Practically Sanctified

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly. He said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you: “Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.

(2 Chronicles 20:1-18 (mostly) NRS)

 What a great set-up for a story. The enemy is coming so the king and the people turn to God and cry, “Help” and a prophet steps up and says, “Don’t be afraid – relax. The battle is not yours but God’s.” The rest of the story is this: Jehoshaphat sets some singers out at the front of the army. While that is one way to kill an arts program in a nation, that is what they did. They march out and get to a watchtower and look off into the distance – all they see are dead bodies. Instead of war they spend 3 days taking all the plunder from the dead armies that had come to attack them. They returned to Jerusalem and praised God and had peace for the rest of Jehoshaphat’s reign.

There are a lot of lessons we can take from this story of God’s deliverance. The one I want to focus on, though, is about preparation. When you read through the stories of Jehoshaphat you read that he was a good king. He worked to get rid of the places of idol worship; he sought God’s wisdom from his prophets; he respected the Law and led his people well. He wasn’t perfect, but he did a pretty good job. Here is one thing he did do as a result of how he lived his life – he kept short accounts with God. Sin is a debt – a debt against God. He has set a standard and when we miss that mark, a debt is incurred. Often when we sin it is not just against God, but also against a person. We now have a debt against them – we owe them. That is why it is called forgiveness when you cancel that debt. Someone hurts you – you forgive them – you cancel the debt they had against you as a result of their sin.

That forgiveness is not automatic. The Bible says that forgiveness is based on a relationship with Jesus. 1 John 1:9 says that, “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What I mean by short accounts, then, is that we don’t let that debt pile up in our own life. Sometimes when we start drifting in our spiritual walk, we hit the cruise control and just let things go their course. Sin goes unconfessed, our life becomes less intentional and things just kind of happen. Keeping short accounts is confessing sin when we recognize it. It is like paying off your credit card balance every month, so there are no extra charges, no interest added. We may be good at not paying the bank, but the spiritual charges that accrue against unconfessed sin are much greater than any bank charges. Missed blessings, missed opportunities to share the love of Jesus, lost power of life and witness, loss of direction and wisdom – It is tragic the damage that sin causes. As a follower of Christ you have been enlightened, you have tasted of the heavenly gift, you have shared in the Holy Spirit, you have tasted the goodness of  the Word of God and the powers of the age to come – and then it stops, all because you do not return to God and seek forgiveness and His righteousness.

Jehoshaphat was able to go straight to God when the enemy came. He didn’t have to start going through life and try to sort through months or years of sin – he was current with God. His relationship was ongoing – and God heard and delivered.

We like to laugh at stereotypes. Stereotypes are what they are because they highlight a truth about something or someone. For men, there is a stereotype about directions. Whether it be maps, and we think we don’t need them, or instructions, and that we can put together that gazebo or barbeque without them. Invariably we get lost or have 3 important parts left over. Prayer is the same way. This book (the Bible) is a direction manual about prayer. Let’s look at a few of them – some of my favorites:

Romans 5: “we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” This is a prayer about God looking after us, fulfilling His purposes in us.

Romans 8: 1”There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”

 Romans 8:10 “if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

Romans 8:26 “the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”

 Romans 8:28-29 “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.”

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Know the context, the truth of the verse. (see Romans 8:36-37)

1. Trust in God’s character – it is sure and unchangeable
2. Scripture is not magic – understand how the spiritual realm works
3. Start from spiritual – Seek first the Kingdom of God – God’s rule in your heart

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” John 14:1-7

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

    “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” John 14:16-20

When we moved from Ontario to Alberta in June of 2003 we had a wonderful 4-door Buick LeSabre. Up until we started driving our Ford Fusion, the LeSabre had the nicest engine I have ever had in a vehicle. It was good on gas, powerful and smooth all at the same time. I liked the sound of it. About a year after we arrived in Alberta, though, we started having problems with it. When we went up hill it would start to sputter and die. You can imagine, that as nice as the engine and the car was, if it wouldn’t go and left you standing on the side of the road it was pretty useless. If it didn’t have any power, it wasn’t worth anything. We have talked about Faith and Prayer. Today we talk about what God is doing in us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the power in our lives. If we try living our spiritual life without the work and input of the Holy Spirit, it is like the LeSabre dying on the side of the hil – it doesn’t work, it is of no use to anyone. What, then, is the Holy Spirit doing? What does He want to accomplish in us? I want to leave you with three words that came out of our prayer meeting on Tuesday. Read more…

The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and does not keep silence, before him is a devouring fire, and a mighty tempest all around him. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (Selah)

“Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. I will not accept a bull from your house, or goats from your folds. For every wild animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is mine. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all that is in it is mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Psalm 50:1-15 (NRS)

There are large housing developments across the United States that remain unfinished. They are studies in infrastructure. All the roads are in place, the sewers and power and natural gas – all the utilities are laid out and ready to go. All that is needed are the houses. The promise is there, and the plan is there – so much potential. The question remains, though, will that potential be reached. Will the money and the people come forward to buy the houses yet to be built. We can look at a new year like that – the months lay before us, tasks and ministries pave the way, but will we reach our potential? Two weeks ago I spoke about faith – a faith that changes how we live. As part of the foundation series for starting a new year I want to share some thoughts on prayer. Read more…

A Year of Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (excerpts from Hebrews 11:1-12:2)

I came home from the church on Friday and was looking at the houses on our block. Many of the houses put up Charlie Brown figures along with Christmas lights because we live on Brown Crescent. I must confess, though, that I put away our figures and the lower lights this past week. It was decent weather and it seems for me that as I hit New Years I am ready to look ahead – get the past cleaned up and look to the new. I even did some of my late winter spring garden work! Read more…

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11:1-7 (NASB)

We all know how important foundations are. If your house doesn’t have a good foundation it is in danger of falling down. The leaning Tower of Pissa is leaning because it has a really poor foundation. Our educational system focuses on foundational issues like reading knowing that it provides a great foundation for the rest of our children’s educational journeys. If a woman is putting on make-up, she starts with foundation – a base coat to put everything else on top of. Foundations provide the strong base upon which you build anything, be it buildings, life skills, or make-up. What is foundational for you and I in our faith? What is one thing we cannot ignore? Read more…

What Scriptures tell you that God is with you? What Scriptures show us God, who He is and His presence?

God is Triune. There are three distinct persons in the Godhead, yet there is one God. I found it interesting at Empower 11 that because of Mohamed’s exposure to a strange sect of Christianity that worshipped Mary, his understanding and subsequently most Muslim’s understanding of the Christian’s Trinity is God the Father (Jehovah), God the mother (Mary) and God the Son (Jesus). Obviously that is not even a consideration for us, but God did reveal Himself in three distinct ways at three distinct times; and each of these revelations where God breaks out of eternity shows us a different part of His character, His presence. Read more…

Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. So I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’

Exodus 3:13-17

Before there was the Great One there was Mr. Hockey. He is the only player to have competed in the NHL in five (1940s through 1980s) different decades. A four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Red Wings, he won six Hart Trophies as the league’s most valuable player and six Art Ross Trophies as the leading scorer. The term Gordie Howe hat trick, which consisting of a goal, an assist, and a fight, was coined in reference to his penchant for fighting. In a feat unsurpassed by any hockey player, he finished in the top five in scoring for twenty straight seasons. Howe also scored 20 or more goals in 22 consecutive seasons between 1949 and 1971, an NHL record. He was the recipient of the first NHL Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.  Read more…

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples;

But the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Lift up your eyes round about and see; they all gather together, they come to you.

Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms.

Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice;

Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you.

“A multitude of camels will cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

All those from Sheba will come; they will bring gold and frankincense,

And will bear good news of the praises of the LORD.

During the latter half of the 8^th century Judah seemingly was about to follow the example of apostasy of the 10 northern tribes of Israel (722BC – captivity by Assyrians). King Ahaz foolishly looked to Assyria for protection, even though Isaiah told him the Northern Kingdom would shortly fall to the Assyrians (8:3-4). Hezekiah, Ahaz’s God-fearing son, instituted spiritual reforms but sought the help of Egypt in foreign affairs, again against the prophet’s warning. Egypt fell before Sennacherib of Assyria, and only through divine intervention was Judah saved from the same fate (37:36-37). During the reign of Manasseh idolatrous practices were reinstated, and Isaiah warned of the inevitability of the Babylonian captivity (522 BC). He also gave assurance of the preservation of the people and restoration of the nation. Read more…

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

(2 Timothy 2:1-7)

There is a movie several years old called Heroes, starring Dustin Hoffman. While the language in it is bad at points, the movie explores what a hero is. The premise is this small time con man being in the right place to save many people from a burning plane. Of course, he can’t just save the people altruistically; he has to steal one of the purses of the people he saves. He is the reluctant hero. It is the last thing he wants to do, yet circumstances and a smidgen of compassion forces him to accomplish the task at hand. He does the heroic thing and then spends the rest of the movie trying to avoid the label, the celebrity of it. Hollywood and the world around us like to mention the flaws of a hero, of a leader. They do not want to believe that people can be successful and do it with integrity. In one sense Hollywood is wrong, because they think no one is able to maintain integrity in life. They deny the power of God to change people. They deny that God has given us everything we need, including His Spirit, to live lives of integrity and holiness. At the same time, they have a kernel of truth in their failure: the truth that everyone of us has the capacity to be a hero. While it isn’t just about serendipity or internal fortitude, they are right when they say you and I can be a hero. Read more…