Trust God’s Leading

Our first lesson from last Sunday was from Acts chapter 1. In it, we see Peter standing up and addressing 120 disciples. I find it interesting that Peter, who now seems to be in a leadership role, was the disciple who denied Jesus three times. He had told Jesus, before Jesus was arrested, that even if everyone else ran away, he would die for Jesus. Then he denied , knowing Jesus, to servants... not soldiers. Jesus, after the resurrection, asked Peter three times if he loved Jesus. Each times Jesus asked Peter, the disciple was hurt more and more. Each time Jesus responded, “Feed my sheep/lambs”. Now, this denier of Jesus, was leading the disciples and preparing them for ministry (or feeding the sheep or lambs). O, the mercy of God, to allow His people a second, third, or seventy seventh chance. Even though God’s grace abounds, not all will receive it. This section also tells that Judas, who betrayed Jesus, went out and hung himself. Could Judas have been saved? In Acts 2:21, we are informed, “Anyone that calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Whether it was extreme guilt, a hardened heart, remorse, or some other reason, Judas never turned back to God. It appears that, according to prophesy, Judas was destined to destruction, not because God caused it, but rather God’s foreknowledge knew what Judas would do. Even though God’s grace and mercy is available to all, not everyone will submit fully to God. This passage then continues to tell us that someone needed to take Judas’ place in ministry. I am always struck by the method. They basically used a means, similar to flipping a coin. Does God want us to entrust our future, and His ministry, to chance? Absolutely not! We must note that before “casting lots”, they lifted everything in prayer, asking and trusting God to determine the outcome, so that it is according to God’s will. By this method, the 12th disciple was called or appointed. It is, however, by God’s grace and strength that the Apostles went out to proclaim the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. Today, anyone who surrenders to God, is called to be an ambassador, representing God to a fallen world. Lord, You have called us to go and make disciples of all nations. You call, gather, and enlighten Your people to serve. Amen

More Than Conquerors

Romans chapter 8 is a wonderful chapter that begins with the words, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. Paul goes on to tell us how, through Christ, the law has been fulfilled, freeing us from sin and death. It goes on to say, “For what the law was powerless to do..., God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us”. By faith, we have been set free, not to indulge in our sinful desires, but free to serve God with all our being. Then we jump all the way down to Romans 8:31, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” The answer to this question is so fundamental to our faith and dictates all that we do. How can I say that? Imagine if you saw a power line down from a storm. Someone told you that they heard the power had been turned off. How confident would you be to walk over the area where the power line was? For me, I don’t think I could do that. If I saw someone else walk over to the downed wire, then I would feel ok. I would want proof. This is the same mind set that we see in this passage. It is one thing to say, “If God is for us, who can be against us”, but it is an entirely different thing to act accordingly. So, how does that affect me in real life. Picture being called to serve as a missionary, even if it is a short term mission, in a area of the world that is hostile to Christianity. Do you have the confidence to leave everything and go? If you do go, will you proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as God enables you to? Do you really trust that God can protect you, and if God doesn’t rescue you physically, are you willing to die for Him? That might seem extreme. What about when the world mocks us and accuses us because of our faith? Is there anything that has the power to pull us from God? Not for those walking by faith. We are even told in James to resist the Devil and he will flee from us. Romans goes on to say, “...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that [nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord". So... what is holding you back? Father, fill us with that absolute confidence in You and Your word so that the Devil, the World, and our sinful nature has no power. Amen

Did God Really Say You Shall Not Kill?

Over the years, I have had multiple people question whether the Bible was in error with its position on killing. If God said, “You shall not kill”, why did he also order His people, on multiple occasions, to kill and destroy everyone from a certain town or battle? Don’t they conflict with each other? This is one of those situations that we have heard things over the years and assume we know what the 10 commandments say. If you go back and look at Exodus chapter 20, you will find it does not forbid us from killing someone but rather commands us not to murder someone. Isn’t that the same things? Aren’t we just splitting hairs? Killing just refers to taking a life while murder indicates an unjustified, premeditated, self-serving taking of a life. If I shoot someone that is breaking into my house and means me harm, I have the right to defend myself. That doesn’t mean I have to use lethal force, but it is not forbidden. Where do I get that idea from? Romans 13:4, speaking of earthly rulers, tells us, “For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” Our leaders have the authority to take lives to protect the nation. If this leader chooses to destroy a city or people for his own personal gain, then that becomes murder. When God ordered that a people group be destroyed, it wasn’t out of anger or a need for control, but to protect His own people from spiritual harm. When Israel failed to carry out the command to destroy a nation, the idolatry of that nation usually was the downfall of Israel. I believe that any individual who turned to God would be saved. We find out in the New Testament that there was a place for Gentiles (non-Jews) in the temple worship. So, does God choose beforehand who will be saved? What about when God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would refuse to let God’s people leave Egypt? Did God condemn Pharaoh through this act? No. We find that even when Pharaoh saw the might of God performed through plagues, he continued to oppose God. It is hard to understand that even though God knows we will sin, He doesn’t cause it... we do! Lord, You tell us that life is precious in Your eyes. Even though killing may be permitted, may Your love shine brighter through us. Amen