Sinner -past tense!

Women from the Hoving Home, of Oxford, NJ, ministered at Faith Discovery Church yesterday. The mission of that ministry is to ‘rebuild shattered lives’ through faith in Jesus Christ. Two of the young women told a little of their stories- poor choices, addiction, ruin, broken relationships, and sadness. There were not too many dry eyes in the room after they spoke and sang about the “Chain Breaker.”  Will recovery be easy for those women? Not at all. Will it be a long road to a restored life? Of course, but with lots of love and support, it happens. God declares them His daughters, their sins past tense through the grace of Jesus Christ.

On this Monday morning, let’s begin the week with hearts filled up with joy in the declaration of God about who we are. Our road might not have all the dramatic lows of which some can speak.  We have not all ended up homeless in the streets or addicted to heroin, but we are all slaves of sin and Self – separated from God, our Father, until found by His grace.   

Here’s how Paul was inspired to tell it -  "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:2-7, NIV)

“He saved us …”  Did you read those words and breathe a prayer of thankfulness? The word that Paul uses there in the original text of the New Testament is a rich one. “Sozo” is not just about some spiritual transaction that is unseen, a fine point of theology. It is a description of God’s work that transforms us from the terminal illness of sin to the radiant spiritual health, that restores our wholeness of person.

How does the Lord do it?  He washes us, as clean and pure as a newborn baby, through rebirth! Jesus told an old religious leader, Nicodemus, you must be ‘born again.’  It puzzled the old man, and he wondered aloud how he could enter his mother’s womb again!  Talk about being overly literal. God miraculously enters into our lives and we emerge a new creation, reborn into the world with new possibilities.  There is the renewal of the Holy Spirit, God who lives in us, so that we no longer think as we once did, no longer hope for what we did in the past, nor are we trapped by the patterns of our past!  Oh, what a Savior.

Let’s not make conversion just about learning some dogma, joining an organization, or tinkering at the edge of life to modify our behavior.  Let’s enter fully, by faith, into this new life – restored to relationship with God and because we are His children, having the assurance that we are written into His plan for eternity;  “heirs having the hope of eternal life

Choose to walk with the Lord, making sin past tense today. Here is the word from the Word. "It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life." (Ephesians 1:11-14, The Message)
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What A Savior

(Some Southern Gospel. Enjoy)

Once I was straying in sin's dark valley

No hope within could I see

They searched thro' heaven and found a Savior

To save a poor lost soul like me

O what a Savior O hallelujah

His heart was broken on Calvary

His hands were nail-scarred

His side was riven

He gave His lifeblood for even me

He left the Father with all His riches

With calmness sweet and serene

Came down from heaven and gave His lifeblood

To make the vilest sinner clean

Death's chilly waters I'll soon be crossing

His hand will lead me safe o'er

I'll join the chosen in that great city

And sing up there forevermore

Marvin P. Dalton

© 1948. Renewed 1976 Stamps Quartet Music (Admin. by ClearBox Rights, LLC)

CCLI License # 810055

When the laugh track in life rings hollow

Are you sad today? I am not talking about the kind of sad you feel when your burn your toast or when your favorite sports team loses. The sad that to which I refer is that deep sorrow of loss or disappointment that sets in like a persistent fog. In a conversation yesterday, a man shared the sadness he felt for his 37 year-old son who is an addict slowly killing himself by inches. His sorrow went deep! When I think about Bev, my late wife, there is a persistent sadness. It colors just about everything in my life, even after 3 years.

If we talked today, would you tell me of sorrow, too? Perhaps it is your own - or maybe it is that of those with whom you walk in this world. Frequently the response to the sorrowful is a good ole’ pat on the back and a jolly, “Cheer up!”  The Proverb reminds us just how unhelpful that can be. "Singing cheerful songs to a person whose heart is heavy is as bad as stealing someone’s jacket in cold weather or rubbing salt in a wound." (Proverbs 25:20, NLT)

Our world is a broken place.  I hasten to acknowledge that there are many blessings, too. If you are living in a season of joy and abundance, then sing your praise and joyfully thank God. But, let’s always remember those who suffer. Compassion is a gift – both to the one who is sad and to the giver. When we willingly enter into the experience of another, sharing their sorrow, we are like Jesus.  Our Savior, sent with a message hope and healing to those who are captives of the Evil One, let Himself be moved, felt deeply, and sacrificed to make life better for the broken. "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. ... Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows." (Isaiah 53:3-4, NIV)  His work is our work. Like Him, I want to let my heart be broken by the human need that is real.

Whether it is our own sorrow or that of another, we must meet it with faith. We are reminded that God knows and cares. He is not far removed, a cruel Being without heart. When he was a refugee, pursued by a murderous king, David sang this - "My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. … Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. … The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, NIV)  It was not just poetry. He was filled with hopeful faith!

When Peter failed Jesus miserably on the night of His trial, he wept bitterly. Later, he went back to Galilee to fish, a broken man filled with regret and sorrow. God did not abandon him there. John records a beautiful scene in which the Resurrected Lord found Peter, served him breakfast on the beach, and spoke words of forgiveness and restoration.  He broke Peter’s despair and commissioned him to a life of service in God’s kingdom!  Later on, Peter wrote to us "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. … And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:10-11, NIV)

We need never deny the reality of our sorrow. But, we are not engulfed hopelessly in it, either. Let’s engage ourselves with suffering while we do the work of Jesus. All the while, we can be sustained by this wonderful promise, our word from the Word  - ". . . they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:15-17, NLT)  Oh, Happy Day!

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Jesus! What a friend for sinners!

Jesus lover of my soul!

Friends may fail me, foes assail me;

He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Hallelujah what a Savior.

Hallelujah what a Friend.

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

He is with me to the end.

Jesus! What a strength in weakness!

Let me hide myself in Him;

Tempted tried and sometimes failing,

He, my strength my victory wins.

Jesus! What a help in sorrow!

While the billows o'er me roll,

Even when my heart is breaking,

He, my Comfort helps my soul.

Hallelujah what a Savior.

Hallelujah what a Friend.

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

He is with me to the end.

Our Great Savior- J. Wilbur Chapman © Public Domain

Creating a culture of healing

When Bev was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March, 2014, it broke our hearts. I researched every bit of information I could find and quickly realized that the prognosis was not good. Because of the advanced state of her cancer, I knew she would die unless there was a miracle of healing.  We prayed earnestly for that, while engaging in the best medical practices available to us.  She did recover her health for a time, but a year after her original diagnosis and treatment, the cancer recurred. Her life on this earth ended 8 months later. That experience made the debates about divine healing more than theory to me. 

How do faith and prayer work together? 

Why are some healed and some apparently do not recover?

My understanding of the Scripture and other experiences convinces me that part of the work that Jesus did for us in His incarnation, death, and resurrection involves healing. Christians believe that He died to restore us to our Father, to provide a final sacrifice for sins, once for all people and all time.  That sacrifice is complete on our behalf, received by faith, and we have the assurance of eternal life because of Him.  I also believe that He made healing possible through His atoning work.

Both Peter and James were inspired to tell us that healing is both for our spirit and our body. "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:23-24, NIV)  "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven." (James 5:14-15, NIV)

I have been healed by the Lord numerous times in my life and have witnessed indisputable miraculous healing in others.  But, there are also many occasions on which prayers for healing have gone unanswered, if one understands an answer as being only the recovery of physical health, which I do not believe.  Parallel to the promise of healing the Bible includes many passages about suffering, about trusting God in sickness, and allowing Him to do His work in our weakness.

We have much too limited view, in my opinion, of the healing work of the Church.  We should not just pray for symptoms, we should always seek wholeness, leading others to live in ways that honor God with the body. God can heal people as we pray over them, following James’ instructions to anoint with oil.  Our Lord will lead us to create 12 step groups to help people recover sobriety, to encourage godly discipline about diet and exercise so that chronic health issues do not development. Strong Christians will be encouraged to avoid addictions – a source of many illnesses.  The Church brings healing by teaching discipleship, helping people to avoid debilitating stress by developing comprehensive faith that builds strong loving families where emotional health is nurtured. As we lead people to forgiveness through Christ, finding that He loves them and thus frees them to radically love others, there is a kind of healing available to them that is truly miraculous!

Yes, I believe that Jesus’ work of salvation and healing should cause us to work at creating a culture for health and wholeness to be nurtured and fostered  by positive, Christ-honoring choices about food, money, relationships;  all of life!  Healing is more than crisis intervention by a team of elders when sickness arises. Healing is at the very heart of God. "I am the Lord, who heals you" (Ex. 15:26). The healing theme woven throughout the story of the Bible from.  I believe in the healing, restoration, reconciliation, and transformation of God's people in spirit, soul (mind, will, emotion), and body through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The question remains about the timing and completion of healing. Bev died. Does this mean she was not healed? In one sense, the honest answer must be yes. Her life ended prematurely (by human estimation) because of disease. There is no way to avoid the fact. A monument in a cemetery is mute testimony to that. And yet … she did know a healing that is larger than this temporal life. She knew her Savior, trusted in His grace, and entered into eternal life.  It is a glorious healing, though not the one I would have preferred.  I have many friends who are Christians of solid faith, who continue to wrestle with implications of chronic illness, with bodies that are imperfectly made, who suffer. Is their sickness indicative of a lack of faith in God?  Not at all and anyone who says that is misreading the whole of the Bible.  Our experience of the Kingdom of God is incomplete this side of Heaven and until Christ returns for the Second Time. So, until then, I will pray actively for healing – body and spirit; I will trust when I cannot understand.  I will follow Him radically, and by His grace – healing will come, now or in Heaven.

Receive the word from the Word with faith and obedience. "Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out. Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." (James 5:13-16, The Message)

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