Sanctified

    So, I was reading through 1 Peter 1 and I noticed a word in verse 2.  The word is "sanctifying".  The word "sanctification" is an interesting word.  In Baker's Evangelical Dictionary it says that this word means "the state of proper functioning" in other words to sanctify something is to set it apart for its intended use, the purpose for which it was made by its creator.  I thought that was an interesting idea, that God sanctifies us in Christ, so that we can fulfill our intended purpose.

    In examining this further, I looked at passages to see how this word is used.  The first time this word is used is in Lev 22:32.  It is the Hebrew word Qadash (verb) and it means to be "set apart, dedicate, be seperate, to be hallowed".  In this chapter, it is mentioned in terms of the priests.  God says to them, "So you shall keep My commandments, and do them; I am the Lord. And you shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am the Lord who sanctifies you."  You notice this throughout the Bible, that the act of sanctification is always something that God does.  You also notice that all three persons of the Trinity are involved in this process.

   For example, look at 1 Peter 1:2 which says, "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood; May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure."  You notice all three persons of the Trinity mentioned here.  The Father knew who would be sanctified, the Spirit is involved in sanctifying and the blood of Jesus is sprinkled upon the believer.  It is through the sacrifice of Jesus and in Jesus that you are sanctified.

   One other thing that I noticed that nowhere this word is used does it indicate that we do this ourselves.  Never does it indicate that we impress God with how good we are.  Never does it indicate that I'm good enough.  Never does it even hint that God is impressed with our actions.  It does not say that it adds to anything, subtracts anything or purifies anything.  In fact, I would submit to you that if you think that you can add to the cross and resurrectioin of Jesus by your actions then your a heretic and not being biblical. 

   This is one of the reasons Paul got so upset with the Galatian people in the letter of Galatians.  He said, "But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8.  He said this because Hellenistic Jews were coming to the Galatians telling them they needed to add to the cross with the law of Moses.  But, Paul corrected them saying "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law, since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified." Galatians 2:16

    This is a part of the good news of the gospel.  Your salvation does not hang in the balance because of your performance of good deeds.  This means there is no purgatory or things like that.  That is a man made idea which leads to fear.  Rather, perfect love casts out all fear.  We don't live in fear of hell as a believer.  Rather, we know that we are loved and cherished and washed clean because of the blood of Jesus.  And you don't have to add anything to it. 

How does God speak today?

    Recently, I was visiting a forum where a person asked if it was okay to ask for a sign from God or a prophetic word.  I can relate to this question because there have been times when I have really desired a word from God.  Maybe something written across the sky or something that would help me to know God's will.  I say this, knowing that often God's voice is much more subtle than that.  It often takes us time and it takes prayer.  How does God speak to us today?

   In Hebrews 1:1-2 it says, "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world."  To me, this means that Jesus' message still speaks to us today and it is where our focus should be.  Not on seeking additional revelations, but on obeying what He has already said. 

   There are times I realize when we may want a specific word about what to do or where to go.  Do I take this job offer?  Do I move to a different home?  Do I marry this person?  I do think that God cares about those things.  But, I think that more than just about what we are doing God cares about who we are.  He wants us to focus on things like holiness, purity, humility and patience.  He seems to have a different agenda in other words than we do.  And unfortunately, these qualities are often worked out in suffering and in trial and in discipleship.  Most people want a quick fix, but God tells us instead, take up your cross and follow me.

   There are times when God grows silent.  I don't know all of the reasons why.  I only know that the testimony of many strong believers suggests that it isn't just because of sin that God becomes silent.  I heard one man say that when you are a young christian you need God to speak like a neon sign.  As you grow older and more use to his voice, you should not need the neon sign anyone.  In a mature relationship, often a couple or a friend can say a lot to you with only a look.  God wants us to know Him like that.  That we know how to respond to him because we are that close.


"Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart; Commit your ways to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it." Psalm 37:4

God's Ways are Higher

  In Isaiah 55:8-9 it says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts."

       One of the most important books besides the Bible to me is a book written by J.I. Packer called "Knowing God".  It is a profound book about the nature of God.  You might think that it is not that important to consider the nature of God, but I believe for the christian it is one of the most important issues.  Frankly, it seems to me that for most christians God is in all practicality nothing more than a good friend who does magic tricks rather than a transcendant, holy and loving God who is all together different in the way he conducts himself.
      Packer says this about knowing God, "knowing god is a matter of persona dealing, as is all direct acquaintance with personal beings. Knowing God is more than knowing about him, it is a matter of dealing with him as he opens up to you, and being dealth with by him as he takes knowledge of you.  Knowing about him is a necessary precondition of trusting in him, but the width of our knowing about him is no gauge of the depth of our knowledge of him." (Packer, 1973, p.39).
     So, there is a difference then between knowing about God and knowing him.  Just as there is a knowledge of the head and a knowledge of the heart.  I may read a passage that says, "do not worry" or something of that nature in the Bible and agree with it.  But, I toss and turn and the passage isn't real to me in my heart.  Then, something happens and I not only believe in my head, but also see that it is true in my own life.  My faith is enlarged and I realize the foolishness of worry and the importance of giving it to God.  My outlook changes.
     An example of this in scripture is in 1 Samuel 1:1-18.  There is a lady who cannot provide her husband with children in this story named Hannah.  Hannah goes and prays near the doorposts of the house of the Lord.  Eli the priest sees her praying and thinks that she is drunk.  When she tells him of her earnest prayers he says to her "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him." verse 17.  And it says of Hannah, "So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad." verse 18.
     So we see that Hannah believed Eli and it caused her to respond differently to her situation.  Because she was a person of faith.  Her head believed, but also her heart.  So, even though at that moment she wasn't pregnant, she believed that it was going to happen.  This is what it says in Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you." 

The Ragamuffin Gospel

   In a book by Brennan Manning called "The Ragamuffin Gospel", Brennan makes this statement "The American church today accepts grace in theory but denies it in practice. We say we believe that the fundamental structure of reality is grace, not works-but ou lives refute our faith. By and large, the gospel of grace is neither proclaimed, understood, nor lived." (Brennan, 1990, p.18).  Brennan goes on to say that Jesus spent most of his time on this earth with the ragamuffins.  Ragamuffins are the downtrodden, the tax collectors, the outcasts, the prostitutes, the burned out.  He spent time with them because they had no problem in seeing their need, their brokenness and had no self-righteous attitudes to overcome.   He spent time with and also made disciples of those who others rejected, men like Matthew and Zaccheus.

    In Luke 19, the story of Zaccheus is told where Jesus is walking by and looks up and sees Zaccheus in a tree.  He says, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."  Brennan goes on to point out that in modern times we lose the shock waves this caused through the crowd on that day.  It surely tested the faith of many in the crowd.  For to eat with someone in those days, as is the case today in the Middle East in many case, is to say that you are at peace with or in fellowship with this person.  And Zaccheus was the despised tax collector, hated by Jews and rejected from public worship.  He was a cheat and a person who had sold out to the Romans.  And now, Jesus wants to have a meal with him.

     This is the gospel of grace.  This is the point that Brennan wants to get across in his book.  It is an important point, that many of us ignore.  The grace means "unmerited favor".  It is unmerited because we didn't come close to earning salvation and fall a little short, like small change that we need to make up at the cash register.  No, the Bible says that we were dead in our trespasses and sins.  There was no hope of earning anything on our own.  Until that truth hits the heart we don't truly understand what grace is.  Even as a believer, my faith, my deeds, my words and my actions, do not earn one little bit to get me into heaven apart from what Jesus did on the cross.  It is a gift and not something earned.

     And why was this grace given to you and me?  It was given because of the radical and furious love of God.  A love that knows no depth and no width and is beyond comprehension.  "But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.  One of the stories and things I think about when I read about the love of God is the story of the prodigal son.  At the end of the story, the father is watching for the son to return when he sees him from a distance.  He loses all sense of dignity in a desire to reach out and embrace his son.  God loves is like that for us.  He longs to embrace us, to have a relationship with us because he loves each of us.

Favorite Verses

   It doesn't' seem like it was that long ago, but 10 months ago I shared a few favorite verses of mine.  I want to share a few more that have been meaningful to me.  I hope if you haven't read them in a while they will  bless you.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33

This verse comes in part of what is called the "Sermon on the Mount" and is a part of the section regarding worry and anxiety.  Jesus was telling his disciples where their focus should be.  Instead of being worried about food or clothes or being filled with worry.  Their priority was to be concerned about  God's kingdom instead of their own.  The bigger picture here is that worrying doesn't help solve any problems.  Rather, it devalues the time we do have and wastes a lot of energy.

"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come."  2 Corinthians 5:17

This verse was one I used when I was a youth/education minister right out of seminary for my youth group.  It was to remind us all that God is in the process of creating something new in us.  So often, we think of life as more like snapshots.  We think about who we are instead of thinking about the fact that God is at work in us to change us.  Consider Moses, who lost his temper and killed a man when he was younger.  Only to be molded by God through many years of hard work as a shepherd and then called to shepherd his flock.  God sees the potential and newness in us even when we are focused on the old.

"if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forigve us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

This verses is important to me for several reasons.  One thing is, that the word "all" is used here.  God doesn't just wash some of our sins away.  He washes them "all" away.  He does this it says because of His own faithfulness.  He does this also by his power and not mine.  The action is God's when I am faithful to confess or agree with God that sin is sin.

"Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's House are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place fo ryou. And if I go to prepare a place fo ryou, I will come again, and receive you to Myself, that were I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3

These verses capture a lot of the hope of being a christian in the first place.  That one day we will abide with Jesus in a heavenly place that He has made himself.  It will be a place where there is no more sin, sickness, or pain.  It will be a place of perfect fellowship and peace.  It will be a place personally made by Jesus for you.

What makes a church a good church home?  What are your expectations when you walk in the door on Sunday morning?  How is a church suppose to help you grow in your walk with God?  These are some of the questions I have been asking myself as I think about attending church on Sunday. 

 I have been in a lot of churches these last few years in my attempts to deal with my issues with the church.  I've visited several different denominations and even walked out of some church services.  Yes, you heard right, I got up and left a few times.  I went to a new church last Sunday and will probably go back again next Sunday even though it wasn't a great experience.  So, I am asking myself what I need in a church home and what is truly important.

 Things that I think are important
1. Sound Biblical truth being taught and preached.  I really am not interested in preachers like Joel Osteen who basically preach pop psychology and not doctrine.  I'm also not interested in just hearing doctrine without some practical application.  What I do want is a pastor who will challenge me to think about my faith and even have some good insights once in a while.  Granted, I'm probably not in the same place as the average church goer since I've read through the Bible numerous times, but at least once in a while help me to think of something differently and grow.  There needs to be opportunities throughout the year to grow deeper and study harder.

2. Friendliness- I don't want to have to stand up and introduce myself, but I do want for people to act as though they are happy to see me.  Who wants to be around a bunch of stuck up jerks.  The church is suppose to be a family.  A family sticks together.  I was thinking about when I was in Hull, Texas.  I had both of my kids at home, my wife was working late and my son was running a fever.  One of the church members ran out and got some medicine for him and brought it to me in the middle of the night.  Which probably involved a drive to nearby Liberty since everything else was closed by then.  She was one of those people who would do anything for you.  There really are people out there like that.  Too often these people are overshadowed by the bigots and judgmental folks the church seems to breed. 

3. Outreach into the community.  I don't want to be a part of the local church on the corner where everyone shows up Sunday and doesn't do anything for their community.  I think churches should have clothes closets and food pantries and help people in need.  There needs to be a sense that this is my mission field, this community knows who we are and knows we are alive and kicking.  Too many church resemble a funeral home instead of a spiritual hospital (which is what in many ways it is).  Too many churches are known for what they are against, rather than for their compassion, love and kindness. 

4. Worship that honors God.  I honestly don't like the rock music that is in many churches.  But, doing the traditional hymns all the times is boring too.  Worship that is honoring God is uplifting, inspiring and encouragement to the soul.  I need that more than ever.  I need someone to remind me that God loves me and is on my side.  I need someone to tell me that Jesus overcame my sins and faults.  I need an encouraging word that helps me to remember that God cares about what I am going through.

deception

         

   "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." psalm 32:7

       I was reminded as I read my final book for one of my classes this semester that many people need to be freed today from various things which hold them in bondage.  For some people this comes in the form of faulty thinking and for others it comes in toxic relationships or sinful actions.  The good news is that God wishes to deliver us from the things which overwhelm and destroy our peace and replace anxiety and fear with joy and peace.  The problem comes when we don't wait on him and he isn't our true hiding place.

     Another passage that talks about this is in Isaiah 61:1-2 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the cpatives and release from darkness for the prisoners and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. . . ."  These are words that Jesus himself read and attributed to himself.  He came to set the captives free, that is you and me, captive of sin and lies and all the things that keep us from being all that He wants for us.

Do you want to be "set free"?  Then get into his word.  Memorize it.  Meditate on it.  Thinking about it and apply it.  Let it transform your mind.  It is work, but it is worth the effort.

    In the church we were at last week, the pastor mentioned that he knew that some people wanted to get out on time and go to K&W cafeteria.  I thought to myself that most people in that congregation wouldn't complain about sitting for three hours to watch a football game, so why should the pastor feel like he has to rush through a sermon?  Something mixed up about the priorities there. 

How do we experience being "set free".  I think one of the main ways is to meditate on and be renewed through the word of God.  When I was a sunday school teacher, I was always amazed at the amount of ignorance of the Bible.  You would think with a church everywhere you look we would be knowledgeable about what the Bible says, but that just isn't the case.  You can see it in many sermons, that are pathetically weak and shallow.  In Romans 12:2 it say that we are not be conformed any longer to the world, but to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind".  That renewal takes place as we allow God to speak His truth to us through His Word.