23

Jump Start # 3561

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3561

Mark 6:37 “But He answered them, ‘You give them something to eat!’ And they said to Him, ‘Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?’”

 

  Life is often plagued with problems. They come at us without an announcement. Driving in this morning to the office, there was a wreck on the freeway. Miles of traffic inching very slowly. I had to make some adjustments to my schedule. Problems do that. Your child wakes us telling you that he doesn’t feel well. Adjustments have to be made. You get in your car and it won’t start. Adjustments have to be made. At work, the computers are down. Adjustments.

 

  In our passage, the feeding of the five thousand, it was getting late in the day. The disciples approached Jesus with a suggestion, send the crowd home. Let them feed themselves. Jesus had other ideas. This is where our verse comes from. You feed them.

 

  And, this quickly turned into two problems. First, we don’t have any food. All they could find was a poor boy’s snack. That was enough for that boy and no one else. Second, we don’t have enough money among us to go into a village and buy some food.

 

  Now, imagine if they did have enough money. The two hundred denarii, that our verse states, would be nearly a year’s income. Who carries that kind of money with them? And, even if they had that kind of money, it would take a while to go into the village. The text tells us that it was getting late. They didn’t have 24 hour convenient stores back then. And, how would twelve apostles carry the food to feed 5,000 to 10,000 people? They’d have to buy or rent a cart and some oxen. That would cut into the money needed to buy the food. Problems upon problems.

 

  It’s easy to find problems. Look around, you’ll see cobwebs in the corners, chipped paint, a scratch on the furniture, a leaky faucet, weeds in the garden, a stack of bills that need to be paid. And, that’s what our eyes see. When we look with our hearts, we see people who haven’t apologized. We notice prejudice and hatred. We hear gossip. We see members sleeping in church, or worse, some who don’t come at all. Problems upon problems.

 

  Our passage tells us something about problems:

 

  First, it’s easy to see the problem but to have no ideas as to what to do about them. The disciples saw a problem, the people need to eat. They were the ones who brought that up to Jesus. But they didn’t have any answers. Some people are problem solvers. The rest are problem finders. If something is wrong, they’ll be the first to tell you about it. Problem finders don’t have any answers. Their goal and mission in life is to point out what’s broken, what’s not working, what’s wrong and then have someone else fix it. Their work is done once they have identified the problem.

 

  Second, there are problems that only Jesus can fix. I was putting some Jump Start books together to mail the other day and the stapler ran out of staples. I didn’t drop to my knees and go to Heaven for help. Maybe I should have. I just walked down the hallway to the resource room and grabbed another bunch of staples. I could solve that one on my own.

 

  But what to do when a brother runs out of faith? I can’t go down to the resource room and grab another batch of faith for him. I can talk to him. I can share some verses with him. But, ultimately, he needs Jesus. He needs the Divine to heal his confused and broken spirit.

 

  And, this is a valuable lesson for us. We like to fix every problem. We like to believe that there is nothing that we cannot handle. We try and often we add to the problems because we are dealing with things beyond our knowledge and we do not have any solutions. There are things that only God can fix. We must recognize that.

 

  Third, much too often, as with these disciples from our verse today, the answer to the problem is right there among us. They had seen Jesus calm storms. They had seen Jesus providing a massive catch of fish. The blind were now seeing, because of Jesus. The lepers were cured. The lame walked. We don’t have food, but we have Jesus. If only their eyes could have seen that.

 

  If only my eyes can see that. I’m never truly alone, I have Jesus. I am never without help, I have Jesus. I am never in a place where no one understands, I have Jesus. Standing right there beside me is Jesus.

 

  When Jesus, from our verse today, said, “You give them something to eat,” they should have asked, “Jesus, will you help us?” And, that’s what I need to be asking to navigate through this world. Instead of seeing only problems and trying to solve things on my own, getting frustrated, stressed, worried and doubtful, “Jesus will you help me?”

 

  You can’t get around problems. But you sure don’t have to give up. Jesus, will you help me?

 

  Roger

 

22

Jump Start # 3560

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3560

Colossians 2:4 “I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.”

There is an expression that states all of us will be exactly the same way we are in five years except for the books we read and the people we associate with. Those influences can have a positive or a negative impact upon us. As parents, we taught our little ones to pick good friends when they went to school. As they got to the dating age we encouraged them to look beyond the surface and to see if there was anything upstairs working in that head. But sometimes, as adults we’ve given ourselves a pass on the type of people we hang out with.

It is interesting to see multiple times in Colossians two, that Paul brings this topic up. Notice:

  • No one will delude you with persuasive argument (4)
  • See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception (8)
  • No one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink (16)
  • Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize (18)
  • Why do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, do not handle, do not taste, do not touch (20-21)

Five times in one context, the apostle warns about the twisted influence of others. The words are vivid: delude, take captive, defraud. And the means which this is done is also very illustrated: persuasive argument; philosophy; empty deception; judging; decrees.

It doesn’t take much insight to see that Paul was concerned and he saw this as a real problem. Years ago, we hired a magician to come to our home and put on a show for a bunch of teens. He did the typical card tricks and was great with the teens. He had them laughing and engaged in what he was doing. The one that got me was how he cut a small rope in two pieces and then, somehow, it came back together. I asked him to do that a second time. He did. I watched intently. I watched what he did with his hands. I knew it was a trick. But I couldn’t figure it out. He’d smile at me because he knew he had me.

And, that’s just the way error works. It doesn’t begin by announcing that this is something that is wrong. It looks good. It’s like those knock-off products that look like the real thing. Someone once gave me a Rolex watch. It looked like the real deal. I scanned through pictures of Rolex watches on the internet. I finally took it to a jeweler who told me it was a fake. The twisted Gospel can seem so close to the original that many accept it without thinking things out.

So, before us, are the words, “see to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy.” How? Most of us are not experts in the original languages. When something looks so close to the real one, how am I to know? How do I not get deluded, deceived and taken captive?

First, we know the answer is not in trusting what my preacher says. The historical path of digression has most times be blazed by preachers. Oh, I love my preacher, we say. I trust my preacher. I believe he is a good man. He wouldn’t tell me anything that wasn’t true.

Paul’s words to the Colossians were not directed to the preachers. The “see to it that no one takes you captive” and “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize” was the responsibility of each member. They had to take ownership of their faith. They were the ones to “see to it” and “Let no one” mess with their faith.

You can’t really take responsibility of your neighbor’s yard. It may be full of weeds and even trash. But you can certainly keep those things out of your yard. So, we are responsible for our faith. If we are deluded, it’s our fault. If we don’t recognize error, it’s our fault. If we walk blindly into deception with open arms, it’s our fault. It’s like the small print listed at the bottom of some contracts. We sign off without reading all that stuff, but we were the ones who signed off.

Second, knowing the word of God will keep you from being defrauded and deceived. This is where we must think things through. We must search carefully and ponder. Recent books are pushing ideas that Acts-Epistles are not a pattern for the church. Slick maneuvering of concepts and passages paints a pretty picture that the church mirrors Jesus. Sounds good. Jesus fed multitudes. Thus the church ought to feed multitudes. Jesus accepted everyone without question. The church ought to accept everyone without question. It all sounds so good. It sounds so right. Not a patterned hermeneutics but a theological hermeneutics.

And, without realizing it, a rope was cut right before our eyes and put back together we don’t know how it happen. John says as we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7). What if someone isn’t walking in the light? What if someone doesn’t even know what the light is? What if someone wants to remain in the dark? Jesus accepted all and so should the church? No.

Was Jesus’ feeding the multitudes a pattern for the church or a demonstration of the compassion and power of Christ? Was the Lord intending the church to feed multitudes or believe that Jesus is the Christ, the chosen one of God?

Jesus also turned over tables and drove out those who were abusing God’s temple for profit. Ought the church to do the same? How is it that one example is followed and not others?

Then, what is the function of Acts-Epistles? If not instructions for the church to follow, what?

Third, and, after all these many, many years, why are some finding new ways that no one before has ever noticed? That’s odd. They could be right, but don’t be fooled by the slogans of “different, new, unique, never seen before.”

Don’t be fooled. Don’t be deceived. Don’t be persuaded. Don’t be defrauded. They way to keep that from happening is to know the Word of God. Know it well. Know it like you know anything else. The magicians of religion will always come up with fancy ways of trying to fool us and trick us. We know better because we know the word of God.

Don’t let anyone delude you…

Roger

19

Jump Start # 3559

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3559

Acts 17:2 “And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.”

He carried a famous name and he was actually related to his name sake, Benjamin Franklin. But this Benjamin stayed out of politics and became one of the leading voices in the Restoration Movement, especially in Indiana. On eclipse day, last week, I happened to be in the area where he was buried. I have always wanted to make my to his grave. And, it was so fitting for the man who it honored. His grave stone looked like a pulpit with an open Bible on top. The years have weathered the inscription on his stone and it’s hard to make it out, but there is was, “Elder Benjamin Franklin.”

He died in 1878 at the age of 66. What a powerhouse he was. Some called him an old fogie. He was so conservative that he was labeled “ultra conservative.” The periodical he started, American Christian Review, beginning in 1856, quickly became the most read publication by brethren. After the American Civil War, another civil war took place among the disciples. In the north, a progressive movement advocating a brotherhood missionary society and instrumental music in worship was gaining momentum. His paper, the Review, as it was commonly called, was seen as the last hope of saving the Restoration. He often title articles, “Is it right?” or, “Is it in the Bible?” At first, Franklin supported the missionary society. He even engaged in a debate defending them. But in time, through a careful study of the Bible, he realized that the church was capable of doing all that God expected it to do. Any organization larger than a local congregation was not in the plans of God.

Franklin was a common man. His vocabulary was that of the man of the frontier. Not highly educated, he was often dismissed by intellectuals within the faith. He traveled extensively preaching the Gospel. It is thought that he baptized more than 10,000 souls and established many congregations, especially in Indiana.

Preacher Franklin was a giant that stood for the truth of God’s word. There are many resources about his life and the early volumes of his Review have recently been reprinted. He pushed against the coming tide of change that was harming many churches.

Our verse today, shows what Paul did for three weeks in Thessalonica.

  • He went to them. He didn’t wait for them to come to him.
  • He reasoned with them. He didn’t demand. He didn’t say it is so because I say it is so. He appealed to intellect, reason, proof and evidence.
  • He reasoned with them from the Scriptures. That was his source material. That was the proof. He didn’t appeal to feelings. He didn’t appeal to culture. He didn’t appeal to what everyone else was doing. Scriptures. What does the Bible say?

This is the same method that works today.

There are some important reflections about his life:

First, there are always those who are not satisfied with God’s way of doing things. They invite change. They want to do things that are not found in the Bible. It was that way with the golden calf. It was that way with Solomon’s idols. It was that way with the missionary society. And, it’s that way today. Some like to dismiss the ancient ways as traditionalism and they want no part in that. Those who are bent that way are constantly feeding on a diet of false teachers, advocates of ignoring Biblical authority and dismiss the past as absolute failures. Moses fought that kind of change. The prophets fought that kind of change. Franklin fought that kind of change. We, today, are hearing similar voices that would rather match with the devil than walk with the Lord,

Second, it is impressive to see that Franklin changed his views. What he once thought was right, wasn’t. He did not let pride, pressure or peers keep him for acknowledging what he knew the Bible taught. The “societies,” as they were referred to back then, were not way God chose to do things. Man must learn that we cannot improve upon God. What God states is always the best. It always works. It is sufficient to do just what the Lord wanted done.

Some will never change. To change, one admits that what they thought was right, wasn’t. That’s hard for some to do. It’s humbling. But better right with God, than to hold on to your dignity and image and stand in the wrong line.

Third, once he changed, Franklin became very vocal about whose side he was on. He blistered the progressives for their leaving the Bible only platform to embrace the societies. He didn’t hide in the shadows once he changed. Franklin was similar to the apostle Paul, who became so vocal and useful for the kingdom once he changed.

Historically, one could say that Franklin didn’t stop the coming changes that the progressives wanted. In the north, in Indiana, more congregations accepted the missionary society and the instrument than stood against it. But does that mean all was in vain? It was a wasted effort? Look at the mission of Christ. He said that the way to destruction is broad and crowded and only few are on the strait and narrow. So, do we conclude that the mission of Christ failed? Do we say what the Lord did was in vain? It was wasted effort? Absolutely not.

The evening that I stood at Franklin’s grave, I spoke to a gathering of men about preparing to be an elder. Men from several congregations in that area came for that. It was a good study and beneficial and a tribute to the fact that some desire to stand with the Lord and believe in His ways.

The carved image of an open Bible on a pulpit marking the grave of one who dedicated his life to that is so fitting. I’m glad I finally made my way there.

Roger

18

Jump Start # 3558

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3558

John 10:5 “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Within John 10, there are two different voices that are presented. One voice is that of the Good Shepherd. The sheep recognize that voice. The shepherd not only leads the sheep, but he calls them by name. He knows them. He knows them and they recognize Him. There is a bond of trust that is familiar and good.

We understand that with our family. Our phone rings and we answer it without looking who is calling. But immediately we recognize the voice of our spouse or our children. We know their voice. We trust that voice.

The other voice found in John 10 is that of the stranger. He calls the sheep, but they do not follow. Jesus said that this voice belonged to thieves and robbers and the sheep did not hear them. They did not pay attention. They did not recognize that voice. There wasn’t a familiarity with that voice.

Two voices—one recognized and one not. Two voices—one from a friend and the other from the enemy. Two voices calling—one wants to lead us to green pastures and quiet waters, the other leads to danger and death.

Contextually, Jesus likely is referring to His voice as the good Shepherd and the Pharisees as the voice of the enemy, but eventually, that voice belongs to Satan. The Pharisees were trying to pull people away from Jesus. They were convinced that He was not the Messiah. Voices calling, which one will you listen to? The voice of a friend or the voice of strangers.

Here are some thoughts for us:

First, the two voices are still speaking today. The voice of God speaks to us through the Scriptures. In these last days, God speaks through Jesus. The voice of God is the same for you as it is for me. God does not literally speak to you, nor does God speak literally to me. He speaks through the word of God. Consistent. Established. And, the same for each one of us.

But, there are other voices speaking today. It’s not the Pharisees, but the voice of culture. “You need to do this,” shouts through social media and commercials. You are not keeping up unless you do these things. You must do these things. You have to do these things. “Ten things to retire successfully.” “Five steps to raising balanced children.” The books are flooded with what you have to eat, how many steps you have to walk each day, how many hours you should spend watching TV. On and on and on the advice floods us. It’s overwhelming. And, some of that cultural advice crosses the line with God. Some are just wrong. Some are plain dumb. And, when we try to keep up with what everyone else is doing, when we try to stay in the margin of average, we find ourselves listening to others and doing what others tell us to do.

What’s popular, what everyone else is doing, is not the voice that we listen to. I don’t need social media to tell me how to be happy. I don’t need someone else telling me what I need to do to be content. I don’t listen to the voice of strangers. I listen to the good Shepherd.

Second, sadly, unlike our passage today, far too many do know the voice of strangers. That voice is telling them that the church is hopelessly stuck on the rails of tradition and can’t get off. These strange voices are introducing trends not found in the Bible. They are opening the door to practices that the apostles never participated in. They are changing Biblical definitions and the way people look at the Bible. Fresh. Exciting. Free. Those are the words racing through blogs, podcasts, sermons and books these days. Paul told young Timothy to teach sound men who will be able to teach the same thing (2 Tim 2:2). It’s not looking for something new. It’s the same thing. It’s not a different way of looking at things. It’s the same thing. Paul handed to the Corinthians what the Lord had handed to Him (1 Cor 11:23). There are a lot of radical voices today who have given up on the voice of the good Shepherd and the way of God. They want to forge a new path and go a new direction. Chesterton said, “Don’t ever take a fence

Our verse states that the sheep flee because they do not know the voice of strangers. Yet, that is not happening today. Instead, preachers are recommending the books of “strangers.” The sheep are not fleeing these strange voices—they are flocking to them and embracing them. Unstable, untaught and unconvinced, many are being sucked into a sewer of error without even realizing it. Changing the way we look at the Bible, using only the Gospels and not the rest of the N.T., allows “strangers” to offer a different voice. Why not use the Bible the way Jesus did? Why not use the Bible the way the apostles did?

Third, while the voice of the stranger is different and that voice offers a different path to follow, it takes one away from the Good Shepherd. That’s the point of John 10. Which voice are you going to listen to? One can’t go down two different paths at the same time. The Psalmist declared, “For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice” (Ps 95:7). At the transfiguration, God declared, “Listen to Him” (Mt 17:5). Moses and Elijah were there. God did not say, “Listen to them.” He said, “Listen to Him.” His Son. His beloved. The Messiah.

The call for a new hermeneutics. The voice that ignores or denies the patterns of the Bible, sounds different, almost like a breath of fresh air, but is it the voice of the Shepherd or that of the stranger? Who is saying these things?

Two voices calling you. Which one will you listen to?

Roger

17

Jump Start # 3557

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3557

Job 1:10 “Have you not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”

I was thinking about ole’ Job the other day and this passage in particular. I wonder if Job knew that God had protected him so well? Satan viewed this as a hedge about him. The majority of the translations all use the word “hedge.” In my mind, I think of a fine estate or mansion that is surrounded by very tall shrubs or hedges. It keeps outsiders from looking in and in fact, it keeps outsiders outside. While we may use hedges as borders or landscape, often they were used in place of a fence. Hedges can grow thick and dense. They form a wall of protection.

As the book of Job progresses, we notice what happened when God allowed Satan to cut down the hedges. I don’t know if there was a series of different hedges around Job or just one massive one, but once the hedges were gone, Job was hurt. Without the hedges Job suffered financially. Crimes were committed against him. There was violence. There were storms. There was death. There was the loss of health. All of those hedges had kept those troubles away from Job. Now that the hedges were gone, Job was vulnerable. Job was a victim. Job was along for the ride.

From that, I’ve wondered if you and I have similar hedges around our hearts and lives. We don’t see them, but because of them, God has protected us from violence, crime, health issues, troubles, and financial woes. We may not even realize how these divine hedges have saved us from many tears and troubles. They have kept the devil at a distance from us.

Here are some thoughts from this:

First, we ought to be thankful for the years and years of protection God has provided. He has guarded our hearts from tears because of the divine protection around us. As Iran was blasting rockets towards Israel recently, their defense shield was shooting them out of the sky. They were protected.

For us, it’s just another day. It’s just like yesterday. And, it’s just like tomorrow. That’s how we think. But how has our Lord kept our hearts safe. How He has kept storms, trouble and trials from us. His hedge has kept us safe. Don’t take these days for granted, nor expect them. Be thankful for them. If we only knew, we’d likely be amazed. Troubles diverted. Accidents that never happened. Heartache that never got through to us. The hedges have protected us and it is the Lord who has made all of that possible. It’s not our strength, our wealth, our connections that has done this. It all points to the goodness of the Lord.

Second, there are times when God allows Satan to cut down the hedges around us. The testing of our faith produces endurance, we find in James. Sometimes that testing means allowing things to get through. Our faith and our trust is not in our 401s or our family, our health, or, even the church. It’s in the Lord. In Job’s book, it sure seems that just about all the hedges were dug up and removed. All Job had left was himself. But there was something Satan didn’t see. Job’s faith was not in what he had accomplished, what he owned, or how good life was. His faith was in the Lord. Even without any hedges, open to attacks and troubles, Job remained faithful to God. And, so must we. Our faith in the Lord is not only in the sunshine of life, but also in the darkness of storms. The measure of God’s love towards us is not in how nice our lives are. He loves us, no matter what.

Third, as parents, we build hedges around our children. We want them to be protected and safe. The world is dangerous and dark. But, there are valuable character lessons that come from not making the team, not getting the scholarship, not always having every door opened to us. Learning from our mistakes and sins can keep us from making greater mistakes and sins. Little ones need a lot of help. But there is a transition, where parents need to let them learn some things and that includes failures. Raising children is like flying a kite. Hold the string to tight and it might snap. Yet, holding that string too loose and the kite comes crashing down. It takes some doing to know just the right amount of pressure to keep that kite flying high.

We may never know all the hedges the Lord placed around us. While we are quick to complain about the weather, the traffic, high prices, and rude people, we forget to thank the Lord for His loving protection and care through the years. God has blessed us abundantly. God has forgiven us multiple times. God continues to be good to us.

Hedges around us…what an interesting thought.

Roger