A few words about the Word

There are a lot of times in your life when following the crowd is wrong.  If you don't believe me, look back at your high school yearbook and look at the clothes you wore.  Think back to the music you listened to.  Clearly, the group-think of your youth led you astray.  At the same time, there are times when following the crowd is the right call.   For years, I have heard/read pastors and authors tell me over and over again, "Don't study the Bible without a pen in your hand!"  Or they've said, "Do you expect to hear from God when you read the Word?  If you do, why aren't you ready to write down what He tells you?"  Now, I can't tell you to turn to a specific passage in the Word that says, "Thou shalt not study My Word without writing things down."  Nope.  Can't do it.  However, I can show you places where everyone from Martin Luther to Charles Spurgeon to Rick Warren to David Platt to Gene Wood has written and challenged believers to approach the Word of God EXPECTING to hear from the Voice of God.  In this instance, I think it's more than acceptable to "follow the crowd."

Even with that being the case, until a month ago, I had never studied the Word with a pen in hand.  Finally, and I don't remember what the catalyst was, I bought a journal and began to write down a few thoughts after each chapter that I read.  Guys.  Lemme tell you.  That has made ALL the difference in the world in my morning quiet times.  It has been, hands down, the best month of Bible study that I have ever had.  Think about it-that book that you hold in your hand is the inspired, perfect Word of the Living God.  If you approach it as part of your routine or a Christian duty, then you will get out of it exactly what you put into it:  not a whole lot.  If, however, you come to the Word humbly, eagerly, and prepared to hear and obey your King, you will get out of it SO much more than you put in.

If you will allow me, I would like to give you all an example of what I mean.  As some of you know, I spent  a few months memorizing the first eight chapters of the book of Romans.  My memorization technique is simple:  repetition.  I would read and say out loud each verse over and over and over and over and over again.  The reason I'm telling you is because I want you to understand this:  Before this past week, I had read Romans 3:1-2 LITERALLY hundreds of time.  I have said these words, "Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God," so many times that I can see them on the page.  If you think you've read a passage many times, trust me, when it comes to Romans 1-8, I've got you beat.  It wasn't until this week, however, that I SAW those words for the first time.  

So, what in the world is Paul talking about when he asks this rhetorical question?  Well, Paul spends time in Romans 1:18-2:16 outlining all the ways that the Gentile is guilty before God.  Then, from verses 2:17-29, Paul shows how every Jew is guilty as well.  No one is off the hook before this Holy God.  Knowing that his readers would bring up the Jews as God's chosen people, Paul answers their objection before they can even voice it.  What he says is truly stunning.  When it comes to God's redemptive arc, do the Jews have an advantage over the rest of the world?  Absolutely.  They do, but it's not what we think it is.

"To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God."  In other words, remember that time when God visited all the plagues on the Egyptians and spared the Israelites?  Not as beneficial to their salvation as the Word of God.  Remember that time that God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites and then drowned the Egyptians?  No as beneficial to their salvation as the Word of God.  Remember that time that God hovered over their camp as a pillar of cloud and fire? Not as beneficial to their salvation as the Word of God.  Remember Jericho?  And when God made the day last longer?  And when God delivered them from vastly superior enemies again and again and again?  None of them were as beneficial to their salvation as the Word of God.  What Paul is claiming is that, when it comes to being saved, there is more power in the charge to not boil a goat in it's mother's milk than in the miracles we see in the Old Testament.

I am so thankful for that message right now, because I am trying (and failing) to be more active and more bold in evangelism than ever before.  I, like I think many of us do, tend to approach evangelism with an "eyes shut" mentality.  In other words, when evangelizing, I shut my eyes and hope for the best.  I don't REALLY expect God to save that person or this person because I don't think I've got enough to do the job.  Well, I don't, but He does.  He has given me His Word to share with the lost people around me.  I have His Word- which is perfect and full of His power and His authority.  I speak THAT Word and people WILL get saved.  Maybe not everyone and maybe not every time, but when I am armed with the Word of God, I have more power and authority than I would possess even if I carried a whole truck load of frogs and gnats on me.  I have read that passage over and over, but it wasn't until I read it EXPECTING to be taught something that I finally was.  I can't wait to read it again and see what He shows me next.  

Committment: How I learned to stop worrying and put it on my calendar

Looking back over my posts, most of them have been somewhat (ok-TOTALLY) weighty, theological matters that have been the result of a lot of prayer and meditation.  This one...not so much.  I don't want to go so far as to say that is me "venting," but this is certainly me wanting to state my reasons for taking a certain position.  I hope that it doesn't come across as too preachy or confrontational, but, if it does, sorry.  I'm just trying to work through some things haha.

Ok, so let's put the cards on the table.  I like to commit to things.  If you have a program or an idea, I'm all about signing up for it.  I don't know why I'm that way (Mom-why am I that way?), but I know that I am.  And, because I'm a fan of mass communication, everybody else knows as well.  I mention this because-according to every blog, study, poll, anecdote, and personal experience that I have-I am a member of the least committed generation EVER.  Whether it's marriage or church membership, my people don't like to commit to things (except for Crossfit.  Boy, we will commit to Crossfit.  Or Irontribe.  Whatever).  As one who often plans things (nothing sweeter than committing to your own ideas, my friends), here is a rundown of a few of the top reasons I'm given for being unable to commit.

1.)    Too little notice-As in, "I would've TOTALLY loved to come to that, but I've already made plans!  I wish you would have let me know sooner!"  Understandable.  A commitment made should be a commitment honored.

2.)  Too MUCH notice-Y'all, for real.  As in, "I don't know...that's so far away."  Apparently, there is some sort of sweet spot that I have yet to find that is just the RIGHT amount of notice.

3.)  The better offer-Ahh...the better offer excuse.  Let me show you how this one (my favorite!) works.  I shall do it in the form of a dialogue between myself and a friend.

ME:  Hey, _____!  How are you?
THEM:  Good, man!  How are you?
ME:  I'm great-hey, listen.  Did you see that event I invited you to on Facebook?
THEM (looking nervous):  Yeah...I did...
ME:  Can you come?  It should be a lot of fun!
THEM (looking positively UNCOMFORTABLE now):  I'm not sure....I'll have to see
ME:  Oh...you've already got plans?
THEM:  No.  No plans.
ME:  So, you don't want to come?
THEM:  No, I want to.  I just need to see if I'll be available that night.  I don't want to say yes and then not be able to come.

Ah!  "I don't want to say yes and then not be able to come."  In other words, what if I say yes to you, and then something better comes alone?  I'll feel obligated to come to your thing, but I don't really want to!  What's a millennial to do?

This is where I want to dip my toe, ever so slightly, into the pool of Biblical truth and then move back to venting.  I'm not saying that if you're unable to commit to a facebook event you'll be unable to commit to marriage.  I'm not.  I'M NOT.  What I'm saying is that this word of wisdom from John Piper is so good that I think it has applications across many areas of our life.

To paraphrase, Piper says that most people today think of "love" being the soil out of which "commitment" grows in a marriage.  In other words, I love you, so I am committed to you.  But, as Piper points out and every married person can attest, love in a marriage is not constant.  You may always love your spouse (but there will probably be times when you don't), but you certainly don't always love them the same.  If at any moment that love wanes or even dies, there goes your commitment.  Hence the catastrophic divorce rate even among the church.  If, however, we view our commitment as the soil out of which our love grows, then we will have an unshakable foundation for that love.  There will be times when the love will not be there, but the commitment that you made before God and man sustains that love.  (If you're interested, here is that roundtable discussion in which John Piper, Tim Keller, and D.A. Carson discuss marriage:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZiM362HN-Y).

Now, what in the WORLD does that have to do with committing to day-to-day things?  This is what:  making promises is LIBERATING.  Committing is good for the soul.  How do I say that?  Well, first off, read this article:  http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/decemberweb-only/12-16-56.0.html?start=5.  Done?  Ok, good.  Let me try and draw a contrast between how I think I build my calendar and how it seems that others draw theirs.

When I look at my calendar full of white spaces, I first fill them up with the essentials.  Daily time in the word and prayer, time with faith family on Sunday, time with my small group(s) on Thursday and Wednesday.  Those are the foundations of my week.  Those are sacrosanct.  Next, I want to pay bills, so I add in when I'm working.  Then, I try and see when I can see friends, clean the house, mow the lawn, grocery shop, do some reading, and just be alone.  These are all good things that a person needs to stay balanced.  When a friend of mine asks me to do something, and if I'm available I say yes.  Why?  Because, even if whatever we're doing isn't my favorite thing, I want them to know that they matter to me.  I want them to know that, even if there's THE WORLD'S GREATEST PARTY going on next door, I'm happy to spend time with them.  To be totally honest, there are many people, people that I love dearly, who, when they show up to something that I've invited them to, I don't feel honored or pleased.  I feel, partially, that they just showed up because nothing better came along.

It seems to me, and I could be wrong, that many people get intimidated or greedy when they see white spaces on the calendar.  Intimidated in that, with SO MANY OPTIONS being thrown at them at all times, they are afraid to pick one lest it turn out to be the "wrong" one.  Greedy in that, with SO MANY OPTIONS being thrown at them at all times, they refuse to pick anything lest it not be exactly what they want.  We are a generation with nearly limitless options for life, yet we commit to none of them.  We can do anything and go anywhere, but we stay at home or in our bubble-afraid to make a wrong move.  We can change the world, but we don't for fear that it won't be as fun as something else.  My friends, leave all that behind.  Commit to things-good things!  Make a promise, keep that promise, and know that you are bringing glory to the Father in both of those actions. Now, I'm not telling you to re-up for that kickball league that you love so much, I'm telling you to commit to serving others or spending time with a friend.  Then, if necessary, give up something else to keep that promise!  It's good for you!  There is, of course, a danger in over-committing; I will freely admit to that.  It seems to me, however, that our generation is going to pass away without committing to a single thing that is worthwhile.  I'd fear that far more.  

The offense of the Cross

"Just don't buy any Bibles with crosses on them."  That was the request I got from my best friend a few weeks ago.  My best friend, being the selfish guy that he is, had recently ABANDONED ME and moved overseas to make the Gospel known in an unreached context amongst Muslim peoples.  He then had the gall to ask me to send him a few new Bibles.  Matt needed the new Bibles because he had written in his, and, for a number of reasons that we won't go into in this post, that simply would not do when sharing with Muslims.  Well, as anyone who has stepped foot into a Christian book store can tell you, Bible buying is a tricky business.  What translation?  What size?  What font size?  What features do you want?  What kind of binding?  As we tackled these pressing issues, one issue kept coming up.  "Whatever you get," Matt said, "just don't get one with a cross on the cover.  No crosses."  The cross, you see, offends Muslims.  Well, we finally settled on the right kind of Bibles for Matt (ESV, small and medium size ones, regular, no features, leather), and I was left chuckling over how silly those Muslims were.  Offended by the cross, indeed.  What a bunch of nuts.  As I left the bookstore, securely saddled on my high horse, I was slapped smack dab in the face by the Holy Spirit.  Offended by the cross?  All men are offended by the cross; Muslims just admit it.  

I'll just come right out and say it:  The cross IS offensive.  If you think of the cross as a piece of religious "memorabilia" then you aren't thinking of the same cross as I am.  If you think about the cross as a good example of loving others, then you aren't thinking about the same cross as I am.  If you think about the cross as a piece of our history, then you aren't thinking about the same cross as I am.  The cross is pain.  The cross is torture.  The cross is shame.  The cross is death.  The cross is life.  If you have never been offended by the cross, then you have never seen it for what it is.  

How does the cross offend?  The cross offends by being a real piece of our history and a daily part of our existence.  You see, the cross of Jesus Christ is, before it CAN be anything else, a real event.  Even respected, pagan historians testify that there was a man named Galilee named Jesus who was crucified on a cross around 2000 years ago.  We won't even get into the resurrection in this post, but let's just all agree that Jesus existed, Jesus died on a cross, and Jesus followers began to claim that He was alive almost immediately.  My pastor, David Platt, often makes the statement that wearing a cross around your neck is like wearing an electric chair around your neck.  With respect, that's not even scratching the surface.  I'm not saying the electric chair is a fun way to die, it does not compare the depth and length of suffering that the cross offered.  The cross was created by the Romans as a way to punish and intimidate the worst of the worst of their subjects.  The cross was so barbarous that Roman citizens could not be put to death by crucifixion.  The cross was an all day affair of torture and pain and humiliation.  THAT is what Jesus endured for us.  He was brutally tortured for hours before dying.  When we wear a cross around our neck, we are wearing an instrument of torture.  What's more, Jesus told his followers that, to really follow Him, THEY had to take up their cross and follow him every day.  Want to follow Jesus?  Take up a cross and give away your rights.  The cross is the real death of Jesus and the real death of your own desires.  

How does the cross offend?  The cross offends by showing us just how deep our sin is.  There was a recent controversy within the Presbyterian church that broke my heart.  They voted to remove "In Christ Alone" from their hymnals because the writers would not let them change this line:  "Til on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied."  They no longer wanted to sing about God's wrath against their sin.  They were offended by the thought that God could be angry at them.  Even more, they were offended by what God's anger says about their sin.  My friends, have no doubt:  the wrath of God is real.  If God was not full of wrath against our sin, then the cross was exactly what one theologian called it, "Divine child abuse."  We all like to think of ourselves as being pretty much OK.  We've drawn a scale in our heads, you see.  On one end is Hitler.  On the other end are people like Jesus, Gandhi, Buddha, and Martin Luther King.  In the middle are "regular" criminals.  We like to think of ourselves as not so good as Jesus and not so bad as "regular" criminals.  We're not THAT bad.  We're pretty much good.  The cross destroys that illusion.  There is no scale in God's eyes.  We all-me, you, everyone who has ever lived-are bad.  All the way bad.  We are just as bad as Hitler.  The cross looks at me, regular Joe Andy Wood, and says your wickedness is so deep, so pervasive, so OFFENSIVE before the Holy God of the universe, the only way to remove the shame and the guilt was to kill the Son of God.  The cross tells all of us that our guilt is infinite.  Oh, do we hate that.    

How does the cross offend?  The cross offends by showing us just how helpless we are our to save ourselves.  We're Americans!  We pull ourselves up by our boot straps!  There's nothing we can't fix with a little bit of elbow grease and best intentions!  The cross puts an end to that illusion.  The cross says that not only are we infinitely guilty, but there is no way-NO WAY-that we can remove the guilt on our own.  Our own efforts are, in fact, offensive to God.  Do you see that?  If there was anyway for you and I to "make it right" between us and God, Jesus would not have had to die.  But He DID die-so there is no way for us to be made right before God on our own.  All of our efforts, all of our best intentions, all of our illusions are put to death at the cross.  Your guilt is infinite.  Your efforts are insufficient.  The cross leaves no doubt of either of those facts.  Oh, do we hate that.  

How does the cross give life?  The cross gives life because the Son of God paid our price on that instrument of pain and death 2000 years ago.  Despite all of the offense of the cross (or maybe BECAUSE of the offense of the cross), life can only be found in kneeling before it.  Jesus was tortured and killed on the cross.  You are guilty.  You are unable to save yourself.  But, praise be to God!, we are not without hope because of that cross.  If you are reading this, have you seen your guilt for what it is?  If you are reading this, have you seen your inability to save yourself?  If you have not, I pray that your eyes are opened at this moment.  I pray that you are brought to life through this instrument of death.  The cross is where the wrath of God was poured out on His Holy Son so that guilty sinners like you and I could be declared innocent and enter into His presence.  The way is open to you.  Don't let the offense of the cross be a stumbling block.  Repent, believe, and live.   

Cuba and the Word of God

When you attend the Church at Brook Hills, there is this question you get asked from the pulpit on a pretty regular basis.  The question is, to paraphrase, "Do we believe this Word?" 
Acts 2:41:  41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The implication, obviously, is if one TRULY believes the Word of God, then one's behavior, thoughts, feelings, and desires are irrevocably changed.
Acts 2:47:  47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Of course, seeing as how we are in church when we are asked that question, the obvious answer seems to be that, yes, we DO believe that the Word of God has the power and authority to order our lives in a way that is pleasing to God.
Acts 4:4:  4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
Seeing as how we are in church when we are asked that, it seems obvious that we DO believe that the God of the Bible is the Living God that we still worship.  It seems that we would read stories of universes being created, seas being parted, the dead being raised, and sinners being saved and live our lives in complete obedience and faith in that God.
Acts 5:14:  14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
Having just returned from six days in Cuba, I would like to encourage all of us to examine our hearts to see if that kind of obedience and faith is present in us.  Now, this is NOT going to be one of those post-mission trip blog posts where I condemn myself and everyone else I know for our wealth and excess.  I'm not going to suggest that everyone quit their jobs, sell their houses, and move overseas.
Acts 6:7:   And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
All I am asking you to do is ask yourself one question:  Do I believe His Word?
Acts 9:31:  31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
When you get back from a mission trip, it seems that everyone wants to hear all about it.  Some people want to hear about what you ate, where you stayed, what your bathroom was like (at a resort, from a buffet, normal)-yanno, what was it like being "OVER THERE?"
Acts 9:35:  35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Some people want to know what you did, who you saw, how precious were the people, and maybe did you get to hold any babies (rode in a van, preached, door to door evangelism; the same 50 people, very, and babies scare me)?
Acts 9:42:  42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Still others want to know what the MINISTRY is like wherever you went.  What is church X doing over there that we can/should/must recreate over here for the sake of our very survival.  Questions will be asked about who got saved and just how you got them to that point (about 150 people, by the proclamation of His Word, and by calling them to repentance).
Acts 11:21-24:  1 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord...full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
None of these questions are wrong or stupid, but (at least with regards to me and my trip to Cuba) they all miss the mark by varying degrees.  
Acts 13:48:  48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 
The reason they miss the mark is because these questions tend to focus on what THE PEOPLE are doing.  The people might be the mission team, the field partners, or the local church, but, whoever it is, somebody is surely doing something.  My friends, I'm here to tell you that that is NOT what is going on in Cuba.
Acts 14:21-22:  21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
GOD Almighty is doing things in Cuba.  Certainly, He is using his church in a mighty way over there, but I think I can speak confidently on behalf of the local church in Cuba that is GOD who is doing everything.  God is convicting hundreds of people everyday of their sin and building his church.  In a way that I have never seen before with my own eyes, I saw God moving and doing things that were beyond human ability, and I saw a people who expected nothing less from their God.
Acts 16:5:  5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
That's the "secret" of the Cuban church.  They read the same bibles that we read and they....they...they...go and do what they read.  It's really quite remarkable.
Acts 17:3-4:  3 explaining and proving that it was necessary forthe Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
When they read that God wants them to share their faith, they go and share their faith.  When they read that God wants his church to spread, they go and plant new ones.  When they read that God delights in answering the prayers of His people, they pray.  When they read that Jesus promises comfort in the midst of sorrow and persecution, they don't run from the slings and arrows headed their way.  If you asked them what their secret was, I almost think that they would be confused as to what you were talking about.  After all, we have Bibles too, don't we?
Acts 17:34:  34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
If you do get a chance to Cuba, there's one verse you'll hear more than any other:  John 15:1-2. It says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."  The Cuban people believe that verse just like they believe all the verses that promise blessing and comfort.  There is a Holy fear of the Lord in Cuba that I have not witnessed before.  In fact, they believe that if a professing Christian is NOT sharing their faith, and if a professing Christian church is NOT multiplying, there is something seriously wrong with them.  Crazy, huh?
Acts 18:8:  8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 
Cuba was a beautiful experience.  I got to preach and see people get saved.  I got to go into people's houses and see them get saved there.  God is moving in mighty ways in Cuba, and it was a joy to be a part of it.  Cuba, however, is in the past now.  For the next year, Birmingham is my present.  I have to ask myself the same question every morning from now on.  The answer will change everything.  So, my friends, I ask us all-do we believe His Word?

Sarcasm and singleness

There are some topics that I have written about in my limited blogging career that I have felt like a complete fraud writing about.  Self control, purity, kindness, etc., etc.  These were not areas that I had a lot of personal experience with, but I felt that I should talk about them anyway.  What I want to write about tonight is an area that, sadly, I feel like an all time champ in.  Sarcasm.  Sarcasm is, as the Greeks put it, absolutely terrible.  Fine, you say, but why call this post "Sarcasm and SINGLENESS?"  I have called it this because I believe sarcasm has much to do with singleness, and I hope that you will let me show you why.  

What is sarcasm?
First, a working definition is in order.  The word sarcasm is defined as, "a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain."  Well, you say, that's not what I think of when I think of sarcasm.  Fine.  Let's try another definition.  How about, "a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter,caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual."  That one doesn't seem too much better.  How about this one from the Andy Wood dictionary of the Southern English language:  Sarcasm is something you say out loud with the goal of making your audience laugh at someone or feel superior to that person.  I hope that you see how I've trapped you self-depreciators out there in that definition.  Yes.  I'm gunning for you as well.  Please also note that I am going to talk about some effects of sarcasm, but I am leaving the causes of sarcasm completely alone.  That's for another blog post for another day.

Does the Bible speak to sarcasm?
I believe that it does.  Here's the problem:  some of you (most of you) are going to agree with me that sarcasm can be bad.  My fear is that you will say, "Yeah, but my sarcasm is different. It's not hurtful."  Or, even worse, you will say, "Jesus and Paul were sarcastic!"  To that first response I will say that, yes, by definition, your sarcasm is hurtful.  Look up there again at those definitions.  Do you see the words, "sharp...designed to cut or give pain...directed against an individual."  The fact of the matter is that your sarcasm has hurt people far more often than not.  To the people who would offer up the second excuse, I would say that you are not the Son of God or the  apostle to the Gentiles tasked by the Holy Spirit to write half of the New Testament.  Jesus may have used sarcasm to open up the eyes of a Pharisee to their hard hearts, and Paul may have used sarcasm to make a point to a just converted pagan, but you (if you're anything like me) are usually using your sarcasm to get a laugh at the dinner table.  Jesus was described as a suffering servant who wouldn't snuff out a smoldering wick or break off a bent reed. Are we that gentle in our speech?  In Galatians chapter 5, Paul writes that the Galatians have been, "called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."  We are free, but we are free to serve one another.  We are free to love one another like we would like to be loved.  Do you like being the target of sarcasm?  Do you like the sound of people laughing at your expense?  Then why do you do it others?  He goes on to say the Galatians are to avoid sins like, "enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,divisions..."  If you're anything like me, this is how you read that entire list of sins, "sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmitystrifejealousyfitsofangerrivalriesdissensionsdivisions, 21 envy,[d] drunkenness, orgies."  If you haven't shacked up with anyone or cast a spell lately, you think you're good.  Unfortunately, we are answerable for all of those sins.  I want to show you the command against sarcasm from another direction, however.  Later in the same chapter, Paul writes that the Galatians are to be filled with the fruits of the Spirit which are (everybody sing the song!) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  Look at that list of things we are to be.  Where does sarcasm fit in any of those categories?  

What is the effect of sarcasm?
Let's look at it from several angles.

• What does it take away from us?
• Sarcasm takes away our harmony.  Wolf packs have alpha dogs and then the wolf that every other wolf picks on.  That's what sarcasm does to us.  We identify the weak one and that's the one we pick on.  Sure, it might change from week to week, but we still put others down so that we can elevate ourselves.  Brothers and sisters, this is NOT what we are called to be.
• Sarcasm takes away our ability to trust.  This one is particularly painful for me to talk about, because I have seen it in my own life first hand.  When we are sarcastic and exist in a world filled with sarcasm, we can't accept compliments from one another.  If I say something nice to you, are you going to take it at face value or are you waiting for the punch line?  After all, 15 minutes ago, I made fun of you, now are you supposed to believe that I really do think you're great?  And, if I just was sarcastic to you, was your compliment towards me sincere or a rebuttal?  
• Sarcasm takes away our desire for deeper purpose.  Does sarcasm lead you to want to pray with one another?  Serve with one another?  Spread the gospel with one another?  Of course not.  Sarcasm kills those better instincts.
• What does it add to us?
• In a word, nothing.  It adds nothing good.  No one ever went home from a prayer meeting and said, "Yanno...the Spirit wasn't really moving, but then Bill insulted Mary and the tongues of fire descended!"  
• In a negative sense, sarcasm adds tension and dissension.  Tension comes from the constant flow of hurt feelings from one person to the other.  In any group, someone's feelings are always getting hurt.  Dissension comes when that person with the hurt feelings voices their pain and their frustration in ways that are unhealthy.
• A word to single men-
• Ah, at last.  The singleness part.  Single men, don't be sarcastic.  You know who is sarcastic?  Little boys and grown men who act little boys.  Be men.  Be kind.  Be encouraging.  Be gentle.  For Pete's sake, be smart.  Do you think that a Godly woman wants to spend her life with a man who is going to mock her daily?  And if you hoodwink one into marrying you, how is she going to feel about you 15 years down the road?  I mean, if you want to be single forever, fire away.  If not...let's lose the sarcasm.  
• A word to single women-
• I'm going to tread lightly here, but, ladies-ponder the words of Proverbs 21:9 with me.  It says, "It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife."  If that didn't make it clear enough, Proverbs 25:24 says, "It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife."  I mean, ya'll, for real:  it says it twice.  Now let's look at the "ideal wife" of Proverbs 31:  "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."  Do with that what you will.  
• A word to single communities-  
• If you're wondering if you're in a single community, take this test.  Think about what you did this weekend.  Ok, now, think about last weekend.  Who was there?  Pretty much the same bunch of people? Any of them married?  Ok.  You're in a single community.
• If you find yourself in a single community, know two things.  1.  The world hates you.  Yes, the world hates you.  The world wants to see you tear each other apart and then bad mouth one another to unbelievers.  The world hates the unity of the body, and sarcasm is one of it's chief weapons.  2.  You exist to send one another out to greater works.  Those works may be marriage.  They may be a lifetime of foreign missions.  They may be any number of things.  Whatever they are, love one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, and be kind to one another.  Sarcasm doesn't fit.
• What are we to do about it?  
• Focus on the Cross of Jesus Christ.  If I look at the Cross, how can I think of myself more highly than I ought?  If I look at the Cross, how can I mock someone that my Savior thought enough to die for?
• Do things that matter.  Men, take the lead.  When you're gathered together, don't talk about sports or some Youtube video, ask people what the Lord has been teaching them.  Ask them how you can pray for them.  Instead of ANOTHER trip to the lake, get people signed up to build a house one Saturday morning.  It's hard to be sarcastic when you're doing things like that.
• Maybe don't talk so much.  Proverbs 10:19 says, "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent."  If you can't say something nice....

India fundraiser talk:

From last night (for both of you who want to read what I said):

Evening guys!  I want to thank all of you so much for being here this evening.  You have given up a Saturday night and $20 to be here tonight, and I want you to know how much I appreciate that.  I also want to thank Melissa Cantley’s small group and my small group for supporting this both financially and with massive investments of time.  Thank you especially to my wonderful mother who gave up her weekend to drive down here and prepare all of this food.  So, why are you here?  If I could sum it up in one word, it would be this:  Jubilee.  It’s a great word, isn’t it?  It evokes some wonderful images even if we don’t quite know exactly what it originally meant.  Let me back up a bit, though.  Last November, I had the opportunity to go to India for a short term mission trip.  It was a glorious trip, and I would highly recommend that all of you take a trip somewhere soon.  At any rate, on the very last day of the trip we took a trip to a Muslim community in Dehli.  Now, to be Muslim in India places you in a unique position.  On the one hand, there are around 160 million Muslims in India, so you are not exactly alone.  On the other hand, you face a type of passive oppression from the mainly Hindu government that leaves you very poor and with very few opportunities.  Speaking in broad generalities, the Hindus around you do not like you and the Christians around you are afraid of you.  The community that we visited on that day fit all of these realities.  It was poor-so poor that our guide, VJ said it was the only real slum we had visited all week.  Friends, let me tell you-I thought that we had seen slums.  Apparently, we hadn’t.  I’m not going to describe the community, because my description would fall flat.  Suffice it to say, I left shaken.  I left wanting to do something but unsure of what I could do.  Thankfully, God had a plan, and you are it, my friends.  You and I are going to declare a year of Jubilee for those people.  So, what does that word actually mean?  It means, “the blast of a horn” and “the signal of the silver trumpets.”  You see, God instructed Moses to build two silver trumpets, and these were the trumpets that would be blown to signal the beginning of the Jubilee.  If you were a poor Israelite, that horn was a very good sound.  Let’s see how this year of Jubilee came about.  If you have a bible with you, open it up to Leviticus chapter 25.  Be honest, you weren’t expecting to get read to out of Leviticus tonight were you?  For our closing act, we’re going to read all of the genealogies in 1^st and 2^nd Chronicles.  We know how to party.  Ok, this is what Leviticus Chapter 25 says,

⁸ “‘Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. ⁹ Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. ¹⁰ Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. ¹¹ The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines.¹² For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.

¹³ “‘In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property.

¹⁸ “‘Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. ¹⁹ Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety.

To quote my father, clear as mud?  Let’s give a little context.  The Israelites have been freed from slavery in Egypt and they are now receiving the law.  When we hear this passage and others like it, we tend to hear it through the lens of eradicating poverty and the evils of slavery.  That’s all well and good, but if we’re not careful and if we stop right there, we’re going to miss the real impact of this passage.  To get at what’s really going on, let’s start with something we don’t often think about in this day and age:  Land.  In the NIV translation of the bible, the word “land” is used over 1300 times.  Of those 1300 uses, 1260 of them occur in the Old Testament.  Simply put, the people of Israel thought about land a lot.  Why did they think about it that much?  Because land was the sign of God’s favor.  It’s right there in the passage we read.  Look again at verse 18, “Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. ¹⁹ Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety.”  In other words, obey me, and you get land.  Disobey me, and you will be driven out of the land.  Proverbs 10:30 says “The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.”  In fact, if we went to the very beginning of the Jewish people, we would find God making a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 and 15 and telling him over and over, “I am with you, and I will give you this land.”  Unfortunately, if God’s favor was shown in his giving land to His people, his wrath was shown in just the opposite fashion.  How did God, ultimately, punish both the northern and southern kingdoms?  He exiled them.  He removed them from the land and His favor.  Almost all of the O.T. prophets issued warnings to the people that their refusal to obey God’s laws would result in them being driven from the land.  How did God, ultimately, show his faithfulness to the people of Israel?  He brought them back to the land.  Isaiah 60 gives a beautiful picture of this restoration.  It says, “¹⁰ “Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
    and their kings will serve you.
Though in anger I struck you,
    in favor I will show you compassion.
¹¹ Your gates will always stand open,
    they will never be shut, day or night,
so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations—
    their kings led in triumphal procession.
Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior,
    your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
¹⁷ Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,
    and silver in place of iron.
Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,
    and iron in place of stones.
I will make peace your governor
    and well-being your ruler.
¹⁸ No longer will violence be heard in your land,
    nor ruin or destruction within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation
    and your gates Praise.

So, that’s what the word Jubilee meant in an Old Testament context and why it was important to the Israelites, but why is it important to us tonight?  Because, although you may not realize it, we all have a real estate problem of our own.  We were all born cut off from God’s favor.  Genesis 3 shows us the start of it all. After God pronounces judgment on the serpent, Adam, and Eve, the Bible records this, “And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” ²³ So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. ²⁴ After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side^[e] of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”  From that day, every human being born has been born separated from the favor of God.  God is holy-there is no one like Him.  God is just-he punishes the wicked and he rewards the righteous.  Unfortunately, on our own, none of us are righteous.  On our own we are all sinners whose best efforts can only be described as “filthy rags.”  But fortunately for us, God is gracious-He made a way for his favor to be given to all of us.  He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to die on a Roman cross, to be buried in a rich man’s grave, and to rise victorious over death, hell, and sin on the third day.  God did all of that so that no one gets to boast that he earned his own way to God.  Only those who humble themselves, repent of their sin, and trust in Jesus as their Lord can enter the presence of God.  That presence, once entered, is enjoyed forever.  This, my friends, is good news indeed.  God gives us a picture of what that presence is going to be like in five of the most beautiful, triumphant verses in the Bible, Revelation 22:1-5.  John describes it like this, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”  There’s that tree again.  God is going to solve our real estate problem. 

 

So, we now know where we started from, and we know where it’s all heading, but how in the world do we get there?  And how am I going to bring it all back to the word Jubilee?  I’ll show you how in the last passage we’re going to turn to tonight:  Luke 4:14-21records this story about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, “¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”^[f]

²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Did you hear that?  Jesus came to declare the year of the Lord’s favor-Jesus came to declare the year of Jubilee.  Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection the way to God is open to any and all who will come to Him.  Before we go any further, I just want to ask every person in this room to thank about their own lives.  Where are you living right now?  Are you living in the presence of God?  Are you living in the favor of God?  Are you enjoying the Year of Jubilee and have been restored to God?  Or are you still cut off and exiled from God?  If you are still cut off from God, please don’t wait another instant to put your trust in Him.  If you have any questions about what that means or how to do that, grab me after I’m done, grab someone, don’t wait another instant.  Now, when it comes to this community in India and all of the people that we see every day, we don’t have silver trumpets anymore, but we have our voices.  There’s another, deeper meaning to the word Jubilee; it comes from a root word that means, “to flow” and “to bring forth.”  So, this word meant not only a blast of a trumpet, but a trumpet blast that brought forth good news.  God has allowed us to join with Him in this most important task by telling everyone we can that they are now free.  Our enemies are defeated.  He has put His Spirit inside of us so that we can proclaim this wonderful gospel to everyone around us.  That’s whattonight is all about.  We are not raising money so that we can build some poor people a school and give them a better life.  We are not raising money so that we can give it to some Christians in another country so that we don’t have to feel guilty anymore.  We are partnering with our brothers and sisters in Christ and providing them with the means to go to this Muslim community with the Gospel.  This money we are raising tonight WILL allow COI to build a beauty school in this community, but, more importantly, this money will allow COI to train and equip the local church to reach out to these people who so desperately need the gospel.  Remember, we are not the heroes of this story, and our friends at COI are not the heroes of this story.  GOD is the hero of this story.  We are not proclaiming the year of our favor; we are proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor.  So, as we enjoy this meal and each other’s company, let’s give thanks to our Father in heaven that someone took the time to tell us this good news once upon a time.  Let’s take a moment and praise God for his indescribable love and mercy that he poured down on us when he saved us.  Let’s take a moment and dedicate ourselves to proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor to our neighbors, co-workers, and friends.  Not out of duty, but out of love for our king.  Let’s pray.   

Practical applications

I hope that you have been affirmed in how glorious God's will is for your life.  You know what the best thing is, however?  Follower of Christ, you actually have NO idea how glorious God's will is for your life!  1 Corinthians 2:9 says that, " ⁹ But, as it is written “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”  Our God is not a God who meets our expectations-He is a God who blows our expectations out of the water. If you could give a "customer satisfaction survey" to the people in heaven, I don't imagine that you would be getting too many people responding that their expectations had been "met."  I think that even king David and Moses, two men who knew God better than perhaps anyone in history, would admit that even their experiences on earth did not prepare them for how glorious the reality of dwelling in the presence of God is.  I think a great thing to pray for ourselves and one another is that we would have an eternal mindset.  Pray that we would look towards eternity with the choices that we make and with our faith in God's plan for each of our lives.

So, to return to the original question of this blog, is asking what is God's will for your life biblical in the context that we normally ask it in?  I would have to say, sadly, it is not.  One of my goals is to never speak in absolutes where God has not, so DO NOT hear me saying that each and every time in your life that you seek God's will you are sinning.  That's not the case.  We have seen that God's will for your life is 1. for you to glorify Him 2. for you to be adopted by Him 3. for you to be filled with His Spirt 4. for you to be submissive 5. for you to suffer 6. for you to be grateful 7. for you to be transformed into the image of His Son.  So what about decisions that don't necessarily fall into any of those categories (side note:  the number of things that don't fall into one of those categories is probably MUCH smaller than we think)?  If you were faced with a decision like whether or not to take a certain job or to date a certain person, what should you do?  I would say do whatever it is that you want.  

If you find yourself facing a tough decision, I would find someone who can speak truth into your life.  I would have them over for dinner and have the two of you go over your life with a fine toothed comb.  Ask yourself, and them, am I living for God's glory in ALL areas of my life?  Ask yourself, and them, do you see evidence in my life that I am a true follower of Jesus Christ?  Ask yourself, and them, do you see the fruits of the Spirit evident in my life?  Ask yourself, and them, am I submitting to God and those He has placed in authority over me in all areas?  Ask yourself, and them, am I suffering well for the sake of His Name?  Ask yourself, and them, am I overflowing with gratitude and humility?  Ask yourself, and them, am I being transformed into the image of the Son?  If the answer is no in any one of these areas, pray for mercy and grace to fix that area.  When you have THAT part of your life in line, return to the question at hand.  If the answer is yes in all of these areas, do whatever it is that you want.  How can you know that what you want is what God wants?  Because, as David Platt likes to say, our God has this thing rigged (ha!)!  Philippians 2:13 says this, "  ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."  Did you see that?  God Himself is working in you to shape your desires to match His own desire for your life!   

Even with all this knowledge, there are still going to be times when your heart is unsure of what to do.  You may find yourself saying yes to all of those questions and STILL be unsure of what to do.  Keep wrestling with God in prayer.  Keep seeking HIM and NOT seeking a road map.  He wants you to want Him, and He will be faithful to reveal himself to those who persevere.  Finally, don't be afraid to fail.  Personally, a lot of times when I ask "God what is your will for me?" what I'm really saying is "God, what should I do that will match my definition of success and keep me out of harm?"  We don't ask who we should pursue in dating that would bring the most glory to God, we ask who we should pursue in dating that will not reject us or hurt us.  We don't ask what job will cause us to rely on our Father the most and bring him glory, we ask what job we should take that will make us comfortable.  Thank God that His definition of success is better than mine.  Think about Paul.  Think about the things he wanted to do (go to Spain, return to Corinth) that he was unable to do.  Then think about all of the things that resulted from his "failures" (the book of Romans and 2 Corinthians).  Paul never asked what was safe-he only wanted to make much of Jesus Christ.  If we will make our minds up that that is what we want, then I think we will find that even our supposed failures will please our Father who is in Heaven.