Content to be at his side

When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. (Acts 11:22-24)

We don't know much about Barnabas, but we do know that he was a Jew, likely well-acquainted with the teachings of Jesus, perhaps he could have been among the seventy or so who followed him throughout his ministry. We do know that he strong in faith and lived an upright life. He was an encourager - exhorting the believers to continue to grow and remain true to their testimony of faith. If you study his life a little closer, you will see he partnered with the Apostle Paul and was instrumental in helping to establish the New Testament churches as Paul itinerated throughout the land. He was generous - selling his parcel of land and giving the proceeds to aid in meeting the needs of those early believers. One of the things I find interesting about his life is his way of bringing out the best in people - one of the hallmark signs of one who is an 'encourager'.

As the church grew and new members were added to the 'ranks' of believers, he was overjoyed with their acceptance of Jesus. He knew life was changing for them, placing them at risk of persecution and even death, as not all the new believers would be embraced by the Jewish people who rejected the Messiah. He might have stood up for those who could not stand up for themselves, but that was because he knew the power of God in his own life. Then one day, "While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." (Acts 13:2-3) As one called by the Lord, he was faithful to his mission. This is a great lesson we can learn from his life - be faithful to the position God places you within. He did not seek to be the Apostle Paul but was content to be at his side in ministry, supporting him in whatever way he could.

Sometimes more is accomplished by letting someone with differing gifts take the lead, while we simply support their calling. We each have our gifts, but there is great wisdom in knowing when our 'gift' is meant as a 'supportive gift'. If we all want to lead, there will never be anyone to help! Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we give is that of service - in whatever form that takes. It doesn't have to be 'public', for many of God's gifts are 'given' in ways that aren't 'public', such as spending time with the lonely, encouraging the downtrodden, or praying through the night for someone who is hurting or confused by what life has thrown their way. We fulfill God's mission when we assume the place he has prepared for us. We see the results of those 'gifts' best when we allow all our varying gifts to come together, each of us standing together in God's work. Just sayin!

Our mission

I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. (John 17:14-19)

Be assured the hatred flung upon believers is not 'ill-placed' - they are just showing their rejection of Christ and his provided way into right relationship with his Father. Jesus could have taken all who believed out of this world with him when he ascended into heaven, but their work was only beginning. Although they no longer conformed to the ways and customs of the world, they were 'left behind' to carry forth this message of hope and restoration. Instead of taking us out of the world, Christ asks us to spread hope - knowing that his Father will keep each of us safe under his watchful care.

How is it we become ambassadors of Christ's message to this world? The most important thing after saying 'yes' to Jesus is that we allow his Word to 'get inside of us' so it begins the work of making us holy. We receive all we need for right relationship with God when we say 'yes' to Jesus, but then there is this transformational process of laying down the ways of this world and taking up the holiness provided to us in God's grace. This 'exchange' process is actually something that the world observes, making the 'preaching' of the message of hope really more about how we live out our salvation in our daily lives.

Jesus' sacrifice might have saved from the fires of hell, but the more we embrace that truth, the more we find ourselves desiring less of this world's ways and more holiness, right-living, and peace to be part of it. That might seem strange - being 'delivered from' but still 'living in' this world - but there are a good many around each of us who have yet to experience the power of truth in their own lives. We 'live in' because we are to be messengers of this truth - ambassadors of truth. The Word of God is powerful - it transforms us because of that power. When Jesus left this earth, he left behind his Word. Why? So many more could receive truth and enter into his peace. 

We might think we are ill-equipped for our mission, but Jesus did one thing that day so long ago that some of us miss. He asked his Father to give us everything we would need to 'live in' this world without becoming 'like' this world. Truth keeps us 'fit' for the Kingdom of God. The more truth gets into our lives, the more 'transformed' our lives become. Our actions begin to reflect grace. Our attitude reflects peace. Our hope is eternal and not temporal. Our insight is not opinion, but it is reality (truth). Our mission - share truth with those who have not seen the power of truth yet. Just sayin!

Four churches in one building...sad day....

I saw a sign the other day on a church just down the street from us.  It sort of broke my heart.  It read, "Four churches call this building home".  Now you might not find this very heart-breaking, but let me explain why it tugged at the my heart-strings.  The sad thing is four groups of people have to see things so differently as to need to be four different churches all meeting in the same building.  I wonder how strong the church could be if ALL the members of each of these churches would lay down their "style" or "uniqueness" and just embrace everyone from the "other" congregations as Christ intended?

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  (Psalm 133:1 KJV)  

You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.  (Ephesians 4:4-6 MSG)

Paul says it well to the Ephesian church - "You were called to travel on the SAME road and in the SAME direction..."  Yet, we have chosen so many "directions" in which we will travel this journey of faith, haven't we?  We "divide" ourselves in something called "denominations".  Do you know how the dictionary describes a "denomination"?  It is simply a group having a "distinctive" interpretation of faith.  Somehow, I think we missed the mark of what David described back in the Old Testament and what Paul describes as the mission of the church of the New Testament.  We are CALLED to live in unity.  Now, I don't know about you, but a "calling" is something I take pretty seriously.  It is not a "choosing", but a calling.  Do you know the other word for "calling"?  It is simple:  MISSION.  

We "divide" over the silliest of things, really not so significant in the scheme of things.  Things like what we should wear to church, or how we should wear our hair.  Some focus on whether the music should be loud, or melodious.  Others think a strong outreach to the community is the ticket.  NONE of these is really the focus of the church!  In fact, the focus of the church is really being "ON MISSION" with Jesus.  In order to accomplish that mission, we use all kinds of tools along the way.  We use music to minister - some like it loud, others like it softer.  So have both - and learn to "tolerate" the other's taste!

Here is the crux of what Paul was saying - stay together!  Dividing over the small stuff is really not going to do much for our inward growth and it will be evident in our outward growth, as well.  I suspect such is the case of the "four churches who call one building their home".  We have one Master - Jesus Christ.  No other prophet, teacher, or great leader.  Jesus is central to the Christian faith.  If we believe in Jesus as the only true Son of God, given to be the sacrifice for our sins - we believe the SAME.  We have one God and Father of all - Jehovah, The Almighty, Father God - we call him all kinds of things, but he is the same.  If we believe there is one true God, creator of all things, all-knowing, ever-present, and and all-powerful, we believe the SAME.  

So, why do we divide?  Do you know the other definition of "denomination"?  It is a "group bigger than a sect".  Back in Jesus' day, there were a few "sects" in Jerusalem.  The Pharisees (religious leaders well-studied in the Law) were one; the Sadducees (religious leaders who were responsible for keeping the Temple) were another; the Essenes (Jews who lived at the waterfront of the Dead Sea as isolationists) were yet another.  I could go on and on about these various sects, but the point is they have existed for a long, long time.  In the New Testament, first century church, the goal was to break down these walls of "separation" and begin to come together in unity.  I wonder what power could be evident if we'd just heed this one instruction?

So, now you understand why I am a little distressed by the "four church in one building" sign.  I guess I am grateful all four congregations have a place to meet.  I just know it grieves God's heart for man to live with such division.  If you were to ask me my "denomination", I'd tell you I don't have one!  I am a Christian - a believer in Christ who chooses to fellowship with other believers in Christ.  The church is not the four walls I go into - it is the life I live each and every day while being on mission with Jesus.  Just sayin!

Agents of change

Before you know it, the Spirit of God will come on you and you'll be prophesying right along with them. And you'll be transformed. You'll be a new person!  "When these confirming signs are accomplished, you'll know that you're ready: Whatever job you're given to do, do it. God is with you!"
(I Samuel 10:6-7)

This passage is taken from the story of the anointing of Saul, the first King of Israel.  Samuel is the prophet in the land at the time.  He had been sent by God to anoint Saul.  In turn, Samuel is telling Saul that he will receive some "confirmation" that God has anointed him.  Those "signs" will be: 1) He will encounter two men at the tomb of Rachel who will share news that his father is worried about his whereabouts and he should return to home; 2) He will come across three men on their way to worship - each carrying a different thing (goats, bread and wine); and 3) He will meet a group of prophets coming out of Gibeah (a Philistine town) - when he does, the Spirit of God will come upon him and he will be transformed!

God's anointing is always followed with an evidence of that anointing.  In Old Testament times, the signs that followed being anointed by God for his service were similar to what is described above.  The Spirit of God came to "rest upon" a man or woman of God in those days - not fully indwelling them.  Why was that?  Simply because the Spirit resident within us was not accomplished until Jesus's sacrifice for the atonement of our sins was accomplished.  The Holy Spirit then became resident within the believer - permanently residing within, not upon.

One thing is quite evident - where the Spirit of God is, there is evidence of his action.  There is a "transformational" process.  The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to a place where we have evidence that we have an exchange or change of character.  We transition from being self-directed, self-centered sinners to being Spirit-led, Christ-centered saints.  The "nature" of who we are is transformed.  As the passage implies, "You will be a new person."  That is as true today as it was when Samuel conversed with Saul those many years ago.

The result of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives is to conform us to the image of Christ - to help us walk according to the plans and purposes of our heavenly Father.  In turn, we are to be active in the mission for which we are prepared.  Most of us get hung up right there - we don't "feel" called to service (like full-time ministry of pastor, teacher, etc.), so we don't "feel" we have a mission to fulfill.  In actuality, scripture reminds us that we are each called to be "ambassadors of reconciliation".  (See 2 Corinthians 5:20)

An ambassador is one that represents another - acting as the authorized agent or representative of another.  In our case, we represent Christ to a lost and dying world.  We are the agents of reconciliation.  Big mission, huh?  Reconciliation is a process of bringing back into harmony what has been affected by something that results in chaos.  In our case, it is the process of bringing Christ into a world affected by sin - sin being the agent of chaos, Christ being the process and person of peace.

Paul tells us in the book of Corinthians that we are ambassadors - as though God were making his direct appeal to mankind through us.  He is using us as agents to spread his message of hope.  We each have a mission - an assignment, a commission, an objective to which we are called.  We cannot escape that fact.  We may not feel "enabled", but that is usually because we are relying on our own strength to fulfill that mission.  When we begin to rely on the strength of God's Spirit within us, there is an enabling that will take us beyond our "feelings".

Just as Samuel tells Saul to be engaged in whatever work God gives him to do, we are being called to that same call - do whatever work God gives you to do - for God is with you!  There is no reason for delay - God is with us.  We have an objective - not to attain something in our own power, but to represent the power of God to a world that desperately needs that revelation of supernatural power.  In ourselves, we are powerless - in Christ, we are power-full!  Isn't it time we step up to the purpose for which we are all called?  It is time to be on "mission with Christ" as his ambassadors to a hurting world!