Christ Won't Fail

Civilization is a failure because the human race is a failure. ''By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin''; ''All have sinned''; ''In Adam all die.'' Just as nature's loveliest landscape is deceptive, so is all our effort to make earth's wreck look like the Garden of Eden. I sat in a little Southern city on a beautiful morning looking across the placid surface of a tranquil lake. It was one of those rare days in June when, if ever, come perfect days, when earth seems in perfect tune and all nature in accord. But my peaceful meditation was jarred when I perceived that the waters reflected a hospital that stood on the other side. That spoke of sickness and pain and death. No matter how we dress up our cities and beautify our dwelling places, we must have hospitals and morgues and police stations, all the paraphernalia of a ruined race.

 

But two thousand years ago there came to earth One who said, ''My Kingdom is not of this world.'' He stood condemned on that occasion, and it appeared that He had failed. But it was haughty Pilate who failed. The old Adam has failed, but the second Adam came down in all the wreckage of our race and became the firstborn of a new race. And as many as receive Him, to them God gives the power to become the sons of God. There is a new commonwealth of those whose citizenship is in heaven, pilgrims and strangers looking for a city. One of these days there will be the manifestation of these sons of God. We are coming into our own! Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus

 

Christ is Lord. One thing I am sure of, there is coming a day when every skeptic will agree with me and every unbeliever admit that my message is true, but it will be too late for them. I can afford to wait but they cannot. If you are sitting in the seat of the scornful it is high time to get into the new race by the new birth, and move out of ruin into redemption. –Vance Havner, Hearts Afire, Pgs. 97-98

 

The Bridge Builder

An old man going on a lone highway

Came in the evening cold and grey

To a chasm yawning both deep and wide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;

That swollen stream was naught to him.

But he stopped when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

''Old man,'' said a fellow traveler near,

''You are wasting your time in labor here;

Your journey will end with the closing day,

You never again will pass this way.

You've crossed the chasm deep and wide.

Why build you this bridge at eventide?

The laborer lifted his old grey head:

''Good friend, in the way I have come,'' he said,

''There followeth after me today

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm which has been naught to me

To that fair youth may a pitfall be.

He too must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.''

                                        Author Unknown

Be An Original...well, An Original Copy! (Part 1)

Prior to entering ministry, I was a very unusual child.  My parents were avid attendees on the convention scene, especially their beloved National Baptist Convention of America.  My father thought it strange (though I didn't know it at the time) that I, as early as 8 or 9 years of age, would ask him to bring me tapes of the preachers at these conventions.  He would!  At that age, I would listen to the preaching of Asa Sampson, Gardner C. Taylor, Isadore Edwards, E.K. Bailey, A. Louis Patterson, Jr., Terry Anderson, Albert Chew, Manuel Scott, Sr. and many others.  Early on, I somehow knew these guys were the best at their craft.  Early on, I became struck by the oratorical ability of many of these preachers.  Little did I know that my father apparently didn't bring me the hooping giants; but those preachers who seemed to harness within me a singular appreciation for the content of the message.  To this day, I do not know if it was intentional or not. I seem to think it was unintentional since, even now, one of my Dad's favorite preachers is A. L. Patterson, Jr.  Nonetheless, I studied these guys, wrote out their words and often memorized their styles, expressions and words. This, at some point, led do a desire to learn more.  I remember wanting to write down the words I heard from Patterson, Bailey and especially M.V. Wade...until finally, I saved up enough money to get a dictionary.  I would learn them, and study those words. One day it dawned on me that I needed a thesaurus!  

At 10 or 11, I was heavily into Martin Luther King, Jr. Admittedly, I was more in tune with his oratory and charisma than I was the understanding of his cause among the plight of my people, at that time.  His words seemed to flow and just roll, like an art form of sorts.  He heavily reminded me of Gardner Taylor, but a younger, sharper version.  At some point I learned that they were colleagues in ministry and the Civil Rights movement.  

During all of this, I was unknowingly exposed to some of the best preaching through my father's pulpit ministry.  While my father was not an oratorical or hooping heavyweight, I would discover in college that he was a homiletical genius! I later realized he is one of the best teachers when it comes to sermon structure, delivery, simple communication, pulpit decorum and pastoral preaching.  His good friend, Rev. J. R. Miller, was also a huge influence on my preaching ministry.  I'm convinced that Rev. Miller was and is not only one of the best there is in preaching; but, like Kobe Bryant, he knows his craft like it is a natural instinct.  I have always believed him to be able to stand on the same stages as all of the aforementioned preachers, with ease. In fact, he has!  We as young preachers, looked to him as young basketball novices look to MJ. My Dad and Rev. Miller would often have Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff to Corpus Christi to preach.  Instantly, he became one of my favorites.  He seemed to entail the oratory, the charisma, simplicity, intellect combined with a Pentecostal yet religio-conservative touch.  I didn't realize until many years later that Ratliff did this by intention, but simply made it seem like it was second nature.  As I reflect, I think of many preaching giants in my own world who influenced my life and later preaching: Cleophus LaRue, my uncles (Joel A. Ward, Monty Francis and Lloyd A. Pullam), my grandfather in ministry, Rev. A. L. Kennon.  Other influences were Harold Branch (the younger brother of E. Stanley Branch) and H. C. Dilworth, who heavily influenced J. R. Miller, my Dad, Cleophus LaRue and many others.  

At the age of 12 or so, I remember our city had a citywide Spring Break revival, held at my Dad's church.  They brought to town a young preacher, Gary Scott.  He sort of reminded me of Ratliff, but was also a little like Rev. Miller...but also had a voice and could sing.  I liked him a lot; but that was also a red flag for me.  I said to myself, "I can't do that!". This somehow stuck in my mind.  I had not earthly idea that the enemy of my soul was beginning to work in my mind then through comparison, feelings of inferiority and even fear.  Simultaneously, I remember one day going through my Dad's tape collection, when I came across a shiny, golden-looking tape.  (Whether this was a divine appointment or a scheme of Satan working in a little boy who shouldn't have been snooping through his Dad's stuff, I don't know). I went to my room, put that shiny golden tape from a place called 'Salem Baptist Church' in 'Atlanta,GA' with a message entitled 'Who's The Greatest' by a preacher with an equally shiny name as that cassette tape, "Jasper Williams.". And what I heard next literally floored me....this is a long blog, I'll have to continue with a part 2! Stay tuned...

Children's Ministry

Effective children's ministry has never been more important to the life of the church than it is today. In my generation children went to church because their parents told them to. My parents were not particularly concerned whether I was having a good time at church. When I would ask my mother if I had to go, she would always respond, "No, you 'get' to go to church.' That dynamic has completely reversed; parents now go to church if their children want to go. In a growing congregation, ministry to children cannot be a back-burner issue.  Not only do children often determine if and when the family goes to church; the reality is that most people who commit their life to Christ do so before they are eighteen years old. When we focus on the adults and hope for the best for the children, we are missing the major opportunity of the twenty-first-century church. - Geoff Surratt, Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches from Growing, pg. 78

Affliction

I am mended by my sickness, enriched by my poverty, and strengthened by my weakness.... Thus was it with.... Manasseh, when he was in affliction, "He besought the Lord his God": even that king's iron was more precious to him than his gold, his jail a more happy lodging than his palace, Babylon a better school than Jerusalem. What fools are we, then, to frown upon our afflictions! These, how crabbed soever, are our best friends. They are not indeed for our pleasure, they are for our profit.

—Abraham Wright

The highest honor that God can confer upon his children is the blood-red crown of martyrdom. The jewels of a Christian are his afflictions. The regalia of the kings that God has made, are their troubles, their sorrows, and their griefs. Griefs exalt us, and troubles lift us.

—Charles Spurgeon

The secret formula of the saints: When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines.

—Samuel Rutherford

Poverty and affliction take away the fuel that feeds pride.

—Richard Sibbes

Sunday in Retrospect

I have found it difficult, at moments, sifting through the inexhaustible truths of the Beatitudes of our Lord.  Anything that includes the teachings, sayings and demands of our Lord should be handled with care.  Today, I preached on the 5th Beatitude of Christ, which deals with the merciful both extending and receiving mercy.  Here's my outline:

God’s Word on Mercy
Matthew 5:7

I. The Position of the Merciful

A. The Comparisons of the Merciful

Compared to forgiveness.

Compared to love.

Compared to grace.

Compared to justice.

B. The Characteristics of the Merciful

The ATTITUDE of mercy.

The ACT of mercy.

II. The Promise of the Merciful

This has been, and I think will continue to be, the most difficult of the Beatitudes.  This is not to say it was a preaching flop.  God really spoke to us through the message.  But the subject matter, the purpose to which Christ spoke of this form of mercy, the diabolical problems with the very notion of mercy within the cultural context (then and now), and the scriptural directives of mercy that are quite clear and concise.  Strangely, I agree with John F. MacArthus and can honestly say this Beatitude is the most important of them all, for a number of reasons.  I'll state just one - the entire story of redemption hinges on the very idea of mercy.

Today we also had 5th Sunday dinner at the church.  Our kitchen crew is one of the best!  Today we had grilled Ribeye steaks with all of the trimmings.  Members were asked (by you know whom) to bring desert. It was awesome.  While I am not a big steak eater, the food was great; and it always makes me happy knowing my wife is having steak, as well.  Dee LOVES steak!

After eating together, we worshipped together once again.  We had two for baptism, a time of reflection around the word (I only preached 15 minutes from I John 1:9 and a portion of Isaiah 53!), and then we communed together around the Lord's table.

Service was great. Will NEVER do that again!  We will, of course, have dinner.  But....i have made both a decision that may have been wise, but also foolish, if there is such a thing.  Mt. Salem is a 140 year old congregation, who is steeped in tradition.  This is a fact, not an opinion.  From singing directly for the hymnals to Baptist Training Union Sunday evening to Sunday School banners.  You name that 'Baptist Way', we have everyone beat!  In some ways, this has been quite beneficial for me.  In worship...it has pushed me out of my box with regard to my fear of singing and expressing emotion.  In my setting, the pastor (up until now) IS THE worship leader. Period!  It has also grown me in the area of my patience.  Mind you, our primary (and only) musician is a sweet woman who is 80 years of age, and has been the musician at our church for over 50 years.  This is, in no way, a criticism. But the fact of my being a 33 year old preacher, coming from a subuurban church in Houston, with 75% being young adults...go figure!  And while God has worked on my patience, I've had time to learn my share of hymns and spirituals.  I assure, after almost 2 years....I can hang with pthe best of them!  So those some of the advantages (among so many other examples).  But one tradition I am about to kill (yes, I said kill) is the notion that Lord's supper must be done at night.  I get the origin, how this started; but I can't wrap my head around the logic.  Jesus did it at night. I get that.  It is called Lord's SUPPER, by many. I get that too!  But any deep or casual study of scripture will leave to conclude that Communion at night is nor has ever been a staunch requirement given by our Lord. So....for the last almost 2 years, I have either done Communion at night, or....once before when we had the dinner after church.  Basically, it has been at night.  It is about time to simply make the change .  Communion will need to be in the morning on first Sundays.  As wih any pastor, I can already see in my head a visual of those who will not like my decision. However, as with any decision I make regarding change, I will teach it for the scripture first.  I am certain I will win the argument!

So, from now on - if we do have dinner after church again (probably on the next 5th Sunday, in September), we will have communion first.  After dinner, everyone can go home,  including me and my family.

Olympics got off to a great start.  The men's basketball team won today against France.  Dwight Howard still isn't traded.  At this point, I'm tired of hearing about him, think he is overrated to begin with, think Andrew Bynum needs to stay in LA, and Howsrd needs to be a man and honor his contract in Orlando and stay until next year.

I'm looking forward to a very interesting week.  That's ALL I'll say about that!

Sunday in Retrospect

On this Lord's Day, God smiled upon us at the Mt. Salem Church. Today I continued on in our study of The Beatitudes of our Lord. We've made it to the fourth beatitude, Matthew 5:6, which speaks of '...hungering and thirsting after righteousness...'. I titled the message today, The Blessing of Holy Hunger. The central idea of the sermon was to address our need of developing an appetite toward righteousness, recognizing the problem nd contrast of the world's pursuit of superficial desires, how this hunger and thirst is both cultivated and rewarded to those who inherit the kingdom, in lieu of the previous statements of our Lord in the beatitudes. 


Here's my outline:


I. The position of the Hungry Heart


A. Perverted Desire


B. Proper Desire


1. Watch what you eat


2. Weigh what you eat


3. Want what you eat


II. The Production of the Hungry Heart


1. From Worship
2. By the Word
3. In our Work
4. Through our Witness


III. The Promise of the Hungry Heart






Our study has been quite rewarding. I've also chosen to develop a Bible Study curriculum to follow each beatitude, that I teach on Wednesday nights at our church. My hope is to put the study of the beatitudes in written form, followed in each chapter with the Bible Study curriculum for each beatitude, for publication. As one can imagine, this study has not only been rewarding, but also challenging. I also thank God for those who made decisions on today, as well. Next Sunday we will baptize two candidates for baptism. To God be the glory! 


This afternoon we journeyed to Minnihula Baptist Church of Goliad, Texas for the Pastoral Anniversary of Dr. Ira Antoine. Dr. Antoine has grown to be a dear friend in the faith and also a gifted preacher and lecturer. He is a church strategist for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and is well on his way to being a leading authority in church growth and leadership development. It was an honor to even be asked to share on his day. I shared from passages in Exodus 14, Joshua 1 and Isaiah 52:7, titling the sermon 'Following Favored Feet.'. God really smiled upon the message, amid my nervousness. God is good! My parents met us in Goliad to pick up our two oldest, Kai and Kaden, for a few weeks with 'Nana' and 'Bebop'. I miss them already; BUT I thank God for the mini-vacation. Dwight Howard still hasn't been traded; and it is becoming somewhat of a headache. I am egonning to think the Lakers need to simply keep Andrew Bynum, and call it a day. But...we shall see!

Sunday in Retrospect

Today, at the Mt. Salem Church, I continued my series in the Beatitudes of our Lord. I continued with the 3rd Beatitude, out of Matthew 5:5, which says 'Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.' i titled this sermon, "Power Through Meekness." 

Teaching & Preaching on the demands of Christ have always proven to be both challenging and rewarding for me. In the process, our study is growing me, my life and preaching. As a direct result, as is my prayer, our people are listening and growing. We had one come today as a candidate for baptism. 

We thank God for the  young adult who made a most important decision today. 

Today was Pastor's Aide Annual Day. Though I've been pastoring for years, this was my first Pastor's Aide Day. I actually don't recall my father having such a day. Now that I have a concept of what it is, I think I have more insight on how things should go, if I continue this day. One thing I have learned, at least for me...is the importance of providing direction, even on the Pastor's days. 

That being said, I do appreciate Sis. Betty Scott, who heads this wonderful ministry; and all who contributed in some way, shape or form. Rev. Frank Harvey, Pastor of Morning Star B.C. in Bloomington, Texas really provided a great Message from Acts 12. I was thoroughly blessed and helped. God is good! 

Dwight Howard still hasn't been traded. There are talks that his being traded to the Nets is dead; and that he could possibly end up in LA or Houston. Hopefully, he can leave Orlando at this point. After all, he basically did a LeBron James 'Decision' feat without first having the deal set in stone. So in my view, his name is no good there any longer. Of course, I'd like to see him in LA. But it looks like it may be Houston. Don't quote me! :)

Books...

I love books!

To those who know me personally, aren't surprised by this 'confession' or realization.  I have grown with the assumption that most preachers love books.  I would venture to say that for a minister or even a public speaker to hate reading, books, or thinking - are, in a real sense, committing occupational suicide. 

At last count, I had atleast 5,000 books in my library.  Many of my books are autobiographies/biographies; some are textbooks from Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Seminary; there are quite a few sets of commentaries (I don't subscribe to the belief that commentaries are hazardous or poisonous); much of my library are books dealing with the languages, lexicography, morphology, textual criticism, figures of speech, interlinear works, etc.; then many of my books are from Christian thinkers and theologians.  Admittedly, some of my books are secular and many are from various leaders who don't frequent any given church.  However, their writings have been invaluable to me through the years.  I credit many preachers, namely my Father, and also Dr. R.L. Sanders (who pastored for years the Pleasant Mt. Gilead of Forth Worth, TX) for their cultivation in my of my love for older writers and old books. 

The writers I cherish most (among the writers of old) are:
- Vance Havner
- Harry Emerson Fosdick
- Robert G. Lee
- M.R. Dehaan
- Grechem Machen
- W.W. Melton
- Hershcel Hobbs
- George W. Truett
- Bernard Ramm
- W. Herschel Ford
- Samuel Shoemakker
- John Calvin
- Robert Lenski
- H.P. Liddon
- John R. Bisagno
- A.W. Pink
- C.H. Spurgeon
- Alexander MacLaren
- G. Campbell Morgan

Of course, while these writers are so rewarding and enriching, the writings of Calvin Miller, Charles R. Swindoll, John F. MacArthur, John R.W. Stott, Watchman Nee and Andy Stanley are also quite rewarding. 

As I write this blog, I have no real understanding where I intended for this blog to go; just simply communicating in writing one of my favorite pastimes - BOOKS!

Evolutionary Hymn

EVOLUTIONARY HYMN by C.S. Lewis

Lead us, Evolution, lead us
Up the future’s endless stair;
Chop us, change us, prod us, weed us.
For stagnation is despair:
Groping, guessing, yet progressing,
Lead us nobody knows where.


Wrong or justice, joy or sorrow,
In the present what are they
While there’s always jam-tomorrow,
While we tread the onward way?
Never knowing where we’re going,
We can never go astray.


To whatever variation
Our posterity may turn
Hairy, squashy, or crustacean,
Bulbous-eyed or square of stern,
Tusked or toothless, mild or ruthless,
Towards that unknown god we yearn.


Ask not if it’s god or devil,
Brethren, lest your words imply
Static norms of good and evil
(As in Plato) throned on high;
Such scholastic, inelastic,
Abstract yardsticks we deny.


Far too long have sages vainly
Glossed great Nature’s simple text;
He who runs can read it plainly,
‘Goodness = what comes next.’
By evolving, Life is solving
All the questions we perplexed.


Oh then! Value means survival-
Value. If our progeny
Spreads and spawns and licks each rival,
That will prove its deity
(Far from pleasant, by our present,
Standards, though it may well be).

The Blood

I came across a site entitle, 'The African American Lectionary', which has a few good illustrations that may benefit in sermonic delivery.  One of my favorite preachers of yesteryear, Samuel Dewitt Proctor, had a way of using personal childhood experiences to shine light on spiritual truth. 

Here is one:

I have a scar—two inches wide and about six inches long—on my right knee. I’ve had it for more than seventy years. I got the scar when I was a boy in a dusty ghetto in Tidewater. Some of my friends and I decided to raid a man’s yard to steal peaches from his tree. We went into his yard as quiet as mice with sneakers on. But he had a premonition of our coming, and somehow our intentions had been radared into him. And out of the darkness and the stillness, there he emerged wielding an ax handle, and he came after us one by one. I escaped him when I made a move like O.J. Simpson and darted for the fence, and I scaled the fence. I didn’t know that I had caught the head of a rusty nail in my knee, and it ripped my knee open right down to the bone. That nail left the biggest, ugliest scar on my knee for all of these years. My knee was ripped open for stealing peaches. Every since then I have read about the cross with deeper understanding. I had one nail in my knee for something as useless as stealing peaches. One nail for an act of no consequence whatsoever; I bore the pain and the suffering literally for nothing—for a peach. But Jesus! I had one nail caught in my knee. They drove nails into his feet, nails into his hand, and a sword into his side. I had one nail caught in my knee. I bled for a peach. But he bled so that we could have peace with God.

Proctor, Samuel. “Jesus Went Farther.” The African American Pulpit (Winter 2008-2009): pp. 77-78

The Gospel of Self?

I was introduced to John MacArthur through my Dad who, when growing up, always had a love and affection for the writings of this great preacher.  His love for the writings of MacArthur were so evident to me that they were the only books in my father's extensive library that I never bothered! (That's my story and I'm sticking to it...)  Over the course of my pastoring in Victoria (which is an hour's commute from my hom), I have grown to love and appreciate the preaching and ministry of MacArthur for myself.  This virtual obsession with everything MacArthur becomes more and more intense, it seems, as time goes on.  During my commute, I have an opportunity to listen to MacArthur on my iPhone to and from each week.  He NEVER disappoints.  What seems most impressing and convicting is MacArthur's clear and committed exposition of scripture, it's truth, and thoroughly handling the biblical text faithfully and accurately.  Several weeks ago I read another book by MacArthur entitled Hard to Believe.  Though I've had this book, as with many MacArthur's books, in my library for several years - I read it only for the first time a few weeks ago.  I'm glad I did!  The entire premise of this book is centered around this new age gospel of self-esteem, self-will and self-help in the face of Luke 9:23 which says,

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself

and take up his cross daily and follow me." (ESV)



MacArthur describes how the culprits of this 'self movement' have taken humanistic psychology and attached what seems to be a bible candy coating and administered the drug of self-esteem, and it's related counterparts to the woes of modern Christians who have been robbed of their joy though deception and false doctrine, coupled with the perversion of scripture.  What makes this movement so dangerous is: 1) it twists the scripture in order to fit to the human self, rather than conforming to the God of the scripture and 2) it is satanically deceptive and demonic. 

Interestingly, the scripture is clear that this time would come. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 says that "...men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

Admittedly, I have been guilty a time or two of point to our own value for affirmation and confidence.  On the surface, there is nothing wrong about this reality.  However, is is dangerous in that none of us, in our human self, have any actual value apart from the value given to us by God.  What gives us value, in fact, is that we are His. I think the scripture is clear on where our human self stands in relation to our value.

David says:

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psa 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Job writes:Job 15:16
How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

Isaiah declares: Isa 40:17
All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

Paul writes: Gal 6:3
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: (Before you were saved your spirit was dead - no value there!)

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Jesus taught:Mat 16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

I am reminded of the words of the words written why Augustus M. Topadly in 1776, that seem so befitting when I think of enrapturing ourselves in harmony and oneness with the infiniate worth of Christ....

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

As I lead God's people, continually prepare myself as a steward of God's Word, study and prepare myself to handle and share His Word with others, lead my family, love my wife and grow as a servant-leader...I am humbled by the fact that inspite of my worthless self, I have found priceless value in Him.

C.H. Spurgeon & Prayer

Recently, I've begun reading the first volume of C.H. Spurgeon's Autobiography.  This 561 page monster is, no doubt, a mammoth exploit; but it has also served as a rewarding outpouring of  spiritual insight into the life of a preaching giant.  This 19th Century 'prince of preachers' had the ability to preach in a way that would literally impact the world of Christendom for years that would follow.  Furthermore, he was in his late teens and early twenties when a congregation of 500 grew to an astonishing number of 10,000 plus.  This fact alone is remarkable, in and of itself, when reading his messages.  While the content of his messages were full of pure exposition, honest reflection, unique illustrations and life-related applications - his sermons were all but watered down!  Something is to be said of any one messenger who can attract a crowd of over 10,000 people without utilizing superficial or material ploys that appeal to human senses and emotions.  I would have loved to have sat in once to hear this great preacher at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London.  It is my hope to one day visit London, specifically to see the place where Spurgeon once preached, lived and the place of his conversion. 

In my reading and studying the life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, I have seen a common thread woven through the fabric of this great preacher's life, preaching, pastorate and testimony - PRAYER.  It is said that, while Spurgeon preached to the huge crowds in the Metropolitan Tabernacle, at it's construction, the Tabernacle was designed to have beneath the pulpit, in the basement a prayer room.  To some, it has been said that Spurgeon affectionately referred to this basement room where 200 people would gather to pray as he preached as 'The Fire Room'.  How appropriate is this.  Prayer is FIRE!  Prayer is the believer's arsenal and ammunition.  Prayer, according to the late C.A.W. Clark is '...when the saints of God declare kinship with the sky'.  Spurgeon is noted to have said that '...God will not shut his storehouse until we shut our mouths'.  And it was the late Dr. Ernest Kinsley Bailey who said, 'nothing of eternal signifance can happen without prayer'. 

Honest moment - sometimes prayer can easily take backstage to many of the other deeming 'important matters' in our human world.  But....if we can ever expect divine, other-wordly intervention to show up in the human affairs of our little world (it's little to God), we must pray.  How can we as aliens and foreigners of this world win the battle if we aren't communicating with headquarters?  It becomes frivolous, impossible and difficult. 

I love singing.  But I have discovered that singing will do what singing will do.  God knows I love preaching.  But preaching will do what preaching will do.  Here is a wonderful reality...PRAYER will do what GOD can do! 

Spurgeon was an avid reader.  But one of his favorite books was 'Pilgrim's Progress'.  In fact, when courting his future wife, Sussanah, he asked if she would read this John Bunyan classic.  I like what John Bunyan says regarding prayer:

“Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”

 

 

I Thessalonians 5:17 informs us to 'prayer without ceasing'.  God tells us in Jeremiah 33:3 to '...call upon me; and I will hear you and answer you'.  Christ says in Matthew 7:7-8, 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.'

Let us never forget the power of prayer!

God Enjoyed

A Prayer Concerning the Enjoyment of God by An Anonymous Puritan (ca. 17th century)

"Thou incomprehensible but prayer-hearing God,
Known, but beyond knowledge,
revealed, but unrevealed,
my wants and welfare draw me to thee,
for thou hast never said, 'Seek ye me in vain'.

To Thee I come in my difficulties, necessities, distresses;
possess me with thyself,
with a spirit of grace and supplication,
with a prayerful attitude of mind,
with access into warmth of fellowship,
so that in the ordinary concerns of life
my thoughts and desires may rise to thee,
and in habitual devotion I may find a resource that will
soothe my sorrows, sanctify my successes,
and qualify me in all ways for dealings with my fellow men.

I bless thee that thou hast made me capable.
of knowing thee, the author of all being,
of resembling thee, the perfection of all excellency,
of enjoying thee, the source of all happiness.

O God, attend me in every part of my arduous and trying pilgrimage;
I need the same counsel, defense, comfort I found at my beginning.
Let my religion be more obvious to my conscience,
more perceptible to those around.
While Jesus is representing me in heaven, may I reflect him on earth,
While he pleads my cause, may I show forth his praise.

Continue the gentleness of thy goodness towards me,
And whether I wake or sleep, let thy presence go with me,
thy blessing attend me.

Thou hast led me on and I have found thy promises true,
I have been sorrowful, but thou hast been my help,
fearful, but thou hast delivered me,
despairing, but thou hast lifted me up.

Thy vows are ever upon me,
And I praise thee, O God."

Happy Born Day to Kai Livngston

Today is my firstborn, Kai Livingston's, 9th Birthday. I remember the first day I laid eyes on him. It was a Monday morning. I was only 23 years of age. Fresh out of college, new to seminary life, and a full-time minister of Christian Education at a local congregation in Houston...I had NO idea how to be a Father, much less a 'Daddy'! I was so proud of my wife, D'Ani. I was in such disillusion for 9 months. I had always had the ideal of being 'ready' when I grew and had children. I had dreamt of having a house with a nice picket fence (paid for), with a few cars (almost paid for), finished with seminary, and a hefty cushion in savings...by the time our family came along. None of that ringed true. As a result, I felt a strong sense of human inadequacy. Looking back, I should have relied more upon the providential hand of God at work in D\'Ani and I\'s life. This took us by surprise (with a little assistance of our own!) but it had not caught God by surprise. Someone has said that a surprise is God\'s way of remaining anonymous.

But....when I held Kai in my arms, and looked in his eyes....I fell so deeply in love. How could God entrust me with such a small, precious gift. Though I may not have known how to be a Daddy, Kai makes it so very simple because he is such a great son. Do we have challenges? Of course...there is 3rd Grade Math! But I believe in him, as much as he believes in Dee and I as his parents, being there for him. When I held him in my arms, I was so afraid of what lay ahead...but...God has been so faithful. god has done to me as I always say to each of my boys, "I got you".

I love you, Kai. I'm excited about the young man God will grow you to become. I look forward to seeing you go further and climb higher than Daddy ever could. I love you always!

A Present Salvation

A Present Salvation

Creator and Redeemer God,

Author of all existence, source of all blessedness,
I adore thee for making me capable of knowing thee,
for giving me reason and conscience,
for leading me to desire thee;

I praise thee for the revelation of thyself in the gospel,
for thy heart as a dwelling place of pity,
for thy thoughts of peace towards me,
for thy patience and thy graciousness,
for the vastness of thy mercy.

Thou hast moved my conscience to know how
the guilty can be pardoned,
the unholy sanctified,
the poor enriched.

May I be always amongst those who not only hear but know thee,
who walk with and rejoice in thee,
who take thee at thy word and find life there.

Keep me always longing for a present salvation
in Holy Spirit comforts and rejoicings,
for spiritual graces and blessings,
for help to value my duties as well as my privileges.

May I cherish simplicity and godly sincerity of character.

Help me to be in reality before thee
as in appearance I am before men,
to be religious before I profess religion,
to leave the world before I enter the church,
to set my affections on things above,
to shun forbidden follies and vanities,
to be a dispenser as well as a partaker of grace,
to be prepared to bear evil as well as to do good.

O God, make me worthy of this calling,
that the name of Jesus may be glorified in me
and I in him.

-The Valley of Vision

Unintentional

To say that I've been away for more than a moment is beyond sheer hyperbole. That being said, I'm glad to have yet another blogging moment. Every now and then, in various parts of the city and even country, I will come across someone who will tell me how blessed they've been through my blogs. My response never changes - there is always a sense of surprise! This often humbles me, in knowing I am always unsure (as with the average minister and their sermon presentation) of who I've touched through my writings. However, it is always good to know that some has been touched and benefit as a result of my sharing and transparency.

I never intended to be away for such a long period to time. While some have abandoned the blogging medium for years, 7 months since my last blog, for ME, is a LONG time. The good news is this - today is a new day. I am thankful that there have been no extenuating circumstances attributed to my absence...my loved ones are still alive and well, children are healthy and growing, my wife and I celebrated another year of marital blessing and bliss, no scandal has incurred within my ministry, the church is fine and growing, God has opened a door for me in the area of Chaplaincy, on and on. I guess, it just happened. Good news is - it's a new day.

What is my point?

Unintended or not, there is something that applies to all of us and misses NONE of us - we all have moments, seasons or experiences where we find ourselves doing things we never intended. Perhaps it involves some failure, happenstance, tragedy, some sin or shortcoming, some chore left undone, a letter that you forgot to place in the mail. Maybe you forgot an anniversary (God forbid!) or some special day.

Here is the good news, if you're reading this: 1) You're a survivor. 2) It's a NEW day. 3) You are empowered by God to begin AGAIN. 4) You are here to tell your story.

Isn't that good news? While I have no exact scripture in this blog, I will assure this is ultimately the message God conveys to us through the cross of Calvary. In that crushing place, the Place of the Skull, somewhere between His Son's vicarious, ignominious death and the victorious triumph on the 3rd day, we see the NEW day has begun!

What's been going on in My World, Part Two

As I stood there on that Sunday morning on the first Sunday in November, I felt a sense of peace...with regard to the continuance of the vision God had given me. I felt a sense of relief...in believing this was the direction God was leading me. Admittedly, I felt a burden...knowing my heart was still strongly connected to the people who had been so supportive, along with persons there who had come to receive Christ while with me. There was a part of me that was apprehensive in knowing, as a 'Founding Pastor', there is a certain level of power and freedom that you experience in leadership that is very rare, and hard to obtain...in our cultural and religious contexts. It had it's advantages and disadvantages! I would always struggle with seeing Pastors who had great visions who had to place their dreams on the shelf because a committee or board voted against it. And, in a sense, I felt that if I were to continue on as a Pastor I 1) probably would never plant a church again and 2) I would be a part of a system that tried to run the preacher.

All of these dynamics were at work in those moments; and, even now, there are high highs and low lows. There are moments of confusion, disappointment, happiness, peace, tranquility and much sadness. All in all, I know that the first Sunday in November was a wise and prayerful decision. What happened afterwords, is what became most difficult.

After viewing a sense of confusion and misunderstanding, I decided to take the advice of a Pastoral acquaintance of mine - to have a church wide dialogue with our members in place of Sunday school. After morning communion, I announced that plan, to which some members attended. As timing would have it, two of our ministers were out. With a total of about 20 to 25 people present in the fellowship hall of the church, I told them my desire to hear them. I was not there to expound on what I had said, but wanted to know their thoughts and, if able, to answer their questions. Some asked for clarity, not understanding if they had actually heard me say that I was moving on. Some were insistent that I must be going somewhere else. Others asked what would happen next.

I expressed my plan to serve for the next month, and to make a transition for their search for a new pastor. I did express that I had someone in mind. What I thought would be met with excitement, turned to seeming disappointment with my choice. Looking back, I should have insisted that they meet with this young man, and seeing where he stood. However, I began to falter, not realizing in wisdom that they were in shock, and that if I had mentioned to them the Pope would be taking over, no matter how ideal...that was not the time to trust their instincts or judgments. Many of them cried. Some expressed their anger. In hindsight, I can still honestly say that my motives were pure and I was not running away. After all 40 or so people, active members, give or take, is still a good number. Giving wasn't it's best, but we weren't in any debt. I LITERALLY felt as I had expressed, I had taken them as far as I could. Period!

Then....I said, during that month, I would talk with my Pastor in Houston, and will continue in prayer. In hindsight, what this did was gave no sense of closure, on my part. It was not my first, but most impressionable, lesson in the reality that it is not WHAT you do, but HOW you do it that can make the world of difference. As the Founder AND Pastor, while logic says I should have stayed forever, IF I was not...I should have TOLD them where they were going next and with whom, and they would make the decision to follow or not.

I decided that I would take a break from Pastoring, concentrate on Preaching, Teach at a Bible College in Houston a few nights a week, go back to my Houston church, finally begin a doctoral program, and enjoy making a living as a chaplain. I'd even explored entering the reserves! I had no doubt that if God wanted me to Pastor...I could and would Pastor.

As if things weren't complicated enough, something I didn't want to happen, and certainly didn't anticipate happening...happened! I had known of a church congregation, of which I'd preached several times as a teenager, who had been searching for a Pastor. This church, also a part of my Father's association of churches, I knew, was a great congregation, from what I could remember. This church, in Victoria (1 1/2 hours from Houston), seemed to be a good church for someone older in age, but yet good with youth, and could do a great job of rebuilding after a period of struggle and hardship. One day I was talking to a fellow-chaplain resident who was aggressively looking for and at churches searching for Pastors. For the time I had known him, he had been unable to secure anything. I don't know what it was, but Mt. Salem in Victoria came to mind! I told him what I knew about the church, which was very little. He asked if he could contact my father, etc. The next thing I knew, he had actually been asked to preach at the church in Victoria the last Sunday in October. The report was...they loved him! I was excited on several fronts...first, a good congregation was excited about this new chapter. Second, my colleague was about to finally fulfill the goal of pastoring in Texas (he had come from California) and third, my father and his association would now have someone to lead this congregation, which would benefit them. The congregation then asked him to come and be with them the first week in November. I was happy for my colleague and them.

After the 2nd Sunday, I get a call from the Pastor who was working with the congregation in Victoria...who asked how I was doing; how the ministry was going (I did not tell him of my 1st Sunday incident), etc. He then told me that the church would not be considering my colleague. He then asked, if I would be willing to Be a candidate. I immediately and unreservedly said 'No Sir!' He, of course, asked why not. Not mentioning my new plans of being back in the Dallas Fort Worth area, after my residency in September 2011, i simply expressed, first, I don't think it is right to go and be a candidate at a church I recommended someone to inquire about and, second, I didn't hear Victoria in my vision. Logic told me - don't ruin a possible lifelong friendship with someone to be a candidate in a place you don't have any plans of going. But then....after he said a few other things, the Pastor said, 'Can you come and preach?'. Now...I grew up in a setting where, unless you are dead or incapacitated, you PREACH. I didn't hesitate for a moment! I gave him one stipulation, however - I can only come the Sunday after Thanksgiving. That's it. And I could not schedule anything beyond that. But then he said something to me...'just when you come a preach, pray. And then see what God says'. That was a set up!

On the 3rd Sunday of November, I traveled to Victoria. I was so intent on going there, preaching a message of encouragement to them, not being a candidate...that I didn't even take my family. I preached out of Philippians 1:12-16 and entitled the message 'Knocked Down but Not Knocked Out'. To be honest, there was nothing exceptional about the message, other than Jesus Christ, of course. I did sing, which is VERY rare for me, but nothing out of the ordinary. When I got back to Houston, I followed up with that Pastor with simply a courtesy call, thanking him for the opportunity to preach. He called me back to inform me that he heard nothing but positive feedback about my being with them.

He then asked me 'What'd you think?' and 'Did you pray?'

Next time I'll have to explain what I saw, my prayer and how I responded, initially....

Positive Power of Words

I came across an interesting yet true story about the author of one of my favorite novels, Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Nathaniel Hawthorne came home heartbroken. He’d just been fired from his job in the custom house. His wife, rather than responding with anxiety, surprised him with joy. “Now you can write your book!”

He wasn’t so positive. “And what shall we live on while I’m writing it?”

To his amazement she opened a drawer and revealed a wad of money she’d saved out of her housekeeping budget. “I always knew you were a man of genius,” she told him. “I always knew you’d write a masterpiece.”

She believed in her husband. And because she did, he wrote. And because he wrote, every library in America has a copy of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The Hidden and prevailing lesson I carry away from Hawthorne's biography is that we have the power to change someone’s life simply by the words we speak and write. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” We often misinterpret these words, typically employing them for our own selfish promotions and proclivities. But behind these words of Solomon are a simple, yet profound truth and reality...there is power in words. All of my life I have loved and enjoyed paper, words, writings and books. My love for books is something that comes naturally: My father, my paternal grandfather, and my great-grandmother...just to name a few, are and/or were lovers of words and books. I look on with such nostalgia and internal joy as I see my sons cultivating a love for books and reading. I hope and pray this continues. Many of my teachers, professors and peers have encouraged me, through the years, to think about one day writing. My current chaplain supervisor has stressed his desire to see me 'move toward the possibility of publication'. I would almost agree were it not for my own tendency to be overly critical of myself, coupled with my tendency to procrastinate when I'm uncertain of the ambiguous. Many moons ago, one of my seminary professors encouraged me to become a 'blogger'. Little did I know the underlying challenges and discipline that are connected to a blog. I'm definitely sporadic, but love it when I make time to record and chronicle my thoughts. I hope to do better!

My hope and prayer, during this stage of my life, is to have FAITH to know that my WORDS are meaningful and significant; and have the power to change lives.

In borrowing a popular Max Lucado favorite of mine, an example of this form of faith was found on the wall of a concentration camp. On it a prisoner had carved the words:
I believe in the sun, even though it doesn’t shine.
I believe in love, even when it isn’t shown.
I believe in God, even when he doesn’t speak.

Sermon from 06/26/2011 @ Mt. Salem BC

Title: Possessing God's Promises
Series: Conquering Conquests
Joshua 1:1-9

Recently I came across an article that described the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage from boyhood to manhood? In this seemingly cruel and dogmatic ritual the father leaves his son alone in a forest blindfolded. He is told to sit on a tree stump the whole night and to not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun come shining through. He is forbidden to cower, cry out or seek help from anyone. In the ritual it is said that once he survives the night, he is a man. Because each boy must come into manhood on his own, he cannot tell the other boys of this experience. The boy is naturally terrified. Can you imagine the anxiety, tension and fear that lurks from without and within. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blows the grass and shakes the trees, but the boy is to sit stoically, never removing the blindfold. Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appears and the boy removes his blindfold. But much to his surprise and delight he discovers his father sitting on the stump next to him. Interestingly, the proud father has been there the entire night, watching over and protecting his son from harm.

When I first read that story I thought about the fact that there is a thin divine line between spiritual infancy and spiritual maturity. So often we will become fearful and frightened by the hounding winds of helplessness and the haunting howls of hopelessness, despair and discouragement. But God, Who is our sovereign, resourceful, omniscient, all-wise heavenly Father sees us and knows where we are. Even when He cannot be viewed by us, we are still in His view and foresight. The problems we face in time are eternally in His view. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

This is the message that God rings clear to young Joshua. The opening words of the book of Joshua describe a period of transition. It marks not only a change in leadership but a change in purpose. The people would change from Moses to Joshua and also from wanderers to warriors. This change would not only be difficult for the fledging nation, but also for Joshua. Verse 1 informs us that Moses is dead. The death of Moses was a heavy blow to the Israelites. He was the one who had led them out of the oppressive Egyptian bondage.
When the people were discouraged and wanted to go back to Egypt, God uses Moses to calm and rally the people to ‘Fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord’.

When the Israelites were thirsty, God used Moses to cause water to flow from a stone. When the Israelites were hungry, God answered Moses' prayers and sent quail and bread from heaven. For almost 40 years, Moses had served as the Israelite's leader and legislator. He alone spoke face-to-face with God on their behalf. But now he was dead! 
Here Israel is still encamped on the plains of Moab, directly east of the Jordan River, at the very edge of the Land of Promise. For 30 days they mourned Moses, their beloved leader, but now it was time to inherit the land God had promised to Abraham and their forefathers hundreds of years earlier. Joshua, God’s newly anointed and appointed leader of the Israelites, according to Numbers 27:22 and 23, had been commissioned by Moses before his death, and he was now being ordained by God. So let’s walk through these opening verses of the call of Joshua and consider the practical implications of possessing God’s promises.

I. We are Called to Follow God’s Plan

Question: Can you follow God’s goal and plan for your life even when your faith is shaken, the facts are precarious and your feelings aren’t on board?

What are the plans for Joshua and, moreover, the believer? This account of Joshua on the edge of possessing God’s promise in following God’s plan is threefold:

a. It Is a Plan for Freedom (Verse 2a)
He says ‘arise’ from this place and go ‘over the Jordan’ to the place ‘I am giving to them’. There are two pivotal moments for the people of Israel, between the Book of Exodus and Joshua. One of them had already taken place through the leadership of Moses; that is to get them out of Egypt. The other was to take place under the leadership of Joshua; and that is to get Egypt out of them! The picture of the people of Israel to the land of Pharaoh in Egypt is symbolic of you and I, the believer’s, encounter with the world in which we live. Those of us, you and I, who have been saved have been set free from the enemy (Pharaoh, Satan) and from the land of Egypt, the world, but the other end of the fight is to get the world out of you.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, ‘if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, all things are made new.’
Romans 8:9 says, ‘…you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.’

John chapter 11:1-11 records the story of Lazarus, the relative of Mary and Martha. Scripture records Christ receiving the report that says Lazarus has died. Christ calls for him to come forth. Lazarus did come forth in a miracle of resurrected life. But yet, while the resurrection was, in fact, effective, the work was yet incomplete. Lazarus still had on the grave clothes. And Jesus tells His disciples to loose him and let him go! In a real sense, Jesus was showing, now that you are out of the grave, my work is not complete until I get the grave off of you. God wanted the Israelite people free. He wanted them to be free of Pharaoh and of Egypt, but He wanted them to also be free of an Egyptian mindset and wilderness mentality. In the same way, the Christian life for the believer can be a difficult life unless you are liberated from legalism, laziness and lethargy. You must be filled with God's Spirit and know that there is more to being a Christian than just being saved.

b. It is a Plan for Fullness (Verse 2b) ‘I am giving; inheritance’.
When we read the word "am," which in Hebrew is `asah and means "accomplish, bestow, perform, or fulfill," we see what God is doing. This verb describes something that is happening in the present tense and the active voice. The promise for this land was given to Abraham hundreds of years before, and now Israel are at the actual moment of possessing the land which God promised to them. They are standing on the banks of the Jordan River and can look across at the Promised Land.

c. It is a plan that requires faith (Verse 6a, 7a, 9b)

Consider Joshua was like some of us, for a moment. Joshua must have been anxious and fearful because of Israel’s past failure to enter the Promised Land and because of the death of Moses. In verse 6a, God’s message to Joshua is “be strong and courageous.” The message was so important that God repeats it three times.

II. We are Commanded to Treasure God’s Precepts (Verses 7 and 8)
`
Some years ago a passenger train was rushing into New York as another train was emerging. There was a head-on collision. And some fifty lives were lost. An engineer was pinned under his engine, frightfully injured, and tears were running down his cheeks. In his dying agony he held a piece of yellow paper crushed in his hand, and said: “Take this. This will show you that someone gave me the wrong orders.”

Verses 8 and 9 give in detail the special relationship Joshua was to have for the written law of Moses. According to the very first paragraphs of the book of Joshua, Joshua—this new leader—has the law of Moses. Moreover, the law of Moses already had the exalted status of a revelation from God. Important as it was to possess the Word of God in written form, as we also possess it, that was not enough to assure Joshua’s success as Israel’s new commander. He was not only to possess the Bible in a technical or theoretical sense; God says to Joshua, in verse 7 and 8 that it must be personal. This is the heart of his instruction by God.

There are four parts to Joshua’s instruction to treasuring God’s precepts.

a. God’s Word must be Known.

Psalm 119:11 says, ‘Thy Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.’

Psalm 37:31 says, ‘The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.’

b. God’s Precepts must be Spoken.
The text says, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth” (Josh. 1:8). Joshua was to talk about the Bible in his normal day-by-day contacts with family, soldiers, friends, and others who were part of the nation. Tragically, most of us would rather talk to God about people then to talk to people about God’s Word.

c. God’s Precepts must be Digested.

d. God’s Precepts must be Lived.
The last element in this list of requirements is the most important. Not only was Joshua to know, speak about, and meditate on the law of Moses, he was also and chiefly to obey it. God said, “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left.… Be careful to do everything written in it” (Josh. 1:7–8).

Someone has said that, ‘Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them.

III. We are Commissioned to Trust the Promise of God’s Provision

The Lord commanded Joshua to prepare himself and the people to cross the Jordan and take possession of the land. He makes three promises to His new leader: (1) A promise of land, "'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you'" (Joshua 1:3, NLT); (2) A promise of victory, "No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live" (from 1:5, NLT); and (3) A promise of presence, "For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you" (1:5b, NLT).

a. God will Equip us
Here is a promise of land: "'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you'" (Joshua 1:3, NLT). Joshua was going to experience the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham and repeated to his sons Isaac and Jacob. He would lead the people into the land that had been promised to Moses. The Israelites would occupy the land from the great river to the great sea. The area described is roughly the same area God promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-20).

b. God will Encourage us
Here is a promise of victory: "No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live" (1:5a, NLT). God promised Joshua victory over anybody and everybody who came against him. This promise was not limited to the taking of the Promised Land, but was extended for as long as Joshua lived. However, this promise came with a warning. The people who lived in the land were protected by powerful armies and fortified cities. The battles would be hard fought. As it was in Canaan, the Christian life is a life of conflict with enemies who must be confronted and overcome. Although the outcome of our battle is assured, we must be prepared for conflict if we are to claim the kingdom's earthly promise of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17, NLT).

I love how God, in His Word, always keep ever before us that we don't have what it tales to accomplish the task or reach the goal; but He always seems to point out...but you got it in you! * seems like a contradiction in terms

c. God will Enable us

Hear this: where God guides, He provides..

What is there in your life you need to conquer?

He will enable you!

Isaiah 40:29-31:
He giveth power to the faint
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who bwait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.