Last night we talked a lot about forgiveness. We can be fully forgiven for every sin against God. Past, Present, Future - all of the wrong we have done, are doing, and will do is wiped away by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
It is that forgiveness that we find real freedom. We find that we are free from our performance as something that has to be done in order to gain favor with God. Performance is the opposite of grace. There is nothing we can do to earn favor with God. It is given freely to us through Jesus.
We also find that we are free to forgive others who have wronged us. Not forgiving those who have done evil to you leads to bitterness and wrath that well up inside you and ultimately control you. The release comes when you offer forgiveness.
In the book "Who Do You Think You Are" Mark Driscoll tells us what forgiveness is and what it isn't.
Forgiveness is:
Canceling a debt owed to you
Removing the control your offender has over you
Giving a gift to your offender and yourself
Forsaking revenge
Leaving justice in God’s hands
An ongoing process
Wanting good for your offender
Forgiveness is not:
Denying sin occurred or diminishing its evil
Enabling sin
Necessarily a response to a repentant apology
Not covering up sin committed against us
Not Forgetting
Not Trust
Not reconciliation
Who do you need to forgive?
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
The Greatest Hero
Last week the students were asked "who is the greater superhero, Batman or Ironman?" Two men, from the planet earth, because let's face it - there is no planet Krypton. We needed to decide once and for all who was the greatest.
Well maybe not once and for all, but at least for the night. The Junior High Boys group had great arguments concerning the two heroes that included "Batman is just a guy with a utility belt," and "Ironman is drunk or drinking most of the time." Clearly some of them have not engaged in the art of comic book reading.
The point of the exercise was to decide who was the greatest hero and what made them the greatest. That question brought forth answers like "willing to fight any form of evil," and "stand for what is right."
Good thoughts from a Junior High Boy.
As we wrapped up our HERO series last week, we looked at the story of Jesus from 30,000 feet. A quick flyover to hit the highlights of a life that was perfectly lived and given as a sacrifice for us.
A lot of us know the Gospel. We know the stories of Jesus and around Easter we specifically focus on the death, burial, and resurrection. Of course that is what we should focus on this time of year, but what would happen if that was our focus the entire year.
All of the characters we studied in the last eight weeks have all pointed to Jesus and His work on the cross. What has changed today that we tend to only think about this around Easter and an occasional evangelistic rally?
Just after the resurrection, Jesus walked seven miles who two people and explained how all of the Old Testament pointed to Him. If the Old Testament looks forward and the New Testament looks back, what are we to do?
Live it. Love it. Take it everywhere we go.
What is "it?"
The Gospel. The hope of the change that takes place in us when Jesus saves us. He transfers us from darkness to light, from death to life, from hopeless to hope-filled. He qualifies un disqualified.
He fought the battle for us and is victorious. Let's tell everyone about this great victory!
Well maybe not once and for all, but at least for the night. The Junior High Boys group had great arguments concerning the two heroes that included "Batman is just a guy with a utility belt," and "Ironman is drunk or drinking most of the time." Clearly some of them have not engaged in the art of comic book reading.
The point of the exercise was to decide who was the greatest hero and what made them the greatest. That question brought forth answers like "willing to fight any form of evil," and "stand for what is right."
Good thoughts from a Junior High Boy.
As we wrapped up our HERO series last week, we looked at the story of Jesus from 30,000 feet. A quick flyover to hit the highlights of a life that was perfectly lived and given as a sacrifice for us.
A lot of us know the Gospel. We know the stories of Jesus and around Easter we specifically focus on the death, burial, and resurrection. Of course that is what we should focus on this time of year, but what would happen if that was our focus the entire year.
All of the characters we studied in the last eight weeks have all pointed to Jesus and His work on the cross. What has changed today that we tend to only think about this around Easter and an occasional evangelistic rally?
Just after the resurrection, Jesus walked seven miles who two people and explained how all of the Old Testament pointed to Him. If the Old Testament looks forward and the New Testament looks back, what are we to do?
Live it. Love it. Take it everywhere we go.
What is "it?"
The Gospel. The hope of the change that takes place in us when Jesus saves us. He transfers us from darkness to light, from death to life, from hopeless to hope-filled. He qualifies un disqualified.
He fought the battle for us and is victorious. Let's tell everyone about this great victory!
Monday, April 14, 2014
Self Reliance vs. Sole Reliance
Last week we talked about Gideon from Judges 6 and 7. I have to admit that I knew the story peripherally. More than anything I knew about the fleece that was laid out by Gideon and how God was tested to see if what He told Gideon was really true. Maybe some background on the story would help...
Israel is being raided by the Midianites. Israel had turned its back on the Lord and worshiped Baal. God allowed the Midianites to oppress and harass Israel, but one day they cried out to God, He would deliver them through Gideon.
Gideon is found in a winepress beating out wheat. In order to separate the wheat from the chaff, Gideon would be beating it with something like a blanket in order to get the chaff in the air to be blown away in the wind. The problem is that Gideon is beating wheat in a winepress with is either dug into the ground or often found inside a cave. There would be very little wind available for Gideon, making his best efforts futile.
Gideon is afraid. He doesn't want the Midianites coming and taking the wheat so he hides out. It is here that God calls him to deliver Israel.
Because the Lord is with Gideon, he will be a mighty man of valor. There is no evidence of Gideon being this mighty man of valor prior to the Lord coming to him. It is God who is going to work through Gideon to deliver Israel from oppression.
Gideon grabs an army of 32,000 but God says that is too many people. The Lord does not want Israel to have a reason to think they were the ones who fought and won this battle so He strips the army down to 10,000. Still a pretty good number - but He isn't done.
9,700 more are taken away and the army is left with 300 people to go and take out the Midianites. By the way - no swords, spears, shields, or anything like that. Just a torch, a jar, and a trumpet.
God gives Israel the victory over the Midianites. What seemed impossible for man is always possible with God, but here is what really sticks out to me. God stripped Israel, Gideon, and the army down so that they HAD to rely on HIM in order for victory.
He does the same with us. He will strip of of our self-reliance to get things done, to be successful, to have a great victory so that He can be our sole-reliance. Trying to trust ourselves or our own strength will never get done what God wants to accomplish in us and through us.
He gives the victory in our lives, and sometimes we have to get out of the way. He will take everything He needs to away so that He can shine bright through us.
He isn't afraid to strip us down so that all we have is Jesus. From there He begins to build us up.
I talked about this Wednesday night and experienced it days later. He is still working. Let Him work.
Israel is being raided by the Midianites. Israel had turned its back on the Lord and worshiped Baal. God allowed the Midianites to oppress and harass Israel, but one day they cried out to God, He would deliver them through Gideon.
Gideon is found in a winepress beating out wheat. In order to separate the wheat from the chaff, Gideon would be beating it with something like a blanket in order to get the chaff in the air to be blown away in the wind. The problem is that Gideon is beating wheat in a winepress with is either dug into the ground or often found inside a cave. There would be very little wind available for Gideon, making his best efforts futile.
Gideon is afraid. He doesn't want the Midianites coming and taking the wheat so he hides out. It is here that God calls him to deliver Israel.
Because the Lord is with Gideon, he will be a mighty man of valor. There is no evidence of Gideon being this mighty man of valor prior to the Lord coming to him. It is God who is going to work through Gideon to deliver Israel from oppression.
Gideon grabs an army of 32,000 but God says that is too many people. The Lord does not want Israel to have a reason to think they were the ones who fought and won this battle so He strips the army down to 10,000. Still a pretty good number - but He isn't done.
9,700 more are taken away and the army is left with 300 people to go and take out the Midianites. By the way - no swords, spears, shields, or anything like that. Just a torch, a jar, and a trumpet.
God gives Israel the victory over the Midianites. What seemed impossible for man is always possible with God, but here is what really sticks out to me. God stripped Israel, Gideon, and the army down so that they HAD to rely on HIM in order for victory.
He does the same with us. He will strip of of our self-reliance to get things done, to be successful, to have a great victory so that He can be our sole-reliance. Trying to trust ourselves or our own strength will never get done what God wants to accomplish in us and through us.
He gives the victory in our lives, and sometimes we have to get out of the way. He will take everything He needs to away so that He can shine bright through us.
He isn't afraid to strip us down so that all we have is Jesus. From there He begins to build us up.
I talked about this Wednesday night and experienced it days later. He is still working. Let Him work.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Noah's Gospel
The Gospel is present everywhere in the pages of Scripture. In stories and the characters, every story "whispers the name of Jesus" (Sally Lloyd Jones - Jesus Storybook Bible). That was the whole purpose of the series "HERO." To see if Jesus really is all over the pages of the Bible.
With only a couple weeks left we looked at Noah last week. Noah is getting a lot of buzz these days because of the new movie that bears his name. Aside from the name of Noah on the title, a flood, and an ark - there probably isn't much more that relates to the story told in Genesis 6-9.
The story of Noah from the Bible finds the entire earth corrupt because of sin. Adam's choice in Genesis 3 has spread to every one and everything to the point that man's heart sought to do evil all the time. God decides that He is going to wipe out man from the face of the earth (which is His RIGHT as the Creator and the offended party).
But God gave Noah favor. Noah received grace and was offered salvation from the coming destruction. You probably know the rest of the story - Noah is given instructions on building the ark and he obeys. You may think that his obedience is what saved him, but do not miss what Genesis says, "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD." It is only after Noah finds favor that he is considered right with God.
The same goes for us. We need grace. We need favor from God and He gives us that favor through the work of His Son, Jesus. Jesus, who lived a life we could not live and met the perfect standard of God. Jesus, who put Himself on my cross in my place and took my punishment. A wonderful picture of grace.
Noah's new relationship with God prompts him to action, to build the ark. The way of salvation from the destruction of the flood had only one way in. The ark could hold a lot of people, but only EIGHT entered through the door.
That door in Genesis points to Jesus and what He says in John 10, "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved..."
Every story whispers HIS name.
With only a couple weeks left we looked at Noah last week. Noah is getting a lot of buzz these days because of the new movie that bears his name. Aside from the name of Noah on the title, a flood, and an ark - there probably isn't much more that relates to the story told in Genesis 6-9.
The story of Noah from the Bible finds the entire earth corrupt because of sin. Adam's choice in Genesis 3 has spread to every one and everything to the point that man's heart sought to do evil all the time. God decides that He is going to wipe out man from the face of the earth (which is His RIGHT as the Creator and the offended party).
But God gave Noah favor. Noah received grace and was offered salvation from the coming destruction. You probably know the rest of the story - Noah is given instructions on building the ark and he obeys. You may think that his obedience is what saved him, but do not miss what Genesis says, "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD." It is only after Noah finds favor that he is considered right with God.
The same goes for us. We need grace. We need favor from God and He gives us that favor through the work of His Son, Jesus. Jesus, who lived a life we could not live and met the perfect standard of God. Jesus, who put Himself on my cross in my place and took my punishment. A wonderful picture of grace.
Noah's new relationship with God prompts him to action, to build the ark. The way of salvation from the destruction of the flood had only one way in. The ark could hold a lot of people, but only EIGHT entered through the door.
That door in Genesis points to Jesus and what He says in John 10, "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved..."
Every story whispers HIS name.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Jesus Shows Up In Exodus
Last week we looked at a couple huge events in the life of Moses. Moses was a pretty big deal to the nation of Israel. He was the one that God called to lead them out of the slavery of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Moses was a murderer. Moses was reluctant. Moses had speech problems.
Moses had a lot of excuses, but those excuses were no match for what God was going to do through Moses. Moses is talked about in Hebrews 11 which highlights the faith of some Old Testament characters and God's work through them.
A reminder about what God did through Moses:
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned." - Hebrews 11:23-29 ESV
Passover and crossing the Red Sea. These were events in the history of Israel that were seen as foundational to the nation's existence. Time after time these events were referenced by the people of Israel and by the Lord.
So what do they really mean?
Starting with the Passover - we see the death of the firstborn of every family and animal coming as a result of the final plague. One exception would be to take a perfect male lamb, kill it, and cover the doorposts of your house in its blood.
The destroyer would passover the house covered in the blood of the lamb. Sound familiar?
Next we see the crossing of the Red Sea. Pharaoh tells the Israelites to leave and they head out. They are lead to the Red Sea and into an impossible situation from a human viewpoint. Surrounded by the sea on one side and the army of Egypt on the other, there seems to be no hope.
God instructs Moses to raise his hand over the sea and Israel crosses over on dry land with a wall of water on the right and a wall of water on the left. The army begins to follow and the walls of water come crashing down on the army once the Israelites are though safely.
The wrath was withheld while the people of God moved through to safety. Sound familiar?
These two events picture the work of Jesus for you and for me. He was the perfect Lamb of God whose blood covers us and gives us life while defeating death. Through his completed work on our behalf, the wrath of God toward us because of our sin is withheld and we are kept safe.
O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!
Moses had a lot of excuses, but those excuses were no match for what God was going to do through Moses. Moses is talked about in Hebrews 11 which highlights the faith of some Old Testament characters and God's work through them.
A reminder about what God did through Moses:
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned." - Hebrews 11:23-29 ESV
Passover and crossing the Red Sea. These were events in the history of Israel that were seen as foundational to the nation's existence. Time after time these events were referenced by the people of Israel and by the Lord.
So what do they really mean?
Starting with the Passover - we see the death of the firstborn of every family and animal coming as a result of the final plague. One exception would be to take a perfect male lamb, kill it, and cover the doorposts of your house in its blood.
The destroyer would passover the house covered in the blood of the lamb. Sound familiar?
Next we see the crossing of the Red Sea. Pharaoh tells the Israelites to leave and they head out. They are lead to the Red Sea and into an impossible situation from a human viewpoint. Surrounded by the sea on one side and the army of Egypt on the other, there seems to be no hope.
God instructs Moses to raise his hand over the sea and Israel crosses over on dry land with a wall of water on the right and a wall of water on the left. The army begins to follow and the walls of water come crashing down on the army once the Israelites are though safely.
The wrath was withheld while the people of God moved through to safety. Sound familiar?
These two events picture the work of Jesus for you and for me. He was the perfect Lamb of God whose blood covers us and gives us life while defeating death. Through his completed work on our behalf, the wrath of God toward us because of our sin is withheld and we are kept safe.
O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!
Monday, March 17, 2014
Jacob the hero?
Last week we talked about Jacob. Remember that he was seen as a pretty big deal by people centuries after his death. The woman at the well in John 4 even asked Jesus if he was GREATER than Jacob.
Jacob may have been a big deal years after his death, but during most of his life he spent it trying to gain favor from his father, on the run from his brother, and cheating his uncle. Jacob was not a great guy. If you read up on his life in the book of Genesis you can see the tracks that lead to his life being a train wreck.
Jacob spent most of his life doing what we do. Fighting to make it on our own. Wanting to generate some sort of significance. Doing things to make ourselves matter and be happy. Desiring to be favored in the eyes of someone else.
He spent his whole life trying to justify himself. He wanted to guarantee that his life passed the test and tried everything he could to make that happen.
We are the same way. We hate to fail. We want approval from someone. We feel pressure to be a success.
So we work... and work... and work.. to make this happen.
In every way - we are just like Jacob.
The good news is that in every way Jesus is greater than Jacob!
One story, found in Genesis, seems to connect the dots for us.
Jacob is about to be killed by his brother so Jacob's dad, Isaac, sends him away to find a wife because Jacob's mom, Rebekah, would not be able to live if her son married the wrong person. (Talk about a dysfunctional family!)
Jacob may have been a big deal years after his death, but during most of his life he spent it trying to gain favor from his father, on the run from his brother, and cheating his uncle. Jacob was not a great guy. If you read up on his life in the book of Genesis you can see the tracks that lead to his life being a train wreck.
Jacob spent most of his life doing what we do. Fighting to make it on our own. Wanting to generate some sort of significance. Doing things to make ourselves matter and be happy. Desiring to be favored in the eyes of someone else.
He spent his whole life trying to justify himself. He wanted to guarantee that his life passed the test and tried everything he could to make that happen.
We are the same way. We hate to fail. We want approval from someone. We feel pressure to be a success.
So we work... and work... and work.. to make this happen.
In every way - we are just like Jacob.
The good news is that in every way Jesus is greater than Jacob!
One story, found in Genesis, seems to connect the dots for us.
Jacob is about to be killed by his brother so Jacob's dad, Isaac, sends him away to find a wife because Jacob's mom, Rebekah, would not be able to live if her son married the wrong person. (Talk about a dysfunctional family!)
Jacob was considered great because through him God preserved and expanded His people
Jesus was considered great because through him God purified an impure people that reaches every tribe, tongue, and nation
Isaac sent his lying son away to find a faithful bride
God sent his son who was full of truth away to save an unfaithful bride
Jacob chose the pretty one (Rachel)
Jesus chose the ugly one (the church)
Because Jesus is greater we don’t have to live our lives trying to justify ourselves.
We are free from the pressure to make ourselves matter and to prove ourselves to anyone - because the One that truly matters has already proved that we matter.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Who fought the battle of Jericho?
Last week we talked about Joshua 6 and the battle of Jericho. Most of us know the song about Joshua fighting the battle of Jericho. It talks about how great and mighty Joshua is and that once the horns blew and people shouted the walls came tumblin' down!
One of the problems with that song is that it never mentions God. The primary character in the song is Joshua and how there is "none like good ol' Joshua."
Major problem. I don't want to pick on children's songs but I don't want us to miss what is really being said in Joshua 6 and the battle of Jericho.
Yes, Joshua was there. Yes, horns were blown and people shouted. Yes, people marched. Yes, the walls came tumblin' down. But don't think Joshua had much to do with it.
Take a look at verse 2
"But the LORD said to Joshua, 'I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors."
The victory was already given to Joshua and Israel before the battle plan was announced. Before there was any obedience on the people's part.
It was an unconditional victory. God gave them the victory over Jericho. Over the tallest and thickest walls that harbored people full of fear, but thought their walls could save them.
God tore those walls down.
Years later another victory was given over the walls of "self-salvation" projects. We put up walls hoping to keep us safe and even to save us. The conquering of those walls cost The Father the life of His Son. The victory is secure.
It is time to live in the victory.
One of the problems with that song is that it never mentions God. The primary character in the song is Joshua and how there is "none like good ol' Joshua."
Major problem. I don't want to pick on children's songs but I don't want us to miss what is really being said in Joshua 6 and the battle of Jericho.
Yes, Joshua was there. Yes, horns were blown and people shouted. Yes, people marched. Yes, the walls came tumblin' down. But don't think Joshua had much to do with it.
Take a look at verse 2
"But the LORD said to Joshua, 'I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors."
The victory was already given to Joshua and Israel before the battle plan was announced. Before there was any obedience on the people's part.
It was an unconditional victory. God gave them the victory over Jericho. Over the tallest and thickest walls that harbored people full of fear, but thought their walls could save them.
God tore those walls down.
Years later another victory was given over the walls of "self-salvation" projects. We put up walls hoping to keep us safe and even to save us. The conquering of those walls cost The Father the life of His Son. The victory is secure.
It is time to live in the victory.
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