Posts Tagged ‘God’

James, the brother of Jesus, enlightens us, his readers, regarding reasons for not obtaining our desires. Sometimes we don’t acquire what we wish for because we just don’t ask; or we may have asked wrongly or with an unacceptable motivation. We can make improperly motivated requests to God; this implies it is possible to have pure motivations. So what motivates us? How should we approach the Throne of Grace?

Hezekiah provides us with a positive example of pure motivation in Isaiah 37. Sennacherib, the wicked king of Assyria, sent a message of imminent destruction to Israel and Hezekiah. King Hezekiah responded by laying the pages of the message out before the LORD and praying the following prayer.

“O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.

“It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.” (Isaiah 37:16-20 NIV)

This prayer isn’t a plea for God to provide anything for Hezekiah or even for the people he ruled as king. In great humility, Hezekiah praises the LORD, exalts the Most High, and makes a plea for God to act in such a way that the LORD’s glory will be evident to the nations of the earth. Do we care about the world’s perception of our God? Do we pray to our LORD with the understanding that it isn’t about us – that we exist to bring glory to our Creator? Or, are we motivated by personal comfort, personal reputation, personal peace, and squandering God’s blessings on our own passions?

As people, we like to measure things and look at the numbers. How big is our paycheck? How much can we count on for retirement? How many square feet do we have in our home? How many ‘friends’ do we have on facebook? Even pastors and churches get into the quantification games. How many members does our church have? What was the attendance for each service or event? How big was the offering?

In 1 Samuel 13 and following, you can read about Israel’s first human king and his propensity to be guided and led by the numbers. Saul noticed that the enemy had mustered troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. Apparently, his own soldiers were noticing the same thing and his numbers began to dwindle as they hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, and some found communities to blend into. Saul recognized that if he didn’t do something soon, his whole army might just disappear, so he took it upon himself to make a sacrifice without waiting for Samuel, the prophet-priest. Samuel immediately arrived and pointed out to Saul that he should have obeyed God instead of trying to do things on his own. At that time, Israel’s army numbered only about 600.

Saul’s son, Jonathan, was still among that number and he and his armor bearer snuck away; not to hide in a hole or a cave, but to go up against a strong garrison of the Philistines. Jonathan recognized that God could use a great number or a few to fulfill his purposes. Because of these two men, the Philistines were routed.

The contrast between Jonathan and his father is apparent in how they viewed the numbers. The numbers were the same for each of them but the language, heart, and faith of the two are polar opposites. Saul saw the people scattering from him and wanted to make a show of worship to convince the 600 that he still had, not to leave also. Jonathan saw those same 600 and said, “It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.”

Any time we start looking at numbers and assuming that our security is in how many or how much, we have taken our eyes off of God. Saul never really gets it. When his own army had swelled to over 200,000 he was winning a lot of battles and he kept doing things his own way. God had commanded Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites for how they had treated God’s people, and not to take anything from the spoils. Saul decided he knew better than the LORD and spared the king and some of the finer things and some of the best livestock. When Samuel confronted Saul, Saul tried to cast blame on the people and then say that the animals were for a sacrifice to the LORD.

Samuel responded with the following quote – a quote that gets repeated numerous times in Scripture.

“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry, because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23 ESV)

Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. Man counts and enumerates, but God provides. Instead of just taking account of what we have or how strong we think our position is by the numbers, let us look to the LORD and determine that our hearts are fully devoted and steadfast in seeking and knowing Him.

Job’s trials and his dialogue with his friends brought him to a point where he began to question “why” and wonder if he could get the Almighty to answer his concerns.

When God answered Job and his “friends” He spoke with authority. I find it both humbling and reassuring that God is the One in control of all things. For four full chapters (38-41), God explains to Job that God is God, and Job isn’t God. God points out numerous accomplishments through statements and rhetorical questions.

In Job 38:8-11, God discusses the limits He set for the sea; “This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt.” Humility must flow from any true meditation on the God that can control the sea, on a God that determines boundaries for all things.

When Hurricane Katrina reached land, those boundaries between sea and shore appeared to be altered without man’s permission or any explanation from God. Job never received an explanation for the devastation he experienced. The author of those boundaries can move the boundaries according to His choosing. He owes us no explanation for those occurrences. We may find comfort in the wisdom of His decisions if we are willing to lay aside our own plans or “rights” or understanding.

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul reminds his readers of events in Israel’s history that he says “were written down as warnings for us.” Paul follows these words with another warning, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (verse 12 ESV)

That warning is followed with the comforting words of verse 13. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” God even sets the boundaries of our temptations.

In Matthew 4, Jesus demonstrated that Scripture is a great way to resist temptation. ‘The Way’ to resist temptation is ‘The Word’. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life, and the provision to overcome temptation.

Let us stay within His boundaries.

God truly works through extraordinary means in ordinary people.  I would like to commend a book by Mike McKinley to all of you that may be feeling called to participate in the building of God’s church.

If you want a “self-help” book or a “how-to” list, then Church Planting is for Wimps will disappoint. The author clearly demonstrates that accomplishment of any merit only comes through the strength of God. The sub-title, “How God Uses Messed-up People to Plant Ordinary Churches That Do Extraordinary Things,” really does tell the story. God equips and builds His church in spite of the vessels He chooses to carry out the work of ministry.
Thank you, Mike McKinley, for sharing your personal testimony from the past decade.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7 ESV)

Somehow, an eighth grade student in science class discovered that she could use the tip of her pen to cut through paper. Apparently she determined to use this new skill to cut through 100 pages in her journal. I was made aware of this great accomplishment when she randomly blurted out, “I did it!”

What would happen if we demonstrated that same persistence in meditation on God’s Word? Applying His Word may not seem like it is penetrating very deeply into our hearts of stone, at first application, but what would happen with deliberate, repeated application? Could our hearts of stone be pierced or infiltrated? OH, GOD, may it be so!

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience… ¹⁴And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-16 ESV)

Thanks be to God! These verses describe Sunday’s body life at AICF from sunrise to sunset. Thank you, Choir, for guiding our hearts to the throne of God in music. Thank you, Rick, for powerfully narrating the despair of the Cross and following it up with the hope of the Resurrection and a Peace that passes all understanding. Thank you, Dorothy, for giving of yourself on the piano and drawing us into Christ’s presence. Even Cliff demonstrated a heart of love as he “got stuck with the offering.”

Today, Monday, let us continue to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly; let us continue to give thanks to God the Father through the Lord Jesus.

Jesus Christ is the Bread and the Word. Part of God’s plan for us is that we are humbled and hungry – we must learn to feed on Him. The children of Israel often grumbled that they were well fed in Egypt and wanted to go back to that familiar place of comfort rather than die in the desert from hunger. Like us, they had short memories regarding their own actions and God’s provision. They were not satisfied in Egypt and had grumbled in those circumstances. God brought them out of Egypt in a most miraculous manner and chose to be in their presence; they refused to accept communion with Him. Moses spoke of bread and word during one of his final sermons to the congregation.

“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV)

Jesus quotes this verse during a time of temptation; He shows that Scripture is a great way to combat temptation; he demonstrates an understanding of what man needs for life.

“But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”” (Matthew 4:4 ESV)

Jesus unmistakably speaks of himself as the bread that satisfies in John 6, right after feeding five thousand and walking on water.

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’” (John 6:35 ESV)

Of course, the reason belief in Christ quenches thirst is that he provides living water in abundance to those that ask.

“Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’” (John 4:10 ESV)

“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39 ESV)

So God allows us to be humbled and hungry, in order that we look to Jesus. He is the bread that we need, and the Word that satisfies.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-4,14 ESV)

No More Excuses: Refuting 6 Justifiers for Not Serving

“And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2, ESV)

I am beginning this blog series because there is so much work to be done for the Kingdom of God. As the Elders meet each day we discuss various ministries and the laborers need to complete the work. It is clear that there is much to be done on Anderson Island. There are several reasons for the work of the ministry. As we work to spread the gospel, we minister to unbelievers as well as believers. We have ministries that are focused toward unbelievers as well as ministries that are focused toward believers. It takes individuals to complete the work of these ministries. Regardless of whom the ministry is geared toward, God works through the life of the servant as well as in the life of the servant. The Elders of AICF desire to see the God working in the life of every member of AICF. Every Christian is called to be actively serving Christ so that His name is proclaimed and He may work in the life of the servant.

The reason we ask you to serve may not be what you think it is.

We have your best interests in mind. God has ordained that the work of the ministry be completed by people. Several things take place when ministry work is completed. The gospel is proclaimed and people are saved; and God is at work in and though the life of the servant. Working for Christ in ministry is less about the task and more about the effects. Lives are changed when we work in ministry. God works through us to change others, and in us to increase our relationship with Him.  Therefore, when we ask you to serve it is not about the task. It is about God working in and though you. Our primary purpose is to feed the flock of God or in other words to see you grow spiritually. Because we want you to grow spiritually, we want you to stretch yourself in the work of the ministry. Therefore, I have written this blog to respond to the various arguments people use to justify their lack of service to God. Ultimately, their lack of spiritual growth.

Praying for your spiritual growth,

Pastor Ray

The Lord’s Prayer includes the line, “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” How often have you thought that is unreasonable? Maybe Jesus got it wrong. Maybe some people don’t deserve to be forgiven; maybe they need to pay for what they did. What about the person that abused your child, or your mother, or your wife, or even the person that has abused you? Why should they receive forgiveness? Why should we let them get away with what they have done?

But, the forgiveness line is in the prayer, the concept of us needing to forgive others is taught throughout Scripture. So how do we follow that precept? Why can we choose to forgive? What do we do with the righteous indignation that keeps bubbling up in our souls; that we cannot seem to shake?

God has a plan. His ways are not our ways, but God is just. David modeled what we need to do in his imprecatory psalms (those are the ones where he shares with God how he feels about his enemies; where he wishes their children to be fatherless and their wives widows). We can forgive because God is God; we can continually bring the “bubbling up” to God because He is just, and He has a plan.

 “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7 (ESV)

 The people of Israel rejected God when it was time to enter the land of promise. He forgave them, but they still all had to die in the wilderness.

 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Numbers 14:18

 “Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.” Numbers 14:20-24 (ESV)

 The people of Nineveh repented with the message of Jonah (much to his dismay) but then a future generation of Nineveh dwellers was judged. Both Nahum and Jonah knew God as a gracious God. Nahum and his generation also knew God as a God of justice.

 “And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” Jonah 4:2 (ESV)

 “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.” Nahum 1:3a (ESV)

 “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.” Nahum 1:7-8 (ESV)

 The entire book of Habakkuk tells the story of Habakkuk thinking he knew what God should do with violent and evil people, and then his realizing that God had a plan; that God was God and Habakkuk wasn’t God; that God would deal with the problem, but in His time and following His methods.

 In Numbers 32 Moses knows that he is going to die and he has extracted a promise from the two and a half tribes settling east of the Jordon. He reminds them that God knows of this promise and says the following:

 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23 (ESV)

 So, how do we forgive someone that isn’t deserving of forgiveness? We keep giving it to God. He is just and our LORD truly can handle the timing and the details of justice.

In Romans 7, the Apostle Paul recounted his personal struggle to just do the next right thing. I can certainly relate to that struggle. I join Paul in that confession that culminates in the declaration of a complete lack of anything worthy within my flesh.

 Romans 7:18 – “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”

 Recognizing the reality that we are totally inadequate brings us to the truths of Romans chapter 8. With Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father and interceding for us (8:34), and the Holy Spirit interceding for the saints according to the will of God (8:27), we can confidently claim that all things work together for good (8:28).