1Corinthians 3: 6-9
6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
Here again Paul is telling the people, the same thing many of us still need to hear today. We might be the instrument, but God makes the music. Just like a symphonic orchestra, each of plays a different piece of equipment. Each of us makes our own unique contribution to the final arrangement, but it is God who writes the notes that are played.
Some people like the drums, some like the brass, others like the woodwinds, yet as anyone who has listened to one instrument play a piece knows, no one instrument carries the music alone. I have a friend that plays the base guitar. It never fails you go over to his house, and he wants to show you the latest thing he has been working on. So he fires up the amp, and starts to wail, now make no mistake about it, he sounds great, the timing is good, the notes blend well, and he is jamming, but when he stops he looks over with a big grin and says “do you know what that was?” Of course the answer is well….uhhhh, no, I could not tell you. It is not a matter of him playing that piece flawlessly, no matter how hard he tries; with out the rest of the band, it will always be hard to figure out the song.
This is how many approach their spiritual life. They work, and study, and they know their history, they know their bible, but they do not hook up and share that talent with others, so what you end up with is a very educated person that is secluded, or worse, a highly educated person that believes they ARE the band!
We all have a place, but we must all recognize that part of that place is joining up with others to advance to the goal. That goal is building a solid relationship with the Lord. So think about it, are you running around thinking you are the band, have you allowed yourself to become so enthralled with one person that you believe that you must “follow them at all cost”. Don’t let yourself lose sight of the goal, don’t get sucked in to the idea that you are the band. Yes, you have been given top of the line equipment, but you have to join in to get the sound right. Let the Lord guide the spiritual notes that you play; he will direct the orchestra of life in such a way, that it will play music sweeter to the ear than has ever been heard before.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
build the foundation
In conclusion for the week we are left with some questions. where does that put you? How do you project yourself to the world? Is the house you built a huge sprawling house, with false fronts built up to make it look even bigger. Have you spent your time working hard on the outside, yet find that there is noting for furnishing on the inside; or have you spent your time on the foundation of your house? Building that foundation might not leave much for building the size of your house, but your house will be overflowing with the light of the Lord.
Christ wants to come into your life and work, he will give you all the tools you will need. All you have to do is ask. Just remember, when that house is built, and you are out telling the world about it, make sure that you are not in the spotlight. God does not need a pitch man. HE does not need a cheerleader. All the angles that might some to mind to try and “promote” God are useless. HE does not need the help. Step aside and put the Lord in the forefront. Give the praise and honor to him. When you put the focus on the Lord, the light for the path becomes clearer, because you are not standing in the way blocking it.
Tear down those false fronts, think about downsizing on the outside, and get to work on the foundation. That is where you will find the strength, the compassion, and the love of the Lord. Anything that stands on that will never fail.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Christ wants to come into your life and work, he will give you all the tools you will need. All you have to do is ask. Just remember, when that house is built, and you are out telling the world about it, make sure that you are not in the spotlight. God does not need a pitch man. HE does not need a cheerleader. All the angles that might some to mind to try and “promote” God are useless. HE does not need the help. Step aside and put the Lord in the forefront. Give the praise and honor to him. When you put the focus on the Lord, the light for the path becomes clearer, because you are not standing in the way blocking it.
Tear down those false fronts, think about downsizing on the outside, and get to work on the foundation. That is where you will find the strength, the compassion, and the love of the Lord. Anything that stands on that will never fail.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Thursday, January 22, 2009
city lights are blinding
The final piece to this and the reason that Paul made it a point to speak simply, and straight forward can be found in verses 4 & 5
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
God tends to do things on his own terms. He does not need a flashy spokesman, nor does he need a bunch of smoke and mirrors. The Lord is quite capable of standing on his own. His work is best displayed when it is allowed to stand on it’s own. The more junk you clutter around it, the less you can see the true beauty that is God’s power.
Take the stars for example, we live in a world of lights now. As the sun goes down and the stars come out, the lights of town come on. I remember when I was a kid, I would stand in my backyard and look up at the heavens. All of the stars were a sight to behold. Now we lived in the middle of town, so it would have to be pretty late and pretty dark to see the stars. I remember thinking how big the universe must be.
A couple of years later we moved out to the country, I will never forget that firt nigh out in the back pasture. No moon, clear, not a cloud in the sky. I remember I looked up and could not believe my eyes! What I thought was an amazing sight standing in the middle of town, had now been transformed into a work of utter awe! There were more stars that I ever could have imagined, I could see entire constellations. If you had enough patience you could see shooting stars, and planets. The work of God was finally on full display. The lights of town were far off in the distance, and there was nothing cluttering the full glory of God.
We also tend to behave just like those bright city lights. We worry about our hair, our clothes, we worry about how we will word our sentences, and just what words we will use. We want to project that perfect image, that smooth polished look, even though we have rough edges, and many cracks. All of that effort to conceal our flaws diminishes the display of the power of God, and his son Christ. That is the beauty, and the mercy of the Lord. HE loves, and accepts us with all of our cracks, and rough edges. When we move ourselves out of the way, then the world has the opportunity to see the Lords glory. Covering this up is to suggest that God is looking for perfection. This is why Paul spoke plainly. He did not want to cover up the Power of God. HE did not want to come across as a smooth talker. HE was concerned that by coming across as anything more than a simple servant of Christ, people would confuse his message. They would think that the message came form him, and not from Christ.
No matter your position in the world, when you run with the Lord, you are never anything more than the messenger. King and paupers the strong and the weak, we all should make it a point to stay out of the spotlight, least we cover up part of the glory of God.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
God tends to do things on his own terms. He does not need a flashy spokesman, nor does he need a bunch of smoke and mirrors. The Lord is quite capable of standing on his own. His work is best displayed when it is allowed to stand on it’s own. The more junk you clutter around it, the less you can see the true beauty that is God’s power.
Take the stars for example, we live in a world of lights now. As the sun goes down and the stars come out, the lights of town come on. I remember when I was a kid, I would stand in my backyard and look up at the heavens. All of the stars were a sight to behold. Now we lived in the middle of town, so it would have to be pretty late and pretty dark to see the stars. I remember thinking how big the universe must be.
A couple of years later we moved out to the country, I will never forget that firt nigh out in the back pasture. No moon, clear, not a cloud in the sky. I remember I looked up and could not believe my eyes! What I thought was an amazing sight standing in the middle of town, had now been transformed into a work of utter awe! There were more stars that I ever could have imagined, I could see entire constellations. If you had enough patience you could see shooting stars, and planets. The work of God was finally on full display. The lights of town were far off in the distance, and there was nothing cluttering the full glory of God.
We also tend to behave just like those bright city lights. We worry about our hair, our clothes, we worry about how we will word our sentences, and just what words we will use. We want to project that perfect image, that smooth polished look, even though we have rough edges, and many cracks. All of that effort to conceal our flaws diminishes the display of the power of God, and his son Christ. That is the beauty, and the mercy of the Lord. HE loves, and accepts us with all of our cracks, and rough edges. When we move ourselves out of the way, then the world has the opportunity to see the Lords glory. Covering this up is to suggest that God is looking for perfection. This is why Paul spoke plainly. He did not want to cover up the Power of God. HE did not want to come across as a smooth talker. HE was concerned that by coming across as anything more than a simple servant of Christ, people would confuse his message. They would think that the message came form him, and not from Christ.
No matter your position in the world, when you run with the Lord, you are never anything more than the messenger. King and paupers the strong and the weak, we all should make it a point to stay out of the spotlight, least we cover up part of the glory of God.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Big empty house
Could you imagine? You have this nice new house, it is everything that you want, yet once you get in, you cannot make it a home! Oh sure, you get to tell everyone that you live in this great neighborhood, but your not going to invite anyone over to an empty house. You might talk with great excitement about your neighbors, and the amenities in the neighborhood, yet most of the people you tell about it, will never get to see it because all you have is the outside appearance, and the address. Is that really what your working for?
This is how many people approach their relationship with Christ. They build up this great house. From the curb it look wonderful. Trimmed lawn, great curb appeal. Yet if you look in the windows there is not much on the inside.
Jesus, gives us a little insight in to this. While He was on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus Stopped in at a village, and gave great examples on may things, but while he was teaching, the people started to bring children to him. This is found in Luke Chapter 18:
15People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Jesus knew, kids get it. Now Jesus is not talking about being childish, He is not urging us all to go back to using whoopee cushions ( although a well placed whoopee cushion can still be pretty funny), He is not talking about us being naive like children. What Christ was talking about was the ides of the simple truth, and children understand that. Children have not been tainted by their parents, and society yet; they have not become jaded where they trust no one. Children have not yet learned that the size of their house might mean something to other people!
That is what we should be striving for, recognition of the simple truths of Christ. Some of the smallest spiritual houses are the best examples of Love of Christ, and the simplicity of the Cross. The Lord does not care how big your house is, all he cares about is that he is the foundation on which you build that house. For a house built on the foundation of the Lord can weather any storm.
Peace,
Rev, Thetford
This is how many people approach their relationship with Christ. They build up this great house. From the curb it look wonderful. Trimmed lawn, great curb appeal. Yet if you look in the windows there is not much on the inside.
Jesus, gives us a little insight in to this. While He was on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus Stopped in at a village, and gave great examples on may things, but while he was teaching, the people started to bring children to him. This is found in Luke Chapter 18:
15People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Jesus knew, kids get it. Now Jesus is not talking about being childish, He is not urging us all to go back to using whoopee cushions ( although a well placed whoopee cushion can still be pretty funny), He is not talking about us being naive like children. What Christ was talking about was the ides of the simple truth, and children understand that. Children have not been tainted by their parents, and society yet; they have not become jaded where they trust no one. Children have not yet learned that the size of their house might mean something to other people!
That is what we should be striving for, recognition of the simple truths of Christ. Some of the smallest spiritual houses are the best examples of Love of Christ, and the simplicity of the Cross. The Lord does not care how big your house is, all he cares about is that he is the foundation on which you build that house. For a house built on the foundation of the Lord can weather any storm.
Peace,
Rev, Thetford
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The plain and simple truth
Not only did Paul leave the false front, but look at how he explains how spoke: . 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And then . 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power.
Have you ever had the pleasure of listening to a politician give a speech? By the time it is over you look around and see a bunch of blank stares, but that fella must of said something…look at all of the hundred thousand dollar words he used! ….You know he graduated form Duke……he is soooo much smarter than me, he must know what he is talking about, so I will trust him!~
We all have a tendency to do that you know? I can honestly say that this is something I fight with on a personal level. If I can’t win with knowledge I will win by trying to seem so smart, that I must be right!
I have a friend that loves to tell stories, of course all of them have a profound moral at the end, or they are stories of how something changed his viewpoint, whatever the case they are always entertaining…..and they tend to be a little well……what shall we say…….less than honest…..to say the least. The thing about the stories is you can tell just how much of that story is on the edge of honesty, by the words he uses. The less truth, the bigger the words! Sometimes I have to go look words up after he tells the story, just so I know exactly what he was trying to say!
The point here is that Paul did not have to, nor should we have to, embellish, or make things sound better than they are, or try to “sell” someone on Christ. Paul did not talk of anything but Christ, and Christ being crucified. What else is there?
The fact that we do not need to dress up the word or the Lord is because His message is quite simple. It was taught by Christ simply, and that is how we should carry on. When we spend more time worrying about how we are going to say something, than what we actually say, we miss the opportunity to clearly state the word of God.
SO if the Lord does not need a false front, why do you? If the truth is best explained using simple words and simple ideas, then why do you try to build your life up to look larger than it is? Is Christ not enough?
I remember when I was a kid, there was a new neighborhood that went up. Everyone wanted in! It had the nicest houses, great craftsmanship, great location……everything was considered perfect! There was of course one catch, it was not cheap to move in. The houses were expensive to say the least. Yet that just made it all the more attractive to many people.
As the houses went up, people moved in. One could not help but notice that people that did not have the means to make that move, bought houses anyway. I talked with a friend of mine that moved out there, and he told me that some people moved in, yet the house payment stretched their budget so far, that they could not afford to buy furniture for the house.
Could you imagine? You have this nice new house, it is everything that you want, yet once you get in, you cannot make it a home! Oh sure, you get to tell everyone that you live in this great neighborhood, but your not going to invite anyone over to an empty house. You might talk with great excitement about your neighbors, and the amenities in the neighborhood, yet most of the people you tell about it, will never get to see it because all you have is the outside appearance, and the address. Is that really what your working for?
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Have you ever had the pleasure of listening to a politician give a speech? By the time it is over you look around and see a bunch of blank stares, but that fella must of said something…look at all of the hundred thousand dollar words he used! ….You know he graduated form Duke……he is soooo much smarter than me, he must know what he is talking about, so I will trust him!~
We all have a tendency to do that you know? I can honestly say that this is something I fight with on a personal level. If I can’t win with knowledge I will win by trying to seem so smart, that I must be right!
I have a friend that loves to tell stories, of course all of them have a profound moral at the end, or they are stories of how something changed his viewpoint, whatever the case they are always entertaining…..and they tend to be a little well……what shall we say…….less than honest…..to say the least. The thing about the stories is you can tell just how much of that story is on the edge of honesty, by the words he uses. The less truth, the bigger the words! Sometimes I have to go look words up after he tells the story, just so I know exactly what he was trying to say!
The point here is that Paul did not have to, nor should we have to, embellish, or make things sound better than they are, or try to “sell” someone on Christ. Paul did not talk of anything but Christ, and Christ being crucified. What else is there?
The fact that we do not need to dress up the word or the Lord is because His message is quite simple. It was taught by Christ simply, and that is how we should carry on. When we spend more time worrying about how we are going to say something, than what we actually say, we miss the opportunity to clearly state the word of God.
SO if the Lord does not need a false front, why do you? If the truth is best explained using simple words and simple ideas, then why do you try to build your life up to look larger than it is? Is Christ not enough?
I remember when I was a kid, there was a new neighborhood that went up. Everyone wanted in! It had the nicest houses, great craftsmanship, great location……everything was considered perfect! There was of course one catch, it was not cheap to move in. The houses were expensive to say the least. Yet that just made it all the more attractive to many people.
As the houses went up, people moved in. One could not help but notice that people that did not have the means to make that move, bought houses anyway. I talked with a friend of mine that moved out there, and he told me that some people moved in, yet the house payment stretched their budget so far, that they could not afford to buy furniture for the house.
Could you imagine? You have this nice new house, it is everything that you want, yet once you get in, you cannot make it a home! Oh sure, you get to tell everyone that you live in this great neighborhood, but your not going to invite anyone over to an empty house. You might talk with great excitement about your neighbors, and the amenities in the neighborhood, yet most of the people you tell about it, will never get to see it because all you have is the outside appearance, and the address. Is that really what your working for?
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Monday, January 19, 2009
The false front
1 Corinthians 2
1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
Have you ever felt like you HAD to do something, but you did not want to? Have you found yourself in a circumstance that seemed like a great idea at the time, yet right before the moment arrives, your stomach drops to your knees? In those moments, the best thing to do is strip yourself down mentally to what you know. The flash, the fancy words, the sales pitch, it all means nothing. In the times when you find yourself in doubt, you bare you soul, because your soul never betrays you!
This is the situation Paul put himself in. He came to Corinth not knowing what to expect. He did not stroll in to town puffed up with knowledge, and pride. He did not store a huge vocabulary so he could wow everyone with his wisdom. HE walked in to town, as just a man. A man with the truth of Christ in his heart, and the assurance of knowing that that was all he needed. He came baring his soul.
I had a friend that anytime he wanted something he would make a huge production out of asking the question. HE would wait for just the right time. He wanted everything to be prefect. He would go over and over again just how he would frame the request. He thought up just how he wanted to present it. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it did not. The funny thing is, if he knew it was something that was not a good idea, or what you would call a hard sell….the harder he worked at making the presentation.
This really comes out in our children; anyone with kids know that when that child shows up with the big puppy dog eyes, and starts off the sentence with “You know how much I love you?” yep, the butter is out in full force!
What Paul did not bring into town was a false front. Remember the old western towns? All of the stores looked huge when you walked down main street. Yet when you walked down the side of the building and looked up, you saw the truth. The top of the building was just for show. They build up the front wall to make the store look bigger than it really was.
The truth that Paul was bringing to Corinth did not need a false front. Typically the truth never does. When you arm yourself with the truth it is all you need; and there is not a bigger truth than the truth of salvation in Jesus Christ. There is no need to build up that front wall, because the wall reaches all the way to the heavens.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
Have you ever felt like you HAD to do something, but you did not want to? Have you found yourself in a circumstance that seemed like a great idea at the time, yet right before the moment arrives, your stomach drops to your knees? In those moments, the best thing to do is strip yourself down mentally to what you know. The flash, the fancy words, the sales pitch, it all means nothing. In the times when you find yourself in doubt, you bare you soul, because your soul never betrays you!
This is the situation Paul put himself in. He came to Corinth not knowing what to expect. He did not stroll in to town puffed up with knowledge, and pride. He did not store a huge vocabulary so he could wow everyone with his wisdom. HE walked in to town, as just a man. A man with the truth of Christ in his heart, and the assurance of knowing that that was all he needed. He came baring his soul.
I had a friend that anytime he wanted something he would make a huge production out of asking the question. HE would wait for just the right time. He wanted everything to be prefect. He would go over and over again just how he would frame the request. He thought up just how he wanted to present it. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it did not. The funny thing is, if he knew it was something that was not a good idea, or what you would call a hard sell….the harder he worked at making the presentation.
This really comes out in our children; anyone with kids know that when that child shows up with the big puppy dog eyes, and starts off the sentence with “You know how much I love you?” yep, the butter is out in full force!
What Paul did not bring into town was a false front. Remember the old western towns? All of the stores looked huge when you walked down main street. Yet when you walked down the side of the building and looked up, you saw the truth. The top of the building was just for show. They build up the front wall to make the store look bigger than it really was.
The truth that Paul was bringing to Corinth did not need a false front. Typically the truth never does. When you arm yourself with the truth it is all you need; and there is not a bigger truth than the truth of salvation in Jesus Christ. There is no need to build up that front wall, because the wall reaches all the way to the heavens.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Friday, January 16, 2009
Buy that car
We know that the wisdom of the world today is a stumbling block. We cling to “reason” when the truth is staring us in the face. So many today are just like the infants that Paul was talking about. They know the truth, yet they have a hard time getting past that point. There is hope for each of us though, hope in the Holy Spirit. Just like the new car I was talking about, the Holy Spirit is your new spiritual vehicle. You might think that the new car is not a snazzy as the car you have now, it might not have custom wheels, and ground effects. In fact on the outside looking in, it is a pretty plain car.
What makes this car special is what happens when you get inside……or more to the point when you let it get inside you. When you start letting the Holy Spirit work within you, your plain Jane car turns into a turbo charged rocket sled. Just like you, all the cool, all of the important stuff on this car is on the inside. Once you climb in, you start to discover the wisdom that has been so elusive. You start to understand the wisdom of the Spirit, and see the uselessness of the wisdom of society.
The best place to find a lot selling this car, is found directly inside each and every person. I begins with spending time in prayer, asking the Lord to come into your life and work, it takes you looking inside as the Holy Spirit works within you, and seeing the things that need to change. You have to search your heart, and open your bible. Spend sometime with the Lord. HE will work within your life, to make things happen. This new vehicle will take you further in this world, and still be running strong into eternity. If you’re not in the car……your trip will be cut short, there is nothing worse than making repairs once your warranty runs out!
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
What makes this car special is what happens when you get inside……or more to the point when you let it get inside you. When you start letting the Holy Spirit work within you, your plain Jane car turns into a turbo charged rocket sled. Just like you, all the cool, all of the important stuff on this car is on the inside. Once you climb in, you start to discover the wisdom that has been so elusive. You start to understand the wisdom of the Spirit, and see the uselessness of the wisdom of society.
The best place to find a lot selling this car, is found directly inside each and every person. I begins with spending time in prayer, asking the Lord to come into your life and work, it takes you looking inside as the Holy Spirit works within you, and seeing the things that need to change. You have to search your heart, and open your bible. Spend sometime with the Lord. HE will work within your life, to make things happen. This new vehicle will take you further in this world, and still be running strong into eternity. If you’re not in the car……your trip will be cut short, there is nothing worse than making repairs once your warranty runs out!
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Spirit of the Lord
So you know you want a new car, you know you need a new car, where do you start? When we continue reading we see Paul give us that answer starting in verse 10:
but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
The father the son, and……the Holy Spirit. The third part of the holy Trinity given to us by God. Before Jesus was to be put to death He told the apostles about this Counselor who was to come. John 16: 7-15 reads:
7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
The Holy Spirit is the key to finding the wisdom, it is what will take you from living on milk, and put you on the path of solid spiritual food. OK so you ask, well if it that easy then why not just have the Holy Spirit show up and download the information? What did Christ tell the Apostles? “I have more to say now than you can bear.” The Holy Spirit revels all things when the fullness of time, and our spiritual maturity have come. The Holy Spirit searches our hearts, it knows our needs, it knows what we are ready to hear, and what we are not yet prepared for. Everything that the Spirit has to say it direct from the Lord. This is the wisdom that Paul talks of. The wisdom of the Spirit. This is so far removed from the wisdom of today’s world. Many cannot comprehend the works of the Holy Spirit if he cannot acknowledge the Holy Spirit, they think this whole idea foolish, as a result they have no room in their hearts to allow the Holy Spirit to work.
So the best place to start looking for the Spirit of the Lord is praying. Not just hear and there, but earnestly praying that the Holy Spirit might open you eyes and feed you soul. Not sure of how to pray, well in Romans Chapter 8 Paul instructs the Romans he tells them:
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
This car has a few bells and whistles than your old one did not have; one of the best features is the Holy Spirit. Flip the switch and turn it on! Pry for the wisdom, and as you are ready it will begin to flow.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
The father the son, and……the Holy Spirit. The third part of the holy Trinity given to us by God. Before Jesus was to be put to death He told the apostles about this Counselor who was to come. John 16: 7-15 reads:
7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
The Holy Spirit is the key to finding the wisdom, it is what will take you from living on milk, and put you on the path of solid spiritual food. OK so you ask, well if it that easy then why not just have the Holy Spirit show up and download the information? What did Christ tell the Apostles? “I have more to say now than you can bear.” The Holy Spirit revels all things when the fullness of time, and our spiritual maturity have come. The Holy Spirit searches our hearts, it knows our needs, it knows what we are ready to hear, and what we are not yet prepared for. Everything that the Spirit has to say it direct from the Lord. This is the wisdom that Paul talks of. The wisdom of the Spirit. This is so far removed from the wisdom of today’s world. Many cannot comprehend the works of the Holy Spirit if he cannot acknowledge the Holy Spirit, they think this whole idea foolish, as a result they have no room in their hearts to allow the Holy Spirit to work.
So the best place to start looking for the Spirit of the Lord is praying. Not just hear and there, but earnestly praying that the Holy Spirit might open you eyes and feed you soul. Not sure of how to pray, well in Romans Chapter 8 Paul instructs the Romans he tells them:
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
This car has a few bells and whistles than your old one did not have; one of the best features is the Holy Spirit. Flip the switch and turn it on! Pry for the wisdom, and as you are ready it will begin to flow.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Modern Wisdom
Not only is it about how we treat others, we know it is about wisdom. So do we all need to become scholars? Must we become wiser than the wise men to understand and mature fully? Look at what Paul says next:
1 Corinthians 2: 6-7
6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
So we are in search for wisdom, but it is not what you are thinking. It was not the wisdom of Paul’s age, and it is not the wisdom of this age. For just as it was for the wise then, so it is for us today, the wise are coming to nothing. All of the books in the world will not revel this type of wisdom. It is the wisdom of knowing God; of learning what Paul calls God’s secret wisdom.
Modern wisdom is a stumbling block for many people. As I have pointed out before Paul left all of his “wisdom” behind. He was a very wise man in the laws of the Jewish faith, it is apparent in the way he calls on text from the Old Testament effortlessly in his letters. Yet he dropped all of it, to preach Christ crucified, with that comes the wisdom that has been hidden, and that God destined for our glory before time began.”
We find ourselves in the same rut today; many of us have a hard time letting go of modern wisdom. Modern wisdom would have you believe that you are the most important thing in the world, yet Christ tells us that to be the most in the kingdom of heaven we must be willing to be the least. Modern wisdom tells us that he who dies with the most toys wins, yet Christ told the rich man to give everything away and come follow Him. Modern Wisdom will tell us to rely on the government, or our job, or ourselves, yet Christ tells us to rely on Him, and his Father.
Now we start to get an idea of this hard to find wisdom. Of course it is hard to find, we are not trained to think like that! Have you ever done something for so long that you just do not see any other way to do it? It is sort of like buying a new car. Now the old one worked OK but it just could not continue to get you where you are going, so you head on down to the car lot, and trade it in for a newer one. You have heard about this car you want, you have seen pictures in magazines, and know just the color you want. You have talked to friends and they all agree it is THE car to get. SO you wheel and deal, try to get the best deal, a little more bending and twisting, perhaps a few tears, and finally the deal is done, you have the new car. The one you have wanted, the one you know you need to have, the one that will get you everywhere you want to go. SO you jump in, put on the seat belt, adjust the …….well hang on where is the mirror adjustment??? Oh there it is, and your off driving down the road go to make a turn,…..hey wait a second, my old car had the turn signal on the front switch not the back…..MAN I am going to have to learn all of this all over again!!
That is why looking for this wisdom Paul talks about can be difficult to understand at first. It is like a new car, you know you need Christ, you know you want to learn about him, you know you want to mature in your faith, but man in my old life the turn signal was over here!!! The key is just like anything getting off the milk and on to the meat is a transition, you have to re-learn some things, and learn some new things, but the key is to keep learning! Don’t get comfortable on the milk!
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
1 Corinthians 2: 6-7
6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
So we are in search for wisdom, but it is not what you are thinking. It was not the wisdom of Paul’s age, and it is not the wisdom of this age. For just as it was for the wise then, so it is for us today, the wise are coming to nothing. All of the books in the world will not revel this type of wisdom. It is the wisdom of knowing God; of learning what Paul calls God’s secret wisdom.
Modern wisdom is a stumbling block for many people. As I have pointed out before Paul left all of his “wisdom” behind. He was a very wise man in the laws of the Jewish faith, it is apparent in the way he calls on text from the Old Testament effortlessly in his letters. Yet he dropped all of it, to preach Christ crucified, with that comes the wisdom that has been hidden, and that God destined for our glory before time began.”
We find ourselves in the same rut today; many of us have a hard time letting go of modern wisdom. Modern wisdom would have you believe that you are the most important thing in the world, yet Christ tells us that to be the most in the kingdom of heaven we must be willing to be the least. Modern wisdom tells us that he who dies with the most toys wins, yet Christ told the rich man to give everything away and come follow Him. Modern Wisdom will tell us to rely on the government, or our job, or ourselves, yet Christ tells us to rely on Him, and his Father.
Now we start to get an idea of this hard to find wisdom. Of course it is hard to find, we are not trained to think like that! Have you ever done something for so long that you just do not see any other way to do it? It is sort of like buying a new car. Now the old one worked OK but it just could not continue to get you where you are going, so you head on down to the car lot, and trade it in for a newer one. You have heard about this car you want, you have seen pictures in magazines, and know just the color you want. You have talked to friends and they all agree it is THE car to get. SO you wheel and deal, try to get the best deal, a little more bending and twisting, perhaps a few tears, and finally the deal is done, you have the new car. The one you have wanted, the one you know you need to have, the one that will get you everywhere you want to go. SO you jump in, put on the seat belt, adjust the …….well hang on where is the mirror adjustment??? Oh there it is, and your off driving down the road go to make a turn,…..hey wait a second, my old car had the turn signal on the front switch not the back…..MAN I am going to have to learn all of this all over again!!
That is why looking for this wisdom Paul talks about can be difficult to understand at first. It is like a new car, you know you need Christ, you know you want to learn about him, you know you want to mature in your faith, but man in my old life the turn signal was over here!!! The key is just like anything getting off the milk and on to the meat is a transition, you have to re-learn some things, and learn some new things, but the key is to keep learning! Don’t get comfortable on the milk!
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Love this world?
1 Corinthians 2: 1-4
1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?
As we continue through this book we see Paul telling the readers that he could not address them as spiritual, but as worldly, he compared them to infants in Christ. He fed them milk, not solid food, because they were not ready for it.
Unlike our human bodies our spiritual lives do not automatically mature. We are not born into Christ, and then 30 years down the road find ourselves mature, stable, and righteous. Many people are caught in infancy their whole lives. They know of Christ, they know of the good news of his sacrifice, and our salvation, yet they never seem to advance much beyond that. Do not be mistaken there are plenty of people that have been on the front row every Sunday for 30 plus years, yet the fella’ that came in last week for the first time has more spiritual maturity!
For us to mature in Christ we must start to look beyond ourselves. We have to start to move beyond the point of I live like a Christian on Sunday, but come Monday it is business as usual! We have to start looking for the meaning on the other side of that salvation coin. Christ died for the world, yet even today a large part of the world fully misses all that comes with that sacrifice.
As Paul points out, and it still holds true today, we still quarrel, we are still jealous of each other. We are still worldly. It is one of the most important things that we all should work on when it comes to developing our spiritual lives. In john chapter 12 Christ tells a group in Bethany: “25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
People read that today and still wonder what He meant. Paul is laying it out there as plainly as possible in this passage. Worldly people will in fact lose their lives. Each one of us that calls ourselves a Christian have to make it a point to shed our love for a worldly life.
Anytime someone talks about giving up worldly things the first reaction in typically “oh great here we go again, another preacher talking about not buying the second house, or the sports car” Or it is usually viewed as a lead in to preaching about giving to the church.
This is not the issue that Paul is bringing up. He is talking about how we treat each other. He is talking about our motives when it comes to our fellow man. Paul is using examples of fighting, and jealousy as things that tie us to this world.
How do you view others? Do you feel that just because you go to church, or give more to the offering plate you somehow are better than others? Do you find yourself bickering over trivial matters, or issues that have no fruitful outcome? How do you treat others, are they there for your use, and disposal? How much do you love this life? When you start to answer those questions, and can see the importance in them, that is when you start thinking about setting the milk down, and looking for meat.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?
As we continue through this book we see Paul telling the readers that he could not address them as spiritual, but as worldly, he compared them to infants in Christ. He fed them milk, not solid food, because they were not ready for it.
Unlike our human bodies our spiritual lives do not automatically mature. We are not born into Christ, and then 30 years down the road find ourselves mature, stable, and righteous. Many people are caught in infancy their whole lives. They know of Christ, they know of the good news of his sacrifice, and our salvation, yet they never seem to advance much beyond that. Do not be mistaken there are plenty of people that have been on the front row every Sunday for 30 plus years, yet the fella’ that came in last week for the first time has more spiritual maturity!
For us to mature in Christ we must start to look beyond ourselves. We have to start to move beyond the point of I live like a Christian on Sunday, but come Monday it is business as usual! We have to start looking for the meaning on the other side of that salvation coin. Christ died for the world, yet even today a large part of the world fully misses all that comes with that sacrifice.
As Paul points out, and it still holds true today, we still quarrel, we are still jealous of each other. We are still worldly. It is one of the most important things that we all should work on when it comes to developing our spiritual lives. In john chapter 12 Christ tells a group in Bethany: “25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
People read that today and still wonder what He meant. Paul is laying it out there as plainly as possible in this passage. Worldly people will in fact lose their lives. Each one of us that calls ourselves a Christian have to make it a point to shed our love for a worldly life.
Anytime someone talks about giving up worldly things the first reaction in typically “oh great here we go again, another preacher talking about not buying the second house, or the sports car” Or it is usually viewed as a lead in to preaching about giving to the church.
This is not the issue that Paul is bringing up. He is talking about how we treat each other. He is talking about our motives when it comes to our fellow man. Paul is using examples of fighting, and jealousy as things that tie us to this world.
How do you view others? Do you feel that just because you go to church, or give more to the offering plate you somehow are better than others? Do you find yourself bickering over trivial matters, or issues that have no fruitful outcome? How do you treat others, are they there for your use, and disposal? How much do you love this life? When you start to answer those questions, and can see the importance in them, that is when you start thinking about setting the milk down, and looking for meat.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Monday, January 12, 2009
The stumbling block of simplicity
This post is the continuation and final from last week! The new one starts on Tuesday.
25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
A couple thousand years down the path and we are still fighting this I am smarter, and show me proof mentality. Take a look at the newspapers, and listen to the talking heads on the television. They all preach the same idea. They would have us believe that there is a group of people that are the brightest, best, hope on this planet. If we would just put our faith in them….if we would just trust them to do what is right for us, they could make it all better. They have the education, they have the money, and they have to power in this world. All they need is the one piece of the puzzle that is so elusive…….you! You have the ability to recognize that the smartest person is a fool to Christ, the strongest person is a weakling when compared to the strength of the Lord! Why would you place your beliefs in something as temporary, as weak, as foolish, and as fickle as a mere human? No amount of human wisdom can prove anyone better than God, no show of force, or strength can match the power of the Lord.
Why are so many compelled to place their hope, and faith on people? Reading a little further in Paul’s letter we read.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Here we find our answer. We have a hard time believing in our own strength, we buy into the idea, that we are not good enough, we are not smart enough, or we are not strong enough. We believe it when people tell us that we are not good looking enough, rich enough, or come from the right family.
This is the good news that Paul is preaching! What others think, does not matter. It is what God thinks that counts. What does God have faith in you might ask. Paul tells us….The Lord put his faith in what the world considered foolish, He chose the lowly and despised. In a nutshell, God chose the common men and women of the world. What more of an endorsement could anybody ask for?
God has chosen you, he believes in you, he has faith in YOU! I know I know, you’re saying naaa I can’t accomplish anything great. Maybe your thinking that you are not good enough, or that nothing that you do can amount to anything. Well, I will have to tell you that you are right. Alone you can do nothing, but when you rely on God, when you acknowledge that you are a child of the Lord, you will see a change. I know I quote Joshua 1: 9 a lot, but what a reassuring quote. Joshua has been chosen to lead the people. Talk about pressure!! Could you imagine the self-doubt? Yet here is the Lord re confirming His pledge, “be strong and Courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God will be with you wherever you go”
Why worry about what anyone might think of you? You have God on your team! HE promises to be with you wherever you go. I can promise you that there will be people in your life that will drag you down. They will feed that feeling of insecurity, they will build up fears, and self –doubt. We all have people in our lives like that. Often they are like the very people that Paul is speaking of they are the intelligent, they are the wise, they are the scolars of todays world. These people are in a unique position. Society views them as intelligent, so they must know what they are talking about. These people are our friend, our co-workers, they are on the television, and the big screen. They all have one thing in common, just like the Greeks, the Romans and the Jews, they cannot understand the simplicity of the cross.
The idea is so simplistic, it seems forgien to them. The cross of Christ offers something that is free, it is avaliabel to all, there is nto fancy school to go to, there is no prerequisites. There is only Christ, and our desire to follow him. Salvation is not something that you work for, it is not something that you can barter for, there is nothing that God wants from you, other than your acknowledgement and love.
I know, I know, so why is that so hard to believe? It is because the world is a very cynical place. The world is full of people that instead of looking for a way to help others, they are looking for a way to help themselves. They believe in the concrete. I want to share with you some of Matthew Henery’s thoughts on the idea:
The thing preached was foolishness in the eyes of worldly-wise men. Our living through one who died, our being blessed by one who was made a curse, our being justified by one who was himself condemned, was all folly and inconsistency to men blinded with self-conceit and wedded to their own prejudices and the boasted discoveries of their reason and philosophy. He goes on to say.
The manner of preaching the gospel was foolishness to them too. None of the famous men for wisdom or eloquence were employed to plant the church or propagate the gospel. A few fishermen were called out, and sent upon this errand. These were commissioned to disciple the nations: these vessels chosen to convey the treasure of saving knowledge to the world. There was nothing in them that at first view looked grand or august enough to come from God; and the proud pretenders to learning and wisdom despised the doctrine for the sake of those who dispensed it. And yet the foolishness of God is wiser than men, 1Co_1:25. Those methods of divine conduct that vain men are apt to censure as unwise and weak have more true, solid, and successful wisdom in them, than all the learning and wisdom that are among men: “You see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, 1Co_1:26, etc. You see the state of Christianity; not many men of learning, or authority, or honourable extraction, are called.” There is a great deal of meanness and weakness in the outward appearance of our religion. For, (1.) Few of distinguished character in any of these respects were chosen for the work of the ministry. God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth and power and interest in the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace. Not the wise men after the flesh, though men would apt to think that a reputation for wisdom and learning might have contributed much to the success of the gospel. Not the mighty and noble, however men might be apt to imagine that secular pomp and power would make way for its reception in the world. But God seeth not as man seeth. He hath chosen the foolish things of the world, the weak things of the world, the base and despicable things of the world, men of mean birth, of low rank, of no liberal education, to be the preachers of the gospel and planters of the church. His thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways. He is a better judge than we what instruments and measures will best serve the purposes of his glory. (2.) Few of distinguished rank and character were called to be Christians. As the teachers were poor and mean, so generally were the converts. Few of the wise, and mighty, and noble, embraced the doctrine of the cross. The first Christians, both among Jews and Greeks, were weak, and foolish, and base; men of mean furniture as to their mental improvements, and very mean rank and condition as to their outward estate; and yet what glorious discoveries are there of divine wisdom in the whole scheme of the gospel, and in this particular circumstance of its success!
Paul, let go of all of his knowledge that he had spent his life learning. Everything he believed, and taught before his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus was left by the way side. HE abondanded it for the simple truth that is Jesus Christ!
This is how we all must approach our spirituality, not looking for signs, or facts that we can check off a list.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
A couple thousand years down the path and we are still fighting this I am smarter, and show me proof mentality. Take a look at the newspapers, and listen to the talking heads on the television. They all preach the same idea. They would have us believe that there is a group of people that are the brightest, best, hope on this planet. If we would just put our faith in them….if we would just trust them to do what is right for us, they could make it all better. They have the education, they have the money, and they have to power in this world. All they need is the one piece of the puzzle that is so elusive…….you! You have the ability to recognize that the smartest person is a fool to Christ, the strongest person is a weakling when compared to the strength of the Lord! Why would you place your beliefs in something as temporary, as weak, as foolish, and as fickle as a mere human? No amount of human wisdom can prove anyone better than God, no show of force, or strength can match the power of the Lord.
Why are so many compelled to place their hope, and faith on people? Reading a little further in Paul’s letter we read.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Here we find our answer. We have a hard time believing in our own strength, we buy into the idea, that we are not good enough, we are not smart enough, or we are not strong enough. We believe it when people tell us that we are not good looking enough, rich enough, or come from the right family.
This is the good news that Paul is preaching! What others think, does not matter. It is what God thinks that counts. What does God have faith in you might ask. Paul tells us….The Lord put his faith in what the world considered foolish, He chose the lowly and despised. In a nutshell, God chose the common men and women of the world. What more of an endorsement could anybody ask for?
God has chosen you, he believes in you, he has faith in YOU! I know I know, you’re saying naaa I can’t accomplish anything great. Maybe your thinking that you are not good enough, or that nothing that you do can amount to anything. Well, I will have to tell you that you are right. Alone you can do nothing, but when you rely on God, when you acknowledge that you are a child of the Lord, you will see a change. I know I quote Joshua 1: 9 a lot, but what a reassuring quote. Joshua has been chosen to lead the people. Talk about pressure!! Could you imagine the self-doubt? Yet here is the Lord re confirming His pledge, “be strong and Courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God will be with you wherever you go”
Why worry about what anyone might think of you? You have God on your team! HE promises to be with you wherever you go. I can promise you that there will be people in your life that will drag you down. They will feed that feeling of insecurity, they will build up fears, and self –doubt. We all have people in our lives like that. Often they are like the very people that Paul is speaking of they are the intelligent, they are the wise, they are the scolars of todays world. These people are in a unique position. Society views them as intelligent, so they must know what they are talking about. These people are our friend, our co-workers, they are on the television, and the big screen. They all have one thing in common, just like the Greeks, the Romans and the Jews, they cannot understand the simplicity of the cross.
The idea is so simplistic, it seems forgien to them. The cross of Christ offers something that is free, it is avaliabel to all, there is nto fancy school to go to, there is no prerequisites. There is only Christ, and our desire to follow him. Salvation is not something that you work for, it is not something that you can barter for, there is nothing that God wants from you, other than your acknowledgement and love.
I know, I know, so why is that so hard to believe? It is because the world is a very cynical place. The world is full of people that instead of looking for a way to help others, they are looking for a way to help themselves. They believe in the concrete. I want to share with you some of Matthew Henery’s thoughts on the idea:
The thing preached was foolishness in the eyes of worldly-wise men. Our living through one who died, our being blessed by one who was made a curse, our being justified by one who was himself condemned, was all folly and inconsistency to men blinded with self-conceit and wedded to their own prejudices and the boasted discoveries of their reason and philosophy. He goes on to say.
The manner of preaching the gospel was foolishness to them too. None of the famous men for wisdom or eloquence were employed to plant the church or propagate the gospel. A few fishermen were called out, and sent upon this errand. These were commissioned to disciple the nations: these vessels chosen to convey the treasure of saving knowledge to the world. There was nothing in them that at first view looked grand or august enough to come from God; and the proud pretenders to learning and wisdom despised the doctrine for the sake of those who dispensed it. And yet the foolishness of God is wiser than men, 1Co_1:25. Those methods of divine conduct that vain men are apt to censure as unwise and weak have more true, solid, and successful wisdom in them, than all the learning and wisdom that are among men: “You see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, 1Co_1:26, etc. You see the state of Christianity; not many men of learning, or authority, or honourable extraction, are called.” There is a great deal of meanness and weakness in the outward appearance of our religion. For, (1.) Few of distinguished character in any of these respects were chosen for the work of the ministry. God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth and power and interest in the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace. Not the wise men after the flesh, though men would apt to think that a reputation for wisdom and learning might have contributed much to the success of the gospel. Not the mighty and noble, however men might be apt to imagine that secular pomp and power would make way for its reception in the world. But God seeth not as man seeth. He hath chosen the foolish things of the world, the weak things of the world, the base and despicable things of the world, men of mean birth, of low rank, of no liberal education, to be the preachers of the gospel and planters of the church. His thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways. He is a better judge than we what instruments and measures will best serve the purposes of his glory. (2.) Few of distinguished rank and character were called to be Christians. As the teachers were poor and mean, so generally were the converts. Few of the wise, and mighty, and noble, embraced the doctrine of the cross. The first Christians, both among Jews and Greeks, were weak, and foolish, and base; men of mean furniture as to their mental improvements, and very mean rank and condition as to their outward estate; and yet what glorious discoveries are there of divine wisdom in the whole scheme of the gospel, and in this particular circumstance of its success!
Paul, let go of all of his knowledge that he had spent his life learning. Everything he believed, and taught before his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus was left by the way side. HE abondanded it for the simple truth that is Jesus Christ!
This is how we all must approach our spirituality, not looking for signs, or facts that we can check off a list.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
the lowly things
25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
A couple thousand years down the path and we are still fighting this I am smarter, and show me proof mentality. Take a look at the newspapers, and listen to the talking heads on the television. They all preach the same idea. They would have us believe that there is a group of people that are the brightest, best, hope on this planet. If we would just put our faith in them….if we would just trust them to do what is right for us, they could make it all better. They have the education, they have the money, and they have to power in this world. All they need is the one piece of the puzzle that is so elusive…….you! You have the ability to recognize that the smartest person is a fool to Christ, the strongest person is a weakling when compared to the strength of the Lord! Why would you place your beliefs in something as temporary, as weak, as foolish, and as fickle as a mere human? No amount of human wisdom can prove anyone better than God, no show of force, or strength can match the power of the Lord.
Why are so many compelled to place their hope, and faith on people? Reading a little further in Paul’s letter we read.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Here we find our answer. We have a hard time believing in our own strength, we buy into the idea, that we are not good enough, we are not smart enough, or we are not strong enough. We believe it when people tell us that we are not good looking enough, rich enough, or come from the right family.
This is the good news that Paul is preaching! What others think, does not matter. It is what God thinks that counts. What does God have faith in you might ask. Paul tells us….The Lord put his faith in what the world considered foolish, He chose the lowly and despised. In a nutshell, God chose the common men and women of the world. What more of an endorsement could anybody ask for?
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
A couple thousand years down the path and we are still fighting this I am smarter, and show me proof mentality. Take a look at the newspapers, and listen to the talking heads on the television. They all preach the same idea. They would have us believe that there is a group of people that are the brightest, best, hope on this planet. If we would just put our faith in them….if we would just trust them to do what is right for us, they could make it all better. They have the education, they have the money, and they have to power in this world. All they need is the one piece of the puzzle that is so elusive…….you! You have the ability to recognize that the smartest person is a fool to Christ, the strongest person is a weakling when compared to the strength of the Lord! Why would you place your beliefs in something as temporary, as weak, as foolish, and as fickle as a mere human? No amount of human wisdom can prove anyone better than God, no show of force, or strength can match the power of the Lord.
Why are so many compelled to place their hope, and faith on people? Reading a little further in Paul’s letter we read.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Here we find our answer. We have a hard time believing in our own strength, we buy into the idea, that we are not good enough, we are not smart enough, or we are not strong enough. We believe it when people tell us that we are not good looking enough, rich enough, or come from the right family.
This is the good news that Paul is preaching! What others think, does not matter. It is what God thinks that counts. What does God have faith in you might ask. Paul tells us….The Lord put his faith in what the world considered foolish, He chose the lowly and despised. In a nutshell, God chose the common men and women of the world. What more of an endorsement could anybody ask for?
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Foolishness of the Cross
1 Corinthians 1: 18-25
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
The message of the cross is lost on those who are spiritually deaf, and that is the best way to explain it. They might be able to see it right in front of their eyes, yet they cannot hear it. In this part of the letter Paul is busy explaining just how foolish the wise really are when it comes to Christ, and salvation.
We all know people like this, they are sure of themselves, they can reason, they are highly educated, they pride themselves on their intelligence, and their accomplishments. They have knelt at the alter of knowledge, and placed the value of that knowledge above everything else.
The problem that arises often with all of that knowledge is the growing of self-reliance. The thought of depending on Christ, or anyone else for that matter becomes quite a reach for some. This is why Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14 The simplicity of the cross became that stumbling block so often talked about. We must remember here again, that Paul was writing to the people of the Church of Corinth, but there were many people on the outside of the Church that considered it total foolishness to believe in Christ.
Now this might seem like a hard thing to believe, but for people who puff themselves up with pride, belief in Christ is hard to imagine. How could a man, born to such low standing, be a savior? How could a man, who led a meek life, a man who was killed in such a brutal way be considered the gateway to salvation? To the wise of the time a savior was a great man, a noble man. He would have to be a man that all respected, a man of great power and influence. This man Jesus was anything but a savior…he was little more than a common man, logic dictates that he could not fill the shoes of a savior, let alone God. One only had to look at the Greek gods to get an idea of what they were looking for. Zeus, Athens, Thor. There were examples of gods, and the Greeks who were so wise, so educated, so intelligent, could not believe that a man like Jesus could be on par with these gods, let alone greater than them!
The Jews in all of their knowledge met much of the same stumbling block when it came to Christ. Over and over again they would ask Jesus for a sign that he was in fact the Messiah. Never mind all of the wonders he had already preformed, the wine, the feeding of the masses, raising Lazarus form the dead. None of theses were good enough, they still wanted something more. All of the prophecies that were fulfilled did not make any difference at all, they still wanted more.
I will continue on this tomorrow,
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
The message of the cross is lost on those who are spiritually deaf, and that is the best way to explain it. They might be able to see it right in front of their eyes, yet they cannot hear it. In this part of the letter Paul is busy explaining just how foolish the wise really are when it comes to Christ, and salvation.
We all know people like this, they are sure of themselves, they can reason, they are highly educated, they pride themselves on their intelligence, and their accomplishments. They have knelt at the alter of knowledge, and placed the value of that knowledge above everything else.
The problem that arises often with all of that knowledge is the growing of self-reliance. The thought of depending on Christ, or anyone else for that matter becomes quite a reach for some. This is why Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14 The simplicity of the cross became that stumbling block so often talked about. We must remember here again, that Paul was writing to the people of the Church of Corinth, but there were many people on the outside of the Church that considered it total foolishness to believe in Christ.
Now this might seem like a hard thing to believe, but for people who puff themselves up with pride, belief in Christ is hard to imagine. How could a man, born to such low standing, be a savior? How could a man, who led a meek life, a man who was killed in such a brutal way be considered the gateway to salvation? To the wise of the time a savior was a great man, a noble man. He would have to be a man that all respected, a man of great power and influence. This man Jesus was anything but a savior…he was little more than a common man, logic dictates that he could not fill the shoes of a savior, let alone God. One only had to look at the Greek gods to get an idea of what they were looking for. Zeus, Athens, Thor. There were examples of gods, and the Greeks who were so wise, so educated, so intelligent, could not believe that a man like Jesus could be on par with these gods, let alone greater than them!
The Jews in all of their knowledge met much of the same stumbling block when it came to Christ. Over and over again they would ask Jesus for a sign that he was in fact the Messiah. Never mind all of the wonders he had already preformed, the wine, the feeding of the masses, raising Lazarus form the dead. None of theses were good enough, they still wanted something more. All of the prophecies that were fulfilled did not make any difference at all, they still wanted more.
I will continue on this tomorrow,
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Children of the Light
Deuteronomy 29:18 Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.
Here again we see the call for unity among all. While we know that there are problems in most communities with division among the churches, if we look deeper in our lives and our communities we see even more division. The division within our Church. The Division among the congregation and this is where the bitter root often springs up first. The Lord’s plan for us is to live as one, yet often we tend to exclude, people within our own Church community. They might not look the same as us, or they might have a different background.
I was talking with a friend about the Church they were attending, and the bible study groups that were held after service. My friend was telling me that while the service was great, and the preacher always had a great message, they did not really enjoy the bible study because the people in the class “were not their kind of people” they were missing teeth, or they dressed shoddy, or were uneducated (yet they sure seemed to know a lot about the Lord!). As a result this person quit going to bible study. Another friend of mine had a different issue. The church that they went to had a very well off group within the congregation. This group headed up the small groups. As a result, the well off often planned very extravagant meetings, and trips. While some are lucky to have a place for bible study, this group would arrange to have bible studies at nice resorts in different towns! While this was a wonderful thing for that one group, they effectively cut my friend, and many others out of the opportunity to learn more about the Lord, because the trips were well beyond their means.
I see it today in my children, and honestly am amazed at how young of an age it starts. We section ourselves off and only make ourselves available to those who think like us, or act like us, or dress like we do. We start this trend at a very young age, and then carry it, and develop it well into our adult lives. We take that mindset into our churches, and allow that bitter root to grow and flourish. We foster the thought that even in church we have to fit everyone into a group, a box, or a clique.
We think by doing this we are helping the community. People who are alike do better when they stay in their group. While that might sound like a logical mindset, it is far from the truth. Jesus Christ came into this world as “one of the other guys”. He was an outcast from the beginning. What would happen to him today in our world? He did not speak as others of his time spoke, he did not strive for what others of his time coveted. He had a different idea about what it meant to live in this world. If he came to our group today I can almost promise you, we would effectively cut the son of God out of our group because he is not like everyone else in our group!
Let that sink in for just a second. Search your heart and tell me it is not the truth! We would not want to accept the Lord, because he would be so different from what we thought the “norm” was! This is why we must fight division. This is why Paul talked so much in many letters about us living as one group. The populars, the geeks, the athletes, and the academics; the blue color, and the white collar, the haves and the have nots. We all reside under the same banner of Christianity.
So as we start the new week, we need to do some soul searching. How do you view others? Are you working to build up the kingdom of Christ, or are you working to build walls? When you see others that do not fit into your idea of normal, are you extending a hand of fellowship, and love, or do you turn your back, because they just will not fit in? Can you see beyond the lines of denomination, and open your heart to all of those that love Christ?
There is no room in Christ’s world for division, and I know that knocking down those walls goes against everything that the world has taught us. But we are no longer living for the world, we are no longer held down by the chains of society. We are children of the light; let us feed that light with love, faith, and acceptance. Christ came to this world as an outsider. Remember that when you meet someone that does not fit in your group. Accept them as you would accept Christ. Accept them as a brother, a fellow believer, a part of the family. For we are all one in Christ.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
Here again we see the call for unity among all. While we know that there are problems in most communities with division among the churches, if we look deeper in our lives and our communities we see even more division. The division within our Church. The Division among the congregation and this is where the bitter root often springs up first. The Lord’s plan for us is to live as one, yet often we tend to exclude, people within our own Church community. They might not look the same as us, or they might have a different background.
I was talking with a friend about the Church they were attending, and the bible study groups that were held after service. My friend was telling me that while the service was great, and the preacher always had a great message, they did not really enjoy the bible study because the people in the class “were not their kind of people” they were missing teeth, or they dressed shoddy, or were uneducated (yet they sure seemed to know a lot about the Lord!). As a result this person quit going to bible study. Another friend of mine had a different issue. The church that they went to had a very well off group within the congregation. This group headed up the small groups. As a result, the well off often planned very extravagant meetings, and trips. While some are lucky to have a place for bible study, this group would arrange to have bible studies at nice resorts in different towns! While this was a wonderful thing for that one group, they effectively cut my friend, and many others out of the opportunity to learn more about the Lord, because the trips were well beyond their means.
I see it today in my children, and honestly am amazed at how young of an age it starts. We section ourselves off and only make ourselves available to those who think like us, or act like us, or dress like we do. We start this trend at a very young age, and then carry it, and develop it well into our adult lives. We take that mindset into our churches, and allow that bitter root to grow and flourish. We foster the thought that even in church we have to fit everyone into a group, a box, or a clique.
We think by doing this we are helping the community. People who are alike do better when they stay in their group. While that might sound like a logical mindset, it is far from the truth. Jesus Christ came into this world as “one of the other guys”. He was an outcast from the beginning. What would happen to him today in our world? He did not speak as others of his time spoke, he did not strive for what others of his time coveted. He had a different idea about what it meant to live in this world. If he came to our group today I can almost promise you, we would effectively cut the son of God out of our group because he is not like everyone else in our group!
Let that sink in for just a second. Search your heart and tell me it is not the truth! We would not want to accept the Lord, because he would be so different from what we thought the “norm” was! This is why we must fight division. This is why Paul talked so much in many letters about us living as one group. The populars, the geeks, the athletes, and the academics; the blue color, and the white collar, the haves and the have nots. We all reside under the same banner of Christianity.
So as we start the new week, we need to do some soul searching. How do you view others? Are you working to build up the kingdom of Christ, or are you working to build walls? When you see others that do not fit into your idea of normal, are you extending a hand of fellowship, and love, or do you turn your back, because they just will not fit in? Can you see beyond the lines of denomination, and open your heart to all of those that love Christ?
There is no room in Christ’s world for division, and I know that knocking down those walls goes against everything that the world has taught us. But we are no longer living for the world, we are no longer held down by the chains of society. We are children of the light; let us feed that light with love, faith, and acceptance. Christ came to this world as an outsider. Remember that when you meet someone that does not fit in your group. Accept them as you would accept Christ. Accept them as a brother, a fellow believer, a part of the family. For we are all one in Christ.
Peace,
Rev. Thetford
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