The Italian Memorandum

A package arrived

A package arrived about April containing a DVD of the Avanti Italia program.   Before passing it along, I screened it as part of my position at the Cape.  I became intrigued by the concept; especially since I had grown up in the Italian theology myself.  The exact chronology is vague now, but I do recall phoning Howard Bybee to ask pertinent questions about the program.  We were given an invitation to come to Searcy and interview with the Avanti Committee.  We stayed with the Bybees during the interview process.

Interview with the Avanti Committee

Our meeting was held Sunday evening after service in the Rock House.  Those present included the aged, Dr. Clifton Ganus Jr., Howard Bybee, Paul and Joli Love, and others.  Marla and I received approval following this meeting to proceed.   This was an anamoly in that the Avanti Italia program in Florence, Italy was designed mainly for more recent college graduates.  We had been doing ministry for some thirty years.  Nevertheless, we were given a green light.   We were now poised to say, “We’re going to Italy;” at least, theoretically.

“According to your faith be it done to you”

(Matt. 9:29, ESV; the KJV reads- “According to your faith be it unto you”)

Introduction: In the story of the healing of the two blind men of Matthew 9, we have Jesus’ pronouncement of the relatedness of faith to answered prayer (grace).

Applications …

1.         To be mindful of the miracle, is to _____________ from the miracle.

2.        Consider the ____________ of the pronouncement.

3.       When will we ____________ to ______________?

Conclusion:    “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Matthew 9:28 in 2009?

(1:32-33;  2:4; 34-35; 3:31; 4:43; 6:20; 7:28; 8:10; 9:2; 10:23-24; 11:2, 17; 12:31-32; 13:20; 14:15; 16:16; 17:20-21; 18:15-17; 19:12; 36-40; 22:14-16; 23:1-3; 35-43)

“…and of his kingdom there will be no end”

(Luke 1:33)

The word kingdom is meaningless to most people.  It may evoke certain ancient images of swords and jousting, but there will be no ultimate personal relevance.  In the face of this casual approach to kingdom, one is confronted with Kingdom of God in the Gospel of Luke.   What should one make of this startling kingdom which is anything but casual?

1.       The Kingdom of God provides a context whereby one may discuss and perceive God in history [bear in mind, your history!].

2.      The primary meaning of “kingdom” is royal power. It more often carries the force of dominion (see Dan. 4:31, where dominion is departed, but not domain); more reign than realm.  In Luke, the ideas associated with Kingdom are heightened (see the Luke references above).

3.       For God’s people (who seeing-see and hearing-understand, Lk. 8:10), it is not the past which determines the future, but the future which directs the present.  For the Christian, the Lord of history is not prominent, but preeminent (Col. 1:16-18).

-Robert M. Housby

Introduction: The “priesthood of all believers” is taught in the New Testament (1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6).  But, what does this mean?  Leviticus 8, shows the fundamental ideas associated with priesthood

[Note the six-fold program in Lev. 8:2].

1. Aaron and his sons

1. Garments

1. Anointing oil

1. Bull of the sin offering

1. Two rams

1. Basket of unleavened bread

Conclusion: The fundamentals of the priesthood are before us.  While it is true that all believers are priests, not all priests are true believers.  The difference, of course, is in one’s consecration.

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile,

go with him twain”

(Matthew 5:41, KJV)

“And if anyone forces you to go one mile,

go with him two miles”

(Matthew 5:41, ESV)

Going the Extra Mile has become a hallmark of the Christian faith.

Going the extra mile has several important features:

1.   It is a belief in the words and example of Jesus himself (see Mk. 15:20).

2.   It is taking one’s religious commitment beyond what is considered normative (compare Matt. 5:47,48).

3.  It is certainly an action at a cost to oneself (note the singular personal pronouns).

4.  It is seeing farther and living larger-”extra”

Are you going the extra mile?  Are you even going the required and reasonable mile? Jesus urged his people to be people of the extra mile.  May the Lord bless your journey!

-Robert M. Housby

“May the LORD fulfill all your petitions”

(Psalm 20:5)

Introduction:      The Lord’s providence should be a concern of every Christian .  Our functional title is - Finding Your Place in His Plan.

100 Level ____________________________

200 Level ____________________________

300 Level ____________________________

400 Level ____________________________

500 Level ____________________________

600 Level ____________________________

Conclusion:    Have you yet found your place in His plan? Sometimes there is a need to re-evaluate how you serve the Lord.  Need more direction?  Let’s talk.

(100-600 Levels)

“The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,

but the earth he has given to the children of man”

(Psalm 115:16)

On the 100 Level, providence involves-

1.    Definition

2.    Usage (Acts 24:2, from pronoias)

On the 200 Level, providence involves-

1.        A reference to God in the world (Eccl. 3:1-11)

a.   Hebrew world view believes in purpose on earth (3:1)

b.   And, transcendent purpose in heaven (3:11; Isa. 55:8-9)

2.        Christian world view unites God’s purpose in Christ (Eph. 1:10)

On the 300 Level, providence involves-

1.         A long and loud praise of God’s universal providence (Ps. 104)

2.         Psalm 104 begins and ends with a summons for the individual to participate in this providence (104:1,35).

On the 400 Level, providence involves-

1.         The comprehensive terminology of heaven (shamayim; ouranos)

2.         Our deepest reality is that we were meant for heaven-made for earth (2 Cor. 5:1-8)

On the 500 Level, providence involves-

1.         Kingdom of God in personal dailiness (Matt. 5:45; 6:25-34; 10:29-31)

2.         Kingdom of God in personal discernment of kingdom reality (Matt. 13)

On the 600 Level, providence involves-

1.         Living 100-600 level revitalization (Finding your place in His plan)

2.         Revelation 11:15!

-Robert M. Housby

“…Tertullus began…saying, Seeing that by thee [Roman

procurator, Felix] we enjoy great quietness, and that very

worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence…”

(emph. mine, RMH)

(Acts 24:2, KJV [the term providence, here, is pronoias; it is the only such reference in the Bible; and, here, in a secular sense. Of course,  the concept of providence is everywhere in the Scriptures] )

Providence is a reference to God in  the world (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11).  To have a Christian world-view is to believe in purpose on earth (Eccl. 3:1) and transcendent purpose in heaven (Eccl. 3:11; Isa. 55:8-9).   Christ Jesus merges these two concepts (Eph. 1:10); so far as is practical (Deut. 29:29).

Jesus, himself, lived with a strong sense of providence, and encouraged others to do the same (Matt. 5:45; 6:25-34; 10:29-31).  Jesus’ view of providence was undoubtedly influenced by his earthly instruction in the Bible.  This would have included Psalm 104.  This is a long and loud praise of universal providence.  It begins and ends with a summons for the individual to recognize and participate in the providence of God.  The recurring phrase which marks the beginning and the ending of Ps. 104 is “Bless the LORD, O my soul!” (Ps. 104:1,35).  Further resources of providence include: Ps. 33:21; 97:10; Prov. 16:33; 20:24; and Gen. 45:5.

The Kingdom of God is an excellent context for discussing Divine Providence.  Kingdom is about God in history (Lk. 10:11).  The perception of God in history will influence how one characteristically  looks outward on the universe.

Robert M. Housby

(A Study of the Kingdom in the Gospel of Luke)

E lu’ sive -  1.  tending to elude.  2. hard to grasp, attain or retain; baffling                Webster’s New Universal Dictionary, (unabridged, 589)

“What is impossible with men, is possible with God”

(Luke 18:27)

Introduction: Is the kingdom of God really all that elusive?  Luke’s Gospel affirms this elusive aspect of the Kingdom of God with at least 10 markers.

1.   ______________   ________________________

2.   ______________   ________________________

3.   ______________   ________________________

4.   ______________   ________________________

5.   ______________   ________________________

6.   ______________   ________________________

7.   ______________   ________________________

8.   ______________   ________________________

9.   ______________   ________________________

10.______________   ________________________

Conclusion: Professor Allen Bloom has astutely remarked, “the self has become the modern substitute for the soul” Quoted in David Brock, “A Philosopher Hurls Down a Stinging Moral Gauntlet,” Insight (May, 11, 1987), 12.

Helping Us to Live Resurrected Lives

[Adapted from our recent series, The Time of Trouble (with E. Ray Cox), April 22 - 26.]

Resurrection is a central gospel theme (1Cor. 15:1-4).  This resurrection centrality is shard along with the death of the Jesus.  Whereas Jesus’ death is about propitiation, by his blood, for sin (Rom. 3:25); the resurrection is in demonstration of power for extreme newness (Rom. 1:4; 6:4).

The following references show the unfolding importance of the resurrection in biblical sequence:

A.  John 11:25-26      Jesus’ “I am the resurrection” statement

B.  Acts 1:21-26          The qualifying of Matthias involves the resurrection

C.  Acts 2:22-32          Resurrection is a key-note on the Day of Pentecost

D.  Acts 3:12,25-26   The earliest gospel preaching included the resurrection

E.  Acts 4:1-2                Resurrection was annoying to the Sadducees

F.  Acts 17:18                Paul proclaimed the resurrection at intellectual Athens

G.  1 Cor. 15:12-20      A Christian world-view demands a resurrection

H.  Rev. 20:6                The resurrection is critical for being a blessing of God

I.   Rom. 6:3-5,17         To obey the gospel is to fully identify with Christ

J.   Col. 3:1                        Living the resurrected life involves a higher seeking

We are very aware of the state of Christianity in America.   Even the secular magazine, Newsweek (April/2009) reports – “The Decline and Fall of Christian America.”   We could wish otherwise, certainly.  But, in the midst of this paradigm shift, the church will be purged (cf. 1 Pet. 4:12-19).

Resurrection living must happen now.

-Robert M. Housby