I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t, and die to find out there is!


Monday, March 29, 2010

THE SPIRIT OF HOLY WEEK

"Kreuzigung" by Meister des Marienle...Image via Wikipedia
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It's Saturday. What a week it has been. It is very dark in here, and a bit cool. Not cold, just a bit cool. I think these linen cloths they wrapped my body in keep it from being too cold. You see, it was yesterday I died, but you know that. Are you wondering how I can sense cool or cold? Remember that I have always existed, from before the beginning, and will exist forever. There are no blank spots in my existence, not even when my body was dead and in this tomb. I am the Alpha and the Omega. I have almost completed my work here on earth. I have suffered; I have died; and tomorrow I will rise again. Tomorrow morning when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary come to anoint my body, they will find it is not here, but I will have someone explain it to them.

I have cried a lot in the past few hours, not because of my circumstances, but because of yours. You see, I have done what was required of me, and I did it to save you. To my sadness, there are many of you who still won't acknowledge me. Even after all I have done for you, because of my love for you. Yesterday, I cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" But I know why; it was for you -- because of my love for you. So now I ask you -- why are you forsaking me? I love you -- please come to me.

Oh yes, what a week it has been. It was just last Sunday that I arrived in Jerusalem. I entered the town on a donkey amidst shouts of "Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" from an enthusiastic welcoming crowd. It was only a short time later the same crowd was yelling "Crucify him!" , but that did not stop me from loving them. They did not know what they were doing.

On Monday, there was a little incident at the temple. When I got there, merchants were buying and selling doves and other things, and money changers were profiting from very active trade. They had turned my house into a den of robbers! How dare they! My house is to be a house of prayer. So, I turned over their tables and drove them from the temple. What else could I do? They had created an environment of stealing instead of healing. It could not be tolerated.

Tuesday was a little better. I was able to spend some time teaching at the temple. But even while doing so, my authority was questioned. Later in the day I went to the home of Simon the Leper. A woman there named Mary poured some nice perfume on my head, and then poured the nard on my feet and wiped my feet with her hair. She really didn't know it but she was preparing my body for burial.

Wednesday is the day that the plot against me began to take shape. Judas went to the chief priests and asked them what they would give him if he would hand me over to them. They gave him thirty silver coins.

Thursday I enjoyed Passover in a large upper room with my disciples. I let Judas know that I knew he would betray me. He denied it, but we know the truth, don't we? During the meal I taught the disciples about the new covenant and how to stay in communion with me with bread and wine. The bread is my body, and the wine is my blood -- poured out for you. Later in the day we went to Gethsemane because I wanted to pray. I was very distressed and troubled. My soul was overwhelmed with sorrow. I fell to the ground in prayer and asked the Father to take this cup from me if it was possible, but I knew it wasn't possible, and I wept. Sweat that was like blood dripped from my body. I was in torment, but I understood my mission; a mission of love. A mission of salvation.

Friday was the worst! First I was arrested, then a trial that was nothing more than a mock trial. After it ended, I was flogged and handed over to be crucified. What do you know about flogging? Do you know that it is done with a leather whip with multiple ends, and that there are sharp pieces of bone and metal in each end? Do you know that it leaves the back raw and bleeding, and sometimes exposes bones and organs? Do you know that sometimes it actually causes death? Did you know that? I endured that for you -- because I love you. And do you want to know something else? I would do it again -- for you.

After they were done flogging me, they made me carry the cross they were to crucify me on, up the hill to Golgotha. People spit on me and mocked me. They hung me on that cross, between two robbers. They pierced my side with a spear. I died on that cross. I won't tell you how horrible death on a Roman cross is, but you ought to know they came up with this method of execution because it is the most painful death imaginable. My mother was a witness. It is finished. In just a few hours I will leave this tomb, and my mission here will be finished, but I will be with you always -- until the end.

My beloved, I tell you the truth -- I did it for you. You and your salvation. Yet, I weep because some among you won't acknowledge me. Some among you won't listen to what I say when I say "Knock and the door will be opened." I love you so much that I want you to spend eternity with me in paradise. Won't you accept my invitation? Won't you let me live in you? Won't you experience the joy of real life?

CHRIST IS RISEN!


Be blessed,
Wayne
http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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Saturday, March 27, 2010

Holy Laughter

The foundation of Christ 1 Corinthians 3:11; p...Image via Wikipedia
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Question: A friend of mine went to a church service where several people broke out in "holy laughter." Is holy laughter biblical?

Based upon all that I can find in scripture, it is not. When I look at the ministry of Jesus, I don't find a single recorded case of people breaking into uncontrolled laughter. Further, I find none in the ministry of Paul or in the ministries of any of the Apostles.  I don't find a single verse of Scripture that says that when the Holy Spirit comes upon a person he or she breaks out in uncontrollable laughter. I do however find Scripture that indicates this phenomenon is not of the Holy Spirit. Lets start with the one above, Galatians 5:22,23. How do we reconcile uncontrolled laughter with the fruit of self-control? In the holy laughter phenomenon, people laugh uncontrollably even when there is nothing funny to laugh about. That is not self-control! 1 Corinthians 14:40 says "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."  It is hardly fitting or orderly when people laugh uncontrollably in church. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33  No, I don't find anything in Scripture that even remotely resembles holy laughter. Since we are told to test all things against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21)  I must conclude the phenomenon of holy laughter is not biblical.


RELEVANT SCRIPTURE:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22,23


Be blessed,
Wayne
http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org

If you enjoy some of the articles posted here please subscribe to this blog via RSS feeds or email. Send your friends here too, and consider being a follower. You can subscribe and/or become a follower in the left-hand column.


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Thursday, March 11, 2010

Must I tithe a full 10%?

A picture of Pisgah Baptist Church in Four Oak...Image via Wikipedia
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Question: As much as I want to, I can't always give a full 10% of my income to the church. I feel bad about it but sometimes there is just not enough money.  How much trouble am I in?

Not much, depending on your attitude. The concept of tithing (giving 10%) is Old Testament teaching. There is nothing in the New Testament where God tells believers they should give 10% of their income to the church. The New Testament suggests giving by grace. We are to give freely as we have been given freely to. (see Matthew 10:8) This is an attitude thing. For some this will be less than 10% and for others, those materially blessed by God, the amount will exceed 10%. (see 2 Corinthians 9:7) I do believe the Old Testament tithing concept should be used as a guideline or a goal we should strive for even if we are struggling financially, but if you are truly giving what you are able you are making God happy. Remember, He knows your heart. More important than the amount of money you are giving is that you have given yourself to the Lord. Only then will you have a proper perspective on money.


RELEVANT SCRIPTURE:
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12


Be blessed,
Wayne
http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org

If you enjoy some of the articles posted here please subscribe to this blog via RSS feeds or email. Send your friends here too, and consider being a follower. You can subscribe and/or become a follower in the left-hand column.



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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

When Resurrected did Jesus Have a Material Body?

Luca Signorelli - "Resurrection of the Fl...Image via Wikipedia

Question: I think the Bible teaches that when Jesus was resurrected He had a material body.  Is that so, and if it is, how did He get into a room when the door was closed and locked?

Good question! You are no doubt referring to John 20:19. First question first. Yes, the resurrection body of Jesus was material, otherwise there would have been no resurrection. Jesus Himself predicted His bodily resurrection in John 2:18-22. On to the second part of your question; how did He get on the other side of the locked door? I don't know, but please let me remind you of a few things. First, Jesus is God and therefore can do anything! Remember He performed many miracles prior to His crucifixion and we, with our limited earthly knowledge, are unable to explain how they were done. For just one example, how about when He walked on water.  Scripture also tells us that Christ's resurrection body was "supernatural." Some use this as an answer to your question, but I don't accept this answer. It seems to suggest He would not have been able to enter the closed and locked room in His pre-resurrection body. That simply is not true. Jesus is, and always was, God. He can (and could) do anything He chose to do.

Relevant Scripture
"Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."  
Luke 24:39


Be blessed,
Wayne
http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org

If you enjoy some of the articles posted here please subscribe to this blog via RSS feeds or email. Send your friends here too, and consider being a follower. You can subscribe and/or become a follower in the left-hand column.



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