The fifth seal Jesus opened in Revelation 5 transported John to Paradise, where Jesus rules and protects his people. What he saw there is the cost paid by God's people as they serve him in a culture at WAR with God: including Christ's own religious culture and western culture's secular, materialistic, diversity-driven societies.
To silence the clamor of skeptics, it's important to know what the souls under the altar didn't ask. First, they didn't ask WHERE GOD IS! A favorite charge unbelievers make against God. The holy and true Despot—used in Luke 2:29 and Acts 4:24—the all-knowing, all-truthful, all-wise, all-merciful and ALWAYS-eternal God IS on his throne—forever. Second, what they didn't ask: Why Are We Suffering? Again, a favorite response of many, even good, people. Although the souls are the ones HURT and KILLED, they saw it as a necessity, not a surprise; as a blessing from God, not a curse from God. It meant they had been faithful to Jesus. That teaches Christians, when we wonder WHY we have to be opposed, STOP wondering and understand it's essential to the righteous life. Indeed, not only do we experience the pain resulting from our sins, but from our obedience to Jesus. In Genesis 2:15 God warned Satan that Jesus would crush his head and he would bruise Christ's heel. A not particularly important of his anatomy, or ours. But essential if we want to walk, run or stay on our feet all day. That's an illustration, but here's its truth: God's people must learn to accept cultural opposition because we live within God's will and culture lives outside it. We accept as the price of our spiritual enfranchisement that Satan will hurt as many of us as he can in as many ways as he can in the time God allots him. In summary, then, Christians are sighted spiritually in a company of the spiritually blind; Biblically educated in the company of the Biblically illiterate; solid in our spiritual commitment in the company of fluctuating values and behaviors. Our life and belief come from the Living God and his Christ. Culture's from their vain hope in human-based illusions. And never shall the twain meet. And never can Christians compromise Christ's standards to make peace with those who hate Christ and his eternal TRUTH.
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David Plowden taught photography at Illinois Institute of Technology in 1992. Using his chosen field as an example, he told David McCullough that the most difficult challenge of life is getting "started", whatever our goal. We're never more creative than conjuring ways to avoid action. As he rationally said, however, one reason demands we start: if we don't, we'll never get anywhere. Brave Companions, 177
Christians understand. We intend to pray, but only getting started turns intent into words and sentences and paragraphs of devotion to God. A writer has perfect "block" when he has pen in hand before an 8 ½ x 11" blank page, or sitting before the keyboard. A composer sees only empty lines on a staff when he hears melodies in his head. Preachers tremble before the subject when seeking to turn scriptural truth into powerful prose. We can always think of reasons to wait till later...when we're less stressed, more rested and confident of completing our vision. But instead of making excuses why we can't start, dare to BEGIN and let the Holy Spirit determine how we END. Giving ourselves a couple days "to think of preparing to begin," let's ACT on the thought at the first instant of our work week. As the Dear Abby column in the San Diego U-T, 6/8/21 proved, personal evangelism—one Christian talking to an unsaved friend, co-worker or relative—can have three stages: starting; continuing till succeeding; stopping when the prospect is no longer listening. It seems the Christians involved neglected the third stage.
Jesus himself faced the potentially-negative in every encounter, remembering to speak "the word to them, as much as they could understand" Mark 4:33. For their own peace of mind Christian witnesses must observe the "as much as they could understand" reaction when interfacing with others. Indeed, Jesus insisted that his servants should stop teaching his word when people stop listening Matthew 7:6. As animals have no spiritual capacity to grasp scriptural truth, some humans have none to appreciate it. They're wayside soil. Don't waste your time. Scatter a few grains of truth before them if you want, but don't stop to cultivate or fertilize them with other truth. In her usual secular mindset, Dear Abby unwittingly offered two examples of the spiritual hog. One, the prospect believes his relationship with God is what he wants it to be. Two, the prospect believes a "little prayer" never hurt anyone. It might even make a guy feel "better" about himself. Such people are not candidates for conversion. Maybe another occasion will arise when they will be. Until then, save your breath for others open to Gospel truth. Fini This blog will have one more part.
While a Christian witness can be useful any time, before both believers and unbelievers, Christian evangelism has a different source and purpose. Where a witness can open the conversation, scriptural truth carries it to completion. In particular, evangelism needs to be verbalized. The prayers and hymns of Paul and Silas, leading to the earthquake at Philippi, aroused the jailer to seek information from Paul—Acts 16:25-26, 30. The preachers replied by speaking "the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house" Acts 16:32. That's evangelism. In Berea, Paul's instruction from Old Testament prophets led the people to examine "the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" Acts 17:11. The assembled Jewish leaders in Paul's Roman quarters listened to Paul from morning to evening explain and declare...the Kingdom of God...and "to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets" Acts 28:23. That's evangelism. The lesson in evangelism is clear from these texts: convince the unbeliever from the Word, not from personal experience or opinion. End Part II In Part III, what can happen when the Bible message is unwelcome. The San Diego Union-Tribune paper 6/8/21 serves as source of this two-part blog. It involved a self-appointed "long-suffering" relative of evangelicals. He told Dear Abby that he resents their efforts to proselytize his not "overly religious" or "atheist" family.
His complaint surfaces our need as disciples to understand the difference between a Christian witness and Christian evangelism. Ways Paul offered a Christian Witness on Malta Acts 28:1-10.
All of that served as a Christian Witness, but lacked Christian Evangelism. End Part I Dipping the tip of his Paper Mate into what for him is the unfamiliar territory of Big Money, the writer has noticed the influence of small investors—"retail investors" by institutional experts in pension and mutual funds. Focusing only on the AMC Theater Chain, they have driven the company stock from a dormant $2 a share January 5, 2021, to a prosperous $72 a share Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
That's the limit of the writer's plunge into the stock market. But accenting the spiritual lesson taught by the surge of "retail investors", he reminds Christians of something we've forgotten. The Kingdom of God has, from God's choice of Abram, to God's choice of a shepherd boy, to God's choice of Simon Peter and brother Andrew, to God's choice of "not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth, I Corinthians 1:26, GOD ALONE empowers his Kingdom. Church leaders today glory in the conversion of high-profile people. This writer still remembers the Sunday evening H. Leon Appel came into youth group at Lincoln, Illinois, Christian Church and told us teenagers how Roy and Dale Rogers had been won to Christ. We were suitably impressed. Even the apostle Paul remembered to mention as a disciple "Erastus, who is the city's director of public works" Romans 16:23. A difference distinguished Paul from modern preachers: one reference appears in Paul's letters of such a convert whereas any preacher is quick to often publicly remind us of such people. While the disciples glorified in the "massive stones" and "magnificent buildings" of the temple complex, Jesus instead boosted the financial contribution of a widow whose sole contribution to God's work were "too small copper coins" Mark 12:41-13:1. And who of us hasn't heard of generous donors to churches, colleges and medical facilities, while hearing nothing of sacrificial donors to the same? The Kingdom of God IS GOD's Kingdom. He's the Owner, Benefactor and Sovereign. Any role we have, big or small, honorific or essential, is irrelevant to the Kingdom's Role and Rule. It's possible to speak partial truth about God from the darkness of one's life.
It's necessary to speak God's truth once the Holy Spirit enlightens the saved.
When God wanted full disclosure of his Light to our dark spiritual mind, I John 1:5, and final revelation of his truth to our uneducated spiritual intellect, he sent the "exact representation of his being," Hebrews 1:3, the "image of the invisible God," Colossians 1:15, "his One and Only Begotten Son," John 3:16. Then...as we would expect if God came to earth, he left miracles and wonders and signs galore wherever he went; so while no one could tell where he was at any time, they could perfectly tell where he had been. Then, as we wouldn't expect, but in harmony with his perfect sovereignty, Jesus only ONCE prior to his resurrection expressed the Blinding Light within him that turned night into day, proving WHY miracles, wonders and signs scattered over every path he trod and every teaching he offered Luke 9:28-36. Jesus sometimes used the figures of dark, hidden, darkness when referring to his teaching. See Matthew 10:27, Mark 4:22, Luke 8:17, 12:2-9. The Matthean text occurred prior to sending the Twelve on their preaching tour. He charged them to preach only and exactly what he gave them—a warning to all preachers in every age. Those who stand behind "the sacred desk," Ken Lester's favorite description of the pulpit, must accept the limitation the Holy Spirit imposes on them: say only what God says. Which automatically opens the world of knowledge to preaching since scripture contains the "wide and long and high and deep" love of God that "surpasses knowledge" Ephesians 3:18-21.
The scriptures in Mark and Luke refer to Christ's use of parables. Though challenging at first to understand, and only incrementally absorbed into the brain, they build spiritual maturity in the student. That challenges all Christians: expect, desire, seek and demand that your preacher stay above you spiritually, never descend to your spiritual level, but always invite you to rise to his and provides the teaching that raises you. The Holy Spirit uses God's words to illuminate the listener's mind as it empowers the preacher's words. That way, both you and he together grow into Christ's likeness. Oswald Chambers wrote an insightful discussion of the subject, but as a relevant application of the above points, not an exegesis of the texts. I leave it as a footnote. Complete Works, p. 987. Centurions in the Roman Army generally had bad reputations. Leaders of 100 men, they presented a non-nonsense front to everyone. Some had reputations of bribery, violence and abuse. (When has it ever been that ALL the people in any profession were GOOD?) The first Russian troops entering Berlin April 21, 1945, were front-line, highly disciplined and goal-centered. They warned the residents, females especially, that those coming behind them were savages, intent on looting, rapine and violence. (It was those barbarians mostly responsible for the million rapes in the city before constituted authority stabilized the chaos.) A Woman in Berlin.
A chronological study of the Centurion's first-to-last contact with Jesus proves the integrity of his grand declaration, "Surely this man was the Son of God" Mark 15:39. Consider the occasions in order.
A lady, graduating from Marquette University, entered the Peace Corps in 1965. She served two years in India, learned the language, loved the people and taught subjects ranging from nutrition to building a latrine. Sixty years later she regretted only that she hadn't done more with greater knowledge and energy. Reminisce Magazine, April/May, 2021, p. 39
This writer understands the lady's regret. As he surveys his Christian life some 67 years after baptism by H. Leon Appel, his only regret is: he didn't do it sooner and didn't live more successfully and energetically for Jesus. With all other Christians, however, he shares the welcome intercession of Jesus Christ denied all secular pursuits: his perfect life compensating for all our good intentions but flawed actions. Scripture calls it GRACE—the very gift of God that Christ's life freely provides, that couldn't be earned, merited or achieved by ANY effort. It inspires us to keep going when we feel like stopping; to try again when we've repeatedly failed; to accept the Spirit's surge of energy when we feel ours depleting. It's a love that "will not let us go"—if we seek refuge in it. It's a grace that in Jesus Christ brings to perfection any service we offer, but fail to complete and leads to God DECLARING us SAVED, FORGIVEN, RIGHTEOUS! |
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