The Allure of Honor (Esther 5:9-6:14)

This past Sunday, I preached a sermon on the allure of honor taken from the passage of Esther 5:9-6:14. The message must be weighed against the backdrop of the series titled, "Divine Providence: the story of how God saved His people from total annihilation." When we consider the role of God behind the unfolding of historical events, it becomes clear that He is intimately involved when it comes to the preservation of His people.

Honor has an intriguing quality about it. It may refer to one's position as well as one's character. Those who hold positions of honor, however, do not always possess honorable character. Likewise, those who have honor may not possess a position of honor. What can we learn from the narrative of the book of Esther that can teach us about honor?

1. There are those who covet honor: Haman was one who pursued honor above everything else. But when he was denied honor, it is evident that honor became an idolatrous affair for him. Even after recounting the glory of his riches, the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and promoted him above others (Est 5:11), he remained dissatisfied at the sight of one man who deprived him of it. Like Simon the Sorcerer in Acts chapter 8, Haman coveted the praise of men and it drove him to perversion, cruelty and it reduced him to a tyrant in the pages of history.

2. There are those who confer honor: Isn't it interesting that the king was so disturbed the night after Esther's banquet that he came upon the record of Mordecai's honorable deed in exposing a murderous conspiracy against the king? And on the morning of Haman's plot to hang Mordecai, the king confers with him to honor Mordecai according to Haman's recommendations. Honor is more than a mere position of power - it is the quality of one's character. A man cannot honor himself - it must be recognized by those who have honor. Had the king forgotten Mordecai? Perhaps. But one might consider the possibility that God was simply waiting for the right timing to reveal it to the king.

3. There are those who collect honor: Imagine the horror of Haman at the order of the king to carry out the glorification of Mordecai! Here was a man not seeking honor, but to simply be about his responsibility, protecting the king and the kingdom and he is escorted by the very man who sought that honor for himself. Those who collect honor may even find their enemies offering gifts of praise to them (cf. Psalm 110:1). Consider the widow at the temple treasury in Luke 21 and how Jesus calls attention to her humble offering in contrast to the gifts of the wealthy. Those who do not seek honor will find it before those who would give anything to have it.

Honor has an alluring quality about it. Haman obsessed over honor, and although he held a position of honor in the court of the king, he was clearly not worthy of it. On the contrary, Mordecai did not hold a seat of honor in the king's court; neither did he care to pursue such a position. Yet the king sought to honor him because he was an honorable man. Ironically, God used the man who sought honor to honor a man who did not.

Do you ever covet honor? Have you found yourself miserable at the sight of others receiving praise or failing to recognize your gifts or accomplishments? Let it go. It was the pharisees who chased after such things and they were despised in the eyes of our Lord. Rather, live your life in such a way that God alone should be the one you aim to please. Perhaps one day, at the right time, you will be lifted up before your enemies and given the honor of princes in the eyes of the King.

Fasting from Facebook

I have recently taken leave of the social media platform called Facebook. I felt the Holy Spirit applying pressure on me weeks before Ash Wednesday, February 10th this year. When I took the time to pray and reflect on things that I seem to take the most pleasure in, it seemed to be the most obvious decision.

With my time of abstinence from this platform, I've managed to discover a great many wonderful things that I seem to have lost along the way. Each day appearing to bring a new wave of fresh air as I used the time to focus on other things. Some of the things I've managed to bring back into focus is a renewed commitment to spend time in prayer and fasting. This is not to say I have not participated in these spiritual disciplines, but since I have shifted my focus from social media to private prayer, it has had a profound impact on my approach toward ministry.

Another perk that has come to the surface as a result of this Lenten observation is a greater sense of time and appreciation for my family. When we go out to eat, I am not consumed with the endless thread of comments and posted articles in my news-feed. Rather, I am better able to give my wife and daughter the attention they deserve, having deeper conversation with them about life and faith.

Facebook has been a readily accessible pocket-sized companion that would often distract me from my focus on more important matters throughout the day. I've since gained a better handle on managing the affairs of office responsibility and given greater attention to my master's studies as a student of Asbury Theological Seminary. Although it may have some part in the fact that I no longer have notifications constantly going off on my phone of some new post or comment on the discussion groups I have been a part of, it also has much to do with the simple fact that I have no Facebook to check - even with the notifications disabled.

Perhaps one of the greatest things I noticed in this sacrifice is the peace I have gained knowing I am not bound to a device that seemed to have so much control over my life. My time in prayer and service has been liberated to spend with the Lord and with the people He has called me to serve instead of checking my Facebook every five minutes to see if I missed something. The irony is that I was missing so much more when I was bound like a slave to this tiny machine in my hands.

Richard Foster once said, "More than any other Discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ" (Foster, Celebrations of Discipline, p.55). The time I've spent removed from social media has truly revealed it to me as something that was controlling me. I am truly grateful for the Spirit's leading me to consider suspending my use of it for the experience of something far more fulfilling.

I have been exposed to the deeper significance of something the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians when he said, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12). Although many might think this is a rather absurd thing to say, but Facebook had a great deal of control over my life. In all honesty, I felt that I had become a slave to it. Surely, there is plenty of reason one can argue for the good purposes of Facebook, but what I have gained by the exercise of suspending it from my life has brought me a great deal of joy and freedom. I do not want to be mastered by anything other than my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is my prayer that others might be willing to consider taking a temporary leave of Facebook in order to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal something far greater than the cultural norms we often justify in our lives. You may just find a sense of peace you have been missing; a greater sense of connection to the Lord than ever before.

Children's Programming

As I sit and prepare mentally for our evening children's program, I think about how much I've learned from the Lord and His kingdom since I was a young child attending an after school church program. 

How much more now do I appreciate the hard work put forward in preparing and teaching children the values of kingdom principles! As I run through the checklist I think about all the things required to make it all work: the Bible lesson and illustration materials; the music, memory verses, activities, games and recreation equipment; the staff, the pickups and transportation arrangements; the permission slips and emergency contact information; the  snacks/food and transition times to ensure we keep things moving forward. I think about the progress of some children and the concerns I have for others; the excuses some parents have given for why their children aren't attending, and the mystery of why some have just stopped coming altogether. I think about the hardships some of the children experience in life outside our little program and wonder what their war stories are with the world we live in today.

But in light of all the challenges we experience in this important ministry, I must believe that the seed of the gospel must continue to be scattered upon the soil of their hearts in hopes that the Lord will help them grow in the light of His mercy and grace. We mustn't let discouragement stand in the way of opportunity. You never know what might become of just one precious soul you took the time to serve in a Christian after school program. 

Truth & Grace

Is it wrong to call someone out in sin? After all, if Christ gives grace to us, shouldn't we give grace to others? If we have all fallen short, then who are we to judge?

These are good questions! Everyone who desires to know the truth should ask such questions in their grasp to understand what God has revealed in His Word. Sadly, we live in a world today where truth seems to be an elusive concept; that God's Word is merely a matter of one's own interpretation. But if this is the case, then how can God's children learn to agree upon anything? Is not Christ our standard to which we should conform? His light has come into the world in order to lead us out of darkness. Therefore, we must approach the Scriptures as God's special revelation of truth; seeking unity as the Holy Spirit enables us with understanding and wisdom.

Let us first consider the nature of sin as it is found in the Bible. In a word, sin is a cause of error. But error according to what or whom? Generally, the concept is widely used in reference to God as a violation of His established authority and prescribed commands. Those who sin are in violation of God's holy standards.

The Scriptures reveal the consequences of sin are nothing to be taken lightly. The apostle Paul in the New Testament, an established teacher of the written law, says in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death... In fact, it was for this very reason that Jesus Christ came into the world - in order to pay the debt for the sins of mankind. Paul also explains that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory [standards] of God. In other words, sin has so greatly affected humanity that only God Himself was qualified to properly deal with it.

What does the Bible consider to be sin? A short list of categories can be found in Paul's letter to the Galatians: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

So how does this all relate to the question, "is it wrong to call someone out in sin?" Well, let me answer a question with another question: Is it wrong to ignore someone committing error if it leads them toward death? Jesus' half-brother James tells us, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." It appears James is saying that ignoring those who are living in sin - is a sin in itself! Why would we not want to help others turn away from behavior that injures our relationship with God and others?

But what about grace? Didn't Christ forgive our sins? and doesn't He command us to forgive others the same way? Well, who does God forgive? Throughout the Scriptures, those who are forgiven from sin have one thing in common. Repentance. Consider what the scribe Ezra wrote in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Why should a just and holy God give grace to anyone who has openly violated His will if they do not recognize their faults before Him and bear the sense of guilt from having acted against Him?

Jesus gave a parable to help us understand the nature of God's grace and justice. In Matthew 18:21-35 he tells of a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One servant owed 10,000 bags of gold and since he was unable to pay, he was ordered to be sold into slavery until the debt was repaid. The servant pleaded with the king that he would repay everything. So the king forgave his entire debt (grace). However, upon his release, he found a fellow servant who owed him a mere 100 silver coins and demanded to be repaid. But rather than showing mercy as he was shown, he ordered the man be thrown into prison until the debt could be repaid. When the king learned of the servant's wicked behavior, he scolded him and had him thrown into prison to be tortured until his original debt of 10,000 bags of gold could be repaid.

Both men showed signs of humility. But the unmerciful servant did not walk with the attitude of grace he had received from the king. Jesus indeed offers us mercy and grace, but the will of God is for us to walk in humble obedience and recognize the enormity of our offense toward him with regard to our sins. If someone has sinned against us, or against God, we must approach them in light of the reality that we too are indebted to God for our own sins. We mustn't condemn them, but rather call their attention to the Word of God and what He has directed all of us to live by.

1 John 1:6-7 explains, "If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

It is possible to live by the standard of truth while cherishing the beauty of His amazing grace. This we must do with sincere humility and a divine passion to uphold the standards of God's will, in hopes that He may use us as instruments of righteousness to lead others from darkness into His glorious light. May God bless you in your journey of faith.

Aggressive Christianity

There are many beloved characters of the Salvation Army's historical narrative, renown for their bold witness and deeply rooted convictions. But among those who have most captivated me is the one whom they call "the Army Mother," Catherine Booth. She was a prolific writer and a compelling voice for the cause for women's rights and the condemnation of alcohol. Her fiery spirit revealed the depravity of men's souls and their desperate need for salvation through faith and obedience to Christ.

One of Catherine's most treasured works among the Salvation Army's collection of inspiring writings was titled, "Aggressive Christianity"; a composite of writings which confronted the pathetic nature of our human depravity, the notorious scheming of the devil and his fallen angels, as well as the unspeakable joy of deliverance that comes through the light of our salvation, Jesus Christ!

But I am afraid the Salvation Army has lost much of its understanding in what kind of holy fire it once possessed in tearing down the gates of hell stationed upon the earth in its day. In a certain light it has tragically become something of a passive remnant of its former glory under the guise of a materialistic charity. But I should like to share some of the words of the Army Mother as a hopeful reminder of our glorious beginnings in the march to make war against hell in the mission to rescue the perishing from eternal damnation.

This is what she said:

"Satan knew what was the secret of the great success of those early disciples. It was their whole-hearted devotion, their absorbing love to Christ, their utter abnegation of the world. It was their entire absorption in the salvation of their fellow men and the glory of their God. It was an enthusiastic religion that swallowed them up, and made them willing to become wanderers and vagabonds on the face of the earth--for His sake to dwell in dens and caves, to be torn asunder, and to be persecuted in every form.

It was this degree of devotion, before which Satan saw he had no chance. Such people as these, he knew, must ultimately subdue the world. It is not in human nature to stand before that kind of spirit, that amount of love and zeal, and if Christians had only gone on as they began long since, the glorious prophecy would have been fulfilled, "The kingdoms of this world" would have "become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ."

Therefore, the arch-enemy said, `What must I do? I shall be defeated after all. I shall lose my supremacy as the god of this world. What shall I do?' No use to bring in a gigantic system of error, which everybody will see to be error. Oh, dear no! That has never been Satan's way; but his plan has been to get hold of a good man here and there, who shall creep in, as the Apostle said, unawares, and preach another doctrine, and who shall deceive, if it were possible, the very elect. And he did it. He accomplished his design. He gradually lowered the standard of Christian life and character, and though, in every revival, God has raised it again to a certain extent, we have never got back thoroughly to the simplicity, purity, and devotion set before us in these Acts of the Apostles and in the Epistles. And just in the degree that it has approximated thereto, in every age, Satan has got somebody to oppose and to show that this was too high a standard for human nature, altogether beyond us, and that, therefore, Christians must sit down and just be content to be "Oh wretched man that I am" people to the end of their days. He has got the Church into a condition that makes one, sometimes, positively ashamed to hear professing Christians talk, and ashamed also, that the world should hear them talk. I do not wonder at thoughtful, intelligent men being driven from such Christianity as this. It would have driven me off, if I had not known the power of godliness. I believe
this kind of Christianity has made more infidels than all the infidel books ever written."

Satan has found the formula that works in driving men mad and sick with rebellion. With each generation that has managed to survive, he has tweaked his strategy and brought about the installation of a massive and powerful delivery system of godlessness through the modern convenience of our computer technology. Endless waves of evil are deposited through the convenient access of social media and entertainment across the globe. If ever there was a time mankind has been enslaved, he has become a slave today in his own lusts for pleasure and comfort.

But let us not lose hope. God is faithful and has called His children out from darkness. In these last days, God is raising up His messengers once again to sound the trumpet in Zion! He has called them to lay down their lives and put on His armor fitted with fearless resolve to charge into the battlefield with the Sword of the Spirit blazing with holy fire! The Word of the LORD is flawless and it cannot be ignored for long before His rebuke is found on the lips of His messengers - warning those who defy Him of His imminent wrath. God's children have been called out as the Light of the World to expose the deeds of darkness wherever they lie.

These are the days of great trial; both for the faithful and for the wicked. Those who ignore His Word will be given over to a hardened heart so they might do what ought not to be done, lest they turn and be forgiven. They have come to put their faith in a false gospel that will lead them to their damnation. They have become coals for the fires of hell that burn with a vengeance from the Eternal God.

Likewise, those who hold firm to the Word of the Lord will be tested by the wicked and their deceptive arts; lashing out in hatred, discord and jealousy because they will not put up with sound doctrine. The irons from the fire will test the hearts of God's children with firebrands of chastisement, hardship, lawsuits, seizures, slander, imprisonment, brutality, and even slaughter. Today is not a day for comfortable Christianity, for what era of human history was there ever a time for such nonsense? No - today is a day for Aggressive Christianity for we have no other option available for our survival! A spirit of revival that tears after the souls of men who wander down the path of destruction, compelling them to turn from sin and learn of the peace God offers only to the penitent heart. These are the days where the faithful will be equally tried by the fire of the Holy Spirit. The passivity of complacent Christianity has only added to the fires that should try the hearts of God's people. But to those who overcome, they will be given the crown of life. Make no mistake!

Loving Sinners with the Truth

There are times when conversations of debate are really more like two people speaking two different languages while neither of them understand what the other is saying. The ongoing debate of homosexuality and how the Church should address this matter is one such example of this kind of conversation.

With respect to the Church, those in support of same-sex marriage often accuse those who are against it as bigots, haters, intolerant and exclusive. While those who oppose same-sex marriage will accuse those in favor of it as false teachers, divisive and worldly. The firing of accusations back and forth reminds me of combat tactics of opposing forces standing in formation on opposite ends of an open field. The guns and cannons would be locked and loaded then raised and fired at the command of the officer. Each side would seemingly take turns exchanging fire while those in the front-lines of battle would fall to their death. I can't help but wonder how many wounded souls have come about from this battlefield of redefining marriage in our culture today.

While I cannot speak on behalf of the side in favor of gay-marriage, I am more than willing to present my view in hopes to squelch the accusations that many, who are opposed to gay-marriage in the Church, are guilty of bigotry, hatred, intolerance and exclusivity as their accusers insist.

First let me start by saying, I believe God indeed "so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). I believe "God is love" as the beloved apostle describes in 1 John 4:8 and that "those who do not love do not know God." Therefore it is the duty of all who belong to God to love others, regardless of their color, their race or creed. We are called by Christ to love not just those who love us, but even our enemies. Jesus lead by example in this great virtue - to the effect that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). Our greatest mark of belonging to God is found in the witness of our love.

But what is love? What does it look like? Is love an emotion? Is it an action? Does it give without limits? Does it accept all things? To answer these questions I think its fair for us to consider what Paul had to say about love in his letter to the Corinthians:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1 Cor 13:4-8a)

Indeed, love is an incredible gift that breathes life into the souls of others! Love is an emotion, but the kind of love that comes from God isn't fickle and fleeting in the face of trouble. It isn't disrespectful or arrogant, and it does not dishonor others. It is a virtue which aspires to the good of all things because God is love and God is good.

But notice what Paul says in verse 6 - "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." Love has terms - it has limits on what it is willing to accept because love cannot aspire to the good of all things if not all things are good. A woman who loves her man, according to God's definition of it, will continue to show him support and encouragement even if he has developed an addictive problem with alcohol. Her love for him does not mean she loves what he does. Rather, her love for him is demonstrated by her opposition to the substance and behavior that is trying to destroy him. She watches over him, she sets boundaries for him, she gathers resources and accountability for him; she's willing to sacrifice her time, money, energy and in some cases her own reputation for the sake of saving her man from an intruder that is trying to divide and destroy them.

This is the mindset of those who oppose the open practice of homosexuality in the Church today - or any sin for that matter. The love that is given as a command to God's children is demonstrated by their opposition of the practice of what the Bible defines as sin. Why? Because such behavior is destructive to the soul, to the Church and to the cause of Christ (the Gospel). The same beloved apostle who told us that "anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love," is the same apostle who also wrote (in the same letter) that anyone who is born of God does not maintain a lifestyle of sin (1 John 5:8).

Just as the man who struggles with his addiction to alcohol needs to find sobriety in order for his relationship with his wife to be restored, so do those who struggle with a behavior that God considers sin according to His Word. God loves us. And God's children are called to love others just as He demonstrated for us. Love does not advocate for behavior that destroys, rather it stands resolute against it with arms wide open, inviting sinners to find freedom from their sins through repentance.

Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans, "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 6:23). Peter tells us, "It is not God's will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9). Sin is a terrible thing. It has separated us from God ever since that fateful day in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3). And it was because of sin that our world was cursed with tragedy and a desperate need for salvation.

In the final moments before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:46-49). Repentance is an essential part of the work of salvation, without it there can be no forgiveness of sins; God's children were told to proclaim this to the world.

In conclusion, the many who believe they are right in accusing those who oppose the practice of homosexuality in the Church, are not justified in their accusation of being bigoted and haters, intolerant and exclusive. According to the terms I've just highlighted in the Scriptures, I believe those who oppose homosexuality are only demonstrating love as it is rightly defined by the Word of God; loving sinners with the truth that might set them free. It is my sincere hope that those who are quick to judge those who oppose homosexuality in the Church as bigots and haters, would consider the reasons that this is simply not true. God's children have all been called to repentance from sin, and to put their faith in the Word and Will of God as He prescribed. Loving sinners with the truth is the only kind of love that brings about true liberty, lasting peace and the unity of the Spirit.

Kate's Birthday - A Very Special Day

Today is my wife's birthday. It is a day of precious significance to me. As I look back over the years I've spent with her in contrast with the years before we met, there is an incredible difference between these two hemispheres of my life.

Before meeting my wife, I always felt like something was missing; that somehow things were not able to move forward in the direction I desired things to go. Before meeting my wife, I felt a void in my life that could not be filled by any other person. She has brought me sanity, structure, stability and strength which were not there before. She has brought me a sense of peace and potential that in all my years prior I failed to find on my own.

It brings to mind the story of Adam in the garden in Genesis 2 when God noted that it was not good for man to be alone. Surely, the Lord knew it was not good for me to be alone either. This is why I celebrate July 31st every year with a deep sense of joy - because it was on this day that God brought my most precious comrade into this world; my love - Kate Lynn.

Although our stories are rather very different, somehow the Lord directed us to the place of finding one another at Valley Forge. When I first laid eyes on her I was captivated by her heavenly smile and sparkling eyes. In the days to come, we found our love for each other and I found the missing pieces of my life all in one person. Every day I learn a little more about her; things that make her smile, things that inspire her to sing, things that bring her joy and laughter.

To think that somehow I might bless her is a humbling thought. Its as if a meager stable boy were to make a princess laugh. What a privilege it is to know you in the ways that I do Kate. So much more could be said - but it would take a lifetime to describe the fondness my heart has of you. I am so blessed... as if the presence of heaven is your train of glory. You are far more than beautiful in appearance for it is in the wisdom of your words and the tenderness of your love that your power shines so vividly into my life.

So on this, your birthday, may all the wishes and hopes and prayers of life be yours for the taking! Whatever I can do to serve you this day is a privilege and a passion to no end. I love you my darling! May our Lord bless you in every moment of the life we share together in His love. Happy Birthday!