Without Walls

It doesn’t matter if we’re on the team that’s responsible for delivering the message or if we are receiving what someone else has prepared; both sides can be found worrying about the color of rooms, the feel of seats, the lighting, and effects when we attend church.

‘How can we create or have a new experience?”

Yet when I read the Bible, His Gospel is seldom seen in a building. HE parted seas, healed the sick, and bound the broken- and most often did so using only what was around; a staff, mud, 5 loaves and so on… Only asking us to believe.

In fact, in my experience, there is NO ‘experience’ that compares with that of the Holy Spirit. Why on earth would we ever want to distract from him?

How might the sinner within us be changed, if we could allow ourselves to simply sit before HIS FULL presence, without our walls?

Photo credit: @srochellephoto

When You're Not Connecting With Your Bible

A friend recently shared a testimony and a struggle she’d been having reading scripture and feeling disconnected when reading the Word. She felt guilty because she was supposed to be a woman of faith and yet she felt completely lost in her study time. It was a very discouraging experience for her.

Her testimony was that for Lent she was going to get up earlier so that she could spend more time in the Word. She tried some different translations and a version that she usually didn’t care for ended up being the solution.

She posted this on Facebook and others that were reading her post were encouraged by knowing that they weren’t alone. They too were struggling and shared the same disappointment.

This happens to all of us from time to time. Especially when you’re just starting out. Her experience reminded me of this piece of scripture, and I’d like to share it with you. I’d also like to share some other things that have helped me when I feel disconnected in my own time reading the Bible.

I’m going to go through this passage in its entirety first, then go through it again line by line and share some things that stand out.

This section has a really flashy title too called ‘Philip and the Ethiopian’ Acts 8:26 – 40

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 

²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian^[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 

²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 

²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

³² This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, 
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,     so he did not open his mouth. 
³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.”^[b]

³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 

³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 

³⁶ As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 

^{37 IS A MISSING VERSE -} [^[a]And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

 ^[c]38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 

³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 

⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Now verse by verse so that I can pick out the things I’d like to show you.

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Philip is traveling alone

²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian^[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, So you have Philip the prophet or interpreter, crossing paths with the Eunuch who has considerable rank. –AND he’s on his way home from church!  

²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. So you have the Eunuch making good use of his quiet time. Both of them are traveling solo and well, sometimes life, even the faith-filled one, feels like a lonely road, now doesn’t it?

²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”  Shouldn’t we all be that sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not tied down with all our plans to be too busy. I mean really, if you’re on your way somewhere and you get a tug to check something out or talk to someone, will you be inclined to do it? Or do you have too much to do?” Here it looks like Philip just has to be in ear shot.

³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. Maybe Philip just needed to be close enough to hear what was happening, because once he did, he’d jump right in. haha. But I like that Philip is the one giving some room to the struggle. Initiating the talk. “Do you understand what you are reading?”

³¹ The Eunuch replies “How can I,” “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. I can't tell you how relieved I was to read that the first time. Hallelujah, even in the Bible they weren’t able to understand it! 😉-- we're not alone!! But after the cat’s out of the bag, the Eunuch asks Philip to come talk. They have fellowship, discussion. They end up reading on in the Bible, and it whets the appetite for more.

³²  Verse 32 to reads This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: (Remember it was from Isaiah)

Now in your Bible, most of you should have a column that lists other verses off to the side. This is to cross reference sections where similar verses or passages appear that have more information about what you’re reading.  So, if your Bible has this, look at Acts Chapter 8:32-33 and off to the side you should see Isaiah 53:7-8 listed. If you go there, you should see a similar verse. Sometimes the other references will have different content, but it may help you with what you’re reading.

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, We are going through the motions, be it church, reading, etc.  Not feeling connected yet thinking that simply because we’re doing it, it’s enough.
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, (too still)
    so he did not open his mouth. There are so many ways this verse gets me when I read it, but how many of us are struggling, but we just don’t say a word.
³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.”^[b] Pointing back to Jesus. –The gospel!

³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”  - I have to wonder if the Eunuch would have asked his question here if Philip didn’t already get him talking about a challenge earlier on.  –But Philip set the stage by giving him a safe environment, already discussing challenges.

³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.  We’ll talk more about commentary in a minute, but my commentary on this verse in my Bible says that when we share the Gospel with others, we should start with where the other person’s concerns are focused. We see Philip doing just that. Picking up where the Eunuch is reading. But also, Philip is talking to him about the Gospel. How can we work that into our conversations? After all, it’s the Gospel that gets people fired up. It’s what saves. It’s what heals.

³⁶ As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”  - Seriously – let’s talk about hungry. I’m a little on the goofy side but when I see this, I just envision him walking by a mud puddle. “Quick, let’s get baptized, right here!” Then flopping down in the road. It may have even looked like that. Haha. Something tells me it was more graceful. ;)

But have you ever been so hungry that you couldn’t wait? You had to eat something, no matter what it was, right then?

--So hungry that you’ll get up earlier to read more, so hungry that you’ll take the time to try a few translations if you need to. So fired up that you have to share your testimony right then! It just can’t wait. –If you haven’t felt that. I want you to consider if you’re like the lamb--  too quiet. Too still.  

–This guy didn’t talk about getting baptized until he talked about his struggle and got some Jesus in it. The same with my friend and her testimony. –The same with me.

³⁷ IS A MISSING VERSE –

[^[a]And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] This is important because I am putting a lot of emphasis on being hungry here. According to scripture, all you need to be saved is to believe in him as your Lord. Then just like that you’re forgiven and accepted.

I am adding the hunger part because there is so much more to the personal relationship that you can have with Jesus. –On earth, as it is in heaven.

 ^[c]38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. –But isn’t it getting a good Word, the work of the Holy Spirit? It’s what ignites that hunger and makes us accept the call. –or get baptized, even if it is in the middle of the road?

³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again but went on his way rejoicing. Wait- what, he disappeared just like that?  Who knows if he vanished or if the Holy Spirit just led Philip to another location and they got to say bye. Scripture doesn’t tell us that. But I know that it’s our human nature to want to hold on to things. If this meal is good, we’ll make it again. If we like this thing, we want to own it. If we meet someone we like, we want to be friends forever. Especially if there is some significance. But as soon as what was needed was done, they were separated. Both back on their way to their journey.

– Maybe you can Meditate on that today and consider some other reasons why-- or perhaps some things or people you’re trying to hold on to.

This verse says the Eunuch walked away rejoicing. Yet how many times, would you and I be like “I can’t believe he just left me in the middle of the road like that.”

Then months or years later, we’d still be like: “He doesn’t call me. He never writes…” 

How does that minister to you?

⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. –At the end of the day we all have a job to do, and we have somewhere to be.

That concludes the part of the passage, but you and I have somewhere to be too. I can’t guess all of the struggles that you might have with scripture, but I can tell you that I have my own share of them. Here are some things that have helped me. –Please feel free to comment on the things that help you.

-       Just like my friend, trying other translations. It’s an honorable thing to want to stick to the King James and understand it. –But if it doesn’t make any sense to you, it’s not going to make you want to read it. 

o   NIV or NASB are fairly easy translations to understand.

o   LIFEWAY – You can make an afternoon to go sit on the floor and open any Bible there to compare translations and read the same chapter in each.

o   Browse online at Bible Gateway, Bible Hub or Bible Study Tools.

o   YouVersion Bible for your phone. Each of those will allow you to read all of the translations.

Other tools are:

-       Commentary, this is the history behind passages. It explains the times, significance, things you might not know ‘behind the scenes.' The sites that I just mentioned have commentary available on the sites for free. Or while you are searching for a new Bible, you can look for a Bible that includes it. Like the Life Application Bible, which is what I use. You can still pick from one of the main translations. The only caveat there is that in order to include extra words, the font is much smaller. You may have to buy a much larger font, which can make the right book pretty heavy.

-       Concordance – This is like an index of words, listing all of the verses where each word is included.

-       Dictionaries also help. You can look up the definition, origin, root words in Greek and Hebrew.

-       But my favorite tool is what we see here fellowship. Philip sat down and explained it to him. You and I all see different parts. We’re interested in different things, and so we’ll study different pieces. Some really great conversations happen around questions from the text in the Bible and our own personal challenges. In fact, I too benefited greatly from a study group. It is where I discovered the Bible that I just mentioned and it transformed the way that I read it. If you can’t attend the small group at your church, find out where your friends go and attend another church’s studies if you need to. –Or lead one during your lunch break, at home or in your personal time.

-       Other things that help too are:

-       Setting aside enough time (whether that's earlier or later or somewhere mid-day) so that you can try another translation if you need to, look something else up, etc.

-       Removing distractions

-       Getting a notebook or a word document and writing line by line. Take each line of the Chapter you're reading, write one verse, then look into it with the tools that I mentioned above. You can also rewrite it into your own words. Then do the next. (I got that from the SEED study by Priscilla Shirer-- HUGE help!)

     When a whole chapter doesn't really stand out, look for one thing that strikes you, like a weird phrase or a repetitive word and start there.  (Here's an online Word counter. copy/paste text.) Know that there’s a difference in reading a passage to check it off versus reading to know the details.

-       Ask in Prayer – Ephesians 3:20 says Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ask God to give you a love for his Word, a love for prayer, a love for others.

I hope that some of these tips help you. I’d love to hear the things that have helped you because I too struggle in this area from time to time.  Just like we see in this chapter- We don't know the precise location of either man on their journey, just the same, where ever we are in ours and no matter our rank, our how much faith we have, we all need a friend and a little help on the way!

Finally, I’d like to end with a challenge for you- Go on a treasure hunt!

I mentioned a missing verse earlier from 8:37. There are actually more of them in the Bible. I also talked about the reference verse off to the side in the column of your Bible.  Having something specific to look up is another way to get “into, interested” in the Bible. So, I challenge you this week, to go through and find out about the missing verses, then mark every one of them in your Bible. Or if you’re already reading something else, when you go through it, check out those reference verses on the side. Read what they have to say.

What every you do or where ever you start, I pray that it whets your appetite and ignites a new hunger for the Word.

Not Consumed

For the Lord, your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. – Deuteronomy 4:24

By definition, the word 'consume' means to 'use up.' While this word is most often heard when talking about eating a meal, consuming groceries or logs that are ‘used up’ in a fire- Sometimes, we ourselves can feel as though we are used up- overtaken and consumed. –Along with all of our time and resources that we have available.

This can be a result of internal emotions, like depression, exhaustion, shame, insecurity. –You know the stories that we tell ourselves and things that we rehash. But it can also be caused by a job, an issue, or a relationship.

In fact, even things we love, like hobbies, church, or other Godly activities can drain us, if we get them out of order or allow them to have more power over us than God.

This can be tricky because good things, important things, can get out of whack. For example:

God should come before everything. Many of us go to church and even help run it in order to partake in the lessons and fellowship that strengthens our faith.

Relationships are important. Otherwise a good “love walk” wouldn’t be written in the commandments.

Work is important too. I mean, you do need an income in order to consume other basic necessities, right?

So where do you draw the line? How do you know when things have crossed over? Well consider these next few items and think of your current situation. Could any of them be said about you?

*You're up at night, full of anxiety, fear, stress or worry?

*You cannot rest and your health is suffering because this thing keeps you ‘on.'

*You don’t have time for reading your Bible, going for a walk or enjoying something little or new is just a luxury.

*You don’t even offer to help others because your time is tied up or you’re too afraid that your contribution wouldn’t be enough.

*Perhaps normal ‘interruptions’ from your family frustrate you because you are trying to work on or look at this thing.

*You can’t even begin to plan ahead or even think of anything else because [it] always has ‘one more thing’ that needs to be taken care of first…

*What about being a martyr? Are you the only one that can do something when it comes to [it]?

*Or survival mode. You are literally just trying to get through each day.
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Boy, those are some hard statements aren’t they?  - I can safely list each of these because I have been in every single one of them. –And learning it once or discovering this about yourself in an area doesn’t inoculate you from getting stuck there again somewhere else.

So, if any part of this has picked a scab for you, I pray that you hang in there and hear my heart. –Because I have to tell you this is not the path of walking in victory.

Exodus 20:3 is part of the 10 commandments that reads ‘that you shall have no other Gods before me.’

So, if everything in your life has to bow to this thing before anything else can be taken care of, then you might have an idol or a stronghold on your hands. If we’re 'consumed' and all used up by something other than God, His purpose, His plans, or His love for others. -That's not just a problem, it’s a sin.
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The funny thing is, when it's God consuming us, we are inspired and strengthened. Isaiah 40:31 says "but those who hope in the LORD will RENEW their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and NOT grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Even Psalm 40 is a passage called “God Sustains His Servant’. I encourage you to read it.

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I can’t help but find the timing for this message to be perfect. This week, on March 1^st, marks the first day of the Lenten season. Lent represents the 40 days between Jesus’s baptism and then going into Galilea. He was in the desert, fasting and prayerfully seeking God, but he was also tempted by the devil.

Many believers of various denominations will choose to fast from something themselves, each day during this time. As an effort to draw closer to the Lord and remember His sacrifice for us.

You can read more about Lent on the Upperroom but let's look at Matthew 4 together.

¹Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a] by the devil.² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[b]”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

    and they will lift you up in their hands,

    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’^[c]”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’^[d]”

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[e]”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. 

Here are some of the things that stand out to me from that passage.

·       *Fasting doesn’t keep you from getting tempted (v2)

·       *The devil looks for those who are tired and weary. (v2)

·       *The devil uses scripture (v6)

·       *Each time that Jesus was tempted, He made it a point to recall the word of God too.  –And he was part God. (v4,7,10)

·       *Angels came to assist when he resisted. (v11)

Like Jesus, we have a holy spirit who is with us.

Psalm 34:7 says that The Angel of the Lord also encamps around us when we fear him.

Think about your own temptations for a moment. When temptation comes our way be it chocolate, cake, a cigarette, spending five dollars, DOESN’T doing it one more time, only lead to wanting to do it again just one more time? How is that any different from a job or a relationship or this thing you feel compelled to do or can’t pull away from?

Our verse today in Deuteronomy 4 reads “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” He wants to be the only thing that consumes us. In doing so, he refines the very offerings that we have to give everything else.

So how do we uncross those lines? Well, I believe that you fast from those things. But the way that we do that will look different to each of us. So, I encourage you to try this lenten season, maybe for the first time. Ask the Lord to reveal the area of your life that has more of you than he does. Maybe you already know what it is. Then ask him to help you give a little bit of it up every day for the next 40 days. It’s okay if that looks different every single day of that challenge. But seek a way to honor him, in replacement of it. Which can be in the form of prayer, it can be loving your family, it can be choosing a healthier option.

*You can prepare to be tempted through this season, like Jesus.

*You need scripture to meditate on, so go ahead and pick some verses out.

*Make some boundaries. Preferably with your spouse, a mentor, a group or friend, someone that can pray with you and/or keep you accountable.

Then have a date to check in and talk it out. Then do it again!

I’m going to end with a quote that I heard from Pastor Fred City Life, and it’s a good one so pay attention:

You will never have dominion over any appetite of your body until you give it over and make fasting a regular part of your diet.

I’d like to tweak that to say that you nor God will never have dominion over your life, as long as we let other things keep draining/claiming the power. 

Friend, if you’re feeling consumed, maybe it’s time to reprioritize and let the ‘thing’ go. If you can't quit it, maybe you should change the way you've been feeding it.

If any part of this message has been offensive, I hear you. I would encourage you to pray that if you didn’t feel like the message applied, but you were offended, ask God what he wants YOU to know instead. Let me assure you that God uses those deep things to take us higher. –Not to lead us into condemnation or to convert into anger.

I pray that this message ignites not only a new passion but a new area of faith for you that blows your mind. I would love to hear about your challenges and how you see the Lord working in them. Know that I am praying with you all the way to victory.

Until next time- Thanks for tuning in!