Planted in the Right Place
Bringing in the Chinese New Year this past Sunday night as a church was such a blessing. To walk in the Family Life Center and find over 250 people there did my heart good. Let me try to describe why. Many of the Chinese students have not ever gone to church before. Their culture supports atheism or the worship of other gods. Now there is currently a revival going on in many parts of China and I would like to say that the reason is because of encounters like Sunday night. The love and acceptance in the room that was evident in all was simply contagious.
Let’s break down Psalm 1 and look at the result of right living. There is a contrast between the right living and wrong living. Ultimately we are modeling and training these students about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. They are hungry to learn more about our culture but more importantly, about God. So let’s look at this great chapter that I would recommend memorizing.
Right Living (Psalm 1:1-3)
Blessed is the man . . . (This is translated to “happy.” It is the same word used in Matthew 5 where Jesus talks about the Beatitudes. A word such as “Lucky,” which implies chance, should not be used.) . . .who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked . . . (It can also say, “Whose conduct does not follow the advice of evil men,” or “does not behave as wicked people say he should.” It really does matter who you listen to.) . . . or stand in the way of sinners . . . (Does not follow the path taken by sinners or imitates sinful people. This is not referring to standing in someone’s way. They avoid the advice of evil or ungodly people. It could go as far to say people who do not obey God.) . . . or sit in the seat of mockers (This literally means, “Sit with people who wag their heads at God.” I see this as putting people who are not Christ followers on the outside circle. You don’t invest your time in developing a close relationship at the same time you try to influence them toward Christ. This is all done in the context of purposeful living.).
But his delight is in the law of the Lord . . . (Instead of the previous verse, he takes pleasure in reading God’s Word. There is something that draws him back again) . . . and on His law he meditates day and night . . . (This means that he reads carefully, studies, pores over, or saturates in. It is not reading the Word of God to get through it, it is allowing the Word of God to get through you. There’s almost a sense of always reading and thinking about the teachings of God’s Word.).
He is like a tree planted by streams of water . . . (The righteous are compared to healthy trees with a source of abundant water.). . . which yields its fruit in season . . . (This means at the right time.) . . . and whose leaf does not wither . . . (Withering leaves indicates that a tree is dying. There is no indication of death.). Whatever he does prospers (This is not referring to the tree. It is referring to the person and is saying that all areas of life, not only spiritual but also financial and physical are prospering. They are living in wholeness or on their way to wholeness).
Next week we will look at the opposite, undesirable way of living. In the meantime, commit this chapter to memory and saturate in it the rest of this week. Ask God to reveal Himself to you as you know it through and through.
I am looking forward to an awesome day on Sunday as we continue the series, “Lead Me to the Cross.” God is glorified through meaningful worship and a unified spirit. We are in the midst of both of these God honoring displays of the Spirit of God in our church. Be Blessed and may you be planted by streams of living water!
Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Mike
www.findlayfirstnaz.org
Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday. As a child, I don’t remember observing Ash Wednesday or even knowing what it was all about. In recent years, it has been observed more in many churches. It is not just a Catholic observance. Let me try to give a little history on this important day.
Ashes were used in the Bible to express grief and sorrow. In Job 42:3-6, it says, “You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”Job was expressing sorrow for sins and faults. Daniel turns to the Lord, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes (Daniel 9:3). In Hebrews 9:13 it mentions the Jews sprinkling ashes on those who are ceremonially unclean and asking the Lord to sanctify them so they are outwardly clean.
In the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica says that, after the Protestant Reformation, the ashes ceremony was not forbidden in the Church of England. It was even prescribed under King Henry VII in 1538 and under King Edward VI in 1550, but it fell completely out of use after 1600. Today you will notice the Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed Churches observing it religiously. That sounds funny to say religiously. There are many churches that actually practice this ritual while many people will not know it is Ash Wednesday until they see people with ashes on the foreheads of Roman Catholics.
Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and the first day of Lent which occurs 46 days before Easter. If you take out the Sundays, then it will be 40 days. It reminds us of the 40 days of fasting Jesus was led in the wilderness to be tempted by the devil found in Matthew 4. Ironically, He was led by the Spirit of God. There’s a sermon in there somewhere…
The purpose is to grow in your relationship with God and spend the Lent season reflecting on the forgiveness of God. Now our church has not really gone all out on that day because we feel you need to live a repentive life every day. God wants to fill us with His Spirit and empower us to live for Him in holiness. Just like men and women should not wait for Valentine’s day to show their love to their spouse, we should not wait to repent and fast during these days leading up to Easter.
With all of that being said, it could be a rich time of practicing confession and renewal in the church. It represents a season of soul-searching and repentance. So I ask the question, “Why not use this season for reflection and taking stock in your spiritual life?” By observing the 40 days of Lent, we imitate Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for 40 days.
I want to encourage you to come to the church tonight between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m., and allow the Lord to speak to your heart. We may not put ashes on your forehead, but we will bathe you through the Word of God and worship the One and only. So consider this your invitation to come to the Sanctuary and be reminded of your dependence on Jesus, the giver of all things.
Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Mike
www.findlayfirstnaz.org
The Glory of God
I have been at a conference for the Church of the Nazarene called M15. It is where thousands of Nazarenes have gathered to worship, grow, learn, and know what it means to be a church on fire for God. The theme has been, “Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future.” We have been in existence for over 107 years. Our founder, Phineas Bresee, had a life changing experience in 1885. He referred to it as the “greatest experience of his life.” Bresee said, “There came with it into my heart and being, a transformed condition of life and blessing and unction and glory, which I had never known before” and “There came into my ministry a new element of spiritual life and power.”
Julie Best writes about it in Grace and Peace Magazine. She says, “One of the formative lessons Bresee learned about self-emptying is that it is the way to holiness. Kenosis leads to theosis, or union with God, whereby one’s nature becomes so completely consumed by holy love that selfish pursuits are suspended by a passionate allegiance to serve a holy God no matter the cost. Holiness to Bresee was more than wholly dying to self; it was becoming fully alive to commune with Christ along the path from suffering to glory. Bresee described this theosis as holiness.”
Phineas Bresee’s life was changed when he consecrated his whole life to God. He was not satisfied with mere Christian living. He went all out and opened his life up to the transforming power of Jesus Christ. From that day forward he was walking totally in the Spirit of God because the Spirit of God has his full attention.
Leviticus 11:44 says, “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground.” We also read in 1 Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
Seek God with all your heart today. Don’t put it off. Celebrate the fact that God wants to live in you and fill you with His presence.
Great things are happening all around us. I am so glad we have a praying church. God’s spirit was evident last Sunday. From praying around the altar to the baptisms at the end of the second service. One family told me that their children really enjoyed watching the baptisms. They went home and baptized all of their dolls and stuffed animals. Now that is going to be one holy playroom.
This Sunday we will continue to look at Jesus final week in the series from Matthew 21, “Lead Me to the Cross.” Let’s pray for God’s anointing in our services.
Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Mike
www.findlayfirstnaz.org
Taking Your Temperature
Winter has arrived. I know that it came in December but I am really feeling it today. After a few snow storms, it begins to set in a little more. I remember last year when over 9 weekends in a row, there was snow. It would always start on Saturday night and snow through Sunday. This past weekend it decided to do it again. I hear that it may repeat itself this weekend. Oh Mr. Winter, would you just hold off until Sunday night? I find myself thinking thoughts like that.
Along with winter comes sickness. Runny noses, sore throats, and aching bodies are just a few of the symptoms that drag us down. When these things happen we take our temperature to see if we have a fever. That is a sure sign of sickness. After a little medication and some rest, we slowly get back in the routine of life again.
Have you ever thought about taking your spiritual temperature? Unfortunately when we begin to get spiritually sick we make excuses for it. We blame it on being busy, not having enough time, just going through a discouraging time, or say things like, “God can’t expect me to live like Jesus did.” What if we made excuses for some of the physical illnesses that enter our bodies? Some would not live very long.
Did you know that heaven and hell are real places? You will decide where you will spend eternity by the way you lived on this earth. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
That was spoken from the very mouth of Jesus. It tells me that there are going to be some good people who don’t make it to heaven. There are people who are living a defeated life today and yet look like they are living in victory. I think it is time to take your spiritual temperature and see if there is some sickness that needs attending to. Are you hungering and thirsting for Jesus? What do you think of Jesus words in John 14:12? Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Do you know how desperately Jesus wants to move in and through your life?
Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”Matthew 11:28
Some of you need to rest from your burden and come unto Jesus. There may be some who need to join a Discipleship Class on Sunday Morning and have true spiritual fellowship with the Word and others. There may be some who need to be more consistent in your daily Bible reading and prayer. Some of you just need to take your temperature and ask the Lord what you need in order to rest in Him.
I am looking forward to a great day on Sunday. Pray that the snow holds off until Sundaynight. Remember there is Valet parking available for the elderly, women with young children, and those who don’t feel confident on their feet in this snow. Just stop out front and someone will help you in and park your car. We want to do all we can to have a safe environment.
Don’t forget to take your temperature!
Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Mike
www.findlayfirstnaz.org
