Manna…is that All?

 

“We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!” — Numbers 11:5-6

 

 

Just as each stage of physical growth has its own peculiar dangers and problems, so the different stages of spiritual growth present hazards and challenges. The younger Christian is zealous for the Lord but may lack spiritual knowledge. The older believer has a great deal of knowledge, but his seal may have grown cold.

　

I have felt for a long time that one of the particular temptations of the maturing Christian is the danger of getting accustomed to his blessings. Like the world traveler who has been everywhere and seen everything, the maturing Christian is in danger of taking his blessings for granted and getting so accustomed to them that they fail to excite him as they once did.

　

Emerson said that if the stars came out only once a year, everybody would stay up all night to behold them. We have seen the stars so often that we don’t bother to look at them anymore. We have grown accustomed to our blessings.

　

The Israelites in the wilderness got accustomed to their blessings, and God had to chasten the people (Numbers 11). God had fed the nation with heavenly manna each morning, and yet the people were getting tired of it. “But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”

　

Nothing but manna! They were experiencing a miracle of God’s provision every morning; yet they were no longer excited about it. Nothing but manna!

　

One of the evidences that we have grown accustomed to our blessings is this spirit of criticism and complaining. Instead of thanking God for what we have, we complain about it and tell Him we wish we had something else. You can be sure that if God did give us what we asked for, we would eventually complain about that. The person who has gotten accustomed to his blessings can never be satisfied.

　

Another evidence of this malady is the idea that others have a better situation than we do. The Israelites remembered their diet in Egypt, and longed to return to the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. They were saying, “The people in Egypt are so much better off than we are!” Obviously, they had forgotten the slavery they had endured in Egypt and the terrible bondage from which God had delivered them. Slavery is a high price to pay for a change in diet!

　

Being in the pastorate, I hear my share of criticism from church members. I always listen to honest, sincere criticism and try to profit from it, but I pay little attention to the “wilderness grumblings” of the disgruntled saints who have gotten accustomed to their blessings. In fact, sometimes I even suggest that they pray about attending another church for a time, just to see if their criticisms are valid. They usually come back in a chastened mood.

　

In our families, our children go through this grumbling stage, usually early in their teen years. Their word is “bored”–they are bored with the old house, bored with the old car, bored with the same old food, bored with the same old church, and so on. Each of their friends has a better house or car, a better church, and enjoys better food. Of course, parents are hurt by this kind of talk, but they love the children anyway and patiently wait for them to grow up.

　

I believe Gpod is grieved when we get accustomed to our blessings and start to complain and criticize. The record in Numbers 11 tells us that even Moses became discouraged and wanted to die. I wonder how many pastors, Sunday school teachers, and choir members have resigned because of constant complaining of believers who got accustomed to their blessings. God chastened the Israelites because of their complaining. He gave them the flesh that they begged for, but this flesh brought death. They would have been better off to have settled for the manna! “And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul” (Psalms 106:15).

　

The best cure for the sin of getting accustomed to our blessings is this: Constantly give thanks to God for all He gives and all He does. A thankful heart, lost in the wonder of God’s grace and goodness, will never take God’s blessings for granted. Just as a child is constantly filled with wonder at what life brings him, so the maturing believer must marvel at God’s gifts and God’s provisions. Why should God bless us? Who are we that God should care for us?

　

In the final analysis, it is pride that makes us accustomed to our blessings. We forget that we have been saved by grace, not by our own merit, and that it is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed. Pride leads to complaining and criticizing, and pride leads to a fall.

　

We must beware of getting accustomed to our blessings!

Shouting Down the Truth

“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness…Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.” — Romans 1:18, 21

 

 

There is an interesting phenomenon emerging in our society. The “town hall meeting” is not new but the manner in which they are being conducted is. The public shouting match is becoming a common occurrence in our day.

　

From the office of the President of the United States all the way down to the local politician, government representatives are experiencing this raucous reaction from the common citizen. It seems that people are mad and they are not going to take it anymore. A key contributor to this phenomenon is the fact that most of the politicians are filling their meetings with organized supporters who stand and shout down the opposition.

　

Questions are not answered–even ignored in most cases. Most of the government’s representatives seem to think that if they avoid the questions or drone on in conversation, that sooner or later those seeking truth will lose interest and walk away.

　

This is not really new. When Paul was writing to the Romans under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he informed them of the mindset of the world towards the truth–the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said they “suppress the truth by their wickedness.” The word “suppress” means “to hinder the course of progress.”

　

We are living in a day when our culture and our government is doing everything possible to hinder the course of progress of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God is not only being pushed out of the marketplace but out of everyplace in our country. Our country no longer promotes freedom of religion but instead is pushing for freedom from religion.

　

The tragedy is that when we, as a nation, abandon God, God will abandon us (Romans 1:24)! When we begin to shout down the truth by suppressing it in our lives through wickedness, God allows us to experience the consequences of our wickedness (Romans 1:25-31).

　

What are the practical consequences of shouting down the truth? The Bible says that suppressing the truth results in darkness and confusion. Our culture has no direction because our culture is in darkness. Spiritually, socially and politically we are adrift on directionless sea. We stand on the most luxurious vessel the world has ever seen but we have no power, no thrust, no forward direction.

　

Confusion reigns in our land. This is a second consequence of shouting down the truth. People who ought to be “in the know,” are acting like stupid beasts. Humanism has become the new “baal” and the ability to think clearly and look to God has all but vanished.

　

Is there any hope? Is there any answer? Yes there is! We must not join the crowd that is shouting down the truth. We must surrender to the truth–we must submit to the truth.

　

David gives us the answer to our plight. He gives us an answer for our society. He said in Psalm 43:

“Declare me innocent, O God!

Defend me against these ungodly people.

Rescue me from these unjust liars.

 

For you are God, my only safe haven.

Why have you tossed me aside?

Why must I wander in grief, oppressed

By my enemies?

 

Send out your light and your truth; and

let them guide me.

Let them lead me to Your holy mountain,

to the place where you live.

 

There I will go to the altar of God,

to God–the source of all my joy.

I will praise you with my harp,

O God, my God!

 

Why am I discouraged?

Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again–

my Savior and my God!

I challenge you to hope in God and hear his truth! If it doesn’t begin here, now and with you; then the ungodly of our land will shout down the truth and we all will go into darkness and confusion!

God is No Politician!

“For a child is born to us, a sone is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!” — Isaiah 9:6-7

 

 

When politicians run for office, only fools and godless men take their promises seriously. Jeremiah 17:5 says, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.” A great gulf often separates political promises from reliable guarantees.

　

We do not know whether the people in Isaiah’s time had arrived at such a point of skepticism, but we do know that they had little reason for confidence. The glory days of David and Solomon were long gone; the Assyrian hordes were knocking on the door. The future looked gloomy. Then the Lord spoke through Isaiah.

　

God promised his people that their land would be overrun and that the formerly great nation of Israel would be left like “a stump” in the land (6:13). But the term stump, while full of dire predictions, held a glimmer of hope: The people knew that a pruned stump would in time sprout, flourish, and bear fruit. “The stump will be a holy seed that will grow again” (6:13).

　

Later, God promised that the dynasty of David would not disappear–it would be overrun, but it would be resurrected and would spread across the world, bringing peace and prosperity, stretching into eternity (9:1-7). A universal, everlasting kingdom! The government of this new kingdom would “rest on” the shoulders of a “child,” a most unusual child who would be “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6).

　

The Israelites might have been tempted to think Isaiah had lost touch with reality. They could expect not only survival but revival? This would happen through a child who would demonstrate divine qualities? Unbelievable. But Isaiah had not lost touch with reality–he had been in touch with the author of reality! The reality is that this child’s “ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice…The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!” (9:7).

　

When God makes passionate guarantees, sane people sit up and take note. God is not a politician running for office–his announcements warrant a better response than skepticism or dismissal. When He speaks, men should listen! History shows that God does what He says He will do–when He guarantees something with “passionate commitment,” He comes through. Unlike any politician, God has the power to accomplish what He promises. In his guarantee we find the confidence to banish the darkness of despair–we find hope in an otherwise hopeless world.

　

As far as God is concerned, the politicians can go jump in the lake. He is in charge–He can do what He says. We must not look to man for answers but put our trust in God.

God’s Gift…of Time

 

“But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the Lord our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant. He has given us security in this holy place. Our God has brightened our eyes and granted us some relief from our slavery.” — Ezra 9:8

“I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn from her immorality.” — Revelation 2:21

　

 

 

Whoever neglects the present moment throws away all that he has. God has given us time and given it to us for a purpose. You and I must see time as a gift before we can really understand why it has been given to us.

　

We live in a generation that has devalued and taken its focus off of time and elevated “the event” as that which is of utmost importance. Thus we have become a people busily engaged in “killing time” between the great events of our lives. We have failed to see that the time we have been given is the great event. We have not realized that we cannot kill time without doing injury to eternity.

　

In Revelation 2:21, a rebellious and wicked imposter was given time to repent. If you are reading this (and it is obvious that you are), God has granted you that same opportunity. We all stand in the light of His truth as the same, wicked imposters as Jezebel. We are all in need of repentance and a turning back to God.

　

In Ezra 9:8, a people was given time to experience the grace of God in revival. They were allowed to survive, given security and set free from slavery because of “a brief moment of grace!” God had stepped out of eternity into time to make a difference in the lives of those who were perishing.

　

You might say, “Do it again, Lord!” Well, He already has. He acted in finality when He sent His Son to invade time with an eternal purpose. Jesus stepped out of eternity into time to make a difference in the lives of all of us…who were perishing.

　

Today, God is giving you and me the gift of time. In this very moment, He desires that we bow and surrender in repentance. He desires that we experience a moment of grace and a little reviving. He wants to make a difference in our lives so that our lives might make a difference in this world. He is saying, “Don’t walk through time without leaving a worthy evidence of your passage.”

　

He is giving a gift. Will we receive it today?

Trust and Obey

“Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.” — Isaiah 26:8

 

 

Mark Twain encountered a ruthless businessman from Boston during his travels who boasted that nobody ever got in his way once he determined to do something. The businessman said, “Before I die I mean to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I’m gonna climb Mount Sinai. And when I’m up there I’m gonna read the Ten Commandments aloud at the top of my voice!” Unimpressed, Twain responded, “I got a better idea. Stay in Boston and keep ‘em.”

　

The attitude and actions of our generation reveal that the concept of obedience has become the “Cinderella” of the church today. Because we live in the age of grace, many believe that obedience to the law is a second-class pursuit…an unwanted step-child to be pushed down and ignored.

　

The godless direction of our society is only a reflection of the godless character of most of those who profess a new birth. The Law of God has been thrown aside and individual moral value systems are being established by the person in the pew. Everyone seems to be doing what is right in their own eyes.

　

In this beautiful song of Isaiah 26, Isaiah acknowledges that the way we demonstrate our trust in the Lord is by obeying His law. Obedience is the key to trust and the key to love. Jesus told his disciples, “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them” (John 14:21).

　

In religious circles, the quickest way to be labeled a “legalist” is to call for obedience to the Word of God. I was recently castigated by a youth minister’s wife because I confronted her husband and her for their consumption of alcohol. They would not acknowledge the Bible’s unfavorable view of drinking, or my offense as a brother, to their sinful actions. They did admit that they only did it when they were away from their community on vacation. They admitted hiding their actions from others!

　

They accused me of being a legalist and a Pharisee. They also informed me that if Jesus was here, He would make a whip and beat me severely. They said I represented everything that was wrong with Christianity. I must admit, I don’t think there is anything wrong with Christianity. I just think something is wrong with us when we do not line up with the Word!

　

Isaiah said that not only do we show our trust by obedience, but we will also possess a heart that desires to glorify God. Obedience always intensifies the heart’s desire to glorify God. Passion, as a rule, is fed by obedience. It is a cyclical thing: obedience feeds passion, passion feeds obedience.

　

So, I ask you, will we avoid the trap of “false grace hedonism,” that is flooding the church with ungodliness and ungodly men or will we seek to walk in obedience to the Word of God–the Law of God and see holiness of heart and character return to the church? A return to obedience by the church will begin one person at a time. You must decide. I must decide.

If we maintain the status quo, the church will die and to the grave it will go!

Depraved Minds and Counterfeit Faith

“…These teachers oppose the truth…They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. But they won’t get away with this for long.” — 2 Timothy 3:8-9

 

 

Yesterday, I received a rather revealing letter from a college student. The letter went like this:

　

Hey Brother!

I have a question for you.

Several of my friends at college say they are Christians, and go to Bible Studies and Church and all that, and these guys I live with in my dorm room.

However, there is one that does all those, but has had pre-marital sex. We got into a debate one night about it and I told him that the Bible tells us not to be sexually immoral and not to fornicate.

He told me that in the Bible it does not say ‘do not have pre-marital sex’ but I thought that’s what fornication meant.

Could you enlighten me on this topic so I can get back to him about it since you know a lot more about this than I probably would!

Thanks

　

I never cease to be amazed and heartbroken over the lengths that people will go to justify their lifestyles! It is almost as though our society has come to the point where nothing is wrong anymore! Once again, let me say that Isaiah has nailed us to the wall! “What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.” — Isaiah 5:20-21

　

There is a reason why we are seeing our society cast off the moral restraints of the past. Proverbs 29:18 says, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.” As a whole, we are no longer open to divine guidance. We have forsaken living water (God) and dug for ourselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all (see Jeremiah 2)!

　

In responding to this young man’s note to me I said, “I am amazed how people will voluntarily blind themselves just to be able to do what they want to do. It sounds like your friend has his mind made up and does not want to be confused by the facts. I am not sure if anything that I share would convince him that he is wrong in his view of premarital sex, but here goes anyway…” (I went on to share extensively what the Bible teaches about sexual immorality.)

　

In sharing the truth from God’s Word, I also understand that the Bible has much to say about the correction of a fool. Proverbs 23:9 says, “Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.” And Proverbs 26:11 says, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.” I pray these are not the case with that young man, but I fear these are the case for so many in our land today.

　

The result of a depraved mind and a counterfeit faith can be seen in God’s actions toward Jannes and Jambres. Their false faith was revealed when God’s serpent swallowed their serpents (Exodus 7:12). One day every person who has ever lived will stand before God to be examined. The truth of His majesty and character will reveal every false and wicked thing in our lives (2 Corinthians 5:10 (for the saved), Revelation 20:11-15 (for the lost)).

　

Repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ is our only hope! We must forsake the rationalization of our sin and the justification of our rebellion. There will be no excuse accepted when we stand before Him!

Weighing the Converts

 

“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is in you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” – 2 Corinthians 13:5

 

“Converts should be weighed as well as counted.”  Evangelist D. L. Moody made that statement, and his warning needs to be heeded today. Evangelical ministries seem to be mired in the Book of Numbers, convinced that exciting statistics are always equivalent of spiritual realities. Sad to say, they are not.

 

 

Please do not conclude that I oppose growth. I am not among those exclusive saints who believe we should work harder and harder to reach fewer and fewer. Where there is spiritual life, there must be growth. If God’s servants are faithfully sowing the seed, God will keep his promise and ultimately give the increase.

 

 

But I am afraid of the artificial kind of growth that is manufactured and sometimes exaggerated, growth that is not the true work of the Spirit of God. Our techniques are so refined these days that it is difficult to tell the difference.

 

 

I am also afraid of the kind of human measurements that convince us that the structure is sound when it is actually about to topple and fall. We boast that we are “rich…and have need of nothing,” when all the while we are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). Instead of weeping over the X-ray photographs that tell the truth, we are reveling in the carefully retouched pictures that make everything look healthy.

 

 

Certainly we want to reach people! I have often told the congregations that I have pastored that we wanted crowds, not so that we could count people, but because people count. Our challenge is to reach the lost world with the gospel and not to build an elite mutual admiration society. “Fruit…more fruit…much fruit…” is still our Lord’s desire, and this demands growth.

 

 

I am convinced that God’s work grows more by nutrition than by addition. Paul described this growth in Colossians 2:19: “From which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Spiritual growth, like physical growth, is from the inside out, and each part must make its own special contribution.

 

 

Too often, the growth in a local church is the byproduct of a one-man ministry (usually a dynamic leader) supported by a loyal staff and the approval of the church officers. There may be little nutrition from the Word of God, but there is a great deal of promotion. The members of the body are spectators, not participants. They not only do not use their spiritual gifts, but often do not even know what gifts they possess!

 

 

Imagine a mother who is told by the doctor that her baby is underweight. Instead of accurately diagnosing the cause and changing the diet, she visits a butcher and purchases several pounds of meat. This meat she somehow attaches to her baby’s body. The baby is put on the scale—and lo!—the child is no longer underweight.

 

 

However, the baby is now in worse condition than before. The mother has manufactured a temporary solution that blinds her to the real needs of the child. She has solved her problem by statistics, but she has not gotten to the root of the matter. He who has ears, let him hear!