I Do Not Sit as a King

Scripture: As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’ Revelation 18:7

Observation: John is relating the destiny of Babylon. Not sure if Babylon is a religion, a restored political power, or new entity. But one thing that will be a part of Babylon will be her sexual immorality and how she has led others to drink the “wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” In verse 7 we get a clue to her attitude: In her heart she says she sits as a queen who has never been married. In this case, I think it refers to how she is accountable to no one. She is a solo ruler, with no acknowledgement of God as supreme authority. There is no one she reports to; she is a law unto herself. This is the root of her immorality—the arrogance of independence. At its core, all sexual immorality is a declaration that we sit as kings and queens, independent of God and his archaic, binding rules. Sadly, Babylon thinks that freedom comes from getting to do what you want, when true freedom comes from purity and living under authority.

Application: Our world continues to chase immorality under the guise of freedom. Anytime God and his word enters the picture, the cry of “oppression” goes out. As we were in the garden, we are today: We don’t want anyone telling us what we can and cannot do. As I enter 2010, I want to reaffirm my position as dependent on God, subject to his best will for me. And this includes purity. I am not free to do as I please. I do not sit as a king who will never mourn. I am subject to the king.

Prayer: God, redouble my passion for purity in my life, on screen, online, in life. Let me do so knowing it is your best for me, and not an oppression. Purity is liberty.

You are Not Blessed by Hearing the Word...

Scripture: Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3

Observation: John says that those who read this book (in the early church, these letters would have been read aloud to an audience of listeners like our modern day preaching) are blessed. And those who hear and keep, or obey are blessed. In other words, you are not blessed by hearing the words, but by hearing and obeying them.

Application: This is a common theme in scripture—that we are expected to do what we hear from Jesus. Often I get well-meaning people who will share with me observations on my sermons like, “Great sermon today,” or “we need more good preaching like this.” I take those words in the spirit that they are intended. But I wonder if they reveal a misalignment between us and John’s words. The blessing does not come from hearing a sermon, but from taking to heart the truth of God within. In other words, preaching is only “good” if the hearers hear and obey what God has said to them through it. The criteria for good preaching is not how many hear, but how many hear and keep. This is a good reminder that the goal of preaching is to glorify God, and that happens when people apply the word to their lives, not simply listen.

Prayer: God, keep me laser focused on being a doer of the word and not a hearer only. And help me keep that as a focus for Pulpit Rock as well. We have been known for decades as a church that preaches the word. May we become known now as a church that does the word.

Show Your Wife How Strong You Are

Scripture: Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7

Observation: Peter is writing to believers under the great stress of persecution. Under this stress, husbands may tend to lash out at their wives, using their louder voices and stronger hands. By doing so, they fail to honor their wives as weaker, not less important, vessels. They also fail to see that their wives are co-heirs of the grace of life. That they are under the same pressures and stresses that come with being a believer in a fallen world. Husbands are to understand this, and live with their wives in a way that protects them and honors them. Men are to act like the stronger vessels, and be ready to bear the brunt of pressure without letting it affect how they treat their wives. This is part of what it means to be the stronger vessel. It is not about power, but about servanthood. It is not about exerting will but shielding from harm.

Application: Jessica and I are both under the general stresses of life. Yet sometimes I let the pressure affect the way I speak to her. Instead of shielding her, I bring more pressure. I feel like God is calling me out in this area. I recently decided that we would have a time, even briefly, each night where we talk before we watch TV, read books, etc. Into this time, I need to incorporate a moment of prayer. In this way, we can share the pressures and redirect the stress towards prayer and God, instead of me bottling it up and lashing out.

Prayer: God, help me demonstrate true strength to my wife, not with volume or words, but with prayer and burden-bearing.

We Who Teach Will Be Judged

Scripture: Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. James 3:1

Observation: James tells us that those who teach God’s word regularly have a greater responsibility at the judgment. This probably refers to the content of the teaching, making sure it is accurate. But it may also refer to the lifestyle of the teacher. If you are in a position of spiritual authority, then you must be extra aware of your words and actions. This does not seem fair. Shouldn’t everyone, teacher or not, strive to be pure in their life? It almost seems unfair to expect something different from teachers. It seems like it creates an artificial wall between teachers and “everybody else.” However, it does make sense—those who more publically proclaim the word have greater opportunity for harm, and need to be extra careful.

Application: Recently I was out with friends and said some things I regret. While I asked those who were with me for forgiveness, one thought nagged at me. What if one of the other people there that day happened to visit our church and hear me teaching? What would their impression be of the difference between my words that night and my words from the pulpit? I actually thought, “I hope they never come to our church.” God corrected this thought pronto! I guess sometimes I want to be able to take off the pastor hat and just be me. This is fine if it is an attempt to be genuine and not hypocritical. However, this verse tells me that I do need to be extra careful about how I live, because as a teacher, I will be judged with greater strictness.

Prayer: God, let me strive to follow you. May I trust in you, Holy Spirit, to produce the fruit of self-control in my life. And while I do not want to create an artificial fishbowl, I do need to be sensitive to the position you have placed me in, and how I need to be extra aware of my words and deeds.

Flee the Youthful Passion to Debate it All

Scripture: …charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers…flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:14,22-23

Observation: God is warning Timothy not to get embroiled in pointless arguments about words. The reason is: the more people hear debates about words, the more they think that words, not deeds are what is important. That having the right theology is sufficient. They become content to be hearers of the word instead of doers. And then God says to flee youthful passion. I always assumed this was the sexual cravings of a young man. But in context, it seems likely that these are the youthful tendencies to debate and argue theology. I have noticed that younger people want to debate every point of theology vigorously. I think this is an important part of the maturity process—I went through it as well. It is important to own your faith. But as you grow and mature, you begin to see that not everything is worth arguing about. That you can be fast friends with someone you disagree with. That doing the word begins to take on preeminence. The worst kind of shepherd is one who wants to always debate and discuss theological controversies. Is there a place for that? Sure, but not when trying to lead those who call upon the Lord with a pure heart. You run the risk of ruining their purity and poisoning them, turning them into debaters of the word instead of doers.

Application: Not everything is worth a fight. I need to pull back from debating and rest in where God has me. I must remain open to learning and to changing, but I should not feel guilty when I take steps to avoid pointless debates.

Prayer: God, keep me humble and focused on you. Help me lead those who come to me with quarrels about words to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Show me the line between genuine discussion and ignorant controversies.

Some Sins Appear Later

Scripture: The sins of some men are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 1 Timothy 5:24

Observation: Paul warns Timothy to go slow in the elder selection process. For while some men have easily seen issues, others have things going on in their lives that take time to come out. Sometimes these sins appear later because the seeds have been planted years before, and were never dealt with.

Application: First, we need to be careful in how we appoint leaders to crucial positions like elder or pastor. We need to take time to watch and live with others so we can see the character of their life. But on a personal note, I feel like God is asking me, “What are those sins that will appear later in your life?” Are there areas that are hidden? Are there seeds being planted that could grow up into life-chocking weeds? So what I do today, even if it is not that big of a deal, has potential impact on future-me.

Prayer: God, help me unearth the wild seeds in my life. The seeds that lay dormant for now, but if untended, will grow. I want to be in this for the long haul. Please keep me from damaging myself by not taking care of seeds now. Thanks for your loving hand in my life.

My Job is to Not Discourage My Kids.

Scripture: Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Colossians 3:21

Observation: Paul makes this command to dads. This is a man command. The order is: Don’t let your man anger come out against your kids, or they will feel like they can never please you and will quit trying. Men in particular need to heed this call, because of our propensity towards power and anger.

Application: God wants me to restrain my anger, lest I ruin my kids. I think I get angry when I feel not in control. When no one is listening to me. But instead of wading in and helping the situation, it is easier for me to send everyone to their room with a harsh word. In the short term I solve the problem. But at what long term cost? God is calling me to see that not discouraging my kids is my job as dad. Tonight, I want to share this verse with my kids at dinner, as well as the verse before it.

Prayer: God, give me patience. Help me discover how I can refrain from discouraging my kids.

Moving from Desire to Prayer

Scripture: Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. Romans 10:1

Observation: Paul is writing about his family, his kinsmen, the Jews. For several chapters he has been writing about how their attempt to be right with God through effort has failed. The only way for them to be rescued is to call upon the name of the Lord and believe in Christ. Here, he expresses his heart’s desire: They might be saved. However, this is more than a desire, it is an action. He prays.

Application: Of course my desire is for others to be saved. But do I go beyond that to prayer? It is one thing to hope; another to put your money where your mouth is and pray.

Prayer: God, you’ve been nailing me with the call to pray for the lost. Today I pray for J. and F. and my neighbor. May they see you and call upon you. May you send laborers into their lives, including me, to seek and save them. Help me develop a list of those to take to you in prayer.

Living in an Unlocked Prison Cell

Scripture: Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16

Observation: Paul is writing to believers to ask, “Should we keep sinning since we are now covered by grace?” The answer is, no. Even Christians, set free by Christ, can fall back into slavery by choosing to present themselves to sin. Imagine someone choosing to live in an unlocked prison cell, or to serve an evil master after then had been released. Whoever I obey, that is my master. Sin or obedience.

Application: Convicted this week about my purity. Yes I have the filters on my computer, etc., but the struggle for pure eyes has many different battlefields. Satan has many weapons in his arsenal, and he keeps on coming. If I give in, I am presenting myself as an obedient slave to sin, to immorality. Funny—we extol the freedom we have in our country to view whatever we want. But this freedom is a lie—it is really a step into slavery. It is choosing to live in the unlocked prison cell. God, let me redouble my commitment and dependence on you for freedom in this area.

Prayer: God, today I choose obedience. I want to be a slave to you, not to anything on this earth. Help me keep my mind and eyes clean, for you, for my wife, for my kids.