The Alabaster Box

⁶ Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. ⁸ But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? ⁹ For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. ¹⁰ When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. ¹¹ For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. Matthew 26:6-11

¹ Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. ² There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. ³ Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. ⁴ Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, ⁵ Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? ⁶  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. John 12:1-6

“After being away on business, Tim, thought it would be nice to bring his wife a little gift. ‘How about some perfume?’ he asked the cosmetics clerk.

She showed him a bottle costing $50.00. ‘That’s a bit much,’ said Tim, so she returned with a smaller bottle for $30.00.

‘That’s still quite a bit,’ Tim complained. Growing annoyed, the clerk brought out a tiny $15.00 bottle. ‘What I mean.’ Said Tim, ‘is I’d like to see something really cheap.’ So the clerk handed him a mirror.”

At Bethany: Worship versus Waste (Matt. 26:1–16)

Matthew does not claim to give us a chronological account of the events of the last week. At this point he inserted a flashback to describe the feast in Bethany and the beautiful act that Mary performed. The religious leaders were meeting to plot against Jesus, but His friends were meeting to show their love and devotion to Him.

By joining these two accounts, Matthew showed the connection between Mary’s worship and Judas’ betrayal. It was after the feast in Bethany that Judas went to the priests and offered his help (Mark 14:10–11). The Lord’s rebuke triggered Judas’ response.

The feast at Bethany took place “six days before the Passover” (John 12:1) in the house of Simon the leper. Apparently he had been healed by the Lord Jesus. There were at least seventeen people at this dinner: Simon, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Jesus, and the 12 Apostles. True to her character as the “doer” in the family, Martha did the serving (Luke 10:38–42). The three key persons in this event are Mary, Judas, and Jesus.

Mary (v. 7). John identifies this woman as Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus. She is found only three times in the Gospels, and in each instance she is at the feet of Jesus.

· She sat at His feet and listened to the Word (Luke 10:38–42);

· she came to His feet in sorrow after the death of Lazarus (John 11:28–32);

· she worshiped at His feet when she anointed Him with the ointment (John 12:1ff).

Mary was a deeply spiritual woman.

· She found at His feet her blessing,

· she brought to His feet her burdens, and

· she gave at His feet her best.

I want you to see four things in this scriptural account as they apply to us. First, the resource of Mary; second, the rash act of Mary; third, the reason for Mary’s sacrifice; and fourth, the response of the disciples.

The Resource

Mary was not a wealthy woman. This alabaster box containing such expensive perfume very possibly represented her life’s savings. It was worth 300 denari, which was about a year’s salary in those days.

Alabaster is a beautiful semi-transparent gemstone. It was used to make containers which would hold only the most expensive and precious contents. When the contents were extremely precious, the makers would work the stone in such a way that the only way to empty it would be to break the container.

This perfume was made from the oil of an herb plant called nard and was only found in India in Biblical times, so this was a precious import and it could very well have been a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation. In biblical times, perfume was stored in an alabaster jar and could only be used once. Once you broke the seal of the jar, it had to be used at that moment, or it would loose its fragrance. Mary knew that this would be a one time deal. She was willing to give it all or nothing.

The point is that Mary’s resources were limited. She did not have the means to do what she did. She had probably secreted this away for a long time, thinking that if times ever got really tough, she would have something to fall back on.

It’s not so much what you give to God that counts in his eyes. It is how much what you give means to you that matters. We tend to measure our gifts horizontally…that is we figure out how much is expected of us or how much we think is reasonable and fair and we give accordingly.

We need to give our gifts to God on a vertical measure. Make it between you and God, not you and the world. This is what happens when a spirit of giving sweeps across a congregation. It happened at the General Conference in Columbus in 2006. God does not look at what you give, but what you have left after you give and what your gift means to you.

The Rash Act

Sacrifice never seems reasonable. I am not speaking exclusively of financial matters here. I will tell you that any time you contemplate making a step for God, it will seem to you and to others around you as rash, unreasonable, even stupid.

What? Give up your career? Give up your status? Give up you good looks (in the minds of some.) Give up your freedom and independence? Give up your friends?

Serving God never works out on paper, especially when the devil is telling you what numbers to write down. But God has a calculus to use that the devil can’t touch. Things that don’t make sense to you always make sense to God.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38

Mary anointed both the head and the feet of the Master, and wiped His feet with her hair. A woman’s hair is her glory (1 Cor. 11:15). She surrendered her glory to the Lord and worshiped Him with the precious gift that she brought. It was an act of love and devotion that brought fragrance to the whole house.

The Reason

It is important for us to remember that Jesus had been teaching his disciples that he was going to die. They did not believe him. Go back to Matthew 16:21.

²¹ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. ²² Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. ²³ But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Jesus’ rebuke of Peter was an attempt to shock him back into reality. God will always warn us of things that are coming. Either he will use His Word, or the words of his servants, or He will use incidents that take place in the world.

I believe that the economic crisis we are in right now is God’s attempt to awaken the church to endtime prophecies. The “American Dream” that has motivated many people has no place in Bible prophecy.

I heard a man say the other day that he lost $70,000 in one week’s time from his 401(k) pension plan. Another man asked, “Is that all?” How many of you—if you knew you were going to lose $70,000 would just as soon given that money to missions rather than the federal government, or the banks who gave out bad mortgages? Yes. Easy to say AFTER YOU’VE LOST THE MONEY!

I wonder when we’re going to get silver-edged, laced thank you notes in the mail from the government, thanking us for the nice donations we made to failing banks, insurance companies and investment firms? Forget it. They didn’t ask us if they could have it and they’re not going to thank us for giving it. In fact, we didn’t give it. They just took it. Welcome to the new USSR.

The Bible always judges us on the basis of our commitment to God, not on our success (or lack thereof) in this world—according to the definitions of this world.

²⁴ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. ²⁶ For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. ²⁸ Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Matthew 16:21-28

Because she had listened to His word, Mary knew that soon Jesus would die and be buried. It seems that she also knew that His body would not need the traditional care given to the dead because His body would not see corruption (Ps. 16:10; Acts 2:22–28).

Too many people wait until they see their way clear before they act. Not so with Mary. Instead of anointing His body after His death, she did so before His death. It was an act of faith and love.

The Response

Mary’s act did something else. It revealed the carnality and true motive of Judas. Take note of this.

Every sermon, every service, every act of sacrifice triggers both a positive and negative response. Some people are moved; others are resistant. Some surrender themselves; others steel themselves. It brings out the best in some; it brings out the worst in others.

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, ⁵ Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? ⁶  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. John 12:1-6

Judas (vv. 8–9). The disciples did not know the true character of Judas. His criticism of Mary sounded so “spiritual” that they joined him in attacking her. We know the real reason Judas wanted the ointment sold. It had nothing to do with the poor. The money would go into the treasury and he would be able to use it (John 12:6).

What are your resources?

What rash act are you prepared to do for God?

What ultimate reason or purpose will be served by your sacrifice?

What response will be triggered deep within your soul?

It cost the Simoneaux family their twelve year old son’s health. Timothy was rushed to a South African hospital diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, a fatal disease. God healed him. He stood on the conference platform at Greensboro, worshipping God with his missionary parents. The disease had destroyed his hearing in one ear. We prayed for him and his hearing was restored instantly! He kept snapping his fingers in his ear and saying, “I can hear. I can hear!” On Tuesday night, Bro. Jerry Richardson came up to us at a restaurant in Gatlinburg and said. “I just got an email five minutes ago. The boy just went to the doctor and 64% of his hearing has returned to his ear. He will not need a hearing aid!” The family is going back to Africa.

The Bennie DeMerchant family had a different result. Their son, Bennie Jr. was diagnosed with cancer. Eventually, they lost him at sixteen years of age. Guess what? Bennie and Theresa DeMerchant got their PIM’s completed at conference and they are headed back to Manaus, Brazil. They are in their late sixties.

Whether we win or lose, we sacrifice. If we win here, wonderful. If we lose here, the reward will be on the other side.

“He that cometh to God must believe that he is; and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Christ and the Church

²¹ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. ²² Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. ²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:21-27

One of the most frequent topics in the world today focuses on relationships. People want to know what they are, how to get into them, how to fix them, how to improve them and how to get out of them. This is because most of us know how important relationships to the entire fabric of life.

How much do your relationships affect you? All of us understand the reality and need for relationships in our lives, but few of us understand the impact they make on us.

Maybe an illustration from the world of physics will help us grasp this idea. We know that the gravitational force on Earth pulls everything toward the ground. This concept was formulated by Sir Isaac Newton, the renowned scientist of the 1600’s, who observed an apple falling from a tree and began to wonder why. He determined that a universal attraction affects all masses of matter through the force of gravity. This is called the Theory of Universal Gravitation.

He posited that not only does the Earth propel the apple toward it by the force of gravity, but the apple also pulls the Earth toward it by that same force. In the same way, every person in one’s circle of family, friends and acquaintances affects that person.

Conversely, that same person also has an affect on every other person in his or her universe. This creates an enormous and complex network of interdependent people, all of them connected to each other in some way, whether directly or indirectly. The things we hear, see and feel in other people in our network exerts either a positive or negative force on us.

There are many ways you can test this concept. You can start with the impact your parents had on you. Your physical appearance, behavior and personality were directly produced by your mother and father through your DNA . The primary way that babies and toddlers learn is by imitating others. Your accent is the product of the speech brogue in the locale in which you were raised. Your loyalties and preferences are most likely shaped by the people, groups and institutions in your same city or state. Social scientists have coined terms like acculturation and socialization to describe how people come to hold views espoused within the norms of their particular culture.

The noted criminologist Edwin H. Sutherland formulated the theory of differential association based on his findings that people develop criminal minds through associating with other people of similar backgrounds and experiences. Groupthink, gangs, peer groups, classes, schools, cadres, political parties, clubs, factions, denominations and wings all testify strongly to the behavior of people in groups.

The old saying, “birds of a feather flock together,” refers to the fact that people tend to stick with those who most likely resemble themselves. The Bible says, “Evil communi-cations corrupt good manners.” Based on the realities of social development outlined above, we can readily see the powerful truth contained in this scripture.

A person who does not think in evil ways can grow to be evil through the company he or she keeps. A pure mind and heart can be corrupted by associating with people who have evil hearts. This means that a person’s life is not merely a function of his or her own internal thought processes. We often make huge decisions, not by intellectual musing, education or thoughtful analysis, but by the innate desire that we possess to conform to our group. Moreover, this pressure can be exerted upon us by even one significant person in our lives.

To put it bluntly, you do not make up your own mind. A little of what this person thinks and a little of what that person thinks become influential factors in your final decisions. Added to that, a desire to please one person or a strong resistance to one person contributes to the end result as well. Deny it if you want, but you are extremely interested in what people think about you. Even when you boast of your independent spirit, you are playing off of some person or group. You use people, good and bad, as your reference point in establishing your identity. Whether you seek their approval or you reject their control, you end up judging yourself by what they think.

Even though I am of a certain age, I still wonder what my father would think of decisions I make or developments in my life, twenty-five years after his death. In my mind, I have carried on conversations with him and imagined what he might have said. My ability to do this is based on my familiarity with his values and opinions, my knowledge of similar decisions he actually made, and my deep respect for him as a man. In a very real sense, he continues to influence my life today.

Other people who played a major role in my life also continue to speak into my life. High school teachers, college professors, bosses, ministers, coaches and relatives still govern my thought processes because of their words and examples. Psychologists believe that older adults often live their lives in quest of the approval of their parents—even after their parents are deceased!

Nothing else gives life as much fulfillment as a loving relationship between a husband and wife, but nothing causes as much misery as a hateful relationship in marriage.

A husband was advised by a psychiatrist to assert himself. “You don’t have to let your wife henpeck you. Go home and show her you’re the boss.”

The husband took the doctor’s advice. He rushed home, slams the door, shakes his fist in his wife’s face, and he growls, “From now on, you’re taking orders from me. I want my supper right now! And when you get it on the table, go polish my shoes. Tonight, I’m going out with the boys. And you are going to stay at home where you belong.

And another thing! Guess who’s going to comb my hair, give me a shave, and tie my tie?”

His wife says calmly, “The undertaker.”

The real topic Paul was addressing here was not marriage, but the relationship the church was to have with Christ. He was establishing the right premise, the right attitude and the right response of the church toward Christ within the given parameters of our walk with Him.

Think of the different levels of relationship a man and a woman can have.

• Friendship.
• Possible relationship.
• Interest in a relationship.
• Occasional date.
• Steady date.
• Boyfriend/girlfriend.
• Engaged.
• Married.

The dynamics change at each relationship level. The range spreads from no commitment or interest to total commitment.

The reason people must be very careful about how far they allow this relationship to progress is that you cannot be in a relationship without having the other party to fundamentally change your life, your goals, your welfare and your future. That’s why I counsel people to take it very slow and be very sure before they go to the next level.

Love-struck romantics often cast all care to the wind when they profess their love and commitment to each other. Unfortunately, their naiveté tanks all too quickly when they really learn what each other is made of. In pre-marital counseling, I take the lead in asking probing questions, like:

“Are you in debt?”
“Are you in trouble with the law?”
“Are you on parole?”
“Have you been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?”
“Have you ever been committed to a psychiatric facility?”
“Do you have serious health issues?”
“Have you discussed your health records?”
“Have you been honest about previous relationships?”
“Have you been a user of illegal drugs?”
“Do you have any dependents that you have not mentioned?”
“How secure is your job?”

Questions like these—and many more—are not only difficult to ask, people who want the relationship badly enough will consciously avoid asking them for fear that they will get the wrong answer. If this happens, they may forever rue the day that they put their heads in the proverbial sand and chose to be willfully ignorant. Pay now or pay later…that’s my advice.

This past Friday, my wife and I celebrated thirty-eight years of marriage. If you are looking for it, you do not need a greater testimony to her endurance and commitment than that!

When I said “I do” on that fateful day in November, 1970, I basically ceded control of my life over to her. It meant that I had to say no to the prospective list of young ladies who were possibly interested in me. It meant that she now controlled my check book and my bank accounts. It meant that she now had my name and could sign legal documents that would obligate me forever. It meant that all the legal, moral, social and spiritual obligations of marriage were now share between the two of us. Listen to these vows again:

“to be my wife (husband); to have and to hold, from this day forward; for better for worse; for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish until we are separated by death; as God is my witness, I give you my promise.

Better or worse; richer or poorer; sickness and health.

Those are huge stakes. They basically say that whatever…WHATEVER…the future holds, she and I are going to face it together. We are forever changed.

Jesus confirmed the concept. “Therefore shall a man leave his mother and father and cleave unto his wife and they two shall be one flesh.”

Relationship with Christ:

Many people enter into this relationship with a pie-in-the-sky illusion that it is absolutely free of cost, non-binding, fully-refundable, no-obligation kind of arrangement. Then, all of a sudden, they run into problems with their flesh, with the world, with their friends, with the devil. Things spin out of control and they think they have a faulty Bible and a non-performing Christ.

Salvation is not a pre-nuptial agreement.

This is the precise place where many people think about divorcing Christ before the ink is dried on the marriage contract. They have this notion that the wording was better, not worse; richer, not poorer; health, not sickness. They cannot believe that they cannot continue on living like they are single when, in fact, they have entered into a binding relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

A relationship, by definition, has a life-changing impact on a person.

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

If you truly want to walk with Christ, you have to understand the dynamics of the relationship. Living for God and walking with Christ does not fit well with a self-designed contract. No. There are not different versions of Christ. People may try to sell you knock-offs or imitations of the real thing, but they will not stand up in the heat of the day.

Ruth and Naomi

What kind of commitment level is there in walking with God? Pay close attention to the story of Ruth.

Ruth 1:12 “Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; ¹³ Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. ¹⁴ And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. ¹⁵ And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. ¹⁶ And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: ¹⁷ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. ¹⁸ When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.”

What does this mean to us?

My relationship to Christ is so pervasive, so all-inclusive, so permanent that wherever he goes, I go; wherever he stays, I stay; whoever his people are, they are my people; whoever he says is God, I say is God.

Let’s put it in context:

1 Corinthians 1:23-31

²³ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; ²⁴ But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. ²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: ²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; ²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: ²⁹ That no flesh should glory in his presence. ³⁰ But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: ³¹ That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

Christ effects my education.

Christ effects my social status.

Christ effects my strength and security.

Christ effects my value system, my politics, my commerce, my job.

Christ effects my dreams, my ambitions, my hopes, my ideals.

All things are effected by your relationship with Christ.

Galatians 5:16-25 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Your marriage status serves your flesh notice that it is not free to act the fool anymore. You are no longer in a vulnerable or potential state. You cannot to the things that you once did without thinking.

¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

“Led of the Spirit” means that you are now operating within a new relationship dynamic. You have been impacted by another force. This new force has knocked you out of commission with the world.

It is time for you to throw away your little black book. It is time for you to change your cell phone number. It is time for you to notify the world, the flesh and the devil that you are no longer available.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹ Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The marvelous thing about this new relationship is that once you begin to understand the depth of it, the width of it, the height of it and the breadth of it, you will realize how shallow and silly all of those other relationships were.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴ And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The best thing about Christ is that we have heaven here to go to heaven there! After we enjoy this wonderful relationship with him in this life, we have a home prepared for us up there that has no comparison to anything we have ever imagined!

Revelation 21

¹ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. ² And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. ⁴ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away

⁹ And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. ¹⁰ And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ¹¹ Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; ¹² And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel

²¹ And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. ²² And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. ²³ And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. ²⁴ And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. ²⁵ And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. ²⁶ And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. ²⁷ And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Are We Coming to the End of the Age of Grace?

Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ²⁷ And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

One of the spiritual principles that we, as a church, strive to do is govern our lives and belief system by the Word of God. If we stay true to this principle, then we cannot overlook certain parts of the scripture and embrace others.

In particular, I want to address those of you who find yourself confused about what you believe. You’re not sure if you want to believe everything you have been taught about God, the bible and the church. The best solution to your dilemma seems to be to take some of this and some of that and come up with an answer that seems right for you, something that more or less fits with your mindset and opinions. Some things you have been taught seem too harsh, too dogmatic, or even inconsistent with other things that you accept as true.

The problem with taking some of this and some of that is that you don’t really know what “that” is all about. I can tell you that if “that” doesn’t agree with “this” (the Bible) then you’re in trouble. Once you by into the “that” of this world, you cannot bite it off whenever and wherever you choose. You will end up taking a lot more of “that” than you wanted to take? Why? Because it is connected to an entire belief system. You cannot take a little humanism, a little secularism, a little skepticism. When you take a little, you accept the premise of the world. Once you accept the premise, you have no resistance to taking it all—hook, line and sinker.

It is time to look at what it’s going to mean to be a Christian as time goes on. It is not going to be a free ride. Some things will happen to divide the sheep from the goats, the real saints from the sunshine patriots, the truth from the falsehood. We have been living in a bubble! In this cozy, comfortable bubble, our convictions have gone unchallenged, our doctrines have been left alone for the most part, and our lifestyles have evoked only the slightest murmur of disapproval from the world around us.

I think we need to get ready for this all to change. We are not going to be ignored much longer. Enemies of the cross—rabid, vicious, diabolical—are moving into the power and control rooms of our society. I believe that radical changes are on the horizon for Bible-believing Christians and churches. This should not surprise us. Anyone who knows about Bible prophecy, knows that we are on a narrowing pathway to the end time and the fulfillment of all things. The big question is not where we are headed, but where are we now and how soon are we going to get to the end?

There are some Prophetic keys to look at in considering where we are going. This is a very interesting Gap of time between 69th and 70th weeks of Daniel’s prophecy Dan. 9:24-27

²⁴ Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish^d the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. ²⁵ Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built^e again, and the wall, even in troublous times. ²⁶ And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ²⁷ And he shall confirm the covenant^f with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

THE SEVENTY WEEKS PROPHECY.
69 WEEKS, (SEVENS) TO THE FIRST COMING OF MESSIAH.
FOLLOWED BY A LARGE GAP , - - - - - - - - - - - -
THEN A FINAL 70TH WEEK, (OF SEVEN YEARS).
THIS LEADS UP TO THE SECOND COMING OF MESSIAH.
THESE TWO TIME SEGMENTS TERMINATE WITH THE TWO COMINGS OF MESSIAH.

The first 69 weeks terminated with the First Coming of Messiah.
And the 70th week will terminate with the Second Coming of Messiah.
This will come at the climax of this age.

The times of the Gentiles - Luke 21:24

²⁴ And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. ^[1]

Parables of Christ which foretell an end of the age

Matthew 13:36-43 (KJV)

³⁶ Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. ³⁷ He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; ^{38 †} The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one ; ^{39 †} The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰ As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. ⁴¹ The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things ^c that offend, and them which do iniquity; ⁴² And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Event of the Rapture

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (KJV)
¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Church In Heaven The Judgment Seat of Christ II Cor. 5:10 I Cor. 3:11-15 The Marriage of the Lamb Rev. 19:1-9 The Church Eph. 5:25-32 The Bride - Acts 15:14 Events on the Earth Revelation of the Antichrist

Daniel 7:8 (KJV)

⁸ I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Daniel 7:21-27 (KJV)

²¹ I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; ²² Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. ²³ Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. ²⁴ And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. ²⁵ And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. ²⁶ But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. ²⁷ And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Rev. 12. (Person, program, power) II Thess. 1:1-12

As we march toward the fulfillment of these events, we are given signs and indications along the way. Just as a house is not built without excavation and a foundation, these last days will not come upon us without a period of preparation. We cannot expect for things to go on as usual. The balance of power is shifting in the world and in our American society.

In the world: China and India are moving toward positions of much greater influence than we have imagined. The price of gasoline will keep going up, mainly because we are competing with these nations for barrels of crude oil. There is a steady acquiescence in the world to the encroaching influence of radical Islam.

In this nation, we are witnessing an equally steady erosion of our freedoms. In fact, freedom itself is being redefined as a concept. This is scary. You think you know what freedom is? Think again. In the works now are whole genre’s of legislation to strip you of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right to bear arms. This is all happening in the name of diversity, tolerance and minority rights.

We are not immune to the clear teaching of history. History is full of examples of tyrannical governments persecuting Christians. We seem to think that if we just do our own thing while our country falls into the depths of anti-Christ paganism, they will leave us alone. We are so blind as we go about our daily lives, so concerned with temporal things, that we refuse to see the spiritual battle at hand.

The power of the mind to pretend that all is well is really quite amazing. All around us we see the increase in anti-Christian behavior.

The only group of people that it is found acceptable to speak against are Christians. The spirit of anti-Christ is growing in America while at the same time there is a call for “understanding” when it comes to every other religion imaginable.

Jesus said;

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” - John 15:19

We have been drawn into a false sense of security because America has been the best, most free nation in the world. Most people believe in personal religious freedom.

The problem is that the cultural elite who control academia, the media, and political establishments are mostly anti-Christ. The liberal elite are wielding great influence in our culture as to affect a change over time in attitudes about Christians.

There was a day when Christians were seen as good people (though certainly imperfect humans) who cared about their neighbors and lifted up good moral values.

After a constant barrage of anti-Christian teaching in the public school system, academia, and media/entertainment establishments, Christians are now seen as narrow minded fools.

Those who fancy themselves to be “open-minded” are in fact the most closed minded people of all. They use vile language to attack Christians personally and dismiss every statistical fact of the breakdown of the family.

There is an increased call now for “hate speech” legislation. This legislation is a precursor to fully outlawed Christian speech. There is coming a day when we cannot speak against homosexuality. The day is coming when the law will not allow Christians to stand against sin publicly without a penalty.

According to David Berman, an author and convention speaker, there will be an increase of the following;

We will be called the worst vile names.

We will be marginalized and seen as holding back “progressive ideas.”

Persecuted physically for our stand.

The government will try to increase its authority over our children.

Parents who stand for their faith and inculcate it to their children will be accused of child abuse.

Increased employment discrimination.

Tax exempt status will be threatened based on a church preaching so called “hate speech” (as defined by the liberals).

Government Regulation of churches and Christian schools.

Confiscation of church property with bogus eminent domain claims.

Selective application of law without due process.

Even many in the “Evangelical churches” are more concerned with not offending someone then they are with true conversion and discipleship. We also see the movement of pluralism embracing all kinds of heretical theology in the name of “unity of the Spirit.”

People, organizations and groups in our culture now openly ridicule those who believe the Bible.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” - Matthew 5:11

How tolerant should we be? The problem with tolerance is that the very people who call for it are the most intolerant of all! There is a continued intolerance of Christian speech and even in “churches” people are offended by preachers who do not compromise biblical truth.

I wonder what names that the Apostle Paul would be called today? He would not be invited to speak in many churches in our land since he would definitely offend someone. Today the Church wants non offensive leaders who have a pluralistic mind-set who are unwilling to take a biblical stand. Christians now want leaders that use enticing words of Man’s wisdom rather than the plain biblical truth as preached by the Apostle Paul.

The day is coming when you and I who hold the Word of God dear will have to choose as to whom we serve publicly.

The day is coming when this culture will not tolerate true Christians at all.

The time will come when preachers will be arrested and imprisoned for preaching the Word of God. In that day it will take more than having a cute Christian bumper sticker on your car, and a T-shirt with a Christian slogan on it to be considered a witness for Christ.

In that day it may cost you friendships, money, jobs, property, and quite possibly your very life. Unless we as a nation have a revival through repentance, the day will come.

The following passages of scripture need to be remembered;

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” - Galatians 4:16

It used to be in America that preachers were considered friends because they spoke the Word of God. Now preachers are held in contempt and considered enemies by the liberal establishments. As a minister of the gospel, a preacher of the Word of God, have I and other bible preachers now become your enemy because we tell you the truth?

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” - 1 Timothy 4:1

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fable” - 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Wake up and smell the truth Church . Rise up and declare the name of your God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The God of the Apostles….Jesus Christ the Lord! God grant us grace and mercy that we may once again renew our relationship with you as the Church and nation. That our hearts be turned back to faith in your Holy Word, in Jesus’ name. AMEN

---

^d finish: or, restrain

^e be built…: Heb. return and be built

^f the covenant: or, a covenant

^[1] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Lk 21:23). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

† A Greek word occurs that is not directly translated in the King James Version.
Greek Strongs: 1161

† A Greek word occurs that is not directly translated in the King James Version.
Greek Strongs: 1161

c things…: or, scandals

A Cure at Any Cost

“Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria , was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria : he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria ! for he would recover him of his leprosy. 2 Kings 5:1-3

Naaman had everything going for him…military might, great man with his master, honorable, mighty man in valor…everything except his health. He was a leper. Leprosy is a type of sin in the Bible.

Regardless of anything else to your credit, if you are a sinner, it cancels all of it out. Jesus said it best. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matt 16:26 .

You may have your career on track. You may be getting along great with your educational pathway. You may have the house, car and clothes you want. You may have the spouse, the family and the life you’ve dreamed of. But, if you haven’t done anything about your soul, you are in trouble! Sin is a terminal illness. Sin will wipe out any gains you may have made in life. If you think dealing with your sin today will prove to be too disruptive to your life, you have no idea what sin will do when it has grown to maturity.

Naaman: A Leper in Search of a Cure

The Old Testament story of Naaman provides one of the clearest pictures in scripture about a disease and how to cure it. He had leprosy. He needed a cure. Now here’s where the story really gets interesting. Through his wife’s handmaiden, he found out that he could be healed from his loathsome disease. He decided to give it a try.

“9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.” I can see the entouragé pulling up in front of Elisha’s house. Naaman had his most impressive uniform on…with all of his medals of honor proudly displayed on his chest. He had gifts ready to give the prophet. He had even figured out what he was going to say…probably something about how important he was. But he never got a chance to show off. “10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.” 2 Kings 5:9-10

The reason this was interesting was because Naaman expected to be treated in a way commensurate with the position he held. He lost sight of the fact that he needed a cure because he was so absorbed in his rights, his feelings, his expectations, his terms and his public image.

In my mind’s eye, I can see other prophets critiquing Elisha’s response.

• What a terrible way to treat your clients!
• Common courtesy says to at least go out and meet the people.
• Why, he’s going to anger this great man and turn him off to Jehovah.
• Why can’t he be more sensitive, more relevant, more understanding of the need?

A “relevant” prophet would have tried much harder to be nice to this important man. Instead, Elisha didn’t even bother to personally go out and talk to him. He sent his servant to tell him to dip seven times in the Jordan River to cure his leprosy. Naaman didn’t like it at all.

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus , better than all the waters of Israel ? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.” 2 Kings 5:11-12.

But a man with leprosy is in no position to demand anything. Finally, Naaman’s servants prevailed on him to get over his wounded ego and obey Elisha. “And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan , according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” 2 Kings 5:13-14. Man’s prideful heart may scream for relevance, but God demands submission. Always has. Always will.

When you have a terminal illness, don’t despise the cure!

Some may say, “We don’t believe in churches, in liturgical tradition, in man-made rules. I just believe in Jesus. Why don’t you folks refocus on Jesus and forget everything else you’ve added to the plain and simple gospel.” So opines the “emerging church” dogmatists.

And it does sound seductively good. After all, haven’t all the “add-ons” clouded and encumbered the purity of the gospel? Haven’t we piled manuals, resolutions, procedures, standards, bylaws and protocols on top of Jesus and effectively suffocated his message to the world? It would seem, then, that the relevancy doctrine only seeks to present a fresh Jesus to the world, unobscured by the trappings of obsolete Christianity.

We’ve heard it before. Remember “No law but love, no creed but Christ?” Or, “accept Jesus as your personal savior?” Or, “once in grace, always in grace?” Platitudes like these have an appealing ring to them. Cosmetically, they look good, but their infrastructure is deficient. When one scratches beneath the silky smooth surface, the appealing ring becomes hollow in a hurry. The truth is that one simply cannot preach a true Christ to this world without the nuts and bolts that give the gospel its substance. While the gospel may indeed be preached on a rudimentary level, it is both dangerous and ludicrous to filet this veneer off of it and cast aside the essential underpinnings that make it strong and define its meaning.

What is Food?

What if I said that all you need is food to survive? Cake is food. Ice cream is food. Candy is food. So are sauerkraut, anchovies and chocolate-covered ants. Well, you protest, food is lot more than that. You would be right, of course.

Any diet that consists only of these “foods” would lead to serious health problems. A well rounded diet must include food groups like dairy, vegetables and fruit, meats, grains and foods containing fats, oils and sugar. Obviously, we have to qualify the term “food.”

Many similar illustrations could be used to demonstrate the same principle. Does it matter what you study in school? If it does, then education needs to be defined. Does it matter whether you fly in a jet or ride a bicycle? If so, then transportation needs a definition. Religion, philosophy, family, career…there is no end to the list. The definition of marriage is in the throes of controversy as we write.

Anything left undefined will almost always sink to the lowest common denominator.

This is precisely why those who wish to disencumber Jesus from scriptural parameters that they find too restrictive will end up with a belief system very different from Apostolic truths.

I can make a safe prediction about any group that rejects the essentiality of water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Fewer and fewer people associated with its congregations will be baptized or be filled with the Spirit. As Brother Tenney has often said, “What goes unpreached will soon go unpracticed.” One large Pentecostal group has already proven this. After they determined that they would not require their members to receive the Holy Ghost baptism, the incidence of this experience went into serious decline. Only seventeen percent of their constituents now claim to have received the Holy Ghost baptism.

The driving force behind thinking is the desire to be relevant to the present generation. Flawed thinking like this leads to reconfiguring Bible doctrine, or inventing new interpretations to scriptures for the purpose of relevancy.

But truth does not permit itself to be conformed to popular opinion. Truth worships at no man’s altar. If we would know truth, it will not slink down to our level and grovel in front of us. It will not be beholden to any man. Truth always makes us rise to its level.

Was Jesus Relevant?

In the New Testament, Jesus did not seek to be relevant and sensitive to Nicodemus. This Jewish leader risked his reputation to meet Jesus. That’s why he came at night. But, Jesus did not even answer the question put to him. His answer to Nicodemus was cryptic, radical and demanding. “You must be born again!” We’ve heard this phrase so often that it has little shock value to us, but, to Nicodemus, it was brutal, even demeaning. A high-born, registered Pharisee was not used to being so dissed or so snubbed as he was by Jesus’ answer. Actually, few people could hope to have a better birth or better life circumstances in terms of Jewish tradition than Nicodemus. He was at the top of the heap.

How “relevant” was God to Saul of Tarsus? He knocked him down in the middle of the road, he afflicted him with blindness for three days and he totally rearranged his life’s purpose. Somehow, relevance didn’t seem to describe Saul’s treatment. How “relevant” was Jesus to Simon Peter? He called him a devil, he told him he had no faith and he basically told him that if he didn’t submit to the Master’s demands that he would lose his place in the kingdom. In the end, Jesus even told Peter to mind his own business and not worry about the lives of other disciples. Many different instances throughout the ministry of Christ show that Jesus did not treat his disciples with kid gloves nor did he try to make things easier for them. He presented them with truth. It was up to them to accept or reject the terms of the Lord.

Regardless of how noble their intentions may be, those who gravitate away from true doctrine in the interest of befriending seekers and facilitating their acceptance of Christ do them no favor. Dietrich Bonhoeffer called it “cheap grace.” Such an approach may very well have the opposite effect. It is one thing to upgrade our methods, modify our language and even sing newer music, but these are non-essentials in worship styles and church tradition. It is something else to decide against preaching New Testament doctrine simply because we don’t think it is relevant to today’s society.

The Apostle Paul warns us against the slightest attempt of any man or angel to lead us into heresy. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:8-10.

What is the “gospel” of which Paul speaks? Again, definitions are paramount. We find the answer in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” Any preacher who professes to preach the gospel must preach the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. He must also instruct people how to apply these truths to their lives. That leads us directly to Acts 2:38. If these steps are eliminated from the message, there is no way to appropriate the gospel to a person’s life. The only alternative is to spiritualize every ordinance of scripture that a believer is to fulfill. When doctrines are spiritualized, that is when they are only given metaphoric value and are stripped from any practical application, only a small step exists to the virtual elimination of the ordinance from the salvation experience.

Does it Matter?

If nothing matters, then NOTHING MATTERS! This fact seems to be lost on advocates of the relevancy doctrine. When they reap the ultimate harvest of the “nothing matters” gospel, they themselves will not matter. Neither will their pulpits, their remaining doctrines, their church congregations and their livelihoods. That’s the nature of the beast. Tell people they don’t have to obey the laws and you reap a nation of lawbreakers. Tell people they don’t have to pay their taxes and you can be sure that no one will pay their taxes. Tell people they are okay without baptism and without the Holy Ghost and no one will be baptized or receive the Spirit. Tell people they don’t have to come to church, and guess what will happen? That’s right. Either turn the sanctuary into an entertainment center or else lock the doors, sell the place and go home.

I receive Paul’s admonition to the church elders as a solemn charge. “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God , which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:26-28. The relevancy doctrine is at best a diversion from the true mission of the church. At worst, it is a heretical doctrine that must be exposed for what it is.

The Formation of Christ

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” Galatians 4:19

Ultrasound pictures are technology’s latest gift to prospective mothers. You can even get them in video clips and see the movement of the fetus. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a beautiful ultrasound. Take a look at the shape of the baby at two months into the pregnancy. I’m sorry, but it just doesn’t look all that appealing. Thank God for the last month or two before the baby is born when it starts to get cute.

The Apostle Paul was in a big discussion with the Galatians about the Jewish law. False teachers had infiltrated the church and were leading people backwards into the Old Testament instead of forward into Christ. He told them, “Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. ⁹ But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. ¹¹ I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”

The Apostle loved these people. He labored to see them saved. He risked life and limb to preach the gospel to them and bring them to salvation. He agonized over them until they were established in truth. He wanted them to have a genuine experience, right doctrine and true teaching. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8-9. That’s pretty extreme.

Then the great Apostle bares his soul, desperately trying to make his point. “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: ¹⁴ And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”

Then he says, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” It is this awesome passage that captures my attention today. This passage is bigger than the problem of the Judaizers. It is bigger than the specifics of this case. This is huge. It is a life-changing, paradigm-shifting, divine revelation kind of principle.

If you are a believer here today, this is what you have to get. If you’re not saved, you have to do that. But if you are baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost, if you know your name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life, then this passage is your life-long battleground. Candace House writes,

“As the body of a pregnant woman stretches in the natural, so does your spirit house the vision. If the vision does not develop within you it will die. The vision is with you constantly. It becomes a vital, living part of you. It draws from your own life source as well as from the divine source which conceived it.

“There are certain things a pregnant woman will deny herself. These are things that would be detrimental to the development of her child. So to must you do the same as your vision develops. You may have to deny yourself of your own plans and ambitions. You will have to sacrifice time to fast and pray.

“I remember with my middle child I was so tired of being pregnant. It was August, the hottest month of the year. I wanted Bryant out by any means necessary! I started thinking like a crazy woman! I created all kinds of scenarios in my mind of how I can get him out NOW! The craziest thought I had was to throw myself down the stairs and that would surely make him come. I told my doctor what I was thinking and she wanted me to be treated for depression. She said plenty of women fell into a depressed state when they were only weeks away from giving birth.”

Here is the whole thing in a nutshell. It may sound strange, but this is the best way I can convey the concept to you:

Christ gave birth to you. Now, you must give birth to Christ!

Jesus suffered great agony of body, mind and spirit as he gave birth to the church. William Barclay wrote, “The cross is the proof that there is no length to which the love of God will refuse to go, in order to win men’s hearts. The cross is the medium of reconciliation because the cross is the final proof of God’s love, and a love that demands love. If the cross will not waken love and wonder in men’s hearts, nothing will.” The Bible says in Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Transformation Tribulation

The most hideous lie that Satan tells Christians is that their failure to live up to the Bible’s standard of living is proof that it can’t be done. When you get blessed, touched and encouraged in church on Sunday and then hit a buzz saw on Monday, the first voice you will hear will be the devil saying, “See. What did I tell you? You’re stupid. You’re a hypocrite. Forget it! You can’t be different. You need me. You need my Chesterfields and Marlboros. You need my Budweiser and Jack Daniels. You can’t make it without giving into your lust, greed and anger.”

What he won’t tell you is that the formation of Christ in you is not instantaneous. It is something that started when you got saved and will not end until the rapture. You are living in the middle of a construction zone with its scaffolding, wet cement, blisters and shattered thumbnails.

Last week at the Ohio campground, I had a fascinating conversation with Eli Hernandez. He told me how much he believes in process. A process is a sustained phenomenon or transformation marked by gradual changes through a series of states; as “events now in process”. From the world of nature to the world of the spirit, everything God does involves process. God rarely gives the end result on the first day. Our microwave, digital camera generation, instant messaging generation gets nervous when something takes more than twenty-four hours. In our failure to understand process, however, we often end up aborting the process. We want something to happen overnight, but God knows it may take ten years.

Some of us think that we’re gonna be stuck with the ultrasound. We see a project half completed and we get scared.

The problem is not the original call.

The problem is not the end result.

The problem is the process. The process makes us wait. The process rubs our noses in the dirt. The process breaks our bones. The process skins our egos. The process makes us walk. The process makes us pray.

Every great accomplishment of God and man came at the end of a painful process.

“And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.” Isaiah 37:3

A building is a process. A painting is a process. And education is a process. A marriage is a process. Understanding God is a process.

The process of cutting a king down to size.

The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar was the egomaniac who decreed that everyone bow down and worship the golden image. The three Hebrews didn’t bow down and Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the fiery furnace. When God saved them, the king had a change of heart and he gave honor to the true God of Israel. It was a short-lived conversion. Then God gave him a strange dream. He dreamed that a huge tree grew up, all the way to the heavens, with beautiful leaves and fruit. An angel came down and told him to cut it down, drive away the wildlife around it, and leave only the stump.

His wise men had no clue about the dream, so he called Daniel.

Note: When God gets ready to send you a growth opportunity, he always gives you a heads up. He sends his prophet to warn you that something is about to happen.

Here is what Daniel said about the great tree in the dream. “It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. ²³ And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth.”

“This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: ²⁵ That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. ²⁶ And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. ²⁷ Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.”

One would think that, after this, Nebuchadnezzar would have straightened up and lived right. No. He thought that since the judgment wasn’t instantaneous, that it wouldn’t happen. Bad move. Here’s what he did.

“At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon . ³⁰ The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon , that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? ³¹ While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying , O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. ³² And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. ³³ The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers , and his nails like birds’ claws .

Finally, the process was complete. “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.”

This is what this man had to go through in order for worship, honor and praise to be born in him. God will eventually get you to the place he wants you. Even the word “eventually” means event after event. It’s a process.

I submit to you today that God wants something to be born in you. Something cries out to find expression, to come into being, to emerge from the frustrations and confusion into a beautiful creation made in the image of God.

Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

TRANSFORMATION God’s way is the ongoing forming of himself within us.

Are you relying on being INFORMED ?

Are you being squeezed and CONFORMED ?

Or are you being inwardly TRANSFORMED ?

2 Corinthians 3:17,18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Something is being formed in you right now!

One of the most amazing and frustrating battles I have in pastoring people is their reluctance to let God change them.

What keeps a believer from being transformed in Christ?

You’re scared that you may not like what you will become.

You can’t let go of what you used to be.

You don’t know if you can keep the new person going.

You’ve seen too many train wrecks to have confidence in God.

Maybe you’re not a heathen like Nebuchadnezzar.

Maybe you’re not a backslider like Simon Peter or a traitor like Judas.

Maybe you’re a factory worker, a laborer, a stay-at-home Mom, a truck driver or an office worker.

Maybe you’re a boss, an owner, a professional, a student, a creative designer, a technician or a musician.

You know you’re not complete. You know something else cries out from within you to be released. You may have shut it off for months, even years. You may have convinced yourself that it will never happen. You’re not sure if you want to go though any more agony than you have already suffered.

You may as well tell an expectant mother eight months pregnant that the baby changed its mind and it won’t be born. Not a chance. That baby has been baking in the oven long enough. He’s coming out!

The Making of the Revelation Author

It is said that Roman emperor Domitian commanded that the apostle John be boiled to death in oil, but John only continued to preach from within the pot. Another time, John was forced to drink poison, but, as promised in Mark 16:18 , it did not hurt him. Thus John, the head of the church in Ephesus at the time, was banished to Patmos in A.D. 97.

John survived all of this because God had not finished with him yet. A “revelation” still had to come. While he was in a cave on the island of Patmos , John received a vision. This vision birthed the book of Revelation—the book that would act as the driving force for evangelism in the church age.

“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, ¹¹ Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches.”

Right now, someone is in desperate travail. Stop fighting it. Go with it. Give birth to that baby. Let the process of transformation do its perfect work in you. It is the birth of a saint, a witness, a soul-winner, a prayer warrior, a worshipper, a praiser, a preacher, a teacher, a leader.