Church Meeting devotion: What Jesus Wants - Mark 5:7

Bible Reading:           Mark 5:1-10

Key verse:       He shouted as loud as he could, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do You want with me? Vow now to God that You will not torture me!”       Mark 5:7

There’s a verse in the New Testament Letter of James that aptly describes what is going on here in this Gospel passage between Jesus and the demoniac. It reminds us that even demons recognize Christ for who He actually is. James writes:

‘You believe that there is one God? Good! Even the demons believe that--and tremble.’ – James 2:19

I’m struck by the fact that there are people in this world who refuse to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and yet, according to the Gospel, there are demons who know Christ and shudder. Those demons will never enter into the everlasting Kingdom of God and sadly neither will those who don’t believe in Jesus. With this in mind, we are soberly reminded as Christians that it is our mission to spread the Gospel through our acts and expressions of faith, in words and works. We don’t do these things to earn any eternal reward or divine merit. We do them to attract others to Christ and as ways of encouraging them to accept Him for Who He actually is.

Jesus was not concerned about the demon, but He was deeply troubled about the possessed man. He confronted the evil presence and rooted it out of the man, so that the demoniac could be liberated from his torment and troubles.

Christ’s ministry is still the same today. In a crazy, fearful, and tormented world, His compassion and concern is to give the people on this planet a better life, a better hope, and a better way. When people fully understand and accept that Jesus is the Son of the Most High God, then their lives are completely transformed and their days are filled with meaning, purpose, and the delight of God.

Question for personal reflection

Have I accepted Christ as the Son of the Most High God? If so, how has this changed my life?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, Son of the Most High God, we worship Your ways, words, and works in the world. We praise You for Your powerful presence on this planet and we seek to serve You with all of our lives. Grant us new opportunities to encourage others to seek and find You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest Appalachian drawing. It’s called “Heaven Meets Earth” and it is a sunrise depiction of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6228/6878952464_a6dbda2089_b.jpg

Please note that John has limited signed editions of this print available. Just email him for details.

Church devotions: Storm Stiller - Mark 4:38

Mark 4:38       Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" 

I’ve only once had an anxiety attack in my life and I hope that I never ever go through it again. It happened years ago when my family and I moved into our new home in Knoxville. I suddenly realized that we had just taken on a thirty year mortgage for a house, in a strange city and foreign land, with absolutely no guarantees about the future.

I also felt bad for my wife and two daughters who had given up everything to come to America with me. They no longer had their own family or friends, their cousins or their comrades to support them. They needed me to be there for them, but I was so engrossed in my work that I failed them. Instead of having faith and being reassured, we were all afraid and resentful. This went on for a few weeks and then I had my panic attack.

I couldn’t breathe one day and my heart raced ahead of itself. My mind was a whirl and I honestly thought I was dying. It lasted about a minute but it felt a lot longer. By the time it was over, I was as white as a sheet and drenched in cold perspiration. It was a horrible experience and I would not wish it upon anybody.

Looking back, I can see that my main problem was a lack of faith in Jesus. I was relying upon my own strength, instead of seeking His support. He had brought all of us to the other side of the Atlantic for a whole host of reasons that are still being fulfilled today in all four of our lives. The storms that I experienced were self-created. Christ was in the heart of them, ready, willing, and able to still the storms and calm the waves. It took me a while to see it, but I now understand: Christ’s presence is real and all that truly matters is that He is here.

Perhaps, like the disciples of old, you are going through a stormy patch and troubled waters. Maybe life is hard and your problems are overwhelming your spirit. Know this: Christ is with you in the midst of all your anxieties and all of your cares. He can, and He will, still those storms.

Question for personal reflection

What fears and issues am I currently facing? How have I asked Jesus to help me?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, Your powerful presence is what our lives constantly need. We are human and frail, fearful and anxious at times. When we are weak, we need You to be our strength. When we fall, we need You to lift us up. Lord Jesus, guide our lives and calm our storms. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Stars over Ireland” and it features the Liffey Bridge in Dublin at night time. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6844586504_7af66c66e8_b.jpg

Church devotions: Our Redeemer - Isaiah 63:16

Isaiah 63:16     However, You are our Father, even though Abraham does not recognize us or Israel know us; You are our Father, O Lord, and from ancient times Your Name is known as ‘Our Redeemer.’

Sadly, every now and then, some celebrity or famous person loses their life in a tragic or scandalous way. We are all shocked and saddened by this kind of event, especially if the person has died much younger than anticipated. Within days, we are all saturated with breaking news, special documentaries, and television biographies that sometimes unfairly criticize or sully the reputation of the dead person. Media frenzy ensues and the story is big until some other star passes away tragically. Then a new circus begins and the same old cycle of speculation and cynicism continues.

I used to wonder if that kind of thing happened beyond death. Is a person’s whole life totally revealed to everyone in eternity, with all of the shameful secrets and sinful events completely exposed? Are our reputations eternally sullied and our souls punished by God for our faithless and fruitless ways in life? As a teenager, those things used to worry me immensely; as a Christian, I now understand the beauty of God’s grace.

For thousands of years, the One, True, and Living God has been known as ‘Our Redeemer.’ He doesn’t have to, but He wants to redeem us from our sins and rescue us from the sickness of our secrets. In Isaiah’s time, the people thought that because they were so far away from Jerusalem, God didn’t have the geographical power to rescue and deliver them. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah realized that this wasn’t true. God wasn’t limited by time or space; geography or history could not bind or restrict His redeeming power. God didn’t have to, but God was willing to deliver His people yet again.

As Christians, we now know God’s great redeeming love through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. We are delivered from death and saved from our sins through the Cross at Calvary. Whatever we have sinfully done in the past, Christ has completely forgiven for all Time. Whatever shameful secrets have sullied us, Jesus has totally absolved. From of old, we have known His Name: Our Redeemer.

Question for personal reflection

How has Jesus been revealed to me as the Redeemer of my life?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we cannot thank You enough for restoring us to God’s favor by redeeming us with Your blood. We will always be eternally thankful for Your sacrifice on the Cross that has reconnected our souls with God for all Time. Help us to cheerfully and joyfully live each day as thankful redeemed people. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest Spring drawing called “Dogwood Cardinal.” If you would like to view a larger version of the picture, please click on the following link: http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6227/6998552941_3a75f0a757_b.jpg

Devotions: My New E-book - God Will find You!

I've just published my new Kindle e-book of devotions entitled "God Will Find You." I believe it's the best one I've written and the formatting is terrific.

As well as fifty devotions, the book contains a lot of my artwork. Each daily devotions comes with a suggested Bible passage to read and a question for personal reflection.

The book can be used at any time of year, but it can be especially read between Easter and Pentecost. Kindle is now available as a free app for most mobile devices, PCs and Macs.

Enjoy the book!

Church growth devotions: Church restoration - Isaiah 58:12

Isaiah 58:12    Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. 

The Church as we once knew it is broken and just like Humpty Dumpty in the old children’s nursery rhyme, I’m not sure that it can ever be put back together again.

The dilemma that we currently face is this: do we stand around and weep at all of the broken pieces, or do we pick up what is left and build something better? Do we repair what is wrecked or do we create something new with the broken material?

One of my favorite television programs is called “American Restoration.” It’s all about a small business in Las Vegas where the owner and his family restore old machines, gas pumps, and vintage toys into something new. They start with a worn out piece of junk that nobody would want but, by the end of the program, it’s a completely restored item, in perfect working order and newly painted. Sometimes the restorers cannot mend a machine or the parts are so badly worn that they need to be replaced. When that happens, the boss and his workers re-invent the inner workings of the item and build it into something new, something that works, and something that is attractive.

I think that is what the task of God’s church currently is: to become restored and renewed. We cannot ever be what we once were, but with God’s guidance and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and churches, we can become something beautiful for Christ. Therefore, the challenge we face this: are we going to wait, weep, and wail over what is broken and end up with nothing, or are we ready to re-gather the pieces, restore our hopes, and rebuild what we have into something new?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as Christians we are Followers of Your Way, Seekers of Your Truth, and Lovers of Your Life. Your Church is broken and we have lost something that can never be re-found. We are afraid of the future and fear the unknown; therefore we seek Your Living Presence among us so that we can faithfully and successfully rebuild, restore, and renew our churches for Your continuing ministry and mission in our communities and across the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s passage, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest digital glass designs. It’s called “Celtic Dawn.” In the larger version, you can almost touch the contours of the borders on the digital window. You can view the larger version here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6957944417_d242cd6902_b.jpg

Church devotions: The Gift of Teachers - Mark 1:22

Mark 1:22       The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 

I love teaching the Faith and I am proud to be called a ‘teaching elder.’ I’m told that it’s one of my strengths and I appreciate the people who are willing to allow me to lead Sunday school classes, Bible studies, and retreats both in and outside the congregation. I am also humbled by the many people around the world who use my studies online, read these devotions, and buy my books. Teaching the Faith is a privilege and I thank God for each opportunity that He gives me to do this.

I also admire teachers in our schools and colleges. They are often overworked and underpaid for what they do. For each generation to be successful, it needs dedicated teachers. For each profession to progress, it relies upon the research and imagination, hard work and determination of its teachers. To me, there is no greater profession in the world than that of teaching, because all that we accomplish depends upon who teaches us and what we are taught.

Jesus was an amazing teacher. His theological insights and grasp of God made Him exceptional in the eyes of His community. He taught with absolute authority because He was absolutely confident about who He was and what God wanted Him to accomplish. I would love to have sat at His feet to listen to Him tell stories, give lessons, and answer questions. It must have been astounding.

Christ’s teaching has survived two thousand years and His insights are still relevant to our lives today. Billions of people on Earth are affected by His life, His ministry, and His teaching. We have been blessed with an amazing Teacher in our lives and His words will lead us back to God’s kingdom. The challenge that we have today is this: how can we share what we have been taught by Christ?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we thank You for the teachers and professors, lecturers and speakers who have taught us many things and through whose wisdom and dedication, we can accomplish much with our lives. We thank You also for the teaching of the Church which carries on Your ministry and mission in the world today. And we praise You for being the Greatest Teacher in our lives and that one day we will get to thank You personally, face to face. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the teaching elder at Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s Lent Cards for the Church kids at Erin. It’s a depiction of Christ carrying the cross, with the words “Take up your cross and follow Me” at the bottom. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6950845059_375b3a1ca5_b.jpg

Opening devotions: Cabbages and Kings - Mark 1:15

Mark 1:15       "The time has come," Jesus said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

For some absurd reason, this Gospel verse always reminds me of Lewis Carroll’s poem, “The Walrus and the Carpenter” from Alice’s second adventure “Through the Looking Glass.” I think it’s because both Jesus and the walrus use the same words: ‘the time has come.’ Christ uses them to proclaim the beginning of His ministry, whereas the walrus uses them to talk about nonsense:

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

As an adult, I still enjoy what Carroll has written, but as a Christian I rejoice with what Christ has proclaimed. His ministry began almost two thousand years ago and it is still being fulfilled all over the world today. Sadly, some people will treat Christ’s words as nonsense and miss out on the greatest opportunity to restore themselves to God, as well as extending their existence into eternity. However, billions of people will take up the invitation and one day will be welcomed into Christ’s presence and God’s kingdom. All of our questions will finally be answered and our lives will be completely fulfilled. The time for Christ’s ministry and message to be proclaimed has come; the question we need to ask ourselves is this: with whom can I share this wonderful invitation today?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness and restoration, of healing and new life. You are the Holy One of God who brought all of God’s goodness, mercy, and love to us through Your teaching, Your sacrifice, and Your resurrection. Thank You, Lord Jesus. In Your Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest chess drawings. It’s called “Battle Box” and will be part of a Spring exhibition of his works in a downtown Knoxville coffee shop. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6813390398_0f8e8ddf68_b.jpg

Leadership devotions: Fresh Expressions - Isaiah 56:11

Isaiah 56:11    They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain. 

Yesterday I was reading a quote from Bishop Graham Cray who is an Anglican and a leader of the newly formed “Fresh Expressions” organization in the United Kingdom. His quote was something that I heartily agree with, because it addresses the current leadership crisis in the Western church.

Bishop Cray stated, "When I was ordained 37 years ago it took a particularly inept Minister to shrink a church. All of that has changed. It now takes an exceptional minister to prevent decline."

Sadly, I have found this to be true on both sides of the Atlantic. Seminaries and divinity colleges are producing inept pastors who go from church to church creating havoc, or who cannot stay in the ministry beyond five years. I’ve even seen one pastor be given three different churches by the same Presbytery and in each case the congregation diminished. The same pastor is a big voice at Presbytery when it comes to making decisions for new church developments!

In my opinion, the leadership crisis that we face can only be averted by raising up strong leaders who know, believe, and teach the Word of God. There are too many unsound preachers and self-serving seekers in our pulpits, or as Isaiah put it so succinctly, “They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.” 

So what can we do about it? We can start to pray for leaders to be raised up in the next generation of Christians who will stop the decline and re-grow the Faith. There are some great young people in our congregations who may be called by God to do this. If that is the case, then our work is to encourage, support, and guide them so that they will become strong and faithful Christian leaders to their peers.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You called for leaders from all walks of life to grow the Faith by establishing Your Church. We pray for those of our young people who are feeling called to ministry and we ask that You empower them with Your Word and strengthen them with Your Holy Spirit. In Your Sacred Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Easter drawings called “Star Fall.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6811333724_b8573e54b6_b.jpg

Easter Sunday devotion: Fact or Fantasy? Matthew 27:64

Matthew 27:64            “So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

 

This last deception will be worse than the first.

Do we realize that if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then all of our faith is a tragic lie and inhumane deception? Millions of people will have lived and died for their faith in Christ, but if He was not resurrected, then their lives and deaths will have been in vain. In my opinion, to actually be a Christian is to put all of your belief eggs in that one basket of faith; to be a disciple of Christ means that you truly have to believe that He rose from the dead.

The relevance of our faith all comes down to that one fact in history. If the resurrection never occurred, then Christians could be called the most stupid people in the whole universe. However, if the resurrection did occur, then the converse is actually true - Christians are the smartest people who have ever existed because their faith in Jesus will prove to be the most successful and eternally rewarding belief that has ever been given to humanity.

So, the question of faith seems to be this: either Jesus was deluded and Christianity is the biggest deception in history, or Jesus rose again and our mission is to broadcast that Good News to our families, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors, and even strangers. The choice about what we do with the Resurrection is ours; the challenge of its truth comes solely from God.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as Christians we believe that You are the Savior of the world because You died for our sins and rose from the dead. We thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness. We praise You for Your glorious resurrection and heavenly ascension. We eagerly anticipate Your Coming again. In Your Holy Name, we expectantly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment about today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Christ drawings. It’s called “The Baptism” and is a crayon drawing of Christ being baptized in the Jordan with the Holy Spirit descending upon Him. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6924951609_4fc7a8a94e_b.jpg