Living dead or alive!

How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life

Romans 6:2-4 (HCSB)

Remember the old western movies. The bad guys wanted dead or alive! The apostle Paul had his own version, for spiritual matters of course, Living dead or alive. It's actually a question will you live dead or will you live alive? Paul makes clear that we are no longer in bondage to sin. He asks, "how can those who have died to sin still live in it?" Good question isn't it but oh the solution is so difficult. We have been set free from the bondage of sin but temptation still looms large. We need to understand that when we sin we are actually trying to put back on the shackles of bondage. We have been freed from the bondage of sin. So when we sin it is more than an alternative lifestyle, or a mistake or a moment of weakness. It is an unfortunate choice of placing ourselves once again in the bondage of sin.

I don't know about you but I'm tired of being bound by sin!

The problem of BUT

Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds?”4 “Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that He who created them in the beginning made them male and female, 5 and He also said: For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,and the two will become one flesh? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.” 7 “Why then,” they asked Him, “did Moses command [us] to give divorce papers and to send her away?”8 He told them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts.

Matt 19:3-8 (HCSB)

Jesus was questioned about marriage and His response was to make clear God's intentions for marriage. God's plan simply put is one man and one woman in a life time commitment to one another. Seems so simple but then why the question. And really why do we continue to question?

This answer is also simple. It's the BUT! Whenever God says something and we say but . . . we have complicated things. God was clear, concise and simple what marriage is all about and how it is to work.

Isn't that true in a lot of areas of our life. God says it and we say BUT. If I could paraphrase Jesus answer it would be stop adding but and just obey. Now that really is simple isn't it?

Does God really need us?

the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how. 28 The soil produces a crop by itself—

Mark 4:27-28 (HCSB)

It is true God really doesn't need us but He does desire to use us. As Jesus taught the farmer plants but once the seed is in the ground it grows all by itself. It is not the farmers job to make the seed grow. Actually that is God's job.

If we are going to serve Him we must remember our job is obedience. God takes care of the growth.

Patient Waiting

I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help.2 He brought me up from a desolate pit,out of the muddy clay,and set my feet on a rock,making my steps secure.3 He put a new song in my mouth,a hymn of praise to our God.Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

Psalms 40:1-3 (HCSB)

I don't like to wait. Most of us do not. We have trouble with patient waiting but if we do God can do some wonderful things for us. His timing is always perfect. We may not like it but He knows what we need, how we need it and WHEN we need it. He hears our cry for help.

Look what happens! He pulls us from our desolate pit. He sets us on a solid rock and gives us steady steps. He puts a new song in our mouth and because of us others will see, fear and put their trust in the Lord. I don't know about you but when I am facing difficulty and crying out to the Lord it is not only difficult to remain patient but to see the other wonderful things He will do through my distress.

So if you are facing some difficulty today try to be patient and try to see beyond your immediate issue to the new direction He will set for you, the new song He will give you and the many lives you may touch as they watch you go from pit dwelling to rock climbing!

Simple Faith for Simple requests

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; He’s calling for you.” 50 He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.51 Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”“Rabbouni,” the blind man told Him, “I want to see!”52 “Go your way,” Jesus told him. “Your faith has healed you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road.

Mark 10:49-52 (HCSB)

Blind Bartimeus had a very basic need. He couldn't see. When he heard Jesus was coming he started to cry out with just one simple request. Jesus asks, "what do you want?" Simply he wanted to see. He believed Jesus could restore his sight so he asked believing.

We are not going to hear Jesus coming down the road but we have a privilege to go to him in prayer. We complicate our prayer life with spiritual sounding words and pious platitudes. Maybe we should try Bartimeus' tactic. Simply ask and believe that Jesus can provide.

Our Part in the Harvest

“The kingdom of God is like this,” He said. “A man scatters seed on the ground; 27 he sleeps and rises—night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how. 28 The soil produces a crop by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head. 29 But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because harvest has come.”

Mark 4:26-29 (HCSB)

What is your part in the harvest? God wants to harvest the hearts and lives of lost individuals in His world. But what is our part in the harvest? Jesus said that a man may scatter his seed but then he doesn't know what will happen next. The seeds sprout and grow on their own.

The spiritual harvest is something that God does. Our part is just to spread the seed. God will control the sprouting and growth. We allow ourselves to be discouraged because we are not seeing growth as we wish. But remember that God is in control of the harvest we merely spread the seeds in the field.

Don't become discouraged about the harvest just keep spreading the seed.

For the Glory of God

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

1 Cor 10:31 (HCSB)

How often we need to be reminded of this principle. It is so simple and yet so profound and life altering. Do everything for God's glory. Eat, drink, sleep, drive, study, talk; you get the idea, everything. What kind of impact would that make on your life. Or think about this, what kind of impact would that make on the lives around you. Wow!

If I could but remember this verse every moment of every day it would transform my attitude. Attitude as they say is everything. This is one attitude adjustment we could all live with!

Expectations

Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine, 6 and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.

Ex 19:5-6 (HCSB)

When we enter into covenant with God He has some expectations.

A covenant is a binding agreement in a relationship. A marriage vow is a covenant. Many churches will covenant with a new pastor as He comes to serve. Friends sometime have a covenant of friendship. Church congregations will have a covenant. It is an agreement but it centers around relationship. Where as a contract is an agreement in legal and business setting a covenant always centers around a relationship.

When we become a Christ follower we enter into a covenant with God. We don't often see salvation as a covenant. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and offers us forgiveness. Our end of the covenant is to recognize the gift of grace through our faith. Because of God's grace then we do works and obey God as our Master. What happens if we don't do works or obey? Well that is evidence that we have not truly entered into the covenant.

So what is the point in all of this? God says to Israel, if you obey you will be my special people and I will be your God. You will be a holy nation and a holy priesthood. He had some expectations of them. He also has some expectations of us.

As we live out our lives today let us recognize our covenant with Him, living in obedience and enjoying the relationship we have with a great God.

Fear Factor: Ability

But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since You have been speaking to Your servant —because I am slow and hesitant in speech.”11 The Lord said to him, “Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.”

Ex 4:10-12 (HCSB)

God calls Moses and he has four fears that hinder him from absolute obedience. He feared his identity, his authority, his validity and finally he feared he did not have the ability. Moses deals with a fear that hinder many of us. "Lord, I just can't do that!"

But what does God tell Moses? I made you and I have given you the abilities you have and don't have. I believe it was Hudson Taylor who said, "The man God calls he also equips." You may not feel you have the ability but God reminds us that we have Him and He has already given you the ability or will give it to you as you Obey.

Whatever God is calling you too, respond in obedience and don't allow fear to be a factor!

Fear Factor: Validity

Then Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”2 The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”“A staff,” he replied.3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake. Moses ran from it, 4 but the Lord told him, “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail.” So he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand. 5 “This will take place,” He continued, “so they will believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

Ex 4:1-5 (HCSB)

You, me and Moses probably have a lot in common. When God calls us it can shake us to our socks. We get weak in the knees and scared to death. Moses was afraid and so he made excuses. The first excuse was identity, the second was authority. The third fear is validity.

Moses questions his validity. He says to God, "They aren't going to believe me." Moses needed to be validated. He wants to be seen as authentic, legitimate and real. He needs to be respected. We usually want and need that too. We face fear in God's call because we are not sure we will be validated by others.

God's response is to give Moses some nifty miracles to prove he was sent from I AM. Now it is likely we don't have a stick that will turn into a snake. To be completely honest I don't think I want one. But get this, Moses' validity is not from himself it is what God will do through him. We don't have to prove ourselves to others. God will prove that He is at work in us in His time and His way for His glory.

The point is this. Most of the time we do not gain respect fro who we are but who God is and what He is doing in us. Don't try to become someone who others will respect and look up too. Just be obedient and God will make you authentic, legitimate and real.

God is our validation!

Fear Factor: Authority

Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them: The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what should I tell them?”14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

Ex 3:13-14 (HCSB)

Moses was afraid to follow God's call. Sometimes we face the same kind of fears. Moses had reasons (excuses) for his fear. As well we may have really good reasons why we are afraid to follow his calling in our life.

The first reason for Moses fear was identity. The second is authority. Moses fear was that the people would not believe that God had talked with him or had sent him to them. The fear that others will not recognize our call or the authority God has given us to pursue His call may be holding us back. It did Moses. But notice what God says, "Tell them, "I AM has sent you."

Moses feared that he did not have the authority to lead. You and I may also experience this fear. But I find encouragement in what Dr. James Dobson said, "You and God are a majority!"

Don't allow the fear of authority hold you back from obedience.

Fear Factor: Identity

Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.”

Ex 3:10-12 (HCSB)

What are you afraid of? Lets be honest now, we all have something we are afraid of! I have a strong dislike of Bees and Mice. My wife dreads snakes. Others have a fear to speak in front of people. Here is an important question: will you allow your fear to keep you from God's call in your life? When God called Moses he was afraid. He had several excuses why he could not or would not overcome his fear and fulfill His call.

Moses' first fear factor was identity. Maybe you can relate. Moses said God who am I that I should go back to Pharaoh and demand that you people be set free. In all reality who else should go. Think about Moses. He had been adopted by Pharaoh, educated in the best Egyptian schools. He knew the language, the culture and the individuals in the court. Moses didn't see how God had prepared him for this challenge all he could see were his shortcomings and a misconception of who he was: an unimportant sheep herder.

I love how God responds to his fear. He doesn't remind him that he is qualified although he was. He didn't point out that God had prepared him for the challenge and He did. God didn't remind him of that original burden for his people that he had. God says, "certainly I will be with you."

You know that really should settle the fear problem. God is with you! What more do you need Moses? Oh but wait, we too allow fear to keep us from obedience. We too face an identity crisis when God calls us out. And God's response to us is the same as that of Moses, "I certainly will be with you."

Well, what more do we need?

An Encounter with God

Meanwhile Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed.

Ex 3:1-2 (HCSB)

Moses is burdened and now God gets his attention with a burning bush. How is God trying to get your attention? Moses was burdened and then takes matters into his own hands and now he is in the wilderness. His wilderness wondering was a long time. But that day finally arrived where God creates an encounter with Moses. Are you ready for an encounter with almighty God. It is unlikely it will be a burning bush but there will be an encounter none the less.

Our problem is we expect a burning bush or an earth quake or it to be written across the sky. You won't probably hear an audible voice or see a vision. It may be a still small voice. God will now take the motivation of your burden and call you to join Him where He is at work. God burdens our hearts and then empowers our mind, hands and feet.

Taking Matters into your own hand

He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 Looking all around and seeing no one, he struck the Egyptian dead and hid him in the sand.

Ex 2:11-12 (HCSB)

Moses after being burdened for his people decided to take matters into his own hands. Instead of hearing and understanding God's call Moses impatiently takes his own plan of action.

Are problem is that of Moses. We become burdened and want to do something now. God wants us to be burdened and then to listen for our call. He is already at work and He has a plan in which He wants us to join Him. Moses did not join God he devised his own plan. Moses makes a real mess of things and we do too. Be careful of taking matters into your own hand.

Some good news is that when we screw it up God is always ready to forgive and forget and use us anyway. God is good that when we blow it and we would give up on ourselves God does not. If you have already messed up and have taken matters into your own hand, confess it and let God redeem your circumstances.

Prepared for the Call by a Burden

Years later, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people and observed their forced labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.

Ex 2:11 (HCSB)

When God calls us one of the first steps is that God will burden our hearts for the calling. For Moses a day came when he recognized his people and the painful situation that they were in.

If we do not have a burden we are really not ready to follow God into his calling for us. If there is no burden we will not be prepared to give what is needed to fulfill our calling. God prepares us for the call with a burden that lays heavy on our heart.

What are you burdened about? If there is no burden you might want to ask yourself if God is speaking and you are not listening. Take some time today to search your heart and perhaps see for the first time like Moses did what God sees.