Numbers 10:11-36 - Rise Up, O Lord!

Tabernacle at Mount Sinai

Finally the great day had arrived. The people of Israel had encamped at Mount Sinai for a year. There, Moses went up on the Mountain to receive the Word of God. There, the people made a golden calf and backslid. There they repented. There God made a covenant with them. There, the Tabernacle was made and the glory of the Presence of the Lord filled it. Only then were the people ready to move on.

Now it was time to move out toward the Promised Land. On the 20^th day of the 2^nd month, 1461 B.C., the signal to depart Sinai was blown. The cloud moved from over the Tabernacle. The priests blew the silver trumpets to call the camp of Israel to their march.

As the Ark of the Covenant sets out, Moses, full of joy and confidence of faith, shouts aloud words of prayer and praise, words that have marked every move forward in the Church as well: “Arise, O LORD!, Let your enemies be scattered! Let them that hate you flee before you.”

Moses recounted this day in Deuteronomy 1:19 in one of his final speeches to Israel: “when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which you saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites[1], as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.” From Kadesh the spies would go out to view the Land of Promise. There the curse of 40 years in the wilderness would result from their rebellion.

Key Truth: Moses wrote Numbers 10:11-36 to teach Israel to follow the Lord in obedience, in evangelism, in trust, and in worship.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what the Bible says about following the Lord.

Pray and Read:  Numbers 10:11-36

Sermon Points:  . . .

1. We are called to follow Him in obedience (Num. 10:11-28)

2. We are called to follow Him in evangelism (Num. 10:29-32)

3. We are called to follow Him in trust (Num. 10:33-34)

4. We are called to follow Him in worship (Num. 10:35-36)

A note on 1 Cor. 15:29 "Baptized for the dead"

English: folio 150 recto of the codex, with the beginning of the 1. Epistle to the Corrinthians (Wikipedia)

The Apostle Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:29 concerning those “baptized for the dead” (οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν; τί καὶ βαπτίζονται ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν) has remained an enigmatic puzzle for scholars since the patristic era. Is the phrase a metaphor of some kind, or is Paul describing an esoteric custom of baptism by proxy in the Corinthian church? Marcionites and Mormons have had no trouble appropriating the verse for heretical purposes, but evangelical scholars have remained stumped over this verse dubbed one of the most difficult in the New Testament.[1]

Acts 1:1-11 - A Bold New Venture

Many Christians today are not satisfied with Christianity as usual. They are fed up with playing church. They are fed up with the politics, the power plays, and the silliness of people who want to be a big fish in a small pond while people all around them are dying and going to an eternity of hell. They see it as not just rearranging chairs on the Titanic, but the passengers fighting with each other over who gets to decide how the chairs are arranged and who actually will do the work.

The status quo of church has little appeal for many who want to see the church be what Jesus called her to be. Their desire is to look back at the end of the day or the end of the year and say, “Praise God! His kingdom has advanced and He has allowed me to be a part of it.” They don’t want to be spectators. They are not interested in being junior dictators. They want to be participants in the great work God is doing today. For those desiring to be part of God’s work in their churches, their communities, and the world out there, nothing will help more than understanding the book of Acts and applying its truths. Acts is a training manual for modern Christians. What worked so well 2000 years ago directly applies to our service to God today. Acts can be a welcome power boost to our Christian lives, bring new intimacy with the Father, and new joy in doing His will.

Key Truth: Luke wrote Acts 1:1-11 to teach believers that the church must embrace the gift and the mission of the Holy Spirit through prayer in the Holy Spirit.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about the Holy Spirit.

Key Verse: Acts 1:8

Pray and Read:  Acts 1:1-11

Luke 24:36-53 - Jesus Appears to His Disciples

The Resurrection of Christ (Kinnaird Resurrection) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was Easter Sunday afternoon, the end of a horribly confusing few days for Jesus’ followers. After watching their Lord endure betrayal, arrest, lies, insults, beatings, and death by nailing, they saw Him die and His body buried. Then Sunday morning the women say His tomb was empty and that angels had told them He was alive. Peter and John rush to find an empty tomb, too, but none of it made sense – until the Lord Himself appeared to Peter. Then two came in from Emmaus claiming they had walked with the risen Lord, that He had taught them from the Scriptures, and they only recognized Him when He broke the bread. Suddenly everyone saw a Presence in the locked Upper Room . . .

Luke’s account of the Resurrection is more than a recounting of events. He interprets those events in light of Old Testament teachings about the Messiah (Luke 24:6-7, 19-27) and in view of Christ’s own statement of His mission (Luke 24:45-47). But Luke’s account does not end with the Resurrection, but the Ascension, reminding us that the risen Christ is to be worshiped (Luke 24:50-53). The Resurrection is God’s seal on the promise of salvation.

Today in the 64^th and final sermon from Luke’s Gospel, we find a remarkable resurrection appearance. Nowhere in the records of the resurrection do we have a picture at all approaching in vivid reality this picture of the Risen Christ.

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 24:36-53 to encourage people to trust in the evidence of the Resurrection (Luke 24:36-44), learn from the witness of the Scriptures (Luke 24:45-49), and respond with a heart of worship (Luke 24:50-53).

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about trusting and worshiping the risen Jesus.

Key Verse: Luke 24:39

Pray and Read:  Luke 24:36-53

William Booth on the secret for success

William Booth

John Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918) (Wikipedia)

When the American evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman was in London, he had an opportunity to meet the founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth, who at that time was past 80 years of age. Dr. Chapman listened reverently as the old general spoke of the trials and the conflicts and the victories he had experienced.

Chapman then asked the general if he would disclose his secret for success. "He hesitated a second," Dr. Chapman said, "and I saw the tears come into his eyes and steal down his cheeks," and then he said, "I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, men with greater opportunities; but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart, and a vision of what Jesus Christ could do with the poor of London, I made up my mind that He would have all of William Booth there was. And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army today, it is because God has all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life."

Dr. Chapman said he went away from that meeting with General Booth knowing "that the greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender."

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In your Witness: Are you reflecting Christ?

Mirror reflecting a vase (Wikipedia)

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Colossians 1:2b)

Paul's salutation to the Colossians is his standard greeting in most of his  epistles. Paul greets the believers at Colossae in two ways, a Greek way (grace, χαρις, meaning “favor”) and a Jewish way (peace, ειρηνη, meaning “concord, safety, and prosperity”). 

The church at Colossae, like nearly all the churches Paul wrote, was a multicultural church. Paul is greeting them in their cultures and affirming their culture as part of who they are. 

In your Character - Are you honoring Christ?

"To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:" (Colossians 1:2a)

The word saints (ἅγιοι, hagioi), means "those who are holy," or "those who are devoted or consecrated to God." The radical idea of the word saints is that it refers to those who are separated from a common use and set apart for a sacred use.[1]  

Did you know that the Scripture calls a believer in Jesus Christ a saint? You don’t have to be made a saint by the Catholic Church to be one. When you receive Christ as Lord and Savior, God designates you as a saint. You become a “holy one,” not because of anything you have done, but because Christ’s sacrifice has covered you and your sin. Are you comfortable being called a saint? You are one. You’re a saint. It’s the truth. 

But there is something else important here than one's identity. A saint is set apart for sacred use, for God's purposes. Once you become a believer in Jesus Christ, you are no longer your own to do with yourself whatever you wish. You are now set aside for the direction of the Holy One of Israel. Your submission is to Him. Your direction comes from Him. Your provision is found in Him. So start acting like Whose you are.  

Not only are those of us who follow Christ called to be saints, but we are also called to be faithful. We are called to be true and sincere believers in Christ. We are called to be constant and persevering in the faith of Christ. We are called to fidelity to the Gospel, and our profession of it. We are called to Christ Himself, to abide in Him whose name we bear. And we are called to one another in Christ, to honest and heartfelt fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.[2] 

A holy and faithful life speaks of one's character, the essential inner life of a believer, the real mettle of one's being, that element of one's conscience that grows and develops under hardship, through discipline, and is tested by the sirens of comfort and ease. 

In your character, does your life honor Christ? In your work, do you work with the character of Christ? Your character is always showing. When you charge irresponsibly on your company’s account, your character is showing. When you take home supplies and tools that don’t belong to you, your character is showing. When you tell off color jokes or enjoy someone else telling them, your character is showing. When you use colorful language, your character is showing. When your remote strays to the movie channels late at night, your character is showing. When you are unfaithful to your spouse, your character is showing. 

When you stand up for the defenseless, your character is showing. When you refuse the offer because it is illegal, your character is showing. When you refuse the divisive gossip a listening ear, your character is showing. When you hand the extra change back to the cashier, your character is showing. When the Lord finds you seeking Him each day through His Word and prayer, your character is showing. 

Your character is always showing.

---

[1] Barnes Notes, Rom 1:7.

[2] John Gill, Col 1:2.

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In Your Vocation - Are you following Christ?

Feet of Saint Paul, Holy Trinity Church (elycefeliz)

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother" -- Colossians 1:1 

Paul calls himself an apostle, meaning “one sent to execute a commission.” Apostles were sent out by Jesus Christ to preach his gospel, and to establish his church.[1] Paul says he was sent out by the will of God, not by his own choice or his own will, not self-appointed, but God-appointed. One may say, but the Apostles are dead and gone. Yes, that’s true, but God send out people every day to do his work. In Galilee after his resurrection, Jesus Christ commanded his followers to go and make disciples of all the nations (Matt 28:18-20) and in that sense we are all sent to carry out a commission -- the Great Commission. Every one of us who follows Jesus has that vocation, that calling in life. 

Each one of us also has from God an individual vocation, a calling on our lives which the Lord designed specifically for each person.

Luke 24:13-35 - The Road to Emmaus

The Way to Emmaus - Robert Zund

Indian summer is that period of warm weather days between summer and winter after a cold snap, kind of a second summer. It is a time of transition, but it has some kind of mystic glory about it so that it seems to belong to another place, another climate. We have before us today an incident on Easter Sunday afternoon that is like Indian summer. The simple story of the walk to Emmaus which Luke tells us provides a picture of the risen Christ unequaled by any other record of the resurrection. There is the sense among Jesus’ followers that something big has taken place, but the importance and effects of it have not sunk in. It just did not make sense to them.

Have you ever had something happen to you that just did not make sense? You were sure the Lord was in it. You were confident that things would turn out well. But then disaster struck. Then loss. Then confusion. Then your confidence evaporated. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Why is this not making sense? Why do I hurt so much? Was there something I missed? Did I get fooled?

That was the feeling among Jesus’ disciples and friends in the passage before us today.

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 24:13-35 to teach people that Jesus waits for you to invite His Presence and enjoy His fellowship.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about a relationship with Jesus.

Key Verse: Luke 24:26-27

Pray and Read:  Luke 24:13-35

Second Half Prayer

Those of us who have reached mid-life or beyond may ask ourselves, “How did it take me so long in life to get this smart? Now I'm too old to do anything about it!"

But the reality is that the second half of our lives could and should be the most fruitful. By this time we have just begun to have enough understanding, humility, and Godly wisdom to be useful in the Kingdom, or at least it should be that way!

Senior adults have much to contribute in wisdom and strength, and their great spiritual resources are often unemployed or underemployed.

In Psalm 92, we find a way to pray for the senior season in life.

Psalm 92:1-3 – Thank you for putting a song of praise in my heart and mouth today. Let me thank you for your faithfulness at all times. Let my words be gracious and a pleasant melody without a sour note of complaint or murmuring. Let the music of my heart be in tune with Your great heart and vision for my life.

Psalm 92:4-5 – Give me joy in all You have done in my life and are doing for me. Let me shout for joy at the works of Your hands. Help me understand that Your ways are not my ways, and assure me that Your plans are best.

Psalm 92:6-9 – Protect me from sin and darkness. Go before me and slay the giants of doubt and those things that would rise up to defeat what You have for me to be and do. When the enemy comes at me one way, let them scatter seven ways before Your hands.

Psalm 62:10-15 – Give me strength, refreshments, grace, encouragement, and confidence in You, O Lord. Anoint me with fresh oil from the Holy Spirit. Let me be as a fresh and flourishing palm tree: long living, useful in many ways, strong in storms, most fruitful in old age. Let me grow strong like a cedar: majestic, evergreen, durable, and fragrant. Let my latter days be richer in trust, love, contentment, and fruitfulness than my former days. Let my life be a testimony that I dwell in the courts of Your Presence. You are upright and faithful to all Your promises and perfect in all Your ways. Continue to bless me in Your tender care. Amen.

Adapted from Sylvia Gunter, Prayer Essentials II, 197

Finishing Well

Caleb to Joshua: Give me my mountain

Our challenge is to finish well. Joshua and Caleb did. They were faithful even though the entire Israelite assembly was swayed by the majority of a committee. 

They were the only two of twelve who had the faith that God could take the Promised Land from the giants. Actually, God had already given it to them. They only needed in faith to put the soles of their feet on the land of promises and claim it. 

They believed God could do it. The people failed, and Joshua and Caleb had to wait forty years to see the fulfillment of God's promises.

• Caleb was of the tribe of Judah (which means praise) (Num 13:6; Josh 15:13).

• He was a man of faith and vision (Num 13:30).

• He grieved over the people’s unbelief (Num 14:6).

• Caleb survived the desert to enter the land of promise (Num 14:30; 26:65; Deut 1:36).

• Caleb followed God with a whole-hearted spirit that God blessed  (Num 14:24; 32:12; Deut 1:36; Josh 14:14).

• He fought for what God said was his and drove out giants who contested his promised inheritance (Judg 1:20).

• He saw the fulfillment of all God’s promises to him (Deut 1:36).

• And Caleb was able to give good gifts to his children (Josh. 15:18-19).

At age 80, Caleb asked Joshua to give him his mountain to subdue, his inheritance, and five years later at age 85, he completed the conquest of his lifetime. Ask God to give you a Caleb vision.

Luke 24:1-12 - Jesus' Resurrection

Cemeteries and graves, as a general rule are not places people enjoy visiting, unless of course you are into genealogy or archaeology, looking for history or family connections. But most of us ordinary folks have had our experiences with graves and cemeteries – none of them very pleasant.

Tombs represent finality. Graves represent loss. Cemeteries represent death. We go there to bury those we love and to mourn. Everyone knows that, including those who buried Jesus after His crucifixion.

But the story of Easter morning visit to a tomb is a celebration of a greatest story twist in history, a great reversal that changes everything for all time. What those dedicated women were just realizing then is that this tomb was a source of unimaginable joy – because this tomb was empty.

Luke 23:26-56 - Jesus' Crucifixion

Joseph takes down Jesus' body for burial

Have you ever sat with someone, a loved one, who was dying? Remember all the flood of different emotions? The helplessness? The sinking as death came? That is what we must do today.

Jesus’ Crucifixion is the greatest paradox of all time. The justice of God came through the injustice of condemning an innocent Jesus. God’s most holy purposes were worked out through the cruel hands that whipped and nailed Him to the cross. The demonic plot to murder the Son of God became the way by which the world was delivered from Satan’s control. The brutal and fearful symbol of the cross became a beacon of hope for the world.

Everything was wrong with Jesus’ crucifixion – hatred, jealousy, greed. But out of all the wrong came everything that was right and eternal life to boot. As Jesus enters the Valley of the Shadow of Death, watch the Grace that marks every step He takes.

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 23:26-56 to teach people that Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and burial demonstrates that Jesus is a Man of Forgiveness, Righteousness, and Honor.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about Jesus in His Death.

Key Verse: Luke 23:43

Pray and Read:  Luke 23:26-56

Iran: Pastor Saeed, plus exorbitant bail terms for 5 Christians

Pastor Saeed Abedini & family (Photo: Robert Reed Daly)

IRAN – In emotional testimony on Capitol Hill on March 15, the wife of Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Iran, told a Congressional hearing that she's "disappointed" with the State Department's lackluster involvement in the case. 

Naghmeh Abedini described how her two young children could not understand what happened to their father, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in January: "They kept saying, 'Does Daddy not love us anymore?' ... And I had to tell them that he was in prison because he loved Jesus." 

The State Department declined to attend the hearing Friday despite being invited. Witnesses said a State Dept desk officer last year told Naghmeh "there is nothing the United States government can do for you." After the hearing, the State Dept. invited Naghmeh and attorney Jay Sekulow to a meeting to help her, but their involvement continues to be gravely disappointing. 

Meanwhile, five imprisoned members of the Church of Iran appeared before a judge in Shiraz on March 10 and received exorbitant bail terms. The five are charged with disturbing public order, evangelizing, action against national security and internet activity against the system. Their trial was expected to commence on March 10, but instead Judge Sadati set bail for Mohammed Roghangir at US$200,000, while the others were asked for US$80,000 each. No date was set for the continuation of the trial. The five Christians were among seven people arrested Oct 12, 2012, in an evening raid by security services on a home holding a prayer service led by Mr. Roghangir.

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