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Grain, Cross and Glory by Pastor David

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Isaiah 6:1-10

Grain, Cross and Glory

Woven into the Apostle John’s narrative are three pieces of a puzzle that show how humanity is brought into right relationship with God.

The three puzzle pieces are comprised of a kernel of wheat, a cross and glory. A kernel of wheat which dies alone in the ground brings multiplication.  The cross of intentional sacrifice draws all to Jesus. Finally the glory of Jesus Christ either opens or blinds eyes. 

John 12:20-50

Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground….

There is no multiplication unless something dies.  In fact in God’s economy abundance comes from death.  It’s a paradox. It doesn’t make sense in our economy but in the spiritual economy it makes absolute sense.   Jesus not only confirms that He will be like a seed planted in the ground, His disciples will follow him too.  Are you willing to be a grain of wheat planted into the ground?  What does that look like in your life? 

When I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself…

Jesus knew where He was going.  He went with intention and for a purpose.  His reason was to draw people to himself. Without His sacrifice and without His shed blood there would be no Peace.  Humanity would forever be separated from God without his sacrifice.  He knew what was required and Scripture says, “for the JOY set before Him, He endured!”  He went to the cross intentionally, having every opportunity to avoid it, but He willingly laid down His life. What was the JOY?  You and me in restored relationship and intimate friendship. What a friend we have in Jesus! 

Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him….

It’s fascinating that John introduces the concept of glory in a passage marked with suffering and death.  The passage from Isaiah which John references is perhaps the most significant encounter an Old Testament prophet has with God Almighty.  Isaiah actually mentions that he “sees” the LORD.  For a Jew to say this would be outrageous, for even Moses could not look at God!  Yet, here in this passage Isaiah SEES God and he immediately recognizes his sin and God’s amazing glory.  John clarifies for us that Isaiah actually saw JESUS in his open vision.  

John 12:41 “Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. 

Isaiah saw Jesus as the Messiah. But when the Jewish leaders saw Jesus and all of His miraculous signs their eyes were closed. They refused to believe.  They didn’t see their sins and His glory they saw their own righteousness.  

John’s point is clear.  When you look at Jesus and all that He has done, are you convicted of your sin and recognize your need for a savior or are you blinded and convinced of your own ‘goodness’?

As we read through the last week in the life of Jesus, prayerfully reflect, worship and praise Him for His goodness toward us as he intentionally moves toward the cross for you and for me!

Passion Week

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Many have asked why we refer to these seven days as Passion Week? In Latin the word “passio” means suffering. The middle English word passion (which is derived from the Latin) means: that which must be endured, suffering. Therefore, when we talk about Passion Week, we talk about the suffering which Christ must have endured in order to free mankind. It’s a powerful word picture for the week of Christ’s suffering on our account.

As you read through the Scriptures this week, bear in mind that Christ is intentional in His march toward the cross. This is something He must endure. He did not enter into this journey haphazardly, but on the contrary He willingly laid down His life.

I have chosen five vignettes of the Passion week. We begin with Christ’s journey into Jerusalem and conclude with Christ’s death on the cross. Although the Scripture we read is one of suffering — for us it is a story of redemption and victory! I encourage you to take moments of time this week and spend them reading, reflecting and praying. As you do I pray that that Jesus Christ will reveal more of Himself to you and give you a greater burden to share His glorious good news.

Would you do me a favor this week?

Ask God to lay on your heart one person you would invite to church this Easter Sunday. And then — invite them. Remember we will be offering two services this Sunday one at 9am and the other at 11am. I am so excited about Easter and look forward to people hearing the wonderful message of God’s great news!

Zech. 9:9-10
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you;righteous and having salvation is he,humble and mounted on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem;and the battle bow shall be cut off,and he shall speak peace to the nations;his rule shall be from sea to sea,and from the River to the ends of the earth.

1As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”4This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,5“Tell the people of Jerusalem,‘Look, your King is coming to you.He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’”6The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.8Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David!Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the lord!Praise God in highest heaven!”10The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.11And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”12Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”14The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. 15The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”But the leaders were indignant. 16They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” 17Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.

Jesus knew what was going to happen in a few short days, yet he still receives the praises of the people. He rides in on a donkey (a symbol of peace) instead of a war horse. It’s a clear image to the Jewish people that He is coming to bring peace. The peace He brings is not the peace the people are expecting. They are desirous of peace in their nation, but Jesus came to bring a greater peace — the peace between God and Humanity. This reconciliation was a rescue plan set in motion by almighty God thousands of years before! No greater peace could be imagined yet the disciples and the crowd knew nothing of the mysterious plan hidden from ages past.

Manna & Quail & Generosity by Pastor Matt

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Song: No Other Name

Artist: Hillsong

We’ve been challenged this week to express kindness through generosity. Thinking through this subject, I keep going back to a passage we’ve already considered:  2 Cor. 8-9. Today, I’d like to call your attention to few more verses from these chapters.

9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say,

“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,  and those who gathered only a little had enough.”  2 Corinthians 8:9-15

I don’t think it’s any accident that Paul appeals to this Old Testament story to motivate his readers to follow through on their generosity.

The Old Testament quote is taken from Exodus 16:18. It’s the instruction which accompanies God’s miraculous provision (read: generosity!) of manna and quail in the wilderness.

It was true for Israel then, for the Corinthians a bit later, and for us now. God is the one providing the resources! In the Exodus, it was manna and quail. For the Corinthians (and us!) it’s s the provision that comes through the “generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” But in each case, the way to generosity is opened by remembering the source.

Paul gives loads of practical advice on generosity. Finish what you start. Be intentional. Give generously, because there will come a time when you’ll need to receive graciously. But all of this advice is rooted in the character of a God who supplies what we need, who gives us today our daily bread.

Let the generosity of God in your life motivate you today to follow through on this week’s March Kindness challenge. Give something away this week – knowing that God has and will give you just what you need!

 

The First Progressive Dinner by Pastor Andy

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In the days of Elisha, Jerusalem was under siege. No one was going out and nothing was coming in. Food was scarce, and people were dying.

As you can imagine, things were bad for the common person, but for the poor it was even worse. Then there was the leper. Lepers were literal outcasts – couldn’t live in the city, had to declare “unclean” everywhere they went, separate from family.

During this siege, four lepers are sitting near the city gates, starving like everyone else. They come to a realization. No matter what happens they will die – starve here, starve there, starve anywhere. Why not head over to the enemy camp, and see if we can elicit some pity and get some food? Worse case scenario..we die a quick and dirty death.

When the arrive at the camp they discover it deserted. God frightened the enemy away. They abandoned camp the night before.

These lepers have gone from outcast to king. They move from tent to tent enjoying the first ever progressive dinner. They take gold, silver, clothing. It’s an embarrassment of riches.

They are blessed.

Making retirement plans – Will you build a beach house or mountain villa? – they have another epiphany. These are very deep thinking and astute lepers.

2 Kings 7:9-11

9…“This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.”
10So they went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what had happened. “We went out to the Aramean camp,” they said, “and no one was there! The horses and donkeys were tethered and the tents were all in order, but there wasn’t a single person around!” 11Then the gatekeepers shouted the news to the people in the palace.

They are a blessing.

This week we are focusing on how generosity flows from an attitude of kindness. From the beginning, God designed for blessing to beget blessing. We are generous/kind because God has been generous/kind to us.

Though the lepers motivation wasn’t completely pure (self-preservation), they shared their blessing with the palace, which then shared it with the people. Out of their generosity flowed salvation. The nation of Israel was saved from starvation because of the generosity of 4 men.

When you are generous, you open the door for God’s salvation to flow. Will you be a blessing? Will you be generous?

This week we are asking the every person in the church to give something away. As you give, as you are generous, ask God to open the door to salvation.

What thing(s) have you or will you give this week?

Greedy to Generous in 30 days!

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One of the reasons I love working for and with Pastor David is how he challenges me. Sometimes the challenges are direct, but many times the challenges are subtle and indirect. Many times the challenges are from watching him operate.

One of these areas of challenge is in generosity. Pastor David, by nature, is a very generous person. I’ve referred to him before as a “YES” person. It shines forth in his generosity as much as anywhere.

I’ve found myself saying (out loud and to myself), “You want to give what!?!” These moments have exposed my own heart – greed.

Read what Paul wrote to Timothy about greed and generosity,

Timothy 6:6-11; 17-19

6Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

9But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

11But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

17Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

In his book, Enemies of the Heart, Andy Stanley states one of the emotions which ruins our spiritual heart is greed. Stanley prescribes the formula to overcome greed, and the formula is no different from what Paul says here.

We overcome greed through generosity.

If you are a greedy person, and by greedy I mean tight-fisted, stingy, frugal, selfish, penny-pinching or grasping, then you need March Kindness. You need to do intentionally kind and generous acts. You need God to do a work in your heart, and He will begin the work as you begin to give.

This week our challenge is to give something away. I’m talking to all of us greedy people (because the generous ones have already done it 3 times since Sunday). What are you going to give?

Personally, I gave to a friend who’s in need financially. If you need an idea, you can start with him. Let it be a springboard to generosity in your life.