Where do great ideas come from?

Where do great ideas come from?  As a spirit filled Christian we want to be led by God.  We study Scripture and pray, seeking God's will for our lives.  We ask Him for direction.  So does that mean that we should only adapt ideas that come directly from God?

I don't think so.  Read this excerpt from Exodus 18 and then I will give you my reasoning.

Exodus 18:13-23(NKJV)

13And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 

14So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 

16When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

17So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 

18Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 

19Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 

20And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 

21Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 

22And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 

23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

The first lesson I would like to point out is the value of being humble and willing to take advice from others.  Now think about this.  Here you have Moses.  A guy who has a direct line of communication to God (as do we through the Holy spirit).  Knowing human nature as I do you might expect someone who talks directly to God to maybe be a bit arrogant about taking advice from others.  But not Moses. 

His father in law observes that Moses is over working himself.  The father in law explains the concept of delegating authority to Moses.  He lays out what to look for in those you delegate that authority to.  He talks about training those you are delegating authority to.  The benefit is that their society will run more efficiently and will avoid on person having to do too much of the work and getting burnt out.

 

Because Moses was humble and willing to take advice from others, society benefited. 

Lesson number two is vital if lesson number one is going to be successful.  Hear is what Moses' father in law said

"23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

Lesson number two is it's OK to take advice from others, provided you check that advice with God before implementing it.   There are a lot of places to find good ideas.  God gave us an intellect and He expects us to use it.  However, before implementing ideas that we find elsewhere, always check them with God.  As long as you do that I don't think you can go wrong.

Has the Lord Called You to do Something - Part 2

Yesterday I wrote that if God has called you to do something - great or small, there are a couple of promises you can stand on.  We covered the first promise yesterday.  If God has called you He has promised that He will be with you!  If you missed it you can see it here: Has the Lord Called you to do Something - Great or Small?

Today we're going to talk about the second promise. 

Haggai 2:13-19(NKJV)

13And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.”

14Then Haggai answered and said, “‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.

15‘And now, carefully consider from this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the Lord—

16since those days, when one came to a heap of twenty ephahs, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty baths from the press, there were but twenty. 

17I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,’ says the Lord. 

18‘Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord’S temple was laid—consider it: 

19Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’”

Often times another thing that stops people is a feeling of unworthiness.  "God can only use "good" people to make things happen.  He could never use me."  Let's look at the scripture above. 

In the first part God seems to agree.  In speaking of an unclean people God says "and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean."  But look what happens.  "‘Consider now from this day forward". 

Did you catch that?  Consider now from this day forward.  There is a turning point, a clear dividing line.  There is a day that we go from being unclean to clean in God's eyes.  When is that day?  It's the day that each of us accepts Jesus as our Lord and Savior. 

Why?  Because Scripture tells us that we are washed clean by the blood of Jesus.  If that sounds like religious gobbledy gook let me put it another way.  Because at the point that we accept Jesus we become one of the "good" guys in God's eyes. 

Good not from the standpoint that we will be perfect and never sin again because we know that isn't true but good from the standpoint that we have chosen sides and we are on God's side.  Our heart is right with God.

So the first thing God has called us all to do is accept Jesus.  Have you done that yet?  If not then take a minute right now.  Just say something like this.  "Dear Lord, I can feel you calling me.  I can feel it in my heart.  I'm not sure about all that you want but I can feel you calling.  I'm ready to accept Jesus as my Savior.  Jesus please come into my life and guide me.  And whatever else you are calling me for God, I am ready.  Please guide me in the direction you want me to go.  Amen!"

Once you have accepted Jesus there is no reason to feel unworthy.  You have already crossed the "from this day forward" line!

Now what was that second promise again?

 9Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’

Each and every time that God calls, if you will answer the call, He will bless you.  That's a promise that you can count on from God!

Has the Lord Called You to do Something - Great or Small?

Has the Lord called you to do something -great or small?  Has He planted an idea in your brain?  Planted a desire in your heart?  Is there something that God wants you to do but you’re a bit hesitant or afraid to do?  If so let me bring a couple of His promises to your attention. 

This story comes from the book of Haggai.  Haggai was a prophet to Judah around 520 BC.  The first Israelites have just returned from the Babylonian exile and God has told Zerubbabel and Joshua to rebuild the temple.  Take a look.

Haggai 2:4(NKJV)

4Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. 

God has called them to do something great and He tells them to be strong.  What does He mean by that?  Let's take a look at the definition of strong.

strong

1. having, showing, or able to exert great bodily or muscular power; physically vigorous or robust: a strong boy.

2. accompanied or delivered by great physical, mechanical, etc., power or force: a strong handshake; With one strong blow the machine stamped out a fender.
3. mentally powerful or vigorous: He may be old, but his mind is still strong.

4. especially able, competent, or powerful in a specific field or respect: She's very strong in mathematics. He's weak at bat, but he's a strong fielder.
5. of great moral power, firmness, or courage: strong under temptation.

Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/strong?s=t>

When God calls us to do things for Him, especially when those things are a bit scary, He is telling us in advance that we are going to need strength.  It may be physical strength, mental strength, the strength of our skill set, and moral strength.  We may need one, two, or quite probably a combination of all of them to fulfill the purpose to which God has called us.

Notice the way it is worded.  God doesn't tell them that He will give them strength.  I believe He is telling them to find that within themselves.  If God has called you to do something and you are afraid, don't be.  Why?

Because first of all I don't believe God would have called you if He didn't think you were up to the task.  You can pray about it all you want but sometimes you just have to flat out have the guts to step up to the plate!  You have to be strong.  Now what is God's promise if He called you and you are strong?  God says "for I am with you"!  And what do we know from Scripture?  If God is with us who can be against us, correct?  So there is God's first promise if He has called you.  He will be with you!

Tomorrow I'll share the second promise.

You want to know what else takes some strength?  Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  It takes strength to surrender your life to God through Jesus.  But you know what?  God's promise is the same.  If you will accept Jesus, God will be with you.  Have you been feeling God tugging at your heartstrings?  If so then what are you waiting for?  Have the guts to step up to the plate and ask Jesus into your life.  You already know that if you do, God will be with you.  Go ahead and accept Jesus today and then come back tomorrow and see what the other promise is!

On What Does Our Faith Rest?

There are many Scriptures that tell us of the importance of faith.  I've listed a couple of them below. 

Romans 3:27-29(NKJV)

27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 

28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 

29Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 

Romans 4:13(NKJV)

13For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 

So we can see the importance of faith.  But what does our faith rest on?  Yes, it rests on our belief in Jesus Christ but I want to go even deeper than that.  What does our faith ultimately rest on? 

Romans 4:19-22(NKJV)

19And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 

20He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 

21and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 

22And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” £

I believe our faith ultimately rest on whether we believe God can deliver on His promises or not.  As I wrote earlier this week, faith is like a muscle, the more you exercise it the stronger it grows. 

Let me put it another way.  The more times you step out in faith on God's promises and see those promises fulfilled in your life, the more confident you become in stepping out in faith on ever bigger things because you have seen that God always delivers.  "...what He had promised He was able to perform".

So how is your faith muscle.  What area of your life has God asked you to step out in faith on?  Do you believe that God can deliver on His promises?  Then what are you waiting for?  Step off in faith!

You've got to be kidding. Were they blind?

Yesterday I wrote about how God has shown us how we can see Him.

Romans 1:20-21(NKJV)

20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 

21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 

He has provided us with a way of seeing Him so that no one has an excuse for not believing in Him.  So what gives with the people that continue not to believe ?  Is it that they didn't see God or refused to see God?

Exodus 17:6-7(NKJV)

6Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 

7So he called the name of the place Massah£ and £Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Now think about it.  They had seen with their own eyes God bring all sorts of chaos against Pharaoh and the Egyptians while never touching the Israelites.  They had seen a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night lead them on their journey.  They had seen a sea parted for them so that they could cross on dry ground and then watched that sea close up and kill the pursuing army.  They had seen Moses get water out of a rock.  And still they have the gall to ask if God is with them or not just because they are having a challenge finding some water?  Are you kidding me? 

If you had witnessed even part of that with your own eyes, would there be any question in your mind whether God was with you or not? 

So for those of you who haven't accepted Jesus yet I have a question for you.  What signs has God put in your life that you are refusing to see?  If you are reading this blog and you aren't already saved then you seem to have a sincere desire to get to know God.  What pillars of smoke by day and fire by night has He put in your life to lead you to this point?  What seas has He parted for you to pass through that you find yourself here reading this blog?  What are you refusing to see?

Here's a suggestion.  Why don't you make this your day to surrender to God's will and take the next step.  Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Accept all of the blessing that God has in store for you if you will simply accept Jesus and let  Him guide your life.

Just bow your head and say this simple prayer, "Dear God, OK you've got my attention.  I still don't really get it all but I can no longer ignore all of the signs you've given me.  I'm ready to accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior.  Jesus please come into my life and take over.   I'm ready to start my journey with you.  Thank you for bringing me to this point and please help me to grow closer to you everyday.  Amen!"   

Welcome to the family of God!

God, I can't see you. How do I know you are there?

Fair question.  Part of the saving grace of Jesus Christ is that it is based on our faith in Him.  That is easier for some than others.  As I've often said, "faith is like a muscle, the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets."

As I said above, faith comes easier to some people than others.  There are a lot of people who seem to be from Missouri, you know, "The Show Me State".  They want to actually see God before they will believe.

Now for those people, is God going to walk up and whack them with a 2x4 and ask "Do you see me now?"  Probably not although it has been known to happen occasionally.  So what is a person to do?  Is there a way for them to at least get a glimpse of God?  I wonder if Scripture has something to say about that?  Duh!  Of course it does!

Romans 1:20-21(NKJV)

20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 

21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen,"  Scripture clearly tells us that there is a way to clearly see God. 

"understood by the things that are made,"  So how are we supposed to be able to see God?  By observing with our own eyes all that God has made. 

In my opinion, there is no better time than spring time to see the full impact of this verse.  As we watch the world emerge from it's winter hibernation and start to bloom we can see the miracle of God's creation and thus as Scripture tells us we can clearly see "His invisible attributes". 

"so that they are without excuse," And why is it this way?  So that they are without excuse.  So that when judgment day comes, God provided visible proof for those who need it so that they wouldn't even have that excuse for not believing.

As I've been writing about the last few days.  We have to chose sides.  God loves us and wants us on his side.  There are so many blessings available to those who choose to live their lives according to God's will.  However we are still the ones that have to choose.  How do we choose?  By simply asking Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our lives. Have you made your choice yet?

The Lord is a Man of War

Wait, I thought we served a loving God!  How can this be?  Is there a contradiction here?

As I've written many times, the Bible is a book of balance.  In the Bible God (the Lord) is described both as a loving God and as a man of war.  Can He be both?  Let's take a look.

Exodus 15:3(NKJV)

3    The Lord is a man of war;     The Lord is His name.

Here God as Lord is described as a man of war.  This is just one of many places where we see God described in terms of a warrior. 

Some might say "Well yes, but that's the God of the OT.  It's really Jesus that's all about peace."  Oh really?

Exodus 15:6-7(NKJV)

6    “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power;      Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.

7    And in the greatness of Your excellence     You have overthrown those who rose against You;     You sent forth Your wrath;     It consumed them like stubble.

Who is God's right hand?  That's right, it's Jesus.  Well wait a minute.  I thought Jesus is all about love.  But here it says He "dashed the enemy in pieces".  If Jesus is all about love, how can He have enemies?

Exodus 15:21(NKJV)

21And Miriam answered them:      “Sing to the Lord,     For He has triumphed gloriously!     The horse and its rider     He has thrown into the sea!”

Here it speaks of God winning.  Not just winning but winning gloriously.  This indicates winners and losers doesn't it?  It's not just documenting that God has killed His enemies, it is celebrating it!  That doesn't seem too loving does it?

Zephaniah 1:14-17(NKJV)

14    The great day of the Lord is near;      It is near and hastens quickly.     The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter;     There the mighty men shall cry out.

15    That day is a day of wrath,     A day of trouble and distress,     A day of devastation and desolation,     A day of darkness and gloominess,     A day of clouds and thick darkness,

16    A day of trumpet and alarm     Against the fortified cities     And against the high towers.

17    “I will bring distress upon men,      And they shall walk like blind men,     Because they have sinned against the Lord;     Their blood shall be poured out like dust,     And their flesh like refuse.”

I thought the Day of the Lord was supposed to be a joyous occasion.  Yet here it says it will be a day of wrath.  Again, what gives?  How can this be?

Well let's think about Zephaniah for a minute.  The Day of the Lord is going to be a very joyous event for whom?  Us Christians.  Then how could it be a day of wrath, trouble, distress, etc?  Did you ever stop to think what the Day of the Lord is going to be like for those who rejected Jesus?  Talk about a great big "Oh Crap" moment!

Folks, God and Jesus are all about love.  God loved us enough to create us.  God loved us enough to sacrifice His own Son so that we could have eternal life.  Jesus loved us enough to put Himself through that.  God loved us enough to offer that eternal life to each and every person who wants it.  All they have to do is accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.  And God loved us enough that He gave us free will. Each and every person is free to choose whether to believe God or not.

Go back and read the verses above.  Who is all of this wrath, destruction, and war aimed at?  The enemies of God.  And who are the enemies of God?  Only those who have chosen that role by rejecting Jesus Christ.  When someone rejects Christ, they're aren't just saying "no thank you, I don't choose to believe that".  They are rejecting the greatest sacrifice God has ever made for us.  They have chosen sides.  Now God will always take them back if they choose to accept Jesus but if the Day of the Lord comes and they are still on the wrong side, look out!

So have you chosen sides yet?  If not why not choose Jesus right now.  Just simply ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life and start to enjoy all of the love that God and Jesus have to offer!