So I ask, not just for Lent, why do you do what you do?  As Christians, this is a very good question to ask.  The hope isn’t that you will trash everything and start fresh.  And no I am not a hater of tradition.  But go ahead and ask the question. Perhaps you’re afraid to because you know the answer…”I don’t know.”  One good thing that can come out of this exercise is that it can reaffirm and remind you of why you should be doing something.  Why do you give offering?  Why do you read your Bible?  Why do you go to church?  Why?  Why?

But here’s another thing to consider.  If you’re able to give a pretty good response to that question, applied to all parts of your life, then ask whether or not those reasons are legitimate.  Honestly, it’s not good enough to say that you think it’s a good idea.  Because that’s saying I know best and God it doesn’t matter what you have to say to the matter. Perhaps somewhere in your thinking you don’t really know what God has to say about it.  If you have no clue whether the Bible says anything about what you do as a believer then you’re already in trouble.  Because chances are you may not be doing it for the glory of God.  It’s just something you do…without any heart devotion or worship to the Lord.  Imagine Valentine’s Day and that great guy/girl gives you a special gift to you.  You ask why?  And he/she responds…I don’t know or it’s what I’ve always done on this day.  Don’t feel so special anymore huh?  You may be doing it because you’ve always done it this way.  You’re doing it because you like it this way or prefer it like this.

Does it not even matter what God has to say?  I think it does because simply God created us and has everything figured out because it’s his and all was made according to his design.  No the Bible does not specifically address everything…but it’s worth the search and effort to see if it does.

So Lent…why give up something for Christ?  Because he’s worth it…because he sacrificed something for me?  And if Christ is worth giving something up…shouldn’t it not be simply for a few weeks?

rev

I’m not writing to condemn you or to give you a guilt trip. Rather, I wanted to actually encourage you towards prayer in a different way. I think a more indicative sign of a healthy and united church is not when people ask others what they can pray for…but when people ask each other to pray for them. Have you ever sought out the prayers of the church? This is Christ-like humility. Remember that awful night when Christ was betrayed? Who asked for prayer? Take a look at Matthew 26:36-41

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus asked the disciples to pray. Then he tells them what they can pray for…their Lord, the Son of God, the one who could save the world from sin. Look at v40. I wonder whether the “spirit…is willing, but the flesh is weak” is not only speaking about the disciples but Christ himself. At that moment he felt the weakness of the flesh and the fear of pain and suffering. But should temptation overcome him the world would be lost and salvation doomed. So it could be that in v40 Jesus tells them to pray for him because his spirit was willing but his flesh was weak. In fact, this may make more sense after Jesus’ confession to the Father in v39: if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.

So back to us. Are you in need? I am. Is there anything that requires prayer for in your life? There is for me. Does your pride tell you not to let anyone know or think you’re weak? To do so would be shameful right? God opposes the proud, friends. In those moments when we stand tall…the gospel falls short and Christ is insignificant. Ask God’s people for prayer. Let them know that you value their prayers…because here’s a little secret, if they are children of God…the Father greatly values their prayers.

So what about me…the pastor? I desperately need the Lord’s wisdom and patience as I lead my flock. I humbly need the Lord’s grace to trust in him and to know and rely on his mercies. I need patience as a father to my children and lead them in godliness. I need the Lord so that I can love my wife the way Christ loved, loves and forever will love his bride. The list goes on…funny, you may be saying my list of prayers is the same.

Hope this is both challenging and encouraging.

God Bless, Pastor Joe

But don’t be fooled. This is not a moral turning and simply changing one’s behavior. The change is not achieved outward. That’s easy. Anyone can change their behavior. You don’t have to accept Jesus to stop cheating on your spouse. The radical nature of the change in conversion is the intervention and work of God through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit causes us to repent of sin and cling to God through faith in Christ. Notice the two aspects…repentance and reliance.

Ask yourself…am I genuinely converted? It’s something that’s beneficial for all people. Thabiti recommends looking at 1 John and see where you stand. Give it a try…warning: you may not like what you read.

Genuinely converted sinners grieve at sin. They hate sin but desire the light of the Lord. According to John those who are habitually and unrepentantly living in sin are people who deny they are sinners and are not genuinely converted. A genuinely converted person loves God. What does it mean to love? Does that love of yours to God in any way reflect the love shown to you in Christ? Do we love other Christians? Perhaps you’re saying at this point, of course I love God and fellow believers!!! You may even be offended at this suggestion. Again, do you really love God and His people? This love that you’re expressing and are so comfortable and confident in…if that was the type and extent of love God showed or shows, how great (or not so great) is the gospel? Would the gospel still be GOOD news?

Do our lives and testimony say that we are children of God? Those who believe are those who persevere in their faith. Thabiti is not insensitive or unrealistic and recognizes that there is often grief, doubt and discomfort. But Christians press on. They trust God, His will, promises and plan. God’s grace is sufficient. All of these are inward focused and to these Thabiti adds an outward aspect, evangelism. A healthy church member recognizes that God is the one who converts sinners by the work of His Holy Spirit. And so a healthy member trusts ultimately not on techniques or clever tactics but relies on the Spirit of God to bless the Word of God to bring about spiritual rebirth.

Hope this encourage you.

How? First, know the gospel. Do you know it CLEARLY and DEEPLY? Can you actually articulate it on the spot? He goes on to expound the good news. Good news means there was (and is) a bad situation. Have we really moved on from that bad situation? Have we ceased to be sinners? Have we stopped being in desperate need of God?

Whenever we listen to a sermon, participate in a Bible Study or have our own QT…we should constantly be listening actively for the gospel and its implications on our lives. Don’t tune out when you hear the gospel application coming. Reaffirm your belief. Preach that gospel to yourselves. Everyone’s an “licensed” critic and expert of sermons and preaching. Here’s your opportunity to do it right…preach that gospel to yourself the way it should be preached.

The gospel should be central in our communication to and consideration of others. Explore and challenge yourselves to see how the gospel applies to every part of your life. Share the gospel with others. This is obviously necessary for unbelievers to come to a saving knowledge of Christ but it is also what encourages, strengthens, challenges and rebukes fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Lastly, guard the gospel in your church and life. Don’t let anything else take centrality or primary importance. Don’t let those truths that form the good news be lost or distorted.

Conclusion (I can’t put it any better than Thabiti):
“In the gospel of Jesus Christ, God offers himself for sinners and to sinners. It is the gospel that makes us aware of the love of God, of our depravity and need for redemption, and of the possibility of eternal joy through worshiping God. It is this same gospel, and a healthy understanding of it, that creates health and strength in members of the Christian church. Let us be saturated in it!”

If you’ve thought or said…I know the gospel…yeah we believe the gospel…and want to move on, oh boy! You’ve already begun to trail down the wrong path. And you’re already spiritually ill.

Are you a healthy church member?

Characteristic #1: Expositional Listener

Thabiti writes that expositional preaching is the “most important mark of a healthy church.”  Without that, the church will suffer.  He continues that just as the preacher is to be focused on proclaiming the meaning of God’s word, each listener must be tuned in to hear the meaning and message of Scripture.  We should be eager and anxious to receive the voice and message of God revealed in His Word.  The key in this process is attitude.  It is not going into a sermon knowing what you want to hear and deciding already what you need to be told.  It is a heart and mind that accepts the meaning found in Scripture as the idea to be grasped by individual believers. 

The results are great.  This type of listening cultivates a hunger for God’s Word.  This teaches our ears to listen to God and allow the Lord to say what He wills from His Word.  Moreover, expositional listening assists us to focus on God’s will and to follow him.  He makes his point clear and simple: “Our agenda becomes secondary.  The preacher’s agenda becomes secondary.  God’s agenda for his people takes center stage, reorders our priorities, and directs us in the course that most honors him.”  Faithful listening to expositional preaching enables one to guard against false teaching and protect the gospel.  It also unites a congregation under the same teaching.  And it certainly will encourage the pastor who faithfully delivers God’s word to you each week. 

So how can we cultivate this habit? 

1.       Meditate on the sermon passage in your quiet time  (Ask me if I haven’t made it known what is being preached the following Sunday).

2.       Invest in some good commentaries

3.       Talk and pray about with others about the sermon after church (There have been times when people will express that they were blessed by the sermon.  Don’t tease them.  Follow through and tell them why you were blessed.  Show them in great detail that listening to God’s word can be an amazing thing and that the Holy Spirit powerfully works through the preached word to bless his people.)

4.       Listen to and act on the sermon throughout the week

5.       Address any questions about the text itself:  Do some extra study or research in Scripture to find out the answers that may not have been addressed in the sermon, or points that the sermon did not touch or discuss in depth.  (Don’t hesitate to shoot me an email.  It is incredibly encouraging to see the congregation wrestling over the word of God, particularly the text from the sermon.) 

6.       Cultivate humility: He warns that we should not become professional sermon listeners.  Then we are “always hearing but never listening.”  Seek to meet Jesus in every moment you listen to God’s word preached.

You probably know the dialogue between Peter and Jesus in John 21:15-19 well.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

If you love…feed.  If you love…tend.  If you love…feed.  It’s very simple.  Peter is told that love manifests and shall we say incarnated by feeding, tending…basically caring.  Jesus’ words are basically a commentary and explanation of the gospel that he just fulfilled: suffering, dying, being resurrected for sinners.  Notice that Jesus never makes any mention about Peter.  And Peter had just come off of one of the worst demonstrations of Christian love.  HE DENIED CHRIST!  But Jesus tells Peter to care for others.  They are sheep.  And we’ve heard countless sermons on how helpless sheep are.  Christ is our shepherd and we are His sheep.  We are helpless and hopeless without him.  Peter is called to be like Christ and to be a shepherd.

What don’t we read in this passage?  We don’t read about Peter’s spiritual health and “personal walk with the Lord.”  It’s not there.  But we would love to read that into this passage wouldn’t we?  The most expected response to encouraging and inviting people to serve God’s people and to give themselves for the church and Christ did for sinners is, “I’m not ready,” or something to that extent.  Jesus’ concern was for the sheep… in other words the church.  And Peter was called to care for and love the church.

So what is church for you?  What is your primary concern in your relationship or participation with the church?  Is it yourself?  How many times have you left a worship service and said ““I” didn’t get anything out of that sermon?” “That sermon had nothing to do with “me.””  “This church doesn’t meet MY needs!”  Why don’t’ we just go ahead and sing during our worship “It’s all about me…and not about you….or anyone else.”  Pick your tune of choice.  Does it matter that there are others in the church that we call brothers and that we are united with in Christ?  Do their concerns matter at all?  Have you chosen a church that meets your needs alone?  Where is the gospel in your presence and participation in the church of Christ?

Is Jesus telling you…feed my sheep, tend my sheep, feed my sheep?  Or have you heard it, feed yourself, tend to yourself, feed yourself…don’t worry about others they SHOULD worry and take care of themselves.  The gospel principle is that one (Jesus) did it for others (you and me).  The anti-gospel response is: I do it for myself and who really cares about others.  If the latter is your attitude then church is defined by a single person…but I hate to break it to you the Bible tells us that the body of Christ is composed of many members…and Christ did not just die for one person but for the many, the world.

So what can you do?  Here are a few tips.  On Sundays…pray for the spiritual benefit of others in worship.  Be that one who extends God’s word to them by feeding them in Biblical encouragement.  Be the one who will care for those who are not cared for and need it so badly.  Bear the weight of their lives on your shoulders.  Sounds difficult?!  It is.  It will be.  But God’s word promises us that His burden is light and He is our strength.  When you are weak…the Lord will certainly be strong.  The spiritual care of believers is not exclusively the pastor’s job…you should be concerned if you find yourself thinking and saying, that’s not my job.

In the end the church of Christ is built up and strengthened when God’s love is shared from each and everyone of us to each and every member of the church.

What will settle wrongs?  Murder…the victim is still gone.  Rape…a person has still been sexually violated.  The US justice system can do nothing to change this.  Our justice system can try to punish the criminal.  Our courts can try to extend some sort of settlement to put our conscience at ease and appease our anger.  But you and I know that this falls short in so many different ways.  Does the punishment really fit the crime?  Where is the concept of lex talionis (eye for an eye)?  He took life and he gets to live (although in a cell)??!!  He took an eye and he gets to keep his.

Psalm 7:12-17 tells us that ultimately vengeance and justice is the Lord’s…take a look at Deuteronomy 32:35.  Psalm 7:12-16 talks of God’s readiness to execute justice.  And wonderfully, v17 ends with satisfaction and a response to the Lord’s justice.  For believers, certainly this means that we are thankful that we have ultimately not received the full wrath of God and that Christ was struck and punished for us.  Justice never goes unpunished with anyone.  For you and me, Christ paid that price.  For those who refuse to bow their knee to Jesus…justice will fall on them (v16). 

There will always be a sense of dissatisfaction in this world.  We will always be tempted to think that God is lax and has not truly punished sin, particularly in the moments when we’ve been wronged.  And so at those times we are to remember the world to come.  All wrongs will be made right.  In heaven, there will not be any sense of dissatisfaction.  These painful situations are opportunities to trust and cling to God’s promises that the fullness of healing and justice are coming with the return of Christ.  It is an opportunity to grow in faith.  It is an opportunity to echo the cry of the apostles, maranatha, come Lord quickly.

What do I mean?  Let me use some strong examples to make my point.  Look at murder.  Even if you forgive the murderer and he/she is incarcerated or even punished by our legal system for the crime, that doesn’t change one thing: the victim is gone.  Nothing can restore that person to you.  Rape.  In the awful case where a person is violated sexually in this way, it does not erase the psychological and spiritual scars that have been made.  The U.S. justice system can’t do anything about that.  And though there can be counseling offered and taken, that doesn’t erase the past.  The memories will remain.  Where’s the justice?  What is our hope in those often tormenting situations?

First, let’s look at what our passage tells us about God’s attitude towards sin and evil.  They anger him (v6).  God does not turn a blind eye and will be certain to judge them (v8).  The wicked and evil have an end (v9).  God feels indignation every day (v11).  So God is certainly affected.  But as Christians where is our hope?  Does God’s hope for us in these times fall short?

The first thing that should be kept in mind is my own sinfulness and hypocrisy.  Remember…he who is without sin cast the first stone.  That’s certainly not me.  This doesn’t mean I have not been wronged or sinned against.  And God does not intend to simply brush aside that pain and injustice simply because you’re not perfect.  But one must not stand against sin and evil as one who has never committed it or not guilty of it themselves.  So as one who has enjoyed and received the unmerited favor and mercy of God in Christ, that should certainly be pressing upon my heart to extend even in the most awful situations like murder and rape. 

Second, the tension and uneasiness of feeling that full justice has not been given in this world and life are real and legitimate.  But again, what can really be done?  Our only hope is in the day and place to come…heaven.  Throughout Paul’s letters we see him pressing the idea of heaven and its newness.  We will be made new.  And miraculously that newness (though beyond our imagination) will be able to make right what was once wrong.  That pain that lingers today and seems indelible will be gone.  Moreover, the hope of the newness of heaven when Christ returns is the day when God will cast the final judgment.  God has not given the final word or handed down the last bit of punishment.  All sins will be fully accounted for…and you can be certain of that.

But I close with one final plea again toward grace.  Yes, there is divine justice and sin angers the Lord.  But in our own cases, has not God shown compassion and mercy?  I pray that even in those darkest times and moments in the face of what seems to be pure evil…may the light of the gospel shine brightest.

There were two pastors who were the best of friends.  They went to college together.  They came to know the Lord together.  They committed their lives together to full time mission.  They went to seminary together.  After each got married their families lived close by each other.  Every week on a given night they would go out, rent a movie, buy day old donuts and spend the night together.  One night the two fathers went out, with one of the children (I believe there were 7 total between the families) and as they drove to the local store a drunk driver crashed into them.  The fathers died.  The son survived.  The driver’s license was already revoked.  It has been suspended before.  Feel sad?  Angry perhaps?!  Yes certainly.  But the story doesn’t end there.  The women, now left with all these children and no husbands to care for them, mustered up the courage to confront and meet the person who had taken away their husbands because of his drunken negligence.  And they told him that Christ loved him and shared the wonderful and powerful gospel of Jesus.  For you and me, ultimately there is no justice really…because Christ took it upon himself, even for murderers and rapists.

 How does my own attention to confessing my sin to God affect my relationship with others?

 You may think that confession is something that’s exclusively between you and God.  But James 5:16 tells us that we ought to confess our sins to one another as well.  Moreover, there is actually a direct correlation, I believe, between the regularity/frequency of our confession to the Lord and our relationship to one another.  What am I talking about?

 If you seldom, rarely or never confess your sin to the Lord, or this just isn’t a regular and staple aspect of your walk with the Lord, then chances are you seldom seek the forgiveness of others and that will affect your relationship with those around you.  Why would you bother asking for another sinner’s forgiveness when you won’t from a loving, merciful and perfect God?!  Think about a relationship where wrongs are committed but never reconciled.  How long will it be before you two have it out?  Do you think that relationship can strengthen and prosper with those issues simply swept under the rug?  This is most true in those relationships with people who are closest and most beloved by us…wives and husbands you know what I mean. 

So don’t you think this dynamic works with your relationship with God?  You will find yourself distant and lacking desire for the Lord.  Sunday worship and other opportunities to express our love and worship for the Lord will be dull, undesirable, boring, un-meaningful, worthless and perhaps offensive.  In fact, you may end up thinking that it is actually God who is distant and far off and begin to blame the Lord for the state of your relationship with him.  Confession is that important.  Further, underlining that lack of confession is an arrogance that says I don’t need to confess.  It is essentially a declaration that you have committed no wrong and you don’t need forgiveness.  Then the gospel has no impact on your heart and it means less and less to you.  In any relationship, pride will destroy! 

So how does this affect my relationship with others?  Well, the way I see it, it is likely that if you seldom seek the Lord’s forgiveness then you are someone who will fight tooth and nail to win arguments, battles, fights with others.  You are someone who refuses to apologize…that is the last thing you want to do.  But you demand and expect the repentance of others. 

 The gospel tells us that we are sinners.  That means we sin both against God and man.  And let’s be honest… this will not change until you get to heaven.  The gospel tells us that a perfect God sent his perfect son to die for imperfect and sinful people.  A gospel response to others isn’t to stand tall and proud but to humble ourselves to one another recognizing that we are sinners and in need of mercy.  God extends mercy on a daily basis through those we wrong. 

 Do you find yourself distant in a relationship that promised more and should be more intimate?  Take a look at whether your heart is proud or humble and whether you regularly confess your sins to each other.  Want that relationship to be better?  Continue in humility.  If you’re a spouse, that spouse is the one who has seen your physical shame and should you not trust that person to bear your spiritual shame as well.