Paul III: Holy Boldness (and then some)

Acts 22:22-23:22

There is no one so dangerous as someone who has nothing to lose. By this time, that is true of Paul. In the last part of his ministry, Paul had two targets in mind, where he hoped he would leverage a great work for the kingdom of God: Jerusalem and Rome. When you read the book of Romans (chapters 9-11), you can see how grieved he was that the gospel did not take hold among the Jews. Thus he wanted a platform to share Christ, even if it would mean possible death. Eventually, he would appeal to the governor and then Caesar himself. There is no evidence that Paul had an audience with Caesar. If he could lead Caesar to Christ, possibly the whole world would catch the good news of Christ. That appeal to Caesar would cost him his life.

Notice the brilliance of Paul – a blend of the spiritual gift of wisdom (making the right moves and saying the right things at the right time) and Gamaliel-trained shrewdness. The scene in 22:22-29 must have brought memories, as Jewish radicals gathered to execute a Christian leader. He is now on the receiving end. Only an appeal to his Roman citizenship saves his life.

Notice the brashness of Paul, talking trash with his accusers! He did have a temper, didn’t he? Then he plays them off against each other over a discussion of the resurrection, which Pharisees believed in but Sadducees did not. Paul ends up having to be transferred to spare his life.

So much for spiritual giftedness leading to great success and personal fulfillment! But for Paul this is all part of God’s plan to win more people for the cause of Christ. He is obsessed with that goal and totally selfless about it. One of the signs of spirit-filled people is holy boldness, not for themselves but for Christ. How is your boldness?

Paul II: Saul and Paul

Acts 13:1-16:10

I have already mentioned that Saul was the Hebrew name of the great apostle. But he was also a Roman citizen, so he also was called Paul. As his ministry developed, it became more and more Gentile. With the name Paul, he would have a better audience for the gospel. From Acts 13:13 on, He will be called Paul. Notice the gift of prophecy in Paul. He speaks with great authority and the people listen and want to know more. But like most prophets in the scriptures, they are also controversial to some of their hearers. As part of their preaching in chapter 14, the also do miracles. The book of Acts links the preaching of God’s Word and signs and wonders together. How do we explain that there is still a lot of preaching, but not a lot of signs and wonders? Some have claimed that the signs and wonders were there to get the church launched and are not as necessary now. Others claim that the lack of signs and wonders is due to a lack of faith and spiritual power in the preachers or in the faith of Christian people in general. What do you think?

It is easy to read Acts and think of Paul’s ministry as “hit and run,” but the truth is that he spent considerable time in places and then circles back to see that they well still going okay once he left. Here we the gift of shepherding in Paul. I wouldn’t put it in his primary set of gifts, but he does shepherd from time to time.

In the end of chapter 15, we see that Barnabas and Paul part because of a disagreement over John Mark. Paul’s hard-edged accountability stands in contrast to the more conciliar style of Barnabas, whose name means “encouragement.” In them you see gifts that are certainly complementary, but also at times in conflict. This is one of the difficulties in spiritual gifts. Our differences are necessary and part of being the body of Christ. They also mean that they provide growing edges for us all. Differences don’t have to be divisive, but they will be that without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The split does allow for multiplication of ministry. One of the interesting stories of American Christianity is how the denominations grew through schism (more than 300 kinds of Baptists and 60 kinds of Methodists in the USA alone!). So from here on its Barnabas & Mark and Paul & Silas.

Chapter 16 introduces us to Timothy, his heir apparent in the preaching of the gospel. In verse 6, Paul gets a vision (knowledge) that he is now to take the gospel westward, when it was his desire to go back and lead a mass conversion in Jerusalem. This is just as dramatic as the dropping of the sheet was for Peter. Paul would discover his greatest ministry in the areas he never planned to go, in northern Greece and Asia minor (western Turkey). Again, we are confronted by the surprising agenda of the Spirit. I call it God “wild cards,” and you just never know when they are going to show up.

Paul I: From the Dark Side to the Light

Acts 7:54-8:3; 9:1-31; Ephesians 3:4b-11

We now come to the architect of the church and from whom we know most about spiritual gifts. In the first three readings, we will look at his life-events and how they reflect his spiritual giftedness. In the last three, we will learn from his letters. From doing this study, I am more convinced than ever that our spiritual gifts have been with us all along. Our walk with Christ then brings them to life, so that God can use us to bring others to Christ and to be part of transforming the world around us. Even our natural gifts, the ones we have been using all our lives take on a new impact when ignited by the Holy Spirit.

It is my growing conviction that the spiritual and natural gifts dichotomy is artificial. In my own life, my abilities as a musician and public speaker were already present, but a growing relationship with Christ has been an integral part of both the development, freedom and impact of those abilities. There have been other areas of giftedness that have emerged that were unrecognized before I met Christ or have developed in response to the needs for ministry that have been around me. My confident guess is that there are areas of giftedness I still have not tapped, either because my life in Christ has not yet uncovered them or because there hasn’t been the need for them. The question you might want to ask yourself is, “What areas of giftedness from God (both natural and spiritual) are dormant in you, waiting to be awakened with a growing relationship with Christ in response to a needy world (both outside and inside the Church)?”

When we meet Paul for the first time, he is called Saul (his Hebrew name). But his abilities as an adroit administrator and visionary leader are already present. He is leading the crusades to end the Jewish cult, called “The Way.” He does not do the stoning of Stephen, but he is the one who supervises it. He also is a very educated man (studying under the great Pharisaical scholar Gamaliel), filled with dormant wisdom. Yet, none of this is in service of Christ, but rather in service to the enemies of the Christian faith. The conversion of Saul marks the point where gifts once used for the Church’s destruction, become the major ones that were used for the Church’s construction.

The story of Saul’s conversion is well-known. I hope you will take time to read it slowly and out loud. There is also a problem with his conversion, in that people have made it a template for what an encounter with Christ should be like. Not everyone (in fact a scant few throughout history) gets blinded by a light and hears an audible voice from heaven. Furthermore, there is very little information about the rest of the people who were with him. After all, he was leading a crusade. Was this something they experienced along with him, or was this a vision that only he could hear and experience? Obviously, he was blinded and needed care, so those around him saw something. It is important that the great variety of encounters with Christ in scripture be told, so that we can encounter Christ in the way that He comes to us.

I would be remiss not to mention the wonderful gifts of Annanias – knowledge (from the vision of God), mercy, generosity, healing,faith and hospitality. The church owes him a great debt of gratitude for being willing to take the risk (with great convincing needed) of doing ministry with Paul. These lesser known people who stand in the gap for high profile disciples are the leverage points at which the kingdom spreads. Most of us will not have the experience or the impact of Saul/Paul, but each of us have the chance to stand in the gap where we can risk investment in people and watch God do amazing work. The risk is real. Not everyone is the success story of Saul/Paul. But without these unsung heroes, the sung heroes never emerge.

Peter VI - Outsiders and Insiders

Acts 15

This past weekend, I was asked by a car salesman, "What difference do denominations make? I understand the difference between Catholic and Protestant, but when I'm in different Protestant or non-denominational churches, there isn't a lot that's different in what they promote." I told him, "Most of the difference is history. They are movements that happened by God's Spirit at different times, but the message is mainly the same." In Acts 15, a rift develops between Pharisees who have become Christian converts and the Gentiles, on whether circumcision should be required of the Gentiles.

One of the difficult challenges for churches is, "Do we require those come to Christ be like us in our customs and practices?" One of the biggest missionary failures is found in Hawaii and the Polynesian parts of the world, because missionaries not only invited them to follow Christ but also our Western values and customs. The same challenge is hitting the southwest as anglo congregations are challenged to open up to younger and more diverse populations. Do we ask that they think, dress and worship "like us" or do we meet them where they are and have both groups discover something new? For instance, when I have us sing in Spanish in worship, there are those who debate saying, "Those people need to become like us. This is America." These people are sincere Christians, just as these former Pharisee Christians were in the controversy of Acts 15.

Notice Peter's role. He is showing visionary leadership, guiding the church into a new chapter of its life. He is also having to deal with Paul, a great blessing and a great challenge to the Jewish Church. Though Paul was a Pharisee himself, his transformation made him difficult to handle, because he was so confrontive with Pharisaical ways. I will say that his teachings on women still reflected a Pharisaical bent. In one church I served, I had former Mormons who converted. Who were they the toughest on? It was the belief of other Mormons. Peter and James in this passage are the two primary leaders of the Jerusalem Church. They have a difficult decision to make, that may even cause the new Pharisaical Christians to leave. Peter's position is clear, but it takes the confirming move of James to make room for Gentiles to follow Jesus. Notice the compromise given toward the Pharisee Christians in verses 19-21. After all, it is important that the leaders not look like anything goes, as long as you believe in Jesus. I love this passage. It reminds me that differences based on history, background, and perspective have always been and always will be part of being the Church.

Today, there are developing people who are Jewish who believe in Jesus but do not want to be labeled as Christians. The same is true of Buddhists. They are Jesus followers, but they wish for the distinctives of their own backgrounds to be honored and that they come to Jesus in their way. Gentiles did not want to become Christians in the way that the first Christians did - as Jews. They were simply Jesus followers. Here is the interesting question. How do we avoid being just a mix of religions - a pinch of Jesus here, a pinch of Mohammed there, a pinch of Buddha, too? Scholars call this kind of religion "syncretism." While we might not want that, we do want to honor the variety of ways the Holy Spirit meets people and not put God in a box. Our generation is seeing this challenge like none other in American history. How will the 21st century Church respond?

Peter V: Kosher or Non-Kosher?

Our passage of scripture takes us through more of the miracles of the apostles. Peter shows his gifts of healing, including a resurrection. But the encounter with Cornelius provides an interesting picture of what happens when you exercise your spiritual gifts. All along, Peter had seen himself as a missionary to the Jews only. It’s worth remembering that in the beginning the Church was a Jewish reform movement. Even its critics considered “the Way” as a Jewish cult. But there is a tendency throughout the Bible for the Spirit to break down barriers between people and take his people where they never expected to go. Have you already discovered that God has had you do things you never expected?

Peter experiences the gift of knowledge as in a vision a sheet drops in front of him that has a host of “unclean”, non-kosher animals. He here’s a voice say “take and eat.” Peter debates but the vision remains. He is then told he is to visit the home of a Roman centurion named Cornelius. What kind of foods do you suppose the servants of Cornelius would serve? Kosher, I don’t think so. Yet Cornelius was being spoken to by the Spirit that Peter was coming to his house to give him just what he was praying for. Isn’t it interesting how the Spirit prepares both sides for an encounter with God? When we offer our spiritual gifts, we are part of the work of Christ. In a very real sense, we don’t take Christ to anyone. We make obvious the Christ who is already there.

Peter follows the Lord’s instructions, despite a pretty strong protest. The people are more than receptive and the Holy Spirit falls on them, just as the Spirit fell on the apostles in Acts 2. One thing for sure, if we follow the ways of the Spirit, we will be stretched and we will watch God continually surprise us both with what he does and with who is responsive. Peter discovers that God is not just a Jewish God and that indeed the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ is for the whole world. I wonder what walls God will bring down around you as a person or around St. Luke’s as a congregation. I wonder what ways God is about to stretch us, so He can really go to work.

Peter IV: What A Difference a Day Makes!

Acts 2:14-40, 3:1-4:31

What a difference a day makes, well actually a whole lot more than that. What a difference a crucifixion, a resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit makes in Peter. We know from John’s gospel that Peter had decided that Jesus had given up on him and decided to go back to fishing. Often, at our points of failure, we think it’s all over. I’ve had those times in my own life. But God has this way of using our failures as the launch for greater opportunities of ministry.

In Acts 2, we have the first great sermon of the Church and Peter is the preacher. He who wouldn’t claim to be with Jesus just seven weeks earlier now can’t keep quiet about it. Yes, he serves a risen savior, so he is bolder. Yes, he has been recommissioned to be a follower of Jesus, even after failure. Yes, he is determined not to fail Christ again. But he now is filled with the Holy Spirit, the risen Christ within him, just as Christ by faith is in us. The Spirit of Christ is now portable and the disciples are able to carry out another prediction of Jesus found in John 14:12,

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

We see the gift of prophecy coming out in Peter as he boldly proclaims the Word of God with power and great effect.

I can’t help but see a parallel here between Peter and John and Charles Wesley (the founders of the Methodist movement). They had great hearts, learned minds and even, at great cost, sought to follow Christ. But it wasn’t until John Wesley had his “heartwarming experience,” his Pentecost, that things really came together. It, in a lesser way, is also true of my own life. There is a power that comes into our lives when following Jesus is not so much us attempting to do great things for God and instead letting the Spirit of God do great things through our open and yielded hearts and minds. It is my fervent prayer that the people called United Methodists will open anew to the power of the Spirit. Then our great theology, our dedication and sincerity of heart, and our connections to just about every part of society will take hold in a powerful and world-changing way. Would you describe yourself as pre-Pentecost or post-Pentecost?

In Acts 3, Peter and John offer gifts of healing and the working of miracles. In the feeding of the 5,000 the disciples wanted to send the people to get their needs met. In this passage, Peter and John give what they have to offer. They don’t have money to give the begging disabled man, but what they do give him is the ability not to need to beg anymore. I have seen this happen in a healing crusade in a healing line next to the one that I was in. A lady who had suffered the complications of polio was prayed for by some university students and her face began to glow. Then her flailing feet started to strengthen under her. Then she started walking and then she started jumping for joy. I’ll never forget it. Somebody or several somebodies in that groups of students shared the gift of healing and that woman was never the same again.

Peter preaches two more sermons. Notice how bold and confronting they are. Not everyone is glad to see the new Peter and John, courtesy of the Holy Spirit (especially religious leaders). Yet Acts 4:8 gives us the clue to it all,

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit spoke…”

When the power of God’s presence through the Spirit meets open hearts, minds and lives, powerful things happen, and sometimes you just never know when. Have a Spirit-filled day today.

Peter III: Denial 3x

I apologize for getting behind this weekend. Here is my catch-up commentary. Hope to be back on track tomorrow.

Matthew 26:31-75

Peter III: Denial 3x
In our study of Peter, one of the things to recognize the difference in him pre-Pentecost and post-Pentecost. From the beginning, Peter is a man of great daring, energy and heart. But his ability to follow Jesus is mixed, moments of great accomplishment and courage and moments of failure when Jesus needed him most. Pre-Pentecost, Peter is potentially a great disciple. Post-Pentecost, he becomes what many consider to be the first pope.

Verses 31-35 describe Jesus’ preparation of the disciples for what is soon to occur. All of them will fall away under the pressure. Peter with great heart and bravado, vows he would never fall away. Jesus tells him that not only will he fall away, but he will also deny that he ever knew Jesus. Peter restates his devotion and all the disciples join him in promising to stay by Jesus’ side.

In verses 36-46, Peter is one of the inner circle of disciples that are invited to go with Jesus to pray before he is arrested. Instead of staying in support, they fall asleep in fatigue. In verses 47-55, we have the description of Jesus’ arrest. The companion who cut of the soldier’s ear in verse 51 is identified as Peter in John 18:10. One of the fun things to notice in John’s gospel is the rivalry between James and John and Peter. In fact, you will notice that Peter, James, John and Judas seemed to be the ones vying for power among the disciples. So maybe power struggles in the church is not a new thing after all.

Peter fulfills Jesus’ prediction of his denial in verses 69-75. Three times he identified as a follower of Jesus and three times he denies it. The rooster crows and Peter realizes what he has just done. Peter’s denial and Judas’ betrayal are the two major failures during the trial of Jesus. Both had enormous personal charisma, ability and power. They were potential greats for the kingdom. One will realize his potential and regrettably, one will not. Beginning tomorrow, we will meet Peter post-Pentecost, when the gifts of the Spirit become fully operative in him. I look forward to studying that with you.

Peter II: The Proclaiming Devil

Matthew 16:1-4

I wonder if Jesus ever “tired” of all the drama that happened around him. In the gospel of John, the struggle between Jesus and the Sadducees and the Pharisees is a major item, but in Matthew the struggle really begins in earnest with this chapter. The opposition continues to harass Jesus, testing his teachings and using his miracle working power against him. I am reminded of the 4th chapter of Matthew and the temptation by the devil to make him a manipulative miracle worker. Herod made the same request of Jesus – that he do miracles at their command. He refuses to do so. To make sense of the “sign of Jonah” comment , we need to go back to Matthew 12:38-41, where the sign is that just as Jonah was 3 days in the belly of the great fish, so Jesus would be three days buried (implied: only to reappear!).

The gifts of the Spirit are tools of God to meet the needs of people and signs of God’s kingdom in the midst of the hurts and challenges of people, but they are not attention-getters or attempts to create popularity. The exercise of our gifts are to point people to a relationship with God, not as ends in themselves. This is why the miracle junkies had trouble with the later ministry of Jesus. They wanted more and more miracles, not more of his kingdom way of life or the sacrifices involved. I fear we are still that way with Jesus. We want the blessings of following Jesus, but not the cross we are called to carry along with him.

Matthew 16:5-12

Duh! The disciples are a bit ditzy here, don’t you think? Jesus uses “yeast” in his teachings in a couple different ways. First, in Matthew 13:33, he talks about yeast and its pervasive ability to spread. In Matthew 16, yeast is a picture of hypocrisy and impurity. I can just see Jesus shaking his head as they fail to get his point and hear the disciples go “oh…we understand now.”

Matthew 16:13-20

This is Peter’s historic confession of Jesus. Jesus, in light of the controversy that is beginning to emerge, invites them to consider who He is. First, Jesus asks, “How do people say I am?” And they respond with a variety: a resurrected John the Baptist or at least another one like him, a returning prophet like Elijah or Jeremiah or others. Then Jesus asks the most important question, both for the disciples and for us. “Who do you say that I am?” Peter says, “You aren’t just some forerunner or the return of the prophet. You’re it, you’re the Messiah, the Son of God.” He is exercising the gift of knowledge and speaking prophetically by the power of the Spirit. Jesus is moved by the boldness and heart of Peter’s response. Did this gift of knowledge happen in just that moment or was it a gradual dawning? One of the struggles we have is that when Jesus did a miracle the results were nearly immediate. Our gift can often take a little longer.

The binding and loosing part of this passage is often ignored, but to have the knowledge of Christ in our lives does have the power to be a binding and a blocker for people who wish to do evil and the power to liberate those who turn with open hearts and minds. It is also a power that enables us to be confident. I appreciated Barbara Lamberson asking in our fall session, “Which part of ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” do we not understand. We can share boldly. Leander Keck , in his book, The Church confident, says “the church can examine itself and look to change, but it must not whine.” We need to hear Jesus in the words of Barbara and Leander. We are on the winning side, not just for ourselves but especially for the world around us.

Matthew 16:21-28

Paul talked in I Corinthians 1:18 about “the foolishness of the cross.” Peter is highly offended that the Messiah of the world would start talking about his death as a victim of the religious establishment. Many think this same offense was behind the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. Why would the man who could cure blindness, leprosy, and raise the dead be the victim? So the great proclaimer of the Messiah in just moments becomes Satan. Everyone who preaches or teaches knows the experience. We are broken and fallen vessels, not just preachers but all of us. The gifts of God spirit are given through fallen and sinful people. That doesn’t excuses our sinfulness, but it does help us be humble as we share those gifts.

But Jesus is not done. The cross is not just for him, but for everyone who follows him. It’s impressive to see Olympic athletes give credit to God when they win. But winning in the eyes of the world is not the promise of God. We win by losing: losing personal agendas, losing opportunities and personal gain, losing our very lives. Jesus does promise abundant life, but it is not abundant in the way that the prosperity gospel preachers say. We find life in abundance (more than we ever thought possible) by giving ourselves away.

Simon Peter I: Water-Walking

Matthew 14:1-12

This reading centers on Matthew 14:22-36, but reading the entire chapter gives some perspective. Verses 1-12 tell about the gruesome beheading of John the Baptist. The idea that someone’s head would be brought out on a platter at a birthday party is more than a bit much. Jesus takes time away when he gets the news of his cousin’s death. John’s and Jesus’ relationship had become a little tense at times, partly because some of John’s disciples were becoming followers of Jesus and partly because Jesus was not fulfilling John’s expectations as Messiah. Still, Jesus and he had a special relationship and the grief would have been severe. How long has it been since you took some “down time” to rest and talk with God? Jesus need it, yet we act like we don’t. The rest of the chapter will show Jesus doing great miracles. As we study spiritual gifts, we need to make sure that we are nurturing our love relationship with God, for that’s where the power to share our gifts comes from.

Matthew 14:13-21

These verses tell the feeding of the 5,000 from Matthew’s point of view. The disciples want the crowd to be sent away so they can eat. But Jesus says, “You (with emphasis) give them something to eat.” Quite often, when we see needs around us, we tend to say “They need to do such and such” or “They need to go see whoever,” but Jesus wants the disciples to see that Jesus wants to us them to meet that need. Often the sharing of our natural and spiritual gifts with people right around us is what is needed more than anything else. Question: How is the Christ in you through the gifts of the Spirit, the answer to someone else’s prayers?

Matthew 14:22-36

In class, when you were asked to name the three actions of Jesus you most resonated with, this is one of the three I chose. The atmosphere in which this miracle takes place is utter terror. The Sea of Galilee, which was normally known for its calm, was bounded by mountains on all but the very south end, so the wind would enter and then turn the sea into a whirling death trap. The ghost they think they see is what was known then as the mysterium tremendum(the ghost that they believe showed up just before disaster and death). The ghost they think they see is actually Jesus (who we remember from Luther in our lesson, “was no ghost”), but they can’t see that at the time. Peter then asks to come to Jesus on the water. He is demonstrating the gift of faith. But notice what it looks like, presumption or the ultimate ego trip (“Look at me, I’m as good as Jesus” or “Look at me, none of the rest of you can do this’). We do need to examine our motives, because presumption and self-centeredness are always around. But don’t be surprised if people criticize you when you share the gift of faith. One of the criticisms we get at St. Luke’s is that we are not very “Methodist.” I laugh because we are better connected to the United Methodist Church as pastors and laity than we have been over the last 30 years. We are also creative, daring, and innovative in ministry as we reach out to people. For me there is nothing more Methodist or Christian than that.

Peter starts putting his spiritual gift of faith into practice, step by step in the turbulent waters around him. The impossible is becoming the possible. But then he becomes distracted by the waves. He takes his eyes off Jesus and it’s swim time. One of my favorite old hymns is “Love Lifted Me”, which is a commentary on this miracle.

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me, love lifted me
When nothing else could help, love lifted me
Love lifted me, love lifted me
When nothing else could help, love lifted me.

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves
He will lift you by his love, out of the angry waves
He's the Master of the sea, billows his will obey
He your Saviour wants to be, be saved today.

Peter cries out to Jesus to save him and Jesus does that. Not every effort in sharing our spiritual gifts will be successful or pure. Later, Peter’s record will improve.

The passage finishes with more of the miracles of Jesus. The miracles mentioned in verse 1 made Herod think that the beheaded John the Baptist had resurrected and came back as Jesus. Throughout this chapter, the focus is on Jesus. So it is with our spiritual gifts. Our gifts are given for the benefit of people for the glory of God. They are meant to make the love of Jesus Christ real. How is God doing that in and through you?

Mary and Martha: Dealing with Differing Gifts

Luke 10:38-42

In the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory, people take multiple choice surveys that self-measure whether one is Extroverted (motivated by the response of others) or Introverted (motivated primarily from within), iNtuitive (following hunches and atmosphere signals) or Sensing (using the info from the five senses), Thinking (cognition and logic) or Feeling (emotion and empathy), Perceiving (concerned more with process and how people are developing) or Judging (results, planning and structure-oriented). For instance, my profile is ENTP. My wife, Tina, is an INFJ. Did I marry my near-opposite or what? Martha seems to have more of Tina’s profile and Mary seems to be an ENFP (which at certain times can fit me). It will not surprise you to find out that there are many times when Tina and I do not see things alike, nor do we respond to situations and information the same. Our spiritual gifts are quite different as well. When we are at our best, God is able to use us in a complementary relationship that makes us more useful to Him than either one of us by ourselves. When we are not, well….

Luke 10:38-42 describes Martha and her sister Mary in conflict over Jesus’ visit. The question is how do we deal with these varied styles and the variety of spiritual gifts that tend to accompany them? In these verses Mary demonstrates servanthood, helping and managing leadership. Martha seems to lean more toward faith and mercy. But Mary would tell you that Martha’s main gifts are laziness and impropriety. Martha would tell you that Mary’s gifts are works righteousness and controlling people and situations. They really want to change each other to be like themselves. In some marriages, the couple succeeds and they become opposites again, each on the other’s side! The same problem happens in the church as we try to fashion other people and their walks with God in our image. In this situation, Jesus honors Mary’s choice, not because it is always the best, but because it was the best in that moment. At other times, like feeding a few thousand people, the situation would require a Martha and Mary would be just left aghast at such a crowd.

John 11:17-44

Notice again that Martha is named before Mary, either because she is the older sister or just the more dominant one. Martha (the take charge gal) is the first to approach Jesus,expressing great faith in Jesus and disappointment. After all, Mary, Martha, Lazarus and Jesus were friends who hung out together often. Mary’s angle seems to be more emotional and relational. After Lazarus is raised, it is friends of Mary who become followers of Jesus.

Now read John 12:1-10 with a new set of eyes. Mary has the gift of generosity, born out of her extraordinary devotion to Jesus. Whole volumes have been written about John 11 and many sermons and essays about John 12:1-10, but it is interesting to see Martha and Mary and how they responded to Jesus differently and shared their faith differently. How can we nurture our openness to the God-given variety that is in each of us? How can we encourage the full operation of the gifts of the Spirit among us, not just for the church but for the world?

Mary the Mother of Jesus II: The Wedding Planner

John 2:1-11

When seen from the vantage point of Mary, the miracle at the Wedding of Cana becomes an interesting read. We’ve already learned from the Luke passages (1:26-56, yesterday’s reading, and 2:41-52, the search for Jesus when he was lost from the family), that Mary is no softy. In this passage, Mary’s role is assertive, getting Jesus to help with the wine shortage and then telling those there to do whatever Jesus tells them. While it is a stretch to see spiritual gifts in this passage, it may be a worthwhile one. First, Mary does belief that her son is quite able to take care of the problem, again the gift of faith. In the musical, The Witness by Jimmy Owens, a production on the life of Peter, one of the songs sings for Mary, “Whatever he wants, do it.” It then invites the audience to be people who do whatever Christ wants. The Bible never presents Mary as timid, but instead confident, a woman of steady and resilient faith.

A further stretch is noticing how Mary connects those at the feast to deal with the problem. She’s a good delegator. When Jesus, at the feeding of the 5,000, had the people sit in groups of fifty to better aid in the food distribution, I wonder if he might have learned it from mom (the gift of administration?). It’s pure conjecture, but when we start to see Mary more as a daring and active participant than a passive victim of the gospels, she seems more like the woman that could survive a miraculous birth, the loss of a husband, the departure of her son to be a miraculous and controversial preacher continually on the move, and finally, the violent crucifixion of that son.

I have invited you to stretch and see spiritual giftedness in what, aside from the miracles that were present in each one, were normal events that happen to people - pregnancy and wedding problems. God was supernaturally using Mary in the normal events of her life. How might God be doing the same for you? The more I study them, the more I realize that spiritual gifts are not spooky, but rather amazingly practical.

Mary the Mother of Jesus I: The Gutsy Prophet

Luke 1:26-56

Our passive and almost angelic depictions of Mary in art, music and movies make it difficult to look at her spiritual gifts. It’s as if everything happens to Mary (the virgin Birth, the birth in Bethlehem, the exile in Egypt and return to Nazareth, the death of her husband and her oldest son), and she has little to say if anything. But the closer I read the New Testament, the more dynamic and strong I find her to be.

This passage points to two spiritual gifts in Mary. The first is faith. I am not saying that she had great faith naturally. I am saying that the Holy Spirit gave her the gift of faith that allowed her to say in verse 38,

“I am the Lord’s servant. May it be as you have said.”

The Holy Spirit helped her believe the unbelievable. It is good to draw the distinction here between the gift of faith and the faith that is the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. As we grow in the love of Christ, our faith deepens and broadens. The fruit of the Spirit is developmental – the building of our Christian character. The gift of faith is given to meet a need in ministry at the time. Such is the case here with Mary.

The second gift is prophecy. “The Magnificat” which is found in verses 46-55 is a powerful presentation of the Word of God through her. It is consistent with the message of the prophets in the Old Testament – the story of God’s great reversal where the humble are exalted and the high and mighty are brought low.

There is a bonus spiritual gift in this passage, the gift of knowledge that is given by Elizabeth in verses 42-45. Having the confirmation of others (as Mary had with Elizabeth) is part of the discernment process we have in figuring out God’s plan for us. Sometimes the confirmation is through the way God blesses people as we share of ourselves. Other times it is because others bear witness that what we are feeling is true.

Sweet little Mary, meek and mild. I’m not sure she ever existed, any more than I think that of gentle Jesus who held lambs all the time. Mary is daring and gutsy. We’ll see more of that in tomorrow’s reading.

Nehemiah III: Thanksgiving and Celebration

Commentator for Nehemiah is Rev. Matt Wolfington.

One of the important aspects of Nehemiah’s view of the wall around Jerusalem is the fact he did not separate the secular (the building of the wall) from the sacred (worship of God). It was natural and appropriate to call a special worship service at the completion of the wall-building project that God had guided and protected. Thanksgiving and celebration were expressed through sacrifice. Although the type of sacrifice is different in what we experience now from the New Testament worship, sacrifice is still important. If we love God, we must give ourselves and our stuff to Him. We should not be ashamed to be heard when we praise God. “God had given them great joy” is the climax of the work of both Ezra and Nehemiah.

Chapter 13 is a bit anticlimactic after such a great recounting of the work down through Nehemiah and the people. However, chapter 13 teaches the need for ongoing efforts to conserve revival. The church is famous for remembering revivals and not repeating them over the years. One of our most important missions in the faith is to prepare others to take our place and carry on what we started. One wonders if Nehemiah had not prepared other strong leaders. Why did his reforms lapse when he was absent? A strong leader is often needed to restore order. God’s people responded when godly leadership put things in order. Verse 13 shows how Nehemiah put persons who “were considered trustworthy” in responsible positions. I started our sectionof Nehemiah talking about his integrity. Part of the work of continuing revival is that of putting people of integrity in leadership positions. 13:14 As a man of prayer, Nehemiah committed to God what he had “so faithfully done.” Nehemiah is a good example of someone who personified faithfully.

Finally, I want to mention Nehemiah’s concerns and observations. The prophets recognized that when the people became careless about the Sabbath, it was an indication of their indifference to God’s will in other areas of life as well. Nehemiah mentioned everyday chores that could be done other days; doing them on the Sabbath deprived that day of its special value. Nehemiah had the courage to go against the tide and rebuke even the leaders for their laxity.

13:18 - Nehemiah pointed out that the downfall of Jerusalem and the captivity were a result of this same carelessness about obeying God’s standards. We, as Christians, differ on our understanding of our responsibility toward the scriptural emphasis on keeping the Sabbath. I encourage you to seek God’s heart on this matter and ask yourself why we obey some commandments and not others.

Nehemiah II: Leadership and Integrity

Commentator for Nehemiah is Rev. Matt Wolfington. He did a Nehemiah study as part of his seminary training at Asbury. It seemed only appropriate for us to gain from his learning. Thanks, Matt.

Leadership requires the ability to work with many groups and personalities. In the midst of working, you must cast a vision for them to follow. For me, the most important aspect of leadership is integrity. The best vision, best interpersonal skills, best executable plans, cannot serve as a substitute for integrity. Nehemiah had it all.

In our reading today, we see that Nehemiah made sure that the internal health of the band of people was good so they could survive the external forces that were unhealthy. In order to support the community, Nehemiah placed their welfare above his own. Nehemiah was showing the people his own integrity but also raising the bar for the future way a living for everyone else. He made the nobles, officials, priests and the people all follow the same standard of integrity. No one was above or below the other. Even after Nehemiah was appointed as governor, neither he nor his brothers lived like upper class government officials. We know for about 13 years he did not even eat the food that was retained for him as governor. Notice how Nehemiah lived his life:

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)

Nehemiah also displays wisdom in rejecting the offers of Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem. He knew it would never work because the people would reject them. They had no claim or stake in the effort and, by the way, they really wanted to kill him. Nehemiah was really making a bold statement here that could be easily missed: God’s children are different and must be on guard and not infiltrated and allow the world to change them.

I will end with this: The first portion of our reading, the people existed for the purpose of the walls. Now, the walls are complete and the walls exist for the people. A city is not just buildings, but rather people. Once the project was complete, how do you live as a community and function in the enjoyment of the accomplishment? Nehemiah established citizenship in the community and encouraged confession and worship as well. Hmmm….sounds like the current story of St. Luke’s Lubbock!

Nehemiah I: Leader of Leaders

Matt Wolfington is the commenator for our three days with Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 1-4

I would enjoy having Nehemiah’s capabilities, talents, knowledge and wisdom. Nehemiah was a model of leadership. He was tasked by God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, which had been destroyed some century and a half before. Guess how he started? Prayer. Last night in class we discussed the characteristics that are inside of us are often a gift from God. We learn that prayer seemed to be a habit for Nehemiah. He knew he had a God-sized task before him and so he turned to, none other than, God. Nehemiah knew how to TALK to God and how to HEAR from God. Pay close attention to his prayer because we will see it again and again. To remember this form, just remember A.C.T.S. He Adores God. He Confesses his sin. He gives Thanks to God. He employs Supplication (lays down the needs). He humbles himself, knowing he is not sufficient and he is persistent!

Nehemiah experienced lots of problems with his own leader, the King. How did he deal with it, and keep the people motivated beneath the oppressive rule? 1) Loyalty. Genuine Loyalty: “May the king live forever!” 2) Tact. 3) Honesty 4) Prayer 5) Planning 6) Dependence upon God. Nehemiah knew how to cast a vision among the people and pull at their heart. He was sincere, however. He knew that if called upon their inner strength, they would be wise to help. If he just used external forces, nothing but rebellion would meet him. Nehemiah related to the people. He took time to be among them. He challenged them, but did not taunt them. He gained their confidence. He kept them informed and incorporated them in to the success. Look at all the people that worked on the project. Everyone!

Even when opposition abounded, Nehemiah was there. He never left the people to fight alone: Nehemiah 4:23 “Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.”

Esther III: A Feast to Remember

Esther 9-10

The violence in chapter 9 is a little disarming. The Jews are spared by the king’s edict, but then they turn and take vengeance on those who were plotting against them. They do so with the cooperation of the Persian leadership. One of the differences of the Persian occupation compared to that of the Assyrians and the Babylonians is that the subjects were allowed to be self-governing as long as they were cooperative. Chapter 9, verse 10 says that they did not take any of the possessions of the people they killed. This seems to be for Jewish purity reasons.

The total recorded dead from these counter-attacks was 75,800+. Obviously, the effort by Haman was to eventually exterminate all the Jews in the Persian empire. This was when Persia was at its greatest expansion, a geographically huge area. There seems to be some things in the story that we don’t know. For instance, did the reversal of the edict happen only after many Jews has been killed? If so, the massive slaughter of the enemies of the Jews may be have been either in vengeance or in protection from future attacks. But what if the pent up anger from years of subjugation got loose and they simply got carried away? In the history of the Crusades, the Muslims attacked some Christians. In response, under the directive of a pope, thousands of Muslims were massacred with their bodies left out in public for everyone to see. What a blend of faith and nationalism, something we all live with as USAmericans. It can be good when we celebrate with scouts their "God and country" efforts. It can be evil when religious faith and even God's chosing of us as license to murder and destroy. When we sing “God Bless America” to express our repentance and our need for God's presence or are we singing that we want God to bless us and what we already do, as in, “Bless us more than those other countries?”

Chapter 9:18-32 describes the institution of the Feast of Purim. Notice that the name of the feast is taken from the casting of the lots to see which Jews would be destroyed (“the pur”). A final epilogue concludes the book of Esther. I must admit, this is the closest reading of Esther I have done. It certainly doesn’t lack for drama and intrigue.

Esther II: Haman's Noose

After a very busy Tuesday, this comes as a late arrival.

Esther 5-8

There is a holy boldness about Esther that is amazing. Her style is to be vary submissive and careful, but what she says and does is wise and direct. I love the language of Hebrew story, especially it’s repeated phrases. Three times, the king offers Esther up to half his kingdom. It’s interesting to trace where power is in the story. Haman thinks he has it and revels in it, setting up the demise of Mordecai. The love chapter says that “love does not vaunteth itself up” (King James Version), what we would translate as “love does not get puffed up.” Haman is a self-vaunting leader, to the point of his own self-deception. In chapter 6, Haman does this comical soliloquy of how the king should treat the one he delights to honor (thinking it was himself, when it was really Mordecai). The king does for Mordecai exactly what Haman had designed for himself (and the king is totally unaware of the irony he has done). The reversal is complete as Mordecai is given Haman’s designed honor, and Haman hanged on the gallows that were to be Mordecai’s demise. Mordecai even wears the kings signet ring which had been returned to him when Haman was hanged. And most important of all, Mordecai signs the edict which reverses the extermination directive that Haman had set up.

While there is not a lot here about spiritual gifts, it has everything to do with God’s call and how He works with those who are faithful and open to Him. Will we choose to exercise our gifts from a point of self-exaltation (Haman) or choose to wait on God’s time when we lifts us up (Mordecai and Esther).

Esther I - "For Such a Time as This"

Esther 1-4

For the next three days, you will be reading the story of Esther. While there have been other female leaders in the Bible (egs. Miriam the sister of Moses and Deborah the prophetess in the time of the Judges) and another with a book named after her (Ruth), Esther raises some unique leadership issues and thoughts about spiritual gifts. But what a story. It’s like reading the latest episode of the latest reality TV show or soap opera. For that reason, along with its lack of references to God,many throughout Jewish and Christian history wonder why it is in the Bible at all. Had it not been connected to an annual feast of the Jewish faith (Purim), it might not have made it. The festival of Purim will be held this year from sundown, February 27th to sundown March 1st (the date varies from year to year). During those days, devout Jews will do the following:

1. Listen to the public reading, usually in synagogue, of the Book of Esther in the evening and again in the following morning (k'riat megilla)
2. Sending food gifts to friends (mishloach manot)
3. Giving charity to the poor (matanot la'evyonim)
4. Eating a festive meal (se`udah)

Chapter 1 – “Power Issues”
George H. Bush, our 41st president, spoke to a group in El Paso and said, “Just after I became president, I was sharing with Barbara what a great opportunity it was to be the ruler of the free world and what I hoped to accomplish.” She said, “Oh, ruler of the world, pour the coffee!” The power and presumption of King Xerxes is nearly laughable. In American culture, we know exactly why Queen Vashti wouldn’t be lorded over by a drunk in public. What’s even more absurd is the conversations of his assistants who are afraid that Vashti’s lack of cooperation would set off an epidemic among all the wives of the leaders – “There will be no end of disrespect and discord.” (Esther 1:18) The deposing of Vashti was to have the following goal, “All the women will respect their husbands from the least to the greatest.” (1:20) Isn’t it interesting how people with power and responsibility tend to globalize? I’ve seen it in more than a few church meetings.

Chapter 2 – “The Search for a Queen”
It is hard for us to understand such a different world, in which a king gathers the most beautiful women into his harem in hopes of finding a new wife (each getting new wardrobes and “beauty treatments”). Much like Moses the Jew ended up being raised in the palace of Pharaoh, Esther ends up as one of the beautiful ones chosen for the harem and brought to the Persian palace. So Esther the Jew (her ethnicity unknown to the king) became Vashti’s replacement as queen.

It just so happens that “father” Mordecai (who had taken in Esther as his daughter because of the death of her parents) gains favor of the king, by exposing the plot to assassinate the king.

Chapter 3 – “Haman’s Plot”
Those of us with a sense of history see this plot as a pattern of history – the attempt to kill the babies by Pharaoh, the subjugation and massacre of those in the kingdoms of Israel by the Assyrians and Babylonians, the massacre by Herod in Matthew 2, and right up to the Hitler concentration camps and plans for extermination by Mideast rivals even today. The same advisors who called for the disposition of Vashti, now with Haman’s leadership call for the extermination of the Jews. I can’t help but see here what happens when groups gather and create what Reinhold Niebuhr called “collective egoism”, a group selfishness and distortion that allows for dehumanization and even destruction of those who are different or are perceived as a threat. The sin of a group is often more than the sum of the sinfulness of the individuals involved. If you have ever been a part of a group that ended up doing more harm than you thought they would, you understand this dynamic. The contemporary example is when crowds riot, but there are many other situations that carry out the sin of collective egoism. This one, too, has wounded and destroyed churches by the thousands.

This bring up a leadership issue. King Xerxes does not seem to show the gift of discernment, nor has he sufficiently seen the corruption in the motives of his advisors. Very sincere people can do great damage with misdirected passion and misinformation. Haman, is the classic example of this, as we will see later.

Chapter 4 – “The Times of Our Lives”
Just as Moses had been planted in the palace to deliver the Jews from bondage, now in what seems to be very impure processes, Esther has been planted to spare her people from extinction. Let’s reflect a moment on the plan of God in the ordinary and even “impure” circumstances and decisions of our lives. The Old Testament never apologizes for God being able to use the deceit of the patriarchs in Genesis and there is no apology here, either. I was taught a long time ago that God uses us for His purposes, sometimes working with and in us and sometimes working in spite of us. If we’re honest, we know that to be true for us all.

But Esther is also learning about “time.” Most of us think of chronological time: days, weeks, months, years, hours, minutes. But there is another time, what the bible calls “Kairos”, in which things come together and God moves. It is more about timing than time. Each of our lives have chronological and kairos moments. Esther was in place “for such a time as this.” But even Mordecai qualifies that with “who knows”, “perhaps” or “maybe.” In the present, it can be very hard to assess timing. Is it the right time to do such and such? Are the people ready? Is the funding there? Do I feel the sense of God’s Spirit in it?

The gift of faith shows up in Esther in the end of chapter 4. She sees what is before her and calls for a three day fast and then she would approach the king. She then says, “If I perish, I perish.” She lives at the whim of the king, so the risk is real. This reminds me of the commitment of Jesus when it says, “He set his face to Jerusalem,” knowing the crucifixion was going to be the likely if not certain result. Paul would do the same thing later. Faith, at least at times, means living at the edge of risk. The gift of faith from the Spirit is often what gives us that confidence. But I have a question for you.

How do we know the difference between bold risky faith as a gift of the Spirit and mindless presumption?

I welcome your comments.

Elisha II: Chariots of Fire

II Kings 5-7

In Elisha, we definitely have the gift of miracles. He is even more prolific with them than his mentor (the healing of the water in 2:19-22; the miraculous provision of water in 3:15-19; multiplying oil in 4:1-7; the resurrection of the Shunammite’s son in 4:8-37; the cleansing of the toxic stew in 4:38-41; the multiplying of food in 4:42-44; the healing of Naaman in 5:1-27; the floating axhead in 6:1-7. There are two negative miracles in Elisha’s ministry – the commanding of the bears to maul the youth for calling him names in II Kings 2:23-25 and the blinding of the Arameans in 6:8ff).

Two stories stand out in this reading. The first is the healing of Naaman in chapter 5. Naaman had to learn to accept God’s healing on the prophet’s terms and not his own. Healing does happen in a variety of ways. We also are able to share the gift of healing in a variety of ways. Perhaps, if we had a larger perspective about what healing is, we would see the gift in greater operation. Some heal in an instant, while others are involved in healing people, relationships, situations, and organizations over months, years and even decades of time. Some people have connected St. Luke’s as a whole to the gift of healing. How do you see evidence of that? Poor old Gehazi. He wanted a cut of the action and thought Namaan had gotten off too easily. Why are we afraid to be merciful? Gehazi ended up being sick without the healing.

The second story is one that can get past us easily. In chapter 6, when the armies of the Arameans had surrounded the Israelites with their horses and chariots, the prophet exercises the gift of faith and encourages his servant. Elisha prays that the servant will truly see that with God they have the advantage. What does he see but horses and chariots of fire? Where have we had that image before? So the servant is enabled to really see, while the Arameans are blinded. John wrote in his first letter, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” Isn’t it easy to forget to factor in God when we feel overwhelmed? We’ve all been there. I have said it before from the pulpit and I still believe it, “Faith can and often does create its own reality.” Unfortunately so does skepticism.

Elijah II/Elisha I: The Mentor Prophet

I Kings 19:19-21, II Kings 2:1-18 (note passage change, not that I Kings 21 isn't a riveting story!)

“The Christian faith is always one generation from extinction.” One of the stories of ancient Judaism is of the Essenes, a sect that believed that the Messiah would come in their generation and usher in a new day. They chose not to marry or have children. Some of the finest of the Old Testament manuscripts were preserved by them, but the Essenes went extinct. The spiritual gift highlighted in this passage is Nurturing Leadership.

In Elijah’s day, prophets, much like the Buddhist faith of today, had schools of disciples who became prophets in the style of their mentor. One of the reasons that the book of Isaiah covers more than 230 years of history, is because the first 39 chapters were written by him, and the other 27 were written by his disciples. The writing is varied enough, that they might have been written by a spiritual son and grandson! This set of readings from I and II Kings tells the story of Elijah passing on the mantle of spiritual power and leadership to Elisha.

Elisha has a special request of Elijah. “Give me a double portion of your Spirit.” This has often been misunderstood as meaning he wanted twice of much of God’s anointing and spiritual power as Elijah had. But what he is asking is to be the recognized heir of Elijah’s ministry. If a man had two sons, he would leave his property in thirds, with two-thirds going to the eldest and one-third going to the youngest (the whole issue between Jacob and Esau earlier). The eldest was the executor of the estate and got “the double portion.” Elijah agrees. Elisha follows Elijah everywhere, for he doesn’t want the double portion to go to someone else. The symbol of his anointing is Elijah’s old hairy coat (a nice parallel to the eccentric outfit of John the Baptist in the gospels).

When Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind in a chariot of fire (a reminder of Enoch) with no burial place (a reminder of Moses), Elisha is left with nothing but the mantle of his mentor. II Kings 2 vividly tells the story as he now claims the Spirit of God for himself. Even though we mentor faith to the next generation, they must experience it for themselves. I fear that many church people are trying to live off of the anointing that was on their parents and grandparents. It never works. There is no such thing as “second-hand” faith. The other prophets recognize the Spirit in Elisha as he becomes the true heir.

Who has been your spiritual mentor or mentors? I wouldn’t be here today without mine. How has the power and presence of God become personally real for you – your first-hand experience of faith? How are you passing your faith along? It’s like evangelism. We are all called to nurture the next generation, but there are some for whom this is a special passion and gift. I have seen it demonstrated in several of our class members already.

Elijah I: Dueling Dieties - No Contest!

I Kings 17:1-19:18

Elijah is a key character in both the Old and New Testaments. John the Baptist was seen as one who came “in the Spirit of Elijah,” both in his eccentric ways of dressing, speaking and acting and as a forerunner of the Messiah. Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). Elijah’s name literally means “My God is the Lord” (Eli is “My God” and “Jah” is short for Yahweh). The three spiritual gifts highlighted by his ministry are prophecy, healing and miracles.

Prophecy, as we discussed in class, is not primarily about predicting the future, more forth-telling (speaking the word of the Lord to people) than foretelling. As you can see, Elijah does do a little foretelling (the prediction of the famine and its end) but he mainly is one who declares the Lordship of God at a time when the people and leadership had strayed. I Kings 16:29-35 tells the corruption of the leadership and the following after Ba'al, the result of King Ahab taking a foreigner as his wife. Elijah’s ministry takes place in the northern kingdom, with the capital city of Samaria.

Chapter 17 tells of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. The backdrop for this is a long-lasting famine. For awhile, Elijah is fed by ravens twice a day and drinks from a brook, until the famine finished off the brook. While at the woman’s house, her provision of food for Elijah, what she thought was the last meal for her and her son, enables her to have food for the rest of the famine (a miracle). Her second blessing was the resurrection of her son (a healing). For me, it is important to note that these signs of God through Elijah point to things that happen to us all when we open up to God’s work in our lives and put our faith to work. We give and it comes back several times over, not just in quantity but in quality of life. And our relationship with God does bring life where there was death, if not physically, certainly spiritually, relationally and so many ways.

I Kings 18:16 ff tells the epic story of Elijah vs. the 450 prophets of Ba’al. Ba’al (meaning “lord” or “master”) was a Syrian storm god, but like many of the Hindu deities, each community would have its own version of a Ba’al or Baalim (the plural). The contest is to find which God is really “Lord” and which is the imposter. The dancing and cutting was typical of the frenzy that was part of the cult practices of the nations surrounding Israel. We see here some of the atmosphere of what might have been happening around the Golden Calf in Exodus (without the sexual orgy that happened there). Elijah is quite the trash talker for being one against 450. Is this just arrogance or is it the spiritual gift of faith?

In verse 30, Elijah makes a most prophetic move. He gathers twelve stones to repair the altar and reminds the people of who and whose they really are. “You are Israel.” Then he prepares the sacrifice and for extra measure, invites the people present for this spiritual duel to pour water on the sacrifice three times. The prophets of Ba’al could not bring down fire on a dried out sacrifice, so how could it happen with one that was soaked? But, in answer to Elijah’s prayer, God does send fire that consumes the soaked sacrifice and all the water around it. The people immediately start crying out “The Lord, he is God”, which would have sounded like Elijah’s name in reverse, “Jah-Eli.” The crowd seizes the 450 prophets and kills them at Elijah’s command.

Chapter 18, verses 41-46, describes another miracle, the outrunning of the horse drawn chariots by Elijah. Running with the wind and fresh off a huge victory on Mt. Carmel, you would think Elijah would be higher than a kite. But chapter 19 shows the threat of Jezebel reducing him to severe depression. We have all experienced letdown, and this is surely what happened to Elijah. More than that, the writer of I Kings wants us to know that Elijah has clay feet just like everybody else. He is whiney, self-absorbed and doubtful. The miraculous, healing and prophetic powers of Elijah are God’s work through him.

The Lord’s appearance to Elijah in 19:9-18 is one that needs to be read regularly. In the midst of his great pity fiesta (what my friend Eddie Rivera calls it), God does an object lesson of his own. He sends a powerful wind, but God is not in the wind. Then God sends an earthquake, but God is not in that either. He even sends fire (the miracle sent with the prophets of Ba’al), but God is not there. God ends up present in a whisper. For those of us, who are addicted to noise and spectacle, to instant and dramatic results at our command, this is a wonderful corrective. Is Elijah following God for the show and the big impression he can make before the crowd, or is he following God in the quiet when nobody else is watching? Then to further deal with Elijah’s self-centeredness, God tells him that he has 7,000 other prophets that haven’t bowed the knee. In other words, “Elijah, this is bigger than you are and it’s not just all about you. Party’s over!”

Moses VIII: The End of An Era

Thanks to Rev. Matt Wolfington for his commentary on Moses.

The song of Moses has 4 sections and pretty much tells the story from exodus to the current biblical time:

32:1-4 God's Character
32:5-14 God’s kindness to His people
32:15-25 God’s faithfulness to correct His people
32:26-43 God’s wrath against His adversaries

Moses is hoping to remind them of God’s greatness and therefore they will not turn from him. He reminds them of their ways (once again) and how God has continually redeemed them. Moses is telling the people to pass along the story and the wisdom of their learning so no one will ever forget the greatness of God. Moses reminds them that because they are God’s children, he corrects them. Moses shows that God ultimately redeems the people by destroying enemies. But while the Song of Moses is a great lesson in history and divinity, his final words to the people are full of grace. I think what sticks out for me is the constant calling of Moses’ forthcoming death and the fact that he could not enter the promised land. I asked yesterday if the punishment was greater than the sinful offense committed by Moses? Moses in his own words remembered the greatest moment of his life was when he was with God on Mt Sinai. Yet, he sinned against God and God punished him. Did God forgive him? Certainly, He did. However, there are still consequences and accountability of our sins, even in forgiveness. That’s God’s way.

Mt. Nebo is only about 6 miles from what we think is the border of the Promised Land. Moses could see it, literally, and God made it to where he could see all of it. However, he died on that mountain. Think about this though: Matthew 17:1-3 and Luke 9:28-31 tell us that Moses, along with Elijah, appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. It also says they were talking with Jesus about “his departure.” Some translations state they were talking about “his decease,” or in other words, the exodus of Jesus on the cross at Mount Calvary. Moses did finally make it to the Holy and Promised Land and I would say that he had much to offer in a conversation about an exodus.

Moses VII: What?! No Promised Land? (Tuesday's Reading)

Commentator is Rev. Matt Wolfington.

Moses is getting some help here. His gift of Administration is coming forth again. These priests are now the door keepers of God's house. Normally, this would have fallen to the descendants (sons) of Aaron. They died when they disobeyed God, so God is redeeming here once again.

Chapter 20 – Ah, the people of Israel are thirsty, again, and wish they were dead, again! Moses is in the same position of going before God to ask for relief, and now Aaron is with him. After all this time, the people are still questioning God. But, wait; something happens here. God tells Moses to command to the rock (in other words: talk to the rock) to yield water. What does Moses do? At first glance, the obvious is that Moses “struck the rock twice with his staff,” instead of giving it a verbal “command” to bring forth water. Also, Moses did something he had not done before: he took credit for the miracle for himself and Aaron by saying, “Listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” (My emphasis added) The water flowed, but God punished Moses and Aaron by saying they did not trust in Him, therefore they would not lead the people of Israel into the promised land. Rather harsh, wouldn’t you say? I mean afterall, Moses had been the voice of God for decades. Moses had been frighteningly obedient for decades. He stood up to Pharaoh and found himself before God himself numerous times. One little slip of words, mere semantics, and God punishes him? Or was it more about Moses’ heart? Suddenly, we see the same Moses speak here as the one who killed the Egyptian in his youth and run for the desert. God is constantly upset that the people have not transformed. Was Moses transformed?

Moses VI: That Nasty Golden Calf Incident (Monday's Reading)

Commentary by Rev. Matt Wolfington.

(Sorry, folks. Monday is my Sabbath.)
Question, to which there is no common answer: Can your prayers, supplications, cries, etc…change the mind of God? Hmmm….

Chapter 32 is a recollection of the people breaking their covenant with God. Chapter 34 is a recollection of the covenant’s restoration. The the tablets are smashed in chapter 32, but then restored in chapter 34. Chapter 32 shows disobedience to God by the people; chapter 33 highlights the presence of God and then chapter 34….God’s forgiveness. Sounds like my life! How about yours?

Moses is away from the people of Israel only a little while (maximum total of 40 days and nights) and they begin to lose sight of their faith and forget what God has done for them and how He has shown Himself to them. Even Aaron (granted, in the face of an angry mob) caves in. They break their covenant with God and break at least the first 3 of the new commandments they have been given! The worship of an idol has led them to other sins. I would say that spiritual amnesia has set in (I always say it just takes me about 24 hours to forget the movement of God even in my own life). Rebellion takes place. Overall, I would say that this is the resilient nature of sin in our humanness.

I studied this passage a while back at Asbury and remember this question: “Does a Holy God have a right to be jealous?” The answer is, “Yes.” 1) He redeemed them and divine terms were agreed upon. 2) Jealousy is appropriate when it protects a proper relationship. Finally, Moses break the tablets, which is symbolic of the people breaking the covenant.

Moses shoes his ability to care for the people, his own gifts of mercy, wisdom, faith, knowing, miracles, and discernment by negotiating a redeemed relationship between God and the people of Israel. God redeems the people, with Moses as the mediator between the two. This redeemed covenant has two distinct differences from the first covenant: 1) God (Yahweh) makes a character assessment of himself: patient, loving, faithful and just (34:6-7). After all, He did forgive direct sin against Him when the people repented. Secondly, Moses’ role as the mediator is greatly revealed. He did have a glowing face, did he not?

Deuteronomy reading: The whole scenario is offered as a reminder to the people of Israel to persuade them to turn away from their self-righteousness and sinfulness. It shows that intercession (Moses), repentance and forgiveness are the covenant of love. The reminder of the golden calf incident is not about the idol itself, but the revealing mercy and love of God. The defining moment here is the idea that loving God is about fear, respect, and obedience. I would say it in the way that our faith is supposed to be from within us and works out in the world.