Tree of Life Day 90: Revelation 19-22

Well, folks, here's the last entry in the Tree of Life series.  It was a fun series to preach and I hope you benefitted from the survey-style reading as well as the Bible book summaries we provided.

I want to close this series with a singular thought in light of the reading today:

The difference between Utopia and Heaven is Jesus.

Everyone wants a place where they don't cry, get cancer, or suffer.  Who doesn't want a peaceful, happy afterlife?  But we could have all of that without Jesus and it be Utopia.

The measure of a Christian is whether or not we'd be happy in Heaven if Jesus wasn't there.

As for me, I can't wait to gather with His people tomorrow and worship Him.  Happy Saturday, everyone.

Tree of Life Day 89: Revelation 14-18

Justice can be sweet. It can also be as scary as you-know-what.

And in this case, it just might be both.  The bad guys get what is coming to them.  They have connived, rebelled, deceived, and hated Jesus and His people.  The figure heads go down along with many who follow them.  And the angel sings...

"Just are you, O Holy One, who was and who is, for you brought these judgments...it is what they deserve" (16.5-6)

Here's what's scary to me:  hell.  It's fiery and dark and the place of the outpouring of God's just wrath against sin and rebellion.  And it doesn't end.  It just keeps going.  A million years from now those in hell will be no closer to relief than in this moment right now.

And those people around us, in our neighborhoods and among the nations, are the ones who will populate it if they do not know Christ.

Tree of Life Day 88: Revelation 6-9

Admittedly, there's some crazy stuff going on in these chapters.  And as I said in the sermon on Sunday, some argue that this kind of writing is symbolic.  Well, if these are just the symbols, how bad must the reality be?  Scary stuff!

I have to say that the one that gets me every time I read it is in Revelation 6.  The picture is the martyrs who have died for their loyalty to Jesus under the throne of God.  I love that for this reason:  though they were martyred in this life, I love the picture of being under God's throne and protection in the next life.  Not safe on earth.  Absolutely safe in heaven.

I'm also provoked by the picture.  Their question is haunting:  "How long, Lord, until you avenge us?"  I don't know what all the implications are, but it sure appears that they know that their blood has not been avenged.  Therefore, they know what's going on - they have some sense of what's happening on earth.  They are part of the cloud of witnesses.  Somehow that makes me want to be a better man today.

And lastly, I'm challenged.  God's reply:  "Not until the full number of you has come in."  Full number.  That means the number isn't full yet.  They haven't hit capacity.  They're not running at 100%.  There are more martyrs to come.  That is challenging.  I know there are people around the world today giving their lives for their loyalty to Christ.  North Korea.  India.  Nigeria.  And on and on.  But their number hasn't hit capacity yet.  So I'll pray for brothers and sisters around the world and ready myself just in case my life is one of their number.

How about you?

Tree of Life Day 87: Revelation 4-5

You just can't capture it better than this in my opinion...

(props to Jennie Riddle, the songwriter, and Kari Jobe, the singer)

Tree of Life Day 86: 2 Peter

I read a stern exhortation today.  Did you see it too?

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved [speaking of the destruction of the current world and its system in v.10], what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness... (3.11)

What kind of person makes an investment in a losing situation?  No one buys stock of a company going into bankruptcy.  No one buys a car that is on the verge of breaking down.  You get the idea.

So why do we love and invest in the world so much since it's headed downhill in a hurry?

There are things in the world that are worth our investment:  the people around us, the good of society, the beauty that reflects God.  But those things are in the world but not the world themselves.  Our lives are to reflect the kind of holiness and godliness that remind others (and ourselves!) that there is another world coming, one in which you invest and always see good return.  A new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (v.13).

Where is your investment today?

Tree of Life Day 85: 1 Thessalonians 4-5

Therefore encourage one another with these words...

That's what I wanted to do in yesterday's sermon.  I wanted to encourage the people who gathered and those who listen via podcast with thoughts of Heaven and Jesus' victory and the end of days.

Part of the reason I wanted to encourage them with these things is because so many get caught up too easily in the charts, graphs, predictions, prophecies, interpretations, and so forth when it comes to eschatology (Gr. eschaton: "end").  You can lose Jesus in the Nicolae Carpathia characters of the world.  And what a terrible trade that would be.

Thinking about the end of time is good because it gives us perspective in trials, hope in darkness, and a fixed point of certainty toward which we can aim our lives.  And that's encouraging.  Amen.

Sermon Notes from 4.29.12

Here are the sermon notes from the last sermon in the Tree of Life series.  You can get these notes in PDF and the sermon audio on our website (sermons.heritagepark.org).  You can also download the sermon audio on iTunes via our podcast.

Tree of Life

Part 13 – The End.

Revelation 19-­‐22 

What is happening?

Things get bad.

• Plagues and persecution run throughout the earth.Deception is powerful.

Jesus wins.

Judgment is certain.

Hell is real.

• Hell lasts forever.
• Hell is reserved for those who have not trusted Christ.  
• Hell is somewhat an extension of our own will.

Heaven is stunning.

What does it mean?

God will make everything right through Jesus.

• We wait with anticipation (22.6-­‐10).
  
• We wait with faithfulness (22.12-­‐14).
  
• We share Jesus now (22.17).
  

Tree of Life Day 83: James 1-5

James is such an easy book to read in some ways.  And in other ways, it's brutal.

Consider...

Don't be a hearer of the Word only, be a doer (1.22).

Is that easy to read?  You bet.  Is it easy to understand?  Sure.  Is it easy to implement in my life?  Well, that's a different question, isn't it?

He goes on to say that when we're hearers only and not doers, we deceive ourselves.  We think that we're growing spiritually, but we're not.  We think that we're doing the right thing, but we're not.  We think that God is pleased, but He's not.  We think we're being upright, but we're not.  We think that podcasting sermons is helping our spiritual growth, but when we don't apply them it's not.  We think that reading theology is good, but unapplied it's not.  On and on James could go with illustrations and challenges.

God, through James, is clear:  our spiritual maturity shows up not in our intake but in our output.

Easy.  And hard.  So hard.

Tree of Life Day 82: 1 Timothy 1-4

I know I have ranted and raved about this before, but since it's in the text, indulge me...

Leadership is about character.

There.  I said it.  Whether it's political, business, ethical, classroom, extracurricular, church, marital, parental, or any other sphere of leadership, it all boils down to character.

Leadership has the capacity and the tenacity to put you in tough situations.  When you're in tough situations, two things are true:

1. Your future character is developed (see Romans 5.3-5, James 1.2-4).
2. Your current character is demonstrated (you know a tree by its fruits, etc).

And you see that in the list of qualifications for the two offices in the church:  elders/overseers and deacons.  Leadership is about character:  above reproach, gentle, etc.  And you measure the leadership not by their effect but by their relationships (to wine, money, their family, etc.).

Man, that Paul guy and the Holy Spirit who inspired him sure are smart.

Tree of Life Day 81: Philippians

Admittedly, as a pastor, I’ve turned my attention to next week’s sermon.  Generally, that happens on Monday.  I had a professor at seminary that called it IROS – the Incessant Return of Sunday.  But this post isn’t about my mental habits.

Philippians 2 mentions a final moment in history.  The end of time is what I am addressing this coming Sunday, so it caught my attention.  What is it?

There is coming a day when at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.  

That's a powerful statement.  Think about it for just a second.  Every knee will bow.  Every person will have a moment where they will acknowledge that Jesus is right.  Every believer.  Every unbeliever.  Every person whose allegiance was to Jesus already.  Every person whose allegiance was to themselves for their whole lives.  Every single person.  Red,  yellow, black, white.  Republicans and Democrats.  Africans and Albanians.  Rich and poor.  Powerful and powerless.  Every person.

And their confession will be, "Jesus is Lord."  And whether or not they acknowledged it before, they will now.  And that glorifies the Father whose plan of rescuing sinners by means of sacrifice is now fully complete and seen for the plan it was.  

Amazing.

Tree of Life Day 80: Acts 16-20

What would you say to someone if you knew it was the last time you'd see them on the planet?

How about this...

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified (20.32).

The thing I appreciate about that statement from Paul to the Ephesian elders is the big blinking neon sign arrow pointing them to God and to the word of His grace.  Not great memories, though they had some together.  Not otherworldly, though they would meet there soon enough.  Not to the emotions of the moment, though they were high.  Not to the sadness of goodbye, though it was present.

Pointing them to God and to the Scripture.  Yes.  That's what I'd want to say too.

Tree of Life 79: Acts 8-10

One of the things that I would gladly welcome in the western church is the expectation of suffering.  Most of our lives in the West have to do with alleviating it or avoiding it.

But not Paul.

Through Ananias, Jesus told Paul from the beginning of his life as a follower, "You will suffer for My Name" (9.16).

I am grateful for a God who loves us and I'm glad to talk about that.  I'm grateful for a Lord who knows what He is doing and is in control and has all authority.  I'm grateful for an Indwelling Presence that guides and reminds and convicts.

But I wonder what would be different today in my relationship with the Triune God if He had said to me from the first moment, "Hey Trent:  you're going to suffer for My Name.  I wanted you to know now so that it doesn't catch you off guard later."

I teach pretty regularly that we should expect it.  The Bible certainly says that over and over again.  I can say with honesty that when it does come along I'm not shocked.  But my world is not full of personal suffering.  I have, at least at this moment, some surrogate suffering to deal with in family members, friends, and folks at church.  But I wouldn't classify my life as having suffered.

How would our following Jesus look different if every day we woke up and expected to encounter opposition for His Name and then lived accordingly?

Tree of Life Day 78: Acts 3-5

I can't help but think of this story...

St. Thomas Aquinas was walking one day with the Pope (admittedly, different versions of this story have different people involved with Aquinas).  The Pope was commenting on the beauty of one of the cathedrals and said, "It seems, dear Thomas, that no longer can the Church say, 'Silver and gold have we none.'"

Thomas' reply was succinct and poignant:  "But neither can we say, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, rise and walk.'"

Father, grant us power by your Spirit - the power to do ministry and the power to handle our prosperity well.  Amen.

Sermon Notes from Sunday, 4.22.12

Here are the sermon notes from the next to last sermon in the Tree of Life series preached on April 22nd.  To view these notes in PDF and get the sermon audio, visit sermons.heritagepark.org.  You can also find the sermon audio on iTunes via our podcast.

Tree of Life 

Part 12 – Eruption

1 Thessalonians 1.4-2.8

What is happening?

The Church grew and flourished.
The Church took structure.
The Church endured persecution.
The Church spreads throughout the world.


What does it mean?


God empowers the Church to grow the Church.

• God uses our risk to grow the Church (2.1-­‐2).
• God uses His authority to grow the Church (1.4-­‐5). 
• God uses His message to grow the Church (2.3-­‐5). 

Tree of Life Day 76: Romans 12-14

This passage struck me in this way today:  here are some practical ways that the Spirit works to transform us (12.2):

He gives us gifts to use (12.3-8)
He helps us to love good and hate evil (12.9)
He helps us to honor one another (12.10)
He energizes us for good work (12.11)
He marks us with hope, patience, and generosity (12.12-13)
He gives us endurance and perspective in trial (12.14-21)
He aids our submission to God-ordained human institutions (13.1-7)
He helps us kill our fleshly desires and grow godly ones (13.8-14)
He keeps our eye on the weaker ones around us, giving up our freedoms for their good (chapter 14)

Need any work on any of those areas today?

Tree of Life Day 75: 1 Corinthians 12-14

Did you notice the wedding in the middle of the reading today?

Well, technically, it's not a wedding.  But it's the famous "Love Chapter" that everyone reads at weddings.  And it's sandwiched right between Paul's two most extensive passages on the spiritual gifts.

That's huge.

Because that means for as much as we can teach, pray, heal, prophesy, speak in tongues, or anything else, doing so without God's kind of love is pointless.  Even showing mercy, without having love, is Sweet-n-Low vs. cane sugar, a bad substitute for a sweet thing.

Some think the gifts measure their spirituality or maturity.  Nope.  What measures our maturity is our love.

Tree of Life Day 74: Ephesians 4-6

The Spirit who inspired the Word is the Spirit who helps us wield the Word.

If the Word is called the Sword of the Spirit, we can rely on Him to help us wield it whenever we face trial and temptation.  When they come - and they will - our eyes go to the Word and our dependence goes to the Spirit.

Just a brief example...

You get the call that every person dreads and the doctor uses the word cancer.  In that moment there's a choice to be made:  you can run to God or away from Him.  The Enemy, of course, would want the latter.  Every trial that we go through is a temptation to turn our back on God just like every temptation to sin is a trial to endure.  Even in the Greek language, they're one and the same word.

If you run to God, you will find that the Spirit brings passages to my mind from the Word about hope and healing.  Whenever you face discouragement or despair, the Spirit will wield the Word to help me fight those.  You can preach the Truth to yourself so that your feelings don't rule your world but God does.  You can turn those Scriptures into prayers and relate to God on the basis of what He has said.

On and on we could go.  But the key is this:

The Spirit who inspired the Word is the Spirit who helps us wield the Word.  That's how you do internal spiritual warfare.

Tree of Life Day 73: John 14-16

When the discourse in John 14-16 is offered in a prayer, it might sound like this...

O God the Holy Spirit, Thou who dost proceed from the Father and the Son, have mercy on me. 

When thou didst first hover over chaos, order came to birth, beauty robed the world, fruitfulness sprang forth. 

Move, I pray thee, upon my disordered heart; take away the infirmities of unruly desiresand hateful lusts; lift the mists and darkness of unbelief; brighten my soul with the pure light of truth; make it fragrant as the garden of paradise, rich with every goodly fruit, beautiful with heavenly grace, radiant with rays of divine light. 

Fulfill in me the glory of thy divine offices; be my comforter, light, guide, sanctifier; take of the things of Christ and show them to my soul; through thee may I daily learn more of his love, grace, compassion, faithfulness, beauty; lead me to the cross and show me his wounds, the hateful nature of evil, the power of Satan; may I there see my sins as the nails that transfixed him, the cords that bound him, the thorns that tore him, the sword that pierced him. 

Help me to find in his death the reality and immensity of his love. 

Open for me the wondrous volumes of truth in his, ‘It is finished’. 

Increase my faith in the clear knowledge of atonement achieved, expiation completed, satisfaction made, guilt done away, my debt paid, my sins forgiven, my person redeemed, my soul saved, hell vanquished, heaven opened, eternity made mine. 

O Holy Spirit, deepen in me these saving lessons. 

Write them upon my heart, that my walk be sin-loathing, sin-fleeing, Christ-loving; and suffer no devil’s device to beguile or deceive me.

~The Spirit's Work

From the Valley of Vision, a Collection of Puritan Prayers

Tree of Life Day 72: Galatians 5

Onward into more of the language and understanding of the Spirit.  Galatians has been called by some the Apology of the Spirit, "apology" here meaning defense, not sorrow.  Reading today you can easily see why.

Whenever I read this passage, the one thing that sticks out is one thing.  That sounded silly, didn't it.  But I mean the one thing that sticks out is not nine things but one:  fruit.  The fruit of the Spirit is what Paul describes, not the fruits.

I say that to say this and say it simply:  when the Spirit is at work in our lives, we bear these characteristics in our lives by His power.  We don't get to pick and choose because He is the one bearing them through us.  We may need more help and more growth in an area, but He is the one who does it.

And when you see it as fruit instead of fruits, it makes a lot more sense I think...

Isn't love patient?

Isn't self-control kind? (Parents, think hard here about the time you didn't spank in anger)

Isn't peace joyful?

Isn't faithfulness good?

I could keep going, but I hope you get the point.  The Spirit brings these to us through His work in us and we bear them all because "they" are actually "it," the fruit of the Spirit.

Tree of Life Day 71: Acts 1-2

This is fairly easy to post on because of the text that I preached yesterday.  But everything I got to yesterday in the sermon isn't all that's in this text by any stretch of the imagination.  An oft overlooked gem that I just briefly mentioned yesterday:

...until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. (Acts 1.2)

How was Jesus teaching them while He was on the earth after His resurrection?  Through the Holy Spirit.  I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I have a working idea.

I think the Holy Spirit used the words of the Scripture to show them throughout the Bible how God had predicted this kind of Messiah, a suffering yet victorious Savior.  My wife illustrates it this way:  the Spirit's voice in our lives sounds a lot like the voice of our mom or dad telling us to look both ways before crossing the street.  And my guess is they had a lot of those moments when they heard the voice of Jesus in their head, listening to the words He had said.

Jesus hadn't left yet, though.  So when they had a moment with Him, He was helping them understand not only what was said but how it was they came to hear it.

And that's important.

Because the Spirit still speaks to the people of Jesus.  He always points to Jesus and never contradicts His Word.  But He does still speak.  That's what makes it a living, breathing relationship.