Graduate from Encumbrances

“Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left,” Joshua 23:6

“His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin. “ Proverbs 5:22

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1

   Graduation activities took place this week, referred to as the end of one part to life, and the beginning of another.  Graduation is many times seen as a door to new freedom for the graduate, no longer tied to the regular schedule of school, and for some a time to leave the nest of home.  Things that were previously undone because of time or family convictions can now be done, if chosen.  Yet this freedom needs to be accompanied by restraint for the wise.  With a freedom of choice, come the choices to waste or endanger valuable resources unnecessarily.  Some choices made in freedom, lead to snares and encumbrances more restrictive than the previous walls we run from. 

   This situation is shown over and over in the pages of scripture.  God gives man, and then His chosen people Israel, freedom to choose with a few basic restrictions.  Then we see time after time, man choosing to break the restrictions and then find sin to be deadly.  Sin brought death, disease, burdensome work, and many other consequences to the Earth, and proved to be more burdensome than the Lord’s former restrictions. 

   This is where we find many of ourselves.  In times of freedom we made ill-advised decisions ensnaring and burdening us with health problems, financial obligations, and additional responsibilities limiting the initial freedom obtained.  Some of these are even found in the church, causing worship to be forced, masks to be worn, and sins to be hidden.  All of our efforts then are tied up in producing a show, giving an impression of greatness; but really being empty and shallow. 

   Our great God did not leave Israel in their unfortunate position, and he will not leave us either.  God delivered Israel from Egypt’s bondage by Moses; then called them back from idolatry by the prophets, and finally delivered us all completely through the sacrifice of Jesus.  Hebrews (above) calls us to lay aside these traps, reentering the race.  Some things can be cast aside completely not to be picked up again.  Others we cannot be completely free from in this life, but we can change our perspectives.  While here we pick up our cross and allow our struggle to glorify God; so that when we pass on to the rest of our life our deliverance will glorify Jesus even more.  Glorify Him today!

Watchmen of the Lord

“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalms 127:1

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,” Isaiah 62:6

“"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:” Ezekiel 3:17 (also 33:1-9)

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.” Revelation 3:2

   A position or description of a watchman is used throughout the Bible.  Since man has always wanted to build his own kingdom, he also needs to protect what he has from other self-seeking men.  Many cities were established through the settlement of families, who then pooled their resources for buildings, goods, and other improvements.  A wall was often built surrounding these cities (such as we see in Jericho in the book of Joshua.)  On top of these walls would be this position of a watchman.  He would keep his eyes open and searching for any signs of trouble approaching; and when trouble was seen he would raise his voice or blow a trumpet announcing it to the whole city to prepare.  Man understood this need to protect his physical goods and established this very important position; yet when God called men to be watchmen, He wanted to protect the spiritual houses. 

   God intended man to be holy as God is holy; without blemish or weakness.  Many misunderstood laws in the Torah concerned not marrying other nations, having garments of differing materials, or otherwise mixing different types together.  God knew that when these were mixed it would weaken the strength of the garment, or the nation.  So spiritually a watchman was to watch for infiltration of foreign practices into the nation of Israel.  Throughout the prophets we see time after time that Israel’s priests and scribes, their established watchmen, failed to protect the nation.  They allowed foreigners and their practices to pull the Jews from God.  So the prophets then called for new watchmen to step into the position vacated by the priests, as in Ezekiel. 

   We have some great watchmen in our midst today, but we always need more men and women to accept the call also.  We seek the well-being of our homes, small groups, community, and our church.  Even those not taking a leadership of a watchman, should also remember to pray and strengthen their watchmen.  Any of our human leaders are not Jesus, and therefore are subject to the same sins and discouragements as we are.  So let us heed the warning of the church of Sardis, and “strengthen those that remain.”

God of Order and Service

“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.  And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.” Exodus 18:21-22

“Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:2-4

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—“ Titus 1:5

God created and the world, and then created man to tend it, and all was good.  Then as part of the plan and wisdom of God, He delegated the tending of the earth to mankind as a stewardship.  Throughout His creation we see systems and cycles (science would call this an ecosystem) showing processes and structures which were designed to maintain balance on the Earth.  Then as mankind populated the Earth, families increased into nations needing similar structure to maintain resources for all people. 

We see throughout the Bible that leaders were needed to organize people and efforts.  There were fathers to lead families, overseers of estates or prisons (as in Joseph), Judges and kings to lead nations, and priests and prophets to lead the church; yet all were to be subject to God and his rule.  This soon led to groups that were too large for one leader, as we see in Moses’ case above.  Jethro wisely advised Moses to establish a system of ‘rulers’ to bear the burden together. 

In the pattern of the Bible we have placed leaders in positions to bear part of the burden, and shape the many efforts of our members into ministry.  Sunday School teachers are a great example, instructing their students in the scriptures, leading them to a deeper relationship with Jesus, and caring for their students.  Every man has his limits in resources and abilities; some manage 10 and others 100; yet each seek to minister to what God has given them.  We are continuing this cycle, establishing a structure which allows for efficient ministry and use of our resources.  Some will use their gifts to lead, others to work, subjecting ourselves to the leadership of Jesus.  Leaders will seek the Holy Spirit for a direction of ministry, and workers seek ways to use their talents, also given and directed by the Holy Spirit.  All of us when following the Holy Spirit will be seeking ministry to the unchurched.

Who is ______, but ministers

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,  each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.”1 Corinthians 3:5-14

Almost 16,000 people in Hart County do not attend a church service on any given Sunday (according to 2010 census).  This is 88% of the population, or approximately 9 out of 10 people that you work with, or see at the grocery store each week.  Though 50% would claim to have a religious affiliation/relationship, do we want to count on a relationship to Christ which does not bring His bride to His house?  We have some work to do.

As we think about how to approach this God-sized task, let us then remember to put our names, individually and corporately, above.  “Who then is ‘A.J.’, and who is ‘Rowletts Baptist Church’ but ministers. . .”  Both individually and as a group we choose each day how to minister.  How should I react to my neighbor at the grocery?  How can we expose more people to the gospel?  Any actions taken today will affect the future, and the investments made will produce rewards accordingly.  This passage of God’s word reminds us that God’s reputation is the only one which matters for eternity. 

There are two seeming contradictions in this passage that stuck out in this reading.  Verse 8 says the planter and waterer are one, but each will receive their (individual) reward.  Each person works individually, yet seeks the same goal, the spread of the gospel.  The scripture also says we are both ‘fellow workers’ and ‘God’s building’ in this process.  It is a mistake of many who believe that you can only minister to others when you have yourself fixed.  God allows us to work with Him to build the kingdom, while simultaneously still building us up also.  We are ‘planters and the harvest’, ‘vine-dressers and the fruit’, and ‘builders and a building’ all at the same time.  Christ is the solid-rock and the source of life; so “let each one take heed how he builds on it” that Hart County Christians can be strong and healthy.