Month: August 2016

450 Years

And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges.

Judges 2:16
Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not

Psalms 106:43
Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their purposes
and were brought low through their iniquity.
Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
when he heard their cry.
For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love

Did you take note that the time from when the Israelites took possession of the land until the time of Judges was ~450 years.  During this 450 years many times the Israelites were under God’s punishment for not following Him.  We can look back at this and see the first place of not obeying God was when they took over the land God had given them.  They did not put away all of the people as God said to.  They did right by what was in their own eyes and this lead to a continuous falling away from God.  I remember shortly after I was saved,  my pastor who was discipling me, said “one thing he saw and it troubled him greatly was the fact that the church seemed to always be 10 to 15 years away from whatever the current culture accepted.”  What was deemed not in alignment with God’s word by the church now seemed to be ok or severely watered down within 10 to 15 years.  Spend some time to think about this and see if it is not true.  We ask for revival but are we willing to put away all that causes us to stumble?  Have we lost sight of what God would have us do and replaced it with what the culture says God would have us do?  The only way we will ever get on top of this is to personally spend time in God’s word with the intent of allowing Him to speak the truth of it into our mind and lives.  If we think for a moment we will get this type of understanding from a sermon once per week we fool ourselves and will only continue to drift away from God while running full speed ahead to that which is neither God honoring or beneficial for our lives.  Purpose to read daily and desire/expect God to breath life into these words in your heart, mind and soul.

The Wrong Choice

They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them.

Judges 2:11
And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress

1 Kings 15:26
He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin

2 Kings 17:14
But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God

Why is it we would willingly choose to abandon God?  Why would we choose to to be stubborn and not list to Him?  Does it ever work to abandon what God has called us for?  History will tell us NO.  If we would be honest I am sure we would say it does not work out for the present either and if we believe the smallest truths in scripture we know it does not work out for the future. This I do know – If you believed trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ for your sins – If you choose to keep your heart desire with a single purpose to honor and glorify God – If you choose to continually seek Him first – If you choose to remain humble before Him – If you choose to stay in His word – If you continually choose to listen for His leading – If you choose to obey His leading – If you choose to learn to deny self – you will find, joy, peace, love, hope, grace, kindness, gentleness, patience and purpose for this life. Every day we make a chose on who we will follow.

What Must I Do?

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

Judges 2:4
As soon as the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept

Acts 2:37
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

Luke 3:9
He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father. ’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.

Acts 16:26
and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

What truth could be spoken to you where you would weep or ask what must I do?  I imagine it comes down to where we think truth comes from and how much we believe in that source.  Are we like those who Crist called a “Brood of Vipers” who had a head knowledge but their was no action or fruit.  Their heart was not in serving God but rather in themselves.  How close does this sound to how we live today.  Do we practice the presence of God in our heart, mind and soul?  Is it Him we are wanting to bring honor and glory to?  What would a life look like, what actions would be seen, what thoughts would be going through their head, how would they respond to others, who would they help?????  What ever answers you come up with to these questions will give you a very good starting point.  A good place to keep these questions coming from is staying in His word and thinking about what He is telling you.  Stay close to Him.  Learn to hear His voice, Obey what He is telling you.  Weeping will be that of Joy and your question turns from what must I do to “What do you want me to do”  I am willing!!!

Drive Them Out

“Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you”

Judges 1:27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33,
Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants
When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely

And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites
Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants
Asher did not drive out the inhabitants
Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants

Judges 2:1
Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars. ’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.”

Deuteronomy 31:16
And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them. Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them.

The plan of God was known and understood.  The covenant with God’s chosen people was sure and true.  Why is it that the people chose to abandon what God had clearly told them to do?  It is easy to look back and say why did they not listen to what God told them.  I have to think it has to do with not staying in His word, not remembering what He has done and promised to do, and living life with Him in the back ground.  Do we think we are any different?  We have God’s word at our finger tips every second of the day.  We have recorded history of what He has done.  We have testimonies of people who declare what God has done and is doing.  Yet we chose to live two separate lives.  One full time for us and very little part time for God.  Do we think for a second we are different and what God has done in the past will not be done in the present or future?  He wants our whole heart, mind, and soul.  He wants our desire to be for Him alone.  Are we afraid that this will not be enough to fulfill us?  God will give us the desire of our heart.  If it is without Him we will surely get that and along with it much frustration, no lasting satisfaction and eternity in Hell.  If it is with Him, He has promised to guide our path, that He will never leave or forsake us, He will be our power, strength, hope,  and joy,  He will continue to give us more understanding, He will give us peace that passes  all understanding and most importantly eternal life with Him in heaven.

Seek, Ask, Obey

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Judges 1:1
After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them

1 Samuel 22:9
and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions

2 Samuel 5:19
And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines

Philippians 4:5
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

 

It is important for us to remember to seek God and ask Him for guidance.  How are we to know what God has planned for us in the situations we find ourselves?  If we blindly follow what we think is right – what is it that guides our decision one way or another?  Is it scripture or is it the culture we live in?  Little time spent in His word leaves us void of faith, hope, and trust.  This will leave us being tossed around and asking “Why” when the true course of action would be to seek God, listen for His voice speaking to our heart, and then through faith/trust obeying His leading.  God is just and when we ask in line with His word with a heart and mind desire to yield to His leading, He will most certainly lead us down a path that brings honor and glory to Him!

Path of Least Resistance

“Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.”

Joshua 24:27
And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.
After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being 110 years old. And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath- serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.
Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel.

Judges 2:6
And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel.

Judges 2:10
And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:12
Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.

 

It should not go unnoticed what leadership can do for a family, city, and nation.  Joshua continually kept the word of the Lord before the people.  He spoke of all that God had done prior to and during his life.  He spoke of  God’s power, might, strength, love and the benefits of living for and following Him.  He more importantly spoke of the consequences of not following God with their whole heart.  When Joshua died the elders of Israel continued to follow and serve God.  It was a determined way of life.  However there arose a generation that did not know the Lord or the work He had done.  How sad is this…..  Fathers somewhere along the line became occupied with “life” and no longer spoke of the things of God.  Maybe this happened when the leaders too became more occupied with other things.  We do not need to look far to see this happening in our culture as well.  Fathers have easily forgotten what God has done and no longer speak of His greatness.  Fathers have become occupied with “life” and do not speak of what it means to know God and to serve Him.  Fathers have lost the ability to hear God’s voice speak to their heart.  Fathers have lost sight of being able to see God’s work in everyday settings.  Fathers are raising a new generation that does not know God and what it means to serve Him.  Life happens and we choose if we are going to be fathers of faith that lead our families in reference and service to God.  There are many things that pull us away from God and we seem to blindly follow the path of least resistance.  We need father leadership.  Fathers who walk close with God.  Who listen for His leading.  Who choose to serve Him with their whole heart.  Who obey His leading.  Who openly speak of His love, mercy, grace, power, and strength.  Who speak of how God is working in their life.  Who understand it is their leadership that will determine if the next generation knows who God is, that He is alive, that He gives rest, hope, faith, joy, happiness.  Who teaches the next generation that God alone is their rock.  Each father is responsible for the next generation to know God and to bring them up to serve Him.  The path you choose will determine blessings or wrath for your family.  Start now with a determination to Lead rather than follow the path of least resistance.

Jealous and Avenging

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty

Joshua 24:16
Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.

Exodus 20:5
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Nahum 1:2
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.

Romans 2:5
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well- doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self- seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil.

We talk much about God’s grace and mercy but we seem to forget to mention that He is a jealous, avenging, and wrathful.  Just reading these scriptures should give us a renewed perspective on this.  Wrath and fury on every human who does evil.  Issuing punishment of fathers to the 3rd and 4th generation of children.  Yesterday we read about the benefits of following / serving God and consequences of not.  Today these consequences are even more proclaimed.  The question we have to ask our selves is “am I limping along or am I fully committed to living a life that honors and glorifies God”?  There is no middle ground in serving God.  Notice how Joshua responded to the people when they said “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods” – He said “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God”.  I think Joshua, over the course of His life saw how many times their commitment was shallow and how easily, in times of peace and blessings, they so easily drifted away from God.  It is absolutely critical for us to examine our heart, mind, and soul on a daily basis and alignment with God’s word and the leading of the Holy Spirit – “ARE WE OBEYING”, “ARE WE FULLY COMMITTED”, “DOES MY WHOLE LIFE HONOR AND GLORIFY GOD”, “DO I SET MY MIND ON THINGS ABOVE AND WHAT IS PURE, HOLY, AND GOOD ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE AND NOT CULTURE”, and as one friend said to me recently, “ARE YOU ASKING GOD TO SERVE YOU OR ARE YOU SERVING GOD”.  God open our eyes, heart, mind, and soul to your holiness and lead us on paths that honor and glorify You.

Limping Along

“How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”

Joshua 24:14
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”

Deuteronomy 10:12
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day

1 Samuel 12 24
Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king

1 Kings 18:21
And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word”

Notice how all of these scriptures proclaim our purpose, the benefit of following God, and the consequence of not.  Elijah said How long will you limp along without committing to one way or another.  Moses said you be sure you follow God in all your ways – this is what He requires. Samuel said to serve Him faithfully with all your heart and to consider all the great things He has done – but there are consequences if you don’t.  And Joshua said be sincere in following God – for sure he and his house choose to follow Him.  We have a choice as to how dedicated and to what level we will follow and serve God.  Some people outright choose to follow other gods, others limp along really not committing to ether one and seem to choose whatever seems right at the time.  And then there are those who choose to seek, follow, serve, and obey God.  Their is no age limit on this commitment choice – you can’t start to early and surely there is no upper age limit.  We don’t ever retire or slow down from seeking, following, serving, and obeying.  Why not start today with a choice that will make your life so much more worth living?

 

Little by Little

The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little.

Joshua 24:12
And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.

Deuteronomy 7:20
Moreover, the Lord your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed. You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you.

Psalms 44:1
O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.
You are my King, O God

There a few important things God has spoken to me about.  1.Fathers told their children stories of what God had done.  What has God done for you?  Are you telling anyone? 2. Not everything was done at once  but “Little by Little.  3. People did not have any room to share in their victory.  It was by God’s hand then were victorious.

Telling our children, families and friends of what God has done brings out our testimony or our faith in God.  This not only reminds our heart and mind of God’s sovereignty but also reaffirms that our faith is not in vain as others make think.  This may also bring hope to others who, at the time, may not acknowledge it.

God’s plans and purpose are for our good.  Sometimes we want it all to happen at once.  It is good to know that there are times when our battles, trials, and burdens are removed “Little by Little”.  What ever you put into God’s hands allow His purpose and timing.

Make sure to honor God in all of your victories.  The victory is His alone and we are blessed to have been able to see His power and strength in the battle.  Remember these battles, trials, burdens and speak of God’s amazing power over all of them.  Speak of His greatness.

 

At Deaths Door

“neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead”

Joshua 23:14
“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you,

1 Kings 2:2
“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel

Luke 16:22
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. ’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us. ’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers —so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. ’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. ’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. ’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.

From these three scriptures we understand some truths: There is a set time for each of us on this side of eternity.  The warnings given by those who lived faithfully for God and were near their death were stern in their urgent warning about remaining true to God and penalty for not.  And then we have Lazarus the poor beggar who had nothing his whole life and was ushered into heaven.  The rich man however was cast into hell.  The dialogue between this rich man and Abraham should be clear to as a call from one from the grave on the urgency to trust in God and living for Him over self interests.  Our lives should be lived with urgency to follow Him and to tell others of His love and mercy.  If it is not believed this side of eternity there is no hope.  Our lives should point to Christ.  Our words should declare His love and mercy.  It is good for us to think on these things every day and every person we come into contact with.  You may be the only light they see and hear.