Month: November 2010

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called into a relationship with Him. Christianity is not just a religion OR even a certain set of beliefs OR even a certain set of practices, as important as they are. It is about a relationship with the living God. God doesn’t want just religious activity or even only our service. He wants US – his people, in close relationship with Him. Jesus referred to his disciples as his friends not merely servants (Jn.15:15). The church at Ephesus was working hard and enduring times of pressure BUT Jesus was not pleased. Why? Because they had drifted from the love they had for him at the beginning (Rev.2:1-7). Jesus desires a relationship with us … not only our service, activity or even faithfulness.

Every relationship is built, developed and maintained on communication. Without some form of communication there can be no quality relationship at all. When communication breaks down, so do relationships. When communication is open, frequent and positive, relationships thrive. Communication is the two-way exchange of thoughts, feelings and ideas. If it is only one-way, then no relationship can develop. It is the same with our relationship with God. We talk a lot about prayer, and prayer is important but sometimes prayer can degenerate into a one-way conversation of us talking at or with God rather than us also learning to listen to His voice speaking to us. Unfortunately, we are not naturally good at listening. Jesus clearly wants to speak to us and have us know and recognize his voice when he does (Jn.10:14-16).

Hearing God’s Voice

God spoke to the young prophet Samuel but initially he did not recognize God’s voice (1 Sam.3:1-10). Eventually he learned to discern the voice of God and he developed a close relationship with God. This story teaches us the fact the God does desire to speak to us, yet it can take time for us to recognize his voice. Listening to God requires that we tune in to his voice and that we understand the different ways that he speaks to us. Jesus’ last message to the church was, “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the church (Rev.2:7).”

How do we hear from God? God communicates to us in many ways, but all through the Spirit. Here are a few of the major ways that God speaks to us today:

1. The Bible. As we know, God is a person who invites us to relate to him personally. Persons have stories and you need to know these in order to know the person. That’s why much of the Bible is narrative. It tells us God’s story especially in relation to mankind. If you want to know God, you need to listen to his story. Stories reveal a person’s heart, desires, personality and purpose. The Bible also contains God’s will for us along with principles and keys to success and fulfilment in life. They have been outlined and illustrated for our instruction (2 Tim.3:16). Read, study and meditate on the Scriptures (Joshua 1:8). God’s Word is living and alive. It has been written and recorded accurately in order to give us an objective lasting record of God’s thoughts.

2. Teaching (and preaching). God speaks through other people, especially when God’s Word is taught. Peter tells those who minister to speak as one speaking the very words of God the  (1 Pt. 4:11). Paul tells us that the church at Thessonalica received his messages as the very “word of God” (1 Thess.2:13). Remember, God can speak through anyone, IF our ears and hearts are open to hear. He even spoke through a donkey once to the prophet Balaam. Don’t allow your personal opinion about the messenger hinder you from hearing what God wants to say to you.

3. Supernatural or Special Revelation. Occasionally, God may speak to us through a form of special revelation such as an audible voice, a dream or a vision (Acts 2:28) or through a prophecy. Prophecy is a sharing of what a person believes is the heart and mind of God. We are not to take prophecies lightly but we are to test (or examine) them, holding on to the good and letting the rest go (1 Thess.5:20-22). The clear purpose of prophecy in the church age (see 1 Cor.14:3) is for: (1) strengthening (to build up), (2) encouragement (to fire up), and (3) comfort (to hold up).

4. The Inner Voice of the Holy Spirit. God wants to speak to us during our personal prayer time through the Holy Spirit within us. As we spend time with God, waiting on him, He will speak. Take time to listen to him. Tune in (e.g. radio). Jesus said, “My sheep hear (listen to) my voice.” Paul tells us that “those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God (Rom.8:14).” The Holy Spirit is our Helper. Our thoughts can come from 3 different sources: our self (Mt.17:3-6), the devil (Mt.16:21-23) or from God (Mt.16:15-17). As time goes by, we can train our spiritual senses to more easily and frequently recognize God’s voice.

Continue reading “Ancient Practices (#7) – Listening” →

Partaking in the Sacred Meal links us with brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world today and in an unbroken line right back to the very first disciples of Jesus over 2000 years ago.

Yet, sadly this meal has become a major source of division and disunity within the church of Jesus Christ throughout the centuries. There has been great controversy and even bitterness and division around the very practice that should be source of love and unity. Both sides have burnt people at the stake for believing the wrong things.

NT Wright, in his excellent booklet The Meal Jesus Gave Us, tells the following story … (p.59-60)

“Two men are sitting in a castle in southern Germany. They are aware of being on the leading edge of something new, something bigger than both of them. They want to get it right. They argue. They disagree. Eventually one of them dips his finger in his beer-froth and writes some words on the table. The other cannot agree. They go their separate ways, disappointed. 

The men are Luther and Zwingli; the year is 1529; the place is Marburg. The dispute is about the presence of Jesus Christ in the Communion, the Eucharist, the Mass.

Both agreed that the Roman Catholic Church had got it wrong with its doctrine of ‘transubstantiation.’ People often misunderstood this. Within the prevailing philosophy of the Middle Ages, physical objects had outward manifestations and an inward ‘substance,’ a reality deeper than that which you could touch and see. So, while the bread still looked, tasted, smelt and felt like bread, its ‘substance,’ this mysterious inner reality, had changed so that it was actually Christ’s body.

Luther disagreed, but not by much. He held on to the idea of an inner substance, and said that the substance of Christ’s body and the substance of the bread were both present. Zwingli went much further. The bread remained bread and that’s all there was to it. At best it could ‘signify’ Christ’s body; it could be a signpost pointing to it, but it wouldn’t in any sense ‘be’ the thing itself. Luther’s strong point was what Jesus said at the Last Supper: “This is my body.” He wrote in Latin in beer-froth on the table: Hoc est corpus meus. He underlined est: this doesn’t mere ‘signify,’ it is Christ’s body. The Lutheran (predominantly German) and the Reformed (predominantly Swiss) Churches have disagreed on the matter ever since.

Meanwhile, less well known than either, a learned man was agonizing in the background. Jesus spoke Aramaic, not Latin. Johannes Oecolampadius knew more Hebrew and Aramaic than either Luther or Zwingli. He knew that in Jesus’ sentence there wasn’t a word for “is.” Translated literally from Aramaic, Jesus’ words were: “This – my body.” The space represented by that dash between the words is too pregnant for logical analysis. Clearly some deep connection is intended, but you can’t put it into a mathematical formula, still less into a test-tube (as some rationalists used to suggest).

… what mattered was that those who came to the Lord’s Supper … in true faith really did 'feed on Christ.' They really were nourished by the person, the presence and the love of Jesus. How that happened, the theological chemistry or it if you like, wasn’t important and probably wasn’t knowable either.”

How funny and yet how sad that these two men argued over the word "is," a word that, after all, wasn't even in the sentence Jesus used! How easy we too can argue and disagree over matters and issues that really aren't worth losing our love for each other over. May this sacred meal once again become a tradition that unites all followers of Christ around our planet, regardless of our differences. In Christ alone. 

A very important ancient practice for disciples is regular participation in the Lord’s Supper. This sacred meal is known by a number of terms including breaking bread, the table of the Lord, communion, and the Eucharist (which means thanksgiving).  Jesus instituted this practice when eating with his disciples just before his death (see Matt.26:26-29. Mark 14:22-25. Luke 22:15-20). Luke shows how the first disciples carried out the instructions of Jesus as they broke bread together regularly (Acts 2:42, 46; 20:7, 11. Luke 24:19, 30). This practice was originally associated with a meal (Luke 22:20. 1 Cor.11:25) but later became a separate celebration. Paul also commented on the Lord’s Supper when writing to the church at Corinth (1 Cor.11:23-26).

Six Dimensions of the Sacred Meal

Partaking in communion is not merely a religious exercise or tradition. It is intended to be a meaningful experience of God and His will for our lives, both personally and as a community of Christ-followers. We must not allow the routine of partaking of communion regularly turn it into a ritual rather than the significant celebration that Jesus intended for it to be. One helpful way to ensure that we retain the meaning of this sacred meal is to explore the breadth of its meaning. As we partake, we should look in at least six directions.

1. Look Backward. In the Lord’s Supper we look backwards to the redemptive work that Jesus accomplished through his death on the cross. His death was not an accident or that of a martyr. His death was a substitutionary one in that he took our place and paid the price for our sins once and for all so that we could be forgiven. This was a complete act of grace and not because of any goodness or merit on our behalf. We can now rest in the finished work of Jesus on the cross knowing that he has done everything that needs to be done for us to be right with God. He suffered for us. His body was broken and His blood was split for our salvation. Communion is a powerful reminder of this foundation of our faith, which is in the finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ. The cross is central to the Christian faith (Gal.6:14. Col.1:20). It may seem foolishness to those who do not believe but may it never be foolishness to the contemporary church (1 Cor.1:18). May we never forget the sacrificial gift of Christ’s life for us!

2. Look Forward. Communion is much more than a morbid recalling of the passion.  Believers “proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes (1 Cor.11:26).” In the Lord’s Supper we look forward to the time when the kingdom will come in full and we will enjoy personal fellowship with Jesus in a celebration meal together. We look forward with confidence each day knowing that our future is secure, whether we live or die. We look forward with joy at his return to earth to right all wrongs and to deliver us from sin and death. We also understand that there will be a day of account where we will be rewarded for the works we have done in this life. Finally, we look forward to a new heavens and a new earth – whether there will be no more sorrow, crying, pain or death (Rev.21:1-4). This accounts for the joy and gladness of heart in which the communion was celebrated (Acts 2:46).

3. Look Inward. Paul reminds us that the celebration of communion is also an important time of self-examination. Those who live in blatant sin when approaching the table are guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord (1 Cor.11:27-28). Communion times can be important occasions of looking inward at one’s heart and holding oneself personally accountable before God. The original Lord’s Supper was partaken of in the context of betrayal and denial. This should serve as a warning to us and a sober reminder to take heed lest we fall. Paul says that some become weak, sick and even die because of not handling this dimension of communion properly (1 Cor.11: 29-30). No doubt, Jesus’ teaching about reconciliation applies here (Matt.5:23-24).

4. Look Upward. The Lord’s Supper also looks upward as we remember that Jesus’ death on the cross and burial in the tomb was not the end of the story. His resurrection seals the fact that Jesus is the Son of God and that his death accomplished our full salvation. We now look up with conviction and joy knowing that the Savior lives and that He is seated at the right hand with the Father interceding for us (Heb.7:25). Jesus is alive! His resurrection is the foundation of our faith and the assurance that we too have been raised from the dead with him to walk in the power of a new life. We are citizens of a new kingdom. We seek for his will to be done and for his kingdom to come in all its fullness.

5. Look Around. Communion is also a time to reinforce the communal nature of this sacred meal. In John’s description of this time in Jesus’ life he includes the well-known story of Jesus taking on the role of a servant by washing the disciples feet (John 13:3-16). It was a powerful reminder of the calling we have to serve one another (Matt.20:20-28). That same evening Peter boastfully declared that he would never deny Jesus, even if the others did. This self-deceptive pride set him up for certain failure. Without others we can so easily fall away. We need each other’s friendship, encouragement, and accountability to stay faithful as we follow Jesus together. Communion is a time to look around and remind ourselves that we need each other. We are one body in Christ, regardless of differences.

6. Look Outward. Finally, there is an outward dimension to the Lord’s Supper. As Paul reflects on the communion, he reminds us that as we partake we “proclaim the Lord’s death” until he comes (1 Cor.11:26). We live in a world where people need to know the good news that Jesus has provided salvation from our sins through his death on the cross. Communion is a time to remind ourselves of those who haven’t heard or responded to this message. As we go from the table, we go with renewed commitment to pray, to love, and to share the good news of Jesus with others as we have opportunity.

As we can see, there is rich and deep meaning to this ancient practice. At communion we are to look backward (to Christ’s death), look forward (to Christ’s return), look inward (in self-examination), look upward (fellowship with God), look around (fellowship with each other), and look outward (to proclaim God’s word to others). May we all experience more and more of God’s amazing love for us as we celebrate communion together.

Continue reading “Ancient Practices (#6) – The Sacred Meal” →

Jesus tells us in Mark 2:23-28 that the “Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.” In other words, God’s intention in instituting the Sabbath Day was for our own benefit. In reality, Jesus never violated God’s Sabbath. He simply confronted the religious leader’s additional rules and traditions they had added to God’s command.

The meaning of the Sabbath (a word which means “to stop” or “to cease”) is rooted in God’s rest following the six days of creation. On the seventh day, God “rested” from his work of creation and declared the day “blessed” and “holy” (Gen.2:1-3). This principle was then reinforced as the fourth commandment (Ex.20:8-11). This commandment forbids being “lazy” (you must work if you are able) or becoming a “workaholic” (someone who never stops or slows down). Both work and rest are ordained and blessed by God.

Sabbath was a day of rest for the Israelites and violating it was a serious offence (Ex.31:14. Num.15:32-36). It was a joyous holy day, a day of spiritual refreshment, community worship, prayer, contemplation and community worship.

Jesus, his disciples, the apostle Paul and the early Christians observed the Sabbath because they were Jewish believers and they were reaching out primarily to Jewish people initially. Later in the first century, it seems that Sunday emerged as a time when Christians met to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection and became known as the Lord’s Day (see Acts 20:6-7. 1 Cor.16:1-3). When certain Jewish teachers sought to impose various laws, including Sabbath keeping, on Gentile churches, Paul vehemently opposed them (Rom. 14:5; Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16). The New Covenant believer serves the Lord each day of the week. Jesus is to be Lord of every day and we are to live to please him daily, seeing each day as a gift from his hand – blessed and holy.

Today we no longer need to keep the Sabbath Day as Israel did, nor do we need to transfer the rigidity of Sabbath keeping to Sunday, as the Lord’s Day. However, we can glean some very important lessons from the principle of the Sabbath Day for our lives today. We can and should reclaim Jesus’ liberating view of the Sabbath as a “gift from God” for our benefit and a time for “doing good”. Let’s recapture the heart of God’s original intention for it.

Here are a few suggestions:

Continue reading “Ancient Practices (#5) – Sabbath” →