The Power of Words

Have you considered the power of words? Language is a remarkable thing. The ability to communicate, both in the spoken and written word is pretty amazing. I sit here with my laptop striking keys in an order that will produce words and you sit where ever you might be and read them. With some measure of cognitive ability, assuming I write in a coherent fashion, you will grasp what I intended to communicate. With our growing technology this is something that can happen almost instantly around the globe. Even with the multiple kinds of language we still find ways to communicate. It is a gift from God that we should not take lightly. We are warned of the power of words by James. Words may do great good or be the source of profound evil. We will touch on that truth and then make just a little comparison with the word's of power that God spoke. Something I am sure we all know, however, it is good to be reminded now and then just what the Scriptures have to tell us about those words.

James is concerned with how believers treat one another. He is not alone. Our Lord and Messiah came to the Father with the simple request that we might be one as He and the Father were one. See John 17 for the context and details. Words can either help that prayer become a reality or greatly damage its possibility. James writes, "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell" (James 3:5-6). With the same mouth we bless God and curse men who are made in His likeness. James says these things ought not to be.Undisciplined words disqualify leaders, damage reputations and divide fellowships. However, they also bring healing and encouragement. Solomon writes, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver"(Proverbs 25:11). Actually, Proverbs offer much counsel on the use of words. There are few of us who have escaped occasional words that fillet the soul and rend the heart. Rather, we are to be those who bring a healing balm to the lives of the wounded and broken hearted.

As remarkable and powerful as our words might be, they are not much compared to the words spoken by God. I have spent a bit of time in Genesis chapter one and it occurred to me that Isaiah was more than right when he said, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). It is a powerful statement, however if you want to add some real strength to it look out your window. God spoke and everything you see came into being. Our words do not come close to that kind of creative power. John 1:1 elaborates and lets us know it was Messiah, God's Son who was the creative agent. Colossians 1:16-17 agrees and goes on to say Messiah holds it all together, " all things were created by him, and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Hebrews explains that it is by His word that this is so, "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power" (Hebrews 1:3). God spoke and everything came into being and continues by His powerful word.

There was a time when my "prosperity" brothers tried to claim that we as believers have the same power, the power to speak health, wealth, and prosperity into our own personal existence. They found a remarkable difference between the Greek word, logos, and another Greek word, rhēma, logos is the far more common word and is most know in John 1 where the Word is a reference to Messiah, God's Son. rhema is said to be the relational word and the spoken word while logos was the written word, sort of. The problem is that the New Testament writers used them interchangeably as does other Greek literature. They are synonyms. My point is not to discuss the merits of these theological positions but to point out that no one has ever spoken a giant redwood into assistance or even and a dandelion for that matter. God's spoken words are beyond comparison just as the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us has no comparison either.

The next time you feel a bit out of control and overwhelmed take a look around yourself and remember all that is, even the dirt you stand on, came into being by God simply speaking and it was so. He also is holding it all together. As the old song goes, "He's got the whole world in His hands." Then it might help to get the focus off of yourself and go deliver some encouraging and uplifting words to someone else. I would not be surprised if it did you both.

The Lord's Prayer Is Not For You

As the New  Year begins we may have determined that we need to enhance or begin a stronger prayer life. A few months ago we took time to look at the "Lord's Prayer" recorded for us in Matthew 6 and Luke 11. We considered the prayer phrase by phrase and, hopefully, gained a few insights as how to come to the Lord and how we might offer prayer to the God Who longs for us to come to Him. Having given this a little more thought there are a couple of additional things to consider that we have overlooked. In our Western culture we may well see the prayer as one given to us as a model or type of prayer to copy as individual believers. That this is a prayer just for me and about how I can address the needs in my life. It is certainly true that there is personal application and direction for my prayers here, but was that really the intent of the disciple's question or the Lord's response?

Luke 11:1 records the introduction to the prayer given, "Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” The request was one that would give them a prayer uniquely from their Rabbi, just as other Rabbis had given their disciples prayers to recite. Part of the tradition of rabbinical instruction was that of prayers to recite. John the Baptist had his disciples and he had taught them prayers to recite as a group. The request was not, "Teach me to pray", but "Teach us to pray." Shared prayers of the Hebrew community was common. The reciting of morning prayers and evening prayers among the Jews continues to this day. The Lord gave Moses a specific prayer of blessing for Aaron and his sons after him to recite over God's people.  “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26). It is a blessing still proclaimed today. It is a prayer of blessing for the whole community not just an individual. The prayer the Lord gave His disciples reflects that. "Give us this day", "deliver us", "forgive us", (emphasis added). It is not about me, it is about us.

If we take this to heart it could bring some changes to our prayer life in the year to come. If you have not, take a little time to memorize the prayer. Many assemblies already recite the prayer regularly and repetition is a good way to memorize. If this is the case you have a bit of a head start. Consider keeping this prayer in mind as you pray for those around you. That they all would recognize the intimacy of the Father with you. That they all would see God's daily provision and live in anticipation of His coming Kingdom. That they would be bold enough to offer a plea to be rescued daily from evil and testing that can damage our confidence in the LORD. As we integrate this community prayer into our prayer for the community we will become less focused on ourselves and more on those around us. That blessing for Aaron and his sons is another prayer to add to your memory and draw from as you come to the Lord in prayer. The disciples were not looking for an individual prayer but for a prayer to share. A prayer to recite together and to draw from as they prayed for one another.

One final thought. Many of us in the evangelical community shy away from reciting prayers as a congregation. The fear is that they might become routine and lose their meaning. That somehow "liturgy" is a bad thing. It is just repetitive words that lack individual passion. Yet, God's people have been reciting prayers for generations and generations. The "Shema" is certainly a positive passage that pretty much all Jews know. It comes from the first word "hear" in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength." Not a bad reminder. Add verses 6 through 9 and we have a purpose for life and direction to pass onto generations to come. There are other doxologies God has given us from Romans 11:33-36, Philippians 4:20, 1 Timothy 1:17, and Jude 1:24-25 to name a few. Perhaps we would do well to fill our hearts and minds with the prayers and praises of Scripture to recite as a community or to use as we pray for the community. In so doing we may discover that our prayer lives become a bit less egocentric and bit more about those around us and those we come to call brothers and sisters in Christ. Why not wake up in the morning and proclaim God's blessing upon your community or quietly remember that He is able to keep us all from stumbling. Remember that prayer the Lord gave His disciples, was not just for you, so don't keep it to yourself.

"The Sweetest Gift of All"

The Christmas Celebration has come and gone. Relatives are heading home and the tree is a little bare. For many the Christmas celebration is bittersweet. It is a time to celebrate the Savior's birth, however it can be a time of reflecting upon the shadow of the loss of a loved one. A spouse, parent, child, friend, the ones passed on who leave that vacant spot on Christmas day. A good friend shared a music video that speaks to that reality. It was a source of comfort for me. Perhaps it will be for you as well. Consider it a belated Christmas gift from Torah Paranoia.

Christmas all Year Long

Tis that most wonderful time of the year. We are in the midst of what has become known as the Christmas season. It is a time of peace on earth and good will toward men, just ask anyone in retail. It is a time of confused celebration and traditions that have questionable origins. Even the time of the celebration of the Lord's first advent comes from Constantine's desire to somehow blend Christianity with the solstice celebration. The Scriptures give us no definitive time of the Savior's birth but it was not December 25th. More likely the spring time so some find the celebration unseemly. They have a feeling of pride that they reject this holiday and all of it's pagan roots and traditions. I have written before that celebrating the birth of the Savior seems like a good thing. It is a good thing to remember that John 3:16 is true. God did did love the world and did give His only begotten Son so we could believe and have life eternal. That, in and of itself, is a reason to bring God praise and a cause for celebration.

One of the common marks of the Christmas season is that of giving. We buy gifts to exchange and little things to tuck in those stockings hung with care. Thanks to Samaritan's Purse, many now give shoe boxes filled with fun stuff so children around the world can experience Gods love. We give change to the chilly folks ringing the bell outside grocery stores and shopping malls so the Salvation Army can spread God's care. We may exchange names as a "Secret Santa" in the place we work. These are all good things. Our God is a giving God. He gives the sun and the rain. He gives life to the fields and brings the harvest. He gives hope and joy and the fruit of His Spirit into the barren lives of His children. He gives comfort to the wounded and forsaken. For those who believe that Messiah Jesus has come, giving is one of the most powerful tools available to reveal the Son of God.

Giving in the simplest and most practical moments of life has multiple benefits and can cause a ripple effect in making the Savior real. For the giver, it is a reminder of God's sacrifice and gift to us. For the recipient there is a little joy added to their lives and a little light to shine into their darkness. I am aware that life is short and that we want to be efficient in the use of what time God has given us. However, maybe we need to remember that it really is God's time given to us. It is really not our own. It is a gift to be shared with others. So perhaps our goal should be to give up that prime parking space and enjoy a brisk walk from the distant parking lots while humming a Christmas carol on the way. It is a time to help someone unload their overloaded cart and then take the cart back to the store. Time to hold open a door, put a dollar in a kettle and smile a lot. take God's time to surprise the person ahead of you in the checkout line and let them go first. Even if their seventy-two items seems to outweigh your seventeen. Ask how their shopping is going. Take note of the contents of the cart and comment on how much someone will enjoy the choices they made. They may be resistant to step ahead of you but you can gently persuade them to take your spot. Imagine the conversation they will have when they share the story at home of how someone put them first. Be the thankful encourager to the retail associate. They really are making your life easier by working that day. Watch their countenance change when you express your gratitude for being there and wish them a Merry or Blessed Christmas. I for one want to be the story of the kind and grateful customer when they get home rather than the irritated, grumpy demanding one. All five of my children and my wife have worked retail. My wife and daughter still do. I get to hear the stories of the outrageous and demanding people who set out to ruin their day. However, I also hear of the kind, patient and pleasant folk who appreciated them for their help. Which one does God want you to be?

Whether you enjoy the season or are somewhat offended by the questionable roots and history that surrounds this time of year, the celebration should not rob you of the opportunity to let some light shine in the darkness. Take a queue from Linus and read the account from Luke chapter two and let this be what Christmas is all about. You can read it again in April when the event is more likely to have occurred. In fact you could read it once a month just as a way to refresh the wonder of Messiah's arrival and the joy it brought to simple shepherds just outside Bethlehem. We could actually celebrate Christmas everyday of the year. Always being giving to those around us. Always offering a helping hand to the guy trying to tie a mattress onto his Prius outside of Sam's Club or hep the woman with her seventy-five pound bag of kitty litter. Philippians 2:3 gives us the plan, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." Putting others first. That is what the Lord did for us. Remember the story? He left the glories of heaven and took on the form of a child. Born to a poor young woman in a stable there in Bethlehem. No glitz, no glory, just a few shepherds reporting a multitude of the heavenly host singing, "Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth, good will toward men". It really is good news of great joy for all people. A joy we can share all year long by simply giving others the gift of being more important than ourselves. Humble service when we shop, when we drive, when we park our cars, when we hold a door or help the little league youngster with a $20 donation as we leave the grocery store and watch their eyes light up. The joy of Christmas giving can be ours every day of the year. 

I Never Want to "Get Over It"

We live in a world that abounds with comings and goings. The truth is, things in life are subject to change. From the simple things that wear out, like the toaster oven, refrigerator or technology that seems to come and go overnight. These sort of things are fairly easy to deal with. Most of us do not develop a deep meaningful relationship with a blender, though I have known people to get pretty attached to their cars. However, when it comes to people that is a different story. The comings and going of people can be more challenging to deal with. Social media can ease the parting with face-time and Instagram. But, no amount of technology can help when the parting comes through death. Death is a very real part of the lives we live. And with the passing of years it becomes an all too frequent visitor. It is these times of loss that we are called to cope with. We have grief ministries, and stages of grief and reminders that, "Time heals all wounds". Well, maybe time just dulls the pain a little. By the grace of God healing does come, yet the scars may linger longer than we thought possible. Well meaning friends are there to encourage us to move on. To get on with life and, with time, to get over it. Initial grief and sorrow is expected and comfort is readily available. That first anniversary of the passing often comes with comforting words and empathy. However, beyond that we are expected to get past the loss and begin to start fresh. With the Lord's help, of course.

But what if, in some ways, we are not supposed to get over it? What if God has other ideas of what to do with loss? The Apostle Paul tells those in Thessalonica, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13). So we are not to sorrow as those who have no hope. Yet, we are allowed to sorrow. We are allowed to fell sadness. And there does not seem to be some set time limit as to how we can feel this way. I do not see a "Well, it's time to get over it. You've felt sad long enough." I am not talking about a debilitating grief that makes us bedridden as we wait to die. There is, or should be, some expected healing from God's Spirit as we cope with the loss. However, deep relationships are replete with abundant triggers of memories and special thoughts of the one who is gone. As believers, we know where our loved one is. We have the hope of the resurrection, we know they would not want us to be consumed with sorrow. However, are we intended to just get over years of special occasions that are special only to the ones who shared the moment?

I for one do not want to get over it. I am past the sorrow of a lost friend, at least for the most part. I have the full comfort of what God has provided. However, there are times when I miss the, "I am so frustrated right now!" phone call. I miss long talks in the parking lot. I miss knowing someone always has my back. I miss Dunkin Donuts conversations, ice cream at Friendly's and knowing he was just around the corner. I don't get sad quite the way I did at first but I never want to become calloused to the memories that somehow keep the friendship alive. We were not designed by God to go through life alone. I am blessed with a loving, remarkable, supportive, wife, and she is cute on top of that. I cannot imagine life without her. I have also been blessed with a number of friendships, some more like brothers than friends. However, I have only been blessed once with the kind of friendship that has been taken from me. I do not want to get over it. It was a special gift and blessing from the Lord. I want to treasure the memories. Be prompted to relive some moments when we laughed, enjoyed some music and were burdened for our children.  I want to celebrate some answers to prayer that we shared before he went home. I want to feel the prompting to pray for his wife and children and grandchildren, just like when he was here.  I am beyond grateful for the years of friendship and having a brother in the Lord that I may never experience again. So, no, I don't want to get over it. I want to treasure it. I want to remember it for even the pain of loss is something we had shared before. He was truly a gift from God. Why would I ever want to get over it?

"Pray on Purpose"

Most of humanity wants to believe they are here for some kind of purpose. Preferably one that has an enough of an impact that we are remembered by those we care about. A life that lacks purpose can lead to depression and diminishes the value that should be ours. The God who created us did so on purpose. He gave you life on purpose and wants you to both realize and enjoy your purpose for being here. Over the past few blog posts we have been reviewing Matthew 6:9-13, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer. As we come toward the end of our study we find this final phrase, "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." You will not find it as easily in the NIV or ESV Bible translations for there is some academic question as to whether the phrase belongs. We are going to accept the long standing tradition and include it. The point here is not to enter into a discussion concerning textual criticism but to recognize that the closing phrase is a pretty good way to end any prayer. If you do not think it belongs you can find the same encouragement elsewhere in Scripture.

If we take this instruction seriously we will not only have a prayer to follow we also have purpose in life. Fellowship with our Heavenly Father is rewarding, comforting, and provides direction. The truth that the God of all creation finds great pleasure in having you as a child and looks forward to talking with you is a pretty good way to boost your personal value quotient. This Heavenly Father also has a kingdom yet to come, as well as a kingdom in the present. Our prayer for this kingdom to advance calls us to be involved as kingdom citizens. We also partake in the power provided to advance this kingdom. Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” To provide a witness of an eternal kingdom with no death, pain, or sorrow, seems like a rewarding purpose for life. The reminder of power also points back to the "daily bread" phrase where we were prompted to reflect on our dependence and God's constant provision. God knows our needs and has the power to provide. In a world filled with reasons to feel insecure we have assurance that the Lord is involved, He is aware and He cares for His children.

God's glory is likewise never ending. Colossians 3:4 tells us we will share in that glory, "And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." The wonder of Who the Lord is, is also ours to share in. 1 John 3:2, "Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is." We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. Quite the promise. Our call, our purpose, is to be involved in His kingdom, His power and His glory, forever. Not a bad purpose. In all we do, in all we say, in the life that He has given to us we have a purpose. We set His name apart as a name above all names. We labor, with joy, to see His kingdom advanced. We rest in His daily provision as we provide for others. We forgive in such a way that others can see how God forgives. We overcome tests and temptation by coming to Him for protection and rest. We are not just looking to the here and now for purpose but a purpose that is forever. Amen!

Escaping the Evil

How do you go about escaping the evil that rolls over us from the corrupt and fallen world that we inhabit? The Lord's direction is to make this a matter of prayer. Matthew recorded these instructions for us in Matthew 6. A pretty familiar passage that we refer to as the Lord's prayer. Praying to our heavenly Father is a positive activity. This model prayer encourages us to ask for some pretty common things, like bread, as well as some challenging things concerning His Kingdom and forgiveness. The disciples lived in very difficult times. The government of Rome was oppressive and demanding. Taxes were high and freedoms were being eroded. Most religious practices surrounding the disciples were a violation to all they held as sacred. The roadways and cities held many dangers. Robbery and assault were common. You did not travel alone, for there often were threats from wild animals and thieves. Luke 10 reveals those dangers in the story of the abused man and the good Samaritan. Evil was common and came in a variety of forms and from all directions. It should not be a surprise that this prayer includes instruction on deliverance from evil.

"But deliver us from evil" is a request that gets directly to the point. The NIV and NKJV translations add the word "one", personalizing the evil that assaults us. The added word is meant to help, however, it may diminish our struggle rather than clarify the assault. You could argue that all evil comes from the evil one, however, much of what we struggle with has become a part of the world we live in and is not personal attack by Satan, himself, on our lives. It would serve us well to take a deeper look at the words used here in Matthew. The Greek word for deliver here is, rhyomai, It means, to draw to one's self, to rescue. It is not the common Greek word, sōzō, often translated "save". Here in Matthew the request is to be drawn near to the One who can rescue us from evil. To be pulled in close to a place or person who can protect us, rescue us from the evil that we encounter all the time. It is may be a bit more relational than sozo. In the midst of our daily, moment by moment struggle with evil we need to be drawn near, to be protected, rescued from evil. This is not unlike what our Lord shared concerning His people in Luke 13:34, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!" We need to be drawn close under His wings to be protected, the question might be, are we willing?

What kind of evil does the Lord suggest we need to be rescued from? The Greek word here is, ponēros. The meaning of the word is pretty broad, meaning, pressed and harassed by labors, bringing toils, annoyances, perils, hardships, even disease or blindness. It is to be weighed down by all the trouble of the world. To be compressed and feel like there is no way out. Evil confines us and can rob us of the freedom to enjoy all that God has so graciously given us. We need deliverance, to be rescued, to be protected, from this kind of evil all the time. This evil is not just from the evil one; it comes from living in a fallen and broken world. I can generate this evil on my own. If we are honest, there are times when we need to be delivered from ourselves. To be delivered from past mistakes and failures that oppress and hem us in and keep us from moving forward with the Lord. Just as we need daily bread, we need daily deliverance. We need to take shelter under His wings or the evil that pervades our existence may crush us. 

The remedy to evil is His presence. The closer we are to Him the greater our protection. This does not mean that we will skate through life problem free. the Scriptures make it clear that struggles and pain are a part of this life. It does mean we do not have to go through it alone. There is security in the Lord even in the darkest of times. There are tests and trials that God allows to build my faith and encourage my faithfulness. However, I am certain that they will be easier to endure under the shelter of His wings. Today I need to be delivered from evil. I would guess that you do as well.