Monthly Archives: February 2013

Pastor Wrinkles: The Nations Rage Pt. 5

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We have come to the last verses of our Psalm today and they are the point of the Psalm really.

Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2: 10-12

The whole Psalm has been about the second coming of the Lord in power and judgment. In light of that second coming the psalmist warns the rulers of the Earth (and frankly people everywhere) to be wise and to serve the Lord with reverent fear.

In verse twelve the psalmist uses an interesting word that our Bibles translate as “Kiss” the son. That word “Kiss” is actually the Hebrew word Nashaq.  understanding it is important to understanding  what we are to do in light of the Lord’s second coming.

Nashaq is to-

1) to put together, kiss

a) (Qal) to kiss

b) (Piel) to kiss

c) (Hiphil) to touch gently

2) to handle, be equipped with

a) (Qal) to be equipped

So as we look to the Lord’s second coming we must come together with the Son or the heir of God’s kingdom (Jesus). We must be close intimate with Him. We must be mindful in our dealings with him and most of all we are to be equipped with the Son.

You see it is not by our own works of righteousness that we will escape the wrath that is to come. We can never stand before God on our own merit. If we try we will only receive judgment. But we have the choice of  “Kissing the son” which is being equipped with the righteousness of Jesus.

“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Rom. 3:21-24 NIV

So let me ask you, have you kissed the Son?

Pastor Wrinkles: The Lenten Journey Pt.11

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These last three days have been wonderful times of prayer and study. Thank you to those who prayed for me.  I had a four-hour drive up the Maine coast on Wednesday night after Bible study and a four-hour journey back down the Maine coast today. In between those two drives I was helping my brother-in-law who is recovering from surgery. In between changing dressings. making meals. walking the dog and doing dishes I prayed and read some more.

I took  five meditational questions with me given by Cyndi from  http://cyndilumoon.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/survey-says/.  Here is the first of them that I worked on.

1.What has God given you?

This is a question pre-loaded with a very large answer. I could go on and on about what God has done, but tonight I am just going to list seven things God has given me recently:

1. God has given me an inner healing that was keeping me from moving forward.

2. God has provided for a trip to Holland.

3. God has given me an invitation to go to Seattle.

4. God has answered a prayer for my daughter Amanda in giving her a God-sized dream.

5. God has been leading my daughter Melanie and my son Joe in their next steps after college

6. I had been praying that God would lead me in the best way for my life in an area of great uncertainty and He has given me a clear direction and joy in the journey.

7. God has given me direction for the next steps in ministry.

As I said I could go on and on but I won’t I am just filled with thankfulness to a God who has been nothing but good to me! The more I list His doings the more thankful I become.

What has God given you ?

Pastor Wrinkles: The Nations Rage Pt. 4

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6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” Psalm 2:6-9

As we look at this next portion of Psalm chapter 2  we come to an interesting description of the rule of Christ upon the Earth. Psalm 2 tells us that when Jesus reigns from the throne in Jerusalem he will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Rev. 2:27, 12;5 and 19:5 reiterate this truth.

What does it mean that Jesus will rule the nations with a rod of iron? Why do you think this will be necessary?

Pastor Wrinkles: The Lenten Journey Pt. 10

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“Sometimes I go to God and say, “God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already. God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.” 
―    A.W. Tozer

Today’s leg of the Lenten journey leads us through a meditation on worship. The questions I am pondering today are:

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being I am just at the beginning and 5 being I am well-developed in this)

How am I doing with joining myself to a body for corporate worship renewal and refreshing?

Where am I in my personal plan to achieve my God-given goals and dreams?

How is my heart  growing in love for praise and worship to God?

How well am I honoring God with my physical and personal health?

How am I honoring God through a balanced  life?

How can I better live for God’s pleasure?

I am interested in hearing what God has said to you today.

Pastor Wrinkles: The Nations Rage Pt.3

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NIV Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire[a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

We asked yesterday about the interpretation of verse 1. Ultimately it is fulfilled in the prophetic outcome of Revelation 19:15-20:9

15 Coming out of his mouth (Jesus’) is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They[b] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

I know there is a temptation today among Christians to compromise and embrace the ways of the world, but in light of these verses how should we live?

Pastor Wrinkles: The Lenten Journey Pt. 9

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Today’s lent meditation has to do with evangelism. Here are the questions to ponder:

On a scale of 1 to 5 (i meaning I am just at the beginning and 5 meaning I am well-developed in this area)…

How am I doing at intentionally cultivating relationship with un-churched friends and family?

How am I doing sharing my spiritual story with un-churched friends and family?

How am I connecting un-churched friends into my group of believers?

How am I allowing God to use me cross-culturally?

How am I regularly investing in the spiritual life of another person or group?

Y’know I thought this evangelism meditation was going to be a big old scary ponder-pot for me. Yet as I got into it God showed me that  while there are definitely things I can work on where my unbelieving family is concerned, He has opened doors of effective ministry across the world through blogging. For anyone who shares on this venue you have to know you are touching the world,believers and non-believers . You are working cross-culturally. You are regularly investing in the spiritual life of other people and groups! Now my last question for the day is…How can we do it more effectively?

Pastor Wrinkles: The Nations Rage Pt. 2

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Psalm 2

1 Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then in anger he rebukes them,
terrifying them with his fierce fury.
6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
in Jerusalem,[a] on my holy mountain.”

7 The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.[b]
Today I have become your Father.[c]
8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession.
9 You will break[d] them with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.’”

10 Now then, you kings, act wisely!
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Submit to God’s royal son,[e] or he will become angry,
and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

Tonight we continue our study in Psalm chapter 2. Yesterday we spoke about some of the different words we saw in the three versions of this Psalm. The Psalm starts with two questions:

1 Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

The word “nations” is translated “Heathen” by the King James. The Hebrew word for “nations” or “heathen” is actually the word “Gowy” or Gentiles. So the Psalm is starting out drawing a line between the Gentile nations and the Jewish people.

In what ways do the Gentiles conspire?  What do you think the futile plans are that the nations are wasting their time with? 

Pastor Wrinkles: The Lenten Journey Pt. 8

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I’m on my way to Waldosboro ME today to help my brother-in-law out as he recuperates from surgery. The spiritual journey becomes physical. I wonder what I will learn while I am away. God has something in mind because His Spirit is calling me deeper into the fast.

Here are today’s questions regarding spiritual health. They deal with our heart for service.

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 meaning I am just beginning and 5 meaning I am well-developed in this area)…

Does my way of life expresses my unique God-given design?

How open am I to  be used by God for ministry that complements my spiritual giftings, my heart, my abilities, my personality and my experiences in life? Am I even praying for such a ministry to present itself?

Am I serving in regular ministry?

How am I assuming responsibility for or facilitating a group discussion?

Am I discovering new ways to develop myself for ministry to the body?

How can I better serve God and others?

These are probing questions.  I think for most of us the question is not are we doing something for the church (most of us are blogging as a ministry to the body of Christ and a mission to the world) but is there anything that needs to change for us to fully enter into that place of ministry that fits us like a glove. In my personal coaching sessions my coach is constantly asking questions that help me to see what I am doing that is facilitating ministry and what I am doing that is nothing more than a distraction.

One final question to ponder today.  What can you change with God’s help to make you a better servant to God’s people?

 

Pastor Wrinkles: The Nations Rage Pt. 1

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Tonight at the church we will be breaking down Psalm chapter 2 into its component parts. I thought we might do the same together here on Lillie-Put. Let’s start by reading the chapter in three diferent versions.

Psalm 2 NLT

1 Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then in anger he rebukes them,
terrifying them with his fierce fury.
6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
in Jerusalem,[a] on my holy mountain.”

7 The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.[b]
Today I have become your Father.[c]
8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession.
9 You will break[d] them with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.’”

10 Now then, you kings, act wisely!
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Submit to God’s royal son,[e] or he will become angry,
and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

KJVPsalm 2

King James Version (KJV)

2 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

NIV Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire[a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

We begin our study with this question:

What words did you notice were different in each version?

Pastor Wrinkles: The Lenten Journey Pt. 7

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The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

 

The meditation questions for today involve growth as Christ’s disciple:

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 indicating I am just beginning and 5 indicating I am well-developed):

How am I growing in relationship with God through regular times of personal Bible study and prayer?

How do I respond challenges with peace and faith rather than anxiety and fear?

How well do I avoid addictive behaviors to meet my needs?

Do I have a growing relationship with someone who encourages my spiritual health and personal growth…a spiritual partner?

Am I honoring God with my finances the way I budget and in my personal giving to His work through tithing?

How can I grow this year to become more like Christ?

Food has been an addiction to which I have turned all my life. During the 21 day spiritual journey in January God gave me a vision for losing forty pounds. But I am coming to see that the goal is a measuring stick for a much deeper spiritual work God wishes to do inside me. These journeys into the world of fasting are about gaining control of my appetites and addictions so that Christ may have the preeminence.

Which of these questions spoke most to you?