By Gobel Brockman
I heard this story many years ago. So long ago in fact that I have forgotten some of the specifics. But I do remember enough of it to make my point:
A wealthy man once commissioned a famous artist to paint a painting for him. He told the artist that he had 'carte blanche' to paint what he wanted, but he wanted the theme of the painting to be "peace." A few weeks later the artist brought the painting to the man. The man unwrapped the painting and was shocked at what he saw: it was a painting of a small boat caught in the middle of a violent storm on a raging sea. The man was furious: "I told you I wanted a painting that projected peace! This is anything but peaceful!" The artist calmly replied, "Look inside the boat." The wealthy man obliged, and what he saw brought a smile of satisfaction to his face:
The lone man in the boat, surrounded by crashing waves in the midst of the storm, was fast asleep.
A couple of thoughts about this:
1) You and I will face storms.
Regardless of your circumstances in life, difficulties will come our way. It may be it a financial mess, a broken or ended relationship, illness, or a host of other problems, but they will come. There's also a funny thing about storms that we Hoosiers can relate to - they can come with little or no notice, just when we're least expecting them. But trust me - they will come.
2) You and I can still have peace in the middle of our storms.
There's one thing I always try to remind people of when they're going through difficult times: our storms may catch us off-guard, but they never surprise God. While we are down here wondering what's going on, our omnipotent God is still in control. He has promised that He will never leave His children, and He's yet to see a storm that's caused Him to fail to fulfill that promise. He said in Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave you or forsake you," He meant it then, and He means it now. I assure you that no matter how severe your current situation may be, if you're a child of God, you're not going through it alone. You can still have peace, taking comfort in the fact that the God Who loved you enough to lay down His life for you loves you enough to stay with you until the storm passes and the waves die down.
In Matthew 14 the disciples of Jesus were in a boat in the midst of a storm, and Jesus walked on water to get to them. If you'll listen real close, pretty soon you'll hear Him say the same thing to your storm that He said to theirs:
"Peace, be still."
So if you're the one in that boat right now, just fluff up your pillow and crash for a bit. And as the old song says, "Put your hand in the hand of the Man that stilled the water..."
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Careful What You Pray For
By Gobel Brockman
There are times when we as Christians pray for things, and I'm not sure that we think through what we're really asking for. Sometimes I think we ask for things and fail to realize that getting the answers we want will change our lives more drastically than we anticipate. Prayers like:
"God, break my heart for what breaks Yours."
"God, do whatever You have to do to reach this person."
As we take this weekend to celebrate Pentecost Sunday, many churches may be filled with people praying, "Father, send us Your Holy Spirit once again as You did that day!" It's a totally understandable prayer when you look at what happened when God answered it for the disciples in Acts 2. The promised Holy Spirit came and filled 120 believers. They were immediately filled with power, and as a result of Peter's first message, 3,000 people came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Stories are told of a lame man being healed (Acts 3), people placing sick people on the sidewalks just so Peter's shadow could touch them and they would be healed (Acts 5), and many others miraculous stories as well. We look at these stories and wish that they would take place in our midst today. They can, and in many places already are, but I think we need to take a closer look at what else happened when God answered their prayer for the Holy Spirit:
*They immediately became the enemies of the "religious establishment," and were constantly faced with persecution as a result.
*In Acts 5 a married couple conspired to lie about their offering to the church. As a result, the Holy Spirit struck them both dead - in church.
*Some were called away from family and friends they loved to preach the gospel to complete strangers.
*James, Stephen, and several others literally lost their lives because of their faith.
I could go on, but the point is well made. Having the Holy Spirit fill a believer or a church is an incredible experience that we all should be praying for. However, I think it would do us well to "count the cost" before we pray, because there is definitely a cost involved. When the Holy Spirit comes, He brings drastic and permanent change. I pray that God will indeed pour out His Spirit upon me, but I must ask myself if I am ready for the difficulties that may come with it. I want to see people touched by the Holy Spirit, but am I willing to face opposition and risk being misunderstood in the process? Simon Peter was supernaturally delivered from jail, but the reason he was there in the first place was that he was facing death from Herod because of his faith. Am I willing to face the dangerous to see the miraculous? The early church experienced the power of God because they were willing to lay everything down and count it all loss to follow Jesus.
Am I? Are you?
Careful what you pray for.
There are times when we as Christians pray for things, and I'm not sure that we think through what we're really asking for. Sometimes I think we ask for things and fail to realize that getting the answers we want will change our lives more drastically than we anticipate. Prayers like:
"God, break my heart for what breaks Yours."
"God, do whatever You have to do to reach this person."
As we take this weekend to celebrate Pentecost Sunday, many churches may be filled with people praying, "Father, send us Your Holy Spirit once again as You did that day!" It's a totally understandable prayer when you look at what happened when God answered it for the disciples in Acts 2. The promised Holy Spirit came and filled 120 believers. They were immediately filled with power, and as a result of Peter's first message, 3,000 people came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Stories are told of a lame man being healed (Acts 3), people placing sick people on the sidewalks just so Peter's shadow could touch them and they would be healed (Acts 5), and many others miraculous stories as well. We look at these stories and wish that they would take place in our midst today. They can, and in many places already are, but I think we need to take a closer look at what else happened when God answered their prayer for the Holy Spirit:
*They immediately became the enemies of the "religious establishment," and were constantly faced with persecution as a result.
*In Acts 5 a married couple conspired to lie about their offering to the church. As a result, the Holy Spirit struck them both dead - in church.
*Some were called away from family and friends they loved to preach the gospel to complete strangers.
*James, Stephen, and several others literally lost their lives because of their faith.
I could go on, but the point is well made. Having the Holy Spirit fill a believer or a church is an incredible experience that we all should be praying for. However, I think it would do us well to "count the cost" before we pray, because there is definitely a cost involved. When the Holy Spirit comes, He brings drastic and permanent change. I pray that God will indeed pour out His Spirit upon me, but I must ask myself if I am ready for the difficulties that may come with it. I want to see people touched by the Holy Spirit, but am I willing to face opposition and risk being misunderstood in the process? Simon Peter was supernaturally delivered from jail, but the reason he was there in the first place was that he was facing death from Herod because of his faith. Am I willing to face the dangerous to see the miraculous? The early church experienced the power of God because they were willing to lay everything down and count it all loss to follow Jesus.
Am I? Are you?
Careful what you pray for.
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Don't Stop Short of the River
By Gobel Brockman
In the second chapter of II Kings we read the story of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. They embarked on a journey together as Elijah was about to be taken to Heaven in a whirlwind. Their journey began at Gilgal and ended at the Jordan River, where Elijah was taken to Heaven and Elisha received a double portion of his spirit. Three times on this journey Elisha was challenged to "stay put" while Elijah continued on. I believe there are parallels to the temptations we can face in our journey of faith.
1) "Stay in Gilgal while I go to Bethel."
Gilgal means "rolled away." It was symbolic of the place where God "rolled away" the reproach of Egypt off of Israel. (Joshua chapter 5) For us it can represent our acceptance of Christ as Savior. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here in Gilgal while I go to Bethel." (Bethel means "house of God.") We face that temptation today: "You don't need to go to church (Bethel) - you prayed a prayer and received Jesus as your Savior, that's good enough." But just as Elisha refused to settle in Gilgal, we can't settle for a one-time prayer. We need to make the house of God - the place where God dwells - a destination that we refuse to be diverted from.
2) "Stay in Bethel while I go to Jericho."
Elijah then said, "Stay here in Bethel, for God has sent me to Jericho." A variant of the Hebrew word Jericho means "to blow or breathe." When Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection, at one point the Bible says that "Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Ghost." (John 20:22) After they were filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, they began, as their opponents said, to "turn the world upside down." Here comes the temptation to settle again: "OK, go ahead and go to church (Bethel) if you think you have to, but you don't have to turn into some kind of Spirit-filled 'zealot' who's always talking about Jesus." (Jericho) But just as Elisha realized that he would never receive what he wanted unless he continued pressing in, neither will we. I want to "keep going to Jericho." I want all of the Holy Spirit that I can receive. I want to be filled and refilled. Someone was once asked why he always prayed to be refilled with the Holy Spirit. He replied, "Because I leak!"
3) "Stay in Jericho while I go to the Jordan."
Once again, Elijah said "Stay here." And once again, Elisha said "No." When they arrived at the Jordan River, the Bible says that Elijah took his mantle and smote the river, and it parted so that they could go across on dry ground. Elijah then asked Elisha what he would like to receive before Elijah was taken away. Elisha responded that he wanted "a double portion of your spirit on me." Elijah told him that if he saw him taken to Heaven, he would receive it - and he did. It has been said that Elisha is recorded in the Bible to have performed twice as many miracles as Elijah did.
It was at "the river" that Elisha was rewarded for refusing to settle for where he was and continuing with Elijah, and it was there that he received the blessing of "the double portion." Today, you and I as Christians are constantly tempted to either give up on our faith entirely, or at least become so weary - or so complacent - that we become willing to stay where we are instead of pressing in to the best that God has for us. But I want to follow Elisha's example and stay faithful on the journey to "the river" and receive every bit of His Spirit that I can. I've received much from the Lord over the years, but there's so much more that He has to give. I'm thankful for the Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho experiences in my life, but I don't want to settle there. Call me greedy, but I want all that I can get.
See you at the river.
In the second chapter of II Kings we read the story of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. They embarked on a journey together as Elijah was about to be taken to Heaven in a whirlwind. Their journey began at Gilgal and ended at the Jordan River, where Elijah was taken to Heaven and Elisha received a double portion of his spirit. Three times on this journey Elisha was challenged to "stay put" while Elijah continued on. I believe there are parallels to the temptations we can face in our journey of faith.
1) "Stay in Gilgal while I go to Bethel."
Gilgal means "rolled away." It was symbolic of the place where God "rolled away" the reproach of Egypt off of Israel. (Joshua chapter 5) For us it can represent our acceptance of Christ as Savior. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here in Gilgal while I go to Bethel." (Bethel means "house of God.") We face that temptation today: "You don't need to go to church (Bethel) - you prayed a prayer and received Jesus as your Savior, that's good enough." But just as Elisha refused to settle in Gilgal, we can't settle for a one-time prayer. We need to make the house of God - the place where God dwells - a destination that we refuse to be diverted from.
2) "Stay in Bethel while I go to Jericho."
Elijah then said, "Stay here in Bethel, for God has sent me to Jericho." A variant of the Hebrew word Jericho means "to blow or breathe." When Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection, at one point the Bible says that "Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Ghost." (John 20:22) After they were filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, they began, as their opponents said, to "turn the world upside down." Here comes the temptation to settle again: "OK, go ahead and go to church (Bethel) if you think you have to, but you don't have to turn into some kind of Spirit-filled 'zealot' who's always talking about Jesus." (Jericho) But just as Elisha realized that he would never receive what he wanted unless he continued pressing in, neither will we. I want to "keep going to Jericho." I want all of the Holy Spirit that I can receive. I want to be filled and refilled. Someone was once asked why he always prayed to be refilled with the Holy Spirit. He replied, "Because I leak!"
3) "Stay in Jericho while I go to the Jordan."
Once again, Elijah said "Stay here." And once again, Elisha said "No." When they arrived at the Jordan River, the Bible says that Elijah took his mantle and smote the river, and it parted so that they could go across on dry ground. Elijah then asked Elisha what he would like to receive before Elijah was taken away. Elisha responded that he wanted "a double portion of your spirit on me." Elijah told him that if he saw him taken to Heaven, he would receive it - and he did. It has been said that Elisha is recorded in the Bible to have performed twice as many miracles as Elijah did.
It was at "the river" that Elisha was rewarded for refusing to settle for where he was and continuing with Elijah, and it was there that he received the blessing of "the double portion." Today, you and I as Christians are constantly tempted to either give up on our faith entirely, or at least become so weary - or so complacent - that we become willing to stay where we are instead of pressing in to the best that God has for us. But I want to follow Elisha's example and stay faithful on the journey to "the river" and receive every bit of His Spirit that I can. I've received much from the Lord over the years, but there's so much more that He has to give. I'm thankful for the Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho experiences in my life, but I don't want to settle there. Call me greedy, but I want all that I can get.
See you at the river.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
"But If Not..."
By Gobel Brockman
I think I would probably be hard-pressed to name a favorite Bible verse, but I definitely have a favorite Bible story. It's found in the third chapter of Daniel:
Israel had turned its back on God and as a result, He allowed them to be taken captive by the Babylonians. Some of the youngest and brightest of the Israelites were promoted to positions of prominence in the kingdom. Three of these men were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They had not joined their fellow Israelites in rebelling against the Lord.
At one point, the king of Babylon created a huge golden statue and demanded that whenever the people heard music playing as a 'call to worship' they were to bow down to the image, with the threat that any who refused to do so would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow, and as a result were brought before the king. He gave them one last chance to bow before the image or face execution. There's no way I can put into words how much I love their response:
"If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” - Daniel 3:17-18 (Italics mine.)
"But if not..." Their response is amazing to me: "God is able to deliver us, but we will remain loyal to Him even if He doesn't." I can't help but wonder how different Christianity - especially American Christianity - would look if our churches were filled with this kind of devotion to Christ. I don't want to worship Jesus because He blesses me (even though He does) or because He can get me out of difficult situations (even though He has.) I want to become a person who will worship Jesus Christ for one reason: He is exactly who He claimed to be, and He deserves no less. May all who name the name of Jesus become a people who will say "But if not...":
"I know God can heal my body, but if not..."
"I know God can bring someone into my life and ease this loneliness, but if not..."
"I know God can fix this financial mess, but if not..."
"I know God can deliver me from every distress, but if not..."
There's a perfect example of this in Acts 12. King Herod began great persecution against the church. James the brother of John was killed with the sword. The Bible says that when Herod saw that this pleased the Jews, he had Peter arrested as well. However, God sent an angel to miraculously deliver him from jail. James was killed while Peter was delivered. In our minds that may not seem fair, but what both of those men of God had in common was this: "Our God is able, but if not..."
I guess what I'm saying to you is that our commitment to Jesus cannot be conditional, or else it's no commitment at all. He is the almighty Lord and King who is to be reverenced and worshipped at all times, regardless of what is presently going on in our lives. When all is well, may I honor Christ with my life. When nothing seems to be going right and I see no change in sight, may I honor Christ with my life.
And should I ever be faced with the ultimate choice as so many have throughout church history, may I find the strength in Christ to say, "But if not..."
I think I would probably be hard-pressed to name a favorite Bible verse, but I definitely have a favorite Bible story. It's found in the third chapter of Daniel:
Israel had turned its back on God and as a result, He allowed them to be taken captive by the Babylonians. Some of the youngest and brightest of the Israelites were promoted to positions of prominence in the kingdom. Three of these men were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They had not joined their fellow Israelites in rebelling against the Lord.
At one point, the king of Babylon created a huge golden statue and demanded that whenever the people heard music playing as a 'call to worship' they were to bow down to the image, with the threat that any who refused to do so would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow, and as a result were brought before the king. He gave them one last chance to bow before the image or face execution. There's no way I can put into words how much I love their response:
"If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” - Daniel 3:17-18 (Italics mine.)
"But if not..." Their response is amazing to me: "God is able to deliver us, but we will remain loyal to Him even if He doesn't." I can't help but wonder how different Christianity - especially American Christianity - would look if our churches were filled with this kind of devotion to Christ. I don't want to worship Jesus because He blesses me (even though He does) or because He can get me out of difficult situations (even though He has.) I want to become a person who will worship Jesus Christ for one reason: He is exactly who He claimed to be, and He deserves no less. May all who name the name of Jesus become a people who will say "But if not...":
"I know God can heal my body, but if not..."
"I know God can bring someone into my life and ease this loneliness, but if not..."
"I know God can fix this financial mess, but if not..."
"I know God can deliver me from every distress, but if not..."
There's a perfect example of this in Acts 12. King Herod began great persecution against the church. James the brother of John was killed with the sword. The Bible says that when Herod saw that this pleased the Jews, he had Peter arrested as well. However, God sent an angel to miraculously deliver him from jail. James was killed while Peter was delivered. In our minds that may not seem fair, but what both of those men of God had in common was this: "Our God is able, but if not..."
I guess what I'm saying to you is that our commitment to Jesus cannot be conditional, or else it's no commitment at all. He is the almighty Lord and King who is to be reverenced and worshipped at all times, regardless of what is presently going on in our lives. When all is well, may I honor Christ with my life. When nothing seems to be going right and I see no change in sight, may I honor Christ with my life.
And should I ever be faced with the ultimate choice as so many have throughout church history, may I find the strength in Christ to say, "But if not..."
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