I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU!!

2 Kings 2:2 ( ESV )

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²And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

     Today, I was once again struck full force with the idea of my devotion to God. I will often complain or murmur against Him when He does not seem to fulfill my needs or desires. I get lost in the mire of the things of this world and lose focus of what is really important. The Word is my strength though and it has kept me yearning for Him and for a city not made by hands.

     Elisha had been following in the footsteps of Elijah for some time now. He is then told by this one who was like a Father to him that he must be leaving. How it must have broken Elisha’s heart to know that this one who he had watched and followed was now going away.

     Three times Elijah will tell Elisha to stay and go no further. Three times Elisha could have just given up and went back home but he did not. He wanted and had to be around Elijah to the very end of his journey here on earth.

     “I will not leave you.” This was Elijah’s song of devotion to this one who had showed him the way of the Lord. He proved this devotion to the very end in that he would not leave his side. On top of all of this there were others around him who tried to sway him away but Elijah would have no part of it.  He would not heed to the voices but wanted to cling to him.

    

     A few weeks ago I was able to share about Ruth and her devotion to Naomi in a church in Grand Rapids. It was a blast being able to talk about how she was unwilling to go back to what was safe. Yet, what seems safe will be treacherous ground and sinking sand if the Lord is not in it. Ruth knew this and she was wholeheartedly devoted to her mother-in-law and would not leave her side.

   

     I am reminded of Jacob when he wrestled with the Lord. He did this all through the night and he even paid the price physically. I love those words when he shouts out to the Lord. “I will not go until you bless me.” David had a heart after God that would not be quenched. He was like a deer by a water brook with his eyes focused and devoted to Him alone who can satisfy.

   

     How it grieved the hearts of the disciples when they heard that their beloved Jesus was leaving them. Where can we go for you have the Words of life? We will go with you. Yet, they could not go with Him and partake of the cup that He was about to partake of. They, just like us, would flee from Him for a short while. Yet, He would send His blessed Spirit who would draw them close to Him again.

    

     This is the heart that we need. I want a heart that even when all the forces of Hell gather around me that will be consumed with Elisha’s words. “I will not leave you.”

A little bit of Dorian Gray.

     It’s hard to believe that one of my favorite stories of all time was written by a man named Oscar Wilde. People today know more about his scandalous lifestyle than the books that he authored.  I doubt that Wilde wanted to write a book that would challenge me in my Christian walk. Yet, his insights into human nature in the book, “The Portrait of Dorian Gray,” still resonate to me as a believer.

     Why does this book still haunt me as a man who is now middle aged, let alone why do I think that as a believer we need to read this book? Let me give you just a brief synopsis of the book for those who have never read it.

     Dorian is a young man of great beauty. He is a man who has been unmarked by the lines of sin. While a portrait of him is being painted by one of his friends he is introduced to another man who is a hedonist by nature. His whole philosophy of life could be summed up as, “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you may die.” He appeals to the carnal nature of Dorian.

     Dorian is then frustrated by the issue of how that one day he will lose his looks.  He knows that as the years go by, time will eventually strip him of all of his beauty. He then prays, for lack of a better word, that the canvas his portrait is painted on will carry the marks of his age and his sins. Dorian will see this prayer answered. He will grow older never having a blemish upon his body. The canvas though will be marred by every line and every sin his soul commits or even imagines. His deceptions, greed, lust and every evil will be placed upon his portrait’s face.

     He sees the portrait being marred and takes it to a room upstairs where he tries to hide it from men’s prying eyes.  His sins are thus hidden and kept from the light of day. At the end of the book though, all will be revealed. Dorian will be exposed for who he truly was in life.

     Scriptures talk much about the hidden sins of our lives. No greater example can be found then that of the Pharisees. Jesus would state how that they looked like a beautiful white washed building but on the inside they were filled with dead men’s bones. Their lives looked like a beautiful cup but on the inside of the cup it was filled with dregs. Jesus then tells them all that all will one day be revealed.

     The problem that I have when I am reading these passages is that I catch myself with a certain amount of glee. I shout out to the heavens, “Go get ‘em’ Jesus.”  These guys deserve all that you dish out to them.  Wait a second though.

     How many times have I pretended to be something that I am not? How many times have I tried to continue on in a sin and try to hide it from those who know me?  It will always be easy to see the hypocrisy of others, but what about mine? I might keep my sins hidden from others but my own portrait will never be hidden from the eyes of God. He not only knows what I do on the outside but also the sins that live within my heart. My thoughts, my motives, my actions are all painted before His eyes.

     Father, keep my heart pure. Allow me to live a life that is pleasing before you. Help me to see when I am living in hypocrisy. Give me a heart that has as its main desire to please you rather than my flesh. I want to live a life that is the same as it is in the dark as it is in the light. Wash me from the sin of hypocrisy.  Keep me from falling into the sins of Dorian Gray.

Moving

Moving it is one of the words that I believe that I hate more than any other in the world. My wife though I think hates it even more. (Wait a second, I KNOW she hates it even more.) For months she prepared for the move. Her and Haddy put stuff in packages during that whole time. They held two garages sales and gave away countless things to others. They tapped, wrapped and examined every item. I on the other hand simply packed my things and helped put stuff on the moving van. Still yet, I hate moving.

Moving forces us to do a lot of things that just for lack of a better word makes us feel strange. I don't know how to put it other than that. It has and always will be an awkward time for a family. Maybe a few of the following things might make some sense to what I mean.

1. Moving always forces us to ask, "Do I really need this object?" I am always amazed at my own greed over things that are not needful in my life. When I look at something I feel compelled to buy or logically try to figure out in my head why I need it. It amazes me how much I can't live without it and yet when packing I realize just how seldom I even use it. I get caught up in the world's riches and often forget the things that are more important. Like so many I am reminded that the most important things in this life are things that cannot be bought. My daughter's laughter, my salvation, our relationship with Christ and true friendship. These are the things that I truly need.

2. Moving sometimes involves a stripping away. I hate giving up things that have become important to me. They might not mean much to others but to me they mean the world. Yet, I don't  have to have them to make my journey complete. It's very similar to my Christian walk in that I grow accustomed to my sins or evil desires and   I don't want them taken away from me.They become a part of me and yet, God wants to strip them away so that I can be a better man for His glory.

3. Moving involves a whole lot of good-byes. What a tough time this last move was as we had to say good-bye to so many that we love. At one point I had grown so tired of saying goodbye to others that I simply had to leave the building. You grow to love people, their dreams, their walks with the Lord. You know that you have to leave but it hurts so much. I can't wait until we get to glory where there will be no more farewells. We will forever be with our loved ones who have received Him as savior and what a day that will be. I was able in this move to say like John R. Rice used to say to his fellow brothers and sisters when departing, "I'll see you again."

4. Moving involves closing up things that will not be seen for awhile. You begin to wonder at times when unpacking, "Where is such and such?" Even with marking all of the boxes you feel as though your on Let's Make a Deal with the mystery doors or packages. What a bummer, I want it all to be revealed to me NOW. Not tomorrow or the next day but in the words of Queen, "I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now." Sometimes it feels to much like our lives. Sometimes our lives don't make any sense at all. We question, we wonder why God? I'm sorry Lord but I just can't see the end of the tunnel.

    The Lord knows these emotions that we struggle with. The questions, the confusion and sometimes like the objects packed away in the box. The DARKNESS of it all. He though is not surprised or confused about what is going on in our lives. He will one day reveal us to the light of why it all happened or simply we will no longer even question why?

5. Moving involves a fear of the unknown. What will happen next? What will our new neighbors be like? How will we fit in? How will the new job work out or will there even be employment so I can take care of my family?

    This often is the hardest part of moving because it involves that one simple word that we all struggle with in our walks. TRUST. Do I really trust the Lord to act as the loving God that He is portrayed as in the scriptures? Will He provide? Will He give me strength for the journey ahead? Will He keep my family from all harm? Listen, we may say that we trust Him but it is during these kind of adventures where we find out if our faith is real or not.

     Here is what I do know. He has never failed me yet. He has always loved me. He has always provided. He is the same God who watched out for Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and a host of too many to mention. If He  has done all of these things then surely He will continue to do so.

I love Philippians when Paul says, "He who began a good work in you will continue to do so until the day of Christ Jesus. That is the one moving day that I long for with all of my heart. For we shall see Him face to face.

Attack of the Killer Squirrels. (You can see the evil in his little eye.)

Astonished

Mark 1:21 ( ESV )

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^21£And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.

     Imagine being either Andrew, Peter, James or John and you are walking with Jesus. This was truly incredible, just four lowly fishermen and they are conversing and walking with the creator of the universe.  There is nothing like walking and talking with someone along a road and getting to know them for who they are. All of the disciples had this privilege in their lives.

     Our passage tells us that they now came upon the fishing village of Capernaum. It was a prosperous town with a major road going through it. The town was also important enough to have a Roman garrison placed there as well. We are also told by this verse that there was also a synagogue located in the village itself.

    Your typical synagogue was known as a place for worship and teaching of the Word. They became important to the Jewish people after they returned from their captivity. Visiting Rabbis were welcomed to speak and open up the Word to the people within the temple area. Jesus Himself would take advantage of this custom on several occasions in His ministry. He entered this synagogue on a Sabbath and began to teach those who were in the building.

Mark 1:22 ( ESV )

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²²And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

     The Bible then goes on to tell us that Jesus teaching literally left them dumbstruck. They had never heard anyone speak like Him before. His teaching amazed them with what He had to say. Now that phrase stands out to me in this passage. How did Jesus teaching differ from the rest of the men that they had heard before?

     I believe that the answer to why Jesus teaching was so different to them is found in the rest of the verse. He did not teach them as the scribes of their day would teach them. You see the scribes as a whole were only reciting what other scribes before them had stated. Thus traditions and a parroting effect had taken over the teaching in the synagogues.

     We see this today behind the pulpit as men only repeat what another pastor has said before them. Pastors or speakers will find their next sermon on the internet as preached by someone else. They will change a few words here and there and then claim it as their own. There is nothing wrong with us learning and getting ideas from other Spirit filled men. The problem is when we no longer study or question or think through the passage ourselves. Men are becoming lazy as they prepare the Word instead of looking for fresh Manna that only the Word and the Spirit of God can give to us.

     Listening to a pastor awhile back I came to find out that he had just copied it from the internet. I could understand a man even using many of the thoughts from the passage or giving credit to the one who wrote it. Instead he claimed it as insights he had gained from the Word of God. This not only happened once but has slowly become a habit in the man’s life.

     If we wish to have any authority in this world with the Word of God let it be through our sweat, pleading, studying and seeking the Holy Spirit of God to teach us what the Word means.

     Jesus spoke with authority from the Word of God for He knew what it said. He spoke and the people listened for they were challenged to live changed and holy lives. We will never have the authority that He had when He used the Word of God. Yet, might we seek to know and share the Word of God through reliance upon Him.

     I do believe that we can learn from other Spirit filled men about what the Word says. We should read the great commentators and glean from them the truths of Scripture. Many men refuse to read today and grow in their walks by listening to the giants of the faith. Yet, once again may we as teachers of the Word of God be known for our diligent study and prayer.

     As we go through this verse as well as verse 27, we find two things the people were astonished at about Jesus authority. One: They were astonished at His Words. Two: They were astonished with His power over the evil spirits. This would imply His actions. His words and actions impacted the people greatly.

Mark 1:23 ( ESV )

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²³And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,

     Just as soon as Jesus showed up in the synagogue so also did a man who was demon possessed. This will not be the first time that we see Jesus encountering men who are possessed by evil spirits. The incredible part of this passage as well as later on in chapter one is where these men choose to approach Jesus at.

     Here in this verse as well as in verse 39 we are told that Jesus would be confronted by these demon possessed men in a synagogue. A house of worship meant for the glory of God. We must realize brothers and sisters that no place is safe or more sacred that Satan does not want to work. Why should we be surprised at this fact? We are told how that Satan will try to sow tares among the wheat. We are told how that wolves will try to enter into the house of God. We need to be those who are not paranoid but cautious about the wiles of the devil.

Mark 1:24 ( ESV )

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²⁴“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

     Even the demons had a better theology than some of the priest of their day. Note what the verse says: 1) He is aware of a time in which Jesus will bring punishment upon them. 2) The demon or demons knew that Jesus was the Holy One of God. They knew that He was the Messiah and the Perfect one. We also know that even with this knowledge that this knowledge of the facts or their belief in these facts would not save them. James 2:19

     I fear today for those who know all the facts about Jesus and still yet do not know Him. It is possible for a person to quote scripture, know all the right religious terms and pray their prayers at night and still be lost. This was rampant during the time of Christ and is still rampant among us today.

Mark 1:25-26 ( ESV )

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²⁵But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

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²⁶And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

     When I read verse 25 I do not believe that Jesus made a huge dramatic statement. I believe that He simply looked and said, “Be silent and come out of him.” This was the type of authority that Jesus had. In just seven simple words the unclean spirit within the man convulsed, cried out loudly and left the man.

     The question among some though would still be why did Jesus tell the demon to be quiet? Jesus will not only do this in this passage but often when dealing with demon possession he would tell them to shut up. Many times the demon would be speaking the truth about who Jesus was. So why would Jesus tell them to, “Be silent?” 

     Later on we will find out that one of the charges that would be brought up against Jesus was that He was in league with the devil. They would even go as far as to say that His miracles were being done by the power of Beelzebub. What blasphemy. I believe that Jesus knowing this would be one of the charges did not want the people to think that the demons were saying these things as if to fool them into following a false prophet. Jesus was aware of how people would wrap words around to satisfy their evil thinking. This is the reason why I believe He told them to be silent.

Mark 1:27-28 ( ESV )

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²⁷And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

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²⁸And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

     What is this? They were astonished once again as they saw the power of God demonstrated before their eyes. When they saw that Jesus had this type of authority they had to spread the word about him far and near. Could this be the Messiah to come had to have been on many of their minds.

     Yes, it was a new teaching and it was one with authority. Why? Because the Word was now made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Obsession

     One of my pastoral friends came over the other day. We had a great time of eating and fellowshipping about our lives and the things of Christ. I cherish those kinds of days where Christ is the focus of our conversation.

     We then got on a topic that is near and dear to my heart. The topic was that of the word” Obsession”. It was brought up as he saw my Chicago Bears stuff that I have on my wall. Then, it really got going when he saw my old movie poster of Vertigo. You might say that I am Obsessed with both of these things. The wild part is that, at the main crux of the movie, Vertigo is Jimmy Stewart’s obsession with Kim Novak. Then again, all the great movies and stories deal with having obsession at their core.

     I believe though, at the heart of every individual, they are obsessed with something or someone in their lives. This becomes their very heart and soul, and in many instances, their god.  We become intertwined with a team, hobby, object or a person.  Some will get to a point where they cannot live without it. They will do anything to obtain that object. They will risk all that they have and who they are to have it as part of their life. They become like Gollum with his Precious.

     This one word alone, I believe, is at the heart of Christianity. We, as followers of the Lamb, are to be obsessed with Christ alone. I look at the parable of the pearl of great price in Matthew 13. Here is a man who is willing to sell all that he has for it so that he can have it as his own. The radical lifestyle of the apostles, as they left all that they had to follow after Him. 

     An obsession with Christ made his follower fearless.  They were willing, like Zacchaeus, to make up for the wrong that he had done. They were willing, like Stephen, to take a stand even though it would cost him his life. They were willing to spread the Gospel, like Paul, to those on distant shores.

     At the heart of this magnificent obsession is the word Love. He first showed us His love by being willing to die for a people who did not love Him. This is a concept which, I truly believe, that I will never understand. He, the perfect one, was willing to give of His life for His enemies.

     It is because of the love of Christ that I am obsessed with Him.  He alone, becomes that cold drink of water in a dry and thirsty land. In Christ alone will I find peace, joy, hope and a myriad of other things.  I can never repay Him for what He has done upon the cross.

     May he become our magnificent obsession. May our eyes see Jesus only, as we travel on this journey.

Home will always be where our hearts beat.

No matter how far we go.

No matter how far we roam,

Home will always be where our hearts beat.

Got a phone call from her today,

I could hear the sigh in her voice,

She was telling me how crazy her day had been,

That she missed her momma and me,

I had to tell her everything was going to be alright,

And that she would always be like the stars in our sky.

So no matter how far we go,

No matter how far we roam,

Home will always be where our hearts beat.

Lost his job down in Shreveport,

Soon after that they lost the home of their dreams,

They loaded up the U-Haul and the old Chevy,

He looked into their eyes and said a prayer,

Then they shut the door of their home one last time,

She looked at him again and then he said these words,

So no matter how far we go,

No matter how far we roam,

Home is where our hearts will always beat,

So no matter how far we go,

No matter how far we roam,

Home is where our hearts will always be.

They had to put him in the home,

Cause all the puzzles pieces no longer fit in his mind,

She put her hand into his hand one more time,

She would look deep into his blue eyes,

But there was nothing left but a vacant stare,

Then she whispered into his ear one last time.

So no matter how far we go,

No matter how far we roam,

Home is where our hearts will always beat,

So no matter how far we go,

No matter how far we roam,

Home is where our hearts will always beat.

Frontier School of the Bible. This is where Hannah now attends.

Miles of these sunflowers outside of  La Grange Wyoming.

The issue of judging. Matthew 7:1-6

Matthew 7:1 ( ESV )

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^1£“Judge not, that you be not judged.

·         One of the most misquoted passages in all of the Word of God.

·         Today’s standard-Don’t judge period. 1. Bible says not to. 2. Be tolerant of everything and everyone. 3. The age of that’s your opinion but I have mine.  Relativism. (Certain truths and no other way to believe it. Ex. Theory of gravity.)

·         G2919κρίνωkrinōkree'-noProperly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish:—avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think. Strong's concordance

·         Reason why he says not to judge  in this passage is because you will be judged by God.

·         Wait a second though what about the passages that deals with judging? We know that the ultimate judgment of all mankind will be done by God. Rom. 2:16 Judge the secrets of the heart. (Motives, something we cannot do.) II Tim. 4:1 He will judge the quick (Living ones) and the dead II Tim. 4:8 He will judge as the RIGHTEOUS judge.

·         Yet, God also has allowed men to act as judges. He established courts and laws by which man would be judged here on earth. (Exodus-Deut.) Romans 13 Laws and rulers over us.

·         Paul tells the church @ Corinth to judge the brother who has fallen into sin. I Cor. 5:12, I Cor. 6:1-8 Judge over things in church matters.

·         I John 4:1 We are to test (try) the spirits whether they are of God or not. We are to confront our brothers when they are in sin. (This will take an act of Judgment. ) Matthew 18:15-20 (Another verse often badly taken out of context is found in Matthew 18:20) We are called to be fruit inspectors in Matthew 7:15-20.

·         So does the Bible contradict itself or is it more than likely that something else is going on in this passage? I believe the answer is found in the context of the following verses. Don’t just take one verse and run with it. 

Matthew 7:2 ( ESV )

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²For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

·        We know one thing from this verse for sure. Whatever type of judgment is going on here God says we will receive the same or like kind of judgment to be placed upon us.

·         Be careful how you look upon someone. (Longhair of the 60s and 70s, Goth look, Tats or even a high pitch voice.)

·         When we put someone up against the ruler know that the ruler will be used upon us as well.

·         The only true standard of judgment will be the Word of God, not my opinion about something.

·         So my question will be in the context what kind of judgment is going on in Matthew 7:1 and following? The answer I believe is found in verses 3-4.

Matthew 7:3-4 ( ESV )

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³Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

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⁴Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?

·         I believe that what is going on in the context of these verses is that of judging a brother hypocritically. God wants us to know that this type of judgment will always be evil and He the Righteous Judge will condemn it.

·         Two key words in the passage are that of speck and beam. The word for speck means like a piece of a dry twig or straw that is in someone’s eye. It is painful and will lead to much misery in your life if it is not taken care of. Yet, the word for beam is that of a stick of timber or a log.

·         The first idea is that you have a person who has a speck of sin in his life that is noticeable and needs to be taken care of. Yet, the individual who sees this sin cannot see his own sin in his life which is even huger than the person who he wants to make sure that he gets things right in.

·         Secondly, the one brother who notices the sin in his companion’s life wants to make sure that he can point it out. Literally the idea would be that of, “You have sinned. I need you to know that and I will help you to take care of it.” At the heart of the issue is a proud person not seeing his own sins and wants to make sure he takes care of his brothers and that all may know. This is hypocritical judgment at its worst. (It was also one of the Pharisees greatest sins. As well as the Pharisees of today.)

Matthew 7:5 ( ESV )

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⁵You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

·         Jesus spares no words as He calls this kind of person a Hypocrite. (One who wears a mask. He always wants everyone to know how right or spiritual he is. When in reality he is struggling with even greater sins in his own life.)

·         It’s at this moment that many will use the excuse, “Well, I can’t talk to so and so because, well you know I have some issues in my life as well.” What a cop out!! Look at what Jesus expects us to do if this is true in our lives. Which at many times it will be. Who has not acted hypocritically in their lives?

·         What are we to do? Well first of all according to Jesus He does not want us to have excuses for our own sins and hypocrisy. We are to take the beam out of our own eye. Deal with our own sins daily and first of all before our Lord. Our main concern should not be the dreadful sins of others but of our own wickedness.  Be cleansed of your sin, confess it and repent, relying upon the Holy Spirit of God to strengthen us. Only then can we see clearly again and be the blessing that God has called us to be.

·         Note though what happens next. We can then come to our brother and help him with his own sin that has entered his life.

Matthew 7:6 ( ESV )

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⁶“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

·         Now here comes an unusual verse. I believe that in light of the context what Jesus is trying to teach his followers is that when you and I give advice or help to some they will not hear us. This will especially be true of those who do not know the Lord. They will act like animals when given advice or pearls of wisdom from the Word of God. They may even use your words against you and attack you personally.

In light of all of the above I believe that we must always use wisdom when we must judge certain matters. We are to be careful as we will be judged by the righteous judge for what we say or do. Yet, there will be times where we must judge. When those times come I believe that we are to keep the principles of Matthew 6:1-6 in mind. Here are some other principles that we should heed to as well.

1.   At all times we are to judge righteously and not as the hypocrite. Proverbs 31:9.

2.   We are to act in the spirit of humility and gentleness, knowing that we are all prone to fall. Gal. 6:1-5

3.   Our main goal is not to point out the sin but to restore our brother. Otherwise it is nothing but GOSSIP and PRIDE. Thus it becomes hypocritical in nature. Matthew 18

4.   We cannot, nor should we ever try to judge a person’s motives. This is only something that the righteous judge can do alone.

5.   Gather all sides of the story. This is always hard as it involves work, honesty and integrity to get at the bottom of something but this should above all be our goal. The Truth alone.