How do you defeat a million temptations in your life? 2 Chronicles 11-16

2 Chronicles 14:9-12
Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah. So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” So the Lord routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

King Asa, the great-grandson of Solomon, is a picture for us of the Christian walk.   God had given him rest from his enemies and had given him the ability to build cities and restore order and strength to Judah.  This is similar to us in our Christian walk as God gives us blessings and we begin to build a life of honor to Him.  However, the world, the flesh and the Devil, all want to see us defeated.  the Ethiopians, like temptation to us, comes up against Asa and surround.  Notice it says Zerah the Ethiopian can "an army of a million men."   That is a lot of men.    This is not a good scene.  Think about being surrounded by a temptation you fall to constantly.   Your strength as compared to the desire of the flesh is like being surrounded by a million men.   Asa, however, gives us the perfect example of what you do.   You don't simply go arm yourself with weapons of the flesh.  He didn't immediately secure his bronze shields and muster his mighty men.   Asa first falls on his face and recognizes that his weapons, men and strength would not be enough to fight this battle.   Only in the power of Christ can we defeat sin in our lives.   God will work in us and use our skills to fight the war, but He is USING us, not US using our skills.   God will empower and use us to defeat Sin in our lives.  If we humble ourselves as above, He will fight the battle for us.   The first step in the victory of the "Multitudes" that come against us and want to defeat us (our many temptations) is to humbly admit you can't fight them yourself and submit to the power of Christ that works in us.

Do you keep your word? Do you need to? Numbers 29-32

Numbers 32:23
But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.

The above verse is taken from the story about two tribes of Isreael (Gad and Reuben) negotiating with Moses to take their possession on the east side of the Jordan River, alone, rather than the west side of the Jordan, with the other 10 tribes.   (1/2 the tribe of Manasseh will also join them).  Apparently they were sheep herders and the land on that side of the Jordan was favorable to them.  It should be noted that these men had never seen the "real" promised land.  Described earlier it was a land that flowed with milk and honey.   It had giant grapes and other assorted fruits.   But, they wanted what they could see.   The land right in front of them was "good enough" for them.   Moses, at first, opposed this idea because he thought, like before, they were simply afraid of the giants of the land protecting the giant fruit.   However, when the 2 1/2 tribes promised to fight for the other 9 1/2 tribes, Moses relented  ... except for the above statement.   In essence, Moses is warning them that their commitment to fight for their brothers was a vow.  In the proceeding chapters of this book the vow was a matter of oath.  You didn't make an oath and not keep it.   Moses wanted them to know that failing to fulfill their commitment would be a sin and sin is ALWAYS found out by God.   The principle here is so important for us.  We tend to think that we can hide sins ... we can make an oath and not fulfill it.   We can't.  God knows our words.  He keeps His and He expects us to Keep ours.   Our word is our bound and to fail to fulfill that bond is a sin and sin will always be noticed by God.   Keep your word.

What do you do in the beginning of temptation? Do you have Coach to help you through it? Hebrews 1-4

Hebrews 2:17-18
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Who would you rather talk to for assistance with a problem you are dealing with:  An academic philosopher who can tell you "whys" and "theories," or, someone who has experienced the same experiences and has achieved a victory through them?   That is the writers of Hebrews point in the above text.   He is writing to the readers of the book to assure that they worship Christ as the exclusive answer for their salvation and issues of life.  They were tempted to worship angels, other "gods" and other human philosophies.    What the writer of Hebrews is saying in the above text is that Jesus was sent, in the same likeness of men, so that He could not only represent us as a worthy sacrifice to God for sin, but also so He could KNOW the same temptations we are tempted with, yet without sin.     We don't have a temptation that we go through without His understanding of it, because He was "been-there-done-that".    When we are in the beginning of temptation that is the time to cry for Christ, as He has experienced, fully, that temptation.  In Luke 4 we see that He was tempted while in the desert after fasting for forty days.   Our power over sin is directly proportion over our allowing Christ to "Live In Us" and to empower us.   He knows how to fight sin as He fought it and defeated it.  This is not some theory or philosophical debate.   This is not someone who loses and still wants to talk to us about to win.  This is about Christ, the Son of God, who overcame sin and death to give us the victory.  We are to come to Him to find mercy and help in the time of need.

 Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 10:21-22
... and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

What does your church look like? What should it look like? Acts 1-2

Acts 2:44
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;

We seldom think about or reflect or have an understanding of what the early church looked like.   We have, in our minds eye, our modern day church and we tend to project onto our image of the first church our current churches trappings and methods.   It should be noted int he passage above, and those that surround it, that the early church was instant and those in the "church" were immediately under pressure from the world to not come to Christ.  There was no building, no structure, no requirements, other than believing in Christ and demonstrating that belief by being baptized in front of everyone.   Property no longer mattered to these believers.   They did not "own" anything and, rather, they simply brought what they had (many lost everything by coming to Christ) to the body and the body shared, openingly.  Today, in our church experience, people tend to come to get.  They "join" a church because "they" like the worship, the preaching or the ministries.  Like a commercial retail store, they enter to see what is there and how they feel about it.   In the first church they joined to commit to Christ and to support the body for the purpose of giving their lives, their property, themselves to others.  In today's church we hire most of that done.   We have an elite group of commandos who do the work.  We have a pre-requisite for those are served.   We have an application process for those we can serve and are served.   It is not wrong to structure and modernize the church.   However, we may want to rethink and evaluate to make sure we haven't lost the meaning of the Body of Christ.  If my hands have to apply to serve my body, the body suffers.   If the body or any part of it acts selfish and out of line for the purpose of the body, the whole body suffers.   Qualify others and make sure we are serving real members of the body all you want.   But, in the process don't forget that Christ died for those minor parts of the body and expects them to grow and be used, as well.  

Do you follow the "flair" of the speaker, or the "content" of the speaker? Obadiah

Obadiah

As we read this one chapter book, we must submit ourselves to the teaching of someone we know nothing about.  All we know about Obadiah is contained in these twenty-one verses.   We don't know if he was a shepherd (like Amos); a priest (like Habakuk), or a son of royalty (like Zephaniah).  He was a prophet, like the others, because God declared him a prophet.   He is contained in the Bible as one of the Minor Prophets, even though we have to resume, reputation or rational for his being selected by God to be His spokes person.  Typically in the first few verses God delivers for us the story behind the author of the book.   Instead, for Obadiah, here is what we get:

 Obadiah 1:1
​ The vision of Obadiah.
Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom—
We have heard a report from the Lord,
And an envoy has been sent among the nations saying,
“Arise and let us go against her for battle”—

What does this teach us?  In a time when our society is so captivated by "men" and their flare and fame, God was in the business, at least with Obadiah, to diminish the man and to exalt the message.   Unlike the world today, God was not concerned with WHO delivered the message but by WHAT the message was.    Edom (another name for Esau, Jacob's older brother) was about to be brought to task for his ill treatment of Jacob (Israel) throughout the ages.   That is the message that God is delivering (God is knowledgable and concerned about how we treat our brothers ... His children).   God is more concerned with us understanding the content and less concerned that we are impressed with the spokesmen.  That is not the world we live in today.  In today's modern church movement the Person is followed more than the content of the Preaching.   We are impressed with flair, appeal and presence and less concerned bout truth.   We are excited about delivery and ignorant about doctrine.   Obadiah was just a guy God used to carry the message.   He didn't that much of himself to include his bio in the beginning chapters.   He is just a guy who is obedient to his God.   His humility is a reflection of Christ.  Isaiah tells us that when Christ was to come he would not have a manner that would be electric ... no one would desire Him.   It is interesting who today's modern "Messengers" for God try to dress pedestrian (to feign commonness), only to create a look that is acute and notable for modern preachers to establish their "image."   Obadiah should be our hero.  Speak the Word and keep self out of it.  

What happens when you get accused of a false crime? Proverbs 26-27

Proverbs 26:2
Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight.

Everyone, at one time or another, has been accused of something. We tend to react differently to those accusations. Most defend or attack, others go into a shell and still others self-destruct. In this proverb we are given some vital truth that we would do good to hold onto in the shadow of an accusations. Just like a "sparro" flits from place to place, or a "swallow" flys eractically, so too a curse "without cause" does not land and stick. What Solomon is telling us is that a false accusations leaves no mark on us. I live on a boat and have little birds every morning land on the rails of the boat. They don't stay long. They end up leaving droppings and then fly away. So, too, a false acquisation. They leave a mess but there is no real damage and a powerful hose eventually cleans thins up. Many people will accuse us of many things. But, under God's watch and God's care, their accusations are just flittering birds and dartying sparrows. Don't get too caught up in their droppings. Once they are gone, take a shower and move on.

When you are in a depressed mode who do you turn to for help? Psalm 114-116

Psalms 116:7-9

Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 

For You have rescued my soul from death,

My eyes from tears,

My feet from stumbling. 

I shall walk before the Lord

In the land of the living.

What do you do when your heart is stirred within you due to sin you have committed or due to sins others are committing toward you?   What do you do when you know you have failed God?  What do you do when you feel the burdens of others who are against you in some way or another?   The above verses answer that question and are full of insights for us on how to recover from something bad in our lives.  We don't know what the writer of this Psalm is actually experiencing in his life.  But, we do know he feels as though he is to the point of death:

Psalms 116:3

The cords of death encompassed me

And the terrors of Sheol came upon me;

I found distress and sorrow.

We do know that in his haste he has either righty said the following, or improperly applied the truth stated in a poor manner:

Psalms 116:11

I said in my alarm,

“All men are liars.”

This is a man under some pressure and the solution was not to seek psychology (a soft science that can only point out the obvious and the problem but deliver no spiritual solution).  The answer was for him to turn to God in praise for what God has done for him.   He uses the power of thanksgiving to praise God and to ware off sin, depression and bad circumstances.   When we sin we are so focused on us.   But, real recover comes from putting our focus on Him.   He has rescued our soul from death ... that is something to praise Him for.   He keeps us from tears ... He keeps us from further stumbling ... He allows us to walk in a place we don't deserve.   God is the God of rescue and restoration.    Rejoice in that today ... everyday!!!

Does God use you as His personal speaker of His Wisdom? 2 Chronicles 6-10

2 Chronicles 9:22-23

So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.

Would it be wrong to desire the same thing we read in the above verse for yourself.  Years ago I started a speaking-coaching leadership business and this verse (along with 2 Chronicles 9:1) was to be the theme and mission statement of the business.   That was twenty years ago.    I desired then, and now, to have God give me wisdom I could share with the "kings of the earth" - because they came asking.   I have never advertised because I thought that is self promotion.  I have allowed God to bring to me who He wanted me to share His wisdom with and for what reason to share it.   Solomon sought God's Wisdom and God supplied it ... richly.   We, too, can seek God's Wisdom and He WILL supply it.   God will also bring the kings of the earth to us - or the peasants of the earth - to hear HIS wisdom.  Solomon was just the speaker system.   God doesn't need people like Solomon or me to convey His wisdom.   He has done that in creation (see Proverbs 8).   Yet, God chooses to use Solomon, here, to demonstrate His majesty.   When Solomon forsook that theme in his life he became just another man filled with pride and with arrogance.     God desires to use us if we will give Him the glory and give Him the credit.   

Did you know God limits even His biggest names in their service? Numbers 25-28

Numbers 27:12-14

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel. When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was; for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

God withholds leadership positions and blessings based upon sin in our lives.  This is a very important truth for all of us to know, learn, memorize and commit too in our lives.   David experienced it by not being allowed to build God a Temple.   In the above passage, Moses, is experiencing it when it comes to leading the people into the promise land.  There may not be a larger picture of leadership in the Bible than David and Moses.   Yet, both, because of sin, were not allowed to do something great and glorious for God.  Their desires were holy.  Their dreams were glorifying.    Yet, their lives had a level of sin that God limited what they could do for Him based upon that disobedience.   It should be noted that their disobedience was not necessarily a pattern of sin in their lives, but rather instances where they simply failed God in that moment.   David's sin is a little easier to understand as a limit to why God was restrictive to his leadership.  He not only committed adultery he had Uriah, the husband and valiant warrior, in essence, murdered.  Moses, on the others hand, as stated above, simply hit the rock to get water to come out, instead of speaking to it as instructed by God.  Previously he was told to hit the rock.  The second time he was told to speak to the rock.  But, his anger controlled him and that caused the sin.  David's lust and shame controlled him and that caused him to sin.   It matters not what the sin is and it matters not who the person is.  God is no respecter of persons.   Both men sinned and were limited in their ability to serve God.   This is a lesson I simply struggle with.  I am not in the "church" ministry because of such things in my life.  I accept that and need to further grasps it and not fight it.  I, too, must, like Moses, go up to the mountain and see the beauty of what God will allow others to do and be reminded that past sins matter to God.   

Do you know what real Biblical forgiveness looks like? Philemon

Philemon 1:21

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

Imgagine the scene that is taking place in this letter's composition, delivery and subsequent affect.  Onesimus was a run-a-way slave, who was imprisoned with Paul.  If you are imprisoned with Paul you WILL hear the gospel.  Onesimus did hear it and received it and because a believer and, therefore, a son in the faith to Paul.   The issue here is that Onesimus had run-a-way from Philemon and, apparently, stolen something during his exodus.   Paul is sending Onesimus back to Philemon and Paul is asking Philemon to not only forgive Onesimus, but to also put anything Onesimus owes him onto Paul's account.   PLUS, according to the above verse, Paul is implying that he expects Paul to do MORE than just forgive and transfer the financial debt to Paul.  Imagine!!   Philemon would have received this letter at the hands of Onesimus, himself.   In that moment he would have had all three of these items thrown at him.   He would have had to deal with this with his emotions being what they would be for anyone in those situations.  His forgiveness of Onesimus, in Paul's eyes, isn't even a consideration.  Paul is not worried about that; he knows Philemon's character.   Paul is worried about the "extra" stuff that Philemon might forget.  Imagine if someone had wronged us and stolen from us.  Imagine that man walks up to our home with only a letter in his hand.  We all probably would have been dialing 911 to report the thief they were looking for was standing right in front us.   We would have dialed that BEFORE we would have read any letter he was bearing.   This forgiveness that God requires of us, that is demonstrated in this story, is simply amazing.   God, knowing full well, our emotions and flesh, still requires that because of our faith in Christ to forgive as we have been forgiven.   Despite the emotion and fleshly responses, God expects us to treat other believers (even new believers) with the same forgiveness and restoration we have in Christ.   Philemon would have wanted to carry a grudge.   Philemon would have wanted to respond to his emotions.   Philemon would have wanted to make Onesimus pay for this wrong.   But, he can't ... Christ already paid for the wrong.   When we are wrong we want justice for the wrong done.   Philemon would be RIGHT to want that justice.  Paul tells him he is right to want Onesimus to pay for the crime he committed.  That is why Paul says, lay Onesimus' wrong "onto my" account.    It is not that Onesimus is simply forgiven.   It is that Onesimus CAN be forgiven because his crime HAS been paid for.   Therefore Philemon is now free to do even more than forgive.  The restoration process is going to start now.    The forgiveness process was already dealt with.   Philemon has to allow his emotions to follow his beliefs.   Paul confidence that Philemon would not only forgive this slave but do more and restore him.   Instead of calling 911 Philemon would reach of his credit card and take Onesimus to the nearby department store to clothe him.  That is Biblical forgiveness and restoration.  

Do you go fishing instead of waiting and worshiping? John 19-21

John 20:30 - 21:3

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee

​ After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

When we read passages like this we have to stop back and wonder, "Why would Peter and the others be so dense and not recognize what we all see ... the glory of Christ in the resurrection?"   What would drive them, after seeing so many signs and wonders, to go FISHING, instead of worshiping and being excited for God's plan?    We can ask that, but we should also ask, "What would I do if I was there?"   We would like to think that we would be different.  We would like to think that we would wait at the feet of Jesus; or, that we would sit and worship, humbly, until He comes/returns.    We think that the Israelites, after seeing all the miracles in Egypt and in the desert, were so foolish when they questioned God and rejected God's plan.   Yet, what do we do each day?  Do we humbly worship Him every moment, now?  Do we wait for Him and look for Him, now?  Do we ever complain about His plan, now?   Do we ever think he left us in the desert and refuses to give us meat, water and peace, now?   We might think that we are super, special, spiritual people, but we aren't.  We are not much like the Israelites of old or Peter.  We are give in to our flesh and go Fishing.  Our fishing might not be with nets in a boat, but we all go fishing for something, instead of worshipping and waiting for Christ.  Even though we all have the privilege to see the same miracles through His Word, we all find a way to given in to the flesh and go fishing.    Peter went fishing.  What do I do? 

What is your calling in the big plan of God and how do you measure your success? Amos 5-9

Amos 7:14-15

Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’

We are so results oriented in our society.  If we don't win we are losers.   If we don't have a large bank account we are not successful.  If we don't have a popular FaceBook following or Twitter account we are not relevant.   To be "mighty" in this world we have to have had to conquer something or someone.    Amos is a great example of the guy who doesn't have a long resume and who doesn't have all the qualifications of a man who would be hired by most Fortune 500 business, or many church brands in our society.   Amos was just a guy.  He was a sheep herder.   He simply was tending his sheep one day and God said, "Amos, go preach to the king."   He was a maverick.   Yet, God told him to preach and he would have no converts.   The same is true of Obadiah.  The same is true of Micah.   The same is true of almost all the minor prophets.  They had no real converts.  The nation of Israel rejected them, just like they would reject the Savior Amos prophesied about years before.   Our society wants results.  The big church is a picture of God's amazing grace and blessing.  The small church is a struggle to pay the pastor and a failing work that people wonder about.   Amos is a traveling sole who is on a mission for God and only God and he know about the mission.  He had no support.  He had no visible results.   Yet, his measurement was not the count but the act of preaching.   He would not be promoted in any big box church today.   The reason?  He is too small and too unsuccessful.   Yet, in God's eyes he was faithful and he was true to HIS calling.   Peter, hundreds of years later, would preach his first message and 5,000 souls would come to Christ.   Paul would strike out across Europe and hundreds of churches would be planted.  Amos would preach message after message and not one soul is known to turn to God in repentance and praise of Amos' ministry.  He was just a shepherd and he was sent to do his job in the small part of God's plan.   And, yet, God allowed me to read about his message this morning.    A simple man who is faithful to an amazing God will be mighty in the midst of his mission ... no matter what it is.  

Do your leaders tell you what to do, or do they search for the truth on what to do? Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:2

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; To search out a matter is the glory of kings. 

This proverb gives us insight on how important it is for someone in charge (a leader; parent; teacher) to search out what is going on before making decisions. Leadership has, as one of its goals, the need to solve problems. The person who knows the problem exists isn’t necessarily a leader. The person who knows it exists, knows the solution and knows the resources needed to make the solution happen is the better leader. This proverb gives us insight into that process. It is a contrasting proverb: Meaning the second line contrasts the first. God can “hide” things and doesn't need the counsel of others, because He is God. But, it is the humble leader that will go to others to get wisdom and counsel over problems. Poor leaders think they know it all and therefore don’t have to “seek” out more truth. Only God has that privilege. Good parents, business leaders and community leaders seek out truth through others.

Did you know that keeping God's Word brings us blessing? Psalm 111-113

Psalms 112:1

​ Praise the Lord!

How blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

Who greatly delights in His commandments.

Trusting God, based solely on His Word should be the easiest thing a believer does.   God is a perfect God and holy and just in all He does.  He never lies and ALWAYS fulfills His Word.   Therefore, to trust His Word in the midst of darkness and despair should not be a difficult thing to accomplish.   But, it is!!   We question whether He will come through.  Our flesh doubts His veracity.  Our flesh wants what it wants and the principles and details of God's Word sometimes gets in the way.   But, in the above passage we read the great thing that will happen when we totally trust in God's Word ... We are blessed and our children after us.   When we fear The Lord and delight ourselves in His commandments, we are blessed by God.  That is a God's promise to us.  That blessing doesn't mean that God will keep all harm away, prevent persecution, or cause us to be "happy" all the days of our lives.   Daniel, Jeremiah, and Paul would all point to the many tough times in their lives to show us otherwise.  God's Word also tells us that we will have tribulation, persecution and trails.   All of these are planned by God and He guides us through them.   He sustains us in the them.   He sets the limits for them.   We can rejoice in God's Word that it is always okay.   Let's remember His blessing as a result of trusting His perfect fulfillment of all His Word.   "How blessed ..." is the mantra we are given to believe and hold on to for  hope. 

Is your "worship" service so regimented God can't break through and join? 2 Chronicles 1-5

2 Chronicles 5:14

... so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

Imagine being in a worship setting that is so close to glorifying God and having His presence that that presence prevents the worship leaders from furthering leading the worship.   That is the scene we have in the above passage after Solomon dedicates the new Temple he built for God.   David, his father, had wanted to build the Temple.  But, God told him, no.    He was disqualified based upon his life prior to that desire (things we do in our lives can limit our chances for missions for God later in life).   But, David did not go into a shell, he gather all the material, plans and bodies that his son Solomon would need to do the work.  And, Solomon did not disappoint his dad, or his God.   Solomon builds the Temple after years of preparation. Imagine all the anticipation for the even spoken of in the above text.    These peoples, priests and leaders had waited and worked for years to see this day.    In the same manner they prepared and executed the construction of the Temple, they prepared and executed the worship of God about the Temple.    This was not a last minute, "Hey, let's toss a worship service together," moment.   This worship service had sacrifices, priests, worshippers, singers, a full band, and much more.    The theme was, "God is good and holy and loving for eternity."    The results of the pure worship and praise for God was His presence, in the form of a cloud, filling the new Temple.    He filled the Temple so much that the priests could no longer finish their tasks of leading worship.    You know worship is really honoring to God when He honors you with His presence in such a way you can no longer worship.   That should be our measurement: God's presence moving in us and around us in such a way it prevents us from finishing our "play set."    Imagine the members of the band had practiced for months to just play that one song and God, so present, interrupts the "set lists" so that they can't go on.   Do we so have to have our "sets" and "stage choreographic plans" conducted that we miss the point of worship:  The invoking of God's presence in our midst?    Let's not get so uniform in our worship and so tasks oriented that we miss out on the scene in the above text.  That is true worship: God's presence.  

Do you compromise with sin? What happens? Numbers 21-24

Numbers 23:1

​ Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”

Balaam was a prophet of God who lived in the land that Israel was traveling through during the time of the Exodus of Israel.   Balak was a king of the Moabites at the time.  Balak feared Israel because they were so vast in number.  He assumed they would consume his country and people, and, more importantly, his power.    Yet, he knew he did not have the army big enough to defeat Israel.   Knowing of the prophet Balaam he as asked Balaam to come to him and curse the nation of Israel.   After Balaam is told by God to NOT go with him, Balaam continues to ask for permission and eventually goes to Balak.   In this going, despite God telling him no, Balaam tells Balak to set up a worship center experience.   Seven alters on which to offer seven bulls are to be constructed.    Balaam knew he was not supposed to be working for Balak, but he still went.   While their, Balaam made it look like it was a spiritual place with not one place of worship, but seven.  We like to camouflage our disobedience and make it look like spiritual worship, when in reality it is just feeding our own unrighteousness.  Notice what Peter says about Ballam in  2 Peter 2:15-16

... forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.

When pursuing God's will we ought to be careful that we spiritualize something to clean up so that WE feel comfortable in the setting or with the decision, rather than follow God's will to begin with.  When God is in it we don't have to clean it up.   Balak entices Balaam to curse Israel three times.  In this first attempt Balak actually took him to the site of one of Balak's worship centers ... where they offered sacrifice to the Baals (false gods of the Moabites).   Balaam had lost his sensitivity to God the farther he got into this issue with Balak.   He was desensitized each step along the way.   God initially said no.   But, sin is like that.   We compromise a little and then, before we know it, we are consumed.   

Do you know what you are aiming for as you grow older? Titus

Titus 2:2

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

Paul is instructing Titus, a young pastor, how to established order in the church and chruches.  Paul sent Titus to establish elders in each of the churches in his area (Titus 1:5).   In that instruction, as Paul reaches the end of the book, he provides Titus with some insight as to how various categories of believers ought to act in this world.   Along with older women and slaves, the above passage is directed to Titus concerning older men (that's me!!).   This is a very enlightened list for those of older nature.    By "older" we assume Paul is referring to "chronological" age, rather than "spiritual" age.    That may be a mistake to assume such.   I believe Paul is talking chronologically (which is why he tells Titus and Timothy to let no one to despise their youth ... 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:15).   Yet, we must remember that in the time of the early church there would be less men in a new church (remember, Titus is still establishing these churches ... hence, they are probably "new" churches filled with "new" converts).  It is highly likely that Titus has more spiritual depth and is chronologically young, while spiritually the elder.    Titus is being told to establish "elders."   These are not older men, but men with spiritual depth.   Whatever the case, the instruction is plain.   Those older in the faith .... who might be older chronologically ... are to be self-controlled in their conduct (temperate); august and venerable in their outward life (dignified); self-controlled in their minds (sensible); grounded and strong in faith (sound) and not easily ready to quit and give in to the pressures of the Christian life (perseverance).   This should be the aim of all younger men (either by chronological age or spiritual age).  We ought to know the mark we are to hit as we grow older.   Our "retirement" goals are not financial; they are not in the realm of stability; they are not for the purpose of personal security.   Our retirement goals are listed out plain and simple above:  Be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love and in perseverance.   Simple!!

Why do you "feel bad" about sin? John 16-18

John 16:8
And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

Jesus is about to depart via the cross and the resurrection.  In these final moments with His disciples He is alerting them to what is to come.   The main emphasis in these chapters will be the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believing AND the unbelieving world.  In the above passage we see Jesus outlining the Spirit's ministry in the lives of the world, specifically.   He tells us that the Spirit will have a ministry of "convicting" the world of their sin; of judgment to come; and of the righteousness necessary to be in the presence and favor of God.   In this world there is no one who is convicted of their sin, absent the Spirit's ministry.   If a man is truly convicted of sin it must be the act of the Spirit.   However, natural man can have, by nature, a conscious attitude toward sin.  This is general grace however, and not the grace that comes from the conviction of his sin by the Spirit of God.  Other men can "convict" other men of sin.  In fact, Pastor's are told to "reprove" people in their preaching (1 Timothy 5:20; 2 Timothy 4:2).   We are all supposed to "expose" the hidden  (Ephesians 5:20).   But, it is only the Spirit who can convict others to bring them to repentance.   Pastors and believers might be the instruments the Spirit uses.  The Spirit might us the conscious mind to cause a person to see their behavior or thoughts as sin.   But, it is only the ministry of the Spirit that makes that happen.   Only the Spirit can convict and bring a person to the point of repentance; necessary for change to take place.  The Spirit is the Person who causes us to view sin the way we should.   The Spirit causes us to bring to mind the judgment to come.   The Spirit is the one who lays out both the need and the way of righteousness.   If we have a "hunger for righteousness" it is the Spirit who put that into our hearts.  Only the Spirit can bring about an attitude toward sin that produces repentance that will then allow us to avoid judgment and attain righteousness through Christ.    Man can't do that for other men.   Psychology can only point out the flaws of man (expose the problems).  It can't, as a method, theory or system, produce a change in man to help the avoid judgment and be declared righteous in Christ.  That is an exclusive act and ministry of the Spirit.   

Do you return to God when He prods you?

Amos 4:9-10

“I smote you with scorching wind and mildew;

And the caterpillar was devouring

Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees;

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord. 

“I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt;

I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses,

And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils;

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord.

It is amazing how long and how much people will put up with rather than repent and turn to God.   Why is that?  In the above passage God tells the nation of Israel that He smote them with wind and mildew; He had the caterpillar eat their crops; sent a plague or plagues on them the same way He did when He delivered them from Egypt, but on them this time; and, He made this all cause such a stench that they couldn't escape the smell in their nose.  YET, they did not return to the God who would most certainly bless them. The plagues God sent were Egyptian in proportion and the result was the same as it was with Pharaoh ... they, too, hardened their hearts and refused to turn to God. They could not see God's grace in these acts. They would not admit their sin.  God disciplines us to restore us to Him into a warm relationship.  We reject it out of pride.  When trouble comes stop to realize God is acting in your life and that is grace. 

Are you cautious when you gather with leaders? Proverbs 23-24

Proverbs 23:1-5

​ When you sit down to dine with a ruler,

Consider carefully what is before you, 

And put a knife to your throat

If you are a man of great appetite. 

Do not desire his delicacies,

For it is deceptive food.

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth,

Cease from your consideration of it. 

When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.

For wealth certainly makes itself wings

Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

We like to be around wealthy and powerful people.  We like to seat around their table and partake of there food, entertainment, fellowship and, we think, friendship.   Solomon knows our hearts, however.  He knows that when we sit with them it is not for the purpose of giving.  It is for the purpose of receiving.  We don't wish to add to their wealth with our visit, but rather add to ours.    The verse five verses of this chapter should be read in unison and hinged together.   You could consider them separately, but in reality Solomon is telling us that our hearts are bing lead astray if we sit with rulers and have an eye for wealth either with them or through their provisions.   Our desire for food and wealth (used here as metaphors for folly) shows the deception of our hearts, the rulers real purpose for allowing you to sit at his table and the deceptive nature of food and wealth.   We only want something from rulers; rulers really only want something from us; and, food and wealth are deceptive by offering satisfaction only to be later useless and temporary.   When we engage with people of means we need to guarded that our members (lust for things) are used as instruments of unrighteousness (Romans 6-7).  Only Christ can guard us against these desires and ultimately satisfy us.   

Do you recognize your sin in your glorifying of God? Psalm 108-110

Psalms 108:5-6

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,

And Your glory above all the earth. 

That Your beloved may be delivered,

Save with Your right hand, and answer me!

David is praying to God and in this passage he recognizes the glory due God.   He also realizes his own inability to glorify God.  He, himself, needs deliverance.   God deserves to be exalted but, David, like us all, needs deliverance from sin.  That sin restricts our ability to truly glorify God.   David asks God to glorify Himself in David because David doesn't have the capacity to glorify God properly in himself.    This is the formula for glorifying God.   David needs God to "answer" him and "deliver" him.   We can't properly recognize God's glory without first recognizing our need for deliverance.   We are lost and dead in sin.   God is glorified when He saves us.   We glorify Him when we cry out, as David did, here, for deliverance.   If we wish God to be exalted and glorified, we must first recognize our own failings and sinful conditioning.   

Do you give credit and praise to God for His blessing of you? 1 Chronicles 25-29

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.

David had desired to build the temple.    God said no!!   David didn't stop with the "no" and instead put together the plans, the material and the people to make it happen.  He realized that God still wanted him to be faithful.   But, all this was not because David was so great and wonderful ... although God tells us that his heart pursued God.    David recognized that any accomplishment he had accomplished was because of what he spoke in the above prayer.   God is to be blessed forever for every thing that we have for us or given to Him.   "Everything" in heaven and earth is His.    We don't give our tithes to Him because "we" are so gracious.  We give our tithes to Him because that 10% and the other 90% are all HIS.    Whatever we give Him or give to others for Him is because He has made our hearts gracious and has blessed us with something to give.    Let's not be so high and mighty about what we do for Him.   Let's, instead, be humble in spirit and recognize that our goodness is because He is good to us and has shed grace in our hearts.   Honor, riches, might, blessing and all benefits come from God.     

Could you live without any possessions? Numbers 17-20

Numbers 18:20

Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.

Aaron, and hall the sons of Levi, were to be cared for by the sacrifices of the Tabernacle.   Each sacrifice and offering would be given to God as a holy offering and then it would be used to care for the physical needs of the priesthood.   Aaron and his sons and their son's sons would, forever, be cared for in this manner.  As a result, when they did reach the promise land they were not to have any plot of land.  They were not to have possessions as the other members of the nation.   God was to be their portion.  This picture of having God being the portion of the Levites is a good picture for those who are believers today.   We ought not to get attached to the world and to the possessions of this life.    God is our portion.  The things of this world are just temporary enticements that consume us and distract us from the One who is our portion:  Jesus Christ.   Aaron was the example for all believers to follow.  Service to the King is the highest calling and the "dirt" of this world is not to be possessed.   

Do you plan to fight until the end of your life? 2 Timothy 3-4

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Paul is coming to the end of his life.  I write this in Chicago, on vacation to celebrate my 60th birthday .. two days hence.   I can relate to Paul's words, "I have finished the course."   As  you reach the end of your days (Psalm 90:3-5 tells us that we have 70 or 80 years),  you begin to contemplate your walk before God.   At least that is what the believer does, or should do.   The man of the world approaches his life and simply looks at what he accomplished, stored up, or achieved.  He fails to remember that our lives are mere vapor (James 1).   He fails to recall he is but dust (Psalm 90:3).   He simply works so much and gets so busy that he doesn't have to think about the concept of death and accountability to God.  But, the believer should have the same attitude as Paul.   Can we say with Paul, I have finished the course?   Can we say that we "kept the faith?"   Can we say with Paul that we have looked for and desired His appearing?    Yes, there is a crown laid up for those who believe and live in that minor.    Have we fought a good fight?  Or, have we just fought?   For the believer that is a course to finish and a faith to keep.  Each generation of believer has a responsibility to carry the Gospel fourth.  It is my hope for the final years of my life I can keep the faith even in a slight measure of Paul's example.   

Do you know Christ's Leadership sytle? John 13-15

John 13:12-14

So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

This is a tough passage for the world to grasp.  No one in this world's business schools, athletic worlds, Hollywood scene, or political structure would preach or practice this creed.   In the laying aside His garments our Savior exposed Himself.  Clothing was first made to hide something (see Genesis 3).   To lay aside these outer garments the Son was being fully transparent to those around Him.    No one in this world recommends that we are fully transparent.    By washing their feet, Jesus was willing to lower Himself and kneel before them.  Our world has the idea that we are climbing the ladder so that people will honor (kneeling is a way to honor people) before us.   Washing the feet would be a dirty job.  An undignified job.   The world's leaders are not in the mode or context of washing the feet of their "subjects."   The boss does not come out to the shop and care for the physical or emotional needs of his/her employees.  The president of the board seldom will even notice a receptionist.    The Hollywood star speaks ill of the paparazzi but would die if they were their to capture every insignificant moment of their life.   Jesus came to earth, left His heavenly throne and set a completely different standard of leadership.  Today's church would be well advised to follow this script rather than the worlds.   Today's families would be will advised to follow this approach rather than the worlds.    Being a transparent leader changes the way we do our life.   

Are nations significant to God? Joel

Joel 3:4

Moreover, what are you to Me, O Tyre, Sidon and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you do recompense Me, swiftly and speedily I will return your recompense on your head.

In the above passage we see the indictment of God on the surrounding nations.  In Israel's troubles they have forsaken their God and followed hard after the gods of their neighboring nations.   They allowed themselves to be conformed to the image of the world.   This is why the entire book of Joel was written.  God was reminding the nation that the reason they are in the condition they are in (persecuted by they surrounding nations in the midst of famine and brokenness).    While describing Israel's punishment (and future restoration) God brings to judgement the surrounding nations, who had grown strong at the expense of Israel's disobedience.    Tyre, Sidon and Philistia ... who are they to God?   This passage is a good picture for us to remember that even the most powerful nations are nothing to God.    We tend to be in awe at the sound of Russia, North Korea, and other rogue nations.  Yet, who are these nations to God.  We tend to think that others should shutter at the sound of U.S.A.   But, who is the U.S.A. to God.    God is the God of sovereign rule.   No nation surprises Him or surpasses Him.   If, according to this passage, these nations were to honor Him, He "might" honor them.   If He does, it is totally by His grace.   God is the God who is in control of every nation. He uses them to accomplish His tasks.  In this case He used Tyre, Sidon and regions of Philistia to punish Israel.    But, once He uses them they are no longer of use ... unless they are willing to give Him honor and praise and adoration.   

Do leaders seek you out? Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22:29

Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will stand before kings;

He will not stand before obscure men.

God rewards people who know how to do their jobs.   Solomon tells us that a person highly skilled in his/her occupation will have a prestigious position before those in authority.   Skill will always be rewarded by God.   Those in authority are trained to recognize skill around them.  The best rulers should surround themselves with skilled people.  Obscured people (those of low degree) won't recognize skilled people.  They see all people the same.   Those of low degree don't recognize skilled people when they see them.   If we have skill we will be sought out.   The gifts God gives to us, when developed, trained and perfected will and can be rewarded.   That reward comes, sometimes, through the recognition of and by men.   God uses men to reward us.  So, when we develop our skill sets and allow God to work through us to mature those skill sets, God will reward us by placing us in positions recognized by the world.  Skill gets recognition.

Would you ever worship gold? Psalm 105-107

Psalms 106:20

Thus they exchanged their glory

For the image of an ox that eats grass.

In the midst of God's amazing deliverance from Egypt and His powerful hand to provide, the nation of Israel rejected God and made a molten image of a calf to worship.  Aaron would later tell Moses (who was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments at the time) that the people simply tossed their gold earrings into the fire and a golden calf came out.   They reduced the thing they worship to trinkets and bling.    The odd aspect of this, is that since man was made in the image of God their making of a molten calf was, in actuality, a condemnation of them, as well as God.   That is why they passage states that they exchanged "their" glory.  They exchanged God's Glory for a golden calf, but in this passage God is mocking them because they also exchanged their glory since they were made in the image and glory of God.   We laugh at them that they would bow down to an image of a calf and worship it as though it were important to them.   Yet, we worship chrome, fiberglass, pretty paint, brick and mortar, and on and on it goes.   It is so, so easy to worship the created thing rather than the creator.   We love to worship what we can see.  And, like the women at the well in John 4 we forget that those who worship must worship in Spirit and Truth.  It is not where we worship but what our heart is like when we worship.   We all tend to "exchange" the glory of God for useless and temporary objects.   What do we worship?  The creation or the Creator? 

Are you preparing to work for the rest of your life? 1 Chronicles 21-24

1 Chronicles 22:5

David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all lands. Therefore now I will make preparation for it.” So David made ample preparations before his death.

David had a desire in his heart to build a temple for God.   God had told him that he would NOT be allowed to build the temple because of his past life style and sins against God.  That is God's prerogative ... to tell us what we can do and what we can't do.  Yet, in the midst of this answer of "no" David did see that he still had a responsibility to serve God and to glorify and honor Him in his life.   To that end, since he was not allowed to build the temple (being told by God his son would be allowed to do so), David began to make preparation for the build.    David was done working and could have just taken a trip to a warmer climate and played golf.   He could have accumulated material for his safety and future security.   But, instead, David began to stock pile resources.   David was not stock piling riches for himself in his future retirement.  David was serving God to the end.  In our old age it is so, so easy to relax and not want to serve anymore.  The younger generation is so eager to take over.  They think most of the older generation messed up things pretty poorly and can't want to make the changes.  The senior generation is far to often eager to allow them to do so.   Yet, think of Caleb, the oldest among the nation of Israel when they finally reached the promise land.   He simply wanted more territory to claim and the toughest territory, at that (see Joshua 14 and 15).   If we live for ourselves and in our strength we can easily fall into the western society mindset of retirement and accumulation of wealth.  If, however, like David and Caleb, we trust God with all our heart, soul and might, we can still make an impact in our later lives.    As long as we can breath we can be preparing for God and for His work and His glory.     

I write this one week before my sixtieth birthday and publish on my birthday.   May I honor God for the final years of my life in this way.  

Did you know to enjoy the big grapes you have to conquer big giants? Numbers 13-17

Numbers 13:30-31

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.”

In the above passage we have the two different reports that the spies gave out after visiting the land.   Two spies (Caleb and Joshua) saw nothing but big grapes and big possibilities.   The other ten spies say nothing but big giants and big failures.    Two were looking at the problem through the eyes of God and ten were looking at the problem through the eyes of men.   Two through they eyes of faith; ten through the eyes of the flesh.  We ought to learn this lesson fast and quick in our walk with God, but we don't.   We tend to all look at problems through the eyes of the flesh.  We forget that if you have big grapes you will produce big giants.   With great blessings comes a great struggle.    Peter walked on water ... but, don't forget there was a giant storm that night.   David slew Goliath ... but, don't forget he was a giant and no one was willing to face him except a little lad who had faith.   Great blessings come from a life of deep faith.  We ought not to see the struggles but rather the strength we have in Christ.    Don't diminish the blessings we can have because the burden seems too large to carry.    Believing in God's Word and that He will fulfill His promises allows us to see great things and to eat the big grapes of life.