Bringing Down the House

I believe that there are times in our lives that we find ourselves tempting our adversaries, thinking that we are strong enough to handle anything that comes our way. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says “if you think you stand firm, take heed lest you fall.”How true that is and yet how often it is that we avoid all the warning bells and signs because we are too caught up in our own “attraction”. I was reading in Judges about Samson and the kind of man he was, the fact that before he was born God said he would be a great man for His cause. I was reading that in spite of the purpose for Samson’s life there was one BIG problem: His eyes. Well maybe not his eyes, though that was the means by which the real problem was carried out. Samson was a man who “danced with the devil”, he thought he was stronger than any adversary and because of his “self-confidence” he would be overtaken and made a mockery of. As I was reading I was struck by some details that hit me right between the eyes. First Samson was joining himself with people he never should have been with. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 15:33 that says, “Bad company corrupts good morals”, and yet those are the people we can be so easily drawn to because they live more sensual fun filled lives (or so we think). Second Samson let his “passion” overshadow common sense. Not many of us would hang around people let alone want them to be our closest friends if they openly asked us how they might bind us and overtake us and yet that is exactly what Samson did all because his desires overcame common sense. I read about how Delilah came to him not once or twice or even three times, but FOUR times and specifically asked Samson how she could bind him so that he might be overcome and every time he flirted with the adversary. I am reminded of James 1:14, 15 that says “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” This is exactly where Samson found himself…being drug away by his desires and passions. Third Samson, finally being “pestered and tired to death” gave in seeing no relief. In Judges 16:16 Delilah bugged him day after day after day until he could not take it any longer; so the ONLY solution Samson saw was to give in. I was struck because I have felt that way before. Looking back I know I have placed myself among places and people I had no business being around, teasing my adversary thinking that I could handle things on my own, that I was somehow strong enough to endure; I have been at the point where Satan has pestered me day after day after day until I finally just gave in and acted out. Fourth Samson realizes that the strength he thought HE had was not his strength at all but was of the Lord. I am reminded of Psalm 121:2 where David says: “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of the heavens and the earth.” After the fourth and final time Samson let them cut away the vow between him and God and he was weakened, he was overtaken and he was made a mockery of. Man did this hit me, because I have been there, thinking I was stronger than I really was and flirting with them enemy until I found myself overcome and mocked. It is very redeeming to read the end of the story as Paul Harvey would say, and see that even though Samson acted in these ways that were not pleasing to God, when Samson called upon God He was there!

As I think about these things I know that what was true for Samson and what was true for me is true for everyone: sometimes we bind ourselves up in things that God could set us free from is we would just accept HIS strength and be willing to just get out of His way...let God be God!

Remember the Lord is good!

I believe that today is a day to remember that the Lord is good, all the time and in spite of our situations God is still good! He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us, He promises that though we walk through the fire He will be there. What a comforting thought! We all know that we deal with times of uncertainty, that we go through valleys of despair where we do not know the direction the Lord is taking us. It is comforting to know that there is still a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night; God still directs those who will be directed.

As I was reading this morning I was struck that even though the Israelites seemed to be very fickle in their resolve for the Lord, He was not to them. I have always been amazed at the patience of God toward those who were so unfaithful; I mean it seems reasonable that as long as one side maintains their end of the covenant then so to shall the other side. Yet that has never been the case with God, He is a God that is faithful to Himself and to His covenant. I remember that it was God who made a covenant with Abraham that simply said He would be their God. I guess that is where we find ourselves today; yes we are to remain faithful but time and time and time again we fall away or get weak and doubt...yet when we call upon God He is always faithful to hear our cries. I am glad that the faithfulness of God is not dependent solely on my strength or upon my weaknesses. God is faithful at all times and is always longing to hear the cries of His people. We see that it is in our times of faithlessness where we experience our captivity, but when we cry out to God He hears our cries and delivers us. Why? Because God loved us so much that He sent His only son that who soever should believe upon Him SHOULD NOT perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save it!

So, today is a day like every other that we should be reminded of the great faithfulness of God and remember that He is good all the time and all the time...God is GOOD! So maybe we find ourselves doubting or even dismissing the goodness of God because we feel unworthy in ourselves, I believe it is these times that we need to hear the voice of the Lord crying from the heavens, " I am ready to pour out my goodness upon you if you will just get out of my way!"

Another file in our minds

It is amazing to me that the church today is not more focused on personal testimonies. So many good things happen in the lives of people every day and yet they are just glazed over by the rest of life. When I think of the purpose of the services we have we should glorify God, but we are also called to edify one another, to build one another up; in my mind what better way to build each other up than to share testimony. I believe testimony serves two purposes: first it strengthens the one who is sharing it. I have been personally witness to how encouraging it is to share the great things God has done in my life, I feel closer to God and the account is replayed so that it does not just become another file in my mind. Secondly I believe testimony serves to build each other up. Think about it, how often is it that we find ourselves dealing with the issues of everyday life thinking that either we are the only ones going through it or that we are just never going to rise above whatever it is that Satan is using to keep us down.
I believe very strongly that the greatest tool of Satan to split the man from the spirit of God is silence! We keep silent when we hurt and so we draw further into our hurts; we keep silent when we are broken so we are never repaired; we even tend to keep silent when great things are done and so the works of God are forgotten again and again. Think about what the Bible says, we rejoice with those who rejoice we cry with those who cry. The principle is there I think we just get more focused on our structure and we forget that it was testimony of the works of God that keep His people strong in the Lord.
I was reading this afternoon in Judges 2 and I came across verse 7 which really struck me as it says: "The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. What struck me was that Israel remained faithful as long as they were constantly reminded of how amazing God was and is. As soon as the eyewitness testimonies died they forgot! What a tragedy and yet something that is a good lesson for me, I need to always be sharing the good things that God does in my life in order to promote greater faithfulness in others. Time and time again I have shared my story with people and have heard them say how that really encouraged them and how they even have a different attitude about difficulties in their lives.
I am amazed at the amount of money and effort churches put into "growth plans" (not to say they are a complete waste of time) and yet all the while every person sitting in the pews is the greatest growth instrument as we encourage Christians to share their testimonies. I guess sometimes I wonder if we cry out to God asking Him to provide stronger faith in ourselves and those around us and all the while he is crying from the heavens; "I could do some great things through you if you would just step aside from control and let me speak through you."

A song I hear all the time says what I pray I can strive for more each day and that is "that as long as I shall live I will testify the love!" This is what the world needs to hear about in order to remind them of how great and how powerful and how loving our God truly is.

God heard their Cries!

I was reading the other day through Joshua 7 where the Israelites went to battle against Ai without seeking the cousel of the Lord, and were defeated. Well defeated may not be the right word, Joshua sent 300o men to fight and 36 were killed, in war today I think we would look at that differently. The defeat came from even one loss, that had to utterly shock the Israelites, they had never experienced this...WHAT'S HAPPENING? In vs. 6 we find Joshua tearing his clothes before the Lord in despair, "God what will people think of us now, we have run from battle now everyone will mock YOU and come to attack us thinking we can be defeated." Then Joshua, the great leader the one whom God said to on more than one occasion "Do not be affraid"...he falls victim to the very attitude of the Isearlites when he says "Oh if we had just stayed on the otherside of the Jordan, why did you bring us out here just to be destroyed!"
I have to imagine that God was getting pretty tired of hearing the constant cries to go back to bondage all because things were not easy, because they had to trust in God. I mean there were too many battles where the Israelites just literally stood there and watched as God gave them victory, seriously battles where they did NOT lift a finger but stood and watched God bring down walls or make noice and cause the enemy to kill themselves. How frustrating it must have been to listen to this time and time again everytime things did not go just the way they wanted them to. They come to the Jordan and cry because the water so God parts it; they came to the Desert of Sin and cried because they were hungry and God provided bread from heaven; they come to Rephadim and were thirsty and cried so God gave them water and not just water from a stream...He gave them water from a ROCK! Time and time and time again the people cried and God provides and yet time and time and time again they cry out to return to captivity (forgetting that it was that captivity that they were delivered from because, you guessed it, they cried to the Lord and HE HEARD THEM).
As I was reading this I thought about my life and my situation realizing that I cry out to God to deliver me for Him to grant me some great job that will take care of my family, I cry out to him to do something amazing what what does He have the nerve to do: exactly what I asked for! Oh it may not be at this point what I thought it would be, just like the Israelites, but it is exactly what we NEED ad isn't that what He promises in Matthew 6:33 when He says, "Seek me first and all your needs will be granted to you". I read this and again cried out to God but this time it was not for deliverance it was for forgiveness. Forgiveness from my complaining and spirit of doubt. I think about the fact that God promised to deliver the Israelites and they were excited about that but the problem came not in the deliverance but in the length of time it would take. This is where I need to ask for forgivness in complaining about the length of time because the reality is God is doing miraculous things in my midst every day and I have much to be thankful for!
Sometimes I cry out to God and my cries become so loud I am reminded that I may need to just be quiet and listen, and somewhere in the silence I will hear Him say, "I can do so much more for you if you will just get out of my way!"

Thank you Lord for loving me and thank you Lord for blessing me, thank you Lord for making me whole and saving my soul!