Great Men of the Bible – 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 stepped forth and held 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 are 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! By holding his hands up to the Lord, Moses shows his dependence on God. Israel’s strength and victory depended on their faith in God. They showed this by prayer and obedience. In this situation, when Moses stopped praying, God’s power stopped flowing (Hebrews 7:25). Our only hope of victory comes from relying on God. We should embrace the privilege we have to “therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy”. (Hebrews 4:16).

3. Members like Hur are Advocating Prayer.
R. A. Torrey used to say that the chief purpose of prayer is that God may be glorified in the answer. If you can't pray like you want to, pray as you can. God knows what you mean. And you have good help—the Advocate, who is God's Son, and the Paraclete, who is God's Spirit. They will take your feeblest prayer and make it perfect. The devil is in constant conspiracy against a preacher who really prays, for it has been said that what a minister is in his prayer closet is what he is, no more, no less. Prayer may not get us what we want, but it will teach us to want what we need. God is not impressed by length or loudness in our prayer. He sees the heart and when we have prayed our hearts into acceptance of His will and our wills into obedience to it, we may calmly wait for the answer. The thermometer of a church is its prayer meeting.

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 be 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 - Barnabas (Acts 11:23-24)

Acts 11:23-24, “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the LORD.”

The early church was in a dilemma and believers were being persecuted. Peter and John had been arrested and were threatened not to speak about Jesus. When the disciples gathered to pray for guidance, the Holy Spirit filled them with boldness, and the church came together in unity. The Bible described Barnabas as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” (Acts 11:24).

Notice: We see the ministry of Barnabas. We find three things as a result of this.
1. God uses qualified servants.
Barnabas was an encourager to believer’s, especially new converts. He was used by the Lord to be a special gift to His children. Barnabas had a generous heart. His character reflected the giving nature of the heart of God. God’s chief requirement of any Christian servant is that he or she be filled with the Spirit. In fact, no amount of learning will ever surpass this. One of the church’s greatest needs today is a Barnabas. Barnabas had a great passion for the Lord’s work and His people. He genuinely loved helping people. He was gifted at restoring broken lives. Perhaps his comforting words of consolation kept many in faithful service.

2. God uses faithful servants.
The Lord always seeks to work through His churches. Barnabas was active and faithful in his church before the Lord sent him on this mission. The church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to help the new church. When this new convert, “Saul”, showed up in Jerusalem to meet the apostles, it was Barnabas who came alongside him and vouched for his authentic faith (Acts 9:27—28). In Acts 13:43, Barnabas encouraged new believers to continue in the grace of God. In Acts 14:21-22, he returned with Paul to three cities visited earlier to build up the disciples they had made and to encourage them. In Acts 15:36, they did the same. A true friend will always be humble for your sake. A real friend wants you to be first. Barnabas was not into himself. He was an encourager of others. His name actually means "son of encouragement," and he would, through the power of Jesus, embody his name for generations to come. It’s easy to see how he gained such a reputation. The Holy Spirit is the One Who “comes alongside” to help us. Barnabas gained the reputation of coming alongside others to encourage or help them.

The disciples were very suspicious when it came to the new convert Saul. Barnabas was willing to take a risk. When nobody wanted to extend the right hand of fellowship to Paul, Barnabas responded in faith and embraced Paul as a new person in Christ. Barnabas went to Saul’s hometown of Tarsus and brought him to the church at Antioch. Barnabas took personal responsibility in seeing that Paul had the opportunity to grow and to be used in ministry. Barnabas journeyed with Paul on his first missionary trip. Not only did Barnabas share Paul’s conversion, but he also spoke of how the Lord had already used him. The impact that Paul had on the early church is overwhelming! However, if Barnabas had not been willing to mentor Paul he may not have made as much of an impact. It is a risk to reach out to people and love them, invest in them, care for them, and mentor them. However, if we fail in these areas, the church’s mission will be highly impacted in a negative way.

3. God blesses those who serve Him.
Observe that under Barnabas the church grew very much. This man Joses (Barnabas) was a man who we will find was greatly used of the Lord (Acts 4:36; 9:27). He was a Jewish believer from Cyrus. A man who has a powerful testimony of being a consoler or uplifter. He was given the name Barnabas because he was blessed with the gift of exhortation. Notice: Every time we have seen Barnabas in the book of Acts, he is giving, helping, or encouraging others. He was noted for standing up on one’s behalf (Acts 9:27; 15:37-39). He was a man of means who had the gift of giving. He was a godly, spirit-filled man, who possessed the gift of faith. This is one of the highest descriptions of Christian character. Barnabas teaches us to use our gifts to meet the needs of others. He was used greatly in the life of Paul and Mark who wrote books in the New Testament. His life consisted of bringing people to Jesus and discipling new converts, encouraging them to cleave unto the Lord. This same Holy Spirit filled the heart of Barnabas, and he reflected the Holy Spirit’s work in his life as he came alongside others. The Lord used Barnabas to teach us the importance of manifesting a heart of integrity and generosity. The Holy Spirit equips us to serve the church and its global mission. When we consider the character of a Christian, we must include the role of the Holy Spirit as He motivates and empowers the Christian to teach, serve, encourage, lead, and proclaim the Good News of Jesus. God used Barnabas to take the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth. His character made a lasting difference in the lives of millions because he demonstrated the heart of God.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, give me a heart of encouragement for other believers. May the Holy Spirit empower me and use me and direct me to Christians who need encouragement and need someone to help them in their walk of faith. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Men of the Bible Series - Enoch

Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5-6; Jude 14)

Genesis 5:21-24, “And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”

Enoch makes only a brief appearance in the pages of Scripture, but his life holds an important lesson for us concerning the responsibility of faith in our lives. Since our Christian walk is only possible through faith, our lives should be steeped in the Word so our faith will grow and God will be pleased. The word walk in Scriptures speaks of a habit of life. The Bible tells us that he “walked with God” (Genesis 5:22, 24). He enjoyed a deep-rooted and constant relationship with God. That means he lived by faith in God, trusted in His promises (Hebrews 11:5-6), and made every effort to live a holy life (I John 1:5-7).

Enoch’s Walk with God Reveals He Met with God.
In order for mankind to have the ability to walk with God, man would need to have met with God. Enoch’s testimony once again indicates man’s walk with God since the fall in the garden. The one thing that stood out most in life was his testimony - Enoch pleased God. The thing that pleased God about Enoch was that he “walked with God”. It is mentioned two times in Genesis 5:21-24. Enoch was a godly man who walked with God in a close, special way, and one day God literally took him to Heaven. God desires for us that we walk with Him (John 4:23). There were only three people mentioned in the Bible as having a “walk with God”. All three were used by God (Enoch-Genesis 5:24; Noah-Genesis 6:9; Levi-Malachi 2:4-6).

Enoch’s Walk with God Reveals a Merging with God.
We cannot walk with God, declared the prophet, unless we are in agreement with Him (Amos 3:3). Our plans must be subjected to His plans; our ways must be yielded to His ways; our aspirations must be synchronized with His aspirations. The more we walk with God, the more we will be like Him. You either are, or will soon become, like those you associate with. Acts 4:20, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Although we live in a different time from Enoch, may we “called unto the fellowship of His Son” (I Corinthians 1:9) and walk in this intimacy. We must walk with God everyday (II Corinthians 4:16).

Enoch’s Walk with God Reveals a Movement with God.
As we walk physically, we move forward and advance. In walking with God, Enoch made progress in the spiritual realm! Similarly, as we walk with God, we mature and advance in the things of God. It is impossible to walk with God and never go anywhere in our Christian experience. May our great concern be to know Him and to move through life with Him! Daily Enoch walked with God, he was in constant fellowship with God, and God was pleased (Hebrews 11:5-6).

Enoch’s Walk with God Reveals His Maturity with God.
God is pleased with those who walk with Him. The word walk indicates a progress and a habit of life. Everyday Enoch spent time with God. We can spend time with the Lord everyday, at anytime of the day, as well. We spend time with Him when we read His Word and talk to Him in prayer. God speaks to us through His Word and we speak to Him through prayer. To neglect time with Him is to hinder our fellowship with Him. Everyone is as close to God as they want to be. A person is as filled with the Holy Spirit as they want to be. Enoch understood the value of a closer walk with God. He so desired this quality time with God that he made sure to walk with Him each day. Enoch’s name means “dedicated”; he was so attuned in his walk with the Lord that one day he walked straight into the gates of glory. The Lord is never against anyone walking with Him. In fact, He welcomes all with outstretched arms. Enoch’s testimony should encourage all to purse a closer walk with God.

Enoch’s lifestyle was a pattern and a challenge to the ungodly. The Bible tells us in Jude 14-15 that Enoch actually spoke out against ungodliness and immorality. He kept warning people of God’s ultimate judgment on them for their ungodly conversation and behavior. We should consider Enoch’s life as an example of how to live when surrounded by ungodliness. Believers should live in such a way that it becomes clear to those around us that we have a deep relationship with God and live to please Him. Most of all, we should be looking for Christ’s return to take us to be with Him forever (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Enoch knew the eternal value of walking with the Lord. Enoch’s translation into Heaven encourages us to have a deeper walk with the Lord. These following Scriptures are commands that the Lord instructs us to walk in: newness of life (Romans 6:4); honesty (Romans 13:13); by faith (II Corinthians 5:7); in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25); in love (Ephesians 5:2); As children of Light (Ephesians 5:8); circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15); in wisdom (Colossians 4:5).

PRAYER: Lord, keep my heart tender and on fire for You. May today mark a new beginning of a closer walk with You. May the desire to walk with You everyday never cease and may my walk with You bring You pleasure. I want my heart to bless Your heart and give You the love that You deserve. Help me to be committed to my daily walk with You. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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Men of the Bible Series – Silas (Acts 15:22)

Acts 15:22, "Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren."

Silas, also known as Silvanus, is one of those seemingly minor characters in the New Testament who was used of God to spread the Gospel (Acts 15-18). Silas (Silvanus) always craved to serve but never hungered for the spotlight. He was a respected leader in the church at Jerusalem. Seven passages in Acts involving Silas begin with an introduction to him as an important member of the church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:22-27; 15:30-41; 16:16-24, 25-40; 17:1-9, 10-15; Acts 18:1-6). Silas played an active role with Paul and Peter from being both a courier and scribe for Peter, and a right-hand man with Paul on a few missionary journeys (I Thessalonians 1:1; II Thessalonians 1:1; II Corinthians 1:19; I Peter 5:12). Paul achieved far more for Christ because of a committed co-laborer like Silas. He was a great example of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."

Silas, who was a dedicated follower of Christ, was well known for being a faithful companion and committed to the tasks God gave him. He was a leader at Jerusalem among the congregation of the apostles, and he assisted them with a glad heart. He was willing to travel with, and suffer with, Paul over several years to spread the Gospel and to nurture the church. Silas was always willing to serve in the ministry, both in the good times as well as the bad times. The faithful service of Silas’ teaching and preaching at the church at Antioch resulted in healthy growth.

Although Silas endured persecution, affliction, and sufferings in the ministry, it never hindered his spirit from service to the Lord. He was jailed with Paul for preaching Jesus. Even in this abused and tired condition, at the late hour of midnight, Silas sang praises to the Lord along with Paul. Then an earthquake occurred and set all the prisoners free. The jailer was stopped from taking his own life and found the conditions inside the prison to be as Paul had said. He was shaken much more by these strange circumstances than by the earthquake, and the spirit moved him to ask about the way of salvation. Silas was faithful to stay with Paul even though difficulty and danger seemed to await Paul at each stop. They were said to have turned the world upside down and, as a result, the number of believers continued to grow. Those who suffer alongside us during adverse seasons become a great source of strength and encouragement, which for the most part leads to long lasting friendships. We all go through dark times in our lives. Friends disappoint us, those into whom we have invested our love and efforts turn away, and financial or physical problems we did not expect arise. None of those things take God by surprise. He is still there and still working in our lives even when we cannot immediately see what He is doing. That is where faith comes in—it sings until the lights come back on.

Throughout the book of Acts, Luke points out that nothing can stop the spread of Christ’s message through His faithful followers. At Philippi, God stepped into the flow of human events and Paul and Silas were set free by an earthquake. This resulted in Christ’s message having an even greater impact, including the salvation of the jailer and his household. Through extremely difficult times, we must remember that if we continue to rejoice and trust God, He will prove Himself faithful and others will take notice. As a result of our faith and joy in seemingly hopeless or impossible situations, others may come to know Christ as well.

Even if it seemed that Silas was doing simple routine tasks, he always did them with joy and a servant’s heart. We are called to fulfill the course the Lord has set before us and to finish it will well. As Christians, this is our responsibility. We are commissioned with doing those duties we are assigned and doing them with a joyful attitude. As a pastor and servant of the Lord, I’m blessed and eternally grateful for the loving laborers the Lord gave allowed me to serve alongside with for more than 25 years. Especially for Fellowship Baptist Church and certainly the “SNOWBIRDS”. Our name may not be known to many this side of Heaven, but remember, God is watching. Even if no one else sees or hears what you do for the Lord, He will record, remember, and reward you for your faithful service to Him (I Corinthians 15:58).

PRAYER: Lord, help me to always be a loyal co-laborer in the ministry. Regardless of whether or not anyone on earth knows what I’ve done or am doing for You. Help me to serve You and Your people with gladness and dedication. Keep me faithful in your service while fulfilling Your Great Commission. May I bear much fruit in the harvest field. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Men of the Bible Series - Abel (Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4)

Genesis 4:4, “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering…”
​Hebrews 11:4, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

Abel, the second son of Adam and Eve, was a shepherd, who had strong faith in God. His name means “breath” or “vapor” in which describes his brief life. Also, which is a reminder as to how frail and fleeting life is (James 4:14). Abel was Adam’s second son and he was a faithful worshiper of God (John 4:24). He gave God a pleasing offering of a first-born lamb. He was killed by his older brother Cain, whose offering was not pleasing nor accepted by the Lord. His blood cried out for vengeance to God.

Faith is defined as believing God and acting on what God has said or revealed. God had revealed the way of sacrifice, and both Cain and Abel knew what God had said. Abel believed, and by faith he brought an animal sacrifice. Cain didn’t believe and decided to come his own way. Cain and his offering of the fruit of the ground were not accepted. Cain was rejected because he came his own way, not God’s way. John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” The Bible couldn’t say it any clearer. The only acceptable approach to God is through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Abel’s offering foreshadowed the greatest offering ever made, Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Jesus Christ was the best sacrifice offered to God. In Him is no sin (II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 9:14; I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5), He is absolutely holy. The shedding of the blood, which occurred in the slaying of the animal in sacrificing it, foreshadowed salvation through the blood of Christ. "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22); "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7); and "being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:9). The slaying of the lamb spoke convincingly of the Lamb of God "slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8), and "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Cain's offering did not foreshadow Christ at all; there was no lamb, hence no blood, no Christ, no cross.

When the Abel brought “the firstlings of his flock” (Genesis 4:4), he was acknowledging his trust in the perfect Lamb of God who would one day be slain for sin. He knew his brother’s offering was a rebellious declaration against God. Cain exalted his own efforts at righteousness while Abel humbled himself as a sinner who needed a Saviour. Cain and Abel describe the great conflict between Satan and the Lord Jesus Christ. The first murder in the Scriptures signifies the rage of Satan and evil men crucifying Christ which led to the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord Jesus giving His life for sinners.

Abel came God’s way. God’s way was the way of animal sacrifice. Abel’s sacrifice looked forward to the one Great Sacrifice that was to come in the future. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, would go to the cross and die for the sins of the world. Abel believed God, and acted on what God had said. This is what faith is all about. Abel came to God believing what God had revealed and he offered to God by faith. God’s way today is to approach Him on the basis of the one Great Offering that was pictured in Abel’s sacrifice the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Abel’s “more excellent sacrifice” pointed to Christ, the perfect offering for sin. Jesus was “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:19). The lamb slain by Abel represented the coming “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Abel was not made perfect through his own works. It was not Abel who professed himself righteous, it was God who declared that Abel was righteous. He “was righteous” through the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. Abel was declared righteous by the very mouth of God because Abel, by faith, offered the one sacrifice which spoke of Jesus Christ, Who, by dying on the cross of Calvary, provided mankind with salvation.

"He being dead yet speaketh." One does not stop speaking when he dies. Our lives send messages long after we have died, and it is not just what we may have on our tombstones. What decides whether your message is a good one has to do with faith. What will your life say after you have died? The truth is that your life will speak after you died by how you lived before you died.

PRAYER: Help me to be a dedicated ambassador, to preach the Gospel fearlessly and ceaselessly. Give me the confidence to preach the Gospel at all times under whatever condition and make me a useful instrument to further Your Great Commission. I ask you to give me the grace to proclaim Your good news, so that other people can be saved also. Do not let me be an obstacle to evangelization, but help me to support it and to spread it further. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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Men of the Bible Series - Noah (Genesis 6:5, 9, 11)

Genesis 6:5, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Genesis 6:9, “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”
​Genesis 6:11, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”

In the days of Noah, the human race had become so wicked; people were completely depraved in their sexual morality and the earth was filled with violence. The people had abundant evidence of God’s goodness, however, they turned away from their knowledge of God and toward their own pleasures. God had enough (Genesis 6:3-7). Only one man found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a righteous man who faithfully walked with God and was obedient to His instructions (Genesis 6:22). Because of his faith in God, he was justified. Though the world around him was absolute corrupt, Noah was basically without blemish before God. Noah was a just man. Noah preached in a day when “the wickedness of man was great in the earth” (Genesis 6:5). The Scriptures reveal Noah being just, being perfect (entire or without blemish), and walking with God. The corruption and violence of man caused God to send a world-wide flood. However, in God’s mercy, He sent Noah, a preacher of righteousness, to warn and plead with the people for 120 years, while the ark was being built.

Noah must have stood out in the world in that day, building an ark when it had never rained. But what made him stand out more was his walk with God (Genesis 6:12). Noah was a man who walked with God and preached right living. Noah preached for 120 years and (apart from his family) he never had one convert (I Peter 3:20). However, the Bible calls him a man of faith (Hebrews 11:7). He was a preacher of righteousness (II Peter 2:5). His righteousness did not come by his own works, but through his faith in God’s Word. Though the people of that day were wicked, corrupt, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5, 11), Noah practiced righteousness. He preached against immorality and the sin of that day. He preached repentance for the ungodly men to turn back to God. He did that which was right as a principle and of habit. The preaching of a generation determines the morals of the next generation.

God considered Noah one of the three most righteous men in history as recorded in Ezekiel 14. When tempted to lie, he told the truth. When tempted to steal, he was honest. When tempted with immorality, he determined to be pure. When tempted to lose his temper and curse, he held his tongue. When tempted to become bitter or jealous, he maintained a right spirit. When it seemed easier to not put the Lord first, he refused. When he realized another in need, he sought to help him. When directed by God to begin a task no one else in human history had ever done, Noah took God at His Word and obeyed. In a world filled with mockers and skepticism, Noah had unwavering confidence in God’s Word.

In that day, God planned to destroy the population of the wicked world. His plan was to send a world-wide flood upon the earth to such a degree that all would be drowned. God called Noah to build an ark where his family and two of every species of animal of the earth would be saved. Every day Noah labored on the ark was a call to repentance and a declaration that judgment was coming. Just as those in the days of Noah ignored the warning and rejected the message that would save them. Jesus warned us of making the same mistake (Matthew 24:37-39).

Noah believed God, when He warned him of the impending judgment. Noah took God at His Word and simply did what God said to do. Though it took Noah 120 years to accomplish the construction of the ark, he persisted. Some take God at His Word and in due season are blessed of God (Proverbs 28:20; I Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9). We are called to study His Word, to be faithful to the things of God, witness, walk in love, love one another. Today, God still has His faithful men who stand firm and preach and teach His Word (Titus 2:12).

Noah went against the high tide of sin. Despite the mocking and ridicule Noah received, he kept on building the ark until he completed God’s plan. There were many rooms, or compartments, within the ark to hold room for the people of that day to escape the judgment of God. Just as there was one door (Genesis 6:16), so there is only one way to God, that is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Once the door of the ark was shut, it was too late to enter in. Until spared, he paid a dear price for it, and so must we as ambassadors for Jesus. Like Noah, our faithfulness to God’s Word will be contrary to everything the world stands for. But every time we see a rainbow, it reminds is for His faithfulness.

No amount of righteousness on man’s part can gain eternal life (Titus 3:5). Righteousness after salvation is an act of obedience and desire to know God. Salvation does not excuse the responsibility to live righteously (Romans 6:15). Righteousness is conforming our hearts and lives to God’s divine law. Paul told Titus, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:12).

Points to Ponder:

• Even if the entire world were to scoff and mock at your beliefs in the Lord, stand firm and remain true to the Lord and His Word.

• Too many Christians want to enjoy the thrill of feeling right but are not willing to endure the inconvenience of being right!
• Reproof is seldom welcome and those who need it most like it least.

Questions to Consider:

• Why should we live righteously after we get saved?

• To what is righteousness conforming our hearts and lives?
• As an ambassador for Christ, and knowing that the judgment of the Lord is coming soon, what has His warning compelled you to do?

PRAYER: LORD, my desire is to please and honor You in my daily walk with You before others. I know that there is not one thing that I ever perform or ponder that is concealed from You. As You examine my heart, help me to live a life of holiness, honesty, and humility. I ask for strength, patience, and wisdom as I aim to practice Your Word. 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 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 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’s worth noting is that up to this point, Gideon had never fought in 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. God always intends conflict as an opportunity for Him to give the victory.

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. When God calls, He sends. When God sends us, He provides the opportunity to give Him glory, especially in the most difficult of situations.

Maybe you have been asked to teach a Sunday school class and you don't think you are able to do it. Maybe you have been put in a difficult situation financially and you don't know how you can pay your bills. Trust God to provide what you need and see His promises work. When God takes our impossible situations and works them out, He receives the glory He deserves. Trust Him with your impossible situations today.

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

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

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: Stephen (Acts 6:5, 8; 7:55)

Acts 6:5, “And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.”
Acts 6:8, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”
Acts 7:55, “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God…”

1. Stephen Served.
Stephen had a godly testimony. He was one of the first deacons and the first martyr of the church. Stephen is a great example to each of us as to what we should be filled with. Stephen was a good man of “honest report”. He was a gifted man, “full of...wisdom”. He was a godly man, “full of the Holy Ghost”. The Bible makes it clear that the source of Stephen’s fearlessness was the Holy Spirit. Three times the Bible records that he was “full of the faith”, “God’s grace and power”, or “full of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5, 8; 7:55). He was filled with the Holy Spirit who allowed him to speak truth wisely, witness boldly, and to face death peacefully. Stephen’s character displayed the character of God through the Spirit of God, and that Spirit gave him a servant’s heart and courage. Stephen became a preacher and died a martyr’s death. He was filled with the Spirit (Acts 6:5), fearless in witness (Acts 6:10), and faithful in service (Acts 6:14). We see the witness of his life (Acts 6:8), the witness of his labors (Acts 6:8), the witness of his learning (Acts 6:10), and the witness of his looks (Acts 6:15). The Spirit who empowered Stephen is the same Spirit who fills Christ followers today. No matter the chaos or opponents to the Gospel you face today, you can have the same power, boldness, and humility as Stephen.

2. Stephen Suffered.
Stephen was a godly young man who followed the teachings of Jesus in a time when much uproar was found in the religious world. Stephen preached Jesus before the Sanhedrin (A supreme council of the Jewish people). Stephen was not filled with fear that day before his opponents. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he boldly shared the truth of God. Stephen preached a long sermon. He began with the “God of glory” (Acts 7:2) and ended with the “God of glory” (Acts 7:55). His purpose in preaching this sermon was to show how each leader of Israel had tried to bring them out of their tradition into a broader revelation of God’s will and purpose for Israel, and how in every instance they had rebelled against the truth. This was exactly what the Sanhedrin was doing as they tried Stephen for blasphemy. He will charge them with rejecting the Christ of Israel. He began with Scripture and used the Scripture to reveal their sinfulness. When Stephen mentioned their crime against the Just One, it was then when they charged him like a rioted mob. Stephen suffered and through that we see that Saul (Paul) was a witness.

3. Stephen Shined.
His face shown with the brilliance and radiance of an angel of God! He reflected the glory of God because he spent time with the Son of God! Stephen shined at his death. He died calling upon God, asking forgiveness of his enemies. When the religious leaders looked intently upon Stephen, they saw that his face was “as it had been the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15). Stephen’s death was not in vain. God honored his life and his death. Paul witnessed his death and, as a result, Paul would later accept Christ as his Saviour. Through His suffering he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”. “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:59-60). We know that those who exhibit godly character do not necessarily have literal shining faces. They do, however, glow with the countenance of the One who fills their heart. Sharing the Gospel of Christ is the greatest news you could ever spread. Every day Christians are challenged to speak or remain silent concerning Christ. Although not everyone will receive it well, it always brings pleasure to the LORD.

Faith begins with knowing Christ as your Saviour, the “Author and Finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is what gives us victory over the world (I John 5:4-5); and helps us to quench all the fiery darts of Satan (Ephesians 6:16). The Bible mentions no faith, little faith, great faith, and being full of the faith. Stephen was full of faith because he was full of Scripture according to Romans 10:17. The amount of faith we have is in proportion to how close we are to God and His Word.

Points to Ponder:
May we reflect the love and glory of the Lord.
Your testimony will impact others. Stand strong and glorify God whenever you get the chance.
When others look on us, I pray that they would see faithful men and women of God who shine the light of Jesus in this world!

Questions to Consider:
Are we letting Jesus shine through us?
What do you face today that brings fear into your heart?
Which of the character qualities that Stephen had do you most need to work on?

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I know You want to fill me but will not until I remove the barriers. Please bring to my mind my unconfessed sins and help me to repent of them. Will You fill me with Your Holy Spirit? Live Your life through me today. Make me the person You want me to be that You would be glorified, in Jesus name, Amen.

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Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 13:23-33)

Numbers 13:32-33, “And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

Can you identify the following names of these men? Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, Geuel. Who are they? What did they do? They can be found in Numbers 13:1-16. These were ten of the twelve spies that Moses sent to spy on the land of Canaan. These spies were well-known and respected in their day, but their names have faded into obscurity because they renounced their responsibility to carry out God’s plan for His people. God had already promised them victory. “For the person of faith, obstacles are temporary because God is real. For the disbeliever, obstacles are permanent because God is not real enough.”

In Numbers 13-14, The Israelites had witnessed numerous miracles as God freed them from slavery in Egypt. Now they were about to take possession of the land God had promised them. Twelve spies were sent to survey the territory, men who were more than courageous adventurers or soldiers. These men were the leaders from the twelve tribes of Israel, chosen because of their position, respect, and influence among the people. In other words, the people trusted them. After exploring the land for 40 days, 10 of the 12 spies gave a fearful and negative report. The spies had viewed the area they were sent to explore and the results where they distorted what they had discovered. What caused the ten spies to go directly against God’s will for His people and Moses’ leadership? How could they gather the nerve to disobey God?

Their complaint is found in Numbers 13:31, “But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” By instilling fear into the people, the spies filled the congregation with discouragement by spreading the bad report among all the Israelites. The 10 spies viewed the land through the lens of man while Joshua and Caleb viewed them through the lens of faith. The 10 spies walked by sight, while Joshua and Caleb walked by faith. The 10 spies saw obstacles, while Joshua and Caleb saw opportunities. The 10 spies saw foes while Joshua and Caleb saw the fruit. The 10 spies saw problems while Joshua and Caleb saw promises. The 10 spies saw the giants while Joshua and Caleb saw God. A pessimist sees difficulties in every opportunity, while an optimist sees opportunities in every difficulty. Joshua and Caleb were not about to leave God out of the equation. Notice: Vision always attracts criticism. The best evidence you are in God’s will is the devil’s growl. It has been said, “Faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted”. So, whenever God has a big job He wants done, it is always faith that gets the contract.

Why do we have trouble remembering the names of the ten spies? It is because they refused to trust in the Lord’s promise. In the Bible, Canaan, the Promised Land, represented the victorious Christian life. This very day, many Christians are living and working while they’re wasting and losing their lives. So many believers 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. The just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).

PRAYER: Father, help me to always walk by faith and not by sight. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.

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Women of the Bible Series

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Today is a day when we take the time to honor the one person who unselfishly gives herself to her children time and time again, without asking for anything in return. If your life has been blessed by the touch of a godly mother, then you have enjoyed one of this world's greatest treasures and blessings. Not everyone has enjoyed this great blessing, but those who have will go to their grave remembering the love of their mother. We set aside one day a year to honor mothers. Take the time today, to visit, call, text, send her some flowers, or do something to let her know that you love her and that you respect and honor her today.

Mothers today are often misunderstood for someone who cooks, cleans, and takes care of the children. But a mother is a much more vital part of the family. In fact, mothers are one of the most influential people on earth! From the time children are born, they are constantly connected to their mother. They depend on their mother for food and water. They look to their mother when they are frightened or are in need. Children are dependent upon their mother for physical and emotional provisions.

Think about the fact that God ordained the home for a purpose. He had a plan for each member of the family, and God has ordained the mother to be significant in the lives of her children. It’s been said, “The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom”. John Wesley said, “I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England”. Today we honor mothers and thank them for their hard work.

None of us could put a value on what our mother has taught us or for the nurture that she's provided for us. But Salary.com recently rated her monetary worth based upon the top ten jobs in a stay-a-home-Mom's job description. They valued her contribution to the family to be $134,121.00 annually.

Think back to when you were a child. Do you remember all that your mother did for you? Remember the time she made your favorite meal, or the time she cleaned off your cut when you fell off your bike, or maybe when she cheered you on at your sports game, or perhaps the time she stayed up late helping you with a school project. It has been said that a mother spends an average of 92 hours a week doing everything from being a taxi driver to being a chef! Your mother has worked hard and sacrificed a lot for you over the years. "The love of a mother is never exhausted. It never changes-it never tires-it endures through all; in good repute, in bad repute, in the face of the world's condemnation, a mother's love still lives on." Washington Irving

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for the love and sacrifice of mothers. Thank You for the strength and wisdom you have given them to fulfill their calling. In Jesus name, AMEN.

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