Christian teaching

Some words of encouragement

May 27, 2012 by William Higgins

Today I want to share with you briefly some words of encouragement regarding going through times of testing, trials and tribulations. We seem to have a lot of this in our congregation right now. And then I want to give you a chance at the end to come forward for prayer for God to strengthen and encourage you. First,

Some thoughts on trials

Sometimes God spares us from difficult situations. This is what we pray for when we pray in the Lords’ prayer, “lead us not into testing, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). We are praying for God’s protection; for God to shield us.

If you are praying this, as I encourage you to do regularly, who knows what all you have been spared? The other week I was about to pull out into an intersection after the light turned green and someone barreled through the red light. If I had gone normally I would have been hit hard. But I hesitated. Is this connected to my praying this? It is likely.

And I believe that we will be surprised on the final day when all that God has kept us from is made known. I also believe that we should give thanks even now for all that God has not let us go through!

If in these cases God allows us to go around difficult situations, we look next at how sometimes God allows us to go through trials.

Jesus says in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation.”
And he says in Matthew 6:34, talking about the stresses of everyday life, “sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Each day has more than enough trials in it.

When God allows us to go through trials it may be that after a time God will deliver us. That is to say, God will step in and give us relief, bring us out of the difficult situation, and let us have a more normal life once again, with just our regular problems.

God is certainly able to deliver us from any trial we may find ourselves in. As God himself says, “Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). Absolutely not! God can deliver us from any situation.

Here’s an example: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. You know the story. They refused the king’s order to bow to an idol and so they were condemned to be thrown into a great fiery furnace.

The king said, “who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” (3:15). They said, our God is able, but even if he doesn’t we still won’t bow to an idol (3:17-18). And so the king was angry and they were thrown in.

But they didn’t burn! And someone else was in the furnace walking with them. And so the king called them to come out. And they had no marks from the flame; no signs of burning. God delivered them. And the king said, “there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way” (3:29).

But also, when God allows us to go through trials, it may be that God will not deliver us. In this case, the difficult situation will remain with us long term, or for our whole life. It might be an illness, a disability, a situation of family brokenness that you can’t fix, or perhaps depression or anxiety.

Here’s an example from Paul. He talks about how “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:7-8. But God said no. Three time he prayed and God said no. Paul continued on throughout his life with this difficulty, whatever it was, with no relief.

We also have to include here the reality that not only are we not delivered, but that our trial may bring our life in this world to an end.

Think of Jesus. He prayed in Gethsemane to be spared testing. Mark tells us he prayed, “if it were possible, the hour might pass from him” (Mark 14:35). And he prayed “remove this cup from me” (Mark 14:36). Both of these are variants of the last request of the Lord’s prayer.

But God said no. Three times he prayed and God said no. He had to go through it. He went through this trial even unto death.

Since God does indeed allow us to go through all kinds of trial, let’s end with –

Some words to remember in our times of trial

– to strengthen and encourage us.

God walks with us in these situations. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” – Psalm 46:1. God is present with us and helps us in our difficult situations. God also tells us, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” – Hebrews 13:5. He doesn’t say, I will see you on the other side. He is with us no matter how hard it is. God says in Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”

God protects us in the midst of the trial. Not only does Isaiah 43:2 say, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” it goes on to say, “When you pass . . . through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

The imagery of deep waters and fire speak to times of difficult and dangerous testing and tribulation. And the promise for those who walk with God is that God watches over us and does not allow us to be overwhelmed – by whatever we go through.

God will give us the strength we need. As God said to Paul concerning his thorn, so it is true with us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” – 2 Corinthians 12:9. God’s grace is sufficient for you. His power will give you what you need to move forward in your time of weakness.

And then finally, through God we always have the victory. We have victory when God delivers us from our trial in this life. But even if we are not delivered we have victory!

Think of Paul and his thorn. What did he say about all of his problems? “For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” – 2 Corinthians 4:17. Now that Paul is with God, God has now delivered him from his thorn. And what Paul is teaching us is that what we will endure in this life is temporary and it cannot be compared to the glory that is to come.

Think of Jesus. Yes, he died. But he was delivered from death itself. He experienced an even greater deliverance. And because of Jesus, even if we die, we don’t die! Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” – John 11:25-26.

Whether God delivers us in this life or in the next, we have the victory through him. Praise be to his name!

William Higgins

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged death, deliverance, encouragement, endurance, God's help, God's presence, strength, suffering, testing, trials | 1 Comment »

Our Hope. It’s more than you might think

April 8, 2012 by William Higgins

The theme of hope is a core distinctive of Christianity, based, as our faith is, on a resurrected Jesus, who lives forevermore. Peter speaks of the “living hope” that Christians have in 1 Peter 1:3. And Paul prays that his readers will be enlightened so that, as he says, “you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, (and) what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” – Ephesians 1:18.

And it is this “glorious inheritance” that I want to talk about this morning. What is our hope as Christians? What are “the riches of his glorious inheritance?” I am focusing on this because I fear some Christians aren’t getting the full scope of what God has for us. I say this because some believe that going to heaven when you die, is what it’s all about.

But I ask – Is going to heaven when you die the extent of our hope? This past year I visited a church and I heard just this belief expressed. Someone had died in the church and one person shared, in so many words, that the one who died now had all that God has for him.

Let me begin by saying, yes –

When we die, we go to be with Jesus

Anyone who dies in the Lord, goes to be with the Lord at death.

We’ve talked a lot about Sheol in the last few months – the place of the dead. Scripture doesn’t say a lot about what happens to the righteous dead with the death and resurrection of Jesus. But the best way to put together what is said, is to say that those in paradise (the good part of Sheol) have now moved to heaven to be in the presence of Jesus.

And this is a great blessing and something to look forward to. And this is a great comfort as we think of our loved ones who have died in the Lord, and even as we contemplate our own future. We go to a better place.

Paul says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. . .. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”- Philippians 1:21-22. He also says, “We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord . . . and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 5:6-7. Dying and going to be with Jesus is far better than this earthly life so full of sin and suffering.

And then in the story of Stephen, when he is being stoned to death. He says, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” – Acts 7:59. He knew that when he died, he would be with Jesus. His spirit would go to be in the presence of Jesus.

But our hope is more than this. That’s the message today. Our hope is actually so much more than this! And we don’t want to sell short the amazing hope and inheritance that God has given us in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our hope is more in three specific ways: First of all, our hope is not just something that happens right when we die.

Our hope looks to the end when Jesus returns to completely save us

In other words there is an issue of timing here. The fullness of our salvation awaits the coming of Jesus at the end of all things. This is when we will receive all that God has for us.

To think that our hope only has to do with when we die, is to mistake the end of one short sentence as the conclusion of a grand, complex and long story – made up of many, many volumes. We are talking about all of history here, billions of stories being woven together into the story of Jesus and coming to the end that God has chosen when Jesus returns.

In the bigger picture our time with Jesus in heaven is a place of waiting for this final goal, the return of Jesus and all that God has for us. It is like a grand waiting room. A good one, for sure, but a waiting room nevertheless. And just like any waiting room, it is easy to get impatient.

This is exactly what we see in Revelation 6:9-11. The souls in heaven who died for their faith, “cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long . . .? Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer . . ..” They are told to be patient.

Our hope is much more than something that happens right when we die. Those in heaven with Jesus, along with us, await the full blessings when Jesus returns.

Second, our hope is not just something that has to do with our spirit.

Our hope includes the redemption of our bodies

Here the issue is the scope of our salvation. Salvation involves every part of us – spirit, soul and body. Our destiny is not to be disembodied spirits in heaven, which is what we are after we die and go to be with Jesus.

Being in the presence of Jesus is far better than life on earth with suffering and sin. But still better is the resurrection. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:3-4, in the resurrection we will no longer be “naked” or “unclothed” – that is, a spirit without a body in heaven with Jesus. In the resurrection we will be clothed with our new resurrected bodies.

Christianity is not like some traditions, where the goal is to escape creation or our bodies. Creation is good, though fallen. And the solution is not abandoning it to be in a purely spiritual realm. The solution is the renewal of creation.

So it is in the resurrection, not simply being in the presence of Jesus in heaven, that we will find our completion; our full salvation.

We see that this is true in Jesus’ resurrection. He was not a spirit or a ghost. He was an embodied person. In Luke 24:39 the resurrected Jesus said to his disciples, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” He had a real body, even though it was supernatural, disappearing and appearing at times, waking through walls and so forth. It was supernatural, but it was a body nonetheless.

And this is also our hope. Philippians 3:20-21 says, “from (heaven) we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Our hope is much more than something that happens to our spirit. Every part of us will be saved when Jesus returns.

Third, our hope is not something that has to do with just me going to heaven.

Our hope includes the fulfillment of all of God’s purposes

The issue here is the excessive individualism. Salvation includes all of creation, not just me making it to heaven. 2 Peter 3:13 says, “according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” This is when, as Paul says in Romans 8:21, “the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Then there will be a new creation.

Salvation also includes God gathering together a new community, not just me being in heaven. Jesus sais in Luke 13:29, “And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.” There will be a new community.

Salvation includes the establishment of God’s kingdom over all the earth, not just me in heaven. Just as Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” so it will be when Jesus returns. The innocent will be lifted up and the wicked will be put down. Justice will be done. All wrongs will be righted, and all suffering will be rewarded. And righteousness will prevail.

Our hope is much more than me being in heaven with Jesus, it is the fulfillment of God’s grand plan, formulated from before the beginning of time, brought to completion through Jesus, when he returns. God’s people living in a perfect creation, in righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17).

Because Jesus defeated death, rose from the grave, ascended to God’s right hand and reigns over all we have a great and amazing hope!

But do you have this hope? It is one thing to learn it in your head, but do you have it in your heart? Receive the new resurrection life that Jesus gives. As Jesus said, “ask and you will receive.” Ask for and receive God’s free gift of new life in Jesus.

William Higgins

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christian hope, death and resurrection, Easter, glorious inheritance, going to heaven, heaven, Jesus' return, new creation, new life in Jesus, resurrection, resurrection of jesus, salvation, second coming, Sheol | Leave a Comment »

Don’t be the crowd! Matthew 21:1-10

April 1, 2012 by William Higgins

Today is Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem, several days before he died on the cross. I want us to think about this story today, as it is told in Matthew 21:1-10. And I want you to reflect on how you fit into this story – ‘What character would you be?’ ‘What role would you play?’ [Impromptu acting out of Matthew 21:1-10]

Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king

This event has great significance, because this is the first time that Jesus explicitly and publicly proclaims himself king. This whole scene is an intentional enactment of Zechariah 9:9 which says, “Behold, your king is coming to you . . ..” Jesus is here coming to his capital city, the city of Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, as Zechariah said, presenting his claim of kingship to Jerusalem and to Israel.

I want to focus first on how Jesus makes his claim of kingship. Kings rule and people obey them. That’s how kingship works, right? Now we know that in the world kings rule through the use of power. That is, because they have power, people are forced to submit. In Matthew 20:25 Jesus speaks of this. He said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them . . ..”

But Jesus doesn’t operate this way. Jesus doesn’t force Israel to submit to him. And so when he enters Jerusalem as a king, he does not come with trumpets blaring, or troops of warriors exercising power to coerce submission to his rule.

Jesus comes in humility, peacefully, and without force – riding on a donkey. He could have come with legions of angels (Matthew 26:53), but instead he simply presents himself and makes his claim on the people – “I am your king.”

And then he lets the people choose how they will respond. This is how Jesus makes his claim to be the rightful king of Israel.

Next, as we look at the story, both of the entrance into Jerusalem and how it plays out leading up to Jesus’ death on Friday, I want us to focus on three responses to Jesus’ claim of kingship. There are three different responses that are illustrated in this story.

1. The disciples – who are very few in number. They choose to submit to Jesus as king.

2. The religious leaders – also few in number. They openly oppose Jesus. Not only do they reject his claim of kingship, they are offended by it and seek ways to get rid of him.

And then we have 3. the crowd. This is where most people are. Those in the crowd are not sure where they stand with regard to Jesus’ claim of kingship:

On Sunday, when they thought Jesus could help them they claimed him as king. They formed a huge procession and said, “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is the one who come in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven.” Yeah, Jesus, you are our king. Praise God for a Savior!
On Friday, when the religious leaders had Jesus at their mercy, and Jesus was not so appealing anymore, they turned on him and disowned him. “Pilate said to [the crowd], ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ And he said, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’” – Matthew 27:22-23. And they were so worked up that Pilot was afraid of a riot.

So the crowd was fickle, at one time leading a parade to have Jesus be king; at another, nearly rioting to have him killed.

Ever wonder what you would have done if you were there in Bible times? How you would have responded to Jesus? Well, in this case you really don’t have to wonder, because Jesus still works in the same way today.

Jesus comes to us as king

He comes to each one of us and makes his claim on us, “I am your king.”

He wants us to recognize that he is our rightful king.
And he calls us to complete submission and obedience to him in every area of our lives.

But just as we saw before, he is not like the world’s leaders. How Jesus makes his claim of kingship on us is different. He doesn’t force us to submit. He doesn’t use coercion. He is a different kind of king.

He comes to us humbly to make his claim upon us. He doesn’t overwhelm us. He allows us to choose.

And so the question, like in the story, is, ‘Will we recognize his claim and submit?’ It is in our hands. And we have to choose.

And like in the story, in our lives there are three responses to Jesus’ claim of kingship. And certainly we know from the Scriptures that we are to be like the disciples, because they chose to submit to Jesus as king. They failed for sure, and we will also, but their commitment is there. We are to choose to be obedient to Jesus – our rightful king.

And for sure, we are not to be like the religious leaders, who chose to oppose him, tear him down, cast him aside. This much is clear.

It is the third category – the crowd that is such a stumbling block to so many people. And for this reason I am highlighting it.

For here, as in the story, you are with Jesus (at least for a time), when it suits your needs, or if the circumstances are right, or if you are in the right mood, or if it’s the fad of the time and everyone else is doing it. If one of these things is true, then yes, you are for him: “Hosanna! Hosanna! Jesus is my king.”
But you are not with Jesus, when it doesn’t suit your needs, or the circumstances are not right, or you are not in the right mood, or if it isn’t the fad anymore and you are the only one. Then you are not for him. He is not your king. And you cast him off, so you can go your own way.

Just as in the story, so today, most people take the way of the crowd. It seems safer because lots of people are with you. It is not so radical, like the religious leaders or the disciples. And if you are wrong, at least you are not a religious leader who completely rejects Jesus.

But there’s a serious confusion here. For in this story both the religious leaders and the crowd made the wrong choice. It is only the disciples, and them only waveringly at times, who chose correctly.

The way of the crowd may seem safe and appealing, but in reality it is no better than the way of the religious leaders. For neither obeyed Jesus as king. This is their common choice. The crowd tried to have it both ways. And you can’t have it both ways with Jesus.

The words of Jesus in the vision of Revelation 3:15-16 speak clearly to the place of the crowd: “. . . You are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

So the exhortation today is “Don’t be the crowd!” Don’t be in the middle with regard to Jesus. Don’t try to have it both ways. Don’t go the lukewarm route.

Don’t be fooled by the idea that at least sometimes you like Jesus and claim him as king. Because part-time submission to Jesus, when it suits you, when it fits your needs may sound better than open and constant rejection, but it really isn’t.

Part time submission is actually a rejection of Jesus’ claim of kingship over you. For submission that is based on your terms, is not submission at all. You are still calling the shots. You are still seeking to maintain control of your life – only going with Jesus when that meshes with your choices for your life.

You can’t have Jesus on your terms. You can only have Jesus on his terms. And he demands everything. This is how kingship works. So I implore you this morning, give yourself fully and completely over to Jesus as king.

He is here among us right now and he comes to you this morning to present his claim on you as your rightful king. Will you choose the right way? Will you give yourself fully to him?

William Higgins

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Jesus as king, Matthew 21, Palm Sunday, responding to Jesus, submission to Jesus | Leave a Comment »

The Joseph Stories. The literary structure of Genesis 37-50

March 27, 2012 by William Higgins

The following PDFs are my attempt to discern the literary structure of the Joseph stories in Genesis. The first covers all the material. The second looks at structural parallels between stories. These are drafts. The full text is given, from the English Standard Version.

Joseph stories

Jospeh stories structural parallels

William Higgins

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Genesis, Genesis 37-50, Joseph | Leave a Comment »

Sketch: Resurrection in Psalm 139:18?

March 27, 2012 by William Higgins

The phrase at the end of v. 18 – “I awake and am still with you” has often been interpreted as a reference to the resurrection in Jewish and Christian tradition. The imagery of awakening is a common one for the resurrection. This is the interpretation of the LXX (Septuagint). [See N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God, p. 150.]. And it is the interpretation of the Aramaic Targums – “if I should count them in this world, they would be more than sand; I shall awake in the world to come, and I shall still be with you.”

It is, however, not fashionable to read v. 18 in this way today. In fact, the word is often repointed to mean, “come to an end,” that is, the writer comes to the end of trying to count God’s thoughts and is still with God. Or the sense is given that the writer has fallen asleep, thinking about the sum of God’s thoughts, and he awakens to find himself still in God’s presence.

Often the reason given for a non-resurrection reading is that there is no context in the Psalm that leads to this. Let’s look at this. The place of the dead is referenced several times prior to v. 18. The writer speaks of Sheol in v. 8, and takes the position that “you (God) are there.” This is a more positive view of Sheol. Whereas in other places it seems that God is absent from Sheol, here God’s presence would be with the writer if he dies (“make my bed in Sheol”) [Or is he is simply making a visit to Sheol? In either case God is with him.].

vs. 11-12 is also, most likely, referring to Sheol with the phrase “the darkness.” Again there is a more positive view of Sheol. The darkness is not dark to God. The writer can be seen and known by God is Sheol.

Then in v. 15 we have another reference to Sheol in the phrase “the depths of the earth.” Here the writer makes a poetic connection between the womb and Sheol (they are in parallel with each other). Both are places of darkness. But perhaps there is more. If the womb is the place of waiting while being formed for life on earth, perhaps the comparison turns on seeing Sheol as the place of waiting for resurrection life. Sheol is then like a womb – from which will come those who are resurrected.

This then leads into the writer’s marveling over the sum of God’s thoughts/intentions – God’s forming of him in the womb, God’s forming of the days for him while in the womb. And at the end of this we have v. 18. All of God’s thoughts would include God’s purpose to raise him from the dead, so that he is still with God, beyond Sheol.

Also, if v. 18 is a reference to resurrection, it fits contextually with v. 19. The prayer for God to act against the wicked would have an eschatological force. “God bring forth the final day of judgment – the resurrection of the righteous and the judgment of the wicked.”

Finally, this emphasis would fit well with v. 24, translated as “the way everlasting.”

William Higgins

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Psalm 139, Psalm 139:18, resurrection, Sheol | Leave a Comment »

I dare you to pray this! Psalm 139:23-24

March 18, 2012 by William Higgins

This post has been moved – I dare you to pray this!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christian growth, prayer, Psalm 139, Psalm 139:23-24, relationship with God | 7 Comments »

A sketch: What about calls for judgment in the New Testament?

March 13, 2012 by William Higgins

This is just a sketch, and by no means a complete treatment. Feedback invited. It also serves as a footnote to the teaching on “The purpose and the problem of Psalm 139,” so you will need to look at that to understand this.

1. You can ask God to act for justice, to right wrongs done against you. The persistent woman in Luke 18 is praying for justice and in context is a model of prayer for the disciples. There is no need to think that this is teaching us to call for non-redemptive judgment. It can be seen as a call for redemptive judgment and also as a call for the kingdom to come (v. 8).

This is how I read Revelation 6:10, where the martyrs pray, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” It should be seen as a variant of the prayer – “Your kingdom come, bring forth justice! And don’t forget us, Lord!” The focus is on timing. But they are reminded to be patient and to defer to God’s timing.

But there is a tension in these prayers, as noted in the teaching on Psalm 139.

2. You can announce God’s judgment upon an evildoer. This is not you calling on God to judge someone in a destructive way, but God speaking through you to proclaim this. Here are some examples – Jesus announcing woes in Matthew 23; Peter speaking to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5; Peter speaking to Simon in Acts 8; Paul speaking to Bar-Jesus in Acts 13.

3. A curse is involved in church discipline contexts, but it is meant to be redemptive. A formula for excommunication is taken from the synagogue context and used in the church. It goes like this – “let _____ be anathema.” Anathema means cursed. The idea is that one who is excommunicated is turned out of the community that bears God’s blessing and is given over to Satan and the world – which is a curse. But the judgment is to be redemptive, because the hope is that this very action will cause the person to wake up and turn once again to God. (See 1 Corinthians 5:5).

When Jesus says in Matthew 18:17 – “And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector,” the phrase, “let him be . . .” is the anathema formula. He is to be seen as outside the church.

This, then, is the background for 1 Corinthians 16:22. Paul says, “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.” Paul is speaking of the Corinthian Christians. Here we see the anathema formula – “let him be accursed (anathema). He is saying that any believer who has no love for the Lord is to be disciplined.

This is also the case with Galatians 1:8-9 – “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” In both v. 8 and v. 9 there is the anathema formula. Paul is saying that false teachers should be disciplined and excluded from the church. This is not an invocation of a non-redemptive curse. It is redemptive because it is a part of the church discipline context

William Higgins

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged accursed, anathema, calls for judgment, church discipline, curses, excommunication, imprecation, Psalm 139 | Leave a Comment »