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The Lord Raised Up

Just as the moral decline of our culture nosedives, the church is struggling with what some have called “the graying of the flock.”  Today, less than half of our population attends some kind of religious service, down from three-quarters just a short time ago.  God’s people have always struggled not to compromise with the world, and when they did in the time of Judges, God would raise up a deliverer to save them–when they cried out to Him (Judges 3:7-11).

I.  Joshua 14:6-15.  When Joshua was dividing the land, Caleb reminds them that the two of them as good spies many years ago were all that was left of the generation that had come out of slavery in Egypt, and so Joshua gave Caleb Hebron.  Later Caleb gave Othniel his daughter in marriage … and springs.  It is this Othniel that God raises up when the people cry out to Him when they realize their worldliness.

II.  Isaiah 43:3-11.  God alone would be the Savior of His people.  Before (Matthew 1:21) and at (Luke 2:10-11) His birth, Jesus–God in the flesh–was hailed as our Deliverer.  The time and circumstances were right for our salvation (Galatians 4:4-5), and our redemption was accomplished on the cross (Ephesians 2:4-6).  But, in fulfillment of prophecy (Joel 2), we too needed to cry out for it (Acts 2:21).

III.  1 Corinthians 12:18.  So, where will our next deliverers come from who will lead us to Christ?  This is the wrong question as it’s not our job.  God reserves those who will serve Him (1 Kings 19:18) and knows who are His (2 Timothy 2:19).  From the very stones He could raise them up (Luke 3:8) if He wanted to.  He’s arranging the parts of the body where He needs them to be.  Is He raising you up?

It could be He’s arranging you in the place where you are to lead many to Christ.  People are crying out for deliverance all around us.  Will you step up to help them?

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Reality far from promises

Read Psalm 89

Reality seems far from your promises, Lord.
The Kingdom’s glory seems trampled in the dust.
How long can your people bear up under suffering?

What happy subjects who have learned to worship you!
They joyfully walk in the light of your presence.
They delight in your righteousness.

The heavens praise all your wonders, O Lord.
Who in the heavens can be compared to you?
Among us you are powerful and fearful.

Do not forget us, O God of all eternity.
Enemies overrun your Kingdom.
Where, O Lord, is your former love?

You act with reason and move with purpose.
We trust in you, consoled by your faithfulness.
May you be praised forever. Amen!

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Cut to the Heart

In Bloom’s taxonomy remembering and understanding are lower levels of critical thinking, yet that’s where most of our sermons, classes … and sadly studies on how to obey the gospel are centered.  It is at the level of applying the knowledge where a person sees how his own sin has eternally separated him from God and only the sacrifice of Jesus can restore the relationship.  Then, when they are “cut to the heart,” they will ask, “What shall I do?”

I. Acts 2:36-47.  The first gospel sermon that was delivered on the day of Pentecost used knowledge to convict the crowd that they were guilty of sin and putting an innocent man to death but that God had resurrected Jesus and made Him both Lord and Christ.  The people were cut to the heart and wanted to apply this knowledge, which required further knowledge about how to obey the gospel.  3000 applied it.

II. Romans 6:3-5.  In an era where many are convinced there’s no such thing as sin, what they’ve done is not that bad, or the preaching they’ve heard deemphasizes it, it’s hard to see the relevance of the gospel.  But even a knowledge-level passage of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 gives the application in the phrase, “for our sins.”  After they’re cut to the heart, we can explain how obeying the gospel unites us to Christ’s death and resurrection.

III.  Matthew 28:19-20.  We each have a job to do.  For we who are already living faithfully, ours is to use knowledge to convict the lost to action.  Then, when we have made disciples and the cut-to-the-heart are asking what they must do, we baptize–when it’s God’s job to add them to His church–and then teach them to obey everything that He’s commanded.  This is how is was for the gentile jailer in Acts 16.

When we push them to obedience before they’re cut to the heart, we risk making low-level disciples who struggle to see the relevance of church and live faithfully.  Never having been cut to the heart and applied the gospel, they never utilize the higher levels of critical thinking in their Christian walk.

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In so many places

In so many places, O God,
unbeknown to us,
You are working to expand the Kingdom,
to save more souls and gather them
into your family.

Let me hear more how you bring in
and preserve for all eternity
multitudes in so many places.

My heart inclines before You,
I worship you for your power,
your love, you drive to redeem.

And, last of all, O Lord,
work in me and in our number,
for the sake of your holy Name.

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Bible pictures

Read Hebrews 11

God who promises an eternal city,

The ancients walked in faith.
They saw beyond the visible.
They hoped for a better country.

Abraham, Moses, Joseph,
And countless others never saw
What they’d been promised.

And we, today, O God,
Go by what we see,
Rather than what we might hear.

Even Bibles now have pictures.
Verses on the internet
Have to show an image.

We’re deaf and, truly, blind.
Open my ears, O Lord,
That I might hear your Word.

Turn my sight away
From colors that excite,
To simple black and white.

Focus my heart to delight
In words of power from Heaven,
Where you in glory rule.

In Christ, I pray, Amen.

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Of All the Truths

Of all the truths to give me ground
and reason, joy and peace of mind,
it’s this: that God is just and true:
the lives of all he’ll equally weigh.

God Almighty, needy am I,
I’ve nothing good or great to show,
Have mercy on me, a mere worm —
Save me with your upraised arm.

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I trust you

Holy Father,

I trust you deeply. Completely. Thoroughly. I live in peace because of your presence. I ask for daily bread. The now is where I live, not tomorrow. By doing so I can have true hope in eternity. Thank you for your promise, so solid and firm and true.

That momentary thoughts make me restless I confess. Each time, bring me back to the center, which is Christ. He had no pillow to lay his head on. He had no home to call his own. In this world the Lord owned little. He came to do your will and return to heaven. In him is full comfort and constant joy.

God of all, you are my God. Praise belongs to you for your mercy. Glory to you for your patience. Honor is yours because you are faithful every day.

Without you I cannot live. Stay with me.

In Christ, Amen.

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Dead All at Once

Dead all at once, and slowly dying —
Life in Christ means distancing
ourselves from worldly pursuits.
O eternal God in Heaven!
What affliction we feel, like Lot,
to see in our own divided hearts
the wicked ways of man.
Purify us for your presence!

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Your Desire

To give and forgive is your desire,
This grace in Christ, no need more dire;
Good News must reach the farthest isle —
Your church must face the harshest trial.

O Lord! more faith and courage send,
More love to carry us to the end!
Let us enter the opened door,
To speak salvation more and more.

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A Brother in Need

Show me, Lord, a brother in need.
Open my shuttered eyes to see
Whom I can help, to love in deed
And truth — but not in small degree.

Like you among your people in prayer,
May I be present to know and hear
That hurting heart who cannot bear
The lonesome pain — may I be near.

From solitude, where power I seek,
Lead me to where my brethren meet,
To ease their burdens, lift the weak,
Instruct the novice, and wash their feet.