Sunday, May 23, 2021

Church Is Open

 

If God is in control, is an empty church what God wanted?  There are empty seats and empty rows in our churches where church member sat before the pandemic.  Why did God let this happen?  We don’t always understand God and His purposes, but He did reveal to us that because of the Fall in Genesis 3; “The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”Romans 8:22. Because of sin, nothing is the way God created it to be.

God didn’t cause this to happen.  He is not the author of evil.  You can rest assured that “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”Romans 8:28.  Maybe God is using this to call sinners to those empty seats.  Maybe He let believers be scattered for an eternal purpose – to gather a new harvest.  Maybe God is making room to grow the church.  Believers scattered because of the pandemic.   Now He is bringing us back along with sinners who need Jesus as their Savior.  God intended us to meet together.  The church is rebooting.

Don’t give up on God.  He has a plan and you are a part of it.  We don’t always understand, but all He does is what’s best for us because He loves us.  Don’t beat yourself up because you haven’t stayed faithful this past year.  Look at the disciples.  Peter denied Jesus three times, they slept while Jesus prayed drops of blood, they scattered when Jesus was crucified, and only John and the women were at the cross when He was resurrected.  Maybe you don’t always read your Bible each morning.  No one is perfect, so don’t let the enemy beat you up for it.

Be thankful that He created the technology ahead of time so we could meet together online when we needed to.  We are not thankful for all the sickness and deaths brought about because of the pandemic, but we can be thankful for the Covid-19 tests and the miracle of the Covid-19 vaccines. 

God doesn’t want a building to fill.  He wants to fill our hearts.  By allowing us to go through all we’ve gone through this past year, He is trying to wake us up.  He is drawing us to Himself.

Join me here next time. --- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Monday, May 17, 2021

Grumblining and Complaining

 

 

There is grumbling, complaining and discontentment in America.  We are more divided than ever over social issues, race, gender, the economy, and the list goes on.  There are those who are complaining about some of Dr. Seuss books and cartoons like Paw Patrol and even Aunt Jemima.  I just heard on the news that there are those who are complaining about the Kentucky state song, “My Old Kentucky Home”.  There are complaints about the police and how our officials are handling the pandemic – to wear a mask or not to wear a mask, should businesses be closed and if so which ones, and should we take the Covid vaccine or not.  People seem to be blaming every type of issue on racism. 

We grumble about almost anything - the weather, our government, our churches, our circumstances and so many other trivial things.  We complain about other drivers when we’re in our car.  We complain about what others are wearing, how they talk, how they look and even the words they say.  We complain at the referees at ballgames even when we are watching on TV and they are many miles away.  Do you recognize yourself in any of these?

Yes, we should fight for what is just and right, but many people are fighting for the wrong things.  We don’t believe in gender rights, but fight for women’s rights.  We abort the unborn by the millions.  We have God printed on our money, but there are those who don’t want His name in public. When things don’t go the way we think they should, we complain, protest and riot.  You don’t see complaining about those who take the law into their own hands, those who destroy and loot businesses.  When is this grumbling and discontentment going to stop?

Abraham Lincoln said “A house divided against itself cannot stand” (this is similar to what Jesus said in Mark 3:25.)

Grumbling and complaining is nothing new to humanity.  In Exodus God parted the Red Sea and freed the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.  Three days later they grumbled at Moses because they had no water.  If God could do a miracle like parting the sea, surely they should believe He could give them water.  God gave them water.  Then they grumbled because they had no food, so God gave them manna.  Then they grumbled because there was no meat, so God provided quail for them to eat.  Then when they ran out of water, they grumbled again and He provided water again.  Moses told them when they grumble they were doing it against God.

Just like in Bible times, we do a LOT of grumbling and complaining.  We never seem satisfied.  We live in the middle of a crooked and unfair evil world.  As God’s children we are supposed to shine light into a dark world.  We are to set the example as to how to live, especially by not complaining about every little thing.  Our grumbling and complaining is tarnishing our testimony to an unsaved world.  Many people will never read the Bible, but they do read you.  Our testimony is built on our life in Christ, a life free from grumbling and complaining.  It should be filled with the joy of Christ and the salvation He has given us.

Grumbling and complaining is more that being discontent.  It’s the voice of unbelief.  We grumble and complain when we have listened to others rather than to God.  We need to trust God and His great plan for us.  He’s the Creator and the one in control.  So when you complain you are doing it against God Himself.  Grumbling and complaining is rebellion against God and is a sin.

Phil. 2:14 - “Do everything without grumbling and arguing.”

Life is not perfect and it won’t be until we get the heaven.  Moses wasn’t a perfect leader.   We have no perfect leaders in our churches or in our communities.  We have seen with our own eyes how corrupt our government leaders can be.  When we complain we are saying that God isn’t doing a good job and he’s made a mess of things.  Remember God knows what He’s doing.  So keep giving thanks in all things.

1 Thess. 5:18 - “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Grumbling and complaining can become a habit.  Watching too much news and listening to the complaints of others influences us many times in a negative way.  It causes you to be negative about almost everything.  It causes us to be stressed.  It causes us to be unhappy.  Our friends don’t like to hear us always complaining. 

How can we stop our complaining?

We need to become more positive and focus on being grateful and aware of our blessings. 

We need to pursue peace by dying to self and giving up our personal desires. 

We need to avoid corrupt talk and speak life.   “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”Eph 4:29.  “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”Matt. 5:22.  If you can’t say anything positive, don’t day anything at all.

We need to persistently read God’s Word.  What comes out of our mouths is what is in our hearts and minds.  “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”Matt. 15:19. 

We need to pray continually.  Ask God to help you stop your grumbling and complaining.  Ask Him to replace your bitterness with a heart of compassion and love.

There are many Scriptures on grumbling and complaining.  Here are a few:
James 5:9 “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.”
1 Peter 4:9 “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Exodus 16:8 “…Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”
Jude 1:16 “These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.”
John 6:43 “Jesus answered them, Do not grumble among yourselves.”

Principle:  Do everything without grumbling and arguing.

If you are one who grumbles and complains even sometime, I hope this has made you realize you need to stop.  You are only hurting yourself and your happiness.  Ask God to help you think before the words come out of your mouth.  I know you will be happier person because of it.

Join me here next week for the next time. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Monday, May 3, 2021

Genesis 49 - 50

 Genesis 49:1-28 – Jacob Blesses His Sons

Jacob’s life is coming to an end.  He calls his twelve sons around him and makes predictions about their future and the future of their descendants.  These predictions are called blessings.  Some could be called curses.  These blessings are empowered by God.  These descendants would become the twelve tribes of Israel.  Some would be strong and some would be weak.  Some would be large and some would be small.  They all would make up one nation called Israel and they would enter the Promise Land of Canaan.

Some Christians today are strong and some are weak, but we all are one in Christ Jesus.  We all have a Promise Land, heaven as our eternal home.  We all have been blessed with different gifts and we all have the same heavenly Father.  Like the twelve sons we all have faults and shortcomings, but God made them one nation and us one body in Christ and uses us for His glory.

Reuben is described as “my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.  Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.”Gen. 49:3-4.  If you remember Reuben had uncontrolled lust and slept with his father’s concubine in Gen. 35:22.  Jacob is telling Reuben that he is just like water, unstable.  He had no self-control.  Matt. 6:22 say if your eyes are bad then your whole body is full of darkness.  One bad deed corrupts the whole body.  James 1:6-8 says, “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

Jacob described Simeon and Levi as having uncontrolled anger.   In Gen. 34 they took revenge on the men of Shechem by killing them because his sister Dinah was raped.  Jacob said this was cruel and that they would be scattered throughout Israel.  They would get no inheritance.  But despite their sins, God is full of grace.  Later God set apart Levi and his descendants to carry the Ark of the Covenant.  They would have no inheritance because they had the Lord as their inheritance.  They would be a tribe of priests between God and Israel.

How do you suffer from a former sin?
Do you need to confess your uncontrolled anger?

Judah received the key promises.  He received praise, power and prosperity.  Jacob described Judah as powerful and predicted a royal line coming from him.  “Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you.  You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son.  Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness -- who dares to rouse him?  The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs” Gen. 49:8-10.  This is the prophecy about the Messiah.  Rev. 5:5“See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.”  Jesus is the Lion of Judah.  Judah messed up, but repented.  God chose Judah showing He forgives us even though we don’t deserve grace.  God put us where He wants us to fulfill His plan.

Jacob prophesied about Zebulun.  He would live by the sea.  Matt. 4:13-16 shows this prophecy was fulfilled. 

Issachar would be a farmer and settle in the valley of Esdraelon which was subject to raids.  He would become lazy and satisfied not defending his land and would become a servant to his enemies.  He is like a lot of Christians today.  They have all the strength of Christ, but remain timid and weak.  They become lazy and want to be comfortable in their Christianity.

Dan’s descendants would provide justice for the people.  These are seen in the book of Judges.  One of the great judges was Samson.  Today a spiritual Dan can discern and judge people.  They know how to apply the truth.

Gad would supply many troops for the later king of Israel, David.

Asher would become rich.

Naphtali is described as a doe set free.  His tribe would have the ability to speak and negotiate.

Jacob blessed Joseph in Gen 49:22-26“Joseph is a fruitful vine”.  He prospered in Potiphar’s house.  He was second in command in Egypt.  “With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility.”  His brothers sold him into slavery and Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him.  “But his bow remained steady his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob”.  He remained faithful to God.  God was always with him and helped him through all his hardships.  Joseph is the example of an ideal Christian today. Through all his hardships he remained strong.

Joseph’s blessings were transferred to his 2 sons, Ephraim and Manasseh as seen in Deu. 33:13-17.  Their land was blessed, they had the best gifts of earth and they had God’s favor.

Benjamin would be a ferocious fighter.

Are you double-minded?  Will you learn from Reuben’s mistakes, before it’s too late? 
Are you like Judah so that your life can give praise to God?
Are you like Issahar so happy and comfortable that you are not prepared when faced with danger from the enemy?
Are you like Joseph with roots in God’s Word that you live by?
Do you still make excuses why you cannot turn from your sin and receive the gift of grace?  Ask God right now for His grace and repent and believe in Him.

Principle:  We all have faults and shortcomings, but God still uses us for His glory.

Genesis 49:29-33; 50:1-14 – Grief and Hope

Jacob was dying and after he gave blessings to each of his sons, he gave them final instructions o bury him in the land of Canaan.  It was the land God gave him and his descendants.  He was not afraid to die because he had faith.  He put his life in God’s hands.  Matt. 22:31-32 tells us God was his God just like God was the God of Abraham and Isaac and that God is the God of the living not the dead.

We learn more about death from these verses:
Heb. 9:27 – We all are destined to die once and then face judgment.
Rom. 3:23 – All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Rom. 6:23 – The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ.
John 5:24 – Whoever hears the Word and believes in Jesus will have eternal life.
John 8:24 – You must believe in Jesus or you will die in your sins.
John 11:26 – Whoever lives and believes in Jesus will never die.

When Jacob died, Joseph threw himself on him and wept.  The Egyptians mourned him for 70 days.  Joseph promised Jacob that he would be buried in Canaan.  Joseph was faithful to the last and asked Pharaoh’s permission to take Jacob there and then he would return to Egypt.

All mourned Jacob’s death, because they deeply respected Joseph.  Pharaoh showed deep respect and support of Joseph and allowed him to leave and take his father to Canaan.  Pharaoh sent officials from the court and from Egypt to accompany Joseph probably for protection along the way.  Then all Joseph’s family along with Pharaoh’s chariots and horsemen went with Joseph to bury Jacob.  They stopped at Atad near the Jordon and they mourned for another 7 days.  Joseph buried his father with great pomp and ceremony in the patriarchal tomb in the land of promise.

Tears are not a lack of faith.  Loss is worth grieving.  It can be an experience of pain that words cannot describe.  We grieve because death separates us from our loved ones.  We grieve, but we have hope by faith in God’s promises.  The resurrection of Christ is the basis for our hope of being reunited with our loved ones who have died in Christ.

Principle:  God’s promises bring hope and direction in the midst of grief and loss.

How do you have hope in spite of your loss, because of what you know about God?
How will you trust God to live an abundant life while in grief?

Genesis 50:15-21 – Joseph Reassures His Brothers

  

Now that Jacob was dead Joseph’s brothers were afraid they had received mercy and forgiveness from their brother only for the sake of their aged father.  They fully expected punishment from Joseph.  They concocted a story that their father had requested mercy for them.  When Joseph heard this, he wept.  How could they not believe he would honor his forgiveness and not harm them?  He was deeply hurt that they thought so little of him and doubted his character.  Then they backed up their plea with a genuine display of humility offering themselves as slaves.  Joseph reassured them and spoke kindly to them.  Again Joseph told them, “Don’t be afraid.  Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  So then, don’t be afraid.  I will provide for you and your children.”Gen. 50:19-21.

The key verse here is “God intended it for good.” Gen. 50:20.  Whatever you’re going through, you can know that others may mean it for evil, God means it for good.  We need to endure trials and trust Him so that He will be glorified in your life. 

Ultimately our lives are not in the hands of men, but in the hands of God.  He overrules all things for His glory.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Rom. 8:28. 

The way Joseph treated his brothers is a picture of how God treats us in Christ.  They didn’t deserve Joseph’s patience, grace and forgiveness; we don’t deserve God’s patience, grace and forgiveness.  Joseph loved and provided for them and God loves and provides for us.  He sent us Jesus to die for us.

Do you treat your family with kindness, love and forgiveness? 
Do you provide for them and give them guidance?

God’s purpose for Joseph was the saving of many lives as well as saving the lives of his people, which later would be the nation of Israel.  Joseph’s belief in God transformed his pain into praise. 

Principle:  Believing in the sovereignty and grace of God transforms our fear and pain into peace and praise.

What pain can you surrender to God and turn into praise?
Do you have doubts of His love because of your past?

Genesis 50:22-26 – The Death of Joseph

After a full and prosperous life, Joseph’s departing words related to the fulfillment of God’s promises.  When Joseph was about to die, he wanted his brothers to know that God would keep His promises.  “I am about to die.  But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Gen. 50:24.  Twice in his dying words he said “God will surely come to your aid” and predicted that God would deliver the future Israelite nation from Egypt and bring them into the land promised.  He wanted to assure and encourage them in their faith to trust God and His plan.    

Joseph made only one request of them, that the sons of Israel take his bones out of Egypt and back to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land – “you must carry my bones up from this place”Gen. 50:25.  Canaan is like heaven for believers today.

Are you ready to die?
Are you ready to meet God?
Has your life demonstrated your faith in God?
Do you trust God’s timing?
What will be your last words to your family?
Will you reassure them of Christ’s love for them?

Joseph was never buried.  His coffin lay above ground for 400 years until it was taken back to Canaan by Moses in Ex. 13:19“Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath.  ‘God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.’”

Joseph lived for a purpose beyond himself.  He was thinking about his brothers.  Like Jesus, his final words show what was on his heart.  In John 17:20-26 Jesus prayed for his disciples and for future believers.  Jesus knew he would experience a hard death.  He was thinking about you before He died.  Because of Jesus Christ we can have hope and assurance.

Joseph lived 93 years where he did not choose.  If God has you somewhere you do not want to be, He is there and will bless you as he did Joseph.  “God will surely come to your aid” – that is Joseph’s story, totally confident and with no worries.  He did not want his family to live in fear, but know God would be with them.

Principle:  Because of Jesus Christ, believers can live each day including our last, with assurance of a true and faithful God.

This concludes our study of Genesis.  What a great study this has been!  We’ve learned so much about God and how He is sovereign in all things.  During the summer I will be posting on miscellaneous topics and then in the fall I will be posting on the book of Matthew.  I hope you will continue to check out my insights taken from my Bible studies.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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