Because of a lack of interest, this Blog is being discontinued. Thank you to those who have supported it in the past.
Yours In Christ,
Eddie Buford
Monday, November 7, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
THE POSITION GOD HAS FOR MAN
Psalm 8:1-9 “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained. 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”
In verse 4 David asked the question “What is man?” That’s a very interesting question. One of my favorite writers, Dr. Warren Wiersbe writes “. . . Charles Darwin said man is an animal. Sigmund Freud taught that man is a spoiled child. Karl Marx believed man is an economic factor.” Are they right? I have to admit that I have seen some people who act like animals and I have seen some people who look they are fully grown, but in actions they are like a spoiled child. And in the culture in which we live, we often are nothing more than a number. But is that what man should be? How does God answer the question and cry of David?
Since God created man, he looks at His creation in a different light. To Darwin God would say that man is no animal but that He had created man “. . . in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:26)
To Freud God would say that man was not a spoiled child but a crowning act of creation, mature in every physical, mental, and spiritual way.
To Karl Marx God would say that man is not an economic factor but one created in His own image and created to worship and bring glory to Him.
Here in Psalm 8 we see a glimpse of what God thinks of His creation. In fact, notice in verses5-8 what the Psalmist wrote about the position that God has given to man: “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.”
Here in this issue of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS and the next two, we will look at the position God has given to man. And remember, man did not and still does not, deserve anything from God. It’s all by grace.
I. THIS POSITION WAS GIVEN BY GOD THE FATHER
Notice what we read in Genesis 1:26-28 “And God said Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
It is interesting to me that God created man on the same day as He did the cattle, beasts of the earth and everything that creeped upon the earth. But there was one major difference. Man was created in the image of God. Man was created by God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and was created to bring glory to Him.
In writing about the crowning creation of God, Mathew Henry wrote “His understanding saw Divine things clearly and truly; there were no errors or mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in all things, to the will of God. His affections were all regular, and he had no bad appetites or passions. His thoughts were easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus holy, thus happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon them.”
Man did not evolve but was created fully grown with perfect capabilities. Adam’s intelligence is seen in the fact that he gave names to all the creatures that God created. Adam was told to dress the garden in which he lived but was not told how to do it. That means that Adam was a very smart creation of God. I love what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."
God created man to be able to fellowship with him and did so in the beautiful garden in which man lived. But something happened that marred God’s image in man, and that was sin. Dr. Wiersbe said “His mind can’t think God’s thoughts; his emotions are wrapped up in sin; his will is rebellious; and his spirit is dead."
This is a far cry from what God intended man to be. This is why the world is in the condition it is in. God’s wonderful, crowning creation is now at enmity with God. But thank God He does not leave mankind in that condition. In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will see what God the Son does about man’s position.
That’s my view: how about you?
In verse 4 David asked the question “What is man?” That’s a very interesting question. One of my favorite writers, Dr. Warren Wiersbe writes “. . . Charles Darwin said man is an animal. Sigmund Freud taught that man is a spoiled child. Karl Marx believed man is an economic factor.” Are they right? I have to admit that I have seen some people who act like animals and I have seen some people who look they are fully grown, but in actions they are like a spoiled child. And in the culture in which we live, we often are nothing more than a number. But is that what man should be? How does God answer the question and cry of David?
Since God created man, he looks at His creation in a different light. To Darwin God would say that man is no animal but that He had created man “. . . in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:26)
To Freud God would say that man was not a spoiled child but a crowning act of creation, mature in every physical, mental, and spiritual way.
To Karl Marx God would say that man is not an economic factor but one created in His own image and created to worship and bring glory to Him.
Here in Psalm 8 we see a glimpse of what God thinks of His creation. In fact, notice in verses5-8 what the Psalmist wrote about the position that God has given to man: “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.”
Here in this issue of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS and the next two, we will look at the position God has given to man. And remember, man did not and still does not, deserve anything from God. It’s all by grace.
I. THIS POSITION WAS GIVEN BY GOD THE FATHER
Notice what we read in Genesis 1:26-28 “And God said Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
It is interesting to me that God created man on the same day as He did the cattle, beasts of the earth and everything that creeped upon the earth. But there was one major difference. Man was created in the image of God. Man was created by God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and was created to bring glory to Him.
In writing about the crowning creation of God, Mathew Henry wrote “His understanding saw Divine things clearly and truly; there were no errors or mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in all things, to the will of God. His affections were all regular, and he had no bad appetites or passions. His thoughts were easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus holy, thus happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon them.”
Man did not evolve but was created fully grown with perfect capabilities. Adam’s intelligence is seen in the fact that he gave names to all the creatures that God created. Adam was told to dress the garden in which he lived but was not told how to do it. That means that Adam was a very smart creation of God. I love what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."
God created man to be able to fellowship with him and did so in the beautiful garden in which man lived. But something happened that marred God’s image in man, and that was sin. Dr. Wiersbe said “His mind can’t think God’s thoughts; his emotions are wrapped up in sin; his will is rebellious; and his spirit is dead."
This is a far cry from what God intended man to be. This is why the world is in the condition it is in. God’s wonderful, crowning creation is now at enmity with God. But thank God He does not leave mankind in that condition. In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will see what God the Son does about man’s position.
That’s my view: how about you?
Monday, October 17, 2011
DREAMS – Pt 6
Psalm 126:1-6 “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
As I have written and said many times, the Psalms are my favorite part of the Word of God. I can relate to the depths of the Psalmist’s discouragement, the transparency of the heart, the cry for the sufficiency of God’s mercy, grace and help, and the joyful songs of victories that have come at the hand of God’s intervention. In this Psalm we see one of those times that the Psalmist had dreamed of, God turning his captivity and the heart that burst forth in singing and praise at the great things God had done in his life.
In these series of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we have tried to make a practical application of how God gives certain dreams to each of His children. When those dreams are revealed, what happens and what do we do with the opportunity? Those are the questions we have strived to answer.
We have noticed the DETERMINING, DISPLAY, DIFFICULTIES and DEMANDS of the dream. Now we get to the good part. Here are the expectations we can enjoy. Let’s look at it!
V. THE DELIGHTS OF THE DREAM
We now reach the payoff of this whole thing. Those who find God's purpose for their lives and seek to fulfill that dream that God has placed down in their souls have blessings that the world cannot know. A person who has never sensed a dream or purpose from God and has never seen it come to pass, does not know the feeling of a dream realized.
There are four great delights for the godly dreamer in the second part of verse six.
A. The SURETY We Expect
Notice the two words, “shall doubtless.” Success is guaranteed in the service of God. There is no guarantee with anything in this world or what it has to offer.
I’m not talking about success as the world defines it, but as God defines it. Success in God's eyes does not necessarily mean money, power, prestige, or honor. But it does mean a full reward and confidence when we stand in His presence.
Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 25:23, “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Notice the testimony Paul gave to challenge a young preacher in II Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Paul had the assurance that his final harvest would be a crown of righteousness. And, of course, he stated that the same crown would await those who followed their God given dream and remain steadfast until they found themselves in the presence of the Lord.
B. The STRENGTH We Experience
Notice the two words, “come again.” The farmer sows the seed, and returns periodically to cultivate his crop. This part isn’t easy. He has to hoe the weeds from the crop. There is a lot of work involved in maintenance.
The farmer comes again in the harvest. To experience the dream a person returns to the work time and time again. He needs strength for the labor. That strength comes from the Lord. We read in I Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” It is God that strengthens His children to accomplish the dream He has given them. One of my favorite verses in the entire Word of God is Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Failure is not an option or even a possibility for the sold-out Christian worker. We are His servant, acting on His orders. Victory and harvest are assured because it is not us that accomplishes anything. It is His strength. He works in and through the believer. I’m thankful that It’s His ministry and He allows us to partner with Him.
C. The SONG We Express
Notice the two words, “with rejoicing.” There is a special heart-felt song for the successful Christian worker. The word “rejoicing” means to proclaim with a ringing cry. It is a rejoicing that the world cannot understand.
As I have said many times, vocally and with the pen, the Psalms are some of my favorite portions of Scripture. Over and over the Psalmist cried with a loud chorus of rejoicing for the work God had accomplished in his life and his service.
We too will lift up our voices for the victory God has accomplished.
D. The SHEAVES We Experience
Notice that phrase, “bringing his sheaves with him.” It is amazing to discover that the only other place in scripture in that the Hebrew word used here (alummah) is mentioned is in Genesis 37:7. That passage is where Joseph explains his dream of the sheaves to his brothers. The sheaves represent the harvest. Truly the harvest was plenteous in Egypt when Joseph was in charge as second in command. The years in the land of God’s people was years of famine. In God’s providence the brothers of Joseph came to Egypt for corn and literally bowed before Joseph were fulfilling the dream.
In the work of God there is a harvest. Just as the farmer is dependent on the elements, the Christian laborer is dependent on God. The Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 3:7, “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”
Each one of God’s people has a part in God’s harvest field. What has God called you to do? God will call, equip and empower you to fulfill the dream He gives you. The question is, will you be obedient? What is that dream? What are you doing to fulfill that dream?
That’s my view; how about you?
As I have written and said many times, the Psalms are my favorite part of the Word of God. I can relate to the depths of the Psalmist’s discouragement, the transparency of the heart, the cry for the sufficiency of God’s mercy, grace and help, and the joyful songs of victories that have come at the hand of God’s intervention. In this Psalm we see one of those times that the Psalmist had dreamed of, God turning his captivity and the heart that burst forth in singing and praise at the great things God had done in his life.
In these series of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we have tried to make a practical application of how God gives certain dreams to each of His children. When those dreams are revealed, what happens and what do we do with the opportunity? Those are the questions we have strived to answer.
We have noticed the DETERMINING, DISPLAY, DIFFICULTIES and DEMANDS of the dream. Now we get to the good part. Here are the expectations we can enjoy. Let’s look at it!
V. THE DELIGHTS OF THE DREAM
We now reach the payoff of this whole thing. Those who find God's purpose for their lives and seek to fulfill that dream that God has placed down in their souls have blessings that the world cannot know. A person who has never sensed a dream or purpose from God and has never seen it come to pass, does not know the feeling of a dream realized.
There are four great delights for the godly dreamer in the second part of verse six.
A. The SURETY We Expect
Notice the two words, “shall doubtless.” Success is guaranteed in the service of God. There is no guarantee with anything in this world or what it has to offer.
I’m not talking about success as the world defines it, but as God defines it. Success in God's eyes does not necessarily mean money, power, prestige, or honor. But it does mean a full reward and confidence when we stand in His presence.
Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 25:23, “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Notice the testimony Paul gave to challenge a young preacher in II Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Paul had the assurance that his final harvest would be a crown of righteousness. And, of course, he stated that the same crown would await those who followed their God given dream and remain steadfast until they found themselves in the presence of the Lord.
B. The STRENGTH We Experience
Notice the two words, “come again.” The farmer sows the seed, and returns periodically to cultivate his crop. This part isn’t easy. He has to hoe the weeds from the crop. There is a lot of work involved in maintenance.
The farmer comes again in the harvest. To experience the dream a person returns to the work time and time again. He needs strength for the labor. That strength comes from the Lord. We read in I Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” It is God that strengthens His children to accomplish the dream He has given them. One of my favorite verses in the entire Word of God is Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Failure is not an option or even a possibility for the sold-out Christian worker. We are His servant, acting on His orders. Victory and harvest are assured because it is not us that accomplishes anything. It is His strength. He works in and through the believer. I’m thankful that It’s His ministry and He allows us to partner with Him.
C. The SONG We Express
Notice the two words, “with rejoicing.” There is a special heart-felt song for the successful Christian worker. The word “rejoicing” means to proclaim with a ringing cry. It is a rejoicing that the world cannot understand.
As I have said many times, vocally and with the pen, the Psalms are some of my favorite portions of Scripture. Over and over the Psalmist cried with a loud chorus of rejoicing for the work God had accomplished in his life and his service.
We too will lift up our voices for the victory God has accomplished.
D. The SHEAVES We Experience
Notice that phrase, “bringing his sheaves with him.” It is amazing to discover that the only other place in scripture in that the Hebrew word used here (alummah) is mentioned is in Genesis 37:7. That passage is where Joseph explains his dream of the sheaves to his brothers. The sheaves represent the harvest. Truly the harvest was plenteous in Egypt when Joseph was in charge as second in command. The years in the land of God’s people was years of famine. In God’s providence the brothers of Joseph came to Egypt for corn and literally bowed before Joseph were fulfilling the dream.
In the work of God there is a harvest. Just as the farmer is dependent on the elements, the Christian laborer is dependent on God. The Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 3:7, “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”
Each one of God’s people has a part in God’s harvest field. What has God called you to do? God will call, equip and empower you to fulfill the dream He gives you. The question is, will you be obedient? What is that dream? What are you doing to fulfill that dream?
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, October 10, 2011
DREAMS – Pt 5
Psalm 126:1-6 “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
In the past four weeks I have tried to share my heart about dreams we have which are really from God. I remember the dreams I had as a youngster as one of my focuses was being part of the Oxford High School band. As I got married Grace and I were focused on our family, especially the children God had given us. And then God led us to Tennessee Temple University and a dream of serving together in the ministry. And all along the path God has guided us, there has been dream after dream. This has been a wonderful life. All of us can have this wonderful journey when we accept the dream God has for us and we follow that dream until the rapture or He takes us home through “spiritual sleep.”
The road is not always along a smooth paved highway. There are some potholes and even some rough terrain. But that’s part of life. Let’s look at it:
IV.THE DEMANDS OF THE DREAM
Look at verse 6, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Have you ever heard the man-made proverb that says “God helps those who helps themselves?” You can’t say that’s true in all cases, but have to admit that you have not seen any farmer who has ever grown a crop by prayer alone.
The farmer has to go out in the field, plow the ground, plant the seeds, add the right kind of fertilizer, pray for the rain and sunshine and wait for the harvest. There has to be some work. No matter what you’re going to do, there are some demands involved.
We live in the age of impatience. We don’t just want something, we want it right now. The world market system has picked up on this and has tried to make tons of money catering to our wishes. We now have just about any kind of food you want, microwavable. Electronic equipment is almost obsolete the moment it is taken out of the box. We just don’t want to wait for anything.
People don’t even want to wait to make a phone call, it’s faster to text. This old man doesn’t know how to text. One of our grandchildren tried to text their grandmother and our daughter said, “Son, grandmother doesn’t know how to text.”
We may have instant potatoes, instant pudding and instant messaging, but there is no instant success with God. Success in the things of the Lord is earned by honoring His precepts and promises. It is an ongoing process. You and I can learn three things about God’s demands from the first part of verse six:
A. It Involves PURSUIT
Notice the phrase, “he that goeth forth.” This phrase has the idea of moving away from something and moving toward something else. We must move away from our dream and move toward sowing. There are some old songs you don’t hear much in churches today. I like the old hymns. One song says “work for the night is coming,” and another says “We’ll work till Jesus comes.” I like both of them because they are Scriptural. If you and I are going to be successful in the dream God has given us, we must put ourselves on the firing line, or at least on the business end of the hoe.
Many Christians have wonderful dreams, but they just don’t “go forth” and present themselves for the service of the Lord. A dream will stay a dream until the dreamer gets up off the seat of do-nothing and gets going in the process of sowing. Every one of us needs to be involved in some part of the mission God has given to us. Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 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.”
B. It Involves PAIN
Notice verse 6 again and the two words “and weepeth.” Most people don’t like this part. The word “weepeth” means to lament; to bewail; to shed tears of grief or humiliation. Sometimes people cry and then at other times they weep. There is a difference.
Many of God’s people will quit when things get difficult. That’s not the way to accomplish your godly dream. This life is a proving ground. We’re not being tested for God to see how we’ll do. We’re actually tested for us to learn more about ourselves, and for us to learn more about the God who enables us to accomplish our dream. There will be difficulty and pain. It’s part of the process.
Paul had pain and testing. How did he feel about them? Notice Philippians 1:12 “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;”
Our prayer should be that God helps us look at pain in the same way as did Paul.
C. It Involves PURPOSE
And what is the purpose? The purpose is found in the phrase “bearing precious seed.” In the dream of every child of God, the goal is to accomplish God’s purpose. God has given us special abilities, gifts and talents and He expects each of us to use them for His glory. We’re not saved to spend life doing nothing, but to serve the Lord. We read in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
The phrase “bearing precious seed” literally means, to leave a trail to follow. The planting of the valuable seed was to set in motion events that would lead to a bumper crop. Our purpose must be to do the same thing in our lives. We’re leaving a life trail by our actions and decisions. Can others follow the trail we are leaving? I like the song: “Find Us Faithful” That’s my desire and I pray it’s also your desire.
I remember years ago I was talking to a young youth pastor and he was telling me of what he was doing with his youth group. He told me of some of his plans and goals. He told me of some of his youth activities and also showed me a youth newspaper he was producing. And then he said something to this effect: “I am doing some of the same things you use to do in your ministry with us.” Nothing could have excited me more. I had planted some seed that was yielding a harvest.
What about you? What seeds are you planting?
Next weeks in CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will look at the last point: The DELIGHTS of the dream.
That’s my view; how about you?
In the past four weeks I have tried to share my heart about dreams we have which are really from God. I remember the dreams I had as a youngster as one of my focuses was being part of the Oxford High School band. As I got married Grace and I were focused on our family, especially the children God had given us. And then God led us to Tennessee Temple University and a dream of serving together in the ministry. And all along the path God has guided us, there has been dream after dream. This has been a wonderful life. All of us can have this wonderful journey when we accept the dream God has for us and we follow that dream until the rapture or He takes us home through “spiritual sleep.”
The road is not always along a smooth paved highway. There are some potholes and even some rough terrain. But that’s part of life. Let’s look at it:
IV.THE DEMANDS OF THE DREAM
Look at verse 6, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Have you ever heard the man-made proverb that says “God helps those who helps themselves?” You can’t say that’s true in all cases, but have to admit that you have not seen any farmer who has ever grown a crop by prayer alone.
The farmer has to go out in the field, plow the ground, plant the seeds, add the right kind of fertilizer, pray for the rain and sunshine and wait for the harvest. There has to be some work. No matter what you’re going to do, there are some demands involved.
We live in the age of impatience. We don’t just want something, we want it right now. The world market system has picked up on this and has tried to make tons of money catering to our wishes. We now have just about any kind of food you want, microwavable. Electronic equipment is almost obsolete the moment it is taken out of the box. We just don’t want to wait for anything.
People don’t even want to wait to make a phone call, it’s faster to text. This old man doesn’t know how to text. One of our grandchildren tried to text their grandmother and our daughter said, “Son, grandmother doesn’t know how to text.”
We may have instant potatoes, instant pudding and instant messaging, but there is no instant success with God. Success in the things of the Lord is earned by honoring His precepts and promises. It is an ongoing process. You and I can learn three things about God’s demands from the first part of verse six:
A. It Involves PURSUIT
Notice the phrase, “he that goeth forth.” This phrase has the idea of moving away from something and moving toward something else. We must move away from our dream and move toward sowing. There are some old songs you don’t hear much in churches today. I like the old hymns. One song says “work for the night is coming,” and another says “We’ll work till Jesus comes.” I like both of them because they are Scriptural. If you and I are going to be successful in the dream God has given us, we must put ourselves on the firing line, or at least on the business end of the hoe.
Many Christians have wonderful dreams, but they just don’t “go forth” and present themselves for the service of the Lord. A dream will stay a dream until the dreamer gets up off the seat of do-nothing and gets going in the process of sowing. Every one of us needs to be involved in some part of the mission God has given to us. Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 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.”
B. It Involves PAIN
Notice verse 6 again and the two words “and weepeth.” Most people don’t like this part. The word “weepeth” means to lament; to bewail; to shed tears of grief or humiliation. Sometimes people cry and then at other times they weep. There is a difference.
Many of God’s people will quit when things get difficult. That’s not the way to accomplish your godly dream. This life is a proving ground. We’re not being tested for God to see how we’ll do. We’re actually tested for us to learn more about ourselves, and for us to learn more about the God who enables us to accomplish our dream. There will be difficulty and pain. It’s part of the process.
Paul had pain and testing. How did he feel about them? Notice Philippians 1:12 “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;”
Our prayer should be that God helps us look at pain in the same way as did Paul.
C. It Involves PURPOSE
And what is the purpose? The purpose is found in the phrase “bearing precious seed.” In the dream of every child of God, the goal is to accomplish God’s purpose. God has given us special abilities, gifts and talents and He expects each of us to use them for His glory. We’re not saved to spend life doing nothing, but to serve the Lord. We read in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
The phrase “bearing precious seed” literally means, to leave a trail to follow. The planting of the valuable seed was to set in motion events that would lead to a bumper crop. Our purpose must be to do the same thing in our lives. We’re leaving a life trail by our actions and decisions. Can others follow the trail we are leaving? I like the song: “Find Us Faithful” That’s my desire and I pray it’s also your desire.
I remember years ago I was talking to a young youth pastor and he was telling me of what he was doing with his youth group. He told me of some of his plans and goals. He told me of some of his youth activities and also showed me a youth newspaper he was producing. And then he said something to this effect: “I am doing some of the same things you use to do in your ministry with us.” Nothing could have excited me more. I had planted some seed that was yielding a harvest.
What about you? What seeds are you planting?
Next weeks in CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will look at the last point: The DELIGHTS of the dream.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, October 3, 2011
DREAMS – Pt 4
Psalm 126:1-3 “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
There must be a caution at this point. Just because someone has a dream and a desire, doesn’t mean that dream is from God. King David looked at his house of cedar and remembered that the “ark of God” dwelled in a tent, and dreamed about building a magnificent temple for God. David even got encouragement from Nathan, but later Nathan came back and said that God had told him that David was not to build that temple.
There are times that we have a dream but that dream is not of God. We might even have some good meaning friends who encourage us in that dream. We need to make sure our dream is from God.
Remember, in our first point in this series we said that God would direct us and show us His will. We also pointed out that the success of our dream or the dream of others can encourage many other believers to pursue their dream.
In this week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we have to face the fact that there can be difficulties pursuing our dreams.
III. THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE DREAM
Look now at Psalm 126:3-5 “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
I have known many people who have started off on their way to fulfilling God’s purposes for their lives. I have seen some succeed, but I have also seen some get sidetracked. I have seen some fail miserably.
I remember a young man who moved his family to Chattanooga to enter Bible college. He came in like a tornado, but left like puff of smoke. He had a great dream. He had great plans but it was just too hard for him to stay. Was he called of God? Was his dream from God? Only he and God really knows the answer to those questions.
I have also been amazed how some people attack life with the tenacity of a Pit Bull and never allow any kind of difficulty to affect them. What’s the difference between the two? In the verses we just read God shows us how to achieve our dreams in spite of the difficulties we’re sure to face in our walk. Let’s take a look at what God shares:
A. ACKNOWLEDGE past blessings
Notice verse 3 “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
In verse 2 it was the heathen who pointed out the blessings of God. Now in verse 3 the Psalmist himself who remembers the great victories and agrees with the unbelievers that God was a great God.
It’s a sad situation when the unsaved world points out how great God is, but it is true that there are times in which we forget that we are God’s children and that He walks with us and helps us every minute of the day. In times of difficulty we become ignorant of His presence and His blessings. God’s past blessings are solid evidence for future ones.
B. ASK for present blessings
Notice verse 4 “Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.”
The Psalmist is asking. James 4:2 “. . . ye have not, because ye ask not.” Sometimes we have the idea that since God already knows, why bother asking. God wants us to bring our hopes and desires to Him in prayer. This is what Jabez did in I Chronicles 4:10, “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”
You and I are to do the same thing. We must seek God’s blessings on all that we dream or do. If God’s blessings are not on our service, it will be a failure. We read in John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” We must have God’s blessings.
C. AFFIRM promised blessings
Notice verse 5 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
This great truth is sometimes quoted very flippantly. There’s a great truth here. For those in deepest poverty, this is a supreme act of faith. Many times the seed was a large portion of their food supply. To go out and plant that seed instead of eating it took great faith. What would they do tomorrow? How would they survive?
For the child of God to gain future blessings, he must be willing to give up present benefits. To the farmer and herdsman of the plain, there were no guarantees that their crops would ever come to harvest. They were exposed to robbers and even invading armies. They faced all manner of evil every day of their life. They did not live in a walled city for defense. All They had were the promises of God. It took a lot of faith to plant the seeds in the face of such adversity.
In our walk with the Lord there are many tears. As we serve there are hardship and trials. We sometimes weep while we continue to pursue our dream. That’s part of life. But remember there’s a harvest we will reap here on this earth. I look at lives I have influenced for God and I rejoice in that. But there’s a greater harvest coming for the child of God. It’s a sure harvest because God has promised it and He cannot lie.
I firmly believe that when we see that final harvest, we will thank God for the privilege of experiencing the tears of our sowing.
In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will examine verse 6 and the DEMANDS of the dream.
That’s my view; how about you?
There must be a caution at this point. Just because someone has a dream and a desire, doesn’t mean that dream is from God. King David looked at his house of cedar and remembered that the “ark of God” dwelled in a tent, and dreamed about building a magnificent temple for God. David even got encouragement from Nathan, but later Nathan came back and said that God had told him that David was not to build that temple.
There are times that we have a dream but that dream is not of God. We might even have some good meaning friends who encourage us in that dream. We need to make sure our dream is from God.
Remember, in our first point in this series we said that God would direct us and show us His will. We also pointed out that the success of our dream or the dream of others can encourage many other believers to pursue their dream.
In this week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we have to face the fact that there can be difficulties pursuing our dreams.
III. THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE DREAM
Look now at Psalm 126:3-5 “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
I have known many people who have started off on their way to fulfilling God’s purposes for their lives. I have seen some succeed, but I have also seen some get sidetracked. I have seen some fail miserably.
I remember a young man who moved his family to Chattanooga to enter Bible college. He came in like a tornado, but left like puff of smoke. He had a great dream. He had great plans but it was just too hard for him to stay. Was he called of God? Was his dream from God? Only he and God really knows the answer to those questions.
I have also been amazed how some people attack life with the tenacity of a Pit Bull and never allow any kind of difficulty to affect them. What’s the difference between the two? In the verses we just read God shows us how to achieve our dreams in spite of the difficulties we’re sure to face in our walk. Let’s take a look at what God shares:
A. ACKNOWLEDGE past blessings
Notice verse 3 “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
In verse 2 it was the heathen who pointed out the blessings of God. Now in verse 3 the Psalmist himself who remembers the great victories and agrees with the unbelievers that God was a great God.
It’s a sad situation when the unsaved world points out how great God is, but it is true that there are times in which we forget that we are God’s children and that He walks with us and helps us every minute of the day. In times of difficulty we become ignorant of His presence and His blessings. God’s past blessings are solid evidence for future ones.
B. ASK for present blessings
Notice verse 4 “Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.”
The Psalmist is asking. James 4:2 “. . . ye have not, because ye ask not.” Sometimes we have the idea that since God already knows, why bother asking. God wants us to bring our hopes and desires to Him in prayer. This is what Jabez did in I Chronicles 4:10, “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”
You and I are to do the same thing. We must seek God’s blessings on all that we dream or do. If God’s blessings are not on our service, it will be a failure. We read in John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” We must have God’s blessings.
C. AFFIRM promised blessings
Notice verse 5 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
This great truth is sometimes quoted very flippantly. There’s a great truth here. For those in deepest poverty, this is a supreme act of faith. Many times the seed was a large portion of their food supply. To go out and plant that seed instead of eating it took great faith. What would they do tomorrow? How would they survive?
For the child of God to gain future blessings, he must be willing to give up present benefits. To the farmer and herdsman of the plain, there were no guarantees that their crops would ever come to harvest. They were exposed to robbers and even invading armies. They faced all manner of evil every day of their life. They did not live in a walled city for defense. All They had were the promises of God. It took a lot of faith to plant the seeds in the face of such adversity.
In our walk with the Lord there are many tears. As we serve there are hardship and trials. We sometimes weep while we continue to pursue our dream. That’s part of life. But remember there’s a harvest we will reap here on this earth. I look at lives I have influenced for God and I rejoice in that. But there’s a greater harvest coming for the child of God. It’s a sure harvest because God has promised it and He cannot lie.
I firmly believe that when we see that final harvest, we will thank God for the privilege of experiencing the tears of our sowing.
In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will examine verse 6 and the DEMANDS of the dream.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, September 26, 2011
DREAMS – Pt 3
Psalm 126:1-3 “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
In last week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we looked at the first point in our study which was the DETERMINING of the dream. God does give each of us dreams and we must determine what God wants us to do.
This week we go one step further in our challenge to pursue what God wants out of our life.
II. THE DISPLAY OF THE DREAM
Look at verse 2, “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.”
Notice the phrase, “turned again the captivity of Zion.” The city of Jerusalem had been saved. It was a miraculous victory as God destroyed the Assyrian army in one night while they were in their sleep.
As he remembered and retraced how God had come to the rescue of His people, the Psalmist gets excited. Notice how he draws strength from his memory of this past blessing.
A. There Was MERRIMENT
Notice the response of the Psalmist when he thought about the great power that God displayed in the deliverance of the city of Jerusalem. Notice the phrase “then was our mouth filled with laughter.”
Have you ever gotten so excited about something that you began to giggle? I have! I remember when our Christian school in Kansas City went to play in the basketball finals at Maranatha Baptist College. In the semi-finals the regulation game ended in a tie. The overtime came down to the last second and Brek Cockrell took a half-court shot when the buzzer went off. The ball touched nothing but net and we went wild. We were laughing and giggling. We were excited about what had happened.
Can you imagine how much more merriment was going on at the miracle that God performed for His people.
The deliverance of the city of Jerusalem did not necessarily help those outside the walls of the city, but it did encourage them to trust God in their own lives. As a point of application, that means that you and I should put our dreams on display so that others can be blessed and challenged when God works.
The body of Christ has the unique opportunity to encourage and help each other fulfill the purpose of God for their lives. This is one of the reasons I like small groups in the church, whether be it Sunday school classes or groups that are divided at other times of the week. In these small groups you have the opportunity to testify of what God is doing in each life. What an encouragement we can be to each other.
B. There Was MUSIC
Notice verse 2 again, especially the phrase “and our tongue with singing.” The concept of singing originated as a method of praising God. The sad thing is that in my lifetime singing has been demoted to blasphemy in many cases. Some popular music today contains the basest of words and thoughts.
When a godly dream is fulfilled and displayed for everybody to see, a natural spirit of praise flows from the heart and resonates into singing.
The Psalmist declared in Psalm 40:10, “I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.”
I used to work with a man who always had a song on his heart. If he wasn’t singing, he was whistling. He was the kind of man you liked to be around. He had a song in his heart and he wasn’t ashamed to let it out.
C. There Was A MESSAGE
Look at the last part of verse 2 and verse 3, “. . . then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
(1) It Was A Message Of GREATNESS
We need to remember that God and man see greatness in different ways. That is natural, because man always sees things differently than does God. Man’s eyesight is limited here on earth. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 13: 12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; . . “
Man only sees it after the fact; God sees the inner greatness that was present all the time. One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is found in the 6th chapter of II Kings. The prophet Elisha was being hunted by the king of Syria. When he was located the army of Syria came by night and surrounded the city where Elisha was. Early the next morning the servants of God’s man went outside and saw the enemy surrounding them. He ran back to Elisha, told him of the circumstance, and wanted to know what they were going to do. Elisha calmly said there were more for them than there were against them. Of course the servant of Elisha was looking with man’s eyes. And then Elisha called upon God in II Kings 6:17 “And Elisha prayed and said LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
Of course the greatness of God was displayed as God came to the rescue of His servant.
That’s the message you and I have. God always works in miraculous ways. The fulfillment and display of godly dreams is a testimony of the great love and compassion that God has to His people. The lost world could not deny that God had delivered His people. The people of God are great only because of their relationship with Him. After the wonderful victory, the heathen all around Judah could see God’s care of His people.
(2) It Was A Message Of GLADNESS
There is always a song on the heart of God’s people when God’s power is demonstrated. What has God done for you lately? Do you have a heart of gratitude and gladness?
That’s my view; how about you?
In last week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we looked at the first point in our study which was the DETERMINING of the dream. God does give each of us dreams and we must determine what God wants us to do.
This week we go one step further in our challenge to pursue what God wants out of our life.
II. THE DISPLAY OF THE DREAM
Look at verse 2, “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.”
Notice the phrase, “turned again the captivity of Zion.” The city of Jerusalem had been saved. It was a miraculous victory as God destroyed the Assyrian army in one night while they were in their sleep.
As he remembered and retraced how God had come to the rescue of His people, the Psalmist gets excited. Notice how he draws strength from his memory of this past blessing.
A. There Was MERRIMENT
Notice the response of the Psalmist when he thought about the great power that God displayed in the deliverance of the city of Jerusalem. Notice the phrase “then was our mouth filled with laughter.”
Have you ever gotten so excited about something that you began to giggle? I have! I remember when our Christian school in Kansas City went to play in the basketball finals at Maranatha Baptist College. In the semi-finals the regulation game ended in a tie. The overtime came down to the last second and Brek Cockrell took a half-court shot when the buzzer went off. The ball touched nothing but net and we went wild. We were laughing and giggling. We were excited about what had happened.
Can you imagine how much more merriment was going on at the miracle that God performed for His people.
The deliverance of the city of Jerusalem did not necessarily help those outside the walls of the city, but it did encourage them to trust God in their own lives. As a point of application, that means that you and I should put our dreams on display so that others can be blessed and challenged when God works.
The body of Christ has the unique opportunity to encourage and help each other fulfill the purpose of God for their lives. This is one of the reasons I like small groups in the church, whether be it Sunday school classes or groups that are divided at other times of the week. In these small groups you have the opportunity to testify of what God is doing in each life. What an encouragement we can be to each other.
B. There Was MUSIC
Notice verse 2 again, especially the phrase “and our tongue with singing.” The concept of singing originated as a method of praising God. The sad thing is that in my lifetime singing has been demoted to blasphemy in many cases. Some popular music today contains the basest of words and thoughts.
When a godly dream is fulfilled and displayed for everybody to see, a natural spirit of praise flows from the heart and resonates into singing.
The Psalmist declared in Psalm 40:10, “I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.”
I used to work with a man who always had a song on his heart. If he wasn’t singing, he was whistling. He was the kind of man you liked to be around. He had a song in his heart and he wasn’t ashamed to let it out.
C. There Was A MESSAGE
Look at the last part of verse 2 and verse 3, “. . . then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
(1) It Was A Message Of GREATNESS
We need to remember that God and man see greatness in different ways. That is natural, because man always sees things differently than does God. Man’s eyesight is limited here on earth. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 13: 12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; . . “
Man only sees it after the fact; God sees the inner greatness that was present all the time. One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is found in the 6th chapter of II Kings. The prophet Elisha was being hunted by the king of Syria. When he was located the army of Syria came by night and surrounded the city where Elisha was. Early the next morning the servants of God’s man went outside and saw the enemy surrounding them. He ran back to Elisha, told him of the circumstance, and wanted to know what they were going to do. Elisha calmly said there were more for them than there were against them. Of course the servant of Elisha was looking with man’s eyes. And then Elisha called upon God in II Kings 6:17 “And Elisha prayed and said LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
Of course the greatness of God was displayed as God came to the rescue of His servant.
That’s the message you and I have. God always works in miraculous ways. The fulfillment and display of godly dreams is a testimony of the great love and compassion that God has to His people. The lost world could not deny that God had delivered His people. The people of God are great only because of their relationship with Him. After the wonderful victory, the heathen all around Judah could see God’s care of His people.
(2) It Was A Message Of GLADNESS
There is always a song on the heart of God’s people when God’s power is demonstrated. What has God done for you lately? Do you have a heart of gratitude and gladness?
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, September 19, 2011
DREAMS – Pt 2
Psalm 126:1-3 “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
Moses was a man that dreamed of delivering his nation from the bondage they were under at the hands of the Egyptians. In our last series of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we saw how God placed him on the back side of the desert while he was prepared for the ministry God had for him.
Since he had spent his early years in the household of a king, Moses probably thought that the nation of Israel would be greatly honored to know that a prince was going to take up their cause. We know that did come to pass. He had a dream but tried to fulfill that dream in his own ability.
In this week’s study we want to again emphasize the necessity of God’s work in accomplishing anything of eternal value in and through us.
I. THE DETERMINING OF THE DREAM
In this point we want to see what the Psalmist has to say about the problems faced and the victory that can be experienced by the individual. Notice verse 1 again “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.”
A. We See The PROBLEMS Of Life
Notice the word “captivity.” There are many different opinions to which captivity is being alluded to here. Some commentaries believe this to be the captivity of Babylonian or the Assyrian siege of Sennacherib. But for the application to us, we can understand it to refers\ to all manner of misfortune and trouble. Whatever is meant by the word, "captivity," we know the captivity brought about a tremendous need in the life of God’s people.
I think the first thing we need to understand is that this was a need. Is there a need in your life? I know there is in mine. At this time in the liXES of my wife and myself, there is a very important need in our lives.
Needs are everywhere, but our dream is determined by which weighs the heaviest on our heart. There has to be something that drives you in life. The wise man Solomon wrote in Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." You need a vision or a dream to determine your focus.
Again, I ask the question about whether of not there’s a problem or need in your life? If the answer to that question is “yes,” then I’m sure there is a dream of victory over that problem or need.
We not only see the PROBLEMS of life, but:
B. We See The PRECIOUSNESS Of Faith
Notice verse 1 again, especially the phrase "When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion." If we see a problem or need that troubles us, go to God. The first thing we need is wisdom so we remember the promise found in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
When you consider the problem or need in your life, ask the question: What would God have you do? What does He want? Study the Word of God, pray and seek the face of God. We must know that God is leading us. It has to be the Lord that does the work, not our own efforts. Paul said in Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
I have come to love Philippians 2:13. God is telling us something vital about needs and problems. We must allow God to work in our lives. In that verse we learn: (1) God works within us (in the person of the Holy Spirit) to give us the desire (to will) to do the right thing, which is His will; (2) God gives us the power (to do) to do what He wants in the need or problem. It doesn’t get any better than that.
God has a perfect will for the need or problem. He wants us to do His will. He wants us to know and do His perfect will, which will be revealed when He knows we will obey. He’s not playing hide-and-seek with His will for our life. Trust Him while in the problem. That may be hard but remember the preciousness of faith.
Notice what we read in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
I love the phrase “must believe that he is. . .” He is what? He’s still God. He’s not just God at certain times and in certain situations. He’s God on the mountains and God in the valleys. He’s God in the good times and God in the bad times. He’s God in the sunshine and He’s God in the rain. We have to just trust God in every need.
We see the PROBLEMS of life and the PRESCIOUSNESS of faith, but also:
C. We See The PRECEPTS Of Scripture
The third ingredient of determining our dream is the Word of God. We should never trust our own intellect or feelings. We read in Jeremiah 10:23, "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."
Man’s intellect and emotions are tainted because of the Adamic nature he still has. It would be good if when we get saved that God would eradicate the old nature but he doesn’t.
In discussing the battle that went on in his body, the Apostle Paul said in Roman 9:19 “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” The old nature gave Paul some problems. He then said in verse 24 “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Paul, probably the most spiritual man who ever lived outside the Lord Jesus Christ, knew that his intellect and feelings were not sufficient to accomplish spiritual desires and dreams.
The wise man Solomon wrote in Proverbs 20:24 "Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?" Man cannot accomplish anything of himself.
God's will is always found in Scripture. Many people get caught up in a "project" or a "cause", but fail when the emotions of the moment fade. We find the proof for this point in the our text and the phrase, "turned again." God promised the nation of Israel that He would punish their sin and reward their repentance. The Psalmist learned this from the writings of Moses that God honors His repentance.
In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will see THE DISPLAY of the dream.
That’s my view; how about you?
Moses was a man that dreamed of delivering his nation from the bondage they were under at the hands of the Egyptians. In our last series of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we saw how God placed him on the back side of the desert while he was prepared for the ministry God had for him.
Since he had spent his early years in the household of a king, Moses probably thought that the nation of Israel would be greatly honored to know that a prince was going to take up their cause. We know that did come to pass. He had a dream but tried to fulfill that dream in his own ability.
In this week’s study we want to again emphasize the necessity of God’s work in accomplishing anything of eternal value in and through us.
I. THE DETERMINING OF THE DREAM
In this point we want to see what the Psalmist has to say about the problems faced and the victory that can be experienced by the individual. Notice verse 1 again “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.”
A. We See The PROBLEMS Of Life
Notice the word “captivity.” There are many different opinions to which captivity is being alluded to here. Some commentaries believe this to be the captivity of Babylonian or the Assyrian siege of Sennacherib. But for the application to us, we can understand it to refers\ to all manner of misfortune and trouble. Whatever is meant by the word, "captivity," we know the captivity brought about a tremendous need in the life of God’s people.
I think the first thing we need to understand is that this was a need. Is there a need in your life? I know there is in mine. At this time in the liXES of my wife and myself, there is a very important need in our lives.
Needs are everywhere, but our dream is determined by which weighs the heaviest on our heart. There has to be something that drives you in life. The wise man Solomon wrote in Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." You need a vision or a dream to determine your focus.
Again, I ask the question about whether of not there’s a problem or need in your life? If the answer to that question is “yes,” then I’m sure there is a dream of victory over that problem or need.
We not only see the PROBLEMS of life, but:
B. We See The PRECIOUSNESS Of Faith
Notice verse 1 again, especially the phrase "When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion." If we see a problem or need that troubles us, go to God. The first thing we need is wisdom so we remember the promise found in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
When you consider the problem or need in your life, ask the question: What would God have you do? What does He want? Study the Word of God, pray and seek the face of God. We must know that God is leading us. It has to be the Lord that does the work, not our own efforts. Paul said in Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
I have come to love Philippians 2:13. God is telling us something vital about needs and problems. We must allow God to work in our lives. In that verse we learn: (1) God works within us (in the person of the Holy Spirit) to give us the desire (to will) to do the right thing, which is His will; (2) God gives us the power (to do) to do what He wants in the need or problem. It doesn’t get any better than that.
God has a perfect will for the need or problem. He wants us to do His will. He wants us to know and do His perfect will, which will be revealed when He knows we will obey. He’s not playing hide-and-seek with His will for our life. Trust Him while in the problem. That may be hard but remember the preciousness of faith.
Notice what we read in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
I love the phrase “must believe that he is. . .” He is what? He’s still God. He’s not just God at certain times and in certain situations. He’s God on the mountains and God in the valleys. He’s God in the good times and God in the bad times. He’s God in the sunshine and He’s God in the rain. We have to just trust God in every need.
We see the PROBLEMS of life and the PRESCIOUSNESS of faith, but also:
C. We See The PRECEPTS Of Scripture
The third ingredient of determining our dream is the Word of God. We should never trust our own intellect or feelings. We read in Jeremiah 10:23, "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."
Man’s intellect and emotions are tainted because of the Adamic nature he still has. It would be good if when we get saved that God would eradicate the old nature but he doesn’t.
In discussing the battle that went on in his body, the Apostle Paul said in Roman 9:19 “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” The old nature gave Paul some problems. He then said in verse 24 “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Paul, probably the most spiritual man who ever lived outside the Lord Jesus Christ, knew that his intellect and feelings were not sufficient to accomplish spiritual desires and dreams.
The wise man Solomon wrote in Proverbs 20:24 "Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?" Man cannot accomplish anything of himself.
God's will is always found in Scripture. Many people get caught up in a "project" or a "cause", but fail when the emotions of the moment fade. We find the proof for this point in the our text and the phrase, "turned again." God promised the nation of Israel that He would punish their sin and reward their repentance. The Psalmist learned this from the writings of Moses that God honors His repentance.
In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will see THE DISPLAY of the dream.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, September 12, 2011
DREAMS – Pt 1
Psalm 126:1-3 “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
Dreams are a powerful force in many people's lives. When I think of dreams I always think about the speech made by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and especially the line, “I have a dream.” He did have a dream and he followed that dream with all that was in him. That dream became his life’s pursuit.
The word “dream” brings many pictures to mind. There are daydreams, which are nothing more than idle wishes. They usually have no hope of coming to pass because the one doing the daydreaming usually has no get-up-and-go about him. I remember some of the daydreamers from my high school days. They always talked a big game but never got off the bench and into the game. The only bench sitter who had anything to do with the victory of the game was usually the coach.
There are the dreams we have in our sleep whereby the subconscious mind speaks many times in incomprehensible pictures that no one can make sense of it. For years I always said that I never dream, but someone said that everybody dreams so I must not have remembered them. That may be true because I do have a short memory. But when I have heard some people talk about the stupid things they have dreamed, I’m glad that I either have never dreamed or at least I was smart enough not to remember them.
The dreams that people have told me about are mostly weird happenings. They usually don’t make much sense. There are not many people, outside of the Old Testament Daniel, who has any success with telling the meaning of dreams.
Then there is a dream, defined as a “desire and longing for a state of being and quality of life that a person has not as yet enjoyed.” This kind of dream propels men and women to great feats. They have pushed families in covered wagons to find new homes in places where no Americans had ever lived. Henry Ford created the assembly line because he dreamed of mass producing the automobile. The scientist Warner Von Braun looked into space and set out to develop a space ship that could take man to the moon. That dream not only drove him to pursue that dream but it also caused a group of men and women to look at that moon and looked forward to the day someone would realize that dream. Then in 1969 man set his foot on the moon and uttered those famous words, “One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.”
The history of America is full of stories of great people who have made their dreams come true. For years I have loved to read success stories of people who have reached for bigger and greater things and saw their dreams fulfilled.
What does God have to say about people who dream? Of course one of the greatest dreamers in the Word of God was Joseph, who told his brothers that he would one day be a great leader and rule over even his family. And of course, his brothers set out to destroy his dream, but God still accomplished His purpose in the life of the young man. He did rule over his brothers and family, and through the life of the dreamer, two entire nations were saved.
When you think about the dream of Joseph and the fulfillment of it, you realize the fulfillment of his dream was dependent upon his partnership with God. His dream came true because God was working all things according to His perfect will. For the believer today who has a dream, desire or longing which has been placed within him by God, partnering with God means living within the purpose and perfect will of God.
In Psalm 126, we have a blueprint on how we can achieve the dream that God gives us. The biblical word Adream@ can mean an ordinary dream or a prophetic dream. It doesn=t pertain to this great longing of which we=re talking. But the entire Psalm, taken in its context, does deal with Christian longings and desires. This passage is familiar to us as a proof for soul winning. Verses 5-6 are often quoted and this application is not out of order. But I believe there is much more truth in this passage of scripture.
I don’t think we can be dogmatic about who wrote this Psalm but it was probably written durring the time when Sennacherib=s army was destroyed by God in a miraculous way as the city of Jerusalem was saved from destruction.
Jerusalem was a walled city and was safe, but those outside the walls of the city, the herdsmen, farmers, and shepherds, still faced constant danger and harassment by many different adversaries.
I believe this scenario is faced by many Christians even today. Some believers have seen God do many wonderful things in other people’s lives, but they long to experience His power and presence in their lives as well.
In the next few weeks in CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will examine the dream mentioned here in Psalm 126 and see how the Psalmist saw his godly dream come true. We will also make application of this fact to the dreams you and I may have. God can bring our dreams to pass just as He did the Psalmist. Remember what we read in Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
That’s my view; how about you?
Dreams are a powerful force in many people's lives. When I think of dreams I always think about the speech made by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and especially the line, “I have a dream.” He did have a dream and he followed that dream with all that was in him. That dream became his life’s pursuit.
The word “dream” brings many pictures to mind. There are daydreams, which are nothing more than idle wishes. They usually have no hope of coming to pass because the one doing the daydreaming usually has no get-up-and-go about him. I remember some of the daydreamers from my high school days. They always talked a big game but never got off the bench and into the game. The only bench sitter who had anything to do with the victory of the game was usually the coach.
There are the dreams we have in our sleep whereby the subconscious mind speaks many times in incomprehensible pictures that no one can make sense of it. For years I always said that I never dream, but someone said that everybody dreams so I must not have remembered them. That may be true because I do have a short memory. But when I have heard some people talk about the stupid things they have dreamed, I’m glad that I either have never dreamed or at least I was smart enough not to remember them.
The dreams that people have told me about are mostly weird happenings. They usually don’t make much sense. There are not many people, outside of the Old Testament Daniel, who has any success with telling the meaning of dreams.
Then there is a dream, defined as a “desire and longing for a state of being and quality of life that a person has not as yet enjoyed.” This kind of dream propels men and women to great feats. They have pushed families in covered wagons to find new homes in places where no Americans had ever lived. Henry Ford created the assembly line because he dreamed of mass producing the automobile. The scientist Warner Von Braun looked into space and set out to develop a space ship that could take man to the moon. That dream not only drove him to pursue that dream but it also caused a group of men and women to look at that moon and looked forward to the day someone would realize that dream. Then in 1969 man set his foot on the moon and uttered those famous words, “One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.”
The history of America is full of stories of great people who have made their dreams come true. For years I have loved to read success stories of people who have reached for bigger and greater things and saw their dreams fulfilled.
What does God have to say about people who dream? Of course one of the greatest dreamers in the Word of God was Joseph, who told his brothers that he would one day be a great leader and rule over even his family. And of course, his brothers set out to destroy his dream, but God still accomplished His purpose in the life of the young man. He did rule over his brothers and family, and through the life of the dreamer, two entire nations were saved.
When you think about the dream of Joseph and the fulfillment of it, you realize the fulfillment of his dream was dependent upon his partnership with God. His dream came true because God was working all things according to His perfect will. For the believer today who has a dream, desire or longing which has been placed within him by God, partnering with God means living within the purpose and perfect will of God.
In Psalm 126, we have a blueprint on how we can achieve the dream that God gives us. The biblical word Adream@ can mean an ordinary dream or a prophetic dream. It doesn=t pertain to this great longing of which we=re talking. But the entire Psalm, taken in its context, does deal with Christian longings and desires. This passage is familiar to us as a proof for soul winning. Verses 5-6 are often quoted and this application is not out of order. But I believe there is much more truth in this passage of scripture.
I don’t think we can be dogmatic about who wrote this Psalm but it was probably written durring the time when Sennacherib=s army was destroyed by God in a miraculous way as the city of Jerusalem was saved from destruction.
Jerusalem was a walled city and was safe, but those outside the walls of the city, the herdsmen, farmers, and shepherds, still faced constant danger and harassment by many different adversaries.
I believe this scenario is faced by many Christians even today. Some believers have seen God do many wonderful things in other people’s lives, but they long to experience His power and presence in their lives as well.
In the next few weeks in CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will examine the dream mentioned here in Psalm 126 and see how the Psalmist saw his godly dream come true. We will also make application of this fact to the dreams you and I may have. God can bring our dreams to pass just as He did the Psalmist. Remember what we read in Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
That’s my view; how about you?
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
THE BURNING TREE EXPERIENCE – Pt 7
Exodus 3:1-5 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
I don’t know about you but this has been a great study for me. Even after 63 years of walking with the Lord (I was saved at 8 years of age) I feel as if there is still more that God wants to do through me. If God has another call for me, I want to do what Moses did: “turn aside to see. . . “
If God calls me to another ministry, I want to be ready to hit the ground running. If God wants me to continue to be faithful where I am as a layman in our local church and serve through the avenue of music, I want to sing to the best of my ability. Whatever God’s call for my wife and me, we want to serve Him.
God’s specific call has been the subject for the last few weeks in CHALLENGING CONCEPTS. We have looked at the burning bush experience in the life of Moses. We have taken the experience of Moses and tried to make some applications to the will of God for our life. We have seen that the call of God is SCRIPTURAL, SOVEREIGN, SELECTIVE, SINCERE, and now today we’re going to see that when we accept that call, it is SATISFYING.
Let’s look at this last point:
VI. OUR CALL IS A SATISFYING ONE
When you follow the life of Moses, you see that he did become the leader that God had planned for him. The doubts he had were assured and his faith in God grew to the point that God worked great miracles through him. Moses became one of the greatest characters of the Old Testament. There are times, though, that some people forget that Moses was a mere man. He was flesh and blood just as we are. He was a humble shepherd on the back side of the desert, on the run from his past. But God spoke to him out of a burning bush and through that experience, he became the great leader that God wanted him to be and a great example for us today.
Every one of us today has a place in the service of the Lord. I’m not talking about some of us becoming a modern day Moses, but God does have something for us to do. We’re not to serve Him through the flesh, but through the power of God which resides in every one of us in the person of the Holy Spirit. John 14:17 states “. . . but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” We also read in Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
There will be different times that God will speak to you in a definite and real way. He may speak through certain preachers or teachers. He will speak to you through your own Bible studies. He will gently guide you when you get off track, or He may even use a stern warning if you walk unworthy of your position as His child. Notice the promise of God in Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with mine eye.”
God calls each of us to follow Him. We may be different; have differing talents and abilities and will be called to different roles in life. But our only real satisfaction comes from an intimate relationship with God. God will speak to you. He’ll do it in many, many ways, but the main avenue through which He speaks and calls today is through His Word.
Notice what we read in II Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable (for your good and His glory) for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (What is the purpose?) That the man of God may be perfect, (mature or complete) throughly furnished unto all good works.”
The maturity of the believers in Macedonia was seen when they responded to the need of the Christians at Jerusalem. They were poor themselves, but were confident that God had called them to give what they could not afford. Notice the satisfaction of them as they were dependent upon God’s resources to enable them to sacrificially give. Notice what we read in II Corinthians 8:2 “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”
Notice the joy and satisfaction shown by Paul because he had answered the call of God to preach the gospel. We read in I Thessalonians 2:19-20 “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”
I could give other examples of satisfaction and joy that came because people answered the call of God in their lives, but I think I have made my point. There are two thoughts I would like to leave with you: (1) God wants to speak to you! (2) Will you turn aside and listen?
Those are two thought provoking comments. What will you do with those thoughts?
That’s my view; how about you?
I don’t know about you but this has been a great study for me. Even after 63 years of walking with the Lord (I was saved at 8 years of age) I feel as if there is still more that God wants to do through me. If God has another call for me, I want to do what Moses did: “turn aside to see. . . “
If God calls me to another ministry, I want to be ready to hit the ground running. If God wants me to continue to be faithful where I am as a layman in our local church and serve through the avenue of music, I want to sing to the best of my ability. Whatever God’s call for my wife and me, we want to serve Him.
God’s specific call has been the subject for the last few weeks in CHALLENGING CONCEPTS. We have looked at the burning bush experience in the life of Moses. We have taken the experience of Moses and tried to make some applications to the will of God for our life. We have seen that the call of God is SCRIPTURAL, SOVEREIGN, SELECTIVE, SINCERE, and now today we’re going to see that when we accept that call, it is SATISFYING.
Let’s look at this last point:
VI. OUR CALL IS A SATISFYING ONE
When you follow the life of Moses, you see that he did become the leader that God had planned for him. The doubts he had were assured and his faith in God grew to the point that God worked great miracles through him. Moses became one of the greatest characters of the Old Testament. There are times, though, that some people forget that Moses was a mere man. He was flesh and blood just as we are. He was a humble shepherd on the back side of the desert, on the run from his past. But God spoke to him out of a burning bush and through that experience, he became the great leader that God wanted him to be and a great example for us today.
Every one of us today has a place in the service of the Lord. I’m not talking about some of us becoming a modern day Moses, but God does have something for us to do. We’re not to serve Him through the flesh, but through the power of God which resides in every one of us in the person of the Holy Spirit. John 14:17 states “. . . but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” We also read in Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
There will be different times that God will speak to you in a definite and real way. He may speak through certain preachers or teachers. He will speak to you through your own Bible studies. He will gently guide you when you get off track, or He may even use a stern warning if you walk unworthy of your position as His child. Notice the promise of God in Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with mine eye.”
God calls each of us to follow Him. We may be different; have differing talents and abilities and will be called to different roles in life. But our only real satisfaction comes from an intimate relationship with God. God will speak to you. He’ll do it in many, many ways, but the main avenue through which He speaks and calls today is through His Word.
Notice what we read in II Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable (for your good and His glory) for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (What is the purpose?) That the man of God may be perfect, (mature or complete) throughly furnished unto all good works.”
The maturity of the believers in Macedonia was seen when they responded to the need of the Christians at Jerusalem. They were poor themselves, but were confident that God had called them to give what they could not afford. Notice the satisfaction of them as they were dependent upon God’s resources to enable them to sacrificially give. Notice what we read in II Corinthians 8:2 “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”
Notice the joy and satisfaction shown by Paul because he had answered the call of God to preach the gospel. We read in I Thessalonians 2:19-20 “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”
I could give other examples of satisfaction and joy that came because people answered the call of God in their lives, but I think I have made my point. There are two thoughts I would like to leave with you: (1) God wants to speak to you! (2) Will you turn aside and listen?
Those are two thought provoking comments. What will you do with those thoughts?
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, August 29, 2011
THE BURNING TREE EXPERIENCE – Pt 6
Exodus 3:1-5 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
We have been journeying with Moses for the last few weeks as he is confronted by God with a very special call. As Moses is standing there bare-footed, God identifies Himself in a very special way. Notice verse 6 “. . . I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. . . .”
What is so interesting? Just this: Moses was in the direct line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Notice the progression. Abraham was the one to whom God’s covenant was first made. Isaac was the father of the Edomites as well as the Israelites, and with him God renewed that covenant. Jacob was the father of the twelve patriarchs, who were the founders of the Jewish nation. God confirmed His promise to them. And now God has chosen one from that exact line for a special calling.
Notice the remainder of verse 6 “. . . And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”
Adam Clark’s Commentary states, “he was overawed by God’s presence, and dazzled with the splendor of the appearance.”
This really shoots down some people’s idea that when they get to heaven they’re going to walk up to God and ask Him some reasons why certain things happen.
The more we see of God, the more cause we shall see to worship him with reverence and godly fear. And even the manifestations of God's grace should increase our humble reverence of him.
Let’s all keep a reverence for the God Who loved us so much that He gave His only Begotten Son so that we might be redeemed.
In past weeks of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we have seen through our study of the call of Moses that our call is a SCRIPTURAL , SOVEREIGN, SELECTIVE, and SINGLE one. Now we can also see another important thought.
V. OUR CALL IS A SINCERE ONE
When God revealed His plan for Moses’ life, he was completely overwhelmed. Even though Moses had been emotionally moved on behalf of his people and desired to do something about their plight, this opportunity was more than he could ever have dreamed possible. Notice his question in verse 11 “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
Even though Moses must have been humbled by what he heard, I think he had legitimate questions about his ability to do such a task. Wouldn’t you? Could he really carry out this massive undertaking? He knew his physical limitations and short-comings. He had never in his entire life tried something this big. The one thing that Moses had not realized was that this task was not to be undertaken in his own ability and power but in the strength of the Lord.
I think there are many times that we find ourselves in the same situation. We know the Word of God and the many promises that He gives us, but there are times we need to be reminded of God’s awesome power. We need assurance that it is not us that are capable or knowledgeable enough to do God’s work; it is Him. I love what the Apostle Paul wrote about doing what God wants us to do. He states in Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will (gives you the desire) and to do (gives you the ability or power) of his good pleasure.”
The child of God is not to operate in his/her own power, but through the power of the Spirit of God Who indwells him/her.The burning bush experience restores our faith to its proper place. God uses His Word to answer our questions and doubts concerning His will for our lives.
Even recently I have been plagued with doubts and questions. I had begun to look at some things through the eyes of my own ability. I had left God out of the equation. I had forgotten some of God’s promises in His Word. It’s easy for us to begin to live by sight and not by faith. God had to give me a burning bush experience to get me back on track. God solidified my faith in Him through the message of someone else.
We need to allow the Exodus 3 and the burning bush experience to get us back on track. Let the message to Moses solidify our faith in the One Who created the burning bush.
God is serious when He calls us. He has something for each of us so we need to turn aside and listen to His voice. He will lead us if we will just listen to Him and follow His call.
Next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS will finish up this series by looking at the SATISFACTION that comes when we answer God’s call. That SATISFACTION will be experienced by obedience and trust.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, August 22, 2011
THE BURNING TREE EXPERIENCE – Pt 5
Exodus 3:1-5 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
The more I study God’s Word and meditate on His person and plan, the more I am thankful for His sovereignty. My wife and I were discussing this at our devotion time today. Since my eyes have gotten bad, she reads and I listen. We are reading a chapter a day from Charles Swindoll’s book, “A Man Of Compassion And Destiny.” This book on the life of David reminds us that God called David when he was about 12 or 13 years of age. He was anointed to be the next king of God’s people, but it was about 25 years before he was actually in that position. Some might have thought that it was not going to happen, but God is Sovereign and His plan would be fulfilled. We can all count on it.
In earlier CHALLENING CONCEPTS we have noted the SCRIPTURAL, SOVEREIGN and SELECTIVE call of God. This week we will notice another part of God’s call upon a person’s life.
IV. OUR CALL IS A SINGLE ONE
Realize that Moses was now at the place where God wanted him. He was not in a crowd, with his family or a friend. Moses was alone. This is very important for us to notice because this is the place where God can intimately talk to Moses and is at the same place He wants us so that He can personally deal with us.
The majority of Christians do not like to be alone. They like to find common experiences with other believers. They like to discuss topics of like interests. This gives them a sense of family. In fact, many testify they are closer to their church family than they are their own brothers and sisters. But burning bush experiences are SINGULAR experiences. All of us are different and God has a specific purpose for each of us. He doesn’t lead everyone through the same experiences at the same time.
As a preacher of the Gospel, I realize that there are many of my messages that came out of certain experiences in my life. In fact, messages born out of experiences carry much more weight than those which come out of another person’s experiences.
But, a burning bush experience is not found in a particular message. It’s a personal conversation between God and His child. The preacher or teacher is nothing more than the conduit through which God’s message is delivered to the individual.
Every individual who has preached or taught can remember a time in which God changed their message or lesson at the last minute. They were prepared; ready and all of a sudden God led them to teach or preach another message. Many times the preacher or teacher never even knew why God changed their direction. It was possible that God had a special message for one of the hearers.
God does that. God speaks to His children and gives them direction in life. We read in Isaiah 30:21, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
The burning bush experience is not in a particular message or in the personality of a preacher or teacher. It cannot be manufactured, bottled, and sold. The burning bush experience is when a sovereign God chooses to speak in a real and personal way to one of His children.
In 1962 I had the opportunity to be the lay music director of a small church in Anniston, Alabama. It was really my first venture of this kind. I had no experience and really didn’t know exactly what to do but my young family, Grace, baby Tony and I got busy and were used of God to help that small congregation.
After a couple of years I was offered the same position in another small church but was beginning to see some rapid growth. That experience began the turning point in my life. Southside Baptist was used by God to create a thirst in my heart for something deeper in service for the Lord. The more I served, the less I enjoyed my secular job. Before long my wife and I were discussing our future. We both believed that we should consider Bible college. One day it seemed as if God was calling and I answered that call and made it public that God had something special for my family and me.
The journey has been a wonderful one. There have been mountain peaks and deep valleys. We have experienced much joy, but have had some sorrow on this pilgrimage. The journey is not over yet but it has been a wonderful life. If my wife and I, and I believe she was called as much as I, had not responded to the call of God, we would have missed seeing God’s plan come to pass.
If God is speaking to you, please make sure you are listening. The center of God’s will is the place of joy and fulfillment. If God has selected you for a special task, the journey will be a great adventure in seeing God work. Dr. Swindoll said “God’s selective call is Sovereign and Sure.”
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, August 15, 2011
THE BURNING TREE EXPERIENCE – Pt 4
Exodus 3:1-5 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
God had a plan for Moses and I think Moses had a desire early in his life to free his countrymen, but didn’t know the detour he was going to have to make before ever realizing his dream.
That’s the way it is in most of our lives. In fact, if we knew as a young person all the detours that would come in our lives, we would be frightened of the future. But God knew what He’s doing and He did in the life of Moses also. The distance between Moses having to flee Egypt and the “burning bush” experience did not take God by surprise. God was in control. He was still on the throne and He was preparing Moses for this very time in his life.
In earlier CHALLENgING CONCEPTS we have noted the SCRIPTURAL and SOVEREIGN call of God. This week we will notice another part of God’s call upon a person’s life.
III. OUR CALL IS A SELECTIVE ONE
I have heard it said that in every truth of the Word of God there are two sides, as you would have in a coin. The truth we pointed out last week is no exception.
Every truth of Scripture is like a coin – it has two sides. Let me show you what I’m talking about:
It comes down to decisions a person makes or does not make. The Bible is very, very clear on this matter. We read in Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” Then Paul goes on and speaks to the issue of good sowing and bad sowing in verse 8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus talks about the way to destruction and life. Notice what He said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
There are many other examples to the two sides of the coin, such as building on sand or solid rock. In Salvation, God calls but the sinner has to respond to His call. There are other examples but I think I have made my point.
The lesson in our text for these series of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS is no exception:
(1) Our Calling Is A SOVEREIGN Decision. I won’t spend much time here because last week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS was given over to this point. But let me say this: God chooses to make this call, the burning bush experience, to whom and when He wills. Now there is another side of this truth.
(2) Our Calling Is A SERVANT Decision. God had made His choice and that put the ball in Moses’ court. So what did he do?
Notice verse 3 where we read, “And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” You don’t see that God demanded him to turn aside. It doesn’t even say that God called Moses. God put the bush near the path of Moses and allowed him to make the choice.
I believe there are times in our life that God wants to speak personally to us, but we fail to recognize it. We should never think lightly of handling the Word of God, whether in hearing, delivering it, or in the study of it. God’s Word should have an important role in the life of the child of God.
Every time I hear the Word of God, it speaks to me. It doesn’t matter whether I read it, study it, or hear it preached, God’s Word speaks to my heart. That’s the way it should be.
God’s Word is near the path of the child of God and he needs to approach it to find out what God has to say. I love Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” God’s Word gives enlightenment and guidance, among many other things.
Moses was under the sovereign call of God for his life. God had something special for him to do. The mission was one of importance to the people God had chosen as His own and Moses was going to play a very special role in their life.
God spoke audibly to Moses. He does not speak to us in the same manner but He does speak. Are you always looking for the voice of God. Are you listening for Him to speak to you? Read God’s Word; study it; meditate upon it. Place yourself under the teaching and preaching of His precious Word. He wants to speak to you.
In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will examine the SINGLENESS of God’s call on a person’s life.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, August 8, 2011
THE BURNING TREE EXPERIENCE – Pt 3
Exodus 3:1-5 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
In these series of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we are examining the call of God upon the life of Moses. He calls all of us. It may not be to be a great leader like Moses or it may not be as dramatic as the burning bush, but He has a will for each of us and calls us to do that will.
Many struggle with God’s will for their life. One such man was the prophet Jonah. In fact, in the story of Jonah you see the struggle of two wills. There was God’s will and Jonah’s will. It wasn’t that Jonah did not know God’s will because God was very clear in what He told Jonah to do. Jonah knew, but just chose not to do it. Of course Jonah is not the only prodigal recorded in the Word of God. He is also not the only believer who struggles with this concept. Many believers struggle even today.
I trust you are not a prodigal but are willing to do exactly what God wants and calls you to do.
We were reminded in last week’s CHALLENGING CONCPETS that God audibly spoke to Moses in a dramatic way. He doesn’t do that today but primarily speaks to us through the Word of God. Let’s go a step farther into God’s call on our lives by looking at the life of Moses.
II. OUR CALL IS A SOVEREIGN ONE
When you go back in your mind to the early life of Moses, you’ll remember that he grew up in the Egyptian Courts. As the adopted son of Pharoh’s daughter, he was trained to be a leader in the nation of Egypt. They had trained him to be a great man in the politics of that nation. But there was a burning desire in his heart for his own Hebrew people. He wanted to be a blessing and help the Israelites who under heavy burdens. After his failed attempt to bring comfort to his people and having to flee for his life, Moses found himself on the back side of the desert, tending sheep that were not even his. At this time in his life, Moses was not even close to fulfilling his potential as a man or as a real servant of God.
But God was at work. He always is. God was working in the life of Moses. I believe Moses knew that there was a beautiful plan for his life, but he didn’t know how to see it come to pass. Notice that the burning bush experience came when he was on the “backside of the Desert.” This was the farthest point from his objective of freeing his people.
Moses was living his life in the best way he knew how. It had been forty years since he had made an effort to fulfill his desire. Why did God wait until this point to reveal Himself? Why did God choose this point in time? It seemed to Moses as if these last forty years had been one great big waste of time. But it wasn’t a waste of time in the eyes and plan of God. God never ceases to work out his will in the life of his people, no matter where they find themselves or how long it takes.
In the 5th chapter of I Thessalonians the Apostle Paul is writing about how God works in the life of His children. In verse 24 Paul writes “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
God saves us and continues to work in our lives day by day. One of my favorite verses of Scripture is found in Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Paul is saying that God works in His children to “will” and “do” His plan for their life, if they will surrender to that plan. I have experienced that work in my life. He puts a desire in my heart and then gives me the ability and power to accomplish it. That’s also what He had been doing in the life of Moses. The desire Moses had was part of God’s work, and for the last 40 plus years God had continued to empower and equip Moses for this time.
God in one way or another calls all believers to serve Him. We all are different so the calling of God will be different. The responsibilities are different also, but we all have a place in the service of God. Our “burning bush” experience comes directly from God. It cannot be demanded or even sought after. It’s given in the sovereign will of God. God will work in us His plan and purpose in His timing. It’s our duty to follow God’s leadership as we discern it. It’s God’s responsibility and good pleasure to give us instructions for the journey.
In Psalm 32:8 we read “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
We also read in Psalm 48:14, “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.”
God leads and guides through the Word of God. That’s why it’s so important for us to be in the Word of God on a regular basis. I love what we read in II Timothy 3:16-17 “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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
God’s word is very practical. Paul talks about God’s Word being “profitable.” One part of the practical aspects is that it gives “instruction in righteousness.” The word “righteousness” means equity of character or action. This was what God had been doing in the life of Moses and what He’s also doing in the life of the believer if he is spending time learning and applying God’s Word.
God’s Call is one of SCRIPTURE and one of SOVEREIGNTY. I trust you are responding to God’s call upon your life. In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will explore the SELECTION process of God’s call.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, August 1, 2011
THE BURNING TREE EXPERIENCE – Pt 2
Exodus 3:1-5 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
In last week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we spent a good bit of time dealing with the desire Moses had to bring comfort and freedom to his kinsmen who were in bondage in the land of Egypt. Even though his first attempt was done in the flesh, we have to at least give him credit for his desire and attempt.
Because his slaying of the Egyptian was seen by others, Moses then fled to the land of Midia. It was in this land that he met and married Zipporah, daughter of the man Moses would serve as a shepherd while God was preparing him for his next venture of faith.
After this time on the back side of the wilderness, Moses receives an unusual call to action by God. God speaks to him out of a burning bush.
I do believe that God sends us these kinds of “burning bush” experiences even today. Don’t get me wrong; if you’re driving down the interstate and see a bush on fire, don’t stop your car and go over and say “speak Lord for thy servant heareth.” If you do, your calling might end up on a certain ward of the hospital wearing a pretty white straight-jacket.
I believe those “burning bush” experiences can come through the preaching, teaching or study of God’s precious Word. This is the way that I want us to approach this passage of Scripture here in Exodus 3. Let’s look at it:
I. OUR CALL IS A SCRIPTURAL ONE
God spoke to Moses by His Word. Notice verse 5 “And he said Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
Moses literally heard the voice of Almighty God. This does not happen today; we do not hear the literal voice of God. But in the Old Testament this was a common occurrence. The first example of this is found in the very first chapter of the Bible as God addressed His newest creation. Notice Genesis 1:27-28 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
I will not go into details but you can find this kind of communication between God and mankind throughout the Old Testament. It happened many times.
God does not speak to us today in an audible voice, but He speaks to us through His Word. There may be times that we “discern” or “feel” certain things, but feelings and human reasoning cannot replace the Word of God in our life. God chose to speak to Moses through the burning bush, but God chooses to speak to us today by the inspired Word of God. Notice what we read in II Peter 1:20-21 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
I don’t think it can be emphasized enough that God’s people are led by the Word of God. Some may think this point is a given, but there are so many immature believers who believe in “mystical” experiences, dreams, and even the horoscope. I see some of this on facebook daily. With all the scriptures that deal with this issue, there are even some Christian leaders who fall into this trap of Satan. Let me state it again: God speaks to us today primarily through His Word.
Every child of God needs to understand that every time the Word of God is preached, taught or personally approached in Bible study, it is an opportunity for God to speak to them. Through these avenues God can challenge, rebuke, convict, guide and direct the believer in his/her personal life and ministry. I’m not saying that every one of these opportunities will be a “burning bush experience,” but every believer must respect the Word of God and the avenue through which it is delivered to them.
II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Notice also Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
God used a burning bush to get the attention of Moses. The bush didn’t speak to him. God did! It was God Who audibly spoke to Moses from that burning bush and told him in verse 10 that he was going to be the human instrument used to free God’s people from their bondage.
What is it that God has directed you to do? Is it to preach the gospel? Is it to teach a classroom of boys and girls in Sunday school? Is it to be a vibrant witness in the business world? Is it to faithfully hold up the hands of your pastor as he preaches the gospel week after week?
God doesn’t ask you and me to be a Moses. He does, though, have a specific ministry for each of us. Are we willing to do His will? Are we willing to answer His call?
In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will notice the SOVEREIGNTY of God in His call.
That’s my view; how about you?
In last week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we spent a good bit of time dealing with the desire Moses had to bring comfort and freedom to his kinsmen who were in bondage in the land of Egypt. Even though his first attempt was done in the flesh, we have to at least give him credit for his desire and attempt.
Because his slaying of the Egyptian was seen by others, Moses then fled to the land of Midia. It was in this land that he met and married Zipporah, daughter of the man Moses would serve as a shepherd while God was preparing him for his next venture of faith.
After this time on the back side of the wilderness, Moses receives an unusual call to action by God. God speaks to him out of a burning bush.
I do believe that God sends us these kinds of “burning bush” experiences even today. Don’t get me wrong; if you’re driving down the interstate and see a bush on fire, don’t stop your car and go over and say “speak Lord for thy servant heareth.” If you do, your calling might end up on a certain ward of the hospital wearing a pretty white straight-jacket.
I believe those “burning bush” experiences can come through the preaching, teaching or study of God’s precious Word. This is the way that I want us to approach this passage of Scripture here in Exodus 3. Let’s look at it:
I. OUR CALL IS A SCRIPTURAL ONE
God spoke to Moses by His Word. Notice verse 5 “And he said Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
Moses literally heard the voice of Almighty God. This does not happen today; we do not hear the literal voice of God. But in the Old Testament this was a common occurrence. The first example of this is found in the very first chapter of the Bible as God addressed His newest creation. Notice Genesis 1:27-28 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
I will not go into details but you can find this kind of communication between God and mankind throughout the Old Testament. It happened many times.
God does not speak to us today in an audible voice, but He speaks to us through His Word. There may be times that we “discern” or “feel” certain things, but feelings and human reasoning cannot replace the Word of God in our life. God chose to speak to Moses through the burning bush, but God chooses to speak to us today by the inspired Word of God. Notice what we read in II Peter 1:20-21 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
I don’t think it can be emphasized enough that God’s people are led by the Word of God. Some may think this point is a given, but there are so many immature believers who believe in “mystical” experiences, dreams, and even the horoscope. I see some of this on facebook daily. With all the scriptures that deal with this issue, there are even some Christian leaders who fall into this trap of Satan. Let me state it again: God speaks to us today primarily through His Word.
Every child of God needs to understand that every time the Word of God is preached, taught or personally approached in Bible study, it is an opportunity for God to speak to them. Through these avenues God can challenge, rebuke, convict, guide and direct the believer in his/her personal life and ministry. I’m not saying that every one of these opportunities will be a “burning bush experience,” but every believer must respect the Word of God and the avenue through which it is delivered to them.
II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Notice also Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
God used a burning bush to get the attention of Moses. The bush didn’t speak to him. God did! It was God Who audibly spoke to Moses from that burning bush and told him in verse 10 that he was going to be the human instrument used to free God’s people from their bondage.
What is it that God has directed you to do? Is it to preach the gospel? Is it to teach a classroom of boys and girls in Sunday school? Is it to be a vibrant witness in the business world? Is it to faithfully hold up the hands of your pastor as he preaches the gospel week after week?
God doesn’t ask you and me to be a Moses. He does, though, have a specific ministry for each of us. Are we willing to do His will? Are we willing to answer His call?
In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will notice the SOVEREIGNTY of God in His call.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, July 11, 2011
BURNING BUSH EXPERIENCE - Pt 1
Exodus 3:1-5 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
You and I live in an age of communication. It just boggles my mind to see how fast technology is changing today. About a year ago I saw a company that was promoting a new phone coming on the market that was going to be a 4-G phone. It was no time until other companies were coming on the market with the same technology.
They are now advertising the capability to make your own 3-D video, and you won’t have to wear those silly looking glasses.
We communicate through e-mail (even though most are only fowards), facebook, twitter and texting. I don’t know how to text and really don’t want to know. Just about everybody has a cell phone today. They are very useful but I do wish some people would turn them off so that you could have a meal or a private conversation whithout being interrupted by those pesky instruments.
The bad thing about using the phone today is that almost no one answers their phone. Most people screen their calls and lets voice mail hold them until a convenient time to return the calls. The only thing bad about that is the fact that some people never return their calls.
There is a universal question people ask each other in regard to left messages; “Did you get my message?” I wonder if God ever thinks about that in regard to us? He could say the same thing, “Did you get MY MESSAGE?”
There are some messages we get from God that we HEAR but do not HEED. I believe there are certain messages that God places in the path of each of us that we never get, or if we do, we don’t heed.
In the next few weeks of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS, I want us to review a very familiar and interesting message that was given to Moses. I want us to evaluate that call and compare it to how God calls and equips His servants for a specific task. I believe there are many parallels between Moses and today’s Christian worker.
As you and I look at this passage of Scripture in the coming weeks, I believe there are practical lessons we can learn. At this time in the life of Moses, he is in a very difficult time. He has felt the call to aid his kinsman in the flesh, but he has made some very obvious mistakes.
The history of Moses is far too extensive to cover here in this study and far too familiar to deal with in detail. After divine intervention, Moses ends up living in Egypt and according to Acts 7:22 “. . .Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.”
As the older Moses grew, he began to see the suffering of his people. A choice had to be made. He made it and in Hebrews 11:25 we read of that choice: “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” One day Moses saw a Jew being beaten by an Egyptian and took the matter into his hands and killed the Egyptian. He had to run for his life and spent the next forty years being equipped to lead his people out of bondage.
Moses had felt the call to help his kinsman in flesh, but he made a very obvious mistake. He tried to accomplish the work of God in the flesh. Because he did not have God’s blessing upon his action and he had to suffer the consequence.
Here is a warning for each of us. Operating in the flesh, our old carnal nature, cannot accomplish spiritual things. In Paul’s letter to the Romans he tells about his struggle with the flesh. Notice 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” If the Apostle Paul struggled with the flesh, why do we think we would be any different.
In our service for the Lord we must be on guard against this old adamic nature. Notice Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
The word “provision” means “forethought.” Paul is saying that the believer should not give flesh ammunition to our enemy. It’s pretty bad to think about giving our enemy weapons and ammunition to fight against ourselves. Instead, we are to “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ;” being clothed with Christ or making Him the government agent of our lives.
Instead of working in the flesh, God’s work must be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes in Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Being controlled by the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that our ministry will not be done in the flesh.
Moses made this mistake, but God is the giver of second chances and He does so after 40 years of preparation. What Moses went through would have made the average man throw up his hands in frustration, but God developed him into the man He is going to call to lead His people out of bondage.
In the next few weeks of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS I want us to see how a Sovereign God chooses a willing servant to do a specific ministry. I trust you’ll read every one of these and allow that Sovereign God to speak to your heart.
That’s my view; how about you?
You and I live in an age of communication. It just boggles my mind to see how fast technology is changing today. About a year ago I saw a company that was promoting a new phone coming on the market that was going to be a 4-G phone. It was no time until other companies were coming on the market with the same technology.
They are now advertising the capability to make your own 3-D video, and you won’t have to wear those silly looking glasses.
We communicate through e-mail (even though most are only fowards), facebook, twitter and texting. I don’t know how to text and really don’t want to know. Just about everybody has a cell phone today. They are very useful but I do wish some people would turn them off so that you could have a meal or a private conversation whithout being interrupted by those pesky instruments.
The bad thing about using the phone today is that almost no one answers their phone. Most people screen their calls and lets voice mail hold them until a convenient time to return the calls. The only thing bad about that is the fact that some people never return their calls.
There is a universal question people ask each other in regard to left messages; “Did you get my message?” I wonder if God ever thinks about that in regard to us? He could say the same thing, “Did you get MY MESSAGE?”
There are some messages we get from God that we HEAR but do not HEED. I believe there are certain messages that God places in the path of each of us that we never get, or if we do, we don’t heed.
In the next few weeks of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS, I want us to review a very familiar and interesting message that was given to Moses. I want us to evaluate that call and compare it to how God calls and equips His servants for a specific task. I believe there are many parallels between Moses and today’s Christian worker.
As you and I look at this passage of Scripture in the coming weeks, I believe there are practical lessons we can learn. At this time in the life of Moses, he is in a very difficult time. He has felt the call to aid his kinsman in the flesh, but he has made some very obvious mistakes.
The history of Moses is far too extensive to cover here in this study and far too familiar to deal with in detail. After divine intervention, Moses ends up living in Egypt and according to Acts 7:22 “. . .Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.”
As the older Moses grew, he began to see the suffering of his people. A choice had to be made. He made it and in Hebrews 11:25 we read of that choice: “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” One day Moses saw a Jew being beaten by an Egyptian and took the matter into his hands and killed the Egyptian. He had to run for his life and spent the next forty years being equipped to lead his people out of bondage.
Moses had felt the call to help his kinsman in flesh, but he made a very obvious mistake. He tried to accomplish the work of God in the flesh. Because he did not have God’s blessing upon his action and he had to suffer the consequence.
Here is a warning for each of us. Operating in the flesh, our old carnal nature, cannot accomplish spiritual things. In Paul’s letter to the Romans he tells about his struggle with the flesh. Notice 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” If the Apostle Paul struggled with the flesh, why do we think we would be any different.
In our service for the Lord we must be on guard against this old adamic nature. Notice Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
The word “provision” means “forethought.” Paul is saying that the believer should not give flesh ammunition to our enemy. It’s pretty bad to think about giving our enemy weapons and ammunition to fight against ourselves. Instead, we are to “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ;” being clothed with Christ or making Him the government agent of our lives.
Instead of working in the flesh, God’s work must be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes in Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Being controlled by the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that our ministry will not be done in the flesh.
Moses made this mistake, but God is the giver of second chances and He does so after 40 years of preparation. What Moses went through would have made the average man throw up his hands in frustration, but God developed him into the man He is going to call to lead His people out of bondage.
In the next few weeks of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS I want us to see how a Sovereign God chooses a willing servant to do a specific ministry. I trust you’ll read every one of these and allow that Sovereign God to speak to your heart.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, July 4, 2011
GOD WORKS THINGS FOR OUR MORAL GOOD
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
In my study to teach Romans 8:25-30 this week, my heart was overwhelmed at how God has worked in my life through the years. My wife and I can attest to the faithfulness of God in dealing with us. Because I spent so much time this week on this study, I thought I would share some of the thoughts I received as I studied.
The child of God who has made a study of the Word of God or has sat under good Bible-based preaching knows that he or she is on a journey and is involved in spiritual warfare. If the believer is alert, he senses that battle day by day. Sometimes the Christian may feel that he’s alone; that he’s been abandoned, but the teaching of the Word of God assures us that we are never alone. Notice Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” After Abraham died, God made this promise to Joshua in Joshua 1:5 “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
In Romans 8:26-27 Paul reports that God works for and with us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to make intercessions for us. Have you ever come to the place where you just didn’t know how or what to pray. I have been there many times and I’m glad that the Holy Spirit knows more about what I need than I do. I’m glad that God did not answer some of my prayers and give me what I wanted because many times my desires were 180 degrees from the will of God for my life. Our thoughts and ways are not always God’s ways and desires.
A good example of this is found in I Samuel 16. God has rejected Saul as king over Israel and He sends Samuel down to the house of Jesse to pick the new king. Jesse lines his boys up and brings in the oldest boy who surely must be the choice God will make. We read in I Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
God is working His plan in our lives and He uses the Holy Spirit in that process. I’m glad that I’m not in this walk by myself, and I’m surely glad that I don’t have to fight the good fight of faith alone. In recent years I have come to love Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” God works in us to do two things: Gives us the desire (will) and the power and ability (do) to do His will (his good pleasure). So God is at work and He uses the Holy Spirit. But there’s another way in which God works. This is our next thought.
God works for us and with us through Providences. Notice verse 28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
As I mentioned earlier, we are on a Pilgrimage and we’re involved in spiritual warfare. That’s the bad part but there’s a good part. The first part of verse 28 does not say “And we wish or we hope or we suppose” It says “And we know.” We as believers can have a knowledge about what God is doing and it is founded upon the character of God. Our God is faithful; He is trustworthy: He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Here’s my take: To those who love God, He Who is faithful and true, works together all things for our moral good.”
Notice the phrase “who love God.” This makes this promise for believers. It is true that God acts in the best interest of all mankind, but this promise is exclusively for the child of God.
Notice also the phrase “work together.” These two words have the idea of a weaver carefully interlacing strands of colored cloth into something beautiful, using a prepared pattern.
The two words “all things” includes those things seen and unseen; good and bad, including evil deeds done by evil people. Some people have a hard time with this part of my explanation but they are forgetting that God is sovereign and He controls everything. I believe that everything that happens in our lives has to cross God’s desk first, and He has to place His stamp of approval upon it.
We now come to another part of the verse that is sometimes hard for some to understand. Notice the two words “for good.” What some people’s definition of the word “good” is only those things that are fun, prosperous, or successful. They cannot see how problems, trouble, heartache or serious illness can be part of the “good things” list. The problem is that our thinking is not the same as God’s.
God has a specific purpose in mind as He weaves all things together. All the Joy and sadness; victories and defeats; mountain tops and valleys are woven together to achieve a result of His choosing that also develops us into a vessel fit for His use.
Notice one last phrase, “who are called according to His purpose.” This phrase is linked with “who love God.” Notice John 14:15 where Jesus said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Jesus is the example of this. We read in John 14:31 “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment even so I do . . .”
God’s purpose is revealed in His commands. We demonstrate our love to Him by doing what He commands us to do. As we demonstrate our love to Him by keeping His commands, God weaves all the things that come into our lives into moral goodness.
Let me give you my interpretation of Romans 8:28: “For those believers who demonstrate their love for God by responding correctly to the things that He allows, He weaves the strands of every circumstance, influence, idea and deed for the purpose of creating moral good in their life.”
My challenge to all of us is that we let God work!
That’s my view; how about you?
In my study to teach Romans 8:25-30 this week, my heart was overwhelmed at how God has worked in my life through the years. My wife and I can attest to the faithfulness of God in dealing with us. Because I spent so much time this week on this study, I thought I would share some of the thoughts I received as I studied.
The child of God who has made a study of the Word of God or has sat under good Bible-based preaching knows that he or she is on a journey and is involved in spiritual warfare. If the believer is alert, he senses that battle day by day. Sometimes the Christian may feel that he’s alone; that he’s been abandoned, but the teaching of the Word of God assures us that we are never alone. Notice Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” After Abraham died, God made this promise to Joshua in Joshua 1:5 “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
In Romans 8:26-27 Paul reports that God works for and with us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to make intercessions for us. Have you ever come to the place where you just didn’t know how or what to pray. I have been there many times and I’m glad that the Holy Spirit knows more about what I need than I do. I’m glad that God did not answer some of my prayers and give me what I wanted because many times my desires were 180 degrees from the will of God for my life. Our thoughts and ways are not always God’s ways and desires.
A good example of this is found in I Samuel 16. God has rejected Saul as king over Israel and He sends Samuel down to the house of Jesse to pick the new king. Jesse lines his boys up and brings in the oldest boy who surely must be the choice God will make. We read in I Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
God is working His plan in our lives and He uses the Holy Spirit in that process. I’m glad that I’m not in this walk by myself, and I’m surely glad that I don’t have to fight the good fight of faith alone. In recent years I have come to love Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” God works in us to do two things: Gives us the desire (will) and the power and ability (do) to do His will (his good pleasure). So God is at work and He uses the Holy Spirit. But there’s another way in which God works. This is our next thought.
God works for us and with us through Providences. Notice verse 28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
As I mentioned earlier, we are on a Pilgrimage and we’re involved in spiritual warfare. That’s the bad part but there’s a good part. The first part of verse 28 does not say “And we wish or we hope or we suppose” It says “And we know.” We as believers can have a knowledge about what God is doing and it is founded upon the character of God. Our God is faithful; He is trustworthy: He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Here’s my take: To those who love God, He Who is faithful and true, works together all things for our moral good.”
Notice the phrase “who love God.” This makes this promise for believers. It is true that God acts in the best interest of all mankind, but this promise is exclusively for the child of God.
Notice also the phrase “work together.” These two words have the idea of a weaver carefully interlacing strands of colored cloth into something beautiful, using a prepared pattern.
The two words “all things” includes those things seen and unseen; good and bad, including evil deeds done by evil people. Some people have a hard time with this part of my explanation but they are forgetting that God is sovereign and He controls everything. I believe that everything that happens in our lives has to cross God’s desk first, and He has to place His stamp of approval upon it.
We now come to another part of the verse that is sometimes hard for some to understand. Notice the two words “for good.” What some people’s definition of the word “good” is only those things that are fun, prosperous, or successful. They cannot see how problems, trouble, heartache or serious illness can be part of the “good things” list. The problem is that our thinking is not the same as God’s.
God has a specific purpose in mind as He weaves all things together. All the Joy and sadness; victories and defeats; mountain tops and valleys are woven together to achieve a result of His choosing that also develops us into a vessel fit for His use.
Notice one last phrase, “who are called according to His purpose.” This phrase is linked with “who love God.” Notice John 14:15 where Jesus said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Jesus is the example of this. We read in John 14:31 “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment even so I do . . .”
God’s purpose is revealed in His commands. We demonstrate our love to Him by doing what He commands us to do. As we demonstrate our love to Him by keeping His commands, God weaves all the things that come into our lives into moral goodness.
Let me give you my interpretation of Romans 8:28: “For those believers who demonstrate their love for God by responding correctly to the things that He allows, He weaves the strands of every circumstance, influence, idea and deed for the purpose of creating moral good in their life.”
My challenge to all of us is that we let God work!
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, June 27, 2011
COME ON! EVERYBODY REJOICE!
Psalm 100:1-5 “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Every Sunday morning I post on facebook a reference to Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
There are some differences among good men as to what this “day which the Lord hath made” is referring to by the Psalmist. With good authority some believe he was talking about the day in which God brought him to the throne to bring freedom to His chosen people. That was a day in which to “rejoice and be glad.” God hand-picked David to be king, the least of anybody’s expectation.
Some believe that this “day” was prophetic of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. That truly is a day to rejoice and that is exactly what we do every Sunday as we gather together in our local churches to praise and worship God.
But I believe that it also could have reference to another day of which God has “made” and that’s the day when He will break through the blue on the second coming of Jesus Christ. What a day that will be. Praise God for the prospect of the Lord coming again.
Here in Psalm 100 the Psalmist calls us to praise the Lord. Dr. Warren Wiersbe, one of my favorite writers, says that “praise is the highest use of man’s faculties.” When we think of God and all He is, we can’t help but praise Him.
In this week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS I want us to consider one verse from this Psalm. Notice verse 5 “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” The Psalmist points out three attributes of God here:
1. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS – His nature is to be good. Sometimes we only think God is good when we’re on the mountain; just got a raise in our salary; got a good report from the doctor, etc. But God is also good when we’re in the valley; lost our job; been told by the doctor we have a tumor, etc. “God is good all the time; all the time God is good.”
Look around and see God’s goodness in nature. He created the universe and said, “. . . it is good.” Even though man’s sin has brought a curse on it, you look around at the flowers, trees, green fields, etc. Grace and I always say, “God has given us a beautiful place to live.” God is so good and that ought to bring joy, gladness and praise from our hearts.
2. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS EVERLASTING MERCY – I like the word “everlasting” and “eternal.” These two words are used some 37 times in the New Testament. Along with use to describe our salvation, the glory of Christ and the kingdom of Jesus Christ, they are used to describe the nature of God Himself. In Genesis 21:3 we read “And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.”
In Deuteronomy 33:27 we see both words used: “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say Destroy them.”
When you consider the above usage of the word “everlasting,” this really takes God’s mercy to a very high level. Since no one is big enough to throw Christ off His throne, Christ cannot lose His glory and certainly God is not going to die, then everlasting mercy will always be part of His attribute toward us. In fact we read in Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” The “goodness” of point 1 and the “mercy” here will follow us all of our days. It’s everlasting.
3. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS ENDURING TRUTH – On this past Sunday our pastor, Rev. Daniel Harper, brought this truth to our minds by pointing out that God communicates His existence by two different witnesses in Psalm 19: His Creation (vs 1-6) and His Word (vs 7-14). In these last verses God gives 7 terms that are used for the Word of God. One of those is “Fear of the Lord” which is declared “enduring forever.” Of course He used other verses to reinforce this truth such as Luke 21:33 “Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away.”
There are other Scripture that we also use to back up this truth such as: Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withereth the flower fadeth but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” And I Peter 1:25 “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
As we consider these three points out of Psalm 100:5 (1) God’s Goodness (2) God’s Everlasting Mercy (3) God’s Enduring Truth, we see that we have so much for which to praise God. No wonder the Psalmist said in verse 4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Do you regularly come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise? This is a good question for you and me to consider today!
That’s my view; how about you?
Every Sunday morning I post on facebook a reference to Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
There are some differences among good men as to what this “day which the Lord hath made” is referring to by the Psalmist. With good authority some believe he was talking about the day in which God brought him to the throne to bring freedom to His chosen people. That was a day in which to “rejoice and be glad.” God hand-picked David to be king, the least of anybody’s expectation.
Some believe that this “day” was prophetic of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. That truly is a day to rejoice and that is exactly what we do every Sunday as we gather together in our local churches to praise and worship God.
But I believe that it also could have reference to another day of which God has “made” and that’s the day when He will break through the blue on the second coming of Jesus Christ. What a day that will be. Praise God for the prospect of the Lord coming again.
Here in Psalm 100 the Psalmist calls us to praise the Lord. Dr. Warren Wiersbe, one of my favorite writers, says that “praise is the highest use of man’s faculties.” When we think of God and all He is, we can’t help but praise Him.
In this week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS I want us to consider one verse from this Psalm. Notice verse 5 “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” The Psalmist points out three attributes of God here:
1. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS – His nature is to be good. Sometimes we only think God is good when we’re on the mountain; just got a raise in our salary; got a good report from the doctor, etc. But God is also good when we’re in the valley; lost our job; been told by the doctor we have a tumor, etc. “God is good all the time; all the time God is good.”
Look around and see God’s goodness in nature. He created the universe and said, “. . . it is good.” Even though man’s sin has brought a curse on it, you look around at the flowers, trees, green fields, etc. Grace and I always say, “God has given us a beautiful place to live.” God is so good and that ought to bring joy, gladness and praise from our hearts.
2. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS EVERLASTING MERCY – I like the word “everlasting” and “eternal.” These two words are used some 37 times in the New Testament. Along with use to describe our salvation, the glory of Christ and the kingdom of Jesus Christ, they are used to describe the nature of God Himself. In Genesis 21:3 we read “And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.”
In Deuteronomy 33:27 we see both words used: “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say Destroy them.”
When you consider the above usage of the word “everlasting,” this really takes God’s mercy to a very high level. Since no one is big enough to throw Christ off His throne, Christ cannot lose His glory and certainly God is not going to die, then everlasting mercy will always be part of His attribute toward us. In fact we read in Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” The “goodness” of point 1 and the “mercy” here will follow us all of our days. It’s everlasting.
3. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS ENDURING TRUTH – On this past Sunday our pastor, Rev. Daniel Harper, brought this truth to our minds by pointing out that God communicates His existence by two different witnesses in Psalm 19: His Creation (vs 1-6) and His Word (vs 7-14). In these last verses God gives 7 terms that are used for the Word of God. One of those is “Fear of the Lord” which is declared “enduring forever.” Of course He used other verses to reinforce this truth such as Luke 21:33 “Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away.”
There are other Scripture that we also use to back up this truth such as: Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withereth the flower fadeth but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” And I Peter 1:25 “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
As we consider these three points out of Psalm 100:5 (1) God’s Goodness (2) God’s Everlasting Mercy (3) God’s Enduring Truth, we see that we have so much for which to praise God. No wonder the Psalmist said in verse 4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Do you regularly come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise? This is a good question for you and me to consider today!
That’s my view; how about you?
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