This series of blogs is based on Ezekiel 33:30-33. God’s comfort of the exiles in Babylon didn’t upgrade Ezekiel’s prophetic office. They listened as he preached but failed to change their spiritual perspectives.
Both mountain heights and atmospheric disturbances can increase this impact of a song or sermon. On our trip to San Jose for Debbie and Tony’s wedding, we reached the summit of a pass in Central California just as Steve Green’s tape reached the conclusion of a song. Since even Christian musicians can’t resist turning a witness into a production, his great voice, accompanied by full orchestra and complementary singers made our hearts SOAR so high we could have floated over the summit and down the valley Never before or since did geography and musical experience coalesce into such spiritual grace. But of ecstasy, understand, not of teaching. Of burgeoning emotion, not of correction. Unsettled meteorological conditions can even increase the effect of preaching. George Whitefield, a companion of the Wesley’s, often preached to thousands in outdoor venues. Instead of listening as Whitefield preached, Ben Franklin one night measured the area packed with people and determined that 30,000 could be in the crowd. While an interesting note of history, the preacher had evangelism in mind, not physical distance. Franklin proved the perfect example of humanistic wayside soil. He would study the impact a preacher had on people, but wouldn’t let Jesus impact him. Anyway, the Wesley’s and Whitefield held outdoor services for two reasons. One, no building could hold the crowds. Two, the established churches didn’t welcome the revival emphasis of Wesley’s music or Whitefield’s preaching. On one occasion he preached the wrath of God against unrepentant sinners. A storm gathered towards the close and continued building as he reached his climax. As his invitation flung verbal denunciations at sinners, eye-blinding lightning, followed by ear-splitting thunder, visibly shook the crowd, and people rushed forward to accept Christ. A person later wrote Whitefield for a copy of the sermon. Remembering the meteorological background that made it SO DRAMATIC, he wrote back that he would supply the sermon if she could supply the lightning and thunder. End Part I
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Authority gives the right to rule. Absolute authority gives the right to rule completely over events, people, friends and enemies. Dunamis is the Greek word describing the ability or power to perfectly effect one’s absolute authority. Jesus combined both words in himself. He possessed absolute authority to rule and control; and his absolute power to rule equals his innate ability to rule.
We have often heard it said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Often very true, with few exceptions in history. Jesus Christ is the SOLE exception with the authority he possesses. For he has total, absolute, unquestioned authority over heaven and earth, and spelled out the use he made of it in Matthew 28:18-20. He devoted ALL of HIS ALL authority to the spiritual crusade based on his NAME as Savior and equaled by his NATURE—unrivalled POWER. During his ministry Jesus forgave sins, raised the dead, preached good news of God’s love—and gave the apostles his authority to continue it and his authority to succeed in it. The very commission still in place for every believer and every church. To the apostles he gave his initial commission. To every believer and church he gives his ongoing commission: teach to make disciples, baptize the taught for forgiveness of sin, continue teaching them all the facets of Christian discipleship until they too are witnessing learners of Christ’s forgiving grace. Remember: no earthly sovereign had the Someone Like Himself to supervise and empower his work. Even though David had a Solomon to succeed him, Solomon didn’t prove to be a King David. Charlemagne established the Holy Roman Empire in the ninth century A.D. But he had no Charles the Great to succeed him. Otto von Bismarck lashed a congeries of German states into the Second German Reich. But when Kaiser Wilhelm retired Bismarck, he found no Bismarck to replace him. As “Kaiser Bill” Wilhelm did find the stupidity to bungle his way into WWI sixteen years after Bismarck’s death. Completely different from human leaders, ten days after Jesus ascended into Heaven, he sent back to the Twelve Apostles the someone Just Like Himself: God, the Spirit! As a result: Jesus Christ has been the source of all the good that has been done in fallen humanity; all the good that is being done in fallen humanity; all the good that will ever be done in fallen humanity; as the Result of his use of his ALL AUTHORITY to remove sin from humanity. By removing sin, the obstacle that stands between humanity and God, Jesus empowers God’s grace and compassion to freely operate in solving other issues in humanity. Therefore, Christians don’t wander aimlessly, fearful that the Christian Faith may yet fail. It never shall, for it never can. We don’t wonder hopefully if Christianity can somehow yet succeed. IT HAS succeeded, IS succeeding and SHALL always succeed. Jesus came to destroy the words of Satan—and has. He has conquered all he faced and...in him...we also overcome. The last provision is...Because HE perfected every intention he ever HAD, he brings all of our intentions for him, however flawed in execution, to complete perfection by his unfailing success. It’s called Salvation and Service by GRACE! Amen. Fini When Jesus met his eleven disciples in Galilee, as recorded by Matthew 28:16-20, “they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”
A possible chronology explains the different responses. While in Galilee teaching, and only after the Twelve confessed him as God’s Son, Jesus began and continued to teach his crucifixion and resurrection. The whole idea of crucifixion so saddened them they completely overlooked his promise of resurrection. The angels reminded the women of both promises Luke 24:6-8. In fact, both Matthew and Mark record Christ’s message to the Eleven through the women Matthew 28:9-10, Mark 16:7: “Go to Galilee. I will meet you there.” Not heeding the Master’s instruction, they remained in Jerusalem for at least the first week after his resurrection John 20:19, 26. An understandable decision, since Jesus appeared to them in the Upper room in those eight days. He then left them, perhaps reminding them of their meeting in Galilee. Very likely, after the second Sunday appearance, Simon and six disciples left for Galilee and home. We don’t know where the other four were, but, being from Galilee, they may have preceded the seven. John 21:1ff records the “third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.” This was in Galilee, at the Lake, with only seven disciples present. Back in Galilee, with Jesus absent, the lure of the nets called Simon to his former occupation, if for nothing but a diversion until Jesus would again return. At this meeting Jesus probably ordered the seven to find the absent four and meet him at the designated mountain, likely close to the lake. Matthew may have mentioned only the Eleven since Christ directed his commission to them as the founding heralds and leaders of the church. That would mean others could have been present. Paul said that Jesus appeared to more than 500 on one occasion, perhaps this one. If a larger number met with the Eleven, it’s possible some still doubted if it WERE Jesus. Obviously, none of the Eleven would still be doubting. The Master’s appearance on the first two Sunday evenings resolved any doubt for them and others with them when Jesus appeared Luke 24:33-35. Nevertheless, the reference to some doubting has remarkable textual integrity. When the Gospels were written, with years of preaching Christ alive from the dead, describing life AS IT WAS years before proves the honesty of Gospel writers. The point of absolute integrity is Christ’s declaration in verses 18-20. If others weren’t sure it was Jesus speaking, HE KNEW it was HE. If others had reservations about Jesus, HE had NONE about himself. If unbelievers don’t want him with all authority, he still claimed it, having demonstrated by dying, being buried and RISING on the third day. If skeptics wish he had established a kingdom with major emphasis on social concerns and less on sin—Jesus KNEW the kind of kingdom he wanted, would establish and continue to oversee until he concludes history. End Part III For example, Matthew 28:18-20 records Christ’s Intention. He envisioned Christianity as an international Faith with Universal, Eternal results. And note: the entirely spiritual focus of his Intention. He commanded Preaching, a spiritual force; that convicted people of their sins, a spiritual problem; that moved them to repent from self- to Christ-centered lives, a spiritual solution; that ordered them to confess Christ’s Deity as God’s Son and their Savior as God’s answer to humanity’s alienation from God, a spiritual peace-treaty effected; that commanded baptism for the forgiveness of sin, offering a definitive spiritual divide between the unconverted and forgiven state.
All of the aforementioned introductory to a new spiritual life, originating in and fueled by the Holy Spirit who lived in individuals as Christian temples of God and in groups of Christians as corporate temples of God. Each Christian personally and Church as a local body of believers committed to teaching newly-baptized disciples in the ongoing truths of Jesus Christ. All of that involved Christ’s Intention. Acts 2:1-4 records the Action of Christ’s intent that has no finality until he Returns. On Pentecost the Twelve Apostles received the special Anointing of the Spirit—called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit—with each apostle, including Paul later, immersed in the Holy Spirit. It happened again only at the household of Cornelius. And Peter, noticing the bestowal, ordered the immediate baptism in water of all who listened and heard his sermon. Proving...that mortals needed water baptism for the forgiveness of sin even when favored with the same Gift granted only to the Apostles. The book of Acts records how faithfully that apostle-led generation obeyed Christ’s Intent. On Pentecost Jewish faithful from all geographical points of the compass came to Jerusalem. To their homeland they carried the Gospel message. Indeed, in expanding circles of evangelism, beginning in Jerusalem, Acts traced the spread of Christianity to the very heart of the entire Roman Empire, from which the Spirit would continue to envelop the nations Rome ruled. End Part II Some think that Romans 7 referred to Paul’s life as a devotee of Moses while Romans 8 reflected his life in Christ. Possibly. In reality, however, Romans 7:14-25 reveals the futility of finding peace with God outside Christ’s grace. It certainly reflects the Christian’s struggle to live his intention to be Christ-like. With Paul we love the idea, and want it for ourselves, but faced with the effort demanded, we more often satisfy ourselves WANTING than BEING it. Romans 8 merely records how Christ’s Grace works in any effort to balance what disciples want to be and their actions prove. They find themselves not only saved by grace through faith but matured in discipleship by grace through faith.
This short series studies a few of many ways that Christ’s Perfect Action Equaled His Perfect Intention. Thaddeus Stevens, Representative in Congress from Pennsylvania during the Civil War, never stopped thinking of Abraham Lincoln as anyone but the descendant “of poor white trash.” History certainly disagrees with Stevens. Those who served with Lincoln at any time, for any length of time, discovered his intuitive genius for learning. Oliver Browning knew him for years—and saw him a constant “learner”—indeed, in a class nearly by himself. Reader’s Digest Biography, Lincoln. Being a “witnessing learner” must characterize Christians. We seldom perfect our intention, but we must constantly mature our intention. Consider two ways how matchlessly Christ’s Actions equaled his Intentions. For example, Mark 1:35-37 stated his Intention and 1:38-39 his Action. God not only SENT Jesus to preach everywhere in Israel, but he DID SO. Anticipating Pentecost and beyond, he later sent the Twelve in pairs throughout Israel, preaching his message of repentance, expressing his compassion in healing and proving his authority over Satan by exorcising demons Mark 6:7-12. Intention and Action complemented each other. For example, before being conceived, Jesus had been NAMED Luke 2:21. After Mary conceived him, God sent an angel to assure Joseph that what Mary hosted in her womb had been begotten by the Holy Spirit. To leave no doubt the baby was God’s Son, the angel said his name would be Jesus since he would save his people from their sins. At the start of his Early Judean Ministry, Jesus affirmed his purpose in coming John 3:17. In the First Tour of his Great Galilean Ministry he first claimed authority to forgive sin, then offered proof that he had Mark 2:1-12. Towards the end of his Later Perean Ministry he affirmed his continued intention to forgive sin by sacrificing his life Mark 10:45. Then, in a majestic forgiveness offered on the Cross, Jesus forgave the Jews hating him enough to want him dead, the Romans hardened enough to carry it out and every human being ever to live for sinning against God’s purity when reaching accountable age. Again, perfect balance existed between what his NAME intended, his LIFE affirmed and his DEATH offered. Nothing theatrical existed in Christ’s life that imagined what he wanted to do but in reality couldn’t. End Part I We seminary students mentioned in our Sunday messages the coming dangers we foresaw in the early 1960’s. Otherwise, occupied with class room studies, full-time ministries, sermon preparation and pastoral work, we did little more.
While we chose not to get involved in the crisis, God enlisted others who did, sending into those anti-God movements workers who turned the leaders from political revolutionaries into warriors for Christ. The effort neutralized some of the worst effects of the violence otherwise unleashed. What glimmered in the 1960’s GLARES in the 21st century. What began then as freedom of expression has now become Declarations of PERMISSIVENESS to be whatever the unconverted desire without restraints from Biblical morality, Christian self-denial and...Christ’s Singular position as the Only Religious Leader worth following. Until...it has now become the demand that each person is his own deity, and decides for himself what’s right and wrong—and no one can correct or criticize him. The present tension in race relations also poses a question we must correctly resolve: what is going to be the RULE of society: a body of LAW that limits or individual FREEDOMS that defy restraint? It’s the old tension between the parts and the whole: the whole cannot remain intact if it lets the parts fragment it. The Bible leaves no doubt. Authority must be obeyed, even if authorities misuse or abuse their position. Jesus taught that in Matthew 23:1-3 and Paul in Romans 13:1-2. Society and anarchy—and the present anti-authority movement in young people proves it is nihilistic—exist at opposite poles. Meaning they cannot agree or be in the same nation at the same time. Examples galore prove it, of which I’ll mention but two. Law in 1850’s San Francisco couldn’t prevent growing violence and criminality. Just when it seemed NO LAW existed, Vigilantes appointed themselves the LAW, arrested criminals and summarily executed them. Under their pressure order was restored, but by an extra-legal authority as its own authority. The Maccabean revolt against Syria in 167 B.C. gave autonomy to the Jewish people. Which, in passing decades the Jews through internecine struggles brought anarchy. Which introduced a rising imperial Roman presence in 63 B.C. in the person of General Pompey. He put an end to the internal violence—but at the cost of Jewish independence. And in the most aggressive way possible, violating the Holy of Holies and executing priests as they performed their labors. Disorder went into hiding, but ROME dictated behavior. The moral is: any lawless society awaits only the STRONG Personality who puts an end to anarchy, but often by replacing it with his TYRANNY. The young people proudly demanding “defunding the police” are too ignorant of history to understand the stupidity of the slogan...but...the anarchists encouraging their protests know exactly what they want. In conclusion, when, as a nation, the only way we allow God’s name and Christ’s name to be spoken in public is AS A PROFANITY, we need national repentance. When, as a nation, we welcome all religious persuasions, especially those of Far-East Asia in classrooms, in the guise of yoga, while even the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag is debated, and prayer in Christ’s name is unwelcome, we need national repentance. When, as a nation, our universities refuse to even consider Intelligent Design as a viable alternative to CHANCE in creation, and any professor suggesting it is fired, we need national repentance. When a million babies are murdered by abortion every year in American—Americans must repent. And when 42 million babies—human babies—were murdered world-wide by abortion in 2019—unconverted humanity all over the world must repent. SINCE repentance isn’t in the short list of anyone’s TO DO list, there is every reason to expect that COVID-19 and racial tension are but the beginning of a great tribulation in the world, in the United State especially. Fini The Temperance movements of the 19th century gave a mighty voice to families who had become victims of irresponsible drinking by too many men. The last organized effort by Protestant Christians to control drinking habits of American citizens by legislation began with the adoption of the 18th Amendment in 1919, but repealed in 1933. Prohibition had sound reasoning behind it, but it didn’t factor the change in American society that prevented any meaningful enforcement. Too many nationalities, fond of wines and harder drink, had migrated to America, with distinctive drinking habits.
Changes in the direction of American society began almost surreptitiously in the 1950’s . They became visible in the 1960’s. With other seminary students this writer debated what it meant. Some saw no danger in the changes. After all, hadn’t other alterations occurred in culture, only to be subordinated to Christian teaching—such as the catastrophe of collapse experienced by the Roman Empire, when barbarian hordes crossed the Rhine/Danube frontier and surged through the empire. A waiting, robust Christianity taught them, convicted and converted them to Christ. I personally disagreed and believed cultural norms had taken a decidedly anti-Christian turn which would harm, infest and pose a critical danger to Christian tradition. It didn’t take long before the change turned malevolent. I didn’t fathom the changes in church-centered America that weakened corporate Christianity’s response to the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley, the influence of Elvis Presley, the Beatles and the shock of Woodstock with its drugs, free sex and hard-rock music. Followed by the Hippie movement, the Black Panthers, the Weathermen and the Viet Nam anti-war protestors. All of them anti-authority expressions of young people. End Part II |
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