Eaten Alive - Acts 12:20-25 - King Herod and the Picture of Sin and Depravity.

Be careful what you fill yourself with for it may become your undoing. The sin we all wrestle with is idolatry stemming from pride. The good news of the gospel is that we are nothing apart from Christ. On our own we are filthy, and if left to our own thoughts and ways we will be lead to destruction.  

James reminds Christians in his epistle to remember the source of our temptation, 

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

Christians would do well to note that temptation occurs when we are “carried away by our own lusts.” Satan’s has no power, influence, or authority in the life of a believer. Sin is a conscience choice for a follower of Christ. We cannot continue to live in open unrepentant sin and claim Christ. When we sin we make the choice freely to do so. When we face the effects of that sin we do so as a direct result of our failings. Therefore we should not Blame God for the sorrow in our own life. Likewise we should not give Satan credit for creating the chaos in our life. We have created our own mess. Satan cannot oppress or possess a child of God by his own authority. Sin is a conscience choice.

God knows the wickedness of our hearts and sees us from the inside out, yet he loves us anyway.  He loves us enough to give us the freewill to choose to follow him or to walk away, to honor him or dishonor him. No better example of this can be found biblically than God’s encounter with Cain in Genesis 4. 

“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it’.”

We must recognize our sinful tendencies and learn to master sin. For sin is crouching at the door of our hearts and family, our church, community and nation. If we choose to allow sin to have a foothold it will devour us. Peter warns Christians to “be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  Don’t be fooled sin is destructive, and given the opportunity it will destroy you and no sin can go undiscovered.

We’ve all heard stories of lion tamers ferociously attacked by the lions they worked with. Almost every time one of these mentally challenged lion tamers (which is an oxymoron statement in and of itself) are attacked they seem to always respond “I don’t know why he did that.” I can tell you it’s because he is a lion. A lion is a lion, and will always be a lion.  You can’t tame a lion you have to kill it. You can’t teach a lion, who sole purpose is to kill and devour other living things to be a house cat! The only reason the Lion wouldn't attack it’s trainer is because it just ate.

Likewise you can’t tame sin. Sin must die, and through the power of the Holy Spirit we must kill it. If you wrestle with sin something is going to die the only question is who will act first. In Acts 12 King Herod was playing around with Sin and it was his undoing. God will not be mocked nor share his glory with another. Herod was a prideful arrogant, angry man. Herod’s pride produced an angry heart, which lead to setting himself up as God. Herod worshiped himself and gladly accepted the praise of the Jewish people, which ultimately lead to his destruction. 

Yet, despite our sin and depravity he chooses to love us. Just as Sin is a conscience so too is the decision to love.  Paul reminds us that while we were still living in Sin God loved us and gave his son as a ransom for our sin. God knows us yet He loves us anyway.

Whom Shall I Fear? Thought on Childbirth and Acts 12

This week as I am looking forward to meeting my daughter, who is expected to make her arrival any hour, Our series on

the book of Acts brings us to chapter 12 and the accounts of Peter’s arrest. As I reflect on the events of this week and those events yet to come I can’t help but remember one of my mom’s infamous saying:

“life is like childbirth, you just have to breathe through it”.

You see my mom had 6 kids and  I’ll never fully understand what she meant being a man; however from observing my wife going through the fire per say I’ve learned a few things.

Life is full of uncertainty. At times it is all we can do to hold onto the promise that this pain is only temporary. It is far too easy to become discouraged by our present circumstances, losing sight of our assurance and the big picture. There are situations which present themselves that are both intimidating and challenging.

The Apostle Paul writes, in Romans 8 to the believers facing trying times; reminding them:

“The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us… for we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

It is this type of hope and assurance that enables us to endure the injustice, pain, and heartbreak that are so frequently associated with this world. Sometimes life just is not fair. We want a break from the constant turmoil and stress of life. In the midst of our struggle we lose sight of the end result and thus lose our motivation and purpose for today.

I think of no better analogy then my wife preparing to give birth to our second child. This past week we took a late night hospital run eagerly expecting that we would have a baby by morning. The bags were packed, babysitter called and coffee was in queue. We were ready, none more so than my lovely wife. She was in a world of hurt, full of excitement, and anxiety awaiting the birth of our little girl.

Unfortunately after three hours in the room we were sent home with our baby yet to make her shinning debut. There was disappointment, my wife just wanted to be done already. We were both worn out. Her strength is inspiring to me. If the roles were reversed I question whether I would have that same resolve to carry a child with joy for 9 months. It is the goal at the end, the rewarding feeling of holding her child in her arms that gives her purpose for all the painful, unfair, disappointments that come.

The same is true of us and our eternal reward. Life may be difficult in the here and now but it’s going to get better. We have been sovereignly placed here in this place and time to accomplish God’s purpose. Like the woman carrying a precious child in her woman for 9 months we have been entrusted with a great treasure: the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pain and adversity give birth to a greater glory. A little pain and suffering is a good thing. For it is through the fire that we find our purpose. We must not lose sight of the ever-present Christ in the midst of our pain. Just as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were joined in the fire by the Son of God so to shall we be comforted in our times of grief and pain if we stay near to the heart of God.

 “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you.But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Our current struggles are temporary and bash in light of what is coming. We serve a Powerful God! There is no rebel no rival who could ever take his place. Who is there like the Lord God almighty! If God be for us, than who can be against us. Strong and mighty is the Lord and great are His ways. He is perfect and righteous! He God has put before me a task to accomplish than there is nothing that can stop me until God decides my time is done.

No weapon formed against me shall prosper because our God is greater than the God of this age. Though Satan may seek to destroy my life I know in whom my hope is found. My hope is found in nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. In him alone I will place my trust. I will not fear man who can only harm my body. God alone shall I fear! He is my strength. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for He is with me.

Perfect love casts out all fear. God is perfect love and in him there is no darkness. The enemy shakes and trembles and the sound of his great name and the name of JHesus shall be my refuge in times of stress! In him alone shall I fear.

Let me leave you with this encouragement form Psalms 27:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the [a]defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Unimaginable - My journey of repentance from Pride and Prejudice.

un·im·ag·i·na·ble

ˌənəˈmaj(ə)nəbəl/ 

adjective

1. 1.

   difficult or impossible to imagine or comprehend.

   
   

"Unimaginable, unthinkable, there is no way on God's green earth that I would every do that!"

Have you ever told yourself anything like that? Certainly, each one of us has a list of things, people groups, or places that we are prejudice against. If we are honest with ourselves, we all our prejudice to a degree.

 For you it may be against a certain people group. For others it may be against a certain person or family. Some people are prejudice against other skin tones, or nationalities. Others have prejudices based on religious or ethical differences. I know some people who would not as much speak to a homosexual man or woman, would not even acknowledge the presence of a prostitute. Many I've spoken to in this area are prejudice against Hispanics or those who are not from your neck of the woods or culture.

Whatever the hangup, we must let it go. we cannot claim to be a legitimate follower of Christ and hang on to such short-sided, idiotic, bigoted pride and prejudice. We are called to be counter-cultural. We should be on the front lines reaching out to our gay neighbors, serve as a place of refuge for the outcasts, seek to share the love of Christ with those who this society has rejected.

We are called to be on the front lines defending the freedom of all people! Although it is biblicaly wrong: people have a freedom to live a life contrary to Scripture. The standards of Christianity are not for the unbeliever but for those who are being saved. Therefore, we must uphold a persons choice to live outside of those standards that govern our lives. God deals with each one according to their own ways.

We are all in need of forgiveness and God's grace. Those outside of a covenant relationship with god are free to live in their bondage and sin. Homosexuals are free to live as if they were married. I would say that it is worse for a christian to live in sin than it is for the homosexual outside of the covenant of grace. The Christian refusing to show mercy and grace toward the outsider is far worse than someone living in ignorance.

We as Christians ought to be the loudest proponents of religious liberty.

We are called to call the world to repentance yet how will we do that if we isolate ourselves from the?

 You say, "Unimaginable, unthinkable, there is no way on God's green earth that I would ever accept a gay, a Muslim  (fill in the blank) into my home, to eat at my table, to sit with my family." 

Scripture say: "Unimaginable, unthinkable, there is no way on God's green earth that I you could every not do that!" 

We all have to face those things that we are prejudice about at some point in our lives. Peter in Acts 9-10 had to overcome some major prejudice. He had to overcome cultural, ethical, religious, and racial prejudice. God asked him to rethink everything he had grown up believing. 

"He was religious indeed ---------------- religiously wrong!"

Myself I have had to walk down a road of encountering my prejudices and discovering how wrong I have been. I grew up in a small country town in the bible belt. Nearly everyone went to church on Sundays, work on Mondays-Friday, partied all weekend (I opted out of that scene) then showed up in church to repeat the process.

It was as country as country gets. Like most country towns, faith, family, and hunting is what made the town tick. If you weren't from around there everyone knew it. Unless you were part a family you were treated as an outcast, but once you became one of the locals you were treated like family and they would give you the shirt of your back.

The churches in my town were predominantly Pentecostal and Baptist. On Sunday afternoon, it only mattered who got to the restaurant on-time. Believe me, there were plenty to choose from. We attended one of the main Pentecostal churches in town. I grew up going to Sunday School, attending bible studies and youth meetings. I enjoyed the enthusiasm. After visiting some of the local Baptist churches I determined to never join a Baptist Church.

I was fairly prejudice against Baptists. I thought baptist were dry, boring, and believed in fire insurance. As the years went on I discovered numerous doctrinal areas I disagreed with within the Pentecostal circle. I found hope in the Baptist church. I found that the very thing that I was prejudice of was the very thing I needed. I found the doctrinal things I thought I disagreed with that I agreed more strongly than I knew.

As I left the bible belt, I discovered that outside of the "churchy" culture of the Midwest people think differently. They have the freedom to do so. I can't expect people who do not believe as I do to live as I do. I must see all people as fallen and in need of a Savior! I remember a conversation I had with  my wife, when we were dating, over my unwillingness to allow a guy I thought was gay to cut my hair. I had allot of excuses but no real reasons. I had strong prejudice against such a lifestyle because of the way I was raised. I was wrong. He did not know Christ as his Savior and the only message I was sending was that I was too good to share the same room as him.

Although the sin is wrong and such a lifestyle is incompatible with being a christian, we are called to show love to them. We are called to be a safe place for the weak, the hurting and a source of love of grace for the outcasts. It may make you uncomfortable but I challenge you to befriend someone who lives a lifestyle far from what you are comfortable with.

Peter befriended a centurion. A Roman official who could have arrested him and a gentile on top of that. Jews were not to associate with such people. Jesus made friends of tax-collectors, prostitutes, scumbags, and the diseased. What about you? Who your friends are speak of who you are. if you only surround yourself with like minded people you will become narrow minded and short-sided. Hard to help those who have no need. Hard to save those who are already saved.

Jesus said his mission was not to save the righteous but the sinner. That same mission applies to us, His followers! So lets make friend s of people who are needing Jesus!

A New Name; A New Mission Acts 9:26-31; 10:22-24

Kids understand that you need friends. Don't get too busy for fellowship.

            Barnabas was born as Joseph. He was later given the name Barnabas as a nickname which in time became his identity and what he was known by. He was a leader in the early church, a good man, full of the Spirit, and full of faith (Acts 10:24). He received the name Barnabas because of the type of man he was. Barnabas means “son of encouragement"  it was because of his gift at being a leader maker, an instrument of God to equip the saints and to encourage others in their faith that he received this name.

            One of the most remarkable things about Barnabas is his willingness to come to the defense of Saul (Later known as Paul). The aspect of Barnabas’ life and ministry we will focus upon is his obedience to the call of Christ to make disciples and/or Christian leaders.

What Is a Christian Leader?

Let's begin with a definition. What is a Christian leader? Broadly speaking, a person is more or less a Christian leader as that person exerts more or less Christian influence in Christian ways. Or to put it another way, to the degree that you shape others toward the image of Christ you are a Christian leader.

That's a very broad definition of Christian leadership, and should include every obedient Christian, because we should all be influencing someone to be more like Christ. But if we get more specific, what we usually mean by a good Christian leader is someone who is really good at influencing others toward Christlikeness. They have personal strengths that draw others into the sway of their influence and lead them to the ways of Christ.

There are people who oppose leadership wherever it begins to emerge. But if we had time, I would love to test the following claim by the Scriptures: Opposition to Christian leadership (or an anti-leadership mentality) is not born out of great vision, but out of little resentments. A church without strong leaders is not a democracy of giants. What the church needs worldwide is Spirit-filled, Bible-saturated, Christ-exalting, self-abasing, determined, persevering leaders who exert deep, broad, life-changing influence for Jesus Christ.

The Need For Leader-Makers

            The only way we will see a church full of godly leaders. Young adults, youth and older adults alike leading society in every way is if we have solid leader makers. The church is called to be on the forefront politically, socially, economically, and in every area of our society and community. We need Godly leaders in those areas. We also need Barnabas types who are holding their feet to the fire and their heads up high.

            Listen to what Charles Spurgeon said concerning the housekeeper at the school he attended as a teenager in Newmarket:

She lived strongly as well as fed strongly. Many a time we have gone over the covenant of grace together, and talked of the personal election of the saints, their union to Christ, their final perseverance and what vital godliness meant; and I do believe that I learnt more from her than I should have learned from any six doctors of divinity of the sort we have nowadays.

The church is not called to be complacent! We are called to be proactive in our faith and in the work of encouragement. Last week I challenged the church to pray for and reach out to those lost people in our lives. This week I will give you the benefit of the doubt, trusting that you took that challenge. Now I want add another challenge to that.

I challenge each follower of Christ to be a leader maker. We are all called to discipleship! Therefore, when was the last time you identified another Christian who was in need of encouragement and took steps to build them up?

I challenge you this week to identify another Christian brother or sister and invite them to lunch. Begin to build a relationship with them, encourage them in their walk, and build a friendship with them.

Everyone needs a Paul figure (a mentor), a Barnabas figure (a friend/encourager), and a Timothy figure (someone you are training). Can you identify those people in your life?

Are you being directly mentored by someone? Who? Are you being encouraged consistently from someone other than your spouse? Are you being a Barnabas for someone else? Who? Are you actively training up anyone in the faith? Who?