Dependent Prayer

Mark 9:29 "And he said to them, 'This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.'" ESV

 

What else did Jesus say? Pray. If you want to see the power of God move in people's lives, then pray.

 

The nine disciples that did not go on the mountain had a problem…they had no power to cast out the spirit out of the boy. The Dad brought him to the guys, but nothing happened. The question that they asked was: "Why couldn't we do it?" v28 Jesus answer: "Because you didn't pray. You weren't dependent. You tried in your own power and your own power brought nothing." What did they have to hear? What were they to listen to? What were they to apply? Pray…and you will see the hand of God move.

 

This admonition to pray goes along with the admonition to believe. If we believe Jesus we will go to Him. If we believe Jesus we will bring Him our requests. If we believe Jesus we will show our dependence and talk to Him.

 

My problem? I am a lot like the disciples. I try to do it on my own. I try to fix problems myself. I try to address issues in my own power. This effort will bring no lasting results. If I want to see God work in my life, in my family's life, in my church, in my community, in this world, I have to do one thing: Pray. Pray specifically. Pray so that God knows that I am relying only on His power, on His ability, on His strength.

 

Oh…and as an aside, a little fasting would not hurt either. (Fasting is included in this verse in some manuscripts.) Fasting doesn't just show dependence, it shows intensity. To give something up for a time, whether it is food, or the TV, or the computer, or sports, or dessert, or sex shows that I am passionate about this thing. That this matter that I am bringing to God is more important than my creature comforts. It shows God that I mean business.

 

Do I want to see God move with might? I have to listen to Jesus and pray.

 

 

Believing Jesus

Mark 9:23 "And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."" ESV

 

"This is my beloved Son; listen to Him." And what does the Son say? "All things are possible for one who believes."

 

Now the disciples are sitting around wondering why they were not able to cast out the demon out of this man's son and Jesus response to the Dad was: "If you believe it will happen." I wonder what James and John and Peter were thinking as they observed this? They weren't with the other guys who were not able to cast out the demon. They had been with Jesus and did not see what was going on with the other nine. "Listen to Him." Understand this. Apply this. Use this. "All things are possible for one who believes." I think that they understood that the other guys did not get it…and they may not have either. The fact that they could not cast out the demon had to do with their lack of belief. And the father's doubt as to whether Jesus could do this was answered by this statement…a statement that centered on what Jesus could do. "If you can…".

 

The point: Belief and Jesus are intertwined. Oh, I can believe anything I want to believe, but unless that belief is centered in what is credible, it is just a pipe dream. If I just believe in myself, that is dumb. If I believe in a pastor or a business leader or a politician, that is misplaced. But when belief is centered on what Christ can do then watch stuff happen.

 

My daughter, Elise, taught me a powerful lesson last week. She and her husband just came home from a medical mission's trip to Ecuador a couple of weeks ago. Closely following that trip, someone from her church approached her and said that they needed a nurse on another mission's trip that was going to Northern Africa in just a couple of months. Well, she kind of put it out of her mind because she had just returned from Ecuador, until she was sitting in a class in church and was challenged to take another step of faith. There were all kinds of hurdles that had to be overcome. Her work schedule was one. And raising $3000 in six weeks was another. Short story. Work cleared the way…then on Sunday, while she was here in Cleveland visiting us she got a text from a friend. The text said: "Your trip has been paid in full." Her response after she got done screaming was: "I didn't doubt it for one minute." Why? Because she believed Jesus.

 

"All things are possible for one who believes." Am I listening?

Listen to Him

Mark 9:7b "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." ESV

 

Jesus took His inner circle, James, John and Peter up the mountain. While they were there a weird thing happened. Moses and Elijah appeared. Now, I don't know about you, but if I were hanging around with a bunch of guys and two dead guys showed up I think I might book. Apparently, these guys were so astounded they couldn't move. All that happened was that in Peter's nervousness, he blurted out something about making an altar to each one of them. Then another crazy thing happened. God spoke from heaven. Now, this is fall on your face time. This is get as low as you can possibly get time. This is cover your head time.

 

Now God could have said anything. He could have explained how Moses and Elijah were there. He could have told these guys that they had a mission to fulfill and He could have laid it out for them. He could have told them about some amazing prophecy in the future...but He didn't. Instead God the Father said the thing that was uppermost in His mind. He said what was primary. He didn't mince words…He only used eight of them. This is what He said: "This is my beloved Son; listen to Him." Short. Pointed. Direct.

 

"This is my beloved Son". Why this? I think that this is something that God wanted to communicate all through Jesus' ministry. When Jesus was baptized what did God say? "This is my beloved Son…". This is my esteemed Son. This is my dear Son. Frankly, this is my favorite Son because He is the only begotten Son of God. God the Father's love for Jesus was always on His mind. His love was deeper and wider than my love for my kids. It was more passionate that my love for my granddaughter. And it must have grieved Him to know that the only way He could deliver mankind was to sacrifice His Son…but He did it. But before this happened He wanted these guys to get something:

 

"Listen to Him". This is huge. This is what I have to get. This is what I have to grab. This is what God the Father wanted these guys to walk away with. An eight word sermon with the application: Listen to Him. This word listen means to hear. It means to consider. It means to understand. It means to comprehend. It means to learn. God was taking these guys back to Jesus' role as their Teacher. They needed to hear Him, grab what He said and use it. It wasn't just hear it and forget it. It was he who has ears to hear…hear it. Listen to it. Internalize it. Apply it. Use it. Obey it.

 

Do I? Do I really listen to the words of Jesus? Do I really apply the words of Jesus in my life? The rest of the chapter has some pretty powerful stuff that Jesus says that I need to apply. I am going to hit those this week.

Deny and Die

Mark 8:34,35 "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it."

 

This is it. These are tough words. This is laying it on the line. After Peter's great confession that Jesus was the Christ, and then after his dumb rebuke, Jesus decided to lay down the gauntlet and tell these guys what it was really going to cost to follow Him. The cost: death. Jesus wasn't beating around the bush. He just told them that He was going to die and that if they wanted to follow Him they would have to die too.

 

The American church tries to spiritualize this. We say that this means that we have to die to self. That we have to act as if we are dead to all that is in this world and our own desires. That is true, but I think that Jesus was going beyond this. You see, we don't suffer the persecution that Christians do in North Korea, or China or Iran, or many other countries. The Christians in those countries know that when they name the name of Jesus, once they say that they are believers, that it could mean literal death.

 

Jesus was telling His disciples, before He went to the cross that they would have to take up their own cross. Jesus was telling His disciples that they may have to lose their own lives for the sake of the Gospel, before they really understood what the Gospel was. This was total, sold out, uncompromising commitment without knowing the full story. Oh sure, after Jesus died and rose again they got it…they understood it. But before then it was just an intangible concept to them.

 

Over 2000 years later it is still an intangible concept. We know that Jesus died and rose again, but we did not see this with our own eyes. The disciples did and they all died as a result of it. They all took up their crosses and lost their lives because of it. I wonder what we are doing? I mean, many of us are not even willing to spend time in the word every day and we think we would die for this? Many of us are not even willing to take the time to pray with other people and we are going to take up our crosses? Many of us are not even willing to open our mouths and declare that we are Christians and we think that this means dying to self? Really?

 

I know that I have to take a good long hard look at my own life. I think we all do.

 

Worship Teaching

Mar 7:7    "in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." ESV

 

These are piercing words: "in vain do they worship Me". Jesus was talking about the Pharisees and scribes of the day, and why did He say this? Because these spiritual leaders of the people had the opportunity to teach. What did they teach? Their own agendas. They didn't teach God's word. Instead they said that their rules, their commandments, their order of doing things was of God...that it was doctrine...that it was truth...that this was how you honored God. But nothing could have been further from the truth, yet they taught it and the people obeyed. What did Jesus call this? Vain worship. Fruitless worship. Futile worship. Empty worship. They replaced God's commandments, God's law, God's word with their own rules and it was worthless in God's eyes.

 

Unfortunately, I am afraid that there are many preachers and teachers who do the same thing today. Tomorrow as we go to church, men and women will stand up in front of groups of people and teach. Some will use this opportunity to take God's word and reveal its truths. Others will not do that. Others will not even open God's word. Others will get up and sound good and talk about how we need to love one another, or how we need to be involved in caring for our society, or how we need to be involved politically or socially and they will not tie it into God's word at all. They will preach their own agenda. Jesus tells us...that is vain worship. It is worthless. It is fruitless.

 

What is true worship? What is teaching that would be considered worship in the eyes of God? The doctrine of God. The teaching of God. The word of God. Forget this junk that we get up and spout off about that tickles the ears of the hearers. Forget this junk that tells everyone that they are OK. Forget this junk that promotes illicit lifestyles in the name of love. "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." 2 Tim 4:2 This is true worship. This is fruitful worship. This is purposeful worship. God seeks worshippers who worship in spirit and in truth. We need to preach and teach the Word of God.

 

As I get up in front of people and help lead worship...center on the Word. To do anything else is worthless worship.

 

Interruptions

Mark 6:34    "When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things." ESV

 

Interruptions...I hate them. But not Jesus. He was all about interruptions because He knew that this is where He met people in their point of need.

 

The verses that precede verse 34 outline that Jesus wanted His guys to get some rest. So He encouraged them to "'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." v31 Now this is cool. Jesus saw that His guys were tired and hungry so He told them to get some rest. But what happened? "Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them." v33 Give me a break! These guys wanted to get away and take it easy and the people would not let them. When they got to their destination the desolate place was no longer desolate...it was filled with people. (There were 5000 men plus women and children.) I know if I was one of the disciples I would have done anything that I could to get out of there. I am so human.

 

Not Jesus. "He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them...". Why? They were like lost sheep and they needed a shepherd. They needed direction and protection. So He gave it. He thought of this interruption as a teachable moment. In His compassion He used this interruption to teach them and then to feed them through an amazing miracle.

 

That is my problem. I am more centered on my own comfort than the needs of people. This is not compassion, this is selfishness. This is not the Spirit, it the flesh. This is not Christlike, it is Glenlike. When I am at lunch and I get a phone call from a difficult client, what do I do? Huff and complain and put them in voicemail? I shouldn't. If I want to be like Jesus I need to be moved with compassion and look at this interruption as a teachable moment...for them and for me.

 

 

Fall Down

Mark 5:6,22,33a "And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him…And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him…But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him…".

 

Three very different people…the same response. First, there was a guy who was terribly demon possessed. Then there was a guy who was totally on the opposite end of the spectrum, a big deal ruler in the synagogue. Finally there was an unclean woman. They all had needs and Jesus met them where they were at and ministered to those needs. It didn't matter what they had done. It didn't matter what their status was in society…Jesus met them in their point of need.

 

The interesting thing is that they all knew that they had a need. The demon possessed guy was really messed up and asked Jesus not to torment him any longer. The ruler had a daughter who was going to die and he came to Jesus for her healing. The woman who had an illness realized that all she had to do was come to Jesus and touch Him. (Kind of secretly admitting her need.) In their realization they all did the same thing…came to Jesus. Relied on Jesus. Admitted their need before Jesus.

 

This is the way it is. We are all needy. We all need deliverance. We all need healing. When we come to Jesus and admit that need, realizing that there is absolutely nothing that we can do to remedy that need, but rely totally on Him, that is when we see Him work. The thing is, we won't see Him work until we admit our need and are utterly dependent on Him.

 

And then what? What did they all do in Jesus' presence? Fell at His feet. This is total dependence. This is absolute yieldedness. This is complete worship. And this should be my constant position before Him.

 

Good Seed

Mark 4:14 "The sower sows the word." ESV

 

For some reason, as I am reading through the book of Mark and I keep coming back to this (at least for the last four days). In this chapter, Jesus is teaching people in parables. He gives them three: The parable of the sower, the parable of the seed, and the parable of the mustard seed. The similarity between these stories is threefold. First, it is seed that is being sown. Each time seed is being scattered. Second, the seed that is scatter produces. In the first parable when the seed is sown on good ground it produces fruit. In the second parable of the seed, the farmer sows it and goes to bed and when he gets up in the morning the seed has sprouted and he really does not understand how that happens. In the third parable the mustard seed is planted and it grows into a large tree. In all three parables there is seed. In all three parables there is growth. Finally, in all three parables there is fruit.

 

The thing is, it all starts with the seed. Nothing happens unless good seed is planted. And what is the good seed? The word of God. It is only the sowing of the word of God that produces fruit. It is only the sowing of the word of God that produces a crop. It is only the sowing of the word of God that produces a tree. It is only the sowing of the word of God that expands the kingdom of God. Nothing else does it. Programs don't do it. Policies don't do it. Promotions don't do it. PR doesn't do it. Only the word of God. And the wise sower scatters the word of God.

 

This is important in churches. We have to be sowing God's word. Like the farmer, we don't know how it grows, but it does and we can watch it happen. We don't understand how it expands, but it does and we can be amazed when we see the results. "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Is 55:11 It is only sowing the word of God that will impact people's lives.

 

This isn't just important for churches, it is important for life. It is important when I talk to people. They may come up with fancy arguments. Give them the word. They may talk about excuses. Give them the word. They may marginalize. Give them the word.

 

And for me…I have to stay in the word. It is the only thing that is going to bring results in me. Books are nice. Devotionals are nice. They are all helpful…but the word of God is the seed that will bring about fruit, that will bring about a crop, that will grow into a tree.

 

Stay in it. Use it. Proclaim it.

Spending Time With Jesus

Mark 3:14 "And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach" ESV

 

During Jesus' life he preached/taught, lead and served. The thing is, He knew that His ultimate purpose was going to kill Him, so He needed to entrust what He did to some other guys who could continue to do what He did. He picked twelve guys and the first thing these guys had to do, the first responsibility that they had was to be with Him.

 

Sometimes I think we miss this. We want to go out preaching or teaching. We want to lead others. We want to serve and we ignore the most important thing…being with Jesus. We have to spend time with Him. We have to get into His word and know His mind and talk to Him and listen to Him. That is what these twelve guys did for three years. They spent time with Jesus talking to Him. Listening to Him. Watching Him. If this part of my ministry is not there, then I am just spinning my wheels. I am operating under my own power and what I do will be worthless. I need to be with Him. It is an absolute necessity that I get in His word and let Him speak to me. I need to hear from Him and watch Him and talk to Him.

 

It was only after these twelve spent time with Christ that they were able to do their next responsibility: preach. Publicly proclaim the Gospel. If I try to preach or teach and I have not spent time with Jesus, there will be no power. There will be no work of the Spirit of God. There will be no reality in my life. But when I spend time with Christ, I can then hear from Him and open my mouth effectively and accomplish what God wants.

 

The public proclamation of the Gospel is huge. It was the disciple's first order of business. Jesus knew that the proclamation of truth was the only thing that was going to set people free. Sure, verse 15 tells us that the disciples would also have authority to cast out demons…to minister to people so that they would be set free from all of the garbage that binds them, but this authority and power came from spending time with Jesus and then proclaiming His word.

 

Do I see my words making an impact? If so…it is for His glory. If not, I wonder if it is because I am not spending enough time with the Lord? Something to consider.

 

Only The Word

Mark 2:2 "And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them." ESV

 

This kind of reminds me of last Sunday. Easter Sunday is always a big deal at church. We always have more people than usual. This year was no different. We had the largest crowd that we have ever had at church. In fact, when the stats came out this week, it said that we had 106% of capacity in the auditorium. That means that we had to set up more chairs than we normally have. Now, it was not as jammed as when Jesus was in this house, but it was pretty full. Many were gathered together. It was close to no more room, but people were not hanging out the door. The point? What was being preached.

 

When Jesus taught and preached what did He preach? Wonderful ideas of the day? Did He get political and talk about how the Jews should rise up and defeat Rome? Did He tickle people's ears with self-help pointers? Did He tell them how wonderful they all were? None of the above. Jesus taught the word. He preached the word of God to all of these people. Oh, He had a huge crowd. He could have entertained them in some way, but that is not what He came to do. He came teach the Word, serve and lead.

 

I am thankful that our pastor is committed to this. I am thankful that he does not get all wrapped up in hot topics or current events. Sure, he addresses them, but when he does, he does it in the light of the scripture that he is preaching through. And frankly, this is what people are hungry for. The crowd at church did not come to hear how wonderful they are. The people at church did not come to hear who they should vote for in November. They came to hear the word of God. Why? Because the word of God is the word of God. It is the voice of God. It is the very mind of God. It is the mouth of God speaking to all of us. And who wouldn't want to hear what God thinks and says. It is more important than any news of the day. It is more important than any self-help analysis. It is God…talking to us.

 

How does this hit me? Well, I do a lot of talking on Sunday as well. I have to be sure that what comes out of my mouth is what God is saying, not what I am saying. I have to center my thoughts and my words on the Word. It is the only thing of any value.

 

Job’s Final Answer

Job 42:2 "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."

 

In chapter 41 God confronted Job with the power and might of Leviathan. A massive creature created by God that revealed the power of God. Don't tell me that men and dinosaurs did not exist together. Here is proof that Job knew what God was talking about when He talked about this animal.

 

So here it is. God asks Job if he can answer the One who has created all things. Job's final answer: "God you are God. You can do anything You want. No one anywhere can change whatever you have purposed to do." The point: God has a plan and that plan will be carried out no matter what. Sure, men think that things are all up to them. We think that we can change things. We think we can direct things. We think that we can mold things to accomplish our purpose. Frankly, that thinking is a bunch of pompous poppycock. (And I am not talking about the popcorn.)

 

Who knows, maybe Job was here at one time. Yes God said that he was a man of integrity and that no one was like him on the earth, but I wonder if Job, in his secure comfortable position, thought that he was, in part, responsible for all of the stuff he had. The lesson that he learned was that nothing was up to him. Everything was up to God…everything. When he learned how small he really was, when he acknowledged the Authorship and Lordship of the God of the universe, God doubled his fortune and his family. It wasn't up to Job…it was all up to God.

 

Sometimes I think it is humorous what we in the American church think we can accomplish. We are self reliant, self confident, and self absorbed. That is dangerous territory to be in. We can't be self anything. We have to be God dependent and know that He controls it all. No purpose of His will be thwarted. We have to get to the place where Job was and acknowledge our utter helplessness without the Lord. It is then that He can take us small, needy people and use us to expand His kingdom.

 

No matter what, however, God's purpose will prevail. He will get it done. He doesn't need us but He wants to use us. I need to totally rely on Him and He will do it.

 

The Position of Smallness

Job 40:4 "Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth." ESV

 

Chapter 39 continued where 38 left off. God laid out more things that He controls. This time it is centered on some of the animals that He created: The goat, donkey, ox, ostrich, horse, hawk, eagle. After laying all of this out in the last two chapters, what is Job's response? Only what it should be: "I am of small account. I can't talk. I putting my hands over my mouth so nothing comes out." Even though Job had just been through the toughest time anyone could imagine, he still did not have the authority or wisdom to answer God. God was too huge and he was too small.

 

That is the best position to be in…the position of smallness. The realization that I am nothing and God is everything. As a result, I can't question God. I can't answer God. All I can do is sit still and be silent.

 

This is a good reminder to me. I must remember that everything that I have, every ability that I possess, every ministry that I may be involved in is all from God. I can't lay claim to any of it. I can't selfishly say: "This is mine." I have to hold on to things and positions loosely. I have to come to God with opens hands and a shut mouth. Why? Because "I am of small account". God controls it all. God oversees it all. God orchestrates it all. I am simply His instrument to use where He desires.

 

This position of smallness, that of open hands and a shut mouth is a position of humility. This is a position of freedom. This is a position of peace. It is the right position before a holy God.

 

In Charge

Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding." ESV

 

Finally…God speaks. Job heard from his three friends. He also heard from the young guy, Elihu. But now, the Lord enters the picture and has a few questions for Job. In fact, this chapter is full of questions and the questions all center on who God is and what He has done. God wants to know whether Job gets it. He wants to know if he understands who He is.

 

God then outlines all of the things that He has created: The earth's foundation, the sea, clouds, morning, dawn, the deep, death, darkness, earth's expanse, light, snow, hail, wind, rain, lightning, dew, ice, frost, the solar system, dirt, food for His creatures.

"Job, do you get it? Do you have understanding? Do you realize that I am the Creator of all things? I formed it all. I control it all. I have a purpose for all of it."

 

Now, I haven't gotten to chapter 39 yet, but it seems like the implication here is: "I created all of these things for My purpose, and I have created you for My purpose as well. Nothing escapes My notice or My authority. Not even what you have experienced lately in your life."

 

God hasn't changed. He is the Creator of all things and He has created everything for His purpose. Not my purpose. Not someone else's purpose. God is orchestrating all of life. He oversees the weather. He oversees the days. He oversees all of time. He oversees what is happening in the solar system. He oversees what is happening on the earth. He oversees world affairs. He oversees governments. He oversees businesses. He oversees economies. He oversees leaders. He oversees churches. He oversees families. He oversees my life. Nothing escapes Him. If He is capable of controlling everything, why do I think that He is not capable of controlling my life? Why do I grab the reigns of control from Him? Why do I question what He does…for where was I when He laid the foundation of the earth?

 

I need to remember this: God is in charge of it all to accomplish His purpose and plan.

 

The Weather

Job 37:5 "God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend." ESV

 

Elihu is a meteorologist. He spends a great deal of time talking about snow and ice and rain and thunder and lightning. The point…God controls it all. It all starts with God. He causes the rain to fall. He causes the snow to come. He even mentions that God gives weather for three purposes: For correction or to feed His land or because He loves us. (v 13) I don't think that I have ever thought of the weather like that before…that it is from the very hand of God and He has a specific purpose in bringing rain and wind and snow and ice and tornados and hurricanes and typhoons.

 

In fact, Elihu says that when God speaks He thunders. "Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth." (v2) and "After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice" (v4) And now this: "God thunders wondrously with His voice". I know that Elihu may have been looking at this simplistically. He could not explain thunder so he said it was the voice of God. Or, on the flip side, maybe we think of it too simplistically. Maybe thunder is from the voice of God and we just don't get it. Sure there is a scientific explanation for thunder, but we also have to consider that all of creation is crying out with God's voice. It is all shouting out His existence. (Rom. 1) Maybe the next time I hear thunder I should consider that God is speaking…I should shut up and listen.

 

Then this: He does great things that we cannot comprehend. Why? Because He is God. He is awesome. He controls it all…and I have a finite, tiny brain. My understanding is limited. "Oh the depth of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgment and unfathomable His ways." "Now to Him who can do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think." This is God. He is at work and His work is beyond us. When He works we can't explain it. When He moves we can't understand it. But He does. And He is still at work today.

 

Do What’s Right

Job 34:4 "Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good." ESV

 

Here is more advice from Elihu. This was advice that is being given to all of the guys…Job and his three friends. This was a corporate thing. This was an "us" thing.

 

I remember when our girls were little. Every now and then they would get on each other's nerves and get a little testy with one another. At one particular time I came to them and gave them a phrase that sticks with us to this day: "Do what's right". I knew that deep down they knew what was right and what was wrong. I was not happy when they did or said the wrong thing. But I really didn't care what they did or what they said or how they acted as long as they did what they knew was the right thing to do. There were always points of decision. Should I say this? Should I do this? Should I go there? Should I follow the crowd? Constant points of decision. Their compass? "Do what's right."

 

Elihu was there. He got it. But he didn't just get it on an individual basis, he got it on a group basis. "Let US choose what is right. Let US know among OURSELVES what is good." Not only is this something that I can decided, it is something that a group can decide. It is something that many can determine corporately.

 

As I think about the weekend the guys had, I wonder what group decisions were made? I wonder what we as a group of guys are going to pursue in the future? What are we going to be committed to? Whatever it is, let's together do what is right and good. Let's together pursue what pleases God. No matter what our society is doing, no matter what our culture pushes, no matter what our government dictates…let us choose what is right.

 

One thing that I think is cool is that most of the New Testament was written to groups. Sure we read it as individuals but Paul's letter were written to churches…corporate bodies who did things together. Group decisions. Group movement. Group passion. Group life. Let US choose what is right.

 

The Game Changer

I Cor 15:42-44 "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." ESV

 

As I think about it, the day that we call "Good Friday" was a very bad day for many. It was a bad day for Jesus who was tortured and crucified and died. It was a bad day for His mother Mary, who watched her Son go through a horrific death. It was a bad day for John who watched his best Friend get nailed to a cross and who was given the responsibility of taking care of Jesus' mother. It was a bad day for the disciples, who were so cowardly they all scattered and were nowhere to be found. Good Friday was not good at all, and it would have remained bad…until three days later when something happened that had never happened before. This dead Guy, Jesus, walked out of the tomb that He was buried in…alive. He walked out of the tomb under His own power and has not died since. This dead guy, Jesus, is no longer dead. He is alive. This is the resurrection. It is the hope that is reflected in this day, Easter. That is what today is all about. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is a game changer…not just for Jesus but for Mary and John and the disciples. It was such a game changer for the disciples that these scattered cowards all preached the truth of this eternity changing event and they all died martyrs, clinging to its truth.

 

Not only was this event a game changer for these guys, it is a game changer for all of us. All of us who will perish. All of us who are weak. All of us who have physical bodies. That is all of us. And it is a game changer because we no longer have to perish or be weak or have just a physical body. Because Jesus rose from the dead we who were going to perish now can live forever. Those of us who have bodies that decay and are dishonorable can be raised in glory. Those of us who are weak can be raised in power. Those of us who have physical bodies can have spiritual bodies.

 

I say: "Can" because there is one caveat. It is this…"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even if he dies. And whoever lives and believes in Me will never die." John 11:25 The caveat: Belief in Jesus and what He did on the cross. He took my sin. He took my punishment. He took my grief. Why? "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…". I Pet. 3:18 That one act did it. That is all that was needed. No good works on my part. No blowing myself up. No lighting candles. No self flagellation. No meditation. Just Jesus…on the cross…risen from the dead. That is all. That is enough.

 

That is what this day is all about. The game changer…the resurrection…insuring eternal life for all who believe.

I Love This!

Job 33:26 "then man prays to God, and He accepts him; He sees his face with a shout of joy, and He restores to man His righteousness." ESV

 

So far I like this young guy, Elihu. What he has to say so far is true and compassionate. He doesn't come at Job as a superior, but he comes to him as an equal, a man, a guy who puts his pants on one leg at a time, a "piece of clay". He says to Job: "I desire to justify you." No condemnation, just sympathy and encouragement.

 

Here are some encouraging words, not just for Job but for me: "man prays to God, and He accepts him; He sees his face with a shout of joy, and He restores to man His righteousness". I love it. When I talk to God He accepts me. He looks at me with favor. He is pleased with me. When I talk to God, it makes Him happy. That is wild. That I could satisfy God's heart and that He would embrace me. When you try to spend time thinking about this, it has to blow your mind. This God of eternity accepts puny me.

 

Not only that, when He sees me He verbally rejoices. He shouts. Another verse puts it this way: "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zeph3:17 This eternal God likes to see me. He is thrilled to see me. When I come to Him and He sees my face, He shouts out a loud: "YES!".

 

And then He does something that I cannot do. He gives me His righteousness. I am dirty. I am sinful. I am a mess. There is nothing right in me. But when I come to Him, when I talk to Him, He embraces me, He rejoices over me and He gives me His character.

 

So pray? Talk to God? Should I? You bet. As much as I can.

 

Speak

Job 32:20 "I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer."

 

Job's friends were done. They ran out of words. Their advice…not that great. The result: disappointment. A younger guy, Elihu sat and listened to all that Job's friends said and he kept quiet. He thought the older guys should teach. He thought that they would have the wisdom so he kept his mouth shut. The problem was, they didn't and he could not help it any more. He had to open his mouth. He had to share what he was thinking because it was about ready to make him explode. "I must speak, that I may find relief…".

 

Now that I am an older guy, do I speak words of truth in love? Do I share valuable words? The question is whether I, as an older guy, I share God's thoughts or my thoughts? Do I talk about what I want or what God wants? Do I tell other people my perspective or God's perspective? The problem that this young guy had was that the old guys were just spouting off their own stuff.

 

I have an opportunity this weekend to talk to a group of around 60 guys at a men's retreat. I think that I have something that is valuable to share, but is it my stuff or God's stuff? My thoughts or God's thoughts? My words or God's words? If it is my stuff then forget it. Don't say it. But if I am convinced that this is what God wants these guys to hear then be like this young guy and let it out. Don't hold it in. No restraint. Let God speak through me as I speak His word to these guys.

 

I pray that what I have to say is not me. I pray that what I have to share is something that God has given me and not something cute that I have dreamed up. I pray that what I have to say makes an eternal impact. I pray that what I have to say is something that we can apply: "Receive instruction from His mouth..." I want this to be from His mouth, not mine.

 

I want God to work through this old guy.

 

 

STOP!

Job 31:24-28 "If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above." ESV

 

This is in toward the end of Job's discussion of what he had done with his life and what had become of it. He outlined that he helped the poor, the widow, the needy. People listened to him, respected him, stood in his presence, ask for advice from him. He didn't rejoice in his enemy's calamity. He helped the foreigner. He invited people into his home. His children were around him and they were happy. He honored his wife. Frankly, this guy was exactly what God said about him…there was no one like him…blameless and upright. Job lived a life that pleased God and it resulted in good. But then…then things went south. Total calamity overtook him. He lost it all and people mocked him.

 

The thing is, back when he had it all he didn't trust it at all. He didn't put his confidence in all of his stuff and wealth. When he had respect he did not congratulate himself. He didn't kiss his own hand. Why? Because this "would have been false to God above".

 

How true. When we trust our stuff, when we trust our bank accounts, when we trust our 401k's and mutual funds we are being false to God above. When we kiss our hands, when we pat ourselves on the back, when we think we are all that, we are being false to God above. Unfortunately, this is the world. This is the way it is. Our money says: "In God we Trust", but that is false. We don't trust God anymore. We think that we can do it on our own. We can make our own way. We can grab the inner strength and be a self made man and then we can tell everyone how great we are. This is deception. This is a lie. This is being false to God above.

 

Why? Because He is the Source of all things. He gave Job all he had. "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away". Job knew the Source of it all and he was not going to trust the stuff that God provided or the press clippings that he read. It was all God. It was always all God. It will always be all God.

 

So, when I am tempted to think about my bank account, my retirement fund, Social Security and I start to rely on those things…STOP. When I think that all of the things that I have came from my abilities…STOP. Be true to God.

 

Get Smart

Job 28:28 "And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'" ESV

 

Job is responding to his friends and he is asking them a rhetorical question: Where can you find wisdom? He knew the answer…he just wasn't sure they did. He said that it isn't in man. It isn't in nature. It can't be bought. The creatures of the world don't have it. Even Abaddon (a place of destruction) and death have said that they have heard rumors about it. Only God knows the way to it and this is it: Fear Him. And to turn away and run from evil shows that you get it.

 

Sounds familiar: David said it: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!" Ps 111:10 ESV And this Dad was smart enough to pass this on to his son because Solomon also said: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!" ESV Prov. 9:10 And where do you think these guys learned it? Maybe from guys like Job. This truth passed down through centuries of time…and it never changed…and it is still the same.

 

Want wisdom? Fear God. Respect God. Honor God. And as I have written before, yes, be terrified of God. How do I show that I understand wisdom? When I turn away from evil every chance it rears its ugly head.

 

So many times I am faced with a decision to make. Do I do that dumb thing? Do I say that dumb word? Do I think that stupid thought? Run. Turn away. Go the opposite way of the dumb because running toward evil is dumb. Running away from it is smart. And I should run because I fear who God is. He is the Maker and Author of everything who knows how it all works. Why would I not listen to Him? Why would I do or say the opposite of what He commands? That is truly dumb because He knows what is best.

 

God today, as I face different challenges let me fear You and run from evil. Let me be smart and get it.

 

Knowing God

Job 26:14 "Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?" ESV

 

I think that it is pretty cool how Job knew about astronomy and weather. He knew that the earth hung on nothing. He knew about the clouds holding water. I think he also had an idea about the earth's rotation. (vs 7-13) And this is what he has to say about creation…these are the outskirts of his ways…these are but a whisper about God. In comparison, who can really understand the magnitude of His power?

 

And here I am again, back to the theme that has been smacking me in the head and heart for over a year…the massiveness of God. Is God huge? Yes. Can we fully know Him and what He is like in all His splendor and power and awesomeness? I don't think so. But that does not mean that we can't know Him. That does not mean that we cannot grow to know Him more. That does not mean that He is totally undiscoverable. He wants us to know Him. He wants us to grow in our knowledge of what He is like and how He works. How do I know this? Because this is what Jesus prayed. "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 17:3 That is the definition of eternal life… to know God and His Son? Yes, because our knowledge of God will never end. It begins the day we repent and believe that Jesus death is all we need for our salvation and it will go on for eternity.

 

So when should I get to know God in all of His majesty? As soon as I believe. "Truly truly I say to you He who hears my word and believes on Him who sent Me has eternal life…". Right now. At the very moment eternal life begins our knowledge of God starts. Not just a head knowledge, although that is part of it. But a heart knowledge, a relationship, an understanding of who He is and what He wants. It begins on the day of salvation and goes on from there for all eternity…because it will take all eternity to understand the magnitude of His power.