February 23, 2012

Zechariah 8:6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?”

God’s plans are generally mind-blowing for mankind. We can’t imagine what He’s going to do, and then after He’s done it we can hardly believe it. This is seen again and again and again throughout the Bible, and is quite evident in Jesus’ interaction with His disciples. When the 12 didn’t do any better than they did, we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves! However, that’s not to say we aren’t to desire and allow God to expand our horizons, to help us see by faith and believe, even when our natural eyes don’t yet see. This issue becomes a problem when our lack of faith causes us to draw back from what God wants us to move into. When we are really walking by faith, God will continually open fresh vistas to us, allowing us to see more and more of His plan and allowing us to participate in that plan. That is glorious indeed!

I doubt that I will ever forget the time I was praying with one of the believers from this church, and the Lord spoke a Word of prophecy through me. “Do not be amazed at what amazes others. Rather, expect Me to do marvelous things in, around, and through you.” I don’t know how well I have done about that in the years since then, but at least I haven’t forgotten the Word. I must not let immediate problems distract me from the reality that God is God, nothing is impossible or even difficult for Him, and He has a wonderful plan for us. My life needs to be one of anticipation of what God is going to do next, not anxiety over whether things are going to work out. That’s where real faith comes in! Someone has spoken of “the tyranny of the urgent.” I must serve God, and not external forces that might have nothing to do with Him and His plans for me. I am not to reject things out of hand, but rather submit everything to Him and allow Him to show me what His plans and His schedule are, because only then will I flow with His Spirit to do His will.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I need it regularly! Help me indeed live each moment in joyful anticipation of what You are going to do next, not giving in to the negative “what-ifs” with which my flesh and the devil bombard me. May I be Your agent in leading those around me to do likewise, so that together we may be ready and available for whatever You want to do through us, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

February 22, 2012

Zechariah 3:3-4 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.”

Joshua was the High Priest, yet he was covered (clothed) in unrighteousness. We tend to forget that “there is none righteous, no not one,” (Romans 3:1) and “all of our righteousness is as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6) It is only in Christ that we are “made to be the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) We tend either to be proud of how righteous we are, or think we are disqualified from serving God because of our unrighteousness. Neither attitude is right! Paul dealt with this issue repeatedly in his letters, because it has been a problem from earliest times, and specifically from the beginning of the Church. We aren’t to use that as an excuse to sin – Paul had to deal with that thinking, too – but we are to walk in humility, allowing God to cleanse and remake us, as well as use us for His purposes and His glory. Again as Paul said, God is our judge, and we are to plead the “mercy of the court,” as some defendants do in legal trials. God uses imperfect vessels, and He takes care of whatever cleaning is necessary.

This is a continuing issue for me, both because of my own slip-ups and because of those around me who feel they have disqualified themselves from service. Humanity is fallen, and God works with that. The good news is that He has paid the price to redeem us, and that is what we need to focus on. The only disqualification from serving God is a stubborn refusal to repent, and God is remarkably patient even there. I need to communicate the truth of God’s grace, to combat the lies of the enemy that seek to separate people from God. We have God’s promise that nothing can separate us from His love, (Romans 8:38-39) but we wall ourselves off from experiencing and enjoying that love when we swallow the lies of the enemy. I need to speak God’s truth in His love, so that His truth may set people free indeed.

Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of serving You. Thank You also for making it very clear that it is completely beyond my own ability, so I have nothing to be proud of. Help me not be anxious about all that needs to be done, today or any day, but rather rest, relax, and rejoice in You so that You may do it all through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

February 21, 2012

Haggai 1:4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

The book of Haggai is all about priorities. The people had returned from exile to find everything in ruins, and their first thought had been to provide nice places for themselves to live. God had to use the combination of a drought and a prophet to get through to them that He was their Provider and He should be their top priority. Thankfully, they did get the message. However, today it is politically incorrect to suggest that anything is a judgment from God, so disasters get wasted. Justification for that attitude is drawn from Jesus’ response to some disasters of His day, (Luke 13:1-5) but that overlooks the fact that Jesus said everyone needed to repent. People want preachers to tickle their ears (2 Timothy 4:3) and not confront them with how they need to change. Repentance is actually the first order of the day! Practically all Christians are familiar with Matthew 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well,” but they seldom really try to put it into practice. It’s not that we really don’t know what to do, it’s that we fail to follow through. Hedonism is currently a dominant attitude in much of the world, summed up in the famous motto from my youth, “If it feels good, do it.” That’s no way to receive the blessings of God! God desires to pour blessings out on us, but our priorities have to be straight in order to receive them.

I can’t say that I’m innocent here. At the same time, I’m in the position of calling others to repentance. I’d better be sure to keep my own repentance up to date! Priorities can be tricky. We may think they are one way, when honest self-examination will reveal they are another. That’s why we need the help of the Holy Spirit to see ourselves accurately, and we need His help even more to make the changes that are called for. I am to relate to others with grace, mercy, and compassion, but I am not to draw back from speaking the truth to them in love, even if it’s not politically correct. The Bible says many times in many ways that fearing people’s reactions is a snare, and it’s one I’ve fallen into more times than I could count. My priority must be pleasing God, loving Him and loving my neighbor enough to speak God’s truth to him in love, whatever that makes him think of me.

Father, You know my dislike of confrontation as well as I do. Forgive me for valuing my own comfort level above the benefit of a brother in Christ. Help me keep my own priorities straight and call others to do likewise, so that together we may walk in, and enjoy, all that You have planned for us, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

February 20, 2012

Zephaniah 3:8 “Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD.

Throughout the Bible we are enjoined to wait for the Lord. No matter how bad the situation looks at the moment, wait for the Lord. No matter how powerless you feel, no matter how dark the way ahead, wait for the Lord. That’s good advice! We are not to deny or ignore our current circumstances, but we are to remember that God is greater than all of that, not to mention more powerful, and His plan is perfect. This is not a passive waiting but an active obedience, choosing to trust and therefore obey. We have a lot of trouble doing that! Of course the devil tries to stop such trusting obedience, but sometimes it seems like he doesn’t have to try very hard! That’s why it’s vitally important that we stay clad in the armor God provides, (Ephesians 6:10-18) because otherwise we’re easy targets. Waiting for God means being faithful at the immediate task at hand, not being anxious about next year, next month, or even the next minute. That again is easier to say than to do! However, anxiety comes from lack of faith. Since faith is the shield that quenches the fiery arrows of the enemy, (Ephesians 6:16) failing to exercise the faith we have already been given leaves us rather like a pincushion! We are to stand firm in Christ, not depending on ourselves in any area but trusting Him to be strong in us when we have no strength ourselves. That is waiting on God, and we are assured that if we will do that, we will find our strength is replaced with His, and we will mount up on wings like eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

This is certainly timely! As this church moves more and more into what God has planned for us, the spiritual opposition is becoming more intense. That’s not a reason to despair, but to rejoice! However, I’m not to be passive, but rather cover each of the believers in prayer, praying for them by name multiple times a day. I’m also to train them in spiritual warfare, and the message I’ve just been given on Armor is an important step in that. I’m to be gentle with the wounded, but absolutely unyielding against the enemy. I am to be on guard not only for the flock, but also for my own soul, because I am what is called a “high value target.” That’s not pride, it’s recognizing that every shepherd is targeted, and all the more so as they become more effective. I am not to be afraid on either front, for myself or for the sheep, but submit to God and resist the devil, so that he may flee. (James 4:7)

Father, thank You for this strong Word. Thank You for starting to speak it to me from last night. Guide me in my obedience, that I may be fully effective in binding up wounds and setting captives free, so that together we may stand up as a mighty army, tearing down the strongholds of the enemy, for Your kingdom and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

February 19, 2012

Habakkuk 2:1 I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

One of the best things you can say about Habakkuk is that he expected God to answer him. He doesn’t seem to have tried to dictate what answer God would give, but waited expectantly. If only all of God’s people would be that way! There are many reasons we don’t hear what God says to us, and the first, and most damaging, is that we don’t really want to. We think that God isn’t going to give us the answer we want, that He’s going to “cramp our style,” and so we turn our backs on Him and cover our ears. I’m not just talking about people who are in open rebellion here; all too often even “good Christians” act like this. We want God to confirm what we are thinking, to indulge our whims, and when we learn that He’s not like that, we don’t want to listen to Him. God will always give us the best answer, but that’s not necessarily what we want! A step back from that attitude, though still damaging, is the idea that we are totally unworthy of God paying enough attention to us to answer us. That actually has a good bit of logic behind it, but the Bible and experience tell us otherwise. I continue to like Joy Dawson’s statement that “God wants to guide us more than we want to be guided.” That actually applies to both of the incorrect attitudes I’ve just mentioned! The best attitude for hearing God is a commitment to be obedient to whatever He says, before we know what that is. God doesn’t hesitate to speak to someone with that attitude. From our perspective, sometimes answers seem delayed. That point came up not long ago with Daniel. Like Habakkuk, we need to wait expectantly, trusting not only that God will answer, but that it will be the best possible answer, whether it looks like that to us in the short term or not.

This certainly applies to me as much as it does to any believer, and doubly so because I’m a pastor. Not only am I responsible to listen and be obedient in my personal life, I carry that responsibility in this church as well. I am not to ignore what others say, particularly those who have demonstrated spiritual maturity, but as the saying goes, the buck stops here. Just this morning the Lord has been saying something that will require a little personal confrontation from me. I am not to draw back from that, but I must be very careful that I do it in love. I am not to excuse my own inaction because of the failures of others. With my background in the Bible, it should be easier for me to recognize what the Lord is saying than for someone without that background. That must not be a point of pride, but it does increase my responsibility, because as Jesus said, to whom much is given, of him much will be required. (Luke 12:48) I am to expect God to speak to me, and I must be committed to obedience even before I hear.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’m quick to be defensive and make excuses for myself! I pray that I would flow with Your Spirit, today and each day, speaking Your truth in Your love so that Your will may be accomplished in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

February 18, 2012

Micah 5:4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely.

The Japanese and English divide the sentences up a bit differently, but I like this division, because this much should apply to every pastor serving today. Sadly, it doesn’t necessarily, but it can for anyone who is properly called and obedient. The point is, pastoring a flock cannot be done properly in merely human strength. Jesus came as a man, but He ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit, and that same power is available to every believer today. This is doubly important for everyone who has received God’s commission as an under shepherd over a flock. There are lots of abilities and management skills that can be brought to bear, but those are ultimately not enough without the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. Only when He is in control do the “sheep” really dwell in peace. That’s not to say there aren’t disturbances at times even in a flock that is properly shepherded, because we are constantly under attack. However, trying to keep a flock together, well fed and at peace, with merely human strength and wisdom, is a lost cause.

This is of course extremely and directly applicable to me and my situation. I’ve had too many times of trying to rely on human strength and wisdom, my own or someone else’, and I know it doesn’t work! The Lord has pointed out to me that’s a good thing, because I’m not building His Church, He is! I’ve got to stay fully submitted and available to Him, but I’m not to be anxious about whether He can get the job done. Anxiety comes only and to the degree that I’m depending on something other than Him, because He will never fail. That’s not to say that I’m not to be earnest in prayer and faithful in obedience; that would be foolish presumption. I’m to pour all I’ve got into it, knowing that’s not enough but also knowing that He will multiply and make it enough, just as He did with the five loaves and two fish. If I am standing in Christ, then He will accomplish His will in and through me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. The past couple of months have been a bit rocky at times, and I’ve taken my eyes off of Jesus a little. Thank You for Your grace and patience toward me. Help me indeed stand and minister in Christ and not in myself, so that the results will be Your glory and not my nothingness. Thank You. Praise God!

February 17, 2012

Micah 4:11 But now many nations
are gathered against you.
They say, “Let her be defiled,
let our eyes gloat over Zion!”

Here we have the current nation of Israel’s situation in a nutshell! They do need to be vigilant and proactive, but they need faithful, obedient hearts most of all. The world does not understand that God is the ultimate Shield and Defender, and as long as we operate by the world’s thinking, we won’t understand it either. Israel’s situation is pretty obvious, but many Christians are oblivious to their own situation. They either don’t realize they are at war, or they think they have to wage that war on their own. Either way is a terrible misunderstanding. Everyone who seeks to follow God needs to realize that the forces of the devil are arrayed against him, but that if he is clad in the armor of God, that is, Christ, (Ephesians 6:10-18) he has nothing at all to fear. Daniel 7:21 says that at times the forces of evil will indeed defeat the forces of good in the short term, but we must remember that is the short term, and never lose hope. The point is, the devil is a terrorist, and his chief weapon is fear. All terrorists follow him, whether they realize it or not, and their end will be the same as his: eternity in the pit of hell. Those who follow God are not to be passive, certainly, but neither are they to be anxious, but rather trust God.

This is certainly topical and applicable! Yesterday I received some fresh information as to what the devil is doing to try to subvert the next generation in the US, and I was flabbergasted that they could get away with it. This is why those who seek to follow God must not be passive. It has become a truism, but Benjamin Disraeli’s famous quote is certainly applicable: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Particularly in America, that has had such a strong Christian cultural framework in the past, what is called for is believers rising up and saying, “Enough is enough, and this is more than enough!” Japan doesn’t have the same history, so it’s not a matter of people returning to the “faith of their fathers.” Most Japanese need to be liberated from the faith of their fathers! However, the spiritual battle is just as real and just as intense, and as a pastor I need to equip and train the believers to stand strong, not being anxious but not being oblivious either, so that together we may advance against the gates of hell, which we are promised will not be able to stand against us. (Matthew 16:18)

Father, there is again the temptation to be overwhelmed by the task, but that comes from looking at myself instead of Christ. Help me follow Your instructions in Hebrews 12 and lead many into the victorious life You intend for us, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!