7/15/13- The Unification of the Spirit

But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17)

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; (Ephesians 4;4)

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (Philippians 2:2)

Thoughts: Every indication is that ideally the Holy Spirit is supposed to bring oneness to true believers.  But historically this has not necessarily happened.  The charismatic movement of the 1970s did not bolster unity.  It had the effect of two kinds of Christians- those who had the "baptism" of the spirit and those who did not.  The Pentecostal movement also brought a judgment on the church, but division,  One Pentecostal layman told me that I was not a Christian because I did not speak in tongues.  Yet the Spirit of Christ is in all those who believe in Christ.  When we get to heaven there will not be two rooms- one for the Pentecostal and another for those who were not Pentecostal.  The same Spirit is in all those around the throne of heaven.  It not only makes Paul happy (Phil. 2:2) when believers are like minded- it also makes Christ happy (John 17). 

Prayer: Spirit, unite me to yourself, and unite me to others.  

7/14/13- The Listening Church

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21)

3 He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; (Ezekiel 2:3-8) 

Thoughts: The first task of the Church is to listen.  Before even belief comes, regeneration- the call of the Spirit raising us to life comes. So our first response to God is to listen.  He spoke and said, "Let there be... and there was."  The scriptures from beginning to end are about responding to the Creator's Call.
     When we think our responsibility is to judge God and to speak to Him- we are making ourselves to be the center of the universe.
     The other part of listening- is not just hearing, but heeding. It is perhaps worse to hear but not heed.  Jesus accused the people of his day of ever hearing but not hearing- having ears to hear but not hearing.  To not listen- or to purposefully disobey what God has said in His Word is to rebel against Him, and forfeits His blessing.  

Prayer: Give me, Lord, not just ears to hear, but a heart to respond.  

7/13/13- The Perseverance of the Church

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, (Hebrews 12:1)

Thoughts: The Christian life and the Church are not sprints- but long, winding, uphill and down marathons.  We are to be careful of the things that hinder our race- the things that weigh us down.  This will include unbelief and skepticism, along with distractions from being worried or overly-concerned with this world.
     Today I am in Atlanta getting ready to watch my daughter and son-in-law run a race.  I can remember the days when my wife and I ran races in Atlanta- but now we are not able to run.  Someone else has to run the race- the baton has been handed off to another generation.  Perseverance is not just individually making it through the sufferings and crosses of life.  Perseverance also means passing the faith on so that it perseveres and lasts into the next generation.  We have not done such a good job at this.  We have acted like baseball, football, dancing, school, work, money means more than faith- so our children do not see much reason for faith.  In fact, our children see churches bickering about policy, morals, the Bible, even the divinity of Christ in some cases- and they wonder why they should bother.  But just as we want to persevere in a marriage, we should want to not leave the church on her own either.  It is for our good and the church's good that we persevere in faith- and faith's practice, and teach our children to persevere in faith and the practice of faith (worship and witness).
    Our passage uses the words "great cloud of witnesses" it is "stadia" like a stadium of witnesses- looking down on us from heaven.  God (not just the NSA) is watching us, along with the angels and the saints who have gone on to the other side.  Let us persevere- and pass the faith on as well. 

Prayer: Lord, I am weak.  But increase my strength.  Help me to persevere, and the church to persevere as well.  Help me to finish the race and keep the faith. 

(Color run Atlanta, GA, USA)

7/12/13- Obeying God rather than men

27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! (Acts 5:27-29)

Much less does the Pope have any power or jurisdiction over civil authorities in their domains or over any of their people, nor can he deprive them of their domains or lives if he shall judge them to be heretics or on any other pretense whatever.(Westminster Confession Modern English Version 25)

Thoughts: While we owe allegiance to our country and government, Christians are held ultimately accountable to God.   We do not owe allegiance to any church official.  There is no church army that we are a part of.  Christians do not want to rule the world or take the world over by force.  We recognize that Christ already rules the world, and we want the world to be a better place.  Christians do not want to be violent toward others.  But we do want to spread the Gospel of love.  When governments ask us to be quiet- we try to obey, but we also know that we ultimately must obey God.  When the government, as above, tries to force us to be quiet.  

Prayer: Help me to always listen to you.  Help me to also be a good citizen.  We pray, Lord, that you would grant us grace and peace to be able to both listen to the government and listen to you without conflict. 

7/11/13- Paying Taxes

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22)

Neither unbelief nor difference in religion makes void the just and legal authority of officeholders nor frees the people—church authorities included—from their due obedience to them.  (Westminster Confession of faith 25)

Thoughts: We are by nature rebels.  We rebel against God, many rebel against their own parents, and a tendency to rebel against authorities is natural as well.  This tendency to rebel should be put in check.  It is not put in check by simply making more laws- such laws become too numerous or burdensome to enforce.  our rebelliousness is not put in check by a larger police force and more surveillance.  The people need inner motivation to listen to the government.  So in Jesus' day people debated paying taxes.  In other times people would say that they should not pay taxes if the government was not Christian.  The Roman government eventually killed Jesus, but he said to pay them taxes anyway.  Christians support the government not because they are deserving, but because God tells us to listen.  So the maker of money and roads are due their taxes.  

Prayer: Help me to be a good citizen for your glory, O Lord. 

(Caesar coin)

. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:4-7)

7/10/13- Prayer for Officials and Rulers

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1,2)

Thoughts: Christians are especially to lift up to God those who are in authority on earth.  We are to pray whether we disagree or agree with them.  Our main prayer is for peace so that we may live lives that please God.  The passage above emphasizes that Christian intent is not to stir up trouble against the government but to be at peace.
     It would be good for believers to put those in authority on their prayer list, and to send them cards telling them they are objects of our prayers.  It is a good practice for Christians to gather together on national holidays or The National Day of Prayer to pray for those in authority. 

Prayer: Lord, bless those who are in the government over us.  Bless them with wisdom, humility, and a sense of right and justice.  

(Prayer meeting at a town hall on National Day of Prayer- praying for elected and appointed officials)






Below prayers from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer

A Prayer for Congress.

¶ To be used during their Session.

MOST gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for the people of these United States in general, so especially for their Senate and Representatives in Congress assembled; that thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations, to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honour, and welfare of thy people; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion 

and piety, may be establish among us for all generations. These and all other necessaries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

For a State Legislature.

OGOD, the fountain of wisdom, whose statutes are good and gracious and whose law is truth; We beseech thee so to guide and bless the Legislature of this State, that it may ordain for our governance only such things as please thee, to the glory of thy Name and the welfare of the people; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

For Courts of Justice.

ALMIGHTY God, who sittest in the throne judging right; We humbly beseech thee to bless the courts of justice and the magistrates in all this land; and give unto them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that they. may discern the truth and impartially administer the law in the fear of thee alone; through him who shall come to be our judge, thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

7/9/13- Limits and Boundaries of Politicians

16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to theLord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in.18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.”

19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him. (2 Chronicles 26:18)

So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.  11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel...13 “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. (1 Samuel 13)

Civil authorities may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, nor should they interfere in any way in matters of faith. Yet, as caring fathers, it is the duty of civil authorities to protect the church of our common Lord without giving preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest—doing so in such a way that all church authorities shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of carrying out every part of their sacred functions without violence or danger. (Westminster Confession of Faith XXV). 

Thoughts: Uzziah and Saul were not anointed as priests, but they thought that because they were kings they could assume the priestly office.  In effect they believed they could ordain themselves and usurped the power of the church.  The church and the things of God are not to be manipulated by political authority.  Rather the political authority, when working well, does not persecute, manipulate, or interfere with the church but protect the church.
    In distant times English kings tried to manipulate the worship book of the church of Scotland, causing a rebellion.  In modern times, Hitler tried to put swastika flags in sanctuaries and force churches to say, "Heil Hitler." Freedom of religion allows people of faith to believe differently.  Politicians should not force patriotism any more than nations want religious groups to try to force and manipulate in order to get converts or avoid the loss of converts.  

Prayer: Lord, bring peace to my country and peace to my faith.  May they learn to coexist that your peace would reign.  

(The arrest of the last Covenanter martyr- James Renwick 1688)