Touch the Coffins

Luke 7:12 - 15 "As He approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out - the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and He said, 'Don't cry.' Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. he said, 'Young man, I say to you, get up!' The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother."


My poor niece. She was over my house the other day and started yelling at my son when he killed an inchworm. I didn't have the heart to tell her that in a few days I was going to be committing "inchworm genocide." My trees are going to be sprayed because I can't let these inchworms do what they did last year - eat every leaf off every tree.

Last year the trees did end up "releafing" themselves within a few months, which encouraged me. (I want to say that the trees "releaved" themselves but that just doesn't sound right.) But my neighbor told me, and I believe him because his daughter has a degree in botany, that every time a tree has to "releaf" itself it is weakened severely. It has only a limited amount of times that it can do it before it is in danger of dying. So I'm not taking any chances this year and I'm having them sprayed.

What does this have to do with Luke 7 when Jesus raises the young man? I believe that we need to start raising the dead young men that are all around us, and we have to start doing it now, before they're past the point of restoration. I'm not saying that we don't have a huge God who is capable of complete restoration when we think anyone is past their limit. What I'm saying is that in our own humanity - apart from His divinity which can raise the dead - but again, in our own humanity we don't have a lot of personal resuscitations in us.

The body is a finite thing and it does wear down and I have seen countless people get to a point where they try to "revive themselves" over and over again, and then they simply fade away and die out before the healing hand of Jesus can ever touch them. Our flesh is weak and will eventually wear out. You can see it in their faces every day when you walk past them. They have nothing left.

That’s why we have to touch the coffins of these young people now. Jesus reached into a funeral procession and touched a dead man's coffin. You just didn't do that in Jewish culture. It was the epitome of unclean. But if we are to bring the healing hand of Jesus to them, we have to first get into the funeral and then touch the coffin.

As we approach Mother's Day, I can think of no better gift or ministry than to start bringing sons back to their mothers.

The Big 162

Luke 7:35 "Wisdom is proved right by all her children."


As I teacher, I sometimes struggle with handing out grades. I want everyone to know and master the material, and then to test out with the highest grades. If everyone got an "A" it wouldn't bother me. But then I realize that there has to be some kind of separation for those who are really trying, those who are truly gifted, from the pretenders and the lazy.

And really - life is like that. It will separate them, it always does. Given enough time, children will be produced that reveal what has been true and what has been false.

Baseball has a saying about the "Big 162." What it means is that the season is so long, 162 games, that contenders are eventually separated from pretenders. Winning streaks can be deceiving and the best team will survive the 162 games and end up on top.

This will happen, Jesus tells us, with His words and all other false religions. The children will eventually prove what is true and what is false. 2000 years later, I think the point has been proven. Jesus is Truth.

This will also happen with those in the church who are truly seeking to be His disciples and those who are putting on all the "dressing" but not really interested in following Jesus. Eventually, life will sort them out, and if it doesn't, the threshing floor will finish the task. I'm not looking for this to see people get punished, I believe in the judgment of God but do not wish it upon anyone. However, I am a little weary of those who claim to be in Christ but deny Him with their thoughts and actions.

Back and Forth

"They have their whole life ahead of them."

A newscaster used this phrase the other night when talking about some teens that had made some stupid mistake that would cost them either jail time or probation. He was lamenting the fact that they had wasted their life. I thought, "Wait a minute, they don't have their whole life ahead of them. Clearly they've lived a portion of it up to this point!" I know - I'm being petty picking apart a phrase that has other implications, but it did make me think. How much does the past matter?

The reason I ask this question is because I know some people who let their past define them, to the point that they can't move forward. To them, I counsel the word of God in Isaiah who said, "Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past - see, I am doing a new thing." I want them to move forward and not let the past be an anchor around them.

But at the same time I know some people who use this as a form of cheap grace and just step away from the rubble they've created from past decisions. This bothers me. The present does matter, but so, in a sense, does the past. Decisions I've made and people I've hurt are very real in my present life. I don't want to dismiss it completely, because that would mean I'm gaining my spiritual growth on the backs of a world of hurt. I don't want my progression to be at the expense of others.

In other words, I don't have my whole life ahead of me. I've lived a portion of it already, a portion that matters. People that have mattered. Consequences that still linger.

Why do I mention this? Because if I understand that the past does matter, then it will change how I live now. If I think the past is just washed away then I can justify things now, thinking that they'll just be washed away as well. I will lose my sense of urgency to do right - now. To treat people with respect and love. To be honest in everything I say and do. I need to know that decisions made may have eternal consequences.

Knowing and Kneeling

John 13:3 "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God, so . .. .

As I was reviewing for our recent Maundy Thursday service, I was again awestruck at the fact that Jesus knelt at the feet of Judas - and then proceeded to wash the grime from his betrayer. How can someone put every thing aside and do what goes against the nature of man? Every fiber in our body tells us to break from those who hurt us.

I believe that one of the keys is found in verse 3. He knew His place. He knew that all things were in Him, under Him, for Him. He knew the love of the Father in a way that was (is) deep and eternal. When you know your place, you are able to kneel before a betrayer and wash their feet. You are able to humble yourself, to place others, even enemies, above you.

Many aren't able to do this because they are always in fear of losing something. They think that if they kneel before a "Judas" in their life then they will be placing themselves in a position of defeat and loss. But if you know your true position in Christ, you can kneel. You can forgive. You can reconcile. You can offer your cloak, your hand, your money.

There are many who have broken relationships with their brothers and sisters in the Lord and they think it's okay, that they can still go on in power and victory. But Christ has shown us that this is not true. It reveals a lack of faith, a lack of trust, a lack of confidence in their place in Christ. If this matter remains unsettled, then they are stuck. We are told to reconcile before offering up our sacrifices. But we can't reconcile if we aren't willing to kneel, and we can't kneel if we don't have deep faith.

Christ washed the feet of Judas. Because He knew, He could kneel. Because He could kneel, He could offer up His body as a living sacrifice to His enemies and betrayers.

Push Through to the Final Third

Lately, we've been having great Bible Studies at our house, things are happening at church in the sense that the Spirit is moving, powerful decisions are being made, and young men are being saved. And yet . . . I can't help but feel that my natural tendency to pull back at the sign of spiritual momentum and success is starting to take hold. I have a bad habit of shooting myself in the foot every time I get to the threshold of God's all-consuming fire. I really desire to push through this so that I can experience true healing and life-changing fruit. In my own life and in the lives of those around me.

I wrote a post recently about how we're missing the third element of the disciples - the element of authority. To push through to that is huge. I really believe it is where GOD resides in power.

In my Bible readings, I've noticed this trend recently - how important this third element is.

Hosea 6:1 - 4 "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in His presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him."

The third day is the day of healing and restoration. It is the day where we push through to the presence of God. Days one and two are the ripping apart. Many of us choose to dwell in these days. But it's day three, if we are willing to press on, where the healing takes place.

Isaiah 37:30, 31 (to Hezekiah, who has been devastated by the Assyrians): "This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyard and eat their fruit."

The third year is the year of fruit. Years one and two - recover, live off the mercy of the Lord. There's nothing wrong with taking a deep breath and gathering yourself back up. But the third year, if we can push through to it, is a year of life and healing and production.

Recently, in reading Daniel, I noticed that the world understands this principle. When Nebuchadnezzar grabbed the best of the young men from Jerusalem, this is what he instructed his court official:

Daniel 1:4 "He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service."

The Babylonians knew that if these young men were immersed for three years in their culture, then they had them. If they could push them through to the third year, then the ways of Israel would be erased and they would be useful for the king's service.

This principle holds true spiritually. We often grow weary - pushing up to the point of victory, then pulling back. Push through. Whatever is keeping you from the surrendered, abundant life, push through it. All the way to the Third Day - the day of the resurrection. Any man can have the first two days. Just like man killed Christ and had two days of "victory." But the third day belongs to God.

That's a Wrap

I have come to the final conclusion that this Christian walk cannot possibly succeed without God's people wrapped around me. As I look back in my life, I realize that every major spiritual growth spurt has occurred when I have entered into a community of believers that loved me and allowed me to ask and seek, push and pull, rise and fall, - ultimately drawing me deeper into God.

This lesson has been driven home sharply this week. One of the boys of my congregation was drawn away from his church family by a "friend" and into a community of hate and darkness. There was no love, no hope - nothing of value. How did it end? Let's just say that I am doing a funeral this Monday for a 15 year old boy who at this time last year was wrapped in the love of a small church.

I truly believe that he is now wrapped in the love of God - but that doesn't take away all the pain. When he was pulled away from our community, he was enveloped in darkness. Please - follow the directions of Scripture: "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (II Timothy 2:22) Do not try to do this alone.

A Failing Grade 66.7%

Mark 3:13 "Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve - designating them apostles - that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons."

Two out of three ain't bad. Well, actually, yes it is.

I'm speaking of my own life, and by missing the third element, I'm feeling the failing. When Jesus called His apostles, there were three things He was putting into play:

1. That they would be with Him. I think, at least in my limited but growing faith, I have this. I desire to spend time with Him and I do, for the most part.

2. To preach. Check. I do this - most of us do this in life and words.

3. To have authority to drive out demons. Here's where I think most of us fall short. I'm not saying that we're constantly confronted by demon-possessed people, although we may be surprised to know the truth when the veil is lifted. What I am thinking is that we are spending time with Christ, telling others about Him, but completely lacking in the authority that changes lives, that brings healing to the oppressed, that knocks down the gates of hell.

By missing this third element, I think we're failing. Where I teach, 2 out of 3 is a failing grade. you need a 70% to pass. We need to push through to this third part, the authority and power of Christ in our own lives to "drive out demons" and the power of the Christ to enter into the lives of others and bring them out of the darkness and into the light.

It's not like there's an Activation Switch that suddenly turns on this power. It comes from faith - truly believing that the same power that raised Christ from the dead resides in us. The same authority that confronted demons and cast them out of people is upon us. The same Name that is above all other names is written on our foreheads. The fullness of God is within us.


I John 5:4 "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

Step out today with the faith and the expectation that your life can be truly transformed, and the you can have authority to bring this life-changing Power into the lives of others.