Introduction
Most folks have an understanding of the word prejudice. Those of us who were around during the civil rights era can remember some of the intense issues, conflicts and emotions of that time and how they have changed and shaped our culture and society, even today. We continue to see prejudice in various intensities and manifestations against Jews, Arabs, blacks, whites, Christians, social classes, educational backgrounds, etc., etc. The fallen world in which we live is full of prejudice, and this prejudice lives on in spite of efforts to educate, motivate and manipulate the minds of the masses. The racial prejudice of the civil rights era may have changed, but the core issues are still present. Human differences still fuel prejudice. My concern is related to another type of prejudice . . . one which is more subtle and in my estimation, more dangerous and far reaching than the other.
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Matt. 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
This scripture expresses the heart of Jesus to His followers. It has brought comfort and solace to countless pilgrims throughout history, and continues to inspire and help those in need. Normally, we look at the fact that Jesus was offering us rest and relief from our burdens. But I'd like to concentrate on another part of the scripture having to do with the yoke or being yoked with Jesus. To do that, I need to tell you a story ---. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
In the beginning was God. God was everything. He was eternal. He had (and has) no limits---no boundaries---no lack whatsoever. He was God. He envisioned a universe, an earth, time and space, and a human who was to be created in HIS image, and out of that vision HE created the heavens and the earth. BUT the creation at this point was "formless and void." We might use the word "chaos" to describe the scene. It was an empty wasteland without form---without order. It was dark. It was chaotic. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal. Joh 3:17 For God has not sent his Son into the world that he may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through him. John 3:16 is the pillar of evangelical Christian theology and, I understand, the best known scripture in the world. It has given the message of life to many who have looked for a place of hope in which to lay down their burdens and enter into the peace of God's kingdom. It is certainly the core of the gospel message of salvation, and is the door of understanding God's love for a dying world. I know many Christians who have based their life on this wonderful scripture, and have moved into a life of fullness and blessing. I know others who have believed in the Savior and have the hope of heaven, but seem to be unable to transition from the future hope of heaven into that transformed life that Jesus promised to His believers in this life. Remember that hope is the starting place, but transformation is the fullness of God's plan.
Through the years, I've seen the BOC (traditional and nontraditional) being distracted and misdirected as people concentrate on doctrinal positions, specific revelations and personal views and agendas. Much of the energy of the BOC (body of Christ) is expended on defending these ideals and trying to justify them to others, trying to convince people to agree with our cause or philosophy and to forsake theirs. Many have made a ministry of "bringing correction" in the name of "standing for truth."
In Matthew 12, we see Jesus being confronted by the Pharisees because HE had (in their eyes) violated the Sabbath by (1) allowing his disciples to pick and eat grain from the fields, (2) healing the man with the withered hand, and (3) delivering a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute---all on the Sabbath. HE was accused of casting out the demons by the power of Belzebul, the ruler of the demons.
Jesus responded by explaining that "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand." Matt. 12:25 Much ado is being made about modern day apostles and prophets. We hear of new "apostolic" networks and ministries, with their "impartation meetings" and "apostolic anointings." Everybody who is somebody in the body of Christ is now an apostle. Even the prophets are becoming apostles. Maybe the pastors are becoming prophets to fill the vacuum? Apostles are people who are sent by God to a specific people or for a specific mission. We've often used the word "missionary" in place of "apostle" because of the connotation. By definition, an apostle is a "sent one."
Anyway, the Lord reminded me of a very special apostle that I spent time with early in my Christian walk. His name was Tacho. He was probably in his mid 50's when Edith and I met him. He had been a laborer for most of his life, barely spoke English and was illiterate. Acts 9 is the chapter where we see the debut of Saul of Tarsus, aka Paul the apostle, into the kingdom. He was approaching Damascus with letters from the high priest giving him permission to capture and transport Christians back to Jerusalem. A light from heaven flashes around him and he falls to the ground and hears a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Paul responds, "who are You, Lord?" And Jesus says, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." The story continues.
At the time of this event, Jesus was already crucified, resurrected and at the right hand of the Father, so the only persecution that He was experiencing was that toward His body on the earth. The amazing thing to me is that He considered the body (ekklesia) on the earth to be literally His body. It isn't a figure of speech. Study the language yourself. Years ago, I remember asking the Lord how I could love Him, since I couldn't see, touch, or hear Him with my natural senses. He showed me by His Spirit that I was to love Jesus in His people. Just as He was literally persecuted as His body was persecuted by Saul of Tarsus and others, He is literally loved as His body is loved. Consider how you love, value, appreciate, serve, etc. His body. That is how you love, value and appreciate Him. What a wonderful thought! Early last Sunday I was reflecting about passion in the lives of believers. I looked back through my own life and realized that there was a passion that was evident even when I was a child, and that my life had been moved and directed by that passion. Some (maybe all) of the major decisions that I’d made in my life had been influenced by that passion. Sometimes the passion had led me into some really bad decisions, that resulted in relational and financial problems. Sometimes I was led into sound decisions that had good results. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, but always passionate.
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The New Testament word edify and its various forms is based on the Greek words oiko and domay or domeo, depending on the form used. Together they mean "to build the house" or "house builder." Remember that the OT house of God was the tabernacle and later the temple, but the NT house of God is His people (you are the temple of the Holy Spirit.) We’ll take a brief look at the OT picture and then develop an in-depth view of the NT perspective. Continue Reading>>> |
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