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Posts Tagged ‘redemption’

Jesus the Garbage Picker

Posted in Bible, Christianity, discipleship, evangelism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 5, 2013| 3 Comments »

 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.  Proverbs 25:2

People throw out the best stuff. 

Vacation Bible School (VBS) season is upon us and for me that can only mean one thing: time to do kingdom rocksome serious garbage picking. Last year’s VBS theme was focused in and around Babylon, so my wife and I set out to recover ever-so-slightly used items that might represent that Chaldean dynasty look the church was going for. We recovered many lovely Persian-esque rugs, pillows, lamps, and vases to decorate the classrooms and craft tents.

This years theme is similar. It’s called Kingdom Rock, and although not Babylonian, were going to need much of the same type of items. At this point you might be wondering,

Why didn’t you just save the stuff you collected last year?”

There are a few reasons. First, where’s the fun in that? Do you know how much fun dumpster diving is? Second, at the end of the day most of the stuff is still junk and not worthy of holding onto (you get the picture). But then there is a third reason . Every once-and-awhile you find something like this…

DSCN1524

Can you believe someone actually threw this out? Solid, vintage oak, without a scratch worthy of mentioning! They discarded the hurricane lamp too! And it was buried in someone’s trash. Sadly, (wink, wink) this treasure isn’t going to make it to VBS.

I have found and redeemed it and it is mine!

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46

This all kind of reminds me of how Jesus often operates. It is my testimony that the Messiah found me at the curb amongst the rubbish, brought me home, cleaned me up, and redeemed me — all at a great cost. Jesus took the time to seek me out and restore me to what He had always intended me to be and today, I am back with my rightful owner! He didn’t have to go garbage picking, He wanted to go. Our Lord takes great pleasure and delight in these finds. Fact is, the angels rejoice and celebrate with Him in Heaven when He brings home one of His treasures.

…When (Jesus) had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” John 9:35-39

The truth be told, I pulled a few other treasures from this curbside heap. I felt for sure that these people didn’t know what they were doing, so I knocked on the door and spoke with the lady of the house. I even offered to give her some money. This woman was so gracious, she simply told me that she was aware of its value, but she was quickly moving and it all had to go. She would not take my money, but assured me that she was grateful the items were going to a good home. Her grace reminded me of our Savior who taught us that we cannot repay Him [either] for the things He provided; priceless things that we do not merit.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 

If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, it is not a coincidence that you have read this far — Jesus has found you and led you here by His Holy Spirit. As kooky as it all may seem, it is true. The choice that you now have is to follow the One who found you. My recommendation would be to stop reading and pray right now, asking Jesus into your heart. Jesus went to the cross for all our sins and He is the only way to Heaven. Believe it (no one said you have to fully understand it) and pray right now.

If you prayed, let me know by leaving a comment. I’d like to connect with you.

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Revival: The Christians Only Resolution

Posted in Christianity, discipleship, Jesus, religion, sanctification, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 1, 2013| 8 Comments »

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1

Revival!

What is this thing Christians call revival? Since I am a big fan of Christ-follower, Noah Webster and his 1828 reviveDictionary, I’ll defer to his definition. In a general sense, Webster says revival is a return, recall, or recovery from unfavorable circumstances, such as death, languor, neglect, oblivion, obscurity or depression.  Towards the spiritual plane he adds that it is a renewed and more active attention to religion; an awakening of men to their spiritual concerns.

I love it!

But please, don’t be turned off by his use of the ‘R’ word (religion). In its most comprehensive sense, religion, as it pertains to Christianity, is nothing more than a belief in the being and perfections of God, the revelation of his will to man, the believer’s obligation to obedience,  the reality of reward and punishment, and man’s accountability to God. Religious folks seek godliness, reverence to God, and practice the moral duties that He has prescribed. The Christian religion is comprised of our God-given doctrines and principles; that is, the essential and communal components of our faith. There are many religions, but only one of them is true: the Way of Christ Jesus. If you still cringe when you hear the word, you probably have suffered much by what men have added to it. Strip away the work of these and embrace your religion!

“Do this in remembrance of Me.”

Lets turn our focus back to revival!

Consider Christ’s gift to you; your redemption, rebirth, salvation, and holy purpose. Is there any sense of feebleness, dullness, heaviness, exhaustion, weakness, listlessness, softness, or melancholy in your walk with Christ? Has the given-gift become corroded as a forgotten or misplaced tool? Have you become too lazy, too weak, or too discouraged to pick it up? Then take up the Lord’s offer to revive you! Simply receive revival with sincerity, purpose, and resolve. Jesus truthfully said that His yoke (His teachings and instructions) is easy and His burden (carrying out His directives on a daily basis) is light. I for one believe that promise! Do you?

Revival can commence when by faith you take Jesus at His word.

Where do I start?

Revival begins with relationship, so let us pray. Confess to the Lord where you have fallen short and listen to His wise counsel. Pray with an open Bible at least once a day. Meditate (chew on) His word, asking how specific passages have application to your affinity with Christ Jesus. Take a Psalm or a Proverb, and make it personal; insert your spirit into God’s word.

(I am) Blessed (when I walk) not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of the scornful; But (when my) delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law (I will) meditate day and night. (As a result, I) shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever (I do) shall prosper. (You God have reminded that) the ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1)

Talking to God and listening to God is an empty, worthless, ineffectual exercise, if you’re not disposed to do listenwhat He says. If you are constrained to submission and not vain repetitions, congratulations! You are revived!  Remember, the doctrine of Christ is easy and the burden is light! Hold onto that promise with both hands and be doers of His word, not hearers only. When times get tough (hard and heavy), know for certain that it is not your spirit, but your flesh that toils and labors. Rejoice! For the Lord is trimming away the fat! Make way! Make haste! Rejoice, for the Lord is changing you for the better! Revival at this juncture is a decision you make. By faith, humble yourself, pray, seek, and receive that which the Lord wants to do with you and through you.

Consider 2 Chronicles 2:14:

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

 Are you His?

This passage is as much a call to revival as it is a call to worship. Redemption and healing for the land comes not when the pagan repents, but when the church does! The alarm clock has sounded Christian and you have but 3 choices: get up, linger, or rollover and go back to bed. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may these words encourage you to arise!

May revival be our resolution until the last beat of our hearts.

For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, And its stump may die in the ground, Yet at the scent of water it will bud And bring forth branches like a plant…You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands. Job 14:7-9, 15

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By the Numbers

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, food and drink, health, investment, Jesus, religion, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 25, 2009| 6 Comments »

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the Lord. And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites, you shall take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs. And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons.” Numbers 3:44-48What Is Going On?

There are a few things going on here, but in a word, God is reorganizing. Let’s tackle the events in order. First, the Lord has ordained that for the purpose of ministering to the needs of His Tabernacle, the first-borns of every tribe of Israel will be replaced by the first-borns of the tribe of Levi. Collectively we all may ask, “Why?”

…Then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the Lord’s side–come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. Exodus 32:26

There’s your reason. Remember the golden-calf incident in Exodus 32? Well the Levites were the only ones who stepped when Moses made the call. Their reward comes a year later (at this time) when God made their ordination official—the tribe of Levi is the ministering clan of His dwelling place.

And why are the first-born the Lord’s? Unquestionably all creation is the Lord’s, but God’s right (for lack of a better word) to claim the first-born of Israel came about during the first Passover when He spared them all from certain death, therefore no one else can make claim to this cluster of people.

Redemption

As we read the Numbers text we first notice that the numbers do not add up. That is to say there are 22, 000 Levites and there are 22, 273 first-born slots to be filled, leaving a balance of 543 shoes to fill (did you get the math?). God in His infinite wisdom concluded that the only remedy was redemption—a price would have to be paid. Why does God resort to this solution? Only He knows in entirety, but it certainly does lay the ground work for a deliverance procedure all Christians have become familiar with.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Is This the Backbone of Replacement Theology?

No. Replacement theology–the notion that the body of Christ, His church has somehow replaced the nation of Israel, is a false doctrine and it is certainly not what is being illustrated here. Replacement does not mean displacement. What it does mean is that the replaced have lost out on the double-portion customarily awarded to the firstborn. There is a cost for disobedience and we do reap what we sow, but as long as there is repentance towards Christ Jesus there remains an open door to salvation. The church of Jesus has been grafted into the vine; we have not swapped-out the old for the new.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10


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Ransoming the Soul

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, Jesus, love, tagged , , on May 12, 2009| 4 Comments »

When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD… Exodus 30:12aDoes this passage suggest that a person’s soul–his very salvation can be acquired for a price? Sadly there are some sects that have taken this verse to an inappropriate extreme, teaching that if enough candles are purchased and prayers raised, a soul might be redeemed. This is not the doctrine God is establishing.

The truth of the matter is that salvation can be paid for, but there is only One who can make that purchase—Jesus Christ. And for the record, He accomplished that feat on the cross some two thousand years ago—it is a done-deal. God merely introduced the concept here so that it would not be foreign to us when Jesus accomplished it later on in history.

And they sang a new song, saying: “You (Jesus) are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, Revelation 5:9



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The Treasure in Your Sack

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, health, investment, Jesus, religion, tagged , , , , , , on March 12, 2009| Leave a Comment »

So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” …Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.” …But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. Genesis 43:15-16, 18, 23A Recap

Joseph’s brothers, still not recognizing him as their brother, are returning to Egypt with Benjamin just as he had commanded them and they are also returning the money Joseph had put back in their sacks after their last journey. Again, the typology (the prophetic parallels between Joseph and Jesus) run throughout this story. While these events truly happened and accurately chronicle the formation of Israel as a nation, they also point vividly to Jesus Christ as Lord and as Savior.

“Take these men to my home…”

The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works…for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Psalm 145:9 & Matthew 5:45b

When Joseph directs his brothers to be brought into his home, it further illustrates how everyone (this side of Heaven) is blessed by God, despite what they may or may not believe. This also speaks to how God continues (and will continue) to bless the Jew even though they have not yet come to recognize the Son as their Messiah.

“Now the men were afraid…”

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more… Romans 5:20

Joseph brothers were very fearful; although they were not guilty of this particular act (stealing money), they were certainly guilty of other sins. Joseph knew and they knew. And despite their innocence regarding this deed, their consciousness of past deeds ate at them like a cancer—they were on the cusp of reaping that which they had sown. The good news is that they came to Joseph anyway and for that leap-of-faith they would realize the promise spoken of in Romans 5:20.

“Peace be with you, do not be afraid…”

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, ” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

At this point we might correctly assert that grace such as this does not make any sense—God’s response is not logical by worldly standards. God would remind us that He is not of this world and He alone is God and He alone is good.

“God of your father has given you treasure…”

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein…The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, ’ says the Lord of hosts… Psalm 24:1 & Haggai 2:8

God teaches us that our salvation cannot be purchased. The fact that we occasionally get caught-up in trying to pay for it is an inane mission, especially in light of the fact we are paying with resources that never belonged to us in the first place. Jesus paid the price and even if there were a cost associated with our salvation we could not pay it because we don’t own anything.

The message; the application for every person is this: come to Jesus just as you are, by faith, confessing your sins, and receiving freely that which you never owned or could ever earn—today is the day of your salvation.


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