I'm not sure if any of the great painters of religious art ever captured the scene of the angel of God stirring the waters for healing at the Pool of Bethesda.
The picture in my mind is a pathetic one. I see hundreds of people waiting for the water to be stirred and then trying to be the first one in the pool to get healed.
That had to be a sorry, if not somewhat disconcerting sight.
John 5:3: "In these lay a great number of sick folk--some blind, some crippled, and some paralyzed (shriveled up)--waiting for the bubbling up of the water. (4) For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was cured of whatever disease with which he was afflicted."
I'm not going to speculate about whether this actually happened, or it was a local tradition, or a myth of some sort. The bible is very specific and gives no indication that it is anything but the truth.
I do know this: it grabbed Jesus' attention. Particularly one man's plight.
There was one crippled man who never seemed able to get into the water fast enough to be the first one in. Someone else always beat him to it.
It appears he was a failure at this for some 38 years.
He was bitter. Angry. Disgruntled. Some would look at him and think he was cursed.
Now, my read on this might be a bit different than some, and I can't say I have a leg to stand on other than my own speculation, but it seems to me that this guy must have blown a good chance a time or two in 38 years.
Me personally? I think he likes being a victim. I think he likes complaining.
I think he doesn't really want to get into the pool.
Why do I think that?
Mainly because of Jesus' reaction to his complaint.
Jesus asks him, "Do you REALLY want to get well?"
Hmm...
The response? More complaining.
"No one wants to help me." "Someone always beats me to it!" "I try and try, but I always come up short."
You know what? I know people like that guy!
Always around the action, but never in it.
I actually have known people who have lived and died and lived their entire existence out of the loop. They heard the message. They knew WHAT to do. They just never made it happen for themselves.
Jesus' reaction and response to the man was simple and concise: "(8) Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your bed (sleeping pad) and walk!"
That's it?
Yes, apparently so.
Because when the crippled man heard this "He became well and recovered his strength and picked up his bed and walked." (vs. 9)
Need something in your life you have been waiting a long time for?
A healing? Of some sort?
Yet, you sit there and "wait for the bubbles...".
News flash!
Get on with it. Get it to Jesus. Give it over. Listen to His words today and heed them.
Whatever it is today that has been defeating you, holding you back, depressing you, keeping you from being what God has intended you to become, stop lying around and waiting for the bubbles.
The angelic whirlpool is out of order.
Jesus has the plan.
Assess your situation. Listen to the voice of Christ. Obey.
The old hymn says, "Trust and obey for there is no other way."
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
"What Do You Think You Are Worth?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
It's sort of a trick question.
I'm not speaking in material or financial matters.
I'm talking about as a member and contributor to the human race.
It's a little unfair to ask I suppose, because in my estimation, if you pause to actually entertain the question, then you probably have missed it.
Matthew 23:12 - "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Our worth, our influence, our importance, our effect, whatever we associate with what we think we are worth is of no gain to us or others.
To sit back and even try to estimate what our impact is to our sphere of influence reeks of the fact that we have not rested in and trusted God with our lives and the details.
Even in it's most contrite and humblest form it has an element of self-righteousness attached to it and it spoils the handiwork of God.
Even Jesus, who had the most right to speculate shrinks in the face of self-exaltation.
John 5:31 (Amplified Bible)
"If I alone testify in My behalf, My testimony is not valid and cannot be worth anything."
We don't validate our own parking in this world.
Who we are, what we have or ever will become, who we have impacted and influenced or ever will, is completely contained in the words and testimony of what and whom we have left behind.
We must recognize that had it not been for the direct confrontation and ensuing impact upon our lives by the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ, we would simply be vessels of whatever we had become and enslaved to heaping and receiving our thanks on and by the wrong people.
We become part of the great Backslapping Society, heaping false and rosy platitudes upon each other with the culmination being the lengthy obituary in the New York Times.
You have to be pretty important to have your obit on file just waiting for you to die. Too bad you'll never get to read it.
Ah, Scarecrow. My old friend. There's more there than a child's fantasy.
Scarecrow: Oh joy, rapture! I've got a brain!"
How can I ever thank you enough?
Wizard of Oz: "Well, you can't."
And the world will never let you forget that you can't.
The greatest people I have ever known never achieved notoriety past a small circle of acquaintances, yet their profound influence upon me changed my life forever. They all went to their graves hoping they had fulfilled God's calling upon their lives, and died in awe of our Great God Jesus Christ.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Some say that ain't living.
I say it's thriving.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
I'm not speaking in material or financial matters.
I'm talking about as a member and contributor to the human race.
It's a little unfair to ask I suppose, because in my estimation, if you pause to actually entertain the question, then you probably have missed it.
Matthew 23:12 - "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Our worth, our influence, our importance, our effect, whatever we associate with what we think we are worth is of no gain to us or others.
To sit back and even try to estimate what our impact is to our sphere of influence reeks of the fact that we have not rested in and trusted God with our lives and the details.
Even in it's most contrite and humblest form it has an element of self-righteousness attached to it and it spoils the handiwork of God.
Even Jesus, who had the most right to speculate shrinks in the face of self-exaltation.
John 5:31 (Amplified Bible)
"If I alone testify in My behalf, My testimony is not valid and cannot be worth anything."
We don't validate our own parking in this world.
Who we are, what we have or ever will become, who we have impacted and influenced or ever will, is completely contained in the words and testimony of what and whom we have left behind.
We must recognize that had it not been for the direct confrontation and ensuing impact upon our lives by the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ, we would simply be vessels of whatever we had become and enslaved to heaping and receiving our thanks on and by the wrong people.
We become part of the great Backslapping Society, heaping false and rosy platitudes upon each other with the culmination being the lengthy obituary in the New York Times.
You have to be pretty important to have your obit on file just waiting for you to die. Too bad you'll never get to read it.
Ah, Scarecrow. My old friend. There's more there than a child's fantasy.
Scarecrow: Oh joy, rapture! I've got a brain!"
How can I ever thank you enough?
Wizard of Oz: "Well, you can't."
And the world will never let you forget that you can't.
The greatest people I have ever known never achieved notoriety past a small circle of acquaintances, yet their profound influence upon me changed my life forever. They all went to their graves hoping they had fulfilled God's calling upon their lives, and died in awe of our Great God Jesus Christ.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Some say that ain't living.
I say it's thriving.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
"How's Your Soil?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
I have to admit that I am not much of a gardener, or a farmer, etc. I have been fortunate to have thrown some seed down and watch grass grow where it hadn't before, but over the years I have come to realize by trial and error that for stuff to grow, whether it be flowers, veggies, or grass, it needs good fertile soil to start with.
Jesus unloaded a rather lengthy and somewhat cryptic parable on the disciples, and the result was sort of a collective "Huh?", followed by blank stares and head scratching.
Jesus knew He had overshot His audience.
He had to back up, simplify, and restate.
Without going through the entire parable here this morning, the place we need to start is to understand the terminology.
The Sower is Jesus (or perhaps any preacher of the gospel), the Seed is the gospel, the soil is the heart of man.
That said, look at Matt. 13:19 - "While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the roadside."
This is seed sown into poor soil.
Next look at Matt. 13:23 - "As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it."
There it is. Don't blink or you'll miss it.
Seed in bad soil reaps a failed crop (no gospel understanding, unsustainable Christlike attitude).
Seed in good soil reaps a healthy crop (understanding, comprehension, and love of the gospel).
So what do we do with that? The issue of responsibility crops up (no pun intended).
Who is keeping your soil fresh and fertile and receptive to the gospel on a continual basis?
Who's responsibility is it?
Ultimately?
Yours.
Jesus (and His chosen sowers) will continue to sow.
What kind of soil will it fall upon year in and year out?
Were you happy six months ago, but now are unhappy?
Has church gotten boring? Hum-drum? Ho-hum?
I'll bet you think something has happened to "IT" or to "THEM"...
Have you checked your soil lately?
Is your heart drying up?
Have you made steady paths to the sower of the seed?
Are the ravens stealing your seed before it can even take root?
Soil check people.
It should smell fresh and free from putrefying anger and discouragement.
It should be moist and soft and ready to receive a fresh seed when planted.
It should be healthy and nutritious and well fed and watered, not dry and dusty from neglect.
Jesus said we are prepared when we "perceive and comprehend by hearing" (vs. 9).
Don't just hear with your ears today. Hear with every fiber of your senses, both flesh and spiritual.
Filter out the negative voices. Some of he most negative voices can be coming from the place you least expect.
Listen to Jesus. Receive the Seed into fertile ground.
Stay spiritually healthy. Stay spiritually focused. Stay spiritually fertile.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Jesus unloaded a rather lengthy and somewhat cryptic parable on the disciples, and the result was sort of a collective "Huh?", followed by blank stares and head scratching.
Jesus knew He had overshot His audience.
He had to back up, simplify, and restate.
Without going through the entire parable here this morning, the place we need to start is to understand the terminology.
The Sower is Jesus (or perhaps any preacher of the gospel), the Seed is the gospel, the soil is the heart of man.
That said, look at Matt. 13:19 - "While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the roadside."
This is seed sown into poor soil.
Next look at Matt. 13:23 - "As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it."
There it is. Don't blink or you'll miss it.
Seed in bad soil reaps a failed crop (no gospel understanding, unsustainable Christlike attitude).
Seed in good soil reaps a healthy crop (understanding, comprehension, and love of the gospel).
So what do we do with that? The issue of responsibility crops up (no pun intended).
Who is keeping your soil fresh and fertile and receptive to the gospel on a continual basis?
Who's responsibility is it?
Ultimately?
Yours.
Jesus (and His chosen sowers) will continue to sow.
What kind of soil will it fall upon year in and year out?
Were you happy six months ago, but now are unhappy?
Has church gotten boring? Hum-drum? Ho-hum?
I'll bet you think something has happened to "IT" or to "THEM"...
Have you checked your soil lately?
Is your heart drying up?
Have you made steady paths to the sower of the seed?
Are the ravens stealing your seed before it can even take root?
Soil check people.
It should smell fresh and free from putrefying anger and discouragement.
It should be moist and soft and ready to receive a fresh seed when planted.
It should be healthy and nutritious and well fed and watered, not dry and dusty from neglect.
Jesus said we are prepared when we "perceive and comprehend by hearing" (vs. 9).
Don't just hear with your ears today. Hear with every fiber of your senses, both flesh and spiritual.
Filter out the negative voices. Some of he most negative voices can be coming from the place you least expect.
Listen to Jesus. Receive the Seed into fertile ground.
Stay spiritually healthy. Stay spiritually focused. Stay spiritually fertile.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
"It Doesn't Come Off With Cheap Grace And Water", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Cheesy religious words like "May God have mercy on your soul" just before they pull the switch.
They don't mean that. They are hoping you burn in hell. Cheap grace in a cheap suit.
Pilate washes his hands and says to the crowd of angry Jews, "I am not guilty of nor responsible for this righteous Man's blood; see to it yourselves."
He saw a riot was about to break and got scared and tried to slither out from the responsibility. They say Pilate later drowned himself in the Mediterranean.
This stuff does not come off with cheap grace and water. No matter how high your position is.
Guilt is guilt and the remedy is forgiveness.
You must be forgiven.
Cheap redundancies and repetitive circuitous paths around a string of beads won't do it.
There aren't enough coins for the wishing well. Not enough wax to make enough candles.
You will run out of saints to venerate before God runs out of mercy.
Hoo-doos and mojo hands make for great blues lyrics.
But if you want what it takes to get "out from under it" then you will have to humble yourself before the Lord God Almighty and receive from Him what is forgiveness wrapped in peace and mercy.
Forgiveness that carries us into eternity. Forgiveness that secures.
Forgiveness that manifests in the peace we don't know we never had until we finally get it.
It's high quality and lasting because it's not cheap. It comes with a high price tag attached.
If it came off with water John the Baptist would have been the Savior instead of Jesus.
The Blood of the Son of God bought your forgiveness on Calvary.
Don't cheapen it, nor think that anyone else can either.
Wherever your "foot of the Cross" is today, get there. The struggle ends today.
Get there.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
They don't mean that. They are hoping you burn in hell. Cheap grace in a cheap suit.
Pilate washes his hands and says to the crowd of angry Jews, "I am not guilty of nor responsible for this righteous Man's blood; see to it yourselves."
He saw a riot was about to break and got scared and tried to slither out from the responsibility. They say Pilate later drowned himself in the Mediterranean.
This stuff does not come off with cheap grace and water. No matter how high your position is.
Guilt is guilt and the remedy is forgiveness.
You must be forgiven.
Cheap redundancies and repetitive circuitous paths around a string of beads won't do it.
There aren't enough coins for the wishing well. Not enough wax to make enough candles.
You will run out of saints to venerate before God runs out of mercy.
Hoo-doos and mojo hands make for great blues lyrics.
But if you want what it takes to get "out from under it" then you will have to humble yourself before the Lord God Almighty and receive from Him what is forgiveness wrapped in peace and mercy.
Forgiveness that carries us into eternity. Forgiveness that secures.
Forgiveness that manifests in the peace we don't know we never had until we finally get it.
It's high quality and lasting because it's not cheap. It comes with a high price tag attached.
If it came off with water John the Baptist would have been the Savior instead of Jesus.
The Blood of the Son of God bought your forgiveness on Calvary.
Don't cheapen it, nor think that anyone else can either.
Wherever your "foot of the Cross" is today, get there. The struggle ends today.
Get there.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
"Jack In The Box", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
It's got to be tight in there.
Hot, stuffy, cramped.
In the box.
I was infatuated with that as a child. The little clown was stuffed in a musical box and I would eventually allow him out.
He would pop out with such joy and excitement.
Who wouldn't?
You'd be surprised.
The box we may have chosen is much larger, less physically confining...
...but a box nonetheless.
It's restrictive, and the sad part is that it is predominantly self imposed.
God hasn't designed it that way, but we often credit Him with the patent.
Listen to Jesus here:
Mark 2:27 (Amplified Bible)
"And Jesus said to them, The Sabbath was made on account and for the sake of man, not man for the Sabbath."
I happen to think that Jesus wasn't JUST talking about the Sabbath day here, but of everything man does associated with his relationship with God that self imposes him to doing things in one religious fashion.
In the box.
Think of how many millions of people all over the world drag themselves off to church on a Sunday thinking that it HAS to be Sunday, when in all actuality Jesus taught the complete opposite.
I'm not arguing against church, I'm arguing against that we think it has to be done one particular, stringent, unchanging way.
Jesus instructed that the Sabbath day was important, but that it was created as a time where man could take time to worship and praise God without restriction from other encumbrances, particularly religious ones (which is really what He is addressing here).
If you're really a true disciple of Christ, every day becomes a special day of honor to God anyway.
One "day" a week we should gather together and share that with each other.
You have seven. Pick one.
Let's stop all forms of religious constriction of any type.
Let's put the Sabbath day, and any other function we do in the name of Jesus to work for us, not against us.
Jesus said it was made for our good use, not the other way around.
One way is freedom, the other is confinement.
Be blessed today in all you do.
This may be my last message for a few days until I see how well I do with one hand for awhile.
I am praying for you every day!
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Hot, stuffy, cramped.
In the box.
I was infatuated with that as a child. The little clown was stuffed in a musical box and I would eventually allow him out.
He would pop out with such joy and excitement.
Who wouldn't?
You'd be surprised.
The box we may have chosen is much larger, less physically confining...
...but a box nonetheless.
It's restrictive, and the sad part is that it is predominantly self imposed.
God hasn't designed it that way, but we often credit Him with the patent.
Listen to Jesus here:
Mark 2:27 (Amplified Bible)
"And Jesus said to them, The Sabbath was made on account and for the sake of man, not man for the Sabbath."
I happen to think that Jesus wasn't JUST talking about the Sabbath day here, but of everything man does associated with his relationship with God that self imposes him to doing things in one religious fashion.
In the box.
Think of how many millions of people all over the world drag themselves off to church on a Sunday thinking that it HAS to be Sunday, when in all actuality Jesus taught the complete opposite.
I'm not arguing against church, I'm arguing against that we think it has to be done one particular, stringent, unchanging way.
Jesus instructed that the Sabbath day was important, but that it was created as a time where man could take time to worship and praise God without restriction from other encumbrances, particularly religious ones (which is really what He is addressing here).
If you're really a true disciple of Christ, every day becomes a special day of honor to God anyway.
One "day" a week we should gather together and share that with each other.
You have seven. Pick one.
Let's stop all forms of religious constriction of any type.
Let's put the Sabbath day, and any other function we do in the name of Jesus to work for us, not against us.
Jesus said it was made for our good use, not the other way around.
One way is freedom, the other is confinement.
Be blessed today in all you do.
This may be my last message for a few days until I see how well I do with one hand for awhile.
I am praying for you every day!
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Monday, November 2, 2009
"Don't Limit The Whatevers", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
I'm talking about God here.
About when He responds to a need, especially those needs we have already rubber stamped "Impossible".
About when you walk into the doors of the church thinking one way, and by the time you leave everything has changed and a victory has been achieved.
All because we have asked God to do something.
Hey, why not?
Matt.21.22 - "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
Sometimes we limit the "whatevers".
When God gets moving in response to His children having a dire need, we might have to find ourselves getting out of the way because look out, He might just take it further than we ever expected.
I am often amazed and I'm glad I am.
If I didn't still get amazed I would be bored. If I was bored I might look outside the circle.
God doesn't bore me. He excites me.
Does He still excite you?
Do you get butterflies in His presence?
Does your heart rate increase in anticipation of Him doing something powerful?
I pray all of that for you today.
These are tough times, but they are also fertile times ripe for God to do some real miracles in people's lives.
Live in that expectation.
It's not all about what we see, or what we can do, or how sharp we are.
It's about what Jesus Christ can do through a willing vessel still excited to be used by Him!
Keepin' t Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
About when He responds to a need, especially those needs we have already rubber stamped "Impossible".
About when you walk into the doors of the church thinking one way, and by the time you leave everything has changed and a victory has been achieved.
All because we have asked God to do something.
Hey, why not?
Matt.21.22 - "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
Sometimes we limit the "whatevers".
When God gets moving in response to His children having a dire need, we might have to find ourselves getting out of the way because look out, He might just take it further than we ever expected.
I am often amazed and I'm glad I am.
If I didn't still get amazed I would be bored. If I was bored I might look outside the circle.
God doesn't bore me. He excites me.
Does He still excite you?
Do you get butterflies in His presence?
Does your heart rate increase in anticipation of Him doing something powerful?
I pray all of that for you today.
These are tough times, but they are also fertile times ripe for God to do some real miracles in people's lives.
Live in that expectation.
It's not all about what we see, or what we can do, or how sharp we are.
It's about what Jesus Christ can do through a willing vessel still excited to be used by Him!
Keepin' t Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sunday Morning Scripture
2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Bible)
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control."
Everything we need God has given us.
What He hasn't given us is cowardice and fear in the face of trial and adversity.
So if you have that kind of paralyzing fear today for any reason, know that it is coming from the bowels of hell and not from God.
It's a package at your door waiting for you to take delivery of it. You decide.
Do something about it.
Resist! (James 4:7)
Invoke the power of the name of Christ and command the dark forces to depart immediately.
Acts 4:12 - "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control."
Everything we need God has given us.
What He hasn't given us is cowardice and fear in the face of trial and adversity.
So if you have that kind of paralyzing fear today for any reason, know that it is coming from the bowels of hell and not from God.
It's a package at your door waiting for you to take delivery of it. You decide.
Do something about it.
Resist! (James 4:7)
Invoke the power of the name of Christ and command the dark forces to depart immediately.
Acts 4:12 - "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
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