Category: Discipleship

Did the Christmas Angels Sing?

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One of the most popular Christmas carols of all time is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Did you know Scripture does not say the angels sang? When they appeared to the shepherds, they were speaking, not singing.

In fact, there are only two times in Scripture where the angels are found singing. One is in Job 38:7. Here the message is a bit cryptic: “The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” “Morning stars” refers to the angels; the archangel Lucifer, before he fell and became Satan, was called “star of the morning, son of the dawn” (Isaiah 14:12). Job 38:7 describes the angels’ singing at creation. That took place before Adam sinned—perhaps even before Lucifer fell.

Revelation 5:8-10 describes another incident when angels sing. Four living creatures—these are angels—join with twenty-four elders in singing a new song to Christ: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”

So angels sang before the Fall of man, and after the curse is removed, they will sing again. In the meantime, they apparently minister without singing. It is as if they cannot sing while the earth is under God’s curse.

** Adapted from John MacArthur, in God With Us, the Miracle of Christmas, 1989.

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The Turning Point in History

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The birth of Jesus Christ, next to His crucifixion, was the most momentous event in the history of the world. It became the focal point of all history. Everything before Christ looked forward to His birth, and everything since then looks back at Him. It was such a crucial event that now all the world numbers years according to it. B.C. means “before Christ,” and A.D. means “anno domini,” “in the year of our Lord.” Today, in order to minimize Christianity, the phrase has changed to CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before Common Era)…but who are they kidding?

 

Jesus made an impact on the world that has never been, and never will be, equaled by any mere man. In all the annals of the human race, no one is like Him. He never wrote a book. He never held political power. He was not wealthy or particularly influential in His lifetime. Yet He altered the world completely; in fact, no other human being has affected history remotely like He has.

 

He has been opposed, hated, fought, censored, banned, and criticized in every generation since His birth. Yet His influence continues. After two thousand years, the impact of His life goes on so powerfully that it is safe to say not a day passes but that lives are revolutionized by His teaching.

 

** Adapted from John MacArthur, in God With Us, the Miracle of Christmas, 1989.

City of Angels

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There are quite a few movies or shows that depict people conversing with angels, if not God Himself: City of Angels, Bruce Almighty, Joan of Arcadia, Touched by an Angel, and for those who can think way back, Highway to Heaven…

 

In my Bible study class this past Sunday, we began a new series on the life of Mary, taking a fresh look at how her story can be our story… not necessarily the pregnancy thing, but how the whole event was something unexpected. The point is, how does God use unexpected events and circumstances to move us along our journey with Him? And how do we respond to His leading?

 

So, the topic of angels came up as we looked at Gabriel, God’s messenger to Mary. I happened to mention an order in the universe regarding these spiritual beings… God as the highest being, angels and then mankind. This imprecise theology was questioned with the belief that it should be God, mankind and then angels. I needed to research a bit and wanted to follow up with my findings.

 

First, a few verses… 

  • 1 Corinthians 6:3 – “Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life.”
  • Hebrews 2:7 – regarding mankind… “Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.”
  • Hebrews 1.4 – “Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.”  

Ok, be sure that there is a debate over the order. Now for a few observations… 

  • On one side, angels are created beings as are humans, with limited knowledge – Matthew 24:36.
  • While limited in knowledge, they seem to possess greater knowledge than humans in some areas – like the angels that visited Lot (Genesis 19:13, they knew the city was going to be destroyed), or any messenger sent to mankind with a word from God. God never appears to use mankind to send a message to angels, suggesting a closer position.
  • Angels have an everlasting quality in their existence, unlike humans who die (at least physically).
  • Angels exist in the presence of God and serve Him, which is much better position than humans.
  • Angels have continuous access to the throne of God (yet we too have access through prayer) suggesting our position will be greater after this life.
  • Angels have power unlike humans, like to guard the entrance back into the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24) or to engage in intimidating battle as in 2 Kings 6:16-17 (if angels are actually piloting these horses and chariots of fire).
  • On the other side, unlike humans, they are not created in the image of God, suggesting humans have a superior position – Genesis 1:26-27
  • Angels do not receive or understand salvation – 1 Peter 12, perhaps Ephesians 3:10.
  • Angels have ever been adopted as fellow heirs with Christ – Romans 8:15.  

Back to the primary verses, and a few interpretations to add to the discussion: 

  • 1 Corinthians 6:3 – We will judge angels in the next life rather than this life; so at this point it appears that we are third in the pecking order until that day when we are sinless in the presence of God.
  • Hebrews 2:7 quotes Psalm 8:5 – Psalm 8:5 uses elohim (the plural form of “god”) translating it “a little lower than the gods” or “the spiritual beings” which we call angels (KJV uses angels). Psalm 8:6 includes an image of having dominion over the earth (referring to Genesis 1:26-27). Hebrews 2:7 actually uses the word “angels.” So, perhaps the angels with continual access to God are in a better position, until we enter His presence in our glorified bodies.
  • Hebrews 1:4 – This is in context of the Son being much more superior than the angels, a no brainer, but it appears that angels are servants of God. If angels are sent to care for humans, they might be in a more favorable or powerful position.  

Bottom line, the teaching is vague at best and open to interpretation, which makes this certainly a non-essential for one’s salvation. I will not be dogmatic about it one way or the other. Any thoughts?

Hearing the Voice of God

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Hearing God’s voice can be dangerous. That’s right. On one side you have someone discerning direction from God, perhaps through praying, reading the Bible, counseling with mature believers, etc. When this person actually “hears” from God, s/he is confronted with a choice… to obey or not to obey what is discovered. Following God’s will is often risky business! It is stepping out into new territory and taking steps of faith when you can’t see the outcome.

 

On the other side you have someone claiming to hear from God and this person firmly believes that God is telling him to do something that is contrary to His nature or His revealed Word. A dangerous scenario indeed; just look at religious extremists around the world.

 

Our ladies at King’s Grant Baptist have enjoyed Bible studies written by Priscilla Shirer. In her book, Can We Talk, she discusses how to better spend time in God’s Word, making it a two-way street of conversation. Listed here are the Five P’s of Hearing God’s Voice in Scripture: 

  • Position yourself to hear from God: Practice solitude and silence. Although God can speak anywhere, hearing from Him is easier if distractions are lessened. (Habakkuk 2:1)
  • Pour over the Scripture and paraphrase the major points:  You cannot skim over a passage if you expect God to speak! (James 1:25)
  • Pull out the spiritual principles: What lesson is God teaching? What is God revealing about Himself?
  • Pose the question: Form a directed question from each discovered principle. Does my life live out the message of the verse? What must I do to bring my life in line with this verse? Listen to the Holy Spirit as you answer.
  • Plan obedience and pin down a date: The Bible tells us to obey (James 1:22). Don’t just hear from God and forget it! Record your steps and take action, respond to what God has shown you. 

The Christian life is based on obedience! Jesus said is well, basically, “How can you love me and not do what I say?” If we want to hear God’s voice, we must be willing and serious about obeying Him. 

Gift-Giving During a Money Crunch

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Times are tough. Money is tight. While many Christians are hoping for a white Christmas, for a lot of us, we might be anticipating a blue Christmas. Gas prices may be half of what they were a month ago but the cost of everything else is still pretty high!

 

Our kids are caught in a materialistic society, and parents are not immune. We want the newest gadget, the latest toy, the upgraded phone or gaming system. When do we reach a level of satisfaction and contentment? Oops, that’s for another time…

 

Gift-giving is a Christmas tradition in the western world; it is expected. Our kids cannot even imagine Christmas without packages. We might like the message of the Grinch; that Christmas came anyway, even without all the packages, boxes and bags. Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more! But how can we emphasize the Gift of Christmas over Christmas gifts?

 

Here’s a radical idea, how about choosing gifts this year based on a biblical theme? ** For example, as we read about Jesus in Luke 2:52, that He grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man, perhaps we can find items to fit these four categories. Give a board game or a book that promotes wisdom. Stature might warrant clothing or a sporting item. A devotional book might help your child grow in favor with God. A DVD or a video game might foster relationships with their friends. It would be important to explain the significance of each of these gifts!

 

Helping your kids understand a family budget might cut back on the notion that mom and dad have money growing on a tree somewhere. Resist using your plastic! Explain the reality of Proverbs 22:7 (just one verse after the admonition to train our children in the way they should go).

 

You can always find a way to serve others, taking the focus off of ourselves and putting on to others. Giving back is the latest craze. Gather items for our Christmas basket give-away. Bake cookies for your neighbors or shut-ins. Sponsor a child in the Chande Orphanage Project. Serve a meal at the homeless shelter.

 

Christmas will always be meaningful to a believer, whether there are a lot of packages under the tree or not. Focus on the reason for the season! Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

 

** I got this idea from Kelly King in Oklahoma. 

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Get Rid of Stinkin' Thinkin'

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I recently read about Nancy Kline, author of Time to Think, who has spent more than 20 years coaching companies and individuals to think more effectively and creatively. She has iden­tified 10 key enablers to improve thinking; and I like two in particular:

  • Listening with respect and without interruption.
  • Looking at all the facts in a situation. 

These two make sense to me… not bad suggestions for getting along with people… like at home, at work, in our marriages. Imagine, listening with respect and without interruption. To me this demonstrates dignity and assigns value to the other person. What they have to say is important, so we should listen carefully and not be thinking about how we should reply! Think of others as more important than yourself.

 

The other one, looking at all the facts before making a judgment is always a good idea! How often do we fly off the handle before we know all about what the current situation? Then comes the regret, embarrassment and perhaps other consequences with which we must deal.

 

How about wisdom from an ancient source? God has a great plan that has stood throughout the ages… take a look at Romans 12:2. 

 

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” 

 

A NEW WAY OF THINKING

Albert Einstein said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Yet if we look honestly at our lives, we often live “insanely.”

  • We want a better relation­ship with our wives, but we don’t implement the necessary changes to make it happen.
  • We want to spend more time with our children, but urgent things at the office keep us tied up.
  • We want to eat better and exercise more, yet the drive thru and the couch win out. You get the idea.

The longer we continue to live in the insanity of good intentions, the more likely that we’ll eventually become disillusioned and hopeless. Einstein understood our dilemma and said, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Amen, Albert.

 

RENEWING YOUR MIND

Our God is a God of newness. He wants us to think creatively and see life in fresh ways. Romans 12:2 says just that! Despite the fact that we’re constantly thinking, most of us tend not to think much about the qual­ity of our thoughts. Paul tells us on what we ought to think, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Phil 4:8).

 

God gave us amazing minds that can solve problems, dream big dreams, and seek His will if we will but use them! If you feel like you’re stuck in a cycle of insanity, give your­self permission to think differently. Break out of the insanity of “conformed” thinking.

 

SO NOW WHAT?

Identify an area of your life that conforms too closely to the patterns of this world. How can you change it? Develop an action plan to change your thinking. The old saying is still true, “Garbage in, garbage out.” Works with computers, works with the human mind. There is a lot of stuff out there that will inhibit our progress toward our goal (or becoming better fathers, husbands, bosses or employees).

 

One does not have to join a monastery to gain the mind of Christ, but we do have to take ourselves off the throne of our lives and allow our sovereign Boss to guide us throughout life. How does that happen? By simply getting into His Word and letting it permeate our lives! Thoughts will modify attitudes, attitudes will modify behavior, and behavior will demonstrate what we consider to be our life’s priorities. 

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Activity Without Achievement

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I recently ran across this story:

 

In a somewhat recent story in the L.A. Times, legendary coach John Wooden gave a different take on his famous saying, “Be quick but don’t hurry.” During UCLA’s game against Kansas, Wooden noticed Kansas was sometimes out of control and hurried too much. “I call that activity without achievement;’ said Wooden. (Source)

 

GETTING NOWHERE QUICKLY

Continuing the basketball theme, a basketball team that continues to aimlessly throw the ball around the perimeter of the defense without ever looking to attack will soon discover that the shot clock is quickly winding down and they’ve got to launch something up or they’ll turn the ball over with a shot clock violation. That kind of offense is, as Coach Wooden put it, “activity without achievement.” Too many unproductive trips down the court like that and they’ve got no shot at winning the game.

 

We sometimes do the same thing in life. We busy ourselves with a flurry of activity but seldom question whether our activity is achieving anything significant. We figure that as long as we’re doing stuff, good things must be happening. That’s not necessarily the case. Honestly, one of the hardest things to do in life is think clearly and well. It’s so much easier to avoid tough questions and just mindlessly go with the flow.

 

GETTING SOMEWHERE RIGHT ON TIME

The key to personal effectiveness, to achieving anything worthwhile, is to trust the Lord for a game plan and for the ability to execute it. We can accomplish more in an hour with His help than we can in a week without it. Or, as Psalm 127:1 puts it: “Unless the LORD builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain.” So go ahead and work hard. But be smart about it.

 

QUESTIONS FOR THE MEN OF STEEL TO CONSIDER

1.   Have you ever been called a work-a-holic? Why?

2.   What does Solomon renounce in Ps 127:1? How do those who rely upon their own efforts see their work? (127:2)

3.   Is the beginning of this psalm tied to the end? What is said about large families? What happens at the gate?

4.   Is God building your business? Family? Support systems? Or are you?

5.   Jewish society promoted big families. Are the obsolete today? Does society help or hurt family unity?

 

BOTTOM LINE

Are there areas of your life where you feel like you’re laboring in vain? Ask yourself if you’re trusting the Lord in these areas. 

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Steps to Strengthen Your Marriage

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Here’s a straight forward bulleted list of ways to strengthen your marriage: 

  • Communication: Men are so good at communication in other areas of their lives, like at work and during leisure activities, but for some reason we fail to connect with our spouse. Listen to her and let her know how much she means to you.
  • Partnership: Find ways to include your spouse in community and ministry activities. Help raise the children and take responsibility for the spiritual development of the family, too.
  • Affirmation: Praise your spouse often and in public! She needs to know how proud you are of her, and how much you need her in your life.
  • Stress Reduction: Learn to take care of yourself, refuse to run on empty. Men, you are not invincible! Share some relaxing activities or take a walk together.
  • Boundaries: Our busyness can bring about a moral failure; we need boundaries to be emotionally healthy, physically rested and spiritually nourished. It’s hard to resist temptation when we are drained. Learn to set priorities, keeping the important things close to your heart.
  • Practical Expression: Plan time together, thank her for her support of you, and give her the gift of uninterrupted listening, talk about personal goals and dreams. Remember the reason you married her in the first place!

–General outline is from Frank Lewis, FBC Nashville, TN 

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Change that is Really Needed

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Presidential candidates always promise change; one says he can deliver and the other says he can’t. We crave what the word represents, with a hope that perhaps one man truly can make a difference. But how will America experience real change? We have to change the society! Consider the information in the box, on how to get society right…

getmenrightIn his book, Wild at Heart, John Eldridge tells us that since men are made in the image of God, they understand their own natures by looking at how God has expressed His own nature. He mentions three expressions: a warrior, a lover and an adventurer.

  1. As a warrior, God battled satan for the souls of men.
  2. As a lover, Jesus gave himself for his bride, the church.
  3. As an adventurer, God created humanity and risked everything by giving us freedom to reject him.

So, the author contends that men are looking for a battle to fight, a beauty to rescue, and an adventure to live.

In the series, Quest for Authentic Manhood, Robert Lewis teaches that men need to look at the example of Jesus’ masculinity as their test for true north. We either live in the shadow of the first Adam (mere existence) or the second Adam (a life-giving spirit) (see 1 Corinthians 15:45-49, Romans 5:17-19). The shadow a man chooses determines the kind of man and father he will become.

Why is Men’s Ministry so important? Because so much is at stake! Men are in a battle for their souls, their marriages, their families, and you see that society is ultimately affected. Let’s change America together; leaving no man left behind.

Gentle Jesus Meek and Mild?

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I think it is important to help children see the manhood of Jesus, but I’m afraid we don’t get a lot of help in this regard. I imagine that in the typical church, listening to sermons and Bible studies one hears only the softer side of Christ presented. As a matter of fact, a friend of mine who is in full time men’s ministry recently asked participants in two seminars to list characteristics of Christ. In both the women’s seminar and the men’s seminar, the descriptors were words like loving, forgiving, kind, compassionate, gentle. These are but a few words that are not very compelling to men.

 

I agree Jesus was all of these things; the most incredible example of each of these characteristics, but there’s more. He was also the most worthwhile example of courage, tenacity, service, assertiveness, righteousness, leadership, determination and godliness. These are characteristics that are more likely to get a man’s attention. Think about it, do we hear about these things often enough in sermons or in our Bible studies?

 

As an example, my friend Mike, from Noble Warriors, shared this story:

 

A couple of years ago I was asked to fill in as a substitute coach for my son’s Upward team. At the end of the game, I got to celebrate the kid’s efforts by giving out stars. After each game, stars are given to kids to recognize; Best Offense, Best Defense, Best Effort, Best Sportsmanship and Most Christlike.

 

There were eight kids on the team, four boys and four girls. This was week five in the season. I looked at the recognition chart and realized that all four girls had been awarded Most Christlike stars, one each week for the previous four weeks. Not a single boy had been awarded a Most Christlike star. Wow! I think that we have all been programmed to think about how nice Christ was and it’s probably easier for most of us to see someone being nice on the soccer field and recognize that child as Christlike.

 

I made a quick decision and gathered the parents around for the recognition time. I gave out the other stars then proceeded to explain that I like to observe characteristics of Christ that others may not think of very often. When I read the gospels, I see that Christ was tenacious, focused on the goal, determined, assertive, and that he was fully obedient to his Father’s will. I gave Most Christlike stars to two little boys who were tenacious, focused, determined, confident, assertive and obedient and made a big deal of how these two had followed Christ’s example of manhood.

 

I think we’d have more men following Jesus if we did a better job of helping men understand His incredible example of masculinity. I want to challenge you to keep this in mind as you read about Jesus in the gospels. Every time you read your Bible this week, look for passages where you recognize Jesus as an example of manhood. This simple challenge could open your eyes to some characteristics of Christ that you hadn’t noticed previously… and help you understand your own manhood.

The King’s Grant Men of Steel are meeting at the pavilion this Saturday, November 8 @ 7:30 to discuss this issue! 

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