Facing our Accusers

Scripture: Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Zechariah 3:7

Observation: After years of unrest, stability is starting to come back to God’s people. Under the new preaching ministry of Haggai, people are starting to come back to the old truths, starting to rebuild the temple. Zechariah has a vision of Joshua, the high priest, standing in heaven. Joshua is on trial, with Satan as his accuser. But in a dramatic courtroom turn, God turns to Satan before he can even open his mouth and rebukes him. God orders that Joshua’s filthy clothes be removed and replaced with brand new robes. Then he promises that if Joshua will obey him and keep God’s calling, he will find leadership, acceptance, and he will have a voice in the heavenlies.

Application: Over the last month, I feel I have been under Satan’s accusations. Except they are coming from people. It has been a struggle to listen, to care, to try to mend fences. I have not always done well. But today I think God is reminding me that these accusations do not come from people, but from the accuser of the brethren. My job is not to defend myself, but walk in God’s ways and keep his charge. I can let God rebuke whom he needs to rebuke. I can trust that God will provide the leadership, acceptance, and access to Him that I need to carry out his work.

Prayer: God, help me walk in your ways and keep your charge. Give me courage to stand amidst the accusations. Give me grace to respond, but let me trust you for my defense. And help me turn to the access I have in you for the grace and courage I need.

Prophet or Performer?

Scripture: And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. Ezekiel 33:32

Observation: The prophet Ezekiel was calling people to change. And the people were listening. But they were listening to Ezekiel as they might listen to an entertainer at a concert. They liked his style and tone, but were not moved to act. One day, God promised, they would look back and realize they were listening to a prophet, not an performer.

Application: I feel a pressure often to perform on stage. That people have a certain expectation of my sermons, and they sit as critics, rating what I do. Some want more stories, some want less challenge, others want more “meat.” I think there is a place for me to really listen, and try to meet the needs of the people. But there is also a place for me to get with God, and godly counsel, and speak what he has put in my mouth. These are some important times for our church, and I have been charged by God to say some challenging and hard-to-swallow things. I need to trust that one day, the actions and words I use will be regarded as right.

Prayer: I pray today that I would be moved by the compassion of Jesus, to have the courage of Jesus, to lovingly say what I need to say. Help me listen to those who are hurting or confused. But keep me on course with Your truth. Help me make sure I am listening to your words and responding to them myself.

Scratching Itchy Ears

Scripture: For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV)

Observation: Paul warns Timothy to preach the word completely—correcting when needed, encouraging when needed. This is crucial because there is coming a day when people will turn from sound teaching to wander off into myths. That day has come. I used to think that myths referred to ‘liberal teaching.’ But the truth is, no matter the slant, any teaching that is in error is a myth. And no matter the bent, whether the teaching is licentiousness or legalistic, there will be devotees of it. This is often why people will complain or change churches. The teaching does not scratch their particular itch. They want it more grace filled, or more law filled. They want it more end-times focused or more practical focused. They often do not want to hear the word; they want to hear the word in a way they like, that scratches their itching ears.

Application: I can be like this too. I have particular teachings and teachers that scratch my itch, that I listen to. This is not necessarily wrong, but I need to be careful not to love the teacher, but to love the truth. I need to be a bigger fan of Jesus and his word, than Lewis Sperry Chafer, Craig Groeschel, or John Piper. These guys are great, but they do not have all the answers.

Prayer: God, help me love your word. Help me listen to what it says, even if it does not scratch my itch at the time. And help me be free from trying to scratch the itch of every person that comes to Pulpit Rock. Lead me to do what is right in your eyes and let the chips fall where they may.

The Central Question Of Life.

Scripture:
How then can man be in the right before God?
How can he who is born of woman be pure? Job 25:4

Observation: Job’s friend asks a question—more out of despair than confidence. Yet his question is at the core of our humanity. If there is a God, how can people born on earth be right with him? Religion seems to be an attempt to answer this question different ways. But if there is a God, then this becomes much more than an interesting theological debate—it becomes the core question we must answer.

Application: Recently I was asked by someone why it was important to share our faith with others—especially people who already have a religion or faith system. I answered that it all came back to Jesus. If this question of being right with God has many paths and answers, then it really is not important to tell others about Christ. But if Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to God but through him (John 14:6), then there is only one answer, and as narrow as it might seem, we ought to lovingly and respectfully share this with others.
I must answer this myself. How can someone be in the right before God? Is it through doing good? Is it through faith in something, anything? Are there many roads? Or is the answer one word, Jesus? If so, how will I share this truth with others that they also might be right with God?

Prayer: God, you said Christ was the only way. I believe this in my mind, but don’t always act like it. Please help me and our church believe this. Help us share the heart of Christ in love and respect. Give me opportunities to do this even today.

Truth hurts. Withholding Truth Hurts More.

Scripture: He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. Job 6:14

Observation: Job is alluding to the bad advice he got from his “friend” Eliphaz. Instead of speaking God’s truth to Job in his time of hurt, Eliphaz spoke his own words. By family to speak the truth in love, he withheld the kindness of God. By withholding the kindness of God, he revealed he lack of fear of God.

Application: Often we try to comfort friends in need by agreeing with them, or telling them things will be okay. What we fail to do is speak God’s truth in love to them. Why? I think we fear them more than God. We fear their disapproval. We just want them to “feel better,” not to get back on track with God. And sometimes the words of God don’t feel very kind, especially when they correct us. Truth hurts. Withholding truth hurts more. I have often told people what I think they want to hear, rather than the words of God I know the need. When I do this, I am withholding God’s kindness to them, and forsaking the fear of the Almighty.

Prayer: God, this is hard for me. I like conversations to be happy and stress free. Help me to listen to your spirit, and speak truth when you call me to. Don’t let me withhold your kindness just because sometimes Your kindness hurts. Let me fear you more than the conversation. Amen

Three Strikes, But Not Out.

Scripture: Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel…” Jeremiah 38:17

Observation: Three times Jeremiah is asked to speak the words of God to Zedekiah. The first time, he counsels surrender to Babylon, which gets him beaten. The second tie, he predicts defeat and gets thrown in a cistern. The third time he is wary of the request and only speaks after assurances there will be no reprisal. He is spared, but once again the king ignores the very counsel he himself asked for, and is defeated. I am amazed Jeremiah continues to speak God’s words instead of changing the message to save his skin. I am astounded that Judah keeps asking for words from God that they have no intention of following.

Application: When some people say they want leaders who hear from God, they really mean they want leaders who hear from God words that affirm their choices and course of action. So many times I have had people come to me to get “godly advice,” only to leave angry when they got words contrary to their plan. God is telling me to:

1. Keep telling the truth, even if I am branded a deserter, and
2. Be prepared to be rejected, but not to worry, God can and will deliver me.

Prayer: God, I don’t know who this applies to in my life right now, or if it is a preparation for an upcoming challenge. Help me to hear from you and speak truth to those in my life—and not words that will make them (or me) feel better.

Love Like He Really Lived

Scripture: Love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 2 John 5-6

Observation: 10 commandments in the OT, Jesus reduces these to 2—Love God and Love others. Here, John highlights one. I’d think he would pick loving God, but here (as Jesus does in John 13:34) he highlights loving one another. But the love he is commanding has to be done in the context of truth (v. 3,4). What truth? The truth in verse 7: Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. So loving others in the reality of Christ’s coming is the highest expression of love.

Application: I love others, but not always in the reality of Christ’s coming. I love them like a nice guy would, or a good neighbor. I love them in my natural friendliness, but not with the power and truth of Christ’s coming. Does the coming of Christ change the way I love others? Or would I be just as friendly if Christ had never lived?

Prayer: God, help me in my relationships to go beyond friendliness, and love others like you would—in truth. Sometimes this might mean tough words or extra effort. In fact, there are two people in my life that need tough words and extra effort today. Help me to love them with your love-the love that came in the flesh and sacrificed. If I love you, I will love them.

Where Most Discipleship Methods Get it Wrong.

Scripture: So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

Observation: Probably the most used-out-of-context quote in the whole bible—“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” We apply it to knowledge and education. As if the key to freedom and enlightenment is more knowledge. But Jesus in the previous verse explains how we know the truth. Is it through studying? Is it through education? Is it through lectures or sermons or reading? No. The way to know the truth that sets you free is to abide in God’s word. This means to believe in and obey the word of God. Faith and obedience unlock truth.

Application: Some discipleship methods seem to focus on knowing the word. Memorizing, studying, etc. But true disciples of Jesus are not knowers of the word only, but doers. Of course I must have some level of study to know God’s word. But the key—as always with Jesus—is that I believe in and act upon the word that I hear. Then I will be his disciple, then I will know the truth, then I will be set free.
Do I know the truth? That is nice. Do I believe and obey the truth? That is a disciple.

Prayer: Lord, let me continue to fight for application of your word. Even as I meet with someone today to talk about discipleship, let me focus on believing in and obeying your word as the key to discipleship.