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They Had to Get it Right

Posted in Bible, Christianity, discipleship, evangelism, tagged , , , , on March 21, 2016| 1 Comment »

The Good News has changed since Moses‘ day. Back then this was the Gospel message:
“And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the pocongregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:1-13)
 
Of course most of us already know that this was just a picture (or type) of the Good News that was to come in Jesus Christ, but I wanted to focus on these two (2) things that jumped out at me in the Exodus narrative:
1) 600,000 Jewish men all received the same message.
2) They all believed it and obeyed.
The first point speaks to the evangelical and apostolic effort that was put forth — Moses received a precise message from God that needed to go out without any changes or alterations. Moses passed the message to the elders, and they passed it to men, who then passed it to other men, until all 600,000 families got the Good News. I haven’t researched it, but this may be the only time in Israel’s history that the entire nation was united for a singular cause and where all the men were perfectly compliant. We know they got it right because not one soul was lost.

We know they got it right because not one soul was lost.

The second point speaks to the first: everyone who heard the complex and intricate message obeyed it. Again, we know this to be true because not one Jew perished.

Outwardly, this ministered to me in that we [Christians] have a very precise, albeit simpler message to deliver. I took note that in the Exodus account there was not one man [who received the message] who said, “Okay, I will now pray for the Lord to give me an open door or a ‘Divine appointment’ to share this Good News.”

The notion of being sent out was implied in the urgency of the original message. If for some reason there was a man who could not go, I suspect he frantically searched for another man to go in his stead.

Inwardly, this ministered to me in that belief in the message was not sufficient to be saved. There was not one Jewish man who thought or said, “Moses, I totally believe you and this whole ‘slaughter a lamb’ thing, but I’m gonna do it my way. God knows my heart and He will understand.”
It was collectively understood that there was either going to be genuine, unwavering compliance or there was going to be death. On that day, Israel chose compliance.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway , even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Where does that leave us?

I believe in Jesus and therefore I follow Jesus. He has given us the directive to share the Gospel Message and our obedience is implied in the word “Go.”

We’re not to alter the message in any way, we’re just to pass it on in order that souls will not perish. We can (and should) pray for ‘open doors’ and ‘Divine appointments,’ but chances are we’re not going to see any of them unless or until we actually set out to deliver the message. Oh that’s not to say that God won’t send opportunities knocking upon your door (He does do that on occasion), but consider that if Israel had waited in this fashion there likely would have been a lot of dead Jewish people in Egypt on that first Passover.

You have the message and God has equipped you in some way to deliver it. Pray for your open door and then trust as you go out in obedience that you will see it clearly. If you’re a follower of Jesus, it’s only reasonable.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)

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What Faith Will Do

Posted in Christianity, discipleship, religion, sanctification, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on September 24, 2013| 2 Comments »

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. Hebrews 11:24-29

God’s Grace Through Faith

There’s a lot of hope found in Hebrews 11. As we read through the entire chapter we quickly catch hold of the theme: God through faith equips His children to do His work. By faith (we read) the church understands God’s word. By faith Abel made his offerings to the Lord. By faith Enoch spoke testimonies of the Lord. By faith Noah built. By faith Abraham obeyed. By faith Sarah was strengthened. By faith Issac blessed. By faith Joseph prophesied.

moThe Biblical Hall of Faith continues with the likes of such other notables as: Rahab, Gideon, Sampson, David, and Samuel, but in the middle of these hallowed halls the writer pauses over Moses in order to reflect upon 7 consequences of his faith. I find them conspicuous in that they were all allotted to one man and that they seem to be the same things that the Lord desires to works through us, His children.

Are these things in operation in your walk of faith?

The Magnificent 7

1) By faith we reject what the world has to offer.

By faith Moses…refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter

By faith Moses turned down the world’s offer; refusing the title and the position, and rejecting that which his flesh had previously craved. By faith, Moses was able to (as per Romans 12:2), ‘not be conformed to this world, but was transformed by the renewing of his mind, that it could be proven what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’

2) By faith we let go of sin.

By faith Moses…(chose) rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin 

By faith Moses repented and let go of sin, choosing to suffer the consequences associated with leaving one’s past behind. By faith Moses understood that, ‘Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.’ (James 1:12)

3) By faith we invest eternally.

By faith Moses…(esteemed) the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt

By faith Moses invested in things eternal. By faith Moses had the assurance of, ‘hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began (Titus 1:2). Missionary Jim Elliot must have understood the concept as well, otherwise how could he have written, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

4) By faith we stand.

By faith (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king

By faith Moses was fearless. By faith Moses knew to, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

5) By faith we see Jesus

By faith…(Moses) endured as seeing Him who is invisible

By faith Moses had spiritual vision. A Christian’s faith isn’t truly blind, for the reality is believers see more.  By faith Moses knew, ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ (John 20:29)

6) By Faith we are religious

By faith Moses kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood

By faith Moses kept the precepts of our religion, knowing it was not the faith or the religion that saved. By faith Moses knew these components were given by God in order to brig him closer to God. Moses understood ‘If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.’ (John 15:7)

7) By faith we move.

By faith (Moses) passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned

By faith Moses moved forward, obeying the word that he heard; knowing that to reject the truth of God’s word was to die. I can almost imagine Moses saying, “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13b-14)

So what is this thing called faith?

Again, I found an answer during my research that is better than anything I could have come up with on my own. I found this definition from ‘The Complete Bible Answer Book,’ by Hank Hanegraaff (AKA: The Bible Answer Man). Hank writes:

“The Bible defines faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Thus, in biblical vernacular, faith is a channel of living trust—an assurance—that stretches from man to God. In other words, it is the object of faith that renders faith faithful. Furthermore, faith is the assurance that God’s promises will never fail, even if sometimes we do not experience their fulfillment in our mortal existence. Hebrews 11 underscores the fact that we trust God to fulfill his promises for the future (the unseen) based on what he has already fulfilled in the past. Thus, our faith is not blind, but based squarely on God’s proven faithfulness.

Finally, the faith that serves to protect us in spiritual warfare is not to be confused with mere knowledge. Millions worldwide believe in the trustworthiness of Billy Graham. They have heard him proclaim the good news on television and yet do not believe that his message corresponds to reality. Thus, they have the knowledge that it takes to be saved but do not have saving faith. Others hear the message, agree that it corresponds to reality, but due to the hardness of their hearts do not bow. Rather, like the demons, they continue to live in fearful anticipation of the judgment to come (James 2:19). Some, however, have what Scripture describes as genuine justifying faith—a faith that not only knows about the gospel and agrees that its content corresponds to reality, but a faith by which they are transformed.”

What kind of faith do you have?

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When a Good Verdict Goes Bad

Posted in Christianity, prayer, religion, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on September 13, 2013| 2 Comments »

Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:1-6

Guilty!

You have probably heard the old aphoristic saying, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

I was mulling that over after I read this item from today’s Washington Times:

The Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters have began forcing the roughly 15,000 Christian Copts of Dalga village in Egypt to pay a jizya tax as indicated in Koran 9:29, author and translator Raymond Ibrahim reported on Sunday.

Jizya is the money, or tribute, “that conquered non-Muslims historically had to pay to their Islamic overlords ‘with willing submission and while feeling themselves subdued’ to safeguard their existence.”

I found that interesting. While I don’t mean to make light of the Christian oppression and persecution that is taking place in Egypt and around the world in alarming numbers, the headline gave me pause…

“If I were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to force me to pay a jizya tax or any other kind of abusive tax?”

Silly, right?

Well I haven’t been arrested or accused yet, but I have once again been sent a bill from the irsIRS for several thousands of dollars, making this two years in a row. Last year it was cleared up with a simple response to the agency, and I have no reason to suspect this time will be any different, but in light of one of our nation’s most recent scandal regarding the IRS and their sketchy (illegal?) dealings with conservative Christians, I cannot help but wonder — is this nonsense still going on, or is this merely a coincidence?

God only knows.

Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:19-21

Christian Persecution

While I might be experiencing a twinge of paranoia, the reality is that Christians are being persecuted by the millions around the world and it is rapidly coming to America.

Consider the statistics:

  • Christianity is the largest; most widely spread faith in the world (Reuters)
  • About 100 million Christians are persecuted around the world (Reuters)
  • Another 150 Million Christians are murdered each year (UCANews)

I’m not even dogmatic about the numbers. They could be off by 90% and they are still staggering –15 million Christians killed annually is satanically horrific.

What’s Our Recourse?

Prayer is always our first response.  God changes us through prayer and He gives us the inside scoop through prayer. What do I mean by the ‘inside scoop?’ By that I mean He reveals His will to us. The reality is that sometimes God allows a Christian to be in jail (the Apostle Paul, for example), because that believer can (perhaps) share the Gospel with a people group who might not otherwise hear the Good News of salvation through Christ Jesus. All the more reason we need to understand the biblical concept of incorporating “Thy will be done,” into our prayers.

What you do after prayer is between you and God.

Submit yourself to God, listen for His response, and then comply with His directive.

“Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

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*Edification: Not Just For Breakfast Anymore

Posted in Bible, Bible Prophecy, faith, Jesus, sanctification, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 6, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand there was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 1 Chronicles 11:22-23

A Picture of Edification

The character’s name in today’s story is Benaiah and it means ‘edified’, or more precisely, ‘Jehovah has built’. We might ask what does it mean to be edified in the Lord or by the Lord? Well it may seem obvious, but the primary thing we must recognize is that edification comes either directly (or indirectly) from the Lord. Secondly, edification is something to be received and exercised. And finally, it is something we must use to glorify the Giver and bring honor to His name. Benaiah’s conduct exemplifies these tenets, but in particular it spotlights how he exercised his gift.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Benaiah’s first encounter was with two lion-like men. What does it mean that these two men were lion-like? The reality is that we can draw many conclusions from such a description, but I submit to you that this narrative is  suggests these men were satan followers, or at the very least their behavior was so evil that one might draw that conclusion. They weren’t satan, they just emulated him. Nevertheless, Benaiah was strengthened and prepared to do battle with the real lion when he practiced with the imitation.

That’s the key.

We can make application that the lion Benaiah eventually slew is a picture (a type) of satan. Take note of the details: it was a snowy day and the battle took place in a pit. What’s unusual is that Benaiah ventured out in stormy weather and then purposely went into the pit to kill the beast. You have to know that once you enter a pit with a lion, there’s typically only one way out — over his dead body (Daniel would be the only exception that I can recall). An undertaking such as this is the epitome of commitment, but not something one knowingly tasks unless God is on your side, God has guided you to the place, and you have Cross-trained. Only fools go picking fights with the enemy. However, shy away from those things God has equipped you for and you will be ill-prepared to do battle when the true enemy shows his face.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Benaiah’s third conflict was with the Egyptian. Egypt we know (in typology) is a picture of the world. Notice that Benaiah kills his opponent with his own weapon. We should realize that we can do the same thing; we can take the world’s weaponry and use it to defeat the enemy.

How so?

Jon Courson tells the story of a smoker who was struggling to overcome her addiction. She was counseled that each and every time she had a craving to smoke that she should instead pray for the lost and the unsaved. She did. In time the urge to smoke left her completely. Why? I contend that satan loosed the bonds of her addiction when he came to realize that smoking was the very thing that was bringing her closer to God and to do the work of God. She took satan’s weapon and turned it back on him.

I have had a similar experience. I struggled with debilitating depression for years and was eventually healed miraculously by God. Afterwards I received wise counsel from two different people: “If the depression returns,” one said, “it was a choice I made,” and the other said, “If the depression returns, I need to let it be the thing that prompts me to do something for someone else.” From that point forward, every time satan drew his weapon, I wrestled it from his grip by using it to facilitate a behavior that was pleasing to God; the very weapon formed against me was the catalyst that brought me closer to my Lord and Savior.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. Isaiah 54:17 NKJ

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“Man Overboard!”

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Bible Prophecy, health, investment, Jesus, peace, travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on April 14, 2009| Leave a Comment »

And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ’You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Exodus 19:3-4
 

God had broken Egypt’s yoke of oppression upon Israel and He accomplished the feat in a style miraculous. No one else could have possibly achieved this compliment for Israel in the manner or for the purpose it was done and now God wants Israel to remember. This reminder comes just prior to the receiving of the Law; the mirror that reflects our sinful character and the road sign that points us to the only solution in Jesus Christ. In this recount, God makes application to an eagle and her fledgling; an analogy that He will return to over and over again in His word.

As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, Deuteronomy 32:11

Stirring up the Nest

For the baby eagle the nest is a very comfy place, but as it matures that once cozy respite becomes less and less comfortable—by design. When the fledglings become restless and fidgety with their surroundings, it is a sign to mama to stir things up. As we are likely familiar, one by one each bird is thrown overboard. We also know that after a brief free-fall, mama swoops in and rescues each one, but on one of those occasions, baby bird will spread his wings, catch a draft, and rise spectacularly. No other animal creature on earth captures this maturation process more dramatically than the eagle and why God makes use of the imagery repeatedly.

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

In many ways Egypt was a nest for Israel. When they had arrived there four hundred years earlier, it was a safe, albeit temporary haven, but as they matured as a nation it became a bit rough and scratchy to say the least. The trials Israel endured up until this point were akin to being shoved out of an uninhabitable aerie, only to be caught into the loving arms of God and given safe passage to the other side. Sadly, Israel has yet to realize the process that they are undergoing, despite God’s continued explanation. The question for us is do we grasp God’s methodology in this our sanctification?

Waiting on the Lord

“Those who wait on the Lord,” is an oft misunderstood Bible verse. While ‘waiting’ most certainly applies to long-suffering and patience, its primary application (as it pertains to the Isaiah passage) is revealed in what a waiter does in the performance of his duties—he ‘waits’ on his customer. When we are told to wait on the Lord, we are being directed towards Christian service so that He may renew our strength, so that we might mount up with wings like eagles, so that we may run and not grow weary, and so we can walk and not faint. Oh, these are not things we must do towards salvation (Jesus finished that work), but rather things we ought to do in order to further God’s Kingdom according to God’s perfect plan. We can squawk and complain, or we can do as James suggested in his epistle…

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22


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Your Cheat’n Heart

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, Bible Prophecy, exercise and fitness, health, investment, Jesus, peace, religion, world news, tagged , , , , , , , , on April 3, 2009| Leave a Comment »

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. Exodus 14:13-15God, Aren’t You Paying Attention?

To some this is an unusual passage of scripture. It begins unmistakably with Moses speaking directly to the people; encouraging them not in themselves, but in the Lord. That is a good thing, right? So why (some might ask) does God then say to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me?”  if it is evident that he was speaking to the people?

The Big Cover-up

Moses is guilty of something all Christians do at one time or another—he is talking boldly to cover-up the fact that he does not believe what he is saying. For all intents and purposes Moses said to Israel, “Be strong in the Lord, ” but to himself he muttered, “God, where are you?” What makes the scenario even more peculiar is that Moses probably did not realize his own doubt and faithlessness. Whether it was consciously or unconsciously, his authoritative proclamation to Israel merely served to cloak the reservation harbored in his own heart.

Only God

…For You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men. 1 Kings 8:39b

The Exodus account serves to remind us that we (like Moses) are incapable of identifying our own heart defects and that in order to see them God’s eyes are required. Those who think they know their own heart are only deceiving themselves and are placing barriers in the path of their own spiritual development. It should be our habit to persistently and continually ask the Lord to search our hearts.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24

Moses could have fussed and debated with God at this point, “Father, you know I trust you and have no doubt. Didn’t you just hear what I said to Your people?” But rather Moses chose to accept God’s rebuke without quarrel and simply chose to obey the Father’s directive. His obedience served as his confession.

But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. Exodus 14:16

We know what occurred next (the Red Sea is parted and Israel safely crosses over), but in this verse we see a specific application for today’s church as it pertains to our heart issues. The rod in the passage speaks to the measure of authority each believer has received from God, a ‘stretched-out hand’ to our obedience, and ‘the water’ (throughout the Bible) speaks to the Word of God. We can discern our hearts and God’s plan when in His authority and in our obedience, we accurately divide His Word. In so doing the Father will faithfully and powerfully reveal Him self.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15


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Cutting Remarks

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, health, worship, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 25, 2009| 7 Comments »

Then (Moses) you shall say to Pharaoh, ’Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met (Moses) and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”–because of the circumcision. Exodus 4:22-26
What in the World is Going On?

Moses has just been ordained by God to pronounce a very serious judgment against Pharaoh, essentially declaring that if he (Pharaoh) would not release His (God’s) children, God would kill his child. Quite the admonishment and quite the task considering the source! What seems puzzling is God’s subsequent action, “…The Lord met (Moses) and sought to kill him” (emphasis mine). What just happened? As the text divulges it’s what didn’t happen that is at issue here.

This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised…Genesis 17:10

There you have it! Moses had neglected his responsibilities at home. How could he possibly go to Pharaoh with such a momentous proclamation while his own home was in disorder. This is clearly not how our Lord operates. Fortunately, Zipporah his wife, fearing for her husbands salvation, steps-up and delivers. Her anger towards him likely served as a catalyst for Moses setting him on a proper course, although most certainly there were repercussions for his allowing this problem to persist for so long.

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17-19

A Couple Applications…

We already touched on one—God will not open one door until we walk through the last one. Or maybe the second door has been opened (as in Moses’ case), but we are prevented from progressing towards it because there is unfinished business to take care of. In either scenario the solution is always the same–reparation; i.e. returning to where we last heard God’s voice clearly and yielding to His authority. It could be as simple as lifting a prayer or as complex as witnessing to your unsaved mother-in-law.

The second application is specifically for the wife. If your husband (saved or unsaved) has dropped the ball and will not (or perhaps cannot) pick it up, it is your duty to do so. So was the case in my family. Back in the mid-nineties my wife became the spiritual leader of our family when I was negligent in my duties as head of the clan. She saw to the children going to church, youth group, and similar activities. I can barely begin to tell how grateful I am the she carried the burden in those days—I do not deserve such grace and mercy.


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Sacrifice and Praise

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, exercise and fitness, health, investment, Jesus, peace, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 17, 2009| 3 Comments »

Sacrifice and PraiseSo Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac…Then he sent Judah before him to Joseph… Genesis 46:1 & 28

It Seemed Like the Right Thing to Do

I can scarcely begin to tell how many times I have advanced a decision to do something based exclusively on the notion that it seemed like the right thing to do. By God’s grace, not every choice was dreadful; sometimes things turned out well and other times, not so well. Our Father would rather our movements be in harmony with His and so, through His servant Israel He provides instruction, that if pursued will facilitate discerning His will before we leap haphazardly.

Digging Up the Past

Israel is about to enter Egypt and he stops. I suppose his memory drifts back to the days of his grandfather Abraham who found himself in a similar predicament—there was famine in the land and he too went to Egypt for resources. At the time, to Abraham it must have seemed like the right thing to do, but his grievous error was in not seeking God’s will. Despite the fact he returned a wealthy man, part of his yield included a slave girl named Hagar, who would bear him a son named Ishmael, the likes of which the world still struggles today.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

Israel is unquestionably anxious to see his son Joseph and to obtain provision for his family, but he stops just short of entering in and inquires of God. While impatience, eagerness, and enthusiasm are my customary stumbling blocks, Israel demonstrates that selfishness will not stand between him and his relationship with his Father. Subsequently, God honors that sacrifice by authorizing and confirming Israel’s entry into Egypt.

“I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.” Genesis 46:3-4

Ready, Set, GO!

Not so fast. This is the stage where many of us would proclaim, “Gentlemen, start your engines!” as we geared-up to move forward with God’s blessing, but Israel’s reaction is quite different. Relaxed and poised he selects his son Judah to go before him and to greet Joseph. Why Judah? Because the name Judah (in Hebrew) means praise—Israel moves forth with praise and praise leads the way! Let us by sacrifice seek His will and then proceed with our praises toward Him.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalms 100:4


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The Treasure in Your Sack

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, health, investment, Jesus, religion, tagged , , , , , , on March 12, 2009| Leave a Comment »

So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” …Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.” …But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. Genesis 43:15-16, 18, 23A Recap

Joseph’s brothers, still not recognizing him as their brother, are returning to Egypt with Benjamin just as he had commanded them and they are also returning the money Joseph had put back in their sacks after their last journey. Again, the typology (the prophetic parallels between Joseph and Jesus) run throughout this story. While these events truly happened and accurately chronicle the formation of Israel as a nation, they also point vividly to Jesus Christ as Lord and as Savior.

“Take these men to my home…”

The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works…for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Psalm 145:9 & Matthew 5:45b

When Joseph directs his brothers to be brought into his home, it further illustrates how everyone (this side of Heaven) is blessed by God, despite what they may or may not believe. This also speaks to how God continues (and will continue) to bless the Jew even though they have not yet come to recognize the Son as their Messiah.

“Now the men were afraid…”

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more… Romans 5:20

Joseph brothers were very fearful; although they were not guilty of this particular act (stealing money), they were certainly guilty of other sins. Joseph knew and they knew. And despite their innocence regarding this deed, their consciousness of past deeds ate at them like a cancer—they were on the cusp of reaping that which they had sown. The good news is that they came to Joseph anyway and for that leap-of-faith they would realize the promise spoken of in Romans 5:20.

“Peace be with you, do not be afraid…”

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, ” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

At this point we might correctly assert that grace such as this does not make any sense—God’s response is not logical by worldly standards. God would remind us that He is not of this world and He alone is God and He alone is good.

“God of your father has given you treasure…”

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein…The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, ’ says the Lord of hosts… Psalm 24:1 & Haggai 2:8

God teaches us that our salvation cannot be purchased. The fact that we occasionally get caught-up in trying to pay for it is an inane mission, especially in light of the fact we are paying with resources that never belonged to us in the first place. Jesus paid the price and even if there were a cost associated with our salvation we could not pay it because we don’t own anything.

The message; the application for every person is this: come to Jesus just as you are, by faith, confessing your sins, and receiving freely that which you never owned or could ever earn—today is the day of your salvation.


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The Christian Life…

Posted in Abject Poverty, Bible, health, investment, Jesus, religion, travel, worship, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 29, 2009| 1 Comment »

Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord. Genesis 13:1-4The Christian Life: A Series of New Beginnings

If you are in God’s Word, then you probably know that when Egypt is mentioned in the Bible, it is a secular reference to the world and worldly endeavors, and to go ‘down’ there is to take a turn for the worse. In contrast, to leave Egypt; particularly to go ‘up’ from there, is an accomplishment pursuant of and equivalent to a new beginning, spiritually-speaking of course.

The Christian life; that is to say the sanctification process we willfully endure, is nothing more than a series of new beginnings, the succession of which moves us along that narrow path. We see this doctrinal principle employed by Abram, who baselessly went down to Egypt, but then wisely returns to the place where he last felt the warmth of God’s presence; the place of new beginnings.

The Coasters

Our spiritual walk (odd as it may seem) is very much like riding a train. The train’s furnace is stoked and it begins to chug along, but then as momentum is achieved we lose sight of the fire, focusing our attention out the window. At first no one perceives deceleration; the occurrence is so gradual, but eventually we will take notice and sometimes (sadly) not until the train has completely stopped.

“Why did the train stop; it happened so suddenly?” we habitually cry in despair.

The reality is that there was nothing ‘sudden’ about it. The fire diminished, but becoming caught up in, or distracted by the world, we didn’t realize the problem that began miles and miles down the track. It is then we discover that we have been coasting all along.

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works… Revelation 2:5a

Where was God’s fire last burning brightly? Where was the place that we were last on fire for the Lord? It is the place Abram discovered and returned to time and time again; it is that place we must return—the place of God’s mercy, grace, and new beginnings. Abram left his mark upon the place so he would be able to find it easily…have you marked your place? What does it mean to leave your mark?


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