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Illuminate Community Church Podcast - Pastor Jason Fritz - Scottsdale, AZ
Episodes
Monday May 02, 2022
Monday May 02, 2022
"Doubting does not prove that a man has no faith, but only that his faith is small. And even when our faith is small, the Lord is ready to help us." J.C. Ryle
Doubts. At times we all have them. It might surprise you to know that God wants to speak directly to our lack of faith. In fact, when we doubt He is ready and able to give us what we need. This was certainly true in the life of Abram.
"After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Genesis 15:1
God speaks to people in many different ways. In this moment he uses a vision. Note carefully the first thing God acknowledges is Abram’s anxiety, "Do not fear." This is the most often repeated command in the Bible and for good reason. Humans are fearful creatures. A few of us might be adventurous thrill-seekers willing to risk our lives for the adrenaline rush but let’s be honest; there are fears common to us all. The fear of being unloved, failure and rejection to name a few. Can you relate? Fear is a very powerful motivator. There are healthy God-given fears such as when you are in a situation where you or someone you love might be harmed. This fear should be used for self-preservation. That’s not what is being spoken of by God. This is fear that causes you to doubt Him. This is fear that undermines your faith in what God says.
Anytime we are afraid of taking God at His word, we are acting irrational.
God speaks directly to what Abram is experiencing in his life by saying, “I am your shield.” This is exactly what Abram needed. Last week we saw Abram defeating a much larger army made up of a partnership of four kings. Abram needed a shield because there could be retribution at any time. God also tells him, “I will reward you.” He needed reward because he had denied himself great wealth offered from the king of Sodom. Abram did what he believed was right and that came at personal cost. Therefore, God lets Abram know He saw and He will provide and protect. Don’t for a moment think God doesn’t know what’s happening with you and your fears. He wants to speak to them.
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. Genesis 13:1-2
This is the first time wealth is mentioned in the Bible. The Bible doesn’t view wealth as inherently good or evil, rather it is neutral. What makes it good or bad is the way it is used and its effects upon you and others. Contrary to popular belief, money is not "the root of all evil.” However, "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,” (1 Timothy 6:10). This proves to be true in Lot’s life.
When he and Abram part ways, Lot will choose for himself and his livestock the prime parts of the land. Abram gets the leftovers but he trusts that God will provide what he needs. Lot’s selfish decision is the best possible way to grow his net worth…so he thinks. However, Lot’s value system proves disastrous. It puts him in close proximity with those who will eventually take him as a prisoner of war. This separation proves to be a good thing for Abram, but for Lot it was bad.
There are healthy separations in life.
Uncle Abram steps in to clean up the mess. (After graciously deferring to Lot over the land deal.) He leads a team of soldiers to free Lot and his family. Sometimes you have to bring a righteous fight to bring peace. The Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer said, “For a Christian to be a pacifist in a fallen and broken world means that we would desert the people who need our help the most.” Abram and his men get the job done.
We should value what God values which are things not of this world. These are things of eternal consequence. After a few bad decisions, we see Abram trusting God more and more. We see his faith growing. The example is for us.
Monday Apr 18, 2022
Monday Apr 18, 2022
He is Risen!!!
The single most important event in human history is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and here’s a few reasons why…
1. Jesus’ resurrection means that all who believe in him will also be resurrected to eternal life.
2. It proves Jesus is to be trusted and believed.
3. It demonstrates God’s love in rescuing us from sin's penalty of death.
4. The empty tomb gives us hope!
Humans need to have hopes and dreams and when they are taken from us we are reduced to nothing. Viktor Frankl was a holocaust survivor and psychologist. As a result of his experiences he wrote a fascinating and insightful book called, “Man’s Search For Meaning.” He was captured by Nazis and transported to different camps. Of his family, only he and his sister survived after two and a half years. In the book, Viktor tells his story and what he learned from it. He focused on how people dealt with the horror of being in the camp. Concentration camps mean that people are forced into concentrated losses. Most people experience loss over the course of time, but in the camp you lose everything immediately - your job, home, health, family. Some believed they would never leave and they became like zombies. They gave up until their bodies died. Others were certain they would be freed in six months or less. But with each passing month they lost hope. So who were those who survived over the years? The common denominator of survivors were those who had kept hope. They were able to find a way to see current events as having a greater end or purpose.
God’s purpose and plan for the world turned out to be extraordinary. The future of the universe and humanity is now redefined. The resurrection is not just a historical event. It gives you present hope for today and eternal hope for the future. This changes your whole outlook on life. You are a new kind of human. You have a new perspective. You see the world in a different way and you are changed. The resurrection reminds us that there is more to come. There is a city that awaits us and it is indescribably beautiful and without sin and best of all in the presence of God who supplies its’ light.
The world needs this hope doesn't it? We wake up and we see division, war and violence and trauma. Jesus came to heal all of that but it requires belief on our part. It’s easy to believe in someone who demonstrated his love to the extreme. So let’s celebrate together and remember: hopelessness went out with the resurrection!
Saturday Apr 16, 2022
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Monday Apr 11, 2022
My favorite character in the movie Shrek is Donkey. You can’t help but love and cheer for him. He’s affable, likable, self-reflective and the portrait of humility. You may know that during times of war ancient kings rode horses but during times of peace they rode donkeys. Jesus is communicating something with his choice of transportation. This is not a messiah warrior mounted on a massive white stallion, but rather a humble messiah slowly approaching on something common. This is the picture of a humble sin-bearer. Needless to say, this figure was not dominant with the Jews of Jesus’ day. They were looking for a political champion who would free them from Roman rule. Certainly, the religious leaders thought this was all a big joke. It was blasphemy to have a supposed Jewish king suggesting peace. They wanted to kill him for it.
It’s been said that sin comes about when the servant puts himself or herself in the place of the king. Salvation comes when the king puts himself in the place of a servant. What kind of a king does that? One that thoughtfully chooses his ride. Christianity is unique because it promotes a salvation through humility.
Not everyone in the crowd understood Jesus. Many of the people waving palm branches embraced him for the wrong reasons. They were thinking of the temporal benefits he would provide. They thought he would usher in an age of peace and prosperity. Even his own disciples wanted this. They wanted a political savior and as a result, their faith was shaken when he was crucified. Only afterward did they become emboldened when they experienced his resurrection.
The application here is this – if you follow Jesus only for what he can give you in terms of financial prosperity, good health and other temporal benefits then your faith will be shaken and perhaps even destroyed. What happens when trials hit you? What happens when you get sick or when you suffer financial loss? If Jesus exists only for your earthly happiness then you are in trouble. Jesus could have very easily put an end to Rome’s rule and replaced it with Jewish freedom. He had that kind of power. But that was not going to give people freedom from their sins.
So why do you follow Jesus? Some say, “I am following Jesus because I want to be a better person.” Ok, that’s fine but Jesus didn’t come to make you a better person. Others say, “I follow Jesus because I want Him to give me a Godly marriage.” That’s a legitimate request that he can supply but that’s not why he came to the earth. Many have said, “I follow Jesus because I have deep emotional hurts from my past, and I want Him to heal me.” Again, he can do that, but that is not his primary purpose in your life.
The reason we follow Jesus is because of who He is: God’s Anointed One, the rightful King over every heart and life. He died for your sins, arose from the grave, and is coming back in power and glory to reign over all. Until then, whether you struggle with tribulation, distress, persecution, poverty, health issues, or death itself, you can overwhelmingly conquer if your faith is in Him as your Lord and Savior.
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Abram sells out his wife…
Have you ever been confronted with a threat that causes you to go into preservation mode? Abram has entered Egypt but he has a unique challenge. He realizes that the beauty of his wife will appeal to the Egyptians and they will kill him to get her. He starts the conversation with his bride something like this…”You know Sarai, you are stunning. You are more beautiful than all these Egyptian women.” Good words so far. She is liking this. He continues, “You are the most beautiful woman in the entire country…and that’s gonna be a problem for me…so I have a plan that involves telling a half truth and you becoming Pharaoh's wife.” Things just got awkward between them.
So the plan is to tell Pharaoh that Sarai is his sister which is kind of true because in chapter 20 we learn they have the same father but not the same mother. So that’s strange but the DNA lines may have been more pure at this early date. Later God will give marriage restrictions but for now they hide the wife part and focus on the sister part. (Now I don’t know if ancient Egyptian men had a thing for older women because Sarai is 65 years old. It’s been said that Semitic women don’t fade early.)
Abram is trying to protect himself and in doing so he puts his wife in a very vulnerable situation. When we sin, we don’t sin alone. It always effects those around us. We saw this with Adam when the entire race was infected by his disobedience. Every account of sin in the Bible includes with it the damage done to others. As a result of this lie Abram becomes rich. Pharaoh gives him a large dowery and takes Sarai for himself. For awhile Abram must have thought, “My plan worked better than expected. I’m being blessed, look at all this stuff!” Material blessing does not mean you are in God’s will. Isn’t it easy to find reasons to do something wrong and afterward find justification in every direction?
Ideally Abram would have believed God’s promises and said, “God promised me children, Sarai is my wife and though she is barren God will somehow keep his promise and we will be kept safe.” Abram has forgotten God in all this. No communication with Him through prayer or worship. God understood the special place Abram and Sarai would have in his redemptive plan and no king or ruler was going to stop it. If Pharaoh keeps Sarai then how is she going to have a child with Abram? God intervenes to keep his word. God is capable of moving heaven and earth to fullfill his promises.
Failure is never fatal with God.
Abram will get back on track in the next chapter. I have failed God in my testimony but God keeps loving me. Sometimes it’s like three steps forward and two steps back. Over time, Abram will come to see the faithfulness of God in his life even as he doubts. Be encouraged and take the test and make it your test-imony of faith in God!
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
A couple of weeks ago I talked about the meaning of the word genesis. As you can see, it contains the word gene. Essentially these mean the same thing. So there’s no surprise when the first three verses of chapter 12 give us a major piece of DNA code unlocking the entire Bible.
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3
God gives Abram his calling in life. He also makes a promise to Abram and forms it into a covenant between the two of them. It actually turns out to be a one-sided covenant because God uses himself as collateral.
Notice that God blesses Abram and then tells him that he will be a blessing to others. The call of God on one’s life means you will influence others because it gives your life mission. You are changed so others can be changed by you. You ask, “How can I be a blessing?” God says the same thing to you as he said to Abram, "Go forth!" Get out of your security and comfort zones.
The place where you feel most uncomfortable is the place where you will feel most useful. You have people in your life who need you to tell them about Jesus and you are afraid. You don’t want to be criticized, or made to look bad, so therefore you are not a blessing to them. You’ve been asked to participate in a community group but you think that talking to others about your life just isn’t your thing. You won’t receive the blessing of being known and you won’t be a blessing if you continue to play it safe. We have many opportunities to serve inside and outside our walls. But that takes time and effort. To the degree that you are willing to get uncomfortable, it is to that degree you will experience the blessings of being a Godly influence.
Paul talks about Abraham (Abram) often when explaining what it means to be a Christian. Greek and Romans were coming to Christ, but the very first Christians were Jews and they thought it best if the Greeks and Romans became Jewish Christians. Paul tells them they have it wrong. There are no Greek Christians or Roman Christians or Jewish Christians. There are Christians who are Jewish, there are Christians who are Greek, there are Christians who are Romans. God is the God of all races and cultures. This was a revolutionary idea in its day.
So being a Christian actually means that all identities are subjected to your identity in Christ. This includes our gender, our sexuality and our birth places. We cannot be Americans first and then Christians, or white or black or brown first, and then Christian. The call of God says you can be a blessing to all people, when you are a Christian first. Christians don’t abandon their cultures, they gain an even stronger identity in Christ. This identity is our true calling. We are blessed to be a blessing!
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
“Science and technology have replaced natural selection in the process of evolution. Thereby bringing the greatest revolution in the history of humanity. History began when humans invented gods and history will end when humans become gods.” - Dr. Yuval Noah Harari
Transhumanism is a socio-political movement amongst intellectuals who believe that the next great leap in the advancement of humanity will come through technology. It has become the religion of Silicon Valley. The goal is to become post-human wherein technology driven by artificial intelligence frees us from our fundamental human limitations. No need for education or cultural refinement any longer. Instead the powerful algorithms of AI will educate us and we will be made happier and smarter than imaginable. Sounds too crazy to be true until you realize that the leading voices in technology are in fact Transhumanist practitioners.
What could go wrong?
There’s nothing new under the sun.
The ancient people of earth attempted to reach God for themselves by building a tower in the city of Babel whose head would reach the heavens. From there, they would attain God-like status and build a name for themselves…apart from God.
Similarly, some of the loudest influencers today talk about unity, harmony, and achieving paradise or utopia by human invention, science, technology, or even systems of government. The Tower of Babel gives the outcome. We can see how these plans have not nor will they work in the future apart from God. Transhumanism is a revival of the same ideas that inspired the architects of Babel. It's the same story but in a different time. Man has always wanted to be like God. Remember, this was the original temptation from Satan in the garden. “You shall be like God…"
Humans are inherently broken and sinful as a result of the Fall. The effects of sin cannot be overcome by human innovation or effort, only the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Once again, Genesis speaks loudly to our time.
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Last week we saw God's man Noah step off the boat with his family. This post flood world was different in many ways. The heart of man however would remain the same. Therefore, in God’s goodness he brought forth a series of commands that were meant to restrain what comes natural to us all; including revenge.
When I was a student at ASU, one of my professors read these verses from Leviticus 24:19-21. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. In an effort to show how ridiculous this is, the teacher quoted Gandhi who said, “If everyone practices an eye for an eye then the whole world will be blind.” Sounds good, right? Like maybe Gandhi has a better understanding of morality than God.
Here’s what Gandhi and my professor missed... Back in the day, without rules and laws, the world operated from the standpoint of revenge. For example, a few chapters earlier we read about one of Cain’s descendants, a man named Lamech. He brags about how a young man slapped him and in return Lamech killed him. So God’s command exists to restrain man's desire for taking things too far. “You bust out my tooth, I’ll kill you!” No, that’s not how this is going to go. The consequence will be in proportion to the offense. Additionally, the New Testament adds this in Romans 13:1-5.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
Human authority is established by God. This includes law enforcement. Another way of saying it is that the police officer is ordained by God. Does this mean every officer is noble? Of course not. Neither is every politician, plumber or pastor…or at times perhaps you. Additionally, all human authority should be held accountable. However, to remove what is ordained by God is a big mistake. As Jordan Peterson says, “Be careful what you deconstruct when you have nothing to take its place.”
God is doing something else with these early commands to Noah. He is establishing rules that when followed, lead to a well ordered and healthy society. Take the Ten Commandments for example. Don’t carelessly take another person’s life. That’s good for society. Don’t pursue your neighbor's wife. Another great practice for maintaining healthy relationships around the neighborhood. Don’t take what belongs to your neighbor. That’s his or her property and not yours. That seems reasonable. Pre-flood mankind was a theater of violence therefore proving the need for humane laws. In God’s goodness he begins to give them to Noah as soon as he steps off the boat. Because man is made in the image of God, his life is inherently precious and cannot be taken without giving account to God.
Noah was the first to see the majesty of the rainbow. The rainbow is God’s way of reminding himself that he will never flood the earth again. For us, it is a beautiful reminder of God’s promises and that ALL of his words are true and his commands are right.
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Last week we were reminded that the flood is not primarily about Noah, a big boat, deep water or even judgment. The narrative is about what it takes to be saved. When God gave Noah the ark’s blueprints he specifically said to place a door on the side. This door would be the means through which salvation came. Can you hear the sound of that massive wooden structure closing, just as the final animals entered? Noah and his sons carefully covered the seams with pitch. When and where would that door be opened and to what kind of world? No indication that God spoke to Noah on this journey which lasted for over a year until finally God said, "Go out from the ark…". Go through that door! Until that day, Noah had to wait in faith. If Noah could wait upon the Lord, we who live under fuller revelation can as well.
Doors in the Bible are an interesting study. There was one door on the ark through which 8 people were rescued. Under Egyptian rule only those whose doors had blood over the post would be spared from death. Solomon’s temple had two doors through which the very presence of God was accessed by only one person, the high priest. These doors would provide the passage by which people would be saved. So it makes perfect sense for Jesus to declare of himself:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep." John 10:7
This world offers you many doors to choose from but only one leads to eternal life!