A Good Foundation (aka The Kingdom on the Pea)

“Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Messiah Yeshua himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.” Ephesians 2: 20-21 (New Living Translation – NLT) adapted with Messianic Jewish terms

We live in a complicated society. The Media is constantly bombarding us with many types of messages. Live this way. Believe this person. Try this philosophy. On and on it goes. How many of us, I wonder, simply absorb and believe what we see and hear without spending a few moments to think about it. If we don’t think it through, then we may find ourselves building our lives on principles that are either shallow or meaningless.

A ministry can fall into the same trap. With a wide range of philosophies, ideas and paths out there, it becomes all too easy to follow the latest wind of “doctrine”. One person has a good idea about children’s ministry; another has a congregational growth strategy. Yet another person thinks the sanctuary should be painted green. Many of these ideas or strategies can be good and used by the Lord to build His kingdom.

It is just that in the process of growing, whether as an individual or a congregation, we may become caught up in too many things. Suddenly our lives or ministries become just as complicated and shallow as the world around us. Even worse, other people may look at you or your congregation and not see anything different from the world. One day you may find yourself looking at your life or ministry and realize that you somehow lost your way.

Do you remember the Hans Christian Anderson story of the “Princess on the Pea” (That is the actual title translation into English). The prince, desiring to get married, was looking for a special person. He came across many princesses but was not satisfied. One day a rain soaked women came to the castle and claimed she was a princess. To test the women’s claim the Old Queen devised a plan. She put a pea underneath 20 feather beds and 20 mattresses. Only a princess with delicate skin could feel the pea under all that bedding. The princess passed the test.

Sometimes, as followers of Yeshua, we inadvertently bury the Kingdom of God under 20 feather beds and 20 mattresses. We add layer upon layer of things to do, places to go, things to believe. We run the risk of getting so caught up in the layers that we forget that the test is in fact to hear the voice of God. In the story, the pea was the focus of the test; the bedding was simply part of the process of testing. In our walk with the Lord, the “still small voice” is the focus of the test. Everything else is a part of the process of testing.

One day we will be judged by what we do with the layers. However, if we lose sight of the foundations and the cornerstone we may find that the cornerstone is saying to us; ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me. . .”

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have-Yeshua the Messiah. 1Corinthians 3:11 (NLT -adapted)

Grow Up!

“Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Messiah. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? When one of you says, ‘I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?” 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (New Living Translation – NLT) adapted

Saul (Paul) first visited Corinth during his second journey when he was setting-up and building congregations in the Roman Empire. When Saul wrote this letter to the Corinthians, he was at the end of his third journey. Therefore, when the Corinthian congregation received this letter, most likely several years had passed from his first visit. By this time, the Corinthian congregational community had deteriorated significantly.

Some of the issues Saul was dealing with in the letter include:

• People were bragging about following the teachings of specific people instead of following Messiah. They became proud of certain leaders at the expense of others without realizing that we are all part of the body of Messiah.
• They tolerated gross immorality. It was so bad that they were allowing things that even pagans wouldn’t tolerate. Making matters worse, they were proud of themselves instead of hanging their heads in shame.
• Members of the congregation were suing one another in civil court. Saul stated that when followers of Yeshua do this they are already defeated.
• They seemed to be inconsiderate, insensitive and thoughtless of other believers. It may have been so bad that they seemed oblivious to the fact they were destroying the faith of others.
• Their congregational worship was chaotic at best and so was their taking of the Lord’s Supper (Seder).

Simply put, they were not walking in love (1Corinthians 13) and they were not following scripture. In short, they were ignoring God.

In the midst of all this daily chaos comes a lengthy letter from Saul. It had been several years since they had seen him. They must have gathered as a group to hear what Saul had to say in his letter. Among many other things, they also heard something along these lines:

When I visited you for the first time you were new believers in Messiah. I couldn’t tell you about the deep things of the Lord. You were not ready for that. However, it has been several years and you should be acting like grown up people, mature followers of Yeshua. Instead, you are divided and fighting amongst yourselves, full of sin, pride and arrogance, inconsiderate and thoughtless to others. All I can say to you is: YOU’RE ALL STILL BEHAVING LIKE A BUNCH OF BABIES! SO GROW UP!”

The thing that keeps me sober when I read about the Corinthian congregation is how they so thoroughly slid into gross sin and didn’t even realize it or give it a second thought. They most likely started out making small compromises in their walk with the Lord. One compromise here, another one there. Each one may have seemed innocuous at the time, but a bunch of small compromises adds up to one giant compromise. Like the analogy of the boiling frog, they were killing themselves slowly but surely. Then one day the Lord Yeshua walks into the “room” and yells out: BY NOW YOU SHOULD BE MATURE DISCIPLES BUT YOU’RE ALL STILL BEHAVING LIKE A BUNCH OF BABIES!

Ouch! That hurts! It should.

A Time To Reexamine?

With all the events happening in our country: politics, finances, elections and so on I have had several things rummaging through my mind. Here are a couple of them.

One of the local pastors and his church here in the Twin Cities is under federal investigation. While I won’t give an opinion for or against, there is one thing that keeps coming to mind. In the newspaper article on the subject there was a statement (I tried to find the quote online but couldn’t) to the effect that the pastor felt he and his church were being persecuted because of their increased wealth and power. I have no idea if that statement is true or not. However, I have to admit that his statement disturbs me somewhat, but not in the way you think. I don’t believe that followers of Yeshua should bury their head in the sand instead of being involved in the political process. However, is it wise as followers of Yeshua to tie your future into the accumulation of wealth and power? All one has to do is look at the Sadducees of 2nd temple time to see what happens to those that get too entangled in a process, thing or person. When the temple was destroyed, the Sadducees went with it. If the American political process were to change, maybe not to our benefit, what would happen to those in the body of Messiah that are too tied up in wealth and the accumulation of power? Would the same thing happen? Just a thought, not a conclusion

With the elections almost over, I am starting to wonder if we as followers of Yeshua need to reexamine our role in the process. Political elections have always included name-calling and the last couple of decades have been particularly nasty. I am not excusing it; the truth of the matter is, scripture clearly forbids calling anyone names. I have a good friend of mine and we discuss many subjects. He and I are as different as night and day, literally. We frequently disagree and sometimes we get a little angry, mostly he gets angry with me. Yet we never call each other nasty names and we have never called each other “Un-American” or of having Un-American beliefs. Even if it were true, we would never use the term. It is called RESPECT. I think we all need to relearn a basic principal. It is OK to have a different opinion from other people. It is not Un-American.

The Greatest Impact

Recently, I have been coming across comments by some followers of Yeshua (Jesus) that the biggest influence in this world will be by those who have the financial means. There is no doubt in my mind that much in this world can only be accomplished with money. However, is it Biblically true that the biggest impact will come from people or organizations with enough finances? Let’s think this idea through very carefully. Are these people saying that any person, any church or synagogue that doesn’t have adequate finances will not have as great an impact on other people, cities or countries?

Recently I came across this scripture:

“I don’t have silver, and I don’t have gold, but what I do have I give to you: in the name of the Messiah, Yeshua of Natzeret (Nazareth), Walk! Acts 3:6 Complete Jewish Bible -adapted (CJB)

This scripture forced me to ask myself whether it was finances that will have the biggest impact on our world or the power of God. I then started looking at numerous examples in scripture of how the Lord worked. Many of them were done without the exchange or use of finances. Examples include

• Yeshua’s feeding of thousands of people. Many were affected and this was done without the use of finances.
• The coming of the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) at the time of Shavuot (Pentecost). This event caused a lot of people in Jerusalem to wonder what was going on. 3000 people got saved that day. Lives were changed permanently. The city of Jerusalem was affected. This was done without any finances

A couple of other questions came to my mind:

• Isn’t it possible for a group of people to repent, pray and fast for years in search of revival without the use of money? Won’t the affects of those prayers have a greater impact on the community than finances?
• When revival does come won’t the affects of revival have a greater and more long-lasting impact on the city than the use of finances?

I’ve concluded that money and finances are just one of many tools the Lord uses that will have an impact in accomplishing His will in this earth. It is just not the greatest tool. What will have the greatest impact in our communities and in people’s lives is to know Yeshua.

But the things that used to be advantages for me, I have, because of the Messiah, come to consider a disadvantage. Not only that, but I consider everything a disadvantage in comparison with the supreme value of knowing the Messiah Yeshua as my Lord. Phil 3:7-8a-CJB

There But By the Grace of God. . .

1st read Daniel chapter 4

Writing about this chapter presents somewhat of a problem for me. On the one hand, I can easily just do a small study of Nebuchadnezzar. The issues, problems and solutions are all laid out in the chapter. What led up to his mental collapse, what caused it and how was he healed. It would be all too easy to write about. The problem starts when I go beyond the simple lesson and start applying it to my life. OOPS!!! Everything seems to break down after that! So here’s what I’ll do. Let’s first do the easy part, a short study on Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. After that let’s discuss the hard part, applying it to my life (Or anyone’s life for that matter).

The Easy Part: What happened to Nebuchadnezzar?

Nebuchadnezzar clearly had a massive ego, something all too common among rulers of countries. A chapter earlier three Jewish men defied the Babylonian ruler and refused to bow down to a statue the king had set up of himself. The Bible records that Nebuchadnezzar was so furious that his face was distorted with rage. He punished the three men by trying but failing to have them burned alive. In Daniel chapter 4 we then see the king getting a forewarning vision from the Lord concerning his future. Daniel’s interpretation was that the king was going to learn a lesson the hard way. He needed to learn that it was the Lord who installed people into leadership and the Lord could just as easily “uninstall” them. Unfortunately for the king, the Lord knew that the only way to learn the lesson was to let him suffer the consequences of his actions.

A year later while the king was taking a stroll he looked around and started bragging and boasting to himself. To his way of thinking, he did all the work to bring Babylon to this point. Within a split second he came under divine discipline. Within the hour he went insane and was driven from society. It was seven years until he regained his mind and sanity.

Why did this happen to the king? It happened to the king because the Lord hates pride. He detests pride! He will humble every single person that displays pride and arrogance. We have His word on that issue. What happened to him was to show the king and us how much the Lord hates pride. The Bible clearly states that what happened to Nebuchadnezzar was not just for him but to be a lesson to all of us. “. . . so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses-even to the lowliest of people.” Daniel 4:17b (New Living Translation- NLT) bold emphasis added.

That issue was not lost on King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 4:37 is the last line of a letter he wrote to his subjects: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.” To me, the letter is extraordinary. Not just because it is in Scripture but because the king was finally willing to admit his faults and errors to his subjects. How many times have you seen anyone in government do that?

The hard part: applying it to my life

The hard part, to me, is trying to apply this to my life. When I was younger I used to mentally pat myself on the back because I thought I didn’t have nearly the number of problems in my life that I saw in others. At the time, I didn’t realize that was pride. Oh the folly and ignorance of youth!!! As I have gotten older and made more than my share of mistakes I have come to realize that I am fallible and frail just like everyone else. What a shock to my system!!! Yet now, for me, there is a freedom in knowing that I am weak. There is a joy in knowing that Yeshua is there to guide me.

When I was much younger in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord I might have thought that if I was in Nebuchadnezzar’s shoes I would never have acted like he did. I thought that I knew better then that. As I have gotten older and wiser I think differently. I realize that I need the grace of God everyday. I need His power to move forward, constantly praying for His help and guidance.

Now when I read stories like Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4, I am not so arrogant to think it would never happen to me. When I read newspaper accounts of business scandals I stay sober. I recognize that if I don’t stay alert and watchful I could easily fall prey to the same problems and errors that plagued King Nebuchadnezzar or anyone else on this planet. As Yeshua told His disciples at the Mound of Olives, “Why are you sleeping? He asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” (NLT)

I now realize my complete dependence upon Yeshua in all situations.

“Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NLT)

Stop Right There!!!

Recently while doing the “everyday” things of life, I was taking some time at the beginning of the day to read the Bible. I came across one little verse that stopped me in my tracks. It wasn’t a shocker or a “Wow I never saw that” type of verse. It was more along the lines of a sudden crash into a wall and take stock of things kind of scripture. Here I was reading God’s word when all of a sudden it was as if the Lord said “Stop right there and read no further for a while!!! Take time to read this verse and meditate on it.”

The verse was from John 1:3: “… God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.” (New Living Translation-NLT)

I get so involved in going to work, participating in activities in my congregation or even doing something like reading a fiction book that I forget the source of all that I am and what I do. I forget that everything is from the Lord. Think about that for a minute. EVERYTHING is from Him. Though humanity may be involved in the manufacture of things, the very ideas or abilities come from Him.

Let’s have a little prayer time. Look around you. Start making a quick list of what you see. Now, one by one, start thanking Him for each one of them. It doesn’t matter how trivial the object. The very concepts for everything we see were known by the Lord before the foundations of the world. Even our own lives come from Him. Humbling isn’t it?

Are you a Pastor or Rabbi? Do you own a business? Are you a Doctor? Are you a housewife taking care of your children? Maybe you are a policeman or a farmer? You may even drive the Zamboni® ice-resurfacing machine used in indoor hockey arenas. What ever you do, never forget that the Lord is the source. The very idea for you being there is His idea. Your skills are from Him. Your future is in His hands.

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen-even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth. Psalm 8:3-9 (New King James Version-NKJV) emphasis with bold added

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Luke 11:2b
(New Living Translation-NLT)

Something to think about.

We know this scripture. Many of us pray this scripture frequently. We want the Lord’s will to be done on earth as it already is in heaven. We claim this promise for many areas of our lives: healing, finances, family, kids and so on. All this is correct and should be done. However, have we ignored other areas that need to be discussed?

What about God’s will in areas of pride, humility, attitude, authority, position? What should we be praying and meditating about? What is the Lord’s will on earth as it is in heaven concerning these topics?

There are many Scriptures on these areas but let me give you one in particular to consider. Yeshua is talking about the coming full manifestation of His Kingdom at the end of the age. We usually read this verse as something similar to – the first will be last and the last will be first. Reflect on this translation:

“And note this: Some who seem least important now will be greatest then, and some who are greatest now will be least important then.” (Luke 13:30 NLT)

If this is the way it is heaven, why are we, as followers of Yeshua, constantly imitating the world’s idea of putting people on pedestals and/or treating them as superstars. The fact is, Scriptures such as Luke 13:30 are the only Biblical standards on this subject we should be adhering to. In Heaven, the “superstars” are people we would normally consider unimportant. People that consider themselves more highly than they should, run the risk of eventually finding out that they are actually less important in the Kingdom of God than they thought.

A scary notion indeed!

“. . . You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20: 25b-28 NLT) – emphasis with bold type added.