Are you using the Word to Kill?

Many years ago I shocked myself with a foolish use of a deadly weapon!  My friend, Frank, dropped off a pistol at my church office that I had asked to use for some target practice. After he left, I took the firearm in my hand, raised it to eye level and pointed upwards towards the ceiling of my office. Mistake #1 – I did not check to see if it was loaded. Impulsively, I pulled the trigger and imagine my shock when the gun went off! I handled a deadly weapon carelessly – assuming that Frank, who was an experienced gun owner, wouldn't transport the pistol without making sure it was unloaded. I have never picked up another gun without being certain about whether it is loaded and ready to fire. Thankfully, that foolish choice resulted in nothing more serious than a small hole in the sheetrock and my own regret.

God has put a powerful thing in our care – His Word and Truth! The Word is described as a Sword, an offensive weapon given to us for our protection! "Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17, NIV) The modern equivalent  to the ‘sword’ would be pistol, hence, my opening illustration. God’s Word protects us against the assault of evil. Correctly used, His Word puts the demonic to flight.  But, when used unwisely or carelessly, the Word can be deadly, condemning and judging without hope of redemption!

Some Christians seem to take delight in pulling out their Bible and shooting down a person who is struggling in the grip of some sinful habit. Instead of using God’s Truth to heal; they abuse it as a deadly weapon. Paul tells us that the Lord "has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6, NIV)  Using the Scripture in a rather indiscriminate way only to judge the actions of others, only to point out their failures and sins is like aiming a gun and pulling the trigger.  Do you know those who seem to delight when another sinner is shot down by the Truth?  What a mistaken idea of our function in the world.

The Psalmist lauds the power of the Word to heal: "You were in serious trouble, but you prayed to the Lord, and he rescued you. By the power of his own word, he healed you and saved you from destruction." (Psalm 107:19-20, CEV) Isn't that remarkable? God's Word is a healing word. That is about much more than healing for our physical ills. He speaks to bring wholeness into our lives, to draw us back from danger, to guide us away from destruction. Sometimes that process is painful. Changing the metaphor, we learn that the Word of God cuts deeply, like a surgeon’s scalpel that wounds for the purpose of healing! "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, NIV) The Word will cut away those attitudes and ideas that are diseased and death-producing when used skillfully.

Are showing proper respect for the power of the Word?
Are you armed with the Truth, defended by God’s Word against the power of evil?  

Have you given yourself to study so that you are a skilled user of the Sword of the Spirit?

Here is a word from the Word. "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV) 

_________

Abba, teach me of the power of Your Word.

As I take the Truth into my life,

let it become my protection

from lies, from deception, from temptation.

Give me skill to use the Word to heal.

May I always ‘’speak the Truth, in love,”

with the hope of redemption and life,

not to judge and to kill hope.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Heaven? I hope so

 

“I’m going to Heaven when I die.”  About 3 out of 4 Americans believe that, with the largest percentage being, not surprisingly, among those over the age of 50.  The way to get there is a lot more fuzzy in people’s minds, however.  About half of those who believe in Heaven are certain they will go there.  About a third of the rest of that group are just hoping they get there.  I’m often asked about who makes it in as in – ‘Pastor, did Sam go to heaven?’  I cannot answer that question. Jesus is the Gatekeeper: I am not.

But, I do know how to be absolutely certain about an eternal home with our Father. We don't have to wait for the Final Judgment. God has made an agreement (the Bible calls it a covenant) that is based on His gracious Gift, not on our human efforts. It is at the heart of our faith. In Ephesians 2 we read:  “You were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. . . . It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! . . . 

Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. Ephesians 2:1-10 (The Message)

To be sure, there is work to do when it comes to being Jesus’ follower.  That is why Paul urges us to “work out your salvation.”  Becoming a holy, beautiful child of God is a life-long journey- the Holy Spirit works in us to lead us to overcome sin, to love, to radiate the Light of Christ.  But, getting ‘right with God,’ is not something you or I can choose to do.  It is a grace gift, freely provided to us, so that we cannot boast, look down on others, or become like that proud religious man in Jesus’ parable who prayed this arrogant prayer: “I thank you, Lord, that I am not like other men.”

Tragically, too many who claim to be Christians believe that they will go to heaven because they can say - "I'm basically a good person."  There is a BIG problem with that statement. It ignores the fact of sin, that we are ‘dead in our sins’ to the Presence of God. “But, Jerry, I’m not a really bad guy.”  You can be a model citizen, generous towards others, kind, and gentle and still be an ordinary sinner. The inarguable declaration of the Word is this - "All have sinned and fallen short of God's glory."  Not one of us is flawless and God does not grade on a curve. Many hope for Heaven based on some ‘religious’ choices. They point out their record of church attendance, or their effort to keep the 10 Commandments, or their long record of community service, and hope it is enough. It isn’t.

So how can we know that we are ready to meet God? 

We trust Jesus, fully and completely, in faith. "The one who is the true Light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world." (John 1:9, NLT) “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." (John 3:16-17, NLT)

Are you prepared to meet God?  It is not a silly question. It is more important than any other consideration because it is about eternity.  I know that I am ‘going home’ because Jesus Christ has open door for me and for all those who will trust Him.  Here is a fact - I am already enjoying Heaven! How can that be?  When I worship Him, when I live in harmony with His will, when I love as He loves me – Heaven is in my heart.  Yes, I know that one day, maybe tomorrow, maybe 20 years from now my Savior will meet me at the other end of the Valley of the Shadow of Death and say, "Hello, son. Welcome home, forever!"

Here is a word from the Word. Jesus told his friends this on the night before He went to the Cross for us. “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4, CEV)

_______

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

(Selah sings – let this beautiful song lead you to worship today.)

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts no pow’r no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

Stuart Townend

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Captain of the Universe?

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Being awake at 2 am is a common thing for me these days. At that hour I am so aware of my limitations and the demands of my work. In the darkness, I remember that aged man who is dying, that marriage that is failing, that person who is wrestling with faith, that ministry that needs to be staffed, those who are hurting, the budget that needs to be balanced … And I pray! Knowing full well that I cannot heal, save, or restore, I turn to the One who is ‘able to do immeasurably more’ and ask Him for wisdom, for spiritual renewal.

In another era of my life, I sang a Gospel song with these words - "I'm learning to lean on Jesus! Finding more power than I'd ever dreamed; I'm learning to lean on Jesus." (Brentwood Music, 1976, John Stallings)  I am still leaning on Jesus, more now than ever. The counsel of the world is that we ought to be self-sufficient and ‘in control.’  The truth that I know now that way of prideful man separates me from the resources that are freely provided to me by the Spirit of God.  When I abandon the “Lone Ranger” mentality and work with people, my levels of stress go down. When I kneel in prayer, confessing weakness and proclaiming His Majesty, God comforts me and leads.

Elijah was a mighty prophet of ancient Israel. He had a day of victory when fire fell from heaven and the false prophets that were deceiving the people of the Lord were defeated. Curiously, in the moment of triumph, Elijah became vulnerable, the threats of Queen Jezebel overwhelming him, causing him to run for the hills. He even abandoned his companions, seeking solitude in the wilderness. He had no relief, no peace, until God, the Spirit, found him. "When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?" (1 Kings 19:12-13, The Message) In the Presence of God, Elijah found strength. The great man grew even greater that day as he learned to lean more on the Lord!

Will we lean on Jesus?  So many other things will tempt us to ‘take control.’ Even pastors are deceived by the illusion. I hardly attend pastoral conferences anymore. The emphasis is seldom on waiting on God, on listening for the Spirit. Instead we are taught ‘leadership’ skills, told to be sensitive to our culture, and trained in psychology.  Oh, I make no case for foolishness, laziness, or insensitivity. However, pastor or plumber, teacher, Mom, or President – we are successful in God’s eyes only when we are leaning on Jesus!

We might find a measure of success, for a while, if we are fortunate enough to have brains, brawn, or fortune. In time, though, all of us find ourselves facing situations for which we are no match. New problems arise for which we have no answers. The flaws in our character become too obvious to ignore any longer. Mortality stares us in the face, defying our attempts to slow the march of time. What then? Many despair in those moments. Others bravely stand singing into the darkness trying mightily to create a new reality. Some escape into distractions of pleasure.

OR, we can lean on Jesus, who promises that He will lead us, never leave us, and make us ‘more than conquerors.’

There is a message that overcomes the world! What is that message? In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul says that the message is that Christ was crucified, buried, and raised to life - so that we can live in a dying world! "The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. . . . Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18-24, NLT)

So what reminds you of your human weakness this morning?
It is a broken heart?

Is it a diagnosis of cancer?

Is it the wrinkles on your face?

Is it the failure of a friendship?

It is the mocking voice of the Enemy who reminds you of your past sin?

Is it, perhaps, the world that is full of suffering, war, and hatred?  Need I go on?

Just maybe, you are still feeling like a master of it all. I once did, too. Curiously, I would never go back to that time. I know His love, His grace, His tender mercies,  so much better today than I did then. Like Paul, I know that ‘when I am weak, then I am strong,’ because I lean on Jesus. His Cross is my glory. That symbol of shame and death – I know as the place where God's eternal power meets my greatest weakness and saves me.  It is His life in me that overcomes the death sentence that sin spoke over me!  So I embrace the Cross, listen to the Spirit, and trust Him, even at 2 am!

Here's a word from the Word to prayerfully ponder today. "He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:28-31, NIV)

"Finding more power than I'd ever dreamed;

I'm learning to lean on Jesus."

____________

My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness,

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

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