Saturday, January 10, 2009

From Bethlehem to Hebron

2 Samuel 2:1

A Chinese proverb says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. We never go anywhere if we do not begin. David’s journey from a shepherd’s hillside to the palace of a king is one of the more storied tales in the history of the world. Chosen last among his brothers, anointed to be king at about age 15, he comes from obscurity to place his name among the greatest warriors and kings of all time. How he got from point A to point B is an interesting tale, and one that each one of us must live in our own way.

From his humble beginnings in Bethlehem to his coronation as king in the city of Hebron, David encounters many obstacles and receives many blessings. Three key figures influence and shape David, making him the man that he will turn out to be: Goliath, Saul and Jonathan.

All of us will encounter a Goliath from time to time. These big, obnoxious attacks of the enemy are meant to ensnare and to scare. David doesn’t overcome because he has great talent; remember he has never killed a man before. His strength comes when he claims covenant, calling Goliath “uncircumcised”. By appealing to circumcision, David is placing the outcome of the battle in the capable hands of God, who is bound to covenant to defend those who have faith. Guess what, it is the same today! God is bound by the covenant that He made with Jesus at Calvary to honor your faith. No Goliath will stand in your way.

Saul is typical of the religious opposition that you will receive. While Jesus brings peace on earth between God and man, He certainly does not promise the same peace between men (Luke 12:51-53). When you walk in the goodness and grace of God’s love and acceptance, many people will try and pull you back into some form of works righteousness. They will oppose you and block you and in some cases they will slander your name and give false accusation. Nothing is more slanderously reported against than the gospel of grace (Romans 3:8).

Thank God for a Jonathan! We all have them; people who encourage and inspire us. These are the friends that we make covenant with, sharing our hopes and dreams, lending constant support to. More importantly, Jonathan is our Jesus. It is for Christ’s sake that we are forgiven, and it is for Jonathan’s sake that David shows kindness to Mephibosheth (Ephesians 4:32; 2 Samuel 9:1). Jesus is the one figure that not only influences our life, but He makes our life what it is (John 10:10).

You are on a journey today, not having apprehended, but a lot farther than you were when you started. Face your cast of characters with confidence and faith. Let the Goliath’s meet up with your mediator, Jesus Christ; they are no match for Him. Let your Saul’s fall by the wayside, as you rise above their chasings and their words, careful to never attack them in return (1 Samuel 18:11; 24:6). Finally, let your heavenly Jonathan, Jesus Christ the righteous provide all of your comfort and goodness.

May His face shine upon you today. You’re His child, and He cares for you.

Friday, January 9, 2009

The Spirit of Anti-Christ in the Last Time

1 Samuel 2:12-17

The high priest of Israel at the time of this text was a man named Eli. He had two sons that were priests as well, but who had no relationship with the Lord. Nothing is more dangerous than people in leadership that “know not the Lord” (verse 12).

According to chapter one, their names are Hophni and Phinehas. Hophni means “fighter”, while Phinehas means “mouth of brass”. Both boys use their position as priest to their gain, meeting the people at the altar and taking their sacrifices away from them, before they can offer them to the Lord. The priest was allowed to have whatever was left over from a sacrifice for their own consumption, but to take it raw, before it could be offered, kept the offerer from receiving absolution from their sins. This form of raw, or sodden meat was off limits. But they didn’t seem to care.

When Israel came out of Egypt, God told them to eat the lamb of the Passover, “roast with fire, not sodden”. They were to eat it cooked, not raw. The reason for this, is that the lamb was a type of Christ, who must be consumed as a crucified Savior. Only the finished work of Jesus, not the life of Jesus that will change lives. Many are asking what Jesus would do or say, but the greatest question should be, “What DID Jesus do at the cross?”

These two priests represent the spirit of anti-Christ in this final hour. John said that in the last time there are “many anti-Christ’s” (1 John 2:18). We often view the Anti-Christ as the one who comes during the Tribulation, but the Bible never refers to him by that title. Rather, in this final hour the anti-Christ that John is speaking of will take away the power and authority of the real Christ. Unfortunately, we are seeing less and less of the crucified Christ, His loveliness and His cleansing power. It is not because Jesus is less powerful, but because our combative spirit and mouth of brass has thrown law and works at the comers to the altar for so long, that the people have begun to despise the entire process (1 Samuel 2:17).

In your walk today, recognize that the cross of Christ is a finished work, with no assistance needed from you. Do not give that grace to yourself only, but be ready to share it with everyone that you come in contact with. If you have been hearing the “fighter” and the “mouth of brass”, then salvation has become less about resting in His finished work, and more about doing something to please God. Relax in His presence today, with the only laboring that you do, being the labor to enter into rest (Hebrews 4:11).

Open the gift of righteousness which Jesus paid for, so that you could have abundant life. May His grace and peace follow you today!

(Need more information on today’s topic? Contact the ministry and ask for Pastor Paul’s sermon, “The Spirit of Anti-Christ in the Last Time” on CD. It is our gift to you! God bless.)

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Handfuls of Purpose

Ruth 2:15, 16

It would do every Christian a world of good to take a closer look at the life of Ruth the Moabitess. She married a Hebrew man, while that man and his family were living in her idol-worshipping nation, Moab. When the man and his father and his brother dies, Ruth goes back to the land of Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi, where she catches the eye of a wealthy bachelor named Boaz. The Jewish law of kinsman redemption states that the closest living relative of her husband receives all of his inheritance, but that, along with that inheritance comes Ruth, of whom that man would have to rear a child. The nearest living relative wants no part of this, so it just so happens that the next of kin after him is the wealthy Boaz. This is a Hollywood story waiting to happen!

When Ruth came into Bethlehem, she wanted to work to prove her worth to her mother-in-law, so she requests permission to go into the fields to glean ears of corn. The reapers harvested the crops, but the gleaners went in afterwards and took what was left over. This was God’s welfare system of sorts, and Ruth was ready to take whatever she could get. Her heart was one of such openness and faith, as she already had a comprehension as to how the God of Israel worked. Look at her statement regarding which field she would work in:

“Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.” (Ruth 2:2)

Ruth the Moabitess was looking for grace, and it was grace that she found. When Boaz notices her in his fields, he orders his reapers to accidentally miss the bag that they are filling with harvest, from time to time. He wants handfuls of the crop to hit the ground so that Ruth will have more to harvest.

Your heavenly Father does not deal with you on the basis of your name or your background. You may have a past that is worse than the idol-worshipping Moabites, but when you go to Him, your heavenly Boaz, looking for His grace, He will always drop handfuls on purpose, so that you will have an abundance of His goodness.

Remember Rahab the harlot from Jericho? She became a key member of the genealogical family tree of Jesus. Her offspring is the handsome and wealthy Boaz, who will marry young Ruth. Ruth, though unworthy of such honor, will become the great-grandmother of a boy named David. You never know where God’s handfuls of purpose are going to lead you.

Go in the grace of God, knowing that everywhere you turn today; Jesus has dropped a handful of purpose for you!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Waiting For the Dead

Judges 5:24-28

Sisera was the captain of the army of Canaan, an army so strong that he had amassed 900 chariots of iron. However, his strength came to naught when the prophetess Deborah told General Barak to take the armies of the Lord into battle against the heathen general. He fled on foot into the tent of a supposed friend, who killed him by driving a spike through his skull (Judges 4:17-21).

The song of Deborah and Barak encompasses the fifth chapter of Judges, and Deborah sings of Sisera’s mother looking out a window in her home, waiting for him to return. She is waiting for someone who is not coming back, because unknown to her, Sisera is dead. Her want for “knowledge of the truth” has deceived her.

Paul told young Timothy that there would be many in these final hours that were, “ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). In many cases, people are waiting for things to come to pass or hoping for answers, but they have little knowledge of the truth. These things are like waiting for the dead; wait all you want, but they will never happen.

If you are waiting for peace without turning to the prince of peace, Jesus Christ, then you are waiting for the dead. No peace comes without the peace that Jesus gave to His disciples (John 14:27). Accept by faith that Jesus has made peace with the Father concerning your sins and trespasses (Romans 5:1).

If you are waiting for salvation to come from your labor, then you are waiting for the dead (Galatians 2:21). Jesus said that salvation comes from believing on the Son, and that if your faith is not on the Son (Jesus), then you have God’s wrath abiding on you (John 3:36).

If you are waiting on promotion to leadership without first learning to follow, then you are waiting for the dead. Jesus spoke to His disciples, who twice could not resolve the issue of who would be the greatest among them (Luke 9:46 & Luke 22:24-27), telling them that if they wished to be great they must first learn to serve. Remember that the less is always blessed of the better (Hebrews 7:7), so be ready to be the blessing if you wish to be the truly blessed.

Finally, if you are waiting for Jesus to return, then you are NOT waiting for the dead; you are waiting for the living. “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

Wait with all patience on Christ to do His great work in you today. Go in His blessings and His kindness, with a full assurance that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

From a Harlot to a Grandma!

Joshua 2:1-24

The story of the conquest of Jericho would be incomplete without the salvation of Rahab the harlot. She lived on the town wall, strategically located to bring success in her line of work! It also provided a great stopping point for the spies that were sent in to access the strength of Jericho. We know how the story ends, with Rahab hanging a scarlet thread out of her window, and the army of Israel sparing her and her family. What we don’t think about often enough is that this woman was saved long before the thread came out the window.

Hebrews chapter 11 lists Rahab in the New Testament’s Hall of Fame of faith: “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31). Did you notice when she “perished not”? It was not when she obediently put the scarlet line in the window, but rather when she received the spies with peace. Her placement of the scarlet line was to save her physical life, and it was a testimony to all who would see that she had placed her faith in the army of God.

Rahab displayed her faith before the spies had even laid down on her roof, to hide from their pursuers: “I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you…as soon as we heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (Joshua 2:9, 12).

What a profession of faith she had. Her actions afterward were the sign of an inward change (James 2:25). It was her initial faith that brought the spies to stop in her house, as they could have stopped anywhere, but the Holy Spirit had found a household of faith. Notice how our Father’s provision covers everyone. The spies found safe shelter and the harlot found a new life and a new hope.

After her rescue from Jericho, we do not know what she does from day-to-day within the camp of the Israelites, but she obviously adopts their ways and becomes a part of their society, because we do see her again, this time as one of only 4 women listed in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). She becomes the matriarchal head of the line that produces Boaz, king David and eventually, the Lord Jesus.

Whatever your lot in life, remember that every moment is another chance to change it all. You may have ruined many things and burned many bridges, but God is not looking for scarlet lines of obedience, just open hearts of faith. Don’t get me wrong, the obedience will come, but let us walk in the faith of Jesus Christ first, and all of us can change from who we are and become known by who we become.

Go in His peace and prosperity, with the abundant favor and blessings of God upon you in Jesus’ name.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Jesus: The Power to Get Wealth

Deuteronomy 8:17, 18

An undeniable, and beautiful part of God’s goodness is “the power to get wealth”. In Paul’s great description of the gospel of grace, he says that the gospel is the “power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). The Greek word used for “salvation” includes all deliverance, preservation, safety and wholeness. When you enter into a relationship with Christ, it is no more by your own power, but by the power of Jesus Christ.

Notice that God is not emphasizing the wealth, but rather, within context, He shows Israel that their inevitable blessings did not come at their own hand. They will see their herds and flocks multiply, and their silver and gold as well (verse 12), but it will be God that does all of the providing.

For you, the blood-bought, covenant child of God, the blessings of heaven are just as inevitable. As a son, you have all rights to the shoe, the ring and the best robe that your Father has to offer (see Luke 15 for the story of the Prodigal). It is always Him that gives the increase and then gets the glory. Not because He is a glory hog, but it is so that all of your blessings will reaffirm covenant, “that he may establish his covenant” (verse 18).

Christ’s work at Calvary has entered you into a better covenant, with a whole new set of better promises. Jesus has taken the wrath of the Father against sin and thus you have righteousness imputed to you. Walk free today in this provision, knowing that it is your Father’s good pleasure to give to you the kingdom and that every blessing that He affords is His way of reminding you of His covenant of grace.

May you see covenant blessings all around you today, paid for in the abundant grace of God.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

How Do You See Yourself?

Numbers 13:26-33

The twelve spies that reported back to Moses regarding the land of Canaan gave a mixed report. All twelve were awed by the fruits of the land (verse 23) and by the milk and honey (verse 27), but ten of the spies felt that the inhabitants of the land were far too strong, and the walls, much too fortified for Israel to take the land.

Based upon what they could see, their fears were certainly justified. Inhabiting the land were giants, and their size and strength intimidated the spies into changing the way they viewed their own selves. With giants in their sights, they saw themselves as “grasshoppers” and this attitude caused the giants to view them that way as well (verse 33).

You may view yourself as hopeless and helpless in the face of the giants of life. If that be the case, then you should know that your enemy will exploit this area of your thinking and keep you from hope, strength, goodness and will perpetuate defeat on a daily basis. The reason for this is that in those moments, we take our eyes off of the provision of Christ and put them on our own ability to do the right thing. What Jesus did at the cross was for us! This work was a finished work and His great love for us has made us “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). We are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10), and we have been made “the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). If this is who we are in Christ, then why would we view ourselves as anything less?

Make a decision today, to face the often overwhelming cares of this life in light of the finished work of the cross. You can either dwell on the size of the giants and begin to fear, or think of the size of the grapes and begin to rejoice! Be the grasshopper that can’t win or the warrior that cannot lose, and not because of your strength, but because of your Savior. This world can be “bread for us” (Numbers 14:9)