10

Jump Start # 666

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 666

Matthew 22:29 “But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God.”

Our verse today comes from an encounter Jesus had with the Sadducees. It seems that Jesus had many close encounters with those who opposed Him. Interestingly, Jesus didn’t avoid where these doubters and accusers would be. Truth, which Jesus is, has nothing to fear, even when accused, doubted or challenged.

The Sadducees were the aristocratic branch of the Jews. They made up the Sanhedrin, the highest court system of the Jews. Theologically, the Sadducees did not believe in spirits, souls, resurrections or life after death. They were materialists. Our passage is taken from a time when they asked Jesus a hypothetical question. Matthew tells us that this was a test. Their interest was not in the question but in trapping Jesus. Their question, taken from a concept from the Law, surrounded a woman whose husband died and left her without a son. The law allowed her to marry his brother. She did that. He died. This continued on through all seven brothers. Seven marriages and no son. What a story. She outlived all these guys. I think if I was brother number four, we’d be eating out all the time. Maybe she poisoned the guys. The situation they present to Jesus is so far fetched that it is ridiculous. They want to know who she will be married to in the resurrection. Would it be brother number one or brother number seven or possibly all of them? Remember, they don’t even believe in a resurrection.

Jesus shows us how to answer questions, even dumb ones or challenging ones. He didn’t state his opinion. He took them to the Book. They quoted Deuteronomy. Jesus quoted Exodus. Jesus went to the Bible. We need to do this more. Too often, we give our opinions, or quote preacher so and so, or state what position our church holds. None of those things matter. What God says matters. Go to the Book. The Bible trumps all other thoughts. Always. That’s what Jesus always did. Great reminder for all of us.

In quoting Exodus, Jesus made a bold conclusion. The Exodus quote stated that, ’I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Jesus then added, “He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived back in the days of Genesis, more than a thousand years before Jesus and these Sadducees. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had died. They were dead. Yet God is their God. God is not the God of the dead but of the living. The conclusion is that even though Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had died, they were living. Jesus affirmed life after death. He used the Bible to prove that. He didn’t get excited and have to make wild claims, shout or get angry. The proof is in the word. That statement destroyed their little test. They flunked and Jesus won. He always does.

 

Our passage today shows Jesus telling the Sadducees, “You are mistaken…” They were mistaken not knowing the Scriptures. Not knowing the Bible will get a person into all kinds of theological knots and tight places. Not knowing the Scriptures may lead a person, like the Sadducees, to believe things that are not true. The answer through all of this is the word of God. Salvation, worship, the definition of marriage, the role of the church and a zillion other things that could be listed here have about as many far out ideas and concepts as there are people today. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone thinks their opinion is not only the best, but, it’s the only one that’s right. People will fuss, argue, protest and do everything but open up the Bible. Not knowing Scriptures has led to the development of so many different churches today that teach so many things that are not in the Bible. Misusing the Bible is dangerous. A verse, not used correctly does not help.  It has led to soft and easy religion that requires nothing, does nothing and is going no where. “You are mistaken not knowing the Scriptures” ought to burn deeply within us. Do I know the Scriptures? Do I know what God says about marriage? Flat out, do I know? Do I know what God says about Salvation? Do I? Where does baptism fit in with salvation? Does it belong there? What do the Scriptures teach? It’s pretty plain once you look what happens after the resurrection of Jesus. Have you seen that pattern? Do I know what God expects elders in the church to do? Do I? Do I know the difference between a pastor and a preacher? You mean there is a difference? Yes. It has nothing to do with education, pay or level of experience. Do I know what’s going to happen when Jesus comes? Did God make the earth in six days or is evolution true? Does it matter? What does the Scriptures say? Do I know what happens to mamma when she dies? Is grandma going to Heaven because she is old, sweet and makes chocolate chip cookies? Is a soldier overseas going to Heaven because he died in combat? That’s what most folks believe. Is that what the Bible teaches? Does it matter which church I go to? Does it? What does the Bible say?

 

It’s easy to thump the Sadducees, but in many ways we can be just as mistaken about Scriptures as they were.  They quoted Bible to Jesus, but they were mistaken about the Bible. Biblical ignorance is dangerous. Dynamite is great if a person knows how to use it. Put dynamite in the wrong hands, and someone will blow himself up. The word of God is “powerful” (Rom 1:16) – same root word that gives us our word dynamite. Use correctly, the Bible will defeat Satan, conquer your fears and lead you home to Heaven. Misusing the Bible, you’ll get into all kinds of trouble with God. This is why Paul told Timothy to handle the word of God “accurately”.

You are mistaken…one place we don’t want to be wrong is in the Bible. Know it. Use it. Learn it. Teach it. Believe it. Follow it. Trust it. Stand upon it.

(P.S. for those that didn’t notice, this is Jump Start # 666. Some get nervous about that number. We’ll take a look at that next week, Lord willing.)

Roger

 

09

Jump Start # 665

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 665

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”

The apostle Paul wraps up his letter to the Ephesians with one final grand admonition to the church. Be strong, he tells them. What follows is that wonderful section commonly called “the Christian armor.” Put on the full armor of God the apostle tells the brethren. Like a coach inspiring his team, or a parent talking to his child, Paul encourages these brethren to:

· Stand firm (11, 13. 14)

· Resist the evil one (13)

· Extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (16)

Spiritual strength is what leads all of this. Without strength one will not be able to stand firm. They can not resist nor extinguish flaming arrows without strength. This is where it all begins. For too long, congregations have not taken this seriously. As long as folks show up, that’s about all that is expected of them. Paul didn’t think so. He wanted the brethren to be strong.  Weak members make a weak church.

The Olympics these days remind us of the importance of strength. Before us, each night on TV, are the world’s best. These athletes have dedicated themselves to training. Hours and hours, and days and days, and months and months of training, practicing, meets have taken place. We witness physical strength at its best.

Spiritual strength, likewise doesn’t just happen. There are things that have to be done. When they are, what a blessing spiritual strength is. Knowledge of God’s word allows you to recognize right and wrong. You can help people understand the Bible. Remember the Ethiopian reading Isaiah in his chariot. He didn’t understand what he was reading. Philip came along. Philip did. He had spiritual strength. His strength not only gave the answers that the Ethiopian was looking for, it led to the conversion of the eunuch. How different this story would have been had Philip said, “I don’t know who Isaiah is talking about?” Or, worse, had he just made a guess and been wrong. Spiritual strength is based upon Biblical knowledge. That knowledge opens doors and opens eyes. A person can read something in a book and immediately recognize that it is correct with what the Bible says or it is off track.

Spiritual strength is more than just knowledge of the book. That’s where it begins. It is also using that strength in the forms of courage, teaching, standing up for what is right, leadership and helping others to grow. Strength is only valuable if it is used. The Olympians work out with the goal of competing. They use their strength. Paul had this in mind when he said resist and extinguish. That’s putting the strength to practice. Jumping in and teaching a Bible class, spending time with others to help them become better, developing people, serving as an elder, or deacon—these are a few ways we use spiritual strength. The greatest way is courageously standing up for God. Satan is alive and well and is trying to get a foothold in many congregations. Weak and indifferent brethren will hold the door open for him. The strong will recognize when things are not according to God’s word. Different and change are often covers for unscriptural and wrong. Many do not recognize that. Many go along with that. Many see no harm. The strong does. The strong keeps us on course with God. Ancient mariners who got off course just slightly often got terribly lost at sea. It didn’t take much. Staying the course is vital. Spiritual strength are the ones who need to be at the helm when the ship gets off.

Spiritual strength takes time. It takes work. It takes spending time with the Bible. Thinking. Reading. Underling. Taking notes. Asking questions. Chasing down thoughts and ideas. Connecting dots. Before long, you start to see how everything is connected. You see what it was that Jesus was after. You see what the apostles were teaching. Your learning takes you from knowledge to wisdom to becoming. It affects you. It changes you. You get excited about what you see and learn. It drives you to want to learn more. You invest in some good study tools that will help you. You share what you’ve learned with others. It changes your marriage and parenting. It shapes your heart. You start to see doors of opportunity all around you. The heart of a servant becomes your heart. You are busy doing things for others. You are amazed at the passion, zeal and drive that you have found. You love being a Christian.

One of the best ways this strength comes from is by teaching. You study and study and prepare and anticipate questions and think and write and chase rabbits in your study and shape it up for a class or a lesson or a sermon. You find that you can’t use all that you have, so you must trim out things here and there. But all through this process you are learning, growing and becoming. The class you teach helps you become strong. A question is asked. You know the answer. Someone offers a different view, you steer the ship back to the right course. You know what to do. You are at the helm. Strength will do that.

Be strong—what simple words. What profound impact they have. Weak brethren are constantly stumbling and tripping over temptation. Weak minds give weak ideas and weak answers and weak conclusions. It’s the strong that makes the difference. It’s the strong that leads the way.

You can be strong—Paul said so.  Be strong!

Roger

 

08

Jump Start # 664

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 664

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

Names are important. It is how we identify ourselves. It is one of the first things we share with someone that we meet. Some of us have very simple names. Others have very unusual names. There are names that are very hard to pronounce. The Old Testament has several of those. Soon-to-be parents spend a lot of time picking out what they want to be the perfect name for their baby. Knowing some character years ago with a certain name has a way of discouraging them from using that. When someone mispronounces our name, we are quick to correct them. Our names are important to us.

Our passage is about the name of Jesus. Peter had just healed someone and the city officials were demanding some explanations as to what happened. Peter proudly reported that the lame man now stands because of the name of Jesus. Peter then snuck this wonderful principle in the conversation. Only the name of Jesus saves. There is no other name that will save. For a Jewish audience the conclusion was obvious. Peter was declaring that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah that would save Israel. The salvation Peter knows about is from sins, not Roman occupation.

God’s name is valuable and important. High among the Ten Commandments is the warning not to take the name of God in vain. Too many ignore that today. The name of God is heard every day, but rarely is it used to talk about the Holy One in Heaven. Something happens and a person will say God’s name. It comes out when something bad happens. It also comes out when something exciting happens. This has become so common that simply typing three letters means the same thing. God’s name is special. It’s holy. It is the name we call upon in prayer. It is His name that guides us.

The expression, “in the name of,” is used to signify permission or authority. We understand that in reference to law enforcement. Someone knocks loudly on your door in the middle of the night and shouts, “in the name of the law, come out.” We’ll be out very quickly. That expression, “in the name of” carries weight to it. Baptism is in the “name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” By the authority of God a person is baptized. Paul said “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col 3:17). Live under the authority of God. Do what God wants you to do. Don’t cross the border of right and wrong. Don’t do as you want, but as God wants. Find the will of God and follow it.

There is another name that is very close to God. It is the word, “Christian.” Interesting, it is only found three times in the Bible. It is never used of a college, bookstore, nation or genre of music, although we do that all the time. It is only used of followers of Christ. The word means, “belongs to.” As a student might write their name inside a textbook, signifying that they are the owner, the name Christian means we belong to Christ. We carry His name. His name is upon us, which is a concept found in Revelation where God writes His name on the forehead of the disciples. I belong to Christ. That’s what Christian means. The principle is proven in Corinthians where Paul states that we have be bought with a price and that we are no longer us. We belong to the one who bought us. We belong to Christ. When slaves were purchased, they belonged to their owner. They were to do as their masters told them. The ones that served well, got along well. The ones that tried to rebel, run away or do what they wanted, got in big trouble, often resulting in their death. They forgot who owned them.

Being a Christian is an honor. We serve the best. God is the best. We work for the greatest of all time. What we do honors God or it embarrasses Him. People who know us, make a judgment about our faith and our God based upon how we behave.

Our Olympians carry the name U.S.A. on their uniforms. They do the best they can, not just for their glory but for the country. It is our country that sent them there. It is our country that stands behind them. Being a Christian is much like that. It is not the church that we wear on our hearts, it is Christ. We ought to have the spirit of the Olympians, trying our best, not for personal glory, but for Christ. Someday as we stand upon a podium, may the world hear the anthem of Christ.

We understand the value of names. Certain names opens doors of opportunities. Someone’s name may get you into an interview. Some names are worth more than others. I got a baseball the other day that had someone’s name on it. The man behind that man could play ball. He was a champion and now a hall-of-famer. His name on that ball was worth something. My name of a baseball isn’t worth anything. I never played professional ball. Names are more than words. They point to the person behind the name. The name on the cross was Jesus. The name Jesus, changed the world. No name could have done what the name of Jesus did. No other name on a cross would accomplish what Jesus did. It’s more than just His name, it’s what is behind that name—the Holy God of Heaven and Earth.

No name is more important than God’s name. Use it carefully and with honor. Break away from saying God’s name because you don’t know what else to say. It is better to be silent than to dishonor God. Walk carefully through this life, you carry the name of Christ. What an honor that His name identifies who we are—we are Christ-ians.

Roger

 

07

Jump Start # 663

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 663

Psalms 98:8-9 “Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.”

Our passage this morning reflects a very different attitude about God’s coming judgment than most understand. Typically, thoughts of a coming judgment bring the idea of fear, uncertainty, and final separation. It’s something the Bible says will happen, but it’s not something we look forward to. Most believers love to talk about Heaven, but it’s that judgment before Heaven that they don’t want to discuss.

Notice the sounds of enthusiasm in these verses at the coming judgment—the rivers clap their hands and the mountains sing with joy. There was a delight and an anticipation of this coming judgment.

It’s fair to ask, why is there a coming judgment?

  • First, this isn’t it. Getting up every day and going to school or work, paying bills, taking the dog to the vet, arranging time to go to the doctor, the stuff we call life, so often misses God. The coming judgment reminds us that these things will end. This is not the completed picture that God designed. His plan includes us dwelling together with Him. His plan involves holiness, righteousness and spirituality. Our minds can get stuck thinking about money, fixing things and going places. It is easy for us to go a whole day without thinking of the eternal. The coming judgment puts everything back in place. We sing, “This world is not my home…” Boy, we need to sing that. More than that we need to think that.

 

  • Secondly, God is still in control. He always has been. Some may not think so. This crazy and sinful world can look like He’s not, but He is. Freewill, choice and sin have made a mess of things. Man often doesn’t choose the best, the right or the lasting. We are not in control of things. We are not at the helm of the ship, God is. At His beckoning, not ours, there will be a judgment. Man has not nor will ever get to the point that he doesn’t need God. The judgment reflects that God is in charge and we are accountable to him. For a man to say, “I answer to no one,” is to show his ignorance of spiritual matters. He will answer and he will answer to God someday.

 

  • Thirdly, justice prevails. Paul told the Romans to leave room for the wrath of God. A coming judgment is the ironing out of all the wrinkles of wrongs. God is a righteous judge. He judges with both mercy and wrath. There is no getting away with murder, not with a coming judgment. The innocent who have been beaten down and oppressed will be vindicated. The arrogant sins of those who mock God will come to justice. In many ways this is what our passage today is looking at. The rivers clap and the mountains sing because things will be made right by God. Our justice system is often flawed. Sometimes the truth never comes out. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is telling the truth and who is lying. God knows. Justice will prevail.

 

  • Fourthly, what follows the judgment is a new relationship with God. After the judgment, the eternal becomes so visible. Everything as we know it changes. After the judgment comes Heaven for the righteous. Revelation tells us that there will be no death, sorrow or pain. What a new world that will be for us. Before this day ends, someone will die. In fact, many will die, world wide. Today, someone will have sorrow. Some will have pain. We have almost gotten accustomed to those things. They are everyday. Not after the judgment. Heaven is without those things. The world God lives in is without time. God never ages. Someday we won’t either. God is not like an aging baseball player who looks back over his career and remembers when he was at his peak, but is no longer. Not God. He is as powerful and strong today as He was in the days of Noah, Daniel or Paul. He never lessens. His brightness never dims. Not God. Someday we will be in that world. It’s hard to imagine.

Judgment is something that is good and necessary. Judgment is to be longed for not feared, if you walk with the Lord. Judgment is coming. Clap your hands and sing joyfully. “There is a great day coming, a great day coming…”

Roger

 

06

Jump Start # 662

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 662

Acts 8:39 “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.”

Our passage today is taken from the conversion of the eunuch from Ethiopia. Great story. Courageous. Encouraging. The Ethiopian had many things going against him. He was a long way from home—the distance between Ethiopia and Jerusalem is huge, especially when traveling by chariot. He had a physical handicap. He was a eunuch which meant he was unable to have sexual relationships. Some were born that way. Some were made that way when captured by a foreign armies. Some were made that way when placed in the service of queens. It was a way of protecting the queen. He also had a very prominent job. He was the queen’s treasurer. This would put him in circles of prominent people, important meetings and national budgets. He would have been a busy person.

The Ethiopian also had something going for him. He believed in God. He had traveled to Jerusalem to worship. He was on the way back home. He was reading Isaiah—which meant that he had a private copy, which would have been extremely rare in those days.

God pulled Philip away from preaching to the Samaritans to go meet the Ethiopian. He began telling him about Jesus. They passed some water. The Ethiopian wanted to be baptized. He confessed Christ and was immersed into Jesus Christ. These verses show us that baptism was an immersion, which the word itself truly means. They “went down into the water” and “they came up out of the water”. You don’t do that if baptism is sprinkling. You don’t need to get into water and out of water. These verses also show us that teaching Jesus leads to baptism. The two are connected. It is through baptism that one puts on Christ and receives the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

 

I want to look at the end of our verse, a simple statement. The Ethiopian “went on his way rejoicing.” Rejoicing because he was now a Christian. Rejoicing because Christ was His Lord. Rejoicing because he was forgiven. Rejoicing because he came to know Christ. Rejoicing because he was a Christian. It’s exciting to see hearts coming to Christ. They come realizing that they are not right but that Jesus will make them right. What a wonderful and happy occasion that is.

I have seen this taking place many times recently. It is so exciting. It is a time to rejoice. It is a time to remember that the pure words of Christ still work. It’s a time to remember that God hasn’t given up on us. Seeing people come to Christ is such a rich experience.

Rejoicing over spiritual things is missing in many lives. We rejoice to get a bonus check. We rejoice at weddings and births. We rejoice to have a day off. But spiritually? Certainly we should. Rejoice because God is good. Rejoice because righteousness is simply right.

Here is my rejoicing list:

  • God hears my prayers, even when I haven’t talked to Him as often as I should.
  • I can own my own copy of God’s word. That’s a given in this land. It’s not that way in all places.
  • Sunday is such an amazing experience of praise, fellowship and encouragement.
  • The church is made up of folks who love the Lord and each other.
  • Having an incredible group of shepherds who truly shepherd.
  • Being with a group people who love worship.
  • Being forgiven by God
  • Watching someone baptized

Do you have such a list? Have you thought about such things in a while? Rejoicing  in God. Paul reminded the Philippians to rejoice. We need to be told that. We tend to forget. Life can look dark and bleak. We can forget what we have in Christ. A few moments with the Bible, a quiet moment in prayer, a Sunday worship, can make the heart swell with joy. The Ethiopian went home rejoicing because of the Lord.

The word “gospel” means good news, and it is! It is good news because it tells us of Jesus. It is good news because it tells us of salvation. Good news does something to us. We love to hear good news. The soldier oversees comes home safely…the patient in ICU recovers and goes home…honor rolls…gold medals…all-star teams…weddings…another grandchild on the way…a soul comes to Christ. Good news! We ought to leave a Sunday worship not beaten down, not defeated, not dreary, but rejoicing. Good news has been given. Good news has come. Good news is a reason to rejoice. The gospel is the reason to rejoice.

Rejoicing leads to gratitude. A thankful heart is a rejoicing heart. These two are connected together.

Some go on their way. The Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing. There is a difference. I hope you see it and more so, experience it. It is a wonderful thing.

 

Roger