Do You Take Jesus at His Word?

“Jesus replied, ‘You may go. Your son will live.’ The man took Jesus at His word and departed.”
– John 4:50

Perhaps you’ve heard of the avid hiker who clung to a tree branch after slipping and falling off a mountain ridge. It was just a matter of time before he lost his grip and plummeted to his death. So, he cried out to the great Rescuer in the Sky: “Is anyone up there?”

To his surprise, a reply quickly came: “I am here. Do you believe in Me?” “Yes, I believe in You, Lord,” he replied. “But I can’t hang on much longer. Please help me!” To which God responded, “I will help you. If you believe in Me, there’s nothing to worry about. Let go of the branch. Just … let go of the branch.” After a brief pause the man shouted, “Is anyone ELSE up there?”

That man wasn’t very good at trusting God. But in John 4:46-53, we’re introduced to a man whose family was forever changed, because he took Jesus at His Word. 

In John 4:46, a certain royal official came to Jesus in the town of Cana and begged Jesus to heal his son, who was on his deathbed in nearby Capernaum. Evidently, the doctors could no longer help him, and the medications weren’t helping either. So, he came to Jesus in desperation, begging Jesus to travel back to Capernaum with him before it was too late.

The royal official’s faith in Jesus’ miracle-working ability was impressive but flawed in at least two ways. For starters, he believed that Jesus had to be physically present in Capernaum to heal his son. And secondly, he believed that if his son died, it would be too late for Jesus to heal him. Little did he know that Jesus’ healing power isn’t restricted by time or space.

But the royal official’s bigger faith problem is revealed as Jesus responds to his request in verse 48: “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe.” At first, Jesus’ reply to the grieving father seems rather cold and uncompassionate. But the truth is: It was a call to saving faith.

You see, there’s a big difference between believing in Jesus as a miracle worker and believing in Jesus as your Savior and Lord. There will be plenty of people who will spend eternity separated from God who, during their lifetimes on earth, believed that Jesus performed miracles. But sadly, they didn’t believe in Him as Savior and Lord. They had MIRACLE-WORKING faith, but they didn’t have SAVING faith. And without saving faith, we remain hopelessly separated from God and self-condemned. So, Jesus’ response to the royal official is a call to the most important kind of faith—saving faith.

In verse 50, Jesus sends him on his way with these simple yet powerful words: “You may go. Your son will live.” And that’s ALL the assurance the worried father needed to hear. “The man took Jesus at His word and departed.” And within the next few verses we discover not only that the official’s son was healed at the exact moment Jesus had spoken the words “Your son will live”—but also that the man and his entire household believed in Jesus as Savior and Lord. The GOOD news is that the young boy’s life was extended here on earth. But the much BETTER news is that the entire family’s souls were saved for all eternity in heaven.

Scottish theologian William Barclay identifies several excellent character traits that the royal official demonstrates in this passage, character traits that you and I would be wise to emulate.

Character Trait #1: He swallowed his pride and came to Jesus humbly. It’s one thing to believe that Jesus can help you out of your mess. It’s another thing to swallow your pride, humble yourself before the Lord and actually ask Him to help—even when people around you think you’re crazy for trusting in Christ.

Character Trait #2: He refused to be dissuaded from bringing His great need to Christ. Do you hesitate to pray, read your Bible or talk about Jesus Christ in public? If so, you need to follow in the royal official’s footsteps and come to Jesus without concern for your precious ego or reputation. No one should be able to talk you out of trusting in Christ every day and making church a priority for you and your family every week. Never be dissuaded from crying out to Jesus—no matter where you are or who you’re with. Like the royal official, refuse to allow anything or anyone to discourage you from taking your needs to Him.

Character Trait #3: He had great faith in Jesus. He took Him at His Word. When Jesus makes a promise, it’s not a matter of it “may” be true. We are convinced that it “must” be true. Jesus said it. I believe it, and that settles it. In fact, if Jesus said it, it’s settled whether or not I believe it. So, I’d be a fool not to believe the 100% reliable and trustworthy Word of the Lord.

After a raging fire swept through his house one night, a young boy crawled out his bedroom window onto the roof. His father called to him from below, “Son, jump! I will catch you!” But the boy was petrified. He couldn’t see his dad. All he could see were flames and smoke. So, he called back, “Daddy! I’m scared! I can’t see you!” To which his father replied, “That’s okay, Son! I can see you, and that’s all that matters.” So, the boy took his father at his word and jumped safely into his arms. Jesus calls you and me to do the same—to take Him at His word and jump by faith.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us for worship on Sunday at 8:30am or 10am at 16209 Kamana Road in Apple Valley, or livestreaming on Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

 

 

Maybe He Can Change Your Life, Too

"The true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." – John 4:24

Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia is widely regarded as one of the best mayors in American history. He effectively led New York City through the most difficult years of the Great Depression and World War II. Although LaGuardia had a short frame, he had a BIG personality, and he loved people of all ages. It wasn’t unusual for him to ride the New York City fire trucks or take entire orphanages to baseball games. And when the New York newspapers were on strike, he went on the radio and read the daily comics to the kids.

Well, one night in January 1935, Mayor LaGuardia showed up at the night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. An old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter was sick and that her son-in-law had deserted her and their two kids. The old woman said she stole the bread because her grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper from whom the bread was stolen refused to drop the charges, insisting that the woman had to be punished to teach a lesson to others in that bad neighborhood.

LaGuardia sighed, turned to the woman and said, "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions: ten dollars or ten days in jail." But as he spoke, he reached into his own pocket and pulled out a $10 bill. Mayor LaGuardia said, "Here is the $10 fine, which I now remit; and furthermore, I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom 50 cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant.” 

The next day, New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to the shocked grandmother who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren. Fifty cents of that amount was contributed by the embarrassed grocery store owner. The remaining 70 people in the courtroom not only coughed up 50 cents each; everyone in the room rose to give the mayor a standing ovation.

I’ll bet you agree that a grace like that DESERVES a standing ovation. And so does the amazing grace that Jesus showed to the Samaritan woman at the well.

As I discussed in last week’s column, the Samaritan woman had little or no social standing. She was a five-time divorcee who was sexually promiscuous. It’s pretty clear that she was a social outcast. Yet, in John 4:16-24, Jesus urged the woman to receive the spiritual truth He was offering her and to step into the grace of God. Jesus explained that true worship isn’t confined to a certain building in a certain place: “A time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem….The true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (vs. 21-24).

In this passage, Jesus highlights two differences between false worship and true worship:

Difference #1: False worship is a selective worship, but true worship transcends time, space and ritual (v21). Jews and Samaritans held different views regarding where God should be worshiped. The Jews claimed that God HAD to be worshiped in Jerusalem. But the Samaritans insisted that God HAD to be worshiped on Mt. Gerizim, there in Samaria, where the Samaritans had set up a temple of their own. Jesus, however, pointed out that true worship can’t be confined to a specific place—because GOD can’t be confined to a specific place. Is our God so small that He’s stuck inside a 30 x 30-foot room on top of the temple mount? No way! Our God is a BIG God. His glory not only fills the earth; His glory fills the heavens and the earth.

Difference #2: False worship is an ignorant worship, but true worship involves a personal knowledge of God and His Word (v. 22). The Samaritans had tossed out most of the Old Testament, leaving only the first five books. So they were largely ignorant of who God was. But God has given us several wonderful gifts to help us NOT be spiritually ignorant. First, He gave us His Word—but we have to read and listen to His Word and hide it in our hearts. The second gift God gave us is our brains. It’s wonderful when our emotions are engaged when we worship God, but true worship requires our minds to be engaged. The third gift God gave us is His Holy Spirit—our most faithful Teacher and personal Tutor, Who opens our minds and hearts to the truth of God’s Word.

When I think of the grace that Mayor LaGuardia showed the granny who stole the loaf of bread, I can’t help but wonder how that grace changed her life and the lives of her hungry grandkids. And when I think of the grace that Jesus showed the woman at the well, I can’t help but wonder how His grace changed HER life and the lives of those she shared that grace with.

At the end of the account of the woman at the well, she runs into town saying, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did” (v. 29). In a matter of minutes, she goes from simply having a little bit of intellectual knowledge about God to knowing God personally—because God in human flesh came to the well to have a one-on-one conversation with her. I believe that God has called you and me to do the same thing. Sometimes it's simply about telling someone, “Jesus Christ changed my life. Can I tell you what he did for me? Come with me to church on Sunday. Perhaps He can transform your life, too. Come and see a man who changed my life. Come and see!”

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us for worship on Sunday at 8:30am or 10am at 16209 Kamana Road in Apple Valley, or livestreaming on Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc. 

A Savior for Social Rejects

“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” – John 4:10

It’s one of the best-known and loved moments in the Book of John: Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well. It's one thing for Jesus to SAY that God didn't send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save it; Jesus' exchange with the Samaritan woman PROVES it. 

 

The story is in chapter 4 of the Book of John. Traveling through Samaria, a weary Jesus was resting by the well of Jacob when a Samaritan woman came to draw water. When He asked her for a drink, she was surprised He had talked to her at all. Most Jews would have nothing to do with Samaritans, believing that the Samaritans’ bloodline and morals were corrupt. When she asked why He had spoken to her, He replied, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water” (v. 10).

 

In the conversation that followed, Jesus revealed what He already knew about the woman: that she had been divorced five times and now lived with a man who wasn’t her husband (vs 17-18). Eventually He even revealed to her that He was the Messiah (v. 26). When their conversation ended, the woman left her water jar and ran to tell her neighbors: “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did” (vs. 28-29). She left the well a changed person, ready to share Jesus with others.

 

Jesus’ discussion with the woman at the well is revolutionary for what He said—and for who He said it TO. He didn’t just have a shallow conversation in a public place with a Samaritan man. He had a deep, spiritual conversation in a public place with a Samaritan woman, at a time when many rabbis wouldn’t speak to ANY woman in public. And not only did Jesus have a public conversation with a Samaritan woman. He had a conversation with a notorious, scandalous Samaritan woman—a woman of very low moral character. Was the Samaritan woman unworthy of God’s mercy and grace? Yes. But so are you. The woman at the well was no less deserving of God’s mercy and grace than anyone else. And Jesus didn’t love her any less than anyone else. Jesus understands better than anyone that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

 

As far as we know, the Samaritan woman never DID give Jesus that drink. Jesus was tired, hot and thirsty, but He put His own personal needs aside to extend compassion and mercy to this broken woman. And when His disciples returned and offered Him food, He said, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about” (v. 32). By ministering to the woman at the well, He was satisfied.

 

For this passage, I’ll draw some Life Lessons from three of my favorite Bible scholars and teachers:

 

Life Lesson #1: “There can be no conversion without conviction” (Warren Wiersbe). It’s been said that every good teacher must do three things: Teach, Model and Inspire. Here in John 4, we see Jesus doing all three. First, he TEACHES the woman some vital truths about what matters in eternity—not physical water, but the spiritual water of salvation. And throughout the conversation, Jesus MODELS this truth: Dear woman, you matter to God, and you also matter to Me. He didn’t just talk about God caring for her – He showed it. But the teaching and the modeling by themselves didn’t transform this woman. Jesus had to INSPIRE her to change. And He inspired her to change by calling attention to her sin. Jesus didn’t do this to shame her or condemn her. He did it to convict her so that she would confess her sin, turn from it and be saved.

 

Life Lesson #2: “There are two revelations in Christianity: the revelation of God and the revelation of ourselves. We never really see ourselves until we see ourselves in the presence of Christ; and then we are appalled at the sight” (William Barclay). After her encounter with Jesus, the woman at the well makes a complete 180-degree turn. When she first comes to the well, she’s by herself for a reason. She’s walking away from any social interactions. She’s walking AWAY from spiritual conversations. She knows she’s a sinner, because 100 different people have already told her so – and she DOESN’T want to talk about it. But by verse 28, she’s a changed woman. She’s no longer walking AWAY from her neighbors, she’s running to them. She’s not AVOIDING spiritual conversations, she’s INITIATING them. And most remarkable of all, she’s no longer denying her past sins. She’s admitting them—telling people, “This man told me everything I’ve ever done, and He has accepted me and forgiven me anyway!”

 

Life Lesson #3: “Notice that Christ asked the woman to receive Him and His gift without any prerequisite change in her life. After she believed, and because she believed, her way of living would be changed” (Charles Ryrie). In some churches, when someone wants to receive Christ as their Savior and Lord, they’re told: First, you have to start doing this. Or first, you have to stop doing that. The woman at the well had plenty of changes that she needed to make. But Jesus didn’t require her to change ALL her bad behaviors BEFORE she got saved. First, she needed to get saved. That was true for her, and it’s also true for you. If you’re waiting to get your life in order before becoming a Christian, you’re putting the cart before the horse. The Bible says that when you turn from your sin and become a baptized believer and follower of Jesus, God will give you the gift of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit specializes in helping us change our bad behaviors. So, the question is: Are you ready to stop making excuses and begin following Jesus today?

 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us for worship on Sunday at 8:30am or 10am at 16209 Kamana Road in Apple Valley, or livestreaming on Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

How to Be Second Greatest

“A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.… He must become greater; I must become less.” – John 3:27-30

Aside from Jesus Christ, who is the greatest person in the Bible?

In Matthew 11, Jesus answered that question. Interestingly, he didn’t choose any of the great leaders you might expect. He didn’t choose Abraham, Moses, Esther or David—all great heroes of our faith. Surprisingly, Jesus said in Matthew 11:11: “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.”

Really? John the Baptist? The guy who lived in the wilderness? The guy who wore camels’ hair clothes and ate bugs? Seriously, Jesus? That’s the GREATEST man who’s ever lived? Yes. And John 3 explains why.

The Gospel of John makes it clear that the early part of Jesus’ public ministry overlapped with the final weeks of John’s public ministry. While Jesus was turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana, while Jesus driving out the money changers in the temple courts, and while Jesus was having a one-on-one conversation with Nicodemus about being born again … John the Baptist was still out there preaching and baptizing.

Well, by John 3:22, Jesus had also begun baptizing people in the Judean countryside. Some of John the Baptist’s loyal followers didn’t like that. They felt that Jesus had come into John’s backyard and snatched up John’s customers. So they went to Aenon, where John was—once again—preaching and baptizing (v. 23). And they told John: “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him” (v. 26).

John’s disciples thought they were being good, loyal followers by being offended on his behalf. How did John the Baptist respond to his zealous disciples? He responded masterfully … by responding humbly: “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ … He must become greater; I must become less” (vs. 27-30).

It would have been so easy for John to side with his followers and feel offended and mistreated. It’s easy to feel offended. It’s easy to feel wounded. It’s easy to feel unappreciated. All of us have done it at one time or another. But John the Baptist didn’t take the easy road. John’s humble response to his disciples’ frustration and jealousy reveals WHY Jesus considered John the Baptist to be the greatest man born. Instead of following his ego into a trap, John corrected his disciples on the spot.

Here are three Life Lessons we can learn from this passage:

Life Lesson #1: Be careful that your sympathy for others doesn’t encourage them to be bitter or jealous. As the great theologian William Barclay writes, “Sometimes a friend’s sympathy can be the worst possible thing for us. It can make us feel sorry for ourselves and encourage us to think that we have not had a fair deal.” So often when people feel they’ve been ignored or treated unfairly, we validate their toxic thoughts and feelings. When speaking to a Christian who feels shafted, 1) Remind them that God is control; (2) Encourage them to be content with what God has given them; and (3) Urge them to rejoice with others who God is blessing.

Life Lesson #2: As you serve Christ, be content with every season of ministry—the highs, the lows and everything in between. The world’s view of success and God’s view of success are NOT the same. God doesn’t call us to be “successful” by the world’s standards. Instead, He calls us to be obedient and faithful … and leave the results up to Him. Sometimes the results God brings will knock our socks off. At other times, the results will seem underwhelming. But GOD KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING. He is always true to His promise to work ALL things together for the good of those who love God and are called to carry out His purposes. So, trust Him. And be content to be used by Him on the mountaintops AND in the valleys.

Life Lesson #3: As you serve Christ, make this your motto: He must become greater. I must become less. As the forerunner to Jesus, John had two important jobs: #1) Prepare the way for Christ. And #2) Get out of the way of Christ. Don’t you think that’s a pretty good job description for you and me as well? From the moment He was born, John the Baptist had a subordinate role to Jesus. He understood that. He owned that. John was okay with that—as long as Jesus Christ was glorified.

There was once a pastor who had a thriving ministry. His church services were full every Sunday. But as the years went by, most of his attenders left to attend a new church just down the road. So, one evening the pastor asked his small congregation, “Where have all the people gone?”

After a few seconds of awkward silence, someone spoke up: “I think they’ve gone to the church down the street to hear the new minister.” The pastor thought for a moment, then said, “Well, then. I think we ought to join them.” And he descended from the pulpit and led his congregation down the road to attend the other church that night. In Jesus’ book, THAT is a great pastor.

Do you want to be a great servant of the Lord Jesus Christ? That’s fantastic—as long as you don’t misunderstand what greatness looks like in the Kingdom of Heaven. Wherever Jesus is working and whoever He’s working through, celebrate the life-changing work of Christ. He must become greater; you must become less.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us for worship on Sunday at 8:30am or 10am at 16209 Kamana Road in Apple Valley, or livestreaming on Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Will You Grab God’s Lifeline?

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”  – John 3:17

In 1829, a career criminal named George Wilson robbed a United States mail carrier. Wilson was arrested and convicted of six charges, including violent assault, which carried the death penalty. So, Wilson was sentenced to hang.

But in the days leading up to his scheduled execution, things got really interesting. Some friends of George Wilson petitioned President Andrew Jackson and convinced him to offer Wilson a presidential pardon. But George Wilson dropped a bombshell: He refused to accept the pardon.

Well, the district court wasn’t sure what to do. So, Wilson’s case was bumped all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which reportedly handed down this ruling: “A pardon is an act of grace …. and delivery is not complete without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered, and if it be rejected, we have discovered no power in a court to force it on him…. Therefore, George Wilson must die.” By most accounts, having rejected the gift of grace, George Wilson was hanged for his crimes.

Are you another George Wilson? Are you rejecting the forgiveness and grace that Christ has offered to you?

The frequently-quoted John 3:16 is an amazing verse. But verse 3:17 is equally amazing. In His first coming, Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn people to hell. That will happen at His second coming, on Judgment Day. But Jesus’ first coming was never about judging or condemning. It was all about love and salvation. In love, God has offered every person the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. But God cannot and will not force you or me to receive His loving pardon from hell. What you do with God’s get-out-of-hell-free card is up to you.

Jesus went on, “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already” (v.18). Again, Jesus didn’t come to condemn us to hell—because we’d already beaten Him to the punch. We’ve already condemned OURSELVES to Hell. Satan has convinced most people that if so-called “good” people end up in hell, it’s God’s fault. If anyone other than murderers, rapists and child predators go to hell, it’s because God unjustly sent them there. Ultimately, it’s easier to blame God than to look in the mirror and realize how steeped in darkness and evil we really are. Here’s the truth: If you end up in hell, you have no one to blame but yourself. God didn’t sin. YOU did. Jesus doesn’t deserve hell. YOU do. If you didn’t take hold of God’s get-out-of-hell-free card, the fault is yours. Jesus threw you a lifeline, and you shoved it back in His face.

So, why would any rational person do that? Why would anyone reject Christ’s gifts of forgiveness and heaven?

Jesus responds, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil” (v. 19). Most people will say they “love Jesus.” But the sad truth is, most people love their sin MORE. Most people love the darkness of the world more than they love the light of Jesus. Most people love their own evil deeds more than they love the righteousness of Jesus. Christianity has never been about simply believing in Jesus (John 3:16-17). Christianity is about believing in Jesus AND walking in the light of Jesus (John 3:18-19). The proof of your love for Christ is in your actions, your priorities and your lifestyle.

Here are three Life Lessons we can draw from this passage:

Life Lesson #1: Before Jesus came onto the scene, you were drowning in your own sin. You were self-condemned. Going to hell is easy. Just live your life here on earth however the “hell” you want to, and you’re a shoo-in. Every person who ends up in hell will end up there because of their own wicked choices—because they wanted to live life on their own terms. They didn’t care about God. They ignored God’s commands. And when Jesus Christ stretched out His hand to offer them a lifeline, like a cockroach fleeing the light, they rejected Him and retreated back into their darkness. Ultimately, they will be in hell because they preferred the darkness of hell over the light of heaven.

Life Lesson #2: Jesus didn’t come to earth in anger to bring you judgment. He came to earth in love to bring you the gift of salvation. When the perfectly holy Creator of the universe came to earth 2,000 years ago, He had every right to condemn us all to hell then and there. Hell is the just punishment for our sin and rebellion against God. But that’s what’s so remarkable about John 3:16-17. God had every right to send Jesus to judge us and condemn us. But instead, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (v. 16).

Life Lesson #3: When Jesus Christ reaches out to save you, you can cling to your sin and stay in the dark … or you can cling to Christ and step into the light. President Jackson threw George Wilson a lifeline by giving him a pardon. Like a fool, George Wilson refused it. And most people today—like George Wilson—refuse Jesus’s lineline and pardon from sin.

Are you another George Wilson? Are you rejecting the forgiveness and grace that Christ has offered to you? The light of the world, Jesus Christ, is within arm’s reach. I hope and pray that you will take hold of Him today.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us at our new worship location in Apple Valley (16209 Kamana Road), now meeting at 8:30am and 10am. You can also join us livestreaming online at Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

God's Love Will Blow Your Mind

 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

It’s the most famous verse in the whole Bible: John 3:16. But no matter how well you THINK you know this verse, I promise, there’s always more to learn. Even though I’ve known this verse since I was a little kid, as I was studying it recently … it blew my mind. Let’s hold this verse in our hand like a precious gem and take a closer look at each part of it.

“For God so loved the world ...” The New Testament was written in the common Greek language of Jesus’ day, which had seven or eight words that can be translated as “love.” Three of them appear in the New Testament: “Phileo,” the tender love between friends or brothers; “Storge,” a love for one’s family; and “Agape”—unconditional, self-sacrificial love. Even when Agape love isn’t appreciated or responded to favorably, it always works for another’s greatest good. It’s the purest and highest form of love. Not surprisingly, this is the word for love we find in John 3:16. God’s love for lost and dying people is the purest, highest kind of love. Nothing you think, nothing you say, nothing you do can stop God from loving you. Notice in John 3:16 WHO God loves. Not just Israel. Not just His chosen people. Not just those who believe in God and follow His laws. “For God so loved … the world.” That’s a REMARKABLE thing for Jesus to say.

“… that He gave His one and only Son …” It would have been easy for God to SAY He loved everyone. But God proved His agape love for the world as “He gave His one and only Son.” John 3:16 makes it clear that God took the initiative. Not me, not you. Before you and I ever thought of God, He was thinking of us. Before we ever loved Him, He loved us. When we were still lost and dying in our sins, God loved us and gave us the greatest gift in the universe. Because God’s love for the world is Agape love, He gave us the most precious gift He had to give: His one and only Son.

“… that whoever believes in Him …” Just as faith in God was the key to being saved from the deadly effects of venomous snake bites in Numbers 21, faith in Christ is the key to being saved from the deadly effects of sin in eternity. When Nicodemus came to talk with Jesus, he had spent his entire life trying to be good enough and religious enough to make it into Heaven. If Nicodemus came to Christ with a heart filled with pride and arrogance, Jesus’ teaching about saving faith would have disappointed him. But if he came with a heart that was humble and teachable—as I believe he did—Jesus’ teaching about salvation through faith would have brought him great relief. After so many years of obeying hundreds of Jewish laws, Nicodemus had no guarantee that he would make it to heaven. But now he understood, through Jesus’ teaching, that he could have assurance of eternal life by God’s grace through faith. 

“… shall not perish but have eternal life.” In this verse, the word “perish” is a translation of the Greek word “Apollumi,” which means “to be destroyed, to be utterly lost.” If you believe and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, you will be given the gift of eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. But if you DON’T believe and trust in Jesus Christ, you will eternally perish in hell. According to Revelation 21:8, hell—the eternal lake of fire—is the second death. So, it bears repeating: You will either be born twice and die once, or you will be born once and die twice.

Now, at this point some critics ask: “If God is loving as Jesus makes Him out to be here in John 3:16, how could He possibly condemn anyone to hell?” Good question. And there’s an even better answer: In a very real sense, God doesn’t condemn anyone to hell. People condemn THEMSELVES.

Years ago, a rather arrogant man was given a guided tour of a famous art gallery filled with priceless masterpieces by Michelangelo, da Vinci, Rembrandt and Picasso. After the tour, the man told the museum curator, “I think those old pictures are ugly, and looking at them was a waste of my time.” The curator calmly responded, “Sir, I would remind you that these pictures are not on trial, but those who look at them are.” All that the man’s reaction had done was show his own foolish blindness. 

F.F. Bruce says it so well: “What is true in the realm [of art] is equally true in the spiritual realm. The man who depreciates Christ, or thinks Him unworthy of his allegiance, passes judgment on himself, not on Christ. He does not need to wait until the day of judgment; the verdict on him has been pronounced already.” William Barclay says it equally well: “God sent Jesus in love. He sent Him for the salvation of those people; but that which was sent in love has become a condemnation. It is not God who has condemned them; God only loved them; the people have condemned themselves.”

God so loved the world that He gave us the most precious gift He ever could have given us: part of Himself … the Son of God. Through Him, God has provided a way for ANY person—male or female, young or old, black or white, Jew or Gentile, religious or irreligious—to be snatched from eternal perishing in hell and be brought into eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. That is the highest form of love in this world AND in the world to come. It’s a love that is indescribable, unimaginable … mind-blowing. And that’s the kind of love God has for you and me.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us at our new worship location in Apple Valley (16209 Kamana Road), now meeting at 8:30am and 10am. You can also join us livestreaming online at Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

 

What Does “Born Again” Really Mean?

 “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” – John 3:3

If you’re reading this article, one thing is for sure: You’ve been born. But here’s a more important question: Have you been born again?

One of our nation’s most famous founding fathers was Ben Franklin. Not only was he a great statesman, he was also a brilliant inventor. He invented all sorts of things: swim fins, bifocals, a more effective wood-burning stove, and, of course, the lighting rod, which came in handy with his experiments on electricity.

Well, one day Franklin received a letter from the popular British evangelist George Whitefield, who wrote: “As you have made such progress in investigating the mysteries of electricity, I now humbly urge you to give diligent heed to the mystery of the new birth. It is a most important and interesting study and, when mastered, will richly repay you for your pains.” Brilliant as he was, as far as we know, Ben Franklin never took George Whitefield’s advice.

I hope and pray that you don’t make the same mistake. Unless the rapture happens first, you will either be born twice and die once … or you will be born once and die twice, once in this life and once more in eternity. I guarantee you: The first option is a whole lot better. In John 3, Jesus reveals how we can be born twice and live forever.

Jesus was approached by a man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee who belonged to the Jewish ruling council. In other words, Nicodemus was not only a very religious man, but also a LEADER of very religious men. Yet he addressed Jesus very respectfully: “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him” (v. 2). Calling Jesus “rabbi” and “a teacher who has come from God” was no small thing for a member of the high council to say to a traveling teacher who hadn’t been formally trained as a Jewish rabbi. Nicodemus also acknowledged that Jesus had been performing miraculous signs.

But instead of saying, “Thank you!” to Nicodemus’s compliments, Jesus skipped the small talk and cut to the chase: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (v. 3). Now, the idea of being “born again” actually wasn’t a new idea to the Jews in Jesus’ day. Rabbis used the term to refer to Gentiles who converted to Judaism. But Nicodemus would have been baffled by the idea that he himself—a devout Jewish Pharisee who followed God’s laws to a “T”—needed to be born again. So he responded: “How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” (v. 4).

You can almost hear the spiritual hunger in Nicodemus’ voice. In his heart, he must have known that something was missing. He obeyed all the laws, but he knew he was still a sinner. Nicodemus believed he would make it to heaven after he died, but he had no assurance of it. Eternal life was more a hope than a promise.

Jesus responded, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (vs. 5-6). In other words, anyone who is ever going to enter the Kingdom of God is going to have to be born twice: once physically, through his or her earthly mother; and the second time spiritually, through the Holy Spirit.

Entering hell is simple. You just have to be born once. And that qualification is easy to meet. Entering heaven isn’t so easy. You have to be born twice. And only the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ can grant you that second birth.

There is so much to draw from this passage, but here are just two Life Lessons:

Life Lesson #1: Even those who know the most ABOUT Jesus still need to come TO Jesus. When they met, Nicodemus probably knew more about Jesus than most people in Israel. He knew the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus. He had heard some of Jesus’ teachings and had probably witnessed some of His miracles. But knowing ABOUT Jesus isn’t enough. It doesn’t matter how much you know ABOUT Jesus ... the question is, do you really KNOW Jesus?

Life Lesson #2: Hell will be full of very religious, “good” people. If you found 100 people who knew Nicodemus well and asked them, “Is Nicodemus a good man?” there’s no doubt they would have all answered with a resounding, “Yes!” But Jesus told him point-blank in verse 7, “You must be born again.” It didn’t matter how “good” Nicodemus was compared to others around him. Like everyone else on this planet, Nicodemus sinned and fell short of the glory of God. And neither his good works nor his religion could pay the high price for his sin. So, if he were to die without being born again, Nicodemus would have spent all eternity in hell. That’s the bad news that most people don’t understand today. Hell will be filled with very religious, so-called “good” people who refused to be born again. Don’t be a “good” fool. You MUST be born again.

It bears repeating: Unless the rapture happens first, you will either be born twice and die once—OR you will be born once and die twice. Which will it be for you? Humbly come to Jesus, and be born again.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us at our new worship location in Apple Valley (16209 Kamana Road), now meeting at 8:30am and 10am. You can also join us livestreaming online at Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.  

The Day Jesus Posted His First Sign

“This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him.” – John 2:11

There’s a story about a drunken coal miner who repented of his sins and became a follower of Jesus Christ. After getting baptized, he stopped drinking “cold turkey” and started telling everyone what Jesus had done for him. One of his old drinking buddies thought he could trick him into picking up the bottle again. He pulled him aside and asked, “Do you believe that Jesus turned water into wine?” The new and improved coal miner replied, “I certainly do! In my home, Jesus has turned wine into furniture, decent clothes, and food for my children!”  

No doubt, Jesus Christ is in the transformation business. In John 2, the Apostle John records Jesus’ first public miracle, a miracle that he calls “a sign.” Surprisingly, Jesus’ first public miracle had nothing to do with the healing of an outcast leper or the opening of a blind man’s eyes. It didn't even involve calming a storm, walking on water or raising someone from the dead. Instead, it was a rather discreet miracle that went unnoticed by most people at a wedding feast: Jesus transformed over one hundred gallons of water into wine. 

The scene opens in John 2:1 with Jesus and his five new disciples attending a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Cana was located just a few miles from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, and Jesus’ mother, Mary, was also in attendance. Mary must have been in some position of authority at the wedding, because she had inside information about a food-supply crisis before the bad news leaked to the wedding guests. In verse 2, she hurried to Jesus and said, “They have no more wine.”

Believe me when I say: This was a crisis and Mary was frantic. This wasn’t as simple as a modern-day bartender running out of booze at a wedding reception. In a culture where there was much poverty and most people worked very hard six days a week, the wedding feast was the highlight of the year. That being the case, during the seven-day celebration, the groom’s family was expected to provide enough food and drink for everyone. Hospitality was considered a sacred duty. If at any point they ran out of food or wine, it was deeply embarrassing… humiliating for their entire family. So much so that, in some cases, the local authorities would fine the groom’s family for failing to adequately provide for their guests.

Initially, Jesus expressed a hesitation to nip the crisis in the bud by performing a miracle. But, before too long, he got involved. He instructed the wedding servers to fill six large jars to the brim with water. And once they did, Jesus transformed the water (between 120 and 180 gallons) into wine. And it wasn’t the cheap stuff! After tasting Jesus’ miracle wine, the wedding coordinator declared, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

Now, John doesn’t want us to spend all our time oohing and aahing about the miracle itself. Sure, it’s cool that Jesus transformed over 100 gallons of standing water into some of the best wine ever. But it’s a SIGN pointing to something deeper, greater and more life-changing. So, as cool as the miracle is, even cooler are the deeper spiritual truths that Jesus revealed to his disciples at the wedding AND to his disciples today—including us.

Truth #1: The miraculous sign points to Christ as the SOURCE of lasting JOY. In the Old Testament, wine is a symbol of joy (e.g., Judges 9:13 a d Psalm 104:15). So, if Jesus had preached a sermon right after performing his first sign, I bet he would have said something like this: “The world’s joy looks and tastes great in the beginning. And there seems to be plenty of it. But sooner or later, it runs out and leaves you empty. But the joy that I give you is new every morning and completely satisfying. My joy will never leave you empty. Taste and see that MY joy is good”

Truth #2: The miraculous sign points to the INFERIOR nature of the Old Testament law and the SUPERIOR nature of Christ’s grace. It’s no accident that Jesus chose to perform his miracle using six stone, ceremonial washing jars that were filled to the brim with water. In the Bible, numbers are very symbolic, and the number “6” symbolizes falling short of completeness. It’s man’s number,  representing incompleteness and sin. So, in John 2, Jesus took six large jars designed for an inferior purpose (i.e., washing hands) and He transforms them into vessels designed for a higher purpose (i.e., hydrating a large group of thirsty wedding guests).

Truth #3: The miraculous sign points to Jesus’ power to TRANSFORM us from the inside out. In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul describes our bodies as “jars of clay.” And throughout Scripture we are told that God does His greatest work inside our jars of clay. The Lord doesn’t waste His time styling our hair or trimming our unruly eyebrows or giving us a mani-pedi. God spends His time softening our hard hearts, opening our stubborn minds and renewing a steadfast spirit within us.

If Jesus had preached a sermon after transforming the water into wine, I suspect He would have also said something like this: “Your heart inside your jar of clay is like the water in this jar. I transformed the water in this jar into something much, much better. And, in the same way, I can transform your heart into something much, much better. If you’ll let Me, I will reach inside your jar of clay and soften your hard heart, open your closed mind and give you a brand new spirit. I make good wine. But I make even better hearts.”

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us at our new worship location in Apple Valley (16209 Kamana Road), now meeting at 8:30am and 10am. You can also join us livestreaming online at Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Come and See

“When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
 – John 1:36

In the 1920s and ’30s, Billy Graham grew up on his family’s farm near Charlotte, North Carolina. Although his parents were committed Christians, Billy wasn’t much interested in God or church. In May of 1934, the Grahams invited a group of Christian businessmen to hold a prayer meeting at their farm. At that meeting, one man prayed that out of Charlotte, the Lord would raise up someone to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Farmer Graham never imagined that his own son, who had no interest in church, would be God’s answer to that bold prayer. 

A few months later, the local pastors invited a traveling evangelist, Dr. Mordecai Ham, to come to town and hold revival meetings for several weeks. Billy Graham’s parents encouraged their son to attend the revival meetings, but that’s the last place on earth he wanted to go. So, he didn’t go—for almost four weeks. Then one day, a friend of the family tried a different approach: He asked Billy if he could do him a favor. The man had invited a bunch of teenagers to the evening service, but they needed a ride. So, he asked Billy to drive them to the service in his old vegetable truck.

Billy agreed to help, and he attended the service that night. He was blown away by what Dr. Ham had to say about heaven and hell, and God’s love and judgment. Nothing could keep Billy from returning the next night … and the night after that. And on November 1, 1934, just a few days shy of his 16th birthday, Billy Graham walked down the aisle and gave his life to Jesus Christ. Over the next 80 years, Billy Graham preached the gospel in person to more people than anyone else in history. He preached Jesus to 215 million people in 185 countries and territories around the world. Aren’t you thankful that the old farmer gave Billy the keys to his old vegetable truck and invited him to come and see Jesus for himself?

Well, in chapter 1 of the Gospel of John, we see people beginning to come and see Jesus. During the first week of Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptist was at the Jordan River with two of his disciples. As the two men were listening to their rabbi, Jesus passed by. Seeing Him, John the Baptist said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (v. 36). And in the next verse, “When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus” (v. 37). Think about that. John certainly knew that as soon as he opened his big mouth and said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” he himself would never again be those disciples’ first choice as a rabbi. Their focus and their loyalty would shift from him to Jesus. And not only was John okay with that—he was actually happy about it.

Next, the two disciples—Andrew and, most likely, John—followed Jesus to the house where He was staying. According to verse 40, after spending the day with Jesus, the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah.” And Andrew brought him to Jesus.

The next day, Jesus found Philip, who apparently began following Jesus immediately. And as soon as he had a few spare minutes, he found his buddy Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (v. 45). Nathanael’s response is famous … or infamous: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (v. 46). In the minds of many people in those days, Nazareth was just another Podunk town in Galilee. Nathanael was both a skeptic and prejudiced. He didn’t believe his friend, and he didn’t like Nazarenes. But how did Philip respond? Notice that he didn’t debate him. He didn’t give him a piece of his mind. He didn’t storm off angrily. Instead, he said the same thing Jesus had said to Andrew and John the day before: “Come and see.” And Nathanael’s life was forever changed.

Here are three Life Lessons we can draw from these passages:

1. A Life Lesson from John the Baptist: When your family and friends leave you to follow Jesus, let them go, and be happy for them. One of my favorite sayings is, “Often, what is good is the enemy of what is best.” If you’re a mature Christian, it’s good for your family and friends to spend time with you. But it’s better when they spend time with Jesus. It’s good when they listen to your advice. But it’s better when they listen to Jesus’ advice. It’s good when they follow in your footsteps. But it’s better when they follow in Jesus’ footsteps. We never want to get in the way of the call of Jesus on someone’s life.

2. A Life Lesson from Andrew and Philip: One of the most loving things you could ever say to a friend is, “Come and see.” Rarely does anyone get debated into heaven. You will probably never argue anyone into getting saved. So, take a lesson from Andrew and Philip. Bring your friend to Jesus and let him see for himself. Or just sit down with them and tell them the difference Jesus has made in your life. One way or another, love them by inviting them to come and see Jesus for themselves.

3. A Life Lesson from Jesus: Jesus alone knows who you are today and who you can become tomorrow. So, don’t let anyone—even yourself—define who you are. Find your identity in Christ, both today and tomorrow.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us at our great NEW worship location in Apple Valley (16209 Kamana Road) at 9am and 11am. You can also join us livestreaming online at Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Who Do You Think You Are?

 “He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
 – John 1:27

During Super Bowl 39, a mortgage company sponsored a really creative 30-second ad. A husband comes home with a bag of groceries and a bouquet of flowers. Obviously he wants to do something really nice for his wife. He walks in, says “Hello!” to his fluffy white cat and immediately begins making dinner. He puts a pot of spaghetti sauce on the stove, and as it simmers, he sets the table, where he places candles and arranges the flowers.

But as he’s cutting up vegetables with a large knife, the cat jumps on top of the counter and tips over the pan full of spaghetti sauce. Then, the little white furball brilliantly leaps into the middle of the red puddle on the floor. Trying to keep a bad situation from getting worse, the guy picks up his sauce-drenched cat with one hand while still holding the large knife in the other … just as his wife walks through the door. To her, it looks like “Friday the 13^th: Cat Edition.”

At that point the commercial flashes the tagline: “Don’t judge too quickly. We won’t.”

In Jesus’ day, plenty of people judged too quickly. Some jumped to the conclusion that Jesus was just an ordinary guy from an ordinary town. They were wrong. Some people jumped to the conclusion that John the Baptist was the Christ—the promised Messiah. They were just as wrong. In John 1, John the Baptist set the record straight about who he was, and who Jesus Christ is.

The Jewish leaders wanted to know what this rogue preacher, John the Baptist, was up to. So the Jewish authorities sent a group of priests and priests’ assistants (Levites) to find out who he was, what he was doing and why he was doing it (v. 19).

When they arrived, John the Baptist knew they wanted answers, especially to this question: “Are you the Christ—the promised Savior and King of Israel?” So, he jumped right in and confessed in verse 20: “I am NOT the Christ.” That answer cleared things up a bit, but not completely. The priests and Levites asked if he was Elijah, or the great Prophet foretold by Moses in Deuteronomy. John said, “I am not” (v. 21). After being 0 for 3 guessing who John the Baptist was, his questioners threw up their hands and asked, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” (v. 22). In other words, they looked John the Baptist straight in the eye and asked: “Who do you think you are?”

John responded by quoting Isaiah 40:3-4, saying, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’” (v. 23). Not satisfied, they asked an important follow-up question: “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” (v. 25). John took this opportunity, once again, to point to Jesus: “Among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (vs. 26-27).

The very next day, Jesus emerged from the crowd and walked toward John the Baptist. And John knew EXACTLY who He was. So John the Baptist announced: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me’” (vs. 29-30). And in case that wasn’t clear enough for everybody, in verse 34 John the Baptist said loud and clear for all to hear: “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

Here are three important life lessons we can learn from John the Baptist’s example:

Life Lesson #1: Fulfilling God’s will for your life isn’t just about knowing who you ARE. It’s also about knowing who you AREN’T. John the Baptist was one of the most effective followers of Christ in the New Testament, in part because he knew exactly who he wasn’t. Time and again some of his most devoted followers wanted to make him out to be something much bigger than he was, and every time he refused to be put on a pedestal. Do you know who you are? And do you know who you aren’t? Stop trying to be someone you’re not. Don’t pretend to be greater than Christ has called you to be. But just as importantly, don’t pretend to be less than Christ has called you to be. Know who you are. And know who you aren’t.

Life Lesson #2: The greatest Christian leaders are those who use the spotlight to shine a brighter spotlight on Jesus. When the crowd looked at John the Baptist and became attached to him, he redirected their attention, crying out, “Don’t look at me! Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” If you are a leader, it’s natural for your followers to like you. But do you lead them to like Jesus more? As you lead, some followers of yours may think too much of you and think too little of Jesus. One of the signs of a great Christian leader is how effectively he/she can direct the spotlight back to Jesus.

Life Lesson #3: People will be more likely to listen to what you have to say about Christ when you are humble and transparent. Don’t pretend you have all the answers, because you don’t. Don’t pretend you weren’t a fool before you became a Christian, because you were. Don’t pretend to be anything or anyone you’re not. Just be the humble, sincere follower of Christ that God created you to be. You’ll find that more people around you will listen to what you have to say about Jesus.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us at our great NEW worship location in Apple Valley (16209 Kamana Road) at 9am and 11am. You can also join us livestreaming online at Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

God Con Carne

 “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” – John 1:14 

I met my wife on a blind date when we were in college. One afternoon, one of my buddies pulled me aside and told me that a girl he liked would only go out with him if it was a double date. So, he needed me to go out with this girl’s best friend: Christine.

Well, I was pretty hesitant. I didn’t like the idea of being stuck on a date with a girl that I didn’t know. “What if she has a weird personality? What if we have nothing in common? What if she looks like Cruella De Vil?” So, my friend said, “I’ll tell you what. When you get to her dorm room door to pick her up, if you don’t like what you see, just pretend you’re having an asthma attack. Then you won’t have to go on the date.”

Well, that sounded like a pretty good plan. So, later that day, I knocked on Christine’s door, and there stood one of the prettiest girls I had ever seen. Beautiful blonde hair, big brown eyes, a cute smile—I couldn’t WAIT to get to know her better! But before I could introduce myself, she took one look at me, clutched her throat … and started having a fake asthma attack.

Okay, that didn’t really happen. But I am SO glad that Christine didn’t start gasping and wheezing the first time she met me. And aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t fake an asthma attack the first time He laid eyes on you? On the contrary, according to John 1:3: “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” That means that before Jesus ever laid eyes on you, He saw you, He knew you and He loved you. So, He created you. Before the very foundations of the world were laid, you were in the mind and heart of the Word of God: Jesus Christ. Before God ever said, “Let there be light!” the Word of God, Jesus, saw you and knew you. And Jesus loved you with an everlasting love.

Notice that from the very first verse of John 1, John refers to Jesus as the Word of God. He could have called Jesus any one of several other names: the Truth, the Life, the Good Shepherd. All would have been correct. Why did John refer to Jesus as the Word of God? I believe verse 14 helps to give us the answer: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

You see, the entire Old Testament is a record of God communicating with His followers. And God’s spoken words and His written words were intended to do three things: 1) to reveal Himself and His glory; 2) to provide a roadmap for finding God and being reconciled to God; and 3) to teach His followers right from wrong, and how to glorify Him with their lives. That’s the threefold purpose of God’s spoken and written word. So John calls Jesus the Word of God, because Jesus Christ is the embodiment of all three of these purposes. The WORDS of God lead us to God in black and white. But the WORD of God leads us to God in living color. He is Lord in the flesh … the Divine with meat … God Con Carne.

When we take a closer look at those three purposes, John 1:14 gives us three Life Lessons:

Life Lesson #1: Because the Word became flesh, you can now see the glory of God in living color. If you want to see the majesty and beauty of God, you need look no further than Jesus. And, most importantly, if you want to see the character of God, carefully study the character of Jesus. No one characterizes God like Jesus. He reveals and displays the character of our holy and beautiful God in Heaven … perfectly.

Life Lesson #2: Because the Word became flesh, you now have a clear roadmap for finding God and being reconciled to God. Jesus didn’t just come to earth to SHOW us a roadmap to God … Jesus IS the roadmap. If you want to find God, just find Jesus. If you want to get right with God, get right with Jesus. If you want to go to heaven someday to live forever with God, you have to follow Jesus there. Jesus is the Way—the ONLY Way—to God. 

Life Lesson #3: Because the Word became flesh, you now know exactly how to glorify God with your life. Some might say, “Wait a minute! I don’t know what career God wants me to have! I don’t know who God wants me to marry or how many kids He wants me to have! How can you say, I know ‘exactly’ how to glorify God with my life?” Well, Jesus has made glorifying God with our lives much simpler than you might think. Whatever job you have, whoever you’re married or not married to, however many kids you might have … do these three things every day: Trust Jesus, love Jesus, and obey His commands. It’s not easy, but it’s simple.

Two thousand years ago, the Word of God became flesh. He moved into our neighborhood to show us EXACTLY what God is like. He came to offer us a much clearer path to getting right with God and glorifying Him with our lives. So, trust Him. Love Him. And obey Him.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us at our great NEW worship location in Apple Valley (16209 Kamana Road) at 9am and 11am. You can also join us livestreaming online at Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

The Word of God … In Person!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
– John 1:1

Growing up in the 1950s was hard for Mary. She knew that she was different from the other kids. You see, Mary was born with a cleft palate. So, every day, kids stared at her and teased her about her misshapen lip, crooked nose and garbled speech. So, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was “different.” She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her … until she entered Mrs. Leonard’s class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, shiny brown hair, and most importantly, she was kind—especially to hurting children.

One day, it was time for the teacher to give the children their annual hearing test. It was called the “whisper test,” and it was given by having a child walk across the room, then repeat something that the teacher whispered. Teachers would often say things like, “The sky is blue,” or “What color are your shoes?” 

But not on that day. When it was Mary’s turn, God must have put the words in Mrs. Leonard’s mouth, because they changed Mary’s life forever. From across the room, Mary heard Mrs. Leonard speak these seven words as clear as a bell: “I wish you were my little girl.”

Words … are … powerful. And the most powerful of all is the Word of God, sent to us in the form of His son, Jesus Christ. Today I’d like to look at just one verse from scripture—but what a powerful verse it is: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”  (John 1:1).

John writes in very simple language—but at the same time, the content of John is incredibly deep. Martin Luther said, “Never in my life have I read a book written in simpler words than this, and yet the words are inexpressible!” Many evangelists help to reach the lost by giving them, not an entire Bible, but the Gospel of John. Why? Because it saves lives, with its simple language and direct message about God’s love.

Around the time John wrote his gospel, people had been studying and quoting an influential Greek philosopher named Heraclitus for over 500 years. Heraclitus believed the universe operates according to a orderly structure. All the laws of physics, mathematics, logic and morality could be traced to this one ordering principle, which he called “logos.” That translates as ‘the Word.” “Logos” was a big concept in those days: the idea of an uncreated divine mind that gives order and meaning to the universe.

So, the Apostle John basically adopted the concept. In John 1:1, he’s saying: “You know OF a single orderly Source. You know OF the uncreated divine mind. Well, this orderly Source is a living, breathing being. This uncreated divine mind is a person. The logos—the Word—is Jesus Christ. And the news gets even better. The Word of God is knowable. You can actually know Him personally. You can talk with Him, fellowship with Him and love Him. In fact, He beat you to it. He has already been talking with you, reaching out to fellowship with you and loving you long before you ever thought about loving Him.”

The Gospel of John teaches us, over and over, that the Intelligent Design stems from an Intelligent Designer, and that Intelligent Designer is knowable and is worthy of our trust. In fact, the greatest privilege in life is to be able to personally know and trust the Word of God.

I’d like to offer three life lessons from this important verse:

Life Lesson #1: For almost 2,000 years, the Gospel of John has been a tool in God’s hand to lead hundreds of millions of people to salvation in Christ. One of the most loving things you can do is to share the Word of God with those around you. You and I can’t open a single closed mind, soften a single hard heart, or save a single lost soul. But the Word of God CAN. Jesus Christ CAN. So, bring them to church where Jesus Christ will do what He specializes in: Softening hard hearts, opening closed minds and saving lost souls.

Life Lesson #2: Because Jesus is the Word of God, He can bring order to all the chaos in your life. As the Word of God, Jesus Christ is, by definition, the One who creates and maintains order in the universe. The unchanging laws of physics … the amazing order in mathematics … the beautiful symmetry of music … Jesus did ALL of that! He created unfathomable order in an otherwise disorderly and chaotic universe. And if Jesus can bring order to an entire universe, what do you think the chances are that He can bring order to the chaos in your life?

Life Lesson #3: Because Jesus is the Word of God, He can bring meaning to all the meaninglessness in your life. Never forget: God … doesn’t … waste … anything. He can take anything in your past—good, bad or ugly—and somehow use it for His glory. He can use your past addictions, your criminal record or your broken marriage for His glory. He can use every sin, every failure, every screw-up for His glory—if you’ll only hand them over to Him and let Him work all things together for good. In God’s Kingdom, nothing is meaningless. Even if it’s out of His plan, Jesus Christ can weave it into His plan … IF you’ll let Him.

Every day people ask, “How could Jesus Christ possibly make something good or useful out of my mess?” I don’t know HOW He does it. All I can tell you is, He DOES it. And that shouldn’t surprise us, because He is the Word of God.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church. Join us at our great NEW worship location in Apple Valley (16209 Kamana Road) at 9am and 11am. You can also join us livestreaming online at Facebook or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.