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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Jonathan Switzer: Passover Cup #2 Suffering



There’s Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Perhaps, he felt it also when he was on his way to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Either way, all of the cliché’s and all the teaching that he had given were being tested to the core. All the passages from the Old Testament that prophesied of His life might have even started to feel hollow at some level.

The actual experience of taking up one’s cross and choosing to place one’s trust fully in the Lord…It’s something that is so personal and represents such an intense personal crisis that talking about it almost seems an affront to its holiness.

Choosing to walk the path that is straight and narrow; (that lets go of all of the other possible security blankets; that let’s go of all of the worldly entanglements) is at once lonely, adrenalin pumping, exciting, personal, intimidating, challenging. Yet, it often happens in full display of the whole world (at least one’s personal world) while it can only be finally motivated by love for God.

Most of us get cold feet at the cross. In the moment of final commitment one usually is simply not yet ready. For how does one ever get ready to die? At the final analysis, the final step of faith into the void, letting go of all things except for God, it simply goes contrary to everything that our flesh desires. Our whole being, in that moment, screams against the letting go. Our flesh rages against the call of God, fights to stay alive and not be finally put aside.

No wonder Jesus asked His Father to “let this cup pass” as he sweat blood in Gethsemane where he was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He was experiencing most intensely and personally what it feels like to let everything go and trust God alone. He was headed to the cross. He was releasing all control over to His Father that night.

Interestingly, the cross that you and I bear is not quite the same that Christ bore. He bore a cross that was fully and completely the cause of other people, not him. You and I bear crosses that are often of our own making. Further, when we bear crosses not of our making, it is still most often right in the midst of our own sinful past; they are often against the backdrop of having previously rejected that cross for our own self-preservation.

Another Drink Anyone?
Let’s go back to Jesus’ nice evening Passover meal. They had come to their second drink of the night and time perhaps for a bit of an appetizer before dinner. This second Passover cup is called the Cup of Plagues. It represents the wages of sin and the price that was paid to get the Israelites out of Egypt.

Understandably, about that same time, we are told that Jesus began to be “troubled in Spirit.” (John 13:21) He painfully told the disciples he would be betrayed to death. Of course, all the disciples became sorrowful (Mark 14:19) at this news and wondered who would betray him.

What’s so interesting is that Jesus seems to have become troubled and brought up the betrayal about the time they were drinking that second cup of the Passover: the cup of plagues or cup of suffering.

Remember, in just a few hours, Jesus would be fervently praying in the Garden of Gethsemane on the side of the Mt. of Olives asking God to “let this cup pass from me, but not my will, but yours be done!” Again, at that point, we are told that Jesus would be overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death and sweating drops of blood.

The Cup of Plagues was not just a Passover metaphor but precisely what Jesus was given by God to drink. Isa 53:4-6, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 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. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

A few weeks earlier, when Jesus had asked his disciples if they could drink the cup that he was going to drink, they had responded yes. Jesus then responded and said, yes, they would. (Mark 10:38) Yes, they too would drink the cup of suffering for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What about you and me? Can we drink the cup from which Jesus drank?

Isn’t it true that often you and I take a pass on that second drink before dinner…

Jesus, however, did not pass on that cup. Even though he wanted to, he accepted it from His Father and drank it all the way down.

We too have been called to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. Paul said, I die daily (1 Cor. 15:31). He went on to say that he, “always (carried) around death in his body so that life may be revealed in others.” (2 Cor. 4:10) Then he said, we are “always being given over to death for your sake.” (2 Cor. 4:11)

When it comes time to drink the Cup of Plagues, we too will likely feel what Jesus felt. Our lives will be slipping away. Our control of situations will weaken and dissolve. Our flesh will cry out in anguish, “Let this cup pass from me!”

Our response in that Garden alone with God will determine the level of our Christ-likeness. In that moment we will discover how serious we were about following Jesus, who eventually came to the place of surrender. Hebrews says that, “For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame.”

It ain’t easy. It won’t be fun. But it’s time to let go of our control. It’s time to die to ourselves. The joy will come later, after the dying. But don’t you be deceived; it’ll be worth every bit! And the joy will be eternal!

Besides, we never really had any control in the first place. We thought we did. But we did not. God did. Just like He always has.

Alanna Jennings: Spiritual Gardening - Pest Control



As we continue our look at spiritual gardening, I would like to re-visit the topic of pest control. I write primarily for my own benefit and from my own life experience. This is the area of my greatest weakness, thus it is the area of my greatest need, and I hope it will profit you as well.

If you’re wondering about my fervent interest in gardening, both natural and spiritual, remember that God Himself is keenly invested in gardening. When the heavens and the earth were completed and man was formed from the dust of the earth, the next thing that God did was to plant a garden (Gen. 2:8-9). Unfortunately, even this garden paradise, Eden, had pest control issues, and we all know the outcome. Pests that are not properly dealt with will eventually destroy the garden.

God is still in the gardening business, and will be for a very long time. Jesus tells us in John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser”. We are His garden, as we see in I Corinthians 3:9, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building”. Isaiah 61:3 tells us that we are “…trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified”.

The story of God’s quest for a Bride for His Son begins in a garden with a tree of life and a lovely river flowing through it. Remember also that God’s plan to secure our rescue was signed and sealed in a garden called Gethsemane, when Jesus uttered the words, “Not My will, but Yours, be done”. The final chapter of our love story depicts another garden with a tree of life and a river flowing through it: “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Rev. 22:1-2.

So, what about those pests? Perhaps like me, your garden is infested with large, visible pests of the chipmunk or mole variety. Or maybe your pests are so small as to pass undetected at first glance. If you are faced with an invasion of obviously harmful pests, be sure to act quickly so as to gain control.

Keep your eyes open for early signs of trouble in your garden, such as, wilted foliage, decreased fruit production, deformed or unopened flower buds, or spots on leaves. If you discover such evidence of pest damage in your spiritual garden, check out these helpful hints from God’s Word:

Wilting Foliage:

One of Satan’s primary tactics is the wearing down of the Saints (Dan. 7:21, Rev. 13:7). We all too often aid him in his mission by running ourselves ragged doing “good” things rather than “God” things. We are in constant need of discernment in knowing how to profitably use our precious, limited time. The church at large seems to have forgotten God’s wonderful provision of Sabbath rest, much to our detriment.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11:28-30
Decreased fruitfulness:

Perhaps you have been trying so very hard to bear fruit for God, that you have forgotten that it’s all about abiding in Him. If we abide in the Vine, we won’t be able to stop the fruit from growing. To abide, meno (men'-o), means to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry. If you are trying to squeeze Jesus into your day, or even setting aside substantial time for Him, then getting on with your day, don’t expect to bear much fruit. It is in constant, utter abandonment to Him that we will be fruitful.

Perhaps you’re root-bound (stuck in your ways) and you need to ask God to dig around your roots (soul) and apply fresh fertilizer (oh boy, more dead stuff!). We don’t like the digging or the dying, but the consequences of not bearing fruit are dire indeed. We must allow, even invite God to work on our souls to bring us back to the place of fruitfulness. Warning: Inviting God to dig around your roots and use fertilizer to work on your soul almost always involves a trip to the wilderness (a place I’m learning to love). A life of fruitfulness will, and rightly should, involve many trips to the wilderness.

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor (trouble) as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt”. Hosea 2:14-15

He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'" Luke 13:6-9

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:1-8

Deformed or unopened flower buds:

Are you a good starter, but a lousy finisher? Does your zeal run out before the job is done? Have you watched too many dreams and visions die before they become reality? All too often, our inability to finish that which we begin is due to our failure to fully count the cost. Anything worth doing in our service to God will cost us. The greater the undertaking, the greater the cost. I have planted several gardens, and later decided that they just weren’t worth the effort. Laziness is an open invitation to pests that a garden is theirs for the taking.

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it, lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26-33

Hopelessness is another invitation that will signal the enemy of your garden that the welcome mat is out. You must take back your hope before you can take back your garden.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”
Prov 13:12

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.”
Ps 31:24
Spots on leaves:

We don’t need to look any further that Leviticus to see God’s principals for dealing with spots (leprosy). In Leviticus chapter 13, we have such a beautiful picture of what we are to do when we have spots (sin) in our garden. We go to the Priesthood (our brethren) and allow them to examine us (transparency) and walk us through a cleansing and healing process, all the while being examined (accountability) on a regular basis until the work is finished. Thanks be to God – our High Priest, Jesus, has already made the sacrifice required for us to be cleansed.

All out invasion:

I told my family that I wanted to buy a gun to deal with my chipmunk invasion; their response was to dive for cover. My son, Caleb, gave me a gun that fires plastic B.B.’s, and I still haven’t managed to hit a single chipmunk (though I have nailed my husband three times – once accidentally and twice on purpose). I’m sure I’ve heard the sound of chipmunk laughter more than once. While the pest invasion in my natural may cause me some frustration, it will not lead to any spiritual loss. The pest-control issues in the garden of my soul, however, most surely will if not dealt with promptly.

I Peter 5:8 warns us to “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Ephesians 4:27 tells us not to “… give place to the devil.” In both your natural and spiritual gardens, letting pests have a foothold will eventually lead to an all-out invasion. If you are into organic gardening, spray the garden with water soaked in spices the pests don’t like. Try soaking the garden of your soul through the washing of the water of the Word. Mix in a large measure of praise, and lots of humility, and I guarantee you that the pests will begin to run for the hills, and you will reap a bumper crop of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Eph 6:11-13

Rod Levey: Living Serious In Our Times




Serious matters call forth the need for serious people! In our chosen hour, how do we lean into living victorious Christian lives? What should we be doing and what kind of people should we be in the midst of the ongoing challenges we face? How do we cope with the loss of a job, the loss of our health or the loss of a loved one? How do we handle the onslaught of changes that hit us in the face weekly if not daily? Obviously, we go to the Lord with all our needs, right? Or are we always on top of our game, with a “everything’s under control…I’m good” stance? Let’s face the facts. We have legitimate needs (even us in “the ministry”), and so do our brothers and sisters. For some, comfort food may be the answer, for others a shopping spree, and for others lying in bed depressed.

Furthermore, we don’t always make the proper choices that would reflect thoughtful, level-headed living. We run from God when we should run to God. We become shut-ins when we need to be out and about our Father’s business. We stop serving when in truth we need to be pouring out.

Three-step programs aren’t our answer; however, I’d like to look at some advice Peter gave in his first epistle, chapter four, verses seven through thirteen, that you’ll find very beneficial to God, yourself and others.

“But the end of all things is at hand.” (NKJV)(1Pet. 4:7)

Whether we’re sixteen or ninety-six, it doesn’t matter much. Life is a vapor, we’re here on earth living our lives and the next thing you know, the end of all things is at hand. Time goes by fast and we’re wishing we would have done things a little bit differently. We might as well start today while there is still daylight. It certainly appears things are closing in on us in numerous ways. There’s the appearance of fullness on different fronts.

I don’t think this was Peter’s way of psyching God’s beloved children into doing church better or having more meetings. Peter had a clue in what it would genuinely take in helping the brothers and sisters to a meaningful way stay rock solid in the turbulent days in which they were living. He wanted to help them stay focused in some simple elementary kingdom living. He had their welfare in mind as he penned his letter, not to mention God’s glory!

Therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. (NKJV)(1Pet.4:7)

The Moffat translation says, “Steady then, keep cool and pray!”

In other words, we can continue level headed. We can be cool, calm and collected as the saying goes. We don’t have to enter into a spirit of fear, anxiety and hopelessness, but we can continue in faith toward our loving God unto prayer. Our enemy (the devil) would want to try to convince us to choose any other course, anything but drawing closer to God in prayer. Our other enemy (the flesh) is either too tired, too busy or doesn’t believe it’s of any value. You know the “nothing really happens when I pray” syndrome.

The truth is, circumstances and situations don’t always change when we pray; however, as we open our hearts and unload on our Father all that is troubling us, as we petition Him and come before Him, our inner man becomes strengthened and refocused. This time with the Lord also helps bring our soul into alignment with Him who is the Truth. The truth will set us free from all the lies and fears that undermine our faith in God.

And above all things have fervent love for one another. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. (NKJV)(1Pet.4:8a & 9)

Peter is obviously building off the basis that we’re looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. When we are going to the Lord in all things with prayer, then immediately after that we are to “above all things” extend our love, be intentional, purposed in giving our brothers and sisters a preferred position only second to the Lord. It’s quite normal for us to need tender care and affection as well as give them out to one another. As we flow in both the giving and receiving of each other’s love, it does wonders for us in respect to our overall physiological well being. Focusing on others will quickly set you free from yourself and all that wants to undo you. Self absorption will trip you up and hinder God’s will from being expressed in us and through us.

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (NKJV)(1Pet.4:10)

God has graciously given each of us a minimum of one spiritual gift along with a measure of faith so that we can express God’s love and benefit others. God has entrusted you and me to function in serving others. A better way to picture this is as a waiter waiting on or attending to people. Our managerial skills are of the uttermost importance when others’ are depending on us. The Lord is counting on our obedience with the gifts He has given us to fulfill His will in others lives. What we may think to be small or insignificant may be a matter of life or death to others. Only God knows how great the need is for the body of Christ to be flowing and exercising their heavenly endowments for His glory and our brothers’ and sisters’ welfare.

All this sounds so fundamental, and I could be writing to the choir so to speak. Could it be getting back to or staying with the basics is just as much our answer today in these serious times as it was to the first century church?

Take notice of the divine order Peter laid out in this portion of Scripture we’ve been looking at:

First – waiting on God or intimacy with God.
Second – willing to be with the brethren or a willingness to identify with the brethren.
Third – working with God for profit of others or investing in others for their gain.

The gifts aren’t always the answer. Sometimes we hope for a quick fix when God is requiring something deeper and more sacrificial, like our willingness to take time and be with, understand and have empathy with those in need. Take for example the story of the Shunammite woman who set up a bed and breakfast for Elisha. She and her husband made accommodations for the “holy man” and in return for their hospitality and care Elisha wanted to bless them. Their need was the loosing of her womb or life in his seed. She was barren with no child. They desired a child. Elisha therefore spoke a creative prophetic word into the situation and God blessed the family with a son. The child grew and ended up dying in his mother’s arms with what looks like a brain aneurism or a tumor of some sort. She raced off to the man of God, Elisha, to inform him of the situation. In response, Elisha sent his servant and gave the servant orders to lay his (Elisha’s) staff on the face of the youth. The servant did so with no evident results of life. Elisha then proceeded to go to the boy himself.

2 Kings 4:33-37 says, “He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. (Emphasis added) And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi and said, ‘Call this Shunammite woman.’ So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, ‘Pick up your son.’ So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.”

I believe the staff (gift) had its part to play in restoring life to the boy, but more was needed along with the staff (gift). Elisha shut himself in with God and “prayed unto the Lord.” But that wasn’t the end. Next, he made advances to completely identify with the death state. He went mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand with the youth. He got close to the situation! Eventually, life and vision were restored to the one that was deemed dead. His condition had changed because of intimacy, identification and investment:

Elisha’s intimacy with the Lord unto prayer
Elisha’s identification with the boy expressed in sacrificial, unconditional love
Elisha’s investment of his God given gift for the benefit of the boy, mother and father

I believe Peter’s advice is totally relevant for us today. Let’s hold our course or get back on course as we live in this chaotic world. We can be more than conquerors, totally stable and thoughtful in all we say and do, by drawing near to God for His pleasure, our own welfare and the welfare of others. We need to be involved and let others involve themselves in our lives. True love isn’t selfish, but is willing to go the second mile again and again. It would behoove us to begin or continue to exercise the gift(s) God has entrusted us with.

Lionel Dorsey: Confidence in God's Blessing

And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it be not to my sorrow! And God granted him that which he requested.

The word of God says that Jabez's mother assigned to Jabez his name because she bore him in great pain. Doubtless, she assigned to him the understanding that indeed he was the object of her pain. We know that the power of blessing is important. More than that the blessing of our parents is even more important.

In the Jewish culture it is common to name a child according to the purpose, character even their destiny. It shocking that a parent would give their child a name that has so many negative connotations. Imagine if you named your child "headache", or "nuisance". I'm sure that over time that child might develop a bitter conscience. Knowing the enemy, the accuser of the brethren, would rejoice over the opportunity to oppress such a one with a grieving awareness of the plight assigned to him, perhaps Jabez received his name in his soul...taking it to heart.

Sometimes we experience rejection or bitterness because of someone else's pain. Having nothing to do with us, others sometimes heap on us their experiences which can bruise the soul.

But Jabez, being honorable cried out and refused to receive a negative spirit. He asked the Lord to bless him, to give him an inheritance. He asked God to assign to him territory a sign of favor, inheritance. Territory is a sign that we are rooted in purpose given to us a blessing from our posterity. Perhaps this man was orphaned because the bible does not tell us who his father was. Perhaps he had no one to offer him an inheritance.

Jabez, being in the midst of Judah - which means praise, may have been over-looked by everyone else. But God noticed him. He noticed his faith, he saw his heart. God granted his request in spite of the things people called him. Jabez understood that the power of life and death is in the tongue. He called on God not his kinsman to bless him. Everyone else around him seemed to have a great inheritance, families to which they could be linked but not Jabez.

Jabez reached down and recalled the goodness of the God of Israel. The God of Israel is the one who makes it possible to change your destiny like that of Jacob. He called on Jacob's God. The God who makes it abundantly clear that He is able to assign to you great purpose and destiny.

I'm also reminded of David's prayer in Psalm 27:10-14. David said: Even though my father and mother have left me, ADONAI will care for me. Teach me your way, ADONAI; lead me on a level path because of my enemies don't give me up to the whims of my foes; for false witnesses have risen against me, also those who are breathing violence. If I hadn't believed that I would see ADONAI's goodness in the land of the living, . . . Put your hope in ADONAI, be strong, and let your heart take courage! Yes, put your hope in ADONAI! (COMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE)

Sometimes the pain we experience is of our own making. But what about those who bear false witness against us. To our knowledge Jabez did nothing wrong but his mother still assigned to him a moniker reflective of her suffering. Perhaps our parents have abandoned us, as from time to time they may. Perhaps they or your co-workers, siblings, or brothers in the Lord don't call out of us the purpose God deposited in us. Each of us should be confident that we can call on God to see the goodness of God in the land of the living. Hope and faith in the conviction that God would be good to us is essential if we are to finish well in the land of the living. We are not immune for being misunderstood but we can be blessed in spite of it.

May the God of Israel bless you and cause you to have an unexpected inheritance. An inheritance not based on the estimation of others but one that reflects God's heart toward you. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever ask or think. Let's start asking GOD to bless us lest we faint.