and every weight that we have tolerated or invited to be part of our lives.
The power of the cross of Jesus Christ and His mighty resurrection effectively deals with legal and illegal intrusion into our life by our adversary, the devil!
The writer of the old hymn was absolutely right when they wrote:
At the cross / at the cross / where I first saw the light / and the burden of my heart rolled away / it was there by faith / I received my sight / and now I am happy all the day.
DSR
3/8/03
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