In: discipleship| leadership
9 Aug 2010Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” (John 21:20-21 ESV)
It caused marriage problems for Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Leah… and Rachel. It caused family turmoil for Isaac, Rebecca and their sons. It plagued the disciples. It made the prodigal’s brother miss the party. It cost Haman his life. It ruined Saul’s leadership.
But it is especially deadly when it infects the pastor, church leader, minister.
Jealousy.
Jealousy is the burning feeling that “you have more than me, you’re getting more attention than me, you have a greater ministry than me, people applaud you more than me.” Its Peter asking Jesus, “hey, what about John? What are you letting him do in ministry as opposed to me?”
It can be motivated by pride- “why do you have more; I’M better!”, or by low self-esteem- “you’re better, and I’ll never have what you have.”
Jealousy is that rare sin that almost never brings pleasure. Lust, greed, gluttony, hate- those can bring a little satisfaction for a moment. But for the most part jealousy never pays or pleasures the one infected.
How do you know if you suffer from ministry jealousy? A quick test…
I have often failed this test. Satan knows how to churn up jealousy in my heart towards good people and good works. When I struggle, I go back to John 21 and review the treatment for jealousy:
Turn your jealous “what about this man?“, to a glorifying “It is the LORD!”
My thoughts have been on angels, demons, and satan this month as I’ve been studying for a message in a doctrine series. There is great curiosity today about the spirit world, both good and evil. Here are a few FAQs about that world from Scripture:
1. Who created angels? God, of course. He created everything. These creatures are also called “sons of God”, spirits, “heavenly host”, “fallen angels”, and demons [Ps.148, Col.1:16]
2. When? Obviously before Genesis 2, because nothing is created after that time. Quite possibly they were created before the foundation of the earth [Job 38:1-7, Gen. 2:1]
3. How many are there? Innumerable, maybe as many as the stars [Ps.148]
4. What types are there? We are told about cherubim, seraphim, and living creatures [Is.6, Revelation]
5. What are they like? They are spirits so they are mainly invisible in our world. They have names, personalities, emotions, power, and intelligence. They are asexual and don’t marry or have families. They can appear as humans [usually males]. Some are described with majestic animal features, others with wings. They will exist forever, just like humans [Dan.10, Luke 20:34-36]
6. Why were they created? Two main reasons: first to serve and worship God [Rev.4, Col.1, Heb.1, Ps.104]. Second, they work to protect, inform, and encourage humans [Heb.1, Dan.9-10, Ps.91]
7. Who are the prominent angels? Michael - chief prince, archangel [Daniel, Jude], Gabriel - archangel [Daniel, 1 Thess.4], and Abaddon - a fallen archangel, destroyer [Rev.9]
8. Who is Lucifer? From the Latin, “morning star”, he was the worship leader of heaven, but quickly became filled with pride, rebelled, and was ejected from heaven’s stage [Is.14:12-15, Ez.28:11-17]. He’s now called satan, or the devil [Job 1-2]
9. Who are demons? They were created angels, and sided with satan’s rebellion, perhaps one-third of the heavenly host [Rev.12, 2 Pet.2, Jude 6]
10. What will happen to them in the future? It appears the holy and fallen angels will clash in more earthly warfare during the Tribulation. Satan and his demons will be jailed for 1000 yrs, released for one last attack on earth, and then imprisoned for eternity in the Lake of Fire. There is no hope of salvation for these demons [Rev.6-20]. Saints will be involved in judging them [1 Cor.6].
11. What kind of warriors are angels, demons, satan? They are stronger, faster, smarter than any human. They have been in existence since time began, and have immense experience over any human [Rev., 2 Pet.2]. But, they are not as powerful, present, or smart as God. They cannot be everyplace at once. They are limited beings. Including satan. [Dan.10, Rom.8]
12. How do Satan/demons battle humans? Satan plans and prowls for prey - he is a hunter [Eph.6, 1 Pet.5]. They tempt us through deceit and oppression. Satan is called the angel of light, the father of lies [2 Cor.11:14, John 8]. They oppress through thoughts and moods they bring on people, and can also oppress us physically [Job 1, 2 Cor.12:7]. They usually work WITH our flesh SUBTLEY, they can do far more damage by working quietly. They can possess unbelievers, NOT saints, because we are filled with Christ and His Spirit.
13. Can they read our thoughts? Evidently not, because we have a intimate relationship to God, and they aren’t omniscient.
14. How can Christians battle satan and his demons? In our flesh we are helpless before them, but in Christ’s power we have power over them. They can be cast out of people and confined. [Luke 10]. We must “see” and “stand” [1 Pet.5:8-9] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith. We must watch for their attacks and resist them through God’s Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship [Eph.6, James 4]
15. How do angels help us? They DON’T possess us, receive worship, or teach anything that contradicts Scripture. They do protect us, inform us, and encourage us. Jacob and Elisha saw their protection, Abraham and Daniel received messages from them, and Jesus was encouraged by them [Gen.32, Matt.18:10, Ps.91:9-12, 2 Kings 6, Dan.9, 10, Gen.18, Matt.4, Luke 22, Heb.13]
In: evangelism
15 Jun 2009What would you rather have…
An unbeliever come to your church, stand and applaud, saying “What an awesome church!”
Or…
An unbeliever come to your church, fall down and exclaim “God is really among you!”
The latter is possible… but the former tends to be our unconscious default.
Don’t misunderstand, there’s nothing wrong with wanting people to think our church is awesome – after all, we’ve worked, sacrificed, dreamed, and prayed that they would find our church to be a welcoming, relevant place of excellence and inspiration.
But ultimately, neither excellence, creativity, experience, nor warmth can change a life.
Only the presence of God can change a life.
Here’s what Paul said, and it should be our goal as church leaders:
But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” 1 Corinthians 14:24-25
God working through the words spoken through His people, applied to the visitor, could actually validate His presence in that service. What would it take in your church for unbelievers to conclude, “God is really here”? I have had that experience in both churches I’ve served, where new people say, “I don’t know what all is going on here, but I was drawn here, and it feels like God is here.”
I’d rather have the presence of God than praise for a cool church.
Here’s a checklist. Are you truly desiring people to see God presence through each of these areas, or are you programming and leading so that people just think your church is awesome? Be honest…
In: salvation
14 Apr 2009
This past week I had a memorable experience that made my Easter more meaningful. A close family friend of ours is a single mom with one daughter. Through the pain and confusion of adolescence, this young daughter became pregnant. When a person, a family, goes through this valley, they can go one of two ways out the other side. They can blow apart, become hardened and bitter, or they can yield their broken hearts to Christ and let the healing begin.
This small family chose to give up their hearts to God’s care, and in the process the daughter also decided to give up her baby to another couple’s care. This unexpected child would be adopted.
I was honored when the family asked me to come to a small ceremony in which my young friend would say her good-byes and pass her baby to the waiting arms of the adoptive couple. I was overwhelmed by the moment. I watched the face of the mother – too young to have to grapple with this moment, full of pain, longing, but courageous enough to choose a better life for her baby. I watched the waiting parents, years of wanting a child, now this open door, and the joy of receiving the answer to their prayers. And I watched the baby, a little girl, totally oblivious to my extended prayer of blessing on everyone involved, blissfully self-centered.
But she will grow up knowing the deep love and grace of her story. A young mother who so loved her that she chose a better path for her, and in doing so sacrificed her own desires. A couple who chose to open their family to someone they didn’t know.
And that’s what Easter is about. A Savior who had created us and then lost us to our own painful choices. A Savior who was willing to sacrifice His own desires and well-being to open a better path for us. A Father who pursued us even in our sin, and adopted us back into sonship with Him. And I have to admit, I felt a little like the Holy Spirit in that moment, praying over this child, assisting the mother as she passed her little girl over to the new parents.
I’m thankful for this picture I experienced. And most of all I am thankful for the deep love and grace of God that provided us with a life-saving adoption.
In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4
he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1
In: Uncategorized
12 Apr 2009Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
In: Uncategorized
11 Apr 200962 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. Matthew 27
In: Uncategorized
10 Apr 200921 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mark 15 And summoning
In: Uncategorized
10 Apr 2009Mark 15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
In: Uncategorized
9 Apr 2009Mark 14:27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ 28 “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 29 But Peter said to Him, “{Even} though all may fall away, yet I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” 31 But {Peter} kept saying insistently, “{Even} if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.
Mark 14:33 And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. 34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”
Mark 14:43 Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, {who were} from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
Mark 14:53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel