Why We Are Tempted To Strike The Rock

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.” – Joshua 5:13-15

I often quote Joshua 1:8-9. You are familiar with the Story of Joshua, I am certain.  After Moses was denied the privilege of leading the people across the Jordan into the Promised Land, Joshua was given the mantel of leadership. 

“The Lord said to Moses,  ‘Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.’ So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’” – Numbers 20:7-12

Moses was allowed to see the land but not enter it.  A consequence of his sin. Did that mean that Moses was not heaven bound? No. 

“As he [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” – Luke 9:29-31

Ok – so back to Joshua 5.  The commander of the Lord’s Army is thought to be a theophany – an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament.  Recall the when angels appeared before men at other times, they would not allow the men to knell before them and worship them – worship belongs to God. In this case Jesus revealed Himself to Joshua and allowed Joshua to kneel and worship.  When Joshua asked if what His intention was – the Lord said Joshua was to join Him not the other way around.  God is not our servant waiting to do our bidding.  We are in the Lord’s army – not fighting with Him but fighting for Him.  A subtle distinction for certain, but a distinction all the same.  God made it possible for the water to flow from the rock and all Moses had to do was obey – speak to the rock – but Moses lacked faith and struck the rock with his staff instead. Didn’t God tell him to bring the staff? Yes.  But He didn’t tell him to use the staff.  In a similar way God showed up so that Joshua and the people could be led by Him not so He could do Joshua’s and Israel’s bidding.

The city of Jericho fell not because they had a strong army – which they did – but because they obeyed God and marched around the city seven times – in other words, they spoke to the rock – they didn’t strike it with their sword.  Our success in our spiritual walk is solely dependent upon our faith and obedience. 

“… ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” – Zechariah 4:6

Does that mean that we won’t face hardship? No. Does that mean the we won’t experience loss? No. What it does mean is the we are place our full trust and confidence in God, no matter what. Listen – it is hard for us to not strike the rock. To do what makes sense to us and ignore the Word of the Lord.  You are not the only one who struggles with their trusting God.

“There is no temptation taken you but such is common to man” – Psalm 119:11

That is why God told us.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes” – Proverbs 3:5-7

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Be Careful Where You Walk – Stand – Sit

“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” – Psalm 1:1-3

I have a picture hanging right about my computer monitor.  It is a picture of a man having a conversation with Jesus.  Under the picture is the quote from Psalm 1:1.  I want that picture in my view everyday when I begin my day – keeping my focus on God and my faith. It is so easy for us to put the world in front of us – let it occupy our thinking and our doing. Walking – standing – sitting.  That is the progression of embracing the carnal life.  It is possible to be around the ungodly, sinners, the scornful without becoming like them.  The problem is that when we are not strong in our faith – keeping God in full view – we, one step at a time, – find ourselves lingering and eventually finding a seat amongst them.

There is a book written by Watchman Nee “Sit, Walk, Stand” based upon Ephesians but reflective of Psalm 1. “The Christian life consists of sitting with Christ, walking by him and standing in him. We begin our spiritual life by resting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus. That rest is the source of our strength or a consistent and unfaltering walk in the world.” (Watchman Nee, Sit Walk Stand, 1957)

Do you love the Word of God? Reading it is like have a conversation with the Lord. 

“… do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law [the Bible] shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:7-9

Let me emphasize a word used in the verses in Joshua – “Shall.”  The use of the term ‘Shall’ in contracts, [think of God’s covenant with us as being a contract] reflects the seriousness of the obligation or duty in that it is like a command, mandatory or imperative. In contrast to the word – “Will.” Will is used in contracts to refer to a future event or action. It does not impose an obligation or duty. My point is that your devotion to the Word of God is not a suggestion – it is a command – mandatory – Imperative. Why is it so important to the Christian life – your life?  “You shall meditate on the Word.” Versus “I will try to read the Bible more.” The word of God is critical to our spiritual well-being.  I will leave you with two verses to think about and pray about.

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You’” – Psalm 119:11

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Living With Mixed Devotions – Your Life Is Not Your Own

“…do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, how I love to proclaim – now and forever I am.” I saw the phrase “Bought with a price” yesterday.  I always try to have ears to hear and eyes to see when it comes to my walk of faith.  I eagerly await for the moment when the Spirit prompts me.  Then I write it down and share it in a daily devotion. Other days – I sit and wait – saying “speak Lord you servant is listening” then I write what He reveals to me.  Is that too mysterious for you? I hope not.  We are not to serve in silence – a life devoid of personal interaction with the Lord through the Spirit.

I was thinking about Paul’s words that he used to describe his relationship with the Father through faith in the Son.  He described himself as a bond-servant, “one who is subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of, his master; a slave.”

“Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior.” – Titus 1:1-3

Do you see your work-a-day in the sense of being a God’s bond-servant. Or does your heart “buck-up” against that thought? If you have ever served in the military, that is what you are.  You take an oath that the military binds you to.

“ I, Charley, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me.”

Once you take that oath, your life is not your own.  You are told what to wear and what to do. As I thought about this I remembered as a commander having young soldiers stand in front of my desk.  They were not there for a good reason – typically.  Most often it was because they wanted the benefits of being in the military but wanted to decide for themselves what they would do and when they would do it.  The only way that was going to happen was for them to leave the military. If their minds and will could not be changed, then I would accommodate them and send them packing.  Once they were not longer in the military they were free to make their own choices once again.

That desire is much the same as many Christians live out.  They want the benefits of the Christian life – the paid-up fire insurance policy – (saved from hell going to heaven) but they want to decide what is right and what is wrong. Where the analogy fails is that when we sin – God does not send us packing. We are bond servants – we can disobey (sin) – there are consequences – but we are part of the family of God forever.  God will not send us packing – cancelling our insurance policy.  If you are struggling with sin, and we all do, – it is because of a lack of devotion to God. But, like the young soldier standing in front of my desk because of his struggle with commitment to his oath – we may struggle with our oath – our confession that Jesus is Lord – that we are bond servants of the Most High God. Rather than trying to beat your sin problem –  you first need to fix your love problem. There should be no room for any other devotion in a Christian’s heart than their love for God. Love for others is merely an outpouring of our love for the Father.

“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him [Jesus] a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” – Matthew 22:36-40

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

You Are Your Brother's Keeper

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:16-18

How important is your comfort to you? How important is your financial security?  How important is your faith in God and obedience to the Word of God? Like it or not, there is a tension between the things of the world and the things of the heavenlies.  Our old nature and our new nature.  I had the privilege of meeting with three families yesterday to hear their stories and their struggle.  Every day they face the possibility of total failure.  So many of us worry about the accumulation of our 401k’s while so many others wonder if they will be OK today – worried they won’t have enough to see it through the day.  Each family I met was persevering in the face of great hardship – it brings perspective.  I was reminded of Matthew 25 when both the sheep and the goats asked Jesus “Lord, when did we see you?” and He answered, “When you did or did not attend to the needs of those in need, you did or did not do it to Me.” It is so easy to walk by or look the other way – when you are focused on yourself.

“And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” – Luke 12:16-20

God does not say go hungry so your Brother will not be hungry.  But He does say – “If I have given you an abundance, over and above what you need to live,  it is not so can spend it on yourself." (or build bigger barns.) We have friends – mentors really – whose life motto is “We live simply so others can simply live!” They have been very successful in life, but live in a very simple way.  Are you willing to do without so someone else can simply do? Man has tried to mimic God’s plan for mankind – socialism and communism are natural imitations of Spiritual principles.  They both fail miserably – God is not in it – in fact He is excluded from it.  Since Adam – man has wanted to be – not just like God – but his own god.  1 John 3:16 reminded me of Jesus words in John 15.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13

Setting yourself aside for the benefit of others. The world will not fault you for taking care of yourself. In fact it will applaud you in your financial success, maybe even call you a good steward.  God, on the other hand might say, “You Fool”.  Think about it – maybe it’s time for a change in your priorities.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

When The “I” In United Is Out Of Place

“Therefore if there is any encouragement [consolation] in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” – Philippians 2:1-3

A friend of ours – Broughton – would often say that when the “I” in unIted gets out of place the church becomes “untIed”.  Very often Christians think of the local assembly of Believers they are associated with as being representative of the Body of Christ, the big “C” Church.  That is true, in part.  They represent a group of people who were born sinners and are now born again by faith in Jesus – His death – His resurrection – His deity. They are all sealed by the Spirit of God and shown how to live their new life by the Word of God.  They are adopted children, part of the spiritual Israel – Abraham’s promise – the family of God – guaranteed eternal life with the Father. They have the capacity to love that is derived by their faith and the power of the Spirit in them. 

“I do not pray for these [Jesus’ disciples] alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word [that would be us]; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” – John 17:20-23

When Jesus prayed that prayer, it was not just for one local church, but for every Believer and every assembly of Believers that would ever be until His glorious return. The problem is that our old nature gets in the way.  In my experience what keeps the Church fragmented is that the “I” gets out of place. That who we are ethnically, geographically, nationally, and economically becomes the condition of unity. Very often the hand of fellowship through the Spirit is not extended before you are willing to embrace my flesh – my old nature – who I am in the world. If you don’t look like me, live like me, talk like me, if you are not from around here, then I will have nothing to do with you – Jesus or no Jesus. There are many reasons that is true – past injustices – mistrust – following the traditions of our fathers (which are not Biblically based) – walking on the other side of the road past the man in the ditch – like the priest and Levite (Luke 10). The man in the ditch was of the same faith as them – but they walked on by.   It was someone that the Jews hated that showed grace and mercy to the man. Who extended the love of God and not the pre-conditions of man.

Before we consider their actions with disdain or contempt – let me suggest that all of us are just one tick on the clock away from being just like them.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35

Our greatest witness to the world is unity in the Body of Christ and our love for one another.  The Church is not doing well in that regard. Often restoration in relationship is contingent upon one party proving they love the other before the one offended will offer their love.  What others do or don’t do is not a prerequisite for my obedience – it is merely and excuse to not obey – God calls that “sin”.  Oh, I could go on.  The Bible is clear about how we should respond to others no matter how we are treated. The two greatest commandments are found in Matthew 22. Love God and love others.  If you are having a problem loving other Christians, the source of the problem can be found in your lack love for God. That is a hard pill to swallow – especially in the face of social injustice  and past generational wrong. Oh I could go on, but I won’t.  Not today.

“He [Jesus] replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!” – Mark 7:6-9

This is the root of the problem with unity in the Body of Christ.  It is sin – that we relabel as preference – you can put dark chocolate on it, but it is still sin.  If there is division between Christians with worldly preconditions for unity – both sides need to repent. And if it but one side then that side must repent and the other must be willing to embrace the prodigal.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Trusting God In The Middle Of A Storm

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’” – Mark 4:39-41

When Jesus was sleeping before He calmed the sea – He was not concerned about what the storm might do – He’s “the master of the sea Billows His will obey” It was the disciples that were not in control of what was going on.  That is just like life isn’t it?  There is a lot that is going on in our lives – very little do we have control over.  We do not have sovereignty over anything really – we are just hanging on – by our fingertips are times.

The wind and the sea do not have a free will – oh – they have their own nature and they interact the rest of creation – sometimes in violent ways, but they must do as their creator commands. That is the way it is with all of creation, except with man.

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” – Genesis 1:27

We are different from all of His creation – we have a free will.  We can step outside the bounds of God’s intent. We are not forced to obey but free to disobey.  Certainly there are consequences for our choices, but, still, we are free to choose.  God has given us the means to do right – to live in harmony with His intent – a Restorer – Jesus Christ – a guide- His Spirit and – a revelation of His will – His Word.  What we must do is place our faith and trust in His provision. Jesus asked the disciples – “Why are you so fearful”? Jesus was right there – physically, with them. Yet they feared for their lives.

Before we consider their actions with disdain or contempt – let me suggest that all of us are just one tick on the clock away from saying the same thing to Jesus.

“Teacher [Master], do You not care that we are perishing?” – Mark 4:38

After we are born again – we still have a free will – but that will is to be submitted to God – every day.  We are to be like the wind and the waves with respect to our obedience.  To do the will of the Father should be our goal.  Paul wrote that we should offer ourselves and living sacrifices to God – laying our free will down on the altar – each day.

“I [urge] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2

That will only happen if you are intentional about your faith and determined to follow the disciplines of our faith. My encouragement today is this.  When you are in the middle of your next “storm” remember that God is with you in the midst of whatever it is that has struck fear and worry in your heart.  He always has your best in mind.  You may get knocked about – drenched by the waves brought on by the storm – but you are now and will always be a child of God.  

“The eyes of God are upon me, He sees everything I do. The arms of God are around me, They keep me safe and secure.

And He knows where I am Every hour of every day He knows each thought I think He knows each word that I might say.

And although there've been times  I've been out of His will I've never been out of His care.” – (Dallas Holm, I've Never Been Out Of His Care, 1991)

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Yielding To The Authority Of Jesus

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

What does it mean exactly that Jesus is Lord? I mean it is fundamental to our faith – necessary to being born again.  To explain it simply – hopefully not simplistically – if He is your Lord then you do what He says to do – live the way He says to live – love the way He says to love.  When I was  a commander in the Army, I had significant authority over the men and women in my unit.  I won’t go into the details, but hasten to say – that my authority as a commander was given to me by the Army – it was not something I brought with me or a decision I made.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” – Matthew 28:18

Jesus was given His authority to be Lord from the Father. And so, we are to acknowledge and yield our lives to His authority. In a similar way that the men and women in my unit were to acknowledge my authority and obey my orders.

“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Shall I come and heal him?’ The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.’” – Matthew 8:5-10

The Centurion – a soldier – a commander – understood what authority was and acknowledged Jesus’ authority. “Just say the word.” Jesus has all authority and all He had to do was speak it and it was done. It says the Jesus was amazed that this Roman had so much faith in Him.  He had not see faith like the Centurion’s even among the Jews.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” – Luke 6:46

The military has its own justice system. The law book is called the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).  Members of the military are subject to civilian local, state and federal laws and the UCMJ. Article 92 – Failure to Obey A Lawful Order – says that service members must obey the lawful orders of those with the authority to give them or they can by punished under Article 92.  Punished for being disobedient and depending upon the severity – even court martialed. Jesus was asking His followers why they called Him – Lord – but didn’t obey Him.  The reason is because, unlike the Centurion, they called Him, Lord, but did not acknowledge His authority over their life choices. (Ok here we go!) That is something we all struggle with. For a Christian – the punishment for disobedience is not death – Jesus was punished for us – but it is a violation of a love relationship – of trust.  We so often treat choosing our own way or the way of the world – our old nature and rejecting the Word – Jesus, as no big deal. But we are so wrong.   

Someone once wrote “If Jesus is not Lord of All – then He is not Lord at All!” How are you doing with that? Does it seem impossible? My point is not that we must be perfect while we walk this earth – that is not going to happen. But the fact that we do sin – don’t do what Jesus says – well, that should matter. We must stop making excuses for our disobedience – our lack of faith and trust and confess it – acknowledge His authority afresh and then press on – in repentance and the power of the Spirit and the counsel of the Word. I will leave you with an appeal from the Apostle Paul.

“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone