Revival!

October 2, 2009
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Beginning this evening, I’ll be preaching a series of messages for a ‘revival’ being held in Watts Towndship at the Wesleyan Church there.

I know it sounds old-timey, and the concept of ‘revival meetings’ has long ago lost its luster in many places… but I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity.  The desire of the church’s pastor is true ‘revival’–”to stir up or rekindle a fire which is slowly dying.”  The heart of the pastor and many of the people is that by dedicating a few pointed hours of their weekend to hear and heed the Spirit of God, a dying flame will be rekindled into a full-on blaze.

As excited as I am, I’m also a little scared: the people are praying for, hoping for, and expectant of a genuine revival in their hearts and church which will spill over into the lives of their community.

Why does this scare me?

I’m the preacher.

And I am very much aware of my own fallibility, shortcomings, and plain-old human-ness.  If ‘genuine revival’ comes, it won’t be because of me… it will be in spite of the preacher.  As much as I recognize work being done in the lives of others is only God’s to do, I feel a great weight of responsibility in preparing myself to be used… and a certain level of terror when I recognize the incredible honor I have and the truth that “every time you preach, you stand before a living God and dying Man.”

Hold on.  I think I need to throw up.

By JeremiahGomez | Posted in church | Tagged , , , | Comment (1)

What Battles are You Facing?

August 24, 2009
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So much of life seems like it involves ‘battle.’  Think of how we describe much of what we endure in a single day:

At the beginning of the day: we fight to get out of bed.
During the day: we fight to maintain attention.
Sometime in the afternoon: we fight cravings.
Once things wind down: we fight to keep our eyes open.

And that’s just the normal kind of day; this is to say nothing about the different ‘corporate battles’ people face, those who find themselves ‘battling cancer,’ those trying to fight the battle of the bulge, fighting to keep the skeletons in our closets at bay, the couple in a rough patch who are fighting for their marriage (even though it appears they may be fighting each other).  Then on top of that (or perhaps related to many of the things just listed), Scripture reminds us, like-it-or-not, believe-it-or-not, we are entrenched in a spuiritual battle where we have a very real enemy and there’s a great war occurring we usually can’t see.

Battles come every day.  But how can you and I be ready when they come our way?  How can we be sure that we are prepared to the extent that we don’t just ‘live to fight another day’ but find victory and hope in the midst of our circumstance?

I’m not trying to make you depressed, but take some time and think of the different battles you face.  Go ahead, think.  What battles are you facing?

…

…

…

Did you think of some?

In Joshua 4 & 5, we find the people of Israel, having crossed the Jordan River, now poised for battle.  In fact, this is what is recorded for us:

Josh 4:

12 The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, ready for battle, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. 13 About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war.

They were ‘ready for battle’ and armed.  The time to fight was coming.  But, before they went to fight the battle before them, they were given instructions to remember some important truths… and those same instructions help us to fight our own battles in such a way that victory can be won.   Over the next few “Joshua” entries here, we’ll discuss what the lessons the people of Israel were reminded of and how we can learn to face the battles of life, love and ministry.  In the meantime, it just might be a good idea to reflect on what you’re facing this week and be reminded of our simple need to rely the only One who holds the promise of genuine victory

By JeremiahGomez | Posted in Joshua | Tagged , , , , , | Comment (1)

Question: Have I Counted the Cost?

August 15, 2009
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When it comes to taking those risky steps of faith, it can be difficult to know whether the ‘next step’ we see is our own desire or God’s leading for us.  Scripture gives us a bit of a lens through which we can view those situations and determine whether or not ‘now is the time to take the leap.  We’ve already asked, “Have I Put First Things First”, and, “Have I Waited?” You can read the introduction here.

When it comes to taking those risky steps of faith, it can be hard to know whether the ‘next step’ we see is our own desire or God’s leading for us.  Scripture gives us a bit of a lens through which we can view those situations and ask if ‘now is the time’ to take the leap.  We’ve already discussed asking “Are First Things First” and “Have I Waited.”

As Joshua and the people prepare for their crossing of the River Jordan, it’s obvious the risk hasn’t been exaggerated.  Here’s what happens as they finally take the step of crossing the river:

Josh 3:

14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

That is an incredible image: stepping in, the water stopping, and standing firm as the people crossed.  Imagine what it was like to be there and experience the hand of God in the moment; to recognize that this was part of what you were preparing for just days before.

The way these few verses read, it’s easy to think entering/crossing the river was a quick, easy task with no risk at all.  But the truth is that the Jordan at flood stage is a dangerous place to be.  Because of a system of channels and locks on top of the high level of the water, there would have been a swift current with the river.  The priests who had to first step into the water could easily have been swept away… and, some scholars suggest their first step could have put them ‘in over their heads’ with the steep banks of the river in places.  But their duty as priests meant they wouldn’t leave the ark regardless of their personal circumstance (as in, “staying with the Ark even if it meant traveling downriver with it and drowning).

The point is, this ‘step of faith’ could have literally cost them everything.  Look at this from the perspective of Joshua and the priests: the entire nation is hoping this works.  The enemy on the other side of the river is watching, hoping it doesn’t.  Everything was on the line: the future of the nation, their own pride, their hope, the very lives if the priests… and for Joshua, all of his credibility, his very ability to lead, was at stake.

That’s the way it is with many of the decisions we face in life… but it’s especially true when it comes to following Jesus—he’s pretty candid with us that following him will cost us everything.  So he urges us to count the cost.  And we see in Joshua that for those participating in all of this, the potential cost was astronomical.

“Counting the cost” doesn’t mean allowing fear to enter into our thinking and drive us, but it does mean being aware and informed, understanding consequences and thinking long-term (the ‘immediate’ step was into the river, but it was just one of many steps of faith which would be required to see the nation of Israel established).

On the one hand, taking the faith-step moves us to a place where we risk everything.  But on the other hand it moves us to a place where we find great security, knowing that the same God who led us to the place of faith will see us through it.  It seems for us, we must count the cost, and knowing what could be, we move… trusting that God will be God, and his Great Name will be praised regardless of the outcome.

Have you counted the cost?

By JeremiahGomez | Posted in Joshua | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Question: Have I Waited?

August 12, 2009
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We’ve been asking the question of how to know when to take steps of faith—and finding answers by asking other questions.

The first questions was “Are First things First”

Another question worth asking is the same as the title for this post:

HAVE I WAITED?

The people of Israel are getting ready to cross the Jordan River in order to begin conquering the land promised them in generations past.  God has instructed them to cross the flooded Jordan.  It’s obvious that this is the only next step from a strategic and logistical perspective.

Josh 3:

2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”

Even though they could see the land which was theirs; even though they knew what needed to be done to cross; even though everything was ‘obvious’ regarding next steps… everybody waited.  For three days.

But those three days weren’t spent idly—there was a purpose in the waiting: the people were preparing themselves for what was ahead.  Their journey wasn’t over yet, and though the land across the Jordan had been promised, it wouldn’t become theirs without a long and hard-fought military campaign.  Mostly, though, they were waiting because they were going to be used by God (in a number of ways—but Scripture indicates that Israel was going to be used by God to execute his judgment on other nations and to bring his message).

A very important term in the above passage is ‘consecrate’—the same term used in reference to the Tabernacle… a very special place that only few could enter.  The idea is something that is being set apart.  The ‘translation’ of the instruction for the people is this: “God is going to use you, and you need to be ready,” or, “God is going to do something huge, and he wants you to get prepared.”

I know it’s been said before, but it bears repeating: our steps of faith have much less to do with us than they do with what God desires to do through us for his Name and the advancement of his Kingdom.

Again, for Joshua and the Israelites, there was no doubt what their next step was.  But there was also no doubt that this same ‘next step’ was impossible if God wasn’t in it.  They waited.

It’s a good lesson to learn, but not necessarily an easy leason to grasp.  Before you leap—ask yourself if you’ve waited or if you’re moving impulsively.  The truth is, God doesn’t lead is to our next step without preparing us first (not forgetting, of course, that he can, and often does, prepare us for ‘what’s next’ without us knowing that’s what is going on).  What are you doing right now to allow yourself to be prepared?  How are you taking time to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit?  Are you faithful in the here-and-now?  Are you serving faithfully where you are with what you have?

As counterintuitive as it may seem, sometimes the greatest act of faith is in the waiting rather than the stepping.

By JeremiahGomez | Posted in Joshua | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

Strength & Courage (Part 2)

July 17, 2009

This continues the discussion started in the last post; it might help you to read it first.  The main gist of that last entry is this: in the first chapter of the book of Joshua, we see the book’s main character facing an impossible situation, and based on the lessons he learns, we, too, can learn how to have strength and courage when we’re facing the impossible.

One lesson is to remember God’s promise.

As God is exhorting Joshua to be strong and courageous, following the incredible promise that God will not leave or fail this new human leader of his people he pointedly tells Joshua of the need to follow God’s instructions:

Joshua 1:7-9 (TNIV)

Be strong and very courageous.  Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.

It’s a pretty loaded passage of Scripture—but, again, there is a lesson for us as we face impossibility in the lesson Joshua received when facing his.  Joshua is promised success—but that promise is contingent on his careful obedience to the Law.  It seems many of God’s promises are contingent on his instructions; in fact, the promises we listed previously are all connected with a call, instruction, or correction.  God’s promises are coupled with his commands to fulfill mission, to pursue him above all else, to obey him before everyone else.

Many of us get frustrated when God’s promises don’t seem fulfilled in our lives.  The first step is asking 1) if the promise is conditional, and 2) if we’re meeting that condition.  Then, we need to remember that ‘God is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness…’—that in his way and in his time, he will do what he has said he will do.  In no way does this deny God’s active grace in our lives, but reminds us that he has chosen to be gracious to individuals responsible for their own decisions. But all of that is probably a series of entries for some other time.

Back to Joshua: strength and courage for his impossible situation has something to do with recognizing and following God’s instructions.  In fact, he is told to become so intimately familiar with the Law that day and night he thinks of it, that he speaks it, because he must be careful to do everything written within the Law.

Why do you suppose this is?

My conjecture is because God knows in impossible situations there will be moments when even great leaders like Joshua—and people like you and me—will be tempted to address an issue in some way outside of God’s design.  God knows there will be times in the midst of the impossible when Joshua/we will be tempted to proceed in a manner which temporarily appears to benefit us but is more our invention than Gods and brings him little glory.    Times would come for Joshua, and they come for the rest of us, when we are tempted to operate outside of God’s specific instructions; when what is easy will trump doing what is right; when moving swiftly will outshine moving correctly; when we will try to force God’s hand of provision and promise by moving outside of his design.  We begin to think we know more and see more than we really do, rather than trusting in the omniscience of the One who rescues and leads us.

Joshua only had the Torah (first five books of our Bible).  We have the life-giving instruction of all the Scriptures and the indwelling of the God’s own Spirit.  Strength and courage is found in partaking of the Word of God—in it we discover his character, our purpose, and God’s faithfulness in the midst of our humanness.

The most frightening aspect of all of this is that in exposing ourselves to Scripture and the Spirit of God, we expose our hearts to his holiness.  We see where we have deviated from God’s design for us; we begin to see the parts of our lives that are dark and in need of his light and redemption; we find our nastiness overwhelmed by his beauty.  It’s frightening because in these moments, we are confronted with the awesome, powerful righteousness of God and know what it is to feel ‘undone’ in the presence of the King.  But in those moments, we remember that even his correction is an act of love designed for his glory and honor—and the God who promised to not forsake or abandon us will keep that promise though we have not earned nor do we deserve it.

Joshua was told his success would come through following God’s instructions.

Should we expect anything different in our own lives?

By JeremiahGomez | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)