Author: Tim Ehrhardt

I'm just a common ordinary pastor, chaplain, father, grandfather, and dog owner who loves the smell of a genuine leather Bible and the aroma of its message. I'm on a quest to track down the best Bibles, how to best read and use them, and to discover the encouragement inside.

Matthew 12:9-13

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            “Ostensible” is a word that needs our familiarity.  It means to approach a person with an issue that is not the real reason for the conversation.  That is, the outward presentation does not reflect the true inward purpose for the talk.  In today’s Gospel lesson, the Pharisees act out the classic definition of the word.  They ostensibly come to Jesus and ask him a question that would lead everyone to think that they care about the law.  But the text makes it clear that the real reason for asking the question is to try and trap Jesus and make him look as if he does not revere God’s commands.  And the wise response of Jesus turns the tables on the Pharisees.  Not only does Jesus justify the healing on the Sabbath, but unmasks their pretense and exposes the Pharisees’ truly uncaring disposition.  The result is twofold:  the man with the withered hand is restored; and, the Pharisees come away from the encounter determined to do away with Jesus, their hatred inflamed.
             Basic human nature has not changed much over the centuries.  There are people in the church and “believers” everywhere who ostensibly uphold the Bible and appear to care about the things of God, but inwardly harbor the pretense of looking godly and/or seeking to undo another person who threatens their image.  These types of people are outwardly polite, caring, and concerned; they are not obnoxious.  But behind the scenes they undermine others and form secret alliances to topple those who stand in the way of their personal agendas.
             The lectionary readings for the past few weeks have focused on the healing ministry of Jesus.  While restoring broken people, Christ exposes evil and brings the demonic realm out of the shadows.  If a person ostensibly operates one way for people to see but inwardly is another person, then that individual has more in common with the devil than with Jesus.  We must be savvy to such persons so that we are not intimidated to bind up the brokenhearted and have a genuine ministry of healing others in Jesus’ name.  Let the inspiration of Jesus, the love of God the Father and the courage of the Holy Spirit keep you vigilant and strong to truly serve others.
             Mighty God, who has broken the power of sin and brought victory through Jesus, enable me to live my life in such a way as to help others so that the kingdom of God draws near to the people around me.  Strengthen my faith so that I walk in confidence, reflecting my Lord in all things.  Amen.

Jeremiah 29:1-14

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            Jeremiah 29:11 is a familiar verse to many Christians for whom their life assurance and confidence is built:  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  Yet, less well known is the command of verse 7 which frames and gives the meaning to the assurance:  “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
 
            The ancient Jews had experienced the heart-wrenching experience of having the Babylonians come and destroy Jerusalem and carry them into exile to Babylon.  They grieved and they lamented, and rightly so.  But there came a time for the Jews to cease their disappointment and despondency and turn their inward focus to the outward focus of prayer for their captors.
 
            It is human nature to fold our arms and be sullen when things do not go our way.  Put yourselves in the shoes (or sandals) of the Jews.  They lost their home and their lives were completely turned upside-down.  Perhaps you can relate to them.  Maybe there are times when you feel like you are in exile, far from where you want to be.  God is calling us all as his people to be concerned for the communities where we live and work, and to pray for their welfare, even if they have caused us harm.  When we do this, we participate with Jesus in loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us.  Our welfare is inextricably bound up with the community around us.
            Gracious God, you have called me to a ministry of prayer.  Give me a heart of concern for my community and my nation.  I pray for them, that they might prosper in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and come to faith in him.  Amen.

Psalm 35:1-10

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            The psalms are the church’s prayer book.  Many of the psalms are laments and many of them are worshipful and full of praise.  But then there are the imprecatory (pronounced im-PRECK-a-tory)psalms.  To imprecate means to invoke evil upon someone; it is to pronounce a curse.  The reason for the imprecatory psalm is that it is not any person’s place to engage in revenge or retaliation.  Instead, for people who are genuinely caught in the crosshairs of evil and have sinful persons dogging them, prayer is their most effective recourse.
 
            “Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me….  Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life!”  David was a man whose prayers and life were aligned together.  He did not raise his hand to do away with Saul, who was trying to kill him.  Although David had at least two solid opportunities to kill Saul and be done with the guy seeking his life, he did not do it; he was not about to take matters into his own hands.  Instead, David understood that it was God’s business to mete out wrath and punishment.
 
            We need not be shy about being real with God, even with praying imprecatory prayers.  There really are people in this world, maybe even in your own life, that actually have an evil agenda against you.  Our job is not personal revenge, but to entrust ourselves to the God who fights for the poor, the oppressed, and the needy against the arrogant and the powerful.  Let your prayers reflect your life.
            Mighty God, let those who speak and act against me contend with you.  Let your arrows pierce their hearts so that the needy will not be crushed, but will flourish and thrive under your divine care, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Dealing with the Demonic

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Exploring Church Ministry BlogLeave a comment
 
 
When I was in college I drove a big Oldsmobile Delta 88.  Because I had the largest car around, I could fit a lot of people into my car to drive to church on Sundays.  Since I often gave rides to people I did not know very well, one Sunday I picked up two sisters who had never been to my church before.
 
            Everything went like a typical Sunday morning, until toward the end of the pastor’s sermon one of the sisters began yelling and crying out in the service, maybe like the guy in the synagogue who cried out to Jesus when he was just beginning his ministry (Mark 1:21-28).  The pastor quickly brought an end to the worship service and the congregation quickly filed out of the building.  I stayed behind because, well, I was her ride.
 
            What happened next is a story in itself for another time.  I will just say that I saw some crazy things and that there was a deliverance that day from whatever or whomever was influencing that young lady.  Let’s just say it was an awkward ride back to the dorms afterwards.
 
            In think this begs the questions:  What are our expectations when we come to a worship service?  Do we anticipate that Jesus will be present via the Holy Spirit, and that he will confront demons and bring deliverance to people?  Perhaps there is so little deliverance from evil in the church today because we simply do not expect it to happen.  Maybe the demons just sleep through the service knowing that their influence is not being threatened.
 
            I also think there are some presuppositions or assumptions that we need to take for granted when it comes to the subject of evil:
 
Demons are real.  The Gospels are filled with accounts of Jesus confronting demonized people.  There is no evidence that they existed only in the ancient world; they are present in this time in this world.
 
Jesus has authority over demons.  Jesus took charge of situations with demons because he had the authority to do so.  Throughout the Gospels Jesus is portrayed as one who came in order to decisively deal with the powers of evil.
 
Demons could be in our churches.  I do not mean to be creepy; I simply intend to point out that if demons are real, they are not just out there somewhere in the world.  Jesus encountered the demonic when he was teaching in synagogues.  Although we encounter dramatic stories in Scripture (because Jesus seemed to bring it to the forefront), much demonic activity goes unaware because demons do not like to be recognized; they like the anonymity of the shadows and to operate in the dark where no one can detect them.  If we knew they were around we would likely do something about it!  Just because church buildings are dedicated to the worship of God does not mean that they magically keep evil out.  We, as God’s people, must be savvy to demonic ways and take charge to use our authority in Christ through truth, justice, peace, faith, and the message of the gospel in order to live wisely and shoo the devil away.
 
            Jesus directly dealt with evil because he was interested in bringing freedom to people, of confronting the spiritual roots of human suffering, and giving grace to those in bondage.  We all need the deliverance that Christ provides through faith in his person and work.  Being amazed or impressed with stories of the demonic and deliverance ministry is not the same as exercising faith ourselves in Jesus.
 

 

            Whenever the church celebrates at the Table together, they are to do so with the cognizance that Jesus has won a tremendous victory over the devil and his demons.  Only Christ can give us the confidence and hope we need to confront all that ails us.  Let us personally and corporately implement that victory daily through the grace given us by faith in love.