How "Silent" Is Your Soul Today?

"Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation.  He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved," literally, "not be greatly shaken, falter, fall, stagger, slip."  (Ps. 62:1, 2)

Only the soul who lives that Jesus, "only is my rock," that Jesus only, "is...my salvation," that Jesus only, "is my defense," and because of such confidence knows that, "I shall not be greatly moved," only that, "soul silently waits for God...."  Otherwise, there will be much "screaming."

Today you and I will have a continual need for, "salvation," which in the Hebrew means literally, "deliverance, help, prosperity, security, victories."  If there is to be peace within, if there is to be silence in my soul, it is only in my absolute confidence that no matter what comes my way, I will, "silently wait[] for God...."  There will be clamoring; there will be confusion around us, as Paul says, there will be times when we experience, "outside were conflicts, inside were fears."  Yet in it all, if my soul is rooted in Jesus, "Truly my soul silently waits for God."

As I read this Psalm this month, I realized again that this is exactly what was going on in me 44 years ago when we lost Stephen.  I could not pray; I could not reason, so I went to the Bible, His Words which empowered me.  But as I sat there reading for hours, I came to realize that my soul, in despair and seemingly void of life was, "silently wait[ing] for God...."  It wasn't a noble endeavor, nor strength of spirituality.  It was, however, something deep within me, perhaps the Holy Spirit, Who was working in me that which had been sown in my life from a very young child by a very committed Follower of Jesus, my Dad, Kenneth Barnette.  He preached Jesus Christ in the Bible.  His Bible studies were Jesus Christ in the Bible.  He had a man in one of his parishes make a plaque and put in on the pulpit lectern.  The words on the plaque were from John's Gospel, "We Would See Jesus."  Yes, all this had to become "mine" for the deliverance to come, but I realize today, perhaps more than ever, just how much you and I owe to people who have sown the things of Jesus into our lives. 

When there are unanswered prayers, suffering all around you, and you, family, and friends are going through great trials, I pray today's text is written in your mind and heart, "Truly my soul silently waits for God," the Living Triune God, Who in Jesus Christ is our salvation, our rock, our defense.  If this is true of you and me, then be assured, "[We] shall not be greatly moved."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I affirm with David, "Truly my soul silently waits for [You]."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

This Is "Church"

"Greet Priscilla and Aquilla, my co-workers in Christ Jesus.  They risked their lives (literally, 'necks') for me.  Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.  Greet also the church that meets at their house" (another definition of "going to church"---Romans 16:3-5a, NIV)

Phillips' Paraphrase says, "Shake hands for me with Priscilla and Aquila.  They have not only worked with me for Christ, but they have faced death for my sake.  Not only I, but all the Gentile churches, owe them a great debt.  Give my love to the little church that meets in their house."

If you want to understand the "nature" of the Church, you must understand today's text.  This is Church, not going to Sunday meetings where you fellowship the back of someone's neck.  Far more local congregations around the world throughout history have been, more than most realize, "the little church that meets in their house."  It is in such a setting that the Church of Jesus shares most intimately, as Bonhoeffer calls it, our "life together."

The closing exhortations of Paul in his epistles are most interesting, and I highly recommend that you read them.  For one thing, they give great insight into Church Life.  I have said this before, but it bears repeating: If you want to read the best work on the Church I have ever read, I suggest that you read Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, relatively short, and worth the read.  Years ago I sent about 16 copies to pastors whom I know, but never heard anything from them.  Maybe, assuming they read it, it spoke to what Church Life should really be in such a way that conviction set in.

Sarah and I have not been involved in a "life together" setting for quite a while, though we do attend services in a "local" church.  There are some "ministry" issues for this as well as the situation with Sarah's Mom, but that is not the point.  We miss the "life together" of a local church.  Our text gives some reason for this.  Notice some of the phrases in Romans 16:
    v. 5b, "Greet my dear friend Epenetus...."
    v. 6, "Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you."
    v. 7, "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison                 with me.  They are outstanding...."
    v. 10, "Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test."
    v. 13, "Greet Rufus...and his mother, who has been a mother to me too."
    v. 23b, "Erastus, who is the city's director of public works,..send[s]                                         you...greetings."    
This is indeed what Watchman Nee called, "The Normal Church Life."  This is the "life" I pray for your local church.  This is the "life" I pray for The Church, in the US, and across Planet Earth.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be someone who reflects the saints You mention in Romans 16.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Just A Thought For Your Consideration

"Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate."  (Mark 15:1)

The Gospel narrations of the Passion of Jesus reveal that Jesus first appeared before the religious community, then the government, the political power of the day.  There are just some things that governments can do which the Church cannot.  Perhaps, and according to Romans 13, Jesus intended it that way.  And perhaps this is a reason that the Book of Acts begins in Jerusalem and ends in Rome.

Apparently under the Roman law, the Jews could not put Jesus to death, "Then Pilate said to them, 'You take Him and judge Him according to your law.'  Therefore the Jews said to him, 'It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death'" (John 18).  Yes, they did kill Stephen and tried to kill Paul, but there is an explanation for the phrase in John's Gospel which time will not permit to discuss.  Suffice it to say, however, that the local government had the authority to do what the religious community could not.  North Korea, China, the former East Block Nations of Europe and all of human history have proven that the state can control what the Church does.  If the Church is going to see more than "revival," if the Church is going to see transformation of communities, it can only do so with the permission of the State (again, Romans 13).

Now lest you think this unspiritual, I challenge anyone to look at history and the contemporary world and conclude otherwise.  Yet the Passion Narratives reveal the sovereignty of God's work in redemption.  He used the Covenant People and the government to work His purpose of redemption, of saving humanity.  While this is indeed the central message of our text, there is also a lesson here that we should always keep in mind.  When people ignore the power of the government, their lives are shaped by that ignorance.  

The Church in America cannot pray the prayer of Jesus in the state schools, nor read the Words of God in those schools, because the US Government says it can't.  Perhaps if the Church would have been less "super spiritual" and more spiritual, America and other nations of the world would have a different history.  Jesus' "Great Command/Commission" tells us to disciple the nations, which tells me that nations and everything about those nations can be discipled.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for the Blood of the Cross, the Blood of Jesus, His Death, Resurrection, and Ascension and Soon Appearing.  Help me to so live, pray and work to disciple the nations that many will come to know You.  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

There Are Things Standing Where They Do Not Belong

"When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong...."  (Mark 13:14a, NIV)

Our text, of course, has apocalyptic meaning.  The event of which our Lord Jesus speaks here will take place, and it will utter in the end of the age. 

Yet there is a very real sense in which much has been, "standing where it does not belong," throughout history.  A mosque on Temple Mount is an, "'abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong."  Churches who have pastors and leaders who do not believe in the Blessed Trinity, the Deity of Jesus, that the Bible is, "God-Breathed," are "abomination[s] that cause[] desolation standing where [they do] not belong."  Political leaders, leaders of industry, education, etc., who reject the reign of Jesus Christ in their lives and in the Earth, yes, you guessed it, they are, "'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong."

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us in the Olivet Discourse, "Watch out that no one deceives you....You must be on your guard....Everyone will hate you because of Me....So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time....Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door....Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away....Therefore keep watch....What I say to you, I say to everyone: "Watch!'"

Jesus is coming and appearing to all.  You and I will reign in Him.  We will then stand where we belong.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."  Amen.  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2