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Serve God 

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Joshua 24:14
“…Serve the Lord!”

Years ago Bob Dylan wrote a song that included the phrase, “You’ve got to serve somebody.” Centuries before, the Psalmist declared, we will become whatever we choose to serve. He stated, if we serve false gods we become like them, but if we choose to serve the True and Living God, we will become like Him. Our lives will be determined by what masters us.

Romans 6:16
“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”

Sin is a reckless master. It makes promises it will never fulfill. When we choose to disobey the Word of God, getting involved in practices He forbids, it is not long before we are controlled by the very things we thought would be pleasurable. Drugs, alcohol, sexual promiscuity, are all harsh taskmasters, destroying the lives of those who serve them.

With his final breath, Joshua pleads with Israel to serve the One who will transform their lives, and who promises to give them life. All those who stood before Joshua on that day have long since passed from this life. They found the exhortation of Joshua to be true. They came to realize the brevity of life and the length of eternity. Won’t you follow their lead, and choose today to serve the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Pastor Jim

 

Allies 

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Joshua 10:5

“Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.”

 

Joshua, Chapter 10, describes a great battle, where five nations join ranks to come against the Gibeonites, who had made an allegiance with the people of God. The battle that rages is driven by a group of people who are outraged against those who have chosen to ally themselves with Israel, and be a part of the furtherance of the kingdom of God. While there may be political applications from this story, I think we would benefit greatly from some of the personal ones. 

 

First off, there was great cost involved with becoming a follower of God. Sadly,we find today, like in Joshua’s day,  some people are attacked for no other reason than deciding to follow Christ. Perhaps, you have experienced it. Perhaps, you have found that people who were once your friends, no longer want anything to do with you. Not because of anything you have done, but just because you have chosen to follow Jesus. They may have even attacked your character, and thrown a barrage of accusations against you. Often, these attacks are triggered by a misunderstanding of Christianity that stems from buying into everything they hear on the news, or from others. In other cases, they are driven by a hostility owing to a bad experience that transpired sometime in their past, and they blame God. Whatever the case, Christians are often under attack, and it is important to  see our attackers, not as the enemy, but as the mission field. 

 

Second, I think it is worth noting,  Gibeon not only experienced attack, but they also experienced aid. As soon as the kings began their attack on the city, the armies of Israel were unleashed to come to their aid, and ensure their victory. What a perfect illustration of what is true of the child of God today. In response to whatever attacks we might find ourselves under, the Bible teaches that all the hosts of heaven are “ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). Paul spoke of the fact that God will always lead us in triumph and that we are “more than conquerors” through Christ (Romans 8:37). When you are feeling under attack because you are following Christ, remember, He wants to come to your aid and ensure your victory. Keep in mind,  the victory includes influencing others to join you as you walk with Jesus. 

 

Pastor Jim 

 

 

  

 

Follow Me 

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John 21:19
“Follow Me.”

Much has happened since Peter first met Jesus. In a few short years, it seems as though a lifetime has transpired. Peter, the fisherman, has become Peter, the apostle. The young man who used to spend his days on the Sea of Galilee pursuing fish, is now a man who has spent over three years fishing for men. I imagine, at one time, his stories were all about his biggest catch, or perhaps times of weathering one of the storms for which the Sea of Galilee was famous.  Now his stories would include tales of praying for the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead. Certainly, life had changed for the young fisherman from Galilee. Along with change, came true spiritual development. The Peter who first met Jesus, was not the same Peter we see standing here. Sure, he still had his setbacks, but life with Jesus had changed him. Later, we read that even unbelievers recognized that spending time with Jesus changes men.

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

That being said, I am struck by the commission Jesus gives to Peter. He simply says, “Follow Me.” those are the same words, the same call, the same commission Peter heard when he began his journey with Jesus. All the growth, all the ministry, all the experience, would never change the basic call of God on Peter. He was never called to change the world, but to simply and continually follow Jesus.

Things are the same for me and you. When we first heard the Gospel, we heard Jesus say, “Follow Me.” No matter how long ago that may have been, no matter how closely you have walked with Him, or how far you have fallen; regardless of what mission trips, Bible studies or worship teams, you have been involved in, the commission remains the same. Jesus wants you to follow Him.

I have always loved that first call on the life of Peter, when Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). It greatly encourages me to know, when I follow Jesus, He will make the changes in me so that I become the man He intends for me to be.

Let’s recommit ourselves today, to be followers of Jesus. Let’s determine we will go the way He is going, and be involved in the things He wants for our lives. As we do, He will make us into who He wants us to be.

“Follow Me.”

Pastor Jim

 

Torn Apart

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Deuteronomy 22:9-11

“You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled.You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together.”

 To properly understand the Law of God, we must keep in mind that it served multiple purposes. Part of the Law was moral and set a standard for all mankind. It is that part of the law Paul referred to as a tutor designed to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Other portions of the law were civil, and designed to guide the behaviors of the people of Israel that they might have a healthy society. Finally, there were portions of the law that were religious by nature, and their purpose was to guide Israel in their worship of God. 

 

The text before us does not seem to be moral or civil, and therefore, must be seen as a part of the religious aspect of the law. The question is, why would God not allow different seeds, animals, or cloth to be linked together? I suggest that it has less to do with farming and fashion than it does with illustrating a key element in following Christ. Just as two animals would pull differently on the same plow, or two fabrics will shrink at different rates, so too, will believers and unbelievers head in different directions and pull against one another. This is the illustration behind the New Testament principle of not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). If your desire is to grow in Christ, become like Christ, and faithfully serve Christ, then you want to surround yourself with others who will pull you in that direction. If your primary influences in life are people who do not desire to serve the Lord, you will find it very difficult to be constantly fighting against those influences. That does not mean we should avoid people who are not followers of Christ, but we should have a group of men and women who will constantly encourage us in Christ. Keep in mind, it was Jesus who chose twelve men, pulled them out of the world, and spent three years with them. After His death, they continued to build one another up as they followed the Lord. 

 

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

 

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

 

Walk This Way

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Deuteronomy 13:4
“You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.”

John 3:16 is the most famous verse in the Bible because in twenty-five words it captures the entire message of Scripture; there is a loving God who will freely give eternal life to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. Deuteronomy 13:4 is similar in that its twenty-eight words capture so much of what it means to walk with with God. Moses gives six steps that will lead to success in following Christ.

“You shall walk after the Lord your God . . . ” 

The first step in following Christ is following. In other words, we need to go where he is going. Too many believers fail because they continue to go where God is not going. We often hear of college students who attend fraternity parties where drinking and other activities are rampant. They convince themselves they will attend and not participate, but not long after, the pressure of the crowd become too great to resist. We hear of married men who spend too much time with a co-worker, establishing an unhealthy relationship which leads to a weak moment, devastating a marriage and a family. Remember, these things and others like them, can be avoided if we walk where He is walking.

“. . .fear Him . . .”

Fear is often looked at as a negative emotion. We learn early in life, if we are to succeed at anything, we must overcome our fears. There is, however, a healthy side to fear. Being afraid of falling will cause us to be more cautious when climbing, being afraid of illness will help us to avoid certain foods when traveling, and having a healthy fear of God, will cause us to avoid practicing things He has forbidden. This kind of fear is the fear of relationship. We do not want to disappoint the One who loves us so much and has given all, that we might be saved. Instead of viewing factors and circumstances as whether or not they will bring us pleasure, we should view them as whether or not they please God.

“. . . keep His commandments . . .”

The surest way to success, in our walk with Christ, is to read the Bible and do what it says. The Bible is designed, not only to guide our lives, but to redirect us when we get off course. The surest way to stumble, is to either ignore the Bible completely, or to read without action. We should consult the Word daily, allowing it to cast light unto our thinking, our behaviors, and our way of life.

“. . . obey His voice . . .” 

One of the great benefits of being in a relationship with God is that He will speak to us. When Elijah fled to the caves of Mount Horeb, he heard God speak to him in a quiet voice. It seems God is still in the practice of speaking to His children in a quiet voice. I have found, He will prompt me to send a text to someone out of the blue, only to find it was an opportune moment for ministry. I have learned, His voice of warning is to be heeded, as He has prepared me in advance, for what is coming. Be quick to listen to the quiet voice of God.

“. . . you shall serve Him . . .”

Just yesterday, a woman approached me and said, “I have become so confident in who I am in Christ since I began to serve Him”.  Service makes us defendant upon the Lord, and that dependence leads to getting to know Him at a deeper level. One of the surest ways to get in a spiritual rut is to fail to have an outlet of ministry. No matter what your comfort level might be, get involved in your local church. Listen to the needs that are presented and commit your time, efforts, and energy to serve. You will find your relationship with Christ will explode.

“. . . hold fast to Him . . .” 

Ever heard the phrase, “hold on, it’s going to be a bumpy ride”? Well, following Christ can be like that. We must cling to the Lord in times of darkness or difficulty. Instead of allowing hard times to cause us to accuse God of wrong, we should use those times to cling to Him, find His strength, and learn His ways. Some of the greatest stories in Scripture happened with the darkest of backdrops.

Pastor Jim

 

 

  

Supernatural Selection

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Numbers 27:18
“And the Lord said to Moses: ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; . . .’”

There seems to be a simple pattern to the work of God: He chooses a man, fills him with His Spirit, and surrounds him with others. While the work is done through a man, it is always accomplished by the Spirit of the Lord. When Moses’ time on earth had run its course, the mantle was passed to another man. Out of the entire congregation of Israel, we read God chose Joshua, the son of Nun. I think it is worth considering why Joshua was selected.

First, we must consider the Sovereignty of God.
1Corinthians 12:11 states:
“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

Each one of us has been uniquely designed, gifted, and called by God, to play a particular role in the body of Christ. Like the Apostle Paul, we should each seek the Lord and discover what He wants us to do.

Second, Joshua was selected because of his prior faithfulness. We were introduced to Joshua years before he was selected to lead the nation. In the early years, we read he was a soldier who lead Israel to victory against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:10). From this, it is clear God selects those for service, who are already serving. Jesus said when we are faithful with little, we will be given more (Luke 19:17). We also read that Joshua was a faithful assistant to Moses (Numbers 11:28). The New Testament equivalent to the term assistant, would be disciple. Like Timothy, Paul’s assistant,  Joshua learned to serve the Lord by coming alongside Moses, the man of God.

Third, Joshua was a man who spent time getting to know the Lord. Since serving Jesus has a lot to do with representing Him to others, it is critical that we spend time getting to know Him better. Paul declared that his greatest desire was to know Christ in the power of the resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering (Philippians 3:10). To get to know Christ, Joshua did not depart from the Tabernacle (Exodus 33:11).

Joshua was also a man of great faith. When Moses selected men to spy out the land, Joshua was chosen. It is clear from the story, this selection had much to do with his great faith. Having spent time with Moses and the Lord, Joshua believed there was nothing too hard for God. He did not see the giants as an obstacle to the work of God, but as an opportunity for the Lord to show Himself strong on behalf of His people. Joshua even sought to instill this kind of faith in others. When the nation was filled with fear, Joshua referred to the Canaanites as food laid out for Israel to devour (Numbers 13).

As we await Christ’s return, let’s be men and women fit for the Master’s use. Take some time to sit before the Lord to determine how He wants to use you in the body of Christ. Keep in mind, what you do for Him today, has an impact on eternity, and prepares you for that which He will call you to in the future.

Pastor Jim


Follow The Leader

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Numbers 13:2-3
“. . . you shall send a man, every one a leader among them. So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.”

When Moses chose the men to spy out the land, he chose the leaders. Sadly, we know how that turned out. These supposed leaders, came back with an evil report, and stirred the hearts of the people against the mind of the Lord. I think there is a danger for someone who is naturally a leader; that danger is when they are not subject unto the Lord. I talk to my kids often about leadership. “Guys, you need to be leaders.” Then I’ll ask them, “What’s the most important thing about a leader?” I’ve trained them to respond, “To follow Jesus, Dad.” That’s the most important thing about a leader.

For example, if you are going to lead a group to an untraveled destination, the most important step for you to take, as a leader, is to follow the map. You can’t just do whatever’s right in your own eyes. You can’t be Sam the Toucan and “follow your nose.” If we are going to be godly leaders, we must follow Jesus. Do you remember the Roman soldier who came to Jesus and wanted healing for his servant? Jesus said to him, “I’ll come to your house.” The man responded, “Aw, you don’t need to come to my house. All You need to do is speak the word; because I’m a man in authority and I’m under authority.” You see, he said, “I know how to both give orders and receive orders.” (Matthew 8:5-13) He was a good leader because he was a man who knew how to follow. He knew the direction to go. The problem with ten of the twelve leaders chosen by Moses to spy out the Promised Land, was not that they weren’t leaders. The problem was an inability to follow. They were not subject to the real Commander-in-Chief. They had not put themselves under the authority of God.

Do you want to lead? Follow Jesus. If you want to lead people in the proper direction, to see people join forces in this furthering of the Kingdom, then follow Jesus. The most important thing about being a leader is to follow Christ. The key is, submitting to Christ and going wherever He is going. Ten of these men refused to do that, and led a nation into despair.

Pastor Jim

 

They Marveled

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Luke 20:26
“And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.”

We are introduced to a group of men who are examining Jesus. They have taken the time to carefully observe Him in action, dissect His teachings, and even quiz Him on a variety of difficult subjects. Their conclusion is worth noting. We read, “they marveled.” The word “marveled” means to be amazed by, and even to admire. It is a word that would commonly be used of a person standing in a museum observing a beautiful work of art. In that case, the proper response would be to admire the work and protect it from being harmed.

These men are acting like curators and treating Jesus like a museum piece. They knew a lot about Him. They could give His opinion on a variety of subjects. They could explain how He treated the sick, blind, lame and sinners. But rather than receiving Christ and watching as He transformed their lives, they simply “marveled and remained silent.” They were content with treating Him like a museum piece.

What about you? Are you an expert on the things of Christ, or a follower of Jesus? Are you only interested in learning about the things He did, or are you determined to see Him do those same things in and through your life?

All that Jesus is and does is marvelous. We are right to be in awe of Him; but awe alone is not what He desires of us. Let’s be sure that we are following after Him.

Pastor Jim