It is hard to fathom that a man who had done so much good could be hated to the point that leaders were scheming to put him to death. After Jesus had healed the sick, fed them by the thousands, and even raised a few of their dead, religious leaders would do all they could to falsely accuse Him and even draw the Roman government into becoming part of their plan.
All of this did not cause Jesus to deviate one degree from the divine plan. Even when one of the twelve disciples, Judas Iscariot, took a path of betrayal, Jesus remained intent on leaving His disciples equipped with all they needed for the next three days and His eventual return to heaven. There was one very important instruction He left with them that was very personal. Jesus took a familiar celebration and turned it into a new memorial that was also a remembrance of Himself and what He had done for them and for all who believe in Him. The Passover had been a symbol of life surrendered so Israel could live. Jesus took this and clearly made it a symbol of His life surrendered in death so the disciples (every disciple) could live. It was called the Lord’s Supper. Jesus simply said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The next time you partake of the Lord’s Supper, ask whether you are doing this as a mere ritual, or a remembrance of His person that evokes a flood of worship in your heart?
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The Christian life is one that seems like a paradox. On one hand, we are free from any law except to love one another (Romans 13:8). The clearest Scripture on this is found in Paul’s first letter, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
Just before showing how Jesus is the perfect example of this, Paul says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). Because we are so accustomed to thinking of our own interest first, this principle is hard for us to grasp. It is only acquired as we look at the model in Jesus, asking the Spirit to transform us into that image. Jesus makes the clear statement in Mark 10, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The reward for us in following this model is in doing what Jesus did: serve others and do not expect others to serve you. “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug” (Isaiah 51:1).
“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do His just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord” (Zephaniah 2:3). “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you’” (Genesis 12:1).
Can you imagine being asked to pack up your belongings and start going in some direction, trusting that God will guide you at every point along the way. Is this really possible? Yes, it is but not for almost all of the Church’s population. Why? Because most of us do not know God in the same way that Abraham did. Abraham’s life was a series of tests that proved how deeply and sincerely he knew and trusted God. Traveling with his family, servants and herds to an unknown place speaks of trust in God that is little understood in our day. When it came to God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Abraham was ready. Can we have this kind of relationship with God and know Him well enough that anything He asks us to do we will obey without questioning the wisdom in it? YES! It requires our surrender, but not our common understanding of surrender. Paul Tripp says, “Surrender to God is itself a gift of God’s grace because it rescues and protects you from your bondage to you.” To fully trust God, we must let go of self and our human tendency to make excuses for not doing the will of God. I am ashamed that this has not been mentioned before, but there are persons involved in this ministry behind the scenes that we must recognize. Though I cannot name them all because that would take pages to list along with what they have contributed. Some live and work in sensitive parts of the world and we want to protect their identity.
There may be a few functions I have inadvertently left out, but these are more than worthy of recognition. Please pray for them and ask the Lord to reward them in His way and time. As we share in churches and other groups what God is doing in Ecuador, Nigeria, and many places around the world, we experience a quiet acceptance that God is working there in a different way than He is here in America. We long for the same movement of God to take place here.
This reminds me of what took place in the Early Church. There had been isolated Gentiles or partial Jews (Samaritans) who followed Jesus and became part of the Church, but after Peter’s experience in Act 10, there was a definite movement of God among the Gentiles. The Early Church had a dilemma on their hands - or they thought they did. Was the Church going to receive these non-Jewish Christians with the same status as the Jews who had been saved? The issue was of such importance that the church in Jerusalem held its first council to work out a solution. Testimonies of what God had done among the Gentiles were given by Paul and Barnabas in Antioch (Pisidia), Phoenicia and Samaria, and then were joined by Peter as they testified in Jerusalem. So powerful was their witness to what God had done that “all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles” (Acts 15:12). Will you pray with us that just the testimony of what God is doing in the places mentioned above, will ignite a revival here in America. May God break down any wall of resistance in hearts. Why does our zeal for the Lord and His mission seem to run hot and cold? There seems to be a trend that I have observed over many years - distractions of this world or even trendy programs capture our attention and fizzle over time. Where is our consistent commitment to Jesus?
Jesus noted a similar condition with the church at Laodicea. “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15–16). What would someone in this church say if we asked why their love for Jesus wasn’t hot, we may get a variety of excuses just like we hear today. There was no middle ground with Jesus. He said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30). There are many examples in the gospels of persons who wanted to follow Jesus, but only on their terms (see Matthew 8:18-22). Was the Lord unreasonable in His demands? Did He not care about a man whose father had died and he wanted to bury him? Of course, Jesus cared! He wanted to see if the man would put Jesus before anything else. If he had, the care for the man’s father would have been handled as well. Jesus said to His disciples, ““You are those who have stayed with me in my trials” (Luke 22:28). Commitment to follow Jesus will include trails, but your faithfulness is treasured by Him. Seven times in 1 John 5:13-20 he uses the phrase “may know” or “we know” indicating a conscious knowledge which we possess and are full of confidence and beyond doubt. What are these affirmations that we can lay hold of?
When these truths lay hold of our minds and hearts, the Holy Spirit affirms that “we know” who we are in Christ. There is nothing more stabilizing to our souls than to allow God’s truth to anchor us to God’s immoveable foundation in Christ. All other ground is sinking sand! There was an obvious difference between the intentions of the Jews and the purpose for which Jesus came to earth. Numerous times in the gospels, it is recorded that they tried to kill Jesus. He made it clear that “no one takes [His life] from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:18). What power!
Jesus clearly states His purpose in contrast to all others. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). It was not just an ordinary “life” but an “abundant” life. The word “abundantly” refers to a quality that is more than anyone could ever expect. No one else could provide this kind of life! God is the source of life and sent His Son that all who receive Him might have that kind of life. “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will” (John 5:21). What about the Spirit? “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63) How do we experience this life while we are still on earth? “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). When? Right now! Luke uses a few expressions in the Book of Acts that are not common to the way we speak in the Church. Yet they convey something about “the Word of the Lord” that must be experienced to fully understand. I will give the quotes and then make a couple comments.
The word “increase” in these references indicates that the Word became more and more important in the minds and hearts of those who heard it. It was natural for the growing importance to also spread (“multiplied” or grew greatly). It is interesting that the word “prevail” means that it was strong enough to overcome any obstacle of challenge it faced. And so it did. That is what we are seeing take place in Ecuador. We have never seen such rapid multiplication of deep desire to begin “new foundations” in the souls of Quechua believers through the study of God’s Word. Another 700 Quechua Christians in the Guayaquil area have asked to be trained like we trained those in Quito, Riobamba, and other villages. We are very humbled by this request but will give ourselves to whatever is needed so they can be established in the gospel of pure grace. |
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