Gifts To Edify

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. (1 Cor 14:12 KJV)

Our call is to edify the church not to destroy it. The church is the Body of Christ and according to St. Paul's letter to the church we are to help the church to grow. We are to help improve the visible church here on earth.

When we shine the spotlight on someone's particular gifts and ignore the gifts of all of God's children we are endangering the fellowship of the saints in the Body of Christ. Our mission is not to glorify ourselves or anyone else within the church because of particular gifts that we might have been given. Each and everyone of us has been given gifts by God; not for our own glorification; but, so that God is glorified through every member of the church.

God help us to excel in the edifying of the church! God help us to glorify him in all that we say and think and do!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Be Filled With The Spirit; Not spirits

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;." 

                                                                                        (Eph 5:15-20 KJV)

Another way that I can say it is this, "Choose this day whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15) Will you serve the spirits of alcohol and other drugs? Have these mind altering chemicals taken over your life so that you, who were not well in the first place, have now become dependent on them to "cope" with life; so much so that you can no longer even work or play unless you are high or drunk? I am not saying that alcohol and even the legitimate use of marijuana don't have their place. But, sadly, these two drugs, as well as a multitude of other illegal drugs, have become the gods that way too many people live for. These false gods are succeeding at destroying families; destroying communities; and are even pretty successful at causing problems within the visible church on earth. Choose ye this day whom you will serve.

Addiction is a serious ailment in itself. It cannot be cured by the use of other or more drugs. In fact, there are those who say it cannot be cured at all. But, there is relief for those who suffer this sickness. The Lord can make you whole. Turn to Him; for He is your helper. Be filled with the Spirit and sing songs of joy to the Lord, for He alone can save you from the false gods that hold you captive.

I live for the day when in the Kingdom of God all knees will bow; all voices will be lifted up in songs of praise to our God and King. I wait for the day when everyone I know will be filled with the Spirit of God; filled with the Spirit of love and compassion for one another. Mind altering chemicals do not make room for the Spirit of Christ. 

Sing songs of praise to the Lord! Do away with those false gods! Be filled with the Holy Spirit and truly live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J

In The Beginning....

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible." (Hebrews 11:3 NRSV)
Science has provided us with some amazing things: vaccines for diseases that may have long ago destroyed humankind; conveniences to make our lives more pleasant (even if some of them are destructive to the earth); instant communication with people around the world; the list goes on. But, science is not all-knowing.

There is only One who knows all things. He is the One who created all things in the heavens and on the earth. He is the first Word and the last Word. We live by faith in that first and last Word. We live by faith in the Alpha and the Omega.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people."  (John 1:1-3)

May God grant us all faith to live by faith in His Word, who is Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Boast Only Of The Lord

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph 2:8-9 NRSV)

Because we have done nothing to earn our own salvation; let us quit with the boasting. There is no reason for any of us to boast. Christ has done it all for us. Christ is our all in everything. 

One of the most common things that will set off my cringe reaction is seeing someone within the visible church doing something for no reason other than to boast about how wonderful they are. They do this. They do that. They have to be the center of things. They will not lend a hand to the ministry unless they can be at the front and center in order to receive the most attention; the most applause. 

Oh, yes, that applause for something someone has just done or said or sang would be a cringe factor; one of my serious pet peeves. I really don't have a problem if Sunday School children do special music or a program and receive applause. But, I do have a big problem with applauding adults, those who ought to be a little more mature in their faith, by now. I do take issue with people who are feigning to worship God when they are merely looking to be worshipped for their gifts, themselves. I take issue with those who serve within the church so that they may boast of themselves. 

Consider this: have you ever heard anyone applaud after the scripture lessons were read? Have you ever heard anyone applaud after absolution is pronounced or the Good News is read? I certainly have never heard anyone applaud what God has done for us; only what people do within the worship setting. Is not what God has done for us worthy of our applause; given that we would consider applauding the talent of one whom he has created?

I know that we are Lutherans and we don't normally say things like Amen or Hallelujah or Praise the Lord spontaneously during worship. But, praising the Lord spontaneously when we are reminded what God has done for us is appropriate; whether that reminder of what he has done is in a reading, a prayer, a sermon, or a hymn. Praising people for using the gifts that God has given them really sets off, not just my cringe factor, but; the cringe (that just felt so yucky) factor in others, as well. Praising God during a worship setting is most appropriate; praising God's creation at worship is not. We worship the giver not the gifts.

Worship is not about being entertained. It is about worshipping God; about giving thanks and praise and glory and honor to the one who is above all things; the one who has saved us from ourselves. Those who would entertain you with the gifts that God has given them cannot save you. You are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. All applause; all glory and honor, belongs to God, not to humankind. Applause for a particular word or act may be appropriate in a secular setting or even at a Christian concert; but, I definitely question whether it is appropriate to applaud anyone other than God in a worship setting.

Stop the boasting... It only reveals our false god. Sadly, we are usually the false god that we reveal. Praise belongs only to the Lord, for in him is our salvation.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Be Filled With The Spirit Not spirits

"Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph 5:15-20

Another way that I can say it is this, "Choose this day whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15) Will you serve the spirits of alcohol and other drugs or will you serve the Lord? Has your addiction so taken over your life so that you can no longer even work or play unless you are at least a little high or drunk just to take the edge off? Do you need the aid of one of these false gods to even get you moving in the morning? Can't wait for your day off so you can really get toasted? I am not saying that alcohol and even the legitimate use of marijuana don't have their place. But; sadly, alcohol and marijuana, as well as a multitude of other illegal drugs, have become the gods that way too many people live for. These false gods are succeeding at destroying families; destroying communities; and are even pretty successful at causing problems within the visible church on earth.  Choose ye this day whom you will serve! 

Addiction is a serious ailment. It cannot be cured by the use of other or more drugs. In fact, there are those who say it cannot be cured at all. But, there is relief for those who suffer this sickness. The Lord can make you whole. Turn to Him; for He is your helper. Be filled with the Spirit and sing songs of joy to the Lord, for He alone can save you from the false gods that hold you captive.

Be filled with the Spirit not spirits and rejoice for this too shall pass. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rise and Shine!

Ephesians 5:14

Yup! It is time for those to claim to be members of a Holy Nation to actually rise from the dead and live life in Christ. 

Somehow, somewhere, a huge part of the visible church on earth has decided to live in the dark with the rest of the world. We close our eyes, as if asleep, to the fact that the church on earth is more about maintaining the visible church on earth rather than living in and sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus.

It is most disheartening. There are days when I consider that I should become more like St. Paul. Once, he saw the light of Christ, he was on fire. He did not hold back. What was sin, he called a sin and he encouraged everyone to live in the light of Christ. I am quite sure though that St. Paul would not make it in the visible church on earth today. He was just a little too radical in his ways; just as Jesus was too radical in his ways. So there are many of us who are stuck wondering whether we should become more like Paul or take it a bit easier so we do not offend those who would destroy even what there is of the visible church because they are not happy.

May God open our eyes that we may see that we are not following in the way of Jesus Christ. We are following in the ways of the world; appeasing those itching ears. Help us, dear Lord, to rise from the dead and live in the pure light of Christ, serving You most fruitfully and glorifying Your holy name.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Word Is The Light To Guide Our Way

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105  NIV

I often hear that the Bible doesn't answer all of our questions. Well, maybe it doesn't tell us how to dress for the next party. Then again, maybe again it does. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." (1 Pet 3:3-4)

God's word, as found in the Holy Scriptures, doesn't tell us when to go to sleep or when to wake up. But, then again, maybe it does. "How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?" (Prov 6:9) Scripture warns us that nothing good will come to those who spend their lives resting. At times, depression will come over most people and they will find themselves hiding out under the covers in even more darkness. This does not help depression. It does not help our lot in life to retreat even further into the darkness. Scripture reminds us: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." (Isa 60:1) 

St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians (5:13-15)

"But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise

The word found in the Holy Scriptures can indeed be a guide for us on how we are to live. The word points us to the Living Word, who is Jesus the Christ. In him we have real life. In him is the one true light.

Read and hear and study the word so that your life might be illuminated by the Word, the true light that in came into the world as John the Baptist foretold. He will guide you through this dark world in The Way that you should go.

Send us your light, dear Lord, and your faithful care, let them lead us; let them bring us to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.  (Psalm 43:3)

God's Peace - Pr. J