Take Away - SOM Part 22

 SOM Part 22 found here.

I am going to be honest and say that this will be a post that I will struggle with immensely. I think about the ideas of truth and absolute truth, and do I really know the truth? There are so many different takes on what is truth and which truth is really the truth. I want to believe that I have a good grasp on the truth, but I know that so many others do as well. I want to take these words to heart, to beware of the wolves in sheep's clothing, but I also do not want to make a mistake when it comes to who I find to be a wolf and who is really a wolf.

Jesus does give some help here. He says that we will be able to recognize them by their fruits. So it is not necessarily their words, or just their words that will reveal them as wolves, but it is also their actions. I look at speakers like Mr. Joel Osteen. To me, he is an easy one to pick out as a wolf, although again, I know that there are many who would disagree. But I look at both his words and his fruits. His words are slick. He does not want to commit to words that would alienate some of his flock. He is accepting of things that I believe Jesus would challenge head on. His actions are not much better. He does not live the lifestyle of a disciple in my opinion. His handling of money, of people, of Scripture, etc. are scary at times. (But then, so are mine! Which makes this type of judgment so challenging.) Sometimes his words are awesome. I have seen some great quotes from him posted by folk on Facebook. But words alone are not the sole piece of evidence that must be taken into account. Yet I also know that no one is perfect other than Jesus. So where does someone like Joel, or his disciples fall when it comes to being sheep or wolves? I stand by my choice that he and so many others like him are wolves, but each one must choose for themselves.

The Bible says that there are those who are false apostles. Those who disguise themselves as ministers of Christ. And why wouldn't they, since even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light? (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) So I know that I need to be on guard. I cannot turn a blind eye to someone who would deceive me and say it is their fault. I have been warned. I look at the audience of Jesus. Surely as He scans the crowd, He sees sheep and wolves. Sheep, those who are lost and vulnerable. The masses, who are searching for truth, for salvation, for a Messiah. And wolves, those who would prey upon the sheep for their own gain. Perhaps many of them among the Jewish leaders, who were so enamored with themselves that they could not even see themselves as wolves. But their fruit would reveal them, as they would seek to trap Jesus in His words, and ultimately would consent to His crucifixion.

Take Away: There are those who would deceive me. Who would use Jesus and whatever else they can for their own gain and at the cost of my soul. They will be held accountable. But so will I. I have been warned, and if the wolf comes in and kills the sheep, the sheep is still dead. The instruction calls for the sheep to beware of the wolves. Be aware, perhaps. Know that not everyone has your best interests at heart. So I just pray for awareness. And perhaps a bit of fortitude should there need to be a confrontation with a wolf. Or just pray that my shepherd will protect me when the time comes.

Mad Max - Part 1

 Yesterday in Sunday School we watched part 4 of Max Lucado's video series called "Glory Days." On this day we were watching part 4, called "Audacious Prayers."

Now I will be honest up front and say that I have not been impressed with what I have seen from the series. It reminds me a lot of the Joel Osteen types of messages. His mantra or chant at the front of each session bothers me as well, and reminds me a lot of what Mr. Osteen often does when he is preaching. But it seemed that yesterday reached new heights of audaciousness.

Mr. Lucado  was talking about  praying audacious prayers, and he was using the Book of Joshua  as his text. Specifically, Joshua 9 and 10 where Joshua is deceived by neighboring nation and later is called to help that same nation. He eventually gets into the place where Joshua prays to God for more time, and God causes the sun to stand still for a day.

Prior to getting into the meat of the message he speaks of Martin Luther, when apparently a co-worker of his became ill and Martin Luther prayed to God for his healing. According to Max, Martin attacked God using God's own weapons (Scripture). He also quoted Luther as saying,  “He must grant my prayer, if I was to henceforth put faith in his promises.” He also quoted Luther in another instance where he was praying for someone's recovery from illness, saying, “ for this I am praying, this is my will, and may my will be done, because I only seek to glorify the name of God.” 

Now I don't know how accurate these quotes are regarding what Luther said. I know that I would not want every word I have ever spoken to be written down. So I'm not addressing the fact that Luther may or may not have said these words, but what I am concerned about is Max's use of them. If  it is true that Luther said these words, do they present a means by which we should pray? Would it ever be okay to tell God that he must Grant a prayer request? And that if he didn't, we would no longer have faith in him? 

Lucado goes on to quote Hebrews 4:16. He read, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, and stay there, and stay there, and stay there, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need." The bold part is added by Lucado, but for those not familiar with the passage, it might seem more like he is just emphasizing and restating what he believes is an important part of the message. The point I believe he wants to make is that we can go boldly before God. That seems a stretch to me from this passage. To me, being able to go with confidence has more to do with our not being afraid, and when we do we can experience God's love through the grace and mercy that God has for us.

Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26)

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 5:16-26
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

COMMENT

Everything Paul has been saying in Galatians is the precursor to these verses. Paul has been fighting the idea of those who wanted to put some kind of conditions on salvation in addition faith in Christ. I believe their problem was fear. Fear that telling someone that faith alone is all it takes would lead to some form of licentiousness. Paul answers that fear in verse 16. If we walk in the Spirit, we will not gratify the flesh. Those who walk this way are not under the law. Want to know if you are walking in the Spirit, it should be obvious, but Paul gives some examples of living by the flesh. He then goes on to show what it should look like if we are living by the Spirit. In all of this, Paul does not feel the need to give a list of rules.

Truth is, there will be those who will take advantage of the gospel, who will here only what they want to. Paul knew this could not be avoided. So do I. You will always have your Osteens and Battersons etc. who prey in one form or another on others. Who prey on those who want to hear a particular message because of their own bias or desires. Those whose ears are itching for salvation, but not in the form of the gospel. Their condemnation is still deserved. Those are difficult words to speak and to hear, but I believe that that is exactly what Paul is saying in Galatians. Guard your privy parts!

How About Some Jelly for That? (Matthew 16:5-12)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 16:5-12
When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

COMMENT

Jesus spoke to the disciples, and in trying to interpret what Jesus was saying, they looked at what was going on around themselves. Jesus told them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They immediately came to the conclusion He was getting on them for not bringing any bread. What? How does that become their thinking, after all that they had just witnessed? Well, maybe it was because they are human, and that is how we think. It is why Jesus calls us sheep. And we are sheep, the not so brightest of the animal kingdom. The animal that if it falls into a hole, does not have the sense to step out of it. But we think we are so smart. We think God owes us so much. We willingly follow those who misinterpret Scripture to confirm this to us.

No bread. Really? After all the time you have listened to me and all the miracles you have observed? Did you not notice that in the feedings of the multitudes, we had more left overs than we started with? No bread?

Then they reconsidered. Then they thought clearer. It wasn't about bread, but the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

We would do so well to hear this message today. today, when we have Osteen telling us that God wants us to have our best life now. Batterson telling us to pray in circles. Furtick, T. D. Jakes, Meyer, and so many others preaching what itching ears want to hear. Preaching to sheep.Preaching law, obedience, sacrifice. While these things are not bad in themselves, they are useless without mercy. And mercy does not happen if we do not see a God who is merciful. Not a god who is weak and wants everything to work out, but a God who is powerful, in charge, and will have His way in every situation, good and bad. The kind of God who Paul and Silas sang to in prison. Not the kind of god who reprimands you cause now He can't have toast.

Everywhere a sign...Matthew 4:23-25

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 4:23-25 (ESV)
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

BACKGROUND

When Jesus came to earth, He came as a humble child. Nothing special to show that He was the Son of God (unless you believe those apocryphal stories of turning mud pies into doves). When He was baptized by John, a limited few might have seen the dove ascend on Him and have heard the Father's voice. Others prior to Jesus also had proclaimed to be the Messiah. What would and could set Him apart? Miraculous signs. Like turning water to wine. Or healing the blind and lame. Especially when those signs could not be denied, like healing a man born blind.

But that is what they were, signs to reveal His divinity, to support His claims and give authority to His teaching. They were not miracles for the sake of performing miracles, or miracles to encourage people to follow Him for the sake of the miraculous (although that was the effect for some).

COMMENTS

It is a sad part of the human nature that we do not really seek after God on our own. (Romans 3:10,11) But seeking after stuff, whether it be healing, riches, relationships, etc. fits right into our nature, and Jesus knows this. That is why He would not entrust Himself to men (John 2:24). Unfortunately, Satan knows this about us to. Just listen to the false gospel being fed to so many by so many. Promises of health, wealth, and prosperity. As if that is the purpose of the miracles. 

We must make a choice. Either worship the miracles or the maker of the miracles. To worship the miracles is to not worship God for who He is. I see this mentality a lot. I recently purchased a car, and due to a mistake on the part of the dealership, bought a $10,000 car for $6,000. They had put the wrong price on their internet site, and were willing to stand by that price. What a break! Of course, I shared this with a few others, many of whom said, how blessed I was that day, how God was looking out for me. Really? I have a daughter with a rare disease. I would gladly change that $4,000 for her healing. God, if you are  listening...

Of course He is listening. And He is still God, whether my daughter is healed or whether I save $4,000 on a car. Point is, I do not worship God to get the best price on a car, perfect health for me and my family, and so on. It is not that I believe that God does not perform miracles today. I do. But I also believe that when He does, it is for the same purpose as Jesus' miracles. Not for us to chase the miracle, but for us to worship Him, the giver of the miracle. In fact, perhaps when we do not automatically receive a requested miracle, it is His way of loving us enough to keep us from worshiping the wrong things.

Tweaking the Gospel

Content from a Joel Osteen sermon (bold type) that came across my Facebook page...

Will you be a Hosea and go after the hurting, go after those that are addicted, those that have been written off by society? Not with your finger pointed in judgment, telling them what they're doing wrong, go after them with something more powerful, with love, with mercy, with the goodness of God. They don't deserve it, neither did we. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. You've been shown incredible mercy. I'm asking you, show that mercy to others. Be a Hosea.

Let me say that had the content stopped here, I would have no problem with a word of it. We should show mercy, and the reason for us showing mercy is because we see the incredible grace and mercy God has shown to us. It is the following text that I take issue with...

If you'll do this, I believe and declare, as you lift others up, God is going to lift you up. As you rescue somebody else, God will always have somebody to rescue you and your children. The seed you sow will come back to you, In Jesus's name, and if you receive it, can you say Amen today?

This is where he loses me. Because now, instead of my action being a response to the grace and mercy God has already given me, I am now doing it for the future gain God will give to me because of my behavior. Is this the pattern we see every time in the Bible?

Did Paul suffer so many things for the promise of rescue? What did Stephen do that caused God to not rescue him from stoning? What about Uriah the Hittite? He did everything right from what is recorded in the Bible. The list goes on...

I want to believe this. I want to believe I can appropriate God's mercy through what I do, that I can facilitate his healing through my faithfulness. Problem is, I don't see it that way in life or in the Scriptures.

Truth is, I should believe and behave as I do because of what God has done, past tense. Period. If God wants to show me more grace and mercy, wonderful. If I must suffer for the gospel, I am okay with that as well. God has already rescued me through the cross, he does not have to do it again.

Joel, the gospel is enough. It does not need your tweaking to make it more appealing. Because once you add to the gospel, you are no longer preaching the gospel.

I did it all by myself!

By contrast, if we adopt Pelagian or semi-Pelagian assumptions, we will carry the burden of trying to produce conversions, relying on our own cleverness and communicative power rather than on God's Word and Spirit.

Michael Horton. Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church (pp. 62-63). Kindle Edition.

I use tools to make things. The tools can not assume any of the credit, for without me they are useless. God uses people to accomplish his plans, but the problems begin when we think we deserve some of the credit.

Churches boast about how they are growing as if they were doing something better than the church down the street, or as if their god were better than the others. Yet according to Scripture, it is God who causes growth, not man or even a well intentioned group of men. (My mind wanders to the Tower of Babel.)

It's not that growth is bad, but if growth were the true indicator, then we might as well sign up for Joel Osteen's church now.

So if God is in charge, why are we so distracted by all of these other things? Why are we promoting anything else? And perhaps most importantly, what are we trying to win people to?