“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5 NIV).
In a culture that holds a premium on so called “self-made men” and rugged individualism it is unusual for people to seek guidance from others. We don’t want to admit that we may not have all the answers and we certainly don’t want people thinking we might have a problem. The result is that many suffer in silence only seeking guidance when the damage has been done and our minds have already been made up.
David, King of Israel, was not like that. He readily sought God’s divine guidance. More importantly he responded to that guidance. I fear that many of us seek God’s guidance when we have a problem or important decision to make but we do so secretly having already decided that if what God has to say to us is not to our liking we will ignore the guidance.
Whenever anyone comes into my office for counsel, the first question I ask them is “Do you really want help or are you looking for someone who will agree with what you’ve already decided to do?” Now, I don’t mean that question to sound harsh or cold, but what I do know from years of experience is that the vast majority of people who seek Godly counsel really want an affirmation that their ungodly course of action is understandable and acceptable. They want God to show them His ways, not so they can necessarily walk in those ways, but so that they can determine for themselves what the best way they think they should go is. If the Scripture supports it, fine. If it doesn’t, they’ll find someone who will.
I want to assure you that God’s way is not only the best way, it is the only way to go if you don’t want to end up with egg on your face; if you don’t want to be put to shame (see 25:3).
How does God guide us? I believe that God guides us today primarily through His written Word (the Bible). I have heard the false prophets who claim to have a “fresh word from God,” give advice that is certainly not from God. How can I say that? Because God’s will never violates His written Word. One lady told me that her spirit filled pastor had assured her that an affair was sinful but acceptable under certain circumstances–he and she by the way were in those circumstances. Needless to say her family is still reeling from this sin. God’s will never violates His written Word. With that in mind, it simply makes sense that if you want God’s guidance on your life, you can find it in God’s road-map for your life–the Bible. How does the saying go? B-I-B-L-E stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
The Life Application Bible produced by Tyndale House and Zondervan has this footnote regarding verse 4: “David expressed his desire for guidance. How do we receive God’s guidance? The first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God’s primary guidance system is in His Word, the Bible. . . We may be tempted to demand answers from God, but David asked for direction. When we are willing to seek God, learn from His Word and obey His commands, then will we receive specific guidance.”
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Defeating Enimies
“Lord, I turn my hope to You. My God I trust in You. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me. Not one person who waits for You will be disgraced; though who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced.” (Psalm 25:1-3 HCSB).
Of the 150 Psalms, nearly half (72) speak about enemies. The translation above is the Holeman Christian Standard Version. I like the way it translates verse 1, but I prefer the NIV in verse 2: “In you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.”
Generally when we read verses such as these, we picture human adversaries, but to do so is to miss the bigger picture. Certainly our enemies could be some individual who opposes us, but let us not forget that an enemy is anything that opposes us or the plan of God for us. Temptations are a very real enemy. So is Satan, the great enemy of our soul. The desires of our fallen human nature, the lust of our eyes, and pride are also enemies. Money and material possessions can become an enemy if they become to us more important than our pursuit of God. Don’t limit yourself only to some human opponent when you encounter the word “enemy” in the Psalms.
Here is the great truth of these early verses: when our hope and trust are on God, no enemy–human, demonic or temptation–can hope to prevail! We win! I weary of Christians who run around looking like someone just ran over their puppy, or as if they’ve been sucking lemons! As believers we don’t have to lick our wounds, we simply offer them up to the Great Physician and let Him care for them! Let us never forget that “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.” (25:3a NIV).
What enemy has you cowering in fear today? A deceitful, ambitious co-worker? An ornery boss? Some secret burden of guilt you carry? The sure promise of God is that when our hope is placed solely upon Him, vindication will eventually come. Take heart. Someone once put it wisely when he or she penned, “When men speak ill of Thee, live so no one will believe them.” Good counsel.
Of the 150 Psalms, nearly half (72) speak about enemies. The translation above is the Holeman Christian Standard Version. I like the way it translates verse 1, but I prefer the NIV in verse 2: “In you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.”
Generally when we read verses such as these, we picture human adversaries, but to do so is to miss the bigger picture. Certainly our enemies could be some individual who opposes us, but let us not forget that an enemy is anything that opposes us or the plan of God for us. Temptations are a very real enemy. So is Satan, the great enemy of our soul. The desires of our fallen human nature, the lust of our eyes, and pride are also enemies. Money and material possessions can become an enemy if they become to us more important than our pursuit of God. Don’t limit yourself only to some human opponent when you encounter the word “enemy” in the Psalms.
Here is the great truth of these early verses: when our hope and trust are on God, no enemy–human, demonic or temptation–can hope to prevail! We win! I weary of Christians who run around looking like someone just ran over their puppy, or as if they’ve been sucking lemons! As believers we don’t have to lick our wounds, we simply offer them up to the Great Physician and let Him care for them! Let us never forget that “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.” (25:3a NIV).
What enemy has you cowering in fear today? A deceitful, ambitious co-worker? An ornery boss? Some secret burden of guilt you carry? The sure promise of God is that when our hope is placed solely upon Him, vindication will eventually come. Take heart. Someone once put it wisely when he or she penned, “When men speak ill of Thee, live so no one will believe them.” Good counsel.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Who Get's God's blessings?
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.” (Psalm 24:3-6 NIV).
There is a dangerous theology being propagated by popular purveyors of deception today–prosperity theology. Listen to this doctrine of demons and you will come to believe that God wants His children (obedient or not) all to be healthy, wealthy and wise, and if you are not you either lack real faith or there is hidden sin in your life. As a pastor, I counsel people all the time who have been spiritually and emotionally scarred by this damnable doctrine.
Strong words. Have I left you with any doubt as to where I stand on this dangerous teaching? By the way I chose the word purveyor instead of preacher because the dictionary defines one who purveys as “to supply as a matter of business.” Look at those who teach this false doctrine–it certainly is good business for them–they’re driving around in expensive cars (some a different luxury car for every day of the week) while those who support their extravagant lifestyles are desperately planting their seed money in hopes of hitting the spiritual lottery winnings from God. Now, just for the what-it’s-worth department, my advise to you is the instant you hear some preacher mention the term “seed-money,” you turn off the television or excuse yourself from the service (guarding your wallet on the way out).
Look at our text above. The person who “will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior,” is not the person who demonstrates his or her faith by sending in sacrificial gifts as seed money to surfeiting (that means an overabundant excess; intemperate or immoderate indulgence) sermonizers, but those whose hands are clean, whose hearts are pure, “who does not lift up his soul to an idol,” (material possessions or otherwise), whose words are believable because they are truthful and who seek God with all their hearts!
Here is what I fear. In our western culture we are use to instant everything and so we’ve come to expect instant gratification. Some self-seeking individuals have discovered that they can get rich quick in the name of God by convincing God’s people that the way to blessing is not through obedience but through financial sacrifice. That is not true. God says plainly that He values obedience over sacrifice (See 1 Samuel 15:22).
Do you want God’s blessing today? You won’t receive it by sending a donation to my ministry. You will receive it by obeying God in your daily life.
There is a dangerous theology being propagated by popular purveyors of deception today–prosperity theology. Listen to this doctrine of demons and you will come to believe that God wants His children (obedient or not) all to be healthy, wealthy and wise, and if you are not you either lack real faith or there is hidden sin in your life. As a pastor, I counsel people all the time who have been spiritually and emotionally scarred by this damnable doctrine.
Strong words. Have I left you with any doubt as to where I stand on this dangerous teaching? By the way I chose the word purveyor instead of preacher because the dictionary defines one who purveys as “to supply as a matter of business.” Look at those who teach this false doctrine–it certainly is good business for them–they’re driving around in expensive cars (some a different luxury car for every day of the week) while those who support their extravagant lifestyles are desperately planting their seed money in hopes of hitting the spiritual lottery winnings from God. Now, just for the what-it’s-worth department, my advise to you is the instant you hear some preacher mention the term “seed-money,” you turn off the television or excuse yourself from the service (guarding your wallet on the way out).
Look at our text above. The person who “will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior,” is not the person who demonstrates his or her faith by sending in sacrificial gifts as seed money to surfeiting (that means an overabundant excess; intemperate or immoderate indulgence) sermonizers, but those whose hands are clean, whose hearts are pure, “who does not lift up his soul to an idol,” (material possessions or otherwise), whose words are believable because they are truthful and who seek God with all their hearts!
Here is what I fear. In our western culture we are use to instant everything and so we’ve come to expect instant gratification. Some self-seeking individuals have discovered that they can get rich quick in the name of God by convincing God’s people that the way to blessing is not through obedience but through financial sacrifice. That is not true. God says plainly that He values obedience over sacrifice (See 1 Samuel 15:22).
Do you want God’s blessing today? You won’t receive it by sending a donation to my ministry. You will receive it by obeying God in your daily life.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Appropriate Attire
“Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” (Psalm 24:3-4 NIV)
In Genesis 41 we read the account of Joseph being taken from prison and promoted to the Palace. The immediate events that in this drastic change of position were two troubling dreams, a group of dumb-founded advisers and the sudden recollection of Pharaoh’s right hand man. So troubled in Pharaoh, that when he hears that a Hebrew prisoner/slave might have the answer, he sends for him immediately.
However, there is an interesting editorial comment that we many times skip over. “When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.” (Genesis 41:14 NIV). Pharaoh was troubled. He was in a hurry. He wanted answers and He wanted them yesterday. He sends for Joseph. You’d think Joseph would have been just glad to be out of the dungeon he was in and would have reported immediately and meekly to the king. But no! First he makes himself presentable and only then does he enter the presence of Pharaoh.
Funny how we understand this concept when it comes to world leaders, celebrities or people for whom we have a lot of respect. Seldom do I go to church that I don’t dress up–tie and sport coat at the least. It is not because I am comfortable in a tie and coat, many times I’d rather wear jeans and an open shirt, but I have learned as a pastor that I can be called upon at any time to a hospital or funeral home. In such cases, I have enough respect for people that I want to look prepared. Even my dress seems to have an effect on the situation. So even as I sit here today and type this thought, even though my day consists of preparing Sunday messages, here I sit in coat and tie. Silly? Guess what, just been summoned to visit someone in the local hospital. I’m ready.
Now again, we understand this on the horizontal level (man to man). No matter what you think of our President, if you had an audience with him, you’d make sure you’d dress in your finest garments; you’d want to make an impression. Yet when it comes to God, we become so casual, not in our clothes (though sometimes I am convinced that our sloppy, hastily prepared Sunday-go-to meeting attire betray a sloppy, hasty attitude toward the things of God) but in our hearts.
Look again at our text: “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” Did you catch it? There are requirements to coming before the God of the Universe. Despite years of “dear daddy” prayers, the fact remains that the Holy God has set requirements for anyone wishing to come into His Holy Presence! Oh, by the way, it’s not how we dress that matters to Him it is how clean we are on the inside! Please do not dismiss this to quickly. I am not talking and neither is the Psalmist of the positional cleanness we have in Christ. There is a lot of sloppy Christian living going on in the mistaken belief that the Butler of the Universe will pick up after us and everything will be O.K. Yes, the only hope we have in coming to the Father is through the forgiveness and cleansing offered by the Son, but there is also a practical cleansing required as well. Paul writing to young Timothy said, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:19 NIV). He goes on to say, “ In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21 NIV).
Yes, those who are in Christ are “complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10 NASB), that is we are positionally pure. One writer puts it this way: “Nearer, nearer, near to God I cannot be, for in His Son I’m near as He. Dearer, dearer, dear to God I cannot be, for in His Son I’m dear as He.” Wow! What a wonderful (and incomprehensible) truth!
But such a truth should be a motive to practical Christian living; that is to appropriating the riches we enjoy in Christ and becoming more and more like Him. If that is not happening in your life, either you don’t understand the grace of God or you despise His grace. Not my opinion, God’s Word. What does He say? “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:3-6 NIV).
One final thought. Lest you be tempted to dismiss this particular thought with a “Well, I’m free to live any way I want,” or pray in panic thinking that somehow I’ve become legalistic in my thinking, read Luke 6:46-49. Better yet, let me close with those verses from Eugene Peterson’s The Message, “Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on. “If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.” (Luke 6:46-49 MSG).
In Genesis 41 we read the account of Joseph being taken from prison and promoted to the Palace. The immediate events that in this drastic change of position were two troubling dreams, a group of dumb-founded advisers and the sudden recollection of Pharaoh’s right hand man. So troubled in Pharaoh, that when he hears that a Hebrew prisoner/slave might have the answer, he sends for him immediately.
However, there is an interesting editorial comment that we many times skip over. “When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.” (Genesis 41:14 NIV). Pharaoh was troubled. He was in a hurry. He wanted answers and He wanted them yesterday. He sends for Joseph. You’d think Joseph would have been just glad to be out of the dungeon he was in and would have reported immediately and meekly to the king. But no! First he makes himself presentable and only then does he enter the presence of Pharaoh.
Funny how we understand this concept when it comes to world leaders, celebrities or people for whom we have a lot of respect. Seldom do I go to church that I don’t dress up–tie and sport coat at the least. It is not because I am comfortable in a tie and coat, many times I’d rather wear jeans and an open shirt, but I have learned as a pastor that I can be called upon at any time to a hospital or funeral home. In such cases, I have enough respect for people that I want to look prepared. Even my dress seems to have an effect on the situation. So even as I sit here today and type this thought, even though my day consists of preparing Sunday messages, here I sit in coat and tie. Silly? Guess what, just been summoned to visit someone in the local hospital. I’m ready.
Now again, we understand this on the horizontal level (man to man). No matter what you think of our President, if you had an audience with him, you’d make sure you’d dress in your finest garments; you’d want to make an impression. Yet when it comes to God, we become so casual, not in our clothes (though sometimes I am convinced that our sloppy, hastily prepared Sunday-go-to meeting attire betray a sloppy, hasty attitude toward the things of God) but in our hearts.
Look again at our text: “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” Did you catch it? There are requirements to coming before the God of the Universe. Despite years of “dear daddy” prayers, the fact remains that the Holy God has set requirements for anyone wishing to come into His Holy Presence! Oh, by the way, it’s not how we dress that matters to Him it is how clean we are on the inside! Please do not dismiss this to quickly. I am not talking and neither is the Psalmist of the positional cleanness we have in Christ. There is a lot of sloppy Christian living going on in the mistaken belief that the Butler of the Universe will pick up after us and everything will be O.K. Yes, the only hope we have in coming to the Father is through the forgiveness and cleansing offered by the Son, but there is also a practical cleansing required as well. Paul writing to young Timothy said, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:19 NIV). He goes on to say, “ In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21 NIV).
Yes, those who are in Christ are “complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10 NASB), that is we are positionally pure. One writer puts it this way: “Nearer, nearer, near to God I cannot be, for in His Son I’m near as He. Dearer, dearer, dear to God I cannot be, for in His Son I’m dear as He.” Wow! What a wonderful (and incomprehensible) truth!
But such a truth should be a motive to practical Christian living; that is to appropriating the riches we enjoy in Christ and becoming more and more like Him. If that is not happening in your life, either you don’t understand the grace of God or you despise His grace. Not my opinion, God’s Word. What does He say? “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:3-6 NIV).
One final thought. Lest you be tempted to dismiss this particular thought with a “Well, I’m free to live any way I want,” or pray in panic thinking that somehow I’ve become legalistic in my thinking, read Luke 6:46-49. Better yet, let me close with those verses from Eugene Peterson’s The Message, “Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on. “If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.” (Luke 6:46-49 MSG).
Monday, November 2, 2009
Darwin's Folly
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” (Psalm 24:1-2 NIV).
As I write today’s thought, my mind skips to a legal battle being waged in Cobb County, Georgia. The battle is over a sticker in the schools science book that reminds us that evolution is only a theory and should be studied with an open and critical mind. The courts have ordered the sticker removed, claiming that it violates the establishment of religion clause (a clause the courts manipulated but the ACLU have misinterpreted and misused since the mid 1940's).
What does this have to do with our text? Everything. In our text David recognizes that since God created the earth and everything on it, then He has the right to it all. Right there is the rub for evolutionists. Darwin himself stated that he wanted nothing to do with a concept of origins that might include God. Why? Because Darwin like others before him and a host of people who have come after him rightly perceived that if we recognize a Creator then we become responsible to that Creator. Darwin didn’t want it and so he invented a new religion which he cloaked in the guise of science–a religion of atheism whose origin story is evolution. Darwin and all those who have followed in his misguided footsteps understand both the truth of implications of saying, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”
As I write today’s thought, my mind skips to a legal battle being waged in Cobb County, Georgia. The battle is over a sticker in the schools science book that reminds us that evolution is only a theory and should be studied with an open and critical mind. The courts have ordered the sticker removed, claiming that it violates the establishment of religion clause (a clause the courts manipulated but the ACLU have misinterpreted and misused since the mid 1940's).
What does this have to do with our text? Everything. In our text David recognizes that since God created the earth and everything on it, then He has the right to it all. Right there is the rub for evolutionists. Darwin himself stated that he wanted nothing to do with a concept of origins that might include God. Why? Because Darwin like others before him and a host of people who have come after him rightly perceived that if we recognize a Creator then we become responsible to that Creator. Darwin didn’t want it and so he invented a new religion which he cloaked in the guise of science–a religion of atheism whose origin story is evolution. Darwin and all those who have followed in his misguided footsteps understand both the truth of implications of saying, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”
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