Come to Chruch
Friday, April 8, 2011
Follow Me!
Let My People Go! The Early Christians met in fear of their lives but they knew following Christ was worth it. They knew that if they were found out that they would be killed for their commitment to the way, yet they met in hope of hearing the Word of God and having fellowship with other believers that were sold out to follow Christ. Christians in the first Century hung a sign over the door to signify the gathering places for those seeking safe passage and desiring at the risk of death to hear Gods Words. Today that emblem (Fish) is plastered on the back of every preppy SUV in the commuter lane. It no longer signifies the entrance to safe passage but has become an Icon for the Blessed achiever who has found a way to secure the American dream while still claiming to follow Christ. The Believer that sits back and guesses what would Jesus Do? Instead of claiming what it is Jesus actually said. Luke 9:57-62 Jesus Could call anyone of us to leave it all Luke 14:25-26 and to follow Him ? Mark 10:17-22 Follow Him Where ? Matthew 28:19 says to: " Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." There are still Pharaoh's holding God's people in bondage and yes God is still sending his messengers to give that message of deliverance. There are still Christians dieing for their faith while we sport all the "Not of this World tee shirts, Fish empblems and praying baby bumper stickers.Perhaps the only honest measure of the recklessness of my confidence in Christ is my readiness to die for what I believe. But, even greater yet perhaps a greater test of my faith in Him is not only my willingness to die for Jesus and the furtherance of the gospel but to live for him without the safety net of self-dependeption one-day at a time. Romans 8:13 our lord gives us a warning worth hearing "For if we live according to the flesh you will die;but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of he body you will be saved. " In His Service Pastor Fred
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Those who have Ears
The effective teaching of Gods word translates our theology our doctrine and our faith into our walk, our witness and our lives. Effectively taught by Gods word Kings become servants and servants become Kings.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
To Know God
"And this is eternal life that they may know You , the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" John 17:3
If a house is built for prayer , no man must expect a blessing who neglects to tread its floor.
If a pulpit is erected for the ministry of the word, No man must expect (although we do sometimes get more than we expect) to be saved except by the hearing of the word.
If the bible is printed in our own native language, and we can read it, he who neglects the Holy Scripture and ceases from its study has lost one great and grand opportunity of being blessed.
You may hear sermons from a man whom God delights to honor. You may read the writtings of a man whom God has blessed with a double portion of His Holy Spirit; You many attend every prayer meeting, or turn over every page of the blessed book But, in all this, there is not life for the soul apart from the breath of the divine Spirit.
Use these means , we exhort you to use them and use them dilegently but, remember none of these means are of any benifit to you unless God the Holy Spirit will own and crown them.
"Spurgeon the Holy Spirit"
How this speaks to my heart , there is no purpose in an empty chruch. A chruch filled with people yet devoid of the Holy Spirit. There is no purpose in erecting a pulpit that expounds wise words less the Spirit of God which gives them life. Ten thousand people may only yeild one whose eyes and ears have been opened to see and hear the Word of God as the Spriit of God has gifted. But, there must be those who seek the Spirit of God whose desires cannot be quenched by shallow self-ambitions and who sense the empty rooms.
If a house is built for prayer , no man must expect a blessing who neglects to tread its floor.
If a pulpit is erected for the ministry of the word, No man must expect (although we do sometimes get more than we expect) to be saved except by the hearing of the word.
If the bible is printed in our own native language, and we can read it, he who neglects the Holy Scripture and ceases from its study has lost one great and grand opportunity of being blessed.
You may hear sermons from a man whom God delights to honor. You may read the writtings of a man whom God has blessed with a double portion of His Holy Spirit; You many attend every prayer meeting, or turn over every page of the blessed book But, in all this, there is not life for the soul apart from the breath of the divine Spirit.
Use these means , we exhort you to use them and use them dilegently but, remember none of these means are of any benifit to you unless God the Holy Spirit will own and crown them.
"Spurgeon the Holy Spirit"
How this speaks to my heart , there is no purpose in an empty chruch. A chruch filled with people yet devoid of the Holy Spirit. There is no purpose in erecting a pulpit that expounds wise words less the Spirit of God which gives them life. Ten thousand people may only yeild one whose eyes and ears have been opened to see and hear the Word of God as the Spriit of God has gifted. But, there must be those who seek the Spirit of God whose desires cannot be quenched by shallow self-ambitions and who sense the empty rooms.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Was the Robe Placed on Jesus Scarlet or Purple?
Recently I was asked "Was the Robe Placed on Jesus scarlet or Purple? and why is there so much contraversy between the Gospel accords regarding this. I found this artical written in Apologetics press that was very articulate in covering the subject matter so I am quoting it here and refrences are given.
Apologetics press
Http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/559
Was the robe Placed on Jesus Scarlet or Purple?
By Eric Lyons, M. Min
After being flogged with a dreadful Roman scourge, Jesus was taken by Pilate's soldiers into the governor's headquarters where the whole garrison gathered around Him. It was here that the soldiers placed a crown of thorns on His head, a reed in His hand , and a robe on his body. Skeptics maintain that a contradictions exists between the Gospel accounts because they describe the color of the robe differently. Whereas Matthew says that the soldiers "put a scarlet robe" on Jesus (27:27-28), Mark says that "they clothed Him in purple" (15:16-17), and John states that the soldiers put "a purple robe" on Him (19:1-2). These differences have lead some to believe and advocate that the Gospel writers wrote under their own power with no help from a Higher being , and thus they contradicted one another in their narratives. Because increasingly more people are swallowing such allegations blindly and rejecting the inerrantcy of the Scriptures, logical answers are required. The question is do such valid answers exist for the differences in the Gospel narratives concerning the robe placed upon Jesus after his scourging?
All would agree that we oftentimes see colors a little differently. What one person calls blue, some one else may be more specific and call navy blue. a die-hard football fan may render to his team's color as dark red, whereas someone else who sees the teams faded uniforms for the first time at the end of a grueling season may conclude that the teams color is more maroon. While coloring pictures for their parents, one child may color an orange-yellow Sun, while the other draws a Sun that is bright yellow. Surely no one would accuse these individuals of lying or being deceitful because on was more specific than another. Like wise skeptics have no solid grounds on which to stand when they disregard common sense and create biblical contradictions that do not exist. The simple face is , Matthew, mark, Luke and John wrote from different perspectives; they did not participate in collusion. The same way that individuals today look at colors and see different tones, shades, and tints, the Gospel writers saw the activities surrounding the life of Jesus from different angles.
The garment placed upon Jesus after his brutal scourging likely was similar to the faded football uniforms mentioned above, but in His case we read of "a scarlet robe..faded to resemble purple" (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary). [It is difficult to imagine Pilate arraying Jesus' bloody body with a new robe. More likely it was one that had been worn and cast off as useless 9Barnes). According to A.T. Roberson, there were various shades of purple and scarlet in the first century and it was not easy to distinguish the colors or tints (1997) . In fact, the ancients (especially the Romans) used the term purple when speaking of various shades of red (Mcgarvey, 1875, p. 361;Barnes, 1997). Consequently, these different colors sometimes would be called by the same name.
AS one can see there is no discrepancy in the Gospel narratives concerning the color of the robe Jesus wore. Just like other of their day, the Gospel writers simply used the terms scarlet and purple interchangeably.
Barnes, Albert (1997), Barnes' Notes (Electronic Database: Biblesoft).
McGarvey, J.W. (1875) Commentary on Matthew and Mark (Delight AR: Gospel Light).
Robertson, A.T. (1997) Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (Electronic Database: Biblesoft).
The wycliffe Bible Commentary (1985), Electronic Data base: Biblesoft.
Although many different people from many diverse backgrounds wrote the books fo the Bible in very diffrent styles, in many diffrent places, over a long period of time, the bible really has only one author - God. Since, God is perfect, Holy and true, there are no real contradictions in His Word, even if it looks like it a first glance. So we have to look a little deeper. We can rest assure that if the Bible is truly from god, and if God is a God of truth (as we know Him to be), then if two parts of his word seem to be in opposition or in contradiction to each other, our interpretation of one or both of these parts must be in error. In many cases context, audiance, persepctive, and culture often brings clearity.
I am reminded of the Samaritan woman who came to the well upon meeting Jesus she was shocked that He would ask her for a drink of water. Jesus said to her " If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you "Give Me a drink you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water". Later on Jesus askes her to Go, call her husband and the woman says she has no husband and Jesus calls her on having five husbands and the one whom she was with is not her husband either. She is amazed that Jesus knows her life but, she quickly changes the subject to our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. In other words lets not talk about me and you. Lets talk about religion and third party facts. "Jesus said to her, Woman believe me, the hour is comng when you will neither on this mountian, nor in Jerusalem worship the Father. "You worship what yo do not know;we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. [V:24] God is Spirit and those who whorship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
The things of the flesh cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit. We must seek Him in Spirit and in truth... We must ask ourselves if we are truly seeking truth and are we doing it in the Spirit of the Lord. Most often confusion is easier then truth because confusion allows us to continue our lifestyle of choice and has no requirments and demands nothing of us. Truth demands a choice. Love demands a choice and it demands truthfulness.
The woman at the well said "I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When He comes He will tell us all things."
Jesus said to her, "I AM HE!" The color of the the Robe dosen't change that - She knew enough to make a choice. You may not understand all thing but perhaps you know enough to make a choice. You will never understand the things of the Spirit unless you seek in the Spirit.
Don't miss the Messiah because your stumbled on the Color of his Robe or any other minute detail that you may be stumbling on. Don't let your lack of ability to completley understand every single detail keep you from accepting Gods love and the other 99% of the bible. When I think about the creator of the Universe writting me a letter I'm not amazed that sometimes it takes me a little while to understand all that he is saying to me. But I know He loves and I'm going to keep reading that Love letter knowing he loves me until I understand.
Apologetics press
Http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/559
Was the robe Placed on Jesus Scarlet or Purple?
By Eric Lyons, M. Min
After being flogged with a dreadful Roman scourge, Jesus was taken by Pilate's soldiers into the governor's headquarters where the whole garrison gathered around Him. It was here that the soldiers placed a crown of thorns on His head, a reed in His hand , and a robe on his body. Skeptics maintain that a contradictions exists between the Gospel accounts because they describe the color of the robe differently. Whereas Matthew says that the soldiers "put a scarlet robe" on Jesus (27:27-28), Mark says that "they clothed Him in purple" (15:16-17), and John states that the soldiers put "a purple robe" on Him (19:1-2). These differences have lead some to believe and advocate that the Gospel writers wrote under their own power with no help from a Higher being , and thus they contradicted one another in their narratives. Because increasingly more people are swallowing such allegations blindly and rejecting the inerrantcy of the Scriptures, logical answers are required. The question is do such valid answers exist for the differences in the Gospel narratives concerning the robe placed upon Jesus after his scourging?
All would agree that we oftentimes see colors a little differently. What one person calls blue, some one else may be more specific and call navy blue. a die-hard football fan may render to his team's color as dark red, whereas someone else who sees the teams faded uniforms for the first time at the end of a grueling season may conclude that the teams color is more maroon. While coloring pictures for their parents, one child may color an orange-yellow Sun, while the other draws a Sun that is bright yellow. Surely no one would accuse these individuals of lying or being deceitful because on was more specific than another. Like wise skeptics have no solid grounds on which to stand when they disregard common sense and create biblical contradictions that do not exist. The simple face is , Matthew, mark, Luke and John wrote from different perspectives; they did not participate in collusion. The same way that individuals today look at colors and see different tones, shades, and tints, the Gospel writers saw the activities surrounding the life of Jesus from different angles.
The garment placed upon Jesus after his brutal scourging likely was similar to the faded football uniforms mentioned above, but in His case we read of "a scarlet robe..faded to resemble purple" (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary). [It is difficult to imagine Pilate arraying Jesus' bloody body with a new robe. More likely it was one that had been worn and cast off as useless 9Barnes). According to A.T. Roberson, there were various shades of purple and scarlet in the first century and it was not easy to distinguish the colors or tints (1997) . In fact, the ancients (especially the Romans) used the term purple when speaking of various shades of red (Mcgarvey, 1875, p. 361;Barnes, 1997). Consequently, these different colors sometimes would be called by the same name.
AS one can see there is no discrepancy in the Gospel narratives concerning the color of the robe Jesus wore. Just like other of their day, the Gospel writers simply used the terms scarlet and purple interchangeably.
Barnes, Albert (1997), Barnes' Notes (Electronic Database: Biblesoft).
McGarvey, J.W. (1875) Commentary on Matthew and Mark (Delight AR: Gospel Light).
Robertson, A.T. (1997) Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (Electronic Database: Biblesoft).
The wycliffe Bible Commentary (1985), Electronic Data base: Biblesoft.
Although many different people from many diverse backgrounds wrote the books fo the Bible in very diffrent styles, in many diffrent places, over a long period of time, the bible really has only one author - God. Since, God is perfect, Holy and true, there are no real contradictions in His Word, even if it looks like it a first glance. So we have to look a little deeper. We can rest assure that if the Bible is truly from god, and if God is a God of truth (as we know Him to be), then if two parts of his word seem to be in opposition or in contradiction to each other, our interpretation of one or both of these parts must be in error. In many cases context, audiance, persepctive, and culture often brings clearity.
I am reminded of the Samaritan woman who came to the well upon meeting Jesus she was shocked that He would ask her for a drink of water. Jesus said to her " If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you "Give Me a drink you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water". Later on Jesus askes her to Go, call her husband and the woman says she has no husband and Jesus calls her on having five husbands and the one whom she was with is not her husband either. She is amazed that Jesus knows her life but, she quickly changes the subject to our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. In other words lets not talk about me and you. Lets talk about religion and third party facts. "Jesus said to her, Woman believe me, the hour is comng when you will neither on this mountian, nor in Jerusalem worship the Father. "You worship what yo do not know;we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. [V:24] God is Spirit and those who whorship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
The things of the flesh cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit. We must seek Him in Spirit and in truth... We must ask ourselves if we are truly seeking truth and are we doing it in the Spirit of the Lord. Most often confusion is easier then truth because confusion allows us to continue our lifestyle of choice and has no requirments and demands nothing of us. Truth demands a choice. Love demands a choice and it demands truthfulness.
The woman at the well said "I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When He comes He will tell us all things."
Jesus said to her, "I AM HE!" The color of the the Robe dosen't change that - She knew enough to make a choice. You may not understand all thing but perhaps you know enough to make a choice. You will never understand the things of the Spirit unless you seek in the Spirit.
Don't miss the Messiah because your stumbled on the Color of his Robe or any other minute detail that you may be stumbling on. Don't let your lack of ability to completley understand every single detail keep you from accepting Gods love and the other 99% of the bible. When I think about the creator of the Universe writting me a letter I'm not amazed that sometimes it takes me a little while to understand all that he is saying to me. But I know He loves and I'm going to keep reading that Love letter knowing he loves me until I understand.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Who is A.W. Tozer
A.W. Tozer
[ My favorate work: Knowlege of the Holies.
A.W. Tozer was a preacher of the Word of God. Tozer believed that conformity to the Word of God is is always right, but obedience to religious leaders is good only if those leader prove themselves worthy to lead. Leadership in the church of Christ is a spiritual thing and should be soon understood by everyone. It takes more than a ballot to make a leader, but obedience to religious leaders is good only if those leaders prove themselves worthy to lead. Leadership in the church of Christ is a spiritual thing and should be so understood by everyone. It takes more then an election of ballots to make a leader… Tozer believed that if the church was to prosper spiritually it must have spiritual leadership, not leadership by majority vote. It is highly significant that when the apostle Paul found it necessary to ask for obedience amount the young churches he never appealed to them on the ground that he had been duly elected to office. He asserted his authority as an apostle appointed by the Head of the church. He held his position by right of sheerer spiritual ascendancy, the only earthly right that should be honored amount the children of the new creation.
Tozer once said “I guess my philosophy is this: Everything is wrong until God sets it right.”
This statement from Dr. A.W. Tozer perfectly summarizes what he believed and what he tried to do during his many years of ministry. The entire focus of A.W. Tozer’s preaching and writing was on God. He had no time for religious racketeers who were inventing new ways to promote their gimmicks and inflate their statistics. Like Thoreau, who he read and admired, Tozer marched to a different drummer; and for this reason, he was usually out of step with many of the people in his religious circle.
But it was this evangelical eccentricity that made us love him and appreciate him. He was not afraid to tell us what was wrong. Nor was he hesitant to tell us how God could make it right. If a sermon can be compared to light , then A.W. Tozar released a laser beam from the pulpit, a beam that penetrated your heart, seared your conscience, exposed sin, and left out crying, “ What must I do to be saved?” The answer was always the same: surrender to Christ; get to kow God personally; grow to become like Him.
Aiden Wilson Tozer was born in Newburg (then known s La Jose), Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1897. In 1912 the family moved from the farm to Akron, Ohio; and in 1915 he was converted to Christ. He immediately entered into a life of devotional intensity and personal witness. In 1919 he began pasturing the Alliance Church in Nutter Fort, West Virginia. He also pastured churches in Morgantown, West Virginia; Toledo, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; and in 1928 came to the Southside Alliance Church in Chicago. Here he ministered until November, 1959, when he became pastor of November, 1959, when he became pastor of the Avenue Road Church in Toronto. A sudden heart attach on May 12, 1963, ended that ministry and Tozer was ushered into Glory.
I am sure that Tozer reached more people through his writing than his preaching. Much of his writing was reflected in the preaching of pastors who fed their souls on his words. In May, 1950 he was named editor of the Alliance Weekly now The Alliance Witness, which was probably the only religious magazine purchased primarily for its editorials. I once heard Dr. Tozer at an Evangelical press Association conference taking to task editors who practiced what he called “super-market journalism – two columns of advertising and one aisle of reading material.” He was an exacting writer and was as hard on himself as he was on others.
What is there about A.W. Tozer’s writings that gets hold of us and will not let us go? Tozer did not enjoy the privilege of a university or seminary training, or even Bible School education for that matter; yet he has left us a shelf of books that will be mined for their spiritual wealth until the Lord returns.
For one thing A. W. Tozer wrote with conviction. He was not interested in tickling the ears of the shallow Athenian Christians who were looking for some new thing. Tozer re-dug the old wells and called us back to the old paths, and he passionately believed and practiced the truths that he taught. He once told a friend of mine, I have preached myself off of every Bible Conference platform in the country!” The popular crowds do not rush to hear a man who’s convictions make them uncomfortable. Tozer was a mystic, an evangelical mystic in an age that is pragmatic and materialistic. He still calls us to see that real world of the spiritual that lies beyond the physical world that so ensnares us. He begs us to please God and forget the crowd. He implores us to worship God that we might become more like Him. How desperately we need that message today!
A.W. Tozer had a gift of taking a spiritual truth and holding it up to the light so that, like a diamond, every facet was seen and admired. He was not lost in homiletical swamps; the wind of the Spirit blew and dead bones came to life. His essays are like fine cameos whose value is not determined by their size. His preaching was characterized by an intensity-spiritual intensity-that penetrated one’s heart and helped him to see God. Happy is the Christian who has a Tozer book handy when his soul is parched and he fells God is far away.
This leads to what I think to be the greatest contribution A.W. Tozer makes in his writings; he so excites you about truth that you forget Tozer and reach for your Bible. He himself often said that the best book is the one that makes you want to put it down and think for yourself. Never do I read Tozer without reaching for my notebook to jot down some truth that later can be developed into a message. Tozer is like a prism that gathers the light and then reveals its beauty.
[ My favorate work: Knowlege of the Holies.
A.W. Tozer was a preacher of the Word of God. Tozer believed that conformity to the Word of God is is always right, but obedience to religious leaders is good only if those leader prove themselves worthy to lead. Leadership in the church of Christ is a spiritual thing and should be soon understood by everyone. It takes more than a ballot to make a leader, but obedience to religious leaders is good only if those leaders prove themselves worthy to lead. Leadership in the church of Christ is a spiritual thing and should be so understood by everyone. It takes more then an election of ballots to make a leader… Tozer believed that if the church was to prosper spiritually it must have spiritual leadership, not leadership by majority vote. It is highly significant that when the apostle Paul found it necessary to ask for obedience amount the young churches he never appealed to them on the ground that he had been duly elected to office. He asserted his authority as an apostle appointed by the Head of the church. He held his position by right of sheerer spiritual ascendancy, the only earthly right that should be honored amount the children of the new creation.
Tozer once said “I guess my philosophy is this: Everything is wrong until God sets it right.”
This statement from Dr. A.W. Tozer perfectly summarizes what he believed and what he tried to do during his many years of ministry. The entire focus of A.W. Tozer’s preaching and writing was on God. He had no time for religious racketeers who were inventing new ways to promote their gimmicks and inflate their statistics. Like Thoreau, who he read and admired, Tozer marched to a different drummer; and for this reason, he was usually out of step with many of the people in his religious circle.
But it was this evangelical eccentricity that made us love him and appreciate him. He was not afraid to tell us what was wrong. Nor was he hesitant to tell us how God could make it right. If a sermon can be compared to light , then A.W. Tozar released a laser beam from the pulpit, a beam that penetrated your heart, seared your conscience, exposed sin, and left out crying, “ What must I do to be saved?” The answer was always the same: surrender to Christ; get to kow God personally; grow to become like Him.
Aiden Wilson Tozer was born in Newburg (then known s La Jose), Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1897. In 1912 the family moved from the farm to Akron, Ohio; and in 1915 he was converted to Christ. He immediately entered into a life of devotional intensity and personal witness. In 1919 he began pasturing the Alliance Church in Nutter Fort, West Virginia. He also pastured churches in Morgantown, West Virginia; Toledo, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; and in 1928 came to the Southside Alliance Church in Chicago. Here he ministered until November, 1959, when he became pastor of November, 1959, when he became pastor of the Avenue Road Church in Toronto. A sudden heart attach on May 12, 1963, ended that ministry and Tozer was ushered into Glory.
I am sure that Tozer reached more people through his writing than his preaching. Much of his writing was reflected in the preaching of pastors who fed their souls on his words. In May, 1950 he was named editor of the Alliance Weekly now The Alliance Witness, which was probably the only religious magazine purchased primarily for its editorials. I once heard Dr. Tozer at an Evangelical press Association conference taking to task editors who practiced what he called “super-market journalism – two columns of advertising and one aisle of reading material.” He was an exacting writer and was as hard on himself as he was on others.
What is there about A.W. Tozer’s writings that gets hold of us and will not let us go? Tozer did not enjoy the privilege of a university or seminary training, or even Bible School education for that matter; yet he has left us a shelf of books that will be mined for their spiritual wealth until the Lord returns.
For one thing A. W. Tozer wrote with conviction. He was not interested in tickling the ears of the shallow Athenian Christians who were looking for some new thing. Tozer re-dug the old wells and called us back to the old paths, and he passionately believed and practiced the truths that he taught. He once told a friend of mine, I have preached myself off of every Bible Conference platform in the country!” The popular crowds do not rush to hear a man who’s convictions make them uncomfortable. Tozer was a mystic, an evangelical mystic in an age that is pragmatic and materialistic. He still calls us to see that real world of the spiritual that lies beyond the physical world that so ensnares us. He begs us to please God and forget the crowd. He implores us to worship God that we might become more like Him. How desperately we need that message today!
A.W. Tozer had a gift of taking a spiritual truth and holding it up to the light so that, like a diamond, every facet was seen and admired. He was not lost in homiletical swamps; the wind of the Spirit blew and dead bones came to life. His essays are like fine cameos whose value is not determined by their size. His preaching was characterized by an intensity-spiritual intensity-that penetrated one’s heart and helped him to see God. Happy is the Christian who has a Tozer book handy when his soul is parched and he fells God is far away.
This leads to what I think to be the greatest contribution A.W. Tozer makes in his writings; he so excites you about truth that you forget Tozer and reach for your Bible. He himself often said that the best book is the one that makes you want to put it down and think for yourself. Never do I read Tozer without reaching for my notebook to jot down some truth that later can be developed into a message. Tozer is like a prism that gathers the light and then reveals its beauty.
Paul on Spiritual Leadership
Paul
Spiritual Leadership
By: Alfred Gonzalez
“Paul a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God, which he had promised before through his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:1-4
A.W. Tozer called Paul the world’s most successful Christians. It is sheer irony and miracle that God would select one of the most aggressive opponents of the early Christian movement and make him into its most outstanding leader.
Paul had gained a certain amount of notoriety. He was an accomplished linguist, theologian, prosecutor (attorney) whose accomplishments were well known by both the secular realm as well as the Christian circle who feared him. Sanders notes, “Paul was uniquely equipped for the major role to which God called him. A present-day parallel to this amazing man would be someone who could speak in Chinese in Beijing, quoting Confucius and Mencius; write cogent theology, and teach it a Oxford; and defend his cause using flawless Russian before the Soviet Academy of Sciences.” By any standard Paul was one of the most versatile leaders church history has ever known.
Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus changed His definition of Success from one of a worldly nature and personal perspective to that of a spiritual nature and an eternal perspective. Paul intimately met on that old dusty road the master of his eternity. This encounter with our Lord lit a fire in Paul’s heart that would burn hot contagiously for the rest of his life. The Voice of God entreated him with everything inside of his beating heart, chastened and criticized by everything inside of his mind he believed in the voice of the God who called him by name. Paul heard the Voice and called him Lord. Paul personally knows the master he served. He knew his voice and He obeyed.
Jesus’ first command of Paul was that he “Arise and go into the city and you will be told what you must do”. Jesus taught his son to listen and obey, a lesson Paul would never forget. Paul knew his role as one of a bond-servant. Paul was a great leader because he was fist taught how to follow and he followed a leader that was worth following. Paul submitted himself the authority in which he knew to be true. Paul became a great spiritual leader when his heart and mind were captured by Jesus Christ.
Paul was also a great leader because he believed in the gift of Jesus’ love for him. In Romans chapter 7 Paul describes his struggle with his flesh and begins chapter 8 with There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Paul as he walked down the road to Damscus thinking on the man he had just had stoned to death met Stephan’s father who basically asks him why did you kill my son. Pauls eyes met the eyes of Jesus which told the story. Paul I love you anyway. So much so that in Romans chapter 8:38-39 Paul’s faith brought him to say “ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul believed in the value of the gift that Jesus had given him. So much so that it lead him to give the gift himself unconditionally. This experience with Jesus allowed Paul a perspective on the cost of ministry that few leaders have today. Paul knew he was but the chief beggar leading other beggars to bread. Paul’s humbleness came from the memory of looking into Jesus’ eyes while still having Stephan’s blood on his hands. He remembered clearly his lowly state before he met the master. He knew his guilt uncovered and his penalty at hand Jesus not only showed him mercy by with holding what he deserves but issued grace to love the unlovable. Paul knew the cost of following Jesus because prior to his conversion he was the cost for being a Christian. He knew that what ever he received for following the lord he had dished out several times and as with Stephan he saw that the love of God could not be beaten from a man. He learned to live is Christ and to die is gain. Death had lost its sting when eternity’s light gave glory to God.
Paul was a great leader because he had his master’s heart for the lost. In Romans 9:1 Paul says “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,That I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accurse from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.” Paul’s heart broke for his unsaved countrymen. Paul’s heart was one of self sacrifice for those he was called to serve. John 15:13 Says “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends”. Paul’s heart was for the lost.
Paul was equipped by the Lord. Paul had a brilliant gasp of the Old Testament studying under Rabbi Gamaliel. He was articulate and well versed in culture and politics. All of which the Lord had trained him in his secular life style. God took the wretched man that he was and made him into a spiritual leader. Paul died never knowing that you or I would be reading his writings. He spread Christianity throughout the world and made sure that the Christianity he spread was New Testament grace. As A.W. Tozar says “The popular notion that the first obligation of the church is to spread the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth is false. The churches first obligation is to be spiritually worthy to spread it.” If the disciples had gone forth as missionaries before the day of Pentecost it would have been a spiritual disaster, for they could have done no more than make converts after their likeness, and this would have altered for the worse the whole history of the Western world and had consequences through out the ages to come. Paul was filled with the spirit. He was sold out for Christ. We would rather die then quit. He stood firm he stood alone when necessary and he stood for Jesus.
As a spiritual leader Paul saw the desire to serve as a leader as a good work which came with qualification. In his first letter to Timothy 3:1-7 “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence ( for if a man does not know how to rule his won house, how will he take care of the church of God); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” Paul cites the qualification of a spiritual lead with clarity and assertively. The tone of Paul’s writing leaves the reader with the impression that he is describing the highest of position. A job description to be taken seriously. Paul starts the qualifications by stating you must first be managed your self by the spirit. You are to be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, ect… Before you can manage others you must first be yielded to the spirit and manage your own choices you must be manageable by the spirit then he says that your household must be in order. Your first ministry is your home. You must be lead by the spirit and you must lead your family to be lead by the spirit. Paul even tells us why he says “for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? Paul declares with clarity that the Lord will not expand your territory if you cannot handle the ministry he has already given you. As a Christian leader we are to be representatives of our faith for we carry the name of Christ. We are to be above reproach and we are to take the calling seriously. We are to desire the excellence in which God has called us to while walking in the confidence of Grace. It is a fine balance between holiness and Grace. In our obedience to Gods word we strive for holiness but its by His Grace that we are saved. Paul was a great leader because he was great a following. Paul was a man worthy of following but more importantly he was a man who followed the only one worthy of being followed.
NOTES
Spiritual Leadership
By: Alfred Gonzalez
“Paul a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God, which he had promised before through his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:1-4
A.W. Tozer called Paul the world’s most successful Christians. It is sheer irony and miracle that God would select one of the most aggressive opponents of the early Christian movement and make him into its most outstanding leader.
Paul had gained a certain amount of notoriety. He was an accomplished linguist, theologian, prosecutor (attorney) whose accomplishments were well known by both the secular realm as well as the Christian circle who feared him. Sanders notes, “Paul was uniquely equipped for the major role to which God called him. A present-day parallel to this amazing man would be someone who could speak in Chinese in Beijing, quoting Confucius and Mencius; write cogent theology, and teach it a Oxford; and defend his cause using flawless Russian before the Soviet Academy of Sciences.” By any standard Paul was one of the most versatile leaders church history has ever known.
Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus changed His definition of Success from one of a worldly nature and personal perspective to that of a spiritual nature and an eternal perspective. Paul intimately met on that old dusty road the master of his eternity. This encounter with our Lord lit a fire in Paul’s heart that would burn hot contagiously for the rest of his life. The Voice of God entreated him with everything inside of his beating heart, chastened and criticized by everything inside of his mind he believed in the voice of the God who called him by name. Paul heard the Voice and called him Lord. Paul personally knows the master he served. He knew his voice and He obeyed.
Jesus’ first command of Paul was that he “Arise and go into the city and you will be told what you must do”. Jesus taught his son to listen and obey, a lesson Paul would never forget. Paul knew his role as one of a bond-servant. Paul was a great leader because he was fist taught how to follow and he followed a leader that was worth following. Paul submitted himself the authority in which he knew to be true. Paul became a great spiritual leader when his heart and mind were captured by Jesus Christ.
Paul was also a great leader because he believed in the gift of Jesus’ love for him. In Romans chapter 7 Paul describes his struggle with his flesh and begins chapter 8 with There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Paul as he walked down the road to Damscus thinking on the man he had just had stoned to death met Stephan’s father who basically asks him why did you kill my son. Pauls eyes met the eyes of Jesus which told the story. Paul I love you anyway. So much so that in Romans chapter 8:38-39 Paul’s faith brought him to say “ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul believed in the value of the gift that Jesus had given him. So much so that it lead him to give the gift himself unconditionally. This experience with Jesus allowed Paul a perspective on the cost of ministry that few leaders have today. Paul knew he was but the chief beggar leading other beggars to bread. Paul’s humbleness came from the memory of looking into Jesus’ eyes while still having Stephan’s blood on his hands. He remembered clearly his lowly state before he met the master. He knew his guilt uncovered and his penalty at hand Jesus not only showed him mercy by with holding what he deserves but issued grace to love the unlovable. Paul knew the cost of following Jesus because prior to his conversion he was the cost for being a Christian. He knew that what ever he received for following the lord he had dished out several times and as with Stephan he saw that the love of God could not be beaten from a man. He learned to live is Christ and to die is gain. Death had lost its sting when eternity’s light gave glory to God.
Paul was a great leader because he had his master’s heart for the lost. In Romans 9:1 Paul says “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,That I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accurse from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.” Paul’s heart broke for his unsaved countrymen. Paul’s heart was one of self sacrifice for those he was called to serve. John 15:13 Says “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends”. Paul’s heart was for the lost.
Paul was equipped by the Lord. Paul had a brilliant gasp of the Old Testament studying under Rabbi Gamaliel. He was articulate and well versed in culture and politics. All of which the Lord had trained him in his secular life style. God took the wretched man that he was and made him into a spiritual leader. Paul died never knowing that you or I would be reading his writings. He spread Christianity throughout the world and made sure that the Christianity he spread was New Testament grace. As A.W. Tozar says “The popular notion that the first obligation of the church is to spread the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth is false. The churches first obligation is to be spiritually worthy to spread it.” If the disciples had gone forth as missionaries before the day of Pentecost it would have been a spiritual disaster, for they could have done no more than make converts after their likeness, and this would have altered for the worse the whole history of the Western world and had consequences through out the ages to come. Paul was filled with the spirit. He was sold out for Christ. We would rather die then quit. He stood firm he stood alone when necessary and he stood for Jesus.
As a spiritual leader Paul saw the desire to serve as a leader as a good work which came with qualification. In his first letter to Timothy 3:1-7 “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence ( for if a man does not know how to rule his won house, how will he take care of the church of God); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” Paul cites the qualification of a spiritual lead with clarity and assertively. The tone of Paul’s writing leaves the reader with the impression that he is describing the highest of position. A job description to be taken seriously. Paul starts the qualifications by stating you must first be managed your self by the spirit. You are to be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, ect… Before you can manage others you must first be yielded to the spirit and manage your own choices you must be manageable by the spirit then he says that your household must be in order. Your first ministry is your home. You must be lead by the spirit and you must lead your family to be lead by the spirit. Paul even tells us why he says “for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? Paul declares with clarity that the Lord will not expand your territory if you cannot handle the ministry he has already given you. As a Christian leader we are to be representatives of our faith for we carry the name of Christ. We are to be above reproach and we are to take the calling seriously. We are to desire the excellence in which God has called us to while walking in the confidence of Grace. It is a fine balance between holiness and Grace. In our obedience to Gods word we strive for holiness but its by His Grace that we are saved. Paul was a great leader because he was great a following. Paul was a man worthy of following but more importantly he was a man who followed the only one worthy of being followed.
NOTES
The Reasons for the failure of King Saul
The Reasons for the failure of king Saul
A Good Start
Saul, Israel’s first King, the King of the people’s choosing. In all of Israel there was not a more perfect Icon for the Nation to be found. “from the shoulders and up he was higher than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9:1-2). He started well, He was the son of a might man of valor, he was called out by God, anointed with oil, and befriended by Gods spokesmen. He was equipped by God for the task at hand. The Spirit of the lord came upon him mightily and he was changed into a new man [ 1 Samuel 10:6] and God changed his heart [ V.9]. He began to deliver the children of Israel from the dominion of the Philistines in Chapter 11.
Something Went Wrong
But he went wrong, seriously wrong It’s important that we see where he went wrong. A clear word was delivered to him by “Lord of hosts” from the mouth of Samuel the prophet his friend, (1 Samuel 15:2-9).
“Thus says the Lord of Host, I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. ‘Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” Then Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and set an ambush in the valley. And Saul said to the Akenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the sons of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. So Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as you got to Shur, which is east of Egypt. And he captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
“Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the Lord all night. And Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told Samuel, saying “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down the Gilgal.” And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.”
But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” [The noise of His failure] And Saul said, “They have brought them fro mthe Amalekites, for the people [The First scape Goat] spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed.”
The Samuel said to Saul, “Wait, and let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” And he said to him, Speak!”
He did not take the Word of the Lord Seriously
A clear word was delivered to him by the Lord of Hosts from the mouth of Samuel the Prophet. But (v:9) Saul and the people spared Agag and the best …and were not willing to destroy.
If someone wants something badly enough for themselves he will often twist the truth or our right lie to get it. God told Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul disobeyed God; “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.” (1 Samuel 15:9) Saul evidently saved the best for himself and exploited gods will to benefit himself and he convinced himself that taking for himself Israel’s enemies valuable plunder and destroying all that he did not want and was worthless somehow was obeying Gods command. Its amazing how sin deludes us into thinking that by rationalizing our own behavior, God’s will is being done! But the dilution is ours not Gods He sees perfectly clear into the hearts of man and he remembers every word he has said to us. The desire for worldly gain pushes mans fingers into his ears as God speaks his perfect will and unless we remove the flesh from our ears we do not hear the Lord. As a matter of fact we even fool ourselves into thinking that because we can see Gods speaking we are listening to his will but as Saul found out that when our ears are plugged you can only hear yourself better.
He loved the world so much he failed to take the necessary steps to cut himself off from it.
Saul in his rebellion against God spared Agag because he made a value judgment. He destroyed “everything despised and worthless.” He surveyed the situation and decided what to keep and what to destroy. It is ironic that the verse Quoted at the beginning of this paper I stated that God has chosen things that are despised by the world to participate in His glorious purpose. The things Saul ooved are those things hated by God.
The things of the world are all under Gods judgment. Saul wanted to spare the “good” ones. This shows that nothing less than death can remedy our sin problem and make us right with God. Jesus embraced death on the cross to bring eternal life to those who deserved eternal damnation. Death on the cross was a cure (Galatians 3:13) and exposed the one so sentenced to ridicule and shame. When Jesus endured death on a cross as a common criminal (thought He was sinless and innocent) He insured all people would not become His disciples for the wrong reasons. Embracing the cross will not mean honor, prestige, and accolades from the world. Paul told what happened to him and the other apostles because of the message of the cross: “we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now” (1 Corinthians 4:13b) We live in a society that puts gold and silver on crosses and wears them as ornaments around their necks. This is not the executioner’s device of the fist century.
The Cross symbolizes that everything in my old life, not just the despised and worthless things must die. The “good things” that Saul decided to spare from the worldly enemies of God turned out to be his cause of death. Christianity is not a self-betterment religion. It is a way of life that is symbolized by death to the world and everything it stands for. It is embracing the crucified and resurrected Messiah and willingly confessing Him before a cocking world. Jesus said “For whoever is ashamed of Me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38 NASB page 1632) The context of this teaching of His approaching death on the cross (Mark 8:31) AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE FOLLWING IN THE PATHS OF HIS SUFFERING. In a day when so-called “Christianity” is paraded before us as a religion of money, power prestige, privilege, and worldly accolades, it is no wonder that Jesus’ statement in Mark 8:38 makes little sense to many people. Why would anyone be ashamed of something that promises to make us rich and famous?
However, the temptation to be ashamed becomes clear when the claims of the cross are considered: “ And He summoned the multitudes with His disciples, and said to them, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and he gospel’s shall save it.” ( Mark 8:34,35 NASB page 1632) This type of a statement is not meant to maximize the number of “seekers”. It is quite clear that one must pick up and carry the executioner’s device. The reason one would do this in the first century, was because he had been condemned to Death. His life in the world was effectively over. He has “lost” his life in this world the Christian, this means that we have died to everything for the sake of Christ.
This means that Christ is our Lord and everything belongs to Him. This is the very relationship rejected. He decided what stayed and what went. Saul loved the “good things of the world. Converted true disciples of Jesus have died to this world and come alive to God through the Cross. There is in congruity in Christians falling all over each other trying to gain the power prestige, money, and accolades of the world. Sadly, the great irony of the 80’s and 90’s is that some who have done the “best” at this are considered the greatest leaders. Like the ancient Israelites, we have wanted so to be like the pagans that we end up with “leaders” who emulate the pagans. Far to often we have Saul’s rather than Paul’s for leaders.
He Lusted for the Glory of Man
(1 Samual 15:11) He turned back from following Me, and has not carried out My commands.” … and set up a monument for himself.
God had previously predicted his abusive behavior, had revealed that the peoples demand for a king was in fact a request of God, and had told Samuel to listen to them anyway. The appointment of Saul was a judgment of God upon a carnal minded people who wanted to be like the world.
When carnal minded people want to be like the world, God may give them what they want as judgment upon themselves. Saul ended up behaving just as the Lord had predicted. 1-Samuel 15 tells the story of Saul’s rebellion and God’s rejections of him. Even after being repeatedly warned and called to repentance, Saul’s attitude never changed: Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:12b). When faced with his sin he still longed for the glory of man: Then he said, I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God” (1 Samuel 15:30a). Notice that he said to Samuel, “the Lord your God,” not my God. Saul was satisfied with second hand knowledge of God and was filled with the motives of the world. He wanted the accolades of man but refused to submit to the revealed will of God. He could not bring himself to destroy Agag the King of the Amalekites because he was too much like him. Ironically, it was an Amalekite that would kill Saul in the end (2 Samuel 1:6-16). The Flesh we fail to kill will surely kill us in the end.
Saul stands as an illustration of what happens when god’s people start longing for the things of the world. Eventually they want all the power, prestige and status the world has to offer. They tire of the scandal of the cross, and hate being considered lesser people by the unregenerate who looked down on their lowly status. Popularity, glory and honor in the eyes of other is not a worthy goal for God’s people. Jesus said “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15b NASB page 1689)
Saul epitomized the kind of person the carnally minded would look for in a king. In a sense, once could say that God “shoes” Saul, but only to make him an object lesion to a rebellious people who did not want God to be their king. They wanted a king so they could be like the other nations, like the pagans, like the world. Since the people wanted a king in order to be like the world , God gave them a king that was like the world, an abusive, self-centered, egomaniac who nevertheless looked like the national Icon on world news today. A choice and handsome lad and there was none like him in all the land. But he was a rotten cake with choice frosting on top of it.
Perhaps God allows “Saul’s” to exist in leadership today for the same reason Saul was king in the Old Testament to separate those who truly will follow the Lord and those who profess to be God’s people but love the world. The carnally minded will flock to those who follow in Saul’s footsteps.
He covered His sins with Lies instead of the Mercy Seat of Jesus.
(v: 13) He lied to himself and to Samuel and he tried to cover his sin (v:15) He tried to blame the others.
God Spoke to Samuel, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the Lord all night. (1 Samuel 15:11). However, Saul did not even understand what the problem was. When confronted by Samuel, he claimed obedience, blamed the people, and rationalized his behavior.
Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? “ (v:13) It was the sound of Saul’s failure to obey Gods word. When we do not seek God and love His word we lose sight of his convicting power. David also sinned against God, but when he was confronted, with his sin his heartfelt repentance was recorded forever in Psalm 51. This stands in stark contrast to Saul’s response.
Samuel goes on to reminded Saul of something he had apparently forgotten: “and Samuel said, Is it not true, thought you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed you king over Israel, and the Lord sent you on a mission … (1 Samuel 15:17-18a). The Lord had made him king when he was small in his own eyes but now he was great in his own eyes and God rejected him. Samuels’s words to Saul are often repeated and familiar: “Samuel said, Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. Fro rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king,” (1 Samuel 22,23 NASB page 472). To twist and manipulate the word of God and rationalize rebelling against it, is as blatantly sinful as pagan idol worship. Yet many today feel justified as Saul in doing so. Perhaps because we fail to see that the biggest Idol in the room is typically ourselves.
A Man After God’s Heart
Saul was rejected by god; but that is not the end of the story. “ But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:14 NASB page 467) David was chosen by God. Through suffering sorrow, rejection, tragedy, failure, David loved God and became the one through whom the linage of Messiah would come.
The Psalms of David testify of many difficulties David encountered, but every one of them emanated a note of hope. God has chosen the weak thing of the world to shame the strong. The Messiah came as a suffering servant (Isaiah 53). Philippians 2:3-11 tells us of His selfless attitude that we should emulate. If we are to be His witnesses in these last days, we must embrace the cross and die to the world. We must reject the way of Saul.
Conclusion
Even the “good” things that I thought I had to offer the Lord are but filthy rags in His sight. I need to die to my old life and ask Him to make me a new creature in Christ. The radical call to discipleship seems to me to be biblical and from God. Sadly, I have failed many times to live up to this truth, but it provides a baseline for getting back on track. It is sad how often pride and selfish motives have delayed what God is seeking to do in my life. Salvation is a free gift but there is a great cost to discipleship. As God so loved the world that he gave his own life that we might be saved. Discipleship is a rendering of that saved life into the loving hands in which it has been commended. It is a willing surrender to the one who has purchased us with a great price. It is to deliver possession of this life to his will and his will alone. A love offering is no sacrifice yet it always calls us to be second and in that there is great joy.
Where has today’s church gone wrong? How are we to be changed from self-centered sinners to cross-embracing disciples when all we hear is how great we are and how popular and wealthy we can become now that we have Christ? There is a whole generation that has been fed a worldly version of Christianity that is likely to turn out more Saul’s than anything else. Salvation is the free gift of God but there is a very dear price to pay for true discipleship. It will cost you your life but in return you get an eternity.
Cites:
“SAUL.” LoveToKnow1911 Online Encyclopedia. © 2003,2004LoveToKnow.
http://34.1911encyclopedia.org/s/SA/SAUL.htm
Nelsons New Illustrated Bible Commentary
The Making of Israel’s First King bible.org. © 2005. bible.org
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?oage-id=335
A Good Start
Saul, Israel’s first King, the King of the people’s choosing. In all of Israel there was not a more perfect Icon for the Nation to be found. “from the shoulders and up he was higher than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9:1-2). He started well, He was the son of a might man of valor, he was called out by God, anointed with oil, and befriended by Gods spokesmen. He was equipped by God for the task at hand. The Spirit of the lord came upon him mightily and he was changed into a new man [ 1 Samuel 10:6] and God changed his heart [ V.9]. He began to deliver the children of Israel from the dominion of the Philistines in Chapter 11.
Something Went Wrong
But he went wrong, seriously wrong It’s important that we see where he went wrong. A clear word was delivered to him by “Lord of hosts” from the mouth of Samuel the prophet his friend, (1 Samuel 15:2-9).
“Thus says the Lord of Host, I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. ‘Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” Then Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and set an ambush in the valley. And Saul said to the Akenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the sons of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. So Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as you got to Shur, which is east of Egypt. And he captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
“Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the Lord all night. And Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told Samuel, saying “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down the Gilgal.” And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.”
But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” [The noise of His failure] And Saul said, “They have brought them fro mthe Amalekites, for the people [The First scape Goat] spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed.”
The Samuel said to Saul, “Wait, and let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” And he said to him, Speak!”
He did not take the Word of the Lord Seriously
A clear word was delivered to him by the Lord of Hosts from the mouth of Samuel the Prophet. But (v:9) Saul and the people spared Agag and the best …and were not willing to destroy.
If someone wants something badly enough for themselves he will often twist the truth or our right lie to get it. God told Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul disobeyed God; “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.” (1 Samuel 15:9) Saul evidently saved the best for himself and exploited gods will to benefit himself and he convinced himself that taking for himself Israel’s enemies valuable plunder and destroying all that he did not want and was worthless somehow was obeying Gods command. Its amazing how sin deludes us into thinking that by rationalizing our own behavior, God’s will is being done! But the dilution is ours not Gods He sees perfectly clear into the hearts of man and he remembers every word he has said to us. The desire for worldly gain pushes mans fingers into his ears as God speaks his perfect will and unless we remove the flesh from our ears we do not hear the Lord. As a matter of fact we even fool ourselves into thinking that because we can see Gods speaking we are listening to his will but as Saul found out that when our ears are plugged you can only hear yourself better.
He loved the world so much he failed to take the necessary steps to cut himself off from it.
Saul in his rebellion against God spared Agag because he made a value judgment. He destroyed “everything despised and worthless.” He surveyed the situation and decided what to keep and what to destroy. It is ironic that the verse Quoted at the beginning of this paper I stated that God has chosen things that are despised by the world to participate in His glorious purpose. The things Saul ooved are those things hated by God.
The things of the world are all under Gods judgment. Saul wanted to spare the “good” ones. This shows that nothing less than death can remedy our sin problem and make us right with God. Jesus embraced death on the cross to bring eternal life to those who deserved eternal damnation. Death on the cross was a cure (Galatians 3:13) and exposed the one so sentenced to ridicule and shame. When Jesus endured death on a cross as a common criminal (thought He was sinless and innocent) He insured all people would not become His disciples for the wrong reasons. Embracing the cross will not mean honor, prestige, and accolades from the world. Paul told what happened to him and the other apostles because of the message of the cross: “we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now” (1 Corinthians 4:13b) We live in a society that puts gold and silver on crosses and wears them as ornaments around their necks. This is not the executioner’s device of the fist century.
The Cross symbolizes that everything in my old life, not just the despised and worthless things must die. The “good things” that Saul decided to spare from the worldly enemies of God turned out to be his cause of death. Christianity is not a self-betterment religion. It is a way of life that is symbolized by death to the world and everything it stands for. It is embracing the crucified and resurrected Messiah and willingly confessing Him before a cocking world. Jesus said “For whoever is ashamed of Me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38 NASB page 1632) The context of this teaching of His approaching death on the cross (Mark 8:31) AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE FOLLWING IN THE PATHS OF HIS SUFFERING. In a day when so-called “Christianity” is paraded before us as a religion of money, power prestige, privilege, and worldly accolades, it is no wonder that Jesus’ statement in Mark 8:38 makes little sense to many people. Why would anyone be ashamed of something that promises to make us rich and famous?
However, the temptation to be ashamed becomes clear when the claims of the cross are considered: “ And He summoned the multitudes with His disciples, and said to them, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and he gospel’s shall save it.” ( Mark 8:34,35 NASB page 1632) This type of a statement is not meant to maximize the number of “seekers”. It is quite clear that one must pick up and carry the executioner’s device. The reason one would do this in the first century, was because he had been condemned to Death. His life in the world was effectively over. He has “lost” his life in this world the Christian, this means that we have died to everything for the sake of Christ.
This means that Christ is our Lord and everything belongs to Him. This is the very relationship rejected. He decided what stayed and what went. Saul loved the “good things of the world. Converted true disciples of Jesus have died to this world and come alive to God through the Cross. There is in congruity in Christians falling all over each other trying to gain the power prestige, money, and accolades of the world. Sadly, the great irony of the 80’s and 90’s is that some who have done the “best” at this are considered the greatest leaders. Like the ancient Israelites, we have wanted so to be like the pagans that we end up with “leaders” who emulate the pagans. Far to often we have Saul’s rather than Paul’s for leaders.
He Lusted for the Glory of Man
(1 Samual 15:11) He turned back from following Me, and has not carried out My commands.” … and set up a monument for himself.
God had previously predicted his abusive behavior, had revealed that the peoples demand for a king was in fact a request of God, and had told Samuel to listen to them anyway. The appointment of Saul was a judgment of God upon a carnal minded people who wanted to be like the world.
When carnal minded people want to be like the world, God may give them what they want as judgment upon themselves. Saul ended up behaving just as the Lord had predicted. 1-Samuel 15 tells the story of Saul’s rebellion and God’s rejections of him. Even after being repeatedly warned and called to repentance, Saul’s attitude never changed: Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:12b). When faced with his sin he still longed for the glory of man: Then he said, I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God” (1 Samuel 15:30a). Notice that he said to Samuel, “the Lord your God,” not my God. Saul was satisfied with second hand knowledge of God and was filled with the motives of the world. He wanted the accolades of man but refused to submit to the revealed will of God. He could not bring himself to destroy Agag the King of the Amalekites because he was too much like him. Ironically, it was an Amalekite that would kill Saul in the end (2 Samuel 1:6-16). The Flesh we fail to kill will surely kill us in the end.
Saul stands as an illustration of what happens when god’s people start longing for the things of the world. Eventually they want all the power, prestige and status the world has to offer. They tire of the scandal of the cross, and hate being considered lesser people by the unregenerate who looked down on their lowly status. Popularity, glory and honor in the eyes of other is not a worthy goal for God’s people. Jesus said “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15b NASB page 1689)
Saul epitomized the kind of person the carnally minded would look for in a king. In a sense, once could say that God “shoes” Saul, but only to make him an object lesion to a rebellious people who did not want God to be their king. They wanted a king so they could be like the other nations, like the pagans, like the world. Since the people wanted a king in order to be like the world , God gave them a king that was like the world, an abusive, self-centered, egomaniac who nevertheless looked like the national Icon on world news today. A choice and handsome lad and there was none like him in all the land. But he was a rotten cake with choice frosting on top of it.
Perhaps God allows “Saul’s” to exist in leadership today for the same reason Saul was king in the Old Testament to separate those who truly will follow the Lord and those who profess to be God’s people but love the world. The carnally minded will flock to those who follow in Saul’s footsteps.
He covered His sins with Lies instead of the Mercy Seat of Jesus.
(v: 13) He lied to himself and to Samuel and he tried to cover his sin (v:15) He tried to blame the others.
God Spoke to Samuel, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the Lord all night. (1 Samuel 15:11). However, Saul did not even understand what the problem was. When confronted by Samuel, he claimed obedience, blamed the people, and rationalized his behavior.
Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? “ (v:13) It was the sound of Saul’s failure to obey Gods word. When we do not seek God and love His word we lose sight of his convicting power. David also sinned against God, but when he was confronted, with his sin his heartfelt repentance was recorded forever in Psalm 51. This stands in stark contrast to Saul’s response.
Samuel goes on to reminded Saul of something he had apparently forgotten: “and Samuel said, Is it not true, thought you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed you king over Israel, and the Lord sent you on a mission … (1 Samuel 15:17-18a). The Lord had made him king when he was small in his own eyes but now he was great in his own eyes and God rejected him. Samuels’s words to Saul are often repeated and familiar: “Samuel said, Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. Fro rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king,” (1 Samuel 22,23 NASB page 472). To twist and manipulate the word of God and rationalize rebelling against it, is as blatantly sinful as pagan idol worship. Yet many today feel justified as Saul in doing so. Perhaps because we fail to see that the biggest Idol in the room is typically ourselves.
A Man After God’s Heart
Saul was rejected by god; but that is not the end of the story. “ But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:14 NASB page 467) David was chosen by God. Through suffering sorrow, rejection, tragedy, failure, David loved God and became the one through whom the linage of Messiah would come.
The Psalms of David testify of many difficulties David encountered, but every one of them emanated a note of hope. God has chosen the weak thing of the world to shame the strong. The Messiah came as a suffering servant (Isaiah 53). Philippians 2:3-11 tells us of His selfless attitude that we should emulate. If we are to be His witnesses in these last days, we must embrace the cross and die to the world. We must reject the way of Saul.
Conclusion
Even the “good” things that I thought I had to offer the Lord are but filthy rags in His sight. I need to die to my old life and ask Him to make me a new creature in Christ. The radical call to discipleship seems to me to be biblical and from God. Sadly, I have failed many times to live up to this truth, but it provides a baseline for getting back on track. It is sad how often pride and selfish motives have delayed what God is seeking to do in my life. Salvation is a free gift but there is a great cost to discipleship. As God so loved the world that he gave his own life that we might be saved. Discipleship is a rendering of that saved life into the loving hands in which it has been commended. It is a willing surrender to the one who has purchased us with a great price. It is to deliver possession of this life to his will and his will alone. A love offering is no sacrifice yet it always calls us to be second and in that there is great joy.
Where has today’s church gone wrong? How are we to be changed from self-centered sinners to cross-embracing disciples when all we hear is how great we are and how popular and wealthy we can become now that we have Christ? There is a whole generation that has been fed a worldly version of Christianity that is likely to turn out more Saul’s than anything else. Salvation is the free gift of God but there is a very dear price to pay for true discipleship. It will cost you your life but in return you get an eternity.
Cites:
“SAUL.” LoveToKnow1911 Online Encyclopedia. © 2003,2004LoveToKnow.
http://34.1911encyclopedia.org/s/SA/SAUL.htm
Nelsons New Illustrated Bible Commentary
The Making of Israel’s First King bible.org. © 2005. bible.org
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?oage-id=335
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