Joshua 20-21
In the words of Drs. Hinson & Kroll, “For the sinner, to be found in the city of refuge was to be found in the only place of salvation. The correspondence between these cities and the Lord Jesus is striking.” I am guilty of breaking the law. I am worth of execution because of my sin. Yet I have fled to the city of refuge, found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him I am safe for he is both the executioner and the city of refuge. He has received me and I am safe in Him.
The Lord gave them rest on all sides. 44The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. TLet us be diligent to enter into His rest.
11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbeliefd. 12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 19:1-20
Ephesus, the Roman center of power for Asia, was indeed quite a religious city. The temple of Diana (or Artemis as the Greeks would say) was there. The Ephesians wanted an impressive temple for her. So, they built a structure that was a replica of the Parthenon found on the Acropolis of Athens. But they made it much larger! Its foundation still stands today. It was 425' long and 220' wide and contained 127 pillars to support the roof and its colonnade was 60' high. Diana was the mother goddess of the earth. As happens in many areas where pagan religions abound, the city was also filled with much cultic activity. Within the city was a strong contingent of Jews. Even within that contingent was a strong contingent of people who had traveled back to the Holy Land, heard the preaching of John the Baptist and were baptized by him signifying their preparing themselves for the coming of the Messiah.
How would the glory of our Lord outshine the glory of such a religious establishment? The Lord doesn't deviate from the principles that He has established in the church thus far. His glory is going to shine through His people as they speak His glory and do His works. For three months Paul spoke the message in the synagogue. Twelve men from the disciples of John believed the message and turned to Jesus. Then the rest of the synagogue hardened their heart toward the message. Paul remained in that city 2 more years preaching the message of Jesus. The way it is written here it seems to imply that after the message was rejected by the Jews that Paul began doing the glorious works of Jesus. Seven unbelieving sons of a Jewish chief priest sought to use the name of Jesus to work the same works. The glory of the Lord will not be compromised. Their exorcism worked -- to their own detriment, for they did not have the authority and protection of the Lord. Their failure increased the glory of our Lord. The result? Many left their magic and occult to follow Jesus. The glory of the Lord was so evident to them that the burned their books. They didn't sell them. They burned them. They needed no profit from their past acts of darkness. All that was important to them was the glory of Jesus.
How much money are we talking here? 50,000 pieces of silver. Assuming that the piece of silver referred to here is the drachma, this would equal 50,000 days wages. Now that would be a different figure in different areas. Assume in our area that a days wage for a laborer is $80. That would equal about $4,000,000. That's a lot of money! Why not sell it and give it to the poor or for building a temple to Jesus or something else? Isn't this a waste? They needed no profit from their past acts of darkness. All that was important to them was the glory of Jesus. Selling the books would allow others to be enslaved by the powers of darkness. Selling the books would continue to give the enemy a foothold in the lives of others. They needed a clean break from the past and they needed to not provide a door for others to go where they went. This was a way to proclaim the glory of Jesus. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Thursday, July 15, 2010
July 13, 2010
Acts 18
Why did the Lord appear to Paul in the night by a vision to encourage him to not be afraid? He must have been very afraid. Remember, he had been stoned and left for dead in Lystra on his first journey. He had been jailed in Philippi. He had been run out of town in a number of various other towns. He had been laughed out of town in Athens. His opposition has followed him to Corinth. I think I'd be afraid and intimidated also. Apparently it was so bad for Paul that he needed the personal encouragement from the Lord. Our Lord knows just what we need and when we need it. He always gives it just at the appropriate time.
We also find this story concerning Apollos, an eloquent man mighty in Scriptures. The Lord adds him to the company of those who are planting and encouraging churches. What was his giftedness? He vigorously refuted those who denied Jesus as the Messiah. He also showed from Scripture that Jesus is the Christ. Now there is Paul, Silas and Timothy; Barnabas and John Mark, Aquilla, Priscilla and Apollos. Our Lord continued to safeguard and raise up people to make disciples of all ethnic groups. He continues to do so today, for His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Joshua 18-19
Go, walk through the land, survey it, and come back to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh. The Lord allotted to them a possession. It was their privilege to walk through it and obtain it for themselves. In so doing, they would be fulfilling the glory of the Lord. We find that even Joshua received a possession. He claimed it and built Timnath Serah. Does the Lord have a possession for us? Is it to be surveyed and claimed? Is it to be done for His glory? Obviously the answer to the last question is, “Yes.” The answer to all the questions is, “Yes.” We have a spiritual possession which the Lord has set aside for us. He expects us to claim it and use it for His glory. It consists of many things and people. It includes our families, our talents, our spiritual gifts, our natural gifts, our finances, our desires, our needs, our neighborhoods. Have we every surveyed them? Do we even know what is available? When we know what is available do we know what it means to claim them for His glory? When we claim them for His glory do we know what it means to build them for His glory?
Joshua built a city for the glory of God. It was called Timnath Serah. It was in the mountains of Ephraim southwest of Shechem. This is the same place as Timnath Heres. The Nelson Electronic Dictionary says, “Some scholars suggest that the consonants for Heres (hrs) were deliberately written backwards as Serah (srh) as a reminder of these pagan worship practices.” How about that? Joshua took a place that was filled with pagan worship, surveyed it, claimed it for the glory of God, rebuilt it and reversed its name, all for the glory of God! Is that not a picture of what we should be about? Should not all that God has given us be surveyed, claimed and rebuilt for the glory of our King? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Why did the Lord appear to Paul in the night by a vision to encourage him to not be afraid? He must have been very afraid. Remember, he had been stoned and left for dead in Lystra on his first journey. He had been jailed in Philippi. He had been run out of town in a number of various other towns. He had been laughed out of town in Athens. His opposition has followed him to Corinth. I think I'd be afraid and intimidated also. Apparently it was so bad for Paul that he needed the personal encouragement from the Lord. Our Lord knows just what we need and when we need it. He always gives it just at the appropriate time.
We also find this story concerning Apollos, an eloquent man mighty in Scriptures. The Lord adds him to the company of those who are planting and encouraging churches. What was his giftedness? He vigorously refuted those who denied Jesus as the Messiah. He also showed from Scripture that Jesus is the Christ. Now there is Paul, Silas and Timothy; Barnabas and John Mark, Aquilla, Priscilla and Apollos. Our Lord continued to safeguard and raise up people to make disciples of all ethnic groups. He continues to do so today, for His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Joshua 18-19
Go, walk through the land, survey it, and come back to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh. The Lord allotted to them a possession. It was their privilege to walk through it and obtain it for themselves. In so doing, they would be fulfilling the glory of the Lord. We find that even Joshua received a possession. He claimed it and built Timnath Serah. Does the Lord have a possession for us? Is it to be surveyed and claimed? Is it to be done for His glory? Obviously the answer to the last question is, “Yes.” The answer to all the questions is, “Yes.” We have a spiritual possession which the Lord has set aside for us. He expects us to claim it and use it for His glory. It consists of many things and people. It includes our families, our talents, our spiritual gifts, our natural gifts, our finances, our desires, our needs, our neighborhoods. Have we every surveyed them? Do we even know what is available? When we know what is available do we know what it means to claim them for His glory? When we claim them for His glory do we know what it means to build them for His glory?
Joshua built a city for the glory of God. It was called Timnath Serah. It was in the mountains of Ephraim southwest of Shechem. This is the same place as Timnath Heres. The Nelson Electronic Dictionary says, “Some scholars suggest that the consonants for Heres (hrs) were deliberately written backwards as Serah (srh) as a reminder of these pagan worship practices.” How about that? Joshua took a place that was filled with pagan worship, surveyed it, claimed it for the glory of God, rebuilt it and reversed its name, all for the glory of God! Is that not a picture of what we should be about? Should not all that God has given us be surveyed, claimed and rebuilt for the glory of our King? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
July 12, 2010
Acts 17:16-34
Paul starts from a common point of reference with the Athenians and moves to the specific glory of Jesus. What is that common point? Don Richardson explores that in his book, Eternity In Their Hearts. Richardson delves into Athenian history, recorded some by the poet that Paul quotes. He reveals that centuries earlier, Athens had experienced a plague that could not be checked by any of their gods. After sacrificing to the One true God who made heaven and earth, who’s name they did not know, the plague was checked. The monument that Paul saw was an altar to that God. Paul uses that common point of reference to reveal that Jesus is the Man sent from the Unknown God to reveal how we might find Him. Paul stresses the resurrection of Jesus as and assurance of the authority of Jesus and establishing Him as judge of all.
That is just like the glory of our Lord. He uses something in centuries past that He did to demonstrate His love for a certain people and then connects it with the present. Our Lord is our creator, lover, healer, savior and judge. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Joshua 16-17
It had been a long dry spell in a hot Oklahoma summer. My older brother and I went for a bicycle ride down the county section line roads. He was 5 years my senior, and his legs were a lot more powerful than mine. We came to a valley on the road. The dry weather and constant travel on the road had turned the valley road into fine loose sand a couple of inches deep. My bike went a few feet and then my tires seemed to be engulfed in the sand. Try as I might, I could not make my pedals turn. Without any forward momentum, I had to dismount my bike. I was still pointed downhill. If I could not overcome the hold of the sand going downhill, what would happen when I had to ascend out of the valley? Why didn’t my brother slow down? He was still mounted and already going up the hill. I was becoming fearful that I would be left behind. I began to call for help. He waited to get to the top of the hill before he turned and answered my call. No he wouldn’t return to help me. “You can do it!” was his only reply. I was really frustrated. I was just barely big enough to ride the bike. It was extremely heavy. It was impossible to push through the sand. Even if it got it through the sand, without any momentum, I would have to push it all the way up the hill. I begged and complained. But he wouldn’t come back to help. Now I was fighting tears of frustration. All he would do was say, “Do it yourself.” He did not help me. Obviously, I am no longer in the valley. Yes, I made it home with the bicycle, and no, he did not help me. He just kept telling me that I had to do it.
The tribe of Manasseh could not drive out the people in the valley of Jezreel. The Canaanites had chariots of iron, a military technology that the Israelites did not posses. Mountain living is nice, but it takes a lot more land per person to make a living there. And it is a lot more difficult. They complained to Joshua. It is not enough room! Give us more! There wasn’t any more room. The Lord had given them all that they needed. “Do it yourself!” was essentially Joshua’s reply. Where is the glory of the Lord in this? I believe that His glory is visible and available at all times. However, there are times when He simply says, “Trust me; you can do it; do it yourself.” It is to His glory to strengthen us. So He leaves us in situations to strengthen us or to show us our hearts. If we keep our eyes upon Him, we need only to trust and put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes it is through tears of frustration. But He is waiting for us on the other side of the valley of depression. Finally the dawn breaks and his glory is seen. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Paul starts from a common point of reference with the Athenians and moves to the specific glory of Jesus. What is that common point? Don Richardson explores that in his book, Eternity In Their Hearts. Richardson delves into Athenian history, recorded some by the poet that Paul quotes. He reveals that centuries earlier, Athens had experienced a plague that could not be checked by any of their gods. After sacrificing to the One true God who made heaven and earth, who’s name they did not know, the plague was checked. The monument that Paul saw was an altar to that God. Paul uses that common point of reference to reveal that Jesus is the Man sent from the Unknown God to reveal how we might find Him. Paul stresses the resurrection of Jesus as and assurance of the authority of Jesus and establishing Him as judge of all.
That is just like the glory of our Lord. He uses something in centuries past that He did to demonstrate His love for a certain people and then connects it with the present. Our Lord is our creator, lover, healer, savior and judge. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Joshua 16-17
It had been a long dry spell in a hot Oklahoma summer. My older brother and I went for a bicycle ride down the county section line roads. He was 5 years my senior, and his legs were a lot more powerful than mine. We came to a valley on the road. The dry weather and constant travel on the road had turned the valley road into fine loose sand a couple of inches deep. My bike went a few feet and then my tires seemed to be engulfed in the sand. Try as I might, I could not make my pedals turn. Without any forward momentum, I had to dismount my bike. I was still pointed downhill. If I could not overcome the hold of the sand going downhill, what would happen when I had to ascend out of the valley? Why didn’t my brother slow down? He was still mounted and already going up the hill. I was becoming fearful that I would be left behind. I began to call for help. He waited to get to the top of the hill before he turned and answered my call. No he wouldn’t return to help me. “You can do it!” was his only reply. I was really frustrated. I was just barely big enough to ride the bike. It was extremely heavy. It was impossible to push through the sand. Even if it got it through the sand, without any momentum, I would have to push it all the way up the hill. I begged and complained. But he wouldn’t come back to help. Now I was fighting tears of frustration. All he would do was say, “Do it yourself.” He did not help me. Obviously, I am no longer in the valley. Yes, I made it home with the bicycle, and no, he did not help me. He just kept telling me that I had to do it.
The tribe of Manasseh could not drive out the people in the valley of Jezreel. The Canaanites had chariots of iron, a military technology that the Israelites did not posses. Mountain living is nice, but it takes a lot more land per person to make a living there. And it is a lot more difficult. They complained to Joshua. It is not enough room! Give us more! There wasn’t any more room. The Lord had given them all that they needed. “Do it yourself!” was essentially Joshua’s reply. Where is the glory of the Lord in this? I believe that His glory is visible and available at all times. However, there are times when He simply says, “Trust me; you can do it; do it yourself.” It is to His glory to strengthen us. So He leaves us in situations to strengthen us or to show us our hearts. If we keep our eyes upon Him, we need only to trust and put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes it is through tears of frustration. But He is waiting for us on the other side of the valley of depression. Finally the dawn breaks and his glory is seen. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
July 11, 2010
Acts 17:1-17
When Paul preached, what did he preach? I think it is summarized in verse 3, "explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." It is a simple message, a true message and not difficult to grasp. Yet at the same time it is impossible to grasp. This simple message speaks of the glory of Christ. This simple message had such a life changing message upon people in Palestine, Asia Minor and Macedonia that when Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica, their enemies cried out in a frustrated rage, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." Can speaking the glory of Christ be that powerful? In can and will be. We are just too afraid to speak it. Or we really haven’t seen it. Or we speak of things related to the glory of Christ but not the essence of His Glory. The King of Creation, the King of Glory, became flesh for the express purpose of being the substitute for our sin. He died in our place. He defeated death and thereby that sin, by rising from the dead. He ever lives to intercede for us. If we repent and believe in Him, we can know God. It is a simple glorious message that has and will turn the world upside down. Indeed, we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Joshua 14-15
Yesterday, on the way back to MIU, a man was approaching me from the opposite direction on the footpath. Seeing me, he reached down and picked up a huge rock with one hand. He then crouched holding the rock out and looking at me as if he were going to hit me with the rock. I was quite startled. I wasn’t sure what to do. The only way around him was to walk up a mound to the right of him. I am 55 years old. It is not a time in my life when I want to start acting like Nicolas Cage or Harrison Ford. But then, I have never been able to back down from a challenger, even when I knew I would be defeated. My options seemed to be: 1) to be fearful and back down 2) to fight or 3) to trust the Lord to protect me and see if I could just walk around him. Option one is just not in my character. Option two is stupid. If the man were a better fighter than I, I would only get beaten, and he would get what he wanted anyway. If I were a better fighter than he, I would only beat him, and there is a strong likelihood that there would be some severe and unpleasant spiritual and legal repercussions for me. That only left option three. I made the decision to move forward and unaggressively walk up the mound. I guess he realized that I was not going to be intimidated by his stance. By the time I was even with him, I had the higher ground. He set the rock down and went on his way after I passed. I think it was the glory of the Lord that protected me. What if he had attacked as I passed by? I honestly do not know what I would have done or how it would have turned out. But this one thing I know, God would ultimately have been glorified.
Caleb is 85 years old. He was forty years old when they left Egypt. He was chosen to represent Judah when the spies were selected to spy out the land. He and Joshua alone brought back a good report because they knew the glory of the Lord. But the Lord promised him that for his faithfulness he would receive the land upon which his feet had walked. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and 5 years of fighting in the campaigns to break the back of the Canaanites, Caleb reports, “I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day.” Caleb knew it was the glory of the Lord that sustained him. That gave him the faith to say, “Give me this mountain!” May his tribe increase! What mountain is there in my our your life that for the glory of God, we need to face? His glory is more than sufficient! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
When Paul preached, what did he preach? I think it is summarized in verse 3, "explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." It is a simple message, a true message and not difficult to grasp. Yet at the same time it is impossible to grasp. This simple message speaks of the glory of Christ. This simple message had such a life changing message upon people in Palestine, Asia Minor and Macedonia that when Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica, their enemies cried out in a frustrated rage, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." Can speaking the glory of Christ be that powerful? In can and will be. We are just too afraid to speak it. Or we really haven’t seen it. Or we speak of things related to the glory of Christ but not the essence of His Glory. The King of Creation, the King of Glory, became flesh for the express purpose of being the substitute for our sin. He died in our place. He defeated death and thereby that sin, by rising from the dead. He ever lives to intercede for us. If we repent and believe in Him, we can know God. It is a simple glorious message that has and will turn the world upside down. Indeed, we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Joshua 14-15
Yesterday, on the way back to MIU, a man was approaching me from the opposite direction on the footpath. Seeing me, he reached down and picked up a huge rock with one hand. He then crouched holding the rock out and looking at me as if he were going to hit me with the rock. I was quite startled. I wasn’t sure what to do. The only way around him was to walk up a mound to the right of him. I am 55 years old. It is not a time in my life when I want to start acting like Nicolas Cage or Harrison Ford. But then, I have never been able to back down from a challenger, even when I knew I would be defeated. My options seemed to be: 1) to be fearful and back down 2) to fight or 3) to trust the Lord to protect me and see if I could just walk around him. Option one is just not in my character. Option two is stupid. If the man were a better fighter than I, I would only get beaten, and he would get what he wanted anyway. If I were a better fighter than he, I would only beat him, and there is a strong likelihood that there would be some severe and unpleasant spiritual and legal repercussions for me. That only left option three. I made the decision to move forward and unaggressively walk up the mound. I guess he realized that I was not going to be intimidated by his stance. By the time I was even with him, I had the higher ground. He set the rock down and went on his way after I passed. I think it was the glory of the Lord that protected me. What if he had attacked as I passed by? I honestly do not know what I would have done or how it would have turned out. But this one thing I know, God would ultimately have been glorified.
Caleb is 85 years old. He was forty years old when they left Egypt. He was chosen to represent Judah when the spies were selected to spy out the land. He and Joshua alone brought back a good report because they knew the glory of the Lord. But the Lord promised him that for his faithfulness he would receive the land upon which his feet had walked. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and 5 years of fighting in the campaigns to break the back of the Canaanites, Caleb reports, “I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day.” Caleb knew it was the glory of the Lord that sustained him. That gave him the faith to say, “Give me this mountain!” May his tribe increase! What mountain is there in my our your life that for the glory of God, we need to face? His glory is more than sufficient! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Friday, July 9, 2010
July 10, 2010
July 10, 2010 Joshua 12,13
“Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the Lord said to him: “You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.” How old was he? Well, let’s see. He was 110 years old when he died (Joshua 24:29). We are not too sure how old he was when he left Egypt. We normally associate him with Caleb because they spied out the land together. Caleb was forty when they left Egypt, and from Caleb’s conversation, we can assume that the conquest lasted five years (Joshua 14:7-12). I wouldn’t think that Joshua was any younger than Caleb. Indeed, I think he was older. So Joshua is at least 85 at this point. I suspect that he is much closer to 110. Joshua has much to reflect upon the glory of the Lord during those years.
He was with Moses when they left Egypt. The first mention of him is in Exodus 17 when Moses makes him general of the army when they fight that famous battle against Amalek. He saw the glory of the Lord in the midst of the battle. It was clear that when Moses raised his hands, they won. When Moses lowered his hands, they lost. Joshua knew that it was the glory of the Lord that produced his victory.
Joshua went with Moses when he went up on the mountain of God to receive the law (Exodus 24:13-18). He was nearby when the fiery finger of God inscribed the law upon the stone tablets. He alone dwelt next to the cloud on the mountain and experienced the thunders and lightings of the presence of the glory of the Almighty God as Moses entered the cloud for forty days and forty nights. As they returned, it was Joshua who remarked that there was a sound of war in the camp (Exodus 32:17). He was unaware of the apostasy that occurred in the valley below. While it was Moses with whom God spoke face to face as with a friend, it was Joshua who refused to leave the tabernacle where the glory of God dwelt (Exodus 33:11).
It was Joshua that was jealous for the glory of Moses when men were prophesying in the camp. But Moses corrected his thought relating to the glory of the Lord, saying, “I wish the Lord would give his Spirit to all his people so everyone could be a prophet (Numbers 13:29).” It was Joshua who was selected among his tribe to be one of the twelve spies sent into the land. Only he and Caleb brought a positive report because they knew the glory of the Lord. When they rebuked the people, they took up stones to kill him. It was then that the glory of the Lord appeared and prevented any harm to him (Numbers 14:6-10).
It was Joshua who led them across the Jordan. It was Joshua who met the commander of the Lord’s army. It was Joshua who led them in the renewal of the covenant signs. It was Joshua who led them around Jericho. It was Joshua who led them against Ai. It was Joshua who stumbled in making the treaty with Gibeon. It was Joshua who had seen the mighty victories against the Canaanite kings. What a legacy! My how he had seen the glory of the Lord! When you and I die, will we with Joshua be able to say, “I have seen the glory of the Lord in my life, and this how I have seen it. . . !" God forgive me for being satisfied with lesser things. Let me thirst and crave nothing less than the glory of God. Let not my life be mediocre! Let it only be saturated and dripping with the glory of God. May people see not me but the glory of God! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 16:22-40
Have you ever been a prisoner? We all have been at one time or another. Maybe not in a conventional prison. But, we have been prisoners trapped in the confines or consequences or our own sin. Jesus is the ultimate liberator because He makes us free from the very bars that we have built.
Paul and Silas were in prison. It was a literal prison. They were there unjustly. They could have been bitter. They could have allowed emotional walls to go up that would have enslaved them against the jailer and the people of Philippi. But they knew too much about the glory of their king. Indeed, Paul had been left for dead and Jesus raised him up. Paul had encouraged others that through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God. They knew that in every town that they entered, tribulation and maybe death awaited them there. Why did they still go? Because they knew that in every town they entered, the glory of their king needed to be revealed.
They had received many stripes and were placed in the securest cell with their feet in stocks. But they chose to focus on the glory of their king. That focus on the glory made all the difference in the world. You know, whenever I focus on the glory of my King, I cannot help but sing. So too, they could not help but sing. Picture this: Many stripes--that means that their back was beaten until the skin broke in multiple places. You know they had to be experiencing physical pain. They were In a prison with no knowledge of if or when release would come. You know they had to be experiencing emotional pain. Feet in stocks. If your back is bruised and bloodied and your feet are stationary in stocks, how can you possibly lie down? It is midnight. I am sure they have been in the stocks for some hours now. Now they begin singing. Why? Because of the glory of their King. It has nothing to do with their remarkable character, which they had. It has all to do with their remarkable King. Choosing to focus on Him made all the difference in the world. They could have been prisoners in a second cell, an emotional one. But they chose to focus on the glory. A Roman family embraced that glory because Paul and Silas made the choice to focus upon it. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
“Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the Lord said to him: “You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.” How old was he? Well, let’s see. He was 110 years old when he died (Joshua 24:29). We are not too sure how old he was when he left Egypt. We normally associate him with Caleb because they spied out the land together. Caleb was forty when they left Egypt, and from Caleb’s conversation, we can assume that the conquest lasted five years (Joshua 14:7-12). I wouldn’t think that Joshua was any younger than Caleb. Indeed, I think he was older. So Joshua is at least 85 at this point. I suspect that he is much closer to 110. Joshua has much to reflect upon the glory of the Lord during those years.
He was with Moses when they left Egypt. The first mention of him is in Exodus 17 when Moses makes him general of the army when they fight that famous battle against Amalek. He saw the glory of the Lord in the midst of the battle. It was clear that when Moses raised his hands, they won. When Moses lowered his hands, they lost. Joshua knew that it was the glory of the Lord that produced his victory.
Joshua went with Moses when he went up on the mountain of God to receive the law (Exodus 24:13-18). He was nearby when the fiery finger of God inscribed the law upon the stone tablets. He alone dwelt next to the cloud on the mountain and experienced the thunders and lightings of the presence of the glory of the Almighty God as Moses entered the cloud for forty days and forty nights. As they returned, it was Joshua who remarked that there was a sound of war in the camp (Exodus 32:17). He was unaware of the apostasy that occurred in the valley below. While it was Moses with whom God spoke face to face as with a friend, it was Joshua who refused to leave the tabernacle where the glory of God dwelt (Exodus 33:11).
It was Joshua that was jealous for the glory of Moses when men were prophesying in the camp. But Moses corrected his thought relating to the glory of the Lord, saying, “I wish the Lord would give his Spirit to all his people so everyone could be a prophet (Numbers 13:29).” It was Joshua who was selected among his tribe to be one of the twelve spies sent into the land. Only he and Caleb brought a positive report because they knew the glory of the Lord. When they rebuked the people, they took up stones to kill him. It was then that the glory of the Lord appeared and prevented any harm to him (Numbers 14:6-10).
It was Joshua who led them across the Jordan. It was Joshua who met the commander of the Lord’s army. It was Joshua who led them in the renewal of the covenant signs. It was Joshua who led them around Jericho. It was Joshua who led them against Ai. It was Joshua who stumbled in making the treaty with Gibeon. It was Joshua who had seen the mighty victories against the Canaanite kings. What a legacy! My how he had seen the glory of the Lord! When you and I die, will we with Joshua be able to say, “I have seen the glory of the Lord in my life, and this how I have seen it. . . !" God forgive me for being satisfied with lesser things. Let me thirst and crave nothing less than the glory of God. Let not my life be mediocre! Let it only be saturated and dripping with the glory of God. May people see not me but the glory of God! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 16:22-40
Have you ever been a prisoner? We all have been at one time or another. Maybe not in a conventional prison. But, we have been prisoners trapped in the confines or consequences or our own sin. Jesus is the ultimate liberator because He makes us free from the very bars that we have built.
Paul and Silas were in prison. It was a literal prison. They were there unjustly. They could have been bitter. They could have allowed emotional walls to go up that would have enslaved them against the jailer and the people of Philippi. But they knew too much about the glory of their king. Indeed, Paul had been left for dead and Jesus raised him up. Paul had encouraged others that through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God. They knew that in every town that they entered, tribulation and maybe death awaited them there. Why did they still go? Because they knew that in every town they entered, the glory of their king needed to be revealed.
They had received many stripes and were placed in the securest cell with their feet in stocks. But they chose to focus on the glory of their king. That focus on the glory made all the difference in the world. You know, whenever I focus on the glory of my King, I cannot help but sing. So too, they could not help but sing. Picture this: Many stripes--that means that their back was beaten until the skin broke in multiple places. You know they had to be experiencing physical pain. They were In a prison with no knowledge of if or when release would come. You know they had to be experiencing emotional pain. Feet in stocks. If your back is bruised and bloodied and your feet are stationary in stocks, how can you possibly lie down? It is midnight. I am sure they have been in the stocks for some hours now. Now they begin singing. Why? Because of the glory of their King. It has nothing to do with their remarkable character, which they had. It has all to do with their remarkable King. Choosing to focus on Him made all the difference in the world. They could have been prisoners in a second cell, an emotional one. But they chose to focus on the glory. A Roman family embraced that glory because Paul and Silas made the choice to focus upon it. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Thursday, July 8, 2010
July 9,2010
Joshua 11
Five times in this chapter the word “commanded” is used to describe how Joshua completed the destruction of the kings of Canaan in obedience to the Lord. If, as we said before, Joshua’s conquest of Canaan is a type of our battle over the flesh after our conversion, then observe how important is obedience to the command of the Spirit of the Lord. Yes, the Christian life is the exchanged life for the life of Christ. We can never let loose of that truth. However, in the midst of that exchange there is a call to obedience. When we lay hold of the life of Christ and in His power learn to put to death the deeds of the flesh, as Joshua, we enter into rest. The Christian life becomes one of rest. Lord I present my life today to You. What You desire to accomplish through me, I yield. I take your Life as my own. As You direct me, I choose to obey. I will consider myself dead to the deeds of the flesh as it seeks to raise its ugly head. Thank you for Your great Life. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts16:1-21
Time Out!!! What's going on here? We've just had this big fight in Antioch that necessitated a special trip to Jerusalem on which the council decided. The decision required two envoys to be sent back with Paul and Barnabas to validate their report. The issue was over circumcision--was it required in order to become part of the people of God. And now Paul is taking one of his associates and circumcising him in order that he might accompany him. Isn't that a classic example of saying one thing and doing another? Ah, but here again is the glory of our Lord. The issue was the requirement to become part of the people of God not the voluntarily laying down of one's rights in order to share the Gospel with them. That makes all the difference in the world.
Would I be willing to do that to share the Gospel with others? I can hear Timothy now, "Paul, you want me to do what so that I may be able to share the gospel with people who do that? But its not a requirement. This is getting awfully personal!"
I can also hear Paul's response, "Yes, but unless you do it, they won't engage in any kind of relationship with you. They will consider you unclean. In short, they will not listen to you."
Timothy was willing. For the glory of the Lord Jesus, he laid down his right not to be cut on. He allowed circumcision, while at the same time helping deliver the decree which said it was not necessary. Our Lord's glory is really awesome. He can change the heart of someone to that point of commitment all because of His glory. The Lord changes hearts!
The Lord establishes two things that seem contradictory. Outward keeping of the law is not necessary to be one of His children. He calls his children to voluntarily acts of laying down their rights related to the outward keeping of the law in order to promote His glory. Having established these things for the church-Jew and Gentile alike-, the Lord redirects Paul's ministry geographically and for the time being, mostly toward Gentiles in the Roman city of Philippi.
Our Lord changes hearts. He doesn't just lay down the law, He changes hearts. Do we get it? He loves us so much that He doesn't beat us into submission like some brute animal. But He uses our circumstances and His glory to change our hearts. Indeed, we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Five times in this chapter the word “commanded” is used to describe how Joshua completed the destruction of the kings of Canaan in obedience to the Lord. If, as we said before, Joshua’s conquest of Canaan is a type of our battle over the flesh after our conversion, then observe how important is obedience to the command of the Spirit of the Lord. Yes, the Christian life is the exchanged life for the life of Christ. We can never let loose of that truth. However, in the midst of that exchange there is a call to obedience. When we lay hold of the life of Christ and in His power learn to put to death the deeds of the flesh, as Joshua, we enter into rest. The Christian life becomes one of rest. Lord I present my life today to You. What You desire to accomplish through me, I yield. I take your Life as my own. As You direct me, I choose to obey. I will consider myself dead to the deeds of the flesh as it seeks to raise its ugly head. Thank you for Your great Life. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts16:1-21
Time Out!!! What's going on here? We've just had this big fight in Antioch that necessitated a special trip to Jerusalem on which the council decided. The decision required two envoys to be sent back with Paul and Barnabas to validate their report. The issue was over circumcision--was it required in order to become part of the people of God. And now Paul is taking one of his associates and circumcising him in order that he might accompany him. Isn't that a classic example of saying one thing and doing another? Ah, but here again is the glory of our Lord. The issue was the requirement to become part of the people of God not the voluntarily laying down of one's rights in order to share the Gospel with them. That makes all the difference in the world.
Would I be willing to do that to share the Gospel with others? I can hear Timothy now, "Paul, you want me to do what so that I may be able to share the gospel with people who do that? But its not a requirement. This is getting awfully personal!"
I can also hear Paul's response, "Yes, but unless you do it, they won't engage in any kind of relationship with you. They will consider you unclean. In short, they will not listen to you."
Timothy was willing. For the glory of the Lord Jesus, he laid down his right not to be cut on. He allowed circumcision, while at the same time helping deliver the decree which said it was not necessary. Our Lord's glory is really awesome. He can change the heart of someone to that point of commitment all because of His glory. The Lord changes hearts!
The Lord establishes two things that seem contradictory. Outward keeping of the law is not necessary to be one of His children. He calls his children to voluntarily acts of laying down their rights related to the outward keeping of the law in order to promote His glory. Having established these things for the church-Jew and Gentile alike-, the Lord redirects Paul's ministry geographically and for the time being, mostly toward Gentiles in the Roman city of Philippi.
Our Lord changes hearts. He doesn't just lay down the law, He changes hearts. Do we get it? He loves us so much that He doesn't beat us into submission like some brute animal. But He uses our circumstances and His glory to change our hearts. Indeed, we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
July 8, 2010
Joshua 10
Every once in a while I get an old e-mail hoax forwarded to me. It usually has something to do with how NASA scientists have mathematically proven that there is a day missing in time. The e-mail usually associates the day with Joshua’s battle where the Sun stood still and with Isaiah”s miracle of the sun going backward. Without being a scientist, I know that NASA scientists could not have mathematically proven this. But I won’t bore you with the details. Although, it is interesting to consider how this miracle could possibly have taken place. After all, the laws of motion seem to indicate that if the Lord all-of-a-sudden stopped the earth, then everything not attached to the surface would have kept traveling and, relatively speaking, have been hurled eastward and perhaps off of the planet. There have been a few suggestions as to how the Lord may have arranged this mechanically without devastating the earth with massive tidal waves. Personally, while I find this interesting, I ultimately don’t care. After all, if my God is big enough to speak the universe into existence with all of its galactic and planetary motions, then He is able to stop the rotation of one little planet for one day and start it again and control all the laws of motion without doing harm to it. I mean, that is the point, isn’t it? He is after all, God. Do I have to be able to analyze it to believe it? I don’t think so. Sometimes we just need to let God be God, rather than trying to analyze everything.
In his book Life on the Mississippi, Mark Twain compares and contrasts two views of the river. One view is when he was a boy, and the river just awed him on a daily basis. The other view is after he had become a river boat pilot. He had so analyzed the river and knew it so well that it no longer held any wonder for him. Do I sometimes I approach the glory of my Lord in the same way? Do I have to use my western analytical mind so much that I cease to be truly awed by His glory? Can I not just sit back and be awed by the God of the Universe, who will enter time and space and reorder it, if need be, just to provide for my need and glorify Himself? Granted, making the sun stand still is probably a once-in-a-creation event, but still it causes me to reflect that our Lord is able to reorder all the daily events combining His sovereign design with the billions of free will decisions of His creatures in order to reveal His glory. From time to time He enters time and space and does something to order those events so that I know He did it. Wow! Now there is something that I just have to let awe me! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 15:22-41
It feels like dissension could never bring glory to Jesus. And it is probably true that Jesus prefers that His glory be increased through routes other than dissension. But, even people who are normally Spirit-filled sometimes miss the mark and sin. The dissension at Antioch brought the landmark decision from the "home" church in Jerusalem. James writing for the majority (actually among the apostles it was probably unanimous) phrased it as, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us." Dissension led to a unanimous decision, which led to a blessing upon the Gentile church.
The dissension now healed, Paul and Barnabas return their attention on planting churches among the Gentiles. Woops, dissension arises again. Barnabas wants to take his nephew John Mark with them again. Paul is dead set against it. After all John Mark had revealed that he didn't have what it takes in Perga of Pamphylia--he deserted them and went home. Barnabas ever the 'Son of Encouragement' insists John Mark has repented and is ready for the task. The dissension is too strong. Barnabas departs to go a different direction with John Mark and Paul chooses Silas who accompanied them from the Jerusalem Council. How can this dissension glorify Jesus? In the long run, there are now two missionary teams instead of one and John Mark is restored. At the end of Paul's life he requests the ministry of John Mark.
Did the dissension bring glory to the Lord? What came out of the dissension brought glory to the Lord. That is just like our Lord. He takes what we make bad and if we trust Him, He will bring glory to Himself. Indeed, we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Every once in a while I get an old e-mail hoax forwarded to me. It usually has something to do with how NASA scientists have mathematically proven that there is a day missing in time. The e-mail usually associates the day with Joshua’s battle where the Sun stood still and with Isaiah”s miracle of the sun going backward. Without being a scientist, I know that NASA scientists could not have mathematically proven this. But I won’t bore you with the details. Although, it is interesting to consider how this miracle could possibly have taken place. After all, the laws of motion seem to indicate that if the Lord all-of-a-sudden stopped the earth, then everything not attached to the surface would have kept traveling and, relatively speaking, have been hurled eastward and perhaps off of the planet. There have been a few suggestions as to how the Lord may have arranged this mechanically without devastating the earth with massive tidal waves. Personally, while I find this interesting, I ultimately don’t care. After all, if my God is big enough to speak the universe into existence with all of its galactic and planetary motions, then He is able to stop the rotation of one little planet for one day and start it again and control all the laws of motion without doing harm to it. I mean, that is the point, isn’t it? He is after all, God. Do I have to be able to analyze it to believe it? I don’t think so. Sometimes we just need to let God be God, rather than trying to analyze everything.
In his book Life on the Mississippi, Mark Twain compares and contrasts two views of the river. One view is when he was a boy, and the river just awed him on a daily basis. The other view is after he had become a river boat pilot. He had so analyzed the river and knew it so well that it no longer held any wonder for him. Do I sometimes I approach the glory of my Lord in the same way? Do I have to use my western analytical mind so much that I cease to be truly awed by His glory? Can I not just sit back and be awed by the God of the Universe, who will enter time and space and reorder it, if need be, just to provide for my need and glorify Himself? Granted, making the sun stand still is probably a once-in-a-creation event, but still it causes me to reflect that our Lord is able to reorder all the daily events combining His sovereign design with the billions of free will decisions of His creatures in order to reveal His glory. From time to time He enters time and space and does something to order those events so that I know He did it. Wow! Now there is something that I just have to let awe me! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 15:22-41
It feels like dissension could never bring glory to Jesus. And it is probably true that Jesus prefers that His glory be increased through routes other than dissension. But, even people who are normally Spirit-filled sometimes miss the mark and sin. The dissension at Antioch brought the landmark decision from the "home" church in Jerusalem. James writing for the majority (actually among the apostles it was probably unanimous) phrased it as, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us." Dissension led to a unanimous decision, which led to a blessing upon the Gentile church.
The dissension now healed, Paul and Barnabas return their attention on planting churches among the Gentiles. Woops, dissension arises again. Barnabas wants to take his nephew John Mark with them again. Paul is dead set against it. After all John Mark had revealed that he didn't have what it takes in Perga of Pamphylia--he deserted them and went home. Barnabas ever the 'Son of Encouragement' insists John Mark has repented and is ready for the task. The dissension is too strong. Barnabas departs to go a different direction with John Mark and Paul chooses Silas who accompanied them from the Jerusalem Council. How can this dissension glorify Jesus? In the long run, there are now two missionary teams instead of one and John Mark is restored. At the end of Paul's life he requests the ministry of John Mark.
Did the dissension bring glory to the Lord? What came out of the dissension brought glory to the Lord. That is just like our Lord. He takes what we make bad and if we trust Him, He will bring glory to Himself. Indeed, we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
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