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Law Keeping = Idolatry

2/27/2015

Today's post is by guest writer, Keith Ward.

The Galatians had been told they must keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul worked to persuade them that the power of the gospel was sufficient and was, in fact, negated by keeping the Law for salvation. His argument in 4:9 startles us when it equates keeping the Law of Moses with idolatry, “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?” These Galatians had never been under the Law of Moses; how could they “turn back again” to it, or be “slaves once more”? They had been idolaters with various rules for worship and finding God. Since the gospel became the power of God to salvation, seeking justification by keeping the Law of Moses is no different than seeking justification by keeping the ordinances of idolatry. Both involve various outward rules one meticulously keeps in order to come to God by things men do rather than by faith. To turn from the gospel to the Law of Moses would be no different that turning from the gospel to idolatry. [Those who were justified during the dispensation of the Law of Moses were justified by faith as noted in Hebrews 11 as men were in every dispensation.]

It would be appropriate to apply this passage to those who turn to the O.T. to justify their practices: incense, instrumental music, priests, tithes. But, it may be more useful to search within ourselves, “Has my service become a matter of rituals instead of a living sacrifice?”

When attendance becomes a measure of faithfulness and Hebrews 10:25 is a club to enforce it, does it really even matter whether one attends or not? Where is the heart? Is one serving God or his own rules? Attendance is not a “rule;” it is the opportunity one has to “provoke unto love and good works” his brothers and sisters. Checking a duty off the list is self-serving and does not follow the example of Christ to serve others.

When one prays to fulfill a duty it maybe has a limited value. But, it does not even approach prayer that opens the heart to God, prayer that draws one closer to God, prayer for others, prayer for service.

Some give on the first day of the week only because it is one of the “5 acts of worship.” Others first give themselves to the Lord and then give beyond their means of their own accord.

Eph 5:19 has been relegated for a proof text against instrumental music in the worship assembling. Paul wrote it in the context of everyday living as a primer for filling oneself with the Spirit. (The Greek does not say “one to another” but is a totally different word that is reflexive, “speaking to yourselves”). Is it any wonder that we struggle in our daily lives since we are empty of the Holy Spirit because we do not sing in our hearts all the time?

Many have turned the grace of God into rituals, rituals that no longer have the N.T. purpose and heart. There seems to be little difference between a will-worship by means of idolatry or one by means of Old Testament rules, or even by means of instructions of grace to help in time of need which have been turned into a checklist.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery…For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Gal 5:1,13

Keith Ward

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Solitary Confinement

2/26/2015

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I have been alone many times in my life. My vision problem meant I spent a lot of time alone indoors instead of outside playing with other children. We moved a few times, and being naturally reticent, I was slow to make new friends. Being a preacher’s wife, and then a law enforcement officer’s wife meant I often found myself on the outside looking in—people were often uncomfortable around me. Finally, living out in the country for the past thirty years, where “next door neighbors” can be as far as half a mile away, has also kept me isolated from others. However, I learned a long time ago how to be comfortable with myself. To me, being alone seldom means being lonely.
    Far too many people who live in cities, bumping elbows with hundreds of others every day, while never really being alone, are still lonely. Loneliness in the middle of a crowd must be the most debilitating kind there is. When you think no one understands and no one cares, you might as well be on a one man raft in the middle of the ocean.
    No Christian should ever feel the burden of loneliness. Apart from the always pleasant surprise of bumping into a brother or sister in the middle of the week “out there in the world,” or being warmly welcomed into an assembly far from home, there is that “great cloud of witnesses” who are cheering us on, an Older Brother who has experienced every pain we have, and a Father who will listen any time of day. He is never too busy or too tired for any one of his children.
    So if you find yourself feeling lonely, ask yourself why. There is an obligation to reach out for help that the person in the middle of his self-pity wants to deny. “No one loves me” excuses any sort of behavior, we think. But you will never experience the type of loneliness that the Son experienced on your behalf when, solely because of all the sins ever committed—including yours—he was separated from the Father, for God cannot countenance sin; and that Older Brother of ours took them all on his shoulders as he hung on a cross—completely alone for the first time in all eternity.
    So think again about loneliness and remember that no loneliness you ever experience can match that, and any loneliness you do experience is your own fault—you have placed yourself in solitary confinement. That Brother and that Father are always there, even if the brethren down here sometimes let you down. Reach out and take hold of the comfort and fellowship that is there for the taking.
    Behold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear… Him who knew no sin he made sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him…And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Isa 59:1,2; 2 Cor 5:21; Matt 27:46.
    God forsook him, and left him hanging there alone because of your sin and because of mine, and so we will never have to be lonely again.

Dene Ward

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Skimming the Genealogies

2/25/2015

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I know you do it. Even when you are participating in one of those “read the Bible through in a year” programs you do it. Who in the world wants to read through So-and-so-jah begat So-and-so-iah verse after verse until you can hardly see straight? But you need to do it once in awhile.

   That’s how you find out that Samuel was not a hypocrite for condemning Saul’s sacrifice when he made sacrifices several times himself—his father may have been an Ephraimite, but he was a Levite living in Ephraim.

   That’s how you find out that Joab was David’s nephew, the son of his sister Zeruiah, which probably accounts for why he put up with so much from the rascal.

   That’s how you find out that David’s counselor Ahithophel, was Bathsheba’s grandfather, which puts a new spin on that story, and probably explains why he put his lot in with Absalom when he rebelled. And all that is just the beginning of the amazing things you can discover when you read genealogies in the Bible.

   We also tend to overlook things like Deborah’s song of praise in Judges 5. It’s just a poem, right? We already read the important part in chapter 4. Read chapter 5 some time. You will discover exactly how God helped his people overcome Sisera’s army—he sent a storm that bogged down their chariots in the mud. Foot soldiers do much better than chariots in a storm. You will discover that the elders of Israel were applauded for a change—they actually did their jobs and did them willingly. You will find out that several tribes did not help with the fighting and were roundly condemned for it. You will find God’s opinion of Jael’s actions—no more arguing after He inspires Deborah to say, “Blessed above women shall Jael be.”

   And here’s one I found recently—the conversation and ensuing verses in 2 Samuel 12 after Nathan uttered those scalding words, “Thou art the man,” which is where we usually stop reading.

   Verse 9—“You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword.” David may have only ordered Uriah’s death, but God considered it exactly the same as doing the deed itself.

   Verse 13—“The Lord has put away your sin. You shall not die.” Understand this--there was no sacrifice for adultery and murder because the sinners were summarily stoned. That is what David expected, and the punishment God put aside. Read Psalm 51 now. David’s forgiveness happened immediately after his confession and repentance (v 12), but he repeatedly asks for it in the psalm which was written sometime later. He understood the grace of God like never before. Now that is godly repentance.

   Verse 15—“And the Lord afflicted the child.” We keep trying to find ways out of statements like this, but they keep popping up. Remember this: God is in control. He knows what He is doing. There is a reason this child could not live, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t continue to live. More on this in a minute.

   Verse 20—After the child died, David “went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.” Why? We could come up with a ton of reasons. Ultimately I think he was showing his acceptance of God’s will, and sincere appreciation for the mercy he knew he did not deserve. What do you think? This one can keep a class going for several minutes worth of discussion, and a whole lot of soul-searching. Would your first inclination after a tragedy—and punishment--be to worship God?

   Verse 22—“Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious and allow the child to live?” First, this proves David’s faith in prayer. He knew it was possible for God to change His mind simply because one of His children asked Him to. Second, it shows that faith does not mean you know you will get what you prayed for. Who knows? David asked. No one does, except God. Faith knows He is able to grant your petition, not that He will.

   Verse 23—“I will go to him.” David believed in the innocence of his child. He did not believe that child was born with Adam’s sin hanging over his head, totally depraved and unable to get out of it without the direct operation of the Holy Spirit or some rite involving water. His child was clean and innocent and he looked forward to seeing him again because he was also sure of his forgiveness.

   Whoa! Did you know all that was there? I didn’t either, and this was at least the tenth time I have studied this story in depth (I thought).   What else are we missing?

   The next time you do your Bible reading, think about what you are reading, even if it’s just a list of names or a poem or directions for how to build something. God put what we needed to know in His Word. Don’t you go deciding that you don’t need to know some of it.

…from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work, 2 Tim 3:15-17 .

Dene Ward

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Cooped Up

2/24/2015

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Keith says I have a personality disorder—I think my name is Francis and I was born in Assisi. Can I help it if the hawk insisted on having a conversation with me this morning?
   I haven’t been out for awhile due to one thing and another, but he must remember me from all the times I went out while he was a baby and spoke to him up in his nest. So whenever I am outside and he is anywhere nearby, he gives me a shout, and I say hello.
   I had my trekking poles so I could give Chloe a little bit of exercise. She is a bit like her mistress, prone to gaining weight at the slightest sniff of food, forget about actually eating it, and she needed a walk. After our first greeting across the fence from one another, the hawk flew behind me and caught up, still staying in the trees on the other side of the boundary, but a little closer this time.
   I told him he should come on over. If he wanted to stay safe, we had plenty of trees, plenty of food—he should have known that anyway. His parents had sat on the tomato fence in our garden, diving for mice, squirrels, rabbits, and other goodies that they took to him for supper every night, way up high in the pine tree to the east. I kept walking and again he flew to catch up, but once again landed on the other side of the fence.
   When we reached the point where the path cut inward to the center of our property, I told him it was time for him to make his decision. “Come on,” I told him. “You’ve been here before. You grew up here. You know it’s a good place and a safe place. If you stay over there, who is going to look after you?”
   I waited a minute then turned and headed down the path toward the drive. His wings flapped behind me like a big rug flapping on a clothesline in the wind. I turned, only to see he was headed away, deeper into the woods.
   I suspect I will still hear from him once in awhile and even see him again. At least until that time when something nabs him and he stops showing up. It’s a pity. He would last longer if he stayed close by, but now some neighbor may shoot him just for fun, or he may stray into some other hawk’s territory and lose the fight for it. That’s what happens when you turn your back because all you can see is restrictions instead of safety, and when all you want to see of the other side of the fence is freedom instead of danger. Sooner or later, one way or the other, it will be too late to come back.

In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, that one may depart from the snares of death. Prov 14:26,27.

Dene Ward

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"Oh No!"

2/23/2015

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I have already introduced you to my grandson Judah and his literary hero, Pete the Cat. (Click on “Children” on the right sidebar and scroll down to “Read the Buttons!” if you missed it.) When anything bad happens to Pete he says, “Oh no!”, and now that is one of Judah’s favorite phrases, with his special little two year old inflection. The last time we visited, we must have heard it a hundred times.
   When he found one of his toys in the wrong place, “Oh no!” When his Mr Happy figure fell over, “Oh no!” When he dropped his cookie, “Oh no!” When a bean fell off his spoon, when his shoelace came untied, when his wind-up toy train stopped chugging along—all of these merited a loud and pained, “Oh no!” Everything was a catastrophe for little Mr. Drama King. But at least he paid attention to his world and he cared what happened in it. Can we say the same thing about our spiritual world any more?
   I remember when every member of the church could quote scriptures. I remember when we all knew the basic Bible stories. I remember when we understood that Truth was absolute and that our acceptance of and obedience to it determined our eternal destiny. I even remember when you converted other people by showing them that their denomination’s practices and beliefs were not Biblical. They would do their best to prove you wrong. Now no one cares. They don’t have a clue what they are supposed to believe, and neither do we.
   Now anyone who has questions about a statement from the pulpit, about a teaching in a Bible class, about the words of a new song is judged as having his knickers in a knot, as if it were something of no importance. His upset is inappropriate and unwelcome. He needs to “just calm down.” He finds himself the object of scorn and ridicule, his concerns swept aside as the foolish rantings of a crochety, usually older, narrow-minded alarmist. Never mind that this older person has seen things like this before and their inevitable results. Never mind that he has the wisdom of perspective that the younger not only do not have but cannot have. He—or she--is not respected, and never listened to. His “Oh no!” has become the expected song for him to sing and so goes in one ear and out the other.
   God told the prophet Ezekiel that he was to be a watchman for his people. He was to sound the alarm when he saw the enemy approaching. Those people thought Ezekiel was crazy too. After all, who else but a lunatic would lie on his side and dig in the sand, depicting the siege of Jerusalem for day after day after day? Who else would not speak a word unless it was given him from God for week after week after week? Who else would pull out a handful of hair, throw some of it to the wind, tie some in his robe, and then stand hacking at the rest of it with a sword? None of that wacky behavior made what he said false. God told him that when the people wouldn’t listen—and He knew they wouldn’t--their blood was on their own heads.
   Maybe it’s time we listened to a few alarmists. Maybe the alarm is legitimate. At least they are paying attention while we often go along accepting anything anyone says (or sings) just to avoid trouble. Maybe someone needs to holler, “Oh no!” once in awhile. And maybe we need to care as much as they do.

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith…For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers…whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not… 1 Tim 1:3,4; Titus 1:10,11.

Dene Ward

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February 20, 1960--Proof Yet Again

2/20/2015

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You’d think they would learn. You’d think they would figure this out, especially people who are so smart, with so many letters after their names they could start a new language. Yet for a long time the existence of the Biblical Ur of the Chaldees, Abraham and Sarah’s hometown, was denied. Several excavations were begun in the early twentieth century, but Sir Charles Leonard Woolley, a British archaeologist, finally put the question to rest. From The Bible As History by Werner Keller: “Under the red slopes of Tell al Muqayyar lay a whole city…awakened from its long sleep after many thousand years…Woolley and his companions were beside themselves with joy…for before them lay the Ur of the Chaldees to which the Bible refers.”
    Where today sits a railway station 120 miles north of Basra, Woolley found many closely situated private homes along with their broken pots, cuneiform texts, and even some gold jewelry. He found silver lyres and other musical instruments and even a royal game board, complete with “men” to travel the wooden board.
    What he discovered, in essence, was the ancient Sumerian civilization,   He also discovered royal tombs dating from 2700 BC. It became apparent to these scientists than these tombs also contained the king’s personal retinue, people buried alive in a form of large scale human sacrifice. Is there any wonder God would have called his righteous servant away from that society? And Joshua said to all the people, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many, Josh 24:2,3. And so the Bible once again is proven not only accurate, but logical.
    Woolley’s faith may not have been as fundamental as we would like--he discovered evidence of a great flood in the area but you and I would not have agreed with all of his conclusions in that regard. However, he seemed to work like this: the Bible says it existed so he went looking for it. How many others deny the witness of the Scriptures until their noses are rubbed in it?
    Charles Woolley died on this day in 1960. Perhaps we can use this as a reminder. More and more the world considers the Bible as anything but the Word of God. Instead it is a book of myths and interesting stories. Jesus was not the Son of God either; he was just a good rabbi. Maybe it is time we spoke out more. Are we embarrassed to be seen as ignorant yokels because we believe the scriptures to be the authentic and infallible Word of an Almighty Creator? Do we water down the truths revealed in it because they are no longer politically correct?
    It was easy to believe when most of our neighbors did. It was easy to say, “The Bible says…” when we knew that statement would carry some weight. Despite the fact that over and over discoveries are made to prove the factual content of the Bible, people still find reason not to accept it. They always will. Just read the first few chapters of Exodus. Just read the gospels. When people do not want to accept the accountability demanded of us by the Bible, they will reject it. They will find every excuse in the world to say, “That’s different,” when the only difference is it refers directly to their lifestyles and habits.
    Say thank you today to Sir Charles Leonard Woolley, but only if you will use his discovery to cement your faith and allow it to change your will.

But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house, Ezek 3:27.

Dene Ward

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Lying in the Pews

2/19/2015

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Once when we were traveling we walked into a meetinghouse and tried to find a place to sit. We were among the first to arrive but pew after pew was already filled with folded shawls, afghans, blankets, Bibles and notebooks. The problem for us is that Keith must sit close enough to be able to read lips or the entire service is lost on him. We are not bashful, so we finally moved aside a blanket and sat down. The owner of the blanket either never arrived that morning or sat somewhere else.
   Now I do understand the problem. By the time we load up two Bibles, a notebook, Keith’s hearing paraphernalia, my medications, two pairs of glasses, a magnifying glass, a purse, and two jackets I feel like we are moving every Sunday. It would be nice to have two sets of everything and leave one right where we usually sit. If I were alone and older, it would be nice not to have to carry so much. However, suppose we had been visitors from the community that Sunday and felt like we were not welcome to sit wherever we chose because practically every seat was “taken?” A few is not a problem, but maybe we should take a look at the buildings we all meet in and make certain that only a few places appear to be “saved” for someone besides an interested and, we hope, welcome visitor.
   Sometimes we leave something much more important in our pews than a Bible or a blanket—our faith, our good behavior, and our desire to operate under the authority of an Almighty God.
   Only on Sundays do we think of anyone else, and only the ones announced. The rest of the week we are too busy. Only on Sundays do we stand up for the truth. The rest of the week we don’t want to cause a fuss. Only when it involves those “five acts of worship” do we look for the authority of God to act. The rest of the week it never crosses out minds that the same authority will tell us how to live and make important decisions. Only on Sunday are we careful how we approach God, forgetting entirely that we are in His presence every minute of every day.
   So what did you leave lying in the pew last Sunday? Be sure to take it home with you this week.

Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying, “When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and sell the chaff of the wheat?” Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins -- you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said, Amos 8:4-6; 5:11,12,14.

Dene Ward

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The Cream of the Crop

2/18/2015

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Let me tell you a sad story.
   A long time ago, Keith had one of those “try-out” visits that churches offer preachers. I’ve often wondered whether these things would go better if the church considered itself being “tried out” that weekend as well, but that’s another blog for another time.
   We had lunch and spent the afternoon with a couple who would probably have been considered “pillars” of the church, primarily because they were better educated, had more money, and could quote more scriptures.
   The church sat smack dab in the middle of farm country amid acres of melons, corn, peas, and tobacco. Most of the members lived in old frame farmhouses and had dropped out of or barely completed high school. A remark was made about the church members that gave me pause, but I was very young, wrestling with a two year old and an infant so I didn’t trust myself to have good judgment on the matter or even to have heard it well enough to comment on, so I let it pass.
   I shouldn’t have. We hadn’t been there six months before the same woman told me I needed to meet the “cream of the crop” in the county. She proceeded to take me to a gathering of what she considered such women. Having grown up with parents who told me that the best people in the world were those who sat on the pew next to you on Sunday mornings, I was shocked to see who this Christian considered “elite.”
   As we ate our finger sandwiches and mingled, I discovered that they all had money, judging from their dress and jewelry, and later the vehicles they left in. Most were professionals or married to one. Some of the others were farmers all right, but not hardscrabble farmers or sharecroppers. These farmers owned large farms or ranches, big business enterprises, or had inherited both the farms and the money from generations past. And notice this--we were the only Christians there.
   Now consider David’s statement in Psalm 16:3. As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. David took delight in the saints in Israel, their social class notwithstanding.
   Where do I find “social class” in that verse? The word translated “excellent” in the psalm is translated “nobles” in 2 Chron 23:20 (KJV), and they are grouped with high ranking military officers and governors. In Judges 5:15 it is translated “lordly.” Jer 25:34 calls them “principals of the flock” and Psalm 136:18 says they are “famous.” Just to make sure you know who we are talking about, Nehemiah complains in 3:5 that those “nobles” were too good to work like the common folk. Now do you know who we’re talking about?
   Our culture idolizes the cult of the rich and famous—how they dress, how they talk, how they live. We call them “America’s royalty.” We do the same when we show partiality in the church based upon wealth, popularity, education, and social status. It is a tacit admission that we consider ourselves better than our brothers and sisters who do not have such “assets.” It is the opposite of “each counting the other better than himself,” Phil 2:3.
   David says the true “nobles,” the “excellent ones,” are the people who fear God, who live the life they preach, with justice, fairness, kindness, goodness, and grace. These people “delight” him. Now ask yourself: who do I spend most of my time with, especially in the church? Are we as wise as David?
   One of the common questions in an interview is, “Who would you like to have dinner with?” Journalists choose that question because the answer tells a whole lot more about that person than they seem to realize. The person you want to eat with is the one you want to develop a relationship with, the one who interests you, the one you might even model your life after. The answer to that question shows who you consider the aristocracy in your world.
   Who is on your list?

The righteous is a guide to his neighbor; But the way of the wicked causes them to err, Prov 12:26.

Dene Ward

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Testimonials

2/17/2015

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We finally gave up and bought one. With my personal situation it seemed inordinately stubborn not to use what could be a real help when I was stuck somewhere unable to get home, or at the doctor’s office when out of the blue I needed a procedure. It has happened more than once already. So we bought a cell phone.
   We did not buy one of those expensive phones with “plans;” just a cheap little prepaid phone with an hour of talk time good for three months. After a year I can still count the number of times I have used it without taking my shoes off, and I have amassed enough minutes to carry on a peace conference between two double-talking diplomats.
   Yet I do keep it handy, and I forgot it was in my sweater pocket the day I happened to think that the load of laundry I was running was perfect for that sweater, and the sweater was dingy around the cuffs from petting dogs and sitting around smoky campfires. So I threw it in the washer as I went by, and found the cell phone in the bottom a half hour later, sparkling clean but dead as a doornail.
   Not because we thought it would work, but because we have had to be so frugal for our entire married life, we let the phone dry out completely, then tried charging it. It has worked fine ever since. It even remembered the phone numbers Lucas programmed into it for me. I bet you would like to know the brand, wouldn’t you?
   I have something else that is a whole lot more valuable than a cell phone, and many times more amazing. Why can’t I bring myself to talk about it just as easily? Actually, it has been easier lately. I think we worry too much about how to do it, instead of just letting it happen. Evangelism happens as you live your life.
   If I had simply told you that I had this cell phone, it would not have made an impression on you. But when I told you how it has helped me in difficult situations and then how dependable it was in spite of how I abused it, it suddenly became much more interesting, didn’t it?
   That makes my daily life a much more important part of my Christianity. How can I expect to have any influence when I do not live like I have anything more than anyone else has? If they do not see me overcome, if they do not see me return good for evil, if they do not see joy and contentment regardless of my financial situation, if they do not see peace in my life when others with the same problems are falling apart, my life is not evangelism. In fact, it is quite the opposite. What we perceive as a lack of interest in the gospel may simply be a lack of interest in what we have because of how we are behaving.
   Live your life like a testimonial. You will have more opportunity than ever to spread your faith, even without some sort of special “program.” People will only want what you have when they see it in action.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shines unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matt 5:14-16.

Dene Ward

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Jesus' Four Statements at Trial

2/16/2015

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Today’s article is by guest writer, Lucas Ward.
Just as it was prophesied in Isaiah, Jesus didn't speak much during His trial(s). In fact, He never once responded to any of His accusers. Not the false witnesses at the Jewish sham trial, not the Chief Priests before Pilate or the Jews before Herod. In all these cases, He stood mute. His silence enraged the High Priest and astounded Pilate. (Mt. 26:62-63, 27:12-14) In fact, the only times Jesus spoke were in answer to direct questions from the prosecutor/judge in reference to His identity. Even then, His answers weren't what one would normally expect from a defendant. Let's examine each of the four times He spoke and then see what conclusions we can draw.

Mat 26:63-64 "But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."" Notice that Jesus didn't merely answer in the affirmative, He went beyond that. "Seated at the right hand of Power" can only mean with God and in fact is a claim that He not only was the Christ the son of God, but that he was fully divine and equal to God. Who else could sit with Power? He adds to that statement that they will see Him coming in the clouds of heaven. Throughout the literary prophets, God coming in the clouds signified God coming in judgment to destroy a city or nation. Jesus is saying, not only am I the Christ, I'm God and I'm going to come in judgment on you! Immediately, the Sanhedrin declares that He is worthy of death for blasphemy (a charge which would have been true had anyone else uttered those words.)

Luk 22:67 ""If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God." So they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, "You say that I am."" One of the proofs that this session is separate from those recorded in Matthew and Mark is that the whole line of questioning is different. There are no false witnesses, and Jesus' answer to their question is a bit different. This is the formal "official" trial, and they need to get His "blasphemy" on record. This time when they ask, He tells them there is no point in answering, because they are too stubborn (and stupid?) to believe. He then continues to say that He will be seated with God and finally confirms that He is the Son of God. They again condemn Him to death.

Mat 27:11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." John gives a much fuller account, but this is sufficient. Jesus claims to be a king to the Roman governor.

Joh 19:10-11 "So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."" While there may have been some slight compassion for Pilate on Jesus' part here – after all, Pilate was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, unjust and self-interested as he was -- He seems also to be thumbing His nose at Pilate. He tells Pilate that Pilate's power and authority count for nothing when dealing with Him, that Pilate would have no authority over Him except that God had so arranged it.

Do you see a theme threading through these statements by the Lord? In every case, He said precisely what would enrage His questioners most. Before the Jews, He not only claimed to be the Christ, the Son of God, but fully divine Himself and promised that He was coming in judgment upon them. He later repeated most of that while hinting that they were too stubborn to believe the truth. Before Pilate, He claimed to be a king. What was the primary responsibility of the Roman governors? To keep the peace and stamp out insurrections before they could get started. The fastest way to earn a death sentence was to claim to be a king and to gather followers around you. John records that not only did Jesus confirm to Pilate that He was a king, He also said that He had servants who would be willing to fight if He ordered it. While Pilate seems to have considered Jesus a harmless crazy person, this claim would have caused his antennae to twitch. Finally, Jesus tells Pilate that he holds no true power over Him. For a power hungry bureaucrat, this was a serious insult. All of Jesus' answers seem to be designed to upset His judges in the worst way.

Unlike the case for most defendants, victory for Jesus entailed being convicted. His purpose was to be condemned to die. Always the master of what was going on around Him, He said exactly what He needed to in order to ensure that His condemnation came to pass. He wanted to be crucified and made sure that it happened, because that was the only way He could save us.

Lucas Ward

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