Friday, November 29

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Luke 17:11-19

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When Jesus saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other men? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? Then he said to him, “Rise and go, your faith has made you well.”

Many years ago, when our boys were very young, we were all sitting in our family room watching TV on a Sunday evening. In those days we had several family rituals that we practices almost every Sunday night. We would make milk shakes, read through Sunday school papers, have popcorn, watch half an hour of “Wild Discovery” and have a short family prayer time.

I still remember one night where our four boys, then age 7, 5, 2 and an infant, and I were lounging on the couch or the floor, quite comfortable, watching TV, when Lorene went in to make popcorn. She came back with individual bowls of popcorn for all of us; which we received like ancient Mesopotamian kings without ever removing our eyes from the TV.

None of us thought to say, “Thank you,” except the 2 year old, who, after receiving his bowl of popcorn, cheerfully called out, “Thank you Mommy!”

Recognizing that his spontaneous and genuine gratitude stood in stark contrast to our own silence, the older boys and I immediately began to stammer out our own day-late-and-dollar-short expressions of gratitude.

“Yeah, uh thanks hun!”

“Thanks for the popcorn mom.”

But our words rang just a bit hollow!

In this beautiful story from Luke’s gospel, Jesus heals ten lepers of the dreaded disease. But, of the ten, only one returned to say, “Thank you.”

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other men? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? Then he said to him, “Rise and go, your faith has made you well.”

I can’t tell you how many times I read or heard that story and thought to myself, “How could those other 9 guys have been healed from leprosy and still not return to say ‘thanks’ to Jesus?” 

I thought that until the popcorn story happened. Then I realized that more often than I want to admit I am just like those 9 ungrateful former lepers. Far too often I fail to return to give thanks.

Maybe I’m busy and don’t take the time.

Maybe I just forget.

Or maybe I just assume that somehow I am entitled to whatever gift or blessing I received, and that no thanksgiving is really necessary.

Whatever my excuse, the result is the same; an ungrateful heart.

I’ve always thought it curious that Jesus doesn’t declare the man to be “well” until after he returned to give thanks. Maybe Jesus is saying that even though the man had asked for and received healing for leprosy, the greater healing took place in the man’s heart.

Lord,

Forgive me for so many times when I fail to return and give thanks. Forgive me for asking for your blessing, for your help, for your favor, then forgetting to thank you for your many gifts. Teach me to bow my head and bend my knee in gratitude for all your goodness; and heal my ungrateful heart!

Amen

Pastor Brian Coffey

Thursday, November 28

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Philippians 4:4-6

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

A number of years ago I came across this story about renowned 19th century Biblical scholar Matthew Henry. It seems Mr. Henry was once robbed by street thugs. He later made this entry into his journal.

Let me be thankful: first, because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my wallet they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed not I who robbed.

This extraordinary expression of spiritual maturity illustrates the power of thanksgiving in our lives. We can also see what might be called the progression of faith that Paul  talks about in Philippians 4. Notice the flow of Paul’s thought:

Rejoice in the Lord...

Don’t be anxious...

Pray about everything with thanksgiving...

Know the peace of God that guards your heart.

Now it’s helpful to keep in mind that Paul wrote these words from a Roman prison knowing that he might never see freedom again. So Paul knew something about hardship and anxiety. Even so he tells us that joy, thanksgiving and peace begin not with the promise of release from prison, but through knowing Christ.

He says, “Rejoice in the Lord...the Lord is near.” He doesn’t say, “Rejoice because everything is good in your life; or because you got the promotion; or because your favorite team won the game.” He says, “Rejoice in the Lord.”

For Paul, and for Matthew Henry, knowing the presence, grace and promise of Christ was the source of joy. 

Then notice that our relationship with Christ allows us to bring everything to God in prayer with an attitude of thanksgiving. Why is that? How can Paul express gratitude in prison? How can Matthew Henry express gratitude after being mugged?

Paul explains in Romans 8:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

In other words, we can pray with thanksgiving because God is always working for our good, even in the most difficult or painful of circumstances. 

The result is, according to Paul, that our hearts are guarded by the peace of God.

So thanksgiving flows from a relationship with Jesus Christ   that transforms our perspective; allowing us to respond to even the most difficult of circumstances with both joy and peace.

Lord,

Thank you for your word that assures me of your love and grace in all circumstances. Help me to allow your joy to transform my perspective so that I can offer you my thanksgiving in any and all situations. And may your peace guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

Pastor Brian Coffey

Wednesday, November 27

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Psalm 100:4-5

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

A country farmer was visiting friends in the big city and they all stopped at a restaurant for lunch. When he was served his food he bowed his head and gave thanks to the Lord. Several hot shot city dudes were sitting at a nearby table and noticed the farmer praying and chirped, “Hey pops, back where you come from does everybody do that before they eat?” The farmer took no offense, but looked at them with a smile and said, “Everybody but the pigs.”

Offering a prayer of thanksgiving before a meal might seem to some to be a kind of quaint habit or a kind of perfunctory ritual, but the Bible suggests that giving thanks is a prerequisite to experiencing and knowing God.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

The ancient writer is saying that we must approach God with both thanksgiving and praise. The flip side of that would be that we cannot enter the presence of God without an attitude of thanksgiving.

Why is thanksgiving so important? Why can’t we even begin to worship until we give thanks? The issue is pride; failure to give thanks reveals an arrogant heart. When we are proud we are unwilling to worship anything but ourselves. 

Pride cannot be thankful because pride wants to deserve everything it gets. Consider this meal-time prayer by the animated character of Bart Simpson from an old episode of “The Simpsons”:

“We earned it; we bought it; we made it; thanks for nothing!”

A heart that assumes it deserves blessing is a heart incapable of worship.

But the giving of thanks, properly understood, is the great spiritual antidote to pride; for pride cannot exist in a thankful heart!

Lord,

Forgive me for assuming I deserve your favor and goodness. Forgive me for the pride that lurks in my heart and keeps me from entering your presence with genuine praise. Teach me the humility of thanksgiving that I might worship you.

Amen

Pastor Brian Coffey

Tuesday, November 26

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Deuteronomy 8:11-14

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of slavery.

As I’ve talked about many times, I’ve been blessed with a number of opportunities to travel to different parts of the world on short term mission trips. I’ve come to see that one of the great benefits to visiting different parts of the world is a lowering of one’s “pleasure threshold.”

Here’s what I mean.

When you travel to a place like the Dominican Republic, as I did this past summer, you are immediately thrust into an unfamiliar world; a world without many of the assumed comforts and amenities of our lives here in suburban America. For example; relatively few homes, buildings or cars have air conditioning, so you are uncomfortably hot and sweaty most of the time. So when you do happen to go into a home or restaurant with even a modicum of air conditioning, you are profoundly grateful in a way you aren’t back home. Or take showers for example; depending on where you are staying, you might not have access to a hot shower at the end of the day, or even any running water at all. So, after several days without a shower, even a slow drizzle of cold water from a shower head feels amazing and provokes the same surge of both pleasure and thanksgiving because your “pleasure threshold” has come down!

Contrast that to life at home, where I am so used to air conditioning that if my AC goes out, as it did a couple of summers ago, I bemoan the suffering of my existence. Or if for some reason, all the hot water is gone by the time I take my morning shower, I am not only profoundly ungrateful, but feel like I’ve somehow been unjustly persecuted! That’s because I’m so used to the comforts of home that my “pleasure threshold” is set very high!

That’s because my perspective has been warped by the affluence of my culture. The Bible actually says this is a very old problem.

Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of slavery.

Do you see it? The Bible is saying that as our material blessings increase; as our wealth and possessions increase; our appreciation for those things and our appreciation for the God who gives us all things can actually decrease! In other words, as our “pleasure threshold” rises, our “thanksgiving threshold” can fall; or we can forget to give thanks altogether.

May we not be among those who are so comfortable and so satisfied that they have forgotten the Lord! Take some time this week to remember that all you have is a gift from God, and to offer him your humble thanksgiving.

Lord,

Forgive me for so often taking for granted the blessings of my life! Forgive me for selfishly expecting and even demanding comfort for myself while so many around your world struggle for survival. Teach me how to be thankful for even the smallest gifts from your hand. Teach me to remember you.

Amen

Pastor Brian Coffey

Monday, November 25

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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I was in Branson, Missouri, last week, of all places, to watch one of my sons play college basketball. Now if you’ve ever been to Branson, you know it’s a pretty unique place! The town seems to be comprised entirely of hotels, country music venues, shops, restaurants and tourists; lots and lots of retirement-aged tourists!

But what I noticed in the few hours I had to wander around town was that the streets were already decorated for Christmas and Christmas music was blaring all over town.

I don’t know about you, but I think there ought to be a federal law prohibiting Christmas decorations and music before Thanksgiving!

I think that way because as much as I love Christmas, I have come to believe that Thanksgiving might be the most uncorrupted and incorruptible holiday in our culture.

Christmas has become a commercial and marketing frenzy that, in fact, has already begun. Even Easter is becoming increasingly commercialized. And while the commercialization of Christmas and Easter certainly doesn’t rob them of their spiritual meaning, it does make it a bit more difficult for us to dig through the marketing avalanche to find it. But, somehow, Thanksgiving is different! I mean, you don’t see big inflatable turkeys or giant plastic Mayflower replicas in people’s yards during Thanksgiving week!

I think this is because the giving of thanks is fundamentally a spiritual activity that is very difficult to commercialize.

And that’s good because the Bible says that giving thanks is God’s will for all of us.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

What does it mean to “give thanks in all circumstances”? I heard a good example just today on the radio. I was listening to a report on the recent tornadoes in down-state Illinois and the reporter said that “despite the destruction all around them, many people seemed to be quite thankful that all they lost was material things,” or something very close to that. In other words, they recognized that while the loss of a home or school is traumatic and costly, they could still be grateful that they did not lose loved ones.

But what about communities that did suffer the loss of family members or friends due to the havoc wreaked by the storms? While I certainly can’t speak for those going through such painful loss, I can say that I have heard beautiful expressions of thanksgiving from those who have suffered tremendous pain and loss. I have heard grieving parents express their gratitude for having known the blessing of a child’s life and love even if that life was cut short. I have heard grieving friends thank God for the great hope of a glad reunion in heaven someday. 

Why does God want us to give thanks? I think it is God’s will for all of us to give thanks because gratitude puts us in a spiritual posture before God that allows us to worship him and receive his grace and blessing. And when we find a way to give thanks in all the circumstances of our lives, as difficult as that might be, we also find that, through our thanksgiving, God grants his grace and peace.

Pastor Brian Coffey

Friday, Nov. 22

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Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.   - Matthew 13:36-43

I find it fascinating that after teaching the crowds in parables, Jesus takes a little break from His public ministry by seeking refuge in a nearby house.  There are some New Testament scholars who believe that this was the house of Peter in Caprenaum.  It is possible, we know that it was near the sea of Galilee and that he apparently resided there while He was in the area.  Whatever the case, Jesus goes into this house to get away from the crowds for a while, and immediately His disciples come and ask Him to explain Himself. 

Why did the disciples ask Jesus for an explanation of this specific parable?  They didn’t seem to mind or have questions about the other parables.  This one they singled out and we have to ask ourselves, why?  Why did the disciples single out this parable from all the others?  What was in their thinking when they asked Jesus, “Please, we want you to explain this one!”

Well, for one thing, the parable of the wheat and weeds does have some disturbing images in it...our enemy the Devil, children of the evil one, angles reaping at the end of the age, a fiery furnace, weeping, gnashing of teeth, etc.  I can understand why they would want to know just exactly what all of this meant and where they stood in all of this terrifying imagery.  However, I don’t think Jesus told this story to terrify us or to scare us into obedience.  I think Jesus wants His disciples, then and now, to be absolutely clear about the reality of Judgment Day.  There will come a day when the King will return in glory and power to judge the earth with fire.  On that day, He will separate the wheat from the weeds.  This reality is actually a source of security for those who belong to Him, because know that tin the end, our great King will set everything right.

For the disciples of Jesus (both then & now) who are so often preoccupied about the weeds rather than the wheat, perhaps Jesus wants to reassure us that, in the end, all wrongs will be set right, no evil will go unpunished, and all causes of stumbling will be swept away.  Utterly dependent as we are on grace, we can, with great confidence, trust God's righteousness, which ultimately requires God’s judgment, but whose other side is always mercy upon mercy. Naturally, we just prefer that judgment when it’s others who are judged, not ourselves! The parable of the wheat and the weeds reminds us that, in the meantime, we all continue to grow together, side by side, and that it isn’t your business or mine to figure out who belongs to which category. Our task is simply to be faithful in living as a child of the King, under the reign of Christ and in the kingdom of God!

Because we know that (in the immortal words of Handel’s Messiah)...

The kingdom of this world is become
the Kingdom of our Lord 

and of His Christ,
and of His Christ;
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and ever
King of Kings, Lord of Lords
for ever and ever. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Jeff Frazier

Thursday, Nov. 21

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He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,  but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.  So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.  And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’  He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’  But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”  - Matthew 13:24-30

There is a particular place in my back yard where large prickly weeds perpetually grow.  I am convinced that this spot is is the breeding ground for these weeds in my neighborhood.  I have sprayed weed killer, used Preen (which I am convinced doesn’t work), covered the ground with a fabric and mulch, but nothing seems to stop them.  The only thing that works is to dig them out by the root, and the earlier the better, because they seem to multiply quickly.

I have always wondered why the Master in this parable (Jesus) tells his servants NOT to pull out the weeds but to let them keep growing.  How is it a good idea to let weeds grow in your field?  Why not tell the servants to get rid of the weeds immediately?  I mean, they are weeds after all and who wants weeds?  

I think there has been a consistent and unfortunate tendency among Christians throughout church history to become preoccupied with identifying and “pulling weeds”.  We want to know who is in and who is out when it comes to the Kingdom of God.  We like to label people, to put them in categories.  It makes us feel comfortable and secure to feel like we know who is who in the Kingdom and in the world.  

The problem is that Jesus specifically tells us not to do this!  Why not?  Why does Jesus tell his servants to “let them both grow together”?  Wouldn’t it be better to get rid of those who don’t belong and those who might corrupt the true believers?  

Jesus gives us His answer when He says; “lest in gathering the weeds, you root up the wheat along with them.”  Apparently Jesus is more concerned with growing good wheat than He is with pulling weeds!

Okay, I guess it makes sense that Jesus does not want us to damage or harm the children of the Kingdom in our efforts to “uproot” the children of the enemy.  But I think there is a deeper reason for the patience of the master in this parable.  

The Apostle Peter (who was there when Jesus told & explained this parable) puts it like this...The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  - 2 Peter 3:9

You see, in the Kingdom of God, weeds can be transformed into wheat!  It doesn’t work that in way in my backyard or in a farmer’s field, but in God’s Kingdom, poisonous weeds can be changed into beautiful wheat!  Spiritually speaking, we were all “bad seeds”, we were all weeds until Christ redeemed us!  Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul...

 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.   - Ephesians 2:1-5

So, dear friends, let’s not waste time trying to pull weeds in God’s Kingdom, instead, let’s get busy growing good wheat - in our own hearts and in the lives of others!

Jeff Frazier

Wednesday, Nov. 20

To listen to the audio version, click here. 

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil.   - Matthew 13:36-39

In this passage from Matthew 13, Jesus explains the meaning of His parable of the Wheat and Weeds to His disciples.  He tells them (and us) what each element and event int the story symbolize.  One of the striking things about His explanation is the fact that He attributes the weeds to the work of an enemy, and He identifies that enemy as the Devil.

When the servants in the parable discover the weeds, they go straight to their master to ask him how they got there, and the master immediately recognizes that this is the work of an enemy.

 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’  He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’  - Matthew 13:27-28

The Bible is crystal clear that Jesus Christ is the true King and His Kingdom is present and advancing in the world.  However, this parable also makes it clear that Christ and His Kingdom will not go unopposed in the world.  There is another kingdom, a rival kingdom, and a rival ruler to Christ - Satan.

There are some folks who view any talk of the Devil or evil forces in the world as just a bunch of superstitious nonsense.  There are other people who become overly fascinated or paranoid about the work of the Devil and demons.  C.S. Lewis offers us a healthy perspective on this issue...

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” (The Screwtape Letters)

But if we take God’s Word seriously, then we cannot avoid the fact that we have an enemy.  Satan is real and he is absolutely committed to destroying what God is trying to build in the world.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  - 1 Peter 5:8

Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.   - Ephesians 6:11-12

Jesus told this parable so that we would have a clear understanding that His kingdom will face opposition in this world.  As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we are not to be ignorant of our enemy in the world.  We are also not live in paralyzing fear of Satan or his power because we know that his power is nothing compared to the power of our King!

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  - 1 John 4:4

Jeff Frazier

Tuesday, Nov. 19

Our apologies, but audio for today's post will not be available

Tuesday

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.   - Matthew 13:36-43

Jesus told many parables in His teaching, but He only took the time to explain the exact meaning of two of them; The Parable of the Sower, and This one - The Parable of the Wheat & the Weeds.  

In the agricultural society of Christ’s time, many farmers depended on the quality of their crops. An enemy sowing weeds would have sabotaged a business. The weeds in the parable were likely a poisonous darnel called zizania.  This kind of weed appears almost identical to wheat until it nears maturity. Without modern weed killers, what would a wise farmer do in such a dilemma? Instead of tearing out the wheat with the tares, the landowner in this parable wisely waited until the harvest. After harvesting the whole field, the tares could be separated and burned. The wheat would be saved in the barn.

Jesus tells His disciples, and us, that the enemy in the parable is Satan. In opposition to Jesus Christ, the Devil tries to destroy Christ’s work by placing false believers and teachers in the world who lead many astray. 

We don’t need to look any further than the latest televangelist scandal to know the world is filled with professing “Christians” whose ungodly actions bring reproach on the name of Christ. But we are not to pursue such people in an effort to destroy them. For one thing, we don’t know if immature and innocent believers might be injured by our efforts. 

When we look back at our own history, at the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, and the reign of “Bloody Mary” in England to see the results of men taking upon themselves the responsibility of separating true believers from false, a task reserved for God alone. 
Instead of requiring these false believers to be rooted out of the world, and possibly hurting immature believers in the process, Christ allows them to remain until His return. At that time, angels will separate the true from false believers. 

In addition, we are not to take it upon ourselves to uproot unbelievers because the difference between true and false believers isn’t always obvious. Tares, especially in the early stages of growth, resemble wheat. Likewise, a false believer may resemble a true believer. 

In Matthew 7:22 Jesus warned that many profess faith but do not know Him. 
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

Jesus did not give us this parable so that we could spend our energy determining who is wheat and who is weeds.  However, I think He does desire that we look into our own hearts to determine if we are living as wheat in God’s Kingdom, or as weeds in the world.

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!  - 2 Corinthians 13:5 

Jeff Frazier

Monday, Nov. 18

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Let’s start with a simple question - Do you think the world is getting better or getting worse?

The Scripture says that Jesus came preaching the good news of kingdom of God...

Luke 4:43 - But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Luke 8:1 - After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. 

In fact, Jesus actually declares that the Kingdom of Heaven is here now...

Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

At the beginning of the 20th century you would have been laughed almost to scorn if you had suggested that the world is getting worse instead of better. Today it is the other way around. Most people that I talk to today tend to see things getting worse in the world, not better.  It is hard to turn on a cable news channel without hearing about another terrible tragedy or horrific crime or awful disaster in some part of the world.  If we are honest, there is plenty of evidence all around us that sees to contradict Jesus‘ declaration that the Kingdom is here and that it is good news.

Jesus gives us a way of understanding the world and the role of His Kingdom in it in simple little story called the parable of the wheat & the weeds...

 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,  but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.  So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.  And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’  He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’  But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”  

• Matthew 13:24-30

While it is true that the Bible consistently declares that the Kingdom is here now and that it started the moment Jesus came, in this parable, Jesus tells us something very important about what life is like in the Kingdom right now - The Kingdom of God will not go uncontested in this world.  Jesus is telling us is that there is another kingdom growing right alongside of the Kingdom of God.  These two kingdoms coexist side by side in the world, but it is not a peaceful coexistence.  These two kingdoms; the Kingdom of God & the kingdom of this world, are striving against each other for supremacy in the hearts of men & women and in the structures of human society.

So, back to our original question...

Is the world getting worse?  Yes, the kingdom of this world is increasing in its effects; oppression, violence, injustice, wars, etc. until Christ puts an end to it at the final harvest.

Is the world getting better?  Yes, the Kingdom of Heaven arrived in Jesus and it is growing and advancing in mercy, love, kindness, charity and grace until the harvest at the end of the age.

What does this mean for you and me today?  It means that we are not to be surprised or discouraged when we see the enemy at work in the world around us.  We are not doubt the reality of God’s Kingdom just because we the effects of a rival kingdom in the world.  We are to get busy doing the Kingdom work He has called us to as we look forward to the Harvest!

Jeff Frazier

Friday, November 15

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“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Chicago Bulls and NBA superstar Derrick Rose recently returned to action after more than a year away from the game due to an injury. Naturally, I tuned in to watch some of his first game back on the court with his teammates. During that game an interesting commercial featuring Rose was aired. In the 30 second commercial, which I think is for a shoe company, Rose says:

“Let me tell you something. If you took away the money; if you took away the fame; the spotlight; if you took away the lifestyle and all that comes with it; if you took away all the flash; what would you have left?”

Then he answers his own question by saying, “Everything,” as the words “Basketball is everything” scroll across the screen.

It’s a great commercial.

I think it’s wrong, but I still think it’s a great commercial.

It’s a great piece because it makes an attempt to strip life down to it’s essence. It challenges us to jettison all the external baggage we carry around to make ourselves feel valuable and important in the world, and to look at what really matters. 

The problem with the piece is that it doesn’t go far enough. It lands on basketball; which is just another external activity in which a person can temporarily locate his or her identity; but that, ultimately, just isn’t that important.

I know it’s just a commercial and that even Derrick Rose, in his heart of hearts, doesn’t believe basketball is everything. But, then, what is?

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

I think Jesus is saying, like Derrick Rose in the commercial, “Take everything away; your job, your wealth, your house, your family, your health, your very life...and what’s left?”

Indeed, what is left?

Jesus is saying that the only answer that makes sense; the only answer that gives hope; the only answer that brings peace to our souls is, “the kingdom of heaven.”

The kingdom of heaven is Jesus.

The kingdom of heaven is the gospel.

The kingdom of heaven is everything.

Pastor Brian Coffey

Thursday, November 14

To listen to the audio version, click here.

Luke 21:1-4

As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor woman has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

A few years ago a friend in the church introduced me to a woman named Nancy. It’s a bit of a long story how the two women became friends, but what you most need to know is that Nancy is blind, lives in Wisconsin, and loves to pray. In fact, even though she lives several hundred miles away, Nancy loves to pray for FBCG and for our pastors; so much so that she considers FBCG to be her “church home away from her church home.” Once a year or so, when she is able to travel to our area,  she will offer to meet with me just to encourage me and pray for me as “her pastor.” 

Well, Nancy came into town a couple of weeks ago and so I met with her and the other friend from church for a time of prayer and encouragement. Now Nancy’s visit happened to come during a very busy time in my schedule; I had lots of extra meetings that week due to our ministry expansion project called “Growing to Serve.” (If you don’t attend our church, “Growing to Serve” is a $9 million project that involves expanding and renovating our ministry facilities.) In some ways I couldn’t afford the time for another meeting, but I agreed to meet just because I know Nancy prays for me and for our church.

But Nancy had a surprise for me. Part way into our time together she dug around in her purse and pulled out a folded-up commitment card for the “Growing to Serve” project. She handed it to me with a big smile on her face and said, “It’s not much, but I just felt like if this is my church that I should participate in the project.”

She had clipped a check for $100 to the commitment card.

I was both surprised and humbled. I knew that Nancy had a hard life. I knew that she had lost her 23 year old son to a brain tumor back in the summer. I knew it had to be an enormous sacrifice on her part to give that gift.

I asked her, “Do you mind me asking how you earned the money?” 

She said, “No, I don’t mind; I sold cheesecakes.”

I think that’s what Jesus was talking about when he observed the poor widow in the temple.

As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor woman has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

We’re talking a lot about generosity these days at our church; a $9 million project will tend to make you do that! But we are reminding ourselves often that our generosity isn’t about buildings or budgets, it’s about the the glory of God, the power of the gospel, and the surpassing value of the kingdom of heaven!

I think Jesus may have been thinking about both of these extravagantly generous women when said:

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Pastor Brian Coffey

Wednesday, November 13

To listen to the audio version, click here.

Matthew 13:44-46

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

On April 21, 1986, a sensationalist reporter named Geraldo Rivera hosted a live T.V. show during which he promised to open Al Capone’s vault.

The “vault” was a sealed and secret room in an old Chicago hotel believed by some to contain loot from Capone’s criminal ventures or even dead bodies.

Mr. Rivera breathlessly told his television audience that agents from the Internal Revenue Service and a medical examiner were on hand to deal with whatever was found when the secret vault was opened.

When the vault was finally opened, before an estimated 30 million viewers on live television, the only things found were dirt and several empty bottles. That’s it.

As it turns out some treasure hunts aren’t worth the trouble at all.

So the question is, of course, is there a treasure that is worth the hunt? Is there a treasure to be discovered that is more valuable than all others?

And that’s what Jesus is teaching us about the kingdom of heaven.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The point of both of these brief parables is the same: Jesus is declaring the surpassing value of the kingdom of heaven.

In the first parable a man, possibly a hired farm hand, stumbles across a hidden treasure seemingly by accident. Realizing his incredible good fortune, he quickly sells all he has in order to buy the field and secure the treasure. This parable emphasizes the surprising grace of the kingdom of heaven.

In the second parable it’s clear that a merchant is actively searching for fine pearls. Pearls were regarded as enormously valuable in that day and this merchant would likely have been an expert in determining the worth of any particular pearl. His search eventually leads him to a pearl of such exceeding value that he gladly liquidates all his other assets to purchase that pearl. 

In one case, the kingdom is discovered by accident; in the other, it is discovered through an intensive search, but in each case, once the true treasure of the kingdom is discovered, every other treasure and every other pursuit suddenly pales in comparison. Each character willingly and joyfully sells everything they have in order to possess, know or experience the treasure that is kingdom of heaven.

Years ago Geraldo Rivera led his viewers on a hunt that ended in rather humorous disappointment. Jesus is telling us the kingdom of heaven is not only worth everything we have, but will exceed our wildest expectations.

Pastor Brian Coffey

Tuesday, November 12

To listen to the audio version, click here.

Matthew 13:44-46

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

One of the world’s oldest buried treasure legends involves an island off the coast of Nova Scotia called “Oak Island.” As the story goes, in 1795 three teenage boys discovered what looked to them to be a spot where something had been buried and then covered up. They dug as far as they could and found what appeared to be evidence that someone had created an elaborate hiding place. But after digging to a depth of about 30 feet and finding nothing of value they gave up their efforts. But even though they didn’t find buried treasure, the legend was born.

Over the years other treasure hunters continued to dig on the spot, eventually reaching a depth of nearly 100 feet. At that point they hit a stone slab with an inscription on it. According to the story, a cryptologist eventually deciphered the message on the slab to say, “Forty feet below 2 million pounds are buried” (with “pounds” referring to British currency equal to several million dollars).

Since that stone slab has long since vanished into history many believe it to be a fabrication designed to attract continued interest as well as potential investors in the hunt for buried treasure.

Others speculated that there was indeed treasure  buried on Oak Island, and that it was that of Captain Kidd or even “Blackbeard” the pirate.

The most famous person to become caught up in the search for untold riches was Franklin Roosevelt who personally supervised a dig in 1909.

Finally, in 1977 a company bought the whole island for $125,000 and then spent some $3 million in drilling. To date all they have found is wood, charcoal and bits and pieces of items left over from  earlier digs. Yet the owners continue to believe that riches worth up to $100,000,000 remain buried on the island, even though no actual evidence of buried treasure has ever been produced.

I think stories like this illustrate why Jesus spoke about the kingdom of heaven as if it were buried treasure.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Jesus knows that every human being who ever lived, including each one of us, is on a treasure hunt.

Legendary musician Bruce Springsteen said the same thing in a song in which he sang, “Everybody’s got a hungry heart.”

Jesus knows that we’re all hungry for wealth; for purpose; for love; for joy; for life itself; but often we wind up looking in places that are nothing but sink holes!

Think for a moment about the treasures of your heart. Consider making a list of the things, people, pursuits or possessions that you hold most dear. 

Once you’ve made the list, look through every item and ask yourself: “Is this treasure worth giving everything for, even my life itself?”

Then ask yourself, “Do I value any of these treasures more than I value the promise of the kingdom of heaven?”

Pastor Brian Coffey