People Can't Be Trusted

As Ezra prepared to return to Jerusalem with a large wave of exiles, he proclaimed a fast before they began their trek. They had a long and dangerous trip ahead of them. Not only were they a large number of people, they were also transporting a lot of valuables.

The purpose of the fast? "...that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey..." (Ezra 8:21).

Ezra had told the king, "The hand of our God is for good on all who seek Him, and the power of His wrath is against all who forsake Him" (v 22).

They weren't going to ask for a retinue of soldiers to protect them, but were going to trust God to do what He said He would do.

And He did.

"The hand of our God was on us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way" (v 31b).

The returning exiles put their trust in God, rather than a mighty army. And God delivered them.

How often do we put our trust in a powerful army, rather than in God?

When I expect my boss to pay me and provide for my needs, I'm trusting in the army, rather than God.

When I expect my spouse to bring me joy, I'm trusting in the army, rather than God.

When I expect my friends to keep me from sin by checking in on me, I'm trusting in the army, rather than God.

When I expect the new car to bring me satisfaction, I'm trusting in the army, rather than God.

When I expect my church to solve my problems, I'm trusting in the army, rather than God.

When I expect anyone or anything to meet my needs, I'm not trusting God to do what He says He can do.

God may use people and things to fulfill His plans, but when I expect others to do what only God can do, I will be disappointed.

It's not about me

In Paul's reprimand of the Corinthian church for their abuse of spiritual gifts, we often overlook the theme of 1 Corinthians 14: It's not about the gifts, but about others.

It's not about what I can do in church, but what I can do to help others.

• Prophecy was better than tongues, because prophecy led to edification and encouragement of others (v 1-5).
• If tongues were exercised, an interpreter had to be present so that the church would be edified (v 5).
• Strive to excel in building up the church, not in exercising spiritual gifts (v 12).
• Interpretation of tongues was necessary so that others could agree and be edified (v 16-17).
• It's better to speak five words intelligibly to instruct others than 10,000 unintelligible words that help no one (v 19).
• Tongues were a sign for unbelievers, but they had to be interpreted. If they weren't understood by the hearers, they would think that the church is crazy (v 21-23).
• Prophecy served to convict others and lead them to worship God (v 24-25).
• Everything was to be done for edification (v 26).
• Prophets were to take turns, not all at once, so that all may learn and be encouraged (v 29-31).

It's not about me or the abilities that God has given me.

The purpose of the gathered church is to learn, to encourage, to worship, to convict of sin and to edify. If what I am doing does not lead to the accomplishment of these goals, I should just sit down and shut up.

An Unlikely Messenger

Pharaoh Neco was commander of a mighty empire with a massive army. The Egyptians had many gods and the Pharaoh was considered to be one of them.

Yet there is an account in 2 Chronicles 35 where this ruler was used as a messenger of God to Josiah, king of Judah.

The Egyptian army was on its way to Carchemish, along the Euphrates river. To get there, the army had to go through Judah. Neco was not interested in fighting Judah, just passing through to get to a battle.

Josiah, king of Judah, went out with his army to start a fight. Neco sent envoys with this message, "What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, let He destroy you" (v 21).

Josiah "...did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God" (v 22).

He disguised himself and went into battle. The archers struck him and he died.

Two interesting lessons:

1. A pagan, polytheistic king was being used by God to carry out His plans, and the king knew it. He was on a mission from Elohim. God had commanded him and he was obeying.
2. A pagan, polytheistic king was a messenger of God, but the king of God's people chose not to obey God. Even though Josiah had been a godly king, when the message came from this unlikely messenger, he chose not to listen.

God's instruments and His messengers may not always be the ones we expect. He may choose to use an unregenerate person to carry out His plans and deliver His message.

Our task it to follow and listen to God's plans, even if it comes from an unlikely messenger.

Lessons from Manasseh

Hezekiah's son, Manasseh, was a wicked king. He basically brought back all the idolatry that his father had destroyed.

God sent prophets, but Manasseh and the the people did not listen.

So God sent Assyrians. They still didn't listen.

The king was taken captive and led by hooks and chains to Babylon. BTW: "led by hooks" was not a pleasant experience. The Assyrians were known for their cruelty to their prisoners. One act of cruelty was putting a large hook into the flesh of a prisoner, like at the shoulder, and connecting it with a chain to a hook in another prisoner's shoulder. They would then be forced to march in a chain gang. If the guy in front of you stumbled, think of the pain in your shoulder!

"And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers" (2 Chronicles 33:12).

God heard his prayer of repentance and brought him back to Jerusalem.

The king fortified the city, restored the temple and destroyed the idols.

God had to bring the king of Judah to the depths of an Assyrian POW to get him where he needed to be.

Lessons to learn:

1. Don't rebel against God. He's going to get His way eventually.
2. When messengers warn about God's coming judgement, repent. Turn around while there's still time.
3. Repentance is not just a prayer or statement. It's a change of action.Turning from idolatry to worship of God is visible.

I failed the test

Hezekiah was one of the last good kings of Judah. His reign is recorded in 2 Chronicles 29-32 and 2 Kings 19-20.

He led a restoration of the temple, which led to a revival. The feasts were celebrated. Idols were destroyed. Priests were reinstated.

When Sennacherib came to Jerusalem with his mighty Assyrian army which had defeated every nation in its path, Hezekiah laid the threats before the LORD. God delivered them.

When Hezekiah fell ill, the prophet Isaiah told him it was because he had become proud. When the king humbled himself, God healed him.

In both of those crises, God sent a messenger. Hezekiah repented and called upon God. God delivered.

But there's an interesting verse in 2 Chronicles 32:31.

"And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart."

The author of 2 Chronicles doesn't tell any more about this event. 2 Kings 20:12-19 record the history. Envoys were sent from Babylon because they had heard of Hezekiah's sickness and recovery.

No prophet showed up to warn him. No indication that any of his advisers tried to stop him.

God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

Hezekiah failed the test.

In his pride, Hezekiah gave them the royal tour. He showed them everything that he had done. He showed them the great treasury that he had built up.

Afterwards, Isaiah came and told him that his kingdom would fall into the hands of the Babylonians.

Hezekiah's response, "Oh well, at least it's not going to happen in my lifetime."

God left him alone to see what he would do on his own.

He does the same for us.

Aren't you a different person when you are at home alone, than when you are at church or work?

It's easy to be a good christian when you're at church and everyone else has painted on their masks.

It's easy to be a hard worker when the boss is standing there.

Too often I fail the test. Left alone I can wallow in pity, wander in fantasy or worry about tomorrow.

It's when we are alone that God is testing us and revealing to us what is in our hearts.

What do your private actions reveal about your heart?

Who will free me from this corpse?

I heard this illustration on the radio today, but I haven't found anyway to verify the historic validity of it.

Supposedly, one of the many ways that Romans would execute the condemned was by securing a corpse to the body of the condemned. The corpse was so tightly secured that there was no escape from the rotting body.

As the corpse decayed, maggots, worms and vermin would be attracted. The body fluids would soon be covering the condemned. If he didn't die from the bugs and rodents, there would be a possibility of some type of disease being transmitted.

Eventually the condemned would die.

The Romans were experts in tortuous capital punishment, so this would not surprise me as being a possibility.

Perhaps Paul was referring to this practice in Romans 7:24 where he wrote:

"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?' (Romans 7:24).

In chapters 6 and 7, Paul has been writing about the believer's struggles with sin, ending with a personal testimony of his own. He knew the right thing to do, but didn't always do it. He wanted to do right and flee from sin, but he didn't always squash temptation.

Couple that with the corpse being tied to the body of the condemned and you get a picture that's easy to understand.

Sin has died. It has no power of its own. It's a burden. It's rotting and stinks.

Yet it is controlling me. I can't get away from it. It's effecting me. It's making life worse and will eventually bring death.

So what's the answer? Who is able to cut the ropes and free me from this rotting corpse on my back?

Just keep reading.

"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Only God can take away the corpse. Only the work of Christ on the cross can take away that burden.

There is hope. Not in my own strength, but in the power of Christ.

My Source of Help

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth."

I have no need to look any further than to God for help. As creator of the universe, He has all the resources necessary to help me.

"He will not let your foot be moved."

He keeps me secure.

"He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."

He's always awake and alert. Always there to help.

"The LORD is your keeper
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night."

He will keep me safe. He will protect me from all attacks.

"The LORD will keep you from evil;
He will keep your life."

He will protect me in the times of temptation. He will not lead me down that path of failure, despair and depression.

"The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forevermore."

He will protect me throughout the day. He will keep me safe forever.

My struggles against temptation do not need to end in defeat. God will keep me. He will deliver me. He is the creator.  He is powerful. He is ready to help.

Deliver Me

"Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips,
From a deceitful tongue."
(Psalm 120:2)

The psalmist may have been talking about someone else's lying and deceit that was causing him difficulties.

But he may also have been referring to his own lips and tongue.

It's easy to smile and act as if everything is okay.

It's easy to not answer questions that reveal sin or character faults.

It's easy to talk about others to make myself look better.

It's easy to speak in generalities to avoid talking about my struggles with temptation.

It's easy to talk about the good things that I'm doing and not talk about the times I've fallen.

It's easy to avoid the issues of my heart.

It's easy to dodge questions of my accountability partners.

It's easy, but they are all evidences of lying lips and a deceitful tongue.

"Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue."

Send in the Choir!

An amazing event in the history of Judah is recorded in 2 Chronicles 19-20.

The people of Judah had been taught the law and their history under the direction of King Jehoshaphat. He sent teachers throughout the land to make sure the people knew God and His standards.

So when the country was being invaded by the Moabites, Edomites and Meunites, they responded by gathering in Jerusalem to seek God's guidance. They remembered Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The king led in a time of fasting and prayer. In his prayer, he recounted God's promises and the history of His people and called out for help.

The reply came through a prophet who told them not to fear. God was going to fight for them. He gave them the location of the enemy camp and told them to show up there the next morning to see God fight. They wouldn't have to fight.

Now think of a church business meeting. "But if we do that..." "How do we know that this prophet is telling us the truth?" "Go ahead, pastor, but I'm not following! It's all your fault if this goes wrong!"

That was not the response of these people who knew God and trusted His promises.

They fell on their faces to worship God. The musicians stood up to sing praises.

They chose to worship and obey.

The next morning they gathered for their journey. The king consulted with his advisers, encouraged the people. 

Then he placed the choir in their robes in front of the army.

They weren't there as a sacrifice. "If we lose a few choir boys, no big deal. The tough guys will be right behind them."

They were at the front of the array as evidence of their trust in God. God said they would not have to fight, so they were going to sing praises instead.

As soon as the choir began to sing, God sent confusion in to the enemy camp. Before Judah arrived, the three nations had risen up against each other and killed each other. Not one soldier remained alive.

The men of Judah spent three days gathering the spoils. On the fourth day, they had a praise service in the valley and returned to Jerusalem singing.

Perhaps we don't see God working like that because we don't know the God of the Bible.

Sure, we know stories about God. But we don't really trust Him.

We want to act on our own and complain if things don't go the way we want.

Trust and obey - and worship.

Seven-Day Challenge

How many times a day do you eat?

How many times a day to you text?

How many times a day to you check your e-mail?

How many times a day to you praise God for His commandments?

"Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous rules" (Psalm 119:164).

Wow! Seven times a day praising God for His commandments!

I don't think that the psalmist is giving a command that we have to praise God seven times a day.

Nor is he setting a specific number out. It's not that six is not quite good enough or that 8 is more spiritual and 700 times is super spiritual.

But I'm going to take it as a challenge.

For seven days I'm going to make a conscious effort to praise God for His Word seven times each day. Not make a list of seven things for which to praise God each day. But to consciously praise God at seven different times during the day, specifically for His Word.

In prayer. In conversation with others. In song.

Anyone want to join in the challenge?

Repentance does not mean Restoration

We've heard the stories. Some of us have lived them.

Life is a mess and we realize it's because of sin. I mean, really a mess. We've hit bottom and we know why.

So we get to the point where we confess our sins.

Forgiveness from God flows as He has promised (1 John 1:9).

We begin a path of repentance.

Drawing closer to God and further from sin, we begin to walk a new life.

Surely, God will put all the pieces back together.

But He doesn't.

Does that mean that the repentance wasn't genuine?

Does that mean that there are more skeletons in the closet that need to be brought into the light?

Those may be valid questions to ask ourselves. But the Word of God doesn't teach that repentance leads to restoration.

Consider the account of Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles 12.

Rehoboam was Solomon's son, the first king of the Judah in the divided Israel.

After the establishment of idolatry in the northern kingdom, the priests and Levites who had lived there came to Jerusalem in order to worship the LORD in the temple and in the right way (2 Chronicles 11:13-16).

Rehoboam's reign was secured "...for three years...for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon" (v 17).

But when the kingdom was secure, Rehoboam "abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him" (12:1).

Because of this, the LORD sent Shishak, the king of Egypt with his mighty army against Judah, storming the fortified cities along the way and heading to Jerusalem.

However, Rehoboam and the princes listened to the words of the prophet Shemaiah, who declared, "Thus says the LORD, 'You abandoned Me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak'" (v 5).

The leaders humbled themselves, declaring, "The LORD is righteous" (v 6).

God saw their humility and sent a new message through His prophet. They were to be granted SOME deliverance. Shishak would not be allowed to destroy them. 

But they would become servants of Shishak. "...that they may know My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries" (v 9).

God accepted their humility. He acknowledged that they had repented. But they still had something to learn.

He wanted them to learn that it was better to serve the Almighty King than to serve an earthly king.

It wasn't for further punishment.

It wasn't because God didn't believe that their repentance was genuine.

God wasn't trying to pressure further confession out of them.

He wanted to use the time of their humility to teach them.

Lessons for me:

1. Just because life hasn't been restored, doesn't mean that God is punishing me.
2. Just because life hasn't been restored, doesn't mean that God is displeased with me.
3. Just because life hasn't been restored, doesn't mean that God is waiting on acts of penance.

God still has lessons to teach me and He is using this time to do it!

Why Worry, When You can Pray?

I often have trouble falling asleep.

And more often I have trouble getting out of bed when the alarm goes off.

And throughout the day, I'm doing some task that doesn't require much thought.

In those times, my mind begins to wander.

I think about things that I could have done differently to keep my marriage and family together.

I think about opportunities that I've missed to teach my children.

I think about chances that I had to witness.

I think about discussions that I could have directed another way.

I think about friends that I wish I had.

As those thoughts mill about in my mind, it leads to discouragement, depression and loneliness.

What I need to do is follow the example of the psalmist:

"I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I hope in Your words.
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
That I may meditate on Your promises."

(Psalm 119:147-148)

I need to use the time to cry to God for help.

I need to meditate on God's promises.

Rather than bemoaning the past, hiding from the present and fearing the future, I need to direct my thoughts to God's Word.

Psalm 100

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness.
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations."

Look at the commands in this psalm:

Make a joyful noise.

Serve.

Come.

Know.

Enter.

Be thankful.

All these commands reflect a relationship. Spend time with God. Praise Him. Serve Him. Know Him.

Isn't that amazing that the God of the universe wants to know us on a personal basis?

He wants to commune with us.

He wants our fellowship.

Look at how the psalmist describes God:

He is our Creator.

He is our Shepherd.

He is good.

He is eternally merciful.

His truth is eternal.

He is far beyond what we could ever be.

Ye He wants us in His presence!

Pick Me! Pick Me!

"Let him who boast, boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31).

Do you remember picking teams for a game of kickball? It seems like we played it a lot at recess and in P.E. in elementary school.

But maybe I just remember it because it was traumatic.

They probably don't allow this in schools any more because it's so against the self-esteem movement.

But you remember. Two of the coolest kids would be captains. Then they would take turns picking their team members.

The first ones to get picked kicked the ball further.

Then the fast runners.

The cool kids got picked pretty early.

If it were girls as captains, they'd pick their friends and the cute boys.

The clumsy, slow or uncool kid got picked last all the time.

He had no qualities that he could bring to the team.

He'd rather be anywhere else but playing kickball.

I speak from experience.

But Paul says here in 1 Corinthians 1 that God did just the opposite.

God didn't choose me because I could do something for the team.

He didn't choose me for any skills, or looks, or money, that I have.

He chose me because He wanted to.

He chose me because He loved me.

He chose me because He wanted to satisfy me in ways that no one and nothing else can.

He chose me because He wanted to declare His wisdom and His glory.

If there's anything to boast about, I will boast in the Lord. He has done everything for me.

Blessing is not a license to sin

The Israelites in the wilderness had been blessed by God. They had been miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt. The ten plagues had meant the destruction of Egypt and the birth of Israel. They left their bondage rejoicing.

When they came to the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army behind them, God parted the sea and they walked through on dry ground. They witnessed the mighty Egyptian army washed up on the shore. They had seen the hand of God and rejoiced.

At Mt Sinai they saw the fire, heard the thunder and God's voice. Terrified, they pledged obedience.

God provided food for them. Their clothing did not wear out for 40 years. He protected them from their enemies.

"Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (1 Cor 10:5).

They continually chose to sin.

Sexual immorality, idolatry, grumbling, rebellion and testing God. With all these God was not pleased, so He judged them.

They had experienced magnificent blessings from God, yet they chose to rebel.

You would never do that, would you?

All this was written to serve as a warning to us (v 6). Even though we might experience God's blessings in abundance and even give Him the credit for doing what He has done, we don't earn the right to indulge in sin.  Rather, we are commanded to flee sin in the midst of God's blessings (v 7-11).

Often I have assumed that because God has been blessing me, I must be doing the right things.

Using the evidences of God's blessings as an excuse to continue in sin sounds ludicrous, doesn't it?

Because it is!

"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed, lest he fall" (v 12). The moment that we think we are invincible because we have received God's blessings is the moment that we need to watch out!

"God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (v 13).

The temptations that come in the midst of the blessings are still temptations. Temptations at those times are perhaps the most precarious. Our response must be the same - head for the fire escape!

Hate! Hate! Hate!

Parents usually teach their young children to not use the word "hate," but we seem to throw it around pretty lightly.

"I hate broccoli!"

"I hate going to work!"

"I hate you!"

If we take it seriously, it is a word that we should use sparingly. But there are some times when we should use the word, or practice hatred.

"Through your precepts I get understanding,
Therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:109).

Hate every false way?

Now there's a hatred that most of us don't have enough of!

We tolerate sin in our lives and in the lives of others.

We ignore false teaching.

But this verse teaches hatred of every false way as a result of studying God's Word.

As I gain understanding through the Word of God, I will hate everything contrary to God.

We understand God's Word. We understand who God is.

We begin to comprehend His holiness. And we want to be more like Him.

We begin to understand His hatred for sin. And we want to be more like Him.

As we study God's Word, we will gain a clearer understanding of God's character, His holiness and His desire for our personal holiness.

Hate sin. Love God.

It's Not About the Rocks

On Saturday, I returned home from a week of ministry at First Baptist Church in Memphis, NY with the youth group from our church. We worked alongside a team of church builders and the Memphis church in various construction projects in their new church building.

The primary job was picking up rocks. Many man-hours were spent in removing rocks from the church yard so that it could be seeded. Almost every day included rock-picking. By the end of the week, we had a good system and were able to clear out, seed and spread straw over a large area in a shorter amount of time.

When we weren't able to work outside, team members were busy painting, running electrical wires, installing smoke detectors, hanging dropped ceilings, sweeping, mopping, putting together a chandelier and numerous other odd jobs.

But it wasn't about the rocks. Or the grass seed. Or the straw. Or even the church building.

It was about what God was teaching us through those activities.

Patience. Endurance. Joyfulness. Overcoming fears. Learning new skills.

That's a lesson that I need to remember as I go to work this morning.

It's not about the mattresses that I'll have to carry upstairs. It's not about the sofas that will have to be manipulated to fit through the doorways. It's not about the personnel conflicts. It's not about the paycheck.

It's about what God is trying to teach me through those events.

Patience. Endurance. Joyfulness. Giving God the glory. Thankfulness.

"Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him." (1 Cor 7:17).

It's not about the rocks.