Faithful on Fridays Blog

Pearl of Great Price

The Greek word for pearl is margaritas, no, I’m not joking.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! Matthew 13:45-46 NLT

Even though this parable ends the same way as the Hidden Treasure, Jesus chose a different type of character this time: a merchant. This salesman began his day like every other day as he went to work searching for his trade: pearls. That’s the contrast from the Hidden Treasure; this salesman was on a mission to find choice pearls and make a lot of money.

Having no idea in his search that day he’d be lucky enough to find one pearl of mega-value he simply went to work. In the Hidden Treasure the man wasn’t searching and yet he found, however, in this story he was diligently seeking that fine pearl and also found. What’s Jesus’ point?

Consider two words: divine providence. Simply put, God is sovereign and in control of everything in our universe, period. Since the word providence comes from two words, pro-video, it’s as if God made a video, in advance, of our lives. He’s known us from before we were born and cares deeply about us. It’s never by chance that someone comes to salvation: it’s His providence. 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory. Romans 8:28-30 NLT

Consider Saul of Tarsus. He hated Christians and sought to persecute them but God knew Saul’s future and directed his path toward that outcome. Divine Providence. Seeking God or not seeking God, He’s always in control: He’s sovereign. Thankfully, our free will cannot override His providential care and direction or Saul wouldn’t have become Paul.

So, back to this salesman; he was a seeker. His purposeful search, involving time and effort, yielded the desired results as he found one and it was a beauty. This was his day. That daily desire drove him to search for pearls; I’d like that attitude. Being a seeker isn’t spiritually immature, it’s constantly desiring to find those pearls that lead us to know God better. Seek first, Jesus said, the kingdom of God, consequently, when you keep diligently seeking you’ll always find. 

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 ESV

It’s time to go and find that margarita.

Saturday Night Live has endured over 40 years of dramatizing parodies. A parody is an intentional mockery mimicking the style of another. Satan has perfected the parody using Bible words like worship, lamb, prophet, and mark. It’s genius, showing he’s truly an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).

John saw a second beast rising out of the sea who looked like a lamb but spoke like the dragon since it operates in his authority. In Rev. 16:13 he’s named the False Prophet; Biblical prophets were God’s mouthpiece to His people. They warned, comforted, and encouraged but this pseudo-prophet uses ‘forced submission’. It’s actually the meaning of the Arabic word Islam. 

Satan-infused power allowed this second beast to perform miracles similar to Elijah: both called fire down from heaven (2 Kings 18:38) and breathed life (2 Kings 17:22). Elijah, on the other hand, dealt a death blow to an image of Ba’al (2 Kings 18:20-40) to show God’s superior power; Satan uses the ridicule of parody effectively. Even though signs are given to produce awe they were used against believers who would not bow in worship.

The first beast’s assignment was political but this second beast is focused on the spiritual realm and they will continue to walk parallel throughout the second half of this book. It’s easy to see in our world today how governments and religion are becoming unified; the best example is Islam throughout the Middle East and Africa. Those who refuse to convert are often slaughtered (vs. 15).

Again, Satan doesn’t have any new ideas so he mimics God. His weapon is now a mark or seal used like a branding that distinguishes his followers from God’s. It will be a tatto-like marking on the right hand or forehead causing undeniable identification of whose side you’ve chosen and connects people with access to buying and selling.

The parody here is the truth that believers have already been sealed or marked by the Holy Spirit (ch. 7) which distinguishes us from the world. The symbolic number, 666, is simply a way of saying all mankind will be named or marked. If you trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation you’re marked for Him which can never be changed similar to a permanent tattoo. You can be reassured that your faith will get you through any of life’s circumstances because you’re marked as His kid. Parents protect and provide for their children and our Lord is the paramount Parent who never forces you to submit to Him using signs, wonders, and healings to show you His goodness, love, and mercy. 

But Lord, You laugh at them. You scoff at all the hostile nations. You are my strength; I wait for You to rescue me, for You, O God, are my fortress. In His unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies. 

Psalms 59:8-10 NLT

Hidden Treasure

I love reading Jesus’ parables; they challenge me to think deeper and find spiritual truths. They’re simple stories, based on everyday life, teaching a spiritual principle. In essence, parables are lower stories that have an upper story thrown alongside to reveal Jesus. Let’s look at one.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Matthew 13:44 

So … a guy is walkin’ along, minding his own business, and discovers something. It doesn’t say he tripped or even noticed this treasure box but regardless, he found it. This treasure, the lower story, was undoubtedly buried by someone wanting to keep it from intruders. Simple enough but where’s the upper story? 

Consider this: It’s God alone who determines a soul to receive revelation of Himself; notice that the treasure was hidden, out of sight. There’s no good in man that causes him to desire God because we all start out as sinners, unable to come to Him. It’s His grace, undeserved favor, that draws us to Jesus: He is the hidden treasure. The guy wasn’t looking for treasure, it seems he accidentally found it. Accidentally? I don’t think so; we call it divine providence.

For no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them to Me … John 6:44a 

It’s all about Him.

The second part, the clincher, has more spiritual truths that we need to consider. What’s the man’s next move? He reburies it. What? He doesn’t run and tell everyone? He doesn’t evangelize the neighborhood? No. The upper story discloses that it’s a secret work God begins in our hearts, an intimate work where the love and grace of Jesus is revealed to a sinner’s heart.

This natural man reburies but doesn’t abandon the treasure. He didn’t reject it; he embraced it with joy and excitement but privately, for a time. When we are drawn to Jesus He begins an inner work in our hearts, a secret work, private, and intimate, much like burying the treasure again. 

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Luke 12:34 

The last part is the hardest for us. Yes, he unintentionally found Jesus, our Treasure, however, but he didn’t stop there. The story tells us that in his joy and new sense of well-being, he sold everything he had and bought the field where the treasure was reburied. That’s the lower story. The upper story, the spiritual truth, is that when the Father draws us to Jesus what do we do with all that joy? There’s a selling or trade that needs to be made by us as well: our old, sinful life in exchange for His new life. That’s quite a bargain. 

For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 

Every good story has an antagonist, a villain, and this chapter reveals his identity to a greater degree. Of course it’s Satan but in these verses we find one of his strategies for destroying the church: delegating authority. That means he legally gives power to his lackeys to do his bidding. Smart.

John’s vision depicts a beast-like creature rising out of the sea with symbols of this delegated authority: ten crowned horns and seven heads etched with evil and slanderous names against God. Pretty bold. He’s also pictured as predatory animals who capture and devour their prey; that’s the beast’s assignment, destroy God’s Church.

As you continue reading, as I hope you will, you’ll find the whole earth has bought into his deceptions and began worshipping, bowing and kissing the ground of the dragon and the beast. Their cry is not an unfamiliar one, “Who is like the beast? Who can fight against it?” Moses asked the same question in his song of victory:

“Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 

The beast cannot compare to God in power therefore utilizes another strategy: blasphemy. Using abusive, evil language he slanders God and His followers continuing his war against them. It seems (vs. 7) that he’s the conqueror but we know that life on this earth is not our destiny and true followers of Christ have their names written eternally in The Book of Life of the Lamb. 

Let’s bring this home. Satan hates God’s Church, His fellowship of believers, and his desire to destroy us uses various methods. Some are easy to see, oppressive governments outlawing Christianity, arresting and imprisoning, even executing believers, but as Satan moves his plan along he must get inside the Church with pride, division, and even words of disappointment or frustration; not easily seen. Believers’ words also possess power: death or life in the tongue of the Church.

Karl Marx declared that religion seemed like an opiate drug weak and stupid people took to pacify them of the inequalities in the world masking the truth of injustice. His brand of socialism wants to remove religion from the world. Sound familiar? On the contrary, the God’s Church is the answer to the world’s injustices.

As this first beast (probably the Antichrist) operates in the political scene opposing the Church God spoke words of comfort in the midst of it. They confirm His sovereignty as the King of all kings so if believers reading these words are suffering, even to death, then God reassures them it must happen to move along His ultimate plan: the Return of the Bridegroom. A wedding is coming but the planning takes time and action, therefore, God calls His Church to endurance and faith; the two character traits we need for the end-times. Be strong under pressure, even from your government, and fight the good fight of faith empowered by His Spirit. 

Following the Life of Elisha

It seems that the life of Elijah gets a lot of press. His life, according to Jesus, was a foreshadow of John the Baptist (Matt. 11:14) who was the lower story. Contrast him with what you know about Elisha. Did you know that he performed twice the number of miracles as Elijah? Did you know that his life was a foreshadow of Jesus? 

Elijah’s name means ‘my God is Yahweh’; it’s personal, intimate, and possessive: my God. On the other hand, Elisha’s name means ‘God is Savior’. It’s a declaration of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, being God. Elisha was from the family of Shaphat whose name means to judge, govern, defend, avenge, or pronounce sentence.

The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son. John 5:22 ESV

Elisha was from the village of Abel-Meholah, which means ‘mourning to dancing’:

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy. Psalms 30:11 NLT

Can you see the parallels of Elisha and Jesus? 

As Elijah and John were full of fire and brimstone; Elisha and Jesus were full of compassion and love. There are exceptions but Elisha and Jesus performed many more miracles of healing, multiplication, and resurrection.

1 Kings 19:9-21 shows us the lower story, the relationship of Elijah and Elisha. God told Elijah to find Elisha and anoint him to be a prophet, speaking for Him. He obeyed by casting his cloak on Elisha as he plowed his field. This ceremony signified adoption into the family of prophets and was accepted by Elisha.

Let’s look at the parallels of Elisha and Jesus’ callings: lower to upper story: 

• Elisha guided 12 yokes of oxen in the field; Jesus guided 12 disciples in the spiritual field.
• Elisha left his work and followed Elijah only after returning home to say goodby to his parents and was reprimanded for it. Jesus called some to follow Him and rebuked those who looked back (Luke 9:57-62) using the same image of leaving work and family.
• What about the cloak? The Hebrew word is adderet which means several things. Besides a garment or mantle it’s also translated glory, majesty, or nobility. When Elijah threw his prophetic mantle over Elisha he was imparting God’s glory and nobility in a physical way: the lower story. Jesus also imparts God’s glory and the supernatural life to His followers, the upper story. 

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT

Our Spirit-garment covers us and gives us the ability to lead a spirit-filled life full of His guidance, giftings, and abilities. You may not follow anyone on Twitter or Facebook but the question remains, who are you following?

There’s an invisible battle transpiring every day between Satan and Christ’s body; since he couldn’t devour the Man-child (Jesus) he’s satisfied to substitute the focus of his rage on the Church. Every day he’s in hot pursuit of followers of Christ with relentless strategies of war. Those weapons are usually spiritual, possibly physical, however, they remain as destructive as a missile launched from a mountaintop.

Any ministry that brings people to Christ and teaches them a victorious lifestyle will be a target, unfortunately, many never see it coming: they are unprepared. John’s vision reminds us that the battle is the Lord’s and He’s given us everything we need to walk in His victory (2 Peter 1:3-4) including His power and protection.

The serpent of Gen. 3 remains our enemy but like any snake he’s destined to the dust, ‘under our feet’ while God provides a safe haven for His image-bearers. If you’re living in a nation that’s hostile to Christianity there may be physical persecution, imprisonment, or loss of jobs and homes but we’re reminded:

When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19b NKJV

The Spirit of Christ is ready to step in and swallow up, as these verses picture, any raging rivers of discouragement, hostility, accusation, or deception. These are only a taste of Satan’s weapons but as Aaron’s staff turned into a serpent in front of Pharaoh (Ex. 7 great parallel), swallowing his magician’s staffs we can trust God to accomplish the same victory for us. As that story depicts, His power and authority is superior to Satan’s.

Can you imagine the rage burning in the devil as he strategizes his war plans against those of us who reflect God’s glory? He desired that high place but was demoted to the low place watching as believers experience the love, forgiveness, and empowerment of the Savior he’ll never enjoy. 

Verse 17 decisively shows us who he’s waging war against: the rest of the Woman’s offspring, the Church. This war is the focus of many chapters ahead in Revelation, consequently, we can never forget what Paul teaches:

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:11-13 

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 

We stand together unified in the Church, fighting with arms locked, knowing He’s our Champion and He’s in us!

Colossians Chapter 4

Dance with God

There is a powerful sense of accomplishment when you finish something, isn’t that true? Whether its cleaning out the garage or a closet, organizing an area of your home, or finishing a good book; it just feels good. I hope you feel that way today as we complete the Book of Colossians.

Paul completed his letter (Chapter Four) the same way he began it, with prayer. Remember back in chapter one all the times that Paul told believers he was praying for them? Such an encouragement! What a relief to know people are praying for you. Paul has changed, though. He’s now asking for prayer. The music in his ministry has changed, like dancing with God, and He changes the words, the tempo, and the tune. 

Yet Paul is all about ministry. He traveled around teaching, preaching, praying, and encouraging believers. Remember, there’s no New Testament; it hadn’t been written yet. Thankfully, all those new Christians in Colassae, a city in ancient Turkey, had other believers who came long distances to minister to them in person. I love it that Paul mentioned some of them by name. It must have been such a privilege to have their name in his endorsements. Don’t fly through those names too quickly. I know they’re hard to pronounce but read the lines that describe the person. The common characteristic in all the people mentioned is servanthood. They were all serving Christ by using their spiritual gifts in this dance with God.

As he brings his letter to a close, Paul makes a statement that I think is very important. To one of his co-workers in ministry he wrote, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.” I want to complete this series on Colossians the same way. God has given you gifts to make a meaningful difference in the Kingdom of God. Have you identified them? Have you found that ‘sweet spot’ in the Church where you can dance with God? If you haven’t, try thinking about what interests you, what you’re passionate about, or what you see as a need in your church. Talk to people about it, especially the leadership. They’ll be there for you with encouragement, suggestions, and prayer. 

Whatever your dance looks like today, be sure God is in the lead. Let Him move you around the dance floor at His pace. Your song may change, the words may be different, and it’s pace may be slower or faster, but let God lead. I’m leaving you with a video that pictures this dance with God. I hope you’ll take the time to watch it and see yourself as He moves you around the dance floor of your life. Just click on the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xFnqkSvD8s&feature=youtube_gdata_player

If YouTube doesn’t connect you through this link then go to My Heart will Dance by David and Nicole Binion and enjoy a few minutes of worship.

As we turn the corner and enter into the second half of this book we find our attention focused on the main character: the woman. Who’s this woman birthing a child and who’s the child? Glad you asked. In a nutshell, the woman symbolizes God’s eternal covenant with Israel which becomes the Church (Jew and Gentile together). God’s entire story told throughout the Bible has been the fulfillment of that covenant to Adam and his offspring: God-worshippers.

We find God in Gen. 3:15 promising Satan that the hatred he held for the woman and her Offspring (Messiah and His followers) would be a war to the finish. Christ and Christians were at the top of his ‘most wanted’ list and he would pursue them until the end; this is personal to him. John’s vision allows us to see into this ‘war in the heavenlies’ and recognize our Public Enemy #1.

Verses 1-6 give us the backstory for a fuller picture of why Satan and his cohorts hate God and therefore us with such passion. The birth of the One who will ‘crush his head’ is fulfilled and what Satan’s been monitoring throughout the history of the Bible has arrived, consequently, he’s determined to immediately destroy Him (Matt. 2:16). The when isn’t important in these verses but the why certainly is. Instead of Satan becoming like God (Is. 14:12-17) mankind can experience a spiritual, second birth into His Kingdom. That truth enrages our enemy.

The woman will be pursued by the devil, he’s our adversary who’s pictured as a mega-fire-breathing dragon, until God’s timing reaches it’s completion. She flees for spiritual refuge prepared by Her Savior sheltered and protected for a portion of time. Whether we’re part of this end-time remnant Church or not, our refuge in times of trouble is always in His Presence (Ps. 16).

There’s war declared in heaven (vs. 7-9) by the archangel Michael and he, along with his heavenly armies, go to battle against the dragon and his armies. God is outside of time but Satan is not subsequently he and his demons get kicked out of heaven. That ancient serpent of Gen. 3:15, Christ’s opponent, has received a knockout punch in the final round: Jesus is the Champion!

The final words of this section (vs. 10-12) is a Declaration of Triumph for heaven and the Body of Christ: the Church. The Kingdom of God has arrived, just as Jesus said so many times while walking this earth, and the remnant Church stands in His power against the charges of the Accuser (Rom. 8:31-39). The Nike Church will conquer the enemy every time by the reminder of the blood of Jesus, the Lamb and their testimony of that victory. We can never lose sight of that truth under any circumstances.

And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the Church …

Ephesians 1:22 

Colossians Chapter 3

Kingdom Living

‘How to’ books are very popular and always have been. Who wants to pay for a service that you could do yourself, if only someone would show you how? YouTube is the pinnacle of ‘how to’s’. Not only do you get instruction but it’s on video! That’s what Colossians 3 is all about. It’s a chapter written to people who didn’t know how to live the kingdom life, the good life, the higher life in Christ. It’s Kingdom Living for Dummies. We are no different from these people in ancient Turkey. We desire God’s kind of life but aren’t always sure how to get there. Why? Because that life is secret, it’s hidden from the world, but it’s nevertheless real. 

As you read this week keep in mind a few points to help you follow Paul’s line of thinking. And remember, always use a translation of the Bible that’s easy to understand. Lay aside those versions that after reading a section you look up and say, “Huh?” I like the New Living Translation; it’s accurate and there’s a natural flow in the words.

Colossians Chapter Three:

• Watch for the obvious contrasts: sin nature and new nature, heavenly thinking and earthly thinking, being dead to the world but alive in Christ, the materialistic life or the hidden life.

• Spend some time on the lists of behaviors from the old life. Compare them to the characteristics of this secret life you now have available to you. Which list would best describe you? 

• It seems that our mouth is the primary concern. Surprised? I didn’t think so. The way we handle our anger can be changed and controlled through the power of the Holy Spirit. Your language can be cleaned up and the tendency to lie to make yourself look better will fade away. Slander, gossip, and mockery will disappear and words of life can replace words of death. 

• Our lives reflect our relationship with Christ. We literally re-present Him to the world by our behavior. We respond in different ways to frustration, disappointment, and other causes of anger. We want to be different in our new life than we were before when Christ was not our center.

• This new life includes all of our relationships. Look at the examples in Colossians 3: wives, husbands, children, and fathers. It’s the ‘how to’ of relationships.

Hopefully, after reading this third part of Paul’s letter you’re getting the gist of his intense longing. As he sits in prison, writing to people he will never meet, he encourages kingdom living. I can identify in a very small way. It’s what I experience each time I research, study and write this blog; I also want my readers to live the higher life; we’re in this together.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Colossians 3:16 NLT