WHAT IF GOD?

WHAT IF GOD?

Rom 9:21-24

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

          We are not robots without feelings, emotions and willpower! Although God has predesigned purposes, yet we bear responsibility for our choices. In this illustration, Pharaoh had opportunity to learn about God and to trust Him but he chose to rebel instead. In fact, the more God plagued Egypt the stronger was his rebellion and although he was responsible for his rebellion, yet he played perfectly into God’s plan for Israel. So it is with Israel’s enemies today.

          But my thoughts, both last night as I retired and this morning when I arose, were upon the phrase “what if God.” Speculating upon the thoughts and plans of God lends itself to many things this morning. I will suggest a few “what ifs” and perhaps you will have a few yourself.

Ø What if God does not believe in atheism? God knows that atheism is little more than a thinly clothed rebellion. God will recognize it for what it is and treat it accordingly. Imagine the surprise when the atheist, at the end of life, learns just how wrong he has been!

Ø What if God agrees to be as far away from you and your personal plans as you say you want Him to be? You say you don’t want God to interfere in your enjoyable plans but what if God agrees to remove Himself from you. What if help and support are absent when you cry out in some crisis “Oh! My God!”

Ø What if God, in response to your rebellion, decided to punish you now as you deserve? He is invisible but what if He showed Himself to you in wrath? His involvement in our lives are mostly unseen but what if His actions or inactions were clearly understood by us? What if we could see and feel the wrath of God upon us for our sin?

Ø What if God were only as faithful to us as we are to him. What if our careless attendance to worship caused Him to only answer some of our prayers – or none of them? What if God’s goodness really did depend upon our own?

Jer 5:23-25

this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord  our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.

Ø What if God, because of the sacrifice of Jesus His Son, set aside his anger and wrath so that He could give us what we do not deserve? What if God loves us so much that He is unwilling that any should perish? What if God wants to give us one more chance to respond to Him? What if the final choice is really up to us?

Eph 2:4-7

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Dear God, thank you for your Son whose sacrifice made it possible for you to treat me with great kindness. AMEN

CHRISTIAN COURAGE!

CHRISTIAN COURAGE!

Isa 59:19

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord  shall lift up a standard against him.

Dan 3:15-18

15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

          It is unfortunate that Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists dated January 1, 1802 provided what the secularists have been holding over the head of Christians and Churches since that time. In this letter he uses the phrase “separation of church and state” but the phrase has been taken totally out of context. Jefferson never intended that church should never influence the state but that there should be a wall preventing interference of state in the affairs of church. The letter is clear in this matter.

“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.” Thomas Jefferson

For a few dollars of tax exempt contributions, churches and pastors have been silenced. Their right to endorse political candidates and even to comment on social issues have been sternly challenged. The whole “separation” issue has effectively become an illegal and unconstitutional gag order. Our constitution, rather than forbid endorsements, protects our freedom to comment on social issues and to endorse candidates. This is guaranteed to us in the first amendment!

And so, facing the fiery furnace, I publically endorse Mitt Romney for President in 2012. In fact the entire Democrat Party and all its candidates have proven itself unworthy of my support or the support of any thinking Christian. More on this will be forthcoming in a pastoral letter soon to be presented to our congregation. The time has long past for pastors and churches to emerge from their places of hiding and to clearly present biblical standards.

Dan 3:17

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

Dear Lord, it is not our intention to taunt our government but we can no longer hide in cowardice when it is our duty to speak up for righteousness. Preserve us in this cause. AMEN

OUR DUTY TO CIVIL LAW!

OUR DUTY TO CIVIL LAW!

Rom 13:1-7

13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

          Christians are good citizens! Wherever Christianity is dominant the land enjoys peace. One of the reasons is that the Bible specifically tells us to be good citizens. We are urged to respect those in authority even when we do not agree with them. We are told to pay our taxes which the Bible calls “tribute.” We are told to do this not out of fear but “for conscience sake” or as a matter of principle.

          Christians do not storm embassies and kill ambassadors. We do not burn the flags of other nations nor whip images of our enemies with our shoe. We do not dance wildly in the streets nor burn and loot indiscriminately to convince unbelievers of the superiority of our religion. The book of James explains that we are peacemakers.

James 3:17-18

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

          We must remember that Paul wrote Romans 13 while under the thumb of Rome. The great persecutions had not yet begun but soon Christians would be wrapped in waxed fabric and tied to poles and set ablaze to light the patio parties of despotic leaders. Even so, Christians are told to be people of peace.

          We are now approaching what I believe to be the threshold of great persecution for Christians. I wonder if we are up to the task. I wonder if our relationship to God is strong enough to endure abuse. I wonder if we are weighty enough to remain after the winnowing wind of harsh rule or will we be driven away like the chaff. Of those sturdy believers who perished under harsh persecution, God had this to say.

Heb 11:32-40

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Dear God, those of us who have been so used to the prosperity gospel are ill-equipped for the approach of martyrdom. Let us resort to thy bosom. Let us seek after thy wisdom. Let us assume thy nature and, if it be necessary that we die, let others come to life as a result. AMEN

NO MIRACLES – JUST TRUTH!

NO MIRACLES – JUST TRUTH!

John 10:32-42

32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

42 And many believed on him there.

          How many miracles did John the Baptist? Not one! His was not a ministry of healing but of heralding the coming of Messiah. This was his task. He understood it clearly and performed it faithfully. I think our task is the same if I understand the Great Commission.

          We ministers want to have a spectacular ministry. We want to accomplish things that are, if not miraculous, at least noteworthy. We want to be recognized while we live and remembered when we die. But it was John Baptist who said: “He must increase but I must decrease!” (John 3:30) Ah, there you have it, the shrinking subject and the looming Lord! We are called to truth-telling in obscurity and the line of applicants for this job is short.

LITTLE IS MUCH

Does the place you're called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it
And He'll not forget His own.

Refrain:
Little is much when God is in it
Labor not for wealth or fame
There's a crown and you can win it
If you go in Jesus' Name.

Dear Lord, let me say with John Baptist “He must increase but I must decrease!” AMEN

LIMPING TO THE FINISH LINE!

LIMPING TO THE FINISH LINE!

Isa 40:28-31

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord , the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord  shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

          The deterioration of our culture and the fearful march to world conflict seems to have arrived at an inconvenient time. Everything seems to be uphill and further away than I remember it. My reach is shorter than my grasp. If you are young then this paragraph will only be a puzzle to you but if you wait long enough you will understand.

          Paul, at the end of his life, was able to declare that he had “run a good race” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). He had kept faithfully and energetically the assignment given to him. In a dungeon and awaiting death, Paul passed the baton to his young protégé Timothy who would finish the last leg of the relay for him. Life, and especially the Christian life, is a battle. There will be casualties. All decisions have consequences and some have horrific consequences yet we may continue the race hamstrung and limping along.  

          Dr. Charles Stanley said: “God doesn't require our lives to be perfect in order to finish strong. We can live life fully and be ready to meet our Maker by surrendering, walking victoriously with Christ, and serving others. If Jesus called you home today, would you--like Paul--be confident that you lived well until the end?”

   Lord, hear our prayer for those who, growing old

   Feel that their time of usefulness is told.

   Let them still find some little part of play,

   Nor feel unwanted at the close of day.

Dear Lord, for me and for my growing-older friends, let us find your purpose and your strength for today. AMEN

NUMBERING OUR DAYS!

NUMBERING OUR DAYS!

Ps 90:10 & 12

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

          The older we get the more we understand that life is brief and moves very quickly along. Seventy years seems such a very long time when we are children and that same seventy years seems such a short span when we are nearing the end of it. So much has been done and placed into the treasure of memories and so much has been left undone that we have a store of regret.

          Someone asked George Bernard Shaw this question: “If you could live your life over and be anyone you wanted to be – who would you choose to be?” The answer came quickly: “I would choose to be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been – but never was.”

          Wisdom accompanies the numbering of our days. Projects must be prioritized according to importance. We must resist those things that claim urgency and replace them with those things that are truly important because we know there is not time to accomplish both! We assign urgency to the truly important things.

          As youngsters “strength” was taken for granted. We were young and we could do. Now our strength requires effort and sorrow. The Old Testament word for “sorrow” means “to pant with effort.” We wish we hadn’t wasted our strength on unimportant things.

          At last there is good news! At the very end or our days “we fly away!” The phrase “and we fly away” is translated from only one small Hebrew word. The word “‘uwph” even means “to cover with wings; to shine forth.” Ah, that will be the joyful end when we take flight and shine forth!

Dear Lord, help me to wisely apply my heart and my strength to the truly important things today. Amen

MAKING IT PERSONAL!

MAKING IT PERSONAL!

Gen 22:6

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

Matt 27:32

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

Mark 15:21

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Isaac was a type of Christ; he carried the wood on which he was to be sacrificed. This type was fulfilled when our Lord was led forth carrying His cross.

Cyrene was a city of Libya, in Africa, lying west of Egypt. There were many Jews there, and they were in the habit, like others, of going frequently to Jerusalem. We might gather that Simon could have been a black man and that speaks to the issue of race. Little else is known about him, except that he had two sons named Alexander and Rufus, and we might even conclude that he was a pagan and not a Jew. If he was a pagan then that speaks to the issue of world-wide missions, the thought that the cross would one day be laid on the backs of the nations. But his name was Simon and that makes carrying the cross very personal.

We are forever inviting people to make Jesus their “personal” savior and yet the word “personal” is found nowhere in the Bible. The concept is certainly present, however. If I say that “God so loved the world” as we see in John 3:16 then I can easily discount the personal nature of it. But if, with the Apostle Paul, I say that “Jesus died to save sinners of whom I am chief” then I can not avoid the personal implication of salvation.

Indeed the difference between Jesus preaching to the thousands and sitting on the lip of a well talking to a single woman is glaring. As far as we can tell by the stories the multitudes were not greatly changed but the woman at the well was never the same. Indeed the whole of Samaria was never the same. It was personal.

The personal nature of close contact with Jesus challenges and changes all our other relationships. One of Simon’s sons was perhaps well known to the believers at Rome.

Rom 16:13

13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

Dear Lord, carrying your cross removes me from being a spectator to a player. I feel the weight of it, I smell the scent of it and the drops of blood fall upon me. It is personal – and I am glad. AMEN

FIRST OF ALL – PRAYERS!

FIRST OF ALL – PRAYERS!

1 Tim 2:1-4

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

          With the election nearing just 40 days away, we are beginning to sense the urgency of getting this one “right.” The United States can’t afford to select the wrong leader at this point in our history. I used to think it was not about which political “party” was most righteous until the Democrat Party removed “God” from its platform and then replaced Him after no less than three voice votes. After the moderator declared the measure had passed the crowd erupted with boos! I think that is significant.

          It is too bad that the bottom line in any of these elections is our pocketbook! If God is pure and holy should we not be concerned that we align ourselves with His sense of morality? If we continue to resist Him should we be surprised when He resists us? If we cling to lifestyles that He has labeled an “abomination” should we not expect His anger? With most of the Middle East on fire, with Israel and Iran near nuclear war, and with South and North Korea threatening another “great war” should we not be a little bit concerned about God’s protection and mercy? I think so.

          Now is the time for Christians everywhere to pray. Pray that this nation would still have enough moral fiber to elect, if not a godly man, a moral man. Pray that our foreign policy is returned to some form of sanity or at least reality. The purpose for godly government is so that “we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” Pray that our nation returns to God!

Prov 14:34

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Dear Lord, rescue us from ourselves. We have offended you. Please forgive us and restore unto us a bit of moral purity. Be swift to help us. AMEN

HE RESTORETH MY SOUL!

HE RESTORETH MY SOUL!

Ps 23:2-3

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

One scholar clarifies this beautifully in the following quote.

It refers to the spirit when exhausted, weary, or sad; and the meaning is, that God quickens or vivifies [makes alive that which is dead or dying] the spirit when thus exhausted. The reference is not to the soul as wandering or backsliding from God, but to the life or spirit as exhausted, wearied, troubled, anxious, worn down with care and toil. The heart, thus exhausted, He re-animates. He brings back its vigor. He encourages it; excites it to new effort; fills it with new joy.

(From Barnes' Notes)

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, certainly knows how to deal with us during times of our backsliding but this is not the case here. Because He is the Good Shepherd, He also knows how to mend us when we are broken. When the disciples wanted to press forward – He said rest. When burdened down with care, we are urged to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us.

Often in the midst of urgent labor He will “make” us, or force us, to lie down in green pastures. Thus lying on the soft green earth, chewing contentedly, we are able to separate the urgent from the truly important. I am convinced that many of “my sheep” are not so much involved with sinful behavior as with urgent things that are not important.

Dear Lord, today a thousand voices will cry out for my attention. One of those voices will be your very own. Help me to hear you when you speak. Today, Lord, restore my soul. AMEN

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE MODEL CHURCH!

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE MODEL CHURCH!

Acts 2:41-47

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

          Thousands of dollars and hours are spent each year trying to discover the newest secret of church health and growth. Perhaps the “secrets” have been hidden in the Bible right under our noses. I think the above section might just be a model for the healthy and growing church.

          Verse 41: The dazzling numbers have nearly blinded us to the simple fact that healthy church life always begins with a glad reception of the gospel. Salvation is the starting point and it is glorious and glad. This is followed immediately with “whatever is next” which is baptism. Healthy and growing believers are always asking and submitting to “whatever is next!”

          Verse 42: Healthy and growing churches are populated with members who are consistent in their participation of church life. They do not consider the events on the church calendar as items on a buffet from which they pick and choose but items of a full course meal. It does not say “teaching or fellowship” but teaching AND fellowship AND communion AND prayer meeting AND whatever is next. Unhealthy churches are populated by inconsistent members.

          Verse 44: In the healthy and growing church there is a generous sharing of resources. Yesterday, at a local restaurant, our waitress told us that someone from a few tables over secretly picked up our tab. I think I know who the generous person is but I’m sure they prefer to remain anonymous. The point is that, within the healthy church, resources are shared and nobody feels that he has suffered any loss by giving. Verse 45 explains that the membership felt that resources belonged to “us” instead of “me.”

          As church life continued, in verse 46, God added to the church. Outreach and evangelism was simply an outgrowth of healthy church life. As we live the Christian life in community and harmony with others, God gives numerical increase. In the numbers game, there was no guilt and no pride for it was God who produced numerical growth. Our job is healthy and harmonious community with other believers. Members who are part of a church like this just can’t keep from talking about it. The members publically were praising God and the result was that they won the admiration of their city.

Dear Lord, let me improve the health of my church by being an active and excited member of it. Let me share generously feeling no sense of loss in sharing. Add to your church as you see fit. AMEN

WHAT REVIVAL MEANS!

WHAT REVIVAL MEANS!

Ps 85:4-7

4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord , and grant us thy salvation.

          Our church begins revival meetings this morning! We do this every year and some churches conduct these special meetings twice per year. Why do we do it? What are we looking for? I think our text offers us some clues.

          First, I think there is a growing sense that we have angered God. Things may not be bad but there is a malaise or dissatisfaction in our spirit. We know something is wrong; that we have forgotten something very important. Verse 4 explains that we have angered “the God of our Salvation.” We conclude that revival is for those who are already saved. We have disturbed our relationship with the Savior and verse 5 explains that we do not want this to continue.

          Verse 6 explains that we may have been at this place before. “Wilt thou not revive us again?” The word “again” means that we have been here before. We are constantly trying God’s marvelous patience and the signal is that we have stopped rejoicing. Perhaps some circumstance has stolen all our joy!

          Jacob’s sons played a cruel joke on their father. They sold Joseph, his favorite son, into slavery and splashed lamb’s blood on his coat of many colors. Jacob was convinced that some wild animal had killed Joseph and he continued in mourning. Much later, Joseph of Egypt sent wagons to carry his father’s family to Goshen. We see the revival of his spirit in these following verses.

Gen 45:26-27

26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not.

27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:

          But it is David who provides for us a clear explanation of our condition and our desire for revival. David had sinned and had covered up that sin so that nobody knew – but he himself and God. This secret between David and his God became painful and burdensome. It was hard to carry on normally. The joy had gone. Listen to David’s plea for revival.

Ps 51:7-12

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Dear Lord, we have greatly offended you. We sense it deep in our soul. We love you – and we know that you love us. We can’t stand this stale air that we breath. Please, Lord, revive us again. Apply the blood with hyssop that we can be clean again. Restore the joy we once knew and now only pretend. AMEN

NO LIMITS!

NO LIMITS!

1 Kings 19:19-21

19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

Luke 9:61-62

61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

          Elijah was tired and a bit grumpy as well. He had fought a great spiritual battle but the strain upon him left him in a cave asking God for retirement in the form of sudden death. God told him that he wasn’t quite finished with his tasks. He had at least two things left to do before mounting the fiery chariot for heaven. One of those was to select his own replacement.

          Elisha was found plowing with two dozen oxen which indicated that his family was wealthier than most. Elijah, without saying a word, cast his outer garment upon Elisha indicating the Lord’s call upon his life. The sudden shift from plow boy to preacher boy must have been a shock. He requests just enough time to bid his family farewell. Elijah flew into a bit of a rant which questioned the commitment of this young farm boy.

          What Elisha does next proves that he had no intention of limiting God’s control of his life. He killed two of the plow oxen for a farewell feast and used his plow for fuel. We would understand that he was “burning his bridges.” There would be no turning back because there was nothing to return to.

          Dr. Charles Stanley says: “You are only as committed as you are obedient to whatever God is asking of you at any given moment. If you've posted a "no trespassing" sign anywhere in your life, it's time to take it down.”

Dear Lord, today I recommit my entire life to you. I unlock all my locked and secret doors. I do not want to limit your access. AMEN

HE MAY NOT!

HE MAY NOT!

Luke 9:23-24

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

          Do not suppose that becoming a believing Christian will repair everything that is torn in your life. The results of sin damage everything and life may never be rainbows and gumdrops. Jesus warned us that following would require a cross.

          He may not keep you from suffering pain and humiliation! Peter and his friends were jailed, beaten and then sternly warned to never speak in the name of Jesus again. At this point they had a choice and their choice was Jesus.

Acts 5:41

41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

          He may not heal the rift in your family! Remember that each family member has his own personal responsibility to either follow Christ or deny Him. Pain may remain and continue in your family but now the difference is that you have the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Matt 10:34-36

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

          He may not line your pockets with wealth nor bless your body with health! The prosperity gospel is deceitful and brings prosperity only to those who espouse it. Many times Paul suffered the lack of supplies when churches forgot his support. On at least one occasion he had to resort to his trade as a tent maker to provide for his needs. God did not give Paul every convenience but He instead gave him contentment.

Phil 4:12-13

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

          He may not always punish your enemies! We are told to pray for our enemies and to persevere in a steady walk with God. We are to walk through the difficult and dry places and make a difference for others.

Ps 84:5-6

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

Dear Lord, let me be a refreshing drink to the thirsty today. AMEN

MY YOKE FITS WELL!

MY YOKE FITS WELL!

Matt 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The Greek word for “easy” is chrestos and literally means “useful” but the Amplified New Testament puts it this way:

Matt 11:30

30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

AMPLIFIED

What Jesus was saying is that the service He requires is not difficult to perform. This was in stark contrast to the Jewish system which had grown and grown into something God had never intended it to be. The Pharisaical requirements were heavy and harsh.

I do not know what God is requiring you to endure at this moment but this one thing I know, the yoke was designed to be comfortable and to fit YOU well.

The yoke refers to oxen's yoke. The yoke was a wooden collar-like instrument placed on the neck and shoulders of the oxen. It was extremely important that the yoke be fitted for the shoulders of the oxen to prevent rubbing the flesh raw and causing sores. Measurements were taken, the yoke was roughed out and then oxen were brought back to have the yoke tailor-made. According to some traditions, some carpenters' shops may very well have carried signs like "My yoke fits well" (William Barclay, The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible)

Whatever God has you facing right now is made to fit you perfectly. You have the Spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities to handle everything He allows you to go through. Therefore, lay your grief into His loving hands and surrender to His will for you.

Jer 31:18

18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

 

Dear Lord, help me to settle into the burden that you have tailor made for me today. AMEN

THE INCREDIBLE POWER OF CHOOSING!

THE INCREDIBLE POWER OF CHOOSING!

Josh 24:15

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

          It has long been debated by theologians whether we have true and free will to choose our way or whether we are bound by God to follow a path He has chosen for us. One group says that that freedom of choice is absolute and that we can first choose to serve God and then later choose to abandon the Christian life and its heavenly destination. Literally, they say, we can first choose heaven and then later choose hell. The result of this vein of thinking is instability and uncertainty.

          The other group is as far in the opposite direction as it can be. These believe that we only appear to have free will in choosing but that God has predetermined not only our destiny but all the events that lead up to it. We may appear to choose, even vehemently, but they say we are not free at all. The result is pride and laziness. These become proud for thinking that they, above others, have been pre-selected for heaven or laziness in thinking that others are pre-selected for hell.

          We may choose education and that choice opens doors for us that would have otherwise remained closed. We choose a life partner and that choice will determine our sorrow or happiness all of our life. We pursue employment with a certain company and that choice has consequences we could not have imagined. What we do, where we live, and who our friends are all have consequences.

Dr. Adrian Rodgers said that we are free to choose but we are not free not to choose. Then, after we choose our choice produces certain consequences. For instance, you may choose to leap from a tall building but you can not choose to eliminate the consequences of that choice. So choose wisely.

Deut 30:19

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Dear Lord, before me today are many choices and many consequences as a result. Give me wisdom to make right choices. AMEN

WE STILL DON’T GET IT!

WE STILL DON’T GET IT!

Matt 24:36-39

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matt 22:3-5

3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

 

          The casual way we consider important things, and the urgent care we give to trivialities, has set the stage for the surprising return of Christ. Matthew does not condemn “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.” His point is that when Christ returns there will be no alarm! Every day activities will go on as usual. Christ’s return will be a great surprise. In the same way old age settles upon us like the evening dew. Like children playing, we pay no attention to Mother’s call to wash up for dinner.

 

          My greatest challenge as a local church pastor is not to make bad people good but to make good people prepared. Noah both preached and prepared while the world around him provoked and laughed. The laughter and ridicule does not slow the eventuality of the end but makes it more bitter. I sometimes even see myself as the bearded eccentric carrying a sign which reads “the end is near.” It is hard to take yourself seriously when so few others do.

 

          The sun glinted off the silver fuselage of the Enola Gay while the people of Hiroshima went about their morning tasks. Most did not notice it but those who did concluded that one American bomber was not worth their concern. In much the same way our world either does not see the signs of Christ’s coming or they ignore those signs as unimportant.

 

Matt 24:42-44

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

 

Dear Lord, let me live as if today I will see you face to face. AMEN