Sandy Hook Grace...

As I think about what happened four months ago at Sandy Hook some very solemn thoughts come to mind.  I began to think of my feelings as well as the feelings, comments, and commentaries voiced by the public about the person who committed the dreadfully heinous act.  Words such as evil, disgusting, vile, sickening, and despicable don’t even begin to describe the names that have been associated with the shooter.  The mindset and makeup of one to commit such a brutal atrocity cannot be measured, described, or understood.  But for all the evil descriptions I can imagine to ascribe to the shooter and for all the thoughts of disgust we can attribute to him – they all faint in comparison to how God views my sins.  Me, Olu Bolden. When I fall short, when I don’t do what I’m supposed to do, when I stray from what I’m supposed to be doing; the Almighty, Holy God views my sins more abominable than we do view the Sandy Hook villain.  

I am not, nor have never been perfect.  Over my short years on this earth I have disappointed my family, friends, myself, and most importantly God. I’ve done things that to this day I am ashamed of.  It’s easy for me to “throw the first stone” at those who perform openly, heinous and popularly consented vicious crimes. But when I attempt to view my sins as God views them, I attribute some of those same descriptive words to myself. Subconsciously (and sometimes consciously) I get caught up in the “boy, I’m better than that guy,” but in reality I am a vile, heinous, sickening sinner – that has been saved by grace.  God’s saving undeserved display of goodness and kindness to me. I deserve only punishment and death for what I’ve done, but because of His great love for me I am rescued from warranted peril. The Holy Christ appeased the Holy wrath of the Holy God by dying for me. And not just dying, but raising up in glorious and powerful victory; the same glorious and powerful victory that is given to me to be able to live a victorious, sin-free life. Looking at my sins the way God views them helps me to walk worthy of the mission which God has called me to.

"But God - so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation)." - Ephesians 2:4,5

Thank you God for Your love, Your mercy, and Your grace. Help me to live a life pleasing to you.

 

Shalom – The Guardian Sentinel

Part I

This past weekend there were several prayer requests for peace.  This got me thinking about the true peace of God and what it is and how we actually experience it.  This led me to Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, Philippians chapter four.  Paul starts out commanding the Body to stand firm, to persevere, to be consistent in the Lord.  Then he proceeds to instruct us as to how to do that very thing.  In verse six through nine he gives the famous verses, which contain four more commands:

“6 Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving; let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Don’t, Do, Dwell, and Do

Don’t Worry

The word for worry in the original language has the idea of an extreme uneasiness of mind or a state of depressing fear about some possibility.  It comes from a Greek word that literally means to distract, to divide, or to draw in different directions.  That is exactly what worry does to our joy.  It disturbs it, rips it apart, and then scatters it in every direction.  Even the word “worry” in English comes from an old German word, which means to strangle or to choke.  Webster defines worry as “to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping especially at the throat”, and “to afflict with mental distress or agitation”.  See why Paul uses such a commanding tone when he tells us not to worry?  Our natural tendency is to be harassed, afflicted, and distressed about circumstances and situations that tend to strangle and choke our joy by tearing at the very jugular of our lives and ripping us apart.  This affects our entire person; our minds, our emotions, and our wills – and once it has viciously shredded and mauled it turns to our bodies and our outward, physical responds to our inner, spiritual.  At times we can get very creative in our worrying.  Think of all the things we worry about: finances, family, work, school, others, etc.  But most of the time the worrying has to do with self inflicted burdens about some future possibility that, for the most part, we have no control over in the first place!  That health issue you can’t control, that spouse who just won’t do what they suppose to do.  That bank account, that family member that just doesn’t get it, how you are viewed, how others respond to you, the list goes on and on.

Do Invite God Into Your World

Then comes one of my favorite Pauline words – “but.”  Paul is quick to give the antidote to this vicious, thieving beast that would mangle your joy – “prayer and petition with thanksgiving.”  Paul says that in the midst of your distress; when worry lifts its hideous hands to clutch your throat, set your focus on God.  There are two words here: prayer and petition (supplication).  Prayer deals with the general discussions to God filled with adoration, devotion, and worship.  The first action to take is to get alone with God and let Him know how much you adore Him, focusing on who He is (His attributes that we have been talking about recently).  Worship Him for who He is, All-mighty, All-powerful, All-seeing, love, good, merciful, etc.  Not only does this please God, it also puts us in the right frame of mind, reminding ourselves that we serve The One and Only God, with Whom NOTHING is impossible.  Then Paul uses the word petition (supplication), which moves from a more general prayer to very specific requests.  The word used means to want or to beg and has a connotation of a sense of urgency.  After worshiping God the scriptures say move directly into strong, non-stop, never ending, relentless pleadings – and this ends ONLY when the evil is averted or the good is conveyed.  Paul commands us to bring these requests to God with a continual, habitual practice of doing so – while ensuring that the adoration, worship, and relentless pleadings are all wrapped up in thankfulness.  Thankfulness for who He is, for what He has done in the past, for what He is about to do now, and for what He will do in the future.

If we follow these directions of (1) not worrying, (2) offering adoration and worship, (3) relentlessly pleading for our requests, and (4) exhibiting thankfulness – then the PEACE of God will guard you.  I don’t know how many of you saw the movie “Thor,” but if you did, remember the character Heimdall.  Heimdall (played by some B-listed actor, I think his name is Idris Aba-ca-dabra, or something like that, lol) stands on the rainbow bridge Bifrost to watch for any attacks to the great city of Asgard, defending the city's gates from any intruders.  Heimdall stands at 7 foot 2 inches and weighs 575 lbs.  His powers include:

• Superhuman Strength
• Superhuman Speed
• Superhuman Stamina
• Superhumanly Dense Tissue
• Superhuman Durability
• Superhuman Agility
• Superhuman Reflexes
• Extended Longevity
• Regenerative Healing Factor
• Superhumanly Acute Senses
• Avatar Projection

Heimdall was one of the gods of Asgard; could lift over 50 tons; and wielded the Hofund: an uru sword enchanted by Odin into which he can command cosmic forces and wield blue flames from countless cosmic stars.  He also carried the Gjallerhorn, used to signal when he sees any impending attacks on Asgard.  He won the job as guardian of Asgard by seeing one day a pending attack on the city, from enemies who were still 8 days away.  He was known as the all-seeing, all-hearing guardian sentinel of Asgard.

I went through that long, pseudo-semi-nerdism all because of the word Paul uses in this passage – phroureo.  It means to be a watcher in advance, to mount guard as a sentinel.  The saints in Philippi were familiar with this word, for it referenced a Roman soldier with his weapon out preventing a hostile invasion or keeping the inhabitants of a besieged city from escaping. If we follow the instructions from the Scripture we will receive a guardian sentinel, infinitely more powerful than Heimall, to secure, guard, and protect our hearts and our minds from ominous anxiety and looming worry.  And this sentinel is The Peace of God.

The original word for peace (eirene) is where we get our word “serene” and “serenity” from.  It is derived from a word meaning to join, bind, or joining together what was broken or divided.  When things are broken and/or divided, there is lack of harmony, security, and comfort.  But when they are joined together there are both.  Peace is inner rest and well being.  It is clear and free of storms or objectionable change, stressing an unclouded and superior calmness.  This will be your sentinel guardian to guard your heart and mind – the real, inner you.  And since it is from God it is an eternal peace, an infinite peace, an everlasting peace, an all-powerful peace, a holy peace, and a supernatural peace, surpassing all comprehension – a “blow your mind” peace!

Isaiah 26:3 says,

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace [Hebrew: Shalom], for it is trusting in you.”

Eirene (peace) is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Shalom.  Worry and anxiety attempt to divide us while choking the joy right out of our lives.  But the Scriptures dictates that if we don’t give in to worry, by offering prayers of worship and intense specific requests to God, with thanksgiving, He will give the Shalom of God to protect our hearts and minds and be our valiant and vigilant sentinel guardian.  So I commend you to take heed to the Word of the Lord today and not allow worry and anxiety to consume you.  It has no place in the Body of Christ for the Creator of the Universe has given us His peace.  And through the peace of The All Mighty God we can actively live in a tranquil state of clam assuredness, knowing that we are guarded, protected, and secured.

Part II – Shalom the Guardian Sentinel (Dwell and Do)

My God Will Blow Your Mind...

Last week during Bible study when Melissa got that text from Kay that she was going to the hospital we stopped everything and did what we were supposed to do – pray.  Not a “general-all-encompassing-standard-lingo” prayer, but a specific, urgent prayer engaging in all of the authority and boldness that God gave us to come before His Thrown of Grace.  Hebrews 4:16 says, 

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

When we studied Ephesians chapter one we looked at definitions for both mercy and grace.  Mercy was defined as God’s kindness and goodness toward the distressed, the miserable, and the afflicted, and the original word also joins with that goodness a desire to relieve them (the miserable and afflicted).  Grace was defined as God’s goodness toward those who deserve only punishment.  The writer of Hebrews says that since we have this Great High Priest who knows everything and has experienced everything we do here on earth (without sin of course), since we have Him on our side we can approach His thrown with free, fearless confidence, and cheerful courage, knowing that His goodness and kindness are there for us.

But I digress...

The point I wanted to make was actually a confession.  See while we all bowed in earnest prayer for our dear sister, who was in fact in much worst condition than any of us really knew, my mind went to Acts 12.  There Herod had just killed the apostle James, the leader of the church (and the apostle John’s brother), then went and threw Peter in jail planning to murder him also after Passover.  But verse five is so powerful,

“…but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church.”

Many of the saints (the church) had met at Mary’s house and were praying for God to miraculously deliver Peter.  This would've had to be an incredible miracle because James is dead, and Herod was on a killing spree in his quest to please the Jews.  Peter had 16 soldiers guarding him locked up in prison.  Everything was set for another funeral.  But the saints gathered at Mary’s house and prayed – earnestly.

If you aren’t familiar with the story, please read it.  God responded to their prayers and sent an angel that basically walked Peter right out of the chains, out of his cell, past the 16 soldiers, and right out of prison into the streets.  Upon being freed, he walked straight to Mary’s house where the saints were praying for God to deliver him.  He knocked on the door and a little girl named Rhoda heard Peter’s voice and ran and told the praying saints that Peter was actually at the door!  Their prayers were miraculously answered! God had showed up and showed out!  And what was their response?  Disbelief. They told little Rhoda that she had lost her mind.  I can see them now, shoo-wing her off to go back upstairs to play with her friends.  The very thing they prayed for, God did, and they didn’t believe.  It was as if they were praying, but were they really believing?

Back to me last week…

So as we were praying for Kay I thought of the church at Mary’s house praying for Peter.  And how we really needed God to show up and perform a healing in Kay’s life, right now; immediately!  My heart was heavy for Kay and I was thankful that we were together with the saints, all in one accord.  From what the texts were saying and after talking to Parilla I knew this was really bad.  But I knew that our all-powerful God knew the situation and was powerful enough to work.  After praying we went back and forth discussing driving out to the hospital, not driving out to the hospital, calling and texting Parilla all night.  About 4 am he texted that she was out of surgery and was going to go home in the morning.  My immediate reaction was, “what kind of cracked-out doctors are at this hospital???”  I mean this girl had been slowly dying since Thursday from internal bleeding and the doctor is talking about “she’s fine now and she’ll be home by breakfast”?  I just knew something was wrong with the hospital or something.  A second opinion, anything!  When I finally talked to Parilla Sunday morning he said they were about to release her and that the doctors were amazed at how bad she was prior to the surgery.  How that she should’ve been in much more dire pain, much less mobile and much less calm than she was due to what they found was going on inside of her.  But her she was now, on her way home after major, emergency surgery.

Then it hit me.  I was responding exactly like the saints at Mary’s house.  I prayed for an amazing miracle from a God that I knew was powerful enough to heal, and when He did the amazing miracle I was doubtful.  Not doubting God, but I guess knowing how detrimental and serious the situation was, I was expecting an equally detrimental and seriously long answer.  Not THAT quick, nor THAT final.  I then thought about my prayer life and what I “expect” from God when I pray.  Do I really believe, I mean REALLY believe that He WILL do what I ask Him in prayer?  I truly believe that He CAN, but do I believe that He WILL.  I asked for forgiveness for my subliminal doubt.  Not really doubt, but I guess not being “all-in” with both my belief and my expectation.

James says in chapter five verse 16 to,

"...pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful."

That word for powerful literally means that it is able to exert ones authority by means of power, to have strength to overcome, and is shown by the occurrence extraordinary deeds. I've known this verse since I was a kid.  I've seen God answer prayer time and time again. Car loans? Oh, He can do that.  HOA bills, promotions at work, passing certification exams?  Cake work.  Bringing His child back from the brink of death to health in a few hours?  Yeah, that ain't nothing to Him either.  When we pray we exert that authority that God has given us, through the work of the High Priest Christ Jesus.  God, help me to truly believe that with all my being.  And help me to make prayer, intense prayer, not something I do, but a defining characteristic in my life.

Praise God that Kay is fine and every time I see her she will be a testimony to me of how mind-blowingly powerful my God is, and how He doesn’t need time or multiple surgeries, or medicines to do what He do.  Thank you Kay and Parilla for allowing God to use you to show me, me.  Thank you God for being You…

Use What You've Got...

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." - Ephesians 1:3

We’ve been studying Ephesians in our Bible Study and while listening to a message today on the way to work this speaker used an example that I thought was cool.  I’ll share…

Poker is a game where the outcome of any particular hand significantly involves chance, the long-run expectations of the players are determined by what they do selected on the foundation of probability, psychology and game theory. This picture is a royal flush and is the highest-ranking standard poker hand.  If you are dealt these cards you can guarantee you’ll win this hand.  All other hands or combinations of cards fall dreadfully short in comparison.  As a matter of fact, the only way for you to not win with this hand is to fold. To fold is to throw away one's hand and give up all interest in the current amount of money up for grabs.  To fold with a royal flush in front of you is utterly, and stupidly ridiculous.

In Ephesians chapter one, Paul takes one of the longest sentences in the Bible to describe to the Body of Christ all that we have “in Christ.”  As a matter of fact he starts off saying we have “every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).  He then goes on to list that we are (1) chosen in Him before the creation of the world, (2) He predestined us to be adopted as children, (3) we are redeemed through His blood, (4) we have forgiveness of sins, (5) He lavished us with grace, (6) revealed to us the mystery of the church, (7) we have a spiritual inheritance, (8) we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, and (9) have been given a down payment, guaranteeing our inheritance.  This is the “hand” that we as the Body of Christ have been dealt.  It is ours.  We have it in our possession poised and position to win.

The only problem is that most in the Body of Christ live as though they are holding a defeated hand.  And when it’s their turn to respond they fold.  They throw down the hand they have and accept defeat rather than the immediate victory that is theirs to claim and act upon.

The Apostle Paul challenges us as the Body of Christ to play the gloriously rich hand we have been given by God our Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.  By doing so is guaranteed victory.  As the Body of Christ let us remember all that we have in Christ and live our lives accordingly.