Monthly Archives: April 2016

WEREN’T THEY FOOLED!… Acts 4: 1-13

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Weren’t they fooled?  Who?  The big-shot religious ‘pooh-bahs’ who knew that they had gotten rid of Jesus and His motely crew.  Now, Peter and John are up-to-their-necks in king-sized trouble.  Ever felt that way?   I have…a few times!   If I think about it long enough, I can conjure up all those old feelings of stomach-churning fear.  Peter and John?  Sure, the headwinds were blowing against them.   Their lives were on the line.  The religious ‘high muckety-mucks’ wanted no more talk of Jesus and His resurrection.  ‘All a bunch of baloney, anyway.  Jesus the Messiah?  Leaving Rome still the occupying power?  Crucified, dead and buried.  That’s the end. Over and out!’   Right?  Wrong!

What should Peter and John do?  After all, they knew that Jesus is alive!  He has risen from the dead.  So, if anyone rejects Jesus, they are doomed by their own choice.  So, speak up!  Say something!  Too much is at stake.  Like eternal life or you-know-what.  Who cares what someone else thinks about you.  Who cares?

There may be a sign outside our local hospital that says ‘Quiet Zone’, but if my child is running across the street and a log truck is barreling down on him, forget the ‘Quiet Zone’.  I’ll shout to the highest heavens, loud enough to wake the dead, to save my precious child’s life.  Who wouldn’t?

That’s what the apostles did.  Spoke up.  They said, ‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved'(Acts 4: 12).  This was not a popular message in their day.  Nor ours.  But speak up they must–‘When they saw the courage of Peter and John…'(4:13).  How can we keep quiet when the house is on fire and people are inside, unaware?  But who would listen to Jesus’ followers anyway?   ‘… they were unschooled, ordinary men…'(4:13).  Jesus had a tax-collector(much loved in His day…NOT!),  a former terrorist, fishermen, and some we know nothing about.  Ordinary blokes all.

But people listened to them. Why?   What made these men special?  Not their credentials or how much money they had or for any other earthly reason.  What people noticed was this–‘…that these men had been with Jesus'(4:13).  That’s all.

Do you know Jesus?  Spend time with Him.  Then stand up and share Him with someone else.  People are hell-bent.  A log truck barrels out of control.  Their house is on fire.  But God has a safe escape, planned for them.  Tell them…about Jesus.  Decide to do that.  Join me?

Prayer:  Lord, make me bold.  Not offensive or arrogant but urgent, telling others about the only way to heaven.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

BEING WITH HIM…Acts 4: 12-13 and Deuteronomy 28: 14

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Being with Him.  Sitting at His feet.  Listening.  Simple acts of humility.  What could be better?  Any effect?  Would people notice?  They did.  That’s what it says in the book of Acts, chapter 4.  What others observed was how expensive their cars were?   The size of their diamond rings?  How much money they had in corporate bonds?  No.  None of that.  What did they detect?

These ordinary folk became bold after being with Jesus, after His death and resurrection.  So can you and I.   We now know that death is not the final word.  Can kill the body, but not the soul.  Jesus has risen.  Alive!  He came to His disciples with His hands wide open.  The Apostle Peter, who has denied Jesus three times, now is courageous and brave.  Peter speaks up.  Noticeably different from the cowering, weak-kneed denier that he was at Jesus’ trials only weeks before.

When we believe in Jesus, welcome Him into our lives, He gives us His Holy Spirit, who begins change from within.  All this from being with Jesus.  ‘…they took note that these men had been with Jesus'(Acts 4:13).

Spend time with Him in His Word, the Bible.  Not like you have to.  Not to make ‘brownie points’.  No.  Then why?  Because you WANT to spend time with Him.

For over 25 years I’ve read the Bible through, from Genesis to Revelation, each year.  Not for sermon material or bragging rights, but to spend time with my Lord, listening to Him.  I’ve been a Christian now for over 50 years, having accepted Him into my life as a teen.  I’ve read the Bible through more than 22 times.

But that means for many years I didn’t.  Hit-or-miss readings, at best.  Here-and-there.  A few Psalms that were really short.  Avoiding tough books like Revelation, those long-winded prophets or the endless lists in Chronicles.  Then a friend challenged me to read the Bible every day, from cover to cover.  So, I started.  A few chapters every day.  By year’s end, I had read it completely.

But why stop?  Another year…and another full reading of the Bible!  Now, each day I look forward to spending time with Him.  It’s been such a blessing.  Sitting at the Lord’s feet.  Can you imagine?  May I be your friend, challenging you to read ALL the Bible in the next year?  God has so much to share with us.  ‘…ordinary men…they took note that these men had been with Jesus'(Acts 4:13).

Prayer:  How good, our God,  to be with you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

ANYONE NEED A GOOD LAWYER? …Job 16

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Lots of jokes about ‘good’ lawyers.  And pastors, too!  But not today.  Not in Job 16.  Have you read the chapter yet?  Don’t miss it!  Poor Job is having the worst time in his life.  Even his friends turn out to be ‘miserable comforters’!  ‘Will your long-winded speeches never end?  What ails you…'(Job 16: 2-3).  With all that’s happening to him, all the losses, the pain he suffers, the inevitable unanswered questions, yet at the end of chapter 16 he affirms his hope that he has an advocate(vs. 19-21).  What’s that?  Someone who intercedes for us.  Who helps us when we can barely help ourselves.  Like a good lawyer.  In this case, one who pleads with God on our behalf.

For believers, we know who that is– Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord!  As the Apostle Paul says, ‘Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us'(Romans 8:34).  Jesus… our advocate, our good lawyer.  Who speaks on our behalf with the Father.  He’s on our side.  Understands our plight in life.  Knows what to say when we can barely form the words in our mouths.  He says them for us.  He loves to help us.

There’s another precious word in this chapter of Job.  The very last word of verse 21(NIV):  ‘friend’.  What a wonderful word.  God is our friend.  Someone who sticks by us, even when every reason has been given to leave us in the lurch, telling us to ‘take a hike.’  He won’t do that.  Not ever.  When we turn our backs on Him, He doesn’t.  When the Lord seems far off, maybe it’s not God who’s walked away.  Shouldn’t we turn around and see that He’s right there next to us?  Those ‘footprints in the sand’.  His carrying us like a shepherd with a lamb on his shoulders.  Like a mother cradling a child in her arms.

Think about all that Jesus did for us–facing rejection, suffering on the cross, dying for those who could care less.  Jesus endured horrific loss.  Job did also.  But Jesus would do it all over again if need be.  He loves us that much.  He’s our friend.  A friend like no other.  As He said in John 15: 15–‘…I have called you friends…’

Thank you, Friend, thank you…

Prayer:  Dear Lord, for standing with us in life, we are so grateful.  We’re never alone, no matter what.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

WHOSE FRIEND?…John 15: 9-17

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‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’–and what a great hymn!  I love to whistle it much to my poor wife’s consternation!  Have you read this section of John 15?   You hear Jesus’ words about friendship–‘You are my friends…’ and ‘…I have called you friends…'(vs. 14-15).  Can you imagine being God’s friend?  A personal friend to Jesus, the Risen Lord?   Let that sink in a bit.  Mull it over.

As I was reflecting on these verses, thinking about Jesus being my friend, another thought came to mind.  Jesus said, ‘you are my friends’.   Of course, He is our friend, the very best of all.  But this is what I was thinking–am I Jesus’ good friend?  Oh, I go for the idea that He loves me, that He’s my friend.  But what about how much I love Him?  Or what kind of friend am I… to Him?  How can we be His friend?  What pleases Him?  Frankly, I like it the other way around!  On the receiving end of all those goodies from God!  Sure, who wouldn’t?

But that kind of friendship is way too one-sided.  We all know what it feels like to be with ‘friends’ who can only talk about themselves.  Their ailments.  Their troubles.  All about them.  Showing little interest in you.  They’re ready and eager to jump into every conversation with one-upmanship.  Take a breath, and they leap right in with both feet to tell you their much better or worse story!  You know what I mean…and who!

Are we that way with God?  Always asking and bargaining and begging in prayer?  Talking about ourselves and our problems?  Not sharing Jesus with others?  Not speaking up about an issue when we know how God feels about it?  Rarely thanking or praising Him?

How about sitting quietly, with our Bibles open on our laps, listening to Him speak with us for a change.  That’s what a real friend would do.  Listening…being with our best Friend.   Are you a good friend to Jesus?  I ask myself the same.  I want to be.  Join me?  Friends of Jesus!

Prayer:  Lord, help me to focus more and more on you.  More praise in my prayers today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

SOME REALLY TASTY LEMONADE! … Acts 8

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Why do tough times come our way?  When will they end?  What’s next, Lord?  Reading Acts chapter 8, we discover that a ferocious persecution has broken out in Jerusalem, making it impossible for most believers to stay safely within the walls of the ‘holy city’.  So dangerous that the Bible says they ‘scattered’–fled for their lives.  They must have moaned and groaned, whined and complained.  Not quite!  ‘Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went'(Acts 8:4).

Wherever the dangerous rip-tide of persecution took them, the Word of Jesus went alongside.  Boldly they shared the Good News of Jesus.  I’m sure they didn’t like being persecuted.  None of us likes going through turbulent times.  But what they had, and what we have, is the assurance of God’s presence.  He is ‘Immanuel’, meaning ‘God with us’.

I remember a time when I was devastated by a committee of my old denomination.  Basically, they were telling me to ‘get out of Jerusalem’.   And while you’re hightailing it out the door, no more preaching…anywhere, ever again.  Get it, buddy?  This put me flat on my face.  What do I do, Lord?

Attending our weekly pastor’s Bible study, I unloaded my bundle of hurt on them.  One of the older members was a pastor of a very small church.  Possibly he had attended Bible school for a year.  Maybe not.  A second career man.  Had been a car mechanic beforehand.  Me?  Graduated second in my class from the Moody Bible Institute(yes, there were more than two students in my class!).  Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.  Three cheers for me!  When I told the group what had happened, this older pastor turned to me and asked, ‘did God call you to preach?’  Unequivocally, I said,  ‘yes, He did’.  He barked at me, ‘Then why do you listen to those people.  If God called you to preach, you preach!’  His pointed words were from God’s mouth, through this man’s lips, to my ears.  His words changed my life.

I went home and resigned from that old denomination.  I started to preach again when asked.  For five years I hosted a Christian television program in our area.  The icing on the cake?  Fourteen years pastor of a lovely church in that same town, the longest serving pastor in their 100+ year history.  Now,  I’m their Pastor Emeritus!  Can you imagine?  I couldn’t.  What God could do with my deadend situation!  Did I love going through it all, and couldn’t wait for the next calamity?!  Of course not!  But I do love the One who turned those lemons into the best lemonade I’d ever tasted.

Are you going through terrible times?  He’s still ‘Immanuel’.  God with YOU!  The outcome?  Hard to say.  Leave that to Him.  Jesus knows best.  He has wonderful surprises ahead for you!  Trust me.  No.  Trust Him!

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for being with us.  We depend upon you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.