A New Pharaoh

The book of Exodus shows us many similarities between the people of God then and the believers of today. Of course, we are not oppressed by a human pharaoh today, but we can learn much about how God intends to deliver us from oppressive sins or circumstances. Not only do we learn how God handled the oppressive Egyptians; we also learn how God dealt with the fear and unbelief of the Israelites as they crossed the desert to find freedom.

Please, bear with me as I will skip around some chapters in the book of Exodus. In specific, chapters 1, 6, and 14. First, I’d like to give a little background to give us a better understanding of what’s happening.

In chapter 1 of Exodus we pick up the story as the Israelites have been experiencing a time of great prosperity and peace. Joseph, who grew to be second in command in Egypt, lived righteously before God and brought God’s blessing to the Israelites under the Pharaoh who existed. However, in chapter 1 verse 6 of Exodus we are told that Joseph and all his brothers have died and in verse 8 we find out that a NEW PHARAOH, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. This new Pharaoh became very distressed because he saw the great number of Israelites and how they were multiplying. He saw their prosperity as a threat to Egypt and his throne and decided to act quickly to bring them under control.  This new Pharaoh put task masters over the Israelites and forced them into slave labor. If you’ve seen The Prince of Egypt then you know the story. God speaks to Moses from the Burning Bush, tells him to go to Pharaoh and request for his people to be let go. Moses reluctantly goes, Pharaoh refuses, and God is forced to send plagues upon the Egyptians.

In chapter 6 God makes a promise to the Israelites that He will deliver them from the Egyptian oppression.  This is how it reads:

 ⁶ “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. ⁷ I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. ⁸ And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’ “

Did you notice how many times God says,”I will.” In those 3 verses God says, I will” 7 times. He says “I Am The Lord” twice, meaning He is the covenant keeping God, meaning I won’t forget you, meaning you can trust me; don’t be afraid! Why does God repeat himself so many times? I think it’s because God understands our human nature. He understands our fears.

In chapter 14 of Exodus we see that the Israelites are finally freed from the bondage of slavery and head out into the desert in search of their promised land. The journey through the desert is very trying on the Israelites. They experience hardships and begin to doubt God’s promises. But, God is patient with them like He is with us and He is still telling them “I will” and “I Am.” Like a loving father, he never leaves them and he is constantly reassuring them of His intention to deliver them from their enemy.

Chapter 14 holds one of the most amazing miracles recorded in the Bible; the crossing of the Red Sea. Even after all of God’s demonstrations of power and ability to deliver them, the Israelites are still overcome with fear and doubt. Look at what they tell Moses in verses 11-12 of chapter 14.

¹¹ They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? ¹² Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

WHAT!?? You mean, they’d rather serve the Egyptians than trust God’s promises? You mean, they feared the NEW Pharaoh more than they feared God? Yup. But wait! Before we point the finger in judgement, aren’t we the exact same way when we choose to give into our favorite sins, or when we choose to live in fear of what might happen rather than on God’s promises? If we are honest, I think we’d have to say that we aren’t that different. The issue for the Israelites wasn’t whether God was telling the truth or if God was able to deliver on His promise. The issue was their fear of what the NEW Pharaoh would do to them. Instead of focusing on what God had promised to do to Pharaoh and his army, they chose to focus on what little they could do against Pharaoh. Listen to what Moses tells them in verse 13-14.

 ¹³ Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Whatever Pharaoh you are facing today, God wants you to know 3 things…

1. A NEW Pharaoh always arises.

Our enemy, the devil, will not relent. He is always on the prowl to keep you enslaved. He wants to keep you in “Egypt” to serve his purposes.

2. We cannot live on past victories!

If you experienced victory over temptation or sin yesterday, a week ago, or earlier today, it will not carry over. You don’t get rollover victories. We have to depend on God’s provision moment by moment. This is an invaluable lesson I am learning.

3. God is still I AM and He will!

God hasn’t forgotten us! He is ready and willing to deliver us from the oppression of the NEW Pharaohs that arise in our lives, but we must be willing to trust Him. Our eyes must be on Him and not our struggles. We are not meant to go back to Egypt. God has promised us a land flowing with milk and honey. This is why God put our eyes in the front of our head. Jesus dealt with all of the “Pharaohs” when He died on the cross and rose from the dead! (I didn’t mean to rhyme there..lol.) Whom will you serve today?

Whatever…

 

^{Philippians 4:8-9}

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

What do you spend most of your day thinking about? Are you thinking of debts you owe, the job you don’t have, the love you lost, or the conflict at work or school? Maybe you spend your day thinking about the past and how good things were or about what you deserve. perhaps your thoughts are on what you would do different if you were God.

It’s no secret. We can drive ourselves crazy thinking about what could have been and we have all felt like we’ve been robbed. The mind is a powerful thing, but it’s unfortunate that, for the most part,  we choose to fill it with negative thoughts. Many times we choose to allow our thoughts to dictate our course of action…for example one might say: “I’m doomed to fail so why even try?” Another person might yell in a time of desperation, “I can’t catch a break!” These kinds of thoughts will not only cripple you spiritually, but they will cause you to accept your self-proposed fate without much resistance.

Paul, the writer of Philippians, understood human nature. He understood that our minds tend to wander into places they don’t belong. I think he understood our tendency to believe lies rather than the truth and this is why he left us a blueprint of what our thoughts should be focused on…

1. Whatever is TRUE.

I could spend a lot of time writing what God says is true about you and I, but I will only mention a few.

• It is true that you are created in God’s image.
• It is true that your worth or value does not depend on what you do. It is based on the fact that God created you special and unique and full of purpose.
• It is true that no one else on this earth can do what you were placed here to do or accomplish.
• It is true that God has provided you with everything you need (Him first) to accomplish your purpose on this earth.

2. Whatever is NOBLE.

This implies a loftiness of character or spirit that scorns the petty, mean, base, or dishonorable. It implies having elevated principles and consistently adhering to them.

• It is noble thinking when your mind is on honorable things, like helping those in need.
• It is noble thinking when your mind is on Godly principles like honesty and kindness and humility.

3. Whatever is RIGHT.

This implies rejecting and standing against injustice or falsehood. It means rejecting thoughts of superiority or entitlement. It means holding God’s Word as the standard.

• Right thinking says all have sinned and have fallen short of God’s standard…me included.
• Right thinking says that we should consider others as better than ourselves.
• Right thinking says that we should fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.
• Right thinking says that we are here to serve and not to be served.

4. Whatever is PURE.

Quite simply this means untainted with evil; innocent. If we could physically wash our brains at the end of each day how much “dirt” would we collect? Not even Oxi-Clean would do the job would it?

• Pure thoughts are rooted in God’s definition of what things are meant for.
• Pure thoughts are grounded on what can be exposed without embarrassment or shame.
• Pure thoughts do not have to be kept secret.
• Pure thoughts do not have selfish motives.

5. Whatever is LOVELY.

This implies anything that is delightful, highly pleasing, charming or exquisitely beautiful. It can be a physical characteristic as well as an abstract idea like a relationship or art.

• Thinking about things that are lovely involves appreciating what God has created (a person, a place, or a thing.)
• Thinking about things that are lovely will require you to notice them in their natural setting…sometimes they are moments like a walk on the beach with your loved one or admiring a sunset.
• Thinking about things that are lovely will inspire you and cause you to acknowledge God’s handiwork.

6. Whatever is ADMIRABLE.

This implies anything that is worthy of reverence, awe, or excellence.

• An admirable thought can cause you to fall silent or well up with tears as in a heroic act.
• An admirable thought can many times be in the unexplained.

I hope these definitions have helped to bring this verse to life. My prayer is that today you and I will make it a point to think on these things rather than on whatever may be clouding our minds. I wonder…what would life be like if all of us began to put this passage into practice? My guess is that we would begin to see more smiles and less frowns, more laughs and less tears, more love and less hate…think about it!

Resilience!

^{2 Corinthians 4:8-9}

⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

At one time Jesus told His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” Truer words have never been spoken. This life is full of trouble and heartache and confusion, but for those who call themselves followers of Jesus there is hope and help in times of need.

In reading 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, I am reminded of a characteristic that lives within us as human beings; a characteristic I believe is given by God because we are made in His image. For lack of a better term, I refer to it as resilience. Dictionary.com defines resilience as the ability to recover quickly from illness, change, or misfortune; buoyancy. The Apostle Paul, the writer of 2 Corinthians, didn’t have Dictionary.com in his day, but it seems that he knew exactly what resilience meant. In fact, he was a walking example of Godly resilience despite all the hardship he endured for the sake of the gospel. He suffered beatings, stonings, cursings, whippings, imprisonment, shipwreck, and abandonment. If anyone could write the lines of 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 with certainty and conviction, it was Paul.

The passage clearly states what we are and what we are not. I’d like to list them for you.

We ARE…                                                            We ARE NOT…

Hard pressed on every side                           Not crushed

Perplexed                                                              Not in despair

Persecuted                                                            Not abandoned

Struck down                                                         Not destroyed

Maybe today, like me, you needed to be reminded of the things that we are NOT. No matter how hard life has struck you, the truth is that we are not crushed, we are not in despair, we are not abandoned, and we are not destroyed. although our bodies may be hurt, bruised, disfigured, or violated our spirits cannot be touched. Beneath these earthsuits live the real us. Our mind, will, emotions. Our spirit. Our heart. It is there that we are inhabited by God’s Spirit. It is there where we are strengthened and transformed by His Spirit. This world can’t touch that part of us…unless we let it.

Regardless of what you are facing today I encourage you to summon the resilience God has placed within you through His spirit. Defy the odds! Stand up and say, “I will not be destroyed!” Remind yourself that you are living to fight another day…and whatever comes tomorrow will have to submit to God’s will first. DO NOT lose heart Jesus has overcome the world and He is with you. Remember that this world is not your home. Don’t get too attached to its “stuff.” Or as Paul would say, its “Rubbish.” I will leave you with the last few verses of 2 Corinthians 4.  Please, read them and allow God’s Spirit within you to fill you with the resilience you need.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal

Real Church by Larry Crabb

For anyone who has grown up in church, this book will hit a nerve. Larry Crabb explores the reality of this generation’s disinterest in “church.” Crabb pointedly asks the daunting question, Why do I need church? As a Christian, this question has become more and more relevant due to the obvious decline in church attendance and effectiveness. At the same time Crabb points out that ther are many church attenders who feel very comfortable in “Church, ” however there is no denying that there is a great devide between comfort and passion.

I enjoyed reading about a principle that Larry Crabb highlighted in this book and that is that the more a person desires to be like Jesus, the more they find that “church” falls short of it’s intended design. Over the last few years I’ve heard many people, believer and unbeliever alike, say that they don’t really care for church unless the people are “real.” They find no need in being part of a club or a seat warmer. They want be in a  place where faith is alive and people are authentic…a place where the leadership is transparent and concerned with the needs of this generation.

In this down to earth book where Crabb exposes his own displeasure with “church,” it is refreshing to see someone being honest about the state of the church. He says a great deal that most Christians at his age are afraid to say or even take responsibility for.

Roots and Storms

One thing is certain in life…storms will come. I don’t mean the ones that form in the Atlantic and end up in our back yards. I mean real “life” storms. The kind that appear out of nowhere and leave a trail of debris that we have no idea what to do with. Some pass quickly and don’t pack a lot of punch, but others are fierce and unrelenting. I’ve been through some. We all have. Maybe you’re going through one right now. If  you are, there’s good news…it will pass. If you are at the point of clearing the debris and trying to put things back together, there’s good news for you too. God has not forgotten you!

My friends, there isn’t much we can do about the storms. They will come, but we can be ready for them. The way we respond to the storms of life will tell us a lot about what we believe about God. What or whom are you grounded to? How healthy are your spiritual roots and how deep do they go? Maybe you’ve never thought about these questions, but they are important. I’d like to share a passage of scripture with you that deals with the reality of storms in life and how we are to be rooted in Christ for our survival. 

The passage I’d like to comment on is found in Colossians 2:6-7. It says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” In these verses we find the Apostle Paul addressing the believers who belonged to the church in Colosse. He fills these two verses with simple instructions that will help them weather the storms that will undoubtedly come. These instructions are just as much for us today as they were for the Colossian believers. Let’s see what he told them.

1. Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him.

Paul assumes that the readers of this letter are believers. He says, “Just as you received Him.” And how did they receive Him? I think we can conclude that Paul had something to do with their hearing of the Gospel and the starting of a local church in Colosse. They heard the message of Jesus and decided to place threir faith in Him alone for salvation. In essence, they entrusted their entire lives to Jesus. It was completely by faith. Jesus had already died on the cross and risen from the grave, but they believed the message and dedicated their lives to following His way of living. I don’t know if you have received Him or not. I pray you have, but if not, this is where the roots begin. If you have not come to a point in your life where you have made a decision to entrust your entire life to Jesus by placing your faith in Him alone for salvation, then, unfortunately, you are like a tree without roots just waiting to be destroyed. If you know that you haven’t made that decision, then I plead with you to NOT wait another minute. Take a moment to talk to God. Let Him know that you agree that you need forgiveness for your sin. let Him know that you can’t live correctly without Him. Invite Him to come into your life and establish strong spiritual roots. Commit to following Him and His plans for your life.

2. Paul tells the Colossians to continue to live in Him.

There are no days off for a Christian. We can’t be part-time believers. It’s just way too risky. The storms of life come without warning. If we are not continuously nourishing our spiritual roots we run the risk of being uprooted at the slightest wind that blows our way. Just like roots on a tree, we must be in a constant state of growth and expansion. In this way the storms of life cannot knock us down. They may break some branches or knock off some leaves, but we will remain standing. So…how do we continue to live in Him? Find a church family that will help nourish your roots. Spend time reading the Bible and strengthening your own roots. Spend time in prayer daily. This will build your faith. Share with others what Jesus is doing in your life. All of these things and more will help you conitnue to live in Him.

3. Another thing Paul tells the Colossians to do is to be rooted and built up in Him.

What happens if you plant a tree in soft soil or sand? What if it is planted in shallow ground? Can the roots expand and grow like they should? Of course they can’t!  In the same way, you cannot rely on shallow ground to be enough. Your spiritual roots must have good, deep, fertile soil to become strong and healthy. Where is this type of ground located? It is found in Jesus. He is to be our source of  life and spiritual nourishment. Without Him we can do nothing. Without Him we are vulnerable in the path of violent storms. It is also essential that we find a good church home where we can settle in and allow our roots to expand as far as God wants them to. Sitting in a church service once a week to listen to a sermon and then go home is not enough nourishment for your roots. This is why it is important to be involved in some kind of small group Bible study or accountability group as well. Christianity is lived Monday through Saturday. It is celebrated on Sundays! 

4. He also instructs the Colossians to be strengthened in the faith as they were taught.

As we grow down deeper in Christ, our faith becomes rooted. This will cause us to stand firm in His truth and not be moved; we will not be shaken. We must learn to soak in all that He has. The Bible tells us in Romans 10:17  that faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. We must make the effort to find out what Christ has said in His Word. His Word is the pure water that will travel through our roots to nourish the rest of the tree and make it flourish and bear fruit…even during the storms.

5. Last , but not least, Paul instructs the Colossians to be overflowing with thankfulness.

It’s not easy to be thankful sometimes, especially when you’re in the middle of a storm. I know it’s a cliche’, but we must count our blessings. Regardless of what you are going through, it can always be worse. Take the time to thank God for His mercy and grace. Thank Him for His provision even though you don’t serve Him as you should. Thank Him for always doing what is best for you. Thank Him for never leaving you nor forsaking you. Thank Him for love, family, laughter, friends, and pillows. And thank Him for the storms because they usually blow away all the unnecessary stuff. Thank Him for the hard times because they make us appreciate the good times. Thank Him for the tough times because they draw us closer to Him; because they strengthen our roots.

I will leave you with this Psalm…

^{Psalm 1:1-6}

¹ Blessed is the man
       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
       or stand in the way of sinners
       or sit in the seat of mockers.

 ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.

 ³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers.

 ⁴ Not so the wicked!
       They are like chaff
       that the wind blows away.

 ⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
       nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

 ⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
       but the way of the wicked will perish.

Kingdom Seekers

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

When it comes to our needs or our desires Jesus doesn’t just provide a way to meet them, He is The Way! When Jesus arrived on the scene in history He came preaching the good news of the Kingdom. Of course, many of those hearing His message at that time were expecting a Jewish, Super King, who would establish an earthly kingdom that would forever rid them of Roman rule. Little did they realize that Jesus, being the ultimate King, was not interested in earthly kingdoms or crushing the Romans. Instead, He was far more interested in crushing a greater enemy to all of humanity…sin.

What did Jesus mean when he spoke of The Kingdom? Did He mean heaven or was it something closer? Something more…available, accessible. I believe He was talking about something much more available and accessible than most of us realize. If He meant heaven I think He would have just said heaven. I think the confusion lies in our understanding of the word “kingdom.” Generally when you think of a kingdom chances are you conjure up images of a castle, a draw bridge, a high, surrounding wall, a king and queen, and subjects who serve them. This is hardly what Jesus meant when He gave His first sermon to those who were following Him. He boldly said in Mark 1:15, “The time has come, he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Other translations of this passage may say, “The kingdom is at hand.” My guess is that if Jesus were, physically, here today He would say something like, “The kingdom of the heavens is here in your midst and available…come and get it.”

So, what did Jesus mean by saying, “The kingdom of the Heavens?” To answer this we need to remember that Jesus was not referring to a physical kingdom. He was referring to His governance; His rule that came from the heavens where everything eternal and life producing exist for His glory. To be more specific…His love, His peace, His justice, His mercy, His forgiveness, His healing, His mission, and much, much more. His Kingdom is not a place, it is His authority over creation in action. Now think of “Kingdom” in this context and read Mark 1:15 again. It takes on a whole new meaning doesn’t it? Talk about good news! Jesus was essentially saying, “You don’t have to live under your own flawed kingdom (rule or governance) anymore. In ME is available the Kingdom you have always needed. The one your soul desperately seeks. The one that makes heaven what it is…perfect.”

Now we can examine our main passage with a different outlook. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Jesus gave his followers this nugget of truth in reference to their worrying about the basic needs of life; things like food, clothing, and shelter. We could actually add a substantial list of basic human needs to the ones Jesus used in this passage. I’m sure you have a few you would like to add. Maybe you would add a husband, a wife, a child, a job, a car, a home, a phone with reception…you get the idea. We all have needs. The problem is that we also have our own little kingdoms that we like to rule. We like being king or queen of our own domain. Why do you think Jesus said to seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness? I don’t know about you, but typically if I’m on the throne of my domain, I make a mess of things and I don’t end up with what I really needed to begin with.

The last part of Matthew 6:33 tells the result of making Jesus’ kingdom your first priority. When we make the kingdom of the heavens and His righteousness (right way of living) our life’s pursuit everything else will fall into place. Jesus will not negotiate His place on the throne of your heart. You and I must surrender our kingdom to follow His. So…what’s on your list of needs? What is it that you’ve been waiting for God to supply? Maybe it hasn’t been given to you because you’ve relied on your kingdom instead of His. Someone once said, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life, so make it count.” It’s good advice. Don’t waste another day sitting on the throne of your own kingdom. Move out of the way and let a real King show you how it’s done!

Triumph over Temptation

James 1:13-14

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

life would be so much easier without temptation. Talk about throwing a monkey wrench into this whole Christian journey. I would be an outstanding follower of Christ if it wasn’t for all these temptations that lure me away from Jesus. Seriously, God could have prevented curse words, nonsensical drivers, the Victoria’s Secret catalogue, and Krispy Kreme. Why am I subjected to these unfair temptations? I’d like to be able to say this point of view is correct. I really would, but it isn’t. The fact is that temptation wouldn’t have the power that it does if it wasn’t for the distorted desires that rage war against the Spirit of God within me.

At one point when Jesus was about to be arrested and falsely accused he is in turmoil and asks His disciples to stay up with Him to pray. They could not find it in them to resist the lure of sleep. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Jesus pleaded with them. Although Jesus wasn’t condemning their need for sleep or rest, he was making a point that the flesh should not have power over the Spirit. This is true for any kind of temptation. The Spirit within the believer is eager to obey God and do the righteous thing, but our flesh will not surrender quietly.

The passage in James 1:13-14 is a reminder of what the real problem is…ME. Also, don’t fall into the trap of blaming God for your inability to resist temptation. Verse 13 says, “When Tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone…” It would be pure evil for God to dangle irresistible temptations before us and expect us to resist. No, God is not setting traps for us to test us either. Instead, he has given us every opportunity to resist by giving us full access to His Spirit, His strength, His wisdom, and most importantly His son Jesus who overcame the power of sin through His death and resurrection. If we blame God for our weakness we are doing exactly what Adam did in the Garden of Eden. After joining his wife in the disobedient fruit munching, he had the nerve to place the blame squarely on God. He said, “The woman YOU put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

The second part of the passage in James 1 makes it even more clear. It says, “But each one is tempted when by HIS OWN evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” Did you catch that? It’s our own evil desires that cause us to fall into temptation. It is important to note that temptation in and of itself is not sin. It is when, as James says, we are gragged away and enticed by our own evil desires. Temptations are merely opportunities presented for us to  act on because it is what our flesh wants and desires. Even though God’s Spirit within us reminds us of God’s law we can be very headstrong when our flesh craves something. Unfortunately, it isn’t until after we have indulged the flesh that we realize how foolish we have been. It is that point that we turn to quote 1 john 1:9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” We love this verse…it’s a great insurance policy.

BUT, why not recite James 4:7 at the moment of temptation instead? It says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Notice it says to submit to God first? On our own, we are powerless to resist temptation. 9 times out of 10 we will fall on our own. Ever wonder how many times God is standing by just waiting for us to submit to Him while we are being bombarded by temptation? The second ACTION that we are to take is to resist the temptation. This implies that we have the ability to say NO to whatever is thrown at us. We have the ability to show self-restraint (self-control) in the midst of temptation. Finally, the passage says that the devil will flee from you. It doesn’t say that he will not tempt you again. It says that he will flee, take off, retreat. It doesn’t mean that he will not return at a more opportune time.

I pray that you would find the strength and wisdom you need to resist whatever temptation you are struggling with in Christ. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” Before the next temptation creeps up to wage war against your soul, submit to God. Ask Him for strength and wisdom. I also recommend you find a good Christian brother or sister that you can confide in to share the burden with you. God desires for us to carry one another’s burdens. I’ve made the mistake of not allowing good Christian brothers to help me in my time of struggle and I paid dearly for it. You don’t have to make the same mistake. With God’s help you can triumph over temptation!!

Calling All Daniels!

Daniel is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. If you’ve never taken the time to read the book of Daniel I would encourage you to take the time to do it. If I was to characterize the theme of the book of Daniel, I would have to say it is mainly about the power of prayer and the resolve of true believers to stand against sin regardless of the cost. These truths are seen clearly in the life of Daniel and his friends. Here’s a litle background on the book. 

The book of Daniel contains the memoirs of a young Jewish captive taken to Babylon in 605 B.C. Daniel, along with other teeangers from the Judean nobility were being trained for jobs as civil servants in King Nebuchadnezzar’s administration. The book of Daniel contains many lessons for the life of the believer. Most importantly, Daniel’s life illustrates the power of prayer, and how to live by faith in a hostile society bent on defying the one true God. This amazing book spans Daniel’s 70-year career as a high government official in a governmental system that continuously ignored God’s commands despite the overwhelming evidence against the existence of “other gods.” Over and over, through Daniel and others, God proved His supremacy with signs and wonders, but to no avail. The King and his closest advisors would not worship the one true God and Him alone. Does this sound familiar? Would you not agree that we are living in a generation that overwhelmingly sees God’s supremacy and yet refuses to abandon its simple minded idolatry? I ask myself…Where are the Daniels of this generation, who are willing to be thrown into fiery furnaces and lion’s dens because their God is as real to them as their own breathing?

I believe with all my heart that there are Daniels out there in this generation. More and more, we are seeing a rising up of young men and women who really get it. There is a growing sense that God is raising up a new crop of disciples who will not give in to the pattern of this world, but will resolve to be transformed by the life and person of Jesus Christ. Are you one of them? I’m still working on it…I long to be able to say as the apostle Paul said with such confidence, “Immitate me as I immitate Christ.”  I would love to have said of me as the King’s advisors said of Daniel, “They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”

Let’s be honest about something. We, as a society, can be very indecisive. Coke or Pepsi? Oh, you want Sprite you say? Burger or Taco? Chicken or steak? Do you prefer fish? Stay home or go out? Should I wear this shirt or the other shirt? Don’t even mention shoes…get the picture? It seems we’ve been given so many options in today’s culture that we think we have options when it comes to God as well. I hate to break it to you, but God is not a value meal and you can’t trade any of the side items. We need to learn to make up our minds concerning God as Daniel did. In the first chapter of the book of Daniel, verse 8, it says, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…” Please understand…I am not talking about eating and drinking in this blog. It goes much deeper than that. Let me explain.

As a Jew, Daniel was bound to the dietary laws of the Old Testament. Daniel would not, under any circumstances, adopt the diet of the Babylonians. Now, let’s forget for a moment that we are talking about food and wine offered to a nice Jewish young man in 600 B.C. Instead, let’s transmit this scenario to 2009. For the sake of argument let’s say that the king of Daniel’s day is the worldly pattern of this generation and let us also say that the royal food and wine that Daniel rejected are the temporary pleasures (sin) that are offered to us daily. Can we say, like Daniel, that we have resolved not to defile ourselves with meaningless sin offered by this lost generation? Listen, before you think that I’m preaching at you, I want you to know that I am preaching to myself first. I certainly have not yet attained Daniel status in my journey as a Christ follower, but it is my desire. It is also my desire for you. The transformation of this lost generation depends on it and the hope of the next generation hangs in the balance. This is a call to all Daniels everywhere to rise up and resolve to NOT defile ourselves with whatever this culture may offer in place of righteousness and holiness. It could mean that we will have to experience some cultural fiery furnaces and lion’s dens, but it is also true that we will experience God’s power to save.

The Fear Factor

From the beginning of man’s creation, our enemy, the devil has been using fear to spiritually and physically paralyze anyone who would seek to do God’s will. Some things should be noted before we get into this discussion.

1. The Devil is a liar
2. Fear works contrary to faith
3. The Truth will always set you free

Just like everything else, fear has an origin. It came from somewhere. Did God create it? Hosnestly, I don’t want to get into a philosophical discussion about whether God created fear or not. I think we can agree that it exists in THIS world and God has allowed it to exist for some reason. In His sovereignty, God allows fear to exist because it’s power only takes effect when we choose to submit to IT rather than Him and His truth.

In Genesis 3:1-3 we find the first example in history of how the devil uses fear to cause separation between man and God. This separation that fear caused is known to us as sin. The passage says this, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’? The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,  but God did say, ’You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die. You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” There is so much in this passage that I’m sure I can’t get to all of it, but I will try to unpack as much as I can without writing a book.

The first thing we can notice is that the “Serpent” was more crafty than any of the wild animals God had created. Yes, at this time, snakes weren’t very scary…even to a woman. Apparently, Eve was not running for her life when the serpent came up to have a conversation. She didn’t go running to Adam requesting his assistance. Instead, she lowered her guard and engaged in conversation with the slithering liar. Why didn’t she run in fear? she didn’t run in fear because fear didn’t exist yet. Adam and Eve, pre-sin, didn’t have a care in the world. They walked and talked with God in the Garden. They lived in paradise. Just like God had intended for man to do. They didn’t go to sleep at night thinking, “I wonder what we’re gonna eat tomorrow?” They didn’t think to themselves, “Oh my goodness, I’m getting fat. I need to work out and cut out the carbs.” They weren’t afraid of failure or rejection either. They were completely cared for and loved by God and eachother. My guess is that they went about their daily work in the garden, discovered new things everyday, enjoyed eachother’s company, and communed with God daily…all the while listening to Bobby McFerrin’s song, Don’t Worry Be Happy. At least that’s how I picture it.

I don’t know if the Devil wore shoes at that time, but if we could get into them for just a moment and observe the scene that was playing out before him I’m sure that we could agree he wasn’t very happy. It may not even have been the first time he had communicated with Adam or Eve. Quite possibly he had been observing them for days, months, even years before he made his move. A very calculated move. One that would cost humanity everything. Such a crafty move it was that it cost Jesus his very life to set things right again. As this particular scene in the human story unfolds we see how powerful fear becomes. The most amazing thing about fear is that it doesn’t require  imminent danger to have its full effect. It accomplishes its task with devastating results mostly on probability, supposition, hearsay, and doubt. And let us not be fooled. The devil, who is alive and well, uses the same craftiness with us today to cause separation between us and God.

Fear preys on basic human needs like love, acceptance, and belonging. This is something the devil knows quite well. Just look at the passage in Genesis and see how the serpent twists what GOD has said to strip Eve of her confidence in God’s provision. Just like us, once Adam and Eve allowed themselves to be lured away from the Truth, they became lost and insecure. Notice, that the devil begins his string of lies with the phrase, “Did God really say?” This is so crucial for us to understand. The devil is in the business of discrediting God. If he can get us to doubt God, he can get us to do anything. Our faith, belief, confidence, and trust in God speaks to the heart of our willingness to obey Him. If we believe God never lies and keeps all His promises, whom or what shall we fear? We too are faced with the devil’s question (Did God really say?) on a daily basis. Herein lies the importace of knowing God’s Word. John 8:32 says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” There is no human need under the sun that God has not addressed in His Word. God is not witholding information.

As we move on in the passage we see the lying serpent craftily change his approach based on Eve’s response. She obviously knew what God had said. She was able to quote Him word for word. Unfortunately, knowing wasn’t enough. The devil is not only the father of lies, he is also the master of pride. It was his pride that brought about his demise and expulsion from God’s presence forever. He wanted to be elevated to God’s status. He wanted equal opportunity for the role of Supreme Being, but God would not share His glory with any created being. We have this same desire for control within us and it is driven by FEAR. If we don’t question God’s ability to fulfill His promises then we question His willingness to do so. And, if we don’t question His willingness to come through for us, then we question His ability to do so. Either way, we lose and fear remains.

Is there any greater fear than the unknown? We spend our lives asking, “What if?” What if this happens or what if that happens? What if I don’t and what if I do? So much of our precious time is sacrificed at the altar of FEAR. Look at what the devil says to Eve after she so proudly quotes His Word. “You will not surely die…For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened.” Here is my New International Mag’s Translation for that piece…”What? Are you serious? Do you think God would kill you for eating a fruit? C’mon, God just doesn’t want you to know what He knows…He’s holding out on you.” Talk about wanting to know the unknown. Eve’s eyes must have lit up like a Christmas tree when she heard that. Do you mean to tell me that I can know what God knows and not have to wonder what’s coming next? You mean I can make better decisions ON MY OWN? Sound familiar? It should…we do the exact same thing. Be honest…ever felt like God was keeping you in the dark? Isn’t that a scary feeling? And how do we deal with that feeling? We act irrationally. We rely on our own, limited perspective to make decisions. We whine and complain because He won’t hand over the wheel. We allow FEAR to overtake us. Worst of all, by our actions, we tell God that we don’t believe Him and that He is not able to do what He says. Notice that I said, “By our actions…” we wouldn’t say these things to God’s face. We wouldn’t just come right out and tell God to get lost and and leave the key on the counter. Nah, we’re too smart for that. We’d rather keep Him around for insurance purposes. Just in case we really screw things up.

And looking at the last part of Genesis 3:4 we can see the devil’s craftiness at its height. He says quite casually, “And you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Amazing! Do you realize that he was trying to sell Eve something that she already owned? They were already like God. They were, in fact, created in His image. They were not going to experience death. And, they were living in perfect harmony with God and nature. Furthermore, she had a perfect understanding of good and evil. I say this simply because evil did not exist in their world. They knew “Good” and His name is The Lord! Nonetheless, FEAR took root somewhere deep within her and she gave in. She questioned God. She dismissed His words and promises and chose to believe the lie. FEAR found fertile ground and produced sin. It was watered by doubt and confusion.

Has FEAR found fertile ground within your heart? Do you keep watering it with doubt and confusion? It doesn’t have to be that way. The power of FEAR has been broken by the cross. In 1 John 4:18 we find TRUTH to set us free from FEAR. It says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Follow me here…God is love. Love drives out fear. Any questions?

Here are some extra verses on fear that you can study:

• Rom.8:15 ”For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
• 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
• Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
• Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”

Does God Have Ears?

^{1 John 5:14-15} This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

I know I’m not the only one who wonders if God hears our prayers. Not only hears them, but is attentive to our immediate need. Doesn’t it sometimes feel like God has taken a vacation from prayer answering? Who could blame him if he did? I’ve noticed something about myself lately. When God doesn’t answer within the time parameters that “I” set for Him to answer or provide, I start to feel like He’s angry with me or holding out until I settle something…to teach me a lesson. I understand that sometimes there is sin that needs to be confessed before God allows His blessing to flow or before He removes a certain obstacle. But what if this isn’t the case? What if I’m all fessed up? Do I continue to beat myself up and allow a false guilt to set in and rob my daily joy?

I don’t know about you, but right now I’m feeling the pressure of real needs that need to be met. It’s like watching one of those hour glasses that come with board games. You’re trying to remain calm and concentrate, but that sand just won’t slow down. Well, before I depress you to death and have to write another blog about that, let me give some encouraging news…He hears us and He cares!  There are so many examples of God’s provision in the scriptures. There’s no way I could list them all here without putting you to sleep so instead I just want to focus on the passage found in 1 John 5:14-15. Here are some brief observations…

• We are to have confidence in approaching God

We don’t need to ever feel insecure or inadequate before our God. He cares for us. We belong to Him. He paid a great price to make us His through Christ. Do you not think He will protect and guard us in all things? Will He not continue to demonstrate His ability to provide for our every need? Do you believe that He is able? Then don’t worry! Worry is the opposite of faith!

• We are to ask according to His will

I haven’t the slightest clue what is going to happen tomorrow. I don’t even know what’s going to happen 10 minutes from now…5 minutes from now. Why would I be so bold as to hold my will over God’s will? Do I think I can do better, faster, and more complete? The truth is that His will is perfect; not just good or suitable. It is perfect. Can you name one time in your life when God was not on time? Can you name one time when He forgot you and left you stranded? I didn’t think so. He may not have answered in the way you thought was best and He may not have answered in the time that you had set for Him, but looking back I’m sure you’d say that He always had things under control. The question is what are you asking for? And, more importantly, does it line up with God’s will?  How do we know that what we are praying for is His will? I define it this way…If what you are asking for will lead you away from Him or His purposes for your life then it isn’t His will. However, If what you are asking for will draw you closer to Him and strengthen your character to accomplish His purposes for you then it is His will. So, for example: You need a job. Bills are mounting and time is of the essence. Like sands through the hour glass, you watch as time slips quickly without regard for your need. You pray. You pray again. You’ve been praying. Others are praying for you. “What’s going on!!??”, you ask in frustration. Meanwhile the car payment envelope is staring at you like Kimbo Slice (scary MMA fighter). Assuming you’re not living in outright sin, is it God’s will for you to have a job secured? Of course it is! It is His will that you be able to work and earn your pay honestly and justly. It is His will that you follow through on your commitments and responsiblilities. Doing so demonstrates Godly character. It is His will that you do not live in stress or depression. Of course He wants to provide work for you. “Then why is He taking so long?” Good question…Perhaps you haven’t looked for work or are too selective. Perhaps He is strengthening your faith. Perhaps He is causing you to depend on Him and only Him as your provider. One thing is for sure; His way is better than our way and He knows what He’s doing.

• Know that He hears you

God’s ears haven’t gone bad. I’m not even sure he has ears, but this passage in Psalm 18:6 seems to suggest he does. It says, “ In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.”Either way, you can be sure that He has heard your plea and He will answer with your best interest at heart. Remember that God does not opperate in our time. He’s not bound by time. He sees all things and knows all things. Also, remember to always pray with an attitude of thankfulness for what you do have.