Worldly Warmth - May 29, 2011

Mark 14:54 - Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire.

Many of us probably have some pleasant memories of our times around a campfire. Whether we participated in Scouting as children, or camped with our respective families, most of us have some type of memory of feeling the warmth and glow of a fire at the end of a day of hiking or simply at a campsite. Fire is a critical tool when bivouacking in the outdoors. Not only does it provide needed warmth and a means to cook food, but it also offers a sense of security as it chases away the specters in the night, either real or imagined. Through the millennia, the campfire has been a place to collectively share a meal, enjoy some familial or communal togetherness, and to also gather in numbers to create security and a sense of camaraderie amongst those so inclined. The warmth of a fire can often be analogous to those sharing in its flame. This was probably the case in biblical times when Peter stumbled into the courtyard of the High Priest that momentous night nearly 2,000 years ago. We are told in the Gospels that the temple guards and the servants had built a fire in the courtyard, possibly believing it would be a long night. They may have desired a place to retreat to from the inquest occurring just off of the courtyard in possibly an open-air room where Jesus was being questioned. We are told that Peter found this more desirable, to be at a safe distance away from his Lord's harsh interrogation. So, he retreated to a place that would soon reveal his heart toward the One he had hours before made loud attestation regarding his fidelity.

Our lead verse reveals Peter's attitude of self-preservation as he "followed Him at a distance". No longer was he the brash, out-spoken disciple of the previous evening, filled with bravado and contempt regarding anything less than stalwart allegiance to the Savior. Mark's portrayal of the soon-to-be leader of the new Christian movement was less than complimentary. Of all biblical characterizations of Simon Peter, this was Peter depicted at his worst. Since the company around the fire consisted of both servants (or slaves) and officers (probably temple guards), Peter would be able to blend in unrecognized by those sharing the fire's warmth (John 18:18). Or would he? Peter was counting on the fact that he could easily dismiss his affiliation with the Lord Jesus and to once again mingle with those of the world like he had three years earlier before meeting Jesus. However, he hadn't counted on being noticeably different from those who sought camaraderie around the glow of the fire's embers. This well-known story regarding Peter the protagonist is made known only by the servant girl as the antagonist that betrays Peter's true intentions to those sharing the fire as well as to the Lord Himself (Luke 22:55-61). With Peter's thrice denial of the Lord, he more than likely understood at a deeper level that he had no business sharing the warmth of this fire with those who were at best indifferent to his Lord, and more than likely sympathetic to the high priest's position. With the realization that truly Satan had "sifted him like wheat" as Jesus had prophesied earlier that night (Luke 22:31), Peter was truly at rock bottom and could do nothing but weep in despair over his betrayal (Luke 22:62).

The scripture does not tell us where Peter went after his betrayal of the Lord. From the Gospels, we know that only John was present at the crucifixion (John 19:26-27). We can only speculate that Peter regrouped with the other disciples and remained with them until the Lord's resurrection (Luke 24:9; John 20:19). If that is the case, then this would make sense with his abrupt departure from the high priest's courtyard. Peter had come to realize that he no longer could "fellowship" with the world. Even those of the world, such as the servant girl, recognized Peter to have been with Jesus. Even though Peter tried to blend in, he could not because too much of Jesus had affected his life both outwardly and inwardly. Peter talked like a Galilean which was what clinched the servant girl's opinion that Simon was one of Jesus' disciples (Mark 14:70). We understand this as being a visual recognition of Peter and his association with Jesus. Was it just a physical recollection in the servant girl's mind, or was there something strikingly like Jesus that she saw in Peter's demeanor? After all, he had been with his Lord for three years. Had not Peter reflected his Lord's character enough to have given just a glimpse to these who were at best indifferent to what happened to Jesus and His disciple Peter? We can only assume that the recognition was on the physical level, but also conjecture that there was something she also saw of Christ in the beleaguered Simon Peter.

As Christ's present day disciples, we must also ask ourselves: Do we follow Christ from a distance when it comes to identifying with our own cross to carry? Jesus will never insist that we follow Him, take up our cross, and endure its death -- day in and day out. He will merely glance back as he did with Peter to see if we are warming ourselves by the fires of this world, thus denying His life within us. To love the world is to declare hostility toward God, beloved. We can not fellowship and have camaraderie with the world one day and then go and back-slap Jesus the next day in church like He is our best friend. The warmth of the fires of this world are indifferent if not hostile to our God. So, why would we seek to betray our Lord by seeking out associations that will never fulfill? The Lord Jesus Christ has promised a fire that will not be quenched, full of His holy love that will dwell in the heart of every believer that would but trust in Him. May we not turn toward the warmth that the world offers that will only promote mockery toward our God. May we seek Jesus and the Eternal Fire that He desires to grow in all those He calls His own.

Heavenly Father, may the fire You have lit within all those who know you not be quenched, but may it grow into an inferno of love for You and others. May we shun the warmth of the fires of this world that would only seek to draw us into indifference, apathy, and even hostility toward Your Son. Continue to fan the flame of holiness and love within our souls. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

The Bare Soul Archives

Rest in Peace - May 22, 2011

Proverbs 19:23 - The fear of the LORD leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

A good night's sleep seems to be a thing of the past for many Americans. According to the National Sleep Foundation, Americans slept on average two hours more a night 40 years ago. Dr. Jose Loredo at the University of California San Diego Sleep Medicine Center says that adults need about 8.5 hours of sleep per night. According to experts, "lack of sleep has been tied to increased heart attacks, hypertension, obesity, and decreased productivity". They further state that once folks finally do go to bed, around 20% of these don't fall asleep within the first few minutes on account of worry about finances and personal relationships. Instead of sleeping, most will resort to watching TV, which often stimulates the mind rather than allowing it to "wind down", making it more receptive to allow the body to rest. As a result, 19% of those surveyed said that "... they missed at least one family, leisure, or work event a month due to sleepiness or a sleeping problem". While lack of sleep can certainly be caused by problems such as anxiety or stress, many often dismiss a spiritual causation as possibly being the main culprit. Rather than fighting restlessness with our own feeble efforts, maybe it's time to look at the underlying reason for our lack of true rest.

Our lead verse is both a promise and an equation, of sorts, that can be leveraged in regard to the lack of rest in many of our lives. This scripture unequivocally suggests that true rest comes out of a relationship with God. First of all, it's important to understand that the premise to any true restfulness in this lifetime is to understand the fear of the Lord. I have written about the fear of the Lord in some detail in the past (see The Fear of the Lord, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3). However, as a quick review, let us qualify that the fear of the Lord is simply loving God so fully and completely that we would not consider disobeying Him in any regard. That, my friends, is the perfect ideal. Unfortunately, many of us have never quite attained to this total surrender. Nonetheless, those of us who desire to walk with God as His children continue to walk toward this goal day by day, even though we might stumble on the way. So, to possess the fear of the Lord, in whatever measure respective of our walk with the Lord, is the first addend in our equation. It is the baseline in which the sum of the other parts is dependent. From it, we are told in Proverbs 19:23 that our fear or reverence of God will lead to "life". This leads us to ask "What is life?" For believers in God, it can simply be stated that life is the opposite of the affects of death and destruction. (In truth, real life only exists in Jesus Christ.) Paul tells us that though our outer man or our physical life is decaying, our inner man is being renewed daily (II Corinthians 4:16). The tragedy for those who do not know Christ is that both their outward and inward persons are held in bondage by death and its consequences. They have no inner peace that allows them any control over their mind and body. Therefore, they are plagued by unrest, resulting in anxiety, stress, and sleeplessness. A New Testament example of someone who knew the fear of the Lord was the Apostle Peter. It is demonstrated in his ability to sleep between two guards in Herod's prison (Acts 12:5-6). Though he may have well-considered that his fate would be similar to the martyrdom of the Apostle James by the sword (Acts 12:1-2), Peter nonetheless had no trouble believing that his fate was in the hands of God. We are told in this account that an angel appeared with a "great light" in the cell where Peter slept. However, this wasn't enough to rouse the disciple. The heavenly messenger literally had to strike Peter on the side to wake him up (Acts 12:7). This, my friends, is an example of a man so controlled by God in his inner man that his body was at peace and at rest. Years later, the Apostle John undoubtedly understood the connection between the natural and the spiritual man when he addressed Gaius: Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers (III John 3). If a man is at peace within, he will obviously be at peace and at rest no matter the circumstances.

Unlike Peter, my incarcerations were much less noble. I remember stints in county or city jails where sleep was fleeting. The constant noises and stirrings were amplified by the concrete and heavy steel construction. The clanging of a door in a cell block two corridors away would echo throughout the entire building. A person could try to stuff toilet paper in their ears, but it would do little good. The magnification of sound was just too intense. What I would have given for a set of good earplugs to silence the din. Of course, even if I could have quieted what was going on around me, I would still have to silence the "committee" within my head. Many voices would tell me, "You've really messed up again! Look at you! In jail again! You said the last time this happened would truly be the last time!" The chatter of guilt and condemnation became almost unbearable. When periods of sleep did come, it seemed like the dreams and nightmares competed constantly with consciousness. I would lie there, half asleep and half awake, drifting in and out of a state of unsettled rest. While most will not experience loss of sleep to this extreme, the degree of restlessness can be equated to the lack of the fear of the Lord. Today, I know that I had no love or understanding of God when I foolishly got locked away. Now I know that in order to achieve any true rest in my life, that I must "lean on the Everlasting Arms". The consequences of not resting in God in His blessed fear, is to experience being touched by evil continually. That's why Solomon knew when he wrote this proverb that the fear of the Lord not only allowed us to rest peacefully, but it also afforded us unmolested sleep by the enemy.

Evil will often seek us out when we are most vulnerable. If we call ourselves Christian believers, yet walk in anxiety and fear throughout our day and not in the fear of the Lord, why should it surprise us if our sleep is also infested with the flesh and the devil? If we are not subjecting ourselves to the Lord, why wouldn't we believe we have left ourselves defenseless? The enemy of our soul desires that we have no rest, but that we would be constantly in turmoil and living in great angst whether awake or asleep. However, if we are walking in the Spirit throughout the day, it makes God-sense that we would be sleeping in the Spirit at night. After all, the Lord has promised that He would give to His beloved (that's me and you) even in our sleep (Psalm 127:2). As Spirit-led believers, we can also claim the promise from Psalm 4:8: In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety. If we call ourselves His beloved, do we lie down and rest in peace? Or, are we part of the restless statistics that characterize sleepless Americans? The antidote to the present-day plague of restlessness and sleeplessness is evident. If we will but give ourselves to God, surrendering our life during the day, we will know His sweet rest at night. It is part of our heritage as blood-bought believers. May we give ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, without reserve, that we may quiet both our hearts and minds and find our rest in Him. May we all rest well tonight in the arms of our Beloved!

Lord God Almighty, You are the One who gives us true rest. The flesh and the devil seek to kill, to steal, and to destroy. We resist the enemy, not allowing him to steal or destroy our rest in You, O Lord. We lean on Your blessed arms, knowing that You will give us rest if we will but "come". Thank you for the promise of rest while we sojourn upon earth, and thank you for the hope of rest eternal in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick


The Bare Soul Archives

Almost Obedient - May 15, 2011

Genesis 33:18 - Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city.

Noted author and Christian Missionary Alliance pastor A.W. Tozer once said: The true follower of Christ will not ask, "If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?" Rather he will say, "This is truth. God help me to walk in it, let come what may!" How many believers do we know who have this sort of attitude toward the Lord? For these rare individuals, they do not hold the position that God needs to align Himself with the direction they would choose, but rather the one that God Almighty has laid out before them. They have come to a place of death to self, and come what may, they deliberately set their faces like flint to obey the Lord in all respects. While this is the "normal Christian life", many of us fall dismally short of this ideal. While it may be our desire to give our lives unreservedly to the Lord, there are too often those "hindrances" that would cause us to compromise our resolution. However, before we berate ourselves for not living a totally surrendered life, there are many biblical examples that would give us hope that almost obedient hearts can be changed to a steely resolve, not wavering in our belief. Jacob the patriarch was one of these "waverers". For years, he perfected deception, withholding complete truthfulness and honesty in his dealings with both God and man. However, things would begin to change for Jacob one day when he wrestled with God.

From the scripture, we know that Jacob's name literally means "deceiver". Jacob (with the help of his mother Rebekah) validates his namesake by deceiving his father Isaac into giving him the blessing rather than his brother, Esau (Genesis 27:12; Genesis 27). Having previously obtained his brother's birthright, and now his blessing, Jacob incurred the wrath of his older brother. So much so, that he felt it wise to relocate several hundred miles to the east to the land of his mother's relatives. However, one thing he didn't count on was finding the same less than honest dealings in his Uncle Laban as those within himself. (Laban is likewise translated "deceiver" in the Aramaic language.) For a total of 20 years, Jacob dealt with this unscrupulous fellow who tricked him regarding his marriage to Leah and Rachel, and then dealt deceptively regarding his payment to his son-in-law concerning his herds (Genesis 31:41). However, throughout these two decades that Jacob sojourned in the land of the east, this son of Isaac seemed to have learned little regarding complete honesty. We see this in his behavior as he multiplied his flocks through deception (Genesis 30:31-43). Furthermore, he obviously was not modeling stalwart behavior as his wife Rachel stole her father's idols before their hasty escape (Genesis 31:19). The stage had been set for a showdown between Laban and Jacob. Fortunately, for both sides, it did not result in hostilities. While Laban knew that Jacob had not been totally honest, and vice versa, they could not prove their cases. They simply concluded their relationship with a stalemate and parted ways (Genesis 31:43-55).

However, Jacob's perception of what would occur when he met his brother Esau was another story. Through years of deception and not totally trusting in God, Jacob's trust in his own trickery was now faltering. When he met and wrestled with the Angel of the Lord, he finally came to an understanding that he could no longer be a deceiver and prosper before God. Even though Jacob's name was changed from "deceiver" (Jacob) to "one who has striven with God and man and has prevailed" (Israel), he still had some of that old, deceptive nature to relinquish. His trust was not yet firmly grounded in the Lord. We are shown this by Jacob sending gifts ahead to appease his brother Esau rather than trusting that God indeed had sent him back to the land of his birth. Even after meeting with his brother Esau the next day, he lied to his brother, telling him he would join him in a few days. Rather than heading south into Seir, Jacob headed west to settle near the city of Shechem. Ironic to the Angel's proclamation regarding Jacob's new name, he did exactly the opposite. He broke faith with both his brother and God by his retreat to Shechem. First of all, he should have never told his brother that he would follow him to Seir since the Lord had commanded him to return to the land of his birth (Genesis 31:13). Jacob knew that this was a deception, even as he knew stopping in Shechem was a compromise to returning south to Mamre, the land of his father. Although technically in the land of Canaan, Jacob had not followed through and returned to the land of his birth and to his father, Isaac. This disobedience would cost his family dearly as his daughter Dinah was defiled and his sons are led into murder by deception (Genesis 34). Even when they finally do settle in the land of their fathers, the sons once again act shamefully by betraying their brother Joseph and deceiving their father about his supposed death. Indeed, deception had become a generational curse upon this family (Genesis 37).

Jacob truly became Israel in his latter years. No more was he the deceiver, yet his deceptive ways were still passed on to his sons which caused much trouble. Even so, God caused all these things to work for good. Even in the midst of deception and "almost obedience", we see a compassionate God always steering and leading these biblical examples into the way He desired. What would their lives have been like if Jacob, his wives and their sons had shown total obedience? Certainly, there would not have been much of the heartache created by their compromise and deception. However, God's hand was there to make good come out of their evil. While this does not justify compromise, it explains how God can use deceivers like Jacob and turn them into His vessel of honor. Through the heartache that compromise creates, God was able to lead a man like Jacob into the promised land and to create the man, Israel. It is the same for us, beloved. God will take our concessions to sin and turn them around for His glory. The key is to never give up and to not give in, much like Jacob refused to yield to the Angel of the Lord. We must continue to strive for complete obedience to the Lord, for with it is peace and security. The alternative, an "almost obedience", will only result in hearts that continue to be broken due to the situations our willfulness creates. May we look to the Lord and obey him unconditionally with no fear, trusting that He indeed will bring us to our respective promised land that is filled with God's abundance.

Heavenly Father, may we lay down our "almost obedience" and surrender our will to You for Your good pleasure. You will only lead us to a place of security in You if we will but obey. Take away our deception and our mistrust and fill us with Your love and faith. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick


The Bare Soul Archives

The Lamp of the Lord - May 8, 2011

The following is the message text and audio recording of a sermon titled "The Lamp of the Lord" delivered to the homeless at the Kansas City Rescue Mission Chapel on April 28, 2011.

The Lamp of the Lord - April 28, 2011

Zephaniah 1:12 - And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will He do evil.

I have many fond memories of childhood. One of these was helping my father fix the family car. At best, my father was a “shade tree” mechanic. I can remember that no matter how much light we had in the garage, he invariably needed more as he was loosening spark plugs or setting points in one of his many “fixer-uppers.” I learned from an early age the importance of holding the light steady and secure for him to see what he was doing. I soon found out that it didn’t matter whether I could see what he was working on or not. What mattered is that the light shone in that dark area where he needed it most. Many of us can probably relate to a similar circumstance. If not, possibly there was that time when you needed a little extra light in an already well-lit room. There seemed to be just enough shadows that didn’t allow a “visual” of possibly a lost coin or a small piece of jewelry. In that case, a flashlight served well to illuminate those gray areas where the light didn’t shine bright enough.

Light is a wonderful thing and can illumine those dark crevices with a focus of the beam. Throughout the ages, mankind has used some type of luminary to make the seemingly invisible visible once again. Of course, before our modern use of electrical lighting, man had to rely on fire or possibly a refractory device to reflect either the sun or another luminary. Man has always had an innate compulsion to chase away the darkness by lighting his way however possible. In many instances in scripture, we find biblical authors using the metaphor of light as a method to reveal darkness that has either entered an individual’s life or that of a nation’s. We find this is the case through the words of Zephaniah the Prophet. In Zephaniah 1:12, we read the following in the King James Version (KJV):

And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will He do evil.

What does this verse mean in context with the chapter and the rest of the Book of Zephaniah? Is the author talking about himself or someone else when he refers to searching Jerusalem with candles to punish men that are “settled on their lees?” What, if anything, does this peculiar set of aforementioned words mean in relation to this prophetic writing? To answer these questions is to define the theme of this oracle to the house of Judah. Let’s take a brief look at the background of the Book of Zephaniah and the prophet’s message to God’s chosen people.

Since the time of King David and his son Solomon, Judah experienced a number of successors to the throne. A minority of these were good kings who attempted to do the Lord’s bidding. However, the majority followed in the wickedness of the kings of the northern kingdom, Israel. One of these good kings, Hezekiah, bore a son named Manasseh who reigned 55 years in Jerusalem. Some speculate that Isaiah prophesied into Manasseh’s reign before the former was martyred by being sawn in two, as Jewish tradition suggests. Regardless, most scholars believe that Zephaniah was the prophet who broke a 50 year prophetic silence when he began his lament against the idolatrous atrocities of Manasseh’s reign. This son of Hezekiah corrupted the kingdom of Judah to a seemingly worse state than his father had restored and revived the kingdom during his rule. (We might also note here that Manasseh and Zephaniah were related since Zephaniah 1:1 provides us the prophet’s royal lineage back to Hezekiah.) So, when Zephaniah appeared on the scene in the middle of the 7th century, he became God’s emissary of the doom that would soon overtake Judah. Although we are told that Zephaniah spoke his oracles in the time of good king Josiah’s reign, the die had already been cast for all the evil that Manasseh and others had previously perpetrated.

The Book of Zephaniah centers around two themes. The first is an overarching threat of impending disaster through God’s judgments, and the second is the hope of ultimate deliverance. For our purposes, we will concentrate on the first theme of impending judgment which embodies the literary genre of prophetic oracle in Chapter One. Within this oracle genre is possibly one of the most descriptive sub-genre of God’s judgment or wrath within the entire Old Testament. Zephaniah wastes no time getting to the purpose of his pronouncement of wrath in the name of Yahweh. We see in the first few verses that he speaks judgment to both people and princes regarding their blatant worship of the false gods Baal, Milcom, and the host of heaven. These passages prepare us and lay the background for our study in verse 12.

As previously mentioned, I set forth the question regarding who was searching Jerusalem with “candles” to punish those who were “settled on their lees.” From the context, it is clear that God is speaking through the prophet and will search with candles until He finds all those who have wickedly turned to idols rather than giving Him their worship. First of all, let’s define what a “candle” was in the time of this writing. The root or the etymology of this word means “lamp” which is a more precise translation than what is offered in the KJV. Most newer translations, such as the New American Standard Bible (NASB), translate this noun as “lamp.” We know from ancient history that these were olive oil pottery lamps that consisted of an opening for the oil reservoir and another at the other end of this elongated vessel for the wick. Lamps of this kind did not burn intensely bright because of the low volatility and flash-point of olive oil. For God to use this metaphor through the words of the prophet is striking indeed. It would take a great amount of patience and thoroughness to complete a search of all the darkness in Jerusalem by the Creator with a pottery lamp. Of course, this is merely a figure of speech for the metaphor used in this passage. It is clear, however, that the Lord’s intent was to do a complete search and purge the wickedness from His sight.

This leads us to our second question: What does “settled on their lees” have to do with God’s search for wickedness in His chosen city? This term actually hearkens back to ancient times. It is an old adage from winemaking that refers to wine settling and becoming stagnant rather than “living” which is what wine is supposed to characterize. Let me briefly explain. Lees are what would commonly be called particles of solid material from the wine itself. Winemakers would often allow wine to “settle” on the lees for a certain amount of time. This would give the wine a richer and more satisfying flavor. However, if it was left too long on the lees, the wine could become too thick and often syrupy. In short, it was ruined. That’s why winemakers would frequently “shake up” the wine in order for it to continue to remain palatable. This, in my opinion, provides a vivid word picture regarding what the Lord was trying to reveal to the Judeans. While newer versions portray the word “lamp” better than the King James “candle,” I believe the KJV provides a better description of what it means to become “settled” or “stagnant.” For instance, the NASB states the following in verse 12 of Zephaniah Chapter One:

It will come about at that time
That I will search Jerusalem with lamps,
I will punish the men
Who are stagnant in spirit,
Who say in their hearts,
'The LORD will not do good or evil!'

“Who are stagnant in spirit” does not seem to capture the imagination quite as well as solid waste actually settling at the bottom of the wine skin or wine vat. God has painted a vivid picture of what it means to become stagnant in spirit in the KJV. Having settled on their lees, God’s chosen people had become apathetic and uncaring. Yahweh was declaring that He was coming soon to “shake things up.”

This is further clarified by the prophetic word in the last two lines of this verse. In the 7th century Near East, a particular religion had become quite prevalent due to its Persian origins. Zoroastrianism was a cultic faith originating in present day Iran and was widely accepted in Medo-Persia and also in its subject provinces. In a nutshell, it basically taught that all men should show common respect and goodness for all. However, there were not true definitions regarding what “goodness” might be from one person to the next. Zoroastrianism, in general, was an ecumenical belief that taught as long as good was both the pursuit and the goal, then the relativity of what that meant was not deemed important, as long as good was progressed. The ultimate goal was to live in the right and to dispel the wrong. To put it simply, their belief was that mankind should pursue goodness as revealed to their own hearts. This non-absolutism had more than likely pervaded the Hebrew society, and now the prophet was making a pronouncement regarding the evil in simply doing good as man saw fit. Yahweh was pronouncing judgment on this attitude of relativity toward His goodness which was not arbitrary. He would no longer tolerate this blatant disrespect for His absolute law.

From the reading, and with this additional background information regarding the social and religious climate of the day, it is quite understandable why Jehovah was distraught with the Judeans. They had disregarded the laws that He had given them and substituted them with whatever they conceived of in their own hearts as being correct. Furthermore, they had become apathetic to the point where seeking the will of God was no longer the impetus of their religious existence. As long as they could rest on their proverbial laurels and pursue what they deemed right, they believed this should satisfy their own religious needs. However, God was quick to point out that indeed this sort of thinking would bring about their destruction. They had given themselves to worship wrong gods, such as the Baals, Milcom, and the host of heaven, having been steeped in a Zoroastrianistic mindset that was destroying them both morally and spiritually. The time, according to the prophetic message, was a time of retribution and judgment regarding this fallacious thinking.

In reading Zephaniah Chapter One and particularly verse 12, how might we apply this to our lives today? As stated in the beginning, the major theme in the first chapter of Zephaniah is judgment and impending doom. Can we relate this to our day and time? Let’s spend a few moments comparing our present day with that of the prophet’s. We should be able to ask ourselves particular questions from our main text in verse 12. Are God’s chosen people of today in an apathetic state? Do similar conditions exist which would imply that we are resting on our proverbial lees and that we are stagnant in our faith toward God? Have we sacrificed God’s word for relativism, seeking instruction that teaches morality, yet devoid of Yahweh’s spirituality? I believe to some degree the answers to these questions are “yes.” While we are seeing a great turning toward Jesus Christ in many churches, there are just as many or more that are on the brink of total apostasy. Here are just a few statistics from a 2008 study that may give us pause:

• ... Christians spend seven times as much time on entertainment as they do on spiritual activities.


• Although 2/3 of all teenagers say they know all the basic teachings of the Christian faith, 2/3 reject the existence of Satan, 3/5 reject the existence of the Holy Spirit, and 1/2 believe that Jesus sinned....


• Desiring to have a close, personal relationship with God ranks just sixth among the 21 life goals tested, trailing such desires as "living a comfortable lifestyle".


• A minority of born again adults (44%) and an even smaller proportion of born again teenagers (9%) are certain of the existence of absolute moral truth.


• In a representative nationwide survey among born again adults, none of the individuals interviewed said that the single, most important goal in their life is to be a committed follower of Jesus Christ.


• Large proportions of the lay leaders in Christian churches hold a range of unbiblical religious views regarding the holiness of Christ, the reality of Satan, the existence of the Holy Spirit, the reality of the resurrection, and the means to salvation.

My friends, while this seems alarming to many of us who desire to walk with the Lord, we are not without hope. Even as the main theme of Zephaniah Chapter One is judgment, the hope of redemption lies in further reading of this short book. Even today, the Lord is undoubtedly searching the Church of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, with His lamp, seeking out both the wicked and the righteous. With His searchlight of truth and justice, He is looking for those who are apathetic and those who would no longer define good and evil by His holy word. We must surely believe that God is searching out wickedness as faithfully today as He did in millennia past. May we not be those whom He would need to find in the dark places of His Son’s Church. May we live in the light of His glory and be witnesses of a revived Church that He desires to spread throughout the entire earth.

Heavenly Father, You indeed are the one who searches our hearts. You are the great omniscient one who knows our comings and our goings. May we give ourselves totally to You this night. May You search us and find that there is no wrong way within us. If there is, Lord, we ask that You would bring Your light to all areas of our heart that might be wrong before You. Remove our apathy, O Lord, and give us wisdom and understanding to know what is right in Your eyes, and not what we determine to be so. We ask You to empower us, helping others to come into the light of Your presence that we may be able to rejoice in their salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick


The Bare Soul Archives

Pursuing Peace - May 1, 2011

Romans 12:18 - If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

The following is the message text and audio recording of a sermon titled "Pursuing Peace" delivered to the homeless at the Kansas City Rescue Mission Chapel on May 4, 2011.

Pursuing Peace - May 4, 2011

It is a noble thing to wish for peace, it is quite another thing to obtain it. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated: Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. I understand this to mean that in order to achieve any type of peace from without, we must have a decided peace from within. In our lead verse, the Apostle Paul tells the church at Rome that they are capable of living in peace with most men under most circumstances. Undoubtedly, there will always be those exceptions. For example, we can certainly believe that Paul desired to be at peace with Demetrius the silversmith (Acts 19:23-41), or with Alexander the coppersmith (II Timothy 4:14), but that was not to be the case according to scripture. Certain situations or circumstances may warrant different responses. For instance, we certainly cannot compromise what God has revealed to us through His Holy Word. However, a peaceful resolution is generally possible and is what most reasonable parties seek. Often, it merely takes a little initiative on our part to create a bond of reconciliation. Those who might be antagonistic toward our offers of friendship might find themselves taken aback when we approach them with humility. As Paul concludes Romans chapter 12, he tells us that we may often shame those set against us by our acts of kindness. It quite literally embarrasses them into a surrendering of their pride which results in a peaceful resolve (Romans 12:20).

Within the context of this chapter, we see the apostle admonishing a church of predominately Gentile believers to love one another and to ultimately be at peace. "Predominately" is the keyword. For it was not always the case that the Gentiles were the majority. Most scholars believe that the church in Rome began as the direct result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in approximately 30 AD. Italian Jews were thought to have been visiting Jerusalem at the time of this momentous event. Some of these were possibly saved, taking their new-found Christian faith back to Rome. It is believed that Jewish Christians were the majority in the fledgling church for several years until Claudius expelled all Jews from the Roman capital because of supposed Jewish and Christian uprisings. (We know from scripture that Priscilla and Aquila were two Jews who were indeed expelled at this time [Acts 18:2].) With the vacuum of Jewish-Christian believers, the Gentiles grew in number where they soon became the majority. So much so that the historian Tacitus recorded several years after Paul's writing to the Romans (during Nero's rule) that the Christians in Rome were an "immense multitude". Therefore, when Paul wrote this letter in approximately 57 AD, there was possibly some wrong attitudes between the once majority Jewish believers who had trickled back into the Roman church, and the super-majority of Gentile believers. Although this book contains some of the most important doctrine in the Christian faith, there is also the constant undercurrent of Paul's admonition to these two groups to come together and heal their differences.

While Romans chapter 12 focuses on a "coming together" of the saints in Rome, the remainder of Paul's letter continues to reinforce this idea of equality amongst all believers. In chapter 14, the apostle addresses a problem with one group judging another group regarding holy days (Romans 14:5) and dietary concerns (Romans 14:12-16). In Paul's wisdom, he sees these as matters of conscience which shouldn't be forced on another as a rule or a law. The Gentiles apparently felt that they should not be restricted to the Jewish dietary laws, and the Jews were apparently appalled that the Gentiles did not follow in their conviction. Paul defends what was truly important in the following: for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17) He concludes his stance by stating in verse 19 that we should "pursue the things which make for peace, and the building up of one another". Paul's main ambition in speaking to the Roman Christians in this way was to get their eyes off their petty differences, and to get them back on the things that truly mattered, like building the Kingdom of God here on earth. The two group's beliefs, which strongly asserted their own convictions regarding their "rightness", were to be overlooked in view of working together for the important things. No wonder Paul ends his letter stating that Satan would soon be crushed under their feet, if they would simply come together in unity (Romans 16:20). The enemy's distractions were numerous yet the time is short, to paraphrase Paul's possible intention when dictating that verse.

What can we take from this lesson to the Roman church? Do we have petty differences in our relationships, whether at church or work or home? Can't we simply approach the person or the situation with a spirit of humility and speak mercy rather than judgment into those respective lives? If we can, then we are following Paul's admonition to the church of Rome that was badly fractured due to things that didn't really matter that much in the final score. While we may not be able to make peace with all men, it is still our responsibility to pursue it with vigor. Especially in those situations where it doesn't really matter that much who appears to win the confrontation. True, we must not compromise on truth, as Paul tells us. Laws of doctrine in the Christian faith are indisputable. However, whether or not someone eats pork, or observes the Sabbath with complete rest, or drinks a case of diet soda a day is not our concern. We must allow the Holy Spirit to deal with individuals as He desires and not allow the enemy an occasion to fragment the church any further. Is perfect peace possible in this age? That isn't the point. Nonetheless, we must pursue peace with all men. The attainment we must leave in God's hands as He will faithfully bring forth His glorious reign of peace in His own way and in His timing. May we all remain faithful to the pursuit.

Heavenly Father, may we pursue peace with all men. May we have hearts of humility to reconcile people concerning those things that really don't matter that much in light of the work You desire for us to all accomplish. May we allow Your Holy Spirit to be the Great Judge to convince those who might need correction. As we allow You to do what You do so well, allow us to birth peaceful resolutions in people, places, and situations and to bring the Body of Christ together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

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Saving the Planet - April 24, 2011

Romans 8:19 - For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

For over 30 years, Earth Day has been a rite of passage as the earth morphs into its springtime luster. Each year, it seems to gain in popularity regarding its importance to environmental stewardship. While I believe earth's citizenry must be careful not to exploit the earth and its natural resources, I sometimes feel a bit incredulous toward many so-called saviors of "Mother Earth" who believe that human beings are these late-comers that have somehow upset the entire balance of nature. Many of these seem to feel like it is their responsibility to return the earth to its prior state (or as close as possible) by minimizing man's "footprint" from further so-called imbalances. Don't get me wrong! I believe in taking care of our environment, not polluting and recycling when possible. We do our share around my household, making regular trips to the newspaper and can recycling drop-off locations. Additionally, I drive a nearly 20 year old Toyota pickup truck that continues to rust away no matter what I seem to do. (Everything from the motor to the transmission has been replaced since I've owned it!) I am one to recycle and to reuse as much as possible, partly because I don't like waste and also because I am frugal. While I believe in being a good steward regarding what God has entrusted to me, I also believe that eventually things wear out and NEED replaced. The earth is not the exception.

I have traveled this globe enough to be awe-inspired by its beauty on numerous occasions. My desire is to continue to be struck by God's beauty of this planet, because He truly created a wondrous world in which we live. However, the scripture is clear that one day this earth will be replaced by a new world that is once again perfect in all respects. All of the beauty that we behold is merely a shadow of Paradise lost, and also of Paradise when it will be regained. Paul tells us in our lead verse that creation longs for Christ's return, when redeemed mankind will once again be restored to his rightful place as head over creation. Like Adam, we were created to rule and to reign over this earth. And, this terrestrial ball longs for that day, the scripture tells us. Paul continues with his explanation in verses 20 and 21 regarding the earth's subjection to Christ while it is at the same time subjugated to the result of man's sin:

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (Romans 8:20-22)

These scriptures imply that the earth patiently waits to be delivered from the curse of sin and all its effects. It is pregnant with the hope that someday, in the not too distant future, that it will be delivered into its once lost perfection. No matter what we try to do to "save the planet", the earth will continue to travail until God's creation is once again restored in to its perfect state. This promise is spoken numerous times in scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation (see Isaiah 66:22 and II Peter 3:13 for two instances). Indeed, John the Revelator spoke of that glorious day when both the heavens and the earth would become holy and perfect (Revelation 21:1). The hope that he relates is the very hope that both mankind and creation cling to in hope of our final redemption.

I find it a bit ironic that Earth Day falls on Good Friday this year. We have a juxtaposition of two radically different viewpoints regarding how this earth should be saved. While many who believe in restoring the earth through man-made efforts are furiously striving toward this end, others who believe in the Risen Savior understand that Jesus came to this earth to cause things to once again be perfect in all regards. The resurrection on that Resurrection Day long ago was only the beginning, the very catalyst that granted humankind salvation. Through mankind's redemption, the earth will once again experience a state of Paradise regained. Since the momentous event of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection nearly 2,000 years ago, the earth itself has been looking on with eager expectation toward the culmination of time. If indeed this globe on which we dwell could speak, it would undoubtedly tell us of its own desire for that final redemption -- when it will be changed into the incorruptible as it once experienced before the Fall of Man. Is there somehow residual guilt in the hearts of those who believe that salvation lies with mankind in order to somehow save the earth? Believe me, my friends, while the earth may appreciate the "band-aid" treatment we desire to give it through our humanistic efforts, it knows that its plight is incurable in its present state. It longs for that final redemption, along with all of the redeemed of humankind, when we will be changed and glorified into God's perfect creation once again.

As previously stated, it's not a bad thing to treat the earth with respect, guarding our natural resources and desiring to live on a clean planet. However, the earth itself knows that this not the end-all. Mankind betrayed it once, long ago, and it knows that redemption can only come through its Creator. May we all understand that the Risen Savior who gives life to all who would accept Him, know that the globe which we desire to save has long entrusted its salvation to the One who created it. On this Resurrection Day, may we understand that He alone can truly redeem this planet, both mankind and creation alike.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Your redemption. Thank you for this Resurrection Day when Your Son gave His life to redeem not only us, but all of creation. May we save the planet by praying for Your return when You present a glorified creation to Your spotless Bride. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick


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Living Revelation - April 17, 2011

Matthew 17:9 - As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."

How often do we turn on the TV or hear a preacher on the radio talk about the latest dream or vision they've had in respect to their ministry. I don't doubt that many of these indeed may be receiving spiritual messages. (From which side of the supernatural spectrum, I am not here to judge.) However, it has always intrigued me to hear Christian leaders, as well as laypeople, relating a "message of God", for example, that they've received in a dream or a vision just the very night before. Now, don't get me wrong. I believe that the Lord God can and does reveal Himself through supernatural means such as dreams and visions. However, I'm always a bit hesitant to receive such revelations in folks where there is not much witness of the Lord Jesus ruling and reigning in their respective lives. Something seems awry when a person is talking about this sign from heaven or that particular thing the Lord has shown them, yet their lives suggest carnality that hasn't been brought under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It's quite easy to go around spouting off what God is showing a person -- it is quite another to live it. Sometimes, the most humbling thing we can do as believers is to take those pearls of wisdom that He gives us and tuck them away as we ruminate and meditate further on their implication to us as well as others. Oftentimes, this shows a maturity of restraint, rather than an impulsiveness of the unbridled flesh.

In our lead verse, the disciples on that mountain reached an apex of revelation from the time they started following Jesus until that very day. God the Almighty Father set a drama before them with a "who's who" of Old Testament personalities -- Elijah the Prophet and Moses the Lawgiver. Furthermore, Jesus Himself was transfigured in their midst, causing the brilliance of glory to shine all about them. After this momentous epiphany of divine splendor and things had returned to normal, the Lord Jesus gave them a commandment regarding what they had just seen. He told them to "... Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen". It is not clear why He stated this command. However, one can speculate that it would have been extremely confusing to others if the disciples had tried to relate it. Possibly, the Lord in His wisdom knew that it would engender jealousy in the other disciples. Also, that it might further enrage the Pharisees to a point of frenzy where they would seek to kill Him at a sooner then desired time. It might also be speculated that He was jealously watching out for those who witnessed the miracle -- Peter, James, and John. In Christ's wisdom, He knew the disciples did not yet possess the right to share it because the revelation had not yet become living within them. They didn't yet understand that to share something of such magnificence meant that the Spirit of God must live within and must share it in His time. Then, it would come forth in due season, with the utmost humility, and bring forth the fruit or the results it was intended to produce. What first needed to occur in their lives was the cross, and then the resurrection. Not only for their Lord, but within themselves. Only as they died to their impulsiveness so characteristic of the carnal flesh, then the risen Lord could direct their lives through His Spirit within.

We also may have the opportunity to share a wonderful experience the Lord has shown us. However, we will be less likely to blurt it out if we are indeed "risen with Christ". What once was a point of puffed up pride that God has shown us a great revelation, has now become a quiet river of faith toward the the Great Revealer. We might remember that occasion that God gave us that great epiphany with a warm recollection, but are somewhat removed to merely sharing it at whim. There may sometimes be those situations and times where the revelation will indeed be just the thing another needs to hear. Then, by sharing that great thing the Lord has revealed can indeed be a bond of fellowship between the sharer and the receiver. What might have been a moment of needlessly casting our "pearls" before those who can't or won't relate, now has become an exact opportunity for the life of God to be shared amongst believers. Wisdom that is cast upon the unfriendly winds of this world will often come back to us as something soiled and disregarded from its intended recipients. However, a carefully spoken word at the precise moment can bring healing and restoration where there once was hopelessness and despair.

Living revelation is not merely knowledge, but it is wisdom from on high that has found a place to dwell within the mature of spirit. It is to be guarded and shared when the Lord speaks it through us, and not before. We will only experience more revelation as we are faithful with what He gives us. If we jealously guard those choice words, whether they come from dreams, visions, or however He decides to reveal Himself, then He will entrust us with more and will then allow us to use them as arrows that will truly find their mark at that opportune time. May we all guard our hearts, from out of them flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23). May we not abort the thing that God desires to birth in all who call on His name through presumption or our own impetuousness to share "our new secret". There are many great things He desires to share if we will be but faithful stewards of revelation. In time, these will become living revelations for both ourselves and others.

Heavenly Father, grant us ears to hear, eyes to see, and mouths surrendered to Your Lordship. May we take those things You share with us and treasure them in our hearts until You release them through Your wisdom. Help us to make what You reveal to us living revelation that will become aged like divine wine to help and sustain others. We pray this in Your Son's Name, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

The Bare Soul Archives