To be honest, I never gave Caleb much thought after he and Joshua returned with their report of the Promise Land. See, God had said to Israel, “Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the Lord swore to give you.” (Deut 1:8) Twelve scouts were sent to check out this new land, but Caleb and Joshua were the only two who believed God would deliver it. Caleb never doubted God would give Canaan over to Israel. His attitude was, “Forget about the giants…we got this!” Sadly though, he had to endure the wilderness with those who did doubt.
Caleb was forty when he was promised his portion of the land. Some forty-five years later, that’s…4…T…5 years later…the promise was still unfulfilled. This guy never lost his faith in the power of God nor did he lose his zeal to see God’s promise fulfilled. Whether Caleb was scouting out the Promised Land or waiting it out in the wilderness, he remained steadfast. “For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.” (Joshua 14:8)
Full of resolve, Caleb went before Joshua, “Today, I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.” (Joshua14:10-11) This man was unshakeable. I can imagine him saying, “Joshua, remember when you and I saw giants over there? Give me that hill country that the Lord promised me; if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out just as the Lord said.” He believed in his heart and was confessing with his mouth, just as he did four decades earlier, “Forget the giants…we got this! The Word of God will prevail!”
Have you been waiting long to see the promises of God fulfilled? God would have you know you are not forgotten. Do not lose faith and do not lose your zeal to see the promises fulfilled. Simply stay rooted in the Word of God daily. Faith will increase by way of the Word. As you remain faithful in following the Lord, you will see that the Word of God always prevails.
Caleb did see his promise fulfilled. Not only did he drive out the existing giants in his old age, but he also drove out the memory of them by renaming the land. Complete victory. Complete fulfillment. Faithful God.
October 5, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: faith, fear, past, sacrifices, sovereign, tired | Leave A Comment »
Jesus was often challenged publicly by religious leaders. They would demand answers to their questions; Why was He doing what He was doing; By what authority was He doing those things? Well, when the appointed time came, Jesus stood trial before the religious High Counsel. What did Jesus do during that trial that threw the Counsel into a rage? What would cause the High Priest over all Israel to tear his priestly robe and send Jesus to the cross?
Some three years earlier, John had baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. As Jesus rose from the water the Bible records a voice from heaven saying, “You are My dearly loved Son, and you bring Me great joy.” God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, affirmed Jesus as His Son!
Fast forward again to Jesus’ trial. The High Priest asked Him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I AM.” He simply agreed with what God had said. That agreement resulted in His crucifixion. However, without His death there could be no miracle of resurrection, no forgiveness of all our sins. You can say His life and ministry consisted of two things; agreement with the Word of God and fulfillment of the will of God.
Before you find yourself in a personal trial, seek the Lord (through prayer) and read His Word (the Bible). If you’re already in a trial, and need wisdom or direction…do the same thing. “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” (James 1:5) There in the Word of God you will find the Will of God. And yes, He wants you to know His will.
Inevitably, our willingness to agree with the Word will be tested. When God gives you a Word, stand firm on it. No matter what anyone else may say or how desperate things may seem, stand on it. Why stand? Because, circumstances do not determine whether or not the “Truth” is indeed truth. Isaiah 55:11 declares that no matter what, you can rest assured that the Word of God will, “…always produces fruit. It will accomplish all (God) wants it to, and it will prosper everywhere (He) sends it.” Even if you find yourself standing alone in an impossible situation, hold-fast to what God has given you. Then, lift up your eyes and see what He will do.
As for me, I have been guilty of much in my life. But now, if I am to be guilty of anything, let me be found guilty of agreeing with the Word of God. No matter what!
(Matthew 3:16-17 & Luke 3:21-22)
June 29, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: faith, jesus, knowledge, listen, scripture, understanding, wisdom | Leave A Comment »
As a follower of Jesus, have you ever stopped serving Him long enough to ask yourself, “Who is this man?” Before you roll your eyes, keep in mind even the twelve disciples questioned. They saw with their own eyes everything He did and heard firsthand what He taught. Yet, they still asked that question…often.
Although the following passages may be familiar, stay with me. My hope is that the truth at the end will (at least in part) provide a fresh understanding as to who Jesus is, based on what He did.
In Luke 7:12-15, Jesus approached a village gate as large funeral procession was coming out. In the procession was a widow who was about to bury her only son. With His heart overflowing with compassion, Jesus said to her, “Don’t cry!” He then walked over and touched the coffin, stopping the pallbearers in their tracks. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up.” To the amazement of everyone there, the widow’s son sat up in his coffin and began to talk! Jesus turned back toward the widow and gave him back to her.
In Luke 8:43-48, there was a woman in a crowd who had suffered for years with constant bleeding. Her only success in looking for a cure was that she exhausted all of her earthly resources. One day she heard that Jesus would be passing by. She resolved that if she could push through the crowd and just touch the fringe of his robe, her healing would come. The Bible records that as Jesus passed by; the woman did push through and did touch His hem. It goes on the say, “Immediately, her bleeding stopped.”
Both in Luke 8:53-55 and Matthew 9:23-25, Jesus is on His way to the house of a religious leader who had a very sick daughter. By the time Jesus arrived though, the girl had already died. He could hear the noise of the mourners and funeral music that had already begun even before entering the house. Eventually, Jesus dismissed the crowd, because they were all convinced it was too late. Once they were put out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!
There may be times when we may face seemingly hopeless situations.
Be encouraged and hold fast to the Word of God. It reveals Jesus as the one who can stop the “funeral procession” and raise us to new life (while others still have us in a coffin). He is the one who has, even in the hem of His garment, the power to stop years of constant “bleeding” ( sorrow, depression and pain). He is the one who dismisses the crowd that would have us dismiss any hope of healing, restoration and life.
“Who is this Man?” He is Jesus, Son of the Living God; the one who takes us by the hand and says, “My child, get up,” and returns us to life again.
November 9, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: alive, faith, fear, jesus, knowledge, life, past, understanding | 1 Comment »
Father, thank You that before I was born, You saw me. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had past. (Psalm 139:16) The fact is, You knew me and set me apart before I was formed. (Jeremiah 1:5) You did not wait for me to choose You, You choose me and appointed me to go and produce lasting fruit. (John 15:16)
Thank you that You teach me and make me to walk along the path of Your Word, for that is where happiness is found. You have given me an eagerness for Your Word and have given me life through that Word. You turn my eyes from worthless things and help me abandon my shameful ways. I long to obey Your commands. (Psalm 119:33-40) By Your grace, I will walk in freedom for I have devoted myself to Your Word. (Psalm 119:45)
Again today, You have given me the choice between life and death, between blessing and curses. And again today, I choose life and reject death, I walk in blessing and no longer in curses. Everyday, I make this choice by loving You Lord, obeying You, and committing myself firmly to You. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) For You are able to keep me from falling away and will bring me with great joy into Your presence without finding a single fault. (Jude 1:24)
You have reassured me of Your plans for good, for hope and a future. You ended my captivity. You are restoring what I allowed the enemy to take. (Jeremiah 29:11-14) You have breathed into these bones and brought my family to life again. Because You have raised us up and put Your spirit within us, our hope is in You. We know that You are the Lord, You have spoken and have done what You said You would do! (Ezekiel 37:5-6,9,14) Because Your call and Your spirit are upon us, we will see other captives released, blind made to see, and many oppressed set free! In the name of Jesus! The time of the Lord’s favor has indeed come. (Luke 4:18-19)
You have brought me to the place where I understand the Word for what it is… it is alive and active. I come to you, praying the very Word of God, in the name of Jesus. You said regarding Your Word, “I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” (Isaiah 55:11) As You lead me I will speak the Word.
January 10, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: alive, captive, cross, faith, free, Freedom, jesus, knowledge, life, listen, past, righteous, sacrifices, scripture, sin, slave, slavery, sovereign, understanding | Leave A Comment »
The other day I was reading in Proverbs and was struck by 5:1-2, “Pay attention” and “Listen carefully to the Father’s instruction and wise counsel.” Not knowing what was coming, I grabbed my pen and journal. Here’s what the Father had for me that day…
“Pay attention” and “Listen carefully” to the Father’s instruction and wise counsel. “THEN you will show discernment, and will express with your mouth what you have learned. ” The Lord sees clearly what a man or woman does; whether it is holy or evil. He also examines each of their paths; whether it is Godly or fleshly.
Because of God’s wonderful grace and glorious power, we are NO LONGER…
- Captive to our sins (Prv 5:22)
- Lacking in self-control (Prv 5:23)
- Lost because of our great foolishness (Prv 5:23)
I then recalled Romans 6 that had explained that when I was a slave to sin, I was consumed by it. “And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in destruction. ” However, the Lord reminded me that I have been ransomed, because of the grace of God through the blood of Jesus. I am now FREE from the power of sin and have become a slave to His righteousness. Now, I do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but…BUT…the free gift of God is eternal LIFE through Christ Jesus our Lord. (v20-23)
Due to Jesus work on the cross, we are no longer bound by sinful desires. Those desires the enemy once used to hold us back from being the individuals God originally designed us to be. Proverbs 5:22 speaks of a man’s sins as ropes that catch and hold him captive. Those ropes have been severed in Jesus name! When Jesus died, He died to break the power of sin. Now that He lives…it’s for the glory of God. We too must consider yourselves dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
The unshakable Word of God exhorts us, in Hebrews 6, to keep “moving forward to further understanding.” (v3) By the grace of God, we will “NOT be spiritually dull or indifferent” any longer. God bound Himself with an oath that we can be sure His calling, His election, His promises are SET! “He will NEVER change His mind” (v17) about us. He has given His promise and His oath, which are unchangeable.
I used to (…USED to…) ask God why He would even bother with a guy like me; a guy who would treat His love, mercy and grace (as well as some of His people) with such treachery and disregard. One day recently He became tired of being asked that question. I’m telling you it was almost audible. In my spirit I heard the Father say, “Enough. Do not ask that again. You know why.” I sat there for a few seconds then said out loud, “Because You love me.” Boom. I got it. An even greater freedom was realized at that moment.
Hopefully, I have been obedient to the Word today. As written in Proverbs 5:1-2, I pray that I have shown discernment in expressing what I have learned.
July 21, 2009 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: alive, attention, captive, christ, cross, fail, failures, faith, fear, forgive, free, Freedom, jesus, knowledge, lacking, life, listen, lost, past, proverbs, righteous, sacrifices, scripture, sin, sins, sovereign, tired, wisdom | 2 Comments »
How powerful it is to see how scripture is tied to scripture. You can have a Pastor or Teacher explain it or even demonstrate it by cross referencing the Old and New Testaments. However, it is far more impacting when you see it happening during your own readings. Here is what I mean.
I try to read the respective proverb for the corresponding day of the month. In addition, I happened to be reading through Hebrews also. So, my reading for July 9th was Proverbs 9 and Hebrews 10.
In reading Proverbs 9, the following really stood out to me:
- Wisdom says, “Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live..” (v6)
- “Fear (severe reverence) of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.” (v10)
- “Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgement.” (v10)
- “Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.” (v11)
- Walk in wisdom, and “you will be one to benefit.” (v12)
As I read Hebrews 10, I found the Lord used Proverbs 9 to prepare my mind and heart for the following realities:
- Old Testament sacrifices, “actually reminded (the offer-er) of their sins…” (v3)
- The enemy will have you repenting of past sins that the Father has long forgiven.
- Instead of moving forward in freedom, we hear, “You failed and you’ll always fail.”
God “does not want…nor is He pleased with” our being held captive to (or identified by) our past failures.
Verse 10 states the Christ’s sacrifice was, “Once for all time.” He came to set us free! Go the the cross. Leave your simple ways there and live the life he has always wanted you to live.
- “He forever made perfect those who are BEING made holy.” (v14)
- “I will never…remember…sins and lawless deeds.” (v17)
According to verse 20, Christ Jesus opened a NEW and LIFE-GIVING WAY! A way into the presence of the Sovereign King and Most High God! He is sovereign enough to chose you despite your failures. Sovereign enough grant you all the rights and privileges of being a child of the king. Seek greater knowledge and understanding of the Holy One. Reap all His benefits as you embrace the cross of Christ Jesus.
Ongoing repentance (continual sacrifices) for our past sins are no longer needed. The grace of God through Christ Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice covers it all. Wisdom is found in our walking in the freedom afforded to us by the cross. Have faith that God is actually big enough and powerful enough to forgive your worst sins.
Again, wisdom says, “Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live..”
July 10, 2009 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: captive, christ, cross, fail, failures, faith, fear, forgive, Freedom, jesus, knowledge, life, past, righteous, sacrifices, scripture, sin, sins, sovereign, wisdom | 1 Comment »
