Category: Strength for Today

Numbers 30:2
“If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”

What you say you will do and the action that follows is truly what defines your character. Your word is your character. If your word cannot be depended upon, then your character is worthless; however, if you follow through with everything you say you will do, then the credit of your character is priceless.

There used to be a day when what a person said was as good as signing a contract. In those days, men would shake each others hand to confirm their word. Once they shook hands, you knew what was promised would happen. Today, a person’s word doesn’t carry much weight. It doesn’t matter if a person signed a contract because the right attorney can probably get you out of the contract without paying a price.

God says, “If a man vow a vow unto the LORD…he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” God is teaching the importance of keeping your word. It is not just keeping your word with God, but it is keeping your word with anyone. Yes, the verse is talking about making promises to God, but according to Matthew 25:45, how you treat man is exactly how you treat God. With your word being so important to your character, there are some things you should always keep in mind before giving your word.

First, be slow to give your word. It is so easy to say that you are going to do something, but following through with what you say is not always that easy. Before you tell someone that you will do something, you ought to give yourself some time to think about what your word means.

Second, research the effects your word will have on your future. When a person is quick to give their word without ever studying its affect in their future, then they will regret its effect upon them in years to come. Always know where the decision will take you before you give your word.

Third, are you willing to live with the results of your word tomorrow? Oftentimes, we give our word only thinking about today’s implications, when tomorrow we still have to live with what we said we would do today. If you are not willing to live the rest of your life with a promise you are about ready to make, then you would be wise not to give the promise. There is always a tomorrow with every promise; therefore, be careful with giving your word.

Fourth, if you give your word, then find a way to fulfill it. This is truly what separates most people. There are some people who have no issue with calling someone up and breaking their word. They think because they have called someone and told them that they can’t do it that it absolves their responsibility. That is absolutely false! If you gave your word that you would do something, then you need to find some way to make it happen, even if that way inconveniences you.

Friend, your word defines you. Can people trust you by how you have kept your word in the past? The true test of your character is your word. Be careful with giving your word, but when you give it be sure to follow through on it.

Number 16:3
“And 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?”

The Devil is always out to destroy the work of the LORD. He was out to destroy the children of Israel because they were God’s people and He was doing His work through them. Likewise, the church is the work of the LORD, and the Devil will do everything he can to destroy it.

The best way to destroy the work of the LORD is found in the verse above when some men challenged the authority of God’s man. It is not that the man of God is sinless, but it is the position he holds and Who he represents that is important. There are three causes why these men and any person will challenge authority.

First, they were dissatisfied with authority’s decisions. These men said, “Ye take too much upon you…” They disagreed with all of Moses’ decisions. You must be careful that you don’t let the Devil have an inroad with your opinions. Everyone has opinions, but we must not let our opinions be the inroad he uses. You may disagree with an authority’s decision or how they do something, but it is not your place to change them.

Second, they were dissatisfied with their own position. These men thought the congregation should have more power. They didn’t like the position in which God placed them. You must be careful that your desire for position doesn’t affect your disposition. When you become dissatisfied with your position and think you deserve a higher position, then the Devil will use it to cause a schism in the work of the LORD.

Third, they were dissatisfied with the person who held the position of authority. These men just did not like Moses. Our dislike of an authority can be quickly used of the Devil to cause problems in a church. Don’t destroy the work of the LORD just because you don’t like who the authority is.

There are four things you can avoid to keep from allowing the Devil to use you as in inroad in these areas. First, realize the importance of your position. You are important to the work of the LORD. Don’t minimize your position. Second, always be respectful of authority. Even when you disagree with authority, you must always be respectful. Third, go directly to the authority when you have a problem with them. Don’t go with an arrogant attitude, but approach them with a right attitude. Fourth, talk to God about your disagreement with authority. I have always found that God can change the heart of the authority much quicker than if I try to change them. Let God be the One Who works on the heart of the authority.

Friend, I’m not excusing an authority’s abuse of their position, but these things mentioned can quickly destroy the work of the LORD. Don’t be the tool the Devil uses to destroy your church. All he looks for is someone who is dissatisfied and he uses that dissatisfaction to destroy God’s work. Don’t be that tool of destruction.

Number 10:29
“And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.”

Every journey has it distractions that can cause someone to pick up unwanted baggage as they go to their destination. The best example of this is someone who goes to the store to get something. While there, they see several other products precisely placed to grab the shopper’s attention in hopes that they will purchase them. Though they may eventually get what they wanted at the store, they may have also picked up unplanned items too.

The Christian must be careful about picking up unwanted baggage on their way to Heaven. Moses and the children of Israel were on their way to the Promised Land, and he made it very clear that he didn’t want to pick up unwanted baggage on their journey. There were three things he did to keep from picking up unwanted baggage.

First, he recognized his destination. He said, “We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said…” He knew that they were headed to the Promised Land and he didn’t want to lose focus of the destination. The Christian must be careful that they don’t lose focus of their destination. We are headed for Heaven and we don’t need to look back to the world or become sidetracked by things in the world. You must be careful that possessions, wealth and hardships don’t distract you from your destination. Always stay focused on your destination.

Second, he walked by faith. By faith Moses trusted God’s promise when He said, “I will give it you.” You will only be successful in avoiding unwanted baggage if you walk by faith. Faith keeps your eyes off the temporal and keeps them on the eternal. There is nothing wrong with temporal things, but our eyes must not be placed on them. We must realize that many times we must give up the temporal to succeed in the walk of faith. If we are walking by faith, then it won’t be grievous to give them up.

Third, he invited others to come with him on his journey. Moses said to Hobab, “…come thou with us.” He understood that the journey was worth inviting others to come with him. You must believe in this journey so much that you invite others to come with you. Everywhere you go, you should be inviting others to come with you. Heaven is a great destination. Why would you not ask others to come with you?

God reminds us often throughout the Scriptures that we are pilgrims on this Earth. Don’t ever lose sight of this. If you lose sight of this, you will pick up unwanted baggage that will weigh you down and keep you from enjoying the journey as God intended. Let these three actions be a part of your life and you will find it easier to avoid picking up unwanted baggage.

Numbers 4:15
“And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.”

The work of the LORD is the most important work in the world. There are many important jobs in this world, but none deal with the souls of men like the church. This is why everyone needs to be involved in church work.

In the verse above, God showed the children of Israel who would be responsible for different tasks in the tabernacle of the congregation. God makes a statement concerning the sons of Kohath, “These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.” When God called their work a “burden.” He was not saying that it was an encumbrance, but He was saying that this was their part in God’s work. God is teaching us several things that will help you and your church.

First, God is saying that everyone needs to share in the load of the work of the LORD. It should not just be a few people doing all the work in the church, but everyone needs to find their part in the work of the LORD and do it. God sent you to your church because you have a part where you can contribute; so, be a contributor and not a spectator.

Second, you are still accountable to authority. Just because you have a duty in your church does not mean that you don’t have to answer to anyone. The sons of Kohath were given a part in the tabernacle, but they still answered to Moses. You may have a duty in your church, but you still must answer to your pastor concerning your duty.

Third, your part should be heavy enough to need God. You will notice that God called it a burden. In other words, don’t just be satisfied with one task, but get involved in the work of the LORD to the point that you need God to help you carry your burden. When we get to the point where we think we can carry the burden of God’s work ourselves, then we are going to fail. Your load needs to be heavy enough so that you always have a dependency upon God to get it done.

Fourth, your part needs to be a burden upon your heart. In other words, do you have a burden for what you do? What you do in your church should consume you. It should be you! The bus worker should have a burden for his bus route. The Sunday school teacher should have a burden for their Sunday school class. The church greeter should have a burden to be sure that people are properly greeted. Let me ask you, do you have a burden for what you do? This is what changes the urgency of God’s work. If everyone in the church had a burden for their duties, then nothing would be done in a second-rate manner.

Christian, be sure that you are carrying your load in your church. God brought you to your church because He knew you could have a part in carrying the load of that church. Don’t make someone else carry your load. When everyone is carrying the load of the work of the LORD, then the work of the LORD will mightily go forward.

Leviticus 22:32
“Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you,”

In a small northeastern city in Spain, a lady noticed a picture of a scourged Christ on the wall of a small church was looking faded and needed to be revitalized. This well-intentioned lady took a brush in hand and began to do her best to restore the masterpiece that was painted on this wall many years before. Sadly, this lady was not the artists that she thought she was. By the time she was done, she had turned a masterpiece into a bloated face. This lady, though she had great intentions, had ruined the masterpiece.

Many Christians do the same thing that this woman did to the masterpiece. They take a brush in their hand and try to change the masterpiece of their life only to ruin what the Master put together. You see, every person is God’s masterpiece. What we may consider flaws are truly a part of the masterpiece God put together. We must be careful that we don’t ruin what God has put together.

The verse above says, “Neither shall ye profane my holy name…” The word “profane” means “to wound.” In other words, God is saying to His people that we must be careful that we don’t do something that will wound or soil His name among the world.

God then goes further in this verse to tell us that God’s name is as clean as our lives. He says, “…I will be hallowed among the children of Israel…” The word “hallow” or “hallowed” means to make clean. God says that He is the one Who makes us clean which coincides with 1 John 1:9.  Notice the phrase, “I am the LORD which hallow you.” God is saying He is the one Who cleans us.

This verse is teaching us that because He is the One Who cleans us from our sin, we are to live such a life that we don’t soil what He has done. He is saying, “Don’t ruin the masterpiece.” Many Christians have ruined God’s masterpiece by taking God’s brush into their own hand and changing what He did in their life. He had a will for their life, but they didn’t like the will, so they took the brush and painted their own will only to ruin the masterpiece. God masterfully put into the lives of Christians trials and hardships to make the masterpiece better, but they took their own brush and complained, griped and ran from what He was trying to do in their life only to ruin the masterpiece. There are times when God put the masterpiece of the Christian’s life on display only to see the Christian take the brush in hand and ruin the masterpiece with sin.

Friend, be careful about ruining God’s masterpiece. Your life is God’s masterpiece, and you are not to do anything that could wound or soil what He is doing in your life. Let me encourage you to daily be careful that you don’t try to take the brush from God’s hand and try to paint your own picture. Let God do His work in your life. Accept everything He sends your way, for He is the Master painter Who knows that if you will yield to His brush that your life will become a masterpiece that will help many people see the Master.

Leviticus 19:2
“Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.”

One of the greatest needs in Christianity today is holy living. It seems as if holiness has been thrown out the window for the sake of acceptance and spiritual correctness. Instead of striving to live holy lives, many have tried to redefine holiness to meet their standard of living only push the next generation closer to the world.

God’s command for His children is to be holy. This is not some passing command that God gives to His children, but it is commanded several times throughout the Scriptures. In the verse above, God defines true holiness.

First, holiness is not something inherited. God said, “Ye shall be holy…” Notice the use of the word, “Ye.” God wants you to understand that you are not holy because of who your parents are or what church you attend, but you are holy because you live a holy life. Just because your parents may live a holy life doesn’t mean you will inherit it. Just because you are a member of a well-known church doesn’t make you holy. Holiness is a personal choice.

Second, holiness is not a possession, but holiness is a life one chooses to live. Oftentimes we have the mentality that we achieve a holy life when God makes it clear one lives a holy life. Throughout this chapter, it is clearly seen that holiness is an active life and not a possession. It says in verse 3, “Ye shall fear…” It says in verse 4, “Turn ye…” It says in verse 5, “…ye shall offer…” It says in verse 11, “Ye shall not…” It says in verses 16-18, “Thou shalt not…” Each of these commands are an action to do something. When God commands the Christian to be holy, He is commanding the Christian to separate from something to do something else.

Third, God is the standard of holiness. This is one of the most important things that a Christian must understand. Holiness is not defined by man’s standard, conscience or culture, but it is defined by God. The verse above commands the Christian to be holy, then God shows the standard for this holiness by saying, “…for I the LORD your God am holy.” Far too many Christians have measured holiness by unholy guidelines when God is the only true measure of holiness. You will never live the holy life God commands you to live until you truly accept God’s standard for holiness.

One of the greatest reasons we don’t see people saved today as in the past is because people are not convicted. The reason there is no conviction is because we are not living holy lives. When the Christian lives the holy life, then the lost will be convicted of their sinful ways. They will not be convicted because of you, but because you are mirroring the image of Christ through holy living.

Let me ask you, could anyone be convicted of their sinful lifestyle by how you live? Do you live the holy life? When you allow God to be your standard of holiness by which you choose to copy, then your life will mirror Him and will convict the lost of their sin. It is not that people are convicted because of you but because of Who your life mirrors. Let me encourage you to yield yourself to God’s standard of holiness and start living the life He commands in the Scriptures. The holy life will give you more power to be a better witness for Him.

Psalm 67:1
“God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.”

There is always a progression, result and purpose for everything God does. Our job as a Christian is to make sure that we fulfill the purpose of God’s progression. When we don’t fulfill that purpose, then God will turn His blessings into punishment.

In the verse above, God shows us His progression to blessing. In the next verse, God shows why He chooses to bless mankind. You must always be sure that you fulfill that reason so you can keep the progression going.

The first thing God does with every person is He is merciful to us. The verse says, “God be merciful unto us…” God’s mercy is evident every day. When God saved us from our sins He was merciful. God was merciful when He gave us His Word to read. God is merciful when He chooses not to destroy us for our foolish actions. God exercises mercy so that we can serve Him. Never take God’s mercy and abuse it to live anyway you desire. God’s mercy is not a license to sin. God’s mercy is not permission to do what you want. God is merciful so that you will serve Him.

The result of the Christian using God’s mercy wisely is His blessings. Notice, after God gives mercy He blesses us. This is always the result of doing right. When we don’t abuse the mercy of God, then He blesses us for doing right. The greatest case we have for doing right is that God chooses to bless those who use His mercy wisely. If you will use God’s mercy wisely, then you will experience His blessings.

The third step in this progression is God’s presence. Notice, after the Christian takes God’s mercy as an opportunity to serve Him, then God blesses them. If the Christian will take those blessings and continue to serve God, then He will cause His face to “shine upon us.” It’s amazing when someone uses God’s blessings on their life how God’s presence will shines them. Oftentimes they won’t see it themselves, but everyone around them will see God’s hand upon their lives.

Here is the most important step. God allows His face to shine upon us so that His “…way may be known upon earth…” Our job is to use God’s mercy, blessings and presence to point to Him. God is merciful to you because He wants you to use that mercy to point others to Him. God blesses you so that you will use those blessings to point the world to Him. God shines His face upon an individual for the sole purpose of them pointing others to Him.

The danger you face is taking the glory for yourself. Many people experienced God’s mercy, blessings and presence, and started taking the accolades for these instead of giving God the glory only to see God take these from them. God will share His glory with no man. I warn you to never take credit for these things. Always give God the credit for these things. If you will always give God the credit for these things in your life, then He will continue to give them to you.

Exodus 32:11
“And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?”

Every leader will face pitfalls that have the potential to destroy their ability to properly lead. It doesn’t matter what the level of leadership you may hold, you are responsible to avoid those pitfalls that will not only hurt your leadership ability, but also hurt those whom you lead. Your ability to identify these pitfalls and avoid them is key to your potential.

Moses was one of the greatest leaders of all time. Early on in his tenure as leader of Israel, He faced three pitfalls that would have turned the whole history of Israel and the world around. He had no idea that his proper handling of these pitfalls would have such an impact, but no leader knows the impact of the handling of potential pitfalls. In the incident with Israel worshipping the golden calf, Moses faced three potential pitfalls that every leader will face.

First, he had the opportunity to use the power of his position to destroy people. God told Moses to leave Him alone because He was going to destroy them. I believe God was testing the meekness of Moses. Moses knew that if God destroyed Israel and made of him a great nation that the enemy would say that God didn’t have the power to get them to the Promised Land. Leaders must understand that what they are doing is bigger than them. Just because you have the power to destroy someone does not mean you should do it. Every leader must be careful not to abuse their power and use it to destroy people.

Second, he had the opportunity to lose focus when distractions came. Moses could have easily made this incident about himself, but he understood that everything is about God. You must be careful when distractions come not to become sidetracked and lose your focus as to why you are doing what you do. Every leader will be faced with distractions, and their ability to stay focused on what they are really supposed to do will determine the capacity of their usefulness to God. Always stay focused upon God and your purpose, and you will never limit your capacity.

Third, he had the opportunity to change when those around him were changing. Instead, Moses stood firm when others changed. This will be one of the biggest battles leaders will face. You will be tempted to change because you will become tired of fighting the battle to stand firm on truth. One of the reasons God placed you in your position of leadership is because He knows you can stand firm when others change. Don’t let God down! You may become weary with fighting the winds of change, but never let the battles from those winds change your stance on truth. This pitfall of change is great, but you must stand firm when others around you are changing.

These three pitfalls will determine God’s ability to use you. Watch out for these three pitfalls and don’t let them become your destruction. Moses avoided these three pitfalls and became one of history’s greatest leaders. You will never know the influence your leadership will have on history, so avoid these pitfalls so that God can use you to influence future generations for right.