“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Luke 1:26-28
Like most newly engaged couples, I imagine that Joseph and Mary had dreams and plans for their life together. I’m sure they talk about things like…Where they would live and how many kids they would have. Everything seemed picture perfect!
Even the birth of their first child is captured in serene perfection. Just look at any Nativity Scene and you will see an adoring mother, precious baby, proud father, astonished shepherds and worshipping wise men. A picture perfect first Christmas filled with love, angelic worship, peace on earth, and the priceless gift of salvation.
All true and very wonderful because that is how we have crafted it to look. Unfortunately we have romanticized the reality out of the first Christmas which, in turn, has crippled many people’s ability to experience the “Merry” in Christmas.
Unlike the traditional Nativity Scene, most of our Christmases are not peaceful and serene and, if I could be so bold to say it, neither was the very first one. That loving couple adoring the child in the manger in all of our Nativity scenes, just a few months before that moment, were on the verge of divorce!
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”
Matthew 1:18-19
Although we know that the angel Gabriel came to Joseph and assured him of God’s plan, they still had to contend with friends and family who assumed Mary had been acting immorally and got pregnant by someone other than Joseph. There was real stress in their relationship. Not the best way to start off a marriage.
Joseph and Mary eventually settle in Nazareth. Around the time when the child was to be born, the Governor called for a census of the people. Everyone was required to return to where they were born and register. Joseph was from Bethlehem approximately 80 miles away. A four day journey, over rough terrain, riding on a donkey is not ideal for a woman who is nine months pregnant.
To make matters worse, once they finally arrive in Bethlehem, there is nowhere for them to stay. The inn is full, and no one has room to take them in. They are forced to stay in a stable. Conditions were “less” than favorable. No doctors. No nurses. No monitoring devices. Not hot water. No blankets, just dirt, hay and smelly animals. Not the picture perfect place or way to bring a child into the world.
To make matters worse, after the wise men come to worship the newborn king. Joseph, Mary and Jesus are forced to flee for their lives to Egypt:
“When Herod realized he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under; in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.”
Matthew 2:16
On top of their lives being at risk, Joseph lost his job. They lost their home. They were separated from their family and friends. This is not the picture perfect way to end the story of Christmas. There are no Christmas cards bearing these images, no songs written commemorating these events, no nativity scenes based on this part of the story. Why? Because we CHOOSE not to focus on the hardships, difficulties and negatives surrounding Christ’s birth and have chosen to focus on the blessings of Christ!
You may be going through some trials, hardships and difficulties too right now, if so, it seems to me you are in good company. The question is, will you choose to focus on the hardships or will you choose to focus on the blessings of Christ.
In the end, situations and circumstances may not be perfect, but Christ remains the same. If you keep your eyes fixed on Him you will have “Merry” Christmases year after year.
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
“Temple or Marketplace?”
(Part 3)
“But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.”
John 2:21-22
How many know that there is a difference between Wal-Mart and church? Wal-Mart is designed to be a marketplace. It is designed to display goods, promote products and facilitate purchases. Its doors open wide to everyone and everything is fair game to be exchanged. Church, on the other hand is designed for worshipping God, receiving His Word, and engaging His presence.
As temples of the Holy Spirit we were not designed to be a marketplace! We were created to house the presence of God. Everything is not fair game and not everything should be let in. Interestingly enough, Wal-Mart isn’t opposed to God. It is willing to give Him an end-cap with all the rest of the things inside. However, we were not created to give God an end-cap in our lives. We were created to be a “house of prayer” engaging the presence and person of God. Unfortunately, many people have a marketplace mentality, allowing anything and everything into their lives. Like Jesus, we must recognize the need to drive some things out of the temple area!
Jesus’ frustration that day was not in what He found in the Temple. He was angry that it had not been driven out already by those who were responsible for the Temple! The high priests were responsible for what came into the temple courts and the activities that took place there. You are the high priest of this Temple. You are responsible for what takes place in these Temple courts. If Jesus, came to the temple today and stood at the doorpost of your heart, would he hear the sound of worship, prayer and praise or would he hear “Hi, Welcome to Wal-Mart”?
Jesus is passionate about this! He cleansed the temple, not once, but twice; once early in his ministry (after the miracle in Cana) and again at Passover, three years later just before His crucifixion. Cleansing our Temple is not a one-time event, but it is a daily discipline of a God-honoring life!
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
“But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.”
John 2:21-22
How many know that there is a difference between Wal-Mart and church? Wal-Mart is designed to be a marketplace. It is designed to display goods, promote products and facilitate purchases. Its doors open wide to everyone and everything is fair game to be exchanged. Church, on the other hand is designed for worshipping God, receiving His Word, and engaging His presence.
As temples of the Holy Spirit we were not designed to be a marketplace! We were created to house the presence of God. Everything is not fair game and not everything should be let in. Interestingly enough, Wal-Mart isn’t opposed to God. It is willing to give Him an end-cap with all the rest of the things inside. However, we were not created to give God an end-cap in our lives. We were created to be a “house of prayer” engaging the presence and person of God. Unfortunately, many people have a marketplace mentality, allowing anything and everything into their lives. Like Jesus, we must recognize the need to drive some things out of the temple area!
Jesus’ frustration that day was not in what He found in the Temple. He was angry that it had not been driven out already by those who were responsible for the Temple! The high priests were responsible for what came into the temple courts and the activities that took place there. You are the high priest of this Temple. You are responsible for what takes place in these Temple courts. If Jesus, came to the temple today and stood at the doorpost of your heart, would he hear the sound of worship, prayer and praise or would he hear “Hi, Welcome to Wal-Mart”?
Jesus is passionate about this! He cleansed the temple, not once, but twice; once early in his ministry (after the miracle in Cana) and again at Passover, three years later just before His crucifixion. Cleansing our Temple is not a one-time event, but it is a daily discipline of a God-honoring life!
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
“Temple or Marketplace?”
(Part 2)
“So Jesus made a whip out of cords and drove them all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. To those selling the doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s House into a market!”
John 2:15-16
As Jesus’ disciples watched this, they remembered Psalm 69:9 describing the coming Messiah- “Zeal for Your House consumes me!” However, as the disciples were connecting Jesus with scripture, the religious were becoming infuriated. They loathed the fact that this man was challenging the way there were conducting themselves. They demanded Jesus to give them a miraculous sign to prove He had the authority to do and say such things! Jesus’s answer:
“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”- John 2:19
The Jews denounced him saying, “It has taken 46 years to build this temple and you are going to raise it in 3 days?” However, the temple he spoke of was his body! Jesus referred to His body as the Temple of God. Did you know that your body is the Temple of God according to Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:16 states that “We are the temple of the living God.”, 1 Corinthians 3:16 declares that “You yourselves are God’s Temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you.”, and 1 Corinthians 6:19 affirms that
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.”
Scripture is clear that you are the Temple of God. The question is, “How zealous are you for the House of God?” If Jesus were to come into the Temple, what would He find? Like the temple in Jesus’ day, this temple (your body) is designed to be a house of prayer, a place of holiness, a place where the Presence of God resides. Have we exchanged the truth of God for a lie? Have we compromised our faith for a comfortable lifestyle? Have we bought into the world system or sold our souls for wealth, power and influence. Have we made ourselves a marketplace rather than a temple?
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
“So Jesus made a whip out of cords and drove them all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. To those selling the doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s House into a market!”
John 2:15-16
As Jesus’ disciples watched this, they remembered Psalm 69:9 describing the coming Messiah- “Zeal for Your House consumes me!” However, as the disciples were connecting Jesus with scripture, the religious were becoming infuriated. They loathed the fact that this man was challenging the way there were conducting themselves. They demanded Jesus to give them a miraculous sign to prove He had the authority to do and say such things! Jesus’s answer:
“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”- John 2:19
The Jews denounced him saying, “It has taken 46 years to build this temple and you are going to raise it in 3 days?” However, the temple he spoke of was his body! Jesus referred to His body as the Temple of God. Did you know that your body is the Temple of God according to Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:16 states that “We are the temple of the living God.”, 1 Corinthians 3:16 declares that “You yourselves are God’s Temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you.”, and 1 Corinthians 6:19 affirms that
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.”
Scripture is clear that you are the Temple of God. The question is, “How zealous are you for the House of God?” If Jesus were to come into the Temple, what would He find? Like the temple in Jesus’ day, this temple (your body) is designed to be a house of prayer, a place of holiness, a place where the Presence of God resides. Have we exchanged the truth of God for a lie? Have we compromised our faith for a comfortable lifestyle? Have we bought into the world system or sold our souls for wealth, power and influence. Have we made ourselves a marketplace rather than a temple?
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
“Temple or Marketplace?”
(part 1)
“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.”
John 2:13-14
The Passover celebration was one of the most holy feasts celebrated by the people of Israel. It dated back to the days of Moses, when God delivered the children of Israel out of the hands of Pharaoh. During the feast, the blood of a lamb was shed and its blood applied to the doorposts of their homes. That evening when the death angel passed by, he would see the blood and “Passover” that home.
Passover was one of three feasts God commanded the Israelites they were to celebrate at the “place of His choosing.” In Jesus’ day, that place was at the temple in Jerusalem. So Jesus traveled from Capernaum to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast.
Upon reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and found men selling cattle, sheep and doves. Others were exchanging money. John tells us that a holy indignation rose up inside of Him! What once stood as a place of prayer, the place where the presence of God resided, a place of reverence and sacrifice, a place holy unto God; was now nothing more than a marketplace!
What is a marketplace? It is where things are bought and sold, where ideas are exchanged, compromises made and bartering done. There was once a time when the bleating cries of the lambs coming from the temple meant something. It weighed in the hearts of the people as they came to worship the God of Israel who had delivered them out of the bondages of Egypt, but the people had lost sight of God in their lives.
They began to exchange the truth of God for a lie, compromise their faith, buy into the world system and sell their souls for wealth, power and influence. The sounds coming from the temple courts now sounded more like a circus than a sanctuary.
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.”
John 2:13-14
The Passover celebration was one of the most holy feasts celebrated by the people of Israel. It dated back to the days of Moses, when God delivered the children of Israel out of the hands of Pharaoh. During the feast, the blood of a lamb was shed and its blood applied to the doorposts of their homes. That evening when the death angel passed by, he would see the blood and “Passover” that home.
Passover was one of three feasts God commanded the Israelites they were to celebrate at the “place of His choosing.” In Jesus’ day, that place was at the temple in Jerusalem. So Jesus traveled from Capernaum to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast.
Upon reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and found men selling cattle, sheep and doves. Others were exchanging money. John tells us that a holy indignation rose up inside of Him! What once stood as a place of prayer, the place where the presence of God resided, a place of reverence and sacrifice, a place holy unto God; was now nothing more than a marketplace!
What is a marketplace? It is where things are bought and sold, where ideas are exchanged, compromises made and bartering done. There was once a time when the bleating cries of the lambs coming from the temple meant something. It weighed in the hearts of the people as they came to worship the God of Israel who had delivered them out of the bondages of Egypt, but the people had lost sight of God in their lives.
They began to exchange the truth of God for a lie, compromise their faith, buy into the world system and sell their souls for wealth, power and influence. The sounds coming from the temple courts now sounded more like a circus than a sanctuary.
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
Thursday, November 24, 2011
“Sacred Marriage: A Mirror on Sin”
(part 2 of 2)
“Sin never seems quite as shocking when it is known only to us; when we see how it looks or sounds to another; it is magnified ten times over.”
Gary Thomas
A single person can hide bad habits, personal failures, and a sinful lifestyle by simply removing themselves from certain situations and people. Married couples do not have that luxury, but they do have a tremendous opportunity. Marriage, unlike many relationships, provides us with the occasion to guide our spouse into imitating the character of Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 states:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Possessing the knowledge of someone’s sin is a powerful and dangerous thing. That knowledge can be used to crush, humiliate or gain power over our spouse or it can be used to nurture and guide them to spiritual health. If managed correctly marriage can be a powerful tool to our growing in holiness. It creates a context (safe place) for us to face our own weaknesses and deal with sin. It gives us the opportunity, daily, to build up another person. This, however, can only be done if we are conscientious of our own sin. Matthew 7:5 instructs us to:
“First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
I recently read that couples don’t fall out of love as much as they fall out of repentance. Sin, wrong attitudes, and personal failures that are not dealt with will slowly erode a relationship. When those attitudes and behaviors begin to surface the temptation will be to try and hide them from your spouse.
However, let me encourage you to consider that God gave you, your spouse to recognize those flaws and spur you toward greater maturity and holiness.
(This marriage series was developed from principles taken from the book “Sacred Marriage” by author Gary Thomas.)
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
“Sin never seems quite as shocking when it is known only to us; when we see how it looks or sounds to another; it is magnified ten times over.”
Gary Thomas
A single person can hide bad habits, personal failures, and a sinful lifestyle by simply removing themselves from certain situations and people. Married couples do not have that luxury, but they do have a tremendous opportunity. Marriage, unlike many relationships, provides us with the occasion to guide our spouse into imitating the character of Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 states:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Possessing the knowledge of someone’s sin is a powerful and dangerous thing. That knowledge can be used to crush, humiliate or gain power over our spouse or it can be used to nurture and guide them to spiritual health. If managed correctly marriage can be a powerful tool to our growing in holiness. It creates a context (safe place) for us to face our own weaknesses and deal with sin. It gives us the opportunity, daily, to build up another person. This, however, can only be done if we are conscientious of our own sin. Matthew 7:5 instructs us to:
“First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
I recently read that couples don’t fall out of love as much as they fall out of repentance. Sin, wrong attitudes, and personal failures that are not dealt with will slowly erode a relationship. When those attitudes and behaviors begin to surface the temptation will be to try and hide them from your spouse.
However, let me encourage you to consider that God gave you, your spouse to recognize those flaws and spur you toward greater maturity and holiness.
(This marriage series was developed from principles taken from the book “Sacred Marriage” by author Gary Thomas.)
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
“Sacred Marriage: A Mirror on Sin”
(part 1 of 2)
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sowed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”
Genesis 3:7
I think everyone who gets married experiences two “Adam & Eve” moments in their relationship. Like, Adam and Eve, we start out living what we believe to be the ideal relationship with the ideal person until one day our eyes are opened to just how exposed we are to this other person. In the story of Adam and Eve, everything seemed to be going good for our happy couple. Then one day their eyes were opened and suddenly they realized they were naked. Immediately they began to cover themselves and hide themselves from one another.
What was it that caused Adam and Eve’s eyes to be opened? The answer is Sin! Sin entered the world and one of the initial consequences was a breakdown in marital intimacy. As Adam and Eve’s weaknesses were uncovered, it wasn’t long before they felt funny being exposed to one another and shortly thereafter they began pointing the finger at each other.
There is nothing that opens the eyes of two people in a relationship more than when they experience or see “sin” in their spouse’s life. It isn’t difficult because we thought the person we married was “above” that, it stings because we realize if I can see that in them…they can see things in me too!
I love this quote by Gary and Betsy Ricucci taken from the book Sacred Marriage:
“One of the best wedding gifts God gave you was a full-length mirror called your spouse. Had there been a card attached, it would have said, “Here’s to helping you discover what you’re really like.”
Marriage holds up a mirror to our sin! As I gaze into the “full length” mirror called my spouse, I am forced to look at all the flaws in MY character, faced with MY own selfishness and struck by MY own poor attitudes.
Kathleen Thomas Hart wrote that, “Sometimes what is hard to take in the first years of marriage is not what we find out about our partner but what we find out about ourselves.”
(This marriage series was developed from principles taken from the book “Sacred Marriage” by author Gary Thomas.)
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sowed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”
Genesis 3:7
I think everyone who gets married experiences two “Adam & Eve” moments in their relationship. Like, Adam and Eve, we start out living what we believe to be the ideal relationship with the ideal person until one day our eyes are opened to just how exposed we are to this other person. In the story of Adam and Eve, everything seemed to be going good for our happy couple. Then one day their eyes were opened and suddenly they realized they were naked. Immediately they began to cover themselves and hide themselves from one another.
What was it that caused Adam and Eve’s eyes to be opened? The answer is Sin! Sin entered the world and one of the initial consequences was a breakdown in marital intimacy. As Adam and Eve’s weaknesses were uncovered, it wasn’t long before they felt funny being exposed to one another and shortly thereafter they began pointing the finger at each other.
There is nothing that opens the eyes of two people in a relationship more than when they experience or see “sin” in their spouse’s life. It isn’t difficult because we thought the person we married was “above” that, it stings because we realize if I can see that in them…they can see things in me too!
I love this quote by Gary and Betsy Ricucci taken from the book Sacred Marriage:
“One of the best wedding gifts God gave you was a full-length mirror called your spouse. Had there been a card attached, it would have said, “Here’s to helping you discover what you’re really like.”
Marriage holds up a mirror to our sin! As I gaze into the “full length” mirror called my spouse, I am forced to look at all the flaws in MY character, faced with MY own selfishness and struck by MY own poor attitudes.
Kathleen Thomas Hart wrote that, “Sometimes what is hard to take in the first years of marriage is not what we find out about our partner but what we find out about ourselves.”
(This marriage series was developed from principles taken from the book “Sacred Marriage” by author Gary Thomas.)
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
"Sacred Marriage-Building a Servant’s Heart”
(part 2 of 2)
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Philippians 2:5-7
What does it mean to become “nothing”? Does it mean that we allow ourselves to be ignored, overlooked or unappreciated? No! However, true servant hood does not begin until we are willing to “make ourselves nothing.”
In Philippians 2 the phrase “made himself nothing” is translated from the Greek word- kenosis- which means to empty oneself. Jesus voluntarily laid aside His position, His glory, rights and riches. He let go of his privileges in or to be a servant to others. The idea of giving up what rightfully belongs to us in order to serve others is foreign in our cultural and is most of our marriages. How do I know? Consider this:
How many of you would drop what you are doing to go pick up a friend or family member whose car broke down, but wouldn’t miss two minutes of your favorite TV show to take the trash out for your wife?
How many of you surge into action to take your kids to dance, soccer, or band practice, but when your husband asks you for a drink of water respond… “Are your legs broke?”
To be like Christ requires us to “make ourselves nothing.” That isn’t natural. In fact, the idea of serving is almost a supernatural concept. That’s because this type of serving is sacrificial. If it doesn’t cost us something, it isn’t really a sacrifice…and I would argue is it really serving?
Gary Thomas wrote… “The beauty of marriage is that it confronts our selfishness and demands our service 24 hours a day.”
Most people do not enter marriage with the expectation of serving. For many it is a means of meeting a need in their own life which, consequently, minimizes marriage to a selfish pursuit. Marriage, more so, is a daily opportunity to put Philippians 2:3-4 into practice:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Do nothing out of selfish ambition! Look to the interest of others! Start at home! Empty yourself, so that you can be a servant to your spouse and so God may be glorified.
(This marriage series was developed from principles taken from the book “Sacred Marriage” by author Gary Thomas.)
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Philippians 2:5-7
What does it mean to become “nothing”? Does it mean that we allow ourselves to be ignored, overlooked or unappreciated? No! However, true servant hood does not begin until we are willing to “make ourselves nothing.”
In Philippians 2 the phrase “made himself nothing” is translated from the Greek word- kenosis- which means to empty oneself. Jesus voluntarily laid aside His position, His glory, rights and riches. He let go of his privileges in or to be a servant to others. The idea of giving up what rightfully belongs to us in order to serve others is foreign in our cultural and is most of our marriages. How do I know? Consider this:
How many of you would drop what you are doing to go pick up a friend or family member whose car broke down, but wouldn’t miss two minutes of your favorite TV show to take the trash out for your wife?
How many of you surge into action to take your kids to dance, soccer, or band practice, but when your husband asks you for a drink of water respond… “Are your legs broke?”
To be like Christ requires us to “make ourselves nothing.” That isn’t natural. In fact, the idea of serving is almost a supernatural concept. That’s because this type of serving is sacrificial. If it doesn’t cost us something, it isn’t really a sacrifice…and I would argue is it really serving?
Gary Thomas wrote… “The beauty of marriage is that it confronts our selfishness and demands our service 24 hours a day.”
Most people do not enter marriage with the expectation of serving. For many it is a means of meeting a need in their own life which, consequently, minimizes marriage to a selfish pursuit. Marriage, more so, is a daily opportunity to put Philippians 2:3-4 into practice:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Do nothing out of selfish ambition! Look to the interest of others! Start at home! Empty yourself, so that you can be a servant to your spouse and so God may be glorified.
(This marriage series was developed from principles taken from the book “Sacred Marriage” by author Gary Thomas.)
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
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