All These Things Are Against Me

Went to a preachers’ fellowship meeting last Tuesday, hosted by Astatula Baptist Church and Pastor Travis Lane. Heard some good preaching and enjoyed some good fellowship. Two of the speakers I had heard much about but had never heard preach: Glenn Riggs, pastor of Starlight Baptist Church in Orlando, FL, and Mickey Carter, pastor/founder of Landmark Baptist Church and College in Haines City, FL.

It was a blessing to hear an old saint (Bro. Carter) who has fought long and hard still standing strong on the word of God and excited about the Lord’s return.

Bro. Riggs preached from Genesis 42:36, where Jacob makes a statement many of us feel we can identify with from time to time: “All these things are against me.” He made some great points from the passage, so I wanted to pass along my notes.

INTRODUCTION: It sure looked this way in Jacob’s life at this point, but things are not always what they seem. Because “as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7),” our attitude is so important.

1. There are and will be times in our lives, especially in the ministry, when it seems as if “all things are against us.” But it’s never quite as bad as we think it’s going to be.

2. In such times, we must never forget the lessons of the past. Many examples of God’s blessing and intervention in Jacob’s life. “In times like these it always help to remember that there have always been times like these” (Paul Harvey).

3. Our disadvantages often turn out to be our greatest opportunities. Nothing Jacob said in this verse was true. “Joseph is not.” He was. Bro. Riggs put it this way: “In fact, you ain’t gonna believe how is Joseph is.” Next, “Simeon is not.” But he was. And “ye will take Benjamin away.” That’s not at all what happened. In reality, God was about to turn everything around and do something great in Jacob’s life.

In Genesis 42:36, Jacob said, “All these things are against me.”

But in Romans 8:28, the Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Then in verse 31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Praise the Lord!

Bearing Burdens

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted. Quick entry here. Brother James preached an excellent message last Sunday morning from Galatians 6 on the subject of bearing burdens. Click here to listen.

Give some thought to these convicting questions from Job 26:2-4.

• How hast thou helped him that is without power?
• How savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
• How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom?
• How hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
• To whom hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came from thee?

May the Lord richly bless your service in His name.

One Another

What began as a simple word study done on a whim this afternoon quickly became a very convicting list of NT instructions. Take a look.

WHAT WE SHOULD DO TO “ONE ANOTHER”

Love – John 13:14; John 15:12; John 15:17; Romans 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:11; 1 John 4:12; 2 John 1:5

Prefer – Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3

Receive – Romans 15:7

Admonish – Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16

Salute – Romans 16:16

Greet – 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14

Serve – Galatians 5:13

Forbear – Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13

Forgive – Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13

Comfort – 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 1:4

Edify – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Exhort – Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:25

Consider – Hebrews 10:24

WHAT WE MUST NOT DO TO “ONE ANOTHER”

Betray & Hate – Matthew 24:10; Titus 3:3

Judge – Romans 14:13

Bite & Devour – Galatians 5:15

Provoke & Envy – Galatians 5:26

Forsake – Hebrews 10:25

Lord willing, this will be worked into a Sunday School lesson in the near future. In the meantime, I need to ask for God’s help in brining my life into line with these instructions regarding my actions and attitudes toward my brothers and sisters in Christ. How about you?

I'm Offended - Part 2

Mark 14:26-27 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

As Jesus neared the end of His public ministry and “the hour” for which He had come drew nigh, He often spoke to His disciples of His betrayal, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. And they never got it. They never understood what He was talking about.

In fact, on the eve of His crucifixion, right after leaving the table of the last supper, Jesus told these disciples they would be OFFENDED because of Him that very night.

Why did they not understand what Jesus was talking about when He spoke of the decease He would accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:31)? Further, why was it an offence to them?

I submit to you that one of the reasons they didn’t understand, the reason they were offended, is the same reason that men and women today don’t understand and are offended by the preaching of the cross of Jesus Christ.

The disciples, who believed Jesus was the Son of God, and all the rest of nation who rejected Him, were both looking for a Messiah. And neither group was necessarily looking to be saved from their sin by His death on a cross; they thought that in some way this Messiah would save them from oppression (either from Rome or from the Jewish leadership) by His leadership and conquest. They were anticipating the kingdom of heaven (physical) but missed the fact that it would have to come through the kingdom of God (spiritual). And because they were looking for a political leader instead of a Savior, they didn’t really understand what would be accomplished by Jesus’ death.

The multitudes followed Jesus because He healed their sick and filled their bellies (John 6:26). That same multitude sought to make Him a King (John 6:15) and brought Him triumphantly into Jerusalem with shouts of Hosanna (John 12). But where was that multitude on the eve of His crucifixion? Offended. Why? Their focus was on what Jesus could do to make their lives better. The cross didn’t quite fit into that picture.

In like manner, men and women today are OK with the life of Jesus. They don’t mind His teachings (the ones they know about) or His example. In fact, in many ways they see that all those things can make their lives better. But when you talk about the death that Jesus died and the reason it was necessary, you’re insinuating that they have a spiritual problem and are hopeless without help from God. And the thought stings their conscience because they know it’s true.

The message of the cross of Jesus Christ is an offence to the carnally, temporally, physically minded individual, whether he’s a first-century Jew or a twenty-first century American. Let’s be faithful to preach that saving gospel in hopes that some will fall at the feet of the rock of offence and believe (Romans 9:33).

Moses' Desires

Exodus 33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

It is said that great men desire great things. No doubt Moses was a great man. So let’s take a look at what he wanted from God here in Exodus 33: (1) He wanted to know God’s way; (2) He wanted to know God’s person; and (3) He wanted to know God’s grace.

Moses got what he wanted. And if you and I want what Moses wanted, we can have what Moses got. In each case, here’s what we need to do: (1) humble ourselves; (2) trust the Lord; and (3) believe what we find as we search His word – enough to commit ourselves to doing what it says.

SHEW ME NOW THY WAY…

David often prayed the same prayer. “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me…” (Psalm 25:5). “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path…” (Psalm 27:11). “Teach me thy way, O LORD…” (Psalm 86:11).

He also expressed His trust in the Lord and His commitment to following God’s way once He knew it. “…for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:5). “…I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name” (Psalm 86:11).

If you and I really want to know what way God would have us to go, we need to realize that “the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23) and that God’s way is perfect (Psalm 18:30) and so much higher than our own (Isaiah 55:8-9). And if we acknowledge Him in all our ways, trusting in Him with all our hearts, He’s promised to direct our paths in the way of righteousness (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 23:3; Psalm 119:105).

THAT I MAY KNOW THEE…

Paul wrote of this desire in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him…” Do you want to know God in a personal way? Do you want to fellowship with Him and commune with Him on a daily basis? We can. And we go about it the same way we go about getting to know anybody else. We spend time WITH Him. We talk WITH Him. We talk ABOUT Him with others who know Him so we can better know what He’s like and He likes.

The Bible says He stands at our hearts door, desiring to come in and fellowship with us. But the only way to open the door and let Him in is for us to hear His voice (Revelation 3:20). The Lord rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6; Jeremiah 29:13), and He reveals Himself in the pages of His word (1 Samuel 3:21).

THAT I MAY FIND GRACE IN THY SIGHT

“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). And we too can find it at the throne of God (Hebrews 4:16). We can get in on good things we don’t deserve. There’s only one requirement. Humility. “God resiseth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).

What we want says a lot about who we are. There are abundant blessings to be received at the hand of a gracious God, if we want them enough to go after them on the terms He’s set before us. What do you want?