Our Real Jesus

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." 

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

I have a friend who, as he once considered having a true relationship with Christ, wondered to himself how he could possibly have a relationship with a dead guy.  Unfortunately, this has become a reality for many Christians.  Steeped in thousands of years of institutional church theology, we have come to accept the very idea that Jesus is far removed from our own lives.  Well, I am here to reveal to you that this simply isn't true at all.  While it's true that many Christians cannot recall most of the sermons the pulpit pounders preach, the teaching of our churches does have an impact on how it is we ultimately see Jesus.  For the longest time I saw Jesus as many of you do, as the Son of God living in heaven at the Fathers side far removed from the trials and tribulations here on earth.  If only that were true.  Our lack of Jesus is only one of the narratives we Christians have fallen for over the centuries.  Yes, Jesus died on the cross and rose again.  Yes, after His death He was seen by hundreds of people including His disciples.  We do not dispute this, yet we dispute the fact that Christ Jesus is closer to us today than He has ever been.  The apostle Paul spoke to this after his own encounter with the very Jesus he had been persecuting for so long.  Paul spoke to the truth of the real Christ, of Jesus in us {Galatians 2:20}.  Unfortunately, in all of my years siting in church pews, I have never heard this truth uttered by a pastor.  Why is that?  Many downplay Paul's revelation, saying that his situation was unique to him.  Really?  Was Paul some sort of deity that Jesus would choose to live only in him?  I doubt it.  Yet if you buy into traditional Christain teachings this is what you will find.  A Jesus removed from your world and your life.  

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God and eternal life.

1 John 5: 20 NKJV 

One thing I do know is that living in a world devoid of a living Christ would be terribly depressing.  I liken traditional church teachings of Jesus to that television commercial where the old guy with a fishing rod is dangling a dollar bill in front of you, "I got you a dollar, ooohh you almost had it!"  Likewise, in the church we're told that we may eventually "be like" Jesus if we do everything right.  The trouble with this is, it places the effort upon us to justify simply being in the presence of Jesus.  Well, anyone who has read Ephesians 2 8-9 can tell you it is not by our own means that we are saved.  So, who is the real Jesus?  Is Jesus that guy who bled and died and is now with the Father in heaven?  Yes.  Or, as I believe, is Jesus living in us today?  Yes.  Wait, can He be in two places at once?  Absolutely.  The real Jesus is the man who became sin on my behalf, taking it away from me {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  The real Jesus is the Jesus who lives in me.  For lack of a better word, I am Jesus.  This is my identity.  I know that my friend would have benefited from this knowing in his initial search for knowing Christ.  However, today he is assured that Christ Jesus is in him.  I like it better this way, knowing that God is with me each and every day.  Knowing that I don't need to be in a church pew to be close to the Lord.  This is our real Jesus.  

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.

Romans 6: 8 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

The Strength Of Paul

 

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8: 18 NKJV 

Have you ever found yourself going through a rough period in your life and thought that you were all alone?  This week I found myself square in the middle of a health issue where I indeed felt by myself at times.  After all, in my eyes I alone was the one experiencing the pain and discomfort of my affliction.  Then, for some reason, the sufferings of another were revealed to me.  I began to think of the apostle Paul and what he endured at the hands of those who opposed him and his message of Christ.  Paul was imprisoned, tortured and abandoned by more than a few people he trusted in.  It would seem that Paul definitely had the right to complain of his circumstances in life.  Not too many people would have objected considering all he had been through.  Yet Paul did not ask for anyone's pity.  Paul did not curse his circumstances.  What Paul did was connect the dots between his trials and his reality in Christ.  For it was Jesus, if you recall, who Himself also suffered the pain and mistreatment of those who opposed Him.  It was Jesus who also suffered the pain of having those He loved betray Him.  It was Paul who claimed that his sufferings would never compare to Christ who would soon be revealed in him {Romans 8:18}.  So, as I sat disappointed in that hospital waiting room this week I asked myself, does what I'm going through affect my future in Christ?  No!  I also know a few dear friends who have endured their own seasons of trial this past year and come through with a stronger knowing of Christ in their lives.  Now, I don't believe that the Lord purposefully sets forth to make people sick in order to open their eyes to Him.  However, I do believe that He will use our current situations to reveal His Son in us.  This was the strength of Paul.  Through all of his trials, Paul kept his eyes on the prize and continued to speak the word of Jesus.  In fact, by continuing to speak the gospel of Christ, Paul was setting himself up for even more mistreatment.  Yet through Jesus, the strength of Paul, he endured.  

Considering this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12: 8 - 10 NKJV 

Believe me, as I sat in that hospital I was not rejoicing in my sickness.  In fact, I consider it a rare person who would even do such a thing.  To do so, one would need to shift their attention from the suffering of the present to the wonders of the future.  Yes, our present time here in this world has brought us pain, discomfort and suffering.  However, this world is NOT the future which we aspire to.  Paul knew this all too well.  Whatever sufferings were afflicted upon him had no bearing upon his future glory in Christ Jesus.  When he was at his weakest, he was strong {2 Corinthians 12:10}.  A dear friend of mine once presented a good take upon the iconic scripture we find in Philippians 4:13.  Instead of claiming that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, we realize that our true strength comes from Him.  Christ Jesus is our strength.  No more is this made apparent than in Paul's speaking to Christ Jesus in us {Galatians 2:20}.  Applying this to Philippians 4:13 we realize that we can do all things through Christ Jesus in us.  When we are at our weakest, through Christ we are strong.  So, as I sat there in the hospital contemplating this I suddenly realized, what am I worried about?  For whatever happens in this life of mine, my future in Christ has been secured.  I know who I am, and that is an incredible comfort in chaotic times. 

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8: 26 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Ezra's Pulpit

 

Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the Law.  So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Sherma, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

Nehemiah 8: 3 - 4 NKJV 

This week we learned that the ministry of the kin of legendary pastor T.D Jakes will be going to virtual services in part due to a decline in contributions.  While not surprising, it got me thinking about the importance which we place upon our pastors and leaders.  I have had the unique opportunity, through a dear friend, to see what life is like on the other side of that coin.  Rarely does the public get to see such things as quotas, tithing goals and maximum church capacity, but believe me it's there.  It is this corporate mentality which I believe has shattered many a church and congregation.  Choosing to run the church as a boardroom and not as a messenger of God.  So here is my question, where in the scriptures is the word pulpit even mentioned?  We associate pulpits with Sunday sermons and church leadership, but where do they fit into the Lord's plan?  Well, as it turns out, one messenger of the Lord did indeed utilize a wooden pulpit, although not in a way you might think.  We're told that the scribe Ezra stepped onto a pulpit of wood that those who were listening to him could hear him read from the Law of the Lord.  Ezra didn't use the pulpit to ask for donations or to point the finger of sin as is the practice of some pulpit pounders today.  No, it was the desire of Ezra that all hear the word of the Law of the Lord.  This was Ezra's pulpit, and he put it to good use.  Knowing this, I've taken a totally different view not only of the word pulpit, but of the role of those who speak from it.  For I am of the opinion that the pulpit should be used as it was meant to be, as a podium to speak the word of the Lord.  But you say, "Scott, that's what our pastors are doing."  Really?  I hear from plenty of Christians who claim to be tired of the same old message they hear from the pulpit.  Far too many people have abandoned brick and mortar churches because they are not hearing the message they are so hungry to hear.  Those in the pulpits have failed us.  

Now all who believed were together, and had all things all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2: 44 - 47 NKJV 

I recently ran into a friend who used to attend the same church I did.  Eventually the question of church came about, and he said he had given up the church for a home group.  I can't say that I blame him, it's been more than ten years since I stepped into a church myself.  For me, the hustle and bustle of the corporate church did not feed my need to know Christ Jesus.  In a way this was a blessing to me because it led me to a dear friend who himself was longing to know Jesus in a more personal way.  I can honestly say that the Jesus I have come to know in me I would never have heard of from the pulpit of any church.  For anyone who doubts this, I challenge you to watch the film Come Sunday.  This movie is based on the experiences of pastor Carlton Pearson.  Pearson was the stereotypical man in the pulpit, trained by the legendary Oral Roberts.  However, at the height of his ministry, he has a moment of conscience.  I would call it a revelation from the Lord.  He begins to see God not as the accusatory figure spoken of from many a pulpit, but as a God of love.  In the end, Carlton loses his ministry, his church and is alienated by his mentor Roberts.  So it is for those who go against the institutional church grain.  I believe that were some brave soul attempt to speak the truth of Christ Jesus from the pulpit that they would suffer the same fate as Carlton Pearson.  This truth of Christ Jesus is the very same gospel which the apostle Paul spoke to in Galatians.  This is the truth of Christ Jesus in me {Galatians 2:20}.  Not spoken from many pulpits, but true nonetheless.  It was this Jesus whom Carlton Pearson recognized when he claimed, "If you could save your own father from hell...wouldn't you?"  Fortunately, Jesus has accomplished this through His finished work on the cross, and He didn't need a pulpit to do it.  

~Scott~ 

The People's Choice

 

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 

John 17: 3 NKJV 

As I related in a recent post, I have gotten away from making the traditional New Year's resolutions.  I figured I could set goals anytime of the year anyway.  However, that has not stopped many others from making their end of the year plans for the year to come.  Each year, millions of people vow to change everything from their health to their finances.  Yet recently something interesting happened.  A survey by New Life Research found that a significant number of people were resolving to...know God.  You heard right, 29 percent of those surveyed had made resolutions about their relationship with God.  Also, those ages 18 - 34 and 35 - 49 were 35 percent more likely to make faith the subject of their New Year's resolutions.  Forty eight percent of Christians who attend a traditional worship service at least four times a month claimed to have made a resolution about their relationship with God.  What can we take away from all of this?  Well, traditional New Year's resolutions are usually made with the intent of changes one can make to their lives in the year ahead.  So, when an American Christian resolves to work on their own relationship with God in the coming year, what are we supposed to take away from that?  Are people no longer being "fed" in our traditional brick and mortar churches?  Has the church "system" we've come to know bypassed those it has been tasked with serving for the sake of the bottom line?  I'd say both of these statements are true.  I can imagine thousands of Christians sitting through another mundane church service and wondering to themselves, "Why am I here?"  I can imagine it because I've been there.  I've been in the pew longing to hear about the life of Jesus but getting nothing from the pastor but another sermon on the virtues of tithing.  I get it.  I look at these survey numbers and the first thing that jumps out at me is that Christians want to know God.  The other thing I notice is that there has been a huge disconnect between the traditional church and believers.  This also can be evidenced in the numbers of Christians leaving their churches.  It seems that more and more people are searching for God.  

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14: 6 NKJV 

Back in the 1970's there was a movie titled Oh God, starring George Burns and musician John Denver.  In it a supermarket manager (Denver) is visited by the almighty Himself (Burns) in order that he might spread the good news of the Lord.  God wanted His people to know who He was.  Well, as you can imagine, the Lord's messenger runs into his share of roadblocks as he attempts to do as God had told him.  In the end, however, God delivers a brilliant oratory in a crowded court room before making His exit once again.  God desires for His children to know Him.  As we can see from our recent survey, there are a good number of Gods children who desire to know Him as well.  Not the church where we've been told that God abides.  Not in the words of the pastors who have been tasked with relating God to the people.  No, people desire more and more to know the one true God.  Well, we're in luck, because that is the desire of our Lord as well.  The prayer of Jesus in the garden before His crucifixion reveals that Jesus desires that we would be one with He and the Father {John 17:21}.  How much closer of a relationship with God can we have?  But this is not simply the desire of Jesus, for through His finished work on the cross, those who believe in Christ are now one with He and the Father.  The apostle Paul speaks to this as he relates that it is Christ Jesus who now lives in him {Galatians 2:20}.  When it is revealed that Christ Jesus lives in us, then we have surely become one with the Father.  We can have a relationship with God...without the New Year's resolution.  

"That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."

John 17: 21 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

At Your Word

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Matthew 4: 18 - 20 NKJV 

He had been at it all night long.  Toiling in the waters he and Andrew had fished for so long.  Yet, despite all of their efforts, they had nothing but empty nets to show for it.  Now, after a long night pulling empty nets, Simon must have come ashore dejected at their lack of success.  But there, standing on the shoreline, was the man who would change his life forever.  "Let down your nets for a catch," the man told him.  Simon protested, he knew these waters well and no fish meant no fish.  Finally, he gave in, "At your word" he said as he and Andrew lowered their nets over the side.  At His word indeed.  What came next was more fish than he and his brother could pull into the boat.  Who was this man who's spoken word led to the biggest catch these fishermen had ever seen?  He...is Jesus.  Simon and Andrew were impressed enough that they immediately set out to follow Jesus when He called them.  But the question remains, what was it that Simon Peter saw in Jesus that day that he would trust in Him?  Jesus was the son of a carpenter; but He was no fisherman.  Long before electronic fish finders, Jesus knew that by simply speaking it into being, that the nets of these fishermen would be filled to overflowing.  But Simon didn't know that.  Yet he trusted this man at His word.  What I like about the story of Jesus calling Simon and Andrew is the trust they showed in Jesus from the beginning.  In fact, the scriptures tell us that when Jesus called them, they immediately dropped their nets and followed Him {Matthew 4:30}.  Simon and Andrew put a lot of faith in a guy who wasn't even a fisherman.  When was the last time you did that?  If you were so hell bent on doing something and you knew in your heart that you were right, would you take Jesus at His word?  These two fishermen did.  

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  "For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'be moved and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." 

Mark 11: 22 - 24 NKJV 

Growing up, one of my favorite hobbies was building model airplanes.  I remember one Christmas, my mother had bought me a large-scale model of a North American P-51 Mustang.  Well, this model kit had a million pieces to it, and being the kid that I was, I ignored the label which said that this kit was "For experienced modelers."  As I set out to build my airplane, I suddenly found myself out of my league.  However, nobody was going to tell this kid that I couldn't build my airplane!  My mother offered to help, but I refused and continued on my quest.  Some who know me know that once I set my mind on a project, everything else gets put on the back burner.  No multi taskers allowed here!  I get a feeling that this is what things were like for Simon that day on the Sea of Galilee.  Simon was a fisherman, and here was this stranger suddenly telling him how to do his job.  Who was this guy?  Perhaps Simon knew of Jesus as the carpenter's son that he was.  Perhaps he had heard of the reputation of this man who was now telling him to lower his nets.  We know that Simon and Andrew were religious, most likely Jews by faith.  They certainly knew of the concept of faith, but blind faith?  Faith not based upon that which they could see for themselves?  That was a big issue then and for us today as well.   But when we get so busy doing what we do, oblivious to everything else around us, we can take a lesson from a fisherman.  Step back and listen for the still voice of Jesus as He guides us.  At your word Lord.  

~Scott~ 

Something New

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things are new. 

2 Corinthians 5: 17 NKJV 

I've gotten away from making the traditional New Year's resolution except on certain special occasions.  It turns out that most of the things I resolved to do in the new year were things I'd been working on for some time anyway.  However, many people use this time of year to once again wish the old away and replace it with the new whatever that may be.  It may be money, health or family.  Whatever it is, New Year's is usually the time of year where we once again wipe the slate clean for another year.  It sounds more to me like simply another way to motivate ourselves.  I get it.  I remember resolving to do many things in years past.  Some I accomplished while others faded away.  I guess I did it because I saw those around me doing the same thing.  I don't have a New Year's prediction for this year.  What I do have is proof of something which has already become new.  Me.  That's right, I'm not the same man I was all those years ago.  Is this due to a resolution I followed through on?  Not at all.  This change in my life came about from my knowing and acceptance of Christ Jesus into my life.  This was in no way a New Year's resolution where I resolved to come to know Jesus better.  That's because I always thought I knew who Jesus was.  Jesus was that guy who died for me and then rose into heaven.  Yeah, that guy.  Never once did I think that I could have a personal relationship with Him.  Of course, that was before God revealed His Son in me.  The apostle Paul introduces us to Christ in us in Galatians.  It is Paul who speaks of Jesus living in him {Galatians 2:20}.  This is the Jesus I have come to know.  This is the Jesus who I live my life as.  I did not choose Him...He chose me.  

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" 

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

If you're a Christian, you know just how bad you've been.  In fact, it's because of you that Jesus needed to come and free you from your sinful ways, right?  Well, you're on the right track.  However, we haven't always been that filthy, ragged sinner we once were.  Far too often, believers get wrapped up in who it is they USED to be.  They remember their past and believe in their hearts that this is who they are no matter what.  For their part, the church does not help when it continues to remind us of our former sinful past.  Yet, in the spirit of the new year allow me to present to you something new...you!  Paul explains to us in 2nd Corinthians that we who believe in Jesus have become NEW creations in Him {2 Corinthians 5:17}.  The old has become new.  It's as if Jesus Himself declared a New Year's resolution by which He declared that He would make you a new creation.  Now, I've never known God to lie, so when He tells us that we are now a brand-new creation, I tend to trust Him.  The filthy ragged sinner you thought you once were is now gone for good through Christ.  Whoever it is that you have thought you were for so many years is gone now.  You're not the unbeliever.  You're not the drunkard.  Who you are is one with Christ Jesus.  This is in fact the desire of Jesus, and His prayer for you in the garden {John 17:21}.  Not that we would continue living a life with a false belief of who we are.  But living a life of redemption and renewal through the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross.  The old things have passed away, behold, all things are new.  

"That they may be one, as you, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they may also be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."

John 17: 21 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Enemy At The Gate

 

"First the Germans would sing one of their Carrols and then we would sing one of ours, until we started up 'O come all ye faithful' the Germans immediately joined in singing the same hymn to the Latin words Adeste Fideles, and I thought, this is really a most extraordinary thing - two nations both singing the came Carrol in the middle of a war"

Graham Williams, Fifth London Rifle Brigade

World War 1 went down in history as one of the bloodiest, costliest wars in human history.  The bloodbath seemed to transcend the limits with which mankind punished one another.  Yet, in the midst of this destruction arose a single moment of peace.  On December 24th, 1914, Christmas eve, soldiers along the western front of the battlefield began to sing the traditional hymns they remembered.  First the British then their German enemy began singing.  It wasn't long before, in the midst of the Carrols, that a few British and German soldiers lay down their weapons and began to cautiously approach the enemy lines.  As the singing continued, more men joined in until there stood in no man's land a multitude of soldiers who only moments before had stood as bitter enemies.  These men agreed to what some would call a 'Christmas truce' among the soldiers in their part of the hell of war.  Gifts were exchanged.  Photos of home and family were shown.  There are even rumors that a soccer game was arranged between the two sides, but it has been difficult to confirm.  What is it that brought these two warring sides suddenly to a temporary peace?  Memories?  Memories of home and of the traditions of Christmas?  Perhaps.  Perhaps these men, having already witnessed the worst humanity had to offer, had simply had enough.  Whatever the reason, the evening began with the singing of traditional hymns celebrating the birth of a child.  That child being our Lord Christ Jesus.  The prophet Isaiah spoke that one of the names Jesus would be known as is Prince of Peace {Isaiah 9:6}.  On a cold night in the middle of one of the bloodiest wars in human history, soldiers from two warring sides lay down their weapons to celebrate the birth of this Prince of Peace.  

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 

1 John 4: 18 NKJV 

Moments such as this are difficult to come by it seems.  Moments where we are at peace with all that surrounds us.  All of the bad news.  All of the negative people.  All of which the world has to throw at us.  How is it that we can find peace with the enemy at the gate?  Growing up, my mother knew all too well that the world was not hospitable place.  She was faced with the pressures of raising two kids on her own.  How did she find peace in those moments?  Through the Prince of Peace.  Time and again, she would be on her knees in prayer because she knew that even though it might seem that things were crashing down around her, that Jesus was her constant rock of stability.  She understood that she could not overcome much without Him.  I wish that my mother would have known Jesus the way that I have come to know Him during her life, but I know that He was the love of her life nonetheless.   Jesus had more than earned the name Prince of Peace long before that night in France in 1914.  Many a Jew had expected His birth to bring about a revolution against the Roman occupiers of Israel.  Yet what He did was much more lasting.  Indeed, the Roman empire has long since disappeared, yet Christ Jesus remains.  As we celebrate this Christmas season, we also celebrate the birth of the child who not only is our peace, but our life as well.  

~Scott~