Genesis 4-7

In today's reading from BibleGateway (Chronological Plan), there are two verses that found my interest.  First, there is God telling Cain (Genesis 4:6) that he must subdue sin and be its master.  That in refusing to do what is right, Cain is vulnerable to sin that is "crouching at the door, eager to control you."  Second, is the commentary on the person of Noah (Genesis 6:9).  We are told that Noah was blameless, in fact, the only blameless person living on earth at the time.

I find both of these verses curious because of what we read in Romans 7:14-25.  This is The Apostle Paul's well known discourse on the human condition, that we are all slaves to sin.  How can Paul say we are helplessly enslaved to sin and yet in Genesis, even before Jesus death on the cross, God says that we can master sin and then gives us an example of a person who did...declared blameless, Noah?

Briefly, I believe, there are two concepts of sin in Scripture.  There is the sin of our humanity and then there is the sin we commit (either through action or inaction).  The sin of our humanity is best seen in God's conversation with Moses in Exodus 33:22 where God promises to hide him with His hand has His glory passes by Moses.  We are told in Genesis 6:9 that Noah walked in close fellowship with God.  Previously in Genesis 5:24 this same phrase is used in reference to Enoch.  However, we understand the Bible in light of itself so we know that "their walking" was in relationship and not in physical presence as in Genesis 3:8.  In our human condition, we cannot withstand the holiness of God's literal presence (consider listening to our recent sermon series on grace for more...).  That is, prior to Jesus death on the cross, which restored mankind's ability to be in God's physical presence, walking with God could have only meant a relational intimacy with limited physical proximity.

However, Jesus' death on the cross did not cure us of our human condition, but rather covers us so that God's holiness does not destroy us...the ultimate heat shield...we call it grace.  Again, the series referenced above will be a great listen if these concepts are new to you.

But there remains the question of the sin we commit.  Of which God appears to tell Cain he can conquer and then the story gives us a successful candidate in Noah, who has been declared blameless in the realm of committed sin.  There is another curious verse much later in history found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 where Paul tells us that with every temptation, there is a path to successful resistance.  One more reference and then some closing thoughts.  Revelation 3:20 speaks about a door within us as does Genesis 4.  I believe this door represents our will, the God given power of humanity to choose.

Even if I get every choice right from the very first moment of my life until the last, I am still doomed without the grace of God.  Even Noah who was blameless up to the moment of his life identified in Genesis 6 (his post Ark drunken stupor may be his first lapse!), inherited humanity from Adam, a humanity that is hopelessly separated from God and doomed mankind until Jesus atoning death.

My question is have we allowed the preciousness of grace that deals with our humanity (a restoration of God's very real presence both with us and within us!) as a false sense of permission to stop contending for blamelessness in our actions/inactions?  I'm just 45, a far cry from Noah's 500-600 years of blameless living, and I already have a terrible record!  But I hear God saying to me what He said to Cain, what He spoke of Noah, what He inspired Paul to write to Corinth...I can master the sins of choosing.  My door will open and close according to my will.  My right standing with God is through Christ alone, regardless of my actions, grace.  My right living against sin is through Fred alone, revealed by my actions, will.

Let's make 2013 more blameless than 2012!

Pastor Fred

Genesis 3:20

Let's decide to begin this new year with the same grace Adam showed Eve.  I've not previously noticed the timing of Adam giving Eve her name.  The consequences of their sin have just been declared; paradise has been lost.  The nature of their relationship with God, with one another, with the natural world...has been irrevocably changed.  Adam when confronted by God immediately blames his wife but the next opportunity in the narrative where Adam speaks, his heart toward her has changed.

Did anyone experience betrayal this past year?  My life has not been without suffering from the lack of integrity of others.  When a friend chooses to be self-serving at your expense, we feel violated, used, devalued.  All sorts of names come to mind!  I have experienced this in my professional life, even this past year.  Unfortunately, I've not struggled with finding all the "best" names for that person!  But if we hope to see people change, we must stop naming them based who they are and begin declaring who we believe they will be.  This is the gift Adam gave to Eve.  As you are reading Genesis 3, what sort of "names" came to mind as you anticipated Adam's choice for a name?  If you connected that moment to your own recent experience of betrayal, like I did, well, you might not want to speak them out loud around children!

Adam calls her Eve because she WILL be the mother of all who live.  To date, with Adam, she has most recently been the mother of sin...but Adam now prophesies over her life, declares her future, rejects her past!  Who in your life needs you to stop defining them based on who they were?  Who in your life needs you to give them a new name?  Their change just might be waiting for your grace, your faith in who they too long to be.

It's gonna be a good year!

Pastor Fred

Citizenship

Any time our country finds itself at a place that holds the potential to define all our futures, honest, open, respectful, emphasis on listening based dialogue is critical.

When I here people begin their comments with “Any reasonable person…” alarms me.  When I here “No responsible person would disagree…” I am disturbed.  Regardless of where a person may stand on the issues of gun control, a conversation that most certainly needs to lead to meaningful action, there must be a commitment to work tirelessly to understand the positions, values, beliefs, and passions of the people opposite to our own ideas.  If conversations begin with “No reasonable person…” or “No responsible person would disagree…” then no effort is being made to listen, only insult.  No conversation where a person attempts to strengthen their position by framing the other person as unreasonable and irresponsible will be productive.  This is one of our greatest political impediments as a nation.  This impediment is at the root of our inability to pass legislation that results in meaningful action in response to the lack of access to healthcare by too many citizens, legislation that will return this country’s fiscal stewardship to the very principles that made us the wealthiest nation on earth, legislation that will continue to advance ethnic equality, gender equality, and social equality, and legislation that results in meaningful action to have a comprehensive plan for how we as a nation can responsibly arm our citizenry, for personal defense, wildlife management, and sporting recreation.

In February of this year my own personal beliefs about the ownership of guns evolved.  I had never considered owning a handgun, much less carrying one concealed on a daily basis.  My view changed as I listened to others with whom I would have previously disagreed.  I listened.  That is not to say that listening to someone will always alter our beliefs and values.  But if our beliefs and values are in need of changing, tempering, evolving… then listening to others is the only hope.  And if in our listening we still disagree, why do we need others to be wrong in order to make ourselves feel more right?  That is not strength of character but rather grossly misguided insecurity.  One of the great strengths of any society is to champion the coexistence of diverging values.

For me, I came to the conclusion that I was not living at my fullest possible potential.  I believe that if an opportunity arose where I found myself in a crisis where the lives of others were threatened, that my courage would not fail me and I would act.  This is how my father raised me, God bless him for always teaching me by his very example of the selflessness that manhood demands.  I realized that my actions, if ever required, would be grossly inadequate unless I was better prepared.  I obtained my concealed carry permit, took a class, copious research, committed to hours at the range, concentrated on developing muscle memory responses for various scenarios…I decided that any possible future crisis deserved an effort from me that was far greater than what presently existed.  My potential as a citizen of this Commonwealth that stirs my heart, of which my children are the tenth direct generation to walk upon the sacred soil of Virginia from when Abraham and Suzanne Michaux first arrived here the 1700’s, needed to climb.  My ability to serve others in a time of need that may demand lethal force existed at an elevation that placed me as a victim when I had the potential to be a responder, to aid, to rescue, to sacrifice.

Already a conversation has begun here in Virginia regarding allowing teachers to be armed.  To those who oppose this course of action, I would only ask that a conversation be allowed to advance, towards an outcome that is not yet determined but one that can and must be the result of a conversation that is characterized as being honest, open, respectful, and an emphasis on listening.

For me, I think the idea is to let people live at their full potential...for example, if a teacher is a former police officer and can pass a rigorous qualification process by the Virginia State Police, why wouldn't we consider allowing that person to live up to their potential in every possible setting, especially if that potential holds the possibility of saving lives. I would humbly suggest that part of the discussion in our society presently needs to also be how to limit the perceived vulnerability of people, how to project the ability to offer a sturdy response to any threat scenario, as opposed to our present situation of being too easily identified as victims.

The complexity of what lies ahead is immense.  But I am convinced that whatever decisions that will best serve humanity for decades to come must be born out of all the divergent values presently competing for influence.  May we all pray for those in authority over us as Scripture compels as these decisions are reached, “…that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.”  (1 Timothy 2:2)

Pastor Fred

Horatio Spafford

This is from our weekend service at the Williamsburg campus this past Sunday, October 25th (www.thecitylifechurch.com).  We closed our service with this amazing story of faith and perseverance.  My prayer is that it will be the same source of encouragement to you as it so often is to me.

Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, and four daughters. He was also a devout Christian, a faithful student of the Scriptures, and a church elder.  His circle of friends included D. L. Moody, Ira Sankey and various other well-known Christians of the day.

At the very height of his financial and professional success, Horatio and his wife Anna suffered the tragic loss of their young son. Shortly thereafter on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost every real estate investment that Spafford had.

In 1873, Spafford scheduled a boat trip to Europe in order to give his wife and daughters a much needed vacation and time to recover from the tragedy. He also went to join Moody and Sankey on an evangelistic campaign in England. Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead of him while he remained in Chicago to take care of some unexpected last minute business. Several days later he received notice that his family's ship had encountered a collision. All four of his daughters drowned along with over 200 others; only his wife had survived and having arrived in England sent a telegram that began simply with the two words, “Saved alone.”

With a heavy heart, Spafford boarded a boat that would take him to his grieving Anna in England. It was on this trip that he penned those now famous words.

After receiving Anna's telegram, Horatio immediately left Chicago to bring his wife home. On the Atlantic crossing, the captain of his ship called Horatio to his cabin to tell him that they were passing over the spot where his four daughters had perished. He wrote to Rachel, his wife's half-sister, "On Thursday last we passed over the spot where she went down, in mid-ocean, the waters three miles deep. But I do not think of our dear ones there. They are safe, folded, the dear lambs."

Horatio wrote his hymn, still sung today, as he passed over their watery grave.

Philip Bliss (1838-1876), a famed composer, was so impressed with Spafford's life and the words of his hymn that he composed a beautiful piece of music to accompany the lyrics. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey, in 1876.

For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless thousands who have lifted their voices to sing, It Is Well With My Soul.

It Is Well With My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

And Lord haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul

It is well, it is well with my soul.

May it be well with your soul today and forevermore!

Pastor Fred

Impossible Loyalty

I hope you have been following this series with us...50 Day People!  If not, you can catch some podcasts online and also the sermon notes as well.  Enjoy!

We wrapped up the series this past weekend but did not get to our last point so I wanted to blog about that one.  The series has been a look at what it means to be a pentecostal church in our modern world.  Many of us have endured excesses and out of balance in pentecostal services throughout our lives and sadly, those experiences keep people away from pentecostal churches today.  At City Life, we believe in all the power without any of the pageantry!  Throughout the summer, we have examined the very first pentecostal church, the first century Jerusalem church.  The first church was birthed 50 days after Jesus's atoning death on the cross, thus our series title.

In Acts 2:41-47, we find a descriptive list of this church, what I refer to as the ten impossibilities.  This list speaks of what characterized the Jerusalem church, not just on their best day but every day, to the degree that it caused the world from the outside looking in to stand in awe!  They experienced growth, loyalty, community, prayer, power, generosity, service, gathering, worship, and favor to such degrees that it seems impossible.  That is for me the essence of pentecostalism, to have an unshakeable belief that God still makes the impossible, possible!  Mark 10:27 has been our anchor verse for the series, and for the past two weeks, we have been exploring impossible loyalty in particular.

When you and I are emotionally compromised, we are at risk of being disloyal.  The life of Jacob demonstrates this truth with great clarity.  When he felt disappointed, when he felt entitled, when he felt wronged, and finally, when he felt ashamed, Jacob betrayed.  There should be an internal alarm that we all have whenever we are emotionally compromised, especially any of the four we just mentioned.  This does not mean we will betray but rather we are at risk.  When we are hurt and wounded we often give ourselves a false sense of permission to do what we should not and not do what we should.  The podcasts will walk you through the first three, for now, let's talk about feeling ashamed.

Psalm 44:15 says, "My disgrace is before me all day long, and shame has covered my face..."  We find King David at a time in his life when he was overcome by feelings of being ashamed.  Those feelings led to one of Scriptures most egregious betrayals.  2 Samuel 11:15 records for us King David's command for Joab to send Uriah to a certain death.  King David's indiscretions with Bathsheba gave birth to an overwhelming sense of shame making him emotional compromised and ultimately vulnerable to the temptation of disloyalty.  Unfortunately, this held true for Jacob as well.

In Genesis 33:12-27, Jacob has been forgiven by his brother Esau and have before them the opportunity to restore their family.  Esau invites Jacob to return home and Jacob lies.  He tells Esau that because they have so much livestock, women, and children, their pace of travel is just too slow and that Esau should continue on to Seir and they will meet there.  However, Jacob travels to Succoth and settles there.  I can't imagine the shock of Esau when after waiting for hours, possibly even days, realizing that his brother has betrayed him yet again.  I believe Jacob was disloyal here because of his shame.  He knows that if he goes back to Seir, he has to deal with his lifetime of betrayals.

This is the lie people who are overcome with shame believe, that suffering the guilt of just one more moment of disloyalty is better than having to deal with all the cumulative pain of past betrayals.  The treachery of this lie is that it is partially true.  The past does outweigh just one more indiscretion.  But we remain enslaved to the ever growing pain our past instead of the liberty that confession always brings.  Dealing with the pain of our past is never easy but it is the only path to a clean conscience.

All of us need to have people in our lives we trust enough to share our secrets.  We must have people in our lives to whom we can confess our past betrayals and find there from them the wisdom, Godly counsel, and accountability to take further steps to confess and seek forgiveness from the Esau's in our life.  What are you hiding?  When will you seek out a trusted friend or pastor to divulge your betrayal?  The road to Succoth seems tempting but only in Seir will you find the peace that has always eluded you.

Pastor Fred

ImpossiblePrayer

Wow!  I'm not sure I have every noticed this verse before...Jeremiah 14:11, "Then the Lord said to me, Do not pray for these people anymore."  And when we jump down to chapter 15, verse 1..."Then the Lord said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me pleading for these people, I wouldn't help them."  Ouch!!

I know there have been times in my life when I have been so disgusted with people that I have searched for an out, permission to give up on people.  I am familiar with prayers of imprecation, which we find in the Psalms.  Check out Psalm 55:15, 69:28, and 109:8.  I have most certainly prayed a few of these prayers.  In fact, I encourage others to pray these sorts of prayers.  This is how God instructs us to deal with our unhealthy emotions, we bring them to Him.  He is our safe place to vent.   Then we are confronted with Jesus' admonition to not forget to pray for our enemies in Matthew 5:44.  For me personally, I like to keep Matthew 5:44 by leaning into Psalm 55:15!  Seriously, Jesus is asking us to pray blessings upon our enemies, but you may find that blessings for your enemies can only come from your heart once you've dealt with your impure emotions first.  So, your enemy prayers can begin with Psalm 109:8...they just can't end there!

But what about this command NOT to pray?  Our final sense of permission must not come from a verse by rather the entire text.  And in the text, we find something even more perplexing...Jeremiah blatantly disobeys God!  Wow, wow, wow!  So now, we have a command not to pray AND a permission giving example for disobedience?

As we continue to read, chapter 14-17, we find Jeremiah continues to intercede on behalf of his people, as rotten and as despicable as they are.  What would you have done, what would I have done.  My first inclination would have been, "You are so right God, in fact, I've been hoping that you would give me a pass on praying for these debauchery seekers."  But that is not Jeremiah's response, he continues to pray, pleading with God even after God has told him not to (14:19-22).  (We aren't telling our children about these verses who are instructed in our house to champion first time obedience!!)

I hope you read this wonderful exchange between God and Jeremiah today, chapters 14 through 17.  In the end, God's heart turns back towards His people, giving them an opportunity for repentance, all through the persistent, unwavering, yes even disobedience, of a Godly man named Jeremiah.  I do pretty well at not giving up when it comes to praying for myself and people I love.  I fail miserably at praying for those I don't especially like...God, help me to be more like Jeremiah today!  I want to be a man who turns Your heart, even for the good of my enemies.

50DayPeople...ImpossiblePrayer!  (current series...www.thecitylifechurch.com)

Pastor Fred

The Perfect Day

Some of the most daunting words found in Scripture are in Matthew 5:48 where Jesus declares, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."  (some verses just sound more commanding in the King James!)  I love the clarification in the second half of this verse, just in case we try and explain away the meaning of perfection, Jesus makes His command undeniably clear.

In an article by Chris Haft for MLB.com, he writes about Matt Cain's historic day on June 13 of this week, "Cain pitched the first perfect game in the Giant's rich, 130-year history, a 10-0 decision over the Houston Astros...the 22nd perfect game in Major League history by striking out 14 batters, matching Sandy Koufax's total against the the Chicago Cubs on September 9, 1965..."

The definition of a perfect game is not arbitrary.  Perfection is not subjective.  In baseball, no batter can achieve getting on base, not by a hit, walk, hit batter, error, etc.  Three batters every inning retired in at least nine consecutive innings.  Any perfect game is dazzling, but when that perfect game is achieved by one pitcher without any relief, that is exceptional.  That is most recently, Matt Cain.

Just as every pitcher is in search of a perfect game, should we be in search of a perfect day?  I know we can never be continually perfect; humanity precludes the possibility of sustained perfection.  That is why we are so desperately dependent upon Jesus' grace and forgiveness.  While He has only and always been perfect, since in heaven before earth, also His days here in history, and now forevermore as He reigns supreme at the right hand of God, we however will forever be susceptible to selfishness.

But can we have a perfect day?  Can there be just one day where from the time we awake to the time we rest again, not one misstep through omission or commission?  That in a day, we do everything that God expects and successfully fail to do everything He chagrins.

I don't believe that a perfect day is possible.  But I do know that if I ever give up trying, I cheapen grace by letting Christ's perfect forgiveness become my justification for living less.  I strive not because I doubt grace but because I want to honor grace.  I strive not because I believe I will ever see a perfect "nine inning" day but because I want to fulfill my admittedly limited potential.  I strive not because I have an over-exaggerated sense of self-sufficiency but because I am convinced that complete God-dependency produces the fruit of righteousness.

So this is my prayer, "God, help me today to live in such a way that I have only one errant pitch."

Living In The Gap!

Pastor Fred