30 Days With Jesus - Jesus Foretold

Today we will begin a series of posts called 30 Days With Jesus. It will follow a daily reading plan as given by Zondervan Publishers.

Isaiah the Prophet

Isaiah 53 is a passage of Scripture that foretells the coming of the Messiah -- Jesus Christ. It is a well-known and well-loved passage by many. And for those who have studied this passage they have discovered that Jesus Christ was not necessarily the kingly looking Messiah for whom men sought. Isaiah says:

..he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. (53:2)

Isaiah was quite exact in describing this Messiah who would come to save his people. Continue reading this account and this is what you will find:

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. (53:3-4)

Although this Messiah was the One who was foretold, people did not recognize him as such. Rather, they looked at him and they despised and rejected him. To despise someone is to disdain them, to reject them, to loathe. It was not just the fact that Jesus Christ claimed his Messiahship, it was the fact that the people who heard him were disgusted with him. And, besides being disgusted with him, they had no respect for him - ...we esteemed him not. With this idea of disgust the people eventually rejected him as the Messiah of whom they were waiting. Although the Messiah has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, Isaiah continues to tell us that even though he gave his life and carried our sorrows, the people still rejected him saying that God had smitten and afflicted him. In other words, God has done this to him because of who he said he was.

But notice how Isaiah reassures his readers that he has borne our griefs and sorrows. Here the prophet is telling us the good news of the Messiah. Even though people rejected him and were disgusted with him, the fact still remained that the Messiah had borne our griefs and sorrows. And what are these griefs and sorrows? But the very sin that resides in each of us. Read how Isaiah continues to tell us this good news of the Messiah -- of Jesus Christ:

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (53:5-6)

Not only has he borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, but the Messiah was also wounded for our transgressions. This wounding resulted in his death. Isaiah tells us that he bore our griefs and sorrows and tells us what those griefs and sorrows were -- our transgressions. It is the sin that ever resides in each of us. It is what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans:

As it is written, "None is righteous, no, not one...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:10, 23)

All of us have transgressed against God. There is none who is able to reach God because of this sin. And it was this Messiah of whom Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 53. What have we done about this Messiah coming to save us? Read what Isaiah says: because none of us is righteous, because all of us have fallen short of the glory of God, the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. This Messiah has taken the very wrath of God upon himself so that we would be freed from this wrath. Even though we have turned to our own way, God loved us enough that he would lay this burden on this Messiah -- on Jesus Christ. The Messiah's attitude was such that he was willing to take on the iniquity of us all. Read what else Isaiah says:

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (53:10-11)

Why was the Messiah's attitude that he was willing to take on the iniquity of us all? Because out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied. Jesus Christ was satisfied with his payment and God the Father was satisfied with the willingness and the dying of Jesus Christ for the transgressors -- for us -- for the ones who went their own way and transgressed against him. And it was also for the satisfaction that the Messiah would make many to be accounted righteous. This righteousness would come directly from himself for he lived a perfectly sinless life so that we might have life. His righteousness has been imputed on those who have trusted him in salvation.

This Messiah, Jesus Christ, was foretold by Isaiah. He was foretold to have borne our iniquities and he willingly did this. This Messiah -- this Jesus Christ -- is worthy of all praise!

He's Here!

It was no doubt a great day for John the Baptist. He had been baptizing in the Jordan River when he first saw him. But he was not surprised by him. John expected to see him at some time - he just didn't know when. In fact, I'm pretty sure that his mother Elizabeth spoke of him often. She knew that he was the expected one - that he was coming to cleanse her and her son of their sin. He was John's cousin.

But what would he look like? John had been in the wilderness for so long. It was most likely that he had not seen Jesus for quite a long time. Would he recognize him?

As John the Baptist was baptizing followers, he saw Jesus coming towards him. His response was simple and succinct:

"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." What an incredible declaration! The "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world?" And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." (John 1:29-34)

John bore witness of who Jesus Christ is. He proclaimed that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He didn't mince words and he certainly didn't waste words. He simply had been waiting for years to see this one opportunity come to fruition...and it did!

But notice how John the Baptist began to wonder if he was right or not:

"The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. (John 1:35-37)

He knew who Jesus was at this time. He knew that this was he was the One who would come after him. However, you can sense some hesitation in John's voice at this time. And although there was hesitation, his disciples followed after Jesus. That in itself is amazing to think that they heard what John said and they all of a sudden followed after Jesus. Was there doubt in their minds? Could it be that John had been in the wilderness too long and he just didn't know what he was speaking? No, these two disciples chose to follow Jesus and to learn from him. See what happens next:

Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying and they stayed with him that day for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter). (John 1:38-42)

They followed him and they called others to come to him. Jesus had a profound impact on them. But what about John? He pointed these men to Jesus Christ as the Messiah - the long-expected One. Was he still hesitant? Did he still wonder about who Jesus is? Read what John said:

"You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:28-30)

Not an iota of doubt was in the Baptizer. He knew of whom he was speaking. He knew that Jesus was truly the Messiah - the Anointed One - the Savior - the King - the Lord - God Himself.

As you celebrate Christmas this year, make sure to point people to Jesus Christ. He's here! Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!

Going...

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
–Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus Christ, prior to his ascension, spoke these words to His disciples. This command is an interesting one because preacher after preacher has always tried to spurn his people into action. What action? Reaching out to a lost and dying world. But what has happened to the church today?

First, I think that society itself has infiltrated the church of our day. That is not to say that we ought not have people from our world in our church. On the contrary! We should be reaching out to our society with the Good News of Jesus Christ—the Gospel! But it seems that the whole idea of “tolerance” is pervading the church today as is the case with our society. In other words, we shouldn't’t be so intolerant of thinking that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. Others believe strongly in their religion and they all teach about going to heaven or paradise or bliss. So what makes us think that we have the market on the Good News? Well, because Jesus Christ said we do! I am the Way, the Truth and the Life is what Jesus Christ said.

Secondly, I think that fear has infiltrated the church of our day. People in the church today seem to be frightened of what others will think of them if they share their faith in the Good News of Jesus Christ. Quite frankly, I suspect that there are people just waiting for you and I to share the Good News of Jesus Christ!



I remember hearing of a story from a pastor friend of mine who traveled to South Africa on a mission trip. A ninety year old woman told him that she had waited for nearly thirty years for his arrival. She had never known who the Savior was until he arrived. But prior to his coming—thirty years prior– she saw in a vision someone who would bring her Good News of the Savior. People are waiting for us to tell them about Jesus Christ!

Third, I think that we have become too lax in our faith. What I mean by this is that there seems to be too many of us that are quite comfortable with the knowledge that we have. We sit and glory in what we know but do we really know it? If we know that the Good News is that Jesus Christ died according to the Scriptures, he was buried and he rose again according to the Scriptures and then we don’t tell others, do we really know it to be true? If it is true for you then it has be true for everyone else. Relativism is alive and well in the church today and it ought to be killed! It’s not what I think or what you think but what God thinks!

So how do we apply these verses to our church today? First, we need to “stick to the stuff” as my friend Ed Ethridge says. Stick to what the Bible says and live it out and tell it to others. Second, we trusted Jesus Christ for salvation so we can trust him to take care of our fear of sharing the Good News. Finally, we need to simply live out what it is that we believe! That means going and making disciples. It is an action that is continual.

We Want To Be Like Other Nations!

"Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." - 1 Samuel 8:5


Does this cry sound familiar? Have you ever heard a people cry out for a new king so they could look like all of the other nations? This was Israel's plight in Samuel the Prophet's day. It was not unlike the Israelites to turn away from their God and turn to their own desires. If you recall, they did this quite often.

While wandering through the wilderness for 40 years, they kept telling Moses and Aaron that they wanted to return to Egypt because they were tired of being out there. What is interesting about the story in Exodus is that while they were out wandering in the wilderness, God was ever providing for them. They had shoes that would not wear out. They had clothes that would not wear out. They had bread from heaven that did not run out. When they wanted something other than this bread from heaven they wanted meat. So what did God do? He provided quail for them.

In today's Church we find the same sense -- or might I say nonsense! We want more of this or more of that. We want to have our desires, our pleasures met. When we don't get our way, then we just want to do whatever comes to mind neverminding what it is that God desires.

As the story goes in 1 Samuel 8, the people were demanding a king. Samuel's sons were to take over the family business of judging Israel. Now understand, this was not a judgmental type of judging -- the kind that people today talk about -- the kind that puts down and tears down rather than encouraging and building up. They were to take care of judging Israel; in other words, they were supposed to keep Israel on the right track! The people were tired of Samuel's sons. His sons "turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice" (1 Samuel 8:3). Who wouldn't be tired of this? But they also thought that Samuel was too old to lead the nation (1 Samuel 8:1).

So the people cried out, Samuel was frustrated with his sons and with the people. But the Lord had a different plan (as He usually does; remember Isaiah 55:8-9). God told Samuel to let the people have what they want! Can you believe it?!? Really?!? Give them what they want?!? But in giving the people what they wanted God still lovingly told them what the ramifications of their desire would be (1 Samuel 8:9). It was not going to be a pretty sight. In fact, God was very plain spoken about what their king would do and how he would mistreat his people.

Now why would I go through all of this? It's because the people then are no different than we are today. It's like water: Water is water in 500 BC as water is in 2010 and human nature is to war against God! We want it our way and not His way. But how can we correct this? It is a matter of making the moral choice to give up our rights and to follow God...period! To surrender our rights is to give ourselves completely to Him; and, quite frankly, it is a day-to-day surrendering and even a moment-by-moment surrendering to Him.

Today, if you hear God's voice, do not harden your heart and turn to your own selfish desires or pleasures. Rather, turn to the Lord and acknowledge Him as your King.

Telling What We Have Seen and Heard

But you will be receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:8

The Lord Jesus Christ had been crucified just forty days earlier. The disciples were still astonished that what Jesus Christ said to them previously – of His dying according to the Scriptures, His burial and His resurrection according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) – as actually come to pass. When walking with Him and listening to His teaching they didn’t really understand what it was that He was teaching them. Over and over again you read in the Gospels how they did not fully understand Him. After all, who would make such claims? John records that there were just so many things that Jesus Christ did that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25). Could it be that the disciples were still just trying to figure out how Jesus Christ did what He did while in His three and half year ministry here on earth?

Dr. Luke is writing a second account of Jesus Christ and His ministry here on earth. You will recall that he also authored the Gospel According to Luke – one of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). He is writing to his friend Theophilus and continuing where he left off with Jesus Christ’s resurrection (Luke 24). Jesus Christ had appeared to two disciples that were on their way to Emmaus and they were talking about the current events. They witnessed Jesus Christ die on the cross and they knew that He had been buried. But was it true that some of the disciples snatched His body from the tomb? After all, that was a rumor circulating in the news reports and the city’s gossip columns. Then all of a sudden – as it He came from nowhere, nowhere at all – Jesus Christ started to speak with these two men. Luke records Jesus’ response to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe al that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:25-27).

Theophilus had to learn these truths and Dr. Luke had to tell him no doubt out of concern for his salvation. He so wanted Theophilus to know that Jesus Christ really is who He said that He is. That every promise of going to the cross to die and to be raised again was true.

Now in Acts, Luke is wanting to continue his writing on what it is that Jesus Christ continued to do after His resurrection. The Apostle Paul teaches us that there were many witnesses to the fact of His resurrection (Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11). When Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He just continued to teach the disciples (Acts 1:1-2). In His teaching He gave directions to the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and there the Holy Spirit would come upon them (1:4-5).

But were the disciples concerned about the coming of the Holy Spirit? Well, it appears that they were more concerned still of the coming kingdom of Jesus Christ that would reign here on earth. After Jesus Christ gives them directions, they asked Him, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel? (1:6). Again, just as He did with Nicodemus, He points their sights to the proper perspective. They were to remain there in Jerusalem because they were to receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon them and they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (1:8). After giving this further instruction to the disciples, the Scriptures tell us that while they were still looking at Jesus, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight (1:9). The amazement never ends with Jesus Christ!

Those who were there were just standing amazed and gazing at the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ (1:10). And then, all of a sudden, two men who were dressed in white garments informs them of Jesus’ future plans. They said to the disciples, This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven (1:11).

But what does all of this mean for you and me today? There is a very simple answer to this question but sometimes we make it so complex. The answer is this: We are to tell others of what it is that we have seen and known of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to reach out to those around us – wherever we are – and tell them of this Jesus Christ. We can’t just sit here thinking that people will come to know Jesus Christ unless we are about the business of witnessing and telling others of this saving grace that He gives to all who believe.

Exalting Jesus!

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.
-John 3:14-15

One of the most inspiring stories in all of Scripture is when Nicodemus meets Jesus. Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the dead of night, most likely because he didn’t want any of the other Pharisees to see him speaking with Jesus. He makes an startling statement when he says, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him (John 3:2). Now although Nicodemus was concerned with the signs that Jesus had done, Jesus cuts right to the chase and answers him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of heaven (3:3). No punches thrown – directly to the heart of the issue.

The issue with Jesus is not that He can perform miracles and signs and wonders; He’s God and God can do those things. The issue with Jesus is that He is able to give eternal life to those who would believe in Him. Nicodemus, no doubt being an intelligent man, thinks that to be born again is not only impossible but it is a ridiculous notion as well. But that doesn’t stop Jesus. Jesus begins to tell Nicodemus what He means. In order for Nicodemus to be born again he must be born of the water and the Spirit (3:5). Now there are two interpretations for this saying. One interpretation says that the water refers to the physical birth and the Spirit refers to the spiritual birth. Another interpretation says that the water is representative of the Word of God – the Scriptures – and the Spirit refers to the working of the Holy Spirit in a man’s life. For argument sake, we will move forward with the second interpretation of these words.

Now Nicodemus must have been perplexed at this point because Jesus says to him in 3:7, Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ He apparently was trying to figure out exactly what it was that Jesus Christ was saying. He then illustrates how the Holy Spirit moves in the hearts and minds of men. Just as the wind blows where it does, so the Spirit moves in the way He does. You may hear the sound of the wind but you can’t see the wind; you only see the effects of the wind. So it is with the Holy Spirit. He moves in the hearts of men and you can’t see Him but you can see the effects of the Spirit moving in the lives of men. When the Holy Spirit brings a dead soul to life in Jesus Christ you can see the effects of said salvation.

Nicodemus is still not sure as the tenor of Jesus Christ’s words. He asks Jesus in 3:9, How can these things be? Jesus Christ, who apparently has a great sense of humor, says to Nicodemus, Aren’t you a teacher of Israel? You mean to tell me you don’t have a clue? Now the Pharisees prided themselves on knowing what the Scriptures say, but Nicodemus had no idea that what he knows from the Old Testament Scriptures is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus chides Nicodemus knowing that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Remember, Nicodemus was more concerned with the miracles and signs and wonders; Jesus is concerned for His soul.

Now Jesus knows what He’s talking about and it makes it clear to Nicodemus: We speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man (3:11-13). Very clearly stated, Jesus Christ tells Nicodemus who He is. This is the case with all of us who have believed in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ, we can’t know anything about God. Without Jesus Christ, there is no such thing as knowledge of our need for salvation from sin and self.

So what does Jesus Christ say at this point? And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life (3:14-15). There it is! Exaltation of Himself! Jesus Christ declaring that He is the One who can give life that is eternal, abundant and free from the clutches of sin and self. What Nicodemus failed to know and understand was that everything that he knew about the Old Testament Law and Prophets was lifting up the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, as Savior. But what does all of this mean for you and for me today?

It simply means that we, too, must exalt the Lord Jesus Christ in every area of our various ministries at the First Baptist Church of Leonard. Our purpose is to lift up the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and to make Him known to as many as we possibly can. This means that whether it is children’s ministry, music ministry, student ministry or adult ministry the Lord Jesus Christ is to be at the forefront of everything that we teach.

Samuel's Growth

Now the young man Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. 1 Samuel 2:26

Eli's sons were worthless. They were not serving the people of God as they should because they did not know the Lord. They would take food from those who were cooking. If they did not want to go and get the food themselves they would simply send their servants to steal the food even before the fat of the meat was cut off. These young men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt (1 Samuel 2:17).

But there was this little one who did not do what these two did. His name was Samuel. His mother, Hannah, had prayed and asked the Lord for a child. She was barren and the other wife of her husband had born children and harrassed Hannah for not having any. However, the Scriptures record that her husband loved Hannah more than Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:6). This was no small thing! If a woman was unable to bear children in their day it was to her shame -- she must have done something to cause the Lord to close her womb; she must have sinned against the Lord.

But this was not the case with Hannah. She prayed for a child. She went to the temple and prayed and the priest, Eli, saw her praying. He thought that she must have been drunk because she was praying silently yet her lips were moving. She was lamenting; she was mourning for the lack of children. Once Hannah told Eli for what she was praying, he blessed her and sent her on her way.

The Lord answers prayer! He gave a male child by the name of Samuel to Hannah. Hannah in turn gave the male child back to the Lord that he might be used in ministry by Him. She delivered Samuel to Eli when he was young to minister to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest (1 Samuel 2:11).

Eli, on the other hand, had two boys that were out of control. They would sin against the Lord and against people. They would take forks and take meat from others who were to prepare it properly for the priests but they would eat meat with fat and from every indication, even raw! This was not the case with Samuel: He was ministering before the Lord, as he was clothed in a linen ephod (1 Samuel 2:18).

Eli was now an old man. He knew that his sons were treacherous before the Lord and before the people. But an interesting note is given about Samuel. It is found in 1 Samuel 2:26,

Now the young man Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.

What a great verse! It is a foreshadowing of One who would come after him. Samuel was grew to be a man who's character had grown to be that of a Godly character. He grew in favor with the Lord and with man. He was a blessed man and a man to whom people could turn in the economy of his day. Samuel knew that his calling was to be a servant of the Lord God -- he knew what he was to do in service to the Lord.

So, why would I even write about all of this? Simply put, we too are to grow in stature and favor with God and with men. It is an unsavory thing to see how some Christians act with others. If we are rude then we have not the favor of God. However, if we show kindness toward others then we have favor with God. Why? Because He has shown us kindness. If we are in sin in the midst of a lost and dying world, then we have no stature or favor. Why? Because if we are living in sin then certainly God is not going to show favor toward sin -- He is holy! As far as others go, we will not gain any favor while living in sin because we claim our faith to be in Jesus Christ.

Basically, what I am getting at is that it is time for us not to be hypocritical and try to disguise ourselves with spiritual terms, but let us be honest enough to admit when we have sinned, when we have fallen out of stature and favor with the Lord and with men. When we confess it and repent of it then the stature and favor returns. I'm so grateful for the Lord who loves me enough to teach me that I still have a lot of growing to do.

Despair

In my dealings with members of the churches in which I have served come to me for counsel or advice about different issues it has always been interesting to me. One of the reasons that it has been interesting to me is that many times people just don't hear what the Word of God - the Bible - says about their issues. Issues might range from some form of unrighteousness or some person that is bothersome to them or whatever the case may be.

But more often than not, there are people who are coming to me saying that they are in despair or they are depressed. Why is it that we as humans think that we can simply do whatever it is that we want to do and not really come to the Scriptures - the Words of Life - to find an answer to life's situations? I think the problem is ultimately our unbelief in the God of the Bible. We simply look to the so-called "experts" to tell us that we are depressed or we are ADD or ADHD or any other ailment that is dubbed as a "disease".

King David was one who dealt with depression. He was out there as the king of Israel but he kept doing things that were against God. Yet, he was called "a man after God's own heart." He wanted to do the right thing. He believed God and His Word to him but sometimes he really did think that his way was better than what God had for him.

Consider the Bathsheba incident. This was not a good time in the life of King David. He royaly messed things up due to his own sinful lusts for this woman. He ends up being covetous of another man's wife, he commits adultery, he lies about what has happened, he has her husband murdered and then after all of this he blows his top when Nathan the prophet tells him a story about a man who stole a lamb from another man. That's when Nathan dives right in and tells the king what he needed to hear: "Thou art the man, David!" Now that took guts! Nathan was not concerned about protection because he no doubt knew that God would protect him from any anger that might come from the king.

No anger came. No arguing came. Nothing from David except confession and repentance for all that he had done against God. After the incident, I think that King David came to understand that he could come to the throne of grace. It is evident in most of his writings in the Psalms. Read what David wrote in Psalm 142:

1 A Contemplation of David. A prayer when he was in the cave. I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. 4 Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul. 5 I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me."

What a great example of where we should turn when we are in despair. What a great way to approach the Lord. It is the way that He desires for us to approach Him - by faith.

The Origins of Life

In today's news on Yahoo.com, the founder of a genomics research institute, Craig Venter, spoke about how a breakthrough of creating synthetic bacteria will benefit industries like pharmaceuticals, energy and materials. Stuart Fox, the writer of the article, states the following:




This work could lead to staggering findings in two major ways. First, cells with synthetic genomes could allow scientists to essentially snip out the complexities of living cells leaving only the simpler parts. This would give researchers a better way to untangle the enormously complicated interactions that occur in natural cells, and could help unravel the secrets of baffling diseases like cancer.

Second, while cells with synthetic genomes couldn't be used to recreated extinct creatures, they could be used to create organisms that have the genes of extinct organisms, possibly even those of Earth's earliest life forms. This could lead to a better understanding of the very nature of life and how life began, scientists say.

Hm...very interesting indeed! However, we would then still have the question, "How did life begin?" A synthetically made bacteria or organism will not tell us where life began. In fact, it would simply mean that the men who created such a thing would be the maker of that particular organism. And even if they were to design a synthetic organism that is less complex as a natural organism, they still would not be able to account for the origins of life.

Now we know that most of the people that working on this are no doubt evolutionists. They have studied and studied different theories of how life began. Some have said that there was a great explosion in space that caused an organism in some primordial goo to come into existence. Some have believed that all live forms began when lightening struck some crystals on a hillside. Some others believed that everything simply has evolved into what it is today and that evolution itself is still happening even before our very eyes.

Well, Mr. Venter, let me suggest to you that the answer to the question, "How did life begin?" is not as complicated as you and others are making it out to seem. Now I understand what you might be thinking: "This guy is a nut job! He's not even credentialed as a scientist." Well, as the old adage goes, "This isn't rocket science!"

The answer is this: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light...And God said, 'Let there be an expanse int he midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from he waters"...And God said, 'Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear'...And God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth'...And God say, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night'...And God said, 'Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens'...And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according tot heir kinds - livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds'...Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let the have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:1-31)

True Happiness

A recent articles on Yahoo.com was entitled "Internet Use Makes Us Happier, Says Mental-Health Study". It truly is an interesting article when you think about how much time you actually spend on the internet. There are some that make their living on the internet. There are some who just use the internet for games. There are some who use it for Facebook or other social networking sites. Whatever the case may be, there are hundreds of millions of people who use the internet on a daily basis.

"A May 12 report by British researchers from the U.K.'s Chartered Institute of IT (known as BCS) have found a link between Internet access and well-being. But some benefit more than others from tapping into the information supherhighway, including those with lower incomes or fewer qualifications, people living int he developing world and, perhaps most suprisingly, women." http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100515/hl_time/08599198924400

Now there's a quote! You mean to tell me, then, that the internet actually makes people happy? Well, when you consider that men and women around the world are searching for happiness they are likely searching for that happiness on the internet (as far as developing countries go). However, there is a more reliable source to find true happiness. It is a source that few find and for which many are searching. It is called the Bible. Eugene Peterson has paraphrased the Bible and he really did a pretty good job of getting the point across. Here's Psalm 1 from The Message Bible:

How well God must like you - you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. You're not at all like the wicked, who are mere windblown dust - without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people. God charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row.

Hey! Try something that is lasting - the Bible. It will help you not only to have happiness but true joy.

Damage Control

It was most likely a quiet evening. There in the Garden the man and the woman were walking. Hand-in-hand they strolled through the beaten walkway. It was a time of rest along the pathway - they were unaware of their surroundings. The man, looking aloof, stepped away from the woman and that's when it happened. The snake in the tree began to speak to the woman. There he caressed her listening ears with words of deceit. She took the bait.

The man was standing next to her. The question that I have wanted to ask him is, "What reason do you have for turning away from her? Why didn't you protect her?" It is an age-old question. There he was, standing next to his wife, watching the snake speaking to her. There was no reaction on his part; he just stood there and watched.

The snake talked the woman into eating of the forbidden fruit. She saw that the fruit was good for food. It was pleasurable to her sight. The man watched her knowing that his Maker forbade the eating from that tree. Then, in a moment of time that seemed like an eternity, the man took the forbidden fruit from the woman and he ate. It was in that instant that their eyes were opened to the disobedience to their Maker. They thought that they could fix what they had done. It was not possible, they could not do anything to fix it.

Their Maker was walking in the Garden. He called out to the man asking, "Where are you?" The man answered, "I heard you in the Garden and I was afraid of You." The Maker asked, "Why were you afraid? Did you disobey Me and eat of the forbidden fruit? Tell Me, man, what have you done?"

The man retorted, "It's Your fault! You made me first and then You gave me this woman! She gave me the forbidden fruit and I ate."

The woman, no doubt stunned by the man's remarks, was asked by her Maker, "What is this you have done?" His questioning of the woman was of a different kind. He was gentle with her bringing her to the realization of what she had done. She shot back at her Maker, "It's the snake that You created! He deceived me and I ate!"

Damage control was in order. The Maker saw that they had covered themselves with leaves because they were ashamed of their nakedness. He saw that it was an incomplete solution. He knew that they could not fix this for themselves. The Maker said to Himself, "I will fix this for them, but it will take sacrifice on My part."

He killed a bull, took it's skin and covered the man and the woman. It was done, but they could not remain in the Garden. Had they eaten of the tree of life, they would be perpetually in their shame. Damage control by their Maker - it was the only way.

The moral of the story is this: We cannot make this sacrifice for ourselves. We have to trust our Maker's way to take away our shame. But who is this Maker? What is His name? His name is Jesus Christ.

Read Genesis 3.

Part of the Body

I just wanted to express to all of you my gratefulness for praying for me with these headaches and migraines. The doctor that I saw recently is a neurologist and his specialty is headache medicine. He gave me a new prescription for “preventative” maintenance that seems to be working well. He also gave me a new prescription for when the migraines come on unexpectedly.

Last night I could tell that I was headed (no pun intended) for a migraine. I took the new medication and today I am headache free!
So why would I tell you all of this? Isn’t this “personal” information? Well, yes it is personal. However, it is good for us together to rejoice when one rejoices and to weep when one weeps and to grieve when one grieves and to love as we are loved and so on and so on. It is the gift that God has so graciously given to us – this opportunity to be part of His Body – the Church. Notice what Dr. Luke writes in Acts 2:40-47:

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (emphasis added)

What a great passage of Scripture the Lord has given to us to consider as His Church. Notice the words above. Dr. Luke uses words like: they…apostles’ doctrine…fellowship…breaking of bread…prayers…every soul…all…together…all…their…all…they…all…people. Notice that they are all in the plural. The apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers are a continual thing that the early Church did together. They had all things in common with each other (this means all of their goods were common among each other…they were actually sharing stuff with each other!). Notice also that they found favor with ALL people.

Now you’ve heard me say it before, A-L-L means A-L-L – it means everyone. In this context it meant they had favor with all believers. But there is also an idea that they had favor with all people around them – saved or unsaved alike. They were reaching out together to those who needed to hear the Gospel message of the Lord Jesus Christ (as if there is any other gospel). Verse 41 says there were 3,000 added to the church on this one day. Verse 47 says that the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. So the favor was with ALL men – inside and outside the Body of believers.

So, Beloved, what shall we say to this? I say we ought to be together sharing the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ and, if need be, sharing our stuff with those who in the Church who have need. It is high time that we get busy doing this. “But how can we do this, Pastor?” you might be asking. Well, it’s quite simple really. If you have stuff to share, then share it! We are very fortunate to be a debt-free Church. I know of churches in our blessed State of Texas who are up to their ears in debt. Our Fellowship should never be indebted to anyone or any bank. Why? Because it hinders us from being able to use our resources and materials for sharing this precious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here’s another thing that we should all be doing. Go to www.freegiftforlife.com and you can write out your testimony and I have 2,000 cards that you can simply hand out with your name on it to send people to this website for free to share your testimony. You might even want to know what verses you can share with someone by using the Romans Road (Romans 3:10, 23; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9-10, 13). You might want to wear a bracelet from the “I Am Second” campaign. This allows you to be able to point people to another website where they can hear testimonies of salvation from the famous to the not-so famous. I had an opportunity to share Jesus Christ with Donnie at Cracker Barrel in Greenville, Texas on Sunday evening. I was wearing one of these bracelets from the “I Am Second” campaign. We have tracts in the office that perhaps you might be able to hand to someone who is struggling with some issue or just needs to be uplifted.

What I’m trying to say is that we – together – can lead others to the Lord Jesus Christ by being who we are. We are Christians. We love Jesus Christ. We love the prophets and the apostles’ teachings. We love to tell the Story. We love to be together. We love to break bread together. We love to fellowship together. We love to pray together.

The Adoption

If you haven't heard, Sandra Bullock adopted a baby boy from New Orleans in January. She and her soon to be ex-husband, Jesse James, apparently had applied for adoption nearly four years ago. In January, just after Bullock accepted the Best Actress award from the Oscars for her part in "The Blind Side", she revealed to People Magazine that they had adopted Louis Bardo Bullock.

Now the magazine has not yet published the article but you can see from the above picture that Bullock must love this little boy. People Magazine has quoted her as saying, "He's just perfect!" And when you look at this little boy - or if you look at a little girl - you do see the beauty of the child. To consider that God has created this child in his/her mother's womb is an exceptional miracle. However, when you consider adoption, this is when the adoptive parents are actually choosing the child to be their very own.

Now there are different types of adoption. There are public adoptions, private adoptions, kinship adoptions, stepparent adoptions, transracial adoptions and intercountry/international adoptions. The average number of adoptions in the United States right now is between 51,000 - 89,500 adoptions per year.

But there is an adoption that is far more superior than these. It is the adoption that God gives to us and we trust in Jesus Christ. It is His adoption of us. Read what the Bible says in Ephesians 1:3-6:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing int he heavenly places in christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Wow! Now that's adoption!

The Stuttering Statesman

Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. is our 47th Vice President. He served in the United States Senate from January 3, 1973 until his resignation on January 15, 2009 when he was elected as the Vice President of the United States of America. His career as a United States Senator is the 14th longest in our nation's history.

Although he has had a long and illustrious career, he has had a few problems with some of the things that he has said. For instance, on the mother of Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, who is very much alive, in Washington, DC, March 17, 2010, Vice President Biden is quoted as saying: "His mom lived in Long Island for ten years or so. God rest her soul. And...although, she's...wait...your mom's still...your mom's still alive. Your dad passed. God bless her soul."

On October 15, 2008, Vice President Biden, in Athens, Ohio, while speaking of Senator John McCain and his bid for the White House, remarked: "Look, John's last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number-one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says, a three-letter word: jobs. J-O-B-S, jobs."

What about this gaffe while being interviewed by Katie Couric of CBS News on September 22, 2008: "When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, 'Look, here's what happened." Mr. Vice President, are you aware that FDR was not the President of the United States when the stock market crashed in 1929? Are you aware that only experimental TV sets were in use at that time?

Well, these gaffes may seem minor to some. However, Vice President Biden said something more recently while there was an open microphone nearby. While congratulating President Barack Hussein Obama at the signing of his new health care reform bill in Washington, DC, March 23, 2010, Vice President Biden said: "This is a big f****** deal!"

As a professing Catholic man, Vice President Joe Biden would do well to read his Bible more often and surrender himself to what it is that Jesus Christ has taught us in Matthew 15:16-20:

16 Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.

Integrity

Brian Davis is not the most famous golfer in the world today. In fact, he probably doesn't even rank in the top 100 golfers. However, in my book he is number one!

Davis was about to win the Verizon Heritage as he was competing against Jim Furyk in a playoff. He was about to win when something happened of which to the average spectator would have been a minor infraction. This infraction cost him his first-ever PGA Tour win. What was the infraction?

According to PGA Tour Rules, hitting any material around your ball during your backswing constitutes a violation of the rule against moving loose impediments, and is an immediate two-stroke penalty. And in a playoff, that means, in effect, game over. The thing about Brian Davis is that he called the penalty shot himself! That's right: He called it on himself!

"It was one of those things I thought I saw movement out of the corner of my eye," Davis said. "And I thought we'd check on TV, and indeed there was movement." As soon as he made the shot, he called a rules official to review the shot by television. After review, the rules official called the penalty shot against Davis. The only way that he even saw the movement was by watching this shot in slow motion.

Davis conceded the victory to Furyk. Jim Furyk was stunned; the crowds were stunned; the rules official was stunned. Davis still won second place (with winnings in the amount of $615,000). Furyk took home $1.03 million for the win.

So why would I tell you this story? Because Brian Davis showed integrity. This trait of integrity is something that is missing in our society, and apparently it has been missing since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.

Read what King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 11:3, "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them." I say "thank you" to Brian Davis. With the Tiger Woods fiasco - another PGA Tour winner showing a lack of integrity - it is great to see this happen.

Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me!

As a young man I used to love watching Hee Haw. It was one of the funniest television shows on CBS-TV and ran from 1969-1971. After its original run, it went into syndication for the next 20 years. One of their most popular sketches, usually performed by four male cast members sitting around in hillbilly garb surrounded by moonshine jugs and looking overtly miserable, would sing an old favorite song. The song began with the chorus, which all of them sang with each one alternating (in lip-synch) a mournful howl after each of the first three lines. The chorus went:

"Gloom, despair and agony on me-e! (HOWL!)
Deep dark depression, excessive misery-y! (HOWL!)
If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all! (HOWL!)
Gloom, despair and agony on me-e-e!"

Have you ever felt this way before? So many times we Christians face so many different things in life that we just get to thinking that maybe...just maybe...we will never see the light of day again. Gloom and despair, those twins that we know so well, will be with us until the day we die. Agony is taking its toll on each of us because of everything going on around us, in us and to us!

So what are we to do? To whom shall we turn? Well, I'm glad that you asked me these questions.

Let me just type out a passage of Scripture that I think can help us in our times of gloom, despair and agony. It comes from James 1:2-18:

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord: 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Gloom, despair and agony on me...thank God that I can rest assured on ever good gift and ever perfect gift from above.