You read the title right. Preachers have pride. Men have pride. All people deal with it to some degree, I believe men more and preachers...well! Israel was in the wilderness. Their water had run out. Man can do without a lot of things, but water is not one of them. We need our water. Water, the lack of water, water supply and who controls it has fostered many a conflict and even war in world history.
When Israel found herself in this situation she began to grumble. However, her grumbling was not against God, but Moses and Aaron. They had just buried Miriam. Moses and Aaron were grieving. The enemy saw his chance. The people came to Moses and Aaron and said, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord.! Why then have you brought the Lord's assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here?"
Moses and Aarons next step was a crucial one. They fell on their faces before the Lord at the tent of meeting. God appeared and told them what to do. Whew! That was close. Too many times man gets in the flesh when he is weak, spouts off at the mouth and blows it. It happens in marriage, it happens in business and yes it happens in the church.
Hold your horses because one right step can be followed by several wrong steps and that is exactly what happens here. Bottom line: God gave Moses and Aaron instructions as to what to do. His Way would have resulted in His Glory and their need being met. However, Moses flew off the handle at God's people and in a fit of rage disobeyed God. Now God came through, but Moses and Aaron did not get to go in.
At Rephidim God had instructed Moses to strike a rock to provide water. He did and God provided. Here God instructed Moses to "speak" to the rock, but once again Moses "struck" the rock. It's not that God was not clear, but Moses apparently was not listening. Why? What happened?
Some observations:
1. The enemy will attack at a time of great defeat or great victory.
2. We can go before God and be in His presence, experience His power, hear His voice, yet get up and go out in our strength and perform in our flesh.
3. God calls us to trust Him fully - not in part.
4. There are dire consequences to not trusting God.
How many times has my flesh and selfish pride resulted in me striking the rock and in essence slap God in the face. When I do I attempt to rob God of His Glory. I say "attempt" because I am not sure that I can rob God of His Glory...He Is God. But my actions are an attempt by my flesh to upstage Him. I am in fact saying that my way is better than God's Way. Imagine the arrogance of that.
Preacher, no matter what, no matter when... when we go before the Lord we must wait long enough to let God get us out of the way. We must stay long enough to let God so fill us with Himself that there is no room for ourselves. We must wait long and lone until the old man is dead and buried (at least for the time being) so that God is all in all, over all and through all.
Preacher, look at what Moses did and let it be a warning to all of us. He gave his congregation a tongue lashing. He reacted to them and their bellyaching instead of listening to God and His instruction. He spoke in anger when He should have let God speak through Him. He missed out on God's best and never experienced Canaan. And it all came down to simply Trusting God.
July 27, 2010
July 16, 2010
Churches Making a Difference
The most important element in the life of the church in tune with the heart of God, in line with the mission of God, and in pursuit with the will of God is seeing more and more people redeemed and forgiven by grace through Jesus Christ. I afraid that we have forgotten that as a church. The church is being basically ignored and mocked these days because...well...most churches have created a culture that suits them best and even a God that suits them best and thrown out the biblical model as well as "unintentionally" forsaking the God of the Bible.
People want a church to make them feel good and comfortable. They are looking for one that "meets their needs." When people come to church they are almost coming with a "consumer" mindset. That's okay because they are coming. However, it is not okay for us to recreate or change who God is and what He has said to make them comfortable or meet their needs. Should we be friendly and hospitable? Absolutely. Should their be an atmosphere of excitement? You bet and may I add to that EXCELLENCE for God deserves our best.
The church that is not being ignored is seeing more people becoming Christ followers, more believers growing in faith and more churches making an impact on the culture and community in which they live. People are drawn there because God is drawing them there. God is involved, because He is being honored and glorified. His will and way are more important than anything else. Fear in this church springs from a reverence of God and not wanting to offend Him rather than a fear of deacon _________ or sister _____and not wanting cross him or her. On the other hand pastor, God did not call any of us to build a kingdom, He has that well in hand...His Hand.
Too many churches today are so focused on buildings, budgets and bodies that they neglect if they even care about the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Some churches have become "keepers of the aquarium" rather than "fishers of men."
Jesus said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). LIFE...that's what people want. LIFE...that's what people are looking for. People want to live LIFE and Jesus came to give it. He has called us to LIVE out His LIFE in front of them, display a life of GRACE in their midst and "such as (we) have" give them Jesus.
Any church should be so indispensible to their community that their absence would leave such a hole that the community would cry out for their return. What would happen in your community if the church you are a part of did not exist? Would it be missed? Would it's absence be noticed? Step back and take a look. Are you making a difference?
"Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2).
People want a church to make them feel good and comfortable. They are looking for one that "meets their needs." When people come to church they are almost coming with a "consumer" mindset. That's okay because they are coming. However, it is not okay for us to recreate or change who God is and what He has said to make them comfortable or meet their needs. Should we be friendly and hospitable? Absolutely. Should their be an atmosphere of excitement? You bet and may I add to that EXCELLENCE for God deserves our best.
The church that is not being ignored is seeing more people becoming Christ followers, more believers growing in faith and more churches making an impact on the culture and community in which they live. People are drawn there because God is drawing them there. God is involved, because He is being honored and glorified. His will and way are more important than anything else. Fear in this church springs from a reverence of God and not wanting to offend Him rather than a fear of deacon _________ or sister _____and not wanting cross him or her. On the other hand pastor, God did not call any of us to build a kingdom, He has that well in hand...His Hand.
Too many churches today are so focused on buildings, budgets and bodies that they neglect if they even care about the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Some churches have become "keepers of the aquarium" rather than "fishers of men."
Jesus said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). LIFE...that's what people want. LIFE...that's what people are looking for. People want to live LIFE and Jesus came to give it. He has called us to LIVE out His LIFE in front of them, display a life of GRACE in their midst and "such as (we) have" give them Jesus.
Any church should be so indispensible to their community that their absence would leave such a hole that the community would cry out for their return. What would happen in your community if the church you are a part of did not exist? Would it be missed? Would it's absence be noticed? Step back and take a look. Are you making a difference?
"Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2).
July 5, 2010
First Interim Behind Us
Well, we just completed our first interim pastorate. Central Baptist Church in Albany, GA is a great group of people that love God and love each other. Over the last nine months we have had the opportunity to love, lead and learn from them.
Over the years I have followed interim pastors and even kept up with those who assumed that duty after I left a church field. I have had friends to serve in this most crucual role. This was my first and I must say that I can't imagine having a more fulfilling and successful experience. Church unity is essential if a church is going to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
Many times interims become open doors for church "power brokers" to move in and take back what territory they think they lost during the previous pastorate (as if they had territory to take). When will we learn that the church is God's church and He has not signed over one part of the deed.
We wish them well and pray God's blessing on them as they go with God. Dr. Greg Davis and his wife Mari will arrive in Albany on Wednesday and assume the role of Sr. Pastor. His is a great opportunity as they will unite as pastor and people to reach Albany for Christ.
Over the years I have followed interim pastors and even kept up with those who assumed that duty after I left a church field. I have had friends to serve in this most crucual role. This was my first and I must say that I can't imagine having a more fulfilling and successful experience. Church unity is essential if a church is going to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
Many times interims become open doors for church "power brokers" to move in and take back what territory they think they lost during the previous pastorate (as if they had territory to take). When will we learn that the church is God's church and He has not signed over one part of the deed.
We wish them well and pray God's blessing on them as they go with God. Dr. Greg Davis and his wife Mari will arrive in Albany on Wednesday and assume the role of Sr. Pastor. His is a great opportunity as they will unite as pastor and people to reach Albany for Christ.
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