Social Buffering Does Not Equal Christianity - 1 Corinthians 1-2

 1 Corinthians 1:10-16 (ESV)

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)

Social Buffering Does Not Equal Christianity 

Social buffering is a thing.   Groups of people meet based upon their familiarity, beliefs, social demographics, interests, etc.   Animals social buffer.  Elephants hand with elephants.  Hippos hand with hippos.   Lions and gazelles do not hang out together and have lunch together (well, one gazelle might be able to join the lions for lunch).  Social buffering is the philosophy of FaceBook.   People, that basically agree with each other, hang out in FaceBook groups,  In the above passage we see that social buffering has been around a long time.  The early church at Corinth was practicing social buffering.   Chloe’s people were hanging with Chloe people.   Paul’s people were hanging with Paul people.   Apollos’ people were hanging with Apollos people. And, Cephas’ people where having with Cephas people.  There was even a group that were Christ’s people.   Paul asks emphatically, “Is Christ divided?”   He deflects any praise or following of him.    He even makes sure they all know that he did not promote any following.   He diminishes his own impact on their church (which I is quite something since he established the church on his first missionary journey).   Paul knows the power of unity in Christ.  That is the point he is trying to make.   He wants no social buffering. That is the world’s thing. That is a political thing.  That is a dangerous thing.   Paul wants unity in the Body of Christ.   He calls upon this church (and our churches today) to not hinder the gospel.   We promote the gospel when we reach across social barriers, social descriptions and/or social identifiers.   Paul said it this way to the Galatians:

Colossians 3:11 (ESV)

11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

We are all and in all!  No social buffering in the Body of Christ!!

Well Done!! Matthew 23-25

Matthew 24:45-51 (ESV)

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Well Done!!

Praise is a powerful motivational tool.   When we praise others we show them value and empower them to continue in the direction they are going.   In chapter 24, Matthew is telling us about how Christ answered the disciples question about the end times.  Here was the question:

Matthew 24:3 (ESV)

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

In verses 45-51, Jesus is still answering that question.   There is much written prior to verse 45, but seldom do these final verses get mentioned when we consider Jesus’ answer to their question.   Jesus has just told them these two things about the “signs of His coming:”

Matthew 24:36 (ESV)

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Matthew 24:42 (ESV)

42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

He is telling them that no one knows the time of Christ’s return and they should stay active while waiting for it.   This is the context for 45-51.   Jesus has left us here, like the “faithful and wise servant” to make sure we care for the “household” (other people of faith).  He tells us to “give them food at the proper time.”   His instruction to His disciples is to organize and structure the spiritual feeding of those of the household of faith.   That is their responsibility until Christ comes again.   

In a very similar text in the Gospel of Luke we read this instruction from Christ:

Luke 19:13 (ESV)

13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’

The “business” we are in is the “business” of His kingdom.  No more, no less.   Jesus is telling us in the above text that we must not think of Christ’s delay as a time to live in wanton behavior or neglect our calling of feeding the “household at the proper time.”   Jesus states that “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.”   Our faithfulness to our mission will be blessed by Christ upon His return.   

There is NO Rock Besides God! Isaiah 44-50

 Isaiah 44:6-8 (ESV)

Besides Me There Is No God

6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel

and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:

“I am the first and I am the last;

besides me there is no god.

7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.

Let him declare and set it before me,

since I appointed an ancient people.

Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.

8 Fear not, nor be afraid;

have I not told you from of old and declared it?

And you are my witnesses!

Is there a God besides me?

There is no Rock; I know not any.”

There is NO Rock Besides God!!

The entire story of the Bible is the all sufficiency of God as opposed to anything else man can imagine or value.  The sufficiency finds itself complete in Christ.  God’s entire plan and purpose is so that man discovers (God reveals to him) that God is to be worshipped, through the sacrifice of Christ.   In the above passage we see one such statement that echos that main theme.  Throughout Isaiah 44-50 we read many of these statements.   These statements of God’s greatness and superiority over all that man’s worships is seen right after the above words are written.  Note:

Isaiah 44:15-17 (ESV)

15 Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” 17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”

There is no God beside the LORD, the King of Israel.   Isaiah states, we are not to be fearful because there is no ROCK!!  He knows of no other.   When’s we rest in the assurance that God is the ROCK of our lives, we have nothing to fear or to be dismayed about.  God is worthy of our trust and praise and worship.  

Hope Inspires! Job 18-19

 Job 19:25-27 (ESV)

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,

yet in my flesh I shall see God,

27 whom I shall see for myself,

and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

My heart faints within me!

Hope Inspires!

Perhaps to understand these words of Job, we might want to visit the words of Solomon:

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)

18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

In the King James Version, this verse reads:

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish:

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

The point Solomon is making is that where there is no hope, people parish.   The “vision” spoken about in each version is about God providing truth that inspires someone to have hope.  Without hope we cast off all restraint and fail in our lives.  This is what is happening to Job.  His situation has caused him to be without hope.  His three friends are betting him up with their words.  Note what he says in the beginning of this chapter:

Job 19:2 (ESV)

2 “How long will you torment me

and break me in pieces with words?

His friends did not offer him any hope.    As Job turns his eyes away from his “friends,” (their words and advice) Job is able to see His “Redeemer.”   The word, “redeemer” is the Hebrew word: g̱â’al.    It was traditionally someone who came along side the family after a death and made sure the family property stayed in the family.  The best known use of the word is with Boaz became Naomi’s redeemer by marring Ruth.  

Ruth 2:20 (ESV)

20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”

Perhaps the most powerful use of the word is after Isaiah explains the rebellion of Israel and their subsequent discipline by God the Judge, he continues to say that God will also be their redeemer:

Isaiah 41:14 (ESV)

14 Fear not, you worm Jacob,

you men of Israel!

I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD;

your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

The One who judges, also redeems.  This is the picture that Job has in his head.  His friends are pronouncing doom on him because he won’t “repent.”  His friend Bildad just told him in chapter 18 that God destroys all those that don’t repent.   Job, however, sees God as his “ga-al.”  That is why in verse 27, above, he states, “... my heart faints within me!”   He is overcome with emotion as he takes his mind off the words of his friends and onto the truth that God redeems him, at the edge of death.   Naomi’s family line was about to die and Boaz became her “ga-al.”   Israel’s disobedience brought them to the edge of annihilation, but God took a remnant and became their “ga-al.”   We can rejoice through any hardship because God is our “ga-al” and that gives us inspirational hope.   

Shame!! - Psalms 24-26

 Psalms 25:1-3 (ESV)

1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, in you I trust;

let me not be put to shame;

let not my enemies exult over me.

3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Psalms 25:20 (ESV)

20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

Shame!!

What causes shame?  We know what shame looks like.  We see it in sporting events. When an athlete fails to meet the requirement of the play, event, or exercise, they will bow their heads. Often heading their face with their jersey.   Students demonstrate shame as they are called upon in class to provide their answer to the question, yet do not know it; they look down in shame.   The look of shame is “down.”   We tend to look down when we are feeling moments of failure and the shame that comes with that.   Notice, however, in the above song of David, that he asks God to “lift up my soul.”   He states that he trust in God and pleads with God to, “... let me not be put to shame.”    He does so on two occasions in Psalm 25.   He knows the solution, the antidote for shame.  He states in verse three: “Indeed, non who wait for you shall be put to shame ...”.    God is the God who does the work in our lives so that we do not have to feel shame.  He is the one who produces victory in our lives.    Let us rejoice in what God is doing for us and trust in Him to do it.  Our faith will never be put to shame.   Those who are ashamed are the “treacherous.”   Those who attempt to live life for themselves and on their own terms will be shamed.   We do not have to have shame.  God has cleared us of all sin and has, for one time, made us perfect in Him:

Hebrews 10:10-14 (ESV)

10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

In verse ten it states we “are” sanctified (made holy). In verse fourteen it states we are “being made” sanctified.   God has both made us holy (in position with Him) and is making us holy (practically each day).   Because of this, we have no reason to be living in shame.  

Self-Ruling People - Judges 17-21

 Judges 21:25 (ESV)

25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Self-Ruling People

The above verse is the last verse in the book of Judges.  To fully appreciate the verse you have to have a good understanding of what took place before the author wrote this last line.   In chapters 17-21 we have a series of disobedient acts that are a domino affect on each other.  It begins in chapter 17 with a young man who steals money from his mom.  He admits that he took the money, thus avoiding the curse his mother pronounced on the thief.   But, she then gives him the money.  He then turns the money into an idol. He avoids his mother’s curse only to be cursed by God for making an idol.  That sums up the stories found in this section.  The young man did “what a was right in his own eyes.”  Making an idol out of the silver he returned to his mom seemed right to him, even though it violated God’s law.  

The next example of everyone doing their own thing, occurs when the tribe of Dan show up at the man’s house.  They take the idol and the man’s live-in-Levitical-priest and make the priest and idol the official priest and idol of Dan.   They did what was right in their own eyes, but against God’s Laws. 

A very gross example of this truth follows these two events.   A man has his concubine raped and murdered by a city of men from the tribe of Benjamin.   The men saw the concubine and “did what was right in their own eyes.”   They raped her and left her for dead.   The man who “owned” the concubine was so upset he cut the concubine up into twelve pieces and sent one piece each to the twelve tribes of Israel.  The man did “what was right in his own eyes.”   

From here there are another complete series of events where thousands of men and women and children from Israel were killed.  Israel was doing “what was right in their own eyes.”  There are some terrible events in these chapters.  Human behavior toward other men and women is not only gross treatment but horrible sin against God.  The spirit of man that believes he can do whatever is right in his own eyes is contrary to the Laws of God.  It will produce societal ills that only God’s Laws can reconcile.   

Withholding Vengeance - Genesis 32-35

 Genesis 35:19-22 (ESV)

19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), 20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.

22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine. And Israel heard of it.

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

Withholding Vengeance

Perhaps, before looking at the above text, we should read something Paul wrote the the Roman Christians (at the height of Nero’s persecution, by the way):

Romans 12:16-21 (ESV)

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

With those words as our backdrop, let’s visit our story with Reuben and his violation of his father’s concubine, Bilhah.   If you remember, when Rachel could not conceive she gave to Israel (Jacob), her husband, her maid-servant, Bilhah, to impregnate. Bilhah gave brith to Israel’s sons, Dan and Naphtali.   Upon Rachel’s death (Israel’s true love), to establish dominance and rule and authority in the family, Reuben took Bilhah and defiled her.   This was a custom in those days, to show dominance in the family.    As we read in the text, Israel “heard it.”  But, just like he “heard” about the rape of his daughter Dinah by Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, Israel did nothing.   We could say that Israel was worthless for this and simply void of conviction.  Or, we could say that since he wrestled with God and his name was changed from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel (God prevails), that he was now following what Paul would write centuries later.  The mind of God is to not seek revenge.  Jacob would, remember Reuben’s transgression when he died, however.  Note how he phrased the blessing he said over Reuben at his death:

Genesis 49:3-4 (ESV)

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,

preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,

because you went up to your father's bed;

then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!

Israel turned the revenge over to God.  He allowed God to take the vengeance.   We are not to be the ones who retaliate.   God is perfect in His judgement.  We are prejudice in judgment.   

Strive Together in Prayer - Romans 15-16

 Romans 15:30-33 (ESV)

30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Strive Together in Prayer

When it comes to striving, we don’t can think of a number of areas.   Couples often strive with each other.  Churches strive against each other, at times.   Employees often strive against employers.   Citizens, can, at times, strive against their own government.  All these are examples of strive “against” each other.    However, we don’t often think of the concept to “strive together” for something.  Paul, in the above verses is asking the Roman church “strive together” in prayer so that, in the future, he might be able to come to them in Rome and be refreshed by their fellowship.     

We don’t think of “praying” as an aspect of “striving.”   Yet, there are several passages in the Bible that give us some insight into Paul’s mindset.  Jesus instructed the disciples to be diligent in prayer:

Luke 21:34-36 (ESV)

Watch Yourselves

34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

When Jesus went into the garden, prior to His crucifixion, he instructed His disciples to strive in prayer:

Mark 14:38 (ESV)

38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

At the end of Paul’s list of the armor of the God, he added prayer as the final piece:

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

John McArthur has this to say about the Greek word for “strive” in our verse:

Sunagōnizomai (to strive together) is an intensified form of agōnizomai, which means to struggle or fight and is the term from which we get the English “agonize.” The word was originally used of athletic events, especially gymnastics, in which contestants, such as wrestlers or boxers, struggled against each other. Jesus used the word when He told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting [agōnizomai]” (John 18:36).

We are to strive together in prayer.   This is not supposed to be single effort.  Our joint prayers are powerful and our joint striving is necessary to see God’s work done in our lives.  Paul was, perhaps, one of the most godly men in the New Testament.  But, he felt it necessary to enjoin others in his prayer life for God’s movement in his life to bring him to Rome.   We ought to make similar requests of each other to ensure God’s work in our lives.   

Matthew 20-22 - Wrong Priorities Hinder Miracles and True Worship

 Matthew 21:12-16 (ESV)

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,

“‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies

you have prepared praise’?”

The Wrong Priorities Hinder Miracles and Worship

As we read the above story we can’t help but see a parallel with today’s church.   The Temple, in Jesus’ day, was the center of worship.   Like the Pharisees in the above story, our churches today tend to focus on a lot of good things, without focusing always on the main thing: The death and resurrection of Christ.  Jesus is the center of all worship. Or, at least Jesus should be the center of all worship.   In the above story the Pharisees and other religious leaders had turned the center of worship into a business venture.   The entire point was to make a profit for man, not praise for God.   

When Christ cleared the Temple of the money, He opened the Temple back up for what it was there for: Healing and Worship.  Note the first thing that happened with the Temple was cleared:

Matthew 21:14 (ESV)

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.

Then, after He healed them, note what happened next:

Matthew 21:15 (ESV)

15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant,

The children begin to cry out and sing praise to Jesus.   That, of course, ignited a fire storm that would put Jesus on the cross (God would use the Pharisees envy to accomplish His greater plan).   When we move our places of worship closer toward what they are intended by God to be, we will open up the possibility of miracles and create an atmosphere of worship and praise.   

Leaders and Politicians - Isaiah 40-44

 Isaiah 40:21-23 (ESV)

21 Do you not know? Do you not hear?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,

and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;

who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,

and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

23 who brings princes to nothing,

and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

Politicians and Leaders

We live in a world where mankind thinks they can control and determine their own fate.   This was true in the past, it is true in the present and will be true in the future.   We believe we have systems that we control that puts politicians and leaders in the places we want, when we want them.   From the employer who creates a new job posting to the greatest nation in the world who creates a new cabinet position, we believe OUR choices determine man’s positions.   We certainly do have some form of free will that God enables.  Yet, when we read the above verses from the prophet Isaiah we are challenged by another truth.  We learn God’s truth about positions and power.  God determines them and extinguishes them, at His pleasure.   Maybe Isaiah was thinking of this psalm when he wrote the above words: 

Psalms 75:7 (ESV)

7 but it is God who executes judgment,

putting down one and lifting up another.

Maybe he had already heard what the early captive, Daniel, would write:

Daniel 2:21-22 (ESV)

21 He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding;

22 he reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what is in the darkness,

and the light dwells with him.

Maybe God gave Isaiah insight into what Jesus would say centuries later to the religious leaders who opposed Him:

John 19:11 (ESV)

11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

God is the one who brings princes to nothing and makes ruler of the earth as emptiness.  He replaces one with the other.  If we have a place of leadership and authority, it matters not our belief of how we think we are in that place.  It is God who put us there. 

Windy Knowledge! Job 15-17

 Job 15:1-6 (ESV)

Eliphaz Accuses: Job Does Not Fear God

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2 “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge,

and fill his belly with the east wind?

3 Should he argue in unprofitable talk,

or in words with which he can do no good?

4 But you are doing away with the fear of God

and hindering meditation before God.

5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,

and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;

your own lips testify against you.

Windy Knowledge! 

Job is suffering.  God has allowed righteous Job to be touched by the hand of Satan.  Satan has taken Job’s property, prosperity, his children and his health.   Job is on the side of the road scrapping the boils off his skin with broken pieces of pottery buried in the dust of the earth.   His three friends have heard of his plight and have traveled miles to “encourage” him.   The above lines are from one of the friends, Eliphaz, this is Eliphaz’s second speech to Job.  In Chapters four and five he spoke.  His claim then, as now, was that Job is reaping what he has sown.  His sin has been discovered by God and he is being punished because of that sin.   In the above lines, Eliphaz picks up his arguments, but this time begins to attack Job’s words.   He pivots slightly away from the “reason” for Job’s situation to berating Job’s defense of his situation.   For a man who came to comfort, Eliphaz, like his friends, have lost their way.   He tells Job that his words are nothing but “hot air.”   He tells they are “windy knowledge.”   In Counseling 101 one would be taught to not berate the person you are counseling.   If we look at Jesus’ response to those who came to Him with hurt, those who came with questions and even those who came to trap and hurt, His response was gentleness.  Notice what Paul tells young Timothy and Titus about their own approach to those they will be asked to minister to as a young pastors:

1 Timothy 3:3 (ESV)

3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

Titus 3:2 (ESV)

2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ESV)

24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

Eliphaz is accusing Job of having nothing but “windy words,” when in reality God will tell him and his two friends that is exactly all they did ... they gave “windy knowledge” to Job and God condemned them.  God especially singles out Eliphaz:

Job 42:7 (ESV)

The LORD Rebukes Job's Friends

7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.

When we are privileged to counsel others, we ought to learn the lesson that God gives us in Eliphaz’s speech to Job:  Don’t attack the person God as God works in their life. Their words may not be right and their thoughts might be bent, but God has sent you to them to point them to God, not to tell them how twisted their mind is in this crisis.   

If You Love Me ... - Judges 12-16

 Judges 14:15-18 (ESV)

15 On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, “Entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?” 16 And Samson's wife wept over him and said, “You only hate me; you do not love me. You have put a riddle to my people, and you have not told me what it is.” And he said to her, “Behold, I have not told my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?” 17 She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted, and on the seventh day he told her, because she pressed him hard. Then she told the riddle to her people. 18 And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down,

“What is sweeter than honey?

What is stronger than a lion?”

And he said to them,

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,

you would not have found out my riddle.”

If you Love Me ... 

What are we willing to do for love.   Many people have fallen into sin for the sole purpose of pleasing someone they love.    The enticement to please is a dangerous vice.   Samson was called upon by God to judge the nation of Israel.   In the book of Judges the entire plot is found in the “judge” that God sends to lead Israel out of their oppression.    Samson was to be that judge.  But, Samson had a desire and a lust for women.   He was also man full of pride.   The above passage shows how he succumbed to his wife and gave in to her request.  This is not the last time that would happen.  Note what happens when he marries his second wife and the Philistines bribe her with silver.  Do you see the pattern?

Judges 16:15 (ESV)

15 And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.”

Samson, once again, tells her his secret and that costs him his life in the end.   He was so eager to please her.  She, like his first wife, enticed him with the, “If you love me ...,” speech.   He feared losing her love and therefore he was willing to do anything to keep her love.  Here is what Solomon stated about that type of life:

Proverbs 29:25 (ESV)

25 The fear of man lays a snare,

but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

Samson was the strongest man alive in those days.  But he was weak of heart.  He was afraid to lose love and that cost him his life.   

Children Who Bring Grief to their Parents - Genesis 27-31

 Genesis 28:6-9 (ESV)

Esau Marries an Ishmaelite

6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” 7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram. 8 So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father, 9 Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth.

Children Who Bring Grief to their Parents:

Children are a blessing.   Sometimes, they can be a cures.  Think of Adam.  His son killed his other son. The first human death recorded in the Bible was a son taking the life of another son.   After Cain slew Able, God gave Eve another son she named Seth.  In the Hebrew the word Seth means “compensation.”  God replaced one son with another.  Imagine the grief Adam and Eve experienced.   

In the above passage we read about Esau’s plan to deliberately hurt his farther.   In the story of Cain and Abel the murder seems to read as though it was an act of jealously and rage and not premeditated (only God really knows).   In the above passage we read the Esau is deliberately going to do something to hurt his father.    Absalom did the same thing to his father David.   He conspired to take away the kingdom from David and that costs him his life.   In the parable of the prodigal son, a son takes his inheritance and squanders it.   Solomon wrote about those who give grief to their parents:

Proverbs 17:25 (ESV)

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father

and bitterness to her who bore him.

Esau wanted to hurt his father. In so doing he really brought pain between him and his Heavenly Father.   God is the one who is ultimately grieved.   The only commandment with a promise is this one:

Exodus 20:12 (ESV)

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

God is knowledgeable about children who bring pain to their parents.   God is the one who cares for that.  

A Purpose for Government - Romans 13-14

 Romans 13:4 (ESV)

4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

A Purpose for Government

We are not Christians who live under the Constitution.  We do no live under man’s laws.  We are Christinas who live under God and under God’s laws, OF WHICH God has put us in a country to live within man’s laws.   God’s law (see chapter 12) is to love mankind, no matter what they do to us.  We are not to seek revenge on them.  We are to live within the law of the world, while under the law of love. Romans 13 is only effective because of Romans 12.   The above verse gives a reason for the law of the land.   God put’s the government in place.  Note what Paul just said at the beginning of chapter 13:

Romans 13:1 (ESV)

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

God gives authority to the government (any government) to rule the people.  God is hierarchical in His very nature.   The government, although instituted by God, however, must also obey the laws of God.  They are to be the avenger on all that is bad within their people.   But, who determines what is bad?   The laws of this land determine what is bad.  Note what one commentary stated on this section of Paul:

“Americans do not live under a democracy. The fathers of our nation went to great pains to ensure that the United States government would be a republic, not a democracy. In a democracy rule is vested in the majority. In a republic, ultimate authority rests in law. The purpose of the Bill of Rights is to guard against what Alexis de Tocqueville warned would destroy the American experiment—the tyranny of the majority. If everybody in the country except one agrees to stamp out free speech, the First Amendment should rule over that majority. The private rights of individuals are guaran-teed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.”

“The founders of America were farsighted, but, in my opinion, not far-sighted enough. They failed to protect the individual’s rights against unjust taxation. Unjust taxation occurs through a progressive, unequal tax system. When God placed his tax upon the people of Israel, he imposed a tithe. Not everybody paid the same amount. Rich people paid more than poor people, but everybody paid the same percentage. America has politicized economics; we do not have a flat percentage system. Some are required to pay a higher percentage than others. We call that social justice, but it is, in fact, manifest injustice. It is evil and destructive because it gives people the right to vote for taxes on other people that they are not voting to impose on themselves. It creates a politics of envy in which one group is set against another.

Historically this practice has ended in the destruction of the nation, and it will destroy our nation if we do not do something about it. That being said, when we vote, we must do so according to principle. We ought not to use the power of the ballot to pick others’ pockets. We must pay our taxes as[…]”

Excerpt From

Romans

R. C. Sproul

By faith we have to believe that IF the government does bad to someone who is doing good, God knows this and God will, ultimately care for it and judge it.  That is the truth and principle of chapter 12.   In order to live out 13, we have to walk in obedient faith of 12.  

Keep Your Eye on the Real Prize - Matthew 17-19

 Matthew 19:23-28 (ESV)

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Keep Your Eye On the Real Prize

In our society it is very easy to get our eyes fixated on something other than eternal glories.   In the above passage, Jesus is telling His disciples this very thing.   Early in the chapter a rich young ruler had come to Jesus to ask about what the greatest commandment was.  After Jesus gives him some “staple” commands to obey, the young may, with a sense of pride, states he has kept all those from his youth.  Instead of rebuking him for that pride, Jesus simply gives him one more command. Knowing his heart, Jesus tells him to sell all that he has and give it to the poor.    The young man goes away “sorrowful,” because he had much goods.    This is where Jesus makes the above statement.  He wanted His disciples to know four things:

1. It is very easy, in this world, to get caught up in the riches of this world.  The world has much to offer to provide creature comforts IN THIS WORLD.   But that is the only good they offer. 

2. It is difficult and almost impossible for those who have these creature comforts, in this world, to see the glory of God and the power of God.   They are blinded by these riches. (Riches don’t have to be material.  They can be anything that prevents us from seeing God.)

3. Jesus wanted them to see that although it was difficult, the power of God has the ability to make even those who are rich, cast away their riches to see God’s glory.  He states that “nothing is impossible” with God.   

4. If they keep their eye on the ball (eternity), the will see riches above and beyond all that the world can offer them.   They will sit on thrones, have power and judge the world.   

Jesus knew that the world will try to capture our eye.  But, He is also able to overcome the world, through faith.   We can keep our eye on eternal things.   He will enable us to do so.  We can not do it ourselves.  It is impossible.   But, with God’s immeasurable strength, nothing is impossible.  He can give us the eyes we need to see the riches that matter.  

3. 

Our Days are in His Hand - Isaiah 34-39

 Isaiah 38:1-6 (ESV)

Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery

1 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover.” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 and said, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 5 “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.

Our Days are in His Hand

Death comes to us all.   It is important to remember that our days are numbered.  Note:

Psalms 90:10-12 (ESV)

10 The years of our life are seventy,

or even by reason of strength eighty;

yet their span is but toil and trouble;

they are soon gone, and we fly away.

11 Who considers the power of your anger,

and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalms 39:4-5 (ESV)

4 “O LORD, make me know my end

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting I am!

5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,

and my lifetime is as nothing before you.

Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

Isaiah 46:3-4 (ESV)

3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob,

all the remnant of the house of Israel,

who have been borne by me from before your birth,

carried from the womb;

4 even to your old age I am he,

and to gray hairs I will carry you.

I have made, and I will bear;

I will carry and will save.

Psalms 71:17-18 (ESV)

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

18 So even to old age and gray hairs,

O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might to another generation,

your power to all those to come.

God knows our age and carries us through the very end of our age.   We are in His hand. Each breath we breath is a gift by the grace of God.   In Hezekiah’s life, God granted him 15 more years to live.   He took away his health issue and blessed him.    Yet, with David and Bathsheba’s first born, God only allowed him to live but a breath.   God is in complete control of our living and dying.   Blessed be God who grants us life!!!  Our prayers for more days are directed toward God for his favor.   Hezekiah prayed for more years and God gave him 15.   David prayed for his sick child and God gave him none.   Our breath is in his hand.  

Hiding form God’s Power and Wrath - Job 14

 Job 14:13 (ESV)

13 Oh that you would hide me in Sheol,

that you would conceal me until your wrath be past,

that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Hiding from God’s Power and Wrath

Job, as we know, is in a tight space.  He is between the proverbial rock and a hard place.  His belief prior to his family, business and health deterioration was the God was approachable.  He knew of the possibility of God’s wrath and knew, somehow, that God would be appeased via offerings and sacrificial worship.  In the beginning of the story of Job we see him worried that his children, after days of feasting, MIGHT have offended the righteousness of God.   Note his reaction to that very thought:

Job 1:5 (ESV)

5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

Job “continually” approached God with offerings.   Yet, now in the midst of his pain and suffering, throughout chapter 14, speaks about finding a place to be spared from God’s wrath and punishment.  In Job’s pain he no longer feels God is approachable.   We will later read, at the end of the story, that God, indeed, is powerful, mighty and above our approach.   God will tell Job this personally (chapters 38-42).  

Job 38:4-7 (ESV)

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

7 when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

In the midst of pain and suffering we can often feel like Job.  We can feel like God is distant and His wrath is real, because we think we are feeling it.   Job does well to be in fear of God.   But, he too is without the story.   God is indeed active in his life.  Not for the reasons Job thinks, or Job’s three friends think.   But, God is active in his life.  God does allow suffering in our lives (even if we are innocent like Job).  Why?  Note the writer of Hebrews thoughts on this:

Hebrews 12:11 (ESV)

11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

In Job 14:13, Job is looking for relief from the presence of God.  He believes death will give him that.  Job is in a state of deep depression.  He wants his life to end.  He believers that in “Sheol” (the grave) God will leave him alone.    He will later come out of this depression, however.   

Job 23:10 (ESV)

10 But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

This is Job’s life now.  In the midst of pain and suffering he sees no hope (the theme of chapter 14).  Yet, there is hope.   In the end, God knows!!  God is fully in charge.   We do well to fear Him.  But, our fear is that of awe and reverence and not fright and flight.   God is actively engaged in our lives. There is no hiding from Him.  But, we should not try to hide as God has our best interest at heart.   As we go through the suffering and trial we will come out as gold.  

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

May HE ... May we ... ! Psalms 18-20

 Psalms 20:1-5 (ESV)

Trust in the Name of the LORD Our God

TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID.

1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!

May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary

and give you support from Zion!

3 May he remember all your offerings

and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4 May he grant you your heart's desire

and fulfill all your plans!

5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,

and in the name of our God set up our banners!

May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!

May He ... May We ... !

In the above psalm, David is praying and praising God.  He is reaching out to God in praise and adoration.  The entire psalm is filled with praise.   Especially the later portion of the song.  In these first five verses, however, we see six “may” the Lord do something and one “may” we do something.   

May the Lord:

1. May the Lord answer you in trouble! V. 1a

2. May the name of the Lord protect you! V. 1b

3. May he send you help! V. 2

4. May he remember your offerings! V. 3

5. May he grant out heart’s desires! V. 4

6. May he fulfill all your petitions! V. 5b

May we:

1. Shout for joy over our salvation because it is God who sets up or banner! V. 5a

David wants and asks God for His blessing on his life.  In return he pleads that those who are blessed by God give God glory for that blessing.  David recognizes that the path he takes is in God’s hand.  David recognizes that it is God who sets up “our banners.”   

The word banner is a term used for the flag or pennant flown before a military army.   It was the signet of the army.   In the Song of Solomon the bride declares, “His (the groom) banner over me is love.”   The signature of the king was his banner.   In this song, David confesses to God that it is He who sets up our banners.   We might think of a banner as a logo or marketing tool.  We might think we are the developer of our “banners.”  We might tend to think that the reputation of our “banners” are in our hands and in our skills.  But, David, in this psalm, gives all praise to God.  His logo (his banner) is totally dependent upon God.  That is why latter in this song he writes:

Psalms 20:7 (ESV)

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

May HE ... May we ... we must give Him glory as HE sets up our banner.   

Looking for a Sign - Judges 6-11

 Judges 6:36-40 (ESV)

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

Looking for a Sign

Gideon has been asked, by God, to lead Israel to war.  Before he goes, he stops to ask God for some proof of his calling.  In this prayer, he asks God for proof of the call by asking God for asking God for a sign.  As we can see, God grants him his sign.  He will head off to war and become quite victorious.   He has become Israel’s leader.  

We might be confused about praying for a sign.  Jesus actually spoke to this during His earthly ministry:

Matthew 12:39 (ESV)

39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

He actually sad that twice in Matthew (16:4).  The religious leaders of the day had asked Jesus to give them a sign of His authenticity.   Jesus stated that the only sign would be His being in the grave for three days and three nights, as Jonah was in the belly of the fish.  It should be noted that Jesus did not say he would not give a sign.  He stated that the ONLY sign they would get would be His death, burial and resurrection.  God spoke to the religious leaders of the day through the voice of His Son.  Notice what the writer of Hebrews states:

Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV)

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

God does show signs.   God showed Gideon a sign to show His power and purpose.   God showed believers His power and purpose through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son.   God does give us a sign today.   But, it is the sign of His Son.   In the O.T. God gave many different signs.  He gave them the entire Tabernacle system as a shadow of the heavenly.  That was a sign.   It was a sign to point to them to the need for a blood sacrifice and for a pure sacrifice.   That was what Jesus did.   God, in the OT gave many signs.  But, in these last days the sign for mankind is His son.  

Praying and Responding To God in Prayer - Genesis 24-27

 Genesis 24:21 (ESV)

21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.

Our Response to God’s Answers to Prayer

In the above verse we read a response to a prayer offered earlier to God.   Abraham’s servant was sent on a mission to seek a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac.   He arrived at the location Abraham sent him and prayed a specific prayer to know who it was God would want to marry Issac.  Here is the prayer:

Genesis 24:13-14 (ESV)

13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”

He had barely finished the prayer and a beautiful, young woman named Rebecca came to offer him and his camels water.   This was not only a prayer and an answer it was a specific prayer with an immediate and exact answer.    Think about that in regard to our own prayers and answers.  Do we have faith to ask specific, detailed prayers?  Does God answer them immediately in the way we prayed them?  The answer to both these question is probably, no!   

They above verse is the servants first response to Rebecca’s watering him and his camels.   It says, “the man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.”   At first blush this seems a bit lacking in faith.  Did he not just pray that? Did God not immediately answer that?  But, the man was not sent to find a woman who would water his camels.  The man was sent by Abraham to find a woman to marry Isaac from the tribe of Abraham.   When the servant asks Rebecca about where she was from and who’s family she was, this is what brought about a different response by the servant.   When Rebecca told the servant of her family (and it was the family of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, Isaac’s mother), the servant then knew that God had caused his journey to be prosperous.   He didn’t just find a beautiful young woman with a servant’s heart, he found that type of woman from the exact tribe and exact family he was sent to find.   That brought about this response: 

Genesis 24:26 (ESV)

26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD.

When we pray we need to pray with exactness and with intentionality of what we are asking of God.   We need to hold our rejoicing until we see the amazing sovereignty and grace of God in that answer.  God wants to answer our prayers in mighty ways.  There are there lessons we need to learn:

1. Pray according to God’s will.  It was God’s will that the servant find someone for Issac from Abraham and Sarah’s tribe.   

2. Pray with exactness and internationalists about what we want from God. 

3. Watch and wait as God does what He does. 

4. Bow and worship at God’s amazing answers to prayer.   

Lead with Zeal - Romans 12

 Romans 12:6-8 (ESV)

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Lead with Zeal

In the above passage we read what Paul was telling the church at Rome about spiritual gifts.   He starts out chapter 12 by telling them to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”  That is both the “what” (present yourself) and the “why” (your spiritual worship) we all talk about in leadership.  You have to tell them the “why” so they know the reason for the “what.”   But, you also have to tell them the “how.”  The “how” is the above verses.   Paul wants them to know that God has called them to a high purpose for a high reason and has equipped them for that purpose.  God never calls us to do something He has not, or will not, fully fund (there is a lesson for leadership).   A key principle in this entire section is that God has given us gifts (tools) to accomplish the task, based upon the “measure” of our faith.  Note:

Romans 12:3 (ESV)

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Even the first gift mentioned, prophecy, is done based upon the proportion of faith the individual has to prophecy.  We use our gifts in direct proportion to our faith. 

All this leads to something we discover about leadership in these verses.  Paul instructs them to use their gift in a certain manner.  When he mentions lead, he states to lead with “zeal.”  The word “lead” here, in the Greek, means simple to “stand up in front.”   The choice of that word gives us Paul’s definition of leadership.   But, notice “how” they are to stand up in front: With zeal.   The word means to lead with “earnestness.”   When God calls us to lead, He supplies the faith we need to lead.  That faith allows us to lead with “zeal.”  The way this passage is written tells us that the zeal flows from the gift God gives.   If you read all the other gifts listed, we see that they are to be used based upon the way God provides the gift.  Giving with generosity.  We don’t give to produce generosity.  It is because we are generous that we give.   The gift is being generous.  We don’t exhort to produce exhortation.  We have exhortation, therefore we exhort.   The gift is to be able to exhort.   So, too, with those who lead.  They don’t lead to produce zeal.  They have zeal (for God, for His work, for His plans) and therefore they lead.   We always talk about having “energy” to lead.  Many (especially these days during a world-wide pandemic) can lose their zeal.  But, if we are approaching leadership by faith, we are asking God to provide the zeal to lead.   Zeal is not the finished product.  Zeal is the fuel to produce the product.   God is the source of it and faith is the hose we use to connect to the source.   If we lose our zeal for leadership we should first see what promises of God we are failing to believe.   Believing in His promises produces faith.  Faith is not blind.  It is taking God at His word. It is putting complete trust in what He says He will do.   

Joshua was asked to lead 1.5 million rebellious people into the promise land.  God gave him a why, a what, and a how to encourage him and give him zeal to lead.  Joshua simply took God at His word and that produced zeal and a powerful leadership style.  We would do well to follow that promise ourselves:

Joshua 1:8-9 (ESV)

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Beware of False Teaching Among Us - Matthew 14-16

 Matthew 16:5-12 (ESV)

5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Beware of False Teaching Religious Among Us!

We often thing of “false teaching” as coming from the world and the teachers of the world order.   But, in the above passage, Jesus is warning the disciples to beware of the false teaching of the “religious.”   We often can spot teaching that is directly contrary to the Christianity.  That is not the hard work.  The world is often so far off the mark we can easily spot their false doctrine.  But, Jesus is warning us in the above story (spoken to His disciples) to be careful of the teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.   These were the religious leaders of the day.   Their teaching had grown out of the Law and the Prophets.  But, they had so twisted the Word of God it was no longer what God said, but rather what they wanted to teach.   Jesus is warning them and us to be careful of those who have good intentions but do not teach what God really wants.   Many wars have been fought over this problem.   Notice what Paul said about the false doctrine when instructing young, pastor Titus:

Titus 1:9-11 (ESV)

9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

Notice what Peter told the church:

2 Peter 2:1 (ESV)

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

Notice what John told the church:

1 John 4:1 (ESV)

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Peter and John were paying attention that day when Jesus warned them to beware of false teachers.  So should we.  They often are right among us. 

Until the Spirit ... - Isaiah 29-34

 Isaiah 32:14-20 (ESV)

14 For the palace is forsaken,

the populous city deserted;

the hill and the watchtower

will become dens forever,

a joy of wild donkeys,

a pasture of flocks;

15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,

and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,

and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.

17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace,

and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.

18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,

in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

19 And it will hail when the forest falls down,

and the city will be utterly laid low.

20 Happy are you who sow beside all waters,

who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.

Until the Spirit ... 

In this section, Isaiah is prophesying about both the fall of Jerusalem and the salvation of the remnant of the people of Israel.  Like two cords being wrapped into one, the prophecy unfolds doom and deliverance.   The above passage is pulled out of a paragraph of that doom and speaks toward that deliverance.   Isaiah is outlining the doom and then in verse 15 we read, “... until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high ...”.    This is a transition from the doom to the deliverance of the remnant.   Isaiah speaks of a time when the Spirit of God will be poured out on a remnant of Jews, to bring about the blessings of God (which he outlines in the remaining verses, above).   The word “Spirit,” although capitalized, is probably better understood as the “breath of God.”   It is the moving of God in the midst of the people.   What the prophet is saying is that the natural and moral world that Jerusalem (and the Jewish people) were seeing was completely in disarray.   God would breath on them ... His Spirt moving in their midst ... and things would change.  Justice will be restored.   Along with justice there will be peace, righteousness and quietness and trust “forever.”   The “forever” in verse 17 is significant. It refers to God restoring His kingdom and His kingdom will be everlasting.  But, the doom he spoke about, will also be forever:

14 For the palace is forsaken,

the populous city deserted;

the hill and the watchtower

will become dens forever,

a joy of wild donkeys,

a pasture of flocks;

The doom will be forever for some.  But, the righteousness, peace, quietness and trust will also be forever for the remnant of those of faith.   Today, we are caught in the middle.   We have the “now, but not yet” world we live in.  We have, through faith, God’s peace, righteousness, and quiet “inwardly.”  The prophet speaks of a time when mankind (believers) will also see that outwardly in the world.  Isaiah will end his prophecy with a similar prophetic statement:

Isaiah 65:25 (ESV)

25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;

the lion shall eat straw like the ox,

and dust shall be the serpent's food.

They shall not hurt or destroy

in all my holy mountain,”

says the LORD.

What a time that will be.  That is where our faith goes us endurance and perseverance.   There will be a day. There will be doom and destruction until the Spirit ... 

Who has a Relationship with God? Psalms 15-17

 Psalms 15 (ESV)

1 O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

and speaks truth in his heart;

3 who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the LORD;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5 who does not put out his money at interest

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

Who has a Relationship with God?

A major issue for the church today and their failure to connect with the world around is not our style of worship.  It is not the friendliness of our actions.  It is not comfort of our buildings.  It is not even the hypocrisy of our members that drive people away (although all these things ought not be roadblocks).   The major issue for the church today in our connectivity with the world soured us, is that the world around us does not think it needs God because it is full of sin.  In the above psalm, King David asks a very, very important question:  Who shall sojourn in your tent?  Who shall dwell on your holy hill?   Now, David could be speaking of the earthly Tabernacle.  Remember, the Temple was not built at this point.  But, he could also, as the writer of Hebrews tells us, be speaking of the tent of heaven:

Hebrews 8:1-2 (ESV)

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.

David is more likely thinking of dwelling with God, in a personal relationship.   Who is able to dwell with God? Only those who are pure.  Note the various ways David describes this pure life:

1.  Walking blameless.

2. Speaking truth in your heart. 

3. No slander with the heart. 

4. No attacking and being vengeful to your neighbor.

5. Despising those who reject God and honoring those who worship God. 

6. Someone who keeps their vows to God, no matter the cost to self. 

7.  Walks in integrity in regard to money and business with others. 

This type of person shall not be moved.   Well, that is the issue with the church.  We not only do these things, we don’t paint that type of picture to their world as to what is wrong with them and why they need a Savior; a Mediator.   People won’t come to Christ unless they feel as though they need a mediator.  When Christ saves us, He purifies our heart so that the above list can be true in our lives.  It is not true in our lives everyday.  We will still sin, but faith in Christ empowers us to live this way and removes the penalty from us when we can’t.   

God Leaves Temptation to Test Us! Judges 1-5

 Judges 3:1-6 (ESV)

1 Now these are the nations that the LORD left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2 It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. 3 These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. 4 They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 6 And their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods.

God Leaves Temptation to Test Us!

We might wonder why God simply just doesn’t move temptation and sin completely away from His children.  The above passage gives us insight as to why not.    God allows sin to be in our lives because it provides fire to refine our love for Him.  That is what is happening in the above passage.  Throughout the book of Judges, the story line is the nation of Israel conquering the land God had promises to “give” them.   Yet, He wanted to show His power through them and His love for them, but allowing them to seize the land.   As they conquered more land, in faith, God would provide more land for them to conquer.   God provides for us as our faith leads us.  Notice what Paul told the Corinthian believers about our war, that is not of the flesh, but of the spirit:

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (ESV)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Notice verse six.  God is ready to punish every disobedience, when our obedience is complete.  The principle taught here is that God gives us strength via faith to fight sin in our lives.  As He does and as we do, He allows more temptation into our lives that we can defeat and He is ready to punish other sin as we gain ground in victory over the sin right before us.  This is a marvelous truth and it is demonstrated in what God allowed in the lives of the nation of Israel as they fought to gain the land God had promised.   Faithful obedience in one area provides strength and victory in areas we didn’t even know needed to be fought, but God is still fighting for us.    

God Keeps His Promises! Genesis 20-23

 Genesis 21:1-2 (ESV)

1 The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.

God keeps his promises!

Earlier in Genesis we read the following:

Genesis 17:17-19 (ESV)

17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.

God had promised that Sarah, in old age, would give birth to a child, through whom, God would bless the world.   In chapter 21 we read the culmination of that promise.  God keeps His promises.   Abraham and Sarah believed that and God showed them His faithfulness.   

Romans 4:20-21 (ESV)

20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Hebrews 11:11-12 (ESV)

11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Paul tells us that it is in Christ that all the promises of God are fulfilled for those who, by faith, believe in His finished work:

2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV)

20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

It is through faith that we receive His promises.   It is through God’s promises (believing in them) that we are partakers of God’s divine nature:

2 Peter 1:4 (ESV)

4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Sarah and Abraham had to hold on by faith to get to the culmination of the promise.  Faith is the bridge from what God said to what we experience.   Our faith is in the fact that God keeps His promises.