“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” (Matthew 8:26)
The famous story of Jesus walking on the water is one of my favorites. There are so many rich lessons found in the story, especially when you put all four gospel accounts together. That is one of the most important aspects of the study of the life of Jesus. His life is so full that one account is not enough. The only way to see the full picture of his amazing life and ministry is to put all four gospel accounts together and see how the details all complement each other so beautifully.
We know the main elements of the story. Jesus sent the apostles away in a ship on the Sea of Galilee. A storm arose, and the apostles feared for their lives, when Jesus appeared to them walking on the water. Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water also, but began to sink. He called to the Lord who pulled him out, and the story ends there with the gallant prince riding off into the sunset with his special girl at his side and living happily ever after.
But there are a number of “side” details to the story that add incredible “spice” to the lessons of Jesus walking on the water. First of all, Jesus told the disciples to get into the boat and he would meet them on the other side. They obviously forgot those words when the storm arose. The trip across the Sea of Galilee pictures our “journey of life” as we navigate the “three score and ten” God gives us. If you know Jesus as your Saviour, he put you in the ship of life to sail to the other side. He will meet you there. Despite the adversity, Jesus is right there on the shore eagerly anticipating your arrival. Peter’s “lack of faith” is seen when he began to sink, but his seeds of doubt were sown earlier. Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Peter responded with one of the most dangerous words in the Bible. He said, “Lord, IF it be thou…” He doubted the words of Jesus while he was still in the boat. An old hymn says, “When the storms of life are raging, stand by me.” Don’t forget his promises in his word when those storms come.
Then in Matthew 14:32, it says, “And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.” Get the picture. Peter has been called out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus, and he did that. Many people criticize Peter for his lack of faith, and rightfully so, but none of the other disciples had the guts to get out of the boat and get to Jesus. The safest place in a storm is next to Jesus, even when, and especially when it doesn’t make any “sense” to our natural understanding. But Peter’s walk on the water did not end when he got to Jesus and began to sink. Peter walked on the water twice – once to Jesus, and once back to the boat. We do not know how far that was, but it was at least enough paces to make it miraculous in both directions. But notice that the wind did not cease until they both got back into the ship. Peter began to sink because he took his eyes off of Jesus and saw the winds. Their trip back to the boat was just as boisterous. The difference is that Peter was walking arm in arm with Jesus. No matter how tough life gets, when you walk with Jesus, you can skip right over the obstacles in the most miraculous ways.
Finally, John 6:21 says when Jesus and Peter made it back to the boat and got in, “Immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.” In the same account, John tells us they were about half way across. The Sea of Galilee is about 8 miles wide at that point, so they were about 4 miles from the shore when Jesus entered the boat. They traveled those 4 miles immediately. One day soon, Jesus will call his people home. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we will all “stand on the beautiful shore” of heaven. God may give you your full three score and ten. He may come back today. Either way, your problems and storms in this life will finally be over when Jesus returns. Don’t doubt his word when the trials are here. Grab his hand and walk over the waves of the raging sea, “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2).
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Book of Revelation
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)
As promised, we kick off our study in the book of Revelation this Wednesday night. I have gotten more interest in this study than anything else we have done in many years. With world events as they are, the fascination with end times and Bible prophecy is at a fever pitch. All of us want to know what the future holds. The passion for knowledge is inbred in human nature from the Garden of Eden. Eve fell into sin through the temptation to “…be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:6) Prophecy students and seminar gurus fall into the same temptation with the book of Revelation because they are desperately trying to gain some secret insight into the events of the future. If they can know something that no one else does, it gives them a thrill and rush. That is where the Harold Campings of the world live and breed.
One of the downsides of a study like this is trying to position yourself properly as a teacher of prophetic events. I do claim to know a few things about the future, but only as I find them in the Bible. But much of the prophetic structure of the Bible is vague and ambiguous. God did it that way on purpose; primarily to keep man from getting “too big for his britches”. I don’t care how much you know, God has you trumped by a wide margin. Job 5:13 says, “He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” When some prophecy “expert” claims a special revelation, God pulls the rug out and lets him know who is still running the Universe. I will have much speculation in my study of the book of Revelation, and I will be right up front with it throughout. I reserve the right to be proven wrong. I have changed some things that I used to teach – not the basic truths and structures, but the details as we see life and history unfold. If I teach Revelation again in a few years, I will probably have to change a few more details. I will try to give everyone the best I have on it right now, but since these events are all future, we won’t be able to see every detail until it happens. The basic principles are factual. There will be a rapture (I Corinthians 15:50-52, I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Jesus will come to earth and reign in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 23:5). Israel will be the “head of the nations” as it was told them in Deuteronomy 28:13. A period of tribulation will overtake this world and be unlike any time this world has ever seen or ever will see (Matthew 24:21). The antichrist will dominate the world through his 666 mark and system (Revelation 13:16-18). But the specific details are yet to be revealed.
People are making fun of the rapture now because of idiots like Harold Camping. The event he is talking about will happen. The unintended consequence of his blathering is that people are now ignoring the event because it didn’t happen on May 21 as he said it would. First of all, the moron should never have set a date. Why is it we can’t learn from the failures of so many before us who have tried the same thing and become laughingstocks? But then instead of admitting that he is a fallible human with limited knowledge, he tried to justify his prophecy and explain away his failure. Now he says that the rapture really did happen, but it was spiritual and none of us could see it. Then why is he still sucking God’s air? Now he claims it will happen on October 21. When he is proven wrong again, why would anyone believe him or give him money?
It is interesting to study what the Bible says about the end times and the course of the history of humanity as God has revealed in his word. But one of the main issues in the book of Revelation is found in the first phrase in the very first verse. This is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” Rather than trying to gain some secret knowledge about future events that will happen to other people, keep your focus on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Far more important than what tomorrow holds is knowing the one who holds tomorrow.
As promised, we kick off our study in the book of Revelation this Wednesday night. I have gotten more interest in this study than anything else we have done in many years. With world events as they are, the fascination with end times and Bible prophecy is at a fever pitch. All of us want to know what the future holds. The passion for knowledge is inbred in human nature from the Garden of Eden. Eve fell into sin through the temptation to “…be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:6) Prophecy students and seminar gurus fall into the same temptation with the book of Revelation because they are desperately trying to gain some secret insight into the events of the future. If they can know something that no one else does, it gives them a thrill and rush. That is where the Harold Campings of the world live and breed.
One of the downsides of a study like this is trying to position yourself properly as a teacher of prophetic events. I do claim to know a few things about the future, but only as I find them in the Bible. But much of the prophetic structure of the Bible is vague and ambiguous. God did it that way on purpose; primarily to keep man from getting “too big for his britches”. I don’t care how much you know, God has you trumped by a wide margin. Job 5:13 says, “He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” When some prophecy “expert” claims a special revelation, God pulls the rug out and lets him know who is still running the Universe. I will have much speculation in my study of the book of Revelation, and I will be right up front with it throughout. I reserve the right to be proven wrong. I have changed some things that I used to teach – not the basic truths and structures, but the details as we see life and history unfold. If I teach Revelation again in a few years, I will probably have to change a few more details. I will try to give everyone the best I have on it right now, but since these events are all future, we won’t be able to see every detail until it happens. The basic principles are factual. There will be a rapture (I Corinthians 15:50-52, I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Jesus will come to earth and reign in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 23:5). Israel will be the “head of the nations” as it was told them in Deuteronomy 28:13. A period of tribulation will overtake this world and be unlike any time this world has ever seen or ever will see (Matthew 24:21). The antichrist will dominate the world through his 666 mark and system (Revelation 13:16-18). But the specific details are yet to be revealed.
People are making fun of the rapture now because of idiots like Harold Camping. The event he is talking about will happen. The unintended consequence of his blathering is that people are now ignoring the event because it didn’t happen on May 21 as he said it would. First of all, the moron should never have set a date. Why is it we can’t learn from the failures of so many before us who have tried the same thing and become laughingstocks? But then instead of admitting that he is a fallible human with limited knowledge, he tried to justify his prophecy and explain away his failure. Now he says that the rapture really did happen, but it was spiritual and none of us could see it. Then why is he still sucking God’s air? Now he claims it will happen on October 21. When he is proven wrong again, why would anyone believe him or give him money?
It is interesting to study what the Bible says about the end times and the course of the history of humanity as God has revealed in his word. But one of the main issues in the book of Revelation is found in the first phrase in the very first verse. This is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” Rather than trying to gain some secret knowledge about future events that will happen to other people, keep your focus on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Far more important than what tomorrow holds is knowing the one who holds tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
A Life Well Lived
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
This past Monday, we paid our last respects and said good bye to Miss Ilah Gray, one of the most remarkable women I have ever known. Ilah lived a very rich and fulfilled life of 98 years, and got to experience things most people never do. I will share a few brief stories that I told at her funeral that highlight her unique life.
Ilah was an avid bowler, and quite good at it. We had a bowling league at the church for a couple of years, and you surely wanted Ilah on your team. She bowled a 280 once – at age 90! I would like to see if the Guinness World Record people have an entry for score plus age in bowling. A perfect game is 300. I wonder if anyone has ever topped 370 for score and age combined. One Sunday I was announcing the enrollment for our ministry training Bible Institute. Ilah came up to me after service and put her index finger in my face and said, “Young man, don’t you dare even think about not letting me in that school because you think I am too old.” I had learned my lesson well with Ilah, and I said, “Yes, Ma’am.” We enrolled her in Shepherd’s School at the tender young age of 85. Throughout the course of her studies, she earned every grade. No one gave her any special treatment because of her age. She earned mostly A’s and a few B’s, and they were legitimate. Four years later, I had one of the great honors of my life at her graduation. I spent a few minutes sharing Ilah’s accomplishments to a crowd of several hundred people, and with the backdrop of a standing ovation, handed her a Diploma of Biblical Studies at the age of 89.
One of the qualifications for graduation from Shepherd’s School is to participate in a foreign missions trip during your four year course of studies. At age 88, one month after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Ilah boarded a plane with 10 other members of Crest Bible Church for a trip to Belize. Our ministry in Belize is still ongoing 10 years later, and much greater than any of us could have imagined at the time. Ilah helped get that mission off the ground on our very first trip.
The life of Ilah Gray was an inspiration to all who knew her. She was an encouragement and a role model to me, and to many others in our church. One of her greatest accomplishments was to “throw down the gauntlet” to anyone who thought they couldn’t do something. Jesus told the story in Luke chapter 14 about calling people to God and to his service. He summed up the response and attitude of 99% of this world this way: “And they all with one consent began to make excuse.” (Luke 14:18) Every lost person has his reasons why he can’t trust Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. Far too many of God’s people have “with one consent” made excuse after excuse why they can’t serve the Lord like they should. Ilah trumps all those excuses. I am not suggesting people do things that are just physically impossible. But I venture to say that most of what we think is impossible really is not. “With God, all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27) If God can do, “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20), then we should learn to stretch ourselves for him as well. Ilah never allowed a circumstance of life to stand in the way of her love and service for her Lord. As a result, God gave to Miss Ilah Gray an incredible rich and abundant life, filled with joy and faith and experiences that most only dream of.
But more than an abundant life, God gave to her life. Her decision to trust Jesus as her own personal Saviour many years ago provided the strength and the power to live a rich and rewarding life in her 98 short years. Now she is at home with her Lord, where the riches of eternal life are far beyond our finite understanding. Trust Jesus Christ and serve him with all your heart, mind, soul, and might. One day, like Ilah, our reward in heaven awaits.
This past Monday, we paid our last respects and said good bye to Miss Ilah Gray, one of the most remarkable women I have ever known. Ilah lived a very rich and fulfilled life of 98 years, and got to experience things most people never do. I will share a few brief stories that I told at her funeral that highlight her unique life.
Ilah was an avid bowler, and quite good at it. We had a bowling league at the church for a couple of years, and you surely wanted Ilah on your team. She bowled a 280 once – at age 90! I would like to see if the Guinness World Record people have an entry for score plus age in bowling. A perfect game is 300. I wonder if anyone has ever topped 370 for score and age combined. One Sunday I was announcing the enrollment for our ministry training Bible Institute. Ilah came up to me after service and put her index finger in my face and said, “Young man, don’t you dare even think about not letting me in that school because you think I am too old.” I had learned my lesson well with Ilah, and I said, “Yes, Ma’am.” We enrolled her in Shepherd’s School at the tender young age of 85. Throughout the course of her studies, she earned every grade. No one gave her any special treatment because of her age. She earned mostly A’s and a few B’s, and they were legitimate. Four years later, I had one of the great honors of my life at her graduation. I spent a few minutes sharing Ilah’s accomplishments to a crowd of several hundred people, and with the backdrop of a standing ovation, handed her a Diploma of Biblical Studies at the age of 89.
One of the qualifications for graduation from Shepherd’s School is to participate in a foreign missions trip during your four year course of studies. At age 88, one month after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Ilah boarded a plane with 10 other members of Crest Bible Church for a trip to Belize. Our ministry in Belize is still ongoing 10 years later, and much greater than any of us could have imagined at the time. Ilah helped get that mission off the ground on our very first trip.
The life of Ilah Gray was an inspiration to all who knew her. She was an encouragement and a role model to me, and to many others in our church. One of her greatest accomplishments was to “throw down the gauntlet” to anyone who thought they couldn’t do something. Jesus told the story in Luke chapter 14 about calling people to God and to his service. He summed up the response and attitude of 99% of this world this way: “And they all with one consent began to make excuse.” (Luke 14:18) Every lost person has his reasons why he can’t trust Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. Far too many of God’s people have “with one consent” made excuse after excuse why they can’t serve the Lord like they should. Ilah trumps all those excuses. I am not suggesting people do things that are just physically impossible. But I venture to say that most of what we think is impossible really is not. “With God, all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27) If God can do, “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20), then we should learn to stretch ourselves for him as well. Ilah never allowed a circumstance of life to stand in the way of her love and service for her Lord. As a result, God gave to Miss Ilah Gray an incredible rich and abundant life, filled with joy and faith and experiences that most only dream of.
But more than an abundant life, God gave to her life. Her decision to trust Jesus as her own personal Saviour many years ago provided the strength and the power to live a rich and rewarding life in her 98 short years. Now she is at home with her Lord, where the riches of eternal life are far beyond our finite understanding. Trust Jesus Christ and serve him with all your heart, mind, soul, and might. One day, like Ilah, our reward in heaven awaits.
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