(Location: Crammed into a train compartment with five Romanians and the sixth standing angrily outside because of insensitive travelers trying to fit their luggage in with the ski equipment already filling our compartment. I'm on the way to visit my friend I. in the village of A., outside of Brasov, on Sunday afternoon, just after two on the 28th of November.)
Yesterday wrapped up our normal weekly programs for the semester, and now our busy will just look different as we prepare for Christmas outreaches when we will host 70 short-term visitors from Switzerland and Belgium, with a couple of Americans thrown in. Meanwhile, I must say I am happy to have my computer back up and running. While it is not a necessity, I especially enjoy having my entire and up-to-date prayer list at my fingertips.
I had a very nice Thanksgiving, spent first with Gypsy kids in the poor villages in which we work, and then with some fellow Americans, Romanians, and a British lady for a traditional turkey-and-stuffing meal. I had to carve the turkey at our table, which was the first time for me. However, after hearing a comical story about friends beginning with a live turkey a few years ago, I was happy to only have to carve a dead one, and I succeeded!
Many of you remembered me for Thanksgiving, with prayers and emails, and I am very thankful. One friend sent to me a special Thanksgiving story, and now I want to give you one. After that, I hope to type out a message the Lord gave me and which continues to be on my heart since I preached it.
You see, in the village of our kindergarten teacher, there has been a bear coming into the village at night. But last Thursday, something worse happened: a four-and-a-half-year boy turned up missing. This comes only a couple weeks after rumors started flying about children being kidnapped and killed for their organs, which were then sold. Whether true or not, people all over have been frightened, so it is no wonder that the whole town turned out for the search when the scantily-clad boy was lost. In fact, I understand that he had fallen in a well a year or two ago, and since then he hardly talks, and often even plays alone in the cemetery; his mother has a couple of other children and does not watch him very closely.
Friday morning our team prayed for the boy, who had not been found, and a cold, rainy night had passed. After enough hours passed, the boy was officially concerned missing, and the police force turned out with dogs and motorbikes, but everyone was loosing hope. They had even searched all of the outhouses, with no sign of the boy. No one knew whether it would be better to find the boy's dead body, or to learn that he had, in fact, been kidnapped. As darkness fell, the police gave up for the night, saying they would return in the morning.
Just then, one of the last policemen out on a motorbike radioed in--he had found him! The boy was alive and unharmed! He was sitting there where the villagers cut wood, playing. He was taken to the hospital to recover from the cold and hunger, but what joy! Everyone was talking about the miracle of this boy being found.
Is that not a great Thanksgiving story? It kind of reminds you of the lost sheep and the lost coin, does it not? Rejoice! Our God is in the business of going after those who are lost! I was found by Him, and I pray that if you have not yet been, that you will be soon!
Now let me tell you quickly what God taught me about dying kings.
I had the privilege of calling a friend in America via Skype at 4:00am last week. She told me about her Bible study wading through difficult passages of scripture from Isaiah chapters 13 to 23. Intrigued, I took a look, beginning at 5:00am. After a short nap and a few moments of computer research, my day was rolling, and by the end of it I preached this in the village of V.:
Isaiah 6:1-5
"In the year King Uzziah died..."
Why would Isaiah start like this? What is significant about the death of a king?
Two things. First, a king's death marked a change in the status quo, a change in the government, in the authority. Thus, it was a significant happening that would be sure to affect the people. Secondly, because people did not have calendars on their walls or day-planners in Isaiah's day, such events were used to recall a date in time. Maybe no one could say in exactly which year the king died, but they could tell you what happened in that year; it was a reference marker.
In the year King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord, and it changed his life! Can you imagine seeing the Lord in the fullness of His glory, and remaining the same, as if nothing had happened? Of course not! So Isaiah remembers very clearly that day when his life changed, and he notes its occurrence by remembering that it happened the same year that Uzziah died.
Now Isaiah lived in the the reign of four kings (Isaiah 1:1). Three were fairly good kings, and one less good. We see as we read further, in Isaiah 14:28 to be exact, that time has passed, and it is now the year in which Ahaz died. Another significant date; what happened? Well, this chapter is in the middle of a collection of prophesies against Israel's enemies, and even a couple pertaining to Israel and Jerusalem. In chapter 14:28-32, we see a message similar to most of the rest of these prophecies. When Israel tries to make an alliance with the surrounding neighbors or powers, nothing good will come of it. Those neighbors are not trustworthy (as history proved). Instead, God says (paraphrase), "I know that you are in a hopeless situation, but I will be your salvation. I will destroy your enemies, and I will care for you, my people." If we read about these kings in 2 Chronicles chapters 26 through 32, we will see that most tried to buy help, and it backfired. History also tells us that the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, and they were later defeated by the Babylonians, who eventually conquered the southern kingdom, Judah. The other peoples mentioned (Moab, Edom, Syria, the Philistines, Tyre, etc.) were either enemies, or thought to be allies.
In Isaiah 14, we see God telling the Philistines that even though a king has died and power has changed, His people will not become more vulnerable because He is still their Protector and Refuge.
Let us look now in Acts 2. In Peter's famous Pentecost sermon, we hear him mention two more kings that have died. David, and Jesus, the latter of whom is the King of kings and Lord of lords. When King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord. When King Ahaz died, Isaiah saw the deliverance and salvation of the Lord. In the same way, when King Jesus died, the glory of the Lord was revealed, and so was His salvation. Something else significant happened "the year that King Jesus died." That is when God gave His Spirit to His people (Act 2), allowing them to come directly before His throne, which is a foundational truth of Christianity. Because Jesus interceded for us and continues to do so, we can come boldly before the Father with no other mediator. When King Jesus died, the powers of darkness thought that there would be a change in authority, like when David and the other kings died . . . but they were wrong. The difference between Jesus and the rest of the kings that died is that Jesus was raised from the dead, and now reigns forever! Just like God told the Philistines in Isaiah 14, the new reign would be even more of a threat for God's enemies than the previous! The glory of God was revealed, His enemies were defeated, and His Spirit was poured out on His people. Hallelujah!
But there is one more dying king about whom we need to speak. Me. And you. If I am king of my own life, trying to live according to my own power and my own wisdom, not only will I fail, but I ignore everything Jesus did and is doing for me. And I cannot serve two masters, so I cannot ask Jesus to be king of my life if I am still king of my life. The same is true for you. You cannot be your own king or queen while serving Jesus. You have to let that king (or queen) die; only then can Jesus be king of your life. Let your highness be crucified with Christ on that cross, and let it rot just like David's body rotted and saw corruption. At the same time, bow before the true King, and ask Jesus to be your Lord. No matter how good your life is, His is better, and He was to live His royal life through you. He wants to display His glory in you, to be your Refuge, and to fill you with His Spirit.
I was baptized as an infant, and decided I would never again be baptized, even though some persons told me that they believed adult baptism by immersion was the only true baptism. As I grew up, I eventually threw away my religion and spent several years seeking God until I finally let Him give me a faith that was my own (not my parents' or my church's or anyone else's), and I invited Him to be my king. Then, three years later, I came to understand that I was trying to still be my own king while saying that Jesus was my King, and I realized I had to let King Me die. When I did that, the Lord led me to be re-baptized, as a sign only between Him and me. Now I can look back on that day, on that event, and say, "In the year that King Me died, my life changed, because I let Jesus be my King, my Lord and my Savior."
I hope that you can say that, too. If not, let King or Queen You die today, and bow to Jesus, giving Him reign over your life. Then I can assure you that your life will change: you will see the glory of God, He will deliver you and be your Refuge, and He will give you His Holy Spirit.
I bless you in the Name of the only King who died and rose again, Jesus.
This blog is your opportunity to travel with me wherever I am in the world, during both the mundane and exciting moments of life that I humbly recognize as holy. As I bare my life to you, may your reading take you beyond my words to the Word, beyond my life to the Life, beyond the chaos to the Truth, and beyond teachings to the Teacher--the Rabboni. I promise it will be an adventure, and by the end, may you, too, truly know the Way!
A Rose From Home
My Story (As prepared for my church congregation this spring--2009)
I have a story to tell you. I am the main character, but the story is not about me. I have traveled several parts of the world, but my adventure has been closer to home. I am twenty-six years old. My story begins like many of yours…
I grew up going to church. I had been born into a family who labeled themselves “Christian,” in a country that labels itself “Christian.” Every Sunday found me attending a worship service and Sunday school in a mainline denomination church. I served as an acolyte, attended Vacation Bible School, helped my dad count and record the offering money, sang in the youth choir, was a leader in the youth group, and occasionally served as liturgist. Baptized as an infant, I was confirmed at the age of twelve, thus becoming an “official” member of the church. Then, hurt by the church, my family left to find another.
Have you ever been hurt by the Church?
After months of searching, we settled into a very large independent church. Things were different there, and I was quickly welcomed and at home among new friends that truly had a passion for Jesus. The Word of God was taught boldly from the pulpit, and I was introduced to a missions-aware lifestyle. So it was with regret that I said goodbye only a couple of years later to move with my family to another church. I purposely remained aloof, not wanting to make new friendships before I left for college a year later. Besides, I was loosing my faith—or so I thought—and I didn’t want anyone to know. I was asking scary questions like “Is there really a God?” and, if so, “Is He the Christian God?” and “Would I be Christian if I had been born in another part of the world?”
Have you ever asked yourself unsettling questions about what you believe?
So I headed into college under a cloud of confusion that only worsened for the next two years. Though I didn’t know what I believed anymore, I continued to go to church every Sunday, and to help lead worship in chapel. Most importantly, even during this questioning, I continued my morning habit of daily study of the Bible. I had begun at age twelve, reading at first a chapter per day, then ten minutes each morning, then an half-hour, and so on. So, only by the grace of the very God I doubted, I remained anchored in His Word and in His community, though I felt like a fake most of the time. Since then I have learned that “fake” is the worst insult the world can give us; that is why the label of “hypocrite” is so offensive.
Have you ever felt like a fake?
Six weeks with missionaries in South Africa followed by a year in France began to teach me what life with God is all about. I began rebuilding my faith, this time it belonged to me, in contrast to me borrowing the faith of my parents, church, or anyone else. In my parent’s basement in 2003, on either Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, I invited Jesus to live in me; perhaps I had done so before, but I didn’t recall—but since 2003, I have never forgotten that moment. Unfortunately, nothing changed. I continued to do my best to act like a Christian, as I had done for so long.
Have you ever found yourself “doing your best” to be a good person, or to act like a Christian?
Though I did not realize it at the time, I was quenching the Spirit, even though I had welcomed Him into my life. During the next few years, the LORD continued to nurture me, and slowly things began to change. Several tough months in Idaho birthed my prayer-life. I spent three years being humbled in a job that was my informal seminary training. In 2007, a short stint in Mexico helped me to see things as they were, and not long afterward, I was baptized by immersion. No baptism of any kind can save a lost soul—only Jesus can do that. However, this baptism was an important covenant between me and God, symbolizing not only my death and resurrection with Jesus and my public profession of faith, but it also my life change, the beginning of my bearing fruit. “For each tree is known by its own fruit…”according to Luke 6:44. During the past year and a half, the LORD has provided me with an informal pastoral internship in my church, teaching me every aspect of discipleship. Simultaneously, I have been studying unceasing prayer and worship. I am now very different than I was five years ago.
In the Book of Acts (which tells the story of the earliest years of the Church) every time a person decided to follow Christ, two things took place—though not always in the same order. Each person experienced a life change, which I call the “baptism of repentance,” as well as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which I call the “baptism of the Spirit.” Looking back, I realize that the Holy Spirit was living in me in 2003, but it wasn’t until I surrendered everything to God, as represented by my immersion, that I allowed the Spirit to have His way in me and transform my life. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20)”
Have you invited Jesus to live in you? Have you allowed the Spirit to transform your life?
I tell you this story for two reasons. First, I tell this story in order to boast in the LORD! May God our Father get all praise and glory forever! Second, I tell this story because it is relevant to you. Likely you have heard that I am leaving the country: I have let my light shine before you; please let your light shine within the Church, too! This congregation is in revival, and as each of you allows the Spirit to revive you, the entire Church will be revived and utterly transformed, to the glory of the Most High God. And for His glory is the reason He created us; the reason He sent His only Son to reveal Himself to us; the reason He became Sin for us and died for us on the cross—while we were still sinners; and the reason that He conquered death and offered us eternal life with Him.
It will cost you a lot—in fact, it will cost you everything, your very life. But if you have never surrendered your life to Christ Jesus, if you have never invited Him to send His Spirit into you and to transform your life, then do it right now. Just let go of everything to which you are desperately clinging; stop trying to do it yourself! This is the very reason you are still breathing in this physical life—God has been delaying His judgment of this sinful world because He is waiting for you—2 Peter 3:9 says He wants none to perish!
If you have already invited the Spirit into your life, then live like it! Bear fruit! Anyone and everyone who meets you or knows you or sees you or hears you should know immediately and clearly that Jesus the Christ lives in you and loves them! That is how stark the contrast should be between your life and the world around you!
Have you immersed yourself in God’s Word and in prayer in the last twenty-four hours?
If you call yourself a follower of Christ, then there is no excuse for not communing with Him daily! Anchor yourself in the Word! God has revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Bible is a complete and accurate record of that revelation. And prayer is humbly letting Him love us. Let Him love you! God doesn’t need us, but He wants us! God doesn’t need us to live for Him—He wants to live in and through us! Let us love and fellowship with one another, even when you disagree! Pray for each other—the names in the church directory are a great place to start! Church, we are not only the Body of Christ, but we are the Bride of Christ. We have allowed ourselves to get bedraggled and stained—now let us stand to the glory of God! Let’s let Him purify us, restore us, and love us!
My dear Brothers and Sisters, if you have ever once been blessed by God our Father at work in me, then I urge you, please, take seriously His desire to love and work in you, beyond anything you can ask or imagine! I have told you the beginning of my story—may it end in glory to the Father, in the Name of Jesus, by way of His Spirit.
Now, what is your story?