ken castor

Praying in Scripture

In light of the tragedy in Japan, I have been revisting some trusted Bible verses about prayer.  As the images of destruction stream across my laptop in the comfort of a secure house and office, I feel a need to seek earnestness in my heart for those who are hurting on the other side of the globe.  I am tempted to desensitize... the reality of pain is too much... and yet my heart won't let me ignore the despair.  My soul is troubled.  And so I cry out to God.  But from thousands of miles away... what difference can I really make by sharing hurt?

The verses I am re-engaging have for me become a defining framework of spiritual formation in every context, time and circumstance.  Whether in joy or in sorrow, in ease or in trouble, I have found tremendous strength for the last 15 years in these short verses.  They ignite within me a renewed confidence in the practice of prayer and they compell me towards a lifestyle more deeply obedient to God’s presence.  They push me towards an engagement with frustrations and dysfunctions.  The natural dysfunctions of death and horror in Japan right now frustrate me terribly.  My heart is wrecked... and so I return to pray through these verses which have given me firm footing when I don't know how to walk.

Philippians 4:5-7 is a framework within which I can expose my heart to God.  Contained in these verses is a relevant paradigm for seeking after and finding the ultimate aim of God: 

The Lord is near.  Let your forbearance be evident to all.  Don’t 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.

Perhaps this will give you a snapshot, and me a reminder, as to how praying in Scripture refocuses my heart deeply on the things of God.  By spending time with God, in his nearness, my heart and mind are transformed further into his desires and actions.  As I release my anxiety to him, as I hand over control, as I rely upon his goodness and ask him for his hand to help, I experience the embrace of his peace... even in the midst of turmoil.  As I petition for change!!!!  God allows me to be a part of the voice of reconciliation in our messed up world.  My requests are permitted.  My hearts frustrations and wants are held in respect in the council of the Lord.  In my willingness to be broken with thanksgiving before God comes the envelopment of his wholeness, his shalom, God's peace.  And as I pray, my concerns shift and become more like his.  My characteristics become reflections of his.  My burdens become the ones that God is already at work carrying.  My ache for the people of Japan becomes more in tune with the profound depths of hurt that God already has for the people of Japan.  And my soul becomes humbled as I begin to hear from God's Spirit about the profound action that God is already administering among the people. 

The Lord is near.  Let me forbear before others.  Let my anxiousness be given over, and let me pray earnestly and steadfastly for others.  Let my voice rise up as an advocate in demanding petition for change!  Let me be thankful in the midst of it all.  Then let me receive God's heart and hands as he does his eternal work.

Generational Transference in the Bible: The Early Church (Part 3)

 

         In the Early Church, generational transference was not shaped by program or certain methodologies, but on a simple truth of discipleship to Christ.  To the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”^[1]  To the Philippians, Paul wrote, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice.”^[2]  There is inherent within Paul’s practice and training of leadership an understanding of modeling discipleship.  Paul expects a leader to serve as an example of appropriate pursuit of Jesus.  The expectation is a significant calling of leadership, a high standard of excellence in heart and behavior.  To the Ephesians Paul wrote, “Live a life worthy of your calling.”[3]  A lack of biblical leadership qualification creates an environment ripe for strife within a local church. “Too many churches suffer,” Wilkes suggests, because those recruited to lead “are not biblically qualified.”^[4]

         The biblical pattern involves the selection of mature people to the process of generational transference of ministry leadership who will then share the mission of the church with others.  The onus of leadership in the church is equipping the next generation for ministry who will in turn raise up others to continuously pass the message of Jesus from one person or community to another through all ages.  The strategy of generational transference is summarized by Paul as “what you have heard me say, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”^[5] 

         The early church instructed those selected as recognized leaders within a congregation to exhibit deep personal character founded in a heart for the Lord.  Both Paul and Peter instructed that the “elder” leaders or “overseeing” leaders, were expected to be “above reproach” in their lifestyle.  According to Paul, this recognition includes being a husband to one wife, temperate in attitude, self-controlled in behavior, respected by others, hospitable to others, able to teach, mature with alcohol and money, with a track-record of success in the home and an ability to promote faith in Jesus.  High-impact leadership responsibility is entrusted to those who have exhibited a deepening faithfulness to the Lord over time and have earned a good reputation in the context of the wider community outside the church. 

         Regarding “deacon” leaders or “serving” leaders, Paul suggests a similar high standard of qualifications.  They must be worthy of respect, sincere, responsible with alcohol, humbly honest, firm in spiritual faith, and unashamed in their lifestyle, and responsible with their family.  Paul encourages Timothy to “test” these individuals according to these character and behavioral measurements so they will have the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of the high level opportunities.^[6]  None of these qualifications involves talent or gifting except for the call for some capacity of teaching skills.   

         As the early church progressed, ministries all across the Roman Empire became shaped and steered by successive waves of reliable people who had been entrusted with the task of spreading the Gospel and creating community.  The simple environment of interdependence of leadership in the early church evidences the manner by which God intends to perpetuate leadership in the church.  For instance, Epaphroditus is raised up as a leader among the church in Philippi and then commissioned to serve alongside Paul. 

            The last chapter of the book of Romans stands for all time as a testament to the interdependent ministry network that became integral to the transference of faith in the first century.  The list of names reads like a who’s who of the early church: Phoebe, a “serving leader” or “deacon” in Crenchea was a great help to many people, including Paul.^[7]  Priscilla and Aquila dramatically impacted numerous churches by preparing and releasing leaders like Apollos.^[8]  Young and old, Greek and Jew, male and female; the church has always exhibited the facet of integration in the make up of its leadership.  And others like Andronicus and Junias, Urbanus, Apelles, Tryphena and Tryphosa, Erastus, Gaius, Lucius, Jason, Sosipater, and Tertius, just to name a few, were considered by Paul as proven and emerging leaders in the early church.^[9]

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^[1] 1 Corinthians 11:1

^[2] Philippians 4:9

[3] Ephesians 4:1-2

^[4] Wilkes, 192

^[5] 2 Timothy 2:2

^[6] 1 Timothy 3:1-13.Titus 1:6-9; 1 Peter 5:1-11

^[7] Romans 16:1-2

^[8] Romans 16:3-5; Acts 18:2-3; 18-28

^[9] Romans 16:1-27

Generational Transference in the Bible: The Early Church (part 2)

              Pastoral leaders “focus flexibly on the future.”^[1]  Consider the adaptive leadership transference practices of Barnabas who, as an encourager of next generation leaders, came alongside a converted Saul of Tarsus^[2] and alongside a disillusioned John Mark.^[3]  Barnabas, the son of encouragement, built them up when others would not.  He entrusted them with vision for their role in the mission of the church, mentored them in ministry, and also promoted leadership opportunities for them among the established leaders of the church.  And his encouragement was contagious.  The early church was full of flexible leadership opportunity for people full of God’s Spirit.[4]  Paul, Silas and others transferred leadership to Lydia in Philippi. 

            In writing to Titus, for example, Paul reveals a pattern in which a younger leader is encouraged to serve and raise up another generation of leaders within their congregations.  Paul intentionally left Titus in Crete in order for Titus to equip other leaders for local churches in every town.^[5]  Primarily, Titus was to live with a heart and life reflective of deep spiritual discipleship.^[6]  Secondly, Titus was to teach and train the churches inter-generationally to live in community and ministry-mindedness according to their diverse circumstances.^[7]  Thirdly, Titus was given ministry leadership in order that a new generation of godly leaders would be raised up to encourage future generations.^[8]  Such a “future-orientation” pattern is a common impetus for generational transference in the early church.

            Further principles of generational transference of ministry leadership can be derived from the richness of relationship and practice between Paul and Timothy.  In relational and actualized circumstances, Paul considered Timothy to be the successor of his leadership.  He describes Timothy as a “son” who has “proved himself” because “he has served with me in the work of the gospel.”^[9]  Paul was Timothy’s mentor, but in many respects they were also complete peers, sharing the accountability of character, the responsibility of ministry leadership, and the task of generational transference.  They fruitfully ministered alongside one another first in Lystra and then from “town to town”.  Eventually, Paul intentionally gave Timothy the high-level responsibility of pastoring in Ephesus.^[10]  As with Titus, Timothy’s primary purpose was to live according to the formation of his heart after God.^[11]  Upon the foundation of strong spiritual character, Paul could then commission Timothy to train up the next team of leaders who would accept the ownership of ministry leadership in the years to come.  He was to equip “older” men and women as well as “younger” men and women.^[12]  Paul imparts to Timothy the goal of creating an environment among the Ephesian believers whereby the church as an intergenerational community, functions interdependently, and exists to be equipped to serve God’s mission.

            Paul valued the interconnected responsibility of each person in a church as a member of Christ’s body.   The church “grows up” together.  Each person is “joined and held together by every supporting ligament.”[13]  The church “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”   Older and younger alike have an onus to serve Christ in the context of Christian community.[14] 

            To the young Timothy, Paul instructed, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”[15]  He also instructed Timothy to show respect and exhortation to an older man as if he were his father, to treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.[16]  He urged Timothy to care for widows and orphans.[17]  And he encouraged Timothy to exercise leadership always. As J. Oswald Sanders noted:

            “In an era when a man of under thirty years of age was not normally considered worthy of much recognition, Timothy’s youthfulness was a distinct handicap.  But that did not prevent Paul from giving him responsibility and encouraging him not to be dismayed by his age.”[18]

           Just as he had been selected by Christ and encouraged by Barnabas, Paul then selected individuals like Timothy and Titus who were then to impart leadership to godly leaders within the congregations who were, in turn, commissioned to raise up emerging leaders themselves.  The process became continual and perpetual. In this way, Paul effectively patterned generational transference of ministry leadership.   

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^[1] Dale, Robert.  Leading Edge: Leadership Strategies from the New Testament (Wipf & Stock), 83

^[2] Acts 9:27

^[3] Acts 15:39

[4] E.g. Paul, Silas and others transferred leadership to Lydia in Philippi.  Priscilla and Aquilla transferred leadership to Apollos, etc.

^[5] Titus 1:5

^[6] Titus 2:1,7-8

^[7] Titus 2:2,3,6,-10,15

^[8] Titus 1:5-9

^[9] Philippians 2:22

^[10] 1 Timothy 1:3

^[11] 1 Timothy 4:7,12; 5:11-14

^[12] 1 Timothy 4:12-13; 5:1-16

[13] Ephesians 4:15-16

[14] Titus 2:1-8

[15] 1 Timothy 4:12

[16] 1 Timothy 5:1-2

[17] 1 Timothy 5:3-16

[18] Sanders, J. Oswald.  Paul the Leader (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1984), 181

Rooted Faith: Go Out (part 4)

(...continued from yesterday...)

4. ROOTED FAITHFULNESS PRODUCES AN OVERFLOWING LIFE.
The Great, encouraging News, however, is that we don’t have to be fruitless.  We don’t have to be stuck in our fruitlessness.  A person who is rooted in faithfulness in God will produce an overflowing life.  Rooted faithfulness produces an overflowing life.  (Notice I didn’t say a comfortable life, or a no-problemed life; I said an overflowing life.)  Those who dig themselves down deep into the Lord and establish themselves in him will stand tall in his strength and will flourish and be fruitful in the freedom and the fullness of God.

 That’s why Colossians 2:6-7 says what it does.  “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him.  Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught.  Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.”   We start with our lives based on CHRIST.  We GROW DOWN into him, and we DRAW UP nourishment from him.  We root our lives completely in Christ and tap into all he has at his infinite disposal and draw up that fullness from him until we can’t contain what begins to happen in our lives and we overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.  We GO OUT from ourselves and proclaim the goodness of God.  We can’t help but to talk about what we have seen and heard.  Everything that we are drawing up is too much for us to contain!  The fruitful life just happens then.  It isn’t nearly as concerned with the exterior appearance as it is with the filling and overflowing that comes from a life lived in him.  It’s can be a little out of control; it leaves fruit all over the place.

But that’s good!  It is about Jesus producing good works within you.  It is about Jesus shaping you from the inside out.  It is about accepting Jesus as your Lord and living like it.  It is about living in him and for him and through him.  It is about obeying him.  It is about letting Jesus fill you up and plan your life and make you wise.  It is about doing what he wants you to do and going where he wants you to go.  It is about admitting that you need Jesus desperately and that he has saved you.  And as you add a another ring of life every year and as your bark ages and you show the wrinkles and scars of life, it is about letting Jesus grow you to be more and more strong and vigorous in the truth that you’ve been taught.  And it is about recognizing that you are not worthy enough nor are you able enough to contain the fullness of God within yourself.  It is about daily digging deep into him and drawing up from him more than you need so that you stand tall in his truth and go out into the world around you spilling him on everybody and everything you contact.  Rooted Faith places priority in a nourishing relationship with Jesus that just naturally ends up leading to a fruitful life.

Don’t get caught fruitless!  Paul says to another vibrant group of new followers of Christ, in the city of Philippi, in Philippians 1:9-11- “I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns.  May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”

Romans 11:17 says that “if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be too.”  Galatians 5:22 says that when God’s Spirit directs our lives, he will produce an abundance of fruit- the product of our rooted-ness in God.  The fruit of God’s Spirit are life-and-world-changing seeds like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23) – all those things that our world needs but seems to have a shortage of is produced within you when you live with a rooted faith.  The Bible goes on to say that “those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit” (Gal 6:8).  And it also says, “What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people” (Gal 6:15).  Colossians chapter 3 says that we should be clothed with all those things that God produces from within us; mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and especially love and peace in your heart, and always be thankful.  Brentview, are you changed?  Are you different?  Are you fruitful?  Grow Down.  Draw up.  Go out.  Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.  And he has done a lot!  In this generation, let there be fruit.  Amen. 

BENEDICTION - Ephesians 3:17 says, “May your roots grow down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love… Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

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Full audio version of this sermon.  Download June 21 09 Ken Castor 

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i got up

So I got up today a bit earlier.  I beat the alarm clock!  With a bit more determination, with a bit better of an attitude, I made oatmeal with a bit more joy this morning.  It's hard to admit that I can be a grump... but that's what I was yesterday morning.  (Don't believe me?  Read my rant.)   So this morning I'm meditating on these words from Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)- not as a brainwashing technique, but as a preparation for how to live today:

"Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you have learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you."

divested

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death-
- even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

-philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)

rejoice

As a devotional reminder today, here is one of Charles Wesley's many impressive hymns... inspired by Philippians 4:4---

Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing,
And triumph evermore:
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

The Lord, our Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains,
He took His seat above:
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o'er earth and heaven;
The keys of death and hell
Are to Jesus given:
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord the judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

incarnational reflection

[INCARNATIONAL SERIES part 6]    

So essential is the concept of the Incarnation to the identity of the Church that early believers made it a test of authenticity for true acceptance of faith.1   To reject the Incarnation was to reject Jesus.  Likewise, to reject the way God accomplished his mission through the Incarnation was to reject the everyday and eternal identity and mission of the Church.2   The Church, filled with witnesses sent by Jesus, today serves as a corporeal demonstration of the Incarnation.  Jesus is the head of the Church, which the scriptures refer to as his Body.   As a result, the Church is to reflect Jesus, who is the “visible image of the invisible God.”3
    Scripture teaches us that the Incarnation is the model for the identity and action of the Church in the world today.4   The writer of Hebrews underscores the unselfish obedience Jesus displayed in going to the cross for our salvation.5   Jesus desired that his followers do likewise.6    Jesus showed us how to “fish for people” like he did.7   And just as God forgave us through the work of Christ, so we are instructed to forgive others.  We are also taught to accept others, just as Christ, who came as a servant, has accepted us.8   Just as Jesus displayed, we are also to put on tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience and especially love which binds everything together.  The Apostle Paul stressed that his followers are to have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had:
“Who, being in very nature God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself
      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross!”9

    The Incarnation compels us today to so love the world as Jesus did.  As Christ was sent so that those who believe would have everlasting life, so Jesus shapes us to go into all geographies and contexts in order to share the newness of life that transforms us because God has come among us in the Person of Jesus Christ.10   Just as Jesus broke into this world, so the Church is sent to break into lives to reveal God’s mission of redemptive love (See Figure 2). Paul teaches us that:
“God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.  This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.  We are Christ’s ambassadors.”11

1  1 John 4:2-3, “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” NIV
2  Stan Grenz suggested that “in this one historical, personal life we find revealed who God is and who we are to be- true deity and true humanity.  As this human being, Jesus is divine… The foundation for this confession, Jesus is the incarnate one, is not limited to Jesus’ birth.  All of his life, including his resurrection as the confirmation of his claims concerning himself, indicates that in Jesus the Word has come in the flesh.  In short, we do not celebrate the incarnation merely at Christmas, but throughout the church year climaxing at Easter.” (Grenz, Stanley J.  Theology for the Community of God.  Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994, 405).
3  Colossians 1:15
4  “In order to understand the nature of Jesus’ ministry, it is necessary to remember his incarnation.” Glasser, 201.
5  Hebrews 5:7-8
6  John 17:6
7  Mark 1:16-18
8  Romans 15:7
9  Philippians 2:5-8 NIV
10  Matthew 28:19-20
11  2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NLT

pray that others will have abounding life

Paul says in Philippians 1:9-11:

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God.

I'm trying to put this prayer for others into a practical setting in my life.  Unpacking this "religious" sounding prayer reveals a powerful way to pray.  And I'm challenged to ask: What if I prayed this way for my kids?!  I get too hung up on praying that they'll behave well in front of others or that they'll learn to chew gum with their mouth closed or that they won't break their arm on the scooter.  But what if I spent more time praying for my kids the way that Paul prayed for others?!

What if instead I prayed that their love would abound more and more for each other and for their parents and for their God?  What if instead I prayed that their love would abound in knowledge and depth of insight, not just emotions- not just infatuations and surface desires, but with a love founded in a deep, core understanding of who they are and who God is and what life is all about?!  What if I prayed that they would be overflowing in wisdom so that they may be able to discern what's best- rather than just having good behavior or doing the right things or being safe- that they would actually know in the core of their being what is noble and true and right and pure and lovely and admirable and excellent and praiseworthy?!  What if I prayed that they would know this stuff in the innermost part of who they are and that it would flow out of them as they live?! 

What if I prayed that my kids would be pure and blameless until the day of Christ- for the rest of their lives until they had the privilege of meeting face to face fully all out with the Savior- and filled with the fruit of righteousness- free from the muck all around us?!  What if I prayed that they could grow up to stand and say, "We choose to live blamelessly.  We choose to not hurt anyone.  We choose to make a good difference in this world.  We choose to help others.  We choose to follow Jesus."  What if I prayed that my kids, rather than being protected from the junk of the world, would be able to stand powerfully against it?!  Purity and blamelessness and righteousness does not mean retreating and hiding from sin.  Purity and blamelessness and righteousness means engaging what is wrong with this world with the love of Jesus Christ and being able to claim victory.  It's standing with the confidence of Jesus' love in a world that needs people to stand in the confidence of Jesus' love.  What if I prayed that way all the time for my kids?!

That is the kind of life that comes through Jesus Christ and that is the kind of life, as Paul points out, gives praise and glory to God.  And I love my kids... and that is the sort of life I want for them... and so every time I think of them I need to praying like this for them.

For more study:

• Pray for Others A Lot
• Pray with the Love of Jesus
• Smart Love
• Reading Backwards

pray with the love of Jesus

Paul says in Philippians 1:6-8:

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.  God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Paul's heart for the Philippians reflects the way that Jesus cares about them.  He says, "Look, one of the reasons I remember you so often and pray for you so much is that I have grown to love you like Jesus does.  Paul grew to love others with that kind of intimacy and intensity because he spent so much time remembering them in prayer.  Whenever he thought of them he prayed.  And as he prayed, God would grab a hold of Paul's heart and fill it with his love for them.  Not only does Paul love them from the depth of his own heart, but he loves them from the very core depth of Jesus Christ.  All of his heart, mind and soul are given in prayer and love for them.

One of our college and career guys at Brentview called me up a couple weeks ago to let me know that he and his wife were thinking of me and they were praying for me, that they were glad I was here, and that they were ready to do whatever needed to be done in the ministry.  Unbelievable!  I can't tell you how much that lifted my heart and soul.  To have somebody tell you that they love you, that they are thinking of you, and that they are praying for you- that changes your life.

That was Paul's heart.  And we should pray with that kind of love.

For more study:

• The Bowels of Jesus
• Pray for Others A Lot
• Reading Backwards