Oct 15 - Question 1

Out of the wilderness …

and into the Promised Land …

Yesterday we asked the first of four questions – What do you complain about most?

Yesterday, I confessed that I’m constantly complaining about – let’s call it – “busyness.” According to my complaints, I’m continually frustrated by how little I accomplish in a day.

But diagnostically, what does that say about my faith in practice? When I’m constantly focused on what I can accomplish, I’m regularly forgetting God’s power and provision.

How about you?

Here’s question two: 1) Remember to email me your answer, and 2) remember, my answer to this question is below.

Where do you go when you’re hurting?

Some of us plop down in front of the TV. Some of us go to the refrigerator. Some of us escape into a bottle. Some of us try running out of town, thinking a change of location will change the hurt within. Where do you go when you’re hurting?

RIGHT

NOW,

WRITE

ME

YOUR

ANSWER

…

BEFORE

I

SHOW

YOU

MY

ANSWER.

JUST

BELOW

IS

MY

ANSWER.

BUT

I

WANT

YOU

TO

THINK

ABOUT

YOUR

LIFE

ACTIVELY …

BEFORE

FOCUSING

ON

MINE

PASSIVELY!!!

SO

WHERE

DO

YOU

GO

WHEN

YOU’RE

HURTING?

When I asked this question, one friend quickly said, “I know where I go when I’m hurting. I escape into a book. I’m more interested in someone else’s reality than dealing with my own.”

That reminded me of another friend. She’d read at least a dozen cheap novels a week. By her own admission, she couldn’t remember any detail about any book! So why read? She kept trying to escape reality for hours on end.

As I pastor, I know another way to escape reality. I see it all the time. Too many people are self-medicating for this same purpose. It’s an epidemic. Our generation keeps trying to escape … because it’s easier than trying to deal with our own reality.

Is that why I turn on the TV? That’s where I’ve always gone when I’m … tired. (And yes, I said “where I go when I’m tired” rather than “hurting” because busyness and exhaustion are what seem to make me hurt most. But …) when I’m tired and hurting, I constantly plop down on the couch. But here’s the question …

Am I escaping reality?

Or just postponing it?

•      I need to be less busy.
•      That means – as I confessed yesterday – I need to trust the results to God.
•      I need to take a real Sabbath (which means I need to trust the results to God).

In Christ’s Love,

A guy who needs quit escaping to the TV

(actually, we cut cable, but

my substitute addiction is my iPhone)

hmm … maybe I’m …

… a guy who needs to quit trying to escape reality,

and start embracing God’s power to change it!!!

Oct 14 - Question 1

Out of the wilderness …

and into the Promised Land …

That’s our current goal at Spirit of Joy.

We’re tired of being tired. We’re frustrated with being lost. Like the Israelites, we thought that by being nice Christians we’d escape the shackles of Egypt, but we still don’t know how to get out of the desert! Here’s this week’s question: Are you ready for some freedom?!

Yesterday the first words of my sermon started with four questions. They are diagnostic. Like in the practice of good medicine, we’ve got to know the problem before we can start the healing.

Here’s what I’d like you to do with the next several day’s questions: Email me back your answer. It doesn’t have to be long … just honest. I will of course keep confidence. (But if it’s real sensitive, don’t send it across cyberspace! Just come and talk to me.)

Here’s the first of four diagnostic questions (and I’ll give you my answer in a moment …)

What do you complain about most?

(Hint: If you don’t know the answer to this, ask someone you live with. They know!)

RIGHT

NOW,

WRITE

ME

YOUR

ANSWER

…

BEFORE

I

SHOW

YOU

MY

ANSWER.

JUST

BELOW

IS

MY

ANSWER.

BUT

I

WANT

YOU

TO

THINK

ABOUT

YOUR

LIFE

ACTIVELY …

BEFORE

FOCUSING

ON

MINE

PASSIVELY!!!

SO

WHAT

DO

YOU

COMPLAIN

ABOUT

MOST?

I didn’t have to even think to know my answer to this question.

Whenever I come home from work, Mary Louise says, “How was your day?” Nine days out of ten, I complain, “I didn’t get enough done.” “I didn’t get accomplished what I wanted today.”

That’s honest. But do you see my problem?

When I’m focusing on what I accomplish, I’m relying on myself. “It is my job to accomplish things in the kingdom.” And while it’s good to work hard at any job (especially one in the church), this reveals a major flaw in my practical theology.

I may SAY that “God is powerful.” Indeed, I may truly BELIEVE it in my heart. But at a deep down practical level, day-after-day-after-day-after-day my actions reveal that I believe accomplishments in God’s kingdom are up to me.

I believe like a theist. I live like an atheist.

That’s a harsh self-examination. But that’s what I need.

I know God. I love God. I want his blessings. But it’s not until I’m honest with myself that I can see why I’m sometimes wandering in exhausted circles like the Israelites in the desert.

To make it to the Promised Land, I have to see the hole in my faith and practice. And most days, I trust in my effort … not God’s power and provision.

What do your complaints reveal about you?! Can you share it with me? And can you trust that this is the beginning of the victory?!

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to shake

the desert sand out of my shoes

… Promised Land, here I come!

Oct 13 - Always God's Chosen

To conclude our discussion from last week, there was one more part of the sermon.

It’s a part, in fact, that many of us have wondered about for years.

•      The Jews were God’s people.
•      Many Jews rejected Jesus.
•      Are they still God’s people?
•      And is there any hope (or role) for them in the future?

I’ll let the Apostle Paul answer! And I invite you to read the next section out loud!  like a real letter being read to you. (That always helps me not skip over details.)

Paul says … Romans 9:2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 … for my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed -- cut off from Christ! -- if that would save them. 4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God's special children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave his law to them … 5 and Christ himself was a Jew as far as his human nature is concerned. … 7 [But] the fact that they are descendants of Abraham doesn't make them truly Abraham's children. …

10:2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. … They are clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. [But] they won't go along with God's way. 4 For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. [And] all who believe in him are made right with God.

11:1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people, the Jews? Of course not! …

11:7 [But] this is the situation: Most of the Jews have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly.

11:11 [But shall] God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! His purpose was to make his salvation available to the Gentiles, and then the Jews would be jealous and want it for themselves. …

11:25 I want you to understand this mystery … Some of the Jews have hard hearts, but this will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to Christ. 26 And all Israel will be saved … 28 The Jews are still his chosen people because of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29 For God's gifts … can never be withdrawn. …

11:33 Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are his riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his methods! …36 For everything comes from him; everything exists by his power and is intended for his glory. To him be glory evermore. Amen.

Re-read 11:25-28 as Jesus points to that awesome day when his covenant people turn to him again in faith …

Matthew 23:37 Jesus said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you… 39 I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

What is the fate of the Jews? Complementing what we’ve already read, the Book of Revelation describes it like this …

•      Revelation paints the picture of things getting worse before they get better.

•      Early on, during these final days, it says God will seal and save 144,000 Jews (Revelation 7:1-8).

•      But then the tribulation will deepen.

•      Through earthquakes, wars, famines, and other cataclysmic events, large percentages of the world population will be killed, including two-thirds of the Jews (Revelation 12:13-17 & Zechariah 13:8-9).

•      But then God’s covenant people will finally come to the end of themselves and finally wake up to Jesus’ true identity! Then they will turn to God and receive Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah! (Zechariah 12:10 & Romans 11:25-28).

Let us close with these words … written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth and not yet fully fulfilled …

Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that, when they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

Jesus was pierced for our sins too. Let us weep alongside our Jewish brothers and sisters for we all are still piercing him.

Oct 12 - Moses and Jesus: The Major Prefiguring (and the Wow!)

•      Two days ago, I showed the minor ways in which Moses prefigured Jesus.
•      Today we focus on the major ways.
•      I’ll tell you why at the end!

Moses and Jesus both interceded for God’s people.

•      Exodus 32:11 Moses interceded with the Lord his God: “Lord, why does your anger burn against your people …?”
•      Romans 8:34 Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, interceding for us. 

Moses and Jesus both make an atonement for people’s sins.

•      Exodus 32:30 Moses said, "You have committed a great sin; but now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make an atonement for your sin“
•      Romans 3:25 “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood.” / 1 John 4:10 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Moses and Jesus both “established” a New Covenant through the use of blood

•      Exodus 24:8 “Moses took the blood and dashed it on the people, and said, ‘See the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.’”
•      1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

Moses and Jesus both Mediated the Law

•      Moses gave the Law (which was from God).
•      Jesus fulfilled the Law, saying, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” 

Moses and Jesus both did the work of Prophets, Priests, and Kings.

•      They are the only two in Scripture who perfectly fulfilled all three of the most important roles in Jewish History

Moses and Jesus both mediated the Passover Sacrifice

•      Moses (from God) instituted the Passover sacrifice.
•      Jesus was the perfect and final Passover sacrifice. 

Moses and Jesus both delivered their people from bondage

•      Moses delivered them from slavery in Egypt.
•      Jesus delivers us from bondage to sin.

Moses and Jesus both bring God’s people from slavery to the freedom of the Promised Land.

•      While Moses didn’t actually get to go in, he still brought God’s people to the Promised Land of Canaan.
•      Jesus finally and eternally brings us to the true Promised Land of Heaven!

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

1.        I hope this makes you say, “Wow! Our God is an active God.”
2.      The Jews in Jesus’ day – knowing Moses and seeing Jesus – should have said, “Jesus really is the Messiah, the Son of God.”
3.      Some did.
4.      Too many didn’t.
5.      As a result, has God forsaken the Jews? As the Apostle Paul would say, “By no means!” (Indeed, see Romans 9-11. In fact, tomorrow, I’ll show you a quick discussion on this matter.)
6.      Indeed, God’s final, prophetic plan for humanity flows through Jerusalem and the redemption of the Jews (along with the redemption with all who have faith!).
7.      And I believe the prophecies and prefigurings of Jesus (like these which mirror Moses) will finally click into place for the Jews and they will say, “Wow! How did I miss this before!”

“Wow!!!” Are you saying it yet?! If so, you’re ready for what will be revealed tomorrow’s sermon. (Did you get that email about the next few sermons? God’s call always works best when we start with a sense of wonder!)

Note:

All prejudice is wrong. But anti-Semitism is an infinitely greater wrong. Throughout history, the world has persecuted and scapegoated the Jews. Many of us have been taught to subtly (yet offensively) participate in that too. While we don’t build Holocaust ovens, our society, nevertheless, makes jokes about Jews and money. But what we joke about reveals in fact the character of our heart.

The question is: Why have the Jews – a small percentage of earth’s population – been a massively disproportionate object of hatred and oppression throughout the generations?

I think part of it is that Satan hates the Jews and believes that by persecuting God’s people, he can frustrate the plans of God. Therefore, I believe that “the father of lies” whispers gossip, envy, and hatred. And I believe too many humans (including way too many Christians) go along, mostly naively and unintentionally, with this hatred.

Have you? Stop the jokes and start the prayers.

It sounds like a bad movie line, but "God has a message for you."

If you aren't in the Charlotte area or members of Spirit of Joy, 

pray for us as we launch a bold new vision.

We’re tired of being in the wilderness. 

We’re ready for God’s plan and the Promised Land. 

Please pray for open hearts.

•      People are tired, lost, hurting, and worried. I grieve more over it every day.
•      In the midst of my cries, God has been speaking powerfully to me this Fall.
•      I desperately need to share God’s Vision with Spirit of Joy!
• 
  

I know you’re busy, but please come to Worship, this Sunday and next. This is bigger than any weekend clubs, campouts, and competitions. I’d even urge you to come back early from a vacation. Why? Because I believe GOD’S ANSWER will prove much more restful and freeing than one extra night in the mountains and much more victorious than one more game on a long schedule. Please do this for me … please do this for yourself … please come Sunday, October 13 and 20. —Pastor Ed

Oct 11 - Prophecies being fulfilled in our day (?) (!!!)

When I was growing up, I was taught that while maybe God acted in the past, he doesn’t (really) act now.

Rendering God impotent-on-the-big-issues had the (unintended) effect of rendering him irrelevant on the smaller, day-to-day issues too … like my life.

God was painted as a distant deity. An inactive God. He may have existed … and maybe in some mystic way he could still comfort and encourage … but basically, we were on our own to “do life.”

That view may be well-intentioned … but it bears zero resemblance to the witness of scripture!

While none of us knows exactly when the next round of prophetic fulfillments will take place (see Matthew 24:36!), scripture repeatedly urges us to be awake and ready! Jesus spoke to the sleeping Pharisees in his day, saying, “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky” [and the signs and seasons of nature] “but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”

With no prediction of where history is heading – but wanting you to be much more curious – here are some fascinating prophesies that have been fulfilled in recent generations … ¹

The Jewish people will be re-gathered from the four corners of the earth.

Fulfillment: 20th Century and continuing

Isaiah 11:11  Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover … the remnant of His people … 12  And He will assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

The state of Israel will be re-established.

Fulfillment: May 14, 1948

Ezekiel 37:21  Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22  and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel …

The Jews will once again re-occupy the city of Jerusalem.

Fulfillment: June 7, 1967

Zechariah 8:7 Thus says the Lord of Hosts … 8 I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.’

The land of Israel will be reclaimed from its desolation, becoming once again a land of agricultural abundance.

Fulfillment: 20th Century and continuing

Personal note: It’s amazing to see what is growing in the most desolate deserts you can imagine!

Ezekiel 36:34  “The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation … everyone who passes by 35  will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’

All the nations of the world will come together against Israel over the issue of the control of Jerusalem.

Fulfillment: Currently occurring

Zechariah 12:1 This is the burden of the word of the Lord concerning Israel. Thus declares the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, 2  “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around … 3 All the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. … 2 And when the siege is against Jerusalem … 3  in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone [and] all who lift it will be severely injured. 

Prophecies Yet To Be Fulfilled The nations of the world will attack Israel in a coordinated effort to annihilate this nation.

Psalm 83:6 These Edomites and Ishmaelites, Moabites and Hagrites, 7 Gebalites, Ammonites, and Amalekites, and people from Philistia and Tyre … 8 Assyria has joined them too [i.e. The Arab countries] 4 say, "Come, let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the very memory of its existence."

[Some say that this will be the first of two major battles.

The second battle will include – see italic below …]

Ezekiel 38:2 Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal [Russia] … 5 Persia [Iran], Ethiopia, and Libya … with all their weapons. 8 will be called into action … a long time from now .... In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be lying in peace after her recovery from war and after the return of her people from many lands. 11 You will say …12 “I will go to those once-desolate cities that are again filled with people who have returned from exile in many nations. I will capture vast amounts of plunder … 14 "Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog [Russia]. Give him this message from the Sovereign LORD … 15 You will come from your homeland in the distant north with … your mighty army, 16 and you will cover the land like a cloud. This will happen in the distant future. I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you. Then all the nations will know that I am the LORD. 18 But when Gog invades the land of Israel … 21 I will summon the sword against you … 22 I will punish you … with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! 23 Thus … I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the LORD!

Again, I’m not predicting where any of this is heading. But isn’t some of this eerily similar to this past month’s headlines?

As Syria deteriorates as a city …

Prophesied in Isaiah 17:1-3? “Damascus is … to be removed from being a city. … The fortified city will disappear.”

Russia (Gog) is suddenly reasserting world dominance.

Some are arguing that in one week last month the U.S. (which was rebuked nationally and internationally over our weakness in handling the Syrian situation) abdicated our role as world leader (Pax Americana dominated peacefully from 1943-2013) and handed it over to a resurgent Russia (Pax – or “peace” – may not define Russian stewardship under the leadership of the former head of the KGB).

Curious!

And again, I’m not predicting anything. I just want you to say, “Hmm. Maybe I ought to pay more attention!”

Or here’s the real key … “Maybe I ought to be living with a greater sense of urgency!!!”

Note 1:

Much of this is taken directly from David R. Reagan of Lion and Lamb Ministries, http://www.lamblion.com/articles/articles_jews12.php. (The danger of footnoting: When citing any human being – especially any internet commentator – I surely can’t say I agree with 100% of what he believes because I surely haven’t read 100% of his writings! I’m just saying that on this matter, his summary is quick and helpful!)

Note 2:

Historically, prophecy has been fulfilled on multiple levels. It was written, originally, yes, for the people of the prophets day. But as is the case with many Messianic prophesies (prophesies of Jesus), the fulfillment in the prophets day prefigured the fulfillment in Jesus’ day. Indeed, it’s the dual fulfillment that has been historically understood as revealing the power, sovereignty, and consistency of the Lord!

I say this because many “modern” scholars have a different take. And I want you to hear this from me before you go researching. There is a school of thought that says if these prophecies were fulfilled at all, they were fulfilled in the past. For example, Isaiah was speaking of Judah’s 5^th Century BC return from Exile, not some 20^th Century AD return after a Holocaust. (In fact, do a little digging and you’ll find that most of these “scholars” claim that Isaiah’s prophecy wasn’t “prophecy” at all. They generally believe that passages like this were written after the event.)

Before you go researching, know the two worldviews!!! One says “our God is an active God.” The other is what I described at the beginning of today’s reflections. It may be well-meaning, but they essentially describe an impotent God (and a man-made Bible) that ultimately is irrelevant to our lives.

Oct 10 - The Minor Ways in which Moses Prefigures Jesus

There are three more devotionals yet, reflecting on last week’s sermon.

The fulfillment of prophecy is the theme. As you see God’s faithfulness throughout the generations, the point is to hopefully make you say, “Wow! God is active!” 

•      Today will focus on the minor ways in which Moses prophetically prefigures the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
•      Tomorrow will focus on how God is fulfilling many prophecies regarding the Jews in our lifetime.
•      Saturday will focus on the major ways in which Moses prophetically prefigures Jesus. 

Wait … what’s the connection between Moses-prefiguring-Jesus and the current prophecies swirling around Israel? The Jews were God’s people. The Jews ARE God’s people (God never goes back on his promises!). While the Jews should have recognized Jesus through the parallels to Moses, they’ll always have another chance. Though they didn’t recognize Jesus when he first came, I believe parallels like the ones with Moses will eventually tip many toward faith in Jesus, the Messiah.

Here are some of the ways in which Moses Prefigures Christ … and Christianity. (Note: The point of today is information. It’s a “hmm, that’s interesting” that will hopefully lead to a bigger “Wow!” in a few days.)

Both are born in a time of murderous kings

Pharaoh kills Hebrew babies. That’s why Moses’ parents floated him down the Nile in a basket. Herod’s slaughter of the innocents is why Jesus’ family was warned by an angel to flee to Egypt

Both of these Jews had an Egyptian childhood

Moses was obviously from Egypt. But scripture tells us that Jesus had an Egyptian childhood too: “And so [Jesus’ childhood] fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’” (citing Hosea 11:1)

Moses floating in a basket prefigures Christian Baptism

For Christians, Baptism is death and resurrection. (When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death … so that as Christ was raised from the dead … we too might live a new life.^{Romans 6:3-5}) Moses parents essentially “buried” him in the basket so he could live a new life.

Scripture is mostly silent on the long years before their ministry.

Duncan Ross wisely observers, “God’s preparation for ministry is primarily done privately in the daily, unremarkable situations of life.”

Both were in the wilderness before starting their ministry.

Moses was in the wilderness tending sheep for 40 years. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days.

Both performed many miracles

Exodus 7-14; Jesus throughout his ministry!

Both controlled the sea

Exodus 14:21; Matthew 8:26

Both fed a multitude of people

Exodus 16:15; Matthew 14:20-21

Both showed the light of God's glory on their faces

Exodus 34:35; Transfiguration -- Matthew 17:2

Both were scorned at home

Moses when he first returned Numbers 21:1; Jesus when he preached in Nazareth synagogue Luke 4:16-30

Both fasted for forty days

Exodus 34:28; Matthew 4:2

Both had seventy helpers

Numbers 11:16-17; Luke 10:1

Both taught the law from a mountain

Exodus 20; Matthew 5-7

Both endured rebellion from their people

Exodus 15:24; John 5:45-47

And those are the minor ones!

Here’s just the very first major one. Why should we see Moses life and ministry as a prefiguring of Jesus’ life and ministry? Because Jesus told us to!!!

John 3:16 is the Gospel in a sentence. In a few short words, scripture tells us about God’s amazing love, Jesus’ generous sacrifice, the need for faith, and the eternal reward for believers.

But what does Jesus say immediately before this astounding Gospel-sentence? He says, pay attention to the parallels between me and Moses. He says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

Jesus is pointing to an event in Numbers 21:4-9. What are the parallels?^{www.evidenceunseen.com}

1.      In both events, people are dying because of their sin.
2. The Israelites sinned against God, and they were bitten by poisonous snakes.
3. We sin against God, as a result, we are dying of sin. Indeed, “the wages of sin is death." 
4. 
   
5.  2. The elevated object was the symbol of their judgment.
6. The snake was what killed the people in Israel.
7. The Cross was what judged people in Jesus’ time.
8. 
   
9. 3. The people didn’t have to perform works to save themselves.
10. All the Israelites had to do was look to the snake to be healed.
11. All we have to do is look to the cross to be healed.

Are you saying, “Hmm”?!!!

Stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Oct 9 - Upper Story vs Lower Story

Do you remember the movie, The Truman Show?

I want to use this old movie to help explain a term we're hearing about as our congregation progresses through Randy Frazee's study, called The Story. Pastor Frazee talks about the Upper Story vs. the lower story. The lower story is what we experience (and how we explain) the day-to-day. The Upper Story is God's bigger plans and purposes. We call our daily life real. And it seems real. It's all that most people know. But we're invited to discover a bigger reality. That's God's Upper Story … and that's where The Truman Show comes in.

           

Truman is a 30-year-old man whose entire life has been filmed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, since the moment he was born. But he doesn't know he's part of a reality show.

How is that possible? Before he was born, a TV company constructed a dome. They made up a community (and a "world") just for him – with thousands upon thousands of tiny little cameras. And everyone, from parents … to friends … to girlfriends … are actors.

           

But his actions are real.

He doesn't know he's part of a reality show, and people all over the world find that fascinating. They tune 24/7 every day for 30 years.

How does the reality TV show pull this off? They started early. When Truman was a little boy, they constructed a huge sound stage. They built a whole fictional city and placed it on an "island." When his father, an actor, wanted off the show, they saw an opportunity to make Truman more afraid of the outside world. They had Truman's father go sailing. They faked a "storm." And they let a little boy believe his father was dead.

It was high drama. It got great ratings. And their star, Truman, was more fearful … and even more bound to his "fake reality."

That's the way the world is for us. We call this world "real." And it seems real because it's all we've ever known. But just as Truman had a bigger, more real world of six billion people going on all around him, we have a bigger, more real reality going on around us. This world is just temporary. There is a greater spiritual existence that is eternal.

A few things begin to wake Truman up. A sound stage light falls from what he's always thought was the sky, and signals are crossed one day on the radio. He hears someone announce something like, "Truman's driving up Main Street. I need twenty actors over there quick, pretending to be shoppers, and remember to wave at Truman."

He finally makes a break for it. He sails away and after a few hundred yards runs into the sound stage wall! He feels his way along the edge of the sound stage until he finds a hidden set of stairs and escapes his "fake reality" and walks out into what is really real.

Do you see the parallels?

But can you guess why I almost didn't use this illustration? I didn't want to confuse anyone with the fact that in the movie there's an almost omnipotent director of "The Truman Show." I didn't want anyone to confuse this powerful character with God! But think about … Who is it, in the spiritual realm, who intentionally manipulates our view of reality? Who is it that constantly lies to us? Who is it that continually keeps us imprisoned?

God wants to set us free from this lower story of sin and death and invite us into his Upper Story of forgiveness, grace, freedom, and hope.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to experience real reality,

instead of our current reality-TV-type imitation

Oct 8 - Introduction to New Theme, Invitation to Prayer

This fall, our church is studying the Bible – actually, the whole Bible in a year, indeed the Bible as one-continuing-story. With Pastor Randy Frazee as our guide, we are studying The Story.

My sermons this fall are designed to complement the weekly themes of The Story. So far, we've studied 1) Adam (creation), 2) Abraham, 3) Joseph, and 4) Moses.

But a strange thing has happened (at least to me) as I've been preaching this fall. God is inspiring in me a greater urgency.

Last Sunday's sermon reflected some of that passion … and it included a whole lot of detail. Rather than just rushing past it, I promised to share the details with you through the devotions of these next several days.

Stay tuned this week as we discuss.

• The Upper Story vs. the lower story. In The Story, Pastor Frazee uses the terms "Upper Story" and "lower story" to point us beyond our daily understanding of life (the "lower story") to God's greater purposes for humanity (the "Upper Story").
• The many and incredible ways in which Moses prefigured Jesus.
• How the first-century Jews should have been awed by the parallels between Moses and Jesus, … but still missed the Messiah.
• God's current prophecies concerning Israel – which often seem to be fulfilled in our current headlines.
• How Paul (Romans 9-11) and the Book of Revelation speak of God's continuing love for the Jews, his irrevocable promises, and his continuing plan to redeem these covenant people.
• And how God will surely still use the parallels between Moses and Jesus (and many other prophecies too) to win back the hearts and minds of the Jews.

Pray for me. God is stirring a passion, but we're turning a corner. I've started big (God is real; God is active). Now, we'll become much more specific – How do each of us access the power of a "big God" and live bolder lives?

Pray for yourself. Do you want more power, more hope, more purpose in your life? God wants to do a great work in you. What will it take to get ready for it? It will surely cost you something. It may mean picking up a cross. It may mean laying down a false priority. But can you trust that rewards are life-changing. Pray that God will ready your heart.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's praying for you

… pray for me