Virtual Vitamins

John 21:12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

This is a very interesting and somewhat mysterious incident. Why would the the disciples not have known that it was Jesus, when they had already seen Him after His resurrection? Had His appearance changed? Actually, it’s not at all unusual for God to work in our lives and us not recognize who it is. We dismiss things as chance, or even try to rebuke the devil! In this instance, whatever His physical appearance, Jesus gave several hints that made it clear who He was. The first was that He essentially repeated a miracle He had done when He first called Peter, James, and John to follow Him full time. That in itself was enough of a clue for John. I’m sure the others had heard the story enough times that when John said, “It’s the Lord,” it clicked for them as well. Also, it was at least a little miraculous that He had a fire going with fish cooking, when they hadn’t noticed Him before He spoke to them. Whether that part was miraculous or not, it was entirely typical that He was there to serve them, providing food for their physical needs. A major problem we have is that we don’t really expect God to meet our needs, and so we get anxious. This isn’t to say we should be presumptuous and irresponsible, but it is to say we should be looking for God’s provision and give Him proper appreciation when we receive it.

I have problems here as well, though I think I have even more of a tendency to be presumptuous than to be anxious. The Lord has been teaching me to look for His hand in things, rather than automatically assuming they have nothing to do with Him, or are even in opposition to Him. He did make it clear to me that there is much that goes on in the world that He’s not happy about, but at the same time I need to trust His protection for me personally. I need to be careful to keep my armor on (Ephesians 6), but if I’m doing that, I need to know that Psalm 91:10 is operative for me. Whatever something looks like, it isn’t disaster! I need to be on regular, intimate terms with Him, so that like John I can recognize Him anywhere.

Father, thank You for this reminder when I am in the middle of physical discomfort with a cold. Last night was the first prayer meeting I’ve missed since I don’t know when. Thank You for Cathy’s report this morning of what a good prayer meeting it was. Help me remember that this church doesn’t revolve around me, but around You! Thank You for how You are growing the believers in standing up and taking responsibility in various ways. My always being at my best can actually be a hindrance to that. Thank You for all we got done yesterday, and for everything on the schedule today. I ask for strength and wisdom in my teaching, particularly teaching speech therapy with an unreliable voice! May I rest, relax, and rejoice in You throughout today, recognizing Your hand and giving You thanks and praise in everything. Thank You. Praise the Lord!

John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John was fulfilling the commission that Jesus gave in verse 21. The Father had sent Jesus so that people could believe in His gracious act of atonement on the cross and receive life (John 3:16). Since Jesus relayed that commission to those who believed in Him, John applied himself to record what he could of Jesus’ life, in particular those things that had not already been recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, so that as many as possible could read and believe, and receive eternal life. The number of people who have been saved by reading John’s Gospel is incalculable, but it is huge. The point is, what are we going to do to fulfill our part of that commission? Everyone who has received life in Christ is charged with communicating that life to others. Each of us is to do it in slightly different ways, according to our circumstances and gifting, but no one who has received is exempt from this commission. The devil uses two big lies to try to block this. The first is, “it’s not my job.” That’s what the clergy/laity divide is all about. The devil wants to convince the average believer that it’s the job of professional Christians, not them, to communicate the Gospel. The second lie is, “I could never do that.” This seems to be particularly prevalent in Japan, which has a strong tradition in every area of society of leaving things up to professionals, because “only they can do it right.” Here too the clergy/laity nonsense comes into play. No merely human being can save any other human being anyway, so what’s the big deal? It’s all a matter of our being available for God to use us in saving others, not a matter of what ability we had in the first place.

This is a message I’ve been trying to get through to believers for as long as I’ve been in ministry. Regardless of gift mix, experience, or anything else, I don’t have access to most of the people the church members interact with every day. I cannot present the Gospel to the members’ friends because I don’t interact with them. The members might not be especially skillful in presenting the Gospel, but in this country, they are likely the only Christian contact most of their friends have. Easter Sunday was a powerful wake-up call. As one person said, “Where did all these people come from?” The point is, this church had many first-time visitors largely because just two believers decided to invite people. Inviting people to church isn’t the same as giving a full Gospel presentation, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction, and it’s not very difficult. Most of the church people have been convinced that even if they did invite people they wouldn’t come. Sunday’s eye-opener was that they will come.

Father, thank You again for this past Sunday, and for Your perfect timing. Thank You for the message and theme of discipleship training that You had already given me. Help me follow through, not just this coming Sunday but day by day, week by week, training and equipping the believers for the works of ministry You have for them, just as it says in Ephesians 4:12. May everyone in this church believe and understand that You can and will use them to draw others to you, and so step out in obedience and anticipation of what You are going to do, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Luke 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Trying to live the Christian life without the power of the Holy Spirit is like going into battle without weapons and ammunition. God provides for and prepares us for each thing He has for us to do, but if we run off without receiving what He has provided, we fall flat on our faces. The other side of that is failing to move out and do what God directs even after receiving His provision. That is usually motivated by a fear of failure, but such fear is very much a sign of unbelief. We need to trust that God will both provide and enable, and be sensitive and obedient to Him to move on His time schedule. Sometimes we have trouble waiting, and sometimes we have trouble believing we are ready. The way to avoid both those problems is to focus on Christ, putting our emotional energy into worshiping Him in joyful obedience. If we will do that, His Spirit will delight to dwell in us, and His power and glory will be manifested through us.

As I said in the message on the 17^th, I tend to have a problem with time and timing. That proves my focus isn’t sufficiently on Christ. I need to let Him fill my thoughts, my awareness, so that I won’t be looking at my abilities or convenience but will see Him completely and rejoice to be obedient. Recently we’ve been having quite a training period in that, and I think I’m making a little progress. After the glorious day Sunday, yesterday was a very accomplishful day of getting things done around the house. Today is yet another change of pace, with school teaching and a pastors meeting taking up the whole day, and tomorrow has yet a different full schedule. I am not to be anxious about anything, but rest, relax, and rejoice in God my Savior, as He has been telling me, knowing that He will provide everything necessary, emotionally and mentally as well as physically, for everything He brings me to.

Father, thank You for all You are doing in and among us in these days. Help me rejoice and anticipate without being anxious, allowing Your Spirit to flow through me unhindered in each of the many different roles You have for me to fill, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Luke 24:32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

God in His grace does cause His Word to burn in our hearts, giving spiritual light and warmth and burning out impurities. Sometimes the “burning out” part is painful, which is why some people avoid the Bible, but even the painful parts are for our blessing. Sometimes He causes His Word to “sneak up on us,” so to speak, but most of the time the real benefits come when we approach it humbly and expectantly, asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate it to our hearts and illuminate our hearts by the Word. If we will do that consistently, there is literally no limit to the blessings God will pour out on us through the Bible.

I keep coming back to my incredible heritage of being descended from generations of men and women who loved, studied, and taught the Bible, not as a literary work but as the living Word of God. I couldn’t begin to count how many times God has spoken to me through the Scriptures, or how many times He has given me the privilege of being His mouthpiece to speak into someone else’s heart. Yesterday was a good example, as I saw the words I spoke impacting my hearers. I am to be grateful for the privilege, but never for a moment think that the impact comes from me, and so become proud. Several people indicated that they want to hear more, and I need to stand on their behalf against the influences that would try to keep them from that. I am to make the most of every opportunity to speak the Word, being fully prepared as Peter said (1 Peter 3:15), and expect great things from God.

Father, thank You indeed for a glorious Easter yesterday. Thank You for the powerful, moving message at the Sunrise Service, for the good fellowship afterward, and then for all that You did in the service here. Thank You for the large number of first timers, and for those who were bold enough to invite them. I pray that all the believers would be emboldened by the experience, not just to invite their friends and acquaintances to church, but to witness actively. Thank You for directing me already to preach on Discipleship Training this next Sunday, and for giving me that theme for the daily Bible readings. I pray that we would indeed become a body of disciples, actively following You and drawing others to do likewise, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

John 20:17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, `I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

There is so much in this one verse, but then there is an eternity of glory in this one day today! The resurrection of Christ is on one hand the most impossible thing in human history, and on the other hand it is the most glorious reality in all time and eternity. It is celebrated year after year by Christians around the world, but seldom with very deep appreciation for all it means. Because Jesus was unquestionably dead, not just scourged and crucified but pierced through the heart by a spear, and then rose again, seen not just by His inner circle but by up to 500 people at one time, we know that death, the universal thing that comes to everything living, has been conquered. Not only that, we know from Scripture that His death wasn’t just His, it was the death of all sinful mankind. Accordingly, His resurrection wasn’t just His, but the resurrection of all who will believe. That’s what Jesus was talking about here, when He told Mary to speak to his brothers about “My Father and your Father, My God and your God.” Paul speaks of this as our being “raised to sit with Christ in the heavens.” (Ephesians 2:6) The first half of this verse is interesting as well. At first glance it doesn’t make much sense, saying “Don’t cling to Me because I haven’t been raised to the Father yet.” However, deeper reflection after Pentecost probably clarified it for Mary and those she told. Jesus’ physical body was not something that could be clung to on this earth, but His Holy Spirit has been provided for us to cling to forever, indwelling us even, for all eternity. That is good news indeed!

I’m not sure how old I was when I first started thinking how strange it was that Christmas was so much a bigger deal than Easter, but I think I was pretty young. It is of course a big deal that God came to earth to be born as a human baby, but it is so much a bigger deal that He took the sins of all mankind on Himself, paid the price of death, and then rose again. Eggs and bunnies have their roots in celebrations of life, eggs because they seem dead but then chicks hatch out of them, and rabbits because of their extreme fecundity. Eggs I can see as symbols of resurrection, but rabbits seem inappropriate to the message of the resurrection of Christ, because His life has nothing to do with sex. Fortunately the awareness of Easter in Japan is so low that it hasn’t been commercialized here yet, so it is perhaps easier to focus on the true meaning. We have an opportunity today to communicate that meaning to some who haven’t received it, hopefully many such people. As I lead the service, sing and speak, I need to be filled with Christ’s presence by His Spirit, letting the joy of resurrection overflow from me, so that many may receive for their salvation.

Father, it’s been quite a while since I’ve had such an anticipation of what You are going to do on an Easter Sunday. Thank You for that anticipation. Keep me from trying to make things happen on my own, but help me be fully responsive and obedient to You so that I may participate in what You are doing, so that all of Your plans may be fulfilled for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

John 19:28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

This indicates that Jesus knew full well that He was operating by a script, written before the world was created. Part of that script had been recorded in human language through prophets, and Jesus wasn’t going to miss any of His lines. To me that deepens the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice for us, because it’s hard enough to grasp that He could have died for us in the first place, without His knowing, even as a human being, what was going to happen next. The love that was expressed on Calvary is far more than merely human words can express. That’s why Jesus acted it out for us, so that we would have some chance of grasping it.

Even though I was raised in a Christian environment, that doesn’t give me any significant advantage in grasping God’s love. Sometimes people who are saved out of the depths of depravity have the strongest grasp of it, because they know better than many others that we are hopeless without it. I can use the words I have, in English and Japanese, to express this love to people, but it takes the help of the Holy Spirit for them to believe what they are hearing. Little children have less trouble believing it, because they are used to receiving love, but adults generally let their past experiences of human, conditional love get in the way. That’s why everything I say to people needs to be on a firm bed of prayer to God, because only God can get it through to them. Likewise, to be effective at the task, my life has to be a demonstration of God’s love, for me and for those around me. As John said very clearly, if I claim to love God and yet hate my brother, I am a liar. (1 John 4:20) If I want people to believe and receive God’s love for them, I’ve got to be a living expression of that love myself.

Father, we are in the middle of celebrating the ultimate expression of Your love, and tomorrow morning is the climax. I pray that across this city and across this nation, multitudes will receive a fresh revelation of Your love. May they open their hearts to receive it and be transformed by it, so that non-believers may become believers and pew-warmers become disciples, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Luke 23:42-43 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

This passage has prompted all sorts of speculation about just what “paradise” is, and how it differs from “heaven,” but that really misses the point of this episode being included in the Bible. The most important thing to grasp is that this man, a convicted criminal, was assured of salvation by Christ on the basis of the simplest of confessions of faith. There was no baptism, no vote of the church body, no doctrinal teaching or training. This man, in a situation where anything less that the unvarnished truth would make no difference, confessed that he was worthy of death and that Jesus was not. Then he said what we have recorded here. It actually took great faith to speak of “when you come into Your kingdom” to a man who was nailed to a cross! He certainly didn’t claim he was worthy of anything, but he asked for mercy, saying, “remember me.” The world would be a much better place if more people had that kind of humble faith! However you define “paradise,” Jesus’ response was certainly clear, and so this convicted criminal became the first person saved with full knowledge of the cross of Christ.

This story, along with the story of the Philippian jailer in Acts 16, has formed the foundation of my distaste for making people wait for baptism when they have confessed Christ. However, the level of acknowledgment of sin, of being worthy of death, is often very different, and that has created problems. I need to be careful not to dunk people who want the “goodies” without being really aware that they aren’t worthy of them. So many people desire salvation purely out of self interest, without any real awareness that Christ is worthy of absolute loyalty and obedience. That’s a difficult point, because few if any have a full awareness of Christ before salvation, so it becomes a question of how much to require. It all boils down to trusting, listening to, and obeying the Holy Spirit! I must remember that I can save no one, regardless of how many people are saved through my ministry. Salvation is in Christ, of Christ, and by Christ, as people are convicted of sin, righteousness and judgment by the Holy Spirit and given the gift of faith. (John 16:8, Ephesians 2:8)

Father, thank You for this reminder on Good Friday. Several people who are in need of salvation have told us they will be here Sunday, and we anticipate several more. I pray that Your Holy Spirit would be here in power, convicting and imparting faith, so that we may have a beautiful harvest of souls while we yet have time, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

We sometimes forget the humanity of Jesus. He was a good son to Mary, as well as a good Son to God. We have no idea what the status of the wife of Zebedee (John’s mother) was at this point. It’s entirely possible that she was quite healthy, and that she and Mary lived together for many years, with John taking care of them after the martyrdom of his brother James. However, that is an unimportant detail to this specific scene. As the Bible itself, as well as other historical documents, makes clear, the life of a widow was not an easy one. Even in the agony of crucifixion, Jesus saw to it that his mother would be taken care of. This is also a testimony to the faithfulness of John, because taking in a widow was a major responsibility. We have no record of his income after he left the fishing trade, though it seems probable that he was supported by the Church after Pentecost. However, at this point he had no idea of Pentecost or the Church, so this was a major step of faith for him. The Bible records some bad examples, for us to avoid their behavior, but it also records some very good examples for the life of faith.

I was never in the situation of needing to provide for either of my parents in any way, really, but aging parents are a major issue for a lot of people. I need to be a support for them in the process, but I can only do that by the revelation and inspiration of God, because I have no personal experience to draw on, The other side of that is that I can empathize with and support those who lose their parents, so I simply need to be available for however God wants to use me. God does care very much about families, and I need to be fully useful in strengthening them as He intends.

Father, thank You for the good examples of Scripture to encourage us. Help me be a good example myself, so that those who look to me may be encouraged in their walk. May this church be a shining example to the community, so that people may see what is possible and what You intend in our interactions with one another, drawing them to You for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

John 19:11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

Authority is intrinsic to no one but God. God has assigned authority in various ways, but in every case, we are accountable to Him for how we exercise that authority. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, the statement that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” is certainly true. It never struck me before this morning that what was true for Jesus is true for everyone who is in Christ. We get tied in knots about those who are in authority over us, forgetting that we can go over their heads to the ultimate authority! That’s not to say that God wants to get us out of every difficulty, because even Jesus endured scourging and crucifixion, but it is to say that we aren’t to focus on the temporal authority, but on God. Paul is clear that temporal authorities are to be obeyed in principle (Romans 13:1-7), but it is also clear from Acts 4:19 and 5:29 that obedience to God trumps obedience to human authorities. However, in such cases we must be prepared to deal with the consequences, as were the apostles in Acts. We come back to the first statement that authority is intrinsic to no one but God. We need to submit faithfully and gladly to Him and so allow His authority to be exercised through us, for His purposes and His glory.

I have long had a struggle with the authority God has placed in me, and this is another step in understanding that. I am not to draw back from exercising authority, but I must recognize that I am but one link in a chain of authority that God intends for our blessing. I am to recognize that He is the source of all true authority, and so see through the false authorities exercised by demons, that are rooted in sin and rebellion against God. I am to use God’s authority to rescue people from such false authority, opening people’s eyes to God’s truth that will set them free.

Father, You enable impressive words to flow from my fingers, but the test is in how I follow through. As You know better than I do, I have no strength or wisdom in myself to get this right. Help me depend on You actively at every turn, every step, so that Your power, authority, and love may be exercised through me indeed, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

You wouldn’t know this was in the Bible, to look at some Christian leaders and organizations! Actually, the prepositions are extremely important in this statement. The kingdom of God, that is, the kingdom Jesus is speaking of, is not of the world, but we are told to pray that it be in the world. The “world” that Jesus is speaking of here is the world system, with all the mess of ambition and pride and greed and everything else. That is distinct from this planet that God has provided for us to live on. Sometimes we get confused on that issue. That point is expressed most clearly in 1 John 2:15-17. Jesus’ kingdom certainly has nothing to do with lusts and pride! The other side of that coin is the danger of worshiping the planet. That seems to be quite popular these days! Responsible stewardship is certainly called for, but much “environmentalism” these days is an excuse to deny God and degrade man, who is created in His image. (The links between the environmental movement and the abortion movement are many, surprising, and disturbing.) Jesus’ famous teaching to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) applies in every area of life, and for that we need to have a growing awareness of what God’s kingdom is, and what it is not.

I’ve never been much of a “kingdom builder,” but that doesn’t mean I’m immune to the temptations of this world. I need to be faithful in seeking God’s will on every issue in every situation, committing myself to obedience even before I’m clear on what I am to do. As a pastor, I am to seek to teach the believers the difference between the world system and the earth, and how God’s kingdom applies to everything. That’s certainly a broad topic! As a church, we need to be anticipating Christ’s return and be faithful at the tasks He has set for us: most notably, communicating the Gospel to as many as possible while there is still time for them to receive it.

Father, thank You again for all You are doing here. Thank You that Sunday is Easter, and for all the people You are drawing to be here. I pray that Your presence would be clear and strong and that everyone would be touched by Your Spirit, drawing them from this world’s system into Your kingdom, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!