David Bahn - Reflections

Keeping our hearts and habits open to the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit is a must if we are to follow Jesus. It may mean some very different things happen around and in us. But I’ll quote the Jesus character in the incredibly impactful series The Chosen. When one of the disciples says, “This is different.” The Jesus character says, “Get used to different.” Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten the hearts of your people, and guide our paths to follow Jesus!

Some say that they can worship by themselves on the golf course, at the beach, in the woods, or the mountains. Indeed you can. But surely we who believe will want to gather regularly for corporate worship. As the writer of Hebrews says, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25). You cannot encourage me and others if you are absent from worship. And that is part of the blessing of corporate worship: the mutual conversation and consolation of brothers and sisters in Christ. Gathering together is a command of God, a privilege and a blessing. We should do it to honor God and to bless our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

We cannot believe in Jesus or come to him by our own reason or strength. But the Holy Spirit has called us by the Gospel and enlightened us with his gifts. And that same Holy Spirit has inspired believers down through the ages to share the Gospel message. And we are the recipients of his work. The gale-force wind of the Spirit is still blowing. And even today, as God promised through the prophet Joel, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

I was invited to preach at The Family of Faith Lutheran Church in Houston on Pentecost 2023. Here, for your edification is the message I shared.

God already knows not only who the next pastor of a congregation will be. He also knows all your needs, your challenges, fears, hopes, hurts, and desires. Sometimes he must look past your desires (too often tainted by sin), and in his grace give us better things than we want. Because God's knowledge is inexorably connected with his love, grace, faithfulness, and power, we can be confident that all will be well when we entrust ourselves to his provision, direction, and plan. It is a plan for our eternal good. I need to keep that firmly in mind. I suspect you do too.

Here is the progression of necessity: Jesus' suffering and death, secures our salvation. That mission continues through the Apostles and all believers who share the gospel message of salvation.  Then comes the ultimate celebration of joy, and the praise of God's glorious grace. Reminds me of a favorite song I've shared before, but worth sharing again...

https://youtu.be/yGl2DhiMINs

God's plan will not be thwarted. Not by a betrayal of one of the 12 of Jesus' disciples. Not by the misguided actions of fearful disciples. Peter cutting off Malcus' ear, or denying Jesus, or the other disciples fleeing him when Jesus was arrested will not thwart God's plan. Self-righteous priests and conspiring Roman soldiers will not prevent God's plan for the redemption of the world through Jesus Christ, his only Son, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the spreading of the word and the conversion of millions.

It's easy for us to distance ourselves from the kind of evil displayed in the life of Judas. But we must take this as a warning. We must not imagine that we are invulnerable. We must guard our hearts, and not give in to temptation. And if we do give in, we must repent immediately, and return to the paths of righteousness on which God leads us. May we not leave an ignominious legacy!

God is setting the table for a remarkable expansion of his kingdom. He is using these Apostles in a singularly unique manner. All this was unfolding in real time for the 11, soon to be 12. It was the same for the other 100 plus believers.

The believers were living in times of defining moments. And so are we. What was guiding them should also guide our decision-making processes. Prayer, discernment, and a desire to further God’s kingdom should be top on our list of decision-making criteria – if we want to be part of God’s work in the world today. That is God’s will for us. And it is right, blessed, and good.

Many times we must wait: For the birth of a child. For the return of a son or daughter. For a job promotion. For a vacation. For the results of a medical test. While we wait we might choose to stew and fret. Or we can pray. To that end, I love to pray the Lord's Prayer.

Our Father who art in heaven,
     hallowed be Thy name,
     Thy kingdom come,
     Thy will be done on earth
          as it is in heaven;
     give us this day our daily bread;
     and forgive us our trespasses
          as we forgive those
          who trespass against us;
     and lead us not into temptation,
     but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom
     and the power and the glory
     forever and ever. Amen.

I especially think about the first few lines, concluding with Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen.