Month: July 2015

Always Watching 

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2 Chronicles 27:6
“So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.”

My early years in ministry were spent as a Bible teacher at a Christian school. I recall one occasion, when I was called out of the classroom and into the hallway, I told the students to continue with the assignment I had given them. About five minutes later, I returned to the class to find the students had not followed my instructions. All but a few, were no longer working on the assignment, and some were completely out of control. I remember seeing paper flying across the room, and at least two students standing on their desks. I can attest, these behaviors NEVER happened while I was in the room. There is something about human nature which causes us to behave better when we know we are being watched.

The same was true of the ancient king, Jotham. We read in 2 Chronicles 27:2, he “did what was right in the sight of the Lord” and that his secret was, he “prepared his ways BEFORE the Lord.” How differently would you behave, if you kept in mind, everything you do is before the eyes of the Lord? The New Testament tells us every thing we do is “. . . naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account” (Hebrews 4:13). In other words, God is watching everything we do, and we will one day have to account to Him for our behavior.

There are many things we do because we know no one is watching, or we fail to do unless someone is watching. The proper attitude is to “. . . do ALL things heartily as unto the Lord. . . ” Colossians 3:23).

Pastor Jim

 

No Excuses 

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Romans 2:1
“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”

excuses.pngBeginning with the eighteenth verse of chapter one, Paul is developing his case against humanity. He states, because of the inner witness of the conscience, and the outer witness of creation, men have no excuse for atheism, agnosticism, or idolatry. He makes it clear, unbelief is primarily driven, not by lack of evidence of the divine, but out of a desire to practice things God forbids. He speaks of those who reject the truth in order to practice unrighteousness.

After giving a long list of sinful activities, Paul declares, it is not only the one involved in such sins, but also the one who looks on with approval, who is guilty before God. One of the fascinating issues of today, is the widespread idea that tolerance means we must accept behaviors and lifestyles that are lived in open defiance to the teaching of the Word of God. Many, practicing these behaviors, even go so far as to say that God is TOLERANT of their behaviors, even though His Word clearly condemns such actions. We live in a time where people are afraid to stand up and call sin what it is, and as a result, we find ourselves approving lifestyles that God condemns. As the second chapter of Romans unfolds, Paul’s attention switches from those who assume any and all behaviors are acceptable to God, to those who think they will be accepted for the things they don’t do.

I am reminded of a story Jesus told of a Pharisee who stood before God, attempting to justify himself. He prayed, “God I thank you that I am not like other men, I am not an extortioner, I am not unjust and I am not a tax collector…” (Luke 18:10-14) This man considered himself to be acceptable to God for the things He did not do. What we ‘don’t do’ is not what makes us right with God; because what we ‘don’t do’ in action, we often do in thought. Jesus explained that adultery, theft, and murder were issues of the heart, as much as they are actions of the body. When I look at a woman with lust, I am guilty of the same sin as the man who is cheating on his wife, or having sexual relations before marriage. Paul put it like this, “And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” Romans 2:3

If you assume God will look past your sins because they are not as bad as the sins of others, you have misunderstood the righteousness of God. The list of things we have not done does not justify us before God. Instead ,we are justified when we realize our need for a savior, and put our trust in Christ. This long treatise that Paul develops is to remove all excuses, and bring each of us to a place of accepting Christ; having our sins removed, and receiving eternal life. I realize some of us feel stuck in our sins. We have been practicing them for so long they have become a part of us. Will you allow me to encourage you? When you come to Christ, He will wash your sins from you, as far as the East is from the West. He wants to give you a brand new start in life, by making you a new creation in Christ. Rather than excusing our sins, let’s confess them, and allow Him to transform us into the persons He designed us to be.

Pastor Jim

 

It’s Not About The Money 

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2 Chronicles 25:9
“Then Amaziah said to the man of God, ‘But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?’ And the man of God answered, ‘The Lord is able to give you much more than this.’”

Amaziah was king of Judah during very tumultuous times. The surrounding nations were a continuous threat, war was a way of life, and the people lived with the constant fear of being attacked. In order to help guard against the enemies, Amaziah hired a group of mercenaries from Israel. Although it was a great expense for the nation, it brought them comfort knowing they had a vast army reserved to assist in the event of battle. At this point in the story, we are introduced to an unnamed man of God who came to the king and warned him not to trust in the mercenaries, but to pay them, and send them back to Israel. He wanted the king to learn two important lessons.

First, he needed to know, no matter what the setting, we must learn to put our confidence in the Lord, and not in man. It is natural for us to want something tangible to trust in; even if it is not worthy of our trust. Like a child holding a blanket or a teddy bear, we can derive comfort from things that really lack the ability to actually help us. Israel’s strength was never their vast army or their military strategies. Their strength was always the power of the Lord. No matter what you are facing, you can trust the promises of God, knowing He will never fail.

Second, he needed to know there are worse things to lose than money. Amaziah’s resistance to obeying the words of the prophet, was all about the money he had spent hiring the mercenaries. It seemed that he wanted to continue with a bad decision, simply because he had invested so much in it already. I have found, some people resist the Lord because they have lived apart from Him for so long. Admitting their need for Christ, is admitting they have been living life wrong for years. Unwilling to admit guilt, they continue apart from the Lord, just because they have always done it that way. It is crucial that we realize God is able to “give us more than this.”

Whatever you are facing, it is high time to trust the Lord.

Pastor Jim

 

The Gospel

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Romans 1:1
“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God . . .”

The Gospel was the favorite subject of the Apostle Paul. He used the term four times in the first chapter of Romans, 15 times in the book, and a total of 71 times in his writings. It was the subject of every letter he wrote, and every message he preached.

When writing to the Corinthian church he declared, “For I determined not to know anything among you accept Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

Here, he refers to himself as being “set apart to the Gospel.” The picture he paints is that of an Old Testament Priest, who was set apart to the service of God around the Temple. The priest’s whole life was consumed with the service of the Lord. His daily activities, lifestyle, even his clothing, were ordered by the fact that he was set apart unto the Lord. It is clear, declaring the Gospel was not a random act, a hobby, or even a job for Paul, but rather it was his way of life. He saw every day as an opportunity to share the love of Christ with others, and every encounter as an open door to declare the message of eternal life found in Christ. As this chapter unfolds, Paul gives us at least three reasons why the Gospel message was so important to him.

First, in verses 14 and 15, Paul declares that because of what Jesus has done for him, he sees himself as one who owes a debt to the world. The only way he can repay this great debt is by declaring the hope of eternal life, found in Christ alone. Paul would endure personal suffering, mockery, lack, imprisonment, and ultimately death, in order to ensure that all might hear the message of the cross.

Second, he declares the reason he would risk all for the gospel is because of what the gospel can do. He says it is the power of God to save. The latter half of Romans, Chapter One, declares the condition of man apart from God. This condition would be hopeless if It were not for the Gospel message. God sent His Son to rescue man from the power and penalty of sin.

Finally, when a person puts their trust in Christ, they are redeemed from bondage and restored to a right relationship with God. The gospel alone has the power to accomplish that, and it takes place within a person, as soon as he puts simple faith in Christ. Paul explains, it is then that the righteousness of God is revealed. In other words, when we trust Christ, our sins are taken away, and His righteousness is given to us. This is a transformation that takes place in every person who trusts in Christ. Oh that we would be separated to the gospel!

Pastor Jim

 

Oh, Gravity! 

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2 Chronicles 24:20
“Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you. ’”

Isaac Newton is credited with discovering certain laws governing the natural world. These laws cannot be broken. The law of gravity simply states, what goes up must come down. We prove that to be true each time we toss something into the air and watch as it lands back on the ground. Just as there are natural laws determining the course of nature, so there are spiritual laws that will determine the course of our lives. One of those laws is expressed here.

“Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper?”

To prosper means succeed, flourish or get ahead. Zechariah essentially declares, it is impossible to ignore or trample over the commands of God, and succeed in life. You might be able to gain much in life apart from God, but in the end, the only thing which will truly matter is what has been laid up for you in heaven. Jesus told a story of a man who acquired great wealth in this life, only to find torment in the next. All of his luxury was of no benefit to him when he stepped into eternity.

Some, who have trusted Christ for salvation and been freed from eternal punishment, still live in disobedience. They transgress many of the commands of God, and wonder why their lives seem to be filled with so much turmoil and confusion. Keep in mind, if we break the laws of God, there are always consequences. If you choose to ignore Him and do things your own way, you cannot prosper. If you choose to look into the pages of His Word and live obediently, you cannot fail.

Pastor Jim

 

A New Song 

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Psalms 149:1
“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints.”

Sometimes, worship can have a tired feel to it because we are singing the same songs over and over again. It is so refreshing when the worship team brings a new song; partly because new songs come out of new experiences with the Lord. I spent many weeks of my early years of ministry serving at a Christian camp. Those days were filled with lessons I still benefit from today. One afternoon, while sitting by the pool, I struck up a conversation with the worship leaders wife. While her children were in the pool, she was relaxing in the sun, but her husband was noticeably absent. I will never forget her response when I asked where he was, she said, “He is taking some time alone with Jesus because that is where the songs come from.” He realized, in order to have a new song to sing, he needed a fresh experience with the Lord. Anything done over and over again can become tedious or stale, even our relationship with the Lord. We might wake up each day, read a chapter or two, get the kids up, make breakfast, clean up, make lunch, clean up, make dinner, clean up, run out of energy, go to bed, and start it all over again the next day. Our days become routine, and soon our relationship with the Lord has grown stale. How can we have new experiences with Jesus that result in new songs of praise?

I am reminded of the story of Caleb. We are first introduced to him when Moses selects him as one of the twelve spies sent to check out the Promised Land. When the people refused to enter, we read in Numbers 13:30, Caleb quieted the people and said “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Sadly, the people rejected his encouragement and suffered thirty-eight years in the wilderness. When the generation who refused to enter the land died off and a new generation stood within the its borders, it was Caleb who set the example of how to press into what God had for His people. Scripture tells us, at eighty-five years old, he came to Joshua with a fascinating request. In Joshua 14:9, he reminded his leader and old friend of the promise he had received from Moses,

‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’

Then he pointed to the most difficult terrain within the land and asked that it be given to him. His words are one of the most striking statements ever uttered. He declared,

“Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” Joshua 14:12

Anakim were men of great stature, bred for battle. They were the most feared of all the inhabitants of Canaan. To make matters worse, they lived in fortified cities and inhabited the hill country which was easily defendable and almost impossible to overthrow. Caleb, a man described as one who had a different spirit in him, and who wholly followed the Lord, looked at the greatest obstacle facing the people of God and said, “Give me the mountain because it might be the Lord.” IT MIGHT BE THE LORD! I think I would want to know for certain that it was the Lord before I ventured out like that. However, Caleb was a man who trusted the Lord to be true to His promises, and was willing to venture into new ground in his walk with God.

Has your relationship grown so tired that you have no new song to sing. Perhaps it is time to look back into the promises of God and step forward into a new area of service. You will find God is true to His promises and your relationship with Him will be ignited with a fresh fire. What are you waiting for? The church is need of a new generation of Calebs who are willing to see just what might be the Lord.

Pastor Jim

 

A Mother’s Influence 

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2 Chronicles 22:3
“He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother advised him to do wickedly.”

These were dark days in Judah. The once glorious land was filled with idols, immorality and unrighteousness. This had so weakened the nation, they were being attacked and defeated on all sides. Desperate times like these always provide a backdrop for men and women of God to rise to the occasion, and have a tremendous impact upon their world for the kingdom of God. Unfortunately, Ahaziah was not that man. Instead of using his position as king to bring about true and lasting change by turning the hearts of the people back to the ways of God, Ahaziah led the people farther and farther away from the Lord. This young man helped weaken the nation and hasten its demise. Sadly, the strongest influence in leading Ahaziah away from the ways of God was his mother, Athaliah, who advised him to do wickedly.

A mother has an immense influence on her children. Her choices will have a lasting impact on the development, and later success of her kids. In the New Testament, we read of a young man named Timothy, who became a great leader in the early church. Timothy grew up in a home with a believing mother and an unbelieving father. It was the godly example of his mother and grandmother that had the greatest influence on his life. Their example of prayer, obedience, and Scripture reading, would prove to be a greater draw to young Timothy than the temptations of the world in which he grew up.

We must never lose site of the impact we have on those around us. The way we choose to live will influence others. This is particularly true of parents. If you want to see your children walk with the Lord, the first step is to walk closely with Him yourself. If you have prodigal children. Take a moment right now to pray for them, and to remember, God is in the business of bringing prodigals home.

Pastor Jim

Great Is The Lord 

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Psalm 147:5
“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.”

Bible writers use a variety of adjectives to help us better understand God. The Psalmist chooses the word great. Great is a word with vast meaning. It can indicate size; one dictionary defines it as “very large and imposing.” It can also mean important, distinguished, superior and preeminent. It is clear, the Psalmist is declaring God is above all His creation. One way he chooses to express the greatness of God, is to refer to His infinite understanding. There is nothing God does not know. The Psalmist declares,

“He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.” Psalm 147:4

Scientists have been fascinated with the heavens for as long as man has been on the Earth. In the third century B.C., Aristarchus accurately measured the distance of the moon from the Earth by looking at the shadow of the Earth on the moon, during a lunar eclipse. Technological advances have enabled scientists to look with greater detail into the vastness of the universe. The closest star to planet Earth is the sun, which sits 93 million miles away. The sun is just one star in a city of stars we call the Milky Way Galaxy. Our galaxy is so big, even at the speed of light, it would take 100,000 years to transverse. Beyond our own galaxy lies a vast expanse of galaxies. Astronomers estimate there are actually billions of galaxies, each one containing billions of stars. If we multiply the number of galaxies by the number of stars, we get over 10 sextillion stars in the universe; a number too large to fathom. Let’s take a number we are more familiar with, one billion. Counting non-stop, at one number a second, it would take almost 32 years to count to 1 billion. That does not even cover the stars of one galaxy. If we were to raise the number to one trillion (which is a thousand billion), counting at the same rate, it would take approximately 32,000 years. That is a lot of stars, and yet does not scratch the surface of the number of stars in the universe. The Psalmist tells us, God has not only numbered them, but He knows them by name.

It seems, naming stars would be a job big enough to occupy anyone for all of time, yet the Psalmist declares, in the midst of counting the stars our great God also,

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

How amazing is our God? He is so great He can span the universe, yet so loving He knows the things that break our hearts, and is ready to come to the aid of His saints who cry out to Him. The One who counts the stars, is the one who gazes upon you.

“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.”

Pastor Jim

 

Confused 

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2 Chronicles 20:12
“O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

I have often found myself in circumstances similar to that of Jehoshaphat. I am not saying the Moabites have ever tried to attack my house, but I often feel as though I do not know what to do, and my only recourse is to keep my eyes on the Lord. While it is obvious Jehoshaphat did not know how to defeat the swelling armies of his enemies, he was not without direction while he awaited the Lord’s instruction. We see three key ingredients that should be part of our lives when we do not know what to do.

First, we read, that while confused, Jehoshaphat gathered the congregation of Judah, and they began to worship. Instead of scheming how they might change their circumstances, they got their eyes on the Lord. Seeing life in the light of who God is, will always bring clarity to an otherwise cloudy situation. Worship was so important, they used it to lead the armies.

Second, we read, “Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel.” It is clear, when confused, Jehoshaphat knew enough to allow himself to be led by the Spirit. Paul contrasted walking after the flesh with walking after the Spirit (Romans 8:1-14). Simply put, to walk after the flesh is to let our emotions and circumstances guide us along the way, while walking after the Spirit, is to allow the Spirit to use the Word of God to light a path for our feet. The first step to walking when we don’t know what to do, is to let the Sprit direct us through the Word.

Finally, we read, Jehoshaphat bowed before the Lord. He was willing to admit, not only did he not know what to do, but God’s ways were better than his. Too often, the real issue behind our confusion is we are not willing to do what God wants. We are in a state of confusion because we are wrestling against God. The key to knowing the will of God, is being willing to do what God wants.

At the end of the day, after trusting in the ways of God, Jehoshaphat and all Judah were delivered from the threat of the Moabites. We will find, when we trust in the ways of God, He will lead us out of traged, and into triumph.

Pastor Jim

 

Memorial Stone 

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Psalm 145:4
“One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.”

When God divided the Jordan River, enabling Israel to cross into the Promised Land, He instructed Joshua to memorialize the event by building a simple altar. Twelve men, one from each tribe, carried a large stone out of the dry riverbed and placed it in the area of Gilgal. One by one, as these stones were piled atop one another, a rudimentary altar was formed. This altar was not a place to sacrifice, but a place to remember. Joshua instructed the people that these stones would serve two purposes. First, they were to be a reminder of the mighty works of God, and second they were a teaching tool that one generation should praise His works to another. Joshua declared,

“When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’… that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty…” Joshua 4:21-24

Other altars were built throughout the land, in places like Hebron, Bethel, Beersheba, Shechem and Ophrah. Each one, serving the purpose of remembering the works of God, and instructing the next generation in the ways of God. It seems to me, there has been a resurgence in our culture of parental involvement in the lives of their children. The “old school” approach, of mom doing the parenting, and dad serving as provider, seems to have been replaced by an increased effort by both parents being more involved in raising the kids. Little League baseball, Pop Warner football, soccer leagues, club volleyball, cheer-leading camps, all serve as a way for parents to be more involved in passing things on to their children. It is great to see a dad in the yard teaching his son to throw a ball or properly run the mower, but it is critical that we don’t stop there. As parents, the primary responsibility of passing the things of God on to the next generation, rests with us. While there is value in teaching our kids to fish, hunt, surf, read, study, and work, it is also critical that we teach our children how to walk with Jesus. Our kids are going to learn what relationship with God looks like by watching ours. If we take the time to daily abide in Christ, to trust Him when things get confusing, and to serve Him with our time, talents and treasures, our children will learn to do the same. Keep in mind, your life serves as an example, whether you like it or not. Let’s be sure we are a good example to those who we love the most.

Pastor Jim

Psalm 145

  1. The psalmist speaks of the unsearchable greatness of God. Make a list of things that He has done that are great.
  2. Go through this Psalm and list all the ways God is described.
  3. Verse 5 speaks of meditating on His splendor. Do that now.