Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. - 1 Corinthians 4:1
Dear Friends,
This blog is a ministry. From time to time it is good to assess ministry in order to be a good steward of the time and effort involved in its upkeep and to determine the leading of the Lord.
In order to gauge the direction in which the Lord is leading would you consider joining the membership of the Shepherd of Hope blog site?
Would you consider inviting others to become members of this site? This will enable me to determine the direction in which the Lord is leading.
Joining the blog site will give you an automatic notice when a new teaching or other material is posted. It will also help gauge the audience which the site is reaching. This will give a better indication about what materials are most appropriate to minister to those interested in the site. It will also help in considering how to broaden the ministry field.
To join the blog just click the button on the right side of the blog site and follow the instructions. It's very easy.
I would also welcome your comments and suggestions about how to better the site and make it more helpful and God glorifying.
If you choose not to join the blogsite, would you please give the reason for your decision.
Even if you choose to disregard this request, would you also consider praying for this ministry venture in faith?
You are appreciated and I pray the Lord directs you to join me in this ministry. God bless.
in His service, by His grace, for His glory,
Pastor Claude
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Overcomng Faith for Overwhelming Times
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. - 1 John 5:4
God, in His word, promises to provide the means to overcome the overwhelming times of this world. That means is faith.
There are different kinds of faith. There is a faith that demons have in the existence of God (James 2:19). There is a weak faith like that of the disciples. Jesus referred to this kind of faith as “little faith,” faith that was easily overcome with the things of this world (Mat. 6:30; Luke 12:28), faith that faltered in the storms of life (Mat. 8:26), faith that fell because it didn’t keep its eyes on Him (Mat. 14:31), and faith that was dull of understanding (Mat. 16:8).
But there is also a faith that victoriously overcomes even in overwhelming times. That is the faith I will speak about today.
There is an overcoming faith that victoriously gets us through overwhelming times of natural disaster. There is a comet approaching our planet. It is called Elenin. As it approaches the earth it is being connected with the occurrence of earthquakes of earth shaking proportions. It was first noticed and named in December of 2010. But as it has approached earth it has been connected with ever-increasingly seismic quakes:
This last major earthquake that we saw in Japan lasted an incredible five minutes! These earthquakes are often accompanied by tsunamis that add to the devastation. The earth shaking beneath you and a wall of water as high as an office building not only shakes the earth, but it shakes people’s faith. At the end of September early October, perhaps even early November, Elenin will cross earth’s orbit between the earth and the sun. There are very possibly going to be seismic natural effects on the earth. Such natural disaster proves the genuineness of our faith; whether it will stand the test of trials (e.g. 1 Peter 1:6-9). Do you have an overcoming faith that could sustain you and bring you through victoriously in such overwhelming times?
The faith that helps us overcome even in overwhelming times is described in Psalm 33. This is a faith that praises God (33:1-2), Worships God in song (33:3), and is rooted in God’s word of truth (33:4). The overcoming faith described in Psalm 33 is a faith that trusts in God as Creator (33:5-9), trusts in God as sovereign over the nations of the earth (33:10-12), but also trusts in God to care and show His concern for the particulars of individuals throughout the earth (33:13-15). This overcoming faith knows that if we trust in the Lord, in the end we will come through victoriously rejoicing in Him (33:16-22).
There is an overcoming faith that victoriously gets us through times of man-made overwhelming dilemmas. Coinciding with the pending arrival of the comet Elenin is the world economic crisis, the political and social upheaval in the Middle East, the introduction of nuclear arms capability in terrorist supporting nations like Iran, the moral breakdown of society (e.g. rise of homosexuality and legalizing of same-sex marriage), to name a few man-made destructive dilemmas. These situations are cause for much grief for those concerned with righteousness.
There is one particular development that has the potential to ignite the entire powder keg of man-made trouble into a world threatening crisis. In September Palestinians are planning on seeking to establish legitimacy and the creation of their state based on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capitol. This will draw supporting nations along with the Palestinians against Israel who will never accept such indefensible borders and has stated its stern and firm resolute refusal to give up Jerusalem as its own historical and Biblical capitol. This will pit the world against Israel just as the Bible says would happen (e.g. Zech. 12; 14). Whether or not we see the culmination of Bible prophecy in connection with this development is not yet clear. What is clear is that to overcome this man-made overwhelming situation you will need overcoming faith. That faith is described in Psalm 37.
Overcoming faith for man-made overwhelming times, according to Psalm 37, is a faith that does “not fret because of evildoers” (37:1-2). It is a faith that trusts in the LORD, does good, and feeds on God’s faithfulness (37:3). It is a faith that delights itself in the LORD, commits itself to the LORD, and doesn’t get angry but rests in the LORD (37:4-8). This is a faith that realizes evildoers will be cut off and dealt with in due time by the LORD; they know God will watch over the righteous (37:9-22). This faith trusts that though a righteous person may fall, God will always raise them up (37:23-26). And so this overcoming faith focuses on doing good and waiting on the LORD, trusting that God will save, strengthen and deliver the righteous in the end (37:27-40).
But there is one more aspect to this overcoming faith and it is the most critically important part of it. Overcoming faith that overcomes natural and man-made disaster is faith in Jesus and the rock of His word. In the Apostle John’s first epistle he is inspired to write:
It is faith in Jesus that leads to overcoming the world. Jesus said:
What kind of faith do you have? Do you have a faith that will overcome in the times of testing; the times of natural and man-made disaster? Is your faith in faith? Is it demonic? Is your faith weak, faltering, dull of understanding? Or is your faith an overcoming faith that trusts in Jesus and is built on the rock of His word? There are overwhelming times ahead. Will you overcome such times with God’s overcoming faith? Or will you sink and be shaken in the tsunamis of life? I pray we all receive God’s overcoming faith.
God, in His word, promises to provide the means to overcome the overwhelming times of this world. That means is faith.
There are different kinds of faith. There is a faith that demons have in the existence of God (James 2:19). There is a weak faith like that of the disciples. Jesus referred to this kind of faith as “little faith,” faith that was easily overcome with the things of this world (Mat. 6:30; Luke 12:28), faith that faltered in the storms of life (Mat. 8:26), faith that fell because it didn’t keep its eyes on Him (Mat. 14:31), and faith that was dull of understanding (Mat. 16:8).
But there is also a faith that victoriously overcomes even in overwhelming times. That is the faith I will speak about today.
There is an overcoming faith that victoriously gets us through overwhelming times of natural disaster. There is a comet approaching our planet. It is called Elenin. As it approaches the earth it is being connected with the occurrence of earthquakes of earth shaking proportions. It was first noticed and named in December of 2010. But as it has approached earth it has been connected with ever-increasingly seismic quakes:
February 20 2008 Indonesia 7.4
February 25 2008 Indonesia 7.2
September 09 2009 Sunola Islands 8.1
February 26 2010 Japan 7.0
February 27 2010 Chile 8.8 [Earth knocked off axis]
May 9, 2010 Indonesia 7.2
September 3, 2010 New Zealand 7.0
March 11 2011 Japan 9.0 [Earth knocked off axis]
This last major earthquake that we saw in Japan lasted an incredible five minutes! These earthquakes are often accompanied by tsunamis that add to the devastation. The earth shaking beneath you and a wall of water as high as an office building not only shakes the earth, but it shakes people’s faith. At the end of September early October, perhaps even early November, Elenin will cross earth’s orbit between the earth and the sun. There are very possibly going to be seismic natural effects on the earth. Such natural disaster proves the genuineness of our faith; whether it will stand the test of trials (e.g. 1 Peter 1:6-9). Do you have an overcoming faith that could sustain you and bring you through victoriously in such overwhelming times?
The faith that helps us overcome even in overwhelming times is described in Psalm 33. This is a faith that praises God (33:1-2), Worships God in song (33:3), and is rooted in God’s word of truth (33:4). The overcoming faith described in Psalm 33 is a faith that trusts in God as Creator (33:5-9), trusts in God as sovereign over the nations of the earth (33:10-12), but also trusts in God to care and show His concern for the particulars of individuals throughout the earth (33:13-15). This overcoming faith knows that if we trust in the Lord, in the end we will come through victoriously rejoicing in Him (33:16-22).
There is an overcoming faith that victoriously gets us through times of man-made overwhelming dilemmas. Coinciding with the pending arrival of the comet Elenin is the world economic crisis, the political and social upheaval in the Middle East, the introduction of nuclear arms capability in terrorist supporting nations like Iran, the moral breakdown of society (e.g. rise of homosexuality and legalizing of same-sex marriage), to name a few man-made destructive dilemmas. These situations are cause for much grief for those concerned with righteousness.
There is one particular development that has the potential to ignite the entire powder keg of man-made trouble into a world threatening crisis. In September Palestinians are planning on seeking to establish legitimacy and the creation of their state based on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capitol. This will draw supporting nations along with the Palestinians against Israel who will never accept such indefensible borders and has stated its stern and firm resolute refusal to give up Jerusalem as its own historical and Biblical capitol. This will pit the world against Israel just as the Bible says would happen (e.g. Zech. 12; 14). Whether or not we see the culmination of Bible prophecy in connection with this development is not yet clear. What is clear is that to overcome this man-made overwhelming situation you will need overcoming faith. That faith is described in Psalm 37.
Overcoming faith for man-made overwhelming times, according to Psalm 37, is a faith that does “not fret because of evildoers” (37:1-2). It is a faith that trusts in the LORD, does good, and feeds on God’s faithfulness (37:3). It is a faith that delights itself in the LORD, commits itself to the LORD, and doesn’t get angry but rests in the LORD (37:4-8). This is a faith that realizes evildoers will be cut off and dealt with in due time by the LORD; they know God will watch over the righteous (37:9-22). This faith trusts that though a righteous person may fall, God will always raise them up (37:23-26). And so this overcoming faith focuses on doing good and waiting on the LORD, trusting that God will save, strengthen and deliver the righteous in the end (37:27-40).
But there is one more aspect to this overcoming faith and it is the most critically important part of it. Overcoming faith that overcomes natural and man-made disaster is faith in Jesus and the rock of His word. In the Apostle John’s first epistle he is inspired to write:
1 John 5:4-5 - For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
It is faith in Jesus that leads to overcoming the world. Jesus said:
Matthew 7:24-27 - 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
What kind of faith do you have? Do you have a faith that will overcome in the times of testing; the times of natural and man-made disaster? Is your faith in faith? Is it demonic? Is your faith weak, faltering, dull of understanding? Or is your faith an overcoming faith that trusts in Jesus and is built on the rock of His word? There are overwhelming times ahead. Will you overcome such times with God’s overcoming faith? Or will you sink and be shaken in the tsunamis of life? I pray we all receive God’s overcoming faith.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Eight Impediments to God's Promises
God has given us great and precious promises (2 Pet. 1:4). But not everyone experiences those promises. A generation of Israelites were kept from experiencing the Promised Land of God because of their lack of faith and disobedience (Num. 13-14). The Promised Land of God is a type or symbol of the fullness of life in the Holy Spirit. God has promised us a life of victory and power provided by the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1 ff.). Because of their lack of faith in God the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for the rest of their lives instead of experiencing the blessedness of a land flowing with mild and honey (Num. 14-20). There are Christians who wander through their lives never experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It’s a sobering story. But what is even more sobering is that even a godly man such as Moses, who had been used incredibly, mightily by God, succumbed to temptations that kept him from his life destination, the Promised Land of God. Even great men of God can miss out on the fullness of life in the Spirit. In Numbers chapter 20 we see pivotal impediments to experiencing God’s promises. There is a lesson for all of us to learn from the events of this chapter.
In Numbers 20 we come to the end of the wilderness wanderings of Israel as they return to Kadesh the place where they first rebelled against God (Num. 13:26; 20:1). For nearly forty years this rebellious generation has walked in circles. Not much happens when you rebel against the Lord. We are also told in the opening lines of this chapter that Moses’ sister Miriam dies. Just a few nondescript words are given to announce her passing. She had rebelled against Moses her brother; God’s anointed leader. Rebels against God have no lasting legacy worth mentioning. On the other hand, that done in the will of God has an eternal weight of glory (e.g. Mat. 6:19-21; 19:21; 2 Cor. 4:17).
We all should seek to finish well the race marked out by God before us. We want to be able to say like Paul said:
Unfortunately, Moses did not finish well. This great man of God suffered a tarnishing mark to his legacy. In the later stages of the wilderness wanderings he faltered in his flesh. The setting for this fall is a familiar one for the Israelites. When you look at the history of their behavior the Israelites had a fatal attraction with dissatisfaction. Once again they “gathered together against Moses and Aaron” to complain about a lack of water (20:2-6). After years of wilderness wandering and God’s faithful provision for their needs, they still had a heart of complaint. Age and time do not necessarily change us. We change when we walk with God. They chose to walk alone.
Previously their cry for water had been quenched by God who had Moses strike the rock which resulted in water pouring forth (Exodus 17:6). But this time God’s instructions to Moses would be different. The following words give us God’s instructions to Moses as well as pivotal impediments Moses fell into that kept him from the Promised Land.
First, Moses sinned in his harsh words to the people (v. 10). Moses called the people “rebels.” They were rebellious but his words and lack of discretion exposed a lack of kindness and gentleness necessary for a leader of God (e.g. Ps. 106:33; Gal. 6:1). We will give an account of every word we speak, including the harsh ones (cf. Mat. 12:37). Whatever truth we speak must be spoken in the love of God (Eph. 4:15). That is God’s standard for us. One who beats God’s sheep is not suited to lead them to God’s Promised Pasture Land.
Second, Moses sinned by taking credit for what God had done (v. 10). Moses said, “Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” He said “we” when he should have said “He.” In striking the rock it was as though Moses was saying, “I gave you water from the rock before and now you complain again instead of trusting me for water?” God will not share His glory with another (Is. 42:8). Herod found this out the hard way (Acts 12:23). Our works are to give glory to God (Mat. 5:16). Moses sinned in his selfish presentation. One who steals God’s glory is not suited to lead His people into His Promised Land.
Third, Moses sinned by being resentful instead of loving toward the people (v. 10). He said “must we” indicating that he felt their request was unreasonable. A parent doesn’t treat the requests of their child with resentment. The Lord’s bondservant must be guided by love (Lev. 19:18, 34; 2 Cor. 5:14). Moses felt put upon. He was aggravated, maybe frustrated and likely just fed up with these people. But that is no excuse for mistreating God’s people. Resentment can keep us from the Promised Land.
Fourth, Moses sinned by misrepresenting God (v. 10). He struck the rock in anger. As God’s representative he was portraying God as angry with the people when He was not. The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome or misrepresent God as such (cf. 2 Tim. 2:24-26). Man’s fleshly anger does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20). God’s ambassadors must represent Him in His love (2 Cor. 5:14-21). If you lash out at instead of love people you aren’t going to see the Promised Land. God isn’t going to use the harsh and hot-headed person who misrepresents Him to lead others to His Promised Land.
You might wonder, Was Moses’ striking the rock instead of speaking to the rock such a great sin? What’s the big deal to the Lord? Moses angry action of striking the rock defiled one of God’s types of Jesus Christ. In 1 Cor. 10 it states that Jesus is the “Rock” in the wilderness. The striking of the rock is a type or symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus atoning work involved one and only one crucifixion or striking for the sins of the world (“once for all” – Rom. 6:10; Heb.7:27; 9:12; 10:10). Moses striking the rock a second and third time defiled this typology of the once and for all completed work of Christ (e.g. John 19:20). When we allow our flesh to overwhelm us and direct our actions it leads to misrepresenting God.
Fifth, Moses sinned by disobeying God (v. 11). God said “speak” to the rock and Moses struck the rock. As indiscriminate as that might seem to us, it was outright disobedience to a command of God. Jesus said that love and obedience are inextricably linked so when Moses disobeyed it became an obstacle in his relationship with God (cf. John 14:21). God pays attention to details. He wants us to do the same. Those who casually disregard and disobey the word of God are not going to see the Promised Land.
Sixth, Moses sinned by unbelief (v. 12). He didn’t believe in God to provide as the words “did not believe Me” stated by God indicate. Moses’ actions were not in faith but in his flesh. When you react in the flesh instead of responding in the Spirit, you won’t be seeing the Promised Land.
Seventh, Moses sinned by not hallowing God in the presence of the people (v. 12). God said Moses had failed “to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel.” God’s leaders must be mindful of the holiness of God (e.g. Is. 6). God is holy and those who follow Him are to be holy (Lev. 11:44-45; 1 Pet. 1:15-16). This is especially true of God’s leaders. Those who fail to revere God and appreciate His holiness are not going to see the Promised Land.
As we come to the end of the chapter we read:
Eighth, Moses sinned by rebelling against God (v. 24). God’s indictment of Moses was that his actions were rebellious. He said, “because you rebelled against My word.” This tells us that there was some willful resistance by Moses to God’s words of instruction. God magnifies His word above His own holy name (Psalm 138:2). When we disregard His word it isn’t only rebellious, it’s foolish. Those who rebel against God word and cast it aside are not going to reach His Promised Land.
Maybe you’re thinking, Wait a minute. If it was Moses who rebelled against God’s word why was Aaron also being kept from the Promised Land? God went on to instruct Moses to “strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son” (20:25-28). Aaron died and was laid to rest on Mount Hor, outside the Promised Land. Why was Aaron included in the discipline of God for what Moses had done? Aaron didn’t do anything to stop Moses sinful actions. Aaron was complicit by his inaction. He was guilty of a sin of omission. He didn’t stand up to Moses and try to prevent his brother’s sinful response. He was just as guilty as Moses because he did nothing to prevent the rebellion and disobedience that took place. If we think that we can stand by passively while sin takes place and then claim innocence we are sadly mistaken. God expects more from leaders. He expects more from all of us. Jesus said that if we deny Him before men He would deny us before the Father (Mat. 10:32-33). Denial can take the form of passive silence. The Good Samaritan was the one who took action to meet a need (Luke 10:29-37). The apostle John was inspired to write that if we see someone in need and do nothing, how can we claim to have God’s love in us? (1 John 3:16-18). Love is an action. If you hear God’s word and do nothing to apply it, you live on shaky spiritual ground (Luke 6:49). The Bible states, “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Aaron did nothing and therefore was part of Moses rebellion.
Oscar Hammerstein II once wrote:
If we are to reach the Promised Land of the fullness of life in the Spirit, we must be stouthearted people fully surrendered and submitted to God, appreciative of His holiness, representing Him well, and filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. Look at Moses. Pay attention to the impediments he succumbed to. Then march on to the Promised Land and take as many people with you as possible.
In Numbers 20 we come to the end of the wilderness wanderings of Israel as they return to Kadesh the place where they first rebelled against God (Num. 13:26; 20:1). For nearly forty years this rebellious generation has walked in circles. Not much happens when you rebel against the Lord. We are also told in the opening lines of this chapter that Moses’ sister Miriam dies. Just a few nondescript words are given to announce her passing. She had rebelled against Moses her brother; God’s anointed leader. Rebels against God have no lasting legacy worth mentioning. On the other hand, that done in the will of God has an eternal weight of glory (e.g. Mat. 6:19-21; 19:21; 2 Cor. 4:17).
We all should seek to finish well the race marked out by God before us. We want to be able to say like Paul said:
2 Timothy 4:7-8 - 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.(cf. also 1 Tim. 6:11-16; 2 Tim. 2:3-10)
Unfortunately, Moses did not finish well. This great man of God suffered a tarnishing mark to his legacy. In the later stages of the wilderness wanderings he faltered in his flesh. The setting for this fall is a familiar one for the Israelites. When you look at the history of their behavior the Israelites had a fatal attraction with dissatisfaction. Once again they “gathered together against Moses and Aaron” to complain about a lack of water (20:2-6). After years of wilderness wandering and God’s faithful provision for their needs, they still had a heart of complaint. Age and time do not necessarily change us. We change when we walk with God. They chose to walk alone.
Previously their cry for water had been quenched by God who had Moses strike the rock which resulted in water pouring forth (Exodus 17:6). But this time God’s instructions to Moses would be different. The following words give us God’s instructions to Moses as well as pivotal impediments Moses fell into that kept him from the Promised Land.
Numbers 20:7-13 - 7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. 12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 This was the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel contended with the LORD, and He was hallowed among them.
First, Moses sinned in his harsh words to the people (v. 10). Moses called the people “rebels.” They were rebellious but his words and lack of discretion exposed a lack of kindness and gentleness necessary for a leader of God (e.g. Ps. 106:33; Gal. 6:1). We will give an account of every word we speak, including the harsh ones (cf. Mat. 12:37). Whatever truth we speak must be spoken in the love of God (Eph. 4:15). That is God’s standard for us. One who beats God’s sheep is not suited to lead them to God’s Promised Pasture Land.
Second, Moses sinned by taking credit for what God had done (v. 10). Moses said, “Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” He said “we” when he should have said “He.” In striking the rock it was as though Moses was saying, “I gave you water from the rock before and now you complain again instead of trusting me for water?” God will not share His glory with another (Is. 42:8). Herod found this out the hard way (Acts 12:23). Our works are to give glory to God (Mat. 5:16). Moses sinned in his selfish presentation. One who steals God’s glory is not suited to lead His people into His Promised Land.
Third, Moses sinned by being resentful instead of loving toward the people (v. 10). He said “must we” indicating that he felt their request was unreasonable. A parent doesn’t treat the requests of their child with resentment. The Lord’s bondservant must be guided by love (Lev. 19:18, 34; 2 Cor. 5:14). Moses felt put upon. He was aggravated, maybe frustrated and likely just fed up with these people. But that is no excuse for mistreating God’s people. Resentment can keep us from the Promised Land.
Fourth, Moses sinned by misrepresenting God (v. 10). He struck the rock in anger. As God’s representative he was portraying God as angry with the people when He was not. The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome or misrepresent God as such (cf. 2 Tim. 2:24-26). Man’s fleshly anger does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20). God’s ambassadors must represent Him in His love (2 Cor. 5:14-21). If you lash out at instead of love people you aren’t going to see the Promised Land. God isn’t going to use the harsh and hot-headed person who misrepresents Him to lead others to His Promised Land.
You might wonder, Was Moses’ striking the rock instead of speaking to the rock such a great sin? What’s the big deal to the Lord? Moses angry action of striking the rock defiled one of God’s types of Jesus Christ. In 1 Cor. 10 it states that Jesus is the “Rock” in the wilderness. The striking of the rock is a type or symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus atoning work involved one and only one crucifixion or striking for the sins of the world (“once for all” – Rom. 6:10; Heb.7:27; 9:12; 10:10). Moses striking the rock a second and third time defiled this typology of the once and for all completed work of Christ (e.g. John 19:20). When we allow our flesh to overwhelm us and direct our actions it leads to misrepresenting God.
Fifth, Moses sinned by disobeying God (v. 11). God said “speak” to the rock and Moses struck the rock. As indiscriminate as that might seem to us, it was outright disobedience to a command of God. Jesus said that love and obedience are inextricably linked so when Moses disobeyed it became an obstacle in his relationship with God (cf. John 14:21). God pays attention to details. He wants us to do the same. Those who casually disregard and disobey the word of God are not going to see the Promised Land.
Sixth, Moses sinned by unbelief (v. 12). He didn’t believe in God to provide as the words “did not believe Me” stated by God indicate. Moses’ actions were not in faith but in his flesh. When you react in the flesh instead of responding in the Spirit, you won’t be seeing the Promised Land.
Seventh, Moses sinned by not hallowing God in the presence of the people (v. 12). God said Moses had failed “to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel.” God’s leaders must be mindful of the holiness of God (e.g. Is. 6). God is holy and those who follow Him are to be holy (Lev. 11:44-45; 1 Pet. 1:15-16). This is especially true of God’s leaders. Those who fail to revere God and appreciate His holiness are not going to see the Promised Land.
As we come to the end of the chapter we read:
Numbers 20:22-24 - 22 Now the children of Israel, the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. 23 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying: 24 “Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah.
Eighth, Moses sinned by rebelling against God (v. 24). God’s indictment of Moses was that his actions were rebellious. He said, “because you rebelled against My word.” This tells us that there was some willful resistance by Moses to God’s words of instruction. God magnifies His word above His own holy name (Psalm 138:2). When we disregard His word it isn’t only rebellious, it’s foolish. Those who rebel against God word and cast it aside are not going to reach His Promised Land.
Maybe you’re thinking, Wait a minute. If it was Moses who rebelled against God’s word why was Aaron also being kept from the Promised Land? God went on to instruct Moses to “strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son” (20:25-28). Aaron died and was laid to rest on Mount Hor, outside the Promised Land. Why was Aaron included in the discipline of God for what Moses had done? Aaron didn’t do anything to stop Moses sinful actions. Aaron was complicit by his inaction. He was guilty of a sin of omission. He didn’t stand up to Moses and try to prevent his brother’s sinful response. He was just as guilty as Moses because he did nothing to prevent the rebellion and disobedience that took place. If we think that we can stand by passively while sin takes place and then claim innocence we are sadly mistaken. God expects more from leaders. He expects more from all of us. Jesus said that if we deny Him before men He would deny us before the Father (Mat. 10:32-33). Denial can take the form of passive silence. The Good Samaritan was the one who took action to meet a need (Luke 10:29-37). The apostle John was inspired to write that if we see someone in need and do nothing, how can we claim to have God’s love in us? (1 John 3:16-18). Love is an action. If you hear God’s word and do nothing to apply it, you live on shaky spiritual ground (Luke 6:49). The Bible states, “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Aaron did nothing and therefore was part of Moses rebellion.
Oscar Hammerstein II once wrote:
Give me some men who are stouthearted men
Who will fight for the right they adore.
Start me with 10 who are stouthearted men
And I'll soon give you 10,000 more.
If we are to reach the Promised Land of the fullness of life in the Spirit, we must be stouthearted people fully surrendered and submitted to God, appreciative of His holiness, representing Him well, and filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. Look at Moses. Pay attention to the impediments he succumbed to. Then march on to the Promised Land and take as many people with you as possible.
Would You Consider . . . ?
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. - 1 Corinthians 4:1
Dear Friends,
This blog is a ministry. From time to time it is good to assess ministry in order to be a good steward of the time and effort involved in its upkeep and to determine the leading of the Lord.
In order to gauge the direction in which the Lord is leading would you consider joining the membership of the Shepherd of Hope blog site?
Would you consider inviting others to become members of this site? This will enable me to determine the direction in which the Lord is leading.
Joining the blog site will give you an automatic notice when a new teaching or other material is posted. It will also help gauge the audience which the site is reaching. This will give a better indication about what materials are most appropriate to minister to those interested in the site. It will also help in considering how to broaden the ministry field.
To join the blog just click the button on the right side of the blog site and follow the instructions. It's very easy.
I would also welcome your comments and suggestions about how to better the site and make it more helpful and God glorifying.
If you choose not to join the blogsite, would you please give the reason for yoru decision.
Even if you choose to disregard this request, would you also consider praying for this ministry venture in faith?
You are appreciated and I pray the Lord directs you to join me in this ministry. God bless.
in His service, by His grace, for His glory,
Pastor Claude
Dear Friends,
This blog is a ministry. From time to time it is good to assess ministry in order to be a good steward of the time and effort involved in its upkeep and to determine the leading of the Lord.
In order to gauge the direction in which the Lord is leading would you consider joining the membership of the Shepherd of Hope blog site?
Would you consider inviting others to become members of this site? This will enable me to determine the direction in which the Lord is leading.
Joining the blog site will give you an automatic notice when a new teaching or other material is posted. It will also help gauge the audience which the site is reaching. This will give a better indication about what materials are most appropriate to minister to those interested in the site. It will also help in considering how to broaden the ministry field.
To join the blog just click the button on the right side of the blog site and follow the instructions. It's very easy.
I would also welcome your comments and suggestions about how to better the site and make it more helpful and God glorifying.
If you choose not to join the blogsite, would you please give the reason for yoru decision.
Even if you choose to disregard this request, would you also consider praying for this ministry venture in faith?
You are appreciated and I pray the Lord directs you to join me in this ministry. God bless.
in His service, by His grace, for His glory,
Pastor Claude
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Our Government: Protect the "Holy" Koran But Burn the Holy Bible?
When you view this short video keep the following verse in mind - "For You have magnified Your word above all Your name." (Psalm 138:2).
Jesus Man of the Word
“And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written” – Luke 4:17b
Jesus was a Man of God’s word. He is described as “the Word made flesh” (John 1:14). He is the manifestation and culmination of God’s word. The entire Bible speaks of Him (Heb. 10:7). God’s purpose for us is to become like Jesus (Rom. 8:29). If that is to happen an essential indispensible ingredient is to become people of God’s word like Jesus. In Luke 4 we see Jesus, Man of the word depicted for us. Our calling is to follow His example.
When Jesus, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness” to be “tempted for forty days by the devil” He went with God’s word in mind (Luke 4:1-2). Because Jesus had God’s word memorized and embedded in His heart He was able to ward off the temptations of the devil (Luke 4:3-13). Even when the devil attempted to misuse the scripture itself in his attack, Jesus, knowing the context of scripture, was not duped but was able to answer the adversary. If we are to survive our wilderness experiences and times of temptation, and attacks of the devil, we need to be like Jesus and have the word of God firmly embedded in us through memorization. And we need to know God’s word in context so that we don’t fall prey to those who would take it out of context. We need to be students of God’s word (2 Tim. 2:15). We need to know “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
The victory in the wilderness empowered Jesus. It states, “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). His successful resistance to temptation led to empowerment. His familiarity with and use of God’s word was integral to this. Jesus was powerful because He was a man of God’s word. Every time we apply God’s word and resist the devil’s temptations or the lusts of our flesh we get stronger spiritually. That is a principle. Sow to the Spirit and reap a harvest of righteousness. The opposite is true too. Sow to the flesh and reap corruption. We are exhorted by the Lord in His word to “not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Gal. 6:7-9). Don’t give up! Obey God’s word! Apply it to life in the power of the Spirit and you will increase your spiritual strength.
When Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit He became popular. The Spirit made Him known throughout the entire region. But Jesus was not influenced by the crowds. He returned to His home town of Nazareth. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and was handed the book of Isaiah (Luke 4:14-17a). Then it states, “And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:” (Luke 4:17b).
Jesus “found the place” in God’s word; He was familiar with God’s word. Jesus was a student of God’s Word. He knew exactly where to look in God’s word for pertinent information for the given situation. That tells us He knew the word of God. Jesus was a man of God’s word. We need to know God’s word and be familiar with it. We need to be able to apply God’s word and be ready to share it pertinently in the circumstances of life. Learn to speak with God’s word in the conversations of life. That is God’s will for us.
Because He was a man of God’s word He was able to read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me . . .” (Luke 4:18). The Spirit being upon Jesus and the Lord’s anointing were the result of Jesus being a Man of God’s word. He was empowered and was able to confidently apply the scriptures to Himself because He knew the word of God. As a man of God’s word He knew He was anointed by God” to preach the gospel to the poor, . . . heal the brokenhearted, . . . proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” He knew His calling and purpose and confidently walked in them because of the certainty He had in God’s word. He knew God’s word and where He stood in relation to it enough to say, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:20-21). If we want the power and anointing of the Spirit and to know and confidently walk in our calling and purpose, then we too must be people of God’s word. Otherwise we will be like sheep wandering aimlessly without a shepherd. We need to heed the revelation of God’s word (Mark 6:34).
When Jesus shared the word His listeners, “marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Luke 4:22). Jesus spoke the uncompromising truth of God’s word in a gracious way. He taught God’s word in a way that identified sin but always accompanied that with pointing people to God’s grace. The grace of God was upon Him from birth (Luke 2:40). He was full of grace and the truth of God’s word (John 1:14; 17:17). The grace He embodied was the ultimate goal of the Law (John 1:17; Gal. 3:10-13). We need to receive and share God’s grace based on His word.
Jesus’ familiarity with God’s word also enabled Him to make true assessments of people and His life situations. He was not deluded by the fancy of humanity. He knew the whimsy and waywardness of sinful humanity. He shared this honestly and openly (Luke 4:23). He spoke truthfully with the people and applied God’s word to their lives even if it ruffled some feathers. He spoke of how previous generations of Israelites had rejected God and His word. He was not intimidated by their anger but meekly passed through the midst of them (Luke 4:24-30).
There’s a consequence to rejecting God’s word. God through the prophet Hosea said of His people, “I have written for him the great things of my law, but they were considered a strange thing” (Hosea 8:12). They had allowed God’s word to become “a strange thing” to them. They were unfamiliar with it. It had lost its importance in their lives. They lost sight of the treasure of God’s word. They turned to worldly pagan alternatives to God’s word. God brought discipline and firm judgment on His people because they rebelled against His Law (Hosea 8:1). God said of those ignorant and rejecting of His word, “their heart is divided” (Hosea 10:2). Without God’s word as our source of absolute truth we degenerate into idolatrous self-serving gods of our own tossed to and fro with every wind and wave of religious or worldly teaching (Eph. 4:14). This ultimately leads to us being cheated out of God’s best for us (Col. 2:8).
God’s people also relied on false idols and as a result had become hardened toward God. Through Hosea God said, “The inhabitants of Samaria [i.e. the capitol of the northern kingdom of Israel] fear because of the calf of Beth Aven. For its people mourn for it, and its priests shriek for it - because its glory has departed from it” (Hosea 10:5). Israel was mourning and shrieking in agony before a calf god idol! They had forsaken the One True God and His word and the result was a pitiful delusion. Today people are mourning their financial plight. They weep in the vicinity of the Wall Street bull because Ichabod is written where prosperity used to be. Is there any doubt that we as a people and nation and even throughout the world are shrieking over the idol of mammon? We have made money our god, our idol. The glory has departed and we mourn. And unfortunately this is true in much of the church as well.
Whenever we neglect or reject God’s word or rely on an alternative it leads to sin, spiritual dullness, and a hardening of our heart. The word of God is able to tell us exactly where we are with the Lord. It “is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). It is like a mirror that gives us the correct reflection of who we are (James 1:22-25). In God’s word we are exhorted to ask God to, “search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24). We need to go to God prayerfully with an open Bible before us.
Through Hosea God called to Israel and He still calls to us saying, “Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you” (Hosea 10:12b). The coldness we see in hearts today is directly related to a departure from God’s word (Mat. 24:12). Instead of mourning and shrieking over the idols of this world we should be mourning over our sin before the One True Holy God. We need to break up our own hard hearts before the Lord. Isaiah in the presence of Holy God said, “Woe is me, I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). When was the last time you mourned before the Lord and cried out anything like that? “A broken and contrite heart – these O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). We and our nation are too concerned with the banking of the Lord. God just may break our banks to break us. We need to be broken before the Lord. That will only happen, that can only happen, if we return to God’s word. Being a person of God’s word is essential to a true assessment of others and ourselves.
Jesus, Man of God’s word, ministered with authority. What He said and did was powerful because it was rooted in and based on God’s word. Those who heard Him teach, “were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority” (Luke 4:31-32). Demons left at His word (Luke 4:33-35). People were amazed at the power of the Lord. They exclaimed, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out” (Luke 4:36). How sad it is that the people of Jesus day were so unfamiliar with God’s word. What an indictment it is against the ministers of that day that the people were so ignorant of God’s word. God through Hosea said similarly, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). He called out, “Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1). How could this be? What was the cause of this indictment? The answer was, “Because you have forgotten the law of your God” (Hosea 4:6). Gods people forsook His word and “willingly walked by human precept” (Hosea 5:11). How sad it is when people rely on human opinion or precepts instead of or in a place superior to God’s word. There’s little power in personal opinions. The power of God is in His word.
The word of this Man of God’s word was circulating throughout the land (Luke 4:37). There’s something about God’s word that impacts people. It is God’s word! God’s word is powerful (Heb.4:12). And therefore ministry and what is done in the name of the Lord is powerful in proportion to the amount of God’s word that is in it. God magnifies His word above His own name! (Ps. 138:2). God honors and empowers His word. Human opinion is a vapor. God’s word is a solid rock foundation (Mat. 7:24). Be a person of God’s word.
Lastly, Jesus, Man of God’s word, healed the sick and defeated demons but priority and prime purpose was, “I must preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 4:38-44). Jesus’ purpose was to share the kingdom of God. The way He did that was by sharing the word of God. That must be our priority and purpose too. If we are to fulfill and experience God’s ultimate purpose we will need to become people of God’s word who share God’s word with others. There’s no getting around this. We need to get into God’s word and let it get into us. And then we need to share it from our hearts and minds where it has been cultivated and grown. Jesus was and is a Man of God’s word. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Mat. 24:35). Are you a person of God’s word like Jesus?
Jesus was a Man of God’s word. He is described as “the Word made flesh” (John 1:14). He is the manifestation and culmination of God’s word. The entire Bible speaks of Him (Heb. 10:7). God’s purpose for us is to become like Jesus (Rom. 8:29). If that is to happen an essential indispensible ingredient is to become people of God’s word like Jesus. In Luke 4 we see Jesus, Man of the word depicted for us. Our calling is to follow His example.
When Jesus, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness” to be “tempted for forty days by the devil” He went with God’s word in mind (Luke 4:1-2). Because Jesus had God’s word memorized and embedded in His heart He was able to ward off the temptations of the devil (Luke 4:3-13). Even when the devil attempted to misuse the scripture itself in his attack, Jesus, knowing the context of scripture, was not duped but was able to answer the adversary. If we are to survive our wilderness experiences and times of temptation, and attacks of the devil, we need to be like Jesus and have the word of God firmly embedded in us through memorization. And we need to know God’s word in context so that we don’t fall prey to those who would take it out of context. We need to be students of God’s word (2 Tim. 2:15). We need to know “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
The victory in the wilderness empowered Jesus. It states, “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). His successful resistance to temptation led to empowerment. His familiarity with and use of God’s word was integral to this. Jesus was powerful because He was a man of God’s word. Every time we apply God’s word and resist the devil’s temptations or the lusts of our flesh we get stronger spiritually. That is a principle. Sow to the Spirit and reap a harvest of righteousness. The opposite is true too. Sow to the flesh and reap corruption. We are exhorted by the Lord in His word to “not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Gal. 6:7-9). Don’t give up! Obey God’s word! Apply it to life in the power of the Spirit and you will increase your spiritual strength.
When Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit He became popular. The Spirit made Him known throughout the entire region. But Jesus was not influenced by the crowds. He returned to His home town of Nazareth. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and was handed the book of Isaiah (Luke 4:14-17a). Then it states, “And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:” (Luke 4:17b).
Jesus “found the place” in God’s word; He was familiar with God’s word. Jesus was a student of God’s Word. He knew exactly where to look in God’s word for pertinent information for the given situation. That tells us He knew the word of God. Jesus was a man of God’s word. We need to know God’s word and be familiar with it. We need to be able to apply God’s word and be ready to share it pertinently in the circumstances of life. Learn to speak with God’s word in the conversations of life. That is God’s will for us.
Because He was a man of God’s word He was able to read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me . . .” (Luke 4:18). The Spirit being upon Jesus and the Lord’s anointing were the result of Jesus being a Man of God’s word. He was empowered and was able to confidently apply the scriptures to Himself because He knew the word of God. As a man of God’s word He knew He was anointed by God” to preach the gospel to the poor, . . . heal the brokenhearted, . . . proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” He knew His calling and purpose and confidently walked in them because of the certainty He had in God’s word. He knew God’s word and where He stood in relation to it enough to say, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:20-21). If we want the power and anointing of the Spirit and to know and confidently walk in our calling and purpose, then we too must be people of God’s word. Otherwise we will be like sheep wandering aimlessly without a shepherd. We need to heed the revelation of God’s word (Mark 6:34).
When Jesus shared the word His listeners, “marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Luke 4:22). Jesus spoke the uncompromising truth of God’s word in a gracious way. He taught God’s word in a way that identified sin but always accompanied that with pointing people to God’s grace. The grace of God was upon Him from birth (Luke 2:40). He was full of grace and the truth of God’s word (John 1:14; 17:17). The grace He embodied was the ultimate goal of the Law (John 1:17; Gal. 3:10-13). We need to receive and share God’s grace based on His word.
Jesus’ familiarity with God’s word also enabled Him to make true assessments of people and His life situations. He was not deluded by the fancy of humanity. He knew the whimsy and waywardness of sinful humanity. He shared this honestly and openly (Luke 4:23). He spoke truthfully with the people and applied God’s word to their lives even if it ruffled some feathers. He spoke of how previous generations of Israelites had rejected God and His word. He was not intimidated by their anger but meekly passed through the midst of them (Luke 4:24-30).
There’s a consequence to rejecting God’s word. God through the prophet Hosea said of His people, “I have written for him the great things of my law, but they were considered a strange thing” (Hosea 8:12). They had allowed God’s word to become “a strange thing” to them. They were unfamiliar with it. It had lost its importance in their lives. They lost sight of the treasure of God’s word. They turned to worldly pagan alternatives to God’s word. God brought discipline and firm judgment on His people because they rebelled against His Law (Hosea 8:1). God said of those ignorant and rejecting of His word, “their heart is divided” (Hosea 10:2). Without God’s word as our source of absolute truth we degenerate into idolatrous self-serving gods of our own tossed to and fro with every wind and wave of religious or worldly teaching (Eph. 4:14). This ultimately leads to us being cheated out of God’s best for us (Col. 2:8).
God’s people also relied on false idols and as a result had become hardened toward God. Through Hosea God said, “The inhabitants of Samaria [i.e. the capitol of the northern kingdom of Israel] fear because of the calf of Beth Aven. For its people mourn for it, and its priests shriek for it - because its glory has departed from it” (Hosea 10:5). Israel was mourning and shrieking in agony before a calf god idol! They had forsaken the One True God and His word and the result was a pitiful delusion. Today people are mourning their financial plight. They weep in the vicinity of the Wall Street bull because Ichabod is written where prosperity used to be. Is there any doubt that we as a people and nation and even throughout the world are shrieking over the idol of mammon? We have made money our god, our idol. The glory has departed and we mourn. And unfortunately this is true in much of the church as well.
Whenever we neglect or reject God’s word or rely on an alternative it leads to sin, spiritual dullness, and a hardening of our heart. The word of God is able to tell us exactly where we are with the Lord. It “is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). It is like a mirror that gives us the correct reflection of who we are (James 1:22-25). In God’s word we are exhorted to ask God to, “search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24). We need to go to God prayerfully with an open Bible before us.
Through Hosea God called to Israel and He still calls to us saying, “Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you” (Hosea 10:12b). The coldness we see in hearts today is directly related to a departure from God’s word (Mat. 24:12). Instead of mourning and shrieking over the idols of this world we should be mourning over our sin before the One True Holy God. We need to break up our own hard hearts before the Lord. Isaiah in the presence of Holy God said, “Woe is me, I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). When was the last time you mourned before the Lord and cried out anything like that? “A broken and contrite heart – these O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). We and our nation are too concerned with the banking of the Lord. God just may break our banks to break us. We need to be broken before the Lord. That will only happen, that can only happen, if we return to God’s word. Being a person of God’s word is essential to a true assessment of others and ourselves.
Jesus, Man of God’s word, ministered with authority. What He said and did was powerful because it was rooted in and based on God’s word. Those who heard Him teach, “were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority” (Luke 4:31-32). Demons left at His word (Luke 4:33-35). People were amazed at the power of the Lord. They exclaimed, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out” (Luke 4:36). How sad it is that the people of Jesus day were so unfamiliar with God’s word. What an indictment it is against the ministers of that day that the people were so ignorant of God’s word. God through Hosea said similarly, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). He called out, “Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1). How could this be? What was the cause of this indictment? The answer was, “Because you have forgotten the law of your God” (Hosea 4:6). Gods people forsook His word and “willingly walked by human precept” (Hosea 5:11). How sad it is when people rely on human opinion or precepts instead of or in a place superior to God’s word. There’s little power in personal opinions. The power of God is in His word.
The word of this Man of God’s word was circulating throughout the land (Luke 4:37). There’s something about God’s word that impacts people. It is God’s word! God’s word is powerful (Heb.4:12). And therefore ministry and what is done in the name of the Lord is powerful in proportion to the amount of God’s word that is in it. God magnifies His word above His own name! (Ps. 138:2). God honors and empowers His word. Human opinion is a vapor. God’s word is a solid rock foundation (Mat. 7:24). Be a person of God’s word.
Lastly, Jesus, Man of God’s word, healed the sick and defeated demons but priority and prime purpose was, “I must preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 4:38-44). Jesus’ purpose was to share the kingdom of God. The way He did that was by sharing the word of God. That must be our priority and purpose too. If we are to fulfill and experience God’s ultimate purpose we will need to become people of God’s word who share God’s word with others. There’s no getting around this. We need to get into God’s word and let it get into us. And then we need to share it from our hearts and minds where it has been cultivated and grown. Jesus was and is a Man of God’s word. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Mat. 24:35). Are you a person of God’s word like Jesus?
Monday, August 1, 2011
Am I a Soldier of the Cross - Isaac Watts
Am I a soldier of the cross, A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause, Or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight, if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord.
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy Word.
Thy saints in all this glorious war Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar, By faith they bring it nigh.
When that illustrious day shall rise, And all Thy armies shine
In robes of victory through skies, The glory shall be Thine.
And shall I fear to own His cause, Or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight, if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord.
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy Word.
Thy saints in all this glorious war Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar, By faith they bring it nigh.
When that illustrious day shall rise, And all Thy armies shine
In robes of victory through skies, The glory shall be Thine.
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