The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper (aka Communion) is an important part of the Christian life. Jesus never asked His disciples to remember His birth but He did instruct them to remember His death and resurrection.  He gave the church two visible symbols (called “ordinances”) as reminders of His atoning work on the cross, His death, and resurrection. These two ordinances are: Water Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. This blog entry is about the latter.

What does the Bible teach about The Lord’s Supper/Communion? Below are some answers to the following relevant questions along with some of my own insights and preferences:

I.       What is The Lord’s Supper? 

II.      Who should partake of The Lord’s Supper?

III.    How do I prepare myself for The Lord’s Supper?

IV.    When and how often should we observe The Lord’s Supper?

V.     What elements are used and why?

VI.    How are the elements presented?

VII.   Where do the names ‘The Lord’s Supper’ and ‘Communion’ come from?

VIII. When was The Lord’s Supper instituted?

I. What is The Lord’s Supper? 

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The Lord’s Supper is a Christian religious practice, instituted by Christ, where Christians, usually gathered with other Christians, partake of bread and grape juice/wine to remember what Jesus Christ did through His atoning work on the cross and through His resurrection for them.

A. It is a simple act.

“The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread...” 1 Cor. 11:23 ESV

Jesus didn't have some big elaborate ceremony, wearing special costumes and doing all kinds of fancy rituals. He took bread and He took wine and He gave it to the disciples.  We need to emphasize the Christ-centered spiritual significance of The Lord’s Supper. There’s no need to turn it into a big ritual that may detract from its core meaning. Let’s understand what it means according to the Word of God and then seek to observe it properly with all our heart, soul, mind, and action.

B. It is a reminder.

“and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 1 Corinthians 11:24 NKJV

It’s a memorial. May we keep learning about the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross and may we never forget what He has done, always remembering the victory that exists through Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected in victory over sin and death. And may His people celebrate the new covenant Christ has with them by God’s grace through faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.

C. It is a symbol.

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:25 ESV

Jesus said, “do this in remembrance of me” and then when He said, “this bread is My body and this cup is My blood,” He didn't mean that literally.  When He said this, He hadn't even gone to the cross yet.  He hadn't died yet. I believe He was talking about a symbol, not His actual flesh and bones and blood. Jesus once said "I am the door."  Does that mean He's a piece of wood or metal?  He said, "I am the bread of life."  Does that mean He's a loaf or slice of bread?  No.  He was being symbolic.

I realize some people believe and teach that the elements are miraculously transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ without visible change (transubstantiation view) or that Christ’s body and blood somehow come to be with the elements (consubstantiation view) but I don’t buy into these views. I believe The Lord’s Supper is symbolic of Christ’s work on the cross and that the elements don’t supernaturally change somehow. I do believe that when true born again Christ-followers engage in Communion, that the Lord is present spiritually with them since I believe, biblically, that the Lord is always present with His redeemed. It’s my prayer that His people have increased awareness of His presence during Communion moments.

D. It is a proclamation of Christ’s death until He comes back.

“For whenever you eat the bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Cor. 11:26 ESV

When you partake of The Lord's Supper, you're making a statement of your faith in Christ who died for your sins, rose, and is coming again.  There's a backward look and a forward look. We look back to the cross work of Christ, His death, and His resurrection. We look forward to the biblical revelation that Jesus is coming back to reign and fully establish His kingdom on earth and we are to do this Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him until He comes back. Personally, I also believe His redeemed will be celebrating Christ’s redemption work into eternity. It is so amazing what Christ has done, is doing, and will do. This is central in human history; God’s plan of redemption.

E. It is fellowship with God and one another in Christ.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1 Cor. 10:16 NKJV

The word ‘communion’ means to have intimate personal fellowship with another. When Christians gather and observe The Lord’s Supper, this reflects their spiritual oneness with Christ and the other Christians present. Your ‘communion’ is with Christ and other redeemed Christ-followers who are present.  

II. Who should partake of The Lord’s Supper?

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I believe that only people who are already true born-again saved Christ-followers should partake of Communion. Christ didn't offer The Lord's Supper to the crowds.  He offered it to His closest disciples. Since it celebrates the new covenant in Christ for His redeemed and brings them together in spiritual communion it doesn’t make sense to partake if you are not redeemed by Christ. Whether Judas the betrayer was present or not (something debated) for the first one, this communion moment is intended for those who are already spiritually in the Body of Christ for it cultivates spiritual communion with Christ and His people. The most detailed passage about The Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:17-34) refers multiple times to the church (brothers, believers) coming together for this communion experience. This goes for parents of young children as well. The Lord’s Supper is not snack time. It is to be revered and honored in the eyes of God. Parents, if your child is trusting Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior and Lord and he or she has a basic understanding of The Lord’s Supper and you believe they are right with God, then I think it’s good that they partake otherwise have them pass the elements without partaking of them. Learn about Communion from God’s Word and teach your kids the truth about Communion and be God-honoring when you participate in it.

III. How do I prepare myself for The Lord’s Supper?

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Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:27-28 ESV

Prepare yourself by...

A.  Self-Examination, 1 Cor. 11:27

B.  Confessing your sins, 1 John 1:9

C.  Refreshing your commitment to Christ, Rom. 12:1

D.  Restoring any broken relationships, Matt. 5:23-24

Ask yourself questions such as these:

1) Am I saved by Jesus Christ?

2) Is there any unconfessed sin in my life?

3) Am I in good fellowship with God, living according to God’s will?

4) Have I wronged others or have ill feelings toward them?

If yes to any other these, confess the sin, accept God’s forgiveness, and repent (turn from sinful ways to God’s ways for you) and get right with God and others if applicable.

IV. When and how often should we observe The Lord’s Supper?

Jesus, directly and the rest of Scripture, never stated when or how often believers should observe The Lord’s Supper.  He instituted it on a weekday night, many believe was a Thursday, the same evening He and the Apostles celebrated the Passover meal. 

For a brief period, the earliest church may have had Communion every day (Acts. 2:42, 46) and a little later on we read that they came together for Communion on Sunday (Acts 20:7) but these two references as to when Communion was experienced by early Christians are not mandates as to how often we should have Communion. So, let’s not be dogmatic about how often The Lord’s Supper needs to be experienced.  Be careful that you are not practicing legalism in your traditions, preferences, and non-mandated Bible verses.

I’ve been involved with local churches who have recognized The Lord’s Supper at various intervals like quarterly, monthly and on some special occasions. I think that the more often you do it you have to be more discerning that it doesn’t become a mundane ritual. And if you rarely do it I think you are not carrying out this ordinance as the Lord commanded His redeemed to. So, we should do Communion sometime between too often and rarely. That’s clear as mud. May the Lord lead you in this.

V. What elements are used and why?

Most believers use various types of bread (represents the broken body of Christ on the cross) and ‘fruit of the vine,’ typically grape juice or wine, (represents the spilt blood of Christ who died for our sins) as elements of The Lord’s Supper.

I believe the bread was unleavened at the first Lord’s Supper since it was Passover time and the Jews were to expel all leaven from their homes in commemoration of the Hebrews eating unleavened bread when they escaped Egypt in a hurry. I don’t believe it is a sin to use leavened bread today for a Communion element but my preference is unleavened because of biblical realism.

I believe that wine (from the grape vine) was used during that first Communion. We can’t be certain of what percentage of alcohol was present at that moment. Some people believe that leaven was used in or is associated with the fermenting process of wine in Bible times but I’m not so sure about this. I’m unclear as to what type of wine was used at the first Communion. I, personally, don’t like local churches (where I attend) serving alcoholic beverages as a Communion element (or at any other time) because of the negative connotation associated with alcohol in our culture today. I think it is better to avoid alcohol when partaking of Communion. I believe grape juice is sufficient and God-honoring in remembering that Christ spilt His blood on the cross for our sins.

VI. How are the elements presented?

The bread and juice elements are presented in a variety of ways depending on the traditions and preferences of the church or other gathering. Most of the churches I have received and/or officiated Communion at use Deacons/Ushers to pass out the elements in trays and you pick out your own elements; typically a small cracker or piece of bread and a tiny plastic cup with some juice in it. A few times I received the elements in pre-packaged closed individual containers. I’ve also presented Communion in a small private setting for shut-in/homebound or nursing home residents who couldn’t practically attend the larger church worship gathering.

Some churches use a loaf of bread and a piece is torn off from the loaf (which most closely resembles what happened at the first Lord’s Supper and with the early Christians). I think it is fine if the bread or crackers are pre-cut in advance. This saves time and can prevent some unnecessary handling. At some churches, a piece of cracker/bread is placed on your tongue by a church leader. And there are some places where a larger cup with juice/wine is shared among the people.

I’ve had lots of good and interesting experiences related to Communion. There have been plenty of spiritual highs, like when I preached about Communion and we experienced it together as a church body or when we ended our worship gathering immediately after we drank the juice element and I said, “Until He comes again!” or when my sons experienced their first Communions after Kym and I thought they were spiritually ready.

There have also been some more light-hearted moments. I remember when I was a kid our church had rubber insets in the pew holes for the little communion cups to be stored after you drank the juice. I used to take those rubber insets out and play with them, wearing them like rings and rolling them up. As a pastor, I recall mishandling a tray of juice cups one time and spilling some juice on a deacon. And then there is the germ thing. Personally, I prefer that people do not touch my food with their skin before I eat it. One time a deacon friend of mine picked a piece of bread for me, to serve me (that was nice), and he placed it in my hand. I set that piece on the Communion table and picked out my own piece of bread. People were probably handling, without gloves, the pieces of bread in the church kitchen beforehand but seeing my piece of bread touched by someone else right before it goes in my mouth weirded my germ-radar out.

I believe the presentation of The Lord’s Supper should involve a summary of what it means along with any instructions (this could be printed up, like in a bulletin) and there should be a relevant prayer. The summary reminds the participants of the basics and informs people who are not familiar with this biblical practice. Sometimes, mixing up what happens is spiritually stimulating for those who think the same Communion practice time and time again is too routine. Also, Jesus gave thanks for each of the elements before they were taken and we should follow His example in this, thanking God and praying over this spiritual moment that His will be done for His glory.

VII. Where do the names “The Lord’s Supper” and “Communion” come from?

Both show up in some modern English translations of the Holy Bible. These names can be used interchangeably because that’s what Paul did.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1 Cor. 10:16 NKJV

Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 1 Cor. 11:20 NKJV

The use of ‘The Lord’s Supper’ distinguishes the moment from any other eating/drinking occasion. It is called a supper but it is not intended to fill your stomach with food and drink. It is intended to cultivate your spiritual communion with Jesus Christ and His redeemed. This is to be a very sacred moment in your Christian life, a spiritual experience that feeds the soul and honors God. The word ‘communion’ is ‘koinonia’ in the original Bible language of Greek which means ‘to have in common, to participate and have partnership, to have intimate personal fellowship with.’ Some churches use the name ‘eucharist’ which is related to the Greek word, eucharistia, but in English translations of the New Testament of God’s Word this word is “thanksgiving” and it’s not found in the context of The Lord’s Supper. Luke referred to The Lord’s Supper as ‘breaking of bread’ (Acts 2:41, 20:7). Paul also referred to it as The Lord’s Table (1 Cor. 10:21). And it’s also referred to as an ‘ordinance’ in the KJV of 1 Cor. 11:2.

VIII. When was The Lord’s Supper instituted?

Jesus Christ instituted The Lord’s Supper on the evening before Jesus went to the cross, just before He was arrested, but just after He celebrated a Jewish Passover meal with His closest disciples. The accounts of this first Communion are recorded by Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, and Luke 22:14-23 and Paul wrote about it as well in 1 Cor. 11:17-34.

What are your thoughts about The Lord’s Supper as presented in God’s Word and what I’ve written about here?

Mike

Six Baptisms; #3 Baptism by Water

Ask anyone what first comes to mind when they think of the word baptism, and they will probably say it’s some sort of religious practice involving water. John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water” (Matt. 3:11) and there are several examples of people in the Holy Bible being baptized with water. For centuries, there has been a large group of Christians who refer to themselves as Baptists because they emphasize the importance of water baptism in their Christian faith journey.

Here are some questions and answers related to water baptism:

I. What is the meaning of water baptism?

The great thing about water baptism in the name of Christ is what it symbolizes. It is a symbol of a believer’s complete identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:12 ESV having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Rom. 6:4 NIV We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Imagine a person standing in water about waist high deep. Think of this person as being alive physically but dead spiritually in their sins. Now, imagine this person lays backward down into the water. This illustrates the death of Christ on their behalf and that he or she dies to their sins, repents of their sins, namely repenting from rejecting Christ. Now, imagine this person raising up in the water to stand again. This illustrates that person rising up in Christ in victory over sin and death. Baptism by water is symbolic of what Jesus Christ did for you and it shows publicly that you align yourself with Christ and His teaching, that you are committed to living and dying for Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord.

II. Why be baptized by water?

A. To follow Christ’s example.

Mark 1:9a NIV At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

B. To follow the example of early Christians.

John 3:23, 26 ²³Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. ²⁶And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

Acts 8:36, 38 ³⁶Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” ³⁸So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 

See also Acts 2:41, 8:12-13, 9:18, 10:48, 16:15, 33; 18:8, 19:5 ….

C. To follow Christ’s command.

Perhaps the most well-known Bible passage about baptism is the Great Commission Jesus gave His followers. Matt. 20:18-20 ¹⁸And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

D. To realize your relationship with Christ.

1 John 2:3 NIV We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.

E. To publicly identify with Christ.

Romans 10:9 ESV because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Matthew 10:32 ESV So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,

III. Is Water baptism necessary for salvation?

Water baptism doesn’t cleanse you from your sins, save you from your sins or make you a born again saved Christ-follower. It is meant to demonstrate that you already are saved by Christ. Only God’s grace and mercy through faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord saves you from your sins (Eph. 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-7, Acts 16:31). Water baptism is kind of like a wedding ring; it’s the outward symbol of the commitment you have already made in your heart.

IV. How are we baptized by water?

A. Water immersion just like Jesus.

Matt 3:16 NIV As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

B. Water immersion just like every Bible occurrence of water baptism.

Acts 8:38-39 NIV And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

C. The word ‘baptism’ in the original Greek is ‘baptizo’ which means to dip or immerse under.

D. Immersion in the water is the best way to picture a burial and resurrection.

V. Who should be baptized by water?

Every person who has trusted in Christ as their Savior and Lord! Acts 18:8 NIV  .

VI. When are we to be baptized by water?

As soon as you have believed upon Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord! You should not delay.

Acts 2:41 NIV Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Acts 8:35-38 NKJV 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

VII. What if I was baptized by water as an infant or when I wasn’t truly saved?

I believe biblically-based baptism makes more sense when a person understands what Christian baptism means and they have placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. And I believe water baptism should occur after one becomes saved by Christ. So, now with your basic understanding of the meaning of water baptism in Christ and with your profession of faith in Christ, you should now be baptized by immersion. I believe this reflects the proper biblical symbolism and order.

VIII. What about location?

There's nothing special about the water you are baptized in. Maybe it is Holy water and blessed water and prayed-over water but it's not where you're baptized (i.e. tub, tank, baptistery, pool, lake, or ocean) that matters most. What’s important is why you're baptized and what’s in your heart toward Jesus.

Sometimes you never know quite what will happen when someone is baptized by water. I really enjoy water baptisms. They can be very spiritual and emotional moments. I have been excited at times and I have cried at times while witnessing Christ followers being baptized. I’ve had many experiences baptizing believers and witnessing believers being baptized. I have baptized in the icy waters at Chapman Dam in PA with lightning in the background and rain drops falling. That was a shocking experience. J I have struggled to fully immerse people, in a baptistery, who resist going backwards under the surface of the water with their faces. One of my favorite baptism moments was when our church had a picnic lunch at a park with a lakefront swimming area. We had a baptism/worship gathering in front of many sunbathing swimming people nearby. That was a salt and light in Christ in this world moment; all for the glory of God.

Sometimes there are light-hearted moments. I remember once at TRBC when a young boy was baptized and he stayed in the water while his grandfather was being baptized. The young boy began swimming in the baptistery, treading like a dog and dunking his head under. That was funny. And I will never forget my own baptism experience when I was 9 years old. I failed to bring a dry pair of underwear to put on after the baptism during the beginning of the Sunday night worship gathering service, so I sat there the whole time with wet underwear under my pants. Awkward!

Water baptisms can be very interesting for many reasons because they involve water and people, but at the core of water baptism there is spiritual symbolism of the atoning work of Christ and faith and obedience on behalf of the believer being baptized and the church people carrying out the baptism. This is key to the kingdom of Christ mission work here on earth.  

If you have trusted Jesus Christ by faith as your personal Savior and Lord have you been baptized by water? If not, why not? The Lord calls His followers to be baptized by water. If you have questions, interest, and/or would like to move forward in baptism then contact a local Christ-centered pastor.

Even more important than water baptism is trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. If you have questions or interest in this then read

http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/09/great-news-gods-plan-for-true-life.html

What do you think about water baptism and what I’ve included here?

Mike

Note:

This blog entry is the continuation in a series called ‘Six Baptisms.’ The first entry ‘#1 Baptism by Fire,’ which includes an introduction to this series, can be read at

http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2014/03/six-baptisms-1-baptism-by-fire.html

The second entry is ‘#2 Baptism by Holy Spirit or into Christ’ and can be read at

http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2014/03/six-baptisms-2-baptism-by-holy-spirit.html

The next entry in this series will be about the ‘Baptism of Suffering.’ 

Stand Out and Be Useful like Salt

Salt, sodium chloride, is a mineral substance quite common in the world, especially in much of the world’s ocean water. Salt is processed and used in many ways. The majority of salt sold today is for industrial use like in the making of soaps and detergents. Salt is also the most popular food seasoning or flavor enhancer. And before canning and artificial refrigeration came along in human history, salt provided the best-known food preservative, especially for meat. Salt is used for melting ice and healing wounds.

Sodium is necessary in human life. Our bodies need a certain amount of sodium (found in salt). It is involved in regulating the water content (fluid balance) of the body among other things. Too much or too little salt in the diet can lead to several types of health problems, though.

Salt is referenced several times in the Holy Bible. For example, salt was included in various food offerings as part of the Hebrew worship. Salt was used to ratify covenants. Why? The preservative quality of salt represents the fidelity or loyalty intended in keeping the covenant. Salt was used to season food. The fisherman during Bible times would preserve their catch by salting, drying, smoking, or storing it in salt water. Salt was a metaphor to speak of durability. And Jesus Christ described His disciple followers as ‘the salt of the earth.’

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Matthew 5:13 (ESV)

Jesus Christ was urging His followers to be effective Christians just as salty salt is effective in its uses. This especially refers to the Christian’s influence upon nonbelievers (but their spiritually salty influence would help worldly believers as well) because sin has caused a decaying effect in this world, especially separating people from their perfect Creator God. God’s redemption plan for unredeemed sinners is to offer individuals reconciliation to Himself by grace through faith based on the atoning work of the eternal Son of God on the cross for our sins and His resurrection. When individuals trust in Jesus Christ by faith as their Savior and Lord, they are to follow God’s call on their lives to truly live as Christians influencing others toward Christ and Christ-likeness.

What does this have to do with salt? Well, salt adds flavor and preserves. Life without Christ is bland and empty and insipid and leads to greater sin and decay.

Salt is essentially different from the medium in which it is placed. Christians are to live differently than non-believers in the sense that they are to be obvious Christ-followers in what who they are, what they engage in and abstain from. Here’s an example; Paul exhorted believers in Col. 4:6 to speak with a wholesome language seasoned with salt. Christians should stand out morally like salt stands out when you pour it on your French Fries and eat those tasty taters. Mmmn, yummy! And if you like them with ketchup, this condiment is usually loaded with sodium as well.

Christ stood out morally and spiritually everywhere He went and so should His followers. I believe the whole point of Matt. 5:13 (and 14-16 about being the light of the world in Christ) is for true Christians to stand out as and to live like true Christians in a decaying world. When this happens, they act like a preserving salt against spiritual decay in society and they add God-honoring savor and value to this world that desperately needs more God-honoring influence.

We must be careful to keep being salty for Christ, as we read the following translation: TMSG ..If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness..If salt loses its saltiness, its salty flavor and preserving quality, then it has lost its strength. It is no longer a useful salt, but more like sand, so throw it down and people can walk on it. An unsavory Christian, void of spiritual influence upon non-believers, is a sad testimony of ineffectiveness for God’s kingdom purposes.

The Scots translate “savour” (taste) by the more expressive word tang. I like their word much better. “If the salt has lost its tang.” The problem today is that most church members have not only lost their tang as salt, but as pepper they have lost their pep also. We have very few salt and pepper Christians in our day. Now salt doesn’t keep fermentation and that type of thing from taking place, but it will arrest it. You and I ought to be the salt in the earth and have an influence for good in the world (McGee, J. V. (1991). Vol. 34: Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (Matthew 1-13) (electronic ed.) (77). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.)

The great hope for sinners today is Jesus Christ who loves to work through Christ followers who are truly living as salty Christians, devoted Christ followers, among nonbelievers.

For the Christ-followers reading this, how are we doing at standing out as the salt of the earth? With influencing nonbelievers with our Christ-like presence, behavior, attitude, and words? Is our decision making consistently God-honoring? Are we aligning our lives day to day with what’s right in the eyes of God or with what feels good or is popular in our culture? Are we taking the high-road in Christ or are we compromising toward worldliness and the works of the flesh?

Let’s prayerfully and obediently be more like Jesus Christ Himself and provide God-honoring influence wherever we are and upon everyone we come in contact with. Jesus Christ has declared that His followers are the salt of the earth so let’s stand out and be useful like salt! What are your thoughts on Matthew 5:13 and what’s written here?

Mike

Crave God’s Word

Have you ever noticed those advertising images of famous people with milk mustaches?  Does that seem silly to you or cool?  Who walks around with a milk mustache, any way? Those ads are encouraging the consumption of Cow’s milk. Sometimes the milk commercials have people downing some cookies then desperately looking around for some milk to chase down the cookies.  I don’t know about you, but when I have some peanut butter cookies or Oreo cookies I crave some milk to go with them. Yum!

Kym and I have four children, including a toddler girl (Elle) who loved her momma’s breast milk several times a day and night last year. She craved that breast milk and it was obviously when she wanted it. Those moments Elle was on Kym’s breast were bonding between child and mother and the breast milk itself was a good complete form of nutrition for her as a baby. Early on, this was Elle’s only diet and it helped her develop and grow.

I find it interesting that God exhorts us through His written Word, the Holy Bible, to crave His Word like newborn babies crave breast milk and that this will help us grow spiritually.

as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

1 Peter 2:2 NKJV

The ‘word’ here refers to God’s Holy Word (similar to how James uses it; Jam. 1:21-23). This Greek word, logos, is also the same word used of Jesus Christ in John 1:1, 14, 17. The Word was God and the Word became flesh; Jesus Christ, came full of grace and truth. Jesus Christ Himself is the living Word of God. He is the truth and He reveals truth. He is the ultimate source of the Holy Scriptures and these Scriptures ultimately point to Him as the Savior and Lord we all need.

The ‘pure milk of the word’, I believe, is a metaphor of God’s Word for God’s people, that His Word is good, sincere, and beneficial to us just as a mom’s breast milk is to her baby. God’s Word is truth that contains principles and promises that will feed our souls and guide us in life; to the glory of God.

The Bible itself uses metaphors of food (bread) and beverage (water) and eating and drinking for God’s Word and our proper response to it. We can relate to these metaphors. We eat and drink on a regular basis as a necessity and for satisfaction. We know what feelings of thirst and hunger are. Food and drink are essential to life.  Food gives us energy and strength.  It helps us to grow.  Water quenches our thirst and replenishes us.

Here are some classic passages of such metaphors:

Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV ³ And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Psalm 119:103 ESV How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Jeremiah 15:16 ESV ¹⁶ Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.

John 6:35 ESV ³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 4:10-14 ESV ¹⁰ Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” ¹¹ The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? ¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” ¹³ Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

1 Timothy 4:6 NKJV ⁶ If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

Now, let’s go back to 1 Peter 2:2 and notice the word ‘desire.’ We are to desire this pure milk of the word. This word ‘desire’ in its original language of Greek can mean intensely crave and long for. When I think of the word ‘crave’ I think of pregnant women. Each time my wife was pregnant she craved certain foods more than she did when she was not pregnant. Her body would seriously long for a certain food to consume and she wasn’t truly satisfied until she had that food item.

Do you ever intensely crave and long for God’s Word? To feed you? To minister to you? To guide you? To transform you? To grow you?

Much like the natural growth process of a person who grows through the stages of childhood and then into adulthood there is also a spiritual growth process God intends for a person who trusts Him as Savior and Lord of their life. God wants His people to grow spiritually for His glory. There are many passages about the importance of our spiritual growth. For example; Eph. 4:11-16, 2 Pet. 3:18, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Ps. 1:1-3, Rom. 8:29).

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 ESV

It’s important that we desire God’s Word and this will help us in the process of growing spiritually. Even if we aren’t feeling that craving desire for it we should ask God for a greater desire for it and spend quality time in His Word nonetheless. The spiritual hunger will come when we genuinely seek the Lord and His Word for our lives for His glory.

A great biblical example of craving God’s Word and spiritual growth through God’s Word is found in Ps. 119. The utmost importance of God’s Word in our daily lives cannot be overstated. This Psalm writer knew this, lived this, and has provided a written proclamation of this for us. God’s Word dominated this writer’s life daily from before sunrise to after sunset; for example, before dawn (v147), daily (v97), 7 times daily (v164), nightly (vv55, 148), and at midnight (v62).

There are eight different Hebrew words that refer to Scripture (God’s Word) in this one chapter, Ps. 119, with all but three verses (90, 122, 132) mentioning at least one of them. Using the ESV, unless otherwise noted, here are those words:

1) Law; from the Hebrew word ‘torah’; meaning direction, instruction, revelation from God; vs1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!

2) Testimonies; always plural in Ps. 119, and always of laws as divine testimonies of God; vs2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies (NIV statutes; NLT decrees), Who seek Him with the whole heart!

3) Ways; God’s moral course of life He has set before us; vs3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways (NLT path; TMSG road)!

4) Precepts; commands, principles, orders from God; vs4 You have commanded your precepts (NLT commandments; TMSG right way to live) to be kept diligently.

5) Statutes; ordinances, limits, things prescribed or due, decrees, laws in general from God; vs5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes (NIV decrees, NLT principles, TMSG course you set)!

6) Commandments; an order from God; vs6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

7) Judgments: justice, ordinances from God; vs7 NKJV I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments (NIV righteous laws; TMSG righteous ways).

8) Word; saying, utterance from God; vs9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

This is a powerful chapter about the importance of God’s Word in our daily lives. Here are a few of my favorite verses from. Ps. 119. Perhaps you have some. There are 176 to choose from.

Ps. 119:9-11 ESV (vs9 see above) ¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you

Ps. 119:37 ESV Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Ps. 119:105 ESV Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Take some time to prayerfully read through and study Ps. 119 and you’ll notice that this writer had a deep hunger and passion for God and the Word of God. The high priority of spending time in and heeding God’s Word was a daily habitual pattern, a passionate commitment for this writer inspired by God.

How about us? What role does God’s Word have in our daily life? Is it a high priority? Are we deeply hungry for and passionate for God and His Word? Are we reading His Word, studying His Word, memorizing portions of His Word, applying His Word to our lives, communicating His Word to others, praying portions of His Word back to God?

Let’s not just rely on a sermon or two a week or a bible study or two a week. Let’s personally be asking God by faith in prayer to help us crave God’s Word regularly and grow from God’s Word. May we hunger more and more for God and His Word and may He satisfy us and grow us through such hunger; all for His glory. May God cultivate a great craving in your life for Him and His Word and may He grow you spiritually through His Word into the person of God He desires you to be.

What are your thoughts about craving God’s Word?  

Mike

God is Present

Periodically, I hear from Christians who are concerned that they don’t sense or feel the presence of God lately. Perhaps they feel a lack of joy, lack of spiritual illumination or insight, or lack of God-given direction in their life. If you experience something similar, you are not alone. I’ve been a Christ-follower for about forty years and I’ve had these types of thoughts and feelings at times, pondering stuff like: ‘I don’t think God is hanging out with me lately. Where is God when I need Him? Why do I feel like God is far away from me right now?’ In the Holy Bible, David and possibly other Psalm writers experienced something similar to this (David: Ps. 13:1, 22:1; unidentified authors: Ps. 10:1, 44:24, 88:14).

Let’s first consider three biblical truths about the presence of God; the omnipresence of God, the manifested presence of God, and the redemptive presence of God. Secondly, let’s consider why God’s people sense the diminished or absent presence of God and what it is that they can do to stay in tune with God’s presence.

A. Three biblical truths about the presence of God

1) The omnipresence of God

In latin, the prefix ‘omni’ means all, every, or unlimited. And the root word ‘present’ means close to, near to, here, or indwelling.

Here is a classic Bible passage referring to God’s omnipresence.

Psalm 139:7-12 ESV Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” ¹² even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Not only was God especially present in David’s anointed life as king of God’s chosen people, God was and is also present everywhere apart from David.

Jer. 23:24b ESV Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

God fills heaven and earth sort of like the ocean fills a bucket which has been submerged in it a mile down. The bucket is full of the ocean but the ocean surrounds the bucket in all directions. And of course, God is unimaginably bigger and greater than any ocean.

God’s omnipresence means that God is everywhere-present and is not limited by space in His actions and ability. The does not mean God is everything and everything is God. God is not the wall or the tree or the cow. God is the eternal supreme sovereign all-mighty creator spiritual being, transcendent far above and greater than His creation yet also immanent in that He is personal and we can know Him personally by His grace through faith in Christ.

With God’s omnipresence comes His guidance, protection, and comfort toward His people (see Ps. 139:10). Wherever God’s people are, the Lord’s hand is upon them. Psalm 46:1-2a ESV God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way

David acknowledged that God was always watching over David and thus it was impossible to do anything in which God is not aware of what’s happening.

Job 34:21-22 ESV For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. ²² There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.

2 Chron. 16:9a ESV For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth

God’s awareness/sight is forward and backward, up and down, all around, in all directions. He sees everything going on because He is everywhere present. Because this is true, there is no hiding from God whether you are receiving God’s mercy (Jonah) or judgment (Amos 9:1-3) and you can never totally be stranded or lost somewhere where God does not notice you. For example, Hagar was upset and ran away, thinking she was alone in the wilderness when the Angel of the Lord spoke to her. After that encounter, she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; .. Gen. 16:13; and our God certainly sees you and me everywhere and anywhere we are, and He loves us, and cares about us, and desires a relationship with us for eternity.

2) The manifested presence of God

God is a spiritual being who sometimes manifests (reveals) His awesome presence in special localized ways. For example, in the Bible book of Exodus we read about examples of God manifesting His presence in various forms for the sake of humans having more awareness of His localized presence. God showed His glory backside while covering Moses in the cleft of a rock (Ex. 33). God signified His presence through a guiding pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13). God’s radiant cloud-like presence in the Holy Tabernacle, sometimes called His Shekinah glory, was a manifested local presence of God (Ex. 40).

Jonah tried to leave the localized presence of God (Jonah 1:1-4), perhaps at the temple in Israel where God possibly spoke to Jonah. Jonah said this later, 2:4 ..I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple. This was from Jonah’s perspective and referred to God’s special temple presence.

The greatest manifestation of God here on earth has been the incarnated eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ (John 1:1-18, Phili. 2:4-8). God became flesh and after He, Jesus Christ, died for our sins He raised from the dead in a resurrected body fit for eternity. Over a forty day period before His ascension He made several appearances in His resurrected body to some of His true followers.

God has manifested Himself in special localized ways at times but this doesn’t mean God is contained.

2 Chron. 2:6b NKJV .. since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?

Isaiah 66:1 ESV Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?

Stephen cited this passage before the Sanhedrin to point out their error in limiting God to a temple made with hands (Acts 7).

3) The redemptive presence of God

We are in need of redemption by God, our holy Creator, because He is perfectly Holy and we are unholy due to sin in our lives. Sin separates us from God. There is an alienation, a gap, between us and God because God is far away in nature and character from unredeemed sinners.  God is without sin and God’s heaven is without sin and we can’t be in a right relationship with God or enter God’s heaven without God redeeming us, without God saving us from our sin separation with Him, without God saving us from His wrath upon sin in our lives.

Fortunately, God has revealed that He is near to sinners. Acts 17:27 ESV that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

God is near to sinners and He is the One who can close the gap by graciously drawing us unto Him to save us from our spiritual separation from Him. God has one plan for this major eternally significant sin problem we all have. It is Jesus Christ, the Son of God Savior we all need. We can be reconciled to our Holy Creator through the perfect God-man, Jesus Christ who came without sin, did not sin, and praise God, He took all our sins upon Himself on the cross to pay the divine penalty for our sins. And on the third day, He rose in victory over sin and death and now salvation from our sins is offered to us by God’s grace through faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.

When the sinner cries out to God, “Oh God, forgive me and save me in Jesus’ name,” He or she does not call God down from heaven. God is already near and at work calling the sinner to Himself.

God is looking for hearts to dwell in and this is what He does when a person is saved by Christ, the sinner receives the redemptive presence of God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are present in the lives of those who are redeemed in Christ:

John 14:23 ESV  Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Mt. 28:20b ESV And behold, I (Jesus Christ) am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Rom. 5:5b, 8:9 ESV… the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. ⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

The Holy Spirit assures the redeemed of God’s redeeming presence.

2 Corinthians 1:22 ESV and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Rom. 8:16 ESV The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Spiritually, God indwells His people; those who believe upon Christ as their Savior and Lord. If you are not a Christ-follower, I encourage you to check out this blog entry about God’s Plan for True Life/Eternal Life: http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/09/great-news-gods-plan-for-true-life.html).

God’s Word teaches us about the omnipresence of God, the manifested presence of God, and the redemptive presence of God. Now, let’s consider some

B. Reasons for sensing the diminished/absent presence of God and how to stay in tune with God’s presence

People try searching for God throughout their lifetime often not realizing God was and is nearby all along. Jacob, after a dream revelation of a ladder from earth to heaven, said, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”  Gen. 28:17 ESV

In heaven, God’s redeemed will experience a full awareness of God’s awesome presence. For now, on this side of eternity, our awareness of God falls short of that. This is because of many factors. For example,

* God’s plan for our redemption and redemptive living involve faith (Eph. 2:8-9, Gal. 3:11). God doesn’t constantly dangle miracle activity in our lives and around us to grab our attention. He gives us sufficient revelation and expects us to believe Him and His Word and have faith in Him (Heb. 11:6). God is to be the object of our saving and living faith.

* Feelings and circumstances are not as important as God’s revealed truth through His Scripture. Feelings come and go, are up and down. God’s Word is truth and everlasting. (John 17:17, 1 Pet. 1:25, Isa. 40:8). We are to rejoice in the Lord always and be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thes. 5:16, 18). In everything we are to offer up our prayer requests to God and we are to have God-honoring thoughts (Phil. 4:6-8). You can count on God and His Word. Don’t allow feelings and circumstances to be your master, idol, crutch, or hindrance to God’s truth for your life.

* Distractions and lesser priorities get in the way of our awareness of God’s presence (Luke 10:41-42). We need to keep our eyes of faith fixed on Christ (Heb. 12:2). Life is not about you and me as much as it is about God! Our focus needs to be on God more than ourselves or anyone or anything else. We must keep learning and being reminded of God’s revelation to us through Scripture. Study about who God is, how He works, and how we can have a growing relationship with Him.

* We may have unconfessed sins and be non-repentant of our sins (Ps. 66:18, Isa. 59:2, 1 John 1:9). Agree with God about your sins, accept His forgiveness, and ask Him to help you turn from sinful living and turn to living a God-honoring life.

* We experience spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-18). The enemies of God (and weakness of our flesh) interfere with God’s revelation of His presence. They don’t want you to be in tune with God’s presence. They would rather you think God doesn’t exist, doesn’t care, and/or is far away from you which is counter to Scripture. Trust God and His revealed truth and learn to experience victory in Christ over temptations to sin.

* Perhaps God is testing you. He tests His people in order to develop our faith dependence upon Him and develop our character, perseverance, and endurance (Jam. 1:2-4, Rom. 5:3-5, 1 Pet. 1:3-7). Learn to redeem your circumstances and testing to the glory of God that His will be done.

* Perhaps you lack spiritual community with other Christ-followers. We are designed for relationships, the primary one with God our Creator, Savior, and Lord, but also relationships with people, especially Christ-followers through a local church commitment. Cultivate spiritual koinonia (fellowship) togetherness with other Christ-followers. Do some Christian life together. Exercise the ‘one another’ commands and principles of Scripture. Don’t do the Christian life without important uplifting God-honoring relationships with maturing Christ-followers.

We regularly need to slow down from our busy lives and re-align our priorities with cultivating spiritual intimacy with our Creator Savior Lord.

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:10 ESV

Stay committed to quality spiritual disciplines in your individual life that include things like quality time in God’s Word, praying to God, confession of sin, solitude, fasting, praise, thanksgiving, and worship. Don’t give up on or stray away from these disciplines even when you are ‘not feeling’ God’s presence.

Ask God in prayer to help you search the biblical truth about God’s presence, to believe it, to understand it better, and to apply it to your life regardless of your feelings, emotions, and circumstances.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Jam. 4:8a ESV

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jer. 29:13 ESV

Fear not, fret not, and don’t be discouraged because God has told His people,

“I will never leave you nor forsake you!” Heb. 13:5b ESV

What are your thoughts on the presence of God and how God’s people can stay in tune with His presence?

Mike