Do you ever feel like everything is against you? Your job is in jeopardy and you don't have enough money to fill the gas tank or put food on the table. Perhaps you are ill and just can't get better or you have a relationship that is on the rocks and nothing seems to be able to fix it. Maybe you just don't feel right about yourself or are under attack from some other circumstance.
You feel surrounded by an enemy you can't hope to fight and you are ready just to give up.
Gehazi felt the same way as you. In 2 Kings 6 is the story of one day when Gehazi got up to get the morning paper and a latte at Starbucks (they had them back then, didn't they?). He went out the door and saw surrounding the city was the Syrian army. Uh oh.
At that point I'm sure Gehazi felt not a little bit of panic. You may know the story. Elisha the prophet comes out and Gehazi says "What shall we do?" And Elisha simply says to him "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
I can just imagine Gehazi thinking, "Uh, right. Let's see there's you and me and, hmmm, that's it!"
But then Elisha prays for Gehazi's eyes to be opened and then he sees surrounding the chariots of Syria chariots of fire from God.
What I find even more interesting is that they aren't needed, at least not then. Elisha prays and the Syrians are struck with blindness and Elisha leads them off to Samaria (and shows them mercy - but that's another story).
So what's the lesson for us? We need to realize that no matter how big our problem seems, there is a greater power for us than is against us. For one thing, God has sent his angels as ministering spirits to aid those who belong to Jesus. (Hebrews 1:14). But God doesn't necessarily send in those angels to rescue the day. He wants you to pray and trust in the Lord to provide in the situation what you need.
Elisha had to get involved. He prayed, he led the men, he acted in a godly way when he brought them to Samaria. God wants you involved in seeing his power work through you and transform you in the problem, not just rescue you from it.
Afraid of life? Surrounded by enemies? Realize God has surrounded the enemy with his forces and will swoop in if needed (it happens in chapter 7). But know this, greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). So pray and follow the leading of the Lord to see your rescue and be a part of it!
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
A Better Deal With Baal
Ahaziah had an accident in 2 Kings 1. He fell through the lattice in his upper chamber. Injured, Ahaziah wondered if he was going to survive. But this man and his nation had moved so far away from Yahweh that he didn't even think to ask God or seek God for healing.
Instead he said "Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness" (2).
Elijah the prophet met the king's messengers and said "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?"
Ahaziah's men never made to Ekron. Elijah sent them back with this message, "you shall surely die."
Now I know that's not wonderful news but it illustrates an important point. There is a God in Israel and there is only one God in the universe. His name is Yahweh and His Son is Jesus. We are all injured by the evil of sin and should be wondering if we are going to recover.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that some other philosophy or life style or religion can get you a better deal, a second opinion. God's opinion is the only one that counts and that is you and I are all terminal.
What Ahaziah didn't know was that God would also pay the ultimate price to heal our sickness of sin by personally dieing in our place.
There is no better deal with Baal, and there is no Baal. But there is a loving God who deals honestly and completely with evil - by killing it and saving you!
Pastor Tom
Instead he said "Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness" (2).
Elijah the prophet met the king's messengers and said "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?"
Ahaziah's men never made to Ekron. Elijah sent them back with this message, "you shall surely die."
Now I know that's not wonderful news but it illustrates an important point. There is a God in Israel and there is only one God in the universe. His name is Yahweh and His Son is Jesus. We are all injured by the evil of sin and should be wondering if we are going to recover.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that some other philosophy or life style or religion can get you a better deal, a second opinion. God's opinion is the only one that counts and that is you and I are all terminal.
What Ahaziah didn't know was that God would also pay the ultimate price to heal our sickness of sin by personally dieing in our place.
There is no better deal with Baal, and there is no Baal. But there is a loving God who deals honestly and completely with evil - by killing it and saving you!
Pastor Tom
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Are You Limping?
There is this great line that I had not seen before in the story about Elijah and the prophets of Baal.
It takes place in 1 Kings 18. Israel has split off from Judah and followed Jeroboam who decided he better make up a religion to keep his people from following Yahweh. It all went downhill from there and the people ended up worshiping and serving Baal.
Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest to see whose God would answer and burn up the sacrifice. You probably know the story, but then here is this great line of Elijah in verse 21:
"How long will you go limping between two opinions?"
If you are having a hard time with faith and trust in Jesus Christ, it may be because you want the best the world has to offer but the guarantee of eternal life that God offers through Jesus. Baal offered immediate gratification, just like the world which says "grab for all the gusto you can because you only go around once in life."
The problem with holding on to what the world is telling you while also trying to hold on to Jesus is you can do neither well. Have you ever tried to walk on top of a fence? You need to jump in either direction, either with the world and abandon the Lord, or with the Lord and abandon getting the immediate gratification (but long term problems) that come with sin.
Stop limping and walk strongly towards the Lord Jesus! Elijah finished that sentence off this way:
"If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." What's your choice?
Pastor Tom
It takes place in 1 Kings 18. Israel has split off from Judah and followed Jeroboam who decided he better make up a religion to keep his people from following Yahweh. It all went downhill from there and the people ended up worshiping and serving Baal.
Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest to see whose God would answer and burn up the sacrifice. You probably know the story, but then here is this great line of Elijah in verse 21:
"How long will you go limping between two opinions?"
If you are having a hard time with faith and trust in Jesus Christ, it may be because you want the best the world has to offer but the guarantee of eternal life that God offers through Jesus. Baal offered immediate gratification, just like the world which says "grab for all the gusto you can because you only go around once in life."
The problem with holding on to what the world is telling you while also trying to hold on to Jesus is you can do neither well. Have you ever tried to walk on top of a fence? You need to jump in either direction, either with the world and abandon the Lord, or with the Lord and abandon getting the immediate gratification (but long term problems) that come with sin.
Stop limping and walk strongly towards the Lord Jesus! Elijah finished that sentence off this way:
"If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." What's your choice?
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Who Do You Love More?
1 Kings chapters 8 and 9 are filled with wonderful promises from the Lord to Solomon. We also see Solomon make good choices and show what we think is his heart towards the Lord in asking for wisdom rather than riches, beauty, or power.
So it is rather disheartening to read the opening verse of chapter 11: "Now King Solomon loved many foreign women"
The Lord had warned Israel not to intermarry with the nations around them "for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." (2)
If you are Solomon, perhaps you are thinking that you are the king and that you asked for wisdom from God and so everything you do is going to be good. He should have paid more attention because verse 3 says "For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God."
This led Solomon to introduce idol worship into Israel. Though the people had fooled around with it prior to this, here it is coming from the king himself. It led the nation down a path that eventually led to civil war and exile.
It started because Solomon loved his foreign women more than he loved his God. It got a foothold because Solomon was not paying attention to what he was thinking and doing in relation to the Lord.
Is there something in your life that you love more than God? Are you so sure of your walk that you think you can do no wrong? Take a lesson from Solomon.
Pastor Tom
So it is rather disheartening to read the opening verse of chapter 11: "Now King Solomon loved many foreign women"
The Lord had warned Israel not to intermarry with the nations around them "for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." (2)
If you are Solomon, perhaps you are thinking that you are the king and that you asked for wisdom from God and so everything you do is going to be good. He should have paid more attention because verse 3 says "For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God."
This led Solomon to introduce idol worship into Israel. Though the people had fooled around with it prior to this, here it is coming from the king himself. It led the nation down a path that eventually led to civil war and exile.
It started because Solomon loved his foreign women more than he loved his God. It got a foothold because Solomon was not paying attention to what he was thinking and doing in relation to the Lord.
Is there something in your life that you love more than God? Are you so sure of your walk that you think you can do no wrong? Take a lesson from Solomon.
Pastor Tom
Monday, July 07, 2008
Forcing Your Own Deal
When King David was near death, his second son Adonijah decided he wanted to be king. This happened in 1 Kings 1. The Lord wanted Solomon to be king after David but that didn't stop Adonijah from trying to become king anyway. He got a couple of high officials to go along as well as the king's sons.
He was wrong and when David found out he immediately anointed Solomon king. Adonijah got the word and feared he would be killed but Solomon said "if he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth." (1:52)
However, Adonijah was not worthy and just as soon as he could he asked a favor of Solomon's mother to have David's servant Abishag given as his wife. This was tantamount to claiming the kingship and Solomon had Adonijah put to death.
Sometimes we want something so badly that we will do anything - anything to get it. God may have appointed Solomon to be king but didn't stop Adonijah. God may have said "no" to something but we as humans are fully capable of sometimes making our own thing work even if God isn't in it.
We can get some people around us who believe in what we want to do but in the end it won't succeed. Maybe Adonijah thought that if he worked hard enough that God would just shrug his shoulders and say "well, Adonijah is already doing it, so we'll just go with that." It doesn't work that way.
No matter how hard you want something, make sure (to the best of your ability) that God is in it before you push it forward.
Pastor Tom
He was wrong and when David found out he immediately anointed Solomon king. Adonijah got the word and feared he would be killed but Solomon said "if he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth." (1:52)
However, Adonijah was not worthy and just as soon as he could he asked a favor of Solomon's mother to have David's servant Abishag given as his wife. This was tantamount to claiming the kingship and Solomon had Adonijah put to death.
Sometimes we want something so badly that we will do anything - anything to get it. God may have appointed Solomon to be king but didn't stop Adonijah. God may have said "no" to something but we as humans are fully capable of sometimes making our own thing work even if God isn't in it.
We can get some people around us who believe in what we want to do but in the end it won't succeed. Maybe Adonijah thought that if he worked hard enough that God would just shrug his shoulders and say "well, Adonijah is already doing it, so we'll just go with that." It doesn't work that way.
No matter how hard you want something, make sure (to the best of your ability) that God is in it before you push it forward.
Pastor Tom
Thursday, July 03, 2008
What Does Worship Cost You?
David had blundered. He wanted to gauge the strength of Israel and so had Joab count the warriors. I won't go into why this was wrong at the time, but I want to focus on what happened because of it.
In 2 Samuel 24 God gives David three choices for the consequences of his disobedience. David chooses three days of plagues saying, "Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great."
The plague is severe and takes 70,000 lives. As the angel wielding the sword of God's plague comes to Jerusalem the Lord's mercy stays his hand as David looks on. God then instructs David to build an altar to worship. The place, by the way, becomes the Temple.
At the time it is a threshing floor - a place where wheat and grain was separated from the chaff. A guy by the name of Araunah owns the place and offers to give it to David, along with the ox and wood for the sacrifice. It was a ready made deal.
But David says something very insightful. He tells Araunah, "No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing."
So here's my challenge. What does worshiping the Lord cost you? Today we have large churches with big worship bands and flashy presentations. We have CD's and mp3's and iPods that blast out worship music. We have ready made prayers and pastors who do the work of digging into the Word of God for us.
Though all those things can be good, they can also make us lazy. What personal cost is it to you to worship the Lord? What do you give up? What effort do you put into it? How much of your heart do you invest in bringing praise and adoration to the throne of God?
David refused to have worship handed to him. What about you?
Pastor Tom
In 2 Samuel 24 God gives David three choices for the consequences of his disobedience. David chooses three days of plagues saying, "Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great."
The plague is severe and takes 70,000 lives. As the angel wielding the sword of God's plague comes to Jerusalem the Lord's mercy stays his hand as David looks on. God then instructs David to build an altar to worship. The place, by the way, becomes the Temple.
At the time it is a threshing floor - a place where wheat and grain was separated from the chaff. A guy by the name of Araunah owns the place and offers to give it to David, along with the ox and wood for the sacrifice. It was a ready made deal.
But David says something very insightful. He tells Araunah, "No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing."
So here's my challenge. What does worshiping the Lord cost you? Today we have large churches with big worship bands and flashy presentations. We have CD's and mp3's and iPods that blast out worship music. We have ready made prayers and pastors who do the work of digging into the Word of God for us.
Though all those things can be good, they can also make us lazy. What personal cost is it to you to worship the Lord? What do you give up? What effort do you put into it? How much of your heart do you invest in bringing praise and adoration to the throne of God?
David refused to have worship handed to him. What about you?
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Standing Still is Moving Backwards
Everything seemed to be going great for David. He'd survived Saul's attacks, living in a foreign land, fought wars, had a civil war-and through it all he had sought God and really exhibited the character of God in all he did.
Then something happened. In 2 Samuel 11 David was in the middle of fighting battles against the enemies of Yahweh. When it came time to go to work it says "David remained in Jerusalem." I'll bet for many years later David really wished he had gone into battle because what happened stained his life and his family for the rest of his time on earth.
Chapter 11 is the David and Bathsheba story, where David spies this really hot woman bathing, takes her and sleeps with her, gets her pregnant, then has her husband killed. Because of this sin, David has sorrow in his family and in his nation for the rest of his life.
What I want to focus on is that initial decision not to do God's work. God didn't tell him to stay home. And when we as soldiers in God's army decide that we want to go on extended furlough we place ourselves in a difficult situation. Now I'm not saying we have to fill our days from end to end with activity, but when we decide not to be available for God to work with anymore we become open for the war to come to us.
1 Peter 5:8 says: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
When you stop doing what God wants with your life its not like you can just check out because at that point the enemy checks in. When you stop doing God's thing you leave an opening for the Devil to start doing his thing - to tempt you into disobeying God.
So the word is, remain on alert and at your post - available for the Lord. Be ready for him to call you to war, fighting against the enemy's strongholds in people's lives against the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Tom
Then something happened. In 2 Samuel 11 David was in the middle of fighting battles against the enemies of Yahweh. When it came time to go to work it says "David remained in Jerusalem." I'll bet for many years later David really wished he had gone into battle because what happened stained his life and his family for the rest of his time on earth.
Chapter 11 is the David and Bathsheba story, where David spies this really hot woman bathing, takes her and sleeps with her, gets her pregnant, then has her husband killed. Because of this sin, David has sorrow in his family and in his nation for the rest of his life.
What I want to focus on is that initial decision not to do God's work. God didn't tell him to stay home. And when we as soldiers in God's army decide that we want to go on extended furlough we place ourselves in a difficult situation. Now I'm not saying we have to fill our days from end to end with activity, but when we decide not to be available for God to work with anymore we become open for the war to come to us.
1 Peter 5:8 says: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
When you stop doing what God wants with your life its not like you can just check out because at that point the enemy checks in. When you stop doing God's thing you leave an opening for the Devil to start doing his thing - to tempt you into disobeying God.
So the word is, remain on alert and at your post - available for the Lord. Be ready for him to call you to war, fighting against the enemy's strongholds in people's lives against the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Tom
Monday, June 30, 2008
You Are a Dead Dog!
In 1 Samuel 9 David suddenly wants to know if there is anyone of Saul's line that he can "show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" This is odd in one way, in that Saul tried to kill David on many occasions and now that David is sure in his kingship why would he want to show kindness to the grandson of his enemy? Wouldn't he want to make sure that no one could come along and claim the throne?
But that wasn't David's character. And good for us, it isn't God's either. David called Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, to him. David first let Mephibosheth know that he meant him no harm and in fact invited him to eat at his table - just like adopting him as a son.
Mephibosheth replied, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?" (8) In many ways, we are just like Mephibosheth, lame because of sin, related to a dethroned king (Lucifer) who deserve to be put to death for the evil in us. But when we come before the King of Kings, He doesn't destroy us but desires to show kindness to us for the sake of a beloved Son. He adopts us as His own and invites us to sit at his table forever.
We too should react like Mephibosheth, "Lord why are you treating me kindly when I am but a dead dog?" Then we should receive that love and that invitation to fellowship and rejoice in the love of the king!
Pastor Tom
But that wasn't David's character. And good for us, it isn't God's either. David called Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, to him. David first let Mephibosheth know that he meant him no harm and in fact invited him to eat at his table - just like adopting him as a son.
Mephibosheth replied, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?" (8) In many ways, we are just like Mephibosheth, lame because of sin, related to a dethroned king (Lucifer) who deserve to be put to death for the evil in us. But when we come before the King of Kings, He doesn't destroy us but desires to show kindness to us for the sake of a beloved Son. He adopts us as His own and invites us to sit at his table forever.
We too should react like Mephibosheth, "Lord why are you treating me kindly when I am but a dead dog?" Then we should receive that love and that invitation to fellowship and rejoice in the love of the king!
Pastor Tom
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Have It Your Way
Science has shown us that the mind is an amazing thing. It is self-justifying. In other words, what your mind wants to do it will find a way to justify. That's how Hitler could kill millions of Jews - his mind was able to justify the action.
Saul, king of Israel, employed some justification too for sinning. In 1 Samuel 13 he was supposed to wait seven days for Samuel to arrive and perform the sacrifice. When Samuel didn't come Saul performed it anyway.
When Samuel came on the scene he said "what have you done?" Saul then launched into this big defense, saying that the people were scattering, you didn't come, the Philistines are upon us and I need to give a nod to God.
In Saul's mind these were four reasons or justifications for not doing what God had commanded.
Samuel simply answered "You have done foolishly."
Do you ever find yourself finding reasons that you should not obey God? They might sound pretty reasonable to you. Just remember that the mind is a self justifying thing. Don't use your own thoughts as viable reasons. Use instead the objective command of God.
Pastor Tom
Saul, king of Israel, employed some justification too for sinning. In 1 Samuel 13 he was supposed to wait seven days for Samuel to arrive and perform the sacrifice. When Samuel didn't come Saul performed it anyway.
When Samuel came on the scene he said "what have you done?" Saul then launched into this big defense, saying that the people were scattering, you didn't come, the Philistines are upon us and I need to give a nod to God.
In Saul's mind these were four reasons or justifications for not doing what God had commanded.
Samuel simply answered "You have done foolishly."
Do you ever find yourself finding reasons that you should not obey God? They might sound pretty reasonable to you. Just remember that the mind is a self justifying thing. Don't use your own thoughts as viable reasons. Use instead the objective command of God.
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Are People Surprised at You?
In 1 Samuel 10 the prophet Samuel anoints Saul to be "prince" over Israel. They no longer wanted God as their king but wanted to be like all the nations around them. That's a whole story in and of itself, of course.
I just wanted to point out a little thing that happens to Saul after Samuel anoints him. Verse 10 says "and the Spirit of God rushed upon him and he prophesied among them. 11 And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, "What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?"
When it says Saul "prophesied" it basically means he broke out in praise to the Lord. Apparently this was something strange for Saul and it doesn't surprise me based on how he lived the rest of his life. For Israel's next king, David, no one would be surprised at him breaking out in song and praise. In fact they'd be surprised if he didn't!
So what about you? Would those that know you be surprised to hear you talk about the Lord or identify your life with Jesus? Or would they be surprised if you didn't act differently than the world around you because you have the Spirit of God living inside you?
Just a thought.
Pastor Tom
I just wanted to point out a little thing that happens to Saul after Samuel anoints him. Verse 10 says "and the Spirit of God rushed upon him and he prophesied among them. 11 And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, "What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?"
When it says Saul "prophesied" it basically means he broke out in praise to the Lord. Apparently this was something strange for Saul and it doesn't surprise me based on how he lived the rest of his life. For Israel's next king, David, no one would be surprised at him breaking out in song and praise. In fact they'd be surprised if he didn't!
So what about you? Would those that know you be surprised to hear you talk about the Lord or identify your life with Jesus? Or would they be surprised if you didn't act differently than the world around you because you have the Spirit of God living inside you?
Just a thought.
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
What Did Hannah Get?
Do you remember the story of Hannah in 1st Samuel? She was one of two wives of a guy named Elkanah. She couldn't have kids and that really grieved her. She so much wanted to have kids that even Elkanah got a little upset with her prayers to God saying "Am I not more to you than ten sons?" (1 Samuel 1:8)
She prayed so hard about it than Eli, the priest, thought she was a drunk mumbling. But God answered her prayer and she had a son: Samuel. Oddly, though, the thing she wanted so much she didn't get to keep. She had told the Lord that if He would give her a son that she would "give him to the Lord all the days of his life." (11).
God gave her what she wanted more than anything but she didn't get to keep it. So what did she get out of the deal?
At first blush it seems like she didn't get anything. But if you read her prayer as she leaves Samuel off at the Tabernacle you get a little clue. Her prayer here is not silent or mistaken for drunkenness. Instead it clearly states that God is holy, God is sovereign, and God is in charge of protecting the "faithful" and cutting off and breaking the wicked. He will do this through "his king" and "his anointed."
Hannah was prompted to pray for something she got no direct benefit from. The benefit was her part in God's overall grand plan for good.
Perhaps you feel burdened to pray. Perhaps your heart yearns for something and yet you hesitate knowing that God might do something but you won't see any benefit from it.
Is it enough to see God move for something He wants? Ask Hannah. She birthed the man who chose the king who led to a Savior. What's your prayer? What's your part?
Pastor Tom
She prayed so hard about it than Eli, the priest, thought she was a drunk mumbling. But God answered her prayer and she had a son: Samuel. Oddly, though, the thing she wanted so much she didn't get to keep. She had told the Lord that if He would give her a son that she would "give him to the Lord all the days of his life." (11).
God gave her what she wanted more than anything but she didn't get to keep it. So what did she get out of the deal?
At first blush it seems like she didn't get anything. But if you read her prayer as she leaves Samuel off at the Tabernacle you get a little clue. Her prayer here is not silent or mistaken for drunkenness. Instead it clearly states that God is holy, God is sovereign, and God is in charge of protecting the "faithful" and cutting off and breaking the wicked. He will do this through "his king" and "his anointed."
Hannah was prompted to pray for something she got no direct benefit from. The benefit was her part in God's overall grand plan for good.
Perhaps you feel burdened to pray. Perhaps your heart yearns for something and yet you hesitate knowing that God might do something but you won't see any benefit from it.
Is it enough to see God move for something He wants? Ask Hannah. She birthed the man who chose the king who led to a Savior. What's your prayer? What's your part?
Pastor Tom
Thursday, June 12, 2008
What Gets You Upset?
I was amazed reading the accounts in Judges 16-20. It was a very low time in the nation's history typified by this phrase: "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25)
Some pretty awful things happened but was surprised me was what the people got upset about. In chapter 19 there is the story of how a Levite's concubine is raped and murdered by the men of Gibeah. The Levite cuts up her body and sends the parts throughout the land to incite Israel to fight against Benjamin. In the the end the tribe is nearly wiped out.
Now I'm not defending or belittling what happened to that woman. It was horrible and those responsible should have been brought to justice. But what amazes me is that just one chapter earlier the tribe of Dan steals a city and murders its inhabitants just because they wanted to and they could. Where was the indignation there?
And perhaps worst of all, in chapter 17 we find the people so mixed up that they think creating their own gods and a home-grown priesthood is a way to find God's blessing.
Sometimes we have our priorities mixed up when it comes to what gets to us. We wink at some sin and get outraged about others. Worst of all, when our country walks away from faith in the Lord to embrace all kinds of falsehood we think that is okay in the name of tolerance.
Tolerance of cancer will kill you. We need to be concerned with people's eternal destiny and fight to keep the truth of the love of God through Jesus Christ flowing and not be diluted by half-truths masquerading as the real thing.
Pastor Tom
Some pretty awful things happened but was surprised me was what the people got upset about. In chapter 19 there is the story of how a Levite's concubine is raped and murdered by the men of Gibeah. The Levite cuts up her body and sends the parts throughout the land to incite Israel to fight against Benjamin. In the the end the tribe is nearly wiped out.
Now I'm not defending or belittling what happened to that woman. It was horrible and those responsible should have been brought to justice. But what amazes me is that just one chapter earlier the tribe of Dan steals a city and murders its inhabitants just because they wanted to and they could. Where was the indignation there?
And perhaps worst of all, in chapter 17 we find the people so mixed up that they think creating their own gods and a home-grown priesthood is a way to find God's blessing.
Sometimes we have our priorities mixed up when it comes to what gets to us. We wink at some sin and get outraged about others. Worst of all, when our country walks away from faith in the Lord to embrace all kinds of falsehood we think that is okay in the name of tolerance.
Tolerance of cancer will kill you. We need to be concerned with people's eternal destiny and fight to keep the truth of the love of God through Jesus Christ flowing and not be diluted by half-truths masquerading as the real thing.
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
You Want Me to Do What?
In Judges 6 we find the people of Israel in pretty dire straights. Imagine you go to work and on payday you are met at the door by a thug who steals your check and cashes it himself! That's kind of the situation Israel was in. They would raise crops and then the Midianites and Amalekites would come in and "harvest" the crops for themselves.
Then God (in the form of the Angel of the Lord) showed up to a man named Gideon (who was threshing wheat in a wine press to hide from the Midianites). God said to him: "The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor." (Judges 6:12)
Gideon answered "If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us?"
In other words, "if God is with us why hasn't He done something!"
God answers him, "Go in this might of yours and save Israel."
Gideon wanted God do it all and God wanted Gideon to understand that he had the strength to do what God wanted because "I will be with you."
When we see things that need to be done, prayers to be answered, problems to be solved, trials to undergo and temptations to overcome - do we sometimes just want God to do it for us? "If you are so great why don't you just solve all my problems?"
In reality God wants to work in and through us. We, like Gideon, are to be participants in God's mighty work. We are not simply bystanders. It is by God's Spirit making his home in us that we too can accomplish His will.
So pray for answers but don't be surprised if He says "Go in this might of yours."
Pastor Tom
Then God (in the form of the Angel of the Lord) showed up to a man named Gideon (who was threshing wheat in a wine press to hide from the Midianites). God said to him: "The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor." (Judges 6:12)
Gideon answered "If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us?"
In other words, "if God is with us why hasn't He done something!"
God answers him, "Go in this might of yours and save Israel."
Gideon wanted God do it all and God wanted Gideon to understand that he had the strength to do what God wanted because "I will be with you."
When we see things that need to be done, prayers to be answered, problems to be solved, trials to undergo and temptations to overcome - do we sometimes just want God to do it for us? "If you are so great why don't you just solve all my problems?"
In reality God wants to work in and through us. We, like Gideon, are to be participants in God's mighty work. We are not simply bystanders. It is by God's Spirit making his home in us that we too can accomplish His will.
So pray for answers but don't be surprised if He says "Go in this might of yours."
Pastor Tom
Monday, June 09, 2008
Where'd It All Go?
I've often asked myself what happened to Israel after they got into the Promised Land. I mean, they had it all - a powerful God fighting on their behalf who was giving them a land of their own.
But not too many years after they arrived, Israel was in sad shape and, other than during David's and some of Solomon's reign, they never seemed to really have it together.
Judges gives us some clues.
After the death of Joshua the people of Judah were successful in battle after inquiring of the Lord. But in chapter 1, verse 19 it says "And the Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron."
Next, Benjamin "did not drive out the Jebusites." Manasseh did not drive out the Canaanites and they "persisted in dwelling in the land." Zebulun put the Canaanites to forced labor instead of destroying them as God commanded. The Asherites "lived among the Canaanites." The people of Dan were forced live in the hills because the Canaanites were too strong.
As believers in Jesus Christ we are in the process of being transformed into the image of God. In that process we have an enemy too: the flesh. The flesh are those habit patterns we learned that are contrary to the character of God.
In our quest to destroy the flesh by the power of the Spirit we can make errors just like the children of Israel. Don't let the tough "iron chariots" stop you - those habits that are hard fought to stay around. Don't make deals with the flesh, don't let yourself be swept up again by living among the flesh (don't let those temptations overcome you by being surrounded by them) and don't let the flesh change your ability to serve God by being driven away from fellowship or worship.
With Israel, one defeat cascaded upon another. Never in that first chapter do we see a tribe seek the Lord like Judah did at the beginning. Seek the Lord constantly and don't let the flesh have a foothold!
Pastor Tom
But not too many years after they arrived, Israel was in sad shape and, other than during David's and some of Solomon's reign, they never seemed to really have it together.
Judges gives us some clues.
After the death of Joshua the people of Judah were successful in battle after inquiring of the Lord. But in chapter 1, verse 19 it says "And the Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron."
Next, Benjamin "did not drive out the Jebusites." Manasseh did not drive out the Canaanites and they "persisted in dwelling in the land." Zebulun put the Canaanites to forced labor instead of destroying them as God commanded. The Asherites "lived among the Canaanites." The people of Dan were forced live in the hills because the Canaanites were too strong.
As believers in Jesus Christ we are in the process of being transformed into the image of God. In that process we have an enemy too: the flesh. The flesh are those habit patterns we learned that are contrary to the character of God.
In our quest to destroy the flesh by the power of the Spirit we can make errors just like the children of Israel. Don't let the tough "iron chariots" stop you - those habits that are hard fought to stay around. Don't make deals with the flesh, don't let yourself be swept up again by living among the flesh (don't let those temptations overcome you by being surrounded by them) and don't let the flesh change your ability to serve God by being driven away from fellowship or worship.
With Israel, one defeat cascaded upon another. Never in that first chapter do we see a tribe seek the Lord like Judah did at the beginning. Seek the Lord constantly and don't let the flesh have a foothold!
Pastor Tom
Friday, June 06, 2008
Make a Decision!
Today the prevailing wisdom is that everyone holds a bit of the truth. If we all get together and put our pieces together a complete picture of the truth will emerge. If a different group comes together then the truth will morph depending on what pieces they bring.
What that really means isn't that each one of us holds a bit of the truth but that each one of us holds different beliefs. When we put our beliefs together a complete picture of what we think emerges.
Truth is not really relative that way. Truth does not change that way. We may have different opinions about the truth about gravity, but that doesn't change gravity, only our perception of it.
But holding on to the idea that real truth cannot be known absolutely is a convenient way of putting off making a decision about it. Pilate said "What is truth?" He'd have fit in well today.
Here's the problem. If there was a fire in your house and you put off making a decision about whether to run until you had every one's idea about the fire you'd be dead. Putting off making a decision is making a decision.
That's why I think Joshua's words at the end of his life and his book are so key for all of us to hear.
"Choose this day whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15)
In the words of Bob Dylan "You gotta serve somebody." Don't just wait to decide whether you are going to trust that Jesus is Lord.
Listen to the eyewitness testimony of those who saw the whole thing. Not making a decision is making a decision and the house is burning.
Pastor Tom
What that really means isn't that each one of us holds a bit of the truth but that each one of us holds different beliefs. When we put our beliefs together a complete picture of what we think emerges.
Truth is not really relative that way. Truth does not change that way. We may have different opinions about the truth about gravity, but that doesn't change gravity, only our perception of it.
But holding on to the idea that real truth cannot be known absolutely is a convenient way of putting off making a decision about it. Pilate said "What is truth?" He'd have fit in well today.
Here's the problem. If there was a fire in your house and you put off making a decision about whether to run until you had every one's idea about the fire you'd be dead. Putting off making a decision is making a decision.
That's why I think Joshua's words at the end of his life and his book are so key for all of us to hear.
"Choose this day whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15)
In the words of Bob Dylan "You gotta serve somebody." Don't just wait to decide whether you are going to trust that Jesus is Lord.
Listen to the eyewitness testimony of those who saw the whole thing. Not making a decision is making a decision and the house is burning.
Pastor Tom
Thursday, June 05, 2008
The Easy Route or the Best Route
Joshua 17:14 "Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua saying, "Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?"
Sounds like a reasonable request, doesn't it? During the occupation of the Promised Land, Joseph felt like they needed to get more land. But that would have required Joshua to give it to them from one of the other tribe's allotments. How fair would that be?
Furthermore, when Joshua probed deeper, it seems that they had plenty of land but were afraid of the "chariots of iron" employed by the people in the plain, and didn't want to go to the work of cutting down the forests in the hill country.
At times for us, God puts in front of us work to do. No, we aren't earning His favor by doing it, we are participating in the good works He created for us. But just because God wants us to do something doesn't mean it will be easy.
Sometimes we have to face the iron chariots and see the power of God fight on our behalf. Maybe there is a broken relationship that He wants you to mend, but it will take prayer and humbleness and patience.
In the end, Joshua didn't give Joseph the easy answer, he gave them the right answer by saying "You are a numerous people and have great power ... the hill country shall be yours ... you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron."
God asks us to difficult things, but He is the one who performs it, if we will just be willing to work hard with Him!
Pastor Tom
Sounds like a reasonable request, doesn't it? During the occupation of the Promised Land, Joseph felt like they needed to get more land. But that would have required Joshua to give it to them from one of the other tribe's allotments. How fair would that be?
Furthermore, when Joshua probed deeper, it seems that they had plenty of land but were afraid of the "chariots of iron" employed by the people in the plain, and didn't want to go to the work of cutting down the forests in the hill country.
At times for us, God puts in front of us work to do. No, we aren't earning His favor by doing it, we are participating in the good works He created for us. But just because God wants us to do something doesn't mean it will be easy.
Sometimes we have to face the iron chariots and see the power of God fight on our behalf. Maybe there is a broken relationship that He wants you to mend, but it will take prayer and humbleness and patience.
In the end, Joshua didn't give Joseph the easy answer, he gave them the right answer by saying "You are a numerous people and have great power ... the hill country shall be yours ... you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron."
God asks us to difficult things, but He is the one who performs it, if we will just be willing to work hard with Him!
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Tired of Walking Around Jericho
Joshua 6:15 "On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times."
If you were one of the men who got up on that day, and Joshua your leader told you to walk around the city of Jericho seven times - round about turn number three wouldn't you start to get a little impatient?
"Why can't we just go in and conquer the city now?" you might think. Then after the next time around you really might to start to tire and think "I won't have any strength left to fight and do God's work because I've spent all this time walking in circles!"
As you probably know, after the seventh time they blew the trumpets and God blew down the walls of the city and they destroyed it.
What "city" are you waiting to be conquered - what problem looms up against you that seems impossible? Has God told you to pray and to seek Him and to wait for His answer? You pray once and that seems like the right thing. You pray and wait again and that's okay. Right about prayer number three you begin to get a little impatient and you wonder why God couldn't have just answered the first time.
Yet another prayer and another day of waiting for God's wisdom and God moving and you think all of your strength has been used up praying and seeking when you could have just solved the problem yourself.
So what's the answer? When you find yourself getting impatient, remember that Israel had to walk around seven times - the number of completeness. God knows the right time to wait. He knows how long it will take to get His wisdom in you. He knows just the right time to answer. Trust Him. Wait for Him. Walk for Him.
Besides, a little exercise never hurt anyone!
Pastor Tom
If you were one of the men who got up on that day, and Joshua your leader told you to walk around the city of Jericho seven times - round about turn number three wouldn't you start to get a little impatient?
"Why can't we just go in and conquer the city now?" you might think. Then after the next time around you really might to start to tire and think "I won't have any strength left to fight and do God's work because I've spent all this time walking in circles!"
As you probably know, after the seventh time they blew the trumpets and God blew down the walls of the city and they destroyed it.
What "city" are you waiting to be conquered - what problem looms up against you that seems impossible? Has God told you to pray and to seek Him and to wait for His answer? You pray once and that seems like the right thing. You pray and wait again and that's okay. Right about prayer number three you begin to get a little impatient and you wonder why God couldn't have just answered the first time.
Yet another prayer and another day of waiting for God's wisdom and God moving and you think all of your strength has been used up praying and seeking when you could have just solved the problem yourself.
So what's the answer? When you find yourself getting impatient, remember that Israel had to walk around seven times - the number of completeness. God knows the right time to wait. He knows how long it will take to get His wisdom in you. He knows just the right time to answer. Trust Him. Wait for Him. Walk for Him.
Besides, a little exercise never hurt anyone!
Pastor Tom
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Come Back!
Deuteronomy 27, 28, & 29 are some very scary chapters. Its just before Israel enters the Promised Land. Moses has the people stand on two mountains. The people on one mountain speak all the blessings that await those that obey the Lord. The people on the other mountain speak all the curses that await Israel if they disobey and stop following Yahweh.
We know, of course, that they did exactly that. They got into the land and thought the ways of the people there were pretty cool so they left Yahweh and followed after the Baals, and the other non-gods. And God did just what He said He would do and scattered the people to other nations.
We live in a different period but as a spiritual principal this still stands. If you love and serve God then decide you'd rather love and serve your own flesh and the ways of the world system around you seem cooler than God and will make you more prosperous, then you too will end up feeling like you've been cursed too. Paul says as much in Galatians 6 (check it out).
What is really cool, though, is this little section in chapter 30. From verse 1 though 6.
1 And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to min among all the nations where the Lord your God has drive you, and you return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes..."
He goes on to say He will gather and take you from where you are, bring you into a blessed land, make you more prosperous than before, circumcise your heart - and the result is you will love the Lord.
If you are in a place where you have walked (or run) away from the Lord and feel the effects of sowing to the flesh and reaping from the flesh corruption and you just don't think God wants to or even can restore you - remember this verse.
Call out to the Lord God. Three times Moses said the Lord your God. If you trusted in Jesus then you have a relationship with Him and He never really lets you go. He wants to gather you into His arms and cause your heart to soften and your ears to open. God wants to restore you to fellowship and make you even more blessed (in knowing Him) than ever!
It is never too late. Come back. He's been waiting.
Pastor Tom
We know, of course, that they did exactly that. They got into the land and thought the ways of the people there were pretty cool so they left Yahweh and followed after the Baals, and the other non-gods. And God did just what He said He would do and scattered the people to other nations.
We live in a different period but as a spiritual principal this still stands. If you love and serve God then decide you'd rather love and serve your own flesh and the ways of the world system around you seem cooler than God and will make you more prosperous, then you too will end up feeling like you've been cursed too. Paul says as much in Galatians 6 (check it out).
What is really cool, though, is this little section in chapter 30. From verse 1 though 6.
1 And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to min among all the nations where the Lord your God has drive you, and you return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes..."
He goes on to say He will gather and take you from where you are, bring you into a blessed land, make you more prosperous than before, circumcise your heart - and the result is you will love the Lord.
If you are in a place where you have walked (or run) away from the Lord and feel the effects of sowing to the flesh and reaping from the flesh corruption and you just don't think God wants to or even can restore you - remember this verse.
Call out to the Lord God. Three times Moses said the Lord your God. If you trusted in Jesus then you have a relationship with Him and He never really lets you go. He wants to gather you into His arms and cause your heart to soften and your ears to open. God wants to restore you to fellowship and make you even more blessed (in knowing Him) than ever!
It is never too late. Come back. He's been waiting.
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Listen up!
Deuteronomy 18:15(A) "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb(B) on the day of the assembly, when you said,(C) 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.' 17And the LORD said to me,(D) 'They are right in what they have spoken. 18(E) I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers.(F) And I will put my words in his mouth, and(G) he shall speak to them all that I command him. (from Biblegateway.com)
Did you know that these verses are about Jesus Christ? From time to time it is important to remind ourselves that God did not bring Jesus on the scene as a last minute plan to fix a broken humanity. Before the creation of the world God knew man would fail and so he planned to bring Jesus on the scene at just the right time.
There are a couple of wonderful things to point out about this person, whom the Jews referred to as The Prophet.
1. He is "from your brothers". Jesus was a human being, with all of the things we human have to deal with. He can identify with you.
2. We should listen to him. When God revealed himself and his character to the people of Israel they said "no more!" We really have no clue just how incredible God is, and how holy, and how much we don't measure up. They just wanted to stop up their ears. With Jesus we need to open those ears and listen to how God will make a way for us to share in his glory by giving us his very life.
Consider how long God waited to bring Jesus on the scene in order to speak the words of love God longed to speak. He is speaking those words into your life today. Listen up!
Pastor Tom
Did you know that these verses are about Jesus Christ? From time to time it is important to remind ourselves that God did not bring Jesus on the scene as a last minute plan to fix a broken humanity. Before the creation of the world God knew man would fail and so he planned to bring Jesus on the scene at just the right time.
There are a couple of wonderful things to point out about this person, whom the Jews referred to as The Prophet.
1. He is "from your brothers". Jesus was a human being, with all of the things we human have to deal with. He can identify with you.
2. We should listen to him. When God revealed himself and his character to the people of Israel they said "no more!" We really have no clue just how incredible God is, and how holy, and how much we don't measure up. They just wanted to stop up their ears. With Jesus we need to open those ears and listen to how God will make a way for us to share in his glory by giving us his very life.
Consider how long God waited to bring Jesus on the scene in order to speak the words of love God longed to speak. He is speaking those words into your life today. Listen up!
Pastor Tom
Friday, May 23, 2008
Loyal or Impressed?
As humans we seem to be hard wired to drive our lives by our five senses. We trust that which we can hear, smell, taste, see, and feel. When it comes to things that really matter, though, our senses can actually deceive us, or be deceived.
This is driven home in Deuteronomy 13:1 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign of wonder that he tells comes to pass, and if he says, "Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer or dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
Think about it. Someone comes along and makes a prophecy that is so specific that there is no way they could know unless they had supernatural knowledge, and their prophecy comes true. Or even better, they claim to be able to heal or do something incredible - and they do it!
If that person then said they had a different idea about the way of salvation, wouldn't we just flock to listen to them?
But God clearly warns us here not to do that. We need to trust with the eyes of faith, not our physical eyes. God gave us ample proof of who he was through the miracles he did for Israel and for us in Jesus Christ. If we keep demanding proof our senses can appreciate then we aren't trusting God and God isn't God of our lives anymore, we are, our senses are.
Believe what God did and said. Be loyal to Him. Trust in Him-no matter what!
Pastor Tom
This is driven home in Deuteronomy 13:1 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign of wonder that he tells comes to pass, and if he says, "Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer or dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
Think about it. Someone comes along and makes a prophecy that is so specific that there is no way they could know unless they had supernatural knowledge, and their prophecy comes true. Or even better, they claim to be able to heal or do something incredible - and they do it!
If that person then said they had a different idea about the way of salvation, wouldn't we just flock to listen to them?
But God clearly warns us here not to do that. We need to trust with the eyes of faith, not our physical eyes. God gave us ample proof of who he was through the miracles he did for Israel and for us in Jesus Christ. If we keep demanding proof our senses can appreciate then we aren't trusting God and God isn't God of our lives anymore, we are, our senses are.
Believe what God did and said. Be loyal to Him. Trust in Him-no matter what!
Pastor Tom
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