Month: February 2022

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The Sword of the Lord…

God's Word is our sword

Joshua 4-6 Crossing-Circumcising-Commander of the Lord’s Army-Conquering

The Lord spoke to Joshua just as He had spoken to Moses, and whatever Joshua heard, he obeyed. He led the people, and just as God had said would happen, the Lord exalted him, and they revered him just as they had revered Moses. Has God exalted us, not because of who we are, but because we are faithful as Joshua to obey God and His Word?

Just as God knew that Joshua would face a battle with the enemy, so He knows we too face a battle with the enemy of our soul. He sent the Commander of His army with sword drawn to encourage Joshua. But, before he could enter the battle, he had to remove his sandal, for he stood on holy ground. God has sent us with the “word of God which is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword,…” [Heb 4:12] Therefore, remove your sandal for you stand on holy ground. Take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” [Eph. 6:17] and enter the battle for the Commander of the Lord goes before you. 

Is your quiver filled with the sword of the Spirit? As this was true for the Israelites it is also true for us:  “The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf.” [Deut. 1:30]

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Be Strong…

Be strong and courageous

Joshua 1-3 “Be Strong and Courageous”

God would speak to Joshua just as He had spoken to Moses. His words: “Be strong and courageous,” are repeated three times. He had seen the Red Sea opening and now would see the Jordan open as well. God wanted Joshua to know that He could be trusted but also that Joshua needed, in turn, to trust Him.

God encouraged Joshua to understand that no matter where his foot would fall, God would be with him, and He would never forsake him. God told him to remain steadfast immovable, just as Paul wrote to the Corinthians. [1Cor 15:58] Joshua did remain faithful and he reminded the Israelites to do the same. His words, “be strong and of good courage!” were to be their battle cry!

He never took credit for all of the blessings but reminded the people that the Lord would drive out the great and mighty nations. When you face the unknown ahead of you, recall Joshua’s words and add Isaiah’s words, “when you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you. For I am the Lord your God; your deliverer…” [Is 43:2]

When you face the unknowns where do you turn? Do you trust God to be with you step by step?

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS FOR GOD GOES BEFORE YOU!

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The Last…

tribute to Moses

Deut. 32-34 “Last…”

There are five sets of “lasts” in these chapters. Moses’ “last” song to Israel to remind them of God’s choosing them and blessing them. There are the “last” words of blessing on each tribe lest they forget that God had chosen them and placed upon them His task of leading the nation. Then Moses’ “last” view of the nation and the Promised Land. And so obediently Moses climbed Mt. Nebo and he and God had one “last” time together before he took his “last” breath. And so the book of Deut. comes to an end with great sadness because there will never be another Moses who spoke to God face to face and was given great mighty power as a “mover and shaker” of heaven’s power to lead the nation of Israel.

As we ponder all of these “lasts” what will ours be when God says it is time for us to die. Will we have a song to share, a blessing to bestow, and a view of loved ones’ faces? What will it be like? Are we even now preparing for that time?

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God’s Simple Plan    

God loves

Deut  28-29  God’s  plan  is  pretty  simple:  obedience  leads  to  blessing  and  disobediences  leads  to  curses.  His love is deep and wide. It extends not to just the Jew, but to each Gentile believer as well. Although Jeremiah wrote these words to encourage those in Babylonian captivity, the principle is as true now as then. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you.  I  have  plans  to  give  you  a  future  filled  with  hope.”  [Jer 29:11]  Yet,  even  though  this  is  written  for  our  admonition  we  are  much  like  the  Israelites,  a  stubborn  people.  We  want  to  come  to  God  on  our  terms,  not  His,   and  then  we  wonder  why  we  are  faced  with  such  grievous  lives.  He  reminds  us  that  “The  secret  things  belong  to  the  Lord  our  God,  but  those  that  are  revealed  belong  to  us  and  our  descendants  forever,  so  that  we  might  obey  all  the  words  of  this  law” [Deut 29:29].

Today may we choose to honor Him from whom all blessings flow and watch and see what He will do!

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Forgive us Father.

Forgive us Father

Deut 26-28, Matt 10:33 If you deny Me, I will deny you

Across our world, we are seeing men flagrantly disobeying God’s commands. They are rattling their swords with words of what will be done in retaliation if you stand in their way. All of this is happening because the people of God have forsaken Him and His clear commands. God clearly and succinctly told His children what to do to be blessed and what will happen if they “stick a finger in his eye.” And as it happened before so it may just happen again. God sent them into captivity in Babylon to the Holocaust to now when the Jews are scattered everywhere.

But that doesn’t leave us innocent just because we are Gentiles. We, too, are held to the same standard. If we want God to bless our nation, we must obey His Word. But, we are guilty before Him. When a man stands in the oval office and blatantly hires a man who dresses like a woman and blatantly acts contrary to God’s Word for purity and righteousness, the nation will suffer because we have turned a blind eye to sin. This is a reminder of Gal 6:7 God will not be mocked; what you sow, you will also reap.

Oh Father, raise up men of God to speak! May we humble ourselves and beg your forgiveness.

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Bless others and you will be blessed

Bless others

Deut 23 “Be Creative as you Love Your Neighbor.”

Both Moses and Jesus taught us that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and secondly, love our neighbor as ourselves. Paul taught the Thessalonians that same principle; meet the needs of those who are your brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.

Moving beyond the inner circle, God taught ancient Israel that if one became hungry while walking to the next destination, they were allowed to enter a neighbor’s vineyard and eat as many grapes as needed, but they were not to collect any grapes for another time. Jesus and the disciples followed that principle. Later, the Pharisees said that it would be considered work, not what is needed if it happened on a Sabbath. God did not say only six days a week but anytime. Be careful of adding to God’s word.

Be creative today as you go about your busyness. Stop and look where God might be working, and you can be His servant.

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Uncharted Territory

Uncharted territory

Deut 20-22 God has mandated that his people were to be pure and holy and that is why He gave them the Ten Commandments and sundry rules and laws. So much to remember! And then there is the question that always arises today is why God wanted them to destroy so many people. The answer is given: these were nations that were given time after time to repent and turn to God but they chose to worship and praise the gods of silver, gold, bronze etc. They, like Belshazzar, knew what God wanted but they willingly chose to ignore God’s way. [Dan. 5] Has God revealed what He wants today? The answer is a resounding yes! Romans 1:20 says that creation screams His attributes and His perfect creation.

However, just like then, people today do not want God, they want to be gods.

In Egypt, they had taskmasters that kept the peace. In the wilderness, Moses kept the peace. Now they were entering uncharted territory. Who will keep the peace now? That is why God gave them the Ten Commandments and the Priesthood. These sundry rules will guide them in times they had questions.

God is asking all of us what we desire. Do we desire what God desires; purity, righteousness, and holiness?

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God’s Ways Are Best

God's ways are best

Deut 17 to 19 How to deal with wicked and presumptuous sin

If only we would listen to God’s counsel!  Wicked and presumptuous sin leads the nation astray.  So, if you want your nation to be pure and holy, destroy those who seek to lead others astray and away from God by serving and worshiping idols.  Now, as to those times you don’t know what to do or are unsure, go to the place the Lord has chosen and inquire there of the priests and Levites, for God has given them the wisdom needed. Today we should seek wisdom from those who are anointed by the Holy Spirit as and are called to teach and preach the Word of God.

God knew the Israelite kings would lose sight of Him because most of their wants were selfish and their hearts were earthly, not heavenly. First only choose a man from their brethren. In addition, after forty years in the wilderness, the Israelites still had insatiable appetites. They wanted meat not manna, a.k.a. horses, women, and money–how like today!  We don’t have kings but politicians, yet we see these same problems in our leaders today!

God’s ways are simple and straightforward.  Why are we so disobedient?  In our hearts, we are more prone to seek what satisfies our desire of the flesh, the desire of our eyes, and the arrogance produced by material possessions.  [1Jn. 2:16] 

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The Cost of Discipleship

Count the cost

Deut 10 Moses was teaching the Israelites and reminded them what it will mean to follow God.

One must count the cost of following God.

Jesus told a parable about this subject: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” [Luke 14:25-33] As was true for the followers of Jesus, so it was true for the Israelites and is true for us. Moses said before you say you will follow God consider the cost just as a builder considers the cost of materials and hiring workers. Therefore, before you say you are willing to serve God full time, count the cost.

Will you:

  • Reverently fear Him.
  • Choose to walk in all His ways.
  • Love Him totally and completely because He is a jealous God and will not share His glory with another.
  • Endeavor to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 
  • Keep His commandments.
  • Swear by His Name. 

God alone has done great and marvelous things for you. Are you willing to count the cost and serve Him?

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God so loved, God chose

God so loved

Deut 7-9 You are Chosen.

Moses reminds the Israelites that they were chosen not because of anything noteworthy about them or their numbers but purely because God loved them. So that is true with each of us. God didn’t see anything so significant in us. In fact, we can echo Paul’s words about himself as a sinner: “I am the worst of them.” [1Tim. 1:15] Yet, God chose you and I and put his seal upon us. “and when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,” [Eph 1:13 ]

He is our Provider, He is our Protector, He is our Promise Keeper!

We see it as we walk and talk with Him each day.

Today ponder His provision for your salvation. Walk with Him and talk with Him and Obey Him.

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