A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Genesis 22:9

Isaac is a type of Christ. However, Abraham had to bind Isaac before he laid him on the altar - indicating that Isaac was an unwilling participant. The Lord Jesus Christ willingly laid down his life.

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. John 10:17-18

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:42

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And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures? Luke 24:32

This verse is part of the passage where the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ walked and talked with some disciples on the road to Emmaus. Back in verse 17, Jesus noticed they were so sad and asked them what they were discussing. But then, in verse 32, we see that their sadness was gone and their hearts were now burning. This burning was a result of Jesus opening the scriptures. However, notice that it wasn’t just any preaching that turned the sadness to gladness. Look at verse 27:

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27

Jesus didn’t use the scriptures to preach to them how to take the best attributes of characters from the Old Testament and exhort the disciples to copy them. He didn’t tell them to dare to be a Daniel. He didn’t tell them to be like David and slay the giants in their lives. He didn’t preach to them prosperity or happiness. He didn’t even preach to them how to have successful marriages or how to raise godly children. What did he preach to them from the scriptures? He expounded unto them in all - let me repeat - all the scriptures the things concerning himself. That means that all the scriptures are about Christ and God’s redemption of man. Everything in scripture relates to that. Want to turn sadness to gladness? Preach Christ and him crucified. Show how every passage relates to the redemption of mankind.

We don’t need to hear how God wants to give us things to show God’s love to us. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Do you want to tell people how God loves them? Tell them about Christ and how God wondrously provided the redemption for them. Preach Christ in all the scriptures. Hearts will burn.

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Are you seeking happiness or holiness? If you are seeking happiness, you are being man-centered (self-centered). If you are seeking holiness, you are being Christ-centered. If you are seeking happiness, you are looking at yourself. If you are seeking holiness, you are looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. Happiness is all about you. Holiness is all about Him.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God.

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Previously, I wrote about the need to get back to preaching that is Christ-centered rather than man-centered (Every story whispers his name). With the following passage, I will give the typical man-centered approach to it and then the context-sensitive, Christ-centered approach. Hopefully, you will be able to see that the Christ-centered approach will help Christians return to their first love: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

The man-centered approach

Most of the time, this verse will be used to exhort people to go to God boldly with their requests. However, the way it is presented, it is more of an encouragement to go to God brazenly or presumptuously. We are usually told that whatever we want we can get from God if we just have enough boldness. The insinuation is that God owes us something and it is our right to demand it from God. That insinuation crosses the line from confidence (boldness) to brazenness or arrogance. In fact, sometimes God comes across as a “meanie” if He doesn’t give us that new car we want. Somehow it is God’s fault that we don’t get what we want rather than our fault (not asking according to His will, asking according to our lusts, etc.). This man-centered approach elevates man and demeans God.

The Christ-centered approach

To center on Christ with this passage, we need to back up and read some of the context. We could back up and read most of the preceding chapters, but for now, we’ll just look at the two previous verses.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

Notice the preceeding verses are talking about Christ. That’s a good start for a Christ-centered approach. Verse 16 has a “therefore” so we do need to back up to see why the “therefore” is there. Verse 14 points us to Christ and tells us he is our great high priest and he is in Heaven. We no longer are served by a human high priest who ministers here on earth, but rather by a great high priest with direct access to God. Verse 15 adds more detail. Jesus Christ is not sinful like the human high priests or us. He is without sin. He was also tempted just as we are so he knows the struggles we face. He knows our shortcomings and where we need help. He knows everything there is to know about us. He has full-knowledge and he has successfully overcome every trial and temptation. He knows what it takes to overcome.

That brings us to verse 16 and coming boldly. However, we also need to look at the object of coming boldly: mercy and grace in time of need. We need mercy because we have sinned. We need grace to help in time of need because we can do nothing on our own. Because Christ is our great high priest with direct access to God and because he was faced with the same trials and temptations that face us yet he is without sin, we can have confidence that when we sin or we need help to face a trial or temptation, we can go to him to get the mercy we need or the grace we need. Christ did what we cannot do, and therefore we need to go to him and ask him to help us. Our confidence (boldness) comes from the fact that Christ has won the victory - not that God owes us something if we demand it.

The man-centered approach teaches that we just need to muster up more boldness (brazenness) to get what we want. The Christ-centered approach exalts Christ and points to him as the victor and the source of strength to face our trials and temptations. The man-centered approach is an exhortation for man to muster up enough boldness. The Christ-centered approach is an encouragement that exalts what Christ has done and is doing for us. Which approach helps to return you to your first love?

Popularity: 3% [?]

1 in 4 teen girls has an STD. It ain’t working. The sex-ed classes and promotion of safe sex seems to be hurting our teens rather than helping. Let’s get back to old-fashioned morality for the sake of our children.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Over the past year or so of listening to many sermons, reading many articles and books, and listening to many podcasts, I’ve come to the conclusion that many others have already reached: a big problem exists in many churches. It is not a problem in just Baptist churches, but in churches of all denominations. The problem is that many sermons are man-centered rather than Christ-centered. It is not just sermons that leave Christ out altogether, but also sermons that may mention Christ but do not center on Christ. If we are to be followers of Christ, then all of our preaching and teaching should center on Him. If we do not center on Christ, then we are no more a Christian church.

Moralistic, therapeutic, deism

I heard one man describe this problem as moralistic, therapeutic, deism. By this he means:

• Moralistic: teaches good morals - how to be a good a person.
• Therapeutic: God/religion exists to improve our lives, to solve our problems, to make us feel better.
• Deism: God does not interfere in lives unless He is needed to solve a problem or give us something we want.

That is a very good summary of the content of many sermons and lessons heard in churches today. We will hear the stories about various characters in the Bible. We will be told the good and bad about those characters and what parts we should emulate to be good people and to have a happy, prosperous life. However, we won’t hear anything of Christ in these passages, or if we do, it will merely be passages where Christ said do this or don’t do that. There will be no mention how the passage relates to the redemption of mankind. If it is an Old Testament passage, there will be no mention of how it points to the coming Messiah. If it is a New Testament passage, there will be no mention of how Christ is the fulfillment of the promises or how Christ redeemed us or sanctifies us. The messages will be man-centered, moral lessons on how to be better, how to overcome your problems.

Every story whispers his name

I recently bought a children’s Bible storybook. The sole reason I bought it was because part of the title: Every Story Whispers His Name. That is so true yet sadly so forgotten in so many sermons. Most sermons today are delivered on the false premise that “every story is about how to have a better life.” Every story does whisper his name. The following quote is from the introduction of The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name:

Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn’t mainly about you and what you should be doing. It’s about God and what he has done.

Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you’ll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren’t heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean.

No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne - everything - to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is - it’s true.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle - the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see beautiful picture.

That is a great introduction to the Bible! If only every Bible college and seminary would teach that every story is not so much about the characters in it, but that every story whispers his name! Every sermon and lesson would be centered on Christ who is our strength, our nourishment, our wisdom, our everything. We don’t need so much to learn about the characters’ virtues and vices as we need to learn about Christ. In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Moralistic preaching has at least two additional problems. If the preaching focuses on living better by altering behavior (doing more good things and fewer bad things), the preaching is not addressing the heart. As with raising children, I can set all kinds of great rules and require a certain behavior from my children, but they will only be conformed outwardly to the rules. Their hearts will remain unchanged and unconformed to Christ. A child with a rebellious heart is completely capable of keeping all the rules, and yet remain rebellious. Requiring conformity to the rules does not change a heart. Only Christ can change a heart. If the sermon does not center on Christ (and that means more than just tacking on a 1 minute gospel presentation on the end), then the heart is not being targeted.

The second problem with this man-centered, moralistic preaching is the outcome achieved is not really what is desired. The outcome is summed up nicely in the following quote from Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ From All The Scriptures:

Consequently, contrary to legalists’ expectations, attempts to motivate obedience through making God’s favor (and favors) contingent on human performance actually work against the law’s central objectives, love of God and neighbor, by encouraging self-trust, judgmental competition, and legalistic pride (on the one hand) or instilling self-condemnation, unrelenting guilt, and hopelessness (on the other).

Don’t let the word “legalist” trip you up on this great quote. There are two types of legalists: one who teaches you have to earn your way to Heaven and one who teaches God’s favor is earned through keeping the law. The quote is dealing with the second type of legalist - those who teach you can earn God’s favor (another word for favor is grace which many teach means “God’s riches at Christ’s expense”). If God’s favor is at Christ’s expense, then Christ earns/earned God’s favor for us. We cannot earn God’s grace.

The moralistic preaching that tries to compel people to earn God’s favor through obedience will result in either pride-filled people or guilt-ridden people. It does nothing to address the heart.

Why Christ-centered preaching

So why should preaching be all about him? Jesus said “learn of me.” When Christ was on the road to Emmaus with two disciples, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself (Luke 24:27). It wasn’t just some of the scriptures; it was all the scriptures. All does mean all, doesn’t it? Jesus told the legalists of his day, the Pharisees: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Jesus said the scriptures testify of him. Why don’t our sermons?

Paul said that he determined not to know anything among them except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Does that mean Paul’s sermons only consisted of telling them that Christ died on the cross? No, because Paul also said he declared unto them the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Paul preached Christ from all the scriptures. He didn’t just preach moral lessons.

If we are going to grow as Christians, we need to learn of Christ. If we are just going to learn moral lessons, we should stop saying we are Christians for even non-Christians can teach and learn moral lessons. Christ should be proclaimed in every sermon and in every lesson. Every story relates to him in some way. The Bible is not just our guidebook on how to have a happy, prosperous, successful life. The Bible is about Christ. Christ is our food. We cannot grow or live without him. No matter how great the moral lesson is, if Christ is not the center, it is not Christian.

Preach and teach Christ and him crucified. Every story whispers his name.

Popularity: 5% [?]

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

This verse is frequently taken out of context. In fact, a popular upcoming conference is using the phrase as its main theme - and using it out of context. The theme of the conference is exalting and proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ. While we are supposed to exalt and proclaim Christ, the context of this passage is not saying that. Let’s look at the context and the meaning will be made clear.

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. John 12:32-33

Jesus is clearly talking about being lifted up on the cross to die. Jesus was not telling us to exalt him or to proclaim him in this passage.

So what’s the big deal? What does it matter if this passage is being misused to teach something that the Bible does teach in other places? The people holding the conference that misuses this passage also teach against the modern versions because they say the modern versions are changing what God had said. But taking a verse out of context and using it to teach something it doesn’t say is in fact doing the same thing they claim the modern versions are doing. When Jesus said “if I be lifted up” to describe the type of death he would suffer and then you use that verse to say Jesus told us to exalt him or proclaim him, you are changing what God said. You are no different than the crowd you criticize and condemn.

Taking verses out of context is a very serious problem. Changing what God says by taking a verse out of context is just as serious as changing the very words themselves. We’ve been told that we should separate from those who change God’s word - that those people are false teachers. Shouldn’t we then also separate from those who take verses out of context and have become false teachers?

Popularity: 7% [?]

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Many times, I have heard this verse used to warn Christians to avoid doing those things that might cause others to think you are sinning - to avoid those things that might have the semblance of sin. For instance, we have been warned to not go to eat at places that serve alcohol because someone might see you and assume you were getting drunk. If this is what the verse means, a Christian could hardly function in this world. So many of the places we go and the things we do could be mistakenly interpreted as sin. Even the Lord Jesus Christ did things that made others accuse him of sinning. He healed on the sabbath. He hung out with all kinds of sinners: winebibbers, prostitutes, publicans. He went to their homes and ate with them. Who knows what was going on in there?

We need to remember the context to understand what it means to abstain from all appearance of evil. Let’s look at the two preceding verses as well:

Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22

The preceding context is that of prophesying - or the preaching of what “thus saith the Lord.” Then we are told to prove all things and hold fast that which is good. In other words, don’t just blindly accept the words when someone claims to be speaking for God. We are to test (prove) what was said - like the Bereans. Then after we have tested the spoken words by the written word, we are to hold fast or keep that which is good or that which is line with the scriptures. This is where the abstaining from all appearance of evil fits. After we test the spoken word, if we find it does not fit with the scriptures, we are to abstain from it - to keep away from it. God warns us not to add to or take away from his word. When someone claims to be speaking for God and it does not agree with the scriptures, then that is evil and we should stay away from that - to abstain from what that man has said.

We are commanded in many places to beware of false teachers, to earnestly contend for the faith, to keep the word of God. We must not blindly follow any man. We must prove what he says by the truth - by the word of God.

If a man’s preaching does not agree with scripture, then abstain from him.

Popularity: 7% [?]

In the Old Testament, we read the account of Ahab and Naboth.

And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spoke unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spoke unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 1 Kings 21:1-16

Ahab desired Naboth’s field. However, Naboth was unwilling to be bought. He wanted to maintain the integrity of his family’s inheritance. In the end, though, Naboth’s field cost him his life. He paid for it with his blood being shed. His death came at the hands of false witnesses who claimed he blasphemed God.

In the New Testament, we see another field that cost a man his life.

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me. Matthew 27:3-10

The potter’s field cost Jesus his life. He paid for it with his blood being shed. The reason Jesus died was to provide an inheritance incorruptible to those who are the children of his father. His death came at the hands of false witnesses who claimed he blasphemed God.

1 Kings 21 is yet another Old Testament scripture that is a shadow of the Messiah.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

This passage is oftentimes misunderstood. Many times I have heard people use this verse to say that those who have gone on before us are up in Heaven looking down upon us and witnessing what we are doing. I’ve even heard this passage misused in attempts to influence or control people’s behavior. A guilt trip is placed upon the hearer by saying something along the lines of “what do you think so and so thinks of you when they look down from Heaven and see you doing that?” If those in Heaven are in fact watching what we do, this passage does not describe that.

This verse comes on the heals of Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith and Works, where many saints from the Old Testament are listed and we are told about their great faith, the works their faith produced, and the good report they obtained. Hebrews 12:1-2 then encourages us to run the race that is set before us. Are we to run this race because all these Old Testament saints are watching us - witnessing what we do - and we should be motivated by our desire to not disappoint them? No. We are to run the race because the testimony of these Old Testaments saints witnesses to us that living by faith will result in a good report - and in fact some better thing for us (Hebrews 11:39-40).

The great cloud of witnesses do not witness what we do, but rather their testimony is a witness to us of the value and benefit of living by faith.

Popularity: 9% [?]