April 20, 2011

"So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples." Matthew 28:8

These  women loved Jesus passionately and arose before sunrise in order to get to the tomb to prepare their Lord's body. I'm sure they were filled with grief and some dread as they prepared themselves to see His badly battered and bloody corpse. The horrible events of a few days ago seemed like a terrible nightmare but one from which they could not awake. But now, on this chilly morning as they hurried through the darkness to the tomb they must have been trying to prepare themselves mentaly and emotionally for the jarring reality of a cold, dead, and badly disfigured body.

While they were still trying to prepare themselves for what they thought they would see, upon arriving at the tomb they saw something they were totally unprepared for - the stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty and a angel appeared to explain why!

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?", the angel asked.

And the discovery they made that morning has changed the course of history as well as the changing the trajectory of eternity! About the time day was dawning it was dawning on these women what had happened! Jesus was alive! He had risen from the dead! With the breaking day, they rushed back to break the joyous news to the rest of His followers!

Can you imagine the joy? As the Gospel records, "They were filled with joy."

As I read this story this evening and tried to imagine how these women must have felt as they discovered the good news of the resurrection, I could not help but wonder, "Where is the joy?"

Is the resurrection any less significant today than it was then? No!

So, where is the joy?

Is Jesus any less alive today than He was then? No!

So, where is the joy?

Sunday after Sunday we come to our churches to worship and celebrate that Jesus is risen from the dead!

So, where is the joy?

How can we be so somber about something so significant as a Risen Savior?

Where is the joy?

Oh that we could celebrate and worship with joy like this:

                                         http://youtu.be/8KX2-J6uS-o

So, where's YOUR joy?

April 19, 2011

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."  I Corinthians 15:17-22

Do you remember as a kid how you played soldier or maybe cowboys and Indians? You would hide behind a tree or in the bushes and shoot your cap gun to make sure you got the "bad guys" before they got you! The idea of the game was to make sure you didn't get "killed". But, in fact, you got "killed" a number of times. Other than the sting of losing the battle, being "killed" was no big deal because you would rise to play again! Over the course of a long Summer day of cowboys and Indians you probably got "killed" a dozen times or more!

If death were no bigger of a deal than it was in a game of cowboys and Indians, then the resurrection of Jesus Christ would be of no consequence. But death IS real. And death IS final. Therefore, death is fearful.

But Jesus died. The Son of God succumbed to death! That is a big deal! It is not easy for God to die and it was anything but easy for Jesus. He suffered unimaginable cruelty. The agony inflicted on Him has been experienced by no other in history. It is a big deal because He did it for you! He took the shame and the penalty of your sinfulness and paid it for you on the cross! Though He was innocent He took your guilt! It killed Him so you wouldn't have to die for your sins!

Jesus' death was a big deal because by dying in sin He conquered sin!

As significant as His death was, His resurrection was even bigger! In this cosmic battle between good and evil, the Good Guy won! He arose from the dead on the third day! By rising from the dead - coming back to life after being dead for three days - He defeated death! And He defeated it not only for Himself but for you and for me! That is a big deal! That is worthy of celebrating!

So, one of these days when death comes to claim you, because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - the miraculous return from the dead, the best documented return from the dead - you will re-enact your cowboy and Indian days of getting back up after you are dead!

That is a big deal!

That is something worthy of celebrating!

Celebrate it now! Celebrate it tomorrow! Join your Christian brothers and sisters and celebrate it BIG TIME this Easter Sunday! Celebrate it as though your life depends on it! Oh, by the way, IT DOES!

April 18, 2011

"Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified."  Matthew 17:4

I can relate to Peter. Perhaps you can too.

Just like him there is a part of me that wants to camp out a certain comfort level. When something good happens or especially when I experience a spiritual high, I want to linger there for awhile. I understand his desire to want to pitch a tent.

But God would have none of that. Before Peter could even finish his thoughts, he was interrupted by the voice of God. God doesn't let me get away with it either.

Why is that?

God loves us too much to allow us to level off. There too much growth that has to happen in you and in me to allow us to camp out in a comfort zone. There are too many other people to be reached to let us pitch a tent at a past event. God is too dynamic and has so much He wants to reveal to us about His nature and His will to allow us to live on yesterday's experience. God wants to stretch us and grow us so he can do greater things through us and show greater things to us!

Our relationship with God is often described as a walk or sometimes as a race or even as a journey - but never is it called a camp out! When we walk with God we must keep up with Him - stay in step with Him. The Bible urges us to "wait upon the Lord" but it doesn't say He should wait on us!

Some of the old hymns used to refer to the Christian walk as a march. Marchers move forward steadily and purposefully in step together with each other and with their leaders. You may remember this one:

Come, we that love the Lord,

And let our joys be known;

Join in a song with sweet accord,

Join in a song with sweet accord

And thus surround the throne,

And thus surround the throne

We’re marching to Zion,

Beautiful, beautiful Zion;

We’re marching upward to Zion,

The beautiful city of God.

Let those refuse to sing,

Who never knew our God;

But favorites of the heavenly King,

But favorites of the heavenly King

May speak their joys abroad,

May speak their joys abroad.

Notice the hymn-writer said we are "Marching" not camping! And we are marching forward as we march! And, we are marching upward!

So, following Jesus requires us to walk with, to stay in step with Him. As His disciples, what happens if you walk ahead of Him?  What might happen if you don't really keep up with Him? A distance can develop then, right?  And what happens if He wants to lead you to a higher place or share a newer revelation of His glory and you are still looking back?

As we head into this Holy Week finalizing preparations for a great celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, intentionally order your schedule and your stuff so you can enjoy this journey with the King of Kings. Revel in His presence and praise Him for keeping in step with the will of God for you. Chase the Risen Savior with all your heart and never pitch a tent! Never get too comfortable or casual so as to lose the blessing, the significance, the hope, or the presence, or the peace of following Jesus who rose from the dead to set us free!

Comfort is over rated. God designed and wired us for challenges, not for camp outs!

What comfort zone might you be caught in?

 

April 17, 2011

"There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.............When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus."   Matthew 17:1-3; 7-8

What was it that they saw on the mountaintop that so affected them?

As they headed up the mountain I wonder what they thought they were going to see?

I have a feeling they didn't expect to see what they saw!

When you think about a mountaintop experience with God, what is it that you want to see? Have you ever thought about that? Maybe you should.

Of course, I wasn't on the mountaintop so I can only speculate, but I'll tell you what I think they saw. I believe what they saw that so changed them was the holiness of God!

Why do I say that? What do I base that on?

First, the Word says they saw a brilliant light. What would cause such brilliance other than the pure radiance of a holy, sinless Presence! That brilliance is the light of pure love, the light of pure wisdom, the light of pure knowledge and the light of pure never-ending life! Those are the components of holiness and that is Who God is! As John wrote later in His Gospel, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."

Second, the record says that His clothes became was white as the light. To be that white and shine that brightly denotes the absence of sin. What is holiness except the absence of sin? Doesn't it remind you of another time John saw Jesus, "The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire, His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance."

You may disagree with me if you wish, and you may be right. But I think what they saw on that mountaintop was the holiness of God!

After three years of following Jesus and sharing in His life and ministry they had seen His power in countless manifestations. They had witnessed healings! They had seen the dead raised! They had seen water turn into wine and a lunch turned into an all-you-can eat buffet! They had seen Him walk on water and they watched Him still a storm. You would think that with all those experiences with His power, they wouldn't have needed a mountaintop experience.

But they did.

I would venture to guess that when you think of a mountaintop experience you envision a manifestation of His power. You long for that. You pray for it. Sometimes you even fast for it. But is that what you really need? Does God still have to prove His power to you?

And if you did receive that mountop experience and if God DID show you a supernatural manifestation of His power - then what? Would you believe more or would you cry out for another one? How would you be different coming down the mountain that you were climbing it? Would you be different in your hidden places that you were on the high place?

Isn't holiness what you really need? Would His purity be a better answer to your problems than His power?  Everyone looks good in the high places. Wouldn't it be great if the mountaintop experiences made you different in the hidden places of your life?

When you long for a mountaintop experience you had best know what you are asking God for. And if it is not a fresh vision of His holiness - do you really need it? And if you are not ready to receive His holiness - do you really want it?

April 16, 2011

"Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”   Matthew 17:4

I contend that the reason we need a mountaintop experience is not always the reason we want one. Just as Peter wanted to build three shelters on the mountaintop, I believe there are three boxes we are especially prone to want to build for Jesus. A fresh revelation of Who He is can help us confront those. This morning I want to focus on those three "shelters" or boxes where we try to "store" Jesus.

The first is the emotional box. We want to be able to pull Jesus out to give us an emotional lift whenever we feel we need it and then put Him back in. With all the dangers of 21st century living and the demands of being a parent, a spouse, and employee - a child of God - emotions can get stretched and strained.

Certainly, God cares about our emotions, but He wants to do more than just thrill us - He wants to fill us! I believe that was one of the messages of the mountaintop. Jesus had worked with these disciples and in these disciples but a His time on the planet was nearing an end He was going to have to work through them. To do that He need to fill them. If you just want God to thrill you and you try to keep Him in that emotions box, you need a fresh revelation of Who He is!

Also, if you just want Jesus in your emotional box so you can pull Him out for an occasional charge, you will find that doesn't work. Jesus didn't lead these three guys up the mountain to charge them, He took them up there to change them!

God didn't want them to build three boxes and He doesn't want you to try and confine Jesus in your emotions box.

A second box we try to build is the emergency box. We want Jesus to be like the fire alarm in our lives - "In Case of Emergency Break Glass". Rather than allow Him to guide us and keep us on His path, we ask Him to guard us when we've wandered off the path and into danger. We want rescue but not responsibility. It is hard to be responsible. It costs us something and makes demands of us. To just keep Jesus in the emergency box and have Him on call when we get in a bind seems much easier to us.

If that is where you are with Jesus you need a fresh revelation of Him. You need a mountaintop experience that will cause you to take responsibility for your spiritual progress and not use Him for rescue missions.

A third box we want to keep Jesus in is the encouragement box. Life is hard! The grind of daily routines and rituals take a toll on you physically, emotionally and spiritually. But we tend to try to go it on our own and find our own ways of coping until we run out of gas. When we feel discouraged and need a lift out of the mundane exoeriences of doing life then we let God out of the box and demand that He encourage us. We grab the devotional or the Bible or the latest worship CD and say, "Okay, God, do your thing!"

If all Jesus is to you is a means of encouragement in the midst of the mundane, you need a fresh revelation of Who He Is! He doesn't exist just to encourage you - He lives to empower you! He wants to be your Master so He can turn the mundane into your ministry and your mission field! Your routines are where your life is lived on a daily basis and if you miss Him there you miss out on Who He is and what He can do!

As Peter was proposing his plan to construct the three boxes he was interrupted by God with an announcement that Jesus is HIS Son! He is God in the flesh! He is not to be contained or confined to any shelter or boxes. He did not come to emotionally charge you - He can to essentially change you! He did not come to be an emergency response, He came to call you to responsibilty. You are to build His Kingdom! And He does not exist just to brighten your day, He wants to empower you to live in the fullness of His love and power everyday so what was once mundane can become a mission!

Mountaintop experiences happen not to construct boxes but to crush them. Are there any boxes you are clinging to? Do you need to allow Jesus to be much more than He is in the area of your emotions, in the realm of you will, or in the midst of your daily living?

April 15, 2011

^"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."  I John 4:18

The final fear we will deal with in this "FEARLESS" series is the most obscure of the fears we have confronted but it could also be the most fundamental. I think you will understand better as I explain. This fear is the "Fear of God Getting Out of Our Box".

What do I mean by that? What is this fear?

To understand this fear is to understand the problem with fear in general. The reason we put God in a box is because that is how we naturally handle fear. It is called "compartmentalization" by psychologists and what it means we tend to put things we fear into boxes or compartments. We respond to anxiety not by facing it but by filing it! By splitting it up into small parts and filing it into little compartments (boxes) we think it will be less threatening. But, what actually happens is rather than having less fear we have more because we have to worry about each of those little fears getting out of their little boxes.

So naturally, how are we going to handle God in our lives? We try to put Him into the "box" we have created for our faith. But how can an infinite and onmipotent Spirit like God be kept in a box? He can't and that frightens even more. So, we vacilate between the fear of having Him get out and the guilt of trying to keep Him in.

Does that make sense?

What Jesus did with Peter, James and John after leading them up the mountaintop was to peel back His humanity for a minute or so and showed them Who He REALLY was. Not only did He shine for them but His holy light penetrated their hearts and souls as Jesus said essentially, "Fear this!" Or, in terms of this discussion, Jesus was saying, "Box this!"

Once they were confronted face-to-face with the glorified Jesus, they were forced to realize how futile it is to keep God in a box. But they also saw how unnecessary it is. There petty fears were overshadowed by a greater fear. Jesus was calling them out of their compartments and into His completeness. They didn't need a bunch of little fears, they just needed one BIG one! Him!

When John (who was there) wrote, "Perfect love casts out fear...." perhaps what he was really saying was, "Perfect love cleans out the files (or compartments, i.e. boxes)...". I think so! I think that is exactly what He was saying.

So how do I do that?

Stop trying to control Him or manage Him and surrender to Him in holy fear. Allow Him in to all your compartments to clean out all your filed away fears. Then let His vast and powerful Holy Spirit fill all the files, all the compartments, and all the boxes! The holy fear of God - His perfect (complete) love can fill you until there is no room for human fear.

Then, and only then, will you know what it is to live "FEARLESS"!

April 14, 2011

"Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”   Matthew 17:4-5

One of the reasons you like the mountain-top is because it momentarily rescues you from the mundane grind of daily living.

When Peter, James and John were led up the mountain with Jesus for an eye-witness gaze into His true nature, they experienced the essential difference between the glory of the revelation and the grind of the routine. No wonder they wanted to remain up there! Who wouldn't?

The word "mundane" has an interesting origin. It comes from the same root as "world" and refers to how you live out your life in this world of time and space and physical demands. That is why the distance between the mountain-top and the mundane can seem so vast.

Jesus and His disciples faced a daily routine of perpetual need and never-ending demands. Everyday they were challenged by the "religious establishment". Each day they were beseiged by helpless, hopeless, and healthless people with no where else to turn but Jesus. And for everyone they helped and healed there were three or four more who they couldn't reach. It was unrelenting day after day. Even tough they moved from village to village the desparation was the same. But up on the mountain it was quiet and safe and simple! For nearly three years they witnessed on a daily basis what Jesus could do - but on the mountain-top they got to see Who He is!

I have had mountain-top experiences! There are those moments when I receive a fresh revelation of Who Jesus is! Once I get a clear glimpse of His glory you really don't want to stop looking. The thought of returning to the ordinary is a bit depressing and a tad scary. When Jesus ministers to me and restores me, it feels so good I don't want it to end. If you know what I am talking about I need no further explanation and if you don't, no amount of explanation will suffice.

At the end of those mountain-top moments there is always a dread or a fear that when I come down from the mountain to the mundane I will lose that feeling and that focus I received. There is a fear that when I get back into the mundane it will grind the glory out of me! That is what I mean when I refer to the "fear of the mundane".

But, a proper understanding of what the mountain-top means can deliver us from the fear of the mundane. Understand that Jesus did not call Peter, James and John to remove them from the mundane - He called them up there to remove the mundane from them! He wanted them to understand that there should not be this dicotomy between the spiritual and the secular. He didn't call them to overcome the secular by His Spirit! The purpose of the mountain-top is to transform the mundane! When the glory of God resides in us, everything we do is holy and everywhere we go becomes holy ground! Jesus is not just glorious when He is on the mountain-top, He is glorious everywhere but that glory must be expressed through us!

As long as the enemy can maintain a distance between the mountain-top and the mundane - he wins! But when God's people Who Jesus - "Christ in you the hope of glory" - and when we bring the glory of God into the grind of daily living faith rises and fear falls!

Don't just go to the mountain-top, be the mountain-top for others!