Low Living In High Places

 LOW LIVING IN HIGH PLACES

“But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” - 2 Samuel 11:27

As humans, we need others to keep us accountable. A person without accountability soon drifts far beyond the line of acceptable behavior. That is why we often hear reports of scandal and wrongdoing among those in lofty positions. When a man or woman reaches the highest job in their company, they tend to think they are no longer required to answer to others. When a person thinks like this, it is just a matter of time before they fall.

Church leaders are no different. There are some who've established churches and ministries and have seen these ministries reach large crowds. Thinking that they are not accountable to others, the behavior of such ministry leaders go off the rails. Soon we hear of their termination and humiliation. Moral, ethical and financial compromise has brought down many who thought they were invincible in their position.

We tend to think that such behavior is common only for our times, but that isn't so. The Scriptures reveal such a sad saga in the life of a prominent leader. His name was David. David was the King of Israel. He was a popular leader. He had led his army to victory numerous times. He was feared by his enemies. He was a man after God's own heart.

Yet David sinned. He sinned greatly. Rather than going to battle with his troops, he stayed home one day. While on his roof top, he watched a beautiful woman bathing. Her name was Bathsheba. Soon he committed adultery with her. A while later, she sent word to David that she was expecting his child. Yet that was not the end.

Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, was a soldier in David's army. Uriah was away at battle (where David should have been). In an attempt to cover-up his sin, David had Uriah brought back to the palace. Under the ruse of giving a report of the battle's progress, David had privately schemed for Uriah to return and be with his wife, so it would appear that her child was conceived during Uriah's visit. Yet Uriah was an honorable man. He refused to go home. He stayed at the palace, stating that it was wrong for him to go home when the other soldiers were on the battle line. David tried a second time to get Uriah to go home, yet the soldier refused.

Sounds like a bad soap opera, doesn't it? Yet David's scheming didn't stop there. He send Uriah back to battle. David had Uriah carry secret written instructions for the commander. The instructions were to have Uriah placed at a vulnerable point in the batter, then have the soldiers retreat. In other words, Uriah would be killed in battle. When word came back that Uriah had indeed died at war, Bathsheba went through her grieving period, then David married her. His cover-up seemed to work.

But God saw everything and wasn't pleased. David had plunged to the gutter of sin. His sin with Bathsheba was a hot-blooded sin, but his arrangement of Uriah's death was a cold-blooded, calculated sin.

To the people of Israel, Uriah died a hero and David did an honorable thing in marrying Uriah's widow. But God knew better.

A man after God's own heart became an adulterer and murderer. What a tragedy! A sad case of low living in high places.

These days, we aren't shocked when political leaders are exposed for their sin and corruption. Yet we should be. The bar for acceptable behavior has been lowered to such a depth that nearly anyone can be a public servant.

Yet the bigger issue is not in Washington, but our own hearts. It isn't the low living in our nation's capitol that should bother us, but our own low standards.

David sinned greatly against God, yet it took nearly a year before he would confess and repent of his sins. You may not be guilty of the crimes that David committed, but can you honestly say that you are clean before the Lord? Is everything right between you and others?

Although David ultimately sought and received God's forgiveness, he still had to reap what he had sown. There was a huge price attached to his transgressions. David's life was never the same after his fall.

Rather than condemning the low living in Hollywood or Washington, perhaps we need to focus on our own level of living. Lester Roloff used to say that the best Christians today would have been considered backsliders years ago. Yes, we may be satisfied that we are meeting our standard. Yet our standard tends to be much lower than God's.

God's standard is perfection. I can't reach that level on my own, what about you? That's why I need a Savior. His Name is Jesus. God is satisfied with the standard He reached. 

Be assured, in the highest of places (or any place), low living will never be acceptable.

Weeping Bitterly

 WEEPING BITTERLY

“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” - Luke 22:61-62

If you're like me, there are many things about your past that you deeply regret. Especially all those years wasted in sin. I could write volumes about the dumb things I've done. I relate with Charles Spurgeon, who once wrote, “While others are congratulating themselves, I have to sit humbly at the foot of the cross and marvel that I’m saved at all.”

In some cases, the failures experienced after salvation can bring similar regrets. Knowing that I've disappointed God brings great remorse. Yet God is not surprised by my sins. He is not caught off guard. He knows me better than I know myself. He knows what I am capable of --- both good and bad.

When Peter denied the Lord, it did not come as a shock to Jesus. In fact, Jesus had predicted it. Jesus told Peter that he would deny the Lord three times before the rooster crowed. This prophecy did not soften the level of regret that Peter suffered as a result of his sin. Like Esau learned years before, Peter found that the stew of sin has many bitter herbs.

The account of Peter's denial in the Gospel of Luke includes a notation that we are prone to overlook. After Peter's third denial of Jesus, Luke records, “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.” Can you image that? The very moment that Peter denied Jesus for the third time, our Lord turns and looks at him. In spite of the events of the trial and the obscurity that Peter tried to assume, the Lord knew what Peter had done and looked at him. This was probably just a momentary glance, but effective none the less.

Peter's denial of the Lord is a sad moment in the life of this disciple. Yet most of us can identify with him. No, we probably haven't denied the Lord just as he did, but we have failed our Lord in so many ways. We have fallen short many times, often through sins of commission. At other times, we've been guilty of sins of omission.

The Lord has given us two internal alarms to notify us when we sin: our conscience and the Holy Spirit. The Spirit troubles our conscience when we sin. It is like a red light on the dashboard of your car, alerting you that something is wrong.

Peter was convicted when he faced the reality of his sin. Rather than blaming others, making excuses or pretending he was innocent, Peter knew that he, alone, was responsible for his failure. The Bible says that he wept bitterly.  Most of us try to avoid eating humble pie. We feel that humility is beneath us. Yet humility is often the first step towards grace. Although we don't like to fall to the ground in humility, we are closer to the dirt than we realize. We came from the dirt and our bodies will return to the dirt. While we want to avoid humility, it is the path our Lord expects us to walk daily. We are closer to God in our humility than at any other point.

Peter wept tears of repentance. The crowd was unaware of his guilt. Apart from the Lord and Peter, no one knew of his great sin. Peter didn't weep because of the public shame it brought. He didn't weep because he failed to reach his own “potential,” or fell short of his own standards. He wept because he had sinned against his Lord. At that very moment he could have been a bold witness, he wilted in cowardice. The brash apostle was now beaten. Instead of being a leader, he was a loser.

Real repentance comes when a person realizes that he or she has sinned against the very One who loves them the most. Repentance leads to remorse. Repentance brings a person to a point of hating the very sin they've committed. Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction.

Peter's repentance is well documented. His tears were real. His remorse was deep. His regret was profound. Yet in just a few days, the one who denied the Lord three times would be preaching on the Day of Pentecost.

It is good to know that there is grace available for those who fail.  When a believer sins, other Christians tend to condemn them. While we should never condone sin, we must realize that God is merciful to those who fall.

If you feel like you have let God down, don't let the devil convince you that you can't be forgiven. If Peter could find forgiveness through the grace of our risen Redeemer, you can, too. Be genuine in your regret. Be thorough in your repentance. But don't let the tears of remorse blur your vision of God's abundant grace.

It could be that your best years of service are just ahead.

Coming Home

COMING HOME

“I will arise and go to my father.” - Luke 15:18

Among the many problems plaguing our society is the issue of disrespect. When I was growing up, I was taught to respect my parents, teachers and those in authority. These days, it is rather common to see children treat their parents with disrespect. They talk back to their parents and act selfishly. These children grow up to be adults that disrespect a boss at work (leading to unemployment), disrespect a spouse (resulting to divorce) and disrespect those in law enforcement (leading to legal issues). Thus, we see adults burning the American flag, leading riots and destroying property.

In the Bible, the poster boy for disrespect was the prodigal son. The disrespect he showed his father was sickening. When he came to age, the boy asked for his inheritance. Basically, he told his father he couldn't wait for him to die. He wanted his inheritance now. Furthermore, he let it be know that life at home was not good enough for him. Showing disrespect for his father and home, the boy took his inheritance and hit the road.

The Bible teaches us that we reap what we sow. The prodigal son was going to learn this lesson the hard way. At first, everything was going the way he wanted. He was living it up. He partied. He celebrated. He had a good time. Until the money ran out.

For the prodigal son, everything fell apart fast. He lost his money and his “friends.” Soon he found himself feeding swine. In fact, things got so bad that he envied the swine. They were eating better than he was.

Sin deceives. It promises much and delivers little. We think we are getting what we want only to discover that sin is like acid. It quickly eats away everything it touches. There are prodigal sons and daughters in our land today. Those who began with a bright future are now in the gutter. Those who seemed so brilliant have become fools. Some who were once beautiful are now skin and bones … a shell of what they once were.

Sin shows no mercy. It drags a person to the lowest depths and then prompts them to dig deeper. James put it this way. “But every man is tempt, he drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when is finished, bringeth forth death.”

The devil is diabolical. He tempts a person by telling him, “You can always seek forgiveness later,” and after the man sins, the same devil says, “You've sinned too much to be forgiven now.”

The prodigal son had lost everything. He had mistreated his family. He had lost his fortune. He lost a place to live. Now he is feeding swine. Not the kind of job you want to tell others about at the high school reunion.

Yet at his lowest point, the Bible says, “he came to himself.” We like to refer to this as a light bulb that comes on in his head. It is like waking up from a coma. The young man realized that his family is back home safe, sound and eating well. At that moment, he made the decision to go home.

This is where most people miss the mark. They would rather stay in the pig pen and claim that they don't need God or others. Most are too proud to admit that they need help. They are in trouble but blame others for their dilemma. Whether it is alcoholism, drug addiction, anger, lust, or some other sin, they refuse to leave the pig pen.

The prodigal son left the pig pen. He recited a speech to humbly offer his father. He would offer to become just a hired servant. There were four things that happened as part of his turnaround. He realized, remembered, repented and returned. He realized his situation. He remembered how he got in the mess while also remembering how good things were at home. He repented. He had a change of mind. He came to himself. Finally, he returned home.

The story of the prodigal son is really more about the father than the son. The father saw his son coming home. He saw him from afar. He must have been looking for him. He ran to meet his son. He welcomed him home as a son and threw a great party in celebration of his son's return.

The story teaches us about the depravity of sin and the grace of God. Despite the degree of the son's sin, the father had more than ample mercy to show him. As we celebrate Father's Day this weekend, let us rejoice that we have a Father who rejoices each time he welcomes a prodigal home.

Perhaps you are that prodigal. Maybe you've made bad decisions. Your hopes and dreams may be nothing but ashes. You've wasted many years in sin. It is incomprehensible that God would welcome you home. Yet He is looking for you. With arms wide open, He'll welcome you. He'll rejoice to see you coming.

Come home today.

The Miserable Minister

THE MISERABLE MINISTER

“But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” - Jonah 1:3

In the world of business, we are told that the key to success is location, location, location. In other words, your business will have a significantly better chance to succeed in the right location than in a bad location.

Some say the same thing about ministry. Many mega-church pastors, church-growth gurus and seminary professors advise young preachers to seek the largest church possible in an area with the largest population. Sounds like great advice, doesn't it? Yet what if God wants you elsewhere?

In the Bible, there was a man who didn't like his ministry assignment. Jonah was divinely called to go to Nineveh and preach to that wicked city. Primarily out of prejudice, Jonah resisted the call. He decided to go in the opposite direction.

There aren't many sermons about disobedience these days. If there were, Jonah would be the prime example of this sin. If you looked up the word, “disobedience,” in the dictionary, it ought to have Jonah's picture included.

Jonah rebelled against the calling of God. This led Jonah down a path of misery. He was a miserable minister. Disobedience always takes you on a road that leads downward. Notice in Jonah 1:3 that Jonah, “went down to Joppa,” and “went down,” into the lowest part of the ship. Later, he would be going down in the ocean and down into the belly of a fish. Sin always takes you down.

Furthermore, Jonah paid a price for his disobedience. He had to pay the fare to go on the boat. He had to pay for his sins by being cast in the ocean. When swallowed by the great fish, he had to contemplate his actions in the filthy belly of the fish. It must have been disgusting. When he repented, the fish vomited him up on the land. That must have been a pleasant sight!

Jonah was one of the first street preachers in the Bible. When he entered Nineveh, he preached God's message through the city. When the people heard the message, revival came. The people repented and the city was spared.

Rather than rejoicing over the salvation of hundreds of people, Jonah had a chip on his shoulder. He was angry with God. Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh. He didn't want to preach to them. His greatest fear was realized. He knew if he preached and the people repented, that God would spare them. He didn't want that. Jonah was a Jew. The people of Nineveh were enemies of the Jews. He wanted to see their destruction, not their salvation. He certainly didn't want any part of their salvation.

Jonah had a bad attitude. His hatred and prejudice kept him from being compassionate. His heart wasn't right.

Jonah was miserable throughout the entire book. God had the final word, expressing His compassion for the people of Nineveh. Jonah's heart had been far from the heart of God.

What about your heart? What about mine?

It is easy to be judgmental of Jonah, but if we were honest, we'd have to admit that there is a little bit of Jonah in all of us. We'd prefer to act superior and look down our pious nose at others. Yet God has a way of exposing the sin and deceit in our hearts.

The book of Jonah ends in an unusual way. We don't know much about Jonah's response to God's message. We know that Nineveh repented, but did Jonah?

What lessons do we learn from this miserable minister? First of all, we learn that God cares for people, even wicked people. He could have destroyed Nineveh without Jonah ever going there. He would have been just in doing so. Yet He cared enough to send a preacher to them. By the way, He could have destroyed us. He would have been just in doing this. I'm glad for those sent my way with His message, what about you?

Secondly, we learn that a spiritual awakening can come at any time … even in the worst of situations. Our nation is a mess right now. Evil is quickly destroying the fabric of our freedom. It seems unlikely that a spiritual awakening can occur in America. We are too evil. We've gone too far. Yet that was the case for Nineveh. Yet when they heard the bold preaching of Jonah, they repented. America would be wise to do the same.

Third, we learn that Jonah didn't sugar-coat his message. He preached a message of judgment. It wasn't a feel-good sermon. Yet it was God's message. God used that message to transform lives.

Although God was working in the lives of the people of Nineveh, He was also working in the life of a miserable minister. God was patiently teaching Jonah about love and grace. Jonah was stubborn, yet God was patient. Jonah's misery could have been avoided. Much of our misery is self-inflicted, too.

In this age of “cheap grace,” the subject of obedience is missing from many pulpits. Jonah was a disobedient preacher. Sometimes a preacher needs to repent himself. A preacher often has to preach to himself before he preaches to others.

Disobedience is a serious matter. God deserves better.

A Little Bit At A Time

A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” - James 1:14-15

Do you know someone who has really blown it? The best way to describe their situation is that everything has become an unholy mess. They've made bad decisions. Sin has taken its toll. They are reaping what they have sown. Perhaps their decisions even cost them their freedom.

Additionally, we've all known of high-profile ministers who've made news headlines because of their scandals and sins. Many of them were once effective ministers of the Gospel, but now are trying to pick up the pieces after a tsunami of sin has devastated everything.

How does a person get to such depths of disgrace?

To be honest, all of us are one decision away from disaster. At any moment, we can make a choice that ruins our testimony and costs us the things we value the most. Rather than showing harsh judgment toward those who fail, perhaps we should remember our own vulnerability and pray for these individuals.

More often than not, those who make scandalous headlines didn't fall because of one bad decision. Instead, it was a series of little things that led to their downfall. They strayed a little bit at a time.

This is true of everyone. Whether it is a televangelist, a deacon in your church, a businessman or a member of your family, their path was a gradual decent, followed by a crash at the bottom. It happened just a little bit at a time.

Perhaps it began by missing church services here or there. Eventually they quit going at all. Maybe they slowly got careless about sin and temptation. It could have been the thought that one drug, one drink, or just one stolen dollar is not such a big deal. Soon they are buried in an avalanche of iniquity, unable to dig themselves out.

It is not my intention to criticize those who are hurting from such an experience. Although their pain is self-inflicted, it still hurts. It is still devastating. My heart goes out to such people. Rather than condemning them, I can honestly say, “there but for the grace of God go I.”

Ron Dunn once made a remark I haven't forgotten. He said, “I hate to admit it, but I am capable of anything.” He is right. Think about it for a moment. What if you had acted out an impulsive thought toward somewhere, how would things be for you now? Your anger could have led to an arrest. Your impure thought could have led to adultery. Your greed could have led to embezzlement. If you think you are not vulnerable to such sins, you are not being honest with yourself.

All of us are fallen people. We are humans, with a tendency to sin. Even though our salvation brought about a great change within, we still struggle against sin, the flesh and the devil. It is a daily battle. We can't win it on our own. We must walk in the Spirit so we won't fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

We tend to stray a little bit at a time. Over time, the decline is not very noticeable until we step back and look at our lives objectively. Most never notice until they hit rock bottom.

The Bible gives us practical advise. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” In other words, don't be presumptuous. Don't act like you will never fall.

Goliath never thought he could be defeated. The one unprotected area of his body was the very spot that ultimately cost him his life. Of course, the Lord used David to defeat Goliath, but Goliath thought he couldn't be defeated. Just one rock changed all that.

Brothers and sisters, we need to treat sin seriously. As humans, we tend to underestimate sin and overestimate our ability to resist it. We need to be vigilant about our situation. We need to look to the Lord for the help we need. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING,” (emphasis added). Let's be vigilant!

Perhaps you have drifted a little bit at a time. You've gotten away from church. You've quit serving God. You are no longer reading your Bible. You've allowed compromise to enter your life. All this has happened slowly, just a little bit at a time. STOP! Swallow your pride. Humble yourself. Get right with God today. Get right with others. Get back to doing the things you should be doing.

Let's avoid the downward path of compromise and sin.

The Touch Of The Master's Hand

 THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND

“And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” - Matthew 8:2-3

At the beginning of the Covid-19 experience, fear and terror was prevalent across our land. Much of this fear was due to a lack of information. We simply didn't know what we were facing. Health leaders were taking the road of caution, which helped fuel our fear and insecurity.

In the early days of Covid, we acted as if the disease was going to wipe out our population. If someone was diagnosed with Covid-19, it seemed like an automatic death sentence. Those who died from the disease often perished alone. Family members were not permitted to visit. The daily news was filled with stories of gloom and despair. Many had Covid and still were able to do regular activities. Yet they had to act is if they had leprosy. They stayed clear of everyone else. If we knew of someone with Covid, we tried to avoid them.

In Matthew chapter 8, Jesus encountered a leper. After our experiences with Covid-19, we can relate somewhat with this man. At the time, leprosy was a highly contagious, incurable disease. Lepers were isolated from others. When a leper met a person, he or she had to say, “Unclean, unclean,” to warn others to keep their distance. Lepers faced a lonely and hopeless future. More often than not, lepers died in their leper colony. Looking back, it was a heartbreaking situation.

When this leper met Jesus, he believed that Christ could help him. Jesus could have turned him away, but didn't. In spite of the man's contagious skin condition, Jesus had compassion on him. From a human perspective, it was dangerous for Jesus to come close to the man, yet He did even more than that. The Bible says that Jesus touched the leper. One touch from the Master is better than all the medicine in the world. With just a touch from the Master, the leper was cured. His leprosy was gone!

I am not familiar with cases of leprosy here in America. Yet there is a form of leprosy that has come on all mankind. Sin is the leprosy of the soul. Sin deceives. Sin defeats. Sin destroys. Because of his own sin, Isaiah once cried out, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips!” Like a leper, Isaiah saw his sinful condition as being unclean.

As humans, we tend to overestimate our righteousness. We like to think of ourselves as being good, upright citizens. From afar, we may appear that way to others. Up close, they learn otherwise. When our lives are exposed to the truth of God's Word, we learn that we, like Isaiah, are people of unclean lips.

Later in his book, Isaiah described his people this way: “Our righteousness is as filthy rags.” Most of us bristle at such an assessment. We like to compare ourselves to others and feel rather proud of ourselves. Yet the standard that God uses is not your neighbor. It is His standard of perfection. All of us fail this test.

Like a leper, we are unclean. All of humanity is a leper colony of sin. We are not permitted into the holy places because of our filthiness. Like the leper in our story, we are unable to change our condition.

In Biblical times, many lepers died because of their contagious disease. No known cure was available. In Matthew 8, when the leper met Jesus, he knew it was his only hope to be saved from death. Just one touch from the Master's hand changed him.

The only hope for lost souls is a touch from the Master's hand. He is the only One who can save them from their sinful plight. Our Lord is the only One who change a person. He is the only One who can deliver souls from the bondage of sin. Salvation is of the Lord.

Just a touch from the Master's hand brought healing and cleansing to the leper. The same hand can do the same for you. Like the leper, desperately cry out to the Lord for mercy. Humbly cast yourself at His feet. Entrust your condition to his care. Seek a touch from His hand today.

Don't be satisfied with anything less than a touch from the Master's hand.

When Your Back Is Against The Wall

WHEN YOUR BACK IS AGAINST THE WALL

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.” - Exodus 14:15-16

Have you ever been desperate? Has your situation gotten so dire that you began to question if even God could rescue you? If so, you can relate with the children of Israel. They had been freed from Egyptian bondage and were headed for the promised land. Yet as they got near the Red Sea, the Egyptians came in hot pursuit. Pharoah had given in to political pressure and had a change of mind. Although he had freed the Israelites, he now realized that much of Egypt's economy required the hard work of the Israelite slaves.

The children of Israel were in a difficult situation. Their backs were to the wall. They had no route of escape. The Red Sea was before them and the Egyptians were behind them. There was no place to go, but to the Lord.

The Israelites were in a dire situation. In their desperation, they cried out to the Lord and complained to Moses. Moses tried to calm the people by appealing to their faith. Yet this was the Lord's response to it all: “And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.”

There is a time to pray and there's a time to act. Prayer is never a substitute for obedience. The reason that many people are stuck in the same place all the time is that are waiting for God to accomplish what He is expecting them to do. They pray and pray but never obey.

God told Moses to go forward. Forward? Go forward into the Red Sea? Yes, that was the unmistakable word from the Lord.

At times, it seems impossible to go forward. When a spouse dies, you lose your job or you face personal bankruptcy, it is tempting to give up. When times get tough and your back is against the wall, it is easy to quit. However, in such circumstances, we simply need to go forward.

Someone reading this today may need this word. Go forward. This is not the time to hold your position. It is never a good time to retreat. Go forward. Go forward in your faith. Go forward in obedience. Go forward with your life. Go forward with God.

I think it is important for us to recognize something from the Red Sea experience. God is sovereign. In Egypt, He had performed miracles. Nothing is impossible for God. Although He could have led the Israelites around the Red Sea, He chose not to do so. He could have miraculously led them over the Red Sea, but that was not the plan either. He could have dried up the Red Sea, evaporating every drop of water. But He didn't.

Instead, God chose to lead His people through the Red Sea. While your back is against the wall, the Lord could remove your problems. He may chose to take you around your problems. More often than not, He takes us through our problems.

It may be that someone reading this is going through trials right now. Your back is against the wall. You are desperate for help. When the Lord is leading, you can trust Him with the results. Let me remind you that God will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death, not around it.

When God guides, He provides. Our Lord parted the waters for Israel to pass through. He made a way for them. He'll make a way for you, too. The same waters that He parted for the Israelites were the same waters He used to defeat their enemies.

God led the Israelites to the Red Sea, through the Red Sea and out the other side. When your back is against the wall, God will make a way through the wall, if necessary.

So if your back is against the wall, simply trust and obey God. He will make a way.

A Desperate Mother

A DESPERATE MOTHER

“Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.” - Matthew 15:25

The American holiday, Mother's Day, began here in my home state of West Virginia. In 1908, Grafton, WV native, Anna Jarvis organized the holiday in memory of her mother. Mother's Day has been a special day ever since.

Godly mothers are getting more scarce with each generation. It is sad to realize that many children are growing up without the influence of a loving, godly mother.

There is nothing like a mother's love. My mother is still with us. She is an old-fashioned mother. She loves Jesus. She loved my father and sacrificed much to help him. She still loves her children so much. I have been blessed with a special mother.

In Matthew 15, we learn about a mother who had a great concern for her child. According to the Gospel of Matthew, her daughter was “vexed with a devil.” The Gospel of Mark reveals that her daughter was possessed by a demon. This was a condition that the average doctor could not treat. Jesus was her only hope.

Demon possession is a terrifying thing to observe. A person acts erratic, including a change of voice and personality. Physical violence may also be a result of demon possession including self-inflicted harm. If your child was possessed with a demon, you'd be scared and desperate.

A good mother wants what is best for her child. That was certainly the case with this mother. In her desperation she came to Jesus. Isn't He the best person to go to with any problem?

When this desperate mother came begging for Jesus to help her daughter, she got the silent treatment instead. The Bible says that Jesus, “... answered her not a word.” It is painful when God is silent … especially when you need Him the most. In her desperation, she persisted. As only a mother can do, the Bible says, “Then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me.” Who could resist should a pitiful plea?

Our Lord's response is rather interesting. Jesus said it wasn't right to take the children's food and cast it to the dogs. The Jews considered Gentiles to be nothing but dogs. The Lord was testing her faith and resolve. Note the mother's response, “And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.”

Consider some things about her response. She admitted that she was unworthy to receive the Lord's help. Isn't that true of each of us? None of us are worthy of God's grace. Furthermore, she demonstrated her faith when she said, “... yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table.” While recognizing Jesus as the Master, she also stated that just the crumbs would be sufficient. Crumbs don't sound very appealing to us, yet she knew that the miracle she needed was small compared to our Lord's power.

The Bible shares the end of this story: “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” The mother received the answer she so desperately needed.

Where are the mothers today who will pray with desperation for their children? This generation of children is sadly lacking such a spiritual influence. Today, many parents are failing at the very basic level to raise their children properly. There is a dire need for parents to get right with God and raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

I am thankful to have a praying mother. She continues to pray for me. More than once, her prayers have helped me through problems.

If your mother is still living, let her know how much you love and appreciate her. If your mother is no longer living, thank the Lord for the influence her love and prayers have made in your life.

Thank God for desperate mothers who pray for their children! 

Praying Desperately

 PRAYING DESPERATELY

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” - 1 Samuel 1:10

We do our best praying when we get desperate. While facing overwhelming problems, we tend to pray with intensity. We don't need to be motivated to pray when we face dire circumstances. In such moments, we tend to show raw emotions and plead with God with heart and soul.

While most Christians want to be effective in prayer, most of us want to avoid the challenges that keep us at the throne of grace. We grow strong in prayer through the intense problems we face. Desperation deepens our supplication.

In 1 Samuel chapter 1, we find a lady praying. The Bible says that, “... she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” While we tend to show compassion to such a person, we really don't want to be her shoes. Such anguish of soul is something we'd rather not experience. Yet Hannah's desire for a son drove her to prayer. She was not content to repeat a liturgical prayer or utter heartless words to the Lord. She poured out her soul unto the Lord. She prayed with desperation.

Where are the desperate people today? Many claim that they want to lead people to Jesus. They say they want to have spiritual children --- that is, people they have personally brought to the Savior. Yet most are not desperate for such a miracle.

Hannah yearned for a son. Her desire drove her to prayer. For Hannah, going childless was an unbearable possibility.

What about you? Does it bother you to be spiritually childless? Do you long to lead some soul to the Master? Have you made this a matter of prayer? Are you desperate to see some soul saved?

If you are a pastor, do you long to see souls to come to Christ? Do you wish to see the baptismal waters stirred once again? Do you long to see revival?

As a church member, do you have a passion to see God move once more in your church, your community and your family? Are there souls close to you that need the Lord?

I think most of us long to see family members saved, prodigals return, and the local church explode with phenomenal growth. We long to see revival fire spread throughout the community. We yearn to see mass baptisms and hear glowing stories of God's miraculous work among those we love. But are we willing to be like Hannah and cast ourselves before the Lord and weep for such an awakening?

Perhaps our baptistries are dry because our eyes are dry. The Psalmist wrote, “They that sow in tear shall reap in joy.” We want to reap in joy, but few are sowing any tears.

We need to pray with desperation. Unless a miracle occurs, many around us will perish in their sins.

Certainly, there is more to evangelism than prayer. Yet we will fail miserably at winning souls unless we begin in prayer.

We need to have a burden for souls. There needs to be a passion that drives us to our knees. We need to pray until God answers. Keep praying desperately until the breakthrough comes.

I think that most believers would agree that God hears and answers prayer. Yet He seems to reserve certain blessings for those who get desperate and seek His face.

As a child, I recall hearing old-time preachers share about their praying mothers. These old men of God would weep as they preached, remembering how they had a loving mother who wept and prayed for them until God gloriously saved them. Even though their mother was no longer living, they still treasured those memories and thanked God for a praying mother.

Where are the praying mothers today? Where are the praying grandparents? Many need the Lord today. Are we going to be heartless about prayer?

What about you? Will you make the salvation of souls a matter of desperate prayer? The need around us is desperate.

Let's pray with desperation ourselves.

Going Under

GOING UNDER

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” - Matthew 14:30

Life is so uncertain. One moment everything seems to be going great and the next minute the world seems to be crashing in. One moment you're singing God's praises and the next you are singing the blues. You can begin the day with high expectations and finish the day on your knees in desperation.

It seems strange that victory and defeat can occur so close together. Our mountain-top experiences can be followed by deep, dark valleys. Elijah prayed for fire to fall on Carmel and soon thereafter he prayed for his life to end. Some of us can relate to this.

Simon Peter experienced a spiritual high and a spiritual low within seconds of each other. On one hand, he is one of only two men known to walk on water. The other man was the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus. Peter did walk on the water. What an experience!

As Peter was walking on the water, the Bible says, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” His fears swallowed up his faith. Instead of walking on the water, Peter began to sink.

Many of us can relate with Peter. We have a great experience at church on Sunday, followed by a horrible day on Monday. A man once told me, “Monday is the devil's way of paying you back for a good Sunday.”

Like Peter, we can feel like we are on top of the world. The next moment, we feel like we are going under. Circumstances can overwhelm us at times. We feel like we are sinking in the tide of discouragement or defeat. The changing currents seem to be sweeping us under. We feel like we are drowning.

When Peter began to sink, he did the only thing he knew to do. He cried to out to Jesus for help. In such a moment, he did not verbalize an impressive prayer. He didn't pray for the missionaries in Indonesia. Neither did he use flowery words of praise. Instead, he prayed a pitiful prayer of just three words: “Lord, save me.”

In our times of desperation, there is only one thing we can do. Like Peter, we seek the help of God. Our desperate times remind us how dependent we are on the Lord. We will sink in the ocean of despair unless the Lord intervenes.

In response to Peter's desperate prayer, the Bible says, “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Peter was rescued and rebuked. Thankfully, our Lord still rescues us when we are going under. In spite of our fears and doubts, the Lord provides mercy and grace for our times of dark despair.

Notice our Lord's rebuke of Peter, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” We are tempted to join with Jesus in rebuking Peter. Then we remember how often we have doubted ourselves. Notice that Jesus referred to Peter as a man, “... of little faith.” Simon Peter had faith, but it was little. I must confess that this describes me at times, what about you?

Jesus asked Peter, “wherefore didst thou doubt?” In response, it would be easy to point out the boisterous wind. Who wouldn't have been scared? The other disciples stayed in the boat. They didn't even have enough faith to get out of the boat in the first place. But therein lies the problem. Peter believed that, if the Lord permitted him to, he could walk on the water. He did, too. But the wind was already boisterous before Peter even got out of the boat. Conditions did not get worse when he walked on water, he just began focusing on them.

When the winds are contrary, we can either choose to focus on the wind or the One who walks on water. We are living in a society that is facing winds of adversity. Strong opinions exist on a number of subjects. Politics, the economy and news reports can easily overwhelm us. We just need to keep focused on Jesus and stay in His Word.

Yet for those who are sinking, I have good news. Our Lord still rescues those who are going under. If you feel as though circumstances have overwhelmed you, cry out to the same One that Peter prayed to. Our Lord is rich in mercy. Just as He did for Peter, He will pull you out of the boisterous waters you are struggling in.

Ultimately, each one of us will come to the chilly river of death. The winds of uncertainty will be blowing. At that moment, it is good to know that our Lord will be there for us. We won't cross that river alone.

We won't be going under. We'll be going over.

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures

DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES

“And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?” - 2 Kings 7:3

2020 was a year most of us will never forget. The news media consistently broadcasted grim reports of Covid-19-related deaths. We were expected to carry out safety protocols like distancing and wearing masks. To make things worse, the shelves of most grocery stores were empty. It was difficult to purchase food and supplies. Looking back, our nation was overwhelmed with a sense of fear.

2 Kings chapters 6 and 7 describe a situation far worse than anything we faced in the Covid year. The city of Samaria was under siege. The enemy had compassed the city about, cutting off the supply line that kept the city functioning. Food and similar supplies became scarce. Famine had gripped the people. Circumstances became so dire that a donkey's head and bird dung were sold as food at an expensive cost. People got desperate.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. In desperate times we tend to do things we wouldn't consider at any other time. Desperate times may lead one to an act of lunacy and and another to a heroic deed. In Samaria, two mothers made a pledge. The first day, they would eat the child of the first mother and then eat the other's child the next day. That is lunacy.

With this famine as a backdrop, God used four unlikely people to be heroes of the story. Four lepers were pondering their plight. They were outcasts from the city due to their contagious skin disease. They were dependent upon the generosity of others just to eat and survive. Yet the people who would normally provide food to them were starving themselves. Knowing this, the four lepers had a defining moment. They said among themselves, “Why sit we here until we die?”

Desperate times call for desperate measures. These four lepers were dying of hunger and it prompted them to ask, “Why sit we here until we die?” This is the kind of question we need to ask today. If your church is dying, you need to ask, “Why sit we here until we die?” If your marriage is collapsing, you should ask, “Why sit we here until we die?” As our nation faces destruction, believers should rise up and ask, “Why sit we here until we die?”

The four lepers realized their plight and in their desperation, it prompted them to do something they would have never done under other circumstances. They were going to surrender to the Syrian army. The Syrians had the city surrounded. Surrendering to them probably meant execution --- especially for lepers. Who would want to receive four lepers into their assembly?

Yet the lepers knew they had nothing to lose. They were dying anyhow. Should the Syrians kill them, it would be a more humane death than the one they were facing in Samaria. So the four lepers fled to the Syrian military front.

When they arrived at the Syrian front, the lepers found the camp vacated. The Lord had caused the Syrians to hear the sound of an approaching army, causing the Syrians to flee in a panic. The Syrian army had left behind their food, raiment … everything! Thus, the lepers finally found the food they desperately needed. Ultimately, they shared their experience with the people of Samaria and the famine came to sudden and miraculous end.

This amazing story truly happened. The Lord worked through the lives of four lepers to save a city from starvation.

The Lord is still able to turn things around. He is able to save a marriage from ruin. The Lord can bring prodigals home. He can set people free from addiction. He can save souls. He can revive a church. He can turn a city around just like He did at Nineveh after Jonah's sermon. He can turn a nation around as He did in Josiah's day.

The Lord often uses discontented people who, like the lepers, will say, “Why sit we here until we die?”

The status quo is never sufficient. If we do what we've always done, we shouldn't expect different results. All around us, marriages are failing, drugs are destroying lives, immorality has taken over and souls are perishing daily. Our nation is facing the judgment of God. These are desperate times. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Why sit we here until we die?

Desperate People

 

DESPERATE PEOPLE

“And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” - Numbers 21:6

What has Covid-19 taught us about the United States of America? Some argue that the disease taught us the value of vaccinations. Others claim that the Covid outbreak taught us how gullible people are to believe everything they see and hear on the news. I think there is a greater lesson to be learned.

When our nation faced uncertainty, we looked to the government for help instead of God. Few were crying out to God for help. Most were looking to the President, CDC or science to bring help and relief. Let that sink in for a moment. Our government is notorious for waste, lies and bad decisions, but we depend on it rather than God when we face a desperate situation.

Rather than humbly seeking God for grace, we'd rather look to the government for a handout. Instead of seeking the One who can heal, we'd rather look to a flawed human system for a cure.

I am not criticizing science or the efforts of those who've worked to bring relief to infected people. Instead, I am pointing out the obvious problem that our nation has been deceived into thinking that we don't need God. We foolishly believe that we can resolve any problem that comes our way. In times of desperation, we look within rather than looking above.

Our money is printed with the logo: IN GOD WE TRUST. Yet it is obvious that the motto needs to be changed to IN GOVERNMENT WE TRUST. What a sad time we live in!

The Bible says, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Over and over again, the Old Testament shows us how Israel failed when they turned from God and trusted in themselves. Writing to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” As believers, we should have no confidence in the flesh. In other words, we have no confidence in men. Even the best of men can let us down. Our confidence should be in the Lord. He will never fail us.

During desperate times, we can trust God. Our faith is tested during desperate times. It is one thing to sing, “Living By Faith,” on Sunday morning, but it is another thing to live by faith when trials, tribulations and heartaches come our way. Here is the real acid test of our faith. Can God be trusted in the worst of times? This is a serious matter. The integrity of God is on the line. Yet we know He CAN be trusted … at all times.

In Numbers chapter 21, the people complained against the Lord and Moses. In response, God sent serpents among the people and many died. In their desperate situation, what did the people do? They went to Moses and asked him to pray that the Lord would take the snakes away.

Some would argue that the people went to their leader for help, but ultimately they knew that God was the only One who could put an end to their dire situation. They didn't ask Moses for a handout or a vaccine. Instead, they asked Moses to pray for them, which he did.

In response, God told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole, then lift that pole up. Everyone who would look to that bronze snake would live. Look and live. That was the answer for the desperate people in Numbers chapter 21.

It is the same message for today. Desperate souls are facing eternity without Jesus. The Lord said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Desperate souls can find everlasting life by looking to Jesus.

The real problem facing Americans is not Covid-19, inflation or social unrest. The real problem is sin. The government cannot solve this problem. Dying souls can only find eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Look and live. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is time to wake up to the dire situation facing millions of souls. May the Holy Spirit awaken someone that reads these words. Without Christ, you are in a desperate situation. The serpent of sin has bitten you. The venom is deadly. Your only hope is to look to Jesus Christ right now.

Look and live.