Christ ChurchThe Pentecost and You | Pentecost Sunday (CC Downtown)
INTRODUCTION
Say a teenage boy is hired to do some landscaping work. He shows up promptly at 7am with his sunscreen on and water jug full, ready to make some money for his college fund. He is told by the owner of the property that he needs him to clear out a few overgrown acres. What he beholds is a veritable jungle of thistles and thorns. Some of the plants look extraterrestrial. Then, to make things worse, the owner informs him that the only tool he has is a pair of finger-nail clippers. Clearly, the job that needs doing and the tool to do the job are mismatched. However, when it comes to the task which Christ has assigned to the church and what is necessary to accomplish that task, there is no deficiency.
THE TEXT
“Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?” Isaiah 40:13
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
Sin has so darkened man’s thinking that he really acts as though he ought to tell God how to run the world. God should sit down, get out His pen and paper and take notes from us. We have a thing or two to bring Him up to speed on. But this really is the height of pride and folly. Ask yourself the question, really ask yourself, “Who gave the Spirit of God advice?” Think of all the smartest, most luminary thinkers you can and consider whether they could really give the Spirit of God advice on how to keep electrons and protons from wandering off from each other; or how to make a global ecosystem; or what the right dance steps are for stars. Do you really have anything to say? Perhaps you should take your seat, cover your mouth, and learn the lesson.
But what is that lesson? The end for which this world was made is for the glorification of the God who made it (Ps. 19:1; Is. 43:7). All things were made for His glory (Rom. 11:36; Rev. 4:11). Although sin brought this world into a fallen state of evil (Rom. 5:12), Christ, by His resurrection, has confirmed that it will glorify its Maker (1 Cor. 15:20-22; Rom. 8:19-21). This is the way it is. This is the way it shall be. This is the end of all things: the glory of the Triune God. This is what Isaiah great song teaches us.
AGNOSTIC MAN
Although this is the case, it is also true that rebellious man has embraced the posture of the agnostic. The Apostle Peter describes man’s condition before redemption as being fashioned according to lusts in your ignorance (1 Pt. 1:14). The word there for ignorance is agnoia, where we get the word agnostic from. Man, in his rebellion, has adopted the position that it is possible to live as if the proposition of the existence of God is unknowable. This leads him to pursue his lusts.
Scripture is full of descriptions of this sort of agnostic insanity. God is not in the thoughts of the wicked man (Ps. 10:4). He says in his heart that God will forget, God is out of the picture, God won’t see what the wicked does (Ps. 10:11). God won’t judge me (Ps. 10:13)! The fool says, “There is no God (Ps. 14:1).” Pharaoh asked, “Who is the LORD (Ex. 5:2)?” Eliphaz asked, “How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud (Job 22:13)?” One Hebrew idiom captures this well when it depicts the rebellious as “throwing God behind your back” (Ez. 23:35, 1 Ki. 14:9, Ps. 50:17). As if you even could do that!
But this is pure madness. The unregenerate man lives in a world made by God and then tries to live as if there is no God, or if there is one He doesn’t care what you do, or if He does care He can’t do nothing about it. But this is what Isaiah’s wonderful line refutes. Do you really think you can give the Spirit of God advice? The Spirit of the Lord is on a warpath to fulfill all the divine counsels of Jehovah, and He says, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure (Is. 46:10).” Isaiah also tells us what the Lord’s pleasure is: “I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory (Is. 46:13).”
POWER, BUT FOR WHAT?
Now, what does all this have to do with Pentecost, and further, what does pentecost have to do with you? The Spirit of the Lord, which hovered over the waters at creation causing all things to come into being, and the Spirit which raised up Jesus from the dead ushering in a new creation (Rom. 8:11), is the same Spirit which was poured out on the disciples at Pentecost. But this pouring out was not limited to just those present in Jerusalem on that day. Rather, this pouring out of the Spirit is promised to all those who believe and are baptized. This is an immense gift.
Furthermore, the gift of the Spirit is a gift of power. To which another question immediately comes to the mind, power for what? Often we assume that the power was for the miraculous sign gifts that were present in the early church. Those were signs of the power which had been given, but that was not what the power was given for. In Acts 1 we are told that the disciples were instructed by Christ at His ascension to not immediately go off and tell everyone. Rather, they were to wait in Jerusalem until they received power. But that power was for what end? It was for the power to bear witness unto Christ and all He had done. His life of righteousness obedience in your stead. His death for Your sin. His resurrection to secure for you everlasting life. His ascent to His Father and God, in order that His Father and God is yours.
Isaiah also foretold that with the coming of the anointed Servant, God would make his people witnesses in all the world that God is God. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour (Isa 43:10-11).” There you have the task: bear witness unto the risen and ascended Christ and the new creation He has ushered into the world. But in order to do this, you need power. This is what the Spirit brings to you.
WITNESSES
You have received the Spirit in order that you might bear witness unto Christ. The scope of this witness is not narrow, either. You are empowered to be a witness of the certain dominion of Christ over all things. You do this in concentric circles. First, by the Spirit you are both convicted of sin and strengthened to then confess and overcome your sin. Second, by the Spirit you are enabled in your various vocations to shape this twisted world into alignment with the Word of Christ, making crooked ways straight. Third, by the Spirit you are equipped to boldly herald the crown rights of King Jesus to all the earth. You are endued with power, by the Spirit, to make this world, every last inch of it, subject unto Christ.
This starts in your own inner life. However, it does not and will not stay there. At Pentecost, the Spirit came as tongues of flame and with a mighty rushing wind. The Spirit is a firestorm of perfect holiness which will one day engulf and transform this whole world into the glory for which it was made. The world will one day live gladly in perfect submission to the counsels of God. That is what the Spirit is working towards. That’s what He is working to bring about in you. The task is to bear witness unto all creatures and in all spheres of the rule and reign of Christ. The power for that task is supplied by the Spirit of Christ which dwells in you.
The Spirit Poured Out (Survey of Isaiah) (Christ the Redeemer)
Dealing with Difficult People (CC Downtown)
INTRODUCTION
This may be a bit of a public service announcement, but in this world there are difficult people. Such strained relationships are difficult to navigate. There are the wearisome conversations. There might be false accusations. There may be betrayals. There may even be a sense of danger, or a threat of violence. Such relationships may literally cause you to lose sleep. But this Psalm presents us with a case study in how we should deal with all variety of difficult people.
THE TEXT
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. Psalm 3:1-8 KJV
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
The backdrop of this prayer is the rebellion of Absalom, a poignantly painful episode in David’s life. As David fled from Jerusalem he really was outnumbered. He had his family, his servants, and a troop of 600 Gittites (1 Sam. 27:2–3; 2 Sam. 15:18). Meanwhile, it seemed as if Absalom’s following had swelled to a great host. As David laid down to sleep that night, you can imagine his well-experienced martial mind drifting into military strategy. He had slain his tens of thousands, but as this prayer expresses, he is overwhelmed by the magnitude of his troublers (v1). But more severe than the mere multitude of enemies is their accusation (v2). They say that God won’t help him. Certainly, David, in his later years, had sinned badly. The Bathsheba incident had most certainly be a scandal. The rape of Absalom’s sister had also been shameful. It would be the easiest thing in the world for people to look at David with suspicion that the glory had bypassed him, the blessing had departed, God had abandoned him.
But David, in laying down to sleep confesses that the Lord is His shield. As he lay encamped in the wilderness, on the run from his own son, fearful that he might not make it through the night, he looks to God as a shield. Not only a shield, but also David’s glory, and the One who would lift his head (v3). David’s midnight cry is that though Jerusalem be overrun with David’s enemies, the ears of the Lord, who was seated in Jerusalem, were open to David’s pleas (v4).
In this condition, surrounded by earthly enemies but securely trusting in the true King of Israel, he lies down to sleep (v5a). When he arises in the dawn, he rises with a joyful triumph. The enemies which concerned him in the dark of midnight are nowhere to be seen, and he takes this as a certain sign that since God saw him through the night, he need not fear the host that was hunting for him (vv5b-6).
In fact, in the clear light of dawn he takes heart that even in the worst case scenario, God hears him. Thus, he asks boldly for his enemies to be utterly embarrassed and brought down in shame (v7). Where does such confidence arise? Did David suddenly have more soldiers at his disposal? Did he get news that Absalom had retreated? Did his circumstance change at all? No. His confidence arose from the certainty of that salvation belongs to the Lord, and thus blessing rests upon the Lord’s people (v8).
DIFFICULT PEOPLE
David faces a few sorts of enemies in this passage. First, and most obviously, he is dealing with a close family member who has not only betrayed him but is actively trying to take absolutely everything from him. David’s son was trying to kill him. That puts a real damper on a relationship. Second, he has numerous enemies who are simply following the herd; these enemies were once his subjects but who deserted him when the latest charismatic leader came through. Third are the enemies, like Shimei, who taunt David with his failures and insist that God has left him, accusing him of being a hopeless mess and a lost cause.
When someone close to you betrays you or is out to get you, the emotional pain is certainly deep. The nearness of the relationship makes the blade of betrayal sting all the more. With family and close friends we “let down our guard.” Thus, we might feel unshielded. But notice that David does not wallow in that pain. David simply acknowledges that God is his shield. The Psalms note elsewhere that though father and mother forsake us, the Lord will lift us up. It would be naive to think, and yet we often make the assumption, that families ties are a shield against sorrow. But this is to put your trust in man, and not in God who is your shield.
Now, consider the crowd of enemies. Crowds are fickle. Crowds may be behind you in fair weather, but against you in foul weather. The crowd who sang your praises one day, may want your head the next. Thus, you must never ground your faith on where the crowd stands. Be faithful to God, even if it means standing alone. Are you obedient to God simply because of the size of the crowd or because of the Bible’s instruction? Don’t bemoan the desertion. Instead, wake up, look around, and if the Lord has sustained you then don’t fret about the size of the enemy army.
In dealing with the false accusers you must remember that often there is enough truth in their accusation so as to sound plausible to both yourself and others. However, if you’ve confessed your sins in true repentance (as David plainly does in Ps. 51), such accusations are like spider webs. When Satan accuses you of being a miserable sinner, say with John Newton, “But Christ is an great Savior.” Secondly, do not take the bait. Such accusations are only of use to make you flinch and cripple you with doubt, insecurity, and fear. Confess your sin, and stand up straight. Have you repented? Then whatever they say can’t be nearly as bad as what you already told the Lord about. Do you trust in Christ? Then there is all your hope and righteousness.
PRAYING FOR BROKEN JAWS
The language of verse 7 might make us blush a bit. Are we allowed to pray such things? But this is a prayer of true faith. It is imperative that in dealing with our foes we bear in mind that the judge of all the earth will do rightly. In the final judgement there will not be one injustice that sneaks past His discerning eye. There will be no backroom deals that escape His notice. Which means we ought to pray such things with a certain faith in the final judgement. This forces us to discern the face of Christ in this ancient prayer.
CHRIST IN THE MORNING
There really are significant Christological pictures here. Christ, the son of David was surrounded by His enemies. He lay down in His burial. But rose again in the morning. After His resurrection He went forth to scatter all His enemies. He now has the rod of conquest in His hand. His enemies will soon feel the smart of His judgement upon their cheeks.
In other words, David’s prayer is prophetic. He sees that death and resurrection is how God will deal with His enemies. So why would you deal with your enemies any other way? In facing your own foes you must keep Christ’s resurrection in mind and imitate it in your dealings with those who are betraying you, forsaking you, slandering you, or accusing you. Do you have enemies? Die and rise. Go to sleep and awake in faith.
Parenting Basics (Practical Christianity #8) (King’s Cross)
INTRODUCTION
Think of the task of parenting like teaching a child how to ride a bike: When children are very young (0-5), you must do everything for them; in the middle years (6-11), they are beginning to make some choices with lots of guidance and correction; and in the later years (12-17), they are beginning to act independently, with the goal of sometime in late high school telling your child that they are free to do as they please in Christ.
The Text: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6)
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
The central principle here is that training has a trajectory. We often say practice makes perfect, but it’s also true to say that practice tends to make permanent. What you practice with your children will become habitual.
Literally, the text says to “narrow” a child or if we think of Psalm 127’s picture of children as arrows, we might say “make straight” or “sharpen.” We are to do this shaping and sharpening particularly at the “mouth of his path.” We speak of the “mouth of a river” as the beginning or source, so this is emphasizing the early years of childhood as being particularly significant. And the goal is not merely adulthood but even faithfulness in old age. An older minister once said that parents get their report card when their grandchildren are walking with the Lord and thriving. But this goes further, suggesting that we are aiming for when they are grandparents, which would be to see your great-grandkids walking with the Lord.
WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG
When children are very young, faithful parenting means running a benevolent totalitarian dictatorship. You are teaching them initially simply what it means to be human. This will not crush their personalities; it will give them the raw material to develop their gifts and personalities. During these years, the fundamental instruction that God gives to children is to obey (Eph. 6:1). Obedience is right away, all the way, and cheerfully. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Incomplete obedience is disobedience. Fussing, stomping, eye-rolling, back-chatting obedience is disobedience. The reason for this is because God requires all of us to obey Him right away, all the way, and cheerfully.
During these years, spanking is most prevalent. Despite all the claims that spanking only teaches children to hit, Scripture says that “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15). Sometimes parents wish there was some way to get to the soul of a child, and the Bible says, “If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol” (Prov. 23:14). Spanking should be calm, judicious, and include full restoration of fellowship. Remember too that spanking is really only effective as a tool of restoring joy and fellowship – which means that you must have a baseline of joy and fellowship.
THE ELEMENTARY YEARS
During the elementary years, children are beginning to have thoughts and opinions, but they still need a lot of coaching. In fact, think about good parenting as good coaching. These people just arrived here a few years ago, and they don’t know hardly anything. Good coaches must explain and practice, explain and drill, over and over (and over). This means that parents must prepare their children for the challenges they will face, like getting ready for the game. Many parents, fathers in particular, provoke their children to wrath by not preparing them for what they will face (Eph. 6:4). What can your children expect at school? What about birthday parties? Shopping? Church? Many times the failures of children are actually report cards for parents.
So practice obedience regularly. Talk through what it might look like to have guests over for dinner. Practice for church. Practice for birthday parties. Practice cheerful, immediate obedience. Play obedience games. Give opportunities for “do-overs.” Practice makes perfect and permanent. Jesus frequently promises rewards for obedience. There is no reason why parents cannot do the same. You shouldn’t be constantly bribing or threatening, but it’s fine to make obedience fun and rewarding.
Like good coaches, remember that encouragement and praise is potent, especially when dads do it. When God showed up at the baptism of Jesus, the example He gave us was His beaming pleasure, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17). Say it out loud; say it often: “I love you.” “I’m proud of you.” “You are beautiful/handsome.” As well as many hugs. And in this context teach and praise the glories of masculinity and femininity.
THE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS
As children transition into high school years, they really are beginning to practice adulthood. They are away from home more often with sports or school or jobs or friends. They still need your guidance, but they also need your respect and honor. Many parents talk to their teenagers in ways that they would never speak to another adult, maybe not even how you would speak to a teenager from another family. While children must still be submissive to their parents, the goal of parenting during these years ought to be fellowship, friendship, and building deep loyalty and trust.
While all media and entertainment and technology must be carefully limited and monitored when children are younger, during these years, there should be some careful practice with use of phones, social media, etc. They will be launching into the real world shortly and need to learn how to be wise with these tools. Use of monitoring software, time limits, filters, and so on can be very helpful for parents and older teens.
The goal is to be able to tell your son or daughter in late high school that they are free to do as they please in Christ. You want to let go of the bike and let them take a few turns in your driveway before they head out into the world.
CONCLUSION
The goal of Christian parenting is not merely that our children would survive. Our goal is that our children would thrive. We do not merely want to protect our children from bad influence; we want our children to be dangerous to unbelief and darkness.
No parents have ever done this perfectly, and all of this is only possible by the grace of God. That grace begins with repentance for sins. And there’s nothing quit so potent as parents who repent to and in front of their kids.
When you repent, you prove that this is not fundamentally about you or your authority; rather, it is about Christ and His authority.
Finally, remember that God’s grace always meets us where we are instead of where we should have been. That’s why it’s grace. And if you’re in a place with your kids where it’s been kind of bumpy or gnarly, start over now.
Grace is God’s gift of starting over. His mercies are new every morning because Christ died and rose again to make all things new.