Mike Fisk & Built with Grace

Dead Faith is Worthless Faith

December 7, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: active faith, Dead faith, Hope, ignoring the signs of his coming, Matthew 2:5, Messiah is here, the Magi, The star of the east, trust | 2 comments

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: Matthew 2:5 (NLT)

When the Magi came to Jerusalem looking for the new King, we are told that all Jerusalem was in an uproar over their question. By now Jesus was perhaps two years old. The rumors about the baby in the manger had most likely died away. After all, even back in Biblical days the idea of a Messiah being born in a manger, of angels singing to a bunch of neighbors, and the young mother being an unmarried teenager from the small, obscure hamlet of Nazareth seemed pretty preposterous.

When Herod came to the priests to seek an answer to the Magi’s question they were quick to quote scripture to him. They knew full well that location of the birth a new King. It was spelled out clearly by the prophecy in Micah as well as by other prophets. The signs were there.

Jesus would say later in his ministry, when asked about his return, to watch for the signs. Dates and times weren’t for us to know. When buds form on trees and flowers push through the hard ground of winter you know spring is coming. When you see wars, rumors of war, political and relational turmoil, an increase in sin and other abominations, you know I’m coming back.

In the same way, there were many signs that the coming of the Messiah was close. Who knows but that there were many babies born around Jesus time in which people asked: “Is this him? Could this be Messiah? It had been 400 years since there were any prophecies spoken. Four hundred years of silence by God, four hundred years of waiting by the people. Four hundred years to grow complacent and skeptical.

Did they see the star as well and choose to ignore it? Did they hear the rumors and spend their time determining why this could not be the way God would do things? Did their skepticism keep them from seeing the ‘handwriting on the wall’?

Dead faith is faith in which we refuse to look at the answers. We see the truth and decide to follow only those that don’t interfere with our own plans, our own ambitions, our own interpretation and determination of how God works. Dead faith is unable to see God’s handiwork because we are blinded by our own ideas, our own traditions, our own determination of God’s ability to fulfill his promises.

Dead faith is religion. We aren’t called to follow religious dogmas. We are called to relationship with a living Savior. Dead faith follows an unapproachable God. Relationship can only happen with a living being. Our God is not dead or unapproachable.

Not a single priest offered to go check out the story the Magi told them. Not a single religious leader took enough interest in their story to see if maybe, just maybe it really was the Messiah. It simply wasn’t important enough to them. It wasn’t worth their time.

PRAYER: Father, you show us on a daily basis, through your Word and your Spirit, how we should live. May we never be guilty of ignoring the ‘stars’ the signs in our lives. Help us to see you clearly and act on what we know. Amen.

Are You Ready for a New King?

December 6, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: A new ruler in town, Complacency, Jerusalem in uproar, King Herod, Matthew 2:3, messiah, the Magi, worship | 5 comments

When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, as were all the people in Jerusalem. Matthew 2:3 (NCV)

Not everyone was happy when the news came of a newborn baby and the rumors of the Messiah being born. Tradition teaches us that Jesus was most likely an inquisitive little two-year-old by the time the Magi appeared in Jerusalem.

No doubt the goings on in Bethlehem had reached the streets of Jerusalem by then, but the stories were most likely, largely unsubstantiated. A few shepherds coming into town to tell of the miraculous birth would carry little clout. They were, after all, shepherds. Besides, most likely the new family had returned home to some little, insignificant town…Nazareth. After all, it was common knowledge that a king would be born anyplace other than Bethlehem, and a Nazarite? Not a chance.

But just about the time that the rumors had completely died, a caravan arrived in town looking for the new king of Israel and they caused quite a commotion.

King Herod had no right to the throne he inhabited. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He got to his position of power through violence, rage and deception. He ruled with an iron fist. If you followed Herod, you were safe. But no one dared cross him.

There were others worried about the rumors as well. The priests and others who were content in their tradition were nervous about making any waves with Herod. He allowed them to practice their religion as long as it didn’t interfere with his program. Tradition does that. It brings us to a place of complacency.

Complacency. Contentment. Religious tradition. All the things that kept Jerusalem quiet. But the Messiah was never about coming to bring complacency, he was about coming to expose the injustice of power and free those under its grasp.

No wonder then that all Jerusalem was in an uproar over the news of a new king. They didn’t want their way of life disturbed; their tradition tampered with; their religion shown to be full of hypocrisy and allegiance to a God-less King. They were unwilling to take a stand and uninterested in God changing them. They were more worried about the earthly King than they were excited about Messiah, God with us.

Not much has changed since the Magi came to Jerusalem that day. People are still content to worship their own way; still content to live safe lives steeped in tradition without making waves. Staying obscure is staying safe.

But that little two-year old the Magi visited doesn’t call us to complacency. He doesn’t call us to be safe. He calls us to a new life built on relationships, not rules. Our Father doesn’t work in ways the world expects, he works in ways that bring dramatic, life-long change.

PRAYER: Holy Father, I thank you today for the babe in the manger. The Magi remind us all that we should never be complacent in looking for you. They remind us that you work in ways we don’t expect. Empower us to be watchful for your working. Amen.

Never Lose Sight of the Star

December 3, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: Christmas, Expectancy in worship, Jesus birth, Matthew 2:2, The Christmas Star, The greatest gift of all, the Magi, Worship the King | 2 comments

They asked, “Where is the baby who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”Matthew 2:2 (NCV)

There is, perhaps, no time in the mind of a child (of any age) more full of expectancy and anticipation than Christmas. The excitement and wonder of the lights; the brightly colored packages and the hopes that are within them all add to the anticipation.

Will I get that bicycle I’ve always wanted? Will the doll that talks be in this package? Will I finally get that video game I’ve been hinting about all year? I hope…oh, I hope it’s what I think it is. Will he give me the ring at Christmas? The princess thinks with a noticeable twinkle in her eye.

One year my nephew put socks on his Christmas list. Since he worked hard and worked outdoors often, we decided that would be a good, useful gift for him. So we bought him a couple packages and wrapped them with sincerity and love. Unfortunately, so did everyone else in the family. Yep, that’s right. EVERYONE. 25 packages of socks! Needless to say his anticipation was smashed and he never asked for socks at Christmas again!

The promise of a coming messiah was hundreds of years old by the time the star finally appeared in the sky. It had been so long that many had forgotten about it, thus it went unnoticed by the priests, the King and everyone else.

We aren’t told exactly where the Magi were, only that they were ‘east of Jerusalem’. What we do know is that their anticipation, their expectancy never waned, not for a moment. I wonder what it was like when the first of them noticed the star. Night after night of watching. For many an entire lifetime of watching! But then. Then the night came when someone said, “Look! There it is! In the western sky! He’s here! He’s been born!”

Did you get goose bumps? I’ll bet he did. Did the excitement almost overwhelm you? I imagine it did overwhelm him. Had there been cell phones back then he’d have awakened every one of his colleagues.

“The King has been born. We must hurry. Get the caravan ready. Load the Camels with gifts. Hurry. He’s been born!”

Jesus says we must be like children in our faith. May we be like children in our ‘expectancy’ as well. May this Christmas season rekindle the excitement we had as children, only let that excitement be due to the coming of the Christ-child.

The Magi are known for their gifts, but gifts wasn’t their main reason for coming, worship was. In the same way, as we look forward to the Christmas season; as we enjoy the company of family and friends we rarely see; as we enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts and sharing all those holiday goodies, may we remember to worship the King.

PRAYER: Father, I love Christmas. I love everything about Christmas, the lights, the food, the music, the gifts. But in the hustle and bustle of this holiday season please remind me to worship you for sending Jesus. Amen.

Reflecting Hope to a Hope-less World

December 1, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: Balaam's prophecy, breaking dawn, Christ the Messiah, Christmas Star, fear, grace, hope in a hopeless world, Numbers 24:17, reflecting Jesus' light | Leave a comment

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth. Numbers 24:17

Every once in awhile you’ll see them at sporting events or on billboards on the commute into work. Signs bearing the words “JOHN 3:16” emblazoned on placards, bumpers and roadside signs remind those of us who are Christ-followers of God’s love for the world, others scoff and smirk. Just another weird ‘Jesus person’.

From time to time you’ll see other verses of scripture put up on display, but not very often do you see Numbers 24:17, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.

Rather than curse Israel as he intended to do, the prophet Balaam spoke words of hope for the people. His words had both a ‘present’ message and an eternal one. This small fledgling nation would someday become a great nation under a powerful leader and it’s boundaries would be expanded and secure.

But more than that, the eternal implications were great. Beyond the golden era of King David, a messiah would arise. He would take away the sins of the world! His reign would be eternal, just, and full of love. His scepter would be one of grace, compassion, forgiveness and comfort for those who followed him.

This hope, this ‘seeing him, but not now; beholding him, but not near’ is like the first light of dawn on the horizon. Barely more than a faint glow, it grows brighter as dawn approaches. For the watchful eye, the heart the fears the dark, the approaching dawn brings hope. The night will soon be over; the hidden dangers will be exposed; the enemies of our souls that love the darkness because their deeds are evil will flee.

As the horizon lightens our sense of expectancy grows. As evil seems to triumph over good; as morality and the things of God seem to be threatened, we harbor in our hearts the promise that someday our king will triumph. Some day the expectancy of the dawn will be as bright as the noonday sun!

Later, this light, this star spoken of in prophecy would say to those who would hear him, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

Matthew tells us more when he quotes Jesus as saying, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14).

This light rising in the darkness; that brings hope to a hope-less world is Jesus Christ. In him we not only have our hope, but we reflect that hope to those around us. The Christmas Star is much more than a reminder of a little baby in a manger. It’s a present promise of future hope, just as the dawn promises us a new day.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I thank you for the hope you give us on a daily basis. Help me to reflect your hope to those in need around me today. Amen.

Feeling Insignificant? Good!

November 28, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: Bethlehem, can God use me?, feeling insignificant, feeling overwhelmed, forgiveness, grace, mercy, Micah 5:2, too small to minister | 2 comments

Bethlehem Ephrath, you are one of the smallest towns in the nation of Judah. But the Lord will choose one of your people to rule the nation—someone whose family goes back to ancient times. Micah 5:2 (CEV)

It was one small stone, flung from the sling of a teenager that dropped the giant and saved the nation.

It was a handful of barley and a few drops of oil that fed the prophet, the woman and her son for weeks.

It was a few small loaves and fish that fed over 5,000 men women and children.

It was a small, insignificant nation made up of men who’d never fought before, that routed the Promised Land.

It was a tiny village in Judah that produced the one who would save the world of their sins and bring them into a renewed relationship with the Father God of the universe.

It was a small band of uneducated, arrogant, self-seeking men that turned the world upside down with their teaching.

God has never sought the large and spectacular to accomplish the great and impressive acts. God has always used insignificant people in impossible situation to accomplish spectacular things. Our heavenly father doesn’t need Shock and Awe to accomplish his desires. God’s power is shown best in brokenness and humility. He does his best work with willing hearts and humble attitudes.

Why is it then that we are surprised when famous people come from small towns, or great athletes come from obscure schools?

Why is it that we dream of having a large church so we can accomplish great things for the Kingdom when Jesus changed the world with 12 broken and Spirit-filled men?

Why is it we dream of the great things we could do for others if we had a big bank account when most people really need what we can give them without cost: compassion, grace, forgiveness and love?

From humble beginnings the Father raises up mighty warriors. You have what it takes to make a difference in your world today. You may be able to change someone’s world, even for just a few minutes, with a kind word, a smile or a heartfelt prayer.

Don’t wait for God to do a great things in your life before you do great things for others through ‘small’ acts of Christ-likeness. Don’t let your past or our perceived weaknesses and shortcomings keep you from being a blessing. Your Father specializes in making insignificance grow into significance. All he needs is your heart.

PRAYER: Father God, there are times when I look at the task before me and feel too insignificant to accomplish all I want to do for you. Then I realize the problem. It’s what I want to do for you, not what you want to do through me. Make me a vessel you can use to give living water to those in need. Amen.