"Give Me - Make Me"

I'm not real sure where this is headed. It is one of those mornings when my thought process is lacking. (Maybe I have more of those than I really realize!) I tire very easily of all the different writings of those who offer us these "ten-step" or however many steps for curing people trapped in sin. Sin and selfishness go hand in hand and there are no "step cures" to overcoming. I wish people could understand that. What most people write, if one would carefully examine, many times requires things that are extremely difficult. The reason people flee to these writings, programs or books is because they are in a dark state of pity and hurt. They want what many writers call "enablement"! No one denies what needs to be done but the power to do what is needed is lacking and there are no "step" programs to give them the power! The power does not lay within us and our efforts!!

If one would read the struggle of Paul in Romans 7, the man who wanted to do the right thing found himself unable. The good he wanted to do, he did not do but practiced the very evil he hated (Rom. 7:19). Paul realized that this power called sin worked through God's holy commandment and killed him spiritually. That spiritual darkness called sin and death is what everyone gets involved in and they need the real answers on how to overcome and no amount of "self help" or our pulling ourselves together holds the answer.

In reading Luke 15 about the prodigal, as he left the house of his father, he demanded, "give me." (Luke 15:12) As his life took a downward spiral, he realized where true help lay. It wasn't in his power. He came to his senses and asked his father (who represents God) "make me" (Luke 15:19). There was the answer. Both the "give me" and "make me" are attitudes and desires of the heart. But "make me" is an appeal and not a demand! It is asking for a gift, help that only could come from the father.

Paul saw the same thing in Romans 7. He saw his condition as a wretched man, worn and frazzled (that's what the word wretched means) (Rom. 7:24) and in spiritual death it caused him physical anguish. His answer was found in Jesus and Him alone. It was yielding and coming to Jesus on His terms where Paul found Christ to "make him." "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove in vain." (I Cor. 15:10)

To the sensitive and contrite of heart, they can approach a heavenly Father, full of compassion, mercy and power yielding to His will. He alone is the ONLY One that can grant power to overcome. In making the request from a weak and sinful person that is awakened by their failures, they aren't looking for some "magic formula of steps" from their own doing, but allowing God to work His transforming power to "make me."

"An ICU Observation"

While recently sitting in the ICU with a family, I observed something that seemed rather unique to me. The ICU waiting room is, well...unique. I sat and observed the different people there. Each and every one was sitting, waiting on news about the well-being of a loved one. There isn't a lot of empty chit-chat but it seemed the conversations were meaningful.

Some you can tell were tense, waiting anxiously for a report. Questions are asked to one another if they think a loved one will make it. Others just want to speak with one of the health officials just to find some comfort for the moment. As I sat and listened, one man spoke with tears, "I don't know what I am going to do without her. We have been married for 54 years." Those sitting around reached out in silence.

This place is different than another other places in our society. The people that are there are different too. They comfort one another, reaching out trying to do something for the other. No one is rude. There are no race issues. You will find the multi-millionaire has the same level of concern as the one who picks up garbage. Each and everyone there knows that loving someone is what life is all about. You hear some say this really brings home what is most important in life. People are focused and humbled.

It made my mind shift to God and His word. The saved, the church came into focus while I listened to God: "But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another." (I Cor. 12:24-25) What are we missing?

"Who Is Running The Show?"

It's too easy for people to be swept away by elementary principles of the world or philosophy rather than according to Christ (Col. 2:8). I really enjoy the old shows I guess because I grew up on them. I was watching a "Leave It To Beaver" episode and the Cleaver's had a litter of rabbits. Ward, the father, explains how the mother rabbit cares for the babies. Beaver turns to Wally (his older brother) and asks, "Is that right, Wally?" It struck me here was the father explaining things and one turns to another source that is lessor in authority for guidance. Who is running the show?

I have known people over the years that go from one person to another, seeking answers to their problems. What they are doing is looking for someone to tell them what they want to hear rather than seek the true answers that are needed. Who is running the show?

There are many who are trying to manipulate outcomes in situations or get people to side with their ideas and thinking. They pry and prod until they get their desired result. Who is running the show?

Jesus always kept His proper place and understood His limitations while on earth. In Luke 12:13-14, someone calls out to Jesus to make a judicial decision about a family inheritance. Jesus responds that He is not a judge or an arbiter in these matters. Jesus knew His place and had a single mind set and being a judge or arbiter was not His business! Why do we try to do things that are not our business? Why are many lives so worn out and frazzled? Because we don't realize who is running the show and we try to run it! Jesus used this opportunity to teach a major lesson.

Jesus realized that the problem of the family inheritance was spiritual! It was called greed and He showed the bigger issue at hand (Luke 12:15). If they would not heed, they would be left fighting and wanting, only to be left in darkness.

In Matthew 20, we see Jesus in a great struggle to get His own disciples to stop trying to run everything, controlling outcomes and settle down on the One who was really running the show. The mother of the two sons of Zebedee came to make a request of Jesus. She bowed, showing reverence toward Him (Matt. 20:20). Jesus was patient while listening to her request that her two sons be better off than anyone else in His kingdom (Matt. 20:21). Jesus was very aware she did not know what she was asking for and her ignorance was revealed before Him (Mat. 20:22-23). But once again, we find Jesus understood His limitations and who ran the show. IT WAS GOD THE FATHER! God will decide who is approved or disapproved in all matters. The other ten became indignant toward the two because they wanted the same thing! Then Jesus turns His attention to them all trying to get them to understand the big picture (Matt. 20:24-28). Jesus would not allow His disciples to act like the Gentiles, the outsiders. When are we going to learn this in the church? We are to have a different spirit about us and realize that Jesus is the head of His body. That means that He runs the show yet so many preachers, elders or members take it upon themselves to take things in a different direction because that's what they want. The greatest in the eyes of the Lord are those who work at serving, willing to sacrifice for others so others will be better off. We have too many trying to be 'lords' while not recognizing who is running the show! Too many are trying to control things only to mess things up because they want something done a certain way.

While on earth, Jesus understood His role and limitations. What about us? Jesus was focused on the will of His Father. What about us? Who is really running the show?

"A Return To The Body...Again"

We are reminded by the Spirit through Paul that the body, the church, is one unit made up of many parts (I Cor. 12). One part, each individual member, is just as important to Jesus and His body as another. Some parts of the body can suffer while others may not suffer much. It is most important to remember that no individual Christian, no congregation where the body assembles, exists as an independent unit, as if they were not a part of the community of faith.

The eyes don't do the walking, the ears do not do the seeing but these are not isolated from the rest of the body, individual workings. Seeing is a function of the body and not merely the eyes! When are some going to learn that?

The body of Christ is not a lot of isolated parts that functions independently of the rest of the body. A hand has NO existence without the body. It can only be understood as a hand because there is a body to which it is attached. But it goes a little further than that. There is diversity within the parts of the body and the parts must NEVER lay the burden of its function on the another part. Each one must bear his or her own burden, fulfilling their own part as they will be held accountable for that. "From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." (Eph. 4:16) If a part of the body does not fulfill its individual part, it will have a great effect on the whole. It will cause the growth toward love or it will destroy the growth away from love. That's serious in the eyes of the Lord!

There is one more aspect of the body we need to consider. The church serves its wives via the husbands and the husbands via its wives. There are families within this body and those families are instructed to care for their own needy widows so that the church should not be burdened (I Tim. 5:16). That is a doctrine of specificity of responsibility (I Tim. 5:8). When these individual parts of the body care for their own, this is the body at work and how it does some of its work!

The body, each individual, is to be connected to the head, holding to the head...Christ. When Christ told Paul in Acts 9 he was harming the people called the church he was harming the head...Himself! You don't harm the people of God, mistreat the people of God without paying a price. What do we learn? It is nonsense for any of us to think we exist independently of the rest of the people of God!!!

"Satanic Angels in Genesis 6:1-4?"

Today is going to require a little work on my part and careful reading on your part. I was asked to address Gen. 6:1-4, which the one who asked me was reading that someone had taught that "satanic angels had sex with women." Whatever these verses deal with, they do not teach us that anyone "had sex with women." Too many books and ideas are floating around out there. The verses speak of "sons of God" married women and had children by them. This is a far cry from painting a picture of satanic angels manufacturing human bodies and doing whatever with women. Just as a side thought, if these were satanic angels as some teach, it seems they had more virtue than a host of humans today since they had the decency to get married!

The phrase "sons of God" is a reference to godly people giving way to ungodly ways. It is a Jewish phrase. There is a possibility there was polygamy practiced looking all the way back to Gen. 4:23. In Psa. 82:6, there is an equivalent expression "and all of you are sons of the Most High" which refers to human judges and rulers. They were wicked human rulers if one will take note but referred to as "sons of the Most High". In Luke 3:38 it has the Greek equivalent used of Adam who was "the son of God." There are many more references to "sons of God" but these are a few that will do.

No one is sure about the derivation of "Nephilim" in Gen. 6. Some say it is "the fallen ones" and they put that to mean fallen angels. I don't understand all this talk about fallen angels and the "sons of God." The passage doesn't call the "Nephilim sons of God." They are called the "mighty men who were of old, men of renown." (Gen. 6:4) Maybe I am a little too cautious but we can't really put names with people that God's word does not address. Moses wrote the book and they would have a better understanding as to who all these men were.

The bottom line is all this was the build up to the flood and the behavior of mankind. Godliness was exiting the lives of people. All humans died except eight, including those mentioned above. Later Israel came across the Nephilim again in Numbers 13:33 when spying out Canaan. They had to have come from the offspring of Noah. If we are going to take a stance that the Nephilim and satanic angels married women, it leads us down a road that those born were half satanic angels and half men! That just does not make sense. In fact, whatever truth we draw from Gen. 6:2 about "sons of God" and making them angels at all is a misrepresentation. I will admit it is a difficult section and I am not sure I completely understand it but one thing is evident it is far reaching to tie this section to any type of angel period. It explains the evil intention and heart of man and why God had to start over from the flood.

"Jesus Deals With The Powerful"

Too many think of sin mainly in terms of sexual immorality, drunkenness, non-attendance for worship, gossip, lying and the such. Listen carefully, sin is bigger than these things, much bigger! The Scriptures speaks of sin as a "king" that reigns over people, a law-giver with a law, a slave owner with slaves (Rom. 7). Sin hits the lives of every single person on this planet and makes us sick to the very fiber of our souls while we spread this death that pollutes the world around us. This is the power of sin...not sins!

The Scriptures make it clear that God establishes governments, gives them their power and holds them responsible for using that power. Governments are to be used as His minister to help for the good. But one day, those in power will succumb to the power of God and meet Him face to face. Abusers of power will be brought low.

God brought Sodom down, not just because of their immorality but its arrogance by not taking care of the needy and poor (Eze. 16:48-50). Babylon the world ruler was brought down in part because it took advantage of the needy and vulnerable (Dan. 4:27). God sent Israel into exile being plundered and hurt because they too oppressed the poor and needy (Amos 4:1). Using position and power to hurt others is sin at its height, especially against those needy and weak.

One day Jesus Christ will return and will right all wrongs, holding accountable those who use their power to hurt the vulnerable. Those who manipulate their way to gain an advantage of personal treasure so they can live in more luxury and do it at the expense of others, even in the church! Jesus will call into account those who are are not what we think of as sleazy in their lives but those of reputation, of high degrees, highly-respected people who secretly do their dealings behind closed doors.

In the church we have watched elderships try to rule with an iron fist, running over those who cannot do anything about it. They believe themselves above. Preachers who toss aside the older, because they are "old school" and new directions need to come, so these become expendable because they have the power to do it! Members who use their position in the community to try to lord and rule others. Sin shows itself in all these areas too!

Here's the conclusion: there is a day coming when those who have been crushed, walked over, mistreated because they are older or less fortunate will find themselves cared for and allowed to breath free and live in honor. There's a day coming when the powerful will be brought low, when the oily tongued people will be silenced. They will not be speaking to people who they feel superior over, whom they have taken advantage of, whom they have hurt and all the while not realize what they are saying. They will not be talking and dealing with people who can't answer them back, who cannot do one thing about their position. They will be talking to JESUS!

"Pastors"

It amazes me sometimes how little we allow the word of God to affect our lives and thinking. There is name calling, some are legalists, others are liberals and we use those words to try to bring people into our way of thinking. Recently, while dealing with a couple going through a divorce, the husband was asking what made his wife get so far off base concerning spiritual things. It didn't take long to get his explanation, but it didn't come from me.

His wife had gone head-over-heels over a "woman pastor." In the discussion between the husband and wife, the question was asked what is a "woman pastor"? First, the term 'pastor' is used only once in the Bible. Ephesians 4:11 speaks of those the Lord gave in the church to equip the saints for the work of service, building up the body and helping it attain to the unity of the faith (Eph. 4:12-13.) Jesus being the head of His body had specific instructions on what He wanted to accomplish through certain men. The term 'pastor' has become in our day and society THE preacher in the local congregation. It is a title taken by themselves with little regard to what the Lord intended and in some religious groups, a woman wears that title. First, the word 'pastor' is masculine in the Greek! Secondly, the term is from the Greek word 'poimen' which is the word translated 'shepherd' referring to the eldership. The term 'pastor' is the noun form of the word 'shepherd.' Shepherds, pastors, elders are always in the plural. They were never a title given as a title to one man.

The result of the difference between the husband and wife? After showing the meaning and verses, the wife tells the husband, "Why don't you come with me and listen to her. She is powerful and always has a life changing message." It didn't matter what the word of the Lord said about matters, what mattered was what she wanted. It struck me that is exactly what the children of Israel did. In the book of Judges, they intermingled with the other nations and their religious ideas and it cost them dearly. God called them playing the part of a harlot because they had forsaken the word of the Lord for a false god. That seems to be the path of many today. "Come on over and listen!" seems to be the battle cry. God is tossed behind and the ideas of individuals take precedent. Israel was taken into ruin and plunder because God was not heeded with a whole heart.

Those of you who know me personally know I am not an attacking person but I am a man who tries to hold to the word of the Lord in honesty. I want heaven and want others there to. Seeing heaven is a place in the presence of God, shouldn't we be concerned that He is the ONLY one to have a say about who is there and who is rejected? Because of that, I want to stick with God and His word. What about you?