Zacchaeus’ Example

Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men. When there’s nothing in this world left to live for, then we can run from the world and toward our Lord Jesus Christ. He will embrace us in his arms. Jesus said, “come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” When we’re desperate and at the point of repentance we can turn from ourselves and unto the Lord.

Zachaeus was a desperate man. His story is in Luke 19: “AND Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”

Previously, Jesus had told a rich young ruler to sell all that he had and to follow him. This man left grieved and discouraged because he had many riches.

The story of Zacchaeus is a contrast to the story of the rich young ruler. Jesus asked the both of these rich men a diagnostic question to determine the condition of each man’s heart: “What is the cost of following me?” However, the underlying question is not about the cost… it’s about value. Is the value of eternal life and of walking in fellowship with the Lord worth the price of the world?

Zacchaeus’ name means “the righteous one.” He was a wealthy tax collector who received a cut from the other tax gatherers in his district. To the Jews, he was considered a “turncoat” because he worked for the Roman government and not for the people. He took pride in taxing the people beyond their means. Zacchaeus came to a point of conviction… to the realization that he wasn’t righteous after all.

Sin means to miss the mark. According to James, he who knows to do what is right and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin. Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus. He realized that even though he was rich, Jesus had something that he didn’t have. Romans 8 says that unless you receive the Holy Spirit you cannot please God. Zachaeus thought that he was seeking Jesus. However, Jesus said, “you have not chosen me, I have chosen you.”

Jesus knew what was in the heart of man. By revelation, he knew that Zacchaeus had a “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” According to the beatitudes, He who hungers and thirsts for righteousness shall be filled.

The crowds followed Jesus around because they had witnessed miracles that he had performed. Jesus drew many people but they didn’t realize that he was the son of God, the promised Messiah who would redeem mankind.

There must be conviction before conversion. We’re all convicts in the sight of God, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. In our own power we cannot approach the throne of a holy and righteous God. Zacchaeus realized that he did not live up to his namesake and that he was unrighteous. Humility and meekness is the prerequisite to receive God’s grace.

Zachaeus threw dignity to the wind. He ran before the crowd and climbed up a tree to see Jesus when he came by. In his desperation to see the Lord, he was not ashamed to shame himself before the multitude. A desperate man is not ashamed to empty himself of his pride in order to approach the Lord with empty hands.

Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus.” He addressed him by his name. Like the song says, he knows my name, He knows my every thought, and sees me when I fall. From our Father’s perspective we are “righteous in his sight” when will the we are clothed in the white robes of Christ’s righteousness.

Zacchaeus approached his Lord Jesus Christ with a heart of repentance. Repentance means to turn around. He gladly ran to the Lord and away from sin. He said, I’ll give half my riches to the poor. I’ll recompense those I’ve defrauded four times over. To follow the Lord, I’ll gladly forsake my evil ways, make restitution to those I’ve wronged, and come clean before my Lord.

The gospel message is not in great swelling words of man’s vanity but in deed and in truth. Many don’t understand what it means to be a witness for Christ. John the Baptist sent his disciples to see Jesus and then report whether or not Jesus was the Messiah. A witness does not defend the truth. A witness testifies to the truth of what he has seen with his own eyes. When John’s disciples saw Jesus, they had witnessed the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus said, “go and tell John what you’ve seen and heard.” Like John’s disciples, we have “tasted and seen that the Lord is good.” Therefore we are his witnesses: we cannot but speak the things that we have seen and heard.

A sinner can’t help but sin. It is his nature, for the natural (unsaved) man receives not the things of the spirit of God. Neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. To receive the things of the spirit of the Lord we must be born again of God’s spirit. We had nothing to do with our natural birth. Likewise, we had nothing to do with our spiritual birth. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.

According to Philippians 3, we have no confidence in the flesh. Even though Paul was a “Hebrew of Hebrews” of the tribe of Benjamin, Paul said, “I count all things but loss for the sake of the surpassing value of knowing Christ. The righteousness I have is through the power of the resurrection of my Lord Jesus Christ.”

Those who are born again of God’s spirit are witnesses of the resurrection. Because of Christ’s completed work on our behalf we have received salvation by grace alone though faith alone in Christ alone. For he who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. This is the gospel message. This is amazing grace. This is God’s unfailing love.

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Peter’s Encouragement

The good news of the gospel is on every page of the bible. Even the Old Testament is full of the good news of God’s salvation. The messages in the four gospels are challenges for Christians to live as unto God and not unto men. The blessings in the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11 fly in the face of worldly wisdom. God’s blessings are diametrically opposed to the world’s definition of the “pursuit of happiness.” The world’s happiness is based on “happenstance.” It’s a fleeting emotional high. That which is of this world is temporal…here today and gone tomorrow.

Paul had persecuted the Christians before he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. He humbled himself and understood that he was the “chief among sinners.” Paul knew according to the spirit of Christ that he was given a new nature by the God’s abundant grace and mercy. Paul learned to strive to keep himself under subjection to his new nature of the spirit. When we realize that we are subject to the new nature, God will break our hearts for what breaks his. Sin is the nature of the flesh for which Jesus Christ sacrificed his life as a righteous payment for sin on our behalf.

The men who wrote the New Testament were holy men of God who were moved by God’s Holy Spirit. The New Testament defines the enemy as the adversary, the devil, the thief whose purpose is to steal, to kill, and to destroy. His tools are the old nature of the flesh: the boastful pride of life, the over desires of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes. Jesus Christ redeemed us from our sinful nature for he who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

We were not deserving of God’s saving grace. We were deserving of death for the wages of sin is death. However where sin abounded grace much more abounded. Even though we were guilty before God the righteous judge, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin. We’re forgiven and loved not because we were worthy of forgiveness and love but because love, mercy and grace is the nature of God himself. For in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. When we realize that God’s salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, then we can “thank God for his unspeakable gift.”

The apostle Peter wrote two epistles so that men of God could “make their calling and election sure.” Peter wrote to believers in “enemy territory.” 1 Peter 1:13 and following says: “13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:”

Peter exhorts the believers to long for the pure milk of the unadulterated word of God. The Christians were fearful of the persecution of the believers. However, despite the trials of this world, we can “gird up the loins of our mind”…..we’re in control of our thoughts and attitudes according to our holy calling. “Holy means to separate our thoughts, actions, and behavior according to God’s divine design. For God is no respecter of persons. He is however, a respecter of His Word. Holiness is according to God’s terms and not the world’s terms. Therefore, be ye doers of the Word with godly fear, reverence, and respect.

Peter’s exhortation continues in 1 Peter 2:6-8: Built up as living stones we will not be disappointed. However unto those who don’t believe the cornerstone Jesus Christ will be a stumbling stone. 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. As living stones we’re built up to offer spiritual sacrifices holy unto God.

Although we are in this world, we are not of this world. The more wealthy the culture becomes, the more the people will worship the almighty dollar and the “blessings” of this world. When true men of God preach the word of God, the world will persecute them and ostracize them for speaking against what the world considers politically correct. The world does not realize that the true blessing is to pursue the Blessor and not the blessing. Therefore Peter reminds us that we are God’s building, his holy temple and that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, the firm foundation.

According to verse 9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” He chose us before we chose him. He chose us before the foundations of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. We’re a royal priesthood with direct access to our Heavenly Father. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. We who have been born from above are an holy nation. We’re citizens of heaven, having been born again, not of corruptible seed (of Adam) but of incorruptible (of God) by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.

Continuing in verse 11: Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” To win the spiritual battle, we must put on the whole armor of God. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God bringi every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. The two offensive weapons in our spiritual Arsenal are the sword of the spirit which is the word of God and prayer.

We’re aliens and foreigners in a world of darkness. We’re citizens of heaven. To bear up under suffering we must understand that this world is not our home, we’re just passing through. If we hold on to the things of this world, John said, the love of the father is not in us.

In a hostile world, Jesus said, “blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.” As the Apostle Paul said, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The love of God defeats the hatred of the adversary and his minions. According to Romans 12, be not overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.

Continuing in 1 Peter 2:12 “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”

We submit ourselves as sons of God with gentleness according to the love of God. The spirit of Christ in us will determine the world’s reaction to the word of God that we witness with our behavior. They don’t care that you know until they know that you care.

Continuing in verse 18: Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.”

Why should we be submissive to an unreasonable master? This finds favor (to God and men who admire our character) when we for the sake of confidence toward God suffer unjustly. They don’t watch if we seek “just retribution” but they take notice when we bear up under unjust suffering. This is the mark of Godly character. This is an example of God’s living epistle, known and read of all men.

Bearing up under suffering was the example of Jesus himself: 20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

According to 2 Peter 1:10, Our calling is to give all diligence (with meekness and humility) to make our calling and election sure. We look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy (of our salvation) endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. Because of the price he paid on our behalf he has called us to “shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light…”

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Not Ashamed

In Romans 1:16 Paul said by inspiration, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Men fear the sneer. However, Jesus said, “blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. For great is your reward in heaven.” Throughout history, Christians have been persecuted and prosecuted and tested in their faith. Contrary to popular opinion, testing is for our own good. The advantages the trails of life are listed in Romans 5 and James 1. God often uses trials and tribulation to prove his power…to show us as Paul said, “Thy strength is made perfect in my weakness… thy grace is sufficient for me.”

The gospel is the good news of God’s salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. There’s power in the Word of God and in the cleansing power of the blood of the sinless lamb of God. The truth of the gospel of God’s saving grace overcomes the the darkness of the fallen world.

Americans are encouraged to pursue “the American Dream.” We’re taught that the “pursuit of happiness” is one of our unalienable rights as American citizens. However, be careful what you seek, for ye are slaves to whom ye obey. The world’s definitions of happiness and wealth are the opposite of God’s definition of blessings. The greatest blessing is not material prosperity. Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The greatest blessing is the pursuit of the Blessor and not the blessing.

Mark 8:34 -38 Jesus said, “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

38. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

There is a cost to following Jesus. The question is, “what price are you willing to pay to follow him?” One step follows the other….First you need to want, to desire to follow him. Then you have to deny yourself. According to Oswald Chambers, you have to give up the rights to yourself and acknowledge that “Father knows best” and that he has our best interests in mind. The standard is the denial of self. The cross is the symbol of the penalty of death. Paul defined what it means to “take up thy cross” in Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” To be alive to Christ is to be dead to sin and death. Jesus has called his followers to die to self to live for him.

The devil will appeal to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life. He says, “you need to look out for number one.” This is the same lie he’s told ever since the fall of man….Ye shall be as God. God’s not God, you are. To live in the newness of life, Jesus said, you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.

Jesus culled the crowd. He was interested in people who wanted to follow in his footsteps. He told them, “the works that I do, greater works shall they do because I go unto my father.” He said, “You’ll need to emulate me in order to be my disciple, my disciplined follower. Whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it. What will it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul? Missionary Jim Elliot who gave his life as a martyr witnessing to the Auca Indians of Ecuador said, “He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep in order to gain that which he cannot lose.”

If there’s nothing worth dying for then there’s nothing worth living for. According to Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech ye therefore by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable act of worship. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that yet may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The greatest joy is to give all in service for him…For what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.

Therefore, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…for it is the power of God unto salvation.

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Testimonies

The spirit of God convinces people of sin, of righteousness, and of Judgement. Our job as fellow laborer’s with Christ is to testify…to bear witness of Christ in us the hope of glory. He has made each of us able ministers of the New Testament. As the Apostle Paul said, “”I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.” Our stories are a witness and a living testimony of God’s deliverance. As Jesus said to John the Baptist’s followers when they asked if he was the promised Messiah, “Go and tell John what you’ve seen and heard, that the blind recover their sight.” He has called us and opened the eyes of our spiritual understanding…that we may know the hope of our calling and the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints. We are the testimonies of God’s salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Scott MacDonald grew up in a church environment and went to his local Presbyterian church with his twin sister every Sunday morning. In High School he started to back away from church. In college, he wanted to concentrate on priorities other than his faith. Scott thought that his good deeds outweighed the bad. His twin sister was converted to Christianity during his second year in college. His identity was in sports, grades, and what the world considers success in college. As a college elective, he took a PE class on social dancing. His dance partner invited him to a Christian group that met on campus during lunch. He finally accepted her invitation. On the way to the meeting, she asked if he were a Christian. Then she asked if he were born again. From his response she knew that he didn’t have a personal relationship with Christ. He started thinking about what they discussed in the group meeting. His heart became convicted that he didn’t really know the Lord Jesus Christ. He ended up studying the bible with Mike MacIntosh at a Calvary Chapel in San Diego. Even though he was in a dorm at SDSU, this time in the Word set his course as a disciple and ambassador for his Lord. Even though he wasn’t called to “full time Christian ministry,” he knew that God had called him to serve in the marketplace. God’s faithful blessings have encouraged him throughout his life.

Paul thought that he was a good twice-a-year Christmas and Easter Christian. Even though he knew the catechism doctrine, he had never accepted Jesus as Lord. A friend invited him to a Byzantine Catholic Church and he was taken aback by their rituals and their unique worship service. He was baptized in his twenties and started attending church. For twenty years he did things the world taught him as a single man and had not committed himself to the work of the Lord. He noticed a church across the street from where he lived. He signed up for a new believers’ class and they told him that he needed to get a bible. He bought a bible and the first verse they covered was John 3:16. He started attending three bible studies a week. Paul grew in the Word volunteered to help at a youth retreat with his church. As he was ministering to thirty children, God spoke to him and he committed his heart to the Lord. Today he is a pastor at Calvary Chapel East Hills.

Willie grew up in England and was a member of choir through high school. For twenty years after high school he fell into the secular world. Then he met his wife who was a devout Christian. At the age of 57, he dedicated himself to Christian service in answer to God’s call. He’s been attending Influencers for the last 6 years. Three years ago he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Every day he wakes up, he thanks God that he can be used for the Lord’s work. He has used his ordeal with cancer as his outreach ministry. During his cancer treatment he prayed with other cancer patients who were at the treatment center. His prayer has been, God please continue to use me as a living witness of your healing power. God taught him that it’s never too late to come to the lord and to dedicate your life to his service.

Scott Wilson met Jesus Christ in 1988 two months before his 57th birthday at Calvary Chapel in Seal Beach. He felt that the preacher was preaching directly to him. That day, he asked Jesus to come into his heart as Lord and master. For 52 years previously he had been an alcoholic. However that Sunday, God opened the eyes of his heart and he visualized the Word of God pouring into his heart. After dedicating his life, he went home and decided he’d pour himself a drink. A voice said to him, “you don’t need that any more.” He shared this with his wife and she agreed. They both poured the booze down the drain. Scott’s testimony is that when you step into the light, he’ll deliver you so that you can serve him.

Adam went to a Christian school and received Jesus at the age of twelve. However in his teens he became addicted to drugs and alcohol. About eight years ago he committed his life to Christ. God has helped him turn his life around, to finish college and graduate school. He’s now involved with missions in Mexico and continues to rejoice in how God has restored his life.

If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. All things have passed away, behold all things have become new. As the Apostle Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” We have no other Hope, we have no other argument except for the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our lives are the witness of his resurrection. Because he has made us able ministers of the New Testament, we are his witnesses, his living epistles, his love letters known and read of all men. Our testimonies bear witness of His amazing grace. We are the only Bible some people will ever read.

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

The Higher Call

Men in our culture have a hard time saying certain things. It’s difficult for them to say “I love you.” It’s also difficult for them to receive a hug. The world’s man code doesn’t allow men to acknowledge and express the most important things in life….relationships with those we love, and especially our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Politically correct Secularism in America despises “religiosity” as they call it. A conservative “think tank” did a survey of wealthy to middle income people who identified themselves as “coastal elites.” Only a minuscule percentage perceived themselves as “religious.” Then they went into the back roads of America and surveyed people in these “fly-over” rural communities. Only 13% had a meaningful relationship with their local church. Americans who identify with faith are decreasing.

Still in America, foreigners marvel that Americans stop at stoplights. One economics professor showed an aerial view of a typical town in the heartland of America. He pointed out the houses of worship on every corner. The professor ended his speech by saying, “when you neglect faith, you can’t hire enough policemen to keep the peace.”

In one German community, parishioners had to pay the church tax in order to be buried in the church cemetery. They reluctantly paid the tax but this was the only benefit they perceived for their local church.

Paul was an Apostle of Jesus Christ. In Romans 1:1 he addressed his letter by identifying himself as a “bondservant of Jesus Christ and an apostle.” The traditional requirement for an apostle was one called and sent of God who had been a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. Paul was called on the road to Damascus in a life changing encounter with the resurrected Christ. The early apostles brought new light from the Word of God to their generation and planted new churches. Apostles are also called and sent to preach the gospel by both word and deed. Their lives were to be a “living epistle” known and read of all men.

Some think the American Dream is the “pursuit of happiness.” However, according to Romans 5, life is hard and is full of tribulation and pressure. If we look in the mirror we’ll be depressed. If we look at others we’ll be stressed. However, if we look at Jesus we’ll be blessed. He said, come unto me all ye who are weary and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. The pursuit of happiness is the pursuit of the Blessor and not the blessing.

Hard times and mental pressure are the norm. They are given for our own benefit: for tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy spirit which is given to us.

The devil will approach Christians when their tanks are empty. He will come along side and whisper in our ear, “if God loved you, would he leave you like he’s done in the pit of depression?” However in Matthew 16:25-26 Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jim Elliot, the missionary who gave his life witnessing to the Auca Indians of Ecuador said in the book Through Gates of Splendor, “He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep in order to gain that which he cannot lose.”

How we live today will determine our rewards in eternity. If we live for him and are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, we’ll live with him in glory in eternity. According to Romans 1:16 the apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God unto salvation unto the Jews first and also to the Gentiles.”

Jesus Christ was not highly regarded by most Roman citizens. He had been executed on a Roman cross. Crucifixion was the Romans’ most shameful form of capital punishment. The cross was an agonizing death emphasizing humiliation in guilt and shame. The people who professed Jesus Christ as Lord were despised by proper Roman citizens. The emperor Nero understood that the Christians were shamed and abased. Nero burned down Rome in his ego-maniacal madness. He wanted to rebuild the city as a monument to his own ego and he needed a scapegoat. He thought that Christians would be an easy mark to blame. Christians were executed and thrown to the wild animals in the Colosseum as entertainment. He lit ablaze the bodies of executed Christians using them as torches to light the city at night.

In World War II many Christians went into death camps in Nazi Germany. In one death camp 20,000 people had been shot to death and thrown into a mass grave. How did the Nazi’s get to the point that they no longer regarded human life? They convinced themselves that these were no longer people and that they were not worthy of life.

Some segments of our society say that if you espouse biblical Christian values and stand up for traditional marriage and against the pro-abortion agenda, then you don’t deserve to live and work in America. If you read Romans 1:24-28 in public then you’re guilty of hate speech.

Paul went to the center of the Roman Empire and witnessed to the Praetorian guards in the palace. Paul was convinced that he had been ordained by his Lord to preach the gospel, the power of God unto salvation. How do we get to the point that we are “no longer ashamed of the gospel of Christ?” According to Matthew 10:24-28, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his househol. 26. Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.”

If you’re to be afraid, then fear the Lord. In the movie Patton, General George S. Patton said, “the Americans will lose their fear of the Germans. Hope to God they never lose their fear of me.” Ye are slaves to whom ye obey. As Joshua said to the children of Israel, “chose ye this day whom ye shall serve. As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.”

In Luke 14, Jesus said unless you hate your family in relation to your love for me, you cannot be my disciple. If any man is in Christ he is a new creature…morning by morning new mercies I see. The newness of life is new every day. Each day is a new day to “hold every thought captive to Christ.” We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness form on high. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself above the knowledge of Christ, bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

The key to the abundant life is to come to the realization that, “I have found the enemy and he is me.”

There’s a story about Russians who were hold up in a house to pray. A group of goose-stepping Nazis stormed into the house and said, “we’re here to execute everyone who is not willing to die for his faith. Everyone else is allowed to leave.” There was only a handful of believers left. The Nazis put down their rifles and said, “We’re Christians like you. We wanted to worship with other Christians who were willing to die for Jesus Christ.”

Paul said, “quench not the spirit.” As likeminded believers, we’re here to fan each others’ flame. Discipleship is choking in the dust of our brothers who are in hot pursuit of of the Lord Jesus Christ. For what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

A Bond Servant and Apostle

Paul wrote his inspired letter to the Romans prior to his missionary journey to Rome. He knew that he was called to preach the gospel in the center of the secular Roman Empire. After Pentecost there were believers who lived in Rome and returned to their city to start Christian house churches. In Romans 16, Paul acknowledged specific Christians in Rome who were standing together as likeminded followers of Christ.

Paul addressed this inspired epistle in Romans 1:1 with these words: “PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,”… Paul’s life purpose was to serve as a bond slave of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament law according to Deuteronomy 15, a slave could be purchased to serve his master for six years. Most slaves couldn’t wait to be freed from their obligation to serve. However, some slaves after being freed chose to continue to do their master’s bidding. A bond servant does not serve his master by obligation. Rather, he serves his master from a heart of love. A bondservant was marked with a permanent mark in his ear. This earmark identified him as a willing and loving servant who belonged to his Lord and Master. Paul was a bond servant dedicated to serve his Lord Jesus Christ as a willing slave for his Master bound by the bond of love.

Paul was called by his Lord Jesus Christ to be an apostle. An Apostle is one who is sent by his master to serve his Lord in word and deed. Historically, an apostle was one who had followed Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. Paul was called to be an apostle on the road to Damascus where he had a life changing encounter with the risen Christ.

Paul understood his purpose and his calling. Salvation, being born again is a one-time event. However, working out your own salvation with fear and trembling is a lifelong journey. Paul knew that in order to follow his Lord, he had to forsake the world and the trappings of this world.

Paul also knew that hardships awaited him along his missionary journeys. When he purposed to go to Jerusalem, he was warned that persecution awaited. Paul said, “I’m set aside for the gospel of God.” According to Romans 1:16 Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power God unto salvation to the Jews first and also to the Gentiles.”

In America, it used to be an advantage to profess Christianity. In days gone by, most Americans believed that we were a Christian nation. Church attendance and participation was considered honorable for all upstanding American citizens. Today, America has become increasingly secularist. It has become “politically correct” to ridicule Christians for their so-called “puritanical and close-minded beliefs.”

Jesus said, “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” In the Garden of Eden, the serpent was the most crafty and cunning of all of God’s creatures. We’re encouraged to be shrewd and wise according to the power of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:25-26 Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Jesus sent the comforter, the holy spirit to come along side to help us and to teach us the all truth.

Jesus said, “fear not the ones who can kill the body but rather fear, respect, awe and reverence the one who has the power to kill the soul.” If you’re to be afraid, then fear the Lord. In the movie Patton, General George S. Patton said, “the Americans will lose their fear of the Germans. Hope to God they never lose their fear of me.” Ye are slaves to whom ye obey. As Joshua said to the children of Israel, “chose ye this day whom ye shall serve. As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.”

God has called each of us to profess our Lord Jesus Christ. The English word “profession” or “confession” is from the Greek word homologeo. Homo means “same” and Logeo means “word.” When we confess Jesus as Lord, we make his word our word and his will our will. Profession also means that our words and actions are the same. It means that we’re practitioners of His Word…that we walk the talk and talk the walk. Like Paul, God has sent us to be “living epistles” known and read of all men. We are the only Bibles that some people will ever read. We who are called of God are God’s love letters written not with ink or in tablets of stone, but in “the fleshly tables of the heart.”

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Lost and Found: The Easter Story

What is the significance of Easter? Most people associate Easter with Easter bunnies, chocolate eggs and Easter egg hunts. Like all of the significant events of life, the adversary will demean the true meaning of the Word of God. This is especially true of the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Jesus poured poured his life into his twelve disciples the last few weeks of his life before the crucifixion. They would not understand the significance of their Lord’s resurrection until they were filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

Jesus stopped in Bethany on his way to Jerusalem. Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, met Jesus. She washed his feet with her tears and anointed his feet with costly perfumed ointment. This act symbolized preparing his body for burial prior to his death.

When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, he took with him Peter, James, and John. He said to them, “watch and pray..” He prayed to his Father, “If there be any other way let this cup (of wrath, sin separation and death) pass from me.” Gethsemane is the garden of the “olive press.” In the garden, Jesus’ will was pressed and crushed to conform to his Father’s will. “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” His prayer concluded, “nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.”

When Jesus was led before Pilate, even though Pilate could find no fault in him, the people shouted, Crucify him, crucify him!” He gave them over to the people and committed Jesus to the Roman authorities to be executed by crucifixion.

In God’s economy, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission and forgiveness of sin. In the Old Testament, God told Moses to tell the children of Israel, “take a “Passover lamb” and put the blood on the doorpost and the angel of death will pass over you.” When Jesus was crucified, he became our Passover lamb that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

When he died on the cross, Jesus’ blood did not cover our sins, rather his blood cleansed us from all unrighteousness. At his death, he ended the ritual animal sacrifices of the Old Testament. What the animal sacrifices could not do, Jesus Christ accomplished by shedding his innocent blood in exchange for our guilty blood. Jesus Christ is the end of the law… He came not to abolish the law but to fulfill the law.

The gospels and the meaning of Easter are revealed in Jesus’ parables. In Matthew 15, Jesus told them three parables about “lost and found.” The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 has many layers of spiritual meaning. On one level it is an illustration of the true meaning of Easter. The true meaning of Easter is that “I was lost but now am found.”

This parable is in Luke 15:11-32: And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no no more worthy to be called thy son.

22. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30. But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”

This detailed parable teaches many spiritual lessons. The older son represented the Pharisees. The Father represents God our Heavenly Father. The younger son represents believers who were lost but are now found. The main feature of this parable is God’s joy and rejoicing at the repentance of one sinner. The younger asked the father for his inheritance. The Father did not argue with his son but gave his son what he asked for.

The older son inherited twice as much as the younger sons. The inheritance was awarded at the death of the father. When the younger son demanded his inheritance his culture interpreted this request as, “Dad, I wish you were dead.” The lesson is to be careful what you ask for. You may be granted your request. The Father gave his younger son his inheritance. The younger son “went into a far country where he squandered his father’s fortune with loose living.” While he had money, he had many “friends” who were actually “hangers-on.” Then in verse 14, after he had spent everything there was a severe famine and he became destitute. He got a job working for a man who raised pigs. In their Jewish culture, a man who associates with pigs is counted among the pigs. He is no longer considered a man. When you’re in the world, you develop an appetite for the things of this world. He was so hungry while living like a pig, that he began to crave pig slop: “he fain did fill his belly with the husks which the swine did eat.”

Each Christian has a “turning point” a point of repentance. Verse 17 is the prodigal son’s point of repentance. He “came to himself.” To repent is to come to the point that “I have found the enemy and he is me.” He thought to himself, “my father’s hired hands have plenty to eat, but I’m here craving pig slop.” He said, “I will arise and go unto my father.” A broken and a contrite heart, God will not forsake.

In the Jewish law, when a son dishonors his Father, his punishment is death by stoning. The word “prodigal” means “lavish and extravagant.” The prodigal son squandered away his father’s fortune with lavish and extravagant “riotous” living. He had to get to the point that he “came to himself.” When he lost everything, he realized that he had sunk to the level of a pig and that there was nowhere else to go. With a humble and a contrite heart he needed to return to his father’s house.

The Father was waiting and watching for his son to come home. He was not waiting to judge and condemn his son. Jesus had said, “come unto me all ye who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” The father saw his son “from afar off” and ran to meet him. The son came to his father and started his rehearsed speech, “I have sinned before you and against God…” The father didn’t listen to his son’s speech. He instantly forgave him. The father embraced his son and rejoiced that his son had returned home.

The older son represented the hypocritical Pharisees who thought they were better than everyone else for keeping the “letter of the Old Testament law.” They understood condemnation, but they didn’t understand unconditional love, grace, and mercy. The older son said, “I’ve been faithful to serve you. I’ve done everything you’ve said, but you never killed the fatted calf for me and gave me a party.” He had done all the right things but for the wrong reasons. He was bitter, angry, and vindictive.

The story of the prodigal son and the story of Easter is the story of “lost and found.” It is the story of the Father’s love, mercy, grace and forgiveness. The meaning of Easter is the resurrection, being raised from the death that we inherited from Adam unto a new life in Christ. The story of Easter is that In that while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. What amazing Grace!

The song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, “When God Ran” is on point. The emphasis of the parable of the prodigal son is the Forgiving Father. You’ll be blessed when you listen to the lyrics of this song. Here is the link on You Tube: https://youtu.be/1Akv2V5fNdk

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael