You Need A Word

Luke 4:1-13 NRSV

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”  Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,  ‘Worship the Lord your God,  and serve only him.’ ”  Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,  ‘He will command his angels concerning you,  to protect you,’  and  ‘On their hands they will bear you up,  so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”  Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.”

We know the story of Jesus taken by Holy Spirit  to the wilderness. Satan’s temps with physical needs, power & fame, and by testing God. But each time he tempted Jesus, Jesus answered with scripture. We need a word to keep us when crazy happens. To hold us when temptations come. We need a word to hold in our heart. 

I have always been stuck in that last sentence. “When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.” 

Temptations will come and we can succeed because Jesus did. We suceded with a word. We need a word in our heart, a word for that situation. “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I may not sin against you.”

When studying Hebrew in seminary, we studied the passage, Isaiah 58:9 , “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.” Now in Hebrew the word “Hanai” takes on a grander meaning. It’s not just ‘here I am’ it’s “Behold me.” How powerful is that? No one can say that but God. Behold me! 

With that knowledge and a word that is in our heart, we will stand, as we are standing on God’s word and with him having our back. Get a word! enough for now.

Great

Lamentation 3:19-24

“The thought of my affliction and my homelessness  is wormwood and gall!  My soul continually thinks of it  and is bowed down within me.  But this I call to mind,  and therefore I have hope:  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,  “therefore I will hope in him.”

 Jeremiah shows us how to lament our pain, our sorrow. It is raw. We lament because only God can handle where we are. When we reflect on where we are, we realize that there is none like God. The we can release all hurt to God and receive peace and that assurance. With that, we can resolve like Jeremiah that The steadfast love of God never ceases, his mercies never fail, they are new every morning. That’s quite a resolve! Ain’t nothing can deter us because of God’s love. We don’t stay in our stupid because of God’s love. Every day is a new day for to receive what he has for us. Receive it. Walk in it. Rest assured that he is faithful! enough for now.

Our Lies

Acts 5:1-11 NRSV

“But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!” 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. 

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.”

Bottom line - lying will mess you up. Lying to Holy Spirit will kill you spiritually. In this case physically. There was no reason at all for their lie. Ananias and Sapphira pledged the proceeds of their land. They didn’t have to pledge but they did. So when they sold the land the proceeds were to go to the community of believers. 

It’s the little things that mess us up. The little lies are really big lies that we can see the full ramifications of- because we think it’s just a small lie. But our lies to self are also lies to self are also lies to God. And he will slow walk us down.

Our tithe helps the church but more than that- it’s out of obedience to God. Many times we don’t give God the tenth and wonder why we can’t work with the 9/10 we get to keep. 

Let’s just bear in mind and in heart what we say and do as our lies will mess us up. enough for now.

Shout it Out

Joshua 6:1-7

“Now Jericho was shut up inside and out because of the Israelites; no one came out and no one went in. 2 The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have handed Jericho over to you, along with its king and soldiers. 3 You shall march around the city, all the warriors circling the city once. Thus you shall do for six days, 4 with seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and all the people shall charge straight ahead.” 6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark of the Lord.” 7 To the people he said, “Go forward and march around the city; have the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”

Look at verse two. Although Jericho was fortified against the Israelites they didn’t know who they were with . . . They didn’t know what God would do. Jericho then was less than four acres, and took about an hour to walk around. Although larger now it is 846 ft below sea level, the lowest city on earth. It held a strategic position. Joshua gave the instructions to march as per God’s command. It was actually a ritual. 

Jericho was a stronghold, that was taken down. There are strongholds in our lives. When we humble ourselves, and follow God’s already promises, big things happen. You see, God had already given Jericho over. He has already. We just follow instructions. Sometimes we just need to shout it out, shout it down, shout it through. The shout is a praise. We praise him and things happen. We praise him and we win. We praise him on the way to victory. You see, it’s already done. We just follow and move when he says move. He is so good to us! Whatever causes us grief is a Jericho that can be defeated. Shout it out! enough for now.

Law and Order

Numbers 9:15-23 NRSV

“On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant; and from evening until morning it was over the tabernacle, having the appearance of fire. 16 It was always so: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp. 18 At the command of the Lord the Israelites would set out, and at the command of the Lord they would camp. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they would remain in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the Israelites would keep the charge of the Lord, and would not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud would remain a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they would remain in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud would remain from evening until morning; and when the cloud lifted in the morning, they would set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they would set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out. 23 At the command of the Lord they would camp, and at the command of the Lord they would set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.”

When we follow God’s law we have his order. In order to follow the Israelites had to be attentive to God’s timing, be ready, and leave all baggage behind. They set out when the cloud/fire set out. They settled when cloud/fire settled. It was not in any discernible pattern, but as God said. If we are attentive to his timing, and are ready to move- we move. And yes, we have to leave all baggage- those things that hinder us, those negative attitudes, energy, that cause us to miss being attentive- see how that works? 

The journey is not all the time easy, but when we are clear who we are following we can trust that he has us. Last week some of us were together for my son Marq’s graduation from residency. He didn’t know who would come, he didn’t know who couldn’t get there, but he knew what was to happen for him. He knew that he had to continue on watching what God is doing. He didn’t know the prayers and tears and hopes that watered his way - but he continued on. Listen, sometimes it feels that we are all alone- but God! Sometimes it feels that no one understands-but God. Sometimes we can’t even figure it out- but God has already done so.  It’s his order that makes the difference. enough for now.

The Heart of the Father

Luke 15:20-24 NRSV 

20 “So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “

Verse 20 is my favorite. Go back and reread 11-31 for this whole story. Although the prodigal son left, went through some stuff, he finally thought to go home. Let’s look at the heart of the father. He was always watching for his lost son. I find so amazing. I mean with everything one has to do- he was watching. 

When he saw his son, he ran to protect him. That was major as a man of his statue did not run. To run one had to tuck the robe between the legs, thus exposing leg. That is not what men of standing did. But this man ran and embrace his son stink and all. He knew his son’s scent through the stink. 

And then he restored him. He placed a robe on him reserved for guest, the ring on his finger symbolized honor and authority- sonship. Servants didn’t wear sandals. 

Listen bottom line, God watches even when we stray from him, it’s when we come to our right mind to turn back to him. When we can hear that voice “Come home.” He protects and then we are restored to sonship, daughtership. We were always that - but now we can recognize that. 

That’s the reader’s digest version. We can always return to God. He has already forgiven, we must forgive self. Happy Father’s Day! enough for now.

Do You Know What Time It Is

Ecc. 3: 1-11 NRSV

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; 

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; 

a time to break down, and a time to build up; 

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; 

a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 

5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; 

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; 

a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 

7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; 

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 

8 a time to love, and a time to hate; 

a time for war, and a time for peace. 

9 What gain have the workers from their toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. 11 He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”

When we understand that “For everything there is a season,” and that “He has made everything suitable for its time,” then we can begin to grow in the season we are in. There are three movements here:

The Certainty of the Seasons (1-2)

The Diversity of the Seasons (3-8)

The Mystery of the Seasons (9-11)

While our life is a season, there are many seasons in our life. Our response is to trust God’s timing for the season he has us in. To embrace the season he has us in. To grow through the season, learning in that that present moment what God has for us. We hold to some things, we let of some things. We walk away, we stay. We speak, we get get quiet. We can’t move effectively unless we are listening for and watching God move in our lives.