Monthly Archives: September 2013

The Three – Earthlings

30 Monday Sep 2013

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If you just had a few moments to call out a warning to people you love, what would you say and how would you say it? What would you be willing to risk? If you knew that the warning would be scoffed at and ignored, would you still give it? I ask you to consider these questions and more in a series called, “The Three.”

In the last letter of the Bible, there’s a lot of symbolism; a story being told with vivid imagery. In that letter we find an urgent message in Revelation 14:6-11.

Who is this message for?

In a sense, this is a message for all people because we all need to meditate on where our hearts are resting; we need to ask ourselves – Where does my heart lie; who has my allegiance and all my best efforts? However, when John uses the phrase “those who dwell on the earth” it’s code and it’s not talking about the church – he’s not speaking about those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. “Those who dwell on the earth” is John’s way of talking about those who are being deceived by or have even decided to worship the beast.

Check out: Revelation 3:10, 6:10, 11:10, 13:14, and 17:8.

Do you get the picture? These are the people who have turned away from God; these are the people with blood on their hands; these are the people who love themselves and the world more than they love others and the kingdom of God. These are the kind of people we write off – they have betrayed, lied, or simply made your life miserable.

To the people who hate God and you for loving him, Jesus is making a final appeal: came back to me, come back to safety, let me save you from what’s coming.

Now that’s a God I want to know more about!

The Three – Everlasting

26 Thursday Sep 2013

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If you just had a few moments to call out a warning to people you love, what would you say and how would you say it? What would you be willing to risk? If you knew that the warning would be scoffed at and ignored, would you still give it? I ask you to consider these questions and more in a series called, “The Three.”

In the last letter of the Bible, there’s a lot of symbolism; a story being told with vivid imagery. In that letter we find an urgent message in Revelation 14:6-11.

In the message there is a short phrase that we might be tempted to skip over and only see shouting, wrath, fornication, and beasts. And yet, the phrase the “everlasting Gospel (Good News)” is the central point of the three angels message to the world.

In the time the apostle John is writing this vision down, the Good News was a specific announcement concerning the victory over a terrible enemy. It’s not good advice – things you should do or not do. It’s not future news – something that might happen if the conditions are just right. Good news says the battle has been won; the enemy is defeated; we have been set free!

Even though it might not sound like it, we have to understand that the three angels are giving a message that is another way of telling that old, old story – the good news of God.

The Three – Subtext

23 Monday Sep 2013

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If you just had a few moments to call out a warning to people you love, what would you say and how would you say it? What would you be willing to risk? If you knew that the warning would be scoffed at and ignored, would you still give it? I ask you to consider these questions and more in a series called, “The Three.”

In the last letter of the Bible, there’s a lot of symbolism; a story being told with vivid imagery. In that letter we find an urgent message in Revelation 14:6-11.

We’ve been looking at the context of Revelation 14. It’s contained within a letter that’s a Revelation of Jesus Christ and it’s an urgent, last message, to a dying world; a response to the work of Satan revealed in chapter 12 and 13.

The overarching theme or subtext of these chapters (actually a central theme in the entire letter): worship. Who will you worship? In whom will you place your hopes? Who has your allegiance and your best efforts? To whom does your heart belong?

Now this part may push your buttons. We tend to think of worship as something personalized; individual and a bit fluid. What these chapters tell us is that there are only two options: worship the beast, the counterfeit of Jesus Christ or worship the one true God, creator and redeemer.

So…?

The Three – Context Part 2

19 Thursday Sep 2013

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If you just had a few moments to call out a warning to people you love, what would you say and how would you say it? What would you be willing to risk? If you knew that the warning would be scoffed at and ignored, would you still give it? I ask you to consider these questions and more in a series called, “The Three.”

In the last letter of the Bible, there’s a lot of symbolism; a story being told with vivid imagery. In that letter we find this urgent message in Revelation 14:6-11.

The message of the three angels in Revelation 14, is a response to what has been revealed in Revelation 12 and 13. In these chapters we are told about a dragon, a sea beast and a land beast. These aren’t real creatures but symbolic images that represent powerful agencies active in the world today. We do this today – the USA is an eagle, Russia is the bear.

Because of the evidence in the text, we can see that these creatures make up a satanic anti-trinity: the dragon counterfeits God the Father, the sea beast counterfeits God the Son, and the land beast counterfeits God the Holy Spirit. The sole purpose of the anti-trinity is to steal away the hearts and minds of all people from God’s love. This is their last ditch appeal to the human race to embrace self – either for gain or out of fear.

Most of Revelation 14 reveals God’s equally intense appeal to the human race to find their hope and life in his grace. It’s urgent; choose NOW – today – before it’s too late! It’s God’s invitation to be among the faithful remnant described in the first five verse of chapter 14.

The intensity of the appeal is due to it being the last message to a dying world. How do we know? The very next scene is Christ’s second coming. The message of the three angels is the writing on the wall; God’s heartfelt cry to deliver people from the clutches of Satan.

So the question today is, which appeal is for you?

The Three – Context Part 1

17 Tuesday Sep 2013

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If you just had a few moments to call out a warning to people you love, what would you say and how would you say it? What would you be willing to risk? If you knew that the warning would be scoffed at and ignored, would you still give it? I ask you to consider these questions and more in a series called, “The Three.”

In the last letter of the Bible, there’s a lot of symbolism; a story being told with vivid imagery. In that letter we find this urgent message in Revelation 14:6-11.

Let’s begin by considering the larger context. This message is in what letter of the Bible? Revelation, of course! I was just making sure you are awake.

The letter is a Revelation of what or who? Let’s go back to the first chapter (verses 1-3) of the letter.

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

Considering the intent of the letter, as we study it, we need to be always asking:

What does this teach us about Jesus?
What difference does it make to us right here, right now? What is it asking you, me – all of us – to do?

The Three – Introduction

11 Wednesday Sep 2013

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If you just had a few moments to call out a warning to people you love, what would you say and how would you say it? What would you be willing to risk? If you knew that the warning would be scoffed at and ignored, would you still give it?

I ask you to consider these questions and more in a series called, “The Three.”

In the last letter of the Bible, there’s a lot of symbolism; a story being told with vivid imagery. In that letter we find this urgent message in Revelation 14:6-11.

This passage has it all: angels, the entire world, fear and glory, judgment, worship, Babylon, adultery, beasts, wrath, and more. It ends with the dire message:

“There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

We already have some questions: What’s going on here? Why is this message in the Bible? Why do some parts sound horrific? Who is this message for and why is it being given?

Would you be willing to come along with me over the next few weeks as we seek the answers to these questions?

Brother Can You Spare Some Change

09 Monday Sep 2013

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Bad preaching. Poor Bible studies. Erratic visitation. What’s the worst thing a new pastor can do? Move the podium. At least, that’s what I was told.

When I was starting out, an experienced pastor told me to take things slow and steady. Maintain the status quo. And whatever I did, I wasn’t to move the podium – at least for the first year.

There’s a little truth in the advice. It takes time to get to know people, establish trust, and develop confidence. Imagine a person coming into your home and rearranging the furniture, moving all your pictures, repainting the walls. You would likely be defensive and think the person is a bit nuts, even if your home looked better in the end. I like to think of Nehemiah: rebuilding the temple he surveyed the walls to see what was already being done. To me, that’s metaphor for discovering what the Holy Spirit is already doing in a church and community and where I can join the work that’s already in progress.

And yet, there’s something a bit darker underlying this advice.

Some change needs to be closely scrutinized – change for change sake doesn’t always produce good results, change to core beliefs or the church’s mission and vision need consultation and much prayer. However, sometimes change is resisted because a practice or thing has become a sacred cow. There are the faded, dust-choked VHS tapes in the library that just can’t be thrown out or the clock on the wall that doesn’t work but was donated so it stays year after year, or maybe it’s the huge, isolating, podium that can’t be updated because the church spent $1000 on it 40 years ago and that’s a lot of money.

Resistance to change can run much deeper. Ministry leaders that haven’t lead in years but keep getting nominated because we are afraid of what will happen if they don’t. An order of service that actually hurts worship but can’t be adjusted because that’s the way it’s always been done. Approaches to evangelism and service that no longer make a difference in anyone’s life but we keep doing them anyway. This is the resistance to change that kills churches.

Here’s the irony. Contrast the congregation’s resistance to change with the experience of the new pastor and family. Change in home, change in community, change in friends, routines, schools, and employment. If the church is in a new territory that’s a whole bunch more change. These changes are all hard enough when one is in the same culture. What happens when there is a shift in culture, language, customs? We are talking change on a massive scale and we haven’t even talked about the new things to be faced in the church.

Do I expect you, good reader, to shed some tears for your pastor? Not really, although it won’t kill you to be more graceful next time a new pastor arrives; more understanding and supportive. The reality is, answering God’s call results in change or adjustment on a regular basis. It would be naive to be willing to serve God and not expect some significant change along the way. No, your pastor doesn’t need your pity. This is about something far more important.

God. God is constantly at work in and around the church to reveal himself, his purposes, and his ways so that we will be attracted into a deeper and deeper relationship with him and as a result we will go out to the brokenhearted and the enslaved so that they may also be healed and set free. God brings pastors (and members and attenders) to churches not for job advancement or personal satisfaction or comfort but so that His will and mission may be accomplished. And when a new pastor comes to a congregation there will be change – change for the pastor and change for the congregation. Change because God wants change. How much change is up to him. It could be as simple as the change that comes with new personalities. However, the change is likely to be significant if only because God tends to do big things.

God-breathed change is not to be feared or resisted. God is all-knowing so we can completely trust his plans for change. God always acts from love so his change is for our good; when we look back we will rejoice and praise him. He doesn’t experiment to get it right; he doesn’t say, “Oops.” God-breathed change is just right for the church and necessary for mission accomplishment. We must never shrink back from change thinking we are unable or ill-equipped to handle it. God gives us the tools, resources, courage, passion, and vision to go through any change he wants to bring into our lives and churches.

So my brother and sister, can you spare some change?

Walking and Leaping

03 Tuesday Sep 2013

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One of the popular Bible stories after the Gospels is found in Luke’s letter called Acts. In chapter 3,  Peter and John are going to pray at the temple when they cross paths with a man who has been lame since birth. His encounter with Peter and John ends in a way that he probably never imagined.

Peter says to the man: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” The power of God flows through Peter and John and the man is instantly healed.  What does he do?

Walking and leaping and praising God he goes into the temple to worship. People see him; he is a living and breathing testimony to the power of God. They are amazed, Peter and John testify of Jesus, lives are changed, the Good News sets people from things more crippling than the man’s lameness.

Have you been healed by Jesus Christ? Can anyone tell?