Trust The Cloud

Posted on February 28, 2016 by heatonkent

songsonpowerpoint_com_019Now on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents. At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not journey. So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the Lord they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the Lord they would journey. So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses. (Numbers 9:15-23)

Trust The Cloud

Jehovah God has always revealed Himself to man. One of the most glorious manners of His revelation is when He guided the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness wanderings. The Lord went before them as a comforting cover of cloud in the day and a cloud of fire at night for security and guidance. When Pharaoh came after the people at the Red Sea God put His cloud between the army and His people creating a cloud of darkness for the Egyptians but a cloud of light for the Hebrews. At Mount Sinai the Lord spoke from the cloud with thundering and lightening to Moses. When the Tabernacle was constructed God filled it with His cloud. In the day it was a cloud of covering and at night it was a cloud of fire protecting the people. The cloud of the Lord was not just a cloud but a way the Lord expected the people to trust in Him.

The Law of Moses was specific about the nature of the cloud of God. Trusting in the Lord would come from the evidence of the cloud. During the heat of the day they would be protected by the presence of the Lord. At night without guidance and direction they had only but to see the cloud of fire to feel the spirit of comfort in the presence of God. This cloud also became their GPS guiding them through the wilderness for forty years. Whenever the cloud moved east, west, north or south the people would pack up their tents and follow the cloud. Like their father Abraham of old they did not know where they were going but they were to trust the cloud. If the cloud stopped for a day, a week, a month or a year they were to remain in place until the cloud moved. Following the cloud was following the command of the Lord. Ignoring the cloud was disobedience and death. If a family decided to not trust the cloud and stay in one place while the cloud moved they would perish from the heat and be lost in the wilderness. Survival was dependent upon obedience to follow the cloud and trust the cloud. Did it make any sense to human wisdom to tell people to follow a cloud? Only if you wanted to live.

Without God man is lost. Today the cloud of the Lord is in a different form. It still provides a cover of comfort by day and a light at night. We call it the Bible. Like the cloud of Moses’ day God reveals Himself to man as comfort and direction. It will protect us from Satan as the word of God keeps the adversary in the darkness and allows God’s people to dwell in light. Following the word of God is like following the cloud. The Bible can be trusted because it is the presence of the Lord showering man with the shadow of His mercy. During the dark nights of life the presence of the heavenly Father provides security and protection like a light. There is nothing to fear when we have the cloud of God surrounding us.

He speaks to us from this cloud. Sometimes it is a gentle rain and sometimes it is the fury of thunder. Looking at this cloud we can see the grace of a loving God when He tells us to rise up and take our journey. At times He wants us to stay still and know that He is God. Whenever the Bible tells us to go from one place to another we follow those commands. His will is accomplished in the cloud as the Bible reveals the will of the Father. We obey because we trust the cloud. For people in the world they laugh and scoff that we would follow the Bible. Like the days of the Hebrews survival depended on following the cloud. So it is today. The wisdom of the world cannot understand what the cloud of the Lord means until they stand in the midst of God. As for me and my house we will follow the cloud.

Today is a day of worship. Take a look at the clouds today. Make each day a day of cloud watching. Teach your children that God is in the clouds. More important show your children the God of the Bible. Trust the cloud.

If we don’t know where we are going, we don’t know what to do where we are … Blessed is the man who finds out which way God is moving and then gets going in the same direction. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

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The Shoulders Of Giants

Posted on February 27, 2016 by heatonkent

bible openThe Shoulders of Giants

(Paul R. Blake)

“We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.” (John of Salisbury, Metalogicon, 1159)

John of Salisbury wrote this in his treatise on logic in recognition of the work done by those who went before him. If a businessman can travel to Japan and close a billion dollar deal, and on the flight there and back direct matters at his home and office by means of a smart phone, he is able to do so because of the work of those who went before him. It required the efforts of inventors, engineers, entrepreneurs, statesmen, and investors to create the international relations, the global trade environment, intercontinental flight, worldwide communications network, etc. that made it work. Each consecutive generation builds on the knowledge and work of all of the generations that went before them. If we do greater things that those who went before us, it is because they created an environment that made it possible for us to excel. As John of Salisbury said, “And by their great stature, add to ours.”

Forgetting this leads to overweening pride. We believe we have done great things by our own strength and knowledge without a thought for those who made it possible. Our pride then becomes our shame.

However, too much focus on the efforts of those who went before us can lead us into unwillingness to go forward and build on their work. Too high a regard for the men of the past can result in a contemporary form of idolatry or ancestor worship. Afraid of insulting the memory of great men in the past, our efforts become limited to maintaining their works, and we refuse to grow beyond or build upon their work.

This principle applies in spiritual matters. Great Bible students in years gone by made great strides in the work of restoration, but they were limited by the constraints of time and their own developing knowledge. Most of them understood this and wanted successive generations to continue the work of restoration. While a number of disciples went too far and created new doctrines and denominations, others went to the extreme of crystallizing the work of their ancestors and refusing to build on it. This form of conservatism is not approved in scripture. God’s word demands courage to take advantage of the opportunities presented us.

We honor the memories of Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone, but we remember that these men had doctrinal feet of clay. Campbell was a post-millennialist and a borderline ecumenicalist, and Stone’s primitivism created prohibitions not found in the scriptures. Subsequent Bible students examined their work, held onto what was right and built up the brotherhood’s understanding of more Bible doctrines. Each generation must examine what the previous generation taught and stand on their growing understanding of sound doctrine and study in order to increase that understanding. And if we know more and see farther than Campbell, Stone, et ai, it is because we are standing on their shoulders.

Another way of putting this is that it is not necessary to re-invent the wheel. Car makers understand the principle of the wheel and the mechanism of the internal combustion engine, and therefore do not need to start with inventing them. They simply improve on them. Likewise with our understanding of first principles regarding salvation, personal morality, and the nature of the Lord’s church, things well known and surely believed among faithful Christians. They do not need to start all over again from the perspective of an alien sinner or abject denominationalist. In more recent times, we can be thankful for the work of such men as Roy Cogdill, Clinton Hamilton, et al. My generation can take advantage of the opportunities made available because these men developed and published studies that answer digressions on the work, worship and organization of the church. And just as they stood on the shoulders of giants who went before them in order to see as far as they did, likewise they would want us to stand on their shoulders as we grow in our own knowledge of truth.    .

And as with generations in the past, some Christians crystallize the work of respected men and are afraid to deepen their study and increase their understanding. When Roy Cogdill wrote his study “The New Testament Church,” he performed an incalculable service for us. But neither he nor others who did similar work would want us to treat their efforts as equal to the word of God. They would want us to examine their work in the light of scripture and refine their arguments where possible in order to be more effective students and teachers of the word. Nevertheless, I often hear in response to a closer examination of a Bible matter: “Well, old brother _____ said _____, and that’s good enough for me.” It may be good enough for them, but that spirit is not good enough for the Lord (2 Timothy 2:15). Conscientious Bible students do not merit criticism from lazy, partisan brethren who seem to be making idols of past giants. For example:

Brethren use command, example, and necessary inference to establish Bible authority, and rightly so. Yet this is less accurate than what subsequent students have learned through experience teaching in the field; that is, command, divinely approved example, and divine implication. Dealing with errorists made it necessary to refine arguments. Example needs to give way to divinely approved example to distinguish between incidental actions and divinely authorized actions. Necessary inference needs to give way to Divine implication, because God must first imply a thing before man can draw the expected inference, and because it makes ineffective all charges of subjectivity. But because ol’ brother So-and-so didn’t write it, some refuse to consider it and grow.

I have seen this happen multiple times over the years on a number of different Bible matters, brethren using weak or dated arguments because their ancestors used them, rather than growing in understanding and making stronger arguments against sin and error. Would they insist on cutting their lawns with a scythe because that’s how it was done in the past or would they do it faster with a lawn mower? Would they take a horse and buggy to the grocery store because that’s how they did it years ago, or would they use an automobile? More to the point, given the choice would they want to break the ice in the river to be baptized, or would they choose to use the baptistery in a heated building? At one time, brethren believed baptisms must occur in running water. Where would we baptize today if serious Bible students refused to study deeper than their predecessors?

Do not let Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, Roy Cogdill, Clinton Hamilton, or any other person become the end of your study in any Bible matter. The scriptures are the final word on all spiritual things. The Lord wants you, like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), to examine the word on your own, even if it is the apostle Paul doing the preaching. Yes, we are blessed with the opportunity to see farther by standing on the shoulders of giants; but, we must not become lazy or partisan and refuse to look further.

 

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It Happened In A Heavy Rain

Posted on February 27, 2016 by heatonkent

fear of the lordNow while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this. Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.”

Then Ezra arose, and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath that they would do according to this word. So they swore an oath. Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib; and when he came there, he ate no bread and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those from the captivity. And they issued a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the descendants of the captivity, that they must gather at Jerusalem, and that whoever would not come within three days, according to the instructions of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the assembly of those from the captivity.

So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of heavy rain. Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives.” Then all the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, “Yes! As you have said, so we must do. But there are many people; it is the season for heavy rain, and we are not able to stand outside. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for there are many of us who have transgressed in this matter. Please, let the leaders of our entire assembly stand; and let all those in our cities who have taken pagan wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of their cities, until the fierce wrath of our God is turned away from us in this matter.” Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite gave them support. Then the descendants of the captivity did so.

And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of the fathers’ households, were set apart by the fathers’ households, each of them by name; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. By the first day of the first month they finished questioning all the men who had taken pagan wives. And among the sons of the priests who had taken pagan wives the following were found of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. And they gave their promise that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering.  

Also of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah; of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah; of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. Also of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. Also of the singers: Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri. And others of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah; of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Eliah; of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza; of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai; of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth; of the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh; of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah; of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei; of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluh, Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasai, Bani, Binnui, Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph; of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

All these had taken pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children. (Ezra 10)

It Happened In A Heavy Rain

There are some remarkable stories in scripture. Few can measure to the incredible story found in the final chapter of Ezra. The people of God have been in captivity for seven decades. By the hand of God a remnant has been restored to the land. Through a great struggle the Temple has been rebuilt and the spirit of the people is turned to worship the Lord. As Ezra was in the house of God confessing, weeping and bowing down a multitude of people came before him with an amazing story. The hearts of God’s people had been touched with His grace and mercy and they had realized their need of repentance. This was not the sin of stealing or lying or profaning the Sabbath. The people came to Ezra and confessed they were in unscriptural marriages. Moses had clearly written in the Law God’s forbiddance to intermingle with pagan wives. The people trembled. They were afraid of what the Lord would do. They begged Ezra to assemble all of Israel and establish the covenant with God once again and they would put away their pagan wives.

A message went out to all Israel that in three days everyone would assemble. If any person refused the command their properties would be confiscated and they would be cut off from Israel. Everyone came. And it rained. The rain came down hard. It was a fearful time because of the commandment of the Lord and the intensity of the rain. But they did not move. They did not shirk their oath. Standing in a pouring deluge the people listened to the words of Ezra. He told them to confess their sins and to separate themselves from their pagan wives and the peoples of the land. The process began and the book of Ezra closes with the testimony of a righteous people following the command of Jehovah God. The people put away their pagan wives including the children.

There are some things to note in this story. The people came to Ezra. They wanted to change their lives and they admitted their marriages were displeasing to God. Whatever it took to reconcile their hearts with the Lord they would do – even putting away their pagan wives and children. They trembled at the word of God. Marriage relationships are so close yet their relationship with the word of God moved them with greater fear. Hope was in their sorrow over sin and willingness to change their lives totally for the Lord. A covenant of faith was established that day. The people did not condemn the preacher for their unlawful marriage but told him they would encourage him to help the people do what was right. When the day came the people sat in the open square of the house of God trembling at the word of God and the heavy rain. That was dedication of a contrite heart.

What a blessing it would be to find people like those in the days of Ezra. Read the last paragraph again and see if that would happen today with God’s people. Are you willing to stand before the Lord trembling at His word? Are you willing to stand in an open court in a heavy rain to fulfill the law of God? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to be pleasing to God – including your marriage? This is a remarkable story.

The word of God is a red-hot iron. (Georges Bernanos, The Diary of a Country Priest, 1937)

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How To Come Back To The Lord

Posted on February 26, 2016 by heatonkent

kneeling“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him — a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? (Joel 2:12-14)

How To Come Back To The Lord

From the beginning of man’s rebellion against God the need of repentance has been of the utmost importance. Separation from the Lord is death. Reconciliation is the only avenue man can find the blessings of God to avoid the punishment for sin. Grace and mercy are the key elements of allowing man to seek forgiveness. The first thing that happened in the Garden of Eden following man’s disobedience was the grace of God to allow man to live. He punished the man and woman but provided them a means to regain a relationship with the Creator. God is not willing that any should perish and gives by His own hand the opportunity for sinful man to change his life and find salvation. Through the blood of Jesus Christ all men have the gift of forgiveness when they come to God in a penitent manner. Found in the means of forgiveness is the requirements of change.

Joel pleads with the people to change their lives. He writes how God will accept them again if they will do what is required. This change must be a complete change with the heart being totally given to the Lord. Turning to God means turning away from sin. Jesus taught that man cannot serve God and mammon. Coming to the Lord cannot leave part of the heart in the world of sin and part of the heart in the grace of God. Repentance means a complete changing of mind to serve the Lord. Sin is so grievous it cannot be removed without a full commitment to reject it all.

There is great sorrow in repentance. It is easy to think of sin as if one has only been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. This does not seem to such a serious act because it only involves a cookie. Sin is death. It is terrible. The nostrils of God are offended by the act of sin. Man cannot ignore the seriousness of sin looking upon sin as nothing important. Can the death of a loved one go without feelings of great sorrow, weeping and mourning? It would seem remarkable to see a child not mourn his mother or a wife her husband. The point is that death brings deep sorrow. Sin is death and should bring greater sorrow than the death of a loved one. Joel shows the character of godly sorrow with fasting, weeping and mourning because death has occurred. The heart is torn not the clothing. A heart burdened with the sickness of sin will react with great sorrow and remorse. Turning to the Lord will all the heart brings the penalty of sin to bear upon a soft conscience.

Who can explain the love of God? When a man turns to Him with all his heart and comes to the throne of forgiveness with great sorrow the Lord God is gracious and merciful to remove the sin as far as the east is from the west. Our Father is slow to anger and will forgive a penitent heart. He is not only a kind God but a God of great kindness. He will relent from punishing because the softened heart of sorrow has shown the spirit of forgiveness in His child. Consider how many times we sin in a lifetime and yet He forgives. God is willing to forgive anyone who comes to Him with a penitent heart no matter what they have done. Can we understand that? As sinful and rebellious as the children of Israel had been the Lord was willing to take them back – when they repented. He is willing to take me back. Thank God.

He that feels himself alarmed by his conscience, anxious for the attainment of a better state and afflicted by the memory of his past faults, may justly conclude that the great work of repentance has begun. (Samuel Johnson, The Rambler, April 6, 1751)

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Jude’s Five Point Plan

Posted on February 25, 2016 by heatonkent

judeBut you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (Jude 20-23)

Jude’s Five Point Plan

The epistle of Jude is a small letter with just over six hundred words. There are a lot of similarities between Jude and the writings of Peter as the early church dealt with false teachers. In the final exhortation of his letter the brother of James writes a five point plan for the called of God to follow to keep themselves preserved in Jesus Christ. These admonitions are vital for the life of the Christian in our world of religious confusion.

One: Establishing faith will give a firm foundation to refute false doctrine. The word edification comes from the idea of an edifice or building. While we are to exhort one another we should never fail to build our own faith. The word of God is the ground of truth. Our faith (like a building) must be built up (edification) and rooted in the word! When we do not spend time in the Word we will lack in our faith. In Hebrews 4:2 the writer explained how the people of God heard the word but it did them no good because they did not mix what they heard with faith. A vital component is building our lives upon a daily walk with God’s word. False teaching comes from hearts that have not been spending time in the Book. Paul declared firmly faith will only from hearing and that hearing must come from the word of God.

Two: A life without prayer is a life without spirit. Like the body is dead when there is no spirit so the spiritual body is dead without prayer. Praying in the Holy Spirit is not a charismatic miraculous event (false teaching). Developing a relationship with the Holy Spirt to pray to the Father will establish a wall of defense against the wiles of the devil. It is not possible to pray in this manner without establishing the faith in the word of God. Prayer and meditation on the study of God’s word are necessary together. Lacking one will defeat the other. The more time spent in the study of God’s will the more time will be spent on humble knees of prayer. Praying in the Holy Spirit is the power of God working in our lives to protect us from false teaching. Christians today need to be spiritual people.

Three: The life of a child of God is aware of the Father’s love. One of the purest characteristics of a child is humility and dependence. They are not filled with pride. Their hearts are not boasting of their own worth. Children love the protective arms of a benevolent father. When the storms come they run to the father for protection. Darkness is not feared because they hold the hand of the father. They have little worry because they know their father will take care of them providing all of their needs. The blessing of our heavenly Father is the constant vision of the child of God. Humbling ourselves to the gracious love of God we do not worry about our daily bread, fret over the clouds of doom, fear the darkness of doubt or live with anxious hearts about death. Our Father is in Heaven and all is well. We keep ourselves encircled in the arms of the love of God and we are secure.

Four: There is a great day coming and what a wonderful day that will be. Jesus is coming back to take us home with Him. This will be a day of rejoicing because we are saved from sin. False teachers abound teaching messages of salvation deceiving the hearts of the multitudes. Being rooted in the word of God, praying in the Spirit and being enveloped in the love of the Father we know we are saved from sin because of the mercy of Jesus Christ. He came and died so that I could live. He left the Father to bring me to Him. His suffering gave me the promise of living in eternal joy. We need to take our eyes off of this world and look to the heavens above anxiously waiting and longing for Jesus to come back. It will change your life.

Five: Salvation is not just for me but for others. Spending time in the word and prayer, loving the Father and the Son cannot be contained in just one life. Life cannot be full until I share the salvation of God with others. Sin is destructive. It is not possible to allow others to be lost when sin can be overcome through a study of God’s word, the power of prayer, love of the Father and mercy of the Son. This leads me to be compassionate with those who need love and also to be firm in a defense of the gospel. Tough love must be shown with some pulling them from the fires of destruction. The goodness and severity of God must be impressed upon the hearts of our friends and neighbors so they can share in the joyful hope of eternal life. The greatest gift we can take to Heaven is someone else.

Jude had a five point plan. Put it to work. Make it your guide each day. Five steps will lead to glory.

The word which God has written on the brow of every man is hope. (Victor Hugo; 1802-1885; Treasure Bits from ed. Rose)

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Take Time To Listen

Posted on February 24, 2016 by heatonkent

TimeToListen-560x280He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him. (Proverbs 18:13)

Take Time To Listen

The best quality of a wise man is the ability to listen. It is easy to be impatient in dealing with others expecting an immediate solution often at the expense of knowing the whole truth. Often this comes from a prideful heart that assumes there is no reason to hear what the other person says. As the conversation develops a constant barrage of interrupting discourse drives the discussion to an end based upon self-absorbed knowledge. There is a belief that what the other person has to say is not worth listening to. The folly and shame of this type of attitude is arrogance. A haughty spirit will not be patient enough to listen attentively to what anyone says. This happens more against God than anyone.

Faith comes from hearing and faith comes from the word of God. Like in our conversations with one another to answer a matter without first hearing the whole story is foolishness; many will not hear the full message of salvation as explained in the word of God. This is also foolishness. Bible study becomes a sparring of ideas instead of a search for truth. Arguments are created over matters that are without foundation in what is written in the word. Instead of trying to answer a question by the wisdom of man it would be wise to open the Bible and read what God says.

Imagine the scene of three people having a discussion about what one of the other individuals said. Bob and Sam get into a heated discussion about what Gary said and the whole time the argument continues no one every stops to ask Gary what he said. In fact, what Gary said is written down and either Bob or Sam could read what Gary said but instead they argue from their own viewpoint. This would be folly. Let’s take the scene to a spiritual application. Bob and Sam get into a heated argument about what God said but neither of them takes the time to read what the Lord said. Would that also be folly? Why is it those who know so much about the Bible seldom read the Bible? It is imperative to know what God says about a matter before we begin to draw conclusions of faith.

Our relationships with others will be much improved if we would take the time to listen before we speak. The eternal relationship we have with the Father will be much improved if we would take the time to read what His will is. Listening is so important to knowledge and seeing what the will of God is for my life will give me greater guidance. Take time to be holy and take time to listen.

Faith will totter if the authority of sacred scriptures wavers. (Augustine, De Doctrina Christiana, 397)

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The Problem Of Uzzah

Posted on February 23, 2016 by heatonkent

Ark of the CovenantAgain David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. (2 Samuel 6:1-7)

The Problem Of Uzzah

The story of Uzzah (Uzza in 1 Chronicles) is a difficult passage to understand for many people in the religious world. It seems very harsh by standards of man’s wisdom yet it shows the nature of God in a clear demonstration of law. Following the conquest of Jerusalem and defeat of the Philistines, David the king gathers Israel together to deliver the ark of God. There is a lot of excitement and joy at the victories given the people by the mighty hand of the Lord. Setting the ark of God on a new cart Uzzah and Ahio drove the ox cart with great anticipation of what was to come. Little did Uzzah know that in a short time he would be dead. David was playing music on all types of instruments as the festive mood of worship filled the air. Then it happened. Nearing the threshing floor of Nachon the oxen lost footing and stumbled. Uzzah reached back to hold the ark of God and the Lord struck him dead. Shocked and dismayed David was angered at what happened to Uzzah. Was David right in his anger? Reviewing the story in closer detail will explain the justice of the Lord.

The ark of God was not just an ordinary thing. Verse 2 of our text clearly shows the ark is of God, “whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim.” This was not grandmother’s bow-front. Under the Law of Moses the handling of the ark of God was very specific. It was to be carried only by Levites and that it should be veiled even from their eyes (see Numbers 4). Uzzah had been part of the family that for the last seventy years had the ark of God in their home. Earlier (1 Samuel 7) the ark of the Lord had been brought to the house of Abinadab. Now David was moving the ark out of the house of Abinadab. The oxen stumbled. Uzzah put out his hand to stay the ark. God struck him dead.

Did it matter that David was carrying the ark of the Lord on a new cart driven by oxen? For all the good the shepherd king thought he was doing his actions brought about the death of Uzzah. When the oxen stumbled Uzzah thought he was doing a good thing by putting out his hand to stay the ark but the law of God was very clear. Were the actions of David and Uzzah going to change the law of God or His will? The law of God remained the same. The death of Uzzah is a powerful testimony that obedience to the word of God is necessary. In the religious world today the common theme is it does not matter what one believes as long as one loves the Lord and is kind to his fellowman. Attend the church of your choice is acceptable. Salvation comes in many forms but does not matter in the end. Every religion is pleasing to God as man seeks to worship in his own way. Finally no judgments should be made to the lifestyles of others – we are all God’s children and He will not condemn us. If Uzzah were here today he would disagree with all of these tenets of modern religion.

There will be a lot of people like Uzzah standing before the Lord in judgment that will find this to be the greatest lie of Satan. The devil does not want us to disbelieve in God but rather believe in Him just enough to make us feel good but then do what we want to do. Jesus declared the Father’s word was truth. It does matter what I believe. The choice we make is eternal.

Sin arises out of mistrust. Man is afraid to trust the divine destiny and to accept his limits. The rebellion that follows is a decisive act of repudiation, a trusting of self over against God. (James I. McCord, The Nature of Man, ed. S. Doniger, 1962)

Posted in Character Study, David, God, Law of Moses, Mercy, obedience, salvation | Leave a comment

Getting Excited About Jesus

Posted on February 22, 2016 by heatonkent

CHRT08When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well. (Mark 6:53-56)

Getting Excited About Jesus

It is hard to imagine the joy when the people heard the great miracle worker had landed on their shores. Physical sickness is a plague sapping the joy of life and creating a world of misery. No one finds happiness in sickness, disease, blindness and during the days of the Jesus the horror of demon possession. Medical advances were very limited in understanding how sickness was transmitted and cures where seldom available. The news of Jesus of Nazareth coming to their villages, cities and country side sent ripples of ecstatic joy among the people as they brought all of their sick and infirmed if only to touch the hem of His garment.

During the short ministry of Jesus thousands of people were healed. The healings were not long ordeals of treatments that are often more difficult than the disease. Cures were given instantly. When a lame man was brought to Jesus and he touched the hem of the Lord’s garment instant strength came to the legs. Blind people immediately received sight without drug treatments. What we understand as cancer today was removed immediately with no radiation or chemotherapy ordeals. Children were healed of many maladies, dead were raised with great power and there was great joy in the land. The people came to Jesus in throngs seeking relief. He gave them what they needed and changed their lives.

All the miracles of Jesus stopped when they nailed Him to a cross. Gone was the power of the Son of God to bring healing to the bodies of those who sought Him. During the ministry of the early church His disciples would show that same power confirming the word of Christ as God’s word. Soon the power of healing diminished and then disappeared from earth. But the power of God remained in the words of Jesus. There was joy in the heart of the Lord when He took a man who had suffered many years with an infirmity and He took that pain away. Jesus could see in the eyes of the healed man inexpressible joy. The greatest joy and the reason that Jesus came was when a woman who was an outcast among men learned she was talking with the Messiah she believed and helped others come to know the Lord. Truth was the healing power Jesus came to bring men. His word remains powerful today healing men of the disease of sin.

The contrast with the people coming to Jesus for physical healing and the healing of men today is the disease. It is easy to see a blind man’s need. He wants to see. What is more difficult is to recognize spiritual blindness and a greater need of healing to simply gaining physical sight. All men need to come to Jesus for healing from sin. The consequence of sin is greater than any physical ailment. What is lacking among the multitudes is the joy found that day Jesus arrived on the coast. Is there joy at the message of healing from sin? It was probable there were physically sick people in the days of Jesus that did not know they were sick. Many are those today that do not realize they are sick with sin.

The story today is not about the people that were sick but those who brought the sick to Jesus. They knew their loved ones were sick and they knew only Jesus could heal them. Until we get excited about Jesus and His healing power we will not be bringing lost souls to Him for comfort. Our task is to bring the spiritually infirmed to the message of Jesus Christ because like in the days long ago only the Son of God can take away sin. Let us be people of faith that will be willing to bring our friends and neighbors to Christ to be healed. There are many sick. There is only one cure. Those who are sick need one of us to bring them. Be excited about the healing power of Jesus.

He came to save us, not from poverty or from ignorance or from the ghetto, but from our sins. Sin must be dealt with first. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

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He Came In His Father’s Name

Posted on February 21, 2016 by heatonkent

see JesusI have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? (John 5:43-44)

He Came In His Father’s Name

The Jews were angry with Jesus because He healed a man on the Sabbath. They could not see the miracle of healing for the forest of hypocritical trees blinding their hearts to believe He was the Son of God. Their anger was to the boiling point of seeking ways to kill Him. In answer to their charges Jesus admonishes them that healing a man infirmed for thirty-six years was a testimony that God was His father. No man could do the miracles the man from Nazareth did without being the divine son of God. What the Jews saw with their own eyes confirmed the power of God seen throughout their history. The proof of raising men from the dead would be the Son’s greatest testimony as the Father would raise Him from the dead.

Jesus declared His teaching to be from God and the authority of His word was from the relationship He shared with Jehovah. He was God. His message of eternal life came from the voice of His Father. His judgment came from His Father. Everything He did was in the name of His Father. John the Baptist had testified that Jesus was the Son of God. The miracles of healing, casting out demons, walking on water, raising the dead and many more were ample proofs He was the Son of God. The Father declared His blessing on His Son at His baptism. Moses and the Prophets declared Jesus to be the Son of God. Nothing Jesus said was different than what the Father had told Him to say. Jesus did not come in His own name. He came in the name of His Father and His name alone.

We are children of God. Jesus is our brother as we share the inheritance of glory with Him. Jesus declared the Father through His life so we must share the image of the Father by the way we conduct our lives. Jesus came to express the name of God upon the hearts of men. Our walk as disciples of Christ should always be to exalt the name of God. Wearing the name of Christ is wearing the name of the Father. Everything we do in life is a reflection on how we carry the name of God before others. People will know whether we are of the Father by the manner of our speech, our behavior, the way we dress and our love for others. Letting our light shine is reflecting the image of God in a world of darkness.

It is a challenge to live in the world without looking like the world. The greatest trouble most Christian’s have is they look more like the world than the Father. The types of clothes we wear exemplify the character of our heart. The questions we should ask before going out for the day is whether our heavenly Father is glorified in our attitudes. Does my speech reflect the voice of the word of God giving glory to His name in my life? Jesus left a pattern of devotion to do all things in the name of His Father and we cannot do any less. He came in the name of His Father. As we begin a new week let us resolve to make this week a time of glory for God in how we bear His name before others. Let our friends know that we are children of God – His child.

You are called Christian. Be careful of that name. Let not our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be blasphemed on your account. (Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 350)

Posted in Christian, God, Gospels, Jesus Christ | Tagged | 2 Comments

He Will Not Always Be Angry

Posted on February 19, 2016 by heatonkent

blue-ridge-parkway-north-carolina-autumn-mountains-sunrise-fall-foliage-dave-allenFor thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. “I create the fruit of the lips: peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him.” (Isaiah 57:15-19)

He Will Not Always Be Angry

God hates sin. For this reason He sacrificed His only begotten Son. The measure of the sacrifice shows the depravity of the situation. Man was not just a bad person. He did not simply do something wrong. Sin was a death, a separation of rebellion and dishonor to the Holy name of Jehovah. It was not just because Adam and Eve ate some fruit in the garden that made sin so terrible. The realization of what happened in the garden is that Adam and Eve would sin over and over again. The first man lived to the age of 930 years. He was a righteous man by all indications but imagine how many times he would sin in nearly one thousand years. He did not live a sinless life and needed the grace of God.

As children of Adam we struggle with the temptation of sin constantly. Paul the apostle called himself the worst sinner on earth. Satan gains victories in our lives even when we battle courageously against him. We share in the place of Paul as being the worse sinners because we can never overcome sin to live a life of perfection. We do good for a period of time and then something comes along and we love the sin more than the Father. In godly sorrow we beg forgiveness. There comes a realization over time that sin will always be a struggle and we begin to wonder if the Lord will continue to forgive us over and over again. How can He? Why should He?

God hates sin and it makes Him very angry. This anger may be accompanied with a chastisement for the spirit of rebellion in His children. Israel is an example of the nature of God and sin. They were His special people but they had rebelled against Him and He was very angry with them. Because of their sin He brought the Assyrians and Babylonians to punish them; and how great a punishment it was. Isaiah is reminding the people that while the Lord is angry with them His fury will not be forever. He is looking for those contrite spirits who feel the chastisement of His mercy and seek forgiveness. The Lord desires humble hearts to bow before Him begging for His grace. It is then God removes the sin and gives the child forgiveness. Peace returns.

The grace and mercy of God is everlasting. Like Israel we will rebel at times in our lives. No man or woman today is not challenged by sin. It becomes a daily challenge. While sin may have its way in our lives the joy of salvation knows that God will not always be angry (although He is angry when we sin). With broken hearts mourning our sin and contrite spirits of repentance bringing our souls before the throne of a merciful God – He forgives us and removes our sin as far as the east is from the west. Grace. Love. Joy. Peace. Healing.

In a few days we will gather with disciples of the same faith to worship our God of mercy. When the songs of praise are lifted high to His throne remember that His anger is not forever. As the incense of prayers flow to His nostrils know that His love is always abounding toward us. The supper of Jesus Christ is the testimony of remembrance that God hated sin so much He gave (think about that word) His Son for MY sin – and through His Son said He will not always be angry. He forgives a broken and contrite heart. The preaching of the word of God is the message of grace from a loving Father. Make each day a time of worship to thank God He is not always angry. Thank you Lord God Almighty full of mercy and abounding grace.

The Old Testament teaching about God’s wrath finds its logical expression in the statement of the Psalmist: “His wrath is for a moment, His faithfulness life-long” Psalm 30:6. (Edmond Jacob, Theology of the Old Testament, 1955)

Posted in Christian, Forgiveness, God, Mercy, Psalms, salvation | Tagged , | 1 Comment