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The Sin Behind Excessiveness

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, exercise and fitness, faith, health, investment, Jesus, prayer, sanctification, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »

And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 20:3 King James Version

King James vs. New King James

I need to digress a bit before we start. I typically study from both the King James and the New King James versions of the Bible simultaneously. I do this because on occasion the two texts disagree on the translations of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. While I have yet to find an instance where one contradicts the other on critical doctrine, reading them together does serve to gain an improved comprehension of God’s message. I raise the issue now because today’s versions clash ever-so-slightly.

You have the KJV above. In it where it is recorded that King David ‘cut’ the enemy, the NKJV cites that he ‘put them to work.’ I’m not going to be (overly) dogmatic about it, but I believe the Hebrew translation jives more with these people being done-in rather then put to work, which is good because that position lends itself well to the rest of today’s devotion. : )

Excessive Cruelty

The killing of people by saw, pick, and ax is a cruel overreaction on King David’s part and it prompts us to ask, “Why so cruel Dave?” It would help us to recall that David did this deed right after he committed adultery with Bathsheba (and murdered her husband Uriah) and before he confessed those sins to the Lord. The realty is that these un-confessed sins caused David to react excessively. In other words, his secret transgressions facilitated brutality that exceeded that which was deemed appropriate for mortal combat.

How Can We Make Such a Claim?

We can take David’s own actions to make our case. Do you remember when Nathan the prophet confronted David with the tale (an allegory actually) regarding a man who stole another man’s lamb? What was David’s reaction?

So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.” 2 Samuel 12:5-7

“Um, David, the penalty for ‘lamb-theft’ is not capital punishment.”

Isn’t it ironic that the penalty for David’s sin was death?

The excessive behavior David displayed is the exact same thing we do when we are in sin. Essentially it’s the act of turning the spotlight off of ourselves and onto another for the purpose of gaining an appearance of righteousness and of course for concealing the thing(s) we are guilty of. Nobody ever sees the man behind the spotlight, but the sinner will risk stepping from behind the light to proclaim, “I am the one who identified and dealt judiciously with this scoundrel!” Truly, a light should go on when we witness such behavior.

What’s Our Recourse?

Confession. That’s what David did. It didn’t mean that there weren’t consequences for his actions, but it did mean that God forgave him. If we find ourselves behaving excessively in any manner, it is a good indication that we are concealing a sin. Ask the Lord to help you identify that sin and own up to it. Confess it and you will be forgiven.

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:9-10


 

These ramblings are typically (but not always) a byproduct inspired by God through my personal Bible study at SearchLight with Pastor Jon Courson and with my pastor at Calvary Chapel Coastlands.

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The Word That You Heard

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, health, Holy Spirit, investment, Jesus, literature, peace, prayer, religion, tagged , , , , , , , , on September 13, 2010| 1 Comment »

So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse. 1 Kings 13:23-24

What’s Going On?

There was an unnamed man of a God; a prophet who was sent to King Jeroboam to deliver a message. King Jeroboam was not pleased with the word that he heard and with a pointed finger he directed his guards to seize the man of God. Incredibly, the King’s hand withered right there on the spot. A distraught Jeroboam pleaded with the man to pray for restoration. The man did and God restored his hand. In gratitude, Jeroboam invited the man home to dine with him. The offer was declined.

“If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. For so it was commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’ ” 1 Kings 13:8-9

So, the man of God begins his journey home when an old prophet gets wind of what happened and sets out to find him. He discovers him on the road and like Jeroboam, invites him home to eat. Innocent enough we might think, but the man refuses the invitation citing the same reason as before.

For I have been told by the word of the Lord, ‘You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.’ “1 Kings 13:17

For whatever the reason (we’re not given a biblical explanation), the old prophet lies to the man….

“I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” 1 Kings 13:18

The man of God is swayed by this old prophet and goes to his home to eat. As the meal is finished, the events turn ugly. The old prophet now makes this proclamation:

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the Lord said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’ “1 Kings 13:21-22

So the man of God leaves and is killed by a lion.

Are You a Man of God?

Without a doubt this is a bizarre story. However it is recorded in the Bible for a purpose. There is a lesson revealed in the conduct of the unnamed man of God and it’s important to us, because as men and women of God, we are similarly vulnerable. The man knew the word of God and he allowed himself to be swayed by someone he respected or deemed to be unthreatening. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians reminds us that if anyone at all, Christian or otherwise, preaches any other Gospel then the one we received, that person (or angel) shall be accursed; the implication being that we should avoid them. Why would Paul share such a thing? Because he knew it would happen over and over again.

Peter counsels us in 1 Peter 5:8 to, ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.’ I can’t help but think that Peter was familiar with the story in 1 Kings 13. King David gives us this admonition:

The works of the Lord are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered… Psalms 111:2-4

The Psalmist tells us the works of God are great and that we should study them. Given the fact that there are false christs, false prophets, ignorant Christians, and roaring lions who seek to devour us, it is good advice to be well versed in God’s word. How else are we to know when we are being misinformed, misled, or lied to?

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13


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These ramblings are typically (but not always) a byproduct inspired by God through personal Bible study at SearchLight with Pastor Jon Courson

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Willowcreek, the Global Leadership Summit, and Following Jesus

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Holy Spirit, Jesus, tagged , , , , , , , on August 7, 2010| 18 Comments »

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Where Godly Men Seek

I am baffled by the phenomenon known as the Global Leadership Summit; more specifically as to why Godly men and women would seek counsel and recommendation from the ungodly; i.e. those who do not profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I submit to you that we are being deceived when we look towards secular achievement and conclude that we could prosper accordingly if we emulate their practices. The truth is that we might, but that doesn’t make it right. If prosperity does it occur, it is temporary at best.

Consider the words of the Psalmist:

The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.” Psalm 10:4-6

Now consider these quotes accredited to three of last year’s GLS speakers:

  • “Whether you prevail or fail, endure or die, depends more on what you do to yourself than on what the world does to you. ” Jim Collins, nationally acclaimed business thinker
  • “Control your own destiny or someone else will….The team with the best players wins. ” Jack Welch, Former Chairman and CEO, General Electric
  • “The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind – creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers. These people…will now reap society’s richest rewards and share its greatest joys.” Daniel H. Pink, Business Thinker and Former White House speech writer

Do these remarks line-up with God’s word?

Christianity 101

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit…For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:1, 5-8

Romans 8 makes it extremely clear:  followers of Jesus Christ are called to walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. The passage goes on to tell us why — those who walk according to the flesh are carnally minded; they operate in a manner to gratify their own lusts and appetites. The Bible tells us quite directly that this behavior makes them God’s enemy.

Read the passage again!

A Christian who emulates the ways of any person who is not guided by the Holy Spirit cannot please God. Knowing this, are you absolutely sure you want to adopt any of these worldly techniques for your personal spiritual development or bring any of these ideas back to your church? If you do, you do not have an appropriate understanding of what it means to fear the Lord.

Worldly Counsel is No Counsel

As a Christian, would you go to a worldly neighbor for marriage counseling? Would you seek the guidance of the ungodly on how to raise your children? Of course not! By definition, Christians operate, or should operate, in obedience to the Lord, allowing themselves to be guided by His Holy Spirit. To do otherwise is to sin; to miss the divine and holy mark the Lord had intended us to hit. To receive and carry out any practice that is not God-inspired is to set one’s self up for disaster, regardless of the fact that there might be seasonal prosperity.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Is There a Lack of Qualified Christian Leaders?

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

No, there is not a lack of qualified Christian leaders. The trap is that we too often buy into the ‘bigger and better’ philosophy the world shoves down our throats. “It’s working for them,” we surmise, “and God doesn’t seem to care.”

While it might be true that it is working for the them, the reality is that God does care and it would serve the Christian well to remember that there is a huge difference between what God allows and what God blesses. The bottom line is that God hates it. We must also be careful to avoid false teachers, the likes of say a Rob Bell, who is deceived and preaches a false gospel.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:7-9

What Am I Saying

If you are a godly man or woman and if you attended the recent Global Leadership Summit, and if you glean and adhere to the advice of the ungodly, you have been deceived and in due time you will harvest a crop you did not realize you had sown. And while your salvation is not necessarily in jeopardy, you are serving to undermine that which the Lord would have you and others do. You are quenching the good work of the Holy Spirit and are in effect showing your brothers and sister in Christ that it is ok to do as the world does.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.  1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Does the Global Leadership Summit do anything right? Absolutely! They host and gave voice to several wonderful Christian leaders. My prayer is that next year they would omit worldly teachings in order to make room for, and focus upon the sound biblical wisdom given by inspiration of God that is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that Christians may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

  1. What do these verses say about God?
  2. What do they say about us?
  3. What is our only recourse?
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Bear Fruit or Die

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, health, investment, Jesus, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:1-6

Bear Fruit or Die?

Please, please, please take note. John 15:2, ‘Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away,’ does not mean that if a Christian isn’t bearing fruit, God lops off that branch and casts it into the fire. A more accurate definition of the Greek word used here in this verse (airo) means to lift or raise up–the phrase ‘take away’ is an erroneous translation. That’s important, because ours is a loving God, a God of second chances and beyond. The reality is this: if you are a Christian and you are not producing fruit, God the Vinedresser, will lift you up and do whatever it takes for you to be fruitful. Consider this parable found in Luke 13:

He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ” Luke 13:6-9

This is how a loving Father treats His children. The fact of the matter is this: if a person who claims to be a Christian is not producing fruit after all is done to promote growth, then that person was not a part of the Vine to begin with. In other words, this person is not abiding in Christ. It’s this unattached branch that gets tossed into the fire.

Fear Not

Are you fruitless? Be certain first that you are abiding in the Vine that is Jesus Christ and then know that the Father will make every effort to lift you up, nourish you, and prune you back so that you will come to fruition. Do not struggle against the Lord’s efforts and you will bear fruit. You might be unfruitful, but God does not want you to remain that way.


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A Recipe for Change

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, exercise and fitness, food and drink, health, Holy Spirit, investment, Jesus, love, peace, religion, travel, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.” And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.” Ruth 3:3-5

Ask any mature Christian and they will rightly tell you that the book of Ruth, in addition to being an accurate account of a historical event, is a dramatic illustration of Christ’s redemptive work for His bride, the church. Ruth is of course a picture of the church and Boaz a picture of Jesus Christ – our Ga’al, or kinsmen redeemer. However, the spiritual similes do not stop there; each sentence of this glorious book provides application for the Christian towards the spirit-filled life found in Christ Jesus. Ruth 3:3-5 is in actuality a formula teaching us how to be in a position to receive from the Lord.. These are not legalistic steps that require completing, but rather a blueprint that should be embraced because the benefits outweigh the effort.

Wash Yourself

These words simply remind us that we should be in God’s word continually; every day if possible. It is both a reasonable and intelligent choice. We bathe daily if we are able; nobody has to make us do it–we want to. So should it be with our scripture reading. Come to realize the cleansing effect His word has as it washes over you. Becoming clean should never be seen as a chore, but a luxury we get to partake in. Do you see reading the Bible as the magnificent treat that it is?

He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word Ephesians 5:26

Anoint Yourself

Oil in the Bible speaks to the Holy Spirit. Have you prayed to receive the Holy Spirit for the purpose of empowerment; to be a witness for Jesus Christ? If you have not, you might be born-again, but you are not powered-up for service. Do you pray frequently to be re-filled with this anointing? If you don’t you’re like a fine automobile with an empty tank and a dead battery. When we’re told to anoint ourselves, it really means to pray to receive the blessings we need to function as Christians. If we have not it is because we asked not.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 11:13

Put on Your Best

Ruth and Naomi came back to Bethlehem in their mourning clothes, but Naomi wisely realized it was time for a change. By God’s grace and mercy we have been saved, therefore what kind of testimony is it when we bemoan our past by outwardly appearing as we once were. Are we not new creations in Christ? We most certainly are and our countenance should always reflect that fact. Our attire, metaphorically speaking should be garments of praise and not pity.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness Psalms 30:11

Go Down to the Threshing Floor

This part is huge. The threshing floor is a place of separation and refinement, and willingly going there speaks to both submission and sacrifice. This is not something that someone else can do for us. There is a price to be paid by every believer and the cost is reflected in our desire to submit ourselves to the sanctification process. Sadly, this is the place where many a Christian turn away. What we need to realize is that the threshing floor is where we get to shine for Jesus and where He tweaks us in order that we might perform our best.

Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 2 Samuel 24:24

Do Not Make Yourself Known

We’re talking humility here folks. There is no place for pride before the Throne of God. The reality is that the Bible teaches that self-importance always comes before destruction and must be shunned. The suggestion therefore would be that when we change our garments, we all leave pride in the pocket.

Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen. Proverbs 25:6-7

Notice the Place Where He Lies

To me this speaks to Holy Communion; the act of remembering our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and what He did for us. Personally, I choose to remember His sacrifice and resurrection each time I eat a meal in addition to at church where we partake of the elements corporately. Whenever we go to see where He lies we cannot help but notice He is not there! For the Christian we notice for the purpose of sharing. “He is risen,” should not be something we keep to ourselves.

He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” Matthew 28:6-7

Go in

Have you ever heard it said that Christianity is not about a religion, but a relationship with Jesus Christ? Well the truth be told, it is both. Jesus desires nothing more than an intimate relationship with His brothers and sisters. God has given us the religious components of our faith that enable us to go deeper with the One who gave His life to make this possible. The elements of our religion don’t save us, they just aid us in knowing Jesus better.

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14

Uncover His Feet and Lie Down

These words bring me back to the cross. As we uncover the feet of our Savior, the thing that will be most evident is the piercing place. Even as I write these words it is a sobering vision that leads me to worship. Because it is to easy for us to be consumed by the events of the day, we need to often reexamine the scars of His sacrifice. From this place we can both worship and listen.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. Luke 10:38-39

He Will Tell You What You Should Do

“I don’t hear God speaking to me,” is a commonly heard amongst Christians. The managing of that affliction has not changed and is recorded throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. If we regularly wash ourselves in the Word, we will better recognize His voice. If we ask and receive His Holy Spirit, we will comprehend what He is saying. If we come rejoicing rather than mourning, we won’t obscure the outpouring of His love. If we come humbly, we won’t stumble. If we submit to the process of sanctification, we will be changed. Our Lord said His yoke is easy and His burden is light, the question for us is do we believe Him.

All that you say to me I will do. Ruth 3:5

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A Christian’s Folly

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Bible Prophecy, exercise and fitness, health, Holy Spirit, investment, Jesus, peace, world news, tagged , , , , , , , , , on February 26, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Then the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the Lord and did not serve Him. Judges 10:6

Quotes For Today

“I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words…When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint”

“What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?”

These would be such precise assessments of today’s youth, had they not been penned well over a thousand years ago. The first quote is attributed to the 8th century Greek poet Hesiod and the second to the 5th century Greek philosopher Plato. Apparently there is nothing new under God’s sun. Things have not changed one crumb, except to say that there are now billions of people in the world making the perversity appear a billion times worse. We should not be surprised. In the Book of Judges the Lord raises up deliverer after deliverer and each time, the children of Israel repeatedly do evil in the sight of the Lord. If we weren’t so culpable ourselves, we might be shocked.

Why Does This Happen?

Well the short answer is that we’re all sinners, however for the born-again believer, that excuse no longer floats. A true follower of Christ Jesus; one who is enveloped in the components of the faith, should know better. So what happened with Israel? In their case they were recurrently guilty of what we’re so often guilty of: complacency. God would save them, there would be peace in the land for forty years or so (the length of a generation), and then the next generation would fall away into idolatry. Why? Because the previous generation kept their faith to themselves; they were self-satisfied and made little or no effort to carry on the oral traditions of their faith. God warned them (and He warns us today) that this would happen…

When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest–when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage… Deuteronomy 8:10-14

We Have an Advantage

Today, we have Israel’s example recorded for us in God’s word. Back in the day, Israel relied on their own oral tradition. Not an excuse mind you, but nevertheless, they did not have the Bible to refer to. I only mention that fact as a reminder—the Christian has God’s Word and His Holy Spirit living inside of us. It does make you wonder why we make the same brainless errors though.

And the children of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray.” So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. Judges 10:15-16

The Good News

Like I said earlier, nothing much has changed through the years—God’s formula is still the same: confess, submit, and repent. Confess our sin, submit to the consequences (and there are always consequences), turn away from sin and turn towards Jesus Christ with an obedient heart. Ladies and gentlemen, we serve the God of second, and third, and fourth, and…chances. A horrible experience is the best teacher, but it does not have to be your experience.

 

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Boldness Beyond Blunders

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, exercise and fitness, health, Holy Spirit, investment, Jesus, love, religion, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on January 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal…Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” Joshua 10:8-9, 12

First Things First

Joshua made a mistake. In the last chapter, Israel, after being deceived by their enemy, made a covenant with the Gibeonites. Discovering the deception, Joshua put his mistake to work. Oh he kept his vow as the Lord requires every vow-maker to do, but he made his error his slave; the Gibeonites would forever be servants of the Tabernacle as fetchers of wood and water.

God recognized the mistake too, but He chose to honor Joshua’s commitment–blessings would rise form the ashes of a bad decision. What our Father did with Joshua and Israel, He does with us as well—we have the same assurance from God that our errors can work towards some good thing despite the fact that we might not see it initially.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

In the text today, Joshua provides for us a four-part outline illustrating dynamic Christian faith in action. His example awards us the four basic components of spirited faith; one that bestows honor, glory, and praise to the faith Giver.

He Believed

It really can’t get any less basic than that. God told Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered (the enemy) into your hand.” Joshua took God at His word. He heard the word and he believed the word he heard. Do you believe God’s word?

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

He Gave His Best Effort

The passage does not imply that Joshua performed perfectly, but strongly suggests he worked as quickly and as efficiently as he could to do God’s will, “Marching all night,” until the first leg of the task was completed. God did not tell him to do that, Joshua chose to do that. The fact of the matter is that the work was finished, just like Christ’s work was finished on the cross. Remember, God said, “I have delivered,” the enemy. In willing obedience, Joshua took it upon himself to complete the mission as best he could.

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17

He Called on the Lord

Joshua takes nothing for granted, probably learning that lesson from his bitter defeat at Ai. We aren’t privy to their conversation, but the passage hints that they must have been discussing some pretty powerful stuff. Contextually speaking, we know that it would have been impossible for Joshua to do what was done without God’s direct support, authority, and power.

…Without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5b

He Acted Boldly

Joshua could not have made the proclamation he made if a) he did not believe, b), he had not been working out his faith, and c) wasn’t checking in with the Father periodically. The kind of boldness Joshua displayed can only be manifest when the first three elements of our faith are in place. That’s not to say a person can’t ever speak boldly, but without God’s power and authority, that person operates in his flesh alone.

It’s sad to say that many Christians, having accomplished the first three steps, arrive at this same place, but shy away from the opportunity to take the wonderful leap. Why? Plain and simple: fear—the very opposite of faith. While it is true we have the ability to put our faith on the shelf, we often forget that by that same faith we have the power of God to destroy trepidation. Our Lord is gracious and merciful and He will let us wallow in this condition if we so choose—our salvation is not in jeopardy. But then again, someone might say to you and I, “Why buy a car if you’re never going to drive it?”

…And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel… Ephesians 6:19


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WWJD vs DWJD

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, health, Holy Spirit, investment, Jesus, religion, travel, tagged , , , , , on January 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14

WWJD

Whoever coined the phrase, “What would Jesus do” was certainly on to something; WWJD is a wonderful principle. However, I believe (for reasons I will address) it deserves an update. Therefore I propose we change WWJD to DWJD, which means, “Do what Jesus Did.”

If it Ain’t Broke…

I hear that, but I’m not saying WWJD is broken…necessarily. What I am suggesting is that WWJD leads a person to mindfully formulate what Jesus would do in any given situation. That’s not a problem unless that person’s mind is not steeped in God’s word. That person then carnally determines what course Jesus would take. The world’s image of Jesus by in large is skewed by ungodly influences and as a result we have all heard immature believers cite characteric qualities of our Jesus that miss the mark entirely.

DWJD

In contrast, when a Christian ascribes to doing what Jesus did, it implies that they know what Jesus did. And the only way to know [what He did] is to be in God’s word on a regular and frequent basis. From a practical stand point, DWJD keeps us in the Bible and if we’re uncertain of what Jesus did, it brings us back to the Bible again.


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Do You Smell Good to God?

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, health, investment, Jesus, religion, travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 21, 2009| 2 Comments »

Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the children of Israel, and say to them, ’My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time.’ Numbers 28:1-2
This Ain’t No BBQ

Who doesn’t love the smell of a barbeque. The first thing we need to know is that these sacrifices were no outdoor picnic—we’re talking total fleshly consumption. Have you ever experienced the smell of burning tissue, skin, hair, and bones? At best it is a putrid odor. But yet the Lord finds this aroma sensorially pleasing. How come?

Generally speaking, the Lord delights in our offerings; that we might give back that which we freely received from Him. In many ways it reminds me of how I would borrow money from my dad on his birthday so I could turn around and buy him a present. Dad wasn’t disappointed, but legitimately content with my pitiful gesture. If this is true of our earthly fathers, how much more so must it be true of our Heavenly Father?

But its Bigger Then That

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. Romans 7:18

This is really all about dying to self for in these sacrifices God sees an expression of His children putting their flesh to death. Why is this pleasing to God? Because nothing good dwells in our flesh and to the degree we die to it is to the degree we see God face to face.

But Didn’t God Say…

“You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Exodus 33:20

God did say that and we need to stop looking at that verse in a negative light. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain, ” because he fully understood the implications—Paul desired nothing more than to be in God’s full presence and understood that it begins (on earth) when we allow our flesh to pass away. Its worth repeating, “To the degree we die is to the degree we will experience God’s glory here on earth.”

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God–and righteousness and sanctification and redemption–that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-31

For the most part, we seek the gifts of God rather than His glory and that’s okay to a certain extent. God loves us so much, He is more than willing to give us the things we ask for. But spiritually speaking, that’s just a leaping-off point. What pleases Him most is when we unselfishly give up those things, even to the point of physical death.

 

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Deadly Serious: The Worlds Best Diet

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, food and drink, health, Jesus, religion, tagged , , , , , , on June 19, 2009| 1 Comment »

Say to them: ’Whoever of all your descendants throughout your generations, who goes near the holy things which the children of Israel dedicate to the Lord, while he has uncleanness upon him, that person shall be cut off from My presence: I am the Lord. Whatever man of the descendants of Aaron, who is a leper or has a discharge, shall not eat the holy offerings until he is clean…the person who has touched any such thing shall be unclean until evening, and shall not eat the holy offerings unless he washes his body with water. And when the sun goes down he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat the holy offerings, because it is his food. Leviticus 22:3, 4, 6, 7

This Does Not Apply to Me

That is what I used to think about certain books of the Old Testament—they just are not applicable to the modern-day Christian. I have since been corrected. If we allow Him to, the Lord will reveal significant applications for these passages while still maintaining the legitimacy of His original intent. So while it is true these were ordinances for Aaron the high priest and his descendants, it is wise to bear in mind that while we are not the sons of Aaron, we are the sons of God.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light… 1 Peter 2:9

Cut Off From God

God lets His high priest know of those things which defile a man and leprosy, discharges, and touching the dead top His list. Leprosy we might recall is a picture of sin [in the Bible] and substituting the terms for one another helps define our application: sin separates; i.e. cuts us off from God. But what of these discharges; how can we give spiritual relevance to those? I like to think ofthem as those words and actions of ours that ooze mechanically. You know, those phrases we utter and those gestures that we make when that guy cuts us off suddenly ~and~ before we have occasion to glance down at our WWJD bracelets. What does God say about those again? Oh yeah…

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34b

No Soup For You!

In Levitical times God was saying that the despoiled priest could not eat of the sacrifices which was his custom. It kind of reminds me of mom sending me away from the dinner table to wash my hands before I could eat. But I believe God is pointing out something more significant to us—the reality of sin is that we lose our spiritual appetite and the cutting-off of divine sustenance is not God’s doing, but our own. In our sin we avoid God, we do not eat, and we become spiritually emaciated. Here’s a test: if you were given solid food to eat in proportion to the spiritual food you normally consumed each day, what would you look like in a week, a month, or a year?

But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” John 4:32

Washing and Waiting

God is not One to leave His people starved and provides the solution—washing in water and waiting until sundown. Why sundown? Because in Jewish tradition, it is when the sun rests on the horizon the old day has past away and a new day has begun—we are renewed physically when we sleep and spiritually when we rest in Him. Consider this admired verse…

This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion, ” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:21-26

Of course patient-waiting is pointless if we have not first cleansed ourselves—go to bed filthy and wake up filthy, plus the bed is now soiled too. Our solution is not in merely turning away from sin, but turning towards the Word who is Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul adds that we are cleansed by the water that is God’s Word. The writer of Hebrews concurs.

…Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

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