Tag: deliverance

It’s Time To Wake Up – First Sunday of Advent (Romans 13:11-14)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year ALeave a comment

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us walk decently as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in illicit sex and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (New Revised Standard Version)

But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over; dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about! (The Message)

I like metaphors, that is, word-pictures that help illustrate and visualize a concept or idea. That’s probably why I like the Apostle Paul, because I find in him a guy who appears to have the same affinity for metaphors that I do.

In the New Testament reading on this First Sunday of Advent, Paul gives four metaphors to help us grab ahold of what he wants to get across to us:

We are not in some holding pattern, passively awaiting heaven. This is because our salvation is not yet complete. Completeness won’t happen until Jesus returns, until the second advent of Christ. Therefore, we are to be active now, working on our faith commitment to Jesus and to his church.

In this advent season, as we remember Christ’s first “advent” (or “coming”) to this earth, we are equally anticipating the second coming of Christ – not knowing quite when that will occur. Only until this event happens will our salvation come in all of its fullness.

The church is a unique community of persons who continually have an eye toward the future return of Jesus. And this future orientation is supposed to give shape to how we live in the present time.

The world-wide Christian community presently follows the way of deliverance. This current time and place is not the arrival point. Today doesn’t mark the time in which our salvation is fully realized or acquired.

In other words, we are to avoid acting as if this is our permanent home. Rather, we are pilgrims on this earth, sojourning through it as if we were but camping out. Our true home is someplace else. And we will get there when Christ comes again.

There is a stark contrast between those who put all their eggs into the present earthly basket, and those who maintain a future orientation of working now with an eye out for Jesus to return. This contrast is illustrated by Paul with images of what it’s like to live for and in the Roman society; and what it’s like to live with Jesus as Lord, instead of Ceasar.

Are you asleep or awake, living for the night or in the day?

Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. (Mark 13:35-36)

Paul, taking his cues from Jesus, exhorted the believers to stay alert and be prepared for the end when it comes. Living for the nighttime is a metaphor for giving-in to one’s personal sinful desires; whereas living in the daylight hours is a picture of following the words and ways of Jesus.

What are you wearing? What are you taking off, and what are you putting on?

Using the metaphor of clothes – undressing and dressing oneself – Paul is talking about exchanging one set of clothing for another. This isn’t merely putting on a different pair of jeans than what you already have on. It’s much more radical than that. It’s doffing the tuxedo and donning the overalls. The picture is one of doing something completely different than what you’ve been doing before.

Paul wanted a complete makeover, a total change of moral and ethical behavior that is consistent with the gospel of Christ, and not with typical Roman society. It involves taking up one’s cross and following Jesus. It’s gritty and dirty and gets down to it; instead of avoiding hard work and seeking to have someone else do what is unpleasant to me.

Our allegiance and commitment to Christ is on full public display – not in placards with Bible verses on them, but with the sweet aroma of living a humble and just life in all of its simplicity and holiness.

Will you do the works of darkness, or take up the armor of light?

The darkness represents the unjust life of lies, selfishness, conflicts of interest, relational discord, and immoral actions. The light is meant to convey a beautiful life of integrity, wholeness, righteousness, and peace through loving actions.

Christians are to progressively take on the character of Christ, and not of whatever political character happens to be in power.

Using the metaphor of armor points us not only toward the struggle we confront in living a moral and righteous life, but also toward Christ who is our Divine Warrior. Jesus is the One who fights the battle and wins the victory.

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Do you know what time it is? Is there any hopeful expectation?

The Christian is one who knows the time is nearer now than when they first believed. We may not know the precise date on the calendar when Jesus will come again, yet we are convinced that he is returning soon.

Therefore, the believer has no business spending time in trying to predict the day of the end. Instead, the believer must remain faithful and persevere to the end with a firm commitment to Christ, and a dedication to doing what is good, right, and just.

So, herein lies the challenge for every believer: Those of us who name Jesus as Lord will continue to live in a world of injustice and unrighteousness. Christians are continually being pulled in differing directions all at once, all the time.

It’s a hard slog. Yet the Christian finds joy and satisfaction in knowing who they are, who they believe in, and who is coming back to make all things new.

Christianity involves a whole lot more than praying a salvation prayer once, then going on one’s merry way, doing whatever the heck one wants to do.

Rather, Christianity is a radical existence of waking from sleep and changing allegiances from immoral leaders to the true sovereign of the universe.

It’s like moving from seeing shadowy forms just before the dawn to seeing clearly in the sun’s full light of day.

It’s as if I’ve been given a completely new set of clothes to put on, giving up the rags of this world for the raiment of being adopted into royalty.

We remain continually vigilant, always watching, always praying, always believing, always loving – knowing that our salvation is at hand, nearly here, and could happen at any moment.

God of justice and peace, from the heavens you rain down mercy and kindness, so that all on earth may stand in awe and wonder before your marvelous deeds. Raise our heads in expectation, that we may yearn for the coming day of the Lord and stand without blame before your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

The Healing of the Demoniac (Luke 8:26-39)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Mosaic of the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac from the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, 6th century C.E.

Then they arrived at the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on shore, a man from the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had not worn any clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me,” for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 

Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding, and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd stampeded down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they became frightened. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then the whole throng of people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him. (New Revised Standard Version)

Jesus exorcising the Gerasene demoniac, from the Hitda Codex

Jesus came to this earth to deliver people from all obstacles that gets in the way between us and God, so that humanity may freely connect with the divine, each other, and creation.

Whether it was in the synagogue, in public, in private, in a Jewish community, or in Gentile territory, Christ’s ministry was marked by healing people. He did this so that people could (re)attach themselves to the neighborhood, to God, and even to themselves.

Today’s Gospel story has Jesus take an unexpected trip across the Sea of Galilee to a foreign place full of non-Jewish persons. It was a place marked by all sorts of ritual impurity, and sorts of Gentile practices which a good Jew would have nothing to do with.

So, it’s no surprise, in a heathen setting, that Christ encountered the demonic in the form of a man riddled with demons to the point of being named “Legion.” This confrontation became a type of wild west shootout between the superhuman tortured man and the divinely filled Son of God.

The confrontation was intense. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation that someone wasn’t going to walk away from this shootout. But Jesus knew what he was doing: Christ was about to breakout a man from a demonic prison; and it would not go well for the demons.

In this remote western town, Jesus ended up performing a most extraordinary miracle. It would take a miracle to free this demonized person from his satanic jailcell. The legion of demons, however, were no match for the singular Son of God. Christ had no problem using his authority to exorcise the demons from the victimized man.

The demons exited the man and entered an entire herd of pigs. The herd then proceeded to destroy themselves in a powerful scene of what the demonic is all about. Yet, rather than acknowledging a divine miracle, those who were tending the pigs went and told the people in the area of how this interloper came along and upset the status quo. Instead of seeing a delivered man, the pig herders could only see dead swine.

As a result of the pig herders report, the folks in nearby towns wanted nothing to do with Jesus. The people begged him to get out of town. Christ purged the region of a significant presence of bad guys, and all the townspeople could do was fear for what might happen.

But despite the townspeople’s and pig herders’ disturbing lack of faith, there was one man who became a committed disciple of Jesus on the spot. The demoniac, now turned new citizen of God’s kingdom, saw Christ for who he was, and immediately discerned to whom he belonged – not the demonic world but the kingdom of heaven.

Although the newly delivered man begged to remain with Jesus, the Lord had another plan for the new disciple. Christ sent him back to his home to proclaim what God had done for him. In doing so, the man would become a powerful witness to God’s power. And, important for the man, old broken familial and community relations could be renewed and restored. The healing would come full circle.

If we bear witness to the works of God, where we are, it will bear fruit – even if it is among folks who may be in opposition to it.

Not even a legion of demons could keep Christ from restoring a tortured person to himself, his family, and his community. And it all happened on the demons’ turf. Nothing can stop the kingdom of God from expanding it’s good reach over all that is evil.

The good news of Christianity is that Jesus has the power to bring life from death. Christ has the ability to put us in a position where we can reconnect with both the human community and the divine realm.

The satanic in this world is not nearly as powerful as God; and the demons are under Christ’s authority. In fact, there is no power on earth (or under the earth) that can overcome the strength of the almighty God. This can be a comforting thought for every Christian.

Anyone afraid of Jesus has not yet discerned that he is inherently good. Ultimate power needs to be seen in the light of ultimate good. Otherwise, a person will walk around much like the demoniac, oppressed in their soul.

Instead, deliverance from the evil which vexes us is possible. For nothing is impossible with God. Whenever and wherever the healed person becomes a healer to others, then we know that the kingdom of heaven is among us.

Hear our prayers, God of power and might. Through the ministry of your Son, free us from the grip of the tomb, so that we may desire you as the fullness of life, and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world in the strength of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Help Is In the Name of the Lord (Psalm 124)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side
    —let Israel now say—
if it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
    when our enemies attacked us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
    when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away;
    the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone
    the raging waters.

Blessed be the Lord,
    who has not given us
    as prey to their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
    from the snare of the hunters;
the snare is broken,
    and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth. (New Revised Standard Version)

Today’s Psalm reminds believers of God’s deliverance in the past, so that we will not forget it in the present. If it were not for God, we would be toast. If not for God, none of us would be here; we’d be swallowed up by injustice and death.

Left on our own, and to our own devices, we don’t stand a chance against the oppressive flood of sinful sewage. But with God, there is hope; with God there is deliverance.

The ancient Israelites – and all the Jewish people throughout history – know a great deal of what it feels like to be overwhelmed by their enemies. Antisemitism is nothing new. Unfortunately, it has been around as long as Jews have existed. If some groups had their way, Israel would be wiped off the map.

The psalmist reminds Israel, as well as all of God’s people, of what the Lord has done in the past. Exhibit A of divine deliverance is the Exodus event and passing through the Red Sea to safety. The mighty Egyptians were no match for the God of Israel.

Each year, ever since that seminal deliverance from Israel’s enemies, Jews celebrate Passover, remembering and rehearsing this event of deliverance from the hand of Pharaoh. As pilgrims made their way to Jerusalem for the great Passover feast, they would sing Psalm 124, along with the other Songs of Ascent, giving praise to God for being attentive to their plight of slavery and oppression.

It is more than appropriate to give thanks and bless the Lord for the divine work of deliverance from enemies. God’s people are freed. For the Christian, God in Christ has delivered us from sin, death, and hell; and has made us joint heirs with Jesus.

When this perishable body puts on imperishability and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:54-58, NRSV)

Recalling what God has done for us is a powerful part of the believer’s identity. The very Maker of heaven and earth, the Lord God almighty, is our help. It is God who prevails against those who seek to destroy and do harm. The Lord is the One who conquers enemies and makes things right.

The believer puts no trust in the power of weapons or in being the strongest. God is acknowledged as the true Deliverer from even the most formidable of foes, despite any power of the unjust.

In Christianity, Christ’s redemptive events of cross and resurrection has triumphed and won the victory over the powerful enemies of death, destruction, and the devil. Praising and singing to God is helpful and needed.

We all need help – not just sometimes but all the time. If we feel as if things are going pretty well for us, that only means we have just come out of a difficult time, or that we are about to undergo some enemy vitriol.

I wish we didn’t have to contend with selfish boneheads who only think of themselves all the time. But we do. And I wish we never needed to go through such hard times that grind us into the ground. Yet it happens.

However, we are not alone. We have a Champion, an Advocate, and One who has gone before us as the Pioneer of our salvation.

He has raised up a mighty savior for us
    in the house of his child David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
    that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. (Luke 1:69-71, NRSV)

Jesus did for us what we could do for ourselves. He willingly and deliberately let all evil exhaust itself on him, so that there is no enemy left to condemn us.

Enemies may still be around, but they are toothless. We may yet be like birds vulnerable to a trap, but the snare has been broken. All our enemies are powerless. We are free. Thanks be to God!

Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Amen.

Delivery and Deliverance (Isaiah 66:7-11)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment

Before she was in labor
    she gave birth;
before her pain came upon her
    she delivered a son.
Who has heard of such a thing?
    Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
    Shall a nation be delivered in one moment?
Yet as soon as Zion was in labor
    she delivered her children.
Shall I open the womb and not deliver?
    says the Lord;
shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb?
    says your God.

Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
    all you who love her;
rejoice with her in joy,
    all you who mourn over her—
that you may nurse and be satisfied
    from her consoling breast,
that you may drink deeply with delight
    from her glorious bosom. (New Revised Standard Version)

Conception. Happiness. Wondering. Uncomfortable. Preparation. Pain. More pain. Delivery. Exhaustion. Joy. Celebration. New life. Bringing children into this world is a process. And its hard work.

Feeding. Pooping. Sleeping. Exhaustion. More feeding. Lots more pooping. Thank God, more sleeping. Still exhausted. So, when does the mother ever get to eat, go to the bathroom by herself, and sleep? Maybe tomorrow, or maybe in another life….

Despite all of this, there are still words which keep mothers (and fathers) going: Satisfaction. Delight. Awe. Praise. Love. Hope. Faith. Yes, faith. Lots of faith. So much faith that it’s as if the parent puts all their weight on it, and leans into it, perhaps more out of sheer necessity than anything else.

The Christian season of Advent has been growing over the past weeks. It is now large and very ready for Christmas Day and the celebration of the Christmas season (the 12 days from December 25 to the Day of Epiphany on January 6).

But we aren’t quite there yet. There is still the anticipation of birth. The Christ child is coming.

It’s quite something to imagine that God would be so humble as to become humiliated. What a wonder it is, that there is such a thing as an incarnation, that Jesus entered this world as both a human baby and a divine king.

God came to this world for us, on our behalf, to redeem, renew, and restore lost humanity. That’s a lot of love. If you think about it, the mother’s incredible love had to come from somewhere.

Love is what sustains the world. So, love must be nurtured. The feelings of it are not always there within us.

Yet, if we will continually seek to maintain the godliness which is love inside of us, we can find ourselves being little incarnations of Jesus walking about this earth providing succor, without any withholding or hatred.

To love is to love. Without conditions. To love a friend but hate an enemy is to cancel out the love. It must be all love, or it isn’t love, at all.

The person, group, organization, institution, community, or church in a miserable and wretched state is in need of restoration. That is, they are in a great need of receiving love and giving love.

If they have responsibilities toward others, and have been neglectful, they must come to the breast of God. And those who did not receive their due justice and fair recompense must also come.

Advent is more than a season in the year to recognize. And Christ’s incarnation is much more than a doctrine to believe. Advent and incarnation are powerful realities which we must live into.

The good news of this season is that God intervenes effectively to do good for those who are faithful. It’s a newness as sudden and as wonderful as the birth of a baby. The Lord does away with barrenness and hopelessness, and brings new life.

It is this good news that brings out joy. Where once there was mourning and sadness, there is now satisfaction, comfort, and consolation. God is the One who brings it about.

Therefore, it is helpful to remember and recall the words of Jesus to his disciples:

Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (John 16:20-22, NRSV)

The joy and celebration of this first advent will lead to a second advent, the return of Christ. The peace and satisfaction we may enjoy now is only here in part. The fullness of peace will be ushered in at the end of time.

This is the sort of tension that we must continually maintain, holding together in both hands our sorrow and joy, disappointment and hope, hardship and love, at the same time, all the time, until that day when there is not only a delivery, but a deliverance from all evil.

Lord God, we adore you because you have come to us in the past.
You have spoken to us in the Law of Israel.
You have challenged us in the words of the prophets.
You have shown us in Jesus what you are really like.

Lord God, we adore you because you still come to us now.
You come to us through other people and their love and concern for us.
You come to us through people who need our help.
You come to us as we worship you with others.

Lord God, we adore you because you will come to us at the end.
You will be with us at the hour of death.
You will still reign supreme when all human institutions fail.
You will still be God when our history has run its course.

We welcome you, the God who comes.
Come to us now in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.