Something I've never seen before

Take a moment to read these texts and then ask yourself what's the difference in Samson and Paul? I'm not looking for 'Paul had the Spirit' or 'Samson was before Christ.' What was the difference in the way they lived their lives?

Luke 9:23 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

1 Corinthians 15:31 "I die everyday"

Galatians 2:20 " I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Galatians 5:24 "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

Philippians 3:8 "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."

And God Listened

What an amazing statement from Judges 13:9, 'And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field.' I pray that we will all be captivated by the wonder of the fact that God listens to us. He listens to us and in His good wisdom and providence answers our requests. Let us pray that God will raise us a new group of Bereans. May we see everyone around us as part of God's creation and in need of redemption. May we be quick to rush the gospel to them. May God grant them hearts that search the Scriptures and in conjunction with faithful preaching bring about salvation. The church desperately needs more people like Barnabas that are full of encouragement and the church desperately needs more people like Paul that are ready to preach with faithfulness.

My great God, thank You for listening to my voice. I know it is only because of the work of my Savior that I desire to pray and it is only because of the righteousness of Christ that You hear me when I pray. He is my all in all and You sent Him for me. Thank you Father. Please hear me as I pray for men and women who will take joy and persevere in encouragement. May you raise them up from among us. Please hear me as I pray for men and women who will study the gospel fo Jesus Christ faithfully and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ faithfully. Help us to make the most of every opportunity. Help us to make the most of every day. May the good gifts You have given through Your Spirit not be wasted. Show me Your will and give me the strength to follow it.

Through Christ
Amen

God if You do ______ then I'll do ________

Fundamentally, God is a person who keeps His word. We need Him to do what He says. He must be trustworthy. As we are changed into the image of His Son, who is equally trustworthy. God demands that we also keep our word. That means we must be mindful of every word and we must be diligent to keep every word. What promise have you made to God that you have not kept? Seek God's forgiveness and strength to fulfill your promise. Keep your word even to your hurt.

Father, make me a man who keeps his word in every instance. Forgive me and strengthen me to fulfill every pledge I've made and have not kept. Show me the path of righteousness. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. May all I say and do bring honor to You.

In Christ's name
Amen

A return to boldness

If you've spent much time in the church you've probably heard someone talk about getting back to the way the 1st church did things. Usually that a reference to devotion to the Apostle's teaching and prayer or caring sacrificially for each other's needs. What often gets overlooked, however, is the repetition of boldness.

Acts 14:3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

The early church was ready to speak. They knew God and they knew His Word. They had walked with Christ and they knew what it was to be changed by the Spirit. Based on their knowledge and daily walk with the holy Triune God they opened their mouths to speak truth and to do so with boldness. Where is our boldness? It is connected to our relationship with God. Where our relationship with God suffers so will our boldness. When our relationship with God grows so will our boldness. With eyes wide open we need to realize that boldness often brings an increase in the church and an increase in persecution.

Father, meet with me. As I humble myself and pray to You, my Creator, meet with me. Send Your Spirit to make my heart burn as I read of Jesus. Make Your Word a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Give me boldness and give me direction. Cleanse me of my sin and fill up my weaknesses that I may be useful to You. I want to live for You. I want to make You known. I want people to be changed and Your church to grow. Do not let me be like the Israelites who traded You for false gods. Make me like Paul and Barnabas who when the people tried to worship as false gods pointed the people to You. Make Your church bold.

Make Your church like Your Son
Amen

Led by a bramble bush

The Old Testament has a number of rich parables; one of them we read today. Jotham's parable of the trees and demand for good faith and integrity are important. Who do we want to lead and why? What standards should our leaders be held to? What about our men, our fathers, our leaders, and our pastors? In the spring the bramble does have a beauty when it is full of leaves and the appearance of life. But in the late fall and winter the bramble is revealed to have nothing but thorns and the power to choke out life.

Without use of a parable the Apostle Saul, also called Paul, makes the same statement to Elymas. "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?" (Acts 13:10)

Father, give us and make us godly leaders. Do not let the bramble bush rise up but instead raise up the olive, the fig, and the vine. Give us useful and wholesome leaders. This morning God, we pray for our pastors. We ask that You would make them holy, useful, and focused men. Men like Paul and Barnabas who spoke out boldly for the truth. Men who know who Jesus is and are able to urge others to come and walk with Him. Raise up a church full of joy and the Holy Spirit. Over and over in our reading today I saw the truth of Christ's resurrection. Fill me with the hope that Jesus' resurrection brings. Remove my fear of sin, take away my unrighteousness, and replace my fear of judgment with hope in You. Make me and Your church useful.

In Jesus' name
Amen

But the word of God increased

Ephraim gets his feelings hurt, Gideon makes an idol, the people make Baal-berith their god, James the brother of John is martyred, Peter is arrested, miraculously released, and flees Jerusalem, and still the word of God increased and multiplied. If God's love depended on our faithfulness then there clearly would be no love. Our sin and the trials of this world would gradually loosen our grip on God. That's the mercy and grace of God. His love for us does not depend on the strength of our grip on Him. True, we are told to cling to God but this clinging is in response to and because of His great love and grip on us. We cling to God because Gold clings to us; it will never work the other way around.

My God, I thank you this morning for the testimony of Your faithfulness to your faithless and struggling people. I thank you for this testimony because often I consider myself in the camp of the faithless and struggling. Fill me today with wonder because of Your steadfast love. Fill me today with awe because of the great things You do and have done. Number me among those who offer up earnest prayers to You. You did great things to establish Your people and Your church; You sent Your Son to die. Father, for the sake of Your name and the name of Jesus do great things in Mambrino. Use us my King to glorify the name of Jesus.

Through Him
Amen

Be a Barnabas

We are told often to "be a Barnabas." In Acts 4:36 we learned that Barnabas means, Son of Encouragement. Clearly then, it is a good thing to want to be be a Barnabas by being an encouragment to others. The problem is that being a Barnabas gets lost in translation. How am I supposed to be a Barnabas? What does it look like? Where do I start? What is my aim? In Acts 11 we are given an explanation of what it means to be a Barnabas.

"When [Barnabas] came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith" (Acts 11:23&24).

Being a Barnabas means

1. Rejoicing over the outpouring of God's grace no matter who God uses. It wasn't about Barnabas being used to do great things it was about God doing great things.
2. Encouraging others to remain faithful to the Lord. Our encouragement, like Barnabas', should always have God as it's goal and God as it's foundation. Better than, "it's going to be okay" or "God didn't know this was going to happen so it's not His fault" are the promises of Scripture found in Matthew 10:29-31 and Romans 8:28-39. If God doesn't know the future and cannot act to redeem the past He is not worth our faithfulness. Don't short change God.
3. Encouraging others to remain faithful to God with steadfast purpose. The NASB translates the phrase "with resolute heart." The NKJV says, "with purpose of heart." It is our calling as the church to get to others' hearts. To just address the feelings is to pull up short. To only exhort others when we feel like it falls short. We must seek God's wisdom and strength purchased for us by Christ. We need that strength to have steadfast hearts; hearts that love our brothers. And we need that strength to get involved in the lives of people whose hearts are faltering.
4. Being full of the Holy Spirit. Seek daily the Convictor of sin, righteousness, and judment. Seek daily the Comforter. Seek daily the one who points us to Jesus. It is the Spirit who will guide us into God's will through Scripture. It is the Spirit who will strengthen us to complete God's will through His indwelling.

Father, I want to be a good man, full of the Holy Spirit. I want to be an encourager. Please show me where and how. Remind me again and again that I am here to feed Your sheep. They are not mine but Yours. They need to be fed. They are sheep. Lord, to be faithful in any area of ministry we need You to make us like Barnabas. Remove our hearts of division and selfishness. Replace those desires with a desire to encourage others to follow You. Raise up a church that is bold in it's confession of sin and bold in it's confession of grace. Build Your Church my God. Make me a Barnabas. I know Jesus died and defeated death so that Your Kingdom would expand. Make me useful by the blood of Christ for Your enternal Kingdom.

In Christ,

Amen

Mad at God

As I read Judges 6 and Gideon's response to the angel of the Lord I saw myself. In verse 13 Gideon says, "Please, sir, 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, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian."

Gideon, in response to being told 'the Lord is with you,' asks if God is with us then why are we in this predicament? If we are God's people, if this is God's church, then why are we struggling?
The angel of the Lord then says in verse 14, "Go in the might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do I not send you?" Okay then, do something about it. I'm sending you to make a difference. To which Gideon responds, "not me, I'm scared and small."

You see, we all like to dream about how good the church could be. We all like to complain about how bad things are and how wrong everyone else does church. But when it comes down to investing in the church and sacrificing our time we get scared. We don't think we're smart enough, spiritual enough, energetic enough, old enough, or young enough. We become arm chair quarterbacks for Jesus; if there is such a thing.

If you see a need; fill it. If you see something wrong; fix it.

God help us to get in the game. Help us not to be afraid but instead trust in your strength. I thank You for those at Mambrino who are getting in the game and I pray you will forgive me for holding back. Give me eyes to see that the call You give is a call to lose my life and in the losing find life. May we all grow sick of the American Dream. May all that is comfortable make us ill. Raise up men and women who will give everything so that Jesus Christ will be praised by all. Show us how one person can make a difference. Raise up people who will be the church. Raise up churches who will reach their community. God, help us reach Mambrino. God, show us how to reach out and show Christ to our city. We want to be useful. We don't want to be afraid. We want You to build your Church. Build Your church Lord Jesus.

Amen

Our bags are packed

I will be on vacation through the weekend and then with our youth at camp for the week of July 15-21. I'll try to post if I can get internet access but I make no promises.

Please pray for me and my family that we would use this time to draw close to God in Bible reading, devotional reading, and relaxation.

Thanks
Paul

Righteous and kind

After reading the list of kings Moses defeated and killed with the addition of the 31 kings Joshua defeated and killed Psalm 145 takes on much more meaning. When we consider the fact that it was not just kings who were killed but soldiers, fathers, mothers, children, the elderly, and infants it makes me cringe. Why God? Why the children? Why the babies?

Psalm 145:17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. 20 The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

Father, I want to understand You. I want to understand your ways not so I can defend You but so that I may know You. I want to see Your righteousness and Your kindness but there are times that I struggle. Times in my own life and times throughout history. Remove from me my tendency to set up other ways of salvation. Do not let me justify sin and rebellion in anyone at anytime in history. Replace that with a passion for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every man, woman, boy, and girl. May the end of the wicked never appear normal or satisfying to me but always as cause to press on in prayer, service, and evangelism. Help me to understand You, proclaim Christ, and serve the world.

Amen

From bad to worse

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They did not leave any who breathed.

As I have read through Joshua and talked about it with others (thanks Sam) the gruesome nature of this war came through. I'd like to digest a while on the impact of the war and hopefully as we read more of how the Israelites handled themselves will become evident. What did become clear in our reading today is who was responsible for all this war and death. In our attempts generally to defend God we want to point to people's choices and to their own sin. We feel like God is on the hot seat of the world's court and we need to get Him off. Scripture does not treat God like we do.

Joshua 11:20 For it was the Lord's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the Lord commanded Moses.

I preached last night from Hebrews 10:23-25 and emphasized the need to encourage each other more and more as the Day approaches. This Day is the Day of the Lord of which Joel had a great deal to say. Take a moment to read the book of Joel and hear Joel 2:30-32

30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Father, give us hearts that desire the quick coming of Your Kingdom. May seeing Christ be a priority in our lives. With that I pray that we will have a sense of urgency for souls. Wake Your church up God. God wake me up. With Your judgment there will be great sorrow but on that day there will be great rejoicing because everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Give us faith and a strong work ethic to pursue those who will be saved. May we hunger to know those You will call out from among the survivors. May I and all Your church understand both judgment and salvation. Show us the glory of Christ in both.

Amen

They did not ask

Joshua 9:14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

Psalm 141:8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!

Satan is the master deceiver and those who are not God's people are useful to Satan. From the Gibeonites to the slanderer with mischievious lips all oppose God and do the Devil's will. Our response is not to let go and let God. Instead our response must be to set our eyes on Jesus. It is to be intentional in prayer.

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Lord, do not let me be tricked by words that appear to be full of wisdom but are really full of death. Let me hear the words of life instead of poisonous words. Guard my mouth from speaking venomous words. Keep my heart from leaving Your holy center and tilting toward any evil. Guard my schedule. Do not let my feet fall into the trap of Godless business. Show me the glory of Your will that I might not fall in with men who love wicked deeds and work iniquity. Don't let my mind be tricked into believing their lies of delight. Let my mind feed on the delicacies of Christ and His truth. May I be consumed with You and not be tricked by men.

Amen

Hemmed in

Psalm 139:5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Psalm 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Father, help me to understand and rest always in the truth that You will not leave me nor forsake me. Comfort me with the awesome scope of Your perfect knowledge and infinite power. Surely, You who gave Christ to redeem me will not abandon me to the ways and trials of this world. You created me, You know me, You redeem me, You guide me, and You watch over me. My strong Father, please help me to grow and use me to bring growth to others. Make me like Christ in every way so that I may please You in every way. You are my strength and my song; my portion forever.

Amen

Thinking About Death

Early this morning, around 2AM, a neighbor and regular church attender past away. His name is Wayne Rose and his family is grieving. God calls me to give them hope in Christ. Let me share some of my hope with you.

As I prayed this morning the Spirit brought the story of Lazarus from John 11 to my mind. There Jesus teaches us great lessons that are balm for our mouring souls. First, we are to understand that God is sovereign over death. It was Christ's decision not to heal Lazarus before death so that good would come from this sad event. We are not in control. Doctors are not in control. Satan is not in control. God is in control and He is merciful and gracious. Second, we are to understand that even in death Christ will be exalted. When our hearts long to see Christ high and lifted up death is one of the most pointed avenues for His exaltation. We exalt Christ when we put our trust in Him and our hope in Him in response to the death one whom we dearly love. The reason we can put our trust in Him is because Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26). Here is great hope. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Those who hope in him hope secure. Christ has defeated death so death is not final. Christ may raise a person from their death beds or He may raise them from the graves. Either way, because of Christ he will be raised.

Verse 26 ends with a question which Jesus posed to Martha, "Do you believe this?" He poses that question to us today. Do you believe this? Do you believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life? Do you believe He is the conqueror of death? Do you hope in Him when hope in everyone and everything else is lost?

Father, I pray to You to day that You would send Your Spirit to speak to Wayne's family. Speak to Hazel, Jackie, Ethan, and Haley. God, may they please see that Christ is the resurrection and the life. God, may they hope in Your Son. May they rest in His power over death. May they dwell secure. Your Holy One is in Zion. Our hope is at Your right hand. Show us that. Teach us that today. Show us Christ.

Amen

Jesus and the Jordan

The priests went into the Jordan for the people. The priests stayed in the Jordan until all the people had passed over. The priests were the first ones in and the last ones out. Because the priests were there and because the priests were obedient the people were able to enter into God's promises. It is the strength of God and the generosity of God that should amaze us. He has done great things because He is able to do great things. Think on who He is and what He has done:

Joshua 4:23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.

Psalm 130:3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,O Lord, who could stand?4 But with you there is forgiveness,that you may be feared.

Father, please turn the scorn of the world into understanding. Please turn the hearts of my neighbors and friends from despising the cross to loving the work of Christ for them. God, show us all that if You should mark iniquities and cause us to give a reckoning none would be able to even raise their eyes in Your presence. I would not be able to even look at You from far away. Thank You God that Christ brings me near. It is Christ who dries the Jordan river of my sin so that I may cross over into Your presence. Thank You for Christ.

In His name
Amen