War Of
Words 06-18-16
2 Chronicles 20:15 (ESV) 15 And he said,
“Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says
the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid
and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but
God’s.
I was talking with a friend at work this
week about being drafted. We live today in the era of the professional military.
However, back in the old school days we were drafted, conscripted is a better
word,into Uncle Sam's war machine. Your number came up and off you went.Some of
us, like the author chose to join a service when my number came up; but, it was
all the same, compulsory military service. Anyway, when my friend spoke of being
drafted my ears perked up.
He explained to me that a battle had been
joined in personal life. He had not asked for, nor had he sought this battle. It
was a set of circumstances that he had not signed up for,but the enemy had spied
him out anyway. He was compelled in his gut to do something. He told me he felt
like he had been drafted. That ever happened to you? I would venture that we all
have been "drafted" at one time or another in our lives.Our conversation this
week past set me to thinking; and a couple of passages came to mind while my
buddy spoke of the "war of words" swirling around these
circumstances.
You know how it goes don't you? Stuff
happens, opinions form and before we know it we have a fight on our hands. We
see it on Facebook all the time. Back and forth, back and forth, with each post
becoming more malicious and vindictive. In the end nothing is resolved,
relationships are damaged or outright destroyed and the truth is buried under an
avalanche of words.However, to his eternal credit, Jehosaphat took a different
tack didn't he? Look at this.
The Bible speaks about a great
multitude that came against Jehoshaphat FOR BATTLE. He wasn't looking for it, it
just showed up. Jehoshaphat was drafted!
It also says that Jehoshaphat was afraid.
But, and here it is, look at the war of words Jehoshaphat waged.He didn't rattle
a sword. He didn't send a messenger(the Facebook of his day)with threats and
accusations, no, no. What did he do?
2 Chronicles 20:3 (ESV) 3 Then Jehoshaphat
was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout
all Judah.
You see Jehoshaphat refused to put his
hand on it.He stilled himself and decided to let God be the judge. He set his
face to seek the Lord. He prayed, fasted and let God choose. What was God's
response? Look at this.
2 Chronicles 20:17 (ESV) 17 You will not
need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the
salvation of the LORD on your
behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.
Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.”
"......stand firm, hold your position,
and see the salvation of the Lord......"
Brothers and sisters, many times life
will draft us to fight a battle not of our choosing. Our flesh will scream at us
to retaliate against the attacks of the enemy in our power. To take it upon
ourselves to defend our position. I know from past experience.Jehoshaphat and
the children of Israel did have to "go out against them" but he Lord did the
fighting. And herein lieth the lesson. We rarely, if ever have all the facts and
NEVER have all the truth. GOD ALMIGHTY IS THE ONLY TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS JUDGE. We
are best served if we take it to the Lord and stand firm, hold our position, and
let the Lord do as he sees fit.
Sometimes His decision may perplex us but
rest assured His decision is righteous, and we must trust Him to do the right
thing. If the war of words that we wage is waged in our prayer closet, then we
may be absolutely certain that we will see the salvation of the Lord no matter
what. Amen? AMEN!!
Psalm 31:1-2 (ESV) 1
In you, O
LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame; in
your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me; rescue
me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!
God Bless
.
Urgent
Need 06-10-16
Titus 3:14 (ESV) 14 And let our
people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent
need, and not be unfruitful.
A
thought.
Oftentimes these days I
wander off in my mind (getting older smile). Let's see, where was I? Oh yes, I
remember now. I wander off in my mind and wonder about the plight of those
Christians suffering such persecution in the Middle East and many other parts of
the world. I remember seeing a picture a couple of years ago of a small girl
laying dead on a floor in Iraq. I remember the anger and frustration I felt
which litreally brought me to tears while gazing on that child. I remember
wishing that I could somehow and in someway avenge that child of the horror and
abuse she suffered. I also remember the Lord putting that verse in my heart that
vengeance was His and He would indeed make things right in His time and in His
way. I had such compassion for that child.
That being said, I read a
book many, many years ago, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Some folks like
him, some don't. I fall into the like category. At any rate, one of the points
in the book concerned a "strategy" of the devil in dealing with God's elect. You
and me. It went like this. The enemy doesn't care about our compassion and
desire to help those in the world. Nope. He will gladly encourage us to feel all
the compassion and love for those in THE world. What he doesn't want is for us
to be compassionate and kind to those whom reside in OUR world. It's O.K. to
love someone in Iraq just don't love that person sitting on your living room
couch.
Understand that the most
"urgent needs" are living in your home. They are sharing your bed. They live
next door or down the street. They are the folk you and I see everyday.I
remember while my mother was still living, the Lord spoke to my heart one day. I
was thinking about "doing" something for the Lord. You know how that goes. I
can't even remember what it was. Anyway, He spoke gently to my heart and said I
need look no further than the next bedroom to "see clearly" my vision and
ministry for the Lord.
God's work many times is
staring us dead in the face. We just miss it because we aren't looking in the
right places.
Psalm 89:11 (ESV) 11 The heavens are
yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in
it, you have founded them.
God
Bless
Rescued
06-03-16
2 Timothy 4:18 (ESV) 18 The Lord will
rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To
him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Short and sweet this week.
Have you ever been rescued? I literally
have. And more than likely the quick actions of my rescuer probably spared my
life. At any rate, as I thought about that verse today a picture from June
5, 1989(I researched the date) came sharply into focus in my mind's eye. It was
from Tianamen Square in China. Do you remember? A solitary man with two shopping
bags in his hand, walked out and stood in front of a moving column of tanks, in
a protest against the military crackdown on a student protest. A brief,but very
intense standoff ensued and then it was over. The man has never been identified,
nor has his safety and well being been determined. He is known simply known as
Tank Man. It's worth a watch.
Now, the wisdom of his actions may be
debated by some but that is moot isn't it? For a brief moment, this brave man
was not controlled by fear, or the consequences of his actions. For those brief
minutes this man was moved by his convictions. He resisted evil with selfless
determination.
Sometimes in this life, we ae confronted
with evil aren't we. It may be a head on, face to face confrontation; but, more
than likely it appears very subtly and steathily. But, one thing is for sure, it
originates from the enemy of our souls and it's intent is our devastation. Paul,
however made a bold proclamation didn't he? He asserted that THE LORD would
rescue us from EVERY EVIL DEED, and bring us safely home. When and how God
chooses to deliver us is not the issue is it? Our final outcome rests in God's
hands; and, he has promised those who name the name of Jesus a safe
landing.
Our responsibility is to trust in the
Lord, yield to His leading as best we can, and stand by our CONVICTIONS. IS THAT
RIGHT OR NOT? You see God has made clear how we are to resist the evil that
pursues us and our loved ones. Go read Ephesians 6.
After having taken up the WHOLE armor of
God, having prayed and spent time alone with God being strengthened and
encouraged by Him, then and only then are we ready to stand.
Ephesians 6:13 (ESV) 13 Therefore take
up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand firm.
Look at the next two words in vs.14.
"Stand therefore.........."
That word therefore means "Because of or
for this reason"
Brothers and sisters, if we will seek God
and His wisdom, for that reason we can stand against the evil onslaughts in the
power of our convictions. Our rescue is promised.
Psalm 40:13-14 (ESV) 13 Be pleased, O
LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste
to help me!
14 Let those be
put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch
away my life; let those be turned back and brought to
dishonor who delight in my hurt!
God Bless
Able To
Teach 05-27-16
2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ESV) 24 And the Lord’s
servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently
enduring evil,
25 correcting his
opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a
knowledge of the truth,
My thoughts today.
If you read from the fourteenth verse of
Second Timothy 2, the context will hopefully clear up my mental
processes today. A well known radio commentator used to describe it as "a skull
full of mush." (smile) Pay particular attention to verse 21. In context that
verse is speaking to a self imposed "cleansing." Not a cleansing from sin or bad
habits, but from doctrinal error and false teaching. With that in mind, allow me
to share my thoughts today.
I read about three or four news articles
today and the descent into anger and frustration was rapid and decisive. You
would think that I would eventually learn, but alas, I am afraid that I am
hopelessly captive to the headlines. (big smile)
At any rate, it seemed to me that the
aforementioned articles were more of an attempt at appeasement, as opposed to
tolerance.
Appeasement- placation, concession,
pacification. A diplomatic policy of making material or political concessions to
an enemy power in order to avoid conflict.
The articles, having spiritual
overtones were not political in nature but the concept of concession and
placation are the same. Concessions in order to avoid conflict.
All that being said, it was not the
articles, but a REPLY to the last article that provoked the message today. The
article in question referred to a particularly heinous act done in the name of
religion. There were hundreds of replies, but I read only one. The very first
one.
Have you ever read something that angered
you? I don't mean irritated, I mean really ......off? Well, this replier had had
enough and he let loose. He mentioned something about "if they wanted a war,
then let's give them a war." Except those were not the words that he chose to
express his anger and frustration.
Well, as I read the outburst I could feel
the indignation rising up in me. I agreed with this reader's reaction and I
AGREED FULLY AND HEARTILY! They want a war, let's give them a war!! Except those
were not the words that were going through my mind either. As I began
considering"taking it to the street" the title verse came like a ticker tape
across my mind's eye. Look again.
2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ESV) 24 And the Lord’s
servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently
enduring evil,
25 correcting his
opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a
knowledge of the truth,
Hmmmmm.......
Before going on, look at this. At no
point in this section of Scripture is God advocating a tolerance or appeasement
of false teaching or doctrinal error. Nope.
as a matter of fact here and in Romans 9 Paul uses the
terms honorable and dishonorable in similar contexts. But, don't let me get
bogged down here.
What hit me in this passage were the
phrases "Lord's servant" and "able to teach." I went to a commentary and read
about what it meant to be able to teach. That phrase emphasizes disposition or
attitude as much as it does skill. It is possible to teach the RIGHT THINGS IN
THE WRONG WAY.
One thing I have learned over the years
is that no one has all the truth.
1 Corinthians 13:9-10 (ESV) 9 For we know in
part and we prophesy in part,
10 but
when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
You see the problem in our land today is
not a difference of interpretation on the Scriptures. Not at all. Rather, it is
an appeasement to an assault on the validity and truth of God's Word.
The Bible says we are to endure evil, not
placate it. It says we are to correct our opponents in gentleness, not beat them
over the head with God's Word or worse,...argue them to death. Yes, there is I
believe a time for public confrontation, but it must be led by the Holy Spirit .
I also believe that not everyone is called to that type of confrontation. Got to
be very cautious when deciding to "take it to the street."
However, let us, especially me, not fall
prey to that spirit or idea of appeasement. History teaches us that concession
does not work. Compromise? O.K. Appeasement? No way. If it does not work in our
physical world, do you think it will work against the enemy of our souls? Just
sayin' The Apostle Paul puts it this way.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 (ESV) 14 But as for you,
continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom
you learned it
15 and how from
childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to
make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Continue in what you have learned and
have firmly believed.
Psalm 119:44-45 (ESV) 44 I will keep
your law continually, forever and ever,
45 and I shall
walk in a wide place, for I have sought your
precepts.
God Bless
Coffee
Spoons 05-20-16
1 Corinthians 9:26 (ESV) 26 So I do not run
aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
"I have measured my life out with coffee
spoons."
.......???.....huh???? What did
you say Ronnie? Yeah, I hear you. But, this is my story and I'm sticking to it.
You may have in times past thought that I might be a little strange.
Well,....read on for a couple of paragraphs and remove all doubt!!
(smile)
In my job, I do a lot of driving. About
3-4 hours a night spent rolling up and down I-40 and I-81. While driving a long
stretch last night, I was praying about what I should write about today.
Somewhere on I-81, out of the clear night sky ,the above quote entered my head.
That is a quote from a T.S.Eliot poem of the 1920's(?) The reason that I am
familiar with this quote is because I had to write an essay on that one line
from the poem. This was in an English Lit class in 1968!!! I could not even
remember the substance of my essay.
Listen folks, I have not read a
poem SINCE 1968!! Poetry is not my thing. There is absolutely NO reason that
this should have crossed my supremely unpoetic mind. You feelin' me here? As I
was imagining the men in the white coats soon coming for me, something prompted
me to look up just what a coffee spoon was used for. Well, needless to say it is
used with coffee. But, it was the PURPOSE of the spoon that caught my eye.
Rules of etiquette notwithstanding, it
seems that a coffee spoon is smaller than a teaspoon so as not to cause too much
cooling when agitating the coffee after adding cream or sugar. I'm not kidding
you ESPN watchers, you can find this on the internet. It is designed to
have LESS EFFECT than a teaspoon on the temperature of the coffee.In the world
of spoons, the coffee spoon is the teaspoon's poorer relation.
Then I remembered the poem and my
essay. Eliot, in my view, was saying that his life had lost meaning. His purpose
and the impact he had in his world could be measured with a coffee spoon. And
then the Holy Spirit put that verse in my heart. Now, in context Paul was
speaking about the need for self control and discipline. But, there was a
reason, a PURPOSE to do so. You see Paul was encouraging us against losing
purpose in this life. It's easy to do isn't it? I remember my mother battling
with that the last few years of her life. She would sometimes ask me and my
sister why she was still here. She felt some times that she wasn't helping
anyone. She wasn't having any effect or purpose. I mention that only to
illustrate the struggles that we all have sometimes.
You know how it goes don't you? You go to
school, you get married, you have kids and grand kids. But, eventually the kids
grow up and get their own lives. Then the grand kids grow up and don't come
around very much anymore. all of a sudden you wake up one day and no one NEEDS
you anymore. As my friend says "You get dressed up for the party, but there's no
party to go to." You have no effect or impact, no one seems to be
listening.
Or,on the other end of the spectrum, this
is your life. You wake up, you go to work, you come home, you go to bed.
Tomorrow you can look forward to..............repeating the process. Or as
us unpoetic ESPN watchers like to say.....you get an instant replay.
The treadmill drains you of purpose and
meaning and turns you into a robot. So, take your pick. Rat race or sitting on
the porch watching all the big dogs.
But, is that what God has in mind for us?
I don't think so.God has a purpose for us no matter where we are in the cycle of
life, don't you think? 9 or 99, if we're still above ground, He's not done
with us yet. WE STILL HAVE A REASON FOR LIVING. A PURPOSE. ALL WE MUST DO IS
FIND IT!!
Look at this. An obscure, well not
obscure, a single statement spoken by Paul to a fellow named
Archippus.
Colossians 4:17 (ESV) 17 And say to
Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the
Lord.”
Now I don't know how old Archippus was. I
don't know his particular circumstance in life. However, Paul did not take that
into account did he? He encouraged Archippus to fulfill the ministry he had
received IN THE LORD.
What we need do here is fill our name in
that verse in Archippus' place. Notice what God's Word says here. "See that you
fulfill..." Archippus YOU see to it. Ronnie YOU see to it. It's not whether God
has given us something to do. No,no. It's a matter of seeking Him out and
discovering what He has in store for us.
Brothers and sisters ,, we ALL need a
reason to get up in the morning. We have to have a purpose. Now,I don't know
what purpose or ministry that God has in store for you. It may be taking a
guitar lesson. It may be writing a weekly blog. Only God can tell you. But, I do
know this, we need a reason for living. God has a purpose for you. You can
still be effectual. You can still have an impact. Put your name in the above
verse.
See to it. You're no coffee
spoon.
Psalm 81:10 (ESV) 10 I am the LORD your God, who
brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your
mouth wide, and I will fill it.
God Bless
When The Levee
Breaks 05-13-16
2 Kings 19:30 (ESV) 30 And the
surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear
fruit upward.
A couple of weeks ago I was sent a video
of one of my favorite rock and roll bands from back in the day, singing one of
my all time favorite songs. For some reason I looked up the history of the song
and that history caught my attention. Seems the song was written in the 1920's,
talking about the levees along the Mississippi River breaking, with the ensuing
flooding sweeping everything away. That however, is just the prelude for the
message today.
While thinking about the song I was
reminded about something my friend Joshua Drucker has said from time to time. He
has talked about strengthening the things that remain. Many times life and its'
circumstances, like the Mighty Mississipp, will overflow the levees in our
lives, sweeping all away. The enemy of our souls, hell bent on flooding our
lives with pain, seeks our destruction. It was with this mindset that the Lord spoke that verse to
me this week past. In the 18th and 19th Chapters of Second Kings, we are told
about a levee breaking in the life of King Hezekiah and indeed in all Judah.
The King of Assyria was approaching
Israel like a raging torrent, intent on conquering the land.The Assyrians had
destroyed all in their path and Judah along with Hezekiah and it's inhabitants
were in the Assyrian King's crosshairs. Not only that, He defied Hezekiah and
mocked Hezekiah's trust in the God of Israel. It seemed that none could resist
or stand in his way. With that in mind, let's get to the heart of the
matter.
Hezekiah was a man, with all of a man's
failings. He did a lot wrong and made mistakes. I and probably you also can
relate. But, Hezekiah had something going for him. No, not something, ONETHING,
going for him. You can read about it in the intro of his story.
2 Kings 18:5-7 (ESV) 5 He trusted in
the LORD, the God of Israel, so
that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among
those who were before him.
6 For he
held fast to the LORD. He did not
depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses.
7 And the LORD was with him; wherever he went out,
he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve
him.
Trusted. Held fast. Hmmmmm.....And the
Lord was with him. Look at this.
Israel was in a mess when Hezekiah came
on the scene. The land and people were ruled by evil kings, rife with idolatry
and unbelief. Both Israel and Judah were following foreign gods. Enter Hezekiah.
He began ruling in Judah and was determined to strengthen what remained of God
in the land. He did all kinds of stuff. Broke down the altars and high places of
idolatry. Instituted Godly reforms etc., etc.
When the flood, in the form of the King
of Assyria came against Hezekiah, what do you think he did? Unlike what we hear
from our leaders today, Hezekiah didn't unsheath his sabre and rattle it. He
didn't confront the Assyrian with idle threats and false bravado. He didn't
blame the other leaders in Judah and Israel for the attack of the enemy. What
did he do?
He stengthened the things that remained.
He got alone with God. He prayed.
2 Kings 19:14-15 (ESV) 14 Hezekiah received the letter from
the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the
LORD and spread it before the
LORD.
15 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above
the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you
have made heaven and earth.
Read the whole story and
prayer..........185,000 gone..... phoosh.....The King of Assyria, the
Bible declares, DEPARTED AND WENT HOME... The levee held and the flood waters
were diverted. Why? Because Hezekiah had rooted and grounded himself in the Lord
His God. He had strengthened his "levee" if you will.
God spoke the title verse
to me this week while thinking about Hezekiah being rooted and strengthening
that which remains and whatnot. How so Ronnie? Just this.
Brothers and sisters a
relationship with God Almighty, or anyone else for that matter, isn't built
overnight. Neither is it built in the sight of man. It requires time. It
requires solitude and undivided attention. A faith and relationship that will
sustain us when the levee breaks in our lives demands that we take root. We
allow the Holy Spirit to take root in our hearts. The time we spend alone with
the Lord Jesus won't garner the world's attention,but like King Hezekiah, it
will move Him to strengthern us where it counts..on the inside. Gettin' my
drift? And just as the Lord spoke to the children of Israel, if we will take
root downward in God, our fruit will be borne upward. Our levee will
hold.
Psalm 138:3 (ESV) 3 On the day I
called, you answered me; my strength of soul you
increased.
God Bless
The Prayer Of
Faith 05-06-16
James 5:14-15 (ESV) 14 Is anyone among
you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the
Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
A word for you today. In 1984 I fell
sick. I fell very sick. I mention it here just to provide you a frame of
reference for this message. The details of my malady are not important here, for
this is not about my sickness, but about GOD'S HEALING. Suffice it to say that,
if I remember correctly, I literally walked sick out of a hospital, went to a
church service, was anointed and prayed for, literally walked back in the
hospital the next day,and was pronounced "cured" by the doctors with confirming
xrays and tests. The head of pulmonary medicine at Kennestone Hospital,
apparently not wanting to give God the credit, declared the results
"unexplainable."
A few years ago my youngest son lay
comatose in a hospital room in Conyers, GA. I remember looking at the attending
nurse and asking her if he was going to make it, and being met with a long sigh
and a shrug of her shoulders. Shortly after that discouraging response a man of
God came to see him, and after praying the prayer of faith, laid his hand upon
my son's shoulder; to my and Shelley's surprise, my son sat straight up in the
bed, looked around at us and said "What's up Pops?" and laid back down
unconscious. A few hours later he was awake and
kicking. Unexplainable.
Sometime shortly after(?) that incident,
my stepdaughter, Shelley's daughter Jessica was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor
on her kidney. A neuroblastoma if memory serves. A deadly form of cancer. After
much prayer she was admitted to the hospital for surgery to remove the tumor. I
will never forget that day. Sitting in the hospital with family and the same man
of God, awaiting the news from the operating table, the doctor finally came
around the corner. Shelley and I jumped up, began walking towards him around a
corner. I will never forget what he said as he rounded that corner. "At some
point between the start of the operation and the removal of the tumor, it went
from malignant to benign." Those are his exact words to us. He didn't know how
it had happened.Unexplainable.
Again,that same week, if memory serves,
my stepson Michael broke his arm. He was upset because he wanted to play
football that weekend for his local team. It appeared that was out of the
question as he was in a cast from wrist to elbow. However, he was prayed for and
lo and behold his arm was "cured." I believe he played that following week with
the doctor's blessing. Unexplainable. Although his team Georgia Tech was soundly
whipped by Tennessee. Very Explainable.
(BAHAHa!!I hope you are reading this
Michael. HUGE SMILE) Unexplainable.
The list of testimonials goes on and on.
My point here is just this. These "cures" or unexplained healings are not
unexplainable at all. I have a very reasonable explanation. Read the
above scripture again.Here, let me pull that up for you.
James 5:14-15 (ESV) 14 Is anyone among
you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the
Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be
forgiven.
That word "sick" can refer either to a
physical sickness or a spiritual infirmity. Are you sick in body today? Why not
take God's prescription? Gather some people of like faith around you. Let them
anoint you with oil..."and the prayer of faith will save the one who is
sick."
Possibly your sickness is something a
little deeper and more serious than a bodily sickness. Maybe you are sick in
spirit and soul. The remedy is the same. God is waiting for us to humble
ourselves before His mighty hand, not so He can beat us up, no, no. It's so He
can "raise us up." He will exalt us in due time. He is our only TRUE healer.
THE PRAYER OF FAITH.
VERY EXPLAINABLE!
Psalm 107:20 (ESV) 20 He sent out his
word and healed them, and delivered them from their
destruction.
God Bless