The Taming of the Lion of Judah?

Have you “domesticated” Jesus? We live in a society that is not ignorant of the name Jesus Christ. In fact most people are aware of Jesus and many believe that he actually existed and was a pretty good guy. However, that is the point at which the ways part. One author has written that, today, Jesus is portrayed “more like a magical pussycat than the divine Aslan…who, as C.S. Lewis wrote, ‘is not safe, but he is good’…Jesus has become an eternal Martha Stewart who is ready to make your home his home.” Is this the Jesus that we encounter in the Bible?

Consider the introduction to Daniel’s Terrible Vision, from Daniel, Chapter 10. Daniel comes into contact with a man who very closely resembles the man that the Apostle John encounters in Revelation 1–dressed in linen, girded with a belt of gold; a face with the appearance of lightning, with eyes like flaming torches; arms and feet shining like bronze and words of tumult (roaring!). So, it seems that Daniel is not as terrified by the message as he is by the messenger! Daniel exclaims that “no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor.” Who is the One who appears to Daniel?

There are not too many songs on Christian radio stations that extol Jesus as “terrible,” as Ross King does in “The Lord Is.” Does this put a new spin on the cultural, popular Jesus of today? Jesus came into the world as a meek and lowly carpenter–living a life of service and love. But, don’t let this be translated into your mind as weakness or “unconditional forgiveness.” Jesus is the radiance of God–and God is holy and righteous. Our Savior is a mighty King and exalted Lord–worthy of our adoration and praise. It is this Jesus that will stand in judgement over the entire universe on the last day. It is this Jesus who emerges as our High Priest and Champion! He is worthy of our trust and proclamation! Do you know Jesus? Are you satisfied in who He really is?

His Sovereignty is Secure!

The Son of Man Coming on the Clouds

For the last six weeks we have seen a continued unfolding of themes in the book of Daniel. We have seen God’s sovereignty over all governments, nations and kings. He raises up kings and he puts them down. He is able to humble kings when they decide that they are self-sufficient. God’s sovereignty has been manifested through dreams and visions and the rulers of the present world are helpless to even explain, much less thwart God’s ordained plans.

We’ve seen God close the mouths of lions, and open them again. We’ve seen Him deliver from a fiery furnace and write His decree on the wall with an armless hand. And we can say that each time we see God working in these various ways, His will always comes to pass and His glory is manifested to the nations. This week, in Daniel 7, we will encounter another vision, that of four beasts, with the fourth trampling and thus destroying the others. But there is also a vision of the Ancient of Days taking His seat on a throne of flames and “One like a Son of Man” coming on the clouds, who was given dominion glory and a kingdom.

What do these beasts represent? What does this vision mean? What will Daniel do? When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” He answered saying:

“I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.

Join us this week as we worship the Son of Man and await his coming!

The Fog of False Teaching

If one thing has been clear to me as we have walked through 1 and 2 Samuel these past months, its been this: God’s glory will be displayed and His wise purposes will all come to pass! This week at Redeemer, we will press pause on the captivating narrative of David’s life, to put ourselves back into the tattered shoes of the old man locked up in a Roman prison for his commitment to seeing God’s glory displayed and His purposes come to pass through the Gospel. However, even though the circumstances and genres are much different, we will see how the battle for the display of God’s glory rages on in the church at Ephesus and in our daily lives.

This Sunday we will be considering 2 Timothy 3:1-9, as Paul warns Timothy about The Fog of False Teaching. Paul lists multiple characteristics of the false teachers in Ephesus and the results of their ministry of deception. In fact he makes a connection between the magicians in Pharaoh’s court and these false teachers peddling their self-exalting doctrines. Apparently it is a common thing to have a “form of godliness” that gives the appearance of happiness and success. However, just as the magician’s serpents were swallowed up, so will “their folly become obvious to all.” There is only so long that these false impressions will hold water. They may prove effective for a time and the mask may cover up difficulties in the short term, but there will come a day when the mask comes off and all is laid bare before a holy God! Are you aware of deception in your life? Are there things that seem harmless on the surface that when considered further may be poisonous to your soul? Remember that your enemy is indeed crafty and deceiving. Is there a sense of God’s power in your life or is it all a show? Are you prone to learn and learn and learn without actually gaining true knowledge that manifests itself as a changed life? How will you navigate through the fog that so often blurs our path?