The Crazy Generosity of Jesus

Jesus was hanging out with some friends at a wedding party. And I do mean party. During the party, probably around midnight, the party hit a snag. No more wine.

Mary comes over to Jesus and explains the problem. Jesus' response was one of love yet with a touch of correction.

"Dear woman, that's not our problem. My time has not yet come."

I love His mother's response.

"Do whatever He tells you."

Apparently she had already seen Jesus do some crazy stuff. She already knew He could perform miracles. Why else would she say "Do whatever He tells you"?

And you can just hear the pride in her voice.

Oh how she loved her son.

So, Jesus being the generous person He is, began showing His incredible generosity.

Sitting close by were some jars used for ceremonial washing.

Did you get that? Ceremonial washing.

These were nearly sacred in the eyes of the Jews.

Watch what Jesus does with this 'sacred' items.

"Fill each with water."

They did.

"Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies."

They did.

Apparently Jesus knew a little something about making wine.

The MC said it was fantastic!

Let's give this story a little more understanding.

There were 6 jars each holding 20-30 gallons each.

So that's 120 to 180 gallons.

Now a bit more math.

A bottle of wine has about 25 ounces.

A gallon has 128 ounces. That's about 5 bottles per gallon.

So that's between 600 and 900 bottles of Premium Grade A hooch.

The party must have went on all night.

Think what you want, I'm just reading the facts.

And the fact is Jesus is wildly generous. Over-the-top so.

Let's recall an early encounter Jesus had with Simon (Peter), James and John.

Jesus was preaching and the crowds were so into it, and pressing Him so closely, He had to get into a boat to have a little elbow room. It was Simon's boat.

After Jesus was finished speaking he asked Simon how the fishing was.

"Lousy!"

"Ok. Let's go a little deeper and we'll catch some fish" (John 2)

I'm sure Simon was a little incredulous.

He was the resident authority.

After all, he was the fisherman and the only thing he knew about Jesus was He that gave a great speech. But Simon did as Jesus requested, if nothing else to prove a point.

And what happened? More fish than they'd seen in their lives!

Generous.

And what about the five loaves and two fishes?

All ate until stuffed... twelve baskets left over.

Generous.

And the times Jesus was exhausted, but He saw the crowds and had great compassion on them and healed and healed and healed....
Generous.

And after the resurrection when the boys were out fishing all night and caught nothing. Again.

Jesus told them the 'try the other side'.

153 LARGE fish.

Generous.

That's how they knew it was Jesus. His over-the-top generosity. It was His trademark.

The Bible tells us Jesus lived His life only doing what He saw His Father do and that Jesus is the exact representation of God.

If Jesus was crazy generous, what does that say about His Father...

And His Father is our Father.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 NIV

RP

A Customer of Church?

So, I was in Walmart the other day buying some salad dressing for a salad my wife packed in my lunch.

When I got up to check out I was immediately annoyed by some lady talking on her cell phone during check-out.

You know the types... you see 'em all the time.

Talking on their cell phones while driving...

ordering fast food...

at the grocery store...

The cashier said nothing to her, that is, while she was standing there. As soon as she was out of range she described in no uncertain terms how rude she was.

I, of course, agreed and piled on.

I said, "Yeah, in our society we worship the customer so the retailer won't say anything to 'those' kind of people."

See, businesses won't risk the potential loss of revenue by drawing lines in the sand when it comes to appropriate etiquette. They are so afraid the 'competition' will get the money instead.

Sound familiar?

After kinda mulling that whole event over in my mind, I came to a realization.

The American church treats people like customers rather than treat them like lost souls in desperate need of a Savior.

That's not the way it's supposed to work. Like my friend Tim York said after floating this realization past him. "We look at what we can get 'out' of them rather than what we can 'offer' them.

Think about how we have everything set up.

We want a great worship experience...

Cool decor with great atmosphere....

Awesome video and powerpoint...

Flow...

A warm greeting...

Programs, visions, strategies...

All for what? A bigger church.

To what end? uhmmmm I'm afraid to answer that one.

And where does it get us?

People leave one church, for whatever reason, in search of another like shopping for a new pair of shoes.

Paul said this.

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10 NIV

Ouch!

Makes me want to weep and repent in shame.

Of course I want to be "...all things to all men so that by all means some might be saved".

But where do we draw the lines?

I mean, c'mon. Enough already.

Jesus said "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me."

Where is Jesus in all this?

Did I leave Him behind like his mom and dad did in Jerusalem thinking He was in our company?

Programs are great and all but they are just programs without the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sermons are just lectures without the power of the Holy Spirit.

Worship is just noise without the power of the Holy Spirit.

Elders are just leaders without the power of the Holy Spirit.

I need to decide who it is I'm serving...and to what end.

Do I seek to please Christ or do I try to please a 'consumer Christian'?

I know what I want.

I want to be a Spirit driven leader who desires to please Christ first.

Everything else will follow.

Priorities.

RP

More Than Saved

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

I was listening to one of my favorite radio talkers the other day and Franklin Graham was being interviewed. The host asked Franklin a question and Franklin responded by giving a cool, but unrelated answer.

Franklin started talking about how we are all sinners and that Jesus came and died on a cross, rose again, so we could be saved from our sins and have eternal life if we put our trust in Him.

I don't disagree with anything he said. (except he left out baptism)

But a little later as I reflected back, I thought "That seemed so simplistic. Jesus didn't die on the cross just to save us from our sins...He did so much more than that."

If we are in Christ, we are a new creation.

That word creation is a really awesome word. It means to make something out of nothing.

Only God can create.

When we are creative, we are not making something out of nothing. There is paint, canvas, brushes, pencils, a computer, paper...

We at least have something to work with.

But not God. When He creates, He has nothing to work with.

We were 'dead in our transgressions'.

Dead. Get it? Dead!

But we are made alive in Christ.

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions" Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV

In Christ, we are not merely saved. Oh no! We are new creations. We are God's prized workmanship.

We are the crown of His creation. We have become His sons and daughters.

So then, if we are all those things, why do we act as though we don't matter to Him?

Like He has better things to do than listen to me. Or my sin is too great for Him to love me. Or I are not worthy of His love. Or I've done too many bad things to be used by God. Or...

C'mon already.

We are His new creation.

We are His flesh and blood.

His DNA is stamped into our spirit just like our DNA is stamped into our own children.

That is why we can call Him 'Abba Father'. He truly is our Father. He created us out of nothing and placed His Spirit in us to prove we are His.

What an amazing revelation.

I don't want to believe the lie that God doesn't care.

That lie comes from Satan... and he's just jealous.

We have what he always wanted and will never attain.

A place at the right hand of God.

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," Ephesians 2:6 NIV

Amen and amen.

RP

Jesus and His Huge Truck

I am a follower of Jesus.

I want to always be a follower of Jesus.

But sometimes, I feel like Jesus is driving a really big truck down a very narrow, hilly road. He's not even going the speed limit and I'm struggling to keep my patience as I keep sliding out of my lane to see what's down the road.

I hang my head out the widow hollering for Him to speed up.

I get no response.

I sometimes honk my horn and yell

"Can you go a little faster here? Time's a wasting!"

He just waves and smiles.

He's absolutely in no hurry.

It's like He's got all day.

Well I don't.

I have only a little bit of time.

I need to get on with this 'plan' He has for my life. Why is He driving so slow? Why is this taking so long to get there?

He's driving this big, huge truck and I can't see around it. Why doesn't He let me lead? Or at least drive. He can be 'co-pilot'.

A couple of times, I've had the idea to take a short cut 'cause I thought I knew where we were going. When I got there I waited and waited and waited...

I thought He'd be cool with my resourcefulness.

I though He would be impressed with my initiative.

I thought when He finally got there He'd say "Wow dude! You sure saved a lot of time. I wish I had thought of that!"

But He never showed.

He was still going down His road.

And it was a long ways from mine.

So then I had to get from where I was, back to the road He was on.

It shouldn't be hard...

He goes so slow...

Wow! It took like 20 years.

When I finally caught back up with Him, He was still smiling and singing.

Drives me crazy.

He knows exactly where He's going.

And He's never in a hurry.

When I ask if I can at least have a hint as to where we are going, He just smiles and says "Follow. And don't miss opportunities as we drive."

Opportunities?

What opportunities?

Then I see that guy holding a sign.

It says something about 'Will work for food.'

Oh.

That's why He drives so slow.

He wants to takes His time so we have the time to serve others as we go. If I'm doing 70 down the interstate, I get there really fast but all I've done is drive. No one was helped.

I didn't help change a flat tire.

I didn't help an overheating car.

I didn't help that family with stranded on the side of the road.

You know the one.

They have all those kids.

The hood is up but no one is stopping to help.

Ok Jesus.

You lead. I'll follow.

I will enjoy the scenery and do my best to give a cold drink of water to someone who is thirsty, and food for someone hungry, and clothes for someone without...

I'm sorry for my impatience.

You are the Man!

RP

Walking In The Power of the Spirit

“When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!" Deuteronomy 20:1-4 NLT

God promised to be with His people everywhere.

Even in battle.

No, especially in battle.

So after the Exodus.

After the Law is given.

After all the exploits God has shown to reveal His power.

It's showtime.

The 12 spies are sent to check out the promised land.

They come back with a split verdict.

Joshua and Caleb are stoked.

Excited at what will be theirs.

The ten? Well, not so much.

Afraid. They were afraid.

And fear spreads faster than the plague.

The people join in the fear and planned on stoning

Moses and Aaron. Even finding new leaders that will take them back to Egypt.

Egypt? Really?

You really want to go back to slavery and lack

when right in front of you is prosperity like you've never imagined?

So, how does God feel about all this?

He is hacked!

God is really angry.

Wipe 'em all out kind of angry.

God is angry because His people doubted His power.

And rightly so.

He parted the Red Sea for crying out loud!

The people saw the walls of water as they walked through, standing straight up as though in attention. They saw the Sea come back together to destroy Pharaoh's army.

They felt the mountain shake with just His presence.

Manna.

Quail.

Water from the rock.

How much more evidence did they need?

Why would they be afraid?

But alas, I look in the mirror and I'm astonished at my own lack of faith in His power.

Jesus said to the man with the demon possessed boy in Mark 9.

"What do you mean, 'If I can'? Anything is possible if a person believes."

Somewhere along the line I've been duped into thinking God doesn't do miracles today. That He doesn't do things like He used to. That was only a sign for the early church. Really?

Has God had a power outage?

Has He been exposed to kryptonite and somehow lost strength?

That's absurd! Of course He has the same power He's always had.

Maybe I'm the one with the problem.

I justify my lack of belief by hiding behind that famous phrase 'If the Lord wills'. Yes, it's always 'if the Lord wills'. But the Lord wills I walk in the power of His Spirit.

Why would Jesus tell His disciples "it is best for you if I go away, because if I don't the Counselor won't come"? John 16:7

See? That's the problem.

I've treated the Holy Spirit as a though He were that guy who sits next to the principal's office giving me sage advise on where to go from here.

I'm afraid I've deeply hindered the power of the Holy Spirit working in my life at the risk of being 'charismatic'.

Here's what I know.

With man nothing is possible,

but with God all things are possible.

Paul told Timothy

"For God did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity,

but of power, love and self-discipline" 2Timothy 1:7

And again,

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephesians 3:20 NLT

I insult God's power when I walk as though He limits it today.

When I ask and don't really believe.

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. ”

I'm afraid I've gone through my life with faith smaller even than a mustard seed.

And mustard seed is really small.

How small has my faith been?

Today, I choose to believe I walk in power.

Not my power. Oh no. Never!

The power that is at work within me.

Today, I say, "Holy Spirit I choose to live with your power working in me and through me...whatever that means."

Oh, and by the way.

We are at war.

God is with us!

RP

Saved By the Good Things We Do?

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesian 2:8-9 NLT

I was watching a TV show the other day.

It was a show where Barry McGuire, the Jesus Movement musician from the 60's, was being interviewed.

Since I love that music, even today,

I was watching with interest.

It was going great.

Barry was funny and energetic.

Then he said something that horrified me.

Yes. Horrified.

"God has given us a blueprint for happiness and it's the 10 commandments".

"What?

No way Barry. You've got it all wrong!!!"

I yelled, as though he could hear me.

"No! No! No!

The 10 commandments are a blueprint for condemnation!"

Followers of Jesus.

Please read and understand.

Jesus fulfilled the law on the cross.

We are no longer under law.

We are under grace. Romans 6:14

We don't live under performance salvation any longer.

That was the old way.

And it only brought condemnation and death.

Read the next verse. Verse 10.

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works..."

We are saved to do good works.

We don't do good works to be saved.

"I'll show you my faith by what I do." says James.

Let's take a fresh look at this.

Moses came down from the mountain after

receiving the law and 3,000 people died.

The law is the tree of 'Knowledge of Good and Evil'.

When you partake of it, you die.

Jesus came down from the mountain after fulfilling the law

and 3,000 people were brought to life.

Jesus is the 'Tree of Life'.

When you partake of Him, you live.

Please, please, remember.

The veil was torn from top to bottom so that through Jesus, we have direct access to the Throne of God.

We really need to stop trying to sew the veil back together.

We cannot be saved by works.

We cannot be saved by the law or by anything written under the Old Testament.

If we could, Jesus died for nothing.

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:21 NIV

Jesus wants you and I to know, He is the way, the truth and the life. And no one gets to the Father accept through Him.

Period.

Your good works are NOT the exception.

Our minds need to change from works 'to be saved'

to works 'because I'm saved'.

I have experienced a radical change in my life

since I let Jesus be my Savior.

I quit trying to earn what I already have.

The burden is lifted.

Jesus is the performance that I believe in.

I'm free to love, give and share.

RP

Too Hard for Jesus?

In Mark chapter 9:14 we find Jesus, Peter, James and John

coming off a mountain-top experience.

The Transfiguration.

The three had just been given a glimpse of who Jesus really is.

The other nine were down below arguing

with the religious leaders. Again.

When the crowds saw Jesus they ran to Him.

People still do that when we exalt Jesus.

Jesus asked. "What are you arguing about?"

He knew what was going on even though He wasn't physically there.

His disciples went curiously quiet.

Finally someone spoke up.

“Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk.¹⁸ And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

After ripping His disciples, He turns to the family and asks them a question.

“How long has this been happening?”

Their reply;

“Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Jesus had just come off the mountain and already this is His third encounter with faithlessness.

1) The Religious Leaders (we expect that from them).

2) His own disciples (they're still learning).

3. The family of the demon possessed boy.

There is so much great stuff in this story.

But let's remember something really important.

Please notice this:

Notice how Jesus was not intimidated by the situation.

Notice how He wasn't concerned that His own disciples were in over their heads.

I don't see Jesus quaking in His sandals

over this spirit that refused to obey the disciples.

I don't see Him huddling with the 12 putting a strategy together based on the latest and greatest research study.

I don't see Him pacing or even the least bit concerned.

Jesus walks in and takes complete control of the situation.

He wasn't in over His head.

Never has been.

Never will be.

The only thing that has ever left Jesus stumped is lack of belief.

Friends, whatever we face,

our God is not left stumped over what to do.

Trust in Jesus in all situations.

Even the seemingly impossible.

Even if you've tried your very best.

Walk in the confidence of Jesus.

With God, nothing is impossible.

RP