Thoughts From 1 Corinthians 3 - Part 1

 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?  1Cor. 3:1-3

 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Heb. 5:12-14, 6:1-2

         As we teach student doctors how to do surgery, we really won't teach them much if they still don't know how to tie knots. When you do a C-section, you cut a hole in the uterus, take the baby and placenta out, and because the body preferentially shunts blood to grow a baby, the uterus bleeds like crazy, or as they say in Tennessee, "right smart". The goal is to sew the hole up as quickly as possible to save on blood loss, so if the student doctor takes a minute to tie a knot securing the anchor stitch, the patient can lose several hundred cc's of blood. Being a beginner at knot tying discourages you as a supervisor and instructor to teach them any advanced skills. It's like, "Why should I teach you a purse-string suture when you can't even tie a knot!" Of course, we as OB/GYN's are nicer than that but I guarantee you general surgeons aren't.

       Paul is saying to the church in Corinth along with the writer of Hebrews that when he came, he gave them the basics. This is how you get saved, you repent of your sins and by faith receive the free gift of salvation, eternal life, and the Holy Spirit inside you through the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. You become a new creation and start living like Jesus and fleeing sinful behavior.

     He says that he would love to teach them so much more about this new life, spiritual gifts, Heaven, ethical behavior in a fallen world, church polity, etc. but he can't because they are still acting like they used to. It's as if they need to hear the basics again like flee from sin. You repented of your sins, why do you keep going back to doing them? And the sins they are committing are common sense sins; they are baby sins. He uses jealousy and quarreling as examples. Anyone who has had children knows that every toddler does these. It's not like, "is it a sin to eat fruit from my neighbor's tree if it fell in my yard"? That's complex. No, "is it a sin to be jealous of someone who is getting more attention than me"? Of course, obviously!

     And what do we say when we keep messing up? "Well, I'm only human!" Paul says, stop with that excuse already in verse 3. You were only human prior to salvation. Now you are born anew into a regenerate state where the Holy Spirit, God himself, abides in us. We are no longer permitted to say, "I'm only human" because we're more than that!

      Is the Bible too complicated for you? Do you find yourself not understanding much? Maybe you need to start acting on what you do understand. Spoken like a General Surgeon.

Thoughts From Acts 5 - Part 3

 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. Acts 5:27-42

        Gamaliel was right, if this teaching is of God, no matter what you do to the followers of Jesus, it can't be stopped. His belief was incomplete though because if a teaching is from Satan it can't be stopped either like Mormonism or Islaam. The Sanhedrin was mistaken in thinking that they were in power or control at all. The reality is that there is an unseen world that is in control and although we have illusions of control and in charge of our destiny, if our eyes could be opened we would see, like Gehazi Elisha's servant, armies of angels in fiery chariots surrounding us. The Sanhedrin was like people in The Matrix having the impression they were living a free life in power in charge and living a great life, all the while being plugged into a large energy complex being used as a battery. (that made no sense unless you've seen the movie)

       The Sanhedrin wasn't in charge and Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not stand against His church. Nothing could stop the spread of the gospel and here we are 2000 years later and the gospel is still expanding. We saw 7 people baptized this past Sunday! Satan's main tactic now is having Christians suffer for proclaiming the name of Jesus, but that didn't work back then and it doesn't work now because suffering just brings us closer to Jesus and more passionate for Him.

       I love the last verse and would want it proclaimed at my funeral - "Jim never stopped proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah." Or better yet, " Day after day, Jim never stopped proclaiming that Jesus was his Lord and Savior, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the only way to the Father." Can that be said about you? I hope it's always said about me!

Thoughts From Acts 5 - Part 2

 

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. Acts 5:12-26

      When I was thinking about naming my OB/GYN practice, it didn't take long to come up with the name New Life OB/GYN. After all, we were bringing new lives into the world delivering on average two babies a day. But also, as a Christian who happened to be a doctor (not a doctor who happened to be a Christian) I was focusing on offering new life in Christ to the 30 patients a day that I saw. Paul talks about this new life when he says;

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

Jesus discussed it with Nicodemus in John 3 when he told Nic that he needed to be born again. The angel told the imprisoned apostles to go out and preach this "new life" and let them out of jail. This would happen to Peter again in Acts 12 and Paul in Acts 16.

       Christianity is mentally assenting to a new set of beliefs, but it is so much more than that. What it is at its core is becoming a new person. I often compare it to Peter Parker being bitten by the radioactive spider. He looked like Peter Parker, but he was a whole new person. When we turn from our life of sin, admit we were wrongly living for and indulging ourselves and turning to the author of life and the creator of everything for forgiveness, Jesus takes the penalty for that sin on Himself, makes us clean and then puts His life inside us in the Holy Spirit. We are a brand-new person. Like Peter Parker, we then spend the rest of our lives trying to figure out how to use these brand new "powers" to their maximum.

       The apostles were given powers to heal and other miraculous powers. They really were given superpowers. I wish I could lay hands on a person and heal their pancreatic cancer. I'm sure many tried on Tim Keller without success. Today, now that this apostolic age is over, my superpowers are loving and forgiving the unlovable and unforgiveable. They are using my dwindling days to serve others rather than myself. They are using my saved-up money to meet other's needs rather than my wants. Basically, they are treating others as more important than myself which takes every ounce of His energy inside me. This love, if through Christ's strength, practiced correctly should have the same impact on the world around me that a supernatural healing shadow would.

      Through God's power working in me and my partner, dozens over the years came to a "new life" in Christ not to mention 20,000 other new lives born physically who still need to be born again. I'm sure by this time many have as I even see some I delivered in the community following Christ including my 4 kids who I delivered along with 5 of my grandkids who my partner delivered.

     This new life, as the apostles discovered is not a miserable life of self-denial but is a wonderful freeing life of new opportunities on a daily basis free from the emptiness and sadness that sin brings, the fear of aging and death, and the lack of hope that living for this world and self brings. As Steven Curtis Chapman said, "This is the Great Adventure" and I'm thrilled to be on it. Have you been born again?

Thoughts From Acts 5 - Part 1

  Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

       This is a brutal passage of scripture because God kills a husband and wife who are attending church and generously giving money away, for lying to the church or for giving money for the wrong reasons so they could get spoken of in the same breath as Barnabas. Paul shows us that Jesus' command to the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give to the poor was not a universal command because Peter tells Ananias that they could have kept as much of the sale as they wanted. No, the issue was selling it then telling everyone that they gave it all sort of like Achan who buried some of the treasures of Jericho in his tent and said that he kept nothing.

      The question is why? This doesn't happen today in the church. Pastors get up and preach about sexual purity while they are cheating on their spouses, and no lightning bolt hits them. Sunday school teachers teach on tithing while giving 5%. "Prophets" research crowds before conferences so they have secret knowledge to "miraculously reveal". People claim to be fasting for many days while secretly eating. All kinds of sins are going on in the church body and there is no obvious judgement on them. I think this may once again speak to the fact that the miraculous gifts and signs ceased temporarily, during the church age, when the apostles died off. Just like we aren't witnessing healers walking through hospitals and clearing them out nor people predicting the future with 100% accuracy, so we aren't seeing things like Paul says in Corinthians where some in the church were getting sick and dying for taking communion unworthily.

       The death of Ananias and Saphyra showed to a questioning world that had to convert from the first covenant to the second covenant, the power of God and the validity of the message. It conveyed that no matter how good you appear to be on the outside, God judges the inside. He knows the sinfulness of our hearts so repent and turn from sin to trusting in Jesus. To say we're trusting in Jesus yet continuing in sin is unacceptable. John talks about this a lot in 1John and these deaths were warnings to the people to not be hypocrites but turn from sin and follow Jesus.

        People often pray for a second Pentecost or write worship songs pleading for times of signs, wonders, and miracles to return. Are you really sure you want that? I'd kind of be scared to go to church with my impure heart. God's patience, grace and mercy is allowing an impure church and it's not His fault, it's ours. Jesus predicted the wheat and tares would grow together until the judgement and the church is evidence of that. Our job is not to clean the weeds out but to be the best wheat we can possibly be. Let's not play church but let's be a cleansed, non-hypocritical, obedient follower of Christ that won't have to shrink ashamedly in His presence but a pure bride when He returns. Acts 4:36,37, 5:1-10

Thoughts From Acts 4 - Part 3

 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.  Acts 4:23-31

      I'm currently watching a show on Paramount called The Agency. It's a show about CIA operatives and this season they are trying to get ahead of a guy named Viking who is heading up a paramilitary group getting power in some region overseas. The problem is that this guy is a renowned chess player and just like chess, he is always many steps ahead of everyone in his plans. All of the governments moves against him were foreseen and even part of his plan.

      In this passage, we see God, the master planner foiling all the plans of the devil. We see Herod and Pilate meeting together secretly planning what they would do to Jesus, not knowing that this was all part of God's plan. God's plan was to have His son die on a cross for our sins and they were unwittingly accomplishing God's plans. The believers even quoted David who said basically, "I don't get it - why do the nations keep raging against and plotting against God? Don't they know it's futile?" I just listened to Sean McDowell interviewing John Bevere who quoted some verses about the mysteries of God being hidden. Bevere said that God's plans are purposely hidden because if the devil knew them, he would change his plans. I don't know about that but I kind of like it. He said that the early believers would have prophecy meetings where they would get together and study prophecies and try to figure it out. He said that the Kumarans (SP?), the people that lived in caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, even figured out from Daniel 9 the day that the Messiah would come.

        I love approaching the Bible this way, a book of buried treasure and mysteries just waiting to be mined by us. My wife shared a quote with me from a book she's reading. The quote was a question that read, "When you miss your quiet time, do you feel guilty or thirsty?" Isn't that great? Do you think in that room of believers where Peter and the others returned from their arrest said, "Well, I guess we better read the scriptures today because we've been commanded to by Jesus?" No! They opened the Psalms and started reading and when they got to Chapter 2, God spoke to them and said "Take courage! I told you ahead of time this would happen and all of this was foreseen and dealt with. Keep evangelizing and don't be scared." Then He shook the room and sent them out.

       Lord, give us that Holy Spirit courage and boldness. Help us not to share apologetically but like one who has the cure for their disease or like one who won the lottery and wants to tell everyone and share the wealth. We have the good news that cures the bad news. Let's be vocal.

Thoughts From Acts 4 - Part 2

 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

  Acts 4:13-22, 1Peter 3:14-17, Matt. 10:28

   I had to include this passage in 1 Peter because I have to believe that Peter is referring to this encounter with the scary tribunal that he was called before and imprisoned overnight. He addresses them with respect (he probably thinks he was gentle because this is probably as gentle as Peter gets) and points to the good deeds they did which no one could deny (he was standing in front of them) and then is prepared and bold enough to give an answer for what they believe. And I included the teaching of Jesus in Matthew because the Holy Spirit probably brought this to Peter's memory during what could have been a trial that led to crucifixion of them. He was encouraged not to fear men when He was a child of the King of the universe. If they killed him, it would only release him to eternal glory, while they were headed to Hell. Yes, Jesus talked about hell a lot.

     Peter and the disciples were released this time because God had big plans for them. They eventually would be martyred when they had completed the tasks set out for them, but for now, they were released with a warning. Peter immediately told them that he wouldn't heed their warning not to preach because they followed a higher law, the laws of God, which superseded the laws of government. This passage along with the Exodus passage where the midwives refused to kill the Israelite babies, are often the proof texts for civil disobedience.

          

        How does this relate to us? 

1. Look for opportunities to do good and then use them for sharing the gospel. People can blast you for sharing your "religion" but they won't be able to deny that because of Christians, this world is a better place. Medical missions can do evangelism in hostile countries much easier than traditional missionaries for this reason.

2. Don't be afraid of people. Everyone in this world has fears and you can unnerve them by being courageous. What's to fear when the worst anyone can do is destroy your body releasing your eternal soul to glory.

3. Don't think you have to have all the answers when you witness. Just testify what Christ has done in your life.

4. When it comes to obeying God versus authorities, we must obey God even if it causes us our jobs, fines, jail, etc. I was just thinking about MLB players forced to wear gay pride caps who refused or wrote Bible verses on them. If the players weren't that good they would be sent to the minors or cut. If they were good, they would be threatened or fined but recently MLB backed down and isn't fining them. Eventually, hopefully, more teams will follow the Rangers' example and not even celebrate sin.

Mark wrote this passage but most think Peter was telling him what to say when he wrote this;

"Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."

Courage, words, wisdom when to say no and what fights are worth fighting, all will be given by the Holy Spirit. Learn to listen to His voice and surrender control of your life to Him.

Thoughts From Acts 4 - Part 1

 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.  Acts 4:1-12

        The religious leaders were distraught. They thought that they could squelch this religious movement that was drawing crowds away from them and turning people to be disciples of Jesus. This movement was given credibility by Jesus' power over sickness, death, the very powers of nature. They thought by giving him the public death that everyone feared that it would deter anyone from even mentioning His name. To their chagrin, it didn't work and now the very people that were yelling, "crucify Him", were repenting in the thousands and declaring His name in public. Not only that, but these followers of Jesus were also unafraid and had powers like Jesus did. If killing Jesus didn't work, what were they to do now?

      Satan is faced with the same ongoing problem 2000 years later. He couldn't squelch it then and millions of converts later, it's going stronger than ever. He still uses imprisonment, death, torture to try to dissuade but nothing has stopped it. Eventually, he will bring the pseudo-Jesus, the Antichrist, who will do great things in the world and miracles and instill a system where unless you follow him, you'll be executed, but even in the midst of that there will be a revival and Jesus will come back and end Satan once and for all. Jesus can't be defeated and neither should we. But have you been defeated? Do you not speak in Jesus' name in public for fear of mockery, rejection, losing friends and popularity, losing your job? Join with Peter. Keep doing so much good that they can't deny your good deeds, the lame man standing in front of them. Keep sharing the gospel because this is the only means of salvation.

        Notice Peter uses the churchy word "salvation". What does that mean? It means, like we've previously said, you can't understand the good news until you know the bad. The bad is you need to be rescued. We are all headed to an eternity in Hell. We are all, in a swimming metaphor, going under and need a lifeline thrown to us. Jesus is that lifeline. Imagine getting an inner tube thrown to you while drowning and saying, "No, I'm allergic to latex. I want a different one." No, you're just grateful that someone saved your life. That's the good news of salvation; Jesus has come to rescue you from hell and give you eternal life in Heaven. All you have to do is grasp on to Him and let Him do the rest. That's salvation; that's good news! Share it! Make Heaven crowded.