In every gathering of God’s people there are weeds, otherwise referred to as tares (Matt. 13: 24-30) in the Scripture. It makes all the difference for now and eternity which one you are. The great challenge is to liberate people from the category of weeds to the category of wheat.
The Church of Jesus Christ is made up of Inside-Outsiders (weeds) and Inside-Insiders (those with real knowledge of personal salvation; wheat). The first is made up of people, who, by their nature are a danger to the corporate functioning and operation of the Church. They are weeds. Only two people have the prerogative of determining which group you are in – Jesus Christ and you.
The Inside-Outsider and Inside-Insider often look alike, sound similar and both believe in Jesus Christ. Their relationship to Him as Lord, however, couldn’t be more dissimilar. What is the difference? One is an imitator and the other is in relationship with Christ by faith (Act 8:9-22). Inside-Outsiders have “neither part nor portion in Christ” (Acts 8:21).
The Inside-Outsider is in the church but outside a deep, intimate relationship with Christ. He believes that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world but has never come to know Him as the Savior of his own soul and Lord of his life. There never has been a time of complete commitment of all he or she has and is-a commitment that allows one to experience the power of the Christian life in daily, specific surrender of the needs, challenges, problems and opportunities of life. The Inside-Outsider is inside the church, but outside of an intimate, impelling, indwelling experience of Christ as Lord.
One of the most gratifying and puzzling phenomena of our time is the great number of church attendants who are discovering the joy and freedom of committing their lives to Christ. They are discovering the excitement of trusting Christ with their frustrations and fears. Recently a Church member realized the power of Christ and shared the delight of his experience with fellow members at the meeting. It was very disturbing to some when he said “I have been in the Assembly for many years. Last week I found out what it’s all about to be Christian. I’ve always believed that Christ was the Savior, but for the first time I know He’s my Savior.” He was saying that it was alarming to think of all the joy he’d missed by being an Inside-Outsider among God’s people. “Now I know Christ as the Lord of all my relationships and responsibilities.”
The Church faces no more crucial issues today than how to make wheat out of the weeds in our midst. It’s never easy. This is because weeds think they have discovered all that is to be discovered in the Christian life, as they strive to achieve it. They are misfits because they want to do God’s work in their own strength. It won’t work.
On the other hand, the wheat is the person who has truly embraced Christ and is in relationship with Him as Lord. Christ has taken charge as Lord. He no longer imitates the Christian life but allows Christ to be manifest in the flesh through his daily activities.
Who are you: Weed or Wheat?
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Behold The Man! (Ecce Homo)
The opening verses of chapter 19 of John's gospel bring us face to face with the sufferings of our Lord and the shame which was heaped upon Him. We beheld Him scourged, crowned with a cruel crown of thorns, mocked, dishonored, smitten and then made a public spectacle of. This is a deeply affecting scene for the heart of every child of God. As we read it and meditate on it, our eyes fill with tears and our innermost soul is moved. We praise Him that suffered thus in our stead.
According to Josephus and other sources, Rome tormented malefactors in every possible way before they were put to death. In many cases the scourging was with a cruel, knotted whip in which sharp pieces were exposed inflicting wounds that could lead to their death. Rough, half-barbarians soldiers were His tormentors. As they hated the Jews, they were only too willing to treat Him with the utmost cruelty. The place where it was done was the common hall (Matt. 17:27), a filthy guard room. The loving substitute of sinners suffered stripes on our behalf (Isa. 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).
After the soldiers had their way tormenting Him, "Pilate therefore went forth again, and said unto them (the Jews), 'Behold I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him" (John 19:4). Thus He was acquited, but was not discharged before the law. He added that He was innocent because "I find no fault in Him at all" (John 18:38). Pilate did not discharge Him, but continued the trial of Jesus, "that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die" (John 18:32).
The indictment before Pilate was that Christ said He was King. Pilate asked Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" (John 18:33) and received a direct response. From the writings of the prophets, particularly Zechariah 6:12-13, the Jews were aware of His Kingship, but could not bring themselves to acknowledge the fact he was the actual person the prophet was referring to in the prophecy. They chose to reject Jesus because they were jealous of Him, regardless.
The Lord Jesus, after all this, came forth wearing the crown of thorns and a purple robe. Pilate said to the crowd, "Behold the Man!" (Ecce Homo) (John 19:5). This is the message which would be sounded all over the world. Behold the Man. Behold Him, "the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
Bearing shame and scoffing rude. In our place condemned He stood. Sealed our pardon with His blood. Hallelujah! What a Saviour! ...(Phillip P. Bliss 1839-1876). Behold the Man!
According to Josephus and other sources, Rome tormented malefactors in every possible way before they were put to death. In many cases the scourging was with a cruel, knotted whip in which sharp pieces were exposed inflicting wounds that could lead to their death. Rough, half-barbarians soldiers were His tormentors. As they hated the Jews, they were only too willing to treat Him with the utmost cruelty. The place where it was done was the common hall (Matt. 17:27), a filthy guard room. The loving substitute of sinners suffered stripes on our behalf (Isa. 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).
After the soldiers had their way tormenting Him, "Pilate therefore went forth again, and said unto them (the Jews), 'Behold I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him" (John 19:4). Thus He was acquited, but was not discharged before the law. He added that He was innocent because "I find no fault in Him at all" (John 18:38). Pilate did not discharge Him, but continued the trial of Jesus, "that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die" (John 18:32).
The indictment before Pilate was that Christ said He was King. Pilate asked Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" (John 18:33) and received a direct response. From the writings of the prophets, particularly Zechariah 6:12-13, the Jews were aware of His Kingship, but could not bring themselves to acknowledge the fact he was the actual person the prophet was referring to in the prophecy. They chose to reject Jesus because they were jealous of Him, regardless.
The Lord Jesus, after all this, came forth wearing the crown of thorns and a purple robe. Pilate said to the crowd, "Behold the Man!" (Ecce Homo) (John 19:5). This is the message which would be sounded all over the world. Behold the Man. Behold Him, "the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
Bearing shame and scoffing rude. In our place condemned He stood. Sealed our pardon with His blood. Hallelujah! What a Saviour! ...(Phillip P. Bliss 1839-1876). Behold the Man!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Christian Walk: Reflection 3
In Living With the Giants: The Lives of Great Men of Faith, Warren W. Wiersbe introduced his readers to the life of Dr. C. I. Scofield (1818-1921). This man was fully aware of the Lord’s leading and was driven by his commitment to obey God at all cost.
“Cyprus Ingerson Scofield was born on August 19, 1843 in frontier Lenawee County, Michigan. While he was still a lad his family moved to Wilson County, Tennessee, where he lived until he was seventeen. When he should have been enrolled in college, he enlisted in the confederate Army and served with distinction for four years. He received the Cross of Honor for bravery at Antietam. After the war he located in St. Louis with his older sister, who had married into a wealthy family. Unwilling to permit his brother-in-law to pay for his education, Scofield went to work as a land clerk, examining titles. In two years his promotion to chief clerk provided sufficient money to study law. He passed his bar examinations at the age of twenty-six and was elected to the Kansas legislature. An efficient lawyer and politician, he was appointed by President Grant as U.S. Attorney for Kansas. He served two years and then returned to St. Louis to practice law.
“Another attorney, Thomas S. McPheeters, a dedicated Christian, was one of Scofield’s close friends. Scofield was battling alcohol. McPheeters came to Scofield’s office in September 1879 and said, ‘For a long time I have been wanting to ask you a question that I have been afraid to ask, but that I am going to ask now. Why are you not a Christian?’ He then took out his pocket New Testament and reasoned with the lawyer. Scofield wanted more time to consider the matter, but McPheeters would not give in. The Holy Spirit won the case. The two men prayed together and C.I. Scofield gave his heart to Jesus Christ. Instantly the chain was broken, never to be forged again. Scofield wrote in later years: ‘the passion for drink was taken away! Divine power did it, wholly of grace. To God be the glory.’
“Later, Scofield became active in the YMCA. During this time he was associated with Dwight L. Moody. He also grew under the ministry of James H. Brookes whom he called ‘the greatest Bible student I have ever known.’ Scofield developed a hunger to know the Word of God. One day he visited C.E.Paxson, a Christian friend, and saw him drawing lines in a new Bible. “Man, you are spoiling that fine new Bible!’ Scofield protested. But Paxson showed him he was connecting Acts 8:5 and Acts 8:8 to demonstrate that Philip’s preaching of Christ brought great joy to the city. Scofield’s logical mind instantly caught the importance of the lines that were ‘ruining’ Paxson’s Bible, and from that hour he marked cross references in his Bible. Scofield’s experience in Paxson’s office was his first step toward editing the most famous study Bible in English.”
Redeemed children of God are on a path led by our Lord to a place in life He has prepared for them. The tragedy in life is that most of us are not aware of His presence and, therefore, are neither obedient nor submissive to His leading in our daily walk. Are you aware where God is leading you?
“Lead me, lead me, Savior, lead me lest I stray.Gently down the stream of time lead me, Savior,all the way.” Frank M. Davis
“Cyprus Ingerson Scofield was born on August 19, 1843 in frontier Lenawee County, Michigan. While he was still a lad his family moved to Wilson County, Tennessee, where he lived until he was seventeen. When he should have been enrolled in college, he enlisted in the confederate Army and served with distinction for four years. He received the Cross of Honor for bravery at Antietam. After the war he located in St. Louis with his older sister, who had married into a wealthy family. Unwilling to permit his brother-in-law to pay for his education, Scofield went to work as a land clerk, examining titles. In two years his promotion to chief clerk provided sufficient money to study law. He passed his bar examinations at the age of twenty-six and was elected to the Kansas legislature. An efficient lawyer and politician, he was appointed by President Grant as U.S. Attorney for Kansas. He served two years and then returned to St. Louis to practice law.
“Another attorney, Thomas S. McPheeters, a dedicated Christian, was one of Scofield’s close friends. Scofield was battling alcohol. McPheeters came to Scofield’s office in September 1879 and said, ‘For a long time I have been wanting to ask you a question that I have been afraid to ask, but that I am going to ask now. Why are you not a Christian?’ He then took out his pocket New Testament and reasoned with the lawyer. Scofield wanted more time to consider the matter, but McPheeters would not give in. The Holy Spirit won the case. The two men prayed together and C.I. Scofield gave his heart to Jesus Christ. Instantly the chain was broken, never to be forged again. Scofield wrote in later years: ‘the passion for drink was taken away! Divine power did it, wholly of grace. To God be the glory.’
“Later, Scofield became active in the YMCA. During this time he was associated with Dwight L. Moody. He also grew under the ministry of James H. Brookes whom he called ‘the greatest Bible student I have ever known.’ Scofield developed a hunger to know the Word of God. One day he visited C.E.Paxson, a Christian friend, and saw him drawing lines in a new Bible. “Man, you are spoiling that fine new Bible!’ Scofield protested. But Paxson showed him he was connecting Acts 8:5 and Acts 8:8 to demonstrate that Philip’s preaching of Christ brought great joy to the city. Scofield’s logical mind instantly caught the importance of the lines that were ‘ruining’ Paxson’s Bible, and from that hour he marked cross references in his Bible. Scofield’s experience in Paxson’s office was his first step toward editing the most famous study Bible in English.”
Redeemed children of God are on a path led by our Lord to a place in life He has prepared for them. The tragedy in life is that most of us are not aware of His presence and, therefore, are neither obedient nor submissive to His leading in our daily walk. Are you aware where God is leading you?
“Lead me, lead me, Savior, lead me lest I stray.Gently down the stream of time lead me, Savior,all the way.” Frank M. Davis
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