God’s power on full display

Last night our Wednesday night service was a train wreck.  Technology that is usually dependable crashed.  Microphones failed.  Everything that could go wrong, did! 

THEN…in the midst of all the trouble…someone became a child of God. 

I’ve not been at this long but I have noticed a trend.  It seems that on these kind of nights God really shows up. 

When all the things we think of as necessary to “do” worship services fail, God really shows His power. 

That was the case again last night.  In the midst of a technology fail, it became clear that God doesn’t need any of that.  He does not have a problem with us using that stuff to communicate His grace.  I believe He wants us to use the available resources to shout the Gospel message. 

But…

Every now and then He reminds us that it is HIM and not our great light show, great music, great video productions, or fun games that do the saving.  God alone does that work. 

What does He expect of us? 

To be available.  Wherever we are.  Whatever we’re doing.  Whatever is going wrong.  Be available.

It’s quite encouraging to know we serve a Savior who chooses to use us, but doesn’t really NEED us.  He allows and wants us to be a part of the work of grace.  Thank you, Lord!

The heart of it…

Service Saturday.

North Park has joined a number of other churches who carve out several Saturdays a year to work in the local community.  This church has primarily done housing rehab (scraping, painting, siding, roofing, etc…) but is not limited to that.   We also love to provide games, snacks, sno-cones, etc. to kids in the neighborhoods we serve in. 

From time to time the question arises…why?  Why do you do this?  Not that it’s not a GOOD thing…but why?

2 Corinthians 10: 15-16 is a perfect summation. 

“But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged.”

Oh, you might say, so it’s a power thing?  NO…keep reading

“…so that we may preach the gospel in the lands beyond you.”

People not attending a church have a multitude of reasons.  Service Saturday helps fight one of those off…

You hear things like “well church people are all fake and all they want is your money.”

Service Saturdays give us (Christ followers) the opportunity to disprove that idea.  It is then our responsibility to use the new relationships we form through local service to spread the gospel to “lands beyond.”  Those lands for many churches are their back yards.  The neighborhoods surrounding churches in the south are full of people who need a reason to believe in the local church. 

That’s why we serve.  That’s why we do housing rehab.  Acts 1:8 tells us to be his witnesses, essentially, here, then there, and then everywhere. 

So we start local…we meet needs and worship Christ by serving people in our area.  We utilize those opportunities to share HIS gospel with the people we get to meet and pray that our “area of influence” grows.  NOT for our growth or glory, but for HIS kingdom and HIS glory.

Preparing for worship

As NP prepares to launch a month long series on the act of worship I have been reminded of my very first “connection” in a church.

5 1/2 years ago, in February of 2005, I met Jesus and began this amazing journey of transformation.  Prior to that…well, let’s just say that Jesus and His church had no place in my life. 

What did have a HUGE place in my life was my love of music.  I had spent many nights in college playing and singing “old” Garth Brooks songs to whoever would listen and sing along.  For me, it wasn’t that he was the greatest vocalist, guitar player, or song writer in the world.  What I loved about his music was the connection.

Any successful musician will tell you that there are a zillion talented musicians in this world.  The difference lies in the connection.  A successful artist is one who is able to make THEIR music YOUR music.  You learn to feel as though you are a part of the music and, thus, participate with a ton of energy. 

Music in church was the first place that I experienced that connection in my life after Christ. 

CAUTION:  I am NOT saying that worship leaders and the band they get to play with are performers!  (Please don’t send me any hateful email)  An effective worship leader is, first and foremost, singing and playing for an audience of one.

Now that we have that cleared up, please understand my heart. 

The common thread between Garth Brooks and an effective worship leader is this:  they have the ability to unite people in singing one song as one unit. 

The cool part about church worship is this…we become one unit singing one song to one person…God Himself  (I can assure you that alot better than who I, personally, used to sing to).

The next time you head to your local church try this.  Close your eyes for just a moment.  Imagine that on the stage prompting you is NOT the band, choir, orchestra, or worship leader.  Imagine that you and the people surrounding you are literally singing directly to and looking right at our Lord.  The reality is that when we are genuinely worshipping through music, that is EXACTLY what is happening.  God is there being honored and praised as He should through the singing of songs to and about Him.

Perhaps that is the first real connection for you like it was me…I hope so.

Glory to God!

We’re missing half the celebration!

Romans 8: 14-16 lays out some of the most beautiful news we, as people, could ever receive.  It lays out a salvation that we often tend to short change.  It goes something like this…

Many of us have, at some point, prayed a genuine prayer to the Lord that He would save us and forgive us.  If that is you, and you meant it, then HE answered and saved. 

What a celebration!  We should absolutely celebrate our salvation.  Paul often makes the connection of our previous life of sin and damnation to that of slavery.  We were literally slaves whose owner was our very own sin nature. 

God, at the full expense of HIS Son, came to that owner and bought our freedom.  At NO expense to us…fully on Jesus. 

We were free and that is cause to celebrate…

But if we stop there, we miss the other great part!

Paul, in Romans 8:15, says we then received the “Spirit of adoption as sons.” (ESV)  Adoption means that we get the full rights to our father’s inheritance and full rights as a family member. 

Not only did He set us free, He then adopted us as his own sons (women in this day did not have rights as heirs, so Paul says “sons” on purpose), giving us full rights to be heirs to his property and estate. 

God’s estate is fairly large…that’s gonna work out pretty good for us. 

Picture the emancipation of a 19th century slave.  It’s as if a total stranger came to the plantation owner, purchased his slaves at a HUGE expense.  Then, he took the property deeds for those slaves and tore them up.  Then he adopted each of the slaves to be members of his own family.  THEN…in the interest of the former slave making a life for themselves, the redeeemer provides the money, home, job, health care, transportation and all other things the former slave would need to begin a life.  THEN…the redeemer continues to provide for the former slave FOREVER…whatever the need…

All this at the full expense of and for the joy of the redeemer…

What a celebration…

Thank you Lord for setting us free AND bringing us in the holy family…wow!

Might???

Do you ever read a verse for the trillionth time and see something you never saw before?

2 Corinthians 5:21 is such an encouraging verse, recently made even larger by its use in the Chris Tomlin song “Jesus Messiah.”

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (NIV)

God gave His son to become my sin. 

God gave His Son to become your sin. 

God did that so that we “might” become his righteousness. 

Might?

So…God gave his perfect Son to become our sin and pay our price so that we…

might…

become his righteousness. 

Wow…Knowing beforehand that many would not accept the forgiveness that came at such a steep cost to Jesus, God gave his Son so that we might become righteous. 

What a love!  What a miracle!  What a gift!

That one word, “might,” has sharpened my perspective on the love of God this morning.  God painfully sacrificed his one and only Son that we might accept the gift of forgiveness and grace.  God painfully sacrificed his one and only Son so that some would stand in the face of undeserved grace and turn away.  God knew that before this all began.  What a love He has for us!

Thank you, God, for loving us enough to take a chance.  To pour out your Son knowing that some will not accept the sacrifice.  Thank you, God. 

As Easter approaches, let us set out some time today to simply thank our Father for loving us enough to pay our price through His Son.

A Strange Celebration!

Every now and then we MUST take time to remember and celebrate and be thankful for what Christ endured for us.  Last night became that night here at North Park.  Isaiah 53:5 is so humbling…

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (NIV)

I can’t quite describe how the reading of that passage was turned into celebration, but I can tell you it happened. 

Jesus endured hardship that most of us will NEVER even come close to.  The most amazing thing about it is that we could substitute our names in the spots where that passage says “our” and He still would have done it.  He still would have endured all that pain just for me and just for you. 

Take a moment, moments, or an entire day today and celebrate and thank Him!  He suffered for us!  He took our place…

Glory to God!

What must it be like for God?

Yesterday was a miraculous day in the Baker house…we continue to celebrate today!

Both of my daughters made yesterday their new birthday, deciding to become followers of Christ and accepting the free gift of mercy He poured out for us. 

I truly cannot put into words what this feels like as a parent. As I listened to their seven-year old minds (we challenged them separately to see if it was real or just because some other kids did it) explain to me what happened and why they knew they needed Christ I couldn’t help but tear up. 

What a miracle…

I wonder what it’s like for God when one of His children make this decision…

Can you imagine the joy from the heavens when they know someone else has been transformed by grace and Jesus Christ?!

Spend today being thankful for your own salvation and celebrating the members of your family who have joined you.

Perhaps today you need to contact someone and join those of us who have accepted Jesus’ gift…

Let’s make today a celebration!

I Really Don’t Like Gutting Stuff

Have you ever stopped to consider the practicality of what Jesus did for us?  Take a moment to read through Leviticus 4. 

Here’s the chapter in nutshell.  When you sin (Do you remember the last time you did that?  And how long was it between “sin transactions?”  If you’re anything like me, this would affect you rather often.), you will need to go get your best, un-blemished female goat.  You will then present your goat to your local pastor where you all will commence to slaughtering said goat.  You will then have that slaughtered goat presented to the Lord as a sin offering in one of the strangest church services you’ve ever seen, and you’re all good. 

The good news is that you only have to do that when you sin, which surely isn’t very often…hmmm.

The beauty of scripture is that the story doesn’t end there. 

 In an act that He always knew was coming, God sent His Son to this earth.  And not simply to preach and teach…but to be our final sin offering. 

Jesus came in flesh and ”tasted death for everyone.” (Hebrews 3: 9 NLT).

“Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.  Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.” Hebrews 3:17 (NLT)

I don’t know about you, but I REALLY don’t like gutting stuff, especially stuff I don’t get to eat.  The thought of having to gut a goat the 14 times per day I commit a sin is simply exhausting. 

From a practical standpoint, Jesus changed our lives.  From an eternal standpoint, Jesus changed our lives. 

Take some time today to consider life without the sacrifice of our Savior.  May we never take His forgiveness for granted…

Just Cancel It…

Last week I heard Perry Noble (Newspring Church; Anderson, SC) say one of his weekly prayers prior to their services is that they would not do church without Jesus.  Sounds simple enough.

Then I read Exodus 33.  In verse 15 Moses is having a conversation with God.  He says to God, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.”  Again, sound simple, right?

The more I reflect on these statements, the more conviction I feel.  Read them again and consider your own  Sunday morning experiences. 

Do you go to church/worship with this attitude?  An attitude that pleads with God, don’t send us to church if you are not going to be there.  Don’t let us sing one note or read one word with a heart condition that keeps us from lifting them directly to you. 

Or is your Sunday morning experience something like mine sometimes is?  A part of your schedule?  A thing you do because, in the south, you would be weird if you didn’t go to church?  A responsibility you have because you have a specific job there? 

God, forgive me.  We set out a time to come together to glorify you as a group of believers.  Yet, sometimes that is simply not my focus. 

May I never come to church on a heart that is anything other than ready to sing YOUR praises. 

I challenge you to join me in a little self-evaluation.  Why are you attending Sunday morning services?  What’s on your mind before you arrive?  What is going through your mind while you’re there? 

If we can’t overcome our own selfish thoughts and desires while praising our Lord, we might as well cancel service.  It’s HIS time, not ours.  God, please lead us in a growing, thankful relationship with YOU, and not with empty services. 

Now just take a moment to imagine your church when EVERY SINGLE believer there is singing, reading, or serving for just one reason…HIS glory.  Wow…wow…may it start with us today.

FREEDOM!

I love the part in “Braveheart” when William Wallace yells (to the best of his ability) “freedom” just before his death.  Braveheart, Tombstone, and Gladiator are movies that really push me to be a real man.

Question for the day is this.  Why is that when we embrace the freedom found in Jesus we don’t scream “freedom?”

This is the moment that establishes our freedom for eternity from the grasp of sin that is very real.  We will not stop sinning, but we are no longer subject to the punishment of those sins that we have committed and will commit.  This seems like it would be a scream moment.

Here are a few reasons…

1.  Pride.  We don’t want people to think we’re one of “those.”  You know, one of those religious weirdos who actually believes Jesus is who He said He was and does what He said He does.

2.  Fear.  What if this is not real and I am only fooling myself for a fleeting moment?  I think many believers are scared to admit that this thought crosses their mind from time to time.

3.  Humility.  Some people have a gift of recognizing the scope of this moment in their life and can do nothing other than quietly weep or consider.  Consider how the Creator of the universe loves them (me) enough to actually forgive all my screw ups.

We need to strive to identify what keeps us from proclaiming our freedom.  We then need to do away with that and SCREAM “FREEDOM” everywhere we go so others can come to know that freedom with us.

What are some other things that keep us from proclaiming our freedom loudly?