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Pray-Be-See: God Uses Bro9ken Things … Like Jacob

Posted on August 5, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please {God}: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

There are two great truths that are in the Scripture.

If you learn these two great truths – actually understand them – they will unlock many of the mysteries found in this Bible. What are these truths? They are:

1. God Uses Broken Things.
2. God Uses Broken Things Yielded To Him.

We see this from the very beginning of Scripture. Was the world complete and perfect when God came upon it? No! Absolutely not. How does the Bible open? Does it say ..

Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was beautiful, perfectly made, without spot or blemish.

Could God have done this? Could He have created everything in ONE day as opposed to SIX days. Absolutely! The Bible says:

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

God could have done that. But instead the Scripture says:

Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

The earth was created in parts – broken – because God uses the broken. As you read the biographies and accounts of the people of the Bible you see no one perfect or broken among mankind but the Lord Jesus Christ. All others are broken. The only reason that Christ – born of a woman – is unbroken is because He is God become Man, perfect Man. It is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, that God the Father has sent to this earth. It is of Jesus the Scripture says that “The Father has in …

Hebrews 1:2-3, 8 … “these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; {Jesus} being the brightness of {God’s} glory, and the express image of {God’s} person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high … {the Father saying} unto the Son … Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdomJoshua.”

Jesus Christ is the only Man in Scripture that was not born broken and unholy. Of all others the Scripture says:

Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged {from God} from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Romans 3:23 … all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God

We are all born broken. That is the bad news. But the GOOD NEWS is that our God uses broken things. God uses broken things that rely upon Him.

Our Problem Is That – Like Jacob – We Are Not Broken

If God uses broken things, and God uses broken things that are yielded to Him, then when we are not broken we cannot be used of God. We see in Jacob a man who is not yielded to God. Now God was gracious with Jacob.

God had a plan for Jacob’s life. God has a plan for your life. God has a plan for this Church. But God can only use you, me, this Church, or Jacob if we are yielded to Him.

Is Jacob yielded to God? We find in Genesis 32 these words:

Genesis 32:1 And Jacob went on his way…

Is Jacob yielded to God? No, absolutely not. We read Jacob went on his way. That’s what most of us do. We go on our own way. God is not in our thoughts. We make plans, choose paths, and set out our own way certain that we know what we’re doing. But the Scripture reminds us:

James 4:14-15 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

We ought to say, If the Lord will, but we don’t. Too often we head out into the great unknown without God. We fail to understand that we are all broken, and we all need Him every moment of every day. We need God to hold our hand moment by moment as we go through this life, just as a mother holds a three year old’s hand as they cross the street. But we think we know best. We fight His hand. We pull our hand out of His hand and run across the road – many times being hurt because of our actions.

God has a plan for Jacob’s life.
God has a plan for YOUR life.

God wanted to bless Jacob. The Bible tells us that God had a plan to bless Jacob from the very beginning. His father Isaac and his mother Rebekeh came together in love.

Jacob was born to a broken family.

Rebekeh and Isaac had been unable to have a child together – something that broke their hearts. But a broken heart is a good thing if it brings us to God. The Bible says

Genesis 25:21 … Isaac INTREATED the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

When you are broken and go to the Lord in prayer
He will REALLY bless you.

God REALLY blessed Rebekeh. She became pregnant with twin children – a double blessing from God. They didn’t have ultrasounds or fancy equipment in the days of Isaac, so as Rebekeh progressed in her pregnancy she began to feel a struggle within. The Broken Rebekeh went to the Lord in prayer:

Genesis 25:22-23 … the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

The Broken Rebekeh went to God in prayer and IMMEDIATELY she is answered.
God loves to answer us in prayer.

He loves to guide us. He loves us! As God talked with a submissive Rebekeh that God would bring TWO NATIONS from her pregnancyJoshua. Can God bless, or what?

The Elder Is Not Broken So He Is Not Blessed

The Lord also told her the elder shall serve the younger. This is contrary to the way that things were done back in those days. Usually the elder child born would receive the double portion blessing, and become the head of the family. But this would not be the case with Esau and Jacob. It was God’s desire that the promise He made to Abraham be fulfilled through Jacob, not through Esau. Why did God do this? Once more with feeling …

… God will only use the broken.

When the children were born Jacob came out because he held on to his brother’s heel (Genesis 25:26). From the very beginning the character of the two children was established. The Bible tells us that:

Genesis 25:27-28 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau

When you looked at Esau you saw a boy and man that was self sufficient. He was a MAN’S MAN! Esau didn’t need God. Esau had all he needed (or so he thought). He had the looks. He had the birthright. He had the love of his father. You see, Isaac loved Esau. Esau was his favorite child. It’s like that show that used to be on television Everybody Loves Raymond. Esau had it all.

What did you see in Jacob? Jacob was a PLAIN man. He wasn’t captain of the football team. He wasn’t a cheer leader. He was nothing to his father. He had no birthright. But what Jacob did have was JACOB WAS A WEASLE. He was continually plotting and planning. He didn’t have everything like his brother had, but Jacob plotted with his mother to get what was his brother’s.

He didn’t have to do that, by the way. Had Jacob looked to the Lord the Lord would have blessed him. The Lord had planned from the very beginning that the elder shall serve the younger. That was God’s will.

Abram was an unknown and impotent man from ancient
Babylon until God made him Abraham.
David was an unknown shepherd boy until God made him King of Israel.
Elisha was an unknown ox farmer until God called him out.
Simon was an unknown fisherman until Jesus called him Peter.
Saul was a terrifying Pharisee until Jesus renamed him Paul.

Jacob was a broken man who was a sneak, a thief, a liar, and dishonored his father. He along with his mother Rebekeh tricked his father Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing (Genesis 27). Jacob dressed up like Esau and deceived his dying father into blessing him. When Esau came into the camp to be blessed Isaac told him that “thy brother came in with subtlety and hath taken away thy blessing (Genesis 27:35)”. The Bible says:

Genesis 27:41 …Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The dJoshuaays of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Jacob ran away from his brother. “Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran” (Genesis 28:10). While in Haran God spoke to Jacob, saying:

Genesis 28:13-14 … I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

Is God YOUR God?

Notice how God addressed Jacob. He said I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. DO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM with this statement? God does not say “Jacob, I am YOUR God”, but I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. Jacob is a broken man living life through his own power and wits. He tricked the birthright out of Isaac, and defrauded his brother Esau.

God is the God of Abraham.
God is the God of Isaac.
But God is NOT YET the God of Jacob.

Jacob goes to live with his uncle Laban. I don’t have time to preach through that episode of Jacob’s life, but suffice it to say that both he and his Uncle Laban did things that were not righteous nor right.

Our Blessing Comes When God Breaks Us

God told Jacob “Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.” (Genesis 31:3).

God was blessing Jacob, but Jacob still was not surrendered to God. Laban chased after Jacob and would have killed him, but God intervened. God protected Jacob. Now God told Jacob to go home – to go back to where Esau was.

If God tells you to do something
God will protect you in the doing!

As Jacob headed back toward Esau’s land the Bible says that God sent two angels to meet him. God sent these angels to inspire faith in Jacob. Jacob was supposed to trust in the Lord, to believe in His provision. Jacob was supposed to pray and trust the promises of God. God has sent angels his way. How did Jacob respond?

He continued to live by his emotions and his wits. Jacob sent messengers to Esau with this message:

Genesis 32:4-5 … Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: 5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and women servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

Jacob is trying to help himself. You know, that’s in the Bible:

God helps those who help themselves (1 Ecclesiasticas 1:1)

No – it’s not in the Bible. Jacob doesn’t turn to the Lord in prayer, but tries to sugar coat his way out of Esau’s anger. The messengers return and tell Jacob:

Genesis 32:6 … We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

Do you want the BAD NEWS or the BAD NEWS? Esau is coming – and he’s got 400 men with him. The Bible says:

Genesis 32:7 … Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed …

So Jacob divides his family into two parts. He thinks that if Esau kills half of the family then the other half will be able to escape. Having sent both halves of his family away Jacob prays … but his prayers tell us much about his faith. He prays:

Genesis 32:9-12 … O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. 11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. 12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Though this is a beautiful and heartfelt prayer notice how Jacob addresses God. He doesn’t pray like

King David prayed in 1 Chronicles 21:17 … “Oh Lord MY God …”

King Solomon prayed in 1 Kings 3:7 … “Oh Lord MY God..”
or as Ezra the Priest prayed in Ezra 9:5 … “unto the Lord MY God”..

or as the Psalmist prayed in Psalm 7:1, 3 … “Oh Lord, MY God”..

or as Habakkuk prayed in Habakkuk 1:12 … “Oh Lord, MY God” ..

He does not own God as his own. Jacob prays O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac. Jacob does not have his own faith, but relies on the faith of others. He has relied so often on his own abilities that he has no practical, objective faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Jacob sent bribes to his brother Esau to try and quell his deadly anger. But finally, when everyone was gone and Jacob was left alone we read:

Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

Who is this “man” who charges into Jacob’s camp and – without one word – wrestles with him all night long? Why did this “man” not say anything to him?

This “Man” is God Himself – I believe God the Son. God had tried talking to Jacob. He had called and called out to Jacob, but Jacob just wasn’t listening. God calls unto us to heed Him, but we get stubborn and keep on trying to do it ourselves. So God brings us to a place of struggle, of wrestling. We know that this is an Old Testament appearance of God the Son because of what the Prophet tells us in:

Hosea 12:2-4 … The Lord … will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. 3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;

When God brings us to a place of hopelessness it is them that we stop and begin to wrestle with Him in prayer. This wrestling that Jacob is going through is a turning point in his life. He has tried living his life as Jacob, a grifter, a thief, a liar. Now Jesus wrestles with him. God could have killed Jacob with one touch. He could have whispered death to him and he would have died. But the Lord does not want our deaths. What does the Lord want?

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is … longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God wants to bless Jacob. He wants to bless you. He could kill both you and I and Jacob for our disobedience, but rather than this He is willing to wrestle with us. He wants us to come to Him on HIS terms. When Jacob STILL would not hear our precious Lord Jesus did the kindest thing He could do:

Genesis 32:25 … he touched the hollow of {Jacob’s} thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

The Lord crippled Jacob. As He did this He told Jacob “let Me go, for the day breaketh”. Light was coming into Jacob’s crippled soul. Jacob says,

Genesis 32:26 … I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

God’s plan is to take hold of broken and fallen humanity – to seek the willing broken and make them WHOLE. God’s work of redemption is to make WHOLE men out of BROKEN men. The Lord asks Jacob “What is your name?” Jacob told the Lord his name, to which the Lord replied:

Genesis 32:28 … Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

It was in brokenness that Jacob became Israel. It was in brokenness that Israel found the Grace of God. Jacob named that place Peniel (meaning “I saw the face of God”). Jacob rejoiced, saying “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Genesis 32:30). John MacArthur wrote:

Jacob refused to let {Jesus} go until he received a blessing. That wasn’t a selfish request, but one that came from a heart devoted to being all God wanted him to be. That’s when the Lord changed Jacob’s name to “Israel,” which means “he fights or persists with God.”

Let us put aside ourselves – our Jacob like selves – and cast ourselves fully on our Jesus. We will not receive the blessings of God by plotting or conniving. When we receive God in all His fullness then we receive all that we need! May God draw you closer to Him in prayerful obedience.

Posted in Genesis, prayer, Praying Like Jesus Series, Sermons Preached | Tagged prayer, prayer series, Prayer_Be_See | Leave a comment

Christ The Door To The Comforter: Pray-Be-See Week 6, Morning Message

Posted on August 4, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Bradley Swenson on Unsplash

The Wisest King Needed A Comforter

In the King James text the word “comforter” is found in seven verses. In the Old Testament it is found first in the writings of King Solomon. Solomon was – according to the Bible – the wisest man who ever lived in his day (see 1 Kings 4:30). When Solomon was an old man he wrote:

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Solomon saw the oppression that the mighty brought on the weaker and was discouraged because, he said, they had no comforter. The King said “BETTER is the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). Without Comfort and a Comforter …

nâcham, {pronounced naw-kham}
NO Avenger, NO ONE to sorrow with us!

Solomon was unable – as wise as he was – to understand why many suffer – but even worse,
suffer without Comfort.

Because of this he said “I admire the dead more than the living” and then said “it is better that a person had never been than to have seen such evil” (my paraphrase of his statements). The Bible is without error, and records without error wrongful statements made by others. Was Solomon right in being so depressed that he admired the dead above the living – that he was almost suicidal in his thoughts? No, he was not wrong. But we all have often wondered about apparent injustices and evils unpunished in the world. We all have at times wondered and groaned at the inequities of life. We often have cried out – like David, Solomon’s father:

Psalm 73:3-7, 12-14 … I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. … 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

David says “I don’t understand. Why have I striven so hard to do the right, when the evil seem to prosper? Have I cleansed my heart in vain, washed my hands to no purpose?” Oh Beloved, I must tell you there are indeed times when we all are driven to despair. If Solomon – the wisest man who ever lived – could see no purpose or blessing in life. It often seems to us that life is filled with unfairness, where the rich get rich, the poor get poorer, and it seems as if there is no justice at all.

Where shall we find comfort?

The Strongest Prophet Needed A Comforter

The second and third times the word “comforter” is found in the King James is in the Book of Lamentations, a Book filled with sorrows. The Prophet Jeremiah cried out to the Lord as he saw the fallen state of his nation Israel. He cried out over Jerusalem as we who love America cry out over Washington DC.

Lamentations 1:8-9 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward. 9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: SHE HAD NO COMFORTER. O Lord, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.

Jeremiah cried – “Lamented” (which is where the title “Lamentations” comes from) he uses the word “comforter”. Jerusalem has NO COMFORTER {נָחַם nâcham, (pronounced naw-kham’)}. Where is the “Comforter” that will bless him? Jeremiah rightly says. Without the Comforter this strong and blessed Prophet cries out:

Lamentations 1:16-17 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed. 17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is NONE TO COMFORT HER: the Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.

The great Jeremiah cried out, {נָחַם nâcham, (pronounced naw-kham’)} .. NO COMFORTER! Neither Wise King nor Prophet Preacher have comfort. Sin has brought a wretchedness all around them. It is is significant in the Scripture that the first three instances where the word “Comforter” is written, the suffering and hopelessness that is brought is because of unaddressed sin and injustice in this life. Oh Beloved, where shall we find Comfort? Oh Beloved, where can we find a Comforter?SING!

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Solomon looked for comfort in himself, and all about himself. There was none there. Jeremiah looked for comfort in himself, and all around himself. There was none to be found.

Where do we find comfort?
Not in ourselves.
Not in our abilities.
Not in our power.
Not in our strength.
Only in Jesus.
Only in the power of His Spirit.
The Comforter, the Holy Spirit!

Yes, this was a lengthy introduction to today’s message, but it is so necessary. Unless you understand the mind of Israel and the mind of the prophets and kings of Israel’s day you will not understand what Jesus said. The first three times “Comforter is used in the Bible is in the Old Testament, the Old Covenant of works. It is always in the negative. It is always with a sense of hopelessness that NACHAM is spoken. But the next time you see the word “Comforter”it is in Christ’s Promise.

Listen.

Prayerfully listen.

John 14:15-18 IF YE LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

The Prophet and the King looked for a Comforter, but could find none at all. Israel looked for a Comforter. Sin had brought that nation low. Sin had destroyed the independence and the grandeur of Israel just as it destroys in America today. We believe – or have been led to believe – by television sitcoms that sin is acceptable, a humorous thing. Shows like “Will and Grace” and “M*A*S*H” introduced the wink of sin years ago. Today that which used to be done in the dark is now done in the light. That which we once were ashamed of we now laugh at and mock those who will not accept it. Recently our national leadership decided to raise our debt ceiling to 22 TRILLION dollars. We are spending money like water from a fire hose to support lifestyles that our Lord Jesus frowned on. Laziness is rewarded, welfare abounds, and medicine seeks to extend life so that we look to the doctors for eternal life rather than to God our Creator.

Where is the Comforter?
Where is MY Comforter?

Jesus said If ye love me, keep my commandments. What are Jesus’ commandments? What has our Lord Jesus ordered us ALL to do? Well let’s seek out His Words. What were the FIRST WORDS Jesus said in the Gospels? What are the first “Red Letter” words. One comedian said “them RED LETTERS are the most important words – that’s why they are RED”. Well, all the words of Scripture are important. All are “God breathed” and are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). But what are the first words of Christ recorded? The first Gospel written was the Gospel of Mark, and the first publicly spoken words of Christ that He spoke as He began His ministry was:

Mark 1:15 … The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Here is the Doorway to the Comforter – it is Jesus! We must REPENT, turn from the ways of darkness, and turn TOWARD the Son. We must love Jesus, and He will provide comfort and the Comforter.

In the context where Jesus promises a Comforter He says If ye love me, keep my commandments. This is His first commandment given. REPENT. Turn from where you are going. Turn from what you are following. Stop walking toward the cliff of destruction. Stop marching in step with the lost world toward the lake of fire that burneth forever and ever. Oh Beloved do you not know that:

Revelation 21:8 … the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Stop following DEATH.
Stop following DARKNESS.
Stop following DESPAIR.
Stop pursuing the DEVIL.
REPENT. Turn. Follow Jesus.
Follow Jesus.
Keep HIS Commandments.

1 John 5:3 … this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Oh, His commandments “are not grievous”. They are not HARD. Stop walking in sexual sin. Stop chasing after that which God has not endorsed. God made you in His image and in His likeness (Genesis 1:27). God wants you to be like Him!

You were created for eternity.
You were created to follow Jesus.
You were created to live victoriously.
Not notoriously, but victoriously.
You were made to walk and talk with God.

Repent. Turn. Follow Jesus.
He came for sinners like you and I.
He came to bless us, to lift us up.
He came to free us from the DEVIL’S TRAP.

I was watching something on television – I forget what it was, but that is of little matter – when a man stepped into a bear trap. The trap was set for bear – for an animal. Now I hate the thought of anyone setting such a thing. To me, such a trap is cruel and inhumane, and should be outlawed. Yes, OUTLAWED. But nevertheless this man was going through the woods and stepped in the bear trap, chained to a tree. As he bled – oh, how he bled – he struggled to free that trap. Someone came along – another person – who tried to free him to no avail. Without the key the trap could not be sprung. As this man bled the man who found him suggested a solution. “Cut off the limb. Cut it off, and I will help you limp back to civilization”. What a horrible choice to make. But isn’t this the way of our world today. We look to others for salvation. We are caught in the devil’s trap of sin. We are bound by it’s teeth, grinding into our flesh.

Alcohol. We drink to find solace – and none is found.
We destroy our livers and our bodies.
Sex. We chase the opposite or the same sex.
We contract disease. We destroy ourselves.
Technology. We focus on I-Phones, and ignore others around us.
Our I-Phones have become I-dols – sucking our money and lives away.
Prosperity. We will be happy if we have more STUFF.
We are bound by satanic creditors.
Life. We think doctors alone will give us life.
They give, as they take all of our wealth!

We rightly read in Job 14:1 (KJV) Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Who will help me out of satan’s bear trap?
Who will have the key to release it’s jaws from my life?
Who? Jesus. JESUS, that’s Who!

If you repent and follow Jesus you will find rest.
What does Jesus promise to those who follow Him?

John 14:15-18 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he SHALL give you another Comforter, that he may ABIDE WITH YOU FOR EVER; 17 Even the Spirit of TRUTH; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

The Comforter that Solomon in all his wisdom could not find is the Comforter that Jesus will send to you.

The Comforter that Jeremiah – as great a prophet as he was – that Comforter Jesus shall send to you.

The Bible tells us that the NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE is to be COMFORTED. When the Apostle Paul …

Acts 9:29, 31 … spake BOLDLY in the NAME OF THE LORD JESUS … THEN had the churches REST throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and WERE EDIFIED; and WALKING IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD, and IN THE COMFORT of the Holy Ghost, WERE MULTIPLIED.

Many Churches today have no more comfort than the lost outside the Church. Why? BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO REPENTANCE. Jesus promised the Comforter, but ONLY on the condition of our obedience.

Jesus said “When you REPENT and heed the Gospel (that is, follow Jesus) then Jesus promised I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter. God the Holy Spirit will come to you. You cannot receive God the Spirit if you are still walking according to your own ways. But when you come to Jesus – and surrender to Him as King of Kings and only Savior – then He prays for you. Jesus will plead (ἐρωτάω erōtáō, pronounced er-o-tah’-o) with the Father on your behalf. Oh what a joy it is to come to Jesus, to bring your brokenness to Him.Sing!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Plead the Son, and He will plead the Father. When Jesus pleads the Father he shall give you another Comforter. Not maybe. Will. Absolutely will. The Holy Spirit will come into your life. Christ will free you from the bear trap of sin, and the Spirit will free you from the hopelessness that the world wallows in. But Jesus tells us:

John 14:15-18 the Father … shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The world – that which is trapped in satan’s bear trap – the world cannot receive the Spirit of God, the Third Person of the Trinity. The world cannot receive the abiding comfort that the indwelling Comforter gives to Christ’s Children. There is no Comforter given to the worldly. Not too long ago a certain politician said:

“… if you have a problem with who I am, your problem is not with me. Your quarrel … is with my creator.” The politician went on to explain the difficulty he had in his earlier life, saying: “It’s hard to face the truth that there were times in my life when, if you had shown me exactly what it was inside me that made me gay, I would have cut it out with a knife.”

I will not argue with the man trapped in the bear trap, but I will say this. Jesus told us that The Holy Spirit – the Comforter:

John 14:26 … the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost …. 16:7-11 … Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

This politician is like many in the world today. They will not heed Christ’s commandments. They are caught in a bear trap. They call on human means for freedom, but none come forth. The trap holds them tight. Then along comes the Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes to CONVICT or REPROVE sin. That was why this politician felt so ill at ease with his lifestyle. The Spirit will REPROVE the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. That word REPROVE is the Greek ἐλέγχω elénchō, {pronounced el-eng’-kho} which means “to chasten, to admonish, to tell a fault, to rebuke”. The Spirit of God comes with the key to release the jaws of the bear trap. He affirms the words of Christ.

Recognize that sin is a bear trap.
Cry out to Christ to release it.
The Spirit comes with the key.
That key is the Cross of Christ.
Repent, turn to Jesus.
He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)!

Sadly, some choose to normalize the bear trap. “I cannot get it off of me. My friends cannot get it off of me. So I will stay entrapped. I will get used to it’s pressure. I will normalize the limp. I will find others who normalize the limp. And we will – together – mark in step to the jangle of chains, limping through life, ignoring God our Creator.

Oh Beloved, let it not be so!
Take the Gift of God.
What is that “Gift”?
It is Jesus.
It is the Spirit filled life.
That is the heritage of the Christ follower.
That is where God wants you to be.

John 4:14 … whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit …

To come to Jesus is to find your sins forgiven.
To come to Jesus is to find the bear trap broken.
To come to Jesus is to find new life.
Will you not come to Jesus?Sing!

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

May God touch your hearts with his Word.

Posted in John, prayer, Praying Like Jesus Series, Sermons Preached | Tagged Comfort, Comforter, Following Christ, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ | Leave a comment

Pray-Be-See We Should Pray

Posted on August 1, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

WidowPraying

Photo by Guilherme Romano on Unsplash

Luke 18:1-8 And {Jesus} spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he widowwould not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

When we read our Bibles we often miss the little words, the garnish on the plate of the text. The little words matter. In our text today the first little word is the word And. The And ties this parable to what Jesus was saying before the parable. What Jesus was saying is so very important. In the previous chapter Jesus was telling His disciples that He is coming again. Jesus told us that the condition of the world would get very bad. He said:

Luke 17:22-24 The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. 24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

Jesus said that the day that He comes will be “like the days of Noah”, where no one had time for God. They were so busy.

Luke 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

People were busy seeking their own happiness and not the face of God. They were busy satisfying themselves physically, but ignoring God spiritually.

Luke 17:28-30 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Jesus uses the illustrations of Noah and of Sodom and Gomorrah to show how far people will draw away from God before He comes again. It is going to be rough for those who are followers of Christ.

It was rough for Noah.
It was rough for Lot.
It will be rough for us.

It is in the midst of this “end time preaching” that Jesus gives us an And followed by a parable on prayer.

The things that we are seeing in America and in the world today are but precursors to the coming of our Lord Jesus. The end of time is not far from us. What should we do as we wait on our Lord? PRAY!

The Key To The Parable Is Given Before The Parable

The commentator Matthew Henry said: “This parable has its key hanging at the door.” Jesus usually spoke parables – earthly stories with heavenly meaning in a certain way. He would give the parable then, when the disciples looked puzzled, Jesus would explain the parable. This particular parable is the opposite of Christ’s other parables. In this parable He gives the key – then He gives the parable. When Jesus does something unique we need to stop and pay particular attention to it. So let’s start with the key.

Luke 18:1 And {Jesus} spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

As times get darker and trials seem greater Jesus tells us men ought always to pray, and not to faint. The word translated faint is the Greek ἐκκακέω ekkakéō, (pronounced ek-kak-eh’-o) which means “to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted, to lose courage”. Jesus knew as the times got darker and the world more evil and far from the love of God that His disciples would be tempted to give up, to quit. In the Middle Ages many committed Christians became “monks”, withdrawing from the world and building fortified towns where they could keep the world out. Even today many who profess Christ separate themselves into cloisters. The most extreme view we have of this in our area are the Amish believers. They withdraw into closed communities and block out the world, preferring to follow the old paths rather than reach out in the name of Jesus.

If the Christian hides his light under a bushel because of the evil days, or hides from the world rather than be the salt of the earth, then how can the Kingdom of God grow?

This is why Jesus asked at the end of the parable:

Luke 18:8 … Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

If God’s people “faint” or give up, just quit trying, then the darkness will grow greater because there is no resistance to the darkness. The only way to combat darkness is to BE LIGHT. The Apostle Paul knew this. Commissioned to go among the Gentiles with the Gospel, Paul was attacked by both Jew and Gentile for the ministry he had been given. Yet the Apostle said:

2 Corinthians 4:1-4 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Though being the Light of God in the midst of a dark world is tough we keep on going through prayer. We do not serve God in our power, but in HIS power. The Apostle said:

2 Corinthians 4:14-18 … Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Pastor Adrian Rogers once said, “Prayerlessness is a spirit of independence from God.” If we are going to survive as Christians and as Christ’s Church in this devilish world we must keep on praying. We do not have the power necessary to overcome the darkness … but God does.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 … But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Be Persistent In Prayer Regardless

Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to “come boldly to the throne of grace…”. Old time preacher and Puritan Thomas Watson wrote:

“Prayer delights God’s ear, it melts His heart, it opens His hand:
God cannot deny a praying soul.”

In this parable Jesus speaks of an unjust judge. He said:

Luke 18:2-3 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

Now our God is not unjust. Our God is perfectly righteous in all His actions. Our God does not show favoritism, nor can He be bribed:

Acts 10:34-35 … God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Our God never mistreats us, nor does He condone mistreating anyone

Zechariah 7:9-10 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Our God will one day reward us for our works for Him, just as He will punish the evil doer:

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Colossians 3:24-25 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

There is coming a payday someday. The good you did that was never recognized by any will be rewarded by your Lord. The evil that was done under the table, or the good you refused to do, will also be rewarded. There is a payday coming someday, and we will receive from our Just God our due. So God is not unjust.

So WHY did Jesus use the picture
of an UNJUST JUDGE in this parable?

It’s very simple. Look at who is going to the unjust judge.

there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying,
Avenge me of mine adversary

In Jesus’ day the person who would have the least influence in society was either a widow or an illegitimate child. Women had little power in the ancient Jewish world. Women could not inherit, as a rule, lands. Women did not serve as Senators, nor on the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews. Many men misused women, divorcing them for any cause. The only true power a woman had was through her husband. The widow was absolutely helpless. She had nothing. This particular widow had no adult children, else the sons would have stood up for her rights. The widow had only one resource. She could talk. She could petition. She could pray.

When we are weak and unable and bring our petitions to God, we are to persist until God gives us an answer!

This widow persisted in her request until the unjust judge answered her prayers. Now God is not unjust – but He expects us to pray. Jesus wants us to keep on praying, to keep on seeking His face, to keep on relying on Him and Him only for the answer. The Bible is filled with illustrations of people who were helpless but who prayed – and God blessed them through their prayers.

The delays and the darkness that we see should not be our focus. We need to focus on the Problem Solver, not the problems. We need to be persistent in prayer. When we are tried and we are weary, when we are like this widow in this parable, we need to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep trusting. E.M. Bounds wrote of a woman named Hannah who was childless, and prayed to the Lord to give her a child. Bounds wrote:

“If Hannah’s prayer for a son had been answered at the time she set for herself, the nation might never have known the mighty man of God it found in Samuel. Hannah wanted only a son, but God wanted more. He wanted a prophet, and a savior, and a ruler for His people. Someone said that ‘God had to get a woman before He could get a man.’ This woman He got in Hannah precisely by those weeks and months and years there came a woman with a vision like God’s, with tempered soul and gentle spirit and a seasoned will, prepared to be the kind of a mother for the kind of a man God knew the nation needed.” (W. E. Binderwolf)

Our God hears. Keep on praying! May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in Luke, prayer, Sermons Preached | Tagged prayer, prayer series, Prayer_Be_See, praying | Leave a comment

Serving God Wholeheartedly

Posted on July 29, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Trees To Cut

Joshua 17:12-18 (KJV) Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. [13] Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out. [14] And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto? [15] And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. [16] And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel. [17] And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: [18] But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.

Where you are sitting today there are three people. The person you were. Each of you have a history, a past. All that happened in your past makes you the person you are today. That’s the second person in your seat. The you that is. Right now. But there is another person, a future you. The you that will be. What will you be tomorrow? What will you be ten or fifteen years from now?

A few weeks ago we talked about a great man of God named Caleb (Joshua 14:6-15). I loved that sermon! I love that man! Though 85 years young Caleb stood in front of Joshua and looked back over a life of victory from following the Lord Jesus. Caleb’s testimony was:

“I wholly followed the LORD my God.”

Caleb met the Lord and gave his heart fully to the Lord. Because of that Caleb lived life as a VICTOR not a VICTIM.

Shall We Live Our Lives As VICTIMS or VICTORS? Following God Wholeheartedly Makes VICTORS!

Caleb was as strong in faith at age 85 as he was when he was 40. As the land was being distributed among the children of Israel Caleb asked not for the plush land, but the mountain of the Anakim – the giants. Why? Because Caleb trusted the Lord. He told Joshua:

“if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said”. (Joshua 14:12)

The Caleb that WAS trusted God so much that the Caleb that IS was ready for more challenge. He trusted his tomorrows to God. He looked with excitement toward the coming challenges.

And Then We Have MANASSEH!

The tribe of Manasseh came from a great past. Manasseh and Ephraim were sons of the great believer Joseph. If you remember the story Joseph (the boy with a coat of many colors) was well loved by his father Jacob, but despised by his brothers. He was taken and sold into slavery by his brothers, and ended up in Egypt. Joseph loved the Lord, and focused on our God no matter what trials he went through. When offered an opportunity for promotion by immoral means Joseph refused, saying:

Genesis 39:9 … how then can I do this great wickedness,
and sin against God?

Joseph’s faithfulness to God brought him a 13 year prison sentence, but also eventually brought him to a place as the right hand man of the King of Egypt. God blessed Joseph for his faithfulness. Joseph had two children, Manasseh (meaning “God caused me to forget my troubles”{Genesis 41:51}) and Ephraim (meaning “God has made me fruitful” {Genesis 41:52}). Joseph was a might man of God, and his children should have been mighty men of God.

Manasseh Was Unclear In Their Faith

Manasseh had a habit of what I’d call an “unclear faith”. They were “fencesitters”. God calls His people to be “LIGHT” not half-light. People see “light”. You cannot live for Christ in the shadows, nor follow God in the darkness. The Christ child is to stand OUT and stand UP. Others should know Who you follow. The Christ child should be OPEN and HONEST. You are to be a city on a hill that cannot be hid! (see Matthew 5:14).

Before Israel entered the Promised Land two tribes – Reuben and Gad – came to Moses. Their request was simple. They did not want any of the Promised Land, but wanted to live on the eastern side of the Jordan River (Numbers 32:1-5). Moses responded to Reuben and Gad saying:

Numbers 32:6-7 … Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? 7 And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord hath given them?

God wanted his people to be unified as they entered the Promised Land. For two of the tribes to sit on the other side of the Jordan while ten tribes went forward was shocking to Moses, and not according to the will of God. God calls His people to unity. Moses told Reuben and Gad:

Numbers 32:14-15 … ye are risen up in your fathers’ stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord toward Israel. 15 For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.

These words seem harsh, but they were clear and to the point. God calls His servants to “speak the TRUTH in LOVE” (Ephesians 4:15). When there is a disagreement in the Family of God we are to “speak the truth in love, loving God and loving our brother”. Only in open communication in the Spirit of God can the Family stay in one accord.

God did not want a divided family, so Reuben and Gad suggested that they build a place for their families and livestock on the Eastern side of the Jordan. THEN they would go forward with the rest of Israel to conquer the land. This was acceptable to God and to Moses. But here’s something I did not notice in this story until I prepared this sermon. Moses had the tribes of Reuben and Gad promise to “pass over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.” (Numbers 32:32). Only TWO TRIBES are discussed to this point.

Numbers 32:33 … Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph …

The leaders of Reuben and Gad brokered this deal openly and honestly with Moses and with God. But here after all was discussed – up pops Manasseh!

The children of Gad and of Reuben stood up and vowed allegiance to the will of God. But from Manasseh – absolutely nothing! Manasseh did not promise allegiance. Manasseh just came along for the ride. In the background they muttered “add us too” – and God in His Grace allowed them to have land on the eastern side of the Jordan.

God calls His people to be open, loving, and KNOWN in our faith. Our Lord Jesus called we who are His people to be open and obvious about our faith. We are not to force anyone to believe as we believe. But we are to clearly represent our Lord. Jesus told us:

Matthew 10:14 … And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Jesus told us that “you shall be hated of all men because of Me” (Matthew 10:22). The Way of Light is not an easy way. The world is in darkness, but we are to shine for Jesus. Our Lord said:

Matthew 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Reuben and Gad as well as the other nine tribes are a picture of the committed Christ follower. The committed Christ follower is a saved believer. The committed Christ follower loves the Lord wholeheartedly. The committed Christ follower wants all the blessing that God has for their life. The committed Christ follower wants to hear from God and wants to do His will. The committed Christ follower loves his brothers and sisters in the Lord, and wants to be an encourager and not a discourager to their faith.

Unclear Faith Leads To An Uncommitted Following

Manasseh is saved by faith in God. Manasseh is no longer a slave of Egypt, but is a citizen of the household of God. Manasseh came from good stock. The Father of Manasseh is Joseph, a man of deep faith. But Manasseh is uncommitted. Manasseh is sneaky. Manasseh is only partially committed and partially obedient to God. Manasseh never makes a bold move for God. Manasseh is in the shadows. An unclear faith leads to uncommitted followers. We read:

Joshua 17:12-13 (KJV) Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. [13] Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.

Manasseh was given land but “could not drive out the inhabitants”. Was this because they were physically unable to do so? No, because we read in our context “they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out”. The children of Manasseh decided that – rather than obey the command of God and drive out the Canaanites that they would seek compromise with these lost peoples. If Manasseh could force the Canaanites to “pay tribute” or taxes to them, they could certainly have forced the Canaanites to flee the land. It was not that Manasseh COULD NOT do it PHYSICALLY, but that they SPIRITUALLY WOULD NOT because they allowed their flesh to lead them and not God’s Spirit.

The Canaanites as a people rejected God our Creator and Savior. Rahab told the Israelis “WE (Canaanites) have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon, and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted” (Joshua 2:11). Though the Canaanites knew God and Israel His children they utterly rejected Him, just as the world today utterly rejects the Lord Jesus Christ.

God told His people in Judges 2:1 … you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this? Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.

The faith that God calls us to is a committed and uncompromising faith. How many local Churches today in America have compromised the message of the Gospel of Christ in order to please the world around us? How many professing Christians have chosen partial obedience to our Lord over full obedience? How many of you under the sound of my voice know what God has said but only do a part of what He said. Has not our God said:

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

We are commanded to “speak the truth in love” {Ephesians 4:15}.
We are to remember we are “bought with a price” {1 Corinthians 6:20}.

We are “not become slaves to the lost” {1 Corinthians 7:23}.
But are to be “the light of the world, a city not hid” {Matthew 5:14}.
The children of the Most High glorify God in our lives
{1 Corinthians 10:31}.
We do not compromise with the worldling. We heed His call!
“I am crucified with Christ – nevertheless I live” {Galatians 2:20}.
My hands are His. My feet are His. His scars are mine.
This is what God calls His children to be.

When We Fail To Follow We Lose God’s Blessing

Joshua 17:14 (KJV) And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?

You’ll never be happy Christ followers if you do not commit to wholeheartedly serve God. Never! I have pastored Churches in three states over the last 25 years of my life. I promise you that the saddest believers I’ve seen are those who never fully commit to the Lord.
Do not be a Manasseh!

The Manasseh Christian is the perpetually dissatisfied Christian.
Manasseh grumbles and complains.
Manasseh whispers and finds fault.
When Manasseh turns into a mob it revolts.

“Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit”? This is a very untrue statement. Manasseh – if you remember (and I hope you do, because I don’t want to have to re-preach this today) Manasseh got a generous portion of land on the East side of the Jordan. They are now complaining “Why hast thou given me but one lot”? The word translated “lot” is the Hebrew גּוֹרָל gôwrâl, (pronounced go-rawl’). The lot was a series of marked stones that were cast – much like the casting of the modern dice. Lots were cast to determine the will of God (Leviticus 16:8-10; Numbers 26:56; 33:54; 34:13; Joshua 14:2; et. al.). In the days before the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God was given disputes were settled by the casting of the lot. The Bible tells us that:

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

When God told His people to “cast lots” it was HE and not CHANCE that was controlling the outcome. Manasseh is complaining that they were only given ONE lot and one portion. They are not complaining about Joshua treating them wrong – they are complaining or murmuring against God. I loved what Brother Bob Pitman said during our recent revival. He said – and I quote:

“God is not FAIR but God is ALWAYS RIGHT”.

That is absolutely true. God gives us what we need according to our abilities. If you will remember the parable of the talents. In that parable Jesus spoke of God giving three men talents. The Scripture says:

Matthew 25:15 And unto one {man the Lord} gave five talents, to another {man the Lord gave} two, and to another {man the Lord gave}one; to every man according to his several ability …

God did not divide to each person according to fairness but according to their ability. Beloved, what God has given you, He has given you according to your ability. That’s not based on fairness, but on God’s love for you. You have what God knows you can handle. Manasseh thought they were being treated badly because of their heritage. They complained seeing I am a great people. They came from great stock. They had a great family line. They thought they “deserved” more because of their history. Joshua replied to their complaint as God guided his tongue. He said:

Joshua 17:12-15 (KJV) If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.

Quit expecting welfare. Quit riding on the coat tails of your forefather Joseph, and your fellow tribes Reuben and Gad. God gave you what you have. If mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee then do something about it. Quit crying and hoping. Trust in the Lord, cut down some trees, and do the first thing – run the enemy out. Manasseh wanted to argue with Joshua and with God. They responded:

Joshua 17:16 … The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.

When Manasseh first received the land they had the choice of obeying God or not. They chose compromise with the world rather than obedience to God. What came of this? Their failure to do the first thing – obeying God – caused the Canaanites to become STRONGER. The Canaanites now have chariots of iron. Had they loved God as they should at the beginning, the Canaanite defeat would be easier. But their disobedience has allowed the darkness to grow stronger.

I heard the story once of a woman who loved to keep pythons as pets. She somehow got hold of some pythons, and though it was against the law to have them in your home she secretly fed and played with these things. One night a 9-1-1 operator got a call. The person on the other end of the line gasped out. “Save me. I’m being strangled!” When the police arrived at her home they expected to find and stop a home invasion. What they found was a blue face and dead woman with a nine foot python wrapped around her body. Beloved, when we disobey God or allow sin to remain in our lives, when we violate our Lord’s Commandments, we invite destruction. Be sure your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23). Joshua’s direction to Manasseh was:

Joshua 17:17-18 … Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: [18] But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.

What Joshua said to Manasseh is similar to what the Lord said to the Church of Ephesus:

Revelation 2:5 … Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Joshua told Manasseh to remember.

Remember you are a great people.
You have been saved by the Almighty God.
You are children of the Most High.
You are VICTORS, not VICTIMS.
You have what you need to defeat the darkness.
Remember! Remember! Remember!

The Church of Christ must remember what it is. It is the Kingdom of God. There is nothing that our God cannot do. Repent! Cast out all disobedience. Be sold out for God, living for His glory. Then and only then will you enjoy His power and blessing in your life.

May God touch your hearts with his Word!

Posted in Joshua, Sermons Preached | Tagged blessings, Manasseh, serving christ, serving God | Leave a comment

I-Phones, I-Dols, Or I Serve (A Communion Message)

Posted on July 28, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Revelation 14:12-13 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.

The Christian Serves A Living Savior
Not An Idol

When I say the word “Idol” many of you will think of the television show American Idol. Some of you will think of a carved Buddha, or a statue of Mary or some strange Egyptian deity. I read an article the other day where the pastor postulated that perhaps that I-Phone everyone is so entranced by is an idol. It could be. The average American – I am told – looks at his or her I-Phone every 10 minutes … but rarely at the Bible.

What is an “Idol”? Herbert Schlossberg wrote in his book Idols for Destruction: “Idolatry in its larger meaning is properly understood as any substitution of what is created for the Creator.” (emphasis mine)

We as the Children of God are to love our Lord unreservedly.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

God emphasizes to His people there is but ONE God Who is LORD of all. This God is majestic in Being. He is all encompassing. He is all mighty. There is no other God but Him. He is unique in His Tri-Unity – Father, Son, and Spirit. To put anything or anyone in place of this amazing, gracious and kind God is a form of insanity.

I entered a Christian owned business the other day.
It’s now open on Sunday.
Many Christian schools have sports events on Sundays.
Is this is what God has called us to do?
A Youth Minister was fired for requiring his young charges
to leave their phones in a box outside the classroom
while he was teaching the Bible.

We who are His are to be salt and light. We are …

Bought from out of the world by the Blood of the Son of God.
Born again out of the world by the Holy Spirit of God.

Bestowed with irrevocable citizenship in the Kingdom by God our Father.
Blessed with all the promises of this glorious Book.

We are to be patient and focused upon out Lord.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the SAINTS

We worship no idols, but only our God. We serve Him. We are SAINTS, ἅγιος hagios, those set apart from the world as God’s Kingdom. We are not idolaters, but followers of the Most High God.

Revelation 14:12-13 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

God’s children by faith in Christ are overcomers. Being changed by God we “keep the commandments of God” …

… and His commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3)

“and the faith of Jesus”. Our faith in Christ does not wane. We follow His example. We heed His command. It is no Christian who does not do both keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. We follow our Risen Savior.

Write So It Can Be Seen By All

God wanted John to do something. Listen. Listen.

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write…

These words are so very important. There is a life beyond this one. There is a judgment yet to come. You will ALL be effected by this. Write…!

Revelation 14:13 BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS; and THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM.

There are three truths stated in this text. The three statements are:

1. Blessed are the dead that WHICH DIE IN THE LORD

2. THEY will REST from their LABORS

3. The dead will have their WORKS FOLLOW THEM.

Let’s look at each of these points. First:

Blessed Are The Dead That DIE IN THE LORD

Heaven does not tell John to write “Blessed are the dead”. Not all of the dead are “blessed”. Every time someone dies who, in the latter part of their lifetime, suffered some type of affliction, I will inevitably hear these words from someone:

“They are better off where they are now.”

Are they? Is there any place in Scripture that tells us EVERYONE is better off on the other side of this life? No, not at all. It is promised to the Christ follower:

Romans 6:23 … the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The follower of Christ has eternal life. Jesus Christ is not only the key to Heaven, but He is the key to life itself. Jesus promises that …

John 11:25-26 … I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Jesus Christ IS the RESURRECTION. Dying on the Cross of Calvary, being crucified for our sins, Jesus finished that which the Father gave Him to do. JESUS DEFEATED DEATH AND SIN. Because Jesus died for our sins we can – by faith and obedience to Him – have our sins forgiven. When we who are His children by faith die Jesus has promised whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall NEVER DIE. This is true for all who believe on Him and receive Him as Lord and Savior. As Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary the Bible says that there were two thieves who died with Him, one on either side. One thief did not believe in Christ. The other thief believed in Jesus. He pulled himself up on his bloody station and said:

Luke 23:42 … Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into thy kingdom.

Jesus told this repentant man:

“Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise”

As the day came to a close the soldiers went about breaking the legs of those on the torturous crosses. When they came to Jesus He had already died. Piercing His side with a spear blood and water ran out of our Lord (John 19:34).

I can imagine that executioner coming to the two thieves. As he prepares to break the legs of these two men I can imagine him comforting them by saying:

“You will be better off when you die.”

For ONE of those thieves this was a true statement. For the one who cried out “Lord, Remember me”, he DIED IN THE LORD. He served the Lord by believing on Him even in his suffering. THIS is the work of God, to believe on HIM that God the Father has sent (John 6:29). Though his hands and feet were bound his heart belonged to Jesus. He died horribly – but awoke in glory and in the splendor of Heaven.

But for the other man, the unbelieving thief, what of him? He is not blessed. Not believing in Christ he went from the hell of that cross to the hell of hell. He went to a place that the rich man of Luke 16 said:

“I am tormented in this flame!” (Luke 16:24)

Oh Beloved, there is a difference between those who DIE, and those who DIE IN THE LORD. There is no blessing for those who die. No matter how bad your life was, it is much worse if you die apart from Christ.

They Will Rest From Their Labors

Revelation 14:13 … Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that THEY may rest from their labors

The Child of Christ is called to labor in this life with our Lord. Do you notice that it is the Holy Spirit that says of the believers they may rest from their labors.

The Spirit of God labors with us as we do His work.

The Spirit empowers us. Jesus described the Christian way of life as being influencers. When Jesus first called His disciples He said:

Matthew 4:19 … Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

When you follow Jesus you will become a fisher of men. Christ will make you a fisher of men, someone who catches souls for His Kingdom. This is a labor. What does a fisherman do? A fisherman catches fish. He draws the fish from one world into another. You cannot be a fisherman and a fish. You can be one or the other. Jesus calls us to labor for Him, to draw others into the Kingdom of God and away from the kingdom of darkness.

Jesus also used the images of salt and light to describe the Christian way of life.

Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Both salt and light are influencers and illuminators.

Salt enhances flavor, whereas light enables clear vision. The Christian works for Christ, being like Jesus, shining for Him where ever they go. We are not to be like the world, but we are to imitate our Lord Jesus.

The following passage is unique in all the Gospels … it is only found in the Gospel of John. Jesus wanted to show His disciples how we are to live our lives. In Christ’s day most people walked through dirty streets with bare feet or sandaled feet. Because of this it became a tradition that when you went into someone’s home you washed your feet. The rich often had servants to do this for you, but most people washed their own feet. As Jesus and His disciples entered a home one day Jesus washed their feet. We read:

John 13:12-17 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one anothers feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Now some have taken this passage and ritualized it, as if it were a sacrament. It is not a sacrament. We do not – in American society or in most civilized nations today – need to wash feet. Washing feet was a sanitary requirement of Christ’s day. To ritualize this or make it a sacrament is to miss the point. Jesus said I have given you an example. The word translated example (ὑπόδειγμα hypódeigma, pronounced hoop-od’-igue-mah) means “a pattern to follow”. The Christian is to serve others as Christ served us. We are to imitate His humility, His willingness to stoop and do the hard things so as to benefit those around us.

This is the problem in many Churches today. Professing Christians – like grasshoppers – hop from Church to Church until they find an assembly that will serve them. Many want to be waited on. But the Christian is called to a life of willing service, being salt and light in a world that is tasteless and dark. We are to serve one another and lift up others, and so serve Christ. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, showed us the way of righteousness. We are called to labor for Him until we reach the end of this life. Only in glory can we rest from our labors as salt and light. Until then,

Galatians 6:9 … let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Finally,

The Dead Will Have Their WORKS Follow Them

I heard our evangelist Bob Pitman use an illustration about John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest men in the world. When Rockefeller died two men were talking. The first asked, “I wonder how much money Rockefeller left when he died?” The second replied, “All of it my friend. All of it.” When you die everything you have stays behind. Everything that is but ONE thing. What is that one thing that goes with you? Look at our text:

Revelation 14:13 … Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.

The Bible makes it clear that you are not saved by your works, but you are saved because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. The Scripture is clear:

Titus 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We are not saved by works, but by HIS WORK. But Beloved once we are saved Jesus calls us to labor for His Kingdom. We are called to be like Jesus. We are imitators of Christ, and imitators of God. We are to do good, not evil. When we die we are to remember their works do follow them. What you did, or did not do, will follow you. Your bank account, your home, even you own body will stay on this earth. But your works – their works do follow them.

If you are NOT saved by faith in Christ, if you have not been changed from darkness to light, if you are not a member of His Kingdom and a follower of His commandments … even so their works do follow them. The dead who do NOT die in the Lord are mentioned in Revelation 20:11-15. In this passage those who are idolaters stand in front of the God that they spent their entire lives ignoring. How are they judged?

Revelation 20:12-13 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

What happens to the dead who died NOT in the Lord? They failed to work the work of God. What is the “work of God”? Jesus said:

John 6:29 … This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Those cast into the Lake of Fire have never done THE work of God. They have not believed on Jesus. So God shows them that their names are NOT written in the Book of Life. They are the DEAD who DIED IN THEMSELVES. They are not blessed, but cursed. Oh Beloved, do not be one of these poor creatures. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust in Him. Follow Him. Your works will follow you.

Heaven awaits those who belong to Jesus. Your works will follow you. Rewards will come. Live for Him today – now – so that you can live joyously in eternity.

May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in Communion, Revelation, Sermons Preached | Tagged Communion, Revelation, serving christ, serving God | Leave a comment

Revival at Riverview with Bob Pitman July 21st

Posted on July 21, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Bob Pitman Joyful Five 2019.JPG

8:30 am service:

Bob Pitman Jim Linam 2019.JPG

11:00 am service:

Eagle Flying

6 pm Audio Message:

Posted in Revivals, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bob Pitman | Leave a comment

Lessons From Gethsemane

Posted on July 18, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash

James 1:2-8 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

The word rendered as “temptations” is the Greek πειρασμός peirasmós, (pronounced pi-ras-mos’) which does not mean “temptations”that come from the flesh, the devil, or the world. We are told:

count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations

The word πειρασμός peirasmós, (pronounced pi-ras-mos’) here is better rendered “to try or prove the genuineness of a thing, to test so as to determine value”. Later in our text James tells us that:

James 1:12 … Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The Christian is not promised that there will not be trials in his or her life. The Christian is promised that ALL trials that come will prove the genuineness of our salvation. The faith that saves is the faith that endures. A faith that will not endure a trial is a counterfeit faith … and unworthy to make anyone a member of the Family of God.

You have all seen cashiers at stores test twenty dollar bills with a felt tip pen. With the advances that computers, printers, and scanners have made over the years it is possible for counterfeiters to scan and print twenty dollar bills on regular paper. Regular paper is made of wood cellulose bound together with starch based glue, whereas American money is printed on cotton or linen fabric bound together under high heat. The felt tip pen the cashiers use has an iodine solution that reacts to the starch glue in regular paper. If the bill is counterfeit, the pen mark will be dark brown or black. If not, the mark will be light or nearly blend in to the bill.

God uses trials to test His children. When His children by faith in Christ are tried they may be marked by the trial. But the mark of the trial will not destroy that child, but prove that he or she is indeed a child of God.

Trials Are Described As A CONTROLLED Fall
For The Christ Follower

count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations

I have never planned a fall – it always just happens. I got up from bed last night – I won’t say why – but as I got on my feet I stood up too fast and nearly fell over. Had I not grabbed the dresser nearby I would have fallen. No older person plans a fall. We do our best to avoid it. The phrase “when ye fall” is the Greek περιπίπτω peripíptō, (pronounced per-ee-pip’-to) which means “to fall INTO something that is all around you”. I almost “fell into the floor” (for that was all around me) but I did not – thank the Lord – because the dresser was near to hand and I was able to grab it.

If you are tried in your faith by God and are truly a saved by faith child of God, then God will be all around you. He will grab you when you are tried!

The Psalmist said … Psalm 37:9 … evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. … 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but …

the Lord upholdeth the righteous.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

A trial of faith is a fall – unplanned by the believer in Christ but planned and controlled by God. God is ALL AROUND the believer. When we FALL, we shall not BE UTTERLY CAST DOWN. Why? Because God is all around us!

Psalm 139:1-3 O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou COMPASSEST my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

God ENCOMPASSES or encircles us when we walk (my path) and when we do not walk (my lying down). When the Christ child falls into trials the Father allows us to stumble, but not to utterly fall. He encircles us as we go through our day. He guards us as we guarded our toddling children, teaching them to walk while protecting them from deep physical harm. This is why the Apostle Paul could say with confidence:

Romans 8:28 … And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Our Lord Jesus was Himself tested. He was tested in the wilderness by Satan (Matthew 4), and was tested in Gethsemane. The Bible tells us that:

Matthew 26:36-38 … Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

What Can I Apply To My Life From Gethsemane?

As Jesus faced His final great trial – the Cross of Calvary – He took Peter, James, and John with Him to pray in Gethsemane. Jesus asked these three men – all leaders in the early Church – to pray with Him and watch with Him. We see several things in Jesus’ approach to trial:

When tried, Jesus sought the companionship of like minded believers. He sought out leaders in the Church, people well acquainted with His life and prayer. It amazes me when people are tried that they often go to the lost, or to people as messed up as they are! Jesus could have asked anyone to go and pray with Him in Gethsemane, but He chose those three that He had discipled the hardest – Peter, James, and John.

In the 2008 movie Fireproof when the marriage of Caleb and Catherine Holt is in trouble, Catherine goes to her lost friends and, in tears, tells all the bad things that Caleb did. What was her “friends” responses?

“Honey, I agree with you. You gotta get out. He don’t deserve you.” … (another friend chimes in) “You can say that again. A real man’s got to be a hero to his wife before he can be to anybody else, or he ain’t a real man.” … (the third friend weighs in) “Catherine, do you need a place to stay? I can’t imagine living in the same house as that man.”

Going through a trial relying on carnal people giving carnal advice does nothing to help a Christian grow in patience or in wisdom. In fact, seeking advice from someone who is unbiblical in their approach to life is going to add to rather than help put out the fire. Jesus called Peter, James, and John and asked them to pray and watch with Him as He sought the Father’s face.

All born on the face of this earth are tried – even Jesus. To be a child of God does not guarantee you will not be tried. Being a child of God guarantees you will be tried. If you are a child of God following the will of the Father you will be tried. Our Lord Jesus said:

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye SHALL have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus did not say you MIGHT have tribulation, but ye SHALL have tribulation. The Christ and His people are light in the midst of darkness (see 2 Corinthians 4:6). Light is a thing – darkness is not. Darkness is the absence light. Did you know that a lit match has no shadow whatsoever?

Light cannot have a shadow, as darkness is the absense of light!

If you belong to God and are in any way human, you WILL be tried. The world will hate you. The world will hate your Church. The Church that operates within the standard of God’s will will indeed be called:

Intolerant
Haters
Racists
Homophobes
Prudes

You will find yourself at odds with the lost world. But Beloved, do not fear. The Apostle Paul told us that we would be tried. The Church not tried by the world is the Church following the lost and not the Lord. But if we follow the Lord we will be tried as Paul was tried. But be encouraged, for he told us:

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus wanted Peter, James, and John to watch and pray with Him in Gethsemane. This is why He invited them into the Garden with Him. He did not want their opinions nor even their encouragement – Jesus wanted them to pray. To PRAY!

James 1:5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.

In the midst of the trial we lack wisdom. We often because of fear and trembling lose our bearings. What do we do then? The Bible says let him ask of God. Trials should drive us into the arms of God.

On the evening of July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., the son of the late US president John F. Kennedy, tragically died when he crashed his Piper aircraft into the Atlantic Ocean. John’s wife Carolyn and sister-in-law, Lauren, died in the crash with him. The official investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that John suffered from “spatial disorientation” while descending over water at night. In short, he thought the ground was further down than it was. He was flying by sight, not by instrument, and ended up killing himself those he loved. This is not uncommon. When I was in the Air Force I remember having to go out on a “search party” to look for a pilot and his aircraft. The pilot was on night maneuvers and, at one point, was flying with the aircraft belly toward the sky. Not heeding his instruments the pilot “pulled up”, but since he was flying with belly to the sky he drove the aircraft – canopy first – into the ground. The man died immediately – and we at the base were left to clean up afterwards.

We who are Christ’s children are to live our lives following the instrumentation of our Bibles and of the Holy Spirit through prayer.

We are called to deny the flesh – to be living sacrifices unto God (Romans 12:1-2) – and to pray for one another. We are told later in James:

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to pray with Him, but they fell asleep. The Lord told them:

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

The word rendered Watch is the Greek γρηγορεύω grēgoreúō, (pronounced gray-gor-yoo’-o). It means “be vigilant, pay strict attention to, take heed of”. Jesus used the same word when He told us:

Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh.

Our Lord Jesus is coming again. It is in prayer that we stay vigilant, ever mindful of ourselves. It has been said that had Peter been more watchful in the Garden, maybe he would not have denied his Lord so readily later on that day. Prayer and Bible study is not the add ons the the Church, an “option” that can be easily ignored. Prayer and Bible study are the heart’s blood of the Church and of the Christian way of life. Failure to focus on prayer NOW leads to failure in the flesh LATER.

The Apostles slept when they should be praying – and many in churches across our land sleep when they should be praying. Prayer services are usually the least attended service of any at the Church. The spirit of the sleeper lives on. It was not until the Apostles woke up and prayed in one accord that God blessed them in a mighty way. The church grew by 3000 on the Day of Pentecost because of prayer. Coincidence? I don’t think so. If we want to grow as a church we must be consistent in prayer.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Posted in James, prayer, Praying Like Jesus Series, Sermons Preached | Tagged prayer, prayer series, praying | Leave a comment

Give Me This Mountain

Posted on July 14, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Joshua 14:6-15 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. 10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the {giants} were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.

Photo by Charles 🇵🇭 on Unsplash

When I was a little boy my earliest memories are of momma reading Bible stories to me and my brother Mark. Momma had one of those “Illustrated Bible Story” books. We used to hear about Moses, Abraham, Samson, Gideon, Daniel in the Lion’s den, and of course Jesus. I heard a lot of Bible stories. I heard of a shepherd boy named David who killed a giant named Goliath, and then became King of Israel. I never heard of Cinderella and her fairy godmother, but David was my hero (especially because I was named David). A shy and fat child needs a hero he thinks he can be, a hero to look up to. But one story I never heard – and you probably have never heard – is the story of Caleb.

I don’t know why we never hear of Caleb.

Gideon was hiding from the enemy when God called him to lead Israel.
Samson was a “ladies man” who got a bad haircut.
Moses murdered someone and ran away for forty years.
Abraham made bad marital decisions.
King David stole another man’s wife, then had him killed.

Of course, our Lord Jesus never sinned, and a man named Enoch walked with God until he walked into Heaven. Most of the other Bible characters I learned as a child are flawed just as we are. But I never heard of Caleb. You probably haven’t either. Today you will.

Caleb is mentioned 36 times in the Bible.

I cannot find one instance in scripture where Caleb is mentioned as failing or falling. That doesn’t mean that he wasn’t flawed. The Bible tells us:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned

The Scripture is very clear that all have sinned against God. We are all flawed. This is why God sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth. God said in Psalm 14:2 …

… The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This is why the Father sent the Son to this earth. We are all fallen. From baby to adult we fall short of God’s standard. So God in His grace …

John 3:16-18 … gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

God the Son came from Heaven to this earth to save us – praise the lord forever. He alone among humanity is without sin (see 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; Luke 1:35; 1 John 3:5; Matthew 27:24; Isaiah 53:9; 1 Peter 1:18-19). There is no sin in Jesus. He came to take our place so that one day we can take His place in Heaven. What a Savior we have!

Caleb was flawed as we all are – but he loved the Lord.

Caleb Was FLAWED By Birth

Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him …

The first word in our text today is Then. Israel has come together in the name of God in one accord and, led by Joshua, has taken most of the Promised Land from the pagans. We are told in the previous chapter that God spoke to Joshua …

Joshua 13:1 Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

Though the land was not completely under Israel’s control the Lord told Joshua to begin dividing up the land to each of the Tribes of Israel. Every tribe was to have a portion but the Levites. The Bible says:

Joshua 13:33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

The two tribes of Joseph (Manasseh and Ephraim) received the inheritance of the Levites (see Joshua 14:3-4). The Levites were the priests of God, and their inheritance was the Lord (which, I think, is the best inheritance).

The children of Judah is are about to receive their inheritance when an old man named Caleb steps up. Who is Caleb? The Bible tells us:

Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him …

We don’t know much about Caleb’s childhood, but we can learn a lot from this text. The Hebrews attached much meaning to names. We find out that Caleb’s father is Jephunneh the Kenezite. The Bible is very clear that Jephunneh is of the tribe of Judah, the ruling tribe of Israel:

Numbers 13:6 … from the Tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh …

Jephunneh is called a Kenezite in our text. The word Kenezite is the Hebrew קְנִזִּי Qᵉnizzîy, (pronounced ken-iz-zee’), and the same word is found in Genesis 15 some 215 years before when God promised Father Abraham the land of Canaan. We read:

Genesis 15:18-19 … In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites …

Though the King James translators added an extra “z” in Genesis this is nonetheless the same Hebrew word used in Joshua 14:6. Jephunneh is called a Kenezite, the same people who were suppose to be dispossessed from the land. This has puzzled translators and scholars for years. Some people even surmise that Jephunneh was a converted Gentile who was now a Jew. This is very possible. When God spoke to Abram this man was from Ur of the Chaldees – ancient Babylon. God told Abram that “all people on the earth will be blessed because of you (my paraphrase of Genesis 12:3). The Lord told Israel:

Isaiah 49:6 … I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

It was always God’s will that not just Israel, but that whosoever will believe on Him shall be saved. Did not God say:

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. …

God wanted to save all. We see His Grace woven throughout the tapestry of the whole Bible. Jephunneh Jephunneh was a Kenezite. Though of the Tribe of Judah there is some question as to his lineage. We do not know, but we do know the Bible mentions it. Caleb was not of blue blood status because of his birth.

Calab vs dog Jephunneh named his son Caleb. The word translated CALEB is the Hebrew כָּלֵב Kâlêb, (pronounced kaw-labe’) which means “Dog”. Caleb’s name is very similar to the Hebrew word for “dog”, as you see in the illustration. As you can see there is very little difference between the word “dog” and the name “Caleb”.

Among the Jews of Caleb’s day the “dog” was considered an unclean creature. Ellen White, Ph.D. (Hebrew Bible, University of St. Michael’s College) the past editor of the Biblical Archaeology Society notes:

“To compare a human to a dog or to call them a dog was to imply that they were of very low status (2 Kings 8:13; Exodus 22:31; Deuteronomy 23:18; 2 Samuel 3:8; Proverbs 26:11; Ecclesiastes 9:4; 2 Samuel 9:8; 1 Samuel 24:14). In the New Testament, calling a human a dog meant that the person was considered evil (Philemon 3:2; Revelation 22:15).”

I don’t know why a father would name his son “dog” but it speaks to the background of Caleb. Caleb had a less than blessed upbringing. Compare Caleb the dog to other Bible heroes:

“David” means “well beloved”
“Samuel” means “asked of God”
“Joshua” means “God is Savior”
“Gideon” means “the destroyer”
“Moses” means “drawn forth”

Caleb’s first birth was not that great. Perhaps your first birth was not that great. Perhaps you were abandoned as a child, or abused, or mistreated. Perhaps you were born poor. Perhaps you are the perpetual victim, lonely, withdrawn. Beloved your first birth may be tainted – all births are tainted – but God offers you a second birth. You do not have to stay low, to be least, to be the last thing or last choice. God loves the under dog – no pun intended. The Scripture tells us:

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 … ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

God calls to salvation the broken, the least and the lesser. He calls those whom the world calls “dogs” to come to Him in faith by Christ Jesus. Caleb did not allow his first birth to define his life. Caleb trusted in God.

Caleb FOLLOWED – Not The Crowd – But GOD!

Joshua is dividing the land, and turns to Judah to give them their portion. But before he can say a word Caleb steps up and reminds Joshua.

Joshua 14:7-8 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.

I do not have time to preach this in detail, but I do want to summarize it.

Forty-five years before this day Moses – directed by God – sent a leader from each of the twelve tribes of Israel into Canaan to spy out the land.

Caleb was not a young man. He was forty years old when he was chosen to enter the Promised Land with eleven of his brother leaders. These men were to go into the land and see that it was indeed a land of milk and honey, a gracious blessing from God. When the spies went into the land they searched through it for forty days (Numbers 13:25). When the spies returned they reported:

Numbers 13:27-28 … We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

As the people became agitated the first person to speak up was Caleb:

Numbers 13:30 … Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Caleb was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but regardless as to his birth he was born again a child of God! Ten of the spies that went with Caleb said:

Numbers 13:31 … We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Their eyes were on the difficulty, and on their own strength. Caleb’s eyes were on the Lord. The people of Israel had their eyes on …

Numbers 13:33 … the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Caleb had his eyes on God. He encouraged the people to trust in the God Who is able. But the damage was done. Ten spies brought about an evil report, and Israel refused to enter Canaan. In fact, the rebellion spread so much that Israel revolted, and planned on returning to Egypt (Numbers 14:3-4). Two men – Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:6) encouraged God’s people to go forward:

Numbers 14:8-9 … If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

Oh, how horrible to turn against God! How horrible it is for the child of God to spit on the blood of Calvary by which we were saved. How horrible the child that – upon hearing the Word of the Lord – spurns it and returns to Egypt. How cursed is the follower who will not follow Jesus! God cursed Israel, and sent that generation to it’s grave for failing to love Him with all their hearts. But God told Moses:

Numbers 14:24 … my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Caleb did not follow the crowd, but as he said:

I wholly followed the Lord my God.

Oh Beloved – wholly follow the Lord! Do not with hold anything from Him. Missionary Jim Elliot died leading others to Christ. Jim wrote in his journal (October 28, 1949) before he died:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
to gain that which he cannot lose.”

There is nothing but gain in following the Lord – and following wholeheartedly. Caleb was promised the land of Canaan when he was 40 years old. Each day that he wandered in the wilderness with a fallen Israel Caleb kept looking up, waiting, and trusting the Lord. The first generation of Israel has fallen, and Caleb tells Joshua:

Joshua 14:10-11 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

God has been faithful to Caleb, and Caleb has been faithful to God. Forty five hard years have passed, and God is still faithful. Now Joshua is “four score and five years old – that’s 85 years old”. How is Joshua? The Bible says that “Joshua was old and striken in years (Joshua 13:1)”. What of Caleb? “Though I am 85 years old, I am as strong today as I was when Moses sent me with the spies”. Caleb kept looking up. He kept looking up and trusting God.

Beloved, if you are going through a hard time in your life and it seems as if it will never end, may I say LOOK UP and TRUST GOD!

We are told in Isaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Caleb is believing the Lord, and has been believing the Lord. Though Caleb has not been told specifically which land is to be his … he asks Joshua for a particular section of land.

What did Caleb ask for?
Did he say “I’m 85 now, and want to coast.
Give me a little beach front property.
I’m ready to resign my calling.
It’s time for me to quit.
I’m just too old for this!” Did he?

No, not at all. If you remember the reason the first generation of Israel would not go into the Promised Land was because of the giants, the Anakims. Caleb said:

Joshua 14:12 Now therefore give me THIS mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the ANAKIMS were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.

Caleb doesn’t want to quit. He wants the mountain where the ANAKIMS are! He wants the WALLED CITIES. He wants what scared everyone else into wanting to go back to Egypt.

He wants the FULLNESS of GOD! And Joshua blesses him with this request. But Joshua not only gives him the mountain, but the TOUGHEST area there is on that mountain. If you read the text you will see it.

Joshua 14:13-15 … Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. 15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

The name Hebron is the Hebrew חֶבְרוֹן Chebrôwn, (pronounced kheb-rone’) which means “a place of fellowship”. The Bible tells us that Hebron was the royal city of David for some time, until the taking of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 2:1; 5:5). This place was called Kirjatharba which means “the city of Arba”. The Bible simply says Arba was a great man among the Anakims. Arba was a giant among giants until he met Caleb and Caleb’s God. It was then he lost his city, and his life.

Beloved, trust in the Lord. Put your faith in Him. Live each day whole heartedly in the Lord, and you will be blessed. May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Posted in Joshua, Sermons Preached | Tagged Following Christ, Joshua, Loving God, loving Jesus | Leave a comment

Prayer and Devotion To God

Posted on July 12, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Acts 10:1-4 (KJV) There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, {2} A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. {3} He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. {4} And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

God Does Not Make A Divided Church

When the Church was first formed it was a divided Church. It was not divided because God wanted it to be divided.

God did not want Israel to divided into North and South under Rehoboam’s reign. God does not want His Church divided today. It is SIN that divides.

On the Day of Pentecost Jews from all over the world came into Jerusalem to worship. The Bible tells us that on that Day that 120 Christians – men and women …

Acts 1:14 … all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

The believers with one accord (Greek ὁμοθυμαδόν homothymadón, {pronounced hom-oth-oo-mad-on’}) “with one mind, with one passion” were devotedly praying together for the glory of God. The Bible says in prayer and supplication . “Prayer” is προσευχή proseuchḗ, {pronounced pros-yoo-khay’} and is used for worshipful prayer. “Supplication” is δέησις déēsis, {pronounced deh’-ay-sis} means “To bring requests to God”.

The 120 disciples were focused on the glory of God and asking how they could bring His Kingdom to this earth.

As they were missing an Apostle, Peter suggested that they replace Judas Iscariot with another. Two names – Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias (Acts 1:23) were suggested. How did they decided which one should be in Judas’ place?

Acts 1:24-26 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

I don’t think that either man was supposed to be Judas’ replacement. I believe that God would ordain Paul the Apostle to be His man. I believe Peter made a mistake, but the mistake was good hearted. We often fail. But no harm was done by the action, I believe, because they prayed – sought to worship God and glorify Him with their hearts. The 120 were not seeking their own, but the glory of God.

Being in one accord the Holy Spirit fell on the small Church in that upper room.

Acts 2:1-4 when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The other tongues was not gibberish nor incoherent sounds, but human languages given to share the Gospel of salvation to those Jews who were in Jerusalem for Pentecost. The Bible tells us that:

Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Israel had been dispersed throughout all the world because of SIN and Roman dominance. God’s people had wandered away from the Lord and His Word. Again, SIN divides. Sin robs.

God’s Israel had ceased being the Light of the World and thus had become – as Jesus said in Matthew 5:13 … good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Israel was indeed “trodden underfoot of men”. The Roman Empire conquered, then scattered the Jews throughout its provinces. The Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem for their holy Pentecost, and these Jews spoke various languages based on the area of the world they dwelt in. The Holy Spirit gave the 120 praying disciples the ability to speak to these pilgrim Jews in the language they had been forced to learn.

Everyone heard the Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ on the Day of Pentecost. Language was not a barrier. “Every man heard them speak in his own language”
(Acts 2:6).
God would unite His Church.

Our Lord is not the Author of confusion, but of peace – AS IN ALL THE CHURCHES of the saints (1 Corinthians 14:33). A praying Church left the upper room on the Day of Pentecost. A praying Church spoke many different languages but ONE MESSAGE – that Jesus Christ paid for sins, and faith in Him would bring redemption. On the Day of Pentecost people of many different languages asked: Acts 2:37 … Men and brethren, what shall we do?

They were told: Acts 2:38-39 … Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The disciples knew that the Gospel was Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. They knew that Christ gave Himself for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

God Hears Devoted Prayer

Pentecost started with Peter preaching the Gospel and …

Acts 2:41-42 … Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The Church was united at the beginning. The devoted praying of 120 in the upper room translated into Church growth. There were about three thousand souls that entered the Church that day – we are told – out of every nation under heaven. These people had various languages, but all had one thing in common. They were Jews. Jesus had told His Church to:

Matthew 28:19-20 … Go ye therefore, and teach all nations …

The early Church had the same problem we have today. We like to stay with the familiar. It was Christ’s intention to save the whole world:

1 John 4:14 … we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (see also John 4:42)

Jesus died to save the whole world. Yet the Church was focused on saving just Jews – which was contrary to Christ’s commission. How does God resolve this problem? With devoted prayer. We return to where we started:

Acts 10:1-2 (KJV) There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, {2} A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

As Peter went about sharing the Gospel of salvation the Lord used him to heal a cripple named Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35) and raise a disciple named Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:36-43). These are wonderful miracles that God – not Peter but God – did in response to Peter’s prayers. Though these are wonderful miracles, the spiritual salvation of a sinner through the power of God’s Son and Spirit is much greater. Peter prayed that God would use him to do the miraculous. But God had already done a miraculous thing. God had already reached a Gentile Centurion named Cornelius.

The salvation of Cornelius was turning point in the early Church. There are three lengthy references to Cornelius in Acts 10, 11, and 15. What makes this so significant? Gentiles did not observe the Jewish dietary restrictions set forth in Leviticus chapter 11. The Jewish nation had been taught that to eat an unclean thing was to become unclean yourself. The Pharisees took this a step further by teaching that Gentiles who did not observe the dietary laws were themselves unclean, and should not be touched nor associated with. Our Lord Jesus never taught such a thing. Last Sunday we studied how Jesus approached the woman at the well of Samaria – considered unclean by the Pharisees (see John 4:4-42). Jesus took water from this woman, showing that He came for ALL. The woman said to Jesus:

John 4:9 … How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans – nor, for that matter, with any Gentiles. God never intended this division to be. Even the Temple had an outermost “Court of the Gentiles”, this in itself showing that God never forbade the Jews from interacting with the Gentiles. God reached out to Cornelius – a Gentile of the Roman Army. The Bible tells us that Cornelius was a devout man, the Greek εὐσεβής eusebḗs, (pronounced yoo-seb-ace’) which means “a Godly or devoted person”. The Bible goes on to tell us that Cornelius feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. Someone had told Cornelius about Jesus. Our Lord Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father BUT BY ME!” Cornelius loved God. He had given his heart to Jesus, and God heard his prayers. While Cornelius devoted himself to prayer one day we are told:

Acts 10:3-6 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

What impresses God? Our prayers and our giving to those in need. Prayers are proof that we are in the Family of God, for the one who prays always prays to Our Father Who art in Heaven. The generous Christ follower no longer worships at the altar of mammon (money) but sees all that he or she has as a gracious stewardship from the Father. Cornelius is saved by grace, but the vessel saved by Grace is always used of God. Cornelius prayed. He prayed always – without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer was a habit for Cornelius, a habit that the Lord would respond to to bless His Church. As Cornelius prayed God sent a messenger Angel to him saying send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon. God gave specific instructions to Cornelius – better than any GPS could give!

When the Angel departed Cornelius immediately acted, doing as he was told.

Acts 10:7 … {Cornelius} called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually …

Cornelius was a devout man, so who did he choose to go to Joppa for him? Another devout man – the same word {eusebḗs} is used here. As a believer Cornelius leads others to God. He sends these men to Joppa to find Peter.

Acts 10:9-15 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Peter had a habit of devoted prayer. L. Howard Marshall notes in his commentary on Acts: “Most Jews prayed twice a day, but pious Jews also prayed at noon (“the sixth hour”), a third time of prayer (Psalms 55:17; Daniel 6:10).”

As Peter prayed the Lord showed him a vision of all manner of beasts, clean and unclean. As he was shown this the Lord told Peter arise and eat. Peter replied Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. The Lord told him, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. Peter should have known this. Peter was there the day that Jesus taught:

Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

The Lamb of God Who taketh away the sins of the world was now among mankind. Jesus was very clear that food does not defile a person, but impurity and godlessness FROM the heart defiles a person (see Matthew 15:16-20). The Lord said from Heaven What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. Listen to Jesus!

At the end of the vision Cornelius’ men come knocking on the door. God tells Peter …

Acts 10:19-20 … the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

When you pray with a devoted heart God hears your prayers, and uses you for His glory and His Kingdom. E.M. Bounds wrote:

“Devotion engages the heart in prayer. It is not an easy task for the lips to try to pray while the heart is absent from it. … The very essence of prayer is the spirit of devotion. Without devotion prayer is an empty form, a vain round of words. Sad to say, much of this kind of prayer prevails, today, in the Church.”

When Peter prayed the Holy Spirit spoke to him. When Cornelius prayed an Angel of God spoke to him. Prayer – devoted prayer – opens the gate of Heaven, and moves the heart of God.

I priced jewelry boxes one time, checking their price from various sources. This box is worth about .86 cents without the ring – but worth over several thousand dollars with the ring. Your prayer has value to God when it has content – a heart devoted to Him, loving Him. If your prayer, no matter how pretty, is devoid of devotion – it has as little value as an empty ring box has to us!

Peter goes with the messengers back to Cornelius’ home. As these two prayer warriors begin to talk – one Jew and one Gentile – Peter as leader of the early Church began to preach. He said:

Acts 10:35-47 … Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

God will bless us and bind us together, growing His Church, if we will pursue devoted prayer. May the Lord touch your hearts with His Word.

Posted in prayer, Praying Like Jesus Series, Sermons Preached | Tagged prayer, prayer and devotion, prayer closet, prayer series, Prayer_Be_See | Leave a comment

Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving: Pray-Be-See Week 4

Posted on July 12, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

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Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Psalm 116:1-7 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.

Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving Go Together

E. M. Bounds – a great prayer warrior – wrote: “Prayer, praise and thanksgiving all go in company. A close relationship exists between them. Praise and thanksgiving are so near alike that it is not easy to distinguish between them or define them separately. The Scriptures join these three things together. Many are the causes for thanksgiving and praise. The Psalms are filled with many songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving, all pointing back to the results of prayer. Thanksgiving includes gratitude. In fact thanksgiving is but the expression of an inward conscious gratitude to God for mercies received. Gratitude is an inward emotion of the soul, involuntarily arising therein, while thanksgiving is the voluntary expression of gratitude.”

The worst advice anyone can ever give is to say…
Follow Your Heart!

The unbelieving world follows it’s heart. It was the heart that led to the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus! To follow the heart is to be sensual, devilish. The Scripture tells us in Jeremiah ..

(17:9-10) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

The heart in its natural state is brutish, sensual, sinful. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us this. The Pharisees were a religious but unconverted crowd. They adhered to the Levitical laws strictly. One day they saw Jesus and His disciples eating a meal without first washing their hands. The Pharisees accused Jesus and His followers as being unworthy of God. Jesus bluntly told the Pharisees in Matthew ..

(15:7-8) Ye hypocrites, well did {Isaiah} prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

The heart must not be FOLLOWED, but it must be LED and CONTROLLED. Jesus said that it is not the ceremonies that make us close to God, but a heart focus on Him. Many religious people today are like the Pharisees of yesterday – they draw near to God outwardly, with the lips, but their hearts are far from Him. God knows the difference. When a person says “I am saved” and yet indulge in outward evil then it is a sure sign that the heart is leading them, and not the Lord. Jesus said:

Matthew 15:18-20 … those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

What does God want of us? He wants us to direct our hearts toward Him, to focus on His Word, to be thanksgivers. We are to lead our hearts Godward, not be led by our hearts.

The test of the heart is what you do when you are tried.

Psalm 116:1-4 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell {the grave get their} hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord …

Where Is My “Then”?

What comes after the “THEN” in your life? When trials come and The sorrows of death compassed me and the gates of hell {the grave get their} hold upon me do you look upward in prayer and praise, thanking God for being there? Or do you despair, and lose hope? Beloved, to lose hope and trust in God is the worst thing that can happen to you. The Psalmist, even when afflicted – even when he found trouble and sorrow no matter where he looked – the Psalmist knew that God was there.

If there is gratitude in the heart there will be thanksgiving in the outward life and in the prayer closet. A heart focused on God and on His graciousness is a led heart. The Psalmist said …

Psalm 116:1 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

He did NOT say “I love the Lord BECAUSE my life is easy and my bank account full”. He said I love the Lord, because he hath HEARD. The word translated HEARD is the Hebrew שָׁמַע shâmaʻ, (pronounced shaw-mah’) which means “to hear intelligently, to hear and understand, to carefully listen to, to heed and pay attention to”. This verb is in the Qal Imperfect which emphasizes that God hears His Child and will always hear His Child – the action is never completed. God hears us when we cry out in our pain. He is there, and He is controlling all things so as to insure that the trial we are in will come to love’s conclusion. What has Jesus promised? In both Old as well as New Covenants our Lord promised:

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your {way of life} be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for {God} hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Our Lord paid so very much for us at the Cross of Calvary.
Our Lord paid so very much for us at the point of salvation.
Our Lord pays so much for us every single day we live.

What did God do for us at Calvary? The Father sent His only Begotten Son to Calvary to die for us. He did not die a gentle death, but a harsh death. The Scripture says that Jesus was …

Romans 3:25 … set forth to be a propitiation {satisfactory payment} through faith in His blood … for the remission of sins that are past …

Jesus live a perfect and sinless life. He then went to Calvary to pay the penalty of our sins – a penalty He paid in full. The Bible says …

Hebrews 2:17 … in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make RECONCILIATION for the sins of the people.

Jesus made RECONCILIATION {ἱλάσκομαι hiláskomai, pronounced hil-as’-kom-ahee} or paid our account in full. Jesus became our brother, our Big Brother, and took our sin on Himself. This is an action that made eternal scars on God. He died for us. We are therefore children of God by faith in Him. This hurt God. Further, we are yet imperfect beings, though born into the Family of God. Nonetheless the Holy Spirit indwells us, guides us, and stays with us no matter what we may do. What a glorious salvation we have, dear Christ follower! What a love was and is expended on us who are the children of the Most High!

1 John 4:10 … Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Leading your heart to this truth will cause you to praise God and thank Him even when you are tried. Look at the Cross of Calvary once more. Jesus ALONE paid for our sins, but Jesus was not alone on that mount. Do you see the three crosses? Jesus Christ died on that Cross for the sins of the whole world. The man dying on Christ’s left said – rejecting the Master –

Luke 23:39 … if Thou be the Christ, save Thyself and us!

The world if it sees Christ at all sees Him as an if. If Thou be the Christ. If you are indeed Jesus give me immediate and temporal relief. Take away my suffering. Heal me right now, if you are Who you say you are kiss it and make it better. This is what the lost and undone do with Christ. They bargain and wheedle, making deals with God.

A popular show on television several years ago was called Frasier. In one show the dad told his son: “I remember right after I got shot, I said, “God, if I promise never to drink another bottle of {beer}, will you let me get through this?” His son said “You still drink {beer}” to which the dad replied , “Not in bottles, baby”. This is a perfect picture of the world. It remains on the left hand of God, knowing He bled and died, but making foolish deals with God for temporal relief from the suffering we all go through.

Then there’s the man on the right side of Christ. He’s just as close, suffering just as badly. But as he reaches out in prayer he says:

Luke 23:42 … Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.

His heart cry is not that the suffering cease, but that there be a glorious morning after where the pain has ended. He asks for the companionship of Christ – a morsel of grace. He asks Jesus, Lord, remember me – not heal me, not take away the pain, but remember me. To that person – that Christ follower – Jesus promises:

Luke 23:43 Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

This was what satisfied the suffering soul, that God has promised to never leave nor to forsake us. He has promised us a paradise on the other side of this mountain. Thank God for that. Thank the blessed Jesus for this!

It Is In Focused Prayer That We Learn Thanksgiving

E.M. Bounds writes : “Thanksgiving is just what the word itself signifies—the giving of thanks to God. It is giving something to God in words which we feel at heart for blessings received. Gratitude arises from a contemplation of the goodness of God. It is bred by serious meditation on what God has done for us.”

Oh Christian, is it not true that …

Psalm 126:3 The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

As we enter the prayer closet let us meditate upon the Lord. “My meditation of him shall be sweet.” (Psalm 104:34). Take hold of your heart and your flesh. Do not let selfishness reign, but let the Spirit reign within you. Thank God that He is there and is never far away. A far away god could not hear you. God is ever near. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

God hears us, and knows our needs. The Apostle Paul gave us a command that is very revealing if we were to focus on it. He wrote:

Romans 12:1 I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

What is a sacrifice? Both Gentiles as well as Jews understood what sacrifices were in the day that this was written. The Gentiles who were unsaved offered sacrifices to a pantheon of gods and goddesses. A sacrifice was an animal killed on an altar, it’s blood shed, in order to appease the gods. In Judaism the Lord had the Jew sacrifice an animal. The sacrificed animal was killed, it’s blood sprinkled on the sinner, and often the sacrifice itself was burned to symbolize the wrath of God being poured out on the substitute instead of the sinner. The Apostle does not tell us to sacrifice ourselves in that way, but to be a living sacrifice. Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins so that we can live our lives for Him. We are not to follow our hearts but to follow Him Who loved us and gave Himself for us. As a living sacrifice we serve the Lord with gladness and thankful hearts even in the midst of our suffering. We do not murmur or complain, but look upward, trusting our Lord to do what is best for us.

E.M. Bounds wrote: “Gratitude and thanksgiving forever stand opposed to all murmurings at God’s dealings with us, and all complainings at our lot. Gratitude and murmuring never abide in the same heart at the same time. An unappreciative spirit has no standing beside gratitude and praise. And true prayer corrects complaining and promotes gratitude and thanksgiving. Dissatisfaction at one’s lot, and a disposition to be discontented with things which come to us in the providence of God, are foes to gratitude and enemies to thanksgiving.”

We come together as God’s people to encourage one another in thankfulness. The Apostle tells we who are of Christ’s Church:

Ephesians 5:17-21 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

The will of the Lord is that we be filled not with ourselves, but fully empowered by God’s Spirit. When we come together we encourage one another toward His filling by outwardly speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing praises and thankfully to our Lord. We do not just mouth the words in the hymnbook, but we praise Him for what He has given us of Himself – an infinite and immeasurable grace! We also practice giving thanks always for all things. What does this mean? Exactly what it says. We praise God for the good as well as the bad. We take the attitude of Job, that grand old example of faith, who said:

Job 2:10 … shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

God is Almighty. He brings or allows all that happens in our lives for our good. He did the most for us at the Cross. Shall He do the lesser for us now?

Whether tried or at ease, let us be thankful unto God. “Continue to pray, and as you pray, pray with a thankful heart” (Colossians 4:2, my paraphrase). No matter what life may bring …

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (KJV) Rejoice evermore. {17} Pray without ceasing. {18} In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. {19} Quench not the Spirit.”

To do less is to Quench the Spirit of God. He will never leave you nor forsake you, but the ungrateful heart and selfish murmuring spirit will rob you of the joy of your salvation. Rejoice regardless. Pray regardless. Be thankful regardless. Encourage one another to rest in the Lord.

Psalm 116:5-7 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee

People may call you “simpleminded”. Just remember, The Lord preserveth the simple. The Lord looks after those who simply and faithfully follow Him, glorifying the Father in the Name of the Son and in the power of the Spirit.

Rest in the Lord. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. May God touch your hearts with his Word!