Testing!

(Part 1)

 “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

                                                                                                Genesis 22:1-2

Testing! Just the mention of the word creates anxiety in many people. Yet without testing, we truly cannot gauge growth. When God tested Abraham; He wasn’t looking for Abraham to answer with some sort of subjective soft response, but rather God was looking for obedience, understanding, genuineness, and readiness.

Over the last few days my devotional readings have had me in the first few chapters of the book of Leviticus learning about the variety of offerings God instructed Israel to bring. One of them was the burnt offering. When I read in Genesis 22 how God instructed Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering, I could not help but think about the pattern given in Leviticus 1:4-8:

“You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you. You are to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting. You are to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar.”

This passage drives home the gravity of what God asked of Abraham; and it makes many of the situations I have called “tests” in my life; seem only like pop quizzes in comparison.

What is a test?

One definition of a test is a procedure or series of questions intended to establish the quality, knowledge, ability, performance, or reliability of something; especially before it is taken into widespread use.

Tests are designed to do four primary things. They are designed to gauge our proficiency or reliability, reveal our understanding of truth, evaluate quality/genuineness, and communicate our readiness to move the next level of learning or promotion.

These four realities are evidenced in God’s testing of Abraham in Genesis 22.

 

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

Signs of Spiritual Awakening Pt. 3

(Taken from the Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus series.)

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

                                                                                    Mark 2:5-6

Even though the obvious need of the man being lowered from the roof was his paralysis; Jesus chose to address his spiritual condition first! When it comes to authentic spiritual awakening, salvation must be the primary spiritual experience.

Jesus could have immediately gone to healing this man’s body; however he dealt with the man’s most pressing need; his eternal salvation.

The religious leaders of Jesus day were uncomfortable enough with Jesus’ power to heal the sick; now He was exercising an authority that they believed belonged to God alone. They were already conflicted concerning where Jesus’ power to heal originated! So how would they reconcile this to their long held beliefs?

“Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

                                                                                    Mark 2:8-12

As impressive as it may have been to watch this man get up off of his mat and walk away; Jesus made it clear that the man’s eternal future was far more important than his physical healing.

 

It is very easy, when revival begins to take place, to allow healing, deliverance, and signs and wonders to become the preoccupation of our gatherings. Jesus made certain to prioritize man’s need for spiritual wholeness before his need of physical wholeness.

Jesus said in Luke 19:10:

"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

This continued focus on keeping salvation as the primary spiritual experience in our services will provide a strong foundation for continued growth and maturity within our congregations.

 

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

 

Signs of Spiritual Awakening Pt. 1

(Taken from the Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus series.)

“A few days later, when again entered Capernaum; the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.”

                                                                                                            Mark 2:1-2

Over the past several weeks we have discussed three keys to spiritual awakening including: repentance, leaving everything connected to our old sinful life, and embracing the authority of Christ’s Word.

However, how does a church gauge whether or not revival (awakening) is taking root? What does it look like when it begins to happen? The second chapter of Mark helps us to understand the signs.

Some may say, from an initial observation of the passage, that the presence of a large crowd is a key indication of a great move of God; however, we must bear in mind that although a genuine move of God is going to attract people; so will a concert or good football game.

Some may point to the energy, excitement, and zeal surrounding the event as an indication of revival; yet again these may accompany a genuine move of God; nevertheless they are easily replicated by many secular forms of entertainment.  

Looking at the passage, one of the first real tangible signs of awakening is a hunger for the Word of God! People of varying background, economic status, and social groups all pressed in, willing to pack in (standing room only) to hear the words of Jesus. No real awakening can be sustained in our lives without a growing hunger for the Word of God.

When revival becomes preoccupied with signs, wonders, and intense worship; while becoming devoid of the Word of God; the integrity of the revival cannot be sustained.

Praise and worship can lift our faith, but they don’t produce it. Signs and wonders can lift our faith, but they don’t produce it. Faith is the by-product of God’s Word:

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”      

                                                                                    Romans 10:17

At the very heart of a great awakening is going to be a heightened sensitivity to Scripture, a greater commitment to sound doctrine, and increased proclamation of God’s Holy Word.

  

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

The Path to Spiritual Awakening Pt.3

(Taken from the Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus series.)

“They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.”

                                                                                                Mark 1:21-23

Once we have embraced repentance and the willingness to leave everything connected with our old sinful life behind; the final step towards spiritual awakening is to embrace the authority of Christ’s word.

As Jesus preached to those gathered in the synagogue, a man possessed by an evil spirit, began to oppose Him. Satan and sinners, alike, seem to get very uncomfortable when the authoritative word of God is preached. This is because true preaching expresses and impresses the authority of Jesus Christ.

Satan knows that the Word of God is life altering and transformative. That is why he opposes it. What I find interesting about this story is that the man, who was the most vocal in his opposition, was the one who was the most transformed:

“Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy one of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.”

Mark 1:23-26

Immediately this man’s life was changed. Transformation is not designed to be a 50 year process, where you give up one sin at a time, as you feel you are ready. That’s not transformation, that’s procrastination. Too many people try to hide behind the “I am a work in progress” excuse as their reason for not submitting to Christ’s word in every area of their lives.

It is only when we submit ourselves to the authority of Christ’s teaching that we experience deliverance in our lives.

 

Here is a sobering thought: When Jesus spoke to that demon, did He expect that demon to respond the His Word? Of course He did!

 Why then do we believe that Jesus is willing to be more lenient with us? Why do we believe that we can operate in disobedience to His Word and live any way we want? In this case, the demon acted more Christian that some of us do. That demon wasted no time responding to Christ’s directive, because he knew the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

Transformation and spiritual awakening will not come simply because we want it to.  It comes when we repent, leave behind their old sinful life, and embrace Christ’s commands then the results become evident.

 

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

The Path to Spiritual Awakening (Pt. 2)

(Taken from the Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus series.)

“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make your fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him.”

                                                                                                Mark 1:16-18

The next step, after repentance, towards spiritual awakening is the determination to come and follow Jesus. Christ’s desire is for each of us to move beyond a “watch and see” type of relationship with him to a “come and follow” relationship.

Watch and see is best described as simply being a spectator. These individuals are the Sunday morning followers who fill church pews once a week; watching and listening to everything that’s happening, but demonstrate little evidence of their faith throughout the rest of the week.

Jesus is calling us to a greater walk with him. His desire is that we follow. Those individuals, who chose this deeper walk with him became known as disciples; indicating a desire to learn, imitate, and apply the teachings of Christ to their lives every day.

In choosing the twelve men, whom would become his closest companions during his earthly ministry; Jesus demonstrated his desire to reach every social stratum. He chose fisherman, tax collectors, and social activists. On the surface it does not appear that these men have anything in common. 

However, what they had in common is another key ingredient in our spiritual awakening. On one occasion Jesus had an encounter with a rich young ruler. By all appearances this young man had it all together, but beneath the surface he had an unhealthy love for money that caused him to walk away from Christ. After seeing this young man with so much to offer walk away, Peter turned to Jesus and said:

“We have left everything to follow you! What will there be for us?”

                                                                                    Matthew 19:27

What did they all have in common? They were willing to leave everything associated with their old way of living to follow him.

Jesus told Peter:

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

                                                                                                Matthew 19:29

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus means that we must leave everything connected to our old sinful life behind, in order to enjoy the abundant life Jesus has in store for us.

 

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

 

The Path to Spiritual Awakening (Pt.1)

(Taken from the Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus series.)

“It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way. A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

                                                                                                                        Mark 1:2-3

Hundreds of years before his birth, Isaiah prophesied the coming of John the Baptist and described his mission. John’s mission was to prepare the way for Christ; to awaken a nation that had spiritually fallen asleep.

For over 400 years, since the days of Malachi, the nation of Israel had not heard the Word of the Lord spoken through a prophet. John’s emergence on the scene wearing a camel’s hair garment coupled with his brazen message garnered the attention of the people. And what was his message?

“And so John came baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

                                                                                                                        Mark 1:4

Every great spiritual awakening begins with a deep commitment to repentance. Charles Finney was an American Presbyterian minister and a leader in the Second Great Awakening. He has been called The Father of Modern Revivalism. He was once quoted as saying:

“Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility.”

Finney recognized, like John the Baptist that the path to spiritual awakening begins with repentance. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus begins with a spiritual awakening in each of us; beginning with repentance while focusing on the person and the power of Christ. John the Baptist declared:

 

“After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

                                                                                                Mark 1:7-8

Repentance frees us from the bondage of sin, so that we can be awakened to pursue the abundant life offered to us through Jesus Christ.              

 

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

 

Turning Water to Wine (Pt.2)

(Part 2 of 2)

“Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned to wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servant who had drawn the water knew.”

                                                                                                John 2:7-9

Jesus turning the water into wine is considered the first recorded miracle of Jesus.  This miraculous event pointed to a greater work of transformation that Jesus intends to see happen within each of us.

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ; old things pass away and all things become new. Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit, begins the work of transforming our hearts and minds. Just as he created the very best robust wine inside each of those stone jars, he likewise is creating the very best in each of us.

While the work of transforming water into wine is truly miraculous, the turning of wine into water is no miracle at all! If you were to pour water back into those jars filled with wine, you will find that the wine will very quickly lose its potency and eventually become as though it had never been transformed in the first place.

Too often Christians allow themselves to become so diluted by the things that God delivered them out of that they too lose their potency to the point that the life transforming work Christ had done in their lives becomes negligible.

Don’t allow what God has done, the transformation that has taken place, to be lost because you are allowing yourself to be filled again with the things of this world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life!

In fact, what Jesus intended for those who are being transformed is that they no longer be a reservoir to receive what the world is wants to pour into them, but according to John 7:37-38:

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

You were not created to be a container for ungodliness, wickedness, and sin. Rather you were created to be a fountain, releasing the life of God onto the world around you. This is the potential you carry! Jesus desires to create His best in you. Be transformed!

 

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/