As we round the corner for the last lap of this 2015, let me encourage you today! How has the past year been going for you? Has it been stressful, disappointing, and discouraging? Have you taken a step forward to only go five steps backward? Has it been joyful, surprising, and encouraging? Have you grown in your walk with the Lord? All of us, I repeat of all of us, are located in between these two descriptions! Do you remember the ABC Sports show "Wide Sports" airing on Saturdays and was hosted by Jim McKay. The opening narration included these famous words, "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". That is were we live! Let me encourage you with the words found in the Epistle of Hebrew. In Hebrew 12:1-3, the author of Hebrews, whom I believe to be Paul the Apostle, uses the metaphor of a race to describe the Christian life. Throughout the Bible, many metaphors are used to describe our new life in Christ and I find this one most helpful. We are runners! Here are a few applications of the truth of these verses for you and I. First, the race is a GREAT PURSUIT - Like the "cloud of Witness", the Old Testament saints listed in the "Hall of Faith" in chapter 11, who pursued the Lord's will for their lives, we are to pursue - apprehend, chase, rundown, track down - God's purpose for us with the determination of a runner who enters a contest (Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 2:1-10, Philippians 3:7-17), What is your great pursuit? Now is our time! The baton has been handed to us to finish this part of the course in God's will in history. Second, the race requires GREAT PREPARATION - Athletes are dedicated, determined and disciplined. A runner will train many long hours and give attention to every detail of daily life in order to win. We are encouraged to " lay aside every weight and besetting sins which does hinder us". Are you running with weights? What is weighing you down? Do you need to shed somethings like making excuses, blaming others or comparing yourself self to others? What is slowing you down? What sin is tripping you up? Anger, lust, greed, bitterness, or something else, or should I say many things? No need to go through the whole catalogue. We all have battles with particular sins and your battle may not be with the same sin that I battle. "Besetting Sins" are the sins that easily trip you. In the context of the Book of Hebrews, I think the besetting sin is unbelief. It much like the condition of de-hydration for athletes which cause a multitude of other problems. Unbelief leads to all other sins! Unbelief will tangle your feet! Third, a race includes a GREAT PLAN. All athletes have a strategy, a battle plan. Paul gives a three spiritual running strategies. They are reflected in the live of Old Testament champions - 1. The Pace - "Run with Patience"- this not a sprint but a marathon! Many times have we sprinted to only run out of gas! The marathon will last until you cross the finish line at the gates of glory. Don't fizzle out or drop out! Don't give up because do not understand what the Lord is doing! Joseph would tell us, "God is not in an hurry " 2. The Path - "the race set before us" - your course is different from mine, although we may cross paths. When we cross paths, it is very important that we encourage one another! "Keep running", "you are making a difference" and "the Lord is faithful" should be some of the inspiring cheers we give to each other! We are not competing against each other!! Our course is determined by the will of God as revealed in our particular circumstances such were we live, work, and as well as many other specific and unique details about us. Each day the course is laid out for us! Like a cross country runner, we will encounter hills, valleys, creeks, and twists! Remember Romans 8:28! Moses would tell us," If God brought you to it, He will lead you through it! 3.The Point of Focus - All runners agree that focus is key. We are reminded to be "looking unto Jesus". He is our focus, example and source of strength. As a matter of fact, the phrase actually means to "look away toward Jesus"! We are to take our eyes off anything thing that distracts us and we are to look toward Jesus! How? We are look to Jesus primarily by coming to the "Throne of Grace"(Hebrews 4:16) in prayer and study of the Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen us. We are to consider all the Lord endured for us in order that we might be saved! He is the "author" of our faith," trailblazer, pathfinder" who has opened way for us to follow and He is the "finisher" of our faith insuring we will finish the race! Philippians 1:6 gives a glimpse into this truth! Don't let Satan devastate you with one of his powerful weapons, distraction! The devil wants you to doubt God's provision If distracted, you will become deceived, depressed, and distressed about the course! Abraham would tell us, "Do go down to Egypt, stay focused". So, run! Run! If you have dropped out, get back in! Failure is not final! Lace-up the running shoes and run! If you are tired, need a second wind and unmotivated, ask the Holy Spirit for fresh wind and fresh fire! Run! If you have hit "the wall", look away to Jesus! Run !2016 is full of opportunities ready to be revealed on the continuing course! Run! I hope to "run into you" in the New Year! Happy New Year!
"Believe" is posted all over the decorations and advertisements each Christmas Season. However, I want to pose a few simple but logical questions. What are we to "believe" or whom are we to "believe"? Is this an endorsement of "Faith in Faith" or a motivational technique for positive thinking? Must we "believe" everything everyone else "believes"? Does merely "believing" something is true make it truth? NO! Belief must have an object to trust which is grounded in the truth. Belief and believe are very important words in the Bible. In the King James Version of the Bible, "Believe" is found 124 times in New Testament and" Faith 245 times". We are not told to just "believe", but are told to belief the testimony of the Word of God (Romans 10:17). We are challenged to believe the eyewitness testimony of the Apostles concerning the life and works of Jesus Christ. I believe in the truth of Christmas as it is presented in the Bible. I believe the baby born 2,000 years ago is the Messiah (Luke 2:1-20)! I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came from heaven on a mission to reveal the love of God by satisfying the righteous demands of God by glorifying His wisdom of making possible grace by His death on the cross and rescuing us from the power and penalty of sin through His redemptive and vicarious death and resurrection (Romans 3:21-26). Christmas is more than "believing" in something or someone. Christmas is the joyful celebrating belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ is excluded then Christmas becomes the "Holidays". I am not politically correct but I am biblically correct ! Let me ask you a few questions. First, what do you believe? Second, why do you believe it? And Finally, what difference does it make in your life? There are all types of belief held by people some which can be labeled as superstitions, urban myths and hypothetical hypostasis. The birth of Jesus Christ is grounded in history and His life is one of the most documented lives in history. Evidence abounds that the testimony of Scripture concerning the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is fact, not fable! Jesus Christ's impact upon the Apostles was so powerful that they refused to change their testimony and they authenticated it by their martyrdom. The goal of their recorded testimony to Jesus Christ can be summed up in the words of the Apostle John, "and truly Jesus did other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John20:30-31). I believe! I believe Jesus Christ is the Savior! Do you "believe" or do you believe in Jesus Christ?
'"It's the most wonderful time of the year" is a phrase from a song I've heard Andy Williams sing over the years. As a Christian, the wonder of Christmas for me is much different from that of the unbelieving world. I love the Christmas decorations and festivities, but all of that is so hollow. The real wonder is Jesus Christ! In Isaiah 9:6, the prophet dipped his pen in prophetic glory declaring Messiah would be called "Wonderful"! The Hebrew word means He is a wonder! He will be like no one else who ever walked this planet! He will inspire awe and worship because of His uniqueness! What is so wonderful about Jesus Christ? First, He is the Eternal Son of God who was pre-existent with The Father and co-equal to the Father (John 1:1-4). Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh. The babe in the manger is Jehovah God! No wonder Paul wrote, "great is the mystery of godliness" in I Timothy 3:16. God the Son took on human flesh and humbled Himself to walk among us. He is not 50% God and 50 % human. He is 100% God and 100% human. He is the God-Man! This why He accepted worship, forgave sins, and declared He was sent from heaven! He is not one of the greatest men to live nor is the greatest man to live! He is the one and only God-Man! Totally unique is our Lord Jesus. The virgin born Son of Mary is the Son of God! This will cause you bow in wonder and awe in worship! Second, He is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophets wrote about, through divine inspiration by the Holy Spirit, concerning the coming Messiah! He is the appointed and anointed Messiah! For hundreds of years prophecies were given to nation of Israel concerning the coming Messiah. Jesus is identified as the Christ over 600 times in the New Testament. The New Testament writers declared Him as the fulfillment of over 300 prophecies concerning Messiah, of which 29 were fulfilled in completely in His life and death. In Luke 4:17-21, Jesus Himself declares He is the long-awaited and hoped for Messiah, and this why He declared the Scriptures testify of Him (John 5:39-40). The shock waves cause by those bold statement left the Jewish leadership reeling in unbelief that a carpenter's son could make such audacious claims, and those statements still cause the same reaction in today's world! However, the record of the New Testament is clear Jesus not only made the claim, but he also backed up the claims by the miracles He performed and the message He taught! No one else had healed the blind, lame, deaf, and raised the dead. No one else had held authority over the demons, the environment, and circumstances like Jesus Christ! He declared He was the Way, the Truth, and Life. Further more, He declared unless you believe in Him, not merely believed Him, you will die in your sins! No doubt this was the cause for the peoples reaction that "He speaks with authority, not like scribes and Pharisees" as they listened and watched Him. Yes, Jesus Christ is the Messiah and His birth is the long awaited coming of the Savior! Let us adore Him! Third, He is the Redeemer. Jesus Christ came to redeem and rescue us for our sins! In Mark 10:45 Jesus states, " For the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many". Isaiah 53 declares Messiah would suffer death for His people. Jesus Christ did this by His death on Calvary's Cross. He died as the Lamb of God, which had been pictured in the Old Testament sacrificial system, who alone could redeem us from the penalty and power of the curse of sin and the Law! Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer. The concept can be traced to Old Testament law that a near relative could redeem a family member from slavery and debt. Jesus Christ was born of virgin to become like us in order to redeem for us all that was lost in Adam's sin (Romans 5:12-21, Galatians 3:10-4:7, Hebrews 2:10-18)! God the Father sent Jesus Christ to die in our place so that Holy God could grant us heavenly grace (Romans 3:21-23). There is no other way for a Holy God to grant mercy and grace. Hallelujah, what a Savior! In His death of the cross, Jesus died twice, both a physical death and spiritual death, in our place! That is why He cried out in the darkness on Calvary's Hill, "my God, my God, why has thou forsaken me" as recorded in the Gospels. For three hours, Jesus Christ bore our sin in the darkness of the wrath of God! He was a voluntary, vicarious, and victorious Sacrifice! After the time in the darkness, he cried out "it is finished'. He did not say I am finished but it was finished! He completed mission of salvation by His perfect death for us! Jesus Christ was born to die for us! Mary had a little lamb and His name is Jesus! Come let us adore Him! Are you saved? Fall on your knees and praise Him! And finally, He is the Risen Lord. Jesus Christ rose again on the third day! He lives. Every day is a Resurrection Day because He lives (Romans 8:31-39, I Corinthians 15:1-58). He broken the power of death! He returned to heaven after 40 days of post resurrection instruction to His disciples. He is coming again as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the words of the Scott Wesley Brown's song, "This Little Child", "In the midst of this darkness there is a hope and light that burns, this little child someday will return"! Jesus Christ is coming again! He will fulfill all of the rest of the prophecies given to the prophets concerning the reign of Messiah who will rule in righteous and justice. He is the Savior! The little child born in Bethlehem is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He is the Wonder of Christmas! Hallelujah, What a Savior! He is the only Hope for a sin screed and sin sick world filled full of hatred, violence, and anguish. He is the Greatest Christmas gift. Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
One of my favorite Christmas songs and one of my favorite Christmas movies share the same title, "White Christmas". In the South, a White Christmas, snow on the ground at Christmas, is a rare but festive occurrence. The Weather Channel has a "White Christmas" Probability Graphic that appears during the daily broadcasts and on their website. The percentage of probability for snow on Christmas differs greatly from region to region in the lower 48 States. However, you and I can experience a "White Christmas" regardless of where we live. You read my statement correctly! In Isaiah 1:18 is the statement, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow." The Prophet Isaiah penned the glorious announcement that forgiveness of sins includes the cleansing of sin's stain! He compared the cleansing work of forgiveness to a fresh snow. It does snow in Jerusalem and the other mountainous regions of Israel. I can just imagine Isaiah looking out over a fresh snow that covered the Temple mount and transformed the dark and dull winter colors into a wonderland of white. The Holy Spirit led him to use this graphic picture to help us visualize the one of the wonders of the forgiveness of God! Can anything remove the stain of sin from the soul? Is there Anything remove the foul stench of guilt and condemnation in the conscience? Yes, the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ does remove all of sin's stain (Hebrews 10:19-22)! Have you been saved? Have to come to Jesus for the "cleansing flow"? As the old song states, " there is power in the blood". All the psychiatrists and life coaches in the world can't bring heaven's snow to your heart. All the self-help books on store shelves do not contain a solution that will remove the sin stain. Only God can cleanse a wick heart and make it pure. Before you can forgive yourself, you must experience the forgiveness and cleansing by confessing your bankruptcy to the Lord (Matthew 5:3-8). You can't save yourself! The glory of Christmas that the angels announced to the shepherds is that Jesus Christ is the Savior (Luke2:8-11) and only Jesus Christ has the authority to forgive sins on earth (Mark 2:9-10)! Do you want to experience a "White Christmas"? Regardless of the names or degrees of your sin, in spite of the ugliness and darkness of your sin, you can experience cleansing by confessing Jesus Christ as your Savior! This is the greatest Christmas gift! 1 John 1:9 states, "if we confess or sins, He is Faithful and Just, to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Formula 409 cannot do for you soul what 1 John 1:9 will do for your soul! Do you want to have a "White Christmas"? Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. If you will, you find Isaiah 1:18 to be true and you will experience a "White Christmas" right where you are living today! Merry Christmas!
|
Doug MillerEvangelist Archives
May 2021
Categories |