Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Baptism, What's the Point?

Sunday was a big day, I performed my first baptism. As with the first time I've performed a ritual like this (wedding, funeral, baby dedication), I consulted with my mentor before the service. We sat at Chipotle and he gave me something to start with.

Baptism is like a wedding ring. A wedding ring doesn't make you married. Before I was married if I had put a ring on my left hand it wouldn't have made me married. Now if I take my ring off it doesn't make me single again. The wedding ring isn't the thing that binds me to my wife, it is simply a symbol of the covenant I've entered into with her.

Baptism is not a means of Salvation. Being baptized does not cleanse one of sin and secure a place in Heaven. But baptism is an outward profession of an inward commitment to Jesus Christ. Baptism is a symbol declaring that you are taken, and that you belong to Jesus.

Before you receive a wedding ring, you go through a wedding. And before you get baptized you receive salvation by entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Once you are married you wear a ring, the symbol that announces to the world, "I'm married." It is a sign of accountability, and a reminder of the vows I made to my wife. "For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, 'til death do us part." In the same way after you receive salvation and enter into a relationship with Jesus, there is need for public declaration. And we do this through water baptism.

But just as my marriage was simply beginning as I received my wedding ring from my wife, baptism is a symbol of beginning. The Bible says that we are to repent and be baptized (Acts 2). It seems that baptism has become optional in the present day. In the first century you would come to salvation and then be baptized very soon. The Church in the early centuries had a series of classes that people would go through before baptism, to educate them on what they were doing, but it was not an optional thing.

We are commanded in scripture to be baptized. In His final commission Jesus commanded his followers to make disciples of all the nations, "baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;". Baptism is not to be an option, but a command to be followed. And baptism marks the beginning.

Following baptism, we are to teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded. We, who are farther along in the journey, are to help the new comers to grow closer to Jesus as they strive to become like Him. A marriage begins with a wedding, and the rings exchanged are a symbol of the couples life long commitment. Baptism, an outward sign, marks the beginning of a relationship with Jesus Christ that is to continue until death; at which point the faithful are welcomed into the presence of God, entering a perfect relationship with Him.

That's the point.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, July 30, 2012

Just God

The weekend was a trying time, but during that I've been reminded of God's justice. I won't go into all the details, but I was angry this weekend over something that happened in the past. The human side of me wants to enforce vengeance and justice. But I'm reminded that it is not my place, nor within my authority to do so. And after learning a lesson from the last time, this time as God says, "Let Me handle it," I'm listening. And I know that God will bring about justice.

This morning as I was reading in 2 Samuel God showed me that no one, not even a King, can escape His justice. At the end of 2 Samuel 11 we see that David's actions were evil in the sight of the Lord (verse 27). And as I read this I began to notice the things that God saw as evil.

First, God sees it as evil when a leader neglects his duty. 2 Samuel 11.1 says, "Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem." David should be out on the front lines with his troops, leading them in battle. David is a warrior as we've seen over and over in scripture, but for some reason, maybe he had gotten used to the comforts that came with being king, he remains in his palace.

When leaders shirk their responsibilities they are asking for trouble. When we fail to be where we are supposed to be, doing what we're supposed to do, we set ourselves up for trouble. We open ourselves up to great temptations. That is what happens to David. One night he can't sleep so he gets up to walk around the palace roof. While there he sees a woman bathing, and then evil act number two occurs.

Second, God sees it as evil when a leader uses his position to take advantage of others. 2 Samuel 11.4, "David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house." David is in position for trouble. He's in a situation, and rather than acting righteously, he falls into temptation. He has the woman, another man's wife brought to him, and he uses his position as king to take advantage of her.

God hates when leaders use their power for their own gain. God places people in authority so that they may bless and serve others. Leaders are given power to protect the people they lead. They are given authority to improve the lives of the people they lead. And it is evil when that power is corrupted and abused. And when position is abused to benefit the leader it often leads to this third evil act.

Third, God sees it as evil when a leader uses his power to try and cover up his sin. 2 Samuel 11.5-17, is the story of David's attempt to cover up his sin. He sends for the woman's husband and tries to get him to lay with her so that everyone will think the child is his. But her husband is a righteous man, and refuses any comfort and pleasure while his brothers in arms are at war. Since this plan backfires, David goes to plan b. He uses his power as king, and orders the man put at the front lines, and then abandoned so that he will be killed.

After that, David appears to be a good king. He brings the man's wife into his home and makes her his wife. He appears to be comforting her and taking care of her in this difficult time. To all the nation he has covered it up and gotten away with everything. But God knows what really took place. And all men, including kings, are subject to God's justice.

In 2 Samuel 12, God sends the prophet Nathan to confront the king. He tells of a rich man who has sheep to spare, but when a visitor comes he takes the loan pet of a poor man. David's anger burns at the act and after declaring judgment Nathan says, "You are the man!" David acknowledges his sin, and God takes away his sin and spares his life (verse 13), but not before passing judgment. God is a just God, in order to be Holy and righteous, He must be just.

The sword would never depart from David's house, his wives would be taken from him and would be give to others who would publicly lie with with. And though David's life is spared, the life of the child that he tired to have covered up will not be. When leaders do evil in the sight of God, the innocent are hurt.

David was a man after God's own heart, but he was a man who also committed great evil. And even being king did not spare him from God's judgment. All of us will one day have to stand before God. All of us are accountable to Him for our choices and actions. And God will enforce justice. Vengeance is His, He will repay, and He will judge the people (Hebrews 10.30). God will repay those who do evil, Obadiah 1.15, "For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head."

God is just, and evil will be punished, there are no exceptions. Wealth, power, position will not spare the wicked. And with that in mind we must remember that it is not our place to take revenge. It is not our place to seek vengeance. It is God's place, and He will do it.

To those in leadership, (all men are leaders by design) God has given you authority and placed you in leadership to serve and protect. Do not abuse the power for your gain. Leadership brings stricter judgment, and God is a just God.

Walk in the ways of the Lord and be blameless before Him. Use your position for it's intended use, to be a blessing to the people you lead. God has placed you in authority, use it for His glory.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Beginning

For the last few days another conversation I had a few years ago has been on my mind. Not sure why, because with this one I haven't really wished I'd said something else.

At one point when I was a youth/young adult pastor in Michigan a discussion began at our young adult Bible study over young earth/old earth. There is scientific evidence for both, and I could make an argument for both if I had to. But in my mind it doesn't really matter all that much to my walk with Christ. I return to my adapted version of a quote from my college Church History professor, "The Bible contains everything you need to know to become like Christ, it does not contain the answers to everything you are curious about."

I don't need to know how old or young the earth/universe is. It really doesn't matter, if it did, the Bible would tell me a specific date. All I need to know to become like Christ is what the Bible tells me.

Genesis 1.1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Genesis 1.3, "Then God said...and there was..."

Genesis 1.6-7, 9, 11, 14-15, 24, "Then God said...and it was so..."

Genesis 1.20-21, 26-27, "Then God said...God created..."

At the end of each day the Bible tells us "and God saw that it was good."

We can then jump ahead to John 1.1-3, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."

That is what we need to know in regards to the beginning of the world. Does it matter to salvation and holiness how old the earth is? No, if it did then God would have told us. Are we curious about it? Of course, and so God gave us science to learn and explore as we try to figure things out. But for me and you to become like Christ, everything we need to know is in the Bible.

In terms of creation, all I need to know is that whenever the beginning was, it was then that God made everything. He created everything that exists by speaking, and when He made it, everything was good.

While science is fascinating, let's not get caught up on the things that we really can't prove and let's not let them become dividing walls among the Church. Let us instead unite around the Truth given to us in the Bible as we strive to become like Christ.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, July 23, 2012

Lacking the Essential, Missing the Point

For the past week I've been having a conversation with an atheist. As we have traded comments back and forth I've gotten an outside in glimpse of the Church. Reading what a person who says there is no God sees in the Church, and among Christians has revealed a painful truth about those who claim to be followers of Christ. We're lacking the essential and missing the point.

As I've read statistics that they have shared with me, and about interactions they have had with a pastor and conversations about the people who make up that pastor's Church, this lack of love is evident. There is a lack of love for God, and therefore a lack of love for others.

Love is essential who who we are as Christ followers. Love is to be our defining characteristic. John 13.35 says, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Love is to be the thing that sets us apart and marks us as Christ's. Why is it lacking?

As I've read more comments it's clear that the message presented by Christianity is that the point is to get to Heaven. Because so many believe that is the point, that's what others pick up on as the point. And if we're living simply to get to heaven, then our lives probably don't look very much like Christ's, therefore accounting for the lack of love. If we really knew what the point is, then we'd be focused on the essential characteristic because without that characteristic we miss the point.

I've said this so many times, the point of being a Christian is to become like Christ. The term Christian means, "Little Christ". Paul said in Ephesians 5.1b "Therefore be imitators of God", and Jesus came to earth, God became man, to show us how God would live life as a man. Jesus came to earth to give us eternal life, God's quality of life, so that we could live as God would live. God has given humanity a physical example to imitate so that we can be imitators of God, and we've missed that point. We've reduced Christianity to simply the blessings of God, and therefore, Heaven is the ultimate prize.

Philippians 1.29 reminds us that, "For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" Romans 8.28-30 tells us, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."

The point is for us to become like Christ, and that involves suffering. We are here to become like Christ so that we can glorify God the Father (Philippians 2.1-11). Since God is a good father He loves to bless His children, and so those who obey Him are blessed with Heaven. Heaven is God's throne room, and so we are blessed with being welcomed into the presence of God. After a life lived in pursuit of Christlikeness, we are welcomed into a perfect relationship with God for all eternity. Getting to heaven is a result of becoming like Christ. Glorification comes to those who have been conformed to the image of His Son.

In order to become like Christ we must be full of the essential characteristic. The hymn, "And Can it Be" says this in the second verse, "He left His Father’s throne above so free, so infinite His grace— Emptied Himself of all but love,and bled for Adam’s helpless race". He emptied Himself of all but love. He set aside all of His divinity, all glory, but not of love, because love is His essential characteristic. 1 John 4.8b declares, "God is love." If He empties Himself of love, He is no longer God.

If we declare ourselves to be His followers, which we do if we claim His name, we must be characterized by love. 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that if we have no love, we are nothing. It is by love, the essential characteristic of God, that we will be seen as Christ followers. Love is the essential characteristic we must posses if we are to get to the point. We cannot become like Christ without love. And if we cannot become like Christ, there can be no glorification.

I've seen first hand, and now second hand as well, how much damage has been done because the Church has missed the point, and lacks the essential. We must get this back, we must refocus. We claim to be little Christ's, let's start living like it. Let's become the hands and feet of Jesus to love a broken and wounded world.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Bless the Lord

Recently I heard a song from Matt Redman called "10,000 Reasons". It's one of those that is just simple, calming, and refocuses your mind on the only thing that really matters, giving praise to God. The last few weeks have been a roller coaster. I've experienced every emotion possible for a human being, recently there has been mostly doubt and discouragement, mixed in with a dose of failure. The last few days especially have been difficult.

Then this morning I get online to check email and the YouTube tab with that song opens and begins to play these words:

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

Yes, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name

There is no focus on problems or worries, simply focusing on worshiping God. It says the sun comes up, it's a new day dawning, and then asks to be singing when the evening comes. No matter what happens during the day, let me be praising you when today is over. It focuses on the goodness of God, a starting point for the reasons to praise Him. And then reminds us that when we spend our lives blessing the Lord, we are blessed with eternity to do it.

This year I've seen through Scripture that God owes me nothing. That He has given me life to live for His glory, to bless Him and worship His holy name. And yet I get discouraged, I get frustrated and filled with doubt when things don't work out as I think they should. In those times I fail to do the one thing God has given me life to do, praise Him.

Today is a new day, God you know what is in store for today. God right now I want to begin to bless you. And at the end of the day, no matter what happens, I want to be singing Your praises. God refocus my heart and mind on You. As You've showed me in Scripture, You owe me nothing, and I owe You everything. Father please don't let me hold back on the praise and worship that You must receive, that You alone are worthy of. Lord let my soul bless you.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Cost of Leadership

In a leadership class I took almost a year ago I had to listen to a podcast of a message by pastor Mark Driscoll. He begins with a question, "Do you want God to use you greatly?" On the recording you can hear people cheer (what Christian doesn't want to be used greatly by God?). But then he follows that question up with this, "Then He must wound you deeply." And the room was silent.

I don't know that Christians are too keen on suffering. It seems, especially in America, that a large percentage of the Church doesn't suffer, and doesn't even think that they should suffer. The New Testament talks over and over about how those who follow Jesus will suffer. One passage that stands out to me the most is Philippians 1.29, "For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,". Suffering is part of it, hardships are part of it. Driscoll also said, "Jesus did not suffer so that we would not suffer, but so that we could know Him through suffering."

Part of leadership preparation involves suffering. Part of becoming a leader involves hardship. Part of becoming the leader that God created you to be involves wounding. And in order to be used greatly by God the wound is going to be deep.

My thoughts are currently on David in 1 Samuel. He has been anointed King by the prophet Samuel. He has had great victories against the Philistines, beginning with the champion Goliath. He is growing in favor with the people, and God is with Him. He has a dear friend, Jonathan, who looks out for him and loves him as he loves his own life (1 Samuel 20.17).

But not everything is perfect for David. Saul, after seeing the favor that David has with the people, is suspicious of David (1 Samuel 18.9), and on several occasions tries to take David's life. David is forced to flee and live among the Philistines. Saul pursues David, and he is forced into the wilderness. Twice David has the opportunity to take Saul's life, but twice his character and love of God are seen by his refusal to harm the Lord's anointed one.

David faced hardships and difficulties. He lived among the enemies of Israel and lived in the wilderness when he was the chosen King of Israel. David was wounded deeply, but He was used greatly by God.

All those God uses greatly must first be wounded deeply. If there is no wound how can we know the healing power of God? If there is no wound how can we learn to minister to hurting people? If there is no wound God has healed how can we learn to lead others who will wound us over and over?

My mentor has said, "Pastors are the walking wounded." They will come, but if we realize that the wound is there to help us be more like Christ, to help us know Christ and His love more deeply, we can endure it and see it as a gift from God for our benefit and His glory.

To my fellow ministers, I know how tough it is. I've been wounded just as you have. Hang in there with me. Don't quite, don't give in. Stand firm, allow God to minister to your wounds. Allow Him to bring healing and restoration. Allow Him to turn the wound into a scar that bears the story of His greatness and faithfulness. Don't let the wound become infected and a source of bitterness, but allow God to stitch it up and heal it.

We will suffer. We will be wounded. But the wounds are there to help us become more like Christ, so that we can be used greatly for God.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Opportunities to Learn

God calls all of His leaders, and He equips them for service. But for some reason this next idea hasn't hit me until this morning. God gives His chosen leaders opportunities to learn how to lead. This is something that has been seen through scripture, but I didn't really pick up on it until today in 1 Samuel 16.

Think back to the chapters leading up to this book in the Old Testament. In Genesis the one who comes to mind is Joseph. After being sold into slavery he goes to work for Potiphar. After seeing that Joseph is blessed by God and everything he does prospers, Potiphar puts him in charge of everything he has. After a false accusation Joseph is thrown in prison, but ends up being put in charge of the prison. All of it is preparation to lead Egypt. God gave Joseph opportunities to learn how to lead before he entered leadership.

Move to Exodus, Moses is the one we see. The first forty years of his life are spent in the palace. After fleeing Egypt for killing an Egyptian he spends the next forty years in the wilderness as a shepherd, learning to survive and care for the flock. And then at the age of eighty, God sends him back to Egypt to confront the Pharaoh and lead the people out into the wilderness on the journey to the Promised Land. God gave Moses opportunities to learn how to lead before he entered leadership.

Joshua is the next one who comes to mind. He was Moses' aid and general. He was with Moses learning from Him. He lead the army in battle, and as I've shared in previous post (Two Men Called to Lead) He spent time before God. After Moses dies, Joshua takes his place and leads the people on a conquest of the Promised Land. God gave Joshua opportunities to learn how to lead before he entered leadership.

Samuel, as soon as he was weaned was presented at the house of God and entered the service of the Lord. He learned the duties of priesthood from Eli. He learned to hear and respond to the voice of God in that setting and goes on to lead Israel as the last judge of the nation. God gave Samuel opportunities to learn how to lead before he entered leadership.

And now we come to the one that finally opened my eyes to this truth. David, the youngest of eight brothers, is God's anointed King to follow Saul whom God has rejected for continuous disobedience. David was a shepherd; he spent days and weeks alone in the fields with the sheep. And God has chosen him to be the next King because he is as God says, "A man after My own heart." But David needs to learn how to rule a country. And so God gives Him the opportunity.

1 Samuel 16.14-23, "Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him. Saul’s servants then said to him, 'Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.' So Saul said to his servants, 'Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.' Then one of the young men said, 'Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.' So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, 'Send me your son David who is with the flock.' Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by David his son. Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer. Saul sent to Jesse, saying, 'Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.' So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him."

David spends time with Saul, seeing how to be a king. God gave David the opportunities to learn how to lead before he entered leadership.

I look at my own life. I've had opportunities to intern and serve on staff at churches of various sizes. And in each one I've learned things for the future leadership God has called me to. Even now, as the lead pastor of a small church, I'm learning for the future leadership.

God calls all of His leaders, He hand picks them. And then He doesn't sent them into leadership blindly, He prepares them. He gives them opportunities to learn how to lead before they step into His full plan of leadership for them. I'm excited to continue to learn and I'm looking forward to what's next so I can learn more, to one day be the leader God has called me to be.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, July 16, 2012

To My Wife

Last week I was talking with one of my brothers and he reminded me of how great having a wife is. When I was single I hated being alone. At one point I thought that I could solve that by getting a dog. I thought having "man's best friend" would solve the loneliness I felt. But as I've come to find out, a dog doesn't solve the problem of loneliness like my wife does.

Rosie is a good dog. She's barley out of the puppy stage so we're still working on some things, but overall she's not bad. She's starting to really listen, she even fetches now. She's waiting expectantly for you when you get home (we keep her in the garage when we're gone as we're still working on house breaking, and as soon as she can squeeze under the garage door she's out to greet you). She makes my wife so happy, and most of the time she makes me smile. But she is no where close to my wife. She is a companion, but my wife is so much more than that.

The dog is called "man's best friend," but Biblically, the woman is referred to as ezer kenegdo, "Help meet" (KJV) or "a helper suitable for him" (NASB). I haven't studied Hebrew (Greek was all I was able to squeeze into a pretty packed college schedule) and this phrase has been a little difficult for me to study. For this I turn to others.

In Wild at Heart and Captivating John Eldredge looks at the work of Hebrew Language professor Robert Alter, of Berkeley, who says it is "a notoriously difficult word to translate." He says it means more than just "helper" it means "lifesaver." Everywhere else this word appears it is only used for God, and then only when "you need Him to come through for you desperately." "Eve is a life giver; she is Adam's ally. It is to both of them that the charter of adventure is given. It will take both of them to sustain life. And they will both need to fight together."

Ezer kenegdo is a "soul mate, the most vital companion I've ever known. It is the one you cannot live without. According to Alter it is "a sustainer beside Him." As said in Captivating "ezer would be 'lifesaver.' Kenegdo means along side, or opposite to, a counterpart." "From the beginning, Eve was God's gift to the world - his ezer kenegdo for us."

Eve was made from Adam's rib. Again the Hebrew translation here is a little difficult for English to capture. From what I've heard that word refers to the feminine side, that God literally pulled the feminine part out of Adam, and formed it into a woman. He then brought her to the man to be his helper, sustainer, his life giver. There is a longing to be joined together again. (Look at my post titled "The Full Heart of God" from January 2010)

Rosie, while a faithful companion, is not and never will be my ezer kenegdo. No animal can be. Genesis 2.20 tells us, "The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him." There was no ezer kenegdo for man among the animals, not even the dog.

My wife is the only human being who is my counterpart. While Rosie is "man's best friend" she would be that to any master. But my wife is MY ezer kenegdo, she is my counterpart, my match. She is my helper and lifesaver. She is my ally, the one who constantly has my back. She is my traveling companion as we adventure through life together. There is no other person who I can not live without. She is my ezer kenegdo.

One of the things I've learned in the almost eleven months I've been married is how difficult marriage is. People tell you, and I don't think it's that you don't listen or believe them, but that you can't understand it until you go through it. You take two people, of opposite genders, who have lived completely different lives for more than two decades, and suddenly throw them into the same habitat in the most intimate human relationship available, and there are going to be a few difficulties. It will happen because literally two worlds are colliding and coming together as one, just as God intended for it to be.

But one of the other thing I've learned is that marriage for a ministry couple is even more difficult than for non-ministry couples. I heard an story years ago that has recently come to my mind again.

A man was on a plane and across from him was a man sitting with his head bowed. When the meals came the man set it on the tray and continued to keep his head bowed, never touching the food. The stewardess came later and collected the trays, and the man kept his head bowed. At the end of the flight the first man went up to the second man and said, "I noticed you had your head bowed, are you a Christian?" The man replied, "No, I'm a Satanist. We've committed to fast and pray that 100 pastors fail in their marriages this year."

That's real, that happens. Marriages, especially Christian marriages are under attack. I've said countless times before that marriage is the foundation of society. The husband/wife relationship is central to the family. As the marriage breaks down so does the family. Society is made up of families, and a society filled with broken families is a broken society. Look at America today and you'll see this. How many single moms are out there? How many children have no idea who their father is? How many orphans are there? How many broken homes and families exist?

Statistics show that half of all marriages end in divorce. I've heard, and probably so have you, that Christians divorce just as much as non-Christians. I went looking for the statistic and found that the truthfulness of the statistic depends on how you define Christian. Those actively involved in their faith, those genuinely living it out, are actually 35% less likely to divorce.

(http://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/divorce-and-remarriage/the-christian-divorce-rate-myth.html)

The more my wife and I go through the more I realize how much we need God to get us through this. That just as my wife is my ezer kenegdo, God must be ours. God is the only one who can sustain us through our ministry. The closer and more dependent we are upon God, the closer my wife and I will be to each other, and the stronger our marriage will be. The stronger our marriage is, the stronger our family will be, and the stronger our family is the more it can be used for the Kingdom.

Somehow I've gotten slightly off track. My original intention was to share how grateful I am for my wife. Proverbs 18.22 says, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." God said in Genesis 2.18, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." God knew that nothing in all of creation could sustain and help man like woman.

My wife is the greatest blessing I've ever been given. I'm still learning and realizing that. I'm still striving to show her that daily. Honey, I want you to know how grateful I am for you. You are my ezer kenegdo, my helper, my friend and companion. I love you so much, and I thank God for you daily.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Poor Father

As I'm reading through 1 Samuel it's important to notice something crucial about the title character. Samuel was a great man of God. His birth was miraculous, his life was dedicated to God's service before it began, God spoke to him at a young age, and he was known among the people as the Lord's prophet. He lead Israel and anointed the nation's first two kings. He was the final and most effective judge of Israel, and is listed in the Hebrews 11 list of Faithful servants of God. But this week I noticed something about him that hadn't ever hit me before. In spite of being a great spiritual leader, Samuel was not the best father.

I was glancing through the NASB Life Application Study Bible I keep in my office earlier this week. In it there are sections that break down key characters in scripture. There is a list of strengths and accomplishments, weaknesses and mistakes, lessons from their lives, vital statistics, and key verses. It's a great tool, and if you're looking for a Bible with a little more information, a Life Application Bible is a great tool.

Samuel's section only has one thing under weaknesses and mistakes, "Was unable to lead his sons into a close relationship with God." 1 Samuel 8 begins by saying, "And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice." The people of Israel know this about Samuel's sons, and they ask him to appoint a king to rule over them.

We have a great spiritual leader who has done great things for God. But it seems to be at the cost of His family. Samuel does great things, but his sons are corrupt and do not serve God as their father does. How has this happened?

If we look at Samuel's life, he didn't have the best role model in terms of fatherhood. After he was weaned, he was taken and presented at the house of the Lord in order to serve God. Each year his mother would bring him a robe she had made when she came to offer sacrifices with her husband, but other than that the Bible doesn't indicate that there was any other interaction with Samuel's biological father, Elkanah. He was raised by Eli the priest.

While Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Samuel 4.18), he was a poor father. The Bible calls his two sons "worthless men; they did not know the Lord" (1 Samuel 2.12). They take their positions as priests and use it for their own gain and comfort. They would lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and word finally reaches Eli about all that his sons are doing.

While he speaks with them about the issue, he fails to discipline and correct them. He leaves it simply at a warning of not to sin against God. That is the example of fatherhood that Samuel learned from.

Men, pastors, church leaders, we cannot sacrifice our families for ministry. My mentor recently completed his doctorate focused on raising a parsonage family. He posed the question, "What does it profit a pastor to gain the whole world and to lose his family?" He has told me repeatedly "I will fail as a pastor before I fail as a husband or father. Someone else can do the work of the church, but no one else can be a husband to my wife or father to my kids."

It does not matter what we may accomplish for the Church, if it costs us our families, we have greatly missed the point. Men we must step up and make a change. We must determine to be good fathers, to be spiritual leaders first in our own homes. We must minister to our wives, and we must teach our children to love and serve God. Family must come before everything but God. Someone else can do the work of the church, but only you can be the man of your household.

This is a lesson I'm still learning and trying to apply. I've been married for ten months and twenty-two days. I make mistakes all the time, I don't fully know what it means to love my wife as Christ loves the church, let alone how to actually do that. But I want to. More and more I'm understanding just how incredible she is. More and more I'm realizing that if God gives me nothing else in life except her, I'm still so far ahead. More and more I'm seeing the huge blessing that I have received in her. I want to be the man she deserves. I want to minster to her and be a blessing to her.

I don't have kids yet, but as I've seen and observed parents over the course of my life I'm picking up things to do and also to never do. I'm praying that God prepares me to be a father, and to raise sons who are mighty warriors for the God of the universe, and daughters who are princesses of the King of Kings. Will I make mistakes, absolutely. But I will not sacrifice them, or my wife, for any church ministry.

Men, God gives us families, He puts us in leadership as heads of our households, so that we can be a blessing to them. We are there to teach our families to love and serve God. We are there to model masculinity to our children, and Holiness to our families. Be an example of a Godly man, husband, and father. Set a standard for others to reach for. We cannot do it on our own. We need God first and foremost. We must walk with Him, know Him, and communicate with Him so that we can lead as He has called us to. We must have fellowship with other men, with people who can help keep us accountable and will walk with us and support us as we strive to be Men of God.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

God Speaks

As I've been working through the Bible I've been sharing some of the things from each book that have stood out to me from each one. I'm currently in the first chapters of 1 Samuel. I shared a very little bit from chapter one yesterday, as Hannah is one of the Biblical women to have a miraculous birth. Today I want to share what I've noticed about the early life of the miracle son she was given.

In 1 Samuel 1.11, Hannah promises that if the Lord will give her son, she will give him to the Lord for service. God answers her request, and once Samuel is weaned, Hannah takes him to the house of the Lord, and dedicates him to God. He is placed in the care of Eli the priest.

Chapter two tells us that Eli's sons were worthless mess that did not know God or the priestly customs. They used their position for their own gain and comfort, and it says that their sin was very great before God. Their father largely ignores the issue until the people bring it to his attention, and when he confronts them about it they refuse to listen The text says that the Lord desired to put them to death. And this is followed with verse 26, "Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the Lord and with men."

And then we come to 1 Samuel 3. It begins by telling us that word from the Lord was rare in those days and visions were infrequent. I think a lot of this comes from the poor spiritual leadership. But I think a lot of it also has to do with the fact that most of the people really weren't actively seeking God, a trend that can be seen since the death of Joshua. But when people are available and listening, when they are waiting, watching, and present before God, He speaks.

1 Samuel 1.3b, "and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was,". The ark was where God would meet with the high priest. It is where His presence would rest when He came to dwell among the people in the wilderness. It was God's throne on earth, and Samuel is lying down at the throne of God. He is present for God to speak. His mind has not been corrupted by power as a young boy. And so God speaks to Samuel.

At first he does not know it is God. Three times he goes to Eli, thinking Eli is calling him, and the third time Eli discerns that God is speaking to Samuel and instructs him how to respond. The next time God calls him, Samuel responds, "Speak, for Your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3.10b). God begins to tell Samuel what He is about to do. As Samuel grows God is with Him, and the people know that he is God's prophet.

God spoke because Samuel was present. He was before the throne of God, and able to listen. God spoke because Samuel was willing to listen. At first he didn't know the voice of God. But once he was instructed, He responds and listens to God. God was with Samuel and used Him because Samuel was available and willing to be used.

As I think about this I see the importance of intentionally being in the presence of God. I shared a little on this same idea in a post called Two Men Called to Lead. I see the importance of listening to God. God was with Samuel because he listened to Him and followed him. The people knew that God had chosen Samuel because Samuel listened to God.

In this I also see the importance of teaching people to listen and respond to God. Eli, despite his failures as a father, helped Samuel know the voice of God. If people don't know how God speaks, how will they know when He is speaking to them? If people don't know how to respond to God, what will they do when He is speaking to them?

So may the Church make itself available to listen to God. May it have leaders that lead the people to God, and instruct them on how to listen and respond to God when He speaks. May we grow in stature and in favor with God and the world. May the world know the Church is God's. And may we reflect that we are God's

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, July 9, 2012

God of Impossible Life

This has been a subject that has been on my mind for a while now. God is a God who does the impossible. Jesus said, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19.26b). So with that in mind, we need to say, God is a God of limitless possibilities. And the thing that has hit me most has been the impossible life God has brought from miraculous births.

As I've studied the Bible over the years, I've noticed for sure seven, possibly an eighth, women who have had a humanly impossible birth. Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Manoah's wife, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary. The eighth is possibly Ruth (Read Ruth 4.13). In each of these women, birth was said to be impossible, but God gave them each children.

In Genesis 11.30 we are told that Sarah, who was then called Sarai, was barren and had no children. God has promised that Abraham will be the father of many nations, that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. But his wife is not only barren but is now 90 years old. But God brought life to Sarah in the boy Isaac. Impossible birth number one.

In Genesis 25.21, we see that Isaac's wife, Rebekah, is barren. God had made the promise that through Isaac, Abraham's son, His promise will be fulfilled. And as Isaac prays on behalf of his wife, God answer's his prayers and Rebekah gives birth to twins, Jacob and Esau. Impossible birth number two.

In Genesis 29.31, we are told that Rachel, one of Jacob's wives, is barren. Jacob had two wives, and each of them gave him their maid to bear more children for them. Through his one wife and the two maids Jacob has ten sons, but Rachel is the wife that he loved most, and in Genesis 30.22 God allows Rachel to conceive and Joseph is born. Later He gives her a second son whom Jacob names Benjamin. It is through the family of Jacob that the promise of God is to be carried out. But if God had not opened Rachel's womb and given them Joseph, the family would have died in the famine that struck the land. Impossible birth number three.

The next impossible birth occurs in the book of Judges, with a woman known simply as the wife of Manoah. Her story is found in Judges 13. The nation of Israel has been oppressed by the Philistines, and God raises up Samson to deliver them. Impossible birth number four.

Next comes the one I'm not sure about. I had never thought about Ruth as barren before because the Bible doesn't say that she is. But yesterday as I read Ruth 4.13 I began to think. It says, "And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son." The wording makes me wonder. Ruth is the great grandmother of King David, who is the King whose throne is to be established forever (2 Samuel 7) in Jesus. Possible impossible birth.

The next one the is certain, we will label as impossible birth number five. It is found in 1 Samuel 1.2b, "Hannah had no children." I believe that this story shows the most detail of what a barren woman went through. She is provoked by her husband's other wife, and we find her weeping bitterly as she prays to God. He answers her prayer and gives her Samuel the prophet who leads Israel and anoints two Kings. Impossible birth number five.

From my memory the next impossible birth takes place centuries later when we come to the New Testament. We are told in Luke 1.7 that Elizabeth is barren. Her husband is Zacharias the priest. We are told that not only is Elizabeth barren, but she is also, like Sarah, advanced in years. But God tells Zacharias that they will have a son and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even in the womb, and will turn many in Israel back to God. John the Baptist is the result of impossible birth number six.

The final impossible birth is different than all the rest. In each of these situations there has been a husband and wife that are barren, unable to have children, or well advanced in age. In each situation God has brought impossible life to fulfill a promise or to deliver,rescue, and lead His people so that His promises can be fulfilled. This final birth does both of those things, and it is the greatest impossibility ever.

"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary" (Luke 1.26-27). In this we see the greatest impossibility. There is no earthly father, and yet there is a child. God brings His Messiah in a way that proves He has to be the Son of God. There is no other explanation for the birth of Christ than the power of a miraculous God who can do the impossible.

For centuries God has been promising to send the Messiah. Back with Abraham He promised that through him all the families of the world will be blessed (Genesis 12.3b). That promised is carried through the time of David when God promises to establish his kingdom forever. And with Elizabeth the prophet to prepare the way has come. And now it is time for the Messiah.

He will fulfill all of God's promises throughout history. He will make it possible for all people to be rescued from sin, death, and Hell. In Jesus, the Messiah, all impossibilities are possible. It is possible for sinful men to be saved. It is possible for unholy people to become holy. It is possible for the dead man to be made alive and receive eternal life. In Jesus impossible life is available to all.

God is a God who does what we call impossible. He brings life from barren women. And in each case He has used that life to do great things. The life that comes from the impossible circumstance is used greatly by God.

Where is God wanting to bring impossible life in you?

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Thursday, July 5, 2012

...Not of Judgment

As I've thought about my post yesterday I feel like I need to talk a little bit more about it. I realized it could be taken as we ignore sin, we welcome everyone regardless of choices and lifestyle. Talking simply about salvation could possibly come across as ignoring sin completely, in a sense making it ok to sin because grace is readily and freely available. But that is not the point.

Paul said in Romans 6.1-2, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" Salvation doesn't mean that we ignore sin, but that we deal with it. Not passing judgment doesn't mean we say a sinful lifestyle is ok, but that we show that grace and forgiveness are possible and available rather than condemning.

We must not excuse sin, we must call it what it is. But rather then going on the offensive and attacking with condemnation, let us instead defend the truth with love. Paul also said in 1 Timothy 3.14-15, "I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth."

I've said before that when the Church goes on the attack we end up with the Crusades. When we are quick to judge and condemn sin, and those living in it, we kill any hope of them ever coming to Jesus. But when we stand firmly in defense of the truth, a pillar that displays it and a support that upholds it, we are able to present the truth in love.

Truth is a beautiful thing in which there is freedom. But when truth is given with judgment and condemnation it heaps on guilt and shame causing people to flee from it. When the Church hands out judgment, it drives people away from the one source of hope that is available. That is why Jesus said over and over, "I do not judge, I do not condemn. I am here to save."

Jesus said, "I came to save" but He didn't ignore sin. He called it what it was, and while offering forgiveness He warned about the coming judgment. If people listened to and believed what He said, He forgave them, and welcomed them into His fellowship. And if people refused to listen, if they rejected the truth He spoke, He let them go. He didn't force them to believe, and He didn't judge them for their unbelief. He presented His offer, and told them that the time to accept it is short.

John 3.16-17 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

The verses I shared yesterday, John 12.47-48, "If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day."

Judgment is coming, but not yet. And so the Church must not judge and condemn, but love and through love address sin as sin and invite all to experience the forgiveness that is found in the salvation that is ours through the love of Christ. Let us love, and in love share the truth that now is the hour of salvation. Let us proclaim the truth that Jesus came to save and salvation is available for all. Let us leave judgment up to the only one who is worthy to judge.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

The Time of Salvation...

This week I'm preparing to finish preaching out of John 12, and as I've been studying the chapter I've started to understand something for the first time. John 12.47-48, "If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day."

Jesus says "I do not judge. If people reject me, if people ignore me, I do not judge them. I came to save, not to judge." Jesus came to save, not to judge. All can come to Jesus without fear of rejection, without fear of being condemned, because Jesus is not here to judge, but to offer salvation.

Now is not the time for judgement, but for salvation. Jesus is not here to condemn, but to forgive. If people ignore Him and reject Him, He does not pass judgment yet. He says that judgment is coming, but it is not yet. Now is the time for salvation.

But if we ignore Jesus, we will face judgment on the last day. And the basis for our judgment is our response to the words that Jesus spoke. Our response to Jesus is the grounds that we will be judged upon. If we accept Him, and believe His words then our judgment will result in being welcomed into the presence of God for all eternity. But if we reject Him, if we ignore His words over and over, then our judgment is based on ignoring the truth, rejecting the truth, and we face eternal condemnation, separated from God forever.

But judgment is not now. Now is not the time of judgment, but of salvation. Jesus gives us opportunity after opportunity to come to Him, to accept and receive Him. There is no fear in coming to Jesus fearing that He will reject anyone. But judgment is coming, so we must accept Jesus now. Now is the time for salvation, not for judgment, but when the time of judgment comes, it will be too late for salvation.

Now is the time for salvation. Let that be the message we share. If Jesus doesn't pass judgment what right does the church have? Let us not drive people from Jesus by condemning others. Let us draw them to Him by offering the same attitude of love, forgiveness, and salvation that He does. Let our lives overflow with the love of Christ as we share the message of His Salvation, that the time for salvation is now.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Right in His Own Eyes

The book of Judges has an ending that speaks to me. Samson, the last judge of Israel, dies in chapter 16. For the rest of the book there seems to be no central leader for the nation. Three times in chapters 17-21 we are told that "there is no king in Israel" (Judges 17.6, 19.1, 21.25). I just thought of this, but that might also mean that they didn't acknowledge God as their king. Based on the events of the last five chapters I think that's a pretty safe assumption.

God's system of government was with Him as King, prophets to communicate His will to the people, and priests to communicate the people to God. The priests were from the tribe of Levi. They had the responsibility to serve before the Lord and offer sacrifices. And the final chapters of Judges revolve around the stories and influence of two Levites.

The people are not looking to God, and there is no leader pointing them back to God, and so every one is doing what is right in his own eyes. A man named Micah returns silver that he stole from his mother. She then dedicates it to God for her son to make an idol out of. He has the idol made, then constructs a shrine and priestly instruments for worship, and consecrates one of his sons as a priest. It seems that they had a genuine desire to worship and follow God, but since there was no leader they did what was right in their own eyes.

Then a Levite is traveling from Bethlehem to the hill country of Ephraim and comes to the house of Micah. Micah asks the Levite to be his priest to serve before the idol, and when he agrees Micah believes that God will prosper him because he has a Levite, one who was set apart by God to serve as a priest, serving as his own priest.

Because no one was there to point to God, to point to truth, the people do what they think is right, and worship God how they see fit. The truth has been corrupted and twisted, and because there is no godly leadership, the people continue to fall further away from God as they try in their own way to get closer to Him.

From there it gets worse. men from the tribe of Dan are looking for a new place to live, and they find out about Micah's idol through the Levite. They come back in force, preparing to take a city, and end up taking the idol and have the Levite come and serve as the priest of the city they take. Now it is not simply a single family that is led astray, but an entire city. All because there is no leader pointing the people back to the truth of God.

The first Levite failed in His sacred duty. Rather than leading the people back to true and genuine worship of God, he aids in their idolatry, helping them go further astray. Enter Levite number two.

This Levite is from the hill country of Ephraim and is going to Bethlehem to bring back his concubine. On the return journey they are in a city called Gibeah staying in the public square when an older man invites them into his home. The men of the city learn of the traveler and pound on the man's door wanting to have relations with the Levite.

In Middle Eastern culture, hospitality is viewed very highly. The man refuses to give up his guest and urges the men of the city to not act wickedly. He offers them his own daughter and the Levites concubine. They refuse, but the text says that the man grabs the concubine and gives her to the men who rape and abuse her all night, and in the morning she dies.

The Levite takes her body to his home and then cuts her into twelve pieces and send them throughout Israel. The people are appalled, "All who saw it said, 'Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel and speak up!'" (Judges 19.30). The rest of the nation goes to war against the tribe of Benjamin, the ones who committed this act. And at the end of the war thousands of men are dead, and the tribe of Benjamin has been nearly wiped out. In order to save the tribe the rest of the nation has them intermarry with the women of Shiloh, something God had forbidden.

The second Levite also fails in his duty. Rather than pointing the people back to the truth of God, he takes matters into his own hands and brings about a civil war that nearly destroys a tribe of God's chosen people. The book ends with these words, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21.25).

With no leadership people are left to do what seems right to them. Without godly leadership the people stray farther and farther from God, and even their attempts to get closer to God lead them farther away. Twice in the book of Proverbs it says, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (14.22, 16.25). And we see that truth clearly displayed here, decades before it was written.

Godly leadership is crucial, because without it people are left to their own devices to do whatever seems right to them. My mind thinks to the movie The Patriot where General Cornwallis says, "imagine the utter chaos that would follow from leaderless armies having at each other. There must be gentlemen in command to lead and, and, and when necessary, restrain their men."

Look at where the world is. There isn't much godly leadership, and so many people do what is right in their own eyes, and we are walking down a path leading to destruction. There is so much truth that has been corrupted and twisted, (how much of it by well intentioned people?) and so much damage that is being done because people are not being pointed back to God by leadership.

Leadership is a sacred duty entrusted to us by God. "For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God" (Romans 13.1b). If God has given you ability to lead He will give you a position to lead. Take the responsibility and duty seriously. Seek God constantly, pour yourself into the truth contextually, and lead the people God has entrusted you with into His path of Righteousness.

God is King, and we must do what is right in His eyes. Our path leads to destruction, but His leads to eternal life.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, July 2, 2012

Like Any Other Man

One of the great tragedies of the Bible is found in Judges 13-16, the story of Samson. As I've read it over the last two days part of me wonders why God's blessing was on him for so long. In many ways the leader is living like the people, and because of the part of me wonders why God used him at all. But in one way Samson remained set apart to God, and God was with him.

Samson was a Nazarite, "Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. 4 Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines." (Judges 13.3b-5). Samson was to be set apart from God from birth. But it's a vow he doesn't keep.

A dead body was unclean, and we see twice in his life Samson touches dead bodies. In Judges 14 he collects honey from the body of a lion he killed previously, and in chapter 15 he picks up a donkey's jaw bone to defeat 1,000 Philistines. Along with that Samson marries a foreign woman, spends at least one evening with a harlot, and is involved in a relationship with another foreign woman named Delilah. He lies to Delilah on several occasions, and then finally allows his vow to be broken by telling her the secret of his strength and she shaves his head.

His birth was miraculous. His mother is one of seven (that I'm aware of) women who gave birth and wasn't supposed to. (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, the wife of Menoah [Samson's mother], Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary). His strength was unchallenged. He killed a lion with his bare hands, killed 1,000 men at once, and pulled out the gates of a city and carried them to the top of a mountain. God did great things through Him. The Bible says that God allows Samson's marriage as an opportunity to strike at the Philistines. Both of the above accounts of Samson killing says that the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. I don't fully understand why, but as long as his hair was uncut, in spite of the rest of his lifestyle, God was with him.

Samson made enemies, and they sought to get rid of him. And so they use Delilah to learn the secret of his strength. After several failed attempts Samson tells her the truth and as he said, "I will become weak and be like any other man." As long as Samson remained set apart for God he was different. God was with him and he was powerful. But as soon as his hair was cut, the Spirit of God left him, and he became like any other man.

God's people are called to be holy as God is holy. We are called to be set apart. When we do, God is with us, God empowers us because He is able to. We've given Him our lives, and we're living our lives in a way that pleases Him. We live for Him not for ourselves. But when we disobey, the Spirit of God departs from us, and we become like any other man. God is what sets us apart, because with God we have real life, real meaning. But apart from Him, without Him, we are the same as the rest of the world.

Samson's story ends with him returning to God. In his final moments he calls upon God, he returns to Him, and God gives him strength and uses him in one last mighty way. When Samson stops living for himself, and gives himself fully to God, as Judges 16.30 says, "Let me die with the Philistines!", God accomplishes His greatest work in Samson's life. With his death he kills 3,000 Philistines, more than he killed in His life (Judges 16.30).

I have to wonder, what could God have done with Samson if he had lived his whole life like his final moments? If Samson's whole life had been lived fully to serve God, fully obedient to what God had said, what would God have been able to do in Israel under Samson's leadership?

We must ask that about our own lives, if we live fully set apart to God, fully obedient, what can God do in us and through us? If we give ourselves fully to the service of God, allowing ourselves to die to self-ambitions and security, what could God do?

Do you want to be a person on whom the Spirit of God comes mightily upon, or do you want to be weak like any other man?

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you