There is another king, one called Jesus!

In the book of Acts, chapters 16 & 17, Paul is accused of causing trouble just because he showed up in towns. 

Acts 17: 6 & 7 says, " These men (Paul and other believers) who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here and Jason has welcomed them into his house.  They are defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus."

When Paul showed up with his message of grace and salvation through Jesus Christ, societies were upset and people were transformed by God's word.   What a reputation preceded Paul.  When he arrived, believers and non-believers expected the status quo to be stirred up.

Does Jesus' Church still "cause trouble all over the world" or has the church just blended into societies?  Do non -believers expect believers to bring a message that is in conflict with the norm or is the message one which conforms to the world?  If the church is not delivering God's word, why should we even show up.

This Christmas season we have the same message that Paul delivered..."there is a king called Jesus!"  We tell the Christmas story, but do we announce the King Jesus.  This is not a story to tell, it's an announcement to proclaim.  The angels didn't tell the shepherds a story about a baby's birth, they announced the Birth of the Messiah!

The Sermon On The Mount....Matthew 5-7

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount was a teaching event that really caught the attention of the Jews who heard Him.  Those who heard Him, recognized that He was teaching from and a new perspective. 

The last two verses in Matthew 7 grabbed my attention:  Matthew 7: 28-29  Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

The crowds were taught by one who looked at the world through the eyes of God and not as the world sees.  The sermon begins with  the Beatitudes...the Blessed Are's...which are so contradictory to the teachings of the world.  He points out in  this sermon the contrast between the righteousness of God as compared to what man call righteous...murder as God sees it, adultery in God's sight, forgiveness, judging others, and God's love and faithfulness to us.  This sermon illuminates the difference between our humanity and God's majesty.

As we read the words in these chapters, it becomes very clear that our best is not good enough. Our understanding is lacking. Our knowledge and wisdom are limited.  Our worldly perspectives will be flawed, in every aspect of life, as long as we are looking at the world through our own eyes and using our own understanding. 

We need a Savior and thankfully, Jesus offered Himself.  Through His death and resurrection and with the gift of the Holy Spirit we can see the world differently.  By prayer and reading of His Word, He will transform us into that light He calls us to be.

Matthew 6: 16  "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

John 4:24, "God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

I go to church on Sunday mornings to attend a "worship" service.  I know when I walk into the sanctuary that we will have morning announcements, greeting of one another, an opening prayer, a hymn, an anthem by the choir, a time of offering, the Pastor's prayer, and a sermon message.  We will close with a hymn and if we're lucky we will beat the church down the street to the restaurants.  We all know how slow service can be if the Baptists get to the restaurants first.  

In John 4: 23-24, Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman at the well, what true worship is: 23 "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him."  24 "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."  Jesus makes this statement as a matter of fact, not as an assignment or command.  He is merely stating a truth.  As we read on, we read that the Samaritan woman acknowledges that the Messiah is coming and that he will proclaim all things to us, at which Jesus replies, "I am he." (vs 26).  So Jesus is proclaiming what worship must be! 

If worship isn't of spirit and truth, it is not worship.  I know that when I feel the Spirit's leading and receive instruction from Him, it is never a routine or everyday, ho hum experience.  I always have a sense of awe and an awareness that God's ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).  True worship is filled with the same awe and awareness.  Worship is a response to God not an assignment from Him.  When Jesus said that the Father seeks such as these to worship him, He is looking at the hearts of the worshipers.  He is not looking at the worship outline or church bulletin to see if it is true worship.

Sunday worship is a time of responding to God....aware that He is seeking us, and rejoicing that we have been found and saved By Him.  His Spirit will rejoice with us as we realize that we are one with Him just as Jesus is.  The Holy Spirit wants us to feel the same connection with the Father as Jesus experienced and experiences today.  God will use our worship time to encourage us and equip us to be better conduits of His love.  Worship is an encounter with God that transforms us and helps us to be joyful and patient even if the Baptists get to the restaurants first.