King of Kings

*Click the title to go to Psalm 45

Hands Down, Lord of the Rings is my favorite movie series of all time. It has great battle scenes, ugly monsters, and plenty of "kings and knights" nonsense to go along with it. Anyway, the story takes place in a land called Middle Earth which is divided up among different kingdoms - some hobbits, dwarfs, elves - all of which look to the race of men to wage war against the evil lord Sauron and his little orc minions. All of that really doesn't matter - what does matter is that the movie is filled with an enormous amount of kings, all of which are partly responsible for the downfall of man-kind. Basically, all of the kings are either corrupt, possessed, or self-centered jerks that don't care about the end of the world. It's quite a sad picture that the author JRR Tolkien originally painted in his books. Man is corrupt, man is corrupt and filled with all sorts of injustice. Man is self centered. What does that mean? There is no truly good king - no truly "good" ruler. The bible talks about this in Micah 7 where the prophet mentions that man is wonderfully gifted in the arts of messing things up - tipping scales, being unjust and corrupt, hating authority, waring against brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. Lord of the Rings couldn't be more spot on in this aspect of human nature ... the human race is a failure. We are sinners who daily fall short of the glory of God - who are sometimes even hesitant to repent and ask for forgiveness. Revelation 17:14 gives Jesus the title of the KING OF KINGS - that he is the only righteous one worthy enough to truly wage war against evil, and as John prophecies, will place evil in its place on the day of judgement. The question today is where do you put your faith? In the goodness of man? Maybe in the "goodness" of yourself? Repent and place your trust in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.



Verses 3-4 The chapter starts by talking about the kings, but quickly makes it's way back to the only everlasting king - God. In these two verses, the Psalm is almost a prayer of praise and request at the same time. We pray and we ask God for protection knowing that he is the only one who can deliver on his promise to be our stronghold. It's super cool because it's just like the model prayer. "Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed by thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven ... give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6). Not only is God our protector and mighty king, he is our portion and provision. God is victory and God is truth. He is justice and righteousness - everything that the human kings of history's past have failed to be. I love the last part of verse 4 - the Psalmists were living in great anticipation of God's wonderful works. A good king does "wondrous" things for his people. God created an entire universe for his people and sent his only son Jesus Christ to buy back a fallen creation - such a good King.

Verse 5-8 We have talked about this before, but it's cool that it is mentioned here again. God is our victory. I like to think about who reigns in my life - without Christ i have no victory - just failure. I cannot conquer sin on my own, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am more than capable (although it has nothing to do with me). After reading this Psalm, you should come to the realization that God is King and that there is no one like him - He is on the throne forever and ever - never to be uprooted.

Praise the King.
-Chris

History Maker

*Click the title to go Psalm 44

When I was still in High School at Calvary Chapel, I was introduced to the lamest motivational tool for learning I have ever come across in my lifetime. In my sophomore history class, my teacher made it clear that the reason she loved teaching the subject was in fact that the tales of times past were "His Story" ... of course meaning "God's story." Whenever I think about this, I get a little confused ... God's story is not in the rise and fall of nations - "His Story" is not even found in the mighty Crusades or the voyage the pilgrims made across the Atlantic. King John (i made this one up), Napoleon, George Washington, etc etc ... all great men ... but just men. If there is anything I learned from history in school, it is that man has a wonderful tendency of progressing technologically while regressing morally. God's story is not contained in your High School text book. God's history book (if it could even be called that) is the Old Testament - a book containing prophecy, poems, great tales, great men - all of which build up to the person of Jesus Christ. God is a history maker - just not the typical History Channel mumbo jumbo we're all used to.



Verses 1-8 Pay attention to how the Psalm starts off. "Our father's have told us" ... have told us what? What is this Psalm going to talk about? ... More than likely history that has to actually do with God's epic awesomeness. I now get to ask you a question - Have you read the Old Testament? Hopefully you've at least covered some Psalms and Proverbs - maybe even Genesis through Joshua. These are all great books filled with stories similar to the ones you find in your traditional text book - stories of battles, people, of triumph and defeat ... BUT ... God is in the midst. I like to specifically think about the end of Exodus and Joshua. The Israelite's were stranded in the desert for 40 years ... meaning that the people who (in Joshua) come to establish Israel are not the people who walked across the dry Red Sea floor. Anyway, in Joshua, we see that the Israelites are greatly outmatched. God has called them to inhabit a land that they describe as one filled with milk and honey. Great right? no ... Not only is this land filled with giant grapes, it's filled with giants as well - big burly warriors who apparently are also smart enough to build cities enclosed by walls wide enough to race chariots on top. This is history - that God took the impossible and made it possible - that he took the nomadic Israelites out of the desert into a mighty victory over some of the greatest nations of their time. Sure enough they took the promise land. King David looks back at all the grand stories that he has been told throughout the time of the Israelites only to come to the conclusion that God is a history maker. God's story is big. God's story is alive. God's story is epic. King David goes as far to say (verse 4) ... "You are my King." Why? The difference between History and God's story is that God's story makes us look back on "what our father's have told us" and be filled with honor to be called the people of God.

Verses 9-26 It's sometimes humbling to look back at the victory seen in the Israelites and consider what God is doing with you. Sometimes its easy to forget that God brought the victory as well as allowed the defeat. Read the Old Testament - there are times when the Israelites are the perfect example of "God's people" and other times they're ... well not so much that same example. Apparently, the time when this Psalm was written is a time when the Israelites were being persecuted - for any particular reason, I do not know. The only reason David could muster was that they were being persecuted for God's sake - just for being his people. This thought is actually brought up again in Romans chapter 8 - that we are persecuted for the testimony of Jesus Christ. So what are we to do when the history God brings into our lives isn't what we would desire? James would write later in the New Testament - consider it joy when you face trials - even better, Jesus said blessed are those who are persecuted for His sake. Sometimes all you can do is wait upon God and hope in the fact that God is good (Nahum 1:7). Will he deliever you? God is victory. Hope that answers your question.

-Chris

Psalm 43

*Click on the title to go to this weeks Psalm

The other day I was talking to a friend on facebook, and his atheist friend decided to through a fit about how he "never put Jesus on a cross," and how "anyone who did would be a terrible person." He then continued to tell me about how I was a terrible person ... which is fantastic. Either he got extremely lucky or he's been secretly reading his Bible, because he's exactly right. You and I ... we're people ... terrible people. In other, more "religious" terms, we're sinners. The Bible uses this old archery term which loosely translates to "missing the mark" as a clear picture of how we fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Luckily, not only is God the only righteous standard and judge, he the giver of truth (the word) and bringer of life (his son Jesus Christ). The young man on Facebook may have been absolutely right, but we can rest in the fact that we have been washed clean in the blood of Jesus Christ - that his death and subsequent resurrection payed the price for our "terribleness." God is your defense. God is your assurance, your peace. God is your "vindication" (justification).



Verses 1-2 Fact: Bears eat beats. Other fact: You're a sinner that claims to have been purchased at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). When you make a mistake, people will be watching and will be ready to throw assumptions about your Jesus because of what you have done. This is why sin in the Christian life is so serious - it sends the wrong message about the redeeming and transforming qualities of Christ's ultimate sacrifice. David was no exception here. Whether we look at times when he was a farm boy or at his great triumph as a king - he was a sinner too. The mighty king David fell short of the glory of God just as much as you do. I'd beg to argue that the main difference comes in the manner in which we choose to react. Do you get worked up and try to reason your way out of it? Do you get in fights or arguments? Or do you retreat into the arms of the God who has already claimed victory through the cross? David says "vindicate me" ... or ... "clear me of blame, clear me of suspicion." As mighty as David was, the major battles that he won in his life were the work of a mighty God. For some reason, this section reminds me of Psalm 30:5 - "Pain may last a night, but joy comes in the morning." The potential torment you face when you sin is in no way comparable to the joy that God has given you in Christ. Own up to your sin. You are a terrible person, but those sins are paid for ... and as far as for anyone who rejects the sacrifice of Jesus Christ ... they're dead where they stand (Ephesians 2).

Verses 3-5 This section is pretty awesome. I don't want to go into detail too much, but David is simply taking joy in the law of the Lord. The rules and regulations that God set forth in the Bible are not there to make you miserable, but to protect you from harm. Let's be cheesy for a second - why did your parents tell you when you were 5 years old to not put your hand on the stove. Just as your unbelieving friends may harass you when you fall short, they will protest your love for the law of God. Psalms 1 says that blessed is the man who does not take council from the ungodly, but his delight is in the law of the lord in which he meditates day an night. David rejoices because when men (including him) are only skilled in corrupting the world, God's law stands firm. Read Psalm 19:7-9 ... God's law is perfect, and is worth rejoicing in.

Verse 5 sums it up:
"Hope in God, for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God."

Let God be your salvation!
-Chris

Psalm 42 - Thirsty?

*Again ... click the title to go to this weeks Psalm*
I think it's interesting to think about how many different drink choices there are in the world. I mean, every once in a while I will drink a cold, satisfying, delicious cola for breakfast, but that's obviously not my only option. We're different from the rest of creation. We're special in my opinion. If you look at other "mammals," their drink menu seems to be much more limited - precisely to water. We have juices, sodas, fancy sparkling water, milk (which comes from a cow? ... weird), and so much more. The Bible tells us thought, that man is also created with another thirst - one that cannot be quenched by the most recent release of Gatorade. The question today is not one of physical thirst (speaking of which, it's time for a water break). Contrary to physical thirst, spiritual thirst is not satisfied by Aquafina, and it most definitely does not have a preference between Pepsi and Coke. On the other hand,spiritual thirst can only be combated with the living waters that God pours out through His word and His presence.



Verses 1-2 Here it is, plain and simple. Just like animals have the natural instincts that tell them, "YOU'RE THIRSTY, GET SOME WATER," we have been created with a thirst for the living God. There is nothing else that can satisfy this deep spiritual thirst other than the Lord God Almighty Himself. Romans 1:18-23 talks about how man was created to recognize God in creation. That there is a conviction that lies in the hearts of believers and non-believers alike that says, "there is a God that created this world." I'd really encourage you to take a look at that passage and see what Paul calls the "invisible attributes" of God. Basically, getting down to the nitty-gritty, man was created to not only recognize there is a God, but also to understand that God is satisfaction. I find it amazing - there is nothing in the world that quenches the deep passions of the human soul like the "invisible attributes" of God - His love, His power, His wisdom, and His gentleness. The struggle that human-kind shares with David is seen clearly in these first verses - how are you going to satisfy your thirst? Although David sums it up pretty well in saying that God is [or should be] his only THIRST, Jesus totally rocks the house. In John 4:7-14, Jesus comes across a woman who is completely confused about how to quench this "spiritual thirst" that we're talking about. Jesus doesn't turn her way because of her sin, but offers her living water - the water that is capable of conquering the thirst of every human soul. This water is none other than the love and friendship of Jesus Christ.

Verses 3-6 David was never a man to hide his struggles. He was the mightiest of kings in the entire Bible, but he is also made to be an example of the internal struggles with sin. David was an honest man when it came to his thirst. To sum it up quickly, David talks about friends, about organized religion, and about the pains and frustrations it brought into his life. This is pretty spectacular right? Basically, if you try to answer your spiritual thirst with works, with "religion", friends, or even sin, you will be left unsatisfied. David even shows that his halls were filled praise and joy, but his soul still felt hollow. Why? He never let God into the equation. Encouragement: allow God to invade your friendships, your worship, your church services and religion ... or surrender YOUR ENTIRE LIFE to Him.

Verses 7-11 This is where we get to answer the question of why God is the only solution to spiritual thirst. Let's answer the question with another question. How deep is the Father's love for us, that he would send his only son to die on a cross for a bunch of ungreatful sinners (Romans 5:7). God's love is like a waterfall. It's powerful, constant, but extremely beautiful at the same time. There is no one like our God (1 Samuel 2:22, Jeremiah 10:6, Psalm 86:8). He is creator (Genesis 1). He is everlasting peace(Isaiah 9:6). He is salvation and the conqueror of all sin (Galatians 5:24). He is justice (Micah 7). He is the standard for righteousness (Isaiah 45:24). He is good (Nahum 1:7). He is love (1 John 4:8). Everything is his (Colossians 1:16). He is sastisfaction (Psalm 37:4). We could do this all day ... just read your Bible.

The end.
-Christopher

Purposeful Humilty - Psalm 41

*Click the title above to go to the webpage with this week's Psalm*

For the last post, we talked about how Jesus himself kneeled down at the disciples feet to wash them. It rocks my world every time I get a full glimpse of our humble savior, Jesus Christ - that he, while being fully God, had such an unquenchable passion for us sinners that he purposed in his heart to redeem us to the father by the means of his own blood. Basically, Romans 5:7-8 sums it up well when Paul reminds us that a man will rarely even die for an innocent friend, but Christ died for people that willing-fully rejected him. After all, that is sin right? The willful disobedience that put Jesus on the cross. The willful rejection of Jesus Christ - in action. I'll be the first to admit that it even hurts to write that convicting portion of text, as I am guilty of the same crime. Jesus, being the perfect example of servant-hood first to the father and then to his flock, made it clear that we are to be humble in the same manner. Just as Christ had sacrificial love for us, we in turn are to lay our selfish ambition aside so that God's love may be expressed to the world, but also so that it may be made perfect in us (1 John 4:8-12). Humility has a two-fold purpose - to pave the way for Christ to enter others' lives, but also to protect us from ourselves. Why? God loves sinners but knows the destruction that sin brings.



Before we start. Let me just mention one more point. In Matthew 19:23, Jesus tells his disciples that it is harder to a rich man to go to heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. That is not to say that people with money cannot be saved, but more so that people who allow money to be their god, their focus, and their lives' priority are more likely (almost guaranteed) to lose sight of God's influence in their life. But that goes for anything. Biblical humility is not simply the antonym of "pride". It is sacrificial. It is selfless. It gives God's plans and purposes for our life the priority over our own goals and self-centered pursuits. In other words - it's makes a person spiritually "hollow" in a way that allows God to fully pour the living water of Jesus Christ into the Christian life.

Verse 1 This here is my inspiration for this week. Verse 1 is so cool because it's seems so simple ... but so many strings are attached. Did you know that having "regard for thew weak" was something that God invented. It was, well actually everything was, God's idea first. Why? Because in our weakness, God is strong (2nd Corinthians 12:9). In our times of struggle with evil, God remains faithful, strong, and good (Nahum 1:7). When David says that we are to have regard for the weak, I believe there is an idea attached to it that many often overlook. To have regard for the weak (at least as a sinful being) is to realize that you are incapable as well. When we are self confident, or when we are proud is when we are the weakest spiritual. On the other hand, a humble spirit allows the almighty God to work in unexpected and unmeasurable ways - in ways that we couldn't even believe if we were told (Habakkuk 1:5). Yes, we are to have regard for physical sicknesses and weaknesses, but always remember to take it as a reminder to humble yourself. Why? ...


Verse 2 - God protects the humble, because humble people know to take refuge in our omni-potent God.

Verse 3 - God places a healing hand on those who are his. Both spiritually and physically ... more importantly spiritually. Why? Because God brings restoration to the seemingly unredeemable sinner. God brought what was once dead to life (Ephesians 2:1-10).

Verse 4 - God cannot heal a prideful sinner because a prideful sinner will not fall to repentance at His feet. But God's love will cover a multitude of sins for those who confess them (1 Peter 4:8,1 John 1:9).

Verse 5-11 - God is victory to those who let Him be. There is no battle against evil that God has not already won (1 Corinthians 15:50-57).

Verse 12 - He establishes us in his presence never to be snatched up again (Amos 9:15,John 10:28)

Just to close up:
Jesus said this - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Pretty boss yeah?
-Chris

Friday March 18th [6:00-10:30PM]

Dirty Feet

My parents' house is less than a mile away from a creek and a small forest ... which is just stinkin' awesome. I spent at least a quarter of my childhood summer days at the forest - digging "caves", building "forts", and pretending to be some sort of extreme wilderness animal. Every day that I went to the forest, I came home completely covered in all sorts of mud and dirt. Before I went back into the house, I was always sure to clean my feet ... just my feet. Needless to say, the rest of my body was an absolute mess, which is probably the reason my parents went from carpet to wood floors. Anyway, my point is that, as sinners, we are born a complete spiritual mess. Contrary to the example, this mess is not something that we can clean up on our own - this mess is not something that we can sweep under the rug or spray off with a hose. This mess sticks. Fortunately for us, we have a God that is willing to get his hands dirty. For the sole purpose of buying back his creation, 2000 years ago God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross so that every spiritual mess that has walked this Earth could be washed clean. This is the message of Psalm 40



Verses 1-5 Obviously, there is a slight emphasis on verse two this week. David proclaims that God has brought him out of a "horrible pit" and pulled him out of the "clay." Make a note that clay is nothing like dirt - clay is hard sometimes, sticky and wet sometimes, and completely messy always. If you have ever dug a hole and ran into clay, then you understand how difficult and time consuming it would be to actually get something out of it. Romans 3:10 says that there are none righteous, no not one. Every human being that has every walked this planet has been bound by sin ... and they're stuck. Sin is not a "situation", sin is not an "occurance" - sin is the reality that man failed God and missed the standard of perfection. In fact, the mighty king David was no exception. He never claims to be righteous or holy ... he claims to have found salvation in a God that listened to his cry and came to his aid. David continues and says that any man who places his trust is God is blessed. Why? Because they are free, and have been freed by a relational God. In Ephesians, we're told that God was willing that all should come to repentance, that God not only wants to save, but wants to gather all of his children back to the family. Again ... Why? Because God's thoughts towards us individually are endless (verse 5). Because his love is unceasing, unchanging, and passionate. How are we freed from the clutches of sin? Just like David, we can call upon the Father for forgiveness and salvation (John 3:16).

Verses 6-12 Hebrews 11:6 says this - "without faith, it is impossible to please God." In verses 6 and 7, David comes to the realization that our God is not one to be please by the religious aspects of Christianity. In the Old Testament, he was not pleased with the acts of sacrifice themselves, but what they stood for. Even more so, it grieved the Father to send his son to die on the cross, but the cause brought nothing but joy to the Father. When we have been freed from sin, God does not want us to be ritualistic in the way we live our lives. God does not want people that "have to", but people that "want to." David says that he delights to do God's will. If your feet have truly been cleaned - if you have been transformed by Jesus blood, the Bible is clear that you are now a new creation (2nd Corinthians 5:17). Loving God should not feel like a chore. If it does ... check your heart. My mom said this the other day - if we had a full grasp on the God that we serve, how much harder would it be to sin? David struggled. We struggled. But one thing is clear - that David chose to spread the good news. To share what God did for others so that He could do it for them too.


Jesus washed the disciples feet clean (John 13) ...
Let him wash your life clean continually ...
Live free in the grace and mercy of our Savior!
AND
Share the good news!

-Chris