Pulpit Today

Marriages and funerals will always be part of a minister’s portfolio.  But while these events may occupy a pastor’s call to service did you ever consider that Jesus never conducted a funeral?  A marriage yes, but a funeral, no!

One young minister was asked to officiate a funeral.  He prepared his sermon with agonizing difficulty and searched through the Gospels to uncover how Christ preached funerals.  But to his amazement his examination could not produce one funeral that Jesus preached.

Why didn’t Jesus preach a funeral?  Well, consider Who He was.  Jesus was the “resurrection and the life,” and that meant death couldn’t abide in His life-giving presence!  The sheer power of Christ’s presence 2000 years ago would not allow anyone die in His presence and those He approached who were dead could not remain lifeless in His presence!

While traveling through the city of Nain Jesus interrupted the funeral of a widow’s son.  When He drew near the casket and touched the boy death disappeared and life reemerged!  Even at Calvary, crucified between two thieves, the criminals could not precede Him in death.  Jesus died first.  And that’s why He could declare, “I am the resurrection [nobody can die in My presence] and I am the Life” [nobody can remain dead in My presence]!

World War II left London ravaged by Nazi bombs.  Buildings and houses were in shambles.  Saddest of all were the thousands of children that lost parents and were left to roam the streets just to survive.  They were desperate, starving children that lived in fear of not knowing what tomorrow would bring so they scrounged for any morsel of food they could find.

Out of necessity orphanages sprang up throughout London to care for these kids.  Most of these orphanages housed kids that were terribly unruly.  But there was one orphanage, operated by an elderly couple, which enjoyed unmatched serenity.  The children slept peacefully and were well-behaved.  When a team of social workers investigated this orphanage they noted something no other orphanage was doing.  Every evening this elderly couple walked to each bedside and tenderly pressed a slice of bread into the hands of the kids.  The children would wrap their fist around that bread and hold it throughout the night.  They slept peacefully because they held something that promised their next meal.  Consequently, they enjoyed a hope that affected their entire life.  It’s amazing that a slice of bread assured them tomorrow would be alright.

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”  And you and I hold in our hands a symbol of that “bread of life.”  There’s no other bread that so thoroughly feeds us; no other bread that so completely calms us; no other bread that assures us of the hope of eating at that great heavenly feast the Bible calls the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”  Jesus Christ removes the fear of tomorrow and eternity.  He supplies every need!

Luke 22 says: “When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. (15) And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. (16) For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.  (19) And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. (20) In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

        How important is Christ’s resurrection?  Without it Christianity is reduced to the equivalent of all other religions of the world.  Like other religions, Christians would be without hope, and our faith would be vain. That’s why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”  But through the testimony of 500 first century eyewitnesses to the resurrection, including the apostles that were willing to suffer martyrdom for their resurrection testimony, Christianity becomes the supreme religion!

        But the resurrection also confirms that Jesus triumphed over man’s greatest enemy—death!  Acts 2:24 says, “God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”  There’s no need for Christians to fear death and what lies beyond the grave because Christ has conquered it!

        Finally, the resurrection proclaims that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!  Romans 1:4 says, Jesus was “declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.”  No other major world religion even claims to worship a risen savior.  That’s due to their own testimony:

Buddha’s tomb – occupied.

Confucius’ tomb – occupied.

Mohammed’s tomb – occupied.

Jesus’ tomb – empty!

The great boast of Christianity isn’t what lies in the tomb, it’s what doesn’t lie in the tomb!  “He is not here, He is risen!”

The Psalmist asked: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do” (11:3)? It’s not likely that David was referring to physical entities when he asked this question but it does provide a keen analogy because the security of any structure depends on the foundation. David was questioning how people would respond when moral and spiritual foundations were attacked. And what a question that is for today!

We live in a time when the moral values of Americans are in a freefall. Traditional standards and ethics are not just being challenged they are under assault! Even classical Christianity is being jeered and lampooned. The moral base that has secured our country for more than 200 years is crumbling.

So what can the righteous do “when the foundations are being destroyed”? In answer, we can hold to God’s immutable Word of truth. His Word offers security, hope, and strength even when the very foundations of life are being shaken and destroyed. In an age of the crook and the con artist we can depend upon every syllable God has uttered.

When Jesus says, “Lo, I am with you always . . . [and] I will never leave or forsake you” there’s no need to look for Him, He’s there. Just call on His Name!

When Jesus says, “weep not,” take out the handkerchief and dry your tears because “joy comes in the morning.”

When He says, “let us pass to the other side,” it may not be a Caribbean pleasure cruise, but you’ll make it.

When He says, “Peace, be still,” you can quit fighting the storm because the wind won’t be blowing.

The Bible says God’s Word is “forever settled in the heavens.” That means it will work for you as surely as it worked for the Patriarchs, the Prophets, and the Apostles of Scripture. When the foundations are being destroyed we can hold firmly to God’s unchanging Word!

From the beginning of time men have sought for life that overflows with satisfaction.  And yet, the world has always fallen short of providing for that search.  Clearly, a dead world cannot supply life to spiritually dead men.  Only Life begets life.

When you return to the Garden of Eden you understand the immediate consequence of Adam’s sin brought separation from God and death.  It’s not strange that separation from God brings death, because God is the fountainhead of life and apart from Him there can only be death.  But man’s disobedience did not forever exclude him from God’s presence.  As an act of grace, God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world so man could reclaim true life.  Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).  And that abundant life is obtained through fellowshipping with Him.  Prayer connects people to the source of life—God.  This is what Amos 5:4-5 means when it says, “This what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba.”

When God issued the directive for Israel’s spiritual renewal and relief from their enemies He gave them direct instruction—“seek Me and live.”  But Israel assumed their answer to living involved returning to cities renowned with Hebrew heritage—Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba—places where God had manifested Himself in great power.  But why did God forbid Israel from seeking these cities?  After all, each city was royally situated in Hebrew antiquity.

Bethel means, “House of God.”  It’s where God met with Jacob in a dream and reconfirmed His covenant with Jacob.  But Amos said, “Don’t seek the House of God; seek the God of the house.”  Then the Lord warned Israel not to seek Gilgal.  There are forty references to Gilgal in the Bible.  Most significantly, it’s where Joshua parted the Jordan River and Israel entered the Promised Land.  But God’s wonders aren’t claimed by returning to places of miracles, they’re claimed by returning to the God of miracles.  And thirdly, God warned Israel not to seek Beersheba.  Beersheba was that special place where Israel’s great patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had supernatural encounters with God.  But again, God didn’t want Israel to return to a dated place of someone’s spiritual encounter; He wanted Israel to draw near Him and renew their experience in His presence.

God’s grace for man is designed to restore fellowship with Him and impute life.  And once men are restored to God through faith in Christ, fellowshipping with God through prayer will animated by His presence within the soul and in some measure men can understand His mind, experience His presence, and participate in His plan.  “Seek Me and live!”

            One of today’s most demanding jobs is that of an Air Traffic Controller.  Their obligation to report to airline pilots is a matter of life and death.  Misreading a coordinate or reticence to communicate precise information can cost hundreds of lives.  But Christians are levied with a greater charge than that.  It’s the charge to witness for Christ and warn sinners of hell’s impending danger.  Even a Christian’s silence can be fateful to others.  As the book of Revelation says, “The power of life and death is in the tongue!”

Before Christ ascended into heaven He commissioned Christians to spread the Gospel.  It is the voice and testimony of Christians that offer this world hope in Christ.  It would have been much easier to disseminate the message through angels.  They are inviolate, tireless, and perfectly dependable.  But God did not discharge the Great Commission to these celestial creatures.  Christ died for men, not angels, and only redeemed men are in covenant with Christ.  That means those who are in covenant are commissioned!  Commissioned to witness and guide others safely to their eternal destination.

How do you think God feels about sacrificial living? Do you think the sacrifices you make for Him touch His heart? Do you think He is really 'moved' or affected by them?  The story is told of a dying girl whose only hope was to receive blood from someone that had recovered from a disease like hers. When the physician found the family he explained the situation and knelt by the girl’s little brother. He said, “Son, you recovered from this disease several years ago and now your sister needs your kind of blood to make her well. Would you be willing to give your blood so she can live”? The family stood quietly around the boy waiting for his answer. After a few moments, he swallowed past the lump in his throat and said he would give his blood for his sister's life. The nurses placed the boy on a bed and began taking blood from his arm. Minutes passed without the boy saying a word.  He lay quietly letting the blood flow from his body. Finally, he looked up at his parents and asked, “Well, when do I die?” That’s when the family realized the extent of the boy’s sacrifice. The young brother thought he was going to surrender his life so his sister could live!

Do you think this boy's parents were 'moved' by his willingness to die for his sister? Of course!  And certainly God is touched when you make sacrifices for the cause of Christ. The sacrificial giving of your resources, time, and talents touch God! He is moved when He knows your finances are tight and you have bills to pay, yet you take your paycheck and honor His request to tithe into your local church. God is moved when He sees you have readjusted your busy schedule to help your neighbor pull his “ox out of the ditch.” You can be assured that God has never ignored one sacrificial act of obedience you have made for His cause—not one!

The word anointing is a metaphor for the presence of the Holy Spirit.  The word actually means, “to paint, to envelope, or to cover with.”  The Spirit’s descent upon Jesus at the Jordan River was not just an anointing of empowerment; it was also an anointing of joy.  That is why Jesus could preach “glad tidings” wherever He went—He was filled with joy!

Perhaps you remember that eruption of joy when you accepted Christ as your Savior.  It was an exhilarating experience to have your sins forgiven and sense God’s love flooding your soul.  But while a new life in Christ begins with joy, it’s often difficult to maintain that joy.  It seems that Christians easily lose their delight in Christ.

In order to sustain joy we need to understand its function.  The joy of the Lord doesn’t operate as a spiritual anesthetic to numb life’s pain.  It’s not a mask to cover grief and sorrow.  God’s joy does more than help Christians tolerate life; it helps them transcend it!  That joyous swathe of the Spirit’s anointing assures us that God is always with us!  He is with us in adversity, sickness, suffering, temptation, and loneliness.  The anointing of joy testifies that Christ “will never leave nor forsake you.”

There is nothing superficial about the joy of the Lord—it’s certain and abiding!  And you can depend on that joy whenever it’s needed because Christ has covered you with it.  Romans 14:17 says:  “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Change is the law of life—an unalterable law of life!  It appears every day in the form of technology, discoveries, the weather, an aging body, or even someone redecorating a room.  Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: (2) a time to . . .” and then he lists fourteen contrasts we must deal with.

When you think about it, everything about life changes in one of two ways.  Change occurs when we yield to its force or when we enforce change.  Both have positive and negative consequences and that’s why it’s important to properly manage the challenge.

When life forces change upon us, God can help us implement a strategy to make things work for our good.  These changes could include modifying our thinking or our lifestyle but not compromising our character.  It could involve pursuing another career when one career expires.

But then there are times we must enforce change even when others protest, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it!”  A faith-filled pursuit honors God and seeks to claim something new and better than the past offered.

Remember, Christianity is a conversion experience and conversion means, “to turn in the other direction.”  That means God has given Christians power to change whether life forces the change or you must enforce it.  As Paul said, “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (PHI 4:19).

The last Old Testament name for the coming Messiah is, “Sun of Righteousness.” Imagine that. Under divine inspiration Malachi foresaw the Lord Jesus Christ as the rising Sun filling the whole earth with His glory. What message was Malachi trying to convey about Christ when he used the phrase, “Sun of Righteousness”? Consider this. Without the sun, 93 million miles away, the earth would lack light, life, and warmth. The world would be nothing more than a dark, cold, uninhabitable planet, and this translates into much of what Malachi meant when he wrote of Christ being the “Sun of Righteousness.” As light Jesus reveals His saving grace; as life He resurrects our spiritual deadness and brings fruitfulness; and as warmth, (perhaps fire is a more suitable word), He purifies us, inspires us to fulfill His will, and envelops us with the goodness of His presence. The words of Malachi are comforting, “But for you who revere my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2).

When Paul wrote the Corinthians his primary objective was to rescue them from carnality and lead them toward spirituality.  1 Corinthians 3:1-2 says: “I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.  (2) I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.”

        When he called them “worldly” the Greek word was, sarkinos, which meant, “comprised of the flesh.”  That was no rebuke because they were new converts.  Paul understood that new Christians, like infants, need nurturing with milk.  Paul’s rebuke followed when he said, “Indeed, you are still not ready. (3) You are still worldly.”  Here he utilized a linguistic twist of the word “worldly” to describe their immaturity.  Although it’s not evident in our English translation he changed the suffix of sarkinos, “comprised of the flesh,” to sarkikos, which meant they were “dominated by the flesh.”  They should have matured but they were dominated by greed, pride, division, and worldliness.

Paul’s efforts attempted to produce spiritual Christians—Christians “dominated by the Spirit.”  Spiritual involves manifesting God’s love, joy, peace, goodness, temperance, etc.  It means abandoning selfish pursuits and seeking to please God and obey Him.  And Paul knew the benefits of spiritual living too.  He said in Romans 8:13, “If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

There are many sources in life that provide men with information—television, radio, newspapers, schools, friends, and the Internet.  With many sources of information to influence man’s thinking, man needs something to help discern truth from error, good from evil, and mediocrity from excellence.  Man needs a counselor.  And the Lord has provided One—the Holy Spirit.  God, the Holy Spirit is uniquely qualified to guide men through life.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus said the counseling of the Holy Spirit would impact men in five ways:

He would teach us all things (John 14:26).

He would remind us of God’s Word (14:26).

He would testify of Christ (15:26).

He would direct men toward truth (16:13).

He would disclose the future (16:13).

According to Christ, the Holy Spirit is ready to teach, remind, testify, direct, and disclose—precisely what we need to master life.  It’s important to understand that our guidance doesn’t come through a mechanical, impersonal process; it comes through a living relationship with the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit, is the unerring counselor and He wants to commune with you on a daily basis.  Open yourself fully to His guiding grace.  He will never mislead you.

One of today’s most demanding jobs is that of an air traffic controller.  Their obligation to report to airline pilots is a matter of life and death.  Misreading a coordinate or reticence to communicate can cost hundreds of lives.  The Air Traffic Controller is under strict orders to faithfully broadcast his readings.  But Christians are levied with a greater charge than that.  It’s the charge to witness for Christ and warn sinners of eternity’s impending danger.  Even their silence can be fateful to others.  That is why Proverbs 18:21 says, “the power of life and death is in our tongue”!

The Bible shows that Christians are the only verbal witness this world has for the Gospel and their testimony is the one true message of hope this generation has.  It would have been much easier to disseminate the message through angels—they are inviolate, tireless, and perfectly dependable.  But angels haven’t been personally affected by Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary.  Christ died for humans, not angels and only mortal man is in direct covenant with Christ.  That’s why Christians are chosen for the task of sharing the Gospel with others.

Some people excuse themselves from sharing Christ with others because their personality is introverted.  But a reclusive personality doesn’t absolve this duty.  Each Believer must submit their personality to Christ’s commands.  And the antidote for timidity is prayer.  If you can't say it, pray it!  Prayer vaporizes fear!  When the Apostles were beaten and then commanded to cease from witnessing, they prayed (Acts 4:29).  And when they dispersed from that prayer meeting they went forth with renewed power to tell the Gospel message.

If you have found the "pearl of great price,” let others know it!  If your name is inscribed in the Book of Life, then encourage others to make the same claim.  Christians will never be released from their call to witness.  So if you can't say it, pray it!  God will answer in power.

How important is prayer for today’s church?  Is it really necessary for supplying spiritual power and effectiveness in Kingdom work or can churches successfully evangelize, reap a harvest of souls, and minister in power regardless of the commitment to prayer?  Unfortunately, there are churches where prayer is a relic but membership rosters can be unfurled with striking calculations.  There is no doubt that prayerless churches can assume a prominent place in the city, but an investigation of those churches easily exposes their spiritual weaknesses.

On April 11-14, 1912 South Africa hosted a conference where ministers discussed the state of the Church.  Professor de Vos, of the Dutch Reformed Church, and other ministers specifically addressed the lack of spiritual power within the Church.  One by one the ministers confessed the sins that made church-life so feeble.  Later de Vos authored the book, The State of the Church, and summarized the spirit of the conference.  He wrote: “Some began to mention failings that they had seen in . . . conduct, or in doctrine, or in service.  It was soon felt that this was not the right way; each must acknowledge that in which he himself was guilty.  The Lord graciously so ordered it that we were gradually led to the sin of prayerlessness as one of the deepest roots of the evil.  No one could plead himself free from this.”

The Bible shows that spiritual power, kingdom effectiveness, penetrating preaching, and pure living are only maintained through prayer.  That is the message of 2 Chronicles 7:14 and it is why Jesus said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer” (MAT 21:13).  When that happens souls will be come to Christ, lives will change, miracles will occur, and God’s power will be manifested!

In Luke 5, the apostles had spent the night fishing without any success.  So after a hapless night, Peter and his companions began washing their nets.  They were ready to go home, eat breakfast, and rest for awhile.  But as they were about to pack away their nets Jesus announced He was ready to fish.  It’s not unusual for the Lord’s timing to differ from ours.  We may be ready to give up and go home because of frustration, but that may be the very moment the Lord says, “Okay, I’m ready to launch out into deep waters.”  And when this happens, regardless of how frustrated or disheartened you may be, it is time to obey!  When the apostles obeyed they hauled in a boat sinking load of fish.  There is no guarantee that when you obey God you will get a miracle of biblical proportions.  There is no guarantee that you will catch 100 fish, 10 fish, or even 1.  But here is what the Bible does promise.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  That’s success with God!  It doesn’t matter whether your reward is one fish or a thousand fish.  It doesn’t matter if your reward comes in this life or the next.  Obedience is the central issue and God’s unwavering promise is, “your labor in the Lord will not be in vain.”  Let me show you what I find interesting about this miraculous catch of fish in Luke 5.  Simon Peter was a master fisherman.  He and his brother Andrew were partners with James and John and they owned multiple boats.  As expert anglers they knew all the fishing tricks.  But despite their professional expertise they came up empty-handed here.  But this is when Christ stepped into the picture.  You see, even professionals need the Lord’s help!  It doesn’t matter how smart or successful you are, nobody can go it alone.  The skill of the surgeon knows it limitations.  The wisdom of the sage and the knowledge of the genius are often darkened.  The logic of the lawyer cannot always acquit.  But the Lord Jesus Christ is never enervated.  His wisdom is never frustrated and His strength is never constrained.  Darkness is as light to Him; mysteries are without their ambiguity; and the mountains are but His stepping stones.  Scripture says, “Our God is a mighty God,” and that means nothing is impossible with Him!  So when Jesus speaks, obey Him!  His reward is with Him.

Many of today’s cars are equipped with anti-theft devises that are triggered when an unauthorized person tampers with the vehicle.  Some sound with a shrill whistle, while others reverberate with an incessant blowing of the car’s horn.  Some alarms are so sensitive that they can be tripped when the car is just lightly shaken or by pulling the door handles without first unlocking the vehicle. These alarms can annoy bystanders, but the fact is, they are designed to alert others of unwarranted entry and prevent a robbery.  Not all automobiles have alarms, but each human does!  God created man with an alarm system that warns against the encroachment of sin and that alarm is called the conscience.  The conscience is our built-in friend that sounds within us when sin tempts us.  Without the conscience we would be unable to restrain from designs that would dominate and destroy us.  That’s why it’s imperative to listen to our conscience.  The conscience is so important that Paul told Timothy, “hold on to faith and a good conscience. Because some have rejected these and have shipwrecked their faith” (1 Timothy 1:19).  Remember, nobody but you can hear the alarm of your conscience!  So when it sounds don’t ignore it; it’s warning you of danger.

Jesus described Christians as the “light of the world,” and that is because light’s primary function is to illumine the surroundings and expose that which lies in darkness.  Similarly, a Christian must reflect Christ’s light to others and expose the dark and dangerous ways of godless living.  The Apostle Paul revealed how this is done in Ephesians 5:9 when he said, “the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.”  This is a unique passage because each of the words “goodness, righteousness and truth,” possesses a dual meaning.  Each word calls Christians to both contain its quality and then to furnish evidence of that quality.  For example, the word goodness suggests that someone possesses goodness and then shares it with others.  The word righteousness suggests someone has claimed Christ’s righteousness through the Cross and then exhibits that righteousness to others.  And the word truth identifies one who is both acquainted with truth and practices truth.  The Apostle’s message here reveals that the light Christians shine must be personally experienced and then publicly exhibited!

A lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away, and its reverberation literally shakes the ground.  People who have stood close to a lion’s roar have absorbed its shock to the core of their soul.  It is fearsome, yet majestic!  It is no wonder that the Bible presents Christ, our Lord, as a lion.  He is called, “the Lion of Judah.”  The lion symbolizes royalty and strength and this imagery perfectly characterizes our Lord.  One day, when we enter life beyond the grave we will face this irrepressible Lion.  That should strike fear within people who are unprepared to meet Him, because His wrath will be fierce and inescapable.  Yet those whose hearts are prepared to face this Lion can take comfort—He is their Savior and friend!

In November of 2006, I had a vision.  It unfolded as I contemplated the Lord’s liberating goodness.  During those special moments in the Lord’s presence, I envisioned what might transpire when I appear before this great Lion.  While I cannot provide a specific biblical reference for what I envisioned, I am confident it does not violate biblical integrity.  Let me share my stream of consciousness that day.

Life on earth takes many twists—expected and unexpected.  We experience fortune and misfortune, success and failure.  We enjoy seasons of health and endure seasons of affliction. We befriend and are enriched; we befriend and are betrayed.  We make decisions that forge our destiny and some decisions bring joy, while others deliver deep and grievous sorrow.  And where do we store these memories?  The great repository of life’s peaks and valleys is the heart.  The heart stores the memories we cherish and the woes we suffer.  Consequently, we don’t realize the weight of our load and grow accustomed to bearing our burdens.  The weight is there when we awake, work, rest, and sleep.  We talk about “unloading . . . and getting things off our chest,” but even then, some burdens never budge and remain bound within us.  It’s miraculous when a Christian can actually live in the renewing presence of the Holy Spirit and completely “cast their cares on the Lord.”  Solomon said the heart is ‘large enough to contain eternity’ and that’s why we stuff it with the weight of the world.  All the while, it yearns for unfettered freedom.

These were my thoughts in November of 2006, when I envisioned facing this Lion and hearing His roar.  Imagine with me.  Imagine that you just died and for a brief moment you travel through that corridor that connects earth with heaven.  All the events of your life flash through your mind like a deck of cards being thumbed—the joys, victories and pleasures; the sorrows, injustices and pain—you review everything.  Then, without power to retreat you are propelled directly into the face of Heaven’s insuperable Lord, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.”  And with His hot breath bathing your face He speaks, but not with words. With unexpected fury He roars, and though you’re an inch away you know the farthest regions of Heaven heard it.  But it was not without purpose; something miraculous happened.  The fury of that roar literally unshackles all the burden and weight of your heart.  Instantly, every ache of your heart vanishes and you are liberated!  The Lion has roared and your heart is “free . . . free indeed!”

Understand His greatness—the God of creation takes the sun in His right hand and the moon in His left and, without diminishing the brightness of one, nor darkening the reflection of the other, He transcends them both. This is Christ, unconfined by eternity nor circumscribed by the cosmos.  He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior of all.  And this God who dwells outside of time appeared as a man in the “fullness of times.”  The Divine Creator who formed galaxies with His spoken word now employs His hands to fashion works from wood.  He sweats, He tires, His muscles ache.  And what does He make—a mansion, a palace, a throne?  No, this Carpenter crafts His work on a cross.  And when His work is complete He is crucified on it.  Then, He returns to eternity . . . with sons of righteousness in one hand and reflections of His glory in the other.

American fathers are under assault.  For the past three decades our culture has attacked, disparaged, and lampooned the God-ordained priests of the home.  Television sitcoms consistently depict fathers as insensitive, boorish, out-of-touch, and incapable of solving problems—even grade school children have more sense than dad!  God doesn’t feel that way.  He places a premium on their intrinsic purpose in life.  And since it’s politically incorrect for culture to testify of a father’s proper place in life, let’s allow God’s Word to testify:

1.            Fathers should set an example in the home (Psalm 112:1-2).

2.            Fathers should love their wives (Ephesians 5:25).

3.            Fathers should correct their children without provoking them to wrath (Proverbs 29:17; Ephesians 6:4).

4.            Fathers are responsible for their family’s spiritual welfare and should lead them in worship (Deuteronomy 31:12-13; Proverbs 22:6; Mark 10:13-16).

5.            Fathers are responsible for their family’s material support (Job 42:15; 2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:8).

6.            Fathers should protect their family against evil (Genesis through Revelation).

                On this Father’s Day let’s honor our fathers by recognizing the God-ordained place they have in life.  And let’s pray they will fulfill their noble calling God has given them.

God looks for many virtues in His people.  The fruit of the Spirit, faithfulness, obedience, and commitment to the Great Commission are paramount in the Christian life.  But faith is the supreme virtue God desires His people to manifest.  When the crowds asked Christ, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”  He stunned the works-conscious audience by pointing to a dimension outside the five empirical senses.  Jesus said, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:29).  Man’s supreme work involves releasing faith toward Christ and His promises—nothing supercedes that!

            Unfortunately, the Israelites that walked with Moses through the desert for forty years ignored the importance of faith.  As they journeyed through that hot, barren wilderness, they tempted God by asking: “Can God spread a table in the desert?”  The Psalmist noted that when God heard this provocation “His fire broke out against Jacob, and His wrath rose against Israel, (22) for they did not believe in God or trust in His deliverance (78:21-22).  The Israelites made the grave mistake of questioning God’s ability to provide.

We too, must heed Scripture’s warning against questioning God’s ability to deliver us from dilemmas.  Regardless of how bleak the circumstances may be, it’s never appropriate to ask, “Can God?”  Scripture forbids that question!  Rather, the Lord wants to hear the faith-filled assertion, “God can!”  You may not know how, but never doubt that God can!

            In your moment of crisis, claim a promise from God’s Word, release your faith, and expect a miracle!  God honors faith!

At creation God furnished evidence of His existence. When you turn upward the “heavens declare His glory; night after night they pour forth their speech.”  When you turn inward you hear His voice speak to your heart. Outwardly and inwardly the evidence proclaims, “God is with us.” But do the clouds sometimes darken the radiance of the sky? They do as certainly as divine silence darkens the counsel of the soul. But neither indicates that the sky is without stars or the soul is without God.  It is wrong to assume that God does not exist or is absent when His voice diminishes. In fact, God’s silence upon our life is actually the certainty that He is real and present.

You see, at creation God created man “in His image” and imparted the ability to communicate to Him, and we are only fulfilled as we fellowship with our Creator. That is why it hurts so deeply when the gentle resonance of God’s voice falls silent upon our lives. Yet, there is divine purpose in His reticence to speak. It is the Grace of Silence that actually assures us of God’s imminent presence. Perhaps that seems impossible, but consider this: man does not crave things that do not exist. We do not desire to plunge into the fountain of youth, because there is none. We do not desire to play with unicorns, because they do not exist. But our heart aches so deeply when God is silent because we know He is real and He speaks! And that genuine anguish is a stark reminder that though God is silent, He is present. In fact, a season of God’s silence and our yearning to hear His voice is profound proof that God is very much “with us”!  Remember, God’s silence does not indicate His absence!

People that wander through life are never satisfied.  It's because they are drifting rather than driving, spinning rather than steering, and existing rather than thriving.  That’s because man's contentment comes when he finds purpose and pursues it.  You must forget your fears, ignore your liabilities, and dismiss your excuses.  Your faith in God will transcend your deficiencies and claim your destiny.

Awhile back I heard a pastor tell a remarkable story that illustrates this.  A woman in his congregation searched for meaning so she asked the pastor if she could visit the hospitals.  The minister didn't think hospital visitation matched her personality and tried to dissuade her from the undertaking.  So when she persisted, the pastor monitored her ministry by visiting the hospital with her.  As she stepped to a bedside she began the conversation.  "So you're having gallbladder surgery?  I've had two family members that had that operation and they died!"  The pastor couldn't bear it so he offered her another option.  “Sister, this really doesn't appear to be your ministry.  I want you to consider another option.  Do you realize that God responds to your praying with remarkable answers?  I want you in the prayer ministry.”  When she agreed to make prayer a priority he gave her fifty-four names of sinners from the church family. Within one year, fifty-two of those sinners were saved!

Mere activity never brings happiness.  Your well-meaning pursuits may burn energy but they won't ignite the soul.  Your activity must match your purpose.  Pursuit without purpose is meaningless; purpose without pursuit is illusion; but pursuit with purpose brings contentment.

God’s work on the sixth day of creation included planting a garden (Gen. 2:8).  He then created Adam in His image and appointed him as the gardener of Eden (15).  In the New Testament Jesus noted that His Heavenly Father was a gardener (John 15:1).  The Great Lord of the universe had created Adam to follow in His footsteps.  It is interesting that when Mary first saw our resurrected Lord at the tomb she thought He was “the gardener” (John 20:15), and she wasn’t altogether mistaken!  But while Adam, the first gardener, had brought death from a forbidden tree, Jesus, the second Adam, brought life by hanging from a tree.  Gardening can produce infestation and death or it can produce vegetation and life.  What are you doing with the garden that God has given you?

Jeremiah 33:3 has always inspired believers.  God says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things which you have not known” (RSV).  The omnipotent God does the impossible!  With unhindered ease He parts waters, quenches fire, and tames lions.  Nothing perplexes or constrains Him.  But notice the context of this verse.  It is not primarily about God’s demonstration; it concerns His revelation.  God challenges Jeremiah to ask for insight into things that are concealed and indiscoverable—things that are unsearchable through human endeavor.  When you compare translations of this passage, God’s challenge becomes even clearer.

The NIV says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”  The NLT says, “Ask me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here.” And the YNG version says, “Call unto Me, and I do answer thee, yea, I declare to thee great and fenced things—thou hast not known them.”  What is the meaning of God’s invitation to disclose “unsearchable . . . secret . . . [and] fenced things”?  God offers to reveal things that cannot be searched out by any means apart from Him!  That which is concealed to the sage and scientist can be laid bare to the one that petitions God.  In fact, the only means of discovering “things that are unknown” is by seeking the One who holds the secrets of the universe.

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus told Peter an “unsearchable” way to pay his taxes.  Peter was a professional fisherman, but he could have never imagined that reeling in a fish filled with money would pay his dues (Matthew 17:27).  This was an “unsearchable thing” Jesus disclosed to Peter.  In the Old Testament God showed Joshua how to conquer Jericho.  The strategy didn’t involve an embargo or burning the city; it was to circle the city and then shout praises.

God has answers to indecipherable problems and He delights in unveiling astounding disclosures.  That is why He issues the challenge: “Call to me.”  It is why His promise is certain: “I will answer you.”  And it’s why His revelation will astound you and reveal “great and unsearchable things.”

 The book of Revelation describes the “Great Tribulation” as a time when divine wrath is unleashed against rebellious men.  For over 2000 years God’s grace has appealed for man’s repentance, but during the Tribulation He unleashes the powers of heaven to regain man’s attention.  Vials of wrath spill forth, the Four Horsemen are unleashed, even nature rebels.  And man, with all his prideful prowess, will faint before this apocalyptic turmoil.  He has picked a fight with God and is outmatched for this showdown.

Yet, during this time of tribulation God warns an agent of His wrath, “do not harm the oil and the wine” (Revelation 6:6).  Why this prohibition?   Why the restraint?  This command shows that even God’s wrath knows mercy!  He never forgets man’s frailty.  Even when God issues His fiercest wrath He pulls for man’s survival.  Remember that Scripture uses “oil and wine” to symbolize that which is essential for living; it’s what sustains and refreshes.  The Old Testament prophets taught that Jehovah supplied for man’s basic needs (Deuteronomy 7:13; Hosea 2:8).  In the New Testament the Good Samaritan poured in the "oil and wine" (that which was necessary) for the beaten traveler's recovery.  And when Revelation shows God’s wrath poured out with unequalled vengeance, it also demonstrates that God’s goodness will guard the “oil and wine” and permit man’s survival.  This is truly amazing when you consider the doomsday scenario of the Last Days!  Nuclear waste will contaminate the soil; Wormwood will fall upon the waters and they will foam with toxins.  The atmosphere will swirl with noxious fumes.  And yet somehow, at God’s command, the earth will yield its increase.  The command, “do not harm the oil and the wine” seals man’s survival!

It is imperative to understand this apocalyptic prohibition and apply it today, because the “oil and wine” are essential to your welfare.  And there is “oil and wine” from heaven, and “oil and wine” from earth.  While one supplies the essentials of your spirituality, the other supplies the essentials of your humanity.  That means you should never damage the place where the Holy Spirit resides in your life and never harm that which supplies for your earthly purpose and mission.  “Do not harm the oil and the wine” of your life!

Judges 3:31 says: “Shamgar the son of Anath . . . killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.”  There is only one terse verse in the Bible that captures an unprecedented account of how God used a mere farmer, Shamgar, who used an oxgoad to overcome 600 Philistine soldiers.  But this episode is not trivial with God even though it’s reduced to one scant verse.  There is a valuable life lesson hidden within these few words, but that lesson cannot be learned without knowing what an oxgoad is.  An oxgoad was an eight-foot stick that farmers used for plowing.  One end was shaped into an iron point that was used for prodding the ox, while the other end was shaped into a chisel that was used for dislodging clumps of dirt from the plow.  That’s an unconventional weapon Shamgar used to fight trained Philistine soldiers with their swords and shields; but it worked!  At day’s end, Shamgar’s farming field was littered with 600 slain soldiers and God was ready to induct His newest champion into Israel’s Hall of Fame.

So what does this episode of Shamgar and his oxgoad teach us?  It teaches us that God has already placed something in your hand that can defeat the enemy of your soul.  It may appear as unconventional as an eight-foot stick, but, most of the time, God gives ordinary people ordinary weapons and then expects them to use those weapons to accomplish His purposes.  Moses parted the waters with a staff.  David toppled Goliath with a slingshot.  Jael defeated a General with a nail.  Gideon and his 300 men lit torches and blew trumpets to overthrow an uncountable number of troops. That's why God doesn't necessarily need technology or intellectualism to accomplish His purposes. The Christian’s victories come when they let God empower otherwise ordinary parts of their life.

Dynamic Messengers are a rare breed that God calls to the forefront of His Kingdom when He is ready to move in the earth.  They implore their generation to acknowledge God’s activity and respond in righteousness.  While most prophets dealt with future events, the Dynamic Messenger (who functions prophetically) deals with the present.  He may speak futuristically, but his primary mission deals with current issues and events.  He utters his message with an urgency that discloses a “nowness” of God’s dealing with men.  He ignores cryptic sayings and prophetic riddles and speaks with clear words that demand an immediate and appropriate response.  With this messenger, the present is more important than the future because a secure future requires swift obedience.

These messengers are dynamic in the sense that God supernaturally empowers them to fulfill their mission.  Scripture sets forth Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist as Dynamic Messengers and it becomes evident that their dynamism (dunamis) makes their witness imposing, persuasive, and incontrovertible.  At times, God anoints these messengers to impose His mandates by both declaration and demonstration—that is, by both word and “signs and wonders.”  Whichever the case, it is the invisible and irresistible Spirit who authorizes these messengers.

What are the characteristics of Dynamic Messengers?  I believe there are at least eight distinctions.

1.            The Dynamic Messenger speaks boldly!  This is no fearful or faint-hearted messenger.  God’s Word burns in his heart and he proclaims it without regard to personal consequences.  Too often, political correctness mitigates a preacher’s message and reduces him to a waffling politician willing to revise his message at the whim of the masses.  But the Dynamic Messenger knows God has appointed him as a prophet and he is not an elected politician!  So when he receives his oracle, he remains inflexible and uncompromising.

2.            The Dynamic Messenger disturbs political and religious powers (1 Kings 18:17-18).  This messenger has no easy life.  What normal man would seek to provoke authority figures?  But this messenger is different!  He stands in the way of so-called, “progress.”  He decries inequity.  He points out paths of destruction that leaders place before people.  King Ahab called Elijah, “the ‘troubler ‘of Israel.”  (You can create tremendous trouble for yourself when you speak truth!)  John’s preaching so vexed the religious authorities (Sadducees and Pharisees) that they could neither validate nor invalidate his ministry when Jesus asked them to assess it.  Neither the government nor the Sanhedrin could minimize John’s influence upon the First Century.  The reason this messenger disturbs establishments is because his mission originates with God and he breathes the fire of heaven when he speaks.

3.            The Dynamic Messenger calls for immediate response from his hearers.  As stated at the outset, this spokesman isn’t so much foretelling the future as he is urging that people give attention to the present.  Their message declares, “Repent now”!  “Look to Christ immediately.”  “Behold God’s activity today.”  These messengers are acutely aware of what God is “up to” in the earth and what God wants from men.

4.            The Dynamic Messenger operates in “Spirit and power.”  This messenger never stands alone in His mission, but God’s transcendent presence accompanies him, which makes it impossible for men to ignore his mission.  It is interesting that Elijah’s name means, “The Lord, He is God,” and this is precisely what Elijah demonstrated to Israel.  With God’s power upon him, Elijah conquered the prophets of Baal, called fire from heaven, and controlled the weather.  The Spirit and power by which this messenger operates can stand against kingdoms, nature, lack, and deal with “doctrines of devils.”  While John the Baptist worked no miracle, he appeared in the “spirit and power of Elijah” and announced that the “kingdom of God was at hand.”  The crowds immediately turned to “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”  (It’s interesting that one singular voice “crying out in the wilderness” introduced Christ and His Kingdom; not a host of heralds!)  The Holy Spirit working in this messenger makes “all things possible.”  While the priest ushers people to God, this prophet presents God to the people.

5.            The Dynamic Messenger changes hearts (Malachi 4:6).  Sometimes there is no apparent explanation for the achievements of these men.  Some messengers minister in jeans and t-shirts, while others wear Wall Street suits.  Some are refined and eloquent, while others are coarse, uneducated, and make mockery of linguistic skills.  Yet somehow, the crowds throng these messengers and hearts are changed!  The answer to this mystery of success lies in a pronounced presence of the Holy Spirit abiding upon them.  Thus, stubborn and obstinate hearts are softened and transformed at their word.

6.            The Dynamic Messenger persuades God through earnest prayer (1 Kings 18:41-45).  In the Old Testament, prophets had an “inside track” with God and possessed extraordinary power to influence Him when they prayed.  In fact, Scripture reveals that men could not function in a prophetic role without prayer dominating their life.  All great prophets were great in prayer!  When King Abimelech sought to take Sarah as his wife, God appeared to Abimelech and announced that his actions made him as “good as dead” (Genesis 20:3).   But, there was a solution.  God said, “Return the man’s wife, for he [Abraham] is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live” (20:7).  Prophets can “stand in the gap,” for individuals or nations, and alter the direction of history by persuading God to act.

7.            The Dynamic Messenger commands justice in the land.  These messengers command men to “exalt the valleys, lower the mountains, straighten the crooked, and level the rough” (Isaiah 40:3-4).  They understand life’s injustices and call for correction.  And there is an amazing response from heaven when their message is obeyed: “And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it” (40:5).  The ultimate outcome of obedience produces the blessing of God!

8.            The Dynamic Messenger confronts apostasy (1 Kings 16; 18:17-21).  Because these messengers loathe false religion, they denounce it at every opportunity.  They cry out for men to repent of their sins, obey God, and worship Him in righteousness.

Concluding Thoughts 

Open your eyes and look around.  Can you identify a Dynamic Messenger?  Do you witness someone empowered by the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s activity in the world?  These are “the last days” to which Scripture points.  Are you that person to “stand in the gap” with a clear and anointed word from heaven?