What Did Jesus Do?
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33
Though the Temptations declared the world a “Ball of Confusion,” back in the 60s, this globe’s disordered state was hardly new at that time. And, though folks my age might look back to some past decade or era as a better time, as folks my age have done for ages, this 21st Century holds about as much promise as it does peril. The trouble is not with the “Ball” itself, but with the people who populate it, we’re just so, well, confused. We’re the victims of our own disordered thinking, which condemns us to disordered living. No wonder peace is so hard to find. As nice as it would be if someone could simply declare peace in the midst of all the confusion, the truth is that very few of us (as in none of us) is about to surrender our way of living, confused as it is, without a fight. And so, when the Prince of Peace came into the world, he came not to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)
Does this mean that Jesus came declaring war? By no means! He came proclaiming peace, but to our, and the world’s, confused and disordered way of thinking and living, Christ’s proclamation of peace was, well, as they say in the hills around here, fightin’ words. Come on, let us be honest here, does not confusion and disorder reign in all of us? Don’t think so? Here are just a few examples:
1. Every driver I know is confused about speed limits. 25 m.p.h. means 30-35. 45 m.p.h. means at least 55. 65 or 70 m.p.h. means pushing 80. Confusion.
2.The majority of husbands and wives think “for better or for worse, ‘til death do us part,” means, “‘til one or the other of us wants to bail for pretty much any reason.” Confusion.
3.In Genesis Chapter One, God made two separate genders, “male and female he
created them.” But more and more people believe gender is a malleable thing, as in, “I may be male (or female), but I think I’d rather be the other.” So, boys become girls, girls become boys, women become men, and men become women. Confusion.
4.Politicians (and most of the people who elect them) read, “you shall not ______”
and insert “get caught” in front of the “_______.” Confusion.
As it turns out, the Temptations were in fact pretty close to the truth. The only problem was that they were singing about the wrong Ball. The Ball of Confusion which causes each of us, and the world, so much trouble, sits atop our shoulders. In between our ears disorder reigns, confusion runs amok, and we don’t take it kindly when someone like Jesus calls us out on it, and tells us we need to get our heads on straight.
So, wielding the Sword of Truth (That would be the Word of God), Jesus waged war on confusion. To people confused about the Kingdom of God, Jesus taught many “the kingdom is like _____” lessons. (see Matthew 13:31-52) To people confused by teachers who turned what was black and white into so much gray, Jesus cleared things up by teaching, “But I say to you _______.” (see Matthew 5:21-48) Jesus taught parables to people confused about who was their neighbor (see Luke 10:25-37), mixed up as to where to invest their treasure (see Luke 12:13-21), and who were victims of their own disordered thinking regarding the out of this world love of our Father in heaven (see Luke 15:11-32).
All this confusion is rooted deep within us, and has been from the first generation. It is the result of exchanging the truth for a lie, and it always produces sin in our lives, which means it looses sin in the world, which means apart from Jesus, who is The Truth, neither we nor the world can know peace.
It really is as simple as the bumper stickers and t-shirts say it is:
No Jesus means no peace.
Know Jesus means know peace.
This peace of Christ, well it is the only peace truly worth fighting for.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Jesus Said Being A Disciple Is About More Than Proclamation and Performance
What Did Jesus Do?
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom…
Many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,
and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you.’”
Matthew 7:21-23
Picture this: You and I are standing in line amidst a throng (The Old Testament might call it a “multitude” or a “mixed company”). What are we all in line for? For a chance to get “in.” Where? You know, the kind of place where throngs line up, the place to be, because if you’re not there, well, you’re nowhere, man. Up front there is a burly guy who is in charge of the rope (You know, those ropes that hold back the rabble.) The guy, who is built more like a refrigerator than a human being (You those kinds of guys who are always there handling the rope), lets someone in now and then, but most of are just standing there hoping that if and when we make it to the head of the line that the rope will part for us.
Suddenly, way back behind us in line, a faint murmur begins to build into raucous exultation. What’s going on? Well, a donkey, yes, a donkey, is ambling up besides the line, and folks are all crying out, “Lord, Lord,” to the dude whose approach can be characterized as nothing but humble. We too, you and I, begin shouting, “Lord, Lord,” as He draws near. He arrives the front of the line, and the “Fridge” parts the rope. Here it is, when we all will get to surge forward and on in. Surely, we are going to make it! But then, without warning, there is a soft, but distinctly audible, moan from in front, for, oh no, Mr. Amana is still only letting a very few in. Getting off of the donkey we hear him say to the people ahead of us, “Proclaiming, ‘Lord, Lord,’ simply won’t get you in. There’s more to it than that.” More to it? What more? After all, no one can proclaim Him “Lord,” except by the Spirit. But he just said that proclamation wasn’t enough!
Now many more start to cry out. “But Lord, we have prophesied in you name!” and, “Lord, what about the demons we cast out in your name? What does that count for?” and, “In your name, Lord, we have done many great works! Surely these are enough?” But, yet again, He shakes his head, and says, “I have no idea who any of you are; scram, for your performance isn’t going to get you in anymore than your proclamation.” What is going on here? Even good performances aren’t getting people in. If many who proclaim His name, and who perform mighty works in His name won’t get in, what hope do any of us have?
Think about it. If many who proclaim and perform will be turned away, who then will get in? And, after all, isn’t getting in what really matters in the long run? What is discipleship about, if not proclamation and performance? From the Lord’s statement in Matthew 7:23, it seems pretty clear to me that it is about relationship, who we know, and, more importantly, who knows us. Ultimately, what shuts people out of the kingdom is that Jesus is not in a position to give the nod to our being let in, because, in his own words, “I never knew you.” And, clearly, knowing Him, and being known by Him, is about something more than mere proclamation and performance.
There were many who celebrated when Jesus processed towards Jerusalem on the back of a colt on what we now call Palm Sunday. But most of them had nothing to say about Jesus, at least nothing good, five days later when it really mattered. Their proclamation, the cries of “Hosanna,” and shouts of “Lord, Lord” didn’t mean much, and counted for less.
As for performance, well those who figured out they could use His name for gain, as in building a reputation as an exorcist, or healer, or even a televangelist, missed the meaning of being a disciple. It turns out that discipleship is much less about performing works of power in the name, and more about willingness to shoulder a cross and follow Him. Abiding in His company, day in and day out, most often with little or no opportunity to make a big splash by dramatically prophesying, or casting out demons, means that, when the critical time comes for us, what matters most will not be our confessing Him, but His recognizing us as one who humbly hung in there with him, though the hardships and sacrifices be many, and the honors and rewards few. Proclamation and performance may sometimes be the Father’s will, but faithfully following Jesus always is.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom…
Many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,
and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you.’”
Matthew 7:21-23
Picture this: You and I are standing in line amidst a throng (The Old Testament might call it a “multitude” or a “mixed company”). What are we all in line for? For a chance to get “in.” Where? You know, the kind of place where throngs line up, the place to be, because if you’re not there, well, you’re nowhere, man. Up front there is a burly guy who is in charge of the rope (You know, those ropes that hold back the rabble.) The guy, who is built more like a refrigerator than a human being (You those kinds of guys who are always there handling the rope), lets someone in now and then, but most of are just standing there hoping that if and when we make it to the head of the line that the rope will part for us.
Suddenly, way back behind us in line, a faint murmur begins to build into raucous exultation. What’s going on? Well, a donkey, yes, a donkey, is ambling up besides the line, and folks are all crying out, “Lord, Lord,” to the dude whose approach can be characterized as nothing but humble. We too, you and I, begin shouting, “Lord, Lord,” as He draws near. He arrives the front of the line, and the “Fridge” parts the rope. Here it is, when we all will get to surge forward and on in. Surely, we are going to make it! But then, without warning, there is a soft, but distinctly audible, moan from in front, for, oh no, Mr. Amana is still only letting a very few in. Getting off of the donkey we hear him say to the people ahead of us, “Proclaiming, ‘Lord, Lord,’ simply won’t get you in. There’s more to it than that.” More to it? What more? After all, no one can proclaim Him “Lord,” except by the Spirit. But he just said that proclamation wasn’t enough!
Now many more start to cry out. “But Lord, we have prophesied in you name!” and, “Lord, what about the demons we cast out in your name? What does that count for?” and, “In your name, Lord, we have done many great works! Surely these are enough?” But, yet again, He shakes his head, and says, “I have no idea who any of you are; scram, for your performance isn’t going to get you in anymore than your proclamation.” What is going on here? Even good performances aren’t getting people in. If many who proclaim His name, and who perform mighty works in His name won’t get in, what hope do any of us have?
Think about it. If many who proclaim and perform will be turned away, who then will get in? And, after all, isn’t getting in what really matters in the long run? What is discipleship about, if not proclamation and performance? From the Lord’s statement in Matthew 7:23, it seems pretty clear to me that it is about relationship, who we know, and, more importantly, who knows us. Ultimately, what shuts people out of the kingdom is that Jesus is not in a position to give the nod to our being let in, because, in his own words, “I never knew you.” And, clearly, knowing Him, and being known by Him, is about something more than mere proclamation and performance.
There were many who celebrated when Jesus processed towards Jerusalem on the back of a colt on what we now call Palm Sunday. But most of them had nothing to say about Jesus, at least nothing good, five days later when it really mattered. Their proclamation, the cries of “Hosanna,” and shouts of “Lord, Lord” didn’t mean much, and counted for less.
As for performance, well those who figured out they could use His name for gain, as in building a reputation as an exorcist, or healer, or even a televangelist, missed the meaning of being a disciple. It turns out that discipleship is much less about performing works of power in the name, and more about willingness to shoulder a cross and follow Him. Abiding in His company, day in and day out, most often with little or no opportunity to make a big splash by dramatically prophesying, or casting out demons, means that, when the critical time comes for us, what matters most will not be our confessing Him, but His recognizing us as one who humbly hung in there with him, though the hardships and sacrifices be many, and the honors and rewards few. Proclamation and performance may sometimes be the Father’s will, but faithfully following Jesus always is.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, April 9, 2012
Jesus Made The Way Clear
What Did Jesus Do?
Jesus said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:30
Jesus is the “reason for the season(s),” at least I believe it is pretty safe to say that is how the folks who make only two appearances in church each year think of him. After all, what would Christmas and Easter be without Jesus? But, as folks on Facebook know me, I am the guy who lobbies for keeping CHRISTmas every day, because Jesus isn’t the reason for a season or the season, he is The Man for all seasons. So, my question is: What would yesterday, today, and tomorrow be like without Jesus? My answer is: Nowhere near as incredible at they are with him! If Jesus is worthy of note on any day, he is also most assuredly worthy every day.
In this light, it doesn’t matter much to me that what most of the people who actually bother to contemplate the meaning of Good Friday, almost certainly occurred on a Thursday. The thing is, the great thing is, whatever day of the week it was, it happened. What happened? Christ’s death on the cross, the atoning sacrifice for your sins and for mine, which has made the way clear for us to enter the kingdom of God. Without the work that Jesus completed on the cross you and I would be barred from God’s presence forever, and condemned to an eternity of suffering in a place that makes the worst hell holes of this world, if you will excuse the expression, comparative gardens of peace and pleasure.
Yep, I believe CHRISTmas, the recollection and celebration of the Father’s gift of love in the person of his Son, whose birth is the only thing Christmas is really about, is worth keeping every day. But we would have very little reason at all to celebrate CHRISTmas without Jesus having gone all the way to the cross and the grave. In fact, I don’t believe anyone could offer any plausible argument that Jesus is the Christ if it weren’t for the cross. You see, if Jesus hadn’t gone all the way to the cross, and the grave, and experienced death itself, well, you and I would still have much to fear in death. But truly, as the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, Jesus snatched victory away from death, and removed its sting (1 Corinthians 15:55).
I want to finish up by emphasizing this point—“Good Friday” (or Thursday) is not the solemn remembrance of someone who swooned, who lost consciousness for a time, or who feigned death—Jesus died. He was as dead as anyone can be. The Father had asked the Son to make the way clear for his children to be reconciled to him and receive his kingdom, and Jesus knew all along that this required nothing short of his dying. So, make no mistake, Jesus died. And Christ underwent all that death involves, even to the experience of hell itself (This is the meaning of Psalm 68:18, which Paul cites in Ephesians 4:8-10).
Some, I suspect many, may picture Jesus storming the gates of hell like some sort of one-man army sent to free Satan’s POWs. But I believe that Jesus himself was, for three days, a POW as well. Again, Christ underwent all that death involves, even to the experience of hell itself, and being in the devil’s realm. But, when the time came, and the Father’s voice summoned him from heaven, “Arise, my Son,” neither Satan, nor the gates of hell, could deny the power of love in those words. Jesus had descended into hell in the same manner that the devil arranged for all of us, through death itself. But he rose, burst out through the gates, and ascended, leading a host of captives (The host of captives is the the elect.). Hell no longer has any claim or hold on any of God’s elect. Thus death’s sting has been removed, and its victory over us has been overturned. Christ, having finished his work, has made the way clear for you and me to be with him and his Father forever and ever. That’s what Jesus did, and if it’s not worth celebrating every day, I don’t know what is.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:30
Jesus is the “reason for the season(s),” at least I believe it is pretty safe to say that is how the folks who make only two appearances in church each year think of him. After all, what would Christmas and Easter be without Jesus? But, as folks on Facebook know me, I am the guy who lobbies for keeping CHRISTmas every day, because Jesus isn’t the reason for a season or the season, he is The Man for all seasons. So, my question is: What would yesterday, today, and tomorrow be like without Jesus? My answer is: Nowhere near as incredible at they are with him! If Jesus is worthy of note on any day, he is also most assuredly worthy every day.
In this light, it doesn’t matter much to me that what most of the people who actually bother to contemplate the meaning of Good Friday, almost certainly occurred on a Thursday. The thing is, the great thing is, whatever day of the week it was, it happened. What happened? Christ’s death on the cross, the atoning sacrifice for your sins and for mine, which has made the way clear for us to enter the kingdom of God. Without the work that Jesus completed on the cross you and I would be barred from God’s presence forever, and condemned to an eternity of suffering in a place that makes the worst hell holes of this world, if you will excuse the expression, comparative gardens of peace and pleasure.
Yep, I believe CHRISTmas, the recollection and celebration of the Father’s gift of love in the person of his Son, whose birth is the only thing Christmas is really about, is worth keeping every day. But we would have very little reason at all to celebrate CHRISTmas without Jesus having gone all the way to the cross and the grave. In fact, I don’t believe anyone could offer any plausible argument that Jesus is the Christ if it weren’t for the cross. You see, if Jesus hadn’t gone all the way to the cross, and the grave, and experienced death itself, well, you and I would still have much to fear in death. But truly, as the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, Jesus snatched victory away from death, and removed its sting (1 Corinthians 15:55).
I want to finish up by emphasizing this point—“Good Friday” (or Thursday) is not the solemn remembrance of someone who swooned, who lost consciousness for a time, or who feigned death—Jesus died. He was as dead as anyone can be. The Father had asked the Son to make the way clear for his children to be reconciled to him and receive his kingdom, and Jesus knew all along that this required nothing short of his dying. So, make no mistake, Jesus died. And Christ underwent all that death involves, even to the experience of hell itself (This is the meaning of Psalm 68:18, which Paul cites in Ephesians 4:8-10).
Some, I suspect many, may picture Jesus storming the gates of hell like some sort of one-man army sent to free Satan’s POWs. But I believe that Jesus himself was, for three days, a POW as well. Again, Christ underwent all that death involves, even to the experience of hell itself, and being in the devil’s realm. But, when the time came, and the Father’s voice summoned him from heaven, “Arise, my Son,” neither Satan, nor the gates of hell, could deny the power of love in those words. Jesus had descended into hell in the same manner that the devil arranged for all of us, through death itself. But he rose, burst out through the gates, and ascended, leading a host of captives (The host of captives is the the elect.). Hell no longer has any claim or hold on any of God’s elect. Thus death’s sting has been removed, and its victory over us has been overturned. Christ, having finished his work, has made the way clear for you and me to be with him and his Father forever and ever. That’s what Jesus did, and if it’s not worth celebrating every day, I don’t know what is.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Jesus Defined the Sign of His Visible Church
What Did Jesus Do?
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
Twice a year congregations typically enjoy the high water mark of attendance. If you’ve been around a congregation for any amount of time you know what I’m talking about, and you know the two occasions I am speaking of. So I’m not going to bother speaking about Christmas Eve and Easter/Resurrection Sunday.
It is not uncommon for some (too many actually) of the folks who are in church, well, religiously, to note with disapproval the presence of so many who seemingly have no need to show up the rest of the year. But rather than condemning those whose faith we might regard as somehow inferior to our own, we would better consider how their absence the rest of the year indicts us. In truth, I give those people who faithfully show up twice a year a lot of credit, there are a lot of others who can’t stand being in the presence of the posers who park it in the pews week in and week out while giving no sign of actually being the Church.
You see, Jesus defined the sign of his visible Church—it’s love. And what do you think a lot of those two times a year people don’t feel when they come on their biannual pilgrimage? They don’t feel the love. Again, this says a lot more about us who are there all the time than it does about those who darken the doorstep of a sanctuary a couple of times a year. Think about it, it cannot be Jesus who is keeping them away. The Lord said that he will draw all people to himself when he is lifted up (John 12:32). So, if it isn’t Jesus who is repelling them, it must be—us.
Seriously, if we were to ask people who come to worship two times a year why they don’t come more often, very few, if any, will name Jesus as the reason. But there will be no few comments about us. It might make us feel like the Marines to self-righteously think ourselves part of the Few and the Proud who occupy a pew regularly, but the true Church is the Body of Christ that grows not weekly, but daily by the power of God and the evidence of our love for one another (Acts 2:47).
So, here’s a suggestion. If you want Jesus to know how much you love Him show it by loving one of His who you haven’t seen since Christmas.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
Twice a year congregations typically enjoy the high water mark of attendance. If you’ve been around a congregation for any amount of time you know what I’m talking about, and you know the two occasions I am speaking of. So I’m not going to bother speaking about Christmas Eve and Easter/Resurrection Sunday.
It is not uncommon for some (too many actually) of the folks who are in church, well, religiously, to note with disapproval the presence of so many who seemingly have no need to show up the rest of the year. But rather than condemning those whose faith we might regard as somehow inferior to our own, we would better consider how their absence the rest of the year indicts us. In truth, I give those people who faithfully show up twice a year a lot of credit, there are a lot of others who can’t stand being in the presence of the posers who park it in the pews week in and week out while giving no sign of actually being the Church.
You see, Jesus defined the sign of his visible Church—it’s love. And what do you think a lot of those two times a year people don’t feel when they come on their biannual pilgrimage? They don’t feel the love. Again, this says a lot more about us who are there all the time than it does about those who darken the doorstep of a sanctuary a couple of times a year. Think about it, it cannot be Jesus who is keeping them away. The Lord said that he will draw all people to himself when he is lifted up (John 12:32). So, if it isn’t Jesus who is repelling them, it must be—us.
Seriously, if we were to ask people who come to worship two times a year why they don’t come more often, very few, if any, will name Jesus as the reason. But there will be no few comments about us. It might make us feel like the Marines to self-righteously think ourselves part of the Few and the Proud who occupy a pew regularly, but the true Church is the Body of Christ that grows not weekly, but daily by the power of God and the evidence of our love for one another (Acts 2:47).
So, here’s a suggestion. If you want Jesus to know how much you love Him show it by loving one of His who you haven’t seen since Christmas.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Jesus Cut the C - - -
What Did Jesus Do?
“You have heard…But I say to you…”
Matthew 5:21-22; 27-28, 32; 33-34; 38-39; 43-44
Manure can be helpful in making crops grow. But the seed of the Word of God does not need a lot of “bs” to bear good fruit. In fact, bs will always have a detrimental effect on the Word. So, when Jesus heard all the bs being preached to Israel he cut the c _ _ _.
You see, the Word of God is perfect. The Word of God doesn’t need anyone to add anything to it. But preachers, going back to ancient Israel, and even beyond, all the way back to the Garden of Eden, have always had to add their bs. Think about it.
The first “preacher” was the serpent. Or didn’t you know that the serpent was the father of hermeneutics? He was the very first to take the Word of God and add a little something to it, to put an interpretation on it that adulterated and corrupted it. Yes, the preaching of the serpent bore fruit, but it was not the fruit of righteousness that comes from the unadorned Word, but rather the fruit of sin and death which always comes when bs is added to the Word. And, ever since that first sermon, there has been a lot more bs preached than the pure Word of God. Why do you think the Father sent the Son? To cut the c _ _ _, and put an end to all the bs.
In fact, Jesus devoted almost the entire first third of the Sermon on the Mount to cleaning the bs out of the ears of Israel. What do you think he was doing with all the “You have heard…but I say…” lessons in Matthew 5? Jesus was getting the bs out of the people’s ears (and minds and hearts), and filling them with the pure Word of God. No spin. No self-justifying, much less any self-serving. Just the bare and complete truth of the Word.
Now, I am not saying my preaching never included any bs. God forgive me, there was probably all too often more bs than truth in what I prepared to preach every Sunday. But, every Sunday before I stepped up to the pulpit to begin my sermon my prayer was that God would keep any bs from coming out of my mouth. And, just in case some c _ _ _ slipped out, I also prayed that God would shield the ears (and minds and hearts) of the congregation, and keep out any bs.
Of course, most of us are already pretty full of bs, which means even when we hear the pure Word of God we starting adding our own c _ _ _ to it. Fortunately, for all of us, Jesus promised to ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit, and the Father has been merciful to answer his Son’s request. You see, the Spirit is the Counselor who detects when c _ _ _ is being served up, and he is the Helper who roles up his sleeves and takes a shovel and clears out all the bs that’s in us.
The beautiful Psalm 19 begins by directing our gaze heavenward to behold a bs free declaration of the glory of God, then it goes on to affirm the perfection of God’s Word (vv. 7-11), confess our inability to detect the bs that is in us (v. 12), call upon the Master to not let c _ _ _ rule in his servants (v. 13), and finally asks the Redeemer to make our words and thoughts holy (“acceptable in your sight”, v. 14), which is to say that he cut out all the c _ _ _. We can be sure that Jesus was the very incarnation of this prayer of his ancestor David.
So, here’s the thing, not forgetting what we have heard, we must listen to what Jesus says, and learn what Jesus did. Then, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to say and to do what Jesus said and did. And that’s no bs.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“You have heard…But I say to you…”
Matthew 5:21-22; 27-28, 32; 33-34; 38-39; 43-44
Manure can be helpful in making crops grow. But the seed of the Word of God does not need a lot of “bs” to bear good fruit. In fact, bs will always have a detrimental effect on the Word. So, when Jesus heard all the bs being preached to Israel he cut the c _ _ _.
You see, the Word of God is perfect. The Word of God doesn’t need anyone to add anything to it. But preachers, going back to ancient Israel, and even beyond, all the way back to the Garden of Eden, have always had to add their bs. Think about it.
The first “preacher” was the serpent. Or didn’t you know that the serpent was the father of hermeneutics? He was the very first to take the Word of God and add a little something to it, to put an interpretation on it that adulterated and corrupted it. Yes, the preaching of the serpent bore fruit, but it was not the fruit of righteousness that comes from the unadorned Word, but rather the fruit of sin and death which always comes when bs is added to the Word. And, ever since that first sermon, there has been a lot more bs preached than the pure Word of God. Why do you think the Father sent the Son? To cut the c _ _ _, and put an end to all the bs.
In fact, Jesus devoted almost the entire first third of the Sermon on the Mount to cleaning the bs out of the ears of Israel. What do you think he was doing with all the “You have heard…but I say…” lessons in Matthew 5? Jesus was getting the bs out of the people’s ears (and minds and hearts), and filling them with the pure Word of God. No spin. No self-justifying, much less any self-serving. Just the bare and complete truth of the Word.
Now, I am not saying my preaching never included any bs. God forgive me, there was probably all too often more bs than truth in what I prepared to preach every Sunday. But, every Sunday before I stepped up to the pulpit to begin my sermon my prayer was that God would keep any bs from coming out of my mouth. And, just in case some c _ _ _ slipped out, I also prayed that God would shield the ears (and minds and hearts) of the congregation, and keep out any bs.
Of course, most of us are already pretty full of bs, which means even when we hear the pure Word of God we starting adding our own c _ _ _ to it. Fortunately, for all of us, Jesus promised to ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit, and the Father has been merciful to answer his Son’s request. You see, the Spirit is the Counselor who detects when c _ _ _ is being served up, and he is the Helper who roles up his sleeves and takes a shovel and clears out all the bs that’s in us.
The beautiful Psalm 19 begins by directing our gaze heavenward to behold a bs free declaration of the glory of God, then it goes on to affirm the perfection of God’s Word (vv. 7-11), confess our inability to detect the bs that is in us (v. 12), call upon the Master to not let c _ _ _ rule in his servants (v. 13), and finally asks the Redeemer to make our words and thoughts holy (“acceptable in your sight”, v. 14), which is to say that he cut out all the c _ _ _. We can be sure that Jesus was the very incarnation of this prayer of his ancestor David.
So, here’s the thing, not forgetting what we have heard, we must listen to what Jesus says, and learn what Jesus did. Then, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to say and to do what Jesus said and did. And that’s no bs.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, April 2, 2012
Jesus Told Me To Get Over Myself
What Did Jesus Do?
“Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought to think.”
Romans 12:3
As the Lord and I were talking this morning, as in I was praying, he asked me a question, “Tell me, Jim, if you’re all that, what does it make me?” Ouch! Jesus was telling me, in so many words, to get over myself, or my self.
I mean, if Christ is all (And he is), then there is not any room left for me to be much of anything except by being a part of him. Sorry, Frank, but the last thing “I gotta be” is, uh, me. That is, if I would be His disciple. And, let’s face it, Jesus was about as straight with us as he could be, “If anyone would come after me,” that would be come after as in pursue with the ardent and exclusive passion of someone head over heals in love, “let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) Anything less than this is not discipleship, because it betrays divided loves, as in love for the world, the things of the world, or, most dangerous of all, love of myself.
Among other things this means I need to be less concerned with what I think of myself, and with what others may think of me. What matters is what He thinks. You see, I can’t fool him like I can fool myself or others. He is the one who has searched me and known me (Psalm 139:1); he is the one who formed my inward parts, who knitted me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). And, this is the really amazing part, having searched me and known me, he determined that I was worth dying for! Truly, I have no life apart from him.
Today, as we, that is, he and I, were talking, the conversation came to a place where I asked him, “Jesus, I think I need to be less self-conscious and more Christ conscious, don’t I?” And he replied, “You have said so.” I believe he was showing me the last, great obstacle to freedom—the tyranny of the self. Forgetting about self, and knowing only Jesus, who is the truth, well it does exactly what the truth is supposed to do, it sets us free.
So, confessing that I’m not all that, but that he is my all in all, and with a lot of help from my Friend, I am going to seriously get over myself. Please feel free to call me out when it’s necessary. Just say, “Jim, you better take a quick look in the mirror, I think your self is showing.”
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenminstries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought to think.”
Romans 12:3
As the Lord and I were talking this morning, as in I was praying, he asked me a question, “Tell me, Jim, if you’re all that, what does it make me?” Ouch! Jesus was telling me, in so many words, to get over myself, or my self.
I mean, if Christ is all (And he is), then there is not any room left for me to be much of anything except by being a part of him. Sorry, Frank, but the last thing “I gotta be” is, uh, me. That is, if I would be His disciple. And, let’s face it, Jesus was about as straight with us as he could be, “If anyone would come after me,” that would be come after as in pursue with the ardent and exclusive passion of someone head over heals in love, “let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) Anything less than this is not discipleship, because it betrays divided loves, as in love for the world, the things of the world, or, most dangerous of all, love of myself.
Among other things this means I need to be less concerned with what I think of myself, and with what others may think of me. What matters is what He thinks. You see, I can’t fool him like I can fool myself or others. He is the one who has searched me and known me (Psalm 139:1); he is the one who formed my inward parts, who knitted me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). And, this is the really amazing part, having searched me and known me, he determined that I was worth dying for! Truly, I have no life apart from him.
Today, as we, that is, he and I, were talking, the conversation came to a place where I asked him, “Jesus, I think I need to be less self-conscious and more Christ conscious, don’t I?” And he replied, “You have said so.” I believe he was showing me the last, great obstacle to freedom—the tyranny of the self. Forgetting about self, and knowing only Jesus, who is the truth, well it does exactly what the truth is supposed to do, it sets us free.
So, confessing that I’m not all that, but that he is my all in all, and with a lot of help from my Friend, I am going to seriously get over myself. Please feel free to call me out when it’s necessary. Just say, “Jim, you better take a quick look in the mirror, I think your self is showing.”
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenminstries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus Issued A Compelling Call
What Did Jesus Do?
And Jesus said to them “Follow me!”
And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Mark 1:17-18
John the Baptist said, “Prepare,” Jesus said, “Follow me.” There was a reason John came first: that the people of God should know that the coming of the long-anticipated Messiah was immanent, and they needed to get ready. Because, when Jesus comes and says, “Follow me,” he means, “Now!” The immediate response of Andrew and Simon (Peter), of James and John, of Levi, to Christ’s calling was not intended to set them apart from the rest of us, but rather to indicate the absolute and powerfully compelling nature of the call to discipleship. From its outset, self-denial is central to the life of a disciple (Mark 8:34), for, to a disciple, Christ is all.
Now, we would think it only reasonable that Jesus give us some time to settle our affairs when he calls, but it is not so (see Luke 9:57-62). I suppose this might seem a bit extreme, perhaps even unfair. The thing is, when Jesus calls us he means us to so fully surrender our lives to him that, immediately, we give no further thought to our affairs, and concern ourselves, from the moment of our calling onwards, with His. Radical? Yes! But there is no other way. Being a disciple is not an avocation, nor is it a part-time job. It isn’t even a full-time “job.” The life of a disciple is, well, the life of a disciple—24/7/365.
It is our waking and our sleeping. It is our relationships, our family, and our friends. It is the work we do, and what we do when we are not working. It is where and how we live. The clothes we wear. The food we eat. Our every thought, our every word, our every action. Anything less is to be a Christian dilettante. Jesus calls disciples, not dilettantes. And his call is compelling.
But, hear this, we all fall short of the measure of perfect discipleship. So don’t beat yourself up. But, also, don’t give up on following Jesus because it seems hopeless. You see, our being a disciple of Christ isn’t about what we do for him, it’s what he does in, for, and through, us.
The compelling part of the call of Jesus to “follow” is not that he orders us or makes us do anything, but that his Spirit in us immediately begins to fill us with a desire for nothing other than to know and obey the Father in and through the Son. It is the Spirit, not the self, who causes us to follow when Jesus calls. It is the Spirit, not the self, who steadies us when we stumble in our following. It is the Spirit, not the self, who lifts us up and puts us back on our feet when we flat out fall and fail in our walk as disciples.
Every day, Jesus calls to all of his disciples, and his call never changes—“Follow me!” It is the Spirit who leads us to study and learn what Jesus did, and it is the Spirit who supplies us daily with the faith and the strength to follow, and do what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
And Jesus said to them “Follow me!”
And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Mark 1:17-18
John the Baptist said, “Prepare,” Jesus said, “Follow me.” There was a reason John came first: that the people of God should know that the coming of the long-anticipated Messiah was immanent, and they needed to get ready. Because, when Jesus comes and says, “Follow me,” he means, “Now!” The immediate response of Andrew and Simon (Peter), of James and John, of Levi, to Christ’s calling was not intended to set them apart from the rest of us, but rather to indicate the absolute and powerfully compelling nature of the call to discipleship. From its outset, self-denial is central to the life of a disciple (Mark 8:34), for, to a disciple, Christ is all.
Now, we would think it only reasonable that Jesus give us some time to settle our affairs when he calls, but it is not so (see Luke 9:57-62). I suppose this might seem a bit extreme, perhaps even unfair. The thing is, when Jesus calls us he means us to so fully surrender our lives to him that, immediately, we give no further thought to our affairs, and concern ourselves, from the moment of our calling onwards, with His. Radical? Yes! But there is no other way. Being a disciple is not an avocation, nor is it a part-time job. It isn’t even a full-time “job.” The life of a disciple is, well, the life of a disciple—24/7/365.
It is our waking and our sleeping. It is our relationships, our family, and our friends. It is the work we do, and what we do when we are not working. It is where and how we live. The clothes we wear. The food we eat. Our every thought, our every word, our every action. Anything less is to be a Christian dilettante. Jesus calls disciples, not dilettantes. And his call is compelling.
But, hear this, we all fall short of the measure of perfect discipleship. So don’t beat yourself up. But, also, don’t give up on following Jesus because it seems hopeless. You see, our being a disciple of Christ isn’t about what we do for him, it’s what he does in, for, and through, us.
The compelling part of the call of Jesus to “follow” is not that he orders us or makes us do anything, but that his Spirit in us immediately begins to fill us with a desire for nothing other than to know and obey the Father in and through the Son. It is the Spirit, not the self, who causes us to follow when Jesus calls. It is the Spirit, not the self, who steadies us when we stumble in our following. It is the Spirit, not the self, who lifts us up and puts us back on our feet when we flat out fall and fail in our walk as disciples.
Every day, Jesus calls to all of his disciples, and his call never changes—“Follow me!” It is the Spirit who leads us to study and learn what Jesus did, and it is the Spirit who supplies us daily with the faith and the strength to follow, and do what Jesus did.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
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