Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee. – James 4:7
These days, not many of us like discussing or even pondering the word “submit” or closely-related words like “surrender.” The idea of surrendering often brings up old war movie images of being taken captive, held in a dank, dark prison cell against our will and fed week-old stale and moldy bread and brown water passed to us through a four by eight slot in a big iron door. Not a pleasant image by any stretch of anyone’s imagination.
In the natural, surrendering to someone does often mean we will be held captive in conditions not exactly designed for our pleasure. In the spiritual, only when we surrender to God will we experience true freedom. Freedom from what? How about from being held captive by the old nature of sin and the death penalty that accompanies any and all who are unrepentant and reject the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and savior of the world through his death, burial and resurrection. Not bad, eh?
Ironically, the actual word “surrender” is not found in any of the commonly used translations or paraphrases of the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. However, the idea of surrender or submission is plentiful throughout scripture, primarily in the New Testament. Jesus is our best example as he surrendered his will, his feelings, his desires, his life, to the purpose God had for him.
Elsewhere, we are commanded by several writers, most notably the Apostle Paul, to submit or “surrender” ourselves one to another, confessing our sins that we might be washed by the washing of the word of God. Wives are also strongly encouraged to surrender to their husbands. But it doesn’t stop there. Men have the more binding job of surrendering to Christ in the same way that he gave his life for the church.
The universal signal for surrender is the raising of both arms with palms turned outward. Interestingly enough, that is also a commonly used signal that someone is involved in worshipping or “surrendering” to God. It is only when we completely surrender to God that we experience true freedom. And perhaps the best part about surrendering to God is that he feeds us pretty well and doesn’t keep us locked up. “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!” (John 8:36)
Give it a try. You’ll be blessed. I guarantee it.
-Ben Hanneman
Showing posts with label articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label articles. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Jesus and the Healthcare Debate
Everywhere in our country the healthcare debate continues to rage. I recently heard a commentator ask, rhetorically, “What would Jesus say?” As he continued, he stated that Jesus did not ask for health insurance cards, that He was not concerned with people paying Him for healing, and that He did not turn anyone away. As the political environment has changed in this country, it has become necessary for believers to address political subjects because we carry a banner of righteousness that must not be furled and put away for the sake of political correctness or avoiding offense. As to what Jesus would say, I do not know. I am not Him. However, I do know what His Word says. This radio commentator was “concerned” with the helpless, the sick and those who are unable to help themselves.
Immediately, my spirit rose up within me and I wanted to ask him, what about the unborn? Jesus usually looks past the whiners, the complainers, and those with an agenda to the truly helpless and those who are truly unable to help themselves. I do not know what Jesus would say, but I know from scripture, that while He loves me, He must be more concerned right now with the slaughter of innocents than with the structure of my health plan.
In Genesis 4:10, God, confronting Cain over the murder of Abel, tells him, “Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground.” God does not mention hearing Abel’s cries, but does say that He hears Abel’s blood crying out. Those of you who hurt over the abortions in this country, I assure you that God hears the cry of their blood and He is not ignoring it. We know that the blood of the innocent has God’s ear because Hebrews chapter twenty-four says that the blood of Christ cries even louder than that of Abel’s.
Leviticus 17:14 states, “the life of any creature is in its blood.” An embryo, a child in the womb, has a blood line. This goes beyond the physical. The fetal baby’s blood connection is spiritual as well as physical. The blood has a spiritual quality to it. That is why God hears the cries of the blood of the innocent.
What would Christ say in our current healthcare debate? Maybe He would look past the debaters. Maybe He would look past conservative and liberal. Maybe while the healthcare debate is important to Him (because it is important to his children) He would recoil at the notion of being dragged into the political facade.
Maybe He would address the innocent whose blood cries out to Him and say, “I alone created your inner being. I knitted you together inside your mother. Your bones were not hidden from me when you were being made in secret. Every day of your life was recorded in my book before one of them had taken place. How precious are my thoughts concerning you” (Paraphrased from Psalm 139).
-Pastor Jason Greene
Immediately, my spirit rose up within me and I wanted to ask him, what about the unborn? Jesus usually looks past the whiners, the complainers, and those with an agenda to the truly helpless and those who are truly unable to help themselves. I do not know what Jesus would say, but I know from scripture, that while He loves me, He must be more concerned right now with the slaughter of innocents than with the structure of my health plan.
In Genesis 4:10, God, confronting Cain over the murder of Abel, tells him, “Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground.” God does not mention hearing Abel’s cries, but does say that He hears Abel’s blood crying out. Those of you who hurt over the abortions in this country, I assure you that God hears the cry of their blood and He is not ignoring it. We know that the blood of the innocent has God’s ear because Hebrews chapter twenty-four says that the blood of Christ cries even louder than that of Abel’s.
Leviticus 17:14 states, “the life of any creature is in its blood.” An embryo, a child in the womb, has a blood line. This goes beyond the physical. The fetal baby’s blood connection is spiritual as well as physical. The blood has a spiritual quality to it. That is why God hears the cries of the blood of the innocent.
What would Christ say in our current healthcare debate? Maybe He would look past the debaters. Maybe He would look past conservative and liberal. Maybe while the healthcare debate is important to Him (because it is important to his children) He would recoil at the notion of being dragged into the political facade.
Maybe He would address the innocent whose blood cries out to Him and say, “I alone created your inner being. I knitted you together inside your mother. Your bones were not hidden from me when you were being made in secret. Every day of your life was recorded in my book before one of them had taken place. How precious are my thoughts concerning you” (Paraphrased from Psalm 139).
-Pastor Jason Greene
Thursday, August 27, 2009
On How to Study the Bible...
Or, What You've Been Missing on Wednesday Nights...
Over the past few months I've been teaching a class on how to study the Bible. What follows is a summary of that class, in case you weren't able to make it.
First, here is a basic outline of steps for studying a passage:
Studying a passage:
I. Find a passage - find something that sticks out to you, whether it’s confusing or compelling. Try to focus on a few verses. Usually the size of a paragraph is about perfect. Normally, your Bible will indicate a paragraph break by the verse number being in bold text.
Example: 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (In this example verse 9 demonstrates a paragraph break by the number 9 being in bold text)
I. Forget everything you know about it (and everything related to it) - It’s important that we don’t just reinforce our beliefs, but rather allow the text to confront or confirm them. This is both the most difficult and most important part of the process. We are not studying the Bible to support our existing ideas, but to discover it's meaning (even if it contradicts our existing beliefs).
II. Read the text - focus on becoming familiar with it’s tone, only taking notes on what sticks out the most to you.
III. Read the text again - Take notes.
IV. Read the larger context - Take notes. By this I mean read the surrounding texts. Try to read the entire book, but in the event that it is too lengthy (Isaiah, Psalms, etc) read a few chapters ahead, and a few chapters after.
V. Read the text one more time – Now that you have a good idea of the passage, and it's context, you are better suited to determine which words and phrases are worthy of further research.
VI. Research Key Words and Phrases – using whatever resources at your disposal, study the aspects of the texts that you have determined to be relevant in step VI.
Here's a list of resources: All range from $18-25 a piece.
Dictionary of Paul and his Letters → Has entries pertaining to anything to do with Paul.
Bible Background Commentary → Has Cultural and Historical information sorted by Bible Reference
Finally, here's some advice about Bible study.
I. Study authors in scripture that have written multiple parts of the Bible.
1. Paul wrote everything from Romans to Philemon
2. Luke wrote both The Gospel of Luke and Acts
3. John wrote The Gospel of John, I-III John, and Revelation
It helps to study these authors, because it's easier to establish their vocabulary. By that I mean we can see how they use particular words in particular contexts. The additional material helps us better understand the author, and therefore better understand their intended meaning.
I. Study the New Testament.
II. - I am not saying the Old Testament isn't relevant. It is actually incredibly relevant. However, it's easy to be discouraged studying the Old Testament, because it is more foreign by nature, and therefore harder to understand than the New Testament. Once you gain some confidence in Bible study from the New Testament, move on to the Old Testament. Also, once you are more familiar to the Theology of the New Testament, you will have a better appreciation for the Old Testament.
-Ryan Lytton
Over the past few months I've been teaching a class on how to study the Bible. What follows is a summary of that class, in case you weren't able to make it.
First, here is a basic outline of steps for studying a passage:
Studying a passage:
I. Find a passage - find something that sticks out to you, whether it’s confusing or compelling. Try to focus on a few verses. Usually the size of a paragraph is about perfect. Normally, your Bible will indicate a paragraph break by the verse number being in bold text.
Example: 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (In this example verse 9 demonstrates a paragraph break by the number 9 being in bold text)
I. Forget everything you know about it (and everything related to it) - It’s important that we don’t just reinforce our beliefs, but rather allow the text to confront or confirm them. This is both the most difficult and most important part of the process. We are not studying the Bible to support our existing ideas, but to discover it's meaning (even if it contradicts our existing beliefs).
II. Read the text - focus on becoming familiar with it’s tone, only taking notes on what sticks out the most to you.
III. Read the text again - Take notes.
IV. Read the larger context - Take notes. By this I mean read the surrounding texts. Try to read the entire book, but in the event that it is too lengthy (Isaiah, Psalms, etc) read a few chapters ahead, and a few chapters after.
V. Read the text one more time – Now that you have a good idea of the passage, and it's context, you are better suited to determine which words and phrases are worthy of further research.
VI. Research Key Words and Phrases – using whatever resources at your disposal, study the aspects of the texts that you have determined to be relevant in step VI.
Here's a list of resources: All range from $18-25 a piece.
Dictionary of Paul and his Letters → Has entries pertaining to anything to do with Paul.
Bible Background Commentary → Has Cultural and Historical information sorted by Bible Reference
Finally, here's some advice about Bible study.
I. Study authors in scripture that have written multiple parts of the Bible.
1. Paul wrote everything from Romans to Philemon
2. Luke wrote both The Gospel of Luke and Acts
3. John wrote The Gospel of John, I-III John, and Revelation
It helps to study these authors, because it's easier to establish their vocabulary. By that I mean we can see how they use particular words in particular contexts. The additional material helps us better understand the author, and therefore better understand their intended meaning.
I. Study the New Testament.
II. - I am not saying the Old Testament isn't relevant. It is actually incredibly relevant. However, it's easy to be discouraged studying the Old Testament, because it is more foreign by nature, and therefore harder to understand than the New Testament. Once you gain some confidence in Bible study from the New Testament, move on to the Old Testament. Also, once you are more familiar to the Theology of the New Testament, you will have a better appreciation for the Old Testament.
-Ryan Lytton
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Our Focus and Our Response...
I was sitting in church this Sunday listening to Pastor Hal. Two things he said struck me in particular. First, he asked where our focus was. Are we focused on Jesus, or on the world? Second, he pointed out the response of Israel to God's presence on the mountain. They wanted Moses to experience God for them, and communicate to Him in their place. I haven't been able to get these two ideas out of my head since. They may not seem related at first. Let me explain.
First, let's talk about our approach to God. Paul deals with this in Colossians chapter 2. Here's Col 2:20-23:
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)-in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
The church Paul is addressing here is dealing with a specific issue regarding their past. There were several cults in the area that existed before the area was reached by the gospel. Clearly then, many of the converts to Christianity in this area would have come from these cults. The belief of these cults that Paul is attacking in this passage is the way they approached worship and communication with their deity. They believed that once you were initiated into their religion, you had to work your way through certain rites and rituals on the way towards experiencing god. They didn't actually get to interact with their god in any way until all these rituals were complete, and that could actually take a lifetime. That's what Paul is referring to with “decrees, such as Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” He's saying, your relationship with Christ exists already. You don't have to perform specific rites or rituals to work your way into a relationship with Him. While this actions may seem to be wise, they aren't actually getting you closer to Jesus. Why not? Because you are in Christ. Your relationship with Christ began at the moment of salvation. You were grafted in (Rom 11:17). You were far off, but you have been brought near (Eph 2:13).
Now lets talk about our focus. Directly after this passage, Paul follows his discouragement with a grand encouragement. In Col 3:1-4 we see:
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
So, if we realize who we are in Christ, then our focus in life will reflect that. He encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus. This is not an uncommon request in scripture (Heb 12:2). I knew a man once who used to preach. When he stopped, he explained by saying he was “so heavenly minded, I was no earthly good.” Clearly he never fully understood what Paul is trying to say here. To be heavenly minded is to be earthly good. To be earthly minded is to be no good at all (Rom 8:8).
So what does this have to do with the Israelites and Moses? The Israelites wanted someone to experience God and interact with God in their place. This attitude is not unique to them. Christians today rely on their pastors and preachers to interpret scripture. We rely on ministers to pray for us. This comes across in our language. When we refer to worship, we say we're “coming into God's presence”. On Sunday, we say we're “going to church”. In reality, we are always in God's presence, and we exist as the church. We still want Moses to stand in our place, but we don't realize that we can't distance ourselves from God. He is everywhere. We can't cower from His presence, and ask someone else to brave it for us. God has expanded His Holy mountaintop, and it is all encompassing.
Some people seem to be content with ignoring the reality of God's presence. They are content with living off of other people's experiences. This may actually work for them. It may be enough for them to survive spiritually. The problem is someone may need to lean on them. The distance that we try to force into our experience with God is noticeable. People can pick up on it. Theology is not taught as much as it is perceived. My challenge to you is that you would not be like the Israelites. Be thankful for the reality that Paul has illustrated for us. Worship your God in every place and every way as often as you can. You don't have to work your way into this relationship, you only have to maintain it. And you are just as close to God as anyone else. Make these truths a reality in your life and people around you will be set free. You aren't responsible for how other people behave, but you will stand before God and account for your own behavior. Paul summed this reality up enigmatically as follows:
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ...for each one should carry his own load. (Gal 6:2,5)
Our focus should be on the risen Christ, who purchased our salvation with his blood. When we see Him and his actions in the proper light, our response should be somber gratitude as well as unbridled joy. This is because such a great God has gone to such great lengths to bring the mountaintop to us, because we could not reach it's summit on our own.
-Ryan Lytton
First, let's talk about our approach to God. Paul deals with this in Colossians chapter 2. Here's Col 2:20-23:
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)-in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
The church Paul is addressing here is dealing with a specific issue regarding their past. There were several cults in the area that existed before the area was reached by the gospel. Clearly then, many of the converts to Christianity in this area would have come from these cults. The belief of these cults that Paul is attacking in this passage is the way they approached worship and communication with their deity. They believed that once you were initiated into their religion, you had to work your way through certain rites and rituals on the way towards experiencing god. They didn't actually get to interact with their god in any way until all these rituals were complete, and that could actually take a lifetime. That's what Paul is referring to with “decrees, such as Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” He's saying, your relationship with Christ exists already. You don't have to perform specific rites or rituals to work your way into a relationship with Him. While this actions may seem to be wise, they aren't actually getting you closer to Jesus. Why not? Because you are in Christ. Your relationship with Christ began at the moment of salvation. You were grafted in (Rom 11:17). You were far off, but you have been brought near (Eph 2:13).
Now lets talk about our focus. Directly after this passage, Paul follows his discouragement with a grand encouragement. In Col 3:1-4 we see:
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
So, if we realize who we are in Christ, then our focus in life will reflect that. He encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus. This is not an uncommon request in scripture (Heb 12:2). I knew a man once who used to preach. When he stopped, he explained by saying he was “so heavenly minded, I was no earthly good.” Clearly he never fully understood what Paul is trying to say here. To be heavenly minded is to be earthly good. To be earthly minded is to be no good at all (Rom 8:8).
So what does this have to do with the Israelites and Moses? The Israelites wanted someone to experience God and interact with God in their place. This attitude is not unique to them. Christians today rely on their pastors and preachers to interpret scripture. We rely on ministers to pray for us. This comes across in our language. When we refer to worship, we say we're “coming into God's presence”. On Sunday, we say we're “going to church”. In reality, we are always in God's presence, and we exist as the church. We still want Moses to stand in our place, but we don't realize that we can't distance ourselves from God. He is everywhere. We can't cower from His presence, and ask someone else to brave it for us. God has expanded His Holy mountaintop, and it is all encompassing.
Some people seem to be content with ignoring the reality of God's presence. They are content with living off of other people's experiences. This may actually work for them. It may be enough for them to survive spiritually. The problem is someone may need to lean on them. The distance that we try to force into our experience with God is noticeable. People can pick up on it. Theology is not taught as much as it is perceived. My challenge to you is that you would not be like the Israelites. Be thankful for the reality that Paul has illustrated for us. Worship your God in every place and every way as often as you can. You don't have to work your way into this relationship, you only have to maintain it. And you are just as close to God as anyone else. Make these truths a reality in your life and people around you will be set free. You aren't responsible for how other people behave, but you will stand before God and account for your own behavior. Paul summed this reality up enigmatically as follows:
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ...for each one should carry his own load. (Gal 6:2,5)
Our focus should be on the risen Christ, who purchased our salvation with his blood. When we see Him and his actions in the proper light, our response should be somber gratitude as well as unbridled joy. This is because such a great God has gone to such great lengths to bring the mountaintop to us, because we could not reach it's summit on our own.
-Ryan Lytton
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Preparing for the Future...David Wilkerson
For those of us who have be listening to Pastor Hal Adams speak on Sundays in the 10:30 am service this article on preparing for the future does not come as a surprise. Posted on WorldNetDaily.com the article about Wilkerson's blog post rings true. The following is an excerpt from that article.
A nationally known pastor and author who predicts an imminent catastrophe of God's judgment on America is now telling concerned Christians it is time for peace and preparation, not panic.
"This is what I hear the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart concerning my own spiritual response to impending calamity," writes David Wilkerson, author of "The Cross and the Switchblade" and founder of a ministry to troubled New York street kids, on his blog today. "It is simply this: Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."
As, WND reported, Wilkerson drew attention by publishing on his blog over the weekend a vision for impending fires and riots sweeping through New York City and other cities across the country.
"An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen," he writes. "It is going to be so frightening, we are all going to tremble – even the godliest among us.""It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires," he explains. "What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath."
After such dire words, Wilkerson was asked how people should respond to his message, and, with today's blog post, the pastor answered.
"I can only answer by sharing what the Holy Spirit is speaking to my own heart and what I am to do," writes Wilkerson. "I shared that I was led in a practical way to lay aside a month’s supply of food — because I have witnessed the panic in the wake of terrorism."
Wilkerson's call to prepare for catastrophic circumstances comes during a time when, as WND reported, the economic crisis has prompted a surge of business in the emergency preparedness industry.
But Wilkerson also sees a spiritual application of his message, calling Christians to exhibit peace and hope in God's salvation in the midst of fearful times.
"My warning is just one voice among many who are saying the same thing," writes Wilkerson. "We may all tremble for a season, but those who truly know God’s Word will be quickly comforted by the Holy Spirit. We will be baptized with a great peace – a supernatural quietness – which will be a tremendous witness to the fearful multitudes."
One of the many Christian leaders with a similar message is Dr. Gary Dull, pastor and founding member of The Faith and Freedom Institute.
"America was founded with a spiritual basis, but there are those who want to make it a purely secular nation," said Dull to an NBC reporter. "Because of the rejection of God and His values, we can expect nothing but His judgment. All one needs to do is to read in history and find out how that when a nation forgot God, God forgot the nation."
A past vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention is hoping believers pay attention to Wilkerson's message.
"I have known David Wilkerson for more than 25 years as well as many of his friends and associates," said Pastor Wiley Drake. "He is a godly man and I believe he is listening to God. I encourage each Christian to read and heed what God is saying through our brother."
Wilkerson is the founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City, where he launched a ministry to gang members and drug addicts in 1958. He is a highly regarded mentor to other pastors in evangelical circles and travels the world holding conferences for other Christian ministers.
-allison
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