The Commander of the LORD's Army3/6/2024 Joshua 5:13 ~ "When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, 'Are you for us, or for our adversaries?'" Joshua had just recently taken over the position held by Moses to be the primary shepherd of Israel. He had spent the past four decades wandering the wilderness with the people of God, learning from Moses and serving as the tactician and leader of the army. Now, as they entered the promised land, he faced the walled city of Jericho. Joshua looked up to see a man standing on the open plain with his sword drawn. The scene hints at a potential confrontation, so Joshua asks the one question that every leader would want to know--who are you for? Let's also understand that Joshua does not yet know exactly who this man is standing on the plain with him. And, after years of war, the battle-hardened Joshua could only see two options. We'll get to the answer of the man in a moment, but let's explore the question from Joshua: "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" From our human perspective we see life from the position that there are those who are on our side and those who are on the other side. And that "other side" is the side of our adversaries--our enemies--those that must be opposed. Don't we see that happen in the arenas of confrontation? Consider where some of the greatest adversarial skirmishes happen--from sports to politics--and you will discover the same question asked of those who happen to be nearby: who's side are you on? But concerning our true adversaries, the Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." So... what of the answer? Consider what it says in Joshua 5:14, "And he said, 'No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, 'What does my lord say to his servant?'" The simple answer of the LORD was--no. Basically, He told Joshua that He was neither for them or for their enemies. Does that mean that God does not take sides? Of course He takes sides--He takes His own! And that's the point--God is the side, and all who oppose Him is on the side of the adversary. We do not ask God if He will stand with us or if He will stand with our foes. The question of allegiance does not go from us to God, but from God to us. God is the authority, He is the Commander of the army. The question is not whose side is the Almighty on, but who's side are you on. Will you take your orders from the LORD? If you want to know the right response to God's presence, look to Joshua. Upon the revelation that this man who stood on the plain with him was the LORD, Joshua fell on his face, worshiped and submitted himself to the Commander. Joshua had been commanding the army for a generation--that was of no matter. The only right thing to do when God has revealed Himself is to submit. Beloved, does the question from Joshua echo in your heart before the LORD: "What does my Lord say to His servant?" When you come to the Word of God, is submission your first intent? Do you wonder whose side God is on, or do you recognize that Christ, Himself, is the side that you must be on? Romans 6:13 states, "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness." My friends, let the encounter of Joshua with the Commander of the army of the LORD remind you that God is the One to whom you must submit--for it will never be the other way around. In His Grace, Pastor Michael
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With the Scent of Pigs3/5/2024 Luke 15:20 ~ “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Have you ever wondered at the return of the prodigal son? To refresh your memory, let me give you a bit of the back story. This youngest son of his father demanded his inheritance, squandered it in wild living, and found himself feeding pigs in a foreign land. At the point where he is so desperate that he longs to feed himself with the pigs’ food he finally comes to his senses. He remembers his father’s house, that even his father’s servants are better off than he. With a repentant heart, he longs to confess his sin (see Luke 15:18-19) and return to his father. So he walks away from the pigs and begins the journey home. Unknown to the son, the father had been waiting for him, and when he sees his son on the road runs to meet him. With mercy and love, the father receives his son and completely restores him (see Luke 15:22-24). There are two things absent from this story, and it is of great importance that we see them. The first is this: the son never cleans himself up before returning home. Think about it. The son of a wealthy, Jewish landowner walks down that blistering path home with the scent of unclean pigs lingering like a malevolent cloud all about him. But the son had “come to his senses” (verse 17). That’s the key. It didn’t matter the lingering memory of his wicked rebellion and his failure—his heart was changed. He longed for home and for his father and though he carried the scent of pigs on his body, it would not hinder him from returning. That is the humility of faith—that God will receive all who return to Him even though they still have the scent of pigs. How many have refused God because they thought they needed to “clean up” before they came back? How many have stayed away from God because they thought they were “unacceptable?” Of course you are unacceptable! If you were acceptable, you wouldn’t need grace. All of humanity is unacceptable to God—we all have the scent of sin on us. But God loves you and is watching for your return—all you have to do is come to your senses and come back to the Father. The second is this: the father never demanded his son clean up to be received. Again, think about it. This Jewish man, whose son squandered his wealth, sees his son returning on the road. Anger and resentment might be the normal reaction. But, before the son could protest, the father rushes him and throws his arms around him and kisses him—despite the fact that there remains the scent of pigs. Remember, the father was “filled with compassion.” That’s the key. Compassion—true compassion—receives and embraces those who return in humble repentance. This is the nature of grace—that God watches and longs for His creatures to return so that He can embrace them and be a Father to all who come. God does not hold people at “arm’s length” until they clean themselves up from all their past and remove the scent of pigs from their lives. God rushes to receive any who come to Him by faith and He casts His mantle upon them, blesses and kisses them with His unending love, and celebrates with great joy when one sinner returns (see Luke 15:10) The rabble of the world flocked to Jesus and He never cast them aside. The Lord knew that the only means of expressing God’s love is to embrace—going so far as to stretch His own arms on the cross and cry out, “Father, forgive them.” But what about righteousness and holiness? That will come in the presence of the Father. The “cleaning up” will happen. The longer the son remains in the presence of his father the less he will carry the scent of pigs. The longer we remain in the company of God, living in humble faithfulness, the more we lose the odor of this world, eventually to never again radiate with the scent of pigs. In His Grace, Pastor Michael A New Life3/4/2024 2 Corinthians 5:17 ~ "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Yesterday we saw that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. But the great joy of our hearts that comes from His salvation is also found in the fact that He does not leave us in our old condition. When we come to the Lord Jesus and trust Him by faith, we are made into a new creation. There are two qualities that exist in the Christian life--the first, the old has gone; the second, the new has come. And what are those "old" and "new" things that have changed within us? The "old" is the life of sin that we once enjoyed. Our sinful desires are crucified with Christ, the old nature is coming to nothing and the new life of Christ is being formed within us through the working of the Holy Spirit. Paul said in Romans 6:6, "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." Again, the Apostle Paul told the church that they were taught with regard to their former way of life, "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires" (Ephesians 4:22). Do you see your old corruptions fading away, dying within you even as the life of Christ and the desires of His Spirit are growing and making you new? That old nature will become less dominant as you walk with Christ, but it may never fully depart. Even Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, struggled against his old nature. Consider Romans 7:21-25, "So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." But, beloved, there is a wonderful new life that grows within every believer. The transforming power of God's Spirit is at work with each of us to bring us to greater and greater holiness. So, what are some of those new things? The Scriptures tell us: We have new pursuits, "So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22). We walk in a new life. Romans 6:4 states, "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." We live under a new covenant. Hebrews 8:13 declares, "In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." Also in 1 Corinthians 11:25, "In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'" We will, ultimately, live within the new heaven and new earth, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more" (Revelation 21:1). Even as Peter says in 2 Peter 3:13, "But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." Though we cannot grasp the fullness of all that God has done for us (see 1 Corinthians 2:9), yet we can have our minds renewed so that we can grow in understanding and obedience to the Lord, having our lives transformed in holiness. Paul tells the church in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." As new creations in Christ, let every Christian rejoice that God, in His mercy and grace, does not leave us in our old condition. But through His Spirit working in us by the Word of God, we are being made new. In His Grace, Pastor Michael To Save Sinners3/3/2024 1 Timothy 1:15 ~ "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." What does it take for you to be saved? And... do you qualify? Have you come to Christ by faith and trusted in Him for the everlasting life promised to all who believe? For many, this is a "bridge too far" because it requires something that they are quite unwilling to do. For all who come to the Lord for salvation must first recognize themselves as a sinner. This is far more than what many do. Many will admit that they have sinned--have made some mistakes, even great mistakes--and they will acknowledge that there are aspects of life that they have lived wrong. But merely recognizing in yourself a bad behavior is not what the text is requiring. Christ did not merely come to save those who acknowledge that they did some things wrong, He came to save sinners. Then what is a "sinner" if it is not merely someone who does bad things? To know yourself to be a sinner is to know yourself to be at the very core of your being one who is in rebellion against God and desiring your own self-will. Many have described being a sinner as "one who has missed the mark" but it may be better understood when you realize that the reason you're missing the mark is because you're aiming at the wrong target. Many take their aim from the stance that they are inwardly a good person and merely want to leave bad behavior. That's the wrong target. Consider the sin in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3:6). The taking of the fruit was the expression of sin, but the sin in the garden was the complete rejection of the authority of the Almighty to yield to self-will and desire. So... do you qualify? Do you see yourself as a good person who has done some bad things, or do you know yourself to be a real sinner, a person who, at the core of the heart, have been in rebellion against the LORD? If it is the latter, then Jesus Christ came to save you--for He came to save sinners. The Pharisees never saw themselves as real sinners. Their claim to being the descendants of Abraham, and, ultimately, being the children of God (see John 8:39-41) prevented them from knowing themselves as real sinners. And that prevented them from coming to Christ for salvation--for Jesus came to save sinners. The Apostle Paul understood this--declaring himself to be not only a sinner, but the foremost of sinners. And let this be your declaration as well. If you see yourself as a good person who has only done bad things then you don't qualify, for Jesus came to save sinners. But when you know yourself to be a sinner, then run to Christ for you will find Him to be a merciful Savior. He came to save sinners, so He came to save you. Do as the Philippian jailer did, and cry out with your heart, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). And we are told that this is "trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance." My friends, there is no one righteous, no one who is truly good. People can do good things. Behaviors can be modified to conform to a more moral standard. But it is in the heart where Jesus looks. God spoke to Samuel this very thing in 1 Samuel 16:7, "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." If you hold doubts about your salvation, then let me ask three things: 1. Are you a sinner? 2. Did Jesus come to save sinners? 3. Will you believe on Jesus? If you answered yes to all three, then trust Him. He has never failed to do what He has promised, and He has promised to save all who trust Him. He will give you His righteousness in exchange for your sinfulness. He will cover you with His grace. He died to pay for your transgressions. He lives to deliver you from them. May this be a reminder to us all: Jesus Christ came to save sinners. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Way of Righteousness3/2/2024 Hosea 14:9 ~ "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." There are many who are of the world that consider themselves "wise and discerning." They have impressive intellects and educational pedigrees that boast of their considerable wisdom from the world. But the Apostle Paul entreats the Corinthians church in 1 Corinthians 3:18, "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise." Being wise in this age has very little to do with being wise unto salvation and the ways of righteousness. But, what are the "these things" spoken of in our text today? Simply put, it is repentance and the restoration of our lives before God. Much of the world has turned aside from knowing the true wisdom that is from the Lord. James 3:17 clearly defines the wisdom from God, "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." But worldly wisdom has forsaken the ways of righteousness and pursued many other avenues and deviations away from the LORD. But the ways of the LORD are right. That is, they are always the only true way that is acceptable to the One who created us. So, believer, if you want to be truly wise in the things that are of highest importance, then you must understand and discern the things of God Almighty. And to find the things of the LORD, you must find them in His word. Romans 12:2 speaks to this, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." But discernment is of little value if it does not lead to a life of faithfulness. And in our text today we learn that the "upright walk" but "transgressors stumble." Let us consider those two conditions. The upright walk in the ways of God. There is a sense of a perpetual going, a continual putting one foot in front of the other along the path of the Lord's delight. Are you one who delights in the Lord? Do you hold some understanding and discernment concerning the ways of Christ? Even in our reading today, you've seen God's call to repentance and restoration. If you're ensnared in a sin, then repent--leave it behind and cry out to God for His deliverance. He promised that He will take away our iniquity and heal us from our apostasy (see Hosea 14:2, 4). Take a moment and recollect what you know of God's ways. Consider how He has called you to worship Him, to live in this world, to fellowship with His people and relate to those around you. Paul instructs the church in this in Philippians 3:15-16, "Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained." You may not consider yourself mature, but you have attained to some level of spiritual growth. Live up to that my friends, and God will clarify for you the steps you are to take going forward. But transgressors stumble in the ways of God. Those who want to hold onto their sins will discover that they will forever stumble upon the ways of Christ. Peter addresses this in 1 Peter 2:7-8, "So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,' and 'A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.' They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do." Transgressors who love their sins will argue with the Scriptures, twist the Scriptures, attack the Scriptures and malign the Scriptures--the one thing they never seem to do is obey the Scriptures. Unwilling to repent, they cannot follow in the ways of God for they consider the wisdom of God to be foolish. They love the wisdom of men and the ideologies of the world. They fall into the Proverb, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" (Proverbs 14:12). Dear friends, the ways of the LORD are right. No amount of debate will change it. If you want to walk upright in this world, you will walk according to the Word of God. You will also find yourself walking against the swelling tides of humanity that love their sin. They will never be able to walk in a way that pleases the LORD. And remember this promise as you enter the day, "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day" (Proverbs 4:18). May your life shine ever brighter today as you walk with Christ. In His Grace, Pastor Michael God is Always Watching3/1/2024 2 Chronicles 16:9 ~ "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars." Asa, king of Judah, trusted the LORD when foreign enemies came against the land. Until, that is, the northern kingdom of Israel attacked Judah. Then Asa did what all worldly kings would do, he sought the aid of another nation. He sent a gift to the king of Syria, inviting him to ally with Judah and go against the northern nation, Israel. Hanani, the seer (prophet), was sent by God to speak to Asa, and this rebuke against the king was not well received. Asa put Hanani into prison and in his anger caused harm against others. It was the worst possible response to the word of the LORD that Asa could have expressed. But, when a heart is not set to serve the LORD, the response will be to reject His word when it comes. And as Asa faced the northern nation come against him, have you experienced the attack of the enemy? Did you turn to Christ or to the world to find your support? The pressures set against the Christian are often great and the enemy still strives against the people of God. The enemy sends in his servants, and continues to harass those who follow Christ. But God is watching. And that's what you need to see at first. The eyes of the LORD range throughout the whole earth. And, yes, God is omnipresent as well as omniscient. That is to say, God is everywhere at all times and He knows all things. But there is an intentionality to the statement in our text today. God is specifically watching the entirety of the globe--and He is watching to see those who have a determined desire to trust in Him. Consider what the Lord Jesus said of God's search in John 4:23, "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." And that idea of being a worshiper of God is not just being a person who enjoys the experiential delights of praising God through music, but of one who has, in reverence and humility, bowed in submission and faith. God is seeking--maintaining a watchfulness over the earth--for those who have a desire for Him. The Almighty is seeking those who have hearts fully committed to Him in order to give them His strong support. And that is the second thing you need to see. God will strongly support those who have a heart "blameless." That word "blameless" can mean "loyal" or "at peace with." So, in that vein, God is looking to strongly support those who are loyal and at peace with Him. Jesus said at the end of Matthew that He will be with us always (see Matthew 28:20). There are those who might ask how come it seems that God's people are always suffering difficulty if the LORD has promised to strongly support them? Because, circumstantial deliverance is not always the best for God's people. If your difficult circumstances will bring glory to God, then be willing endure them by faith. For there will be no circumstance against you that is not, ultimately, going to be for your good (see Romans 8:28). God knows whether it is better for you to endure circumstances or be released from them. And, if your heart is "loyal and at peace with God" then you will trust Him even in the midst of suffering. Finally, Asa's unwillingness to trust in the LORD was declared to be a "foolish thing." Could there be anything more foolish than to trust something other than the LORD? Rejecting the LORD and trusting the world as an ally leaves you companioned with those whom the LORD will eventually destroy. Consider what it says in Isaiah 31:1, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!" The world might look like it can offer you assistance. But the cost is too high. Trust in the LORD, for He will strongly support and ultimately deliver those who are His. In His Grace, Pastor Michael From the Mountains to the SeaEvery step we take on this journey called life ought to be used for greater understanding. I've lived from the mountains to the sea, and this blog is my personal thoughts and observations with a desire for Biblical understanding. Welcome. Archives
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