Our family enjoyed the whole film from Mason Jar Films and Josh Garrels this evening. Beautiful. Delightful. Encouraging. Right in our living room.
May Jesus infuse your life with His beauty.
Another Amen!
Happy New Year!
Extra
What if we were not afraid?
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” John 11:25-27
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” …53So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. John 11:45-50, 53
Identity Issues
After Jesus made this extraordinary admission of his identity he proceeded to the tomb of Lazarus and called him out. Jesus radiates His glory in word and deed:
The Resurrection: Whoever believes in me, though he dies, shall live.
The Life: Whoever believes in me shall never die.
The body will fail us. Jesus will not.
The spirit of a person made alive in Christ will live though the body dies.
A Threat to the Status Quo
The healing of Lazarus solidified the opinion of some people that Jesus was a threat. Can you imagine? What if the followers of Jesus were not afraid of death? For those authorities who rely on violence to retain their honour, their position and their influence a people who do not fear death is intolerable. So these authorities take a posture against Jesus and His people.
So, what if we were not afraid?
“You can kill the body, but the Lord will raise me up.” “To be absent from the body is to be with the Lord.” “You decide, is it better for us to obey people, or the Lord?” “Jesus is Lord.”
Where would we go? Who would we love? What convictions would remain? What trivial pursuits would we abandon?
So, what if you were not afraid?
What if heaven, our Lord, and His call loomed larger than death itself?
From “What?” to “Who?”
9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:9-10
“What is your security?” & “Who is your security?”
On Sunday our friend Kyle Reese spoke from John 10. God challenged me with these two questions Kyle asked us: “What is your way in?” and “What is your security?” Later Kyle refocused us just as Jesus refocused His listeners to the greater issue of “who?” not “what?” So now the questions become “Who is your way in, in to life, joy, peace?” And “Who is your security?”
The Shepherd’s Question: “Will you follow me?”
And then at the end of the message, the question became “Will you follow me?” That’s The Shepherd’s question. Those who are His, know HIs voice and will follow Him. The people who follow Jesus Christ have accepted Him, His authority and His attachment to them. The grace and truth of Jesus become the very features that help us differentiate between the other voices competing for our affections and our soul.
The disciple of Jesus is meant to be secure in Him. Anything else, and anyone else will lead to heightened levels of anxiety and the all the false cures available to us.
When Psalm 23 becomes True for You
When Jesus is our Shepherd Psalm 23 becomes true for us:
1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Disciple-Making Intentionality
Disciple-Making is an intentional practice.
It requires us to keep up with Jesus and what He is doing in the life of another person. There is not one equation, recipe or formula; disciple-making is an art. In the artist’s mind is a vision. And our vision is of Jesus.
Every follower of Jesus can be a disciple-maker in response to Him. Joining Him in His Kingdom mission is the outcome of being with Him and being changed by Him. You don’t have to become a pastor, priest, or minister. Our disciple-making dream as disciples of Jesus does not require a position or an office. It requires intentionality.
A Disciple-Stages Grid
Disciple-making requires the intentionality of being a “parent.” The elder John clearly had it in mind when he wrote:
12I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
13I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
14I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
1 Peter 2:12-14
At our huddle meeting this past week Young Tae illustrated the passage.
I believe the elder John had a “stages of discipleship” grid in mind. He desired movement or growth in the lives of Jesus’ followers that went from being children, to being young men, to being fathers/ parents. As well I believe he dreamed of a church served by men and women who fulfilled the reproductive impulse of the Kingdom of God by becoming disciple-makers. Their knowledge of God, “Him who is from the beginning,” generated interest, love, sacrifice, and intentionality with those who were new and growing in the faith.
With those new in their walk with Jesus its important for us help them know Jesus and His forgiveness, such that their identity as His beloved children is established. For those who are growing more in their walk Jesus its important for us to help them discover their strength in Christ, to become deeply familiar and engaged with the word of God, and to experience victory over the evil one in their character, land passions.
The Erosion of Discipling Communities
When I study these kinds of texts I’m often haunted by what its like to be a church or a disciple that takes no interest in the disciple-journey of others. God calls it a foolish shepherd. For the last twenty years I have had this text in Zechariah in front of me when it comes to erosion of discipling communities.
14Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
15Then the Lord said to me, “Take once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.
17 “Woe to my worthless shepherd,
who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his arm
and his right eye!
Let his arm be wholly withered,
his right eye utterly blinded!”
Zechariah 11:14-17
They lose their intentionality for the heart of the Father. In fact, they lose their way because unity and favour have been broken. Their shepherds become foolish; they do not care for the young, bind up the shattered, seek the lost or feed the healthy. This is a discipling community that has lost its vision. These kinds of communities devour people!
The apostles were intentional, just as Jesus was intentional. They were intentional to not only pour their lives into others. They were intentional to cooperate with the Spirit of Jesus in the building of HIs Church. They knew they needed a healthy discipling community formed around a vision of Jesus, The Disciple Maker.
Rushing Wind.
“When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him [Saul] another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, ‘What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?'” 1 Samuel 10:9-11
“Has not the Lord anointed you?” (1 Samuel 10:1)
The donkey’s were lost and Saul was sent to find them. In the course of his normal day’s work, the young son of Kish, ran headlong into God’s plan. Samuel the prophet declared the word of God to Saul and poured oil over his head anointing him “to be prince over his people Israel.” Three signs were given him and each came to pass: that which was lost, the donkeys, were found so his work was completed, provision (bread) was provided for his journey, and the Spirit God came upon him in power.
I love what Samuel told Saul about the Spirit of God: “Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. Then go down before me to Gilgal And behold, I am coming to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.” 1 Samuel 10:6-8
I’m drawn to three lessons in those signs, that Saul would have done well to hold onto in his future service as king. Each of these only required his obedience to the word of God as he went about his day.
1. God can grant success in our work.
2. God can make provision for our daily life.
3. God can transform our lives in the power of His Spirit.
As you go about your day and your calling from Jesus, beware the forgetfulness that can invade your mindful dependence on His Spirit.
Here’s a prayer by Keith Green, Rushing Wind, that has been nicely covered by the band at Sevenoseven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3So7A5EhyM4
Lyrics for Rushing Wind by Keith Green
Rushing wind, blow through this temple,
Blowing out the dust within;
Come and breathe your breath upon me:
I’ve been born again.
Holy Spirit, I surrender; take me where you want to go.
Plant me by your living water,
Plant me deep so I can grow.
Jesus, you’re the one who sets my spirit free;
Use me, Lord; glorify your Holy Name through me.
Separate me from this world, Lord;
Sanctify my life for you.
Daily change me to your image,
Help me bear good fruit.
Ev’ry day you’re drawing closer;
Trials come to test my faith.
But when all is said and done, Lord,
You know it’s been worth the wait.
Jesus, you’re the one who set my spirit free;
Use me, Lord; glorify your Holy Name through me.
Rushing wind, blow through this temple,
Blowing out the dust within;
Come and breathe you breath upon me,
For I’ve been born again.
urbanfoot 