Do you despise Him?

Posted on by kevinjandt

forest

The Christian life is no different from most lives in that Believers experience the ups and downs that are typical.  We get sick, we have conflict with our wives or children and we are certainly not free from seemingly random things that occur.  I say seemingly because Scripture tells us nothing is by chance and God has all things under His sovereign control.

I believe this and do not subscribe to health, wealth and prosperity doctrines that are so prevalent today.  The one thing I understand is that God has purpose in everything He does.  For the Believer this has eternal consequences because the way we respond in trials and tribulations is a very significant part of our testimony.

James 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

The old adage “it’s hard to see the forest for the trees” is applicable to the teaching of James, it’s stated very plainly, yet most often in the moment of trials we don’t want to see what God is doing in our lives because we are in pain at that moment.

We don’t consider it a gift when someone we love is sick or we wonder why God would allow this to happen…  What if you are subject to rebuke or church discipline?  Do you really consider God is treating you as a son or daughter?

If life or our circumstance is not as “we think it should be” the natural tendency is to be upset and angry.  Maybe we won’t say we are angry at God, but the fact is we are exhibiting nothing but discontent.

And discontent is sin!  (1 Timothy 6:6-9, Philippians 4:6, Matthew 6:25-34)

The opportunity to glorify God in a time or season of trial is a gift from God.  Believer, do you believe this?  I know we will agree to this when life is going well.  But do you really believe it when you are facing a trial?

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Let us examine ourselves today.  Do you count it all joy?  Why not, if not?  I hope this is very succinct because I don’t see this as a complicated subject, yet how many that name the name of Christ despise His goodness?

James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

NOTHING!

When Believers and I include myself in this conversation, do not consider trials pure joy we despise the good gift that God has given us.  We have our own idea of an outcome and have no desire to allow God, through patience, to work His perfect work in our lives.

Call it what you want, discontent, frustration, anger, circumstance…  Or call it what it is; distrust in God’s goodness.

I’m thankful for the trial that has recently come into my life, with our daughter Anna.  It has given me an incredible opportunity to learn patience and leadership as I guide my family and my wife through a tough time.  I’m being grown up, so that I can minister to others.  I can’t lead without having been there myself and although in the grand scheme of life’s trials, this is small in comparison.  Each good and perfect gift prepares us for bigger things.

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 

Let’s consider the purpose of a trial, for some it may lead to repentance, for some condemnation.

How will you respond?  This might show your condition before God.

Kevin

Jesus wept

Posted on by kevinjandt

jesus-wept

The shortest verse in the Bible says “Jesus wept”.  Have you ever wondered why?  Was Jesus showing his humanness and His empathy for the human experience?  This is the common understanding and we know it’s true from scripture. (Hebrews 4:15)

If you are like me you have probably read this verse many times and just thought, “Jesus has compassion for those around Him, especially Martha and Mary because He loved them”.  The Jews that were there thought this also if we look at verse 36.  I agree, He certainly had compassion and loved them, but I believe there is so much more to this verse than most notice.

John 11:14-15 – Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe, Nevertheless let us go to him.”

Here we see the purpose of Lazarus’s death, also affirmed in verse 4; Jesus says it’s for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.  He did it so the disciples would believe and He would be glorified.

This seems hard for me to believe, yet this is what the Lord says.  We are already well into Christ’s ministry, how is it they don’t believe?

John Calvin commenting – He does not mean that this was the first feeble commencement of faith in them, but that it was a confirmation of faith already begun, though it was still exceedingly small and weak. Yet he indirectly suggests that, if the hand of God had not been openly displayed, they would not have believed.

John 11:21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Watch what happens next, as I find this fascinating and where I think most people miss the point of this verse.

John 11:33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, (professionals hired to cry at a funeral); He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.

The word groaned here is – embrimaomai (to snort with anger); to have indignation on, that is, (transitively) to blame, (intransitively) to sigh with chagrin, (specifically) to sternly enjoin: – straitly charge, groan, murmur against.

Jesus was also troubled – tarassō – Of uncertain affinity; to stir or agitate (roil water): – trouble.

Jesus was clearly annoyed by the reaction of all of those around Him at the death of Lazarus and seems to be agitated to the point of anger.  He knew He was going to raise Lazarus, so it can’t be that He doubted what would happen.  Then it happens.

Jesus wept. – John 11:35

 

Why?  Let’s consider a few other verses that might give us some insight.

Matthew 9:36-38 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Luke 13:34  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stone those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

So why did Jesus weep?  He had compassion for sure, but His compassion and his groaning was over the hard heartedness of man that lives in a self-absorbed sin saturated world.  He wanted them to come in faith and repentance, but they refused.  They wouldn’t acknowledge Him as Lord and as their King; despite the irrefutable proofs of His miracles.  It was obvious wasn’t it?

Today we consistently see the same thing.  There is nothing new under the sun, and you can show the un-believer sin and his hatred of God, yet he can’t see it.  I can sometimes intellectually understand my own disbelief, yet I just can’t get out of my funk.

Does the Lord groan in His spirit over you or over me?  Is He troubled by our lack of belief or our compassion for the lost?  Does He groan when we live in willful rebellion to His Word?  I am struck by the depth of this chapter as it relates to me.  It’s easy for me to see the shortcomings of others yet fail to see my own sin.  It’s easy to be critical and see how much they need Jesus, and they do, but I need Jesus.

I need Him more today than the day I was saved because if He didn’t weep for me, I’m lost.  If He pulled His tears back from me I’d spiral into the depths of my own sin in moments.  The closer I draw to Him the bigger and more wretched my sin becomes.

Men have always been ungrateful to God in the same manner, and continue to be so. If he does not grant all our wishes, we immediately launch into complaints: “Since he has been accustomed to aid us hitherto, why does he now forsake and disappoint us?” There is here a twofold disease. First, though we rashly desire what is not expedient for us, yet we wish to subject God to the perverse desires of the flesh. Secondly, we are rude in our demands, and the ardor of impatience hurries us before the time. – John Calvin

How about you?

If you can’t see your sin then I beg you to repent.  Do you truly weep over your sin or are you merely a professional weeper hired to perform a service?

If you are a Believer do you weep and groan over the lost?  How much compassion do you have for those around you that are without a shepherd?

May the Lord be merciful to those who can see their sin!  It cost the One that paid the price dearly and that’s something we should weep about.

Kevin

 

Please Pray For My Family

Posted on by kevinjandt

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“When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is set them-a-praying. – Matthew Henry

Our beautiful Anna Joy was born a week and a half ago but what most won’t know she was admitted back into the hospital less than a week after her birth due to a high fever and weight loss.  We are so thankful for Dr. Omar and his skill and compassion as he immediately recognized Anna did not look the right color and sent her in without delay.

After a number of tests, including a spinal tap, it was determined she has meningitis.  The original suspicion was bacterial and since has now been downgraded to viral.  It looks as though she will spend up to two weeks in the hospital hooked up to an IV and receiving constant doses of antibiotics.  Fortunately, for Anna this is not a major deal.  She will never remember it and it is very unlikely there will be any long term damage.  We praise God for this and delight in His provision.

The one that will suffer more than anyone in the family is my lovely wife Jen.  She has rarely left the hospital or the room in nearly a week.  She sleeps on an extraordinarily uncomfortable fold-out sofa, where nurses are constantly coming and going checking Anna’s vitals.  Of course it also includes the round the clock noises that are synonymous with a hospital stay.  Jen misses the other girls desperately and is challenged with all of the questions and doubts that float around in our minds when we have little else to consume our thoughts.

Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.

It is hard for me to fathom the depths of this verse.  Is this not a crystal clear answer to all our questions as to who controls Anna’s outcome?  This is God’s Sovereignty on display in all its glory.  How can we doubt or have fears?

As I write this today there is little chance that Anna is in serious danger, but we didn’t know that four or five days ago and we had serious concerns about her health.  Yes, we both fully trust God in this situation, but it doesn’t mean we should not take those concerns to the Lord.  This is our opportunity to align our hearts with His as we seek Him.

This is why Believers pray.

Do we want her to be healed?  Of course, that is what “we want”, but Jesus also asked the Father “if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me.”  And then we must see what our ultimate purpose of prayer is going to be, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)

Is it possible that we often miss the main point of prayer in our desires for what we want?

Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek, For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

As much as we desire what we desire, Believers should desire His will!  I don’t know how Jesus could make this anymore clear?

The challenge is that our will fights against the will of God consistently and passionately.  We really want what we want and somehow if we believe we are children of the King He should do what we want.  Sometimes Always His ways are higher than our ways and we just need to get out of the way and place our trust in those ways.

Acts 17:26-28 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being…

God is in complete control of all things at all times and there is not a sparrow that falls to the ground outside of His Sovereign Will.  (Matthew 10:29)

I desire prayer for my family in this time but I desire it according to His will, not what I think I want, because more often than not my desire is the wrong desire.  (Jeremiah 17:9).

I desire that we be drawn closer to God and we depend on Him more and always.

I would desire that Jen and Grace would learn to trust Him more and seek Him for all their needs.

I desire that God would be merciful and grant Madeline repentance unto faith in Christ.

I desire that I would be a fearless man of God in leading my family and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to all the nations.

I desire that God would be glorified and that I would serve Him with a pure heart.

Will Anna be healed?  I hope so, but I don’t necessarily hope for her physical healing, I hope for her spiritual healing.  I hope for Madeline and Lydia’s spiritual healing above all things physical.

In the end this is the only thing that matters.  You see when we only desire His will all our needs are met no matter the outcome.

Matthew Henry – The target of our prayers is always “God’s glory, and our own true happiness.”

 

Kevin

A New Baby…

Posted on by kevinjandt

Anna & Lydia

How should the Church interact in the lives of Believers in this modern day and age?  Most of my church experience up until four years ago was going to a place listening to a sermon and then going home.  When we became “really involved” we participated in a small group or would go to a more intensive Wednesday meeting designed to dig deeper into the Bible.  I remember the attendance being very anemic.  Seems most people had better things to do.

We knew people by name and enjoyed small talk with them while at church, but rarely did we really get involved in their lives or them in ours and since it was a larger congregation if you felt like coming and going without really knowing anyone that was pretty easy to do.

Acts 2:44-47 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

This is very strange sounding to modern day evangelical ears I would guess.  Most people just are not going to embrace this kind of involvement with others in their churches.  Most people don’t know them well enough to be involved.  We are autonomous beings desiring what we think is best.

Today I want to encourage the body of Christ with my testimony of the birth of our fourth child.  This past Friday Anna Joy was brought into the world and what a joyous and wonderful experience it was.  Thursday evening Jen and I had gathered with our church family for a webinar on home education and that night went to bed with much anticipation.

Friday was the due date and Jen typically goes right on time, or just a day or two over, so we expected it to happen soon.  When I become conscious of Jen being up and down a lot in the night I thought, I’ll bet this is it.

I got out of bed about 2:00 am and asked Jen how it was going?  She said “I think this is it”.  She had a good contraction before she went to bed and at 1:50 am experienced the first one that really confirmed labor had begun.  We embraced one another and prayed that the Lord would be glorified in this process, that Jen would have strength and endurance and seek Him for His grace in her time of need.  He poured out His mercy abundantly upon Jen that morning and she labored and gave birth in a beautifully calm and assuring fashion.  We are so grateful for all He is when we need Him most.

I guess it must have been a little before 3 am that I placed our first phone call to Andrea.  Andrea is a woman from our church that we had asked to assist in the birth process.  She has been a tremendous blessing in Jen’s life, as a Titus 2 woman, that has taught and counseled Jen for many years now and we were so honored Andrea accepted the invitation to be a part of this experience.

It seemed like Andrea arrived at the house 10 minutes later, although I know she lives at least 15 minutes away.

Next I called Dr. Wells and placed her on alert that we would be having a baby today.

My third call was to Greta, and she answered the call after about four rings.  Greta is a mother of four and an expert in the natural birthing process.  Greta and her husband Brad have been a tremendous blessing to our family and having her experience was invaluable.  She has a great calming influence and when she arrived it greatly assured Jen that everything was going to be alright.  Immediately Greta found a good position for Jen to have her hard contractions.

Our third support person, Brenda was providentially prevented from us being able to get a hold of for reasons only God knows, but God provided everything we needed.  Brenda was incredibly important when Lydia was born and continues to be a great resource in our lives.

Around 4:00 am Greta began seeing the transition into the final stages of labor and said it’s time for us to go to the hospital.  I called Dr. Wells and let her know we were heading to the hospital and by the time we arrived Dr. Wells was waiting.  From this point it was a very short and fast labor and at 5:01 am Anna arrived into the world, she weighed in at 9.03 lbs.

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

As much as Believers need to be about the work of ministry of reconciliation and preaching the gospel to the lost, they must also be about ministering to the saints.  This is pretty uncommon today and I’m thankful that we are part of a body of Believers that gathers frequently and share in the simplicity of life, gathering from house to house, and breaking bread together often.  We enjoy doing life together.

The next couple weeks we will also experience the love of Christ as we are assisted in evening meals.  Saturday evening I received a call from our Pastor and he said we’d love to bring pizza and ice cream over if you are up for it.  We had a wonderful time of conversation and reflecting on the miracle of a new life.  When Lydia was born, we had many meals dropped off, but the last couple evenings we’ve had the families join us and that has been even a bigger blessing as we are able to share and spend time with them just as Acts 2:44-47 describes.

I think many miss the purpose of the church and too often get caught up in ministry to unbelievers.  I don’t want to be misunderstood, because the gospel must be preached, but the saints should be the primary recipient of God’s grace through His church.

I’m so thankful for God’s provision of the church and how Christ is the head and we are to serve Him by serving others.  What joy we feel when we serve the One that taught us how to serve.

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Kevin

“Be Fruitful…”

Posted on by kevinjandt

be fruitful and multiply

One of the things I enjoy about blogging is the opportunity to share some personal things going on in my life and Lord willing this week we will welcome our fourth child into the world.  We didn’t always have this attitude towards children.  Before salvation it was more of an obligation than a desire.  As a Believer I’m to have my mind changed and renewed by the Word of God (Romans 12:2) and as I look back now I couldn’t imagine it any other way.

I really enjoy the quizzical looks that I receive sometimes and it’s actually quite humorous for people to think that four kids is a huge family.  By today’s standards it’s almost double the average but by no means is it a big family.  I will be 48 years old in less than 2 months and Jen will be almost….  Well let’s just say she’s north of 40.

Someone told me when I announced Jen was pregnant with Lydia, “I hope you’re not going to have 12 more kids…”  I’m not sure that’s possible but if that is what God chose for us I would be all for it.  As I thought about writing this I had to consider why would I desire to have has many kids as God would provide?  This is surely foolishness to the world.

Recently I was picking up my daughter Grace from a dance class and I heard a woman going on and on about a family that has so many kids and they don’t use birth control.  That was so completely foreign to her thinking.  After all doesn’t God use these sorts of modern inventions to assist us in controlling the chaos?  For this woman absolutely “yes”…  For the unbelieving world the message of the cross (all God’s Word) is ridiculous.  She went on to say, “but at least the children are well behaved…” and “oh she home-schools them also…”  I wanted to walk over and ask the lady for their phone number.  Sounds like someone I need to meet.

So what’s the big deal about all of this?

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

This is so full of the truth of God and so incredibly rich how could I begin to scratch the depth of what it all means?  God created all the animals and pronounced it “good”, but God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7).

Man is the image bearer of God and with that the responsibility to glorify God in everything.  God also gave man an eternal soul.  God did not breathe life into the animals only into man.

Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Notice that it was God that blessed the marriage relationship and it was for the filling of the earth.  After sin entered the world everything about this has been distorted and debased.  As with the woman I heard at Grace’s dance class, she should not be filling the earth and it is better for her to limit the children in her home.

Believers should understand the purpose of raising children is all about the glory of God.  When I raise my children according to Biblical standards and I trust God’s promise from Exodus 20:6 that He will show mercy to those who love Him and keep His commandments, I then have an opportunity to subdue and take dominion over the earth.

Does this mean I conquer politically or wage war?  No, this means we execute what the Lord Jesus Christ told us in Matthew 28:18-19.  We go out into the world teaching those to observe everything Christ has commanded, and that He Himself has given us this authority.  When God blesses us with more children we have more opportunity to bless Him back by faithfulness to His Word and His commands.

We must believe that children are a blessing, and we must believe that these blessings are actually arrows in our hands (Psalm 127:4).  We must trust and believe God’s Word that His command to be fruitful and multiply extend over all of time, not just when the earth was first being populated and certainly not what a culture dictates.  If we are to truly have impact, we will look different from the world and they will wonder why.  They will make fun of us, they will revile us but some might be saved because we are faithful and trusting in God.

If God has blessed you with many children, few children, or no children at all, be faithful to Him in all circumstances.  If you don’t understand His plan, simply trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I’ll leave with these two questions.

Are you willing to have your mind changed by God’s Word?

Do you desire to be obedient to God’s Word?

 

Kevin