Sometimes You Gotta Fire Jesus

 

“Sometimes you just gotta fire Jesus.  Jesus, you don’t work for me anymore…it’s time to go.”   The room feel silent as the words faded into the background of confused, shocked, and puzzled expressions.  “What did you say?”  someone asked.  It was then that the speaker realized his mistake.  And then we all laughed.

I just got back from a missions trip to Bolivia with three other guys from our church.  Our primary objective while we were there was to craft some business plans for some flourishing ministry projects in the community.  While in the middle of a planning session with an expert on Bolivian business law, the individual was passionately making his point that we needed to be careful about Bolivian labor laws–that when an employee like Jesus (not “Jesus” but “Haysus”–a common Bolivian name) needed to be fired, it need to be done immediately and in a lawful way.    Because he was constantly shifting back and forth between Spanish and English, the speaker said “Jesus” instead of “Jesus” (“Haysus”).   It was a funny moment. He really didn’t mean what he said.

The passage this weekend that we’ll be studying isn’t a funny moment, but a somber and a sad one.  And a it is a moment with a clear message and a powerful warning.

The Pharisee have rejected Jesus.  That had “fired him” as their Savior and Messiah a  long time ago.  Now they were actively trying to discredit and disparage Him, seeking every opportunity to undermine Him and trap Him with His own words.  In Matthew 23: 1-39 Jesus warns the crowd and disciples and then judges and condemns the Pharisees…and His words are harsh and to the point.  Over and over again He calls them hypocrites, blind guides, blind fools, snakes, vipers and to top it off…sons of hell.  Wow.  NOT a page out of the book   “How to win friends and influence people”.

Jesus makes it clear that if you “fire” Him, you risk Him “firing” you.  Literally.  Even the most religious of people can miss His Kingdom…miss His Grace…and miss Him entirely.  He makes it clear it’s not about “looking good” but “being good”…and no one is good enough on their own merit.  It’s not about BEHAVIOR it’s about our need for a SAVIOR.  Only through the righteousness of Jesus can we be good enough to enter His Kingdom (2 Cor. 5:21; Titus 2:4-7).  But He’s not for “hire”.  He demands that we follow Him.  Entirely.  All In.  No “ifs” “buts” or excuses or hesitations.  Because you don’t hire a King.  You don’t fire a King when you don’t get your way.  You follow a King on His terms, His way, with no conditions.

Are you firing Jesus?  Are you rejecting the truth of His Word?  His truth that has been spoken into your life by others?  When someone confronts you or I with His truth and we shut them out (or shut them up) we’re essentially firing Jesus.  Or when we get mad a God because we don’t get our way it shows we’ve hired Jesus.  On our conditions.  But He’s not for hire.

Jesus is looking for followers.  People who will follow Him on His conditions, not their own.  Are you a follower?  Or are you doing the hiring and firing?  Sometimes you’ve got to fire Jesus (“Haysus”).  But don’t make that mistake with Jesus.  Follow Him because He’s the Savior.  YOUR Savior.  Remember what He’s done for you.  What has He saved you FROM?  What has He saved you TO?  And where would you life truly be without Him?

 

Weird Isn’t Working

“WEIRD ISN’T WORKING”  That’s what the bumper sticker said yesterday.  When I saw it, I laughed.  There’s a non-conformist, I thought to myself.  One of my kids, who was riding with me, asked “What does THAT mean, Dad?”  I answered “Well, it think it’s in response to the “Keep Portland Weird” bumper stickers you see on other cars.” Then another question–”So what does THAT mean, Dad?”  At that point, I had to confess, I wasn’t really sure.  So I was intrigued and went to look it up.

I discovered through the miracle of Wikipedia (OK, NOT the best source, but good enough) that this was a “buy local” campaign started by Portland businesses to encourage people to buy…local.  OK, fair enough.  But I’ve also heard “Keep Portland Weird” as justification for…well…keeping Portland weird.  Recycling everything.  Driving tons of hybrid cars.  Eating Voodoo donuts. Visiting the 24 hr Church of Elvis (seriously?).  Riding in the Zoo-Bomb race (death-wish!).  Yarn bombing (what is THAT?).  You get the idea.

Then I was reminded through Webster’s Dictionary (a MUCH better source) what “weird” really means… “of strange or extraordinary character.”  Now that I can work with.

When I go to the Bible (THE VERY BEST SOURCE) I reminded that according to passages like Matthew 5:13-16 we are to be “salt” and “light” and to lives wholly (and holy) for Him.  Now that’s unique.  That’s extraordinary.  It’s also kind of…strange.  Even…weird.

When I look at my own life, the lives of other believers, and even our church communities I’m forced to ask myself…are we  “weird enough?”  In a number of cases, I think we could say (if we’re honest) “weird isn’t working.”  Do our lives look distinctively like Jesus’ or do we look pretty much like everyone else?  Are we generous?  Gracious? Forgiving?  Do we live out the Fruit of the Spirit?  Are we more loving than we were yesterday?  Last week?  Last year?

But then I’m reminded of what Jesus promises me (and you!)…the empowerment and presence of the Holy Spirit.  HIS Spirit.  I CAN do this.  Not just because of my own choices, but because of His power, His help, and His blessing.  And He WANTS me to succeed.  He WANTS to bless me.  He WANTS me to be obedient.  And in my true self, my heart of hearts, that’s what I want too.  And with His help, I WILL become who He is calling me to be.

So, are you WEIRD?  Is WEIRD WORKING?  If you don’t know, why not ask someone who will give you an honest answer?  And then decide what are you going to do about it…!  WEIRD WORKS WHEN YOU KNOW AND LOVE JESUS!

Dog Biscuits

There’s a story I know about a little boy I know who used to eat dog biscuits.  Really.  I’m not kidding.  One day, when he was looking for something to eat, he saw a box of Vitabone dog biscuits in the pantry…right at ground level.  He observed that the dog seemed to like them…so why not try one himself?  He ate one (it was the red colored one) and it didn’t taste bad.  He also noticed some soy sauce on the shelf, too.  So he sprinkled some on the NEXT dog biscuit and it was quite…tasty.  So he ate another…then another.  After while, those dog biscuits tasted pretty good…he got used to them.  Until one day his mom dad caught him with a mouthful of…you guessed it…dog biscuits. (My Mom and Dad never quite understood all that…maybe you don’t either, but give me chance here…)

In Matthew 14:13-21 is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 men (it was many more than that when you included the women and children).  One of the issues the parable speaks to is that we all have a spiritual hunger…we’re all hungry for only that which Jesus can provide.  But we don’t believe it.  Or at least you wouldn’t know it by how we live our lives.  John Calvin said that “the human heart is an idol-making factory.”  We always seem to be able to find a way to take a good thing(s) and make them the ultimate thing(s).  Over time, we convince ourselves that those things will satisfy our longings and appetites for what we’re really hungry for…fulfillment, satisfaction, joy, contentment.  Ultimately though, we find ourselves hungry yet again for the very things that may taste good to souls, but still leave us wanting more and more.  You and I have a spiritual hunger that only Jesus can satisfy. You can turn to religion, work, sex, money, relationships, or any other thing to satisfy your cravings, but you will only be left with an empty soul…again and again.  Don’t settle for dog biscuits…when Jesus wants to give a FEAST.  He is the bread of life.  Only through Him can your soul hunger be satisfied.

Left Behind…To Work…

On May 21st, 2011 a predication was made that Jesus would be making His return…and they got it half right…Jesus WILL return someday to establish His kingdom, to rule and to reign, to gather His people to Himself, but it wasn’t…on May 21st.

When I first heard the (false) prophesy about Jesus’ return on May 21st, my mind immediately recalled the many Scriptures (Acts 1:7 and Matthew 24:36 to name a few)  that tell us we DON’T know WHEN Jesus will return…just that He WILL return.  But I was reminded that there is another reason why Jesus hasn’t returned yet…because there’s still work to be done.

2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that Jesus hasn’t come back because “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  There are many more lives that need to be added to His kingdom.  Many more stories of people freed from addictions, healed from trama, having hope for the future because they’ve been changed from the inside-out.  In Matthew 9:34-39 Jesus asserted that “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Pray to the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”   As His followers we’ve been left behind…because He’s given us a mission…to go to this entire world with the Good News about Him.  We’ve been left behind…to work.  To be His workers.  And to change lives for Him.

If we REALLY want Jesus to come back as soon as possible, we can do a whole lot better than setting dates on a calendar, predicting a specific time or claiming we know “the day’.  Peter goes on to tells us “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” (2 Peter 3:11-12)

So the question isn’t “when is Jesus coming back” but “what can I do to bring Him back as soon as possible?’  The answer…is to work.  Live a Spirit-filled life that draws others to Him.  Seize every opportunity to tell others about Him, to call them to repentance and to the hope that is only found in Him.  Look for ways to love others, serve them and be an irresistible influence for Jesus.  Live this way and you’ll find His promise to be absolutely true…”and surely I’m with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:20) And then…He’ll come back!

When God Doesn’t Keep His Promises

Does God ALWAYS  keep His promises?

Before you answer this question…you need to ask yourself another question.  What is it that God promises me?  Does He promise me a trouble-free life?  Conflict-free relationships?  All the money I’ll ever need?  Good health?  A successful marriage that meets all my needs?  For that matter, that I’ll someday get married at all?  A  job that fulfills and satisfies me?  Children who make good choices…because I’m a good parent?  OK, I think I’ve made my point and you “get the drift” of where I’m going with this…before we can honestly (and accurately) evaluate whether God keeps His promises really starts with our own expectations…our perceptions…and God’s Word.

More often than I like to admit, I find myself disappointed, confused, or down-right mad at God because He dosen’t do what I want Him to do.  There.  I said it.  And I already feel better now that I’m owning my sinful attitude.  Yep.  That’s right…you read me right.  It’s called sin.

God’s Word is filled with examples of sinful men and women who expected God to do things their way, on their terms, based on their needs and their agenda  (start with Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis and go from there…).  But God’s Word is also filled with a multitude of promises and truths about God…and make no mistake about it…God ALWAYS keeps His promises.  Maybe the problem isn’t God keeping up His end of the bargain, but me keeping up mine.  Maybe I expect things from Him He never promised me.  That’s why I need to constantly be renewing my mind with His Word (Rom. 12:1-2), discerning His will, reminding myself of what He does promise me and clinging to those promises like my life depends on it…because it does…Because He ALWAYS keeps His promises.

Want to see the shining example of God keeping His promises?  Come celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with us this weekend.  There’s no greater example of God doing what He says He will do.  And He did it…for me…and for you.  Hope to see you on Sunday!

Next Page »