"The Opportunity to Believe"
I Samuel 26:1-28:25
John 11:1-53
Psalm 117:1-2
Proverbs 15:22-23
There's nothing more frustrating than being in a situation that looks hopeless. It can be as "superficial" a softball game when you're down by too many runs, or as life-threatening as a cancerous tumor that seems to be spreading. We can all relate at some level to insurmountable obstacles.
In today's reading the the book of John we find the story of Lazarus. It's a story that's familiar to us. I think we can remember from childhood the pictures of Lazarus coming out from the tomb. I remember an old song that Carmen did. In his big booming voice he yells, "Lazarus! Come forth!" It's pretty exciting. We love stories like that.
We also like the story about how David becomes king. We love the great endings. When it comes to our own lives, we want the great endings now. We can even get mad at God because he's not taking care of things in our timing. We can so easily fall into despair.
David wasn't far from there. He says, "Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of Jehovah?" (I Sam 26:20) "But David kept thinking to himself, 'Some day Saul is going to get me. I'll try my luck among the Philistines until Saul gives up and quits hunting for me; then I will finally be safe again.'" (I Sam. 27:1) David and his men then move to the town of Ziklag, and live there for A YEAR AND FOUR MONTHS!
We often find ourselves in the middle of a difficult situation. Maybe it's a relationship that's experiencing turmoil, marriage difficulties, grief, health, employment... the list can go on. When we encounter this "waiting period", we can easily lose hope.
We need to recognize this season as the opportunity to BELIEVE, not the opportunity to despair. Jesus got the message that Lazarus had died. "But when Jesus heard about it he said, 'The purpose of his illness is not death, but for the glory of God. I, the Son of God, will receive glory from this situation.'" (John 11:4) We LOVE that. I'm sure the disciples were excited. then in verse 6 it says, "He stayed where he was for the NEXT TWO DAYS AND MADE NO MOVE TO GO TO THEM."
HE MADE NO MOVE! What happens inside of us when we perceive that God makes no move? We need to understand God's timing. We need to surrender to it. WE NEED to experience that waiting. It is often the waiting itself that is necessary to transform us into who God has created us to be. As a friend said to me, "The waiting also gives our SELF time to die so that we can be resurrected as a new creation."
"And for your sake, I am glad I wasn't there, for this will give you another opportunity to believe in me." (John 11:15) Those words are profound. We need to recognize the opportunities to believe. Waiting periods need to be times for faith to grow, not for faith to die!
"Praise the Lord, all nations everywhere. Praise him, all the peoples of the earth. For he loves us very dearly, and his truth endures. Praise the Lord." (Ps 117:1-2) His truth endures!
Whatever the situation, we need to be secure in God's timing. Sometimes we may be in front of Lazarus' tomb for two days. Other times we will be in Ziklag for 16 months. We may be running for our lives, wondering when the promise will come to pass, but we must remember in all things, His truth endures! We have the opportunity to believe!
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
Showing posts with label Waiting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Waiting. Show all posts
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
5.12.10 "God's Timing"
"God's Timing"
1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4
How important is it to wait for God's timing? I think patience is one of the most challenging areas of growth in the Christian life. It can be frustrating to want to do something, and yet have to wait. It can even be a greater challenge when we know it's the right thing to do, and yet God says, "wait."
We all know God has a plan for our life. He gives us big dreams. He calls us to great things. Sometimes he gives a picture of what it will be like. He places the desires within us. Here's where we get into trouble. "I know God has called me to do such and such, so now I'm going to make it happen." We then manipulate situations, and circumstances to make it happen. It's not a big deal, right? I mean it's the thing he's called us to do!
In I Samuel 13, Saul and his army are waiting to go to war with the Philistines. "When the men of israel saw the vast mass of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, thickets, coverts, among the rocks, and even in tombs and cisterns... Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and those who were with him trembled with fear at what awaited them. Samuel had told Saul earlier to wait seven days for his arrival, but when he still didn't come, and Saul's troops were rapidly slipping away, he decided to sacrifice the burnt offering and the peace offerings himself. But just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to receive his blessing, but Samuel said, 'What is this you have done?'" (I Sam. 13:6-11)
Saul makes excuses about why he went ahead with the sacrifice, but Samuel says, "'You fool!' Samuel exclaimed. 'You have disobeyed the commandment of the Lord your God. He was planning to make you and your descendants kings of Israel forever, but now your dynasty must end; for the Lord wants a man who will obey him.'" (13:13-14)
Wow! that's a pretty heavy consequence for such a "seemingly small" step of disobedience. Why is that? Let's compare this with a conversation that Jesus has with his brothers in John 7.
"But soon it was time for the Tabernacle Ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. 'Go where more people can see your miracles!' they scoffed. 'You can't be famous when you hide like this! If you're so great, prove it to the world!' For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, 'It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference... You go on, and I'll come later when it is the right time.'" (John 7:2-8) Jesus did end up going a little later, but "incognito".
What is the difference between Jesus and Saul? One of them understood the importance of the right timing in doing what he was called to do. There's a bigger picture. Not only is there the right thing to do, there is a right time to do it. To do the right thing at the wrong time is doing the wrong thing.
One of the things we see by the consequence upon Saul is the HUGE importance God puts on obedience. There is always more at stake than we think. When we take short cuts, we risk EVERYTHING. Jesus knew this when he was being tempted by Satan. If we don't have a full understanding of our call and the value God places on our obedience, we will sell it for a bowl of soup without even thinking about it.
You are valuable to God. When you understand that value, you will make decisions that reflect the intensity and importance of what you are called to do. Remember when Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."? That is only true when we are walking in step with him. If we are trying to move too fast or too slow, or turn one way or another, we are pulling against his will. We are exerting a lot of fleshly effort.
We need to constrain ourselves to his will. We need to understand the precious cargo we are carrying. We have the call of God on our life. This "burden" should not be a lack of peace. It's similar to that feeling as you walk out of the hospital with your first born. That is an almost indescribable sense as you feel the awesome responsibility of doing the right thing.
Let's never forget the precious cargo of the calling and the burden of obedience that we carry with us each and every day.
The essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is Obedience. Walk in obedience today. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
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
1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4
How important is it to wait for God's timing? I think patience is one of the most challenging areas of growth in the Christian life. It can be frustrating to want to do something, and yet have to wait. It can even be a greater challenge when we know it's the right thing to do, and yet God says, "wait."
We all know God has a plan for our life. He gives us big dreams. He calls us to great things. Sometimes he gives a picture of what it will be like. He places the desires within us. Here's where we get into trouble. "I know God has called me to do such and such, so now I'm going to make it happen." We then manipulate situations, and circumstances to make it happen. It's not a big deal, right? I mean it's the thing he's called us to do!
In I Samuel 13, Saul and his army are waiting to go to war with the Philistines. "When the men of israel saw the vast mass of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, thickets, coverts, among the rocks, and even in tombs and cisterns... Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and those who were with him trembled with fear at what awaited them. Samuel had told Saul earlier to wait seven days for his arrival, but when he still didn't come, and Saul's troops were rapidly slipping away, he decided to sacrifice the burnt offering and the peace offerings himself. But just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to receive his blessing, but Samuel said, 'What is this you have done?'" (I Sam. 13:6-11)
Saul makes excuses about why he went ahead with the sacrifice, but Samuel says, "'You fool!' Samuel exclaimed. 'You have disobeyed the commandment of the Lord your God. He was planning to make you and your descendants kings of Israel forever, but now your dynasty must end; for the Lord wants a man who will obey him.'" (13:13-14)
Wow! that's a pretty heavy consequence for such a "seemingly small" step of disobedience. Why is that? Let's compare this with a conversation that Jesus has with his brothers in John 7.
"But soon it was time for the Tabernacle Ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. 'Go where more people can see your miracles!' they scoffed. 'You can't be famous when you hide like this! If you're so great, prove it to the world!' For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, 'It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference... You go on, and I'll come later when it is the right time.'" (John 7:2-8) Jesus did end up going a little later, but "incognito".
What is the difference between Jesus and Saul? One of them understood the importance of the right timing in doing what he was called to do. There's a bigger picture. Not only is there the right thing to do, there is a right time to do it. To do the right thing at the wrong time is doing the wrong thing.
One of the things we see by the consequence upon Saul is the HUGE importance God puts on obedience. There is always more at stake than we think. When we take short cuts, we risk EVERYTHING. Jesus knew this when he was being tempted by Satan. If we don't have a full understanding of our call and the value God places on our obedience, we will sell it for a bowl of soup without even thinking about it.
You are valuable to God. When you understand that value, you will make decisions that reflect the intensity and importance of what you are called to do. Remember when Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."? That is only true when we are walking in step with him. If we are trying to move too fast or too slow, or turn one way or another, we are pulling against his will. We are exerting a lot of fleshly effort.
We need to constrain ourselves to his will. We need to understand the precious cargo we are carrying. We have the call of God on our life. This "burden" should not be a lack of peace. It's similar to that feeling as you walk out of the hospital with your first born. That is an almost indescribable sense as you feel the awesome responsibility of doing the right thing.
Let's never forget the precious cargo of the calling and the burden of obedience that we carry with us each and every day.
The essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is Obedience. Walk in obedience today. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
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
Thursday, February 11, 2010
2.11.10 "Don't Take Another Step"
"Don't Take Another Step"
Exodus 32:1-33:23
Matthew 26:69-27:14
Psalm 33:1-11
Proverbs 8:33-36
Moses has been up on Mount Saini receiving the 10 commandments. It was taking a while, so the people got impatient, and decided to create their own god in the form of an idol. Needless to say, that didn't go over to well with God. In Exodus 33:3, the Lord tells Moses, "Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If i did, I would surely destroy you along the way."
In Verse 15 it says, "For Moses had said, 'If you aren't going with us, don't let us move a step from this place. If you don't go with us, who will ever know that I and my people have found favor with you, and that we are different from any other people upon the face of the earth?'"
I love to tell the story about when my daughter was little. We would stand at the edge of the driveway and "practice" not going into the street. If she would step over the line, she would get in trouble. I wanted to train her that it was not safe to step into the street without holding my hand. She was very good at this. I'll never forget that first time on a Wednesday night she ran across the church driveway without thinking. Thankfully there were no cars coming, but I'll never forget the awful feeling I had as I watched her run out on her own into danger.
I imagine that's the way the Lord feels when we "run out" in our own strength. I'm sure his heart breaks to see our ignorance about the danger that we put ourselves in. Sure, there may not be a car coming at the moment, but that almost makes it worse. We start to think, "Hey, I can do this on my own." Our hearts become more independent, and we walk outside of the covering of God. We don't hold his hand.
Just as Moses prayed, I need to depend on the Lord. In this age of grace and blessing, it can be easy to begin to move in my own strength. The world around me needs to see me living in the favor of the Lord. They need to see that we're different.
The Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is a life moving with the Lord. Staying in his Word trains me to hear his voice. Walking with him equips us to fulfill our Mission to Reach Our World for Christ. Each day we need to cry out to God to walk with us, to hold our hand.
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
Exodus 32:1-33:23
Matthew 26:69-27:14
Psalm 33:1-11
Proverbs 8:33-36
Moses has been up on Mount Saini receiving the 10 commandments. It was taking a while, so the people got impatient, and decided to create their own god in the form of an idol. Needless to say, that didn't go over to well with God. In Exodus 33:3, the Lord tells Moses, "Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If i did, I would surely destroy you along the way."
In Verse 15 it says, "For Moses had said, 'If you aren't going with us, don't let us move a step from this place. If you don't go with us, who will ever know that I and my people have found favor with you, and that we are different from any other people upon the face of the earth?'"
I love to tell the story about when my daughter was little. We would stand at the edge of the driveway and "practice" not going into the street. If she would step over the line, she would get in trouble. I wanted to train her that it was not safe to step into the street without holding my hand. She was very good at this. I'll never forget that first time on a Wednesday night she ran across the church driveway without thinking. Thankfully there were no cars coming, but I'll never forget the awful feeling I had as I watched her run out on her own into danger.
I imagine that's the way the Lord feels when we "run out" in our own strength. I'm sure his heart breaks to see our ignorance about the danger that we put ourselves in. Sure, there may not be a car coming at the moment, but that almost makes it worse. We start to think, "Hey, I can do this on my own." Our hearts become more independent, and we walk outside of the covering of God. We don't hold his hand.
Just as Moses prayed, I need to depend on the Lord. In this age of grace and blessing, it can be easy to begin to move in my own strength. The world around me needs to see me living in the favor of the Lord. They need to see that we're different.
The Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is a life moving with the Lord. Staying in his Word trains me to hear his voice. Walking with him equips us to fulfill our Mission to Reach Our World for Christ. Each day we need to cry out to God to walk with us, to hold our hand.
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
Monday, January 4, 2010
1.4.10 "How Many Days to the Rainbow?"
"How Many Days to the Rainbow?"
Genesis 8:1-10:32
Matthew 4:12-25
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 1:20-23
Noah was a pleasure to the Lord (Gen 6:8). He did everything he could to try to conduct his affairs according to God's will. We know his story. We decorate Sunday School rooms with it. I love the pictures of the cute little animals and everything.
When it comes right down to it, the story isn't as romantic as we may picture it. "Noah, I'm going to destroy the earth. I want you to build an ark." I don't know if you've ever heard Bill Cosby's telling of the story, but here's his rendition of Noah's response: "Right... What's an ark?"
I was struck by the "numbers" this morning. My math isn't totally accurate, but based on some of the numbers in the Living Bible, look at this:
It could have taken 100-120 years to build the ark (36,500-43,800 days) (Gen.5:32;6:3;7:10)
7 days on the ark before it rains
40 days of rain
110 days of floating
40 days on Mount Ararat before sending out the dove
7 days before sending it out the second time
7 days before the third time when it doesn't come back
29 days before Noah looks again & sees it's dried up.
56 days before God says, "You may all go out." (I got humor out of Gen. 8:18 "So the boat was soon empty." Ya think?)
Would you like Noah's job? Would you like to go through what he had to? Would you have liked 296 days on a boat w/ animals? It wasn't pretty.
Noah did not know what was to come. He only knew what God had told him to do. His righteousness saved his family. (It doesn't say whether or not his righteousness kept them from complaining to him.)
What's the point?
So many time we sense the call of God. He gives us direction. We move in obedience, but when the results aren't there the way we expected, or it takes longer, or it's been 200 days in a stinky boat, we begin to think "Wait a minute! I'm here because I'm in obedience! This should be easy!"
One of the most amazing numbers in all of this is the 56 days between Noah seeing the land has dried up and God saying "you may all go out". I picture Noah's family lined up at the door looking at him wondering why we're not leaving. "It smells in here!"
Noah was intimately tied to the will of God. He knew his voice. He didn't move until he heard it.
Genesis 8:1 says, "God didn't forget about Noah and all the animals in the boat!" in verse 20-21, Noah sacrifices to the Lord, "And Jehovah was pleased with the sacrifice and said to himself, 'I will never do it again..'" in 9:13 he says, "I have placed my rainbow in the clouds as a sign of my promise until the end of time, to you and to all the earth."
So many times, we want the rainbow. We want to get to the goal. While the Lord has placed in our nature the desire to acheive, we must be sure to remember the point is not in getting to the goal, the point is in being faithful throughout the process. It may take what seems like forever. It may smell. But, we must know the voice of the one who has called us, and we must remain faithful.
As smelly as our boat may be, in light of eternity, it's but a moment. When we are "Driven by Eternity" we know that the rainbow we seek is not necessarily the rainbow the world can see. Our success is on a different scale. Our pursuit must be obedience.
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
Genesis 8:1-10:32
Matthew 4:12-25
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 1:20-23
Noah was a pleasure to the Lord (Gen 6:8). He did everything he could to try to conduct his affairs according to God's will. We know his story. We decorate Sunday School rooms with it. I love the pictures of the cute little animals and everything.
When it comes right down to it, the story isn't as romantic as we may picture it. "Noah, I'm going to destroy the earth. I want you to build an ark." I don't know if you've ever heard Bill Cosby's telling of the story, but here's his rendition of Noah's response: "Right... What's an ark?"
I was struck by the "numbers" this morning. My math isn't totally accurate, but based on some of the numbers in the Living Bible, look at this:
It could have taken 100-120 years to build the ark (36,500-43,800 days) (Gen.5:32;6:3;7:10)
7 days on the ark before it rains
40 days of rain
110 days of floating
40 days on Mount Ararat before sending out the dove
7 days before sending it out the second time
7 days before the third time when it doesn't come back
29 days before Noah looks again & sees it's dried up.
56 days before God says, "You may all go out." (I got humor out of Gen. 8:18 "So the boat was soon empty." Ya think?)
Would you like Noah's job? Would you like to go through what he had to? Would you have liked 296 days on a boat w/ animals? It wasn't pretty.
Noah did not know what was to come. He only knew what God had told him to do. His righteousness saved his family. (It doesn't say whether or not his righteousness kept them from complaining to him.)
What's the point?
So many time we sense the call of God. He gives us direction. We move in obedience, but when the results aren't there the way we expected, or it takes longer, or it's been 200 days in a stinky boat, we begin to think "Wait a minute! I'm here because I'm in obedience! This should be easy!"
One of the most amazing numbers in all of this is the 56 days between Noah seeing the land has dried up and God saying "you may all go out". I picture Noah's family lined up at the door looking at him wondering why we're not leaving. "It smells in here!"
Noah was intimately tied to the will of God. He knew his voice. He didn't move until he heard it.
Genesis 8:1 says, "God didn't forget about Noah and all the animals in the boat!" in verse 20-21, Noah sacrifices to the Lord, "And Jehovah was pleased with the sacrifice and said to himself, 'I will never do it again..'" in 9:13 he says, "I have placed my rainbow in the clouds as a sign of my promise until the end of time, to you and to all the earth."
So many times, we want the rainbow. We want to get to the goal. While the Lord has placed in our nature the desire to acheive, we must be sure to remember the point is not in getting to the goal, the point is in being faithful throughout the process. It may take what seems like forever. It may smell. But, we must know the voice of the one who has called us, and we must remain faithful.
As smelly as our boat may be, in light of eternity, it's but a moment. When we are "Driven by Eternity" we know that the rainbow we seek is not necessarily the rainbow the world can see. Our success is on a different scale. Our pursuit must be obedience.
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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