Covetousness — a capital sin…

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (Acts 8:14–24)

Wanting what other people have is covetousness. God bestows gifts as He wills, and my part is to be content with the gift and obedient when given opportunities to use it, not to want what others have.

Simon was so taken with the spiritual abilities of the apostles that he wanted the same thing too, but he had the wrong idea in thinking he had to pay for it or do something to get it. A gift is a gift, not a purchase. In the case of spiritual gifts, they are part of what motivates Christians and draws us to various ministries:

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:3–8)

These gifts are to be used in the power of the Holy Spirit. That means that no matter what this Simon character wanted or why, it had to be Spirit-motivated and Spirit-driven. And the Spirit was given by God, even though He used these apostles as part of the giving process. They needed to be Spirit-filled to do it, led by God even when to do it. To think that money had anything to do being filled with the Spirit was a grave misunderstanding that completely ignored all that Jesus and His disciples taught and were doing.

It still happens. AI gives a similar example to what Simon did: “In many local congregations, a wealthy individual attempts to use their financial leverage to dictate church policy, hiring decisions, or theological direction. This dynamic is often referred to by church consultants as "wealth-based governance" or the "major donor trap.” Simon was blind to the truth of how God works. 

Prideful greed can be very destructive, along with coveting what others have but I don’t have. If envy is in my heart, or I am not thankful for what I have, or if I gossip and am unkind toward those who have what I want, and I am upset with God for not giving it to me, I’m guilty and even measuring personal worth by what I don’t have rather than what Christ has done for me. 

Jesus, I am so thankful that You gave me a mother who set me a wonderful example of how to be contented. Even though I’ve had times of wanting what others have, You so always remind me that having You is enough.

 

In a large family!

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:1–7)

Yesterday after our church service, I sat on the edge of the platform and watched people visiting and praying together after the chairs were stacked. Every color. Every sort of clothing. Several languages. The sense of family is strong here. We had two years of heritage days where members of various cultures set up booths with food and info about their home country, most wearing what they would if they were back there. Our leadership consists of varying ethnic groups too, but all of these people love and follow Jesus.

This year, the numbers grew. Next week we return to two services as the church building cannot hold all who come. Instead of heritage days, we had a morning where the service began with a scene that I will never forget. As the music played, people representing their home culture came in carrying large flags from those countries and alternately crossed at the front before going up on the platform. 

The number was countable in this place, yet astonishing, and the sense of unity and joy that filled the room still fills my heart. Someone referred to this passage from the NT, and God gave us a little glimpse of what heaven will be like:

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9–10)

Yesterday I chatted with several people. Two from two African countries, another from Pakistan, and three from Canada who are familiar with the heritage of their parents and grandparents. Of course we feed them all and of course those assigned to that serving task need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom. This is what God wants. No one serves Him in their own strength and when that kind of love is shown, He blesses us with an increase. 

Jesus, I am blessed today with the joy of remembering these events and Your goodness, and the faces of many who are learning English and learning about You in a place where they feel just as much a part of your large uncountable family as I do. Thank You. Thank You. 

The Gospel is centered on. . . .

While he (the man who had just been healed) clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. (Acts 3:11–21)

This week, Lord reminded me that the gospel needs to be centered on Jesus Christ and His resurrection. Peter did this, as well as speaking of OT prophecies that were familiar to his audience. 

Another reminder is to do both these days. We often speak of God yet our listeners could have a far different idea of a god than we do or that the “men of Israel” had when Peter spoke. When we talk about Jesus, His identity is more specific than whatever may come to mind for our listeners. When we talk about the resurrection we tell people the event that is unique to our faith. Others pray to a god, and claim faith in that god, but their spiritual leader did not die and rise from the grave.

The testimony of a former atheist also illustrates this truth. He decided the only way to make a loved one give up her new faith was to prove that the Bible is wrong. He focused on the resurrection and after studying historical records realized that Jesus was a real person, is who He claimed to be, and actually died and rose from the dead. This atheist became a Christian also.

Again, I can talk about God but may not connect with others for there are many gods. Also, it is important to know the background of people and, if they are asking questions, to determine their motivations. Some just want to argue. Some are seeking proof. The Holy Spirit helps His people to meet others and talk to them in the most helpful way.

Jesus, I am on the prayer team today. People come to the front with requests or questions and I have no idea what to expect. May You guide me to glorify You as I pray for others. Amen.
Later: two important prayer requests and two people who came just to encourage me. Lord, what a wonder You are, a surprise and a blessing.

 

David knew before what we know now. . . .

For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 
Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:25–38)

If anyone doubts the power of God to reveal truth and the future, this is one fine example that He knew then and that He gave David that certainty — hundreds of years before Jesus came, was crucified, and rose again.

Yesterday I read the story of a woman recently widowed. She had three children. Her only inheritance was $20,000 and all she had. However, hearing of God's promises to take care of those who trust Him, particularly with their care when in need, she gave the entire sum to Him. Her pastor, although he told her to trust God, was a bit horrified. Yet within a few months, the woman received a call about a relative she didn’t know she had. He died and left her enough to take care of her and family for the rest of their lives.

I have a similar story about not having any money. An annual rental was due and I could not pay it. God surprised me with an order for a pet portrait from a person I’d never met and she sent the money with her order — just a few dollars more than the rental bill! I painted the portrait of her dog, mailed it to her, and have never worried about money since then. God has taken care of me.

This is the power of God. He meets our needs even before we experience them. And it also builds faith in Him. As the words above say, my sin is the reason He died and yet His love makes me safe from all threats and the recipient of His greatest gift — Himself and the incredible care of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, You are always with me, assuring me and putting my needs on Your calendar so that they are met when they come up. Forgive me for ever worrying or fretting about anything. You already know what the future holds and You have already provided whatever I will need. You are amazing!

Knowing truth…

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:12–15)

Two young fellows came to the door to sell me their belief system. I shared my faith in Jesus Christ and how His death and resurrection changed my life. They asked me where I learned this, who taught it to me. When I told them “no one” and that I learned it from the Holy Spirit while reading the Bible, they shook their heads and told me no one learns about God like that. I had to be taught.

Thinking about it, it does seem like someone who hears voices has a mental problem. But Jesus says we can know truth by His Spirit without it being explained by another person. As my pastor often says, “Only God.”

If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:9–15)

The power and activity of the Holy Spirit is ridiculed as nonsense by those who are without faith in Jesus Christ. For them, His work is unknown or unnamed or called anything else, from hunches to guesses, premonitions to a gut feeling. Even to Christians, this might be how it feels at times, yet Jesus said to those who questioned Him, 

“I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:25–27)

When a friend or family member calls, they often identify themselves by “It’s me” because the person on the other end knows their voice. This is what hearing the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ is like. Because His sheep know His voice, we recognize Him when He tells us the truth or gives us a command. And because we know and trust Him, we follow what He says.

Those two men at my door did not know what I was talking about because they were not His sheep. They didn’t know or follow Him, only their human teachers who didn’t tell them the truth because they didn’t know His voice either.

Being in the Bible helps. Listening to sound biblical teaching helps. Yet most of all, being His child (sheep) in a personal relationship makes the difference. 

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1)
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

Most of the time I feel clueless about what is going on, what I should do, etc. but by knowing Jesus, I can rely on Him to tell me all that I need to know, what to do next, how to think and pray, and what is true vs. what is false. Spiritual maturity is a progress totally depending on what Jesus reveals to me.

Jesus, the Holy Spirit speaks of You, glorifies You, gives me what You want me to know and do, and assures me of Your love and mercy, Your righteousness and faithfulness. Without You, I am at sea, but You are my guiding lighthouse and help — in all of life.

Hating Perfection?

 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ (John 15:18–25)

Hate is a strong dislike or aversion toward someone or something. But there is a vast difference between hating broccoli, pink shirts, doing the dusting, or rock bands than hating a person, especially the person of Jesus Christ. 

The Bible clarifies that people hate Jesus for various reasons. He didn’t do what they expected. He called them on their sin. He told them their lives must drastically change. He knew what they would say and do before they did it. Yet He was without sin Himself.

This week I listened to a discussion between two godly men. One of them is either popular or criticized depending on who you ask. Then I listened to an evaluation of the discussion. That person had good things to say about both men, but wound up with strong criticism of one, words that said more about himself than he likely realized. He was obviously jealous of this man’s successful ministry as a pastor of a large church, a writer of an extremely popular book, and a person who lived with integrity. Unlike Jesus, the disliked person is not perfect (even the critic must admit that no person is), but nit-picking flaws didn’t make good points for himself either.

In thinking about my own life and the people I have disliked, I can see that everyone that I’ve not liked or had a strong aversion to was more about me than them. I was either disagreed with, ignored, or treated in ways that I thought I didn’t deserve. They injured my pride. This is not the same as being ‘hated for Jesus’ sake’ that He was talking about.

He was hated for saying the truth about sin and for His drastic actions to show love toward those who sinned against Him. Like He said, if He had not spoken to them about it, they could excuse it. If He had not loved and healed and been with sinners, they could justify their intolerance and lack of love. And Jesus showed up their selfish pride by not having any.

No one is displaying hatred toward me. Sometimes I feel ignored, but that is not a big deal. Recently I was criticized for humility because that person wanted to praise me and I wanted her to glorify Jesus instead. I don’t know how that fits in with this declaration Jesus made, but I know that when others praise God, I am glad and apt to do the same. Maybe part of hating is wanting someone else to get the credit instead of giving it to the Creator, Sustainer, and the only righteousness that I have? 

The pastor who was criticized did that. He repeated several times that the only reason God made him was to glorify Him. If others hate me for doing that, it says far more about them than it does about me. 

Jesus, hating You is a foreign concept. Only those who want to run their own lives, and who define goodness their way. If they do not get all the credit they want, they resent You. You, who even asked for forgiveness for those who crucified You. Hate cannot overcome that kind of love. I’m not there yet, but I know that I cannot be like that without the the fullness of Your Spirit. Only You can fill me with the ability to not hate anyone, but to love all as You have loved me.  

Speak up or shut up?

And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” (John 12:44–50)

Watchman Nee wrote that God had to teach him to shut up, and then teach him to speak up. I relate. This verse explains the shut up part: 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

In some ways and for some people, saying nothing is easier than saying the right thing. However, when I think that way, it is about avoiding what might happen to me rather than what my self-centered words might do to those who hear them. Not like Jesus. 

Speaking up is from a different source and for the opposite reasons. It is about saying what God wants people to hear. Doing this might take time and discernment, but if filled with the Holy Spirit, the words come out — and sometimes make me shake my head and wonder “where did that come from?”

For example, a young man asked how he could sleep well. I blurted, “The Bible says there is no rest for the wicked, so you have to first get rid of the wicked.” While I felt like an idiot for saying it, he responded so well that I realized that was a Holy Spirit word he needed to hear.

Other times the speaking up part takes thoughtful prayer and not saying anything until certain that my words are from Him and not my own. Sometimes the easiest way to tell is by knowing they are biblical and recognizing that my old nature does not want to say them.

Jesus, You didn’t have that old nature giving You ‘corrupting talk’ or confusing talk. Yet Your example has great value. By my words, I can edify others — if they are words given to me by Your Spirit and not from me. Help me always to know the difference.