Category: Edification

"WHAT IS MAN...?" Psalm 8

6/2/2011

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him and the son of man that you care for him?" - Psalm 8:3-4 (ESV)

      "The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have" - Norman Vincent Peale (Methodist minister and author of"The Power of Positive Thinking"). A few years ago, scientists and astronomers discovered in deep space what they have called "The Dark Attractor" - a huge, unknown mass in space that seems to be pulling our galaxy (the Milky Way) and tens of thousands of other galaxies toward itself at a tremendous speed - approximately 14 million miles per hour (mph). In an editorial of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch entitled, "On the Edge of Heaven", there was this timely observation:

      "Scientists themselves seem star-struck by the massiveness of this discovery (The Dark Attractor) and admit that it will only add to their already substantial difficulties in explaining the universe's mysteries. To the poets and psalmists, the mystery is the same as it always has been: "What is man, that thou art mindful of him"

      Often when we study the universe, or listen to the news...even when we read our Bibles, it is easy to try to view the world through the lenses of our own ability and intellect. Every now and then, God has to (in a sense) bring us down to size. The reality is that, when everything is brought to the table, we are simply dust that has been made significant by GOD. Psalm 8 outlines the privilege of human beings: even though created lower in order than the spiritual, angelic beings, we have been crowned with glory and honor by God (v. 5b) - we have received dominion over God's creation (v. 6a, 7-8) - we have been made the stewards of "all things" (v. 6b) - Great position - great worth - great responsibility. And yet, in the same breath, the awesomeness of the created world leads the psalmist to quake and ask in verse 4, "WHAT IS MAN...?"

      Acknowledging our enormous worth in the created order and YET also acknowledging our relative insignificance in the grand scheme - this is the tense and perfect balance of life. Humanity's right response....true response.....only response to your Maker must be HUMILITY. Think about this question: "When was the last time God got more glory from your life than YOU did?"

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are ALL THINGS. To Him be the glory forever. AMEN" - Romans 11:36

Pastor Andrew Smith
[email protected]

© Pending

Published by http://www.sheepgazette.com

0 Comments

THE TORN VEIL

6/1/2011

1 Comment

      "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity" -Ephesians 2:14-16

       "The veil of the temple was a constant reminder that sin renders humanity unfit for the presence of God" - Elmer TownsIt is easy at times to read the Word of God and to miss out on some significant truths because of familiarity with the text. I've been reading the story of Christ's crucifixion for years and never considered in depth the MIRACLE of the tearing of the veil. In Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38 and Luke 23:45 it is recorded that at the moment Jesus "yielded up his spirit" in death - the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

      The temple veil - the curtain in the temple of God which separated the Holy Place [accessible to ministering priests] and the HOLY OF HOLIES [accessible only once a year to the High Priest making atonement on behalf of the people]. An elaborately woven fabric of 72 twisted plaits of 24 threads, the veil was 60 ft high and 30 feet wide. The size and thickness of the veil make the events occurring at the moment of Jesus' death so much more momentous. Was its rending the result of an earthquake, as some purport? Simply illogical! It marked the beginning of a new era - it marked the opening of a new way of thinking about and relating to God. Here are a few things to consider about this miracle:

1. God resides no longer in buildings made by human hands (cf. Acts 17:24) - the torn veil alludes to a God who cannot be limited in his presence and power. Consider that even as you read this e-mail, God is THERE with you. Does this reality make a difference in how you think about yourself and the people around you today?

2. There is no separation between God and man anymore - whether Jew or Gentile, black or white, male or female....we ALL have access to the presence of God "by a new and living way which he (Jesus) opened for us through the veil, that is to say his flesh" (Hebrews 10:20). The tearing of the veil and the death of Jesus correspond because it is Jesus' sacrifice that has opened the way for man to commune directly with God - no priest, no pastor, no person can commune with God on your behalf...through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, you are now invited to come boldly (cf. Hebrews 4:16).

3. There is no basis for division between the people of God - the torn veil represents the end of separation between Jew and Gentile: people who could not find common ground for fellowship. The entire book of Acts is the record of God tearing down the walls of division and creating "in Himself, one new man from two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity"(Eph. 2:16). Do you find it difficult to forgive or love your brother/sister in Christ? Consider that in Jesus Christ, you no longer have any basis to lack genuine love.

      I encourage us to take to heart the MIRACLE OF THE TORN VEIL and to EXALT JESUS CHRIST for the access He has provided for us into the presence of Almighty God. Amen.

Pastor Andrew Smith
[email protected]

1 Comment

OSAMA BIN LADEN & THE CHRISTIAN WALK

5/30/2011

0 Comments

      "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about ; seeking whom he may devour" - 1 Peter 5:8

     "(Christians)...always evaluating where we've been...always reacting...searching for ways to settle in and find comfort in our sofa-like surroundings...yawning...slumbering in the sleepy warm twilight of sundown...we are yesterday-dwellers...avoiding the reality of today" - Chuck Swindoll (excerpt from essay - Prophet Sharing)

       As I saw the celebrations in front of the White House and the beautiful accolades given to President Obama on May 2nd, I couldn't help but thinking to myself...didn't America hate this guy on May 1st? What a difference a day makes :) Interestingly, many believe that this is the defining moment of his presidency - they may be right. Nabbing the most wanted man in the world for the past 10 years is an achievement worth celebrating....but I wonder....for how long? I remember the words of Winston Churchill which he gave following England's first real victory against the Germans in November 1942: "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning". The killing of bin Laden is a great sentimental accomplishment for the United States, no doubt. The war on global terrorism, however, is far from over.

       Many Christians approach living for Christ as an attempt to "capture a bad guy" - as a mission to be accomplished over a short period with "shock and awe". To our surprise after a spiritual battle is fought and won, the war rages on...and (just as we saw in Iraq) sometimes with even greater intensity. Yes! Victory is a cause for celebration, but if the war still rages the soldier must put his victories in context and seek after EVEN MORE VICTORY. In the Christian life, the moments of victory or defeat are only chapters in a book that will not be finished until we die or Jesus Christ returns for us. That is why the apostle Paul stated emphatically, "Brothers and sisters, I can't consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don't look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God's heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus" - Phil. 3:13-14 (THE MESSAGE). Yesterday's victories will not suffice for today's challenges - so don't get apathetic (as Swindoll describes in the above excerpt), don't let down your guard, stop saying, "Well...I used to be or I used to do...", don't get distracted by the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat: GIRD UP YOUR LOINS TO WAR!

     "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs -- he wants to please his commanding officer" - 2 Timothy 2:4

Pastor Andrew Smith
[email protected]

0 Comments

IT'S LATER THAN YOU THINK (Jude 17-19)

5/30/2011

1 Comment

     Jude 17-19 says, "But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit". [ESV]

This is a true story:

     A US judge has thrown out a case against God, ruling that because the defendant has no address, legal papers cannot be served. The suit was launched by Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers, who said he might appeal against the ruling. He sought a permanent injunction to prevent the "death, destruction and terrorisation" caused by God. Judge Marlon Polk said in his ruling that a plaintiff must have access to the defendant for a case to proceed. "Given that this court finds that there can never be service effectuated on the named defendant this action will be dismissed with prejudice", Judge Polk wrote in his ruling. Mr Chambers cannot refile the suit but may appeal. Mr Chambers sued God last year. He said God had threatened him and the people of Nebraska and had inflicted "widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants". He said he would carefully consider Judge Polk's ruling before deciding whether to appeal. The court, Mr Chambers said, had acknowledged the existence of God and "a consequence of that acknowledgement is a recognition of God's omniscience". "Since God knows everything", he reasoned, "God has notice of this lawsuit". Mr Chambers, a state senator for 38 years, said he filed the suit to make the point that "ANYONE CAN SUE ANYONE ELSE, EVEN GOD". To verify this, you can check the link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7673591.stm

     Are we conscious of the age in which we are living? We may be laughing at this news report while ignoring our personal tendencies to allow the spirit of this age to squeeze us into its mold: compromising our faith for popularity and comfort, revising the Word of God to suit our agendas, conveniently putting God's will aside when it doesn't match our will, dishonoring authorities set up by God, lacking discipline in our spiritual lives, being ungrateful for blessings, etc.. If we're not careful to discern the spirit of this evil age, we may become a part the very thing that we despise. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that sows to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting" - Galatians 6:8. Today, let's pray for spiritual eyes.

What do you think?

Pastor Andrew
[email protected]

1 Comment

Forward>>

"WHAT IS MAN...?" Psalm 8

THE TORN VEIL

OSAMA BIN LADEN & THE CHRISTIAN WALK

IT'S LATER THAN YOU THINK (Jude 17-19)

Pastor Andrew Smith

Archives

Categories