Brutality of Slavery

Read the first few chapters of Exodus and you will recognize the enslavement and oppression that the people of God had to endure in Egypt. You will see the unfolding of God’s providential plan to rescue and redeem His people as He leads them to freedom. And you will read the words of encouragement and promise that God speaks to His chosen people as He reveals His plan.

“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’” (Exodus‬ ‭6:6-8)

These are words of encouragement, words of hope, words of promise, and words of redemption. How will the people of God respond? 

So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery. (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭6:9‬)

I sometimes wonder if the people of God - today - often “refuse to listen anymore” and then God reveals His message and sends someone to proclaim it among us. 

I sometimes wonder if the people of God “refuse to listen anymore” because they have “become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery”. 

We must...

...recognize the enslavement and oppression that exists in our world today and acknowledge the areas that we are personally enslaved.

...admit before The Lord the areas of discouragement that we deal with in life and confess to The Lord the brutality of the slavery that we are enduring.

...listen closely to the voice of The Lord and for the message from The Lord, ensuring that it lines up with Scriptural truth and the known character of God.

...walk in obedience with The Lord, faithfulness to The Lord, and confidence of The Lord every day; being encouraged by His Word and His Church around us.

Farmers Need The Rain

Record rainfall has flooded many roads and fields. And, inevitably, someone calls out in ignorance “but the farmers need the rain”. 

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It is true, the farmers need the rain. The farmers need the rain to prepare the ground for the planting of the seed. The farmers need the rain to nurture the plants and help them grow throughout the season. The farmers need the rain to prepare for the planting and for the harvest. But, there comes a time when the farmers do not need more rain. 

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It occurs to me that - just as rain is God’s preparation for the ground and nutrients for the plants preparing them for harvest - Bible studies within The Church prepare The Church for the planting of seeds - evangelism - and for nurture Christians as we grow and mature in our faith. 

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But, just as there comes a time when the farmers do not need more rain, there comes a time when The Church does not need more Bible study. There comes a time when believers must open the doors, walk out into the world and begin to sow the seed of God. There comes as time when The Church must plant the truth of Jesus into the lives of those that are lost, hurt, and in need. There comes a time when Christians must help make the fields ready for harvest. 

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This is the call on The Church today.

The Wait

People are waiting 8, 9, 10, 11 hours - in the rain - for the newest roller coaster at Universal Studios in Orlando. And most of these people are saying that the ride is  “totally worth the wait”.

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What are you willing to wait for? 

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So often we talk about the things that we want - that we need - that we are desperate for. But are we willing to wait? Are we willing to ask - to seek - to labor - - and to wait? 

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What are you desperate for right now?

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What are you waiting for right now?

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Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

Leadership Confidence

I was preparing to preach from Exodus 13 and 14 this morning - a well known passage detailing the Israelites crossing the Red Sea - when God grabbed my heart. .

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Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptian you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (14:13-14) THEN THE LORD REVEALED HIS PLAN OF DELIVERANCE TO MOSES.

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Could it be that God’s deliverance through the Red Sea, utilizing Moses, hinged on Moses’ faith and declaration of victory in God?

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We need to be people faith and conviction. We need to be leaders that proclaim victory and deliverance through the Lord’s power even when we do not have all - or any - of the details of God’s plan.

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Will we step forward in faith and proclaim victory in God and through God? 

#preparetheway

You Are Powerful

God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

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Many people are going through life fearing what lies ahead - afraid to speak and act - operating in a mode of timidity, uncertainty, and apprehension.

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Yet God, through His Spirit, offers a better way; power, love, and self-discipline.

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This means that we can - you can - be boldly confident - courageously assured in all things. We are given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. And we are called and commissioned to use this power to affect others for Jesus - in love - and to live a life of obedience to Jesus - through self-discipline.

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Today, own this. Be filled with God’s Spirit. Be powerful. Be loving. Be obedient. Be self-disciplined.  

Respond

We are in an all out war. We are facing an enemy that has spent centuries on this earth deceiving and distorting. This enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy our lives, families, and children. How will we respond?

Parents, we have been entrusted with one of the greatest gifts from God - the ability to influence and nurture a life. We have the responsibility of affecting the generation to come - in small and large ways. How will we answer?

Your child's...

...friends cannot save them

...technology cannot save them

...sports cannot save them

...politics cannot save them

Jesus is the only hope for our future.

Jesus is the only hope for you and me.

Jesus is the only hope for victory.

Jesus is the only hope for your child.

Read and discuss Scripture with your child - daily.

Sit down and pray for and with your child - daily.

Get engaged in a Bible-honoring faith community - weekly.

We are in an all out war. How will you respond?

Family Devotions

Family devotions are often an emotional time (especially for Bennett). Here are the highlights from tonight...

The verse; “Do not love the world or anything in it. If you love the world, love for the Father is not in you.”

‭‭(1 John‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NIRV‬‬)

Benn: I’m not really getting this? Does that mean I have to get rid of everything?

Me: Not necessarily, just the things that go against God or keep you away from God.

Benn: *starting to cry* But you (mom and dad) are things in the world. 

Me: Well, for you it might be tv or technology. But for some it is moving away from their family because their family keeps them away from God.

Benn: *full blown snot cry*

Me: We have got to come to a point where we live God more than anything else. That includes our money, our technology, and even our families. And, as you fall more in love with God that’s going to get easier. Because, someday, everything else will pass away, but God remains forever. 

Benn: *sobbing uncontrollably* Someday I’m going to have to live in a world without you? I already have to live in a world without Great Grandpa Poppy! 

The Nets

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke‬ ‭5:5‬ ‭

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Jesus often calls us to take action when we are tired and worn out, when we have tried everything else, when all other measures have failed.

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He does this develop faith and perseverance within us. He does this to illustrate His power that is made perfect in our weakness.He dies this to show us Himself.

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Could it be that the reason you “have worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything” is because God is withholding His greatest blessing until you trust only in Him

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Could it be that God is waiting for you to exhaust all your human effort - and even come to the point of exhaustion yourself - until He opens His floodgates of blessing to you?

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Jesus is calling out to us today. Let us listen to His voice. Let us wait for His instruction. Let us take action when He tells us to. Let us give Him the praise as He blesses us. 

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“Because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

We Wait

Advent is the season of hopeful waiting.

Mary waited in expectation of her son.

Israel waited for their eternal King.

The Jews waited for their Messiah.

The angels waited to declare Jesus’ birth.

The world waited for their redeemer. 

Waiting does not come easy to any of us.

Waiting is something that must be taught.

Waiting is something that must be practiced.

Waiting is something that must be learned.

The promise of a gift gives us hope.

And yet we must still wait. 

We anticipate. 

We hope. 

We wait.

The Psalmist begins; “I waiting patiently for the Lord...”. This is a good reminder for us all - to wait and to wait patiently for the Lord. And yet, he concludes his Psalm; “...God, do not delay” (Psalm 40). 

What are you waiting on right now? 

Are you waiting in hopeful anticipation?

Are you waiting patiently for The Lord?

“Blessed are this who trusts - who hope - who wait - in The Lord” (Psalm 40:4).

The Rest

What about the rest?

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One of the men, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:15-19

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How sad to think that only one out of the ten returned thanks to Jesus for the cleansing, the healing, the life-transformation that He gave to them. Yet, this is probably proportionate to the thanks I return to God.

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For all that God has done, does our thankfulness - our thanksgiving - fall far short? 

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For all that God is doing is our faith illustrated through our thanks - or lack thereof?

Who You Really Are

From my devotional - “UncomMen” - this morning; Here’s a list of what God says "Who You Really Are" as a follower of Jesus Christ.

I am blameless and free from accusation. (Colossians 1:22)

Christ Himself is in me. (Colossians 1:27)

I am firmly rooted in Christ and am now being built up in Him. (Colossians 2:7)

I have been made complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)

I have been spiritually circumcised. My old unregenerate nature has been removed. (Colossians 2:11)

I have been buried, raised, and made alive with Christ. (Colossians 2:12-13)

I died with Christ, and I have been raised up with Christ. My life is now hidden with Christ in God. Christ is now my life. (Colossians 1:1-4)

I am an expression of the life of Christ because He is my life. (Colossians 3:4)

I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4)

I am a son of light and not of darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5:5)

I have been given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

I have been saved and set apart according to God’s doing. (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5)

Because I am sanctified and am one with the Sanctifier, He is not ashamed to call me brother. (Hebrews 2:11)

I am a holy partaker of a heavenly calling. (Hebrews 3:1)

I have the right to come boldly before the throne of God to find mercy and grace in a time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

I have been born again. (1 Peter 1:23)

I am one of God’s living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house. (1 Peter 2:5)

I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a People for God’s own possession. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

I am an alien and stranger to this world in which I temporarily live. (1 Peter 2:11)

I am forgiven on account of Jesus’ name. (1 John 2:12)

I am anointed by God. (1 John 2:27)

I am a child of God, and I will resemble Christ when He returns. (1 John 3:1,2)

I am loved. (1 John 4:10)

I am like Christ. (1 John 4:10)

I have life. (1 John 5:12)

I am born of God and the evil one, the devil, cannot touch me. (1 John 5:`8)

I have been redeemed. (Revelation 5:9)

Student and Teacher

If you call yourself a Christian - that is a follower of Christ - this one verse gives you a lot to consider and contemplate. Here are a few...

• In your relationship with Christ, are you acting more like the student or the teacher?
• What have you - the student - learned from your teacher recently? 
• Are you - the student - fully honoring and respecting your teacher and His teachings? 
• Are you - the student - living out the teachings of your teacher? 
• Are there points when you feel like you are better - or know better - than your teacher? 
• Are there points when you live as though you are better - or know better - than your teacher?
• Have you been fully trained in the ways of your teacher? 
• If you are not yet fully trained, how are you seeking further training?
• If you are fully trained do you live, love, and serve like your teacher?
• What will you do next? 

For I Know The Plans

2017 started and ended on Sundays. It's amazing to start and the end the year in worship and to have the privilege and honor to preach God's Word as "bookends" to the year.

Both messages will focus on the same theme - "HOPE" - and both messages will bring us back to the truth of Jeremiah 29:11-13; 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

In this early hour of the final day of the year I sit and contemplate this passage and encourage you to do the same.

Various questions come to mind as I contemplate the words of this passage;

Do you trust that the Lord has a plan for you?
Do you trust that the Lord's plan is one that will prosper you?
Do you trust that the Lord's plan will bring you hope and a future?
Are you seeking the Lord?
Are you seeking the Lord with all your heart?
Are you finding the Lord?

I read this passage again this morning; 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

And more questions strike me;

Have I trusted in the Lord's plan for my life this last year that I have been able to rest in His hope for me - His future for me?
Have I found that Lord is such a profound way that I know Him better at the close of the year than I did at the start of it?
Have I pointed to Jesus - helping others to find Him and His plan - His hope and future - for their lives?

Again, I read;

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

And I ask myself;

In 2018, how will I seek and find the Lord more passionately?

In 2018, how will I trust more in His plan for my life?
In 2018, how will I help others do the same?

Difficult and Challenging Times

So many thoughts and prayers have flooded my head these past couple of days. With the news cycle showing more and more social unrest and hatred throughout our nation - with the reality of what so many are enduring throughout the world - it is difficult to understand and challenging to know what to do. 

So, instead of writing my own words and unleashing a flood of thoughts and confusion (along with some anger), I will share the prayer from my devotion this morning along with some Scripture. 

"Almighty God, who always moves with clarity of will and singleness of purpose, help me to live and work with certainty in an uncertain world. Light a lamp before me so that my feet do not stumble. Make my path clear so I may never wander from your chosen way. I pray in the name of Jesus who comes to make your way clear before our eyes. Amen."

Psalm 127:1-2:
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.

1 Peter 3:13-18
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

2 Peter 1:2-11
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Once You Were...Now You Are

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 

Now you are saved by God's grace. 

Now you have been united with Christ Jesus. 

Now you have been brought near to God through the blood of Christ. 

Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Now you are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. 

Now you are members of God’s family.

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‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:1, 8, 13, 18‬, 19

Is There Any Encouragement

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I was in a particularly grumpy mood this morning.  I could have made a list of things to complain about. Yet as I began my prayer time and devotional reading I came into a right frame of mind. Soon I was journaling and making a list of things that I am most thankful for. 

As I thought of individuals that I could have complained about my mind went to the words found in Philippians 2:5. 

I turned to Philippians 2 prepared to read of Christ's humility and, as I began to read Philippians 2, I was not prepared for the conviction of the Holy Spirit that followed. 

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? 

Is there any comfort from his love? 

Is there aby fellowship together in the Spirit? 

Is your heart tender and compassionate?

Although these are rhetorical questions shared with the church by Paul, let me invite you to consider them -let me encourage you to ponder them. 

Are you enjoying the encouragement - the comfort - the fellowship - of Christ's presence in your life? 

Are your thoughts - your motives - your actions marked by tenderness and compassion? 

Do you have the mindset of Christ? 

 

We Are Reminded

Psalm 24:1-4 NIV

The earth is the Lordʼs, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.

Here we are reminded of the reality that everything belongs to the Lord because God created everything from nothing. We are reminded that the Lord is above everything. 

Here we are reminded of the reality that everyone belongs to the Lord because God spoke life into existence. We are reminded that the Lord is above everyone. 

Here we are reminded of the reality that the Lord is almighty - that He rules over all - and sovereign - that He reigns over all.  

Here we are reminded of the reality that we are not worthy to stand in God's presence. We are reminded that our hands are unclean - that we have committed wrong acts with our hands. We are reminded that our hearts are impure - that we have harbored wrong motives in our hearts. 

Here we are reminded of the reality that - on our own - we are unworthy, unclean, impure, broken, lost, and hopeless. 

But then we are invited - by God - to remember His almighty power to purify, to renew, and to restore. 

Psalm 51:10-12, NIV

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

When we are reminded of the reality of our impurity and our brokenness, let us remember God's invitation. When we are reminded of the reality of our impurity and our brokenness, let us remember God's sovereignty. 

Let us be purified.

Let us be renewed.

Let us be restored. 

In the Lord. 

Ephesians 3:14-19

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesians 3:14-19 

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

As I sit in this text today, I was brought to contemplate the process; submit, call, know, and receive. 

Submit - "I kneel" 
Call - "I pray" 
Know - "to know...to grasp" 
Receive - "to be filled" 

I am aware that many days I rush through this process - skipping over one or more of these "steps" and therefore lack the daily filling of Christ.

Lord, help me to submit to You first - to lay down all that I am before You and to give way to Your will in my life. Father, remind me to call out to You - to reach out and connect with You intimately and deeply. Holy Spirit, enlighten me to know Your way and Your desires - give me insight and direction from Your voice. Jesus, let me be filled with You - let me be filled to all fullness if Your love. Amen. Let it be. 

Here I Am

 

This week I've been focused on the call of the prophet Isaiah. More specifically, I've been focused on Isaiah's response to God's call on him. 

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 

Isaiah‬ ‭6:8

We read this same passage on Sunday morning and the challenge given to our church family was to daily read this passage and to daily respond to God's call, "Here I am. Send me!"

Just this morning, as I read this passage again, I was reminded of the call of Moses - and of Moses' response to God's call on him. 

So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

Exodus‬ ‭3:3-4‬

Similar to Isaiah, Moses responds, "Here I am.", yet Moses' response stops there. Moses tells God, essentially, "I am present", but his commitment to God is lacking. 

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

‭Exodus‬ ‭3:11‬

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?

Exodus‬ ‭3:13‬

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?

Exodus‬ ‭4:1‬

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

‭Exodus‬ ‭4:10‬

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else."

‭Exodus‬ ‭4:13‬

Moses responds, "Here I am. Who am I that I should go? What would I say? What if they don't listen? What if they don't believe me? I'm not a good speaker? Please send someone else." 

God call each one of us. He has a specific purpose and path for every individual that He has created and given life to. And when God calls us, we are challenged to respond to His call, "Here I am. Send me!", just as Isaiah did. 

Yet, believers in Christ mimic the response - the attitude, the actions, and even the words - of Moses; "Here I am. Send someone else."

Week after week, believers show up in church buildings and respond "I am present" but when God calls them to worship - when God calls them to share - when God calls them to love - when God calls them to go  - they respond "Not me.". 

"Present" is not acceptable! It's time - now more than ever - for The Church to hear the call of God and respond - in a bold voice, "Here I am. Send me!" 

Let the response begin with you. Let it begin today. 

Fan The Flame

 

The Holy Spirit is not a spark that is ignited on a Sunday morning and quickly dies out. 

The Holy Spirit must be a flame that burns deep within our souls always. For in this way our hearts are passionate, our minds are focused, and our spirit is alive. 

The Holy Spirit may be extinguished by the world that we live in, but only if we allow it. 

The Holy Spirit is a spark that is ignited at the moment that we come face to face with Jesus - when we align ourselves with His will for our lives - when we dedicate our ways to Him - when we commit our lives to Him. 

The Holy Spirit, then, must be fanned for His fire to stay alive and active within our soul. 

Yes, the Holy Spirit must be fanned on a Sunday morning through our worship of God and through the hearing of His Word. 

And, the Holy Spirit must be fanned through our daily acts of worship; prayer, Scripture reading, accountability, sharing with Christian friends. 

The Holy Spirit is not a spark that is ignited on a Sunday morning and quickly dies out. For He is larger than the local church. If it is the responsibility of the local church and its leaders to bring you the Holy Spirit each week your walk with Jesus will never progress. 

The Holy Spirit must be a flame that burns deep within our souls always. 

Fan the flame - today and always. 

Fan the flame - let the spark be ignited. 

Fan the flame - feed the fire and passion for God in your life. 

Fan the flame - don't allow the embers to cool. 

Fan the flame of the Holy Spirit.