ResponsiveReiding

Through the Word in 2020 #169 – Dec. 8 / The “New” Commandment

December 8th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

There have been countless volumes written on our reading in John 13 today. Rightly so. I suppose it impossible to truly plumb the depths of what is contained in that brief narrative. And when you lay it along side Psalm 142 and David’s plea for help, Joel’s promise of God’s restorative work, Amos’ warnings about unrepentant sin and Revelation’s picture of God’s judgment – John 13:34 & 35 stand out in even more stunning relief.

We want to gaze into the nature of that love Jesus has for Believers, and what that is supposed to look like in us toward one another for just a moment today on Through the Word in 2020.

I’m Reid Ferguson.

Interestingly, Jesus uses the occasion of sending Judas out to act on his final betrayal, as the stage for announcing that “now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”

And what does that mean?

When reading texts like this it is necessary to think of the word “revealed” when we read – “glorified.” For it is the exposing of God in His fullness that is His greatest glory. And what is it that is so glorious in God that is hidden from us in creation, and is revealed so exclusively and absolutely in Christ? Grace, and mercy. God has chosen as the perfect means to reveal Himself in His grace and mercy, by the redemption of lost men, the forgiveness of their sins. The saving of those who not only do not deserve it, but do not even want it.

From the very beginning He was aiming at this.

God’s final goal in all things – is the divinely ultimate manifestation of His mercy and grace through eternal, familial society with a redeemed humanity.

His motive in it all, is love.

The Father is most glorified in or by the Son in the Cross. Because nowhere else is the righteousness of God in condemning and judging sin more revealed, nor is the mercy, love, genius and grace of God more revealed than in offering His Son as the substitutionary sacrifice sinful men need.

Offered to all, to be received by faith.

This is how Christ loved us: He made known to us, revealed to us, the mercy and grace that consumes the heart of the Triune God. And this then tells us what it means to love one another as He has loved us.

We can love others in no greater way than to make known to them the redeeming love of God in the Gospel of the Cross, and living out lives of commensurate mercy and grace. Such love is not the fallen human analog of love that is more about warm fuzzy feelings toward one another. It is about truly caring for the deepest needs of the human soul by making known to them in word and action the Christ who reveals the Father’s great love in mercy toward their guilt and grace in reconciliation and the gift of eternal life.

It is not that nothing else is loving – but that nothing else is THIS loving. This, is ultimate love. As Christ has loved us. And anything less, falls short of loving one another as HE has loved us.

Make God known in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Make Him known in the preaching of the Gospel. Make Him known by showing mercy and grace. Make Him known by living as a mercied and graced person yourself.

Love one another, as He has loved you.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 – #168 – Dec. 7 / He loved them, to the end.

December 7th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

Some passages of Scripture are just so full of glorious revelations of Christ and His love, it boggles the mind. And such is John 13:1-20 which along with Joel 1:2-2:27 and Revelation 8:1-5 form our reading bloc today.

Look at how each phrase is so pregnant with truth.

1. He loved HIS OWN The Body of Christ is – His family. His own. We are not loved as strangers but as belonging to Him.

2. He loved them who were “IN THE WORLD”He doesn’t love a “heavenly people” already glorified, nice and neat and clean, but He loves a WEAK and FLAWED people.The Church is the most “dysfunctional” family on earth. But oh how He loves us!

3. He loved them to THE ENDIn His worst moments, He did not leave off His love for them in order to concentrate on Himself. He was NOT self-absorbed

4. He loved them HUMBLYWashing their feet. Nothing – even the prospect of the Cross, and all of its horrors, could deter Him from His servant’s humility.And He did this – V-3 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God”!He came to give Himself, His all – in a context of divine self-forgetfulness – humility.

5. He loved them PERSONALLY He didn’t just order their feet to be washed, He washed them. He doesn’t command us to save ourselves, or even the angels to save us – He saves us Himself.

6. He loved them at the point of their UNCLEANNESS He washes their feet. vs. 5 – In tying the towel around Himself to wipe the disciple’s feet – their filth, our filth was placed upon Him. He wore it.

7. He loved the TRANFORMINGLY He cleansed them, not leaving them in their sin.

8. He loved them in the face of their RESISTANCE to be loved Peter didn’t want to be humbled in this way. Neither do we. Some of us want God – but not at the expense of having to consider ourselves as REALLY needing saving – as being sinners. We don’t mind needing help – we just don’t want it to be ALL of grace – where we are completely unworthy. But He loves us anyway, and is the only means to our being CLEAN before God. That’s too much for our egos.

9. He loved them knowing one of them would commit the ultimate BETRAYAL of that love The worst of all sins is betrayal, to betray trust, confidence, intimacy, exclusivity. It is what made the fall a personal offense against God, and not just sin generically. He appointed us His image-bearers, and to keep His Garden and display His goodness and grace to all.

10. He loved them in the face of their inability to UNDERSTAND His purpose and mission He loved them through the pain of being misunderstood, and helpless to straighten it out. Being misunderstood is one of the worst things in all of human experience.

11. He loved them knowing of their impending ABANDONMENT of Him Nothing is as empty as to not even be worth another’s negative concern. It is to feel worthless – superfluous – faceless – meaningless – anonymous.

12. He loved them with ETERNITY in view Yes, I know you will fail me now, but I am looking forward to when we will be around the throne, and such things won’t matter anymore. I am loving you PAST the present. 1. He loves HIS OWN2. Who are IN THE WORLD 3. He loves them to THE END 4. He loves them HUMBLY 5. He loves them PERSONALLY 6. He loves them at the point of their UNCLEANNESS 7. He loves them TRANSFORMINGLY 8. He loves them in the face of their RESISTANCE to be loved 9. He loves them in the face of their inability to UNDERSTAND 10. He loves them knowing there will be unspeakable failures11. He loves them knowing of their impending ABANDONMENT of Him12. He loves them with ETERNITY in view.

This, Christian, is how He loves you too.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #167 – Dec. 4 / Prevailing Prayer

December 4th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

Earlier this week I mentioned the inner struggle Christians have with facing helplessness. It isn’t a uniquely Christian problem – the world thrives after power. All of the political and social rhetoric which is blazing around us presently is all about who is in or will have – power.

This is the deafening echo of the Fall in the human soul.

Truthfully? – even for many Christians, our souls are more comforted by “our” people sitting in the seats of the Oval Office, Congress and the Supreme Court than in the God who rules over them all. We seem to take little or no comfort there. It is merely theoretical and doctrinal, but not practical.

Something is dreadfully wrong with that picture.

We wanted the power in the Garden to determine for ourselves what is right and what is wrong. And we have never let go of that rebellious impulse. We hate being under the authority or power of anyone or anything above – self. And, it is why so much pop Christianity goes the same way. Personal empowerment as a theme or sub-theme is threaded through everything.

Then we run into what at first might look like an obscure reference in our reading of Hosea 9-Joel 1:1, and some powerful light get sheds on a very important reality for Believers.

The nature of prevailing prayer, and what that looks like.

So much teaching on prayer today is about how we can have power in prayer. But that might not look like what we think.

A bit more on that today as we look at the Hosea passage, Psalm 141, John 12:37-50 and Revelation 7 on Through the Word in 2020.

I’m your host, Reid Ferguson.

If you blink, you’ll miss it. Hosea’s reference in 12:4 to an event in the life of Jacob back in Genesis 32.

There, when Jacob was preparing to face his brother Esau for the first time in decades, he was visited by an angel. The text says he wrestled all night with the heavenly messenger, who even left Jacob lame. A good picture of how when we truly encounter God, we can never walk the same way again.

But before leaving, the angel says to him: “you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” But what does that mean? How had Jacob striven with God and won? No doubt it is a picture of prevailing prayer; but in what way? Books have been written on it to try and tell us how we too can have power with God – how to get Him to do our bidding in prayer. But Hosea 12:4 tells us what that really looks like.

How did Jacob strive with the angel and prevail? “He wept, and sought his favor.” He won, by recognizing his weakness, and crying out for mercy.

What prevails to secure the blessing of God is humility before Him. All scheming, all self-reliance and independence brings judgment. Humility and brokenness melt the heart of God toward His people. And that is what prevailing prayer really looks like. Utter humility before God – crying out in our helplessness. Weeping over our sins, and pleading not for power – but for mercy.

Hosea 14 will go on to confirm that truth. For when the Prophet instructs Israel in how to repent so as to relieve God’s judgments and re-secure His blessings – his counsel is to pray for forgiveness, ask God to accept what little good they may have, swear to return to right living, renounce all political alliances to gain the help they desire, reject any thoughts of their own works being of use or relying upon them, and crying out for mercy.

That dear one, is prevailing prayer.

Humble renunciation of trust in anything but God alone – and a plea for undeserved mercy on our sins.

And in Christ – He answers in full.

God willing, we’ll be back Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 #166 – Dec. 3 / Avoiding Misconceptions

December 3rd, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

I’m a Calvinist. By that, I don’t mean I subscribe to everything the Reformer taught or thought. Rather – in the main, I subscribe to many of the same underlying Biblical emphases which were evident in his writings. And in the writings of all those who take a strong view of God’s sovereignty in all things. Both long before Calvin and long after. Calvinism – at least for many, is simply shorthand for that reality. But when shorthand displaces the full picture, distortions are inevitable. And this is true no matter what doctrinal system one subscribes to. We’ll look at 3 common errors in this regard on Through the Word in 2020 – in Revelation 6, John 12:20-36 and Hosea 3-8.

I’m Reid Ferguson.

Any way you look at it, Revelation is a challenging book. Especially from Ch. 6 on. The opening of the seals of the scroll mentioned in Ch. 5 has led to nearly endless speculation. So before we go off looking to make all kinds of associations which may not even be in the text, we need to make sure we don’t lose the big picture. Putting all speculations on timing, what is contained in each seal, etc – don’t miss this: God is going to judge all sin and wickedness of humankind. He has a systematic plan for doing do so. It will come to pass. No one will escape. And no amount of inquiry into the details of these various pictures alters that. The bottom line is, each of us needs to be reconciled to God through faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ on Calvary – or we will be subject to the judgments so graphically displayed.

Don’t be so curious about deciphering the details, that your heart and soul are not in the right place before God. The Devil probably knows these details better than any human being.

So what?

2nd is the very commonly quoted “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” among those in certain branches of Charismatic Christianity. By it, they most often mean you need some sort of new or extra revelation which only they can purvey, so that you have have the most pleasant, powerful and prosperous life you could desire. The problem is, the passage isn’t referring to anything secret at all. The verse goes on to explain that the reason God’s people were under God’s judgment at that time was because they had rejected knowledge. Which knowledge the verse then denominates as “the law of your God.” Lack of what knowledge brings people under God’s judgment – lack of knowing Him in His Word. Living outside of faithfulness and steadfast love toward God (vs. 1) – evidenced by a lifestyle of swearing, lying, murder, stealing and committing adultery.

The problem isn’t a lack of secret knowledge, but of living in the light of the truth already revealed in His Word.

And then there is the place where our Calvinist shorthand fails us. For in failing to read the whole council of God, we can take a passage like Romans 3:11 “No one understands, no one seeks for God,” and absolutize it in a way that contradicts our reading in John 12 where some come explicitly seeking Christ. As Paul quotes Pss. 14 & 53 in that passage, he is not at the same time forgetting that the work of the Spirit in our age is specifically to draw men to Christ and to seek Him out. Left to ourselves, indeed, no one would seek after God. But by the enormity of His goodness and grace – He has poured out His Spirit to “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

It is only in reading the whole Word as a whole, that we come to avoid forming such misconceptions on our own, and being led astray by those of others.

Keep reading His Word Beloved.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #165 – Dec. 2 / The Problem of Waiting

December 2nd, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

Of all the disciplines of the Christian life, I find 2 the most challenging: 1. Waiting, and 2. Living with powerlessness. Both of them play a central role in the 3 passages before us today: Daniel 12-Hosea 2; Revelation 5 and John 12:12-19.

I’m Reid Ferguson, and we’ll look at waiting and powerlessness today on Through the Word in 2020.

As you come to the end of Daniel’s visions in Ch. 12, Daniel is greatly distressed and asks: “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?”And he isn’t told. Instead, he is instructed to be about living his life before God. What is to come to pass will come to pass in due time.

Wait.

Hosea is distressed over the spiritual adultery of God’s people and God’s discipline of them. He is in misery over it, powerless to change it, and weary of what it costs, personally and nationally. And all he is told is: “In that day.”

Wait.

At Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem the Pharisees and Sadducees wanted no more of this rebel Jesus, and the crowds and disciples wanted an end to Roman oppression and religious hypocrisy. The Jewish leadership couldn’t bear their powerlessness any more and so moved to have Him crucified. And the disciples were jumping the gun on when He would reign.

They needed to wait.

Then in Revelation 5 we see the vision of the scroll – the full and long term plans and purposes of God in the earth. All of which is wrapped up in the only One worthy to unpack it all because it centers upon Him – the Lamb of God. But we are given neither instructions on how to bring about what is in God’s hands alone, nor a timetable to weigh it all and locate ourselves on.

We are forced to wait.

Powerlessly.

And this Beloved is where faith must take its rightful place in our hearts and minds. Else we will act foolishly and precipitously, trying to bring about God’s secret plans; or live in frustration and depression because we don’t know how long certain seasons in our lives will last. Faith then is to be exercised in trusting the power of God on my behalf, so that I do not need to have power, and in waiting God’s time to bring about His purposes.

Lamentations 3:25-26 seem to sum it up well – written to God’s people at their most powerless, and with a very uncertain future:

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

God always proves Himself good to those who wait for Him. Seeking Him. And it is a good thing to do that waiting with a calm and quiet spirit.

I cannot think of a more timely word to us even now in the present uncertainty of COVID, and all that has disrupted our lives due to it. But we trust in our God. In His wisdom, His power, and His timing and His perfect love toward us.

Micah 7:7 “But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”

Trust Him Christian. We don’t need any power – political or otherwise – if the One who loves us and gave Himself for us has all power – and is our Good Shepherd. Trust Him to act when, where and how is best for our eternal good.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #164 – Dec. 1 / Lazarus Laughed

December 1st, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

It’s the gift-giving time of the year, and the perennial question always arises: “What do you give to someone who has everything?”, or, simply doesn’t NEED anything? But of our 3 texts today: Revelation 3:14-4:11 and Daniel 9-11, it is John 12:1-11 that spins that question in a whole new way. How do you threaten someone who’s already lost everything? Better yet, who’s already died?

I’m Reid Ferguson and this is Through the Word in 2020.

I’ll have to admit I find the idea that the Chief Priests made plans to put Lazarus to death after Jesus raised him from the dead – hilarious. Not because Lazarus couldn’t die again – he could and eventually did. But because he had been there, and knew first hand the power over death his Savior truly wielded.

And so we have this imagined conversation in poem form.

Enjoy.

Laz’rus! Have you heard the news?

The word’s all over town

The Priests, the Scribes and Pharisees

all want to bring you down

They’re plotting when and planning where

its best to take you out

Their minds are set, their hearts are hard

They’ll move without a doubt

The more I squawked and stammered on

the more his face would shine

And leaning back in perfect peace

He said “son, pay no mind”

“They’re scheming what? Now think with me

To kill me? That’s the plan?

Now hear me son, I’ve walked that path,

and walked it back again

“They really think that’s going to throw

a panic into me?

I’ve stared at death from inside out

and that’s some sight to see!

“Now I’m supposed to shake and quake

at threats from mortal men,

And hold my tongue from telling all

Christ raised me up again?

“You’ve got…, you’ve got…”, he started out

in trying to explain

“You’ve got to just be be kidding me!”

Then, like bursting from some pain –

He let a howl from deep inside

escape with such a roar

I’m sure they heard him miles away

Or three or maybe four

The loudest, deepest, grandest laugh

that ever man has heard

erupted till the rafters shook.

A laugh the whole world heard.

As tears were streaming down his cheeks

he heaved and gasped for air

Then thinking he had stopped himself

broke out again and blared

“They’re going to try and kill me!

The man who Jesus raised!

Like death could ever scare me now –

Christ’s precious name be praised!”

And then he laughed, and laughed some more

Till all of us laughed too

in joy too deep for human words

Though shared by all too few

The promise of eternal life

Came crashing in on all

That Jesus truly conquered death

And triumphed o’er the Fall

No fear of death bound Lazarus

No threat could make him doubt

He’d known the power of Christ our Lord

Though buried – he came out

At just a word from Jesus’ lips

the power of death was gone

and life returned to lifeless flesh

The Kingdom Light had dawned

The day will come when we’ll laugh too

The trump of Christ will sound

And all the dead in Christ the Lord

will rise up from the ground

And meeting Jesus in the air,

with all who still remain

With Lazarus and all the rest

We’ll laugh at death and pain

In raptured sobs of joy and glee

We’ll reign with Him on high

And never feel the whispered lisp

Of pain or grieving’s sigh

We’ll shake our head like Lazarus did

at the foolishness of fear

To think – we’re loved by Christ the King

No joy, can be so dear

No doubt when Lazarus heard the news

that men sought his dispatch

He just lit up and shook his head –

Don’t doubt it, Laz’rus laughed

One day, all the dead in Christ will laugh like this too.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #163 – Nov. 30 / O-O-O!

November 30th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

I trust you all had as wonderful a Thanksgiving as my family was blessed to have. And as we come to our readings for today, the reasons for such thanksgivings to continue are not hard to find.

In Daniel 7:9-8:27 we read of God’s superintendence over all the nations of the earth and how He is Lord over human history. In Revelation 3:7-13 He is Lord over His Church even when she seems at her weakest. In John 11:38-57 Jesus is Lord over death itself. And in Psalm 139 we are treated to the “big three O’s” of our God; His Omniscience, Omnipresence and Omnipotence.

That’s our focus today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson.

Psalm 139 has been a favorite of mine for many years now. It’s structure is deceptively simple as it puts forth some of the most profound and comforting realities about our God in such few and easily accessible words.

vss. 1-6 serve as a survey of God’s Omniscience – how He knows EVERYTHING. Nothing is hidden from His view. Which David takes to heart in a most personal way – as you and I are meant to. He knows all of our ways – from the most mundane and personal to the most public. Intimately acquainted with us each individually. Down to when we sit down or stand up. And stunningly painted in the words of vs. 5 where David notes that His God’s hand was at work in all of David’s past, and what will be in his future, and in the present – he knows the hand of his God is on Him. So it is with every Believer.

vss. 7-12 are a survey of His Omnipresence. No matter where we go, no matter what our circumstances, in darkness or light or even in the grave – our God is with us. He is never away from us. We may not sense it, but we can know it because it is part of who and what He is by nature – the God who is everywhere at once. And that means with each of His children all of the time. You, dear Christian, are never alone.

In 13-16 David recounts God’s Omnipotence – and that, in considering his own creation. How God formed him to make the David he is. Even as God formed you, crafted you meticulously to be the you, you are.

He goes on then in 17-18 and looks at God’s personal care for His own.

And then in 19-22 The Psalmist brings the above sections to bear in his struggle with his enemies. We are meant to make this conclusion: In all we face – God knows. God is present. God is powerful to act. God loves me.

And so we see in 23-24 that such considerations produce humility, and the desire to follow after our great and wonderful God.

Humility, and profound confidence. Beloved, your God is completely omniscient – He knows everything, and everything which concerns you. He is omnipresent – with you at all times and in every place. Omnipotent, and never without power to act on your behalf. And He loves you.

O – O – O. What a God.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #162 – Nov. 25 / 10 Things about the Good Shepherd

November 25th, 2020
NOTE: At the time of publishing this, my Podcast provider was not in service. I hope to have the audio up soon. In the meantime, the print version will have to do. Sorry for the inconvenience.

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

Of the various ways Jesus referred to Himself – I find the extended parable in John 10 of the Good Shepherd exceedingly sweet. In vs. 11 He says plainly “I am the Good Shepherd.” And I want to take a minute to see 10 things in this parable that Jesus reveals about Himself that ought to make the heart of every Believer sing.

I’m Reid Ferguson, and this is Through the Word in 2020.

I hope you’re keeping up with our reading schedule. We don’t have much further to go in finishing out the year. And passages like those today in John 10, Revelation 3:1-6 and Daniel 1:8-2:49 are truly rich. But this parable Jesus tells about Himself in John 10 just rejoices the heart in spectacular ways.

I note 10 things.
1. Jesus is the one, the only one the “gatekeeper” allows to pass. Who or what is the gatekeeper? The Law. The Law had us pent up and imprisoned. And no one can pass through it to freedom. None but Christ alone. He fulfilled the Law, so that it can be no barrier to Him. He enters, that He might become our Shepherd and bring us out.
2. He calls His own by name. Jesus knows us each. Intimately. Personally. Indeed, He is the one who names us for Himself, and then calls us each individually. We are a large flock, but He never looses sight of each and every one.
3. And He does indeed lead us. He never leaves His sheep to their own devices. He is always calling to us through His Word, and pricking our ears by His Spirit. He leads us out from the constraints of the Law to the joy and freedom of cleansed consciences, forgiven sins, full justification, and the unbreakable promise of the resurrection.
4. He goes before us. He never sends us where He is unwilling to go Himself. Even to the cross. And He goes before us even there that we might know that in Him, our safety is assured.
5. He came to grant us abundant life. Life in the reality of God’s creation, plans and purposes. Not mere existence, but plunged into the meaning of life itself – in Him.
6. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He dies in our place. He spares nothing, not even His own life to rescue us from sin and condemnation. And yet He also ever lives to make intercession for us.
7. He knows His own. He is not just acquainted with us – He knows us. Every doubt, fear, foible, failing and concern. Nothing troubles our heart or mind that He is not immediately aware of, and present to meet us. If no one else in all the world really knows us – He does. Nothing is hidden from Him. And nothing He knows alters His love.
8. He will bring in His sheep from all corners to make us into one flock. And what marks them all out as one is that all His sheep listen to His voice. His global work culminates in joining all His into one in Himself.
9. He gives to each of His sheep – eternal life. Eternal, not temporary. They will never perish. They cannot perish. For He is their Shepherd, their guardian. He will bring them safely home to the Father. Each one will make it.
10. No one can snatch His sheep out of His hand. No one. Not Satan. Not the World. Not some other person. Not even ourselves. Not only can no one snatch us out of His hand, His solemn prophetic word here is – no one WILL take us away from Him. For we are a gift to Him from the Father, the Father who is greater than all – God almighty. And none can overcome Him.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow – remember the glory of your Good Shepherd. This is His theology of His own care for us.

Believe it.

Rest in it.

God willing, we’ll be back next Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 #161 – Nov. 24 / It wouldn’t surprise me

November 24th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

I’m neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but the more I read Scripture, the more some dynamics of how God deals with His people in various seasons shakes me a bit. When I read Ezekiel 46:16-Daniel 1:7, I see God’s people exiled for their lack of fidelity to God. The sorest point? They were removed from God’s appointed worship. In Psalm 137 I hear God’s people lament how their sins had brought them be removed from Jerusalem and the Temple – where God’s presence was manifest, and where proper worship was to be carried out. In Revelation 2:12-29 I read of God’s continual warnings of His intervention if the Churches do not pay heed. And in John 9, I see the established religious leadership unable to discern what is plain before them in Jesus’ miracles, and the judgment He says will follow that.

And it wouldn’t surprise me, if something like what we see in all of these passages may not be happening right now to the Church in America.

I’m Reid Ferguson, and we’ll talk a bit more about that today on Through the Word in 2020.

Many in the Church right now are truly up in arms about the nature of COVID restrictions and how they have impacted our worship practices. And there is cause for much concern. Given the nature of our Constitutional democracy, freedom of worship for us – unlike many parts of the world and most previous generations – we see as a fundamental right. The ancient Jews as God’s chosen people in their own land certainly thought that way too.

But something happened.

God’s people as a larger whole, kept slipping increasingly from mere perfunctory religion to immorality and disobedience of all kinds, to outright idolatry. And at that, they blended their immorality, greed, oppression of the poor, and even child sacrifice, WITH their Temple worship. They self-identified as God’s Israel, but all the while lived, thought, reasoned and acted like the world at its worst.

Forgive me if that sounds a bit too familiar.

But just take a good hard look at professing Christianity in America today. Our rampant immorality, greed, and failure to impact society in the matter of child sacrifice. Indeed, child sacrifice in the very name of the Church. Look at the lunacy preached from many pulpits. The unchecked heretical insanity. The abandonment of the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word. The redefining of Biblical concepts like the new birth, justification, and the new ritualism rising everywhere. The embrace of the LGBTQ+ agenda; the backing of organizations like Black Lives Matter (when indeed, Black lives DO matter); more hope in politics than the Gospel; and Christianity as the means to achieve our personal goals, dreams and ambitions rather than being called into the service of our Lord to accomplish His ends in ourselves and in the world.

And then we stand in our righteous indignation that in the face of the COVID-19 crisis – worship is restricted?

We may need to re-examine that approach.

I wouldn’t be surprised that this is indeed God’s hand in response to the low state of Biblical Christianity in America today.

Now were there sound men and women of Godly fidelity in Israel’s day? Of course! Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael just to name a few. Just as there are some great Churches today. And what of them? They suffered exile from worship along with the mass. AND! And they called God’s people to repentance, with the promise of restoration.

And it wouldn’t surprise me, if preaching along those lines ought to begin to play a much larger role in our place and time as well. For this we know: “this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #160 – Nov. 23 – Inclusive/Exclusive

November 23rd, 2020
For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

It’s pretty common to think of Jesus as being sort of all-inclusive. The cosmic good-guy who just accepts everyone, makes no demands. “The People’s” savior if you will – with nothing of exclusivity about Him. But is that really the way the Bible portrays Him?

We’ll spend a minute on that today on Through the Word in 2020.

I’m Reid Ferguson.

3 passages call for our attention today, Ezekiel 43:13-46:18; Revelation 1:1-8 and the very important dialog with Jesus recorded in John 8:39-59.

As I already mentioned, pop-theology tends to paint the picture of an “everyman” Jesus. And in one sense – this is most blessedly true. His “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” is a wonderfully universal call. And His charge to the Disciples to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” is equally broad and unambiguous. But reading and understanding the Scriptures – and thus understanding Jesus Himself – requires more than plucking one passage here and there and making that the whole of our understanding.

So when we come to a passage like this one in John, it is the words of Jesus Himself that give vital additional context.

Now in this brief discussion, Jesus makes 3 eye-opening statements. Probably surprising to many.
1. “If God were your Father, you would love me.” We need to make no mistake here. Are you a child of God? Is God truly your Father? How can you know for sure? Well, if God is your Father, you love Jesus Christ. If you do not love Him, God is not your Father. You still need to be born again.
A number of years ago I was on a panel with the Roman Catholic Bishop of Rochester. In a joint statement we were asked to help craft, he submitted that we begin by affirming that all people are children of God. When I raised an objection to that idea and appealed to this passage, he couldn’t deny that these verses contradicted his personal theology. We had to find very different wording. But the bottom line is just what Jesus said here – if God were our Father, we would love Him. And if we do not love Him, then the only conclusion is, God is not our Father.

2. Jesus went on to say: “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.” Now if the first statement weren’t hefty enough, this one is like a sledgehammer. When we reject Christ’s teaching, when it makes no sense to us, we are alerted to the fact that we alienated from God, and our desires are those in actual opposition to His. We are lost, and desperately need a Savior.

3. “Why do you not believe me?…Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not from God.”

That is a 3rd and definitive strike is it not? To fail to believe all He said and taught is proof we are not from God. And Jesus is unequivocal on that count. We cannot reject Him and His word and be right with God. Talk about exclusive!

That dire reality being the case, we are grateful then to go back to those 2 verses I cited at the top of this discussion. If you find yourself excluded under Jesus’ criteria here – then come to Him. Run to Him. All you who are weak and heavy laden in your sin.

Because He also adds: John 6:38-40 “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me…For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.