Deliver the Message

A Prayer For Persecution

During a meeting this week with several pastors one pastor was asked to pray. As he prayed he began to pray for our country and for revival. He then said something that I have never heard before in prayer. He prayed that our nation receive persecution. You read that right. He didn't pray that we would be free of persecution but that we would experience persecution. I admit I was a bit shocked at first to hear someone actually pray for persecution. However, after a second to realize that I heard him correctly I found myself saying, "amen." I knew why he had prayed that. I had after all alluded to the truth of his prayer in many sermons. However, I have never been so bold as to actually pray for persecution.

Now you may ask, why would anyone want persecution? The answer is quite simple. History has shown, current status of the Church around the world shows, and the Bible makes clear that persecution refines the Church. For as often as we pray for revival are we also willing to pray for the persecution? Are we willing to pray that we live sacrificially? Are we willing to pray that we be willing to take up our cross? Are we willing to pray for revival if it also means that we pray to no longer live comfortable, safe lives?

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV)"

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:12-14 ESV)"

Little River Canyon National Preserve

Unity

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV)

I got an email today from a fellow pastor who stated that his board (I’m purposefully leaving the board generic as to not get tangled up in counsel, staff, trustee, deacon, elder, etc. debate) had recently received an anonymous letter stating that the board needed to “stop worshipping” the pastor and do what is right. Now, I don’t know what the pastor is doing that this cowardly (because he does not give his name) critic believes is wrong but he apparently believes that the board is complicit in this wrong doing.

Let us lay aside what it is that the cowardly critic believes is being done wrong and focus on his claim that the board worships the pastor. Why would he hold to this idea? What is it that causes this cowardly critic to believe that the board worships the pastor? Because we do not know who the cowardly critic is we cannot say for sure why he holds this conviction. Never the less, I’d like to make the following argument:

The cowardly critic believes that the board worships the pastor because the board and the pastor, when presenting to the church a decision that has been reached, do so as a unified body. Note, that this does not say that all the members of the board and the pastor agree on everything. It does say, that once the decision has been made, that they are then unified in presenting that decision to the larger body of the church. Unfortunately, for the cowardly critic, he is under the misguided notion that the board is to act not as a group who works in conjunction with the pastor to deliver a unified vision and direction for the church but rather they are to act as a check on the “power and authority” of the pastor. He believes that the board is there to serve as the “voice of the people” against the crazy, radical notions of the pastor. He expects there to be an adversarial relationship between the board and the pastor. Not only does he expect this, he nearly demands it and when it does not happen his only conclusion is that the board worships the pastor.

It is unfortunate that the cowardly critic cannot see the blessing in having the leadership of the church unified. It is unfortunate that he fails to recognize the Biblical teachings on authority and submission. It is unfortunate that he fails to understand the joy of a church that is unified in its mission and vision. It is sad that he cannot see the difference between a board being united with their pastor versus the board worshipping their pastor. It is sad that he does not see that a church that is unified is one that is most able to bring glory and not dishonor to God.

May we all be unified in bringing glory to God.

Magnificent!

Christ's Call

Go to the following link and download the mp3 file "Christ's Call." It is a sermon by the K.P. Yohannan who is the founder of Gospel for Asia. It is one of those great step on your toes sermons that all of us need to hear.

You will have to register to download the sermon but it is worth it.


http://www.gfa.org/resource/audio/

A Question of Cause

Earlier today I was watching a TV show in which part of the story line dealt with a homeless man who had died and another man trying to arrange a funeral for him. The show got me to think about the way we often deal with people. When we are confronted by people who find themselves in a, let's just say, a less than desirable situation we often base our decision to provide assistance to them based on the known or the assumed reason for them being in that situation. For instance, we may gladly help people who are struck by a natural disaster. An earthquake, tornado, or hurricane destroys homes without prejudice and there is nothing that one can really do to prevent such occurrences. However, if we know someone is homeless often our (or perhaps I should simply say my and not presume to know your thoughts) first inclination when deciding to help is to first determine the cause of their predicament. Are they in this condition because of a hurricane or are they in this predicament because of drug use, alcoholism, and/or criminal behavior? Perhaps they simply fell on hard times because it's a bad economy? Perhaps they made some really bad financial decisions? Maybe they are just too lazy to work?

It seems to me that our decision to help someone is largely based on the answers to these questions. Now, as I was watching this TV show I began to think about what motivates us to help one person (or group) over another. I began to think about these questions that we often ask and use to judge who is worthy of being helped. Then I thought about the cross. I thought that when Jesus went to the cross He did not ask about our past and what caused us to be in the situation we were in. Of course, He knew what caused us to be in our situation. He didn't base His decision to save us on our past performances and whether those past performances were worthy of His sacrifice. He went to the cross despite our pasts and despite the fact that we weren't worthy. He simply went to the cross for His enemies, the ones who harmed Him, the ones who were against Him, the ones who did not want His help. The question isn't really how did one get to where they are, the question is do we believe that God can pull them out of that situation? Can He change them? Can He give them new life? The other question is are we willing to be obedient to God and to be His hands and feet to whomever despite their past and despite what caused them to be in their current situation? Is grace for everyone or just those whom we deem worthy?

Give me Revelation - Day 12 of Lent

I know that yesterday I said that I was not going to be posting about my Lent journey everyday but I just had to share something with you. Today, I read Revelation (sticking with my John books from the previous days) and, wow, what a book. You know Revelation is one of those books that to be perfectly honest you read (particularly as a pastor) when you are wanting to preach about the lukewarm church or else you are doing a study of the end times. As such you read it trying to pick apart all of the beasts and dragons and lake of fire. You try to figure out who is who and what represents what. And perhaps what we really look for is "signs of the time."

However, as I sat down and simply read it straight through not concerning myself with if I fully understood all of the imagery and time line, I found myself pulled into a wonderful story. I remember years ago hearing someone say that we in America often read the book of Revelation and focus on the tribulations, while people in the Soviet Union (again this was years ago that I heard this) when given the opportunity to read the book do so with a focus on the hope of which the book speaks. That's what I saw this morning. Sure the book has plenty of tribulation, plenty of destruction, death, and horrifying images but what is really there is the triumph of the Lord. What is spoken of by John with grand and magnificent words, almost beyond his own ability to describe is the glory of God.

"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." Revelation 22:17

Come. Drink. Glory in Him.

In His grace, for His glory,
John.

Day 11 of Lent

I apologize for not writing more as I have been going through this journey in observance of Lent. Since my last post I have read Ezra, the Gospel of John, and staying with John, I read all three letters from John. I'm thinking next I'll read Revelation but that will have to wait until tomorrow for that determination.

It has been rather fascinating keeping to this commitment to read a book each day. I must confess though that I did split the Gospel into 2 days. I haven't been writing as much because I found that as I was reading I was thinking about what I would be writing. That preacher's occupational hazard kept creeping around. So, I decided to stop writing. As you can see, I won't be stopping entirely but it isn't going to be an everyday item.

I do find that the time in just reading, for no other purpose than to hear from God and to spend that time with Him, is deeply satisfying to the soul. I am finding that by reading that whole book, without effort to dissect it and outline it for a sermon, allows for the personality of the book, the character of the book, to infiltrate my heart and my mind. Obviously, I believe strongly in Bible study of the sort where one works to understand and properly interpret even a single verse or perhaps a phrase. This reading of the whole book though, again with the intention of just enjoying His Word, allows for a connection with the heart and mind that causes one to be able to say, "I understand." I may not know everything, for example when reading Ezra, unless you have some good study notes or commentary you may not know who the various kings are in the story and how each one relates to the story or you may not know the time line of the story that well. However, I believe that reading the book through, just to hear it, allows for one to walk away and understand why God has this book in His Scriptures. It isn't just something you now have mental knowledge of, instead it is something that you know, in your heart and in your mind, and it is now part of you.

Love Songs - Day 6 of Lent

OK, I know I'm a little behind on my blog post - forgive me.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that for Day 6 of Lent I read the book of Song of Solomon. By the way, after reading this book I think the name is wrong which, of course, is probably why it is often called Song of Songs. Even that name doesn't really seem to fit. I don't think Song of Solomon fits because most of the songs in the book are actually from the woman not Solomon. I also don't think Song of Songs works because it isn't just a song but several songs.

Anyway, as I was reading this most interesting book I realized that over the years I have heard many sermons and teachings on marriage based on such passages as that found in Ephesians but rarely have I heard anything out of this book. Strange really, because the book is a manual on developing and maintaining a passionate and loving relationship. Of course, it is also very graphic which we Christians feel very uncomfortable with. Perhaps this is the lesson for today - learn to enjoy what the Lord has created as He intended it to be enjoyed.

Hey Jude - Days 5

This journey through Lent has certainly proved interesting and the first week isn't even over. One interesting aspect has been my choice of what books to read. Yesterday I read the book of Jude. I chose this book merely because I mentioned it in my previous post and had it on my mind. I also read it because it's Jude. I mean Jude isn't the book that you often hear someone quote their life verse from. I don't believe I've ever seen anyone holding up a poster board at a football game with "Jude 20" written on it. I suspect a good many church goers don't know where to find the book and many would probably begin in the Old Testament. I don't recall ever hearing a sermon from the book (although, after some thought I do believe I preached out of it once on a Sunday evening service - and any good Southern Baptist will tell you that that really doesn't count). Let's just be honest, Jude is a strange, little book. In just a few paragraphs there are a number of references to obscure Old Testament passages and even one reference to an apparently long lost Jewish story featuring the archangel Michael arguing with the devil over Moses' body. It's a book that, if one isn't careful, they can easily miss what is being said by getting lost in the details of the illustrations. In the end, Jude, in my humble opinion, is about contending for the faith. In doing so Jude makes it clear that we must be aware of those who infiltrate the church with false teaching but his main point is one of encouragement to believers. As Jude writes:

"But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the
Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the Love of God, waiting for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life."

Reading Jude is a reminder that all Scripture is God-breathed. I'd like to encourage you to take some time to read some Scripture that perhaps you have personally neglected. There just may be something there that you need to hear.

A Southern Baptist Struggles with Lent - Day 4

Well, Saturday was the third day of Lent and my goal to read a book of the Bible each day fell short. Sure, I could blame it on having a house full of kids, errands to run, and spending a good deal of the day trying to figure out what was wrong with my sermon for Sunday morning. The truth of the matter is, I just never said, "OK, I need some time to go and read." Even if Saturday was busy, I could have found a few minutes to read Jude or Philemon. I mean really, how long do those take to read. Never the less, I never made it.

So, even though traditionally Sunday does not count in the 40 days of Lent, I read a book on Sunday. Even here, I cheated myself. I chose to read the book of Ruth. Now Ruth is a great book to read with its story of God's providence, love, and redemption but I was reading it in an attempt to kill two birds with one stone. You see, I was reading it because I wanted to keep to my Lent commitment and I read Ruth because it was my text for my Sunday evening sermon. Now, you might recall, that one of the reasons for reading a book each day for Lent is because I had fallen into that rut that many preachers fall into in which every time they are reading Scripture it is for the purpose of preparing another sermon. Well, here I was reading to further solidify my sermon.

The lesson here is that even as one practices a discipline of the faith there will be times that you really learn and grow. There will be times that you experience an intimacy with the Lord unlike you have ever experienced. Then there will also be times where it feels as though all that you have done is checked something off your to do list. The important thing is to learn from even the so called "lesser" moments (which in the end may be your best learning moments) and to perpetually be moving toward God.

I wonder what today's reading will reveal?

Lent and Tiger Woods - Day 3

For my reading today I chose the book of Colossians. It should be understood that during this process I have no reading plan. Other than a desire to read all 4 Gospels during Lent, for my 36 other reading selections I am randomly choosing which book to read when I sit down to read. I chose Colossians this morning because I had a Dallas Willard book nearby and I know that Dallas really enjoys Colossians 3. I know this doesn't sound very spiritual but it's what happened.

Anyway, prior to reading Colossians, I actually watched the big speech today by Tiger Woods. Now, I don't think I need to go into detail about what Tiger has done or what he said in his speech. I'm sure by now you know what he did and much of what he said today. I'm sure that you have said something about it or will say something about. As a preacher I almost fill compelled to address. After all, shouldn't I use this opportunity to address faithfulness in marriage, the sin of adultery, or perhaps even fatherhood and being a good role model? I could do that I suppose and maybe I still will. However, if I do use this very public downfall of a man as an illustration of some sort I pray that I'll remember the words I read today:

"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Colossians 4:5-6.

A Southern Baptist Observes Lent - Day 2

I'd like to begin today with a quick clarification. I did not mean to imply yesterday that everyone who gives up something or practices the discipline of abstinence (that is not meant in the merely sexual sense of the word but in the technical sense of abstaining from any thing or activity) are only doing so for some other motive than to grow closer to God. Many honestly practice this discipline throughout Lent with the desire to know God and His grace and to use this time and this discipline to reflect on the suffering of Christ and rejoice in His resurrection and glory. My blog yesterday was more of a reflection of my personal experience (or lack of experience) with the observance of this season.

Now as for today, one of the reasons I choose to read a book of the Bible for each day of Lent was that I wanted to get away from picking apart a verse or two to find every detail in preparation for a sermon. Mind you this is something important that every Christian should do. However, it can also lead to a missing the forest due to the trees kind of effect if we (most specifically preachers) aren't careful. I wanted to take some time to read a book and really get a feel for the book as a whole. For instance today I read the book of Ecclesiastes. Typically, this book brings to mind "all is vanity" and a poem on there being a time for everything. Well, today when I read it I was constantly confronted with a desire to stop and just focus on one or two verses. Instead, I might have re-read those verses a few times but then continue on. In reading the whole book in a concentrated amount of time, I got a whole new feel for the book that I never had before. Ecclesiastes has this message of everything being a vain endeavor of life. To be perfectly honest, I've always felt that Ecclesiastes was a bit of a negative book. Today, I realized that the tone of the book is actually one of great freedom for the person who lives to fear God and keep His commandments. There is freedom when your life is lived for God and not for yourself (this is the vanity that the Teacher speaks of). It is exactly for this type of revelation that I choose to read a complete book of the Bible each day.

One final note as to why I am reading a book a day. By doing this I am obligating myself to stop, slow down, and to simply devote myself to hearing His Word. This isn't simply about completing reading assignments but about abiding in Him.

A Southern Baptist observes Lent

I have been a Southern Baptist most all my life and Southern Baptist traditionally do not observe Lent. So, I have never observed Lent. I've never been part of an Ash Wednesday service and I have never given up anything for these 40 days prior to Resurrection Sunday (that's Easter to all you laymen). I remember the first time I saw a man with ash on his forehead in college. Nearly made a fool of myself until one of my professors bailed me out (thank you Dr. Sansom, that's one more thing I'm indebted to you for). My point is that Lent has never meant anything to me other than it being the time that Catholics don't eat something and, well, I happen to like eating what they give up. Just another point in the protestant column as far as I was concerned.

Over the past several years I've begun to realize that there just might be some merit in various religious traditions. Often, if observed correctly, they can have much spiritual value to them. For example, I'm not a Jew, but I love celebrating Passover. There is so much to learn from this tradition. So much that speaks to us about God being the Deliverer. I've been known to add the observance of Advent into our Christmas traditions. Again, a tradition that isn't emphasized in Southern Baptist circles but never the less is one that can be very helpful in focusing on the true meaning of the Christmas season.

So, here we are at Lent. Over the past several years I have considered observing Lent in one way or another. To be honest, about the only thing I really knew about Lent was the act of giving something up. For some reason, I hear a lot of people giving up chocolate. I didn't realize that chocolate was such a vital part of life. Of course, you have people giving up meat, or caffeine, or something that they spend their money on regularly that they will then give the money they save to a charity. All of this is fine and well and I understand it all to a degree. For me though, it all seemed to be missing something. In many ways, it seemed that people were giving up things that, in all honesty, they needed to be giving up anyway. They were just using the motivation of Lent to help them do it. It's as if one was saying, "I need to lose weight and so I'll give up sweets for Lent. I'll kill 2 birds with one stone." Somehow connecting your weight loss with a religious motive is suppose to help.

For me though, I just wasn't getting it. I thought the idea was not so much to give something up but to get closer to God? To use the time and the circumstance you find yourself in by giving something up to become more aware of Christ? To prepare our hearts and minds to grieve at His suffering and to rejoice at His glory in the resurrection? I didn't think that this was simply a time to try to relieve ourselves of a bad habit that I wasn't able to get rid of a month and a half earlier when I made a New Year's resolution.

So this is my plan, and I intend to write about, so that people following along can help me be accountable just as they were in my adoption blog (www.raymersadoption.blogspot.com) when I was going through my "Great Coffee Experiment." I have put a great deal of thought into what would perhaps benefit me in growing closer to God at this stage in my life. I came to the conclusion that I need to read Scripture. Now, this may sound funny coming from a preacher but many preachers will understand. It is a danger in a preacher's line of work that because we spend so much time studying for the next sermon or the next lesson that we will be teaching that we often neglect our own time in simply reading God's Word for the sake of growing closer to Him and hearing from Him. I've been far too guilty of this lately. So, for the next 40 days of Lent I am going to read a different book of the Bible each day. Obviously, I will have some days where I may read a book like Philemon. Then there will be days where I'll read Jeremiah. I haven't decided what exactly I'll read other than I do plan to read all 4 Gospels. Today I am reading Mark. Throughout this time I plan to blog about my journey and whatever experiences that may come. I hope you will join me.

What is Love?

Earlier today, walking around one of the holy temples of consumerism, I looked up and hanging above one of the aisles filled with stuff, that has literally no benefit to anyone, there was a sign that read, "Love is candy."

I don't think any further comment is needed.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This just blew my mind...God is greater than I knew.

The following quote is from John Frame's "A Primer on Perspectivalism."

"God knows absolutely everything, because he planned everything, made everything, and determines what happens in the world he made. So we describe him as omniscient. One interesting implication of God’s omniscience is that he not only knows all the facts about himself and the world; he also knows how everything appears from every possible perspective. If there were a fly on my office wall, my typing would look very different to him from the way it looks to me. But God knows, not only everything about my typing, but also how that typing appears to the fly on the wall. Indeed, because God knows hypothetical situations as well as actualities, God knows exhaustively what a fly in that position would experience—if such a fly were present—even if it is not. God’s knowledge, then, is not only omniscient, but omniperspectival. He knows from his own infinite perspective; but that infinite perspective includes a knowledge of all created perspectives, possible and actual."

Ouch!

I've started reading Francis Chan's Crazy Love. I'm currently on chapter 5 and it has been nothing short of an amazing book. I also should tell you that it has been a very painful book to read as well. With nearly every turn of the page I find myself thinking, "Ouch! That hurts."

Chapter 4 begins with a quote from a man who wrote the following words in 1890 and are as relevant today as they were then:

"It is not scientific doubt, not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the Gospel. It is a proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity." - Frederic D. Huntington

Ouch!

Joshua and the Stickman

A while back I took my three boys on a little hiking trip. We saw a couple of waterfalls, played around, and had a good day together. On the way home I had playing in the van a Pierce Pettis cd. I wasn't really listening to the cd and neither were the boys, or so I thought. In the middle of my thinking where to stop and eat and in the middle of the boys talking and playing Joshua said, "Daddy?" It was the type of "Daddy" that one knows will be followed by a question. From Joshua this usually means a question about either a video game or some strange hypothetical such as, "If we could create space suits that allowed one to go into the sun, what would we find there?" So, I braced myself for such a question and responded to him, "Yes, Joshua."

"Daddy, I don't get it. Who is the stickman?"
"What?"
"The stickman. Who is he."

That's when I realized what song was playing and that Joshua was actually listening to it. In short, "Stickman" is a song about a man dying. More importantly, it is about the indifference people have to his dying. This gave me a moment to talk with Joshua about the need to care and to show compassion. Our conversation went on for a few minutes and then just as quickly as it begin it ended with inquiries as to where we would eat. Nothing more was said about the stickman.

Fast forward about a month and a half later. I'm in the kitchen cooking dinner when Joshua walks in and says, "Daddy?" Again, it has that tone that a major question will follow.

"Yes, son."
"Daddy, I understand that the stickman is dying and has a bad disease, but I don't understand why no one cares?"
"I don't know either."

In Second

The other day, my 9 year old son had this revelation: "You know how the Bible says that 'the first will be last and the last will be first', well, technically if you are in second you just stay there."