RELAX, GOD IS IN CONTROL

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Day 2

RELAX, GOD IS IN CONTROL

READ:

Acts 1.1-26

After Jesus’ resurrection, his followers seemed anxious about the future. But Jesus promised them it would be alright. Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus told them that the Father would give them the Holy Spirit as a helper. It is the Holy Spirit that guides and directs our lives. We just need to stop worrying and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes, there are things that we want too quickly. We have dreams and goals and in our haste we tell God “I want it now!” It seems we forget that God has chosen us and that he will use our gifts and talents for his glory, in his own time. As the story of the book of Acts opens, Jesus’ followers learn that God is above us, around us, and in us. He never leaves us or forsakes us. That’s great news—we can chill, God is in control!

REFLECT:


Sometimes life can get overwhelming and hard to manage, but our best friend, Jesus, tells us to lean on him. Are you willing to break old habits? Are you willing to replace them with new ones that honor God? The angels told Jesus’ followers that Jesus will come back again. Think about it. How does it make you feel?

PRAY:

Lord, help me to depend on you and be confident that you always keep your promises.

As You Go – Pray 4/27/20

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

 

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5

 

Things go bump in the night!  There is nothing more startling and fearful than things that go bump in the night. When you awaken out of a deep sleep at night, somehow sounds are intensified. There are sounds that strike the emotions, touch the deepest level of your soul and strike different chords of emotions and reactions. The sound of breaking glass alerts us to the danger of an intruder, creating fear. The mournful cry of the baby at three in the morning stirs our caring but bone-weary body out of bed. The ear penetrating tornado siren moves us into action for safety. The singing birds welcome the dawning of a new day.

Certain sounds soothe us. Other sounds alert us. The sounds of the teacher motivate us. The sounds of a mother comfort us. However, some sounds can penetrate to the deepest level of our soul. Such is the sound of a lion’s roar in the middle of the night. This is a sound that is not just heard with the ears but felt throughout your body; a sound of power and majesty. One never forgets the power of that roar.

“Don’t worry, they are not hungry” was the supposedly reassuring message of our driver in the middle of a game park in Kenya as Connie, our three children, and I found ourselves sitting in the back of a broken down, open top Land Rover in the middle of a pride of lions.  One is not greatly comforted by the words, “they are not hungry” when looking into the eyes of these majestic animals, even if they were really not hungry.

Scripture is rich in portraying the lion both as good and evil as well as a symbol of power, majesty and beauty. David in Psalm 22:13 describes his enemies, “they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.” Proverbs 20:2 says  the king’s anger is “like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.”  The nation that God uses In Isaiah 5 to bring judgment on his people is described thusly: “their roaring is like a lion, like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey, they carry it off, and no one can rescue.”

The writer of Proverbs captures the lion as the first in the list who is stately in his stride for “the lion is mightiest among wild animals and does not turn back before any,” and Proverbs 28 tells us that “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

C.S. Lewis captured the imagery, beauty and yet fear invoking power of Aslan, the beloved lion in The Chronicles of Narnia. “Hush!” said the other four, for now Aslan had stopped and turned and stood facing them., looking so majestic that they felt as glad as anyone can who feels afraid, and as afraid as anyone can who feels glad.”

Jesus the lion is mighty, powerful and conqueror. Jesus the lamb was sacrificed to give life. The Lion and the Lamb, both joined together in John’s Revelation, for the Lion of Judah has conquered, “so he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” The Lamb can now take the scroll and out of the prayers of the saints, they sing a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.”

It is not the isolation, fear and anxiety of the Corona virus pandemic, nor any other crisis that defines us, but the community, boldness, and peace that comes from the lion who roared deep within our souls as Savior and Conqueror.  “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13)

 

God is great,

Pastor Lynn Burton

WHAT IN THE “WORD” IS GOING ON?

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Day 1

WHAT IN THE “WORD” IS GOING ON? 

READ: 

Acts 1.1—2.47 

The book of Acts tells of the dramatic accounts of what the apostles and the Early Church accomplished and endured, and it literally takes one’s breath away. The birth pains are harsh, but the joy that comes from the work of the Holy Spirit makes them worthwhile. There are conflicts within the Church, and outside of it. There are issues of prejudice and race; miraculous healings and martyrdom, riots and revivals, but all in all, God’s message finds its way into the hearts and lives of God’s people. 

The writers of these Journeys did so from the heart, pulling out from their very being what the Spirit was saying to them. Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, records Peter’s speech to those who stood in amazement when the Holy Spirit rested on those gathered in “one place” at the time of Pentecost. They wondered what in the world was going on, and Peter explained: “When the last days come, I will give my Sprit to everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions…” (Acts 2.17). It is fitting then, that these youth should share the Word, in their own voice, as the Spirit of God gives them utterance. 

REFLECT: 

How are you encouraging those around you to share God’s Word?  Are you empowering them?  Do you know that every believer, no matter how old or young, has a story to share? 

PRAY: 

Lord Jesus, your Word takes a place of honor in my life.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Let your power radiate in my life that I may, like the members of the Early Church, lead others to you, no matter what it costs. 

our sin and uses us despite it, our life is a witness to Jesus’ love and power.

Have you committed a sin you feel has made you useless to God? Are you willing to risk people’s opinion of you to find help when you need it?

As You Go – Pray 04/20/20

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

A Lesson Taught Through a Bottle of Coke

“Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

In our media driven, egocentric, loudest voice age, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that God doesn’t work the way his children often do. Stop and take some time to reflect on these verses from I Corinthians. We can be arrogant and spiteful, rude and condescending, and given to allowing the loudest voices to garner all the attention. The world’s way though looks very different from the quiet, unassuming way of God.

Visiting in a small house in Zimbabwe, I saw this truth displayed in real life.  Connie and I were invited into the humble home of a woman that Connie knew from her childhood. While not rich in worldly possessions, she had something much better. Lacking the political power to make a difference, she had something much better. Not possessing academic credentials, she had something much better. She knew the source of her life in Jesus Christ.

As relatively new missionaries we had been through multiple training programs with the IMB supposedly preparing us for the work. Though neither of us were from wealthy backgrounds, we had always had what we needed. Sitting in this precious lady’s living room, sharing stories and enjoying our time of fellowship; she asked if we would like a Coke to drink. Saying “Yes.“, without considering what a yes meant, we watched her send her young granddaughter to get us something to drink. We then waited and waited until, finally, the young girl came back into the living room with a bottle of Coke for each of us.

I found out later that this young woman had walked close to a mile to the nearest store in the village, bought the Cokes with the little extra money the older woman had and carried the drinks back to the house. African hospitality shared with these American friends was part of her culture but, more importantly, was a part of her faith walk . For me, it became a defining experience of selfless sacrifice out of one’s overflowing love for Jesus. Over the years I would be humbled by the unselfish hospitality I found in Africa because these believers found Jesus as the source of their lives.

John’s Gospel captured the essence of this truth as he shared the story in John 12 of Mary pouring out a bottle of costly perfume on Jesus’ feet, anointing Him in humble worship. Others saw this extravagant expression as a wasteful use of money.  Jesus took what they saw as foolish and irresponsible and blessed the act as a priceless sacrifice poured out in worship of God.

The nightly newscast will broadcast the words of politicians, capture the vanity of superstars and flout the accomplishments of the cultural elite as if they were powerful stories.  However, the real stories are taking place in situations not covered in the newscast. The real stories happen in homes where children are loved and told about Jesus, in hospital rooms where caring health workers tend the sick with the help of the Great Physician, on mission fields around the world where missionaries encourage the low and despised to walk steadily with God, and through countless other venues of life where the weak, the foolish, the lowly and despised of the world live “boasting in the Lord.”

“Lord, I want to think of you, know you, love you. Let your love grow in me until you have changed me completely and I live as Jesus did. Amen” (St Augustine of Hippo)

God is great,

Pastor Lynn Burton

The Book of John_Day 21

You can come back from that

Read – John 21

Jesus appears one more time to His disciples while they are fishing. Jesus reassures Peter and encourages His disciples to always follow His example.

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Sometimes our first impression of someone leads to false assumptions. Sometimes, we struggle to give someone a second chance when their sin disappoints us. The pressure is high in our society to make a great first impression. If we succeed, we tend to keep our guard up. We assume that if people knew our secrets, they wouldn’t want to be around us anymore. 

Peter betrayed Jesus after promising he never would. Even after seeing Jesus alive again, Peter heads back out to sea to return to what he was doing before Jesus called him. Peter must have felt an overwhelming sense of shame and loss as he loaded the boat to fish that day. He had blown it. He might as well go back to his old job because God definitely couldn’t use a traitor like him to spread the great news that Jesus had died for our sins and was alive again.

Psalm 103:10 says, “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” The very thing Peter feared was proven a lie by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Thank God He didn’t leave Peter alone. He forgave him and sent him on a mission to preach His word. What a beautiful description of love as Jesus returns to the circumstance where He first called Peter and gives him a second chance.

“If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me” (John 21:22).

We are not useless to God when we mess up. When God forgives our sin and uses us despite it, our life is a witness to Jesus’ love and power. 

Have you committed a sin you feel has made you useless to God? Are you willing to risk people’s opinion of you to find help when you need it?

The Book of John_Day 20

You can start over

Read – John 20

Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’ followers, goes to His tomb only to find that He’s not there! Jesus appears to Mary and several others, fulfilling all that He had said about rising from the dead.

Our culture loves the idea that anybody can begin a new life. We watch reality television shows that make us believe we can all become an instant celebrity. We love the American dream because it tells us that we can be anything we want to if we try hard enough. But the reality is we have no hope of changing ourselves. The only way we can put away sinful habits is through a relationship with Jesus made possible by His death and resurrection.

On the cross, Jesus clothed Himself in our sin. When Peter and John looked into the empty tomb, they saw Jesus was not there and He had left His burial clothes. John 20 shows us that Jesus left our sinful nature in the grave when He rose from the dead.

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

We do not have to be controlled by our desire to sin. Not only do we not have to be clothed in sin, the resurrection means we get to be clothed in something better. In Colossians 3:12, Paul says, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Following Jesus allows us to put away our old lives and begin new ones.

What old habits do you need to do away with?  What is one thing Jesus wants you to start doing?

The Book of John_Day 19

Jesus did what we could not

Read – John 19

Jesus is flogged and crucified. He dies on a cross and is buried in a nearby tomb.

Right before Jesus took His last breath, He spoke the words, “‘It is finished’”.

“It is finished” (John 19:30).

In His three years of ministry, Jesus completed the task set before Him. He voluntarily chose to sacrifice Himself, knowing His death would pay the penalty for our sin and create a way for us to become right with God and have a relationship with God. We were born sinful and separated from God. Accepting that Jesus is our Savior is the only way we are able to restore that relationship. Jesus finished what we could not.

Jesus died so we could believe. John tells us that this testimony of Jesus was given, “so that you also may believe” (John 19:35). The events of Jesus’ death on the cross were recorded based on an eyewitness testimony. You and I were not there to see this with our own eyes, but someone did see these things and recorded them. God gave us someone tangible to believe in by sending His son, Jesus, here to Earth. Jesus gave His life to make a way for us to have life (John 10:10).


Jesus said that Peter would deny Him, but later come back to follow Christ (Luke 22:31-34). Do you carry the fear that Jesus is surprised by your sin? What does it mean to you to know that Jesus loves you despite what you have done or will do?

The Book of John_Day 18

Where do you turn when everything goes wrong?

Read – John 18

Religious leaders arrest Jesus and take Him to the high priest for questioning. Peter follows behind and denies knowing Jesus. After holding their own hearing, the Jews press charges against Jesus in the Roman court.

Some days alarms don’t go off, cars won’t start, and nothing goes as planned. But those mishaps pale in comparison to moments when we may lose a job, lose a loved one, or lose our health to an incurable illness. Our future is unforeseen.

The scene in John 18 is an unimaginable disaster. Jesus is betrayed by one of His closest friends. He is arrested and bound by a band of officers and soldiers, then interrogated and treated like a criminal. Seemingly, everything had gone wrong.

“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world” (John 18:37 ESV).

But in reality, everything was going according to plan. John makes it clear that Jesus was not a victim of circumstance, but in complete control. Jesus foretold these events. He turned himself over to them “knowing all that would happen to him” (John 18:4), and He declared to Pilate, “‘For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world’” (John 18:37 ESV). How could Jesus continue to submit to the situation? He trusted in God’s perfect plan.

In the same way Jesus trusted in the goodness of the Father despite His circumstances, we can trust that God is in complete control over every aspect of our lives. Even when events are outside of our control, we can rest assured that God is graciously orchestrating everything for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Today, thank God for His goodness and His authority over all circumstances. Ask Him to help you remember this truth in the face of any difficulty.


How does knowing God is in control of all things change how you see the difficulties in your own life?

The Book of John_Day 17

Who do you pray for?

Read – John 17

Before heading to His death, Jesus stops and prays for Himself, His friends, and all of us who would believe in Him in the future.

If you want to know what someone thinks about God, listen to their prayers. Do they ask God only for wealth and possessions, or for others’ salvation? Do they appeal for God’s intervention?

In John 17, we’re allowed to eavesdrop on one of Jesus’ prayers. Although it is only moments before He will be betrayed, beaten and crucified, Jesus takes time to pray on behalf of His disciples. He shows His heartfelt concern, not only for the men He has taught for years but for those who would later hear His message, including you.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:20-21).

The intimacy and familiarity with which Jesus speaks to God is evident. For eternity, even before “the foundation of the world,” Jesus and God the Father have shared a perfect loving relationship. Through Jesus, we get to enter into their perfect loving union. You have received eternal life and restoration to a loving and intimate relationship with God through Jesus.  God is not far off, and Jesus’ concern for you is not distant. He prayed for you. Even today, the Son resides next to the Father, continuing to appeal on your behalf (1 John 2:1). Today, thank God for allowing you to enter into a completely loving relationship with Him through Jesus.


How are you encouraged by the fact that Jesus prayed for you?  How can your confidence in God’s love for you affect your actions, even in the face of those who hate you (John 17:14)?

The Book of John_Day 16

Who is the Holy Spirit?

Read – John 16

Jesus teaches His friends about the Holy Spirit and His role in their lives. He also teaches them the power of praying in His name.

In this world we will have trouble — that’s a given. But there is hope! In John 16, Jesus explains to the disciples that while He would be leaving this earth, they would not be left alone. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living in us. He is our comforter, our peace, our strength, and our teacher. That was part of God’s plan from the beginning. The Holy Spirit is ready and available to be part of anyone and everyone’s life. God did not leave us to navigate life in this world on our own.

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13).

Depending on your background, you may find the thought of the Holy Spirit weird or even scary. But the Holy Spirit is a gift from God, and God only gives good gifts. The Holy Spirit’s main role is to bring us comfort, encouragement, and understanding.

God sent the Holy Spirit to lead us and comfort us. The Holy Spirit corrects us and lets us know when we need to address sin in our lives. He guides us, nudges us, and leads us as we take our next steps in faith. The Holy Spirit also reveals truth to us, truth that brings about change in our hearts, our minds, and our character as we seek Him and obey Him. He brings us peace, comfort, and strength. He is our companion.

Is there something the Holy Spirit is nudging you about? Do you have a next step to take or a sin that needs to be addressed?  Do you trust the Holy Spirit and believe that He is always with you? Why or why not?