When God’s fire falls; Lev 10:1-5

 

In our end of month prayer evening last month we saw that where God’s fire falls, there is a mighty anointing and power in that place. We saw that God told Moses to remove his shoes for the place where the fire was burning became Holy ground. We also saw that the shepherds rod which Moses had in his hand became the rod of God when it got in contact to the ground where the fire of God fell. Moses used his hands to pickup the rod when God asked him to pick the serpent by the tail and so Moses’ hand touched the ground and got into contact. So Moses’ hands became anointed as well. You can understand why God asked Moses to raise his hand and the rod to part the red sea into two. You also see that Moses’ hands played a great deal when the people were at war; while he raised his hands they won and when he brings them down they loose. Aaron could have raised his own hands but it did not carry the anointing, so he assisted in supporting the hand of Moses up instead. We established that night that when you come to church be prepared to get into His presence and that His mighty power is here. We said it doesn’t matter whether there is a pastor in the church or not, if you come expectantly, you will receive a powerful manifestation of God’s power when you come into His presence.

In the days of Moses, Nadab and Abihu; sons of Aaron were consumed by the fire that fell from God. We may see with our eyes as if the sin was a small one but it was a great sin when we look at the consequences of that sin. Lev 10:1, Numb 3:4 makes clear that these children of Aaron offered strange fire before God. That was their sin.

You can understand why I insist for ministers to rally in the morning, prepare themselves and the atmosphere before service. I remember the praise team was behind me for that instruction which I said we can’t change it nor compromise God’s principles. It was a debate in their forum which I am not present. If some of the praise team members had the opportunity they would have rain down fire on me. I thank God that some of them have understood after getting some experiences in their ministry. If you are to minister, you must come early for prayers and there are instructions and changes that can be made after that prayer session.

Listen, Nadab and Abihu had their consecration completed the day before, and it was part of their work as priests to serve at the altar of incense, but it seems this service of inauguration was to be performed by their father Aaron himself, for he slew the sacrifices for sin-offering(Lev 9:8,15,18), and his sons were only to attend him (Lev 10:9,12,18).

So Nadab and Abihu were so proud of the honor they were newly advanced to, ambitious to do the highest and most honorable part of their work immediately, that though the service was extraordinary, and done by the direction of Moses, they went on to prepare their censers, entered into the tabernacle, and burned incense. That was the strange fire which is forbidden in Exodus 30:9. In 2 Chronicles 26:16-19 King Uzziah presented incents in the temple when he was not priest and became leprose till his death.

You come to God’s presence to offer a sacrifice of praise, and you don’t prepare yourself? You say “man of God, the team is not happy with your decision for them to come and pray before service.” Others say, man of God, you are breaking protocols. Whose protocols? Man’s protocols or God’s protocol? Do you want to be like Nadab and Abihu? They were priests, children of Aaron the high priest. God is not a respecter of man.

There is reason to suspect that Nadab and Abihu were drunk when they did it, because of the law which was given upon this occasion in Lev 10:8. They have been feasting upon the peace-offerings, and the drink-offerings that attended them; so their hearts were merry with wine they drank and forgot the law (Prov 31:5) and so they were guilty of this fatal miscarriage. They died childless. In fact the sin was so terrible that God did not want anything from their descendants.

You can ask a lot of questions concerning this punishment. They fell and died before the mercy seat but the veil was not open for them, there was no mercy for them at all. They were young and inexperienced; would God not have considered this to spare their lives? Would the punishment not have been reduced because they were trying to serve God? They were the sons of the chosen priest Aaron, the nephew to Moses whom heaven has shown favor, could they not be saved? Aaron had only 4 sons and God has called him and his descendants to the Levitical priesthood; killing 2 means the number of hands have reduced. How is service going to continue effectively? At times you think you are special and so God will spare you because there’s no one to replace you. You lie! There is no reason for God to spare a life that rebels against His presence. These two had no time to cry for mercy, they died instantly.

When the fire of God falls, two things can happen;

1.      Some people die: Those who don’t belong to Him are consumed

2.      Some others rejoice: When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fire, their yokes were destroyed by the fire because God descended into the fire.

And because their yokes were destroyed, they walked out of the fire into promotion. But for those who were not on God’s side, as they got closed to that fire, they were consumed.

You can understand why some people cry fire in service while others are receiving healings at the same time. Because the fire of God has fallen down at that moment. So, before you join those who are asking for fire to fall, if you are not already on God’s side, please cross over.

There are times the fire falls without us asking it from God and even the preacher is unaware that God is about to rain down fire. When it falls only those on God’s side are safe. There are people who are ministers in God’s house but who still are living in sin. Surrender your life completely to Jesus Christ because if you stand by when the fire begins to fall, and you are not on God’s side, the result might not be very pleasant. God usually gives room for repentance,  but note that the day the fire falls is the day of consequences. Many people are nursing diseases and other terrible issues because the fire of God fell, and they were not on His side. My cry to you today is to repent before it is too late; it doesn’t matter whether you are preacher, singer, teacher, prayer warrior or whatsoever, be sure you are right before His presence.

Shalom

 

The Living Power Of The Resurrection; Acts 9:36-43

 

In Acts 9:31-35, Peter heals a man paralyzed for eight years, at least, and was confined by his disability to a bed. Peter takes a look at the man and announces, "Aeneas, Jesus Messiah is healing you! Get up! Make your bed!" The result of the miracle is that "everyone living in Lydda and in the Sharon saw him, and these turned to the Lord." The now-walking Aeneas is proof that the power of the resurrection has been loosed into the world.

Then in 9:36-43 the miraculous power of God acts even more astonishingly.

1. "Now in Joppa (a place close to Lydda) there was a certain woman disciple whose name was Tabitha. Translated (from Aramaic into Greek) this means Dorcas" (Acts 9:36a). The word in each language means "gazelle." Or deer. Naphtali is compared to a hind let loose, giving goodly words and the wife to the kind and tender husband is as the loving hind, and as the pleasant roe, Proverbs 5:19.

2.  There is a quite striking linguistic use in that sentence. Dorcas is called a "female disciple," mathetria in Greek, the only time that term is used in the entire New Testament. Luke implies by that usage that Dorcas is fully the equivalent of the male disciples who are named with the masculine form of the noun in 9:38 and in numerous times in the early literature of the New Testament.

 

She was a disciple, one that had embraced the faith of Christ and was baptized and not only so, but was eminent above many for works of charity. She showed her faith by her works, her good works, which she was full of, that is, in which she abounded. Her head was full of cares and contrivances which way she should do good. She devised liberal things, Isaiah 32:8.

 

3. Many people today are full of good words, who are empty and barren in good works but Tabitha was a great doer, no great talker: Non magna loquimur, sed vivimus--We do not talk great things, but we live them. Among other good works, she was remarkable for her alms--deeds, which she did, not only her works of piety (devotedness), which are good works and the fruits of faith, but works of charity and generosity, flowing from love to her neighbour and a holy contempt of this world.

 

Observe, She is commended not only for the alms which she gave, but for the alms--deeds which she did. Those that have not estates wherewith to give in charity may yet be able to do in charity, working with their hands, or walking with their feet, for the benefit of the poor.

 

4. She was removed in the midst of her usefulness (Acts 9:37): In those days she fell sick, and died. It is promised to those who consider the poor, not that they shall never be sick, but that the Lord will strengthen them upon the bed of languishing, at least with strength in their souls, and so will make all their bed in their sickness, will make it easy, Psalms 41:1,3.

 

 Her friends and those about her did not presently bury her, as usual, because they were in hopes Peter would come and raise her to life again but they washed the dead body, according to the custom, which, it is said, was with warm water, which, if there were any life remaining in the body, would recover it so that this was done to show that she was really and truly dead. They tried all the usual methods to bring her to life, and could not. Conclamatum est--the last cry was uttered. They laid her out in her grave-clothes in an upper chamber, that Peter, if he would come, might raise her to life the more solemnly in that place.

 

They sent Peter two men, to make the message the more solemn and respectful, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them not telling him the occasion, lest he should modestly decline coming upon so great an errand as to raise the dead: if they can but get him to them, they will leave it to him. Their friend was dead, and it was too late to send for a physician, but not too late to send for Peter. Post mortem medicus--a physician after death, is an absurdity, but not Post mortem apostolus--an apostle after death.

The commendation (praise) of Tabitha was like her own virtues, not in word, but in deed. Here were no encomiums (eulogies) of her in orations, nor poems inscribed to her memory but the widows showed the coats and garments which she made for them, and bestowed upon them while she was with them. And here it was the credit of Tabitha, when she was dead, that the backs of the widows praised her for the garments which she made them. And those are certainly best praised whose own works praise them in the gates, whether the words of others do or no. It is much more honourable to clothe a company of crumbling widows with needful clothing for night and day, who will pray for their benefactors when they do not see them, than to clothe a company of lazy footmen with rich dresses, who perhaps behind their backs will curse those that clothe them (Ecclesiastes 7:21).

It should seem, the widows wept before Peter, as an inducement to him, if he could do any thing, to have compassion on them and help them, and restore one to them that used to have compassion on them.  Have they heard of the power of resurrection that Peter seems to possess? The text is silent on that score, but Luke is intent on demonstrating that Peter is somehow representative of that power.

Peter sends the entire group outside, falls to his knees and prays.

Then, turning to the body, he said, 'Tabitha, arise!'(Tabitha, Cumi!) similar to what the Lord Jesus did to the child of the head of the synagogue (Talitha Cumi!, young girl arise). The dead woman opened her eyes at this command, saw Peter, and sat back up. He gave her his hand and raised her. He called the holy ones and the widows. He presented her to them alive (9:40-41).

And, as occurred in the healing of the paralyzed Aeneas earlier in the chapter, "many believed in the Lord" (9:42, and above 9:35).

In the Gospel story of the raising of a little girl by Jesus (Lk. 8:49-56), we find the use of messengers, weeping bystanders, exclusion of people from the room of the miracle, the call to rise, and the taking of the hand. It is clear that Luke wants his readers to be certain that the power demonstrated by the risen Lord is now manifest in those who follow him in the early community of faith.

 

And other parallels are not difficult to find. The healing of the paralytic and the raising of a widow have been seen in accounts about Jesus in the Gospel (Lk. 5:17-26, 7:11-16). And of course readers of the Hebrew Bible have witnessed much older examples of such miraculous healings by the prophets Elijah and Elisha (1 Kgs. 17:17-24; 2 Kgs. 4:32-37). Peter thus stands in a long line of prophets who work signs and wonders among the people. What do we learn from the life of Dorcas?

1.     Faith without good works is dead

2.      Dorcas used her talents for God (herself, her time and resources she gave for God in helping the widows)

3.      God cares for the vulnerable; When we care for what God cares for, he will honor and reward our charitable deeds. Honor and help those widows who are truly widowed [alone, and without support]. 1 Tim5:3 AMP

4.      Peter relied on God’s power (He knelt to show his humility, he learned from Jesus Christ the importance of praying and calling upon God’s presence and power to change situations.

5.      In God, there is always hope. The widows did not lost hope. They waited for Peter to do something. As we’re waiting on God to perform miracles in our lives, our hearts should be expectant.

6.      Leave a legacy in the kingdom of God. Dorcas’ faith and charitable deeds left a legacy.

7.      God has a purpose for everything; even a dead person can serve a mighty purpose. Tabitha’s resurrection bought many to believe in Christ Jesus in the town of Joppa. It was a testimony of God’s glory and power.

 

I don’t think the purpose of the loving power of the resurrection is for the young girl or for Dorcas. Yes, it made them well and gave them life. But the Bible says “All those who heard and saw this powerful deeds marveled and believed in the power of the Almighty God. It was not just for the benefactors but also to those who were standing there like sheep without a shepherd. When you see mighty works of God done in this place, it is God’s authentication for you to believe in Him and works Jesus Christ did on the cross for you.

The Un-Invited Guest Of Honor

 

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” John 1:11 KJV

“He came to what was his own, yet his own folk did not welcome him.” John 1:11 James Moffatt Translation

“He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own-His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him.” John 1:11 The Amplified Bible

Imagine, if you will, that you have been invited to a party; a birthday party. All of your friends, loved-ones, acquaintances and some of your enemies are in attendance. The place is all decorated and adorned with the trimmings for the gala affair. The gifts are in abundance and everyone seems to be having a good time! But, wait a minute, something is wrong! It suddenly occurs to you that everybody is at this party except the birthday person; the guest of honor! You inquire to the host as to the whereabouts of the honoree, and much to your dismay, you discover that the guest of honor was not even invited to his own birthday celebration! Furthermore, you discover that not only was he not invited, should he happen to show up, he would not be welcomed! Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But, is this not the case with many of our Christmas celebrations today? It seems as if this world is determined to celebrate a Christ-less Christmas! Although he is the reason for the season, in many homes he is not welcome. Many have X-ed him out and replaced the babe in a manger with a fat man in a red suit! Now, I don’t mean to be a scrooge, but I think we ought to be more mindful of the real reason for this season.

Some commentators have said that the verse of our text is perhaps one of the saddest in the Bible. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not!” Let’s take a few minutes now to take a closer look at this text and see what application it has for us today. First of all, notice that the text says, “He came!” Oh! What a wonderful statement! He came! He came! God breaking into the plane of human existence! He came! Because we were unable to go to Him; He came to us! He came! The Word of God manifested in the flesh! He came! God intervening into human history to give us HIS-Story! For ages, God had been telling men the way, with the advent of Jesus, He provided a living illustration to show us the Way! He came! God’s idea manifested in the flesh; the embodiment of the faith. He came! Immanuel; “God with us!” Oh, I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that He came. Because He came, I can have life and have it more abundantly! Because He came, I can face tomorrow! Because He came, life is worth the living! Oh! I’m so glad that He came!

Yes! He came! He came unto His own! He came unto His own world. John wrote: “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” It was His own because He was active in creation! He was there when the statement was made, “Let us make man!” Hebrews says that the world is upheld by the word of His power! Yes! He came unto His own world; His own creation, and His own creation did not receive Him! The Creator was rejected by the creature!

He came unto His own people! He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. In Matthew’s gospel, it is reported that Jesus sent out the disciples with instructions to go not the way of the Gentiles, but rather to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. One day a Syrophenician woman came to Jesus seeking his help, to whom Jesus replied, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” He came unto His own people, but overall, He was rejected by them. Even his own family had doubts about him, John 7: 5 says that even his own brothers did not believe in him.

But not only was he not welcomed by his own creation and his own people, he was not welcomed by his own religion. The scriptures that the Pharisees and scribes studied testified of Jesus, yet the religious authorities refused to acknowledge him as the Messiah! Yes! He came unto His own!

He came unto his own and his own received him not! Yes! His own rejected the Christ and crucified him upon a Roman cross. His own refused to acknowledge him as the Messiah! His own refused to accept him as Lord. But why? Why was it that he came unto his own and his own received him not?

Well, His creation refused to receive him because of the same reason that they were in rebellion against God! Jesus said that men loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. When John wrote that Jesus was the light and that the light was shining in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not, there was a dual meaning. One of the distinctive characteristics of John’s gospel is that it is full of dualism. By dualism, we refer to those words and concepts within this gospel writing that has more than one meaning. For instance, in John chapter three, Jesus told Nicodemus that a man must be born “anon.” The Greek word has two meanings which are both equally applicable in this context. The word means, “again”: Ye must be born again! But it also means “from above”: Ye must be born from above! Both concepts are equally valid. In order to see (perceive or understand) the Kingdom, one must experience a second birth and that birth must be of a spiritual nature: from above! So, when John wrote, what the King James Version interprets as “comprehend,” the Greek word is “katalambano,” which has the dual meaning of “understanding” or “comprehension” and “overcoming.” Hence the darkness did not understand the light neither did the darkness overcome, defeat, or extinguish the light. The world did not accept or receive Jesus because the world was in darkness!

His family according to the flesh and the Jews in general did not receive him because he came as a suffering servant and they were expecting a reigning king! That’s the way it is you know, when you don’t measure up to other folk’s expectation of you, they will reject you! Jesus came preaching a spiritual gospel, proclaiming deliverance from sin, but what the Jews wanted was a political manifesto declaring their independence from Rome! Tradition has it that Barrabas was also named Jesus and that he was a political insurrectionist. Hence the Jews wanted Jesus, the insurrectionist rather than Jesus the Christ. There are many people today who claim to be followers of Jesus. But the question is, which Jesus? The Jesus of the Bible; the Son of God or a Jesus of our own making? Yes, he came unto his own and his own received him not!

But thank God today! The rejection was not total! There were some who welcomed his arrival, And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

No, the rejection was not total! The record states, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Yes! I’m glad today that the rejection was not total! For there were those who were willing to receive him as their Lord and Savior! No! The rejection was not total! For there are those even today, who realize that without Christ there would be no Christmas! So, as I leave you alone to decide how you will celebrate this Christmas! Just remember that it’s not about presents wrapped under a tree, but rather a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger! It’s not so much about the presents you give to others, but the gift that God has given to you! As you celebrate Christmas this year, don’t forget about the guest of honor! You see, if you don’t invite him to the party, then he will not show up! He’s too intelligent to be a party-crasher! But if you invite him; he will come! For I heard him saying, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Yes! If you let him, Jesus will come into your Christmas celebration! Well! How should we celebrate Christmas? I submit to you that if you are lost you cannot truly celebrate this season! You cannot really celebrate a party if you’re not on speaking terms with the guest of honor! You cannot celebrate a holy season in an unholy manner! It’s on the verge of blasphemy to celebrate the birthday of Jesus by getting drunk at Christmas parties! The best way to celebrate this season is by inviting the guest of honor to take his rightful place in your life! The best way to celebrate is by letting him into your heart and life:

Oh! Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare him room, And Heaven and nature sing!

Oh! Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ! While fields and floods, rock, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy! Yes! You ought to go tell it on the mountain! Over the hills and everywhere! Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ was born!

 

 

God is Light and those who fellowship with God must walk in the Light 1 John 1:5-7

 

Introduction:

The writer whom we believe is Apostle John makes us know that he is the carrier of a message. It was the ambition of the apostles to be found faithful, and faithfully to deliver the errands and messages they had received. The apostles and the apostolical ministers are the messengers of the Lord Jesus; it is their honour, the chief they pretend to, to bring his mind and messages to the world and to the  churches. So John says in verse 5 that “the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you.”

The present message he wants to bring to us is about God whom we have to commune with and his nature. In fact he wants us to know that to fellowship with someone, we need to know his or her nature so that you can truly have communication or true relationship. That message he has is that God is Light and in him there is no darkness at all. Can you understand? The beauty and excellency of God here described?

That He is a self-active uncompounded spirituality, purity, wisdom, holiness, and glory. There is no defect or imperfection, no mixture of any thing alien or contrary to absolute excellency, no mutability nor capacity of any decay in him: In him is no darkness at all. That is what it means to be Light. God is Spirit; self-active; no one makes him active or inactive. He is perpetually active according to His will and no external source can change who He is. He is the unchangeable changer. Purity is his nature with all knowing capacity. Just think of His holiness and His Glory.

The writer now brings in the conclusion to professors of Christianity or professed entertainers of the gospel:

1.       If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, then we lie and do not the truth. To walk in darkness is to live and act according to such ignorance, error and erroneous practices as contrary to the fundamental dictates of the scriptures. God holds no heavenly fellowship or intercourse with unholy souls. What communion has light with darkness? They lie themselves because they have no communications from God nor accesses to him. There is no truth in their profession nor in their practice.

2.       But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin. As the blessed God is the eternal boundless light, and the Mediator is from him, the light of the world, so the Christian institution is the great luminary that appears in our sphere, and shines here below. A conformity to this in spirit and practice therefore demonstrates communion with God.

Are you walking in the light? Where the blood of Jesus has cleansed you from all sin. Where you cherish the work of God which is the word of life. You will want to go anywhere just because of the undiluted gospel. Not only will you listen to the Gospel but you seek for God’s grace to live the gospel, you want to practice the gospel by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit of Light that is in you.

Or Are you walking in darkness? Where you enjoy the errors and ignorance of this world. Hatred, lasciviousness (feeling or revealing an overt sexual interest or desire: lascivious wink, arousing sexual desire. Don’t we see that in facebook and whatsapp? Girls who kiss the phone or the air, some extend their tongue as if they are panting for the devil in sex.  And we say they are sexy. You sinner!) , debauchery (extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures and especially sexual pleasures: drugs and drunkenness that leads to sexual immorality before they realize when it’s too late), fits of rage, revelling (enjoying oneself in a lively and noisy way, especially with drinking and dancing), jealousy, murder, sexual immorality and all the like even though you come to church every Sunday and profess that you are Christian. It doesn’t matter whether you are pastor, evangelist, ordained or not, choir member, deacon, elder or leader in your church. Are you walking in the light?

 

Is It Right To Do Your Own Thing?

 

Summary: Without God as King of one’s life, the result is moral corruption and spiritual bankruptcy.

IS IT RIGHT TO DO YOUR OWN THING"

JUDGES 17: 1-13

"In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes".

In the latter part of the book of Judges you will find this interesting statement, "In those days there was no king in Israel, but everyman did that which was right in his own eyes", (A. V.) The New International Version translates the same verse, "everyone did as he saw fit". (Judges 17: 6, 18: 1, 19: 1, 21: 25) Without much thought it came to me that the statement could also reflect upon our own society - everyone wants to do their own thing.

A close look at the period of the Judges reveals that because man did his own thing the outcome was low moral standards, a of debasing of religious conceptions and practices, and poor social structure. The commentator suggests that the disorders of the time resulted from an absence of a strong central authority - no king. A point that is laboured four times in the next few chapters.

It would seem that there is a problem when we act as we like or do as we want to do without regard to any reference point.

Obviously, Israel had put aside the principles that were so important to them in times gone by, - given to them in their Exodus experience.

Just looking at Micah from the reading we see he breaks several of those commands.

He is a thief, (v. 2) He steals his mothers money and she curses Him. This woman’s money was her god  before it was transformed into a graven image else it would not have have carried her to the point of cursing her son with such a passion that it tiiggled Micah to return it. The  noticed that the money he took has a curse following behind so he repented, and did restitution to his mother. The mother was so pleased with the son’s repentance that she recalled her curses, and turned them into prayers for her son’s welfare: Blessed be thou of the Lord, my son. When those who have been guilty repent, they have to be commended and upbraided (reproached) for their fault. Children should know and understand that when they still even what their parents have kept for them like what this woman did, they can receive serious curses though the money was saved for them.

He desired to make an idol, (v. 3) Micah and his mother agreed to make a graven image thereby rebelling against God’s second commandment. This should be the first instance of rebellion after Jushua led them and subsequently others started worshiping Baalam hence violating also the first and great commandment.

He had his own shrine, (v. 5)

e installed his own son into the priestly office, (v. 5)

Micah had a total disregard for what was right! And he did know what was right because when a Levi came along seeking a living, (again because of the corruption that existed in the Israel society), he hires him to be his own personal priest. You will remember that the Levites were to act as the custodians of the tabernacle, particularly the duty of looking after the curtains, the tent and hangings. His own son sufficed till a genuine Levi came along, (v. 10).

Micah thought his own priest would give him access to God, (v. 13).

The whole picture is sad. No regard for God. No regard for his law. No regard for correct worship practices. No regard for other individuals. Just a big interest in SELF - "Everyone did as he saw fit".

No government to call him to account. No punishment was imposed on his crime.

As I reflect on this story and the plight of our nation today. I take the three requirements of a good society.

WE NEED GOD

WE NEED RIGHT WORSHIP - A RETURN TO THE CHURCH.

We do not need to be doing our own thing, but God’s will.

"The best thing I know in this world below

Is doing the will of God".

Paul warns us, "Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world", (Romans 12 : 2).

Is God the focus of your life?

Do you obey his rules?

Do you worship him rightly?

It is God’s people who are seen in a poor light through compromise to be like the other nations around them. Do we want to be like others who do their own thing in our society?   Righteousness exalts a nation!

The Forgotten Secret of Christian Giving I Chronicles 29:14-17

 

David is an old man about to die. But God has given him a great vision. It is the dream of building a magnificent temple for the worship of Almighty God. It will be the grandest building ever constructed. His fondest dream to is honor his God by building that palatial structure.

But God has other plans. We pick up the story in 1 Chronicles 28:2-3.

King David rose to his feet and said: ‘‘Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’

David had the dream but because his hands were dripping with blood, God would not allow him to build the temple. It must be built by a man of peace. God chose Solomon instead. So in verses 9-10 David charges Solomon to seek the Lord with his whole heart because the Lord searches every heart and every thought of the mind. In verse 1 of ch 29 David said to the people ‘My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God.”

In essence he says there are two problems:

1. Solomon is too young.

2. The task is too great.

Without God’s help the project is impossible.

The King; David set a good example by giving for the project then he called the leaders to follow the example and they gave willingly for the project of the temple.

Notice two points in verse 9. First, they gave “freely.” That means there was no pressure. Second, they gave “wholeheartedly.” That means there was no limit. The same two signs may be found today whenever God’s Spirit is moving. People will give freely and won’t have to be pressured, enticed or intimidated. And they will give without limit to the work of the Lord. The next few verses record a psalm of praise composed by David on the spot. In verse 12 he reveals the secret of generous giving: “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.” The details now follow from vs 14 to 17.

a. So David blessed the LORD before all the assembly: The generous giving made David rejoice and praise God. It wasn’t for the sake of the wealth itself, but because it demonstrated that the hearts of the people were really interested in God and in His house.

b. Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever: This is the first time in the Bible that God is addressed directly as a Father over His people.

c. Both riches and honor come from You: David could say this as a man who had a life full of both riches and honor. David knew that those things came from God and not from himself.

 

d. Who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? David knew that both the ability and the heart to give were themselves gifts from God. He was actually humbled by having such a heart to give, both in himself and in the people of Israel as a group.

 

David says the people gave generously because they understood that everything they had came from God. In a sense, they were only giving back to God what he had given them in the first place. That’s why the people were able to give “willingly” and with so much joy. Generous giving is not difficult when we understand that everything we have comes from God.

All that we are and all that we have comes from God. Everything is a gift. Nothing is earned, everything is given.

Your life is a gift

Your health is a gift

Your career is a gift

Your intelligence is a gift

Your strength is a gift

Your personality is a gift

Your children are a gift

Your friendships are a gift

Your possessions are a gift

Your accomplishments are a gift

Your wealth is a gift.

You own nothing. Everything you have is on loan from God. He gives it to you for a little while and says, “Take care of it.” We hold on tight because we think it all belongs to us. Sooner or later we’ll understand that it doesn’t belong to us … and it never did. We are like little children holding so tightly to a few borrowed marbles. We grip them in our palm because we’re afraid of losing them. But sooner or later God himself begins to pry the marbles out of our hand. One by one he pulls our fingers off the things we think are ours. We may fight back, but he is stronger and he always wins. In the end he takes back that which belongs to him in the first place.

The Bible warns us over and over about the seductive power of money. First Timothy 6:10 reminds us that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” The love of money corrupts us in so many ways. It makes us selfish, greedy, and envious. It causes us to forget our friends, trample on our co-workers, neglect our children, and ignore our wives. It seduces us with the promise of happiness, but then delivers nothing at all.

All that we are building here in Mount Zion Boko will one day crumble to the dust. Everything built by man must disappear. Nothing lasts forever. Then why build at all? If we seek immortality through bricks and mortar, we have deceived ourselves. This building project was never about the building, and it was never about the money. That was always secondary to providing ways for us to minister more effectively to the people God sends us. Buildings are ministry tools to allow us to help people meet Jesus and grow in him. All that remains of Solomon’s temple is the record of the love and sacrifice of the people who built it 3,000 years ago. That record will stand for eternity. The same is true for us. God records our faith and our love and our sacrifice. What we build will not last, but God will remember forever what we have done and why we have done it. And so we give gladly and freely to see the church move forward by faith.

When we give generously, we’re saying, “Lord, it’s all yours anyway.”

When we give generously, we’re investing in the Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

When we give generously, we are declaring, “There’s a lot more where that came from.”

When we given generously, we’re laying up treasures in heaven.

There is nothing we have given to God except what He has given to us. Romans 11:35 says “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” We need to understand that God is the source, the means, and the goal of all things.

 

 

 

Superficial vs. Spiritual Wisdom 1 Cor 2:12-13

"Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual."

Paul opens the chapter reminding the church that he first came to them only with the wisdom of God not of man. He determined to be nothing before them except for Jesus Christ and him crucified. Paul was reminding the Corinthian church and us today in mount Zion Boko that when we come to Christ we are bound to grow in the basic facts of what God has done and even deeper teachings of God’s word.

This growth is a rigorous process. This wisdom has depth to it. A Christian who is maturing in his or her faith is not coming to church on Friday evening or Sunday, church school, or all the other activities, to be entertained by some clever, eloquent performer who orchestrates your emotions and makes you feel good. It is our responsibility to teach you. It is your responsibility to learn. That is why Paul says, "Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory" (1 Corinthians 2:6-7).

Wow, Paul says though I did not come to you with eloquence, we speak wisdom among those who are perfect, among those who are well instructed in christianity, and come to some maturity in the things of God. They don’t only understand the plain history of Christ, and his crucifixion, which is basic doctrine, they also discern deep and admirable designs of the divine wisdom. It is not wordly wisdom but divine wisdom. To those who enjoy the gospel revelation; types are unveiled, mysteries made plain, prophecies interpreted, and the secret counsels of God published and laid open.

Listen to the details:

Point 1: There are two kinds of wisdom.

a) One is "temporal wisdom." It is the wisdom of this age. It is the wisdom of the rulers of this age. It is a wisdom that has limited horizons. It is propelled forward by the spiritual powers of darkness. It has a satanic dimension to it. And it is doomed to pass away.

What would be some examples of this temporal wisdom?

There are many labels we could throw around.

Naturalism tells us that we live in a closed universe of cause and effect. What we experience through our senses is all that there is.

Hedonism declares a universe that has no real meaning, so "eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."

New Age Mysticism informs us that reality is found within ourselves and, with intense meditation, we will come to a greater awareness of who we are and how to function in relationship to others.

Materialism stimulates our inquisitive nature, promising that wealth and power is the purpose of living. "The one with the most toys wins."

Apostate Christianity belittles the historic biblical doctrines of the faith, yet still claims to be Christian.

There are those who still claim the name Christian but reject the notion of a Creator,  the God who sustains, who breaks into human history in the person of Jesus Christ and who reveals His truth in the Scriptures, which we hold to be "the only infallible rule of faith and practice."

All these worldly wisdom live within time. They don't really explain where we came from, why we are here and where we are going in a way that equips us with quality for the now.

b) The second kind of wisdom is eternal wisdom. This is the hidden wisdom of God. It is His natural and special revelation of himself. This lasts forever and is the ultimate ground of all being in which you and I can stake our very lives. Granted, at times, we distort it and misinterpret His wisdom. When we do so, we need to come under the authority of God's revelation, finding correction of our errors through our endeavor to more fully understand the wisdom that goes beyond our temporal, limited, finite, human rationality.

Point 2: None of the rulers of this age fully understand this.

Sometimes the phrase "rulers of this age" is used to describe evil, supernatural powers thought to control human destiny. It appears that here Paul is referring to human leaders, since, in verse 8, he says that these are the ones who crucified Jesus and since the contrast in this whole passage is between the believer who has the Spirit and the nonbeliever who does not have the Spirit.

Not many of the rulers of this world understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Power does have a way of corrupting. As has been said, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I do know that, when your citizenship is in the Kingdom of God and you bow your head before His sovereignty, there are those rulers of the kingdom of humankind who are threatened by your allegiance to the Lord. They do not understand this. The currency of the kingdom of humankind is a different currency.

Illus: My wife went to Egypt some few months ago and in returning she brought back some of their currency which she did not change. While in Egypt they were useful there but here in our country they are useless. Her plans was to give it to a visiting Doctor who came to the Hospital so that he can return with them. It is their currency and useful there but here it is irrelevant.

The eternal wisdom of the Kingdom of God is viewed as foolishness to the kingdom of this earth. It is currency that is irrelevant. It doesn't make sense. It is puzzling (confusing).

Don't be surprised when some people view you as odd when you are faithful to your Lord.

Point 3: No one can figure the eternal wisdom out on his or her own.

It is impossible to come to this truth of God without God's specific revelation. Paul paraphrases an Old Testament statement when he writes, "But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him'-these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

This is the wisdom of the before time, end time and after time. Paul is saying that the most brilliant of persons living in time alone could never come up with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, the most brilliant persons who have ever walked the face of this earth cannot, in a clear and rational way, articulate the notion of before time and after time, much less be able to figure out the strange mysteries of the Creator, Sustainer God, who was before time, will be after all time is over and who functions in His triune nature here within the very midst of time. He is not only the alpha and the omega; he is everything between and that wisdom can only be revealed by His spirit.

Eternal truth is not perceived through the eye. We can see nature. It gives us wonderful pleasure. We enjoy art. Some of our most satisfying sensations come through the eye. We can study science. It is dependent upon observable data. However, when we see nature defaced into that which is ugly and observes science gone crazy in nuclear holocaust or physical disease or in legal transgression, we need healing that goes beyond our gifts of observation.

The moral word is not one of convenience alone. The ear can hear the great music, but there is a music of grace that goes beyond that which triggers the most rapturous of beautiful ecstasy.

The human heart can be filled with enormous piety, compassion and even love, but it cannot ultimately set right that which is wrong.

For all of this, we need God's revelation of himself.

Point 4: God has revealed His wisdom to us by His Spirit.

Tell me about yourself. Tell me your deepest inner thoughts, will you? I doubt that you will. They are secret, aren't they? They are your private thoughts. No one is going to know them, unless you reveal yourself honestly. And no one can make you do that, can they? You can play games, can't you? And you've done some of that. We all reveal facts about ourselves that fake people out. We all know how to do it, don't we? You can show off the knowledgeable or the ignorant you. You can show the wealthy or the poor you. You selectively choose to reveal what you want to reveal. That is your right, to own your own thoughts. No one has the power to rape your inner private self.

I notice this in my counseling ministry. There are layers on one's self that a person reveals. Seldom do they get down to the deepest level in the first interview or two. That is one reason why we advise long-term therapy. There is so much about a person that remains hidden.

Paul makes this human analogy when he writes, "For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11).

You have no opportunity to know who God really is and what He is thinking unless He initiates His self-disclosure to you. He has done it. The result is the wisdom of God that you can only discover through His self-disclosure.

Point 5: You have received not the spirit of this world but the Spirit of God.

Paul writes, "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13).

God has given you a tutor. If you have received Jesus Christ as Savior, you have the Holy Spirit in your life. He is the very essence of God himself, who has been given to you by God to impart not human wisdom, but spiritual truth. The Holy Spirit is not going to supernaturally teach me German language, or Chinese without my effort. Nor is the Holy Spirit going to do your physics for you or write your English literature paper or even fill out your annual tax forms. The Holy Spirit will give you wisdom that will help you use your time more wisely and maximize the intellectual gifts that are yours. He will help clear your mind, so that you can study. But the Holy Spirit's primary function is to interpret spiritual truth, so that you can come to Jesus Christ, grow in Jesus Christ, be enabled by Jesus Christ to face temptation, to be gifted in Jesus Christ and used by Jesus Christ in a way that validates your very creation.

Point 6: The unspiritual person does not receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The unspiritual person does not receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit for they are foolishness to him. That person is not able to understand them, because they are "spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Why is this? The unspiritual person lives only in the temporal. The Kingdom of God understandings are moronic or idiotic to him or her. The spiritual person lives with a sensitivity to the eternal.

For example, when I teach from God's Word, if a person receives Jesus Christ as Savior, it will have a tremendous impact on how that person uses their money, sexuality and power; a nonbeliever becomes threatened. An unspiritual person rejects that. They accuse me of going from preaching to interfering in their business. It's their own business what they do with their money, their sex life and their power. They don't realize that every good and perfect gift they have comes from the Lord, and He owns it all, and He can take it back at any moment. They won't let go. It's theirs. They don't understand the joy of liberality, that sees one's self only as a temporary recipient and steward of what God has given. They say concept of tithing is absurd. The fact that one could experience joy in giving himself or herself to the Lord and to others doesn't make any sense. The flip side is that the nonspiritual person doesn't understand why unlimited money, unlimited sex and unlimited power doesn't satisfy them.

I invite you today, if you have never received Jesus Christ as Savior, to open your life to Him; acknowledge your need of His forgiveness, His healing, His wisdom, letting go of that false pride, that arrogance which demands that you have your way as one living in the economy of this world's kingdom. Or if you have received Him but have restricted the Holy Spirit with a blanket of self-interest, elitism, arrogance, pride, doubt, party spirit, admit it for what it is. Repent! Welcome the Lord once again into the very center of your life. And live with the wisdom which comes from the Holy Spirit!