The Context of Nine & The Subtext of His Glory

What a wonderful day God gave us yesterday: all nine of us. Yes indeed. I said "nine." In the morning service there were only nine people including the Pastor. Nearly all of our families, including most of mine, were absent due to sickness or life events. Let me tell you, the morning you preach to eight people is a good morning to feel discouraged. However, I was encouraged! You see, when the context is disheartening, our subtext is still true. A subtext is an underlying theme of a play, drama, or performance that may not be explicitly stated but is still true. Our subtext proclaims that victory comes through faith in the unseen. Our subtext directs us to look beyond the visible to the invisible. Our subtext describes our God is Mighty above all else. Our subtext emphasizes His glory above all else. When the context of circumstances looks bleak, our subtext declares victory!

So even with nine people, we set up the church expecting a crowd. Even with nine people, we set up the sound system. Even with nine people we set up the powerpoint projector. Even without a pianist we set up the piano. With only nine people we invited God's presence and He came. We gave Him praise. We prayed and He blessed. You see, it makes you boil it down to what really matters. Do we really sing to give God praise or do we sing for the benefit of others? Do we pray to be heard by God or men? Do we do all we do in church for His glory? Well, I found out that with only nine people HE really becomes your focus, much more than the professional presentation of a scripted service. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate a well choreographed service as much as the next guy. However, this Sunday's experience reminded me we need to focus less on the art form of having church and more on HIS glory. That's what it's supposed to be all about.

I am happy to say in the evening service our attendance doubled! But I am thankful for the "Context of Nine" that reminded me of the "Subtext of His Glory."

Looking Beyond the Sky

Several years ago I read a series of books in which the author termed personal time with God as "Looking beyond the Sky." That concept has stayed with me ever since.  Now sometimes when I am driving down the road in the hours before dawn or when I step outside during my lunch break, I find myself looking upward and calling out to Him Who lives "beyond the sky." 

It's a good visual to stick in your head because any time you need a moment of encouragement, all you have to do is look up and remember God is nearby watching us from just beyond the sky.  While some may find this disconcerting, I find it comforting.  The God of all the Universe is continually near watching over me and caring for me as His son, a joint heir with Christ.  I have eternal value to Him, in Him I find completion, and I delight in glorifying Him. This sustains peace within me and gives me consistent strength. 

So I encourage you, look upward often.  Look beyond the demanding toddlers, past the wisps of smoke coming from the oven, past the cluttered bedrooms, beyond the independence of your teenager, beyond the burdens of bills, beyond the overdue oil change or flat tire, beyond the squabble with your spouse: and join me looking beyond the sky. 

You'll find all you need in Him. 

Faith Is Action!

Recently, in our conversations at church (and during the week) we have been exploring ideas of faith.  What is it?  How does it work?  Why does it matter?  What is its' impact? Etc.  In the next few posts I wish to share a few excerpts from a book I have been reading called "The Law of Faith" by Norman Grubb. 

Faith is inner action.  We must make a transaction of faith, maybe on our knees, maybe by signing name and date against a verse, maybe by public confession or to a friend.  

               But that is only where the battle of present tense faith begins.   What are we to do with that undertow of unbelief which seems to pull us backward, as when a swimmer struggles against an undercurrent?  We must note the following carefully, for it is a point that we have not touched on before.  There are stages in faith;  and we often get into much confusion by attempting to claim as 100% faith what is really only 50% or 25%.  In the language of scripture there is little faith, great faith, and perfect faith.

               Let us examine this more closely.  We have said from the beginning that the God-given faculty of faith is the means by which human beings receive and use all God’s varied gifts.  In other words, faith is not to be confused with mere mental assent to a proposition; that may be called “belief,” for want of a better word, although belief in scripture is usually synonymous with faith.  Nor is faith some vague hope for the future.  Faith is action; the whole man in action, spiritual, mental, physical.  We have abundantly illustrated that by such natural acts as eating and drinking, or the first great act of the awakened spirit in receiving Christ as Savior.  Now, because it is action, it has certainty and not doubt as its motivating power.  That is to say, we perform the act of eating because we are sure of the food, we see it with our eye, we believe it is good for us.  We take the step of humbly accepting Christ, because we are sure of His grace, we believe He died for our sins, we see the statements of Scripture.  Faith therefore always has the thing in its grasp or at its disposal that it acts upon or uses.  That is faith; the having and using the unlimited resources of God in nature and grace.  That is perfect faith. (p. 55, 56)

Is your faith in action?