Crossflow

One heart - gathering together Nov 6

2011-11-06T16:16:00.000-08:00

Passage: Romans 15: 5-13: ‘May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, ⁶so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jewson behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs ⁹so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.” ¹⁰Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” ¹¹And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples.” ¹²And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.” ¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’

Introduction:

The theme of our new series is ‘One Heart’ which suggests (a) the mission of God to bring all things in creation into harmony under Christ (Eph 1: 9-10; Col 1: 18-20) and (b) the one heart of our church to live and work with him in his quest to reconcile creation (2 Cor 5: 18-20).
Today’s particular topic is our gathering together, a crucial strategy in God's plan.
Last week we reviewed the importance of prayer in arising and shining, noting that Moses’ first response to his new mission was to ask (pray). We continue with his example since our new theme is equally enriched from Moses' experience in Exod 33-34. For example, the theme of his prayer contains rich encouragement for our gathering with one heart.

Focus: 2 Chronicles 5: 13-14: 'It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endures for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; ¹⁴So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.'

Comment:

Moses asked (Exod 33: 12-13, 15-16, 18). V. 33: 12: 'Moses said to the Lord'.
1. See last week’s message. What concerns us now is how Moses asked. We find that: --
Moses asked wisely (Exod 33: 12-13, 15-16, 18). He asked, (a) 'Show me now your ways that I may know you' (33: 13); (b) 'if your presence go not with us, etc. (33: 15-16)' and (c) 'Show me your glory' (33: 18).

Why ask for these things (e.g., to know him, and for his presence and his glory) since he already knew God intimately and had seen astounding examples of God’s glory?
Answer: He knew that as a result his life and mission would be in harmony with Yahweh; that he would have tangible and fresh relationship with him and thus empowerment for life and mission, and would have a deeper understanding of God's nature upon which life and mission are built.
Similarly, in the NT Paul prayed, ‘That I may know him’ (Phil 3: 10), and for his churches, ‘I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better’ (Eph 1: 17).
So, just as Moses prayed, though he already knew God intimately; and just as Paul prayed, who knew the Jesus intimately, we too need ask wisely and to seek in our gatherings; namely, to know him, to know his presence, and to know his glory.
Note: Praying and seeking to know Jesus better is a vital aspect of the church’s many gatherings and may it increasingly be so. Accordingly, through Scripture, prayer and worship, Christ is revealed, his grace received and we are drawn closer together (Rom 15: 13: ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’).
Example: What might we expect then by praying and seeking thus? (a) Look at the last verse, 'the God of hope = overflow with hope'. (b) Paul cites an example in Phil 4: 6-7 (e.g., peace beyond human understanding) and (c) in Eph 3: 17b-19 (e.g., love beyond human understanding that fills us with God). (d) Personal experience of knowing the Father.

Moses received (Exod 33: 14, 17, 34: 5-7):

E.g., Exod 33: 14, 17: ‘The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” ... ¹⁷And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”’
God is willing for us, too, and is pleased with us in Christ (cf. Matt 3: 17: 'This is my Son in whom I am well pleased' with Col 3: 3: 'Our lives are hidden with Christ in God'). Our lives are hidden in the One who is well-pleasing to God.
Note: Our regular gatherings are to be times of expectation, encouragement and enrichment through engaging with Christ through the Scripture, each other, prayer and worship (Col 3: 16-17). The result of such gatherings will be growth into Christ and thus in unity (Eph 4: 15-16; Rom 15: 5: ‘May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves’).
Example: (a) Look at the last verse: 'God who gives – give you a spirit of unity'. (b) The little boy who wished God had been at church with him.

Moses worshipped (Exod 34: 8: ‘Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshipped’).

He worshiped at once – all reluctance and apathy removed, he worshipped eagerly and whole-heartedly – as a result of knowing God better.
Note: Corporate worship, which is based on knowing Jesus better in a context of hopeful expectation, will be eager, responsive, wholehearted and unifying worship that will also be reflected in the daily worship of our spiritual growth and service for him (Rom 15: 6: ‘so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’).
Example: A crucial reason for spiritual worship. Spurgeon: 'There is but a step from rapturous worship to the glowing missionary spirit' (e.g., Isa 6: 1-8). God's servants are best prepared by awe of his presence. [The experience at staff prayer day last year.]
Conclusion: So, as individuals and gathered church, let’s together (a) ask, (b) ask wisely, (c) receive with expectation, (d) worship with eagerness, and then, with one heart and voice, ‘arise and shine’.

Arise and Shine–Message from 30 Oct 2011

2011-10-31T19:11:00.001-07:00

Arise shine – show me your glory: 301011

Text: Isaiah 60: 1: ‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.’

Focus: This verse may be mistakenly viewed like Luther’s devotion, Sept 15, ‘Get a grip on yourself you lazy bum’; but is more correctly understood as, ‘rise up and walk’; that is, the miraculous healing enablement granted to the blind or lame.

In summary, it the glory and presence of the Lord in the person of Jesus Christ that enables us to 'arise and shine'; that is, to live meaningfully and serve productively!!

The pathway to arising and shining, we discover now in our passage.

Passage: Exodus 33: 12 – 34: 8: ‘Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favour with me.’ ¹³If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

¹⁴The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

¹⁵Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

¹⁷And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

¹⁸Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” .....

Exodus 34: 5-8: ‘Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. ⁶And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, ⁷maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

⁸Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.’

Arise shine for your light has come:

Context: Moses was about to lead Israel into new stage of their journey, and therefore recognised his and Israel's acute need of divine assistance for them to 'arise and shine' (live meaningfully and serve productively). Similarly, as individuals and church, we have the same acute need of divine assistance for our future life and work. Moses’ pathway to receiving divine assistance provides great wisdom for us. Let's examine his pathway now. We find first that ........

1. Moses asked (33: 12-13, 15-16, 18). 'Moses said to the Lord'

A simple phrase but profound in its implication.
Prayer was extremely important to Moses as it was to the second Moses, the Lord Jesus, for twin purposes of life (relationship with God) and mission (service – doing the Father's work), particularly here as in Moses case he faced a new challenge.
We find the same with Paul; he prayed earnestly and constantly for his churches for these purposes (e.g., Eph 1: 15-17a: 'For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷I keep asking ...' ).
Think spot: Why is prayer difficult? Why is the prayer meeting least attended? Prayer is developed through (a) relationship, (b) expectation (trust) and (c) discipline (e.g., marriage relationship and see Luther again - below). Benefits of prayer are incalculable: 'More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of' – Tennyson.

2. Moses asked wisely (33: 12-13, 15-16, 18). He asked, (a) 'Show me now your ways that I may know you'; (b) 'if your presence go not with us, etc.' and (c) 'Show me your glory'.

Why ask for these things (e.g., to know him, and for his presence and his glory) since he already knew God intimately and had seen astounding examples of God’s glory?
Answers:
He knew that to continually know of the heart of God and his ways meant life and mission would be in synchrony/harmony with Yahweh (e.g., answered in Christ – John 17: 3 – 'this is life eternal that they may know you and Jesus Christ').
He knew that Yahweh's 'manifest' presence meant tangible and fresh relationship and thus empowerment for life and mission (e.g., answered in Christ – Jn 14: 21, 23 – 'I will show myself to him' and 'we will come to him and make our home with him').
He knew that a revelation of Yahweh's glory would provide a deeper understanding of God's nature upon which life and mission are built (e.g., answered in Christ – Jn 1: 14, 16 - 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth … 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another').
Flawed understanding of God's character pollutes life and service.
So, just as Moses prayed, though he already knew God intimately; and just as Jesus prayed, who knew the Father intimately, we too need ask wisely for these three things, even though we know and have them (Phil 3: 10, 12; Eph 1: 17-18; 3: 16-21). Life and mission depend on it; namely, to know him, to know his presence, and to know his glory.
Note: Importance of Jesus' presence. His presence in and with us is our distinguishing feature (e.g., Acts 4: 13).

3. Moses received (33: 14, 17, 34: 5-7):

E.g., ¹⁴The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” ¹⁷And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
God is willing for us, too, and is pleased with us in Christ (cf. Matt 3: 17: 'This is my Son in whom I am well pleased' with Col 3: 3: 'Our lives are hidden with Christ in God'). Our lives are hidden in the One who well-pleasing to God.
Paul affirms such an expectation of God's answers to prayer in Phil 4: 6-7 (e.g., peace beyond human understanding) and in Eph 3: 17b-19 (e.g., love beyond human understanding that fills us with God).
Example: Our basis is God's grace to us; his willingness not his unwillingness. Message heard as a young minister at a conference in LA: 'You are in the will of God'.

4. Moses worshipped (34: 8).

He worshiped at once – all reluctance and apathy removed, he worshipped eagerly and whole-heartedly – as a result of knowing God better.
He worshipped with deeper awe. Since worship derives solely from the Spirit (John 4: 23-24; Phil 3: 3), a fresh vision of Jesus through the Spirit will produce deeper awe.
As Paul said: ‘Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit’ (2 Cor 3: 17-18).
And in this sense (i.e., by the Spirit – 1 Cor 2: 11-13), ‘We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth ... ¹⁶From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.’ (John 1: 14, 16-17).
Example: Need for awe. Spurgeon quote: 'There is but a step from rapturous worship to the glowing missionary spirit' (e.g., Isa 6: 1-8). God's servants are best prepared by awe of his presence.
Conclusion: So, as individuals and church together, let’s (a) ask, (b) ask wisely, (c) receive, (d) worship, and then, let us ‘arise and shine’ for our light has come.

September 15 Luther devotional

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free’ Psalm 118:5

You must learn to call on the Lord. Don’t sit all alone or lie on the couch, shaking your head and letting your thoughts torture you. Don’t worry about how to get out of your situation or brood about your terrible life, how miserable you feel, and what a bad person you are. Instead, say, “Get a grip on yourself, you lazy bum! Fall on your knees, and raise your hands and eyes toward heaven. Read a psalm. Say the Lord’s Prayer, and tearfully tell God what you need.” This passage teaches us to call on him. Similarly, David said, “I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble” (Psalm 142:2). God wants you to tell him your troubles. He doesn’t want you to keep them to yourself. He doesn’t want you to struggle with them all alone and torture yourself. Doing this will only multiply your troubles.

God knows you will be too weak to overcome your troubles by yourself. He wants you to grow strong in him. Then he will be the one who receives the glory. Out of difficult experiences emerge true Christians. Without troubles, people talk a lot about faith and the Spirit but don’t really know what these things are or what they’re saying.

You must never doubt that God knows your troubles and hears your prayers. You must not pray haphazardly or pray as if you’re shouting into the wind. This mocks prayer and tests God. In this case, it would be better not to pray at all. You must learn to appreciate the part of the passage that says, “He answered by setting me free.” The psalmist acknowledged that the Lord heard him and released him from his troubles.

Psalm 23: 1– a devotion

2010-11-25T22:38:00.000-08:00

Psalm 23: 1: ‘A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.’

This psalm is about ‘the Lord’. The psalm is not about David or what he did, but it is about who God is and what he does.
For example, through the psalm we find the words, ‘he makes me’, ‘he leads me’, ‘he restores’, ‘he guides’, ‘he is with me’, ‘he prepares’, and ‘he anoints’. Notice how many times the word ‘he’ is used?
The whole psalm, therefore, tells us how important God the Shepherd was to David and to his people, Israel. Truly the Lord was David’s shepherd. The Lord is our shepherd too. Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd (John 10: 11).
What is a shepherd? David was a shepherd who looked after his father’s sheep, so he knew by experience. For example, he killed a bear and lion to protect his sheep (1 Sam 17.34-37). He placed his life at great risk for them and he was willing to provide everything for his sheep.
In this we have a picture of the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, who gave his life for us on the cross. Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep’ (John 10: 11).
Because ‘the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep’, David knew that nothing would be held back from him. Like David, we are God’s ‘sheep’ and may have everything we need (see Rom 8.32). This does not mean God will give us everything we want, but everything we really need, especially for our Christian life.
If we follow the Shepherd, he will supply all of our need ‘according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus’ (Phil 4: 19), so that we, like David, will never lack. After all, it is God’s desire and intention that we have his true joy and happiness (John 17: 13).

Dear Lord Jesus, our great and good Shepherd, forgive our sins, cleanse us from them and provide us with everything we need in life, such as peace and eternal life. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.