THE PAIN OF THE BURDEN

Nehemiah 1:1-4  The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,  (2)  That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.  (3)  And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.  (4)  And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

As we begin with our study of Nehemiah, the first subject that comes up is the heart and burden of Nehemiah. Too many Christians today live like they habitate on an island to themselves. This is a very self-centered attitude. But it is God’s purpose for us to be focused on Him first and foremost; and if we are focused on God like we should be, we will be burdened for those in need around us. What tugs on your heart strings today? Is it personal problems or needs? Our vision of God will shape our lives and impact those around us. As we will see, Nehemiah was a man who sought for God to be glorified and His children helped. Let’s look and see three characteristics of Nehemiah and how we can share this same vision and burden.

NEHEMIAH’S BRETHREN – 1:1-2A

There are some facts we know about Nehemiah’s breathern. First, lets notice When They Returned. The remnant of Israel returned in 3 waves. Zerubbabel, then Ezra brought a group and rebuilt the Temple and restored the worship. Now, approximately 14 years later, Nehemiah learns of the deplorable conditions of God’s city and chosen people. The Bible tells us the month was Chisleu, which coincides with our November/December.

Secondly, we notice Who Returned. His brother’s name is Hanani, who we meet again later in  Nehemiah 7:2. Hanani was one of the people who returned with the second group led by Ezra. They were struggling without and protective walls after some successful spiritual reform under Ezra. The Israelites had a goal to make Jerusalem a God fearing and worshipping city, but their enemies prevailed in thwarting this by tearing down their protective walls. This is a reminder to us today that we need to build and maintain spiritual walls to protect our testimonies, families, churches, and country. The world today does not want distinctive, separated, sold-out to God Christians and will try to do anything and everything in its power to break down your walls and burn your gates. Think about all the attacks today on families…fundamental, Bible-believing churches…Bible standards (marriage, drinking, worldliness, etc.). We need walls of separation!

NEHEMIAH’S BURDEN – 1:2B

Nehemiah’s burden was two-fold. He was concerned for their Safety. Even though Nehemiah had it very well living and working in the king’s palace, he had not forgotten his people. How was it that Nehemiah developed this burden for the safety of his people? By hearing of their great need.

God often calls men and women to a particular job or ministry by revealing to that person a specific need. We see the same today in our churches when we are blessed to be in the presence of missionaries. These are men, women, boys and girls who have seen a need and received a burden from the Lord to do something about it.

As we will see in Chapter 2, the position that Nehemiah held in the king’s palace gave him a great opportunity to be used by God to help his brethren. God often blesses us and puts us in a position so that we may get a burden for those less fortunate…those who are struggling. Do the blessings that God has bestowed upon you motivate you to help others, or drive you to gather more for yourself?

We also notice that Nehemiah was concerned for their Spiritual Condition. More pressing than the physical needs the remnant of Israel had was their spiritual needs. They had begun to lose hope in God, and Nehemiah was motivated by his great love for God to do something about it. One issue that some have with our churches is that we don’t seem to care about the physical needs of people around them. And out of this, we have many new-age movements under the banner of Christianity, like the Emergent Church and New-Evangelicalism. But one of the main problems with these groups is that they often focus on the physical needs at a neglect to the spiritual. This leads to what is often referred to as a “Social Gospel.” Many people today are more worried about their family’s physical needs and ignore the spiritual.

Do we need to do a better job of sharing the love of God in our community through acts of kindness to those in need? YES. But we do so as a means to share with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not a means to an end. I like what I once heard Bro. Scott Pauley say at a preacher’s meeting - Jesus healed many, but always with a purpose. He did not have a healing ministry, but a revealing ministry. We help those in need in order to have the opportunity to reveal to them our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Are you burdened for the spiritual condition of those around you?

NEHEMIAH’S BROKENNESS – 1:3-4

First, Nehemiah receives The Report in 1:3. Nehemiah realized this was not just an attack on God’s people, but an attack to God and His Glory. But many times today we are so self-absorbed that we never even realize the need around us.

Now, we notice The Response in 1:4. Nehemiah’s response was three-fold:

1. Consecration – or wholly set aside for God. Nehemiah was fully set aside for God’s use and glory. The first step in consecration is repentance. Originally, we are all selfish in nature, and we need to repent of that selfish sinfulness and turn fully and completely to God. But most Christians never feel God lead them to do something great for Him because they are distracted with their own life – their own needs – and their own plans to hear. When we cannot obey God in the basics of our faith, we should never expect God to do extraordinary.
2. Compassion - He was moved with compassion and he wept and mourned over the terrible report. Nehemiah’s compassion was not just directed at the struggle of the Israelites, but he had great compassion for the glory of God. If we are sincere in our love and compassion for God, it will break our hearts to see His children in need and suffering. We are so hard-hearted to the needs around us that we dishonor the name of God to those we live amongst. As God’s children, we ought to be the first in line to help others, not Missing In Action.
3. Continued Intercession – When we look at Nehemiah 2:1 and compare the months, we see that he prayed for 4 months. This is what separates good Christians from great Christians – Intercessory prayer. As we will see starting in the next blog post, Nehemiah was one of the greatest men of prayer. Would to God that we would have some men and women today who would dedicate themselves to prayer and fasting on behalf of others!

As we close this blog post, let us consider some question:

Are we concerned for the glory of God?

Are we concerned for those around us?

When we see the need, when we see them struggle, how do we respond?

THE PERSON OF NEHEMIAH

Editors Note: This will begin a new series of blog post from the book of Nehemiah, in which I have titled the series, “Nehemiah: God’s Foreman.”

There may be few books of the Bible better than Nehemiah for where we are at today as a church, and a whole in this country. As we study this great book, we will be looking at the spiritual applications on rebuilding our families, churches, and country. Before we do this, I want to spend some time today looking at who Nehemiah is, and what characteristics made up this great man that was mightily used of God.

BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW of the Book

The book belongs in a grouping of three – Ezra, Nehemiah, and Ester. These 3 books together cover about 100 years, starting with the first of three remnants returning from captivity in Babylon as Jerusalem is rebuilt. These are the last, in chronological order, of the Historical Books, and Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi are the prophets who prophesied during this time period. Nehemiah covers the time of approx. 457-432 BC, or 12-20 years after the end of Ezra. Nehemiah is widely considered the author of the book that bears his name. Most parts are a memoir, with chapter 7 being a historical documentation of the Jewish families, similar to the one found in the Book of Ezra.

SUMMARY of the BOOK

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king in the Persian palace, and leads the third and last return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. His concern for the welfare of Jerusalem and its inhabitants prompts him to take bold action. Granted permission to return to his homeland, Nehemiah challenges his countryman to arise and rebuild the shattered walls of Jerusalem. In spite of opposition from without and abuse within, the task is completed I only 52 days – a feat which even the enemies of Israel must attribute to God’s enabling. By contrast, the task of reviving and reforming the people of God within those rebuilt walls demands years of Nehemiah’s godly life and leadership. (Talk Thru the Bible pg 123)

BACKGROUND OF THE PERSON OF NEHEMIAH

He was born to Jewish parents in exile, and his name means “the comfort of Jehovah.” We can gather by his reaction to the poor state of walls and remnant of Jerusalem that he was raised in a godly home. We must always remember that Nehemiah’s don’t just happen – they are raised. At a young age he was appointed the responsibility of being the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. God would later use this position to secure the permission, protection, and provision Nehemiah needed for the task. He was a man of God, filled with the Spirit of God, and prayer was a natural and essential part of his life and his success. Nehemiah knew what work was, inspired others to work, and knew how to encourage those who became discouraged. He stood strong and tall in the face of opposition from without and within.

PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

The book of Nehemiah shows us what God can do through a remnant of believers who rise to God’s call through His servant to restore a focused and strengthen relationship with Him. This is where many of us are at today – a need to refocus and strengthen our faith and walk with God. What is needed today are some Nehemiah’s who will have a burden to rebuild what the enemy has destroyed. We have, for far too long, grown okay with the broken down walls of our faith. Are you willing to do something about the spiritual conditions around you? There are three characteristics that each of us should adopt in our lives so that we might begin to rebuild our walls.

NEHEMIAH’S FOCUS

He did not focus on what he could not do, what he had not been trained for, or what he never had accomplished before. Nehemiah was not one who saw the problems or complication, just the possibilities. Nehemiah was a dedicated layman willing to give up the luxuries of the palace to labor with the people of God. He was more concerned for the disrepair of God’s work than his own personal fame and fortune.

What is our focus today? When we look around and see no problems, it shows that we have a lack of spiritual focus. Too many of us are like the remnant of Jerusalem who see the disrepair of the walls, but we are unwilling to do anything about it. Our families are struggling in sin, and yet we turn a blind eye. Our churches are struggling to reach our communities and affect change with the Gospel, yet there is no tear I our eye as we sow the Gospel seed. Where is our focus?

NEHEMIAH’S FORTITUDE

J. B. Tidwell once said this about Nehemiah – He was cautious. His secret visit to the walls and his division and distribution of the laborers are good illustrations. He was courageous. He stood alone as leader of the enterprise and worked on, reusing to be frightened away by the enemies. He was uncompromising. He would neither compromise with outsiders, such as Sanballat, nor with those among his own people, such as the nobles. (pg 91, The Bible Book by Book)

It is sad how quickly the average Christians will just roll over and tuck tail and run when times are tough. There are some difficult times ahead for us as the Christian culture of our once great nation continues to erode – do you have the strength to see it through? The Bible still says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The easiest thing to do is float down stream with everyone else…Blend in with the crows. It takes real spiritual fortitude to stand up and do something about what you see, about what needs to be done.

NEHEMIAH’S FAITH

J. B. Tidwell continues on with some more insight about the person of Nehemiah – He had a concern for God’s cause. This is indicated by his earnest inquiry, by his deep sorrow for Jerusalem, etc. He had confidence in God’s cause and could pray for it and plead with heathen kings for it. He co-operated in God’s cause and actively fitted into the divine plan and works. (pg 91, The Bible Book by Book)

One of the many great lessons and topics we will cover while studying Nehemiah is his prayer life. His life also is a picture of the restoration ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ:

• Both left their high positions in order to identify with the plight of their people.
• Both came with a specific mission and fulfilled it.
• Both are characterized by prayerful dependence on God (Talk…pg. 126)

If we want to accomplish the work that Nehemiah accomplished, we must share the faith that Nehemiah possessed. And this faith is fortified in prayer.

CLOSING:

Are you willing to be a Nehemiah? Your family needs a Nehemiah to spiritually lead them in building up the wall of separation and faith. The church is in need of some Nehemiah’s – men and women who will do their part to build a church – spiritually and physically.

Where are the Nehemiah’s today?

Sliding Down The Slope of Sin–Part 2 of 2

Psalm 73:1-3  A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.  (2) But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.  (3) For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

In this post, we will look at two other areas in our walk of faith that, if we are not careful, can begin to slip.

WE CAN SLIP IN OUR FAITHFULNESS

Notice the progression of slippage when it comes to our faith. The first place we begin to slip is in our Attitude. Usually this bad attitude it directed at someone else. Maybe it is the preacher who preached on your particular sin that day. Or maybe it was the Sunday School teacher because you did not like the way they taught their lesson. Or maybe it was another church member who looked at  you wrong…did not look at you…etc. Maybe your bad attitude is directed at a spouse, or sibling, or school teacher. The bottom line is this: there is nothing worse than a Christian with a bad attitude. It hurts your personal testimony, destroys your relationships, and stops your spiritual growth.

And this bad attitude, if not dealt with quickly and swiftly, will lead to bitterness. Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

Next, we slip in our Application. When a bad and bitter attitude are left uncheck, we see we become hearers but not doers.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

A lot of people sit in church with their poor attitude and hear lots of helpful teaching and preaching of the Bible, but do nothing about it. And this bad attitude has not only cost them their spiritual vitality, but they are deceived and don’t even know it. Many Christians who were once on fire for the Lord and now just smoldering reminders of the warnings of James 1:22.

Finally, we slip in our Actions. We can become stingy in three diferent areas of our Christian walk:

1. Stingy in our Scriptures – Many so-called disgruntled Christians claim to be mad at God when in reality they don’t know anything about Him. They have to stop reading God’s Word because they can no longer handle the conviction. It is easier to stop reading God’s Word and allow your heart and mind to be filled with the world’s trash. All this does, it continue your downward spiral of sin.
2. Stingy in our Supplications - Prayer is so important, so vital to our closeness with the Lord, that it is no wonder this is one of the first actions to slip away when we begin to backslide. I can almost guarantee you 100% that when someone has fallen deep into sin or grown cold in their relationship with the Lord, it started the day they stopped reading their Bible and praying with fervency. This is the life-blood of the Christian walk, and we cannot do without it.
3. Sting in Services -
   1. Stop giving our tithes - Malachi 3:8-10 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (9) Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. (10) Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mark it down, when someone has a problem tithing and giving, deep down they have a heart issue with God and this is how it manifest itself.
   2. Stop giving our time - Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

WE CAN SLIP IN OUR FAMILIES

We must face up to the reality that the American family unit has fallen on really bad times. But why have our families slipped so far? Look at what the Bible teaches about the family in Ephesians 5:21-6:4.

The first truth I want you to notice is that our families slip when the Husbands Don’t Lead. The husband has a two fold responsibility:

1. The Husband is to LOVE - In this entire section of Scripture, it is the husband who has the greatest and most difficult responsibility. As tough as some ladies may think it is to submit biblically to your husband, the husbands calling is much more difficult. The husband must first and foremost love his wife just as Jesus loved the church and gave His life for it. A sacrificial love puts your wife first – above your needs, wants, and desires. Loving your wife and your family means you are the one who provides for them – 1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
2. The Husband is to LEAD - We need to return to the time of men leading the family, and men leading the church. This does not mean that the woman is inferior, but that God has created the sexes with different responsibilities. While it seems that even during the Lord’s earthly ministry that it was the women who were more spiritually sensitive, He still called 12 MEN to lay the foundation of the first church with and to lead it to what it is today – and He has not changed His plan of formula! This business that, “The man is the head, but the wife is the neck that turns the head,” is right out of the pits of Hell! We need men today to spiritually and biblically lead their families.

Secondly, our families slip when the Wives Don’t Heed. It is sad that in today’s day and age that so many women are forced by their weak husbands to take on the role of leadership – but this is not God’s plan and purpose for you. But God help us from strong-willed women who will not submit to the leadership and God-given authority of their husband. You may think this is archaic, but it is as old as the Bible and we cannot improve upon it. The Bible is not telling you to submit to sin, but when your husband makes strides to be a spiritual leader, then love him and support him and DON’T TRY TO SABOTAGE IT.

Finally, notice with me that when the family slips, our Children Won’t Succeed. This new generation is struggling, falling further and further away from God – and it is not all their fault. I believe the brunt of the burden lies on the previous generation and the deterioration of the family. We have tried to tear down and redefine what the nuclear family is, and it is the children that suffer. One of the reasons we see so many children who don’t know how to obey their parents and other authorities is shown to us in our text from Ephesians:

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

If we want our kids to grow up to be successful in the Lord, we must start training, leading, and loving them today in the Lord.

As we put a close to this blog topic, we must remember that we usually don’t notice problems until something completely falls apart – but before we fall, there is always a slow slide first. Has the quality of your fellowship, faith, or family begun to slip? It is time today that we seek the Lord to stop the slide before we completely fall.

Sliding Down The Slope of Sin–Part 1 of 2

Psalm 73:1-3  A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.  (2) But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.  (3) For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

As we see in this psalm of Asaph, there usually is a slid before there is a fall. There are 3 different men with the name “Asaph” mentioned in the Old Testament. One was a chronicler of Israel mentioned in 2 Kings and Isaiah. Another was a keeper of the forest mentioned in Nehemiah. The writer of this psalm was one of the Choir leaders for David, and was a skilled musician. He is mentioned throughout 1 and 2 Chronicles. Scholars attribute Psalms 50, 73-83 to Asaph. This is also the same Asaph that is mentioned in Nehemiah 12:46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.

As Asaph starts this Psalm, he deals with two contrasting subjects in the first three verses:

1. The Goodness of God – 73:1. There is no mistaking or overlooking God’s goodness to His people who by faith follow Him.  All righteousness starts in the heart. David said it this way in Psalm 51:10, and he wrote under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” I recently read of one of the martyrs of our faith, John Hooper, who wrote of this verse while in prison and said, “We must learn to say this verse whether it be winter or summer, pleasure or pain, liberty or imprisonment, life of death.” We must always remember that God is good ALL THE TIME!
2. The Greed of Man – 73:2-3. Asaph’s problem came because he saw the wicked around him prospering without any seemingly retribution from God. This Psalm represents a great battle that many Christians have faced. Asaph chronicles this battle, and shows us when he turned the corner – Psalm 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. We often allow outside circumstances that we cannot control to allow us to slip in our own Christian walk.

In my Bible, I have this note written down beside vs. 2 – You slide before you fall.  To slip means that not only are we not moving forward, we are slowly moving backwards. God expects you and I to press on and move forward. Paul wrote in  Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” We do so by looking to Jesus - Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Are we allowing certain aspects or areas of our Christian walk to slip? Let’s look at three areas in our lives that we need to make sure do not slip. We will study the first one in this post.

WE CAN SLIP IN OUR FELLOWSHIP

One of the ways we define a New Testament church is a called-out, separated, fellowship, or body, of baptized believers. Our fellowship slips when we fail to Preserve our Structure. Dr. Raymond Barber once said, “Poor and inadequate facilities stump church growth. We must provide the facilities that are adequate to keep the ministry of the church going.” God often blesses churches with facilities, or a central location to hold meetings, outreach, etc. They come in different shapes and sizes. Our job is more than just to maintain what God gives us, because if all you do is maintain, eventually the standard will begin to slide. What are we going to do about what we have to be a good steward of what He has blessed us with? What do new people think about when they first walk into your church building?

• Is it clean?
• Well lit?
• Inviting?
• A place to worship?

An old building gives off the vibe of an old, dying church. Preserve the buildings and structures God has blessed you with. It is a testimony of your church and the Lord to the community surround it.

Another area our fellowship slips is when we fail to Preach the Scriptures. We are called to communicate the Word of God and fulfill the Great Commission. A church cannot lose its focus on God’s priority – the preaching and teaching of His Word. He not only inspired it to be written, but God has preserved it for us completely and without error today. For English speaking people, I believe that is the King James Version of the Bible. As the church, we have a responsibility to maintain, and even reproduce that word. Think about what Paul said to Timothy in  1 Timothy 3:15, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Music is important – programs are helpful – but the church’s first priority is to teach and preach the Word of God. We are to rightly divide the Word of Truth, and cannot err on the side of programs and personalities and music.

Yet another area our fellowship slips is when we fail to Propagate and Saturate. It would be great if people were beating down the doors of the church to hear God’s Word and to find out how to know for sure they are saved. But they are not, so we must go out and tell them and invite them. This is the first step in what we call the “Great Commission.”

• Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
• Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
• Luke 24:46-47 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

If we are not telling others how to get to heaven, then why would heaven want to keep our doors open?

Finally, our fellowship slips when we fail to Persevere with our Standards. No one today likes to preach and adhere to standards. And when you do, they claim you are nothing more than a Pharisee and a legalist. Instead of spending so much time trying to tear down Biblical standards, we should be doing what we can to build them higher and stronger.

If we are going to err, let’s err on the side of caution. If you were taking a trip up a mountain, I am sure you would stay as far from the ledge as possible. Yet, when we continue to ignore Biblical standards, all we are trying to do is get as close to the ledge as possible without falling. But all it takes is one gust of wind, one misstep, one slide, and we are tumbling down the slope of sin. One preacher said it well when he said, “I don’t have standards because I am so holy; I have standards because I know how sinful I am.”

Our families and churches would be in a lot better shape if we would keep our Biblical standards. Mark it down – every time someone lowers or loosens their standards, they don’t become more Christ-like, just more like the world.

Let’s not allow our fellowship, our church, to slip.

Book Review–Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom

OVERVIEW: Stop hitting the spiritual snooze button. Would you describe your walk with God as fresh and exciting? Would you describe your spiritual life as vibrant and passionate? If not, would you like these attributes to be the norm in your everyday relationship with God? Are you ready to experience an awakening? Awakening helps you stir up your slumbering soul. Yours"ll discover how to break out of your season of dryness or get off to a great start either in the New Year or the next season in life. Take your faith-walk from a "going through the motions" or "have to" mindset to the stimulating, fresh "want to" experience of enjoying God’s presence-24/7. Weems encourages you to surrender fully, to discover the right kind of fuel for the journey, and to learn a new way to pray and fast. This lifestyle is not based on rules or religion, but on a deep, satisfying, motivating relationship with God. Included in Awakening is a 21-Day Plan that will guide you through the principles that ensure a lasting, fresh relationship with God-even in a world where everything quickly becomes stale. "It’s time to wake up and put an end to spiritual sluggishness! I promise this year will be the best of your life if it is your best year spiritually." Stovall Weems

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK: This is not a “technical” book when it comes to prayer and fasting, which makes it a very easy read. If a person were so inclined to do this 21-day fast, I believe the section at the end would be a big help in assisting you with that plan. I believe chapter five, dealing with the subject, “God is a Filler, not a Forcer,” may have been its best. I was challenged and encouraged to “make more space” in my life for God.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK: I am always skeptical about something “new” when it comes to the Bible and faith, and I believe my skepticism was warranted here. The author tries to make a very big distinction from how fasting is practiced in the Old Testament and the New Testament, but I still do not see that big of a difference. In my opinion, the author tried too hard to make fasting seem “easy,” when it is not. Fasting is still a sacrifice, and I just don’t believe that it is something that you can cut corners on. At the end of each chapter there was an “Awakening Story,” and these stories revealed some red flags to me: such as the condoning of “social drinking,” and speaking in tongues.

OVERALL RECOMMENDATION: While there are some good thoughts and ideas that you can glean from this book, I just cannot give it a recommendation at this time.While I do believe fasting is a biblical practice that is far too often ignored, making it simpler is not the way to go. There are no shortcuts when it comes to our relationship with the Lord.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

SPIRITUALLY SLUMPING & STUMBLING–Part 2 of 2

Luke 13:10-13  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.  (11) And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.  (12) And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.  (13) And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

In our first post, we notice that her trouble was a Sustaining trouble. Today, we will look at another characteristic of her trouble, and what Jesus did about it

SHE FOUGHT SPIRITUAL TROUBLE

What’s often overlooked in this account is the fact that it was a spirit of infirmity. After the ruler of the synagogue complained about Jesus healing on the Sabbath, Jesus answers Him. In answering him, Jesus reveals to us in Luke 3:16 that this woman was bound by Satan. Just as in the case of Job, and even Paul, God allows Satan a certain measure of space to afflict people. Many of the unusual, unexplainable disease of our day might very well be explained the same.

The Bible tells us that Isaiah 55:9, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

So, we don’t know all the reasons why God permits this, but one of the reasons is that He sometimes uses these types of situations to show His power over Satan and His love for mankind. There are two truths I want to point out about spiritual infirmities:

First, spiritual infirmities affect our Mindset. Often times, these types of trials and tribulations affect our mindset and deform the way we think. We notice that this woman did not lay out of church, blame God, or even become bitter. When we become bitter at God – or even God’s messenger – it shows that we have allowed spiritual infirmities to affect the way we think.

As we are taken through dark valleys of spiritual trials and temptations, lets renew our mind and take on the mindset of Christ and persevere, realizing that God, in His timing, will take our present difficulties and turn them to His, and our, own good. Dr. Raymond Barber tells of a prayer that goes, “O Lord, help me to understand that you let nothing come into my way that You cannot handle.” (Don’t Look Now, But Your Religion Is Showing, pg 128)

Secondly, spiritual infirmities affect our Mood, or spirit. Often times, as Christians, we know the right words to say. But our attitude reveals a different, more realistic truth about us and our heart. “Even if your body is imprisoned, your spirit is free to fly away to God (Dr. Barber, pg 130).” No one wants to be around someone who is constantly cranky, critical, and complaining. These are characteristics that should NEVER be used to describe God’s children. If one of those characteristics fits you, then you need to seek the Lord for deliverance from these infirmities.

Finally, we notice that…

 SHE FELT THE SAVIOUR’S TOUCH –

13:12-13

Just as she felt the physical hand of Jesus touch her; we all need to feel the spiritual touch of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We notice some characteristics of the Saviour’s touch.

First, it was a compassionate touch. Jesus did not ignore her, but He healed her the moment he saw her. Most people today will turn the other way, cross the road, etc. when they see a person in need. Many Christians today will not get involved in someone else’s life because it might be a little too messy. But praise God that our Lord and Saviour looks down from heaven with compassion on us today and is always in the right place at the right time to help us in our very present time of need.

She was unable to look up, so for all we know she did not even see Jesus there. But He saw and called out to her and that is all that matters. Aren’t you glad that one day when you had nowhere else to turn, nowhere else to look, that Jesus called out to?!

Secondly, it was a commanding touch. Jesus did what others could not do. No doubt this woman went to every doctor she could find for some help and some relief. She probably tried every medicine, and every type of physical therapy they had back then. But there are just certain problems that are too hard, too complex, for man to solve.

We would do good today to go to the Lord FIRST when difficulties arise, and not LAST. For most Christians, their motto is, “When all else fails, try Jesus.” That’s why so many who claim to be God’s children only darken a door when they are in need or going through difficulties. Again, when we are in the midst of difficult and trying trials we should turn to Jesus – but we should turn to Him first!

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” But if we are honest today, most treat Jesus like an acquaintance, and not a friend. If you do not believe so, then ask yourself who it is you turn to first when times are tough.

Jesus had a commanding touch because He had the authority to do what no one else could do.

We also notice that it was a controlling touch. No doubt this lady went to this synagogue week after week, offering prayers for her healing. Yet, it was this day that Jesus chose to come by, and this day that Jesus chose to heal her.

What we often fail to remember in the trials of life is that the Lord is always in control. Even when everything around us seems to be out of control, God is always in control. God answers prayer, in His timing. That is why we are commanded to have patience. Patience is the exercise of faith in times of trials and testing. We can exercise patience because we know that God is in control.

Finally, we notice that it was a complete touch. She was healed immediately and completely. If you checked in with her a couple days later, you wouldn’t see some hunched-over woman back in pain.

When God answers prayer – He answers prayer! What a great example for us of salvation. Faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the payment of our sins COMPLETELY AND ETERNALLY saves us!

Let me close with this great illustration from Andrew Murray, a great pastor and author of old, who once faced a terrible crisis. Gathering himself into his study, he sat a long while quietly, prayerfully, thoughtfully. His mind flew at last to his Lord Jesus, and picking up his pen, he wrote these words in his journal:

• First, He brought me here; it is by His will that I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest.
• Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.
• Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.
• Last, in His good time He can bring me out again – how and when He knows

Stay faithful, stay positive, and trust in God in your times of trials and testing.

SPIRITUALLY SLUMPING & STUMBLING–Part 1 of 2

Luke 13:10-13 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.  (11) And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.  (12) And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.  (13) And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

A patient in a doctor’s waiting room heard a scream from within the doctor’s examining room, and saw an elderly woman come out and quickly depart in a state of agitation. “What happened?” asked the waiting patient. “I told her she was pregnant,” replied the doctor. “You couldn’t be serious,” remarked the patient. “Of course not,” he answered. “But it cured her hiccups.” (1001 More Humorous Illustrations, pg 156)

There is a lot for us to learn today from this short account of a healing given here in our text. God has the ability to heal all our infirmities. Our timing is not always God’s timing, but in His time He will heal and abolish all such infirmities as we encounter in our life. The question tonight is this – do we have the faith, and the patience of faith, to trust Him, even in the most difficult of situations?

In these two blog posts, we will look at two aspects of this woman’s infirmity, and how Jesus healed her:

SHE FOUGHT SUSTAINING TROUBLE

The first characteristic we notice with this sustaining, or continuing, trouble was that her infirmity was unending. She suffered from her ailment for 18 years! (Parents of teenagers would understand this better!). That is a long time to suffer.

Sometimes, it is God’s will for people to go through extended times of suffering and sickness. Think about Paul:

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  (8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  (9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Paul suffered from what he called a “thorn in the flesh.” What exactly this was, we are not sure. We know that Paul was imprisoned and beaten many times. So maybe this was a lingering aftereffect from this. It could have also been the eye sight problem that he references in other letters. But Paul understood some truths about this thorn:

1. God allowed Satan to inflict physical harm on him, just as God allowed it on Job.
2. God gave it to him and allowed it to keep his pride in check.
3. Paul prayed three different times, and the answer was always God’s grace, not God’s healing.
4. The more Paul struggled with this thorn in the flesh, the more he had of the power of God.

Despite what all the false prophets tell you on TV – it is not always God’s will to heal you. I heard a commercial recently with Gloria Copeland saying it was God’s will for you to be healed. Someone should have told the Apostle Paul that!

The woman in our text dealt with this infirmity for 18 years; yet she never stops attending church (synagogue). Your faith is only a valuable as what you allow to stop you. What do you allow to keep you out of church? If absence makes the heart grow fonder, a lot of folks really love their church! – (1001…, pg 69)

The second characteristic we notice was that her infirmity was unpleasant. Think about it – it was difficult for her to walk, sit, sleep, etc. When we are want to complain, maybe we should stop for just a moment and consider the fact that others have it much worse than we do? There are people suffering all around us – and many are not as noticeable as this lady was.

Reminds me of this illustration I recently read - A man was shopping at a grocery store. His young son followed closely behind, carrying a large basket. The father loaded the basket with one thing after another until another customer began to feel sorry for the boy. She said, “That’s a pretty heavy load for a young fellow like you, isn’t it?” The boy turned to the woman and said, “Oh, don’t worry. My dad knows how much I can carry.” In the same way, God knows out limitations and gives to us no burden beyond what we can carry. (1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, pg 380)

It may be unpleasant, but If God gave it to you the He gives you the strength to make it through – Don’t quit!

The third characteristic we notice was that her infirmity was upsetting. One of the not so obvious ways that this was so upsetting was that she always had to look down. God made man to look up, that is why we don’t walk on all fours!

She saw dust all the time – which is a characteristic of death:

• Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
• Psalms 104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
• Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

She was never able to look up and see the stars – a characteristic heaven and the future of the saved:

• Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
• Deuteronomy 1:10 The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
• Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

While this woman had no choice but to always look down – we have a choice today. When trials and troubles come your way, are you looking down or look up? We would do well to have the same outlook as the psalmist did in Psalm 121:1, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”