Talk vs. Power

"For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power."

(1 Corinthians 4:20)

I'm sure Paul was a bit frustrated.  He had started the church in Corinth.  It began well.  Then somewhere down the line, after he left, it got off track.  The letter he wrote to encourage them (and correct them) is the book of 1 Corinthians.

One of the criticisms he had was some in the church had become quite arrogant.  Paul wanted to move beyond mere talk and get to the power of God at work.  That's what we, as the church, need to be about, says Paul.

Too often we get sidetracked by "talk" within the church.  Whether we're arguing over theology, denominationalism, or structure... the bigger issue should be how is God manifest in our ministry?  What deeds of power & life transformation are present among us?  Ultimately, people won't come to church because we've made the clearest argument.  I take that back.  Maybe people will initially be drawn to a church because of the "talk."  But they'll only stay if God's power is manifest... if lives are changed and God is made known in our midst.

May we be known more for God's power than our words!

My inability to pick up the blitz...

"...But (God) said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.'  So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

It's so counter-intuitive.  Bragging about one's weaknesses.  It just doesn't happen.

We're in the midst of the NFL (National Football League) playoffs here in the US.  Player after player is touting his own prowess or his team's superiority.  It's relentless.  But I've yet to hear someone say...

• "You know, I have a really hard time covering WR's when they go deep.  I'm just not quick enough."    OR...
• "As an offensive lineman, my pass blocking is really suspect."   OR...
• "On passing downs, I'm a real liability to this team, since I have serious problems picking up the blitz!"  OR...
• "I'm just not that accurate a passer when opposing teams put pressure on me."

No... professional athletes never boast about their weaknesses (though you can guarantee opposing coaches have watched enough game film to know exactly what those weaknesses are!).

But Paul encourages us to do so in 2 Corinthians 12:9.  Why?  Mock humility?  Of course not.  He knows it's not about him, and all about Christ.  His weakness provides a wonderful opportunity for GOd to show His power.  It's not about us!  So let us offer up our weaknesses to the One who can do all things (even pick up the blitz!).

Credit

"When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, 'You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?'"

(Acts 3:12)

Peter & John are on their way inside the temple and they see a lame beggar.  They offer him healing in Jesus' name, and he is healed!  He then follows them inside, praising God.  It causes quite a stir (as you could well imagine), because everyone knows this guy from passing him all the time!  Peter uses the attention to preach.  He begins by making sure God gets the credit.  "Why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we made him well?"

How humble & insightful.  It's not our power, but God's!  And we're not "all that and a bag of chips," either.  We're not "holier-than-thou."  We're not super-believers.  It's all God.  It's all Jesus.  We're just the instruments God chooses to use.

We pastors have a lot to learn form this (and it's not that we can heal like Peter & John, if only we'll have enough faith).  I think it's human nature to want to take credit for all the good stuff we're a part of.  But really, it's all God.  Seriously.  I'll try to do a better job of giving credit where credit is due!

Uneducated & Ordinary

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus."

(Acts 4:13)

Jesus is gone.  The disciples are on their own.  Once a group of people locked up in a room, gripped with fear... now they are out proclaiming God's truth to all!  And sometimes (often?!) it got them in trouble!  Such is the case here today.  Peter & John have been arrested for speaking out.  And yet, they continue to preach with boldness.

What's interesting to me is how the people "recognized" who Peter & John were - it was their boldness AND the fact they were "uneducated & ordinary" men.  Evidently, the other "religious leaders" of the day were all scholars.  They'd been studying the Torah (Jewish Scriptures) since childhood & following in the footsteps of a rabbi.  They didn't live like everyone else.  They were set apart.  Literally.  They spoke differently.  They acted differently.  They weren't ordinary, that's for sure.

But here are Peter & John.  Regular guys.  Nothing fancy, pretentious or aloof.  Plain speech.  Powerful message. And the people noticed.  Jesus was remembered.  He was the one who took common people and gave them authority to do powerful things.  I wonder what reputation the Church has today?  Are our leaders (myself included) known to be "educated & extraordinary"?  That could be a good thing.  Then again, it could make us pretentious & aloof!  The Bible is full of "uneducated & ordinary" people doing extraordinary things, by the grace of God. 

So if you think you're "nothing special"... that you don't have much to offer... look out!  That's JUST the kind of person God likes to use!

A New Perspective

"(Jesus) asked him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' (The blind man) said, 'Lord, let me see again.'"

(Luke 18:41)

There were no "handicapped accessible" reserved seating locations back then.  No braille ATM machines.  No "talking crosswalks" for the visually impaired.  Nope.  If you had the misfortune of being blind, you were simply out of luck.  Period.  Thus, forced to get by via begging.

So everyday he sat there.  Along the roadside.  Waiting for travelers so he could ask for some spare change.  Everyday.  But his ears worked.  Very well.  He'd heard about Jesus  The man who had miraculous powers.  Miraculous!  And one day, who so happened to come along, but this very same Jesus.

"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" he cried.  (Note: By saying 'Son of David,' he was acknowledging that Jesus was indeed the Messiah!)  "SHUT UP!" the people around him scolded.  But the man cried out even louder. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Jesus heard him... and called him over.  "What do you want me to do for you?"

I imagine he could have answered Jesus in a number of ways.  'Make me rich' (so he could stop begging).  'Get back at all those who have put me down & insulted me over the years' (which had to have been demoralizing).  'Let me find someone to love me' (it must have been very lonely for him).  But he didn't ask for any of those.  He asked to be able to see again.  Now we may think that was a no-brainer (like, duh!?!).  But do you honestly imagine that he woke up that morning thinking he'd be healed today?  No.  Another day of begging.  The same old, same old... period.

So he came to his usual place and did what he always did.  Beg for money.  But when Jesus came by, he suddenly was given the chance to voice his deepest desire... a desire that no one else but Jesus could meet.  "Lord, let me see again."

I wonder how we'd respond if pressed to give voice to our deepest desire (a desire that ONLY Jesus could meet - no one else!)?  Oh, we may think we know what we want (financial security, a bigger house, a better job, Dallas Cowboys season tickets, an HDTV (!), etc.)... but when we find ourselves face to face with the Savior of the World, might we have a new perspective?

'Tis the season to be making gift wish lists, right?  What might you put on your "deepest desire" list for Jesus this Christmas?  And might we be able to shout out to Him for mercy?  Or are we simply content to keep quiet and not make a scene... to continue life the way we've been going along? 

I see we still have much to learn from this blind man...

THE question

"The LORD said to Moses, 'Is the LORD's power limited? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.'"

(Numbers 11:23)

"Would you like a little cheese with that whine?" The Israelites were 'whine connoisseurs.' They loved grumbling and complaining. "Remember how good we had it back in Egypt? All that free fish, fruits & veggies?! THAT WAS THE LIFE!" they said. (They just forgot to mention the part about them being SLAVES in Egypt - oops!) "WE WANT MEAT!" came their cry. Sure, God had rescued them from bondage in Egypt, saved them from an advancing Egyptian army (armed with attack chariots, no less!), and promised them a land flowing with 'milk and honey.' That was all fine and dandy, but the lunch menu stunk! Seriously. Daily bread (aka "manna") just wasn't cutting it. Too boring. No variety. Who cares if it met all of their nutritional needs. Dull. "WE WANT MEAT!"

God then chooses to exercise His gift of irony. He tells Moses that He'll give them exactly what they want, all right! But they won't like it! And he's not going to give them just a one-time-serving, either? Nor 2 days... or 5 days... or 10 days... or even 20 days of meat. Nope. God's going to stuff them full of meat for 30 days! So much meat, in fact, that it'll be coming out their noses (eeuw!). Moses, who evidently wasn't very quick in the 'irony department,' began questioning God as to the practical realities of God's statement. "Seriously, God? A month of meat? You're joking right? That's not possible!"

And then God asks it THE question. It's almost as if He were waiting for just the right chance to prove Himself. "Is my power limited?" He asks Moses. (Umm... time to shut up, Moses. Don't answer that question. It's rhetorical!!!). The Hebrew phrase here literally means, "Is the Lord's hand too short?" Wow. That's a question you never want to hear God ask of Himself, after you and He have been talking! Just trust the answer is "No. Your power is NOT limited God!"

We're coming close to the end of a decision-making process at Aiea UMC. We've been prayerfully trying to discern whether God is leading us or not to start a new satellite ministry. It's a bold move - especially since our vision is to start with house churches - not a large corporate worship center. We've wrestled with a number of questions, issues, and risks... and it may all boil down to the issue of money. Are we ready to make a bold financial decision, even if we don't have all the money accounted for prior to starting? To some of us the task appears very daunting. And yet, could it be this passage today is a word of encouragement? "Is the Lord's power limited? Is His hand too short (to provide)?"

Personally... I don't think so!