Month: July 2013

Psalm 37:6
“And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”

A young evangelist recently asked me about some of the obstacles he would face as an evangelist. There are many obstacles an evangelist will face, but one of the glaring obstacles is realizing spiritual results. Evangelists often get to see immediate results in their ministry, but realizing long-term results will be hard to see. Let me explain. Pastors and church members get to see immediate results as well, but they also get to see the long term results of their service to the LORD because they are in one place for many years. On the other hand, an evangelist doesn’t get to see those long term results unless the LORD brings them across the path of those whom they helped many years prior. If I hadn’t followed the steps from Psalm 37, I would have never realized spiritual results in my ministry.

One of your great desires as a Christian should be to see spiritual results that are lasting. John 15:16 says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:” The Devil would love to discourage us from realizing spiritual results, but we must keep on following the steps of Psalm 37 is we are going to realize spiritual results in our Christian life. Let me show you the steps it takes to realize them.

First, you must trust God. Verse 3 says, “Trust in the LORD, and do good;…” Notice, God says to trust Him “and do good.” In other words, trust God that He is right and do good. You must not let discouragement keep you from doing right. You must trust what the LORD says to do is the right thing to do. We can often wonder if what we are doing is really going to pay off, but you simply have to trust God and His Word. If God says what you’re doing is right, then trust Him that good will come from your actions.

Second, you must delight yourself in God’s ways. Verse 4 says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD;…” When one delights in God’s ways, they are getting their pleasure from serving Him. Let me ask you, from whence are you seeking pleasure in life? Your seeking of pleasure should come from serving God. Stop looking for pleasure from sources other than serving the LORD.

Third, you must be committed to God’s way. Verse 5 says, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Friend, you’ve got to be committed that God’s way is right. If you’re not committed, then you will quit before you see results. Commitment is deciding you are going to do something whether or not it works. Commitment is being sold on what you’re doing. That is true commitment! Commitment says that no matter what results God’s way brings, you are going to do them. If heartache, trials and persecution comes, you are still going to do them. Commitment to God’s ways is doing them because they are right to do.

Notice what happens when you do these three things, “And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light,…” The realization for doing right comes to light. In other words, you will see the fruit of doing right, but you must stick to it.

Have you almost given up on doing right? If you’re not trusting God’s Word, and seeking pleasure in His ways, or committed to them, then you won’t realize spiritual results. I challenge you to be committed to God’s ways. Get sold on His ways and you will find the spiritual results you desire.

Jeremiah 48:42
“And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.”

Psalm 34:3 says, “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” This is a command from God. God wants to be magnified. The word “magnify” means, to extol or glorify. In other words, magnifying the LORD is to increase attention upon Him. The mistake Moab made was they turned their magnification upon themselves. Instead of magnifying the LORD, they magnified themselves. Whenever anyone turns the magnification away from the LORD, they are walking in dangerous ground because God says in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,…”

So, if we are to only magnify the LORD, then what is improper magnification? We must look to 2 Chronicles 7:14 to understand what it is, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;…” Pride is always the cause of improper magnification. When we turn our magnification away from the LORD, and then place it upon ourselves, then we are magnifying the wrong person. That is why the key to revival is turning the magnification away from ourselves and placing it back upon God. You will notice from 2 Chronicles 7:14, there are three things that lead to improper magnification.

First, lack of prayer leads to improper magnification. Pride always causes us to stop praying. We stop praying because we think we can work our problems out ourselves. This is nothing short of pride. When you pray, you are placing the magnification upon the LORD for you understand that only He can help you with your problems. When you magnify yourself, prayer will not be the first thought that comes to mind when you have problems.

Second, a lack of seeking God leads to improper magnification. What is truly sad is how we seek what man thinks about a subject more than we seek God’s Word. Friend, you must be careful about placing man above God. You must be careful about putting your eyes on man, for this is magnifying man more than God. It truly doesn’t matter what man’s philosophies, methods or thoughts are. What God tells us to do is what really matters.

Third, covering sin instead of turning from it leads to improper magnification. God commands us to turn from our wicked ways if we want revival. It is sad when Christians cover sin to keep their spiritual leaders on their “spiritual thrones.” Covering sin for the expediency of allowing people to keep their position is wrong! When we do this, we are magnifying man above God. We are telling God that man defines sin, and not God.

I caution you to keep God magnified in your life. A humble heart will keep the spiritual magnifying glass upon the LORD. Don’t make the same mistake Moab made by magnifying yourself or others above God. Remember Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” If you don’t want to face a fall or destruction in your life, then you must keep magnifying the LORD.

Jeremiah 34:11
“But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.”

One of the freedoms that came with leaving Egypt was God’s promise that the children of Israel would never have to be servants again as long as they kept serving Him. Somehow they ignored this command, and the leaders of Israel caused many of the Hebrews to be bondmen and bondwomen. God challenged them through Jeremiah’s preaching to let everyone go free if they wanted to Him to hold back His judgment. They listened and let everyone go free.

However, they second-guessed their decision to let the servants go free. They allowed the time of doubt after they acted by faith to cause them to change their mind. Instead of following through on their decision of faith, they changed their mind and brought these people back under bondage to their own detriment.

Throughout the Scriptures, many people allowed their moment of doubt to cause them to go back on their decision of faith and obedience. Several times Pharaoh turned back on his decision to let Israel go, only to see this decision cost him his life. Balaam second-guessed his decision not to go and curse Israel only to see the changing of his mind to eventually cost him his life. Even Israel as a nation second-guessed their decision to go forward into the Promised Land which resulted in their wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Every time someone changed their mind after deciding to do right, they faced the judgment of God.

Any time you make a decision for Christ, you will be faced with a moment of indecision as to whether to go back and change your mind. You must always realize that after you obey God and do what He tells you to do, the first thing you will face after that decision is whether you made the right decision. When you initially step out by faith, you will always be faced with doubt as to whether you made the right decision. In times like these, you must decide not to change your mind.

Never undo in doubt a decision you made by faith and obedience. You must realize that you are not a bad person because you face a moment of wonder as to whether you made the right decision. Everyone faces times of indecision. The Devil knows your decision of faith or obedience will bring about good for the cause of Christ, so he is going to throw doubt at you with hopes that you will change your mind. In the time of doubt, you must remind yourself how you came about your decision. You must remind yourself that you understood it wouldn’t be easy to act on faith and obedience. You must determine that you are going to follow through on your decision of faith and obedience.

Christian, have you made a decision lately to act by faith and obedience? Don’t let your time of indecision cause you to change your mind. The greatest mistake of your life will be changing your mind and going back on God. Decide now that no matter what comes, you are going to stick with your decision of faith and obedience.

Jeremiah 23:23
“Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?”

The sins of Israel finally came back to get them. God reminded Israel and Judah that He was “not a God afar off.” The sins they committed were done because, in their mind, God was not near. In their mind, they thought God was distant from them and was not truly involved in their lives. That thinking process led them to commit sin and think they could get away with it. God reminded them that He knew their sins because He was a “God at hand.”

Christian, let me remind you that God is an omnipresent God. He is everywhere all the time. There is no place where you can go that God is not there. This can be comforting and convicting at the same time. It is convicting if you are committing sin, but it is comforting if you immediately need God. God shows us that He is a “God at hand” by showing us four things He saw about the prophets of Israel.

First, He is a God Who sees. God asks a question in verse 24, “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?” You can try to hide yourself and your sins from God, but He is there to see what you are doing. Don’t think you can get away with your sin. God knows what you are doing, at the moment you are doing it. On the other hand, God also sees what others are doing to you. When you think no one knows what others have done to you, always remember that God is a God Who sees all. He knows what others have done to you and will reward them for their deeds.

Second, He is a God Who hears. God says in verse 25, “I have heard what the prophets said,…” God hears when you do wrong, and He hears when you do right. He knows when you are dishonest, and He also knows when others are dishonest with you. You can be thankful that God hears, for in your time of distress, you can call out to Him and be confident that He hears your plea.

Third, He is a God Who knows. The false prophets said in verse 25, “…I have dreamed, I have dreamed.” They thought they could deceive all, but they couldn’t deceive God for He knows all. He knew that their dreams were lies. He knew what they were saying was wrong. You must understand that God knows your thoughts. When your thoughts are wrong, He knows them and will reward you for them. On the other hand, when you are falsely accused, God knows your innocent actions. People may judge your motives, but you can be thankful that God knows all and He knows your intentions. You can rest assured that if your intentions were honest, that He will reward you for doing right.

Finally, He is a God Who is near. When you look at the verse above, you see that God is “at hand.” What does that mean? It means He is in arms reach to help you when you need Him. Oh, the comfort you can receive from the fact that He is near to help you in your time of need. God is not aloof and uninterested. He is interested in your life.

Christian, always understand that God is a God at hand. If you do wrong, you may be able to hide it from others, but you can’t hide it from Him. If you do right, you can be assured God will reward you when others do not see your right actions. The best thing you can always remember is that God is always near. If you keep that in mind, it will help you throughout life.

Jeremiah 5:5
“I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.”

When Jeremiah said, “I will get me unto the great men,” he was showing from whom his principles, philosophies and direction in life would come. The word “great” is talking about older men. Jeremiah wasn’t just going to men who were considered great in his day, but he considered older men who had known the way of the LORD to be great men. To Jeremiah it wasn’t about how much they were known to others that considered them great, but he personally defined greatness as those of an older generation who had been where he wanted to go.

Years ago a man said to me, “Find you an older man and make him great.” To be honest with you, I thought that he was teaching me to find an older man and help him become known. Yet, when you look at the verse above this man’s statement doesn’t mean that at all. What this man was telling me was that I needed to find some older man who was experienced and allow him to become great in my eyes. This counsel has helped me through life. I’ve always tried to surround myself with men older than me so that I will know the way of the LORD. I want men around me to guide me and correct me when I get away from the ways of the LORD. My desire for my life is to continue in the ways of the LORD until the day of my death. One thing that will help me do this is to find an older man and allow him to become great in my eyes.

If you are going to walk in the ways of the LORD, then you need to surround yourself with older people who have known and are practicing the ways of the LORD. These people don’t have to be well-known people, they just need to be people who have served God their whole life and continue to serve Him. So, where do you find these older people whom you should make great?

First, look in your church for the older people. All around your church are elderly people whom you could make great. No, they won’t be flashy, and they probably won’t know all about technology, but they do know about the ways of the LORD. You need to get to know these people. These people need to become great in your eyes.

Second, get to know the older men and ladies who your pastor brings to your church. When I was a boy, I had the privilege of sitting with older people who came to our church. I would question them and watch them so I could learn. When your pastor has an elderly preacher and his wife come to your church, be sure to get around them. Spend time with them and learn what has made them who they are. Learn the ways of the LORD from them.

Third, read books from those of generations past. There are many people God has used in a great way who wrote books that are still around today. You would be wise to find these books and read them. Read the biographies of men and women from the past who knew the ways of the LORD. Make these people the ones who are great in your eyes.

Christian, get yourself unto the great men. They will not come running to you, you must go to them. They will not demand your attention, but you must give your attention. Learn from them the ways of the LORD so that you can continue in those ways and keep yourself from straying from what it is that God wants you to do.

Proverbs 29:4
“The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.”

Leaders of nations make serious decisions every day that will literally impact thousands of lives. One bad decision by a national leader can cause someone to lose their life. One bad decision by a country’s leader can change the course of a nation for good or bad. Needless to say, a leader of a country needs to make sure they make right decisions.

In the verse above, God says that a leader will establish his country by allowing judgment to make his decision. On the other hand, God says that a leader who allows gifts to influence his decision making will destroy his country. God is trying to show the importance of making decision by judgment. What does it mean to make a decision by judgment? God is teaching that you need to allow principles to guide your decision making. He is teaching that a leader of a country needs to have several principles set in place to guide them through their decision making process so they can make the right decisions.

I recently read a discussion by a member of President George W. Bush’s cabinet. In this discussion, this man was defending the intelligence of President Bush by telling about how they came about decisions. He said that President Bush would question the cabinet members and his advisors to help him in making his decisions. His cabinet members and advisors were the guides that helped him in making decisions as he led the United States. In essence, the information he received from the cabinet members and advisors were the principles that he followed in making decisions.

If it is important for the leader of a nation to make decisions by principle, then why would you think decisions about your life and the lives of those you influence are of any less importance? Yes, the realm of your decisions may not influence as many lives as the decision of a country’s leader, but your decisions directly impact you and your family for generations to come. It is critical to make sure every decision you make is one that is decided by principle.

The best time to establish your principles in decision making is when you are not under the pressure of making a decision. When God said that a king who “receiveth gifts” is a king who will destroy his nation, He was teaching that feelings will always lead you to a wrong decision. Your feelings are based on the emotion of the moment. Depending on whether that moment you are in is adverse or profitable will determine whether or not you do something. Just because something feels good or seems right doesn’t always make it a right decision. You must set your feelings aside and depend on your principles to guide you.

Friend, I encourage you to allow principles to guide you in your decision making. Sit down and literally write out the principles that will guide you through your decision making. Let those principles be guided by God’s Word. Then, when you are faced with a decision, if you will run to your principles and let them guide you, then you will find that making a decision will not be that difficult.

Isaiah 40:8
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”

Are you amazed that God would use you? When I consider my weaknesses, I am stunned that our great God would use me. There are many times when I pray and ask God why He would use someone like me. I am constantly amazed that God could use me. I do not wonder because I doubt God’s greatness, but I wonder because I realize my weaknesses.

In the verse above, God shows us the difference between His greatness and our weakness. In verse 6, God says that man is as the grass of the field. He also says that our goodness is like the flower of the field. It’s interesting that God uses these things to show us how weak we are. As pretty as grass may be, it takes a constant watering for it to exist. When you look at the beauty of a flower, you are amazed. Yet, the beauty of the flower will fade without water.

It is interesting that both grass and the flower need water to exist. God says in Ephesians 5:26, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” Notice, God’s Word is compared to water. In other words, just like the flower and grass need water to exist, you need God’s Word to make it. You will wither against life’s attack if you don’t stay in the Word of God. The beauty of your life will fade if you don’t stay in the Word of God. Your strength is dependent upon God’s Word. It is God’s Word that has made you who you are. Whatever greatness you have, it is all due to the fact that God’s Word is what made you.

So, you wonder how great is God’s Word. The verse above says that the grass will wither, the flower will fade, “but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” The word “stand” carries several definitions to show us how great It is. It means, “to rise, to abide, to continue, to remain, to accomplish, to lift up, to perform, to strengthen and to succeed.” Don’t miss it! You may fall, but God’s Word can cause you to rise again. You may begin to fade, but God’s Word will help to you to abide. You may want to quit, but God’s Word will encourage you to continue. You may want to leave, but God’s Word will cause you to remain. You may falter, but God’s Word will help you accomplish what He has sent you to do. You may be thrown down, but God’s Word will lift you back up. You may be broken, but God’s Word will fix you and cause you to perform. You may begin to tire, but God’s Word will give you the strength to continue. You may fail many times in life, but God’s Word will help you succeed.

Christian, when you can do no more, God’s Word is what steps in to help you make it. You cannot allow a day to go by without spending time in God’s Word. Everything in your life may fail, but you can count on God’s Word. Your world may crumble, but God’s Word will always stand.

Always remember in your weakness, God’s strength will be revealed to you through His Word. Don’t give up! When you have no where to go, you can trust God’s Word to keep you going. When you have withered and faded in life, then lean on God’s Word for It will stand forever.