Strong and Courageous

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."                                              Isaiah 41:10



     If you have ever experienced circumstances in your life that seemed daunting and overwhelming, then you can relate to an Old Testament man named Joshua.  God had called Joshua to be a general and to lead the army of Israel in holy conquest.  However, there were bigger issues involved in that conquest than just the invasion and possession of their Promised Land.  These same issues are the very ones that still touch our lives and affect our faith today.

     Joshua faced battles, impossible obstacles, health delays, and the need for God to prepare him and the Israelites to be His holy people.  If the Israelites would have attempted to overcome all these obstacles in their own strength, they never would have accomplished God's purposes. They did not know that God had already given them the land, but they found that when they learned to rest in God they would experience the manifestations of God's promises. All things done in God's name require our ongoing relationship with Him.

     The book of Joshua is a book of new beginnings. There are many believers in Christ today that need a new beginning in one or more areas of their lives. Too many of us have wandered in the wilderness for far too long instead of claiming our inheritance and enjoying the blessings in our lives that God has prepared for us " as the days of heaven upon earth" (Deuteronomy 11:21).

     This is the kind of life that God desires for us.  It is Jesus who wants to lead us in conquest now and to share with us all the treasures of His wonderful inheritance.  He has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings" (Ephesians 1:3), but far too often, we live like defeated paupers.

     The reason we accept crumbs from God's table is because we do not understand the authority that God has entrusted to each of us. As His Holy Spirit resides in us, we have been given authority in both heaven and earth. The problem is, we focus on the wrong things. In Joshua's case, he was called to replace Moses. Joshua had witnessed the miraculous power in Moses' life: he had seen the glory of God, he was highly honored, and he had been given great authority. From Joshua's perspective, these were very tough shoes to fill!

     It would have been easier to assume that God had apportioned the best gifts and miracles to Moses. However, God gave Joshua unique gifts and skills that Moses did not have. Moses was a prophet and a legislator, but Joshua was a general with exceptional military skills. Joshua was also a man of great courage, who wasn't afraid to confront the enemy and trust the Lord for victory. Joshua was designed and created with meticulous care for the exact calling on his life. And, God's miraculous power had not run dry, but it continued on, just as it does today.

     Over and over again, Joshua was encouraged to "be strong and of good courage".  Moses said these words to Joshua when he sent him to go into Canaan to spy out the land (Numbers 13:20), and again, when he installed Joshua as his successor ( Deuteronomy 31:7, 23). These words were also written in the book of the law, which Joshua was commanded to read and meditate on both day and night ( Joshua 1:8).

     If we are to conquer our enemy and claim our inheritance in Christ, we must have spiritual strength and spiritual courage. The first step for us to win the battle and claim our inheritance is to let God encourage us and then for us to encourage others ( to encourage is to infuse others with courage). Ephesians 6:10 tells us to "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

     Training is necessary.  Before Joshua learned how to lead, he first learned how to serve others.  Joshua is called "Moses' minister" ( Joshua 1:1). This word is used to describe the workers in the Tabernacle, as well as servants of a leader.  Joshua learned how to obey as a servant before he commanded as a general- first a servant, then a ruler ( Matthew 25:21). Aristotle said, "He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander."

     God commissioned Joshua to achieve three things: lead the people into the land, defeat the enemy, and claim the inheritance.  God could have sent an angel to accomplish the same thing, but He chose a man and then He gave him the powert to accomplish the task.

     Since Joshua had a three-fold task to accomplish, God gave him three special promises- one for each task. God would enable Joshua to cross the river and claim the land ( Joshua 1:3-4), defeat the enemy (Joshua 1:5), and apportion the land to each of the twelve tribes as their inheritance ( Joshua 1:6).  God never told Joshua how He would accomplish these things because God's people live on promises, not explanations. When we trust God's promises and step out in faith, we can be sure God will give us directions when we need them.

     God sets before His church " an open door that no one can shut" ( Revelation 3:8) and we must walk through the door by faith and claim new territory for the Lord.  In our Christian faith it is impossible to stand still because the moment we do, we immediately start moving backward in our journey.  God's challenge to us is to "Move on" ( Hebrews 6:1), and that means continually moving ahead into new territory.

     If ever there were a time in history where God's children need to: be strong and courageous, take new territory, and defeat the enemy, the time is now! God, Himself, will equip us for every good work. Paul, one of the authors of Thessalonians, explains it this way, " May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 
( 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

     As the world increasingly gets darker, let us follow Joshua's model of success. First, we remember God's great and precious promises. Then, we meditate on His Word and be obedient to it.  Lastly, we agree with what God has said and declare His Word over our circumstances. We release God's power through our prayers. When we have accomplished these things, we unwaveringly trust God for our victory!

                                   Jesus is the victorious commander of our lives!!!!


                                       "Soldiers of Christ, arise,
                                        And put your armor on,
                                       Strong in the strength which God supplies
                                       Of His Eternal Son. "
                                                                                  Charles Wesley

    

Perfect Faithfulness

" Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago."                                                          Isaiah 25:1


     Of all the stories in the Bible,  I love the story of Joseph ( Genesis 30-50)  the most.  There are numerous reasons as to why this is my favorite.  Perhaps it is the drama or the intrigue that compels my imagination to ponder the complexities of Joseph's family situation.  It also might be the plethora of emotions I experience when I read this riches to rags to riches story. It is also possible that it is the alluring imagery of a heart that is so willing to forgive, despite the betrayal and cruelty endured.  More than likely, for me it is the beautiful scarlet redemptive thread that is woven so meticulously by a God who is crazy in love with His people.

     For a long time when I read Joseph's story, I focused on the heartache and calamitous events that seemed to overtake his life for nearly fifteen years. From an onlookers perspective,  it is difficult to ascertain what in the world would have caused Joseph to  deserve such disastrous results? God gave Joseph a dream which then led to many shattered dreams. This was the part that perplexed my frail human mind.

     When God showed Joseph His plans through a dream, it appealed to Joseph's self-esteem. The Bible does not say that Joseph was prideful, but it is clear that God motivated him by showing him something he would like. God met Joseph on his level of emotional and spiritual maturity to accommodate for his weaknesses.  The irony is that God speaks to us on our own level to motivate us, and yet it is our self-esteem that needs radical surgery before God can really use us.

     Joseph proves this point by what he did right after God gave him a dream regarding his future.  The first thing he did was to promptly announce to the brothers (who had hated him for years) that they would one day bow down before him. There was already an epic level of sibling rivalry and this announcement did nothing to quell those burning embers. It would be feasible to call this attention-seeking or to see it as possibly driven by the need for his brothers approval.  At the very least, Joseph lacked maturity and wisdom.

     Joseph's real story, however, is one of God's greater glory and the preservation of God's covenant people.  God perfectly orchestrated the fulfillment of every promise He had ever given. When we can see beyond the tangible, it is very clear that God even used the evil intentions of others to bring about the ultimate good that God had always intended.

     What Joseph perceived as set-backs were actually God's positioning  for set-ups in his future.   The real plan was for God's goodness to be showered in his life.  There were many tests that Joseph had to pass and one of them was to be punished for what he did right.  When Potiphar threw Joseph into prison,  it was because he had refused the sexual advances from Potiphar's wife.  When we are called to follow in these footsteps, Peter says it is because "The spirit of glory... resteth upon you" ( 1 Peter 4:14). When God chastens us for doing right and we handle it well, it means that we can be trusted.

     D.L. Moody was sitting on a platform listening to a preacher who said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with one man who is utterly committed to Him." D.L. Moody said in his heart, "I propose to be that man."  Within days of this pledge, both Moody's church and his house burned down. "It is through much tribulation that we enter into the kingdom of God." ( Acts 14:22).

     Our disappointments can become God's appointments in our lives if we allow them to be.  The right perspective for us to have comes when we understand that God is preparing us for service or polishing us to become more useful in His hands. When we cooperate, God will perfect everything that concerns us.  Peter tells us that "the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast." ( 1 Peter 5:10).

     When Joseph was thrown into the prison, God could have chosen to vindicate him immediately but He did not. That is because God was preparing Joseph for something greater. Joseph had lost the battle, but he would ultimately win the war.  It was in this lonely prison cell that Joseph learned that God can bless us no matter where we are.  Yes, even in the midst of circumstances that feel as if they are unredeemable. At these points in our lives,  we have the option to look at our difficult circumstances through a microscope or to back up and view them from the vantage of  God's telescope.

     God allows our difficulties and trials to occur with great intent and purpose.  In the case of Joseph, there were  other things that needed to be learned in this prison cell. Every trial brings the opportunity to reveal something to us about ourselves if we will cooperate with the Holy Spirit.  Joseph still needed to be delivered from self-pity, self-righteousness, and the propensity to manipulate the events in his future. God gave the dreams to the butler and the baker so that Joseph might see himself.  When Joseph interpreted the butlers dream, he still infused himself in an ungodly and untrusting way when he said, "But think on me when it shall be well with you, and show kindness, I pray you, to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house".  ( Genesis 40:14).

     God could have allowed the outcome to happen the way that Joseph had tried to orchestrate. But, He did not because God wanted Joseph to understand that God did not need Joseph's help. Not even a little bit.  Because of these lessons, Joseph remained in prison for two years longer.  (Trying to nudge the arm of providence rarely yields the results we seek.)

     Often, we forget just how detail-oriented God is. While we seek to keep things manageable and comfortable, God prefers to stretch and grow us and cause us to develop a deeper understanding of His perfect love and perfect plans for each of us. God's plans for Joseph's life involved so many other lives and generations of people.  Joseph's view was much too narrow.

     Part of God's plan included a major move for Joseph's father.  Jacob would have to leave Canaan forever, despite the fact that he was almost one hundred years old. But Joseph knew there were five more years of famine and this was God's way of providing for his people. Rather than resisting, we are told that "Israel took his journey with all that he had." ( Genesis 46:1). What determination! What courage!

     Reconciliation and redemption were the plans that God had for Joseph's family. After they were reunited, Joseph showed his family true love and total forgiveness. The immature, egotistical teenager had vanished. Perhaps, the most poignant documented statement of Joseph is found directed toward his family. He said, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as is this day, to save much people alive.  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you and your little ones.  And he comforted them, and spake kindly to them."  (Genesis 50:20-21).

     God provided for Egypt and He provided for Israel during seven years of a harsh famine. God preserved the lineage of His covenant people.  Over and over again, God proved that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Joseph's life, after humiliation came exaltation. However, exaltation did not come until Joseph was fully prepared and could adequately fulfill his position as ambassador of God's: love, forgiveness, and redemption. The timing was flawless.  Every detail was ordained. Every detail was purposeful. Every detail was perfect because God forever executes perfect faithfulness in the lives of His children!


  " Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other."  (Psalm 85:10)

   

   

   

   

Trusting God in a Godless World

" He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."                                            
                                                                                                                                          Micah 6:8


     Micah was an Old Testament prophet whose name literally means, "Who is like Jehovah?"
Prone to wandering, Israel had wandered from God and Micah desperately sought to call the Jews back to faithful worship and sincere obedience to God's covenant.  Micah could see judgment coming and his ministry brought about great reformation under the leadership of King Hezekiah ( 2 Kings 18-20).

     The message was clear - trust God and obey His will.  Micah knew that God had created Israel to bring blessings to the whole world ( Genesis 12: 1-3).  Ultimately, it would be through Israel that salvation would come ( John 4:22).  God had created the Jewish people with a calling of utmost importance and Micah was passionate in trying to convey this fact.

     This prophet could see that,  as the Jews began to adopt the practices of the surrounding godless nations, they were less able to do what God had called them to do.  The slippery slope of compromise caused them to fall further and further away.  Ultimately, they despised their high and holy calling.

     It wasn't that these Jews stopped going to the temple.  They were very religious people, but they were also shallow and guilty in God's eyes.  They preferred religious ceremonies and behavior modification to the true transformation God was offering to them.

     Micah presents his message as a courtroom drama.  He states that the Judge had declared the indictment ( Micah 6:1-8), pronounced the sentence ( Micah 6:9 - 7:7),  and then graciously promised mercy ( Micah 7:7-20) !  Micah used the arguments of guilt, punishment, and mercy to plead with the people to repent and return to the Lord.

     He urged the people of Israel to act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God.  Micah encouraged them to champion social justice and be concerned for the helpless and the poor.  He stressed the corruption within their society and the defiance of the law of Moses.  His closing argument was to "Trust the Lord, not in spite of these things, but because of these things!"

     Even though Micah lived about 2700 years ago, his society and culture sounds much like ours.  (I love how timeless God's Word is!).  I sometimes wonder if our generation is witnessing the disintegration of justice, mercy, and humility.  If so, is it not up to the children of God to resurrect it once again?

     While Micah's message is not solely a message of salvation, it is true that those who do not know Christ cannot possess these attributes in the way God calls us to.  We are saved completely by God's mercy (Titus 3:5) and then it is Christ in us that shines forth in the world.  We could never work enough nor be righteous enough to earn our own salvation.

     When God tells us to "act justly", we remember that this is impossible unless we have been justified by faith and are right with God (Psalm 32:1-2 and Romans 4:1-8).  When God tells us to "love mercy", we remember that we first must personally experience God's mercy before we can extend it to others (Ephesians 2:4 and Titus 3:5).  When God tells us to "walk humbly", we remember we must first bow humbly before Him, confess our sins, and claim His promise of forgiveness ( Luke 14:11 and James 4:10).

     This parable in Luke illustrates all three points.  " And He [ Jesus] also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself : "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all I get."  But the tax collector, standing at some distance away, was even unwilling to lift his eyes up to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!" I tell you, this man went away justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.'"  ( Luke 18: 9-14).

     The Pharisee wore distorted glasses and could not see himself accurately.  The tax collector did see himself correctly.  When we see ourselves the way God sees us then we can, by faith, become what He wants us to become.  Paradoxically, it is the humble who will truly be honored by God (Proverbs 15:33).  True humility also becomes the root to all other godly virtues.

     Dwight L. Moody describes true humility as follows: " Moses spent forty years thinking he was somebody; then he spent forty years on the backside of the desert realizing he was nobody; finally, he spent the last forty years of his life learning what God can do with a nobody!"

     Humility comes from the Latin word humilis, which literally means low.  It is not feeling bad about yourself;  rather, it is referring to a lack of ego.  A lowly heart becomes a dwelling place for the Lord.  Moody also said, " God has two thrones, one in the highest heavens, and the other in the lowliest heart."

     Andrew Murray describes it this way: " The humble man feels no jealousy or envy. He can praise God when others are preferred before him.  He can bear to hear others praised while he is forgotten because... he has received the Spirit of Jesus, who pleased not Himself, and who sought not His own honor.  Therefore, in putting on the Lord Jesus Christ he has put on the heart of compassion, kindness, meekness, long-suffering and humility."

     We, too, are admonished to love kindness and mercy.  It is compassion that leads us to have mercy, which is like forgiveness.  It is a pardon or leniency that is not deserved.  In the New Testament, mercy is the fulfillment of God's promised kindness through the saving work of Jesus. When we receive mercy from God, we are then instructed to give this same mercy to others.  I believe the reason why God tells us to love mercy is that He wants us to be passionate about giving it away!

     Acting justly in an unjust world is only possible when we have been justified by faith.  Justice is a term associated with the law.  In the Old Testament, Moses was given God's laws. Just as it was impossible for the Jews to keep every point of the law, so it is for us today.  It is the atonement of Christ that sets us free from all the demands of God's laws.

     More than anything, Jesus desires relationship with us.  It is not about rules and regulations. The more we know Jesus, the more we will trust Him. The more godless our world becomes, the more we need to focus on Christ and not on our circumstances.  John Gresham Machen, an American Presbytarian theologian said, " The more we know of God the more unreservedly we will trust Him; the greater our progress in theology, the simpler and more child-like will be our faith."  The question we need to ask ourselves is, "Who is Jehovah" to you?


                                                              " I lay my 'whys'
                                                                Before Your cross
                                                                In worship kneeling,
                                                                My mind too numb
                                                                For thought,
                                                                My heart beyond
                                                                All feeling.
                                                                And, worshipping,
                                                               Realize that I
                                                               In knowing You
                                                              Don't need a 'why'.
                                                                                                    Ruth Bell Graham

    

    

    

Unadulterated Evil

                            "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
                                                                                                                                 Romans 12:21



     Unimaginable horror barraged the news media this week.  There were literally times that I had to turn off the news because of explicit and graphic torture images being broadcast on the screen.  I am typically not a squeamish person, as I have been a  registered nurse for over twenty-five years.  However, it is inconceivable that humanity can be so depraved as to plot, plan, and execute another human being's death in such a vile and sadistic manner as occurred with the Jordanian pilot this week.

     When I see the strategies of Satan in the earth, I am convinced that most Western Christians have neither the eschatological awareness nor the missionary zeal for these end times in which we are living. From a prophetic perspective, there is not one prophecy that has not been fulfilled in order for the Rapture to occur. Seriously, it could literally happen today.

     David Jeremiah describes ten things that will happen prior to and during the Tribulation:   a time of deception (Matthew 24:5), a time of dissension (Matthew 24:6-7), a time of devastation (Matthew 24:7), a time of disease (Matthew 24:7), a time of disasters (Matthew 24:7), a time of death (Matthew 24:9),  a time of disloyalty (Matthew 24:10), a time of delusion (Matthew 24:11), a time of defection (Matthew 24:12), and a time of declaring the Gospel (Matthew 24:14).

     More than one-fourth ( 27%) of the verses in the Bible are prophecy. And yet, there are few believers that want to delve into them. I know that I would not want to go to a surgeon that lacked twenty-seven percent of his education or twenty-seven percent of his residency! Similarly, I do not want to be ignorant of understanding both the good news of the Gospel, as well as the impending judgment that God meticulously warned us to heed. I truly seek to understand the full counsel of God's Word.

     The first century Christians turned this world upside-down because they lived in light of end-time events. And yet, here we are, twenty centuries later, and most of us deny these are the end-times because of the many generations before us who wrongfully believed the same. However, there has never been another generation with so many major prophetic signposts as we have today.

     Joel Rosenberg, in agreement with other Christian and Jewish scholars, says that these primary prophetic indicators have already been fulfilled:
  
     1.  Rebirth of the State of Israel ( Isaiah 11)- this was prophesied more than 2000 years ago
     2.  64 % of Jews today want to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem ( Revelation 11:2)
     3.  Rise of false prophets- ex. Muhammad; Mahdi  (Matthew 24)
     4.  Arab Spring (Daniel 11)
     5.  Civil war in Egypt ( Isaiah 19)
     6.  Rise of Turkey (Ezekiel 38)
     7.  Emerging caliphate in Syria and Iraq
     8.  Militaristic hatred of Jews throughout the nations (Zechariah 12:3)

     Anti-Semitism and anti-Christian sentiment are increasing in the world and in the U.S. Many college campuses are known for teachings that are antithetical to the Bible. Harvard University stated that Christians need not apply to their school. Vanderbilt university kicked a number of Christian student groups off campus for not allowing people who were Muslim or members of other religions to run their organizations. UC Davis hosted terrorist rallies to persecute their Jewish students. These are our institutions that are supposed to be for higher learning and yet they are being prostituted for hate groups.

     Jesus equates our treatment of Israel with treatment of Himself  ( Joel 3; Ezekiel 38-39; Zechariah 14).  God promises judgment for those who mistreat Israel. Today, in America, there are even some Christians that believe in Replacement Theology and Amillenialism, which both exacerbate increasing anti-Semitism.

     God's judgment is coming to America. Biblical reasons for judgment include: all nations that divide the land of Israel ( to pre 1967 borders); innocent bloodshed ( 57 million abortions); idolatry (placing anything in our hearts before God); and arrogance. While we do not know when judgment is coming, we do need to be prepared and to help others be prepared, as well.

     Judgments can be forestalled like they were with King Josiah, but they cannot be avoided indefinitely. This is what God told Josiah: "' Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people-
that they would become a curse and be laid waste- and because you tore your robes and wept in My Presence, I also have heard you,' declares the Lord. 'Therefore, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.'" ( 2 Kings 22:19-20).

     Josiah did not ignore the sobering truth. He responded to God in humility and repentance for both himself and his people. In turn, God honored and blessed Josiah's response.

     Likewise, we cannot ignore the evil that is so prevalent in our world. Paul exhorts us to
"abstain from every form of evil." ( 1 Thessalonians 5:22). We are living in a time and culture of no absolutes. Isaiah prophesied judgment on those "who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." ( Isaiah 5:20).

     Evil is mentioned in the Bible five hundred and seventy times. It is imperative that we have a clear and solid understanding of what evil is and what evil does. The definition of evil is: that which is harmful; injurious; characterized or accompanied by suffering; disastrous; bad conduct or character;
marked by anger, irritability, irascibility, etc.; bad quality or intention; that which gives rise to wickedness and sin; immoral.

     Our nation no longer sees evil for what it truly is. We have geopolitical vision and economic vision, but we do not have Biblical vision. Many have succumbed to the false belief of moral equivalence. It will forever be the Bible that defines evil, not mankind. God is calling His people to become the clarion of truth in these lawless, immoral, and confusing times.

     If we misunderstand either the nature or character of evil, we will be blindsided.  There are two historical events that have occurred that blindsided our nation. They occurred on December 7, 1941 and on September 11, 2001.  We were not blindsided because of a lack of intelligence because we had evidence to suggest that such occurrences were imminent. What we lacked was the imagination of what unadulterated evil could mean to our country.

     All hatred and violence is wicked in God's eyes. It is also wrong for us to become cynical or unloving as a result of the barbarism and atrocities that are being thrust in our faces. Just as it is tragic that the Jordanian pilot was brutally murdered, it is also tragic that more people will now lose their lives and be eternally separated from God. We are called to pray and love all people . Jesus said,
"By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35).

     If Jesus' return is imminent, how then should we live in light of the approaching hour?




" We poor blind creatures, here today and gone tomorrow, born in sin, surrounded by sinners,
living in a constant atmosphere of weakness, infirmity, and imperfection- can form none but the most
inadequate conceptions of the hideousness of evil."                                                             J.C. Ryle