Signs

Luke 2:12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Signs are helpful. They tell us where we are. They tell us where to turn. Have you ever made a wrong turn because there was no sign? Have you ever turned onto a road because of a sign but then wondered later if you made a wrong turn or missed a road sign somewhere along the way? It is to our benefit that highway departments periodically put highway number signs along the road to remind us that we are on the right highway. However, they rarely put signs every mile on the open road. The assumption is that you may need an occasional reference, but once you have started on the right road you are still on the right road.

God also occasionally gives a second sign to confirm his guidance for us. In this familiar part of the Christmas story, a group of angels visits some shepherds with the news of the Savior’s birth. That was a dramatic sign in its own right, but notice that the angel tells the shepherds they will see another sign to confirm this message: a baby in a manger. The shepherd saw that second sign “just as they had been told.” (vs 20) They knew they were on the right pathway. They knew God’s message could be trusted.

Perhaps today you are between road signs. That does not mean you have made a wrong turn. God may have another sign just ahead.

Purposeful Nuisance?

Luke 2:4-5 – So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

What has frustrated you lately? Has there been something that has taken time and effort you hadn’t planned? Perhaps you are facing a nuisance right now that is forcing an inconvenient change of plans that you would never choose.

I am sure that is what a very pregnant Mary and her diligent new husband Joseph felt when they had to travel by foot over a hundred miles just because the oppressive Roman government commanded them to register for a census in their city of origin. Although I have never been pregnant, I remember well how much more effort it took my wife to get from place to place during that last trimester. I am sure both Mary and Joseph were greatly discouraged by the thought of having to make that journey. They were likely tempted to anger toward the Romans, despair at the financial burden, and fear at the risk of the journey and giving birth at a less than ideal location.

Yet, what seemed like a nuisance was part of God’s plan. Had they not made the journey, there would have been no shepherds. I am sure the angels could have made the trip, but Mary would have given birth at home instead of in a manger, the Magi would have got lost, and the seven hundred year old prophecy of the location of the Messiah’s birth (Micah 5:2) would not have been fulfilled. As inconvenient and even painful as it was to Mary and Joseph, that census and the hard journey were part of God’s purpose.

Try to gain a fresh perspective on your nuisances today. Perhaps God is at work in them to you or even through you to others for a much bigger purpose than your temporary discomfort.

Songs of Promise

Luke 1:72 – “…To show the mercy promised to our fathers.”

We know a few things about Luke who wrote the story of Jesus we know as the Gospel of Luke and the book called The Acts of the Apostles (or Acts) that tells the story of the early church after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven. We know he was probably a doctor, because Paul called him the “beloved physician” in Colossians 4:13. From the “we” passages in Acts we can surmise he first met and joined Paul’s ministry in the city of Troas near Homer’s Troy in what is today Northwest Turkey. We also know he was not Jewish and probably the only Gentile to write any of the New Testament, yet his gospel is more Jewish than any of the others. He even copies the style of the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament used in his day.

Luke Chapter 1 is loaded with words, concepts, and the style of the Old Testament. There are many direct references and allusions to Old Testament passages, but this is not just Luke’s efforts to try to fit in with his new Jewish buddies. To Luke, Jesus’ coming is a direct fulfillment of God’s promises given over and over for hundreds of years before.

Luke records two Holy Spirit-inspired songs, one sung by Jesus’ mother Mary, the other by John the Baptist’s father Zechariah. Both are loaded with phrases from the Old Testament that show that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah, not a deluded opportunist. He came to fulfill promises God made to the people of Israel, but he also brought hope to the whole world. God keeps His promises. I pray you embrace them today.

Impossible?

Luke 1:37 – “Nothing will be impossible with God.”

 

As we get caught up in the daily routines of life, it can seem like some things never change. Our hopes go unmet. Our fears are confirmed. Outcomes seem inevitable. Many things seem impossible. Yet here in Luke 1:37 the angel Gabriel promised the Virgin Mary that nothing is impossible with God. Those words are easily spoken but much harder to believe. Can miracles happen? Can my hopeless circumstances be changed? Sometimes it is tough to believe it in the middle of our challenges, yet in the verse before Gabriel gave Mary a reason to believe the impossible: “Even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.”

As you pray and trust God you may not always see immediate results. It took Mary several weeks to confirm her pregnancy. It took nine months to hear the angels sing, but Elizabeth was already miraculously pregnant. What God did for Elizabeth, he did for Mary. Doctor Luke was a firm proponent of God’s miraculous power, but he also was a scientist who sought evidence as he wrote. God often confirms what He can and will do in us by what He has already done for and through others. I had the privilege of serving Cedar Park Church in Bothell, Washington, for five years. Nearly thirty years ago Pastor Joe Fuiten began to pray for childless couples. As He did for Elizabeth, God began to answer those prayers. As other childless couples heard about these miracle babies, they began to trust God for themselves. Hundreds of children have been born to previously infertile couples after the prayed on Presentation Sunday. God is at work like this making the seemingly impossible possible. Look around. God is at work. Nothing is impossible.

 

Something Bigger

Luke 1:24-25 (NAS)  After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

Is it okay to be selfish once in a while? Certainly, rampant self-obsession is the root cause of the biggest problems in our world today. All you have to do is to try to pull out into traffic to experience someone else’s selfishness as they try to cut you off to keep you from taking their place in line. There is no doubt America would be a much better place if we all thought of others first, but is there a point at which it is acceptable to think about our own needs and desires?

Elizabeth had a tough life. A first century Jewish woman’s whole identity was wrapped up in her children. Children were seen as a sign of God’s blessing. The fact that godly Elizabeth had lived to an old age without bearing children had become a real cause of shame for her. People talked. There was an unspoken assumption she had done something to deserve this. It hurt. She and her husband Zechariah prayed for a child for years, but nothing changed. Then one day Zechariah returned from his priestly service at the temple unable to speak because of the angel’s promise that they would bear a son. Sure enough, Elizabeth became pregnant. She was thrilled. She saw this baby boy inside her as a direct answer to her prayers: “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”  (vs 25) When the baby was born, her esteem with her friends, relatives, and neighbors increased. They restored their approval of her: "Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. (Luke 1:57-58) God had answered her prayers. She took it personally. She celebrated what had happened to her.

Yet, God was up to something more. This baby boy, we know as John the Baptist, was not just given to help Elizabeth’s reputation. He had a much bigger mission that would impact the whole world (See Luke 1:14-17). Elizabeth received a collateral blessing as a part of God’s bigger plan. It was good and right for her to celebrate the personal benefit she received, but it was better that she did not stop there. In the middle of this story while still pregnant, Elizabeth received a visit from her cousin Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was pregnant with her own miraculous child. In response, Elizabeth’s most famous words show she got her eyes off her own selfish benefit to see God’s bigger purpose in the world and praise Him for it:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! …And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

So, enjoy and appreciate God’s personal gifts to you today. Thank Him for them, but do not forget He is up to something bigger, too.

Struggle with Doubt?

Luke 1:18a (NAS) Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain?

Poor Zechariah. He and his wife Elizabeth had faithfully served God their whole lives and wanted nothing more than to bear and raise a child. Yet, in spite of their constant prayers and good living, no child ever came. Then one special and strange day, perhaps the only day of his life Zechariah was allowed to offer incense in the temple, he was visited by an angel with the promise of having a son.

I really identify with Zechariah. Can any of us blame him for his doubt after so many years of disappointment? Yet, he was rebuked by the angel Gabriel: “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” (vs 20) He should have believed. He was in the temple – the very presence of God. He had been praying, and God answers persistent prayer (See Luke 18:1-7). He was even given the promise by an angel, but Zechariah’s disappointment had weakened his faith. All the years of counting on an immediate answer to his prayers blinded him to the real answer.

How do you think he felt about that rebuke? I know I would have felt guilty. I failed to trust and believe when it really mattered. My doubt in God would have shifted to doubt in my own qualification to receive anything from God. I would have believed that I missed my chance, but notice that Zechariah’s doubt does not disqualify him from God’s promise. Notice also that even the disciplinary punishment became a faith building sign. Zechariah was not able to speak. That was a sign to him, Elizabeth, and everyone else that an all-powerful God was at work in his life. If God could keep him from speaking, he could enable them to bear a child.

You may be dealing with doubt and disappointment in your own life. If so, you may identify with Zechariah, too. Trust in God. He is faithful. When those times comes that your faith fails, just remember your doubt does not disqualify you from receiving His promise.

Certain

Luke 1:1-4 (ESV) Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, ² just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, ³ it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

There are some things we cannot be sure of. For example, will stock market predictions for next year be accurate? If we could know for sure, we could all become millionaires. However, there are some things we can be certain of. If there is a vocabulary quiz on 50 new words and I memorize them all, I can get an A. We can think of a lot of different things to put in one category or the other: uncertain and certain. Yet, there are some things that different people put in different categories.

For example, issues of faith. That word itself – faith – conveys uncertainty to some people. “If I have to take it on faith, I cannot know for sure.” To others, faith implies certainty. “I believe it because I know it is true.”

In the postmodern world more and more people put faith and other religious and spiritual issues in the category of uncertainty. Religious belief becomes a matter of personal preference. You can adopt any belief system you choose or even create your own. The validity or truth of the faith system does not matter because we cannot be certain about anything related to spirituality or religion.

Yet, in the opening words of his masterful gospel, Doctor Luke says we can be certain about what he writes concerning Jesus’ life, words, and ministry. Notice that he is careful not to say, “You can be certain because I believe it.” He does not even say, “You can be certain because it works.” Instead, he says, “You can be certain because I and several others have researched it and recorded what actually happened.” (Of course, I took some license in the wording, but read his statement above. Isn’t that what it means?)

Can you be certain that George Washington was the first President of the United States? How? You were not there to witness it, but lots of reliable individuals were. Since then hundreds of qualified scholars have researched his writings and the writings of his peers and can say for certain that he was our first president. We have a very good idea of what kind of person he was and what he did.

Similarly, we can be certain that Jesus of Nazareth walked the sands of Palestine in the First Century A.D., performed miracles, taught life changing principles, claimed to be the Son of God, was crucified for it, and rose from the dead. Whether or not you are personally certain of that at this point in time, I invite you to accept Luke’s challenge and read his words, because you can have certainty about Jesus, and there is nothing I would rather have for you.

Availability

In my new role as Dean of Southeastern University's College of Christian Ministries and Religion, one of my top pririoties is connecting with churches and ministry leaders through the Southeast. I welcome any opportunity to connect personally or share in churches, sectional and district meetings, camps, conferences, and other special events. I have a wide range of topics I can address and preach. I also have broad experience as a church consulant and coach, and have led churches through strategic planning processes. I am also known for dramatic sermons preached in costume as a biblical character that are drawn from historical and biblical research yet contain practical application for today's listeners. I also welcome any opportunity to share about Southeastern University and our degree programs. You can also contact me if you are interested in hosting an extension site on your campus. If there is anything I can do for you, please schedule a meeting with my assistant, Kathy Wainer, at kawainer@seu.edu or 863-667-5044. You can also email me directly at ajehler@seu.edu.

Some of my sermons

Over the years several have asked for links to some of my preaching. Here are few recent sermons. You may need to navigate the churches' lists to find my messages.

Cedar Park Church - Sunday Evening, June 23rd, 2013

Life Church 360 - Sunday Morning, June 23rd, 2013

Charisma Christian Center - June 9th, 2013

Bellevue Neighborhood Church - May 26th, 2013

Cedar Park Northshore - May 5th, 2013

Pleasant Bay Church - April 7th, 2013

Nejat Church - February 3rd, 2013

One More Voice

Luke 1:1-4 (ESV) Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Do you ever struggle with speaking up? Were you one of those students who dreaded that teacher might call on you to answer the question because you were afraid you might give the wrong answer? Do you find yourself quiet in groups or dreading public speaking because you are not sure anyone will actually want to hear what you have to say? If so, you are not alone.

Thirteen years ago I began the adventure of serving as a lead pastor. There was much to look forward to about that role: getting to know and love people, reaching a community, growing a church that was making a difference, and preaching God’s Word to people on a weekly basis. I also had a desire to do something more: to begin my goal of writing by sending out a devotional email a few times a week. As I read through the Bible for my own devotionals, I could write thoughts I felt inspired to share with others and send them out to anyone who was interested. I started those a few months later and decided to call them PowerWords based on Hebrews 4:12 – “The Word of God is living and active…" God’s Word is powerful. God’s message had changed my life. Could I help others grasp it in a way that could change theirs?

As I wrestled with the decision to write and send out PowerWords, the thought came to me: “There are so many other great devotional writers out there from Oswald Chambers to Max Lucado. What can I offer? Wouldn’t my writing be just one more voice among many? What could I say that has not already been said? Aren’t these others far more qualified than I am?”

In reading Luke 1:1-4, I wonder if Luke had similar thoughts. Notice how he points out how many others sought to write the story of Jesus. Some of these were actual eyewitnesses. Did Luke struggle with what he could offer? Did he ask, “Am I just one more voice?”

Whether he struggled or not, Luke thought it good to research and write to help his friend Theophilus, and all of us, have certainty concerning the things we have been taught. How many millions throughout history have had their faith strengthened through Luke’s words? How much poorer would we be without Luke’s contribution? There would be no shepherds at Christmas, no manger or inn, no story of Mary and Martha or the boy Jesus at the temple. We would lack the Good Samaritan and so much more. Luke wrote, and it was good. He was one more voice, and it was a voice we needed.

We, too, each have a voice. With that voice comes an opportunity to make an important and unique contribution to the life-changing message of Jesus going out to the world. You have a unique perspective that no one else has. You have a unique network of people who will listen to you who may not listen to others. If you do not speak, some may not hear. Your voice matters.

I sent out PowerWords for almost three years. In that time, the subscriptions grew across the country and around the world. I received good feedback from a wide variety of people. However, the busyness of starting my doctoral program while pastoring a growing church and raising teenagers led me to put PowerWords on hold. I always intended to start them back up again, but life never seemed to calm down. With a new transition in my life, now is as good a time as I am every likely to have, so I am writing again. As I started this morning, I felt the same doubt: “What good is it for me to write? I am just one more voice.” Today as I opened His Word, God’s voice rang clear again: Write, because you are one more voice!