It seems on to many occasions today that the church becomes heavy ladened by divisive un-necessities. It never fails. Whether it is a single person causing strife, or a large group of malcontent’s challenging the leadership, it just happens, and we must mount up our expectations for these predictable inevitabilities.
We find in the text before us a serious problem had surfaced. There had become a heated debate with the Apostles regarding circumcision. Supposedly, there were some outsiders unraveling the Apostles doctrine to the general congregation, by saying that in order to be saved, you must keep with the Mosaic customs of circumcision. Wow.. hold the Fritos please! This brought an insurmountable amount of confusion and distraction to the folks in Judea.
And so the boys tripped out towards Jerusalem to get more backing.
Now what was a concern in Judea, eventually became a concern in Jerusalem. This was a matter that needed a quick and sure resolution..
Peter stands up and addresses the Church with truth. This is our first and main point to consider.
Jesus said, “I AM the way the truth and the life’’.
The truth here silenced the assembly! Paul then testified to the work of God to the Gent’s as a witness of the purpose of God, then we read the head elder in Jerusalem, James, by name, concluded with a definitive judgment of which all submitted to. Now that is called resolution.
These trouble makers were silenced by truth, not by love, because the truth is real love.
The church needs biblical leadership and good methodical practices, however, just as much as we need good leadership, we need holy people.
When we have disgruntled saints, we need to stand on the truth, and allow the truth to set them free. The sad truth is, is that not everyone will accept the truth. This is not our problem, it is theirs.
Our responsibilities before God is to give the truth and live the truth. Should practicing this method not be sufficient grounds for the troubled people, then we are to send them out to troubled waters. There is no real reason to harbor a sinking ship.
Forgive them.. yes. Pray for them, certainly. Appease to their flesh, nope.
We don’t know what had happened to these first century trouble makers. Perhaps they repented. Maybe they just left quietly (I doubt it because of the way they came in), or, maybe, they were asked to leave. What we do know however, was that they were certainly listed as some of first of many more to follow.
And so Christian, mount up your expectations, stand on the truth, season yourself in love, and grow some thick skin. Prepare yourself to press on towards the goal for the prize of the upwards call of God in Christ, no matter what adversities face you today.
Forget not this-
Not only did the truth silence the council at Jerusalem, it also silenced the misguided in Judea!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The 6 points of commission-ism (Acts 13:2-3)
-Worship, fast, listen, pray, hands upon, sent off-
Historically, Israel & the Church have operated, on a large part, by a point system. ( following list not exhaustive, of coarse.)
Let’s begin the downhill progression with sin. Sin pointed to Adam, and Adam pointed to Eve. Abraham pointed to a promise, and the promise pointed to an offspring. Moses pointed to the law, the law pointed to depravity, and, depravity pointed to the need for grace.
The Prophets pointed to warnings, judgments and world events but mainly to the Messiah.
Then Christ came pointing to God, while God pointed back to Christ. The church points to Christ, and Christ points to the prophets.
Then came Catholicism pointing to the Pope, and, while the Muslims pointed at the Crusaders, the Crusaders pointed to England.
Luther pointed to his 95 thesis, and Calvin pointed to his five points. Reformers point back at the aforementioned points, while Armenianist point to their free will.
Replacement people point to Israel as the church, and Dispensationalist point to seven distinct timelines.
Then you have the Pre-wrathers pointing to the trib, while pre-tribers point to the rapture, all the while Preterist point to A.D. 70 which makes us all stare and point at the Olivet Discourse.
Let’s not forget about the Pentecostals who point to their experience, all the while we have the Mystics pointing to the East.
Oh, and our friendly Fundamentalist point to fundamentalisms, while the Liberals point to their tolerances.
But at the end of the day it really all points to one of two destinations
Heaven or Hell
It is safe to say then that there has been a lot of pointing going on, and because of that, if I may, allow me to exercise my freedom at pointing to God’s 6 points of commission as stated in our text. (Note: this is not a pattern to worship by, nor a secret method to write a book about, and make lots of money on, because it has already been written.)
So what say you? This I say…
They simply just worshiped the Lord, and fasted, and THEN, they heard from the Lord. So they prayed about what they heard, discussed it, came to an agreement, had hands laid upon them, and they were pointed & sent out in the right direction by the Holy Spirit.
God’s 6 points of commission.. all pointing to the Cross, that without which, there would be no point.
Historically, Israel & the Church have operated, on a large part, by a point system. ( following list not exhaustive, of coarse.)
Let’s begin the downhill progression with sin. Sin pointed to Adam, and Adam pointed to Eve. Abraham pointed to a promise, and the promise pointed to an offspring. Moses pointed to the law, the law pointed to depravity, and, depravity pointed to the need for grace.
The Prophets pointed to warnings, judgments and world events but mainly to the Messiah.
Then Christ came pointing to God, while God pointed back to Christ. The church points to Christ, and Christ points to the prophets.
Then came Catholicism pointing to the Pope, and, while the Muslims pointed at the Crusaders, the Crusaders pointed to England.
Luther pointed to his 95 thesis, and Calvin pointed to his five points. Reformers point back at the aforementioned points, while Armenianist point to their free will.
Replacement people point to Israel as the church, and Dispensationalist point to seven distinct timelines.
Then you have the Pre-wrathers pointing to the trib, while pre-tribers point to the rapture, all the while Preterist point to A.D. 70 which makes us all stare and point at the Olivet Discourse.
Let’s not forget about the Pentecostals who point to their experience, all the while we have the Mystics pointing to the East.
Oh, and our friendly Fundamentalist point to fundamentalisms, while the Liberals point to their tolerances.
But at the end of the day it really all points to one of two destinations
Heaven or Hell
It is safe to say then that there has been a lot of pointing going on, and because of that, if I may, allow me to exercise my freedom at pointing to God’s 6 points of commission as stated in our text. (Note: this is not a pattern to worship by, nor a secret method to write a book about, and make lots of money on, because it has already been written.)
So what say you? This I say…
They simply just worshiped the Lord, and fasted, and THEN, they heard from the Lord. So they prayed about what they heard, discussed it, came to an agreement, had hands laid upon them, and they were pointed & sent out in the right direction by the Holy Spirit.
God’s 6 points of commission.. all pointing to the Cross, that without which, there would be no point.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The light will shine in your darkness (Acts 12:7)
And behold an angel of the Lord stood next to him and a light shone in the cell.
Our text tells us that Peter had become helplessly bound in a dark prison cell, guarded by God’s purposes, and that he could not see beyond his chains. He knew Jesus had risen, and had set the captives free of which one he had now become. He recalled the miracles Jesus had preformed through him and he knew the church was aware of his position and were praying. With this he slept, for he could do nothing else.
His shadow healed people, but his hands could not break loose.
His message cut through the heart of the unregenerate unto belief for salvation, but he could not save himself.
He had just witnessed a brother martyred, and now he to was awaiting his impending death, by the hand of Herod.
It may be conjecture, but prior to falling asleep, perhaps he thought to himself,
“Peter, its all over with” You have preached your last sermon, and have fished your last fish. Just like John the Baptist, off with my head.. Goodbye, world..
Are you in Peters shoes?
Do you think back and remember God’s display of grace, and the works He demonstrated through you, only now to see nothing at all?
Perhaps the devil accuses you of some sin, and convinces you that you’ve fallen out of God’s favor? Or maybe even that God is just done with you.
Whatever the case may be, consider it all a lie.
Here is a personal suggestion
Stop praying for deliverance, and start thanking Him for your circumstances. Thank Him for your chains. Thank Him that others are being used, while you are chained. Thank Him in your cell, and for your uncertain future..
Remember that you do not deserve anything.. And that He owes you nothing.
Surrender to your circumstances at once, and submit to His wisdom. Embrace your weakness and laugh at your pride as it lays in the dust.
Then suddenly the light will shine in your darkness.
Our text tells us that Peter had become helplessly bound in a dark prison cell, guarded by God’s purposes, and that he could not see beyond his chains. He knew Jesus had risen, and had set the captives free of which one he had now become. He recalled the miracles Jesus had preformed through him and he knew the church was aware of his position and were praying. With this he slept, for he could do nothing else.
His shadow healed people, but his hands could not break loose.
His message cut through the heart of the unregenerate unto belief for salvation, but he could not save himself.
He had just witnessed a brother martyred, and now he to was awaiting his impending death, by the hand of Herod.
It may be conjecture, but prior to falling asleep, perhaps he thought to himself,
“Peter, its all over with” You have preached your last sermon, and have fished your last fish. Just like John the Baptist, off with my head.. Goodbye, world..
Are you in Peters shoes?
Do you think back and remember God’s display of grace, and the works He demonstrated through you, only now to see nothing at all?
Perhaps the devil accuses you of some sin, and convinces you that you’ve fallen out of God’s favor? Or maybe even that God is just done with you.
Whatever the case may be, consider it all a lie.
Here is a personal suggestion
Stop praying for deliverance, and start thanking Him for your circumstances. Thank Him for your chains. Thank Him that others are being used, while you are chained. Thank Him in your cell, and for your uncertain future..
Remember that you do not deserve anything.. And that He owes you nothing.
Surrender to your circumstances at once, and submit to His wisdom. Embrace your weakness and laugh at your pride as it lays in the dust.
Then suddenly the light will shine in your darkness.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
You may be healed (Acts 9:32-35)
Aeneas was a bedridden, paralyzed man. For eight years he laid motionless, staring into his future, knowing that he was no different then a dead man.
The antithesis of this illustration is the same as the unsaved today. They may be alive, but paralyzed by their sin, helpless to do anything worthy of God’s Kingdom, because of their depravity. There may not be a physical connection here, but certainly a spiritual one worth mentioning.
Then comes along Peter; no invite, no begging, no good works to draw him near, he just shows up, and raises him up. Jesus chose to heal Aeneas. We don’t read him arguing about the miracle, and no one else was offended by it either.
What a good day it is when God regenerates a soul!
I love how Peter told him to make his bed, rather than throwing it out the window and burning it, because of what it had represented or because of disease.
Instead he told him to make it. Allow it to serve as a reminder, a memorial to what God has done for you. Use it for His glory-
You may be healed, but now you have work to do!
The antithesis of this illustration is the same as the unsaved today. They may be alive, but paralyzed by their sin, helpless to do anything worthy of God’s Kingdom, because of their depravity. There may not be a physical connection here, but certainly a spiritual one worth mentioning.
Then comes along Peter; no invite, no begging, no good works to draw him near, he just shows up, and raises him up. Jesus chose to heal Aeneas. We don’t read him arguing about the miracle, and no one else was offended by it either.
What a good day it is when God regenerates a soul!
I love how Peter told him to make his bed, rather than throwing it out the window and burning it, because of what it had represented or because of disease.
Instead he told him to make it. Allow it to serve as a reminder, a memorial to what God has done for you. Use it for His glory-
You may be healed, but now you have work to do!
Faithful with the first assignment (Acts 8:4-8)
Philip had been numbered among the seven deacons to serve tables. After Stephens nuclear sermon that brought the worst out of Saul and his cronies, the church became scattered, and now Philip became an Evangelist.
God’s Spirit was not limited to the Apostles during this unique time period, as even the deacons had became 1st century power- houses. Preaching, casting out demons, and healing, were all on the menu.
I love the fact that Philip’s part was just to proclaim Christ alone- God did the rest.
I wonder how many of us are discontent over the first assignment God has asked us to do for Him? Do we see it as insignificant, unimportant, or not fitting to our own personal visions, and ambitions?
Philip served God’s disgruntled people in the good times, and in the bad times, he was launched out by God and the circumstances, for a greater purpose. He would have never had had the anointing to do the next thing unless he was first blessed to do the first thing.
God’s Spirit was not limited to the Apostles during this unique time period, as even the deacons had became 1st century power- houses. Preaching, casting out demons, and healing, were all on the menu.
I love the fact that Philip’s part was just to proclaim Christ alone- God did the rest.
I wonder how many of us are discontent over the first assignment God has asked us to do for Him? Do we see it as insignificant, unimportant, or not fitting to our own personal visions, and ambitions?
Philip served God’s disgruntled people in the good times, and in the bad times, he was launched out by God and the circumstances, for a greater purpose. He would have never had had the anointing to do the next thing unless he was first blessed to do the first thing.
New church plant..
This is my friend Tony and his new church plant in Spearfish, ND. Launch date scheduled for Dec.6th,2009.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Unity in the essentials (acts 4:32)
They were of one heart and one soul..
I think if there is one need in the church today that transcends all other needs, it is the need for the church to be unified on this one principal. We would be far more productive in reaching the lost if we would stop bickering about who or who is not the elect. If we would expend more of our time and energy watching and learning how to use the free will choices of those in bondage, to Christ’s advantage, maybe then, we would spend less time arguing about the complexities of free moral agency.
If only we be unified with the simplicities of the first century church: to be of one heart and one soul, maybe then, we would witness a super-natural harvest transpire right before our eyes like Peter, James and John had on the Mt. transfiguration. Our tents would become temporary, and our vision, eternal!
I think if there is one need in the church today that transcends all other needs, it is the need for the church to be unified on this one principal. We would be far more productive in reaching the lost if we would stop bickering about who or who is not the elect. If we would expend more of our time and energy watching and learning how to use the free will choices of those in bondage, to Christ’s advantage, maybe then, we would spend less time arguing about the complexities of free moral agency.
If only we be unified with the simplicities of the first century church: to be of one heart and one soul, maybe then, we would witness a super-natural harvest transpire right before our eyes like Peter, James and John had on the Mt. transfiguration. Our tents would become temporary, and our vision, eternal!
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