Always Be Prepared, But Don't Miss It!
We began our Advent series this morning at Freedom Christian Center. It's perhaps not the normal fare for a Pentecostal church to celebrate Advent, but then again, we really need to focus on preparing a place for Christ at all times. Since the holiday season is normally pretty hectic, I thought we might need a reminder to not lose focus during these four weeks.
We focused this morning on God's preparation for the birth of His Son. He started in Genesis 3:15 by speaking directly to our enemy, Satan, and proclaiming victory over his attacks.
I noted in this first Messianic prophecy that God acknowledged there would be attacks by the enemy and some would be painful and difficult, but ultimately, victory would be ours.
We read from the first 15 verses of Mark's Gospel and noted that Mark drew our attention to the writings of Isaiah and Malachi within the first 3 verses. He reminded us that "It was written." It was the Word of God breathed by the Spirit of God that we would have hope through the advent of the Messiah.
The words of Isaiah and Malachi both spoke of hope and victory, but they also spoke of times that may be difficult with some obstacles that will seem like ruts, crooked roads and perhaps even a mountain or two. But God promised victory because Messiah was coming.
I was also struck by the fact that throughout the Old Testament there were over 320 Messianic prophecies yet so many people missed His coming. I don't want to repeat that same mistake.
Our focus during this season has to be on Christ! It's a busy time with a lot of activities with the potential of diverting our attention away from God.
Our goal this Advent season is to make sure we take the time, perhaps some extra time and not miss out on the hope, joy, peace and love Messiah brings to each and every one of us. And if we could wrap it up with a nice bow, we would place it under your tree!
Always in Pursuit!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
A Primer for Nothing But Praise
I love the word of God. It's alive. We can read through it one day and the Spirit will speak to us about one thing and then read the same words again another day and the Spirit will speak to us on a completely different level.
In Psalm 116, part of the Hallel, and most probably part of the post-supper hymns sung by Christ and His band of followers, we can read the basic principles behind a life of praise. (In my previous blog entry, I detailed four specific examples of how to live a life of nothing but praise, but now we have the principles behind those specifics.)
First of all, it's personal. Note the first words of the Psalm......."I love the Lord." It's not "we" or "they" but it's "I." It's personal.
We don't just praise Him when we are with a group in church. If that's the only time we praise Him, perhaps that is more of a show than anything else. (sorry about that not trying to be mean, just sayin')
Secondly we are to praise God for what he has done. Note verses 2, 3 & 4. In this case the Psalmist is praising God for His grace and mercy in saving him from death. Maybe God hasn't had to save you from death, but what has He done for you? (Maybe he did save you from death and did such a good job of it, you weren't even aware of it)
Thirdly, we praise God for His virtues. Note verses 5 & 6. God is to be praised for His righteousness and for His compassion. The list of God's virtues could go on. Don't stop with these two.
And then finally, because of all of God's virtues, the Psalmist is able to rest in the Lord.
Resting or trusting in God is an act of praise. My friend Josh Singleton wrote on a facebook status a few days ago, (I'm going to paraphrase) "When I'm more consumed with my problems than I am with God's ability to solve them, I need to repent."
All of this is a great challenge in the face of life these days. Nothing seems to be easy, there doesn't seem to be an end to the challenges and they don't get any easier with time. But the model for us is Christ, singing this Psalm in worship to God, just a few minutes away from being arrested and put on trial and crucified. What a great example of how to live a life of nothing but praise.
May it be so for me......and for you!
Always in Pursuit!
I love the word of God. It's alive. We can read through it one day and the Spirit will speak to us about one thing and then read the same words again another day and the Spirit will speak to us on a completely different level.
In Psalm 116, part of the Hallel, and most probably part of the post-supper hymns sung by Christ and His band of followers, we can read the basic principles behind a life of praise. (In my previous blog entry, I detailed four specific examples of how to live a life of nothing but praise, but now we have the principles behind those specifics.)
First of all, it's personal. Note the first words of the Psalm......."I love the Lord." It's not "we" or "they" but it's "I." It's personal.
We don't just praise Him when we are with a group in church. If that's the only time we praise Him, perhaps that is more of a show than anything else. (sorry about that not trying to be mean, just sayin')
Secondly we are to praise God for what he has done. Note verses 2, 3 & 4. In this case the Psalmist is praising God for His grace and mercy in saving him from death. Maybe God hasn't had to save you from death, but what has He done for you? (Maybe he did save you from death and did such a good job of it, you weren't even aware of it)
Thirdly, we praise God for His virtues. Note verses 5 & 6. God is to be praised for His righteousness and for His compassion. The list of God's virtues could go on. Don't stop with these two.
And then finally, because of all of God's virtues, the Psalmist is able to rest in the Lord.
Resting or trusting in God is an act of praise. My friend Josh Singleton wrote on a facebook status a few days ago, (I'm going to paraphrase) "When I'm more consumed with my problems than I am with God's ability to solve them, I need to repent."
All of this is a great challenge in the face of life these days. Nothing seems to be easy, there doesn't seem to be an end to the challenges and they don't get any easier with time. But the model for us is Christ, singing this Psalm in worship to God, just a few minutes away from being arrested and put on trial and crucified. What a great example of how to live a life of nothing but praise.
May it be so for me......and for you!
Always in Pursuit!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Nothing But Praise
I'm preaching from Psalm 116 tomorrow morning in Davenport. This Psalm is part of the Hallel Psalms. They were written to help the Israelites not forget what God did for them when He led them out of Egypt. These Psalms became part of the celebration of Passover and other Holy Days for the Jews.
The Hallel Psalms start in 113 and conclude with Psalm 118. The first two were sung prior to the Passover meal and then the final four were sung after the meal. Most scholars think the hymns Jesus and his disciples sang after the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26 & Mark 14) were the final four Hallel Psalms.
As I was reading through Psalm 116 the idea of this being sung by Christ just minutes prior to his arrest made it take on a different meaning for me. The Psalm is nothing but praise in the face of the greatest trial known to man.
For the Israelites it was their trek through the Red Sea and the desert. For Christ it was His death via crucifixion. For you and me it might be a disease, a relationship, finances, job, future or even our past. It might just be life itself.
Look at what Jesus sang as he faced death. He sang that he loved the Lord (v1). He kept singing about how no matter what happened, he would be loyal to God (v2) and he would live right, or righteously (v9) and then he sang about his fresh resolve to obey the Lord.
The guards would have had to be on their way while Jesus and the disciples were singing these songs. But it didn't change anything. As a matter of fact, I think it gave Jesus a greater resolve as he brought this offering of praise to the Lord.
What Christ modeled for us can't go unnoticed. No matter what life doles out, may our offerings be nothing but praise.
Always in Pursuit!
I'm preaching from Psalm 116 tomorrow morning in Davenport. This Psalm is part of the Hallel Psalms. They were written to help the Israelites not forget what God did for them when He led them out of Egypt. These Psalms became part of the celebration of Passover and other Holy Days for the Jews.
The Hallel Psalms start in 113 and conclude with Psalm 118. The first two were sung prior to the Passover meal and then the final four were sung after the meal. Most scholars think the hymns Jesus and his disciples sang after the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26 & Mark 14) were the final four Hallel Psalms.
As I was reading through Psalm 116 the idea of this being sung by Christ just minutes prior to his arrest made it take on a different meaning for me. The Psalm is nothing but praise in the face of the greatest trial known to man.
For the Israelites it was their trek through the Red Sea and the desert. For Christ it was His death via crucifixion. For you and me it might be a disease, a relationship, finances, job, future or even our past. It might just be life itself.
Look at what Jesus sang as he faced death. He sang that he loved the Lord (v1). He kept singing about how no matter what happened, he would be loyal to God (v2) and he would live right, or righteously (v9) and then he sang about his fresh resolve to obey the Lord.
The guards would have had to be on their way while Jesus and the disciples were singing these songs. But it didn't change anything. As a matter of fact, I think it gave Jesus a greater resolve as he brought this offering of praise to the Lord.
What Christ modeled for us can't go unnoticed. No matter what life doles out, may our offerings be nothing but praise.
Always in Pursuit!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Consequences
In some previous blog entries, I mentioned the importance of doing the simple things in life. In the Gospel of John some folks simply had to sit where Jesus told them to; pour water into vats; and washing his eyes. Naaman simply had to dip seven times in the river to be healed of a disease that had no cure.
In my musings, I've also been reminded of the consequences of not doing the simple things and will use this blog entry and the next one to discuss this.
In Daniel 4, you will find the account of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian King who would not give credit to God. A simple thing to do if you stop and think about it. Even though he had been warned about the consequences of not doing so, he chose to view himself as being the great one instead of giving God the credit for being the Great One.
The consequences were that Neb developed a taste for grass and spent the next seven somethings (maybe days, maybe weeks, maybe years or maybe seven seasons) eating grass on all fours like a member of the bovine family. Unfortunately, he experienced a very moooooooving set of circumstances that could have easily been avoided if only he had done the simple thing.
I've decided that I don't like the taste of grass and with the weather changing the way it is, I don't like the idea of being outside, on all fours, even for seven minutes. So, I guess doing the simple things will be the priority for my family and me. The cattle may be lowing somewhere, but not in our yard, er I mean house!
Always in Pursuit!
In my musings, I've also been reminded of the consequences of not doing the simple things and will use this blog entry and the next one to discuss this.
In Daniel 4, you will find the account of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian King who would not give credit to God. A simple thing to do if you stop and think about it. Even though he had been warned about the consequences of not doing so, he chose to view himself as being the great one instead of giving God the credit for being the Great One.
The consequences were that Neb developed a taste for grass and spent the next seven somethings (maybe days, maybe weeks, maybe years or maybe seven seasons) eating grass on all fours like a member of the bovine family. Unfortunately, he experienced a very moooooooving set of circumstances that could have easily been avoided if only he had done the simple thing.
I've decided that I don't like the taste of grass and with the weather changing the way it is, I don't like the idea of being outside, on all fours, even for seven minutes. So, I guess doing the simple things will be the priority for my family and me. The cattle may be lowing somewhere, but not in our yard, er I mean house!
Always in Pursuit!
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