He has risen…

He has risen indeed!  I know right now you may thinking, I’ve lost it and I’ve got the wrong holiday, it’s Christmas not Easter!  Yes I know!  Christmas is only 25 days away and I haven’t even begun my shopping!  I’m fully aware.  However, recently we started to study through the book of James for high school youth group.  As you may have noticed my last post was from the book of James, today’s post will also be, and good chance more to come.  So for today,  

¹ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:1, ESV)…

James identifies himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In his book, he challenges us to put into practice what we say we believe, to live our faith out loud. Realize he is not talking about behavior modification, rather an internal work that brings life change, being transformed from the inside out, which then causes our behavior and actions to follow.  First it’s a work in us, and then it’s a work through us.

However, he wasn’t always, I mean about being a servant of God and Jesus, he wasn’t at first.  We know him to be the half brother of Jesus, and John 7:5 tells us this, ⁵ For not even his brothers believed in him (John 7:5). 

He grew up with Jesus his whole life and didn’t believe, but there came a day everything changed.  From unbeliever to a servant, so what happened in between? 

³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.⁶ Then he  appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:3-7, ESV). 

The Apostle Paul gives us the details of what happened, Jesus, the risen Christ had appeared to him.  Nothing like a visit from the Risen Christ to change things! 

Honestly, like James, I was a Christian for many years before I had encountered an experience with God that began to change things.  I always thought the book of Acts was like the old Vegas commercial, “What happened in Act stayed in Acts.”  But then one day some things started to change.  Anyone who knows me knows, I am not a morning person at all.  However, back in 2008, I would wake up, wide awake around 3:30 – 4:00 in the morning.  It was time orchestrated by God Himself, quality alone time with God for prayer and scripture reading.  It was then that Scripture suddenly began to jump off the pages and became alive to me (Hebrews 4:12).  I started to become aware that I was hearing from God, but was still unsure if it was Him.  As I was struggling to believe if it was actually the voice of God or not, one day he sent someone to confirm what I was hearing.  I had never met this man, he had come to preach and speak at our church.  Well afterword I had a chance to talk to him and wouldn’t you know, he told me the very things I thought I had been hearing from God.  The things I doubted to believe.  I left church that day feeling a little overwhelmed by it all, and also feeling like God just totally told on me to him!  Something he would have never known except by God! 

How about you?  Have you ever had an experience with God that changed your whole relationship with Him?  Sometimes we need a little revelation of the Risen Christ in our lives. 

Lord, this is the season we remember You.  You came to be God with us and to dwell among us. We may know of the signs and wonders You performed and the people You healed through the pages of scripture.  We may know that You conquered the cross and ascended back to the Father and Your promise to send a Helper, the Holy Spirit to dwell with us and in us.

Lord if we’re honest there may be times we don’t feel like You are with us, maybe even times we have doubted who You are, maybe we still do.  Lord we don’t want to only know about You, we want to know You personally, an internal work that only You can do!

Would You come now and reveal Yourself to us.  Maybe a sense of Your love to wash over us, a reminder of hope because we feel like there’s none left, confirmation of a word from You, strength in our time of weakness, or _______.  Holy Spirit would You come and meet us where we need.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

The Tough Times

¹ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:1-4, NIV 1984).

Honestly, I don’t know about you, but pure joy is not usually my first thought that comes to mind when trials show up.  Actually most trials are painful and difficult and my response is more like, when is it going to end!!  None-the-less, James says to consider it pure joy.

The author identifies himself as James.  Most scholars consider James to be the half brother of Jesus. Through the use of so many imperatives (expressing commands), James challenges his readers to continue to grow in their faith, so that they may be mature and complete and proving their faith by their actions.  We can almost sense a feeling of urgency as he jumps right in with an imperative in verse 2. 

 ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds… (James 1:2). 

Interestingly enough, he says when you face trials, not if but when.  The church at that time had scattered at this point, and they were facing persecution for their faith.  James was letting them know facing trials was inevitable.  Even Jesus said this when he warned them of the future to come, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me”  (Matthew 24:9, NIV).  And that was exactly what was happening.  They were scattered and facing persecution for their faith.  We have to remember that scripture can’t mean something different to us today then it did to them back then.  Knowing exactly what they were going through at that time helps us to better understand so that now we can glean a better meaning for James’ sense of urgency in his letter.

He’s not making light of the conditions they were in by any means. James knew when the pressure was on, their faith would be tested, and their actions would follow what they truly believed.  He knew the trials they were facing would either prove their faith or lack there of.  In that moment they were facing the ultimate test of their faith and their lives may have even depended on it.  James is boldly encouraging them (and us) to stay strong and persevere through the trials. 

Why, because the testing of faith has a purpose.  It develops perseverance, and perseverance brings a finishing work, becoming mature and complete, not lacking anything.  Perseverance in trials matures our faith and strengthens our character to live our faith in action.  Of course we know true completion will not come until Jesus returns, however His perfecting work begins here and now in our daily lives and situations.

² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2, NIV 1984).  

Jesus set the example.  For the joy set before Him: He endured the ultimate trial, the cross, taking our punishment upon Himself, and conquered it.  He is the author and perfecter of our faith in all circumstances.   Even today as we face trials and persecution often they are hard and difficult.  The joy comes because of the outcome, which is His perfecting work in our lives. 

Jesus, thank You for the joy set before You, for enduring the cross, scorning it’s shame, and taking our place.  Give us the strength to stay strong and persevere when the trials, persecution, and various tests come into our lives.  Although it’s hard in the moment, You are at work perfecting us and maturing our faith.  May we consider the joy knowing You are molding us into Your completed masterpiece in Christ Jesus. 

Happy Thanksgiving

¹⁵ For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, … (Ephesians 1:15-16, ESV). 

The Apostle Paul is writing to the believers in Ephesus.  He begins with praise to God first.  Praising God for all He has done and continues to do.  And then he comes to thanksgiving towards the saints (fellow believers) and is thankful for their faith and love. 

As I’m preparing for this year for Thanksgiving, I am reminded of many faithful saints who have personally walked this journey of faith with me through the years.  Thank you for being there, thank your for your prayers and encouragement.  Thank you for your faithfulness in Christ and leading the example in following Him!

Lord, all our praise and thanksgiving is deserved to You, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.  There is much to be thankful for.  Lord, thank You for redemption, for the forgiveness of sins, and the riches of Your grace.  Thank You for salvation and our eternal inheritance.  And thank You Lord for the faithful believers to journey life with. Thank you for those you have personally brought into my life!  May You bless us this Thanksgiving Day as we remember to give You thanks for all you have done and continue to do!  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

A New Day

 ¹¹ Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:11-13, ESV). 

Therefore.  My senior pastor says, whenever there is a “therefore” in scripture, we need to know what it is there for.  So in the previous verses, the Apostle Paul gives us the groundwork.  They were dead in their transgression, children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  But God rich in mercy and love, made them alive in Christ, by grace they have been saved.  It was God’s gift, not their works, that in Christ they were created for good works, which God prepared beforehand. 

The Apostle Paul establishes the ground in the previous verses.  Everyone since Adam, since the fall in the garden, has come into the world at the same helpless state, dead in transgression - children of wrath, saved by grace.  However, verses 11-13 bring us to this dispute between the Jewish and Gentile Christians.  But it was a new day for the church and the Gentiles were now included.  In Christ both the Jews and Gentiles were to be one church. On more than one occasion, the Apostle Paul addresses this ongoing dispute between the Jews and Gentiles. 

The Jewish Christians had no love for the Gentiles at all.  After all, the Jews originated from God’s chosen people part of the covenant of promise. Paul calls them the “circumcision” group.  As a part of the covenant of promise, God told Abraham that every male shall be circumcised (Genesis 17:9-10).  They prided themselves in that and looked down on the Gentiles, calling them the “uncircumcision.”  Basically this was an open insult to the Gentiles!  And so the Apostle Paul brilliantly tackles the tension. 

 

He begins reminding the Gentiles where they came form – separated from Christ, alienated from the common wealth of Israel, strangers to the covenant of promise, and having no hope without God in this world.  Truth is, they were!  They were a desolate people without hope.  And the Jewish Christians considered themselves the in crowd because of the covenant.  But Paul points out for the Jews, the circumcision was external, made in the flesh by hands.  Although circumcision was important to the Israelites, it was not boasting rights.  The only legit boasting was of God, understanding and knowing Him (Jeremiah 9:24).  They were still in jeopardy themselves because of their failure to stay completely devoted to God. 

25 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— 26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart” (Jeremiah 9:25, ESV). 

God wanted a heart circumcision, total devotion to Him with all their heart.  The Israelites repeated failed at this and God’s plan was to include the Gentiles.   

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:11-13, ESV). 

But now… It was a new day and a new covenant came into effect.  By the blood of Jesus the Gentiles were now brought near, no longer were they strangers, but now they were members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). The Gentiles have now become a part of God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus, for the good works He has prepared before hand for to be done by them.  And the Apostle Paul is directing them to be one unified body in Christ. 

Even today, the church is made up of different people with different personalities and opinions.  Let’s face it, often it can be challenging, it can be messy.  None the less, were are called to be one in Christ. 

Some years back my church started a Seminary Chapel Service on Sunday evenings.  It began as a training service for men going to Seminary, my husband being one of them.  About a year into it one of the men moved on and there was an opening.  Knowing God was calling me and it would include teaching publically, I was allotted a spot on the team for training purposes. 

My first meeting with the team included the pastor overseeing the service, three “hardcore” Reformed Theology based men, and me.  To establish team unity our first meeting included clearing the air.  The question came up something like this, is everyone okay with a woman on the team?  It was a valid question!  Basically the general consensus answer was: they were okay with it, as long as, my preaching was theologically and biblically sound and not feelings based, not omitting feeling by any means, just not led by feelings or emotions. 

The challenge was set and honestly not just by them.  Although I was very excited where God was leading me and thankful to have that opportunity, I was equally nervous.  Nervous because I would never want to misinterpret scripture or teach something that was wrong.  It was confirmed for me that day!  And so that was the beginning of us working together as a team.

Just like in Ephesians, God picks team, and it may include others we don’t like or agree with.  We too may have our differences, but God still calls us to be unified in the church and in our ministry teams.    

Lord, thank you for the BUT NOW – The New Covenant!  The New Covenant that also includes us.  We were all dead in our trespasses and sin, but now through the blood of Jesus, You have made a way for all us to be brought near.  No longer are we a people without hope, without You.  In Christ, we are now called to work together for the good works You have prepared beforehand and to walk in them.  Give us the wisdom and direction to do this.  In Jesus Name, Amen.