Great Men of the Bible Series - David (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 1:22)

I Samuel 13:14, But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. Acts 1:22, And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

The Scriptures reveal to us that David followed after God’s own heart (I Samuel 16:7). God testified as to David having a heart after His own (Acts 13:22). In Numbers 15:39, God warned the children of Israel not to seek after their own hearts. The whole book of Judges can be summed up in one verse, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Many today are doing what is right in their own eyes, but God warns us in Proverbs 14:12, “the end thereof are the ways of death.” The Scriptures reveal to us several things that the heart follows after: false gods (I Kings 11:2; Ezekiel 20:16); the Lord (II Kings 23:25); our own eyes (Job 31:7); strange women (Proverbs 6:25); imaginations of an evil heart (Jeremiah 3:17; 9:14; 13:10; 16:12).

1.The Lord wants us to have an Honest Heart (Psalm 51:10). A clean heart is the first step toward having a heart after God (Psalm 32:11; 51:10). When our hands are clean and hearts are pure, we are allowed to draw nigh to God (James 4:8).

2.The Lord wants us to have a Holy Heart (Psalm 89:20). God called David His servant. David wanted to do (fulfill all) the will of the Lord (Acts 13:22). David was God’s possession to do with as He pleased. You cannot hide what you are following because what you are following is manifested by whom you obey.

3.The Lord wants us to have a Healthy Heart (Psalm 119:11). Many verses speak of David keeping God’s Word in his heart (Psalm 37:31; 40:8; 119:34, 36, 69, 80, 112, 161). What you choose to place in your heart is the only thing that is sure to be with you 24/7. Keep God’s Word within you (Proverbs 22:17-21).

4.The Lord wants us to have a Humble Heart (Psalm 131:1). David was a humble servant. When he was confronted with sin, he admitted to it. You cannot have a heart after God and be proud because God resists the proud (James 4:6).
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5.The Lord wants us to have a Harmonious Heart (Psalm 91:1). You cannot help but to speak well of the one you love. David’s psalms of praise (Psalm 86:12; 111:1; 138:1). Love and loyalty are traits that have birthed and blossomed from our heart.

David was a man of prayer who always sought a deep relationship with God. He had great boldness because he had great faith in God from his youth (I Samuel 17:34-37). He was a man of deep spiritual hunger and passion for God. David was not perfect nor flawless. David caused God grief on several occasions. Yet even during this time in his life, David continued to show the true presence of a humble and teachable spirit. He had an unshakable confidence in God’s faithfulness and purpose for his life. He worshiped God with his whole heart and life and directed all of Israel to do the same (I Chronicles 15-16). He was a man of character, courage (I Samuel 16:18) and loyalty and inspired these traits in others (I Samuel 20:2; II Samuel 9; I Chronicles 11). David’s heart should be an example for all of Christ’s followers today. God is still looking for men who are after His heart. Those who seek to please God and not others, who will do God’s will and not his own! Men who want to know the mind of God about serving, giving, doing His will, and raising of family.

PRAYER: LORD, help me to cultivate a heart after Yours. One that pursues You daily and that is aligned with You. May I love and desire You passionately. Help me to follow after the example of Your Son. Help me daily to find a quiet place with You. May my inward life be pure that my outward life will glorify You. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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Men of the Bible Series - Gideon (Judges 7:2)

Judges 7:2 Therefore, the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

Shortly God would perform one of the greatest miracles of all time through just 300 committed men. What heroes they remain today, thirty-two centuries after the event! God called upon a young farm boy named Gideon and gave him the assignment of taking on the Midianites. God intended to deliver Israel from the hands of Midian at the hands of Gideon. However, He also intended to make it very clear who gave them the victory. Lest Israel, in pride, take credit for their deliverance, God would make it clear it was He who delivered them.

God shows His might when the odds are against us. The tougher the game, the greater the glory—to God. God wants glory, not to satisfy a thirst for praise and adoration, but to build faith in our lives by lifting our focus beyond ourselves to Him. God will purposefully create difficult situations to prove Himself to us.

God makes men and women great who put their complete trust in Him, who will place Him first in their lives, and are willing to seek Him with their whole heart. Perhaps the key comes when we can begin to see ourselves as God sees us. Gideon saw himself as a farmer, but God saw him as a warrior, a mighty man of valor (Judges 6:12). Gideon had never heard such words. What is worth noting is that up to this point, Gideon had never fought his entire life.

However, there are times when God makes the situation seem worse in order to show us (and others) His power. Take Gideon for example. The Midianites with an army of 135,000 had come upon Israel to destroy it. The Bible says they were like grasshoppers for multitude and as the sand of the sea. When Gideon called for troops, 32,000 men responded. The odds ratio was about one Israelite for every four Midianites. While this was a decent number of people, they were still incredibly outnumbered.

However, God told Gideon that there were too many for Him to give Israel the victory. The reason was because He didn't want Israel to think they had done it. They were greatly outnumbered, but if God gave them the victory, they would have thought they did it themselves.

God told Gideon to let the fearful return home, and he was left with only 10,000 troops. However, this was still too many so God then reduced the number down to 300. We would think 32,000 against a multitude compared to the sands of the sea would be a miracle, and 10,000 men against that many would surely show God's power, but God wanted to make a point by using only 300 men armed with pitchers, torches, and trumpets. He made it clear to Israel, the Midianites, the Amalekites, and everyone else who heard the story that God did it. The odds were now at one Israelite for every four-hundred and fifty Midianites.

God can do the same thing in our lives. It always seems that God has a strange way of fighting battles. God wants us to trust in Him even when life is hard and it seems all odds are stacked up against us. Maybe He wants to use you to show that He is still mighty. Gideon’s impossible odds of victory highlight the fact that even if you are small in number, when you join with God, you become an unstoppable force for good.

Points to Ponder:
What God wants from us more than anything else is our complete dependency on Him.

Questions to Consider:
What fear is the Lord wanting to remove from your life that keeps you from having victory in your walk with the Him?

PRAYER: Lord, May I have the courage of Gideon to believe that though I am weak, in you I am strong. Too often through the eyes of the flesh, I see my battles bigger than You. Help me to trust in You and see them as You see them. There is never a problem I encounter that is greater than You. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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Men of the Bible Series - Elijah (James 5:16-18)

James 5:16-18, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Elijah truly was a prayer warrior who believed in the power of prayer. He saw God work supernaturally in his life because when he prayed, he prayed earnestly. Elijah’s prayers brought a widow’s son back to life (I Kings 17:20-22), caused it not to rain for three and a half years (James 5:17-18), and that brought fire down from heaven (I Kings 18:36-38). Prayer should be as natural to the child of God as breathing is to the human body, because prayer is the believer’s spiritual breath. The reason so many believers are always spiritually tired and weary is they have been holding their spiritual breath. The Christian who says, "I simply can't find time for prayer," is like the person who says, "I just can't find time to breathe." If we refuse to pray regularly, we will spiritually suffocate.

When God said to pray without ceasing, the word “ceasing” means uninterrupted. The Word “effectual” means to be active. It has the sense of being ‘energized.’ What James is driving at is that effective prayer is fervent and from the heart. When a man will pour out his heart in prayer, God tends to hear the same. Prayer cannot be once a week, or even once a day. It means to have a mind of prayer or an attitude of prayer. To “avail” means to have force or to be of strength. In other words, prayer that is so strong that it accomplishes what was intended. There are things we cannot do that only God can do such as provide, protect, and so on.

We have access to God because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-2). One of the great tragedies of modern-day Christianity is that we simply do not pray as we should. The Lord has placed all of the power and resources of Heaven at our disposal to do His work, yet we “have not, because [we] ask not” (James 4:2). Prayer is not an empty ritual, nor is it a religious exercise. It’s how a child of God goes to the throne of grace based on the relationship He has freely given us to seek His help which He has promised to give.

Two wives were doing their laundry in a laundry mat. They were both patching their husband’s pants. One wife said, “My husband is so miserable. Nothing goes right at work, and he can’t find anything good on television. Our home is a place of hurt. When we go to church, the song leader is terrible and the pastor is dull. The other wife said “My husband is so excited. He can’t wait to go to church. He loves the sermons. We enjoy our family time.” It got very quiet in the laundry room as the women continued sewing the pants. One was patching the seat of the pants, and the other was patching the knees. Prayer changes marriages, families, ministries, and etc. The success of a father is dependent upon prayer.

According to the Scriptures, God commands us to pray in the following verses: Luke 18:1; 21:36; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; I Thessalonians 5:17; I Timothy 2:1. The Devil cannot keep God from answering our prayers, so he seeks to keep us from praying. He does all that he can to prevent us from prayers. The greatest enemy to answered prayer is unbelief. A lack of faith will always hinder God from working in and through our lives. When we pray, we are not to waver.

Point to Ponder:
If we have faith enough to ask, we should have faith enough to believe that God will hear our need and supply wisdom in every situation.

Question to Consider:
What could the Lord do in and through our families and churches if His people would pray earnestly?

PRAYER: Father, I praise You that I can at anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstance come to You in prayer. My desire is to keep walking continually with You, so that my prayer may be the natural expression of my life with You. In Jesus name, AMEN.

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Men of the Bible Series - Abraham (James 2:23) – PART 2

James 2:21-23, Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Abraham's life illustrates the truth that faith and works go together. Abraham believed God and it was his faith alone that made him righteous. Genuine faith lays everything on the line for the LORD. Abraham believed God and his faith was evident in the offering of his only son. Abraham’s faith said, 'I believe God! I trust God with my life, my children, my future, my reputation.’ And God tested him. Adrian Rogers said, “A faith that cannot be tested, cannot be trusted.” It was clearly the faith of Abraham that led him to do the works that he did. Abraham was not saved when he offered Isaac, but this act showed his faith. God pronounced that Abraham was justified and saved thirty years before Abraham offered up his only son Isaac. James declares that when Abraham offered up Isaac, he was proving his faith. The reason Abraham offered up Isaac was because he did believe God. Therefore, he did what God said. If a person believes Christ, he does what Christ says; he follows Christ. Something is lacking in a profession of faith that has no practice to it. We prove that we believe God when we practice His principles, obey His orders, and walk in His ways.

Genesis 15:6, And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. The word counted means "to reckon, impute, or to place in someone else's account." Abraham was spiritually bankrupt, but his faith in the Lord entitled him to receive God's righteousness that was imputed to his spiritual account before God. The same holds true for us. Our sins were placed in Christ's account for Him to pay and His righteousness was imputed to our spiritual account when we were saved. Like Abraham, we are justified by faith in Christ. Justification is the act of God where He declares the believing sinner righteous on the basis of Christ's finished work on the cross. Justification is an act of God, not a means of the believer's own actions. Justification is not something the sinner does, it is what God does for us when we trust in His son Jesus for our salvation.

No amount of works can make us righteous and it is only faith in Jesus that can cleanse us from our sin. His faith affected his mind, his emotions, and his will. Neither Abraham, nor any other person, can attain the favor of God through the works of the flesh. The only righteousness God will accept is the imputed righteousness of Christ, and that upon the principle of faith only! Romans 4:3, For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Paul quotes Romans 4:3 to show that Abraham was saved by faith and not by works. Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. There is no contradiction between what Paul is saying and what James is saying. James is not contradicting Paul in James 2:21. The key is James 2:23, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Abraham believed God and was called the friend of God. Abraham had an intimate relationship with God; he believed God and walked in fellowship with Him, following and living for Him. When we have true genuine faith in Jesus Christ, we are friends of God. When we were lost, we were dead in our trespasses and sins and we were at enmity with God. When we trusted Jesus Christ, He forgave us and brought us into the family of God. We are now friends of God! Abraham’s friendship was tested by his willingness to give God what he loved most, his only son Isaac (Genesis 22:12).
There are three characteristics to be a good friend.
1. A friend loves at all time (Proverbs 17:17)
2. A friend sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)
3. A friend is willing to lay down his life for his friend (John 15:13)

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, help me to develop a deeper trust in You. Thank You for Your Word that is faithful and true. May I do what gives You pleasure and glorifies Your Name. Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son Jesus, for I have been forgiven of all my sins. Help me to stand firm in Your Word, steadfast in Your Work, and sincere in my walk with You. May my life demonstrate my love for You until that glorious day when You call me home with You to Heaven. In Jesus Name, AMEN!

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Men of the Bible Series - Abraham (Hebrews 11:8-10) – PART 1

Hebrews 11:8–10, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Abraham’s faith is a wonderful example and pattern that we need to follow (Genesis 12:1-4). Faith does not wait until it fully understands how things will work out before it begins to act. Rather faith obeys and believes that God will fulfill all of His promises. The conversation that Abraham and Sarah had when God told Abraham to leave Ur must have been interesting. I picture it going something like this. “Honey, God has told me we’re going to move.” “Okay, where are we going?” “Uh...I don’t know. God told me He would let me know when we get there.” Why did Abraham leave behind his homeland without knowing his destination? Because of faith.

Abraham could have questioned God. “God, if You will tell me first the destination or direction, I’ll go.” Abraham could have delayed his faith. He could have said, “It’s not a good time for me to move right now. I’ll definitely move later, God, as soon as I see how Your plan plays out.” Abraham chose to obey and follow the Lord.

Sometimes we think that it would be pretty easy to do what God says if we could see in advance exactly how all the details would come together and how our course would run...but that is not what living by faith is. Instead, faith trusts God enough to obey even without understanding what all the details are. Someone said, “Faith is starting out before you figure out how it’s going to turn out.” A simple definition of faith would be taking God at His Word.

II Corinthians 5:7, For we walk by faith, not by sight. Too often believer’s fail to walk where God instructs them to go because the way is unfamiliar to them. Spurgeon said, “Faith’s eye sees in the dark.” When a believer walks by faith, the believer says with their faith, “God is in control, His way is best, with Him there are no accidents, I’m taking Him at His Word.”

The life of a child of God is to be a life lived by faith in God. The question is what is our measure or degree of faith? It’s either no faith (Mark 4:40), little faith (Matthew 6:30), or great faith (Matthew 15:28).

Prayer, Lord, I confess that it’s so natural for me to rely on what I see rather than what You tell me in Your Word. Increase my faith to believe what You say. Increase my courage to obey You without delay. Help me to follow Abraham’s example of living by faith and seeing life through spiritual eyes. Thank You that following You is the path to abundant life. I trust You, Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Men of the Bible Series - Timothy (II Timothy 2:1-2)

II Timothy 2:1-2. Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Following Pompeii's destruction from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, thousands were buried in its ruins, locked in various physical positions. Some were seeking refuge from the ash deep within chambers, while some sought protection in the heights of their homes. One figure, a Roman sentinel, stands as a testimony of faithfulness to the end. He was discovered standing at the city gate with weapon in hand. While the earth shook beneath him and the sky darkened with hopeless disaster, he remained at his post. We carry the call of Christ, the commission of the King of kings, within our very hearts. It is time we live out the faith within in a manner that dignifies and honors those who passed it along to us. May all who come after us find us faithful.

Paul never had a biological son, but he introduces us to his dearly beloved spiritual son, Timothy (II Timothy 1:2). In the two letters that follow, it becomes clear that no mere biological relationship could exceed that which he felt for this son in the ministry. He traveled with Paul on missionary journeys. He spent time in prison. He was the recipient of two letters written from Paul. He pastored the church at Ephesus. Their mutual love for Christ and His kingdom surpassed any human bond earthly paternity could forge.

Timothy was a young man who grew up in a home without a Christian father (Greek/Gentile), but with a godly mother and a godly grandmother; and this young man became a major influence for the cause of Jesus Christ in the first century. His name was Timothy and his name means “One who honors God”. How did a young man from the city of Lystra, a mystical place given over to idol worship, develop into such a great leader for the cause of Jesus Christ? He was raised by a godly mother and grandmother. There had been three generations of genuine faith in Timothy’s family: first, his grandmother Lois; then his mother Eunice; and now finally Timothy himself. Timothy’s faith was passed down from his grandmother (Lois) to his mother (Eunice), which he passed down to others.

Paul's second letter to Timothy is full of encouragement. He goes on to instruct young Timothy to study hard, endure hardship, preach the Word, and remember what he had learned. When we are young, we ache with desire to accomplish our dreams. We often run the race as if we are the only ones within the boundaries of the course. As Paul passed his torch to Timothy, so must we equip others through encouragement to do the same.

The greatest way to honor those who have invested in you is to continue in their work. Paul invested his life in equipping young men for the ministry: John Mark, Barnabas, Timothy, Silas, Philemon, Titus, and perhaps others. Paul poured his life into Timothy. Timothy honored Paul and Christ by continuing that which had been faithfully entrusted unto him. He charged Timothy, II Timothy 2:2, And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Paul visualized a faithful finish for Timothy, one that would impact future generations with the truth. He committed himself to others, who taught others, who ultimately taught us—right down to this present hour.

Many people have sacrificed for you and have invested in you, make them proud. To find, to fulfill, and to finish the course the Lord has chosen for you is the greatest honor you can bestow upon them. Timothy had a good reputation with the church. A good reputation is critical no matter what a person chooses to do (Proverbs 22:1). Regardless of where you came from or how you started in life, you have the opportunity to develop a good reputation that can be well spoken of by those around you and in the end to finish well (Acts 16:2).

Questions to Consider:
Are you wandering around waiting to serve the Lord?
Are you ignoring Christ’s call to faithfulness?
Are you walking against the ways of God?

Points to Ponder:
Anyone can build and develop a good name and reputation.
Make daily commitments to be loyal to Jesus.
Remember the value of a good name.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I have been blessed by the ministry of people who have invested their time in me. LORD, help me to always honor those who have invested their lives in me as I journey on the path you have chosen for me. In Jesus name, AMEN.

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Men of the Bible Series: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:16-18, 28)

Daniel 3:16-18, 28, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

Two boys entered the dentist's office. One of the boys said, "Doc, will you pull a tooth right this minute?" The dentist replied, "You don't need any gas or Novocain?" The boy said, "Nope! Just one big yank!" The doctor replied, "Sure! That's what I call being brave and courageous. Now show me the tooth you want pulled." The boy turned to his little brother and said, "Come here Jimmy and show the Doc your tooth." We are brave for others but struggle sometimes to have our own courage.

There Hebrew names were, Hananiah (the Lord is gracious), Mishael (who is like God), and Azariah (the Lord has helped), and they were good friends of Daniel. They were intelligent, courageous, devoted to the Lord, and uncompromising in their faith. They all excelled in Babylon until the day they refused to bow down to a ninety-foot tall golden statue of the King. Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to be thrown into a fiery furnace. The Hebrews responded that their God could deliver them from the fiery furnace, but if He didn’t, they still would not bow to any statue or any other god. This made the king furious and he ordered them to be thrown into the furnace. These three Hebrews had genuine courage and confidence in the Lord. As a result, the Lord delivered them and the king praised the LORD God of Israel, Who was far greater than any god in Babylon.

They knew that their God was able to save them from the fiery furnace. In fact, they were casting themselves upon the Lord to rescue them. But even if the Lord chose not to deliver them, they still could not betray Him. The minds of the three Hebrew men were made up! These men had genuine courage and faith. They would not bend, bow, budge or break. They were not bound, burnt, nor bothered. It has been said, “If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.” God wants us to make up our minds to live for Him! We need to make that decision now before we are tested. Trials will come. Our attitude should be that of Job 13:15, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

From the earliest days of childhood all three of these young men had made the Word of God the center of their lives. These three young men faced the ultimate test of their faith. They either had to disobey the Lord or disobey the king. And their decision was a matter of life or death. Their first loyalty belonged to the Lord. They loved and believed in the Lord and knew Him in a very personal way. They risked their lives and experienced the sustaining power and presence of God in the flames. When you honor the LORD, He comes close to you in the middle of a crisis.

These servants of God were not saved from going in the furnace, they were sustained in it and God did not let it destroy them. There are many times that God allows us to go through great affliction, but His grace sustains us and the trial does not destroy us. There are some that God allows to be a martyr for their faith. Our job is to be faithful until the end and leave the results in the hands of God. Jesus was in the fire with them (Hebrews 13:5). It was during the severest trial of their life that God make His presence known to these men. Their fellowship would be wonderful, and no doubt it was the closet they had ever been to Jesus and their heart would be overflowing with joy. Though we do not ask for the trial that we go through we can always rejoice in the way God meets our needs and helps us to draw closer to him in the process. God's grace is always greater than the trial that you are going through. His grace is not only sufficient, but it is abundant.

When our faith is tested, we must continue to trust the Lord. Even if the test is a matter of life or death for us, we are never to deny the Lord. We must entrust the keeping of our souls totally into God’s hands. No matter how strong the temptation or how difficult the trial, God expects us to continue to believe and trust Him. Our faith is not to waver nor collapse, but rather to remain strong. Through faith, we can overcome all the tests and trials of life. We will never know the true strength of our faith until it is tested.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, I know strength and help comes from You. Thank You for giving me courage under fire when serving You gets hard. Help me to continue to stand for You in life’s fiery trials. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Men of the Bible Series – Hur (Exodus 17:9-13)

Exodus 17:9-13, And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

In Exodus 17, Moses had his hands lifted toward Heaven, no doubt holding that staff in his hands, and the children of Israel prevailed in battle. When his arms would lower due to fatigue, the Amalekites gained the advantage. However, Aaron and Hur step forth and hold the hands of Moses up until the battle was won. The task Hur accomplished that day may not sound like a lot, however, had it not been for the work of this man, Moses would not have had the strength to do his job and Joshua would never have been able to lead Israel to victory in the battle. Had they not been there, the battle would have been lost and Israel would have been defeated!

1.Members like Hur are Absolutely Precious.
Preachers spend hours praying and preparing their sermons. Meanwhile, the congregation spends hours before the Lord in their prayer closets lifting up the hands of God’s men. In the church, there is a number of people who are praying, fasting, and carrying the load. No price could ever be placed on what people like Hur are worth to the church!

2.Members like Hur are Always Participating.
Hur wasn't a great leader like Moses. He wasn't a great General like Joshua. He wasn't a great High Priest like Aaron. He wasn't a warrior like those in the army. He was just Hur. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Hur, however, what he did he did willingly, actively and faithfully. He could hold up hands and he did the best job he could!

We are all essential to the proper functioning of the body of Christ! There is a great work to do and there is room for all who want to be involved in the Lord's work. Although we can’t do everything, remember, that the Lord has placed us in His body in the place that pleased Him (I Corinthians 12:4-27). It isn’t important if you can’t do what others can do, it is important that you do what you can do. Thank God for those people who know they can't do everything but are determined to do something!

When the enemy strikes, our only hope is the LORD. Daily, dependable prayer is the fundamental foundation of the successful Christian life. The measure of any Christian is their prayer life. The lifting of Moses’ raised hands was a sign of intercession. “Moses’ hands grew heavy” (Exodus 17:12). Jesus never gets tired of interceding for us! “He ever liveth to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25). While we fight the good fight of faith (I Timothy 6:12), He intercedes for us (Romans 8:34)! In our battles we also must go to the throne of God holding up our hands and saying, “LORD, this is out of my control. I need Your help”

We all need holding up. We all need our arms, or our faith supported up by the arms or faith of another. Like Moses, Aaron, and Hur, we are all part of the great “cloud of witnesses” and it is our responsibility to point others to Christ, while at the same time, keeping your eyes on the LORD (Hebrews 12:1-2). Nothing means as much to we minister’s like the Hur’s within the congregation who are holding our hands up in prayer.

Questions to Consider:
Who can you lift up today?
What is something you can you today to lift the burdens of another?

Points to Ponder:
You can start lifting up those around you right now by encouragement and edification.
You’ll find that while you are lifting up others, you will in turn find yourself being lifted!

PRAYER: Lord, I humbly ask You to graciously restore within me the spirit of supplication and intercession. Help me to support prayerfully and faithfully those You have ordained me to lead. Forgive me for ignoring this important work and grant me a heart that desires to pray. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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Men of the Bible Series - Caleb (Joshua 14:6-15)

When Henry M. Stanley found Livingstone, the great missionary who spent thirty years in darkest Africa, and who had been lost to the world for over two years, he wanted him to come back home to England with him, but Livingstone refused to go. Two days later he wrote in his diary, "March 19, my birthday; my Jesus; King; my Life; my All. I again dedicate my whole self to Thee. Accept me, and grant, O gracious Father, that ere the year is gone I may finish my work. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen." A year later his servants found him on his knees dead. It was said of him:
"He needs no epitaph to guard a name
Which men shall prize while worthy work is known;
He lived and died for good—be that his fame;
Let marble crumble: this is Living-Stone."

Canaan represents the victorious Christian life. A land of victory and rest. It meant release for they were once slaves in Egypt. Caleb represents the Christian about to conquer his Canaan, possess his possessions, and receive God’s inheritance for himself. He took the whole mountain meaning fullness. He wanted all that God had for him. Hebron was fruitful. Caleb wanted fellowship, fullness, and fruitfulness. Here in the Word, we find a man that faithfully served the Lord, was a spiritual fire-cracker for God, and received God’s inheritance. I believe from the Scriptures and the life of Caleb were given a plan to serve the Lord all the days of our lives.

1. Faithful Follower of the Lord (Joshua 14:8, 9, 14)
The Scriptures mention six times where Caleb wholly followed God (Numbers 14:24; 32:12; Deuteronomy 1:36; Joshua 14:8-9, 14). He gave all he had. God deserves our best. Caleb was not complainer-he was a conqueror. This very day, so many Christians are living defeated lives because they have not surrendered their lives to the will of God. God never meant for His children to live in the valley of depression but on the mountain top of victory.

2. Fervent Fire for the Lord (Joshua 14:10-12)
Caleb was a conqueror because his confidence came from the Word of God. Caleb was as strong at 85 as he was at 40. Some people do not even live to be 85. Caleb refused to consider himself stricken in years. Here, we see Caleb was 85 and still very much alive. Caleb was not ready to retire, or give up on God. Caleb’s mind was on conquering a mountain top for God. I see more and more Christians today who are living wasted, depressed, and defeated lives today. For the most part because they are not willing to surrender to the will of God.

3. Fruitful Finisher for the Lord (Joshua 14:13-15)
The majority focused on the obstacles; the minority focused on the possibilities. The majority focused on the foes; the minority focused on the fruit. The majority focused on the problems; the minority focused on the promises. The majority focused on the giants; the minority focused on God. Pessimists see difficulties in every opportunity, while optimist see opportunities in every difficulty. Stop looking at how big your problems are and start telling your problems how big your God is! Caleb set his sights on the Promised Land. The reason Caleb remained strong spiritually was his mind was in Canaan. Caleb wanted that Mountain. Give me this mountain! Have you ever wanted something so bad that you asked God over and over again for it? We are not to grow weary in well doing. Caleb received his promise and inheritance. Hebron was the highest inheritance for Caleb. There are rewards for serving the Lord. The rewards are stored up in glory, but there are also some rewards the Lord has for us here. Be faithful to the work in the Lord’s service. God will remember, recognize, and reward you for your labor, if you faint not. Galatians 6:9, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. I Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the LORD.

Questions to Consider:
Can you imagine what God could do through the life of one person completely committed to Him?
Can you imagine if our churches had one Caleb?
Do you still have the same zeal you had when you were first saved?

Points to Ponder:
Would you like to see what God could do in and through you if you were completely sold-out to God? Don’t live like you have until next year to serve God. Each day serve Him like there’s no tomorrow.
Lord give me the spirit of Caleb. There is still more work to do and mountains to conquer!

PRAYER: Father, I know I have an eternal inheritance in Jesus. Help me to remain faithful in Your service. May others see You in my labor for You and may they become desirous of the work that they come to know You. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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Men of the Bible Series - Onesimus (Philemon 11-12)

Philemon 11-12, Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

Philemon is one of Paul’s four prison letters. The other prison epistles are Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. It’s one of four personal letters to individuals written by Paul. The others are I Timothy, II Timothy and Titus. Philemon is the shortest of Paul’s epistles, but in just 25 short verses, Philemon mentions 11 people and makes many spiritual applications and is filled with numerous doctrines, particularly, the doctrine of imputation.

In Philemon we see a slave named Onesimus. He was owned by Philemon. Philemon was a wealthy Colossian believer and a longtime friend of Paul. Onesimus left Philemon and fled to Rome. Perhaps he fled to Rome because of its population, he probably believed he would never be found. On his way to Rome he crossed paths with Paul and this resulted in him being saved. We do not know exactly how their paths crossed. This we do know, that at some time Onesimus accepts Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour (Philemon 10).

Upon hearing his testimony, Paul knew his master and decided to send him back to Philemon. By all rights Philemon could have had Onesimus put to death. But first Paul would write a letter to Philemon explaining what had happened to Onesimus, so that upon Onesimus’s return there would be no hostility. Onesimus then took this letter and journeyed back to Colossae, to the home of Philemon.

Before Onesimus became a Christian, he was unprofitable (Philemon 11). He was inefficient and unfavorable to Philemon. After Onesimus’ conversion and transformation he was highly beneficial (Colossians 4:9). Onesimus became fit for the Master’s use (II Timothy 2:21). Onesimus’ name means profitable. God can save that person and make them into something great for His glory and use. That person is very profitable for the ministry. God did not save us to sit, but to serve. But Paul was writing Philemon to let him know that Onesimus was profitable for him. Onesimus’ transformation was so powerful that Paul stated in his letter that he desired to keep Onesimus with him to serve with him in the ministry (Philemon 13). Paul mentioned to Philemon asking him to receive Onesimus back, not as a servant, but as a brother beloved (Philemon 16). Paul requested Philemon to treat Onesimus as he would treat Paul himself (Philemon 12). Not only because of what Christ had done for the both of Philemon and Onesimus, but because of what Paul had done Philemon.

If Onesimus still owed Philemon anything that he couldn’t work out, Paul told Philemon to put it on Paul’s account. In this epistle we see Jesus as the payer of our sin-debt. How undeserving we are of God’s grace and mercy. Through this epistle we see what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. We had a debt that we owed to God that we could not pay (Romans 5:12). Because Jesus never sinned, He could pay it and did pay it. Impute means to put on someone's account; to charge something to another’s account. Imputation is the act of God whereby our sins are put on Christ’s account and His righteousness is put on our account. When a person trusts Jesus for salvation, Jesu takes their sins upon His record and then places His righteousness upon their record. Just as it is with our sins, they have been charged to the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ taking our sins and allowing our sins to be charged to Him. If we take it for what it means it can affect our lives in understanding how much the Lord Jesus Christ loves us.

Jesus placed your sins on His account. If you go to the LORD, He will take Christ’s righteousness, which is perfect, and He will accredit it to your account. Because Christ’s righteousness is placed on your account, you’ll never stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Not because you’re sinless, but because of your account. If you will receive Jesus Christ (the Gospel), He will credit your account with perfection because He has already accredited your sin onto Jesus Christ. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, call upon Him right now. Jesus earnestly wants to impute your sin to His record and impute His righteousness to your record.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for sending Jesus to pay for our sins that we would be made righteous in Your sight. Please help me to be profitable to You and Your people as I do Your work, In Jesus name, AMEN!

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