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Pastor’s Walk Podcast: Exodus Summary Part 1 (1-13)
In this podcast Pastor John begins his summary of the book of Exodus. Pastor John’s primary focus is on chapters 1-13.
Strength and courage needed–apply here!
Scripture Reading for March3: Joshua 1-5
Walking with God is not for wimps! God leads His people in paths of righteousness and truth. He is a mighty warrior and a conqueror! His reputation for war is known far and wide! He never loses or backs down, but often employs some very unconventional battle strategy (Joshua 6:2-5) and uses only those willing to follow His leadership. Today we begin our walk through the book of Joshua. God’s people finally get to go in and possess the land promised to them for so many years. We listen in as God finishes his preparation of Joshua, their new leader.
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9
Possessing your inheritance requires strength and courage, especially if you are in leadership! It requires strength because there is walking involved and the ground you cover includes mountains and valleys. There are obstacles and tough climbs. You must have strength of mind to keep your thoughts focused on God’s promises. You must possess strength of character and soul to keep from falling for the temptations of the enemy and the flesh that would trip you up. God will lead you and go with you, (Matthew 28:20) but you must have the strength of body, mind, and soul to keep up the pace and walk with Him.
Courage is another attribute of a leader blessed by God. Courage is the ability to face tough situations with confidence. Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to face fear with truth and keep moving toward the goal. The confidence is not to be in your own strength, mind or ability, but comes from a relationship with God. When we know God, we come to trust and rely on His leadership and strength to get us through each obstacle. Joshua was told not to let God’s Law and Word depart from his mouth or mind. He was guaranteed prosperity and success as he meditated on the Word and was careful to obey. Faith is produced by this process and it pleases God! (Romans 10:17) (Hebrews 11:6)
Today, receive this reading from Joshua as a personal call from the Lord to walk in renewed strength and courage. Jesus Christ is our “Joshua” and has blazed a trail of perfect obedience to God’s Word. His leadership in our lives today will give us both the strength and courage to face the obstacles in our path! “Be strong and very courageous!”
Pastor’s Walk Podcast: Genesis Summary Part 4 (Joseph)
This is the fourth and final podcast on Genesis. In this podcast Pastor John continues to summarize the events discussed in Genesis. Pastor John’s primary focus here is the life of Joseph.
Pastor’s Walk Podcast: Genesis Summary Part 3 (Jacob)
In this podcast Pastor John continues to summarize the events discussed in Genesis. Pastor John’s primary focus here is the life of Jacob.
Pastor’s Walk Podcast: Genesis Summary Part 2 (Isaac)
In this podcast Pastor John talks about Isaac and the blessings that he received from following God’s will and direction for his life.
“Unintentional” Sin?
Scripture Reading for February 3rd: Leviticus 4-7
What is the difference between an “intentional” sin and an “unintentional” sin? Does ignorance excuse us? How does God look at the person who doesn’t know anything about God’s law? Is there really such a person who is totally ignorant of God’s basic laws? If after we “ignorantly” sin, someone informs us that what we “ignorantly” did was a sin in God’s eyes and reads us God’s view from the Bible, are we thereafter guilty of an “intentional” sin? Is there any sacrifice for a willfully defiant sin? These questions come to my mind as I read these chapters of Leviticus. (See Leviticus 4:1, 13, 22, 27.)
God has made his basic laws known to all men through the conscience. Each person has a conscience and it is to be trained to know and recognize sin. (Romans 2:12-16) He will be judged by God according to the light he has. The conscience can be seared by repeated sin so that it does not “bleed” any more. This is like taking a hot iron to a bleeding wound to stop the bleeding. (1st Timothy 4:2) We are to keep a “clear” conscience by walking in love towards others. (1st Peter 3:16) Deacons must hold the deep truths of the faith with a “clear” or “pure” conscience. (1st Timothy 3:9) The conscience is the elementary voice of God that like a stop light lets us know when to stop and when to go and when to be cautious!
So, are there really sins of ignorance? Yes! We can have a conscience but not have it trained properly. This is part of the parents job. They are to instruct their children in right and wrong using God’s Word. They are to discipline and teach their children as they go through life and share their days with them. God was instructing the Israelites by these prescribed offerings about how to recognize sin and how deadly it is. Each time they offered and laid their hands on that innocent animal, they had a visual aid leading them to change their behavior and their consciences were strengthened! (Leviticus 4:29) Their confession of sin brought honesty and truth that set them free! (Leviticus 5:5,6)
God is instructing us today as well. The Holy Spirit convicts us when we sin. He does this to enable us to confess and repent and be free from the death penalty! (John 16:8) “If we confess our sins, , he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1st John 1:9) Our priest, Jesus Christ, has already made the blood sacrifice for us. He offered his own blood as atonement for our sins and bore them on the Cross! We can “intentionally” be made clean from our “unintentional sins”! Praise the Lord! What amazing love! (Intentional sins will be covered in a later Leviticus post.)
Wrestling with God–God Wins Again!
Scripture Reading for January 13: Genesis 32-36
Have you ever felt that God has told you to do something that you knew had the potential for trouble? You know you heard the Lord but needed reassurance that it was going to work out in spite of the very real potential. Our first move away from home to pastor a church in Washington was like that. We were used to being around family and familiar surrounding. The church we took had had some problems too. We were not sure they would like us or love us when the going got tough. We wrestled some concerning our move of 2000 miles with our daughter just ready for her senior year in a good Christian high school. We had told God we would go anywhere, but not necessarily this far!
Jacob faced just such a challenge in his move back from Paddan Aram to his homeland. God commanded him to go back but he was concerned about the brother he had left behind nearly 20 years ago who was plotting to kill him. (Genesis 31:3, 13) Jacob had taken this brother’s birthright and stolen his father’s blessing. He had also just left his father-in-law upset by leaving and losing his family and herds to Jacob’s shrewdness. Jacob sent his family across the Jabok, a tributary of the Jordan River. He divided them in groups and sent gifts for Esau but was in great fear and trembling when he heard Esau was coming with 400 men to meet him. He stayed behind to pray.
That night he was alone and Scripture says “a man wrestled with him until daybreak”. (Genesis 32:22-31) This “man” touched Jacobs hip socket and put it out of joint. Jacob would not let him go until this “man” blessed him. The man asked Jacob his name–“Jacob” (cheat, supplanter). The man changed Jacob’s name to “Israel” (wrestled with God and men and have overcome.) The man wouldn’t give Israel his name, but did bless him and left. Israel named the place “Peniel”. This name states that he believed he had seen God face to face and was spared! Thus the nation of “Israel” was born out of this amazing wrestling match! God wins again!
Wrestling with God isn’t a bad thing if we are desparate for His blessing! God loves it when we lay hold of Him as our only hope! It’s a sure way to true blessing, but we may walk with a limp! It’s a humbling thing to be touched by the Lord! We will never walk the same way again! Thankfully, ways of cheating, lying and manipulating to get our way are left behind. Our past is gone! We have a “new Name” written down in Glory!
And God said to him, “I am God Almighty, be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and community of nations will come from your body. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” Genesis 36:11-12
“He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Revelation 2:17
Thankful for 2008 Journey!
Another year is almost history! This has been a year of many changes in our own family and its members. My wife is no longer homeschooling and can now spend more time doing things she wants to do. The oldest of our two daughters still at home graduated from high school and is now a freshman at college. She is adapting to being away from home and in a Bible college dorm environment. Our other daughter still at home is a Senior and will graduate in 5 months and prepare for college next fall. Wow! Time flies!
My own life has had changes too! I have met a large number of people in our city who are believers and some who are new to walking with the Lord. I have had the privilege of praying with over 50 to receive the Lord this past year! Our church family has grown with about 30 new members and lots more attending recently. I am blessed by each one and pray that the Lord connects them to our family. I have also seen a number of friends and fellow travelers arrive at their destination of eternity with the Lord. We miss them but must go on here with a permanent change. I am also aging and the effects of time and gravity make changes on us all. Some changes are welcomed and others must be accepted and adapted to.
On thing for certain: 2009 will bring change too! Some will experience new birth, marriage, love, friendship, and job promotion and financial blessing in 2009. Some will experience losses of job, loved ones, friendships, or health and strength. As we evaluate our past year and begin a new year, it is good to reaffirm our faith in God’s goodness and ability to work everything for our good. He promises to always be “God with us”! He has plans that are for good and blessing, to give us a future and a hope! This may be the year of the ultimate change for all believers–Jesus Christ returning for His Bride, the Church! I want to be ready and working when He comes! I want you to be too! In His Love, Pastor John
“For the grace of God has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live godly and upright lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14