Saying Goodbye

https://youtu.be/GKDQWYZhQho

We Are To Be Witnesses....

I am starting a new blog series going through the Book of Acts... I want to start with the idea of what it means to be witnesses to the world

We Are To Be Witnesses….

Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”

This is the last thing Jesus said to His disciples before He ascended into heaven.  He called them on to “be my witnesses”.  What does this mean to be a witness for Jesus?  Well when we look in the Greek we can find that the Greek word that we translate as "witness" in this verse actually means to be a “martyr”.  So what does it mean to be a martyr?  According to Webster Dictionary one definition of martyr is a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion.  So as Webster uses the word religion, as Christians we would use the words Jesus Christ.  Did Jesus tell His disciples that they would be persecuted and suffer much for His Names sake?  Yes He did.  I have thought about how the disciples after being filled with the Holy Spirit would not renounce the Name of Jesus or stop preaching the Good News even though they were persecuted and threatened with death. This Scripture in Luke 21:10-18 came to mind. I was challenged by a co-worker the other day to renounce Jesus Christ. He was quite persistent. Of course I did not. I wonder if a time is coming soon here in America when we will be faced with what the first century church went through. Where if we proclaim Christ there will be consequence. I am comforted by what Jesus promises here when we do face persecution

Luke 21:10-18

10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Jesus told the disciples to go and wait in Jerusalem until they are endowed with power from on High, that being the Holy Spirit. 

Luke 24:49

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

There is no way we can be witnesses unless the Holy Spirit resides in us.  Jesus said to wait until the Holy Spirit comes and clothes you with power.  We can do nothing without Him.  We will not be able to withstand the persecution without the Holy Spirit.  We are promised that He will give us the words to say and will be our Counselor and our Comforter.  As we think about the idea that we are to be witnesses to this world let us not forget that we will not do this alone.  The Holy Spirit will be with us guiding us in all truth and giving us words to speak and then as the Bible says God will make our efforts grow. 

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 

Interpretive Journey 1 Peter 5:6-7

Interpretive Journey 1 Peter 5:6-7

            1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you”.  This is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible.  As we look at the five steps of how to apply, or live out, this scripture we will see what the author’s meaning was and still is today. 

            The first step of the interpretive journey is to grasp the text in their own town looking at the historical and cultural text.  This Epistle was written around 64 AD and was passed around between 5 different provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.  Peter wrote this letter at a time when Nero began his violent outrage against believers in Rome.  Peter refers to the recipients of this letter as pilgrims, strangers in this world, sojourners.  Knowing that Christians would be persecuted he was trying to encourage them to endure the trials and put your hope in Jesus because in a little while this will all be over.  He also challenges the believer to have righteous conduct.  It seems that this Epistle is meant for a more general audience and its intent was more than just a letter.  It was intended to be widely spread to give a message of hope and exhortation especially during the time of Nero persecution. 

            The second step of the interpretive journey is to measure the width of the river to cross.  This is the step where the Christian today can see the differences from the biblical audience.  In this specific Bible passage there are some differences.  One of the main differences is the fact that there was a violent “president” persecuting Christians.  I live in America and it is hard for me to relate to something like that.  I see on the news where other countries are bullied by their government and oppressed.  Not so much here in the USA.  Although Americans have personal struggles we are not hiding in houses to have Bible study and pray. 

            The third step in the interpretive journey is cross the theological principle bridge communicated by the passage.  The theological principle that I see is humble yourself.  When I read the verses before this passage, especially verse 5 Peter says “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Then Peter goes on to say “humble yourselves, therefore…”.  He is calling Christians who have the hope of Jesus Christ to humble themselves.  This was a very stressful time for Christians because of Nero so when Peter goes on to say “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”  So he is saying I know you are scared and stressed but humble yourselves and know that he cares for you so give him your worries. 

            The fourth step in the interpretive journey is to consult the biblical map.  In other words how does this theological principle fit in with the rest of the Bible?  So many passages come to mind but I want to bring out two right now.  The first one is Philippians 4:6 where Paul say to not be anxious for anything but instead go to God an pray.  The second verse is in James 4:10 where he says “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”  So it is a theological principle that is throughout the Bible.  There is nothing in the Bible to refute the theological principle of humbling oneself and casting cares on Jesus. 

            The fifth step in the interpretive journey is to grasp the text in our town.  How should individual Christians today live out this theological principle?  Peter was talking to an audience that was starting to be violently persecuted whereas today in America we are not under that kind of violent persecution.  The principle of Christians humbling themselves is still a valid theological principle.  Humility is associated with setting aside our selfishness and looking to the needs of others.  However in this passage of 1 Peter 5:6-7 it would appear that he is encouraging Christians to humble themselves and rely on God to get them through.  That is why Peter keeps reminding them of the hope in Christ Jesus.  It is worth saying that in verse 5 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”, the oppose in the Greek means to set oneself against.  So if you read this verse this way God sets himself against, in a battle way, the proud but gives grace to the humble.  The proud is something that God hates and is willing to do battle against it.  Pride is the same thing as the devil.  Humility brings about God’s grace and He becomes your warrior as you cast all your cares on Him as well. 

Ralph Winter - Unreached Peoples and Beyond (1974 to Now)

Spiritual Gifts....

Spiritual Gifts within the body of Christ has been debated for centuries and there is still a difference of opinion today of the validity of spiritual gifts within the church.  It is also debated whether they really exist.  Over the centuries spiritual gifts have been misunderstood and because of that the body of Christ is not functioning to its fullest capacity.  In this essay I will define what spiritual gifts are and their purpose, the difference between spiritual gifts and the gifts of the spirit, the purpose of tongues and whether tongues is valid today.

Spiritual gifts are defined by Elwell as gifts from God enabling the Christian to perform his or her service (Elwell pg 1135).  The most common term used in the NT is charisma which means spiritual gift.  This is important because it is used in relation to God’s grace.  Spiritual gifts are manifestations of God’s grace whether normal or abnormal.  As Elwell says spiritual gifts purpose was always the edification of believers.  The spiritual gifts are also service to the church. 

There is a difference between the spiritual gifts and the fruit of the spirit.  Spiritual gifts are to be used in service, whereas fruits of the spirit relates to a Christians character (Towns pg 317).  The fruits of the Spirit will show a person’s maturity.  The gifts of the spirit are not contingent upon whether a person is godly.  They are an external manifestation of God.  The fruits of the Spirit show maturity because they show character.  For example in 1 Corinthians 13:1-4 Paul says if you have tongues, faith, knowledge, and service but have not love you are nothing.  Love is the foundation of the fruits of Spirit and is the goal of our lives. 

The definition of speaking in tongues comes from the Greek word glossolalia which is: profuse and often emotionally charged speech that mimics coherent speech but is usually unintelligible to the listener and that is uttered in some states of religious ecstasy and in some schizophrenic states (Merriam Webster’s dictionary). Speaking in tongues has two functions: one was the affirmation of a group entering the church and the other is it is a “spiritual gift” bestowed on chosen people by God.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14 that when you speak in a tongue your mind is unfruitful.  In that same chapter Paul says that when you speak in tongues you edify yourself.  That word edify in the Greek implies a recharging.  So we can say that speaking in tongues is able to help you recharge your spirit and stay in communion with God.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit is when one becomes filled with the Holy Spirit and is placed in the body of Christ (Towns pg 296).  In Luke 12:49 Jesus says “I have come to bring fire on the earth and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed”.  This verse is talking about the death, burial and resurrection Christ.  This is also laid out well in Romans chapter 6.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the gift from the Father that Jesus talked about.  It is the indwelling and promise of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. 

Speaking in tongues is not a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Some have insisted that the Spirit coincides with conversion.  Some insist that to receive the Spirit is with water baptism.  Others insist that the baptism of the Spirit is not related to conversion and is independent of water baptism.  The Holy Spirit is not energy or something you can get if you do something.  It is not some sort of magical power you can tap into.  The Holy Spirit is a being and is the third part of the Trinity.  He is a person just like Jesus.  The Holy Spirit comes into us at conversion.

Inerrancy and Inspiration

            In many of the debates I have had with friends and family I have found that the one argument that consistently rises to the top about the Bible is whether or not it is accurate and inerrant.  How can the Bible have been interpreted correctly from one translation to another is the question that I hear over and over.  How could the Bible be inspired by God when it was man who wrote it down is another question I hear over and over.  In this essay I would like to address the questions of inerrancy and inspiration.

            Biblical authority must begin with God himself.  God will reveal Himself to His people through revelation.  In doing so, God can declare His authority.  Jesus himself had to submit to the authority of God the Father.  God the Father sets the authoritative standard if you will.  Jesus said in John 14 that He only does what the Father tells Him to do and says what the Father tells Him to say.  Knowing that God the Father is both true and truthful, (John 8:26, Romans 15:8), we take God at His word.  The word truth describes both God and the Word of God.  Therefore, if the Word of God and God are the same which is truth we can then say that it is reliable and therefore authoritative. 

            The word inspiration comes from the Greek word theopneustos.  This word is found in the book of 2 Timothy 3:16.  The two words God and Spirit make up the word inspiration.  So when you say that the writers of Scripture were inspired you could say that the writings were God breathed.  The Word of God was actually formed by the breath of God.  There are many Scriptures that say what the Word of God is.  For example, The Gospel of John says that the

       Word became flesh and dwelt among us, referring to Jesus.  Hebrews 4 says that the Word is living and active dividing body soul and spirit.  The Word is not only inspired but alive through

the person of Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit.  God actually breathed His Spirit into Adam and gave him life.  The inspired Word of God gives life. 

            Inerrancy is the view that when all facts become known they will demonstrate that the Bible is true in its original form or autographs (Elwell pg 156).  2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is inspired by God.  My view is the Biblical argument.  If the Bible says that it is inspired by God then it is reliable and true.  Although, because tradition says through the Historical argument that the Bible is inerrant we can also conclude the Scriptures are reliable.  I think that the Biblical argument has a better foundation because it is straight from God the Father.  .  The Epistemological argument says that you have no foundation if you deny inerrancy.  Slippery Slope argument says that you can give up on inerrancy and eventually allow your faith to become crushed and fall away from the faith.  The Epistemological argument is very evident today along with the Slippery Slope argument and I have found that many people today fall into these two arguments.  I have seen several of my friends fall away from the faith and/or slide on the slippery slope because they reject or doubt the reliability of the Scriptures.

            Knowing that Gods Word is inerrant is to know that it is authoritative.  To say that it is inerrant is also to say that the Word is inspired.  Therefore, we can say that “inerrancy states that what is inspired is authoritative” (Towns pg 65).  Knowing that the Word of God is inerrant is a key to my walk with God.  Knowing that the Scriptures are authoritative gives me confidence. 

         Knowing that all Scripture is inspired by God is life giving.  When I go to the Word of God I want to know that what I am reading is “truth”, aletheia, reliable.  I see in the Word that it says what it is and what it is good for.  Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edge sword, it even penetrates dividing, soul, and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that the word of God is good for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be equipped for every good work.  The word is also seed to scattered (Matt 13).  I have confidence that when I go to the inerrant, inspired Word of God I will find the revelation of how to have a relationship with my Creator and love those around me. 

What Is the Word of God...

When you think of the Word of God what do you think of?  Do you think of a book of over a thousand pages that only scholars can read and understand?  Do you think about how it was penned by humans and how it probably has mistakes?  Maybe it is a book of good childrens stories and has good morals to follow.  I would like to suggest looking at what the Word of God says about itself.  There are many things that the Word says about itself but in this blog lets start with the Gospel of John.  John says in his Gospel that the Word was with God and the Word was God. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1).  Later in that same chapter it says that the Word became flesh. 

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me." For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.   No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:14-18)

Now I know that there has been some good in depth teaching on this Scripture.  All i would like to point out is that the Word of God is Jesus.  When it says that the Word came and dwelt among us it is like Jesus pitched a tent with us.  That is what the word dwelt actually means.  I like how Dr Dan Hayden puts it in his studies.

"This word skene (tent) is the very word used in the New Testament to refer to the tabernacle of God used by Israel in their early worship of God. If you remember, the tabernacle was a wooden structure with a tent pitched over the top. In the Greek New Testament therefore, the word translated “tabernacle” is skene — “the tent” (Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:2, 5, and chapter 9). Hence, when the glory of God descended to the earth to take up residence in the midst of Israel as described in Exodus 40:34-38, it could be said that God “pitched His tent” among men. The writer of the book of Hebrews calls it “the true tent [skene] that the Lord set up” (Hebrews 8:2). The glory of God went camping with Israel as Israel wandered in the wilderness."  http://www.awordfromtheword.org/dwelt.

Dr Dan Hayden makes a good point to say that just as the tabernacle was used in desert by the Israelites Jesus came down and dwelt among us and pitched a tent. So I would like to throw this out there. If Jesus is the Word and the Word came and dwelt among us what is it that we are supposed to preach when it says to preach the word. 

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

 When you look at the Greek for Word in John 1:1 and 2 Timothy 4:2 it is the same word logos in the Greek.  Therefore we are to preach as a herald, as the greek says, Jesus.  Jesus is who we are suppose to preach.  So what is Jesus?  Jesus is so many things but focus on what Jesus did for us and keep it simple.  His death, burial and resurrection.  Our sin is gone and death has been swallowed up (1 Corinthians 15).  Preach Jesus !!!

Pray this with me....Father in the Name of Jesus i thank you that You sent Your one and only Son into the world to dwell among us.  To pitch His tent with us.  Thank You that in Your perfect will Jesus conquered death and took away our sin.  Break our hearts for the lost and please give us simple words to preach to those around us.  In Jesus Name.... Amen!