"The Long Silence"

"At the end of time, billions of people were scattered on a great plain before God's throne.
Most shrank back from the brilliant light before them. But some groups near the front talked heatedly--not with cringing shame, but with belligerence.
'Can God judge us? How can he know about suffering?' snapped a pert young brunette. She ripped open a sleeve to reveal a tattooed number from a Nazi concentration camp. 'We endured terror...beatings...torture..death!'
In another group a Negro boy lowered his collar. 'What about this?' he demanded, showing an ugly rope burn. 'Lynched...for no crime but being black!'
In another crowd, a pregnant schoolgirl with sullen eyes. 'Why should I suffer' she murmured, 'It wasn't my fault.'
Far out across the plain there were hundreds of such groups. Each had a complaint against God for the evil and suffering he permitted in his world. Hos lucky God was to live in heaven where all was sweetness and light, where there was no weeping or fear, no hunger or hatred. What did God know of all that man had been forced to endure in this world? For God leads a pretty sheltered life, they said.
So each of these groups sent forth their leader, chosen because he had suffered the most. A Jew, a Negro, a person from Hiroshima, a horribly deformed arthritic, a thalidomide child. In the centre of the plain they consulted with each other. At last they were ready to present their case. It was rather clever.
Before God could be qualified to be their judge, he must endure what they had endured. Their decision was that God should be sentenced to live on earth--as a man!
'Let him be born a Jew. Let the legitimacy of his birth be doubted. Give him a work so difficult that even his family will think him out of his mind when he tries to do it. Let him be betrayed by his closest friends. Let him face false charges, be tried by a prejudiced jury and convicted by a cowardly judge. Let him be tortured.
'At the last, let him see what it means to be terribly alone. Then let him die. Let him die so that there can be no doubt that he died. Let there be a great host of witnesses to verify it.'
As each leader announced his portion of the sentence, loud murmurs of approval went up from the throng of people assembled.
And when the last had finished pronouncing sentence, there was a long silence. No-one uttered another word. No-one moved. For suddenly all knew that God had already served his sentence." (Taken from "The Cross of Christ" by John Stott, pg. 327-328)

The Life of a Disciple

In relation to my last blog, God has been challenging my heart in the area of discipleship and what it really means to be a disciple of Christ. In studying all the gospels, but especially Mark 8, here are 7 characteristics that I found should be true in the daily life of a disciple of Jesus:

1. A Life of Suffering (Mark 8:31)
In teaching His disciples, Jesus spoke about how it was necessary that He must suffer many things. Peter did not like this and Jesus rebuked him and called him Satan! Why? I believe that Peter's thoughts on suffering were wrong and were actually Satan's thoughts on suffering. Satan would have us avoid suffering at all costs. This idea of suffering is setting our mind on the things of man and Satan, and not on the things of God. (v.33)

2. A Life of Rejection (Mark 8:31)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer says in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, "There is a distinction here between suffering and rejection. Had he only suffered, Jesus might still have been applauded as the Messiah. But in the passion Jesus is a rejected Messiah." So, as I understand it, to "take up his cross" has this idea of both suffering and rejection, which means that Christ was not talking about the normal difficulties of life which everybody has. I believe that Christ was talking about taking radical risks for His cause and the gospel's which would incur suffering and rejection upon us. Therefore, if I'm not experiencing suffering and rejection ever, then it must mean that I am not living as a disciple of Christ. Of course, the kind of suffering and rejection that each disciple faces varies, depending on what God sovereignly chooses.

3. A Life of Complete Imitation of Christ (Mark 8:34)
A true disciple of Christ seeks to follow Christ in every area of his life. This will look different for each disciple, based on the amount of knowledge that he possesses. The question here is, Are you doing and being all that Christ would do and be, if He were you? Many Christians are picking and choosing in what areas they want to follow Jesus, but this means they are not true disciples of Christ.

4. A Life of Hate Toward Ourselves (Mark 8:34-35)
"Let him deny Himself." How is this going to happen? He must hate himself. "Whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:25) I appreciate Jesus' words here, because they indicate an all-out war on our old nature which seeks to love itself and preserve itself. Mark 8:35 says that "whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." This is the 2nd expression most used by Jesus in the gospels. The old nature fights against losing one's life for Jesus and seeks to preserve itself. "Whoever seek to preserve his life will lose it..." (Luke 17:33)

5. A Life Without Shame (Mark 8:38)
"For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed..." A true disciple is not ashamed of Christ and His words, but is actually bold and proud of His Master.

6. A Life of Love for Christ (Mark 8:35)
"For my sake..." This is the key to being a true dedicated disciple of Christ. My love for Christ is the only way I can suffer and be rejected for His sake. My love for Christ is the ultimate motivation for following him completely. The reason I hate myself is because I love Him so much and I don't want myself to get in the way of my love for Him. I am not ashamed of the One that I love more than anything and anyone. Matthew 10:34-39 is an interesting text because it states that Christ came to "set a man against his father". Basically He has come to cause division. Why so? He explains that "whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me..." In other words, the reason why He would cause division is that He calls for us as His disciples to love Him more than our family, which can cause division. In Luke 14:26-27, Jesus uses even stronger language to emphasize our love for Him. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sister, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." Obviously He is not teaching us to hate our family, but that our love for Him should be so strong that our love for family seems like hatred.

7. A Life Without Regret (Mark 8:35)
"For whoever would save his life WILL LOSE IT..." If we are not willing to pay the actual costs in following Christ we will lose our life. I believe this is saying that we will waste our lives. I like how Luke 9:25 puts it: "For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself." I have forfeited many opportunities for Christ and the gospel and I regret this. I don't want to look back at my life anymore and have more regrets. The life of a true disciple of Jesus Christ is a life without any regrets because of how it was lived. It is a life well-lived.

JT

Challenged by My Own Message

This morning I had the opportunity to speak to about 100 teenagers about being a "Hot Christian", taken from Revelation 3:14-22. This was one of those times when I really felt like I did a poor job of communicating the message which God had burdened my heart with. But I am not so concerned about how I did as much as I am concerned that I really live this message that I preached. Most of us as preachers know how easy it can be to preach a message but not live it. This message was so convicting that I want to share it, not to preach again at you, but to ask you to pray for me that the reality of this message would be actively present in my life. I say this with the most sincerity that I have ever asked anyone to pray for me.

The Author of these Words:

• "the Amen, the faithful and true witness" (v.14)
• "beginning [origin] of God's creation"

The Opinion of Jesus about these Christians

• "neither hot nor cold" (v.15-16)
  
• "you are lukewarm" (I believe this describes me)
• "I will spit you out of my mouth" (disgust and sickened)

Part of the Problem

• You say, "I need nothing." I am fine spiritually and do not need more of Christ. (v.17)
  
• They said this because of the riches and stuff they possessed and how much value they put on such things instead of Jesus Christ.
• The real truth according to Jesus: "You are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked"

The Counsel of Christ

• "Buy from me" (v.18)
• So, how can we buy anything from Christ, especially when we are "poor"?
• Christ already paid for it through his body on the cross, so we can be "overcomers" and apply the benefits of His sacrifice.

• Buy "gold refined by fire" [I Pet.1:7-speaking of trials that purify our faith like gold]
• Buy "white garments" so that you will be clothed and not naked [I think this refers to practical righteousness]
• Buy "salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see" the glory of Christ!

The Love of Christ
The love of Christ is demonstrated in that He rebukes us for our lukewarmness. But not only that; it also is demonstrated in that Christ tell us what is for our greatest good--zeal for Him.

Christ's Solution
Let Christ come into your heart and dominate your heart. In other words, seek an intimate relationship with Christ which will give you a heart on fire for Him, a "Hot Christian".

My problems to pray concerning:

• I am lukewarm toward Christ
• I am spiritually ignorant of my condition and spiritually satisfied with Christ and my walk with Him
• I run away from difficulty and when I encounter it, I do not allow God to purify me.
• There is much righteousness that I do not put on daily.
• I am blind to the glories of Christ because I have my eyes fixed on the inferior pleasures of this world.
• I do not have the intimate relationship with Christ of which I spoke today.

I want to be a zealous, hot Christian because of who Christ is--Supremely Valuable!

JT

What Kind of Fasting does God Require?

Throughout the years, I have heard of Christians who have fasted for one reason or another. While I do not criticize those who choose to do such, I have always questioned what God thought about fasting for the day in which we live. As I read Isaiah 58 today, I think I saw a little of God's thoughts on fasting. The people of Israel were fasting but God was not taking notice of them. "Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?" (v.3)

Q. Why was their fasting not acknowledged by God?

"Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure and oppress all your workers." (v.3)

The Israelites were simply "going through the motions" of religion. Their fasting was just one more religious ritual that they did, but at the same time they were fighting with each other.
God then asks a question which reveals what kind of fasting He really requires:

"Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?" (v.5)

The answer is no. God then goes on to answer what kind of fasting He really requires.

"Is not this the fast that I choose?" (v.6-7)

• "to loose the bonds of wickedness"
• "to undo the straps of the yoke"
• "to let the oppressed go free"
• to break every yoke?"
• "to share bread with the hungry"
• "to bring the homeless poor in your house"
• "when you see the naked, to cover him"
• "not to hide yourself from your own flesh"

Q. If they fasted this way, what would be the result? (v.8-9)

• "light breaking forth"
• "healing springing up speedily"
• "righteousness going before them"
• "glory of God be their rear guard"
• When they called, God would answer, "Here I am"

God explains again the proper way of fasting: (v.9-10)

• "take away the yoke from your midst"
• "take away the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness"
• "pour yourself out for the hungry"
• "satisfy the desires of the afflicted"

Again God shares the results of such fasting: (v.10-12)

• "your light would rise in darkness"
• "your gloom be as the noonday"
• "the Lord will guide you continually, satisfy your desires, and make your bones strong"
• "you shall be like a watered garden, springs of water whose waters do not fail"

So, what kind of fasting does God require? The kind that reaches out to people in love and helps them be freed from the bonds of wickedness and share what we have with those who do not have it. I still believe there may be a place of fasting that involves private communion with God in prayer and the Word, but if this kind of fasting does not "pour itself out for the hungry", then God will not acknowledge it as worthy.

JT

Conversion vs. Discipleship

In preparation for a sermon on discipleship, I was convicted by its true meaning. Discipleship has become a bit of a glamorous word right at the top with Conversion. But there seems to be a disconnect between these words. It sounds like this: "Now that he has been converted, we need to disciple him". This has been my understanding of these ideas for years. One follows the other one, but never had I stopped to think that there is a strong connect between the two.

Luke 9:23-26

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

Conversion begins at the moment that we understand the basis for discipleship - self denial, as we see in this text. I was listening to a message by John MacArthur in which he addresses the "starting principle of discipleship" - Self Denial. Jesus says you want to come after me - you come on my terms and that means the opposite of what you think. MacArthur says: "Discipleship is not about self-fulfillment, it is about self-denial. It's not about exalting me, it is about slaying me". This is what must take place at conversion, and this is what must follow conversion. Sharon found an ad on Craigslist that depicts many in our churches today who are seeking self-fulfillment. Read it here. Lord help me to die to self today in the same way Christ took up His cross for me.

This saint of old had it right:

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,

where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;

hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox that

the way down is the way up,

that to be low is to be high,

that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess all,

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

that to give is to receive,

that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,

and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;

let me find

Thy light in my darkness,

Thy life in my death,

Thy joy in my sorrow,

Thy grace in my sin,

Thy riches in my poverty,

Thy glory in my valley.

The Great Compassion and Mercy of Jesus

These last few weeks, I have been amazed at the huge compassion of Jesus toward others and the huge lack of compassion in my life. I have been teaching through the gospel of Mark to the teens and noticed the multitude of people who came to Jesus for healing but wanted nothing else to do with Jesus. They simply wanted to use Him for what they could get out of Him and then were out of His life, probably even involving themselves in a life of sin. Where I notice the compassion of Jesus is that, although He knew these people's heart and future, He still proceeded to heal them any way. Love with no strings attached. How many of us love unconditionally? That is, without expecting any love in return. How many of us would love a certain individual if we knew he was only using us, taking advantage of us in some way? I do not think I would show this man compassion and mercy.

It seems that God is working in my heart to make me a more merciful and compassionate person toward others. This last Thursday prayer meeting, I taught a devotional from James 2 on the importance of showing mercy to others without partiality. If you remember the passage, James mentions a scenario where a rich man and a poor man walk into the church. The rich man is shown great mercy by giving him the place of honor. The poor man is treated with dishonor and lack of mercy and compassion. James goes on to say that we should show mercy to all without separating whom we should love or how we should love. Right before I got up to share this teaching, guess what God decided to do to me and for me?

He gave me a hands-on application of that very teaching. Right before I got up (literally seconds), one of our regular drunkards of the neighborhood walked in the door and sat in the back row. He has a deep, loud voice which he obviously cannot control. As soon as I saw him enter, I thought, "God, get rid of this idiot. He's just going to ruin this whole Bible study." And God worked in my heart by reminding me exactly what I was teaching on at that moment. He was the poor man whom I was dishonoring in my mind. So I was challenged by God that I needed to show the great compassion and mercy of Jesus at that time, not just outwardly but inwardly. After all, "has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love Him?" (James 2:5)

What Think Ye Of Christ - John Newton

A pastor friend of mine in the area was given a hymnbook dated back to 1843. The hymnbook is dripping wet with theology that glorifies God. My friend pointed this one out to me. Lord help me to think much of you!

What think you of Christ, as the test
To try both your state and your scheme?
You cannot be right in the rest,
Unless you think rightly of Him.
As Jesus appears in your view,
As He is beloved or not;
So God is disposed to you,
And mercy or wrath are your lot.

Some take Him a creature to be,
A man or an angel at most:
Sure these have not feelings like me,
Nor know themselves wretched and lost.
So guilty, so helpless am I,
I durst not confide in his blood,
Nor on his protection rely,
Unless I were sure He is God.

Some call Him a Saviour, in word,
But mix their own works with his plan;
And hope He his help will afford,
When they have done all that they can:
If doings prove rather too light,
(A little, they own, they may fail),
They purpose to make up full weight,
By casting his name in the scale.

Some style Him the pearl of great price,
And say He's the fountain of joys;
Yet feed upon folly and vice,
And cleave to the world and its toys;
Like Judas, the Saviour they kiss,
And while they salute Him, betray;
Ah! what will profession like this
Avail in this terrible day?

If ask'd what of Jesus I think?
Though still my best thoughts are but poor,
I say, He's my meat and my drink,
My life, and my strength, and my store;
My Shepherd, my Husband, my Friend,
My Saviour from sin and from thrall;
My hope from beginning to end,
My portion, my Lord, and my All.