Category: Strength for Today

Ezekiel 48:1
“Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.”

Around the house in which I live, you will find yellow markers at the four corners of my property. These yellow markers mark the property lines that I own. These lines are the borders for which I am responsible. I don’t look at these borders and get upset with my neighbor for having borders, because we both have borders by which we are to live within, and those borders help us to stay at peace with each other.

For some reason, Christians tend to cringe when a preacher talks about setting up borders in their Christian life. God didn’t think that borders were bad because He mentions the word “border” twenty times in Ezekiel 48. God knew that Israel needed to be divided up into tribes, and the only way they would know where they were to live was through borders. Not only did those borders define the tribes, but they defined Israel’s borders. If God thought it was important for Israel to have borders, I would think He wants the Christian to have borders in their life. Several observations can be taken from God establishing borders.

First, borders are not bad. Everyone has borders; the only difference is how tight different people set their borders. Just because someone has chosen to have tighter borders than you doesn’t make them bad. Life is easier to live when the borders are clearly defined for everyone to live within.

Second, borders define who you are. Each tribe was defined by the borders God established. Likewise, the Christian is defined by living within the borders of the Word of God. It is ludicrous to think you can live without borders, because you do have borders, and where you set them defines who you are.

Third, borders are established by God. Israel didn’t establish their borders; God did. Christian, you have no right to set your own borders, because God has already established them in His Word. God’s Word clearly defines the borders with which the Christian should live within. You may not like them, but you are not the one who defines borders; God is.

Fourth, borders define where you should and should not go. The established borders show each tribe where they should live. Likewise, God’s established borders define what the Christian should and should not do; where they should and should not go. In other words, borders define the standards of holy living. You are living in rebellion and disobedience anytime you allow yourself to live outside of God’s established borders.

Fifth, borders mean nothing if they are not enforced. God established clear borders, and He each generation was to define those borders to the next generation. Christians must clearly define the scriptural borders God established to the next generation. A person’s dislike of borders doesn’t exonerate them from their responsibility.

Christian, when you live within God’s established borders, you will find yourself at peace with God and with yourself. You will never be happy in life until you establish scriptural borders and live within them.

Ezekiel 43:27
“And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.”

There is something inside of every child that wants their parents to be pleased with them. I have talked to several adults whose hearts are grieved because they want their parents to say that they are proud or pleased with them. It is simply a desire an adult has to get their parent’s approval and acceptance.

Likewise, like a child who desires the acceptance of their parents, so the child of God should truly desire the approval of their God. In the verse above, God said that he would “accept you.” The word “accept” means to be pleased with or to have one’s approval. In other words, God said that if Israel did certain things, He would be pleased with them and would approve of what they do. There are four things God expects before He gives His approval.

First, you must listen for His voice. Ezekiel said in verse 6, “And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house…” You will never get God’s approval unless you learn to listen to His voice. Samuel learned this lesson early in his life when he responded to the voice of God, and that is why He had God’s approval. God will never be pleased with you if you are not listening for His voice. I must ask you, are you listening for the voice of God, or is there so much noise from the world that you can’t hear His voice? God will not be pleased with you if you don’t respond when He speaks. God will always be pleased with the ear that is in tune to His voice.

Second, you must spend time at the throne of God. God told Ezekiel in verse 7 that Israel had defiled the place of His throne. Christian, nothing should take away from your personal time with God every day. You must spend time at the throne of God by reading the Scriptures and praying. God will never be pleased with you if you don’t spend time with Him. Moreover, you will never know if God is pleased with you if you don’t spend time at His throne. You will find at the throne of God what you must do to get His approval.

Third, verse 9 shows that you must acknowledge and put away sin to get God’s approval. God is never pleased with the Christian who holds on to their sin. Of course, the only way you are going to find what sin you need to put away is through listening to His voice while you are spending time at His throne. If you want God’s approval, you need to be honest with yourself and have such a tender heart towards Him that you are willing to put anything away that would hinder your fellowship with Him.

Fourth, verse 26 shows that you need to have a daily altar if you want God’s approval. God will never be pleased with your Christian life if the only time you spend with Him is at church. You need that daily time with Him. I’m not going to tell you how much time you need to spend with Him, but you need to have some time every day where you stop everything to go to the altar to listen for His voice.

It is not difficult to get God’s approval. It truly comes down to whether you are willing to take time for God to remove those things that would hinder your fellowship with Him. The closer you get to God, the easier you will find it to be to remove those things that keep you from having His approval.

Ezekiel 28:12
“Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.”

Many parents whose children have gone wayward wonder what they did to cause them to go to the world. They hear the excuses and blame of their children as to why they want nothing to do with Christianity. Sadly, many parents are brokenhearted because their children blame them for the way they were reared.

When looking at all the excuses of these children as to why they chose not to serve the LORD, I see from the verse above their excuses are empty. In verses 12-15, God described what He did for Lucifer, but with all that was given to him, he still chose to rebel against God. So, who do we blame for Lucifer’s rebellion, and what excuse does he have to throw back at God?

Did God not give him enough education? I think not! God said that he was “full of wisdom.” Could Lucifer blame his rebellion on God not giving him physical beauty? No! The verse above says that he was “perfect in beauty.” Were the surroundings of where he lived not good enough? No; because he lived in the “garden of God.” What was it that caused Lucifer to rebel against God? When you study these verses, you see that Lucifer was wealthy, talented, given position, and had the perfect heritage to which he could glean; yet, all of these things didn’t keep him from doing wrong. The excuse as to why Satan rebelled against God lies with Lucifer. It was his rebellious heart that caused him to turn against God.

Parents, you can do everything right, but it ultimately comes down to the heart of the individual. Every child has a choice, and they are the ones who chose to go the way of the world. Their excuses they use to blame you for why they don’t want to serve the LORD are empty. If they had what they said caused them not to serve the LORD, they would have found another reason to blame you because their heart is rebellious.

It is time that parents, pastors and ministry leaders stop trying to blame how children are reared in a strict atmosphere and start placing the blame on the rebellious heart. You can try to pamper the rebel, but pampering the rebel only feeds their rebellion. You can change what they said caused them to rebel, but you will still find that rebellion is in their heart. My friend, possessions, entertainment and money have never one time caused someone to do right and serve the LORD. The heart is the cause of rebellion or obedience; it all comes down to the heart of the individual and their choice of what they are going to do.

Let me encourage every parent, pastor and ministry leader to continue doing right. Lucifer had everything that rebels use as excuses as to why they chose not to serve the LORD, and he still rebelled against God. Stop trying to pamper the rebel, and start influencing the one who desires to do right. Stop giving all the attention to the one who has chosen the way of the world and start giving attention to the one who is doing right. Every effort you give to woo the rebel back is time you could have used to help influence the one who wants to do right. Certainly, every parent could have done something better, but the choice a person makes as to the way of life they are going to live is up to them. Don’t listen to their empty excuses, just keep doing right.

Ezekiel 17:24
“And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.”

Israel’s best days seemed to be over. They had been taken captive, and the promise of David’s seed sitting on the throne forever seemed to have been diminished. All that was left in the country were the remnant of people whom the king of Babylon didn’t want to take into his country. These people who were left were not the “talented” like those who were taken captive, and their hope of ever seeing their country coming back to glory was all but abated.

However, God gave them hope in the verse above by using a parable about a forest to inspire them. God said that one day “the low tree” would be “exalted.” He said that one day the “dry tree” would “flourish.” God was giving hope to this remnant that He could make something out of them. He was reminding them that He didn’t need the talented to fulfill His word because He is God, and He is very capable of taking the “nothings” of life and making them something.

One of the common questions I hear as I travel is if I think God could use someone. One thing I have learned throughout my life is never to discount the ability of what God can do through someone’s life. It doesn’t matter if the person has fallen in sin and recovered, if they are not talented, or if they seem to have physical hindrances, I have seen God take all of these and greatly use them in spite of their shortcomings. Three observations can be taken from the verse above that should encourage you.

First, God is in control. God saw “all the trees of the field,” and He was able to do with the forest what He willed. You are no mistake with God. God didn’t wake up one morning shocked at what has happened in your life. What you consider a physical impairment is a divine design by God. What you consider a talent shortcoming is a powerful opportunity for God. My friend, God is in control, and your inability to see beyond what you consider an impossibility is all part of God’s plan to use you.

Second, God knows who you are. Out of all the trees in this forest, God still noticed the “low” and “dried up” trees. One of the greatest obstacles that many people face is how could they ever be noticed. In the world’s viewpoint, you have to know someone to be exalted, but not in God’s world. God knows who you are and where you live. You don’t have to promote yourself to be noticed; you just have to do right and serve the LORD. God sees what you do for Him. He knows your daily battle to live a pure and holy life. You just need to keep on doing right. You may think that God doesn’t know you, but if He knew the “low” and “dried up” trees, I can promise you that He knows you.

Third, God is capable of exalting you. The verse above says that God “exalted the low tree.” Christian, God doesn’t need you to be talented, intelligent, or physically perfect to exalt you, He just needs your obedient spirit and trust that He can use you just like you are. The God Who is capable of making the dried tree flourish again is capable of taking you just like you are and exalting you.

Let me encourage you not to allow what you consider your shortcomings to discourage you from serving the LORD. God has the power to exalt you if you will do right and serve Him.

2 Chronicles 2:1
“And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.”

There is something exciting when you start building something. I worked in construction as a young man, and I’ve also been a part of building projects in a couple of churches, and there is always an excitement when the ground is broken and the project begins.

Solomon must have been thrilled when he started to build the temple. The temple was his father’s dream, and he had the privilege of helping his dream come to reality. There are five things that Solomon did in building that would be helpful to any Christian’s success in building something for the LORD.

First, you need to determine to build. Solomon had a dream to build a temple. His determination to build the temple caused him to start the project. Christians need to get out of spiritual cruise control and determine they are going to build something for the LORD in their life. Those whom God used mightily throughout history always had the determination to build something for the LORD.

Second, build with the right purpose. Solomon wasn’t building the temple for his name, but he was building “an house for the name of the LORD.” Our purpose in building anything should be to bring glory to the name of the LORD. I’m afraid too many Christians have fallen into Satan’s trap of trying to build their legacy and their kingdom when they should have made their purpose of building something “for the name of the LORD.” Let me ask you, are you building for yourself, or for the LORD? Do you care if your name is ever recognized? Are you striving for name recognition? If you are building for the name of the LORD, you won’t care if you ever get the recognition for what the LORD uses you to build.

Third, begin to build. In 2 Chronicles 3:1, Solomon “…began to build the house of the LORD…” Nothing will ever be built without having the faith to step out. It took faith for Solomon to begin the building process. I know that first step to build is the hardest step to take, but if you listen to faith, you will take that step and see the LORD come through. You will never build anything without taking that first step by faith.

Fourth, build with excellence. Verse 5 says, “And the house which I build is great…” My friend, everything you do for God should not be done with a second-rate effort. When you start building, give it your all. Not only should you give it your all, but never settle for anything less than excellence. God’s work is a great work, and it deserves to be done with excellence.

Fifth, build in the right place. Solomon built the temple “at Jerusalem…,” the place “where the LORD appeared unto David his father.” When you build something for God, be sure you don’t try to look like the world while doing it. It is as important to build in the right place of the old paths as it is to simply build something. Many have taken the mindset while building something for God that the end justifies the means. Yes, God wants you to build, but He wants you to build something the right way.

I challenge you to get ready to build. Use these five tools while building and you will find that the LORD will build something through you in your lifetime.

1 Chronicles 21:1
“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.”

Every action you perform is provoking someone’s personal conduct. If you have a good heart for the LORD, you will want your actions to provoke people to do right. Whether your actions seem little or big, seen or unseen, your actions are affecting someone’s life and the choices they make.

The word “provoke” carries several definitions. To provoke means, to call into action, to incense or enrage, to stimulate or challenge, and it means to induce someone to do something. Your actions will provoke one of these definitions in someone’s life. Several observations you must consider concerning what your actions are provoking others to do.

First, are your actions provoking others to do wrong? In the verse above, Satan “provoked David to number Israel.” David’s act to number Israel was an act of pride. The children of Israel provoked Moses to smite the rock instead of speaking to it. In both of these cases, these men ultimately were responsible for their actions, but someone provoked them to do wrong. Are your actions provoking someone to do wrong? Do your actions cause others to get angry? Do your actions cause others to do something that God wouldn’t want them to do? Friend, you are responsible for your influence, and you better be sure your actions are not influencing others to do wrong.

Second, are your actions provoking others to good works? Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” How you treat people should provoke others to want to love more. You should desire your treatment of the fallen to provoke others to love them instead of condemning them. Your treatment of the outcast should provoke others to love them instead of shunning them. How you treat others will either provoke others to love or to avoid and mistreat others.

Third, are your actions provoking others to good works? Hebrews 10:24 talks about provoking others “to good works.” You should make it your life goal to encourage others to do right. For instance, you could provoke those who are not faithful to church to be faithful. You could provoke people to pray and read the Scriptures daily. You could provoke someone to become a soul winner by asking them to go with you. You could provoke someone to help on a bus route by asking them to go with you on Saturdays and Sundays. You could provoke someone to help you in the nursing home ministry by asking for their help. All it takes to provoke others to good works is to ask them to help you. You can do that!

Fourth, are your actions provoking others to emulate? Romans 11:14 says, “If by any means I may provoke to emulation…” The word “emulation” means, to match or surpass an effort. Your actions should stir another’s passion for desiring God’s power to work in their lives. If you don’t settle for the average and are filled with the Spirit, you will find that the works God does through you provokes others to want to see Him do the same works through them. Let me ask you, is there anything in your life that provokes someone to emulate what the LORD is doing through you? If not, you need to step up your efforts and let your actions provoke others to desire to see God do something mighty through them. Remember, you are provoking someone. What you must ask is, what are you provoking others to do?

2 Kings 21:9
“But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.”

One would think that Hezekiah’s children would turn out to be decent young people; however, Manasseh, his son, turned out to be one of the most godless kings in Judah’s history. It makes no sense that Hezekiah, one of the most spiritual kings in Judah’s history, had a son who did “more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.” It leaves you wondering how this happened.

All you have to do is look at the previous chapter to learn why this happened. The key to Manasseh’s actions is found in verse 9 where it says, “Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?” As good a life as Hezekiah lived, he made the mistake of letting up in his senior years. I believe this led to Manasseh’s total departure from the LORD’s way. Though Manasseh was ultimately responsible for his own actions, his father’s apathetic attitude at the end of his life produced a godless generation. Three lessons can be learned from this story.

First, never do less; do more. At the end of Hezekiah’s life, you see him doing less for the LORD than he used to do. Many parents have trained godless children because they stopped serving the LORD instead of continuing in their service. Your children need to see that you never do less for God; if anything, always do more for the LORD. It is easy to get to the point where you want to “enjoy” the pleasures of life so much that you do less for God and more for worldly activities. There is nothing wrong with enjoying life, but don’t do it at the sake of doing less for God. Your children need to see you continually stepping out by faith and doing more; this will teach them that God is still alive.

Second, never stand down; stand up. Hezekiah let up in his stand for right at the end of his life, which resulted in a son believing that his father’s beliefs were not real. You will produce godless children if at someone point in your life you stand down from what you used to believe. I have watched many parents who once stood firm on scriptural principles stand down from their beliefs because they didn’t want to fight their teenage children over these issues. Parents, you must never compromise what you once stood for if you want your children to continue living according to God’s Word. Never have fewer standards than you used to have; if anything, stand up and do more.

Third, never stand still; move forward. Hezekiah became complacent with what he accomplished. Let me encourage you never to become complacent in your accomplishments. Always strive to do more. God’s direction for the Christian is always forward. Always remember that you are either going backwards or forwards in the Christian life. A choice to stand still is a move backwards. If you want your children to serve the LORD continually, you must make a constant forward direction.

Ultimately, every person makes their choices in life, but don’t contribute to their godless choices. If you become a positive influence for right in the lives of your children, you will have a better chance of them serving the LORD when they’re on their own.