Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Only a King…

Dear Worshipers,

What an amazing encounter with our Lord Sunday was for us. From the first notes of Palm Sunday services through the dismissal at the musical there was a palpable sense of God’s presence in our midst. I want each of you who were involved in any capacity to know that I am thanking God for you and your contribution to those experiences.

As we went through the musical in the 6:00 hour, I was enjoying myself immensely, which by the way I believe God wants us to do when we are in serving Him in the center of His will. We got to the song “What Kind of King?” which asks a question rhetorically focusing on the realities of what Jesus did and what kind of King that made Him. As we got to the chorus the question is answered like this.

Only a King who gives up His crown.
Only a King his glory laid down.
Only a King who’s willing to give so that others might live.
Jesus the King.


I have sung those words many times. Can really sing them, even direct the orchestra, without really thinking about it? But in that moment the Holy Spirit revealed another layer of the reality of who Jesus is to me. That has often happened to me as I offer my worship to my King, singing something I know, and learning something by revelation I had yet to appreciate.

What a King is our Jesus! What a joy to serve Him! What a delight to be alive forever because of what He accomplished on the cross! AMEN!

As we approach our celebrations this weekend, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, ask God to reveal something of Himself to you. To overwhelm you with the reality of Himself. To touch and heal and restore and forgive and bless. And while you are at it, pray for the many who will attend those services, particularly Easter morning, that God will show His Son to them in a life-changing way.

Jesus, You are alive forever, and because of that so are we. Help us to remember Your sacrifice and revel in Your resurrection this weekend, and always. Alleluia!

In Christ,
Pastor Timothy

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Save Us, Please!

Dear Worshipers,

That’s what the choir will be shouting as they enter the sanctuary Sunday morning carrying palm branches. For anyone with a little church background that will not seem that strange since they will recall the biblical accounts of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of what we now call Holy Week. But before we dismiss this as something we know all about let’s think for a minute why this event, and particularly this exclamation was so significant.

This is true of the word transliterated “Hosanna” because of what it represented.

Our English word is a transliteration (using English letters) of a Hebrew one-word sentence meaning, "Save us, please!" John's Greek text also transliterated hosanna from Hebrew to Greek. The word is part of Psalm 118:25a where it is part of a prayer addressed to the Lord. It is not likely that John failed to appreciate the meaning of the crowd meeting Jesus with the words of a prayer the Old Testament addressed to God. In the course of time the Hebrew meaning of hosanna was forgotten and the word simply became a Christian exclamation of praise. This is the way most of us have heard hosanna; it may be that its use in the very celebrative Triumphal Entry led to this later praise use. [An excerpt from a longer article with an informative section on “John 12:12-19 - The Triumphal Entry” see that subheading about halfway down the page “The Voice” Roger Hahn]


This is very helpful for us who know this word Hosanna from our Palm Sunday chants. For those who were shouting it and hearing it on the road into Jerusalem, there was no mistaking they were heralding the arrival of their Messiah. His riding on a donkey was another fulfilled prophecy that pointed to His Kingship. [Zechariah 9:9]

It has always struck me how quickly the crowds turn on Jesus. It is only days later when the crowd says “Crucify him!” These seems like such a strange turn of events, but for the mind of the Israelite crying out to be saved from the Roman oppression Jesus simply must not have delivered quickly enough. We can be fickle like that as well, can’t we?

So what will your response be as the crowds shout Hosanna this weekend? Will you place your expectations on the Savior as to how and when and from what He should save you? Or rather, will you humbly cry out to Him to have his way and save you on His terms? May there be many who choose the latter response! Will you join me in it?

Jesus, as we have sung recently and will sing again this weekend, “Come have Your way among us. We welcome you here Lord Jesus!” Hosanna! You are the God who saves us. You’re worthy of all our praises.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

I Am Not Ashamed

Dear Worshipers,

What a challenge from the Scripture on Sunday! Paul was under obligation, eager and not ashamed. We need to envision ourselves the same way. I think the first two are a little easier for us than the last.

Under obligation. When we realize the significance of what the Lord has done for us this is not so hard to feel. I like the way one song we have sung recently puts it. “Oh, my words could not tell, not even in part, of the debt of love that is owed by this thankful heart.” But we are not only obligation to the Lord, but also to those who have yet to hear this Good News.

Eager. Again, when we consider the implications the Gospel in our lives, we are naturally enthusiastic about it. But the issue is not enthusiasm as much as faithfulness and the power by which we share must be supernatural and not just natural.

These things are obvious. But no so much so that they go without saying. Because for some reason we often do not live as though we are under obligation or eager, let alone both, and I believe the underlying reason may be that we are ashamed of the Gospel. Before you get upset with me, let me explain.

I do not think that any us of is asked would say we are ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is clearly described in the Scriptures. If we are ashamed, and I am only asserting that we may be, I think it derives from the fact that we have exchanged the Gospel of Jesus Christ for one that is a little less demanding, one that does not place us under obligation to share it, and one that we are not necessarily eager to share. Why might I believe this?

Because the Gospel of Jesus Christ “is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes”. (Romans 1:16b NLT) Too often, we do not see the power of God at work, saving people, and we gradually become comfortable with that, until finally we refashion the Gospel and make a gospel that closely resembles it, just without the power. Lord, have mercy on us to the extent that we have done this.

Sunday we saw the power of God demonstrated in the testimonies from those who were being baptized. We are seeing the power of God at work saving people, so we are less inclined to create our own gospel. May God bless us with a greater awareness of His power so that we will find ourselves under obligation, eager and NOT ASHAMED.

Jesus, give us eyes to see you at work around us. As we do, make us eager to proclaim Your Gospel that has the power to save everyone who believes. When as put our faith to work, may we see people trusting in You.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Faith Works

Dear Worshipers,

Pastor Myron will be starting a new series taking us through an overview of sorts of the book of Romans. As he spoke with me last Thursday he shared his working title, Faith Works, and that really got my juices flowing. What a perfect way to continue an emphasis on the filling of the Spirit and even more specifically Pastor Worley’s message this week about the mobilization of fully devoted disciple of Christ. As we begin this new series be praying as God continues to show Himself to us that we would be willing to adjust our living around His plans and purposes, moving on to God’s agenda.

Someone sent the following to me last week. It is a wonderful illustration of our faith working and keeping us one step behind Jesus. Oh, that we would be oft mistaken for our King?

EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU JESUS? [Author unknown]

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night’s dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over
a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.

ALL BUT ONE! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.
He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?” She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.”

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister….” He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, “Are you Jesus?” He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way
to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: “Are you Jesus?” Do people mistake you for Jesus? That’s our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.


Jesus, help us to live so in step with You that we are often mistaken for You. If that happens, it will be a demonstration of the Spirit’s power in our lives, and an opportunity for us to praise You for what only You could do! Do it Lord, for Your glory!

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Dear Worshipers,

I trust that as we came to close in the service Sunday there were some who for the first time were asking God to fill them with His Holy Spirit, as Pastor Myron has taught and was directing and leading us. I am equally as certain that some of them were surprised when no actual fire fell from heaven, or when there were not manifestations of the Holy Spirit like tongues. I am sure some were thinking, “So how do I know that I am filled with God’s Holy Spirit?”

I thought of my two older boys who were in the service Sunday. I do not think they were wondering about the kinds of things I outlined above for they have no context to have formed such thoughts on the Spirit. We talk about the Spirit filling us and leading us, even with our 4 year old who surrendered to Christ last year. It is not always something that is demonstrated by signs and wonders, though I believe it absolutely can be.

Rather, the filling of the Holy Spirit is not always so conspicuous. Though I believe over a period of time His presence in our lives should be obvious, it is not always readily apparent. Part of the reason for that is us, and the other part is Him.

Sometimes we simply do not allow Him to move freely through us. I think of the image of heavenly Dove and imagine how easily a dove is shooed away when not welcome. We do not have to do much to cause Him to retreat from the forefront of our lives.

This can be frustrating, but it also has an encouraging parallel. We do not have to do much to welcome Him back to the forefront either. Remember that simple prayer? “Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit; I want to live for You.” Seems to simple, right? Well, it is. But God knows it must be simple if we are going to be able to do it. Remember, He knows us better than we know ourselves.

If you have not prayed it again yet, why not do it right now? “Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit; I want to live for You.” There may not be signs and wonders, but there will be a quiet confidence that you are at the disposable of the Mighty One, and are empowered to do all He calls you to do as you live for Him.

For more on the activity of the Holy Spirit and our prayers inviting it read my blog entry Never Be the Same Again, Chorus from Tuesday, May 26, 2009.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy