FOOD FOR THE SOUL

ALL ENCOMPASSING LOVE

2007-10-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

„I have loved you with an everlasting love”

(Jeremiah 31,3)

The love of God is not a passing feeling.

Its intensity is seen in giving up His Son to be our Savior and Redeemer.

It is manifested in His eternal saving purpose whereby He engages all His divine power to bring us to glory, so that we may enjoy His love forever.

His love is immutable, it will never change. „How shall I give thee up?” (Hos 11,8). „Having loved his own… he loved them to the end” (John 13,1).

His everlasting love is victorious, it knows no defeat. It is the final source of my God-ward desires. I am loved by Him; so I can love Him.

I go the Him because He draws me with His infallible love.

It is an all-conquering love. As Isaac Watts put it, “Love so amazing, so divine / Demands my soul, my life, my all”.

Lord,

my salvation rest on your love. And I am saved to love you forever.

Thank you. Amen.

THIS CAN BECOME A DAY OF SALVATIONS

2007-10-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

„…God guaranteed his covenant with me,
Spelled it out plainly
and kept every promised word—
My entire salvation,
my every desire.”

(2Samuel 23, 5 / The Message Bible)

These are the last words of King David. He was a prolific writer, whose poetry is still with us. Our hymn books and sermons are graced with his thoughts; a man „after God’s heart”. I would not say that these are the last words he uttered before dying, but I believe, he worked on these lines carefully, and left them behind as his last testament.

Read it again, meditate on these phrases!

God’s guarantee.

Covenant with me.

Plain words, and promises kept.

Entire salvation.

My world of desires.

I woke early this morning. After meditating on the king’s testimony in 2Samuel 23, I need to ready myself for a day of activities: meeting with people, working, writing, talking with my kids and Gyöngyöm about our lives, listening to others about theirs, etc.

My God! How could I retell to all of them this message about the guarantees of God? How careful I need to be, to stay within the confines of the Covenant! Do I understand the Word, and will I recognize Him keeping His promises throughout the day? Can I hope that this “entire salvation” will encompass everything, even my prayers for that young man persecuted by the Devil thousands of miles away? Am I willing to roll down my desires to the very end? And even then – will they be OK-d by Him?

Lord Jesus, You are the Great Guarantor. My life is worthless, if you leave me on my own. Stay in me with your Word, and help me to see your presence and workings around me. Let this day become a day of salvations, for your glory and for the benefit of your people. Amen.

THE GRATITUDE OF GREATER EXPECTATIONS

2007-10-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

„Great salvation he brings…”

(2Samuel 22,51)

Hannah’s jubilant song of thanksgiving and David’s song of praise form a poetic frame for the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. A duo of earthlings, a mother and a king, whose entrance to the theatre of human events was just as incidental as yours and mine, now speak of the greatest experience we may have: they see the approaching great salvation of God. Hannah’s gratitude for Samuel and David’s reflection on personal and national victories are the starting points, but what they see on the horizon, God’s future mercies closing on them, the “great salvation he brings” is the main point of their testimony.

It is not easy to be thankful. A “Thank-you” forwarded to God in thought or song falls short of His purposes if it deals only with the past. Guidance given, problems solved, prayers answered are acts of a God, who is much bigger than what you and I have seen Him to be. He is even mightier than the sum total of our common experiences. That is why faith’s appreciation is really thankfulness projected into the future. These songs end on the note of gratitude of greater expectations. True thankfulness starts from the past, but takes us to the future.

How thankful are you? What is the tense dominating in your prayer of thanksgiving? The past tense does not do justice to a God waiting on us in the future.

Lord, help me to turn from my personal victories toward the approaching salvation, when the whole World will be filled with your glory! Amen.

POST IT!

2007-10-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

Three things are too much for even the earth to bear,
yes, four things shake its foundations—
when the janitor becomes the boss,
when a fool gets rich,
when a whore is voted "woman of the year,"
when a "girlfriend" replaces a faithful wife.

(Proverbs 30,21-23)

As a young man I despised them, but lately I am learning to appreciate the usefulness of lists. The shopping list comes handy in the store, just as the post-it stickers all around the house remind me commitments yet to be fulfilled, things to grab, and important tasks to attend. Once superfluous, nowadays I consider them practical necessities. Putting things in order, readying myself for those uncomfortable lapses in memory, guarding against interfering thoughts and tasks while trying to accomplish something – lists are my new friends.

In the Sixth Chapter of Proverbs we find a list of hateful things as observed by Solomon, and in Chapter 30 there are five other lists, created by Agur, the son of Jakeh. I put these lists on my list; Lord’s willing I plan to preach on them next Spring. They call on us to pay more attention to life. They remind us, that life seeks to follow a created pattern, and violations to that pattern just simply don’t fit. People who insist on living by their own pattern, are fools – teaches this book of wisdom. So, keep these lists close to your heart, use them to weigh your actions, because the artful Weaver of Life’s Patterns wants to keep you on track!

Agur’s lists are not intended to be exhaustive. I am sure, you will agree, this third out of the five, as quoted form the Message Bible is a list of circumstances that offend common sense. Just think about them for a moment, have a mental picture of them, and go on living the life God intended for you!

Each of these situations pictures a person in the wrong place. A boss (in other translations, “the king”) should learn to serve, but do not give the reign to the servant. The great “invention of the French Revolution”, copied by the Leninists was, to turn the whole world upside down. Rulers made in the instant turned out to be even more unfit than the ones they have replaced. The well-fed bonehead will miss the lessons to be learned in situations that would otherwise awaken him to his foolishness. When society worships whoredom, the sense of beauty is lost. Throwing away faithfulness will not manage the pains that come with mid-life crises. Friends, make a note of this, your wife is better in every way than that nice babe whose boyfriend, a weathered piece of furniture like you and me cannot be. If you like the rhyme, post it!

Pastor Novak

SEEING THE UNSEEN

2007-08-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

“Ears that hear and eyes that see — we get our basic equipment from God!”
(Proverbs 20:12 / The Message Bible)

The decorations on the walls in Dr. Koppany’s office are all about the different parts and inner workings of the human eye. The yearly visit with the Hungarian optometrist is necessitated by my weakening eyesight, but we like to discuss matters relating to our spiritual sight as well. He is a Methodist believer, a dedicated professional, whose opinions in both areas, the physical and the spiritual, are based on his deep, personal insights.

The colorful charts and displays in the physician’s office portray the delicate structure of the eye. This little organ is a bundle of tens of millions of electrical connections, enabled to handle almost two million simultaneous messages. The tiny muscles in the eye are amongst the body’s strongest. They move about one hundred thousand times daily, to bring the objects viewed into sharp focus. A similar exercising of the leg muscles would entail a fifty-mile walk, in one day!

How much more precious is spiritual sight; man’s God-given ability to absorb information about the unseen world! Yet, the Bible teaches, natural man is spiritually blind. Sin obstructs our spiritual sight. It is the work of grace received to have the first unobstructed glimpses of our sorrowful spiritual state. That is when and why we cry for the Lord’s mercy. Seeing more, seeing clearly, beholding His glory, viewing ourselves as He sees us, and then, believing even the unseen, these are spiritual terrains grasped thru eyes touched by the healing power of God’s grace.

The Spirit of God maintains our spiritual sight. He energizes our perceptions and will to focus on the significant. He keeps us in balance so that the multitudes of charges and impulses running through being will lead to a deepened understanding of truth. His guidance in the interpretation of spiritual information helps us to be obedient to the Truth, who came to the world to be revealed. For the greatest tragedy of life is not seeing Jesus Christ, the God incarnate. We are re-created to behold Him in glory!

Lord, I say with the blind man in the Gospels: “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). You are my Healer. I praise you, and go on worshipping you as one who sees life full of your presence. Amen..

STOOPED TO THE RELIGION OF SELF-HOOD

2007-08-23T13:22:00.000-07:00

„Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding”

(Proverbs 3:5)

In this sentence man is portrayed in two possible postures as to the realities of life. Let us start with the second, in order to avoid a common mistake in the interpretation of this verse. Without question, right understanding of life is the goal set forth by the Teacher speaking to us in Proverbs. The messages in this book appeal to our search for meaning, and the conclusions encased in proverbial clarity show man’s ability for analytical thinking. Understanding handed down from previous generations coupled with our own knowledge and experiences fuel the engine of societal and personal progress. Belittling our God-given ability and responsibility to reason would lead us to a position of disobedience as to God’s creative purposes.

Unintelligent living cannot be sanctified by revealed truth. The Gospel has no footing in our soul until at least a very basic openness for truth is present. As sectors for truth are being deleted (or filled with emotionalism) by newer waves of postmodern un-thinking, modern man, stooped to the religion of self-hood, cannot worship the God of Truth revealed in Christ Jesus. This is to say, the prohibition is not against careful thinking, but against misplaced trust.

What the Teacher is saying that, God is to be worshipped in order for human understanding to have its rightful place. Faith and knowledge, worship of God and human progress are joined together as expressions of wisdom. “Fools despise wisdom and instruction…,” BUT, “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…” (Prov 1,7).

The verb “trust” connotes the idea of prostrating oneself to the point of lying helplessly face downwards. “Leaning” is to “support one self”. In other words, this wonderful verse in Proverbs tells us, to “trust ourselves under the protection of God we worship, instead of placing our expectations solely on our understanding of life”. Again, the message in this verse is about the dangers of misplaced trust and not about the fallacies of human knowledge.

Lord, we realize that searching for truth we must find our rightful place in your presence. Help us to learn right living as worshippers of Christ, who is the Fountain of Life Everlasting. Thank you for the blessings of life! Amen.

SWEEPING WRONGS UNDER THE RUG

2007-08-22T11:07:00.001-07:00

„Showing forbearance to one another in love”

(Ephesians 4,2)

It is likely that you did not hear the word “forbearance” being used around you recently. Looking up the meaning of the word explains the reasons for the silence. These are the definitions of forbearance: “tolerance and restraint in the face of provocation; a delay in enforcing rights or claims or privileges; refraining from acting”. Another usage goes like this: “the act of a creditor who refrains from enforcing a debt when it falls due”. Once the practice is out use there is no reason to stick with the word.

No matter what the world does, believers are commanded to practice forbearance to one another. The Greek expression translated as “showing forbearance” actually means “suppressing something with silence”. In this context it conveys the idea of throwing a blanket over those things that would be obstacles to healthy relationships. Guess what! – a certain kind of „sweeping of the sins under the rug”, is commanded by the Scriptures.

In Proverbs we read, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions” (10,12). In certain situations forbearance is the only option for lovingly maintain a relationship. As the apostle teaches, there is place for this kind of love in our churches. The obstacles to the relationship need to be covered inside of us, so that we are enabled to relate in spite the wrongs done to us.

This is how God relates to you and me.

Lord, confessing my unworthiness of your love, I thank you for sending Christ to die for me. Help me to love others; even my enemies. My desire is to show forbearance to others in love. Amen.

YOU'RE CHALLENGED TO BE BLESSED

2007-08-21T12:45:00.000-07:00

„Blessed are…”

(Matthew 5,3)

Being blessed is not the feeling that we generally have about ourselves. Even as believers, we more often feel like victims. Constant complaining and the spirit of passive resignation permeate much of our conversation, as if we were under a curse. As a consequence, we are becoming unstable and afraid deep inside.

How could we live life to its fullest unless the power of Jesus Christ frees us form these shackles of pessimism? Listen to Him! Jesus is challenging you to be blessed. He calls us to find a new form of existence, offering us a life that will be manifestly different. To be blessed means continually enriched by God. An overflow of good things, a bubbling up of joy, harmony and normalcy, the primacy of truth in everything and an easy disregard for lies, these are some of the colors I would choose to paint a picture about being blessed. And please, notice it, these are all readily available, offered to us by Christ Himself. This is what he brought to those thousands on the hillside, 2000 years ago. Would you, please, believe it! God did not send His Son to the Mount to talk about niceties. He did not take upon Himself humanity in order to give a sermon on ideals. Jesus came to bless. He is the blessing. Knowing Him, we are blessed.

Lord, if your challenge for me is to be blessed by you, than I am ready to listen, to take my place and to rejoice in your presence. Amen.

DISHONEST ERROR

2007-08-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

„The stone the builders rejected…”

(Matthew 21,42)

Honest errors are part of the learning process. Take it for granted, living life to the fullest we shall commit a few of them. The soul can be healed even after an honest rejection of Christ. “Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him.”

On the other hand, by rejecting the “stone”, these builders have reached their “wretched end”, said the Lord. The “kingdom of God will be taken away” from them (v. 43). The dishonesty in their decision of rejecting Christ was so profound that it invaded every intention and action thereafter, closing them up in an eternal state of denial about truth that matters. C.S. Lewis likened this to the person who evades a caller by leaving the telephone receiver in the off position. Willfully rejecting Him, they purposefully broke the communion with the Savior. By judging Him unfit, they tossed salvation off to the side. The very Christ deemed unusable for their building pronounced the sentence of their destruction. Dishonesty regarding Him is the greatest mistake anyone can commit.

Why? None of us know His potentials. All I am faced with is the unfinished business of my own life. I might have a hard time to believe Jesus’ claims, but rejecting Him for the unknowns is a total rejection. This is the “dishonest error” we all should avoid.

Lord, help me in my unbelief. I want to honor you even when I do not understand your ways. I want to trust in You rather than in my own judgments - because I am still unfinished. Amen.

THE LONDON METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE

2007-08-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

“For Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him”.

(Mark 6:20)

On this day, in 1859, the cornerstone of the Metropolitan Tabernacle was laid by the 25 years old Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Arriving to London’s New Park Street Baptist Church 6 years earlier, this son of a Congregational pastor proved to be the most fruitful preacher of his times. Even today, Spurgeon’s sermons, books and Biblical commentaries are widely read. The Tabernacle was built to hold sixty-five hundred. It was standing-room only an hour before the services began throughout the ministry of the founding pastor. He preached there until shortly before his death in 1892.

My favorite Spurgeon-sermon is the one he delivered on the morning of November 25, 1860 at Exeter Hall (the Tabernacle was opened in May of 1861). His text was Mark 6:20, and title of the message, “Preaching! Man’s privilege and God’s power!” In my opinion, in this sermon the “Lion of Preachers” summarizes his convictions about the ministry of the Word. This sermon is a testament to Spurgeon’s reliance on the work of the Holy Spirit while proclaiming Bible-truths and while listening to the same. He studied and meditated on the Word, fully trusting in the reliability of the Scriptures. At the middle section of his wonderful testimony, Spurgeon’s deep affection for and knowledge of the best expositors the Spirit had given to the Church is manifested. In his esteem, however, the old man at the small Methodist church, who called on the young (16 years old) Spurgeon to look up to Christ for his salvation, was the greatest hero. I quote that part of the sermon:

“Personally I have to bless God for many good books. I thank God for Dr. Doddridge’s Rise and Progress of Religion; I thank God for Baxter’s Call to the Unconverted; for Allyne’s Alarm to Sinners; I bless God for Jame’s Anxious Enquirer; but my gratitude most of all is due to God, not for books, but for the living Word – and that too addressed to me by a poor uneducated man, a man who has never received any training for the ministry, and probably will never heard of in this life, a man engaged in business, no doubt of a menial kind during the week, but who had just enough of grace to say on the Sabbath, “Look unto me and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth.” The books were good, but the man was better. The revealed Word awakened me; it was the living Word saved me, and I must ever attach peculiar value to the hearing of the truth, for by it I received the joy and peace in which my soul delights.”

The application of the message, so practical and important a part in all his sermons, is a gem I greatly treasure. It has been my practice for years now to read it again and again, as a reminder and an encouragement regarding the importance of the ministry I was called to.

“Go home to your chamber, and say unto God, ‘I desire to believe what I have heard; I desire to trust my immortal soul in Jesus’ hands. Give me genuine faith; give me a real trust. Save me now, and save me hereafter.’ I dare avow it – I never can believe that any man so hearing the Word can by any possibility perish. Hear it, receive it, pray over it, and trust Christ through it, and if you are lost, there can be none saved. If this foundation give way, another can never be laid. If you fall, we all fall together. If trusting in Christ you can perish, all God’s prophets, and martyrs, and confessors, and ministers, perish too. You cannot. He will never fail you; trust him now.

Spirit of God! Incline the hearts of men to trust Christ. Enable them now to overcome their pride and their timidity, and may they trust the Saviour now, and they are saved for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

THE VIEW FROM THE WINDOW

2007-08-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

„As I stood at the window of my house looking out through the shutters, watching the mindless crowd stroll by…”.

(Proverbs 7,6 / The Message Bible)

How different the world appears when viewed from the palace window! The conclusions reached by Solomon from his unique viewpoint were right. As the story goes, he noticed a young man in the crowd, enticed by his sexual desires, going to a harlot’s house, “as a bird hastens to the snare” (v. 23).

“Many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are all her slain” – writes the king (v. 26). Watching and judging from the distance is a luxury few can afford. The time came when even king Solomon had to leave the protection of his elevated position. We expect him to be wise in his decisions. One would hope that, knowing about the dangers, he will be guarded and especially careful when faced with tempting circumstances. Lo and behold, Solomon failed too. The fall of others, described by him in vivid details, became the prescription for his own demise. In the Book of First Kings we read, “when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God” (11,4).

What is the lesson in the story of Solomon? It teaches me that, looking at the world from my unique position as a child of God, and being able to see the enticements and effect of sin on others will not automatically protect me from the same dangers. And, we are not called to be observers of human failures. Since we are told to be “in the world”, but not “of the world, what is the Lord’s plan for the seasons of “palace dwelling” in the life of the believer? Aren’t we offered this wonderful protection so that we would do something for those living outside the confines of the “palace”?

I believe, the wise king missed the point. Allowing me to see the world as it is, God wants me to be thankful for the protection that I was placed under when He adopted me into his family. Instead of judging others, I have to conclude, “By the grace of God I am what I am”. My window in the king’s palace should be a place of intercession for those living still in darkness. Righteous conclusions help no one. Thankfulness for our safety, and concerns poured into prayer are the marks of good stewardship with the benefits of salvation in Christ.

Lord, guard me from careless living in the world you’ve died for. Amen.

AGAINST USELESS FEELINGS OF RELIGIOSITY

2007-08-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

„Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible”

(3John 5).

It is hard for us to imagine the difficulties travelers faced in the ancient world. Obeying the commands of Christ, the disciples and those following them had to face life-threatening circumstances while spreading the message of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. The hospitality of Gaius became known among the brethren in Asia Minor. The traveling missionaries staying at his home enjoyed his “faith made visible”.

The force of this expression (in other translations, “acting faithfully”) opens a new world of possibilities before us, desiring to make our trust in the Lord visible and so understandable to our contemporaries. The truthfulness of our faith is not proven by the force of our arguments. “Making the faith visible” will introduce the relationship we have with the Savior to others in terms they can relate to.

A simple act of hospitality, lending a helping hand, just “being there” for somebody in the name of Christ, these are missionary acts, practical ways to acquaint others with the life of faith. I use the qualifier “practical”, while emphasizing its redundancy in the context of carrying out the Great Commandment. If taking the Message of Christ to new places required traveling, the use of different modes of transportation, and even hospitable acts on the part of the Church in the First Century, can we allow ourselves to be less practical in the 21th?

The faith of the believer is not a system of beliefs. It is a way of living for Christ, spiced up with simple practical acts of service.

Although our individual circumstances vary, we are all called to take part in the work that Gaius was involved in. Is our faith visible? In what practical ways do you give your testimony to the people living and working around you?

A pastor friend told me the story of an unannounced visit by another minister right at the moment of his deepest need. He was contemplating of leaving the ministry. Discouraged as he was, he gladly opened the door before the visitor. The elderly minister did not ask him about the circumstances, and did not offer his wisdom. He stopped by to pray with my friend. Since that time, the Lord opened several new avenues of ministry before him. Whenever I have a chance to hear him proclaiming the Good News, and he is a great preacher, I thank the Lord for that old minister’s “visible faith”.

Lord Jesus, I want to be useful in the work you are doing in the world. Teach me to live out my faith, and help me to leave behind useless acts and feelings of religiosity. Amen.

RUNNING FROM THE TRUTH

2007-08-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

„Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son”.

(2John 9 / NIV)

Is this a new way liberals love talk of themselves? They like to refer to leftist ideologies as “progressive”. In this term the opposite meaning is implied to conservatives. In the view of the left, anybody holding orthodox views, is clinging to the past, and must be against progress.

In this verse, found in the Second letter written by the apostle John, the progress of the Gospel and the so called “progressive” attitude - in this case toward the Person of Christ - are mentioned side by side. Obviously, this is a sarcastic reference to individuals offering their “advanced” teaching, as opposed to revelation and the personal knowledge of the “old” John.

What will those leave behind who “run ahead” instead of continuing “in the teaching”? Their advancement takes them to territories outside the purview of truth. Offering themselves in the expense of truth, they reveal the true nature of the liberal mindset. I am not qualified to venture out to other fields, like politics, economy or the social sciences, but their misuse of the Scriptures and their presence in the life of the church suggest a deep desire and need for self-gratification, for the worship of the self. As John says, they “do not have God”.

The breading ground of liberalism is unqualified openness, or staying closer to the theme of Second John: love separated from truth.

In the presence of truth deep humility is required. The advancement of the sciences is a story of true humility put to work in search of a better understanding of truth. So it is with the advancement of the Gospel. The road to a deeper understanding of the ways of God is traveled by men and women in awe of the Lord Jesus revealed in the Scriptures. They are His disciples, walking, indeed advancing with Him toward the Knowledge that awaits them in Glory.

Be aware of the God-less “progressive”!

Lord Jesus, you called me to be your follower. I want to follow your will in all aspects of life. In regard to my relationship with you, and my responsibilities in your Kingdom, help me to remain on the side of truth, as revealed in the Bible. Thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit, on whose help I rely as I study Your Word. Amen.

KAMILLA FÜREDI

2007-08-10T21:59:00.000-07:00

„In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” (1Peter 3,15)

Saying that faith in Him is a matter of the heart, we underscore Christ’s importance to the person. As it is often said, everybody believes in something, but our relationship with the Savior is not in that category. Let me illustrate this point. I believe in the institution of marriage, just like you do. There are millions agreeing with us, because we consider marriage to be the basis of a healthy society. But when it comes to my marriage, my covenant relationship with Gyöngyöm , as we have joined our lives together, we have parted with those millions still agreeing with us.

I believe, our personal relationship with the Lord should be viewed the same way. While we confess with millions the truths about His person and work, there is a deep, personal attachment, a covenantal form of life to be experienced by the individual believer, that can be the joy of two free individuals only.

The job of the Church is to direct the souls – with the help and blessings of shared experiences and beliefs – toward that deeper personal commitment.

Set apart Christ as your Lord! Your eternal future is not a consequence of shared convictions and experiences. It is based not on your membership in a church, but on your personal relationship with the Savior. He is the Head of the Church, because He is Lord in the hearts. (On this point, we obviously part with the Roman Catholic teaching on the Church.)

As I was meditating on this passage from the First letter of Peter, names of missionaries came to my mind, whose heartfelt dedication to Christ should be an inspiration for us. Would you pray for the missionaries you know and support, now? Christ set apart in the heart is not an idea in the life of the missionary. In order to be prepared for service, they leave behind the comforts of their homes, endure all kinds of hardships, immerse themselves in the lives of the peoples to be helped, and do all these in humility. Kamilla Füredi is such a sister, serving the Lord in Sierra Leone. As the election campaign begins in that small African country, we should all pray for the physical and spiritual welfare of our Brethren living and working there.

Today is the anniversary of a prayer meeting held at a Bible conference in New Jersey (in 1933), where leaders of the American Keswick movement asked the Lord to open the door for the evangelization of the native peoples living in Mexico. Unknown to them, on the other side of the Atlantic another group was praying for the same. The story of how “Cam” Townsend and his co-workers received the permission to enter the country, and in two years started the translation of the Bible into tribal languages, is a story of miracles. This endeavor became the first great outreach of the Wycliffe Bible Translators, a Protestant mission organization.

THIS ARMY'S PROBLEM ISN'T UNDER FUNDING

2007-08-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

„God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels„

(Ephesians 6,10-12 / The Message Bible)

Take them, and put them to use! To be victorious in the spiritual battles we are engaged in, we need to put on the armor that God supplies. The commandment “put on” carries the idea of permanence, of once and for all.

An understanding of the very nature of the Christian life is in order at this point. We are under attack continuously. Satan, our enemy wants to destroy the works of Christ in and around us. He hates our peace, jealous of our joy, laughs at our commitments and ceaselessly pursues us on our searches for deeper life with the Lord. When he happens on a believer who is off guard - his tactics are predictable – he overwhelms his victims with accusations and doubts, blinds them with the poisons of hellish lies, and then takes them as hostages, captivated by the lure of deadly deceptions. There are numerous passages in the Bible, warnings regarding this issue.

Our hope is in the Lord. He wants us to be strong and divinely protected, so there are “well-made weapons of the best materials” set out for us. Christ’s army never suffers because of under funding. But we need to put on the armor of God (in the following verses the apostle writes about them in more detail)!

There was an expedition to Mount Everest in 1996 that ended in tragedy. I see the sad story of Andy Harris’ death, who happened to be the leader of the group of climbers as a portray of believers leaving the provisions of God unused for their detriment. As Jon Krakauer tells in his book Into Thin Air, on his descent form the mountain Mr. Harris became in dire need of oxygen. In his last contact with the base-camp, he radioed his predicament to his friends. When asked about his location, he told them that he was next to a cache of oxygen canisters left behind by other climbers, all empty. The colleagues he talked with on the radio had already passed by those canisters on their own return from the summit. They knew that they were not empty, but full. They pleaded with him to make use of them. But Harris’ mind was disoriented. Already starved of oxygen, his incapacitated brain failed him to recognize “the provision”, and to use the oxygen-filled container that was in his hand.

Lord Jesus! You are able to keep me from stumbling, and to make me stand in the presence of your glory blameless with great joy. I want to obey you. Amen.

WE ARE UNIONIZED!

2007-08-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

„Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.”

(Ephesians 6,5-8 / The Message Bible)

Being united with Christ, we are always in His presence. The phrase „always with an eye to obeying the real master” reminds us of our true identity. Our unique status in this world is realized when we trust the Master’s promise about the eternal significance of our work here. For jobs done well, the believer is doubly paid for.

I remember situations when I witnessed the bad behavior of church-folk in the work place. How shamefully they misused the extra trust they have enjoyed! At my first job in America, as a janitor in a K-Mart, I was left alone by the manager to ready the store for opening in the morning. A group of men from a local congregation, hired to do maintenance jobs, stayed with me once a month. I was literally afraid of those nights. My workload was doubled. Someone had to cover for their laziness and carelessness. They would discuss church matters, conduct Bible-study and watch religious programs in the TV section, and even sleep – while being paid by another member of their church.

On the other hand, as the pastor of an ethnic church, I witness the blessings and special care the Lord bestows on those who obey Him. Overcoming obstacles, known only by immigrants, the men and women of our congregation proved to be excellent investments for their employers. They have truly become “contributing members of the society”. Their excellence at the workplace is our church’s testimony. This could happen because we are “unionized” – with Christ.

I write these, to encourage you to become a servant - in the Biblical sense of the word. The first recipients of Paul’s letter were slaves. Children of God, yet, having no legal rights, and being treated as commercial commodities. In his commentary, William Barclay sites a story written by Juvenal, of a slave owner whose greatest pleasure was “listening to the sweet song of his slaves being flogged”. If the Master expected them, our slave brothers and sisters living in the First Century “to work with a smile on their face”, shouldn’t we be encouraged by the Word that, we are really serving God – “no matter who happens to be giving the orders”?

Lord, help your children to the realization that you are their boss even at the workplace! Bless them with the joy of serving you, while taking care of their various responsibilities. I pray for their safety at work, and for your protection on their way home. Amen.

IT'S HATED, SO PRAY IT!

2007-08-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

„Look at this: look
Who got picked by God!
He listens the split second I call to him”

(Psalm 3:4 / The Message Bible)

The prayers found in the Book of Psalms served a very special purpose for believers throughout the centuries. These are samples of expressions, life situations and human conditions that we can easily relate to. Prayers offered from long gone situation, yet to be prayed by moderns, like us. Songs without melody; waiting to join the rhythms of our lives. The questions found here seem all too familiar, and the answers offered should be seriously considered by all of us. They tell us ancient stories we know existentially as individuals and members of a community, and prophesize the future waiting for us.

The Fourth psalm is a model prayer for a believer whose reputation is being attacked. You know what I am talking about! Like, when someone wants to advance himself by getting you out of the way. What will he most likely to do? He will slander you with baseless accusations. It is a very humiliating experience. First, you just simply don’t want to believe it. Then, being in pain, you act frustrated. Soon anger takes over. Stop! Its time to pray…

We learn from this psalm that, the best way to handle a situation like this is to answer the accuser, but to answer him or her in prayer. This is exactly what David does in verse 3. He reminds his enemies of the most precious truth - that he, David “got picked by God” (“the Lord has set apart the godly for himself”). Say it, please, only in prayer! This is something the enemies of the righteous do not want to hear. The doctrine of election is widely hated by the unbelievers – inside and outside of our churches. Yet, it is true. You may even experience this truth working in your life right now. Try it! Put aside your anger and talk to the Lord about your hurts. If you can do that it means that the Spirit of God is in you, he kept your access to the Throne of Grace open, where graces for healing, protection and blessings are prepared for you to receive.

The point is that, hurts denied or unexpressed on their own will not go away. The danger is their mutation into even more dangerous forms. Prayer is the healthy way to express them. Given over to Him, these most humbling experiences in our life become times of learning about the love of God.

Let us find out how long is a “split second”!

Lord Jesus, forgive me for not realizing that you are with me when I am under attack. You see me, and know that I am hurting. I confess that, you will bring me to victory. I am weak, but you are strong. Even in this painful situation I want to praise you. Amen.

MESSAGE, OR OPINION?

2007-08-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

MESSAGE, OR OPINION?

Now again, my Master's Message, God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies:

"Go out into the streets and lament loudly!
Fill the malls and shops with cries of doom!

Weep loudly, 'Not me! Not us, Not now!'
Empty offices, stores, factories, workplaces.

Enlist everyone in the general lament.
I want to hear it loud and clear when I make my visit."
God's Decree.

(Amos 5,16-17 / The Message Bible)

Amos, do not bother to apply! You will never be an anchor on the nightly news. Our “streets”, the airwaves, the papers and the internet, are avenues where we freely express our opinions. We don’t like “messengers”. Messages from a God, who is in charge of Heavenly Armies, are of no interest to us. Tell us how you feel, and if we like what we hear, we will turn you on again. Then, but only then, we might even support you and your causes.

As long as the malls are packed with products, we need no crying babies, especially not from God. It was always our opinion; long time investors eventually win. Look! The stock market agrees with us. Compared to anyone, our workers are more industrious. What do you know about the city? I never heard of your birthplace. Tekoa, it has to be somewhere in the desert. How far that God of yours found you from America? Marvel at the skyscrapers, walk on the plush carpets in the office buildings, be mesmerized by the lights and the sounds; and learn to love our way of live!

Even though he was forewarned, the prophet set out for the city. The skyline was magnificent. Sprawling buildings, sparkling lights, sensuous images awaited him everywhere. Then, there was the factory. Entering, he found it empty. From there he went to the mall. Packed with stuff to the ceiling, the stores were empty of people. He could not visit the top floors of the office buildings. Inaccessible form the street, as he was told in all kinds of languages, the prophet wanted nothing else to see. In his room, disappointed and exhausted, he turned on the news to hear the “opinions” about his shocking discoveries.

The same politicians, CEOs, actors and public personalities popped up on millions of screens around him. There were the stars of disappointed and exhausted city-dwellers. In their opinion, the state of the city can be described by two simple words: “peace and prosperity”.

He needed nothing more to hear. He remembered the Word. And then, the prophet started to cry…

Friends, when a prophet cries, he sees something in the future… It is time to pray for our country!

WHAT'S IN THAT COFFIN?

2007-08-04T22:02:00.000-07:00

„Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,
Climb out of your coffins;

Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!”

(Ephesians 5,11-16 / The Message Bible)

Wasting time is the tragedy of living. An avoidable disaster, yet, for scandalously great numbers of people this horrible waste is of no concern at all. The trap they so easily fall into covered up with pursuits of every kind, and activities of all sort.

The amount of time carelessly spent, the months and the years, add up quickly to a whole life, taken up by the non-essentials. I consider this to be a great problem for our generation. Wouldn’t you agree?

As believers, looking for solutions, again we search for the gospel! When opening your Bible, always look for the gospel! The Savior, our Lord Jesus is talking with us in this wonderful book. His Spirit is in you to guide your attention to the healing words of the Master. And here they are! “Expose these things!”, “Rip the cover off!”, “Wake up!”, Climb out your coffin!”, and “CHRIST WILL SHOW YOU THE LIGHT”.

Regarding the wiser use of their time, people need an awakening. (Believe me; I know what I am talking about.) In the first instance, while still in fear and shame, all we have to do, all we can do is to judge ourselves. In that Spirit induced sorrow, we are challenged to be honest with ourselves. Perhaps, you did not choose the right profession, might have been careless, or flat out lazy. Many are under the pretenses of false choices, like burying their talents and opportunities under the rubble of activities. The Gospel-way to better time-management never leaves out this most important first step. Confess it! And then, be ready to follow the light!

Lord Jesus, with thanksgiving I accept again the call to be your disciple. I would like to learn from you the Way of living: how to live, and what to live for? I praise you for the wonder of your love. You died, that I may live – now, and forever. Amen.

ME, A MORON?

2007-08-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

„Don't allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don't talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn't fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect” .

(Ephesians 5,3-4 / The Message Bible)

Addicted to talking, we tend to be careless of what we actually communicate. Talk-shows on the left and on the right, garrulous politicians popping up on our TV screens scoring points with voters of their ilk, ministers blabbing on the pulpits, while phones ring and beep and buzz with the latest gossips ready to be released in voice or in text messages to the same audiences – our society is addicted to talking.

We are called to live in a way that reflects Jesus Christ, teaches the apostle in Ephesians 4-5. Jesus was a Rabbi, a teacher par excellence. In the Gospels we see Him talking with all kinds of people. He loved to do that. I imagine Him as one who would really enjoy a good conversation about the interests of men and women of today. As the title of Dr. Peterson’s excellent Bible-translation suggests, He has a Message for us, contained in the Holy Scriptures. In these verses He talks to us about talking itself.

Since you, my readers, avoid dirty subjects, let me share with you what the Bible means by silly talk. The phrase literally means “moron words”. It describes a person with a very poor vocabulary. We bring to surface words and present our “messages” from the pool of our experiences. Being one with Christ, we had been baptized (immersed) into the world where He operates. Since I am a preacher, I have a natural inclination to talk about the Bible, and history, and theology, Bible, history, and theology, and that’s it. If that is all, what I do, than I am a moron.

The world outside of my interest and calling belongs to God also, who sends out His Spirit to renew, and re-work everything marred by sin. Before opening my big mouth, I should open my eyes to His marvelous works everywhere and in everything. Only while immersed in the wonders of God’s world do we have meaningful things to say. Looking for and acknowledging His presence we become worshippers, and so learn a new dialect: the dialect of thanksgiving.

Lord Jesus, break my barriers so that I will see more of you. Forgive me for being dull in my conversations. May I taste the joys of worshipping you, so that my tongue will detect anything stupid before letting it out. Amen.

THE BASIS OF UNITY

2007-08-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

„Grace was given to each one of us…to grow up in every way into him who is the head” (Ephesians 4,7-16).

The subject matter of this section in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is the most unique characteristic describing the Body of Christ. It is the unity of the Church. But what kind of unity are we talking about? Being individualistic as we have “grown” to be, one might think, it must be the unity of purpose. No, it is not. Same mindedness is not unique to the Church. Another way we often think of the Church as if the common faith would be the glue that binds us together. “Unity of faith” (v. 13) is actually the result, the fruit grown on the life of the Church. The most unique characteristic of the Body of Christ is its organic unity. Like parts in the human body, we are knit together to a glorious, elaborate, life supporting, organic system: a Body for Christ’s presence in this age.

Actually, what is common in all the members, large and small, young and old, is the grace given to each. Grace given - as needed, lavishly - “...according to the measure of Christ’s gift”. When we come together, all recipients of this grace, our solidarity is built around the personal experience of our deepest needs being met by Christ Jesus. The foundation for the organic unity of the Church is grace received from the same source and for the same purpose by all the parts.

Naturally, this morning we are focused on the tragedy that happened yesterday near Minneapolis, Minnesota. As local, state and federal leaders gathered for a news conference a few minutes ago, ready to take on the enormous task of recovery, investigating, and rebuilding the collapsed bridge and the lives of the communities around it, I was reminded of the need for unity even in secular society. The task before those officials is to build something temporary. If earthly goals are unreachable without unity, how could the Church function without this sacred concord? How important it is to realize that our unity is based on nothing else, but the grace given to each and every one of us! Just think about it!

Let us pray for humility to view our qualification for belonging to Christ’s Body on the basis of His graciousness! Let us pray for the people of Minnesota, and especially for those living in the Twin Cities area. This morning I called the office of Dr. John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, and told him that they are in the prayers of Hungarian Baptists, worldwide.

2007-08-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4,1-3 / NIV).

The apostle made no apology for pleading with people to do what was truly important. We fill our days with all kinds of activities. Men and women of today are dreadfully busy. The challenges of the workplace and then, the to-do-lists waiting on us at home, fill our calendars, exhaust our energies, and clog our ability for discernment. As a matter of fact, there are people whose ineffectiveness is a direct result of their hectic lifestyle.

I came upon this passage this morning, reading my Hungarian devotional. Never had I experienced the Spirit talking to me through the familiar words of the apostle Paul as today. Please forgive me for saying this, but I felt, as He was playing a game, a kind of pick-a-boo on me. Let me show you what’s going on here!

A careful reading of the first sentence shows the apostle being at two places at the same time. He is a prisoner, hundreds of miles away, in Rome. Yet, he is also a friend, standing next to his readers, pleading (PARAKALEO), almost begging for attention. With loving concerns he implores them to be everything the Lord desires of them. The verb “urge” connotes the idea of a friend coming to and staying at someone’s side with the expressed desire to help. Far away, and at our side, at the same time.

This is the Holy Spirit in action. When we carelessly wonder into the jungle of life, and there, preoccupied with our newfound importance forget blessings and callings from above, He suddenly shows up. Even now, He urges us to live “in a manner worthy of the calling”.

You are a child of God. You are saved to be different. The work and very presence of Christ are to be manifested in and through you. His Spirit is on your side, urging you to answer the call that enables you to walk worthy of your new life.

Lord! When I find myself in the jungle of the temporary, open my eyes to see my Heavenly Companion, and help me to obey Him. Amen.