Enjoy a Peaceful Smoky Mountain Retreat
If you are contemplating a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains, please consider visiting our lovely three-bedroom rental cottage, Rocky Top, located in the Hidden Mountain Resort in Sevierville, Tennessee.
He Is Risen!
(Note: This is my last Easter sermon as full-time pastor.)
Herod, king of Judea married and unceremoniously divorced the daughter of Aretus, King of Petra. Her enraged father marched his army up the region west of the Dead Sea and encountered the army of Herod which he decimated.
When the time of the Jewish Passover arrived Herod lacked sufficient forces to adequately supervise the festive. The lack of military governing forces was compounded by the furor over the resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, when the Jews involved in the crucifixion came asking for a guard to be placed at the tomb Herod said, “You have a guard, go and make the tomb secured.” His reference was to the Jewish Temple Guard. The guards at the tomb were Jews not Romans.
I hasten to acknowledge this is in no was a condemnation of the Jewish race. All associated guilt was related to those involved at the time with no generational guilt.
It is the commemoration of an incomparable impossibility defied by an unsurpassable reality. As a confirmation of His divine nature and transformative role Jesus’ lifeless corps was reinvigorated with vibrant life and He arose from what His Roman executioner pronounce Him as dead.
“He is risen” reverberates through the corridors of the centuries, and rests like a memorable mantle on the celebration called Easter which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is called Easter because the Romans wanted to divert the worship of the sun god Estra into a Christian festive occasion. Estra was the goddess of light. The fact the sun appeared at a certain point on the horizon they associated it with her and called that direction east. To overshadow this fading tradition the church declared the time an occasion to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
The date of His resurrection cannot be fixed for certain but the day can. It was on the first day of the week, Sunday. For many of His followers every Sunday is a celebration of His resurrection. Thus, it is the only holiday celebrated 52 days a year.
Jews have their meaningful Passover celebration and Moslems Ramadan. These are times in which they commemorate meaningful events in their faith.
The concept of a dead man coming back to life is as radical as the sun rising in the west. When it was first preached 5,000 who had been in Jerusalem at the time professed their belief in the fact and were baptized. Within the first century history records that over 5,000,000 were martyred because of the faith in the fact.
When it was first reported in Jerusalem the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court of the day, appointed a brilliant young jurist, an intellect of renown, from their ranks to investigate the rumor. He gleaned more information on the case than anyone of the time. It was by him most of the first person facts were recorded. He was Saul from the town of Tarsus. He came to be known as Paul.
At the peril of his life he reported what the investigation revealed. It was contrary to the bias with which he approached the case. He believed it so fully he died in defense of his report.
Inductive reasoning supported his conclusion. Christ was dead. The official death certificate was prepared by His executioners who knew death. His lifeless body was placed in a tomb. Three days later it was gone. If so, it had to be stolen. If stolen by His enemies all they had to do to stop the resulting revolution was present the lifeless body and make a mockery of the sham. If stolen by His friends all they had to do was present His cold dead body and relieve themselves of the resulting persecution. A wave of martyrs has followed those of the first century gaining hope of an afterlife because of their belief in the bodily resurrection. If not stolen by friends or foes there was no one who could have taken it.
The court of man condemned Jesus to death. The appellate court of heaven reversed the decision.
The best news the world ever received came from a grave yard just outside Jerusalem: “He is risen.”
True Transformation
Transformation is a miracle and a marvel to behold.
Sandy was her name, beauty was her fame. Even as a teenager she was strikingly lovely. She was active in our youth ministry. However, as she matured she drifted away from the church and during her college days became a pawn of the world. Her beauty was paralleled by her intellect. At the time Hugh Hefner had several Playboy Clubs across America. She became his only club manager. Her’s was a storybook career. Unfortunately it was the wrong book.
On a flight her seat companion was the older and more mature church staff member she knew growing up. They conversed amicably and he turned the conversation to her spiritual life reminding her of the faith she enjoyed as a youth.
He appealed to her spiritual instincts to renew her faith. The rest of this story is her story.
She said she returned to New Orleans and the club she managed. She got down on her knees by her desk and prayerfully committed her life to the Lord. She got out of her desk her New Testament and began reading. She called in her most popular “bunny” and shared with heR what had happened and explained how to give your life to the Lord. She too embraced Jesus as savior.
She then called Hugh Hefner and told him of her action. She then resigned her lucrative job and along with her “bunny” friend they both walked out together.
She moved back to Texas and began her new life with the Lord.
The transformation was as distinct as a grub becoming a butterfly.
The experience is known by a variety of titles, such as, being born again, salvation, new life, converted, follower of Christ and Teutonic je ne sais quoi. By any title it is a transformation enabled by the Holy Spirit drawing a person to faith in Jesus. Some flight sales agent sold her that seat on the flight, but the Spirit selected her seat and that of her seat companion. She then by her own free will committed her life to the Lord. She became a new creature in Christ.
She is but one of those believed by many to be unreachable.
Everyone has acquaintances who have never been saved. Such is your personal prospect list. Start now cultivating them by being their friend. Don’t be afraid of scaring them away from the gospel. Where are you going to scare them to, “Hell Number Two?” They are already on their way to “Hell Number One.” In sharing if it becomes apparent a person is not ready to commit to Jesus keep the door open for subsequent sharing. In other words, try to avoid getting an outright no. Love them into the kingdom. Sew gospel seed thoughts, and pray.
You Shall Be as Gods
Genesis 3: 5 in speaking of origins note that in the day Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the forbidden tree their eyes would be opened and they would be as gods knowing good and evil. Up until that time they had only known good.
Some translations use “as “ and others “like.” “Like” and “as” both can imply similarity in the way an action is performed. In light of that various translations of Genesis 3: 5 use “like God” and others “as God.” The point is human beings became able to choose as God did. Human beings became like or as a god in their world and ever since have ruled in their world choosing either good or evil.
Webster’s Bible Translation” reads, “ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
The “Contemporary English Version” reads, “God understands what will happen on the day you eat fruit from that tree. You will see what you have done, and you will know the difference between right and wrong, just as God does.”
The point is as God knows good from evil, human beings will be able to know the difference.
They believed an insidious lie that continues to flourish today, “you shall be like God,” that is, you shall become godlike.
In our desire to be gods, we become like Satan. It was Satan who said, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14). In contrast, we should be like Jesus.
Ever since that initial wrong choice human beings have often chosen evil over the good.
Had the privilege to choose not be afforded human beings we would have merely been God’s puppets.
Satan disguises his lies with truth when he speaks, it is not all lies, in fact his lies are well hidden within the veil of truth. It is like poison mixed with life giving water. It looks like water but in it is deadly poison.
Now that we know good and evil it is incumbent upon us to choose the good. Daily we are confronted with dozens of good and evil options. Our lives are cast in the mold they fashion us as being.
These conclusions are made on the basis of us having a free will. That conclusion is based on Adam and Eve having free wills.
As Joshua challenged the children of Israel “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve …” (Joshua 25: 15). You are challenged many times to do this.
This further charge is given to us as it was to the people of that day: “ I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; (Deuteronomy 30: 19)
What Is in a Name?
“What a wonderful Name it is Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is The Name of Jesus.
Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You
You silenced the boast, of sin and grave….”
Hillsong’s “What a Beautiful Name….”
An angel appeared to a man named Joseph and said of Mary. “…she will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus…” (Matthew 1: 21).
Thus, “Christ came who is over all, the eternally blessed God” (Romans 9:5).
Incorporated in that name is all that He was and that He came to do.
In Hebrew His name is “yeshua,” transliterated “the Lord saves.”
In Isaiah 7: 14 it is foretold He would be called Immanuel, meaning “God with us.”
Thus, He was God with us who came to save us. Of all of His roles that was His primary one. He came to seek and to save that which was lost.
Jesus in Bethlehem was God away from home.
His presence is irrefutable evidence God loves you.
He came to cleanse the barren badlands of your soul.
He came to let His joy flow through the spiritually arid regions of your life.
He, Immanuel, “God with us,” is here to domicile in your heart.
He, God the Son, was co-equal, co-essential, and co-eternal with God the Father (John 1:14, 18). Jesus said, “I and My Father are one” (John 10: 30).
Good news was delivered by an angel: “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 11).
The Ancient of Days became a newborn one night in Judea under the dark night’s sky which formed a canopy for the Light of the World.
When scholars translated the Hebrew name, Jehovah, they used the Greek word “Kurios,” meaning Lord. When Jesus is called “Lord” the term “Kurios”is used. It is the same as used for Jehovah, meaning He is God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). “Word” translated the Greek word “logos.” To understand a word’s meaning see how it was used at the time of use. About that time Plato used “logos” meaning “all that is known or knowable about God.” Thus Jesus was God.
He said, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).
In Titus 2: 13, 14, He is spoken of as “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us…”
In Greek when two nouns are connected by the word for “and,” and the first is preceded by an article, and the second isn’t, the second is equal to the first and is a further explanation thereof. Thus, “great God” and “Savior Jesus Christ” are one.
“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;” (Colossians 2: 9). Who is He to you?
Take a Look at Yourself – Part Four
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12: 2).
In an effort to develop self-awareness as a gift from God there are four major blocks.
Self-hatred. Not being able to “walk on water,” we grow to dislike ourselves. That is, being less than perfect, we tend to not like ourselves. This is a failure to accept your human nature.
Unresolved anger. Many people grow bitter and resentful because they feel unaccepted by others, or particularly a certain one.
Loneliness. The loneliest people in the world are mask wearers. People wear masks because they doubt their own importance. They think they are not interesting enough, as they are, to be liked. Or they imagine themselves to be more than they are and have to prop up the image. They live with a fear that people will find out they are different. People only see their mask and try to relate to that person. The real person remains unknown and grows to feel lonely. Remember, never think of yourself apart from God.
Fear. Fear of rejection is defeating. We are all rejected from time to time. However, an awareness of being accepted by the Lord stabilizes us. Remember, never think of yourself apart from God. His love is a safe port.
Remember, Tournier spoke of a “continual fear of not being loved.” No person can be confident knowing he or she isn’t what is pretended. The strain gets worse and the person becomes more lonely and fearful.
Self-acceptance is closely tied to the capacity to accept forgiveness. A person who can’t accept God’s forgiveness can’t accept self. When you accept yourself in light of God’s love then you are free to change and become the you He intends. You can’t love yourself in isolation.
Find a cause bigger than yourself and give yourself to it. The cause of Christ is the ultimate.
Notice that in the text “transformation” is associated with “renewing” of the mind. This means to think of yourself in light of your worth to God and conform to His divine image. This is a life-long process. Let the Christ mind be in you (Col. 2:5).
The Greek word translated “present” consists of “para,” meaning “alongside of,” and “histemi” meaning to “place.” When combined, they mean to place yourself alongside someone to be an immediate source of help to that person. When we are at God’s disposal for Him to help others through us, we are fulfilling our greatest role and have the best self-image. We then know our self-worth.
Being at God’s disposal is summarily spoken of as being “Holy.” This doesn’t mean you have your portrait painted in oil with a halo around it. The word simply means “set aside.” When you set your life aside to be used of God, then there is real holiness and that produces the optimum of self-worth.