Tag: Worship (Page 5 of 32)

Most people like a party. Surprisingly, even a pity party.

For some reason there are times that we like to feel miserable, alone, even abandoned. Playing the victim carries some status, I guess. Of course there are times when we’re not playing the victim but actually are. Times when we don’t just feel alone but are. When we’re in the moment it’s difficult if not impossible to tell the difference between what we feel and reality. Our perception, in the pain, often defines our reality. Our head may know truth but our heart make counter.

Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.

1 Kings 19:18

In our text today Elijah has just been God’s servant in an amazing show of God’s power and might. God has used him to display His greatness to the leaders and people of the land in an explicit and undeniable way. Yet right after this he is threatened and runs away scared. When he talks to God he bemoans that he is the only one left who is faithful to Him. Elijah may well have felt that was true, even though it is likely there was evidence to the contrary.

And God showed him that what Elijah felt was indeed not at all true. Elijah was not alone. He was not abandoned. He was not the only one left who was faithful to God. God tells Elijah that He has preserved for Himself “seven thousand in Israel” (1 Kings 19:18) who have remained faithful to Him.

That’s not to say that Elijah didn’t feel alone. It’s God telling him he wasn’t alone. God’s reality is what matters no matter how we feel.

That doesn’t minimize our feelings or are hurts or pains. But it is a stark reminder that those things, though our reality, are often or seldom not true reality.

There are times that we may feel distant from God, abandoned by God, all alone. There are times when we feel our sins have pushed us so far from Him that He couldn’t possibly still be present with us, still forgive us ,still love us. That we are all alone.

But that’s not reality.

Through faith in Jesus Christ the reality is that He has preserved us for Himself forever. He is with us and we are not alone. Ever. We are not abandoned because Jesus was for us. Even in our pain He has given us the Victory.

1. When God displays His power and salvation, don’t run away.
2. You may feel alone, but you never are. He is with you.
3. It’s not about you. God preserves.

That is reality. That is what matters.

Through faith in Jesus we are preserved. By God. For Himself.

Remember this in your suffering and pain. Remember Jesus’ words that, “Lo, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

“Thank you, Lord God, for checking our feelings with Your reality. With Your care. With Your love. Help us to always remember that so that our feelings don’t trump Your Truth. Remind us that through faith in Jesus alone You have preserved us for Yourself forever. In Jesus name, amen.”

Scriptures

• Galatians 3:23-4:7

I often think we don’t fully appreciate our status as Christians. As children of God. The fact that we are heirs of God. We occupy a special, selected, privileged position not enjoyed by those who do not have faith in Jesus. We can talk to God our father in a way that those without faith can’t – won’t. As children of God through faith we are free from all that binds and holds us back.

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring according to promise.

Galatians 3:29

Unfortunately I think that some Christians view this status as license to treat our Father like a genie; their to just grant whatever we want whenever we want. They see accumulation in this life as the goal instead of our adoption and eternal life as the goal; as the gift.

It’s a focus on self and this world instead of on God and the next.

And when we truly understand our place, our privileged place as God’s heirs – and that the new creation is already ours, that should change our motivation and heart. Not to gain this world, but to serve it. To serve others. To share the faith so that others may also receive that same gift commit that same inheritance of eternal life. So that others may become our eternal brothers and sisters and all of us together can cry, “Abba! Father!”

Being full heirs through faith in Jesus means recognizing the fact that God’s full inheritance is already ours. We have nothing to strive for. Nothing to fear. Nothing to worry about. We have it all. Now.

What an awesome blessing! What an awesome privilege! What an awesome status!

“Thank you, Abba, Father, for freeing us from the slavery of sin and making us Your full heirs and inheritors of freedom and everlasting life through faith in Jesus. Grant us wisdom and joy to share this Gift in word and deed. In Jesus’ name, amen!”

Scriptures

• Galatians 3:23-4:7

Last Sunday was Pentecost. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the people in Jerusalem and the start of the Church united in Jesus.

God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.

Acts 2:24

The first thing the Holy Spirit led Peter to say in our text was last week, explaining what was happening in God fulfilling His prophecy through Joel.

Today Peter continues, sharing words of prophecy from King David and how David foresaw and foretold how his Descendant would die but rise again, not even letting His body see decay!

The words are not just important for those within earshot of Peter. We, also, need to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say. Too often we listen to ourselves and others, and ignore or drown out His Words of life for us.

In our Scripture today, the Holy Spirit shares through Peter that “God has made [Jesus] both Lord and Christ” – the master over all and God’s Anointed One for all time!

The Holy Spirit is sharing that Jesus is the One prophesied about; the One God chose to execute His plan of salvation; the One who is elevated over all things for all time!

That’s what the Holy Spirit does: He points people to the Lord and Savior; He points them to Jesus! Because in Jesus, there is forgiveness! In Jesus there is mercy! In Jesus there is Life! In Jesus there is salvation!

Faith in Jesus is your very life – now and forevermore!

Look to Him! Believe in Him! Serve Him! For God has made Him both Lord and Christ!

“Gracious God, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to point us to Jesus! Thank You for You plan of salvation which Jesus fulfilled and now and forever, Lord and Christ! Move us from areas in our lives where we do not see or treat Him as such. Forgive us and renew us with Him always and only before and above us. In His precious name; amen!”

Scriptures

• Acts 2:22-36
• Psalm 8

There are so many good things in today’s Scripture.

Here we have the “High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus, which John records right before His time in the Garden before His betrayal and arrest.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 17:3 (ESV)

Jesus gives us so much in His prayer to the Father for His disciples – whom He knew would desert Him and struggle to regain their footing following His death.

But we can see a few key points:

1. They aren’t of the world (as He isn’t of the world)
2. Jesus has shared the Truth with them; the Truth of eternal life by knowing God as the only true God and in Jesus whom the Father sent, made known through the very Word of God
3. Unity is important and is found in Jesus for the sake of the saving Gospel of Jesus

The challenge for us is that we don’t see unity in the Body of Christ. Quite the opposite.

Many reasons abound for this, but the two primary ones are a lack of love in the Body and a lack of pursuance and steadfastness in the Truth in the Body.

The reality is, the Body of Christ’s Church is fractured because our sinful world is fractured. It is challenged because many in the Body love the world more than God, others, and the Truth.

But the reality is different from the perception of it.

The fact is, there is unity in Christ. Unity in His grace and mercy. In His Truth. Unity in His forgiveness. Unity of salvation.

Through Faith in Jesus (and Him only!), there is the one unifying Truth: Jesus saves!

That is a Truth to unify in! He is the Truth to unify in!

“Thank You, Jesus, for praying for Your Body, the Church. Thank You for unifying us in You; in Your Word, in Your Truth, in Your grace, in Your forgiveness, in Your life, in Your salvation. Grant us Your Holy Spirit so that we put aside this things which break us in our unity – our lack of love and our failure to hold to the Truth of You and Your Word. Help us live the unity we have in You through faith. In Your precious, holy, unifying Name do we pray. Amen.”

Scriptures

• John 17:3-8, John 17:14, John 17:17-23
• Psalm 133

Life is tough. It has challenges and heartaches that we could never foresee. (That’s probably a good thing.)

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33b (ESV)

Some believe that being a believer means we won’t (or shouldn’t) have these difficulties anymore. Some even go so far as to say that if a believer is undergoing hardships, persecutions, and challenges, it is evidence that they either do not believe or their faith is not strong (enough.)

Not only is this un-Scriptural, it is anti-Scriptural.

Today’s scripture plainly says that “in the world you will have tribulation.” Not “if you have little faith,” not “may,” not “might;””will!”

We don’t get to know the times the tribulations will come. We don’t get to know what types of tribulations they will be. We don’t get to know the severity or extent or length. We know that being in this sinful, fallen, messed-up world, tribulation will be there with it. A part of it. Because of it.

But that’s the end of the reading or verse, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The tribulations aren’t the focus. Our sufferings and pains and heartaches aren’t the focus.

Jesus is the focus. Always.

And His victory over the world and all it’s tribulations and heartaches is now our victory, too. Heartaches are transformed by Jesus’ “take heart.”

He doesn’t promise tribulations will cease in this fallen world. He points us to the reality that this fallen world – and all it’s tribulations has been overcome and a New Creation is in store, where heartaches are never more.

Take heart! Jesus has overcome; for you; for all, forever.

“Lord Jesus, we praise and thank You that You have overcome the world, overcome death, sin, the devil, and all tribulations and heartaches. Remind us in challenges that they are temporary and defeated and that we can take heart and look forward to the new world You will create, free from all tribulations and heartaches. In Your holy and precious name do we pray. Amen.”

Scriptures

• John 16:27-28
• John 16:32-33

God wants all to be saved. We also know that not everyone will be saved, but that is God’s desire. And it should be ours.

We say that we believe that, that we want that, that that is our heart’s desire; but so many times our actions speak louder than our words. We arrogantly place ourselves above others and even flaunt in the way that we talk to others on how we or our Faith is superior. Instead of humbly lifting up the only One who is superior – God. And we are supposed to be winsome for others, not arrogant. We’re supposed to acknowledge that we have been saved by grace and not by anything that we do or any special privileged position we hold as disciples of Jesus.

If then God gave the same Gift to them as He have to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?

Acts 11:17 (ESV)

The Jews got into this conundrum as well. They knew from the Old Testament that Israel was God’s chosen people. A people who were supposed to be holy and set apart. A nation that was to be a blessing for other nations. A light to the gentiles. But they forgot that. Instead of wanting to be that light and take God to others, they erected barriers to keep others out. To hold up with God rather than to share Him.

This was true for some of the early believers as well. They also didn’t really take seriously the call to make disciples of all nations, to share Jesus with others, to be winsome; because they didn’t really want or perhaps believe that God wanted gentiles too.

So when we see in our text from Acts that many in the Church of the “circumcised party” were criticizing Peter for the way he addressed gentiles – the way he stooped their level, they criticized him. But Peter saw – reluctantly – that the Gospel really was for the gentiles too. And he saw this because he saw the gentiles receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, just like he and the other believers did. And he made the correct connection that if God chose gentiles and gave His gifts to them standing in the way is not just being protectionist to the faith, it’s opposing God and that very faith. That’s not a reason for anyone who is a believer to be cocky, but rather to – in humanity, knowing that we are recipients by grace – to freely and joyously share that grace of Jesus with others. With everyone. Hoping, praying that they will become believers as well. That they will be saved like we have been. That they would become a part of the fold of God.

“Lord, send Your Holy Spirit upon everyone that we meet and fill us with that same Spirit, so that we may be winsome for You, sharing the saving gospel of Jesus in all that we think, say, and do, so that You are glorified and Your grace is shared.”

Scriptures

• Acts 11:1-18
• Psalm 148

The ‘cult of personality’ is interesting.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

John 10:27 (ESV)

Some people follow a particular person, oftentimes regardless of what they actually say or do. Their devotion is to the person above all else. Logic seems to be defied and sometimes conversations with persons not in the ‘cult’ are frustrating and fruitless.

Add to this that sometimes the followers are called ‘sheep’ and you get a recipe that often produces negative results.

In our readings today, we see this at play, but with a twist: we – the sheep – are called to follow our Great Shepherd, Jesus; period!

We are not called to give suggestions, make decisions, or even ask questions in these lessons. We are told that those who are followers of Jesus “hear His voice” and “follow Him.”

We are a ‘cult of personality’ with Jesus as the One we follow!

So, are we in a cult as Christians?

Well, cults are considered to have false teachings by the world and the followers living in an unconventional manner.

Well, could be!

The World doesn’t consider the Bible and God’s teachings in it true. We know they are. Following Jesus faithfully and living as His disciples will mean living in a manner unconventional to unbelievers.

But the fact is, following Jesus means never being in need. It means being led to “green pastures” and “still waters.” It means having our souls restored and being led to “paths of righteousness.” It means being given “never perishing,” being given “eternal life” and dwelling “in the House of the Lord forever.”

Jesus is the only One I want to follow! He is the only One I will follow! If that makes me considered as a ‘cult member,’ count me in!

“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being our Good Shepherd who leads us to every good thing and life everlasting! Open our ears to hear Your voice only instead of the cacophony and chaos of our collapsed creation. Amen.”

Scriptures

• Psalm 23
• John 10:22-30

This text in Hebrews reads like a “Who’s Who” of Old Testament heroes all linked to some action prompted by faith in God’s Promise. They believed, therefore they did something.

A man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Galatians 2:16 (NKJV)

Faith glorifies God, and faith knows what God says about man. God is good, but man is an imperfect reflection of that goodness. God is love, but man lacks God’s abundant compassion. Man sins and falls short of the glory God while God is pure and holy.

Faith, like all living things, shows signs of life: faith responds to God, it works, and it moves us along in harmony with what God wants from us. St. James wrote, “Faith without works is dead.” Faith, firm acceptance of God’s truth in Christ, leads us to acts of faith or works. 

Faith: receive it, believe it, live it!

Scriptures

• Galatians 2:16
• Hebrews 11:1
• Hebrews 11:17-19

Historically, there have been several titles for a pastor; “under-shepherd” being one of them.

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task…Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:1, 13 (NIV84)

There are many aspects to the pastoral office. The office of the keys is one, but is not the property or responsibility of any individual, and it has as it’s ultimate goal to restore and keep souls from sin and sin’s separation from God.

Under any title, however, St. Paul considered “the pastoral office” a “holy ministry;” something set apart by God for God’s Church.

Christianity is not a spectator sport. Leaders are here to help you be successful, not necessarily happy or comfortable, as so many want to believe. Success, however, requires a team called by God to serve God’s will. Every Church leader (whether called, elected, or simply a recognized spiritual leader) is part of a divinely assembled team, with a God-given task of preparing all the Saints for their ministries.

The Church is the “living body of Jesus Christ on earth, or “the bride of Christ.” Everyone in Christ’s Church has a job. Together we “prepare…for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” The Church is the sum of all believers gathered around Word and Sacraments.

God created man to be the perfect reflection of God. Sin broke us completely; made us reject God’s image and purpose in favor of our own ideas.

The Bible reminds us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

In Matthew 16:19 Jesus said, “I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.” The keys are the gospel; all God has done in Christ to pardon our sins and prepare our place in heaven for eternity. The forgiveness is already from God, purchased by Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

Jesus Christ gave the gift and responsibility of the keys to heaven to His church.

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Scriptures

• 1 Timothy 3:1-13