FBC Independence Podcast

Images of Christmas: A Divine Visit

I am sure you have noticed how people act when ‘someone special’ walks into the room; it is something to see! This has recently been demonstrated as the wildly popular singer Taylor Swift has made a few appearances during Kansas City Chiefs football games. Swift, as you probably know, has been dating a Chiefs player, Travis Kelce, and has appeared at several of his games. She has been seen with Travis in various events and places and with the wife of the Chief’s quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. People have gone crazy! NFL viewership and ticket sales have gone up, searches on the Internet about Kelse and the Chiefs have numbered in the millions, and it seems that even Chiefs fans have gotten caught up in the excitement – just because a famous singer has visited!  

              

I am not a big fan of Swift’s music, but many are. What interests me is the thrill of so many to know that ‘she might be here’ or to catch a glimpse of her, seated with Kelce’s mother or Mahome’s wife, almost a hundred yards away. Amazing!

               

One of the things that came to mind as all this was going on was that, in a very real way, mankind experienced a visit from someone even more special than Taylor Swift, especially many years ago. I am thinking of the visit of Jesus, the Christ-child, which began one cold desert evening in Bethlehem and lasted just over 33 years. Think about it: Jesus was literally “God in the flesh.” He had been with Father God in eternity and was God’s active agent (think ‘right-hand man’) in creation, and he came to draw man back to God. He was someone special!

               

This ‘Divine Visit’ of Jesus was more than just a high-class “meet and greet,” though. Jesus came to express God’s love to man in a way that could not be missed. 

 

He healed the sick, made the blind see and the lame walk, and helped people sense the Spirit of God at work in this world. He was incredible! Unfortunately, though, many were offended by his presence and teachings, his utter dismissal of positions of power and influence, and what often passes for things of high value on this earth. Instead, Jesus taught people to be humble, gracious, loving, generous, and forgiving of all they encounter. He showed them how to treat the lowly and downtrodden and clarified that the ‘ways of man’ were seldom in line with the ‘ways of God.’ Finally, Jesus was murdered by those in power! They lied about him, beat him, rigged a court action against him, and hung him on a cross, a death reserved for those who were deemed evil and dangerous. Three days later, of course, was the resurrection! This event demonstrated God’s power over man, the governments of man, and of death itself. God brought him back from the dead as an act of victory: Jesus had won the battle of good versus evil!

               

That was quite a visit! Interestingly, to this day, hundreds of millions of Christ-followers gather every week to worship the man Jesus, this ‘God in the flesh’ who visited earth. Christians gather on Christmas to celebrate his birth and on Easter to celebrate his resurrection. His visit really was a wonderful thing!

               

This Christmas season, let us all take a moment to celebrate the ‘Divine Visit’ that was the birth, life and death, and resurrection of Jesus. His ‘Divine Visit’ really was special!

 

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Christ In The Old Testament: Christ In The Covenants

I recently purchased a pickup from an individual in a neighboring community, and all went well. I took a test drive, looked over the vehicle, agreed on a price, and shook hands on the purchase. Then, after I had made the necessary financial arrangements, we signed papers, filled out forms, and transferred the cash from my hands to his. All in all, it was a good process, and everybody won. 

 

He delivered a good product, and I paid him the agreed-upon money. As the children’s stories say, “And we all lived happily ever after!”

 

That is the way things are done, isn’t it? Interestingly, it has almost always been that way. The process of contracts and treaties has been around for thousands of years in one form or another, and when you follow the contract terms, everything is good. This goes for individuals, companies, states, and even nations. A contract is negotiated, terms are agreed upon, and everyone benefits!

 

This is similar to how God comes to us, offering us a way of life that comes with terms and ‘payment,’ even though there are no papers to consider!

 

In the Old Testament, God came to Abraham and offered him a covenant – something similar to a contract but more involved. God told Abraham that he would bless Abraham with a son, Isaac. Then, there would be an untold number of descendants and even the gift of a valuable piece of land. The challenge of this ‘Abrahamic Covenant’ required Abraham and his descendants to be faithful and loyal to God, make the necessary sacrifices, and follow his instructions for their lives. It seemed promising, of course, but there was one problem: Abraham and his descendants were not faithful and obedient to God! 

 

The Covenant failed because people ‘broke the rules’ and went after other gods.

 

God understood that the old Covenant would never work because it depended on man’s efforts and obedience. So, in His wisdom, God offered another covenant, a ‘New Covenant,’ in which God did all the work – man needed only to receive it! This new Covenant was provided through Jesus and was made possible by Jesus’s sacrifice, death on the cross, and his perfect obedience to God. Jesus even references this Covenant when he spoke at the last meal he shared before his crucifixion. He said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 8:28  Jesus understood and taught that his sacrifice on the cross was the basis for a new covenant that would replace the Abrahamic Covenant and be made available to anyone who wanted to enter a saving relationship with God!

 

This ‘New Covenant’ is not dependent upon our works and performance: it was to be based entirely upon God’s work of salvation through his son, Jesus, whose death made the payment for our sin. We must only receive the gift of forgiveness and new life from God. A life of faithfulness does not ‘earn’ us anything: we are to live for Christ to honor God, and share the message of Jesus to all who will listen. As Paul explained in a letter to the Ephesian church, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, that no one should boast.” 2:8-9.

 

There will always be contracts and agreements in this life, but the one agreement that can forever change your life is the New Covenant, offered to us through Jesus, God’s only son. Let me encourage you to trust God, receive the gift of new life, and enter the Covenant given by God himself!

           

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Christ in the Old Testament: Characters of the Old Testament

When I was a very young child, I would guess I was 7-8 years old; I heard my preacher say in a sermon, "If you're going to be the Christian God wants you to be, you have to stand on the Word of God." I thought that sounded good, even though I was not a Christian yet. I took that statement to mean that the Bible was very important and that there was something magical about 'standing on the Bible.' So, because I wanted to do what God wanted when it came time for the last song during the service, we all stood - with me standing on my Bible! I did not really understand what I was doing (I was just a child, after all), but that was an important part of my faith development because, on that day, it was established in my mind the notion that I needed to base my life on the Bible!

          

Fast forward 55 years or so, and I look back on a life dramatically affected by the Bible. The teachings God has given us in the Bible have encouraged and strengthened me, guided me in many of my life's decisions, and served me and my family well. In short, I am a better man, pastor, husband, father, (and grandfather!) because of my commitment to the teachings in the Bible and the Christ who is literally on every page. It has easily become the most important book in my life!

           

Interestingly, this Bible is, as modern Christians might say, "all about Jesus." The New Testament books, obviously, but even the Old Testament. As I said earlier, Jesus, the Christ, is on every page, even in the Old Testament!

           

Let me explain:  In the New Testament, we have the record of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem and of the way he grew and developed into the man Jesus, whom we know as 'Messiah.' He grew and developed, and when he walked down the river where, his cousin, John the Baptist, who was baptizing people into lives of faith, recognized him. He shouted, loud enough so that everyone would hear, "Behold, the Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29). John recognized Jesus' special place in the plan of God: He would be the one who would become the sacrificial lamb, that would take the burden of man's sin on his own shoulders, and give us all an opportunity of salvation.  

           

In the Old Testament, there were many stories of God working through men of faith; in each of these stories, those who have been given the 'eyes of faith' can see Jesus. For instance, in Genesis 7, we read the story of Noah and the Ark. God would destroy mankind because of their sin, and He called on the one righteous man, Noah, to build an ark. He and his family, and pairs of all living things on the earth, would board this giant ship and survive a great flood that was to come. The floodwaters came and destroyed everything! After the waters receded, Noah and his family came and 'restarted' all humanity. Noah was recognized for his faithful obedience to God, bringing salvation to humanity. This story foreshadowed the work of Jesus on the cross! Jesus, a man of faithful devotion to God, was obedient to His call upon his life. God called him to service: it was the service of following God's plan for his life, which included both the crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus' death and resurrection, of course, was an act of an obedient man whom God used to bring about the salvation and 're-creation' of all humanity. The story of Noah and the Ark showed us how Jesus would save us all!

          

I had misunderstood that old preacher when I was a child when I literally stood on my Bible. However, I have learned He was right: when we 'stand on the Bible' and learn to follow the Messiah that is on every page, we can become the person God wants us to be and live our best life!

 

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Season of Gratitude

Season of Gratitude as told by Pastor Dave

 

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From Saul to Paul, Acts 9

Pastor Dave subs in for Rev Kev to discuss Acts 9, From Saul to Paul.

 

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Christ in the Old Testament: Old Testament Law

Have you ever tried to figure out what someone was like? Not in physical appearance, of course – but who they are, or what sort of character is within them? Several years ago, I talked about one of my good friends from college, and my sister’s ears perked up. She asked various questions, such as ‘How tall is he,’ or ‘What color is his hair?’ And then she turned to my wife-then-girlfriend and asked, “Ok, what is he really like?’ She wanted to know what kind of person he was! Appearances were important, but the personal attributes, a sense of humor, kindness, and value system truly defined the person. We are all like that – after we get past the obvious physical characteristics, we always ask, “What are they really like?”

           

In some ways, that is the way we might think about God. 

We hear stories of his power, creative abilities, and such, but what we really want to know is the same as when we talk about other people: 

 

“What is He really like?”  

 

That is a fair question. We talk and think of God’s power and greatness and hear stories and sermons, but we always ask, “What is He really like?” There is a way to know! As we read the scriptures, we see patterns in God’s behavior and how He often responds to sinful man. This is especially true in the Old Testament!

 

Here are a couple of things we can learn about God’s character and what he is ‘really like’ as we read the Old Testament scriptures:

First, we can learn that God is patient and loving and makes a real effort to offer forgiveness and guidance to us all. In the book of Exodus, as the drama of Moses receiving the 10 Commandments from God began to unfold, God spoke and said this of himself: “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth. . . who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. . ..” 34:6-7 Here God spoke as he appeared to Moses, and taught the young man about his character. 

 

God reveals himself as kind and loving, willing to forgive, and one who values justice and the punishment of evil. That is what God is like! He is loving and fair, giving us opportunities for growth and repentance. Still, he also values truth and justice, punishing evil when needed!  

           

Another truth revealed about God in the Old Testament is that God will provide for his people, and he has a plan for them well into the future. After explaining to them that he had plans for them, this is how he finished a section out of Deuteronomy 8: “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills. . .When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.” vv.7-10

           

This is what God is really like! He is kind and forgiving and works for justice, and he works and plans to care for us far into the future. He is a good and loving God!

 

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Christ in the Old Testament: Christ’s Appearances in the Old Testament

The other day, I heard the story of the old hymn, "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus." It has always been one of my favorite hymns and has a ring of truth to the lyrics. The story of the hymn was powerful, as told by a missionary in Africa. A chief of a tribe called out a man from his tribe who was telling people about Jesus, and he wanted him to stop! He threatened the man to reject his faith, and his reply was simple: "I have decided to follow Jesus." The enraged chief had his family brought out and murdered, to which the resolute man stated, "Though none go with me, I still will follow." Finally, the chief gave him one more chance under the threat of death. The man, full of faith and God-given courage, calmly said, "No turning back, no turning back," and the chief and his followers immediately murdered him!

 

The believer's faith so moved the missionary that he set about to develop the words to the other verses and found someone to put the words to the now-familiar tune. What a story of faith – Jesus had so impacted the man's life that he willingly gave up everything to follow him!

 

Our faith really is 'all about Jesus,' isn't it?

 

Over the last few weeks, I have been preaching about 'Christ in the Old Testament." This week, I addressed the identification of 'the angel of the Lord,' who played a significant role in both creations and the history of the Jewish people. After much research and study, I learned that the 'angel of the Lord' in the Old Testament was clearly identified by scholars as the Messiah, Jesus, before his incarnation! That's right – when the angel of the Lord was there in the creation, it was, in reality, Messiah; later, when the miraculous protections of the Jews in the wilderness were provided by a pillar of fire by night and clouds by day, it was Messiah. The 'angel of the Lord' appears in many forms but is always the same – Messiah. Later, the Messiah came in human form as the infant Jesus. So, we can correctly understand that in the creation and many other events in the Old Testament in which the angel of the Lord worked, it was, in all actuality, the Christ who was there: Jesus!

 

So, you see, when you read the scriptures and hear of how God has worked through His spirit and the angel of the Lord, it was Jesus at work all the time.  

 

Jesus, the Messiah, is the Creator, giver of life, and sustainer.  

 

Our faith really is 'about Jesus,' isn't it?

 

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God’s Grace At Work

I watched a recent news report on the ongoing political controversies in our nation's capitals, and one analyst gave his opinion. The following is not a quotation but gives the gist of his comments: "It is all about power. Political power and the power to get things done the way you want them done. That is the simple explanation of what is happening." 

 

Power! It is an essential element of everything in life: in politics, current events, and even when it comes to faith!

           

In the book of First Peter, the early Christians were afraid! The Roman government seemed to stand against them, and the people around them resisted their efforts to share their faith. Because the Christians were in the minority, they had no power at all! Those in power would not protect them, and they often worked against the Church and even tried to silence them. They needed power!

           

Interestingly, Peter spoke to these struggling Christians and explained that they had a reason for hope because they had experienced salvation resulting from God's power at work in their lives. He reminded them that they had experienced God's great gifts because He had worked through the life and death of his son, Jesus, and had brought him back from the dead. And, because of Jesus' shed blood, sin, and death had been conquered – by the power of God! This power of God was with them and in them, even though their enemies hated them. 

They had hope because of God's power!

          

The message of the Gospel is a message of God's power! He conquered sin and death, He lives and works within us, and based on this, we have a reason to live our lives for him. Just as importantly, we can show God's power at work within us as we practice love toward others. Like he said in Chapter 1, "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God." vv.22-23

 

In this life, you may struggle, but the One God, all-powerful and good, loves you and wants to help you live this life. Follow Him in faith, be filled, and find grace, peace, and the power you need to live each day.

           

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A Holy Life

Several years ago, I attended a worship service at a large Pentecostal church in Kansas City, Mo. My friend had attended there, and had invited me to go with her. We went, and honestly, it was a real eye-opener for me! We stood up and sang for well over a half-an-hour, and twice the songs were stopped so we could all ‘pray,’ meaning that it was time for us to ‘speak in tongues.’ I had never participated in anything like this, so I just chose to watch. I looked around for the next 15-20 minutes, wide-eyed, as almost everyone stood, swaying to the music and mumbling some sort of “angelic language” I could not understand. This was their way of praying “in the spirit,” I was told, and was part of pursuing a sense of holiness in their private lives. I left that night, never to return to that church or that kind of experience. For me, being holy was something very different!

 

What do you think of when you hear that someone, or some activity, is ‘holy?’  

 

In his first letter to the church, the Apostle Peter wrote concerning their pursuit of faith. He said this: “Like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am Holy:’” (1:15-16) Over the years, I have learned quite a bit about this, so let me share something about this thing called ‘holiness.’

 

First, holiness is very practical and life-affecting; it is not just a ‘spiritual exercise.’ In the passage I mentioned earlier, Peter spoke of several actions to help one pursue holiness. Here are the things he mentioned: 

 

Think clearly (“gird your minds,” v.13): 

Exercise Self-control (“keep sober in spirit,” v.13); 

Look forward to Christ’s return (“fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you,” v.13); and, finally, do not go back to your old ways (“do not be conformed to the former lusts,” v.14). 

 

These are more than just things you think about – they are practices and ways of relating to others that can affect your life and influence you in profound ways.  

 

Later in the passage, Peter explains that holiness is more than just something you “do;” he taught that we were to be holy in all our behavior – but the words that he used in his old language meant that being ‘holy’ was something that God did within us. In other words, even though our own choices and discipline are helpful in the pursuit of happiness, the only way to achieve the holiness Peter was talking about was to open ourselves up to God’s work in our life – it was an act of God!  

 

Isn’t that amazing? 

 

You cannot control everything in your own spiritual life – you must apply your decision-making in making good choices, and even more importantly, you must be willing to open your heart to God’s spirit and let him change and shape you in whatever ways He chooses!

 

People are not ‘holy’ because they are better; they are better because they are holy. It is an act of God!

 

The challenge for each of us is to “live the life of faith” and to open our hearts to God’s influence. Join me in this process of achieving holiness!

  

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God’s Wonderful Gift

I heard a woman named ‘Wanda’ tell her story – a powerful testimony of her faith in God helping her through a very difficult life!

           

Wanda was abandoned as a young child and grew up angry and rebellious. She lived a miserable existence, lived the life of a drug addict and alcoholic, and ended up pregnant and by herself by the time she was 19. She admitted she was miserable and alone and wanted to die. One day, at the very bottom of her life, she decided to kill herself. She walked into her apartment and gathered up the drugs she was going to use and was interrupted by the ring of her phone. She says she felt “compelled” to answer that phone, even though she did not want to talk to anyone. She picked up the phone, and one of her girlfriends said, “Wanda, I just felt like God wanted me to call you right now – are you all right?” With that, Wanda burst into tears and told her what was happening. 

 

Amazingly, the loving voice on the other end shared with her the message of God’s love and salvation, and Wanda prayed to receive Jesus as Savior! She says she immediately felt her burdens lifted, her heart was free of the pain and anger she had felt all her life, and she realized that she wanted to live!

           

Wanda began to rebuild her life, attended a good church with her friend, and began to live a very ordinary existence. But her life would not be easy: she was soon diagnosed with cancer. She had to undergo several surgeries and rounds of treatment, and she had several other health problems related to her hard life. In this challenging time, though, she met a good man who married her, they continued to attend church and get involved in missions and ministries, and she commented that God had blessed her and given her a sense of joy and inner strength she had never experienced before. It was all, she said, because of God’s wonderful gift of grace!

 

This is the sort of experience that Peter was talking about in his first letter to the early church. They were suffering for their faith and struggling just to stay alive. But instead of telling them everything would get better, he taught that their faith would give them strength and inner peace. Those early Christians had no easy answers, but because they followed Jesus, they had hope! He said it like this:  For those that are born again, they would be “protected by the power of God through faith.” (I Peter 1:5) 

          

This is the power of God, available to all who would follow Jesus. There are no guarantees of ease and comfort because of our faith. Still, there is the promise that God loves us, He will always be with us, and He will give us the strength and ability to bear up under anything this life might bring.

           

Let me encourage you to seek out this Jesus, who died for you on the cross. He can save you, lift you up, and give you hope – in this life and the life to come!

  

You can best support our Ministry by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our Ministries a possibility. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

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