Hey everybody,
In my two previous posts I have discussed the idea of being in the wilderness, comparing our situation to that of the Israelites, as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Certainly we all have times in the wilderness. Even Jesus had his time in the wilderness. Two lesson we have already seen about the wilderness from Deut. 8 is that 1) The Lord tests in the wilderness. and 2) The Lord still meets our needs, even in the wilderness. There is one more lesson to learn about the wilderness. That is, the wilderness is followed by the Promised Land. (Like lesson 2, someone spoke about this at the conference, but I do not remember who.)
Deut. 8:6-9 says, "Obseve the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to Him and revering Him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land - a land with brooks, streams and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines, pomegrantates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills."
At this point, after all of this time in the wilderness, God was about to lead the nation into the Promised Land, a place with all kinds of good things. Likewise, you may feel like you are in the wilderness, right now, but be assured that the Promised Land is coming. I don't know how long this wilderness will last, but I do know that it will end. As we walk in obedience to Him (v.6), he will lead us to our own Promised Land.
Truth be told, this is not my first wilderness experience. It's probably not yours either. It likely won't be our last, either. Thankfully, God has given some great Promised Land eperiences in between. And no matter how many wilderness experiences we might have, we know that as disciples of Jesus, our story ends with Promised Land. So together, let us hear the call of Deut. 8:6 and walk in obedience and reverence to God, because you may be in the wilderness now, but the Promised Land is coming.
Tom
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Saturday, May 2, 2020
The Wilderness, Part 2
Hey everyone.
In my previous post I talked about going to the Conversations Conference and hearing different speakers talk about lessons they learned while in the wilderness, then coming and basically entering into a time of wilderness. We looked at Deuteronomy 8, and how Gow says that He had used the wilderness to humble and test the Israelites.
I want to share another lesson on the wilderness. Someone spoke about this at the conference, but I do not know who to give the credit to. Deut. 8:3-4 syas, " He humbled you, causing you t hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you not you ancestors had known, to teach you that man does nto live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years." The point that someone made at the conference was that the Israelites were not abandoned, just because they were in the wilderness. God continued to take care of them. He fed them and gave them some very sturdy clothes that did not wear out for forty years. They wandered around in that wilderness for forty years without their swelling. He took care of them nutritionally, materially and physically.
As we continue to wak around in this wilderness, God continues to take care of His people. I am fortunate, in that both my wife and I are able to work from home. I know that not everyone is so fortunate. I don't know things are going for you in this time of wilderness, but I believe that God will provide. Note that God did not provide that manna and quail unitl the Israelites knew they were hungry. Verse 3 says, "He humbled you, causing you to hunger, then feeding you.'' So if you are having a tough tme in the wilderness, don't despair. God has not abandoned you, He may be letting get hungry, but He will feed you.
Tom
In my previous post I talked about going to the Conversations Conference and hearing different speakers talk about lessons they learned while in the wilderness, then coming and basically entering into a time of wilderness. We looked at Deuteronomy 8, and how Gow says that He had used the wilderness to humble and test the Israelites.
I want to share another lesson on the wilderness. Someone spoke about this at the conference, but I do not know who to give the credit to. Deut. 8:3-4 syas, " He humbled you, causing you t hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you not you ancestors had known, to teach you that man does nto live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years." The point that someone made at the conference was that the Israelites were not abandoned, just because they were in the wilderness. God continued to take care of them. He fed them and gave them some very sturdy clothes that did not wear out for forty years. They wandered around in that wilderness for forty years without their swelling. He took care of them nutritionally, materially and physically.
As we continue to wak around in this wilderness, God continues to take care of His people. I am fortunate, in that both my wife and I are able to work from home. I know that not everyone is so fortunate. I don't know things are going for you in this time of wilderness, but I believe that God will provide. Note that God did not provide that manna and quail unitl the Israelites knew they were hungry. Verse 3 says, "He humbled you, causing you to hunger, then feeding you.'' So if you are having a tough tme in the wilderness, don't despair. God has not abandoned you, He may be letting get hungry, but He will feed you.
Tom
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
The Wilderness
Hey everyone.
Just before everyone was issued a stay-at-home order, I was privileged to be able to go to a conference for the Conversations Conference for the kingdom teachers within our churches. It was an amazing event, in which I learned a tremendous amount and gained new vision for myself and for a teaching ministry here in New Jersey. One thing that came up in more than one of the lessons that I heard while there was talk about being in the wilderness. A few speakers talked about going through their own personal wilderness and what God taught them while they were there. Nobody needed to explain what the wilderness was. I think we all identified quickly, because we all have had our own times in the wilderness. The comparisons were made with the wilderness that the children of Israel wandered through for forty years, but even Jesus had his time in the wilderness.
I share this now, because the talk of wilderness has taken on a new meaning to me after five or six weeks of being at home. I'm working from home, worshipping at home, talking to the brothers from home. I mean, I get excited when someone needs me to walk to the CVS around the corner to pick up medicine, just to have a chance to get out of the house. After some phone converstation with a few brothers, and hearing how difficult this isolation has been, I began to realize that we are in a very new and different wilderness. (One that I pray does not last 40 years.) I think that there are some valuable lessons for us in this wilderness.
Deut. 8:2-3 says, "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what is in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
God says plainly that for the Israelites, the wilderness was a time of testing. God used the wilderness to test the Israelites and see what was in their hearts, and whether or not they would obey Him. Often, they failed the test. Read Exodus 16 about the manna and the quail. God says in verse 4 that He is testing them to see if they with follow His instructions. Some did. Some didn't. Those who did, always had just what they needed. Those who didn't had maggot infestations or went hungry.
So then the idea to consider is this: Is this time of stay-at-home, social distancing and online fellowship a wilderness for you? Is God testing you to see if you will remain faithful to Him? Or to see if you will follow His instructions? I don't know, but be open to that possibility. How long will this wilderness last? Again, I don't know. I have determined, though, I will leave the wilderness stronger than I entered it, because if I am being tested, I want to pass this test. Let's pass it together. Stay in the word. Read some good spiritual books. Pray. Find ways to stay connected. So that when this time of wilderness is over, we will enter the Promised Land together.
Just before everyone was issued a stay-at-home order, I was privileged to be able to go to a conference for the Conversations Conference for the kingdom teachers within our churches. It was an amazing event, in which I learned a tremendous amount and gained new vision for myself and for a teaching ministry here in New Jersey. One thing that came up in more than one of the lessons that I heard while there was talk about being in the wilderness. A few speakers talked about going through their own personal wilderness and what God taught them while they were there. Nobody needed to explain what the wilderness was. I think we all identified quickly, because we all have had our own times in the wilderness. The comparisons were made with the wilderness that the children of Israel wandered through for forty years, but even Jesus had his time in the wilderness.
I share this now, because the talk of wilderness has taken on a new meaning to me after five or six weeks of being at home. I'm working from home, worshipping at home, talking to the brothers from home. I mean, I get excited when someone needs me to walk to the CVS around the corner to pick up medicine, just to have a chance to get out of the house. After some phone converstation with a few brothers, and hearing how difficult this isolation has been, I began to realize that we are in a very new and different wilderness. (One that I pray does not last 40 years.) I think that there are some valuable lessons for us in this wilderness.
Deut. 8:2-3 says, "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what is in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
God says plainly that for the Israelites, the wilderness was a time of testing. God used the wilderness to test the Israelites and see what was in their hearts, and whether or not they would obey Him. Often, they failed the test. Read Exodus 16 about the manna and the quail. God says in verse 4 that He is testing them to see if they with follow His instructions. Some did. Some didn't. Those who did, always had just what they needed. Those who didn't had maggot infestations or went hungry.
So then the idea to consider is this: Is this time of stay-at-home, social distancing and online fellowship a wilderness for you? Is God testing you to see if you will remain faithful to Him? Or to see if you will follow His instructions? I don't know, but be open to that possibility. How long will this wilderness last? Again, I don't know. I have determined, though, I will leave the wilderness stronger than I entered it, because if I am being tested, I want to pass this test. Let's pass it together. Stay in the word. Read some good spiritual books. Pray. Find ways to stay connected. So that when this time of wilderness is over, we will enter the Promised Land together.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
The Supreme King
Two times in the book of Revelation, Jesus is referred to as "the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords." Rev. 17:14 says, "They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them becasue He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings - and with him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers." (see also Rev. 19:16) Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and he will alwys win.
By now, you may have figured out that Jesus is the King of everything. Read the gospels and see Him changing water into wine or walking on the water. He is king over the laws of science. See how he heals the sick. He is King over the pathogens that infect our bodies. Or read about how he made the lame to walk and gave sight to the blind. He is King over the organ systems of our bodies. Yes, Jesus is the King of all things. Is rising from the dead, he has shown himself to be kingeven over death. He is the Risen King.
Reflection: Think about all that you learned about Jesus this week. What stands out to you about the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
By now, you may have figured out that Jesus is the King of everything. Read the gospels and see Him changing water into wine or walking on the water. He is king over the laws of science. See how he heals the sick. He is King over the pathogens that infect our bodies. Or read about how he made the lame to walk and gave sight to the blind. He is King over the organ systems of our bodies. Yes, Jesus is the King of all things. Is rising from the dead, he has shown himself to be kingeven over death. He is the Risen King.
Reflection: Think about all that you learned about Jesus this week. What stands out to you about the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
Friday, April 17, 2020
The Eternal King
Luke 1:26-38 tells the story of the angel Gabriel and his appearance to Mary. Notice what he says to her in verses 30-33:
“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son and you will call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever, his kingdom will never end.”
Gabriel tells Mary two important things for the purposes of our study today. First, her son Jesus would be a king. And second, that His kingdom would last forever. Let’s also look at another prophecy about Jesus in Dan. 7:14: “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
Together, we have looked at several prophecies about the kingship of Jesus. The Bible is full of references to it. And this passage in Daniel sums up much of what we have learned. Jesus is king with all power and authority. He is king of all people and for all people, and king for all time.
We have seen his kingship was established from before His birth and now we see that its timeline extends infinitely. Jesus was, is and forever will be, King. Generations down the road, Jesus will still be king. When the time of the Earth comes to an end, Jesus will still be king. If we go millions of years into eternity, Jesus will still be king. His is an eternal kingship.
Some questions for thought:
1. How do the prophecies about Jesus help you understand him better?
2. Understanding that Jesus will be king forever, does it seem worthwhile to know the king?
Thursday, April 16, 2020
The Universal King
Another great prophecy about Jesus comes from Zechariah 14:9, "The Lord will be king over the whole Earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name." Jesus is a universal king.
First, Jesus is the king of everyone and everything. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus tells us that God has given to him all authority, both in Heaven and on Earth. (See also, Phil. 2:9-11, John 3:35) Jesus Is universal in His authority as king. He has all authority.
But, secondly, Jesus is a universal king in a different way. He is king for everyone.
Generally, we don’t like authority. We don’t want anyone to have authority over us and to have the power to tell us what to do. However, King Jesus is such a kind authority that we should want to submit to Him. Think about what it says in Romans 8:37-39: “No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus, the universal king, has all authority. Authority over life and death. Authority over spiritual powers. Authority over the past and the future and all that has been created. He wants to use that authority on your behalf, because of the love that He has for you. And this love is for everyone. There is no one that can say, “Well, I’m that one guy that Jesus doesn’t love.” No one can make that claim.
Yesterday, we talked about how Jesus was a conqueror. Today, we see how He wants to use His God-given authority, to make you a conqueror too, because He is a king for everyone.
Some questions to consider:
1. What are some things that are difficult for you to submit to the authority of Jesus?
2. Now, think about Jesus authority, coupled with the love that He has for you. How does that make you feel?
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
The Glorious King
David wrote this in Psalms 24:7-10
Lift up your heads, you gates,
Be lifted up, you ancient doors,
That the King of Glory may come in.
Who is this King of Glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates,
Lift them up, you ancient doors,
That the King of Glory may come in.
Who is He, this King of Glory?
The Lord Almighty, He is the King of Glory.
Our King Jesus is a Glorious King. David tells us a lot about His Glory. He is strong. He is mighty. But where does He show himself to me mighty? He is mighty in battle. We don't often think of Jesus as this kind of king. We think of him as a gentle king, holding a lamb, but Jesu is a warrior. David calls Him, the Lord Almighty. This is translated from the Hebrew phrase, Yahweh Tsavaot. While the NIV translates this as Lord Almighty, it could also be translated as Lord of Armies (Yahweh = Lord, Tsavaot = Armies) You see, Jesus, King of Glory is a fighter, a warrior, a conqueror ad He leads the armies of God into battle. He is glorious in battle and the King of Glory. Remember how Jesus made a whip out of cords and drove out the money changers from the temple because they were robbing people? (Matt.21:12-13) Jesus was willing to fight for people. He fights spiritual battles on our behalf, as well. (See Proverbs 21:31, Jude 24) And the good news is, He always wins. (See I Cor. 15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.)
Questions to consider:
1. How does it change your perception of Jesus to think of Him as a warrior?
2. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus, the King of Glory, will fight for you, and He can't lose?
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