September 15, 202

We live in a constantly connected world. A world where no question goes unanswered and no information goes unshared. There are many benefits to this: we can connect with loved ones, we can share important news quickly and easily. We may be able to learn new things start new hobbies or even find a career. That said there is a danger that comes with instant access to the world through a screen. 

1. Not all of the information being shared it true.
2. Even some information that is true is not helpful.
3. We can perpetuate our own bad habits and ideas by focusing on these things and or allowing an algorithm to manipulate us into focusing on them.
4. The lack of face to face contact can make us more likely to say things that we wouldn’t say in person.
5. We perpetuate an unhealthy obsession with 24hr news where many things that don’t deserve attention get it just because there is nothing else going on.

I Thess 5:21 Test everything hold fast to what is good

I Cor 10:23 All things are lawful, ”but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.

Social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends, share encouraging stories or jokes, have some fun in a little debate or check in on that person you met that one time. 

It can also be a way to disseminate lies disguised as credible information. It can cause those who struggle with stress or anxiety to be bombarded with more worries and concerns than they can bear. It can cause frustration and even aggression.

Use social media to keep in touch and catch up. Share encouragement, check in on people who may need help, have a group devotional via Skype or Facebook. Make sure that you are checking the things you read with verifiable facts. Make sure you hold up religious meme’s to the standard of scripture. 

Make sure you are taking a break, getting enough exercise (that’s probably more than you usually get), eating healthy meals, spending time with family, working on home projects. It may surprise you to know that none of these things require an internet connection. 

God Bless

Kevin Cleary

 

September 8, 202

     Here is the event for which all of the various theories regarding the end times get their name. Premillennialists are so named because of their belief that Christ will return to earth before his thousand year reign or “millennium.” The key passage is Revelation 20:1-6 Christ is said to reign with some of the dead for 1000 years. To the premillennialist this will be Christ ruling in Jerusalem during a time of peace and prosperity, when everyone will be good and right and the world will be a beautiful place.

     We know from Jn 18:36 that Jesus never intended an earthly kingdom. But let’s focus a little on Revelation 20. First, Revelation is a figurative book (Rev 1:1). Further, the images used in these verses are clearly figurative. Can a pit literally have no bottom? 1000 is simply a number indicating a large but definite period of time. We will use the number this way today when we say “If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a thousand times.” Wayne Jackson points out that a number of key things are missing from Revelation 20 that we would expect to find his comments on these verses are especially helpful:

Significant Omissions

Nothing is said of: Christ’s second coming, the establishment of a kingdom, an earthly regime, a bodily reining, the throne of David of the Jews being regathered to Palestine. 

     It makes more sense to understand that in the context of Revelation we are seeing the reversal of the oppression and persecution that Christians were experiencing. Those martyred from chapter 6:9-11 are now reigning. 

     We know that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God Mrk 16:19; Rom 8:34; Heb 1:3; 1Pet 3:22. These verses and others would indicate that the reign of Christ is now and those who accept and respond to the gospel experience that reign in their lives.

     The question we must ask ourselves is given what we know about Jesus work, position and intersession are we willing to give him the rightful trust and submission that he has earned? 

     As he has told us “I stand at the door and knock if anyone should hear my voice and open the door then I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with me.” Jesus doesn’t barge in a take-over we must invite him. 

     My prayer is that we accept Jesus reign in our hearts and in our churches. 

~ Kevin Cleary

 

September 1, 202

     “I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you’ve actually left them” Andy Bernard. If you are old enough to remember the good old days, you might be a little older than me. If on the other hand you wonder what was good about no Tik-Toc and no door dash you might be a little younger than me. We are living in a world where many things have changed. You used to argue with your neighbours, now you can argue with people in different countries. People used to call to catch up. Now they just stalk each other online. Changes in the world have brought many challenges, they have also brought many opportunities. We all sometimes struggle to navigate change. We all know one thing for sure: the people who are older than us are idiots who messed up the world. Also, the people who are younger than us are idiots who are messing up the world. 

     You might think that this is a unique phenomenon facilitated by internet culture and social media. There was once a wise king in Israel, he achieved a great deal in service to God and his people. While he was far from perfect, Solomon could hardly be said to be a fool. However, as we look at the events of 2 Chronicles 10, following the death of Solomon, we find his son Rehoboam stepping into his father’s rather large boots. Rehoboam gathers all of Israel including the popular Jeroboam. Israel brought a message for the new king. We need some relief. Solomon’s requirements of the people were difficult. If you reduce taxes and service expectations, we will serve you. The people saw an opportunity to make their lives better under the new leadership especially during the period of transition. 

Rehoboam asked his father’s advisors (the old guard) for advice. They recommended that Rehoboam give the people what they had asked for. Perhaps this was not the answer Rehoboam was looking for, perhaps he was offended by the implication that he lacked the strength of his father? For these reasons and maybe others he didn’t accept the advice, instead asked his friends who he had grown up with. They were of a very different opinion. They said “Okay Boomer, me and my homies think that’s cap, I’m way more goated than the old guy.” (If you’re struggling to understand that sentence just ask a nine year old.) 

     Generational differences have been around as long as there have been generations. Rehoboam listened to his contemporaries and we all know the rest of the story. Israel under Jeroboam rebelled and the nation was split into Israel in the North and Judah in the south. Previously in 1 Chron. 12:32 we are told that when David was king he has “Men of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” Rehoboam had those men too, and frankly he should have read the situation much better than he did, but pride and self-enrichment blinded him. When it comes to generational conflict the fact is, there is much blame to spread around. The fact is life is difficult. God said that it would be, because we are living in a fallen world. Most people are doing their best to make their way in whatever circumstance they are in. Younger people will do well to heed the wisdom that comes with the experience of years. Older people will do well to remember that they need to teach and develop not just command and expect adherence. Remember that a harsh approach is likely to alienate. Listening to people’s needs and taking them seriously is important for both young and old especially young and old trying to serve together in congregations. 

~ Kevin Cleary

 

August 25, 202

The first recipients of Revelation had been fighting an uphill battle from the start. The second recorded sermon in Acts results in arrest and trial and from that point on it never stops. Steven, James, Paul, and countless others die for their faith. Tertullian was more than accurate when he said, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” To these faithful fighters Jesus offers hope. 

Hope for the oppressed: 

• Rev 2:25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my word until the end to him I will give authority over many nations 
• Rev 3:9 Behold I will make those of the Synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not but lie behold I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. 
• Jesus offers these suffering Christians assurance that they have made the right choice and that despite how things may look they will be better off in the end. How often have we seen this lesson and how often do we need to be reminded that while doing the right things will not get you much praise from the world it is well worth it in the long run.

Hope for the lonely:

• Rev 2:24-25 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. 
• Rev 3:4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 
• Even in these troubled churches there are faithful Christians who are doing their best and must feel sick to see their brethren and the congregation they love going down the garden path. These people Jesus encourages and says just hold on. 

Hope for the sinful, Jesus makes it abundantly plain that he will not tolerate sin in His Church but he also makes it clear that there is an alternative:

• Rev 2:5 Remember therefor from where you have fallen: repent and do the works you did at first. If not I will come and remove your lamp stand from its place unless you repent. 
• Rev 3:1-2 (the dead church) Wake up and strengthen what remains and is about to die for I have not found your works complete in the sight of God. Remember then what you received and heard. Keep it and repent. 
• Rev 3:18-20 (the lukewarm church) I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 
• In all of these cases the church is in trouble yes, but Jesus remains the Saviour and He pleads with them to repent and offers them hope just as He did to the previous groups but with a greater need.

~ Kevin Cleary

 

August 18, 202

The Book of Revelation starts with a very clear introduction. Jesus has a message for the Church. You can’t abandon balance; faithfulness and love must be embodied by the Church. 

We tend to be drawn toward what is important to us, but doing so can easily lead to emphasizing one thing while neglecting another. There must be balance. Faithfulness is not possible without Love and Love without Faithfulness is empty. Repeatedly we see Jesus admonish Churches for being only half what they need to be.

Faithfulness and Love, Revelation 2:2-4  “I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. The Ephesians seems to really want to be right, so much so that they made it all that matters. Being right technically is not the same as being righteous because that is a state of heart.”

Revelation 2:19-20 “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. While Ephesus cared about being right, Thyatira cared about being loving and serving and they did but then they tolerated false teaching. Part of Loving Jesus is obeying him and obeying him is not possible without the motivation that comes from love.”

Revelation 2:13 “I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. It’s good to resist compromise with the world and to stand up for what’s right even under outside pressure. Sometimes when Satan can’t get to you one way he will try another. This Church has stood up against the world but then allowed false teaching to take hold from within. Again we see that a Church can’t emphasis one area and neglect another.”

If we are to be faithful and effective we must be sure that we don’t sacrifice one aspect of our faith and justify ourselves by pointing to something we are doing right. 

~ Kevin Cleary