The Greatest Prophet Who Was Too Bad To Be A Slave

    Okay, Pop Quiz! Who was the greatest Old Testament saint? If you answered Abraham, Moses, or David, you would be wrong. Those would usually be our first choices for the greatest person, but these people are not the greatest. According to Jesus, who should know since He determines what greatness is, John the Baptist is the greatest person in the Old Testament. (Matt 11:11) As I was studying Luke 3, I was struck by the character and message of John the Baptist. I want to share that with you in this blog post.

    John the Baptist had a most unique and exalted position. The angel told his father Zacharias that his son would go as a forerunner before the Lord and would turn many people back to the Lord their God. (Luke 1:16-17) In fact, hundreds of years before, in the prophecies of Malachi and Isaiah, it was foretold about John and his ministry. (Luke 1:17, Luke 3:4-6) For hundreds of years people had waited and wondered about the coming of the Messiah. Now John was given the task of announcing His coming and preparing people to receive Him.

    How were people to prepare for the coming of the Messiah? John told the people to prepare by repenting. They needed to turn from their sins and turn towards God and righteousness. And when the people were convinced that they needed God's forgiveness, they were baptized by John in the Jordan to show to all that they were guilty sinners who needed to be cleansed by God.( Luke 3:3) John warned the crowds to stop trusting in their relationship to Abraham for salvation. Being part of God's covenant people didn't save anyone. (Luke 3:8)  It is repentance and the fruits that follow that saves a person. John emphasized that repentance is revealed by holy lives. He called people to show compassion to others, to not be greedy and steal, and to avoid oppressing others.(Luke 3:8-14) It was this message that John preached and exhorted to the people with urgency because judgment was near at hand. The Judge was coming and they needed to avoid His justice by repenting of their sins now. (Luke 3:9, 17)

    Few men have had the courage of John the Baptist. He called the hypocrites that came out to him a "brood of vipers". Not exactly a term of affection, but it was true.(Luke 3:7) He preached boldly a hard message to the Jews that cut at their national pride and put them in the same boat as Gentiles. (Luke 3:8) He talked of sin and judgment to these people who trusted their own righteousness. He confronted Herod the tetrarch about his sins.(Luke 3:19-20) The result of that confrontation was John's arrest and later death. John was a man of courage who feared no one.
   
     Even though John was a strange man, eating locusts and honey and wearing rough clothes, and even though his ministry was outside of Jerusalem in the desert; John was a popular preacher in his day. The people were so struck by him that they thought he might be the Messiah. This expectation had the potential to puff up John's pride. What they were thinking was quite remarkable. John the Messiah! The One promised so often through out Israel's history. The One who would come to save and redeem His people. The One who would reign over Israel and bring in a time of peace and greatness for Israel. But no, he was John the Baptist, not John the Messiah. John shot down their expectations very quickly.(Luke 3:16)

      In fact John, who was the greatest of the Old Testament saints, said he was not the Messiah and that he was not even worthy to untie the sandals of the Messiah who was coming. (Luke 3:16) This One was mightier than John. So much so that even John could not do the menial task of taking off His shoes. It was reserved for slaves to take off their master's shoes. John was saying that he was not even worthy of being a slave to the Messiah. Think about that for a moment. John was a great man and yet when he saw who the Messiah was, he saw what a low and unworthy creature he was. He may have never feared a man, but he sure feared God. John was very little in his own eyes. He understood what a guilty, vile sinner he was. He saw his weakness. He saw the greatness and glory of Jesus Christ. Here was God in human flesh. And so John wouldn't even dare to touch the Christ's sandals. John knew all to well how bad he was.

      In John the Baptist's character and message, we see an example for us to follow. We are heralds who are to prepare people for the Lord's second coming by preaching and teaching a message of repentance and righteousness, by confronting people with their sin and their need to be washed from their sins. Such a message requires us to be bold and courageous as we teach the truth and live it out in a corrupt world. The only way we can have such a boldness is to see by faith the glory, power, and greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ. When our eyes are filled with His glory, we will see who we really are; weak sinful, guilty people who desperately need a Savior. Armed with these truths, we can boldly go out into the world to fulfill the commission the Lord had given us.

Brad

When The Devil Goes Fishing

     The Devil likes to fish. Except, he doesn't fish for fish but for the souls of men. The devil likes to catch people with sin. He is a good fisher, maybe the best. Many souls have been ruined to hell by taking his bait. Many Christians have been rendered fruitless and ineffective by swallowing his hook. Certainly this is no laughing matter when one considers the devil's large catch. In order to help us not take the devil's bait and hook, I want to consider how the the devil goes fishing.

The Bait

     When the devil goes fishing, he uses some pretty desirous bait. He uses the pleasures of sin to bait us. He knows that our hearts are corrupt with sin.We have sinful desires that he plays on. "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust." James 1:14. The devil knows this and baits his hook accordingly. He always portrays sin as good, beneficial and pleasurable. "Stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." Proverbs 9:17. Consider how the adulteress tempts men to sin with her. "For the lips of an adulteress drips honey and smoother than oil is her speech." Proverbs 5:3. Another proverb that shows the bait of the devil is Proverbs 20:17 "Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel." Remember when Satan first tempted Eve. He promised that by taking and eating the forbidden fruit she would "be like God, knowing good and evil." Gen 3:5. Eve believed Satan's lie, and took his bait because she thought that by sinning she could become wise. However they became fools. And ever since that day, people continue to take the devil's bait and choose to sin.

     Just as an aside, consider how sin is portrayed in the entertainment industry. There are lots of songs that glorify drunkenness, sexually immorality, and violence. Movies and video games  often do the same. Almost all of the time, sin is portrayed as good in movies. And it is not just "big" sins, but even sins like pride, lying, stealing, or laziness are made to look good. When we constantly expose ourselves to the world's entertainment, it will begin to affect how we look at sin. Sin will begin to not look like a hook but like something worth pursuing.

The Plate

     If a fish should take the bait on the hook, he will eventually end up on someone's plate. What started out as a delicious treat for the fish, turned into delicious meal for the fisherman. The same result is in store for those who take the devil's bait. God warns us in His word that the end result of taking the devil's bait is death. The Lord promised to Adam and Eve that if they would eat the forbidden fruit, "you will surely die." Gen 2:17. James writes that "Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." James 1:15. Women Folly would invite you to eat stolen water and food because it is sweet, but those who accept such an invitation would find that "her guests are in the depths of Sheol." Proverbs 9:18. Proverbs often warns those tempted to commit adultery that while all manner of pleasure is promised, the end result is death and bitterness.

     When we chose to sin, we begin to walk down a path that leads to death. Along that path there is the chance of physical death due to sin and its consequences. But more serious is the spiritual death that happens. Giving into sin and taking Satan's bait, destroys us spiritually and will bring us into the second death; the fires of hell. Sin also kills relationships. Sin kills reputations. Sin kills one's purity and honor. Sin kills!! So be warned, when you see the bait of sin, remember the plate. Consider the consequences of taking that bait. Don't start down the path of sin for it leads to death.

    The only way off the path of sin and death is repentance; that is, to turn to God and righteousness and to forsake and confess your sin, begging for forgiveness because of the person and work of Jesus Christ. "The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23.  

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
 For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
 She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.

Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
 Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast. 

Proverbs 3: 13-18

Brad

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary!

"And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:38  

     This verse comes at the end of Mary's conversation with the angel Gabriel. Gabriel had just announced to Mary that she was going to conceive a son by the Holy Spirit. This son was to be named Jesus and would be great. He would be the Son of the Most High and would reign on the throne of David over the house of Jacob forever and ever. God had chosen Mary to have an unique and important part to play in His plan of salvation. After years of waiting, finally the Messiah was coming. And of all people, Mary was going to carry this Child who would be the Savior of all God's people and would be the long awaited king. This was an immense privilege given to her by God. But, with this privilege, there was also going to be trial and suffering. 

     The majority of people would think that Mary had gotten pregnant before her marriage to Joseph. How would she be able to explain how she had gotten pregnant, when no one before or since, has ever conceived in this manner? For the rest of her life she would have the stigma and reproach of being an unfaithful and immoral women. Few would ever understand in her lifetime. Who knows what shame and shunning she faced? And what about Joseph? He would think she was unfaithful to him. It was only through a dream from God that Joseph would be convinced that Mary wasn't unfaithful. (Matthew 1:19-21) In fact Mary could face death, for the law decreed death by stoning for those who committed adultery. (Deut 22:13-21) So while she would have an immense privilege in carrying the Savior, there was also a great trial for her to go through. But consider how she responds.

      Mary calls herself the bondslave of the Lord. In her eyes, she is God's slave, which is very contrary to how the Roman Catholic church views her. In their view, Mary is worthy of veneration and a mediator between God and man. But Mary understands that the Lord is her master and she is his slave. Whatever the Master says she will do. She submitted to God's purposes and will for her without murmuring or questioning. She trusted that her Master knew what was best and was willing to go where He called her, even if it would bring her pain and sorrow. Here is a worthy example for us.

     The Christian has the honor and privilege of being adopted into the family of God. He is an heir of the glory to come. His sins are completely forgiven. God is His friend and Lord. These honors and privileges are mostly unknown by those around him and many of these privileges will only be had in the life to come. This life is for the Christian the time for suffering. "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2 Tim 3:12. This life is a life of war for the Christian as he must wage constant war against sin. Obedience is hard work. This Christian is the special object of Satan's temptations. The cross must come before the crown. 

And what should be our reaction when we are called to suffer and labor for God? It should be the same as Mary's reaction to the angel's announcement. We are God's slaves and will  do as He wills. 

"Let us be willing to go anywhere, and do anything, and be anything, whatever be the present and immediate inconvenience, so long as God's will is clear and the path of duty is plain." 
J.C. Ryle from his expository thoughts on Luke.(page 30)

Brad

On The Hill of Difficulty Part Two

This is Part Two of lessons learned during the trial that I went through over the last few months.

5) We need the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12. We were never meant to be lone rangers. God made us to need others. The help we received was magnificent. I often stood amazed at the care, kindness and sacrifice of  people. Without the help of many people we would have crashed and burned. Some people changed their schedules or denied themselves so they could help us.We are a very individualistic society. But that is not God's design. Lone rangers are dead rangers. We need God's people. This trial gave us a very vivid example of this truth.

6) I learned to be more compassionate and understanding to others in trials. I also saw how often I failed in the past to show compassion to others in trials. Through the variety of experiences over the last few months I can better sympathize with others. I can understand better the trials of my wife at home or of single dads and moms. I can better understand the sorrows and challenges of widows and those who lose a child. This trial made me more aware of the trials of others. I hope then that what I have learned can help me to be better at comforting and caring for others in their trials. "...God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3b-4

7) I learned to drive in the city. I hate cities and I hate driving in them. But I learned to drive better in traffic. I can't say I like cities or driving there, but it isn't so scary as it was.

8) Giving words of encouragement is a skill that takes effort and time to learn. "A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word." Proverbs 15:23   "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances." Proverbs 25:11   Especially early in this trial, I often thought about what we ought to say to someone going through a tough time. Often I would get very worldly encouragement. One time a person's 'encouragement' seemed more like a discouragement to me in how and what was said. People can ask how you are doing but they seem to expect a short answer and don't really wait for you to explain. It is hard to know what to say to someone going through a hard trial. One needs great wisdom to say the right word at the right time. A couple things I have learned is this: If you ask someone how they are doing, say it tenderly and listen for an answer. Sympathizing with someone is important. If you don't know what to say, the best thing you can say is 'How can I help you" or 'I will pray for you' or better yet pray with the person. Often people don't need a theology lecture when they are suffering but giving a hug would be just fine. It would be good if we took time to think about what we should say to a suffering Christian or unbeliever before the time comes around.

9) Just because God promises to strengthen us in our trials doesn't mean we won't be almost crushed under the load. There were times in my trial that I felt strong in the Lord's strength. And there were times I felt crushed under the pressure of the trial. I believe God does this for two reasons. One, to show us that we need Him because we are so weak without His help. Second, to develop our spiritual muscles. By going through difficult trials we will find that we are able to handle more and more in God's strength and even that lesser trials do not crush as they used to.

10) I am more thankful for technology like cell phones, even through I find such things frustrating. I bought a cell phone soon after Fenna went into the hospital so I could keep in touch. It was a blessing to us to be able to text, phone or video chat. It made the distance between us smaller.

11) I appreciate my wife more. I have learned how important she is to our family. I knew that before this all began but now we know it in a whole other way.

12) In the beginning of this trial, many people came up to me to ask how my wife was or how things were going in the trial. I appreciated that. But I got tired of talking about our difficulties and just wanted to talk about normal things. Our trial was the subject of every conversation on Sundays. Often I didn't want to talk about how things were. And even if I wanted to, it would take too long to tell someone how things really were. I liked the attention and hated it. Maybe what I learned from this is that trials are complicated and it can be hard to help someone in need.

13) I learned more about my kids. I enjoyed getting to know my kids more, especially the youngest. It wasn't easy taking care of them, but there were some really good moments with them.

14)  I learned again that as hard as our trials are, we always deserve worse. We are guilty sinners who deserve nothing good and only horrors. But God is a God of grace. He can turn our sufferings for our good because of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for His grace. I am thankful for what I have learned and continue to learn. I can't complain at all for all that God has brought me through. He was there with me in the storm. Even when I sinned during the trial, He was gracious to me and forgave me when I repented. All glory be to God.

15) Lastly, I learned that I still have to learn much about suffering and trials. This trial was hard but there are much greater trials. I still have a lot to learn and there is still much room to grow.

 Brad

On The Hill of Difficulty

       In the book 'Pilgrim's Progress', Christian has to go up the hill of difficulty which he finds to be hard work indeed. This is the experience of every Christian. Each Christians must go through times of hardship. For the last 4 months, we have as a family walked the steep slopes of the hill of difficulty. This trial rates in the top three of all the trials that I have experienced in my life. For a month and a half my wife was on a semi bed rest due to complications in her pregnancy. Then she had to be admitted into the hospital for the remainder of her pregnancy while I took care of the kids and the farm. After 12 weeks in the hospital, we had a baby boy born by c-section. The trial isn't completely over, but hopefully the most difficult part is.

   God has a good purpose for the Christian in all trials and difficulty. There are many lessons to be learned in the storm. The fire of the trial burns off much of the dross of sin. I have learned many things on the hill of difficulty. These lessons I don't want to forget. So I hope to write down what I have learned while on the hill of difficulty. I do this mainly for myself but also in the hope that others would benefit from what I have learned.

1) Having a Biblical perspective on trials is so important.  "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God." Rom 8:28  "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." James 1:2-3 These were texts that I clung to and often repeated to help in my trials. It fortifies the believer when he can look on trials as the bitter medicines of a wise and good God who wants to heal our souls from sin and sanctify us.With this perspective, you really can rejoice in trials and worship God in the storms you go through. Without this Biblical perspective, you will be much weaker and more susceptible to doubts and depression. A lack of clarity of trials will make you fight against God rather than work with him during your trial. This makes the trial hurt more and even can make it last longer. Perhaps some of the problem for us is that we love comfort and ease more than we delight in holiness. If we have a greater desire for godliness than for personal comfort, we will find trials to be less difficult.

2) No one can fully understand the difficulty of your trial. "The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy." Proverbs 14:10 Some may be able to understand what you are going through better than others. But no one can completely feel the weight of your trial. This is because each trial is unique and each person is unique. And this is good. Because while people will not completely understand your trial, God does. In fact He knows you better than you know yourself. So we should turn to God first of all to pour out our hearts to the One who knows us completely. Thus trials will cause us to draw closer with God.

3) In this trial I have learned again that faith without works is dead. Or to put it another way talk is cheap. "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so, faith, if it has no works, is dead being by itself." James 2:15-17 It is easier for people to say they care than for them to show that they care with real acts of service. Now, not everyone is able to help someone going through a trial in a practical way. Maybe the best they can do is pray for you. An old lady that we know who is plagued by arthritis, phoned me every couple of weeks to see how I was. That is faith at work. But people often will say that they are praying for you and then do nothing to practically help you even though they could. Perhaps they should consider that maybe God could answer their prayers if they would get off their knees and serve the one they are praying for. It is an easy thing to say you are praying for someone, but it is a much harder thing to sacrifice and serve someone. it means so much more when practical help is given not just words. Then you really know someone cares. "Little children, let us not love with words or tongue, but in deed and truth." 1 John 3:18

4) People will disappoint us. This is a given. Sometimes people disappointed me greatly, sometimes it was a lesser disappointment. Either way we should learn not to expect too much from people. Even the best of us is but dust and ashes and quickly prone to sin. Knowing this should cause us to more fully seek our help and comfort in the unchanging Lord of heaven and earth.

5) God will never disappoint us. God is faithful to His promises. I can say by experience that even though I was sad and disappointed in people, never once could I say that God failed me. He provided what was needed time and time again. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change." Psalm 46:1-2 
 "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you, so that we confidently say, The LORD is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6

To be continued......

Brad

Laying Still Under God's Scalpel

     I suppose with all that has gone on in our lives in the last few weeks, the topic of trials and difficulties has been on my mind. It is easy to teach on trials, when life is pretty good. But it is in the fire of trials when the soundness of our faith is tested. Some of what I learned I want to share with you so that one day it may help you as well. I have not learned this lesson perfectly, but I am growing bit by bit.

     'No pain no gain' is a common expression which is often true. This is true in the world of healing and medicine. When we are sick or have some problem in our body, the path to a cure is lined with pain. Doctors prescribe medicines that are bitter to fight disease. They take their scalpels and forceps to cut us open so that they may fix our health problems. They can cause serious pain and discomfort in order to obtain a cure. Yet why do people continue to go to doctors and hospitals? Why do they take treatment or medicine that is bitter and painful? People want to be healthy. They want to enjoy this life. And so, they are willing to bear with the pain of treatment in order that they may defeat the disease and return to health and the life they want to live.

     What is true of the diseases of the body and how they are cured, is also true of the diseases of the soul and how they are treated. Sin is the black plague of the soul. It destroys, rots, corrupts, and ruins people. No disease of the body can compare with the deadly nature of sin in the soul of man. However Jesus is the great Divine Physician. "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick: I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17  It is He who gives new life to the dead sinner through changing his heart of stone into a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26) But the Christian still has sin in his life. The flesh is still there. God is working like a doctor in our lives to  cure us of this sin disease that still runs in our veins. He mixes together the bitter medicines of the trials of our lives with His word to treat our sin. He knows the right time for the trial in each person's life. He knows which is the right trial for the right person to cure their particular sin. He understands how to mix trials together to produce a healing effect. This God does every day in our lives. Through little trials, like a flat tire or big trials like the death of a friend or painful cancer, God is slowly but surely attacking our sin disease and causing us to grow healthy and strong in holiness.

    Our recovery to healthy godliness, depends in some degree on how we react to trials. If you try to fight the doctor as he tries to give you a shot, it will take longer to get a cure and you may have to be held down so the medicine can be administered. If you don't lay still as God takes His scalpel to remove your sin, it will hurt more. Grumbling, complaining, and disobeying God during  a trial will lead to a slower recovery. However if we lie still under God's scalpel by trusting His wisdom, goodness and love, the healing will be quicker and more complete. When every nerve of our body wants to lash out or run, our faith should cling even more tightly to God's promises and truth.  We should rejoice and be thankful even in the greatest pain and suffering, not because pain and suffering is good, but because God has promised to use these painful medicines to do us good and to glorify Himself. We should rejoice to see God curing us of our poisonous sin and causing us to produce greater fruit. We should worship even in the tears, even if it is through our groans. God is good and always does good. We can depend on that.

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

 Lord, help our weak faith so that it can lay hold of who you are and what you have promised.

Brad