New Collaborative Blog, The Worship Event

I have begun a new collaborative effort for worship leaders and worshipers alike. It will be a resource for us to help each other in achieving right worship. It is called The Worship Event. Check it out here.

Isaiah 25:6-9: Perseverance in Waiting for the Lord: Beholding Our God

Isaiah 25:6-9: Perseverance in Waiting for the Lord: Beholding Our God

            Isaiah was prophet to Judah during the reign of serval kings including King Uziah, whom he had a deep gratitude and affection for. With so much rich theology and detail contained in the book of Isaiah, I have selected three verses from chapter 25 that speak volumes about the particular issue of God’s people persevering, particularly in times when it may seem that God is far-removed from our lives. On that note, trust me; he is never absent from our lives as his people. He is always in control. Throughout the prophets, we often see a cycle occurring: 1) God’s blessing, 2) rebellion of God’s people, 3) God’s judgment on his people, and 4) salvation of God’s people. One might think that God’s people learn the first time, but the fact is that cycle continues even today. I am thankful we serve a God of not only a second chance but of another chance. Without his mercy and discipline, we would be hopeless. Chapter 25 of Isaiah deals with the salvation part of the cycle, specifically the beginnings of it. It is a word of encouragement for God’s people to persevere and continue despite the difficulties, which the people of Israel brought on themselves. We often do that though. We bring God’s discipline on ourselves, and rest assured that he disciplines us because he loves us. Isaiah has just prophesied God’s judgment so now he is dealing with Judah’s salvation, and while this text regards Judah’s salvation, it is certainly relevant to us today in that it looks forward to the salvation of God’s people, his bride, the church (not just Judah), for we will all one day be present with him at his wedding feast. We can live with this assurance and hope as his bride. For us to keep this in mind, we must realize four particular imperatives that are absolutely necessary for the ultimate and eternal salvation of God’s people.

Isaiah 25:6-9 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
    of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
⁷ And he will swallow up on this mountain
    the covering that is cast over all peoples,
    the veil that is spread over all nations.
⁸     He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
    and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
    for the Lord has spoken.
⁹ It will be said on that day,
    “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
    This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
    let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

The Bride of Christ, the Church, Will Persevere (v. 6)

            It is not a question of if the bride of Christ will persevere; it is a guarantee. The only people who do not ultimately persevere are those who are not his in the first place. God’s people will persevere, endure, and eventually reign with him eternally. Verse 6 says that on this mountain, the Lord will prepare a feast. The mountain spoken of here is Zion. Zion was originally a designation for a literal hill in Jerusalem, but it came to be a synonym for all of Jerusalem. Applying it to our context, the New Jerusalem is heaven on earth as represented in the book of Revelation. It is the New Jerusalem in which God reigns on high. This feast, which is described in incredible splendor here, is the feast of Christ and his bride, the church. All of God’s people will be a part of this feast. No matter what we go through on this earth, this feast is our ultimate destination. God’s people then are guaranteed to persevere. Just like Judah, there are times when our lives may seem hopeless and meaningless. It is not though. Have faith; have courage; be full of joy, for God’s people persevere.

The Eyes of God’s People Will Be Opened (v. 7)

            In realizing that there is perseverance in waiting in the Lord (not merely waiting on him), we must acknowledge that we do not have any authority and that we cannot see the full picture right now. God can though. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12 that we see in a mirror dimly but a day is coming when we will see fully. We do not know what God, in his sovereignty and omniscience, is preparing for us. Verse 7 says that God will swallow up the covering over his people. There is a unique aspect to this verse though, for it is applied to the nations. The veil that is covering all nations will be removed, and one day we will worship him as every tribe, tongue, and nation. Our eyes will be opened, and we will behold him in his glory and splendor and worship him like never before. This day is coming, and it is coming for those who wait in the hope of the Lord.

God’s People Will Live in Joy and Peace with Him Forever (v. 8)

            Verse 8 begins with a humbling and encouraging word that we should note. Death will be swallowed up forever, and the tears of God’s people will be wiped away. This will be a great day. God’s people will not only live with him forever but will live in joy and peace with him forever. Christ is joy, but apart from him is despair. We will be with him so we will live in peace and joy. Keep in mind that this earth is temporary; reigning with Christ is eternal. Yet so often believers live this life as if it is the end. It is, however, only the beginning of something wonderful to come. Let us live in the joy and peace of Christ in this life as we eagerly expect his return.

The Ultimate Destination Comes Only in Waiting (v. 9)

            In verse 9, the prophet, Isaiah, says that on that day we will say, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.” Our ultimate destination of being with Christ forever only comes in waiting but not just waiting alone, waiting in him. The secret to waiting patiently is waiting in Christ. In other words, we wait with a hope and expectation that comes only in knowing Christ. It is then only after that when we will rejoice in his salvation. We must consider in our daily lives what waiting encompasses for us. For some, waiting on a daily basis requires great pain and struggle. For others, it may require sacrifice or anonymity in our relationships. Whatever the case, we must wait in the strength of the Lord, for if we do not, we will not reach our destination. God’s people persevere. Count that as hope. Wait on him, and say with the Apostle Paul that the trials of this life do not compare to the glory we have in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

            God’s people persevere. It really isn’t a secret. It is truth. Often, however, we live as defeated people. When we behold God and his goodness, we have no choice but to persevere and wait in him. We wait in him, not merely on him. These imperatives are so difficult to remember in times of trial, our fault or not. God is on our side; he is for us. Therefore, our hope is in him, and it is through beholding him and waiting in him that we persevere.

Hebrews 7:23-28: Our Great High Priest

Hebrews 7:23-28: Our Great High Priest

            The entirety of the book of Hebrews is filled with thematic material related to Christ’s superiority as the Great High Priest fulfilling a new and better covenant. In such a manner, we, his people, are to live with a hope and expectation that the New Covenant is better and that Christ alone is all powerful to save and satisfy. A few verses in chapter 7, namely verses 23-28, continue to support the fact that Christ is now the High Priest and that his saving power is better than anything that has ever and will ever be. There are two magnificent aspects to Christ’s authority as High Priest, two relevant factors that we must consider: 1) he is High Priest in power and 2) he is High Priest in position. These two imperatives alone should give believers the assurance that his saving power and grace is enough for even the lowest of sinners, and believing these two facts should affect the way we live our lives, for all is not hopeless and all is not lost; we now have the assurance of the Great High Priest.

Hebrews 7:23-28 ESV

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost²  those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

High Priest in Power (vv. 23-25)

            Verses 23-25 relate to Christ as High Priest in the power he holds as the divine Son of God. He is unlike any priest before him. He is not only a priest but the High Priest because of his power, vastly disparate from any man. Being that he was God himself but became a man and lived a perfect life, his priesthood far exceeds that of mankind, and now he intercedes on our behalf.

He Is Not Prevented by Death (vv. 23-24)

            Christ is different and better because, unlike former priests, he is not prevented by death. He died once and for all, but he now lives. We serve a risen savior, which should be explicitly expressed in our lives and actions. Not only is he unlike former priests, but he is unlike any person, leader, manmade god, or ruler that has ever or will ever live. He is God in human-form, and death could not hold him down. He is alive. Name the authority figure in any of history, and someone can or eventually will be able to tell you when they died. We can do the same for Christ Jesus, but the difference is that there is no one else we can point to that lives again. Christ does, and because of this, he is the better way for mankind.

He Is Able to Save Anyone (v. 25)

            Christ’s death on the cross was not the end; in fact, it was only the beginning of the New Covenant, which was fulfilled when he rose again. In that resurrection, the sin of man was without a fight. It has been conquered. We are told, in verse 25, that Christ is able to save the uttermost. The Greek word here for “uttermost” implies the most radically depraved person. Christ’s saving power goes deeper than anything we could ever imagine. No one is beyond hope with Christ. The Old Covenant could not do this; only Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection could, and now he intercedes on our behalf. He is our mediator, as chapter 8 says. Before Christ we were lost and hopeless; with Christ, we are saved, fulfilled, and being made as new creations for his glory, and this applies to anyone who trusts in and confesses him. This should humble us. This should cause us to seek the lost and preach the good news of the gospel of Christ. Do we really believe that he can save anyone? Often it does not seem so. He has made a better way.

High Priest in Position (vv. 26-28)

            Jesus Christ is not only High Priest in power but also in position according to verses 26-28. It is one thing to have the power of High Priest, but God has made him to be our Great High Priest in an irreversible manner. Because of his divine nature, he is High Priest in position.

He Is Set apart (v. 26)

            Verse 26 refers to Jesus Christ as “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” He is set apart. There is no one that could ever be referred to as this, only Jesus Christ. This places him in a position higher than any other priestly position. While former priests could have been considered by many to be good people (although no one is good by nature) and of noble character, none of them were ever holy or unstained. “Christ’s divine and holy character is proof of the superiority of his priesthood.”[1] He is set apart from everything, placing him in a higher position.

He Does Not Need Us; We Need Him (v. 27)

            Forgiveness under the Old Covenant was a two-part process: 1) the priests had to offer animal sacrifices to God for their own sins, and 2) then they had to offer animals sacrifices to God for the sins of their people. Ultimately it would not have mattered how many animals were sacrificed; the Old Covenant could not continue to work, which is why Christ died once and for all. He was sinless so he did not have to offer a sacrifice on his own behalf but only on ours. In other words, he has no need for us (never has and never will), but we certainly have an extreme need for him, for we are radically depraved. This is yet another aspect that places him in a unique position as High Priest.

He Is Perfect (v. 28)

            It has been mentioned several times already, but likely the most crucial item making Jesus High Priest in position is the fact that he is perfect. Under the Old Covenant, the Law appointed men as priests, men who were sinful by nature. Under the New Covenant, however, Jesus Christ has been appointed as High Priest, and he is perfect forever. He does not need continuous sacrifices for forgiveness of his sins because he is sinless. In his lack of sin, he died for our sin and literally became our sin on the cross, making it null and void. His death was the price paid, and now he stands as the Great High Priest in position because he is perfect and blameless, unlike anyone else.

Conclusion

            We are the recipients of salvation under the New Covenant. We have been justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ, our High Priest who is High Priest in both power and in position. How does this affect our lives though? Do we live as people of the New Covenant, or do we continue to live hopeless lives by making excuses for our sin and not with the realization that sin and death have been crushed under the feet of Jesus through his death and resurrection? We have a Great High Priest. Our lives should reflect this amazing mystery as people of the New Covenant.

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[1] ESV MacArthur Study Bible Hebrews 7 footnote.

2 Timothy 2:1-13: A Good Soldier of the Lord

2 Timothy 2:1-13: A Good Soldier of the Lord

            Among many images the Apostle Paul gives to describe believers, he refers to us in scripture as soldiers of Christ Jesus. This is a vivid image to compare followers of Christ to, for we often think of soldiers as fighters, and this is certainly one function of a soldier. In Paul’s second letter to young Timothy, he finds himself imprisoned under Nero’s reign, and unlike his former confidence of being released, he does not present this hope in this particular letter. In fact, during this imprisonment, Paul was eventually martyred for his faith in Christ. It seems that Paul perhaps faced a concern that Timothy was in danger of weakening spiritually, a grave concern since he trusted Timothy to continue his ministry. Paul was Timothy’s mentor. We all have people in our lives who have helped us in so many respects and entrust us to continue their legacy. This was Paul to Timothy. Paul found it necessary then to encourage Timothy and spur him on in his faith.[1] For this reason, Paul refers to followers of Christ as soldiers or warriors if you will. It might not seem like the harshness of military drills could encourage someone, but the hard work eventually pays off if the soldier is willing to stick to the plan. My dad used to work with me daily on pitching when I played baseball, and although some days my arm felt like it was going to fall off, the hard work paid off when it came time for the game. Being a good soldier of the Lord requires hard work and perseverance. This is an aspect of our faith that we often hear and discuss, but very rarely do we allow this truth to penetrate our hearts and lives and cause us to live in such a manner. We do not like to think of the Christian faith as something we must fight through or toil with. We would prefer it to be happy-go-lucky, but the fact is that living an authentic Christian faith is difficult and often requires sacrifice and obedience in ways that we cannot comprehend and don’t make sense and in ways that are perhaps excruciatingly difficult. In this letter to Timothy, Paul is encouraging him to live a life as a worthy soldier of Jesus Christ. In the same way, we are called to live as worthy soldiers of the Christ, as good soldiers of the Lord. How does one do this? We know the commands of scripture; we know what we are called to do; so how then do we do it? What is the foundation upon which a good soldier must be built? Paul gives this prescription in 2 Timothy 2:1-13, and there are three imperatives that we must realize and internalize about a good soldier of the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:1-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,² and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men^[a] who will be able to teach others also. ³ Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. ⁵ An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. ⁷ Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, ⁹ for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ¹¹ The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
¹² if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
¹³ if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

A Good Soldier Suffers for His Enlister (vv. 1-7)

            Paul writes this letter in the midst of suffering so it is appropriate that he focuses largely on the suffering of a soldier of the Lord. The mark of a Christian is not prosperity but suffering. This is contrary to the message of many churches today. Paul says, in verse 3, to share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ. We are to follow Christ to the ultimate suffering if necessary. In other words, if we are not willing to lay down our lives for his sake, we are not good soldiers. Often we associate being a soldier of the Lord with being a witness for the Lord. The Greek word for witness means martyr. This is what the early church understood about following Christ. It was not taken lightly. How many people in our country would still claim to be Christians if they knew that following Christ meant losing their lives? We might have a lot of empty pews. The acid test of following Christ is now how well we prosper but how well we suffer, and we suffer well in knowing that what we do is for his sake, not our own.

            Paul clarifies this though by making sure that our suffering is done for the sake of Christ. If we suffer because of our own stupidity, that is not being a good soldier. There is a godly way to deal with our own mistakes, but this is not the suffering Paul is speaking of here. He is speaking of suffering on behalf of Christ. Verse 4 tells us that a good soldier does not entangle himself in civilian pursuits but instead aims to please the one who enlisted him. In other words, Christ is our focus and our prize and nothing else. When our focus is taken off Christ and placed on worldly pursuits, we entangle ourselves in civilian pursuits. The battle is constant, and we cannot waver. What does this mean for us on a daily basis? This means that we make every decision based on the glory and honor of God, which may involve difficult actions. It could mean losing a job because of a stand for Christ. It could mean ridicule from those who do not understand the gospel. It could mean following God into something that does not make any sense to the world. When did following God become about making sense? When did it ever make sense in the Bible? Look at the examples we have. Abraham, go to a land I will show you. He had no idea where that was. Moses, lead an entire nation out of slavery against an Egyptian army. David, kill a giant with a sling and a stone. This is not to say that something is God’s will if it does not make sense, but these things did not make sense. We should not write something off simply because our human logic cannot fathom it. Being a soldier of Christ requires trusting him and following him wherever he leads. As the scripture says, an athlete must compete according to the rules and it is the hard-working farmer who reaps a harvest. God sets the rules, and following him requires hard work and endurance, particularly in times of difficulty. We are assured, in verse 7, that the Lord will give us understanding. We are not asked to understand but to trust because the understanding itself will not come from our own minds but instead from God. We are called to focus on and trust our enlister, namely Jesus Christ, and we are called to suffer for his sake. This is the mark of a good soldier.

A Good Soldier Remembers the Goal (vv. 8-10)

            We must also realize that a good soldier remembers the goal. The goal and prize in our lives is Jesus Christ. Romans 8:29 says that the purpose of our salvation is to be conformed into the image of Christ. Heaven is not the ultimate prize. Often we make the mistake of telling unbelievers that heaven is the goal when the reality is that our goal is becoming like Christ, and throughout the Christian life, we are being transformed into his image. Paul says, in 2 Corinthians 3:18, that we are being transformed from one degree of glory to another. I refer to this as progressive sanctification. Christ is the goal, and a good soldier remembers not only that this is the goal but remembers Christ and who he is period. If we see Christ for who he is, we will be changed. Paul says, in verse 8, to remember Jesus Christ. He does not say to remember what he has done, although this is absolutely crucial as well; he says to remember Jesus Christ. Here the Greek word for remember is active and implies continuation. In other words, we are not only to remember Christ but to keep on remembering him. He must be at the forefront of everything we do in a daily basis. He should not be number one on our priority list, but he must literally be our priority list. He must be the purpose and foundation of our work, school, family, relationships, and even our leisure activities. A good soldier remembers the goal; our goal is Jesus Christ. If we do not remember Jesus Christ, we will cave under pressure when trials come. Basing our lives on anything else such as education, financial stability, government, retirement, etc. will ultimately fail us. Paul was suffering when he wrote this to Timothy; yet he was encouraged and strong in his faith because he remembered Jesus Christ. He says, in verse 10, that he endures everything for the sake of the elect that they may obtain the salvation in Jesus Christ. When we remember Christ, we suffer well and are, therefore, good soldiers. This has a profound impact on the lives of those who do not yet know Christ. God uses our suffering to bring others to him. This is why our foundation must be Christ and Christ alone. The reformers often spoke of solus Christus or Christ alone. He alone must be our foundation. Anything else will fail. It is not a matter of if but when. A good soldier remembers the goal, namely Jesus Christ.

            I am not a very good golfer, but I enjoy playing at times. One thing I am certain of is that when I swing the club, if I do not keep my eye focused on the ball, I am very likely to miss-hit it or not hit it at all. My eye must remain fixed on the ball and my head steady. Even though the rest of my body may move, my head must remain directly focused on the goal. If I turn it in any direction, my chances of striking effectively are weakened significantly. In the same manner, if we remove our focus from the goal of Jesus Christ, we cannot be effective soldiers for his glory. Our eyes must be fixed on him at every moment of our lives, and we must never waver from that.

A Good Soldier Remains Faithful (vv. 11-13)

            Once our foundation is built upon Christ, we must follow through and remain faithful. A good soldier remains faithful and does not waver when the test comes. Paul encourages us by pointing out that death is not the end for those in Christ, for if we die with him, we will also live with him and if we endure, we will also reign with him. Philippians 1:21 tells us that to live is Christ and to die is gain. This is backwards from what the world tells us. Again following Christ does not make sense except in the economy of God, not the world. If we are dead to this world and all its pleasures and profits, we will forever receive and eternal blessing with Christ. If we are faithful, we will ultimately persevere. However, if we deny Christ, he will deny us, according to verse 12. Paul then says, in verse 13, that if we are faithless, he remains faithful. The faithlessness spoken of here is referring to a lack of saving faith, not to weak or struggling faith. Unbelievers will ultimately deny Christ, and “as faithful as Jesus is to save those who believe in him, he is equally faithful to judge those who do not. To act any other way would be inconsistent with his holy, unchangeable nature.”[2] This is why it is crucial for us as the church to live as good soldiers of the Lord, allowing God to work in and through us in bringing the lost to him. Our battle is not against the lost but for Christ to make himself known to them through us. Yes, we will face difficulties. If we are not facing difficulties, something is wrong; all believers are guaranteed to face trials. Yes, we will have to fight and struggles and toil. Is it worth it though? Absolutely because it is not for us but for a greater cause. We are living for something bigger than ourselves, and his name is Jesus Christ whom we must remember and serve as faithful soldiers. A good soldier remains faithful no matter how difficult the road is. Remain faithful, and remember his glory.

            My dog is faithful to me. It could easily be seen as a very unhealthy relationship. Yes, I love my dog very much, but her love for me is what is amazing. In fact, I often think that God desires our hearts toward him to be what a dog’s is toward us. My dog lives to please me. Every waking moment for her is to make sure she knows I am loved by her. Someone else could offer her the entire world, and she would not care because she is faithful to me. She doesn’t care what kind of house I live in, how much money I make, or what kind of car I drive as long as I come home to her every day and give her a little affection. We must be faithful to God no matter what the world offers us or does to us, no matter how difficult things get, and no matter what the cost. Being a good soldier of the Lord requires faithfulness.

Conclusion

            We have seen three imperatives of a good soldier: 1) suffering for the glory of God, 2) remembering the goal in Christ Jesus, and 3) remaining faithful. We must each ask ourselves if we fit this description of a good soldier. If not, we must ask the Lord himself to work in our hearts and lives in making us more like him and in making us good sufferers, people who remember him and run with steadfastness toward the prize in him, and people who remain faithful to his cause. As the hymn says, “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold…I’d rather be faithful to his dear cause.” When that is our heart’s cry, then and only then will we be good soldiers of the Lord.

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[1] 2 Timothy 1:6.

[2] MacArthur Study Bible ESV note on v. 13.

Fun in Austin

I had a great time in the Austin area this week with Christina Delgado. We went swimming in the San Marcos River, saw the state capital, ate some amazing gourmet Ramen noodles, and met up with some old friends and mentors. Here are some great pictures from the trip.

Simplicity or Complexity: what Does It Mean to Give God Our Best?

Here is a recent article I had published.

Uninhibited Worship

Here is an article I wrote for Experiencing Worship on uninhibited worship.