Life Here and There

Blogging, for some, is a hobby. For others, it’s a career. For me, it’s perhaps a tiny bit of each (more the latter), but it’s mostly a way to get an extremely important message out – how you can know you have eternal life. In addition to blogging here at Life Here and There, I also blog here, here, and over here. Plus, I really like Twitter, Facebook, and a few other sites. So I’m beginning to understand what it’s like to expand an online influence, and though it’s certainly not the greatest priority of my life by far, I do see an eternal and purposeful impact.

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I am currently reading Andy Stanley’s book Visioneering and have just completed the chapter about having moral authority in leadership. Stanley gives a couple of examples of how moral authority works in our lives. One example was Mother Teresa’s harsh words about abortion during a National Day of Prayer breakfast in Washington. Though the Clinton’s and Gore’s gave little response, the room erupted into a standing ovation after she spoke. Why would such a small woman have such a huge impact? Moral authority.

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“But (God) hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior.” -Titus 1:3

When preachers preach, they do so as frail and fallible human beings, holding forth the precious words of eternal life. There is, however, a sense in which the preacher communicates on God’s behalf. Only when his words match the content or the intent of Scripture do they carry any heavenly authority, but when he faithfully pronounces God’s truth to the masses, he is God’s spokesman, God’s chosen means of carrying His perfect message to the world.

The prophets of old set the standard with their “thus saith the Lord.” Jesus stated emphatically on God’s behalf, “Verily, verily I say unto you…” The apostles marched boldy into the temple to preach to the people “all the words of this life.” America needs preaching! Our thirsty souls need preaching just as our parched tongues need water. Preaching is being diminised today, relegated to the back burner of ministry. Oratory is almost all but lost in exchange for professional speaking. But God still chooses spokesmen and He still speaks volumes through them Sunday after Sunday in pulpits across America.

Let us as the church today return preaching to its rightful position at the forefront of worship. Let God’s Word remain the centerpiece of our services. Let the pulpit be a place of freedom where God’s men may stand and boldy proclaim God’s will for the world.

“Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” -Numbers 12:3

In today’s world, meekness = weakness. God does not view it that way, however. In a world where power is everything, Jesus entered the scene in a wooden manger surrounded by barnyard animals. He grew up in an humble village, the son of a carpenter, of modest means. He lived His life serving others, yet Jesus was certainly the most influential leader in all of history.

If you study the lives of Moses and Jesus you’ll find something interesting – they were both great leaders. Both were willing to boldly confront sin and error. Both would rebuke those who believed and lived lies. Both were willing to venture out into the future with faith. Yet they were the meekest men in history. How can this be? You see, we’ve misdefined meekness. Biblical meekness is not weakness, it is really just the opposite.

The Bible’s word for meekness is used in reference to a broken horse, which has all the power to destroy its rider but refrains out of respect for authority. The word is also used to refer to a soldier who has all the might to take on the enemy, yet submits himself completely to the authority of his commanding officer. Meekness is the key to having leverage in leadership. It’s the refusal to demand respect in exchange for commanding it with a life of integrity. It is “controlled power.” Meekness is the willingness to supress those urges to lash out at the wrong time, opting instead to wait for further orders from our commanding officer, Jesus.

Is meekness displayed in your life? How can you submit yourself to Jesus more today? How can you lead others with boldness and courage?

“And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and seas obey Him?’” -Mark 4:41 (NKJV)

Early in the ministry of Jesus to his disciples, He offered them a powerful demonstration of His power and authority. They were astounded that the forces of nature were totally obedient to His voice. This respect for His authority would create in them a tremendous respect for Him throughout His earthly ministry. Indeed, Peter would be willing to say (brashly) that he would follow Jesus even to death. James and John would expect to call down fire from heaven in His name.

There is a detail, however, that we will miss if we read too quickly this wonderful story. Theirs was essentially a transfer of fear from nature to Jesus. Their spiritual depth grew during this turmoil in the sea. Have you ever looked at a stormy sky and been awestruck at the magnitude of nature’s power? The bigger question is, have you ever looked at a stormy sky and been awestruck at the magnitude of God’s power? There’s a huge difference.

When storms and crises come our way in life, we’ll either fear the storm and brace ourselves for what nature and life bring our way, or we’ll fear God and be prepared to watch Him work in our situation. The disciples were at a disadvantage. They did not have the record of this event recorded in a Bible for them since it was, of course, a developing story. We, on the other hand, have the privilege of knowing by past revelation that Jesus is there with us when crises come. So, when you see a storm coming, do you look for the One who calms the storm? Or do you simply look at the ominous clouds? Turn to Him and trust Him. Only the Prince of Peace can bring the ultimate calm.

The third aspect of living in Jesus’ name, in addition to living with His approval and under His authority, is to live for His acclaim. All of our lives are to be directed toward the goal of bringing glory and honor to the name of Jesus.

I once worked at Rose’s Discount Store and had to wear a nametag that had the Rose’s logo on it along with my name and position. How I interacted with customers determined how they would view the store, and even the company. I was their ambassador, wearing their name to improve their reputation with the public.

The Bible calls believers “ambassadors for Christ.” We live in a strange country, as pilgrims in a place that is not our permanent home. While we are here, waiting for our King to come to take us home, we are to serve as representatives of the risen King of glory. We are to seek acclaim for His name.

How does your life represent Christ? There are two primary ways we wear His names. First, we wear His name on our lips when we speak on His behalf, giving others the gospel. Second, we wear His name on our lives, including our attitudes, actions, and behaviors. Our lives must support the message we speak. Are your lips speaking His name to others? And does your life support the message you speak?

In my last blog, I explained that living in the name of Jesus means living with His approval. Today, we need to learn that living in the name of Jesus also means living under His authority, and also living in the power of His authority.

Jesus said to His church, “All power in heaven and in earth is given unto me… Go ye therefore…” We are commanded to go in the authority of Jesus. We can be victorious over life’s struggles only in the power of Jesus. This authority over evil and suffering only comes, however, when we are rightly related to the authority of God and others in our lives.

A quick study of Colossians 3:18-4:1 or Ephesians 5:18-31 for example, shows that wives are under the authority (servant-style leadership) of their husbands. Kids are under the authority of their parents. Employees (endentured servants) are under the authority of their bosses (masters). And Romans 13:1 teaches us that we are all to be under the authority of the governments God has ordained in the world.

There are times when obedience to God, our highest authority, requires that we act in disobedience to these other authorities in our lives, but on the whole God has placed these authorities in our lives for our own good. When we respond to them in obedience, we also respond to God in obedience. If we are not rightly under proper authorities, we cannot be over anything else with the authority of Jesus.

Walking in the name of Jesus means to live with His permission and approval. It also means to carry His authority as a police officer carries the authority of the government which has sworn him to enforce the law. Are you wearing the name of Jesus in such a way that you respond to and use authority properly in your life? Doing so brings glory to His name!

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification… For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7)

It’s very easy to get caught up in the pursuit of something secondary to God’s great purpose for us as believers. We constantly face the temptation to be driven toward success or popularity, possessions or prestige. But God has caught us and called us to a higher purpose, a better life, a heavenly goal. We’ve been called to cleanness.

While many believers will suffer spiritually as they struggle to gain the freedom to rule their own lives (and thus resorting back to the old, unredeemed life), we must pursue the purpose for which we have been apprehended by Jesus – holiness, cleanness, and sanctification. What other pursuit could be more important in our personal journey of faith?

If you’re a believer, you’ve been caught! Jesus, the fisher of men, has apprehended you. He has purchased you in such a way that you are no longer your own. Contrary to popular opinion and American individualism, you are not your own any longer. God has placed certain spiritual authorities in your life. He’s placed you in the family of God and your church has a mutual stake in the outcome of your faith. While you may scream for the freedom to rule your own domain, God’s Word will remind you that the greatest freedom of all is to be enjoyed within the boundaries of God’s will.

His will is in one respect, an individual issue. In another respect, His will is universal to all believers. We cannot resort to a Christian brand of moral relativism. Instead we must realize that certain rules are applicable for all Christians, regardless of individual circumstances. This is not legalism, which is seeking to please or “pay off” God through rule-keeping. Rather it is merely reverencing God’s moral authority as our Father, Lord, and King.

If Jesus is your Savior, then pursue that for which you’ve been saved – holiness! It’s a worthy pursuit. Holiness brings the confidence of spiritual assurance, it earns a crown in heaven, it pleases the Lord who purchased us with His precious blood, and it supports our verbal witness to a lost world. Give yourself wholly to this goal – total perfection, total spiritual completeness, and total Christlikeness!