Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Spiritual Formation (Spiritual Friendship part 5)

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… [Barnabas] was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith… he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers… (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Acts 11:24-26)

I get by with a little help from my friends (Beatles 1967)

If you were a fan of the American version of The Office, then you’ll remember an episode in season five where Michael Scott has quit Dunder Mifflin to start his own paper company (Novak 2009). Pam Beesly also quit Dunder Mifflin to follow Michael, and the episode begins with Michael having a breakdown and doubting his decision. Pam is the voice of reason to Michael and is there to encourage and motivate him. Later in the episode, Pam has a moment of crisis and doubts her decision to follow Michael. At that time, it is Michael that is the voice of reason for Pam. Although this is not an example of Spiritual Friendship, it is a terrific example of one person needing another person to aid them through their struggles, doubts and fears, and because they are in it together, it is even more powerful.

To this point, in the past blogs we’ve looked at examples of Spiritual Friendship in the Old Testament. However, the same concept can be found in the pages of the New Testament as well. In fact, when Jesus started His ministry, one of the things He did was call followers like Peter, James, and John. These three had a unique relationship with Jesus, they are the ones we see with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mk. 9:2-8). Then in the garden of Gethsemane, they are the ones who witness Jesus’ distress and hear his expression of deep grief (Mk. 14:33-34).

Other examples come from the life of the Apostle Paul and his relationship to Barnabas. When Christianity spread from Jerusalem to Antioch, Barnabas was sent by the Church to encourage and minister there. He was able to see that the work was too great for one person and therefore, he went and found Paul to help (Acts. 11:25-26). This year of ministering together must have forged a bond between the two, because after this, they are set apart by the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel further. Possibly as early as AD 46 and going as late as 48, these two men embarked on a missionary journey together. This included preaching the Gospel in Pisidian Antioch, where they would face criticism and conflict with Jews (Acts. 13:45).

We must keep in mind, although both were well versed in the Scriptures and both were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were still human. Therefore, they were subject to all the doubts and insecurities that all people are subject to when criticized and maligned. Perhaps, one of the reasons that the Lord put them together was so that one could encourage the other if doubts and insecurities set in during the mission.

Next week, we’ll begin to transition from Spiritual Friendship into Spiritual Guidance.

Written by Pastor Ozzy

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Works Cited

Beatles, The. 1967. With a Little Help from My Friends. Comps. John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

Novak, B. J. 2009. Dream Team, The Office, Season 5, Episode 22. Directed by Paul Feig. Performed by Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer.

Monday, September 17, 2018

Spiritual Formation (Prayer Life Part 2 Unanswered)

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It's been forty days and forty nights

Down the road of many trials

And I pray it's only for a season

'Cause in the wilderness and in the flood

You're the one I'm thinking of

And I know You've brought me for a reason (Third Day 2003)

[Jesus] fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible, Matthew 26:39)

The film The Passion of the Christ starts with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, his face drenched with sweat as He prays. Depending on how the synoptic gospels (Matt, Mark & Luke) are harmonized, Jesus has predicted His death and resurrection at least three times before the Gethsemane episode [First M16:21-26, M8:31-37, L9:22-25; second M17:22-23, M9:30-32, L9:43b-45, third M20:17-19, M10:32-34, L18:31-34]. Despite this, we are confronted with an emotional and vulnerable Jesus praying in the garden. One could get lost in the mystery of the incarnation; but one thing is clear, God the Son is pouring out His heart before God the Father. Theologians have debated what the cup is; is it the cross and its pain, the separation and isolation, both of these things and more? Whatever it is, one thing is absolutely clear: Jesus wants this “cup” to pass from Him without drinking it. Yet, His prayer does not end with His want, but with His submission. “… not as I will, but as You [Father] will.”

Stop. Wait. Don’t go past this event too quickly. Jesus, the Jesus that healed the blind, the sick, and the lame. Jesus, the Jesus that turned water into wine, walked on the sea and drove out demons by His words. Jesus, the Jesus that withstood all the tests and tempting of Satan himself in the wilderness and won. This Jesus, who knows the Father and has seen the Father and could at once call 60,000 angelic beings to His will (Matt. 26:53), ends His prayer by submitting to the Father’s will.

This cannot be missed; the Son knew His mission. He said, “… I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 5:30 NASB). Therefore, His prayer in Gethsemane follows this pattern. However, remember what was pointed out above. Despite having predicted His resurrection, He is praying that the “cup” could pass Him by. The Gethsemane episode is filled with conflict and we see Jesus in turmoil. We know how the story goes; but it does not lessen the tension that happened in the garden. The Son is pleading with the Father, He is praying, “Is it possible that there could be a plan B?” However, the Son accepts the will of the Father and submits.

Sometimes it’s good to be reminded of purpose. The purpose of Spiritual Formation is to allow Christ to be formed within us (Galatians 4:19). Concerning this Gethsemane episode see what Paul writes:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 NASB).

This then is our example for our prayers.

Prayers hindered by sins