Red Sea Rescue

 

“And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord...”

Exodus 14:31 – 15:1

 

‘Turn around’: to become changed for the better: to act in an abrupt,

different, or surprising manner.

You will certainly recognize and understand some synonyms for turnaround:

They include: about-face, reversal, turnabout and U-turn,

We all know of many great turnarounds in scripture – the Red Sea immediately comes to mind; Pharaoh and his entire Egyptian army in pursuit of the Israelites. Their backs were clearly up against the wall. How were they ever to escape the trap that had been set? Surely Moses had led them out only to be slaughtered at the banks of the Red Sea. Little did they know in that moment that God had a plot twist, a turnaround churning in those waters the likes of which would clearly make Agatha Christi green with envy! 

The worst was in view but God brought them a turn-around.

It was a turnaround beyond their imagination.

Did the children of Israel ever imagine that the waters of the Red Sea would be a path for their deliverance?

That turnaround experience was indeed sudden; they were amazed, and they were surprised.

In fact, it was so sudden, that perhaps it seemed like a dream to them—too good to be true; but it was true.

A divine turn-around brings an overwhelming joy beyond description.

When it comes, it certainly is like a dream.

It is wonderful.

What was there response when the all were safely on the other side of the Red Sea?

We read about it in Exodus 14:31 and 15:1

“And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord...”

Lesson Learned from a Turnaround:

When God brings turnaround, our response is to:

Fear the Lord, put your trust in Him and worship Him!

 

A Turnaround is on its’ Way!

 

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” 

Revelation 7:9

Continuing our look at the Palm Sunday story...

Having no saddle as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the disciples put their own cloaks on top of the colt.

Doing so was a sign of respect to Jesus.

Others also showed their respect by spreading their cloaks or placing palm branches on the road.

This is the way heroes or conquerors were honored.

The honor is echoed again in Revelation 7:9 which we read above.

As the disciples descended Mount Olivet with Jesus they began loudly proclaiming the mighty deeds they had seen Him do.

In particular, people were excited over the resurrection of Lazarus.

Wouldn’t you be?

John tells us they are met by a large crowd coming out of Jerusalem who had heard that Jesus was coming. The people cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” They were acknowledging their Savior, their rescuer, their King. Mark notes that people were also proclaiming blessings on the kingdom promised to David and Luke’s Gospel notes that they were calling Jesus the King.

The Pharisees were upset with the things the crowd was calling out and they told Jesus to rebuke his followers. But Jesus responded to the Pharisee’s that even if the crowd became quiet, the very rocks would call out the same praises.

We all know the events later in the week that followed this triumphant entry and leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. The despair and hopelessness of the followers of Jesus when He was crucified cannot be overstated. Just a few days earlier He was being hailed as King, now He was dead and buried in a borrowed tomb. This sadness enveloped every one of His followers even though Jesus had foretold of these events to those disciples closest to Him. 

How bleak it must have seemed to those not in the immediate circle of disciples too; those who perhaps followed Jesus from afar and so did not have a single glimmer of hope. Those who had anticipated and eagerly expected an outcome far different than what history up to that point had brought them.

But a turnaround was coming...

 

Staying True in the Hard to Understand Times

 

“At first his disciples did not understand all this.

Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.”

John 12:16

It’s the first day of the week, five days before the Passover and Jesus has begun walking toward Jerusalem.

As he approached the village of Bethpage on Mount Olivet, Jesus sends two of his disciples ahead with instructions to enter the village.

There they would find an unridden donkey’s colt next to a donkey which they were to untie and bring to Jesus.

If someone were to ask them why they were talking the colt, they were to say that the Lord had need of the colt.

The disciples found the colt and donkey just as Jesus described.

They were asked why they were taking the colt, again, just as Jesus said they would be, and they answered as instructed.

They were then allowed to take the colt.

The use of a donkey for a ruler has a long history.

The emphasis placed on the fact that the colt was never ridden before is to indicate that it was set aside for a special use, that is a holy use.

Jesus needed this colt to fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

That prophesy very clearly called Him a King.

In entering in this manner he declared his gentle intentions and that he wasn’t coming for war. John tells us that the disciples did not understand how Jesus was fulfilling this prophecy until much later. So in many ways some of the events that took place in Jesus’ life on that day and in the next week to come were a mystery to the disciples.

There was a plot twist that was about to take place they would not fully understand until more of the events of the story were rolled out.

Don’t let the plot twists of your life move you away from the Lord.

His plans for you are good even when they are not fully understood by you.

Hold fast, stay true and remain faithful even as He is faithful to you!

Children of the Day

 

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”

John 3:19 

This verse comes to mind when I listen to the news first thing in the morning.

It always seems to me that crime is more prevalent in the overnight hours when evil things can be done under the ‘cover of darkness’.

People who would not normally do what they do in broad daylight are somehow emboldened to choose the wee hours of the morning and the shadowy hours through the night to break the law.

They are aware that what they are doing is wrong and that is why it is not done in the daylight. They seek the cover of darkness not just as an aid to their crime but also as a way (or so they think) to cover their shame.

As believers who are ‘born from above’ we are to be in stark contrast to the darkness in the world. We are called, by Jesus, the Light of the World.

We are to love righteousness and the things that pertain to life and godliness.

That is why the epistle writer calls us ‘peculiar people’.

We are to be Children of the day and ‘peculiar’ in our desire not just for light but to be light in a very darkened world!

Have You Taken Your Vitamins Today?

 

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 119:11

What have you hidden in your heart?

We are promised that when we hide the Word of God in our heart it can fortify us in ways that keep us from sinning.

But we can hide other things in our hearts too.

Hide 24 hour-a-day news from your local cable channel?

Likely it will fortify you with fear.

Hide envy or gossip in your heart?

Surely that will fortify suspicion and doubt!

You get the picture.

Our hearts are to be guarded.

It is so easy to let trespassers in who bring nothing but evil.

After all the enemy comes to rob, steal and destroy while God comes to give us abundant life.

It would seem to be such an easy choice.

Yet we struggle so much with keeping our heart defenses up.

So hiding the Word there is one way to strengthen those defenses.

Take some time today and read a few verses from Psalm 119.

It is like popping a spiritual multi-vitamin!

Are You Puzzled?

 

“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,”

John 5:39

 

I have a friend who often posts pictures of the puzzles she has completed.

Sometimes she will also post the pictures on several boxes before she works on them and asks her FB friends to pick the one she should put together next.

Recently she completed one that had a single piece missing.

That would be too frustrating for me.

But speaking of puzzles suppose you were to pick and choose what you wanted in the Word of God?

How complete a picture do you suppose you would have if allowed to throw out portions you found offensive, hard to understand or unbelievable?

Before you know it you would have a very anemic book not at all resembling what it truly is.

Like the missing piece of my friends puzzle you would have an incomplete picture at best.

Since the primary method God uses to speak to us is His written word, the Bible, how difficult might it be to hear Him through your cobbled up chapters and verses?

Let me suggest that what you would hear might be something greatly distorted and unclear.

Of course it would be foolish to treat the Word of God that way.

It would  

Instead, reverence His Word and lovingly meditate on what is written in it.

Listen as you read, He loves to speak to you through it.

Are you puzzled by something in your life?

He will complete the picture for you as you listen quietly for His voice.

 

The Hand Writing On the Wall

 

“As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver,

of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace.

The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so

frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.”

Daniel 5:4-6

 

 

Well, well, well, I thought Gods’ spoke only in deep, deep octaves to an attentive and adoring crowd?

Certainly not so this case, was it?

The king and his fellow partyers were anything but fans of the God of Israel.

But fans or not, He spoke to them in a most unconventional way.

Although it was not as straightforward as a Prophet coming and delivering a message from God, there can be no doubt that it surely was sent from heaven to impact those who witnessed it.

And it had a knee-knocking result.  

Sometimes God speaks in ways we might consider crazy or wild.

Like the message we read today.

There is rare of course but it is a method God may use to speak to others.

We are accustomed to hearing God speak to us from His Word.

While that is certainly the primary way He chooses to communicate to us it is by no means His only way.

Let’s hope He can get your attention before needing to make it as plain as the writing on the wall!

Save the ‘Puff’ for Your Morning Cereal

 

“Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.”

John 2:23

In this verse we see the purpose of signs and wonders.

If anyone could teach us the true purpose of signs and wonders, who better than Jesus?

His signs always bore fruit.

As a matter of fact, He never performed a sign, wonder or miracle that did not bear fruit.

They were never done to entertain a legion of paparazzi or build a name for Himself.

Jesus came to reveal the Father.

The Father would glorify the son.

Likewise, each of us need to learn to entrust our “names” and “reputations” to God.

He is well able to care for us and watch over us.

Better, far better, than we ourselves can.

Follow Jesus’ example.

Don’t puff yourself up.

It is unbecoming to a believer!

 

Kingdom Labor

 

“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth

until Christ is formed in you,”

Galatians 4:19

Preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles was not just a ‘job’ to Paul.

He was set apart by God exactly for that purpose.

As clearly as Peter was sent to the Jews, Paul was passionate about his call to the ‘heathen’ or ‘pagan’ peoples.

His was a labor of love for those he ministered to both before and after their conversion.  

He had invested much in them and cared deeply for those who came to know Christ that each and every one of them should continue to grow in their walk.

As much as we are able, we should nurture those whom we lead to the Lord to disciple them and help them mature in their walk.

Don’t be guilty of taking the attitude of:

“Well, I told them, now my job is over – it’s up to the Holy Spirit.

To be sure the Holy Spirit has an essential role in all of our growth but we also play a part even as Paul did.

Let your labors in Christ bring forth fruit that remains.

There is no greater investment we can make than coming along others in the faith to strengthen, encourage and build them up.

When is the task complete?

When you hear those words:

“Well done thou good and faithful servant...”

Spur, Provoke and Incite!

 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24-25

 

I hope this post I originally wrote in March of 2012 will bless you as you take its message to heart:

 

Do you see “the Day” approaching?

“What day would that be”, you ask?

The day of Jesus’ return.

As we draw closer and closer to His return the

corruption and the decay of sin will increase all around us.

We, however, are not to despair.

There is good news in that those who trust in Christ will know an increase in the power and presence of His Holy Spirit in their lives to accomplish His will.

We are also encouraged, through the verse we are looking at today, to ‘spur’ one another on towards love and good deeds. Spurring, provoking or inciting another individual on is usually not a welcomed behavior on the part of the one at the receiving end of it!

Yet that is exactly what we are called to do.

There is no question that at times it may be easier to NOT gather together, to NOT be provoked in doing what is right, to NOT be incited to love the brothers and sisters in Christ. If it were always easy and if we were inclined toward it then we likely would not need the admonition given by the writer of Hebrews.

I don’t know about you but sometimes I do need others to provoke, spur and incite me in ways I need to behave.

I need to be around those who love me enough to challenge me in my walk.

Yesterday, we talked about standing with others in their times of difficulty. It is equally important to stand with others in their times of complacency, apathy and indifference and spur, provoke and incite them forward in the things of God.

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

Proverbs 27:6

It Works Both Ways

 

“Then the Lord came and stood and called as at the previous times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

I Samuel 3:10

  

“I would like a word with you please.”

That sounds ominous doesn’t it?

Usually when we hear those words we wince because we know what’s coming and it is, more often than not, not good.

But my words to you today are constructive.

Taken to heart they will strengthen your walk with God and help you to mature in your ability to recognize His voice.

Suppose, you husbands, that every time your wife spoke, you heard her loud and clear but then simply ignored everything she said.

How long do you think it would be before that line of communication is shut down?

Nano seconds probably.

So why do we do the same thing with God?

If we ask with no intention of obediently responding to what we hear then why ask at all?

Fortunately for us God is longsuffering and gracious.

We are given many opportunities to hear and respond to Him.

Sometimes what He speaks to us is: “I love you!”

If that is what God whispers to you, how would you respond?

See how simply that door of conversation with God can open up?

Far too often we make it far too difficult!

Listen for the voice of God and when He speaks; respond.

 

 

 

 

His Voice

 

“To Him who rides in the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,

Behold, He sends out His voice, a mighty and majestic voice.”

Psalm 68:3

 

In his book titled “Hearing God” the author Dallas Willard had this to say concerning God’s individual dealings with people:

“If we consider the startling array of biblical personalities from Adam to the Apostles Paul and John, we behold the millennia-long saga of God’s invading human personality and history on a one-to-one basis. There is nothing general or secondhand about the divine encounters with Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Nehemiah, Mary and Peter.”

So when you stop and think about the fact that God is no respecter of persons, can we not include our own names in that list?

Certainly scripture teaches us that Gods’ desire is intimate fellowship with man.

That is not limited to those in the past whose names and stories are chronicled in His word.

God desires intimate fellowship with you!

Let that sink in for a moment.

Too many of God’s children are content with an arms-length relationship.

But that is not why God created you.

We are even told that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.

The first step is up to us.

Will you draw near today and listen for His voice?

 

 

 

 

The Set Time

 

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,”

Galatians 4:4

 

 

Well, this weekend is ‘Spring Forward’ as we set our clocks forward by one hour.

The ‘set time’ will change but if you forget to move your clock you may find yourself late for a very important date!

So here is a ‘timely’ reminder for you:

God is never late!

Neither is He ever early.

He is always and only right on time!

More than once that fact has frustrated me and probably also you too.

His ‘right-on-time’ time seems, more often than not, to be at the very last possible moment.

Have you ever noticed or experienced that?

God sent His Son at the exact point in the history of man than He had predetermined.

Maybe if we were in charge we would have opted for a rescue right after Adam and Eve were ushered out of the Garden.

But God....who is perfect

...always has His eternal purposes in mind.

That includes your life.

He knows perfectly when to act on your behalf.

Wait for God.

Wait patiently for Him.

 

A Game of 20 Questions

 

“Jesus said to the servants,

“Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.”

John 2:7

 

As you read the verse above it is interesting to note that there is no indication of either reluctance or disobedience at the command of Jesus.

If any of the servants doubted the command or its’ ‘logic’ it was not expressed.

God wants to partner with us in the miraculous just as He did here with the servants.

Would you have questioned such a command?

Sometimes the call to obedience on our part means we respond with a ‘yes’ to God even when it fails to make sense to us.

After all, scriptures are replete with examples of the foolishness of God confounding the wisdom of man.

Imagine walls to a fortified city falling at a shout!

Imagine Gideon ‘thinning’ his army down to 300 men!

Imagine a virgin giving birth to the Messiah of the world!

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

I Corinthians 1:25

So how will you respond at the voice of God?

Will you respond with 20 questions?

Or

Will you respond with obedience?

 

Why Obscure Cana?

 

“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.

Jesus’ mother was there,”

John 2:1

 

As many may already be aware, the wedding feast in Cana was where Jesus performed his first miracle.

Cana was in an obscure part of the region of Galilee.

If the purpose of Jesus’ miracle was to draw attention to

himself he certainly couldn’t have picked a worst location.

To be sure, he would have been better served to

turn the water into wine in Jerusalem.

Surely that would have drawn a much bigger crowd.

But crowd size was not a consideration for Jesus.

This goes right to the question of his motivation.

Jesus did not have as a primary goal garnering the attention of men.

He sought always to do the will of his Father in heaven.

When that same motivation moves us to action, there is no limit to what we can accomplish for God.

When our focus is squarely on pleasing the Father, the opinions of man or the size of the audience we command will carry very little weight with us.

Let that be your motivation when you wake up in the morning.

Ask this question:

Father, how can I please you today?

As you set about doing just that don’t be surprised by the joy that accompanies your actions!

 

 

 

 

A Few Choice Words

 

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.”

I Thessalonians 2:13

 

I want to draw your attention to the words ‘which you heard from us’ in the verse above and ask you a question.

What is it that people hear from you?

The Epistle writer was very specific in declaring that his listeners heard the word of God from him.

Now I know we have conversations throughout the course of our day but here is a challenge for all of us to consider.

How often do we stray from speaking the Word of God to others?

I’m not talking about just quoting scriptures but speaking words of encouragement, kindness, and hope to them?

We often find it much easier to slip into complaining, gossip and discouragement.

Let your words be seasoned with salt.

Let wisdom proceed from your mouth when you open it.

We may not be able to ‘preach’ to everyone but we certainly can move from negative comments and destructive conversation to words that build up and lighten someone else’s load.

Consider the question as you work your way through today –

What are others hearing from me?

An Essential Component

 

“We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi,

as you know...we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.”

I Thessalonians 2:2

 

Look closely at the verse above,

Do you see those three little dots in the middle of the verse?

They represent a missing section of the text which,

in the case of this particular verse, are the key to what must happen

in order for the Apostle to dare to

share the Gospel in the face of strong opposition.

Now I could make you look up the verse but let me just give you the key words.

They are:

“...but with the help of our God...”

It is essential in presenting the Gospel that we partner with the Holy Spirit.

Without Him drawing men and woman we face an impossible task.

Whether there is strong opposition or the favor of those we are presenting the message to, we still labor in vain when we labor in our own strength.

            Are you sharing the Gospel at home, at school, at work or in the marketplace?

Don’t be foolish and fail to invite the Holy Spirit to order your steps and to give you the words to speak.

But most importantly, to lead you to those He is drawing.

Jesus said in John 15 and verse 5:

“...apart from me, you can do nothing.”

Today, don’t endeavor to do the work of the Kingdom without the partnering of the Holy Spirit of the Kingdom!

 

Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day

 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous...”

Joshua 1:9a

 

 

We all know that physical strength comes from exercising our muscles and building them up through strength conditioning.

We also know that any wanna-be weightlifter would be more than foolish to go into a gym and attempt to lift the equivalent of his body weight on day one.

He must start out slowly, gradually building up his strength and endurance.

He must also be faithful and disciplined in maintaining that workout regimen.

And a personal trainer to guide him through the process wouldn’t hurt either!

The same is true as we consider the advice given to Joshua and apply it to our own spiritual strength conditioning program.

Strength comes through cultivating a regular time of prayer and communion with the Holy Spirit.

The old saying goes – “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

 You are not born again on Tuesday and fully mature on Wednesday.

Let the Holy Spirit take you to the gym and be your personal trainer.

Seek and obey His counsel and little by little you will grow in those areas that matter for eternity.

Rome truly wasn’t built in a day and neither are you!

 

The Value of a Torn Curtain

 

I hope this post I wrote way back on 3/2/2012 will minister to you:

 

““And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two

from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.”

Matthew 27:50-51

 

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,”

Hebrews 10:19-20

 

 

 

As we consider the subject of worship we must understand that the work Jesus accomplished on the cross by the shedding of His blood, cleanses us from sin.

But, as it also reveals in the scriptures above,

it also gave us access to the Holy of Holies.

What does that mean?

Verse 22 of the 10th chapter of Hebrews tells us we can now draw near to God. No longer is it necessary once a year for the High Priest to enter on our behalf.

Through the atoning work of Christ we have fellowship with the Father restored.

As we draw near in worship to God, we are assured that He will draw near to us.

You and I can know that intimate closeness with God that Adam knew in the Garden of Eden when he walked with God in the cool of the day.

Stop for a moment and consider that thought.

The God who created the universe made a way to restore fellowship with you.

He didn’t just make a way, He tore open the way!

So eager was God to restore His communion with you that His one and only Son gave up His life so that we might know eternal life.

When I think of the veil being torn from top to bottom I think of an EMT who tears the clothes of an accident victim to quickly render the necessary

lifesaving aid.

God “tore” the veil to bring us life!

I also think of the child who knows behind all that nice wrapping paper is the gift he has been waiting for so he eagerly, excitedly and quickly tears open the gift.

God is so much in love with you and I that He eagerly, excitedly and quickly tore that barrier away for the gift He longed for – restored fellowship with you and I.

So great is His love for us!

What is the value of a torn curtain?

In this case, it is truly priceless!

 

How Marvelous!

 

“But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

My feet have closely followed his steps;

I have kept to his way without turning aside.”

Job 23:10-11

“How marvelous, How wonderful

And my song shall ever be

How marvelous, How wonderful

Is my savior’s love for me!”

If you are honest then you would probably confess

to struggling with that last line in the scripture above.

Job say’s: “I have kept to his way without turning aside.”

 I miss more than I care to admit to.

But...

His grace, His mercy, His love!!

How marvelous and how wonderful!

No wonder another hymn of the ages declares

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years

Bright shining as the stars,

We’ve no less days to sing His praise

Than when we’ve first begun!”

Click on the link below and enjoy a few moments of worship.

Go ahead, just you and the Holy Spirit!

https://youtu.be/ciI0mq9s3Bs