A Need To Know
As a follower of Jesus, have you ever stopped serving Him long enough to ask yourself, “Who is this man?” Before you roll your eyes, keep in mind even the twelve disciples questioned. They saw with their own eyes everything He did and heard firsthand what He taught. Yet, they still asked that question…often.
Although the following passages may be familiar, stay with me. My hope is that the truth at the end will (at least in part) provide a fresh understanding as to who Jesus is, based on what He did.
In Luke 7:12-15, Jesus approached a village gate as large funeral procession was coming out. In the procession was a widow who was about to bury her only son. With His heart overflowing with compassion, Jesus said to her, “Don’t cry!” He then walked over and touched the coffin, stopping the pallbearers in their tracks. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up.” To the amazement of everyone there, the widow’s son sat up in his coffin and began to talk! Jesus turned back toward the widow and gave him back to her.
In Luke 8:43-48, there was a woman in a crowd who had suffered for years with constant bleeding. Her only success in looking for a cure was that she exhausted all of her earthly resources. One day she heard that Jesus would be passing by. She resolved that if she could push through the crowd and just touch the fringe of his robe, her healing would come. The Bible records that as Jesus passed by; the woman did push through and did touch His hem. It goes on the say, “Immediately, her bleeding stopped.”
Both in Luke 8:53-55 and Matthew 9:23-25, Jesus is on His way to the house of a religious leader who had a very sick daughter. By the time Jesus arrived though, the girl had already died. He could hear the noise of the mourners and funeral music that had already begun even before entering the house. Eventually, Jesus dismissed the crowd, because they were all convinced it was too late. Once they were put out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!
There may be times when we may face seemingly hopeless situations.
Be encouraged and hold fast to the Word of God. It reveals Jesus as the one who can stop the “funeral procession” and raise us to new life (while others still have us in a coffin). He is the one who has, even in the hem of His garment, the power to stop years of constant “bleeding” ( sorrow, depression and pain). He is the one who dismisses the crowd that would have us dismiss any hope of healing, restoration and life.
“Who is this Man?” He is Jesus, Son of the Living God; the one who takes us by the hand and says, “My child, get up,” and returns us to life again.
It Don’t Mean A Thing
God has called us to a life of vision and purpose, not busyness. He desires more than a busy church-oriented life. A.W. Tozer wrote, “Many have laid the altar and divided the sacrifice into parts, but now seem satisfied to count the stones and rearrange the pieces with never a care that there is not a sign of fire.” What good is the sacrifice without the fire? Our hunger for God is the fire, where our life is the sacrifice.
Throughout the history of Israel and Judah it was said of the “good” kings, “He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but he did not…” There always seemed to be something left undone. Thankfully, King Josiah was an exception.
In 2 Kings 22, we see Josiah becoming king and “…doing what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight…He did not turn away from doing what was right.” Josiah was doing the best he knew to do and God WAS pleased with him. But is a clear conscience enough?
One day, the sacred scrolls (the scriptures) were discovered and read aloud to Josiah. His response to what he heard should drive us to the Word of God as well. He tore his clothes in despair and said, “Our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:4, “My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.” Yes, I can be busy doing many good things in and for the church. I can even be pleasing to the Lord. But, am I walking in the fullness of God’s favor? Am I doing everything I’m called to do? Am I living in the Word of God? What is He asking of me? What is He asking of you? Do we have the fire needed to consume our sacrifice? If not, let’s acquire the fire!
The reality today for me is that I cannot simply rely on my clear conscience, because…
“It don’t mean a thing!”
Got Fruit?
Most of us hate the thought of being judged by others. The truth is…it happens all the time. Right or wrong, whether by our neighbors, our co-workers, or our family members, we can rest assured judgment is being passed. Similar to a defendant in an unwanted court case, we can do nothing to keep that judgment from being rendered. However, we can examine the fruit we are producing which affects that judge’s decision.
In Luke 6, Jesus taught that a person produces out of the treasury of their heart, “What you say flows from what is in your heart.” In Matthew 3, John the Baptist challenged those who were following him to, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God!” So, the fruit seen outwardly is produced out of an abundance of what we have sown and cultivated inwardly.
In Ephesians 5, Paul said, “Be careful how you live.” In other words be careful to produce godly fruit; “Take no part in worthless deeds of darkness and evil.” Cut away any rotten thoughts, feelings, and/or desires by exposing them to the Lord in prayer. Remove them because they will lead to action. Begin to sow the seed of scripture. Speak it over your life! When Jesus was tempted to bear bad fruit, He countered temptation out of the abundance of what He had in His heart, “No! The scriptures say…”
What we secretly sow, we will visibly show! What we privately entertain (or allow), will eventually be on display. Keep in mind God sees our secret sowing. His judgment is also coming. Once again we will be defendants unable to avoid judgment. BUT He has made provision for us in advance by offering the fruit of the cross: His love, His grace and His mercy. He has also given us the Word of God. Secretly sow it and cultivate it. It instructs us as to how we are to live so we need not fear God’s judgment, but await it with hope!
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Challenge Your Worship
My desire to worship God, and the depth of that worship, are in direct proportion to my understanding of who HE is…and who I am.
Within the walls of a church, or in my own home, there is little to no fear of outward worship. However, outside those walls is where fear is most prominent, even oppressive. Sadly, worship expressions such as dancing, singing, and/or calling out the name of Jesus tend to be relegated to safe zones.
That being said, God really challenged my view of what it means to worship. Is it merely a certain type of song or lyric? Does it require any particular external expression or demonstration? The longer I waited out answers, the more another question began to surface. Is there any greater demonstration of “worship,” than to tell others of Him and what He has done? Keep in mind that we are to, “Never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord…for God saved us and called us to live a holy life.” (2 Tim 1:8-9) If we are “Chosen by the will of God” as it is written in 2 Timothy 1:1, should we not want worship Him to the fullest extent possible?
My worship is to bring glory and honor to God. Yes, dancing, singing, and/or calling out the name of Jesus is worship. What if we run those expressions out beyond our comfort levels. Make the “dance,” the walking/living out the new life and freedom Christ has given us. Make the “singing,” the pouring truth into the lives others who do not know Him. Tell them of all He has done and of the freedom found only in the cross of Christ! Does that give a whole new perspective to worship songs that speak of “dancing” for joy and “singing” His praises!
I’M NOT ASHAMED
by Israel Houghton and Richardo Sanchez
I’m gonna dance for You
Like nobody’s watching nobody’s watching me
Dance for You my Lord
I’m gonna sing for You
Like nobody’s listening nobody’s listening
Sing for You my Lord
I’m not holding anything anything back
I will worship You with all that I am
I’m not ashamed to worship the name of Jesus Jesus
I’m not ashamed to shout out the name of Jesus Jesus
I’m not ashamed to worship Your name Jesus Jesus
I’m not ashamed to shout out Your name
Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus
I’m gonna worship You
Like nothing else matters nothing else matters
Worship You me Lord
I’m not holding anything anything back
I will worship You with all that I am
All that I am
Lord I’m gonna dance for You
Lord I’m gonna sing for You
Lord I’m gonna worship You
Not afraid and not ashamed
Nothing’s gonna hinder me
Nothing’s gonna silence me
Shout it out if you believe
Not afraid and not ashamed
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul declares, “Before God and Christ Jesus (who will judge the living and the dead), I urge you to preach the Word of God. (v1-2)” He also encourages us to be prepared to speak, whether time is favorable/convenient or not. We are to patiently: Correct, Rebuke, and Encourage one another that we may all be pleasing to the Lord.
Proverbs 22 says, “The Lord preserves those with knowledge. So apply your heart to my instruction…keep these sayings on your heart and always ready on your lips. (v12, 17-18)”
We are to remember our calling. Remember who called us. Remember His mission. So worship not only in song, but in the good fight of faith, remaining faithful to God and His purposes…to save the lost!
