As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” Luke 19:36–40 (NLT)
Most of Luke’s Gospel covers the last weeks before Jesus went to the cross. Jesus had purpose. He was on a mission. As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 (NLT). There was a lot of activity and ministry in those last days.
Jesus sent out the 70 to go ahead of him into every town and place where he intended to go. Jesus was also preparing his disciples for his death, but it was difficult for them to understand what would happen.
Then comes Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, yet he came humbly and gently. He journeyed through Bethany, home to Lazarus, along with his sisters Mary and Martha. There was certainly something to cheer for when Jesus came to town, but the Pharisees were not happy because the people acclaimed Jesus as King. They wanted Jesus to silence the crowd, but if that happened, “the stones along the road would burst into cheers.” We must praise our King.
Andy Warhol said, “In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” Media overexposure has had detrimental effects on many people. Some famous people are often soon forgotten. Fame is fleeting and forgotten when the spotlight dims, but the man who rode into Jerusalem is someone worth shouting about.
Jesus is someone worth shouting about because of who he is and what he has done for us. The heavens know who to cheer. Worthy, O Master! Yes, our God! Take the glory! the honor! the power! You created it all; It was created because you wanted it. Revelation 4:11 (The Message)
Our Savior is worthy of all glory, honor, and power. He created everything. Furthermore, he is our Lord and Savior, deliverer, helper, healer, and the beginning and end of our faith. We must not be silent about him.
Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Psalm 96:1–2 (NLT)
One way or another, there will be praise. In many scriptures, we hear the command to shout or praise loudly. God appreciates loud praise and shouts more than some of his people. But the people would...
]]>I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. John 17:14–16 (NLT)
Jesus prayed for his disciples and us before he went to the cross. In preparation for his departure, he tells the Father that he has prepared the disciples by giving them the words of the Father. He acknowledges that the world hates his disciples, because they do not belong to the world just as he does not belong to the world.
He does not ask the father to take us out of the world, but to keep us safe from the evil one. I want to look at four things: our preparation, our separation, our sanctification, and our commission.
Every significant task requires preparation. Because we inhabit this world, we understand that we must be educated in reading and writing, mathematics, history, the sciences, etc. This is followed by more specialized education and study in our chosen field of work. We all understand the concept of preparation for our life’s work. But more importantly is our preparation for living as Christ-followers in this world.
We anticipate Christ’s return, and we wait with eagerness to see our Savior face to face. But our enemy and this world system are equipped to discourage us and distract us. Satan has multiple resources and tools to defeat us. Paul reminds us that we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices.
He discourages us with tests and trials, causing us to become weary. At other times he will lull us to sleep by making us comfortable and unaware of our surroundings and situation. Our goal is to be ready when Christ returns. Keep your shirts on; keep the lights on! Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready to open the door when he arrives and knocks. Luke 12:35-36 (The Message)
To prepare, we must ask ourselves what is essential? We face things that can distract or amuse us, but what must we do to be absolutely prepared to be in this world but not of it?
Paul said, “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.” We must do the things that build each other up in our faith. We live preparing to see Jesus while remaining fervent in prayer.
To be in the world, but not of the world requires separation, something that differentiates us from those around us. Unless we are Christ’s disciples when we go into the world, we will become like the world.
Our separation occurs in two directions. As we choose not to engage in the activities of sin so common in this world, we will on one...
]]>Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. Romans 13:1 (NLT)
As Christ-followers, we have dual citizenship. Peter tells us that we are citizens of heaven and earthly countries. As believers, how should we perform our civic duty? Some of them are prescribed to us by the country’s laws, but we also have responsibilities beyond those because we represent our Lord and Savior as his ambassadors.
A Christ-follower should be the best citizen because what we do and say reflects our Lord. This was Paul’s point to the believers in Rome, who did not enjoy religious liberty or many of the fundamental freedoms and privileges that perhaps we take for granted.
Nowhere does Paul say that our submission to government authority is conditional. The Roman government of Paul’s day was as despotic and cruel as any in any age. The infamous Nero was most likely the emperor when he wrote this letter. Paul instructed Christ-followers to pay their taxes and give respect and honor to the government because God established governmental authority.
The exception to this is when the authorities do not permit us to obey God’s laws or declare God’s praises and salvation. In Acts, religious authorities tried to stop the apostles from speaking about Jesus. When Peter and John heard this, they replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than man?” We cannot stop talking about everything we have seen and heard.”
We are more at ease contemplating our rights than our responsibilities: the right to worship as we please, free speech, and, if you are so inclined, the right to bear arms, the right to vote, and protection against unreasonable searches.
We are also aware of our responsibilities. As April 15 approaches, we understand that we should pay taxes. There are laws and statutes to obey, but a republic like the United States requires individual integrity and sacrifice. This attitude of honesty, faithfulness, and self-control in the service of your country was referred to by the founders of America as public virtue.
Public virtue means voluntarily sacrificing personal benefit for the good of society. For example, George Washington served two terms as president even when, as he was accepting the post, he wrote that “It would be the greatest sacrifice of my personal feelings and wishes that I ever have been called upon to make.” John Adams said, “Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.”
As believers, we should lead in public virtue as citizens and as children of the King. “Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.” Isaiah 1:17 (The Message)
We, as believers, should take the lead in these areas. Indeed, through the years, embarrassing things have been done in the name of Christ. Our job...
]]>Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NLT)
What Paul says in this verse could be challenging or discouraging, depending upon our perspective. What is our goal, and what is the prize? Nothing of significance is accomplished without a goal. To compete as an athlete in the Olympic Games requires dedication and sacrifice that does not occur accidentally or casually. The same thing is true of our spiritual lives.
At this level of competition, “God-given talent or ability” alone is insufficient to win the prize. It is virtually impossible to endure an athlete’s sacrifice and deprivation to compete at the highest level unless they have the goal in mind.
To be successful, a world-class athlete must train, whether he feels like it or not. They make many sacrifices but do it because they have an objective and a goal. As Christians, we also have a goal. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
We must have a goal as we face the trials and troubles of life. People give up when they lose sight of the goal. We must encourage and build each other up. We have a responsibility to look out for each other.
Paul tells us that in a race, everyone runs, but only one person wins. What does Paul mean by this? He doesn’t mean that we are to run against each other, does he? Will only the most robust and most capable believers win the race? If this were so, most of us should give up now!
I didn’t mean to cause alarm, but we are not contesting this race against each other. We have three opponents determined to keep us from reaching our goal. Our first opponent is the Devil. At his disposal, he had demonic spirits in the enticements of this world in his effort to hinder our race for the prize.
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Ephesians 6:12 (MSG)
The Devil has made it his mission to see that those who run for the heavenly prize are stopped and discouraged. The Devil has many tools and is not afraid to use them. They have names like discouragement, fear, temptation, worry, doubt, complacency, etc.
What may surprise you is that the Devil is not our most formidable adversary. In the famous words of the comic strip character Pogo, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” Not surprisingly, our flesh and the enticement of the world are vigorous opponents in our race for the prize. We must overcome the enemy and show no mercy.
What is required to win...
]]>Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12–14 (NLT)
Am I my brother’s keeper? Ever since Cain posed the question to God, humanity has wrestled with the inclination to avoid responsibility for one another. How can we effectively care for each other? We can begin with Paul’s statement that God has chosen us to be the holy people he loves. God’s plan must be the motivation for everything that we do and speak.
Paul spoke of new clothes for us to wear and the need to forgive each other’s faults because Christ forgave our faults. He goes on to write of the importance of love and how it binds us all together in perfect harmony. We will fail to see our responsibilities until we are aligned and clothed correctly.
Jesus gave us a new dress code. Because we are in this world, exposure to the pollution around us is inevitable. How will we be affected by the foul dirt and smell around us? Will we escape?
But you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Colossians 3:8-9 (The Message)
Dirt and grime accumulate gradually, and as a result, we become accustomed to it. And if we spend time around others engaged in the same activities, we may not notice anything wrong. However, we cannot be effective witnesses, and it is impossible to come near Christ unless we rid ourselves of these dirty and smelly clothes.
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Ephesians 4:21–22 (NLT)
It is not enough to rid ourselves of our smelly and dirty clothes. We must put clean clothes on instead. Jesus urged the Laodiceans to buy from him white garments so that they would not be ashamed of their exposed nakedness.
Before coming to Christ, we wore all of the filthy garments that the world has to offer. We must now put new things, such as new attitudes, a new way of looking at life, a new vocabulary, and new recreational activities, but most of all, we are to be clothed with the life of Christ.
Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:14 (NLT)
When we get cleaned up...
]]>Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 (NIV)
The apostle John warns us, “Do not believe every spirit, but to test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” False teachings frequently sound enticing and even close to the truth. Someone remarked, “Satan will use an ocean of truth to hide a teaspoon of poison.”
It may be true that some people will fall for anything, no matter how outrageous or outlandish it may seem, but most deception is subtle and nuanced. For example, John warns us that some teachers will not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. They may talk about him as a good man or teacher. They may subtly change a word implying that Jesus was “a son of God” rather than “the son of God.”
Here are some keys to discernment to distinguish the truth from lies and recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
The gullible believe anything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word. Proverbs 14:15 (The Message)
I do not intend to offend anyone, but my first warning is, “Don’t be gullible.” Deception comes in many forms, from promised shortcuts for salvation to those who insinuate that God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice are insufficient and, therefore, you must do good works to gain God’s approval.
Not everyone falls for the same deception. Some are predisposed to believe in salvation by works. In contrast, others seem naturally attracted to an equally false gospel that requires nothing or very little of us, including repentance. Regardless, when taken to an extreme, either option is not sound teaching and will not benefit those who listen and take it to heart.
In the book of Acts, Paul commends the Bereans because they did not take him at face value, but instead, they searched the Scriptures to determine if what Paul was saying was true.
Frequently, proponents of false teaching are self-deceived. They may sincerely believe what they teach, seeking followers to validate their intentions and motives. Others are simply enemies of Christ, but in either case, we must be careful and not be gullible.
One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents. Romans 16:17-18 (The Message)
God gave the fivefold ministries to warn and protect the body of Christ. Each of us has a responsibility to be in the business of counterfeit detection. When we are alert, trained, and vigilant, the enemy is much less likely to gain a...
]]>Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil…Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground… Ephesians 6:10-11,13-14a (NLT)
The thought of boot camp provokes a variety of reactions. The reaction can range from satisfaction to horror. We need spiritual Boot Camp. It is necessary so that we can prepare God’s people to live for him in this world. We must be trained spiritually and mentally and be proficient in using the weapons at our disposal. Recruits in the armed forces undergo training to prepare them for earthly warfare. Christ-followers prepare for spiritual warfare.
Paul counseled that we are to put on every piece of God’s armor so that we will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Ultimately, the purpose of our training is that we will have a complete dependency upon God. God does not leave us lacking for anything. If we are diligent and avail ourselves of what he provides us, we can withstand the enemy. Peter writes, “We have been given everything that we need that pertains to life and godliness.”
How does enlistment work in God’s Army? We have had a volunteer military in the United States for almost 50 years. People’s reasons for joining the military vary widely. Some participate out of duty or patriotism, some join for educational benefits, and others join because they have few viable options.
Jesus is recruiting for his army as well. He promises eternal life with him but does not promise it will be easy. When Jesus recruited Paul on the road to Damascus, he told Ananias that he would show Paul all the things he would suffer for his namesake. Jesus said, “If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Jesus is looking to recruit us. Will we be like Isaiah when the call comes for us?
And then I heard the voice of the Master: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” I spoke up, “I’ll go. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 (The Message)
We must also remember that he chooses us. “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. John 15:16 (The Message)
Jesus wants us to follow after him, but we must follow on his terms and not our own. We are called and chosen for a purpose. Remember that we are his ambassadors, receiving the message of reconciliation. Jesus calls us to be light and life and to bear fruit for Him in this world.
Our primary manual for training...
]]>Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33–34 (NLT)
Every generation faces challenges, but it is hard to imagine that life has ever been as hectic and fast-paced as it is today. For me, the weeks seem to fly by. Someone once said, “Time flies by when you are having fun.” But it passes by fast whether we are having fun or not!
Experts inform us that this fast-paced life often results in a greater level of stress and anxiety. I know from first-hand experience that unless I prioritize the activities of my life, I will not accomplish as much, and almost certainly, I will neglect essentials.
With so many things competing for our attention, what can we do to be most effective in fulfilling the mission that God has given each one of us? Jesus provides us with the direction needed to prioritize our lives, allowing us to concentrate on the things that matter.
Jesus tells us not to worry because God will take care of us. But for God to have the most significant impact on our lives, we must have the trust and confidence in Him and be willing to prioritize our lives according to Him and His desires for us.
Is it any surprise to God that each of us needs the essentials of life to have enough to eat and clothes to wear? According to Jesus, unbelievers are consumed with pursuing these things, but we as believers must trust that God will supply our needs. The second half of Matthew 6:32 says, “But your heavenly Father already knows is all your needs.”
For Christ-followers, the foundation of a life not consumed with worry is understanding that the Father knows what we need. Furthermore, not only does He know what we need, but He is desirous of supplying everything that we need. Please understand me; we still must work, but we work with the understanding that God provides the strength and knowledge we need.
For some people, the knowledge that God wants to give us good things and bless us is more complicated than it is for others. Some have trusted God to meet their needs, while others have questions and concerns. But knowing that God is good and knows what we need is essential to living without worry.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25 (NLT)
Understanding that God is good and knows what we need is a good beginning. But to set our priorities correctly, we must deal with worry and overcome it. Just because we know it is futile to worry doesn’t mean...
]]>And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. Mark 16:20 (NLT)
People will tell you that the power and capabilities that Jesus gave to his disciples were only for the early church. They will say the early church needed the credibility to demonstrate to an unbelieving world the validity of their claim. That Jesus died for the sins of all and was raised back to life again by the power of God. The world we live in is just as skeptical, maybe more so. The power of God is needed today to advance the cause of the Gospel.
Also, worldwide, particularly in South America and Africa, Pentecostal churches are growing the fastest and having the most significant impact for Christ. The power to heal and deliver from demonic oppression is active and alive today. It may make some people uncomfortable, but facts are stubborn things.
The commission Christ gave the church begins with a command. Go! But it was not just go, it was go with a purpose. The goal was ambitious; “go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Unlike a conquering army that used military force to gain territory, these pioneers took the message of God’s love into the world. This strategy presented God’s offer of salvation and an invitation to believe and be baptized into Christ. We must not lose focus or sight of our purpose to be productive for Jesus Christ.
“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.” John 15:16 (The Message)
We are to be productive fruit bearers for the kingdom of God. Pay particular attention to the second part of that verse, which says, “As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.” If we are fulfilling our objective as fruit bearers, whatever we need for the job is ours for the asking.
It is worth noting that the good news of salvation is for everyone, but just as it was with Jesus, the influential and the affluent often find excuses for not believing the message of hope and life. Jesus told a story about a man who invited his friends to a great feast. But they all made excuses for not accepting the invitation.
We are to be the church in action. The more we understand our purpose and mission. The more we will understand the need for all the power and resources that God has for us. The task is so great we cannot do it in our own strength or ability. Look at one of the critical passages in 2 Corinthians 5 concerning the job Christ has commissioned us to do in this world.
We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us...
]]>The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. Psalm 27:1–3 (NLT)
David lived a life filled with danger. He faced many life-and-death situations where he had to overcome his fears. Fear can paralyze us; if not dealt with, it can render us useless. Regarding action and adventure, fictional characters like Indiana Jones had nothing on David. As a young boy, he faced a lion and a bear while tending to his father’s sheep.
As a teenager, he stood up to the giant from Gath alone, and in the strength of the Lord, he defeated Goliath. Later, it was said of David, “Saul had killed his thousands, but David has killed his tens of thousands.” Not many of us could relate to David’s courage and gallantry.
With a life like that, it might be tempting to say that it was easy for David to have such confidence in God that he could say, “The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” And while David had his moments of fear and anxiety, it was a process that took place over many years that allowed him to build his trust and confidence in God.
The fear of death is something that many people face. As Christians, we have the hope of eternal life, but those without hope live with fear and uncertainty. Listen to what the writer of the Hebrews tells us about what Christ did for us to free us from the fear of death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death. Hebrews 2:14b-15 (The Message)
Again, the psalmist speaks of the fear of death: My insides are turned inside out; specters of death have me down. I shake with fear, I shudder from head to foot. Psalm 55:4-5 (The Message)
Remember that the “one whom the Son sets free is truly free.” To be effective, we must understand this and live in victory. The most effective thing we can do is to come to the place where we have complete and total trust in God regardless of the circumstances around us or the doubts within us. The apostle Paul said, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Death should hold no sway in the life of a believer. We should understand that we have passed from death to life. But for some, even if they have overcome the...
]]>