May 3, 2010

May 3, 2010 Numbers 10

Why did Moses choose to say these things each time that they broke camp or made camp? When they broke camp and travelled, they needed the protection of the Lord as they crossed through enemy territory to the land which He had given them. When they made camp, it was time for them to be refreshed by experiencing the presence of God. So what? You and I have been called out of bondage for two purposes. The first is to be used of Him as a means of setting other people free from their bondage. The second is to enjoy Him. If He has called us to set others free, that implies that they are bound by someone. That someone will not sit idly by and let their prisoners be set free. We would assume that the enemy that has bound them is stronger than we. It is appropriate that, the Almighty God go before us and scatter our enemies as we seek to set them free. When the day is done, we will need rest. The truest rest is found only in His presence (Ex 33:14-16). Are you ready for action or ready for rest? Either way, He is the best solution. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john



Luke 22:24-46

When I lived in North Carolina, the local Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee had encouraged a "Do Something Campaign" among the youth of the public schools. The intent was to teach service to young people. It is a noble idea. It has its roots in this passage and other passages of the New Testament where Jesus speaks to the issue of wanting to be great. It is something that all of us want. In some area, if not in all of our lives, we desire to be great. We all secretly want others to admire us. Preaching from a passage similar to this one MLK Jr. has a famous sermon called The Drum Major Instinct. He has a familiar line that he repeated in this sermon and outside of this sermon, "Anybody can be great, because anybody can serve."

Peter desired to be great, so did all the other disciples. Jesus points out that greatness is not determined by how many people you govern but by how many people you truly serve in relation to the ability that you have. Peter was a man of great raw ability. Satan saw that he was on a track for service and greatness. Satan desired to "sift him like wheat." Peter still had a problem with thinking that greatness would be achieved with swords and forcing others into submission. No, greatness comes from serving others into submission. In that serving process, we die. Jesus is the prime example. He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. How did Jesus have the emotional, spiritual and volitional power to boldly, powerfully and willingly step up to the cross--His greatest act of service? He received it in prayer. Here in the Garden, the choice was made. Here in the Garden, He saw all that was in the cup that His Father put before Him. Here in the Garden, He saw all the sin of all the people of all the ages. Here in the Garden, He saw that the Father was going to lay that sin upon Him and punish Him in our place. Here in the Garden, for the last time in prayer, He made the choice to step up to the cross and serve us. What amazing glory!

The lesson was not lost on Peter. Yes he slept during this time of prayer. And as a result he stumbled and sinned. But after he was restored, his greatest times of service came in the midst of prayer. Pentecost broke out in a prayer meeting that Peter probably led. Sometime later Peter and John were entering into the temple at the hour of prayer, and they healed a lame man at the gate. That act of service resulted a great preaching opportunity that resulted in many being saved. That preaching opportunity resulted in their arrest, and the arrest resulted in a trial. The trial revealed Peter and John to be bold men who had been with Jesus. They were released. What did they do? They went back and prayed for more boldness for preaching and doing acts in the name of the Father's "Holy Servant Jesus." (Acts 4:30) What happened? They were filled with the Spirit. They preached the word. Multitudes were saved and began serving one another by sharing all things in common. We could go on through Acts tracing the relationship between prayer, evangelism and service. But the greatest example is Jesus in the Garden going to the cross! He has served and is serving us into submission. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john