Acts 10 - Being God's agents
It strikes me that one point about the Centurion's conversion is that people were directly involved. Now that I rethink it perhaps I am laboring the point too hard. I don't want to make it some kind of rule. But somehow it is important that people be involved in conversion of others. We are God's agents.
In modern times usually an evangelist requires that a new Christian declare out loud in the presence of others his acceptance of his sinfulness, his request for forgiveness, his repentance, and his acceptance of Jesus as his savior. Perhaps he does it by repeating a memorized prayer or formula. The Catholic church understands itself to be an essential part of this salvation and sanctification. Anglicans show their acceptance of salvation through the rite of confirmation. Nowadays many have accepted the Anabaptist belief that one must be baptized as a consenting adult. Infant baptism is not effectual and a new convert must be rebaptized.
But when I read Acts 10 over again I was struck this time how Cornelius sees a clear vision (vs. 4-5) of God or an angel. But the angel, instead of instructing him to believe in Jesus, simply tells him to send for a close by evangelist (Peter). Why couldn't the angel tell him directly? Surely he could have. I wonder why not.
We hear that many Moslems and Jews are receiving visions of Jesus. Are they being converted on the spot? Or are they only sealed in their conversion by their reporting this vision to a believer and confessing that they accept the salvation that was offered to them in the vision? I'm sure God knows, I don't. But I suspect that the vast majority do find a Christian to tell the good news to, that they are now a believer in Christ. If they can safely join a church they do. Unfortunately some may have to keep their belief a secret for fear of reprisal.
Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus seems direct. He does not have to confess and declare his faith to anyone. He is instructed by Jesus to wait in Damascus for a man whom he will send. So there is an agent of God involved. Ananias does come to him to heal him of blindness. God does not do it directly. God loves and seems to require us to help one another. After this Saul came before the leaders in Jerusalem seemingly to confirm his conversion. The elders received him in fellowship. Saul may not have confessed like a modern new convert might but he did follow a custom and submit himself to the church through its leaders.
Practically speaking I don't think a vision by itself would be sufficient to save someone. If the person who receives such a clear vision does not share it with someone it will soon be forgotten, snatched away by the enemy of the saints. It would be like most dreams I have. I rarely remember a dream more than a few minutes after I wake up. Dreams, my dreams at least, are soon forgotten if I don't quickly share them or write them down. I think a vision, no matter how vivid, is much the same. If it is not shared and accepted the devil will quickly come and raise doubts in our mind. Satan will distract us. Satan will work to distort it. He will raise questions in our head as to what we really saw. We will become confused as to what really happened. Without the fellowship with and confirmation of another believer the excitement of it will soon be gone.
Cornelius hears the gospel from a man, an agent of God, and in the process God confirms his salvation by gifting the whole assembly with the Holy Spirit. This manifestation is not just for Cornelius, it is for the evangelists as well. They learn how wide is God's mercy. They are incredulous and remain so for quite a while actually. But God uses this as a learning process. In helping one another we learn and are ourselves blessed. God knows what he is doing when he insists that we be agents in bringing God's salvation to others. It is a good and joyful thing! It confirms and strengthens our faith as well as that of the new believer. In God' economy it works for our greatest good.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Psalm 107
Psalm 107
Read Psalm 107 and meditate on it's meaning for you.
This comes at a great time, after a recent blog about God’s judgment and our responsibility. Two points are filled in well with this psalm. First, four times in the psalm we have this refrain, “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses.” (Verses 6, 13,19, 28) There are stories of four groups of people in distress. Sometimes they are in rebellion, sometimes not. But when they cry to God, whatever their situation God hears their cry and delivers them. And no mention is made of their being Israelites or not. One story is about being saved at sea. Israelites were almost never seamen. In our distress as a country let us cry out to the LORD right now.
Then soon after this refrain there is a second repeated verse: “Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men.” (verses 8, 15, 21, 31) After our deliverance it is wise to give God thanks. It is appropriate and necessary, for our own sakes to love and extol our God and remember his loving faithfulness when we ask. We need to look back and remember when he has done good things for us.
Secondly this psalm ends with a parable like admonition. Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things. And consider God’s lovingkindness (hesed). The commentator asks the question “In what practical ways are you gladly dependent on the Lord?” This is such a timely personal question for me. I know my dependence on God. But I am not glad about it. Yet I know God wants me to be glad. To put it in these stark words is helpful for me. I can see the problem more clearly. If I cannot gladly be dependent on God then I have not really understood his lovingkindness and faithfulness. And I have not understood in my heart his power and his presence to me. His nature is such that I can gladly be dependent and find that a good thing.
So where are you gladly dependent on God? Yes God wants us to be responsible. Responsibility is a good thing. But none of us is an island unto himself. We can fantasize that it is possible but in our heart of hearts we know it is not true. (I can see with a horror that my children have taken on my fantasy.) We need others and we need God. Do we chafe about it?
The thing is the only one who is entirely faithful is God. God is only one able to be entirely faithful. People cannot be even if they always wanted to be. They have other issues that do not include you. They cannot be always present as God can.
Without using those words I was asking God to help me with a situation last night. Will I trust God in a situation that I have no control over? I asked God to help me in a place of unbelief. This psalm helps me to see the nature of the problem. It boils down to will I trust God gladly. We all have places where we are not in control. Looking for a job after being laid off is like that. Lots of people are afraid they will soon lose their job and they sense a lack of control. Can we take it to God in our distress and gladly depend on God?
I think we should. Perhaps that has been a question for you. Psalm 107 gives four examples. In them we see God saying we should depend on him in all situations, no matter how bad they look. Call on God and give him the sacrifice of praise gladly when he delivers. So: I will cry out to God in my distress.
Read Psalm 107 and meditate on it's meaning for you.
This comes at a great time, after a recent blog about God’s judgment and our responsibility. Two points are filled in well with this psalm. First, four times in the psalm we have this refrain, “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses.” (Verses 6, 13,19, 28) There are stories of four groups of people in distress. Sometimes they are in rebellion, sometimes not. But when they cry to God, whatever their situation God hears their cry and delivers them. And no mention is made of their being Israelites or not. One story is about being saved at sea. Israelites were almost never seamen. In our distress as a country let us cry out to the LORD right now.
Then soon after this refrain there is a second repeated verse: “Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men.” (verses 8, 15, 21, 31) After our deliverance it is wise to give God thanks. It is appropriate and necessary, for our own sakes to love and extol our God and remember his loving faithfulness when we ask. We need to look back and remember when he has done good things for us.
Secondly this psalm ends with a parable like admonition. Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things. And consider God’s lovingkindness (hesed). The commentator asks the question “In what practical ways are you gladly dependent on the Lord?” This is such a timely personal question for me. I know my dependence on God. But I am not glad about it. Yet I know God wants me to be glad. To put it in these stark words is helpful for me. I can see the problem more clearly. If I cannot gladly be dependent on God then I have not really understood his lovingkindness and faithfulness. And I have not understood in my heart his power and his presence to me. His nature is such that I can gladly be dependent and find that a good thing.
So where are you gladly dependent on God? Yes God wants us to be responsible. Responsibility is a good thing. But none of us is an island unto himself. We can fantasize that it is possible but in our heart of hearts we know it is not true. (I can see with a horror that my children have taken on my fantasy.) We need others and we need God. Do we chafe about it?
The thing is the only one who is entirely faithful is God. God is only one able to be entirely faithful. People cannot be even if they always wanted to be. They have other issues that do not include you. They cannot be always present as God can.
Without using those words I was asking God to help me with a situation last night. Will I trust God in a situation that I have no control over? I asked God to help me in a place of unbelief. This psalm helps me to see the nature of the problem. It boils down to will I trust God gladly. We all have places where we are not in control. Looking for a job after being laid off is like that. Lots of people are afraid they will soon lose their job and they sense a lack of control. Can we take it to God in our distress and gladly depend on God?
I think we should. Perhaps that has been a question for you. Psalm 107 gives four examples. In them we see God saying we should depend on him in all situations, no matter how bad they look. Call on God and give him the sacrifice of praise gladly when he delivers. So: I will cry out to God in my distress.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Judgment
Judgment
Do you believe God still punishes today? Many people don't. One man I know was adamant on that score. He based it on God's love. God is a loving God. He knew (admitted) God was also righteous but he felt love was the most important attribute of God. God would never punish people, relying on his love to bring them back.
I have heard others say since Jesus died on the cross for all our sins things are different now. The God of the Old Testament is now relating to us differently. He punished in the old covenant. We are under a new covenant now, a covenant of grace.
But I think if you look at the experience of history you see a different story. I believe still judges individuals because he is righteous. He calls us to be righteous as well. And he still judges nations. Perhaps you can see it more as logical consequences of bad choices.
This country has seen itself as chosen. Many Christians have seen this country as like Israel taking over a promised land. Perhaps it was. But certainly no longer. As we have increasingly rejected God so God will reject us. Some seem to think they can say God does not exist and poof! he is gone. I guess if we are gods then we can create our own reality. What foolishness!
If we look at the record of the original chosen people we see God expected holiness and compassion out of his chosen people. Being special did not come without responsibility. Perhaps it is not punishment as much as it is consequences. As people in this country think they are entitled rather than thinking they are responsible then they will fall like ripe fruit.
People think that if they have an unwanted pregnancy they have the right to kill it because it is inconvenient. They do not have to be responsible for their actions.
If people get over committed financially and feel they have too much debt forget about being responsible for their actions, just declare bankruptcy. Blame it on someone else. Call yourself a victim. Demand that the government bail you out.
If we get sick we have a right to health care. We don't have to pay for it. Get that rich guy over there to pay for it. He won't mind.
If we are hungry we have a right to food, and TV, and transportation, and a nice house. Rather than thinking about working for it, being responsible. Nevermind giving up luxuries, tightening the belt, eating beans and rice for a time, getting a temporary second job. Responsibility would be to abstain for a time to pay off the bills.
If one gets a girl pregnant, be a man, take responsibility, marry her or if she will not support her in carrying the child to term and giving the baby up for adoption. Take responsibility for your actions as far as you can. And you can more than you at first think.
People can persevere more than they might think. The situation often seem the most impossible just before the breakthrough. Trust God to see you through. God loves a man/woman who perseveres.
The same man who said God is mostly love also rejected the idea that our nation was chosen. Perhaps he saw the other side, being chosen come with responsibility. God demanded that his chosen Israel be faithful to him. God told them that if they were not, he would punish them.
The rest of the world is jealous of our country, our lifestyle. Like the nations around Israel it is entirely possible we will be destroyed from without or from within by immigrants who feel disenfranchised. David Wilkerson has recently predicted we will see many fires like a war, in our cities very soon. I am scared.
I feel like Jeremiah, predicting doom. When it happens I will be affected just like everyone else. Jeremiah became a refugee. I don't think it is impossible that I too could be a refugee. I will lose everything like everyone else. I have lose 30% of my retirement nest egg. Many have lost more. But it is probably not over. I hope things get better but things could get much worse. I can imagine it, can you?
Do you believe God still punishes today? Many people don't. One man I know was adamant on that score. He based it on God's love. God is a loving God. He knew (admitted) God was also righteous but he felt love was the most important attribute of God. God would never punish people, relying on his love to bring them back.
I have heard others say since Jesus died on the cross for all our sins things are different now. The God of the Old Testament is now relating to us differently. He punished in the old covenant. We are under a new covenant now, a covenant of grace.
But I think if you look at the experience of history you see a different story. I believe still judges individuals because he is righteous. He calls us to be righteous as well. And he still judges nations. Perhaps you can see it more as logical consequences of bad choices.
This country has seen itself as chosen. Many Christians have seen this country as like Israel taking over a promised land. Perhaps it was. But certainly no longer. As we have increasingly rejected God so God will reject us. Some seem to think they can say God does not exist and poof! he is gone. I guess if we are gods then we can create our own reality. What foolishness!
If we look at the record of the original chosen people we see God expected holiness and compassion out of his chosen people. Being special did not come without responsibility. Perhaps it is not punishment as much as it is consequences. As people in this country think they are entitled rather than thinking they are responsible then they will fall like ripe fruit.
People think that if they have an unwanted pregnancy they have the right to kill it because it is inconvenient. They do not have to be responsible for their actions.
If people get over committed financially and feel they have too much debt forget about being responsible for their actions, just declare bankruptcy. Blame it on someone else. Call yourself a victim. Demand that the government bail you out.
If we get sick we have a right to health care. We don't have to pay for it. Get that rich guy over there to pay for it. He won't mind.
If we are hungry we have a right to food, and TV, and transportation, and a nice house. Rather than thinking about working for it, being responsible. Nevermind giving up luxuries, tightening the belt, eating beans and rice for a time, getting a temporary second job. Responsibility would be to abstain for a time to pay off the bills.
If one gets a girl pregnant, be a man, take responsibility, marry her or if she will not support her in carrying the child to term and giving the baby up for adoption. Take responsibility for your actions as far as you can. And you can more than you at first think.
People can persevere more than they might think. The situation often seem the most impossible just before the breakthrough. Trust God to see you through. God loves a man/woman who perseveres.
The same man who said God is mostly love also rejected the idea that our nation was chosen. Perhaps he saw the other side, being chosen come with responsibility. God demanded that his chosen Israel be faithful to him. God told them that if they were not, he would punish them.
The rest of the world is jealous of our country, our lifestyle. Like the nations around Israel it is entirely possible we will be destroyed from without or from within by immigrants who feel disenfranchised. David Wilkerson has recently predicted we will see many fires like a war, in our cities very soon. I am scared.
I feel like Jeremiah, predicting doom. When it happens I will be affected just like everyone else. Jeremiah became a refugee. I don't think it is impossible that I too could be a refugee. I will lose everything like everyone else. I have lose 30% of my retirement nest egg. Many have lost more. But it is probably not over. I hope things get better but things could get much worse. I can imagine it, can you?
Friday, June 19, 2009
Spiritual Warfare
Wednesday night we had some spiritual warfare. Perhaps it was because our regular leaders were not there. The a/c was out. It was really hot. Rick and I sweat a lot. I think we both lost five pounds. I was tempted to run out of the room. I can, the inmates cannot.
Our TV - DVD setup could not be found. Something about they couldn't find the key. They didn't know where it was. We got conflicting excuses. So we worshiped while we waited.
Then God spoke to Rick. He said this the last song and then Rob will speak. I don't think anyone really paid attention. After the song he said. "No I'm serious, it's time for Rob to speak."
Rob had an inspired message. He spoke of Jackie Pullinger and speaking in tongues as an exercise in breaking strongholds. It was inspired.
As Rob was finishing the TV-DVD cart showed up. We got to listen to the seventh lesson of Alpha's Life Worth Living Course. Unfortunately we did not get to do small groups because we started so late. Rob's lesson substituted for small group time.
Some of the guys missed it. They insisted on writing letters during worship. We asked them to stop. Some did but they continued to have their minds far away. They were not open to receiving the great thing that God had for us all.
Our TV - DVD setup could not be found. Something about they couldn't find the key. They didn't know where it was. We got conflicting excuses. So we worshiped while we waited.
Then God spoke to Rick. He said this the last song and then Rob will speak. I don't think anyone really paid attention. After the song he said. "No I'm serious, it's time for Rob to speak."
Rob had an inspired message. He spoke of Jackie Pullinger and speaking in tongues as an exercise in breaking strongholds. It was inspired.
As Rob was finishing the TV-DVD cart showed up. We got to listen to the seventh lesson of Alpha's Life Worth Living Course. Unfortunately we did not get to do small groups because we started so late. Rob's lesson substituted for small group time.
Some of the guys missed it. They insisted on writing letters during worship. We asked them to stop. Some did but they continued to have their minds far away. They were not open to receiving the great thing that God had for us all.
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