"Time to Turn it Up!"
Judges 2:10-3:31
Luke 22:14-34
Psalm 92:1-93:5
Proverbs 14:1-2
A Reader's Digest article spoke about cheating in our society and how it has become a way of life. It said, "Education has become a commodity to help us gain the material wealth and status that is so prized and paraded in our culture. The larger message for adolescents is that it's much more important and valuable to be well-off financially than it is to be a moral person." What has happened to us?
Read today's portion in Judges:
"After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the Lord to anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. In his anger against Israel the Lord handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress." (Jud. 2:10-15)
So where are we? are we the generation that knows God, or knows not God? Which direction are we heading?
Often we hear of people talking about how bad society's getting, and how terrible the sinners are, and how this activist group or that one is making such an influence. We see Christians talking about how bad it is, shaking their heads, and then going about their life. That's part of the problem.
If people "know not God", it's OUR FAULT! we have to understand that DARKNESS HAS NO POWER. DARKNESS CAN ONLY EXIST WHEN THERE IS LACK OF LIGHT!!!
It's time we turn the light up!
We need to be setting the temperature of our society. We need to be changing the culture of our neighborhood. Instead, we've gone along with the "flow" of how things are. We get in disputes like everyone else. Look at the disciples at the Last Supper: "... a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." (Luke 22:24-26)
Notice the key phrase: "... but you are not to be like that." Imagine if believers lived with the biblical mindset, instead of a watered-down version of it. There would be something different. The light could be seen. Instead, the Light is often hidden in the "comfort zone" of compromise in the life of many believers.
We need God's blessing on our land. We need his blessing on our homes & families. We need to be people who KNOW him. We need to walk in obedience. We need to know his Word. We have a Mission to Reach our World for Christ.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Showing posts with label Light vs. Darkness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Light vs. Darkness. Show all posts
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
5.4.10 "The Empty Swing"
"The Empty Swing"
Judges 19:1-20:48
John 3:22-4:3
Psalm 104:24-35
Proverbs 14:22-23
Today's reading in Judges is gruesome. It's a story of a man who has a concubine who runs back home. He brings gifts to the girl's family to win her back, and he does. The girls father, however keeps talking him into staying longer than he should. They feast and party on, until finally after a few days of trying to leave, the man leaves late in the day.
Because they left so late, they have to stop along their journey to sleep in a city square. A stranger brings them in, but during the night an occurrence happens that sounds like the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. "... a gang of sex perverts gathered around the house and began beating at the door and yelling at the old man to bring out the man who was saying with him, so they could rape him." (Jud. 19:22) What ended up happening is that the man pushed the concubine out the door, and throughout the night they abused her to the point of death. He threw her body onto his donkey and took her home.
"When he got there he took a knife and cut her body into twelve parts and sent one piece to each tribe of Israel. Everyone who saw it said, 'Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt. Think about it! What are we going to do? Who's going to speak up?'" (Judges 19:29-30)
You may be wondering why I would pick such an encouraging story for today's devotional. Do you recognize the name "Norma McCorvey"? She is also known as Jane Roe. She was the original plaintiff in Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion in 1973. In 1995, Norma gave her life to Christ. She was led to Christ by a pastor who was part of Operation Rescue, a pro-life organization that was protesting outside the clinic where Norma worked.
Now that there have been over 50 million "legal" abortions in the US, Norma tells the story of one day she was sitting in a park and there were no kids there. She wept as she realized the swings were empty because of the generation that has been lost.
In our backyard we have a swing set for my daughter. She's outgrown many of her toys, but not the swing. She loves to play on it and sing, and come up with new ways to swing. I hear my daughter's songs as I think of Norma's story.
The entire nation of Israel was roused to action in Judges 20. There were over 400,000 troops mobilized to attack the people of Benjamin who had become so perverted. "So the whole nation united in this task." (Jud 20:11)
"Before the battle the Israeli army went to Bethel first to ask counsel from the God." (20:18) That day, 22,000 Israelis died. "Then the Israeli army wept before the Lord until evening and asked him, 'Shall we fight further against our brother Benjamin?' And the Lord said, 'Yes.' So the men of Israel took courage and went out again the next day to fight at the same place. And that day they lost another eighteen thousand men... Then the entire army went up to Bethel and wept before the Lord..."
As much as we'd love it to be an easy battle, Israel experienced great loss in their fight for justice. Even after God told them to go fight, they lost 40,000 men. It would be easy to give up.
"The men of Israel asked the Lord, 'Shall we go out again and fight against our brother Benjamin, or shall we stop?' And the Lord said, 'Go, for tomorrow I will see to it that you defeat the men of Benjamin.'" (Jud. 20:18-28) There was more loss of life, but the evil men were finally defeated.
Reading this account you can't help think about the state of perversion in our nation. Where are the people of God? There are a few key points we need to realize.
It says earlier in Judges that Benjamin was the only tribe that didn't completely conquer the territory. They didn't purify themselves. This led to their perversion. The Body of Christ needs to be pure.
Second, notice how the man initially placed himself in the situation. He was feasting instead of returning home. Over the course of the last generation, the Church has fallen asleep in prosperity instead of holding to Godly principles.
The other point I want to make is that I believe the people of God have become intimidated into inaction. Just like the Israelites experienced great loss when they first went out to fight, I believe the Christians of our day have realized that this battle can't be fought without sacrifice, and that has caused them to give up far too early.
My question however is whether we have gone back to ask the Lord what we should do, or if we have just determined that the cost is too great and we have gone home. I believe the victory is there, but are we willing to pay the price?
This coming Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. There is much to pray about. There are empty swings.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Judges 19:1-20:48
John 3:22-4:3
Psalm 104:24-35
Proverbs 14:22-23
Today's reading in Judges is gruesome. It's a story of a man who has a concubine who runs back home. He brings gifts to the girl's family to win her back, and he does. The girls father, however keeps talking him into staying longer than he should. They feast and party on, until finally after a few days of trying to leave, the man leaves late in the day.
Because they left so late, they have to stop along their journey to sleep in a city square. A stranger brings them in, but during the night an occurrence happens that sounds like the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. "... a gang of sex perverts gathered around the house and began beating at the door and yelling at the old man to bring out the man who was saying with him, so they could rape him." (Jud. 19:22) What ended up happening is that the man pushed the concubine out the door, and throughout the night they abused her to the point of death. He threw her body onto his donkey and took her home.
"When he got there he took a knife and cut her body into twelve parts and sent one piece to each tribe of Israel. Everyone who saw it said, 'Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt. Think about it! What are we going to do? Who's going to speak up?'" (Judges 19:29-30)
You may be wondering why I would pick such an encouraging story for today's devotional. Do you recognize the name "Norma McCorvey"? She is also known as Jane Roe. She was the original plaintiff in Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion in 1973. In 1995, Norma gave her life to Christ. She was led to Christ by a pastor who was part of Operation Rescue, a pro-life organization that was protesting outside the clinic where Norma worked.
Now that there have been over 50 million "legal" abortions in the US, Norma tells the story of one day she was sitting in a park and there were no kids there. She wept as she realized the swings were empty because of the generation that has been lost.
In our backyard we have a swing set for my daughter. She's outgrown many of her toys, but not the swing. She loves to play on it and sing, and come up with new ways to swing. I hear my daughter's songs as I think of Norma's story.
The entire nation of Israel was roused to action in Judges 20. There were over 400,000 troops mobilized to attack the people of Benjamin who had become so perverted. "So the whole nation united in this task." (Jud 20:11)
"Before the battle the Israeli army went to Bethel first to ask counsel from the God." (20:18) That day, 22,000 Israelis died. "Then the Israeli army wept before the Lord until evening and asked him, 'Shall we fight further against our brother Benjamin?' And the Lord said, 'Yes.' So the men of Israel took courage and went out again the next day to fight at the same place. And that day they lost another eighteen thousand men... Then the entire army went up to Bethel and wept before the Lord..."
As much as we'd love it to be an easy battle, Israel experienced great loss in their fight for justice. Even after God told them to go fight, they lost 40,000 men. It would be easy to give up.
"The men of Israel asked the Lord, 'Shall we go out again and fight against our brother Benjamin, or shall we stop?' And the Lord said, 'Go, for tomorrow I will see to it that you defeat the men of Benjamin.'" (Jud. 20:18-28) There was more loss of life, but the evil men were finally defeated.
Reading this account you can't help think about the state of perversion in our nation. Where are the people of God? There are a few key points we need to realize.
It says earlier in Judges that Benjamin was the only tribe that didn't completely conquer the territory. They didn't purify themselves. This led to their perversion. The Body of Christ needs to be pure.
Second, notice how the man initially placed himself in the situation. He was feasting instead of returning home. Over the course of the last generation, the Church has fallen asleep in prosperity instead of holding to Godly principles.
The other point I want to make is that I believe the people of God have become intimidated into inaction. Just like the Israelites experienced great loss when they first went out to fight, I believe the Christians of our day have realized that this battle can't be fought without sacrifice, and that has caused them to give up far too early.
My question however is whether we have gone back to ask the Lord what we should do, or if we have just determined that the cost is too great and we have gone home. I believe the victory is there, but are we willing to pay the price?
This coming Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. There is much to pray about. There are empty swings.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, April 24, 2010
4.24.10 "Time to Turn it Up!"
"Time to Turn it Up!"
Judges 2:10-3:31
Luke 22:14-34
Psalm 92:1-93:5
Proverbs 14:1-2
A Reader's Digest article spoke about cheating in our society and how it has become a way of life. It said, "Education has become a commodity to help us gain the material wealth and status that is so prized and paraded in our culture. The larger message for adolescents is that it's much more important and valuable to be well-off financially than it is to be a moral person." What has happened to us?
Read today's portion in Judges:
"After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the Lord to anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. In his anger against Israel the Lord handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress." (Jud. 2:10-15)
So where are we? are we the generation that knows God, or knows not God? Which direction are we heading?
Often we hear of people talking about how bad society's getting, and how terrible the sinners are, and how this activist group or that one is making such an influence. We see Christians talking about how bad it is, shaking their heads, and then going about their life. That's part of the problem.
If people "know not God", it's OUR FAULT! we have to understand that DARKNESS HAS NO POWER. DARKNESS CAN ONLY EXIST WHEN THERE IS LACK OF LIGHT!!!
It's time we turn the light up!
We need to be setting the temperature of our society. We need to be changing the culture of our neighborhood. Instead, we've gone along with the "flow" of how things are. We get in disputes like everyone else. Look at the disciples at the Last Supper: "... a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." (Luke 22:24-26)
Notice the key phrase: "... but you are not to be like that." Imagine if believers lived with the biblical mindset, instead of a watered-down version of it. There would be something different. The light could be seen. Instead, the Light is often hidden in the "comfort zone" of compromise in the life of many believers.
We need God's blessing on our land. We need his blessing on our homes & families. We need to be people who KNOW him. We need to walk in obedience. We need to know his Word. We have a Mission to Reach our World for Christ.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Judges 2:10-3:31
Luke 22:14-34
Psalm 92:1-93:5
Proverbs 14:1-2
A Reader's Digest article spoke about cheating in our society and how it has become a way of life. It said, "Education has become a commodity to help us gain the material wealth and status that is so prized and paraded in our culture. The larger message for adolescents is that it's much more important and valuable to be well-off financially than it is to be a moral person." What has happened to us?
Read today's portion in Judges:
"After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the Lord to anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. In his anger against Israel the Lord handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress." (Jud. 2:10-15)
So where are we? are we the generation that knows God, or knows not God? Which direction are we heading?
Often we hear of people talking about how bad society's getting, and how terrible the sinners are, and how this activist group or that one is making such an influence. We see Christians talking about how bad it is, shaking their heads, and then going about their life. That's part of the problem.
If people "know not God", it's OUR FAULT! we have to understand that DARKNESS HAS NO POWER. DARKNESS CAN ONLY EXIST WHEN THERE IS LACK OF LIGHT!!!
It's time we turn the light up!
We need to be setting the temperature of our society. We need to be changing the culture of our neighborhood. Instead, we've gone along with the "flow" of how things are. We get in disputes like everyone else. Look at the disciples at the Last Supper: "... a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." (Luke 22:24-26)
Notice the key phrase: "... but you are not to be like that." Imagine if believers lived with the biblical mindset, instead of a watered-down version of it. There would be something different. The light could be seen. Instead, the Light is often hidden in the "comfort zone" of compromise in the life of many believers.
We need God's blessing on our land. We need his blessing on our homes & families. We need to be people who KNOW him. We need to walk in obedience. We need to know his Word. We have a Mission to Reach our World for Christ.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
3.16.10 "The Light"
"The Light"
Numbers 24:1-25:18
Luke 2:1-35
Psalm 59:1-17
Proverbs 11:14
Luke chapter 2 is a very familiar passage to all of us. It begins with "... a decree went out from Caesar that all should be taxed..." and continues through "... there was no room in the inn...". There's the angels, the shepherds, and the incredible contrast of the splendor and simplicity of the coming of Jesus to earth.
As was the legal requirement for the Jewish people, if the first born was a male, he was to be brought to the priest to be dedicated to the Lord. Simeon, the priest, is described as "a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him - God's anointed King."
Verse 27 says, "The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God."
I love this story. Here is a man who loves God. He's been waiting all his life for God's promise to come to pass. How many days was he going to the temple waiting to see the Messiah? He's sensitive to the Spirit of God directing his path.
What Simeon says is what captures my heart. "Lord, now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!" (vs. 29-31)
The phrase "He is the Light that will shine upon the nations..." is what we need to bring with us today. We who know God are bearers of the Light. It may seem that there is darkness all around, but darkness cannot resist the presence of the Light. We have a Mission to Reach our World for Christ.
It's too often easy to become so accustomed to the Light that we forget the desperation of the darkness. The Light is Truth. The world around us is filled with confusion. There are people within your circle of influence today who are in need of an answer. They are filled with the darkness of turmoil. The situation may not seem huge from the surface, but often there's a tremendous blackness underneath. Just a glimpse of the light of truth can bring hope that is desperately needed.
Before the sunrise, the darkness seems so powerful. But that's not the case. There is no real strength in darkness. Darkness is merely absence of light. When the sun comes up in the morning, the darkness is shown for what it is: Powerless. In the same way, Let's bring the vibrant Light to the world today.
One thing to note is this: We shouldn't "use" the Light as a spotlight shining it in people's faces causing them to run and hide. Remember, Jesus said he did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. We should wait for the opportunity for the Light to shine from within. He is the Light men are drawn to. He is the Savior of the world!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Numbers 24:1-25:18
Luke 2:1-35
Psalm 59:1-17
Proverbs 11:14
Luke chapter 2 is a very familiar passage to all of us. It begins with "... a decree went out from Caesar that all should be taxed..." and continues through "... there was no room in the inn...". There's the angels, the shepherds, and the incredible contrast of the splendor and simplicity of the coming of Jesus to earth.
As was the legal requirement for the Jewish people, if the first born was a male, he was to be brought to the priest to be dedicated to the Lord. Simeon, the priest, is described as "a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him - God's anointed King."
Verse 27 says, "The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God."
I love this story. Here is a man who loves God. He's been waiting all his life for God's promise to come to pass. How many days was he going to the temple waiting to see the Messiah? He's sensitive to the Spirit of God directing his path.
What Simeon says is what captures my heart. "Lord, now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!" (vs. 29-31)
The phrase "He is the Light that will shine upon the nations..." is what we need to bring with us today. We who know God are bearers of the Light. It may seem that there is darkness all around, but darkness cannot resist the presence of the Light. We have a Mission to Reach our World for Christ.
It's too often easy to become so accustomed to the Light that we forget the desperation of the darkness. The Light is Truth. The world around us is filled with confusion. There are people within your circle of influence today who are in need of an answer. They are filled with the darkness of turmoil. The situation may not seem huge from the surface, but often there's a tremendous blackness underneath. Just a glimpse of the light of truth can bring hope that is desperately needed.
Before the sunrise, the darkness seems so powerful. But that's not the case. There is no real strength in darkness. Darkness is merely absence of light. When the sun comes up in the morning, the darkness is shown for what it is: Powerless. In the same way, Let's bring the vibrant Light to the world today.
One thing to note is this: We shouldn't "use" the Light as a spotlight shining it in people's faces causing them to run and hide. Remember, Jesus said he did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. We should wait for the opportunity for the Light to shine from within. He is the Light men are drawn to. He is the Savior of the world!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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