The Tests Are Going To Come

June 24, 2007

Sunday School Lesson: God Is In Control

We've been studying the last few weeks the Old Testament and stories where God was always in control but we keep asking the same question, "Why does God allow it to happen?" For instance, we studied the book of Job for 3 weeks and how Job never questioned God no matter what was happening. In fact, his mindset was always to praise God because he never doubted God was in control.

Here's what I was wondering: We believe God is always in control and we all could point to times in our life where God bailed us out when there was nothing we could do in the situation. But why is it so hard for us to let go of stressors or anything that we are afraid to hand over to Jesus when we know it's the ONLY thing to do and that it's the RIGHT thing to do? We know He's in control, yet we have this pride that we can't let someone else be in control of our life.

So, here's what I came up with: The Bible is full of God's promises for our life. God has never broken those promises and never will. But I think we struggle with relating to the difference between a Godly promise and a human promise. Let's face it, human's can't keep promises. I can't, you can't, none of us can. So, when we think of God keeping a promise to never leave us or forsake us, I think we treat that promise like it's coming from a human. And since we know human promises can't hold water, that God's promise is going to fail as well. And that false thinking is the same as knowing a human is in control of a situation. If I can't trust myself to get through a situation, I'm certainly not going to put it in the hands of another human being for two reasons. 1) I have a better chance of handling it than someone else. 2) If I think I will fail, then I'll really think someone else will fail quicker giving them the situation. If we believe those two scary thoughts, then we hesitate to trust God will be in control of the situation. We put God in a human box that He can only do so much.


Anyway, Pastor was speaking yesterday on the "tests" we will all face in life. But we've never been tested like Abraham, especially in this story.

Genesis 22: 1-19
Abraham was asked to use his son Isaac as the sacrifice.

Notes:

Temptations are satan's way. God doesn't tempt us. He's not trying to "trip us up." God uses tests and trials. In this case, Abraham's loyalty was tested.

Isaac was old and strong enough to carry enough of the needed wood to build an alter. He was also old enough to understand how sacrifices went.

Abraham knew God's promises and had been standing on them.

v. 14: "The Lord will provide."
v. 18: "...because you have obeyed my (voice) promises."

If we haven't been standing on God's promises, we will not pass the test.

Application: Here is what God is asking you: When things get really tough, is he going to stand on those promises? And how long will he obey? How far can I test him?

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Soul Care: The Spiritual value of sharing "Fish"

June 17, 2007

John 6: 1-15
Jesus Feeds 5,000

Pastor Bob was talking about what it takes to share our "fish" like the "lad" did in the incredible story of the 2 loaves of bread and 5 little fish. The little boy shared the fish with Jesus not really knowing what impact it would have.

Notes:

To share our "fish"...

I. Involves our cooperation

• We all have something to share
• We need the mindset to make ourselves available to Him
• The little boy hands it over to Jesus and trusts Him
• God can do it!
• He wants us to participate

II. It was all planned to begin with

"Fish" = an avenue God has placed you with or in that you can use for ministry

• Workplace, golfcourse, coaching, classroom, restaurant, etc.
• A platform to use to minister to other people
• Our mindset, Matthew 6, is seeking first His kingdom. Then He blesses us to do more and more
• He wants to use us to bless other people

Everything is an opportunity for ministry.

Application: Ask God to show you your "fish" this week. Who will you share with?

That fatal to-morrow...

I've started reading Morning and Evening: Daily Readings by Charles Spurgeon online over at Christian Classics Ethereal Library. A quote from tonight's reading caught my attention:

That fatal to-morrow is blood-red with the murder of fair resolutions; it is the slaughter-house of the innocents.

Read the whole thing here.

When I Remember

I was listening to my favorite song this morning and thought I'd share it (again).



Lyrics (from Christian Music Lyrics)

That boy is gone
Sometimes I miss the way he wept at night
To be still and not run
To be rocked to sleep in Your light
These days there is not much that will bring tears to my eyes
But when I remember who I am and who You are
When I remember

A cloud moves in, rain falls, thunder strikes
And sunshine breaks through the clouds

I am walking blind
So distracted that I don't even feel when You hold me
When did I grow such thick skin
You are my sunshine and rain
My joy and sweet pain
I'm a spotless stain
That boy is gone
But nobody moves me like You do
When I remember

A cloud moves in, rain falls, thunder strikes
And sunshine breaks through the clouds
I can cry out of sorrow and joy
Every drop of rain turns into a crystal in the sun
So wash my eyes, my clothes, my skin, my bones, my soul
My feet, my love
I'm not forgotten
I'm in your thoughts cause I feel sunshine in the rain

To this day nobody moves
Nobody
Nobody moves me like You

Nahum: "Pass or Fail"

Ump and I discussed last night how we had both heard similar sermons the past weekend involving the theme of "pass or fail". Here's the notes from the sermon given by Pastor Ronn Johnson of CREF.

The minor prophets present an interesting theme which is consistent with the rest of Scripture: unlike most classes we can take in school, God's test for the human race comes with only two possible final grades- pass or fail. Consequently, we need to realize that:

1. Passing and failing students are now sharing the same classroom and only the teacher knows how people are doing.
Joel 2:30-32
Ezekiel 36:24
John 10:26-27

2. Students are responsible to know what the teacher requires.
Zephaniah 1:12
Jermiah 5:12-13
2 Timothy 4:3

3. No one will end the course with an average grade.
Nahum 1:2,7
Isaiah 66:22-24
Matthew 7:13-14

4. During the course the Teacher cares how each student does.
Zechariah 7:9-10
Psalm 34:13-14
Titus 3:8

5. Everyone will end the course either totally happy or totally sad.
Nahum 1:14; 2:2
Daniel 12:2
Romans 2:7-10

Did It work

Just checking to see if my post finally showed up.

You either Pass or Fail

Well, I'm here. I'd like to give a little sneak peak of what I'd like to contribute to, just to make your mouth water in anticipation, but I'm not ready yet...but excited for the vision and possibilities for this new blog.

Here is one cool idea I just thought of though. How easy would it be to put on the blog video of the Cass City Missionary Church worship band? Fritz is lead vocals and Kurt Tuckey is the man when it comes to technology issues. I'll see what I can do.

Also, looking forward to the "Verse for the Day" display.

Oh, here is the link to the website for the Cass City Missionary Church.

Samson: Hero of Faith?

The notes:

I. Samson’s birth foretold (Judges 13:2-5)
a. What is a Nazirite? (Numbers 6:2-5)
b. What is the purpose of being a Nazirite?

II. Philistine wife and the riddle game (Judges 14)
a. Why does Samson desire the Philistine woman? (verse 3)
b. Kills a lion (verses 5-6)
c. Propounds a riddle at wedding feast, wife betrays him under duress (verses 12-18)
i. How was she threatened? (verse 15)
d. Kills 30 Philistines to settle his riddle debt (verse 19)
e. Wife given to his best man (verse 20)

III. Revenge (Judges 15)
a. Finds his wife has been given to best man, vows revenge (verses 1-3)
b. Catches 300 foxes, ties them in pairs with a torch between them, sets them loose in Philistine fields and vineyards (verses 4-5)
c. Philistines kill Samson’s wife and father-in-law (verse 6)
d. Samson strikes the Philistines with a great slaughter (verse 8)
e. Betrayed by the men of Judah, Samson submits willingly (verses 11-13)
f. Breaks bonds, strikes down 1000 with the jawbone of a donkey (verses 14-16)
i. Why a donkey’s jawbone?
ii. Who does Samson think is responsible for the outcome of the battle?
g. Samson’s thirst quenched by miraculous means
i. God answers Samson’s call

IV. Gaza, Philistine stronghold (Judges 16:1-4)
a. Samson sees a harlot, stays with her
b. Enemies surround city, plan to kill him when he leaves in the morning
c. Samson awakes in the middle of the night, rips the gate and doorposts up and leaves city

V. Delilah (Judges 16:5-22)
a. Why does Samson tell Delilah the secret of his strength?
b. Samson’s eyes are gouged out by the Philistines. Does this seem especially notable?


VI. The Philistine Temple (Judges 16:23-31)
a. Philistines hold a great feast for Dagon, bring Samson in for entertainment (verse 25)
b. Samson calls out to God for strength (verse 28)
i. Should Samson have expected God to answer his prayer?
c. Samson brings down the temple of Dagon and kills 3000 Philistines

VII. Hero of Faith (Hebrews 11:32-34)
a. How did Samson display such faith as to be mentioned here?
b. Does he deserve to be mentioned in such company?

Commentary:
-Samson was a Nazirite, meaning he was supposed to be set apart for the Lord. This makes it ironic that Samson's main problem was worldliness. Sure, he didn't cut his hair, but far too often he chose the world (Philistine wife, the harlot in Gaza, Delilah) rather than the laws of God.

-Samson's most notable sins all occur because of the lust of his eyes. His punishment then, while not uncommon in that time, is very fitting.

-Is Samson a hero of faith, or is his example just recorded for our benefit?