Posts

Invitation To Friendship

/in /by

In the book, The Insanity of Obedience, its author, Nick Ripken writes: Betrayal within the faith community is a special concern, and it is important enough to demand specific attention. Consider this scenario: Expectations were high. After years of struggle and prayer, a house church was emerging among a resistant Muslim people group. Lives had been spent with this precious moment in view. Seeds had been sown and those seeds were now bearing fruit. Fervent prayers were being answered. Bold witness was being blessed. It was an exciting time. A church was being born. Almost immediately, it seemed, a Judas arose from within the group, exposing the inner circle of leaders. The small core of believers fled in disarray and fear. In an instant, the infant church seemed to disappear. Now, years later, these believers still wait in hiding for the birth of the first house church among their people. Nik Ripkin goes on to state, In light of the Biblical record and in light of Jesus’ response to His own Judas, let us consider some truths about Judas and let us consider what our response might mean for the growth and health of the Gospel. (1) We can expect to find Judas within our inner circle. (2) We can expect Judas to grow up within the movement and not to be imported from the outside. (3) With God’s help, we can choose to deal with Judas ourselves and choose not to export him to others. (4) We can learn to recognize Judas quickly. (5) We can be aware that Judas often has money issues. Regarding this last point Nik offers the testimony of a Muslim believer: When a seeker after Jesus comes to me, I ask them, What is it that you want: a car, a house, a wife, or to go to America? I tell them that I cannot even give them an aspirin. All I have is a cross. Do you want to pick up your cross and follow Jesus? That is all I can offer you. He then continued, “Everyone who followed Jesus in the New Testament gave up something. Everyone who comes to Jesus through a Westerner is trying to get something.“

There’s an interesting detail that Western readers often overlook when reading about the night of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas. John 13:26-27 Jesus answered, It is the one to whom I am going to give this morsel (bit) of food after I have dipped it. So when He had dipped the morsel of bread [into the dish], He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. 27 Then after [he had taken] the bit of food, Satan entered into and took possession of [Judas]. Jesus said to him, What you are going to do, do more swiftly than you seem to intend and make quick work of it. We know from Scripture that John, the Beloved disciple, sat to Jesus’ right at the table and that Judas sat to His left. In Jewish culture the seat of honor was on the left side of the one who headed up the meal. Jesus had given the seat of honor to Judas – who was going to betray him; to the one who stole money from Jesus and the other disciples. Jesus honored him. But it get’s much worse, or should I say, more convicting. When Jesus handed the morsel of matzah to Judas that also had symbolic, and cultural ramifications. What was its message? Through that one action Jesus was offering to Judas a lifetime of friendship and love. He was saying to Judas, Will you be my true and close friend?

As we celebrate Passover, and draw closer to the events of Christ’s crucifixion, we need to take the time to ask, Have we betrayed Jesus for protection, provision, spouses, family, cars, houses, or material gain? I am often haunted by a realization I had years ago, that Jesus has many acquaintances but very few friends. We all want Him for something. But in the words of Henry Blackaby, If you knew all you had was a relationship with God, would you be totally and completely satisfied? In other words, If you didn’t have any of the material wealth, or family and friends – would your relationship with Jesus keep you totally and completely satisfied? What are you living for?

/in /by

Author Scott Sauls recounts: There’s a Groucho Marx skit that I love because I relate to it so much. In the skit, Groucho is having a conversation with a friend, in which he goes on and on (and on and on …) about himself. In the course of his continual chatter about himself, he slips into a brief moment of self-awareness and apologizes to his friend for talking so much about himself. He politely says to his friend, “Well. Enough about me. Let’s talk about you. What do you think about me?” 

Throughout Scripture we see two scenarios play out. One involves God and an individual who chooses to let God be their Center. Once that choice is made it takes our breath away as we watch, time, and time again, what only God can do. The second scenario only causes us to wince and groan at the agony of their defeat. Once again the scenario involves God and an individual. Only this time the individual chooses themself to be their center. Defeat, tragedy, and destruction often accompany such a scenario.

Recently I’ve been preaching about how to grow faith, and what is an enemy of faith – our fear. But there is something even more insidious than fear. You may ask, What is that? The answer is quite simple: Self-centeredness. Self-centeredness, is at the root of most of all of our fear. It robs us of faith as we focus on what we can, and cannot do. When Moses was called by God to lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage he repeatedly gave excuses based solely on his self. Ultimately, Moses self-centeredness got the best of him, disqualifying him from entering the Promised Land. Yet, we see other biblical examples of triumph. When Jesus was in a similar wilderness, led by the Spirit, Jesus had a showdown with the author of self-centeredness: satan himself. In one of those temptations the Scripture records satan taking Jesus to the top of the temple. Scripture records: Then the devil took Him into the holy city and placed Him on a turret (pinnacle, gable) of the temple sanctuary. And he said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you, and they will bear you up on their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, test thoroughly, or try exceedingly the Lord your God. (Matthew 4: 5-7)

The test of praying and seeking God through fasting; the trial of meeting Jesus outside the camp is self-centeredness. Jesus passed this test through faith. Satan wanted Jesus to center on Himself (He was God’s Son). But Jesus remained fixed by faith, focusing instead, on His Father. Recently I recounted how I was challenged to pray for a man who was having difficulty walking. Instead of choosing Jesus to be my Center I focused on my self. Once that focus was locked in – faith withered. I flunked the test. Henry Blackaby of Experiencing God states: “Throughout Scripture God takes the initiative. When He comes to a person, He reveals Himself and His activity. That revelation is always an invitation for individuals to adjust their lives to God. None of the people God encountered could remain the same afterwards. They had to make major adjustments in their lives to walk obediently with Him. God is the Sovereign Lord. Strive to keep your life God-centered because He is the One Who sets the agenda. When you are God-centered, even the desires to do the things that please Him come from God’s activity in your life. What happens when we see God at work? We immediately become self-centered rather than God-centered. We must reorient our lives to God. We should learn to see things from His perspective. We need to allow Him to develop His character in us.

To seek Jesus through prayer and fasting, and join Him outside the camp, is an invitation to abandon all self-centeredness. Faith grows in us from a choice to abandon self-centeredness, and fixing our gaze on Who God is. He is Immanuel – the God Who is Present in your circumstances, even when the darkness of His Presence grows darker.