Bible

Join The Fight

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Deuteronomy 20:3-4
“Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”

We are not fighting the same battles that Israel fought. Paul reminds us, we do not fight against flesh and blood, but we are engaged in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12). We are not fighting for king and country, but for Christ and the furtherance of His kingdom. That being said, the principle found in Deuteronomy is timeless, and will apply to each of us as we seek to be involved in winning others to Christ.

When we stand on the verge of battle with an opportunity to share Christ with a family member, co-worker, or friend, it is common for our hearts to begin to beat frantically within our chest. At the same time, our minds begin to run wild with all the possible negative responses we may encounter. Mixed with this, is a sudden flood of all the possible questions that may arise, for which we do not have an answer. Allow me to remind you, the Lord is going with you, and He will fight for you. Never once, do we read of God sending His people into battle, physical or spiritual, and then leaving them to their own resources. Time and time again, God fights on behalf of His people.

When you step out in faith to invite others to church, or you attempt to share the gospel with them, and convince them of their need for Christ, you do not do it alone. The Spirit of God has been working in those individuals for a lifetime, preparing them for the very things that you will share with them. The same Spirit of God also empowers the words you say, so they will penetrate the hardness of heart, and impact their lives.

Instead of focusing on how weak you are, remember how strong God is, and in the day of battle you will not faint.

Mark 13:10-11
“And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”

Pastor Jim 

 

City Of Refuge

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Deuteronomy 19:2
“. . . you shall separate three cities for yourself in the midst of your land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.”

Deuteronomy is a compound word meaning “Second Law”, and is a recap of the instructions Moses gave to the first generation of believers who had been delivered from Egypt.  Forty years have passed and a new generation has arisen in Israel. Consequently, it became necessary to rehearse the Law before the people entered the land of promise. Much of what is found in Deuteronomy is a recap of what was first presented in Exodus, Leviticus or Numbers. This is true of the law regarding cities of refuge. Numbers 35 gives us much greater detail regarding these cities. In it we find:

Numbers 35:12
“They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment.”

God established a system in Israel to ensure the safety of a person who had accidentally caused the death of another. Instead of allowing vigilantes to run rampant, Moses was  instructed to have six cities built where a person could flee, find protection, and await his day in court.

Four things stand out to me about the cities of refuge. First, we are told the cities were to be distributed throughout the land for easy access. Second, in Deuteronomy 19:3, we read that good roads were to be built and maintained so that nothing would hinder a person from reaching the city. Third, these cities were for all people wether they were natural born children, foreigners, or travelers. Fourth, the person must remain in the city until the High Priest dies, then their crime is forgiven and their guilt forever removed.

It is not difficult to see the parallels between the cities of refuge and the work of Christ. The death of Christ provides a way for all men to have their sins pardoned. No matter what our background might be, nothing hinders us from coming to Christ and being forgiven. Those who hide in Christ will never face the avenger of death. A person who had fled to the city of refuge was a marked man. All others knew he was only safe because of the provision of God. If he ever left the city he was no longer safe from the avenger. The same is true of us. Our hope is found in Christ, where we are constantly reminded to abide. As long as we sit under the shelter of the cross, there is no sin that can harm us. We are marked men and the whole world should know  our hope is in Christ alone.

However, there is a contrast worth noting, the cities of refuge were only for the innocent, while the cross is designed for the guilty. There is no sin, no matter how great or how frequent, that cannot be forgiven at the cross.

Hebrews 6:18
“… we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.”

Pastor Jim

 

 

Avoiding A Shipwreck 

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Deuteronomy 18:9
“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.”

In the closing chapters of the book of Acts, we read of a ship that set sail late in the season, en route to Rome. The voyage proved extremely difficult and costly. Because of a severe storm that brought strong headwinds, driving rain, navigation was almost impossible; the sun, moon and stars were hidden by the clouds. It was not long before that ship was slammed into a shallow reef.

Following Christ is sometimes like that. Jesus explained, while we are not of the world, He has sent us into the world to carry on His mission of seeking and saving the lost. It seems we are constantly battling between how to reach others with the Good News, while not compromising in our relationship with Christ. This passage gives us a valuable principle on how to live for Jesus in a world that doesn’t.

“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.”

While there are many things we can learn by observing the world around us, it is important to keep in mind that both the goal of the unbelieving world, and the means of meeting those goals, are quite different than the goals and methods of the follower of Christ. When we lose sight of who Christ is, and who we are in Christ, it is easy to  look around and try to behave like the world we observe. This can happen to a young person who finds himself outside of the shelter of his Christian home, and surrounded by peers who are not following the Lord. It can happen to parents, who, after spending so much of their lives raising little ones, lose sight of the value of that calling, and want to find their identity in something else. It can happen to pastors who look around after years of faithful service and find their ministries are still quite small.

We must be careful that we do not look to the world to define the value of who we are or what we do, or we will become like that ship being tossed about by a vehement tempest and get completely off course.

Pastor Jim

 

He Is Praying For You

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John 17:9
“I pray for them.”

Perhaps the best title for John 17 is, “The Lord’s Prayer.” As the hour of His betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion approaches, Jesus takes time to pray for His disciples. His prayer, while encompassing many things, seems to focus upon three thoughts.

First, Jesus prays for His followers that they may be one. Division within the body of Christ has been one of the most confusing things for the unbelieving world. If Christians all believe in the same God, are washed in the same blood, and filled with the same Spirit, then why is there so much division in the church? Some division is good. Worship styles are different. It is good to have lots of variety within the church in order to provide an atmosphere where people are able to connect with God. Also, cultures are different, and to some degree, the church should be relevant to the culture, in order to win souls to Christ. That being said, much of the division in the church is wrong and harmful. The church fights with itself over petty differences and misunderstandings. It is as if we believed that our church is the only real church. Thank God, Jesus is praying for us.

Second, Jesus prays for His followers, that we might be kept from evil. Christianity would be so much easier if the moment we made a decision to follow Christ, we were translated from this life into eternity. It would be easy to know who the true believers were, because they would be gone. It would be easy to give up the temptations of life, because we would be in Heaven. It would, however, make evangelism very difficult, because there would be no one left to share Christ. Jesus prays for us, that we would withstand the temptations of life. It encourages me to know that He faced what we face, and He overcame through the power of the Word of God, and the Spirit of God in His daily life.

Finally, His prayer is like a commission. In it, He makes mention of the fact that He is sending us into the world. We, His church, are His solution for reaching the lost. Later, He makes it clear that we are fully equipped when He states,

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:18-19

We are sent into the world with the authority of Jesus, the blessing of the Father, and the empowering of the Spirit. As you go forth today, keep in mind, Jesus is praying for you, that you might be kept as you go.

Pastor Jim

 

Lessons For Leaders

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Deuteronomy 17:18-19
“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, . . .”

Looking centuries ahead into Israel’s future, God speaks of the principles that should govern the life of the king. Four important principles are established which every leader would do well to observe.

First, the king was not to multiply horses for himself. Horses were used in warfare and gave an army a distinct advantage over those who did not have a cavalry. While it is true God wanted the king to trust Him for the protection of the nation, the real reason for not multiplying horses was, the people were not to return to Egypt. Egypt was always a picture of the past life, the life of bondage, the life before being delivered by the blood of the Lamb. If we are going to succeed in following Christ, and leading others, we have to leave the old life behind, and never resurrect the things that were laid down at the cross.

Second, the king was not to multiply wives to himself. It was a common practice among ancient Oriental kings, to have many wives. Their harem was a sign of their position. I think one of the principles behind this, Israel was not to establish their sexual morals based upon the standards of the world around them. Today, it is not common for men to have multiple wives (at least not at the same time.) However, it is common for people to have sexual relations before marriage, outside of marriage, and to treat marriage as a disposable contract that can be erased because we are no longer happy with our spouse. If we are going to successfully follow Christ, we can not let the world determine the way that we are to live.

Third, the king was not to greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. It was not wrong for the nation to have an army or for the king to have a wife. Nor is it wrong to succeed financially, and even acquire great wealth. Often the Bible is misrepresented when we declare “money is the root of all evil.” The Bible actually declares, “the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10) The principle: the king was not to have a divided heart, loving mammon and the Lord. Nor was the king to put his trust in the bank account of the nation, but in the provision of the Lord. If we are going to succeed in following Christ, we cannot have a divided heart.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the king was to transcribe his own copy of the Bible, and read it every day. This would ensure that he did not exalt himself above the people, or wander from the ways of God. The most important principle in leadership, is to be a good follower. If we want to lead others to Christ, we must follow Him ourselves. The more we get to know the Word of God, the easier it is to follow him.

What transformation would our nation experience if our leaders put these principles into practice in their lives, and leadership?

What transformation would your life, family, and community experience, if you put these principles into practice in your life and leadership?

Pastor Jim

 

Better Off 

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John 16:7
“It is to your advantage that I go away; . . .”

Much of what Jesus said was shocking to the ears of the disciples. He spoke with a wisdom that was otherworldly. They may have become used to the fact that Jesus was going to say things that surprised them, but I do not think anything could prepare them for the statement Jesus made here. Earlier, He had been speaking about His betrayal and death, He now declares they will be better off without Him. For over three years, these men have been with Jesus. They have watched as He transformed lives, and listened as He declared truths about the Kingdom of God. Now He is speaking about leaving, and declaring they will be more effective with Him out of the way. I know Peter is the one who is known for objecting to Jesus, but I find myself objecting on His behalf. I cannot think of a single scenario where it would not be better to have Jesus around. If I were fishing, boating, preaching, visiting the sick, feeding the hungry or facing the Pharisees, I think it would always be better to have Jesus there, than to be by myself. How could Jesus say such things? What conditions could make it better to have Jesus absent, rather than present?

First off, things are better because of the way Jesus will depart. No one could take His life, He would instead, lay it down as a sacrifice to provide the cure for man’s sin problem. His death makes it possible for each of us to have eternal life, and gives us a message to declare to the world. The message that, they too, can have their sins forgiven, and receive eternal life in Christ. Beyond that, Jesus goes on to explain why things are better for us if He departs to the Father.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” 

When Jesus departed to the Father, He sent forth the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third “Person” of the Godhead, He is described as the Helper, the Comforter, and the One who empowers the Christian. Jesus promised that when the Holy Spirit came, He would convince the world of its need for a Savior, by convicting it of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Ministry is impossible. We are natural beings with natural abilities. We are sent forth to impact people spiritually. We can tell moving stories that effect people’s emotions, but only the Spirit of God can penetrate the heart of man, and convince Him of His need for Christ. Praise the Lord, Jesus did not leave us alone, but sent forth the Holy Spirit who will enable each of us to be involved in furthering the work of God in the World.

Father, baptize us afresh with Your Holy Spirit today!

Pastor Jim

 

Retreats

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Deuteronomy 16:16
“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.”

God established three retreats in the calendar year for His people. Three times a year they would gather together to celebrate the Lord, and what He had done for them. At the Feast of Unleavened Bread, they were to remember the way they were supernaturally delivered from Egypt. At the Feast of Weeks, they were to remember they were once slaves in Egypt. And at the Feast of Tabernacle, they were to rejoice over the new life they had in the land.

It would do us good to come to the House of the Lord with that same focus. When we walk through the doors of the church, we should take time to remember we were once slaves of sin, who were set free, through the supernatural work of Christ on the cross. We should also keep in mind, the work the Lord is currently doing in our lives, as we walk with Him.

Like Israel, we should never come empty-handed. They were required to arrive with offerings of the first fruits of the land, and the flocks. We should always come with a heart ready to worship, and a will ready to obey. As you walk through the doors of the church today, do so expecting to offer yourself to the Lord, and be ready to go out the doors, putting into practice the things you learn from His Word.

Pastor Jim

 

Freedom

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Deuteronomy 15:16-17
“And if it happens that he says to you, ‘I will not go away from you,’ because he loves you and your house, since he prospers with you, then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise.”

 Even in ancient times, life was often difficult. Conditions, beyond the control of an individual, would leave him in a place where he could not pay his debts. To address this issue, God set up a system in Israel where a person could become an indentured servant for a period of seven years. During this time the work done by the individual was treated as payment for the debt owed. At the end of seven years his debt was considered as paid-in- full and he was set free. This was called the year of release, and when it arrived the servant was set free and loaded up with provisions to begin a new lease on life.

In addition to writing out the rules for the year of release, Moses also explained a very interesting clause. If a person did not want to be set free, they could willingly offer themselves into continued servitude. He would show his commitment by having his ear pierced with an awl. It might seem odd to us why a person would willingly accept servitude over freedom, but the reason for it is explained in the text;

“If he says I will not go away from you, because he loves you and your house, since he prospers with you. . .”

A person would choose servitude over freedom because of the way they were treated by their master. If they realized they actually had more freedom and a better living by being under their master than they ever would on their own, they would remain a slave.

This is a good example of what is true of the follower of Christ. Living for Jesus demands a surrender of our will. It is actually impossible to follow Jesus, if we do not lay down our will. While that may be a difficult thing for us to do, the result is, we get to pick His will up. God always has better things in mind for us than we do. Paul, quoting Isaiah wrote,

1 Corinthians 2:9
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

To those who knew Him best, it was clear that the height of life would be found, not in keeping our will, but by submitting ourselves, our life, and our ways completely to God.

Let’s drive that figurative awl through our ears, and devote ourselves completely as servants of Christ.

 

Pastor Jim

 

 

Fruit-Filled Life

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John 15:8
“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”


God desires that we live fruit-filled lives. When we do, He is glorified and we are blessed. A fruit-filled life is marked by the characteristics of Christ. In Galatians 5, Paul listed many of the “fruits” that God desires us to bear. These are inward qualities that are a result of being transformed by Jesus.

 

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,   self -control. Against such there is no law.”

When our lives are filled with these qualities, God is glorified, others are drawn to Him, and we are blessed. Think about it. Don’t you want to be filled with love, joy and peace? Isn’t life better when you are patient and kind? Jeremiah contrasted two lives. He spoke of the one who departs from the Lord, being like a shrub in the desert; while the one who trusts in the Lord is like a tree by the waters bringing forth fruit (Jeremiah 17:5-8). I don’t speak “tree”, but if I did, I think I would hear the trees longing to be by the water’s edge where life is better, and fruit is abundant.

The key to living a fruit-filled life is abiding in Christ. The word ‘abide’ speaks more of a condition, than an action. We abide in Christ when we believe Him and receive Him. At that moment, a miracle happens. Our sins are forgiven, we come alive to God, and we are placed in Christ; where the life of Christ begins to flow into our lives. Jesus contrasts the branches that are in Him, with the branches that do not abide. He tells us the branches that are not abiding, or not connected, are cast out, withered and burned; while the branches that are in Him, are lifted up and pruned, in order to bear more and more fruit (John 15:4-6).

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, you are attached to the life-giving vine. The more time you spend with Him, the more His life will be produced in you. Take some time today allowing the vinedresser to lift you up, that you may become more fruitful.

Pastor Jim

 

Good Mourning

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Deuteronomy 14:1
“You are the children of the Lord your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead.”

Among many of the pagan cultures, it was a common practice to cut yourself as a sign of mourning for the loss of a loved one. This practice served to show others the deep sorrow you were experiencing, as a result of your loss. Moses makes it clear, the children of God are NOT to follow this custom. The reason behind this command was that the child of God is not to mourn like the heathen mourn. Years later, Paul wrote to a group of Christians in Greece, who were dealing with the difficulty of death. He said,

” But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13

The hope Paul speaks of is twofold. First, it refers to the fact that those who have died in Christ are in glory, experiencing the wonders of heaven, and intimate fellowship with Christ. This hope of heaven includes the promise that we will one day be with them again. Second, this hope refers to the comfort, peace, healing, restoration and strength Christ will give to us in our time of sorrow. One of the great benefits of being in a relationship with Jesus is, He promises to give us peace that will outlast the storms of life. He said,

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

Mourning is a natural part of loosing someone we love, but it is possible to loose sight of the hope we have in Christ, and mourn in an unhealthy way. In the book of Genesis, when Jacob died, the people mourned for him. He was the Patriarch of the family, and all Israel was deeply grieved. It was the practice of Egypt to mourn for seventy days, but Joseph decided the people of Israel would mourn for seven days. The Egyptians mourned because they would never see their loved ones again, Israel mourned because they would miss them until they met again in glory.

It is completely understandable if you are suffering from the loss of someone you love, but it can become unhealthy if you refuse the comfort God supplies, and continue in a state of mourning indefinitely. If you are struggling with this, it is time to cling to Christ and allow him to turn your mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11).

It is not disrespectful to the dead, if you move on from mourning, but to remain there is unhealthy for you.

Pastor Jim