December 6, 2013
“… the Lord will not be with you!” (Numbers 14:43)
When pilots are landing a large commercial passenger jet they reach a point where they must commit to their landing. They call that point of no return the LD, or the “level of decision.”
God is very patient and full of mercy and grace. However, the chapter quoted above tells us there is an LD in our journeys of faith. There is a point where we either do, or do not, commit to doing the will of God.
God will lean on us like an elephant to get us to see and do His will. However, He reaches a point where He will let us have it our way. When God lets us do our own thing we suffer great loss. For starters, we forfeit the present purpose of our salvation. We all know we are not saved by good works but we can lose the opportunity to do the works for which God has saved us (Ephesians 2:10).
When the Israelites chose not to do the will of God, Moses said: “The Lord will not be with you!” Perhaps the saddest word in the Hebrew Old Testament is the word “Ichabod.” It means “the glory has departed” and teaches that God sometimes withdraws anointing power from His people.
There is such a thing as the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God for your life and mine (Romans 12:1, 2). The book of Numbers solemnly presents two options: after being delivered from our “Egypt” we can go around in circles for 40 years, or we can commit to doing the will of God.
Are you making a wise commitment in your spiritual LD, or are you waiting for the glory to depart?
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Posted by Dick Woodward
December 3, 2013
“…although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, and they were not thankful…” (Romans 1:21)
The fall of the human race is described in Genesis 3 and more briefly in the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans. A good way to find the application of this teaching is to think of the phrase: “Like it was, like it is.” God describes the fall like it was because He wants us to understand that fall like it is — especially in our own lives.
Paul tells us there were two causes of the fall of man: “When they knew God they did not glorify Him as God” and “They were not thankful.” According to David when we enter into the presence of God the first thing we know is that He is God and we are His (Psalm 100).
Jesus taught that the new birth is not an end in itself but a means to an end. The end is the Kingdom of God. When we are born again we make Him our King (John 3: 3-5). When we do not understand this, we think the end to which the new birth is the means is all about us and what God does for us. Your new birth experience can be retarded because you are not giving Him His rightful place in your life as your God.
There are many positive effects of gratitude in your life. Imagine that if the sin of ingratitude can cause the fall of the human race, think of the negative effects of ingratitude in your life.
Are you experiencing negative consequences in your own private fall because you have an attitude of ingratitude?
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Posted by Dick Woodward
November 27, 2013
“There we saw the giants … and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight…” (Numbers 13: 33)
The book of Numbers records the death of an entire generation. Twelve spies were sent to do reconnaissance in the land of Canaan. Ten of the spies gave the report quoted above. Only two told how great the land was and exhorted the people to invade Canaan. While Joshua and Caleb were men of great faith, the other ten were experts in “Giantology.”
The entire generation who listened to the ten perished in the wilderness and only two people survived the most tragic judgment of God recorded in the Bible. An old spiritual put it this way: “Others saw the giants. Caleb (and Joshua) saw the Lord!” We read that they wholly followed the Lord because they believed Him well able to conquer those giants.
I have spent most of my adult life as a pastor. I cannot help but allow the thought that the twelve spies resemble a board of Elders, a Session, a Vestry, or a board of Stewards. Sometimes when a church is facing a huge challenge two will have the faith of Caleb and Joshua and ten will be giantologists.
We all have “giants” in our lives. As a bedfast quadriplegic with a wife in a wheelchair I certainly have mine. I’m sure you have yours. We also have choices. We can choose to see the giants and spend much time talking about how big they are. Or we can choose to see the Lord conquering our giants. We might call this “Two people in a pew — which one are you?”
Are you a Caleb with a conquering-the-giants faith, or are you getting your Ph.D. in Giantology?
3 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Facing the Giants, faith, God's judgement, Joshua & Caleb, Numbers 13:33, Numbers 14, Trusting God | Permalink
Posted by Dick Woodward
November 23, 2013
“And it came to pass… that the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 12: 51)
The words “salvation” and “deliverance” are synonyms. The deliverance of the children of Israel as described in the book of Exodus is therefore also an allegory of salvation. This allegory demonstrates what we might call “A Principle of Deliverance” when God is delivering people from addictions of sin today. Modeled in the dialogue between Moses and Pharaoh, Moses respresents Christ and Pharaoh is the evil one.
For example, observe what Pharaoh says after Moses demanded the release of God’s people when God sent the first plagues:“You can go but do not leave Egypt.” (Exodus 8:25) After a few more plagues, Pharaoh again agrees to release the people but he says: “Well, you can go, but do not go very far.” (8:28) More plagues and Pharaoh says: “All right, you can go, but… leave your children in Egypt.” (10:8-10) More persuasive plagues and Pharaoh says, “You can go, but leave your flocks and herds in Egypt.” (Exodus 10:24)
When people come to faith today the evil one will tempt them to practice their faith “in Egypt” as a worldly believer practicing the values of their secular culture. Then he will tempt them with, “You have come to faith but don’t go very far with your faith.” Then the temptation is to not let your faith pass on to your children. A final attempt at keeping a person addicted to the slavery of sin is to “Leave your flocks and herds in Egypt,” or don’t let your faith affect your pocketbook.
The principle of deliverance illustrated in the book of Exodus is: Never, never, never compromise with evil and remain enslaved and addicted in your “Egypt.”
2 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: allegories, Egypt, Exodus, faith, Moses, Moses and Pharaoh, salvation, walk of faith | Permalink
Posted by Dick Woodward
November 19, 2013
“In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1)
Most people have heard about the missing link that turns up when we compare the theory of evolution with the Genesis creation account, but there are actually three missing links. The first missing link is the issue: How did it all begin? The Bible’s answer is recorded above in just two words: “God created.” It all began with a first act of creation that accounted for the universe, the earth, and all plant life.
The author uses an interesting Hebrew word for “created.” It is the word “barah” which means “to create something out of nothing.” Since there are no samples that are half plant and half animal there is a second missing link. The Genesis account again reads “barah” as animal life is created in the water.
There is also no sample that is half animal and half human. So, for a third time the author of Genesis uses “barah” when God creates man. What is usually considered the missing link is actually this third missing link. In all three of these places where the secular scholar struggles for answers the author of Genesis writes: “barah,” God created.
God began the Bible with the creation account because He knew that one day we would realize we need an act of creation in our hearts. We would then also know where to go with that need to join David in the prayer: “Create (barah) in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 NLT)
We can also go to Jesus Who taught the new birth and the apostles, who agreeing with David, referred to the new birth as a new creation! (John 3:3-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
1 Comment | Uncategorized | Tagged: creation, evolution & creation, faith, Genesis, intelligent design, Jesus, Psalm 51 | Permalink
Posted by Dick Woodward
November 15, 2013
“Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn’t burn up. Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up?” (Exodus 3: 2, 3 NLT)
These verses are taken from a familiar passage that describes the call of Moses. I love this story because it is the greatest illustration in the Bible of what I call 4 Spiritual Secrets:
I’m not but He is.
I can’t but He can.
I don’t want to but He wants to.
I didn’t but He did.
Applying the Secrets to Moses, he was not the deliverer of God’s people from their awful slavery and suffering in Egypt. God was their Deliverer. Moses could not deliver them but God could. Based on his objections we know Moses did not want to deliver those people. God wanted to deliver them. When the Red Sea parted and the people of God marched through on dry ground nobody had to tell Moses: “You didn’t do that.” He knew, “God did that!”
The primary detail in this story is often overlooked. God got the attention of Moses when a bush burst into flame and was not consumed! In the extreme heat of the desert this often happens, but a burning bush is always consumed in about five seconds. The miraculous reality that the bush was not burning up moved Moses to turn aside and see how to be a vehicle of deliverance.
Epidemic addiction issues exist today that have millions looking for deliverance. There is also epidemic burnout among those who serve the Lord. As servants of God we need to turn aside with Moses and see how to be a “Bush Aglow” on fire for the Lord, without burning up or burning out, as conduits of God’s deliverance.
1 Comment | Uncategorized | Tagged: 4 Spiritual Secrets, available for God, burning bush, burnout, Exodus 2:2-3, faith, god, Moses | Permalink
Posted by Dick Woodward
November 12, 2013
“Let love be your highest goal…” (1 Corinthians 14:1)
What are your priorities? Paul challenges us to let love be our highest priority at the end of his inspired love chapter. We should follow after love, make love our greatest pursuit, and love should be our highest goal, depending on how the verse is translated in your Bible.
A practical way to make love our greatest goal is to take the 15 virtues in the middle of the love chapter and apply them in our relationships. It will not take long to realize we cannot love in these ways on our own. These are the ways God loves. The miracle is He can love in these 15 ways through us!
The love virtues are all others-centered, unselfish ways of showing unconditional love. They are not natural, but unnatural for us, because they are supernatural. They are the fruit and evidence that God lives in us and is expressing the essence of His character through us. The dynamic effect of His love upon those we love in these ways will convince us this love is God and deserves to be our highest goal.
I have been loved in these ways and by the grace of God I have loved in these ways. I am committed to making this love my first priority. I resonate with Joyce Kilmer who summarized the essence of the lives of the fallen who lie beneath poppies in French military graveyards when he wrote: “Loved and were loved, but now they lie in Flanders Fields.”
Paul prescribed these love virtues believing they could solve the problems in the worst relationships in his worst church. I believe they can solve the problems in all our relationships if we will graciously apply them, through Christ.
1 Comment | Uncategorized | Tagged: conduits of Love, faith, Faith priorities, God's love, I Corinthians 13, I Corinthians 14:1, Joyce Kilmer, love, relationships | Permalink
Posted by Dick Woodward
November 8, 2013
“There are three things that last — faith, hope, and love — and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
What is the greatest thing in the world? The Apostle Paul sifts his answer down to three things: hope, faith and love. Hope is the conviction that there can be good in life. God plants hope in the hearts of human beings. People sometimes commit suicide because they lose that conviction.
On the positive side, hope gives birth to faith, and faith is one of the greatest things because faith brings us to God. However, when Paul compares these two great concepts with love, without hesitation he concludes that love is the greatest thing in the world. This is true because love is not something that brings us to something that brings us to God. When we experience the special love Paul describes we are in the Presence of God. There is a particular quality of love that is God and God is a particular quality of love.
To acquaint us with that specific quality of love, in the middle of this chapter he passes this quality of love through the “prism” of his Holy Spirit inspired intellect. It comes out on the other side as a cluster of 15 virtues. All these virtues of love are others-centered, unselfish ways of expressing unconditional love. If you study these virtues you will find in them a cross section of the love that is God–and is the greatest thing in the world.
One reason Paul presents these three concepts as the greatest things is that they are the things that last. Love is the greatest of the three because one day we will no longer need hope and faith when throughout all eternity we will love.
Therefore, pursue the greatest thing in the world – love.
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Posted by Dick Woodward
November 5, 2013
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)
Jesus loves to give invitations. He addresses this one to people who are loaded with problems and are working themselves to exhaustion trying to solve their problems. Jesus promises that if we come to Him He will give us rest. If you look closely at this invitation He is inviting us to come to Him and learn about His heart, His burden and His yoke. It is what we learn that will lead us to this rest.
Jesus wants burdened people to learn that His burden is light, His heart is humble and His yoke is easy. There is a sense in which Jesus had the weight of the world on His shoulders and yet He claimed that His burden was light. His burden was light because He let the Father carry the load.
The most important part of His recipe for rest is what Jesus wants us to learn about His yoke. A yoke is not a burden. It is an instrument that makes it possible to bear a burden. When a cart is piled high with cargo it is the yoke that makes it possible for an ox to pull a great load with ease. It is the yoke of Jesus that shows us how to pull our heavy burdens of life.
The yoke of Jesus was that He let His Father carry the burdens. We take His yoke upon us when we let the Holy Spirit carry the load.
1 Comment | Uncategorized | Tagged: burdens made light, faith, Following Jesus Christ, Imitation of Christ, Invitations of Christ, Jesus Christ, Matthew 11:28-30, the yoke of Christ | Permalink
Posted by Dick Woodward
November 1, 2013
“… fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love… being of one accord of one mind. In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out… for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2: 2-4)
As Paul writes to his favorite church he is burdened that they experience oneness. He wants them to be “like minded…of one accord” and “of one mind.” To that end he gives them two keys to oneness.
One key is humility, what Paul calls “lowliness of mind.” He instructs and challenges the Philippians to esteem others better than themselves. C. S. Lewis told us that pride is the mother of all sins. As a pastor I learned that when there is a dispute among two disciples you will often find somebody’s pride at the bottom of it. Humility is an antidote that resolves disputes and restores oneness.
The other critical key is love. When Paul writes of “the same love,” I believe he means the love of Christ in us. At least one application of that love is when we “look out for the interests of others.” We might call this love “other centeredness.” We must realize and remember that this love is the fruit and evidence of the Holy Spirit living in us. It is not natural. It is supernatural. We can’t do it. Only He can.
So, Paul’s keys for being like minded are humility and love. By application you will find his keys bringing oneness to your marriage, family, church, ministry and any relationship.
Our greatest challenges are relationships. I challenge you to insert these keys into your most challenging relationships and watch God bring oneness.
1 Comment | Uncategorized | Tagged: apostle paul, C.S. Lewis, conflict resolution, experience oneness, faith, humility, Love of God, love of Jesus Christ, loving others, Philippians 2:2-4 | Permalink
Posted by Dick Woodward
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