When God says no

"I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter" (Deut. 3:25-26).

As the children of Israel prepared to enter the promise land, Moses prayed to God to allow him to pass over the Jordan that he might see the promise land. God had previously prohibited Moses from entering the land due to his disobedience. But Moses, who had an intimate relationship with God, and knowing that He was a forgiving God, asked to be given permission to see the land. But the Lord would not permit it and said, "speak no more unto me of this matter." He went on to tell Moses to focus on encouraging and preparing Joshua his successor to be Israel's new leader.

Are you praying about something that God has already said no to you about? Maybe you’re praying for a relationship you desire to have with someone. Maybe you’re praying for a certain job or a new position. And you’re so focused on what you want from God that it feels like your life is on hold. Well, maybe God has already given you an answer and that answer is no. Sometimes God's no means not now or wait. But there are times like in the case of Moses that his no means no and it’s time for you to move on. Sometimes God says, “Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter." God has something else for you. Trust that God's will for your life is best.

Sins of the tongue

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Eph. 4:23).

Here we find one of the essential marks of healthy churches and relationships. The mark is Christians with Spirit controlled tongues that are used by God to build up and minister grace into each others lives. One of the greatest forces for division and destruction in churches is a Christian (so called) whose tongue is controlled by the flesh and not the Spirit. In Proverbs we read, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Proverbs 6:16-19). Notice that among the seven things that God hates in this passage sins of the tongue are listed twice. The seventh thing which reads, "And he that soweth discord among the brethen" is an "abomination" unto the Lord. And how are seeds of discord sown? They're sown by people whose tongues are controlled by the flesh and not the Spirit.

Sins of the tongue like lies and gossip that lead to division are an abomination unto God because of how they destroy relationships. And when it involves Christians it not only hurts relationships but brings reproach to the name of Christ. Christians are supposed to be known for love and unity not dissension and disunity. One of the reasons why sins of the tongue are so deadly to relationships is because its easier for us to justify them in are own hearts than sins like adultery. I've never met a Christian that has committed adultery and tried to justify it and excuse it. But sins of the tongue are rationalized and justified all day long by Christians. And it's hurting the church more so than the sins that we are often more scandalized by like sexual immorality or drug addiction. When was the last time you heard of a crack addict causing a church split? But we all know of churches that have been severely damaged by sins of the tongue. And yet we think that we are great Christians because we don't smoke, drink and use profanity.

If you’re engaging in gossip, slander, and talking about someone rather than talking to them your Christianity stinks to God. Thankfully, if we are struggling with sins of the tongue we can go to God for forgiveness and help (1 John 1:9). Is God using your tongue for good or is the devil using it for evil? Check your heart.

Watch out for the ministers of greed

"And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. 8How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?" (Num. 23:7-8).

Watch out for the ministers of greed. When Israel journeyed in the wilderness Balak, King of the Moabites, tried to hire one of those ministers of greed named Balaam to curse Israel. But God spoke to Balaam and revealed to Him that the blessed of the Lord can't be cursed. Balaam would have taken the money and cursed Israel if God hadn’t intervened. Jude gives us insight into the heart of Balaam when he wrote, “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core” (Jude 11).

These ministers of greed are still around today. They will tell you want you want to hear for money and the people love them for it. These ministers of greed that preach the prosperity gospel today are like you're average con man. The average greedy con man is successful at getting over on people because he knows about the greed that lurks in the heart of his so called victims. Most of the people that fall prey to the con man have a little larceny in their own hearts. The people that fall prey to the message that Jesus is there to make you rich are full of the same greed that their preachers are filled with. But the only ones getting rich is the money grubbing preacher in the pulpit not the money loving dummy in the pew.

The Apostle Paul also wrote about ministers of greed when he said, “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tim. 6:3-10).

Do you want to be blessed? Watch out for those that will tell you that godliness is a means of gain. In other words watch out for those who say, “Become a Christian and God will make you wealthy and healthy. Get away from that heresy. Paul said, “Godliness plus contentment equals gain. When godliness is not a means to an end but the end itself the result will be contentment, the result will be righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:16).

Can a Christian be cursed? God told the greedy prophet that the king wanted to hire to curse Israel, “...Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12). The blessed of the Lord can't be cursed. Christian today are also the blessed of the Lord in their position in Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). What a blessed inheritance we have in Christ.

Now, your position in Christ is one thing, but what about your walk as a Christian? The Psalmist wrote, "Blessed is the man the walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord..." (Psalm 1:1-6). The blessed of the Lord (as far as their walk is concern) are those that love His word and are walking in obedience to it. The blessed of the Lord are those that know God and are seeking to live a godly life not as a means to end but to the glory to God. The Apostle Peter wrote, "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (1 Pet. 3:12). “Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”

Are you a peacemaker or a troublemaker?

"And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel…Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. 18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. 19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing anything else, go through on my feet. 20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him"(Num. 20:18-21).

As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, they sought permission from the King of Edom to pass through the land of the Edomites. Edom refused to grant passage to the people of God. This refusal could have provoked the Israelites to go to battle against the Edomites, but Moses did not lead them to do so. Why? The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s (Israel) brother. Instead of going to battle, they turned away and trusted God to lead them another way. In Christ we are called not just to turn away but to "overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21). "Is there someone at work, at home, or in your church, who needs your kindness even if such kindness is undeserved? You may not be able to pull that off by yourself, but God can give you the grace to do it. Talk to Him about it, and then obey!" (F.B. Meyer).

The Apostle Paul wrote, “If possible, so far as it depends on you,(C) live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). For Jesus sake go that extra mile to be at peace with others and especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. “Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9). Are you a peace maker or a trouble maker?

Is it wrong to question authority?

"Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? 4And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: 5And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him" (Num.16:1-5;32-33).

The book of Jude in the New Testament refers to this occasion as the rebellion of Korah. Korah and others of the children of Israel challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron and as a result the ground swallowed them up. Is it wrong to question authority? It depends on the motivation and manner that it’s done. In the case of Korah, he challenged Moses' authority for personal gain. He despised Moses because Moses had authority that he didn't have. If we are going to question the authorities that God has placed over us, we must examine our motivations and the manner in which we go about doing so. If you're going to question the authority that God has placed over you, do so by talking to them not about them. And do so not with the fear of man but with the fear of God.

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

"I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone" (Numbers 11:14-17).

When the Israelite began to murmur in the wilderness about food, Moses began to feel overwhelmed and he cried out to God. Moses felt like, "I just can't do it anymore. Leading all these people through the wilderness is just too hard." Moses, the great man of God was ready to crack. But God reminded Moses of the 70 men that were previously ordained to help him and called on them to come to the tabernacle. And the Lord said unto Moses, "And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone." It's interesting to me that these men were previously ordained to help Moses when his father-in-law observed that he was taking on way to many responsibilities. But for some reason these men were either not utilized or unwilling to do their part. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:1-2).

There are people all around us that need us to help them bear the burdens. That is what being a Christian is all about. There is a single mother that is overwhelmed with the burden of working, taking care of her children, and a whole host of other responsibilities that can use a break. There's a senior citizen that would love to come to church but doesn't have a ride. There's a father who lost his job because of the poor economy who needs some financial help. There's a Pastor who is just doing way too many things that rather than receiving criticism from you and others can use some help, some prayer and some encouragement. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

And they shall do all that needs to be done

"This is the service of the clans of the Gershonites, in serving and bearing burdens: 25 they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering of goatskin that is on top of it and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting 26 and the hangings of the court and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords and all the equipment for their service. And they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them." (Numbers. 4:22-26).

The different families within the tribe of Levi had each specific responsibilities in the service of the Tabernacle. They were to set up and take down the Tabernacle as the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness. These families worked together and did what needed to be done in order that the children of Israel could move forward towards the promise land. If the church today is going to move forward in advancing God's kingdom we all need to find out what each of our individual responsibilities are before God and faithfully serve Him. But rather than focusing on their responsibilities some Christians are focused on their rights. It's been said, "When Christian are focused on their rights there is a revolution. But when they are focused on their responsibility there is revival. We have too many in the church today that want to be fans up in the stands but not players down on the field. Do you want your church to be healthy? Be part of the solution not the problem. Lay aside your personal agenda, find out what God wants you to do and get busy for Jesus.

Developing a Hunger for God’s Word

"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:1-3).


Do you love the word of God? I asked that question from the pulpit of my Church and almost everyone raised their hand to say yes. Now, if I were to asked the church for a show of hands of all those that read the bible regularly, would there be the same amount of hands raised? The psalmist wrote, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

The Psalmist not only declared that he loved the word, but that he meditated on the word “all the day.” Can we really say we love God’s word if we are not meditating on it regularly? Do you long for the word of God? Do you desire the word of God? Listen again to what the Psalmist had to say about the word of God, “I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments” (Psalm 119:131).

Why did the Psalmist love and long for the word of God? Because the Word of God is the revelation of God. Through the word of God we come to know the God of the word. Knowing and experiencing God is what we were created for. The Psalmist also wrote, "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalm 34:8).

The reason that the Psalmist had a passion for the Word of God was because he knew God intimately. And the more you know him the more you want to know him. And it’s through the living and abiding word that we come to know God. When my wife and I were dating I wrote her many love letters that she loved to read. And she would save these letters so that she could reread them. The word of God is God's love letter to us—His word is his revelation to us about Himself. And if we do not love God's word, either we don't know God or something is terribly wrong.

Peter wrote, "As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby." Have you ever had to get up in the middle of the night to feed a crying baby? Then you understand the kind of intense desire that Peter is saying we need to have for God’s word if we are to grow spiritually. How do we develop a hunger for God's word:

I. Do away with sin:

Peter writes, “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (v. 1-2). The word “wherefore” in verse 1 connects the previous verse in chapter one to what Peter is saying here in the beginning of chapter 2. In the last part of chapter 1 Peter writes about how the word of God brought us to salvation (v.22-23).

And in verses 24- 25 of chapter 1 Peter writes, "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

Everything in this life fades away, but one thing on this planet that will endure forever is the word of God. Therefore Paul says, lay aside all sin and desire the word of God. The word of God is timeless. There is nothing in this life that will be worth desiring more than the word of God. There is nothing that will bless you more in all the areas of your life that matter, than desiring, trusting, and living by the word of God (Psalm 1).

Therefore Peter writes, “…lay aside all Malice and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking.” Malice is a general word that speaks of all kinds of wrong behavior especially as it relates to others. Guile speaks of being deceitful and hypocrisies means pretending to be someone you’re not. When we try covering up our wrong doing by being deceitful and hypocritical, this only leads to more sin like envy and evil speaking (slander and gossip). And the reason that Peter says to lay aside sin, before he says to desire the word, is because sin suppresses our appetite for the word of God. If we are going to develop a desire for the word of God, we are going to have to first and foremost lay aside the sin in our lives.

Many Christians have one foot in the world and one in the church. And because of that there’s no real hunger for God's word. It’s been said that sin will keep you from the word or the word will keep you from sin. How in the world will we have a hunger for God's word if we spend more time feeding our flesh with the filth of this world, rather than our spiritual lives? If we want to develop a hunger for the word we need to get out of the world and into the word. And as we get into the word and develop a hunger for the word the word will keep us from going back to the world.

Get off the fence and get into the word. Get off those filthy internets sites and into the word. Get out of those places that you shouldn't be frequenting and into the word. Get away from that person you shouldn't be hanging out with and into the word. Get out of that sinful relationship and into the word. The word will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the word.

II. Develop in the scriptures:

After Peter exhortation to lay aside sin he writes, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” O how we must recognize how essential the word of God is for our Spiritual development. There's a desire that grows out of recognizing a vital need that you have that without it being meet will result in great lost. If you have neglected taking care of yourself physically and you have a heart attack how might that change your desire for eating right and exercising? There's a desire that grows out of necessity but there is a superior desire that grows out of delight. But you'll never get to the place of delight until you get to the place of necessity where you are convinced that you must get in the word of God or you will not grow. In fact, if you're not in the word, not only are you not progressing spiritually you are regressing. And eventually you won't be able to hide it anymore. Remember that one of the sins that Peter said to lay aside is hypocrisy. Why? Because if you don't have a desire for the word I can guarantee that you're just playing church. In fact not only are you playing you're straying.

Do you want to develop a desire for the word? Read the word of God whether you feel like it or not. Why? Because it’s a matter of life or death? Because you will not develop a desire for the word unless you get into the word. And if you have no desire for the word of God it's a sure indication of spiritual ill health. If you go to the doctor because you’re anemic---and the reason you’re anemic is because you’re not eating; what is the doctor going to advise you to do? The doctor is going to advise you to eat. And if you say that you don't feel like it, what's he going to advise you to do? He’s going to advise you to eat, even if you don't feel like it. Can I tell you that one of the best ways to develop an appetite for the word is to just begin to read it with a heart that recognizes its desperate need for God? Read it, meditate on it and study it and you will find that you will develop a desire for the word of God.

The more you read the word of God the more you'll want to read it. The less you read it the less you'll want to read it. It’s as simple as that. Later I’m going to give you some tips for reading the scripture in a way that will increase your desire for God and his word.

III. Delight in the Savior:

In relation to desiring the word of God Peter writes, “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”(1 Peter 2:3). Desire for the Word of God comes from having tasted the grace and goodness of the Lord. Having tasted His goodness in salvation and living your life in close communion with the Lord will stir within you a longing for His word. The reason that someone would have no desire for the word is either they’ve never tasted the grace and goodness of God or they’ve drifted from that close intimate relationship with God that apart from God's word you can’t experience. Have you tasted that the Lord is good?

“The image of milk and of tasting the Lord’s kindness brings up the fact that the Word is not just to fill your head with knowledge. It is to fill your life with delight as you get to know the Divine author and enjoy Him in all His perfections. Taste points both to personal experience and enjoyment. I can’t taste for you, nor you for me. We can only taste for ourselves. To taste something, we’ve got to experience it up close. You can see and hear and smell at a distance, but you can only taste something by touching it to your tongue. You can only taste God’s Word by drawing near to God and personally appropriating the riches of knowing Him. Once you like the taste of something, you don’t just eat it to live; you live to eat it. You want it as often as you can get it. God’s Word is that way for all who have tasted His kindness” (Steven Cole).

Do you want to taste the goodness and grace of God? Do you want to experience the delight of a close and intimate relationship with the Lord? You must get to know him and his word for yourself. And here some keys to reading the bible in a way that leads to defeating sin, developing spiritually and delighting in the savior:

1. Prioritize the word (Make time to read the bible daily and to study it on your own at least once a week.

2. Ponder the word (Take a portion of the word from your reading to meditate upon and think about how it applies to your life.)

3. Pen the word (Have a pen in hand to make notes and a journal to write what God is teaching you. Writing has a way of making you think deeply upon the word.)

4. Personalize the word ("Personalizing Scripture" means taking God's Word and applying it to yourself by re-phrasing it in the first person singular.)

5. Pray the word (Let your time in the word and the verses that your personalize become your prayer to God.

6. Practice the word (You want to be blessed by the word you must do more than hear it and read it you must obey it.

7. Proclaim the word (Share what God is showing you with others. Someone said that the more of the word of God you give away the more it will stick with you.

The Psalmist wrote, “I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments” (Psalm 119:131). Do you have that longing for God’s word? If you don’t it could be that you don’t know God—that you’ve never tasted the grace of salvation. I plead with you to receive Jesus as your savior by trusting that He died for your sin and rose again to give you life. And then begin to take in the milk of the word of God.

It could be that you are saved but you don’t have a desire for God’s word because of sin in your life. Confess and forsake it. Do away with sin. In addition Jeremiah wrote, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts" (Jer. 15:16). If you don’t have a desire for God’s word draw near to God by making time to develop in his word and he will draw near to you. As God draws nigh you will taste his goodness and delight in the savior. You will long for God's word.

Seek the mind of God

"And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses...And they put him in ward, (custody) that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them" (Lev. 24:11-12).

How often I've been quick to judge someone else because of a feeling that they are not doing things like they ought to before the Lord. In the above passage a man blasphemed and cursed the name of the Lord. This act took place during the early Old Testament era when God was establishing the fact that his name was to be hallowed among the Israelites. But before Mose gave his judgment about what to do with this blasphemer, he sought the mind and will of the Lord. He wasn't so quick to judge. How much more should we, who are not under the law but under grace, take time to seek God's mind about how to deal with someone that has sinned against the Lord and us.

There’s a time for tuff love and there's a time to be merciful. But sometimes it's very hard to discern which way to go when dealing with someone who is in a hole because of their own foolishness. I've struggled with this issue recently and was a little too quick in making a judgment. But when I got around to seeking God's mind and really praying about it the Lord gave me this verse: "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7). As I meditated on that verse I realized that I was ready to come down
hard on someone who was struggling in an area where I too have had similar struggles. The Lord said, to me, "Do you enjoy the mercy and patience I have with you?" I said, oh yes my Lord. I am so thankful for your abundant patience and mercy with me." And the Lord responded, "How about extending some of that same mercy to others." Your situation and circumstance might be different. But whatever it is make sure that before you make any moves, seek the mind and will of the Lord.

True life is found in holiness.

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do...Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD." (Lev. 18:1-5).

The Lord calls us to live lives of holiness. What does it mean to live a life of holiness? God said to Moses, "After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do." The land of Egypt represented the worldly system of that day. The Israelites were not to live according to the standards and values set by the world, but by the standards set by God. In the same way we are not to live by the standards and values of this world, but by the eternal values and standards God has set for us. “Although believers today are not under the law (Romans 6:14), all the eternal principles of right and wrong which are contained in the law are restated for Christians in the teaching of the New Testament” (Martin, Alfred).

There are clear promises from God that our realized by those who live lives of holiness. God said, "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD" (Lev. 18:5). Notice that God said, “Which if a man do (walk in holiness) “he shall live in them.” This promise is not just an Old Testament promise. The Apostle Paul said, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Rom. 8:13). True life is found in holiness.

Be holy; for I am holy:

"For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing...For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (Lev. 11:44-45).

Some Christians have the idea that because we are under grace and not under the Law that we have a license to live worldly lives. In fact, you rarely hear in churches today a call for Christians to live holy lives. But holiness is not just an Old Testament concept. The Apostle Peter wrote, "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:14-15).

Many today are wallowing in the filth of this world and then coming to God seeking for Him to bless them with this or with that. But we need to be reminded that God is more concerned with our holiness than He is our happiness. Many are turning from a life of holiness in order to find their own happiness. But actually true happiness is a byproduct of holiness. The Psalmist puts it this way: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3). Happiness is a byproduct of holiness.

In the above text God said to Moses, "For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." God brought the Israelites out of bondage to be their God. In the same way God has set every Christian free through the redemptive work of Christ from the power of sin and death. If you’re a Christian today God has saved you to be your God—so that you would live a life that is pleasing, honoring and glorifying to Him. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). You were redeemed for God. Therefore be holy, for the Lord your God is Holy.

A pleasing aroma unto God

"And Nadab and Abihu...took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said...This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified" (Lev. 10:1-3).

The book of Leviticus teaches us that God is a Holy God. Therefore we cannot approach the Lord in just any kind of way. Nadab and Abihu, who were suppose to be examples of this truth, offered incense unto God with fire (type of prayer) in an unholy manner and paid for it with their lives. What was unholy about how they approached God. It appears that only the High Priest had the divine directive from God to place incense on a censer with the coals from the altar and present them before the Lord. There is also some indication from the text that Nadab and Abihu were drunk when they offered the incense unto God. Whatever the case, the bible says that they offered strange fire. In other words it was offered in a way that was offensive to a Holy God. The sacrifices and offerings that the Priest brought before the Lord were to be a pleasing aroma unto him.

In Proverbs we read, "The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?" (Proverbs 21:27). In a similar passage the bible says, "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight" (Proverbs 15:8). Through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross all the shadows and types found in the Levitical sacrifices and offering in the Tabernacle were fulfilled in Him. Jesus is our High Priest who offered up himself for our sins as a Lamb without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19). Therefore we no longer need a human mediator to come before a Holy God and neither do we need to offer animal sacrifices to make atonement for our sins. When now have the awesome privilege of personally approaching God’s Holy presence. Why has God given us this Holy access to Him? Has God now become are genie? Does God exist to please us or do we exist to please him? “Now in(A) a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay,(B) some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21Therefore,(C) if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[a] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house,(D) ready for every good work. 22So(E) flee(F) youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with(G) those who call on the Lord(H) from a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:20).

We have access to God not so that God can be a glorified Santa Clause. We have access to God so that we can cleanse ourselves of all that is dishonorable and present ourselves unto the Lord as vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house,(D) ready for every good work.” We have access to God so that we can present ourselves as living sacrifices and be a pleasing aroma unto him.

Jesus taught His disciple that when they come before God in prayer they should pray in this manner, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name..." God is able and loves to give good gifts unto His children in answer to prayer. But whatever we seek God for, may the underlying desire be the hallowing of His name.

Prayer: Our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name. You deserve for your name to be exalted above all names in the whole earth. “Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory, and honor and power; for thou has created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:11). Lord my desire is to always be ready, wanting and willing to live to spread the fame of your name. Lord, I need your provision, I need your forgiveness, I need to forgive others, I need strength to resist temptation and to lay aside all sin in my life. I need you to answer these petitions because first and foremost I desire for your name to be hallowed in and through my life—because I want to live for your kingdom and do all things for thy pleasure. Grant that your name would be made holy in my life, my home, in the church where I serve and in the world that you created. In Jesus holy and precious name I pray. Amen.

How to approach a Holy God

"And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. 3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. 4And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him" (Lev. 1:1-2).

The book of Leviticus has been called the handbook of the Priest. It teaches us how God's people are to approach His Holy presence. God must be worshiped in Spirit and in truth. We must seek God on His terms not our own. The book of Leviticus begins by the Lord giving Moses laws and instructions concerning the offerings that were to be brought before God by the priest. These offerings were as follows: The burnt, meal, peace, sin, and trespass offerings. "The offerings indicated the provision of a method by which man might be brought back into nearness to, and knowledge of, and communion with God. The first three revealed the ideal relationship:

- The burnt, speaking of complete devotion;
- The meal, of established communion; and
- The peace, of the experience growing therefrom.

The final two suggested the method by which those away from communion might be restored; both the sin and the trespass offerings in different applications teaching the possibility of the canceling of sin, and the restoration of the soul to God. Whether our interpretation of the individual significance of the offerings agrees or not, we shall all agree that the underlying teaching is that of the possibility of restored approach to God" (G. Campbell Morgan).

According to the book of Hebrews (the best commentary on the books of the law) the Laws, pattern for the tabernacle and Levitical Priesthood was all a prophetic picture of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ (Read Hebrews 8-9). Jesus is the fulfillment of it all--He is what it all pointed to. The Levitical Priest were but mere shadows whereas Jesus was the reality. The author of Hebrews writes, "For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself" (Heb. 7:26-27).

With His own blood Jesus restores fallen sinners back into fellowship with a Holy gracious and loving God. Through His sacrifice, all that trust Him become themselves Kings and priest unto God with the privileged of approaching a Holy God in the name of Jesus. And the offering that we are to present unto God is our bodies as living sacrifices, Holy and acceptable unto God (Romans 12:1-2). We are saved to live, by the power of the Holy Spirit, lives that our sanctified (set apart) unto God for the glory of His name. If you’re a believer your greatest asset (which cost heavens best) is your access to God.

The psalmist wrote, “O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. 4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary” (Psalm 96:1-6).

Come into the sanctuary of God’s Holy presence with a cleansed and surrendered heart and you will discover the blessed life you were created to live.

Oh what a friend we have in Jesus, but does Jesus have a friend in you.

"And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend..." (Ex. 33:11).

When I first set up my Face Book page I vowed that I would never end up with 2000 friends. I guess the reason that I thought that way is because I take the concept of a friend a little more seriously then others do. Now, I must admit that I've not been as selective as I set out to be and have confirmed some face Book friend request under duress. Do you know that God takes the concept of a friend very seriously? He was very selective about who he called his friends. God's Face Book page (the word of God) list or names the following biblical characters as His friends: Abraham (2 Chron 20:7), Moses (Ex. 33:11, John the baptist (John 3:29) Lazarus (John 11:11), and the 12 Apostles (John 15:15). Jesus called Judas Iscariot a friend (Matthew 26:50). It's seems strange that Judas would make the list but the reason that he did was not because Judas was a friend to Jesus, but because Jesus was a friend to him.

Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Jesus laid down His life for us all and saves those that put their trust in Him. "There's not a Friend like the lowly Jesus: No, not one! no, not one!" He's a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He was faithful unto death and all who trust him will never be lost. Oh what a friend we have in Jesus, but does Jesus have a friend in you.

Go up to the mount of God

"According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it" (Ex. 25:9).

On the mount where Moses met with God, he was instructed to build the tabernacle. Several times God repeated to Moses to see to it that the pattern given to him for the construction of the tabernacle was followed. The tabernacle was the place where God's glorious presence would be manifested.

God gave Moses detailed instructions for how that tabernacle was to be built. Today, God no longer dwells in a tabernacle, but in the hearts of His children. Because of the blood that Jesus shed for our sins, we can approach a Holy God in the name of Jesus. And like the Lord had detailed instructions for the building of the temple that he gave to Moses, He too has detailed instructions for our lives that we must live by. But we don't need Moses or a priest to go up to the mount of God on our behalf. If we desire to know God and his detailed instructions for our lives we must go up to the mountain of God and meet with Him. In other words, we must get away and get alone with God. We must seek the Lord for ourselves and follow Him. And as we do we will not only be built up in Him, but we will experience the fullness of the joy of His glorious presence.

Watch out for those who say, "I have a word from God for you."

"And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. 17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace" (Exodus 18:13-23).

When Moses' father-in-law observed how Moses spent all day everyday counseling and ministering to his people, he gave him some wise counsel. Jethro, Moses father-in-law advised Moses to get some help from faithful men lest he wear himself out. "It was good and sound advice...It could hardly have been better. It is always better to set one hundred men to work than attempt to do the work of one hundred men" (F.B. Meyer).

Notice also that Jethro prefaced his sound advice, "If thou shalt do this thing" (seek able men to help you) with "and God command thee so." In other words, he's saying, "don't just take my word for it, but make sure to check with God and seek his approval." As Christians we should seek the wise counsel of others. But be careful with those so called "prophets" who will tell you that they have a word from God for you. You can learn from others but you must seek God and His will for yourself. You must search the scriptures daily to make sure that what you are being thought from even the godliest of men is sound doctrine (Acts 17:11).

The Apostle John said, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 John 2:27). Once again, John is not saying that we are not to learn from others, but that we must not rely solely on the teaching of others to know God's will for our lives. God has given each of his children the Holy Spirit that He might personally guide them into all truth. If you pray and seek the Lord through his word, the Holy Spirit will enable you to discern God's will for yourself. If the Holy Spirit does not bear witness in your heart that what someone else in telling you is true according to God's word, you are under no obligation to follow.

Everything rises and falls upon leadership

"Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword." (Ex. 17:8-13).

It’s been said, "Everything rises and falls upon leadership." And no doubt, Moses was a great leader who God used to bring Israel out of Egyptian bondage. What made Moses such a great leader was his dependence upon God. Oh how the church of God today needs faithful Pastors who not only faithfully carry out God’s call to shepherd the flock of God, but do it in dependence upon His power. The Apostle Paul wrote, “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:3-5).

In order for a Pastor to be an effective leader like Moses and Paul there must be the witness of the Spirit’s power at work in and through their lives before the people that they lead. This will not be the case if first and foremost that leader is not a man of considerable prayer (Luke 11:13).

What Moses held up in his hand on the mountain when Israel fought Amalek in the valley below was called the rod of God. This rod didn’t have any special innate powers. But it was symbolic of Moses dependence upon God’s power. Moses already had that rod in his hand when God called him. Moses used the rod (staff) to lean on when he walked, to help him climbed mountains and to tend to his father-in-laws flock. The rod was just a dead stick. But in Moses’ hand it was a valuable instrument in helping to carry out his daily responsibilities. And when God called him that simple stick in Moses’ hand became the most powerful weapon on the planet. Remember, it didn’t have innate power but in the hand of Moses God used it to part the red sea. When Moses doubted his ability to confront Pharaoh to deliver God’s message to let his people go, God demonstrated his power to Moses by turning the rod in his hand into a snake. And because God told Moses that he would work wonders and signs through the rod, it became known as the rod of God. Moses leaned on the rod before God called him for the simple strength and practical help it provided, but now he would lean on it in dependence upon what only God’s power could accomplish.

Great leaders are not only upheld by God as they depend upon him, but also by the support and prayers of God’s people. When Israel fought against Amalek, they prevailed down in the valley as long as Moses, up on a mountain, held up the rod of God toward heaven. When Moses lowered his hand because of weariness, Amalek prevailed over Israel. But when Aaron and Hur came along side and helped Moses hold up his hand, Israel prevailed again. Everything rises and falls upon faithful leadership that is upheld by the effectual fervent prayers of God's righteous people.

Why did God Harden Pharoah's heart?

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt...that ye may know how that I am the LORD" (Ex 10:1-2).

What a fearful thing that God would harden the heart of Pharaoh so that he would stubbornly refuse to let the people go. Some have said, "but that doesn't seem fair that God would harden Pharaoh's heart and then judge him for disobedience." The Apostle Paul in Romans chapter nine dealt with similar objections: “What shall we say then? “Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Romans 9:14-16).

Perhaps some would believe that God’s choices are arbitrary, unrighteous or made with the wrong motives. Therefore Paul asked rhetorically, “Is there unrighteousness with God? No! God can do as he pleases. And what he pleases to do is always right whether we can understand it or not. How does God choose? In order to fully understand what many have tried to understand for centuries we would have to be God. But nevertheless we can trust that His choices are in keeping with is character, wisdom, power and foreknowledge. “One person decides who receives God’s mercy—God. Does that mean that God will not have mercy on you? No. Do you want mercy? You may have it. God does as He pleases and He is always pleased to do right. And He will in no way cast out anyone who will come to Him” (John 6:37).

Once again Paul demonstrates the supreme wisdom and power of God in the affairs of men in his dealings with Pharaoh: 17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”

When Moses was sent by God to Pharaoh to command him to let his people go, he refused and as a result experienced great judgments. God did not will for Pharaoh to be an evil man willing to murder innocent children, but in his sovereignty he can use a man like Pharaoh to accomplish his purpose. In the case of Pharaoh God used this hard hearted man in order to display his power for his glory and the good of his people. This was the case in the life of Joseph whose own brothers conspired to kill him and sold him into slavery in Egypt where he would later become second in command of all of Egypt. After coming into power, Joseph had this to say to his brethren, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Gen. 50:20). God is so big that he can take the sinfulness of man, weave into our lives to accomplish his purposes without ever ordaining the sin.

Some take the phrase in reference to Pharaoh, "...even for this same purpose have I raised thee up" (Rom. 9:17), to mean that God made him for condemnation. But this passage speaks of Pharaoh's position not person. God allowed him to become King, knowing that he had a hard heart so that he could demonstrate his power. In verse 18 Paul writes, “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” When we refuse to hear God's voice our heart as a consequence becomes more hardened against God. God harden Pharaoh's heart as a judgment because his heart was already set against God. "...If you hear His voice, harden not your heart." (Heb.3:7)

Paul knew there were those who objected to God’s prerogative to have mercy on whoever he wills and to harden whoever he wills. Therefore he writes. “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?” (v.19)Their thinking was that if God hardens a person’s heart like Pharaoh and then judges him wouldn’t that be unjust? Does God make one person for hell and another for heaven—one person a sinner and another and a saint? If so how can God hold us responsible for the way he made us? “To such a scenario on God’s part would make as much sense as a potter going to the time, trouble, and expense of creating a line of pottery and then smashing them with a stick.” (Rogers, Adrian).

To this objection Paul writes, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” (Romans 9:20). There are two points that Paul is making here. To begin with, Paul rebukes those who are finite beings for supposing that God is somehow unrighteous in his dealing with man: “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Granted there are things about God that we won’t understand. Someone said, “if we could understand everything about God he wouldn’t be God.” It’s one thing to have questions about God and his dealings, but it’s quite another thing to imply that God is somehow unjust because we can’t understand his ways and his thoughts.

Secondly, Paul says, “Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” (v.20) What is the answer to his searching question? God has the divine right to harden the heart of someone like Pharaoh as a judgment for a heart that was already set against God. In so doing God displayed his power showing that he is God above all gods. Remember that God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was not something he did when Pharaoh was born so that he could damn him to hell. He raised him up (allowed him to come into power knowing that he had a hard heart) for his sovereign purposes. Paul uses the word “formed” and not “created” (v.20) for he is referring to position not person. Pharaoh for example was not created by God to be damned to hell. He was “formed” by God to serve his divine purpose.

The author of Hebrews wrote, "To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts"(Heb. 3:15). Pharaoh's heart was already harden against the Lord when he refused to obey his voice. As a result God hardened it even more in order to display his glorious power that others might believe. The consequence of disobedience is a hard heart. Obey His voice.

Their cry came up to God and God came down to them

"And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them…"(Ex. 3:7-9).

I'm so encourage by the words of the Lord to Moses when He said, "I have come down to deliver them..." When the Lord said those words the children of Israel were under Egyptian bondage. The phrase doesn't just speak of God coming to Moses at the burning bush. It speaks of his divine work, activity, and power that was about to be manifested to deliver God's people from Egyptian bondage.

The Israelites had come into Egypt because of a famine in the land of Canaan some 400 years earlier. Although God provided for the Israelites in Egypt by providentially making Joseph a ruler in Egypt, apparently they got too comfortable there. They were there longer than they should have been, and as a result ended up as slaves. But notice that in verse nine of the above passage the Lord said, "Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me." Their cry came up and God came down. In other words, when the children of Israel humbled themselves and cried out to God in prayer for help, God heard them and He came down in power to free His people. The Psalmist wrote, "This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles" (Psalm 34:6). Are you in distress? Are you going through such a difficult time that you don't feel like you can make it another day? Let your cry come up to heaven and the God of heaven will come down to you.

God's will must be done God's way.

"Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; 44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; 45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him..." (Gen. 27:43-45).

Jacob took advantage of Esau when he was hungry and purchased Esau's birthright for a bowl of stew. And if that wasn't enough, he steals the blessing of his father that was meant for Esau by pretending to be Esau. As a result, he fled from his home fearing that his brother was going to kill him. His mother said to him, "...flee thou to Laban my brother...and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away" (Gen. 27:43-44). What Rebekah said would be just a few days would turned out to be over 20 years that Jacob dwelled with and served Laban. Sadly, Rebekah would never see her son Jacob again.

Although it was God's will for Jacob to be the future head of God's covenant people, God's will must be done God's way. And because Jacob took matters into his own hands (with the encouragement of his mother) he paid a heavy price and almost lost his life. In our lives let us heed the wisdom of the Proverb, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, but in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths" (Prov. 3:5-6).

Seek to be a blessing

"And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake"(Gen. 30:26).

After serving Laban for years, Jacob was ready to move on and make a life of his own with his family. But Laban did not want him to leave recognizing that God had blessed him for Jacob's sake. When we are walking with God his grace will be upon our lives in such a way that others will be blessed of God through us. God's favor was upon Jacob because he was one of the Patriarchs of God's covenant people. One of the key promises of God to his covenant people was that he was not only going to bless them, but that He was going to bless the whole world through them. How was this going to be possible that the world would be blessed through Jacob (Israel)? The reason is that through the descendants of Jacob, Jesus, the savior of the world would be born. Jesus came into this world via the descendants of Jacob to redeem us from our sin through his death and resurrection. And all who trust him as savior and Lord receive the greatest blessing of knowing Him for all eternity.

Are you a recipient of God's blessings through Jesus? If you are, it should be evident to those around you that not only are you blessed of God but that they are being blessed of God because of their association with you. This was true not only of Jacob, but of Joseph as well. In Genesis we read, "The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate" (Gen. 39:2-6).

This idea of people being blessed because of their association with someone that knows the Lord, is not only an Old Testament concept. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife (believer), and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy" (1 Cor. 7:14). Here Paul is teaching that because of an unbelievers close relationship with his or her saved spouse they are sanctified or set apart. In other words, they are in a privileged position that affords them not only divine favor but the greater possibility of coming to know Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior and Lord. If you are saved God has you where you are so that those around you will not only see that you are the blessed of the Lord but that you would be a channel of God's blessings. The ultimate blessing that God desires to bring to others through you is a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Are you saved? If the answer is yes, then don't ever forget why God still keeps you around. You are on this earth that you might seek to be a blessing unto others in Jesus name and for His sake.

How too make bad decisions

"Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted...Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright now." Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" Jacob said, "Swear to me now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright...Thus Esau despised his birthright" (Gen. 25:29-34).

How easily we sacrifice God's best to satisfy an immediate desire and experience temporary pleasure. That's exactly what Esau did. When Esau came in from hunting in the field he was hungry and exhausted. Seeing what Jacob had just cooked (red stew), he said unto Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew." Jacob, knowing that his brother Esau was tired and hungry, saw an opportunity to take advantage of him by asking Esau to sell him his birth right (future inheritance). Esau said, "I'm about to die what good is this birthright." Esau wasn't going to die. We often use the same kind of language when we say things like "I'm starving to death." But the fact is that most American's like me don't have a clue what it means to experiece starvation. Esau might have been hungry but he more than likely wasn't about to die of starvation. He could have waited for his mother to cook something up for him or he could have cooked something up himself like the bible records he did for his father Isaac. But instead he sacrificed his birth right (future inheritance) to receive instant gratification and temporary satisfaction. And he did so by exaggerating his situation.

"Teenagers sometimes exaggerate their situation. They tell themselves little lies such as, “If I don’t make cheerleader, my life is over.” “She is the only girl I’ll ever love.” “I am dropping out of school; I can NEVER pass these classes.” and “Everyone in that youth group looks down on me.” Of course, teenagers are not the only people who do this. Many adults have a tendency to exaggerate their situation as well. We may say or think things such as, “This job is making me crazy.” “My husband never helps me with anything.” or “I have to work more hours because we have to have a bigger house.” Exaggerating your situation makes you feel desperate. It makes you feel like your options are limited. Exaggerating your situation can make circumstances seem hopeless and lead you to grasp a bad option for fear it is the only option. Exaggerating your needs tends to give you tunnel vision when it comes to seeing all the available options. Look again at the statement of Esau to his brother: Was Esau “about to die”? He was very tired and very hungry, but he was not dying. Like Esau, we make better decisions when we are honest about our situation. For example, using the previous situations:

—“I would really like to make cheerleader and will be disappointed if I don’t, but I suspect I will have many opportunities that will also be worthwhile even if I don’t make cheerleader.”

—“I really care about this girl and may even feel real love, but if she is not the one, someone else is out there.”

—“My job is really hard. I have some difficult relationships I need to manage there. I would rather be in some other place. But as long as I am here, I need to pray for God to show me what to do.”

Taking an honest look at the situation allows us to evaluate our options with a clear head. When we give up the “I’m-about-to-die” thinking, we can see other options" (Life Way).

So many Christians today are missing out on God's best, missing out on long term and eternal blessings because of the, "I’m-about-to-die” thinking" followed by the "I have to have it right now mentality." These are two ingredients found in Jacob's stew that were recipes for disaster and great loss to Esau. You are not going to die and you don't have to have it right know. You can wait. God's best comes to those that learn to wait on him.

Finding direction for your life

"And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son" (Gen. 24:48).

In this passage Abraham's servant worshipped and praised the Lord for allowing him to fulfill the task given to him by Abraham of finding a wife for his son Isaac. When Abraham’s servant set out to find this wife he didn't know the specifics of who she was, but he did have some instructions to work with. He knew he was not to take her from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land Abraham dwelled. But instead he was to seek for her in Abraham's homeland, and among his relatives. And as he set out to be obedient to what he knew to do, the Lord divinely lead him in the "right way" and to the right person. The Lord will do the same for you.

Are you confused about God's direction, God's plan and will for your life? Be faithful to what you know God wants you to do where you are. In other words be obedient to the clear instructions and teachings of scripture (i.e. don't fornicate, don't commit adultery, give thanks in all things) and God will supernaturally lead you in those specific areas of your life (like choosing a wife or a husband) that are not specifically spelled out in the scriptures.

Why Christians look a whole lot like Lot

"And...then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city" (Gen. 19:15-16).

Living among wicked people in Sodom, Lot lost his moral compass. Lot went to Sodom looking for physical prosperity and found it at the price of losing touch with spiritual reality. He gained a prominent position in Sodom, but had little godly influence over his family. And when God in his mercy revealed to Lot that he was getting ready to burn up Sodom, Lot lingered in the city.

The average Christian today looks a whole lot like Lot. God's fire alarm is blaring but there still in bed with the world. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in his day, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed" (Rom. 13:11-12). What happen to Lot is the same thing that was happening to the Christians in Paul's day and to Christians in our day. He was lulled to sleep by the world. And because like Lot, Christians today are so entangled in the world, so capture by it, they have little concern for eternal matters. They might say that they care about the lost with their lips but their actions say otherwise. Paul went on to write, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Rom. 13:12-14).

How will we ever have a sense of urgency for the things of God if we are wallowing in the filth of this world--If we are not taking time to put on Christ--to be transformed by the renewing of our minds through the word of God. We must get our eyes and minds off this world and focus on eternal matter's. It's time that Christians wake up from their spiritual slumber. "Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28).