Luke 16:12 “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?”
Like Elisha, Joshua was a man who was faithful in another man’s responsibility.
The first time we see Joshua is in Exodus 17. By that time, he is already the captain of Israel’s army. While Moses went up on the mountain to intercede for Israel, Joshua led the soldiers in battle against the Amalekites. But in Exodus 24:13 we find out that Joshua went on from being the captain of Israel’s army...to being Moses’ assistant. What a promotion, right? But Joshua understood something that no one else in Israel knew - God rewards faithfulness!
Then we see Joshua being sent with eleven other men to spy out the land of Canaan. He was one of the two spies that viewed the land as a promise from God instead of a death trap. In fact, the whole nation of Israel was so afraid to move forward, they were contemplating stoning Moses to death and making a return trip to Egypt! Even during this dangerous time, Joshua still stayed by Moses’ side.
Joshua stood beside Moses during many severe trial.
He was there when Aaron and Miriam, Moses’ own brother and sister tried to usurp his authority. Moses’ own siblings were murmuring about his wife. The complaint of these leaders of Israel was, “Moses said that God didn’t want us to marry foreigners, but his wife is a Ethiopian! He’s not ‘practicing what he preaches’ - why should we listen to just Him? God can speak to any one of us.” (Numbers 12:1--2)
Joshua was at Moses’ side when they came down from Mount Sinai and saw the entire nation of Israel caught up in fornication and idolatry. He stood with Moses when he went into the tent of meeting and talked with God face to face. He was with Moses when one of the Levite leaders and two hundred and fifty other leaders accused Moses and Aaron of taking too much authority on themselves. Joshua knew what they didn’t know - that Moses didn’t take any authority, God gave it to him! When these rebellious leaders were wiped out by God, Joshua stayed by Moses when the rest of Israel accused him of murder.
Everything that Moses went through during the forty years in the desert, Joshua walked through it with him. He could’ve quit any time. He could’ve used his position close to Moses to his advantage when Israel wanted to appoint a new leader and return to Egypt. He could’ve gotten offended at Moses’ “hypocrisy” along with Aaron and Miriam. After spending two years at Moses’ side, Joshua could’ve gotten offended when Moses, by God’s direction, appointed Aaron as High priest instead of him.
Actually, if you think about it - Joshua could’ve gotten offended at any time during the desert years! Just the fact that Moses never led Israel into the promised land like he said he was going to would’ve been enough to offend most people. We know that because it did offend most of the nation of Israel! Even then, Joshua stood by Moses’ side. Can’t you see Joshua standing there amazed at these people who refused to enter the promised land and then accused Moses of not taking them in?
Despite everything that Moses went through, Joshua stayed by his side for forty years. I believe it was only Joshua’s faithfulness that allowed him to step into the leadership of Israel when Moses died. There were many other leaders who were probably much more qualified. But Joshua was faithful in what belonged to another man, and that opened the door for what happened in Numbers 27:18-21:
“ And the Lord said to Moses: ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him—all the congregation.’”
Joshua’s faithfulness brought him into his own position of leadership. The same applies to us today. Do you believe you’re called into the ministry? Are you anticipating becoming a leader in the church? Then learn from Joshua and find a church leader to be faithful to. If you’re faithful in their ministry, one day God will promote you into your own.
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Monday, April 16, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Elisha - An Example To Today's Minister
Luke 16:12 “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?”
If you want to step into your own ministry one day, first be faithful to serve in another man’s ministry. How often do you think this is taught in Bible college? For that matter, how often do you think it’s taught from church pulpits? But, according to Jesus’ own words, faithfulness is more important than any other trait - even education. I’ve said it before, but in God’s eyes someone who faithfully cleans the church bathrooms for twenty years is more qualified to pastor a church than a fresh seminary graduate looking for a pulpit.
This is illustrated clearly with two prophets; Elijah and Elisha.
Elijah was a prophet during one of the darkest times of Israel’s history. The king of Israel at that time was Ahab, easily the worst king in their history. Because of his intense persecution of the followers of Yahweh, most of the godly people in Israel emigrated to the godly nation of Judah. In the entire nation, only seven thousand righteous people remained.
After Elijah’s most impressive showdown on Mount Carmel, he was forced into hiding by queen Jezebel. While he was alone in a cave, God told him to anoint a man named Elisha “as prophet in your place.” That’s exactly what Elijah did. He found Elisha plowing up his field and threw his coat over him.
In those days, a man’s coat signified his calling. Prophets wore unique coats - so did priests, kings, and many professional workers. In throwing his coat over Elisha, Elijah was giving a clear call. “Come, become a prophet like me.” Elisha left everything that very day and began to follow this prophet.
Imagine how amazing this must’ve been for Elisha. He was from a rather wealthy, well structured, and righteous family. Being a godly man, he’s already heard of this man Elijah. This was the man that stopped the rain for three years! This was the man that had just bested 850 false prophets on Mount Carmel! This was Elijah, the prophet - and he was calling Elisha to become like him! This must’ve been the most exciting moment in Elisha’s life.
But instead of learning to be a prophet, Elisha began to serve Elijah. In one day, Elisha went from being a well-off farmer to being known as “the man who poured water on Elijah’s hands - that is, a servant. For twenty years, Elisha never did a single miracle. For twenty years, he never prophesied once. For two decades, Elisha was only known as Elijah’s servant.
What’s even more amazing is that this was voluntary. Elijah wasn’t domineering Elisha. He wasn’t forcing him to serve. Elisha could’ve returned to his family at any point during that twenty years. It wasn’t Elijah’s control, it was Elisha’s faithfulness that kept him there.
After twenty years together, they began their last journey. Their trip took them through the cities of Bethel and Jericho. In each of the cities, there was a group of prophets. In each city, the prophets came to Elisha and said, “Do you know that your master is leaving soon?” Elisha responded, “Yes, I know it - now hush!”
You see, these prophets could hear the Spirit of God. They knew God’s voice and were in tune with God’s plan. But they didn’t recognize the importance of faithfulness. You can see this by the fact that they stayed put when Elijah left. Elisha followed with him, and because of that, he got the prophetic ministry that rested on Elijah. Elisha became an even more powerful prophet than his predecessor because he was faithful.
All these prophets saw with Elisha was a servant. They only called Elijah his master. But on the day that Elijah was taken away, Elisha calls him something different. As he watched Elijah going up to Heaven, Elisha cried out, “My father, my father!” He wasn’t serving this man because of control, he was serving him because of relationship. Even when he was mocked as a servant, he never went back to his old life.
If there was anything I wish every aspiring preacher would know, it’s this: don’t chase after your own ministry. Stop maneuvering to get a better position and ask God to send you to a minister to serve. When you’re faithful in what belongs to someone else, God will reward you with your own!
If you want to step into your own ministry one day, first be faithful to serve in another man’s ministry. How often do you think this is taught in Bible college? For that matter, how often do you think it’s taught from church pulpits? But, according to Jesus’ own words, faithfulness is more important than any other trait - even education. I’ve said it before, but in God’s eyes someone who faithfully cleans the church bathrooms for twenty years is more qualified to pastor a church than a fresh seminary graduate looking for a pulpit.
This is illustrated clearly with two prophets; Elijah and Elisha.
Elijah was a prophet during one of the darkest times of Israel’s history. The king of Israel at that time was Ahab, easily the worst king in their history. Because of his intense persecution of the followers of Yahweh, most of the godly people in Israel emigrated to the godly nation of Judah. In the entire nation, only seven thousand righteous people remained.
After Elijah’s most impressive showdown on Mount Carmel, he was forced into hiding by queen Jezebel. While he was alone in a cave, God told him to anoint a man named Elisha “as prophet in your place.” That’s exactly what Elijah did. He found Elisha plowing up his field and threw his coat over him.
In those days, a man’s coat signified his calling. Prophets wore unique coats - so did priests, kings, and many professional workers. In throwing his coat over Elisha, Elijah was giving a clear call. “Come, become a prophet like me.” Elisha left everything that very day and began to follow this prophet.
Imagine how amazing this must’ve been for Elisha. He was from a rather wealthy, well structured, and righteous family. Being a godly man, he’s already heard of this man Elijah. This was the man that stopped the rain for three years! This was the man that had just bested 850 false prophets on Mount Carmel! This was Elijah, the prophet - and he was calling Elisha to become like him! This must’ve been the most exciting moment in Elisha’s life.
But instead of learning to be a prophet, Elisha began to serve Elijah. In one day, Elisha went from being a well-off farmer to being known as “the man who poured water on Elijah’s hands - that is, a servant. For twenty years, Elisha never did a single miracle. For twenty years, he never prophesied once. For two decades, Elisha was only known as Elijah’s servant.
What’s even more amazing is that this was voluntary. Elijah wasn’t domineering Elisha. He wasn’t forcing him to serve. Elisha could’ve returned to his family at any point during that twenty years. It wasn’t Elijah’s control, it was Elisha’s faithfulness that kept him there.
After twenty years together, they began their last journey. Their trip took them through the cities of Bethel and Jericho. In each of the cities, there was a group of prophets. In each city, the prophets came to Elisha and said, “Do you know that your master is leaving soon?” Elisha responded, “Yes, I know it - now hush!”
You see, these prophets could hear the Spirit of God. They knew God’s voice and were in tune with God’s plan. But they didn’t recognize the importance of faithfulness. You can see this by the fact that they stayed put when Elijah left. Elisha followed with him, and because of that, he got the prophetic ministry that rested on Elijah. Elisha became an even more powerful prophet than his predecessor because he was faithful.
All these prophets saw with Elisha was a servant. They only called Elijah his master. But on the day that Elijah was taken away, Elisha calls him something different. As he watched Elijah going up to Heaven, Elisha cried out, “My father, my father!” He wasn’t serving this man because of control, he was serving him because of relationship. Even when he was mocked as a servant, he never went back to his old life.
If there was anything I wish every aspiring preacher would know, it’s this: don’t chase after your own ministry. Stop maneuvering to get a better position and ask God to send you to a minister to serve. When you’re faithful in what belongs to someone else, God will reward you with your own!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Everyone Has A Place
(If you want to read more on this subject - check out this post too!)
Proverbs 27:8 “Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place.”
Everyone has a place. It’s the place you’re designed to be - the place God calls you to be. It’s where you’ll find you’re greatest fulfillment. It’s where God expects you to be when He wants to use you. It’s the spot where you can be the greatest blessing to Heaven and humanity. It’s the place you belong.
Jacob found that place in Genesis 28:11 - it was first called the “certain place.” Later, Jacob realized that place was where God was. “Surely Yahweh is in this place and I didn’t know it!...How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God! This is the gate of Heaven!” Jacob found out that his place was Bethel - the house of God!
Later in life, Jacob was aimless and without direction. He just experienced a family tragedy. His only daughter was raped and his sons massacred the whole town where her rapist lived. Now Jacob feared for his life! He was feeling down, depressed, probably doubting the promise God had made to him. What was God’s answer for him? Genesis 35:1 “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there...” God’s response was to send him back to the place he started; that certain place, the awesome place, the house of God!
About 450 years later, after God had brought Jacob’s descendants out of Egypt, He gave them almost the same command. In Deuteronomy 12:2 God describes how the nations in Canaan were worshipping on every hill and under every tree - wherever they felt like. In verses 5-7 He says, “But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.”
God declared that there was one place where He called His people to worship Him - and that’s where they would receive His blessing.
David understood this. When he was running from Jerusalem, from his son Absalom, The priests were going to carry the Ark of the Covenant with him. David stopped them and said, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.” David knew that it was his responsibility to go to that set place - he couldn’t move it around with him!
When David’s son Solomon built the first temple, that was where God set His place. That was the place God picked to meet with His people. After the dedication, God met with Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”
Can you see that it has always been God’s plan to emphasize certain places? For Jacob, it was Bethel. For Israel, it was the tabernacle and then the temple. But this place is always called “the house of God.”
Fast forward to the New Testament. Now we have believers who claim that they don’t have the responsibility to go anywhere. But we see in Hebrews 10:25 that we’re still called to assemble together. 1 Timothy 3:15 tells us where we’re supposed to do this - “in the house of God, which is the church of the living God.” God still has a place where He calls His people to come to Him - the church!
There is a place for you. You were never called to be a loner or a spiritual floater. You were called to be rooted in God’s house! You need to send those roots deep. You need to decide right now that nothing (no offense, no lure of the world, and no trap of the enemy) can ever pull you out of your place! Here’s why: Psalm 133 says that God commands His blessing to a certain place - where brothers dwell together in unity!
Have you found your place yet?
Proverbs 27:8 “Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place.”
Everyone has a place. It’s the place you’re designed to be - the place God calls you to be. It’s where you’ll find you’re greatest fulfillment. It’s where God expects you to be when He wants to use you. It’s the spot where you can be the greatest blessing to Heaven and humanity. It’s the place you belong.
Jacob found that place in Genesis 28:11 - it was first called the “certain place.” Later, Jacob realized that place was where God was. “Surely Yahweh is in this place and I didn’t know it!...How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God! This is the gate of Heaven!” Jacob found out that his place was Bethel - the house of God!
Later in life, Jacob was aimless and without direction. He just experienced a family tragedy. His only daughter was raped and his sons massacred the whole town where her rapist lived. Now Jacob feared for his life! He was feeling down, depressed, probably doubting the promise God had made to him. What was God’s answer for him? Genesis 35:1 “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there...” God’s response was to send him back to the place he started; that certain place, the awesome place, the house of God!
About 450 years later, after God had brought Jacob’s descendants out of Egypt, He gave them almost the same command. In Deuteronomy 12:2 God describes how the nations in Canaan were worshipping on every hill and under every tree - wherever they felt like. In verses 5-7 He says, “But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.”
God declared that there was one place where He called His people to worship Him - and that’s where they would receive His blessing.
David understood this. When he was running from Jerusalem, from his son Absalom, The priests were going to carry the Ark of the Covenant with him. David stopped them and said, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.” David knew that it was his responsibility to go to that set place - he couldn’t move it around with him!
When David’s son Solomon built the first temple, that was where God set His place. That was the place God picked to meet with His people. After the dedication, God met with Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”
Can you see that it has always been God’s plan to emphasize certain places? For Jacob, it was Bethel. For Israel, it was the tabernacle and then the temple. But this place is always called “the house of God.”
Fast forward to the New Testament. Now we have believers who claim that they don’t have the responsibility to go anywhere. But we see in Hebrews 10:25 that we’re still called to assemble together. 1 Timothy 3:15 tells us where we’re supposed to do this - “in the house of God, which is the church of the living God.” God still has a place where He calls His people to come to Him - the church!
There is a place for you. You were never called to be a loner or a spiritual floater. You were called to be rooted in God’s house! You need to send those roots deep. You need to decide right now that nothing (no offense, no lure of the world, and no trap of the enemy) can ever pull you out of your place! Here’s why: Psalm 133 says that God commands His blessing to a certain place - where brothers dwell together in unity!
Have you found your place yet?
Monday, March 12, 2012
Winning Souls?
I think there are more man-made doctrines in the church than we realize. These are teachings that we’ve learned for years that have no basis in the Bible. They’ve just been emotionally exciting messages, but that’s all. Teachings like “Jesus went to hell to fight the devil and take his keys from him” or “Timothy and Titus were pastors” - things you can’t find in the Bible, but we’ve preached them because we can relate to them emotionally.
One of these man-made subjects is the teaching that we need to “go win souls.” It sounds good, the motivation behind it (reaching the lost for Jesus) is good, it’s led to some good results - but I think it’s also done a lot of harm.
First of all, remember what your soul is! If you haven’t read it yet - read my last post. Jesus doesn’t save your soul! Your soul isn’t born again, your spirit is! You are responsible for saving your soul through God’s Word! Remember James 1:21, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” It is your habit of reading God’s Word daily that will save your soul!
So where did the concept of “winning souls” come from? One verse - Proverbs 11:30: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.” Notice the context, this isn’t talking about witnessing - it’s about doing what’s right! The Hebrew word for soul that is used here is “nephesh.” It simply means a natural type of life. It is often translated life or breath. Every living breathing animal has nephesh...it is simply the natural kind of life. Literally, it is the seat of the emotions, the place for thinking, and the activity of the will.
Keeping the phrase “wins souls” in context with “the fruit of the righteous” - we can see that it’s really talking about winning your soul! It’s moving past your natural life and normal way of thinking into the righteous way way of doing things! Do you see how this verse lines up with James 1:21?
Now, I know it sounds like I’m being overly technical and splitting hairs. But I believe that focusing on “winning souls” has been detrimental to the church! We’ve put the entire focus of the church on winning people to Jesus - but we’ve forgotten what should come next!
Jesus never called His church to win souls! Matthew 28:19-20 records the mission that Jesus gave to the church: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Do you see “winning souls” in that passage? Do you even see “witnessing” or “salvation messages” in that passage? What do you see there? Making disciples!
Don’t get me wrong, the salvation of a sinner is huge! It’s like the birth of a child...it’s necessary for life! But you don’t give birth to a baby and then say, “Congratulations kid, see you in a week!” Your goal isn’t the birth, it’s the life! You want that child to grow up, mature, make the right choices and ultimately produce and raise kids on their own! It’s the same with being born again.
We’ve missed it when we go out and lead a person to Jesus, and then leave them on their own. Our job - the commission given to us by Jesus Himself - is to disciple them. How do we do that? By “teaching them all things that I have commanded you.”
The believer’s calling is to take people from being a sinner, leading them into the new birth, and then taking them under his or her wing and discipling them. You do realize, after all, that once you lead someone to Jesus, you’re responsible to help them grow? The new birth is only the beginning of what you should be taking them through - with the ultimate goal of producing a mature believer that can repeat the process with another person!
I’m a product of this. My pastor wasn’t content that I was saved - he wanted me to mature in the faith. He took me under his wing and taught me how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. As I grew, he taught me how to do the work of ministry. And now I’m teaching other people the things he taught me!
I believe that every believer, every follower of Jesus should be becoming a disciple! They should be learning His way of doing things. They should be learning to discipline themselves to do what’s right. They should be submitted to ministers who are growing themselves. And every believer should be discipling someone else! We have too many babies in the church that aren’t growing up! It’s time for someone to come along side of them and raise them up!
One of these man-made subjects is the teaching that we need to “go win souls.” It sounds good, the motivation behind it (reaching the lost for Jesus) is good, it’s led to some good results - but I think it’s also done a lot of harm.
First of all, remember what your soul is! If you haven’t read it yet - read my last post. Jesus doesn’t save your soul! Your soul isn’t born again, your spirit is! You are responsible for saving your soul through God’s Word! Remember James 1:21, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” It is your habit of reading God’s Word daily that will save your soul!
So where did the concept of “winning souls” come from? One verse - Proverbs 11:30: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.” Notice the context, this isn’t talking about witnessing - it’s about doing what’s right! The Hebrew word for soul that is used here is “nephesh.” It simply means a natural type of life. It is often translated life or breath. Every living breathing animal has nephesh...it is simply the natural kind of life. Literally, it is the seat of the emotions, the place for thinking, and the activity of the will.
Keeping the phrase “wins souls” in context with “the fruit of the righteous” - we can see that it’s really talking about winning your soul! It’s moving past your natural life and normal way of thinking into the righteous way way of doing things! Do you see how this verse lines up with James 1:21?
Now, I know it sounds like I’m being overly technical and splitting hairs. But I believe that focusing on “winning souls” has been detrimental to the church! We’ve put the entire focus of the church on winning people to Jesus - but we’ve forgotten what should come next!
Jesus never called His church to win souls! Matthew 28:19-20 records the mission that Jesus gave to the church: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Do you see “winning souls” in that passage? Do you even see “witnessing” or “salvation messages” in that passage? What do you see there? Making disciples!
Don’t get me wrong, the salvation of a sinner is huge! It’s like the birth of a child...it’s necessary for life! But you don’t give birth to a baby and then say, “Congratulations kid, see you in a week!” Your goal isn’t the birth, it’s the life! You want that child to grow up, mature, make the right choices and ultimately produce and raise kids on their own! It’s the same with being born again.
We’ve missed it when we go out and lead a person to Jesus, and then leave them on their own. Our job - the commission given to us by Jesus Himself - is to disciple them. How do we do that? By “teaching them all things that I have commanded you.”
The believer’s calling is to take people from being a sinner, leading them into the new birth, and then taking them under his or her wing and discipling them. You do realize, after all, that once you lead someone to Jesus, you’re responsible to help them grow? The new birth is only the beginning of what you should be taking them through - with the ultimate goal of producing a mature believer that can repeat the process with another person!
I’m a product of this. My pastor wasn’t content that I was saved - he wanted me to mature in the faith. He took me under his wing and taught me how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. As I grew, he taught me how to do the work of ministry. And now I’m teaching other people the things he taught me!
I believe that every believer, every follower of Jesus should be becoming a disciple! They should be learning His way of doing things. They should be learning to discipline themselves to do what’s right. They should be submitted to ministers who are growing themselves. And every believer should be discipling someone else! We have too many babies in the church that aren’t growing up! It’s time for someone to come along side of them and raise them up!
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Sound Of Victory
In
2 Kings 6 we see a desperate situation. Israel was ruled by Ahab’s
wicked son Joram. Most of the godly Israelis had emigrated to the
southern kingdom of Judah, to the righteous kings Asa and Jehoshaphat (2
Chronicles 15:9). At the time of Elijah and Ahab’s showdown, there were
only 7,000 godly people in the entire country of Israel. Fast forward
about twenty years and things hadn’t changed much. The natural son of
Ahab - Joram - and the spiritual son of Elijah - Elisha - were still
locked in a battle for the hearts of God’s people.
Because of Israel’s backslidden condition, God had begun to allow other nations to begin swallowing them up. The nation of Syria was one of them, and in 2 Kings 6 they had laid siege on the capital city of Samaria. Still, God goal was reconciliation, not retribution. His desire was that his wayward people would return to Him. But the more they refused, the more desperate their situation became.
Food was scarce in Samaria. The Syrian army closed around the city like a clamp. No one could come or go. But God was about to make a power-play to wake his people up!
As it always does, God’s Word came first. Elisha prophesied that within 24 hours everything would change. Food would be so plentiful that any amount of money would buy it. No one believed him though, and no one moved.
Outside the city, sat four lepers. If the people inside the city had it bad, can you imagine life for a leper at that time? These were throwaway people. They weren’t allowed inside the city, and who would give precious food to someone who was just going to die anyway? If the word to describe conditions inside Samaria was desperate, the word for these four lepers would be hopeless.
The very evening that Elisha prophesied, these four lepers decided to do something about their situation. They said, “Why should we stay here and die? If we go back into the city, we’ll die; if we stay here we’ll die. Let’s go to the Syrians. If they have pity on us, we’ll live. If they kill us, we’ll die quickly at least.
So they got up at twilight, as the sun was setting and went to the Syrian camp. When they got there, things weren’t at all like they were expecting. No one was in sight! Not one soldier, not a man or woman anywhere! Every tent they entered was deserted! Not one Syrian was in the entire area! But...all their stuff was! The four lepers cleared out one tent, taking all that stuff and hiding it. Then they came back and did it again!
On their third trip back, they realized that they weren’t exactly doing the right thing. All of Samaria was starving to death, and they were hoarding the abandoned supplies. So they went and told the king in Samaria. Within hours of when the lepers told King Joram, the markets in Samaria were full of Syrian supplies!
Why did the Syrian army just disappear? What was it that made them leave everything they had behind? 2 Kings 7:6-7 says that “God caused them to hear the noise of a great army.” So, rather than staying and fighting whatever this massive army was, they turned and ran. They ran so hard that they stripped off everything they had on them so they could run faster! They actually left a trail of dropped supplies as they ran, not to mention everything that was still in their camp!
What I want you to see is in verse verse 7: “They arose and fled at twilight.” The same time the four lepers decided to get up and do something! God took the sound of four weak, starving lepers and turned it into the sound of a massive army! All He was looking for was someone to do something!
Now let’s talk...are there situations in your life where you feel like you’re starving? Does anything in your life feel hopeless? Maybe you have issues that have been going on in your family for far too long. Maybe your heart is broken for your city or your neighborhood and you wish something would change. Maybe you want to see God’s power and glory poured out in your church. Whatever it is, take a lesson from these lepers and just do something! If you do nothing, then nothing will change. But, if you get up and start moving you’ll get results! Maybe this means witnessing one more time to your loved ones. Maybe it’s praying a little more aggressively. Whatever it is you’re believing God for, don’t give up!
You may see what you’re doing as weak and ineffective, but if only you could hear what it sounds like to your enemy! God is able to turn the weak, tired efforts on your part and turn them into victory! He’s just looking for someone to start moving!
Because of Israel’s backslidden condition, God had begun to allow other nations to begin swallowing them up. The nation of Syria was one of them, and in 2 Kings 6 they had laid siege on the capital city of Samaria. Still, God goal was reconciliation, not retribution. His desire was that his wayward people would return to Him. But the more they refused, the more desperate their situation became.
Food was scarce in Samaria. The Syrian army closed around the city like a clamp. No one could come or go. But God was about to make a power-play to wake his people up!
As it always does, God’s Word came first. Elisha prophesied that within 24 hours everything would change. Food would be so plentiful that any amount of money would buy it. No one believed him though, and no one moved.
Outside the city, sat four lepers. If the people inside the city had it bad, can you imagine life for a leper at that time? These were throwaway people. They weren’t allowed inside the city, and who would give precious food to someone who was just going to die anyway? If the word to describe conditions inside Samaria was desperate, the word for these four lepers would be hopeless.
The very evening that Elisha prophesied, these four lepers decided to do something about their situation. They said, “Why should we stay here and die? If we go back into the city, we’ll die; if we stay here we’ll die. Let’s go to the Syrians. If they have pity on us, we’ll live. If they kill us, we’ll die quickly at least.
So they got up at twilight, as the sun was setting and went to the Syrian camp. When they got there, things weren’t at all like they were expecting. No one was in sight! Not one soldier, not a man or woman anywhere! Every tent they entered was deserted! Not one Syrian was in the entire area! But...all their stuff was! The four lepers cleared out one tent, taking all that stuff and hiding it. Then they came back and did it again!
On their third trip back, they realized that they weren’t exactly doing the right thing. All of Samaria was starving to death, and they were hoarding the abandoned supplies. So they went and told the king in Samaria. Within hours of when the lepers told King Joram, the markets in Samaria were full of Syrian supplies!
Why did the Syrian army just disappear? What was it that made them leave everything they had behind? 2 Kings 7:6-7 says that “God caused them to hear the noise of a great army.” So, rather than staying and fighting whatever this massive army was, they turned and ran. They ran so hard that they stripped off everything they had on them so they could run faster! They actually left a trail of dropped supplies as they ran, not to mention everything that was still in their camp!
What I want you to see is in verse verse 7: “They arose and fled at twilight.” The same time the four lepers decided to get up and do something! God took the sound of four weak, starving lepers and turned it into the sound of a massive army! All He was looking for was someone to do something!
Now let’s talk...are there situations in your life where you feel like you’re starving? Does anything in your life feel hopeless? Maybe you have issues that have been going on in your family for far too long. Maybe your heart is broken for your city or your neighborhood and you wish something would change. Maybe you want to see God’s power and glory poured out in your church. Whatever it is, take a lesson from these lepers and just do something! If you do nothing, then nothing will change. But, if you get up and start moving you’ll get results! Maybe this means witnessing one more time to your loved ones. Maybe it’s praying a little more aggressively. Whatever it is you’re believing God for, don’t give up!
You may see what you’re doing as weak and ineffective, but if only you could hear what it sounds like to your enemy! God is able to turn the weak, tired efforts on your part and turn them into victory! He’s just looking for someone to start moving!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Slackers Don't Get This
Proverbs
25:19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a
bad tooth and a foot out of joint.
Do you remember when you had loose baby
teeth? You would go to take a bite out of something at dinner time,
and it would just give way! Or how about this, have you ever sat on
your leg until it went to sleep and didn't know it? You would get up
and take a step, only to have your leg buckle under you! That feeling
– knowing that something should work and it fails you – is the kind of
feeling that comes from depending on an unfaithful person.
Have you ever depended on someone, and
they didn't come through for you? It stings, right? Or, have you ever
been the cause of that kind of frustration? I have been in both
places, and I didn't enjoy either!
Faithfulness
and loyalty are not common in this world anymore. Even in the church,
where we should be true to our word, there are a lot of unfaithful
people. Even Solomon noticed that trend back in his day; Proverbs
20:6 says, “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but
who can find a faithful man?”
In the New Testament, the Greek word
for faithfulness is “pistis” - and it's used to describe both
reliability and faith! Why is the word for faith used to
describe our reliability (faithfulness)? Because, the Bible is
describing a faithful person's trustworthiness from someone else's
viewpoint (“I have faith in them”). In other words, our
faithfulness should allow people to put their faith in what we
said we would do!
Faithfulness is our human reflection
of God's character. God is always faithful to His word – that's why
we put our faith in Him. As His kids, we should be faithful to our
word as well! From marriage vows to job contracts, a believer's word
should be binding. Psalm 15:4 shows how a faithful person views his
promises; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change. Even
when it's costly, a faithful person does what he says. This is the
kind of character should be found in the home, on the job, and in the
church.
God's currency is
faithfulness!
For
example, if you want to advance in your workplace, make sure you're
faithful to your boss! Luke 16:12 says, “And if you have
not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what
is your own?” If you have to
be told two or three times to do something, if you're badmouthing
your boss behind his back, if you're always complaining about the job
you have – why on earth would you be expecting a better position?
If you're not faithful to what your boss is giving you to do, you
will never be made a boss yourself.
When you're faithful, other people may call you a
“kiss-up”, but God will honor your faithfulness to your boss!
This
type of faithfulness applies to ministry as well. When someone has a
call to preach, the best thing they can do is submit to another man's
ministry. Be faithful in what is another man's and God will give you
your own! The worst
thing a young minister in a church can do is badmouth the senior
pastor and constantly maneuver for a better position! You're setting
yourself up for failure, my friend, so stop it! Take a lesson from
Paul, look at how he was placed in ministry: “And
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because
He counted me faithful,
putting me into the ministry” (1
Timothy 1:12).
Luke
16:10 sets the rule - He
who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who
is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
Go ahead, try to claim that you'll do a better job when you have
something more important to do. But I'm telling you – the way you
serve in the little things is a picture of what you will do with
greater things. In God's eyes, someone who faithfully cleans the
church bathrooms for ten years is more qualified to step into
ministry than a fresh Bible school graduate!
Faithfulness is essential for your Christian walk! God emphasizes it
over and over again. Be faithful to the people in charge, and God
will bless you!
A
faithful man will abound with blessings
Proverbs 28:20
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A Little Too Far
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as
examples, and they were written for our admonition
According to this verse, everything that
happened to the Israelites in the wilderness served as examples for us. We can
learn about our Christian walk by studying what they did in the desert. If that’s
the case, what do you think we can learn from Numbers 16?
I’ll abbreviate the story here, but
it might be good to read that chapter for yourself! When God made Aaron and his
family priests, He also assigned the Levite tribe as their helpers. Basically,
they were the helps ministry in the tabernacle. Everything that the priests
needed done, the Levites would to it for them.
In Numbers 16, a Levite named Korah
got a little too ambitious. He and his three friends gathered 250 leaders of Israel Israel
They were after the priesthood that
God gave Aaron.
Moses responded, “Tomorrow, God will
show who He set in that position!” Then he said, “Korah, isn’t it enough that
God chose you to serve in His house? Isn’t it enough that you’re responsible
for the care of the Tabernacle? And now you’re demanding the priesthood too?
Who is Aaron that you’re complaining against him? God put him there! You’re the
one who has gone too far!”
The next morning was the test. Moses told every
one of the 250 leaders to fill their pans of incense to burn before God –
something that God told the priests to do. They wanted the priesthood, so they were going to find out if God would accept their ministry. Aaron also filled his incense pan to burn before God.
Moses called everyone to come and see who God would choose, but Korah’s friends
refused to come. They even complained that Moses ordered them to come – accusing him
of trying to be their king!
It didn’t take long for God to make
His point. The ground opened up under Korah’s friends and swallowed them up! At
that very moment, fire erupted in the incense pans of Korah and the other
leaders, and burnt them to a crisp! Only Aaron was left standing there! God’s
decision was clear; Aaron was the man He chose.
So if this is an example for us,
what can we learn?
Korah and his following thought that
Moses and Aaron set themselves in their positions. They failed to see why Aaron
was the only person that got to be priest. Their complaint was, “Everyone here
has been set apart by God, what right do you have to take charge over us?” They
didn’t realize that God chose Moses and Aaron to stand between Him and them.
Sound familiar? This happens in
churches all over the country. People are unhappy with the man that God placed
in authority and with the decisions he makes. Sometimes they’re angry about
nothing more than the way he preaches! They rise up against him, claiming that
they have just as much right to run the church. In the words of Moses, they go too far! God’s response to them
is clear, even in the New Testament!
Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to
be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. – Not everyone
is called to these positions! The responsibility of the ones called to be
leaders is found in 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach
the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, encourage,
with all longsuffering and teaching.” They are responsible to teach us, to rebuke
us and to encourage us. Most church-goers are lost when you get to rebuke – but
correcting sin is part of a spiritual leader’s responsibility!
God will be the One to judge them
based on their responsibilities – that’s not our job! Our responsibility to
them is found in Hebrews 13:7 “Remember
your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has
come from their lives, and follow the
example of their faith.”
Again in 13:17, “Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what
they say.” That is our responsibility. It’s not our job to oversee them;
their job is to oversee us!
Theirs is the bigger responsibility by far, and God holds
them accountable to it! The rest of Hebrews 13:17 is, “for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let
them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
They are going to give an account to God for us. Wouldn’t you like that account
to be joyful? How would you feel if their account is only about the grief you
caused? That would definitely be “unprofitable for you!”
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Loving God's House
Genesis 28:16-17
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
There's a growing problem in the Church of God today. It's an issue that strikes at our very heart. It's a problem that, if not solved, will destroy individual believers as well as local churches. That problem? Apathy.
We've lost our passion for God's house. We've forgotten what coming to church is all about. In a very true sense of the word, we've been asleep. Just like Jacob, we've wandered into Bethel ("the house of God") without realizing Who's here with us! Why else is it surprising to us when there's a "great service"? During those moments, we wake up like Jacob and say "God is surely in this place!" But too often we fall right back asleep again. It shows on our faces...we're bored. In God's house, the very gate of Heaven...we pay no attention!
The answer isn't more exciting church programs. It isn't attendance drives or more "relevant" messages. It's God's word, people...if a preacher just got up and read three chapters and sat down, it would be relevant! The answer is for us to realize where we're at!
"How awesome is this place!" That was Jacob's realization, and it needs to be ours too. This isn't just a building. I know that we've been taught that over and over, but we've been misled. Sure, you and I are the church of God - that's part of the truth. But the rest of that truth is found in 1 Timothy 3:15 "I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" I know that we are the Church, but when you and I (the body of Christ) meet together - wherever we meet becomes the church of God - God's house on earth! Where we meet together with God is Bethel!
Now listen to what else Jacob says! "This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven!" Are you wanting more from God in your life? do you want to see God do more in your life? Do you feel like Heaven is closed up to you? I would examine your attitude toward your local church! Where you come to meet with God is the gate of Heaven in your life! Everything God wants in your life has to come through the gate of Heaven - the house of God!
Now...concerning your attitude toward your church. Are you fussing with your brothers and sisters? Are you eating your pastor (God's gatekeeper, if you will) for dinner on Sunday afternoon? Are you always half-awake, half-hearted, and a half-hour late? How would your friends feel if you showed up to their house like that all the time? How would your boss feel? Why do we reserve that kind of indignity for the gate of Heaven?
The bottom line is this, if you want what Heaven has - you have to treat its gateway with a little more respect.
There's a growing problem in the Church of God today. It's an issue that strikes at our very heart. It's a problem that, if not solved, will destroy individual believers as well as local churches. That problem? Apathy.
We've lost our passion for God's house. We've forgotten what coming to church is all about. In a very true sense of the word, we've been asleep. Just like Jacob, we've wandered into Bethel ("the house of God") without realizing Who's here with us! Why else is it surprising to us when there's a "great service"? During those moments, we wake up like Jacob and say "God is surely in this place!" But too often we fall right back asleep again. It shows on our faces...we're bored. In God's house, the very gate of Heaven...we pay no attention!
The answer isn't more exciting church programs. It isn't attendance drives or more "relevant" messages. It's God's word, people...if a preacher just got up and read three chapters and sat down, it would be relevant! The answer is for us to realize where we're at!
"How awesome is this place!" That was Jacob's realization, and it needs to be ours too. This isn't just a building. I know that we've been taught that over and over, but we've been misled. Sure, you and I are the church of God - that's part of the truth. But the rest of that truth is found in 1 Timothy 3:15 "I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" I know that we are the Church, but when you and I (the body of Christ) meet together - wherever we meet becomes the church of God - God's house on earth! Where we meet together with God is Bethel!
Now listen to what else Jacob says! "This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven!" Are you wanting more from God in your life? do you want to see God do more in your life? Do you feel like Heaven is closed up to you? I would examine your attitude toward your local church! Where you come to meet with God is the gate of Heaven in your life! Everything God wants in your life has to come through the gate of Heaven - the house of God!
Now...concerning your attitude toward your church. Are you fussing with your brothers and sisters? Are you eating your pastor (God's gatekeeper, if you will) for dinner on Sunday afternoon? Are you always half-awake, half-hearted, and a half-hour late? How would your friends feel if you showed up to their house like that all the time? How would your boss feel? Why do we reserve that kind of indignity for the gate of Heaven?
The bottom line is this, if you want what Heaven has - you have to treat its gateway with a little more respect.
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