These days in our society, rest is often undervalued. We feel we cannot rest because we will fall behind or let others down. We feel guilty after we do rest. Many employers expect us to work more. Even within the Church, some congregation members feel they cannot rest because they are so busy with church work.
Mark 2:27 ESV
[27] And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
God did not need to rest, but God did after He created the world. He took the time to reflect and enjoy His creation.
Our world always wants a little more. We, too , want a little more. A little more will help us. However, when we rest, we show our faith in God. It is enough. We can take time to enjoy what we have and know God will take care of us.
As we go on our Fall Picnic, we can reflect on God's creation and consideration. We can show how much we trust in God and trust that He will care for us.
3 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest
standing before the angel of the Lord,
and Satan[a]
standing at his right side to accuse him.
2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you!
Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was dressed in
filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.
4 The angel said to those
who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then
he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments
on you.”
5 Then I said, “Put a clean
turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while
the angel of the Lord stood by.
6 The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua:
7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in
obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have
charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
In the book of Zachariah, the prophet Zachariah
is given eight visions. In chapter three, we read about the fourth vision, which
concerns Joshua the High Priest.
Joshua was a good high priest who brought the
people back to God. However, in the beginning of the vision we see that Joshua is
dressed in filthy clothes.. Although Joshua has been saved by God, his old sins
cling to him.
Zechariah 3:1-3 ESV
[1] Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing
before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
[2] And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has
chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” [3] Now
Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.
Satan accuses Joshua, but before Satan can continue,
the Lord rebukes Satan. He orders angels to remove the filthy clothes to be replaced
with clean clothes and a clean turban.
Zechariah 3:4-5 ESV
[4] And the angel said to those who were standing
before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold,
I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
[5] And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban
on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing
by.
God is declaring that Joshua now belongs to God.
God does not just forgive us, He restores us. For us, we should remember that God
has saved us now. He has restored us now, and we need to live for God now.
But our restoration also includes a new identity.
This restoration is also a new mission with a better purpose. There is work to do
and we are commissioned to do this.
Zechariah 3:6-7 ESV
[6] And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured
Joshua, [7] “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my
charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give
you the right of access among those who are standing here.
We might think that our past sins will prevent
us from serving God. Or we might think that we can never be saved because our sins
are too great. God's mercy is greater than our sins. Not only that, God wants us
to work with Him.
God sees in us potential that we cannot see. We
are to work with God and to serve Him in obedience. No, we cannot live the lives that we want to,
but by walking with Jesus, we can live the lives that God made us for
Forgiveness
is calling. We are called to be forgiven and to become the people that God had originally
intended us to be. That is why we are restored. The restored are not to be still,
but to be busy in God's world.
On Denying the Incarnation 1
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone
out into the world. 2
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit
that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3
but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not
from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and
even now is already in the world. 4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint
of the world, and the world listens to them. 6
We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but
whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spiritof truth and the spirit of falsehood. God’s Love and Ours 7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from
God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is
love.
How
to Tell What's Real 1 John 4:1-8 In 1992 a false prophet told South Korea that
on a specific day at midnight the rapture would occur and to be ready you need to
wear white and read your Bible. Jesus did not come on that night and the false prophet
was arrested because he was so disruptive and affected too many people. 1 John 4:1 ESV [1] Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but
test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have
gone out into the world. The early church experienced this and warned about
false spirits and prophets. It seems that it can be very easy to be dubbed and follow
a false prophet, but John goes on to tell us. 1 John 4:2-3 ESV [2] By this you know the Spirit of God: every
spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, [3] and
every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of
the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. The fact that Jesus came to the Earth in flesh
shows God's love for us. God truly lived as a person and died to fulfill His promise.
Our sins are forgiven and we are dead to this world and ready for the new world.
We still live in the world and need to be aware of dangers, but not scared. 1 John 4:4 ESV [4] Little children, you are from God and have
overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. The world continues to have false spirits and
prophets ready to deceive us, but we are on the winning side. Jesus is greater than
the evil in this world. There are many false teachers, but Jesus is greater than
them even if the world listens to them. 1 John 4:5-6 ESV [5] They are from the world; therefore they speak
from the world, and the world listens to them. [6] We are from God. Whoever knows
God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know
the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. When we truly believe that Jesus came to earth
thus God became human, we show that understanding of what God has done for us and
the consequences of this. However, it is not enough just to know this. We have to
practice this knowledge. 1 John 4:7 ESV [7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love
is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. The only way to do this is to love. Love is the
proof that God lives in us. When we truly and fully believe that Jesus came to die
for us. We can love like Jesus. We can forgive like Jesus. We can see others like
how God sees us. By not loving, we demonstrate that we do not have
a genuine relationship with God. 1 John 4:8 ESV [8] Anyone who does not love does not know God,
because God is love. We need to make decisions to love like Christ.
We need to forgive as Christ forgave us. We need to let Jesus live in us completely,
so that the world will see Jesus in us and not the spirit of this present world.
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer
your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and
proper worship.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Humble Service in the Body of Christ
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself
with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of
you.
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ
we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If
your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
7 if
it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
8 if
it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously;
if it is to lead,do it diligently; if it
is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
When Life Becomes Worship
Romans 12:1-8
There are many definitions and understandings of what worship is. Paul states his definition in Romans 12.
Romans 12:1 ESV
[1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Paul looks at worship as being a living sacrifice. We need to be holy and acceptable, but what does this living sacrifice look like.
First, it is not a dead sacrifice. It does not mean we take our lives. This worship is also not a once a week worship of a few hours. We need to set our minds and hearts on Jesus and not this world.
Romans 12:2 ESV
[2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
By focusing on God, we can understand the will of God more. If we focus on the world, we will focus on ourselves and try to please the world. We start to worry about our finances, our reputation, our family obligations instead of trying to understand the will of God and living in faith. The world will have us compare ourselves with others and try to reach ever-changing standards and put ourselves first.
This brings up another important point Paul makes, which is we need to know our place in the church
Romans 12:4-5 ESV
[4] For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, [5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Not everyone can be a bishop, or the head pastor. Whatever gifts God has given us, we need to do this to the utmost of our ability. We should not be jealous of others or resentful of where we are. We need to ask ourselves, "What is it that God wants from me to please Him?"
