How to Make God Angry

S - " … some Religious Experts had become followers of the Lord. They stood up and said, “Gentiles who have faith in the Lord must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses.” … Peter stood up and said … He [God] knows what is in everyone's heart. And he showed he had chosen the Gentiles, when he gave them the Holy Spirit, just as he had given his Spirit to us. God treated them in the same way that he treated us. They put their faith in him, and he made their hearts pure. Now why are you trying to make God angry by placing a heavy burden on these followers? This burden was too heavy for us or our ancestors. But we believe that we will be saved by the gift of undeserved grace from our Lord Jesus Christ, just as the Gentiles are." Acts 15 TS

O - Making God mad is never a good idea. Add anything, ANYTHING, to Jesus and God's displeasure is immediate. Don't add scriptural concepts, practices or well intended conclusions. Don't rely on or include traditions, principles or promises. Heaven insists on Jesus plus nothing; his person period! He is the good news and eternal life (John 6:28-29, 17:3). He spoke directly to this issue when he said: "You search the Scriptures, because you think you will find eternal life in them. The Scriptures tell about me, but you refuse to come to me for life." John 5 TS

A - Anything added to Jesus produces a huge burden on people and makes God mad. Tragically, what religion claims to be the inspiration for God's anger and what actually makes him angry is very different. Religion points to its own practice and the performance of its adherents as the way to God's pleasure and the avoidance of his wrath. Earth focuses on its own "best practices" and heaven is focused on a person. I welcome God's only method, point and way to adoption and eternal life. “For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.”(Galatians 5:4) Yes to Jesus and no to all additions.

P - God and Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus to all, not a plan, book or practice. He clarifies your person and purposes and I admit he alone is your gift, your way and your point. I have no intention of making you mad by adding anything to him. I accept your light load. You are amazing and I love you back.

Steve      

Warning or Confirmation?

S - "And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed … On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. … While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”" (Acts 21:4-5, 8, 10-14 ESV)

O - Twice in these accounts the brothers and sisters warn Paul to not go on to Jerusalem. Their counsel is not only a logistical/human concern but one borne out of insight (revelation) given by the Holy Spirit. In two different settings with two different groups this will occur and each time Paul will not be dissuaded. Why would he wave this off? Why not accept their direction? Consider the following statements, one from Paul and the other from Jesus.

·       "And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20: 22-24 ESV)

·         "But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”" (Acts 9:13-16 ESV)

There is a difference between a warning and a confirmation. Though the information was the same, it appears the disciples thought they were giving a warning but according to Jesus' dialogue with Paul it was a confirmation. Some say Paul made a mistake in going. Jesus said differently. After his appearance before the Sanhedrin the Scriptures record: "The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11 ESV)

A - It was a matter of life and death … and according to Jesus I/we must lose our lives to find them; give them away to keep them. Such actions are not to be inspired by a cause or a worldview … only by a person. He said "“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26 ESV) These are the terms for all who will follow - everything. I accept the terms unto the life that is really life!

P - Lord who is life,

I accept the only terms you offer … I give up everything and you give everything. I am not tough. I am not able. I am willing and you are the enabler. I say yes to you … completely yes, forever yes come what may.

I love you back,

Steve