This morning, I read a story about Jesus that left me amazed, as it did those who lived it. I read two different accounts of it found in Mark 1:21-28 and Luke 4:31-37. Jesus went into Capernaum in the region of Galilee and was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath. It is my assumption that they must have been somewhat comfortable with Jesus' handling of the Jewish scriptures (our Old Testament) to allow Him the opportunity to teach on the Sabbath, but on this day, they recognized something different about Jesus.
"And He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And He was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at His teaching, for His word possessed authority." (Luke 4:31-32 ESV)
They were astonished at His teaching for His word possessed authority. Wow! What a statement. A living example was then paraded in front of the crowd as Jesus proceeded to command a demon to give up control of a man that "happened" to be in attendance that day. (We should be as aware as Jesus that we also worship alongside those who are bound by the enemy of our souls, and through this same authoritative Word, God can set them free.) Look at the response of those who witness this freedom granting God at work in their midst.
"And they were all amazed and said to one another, 'What is this word? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!'" (Luke 4:36 ESV)
"And at once His fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee." (Mark 1:28 ESV)
Eugene Petterson paraphrases this last verse in the Message by saying, "Jesus was the talk of the town." It is "this Word" that defined Jesus, and it should define us as followers of Him, too. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God is the tool He gives us to bring about change in ourselves and in this world.
Lord, let us feast continually on "this Word" that carries Your authority and sets captives free.
~Jon
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Ministry Idolatry
I just listened to this message from Mark Driscoll on idolatry. My mind is swimming with the thoughts that the enemy of our LORD would be so crafty as to lure us to worship even good things in order to keep us from worshiping the Only One Worthy Of Worship. Mark repeats this phrase throughout the message..."When a good thing becomes a god thing, it is a bad thing." There are many penetrating words here that make this well worth getting a cup of coffee, your journal, and your Bible, and settling in to hear what God might want to say to you through this message. ~Jon
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Result Of Revival
This past weekend we (at Trinity BC) hosted David Miller in a "2-day revival." I put that in lowercase because only God brings Revival, with a capital letter. It is a sovereign move of God that rearranges priorities, sets affections aflame for God's glory in Christ, and returns God's people to His agenda. Although I did not witness a dramatic and outwardly visible Revival of this type, God used Brother David to remind us of God's goodness and sovereignty and to point us to God-focused repentance. As our pastor has said more than once, this repentance is not an event, but a lifestyle. It is exciting to sense God stirring us and wooing us into this lifestyle.
"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;" - Acts 3:19(NASB)
This repentance, if we embrace it, can be the beginning of Revival. I pray that it will be. I came across an amazing quote today called The Result Of Revival. It made my heart soar and I respond to it with a hearty "amen!"
"What happens in a Christian church when a fresh and vital working of the Spirit of God brings revival?
In my study and observations, a revival generally results in a sudden bestowment of a spirit of worship. This is not the result of engineering or of manipulation. It is something God bestows on people hungering and thirsting for Him. With spiritual renewing will come a blessed spirit of loving worship.
These believers worship gladly because they have a high view of God. In some circles, God has been abridged, reduced, modified, edited, changed and amended until He is no longer the God whom Isaiah saw, high and lifted up. Because He has been reduced in the minds of so many people, we no longer have that boundless confidence in His character that we used to have." (A.W. Tozer, Whatever Happened To Worship, 86)
God, help us to see You as You really are and worship You as You desire to be worshiped. By Your kindness, lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4) and revive Your Bride and make her beautiful with Your glory!
~Jon
"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;" - Acts 3:19(NASB)
This repentance, if we embrace it, can be the beginning of Revival. I pray that it will be. I came across an amazing quote today called The Result Of Revival. It made my heart soar and I respond to it with a hearty "amen!"
"What happens in a Christian church when a fresh and vital working of the Spirit of God brings revival?
In my study and observations, a revival generally results in a sudden bestowment of a spirit of worship. This is not the result of engineering or of manipulation. It is something God bestows on people hungering and thirsting for Him. With spiritual renewing will come a blessed spirit of loving worship.
These believers worship gladly because they have a high view of God. In some circles, God has been abridged, reduced, modified, edited, changed and amended until He is no longer the God whom Isaiah saw, high and lifted up. Because He has been reduced in the minds of so many people, we no longer have that boundless confidence in His character that we used to have." (A.W. Tozer, Whatever Happened To Worship, 86)
God, help us to see You as You really are and worship You as You desire to be worshiped. By Your kindness, lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4) and revive Your Bride and make her beautiful with Your glory!
~Jon
Monday, September 28, 2009
Matthew 5:42
This is one of those posts that I kind of wish I hadn't run across...but, I guess that shows my selfish tendencies. Suzanne and I have, even within the last few weeks talked about this passage and the difficulty of obeying it in the real world. I think Jon Bloom from Desiring God extracts the heart of Jesus' words and puts it right in my face. Jesus, help us obey You even when Your radical commands are completely contrary to our thinking. ~Jon
I Have Not Always Obeyed This Command
September 28, 2009 By: Jon Bloom Category: Commentary
"Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you" (Matthew 5:42).
I confess, I have not always obeyed this command.
I'm a veteran urban-dweller. Having lived in an inner city neighborhood for 18 years, I've encountered many beggars and borrowers. Some I discerned as cons I have called out or waved off. Some I have hired to do work. Others I've given to because I felt the conviction of this text.
I've thought a lot about this command of Jesus over the years. I've discussed it with many. I think I know all the major reasons why not to give when someone asks. You don't want to encourage deception. You don't want to feed a chemical addiction. You don't want to contribute to someone's cycle of poverty. And there are many others.
But still this text unnerves and convicts me.
The reason is that Jesus doesn't give this command in the context of addressing how I can best facilitate transformation in someone else. He is telling me how I should respond to those who are making demands on me, either from explicitly evil motives or just plain out of their difficult situation. He is telling me how I ought to respond even when being taken advantage of.
Do not resist the evil person, he says. Let him slap you twice. (v. 39)
Give him more than he is suing you for. (v. 40)
Do more than he is forcing you to do. (v. 41)
Give to those who ask. (v. 42)
Love your enemy. (v. 44)
Jesus is telling me to actively show kindness and radical generosity toward those who hate me or who are seeking to take advantage of me.
Really, Jesus? Isn't that rewarding sinful, or at least unhealthy, behavior?
Of course, I can think of Biblical examples that illustrate when it seems right to resist or flee an evil person in situations of theft, deception, abuse, persecution, war, etc. So when the Word speaks, I must listen carefully, and I must weigh all of his words.
But from the words Jesus speaks here, I think it applies more often and more broadly than I want it to. He does not let me off the hook easily. He tests my heart with such radical love. And in my heart I see my selfish, unloving impulses that do not want to part with my money, possessions, time, or convenience for needy or evil people. And I have a ready arsenal of noble-sounding rationales that conceal my sin, almost from myself.
What Jesus is calling me to is gospel love. It's the love that drove him to die for me with when I was still a weak, ungodly, sinful enemy of his (Romans 5:6-10). There is something about such over-the-top, radically generous love that is so different from the way the world loves that it reflects the Father's love for sinners. It's why Jesus calls us also to costly love. It is both an expression and picture of the gospel.
Pray for me. I have an opportunity in my life right now to obey this command, which is why I'm wrestling with this text again. Pray that I will love the way I have been loved.
I Have Not Always Obeyed This Command
September 28, 2009 By: Jon Bloom Category: Commentary
"Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you" (Matthew 5:42).
I confess, I have not always obeyed this command.
I'm a veteran urban-dweller. Having lived in an inner city neighborhood for 18 years, I've encountered many beggars and borrowers. Some I discerned as cons I have called out or waved off. Some I have hired to do work. Others I've given to because I felt the conviction of this text.
I've thought a lot about this command of Jesus over the years. I've discussed it with many. I think I know all the major reasons why not to give when someone asks. You don't want to encourage deception. You don't want to feed a chemical addiction. You don't want to contribute to someone's cycle of poverty. And there are many others.
But still this text unnerves and convicts me.
The reason is that Jesus doesn't give this command in the context of addressing how I can best facilitate transformation in someone else. He is telling me how I should respond to those who are making demands on me, either from explicitly evil motives or just plain out of their difficult situation. He is telling me how I ought to respond even when being taken advantage of.
Do not resist the evil person, he says. Let him slap you twice. (v. 39)
Give him more than he is suing you for. (v. 40)
Do more than he is forcing you to do. (v. 41)
Give to those who ask. (v. 42)
Love your enemy. (v. 44)
Jesus is telling me to actively show kindness and radical generosity toward those who hate me or who are seeking to take advantage of me.
Really, Jesus? Isn't that rewarding sinful, or at least unhealthy, behavior?
Of course, I can think of Biblical examples that illustrate when it seems right to resist or flee an evil person in situations of theft, deception, abuse, persecution, war, etc. So when the Word speaks, I must listen carefully, and I must weigh all of his words.
But from the words Jesus speaks here, I think it applies more often and more broadly than I want it to. He does not let me off the hook easily. He tests my heart with such radical love. And in my heart I see my selfish, unloving impulses that do not want to part with my money, possessions, time, or convenience for needy or evil people. And I have a ready arsenal of noble-sounding rationales that conceal my sin, almost from myself.
What Jesus is calling me to is gospel love. It's the love that drove him to die for me with when I was still a weak, ungodly, sinful enemy of his (Romans 5:6-10). There is something about such over-the-top, radically generous love that is so different from the way the world loves that it reflects the Father's love for sinners. It's why Jesus calls us also to costly love. It is both an expression and picture of the gospel.
Pray for me. I have an opportunity in my life right now to obey this command, which is why I'm wrestling with this text again. Pray that I will love the way I have been loved.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Legacy of Asaph - Learning to Sing in the Same Room
This is another great article from Bob Kauflin. His insights into unity of worship are spot on.
Lord, help us maintain Your unity among Your people (Ephesians 4:1-6). Focus us on You, not what we prefer. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Learning,
~Jon
The Legacy of Asaph - Learning to Sing in the Same Room
Lord, help us maintain Your unity among Your people (Ephesians 4:1-6). Focus us on You, not what we prefer. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Learning,
~Jon
The Legacy of Asaph - Learning to Sing in the Same Room
The Passionate Preaching of John Piper
I must first apologize that it has been so long since my last post, but I am going to try to get back to posting things on a regular basis. I came across this tonight on Bob Kauflin's Worship Matters blog. I think you will see why it struck a chord with me. Enjoy! ~Jon
The Passionate Preaching of John Piper
The Passionate Preaching of John Piper
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thankful...again
If you have been following my blog for a while you may remember a post from Thanksgiving 2008 titled Thankful. (If not, go back and read it.) It chronicled the addition to my parents' house that, at that time, was under construction, and how this is a picture of God's activity in our lives. We went back to visit my folks recently and the room is completed and really nice. The door is no longer there...replaced by a wider hallway with some great storage cabinets on one side.
On November 9, 2008 I led worship for the final time at Two Rivers Baptist Church where I had served as the Associate Minister of Music & Worship for 3 1/2 years and where our family had been members since 1996. My job there was eliminated due to financial strains. This was the context of my original Thankful post. God had clearly brought one season to an end and had not revealed what our next assignment would be.
For about 4 months the LORD literally led us week to week where He would have us worship. We went to big churches, small churches, lively churches, subdued churches, churches in different areas of town, churches with totally different ministry objectives and philosophies--but wherever we went, we experienced God. Some places we had to look for Him a little harder, but He led us and He spoke to us week in and week out as we explored what He was up to within His people in the Nashville area. This was the beginning of His healing process in us. Although God had done amazing things during our years at TRBC, we had been wounded in unexplainable ways.
This process of healing continued as we began to get invitations to lead worship on the road. We spent March and April traveling and leading worship and were busier than we ever were during our 7 years of traveling ministry. Everywhere we went, we were encouraged by Godly leaders. This may be hard to hear, but because of our wounds, we had become very cynical and God knew we needed to see Him at work in pastors (younger and older and in-between) who were chasing after His heart and leading their people to do the same. Week after week we were moved to see God's heart on display in these men of God and I thank God so much for it! He knew what we needed.
About halfway through this traveling season, I received a call from the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Southaven, MS, Chad Everson. As we talked on the phone, a common view of God and His church and what we are to be about as we gather to worship quickly surfaced. I hung up the phone greatly encouraged and energized. He invited Suzanne and I to come lead worship for several weeks during May. We entered into a time of seeking the Lord as to whether or not this might be a more long-term assignment. As we prayed and after we had been there and led worship once and visited much more with Brother Chad and his family, the LORD took Suzanne and I to Exodus 3-4. This is where Moses and God are arguing about him going to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. You'll have to read it all to get the passion, but it comes down to God saying this:
"Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say." - Exodus 4:12(ESV)
With that, we said, "OK God. We hear you." We had already seen Him at work as we had talked with Chad and visited with his family and as we had worshiped with the family of faith at Trinity, so this was simply God providing a promise for us to stand on.
So if you haven't figured it out, we're moving to Southaven, MS. The church officially called me to be their Worship Pastor last Sunday evening, June 7, just a few days shy of 7 full months since our last week at TRBC. In Hebrew culture, the number 7 represents completion or perfection and the number 8 represents new beginnings. God has completed much in these past months and we are confident that He will do great things in the days ahead. We are already getting to know and love the body of Christ that is Trinity Baptist Church and we are treasuring the eternal friendships that God has given us during our years in Nashville. I am thankful...again...for God's activity behind the door of this new assignment even before we had any idea where He was leading. (Philippians 1:6)
Thanking God,
~Jon
[Suzanne and I and the boys ask that you pray specifically that God would lead us (quickly) to the house He has for us to live in in Southaven and that He would bring THE buyer for our house in Nashville.]
On November 9, 2008 I led worship for the final time at Two Rivers Baptist Church where I had served as the Associate Minister of Music & Worship for 3 1/2 years and where our family had been members since 1996. My job there was eliminated due to financial strains. This was the context of my original Thankful post. God had clearly brought one season to an end and had not revealed what our next assignment would be.
For about 4 months the LORD literally led us week to week where He would have us worship. We went to big churches, small churches, lively churches, subdued churches, churches in different areas of town, churches with totally different ministry objectives and philosophies--but wherever we went, we experienced God. Some places we had to look for Him a little harder, but He led us and He spoke to us week in and week out as we explored what He was up to within His people in the Nashville area. This was the beginning of His healing process in us. Although God had done amazing things during our years at TRBC, we had been wounded in unexplainable ways.
This process of healing continued as we began to get invitations to lead worship on the road. We spent March and April traveling and leading worship and were busier than we ever were during our 7 years of traveling ministry. Everywhere we went, we were encouraged by Godly leaders. This may be hard to hear, but because of our wounds, we had become very cynical and God knew we needed to see Him at work in pastors (younger and older and in-between) who were chasing after His heart and leading their people to do the same. Week after week we were moved to see God's heart on display in these men of God and I thank God so much for it! He knew what we needed.
About halfway through this traveling season, I received a call from the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Southaven, MS, Chad Everson. As we talked on the phone, a common view of God and His church and what we are to be about as we gather to worship quickly surfaced. I hung up the phone greatly encouraged and energized. He invited Suzanne and I to come lead worship for several weeks during May. We entered into a time of seeking the Lord as to whether or not this might be a more long-term assignment. As we prayed and after we had been there and led worship once and visited much more with Brother Chad and his family, the LORD took Suzanne and I to Exodus 3-4. This is where Moses and God are arguing about him going to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. You'll have to read it all to get the passion, but it comes down to God saying this:
"Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say." - Exodus 4:12(ESV)
With that, we said, "OK God. We hear you." We had already seen Him at work as we had talked with Chad and visited with his family and as we had worshiped with the family of faith at Trinity, so this was simply God providing a promise for us to stand on.
So if you haven't figured it out, we're moving to Southaven, MS. The church officially called me to be their Worship Pastor last Sunday evening, June 7, just a few days shy of 7 full months since our last week at TRBC. In Hebrew culture, the number 7 represents completion or perfection and the number 8 represents new beginnings. God has completed much in these past months and we are confident that He will do great things in the days ahead. We are already getting to know and love the body of Christ that is Trinity Baptist Church and we are treasuring the eternal friendships that God has given us during our years in Nashville. I am thankful...again...for God's activity behind the door of this new assignment even before we had any idea where He was leading. (Philippians 1:6)
Thanking God,
~Jon
[Suzanne and I and the boys ask that you pray specifically that God would lead us (quickly) to the house He has for us to live in in Southaven and that He would bring THE buyer for our house in Nashville.]
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