tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27574511029214207652024-03-13T15:06:34.536-07:00Leftover FruitSam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-73175978526970100322013-02-04T07:44:00.000-08:002013-02-04T07:44:01.101-08:00Helpers Who Hinder<i><b>Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. (1 Timothy 3:11)</b></i><br />
<br />
What women are in view here? I believe it is the wives of the deacons. The wife of the deacon, or the elder for that matter, is a great asset or a destructive attachment. The deacon who serves faithfully and has a wife who gossips maliciously will cancel each other out when it comes to spiritual service. Imagine trusting someone with an embarrassing issue and then hearing about it as it is spread throughout the church grapevine. Trust me, when one is the subject of church gossip, it is an offense of the highest order that will kill the growth of the church. What is faster than malicious gossip is a message that spreads within the community or the church itself. This rapid message is that you cannot trust the leadership. But a dignified woman will protect the dignity of those suffering in affliction. A temperate woman is a woman who is moderate in her response to others within and without the church. She is not easily excited or emotionally unstable. She will be temperate and even when expressing emotions, will not allow her emotions to rule her. Finally she will be faithful in all things. Faithful to the One who gives her faith. When we know that we must answer to Jesus for the trust that is placed in us as ministers, it is a humbling experience. Imagine standing before the Lord and being required to repeat any malicious gossip we have put forth. It is quite sobering in thought and not beyond the realm of possibilities. The Lord loves those who are bound and brokenhearted. The Lord loves those entrusted with their care. The Lord loves a dignified, temperate and faithful servant. And if you are called to be the wife of the spiritual leader please know this is a high calling. And the first calling of a wife is to be a helper to the husband. When a wife is a malicious gossip it literally means that she is speaking evil. She does not help the church and certainly is a hindrance to the husband. Be a helper...it is Christ that you serve.Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-31397935857694059172013-01-14T07:51:00.000-08:002013-01-14T07:51:47.951-08:00Dining With The Dead<b><i>But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. (Proverbs 9:18</i></b><br />
<br />
The feast at Folly’s table is not what it seems. The foolish woman entices the one who is passing by, trying to live wisely, to come to her feast. She lures him in with claims about stolen water and secret bread. No doubt, this appeals to some. But imagine that you are one who stops…and enters in…and takes your place at the table. It won’t hurt for us to take a peek at what is actually going on. It may prove to be quite instructive. As you look around at the dinner guests, there is something strange about them. The silence is eerie…no one is talking, or eating for that matter. And then you discover that everyone here is dead…and dead men don’t feast. Dead people don’t talk. But this feast speaks volumes. This is the false feast that is waiting on the one who surrenders to the temptation to step off of the wise path. Supper in Sheol. Dinner with the Dead. Who would want that? None of us if that was how it was advertised. But this feast is portrayed as something exciting…dangerous…forbidden. Humans have a problem resisting something forbidden. Wonder where that stems from? But like so many traps we find attractive in its lure, once entrapped we find its hold on us is too strong to escape. Sin baits the trap with something desirous…then it uses a death grip to hold us there. Here is where the sin trap delivers us…to a banquet in the grave. The wages of sin is death. Death at the dinner table and skeletons at suppertime I can surely live without. How about you? <br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-9277773774600301912013-01-11T07:05:00.002-08:002013-01-11T07:05:51.477-08:00Overseeing Under Authority<b><i>It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. (1 Timothy 3:1)</i></b><br />
<br />
I suppose that some men perhaps pursue the office of overseer without a desire or aspirations to serve in that capacity. Others may see giftings in him and persuade him to be a pastor. And he may agree to it. Some have entered this office from family pressures…perhaps there is a family history or legacy to continue, maybe they come from a long line of pastors. But the most effective bishop, overseer, or pastor, is one who aspires to the office, or desires to do this fine work. Someone who has <i>the want </i>to or desire. Someone who cannot do anything else as effectively because they are designed for the work of a spiritual overseer or pastor. A reluctant pastor is a burden to his family, his church, and himself. But the one who desires to do the work will stick to it. Often it is only the call of God that keeps him there. Biblically, there seems to be a comparison and contrast in the context as to the qualifications of the pastor and the deacon. The similarities are shared of being men of good reputation and able to manage his family. But the deacon is a servant. And sometimes servants are pressed into service even when they didn’t have the aspiration to be a deacon because service was called for. But the deacon is a servant and not an overseer. The deacon is not occupying an office of authority in the church. When speaking of deacons, the Bible speaks primarily of service. When speaking of overseers, the Bible is focused on spiritual authority, which the model is servant leadership. We err in the church when we place authority in the hands of the deacon and never in the hands of the pastor. The trustworthy statement is that the pastor must have the desire to be a man in authority while under authority, knowing that he is accountable for how he has wielded authority while in this position. He must be a man who is in authority with an understanding of authority. This fine work is a responsible responsibility of a true servant leader. <br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-72656987267111562122013-01-10T04:48:00.000-08:002013-01-10T04:48:55.028-08:00Dead Widow Walking<i><b>But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. (1 Timothy 5:6-7)</b></i><br />
<br />
The widow is one who has survived the husband in death. Here we have admonition to a young pastor as to how to minister to widows…especially the young ones. Paul writes that their misery is compounded when the widow turns away from Christ to serve sin and self. The desires and temptations that face the younger women are great. Their fear can lead them away from the Lord and toward the devil. For someone to be dead while she lives is a sorrowful and sorrow-filled state. I see this in women who are abandoned as well. Turning away from trusting the Lord they give themselves and their honor away to a bogus belief that they need another man to take care of them. Sadly, many men will take advantage of such women. And many women will be bound to a horrible existence or abandoned again. The wise counsel is to trust God in their widowhood or their abandonment. Perhaps the Lord has a man in mind. But unless the Lord is consulted, the woman will be prone to foolish choices and a deathlike existence. The Lord is near the broken hearted…He has a special place for grace in which the true widow can abide. Paul’s counsel is that younger women who are in a widow’s position would do well to marry and raise children and keep a godly life in view. Our walk with the Lord really matters in this world. <br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-55217653936178385782013-01-09T05:11:00.000-08:002013-01-09T05:11:08.292-08:00Subversion...Inside Out Destruction<b><i>Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, but wickedness subverts the sinner. (Proverbs 13:6)</i></b><br />
<br />
The difference between a righteous and a wicked sinner is found in what they practice. I am a righteous sinner, in that the effects of sin still affect me from time to time. The only righteous thing about me is the forgiveness I can receive based on the righteousness of Christ. On the cross He became sin that I may become the righteousness of Christ. I am tempted to practice sinful acts willingly that I once did without recognizing the sinfulness. I was once a sinner that practiced sin continually…it was my nature…it was all I knew. But now I am different. I am still a sinner but there is a new reality. Righteousness lives in me…and motivates me to make righteous choices…with the goal of the righteousness of Christ in view. Therefore, a righteous sinner may still sin from time to time, but the righteousness within reveals the path. Righteousness within us is like a spiritual GPS device directing the path. And when I stray off the path, righteousness shows me the way back to it. Righteousness is like the guardrails upon my life. <br />
Contrast that with the life of the wicked sinner. Since there is no deterrent to wicked, or sinful, living, or motivation to live blamelessly, the wicked sinner has no restraint to his wickedness. In fact, the wickedness within is a powerful subversive force. Subversion is especially destructive. It destroys from within…imploding to reveal its emptiness. There is no righteousness that resides in the wicked sinner. Nothing to guard and guide the way. The subversive practice of wickedness is self-inflicted and self-destructive. Self-destruction is deceptive. Like the denial of a terminal disease, we will not believe we are dying and we do not need treatment for our condition. Sin is subversive. In the practice of it, we are destroying ourselves. It’s because we have believed that we are not as bad as we really are…while wickedness is loose…eating away and eroding our lives. We will lie to ourselves when we practice wickedness. Wickedness within cannot tell the truth. Righteousness has not been received. Subversion, intentionally undermining something to cause it to fall, is like termites gnawing at the structure of your house…it will crumble long before its shelf life is set to expire. Don’t die before your time. Seek first the Kingdom of God…and His righteousness. Wickedness eats its way out…of house and home. The Father's House and the Kingdom of God should be our terminal destination. <br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-49441074955684710222013-01-08T04:38:00.000-08:002014-10-13T11:20:58.501-07:00The Come On To Go No More<i><b>Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, so he does not know that it will cost him his life. (Proverbs 7:22-23)<br />
</b></i><br />
<br />
The condition of a man lured into sexual sin is described here. Dumb as an ox, chained like a fool, like a bird hurrying to be trapped. The endgame is a fatal attraction. Like an arrow that pierces the liver…the sinful pleasure carries a serious sentence. We will not survive an arrow to the liver. Death is a sure thing. So is the result of being caught up in the trap that the adulteress sets. Sadly, many men and women go willingly, choosing not to think about the slaughter. I don’t imagine an ox knows where he is going when he goes on to go no more. A fool in fetters does not give much thought to his discipline…he’s just a fool being foolish. It is his nature. A bird alights and hops towards the bait…it doesn’t see the snare. But oh, how he will soon feel the fowler’s snare! Flight is no longer an escape route. Fight is a not so smart alternative. The snare will close tighter and tighter. The admonition is to think about the outcome before we join in with the come on. There is a price to pay for sexual sin…as with any other kind of idolatry...it will cost us our life. Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-84001687913207102652013-01-03T05:58:00.000-08:002013-01-03T05:58:10.573-08:00Godly Gifting<i><b>For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)</b></i><br />
<br />
When God gives a gift…it speaks of His character. God gives us qualities that are manifest in Him. Here we read that God has not given us one thing, but other things…power, love, and discipline. When we realize that these things are gifts, we must receive them, and thank God for them. The power of God surpasses the power of men. My power has its limitations. God’s power is boundless. His power is more than sufficient for any human condition or circumstance. Death is not beyond His power to restore. Life is not beyond His power to sustain…or stop. Love is a many splendored thing, so the old song says. But our human understanding of love is insufficient for what God wants us to have. Love is wrapped up in His nature. And He wants love to be part of ours. The reason God loves is because He’s God. If He’s living, He’s loving. And God gives us the gift of sound judgment…discipline. He gives us what we need to judge rightly and live disciplined lives. He gives us a right standard to judge by…His Word, His Holiness, Himself. So God gives us gifts that are essentially His very nature. So what is it that He hasn’t given? Here we read a spirit of timidity. But it’s more specific than that. A spirit of fear is what is displayed in some translations. But what is really being said is that God has not given us a spirit of cowardice. This is especially instructive for me. Cowardice is a type of fear that is particularly disabling. Cowardice is being afraid of doing the right thing...even when we know the right thing to do. I have heard it said that courage is fear that has said its prayers. Cowardice does not talk to anyone. It’s too ashamed. Cowardice is too afraid of its fear. Cowardice is too afraid to pray. The reason God has not given us this kind of spirit is that God is not a coward. And when God gives us gifts, He brings them Himself...personally. His presence brings His presents! This is the reason He consistently says to His people…fear not, I am with you. My encouraging word today is that God will give me courage, not cowardice. If fear is courage that has said its prayers, maybe that’s the problem. Cowards don’t talk much with God. If cowardice is found in you, talk to God about it. He is able to give you something different. Courageous people hear from God…and do what He says. They gain the courage that overcomes their cowardice. Perfect Love casts out fear!<br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-17489848910395682742013-01-02T05:10:00.003-08:002013-01-02T05:10:29.653-08:00Eyes to See<i><b>A king who sits on the throne of justice disperses all evil with his eyes. (Proverbs 20:8)</b></i><br />
<br />
The Look…I know you know what I’m talking about. My mother had the look…something she did with her eyes when she saw something in me that needed correction. It’s been said that the eyes are the window into the soul. Some people can communicate with their eyes without saying a word. The writer of this proverb has a king in mind. Someone in authority because he sits on a throne…a place of authority. You can have wicked or godly authority depending upon what kind of judgments are dispensed. This king sits on a throne of justice. So we can say this person is someone that renders just decisions based upon his ability to sift through the facts of the case. The word <i>disperses</i> in the verse actually means <i>sifts</i>. So this king can sift through evil with his eyes. He can discern the lies told by what he sees. He has the look and knows how and when to use it. Consider the One that revealed Himself to the Apostle John…His eyes were like a flame of fire…(Revelation 1:14). Nothing before the eyes of the Lord can be hidden. He sifts through evil…He has the look…and He knows what He sees. What does the Lord see in me today? As He sits on His throne of justice, does he see me as a man of justice? Does He see me as a man in authority able to tell the difference between good and evil, sifting through what I see? I need to be a wise leader. So do you. I need discernment to be able to sift through what I see to know how to be godly in my life. For one day, we will stand before the gaze of the One whose eyes are like a flame of fire. He will know what He sees…sometimes that causes me to tremble. Then I remember…He will be looking to see His image…He will sift through me to see Himself. Christ in me...the hope of glory. Hallelujah, what a Savior!<br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-17326018442145142792012-12-31T05:25:00.001-08:002012-12-31T05:25:48.396-08:00Light the Lamp<i><b>For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life. (Proverbs 6:23)</b></i><br />
<br />
To know what God has said is not enough. We must know why the Lord has given us admonition. What lies beneath the commandment is the counsel. The counsel, or the teaching, is the light that the lamp produces. Consider that a lamp can be placed on a stand without ever being lit. It can be displayed and referred to and talked about but not used without being lit. Now consider the Bible on display on some table. It's never opened but we can point to it and talk about it. Within this Book is the Word of God that will guide us into the right way of life. But it's not enough to know what God has said if we don't use it to direct us. This kind of living is as useless as carrying a lamp into the darkness without ever lighting it. The teaching of God's word illuminates what God has said. It is the <i>why</i> of the <i>what</i>. It gives us the <i>when</i> and the <i>how</i> of the obedience required for our transformation. In other words, the teaching counsels us to apply the commandment to our lives and realize its value to godly living. No teacher is satisfied to disseminate information without testing. How will we pass the tests of life if we do not know the information that the Teacher has revealed to us? It is no less important for teachers of spiritual knowledge to remind, reprove, and rebuke if necessary. One disciple has responsibility to make a disciple…under the direction and authority of the Lord. We need to understand that amassing information is not the primary goal of spiritual instruction. Transformation is the goal of receiving information. Unless we are willing to hold one another accountable for the information we receive, we will not be disciplined or motivated to learn and be transformed. At this point, preaching and teaching of the Word of the Lord becomes an intellectual exercise to be accepted or rejected based on individuals being the standard of whether they think they need to be changed or not. The right view is that God is the standard. And we all need to be changed into the image of Christ. God has provided His commandments to guide…His Spirit to teach…and one another as disciples to discipline. The question becomes whether or not we have the desire to become like Christ and if we will submit to spiritual teaching and surrender to the Lord’s authority. After all, Christ is the Way…and the Life. And Christlike living is the way of life. As we prepare to enter into a new year that promises great challenges may we light the lamp so we can see where we are walking and have light where we are living.<br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-62206210929695423822012-12-03T04:13:00.000-08:002012-12-03T04:13:12.250-08:00Words...Foundations To Build Upon<i><b>But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1)</b></i><br />
<br />
The only way the godless become godly is to hear how God designs for them to become godly. Titus is given practical teaching for practicing believers. This sound doctrine is the teaching that helps people see how God’s counsel looks when it all fits together. The Lord's word is the foundation upon which the church is built. The people of God are like building blocks that are joined together upon this foundation. The body of Christ is like a puzzle of different pieces, fitting together to help a community of believers be different than the culture from which they were rescued. Older men and women are to be examples and teachers of younger believers. Consider that older women are to be teaching the younger women how to love their husbands. I can understand that. Often younger people don’t really know how to love one another. But this sound doctrine includes teaching younger woman how to love their children. Wouldn’t that come naturally? Sadly, we all have to be taught how to love. Cretans are not the only people that need to be taught how to love like Christ. This is sound doctrine. This teaching is fitting...it joins us together. Soundness, or integrity, is something that is foundational. These things are foundational to our faith and critical in building up the people of God. The sound doctrine that Titus is to preach is to live out the word of the Lord…beginning with his teaching. Titus is to be exemplary in living out this sound doctrine. He is to practice what he preaches! Speak about the things that you can build upon. The building up of the pastor is a priority for the Lord to build up the church. <br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-41307372497316808982012-11-28T05:31:00.000-08:002012-11-28T05:31:21.325-08:00The King's Domain<i><b>On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him. (Esther 1:10-12)</b></i><br />
<br />
Domestic disputes occur even in the houses of kings. Here we have the ultimate clashing of desires. The king desiring to put the beauty of the queen on display. And the queen desiring not to do what the king wants her to do. We don't know the reason for the queen's refusal…only that she did not come. She refused the king's command. Interestingly, we are given the king's motivation. I wonder how the writer of Esther knew this. The wise men interpreted that the queen's behavior will spark similar activities in households across the kingdom. Something must be done to act as a deterrent. Banishing the queen from the king's presence and selection of another queen is chosen as the best course of action. So much for equal rights. The reality is that the rule of the king is absolute. The queen does not share the authority. The queen serves at the pleasure of the king. At least that’s the king’s understanding, The king's edict is sent to all the kingdom. The message is that every man should be the master in his own house and the speaker for his people. Every man is to be the king in his castle, so to speak. The story of Esther is about the sovereign rule of Almighty God, the King of all kings. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Almighty. So all events such as this one are under the sovereign authority of God. How God does what He does is a marvelous thing. He uses the obstinate attitude of Queen Vashti to create a selection process to place one of His people in a critical place at a crucial time. It is often said that the Lord will not overrule our will…that we have the ability to choose acceptance of His way or reject it. Maybe so…maybe not. But I see in this passage what the Lord will do with our will. He will use not only the subservient as well as the stubborn and rebellious will of men and women to accomplish His divine purpose. Our rebellion does not thwart the work of God. God is so great that He can use the rebellious will of humanity to accomplish His sovereign plan. And He is still in the process of daily arranging the affairs of kings, queens, people and peasants to fulfill His purpose. All of humanity and all of history rests within this King's domain. The Lord...He is God.<br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-32834632701018455802012-11-14T04:34:00.000-08:002012-11-14T04:34:21.378-08:00Serious Agent of Radical Change<i><b>Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, each in his task, and I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. (Nehemiah 13:29-31)</b></i><br />
<br />
Nehemiah executed the eviction of the man named Tobiah without notice. Other actions concerning mixed marriages and Sabbath observance got his attention and he attended to the situations. To rebuild a wall without rebuilding lives was fruitless in the mind of the man of God. Nehemiah courageously saw the wrong and began to make it right. The man of God today can take a lesson here. Some things don't need committee action. Some things and some people are out of place. When that happens, something has to be evicted. But the empty place cannot remain vacant. Nehemiah restores the right things to the Levites. The commitments that God's people made were put to the test with a man who was determined to do what he said. Nehemiah may have encountered resistance to the exclusion of foreigners from the community experience. He may have been opposed by running off someone who was shown favoritism because of family relations. He may have been inclined to shrink back from enforcing the observance of the Sabbath with the merchants. But in his statement of being willing to use force, he was not intimidated by the economical price that obedience often brings. It is costly. People's lives and livelihood are disrupted. God always shakes us up before He irons us out. The marriage of foreigners had corrupted even the language of God's people. It was serious enough that Nehemiah was physically able to carry out spiritual admonitions. The last phrase for God to remember him for good should be our prayer when restoration is called for. We need God to help us because restoration of God's people is often dangerous and difficult. It takes people who care primarily about God's name and reputation to be effective agents of change.<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-53514389368557113132012-11-12T05:50:00.000-08:002012-11-12T05:50:54.975-08:00Don't Know Or Won't Know?<i><b>They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (Titus 1:16)</b></i><br />
<br />
Ignorance and rebellion. Two hindrances to godliness are evident in humanity. Of the two I would much rather counsel with an ignorant man, one who desires to follow God, but may be lacking in instruction about the ways of the Lord. Rebellious men are a different breed. They will not be instructed into right doctrine because doctrine is not the issue. They have their own agendas. They want to be in authority, even though they oppose godly authority. Here Paul seems to be instilling battle plans into Titus. Some things you do not negotiate with and try to win over. Some things you oppose strongly, even attack preemptively wherever you find it. Like the ones who are teaching falsely about the Lord. They profess to know Him…they have said they follow Jesus. But what they do is practice rebellion. Titus is to reprove them strongly. Paul is talking about using the word of God…given to rebuke and reprove the rebel. Given to restore and reinforce the faithful. The goal is that the faith of those who follow God is strengthened. Paul’s counsel is to bring them all under authority. This is a word for us today. Do not tolerate opposition that tears down the work of the Lord. Refute the doctrine and reprove the false teacher. Do not tolerate and accommodate a different gospel. The fight of faith is to be fought. Spritual warriors are always at war. Rebellion is always to be engaged. And the ignorant, the one without knowledge is always to be educated. There is a huge distinction between the ones who don't know and the ones who won't know. <br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-74353984402870057202012-11-05T04:01:00.000-08:002012-11-05T04:01:03.592-08:00The Sound of Joy<i><b>…And the singers sang, with Jezrahiah their leader, and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. (Nehemiah 12:42-43)</b></i><br />
<br />
When worship is done rightly, it produces a spirit of joy. Because God is there. And joy is from God. The account says that the people sang and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. We cannot pretend that we are joyful. We cannot manufacture it. We can only respond to what God does because of our desire to see Him exalted. We are told that the singers sang. We may think that is not a significant thing. But there are many singers who don’t sing. They just go through the motions, mindlessly mouthing the words, trying to stay in tune. When a singer really sings, it makes a difference in worship. The joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. That's what happens when singers really sing. It is attractive and the message goes far from the place where the song is sung. The joy is "heard" beyond the boundaries. Oh, how we can mute the sound of joy…the many songs that are stifled…muffled…muddled. But how the people of God can make a difference when they remember they have reason to rejoice. Joy remains an effective message in the heart long after the tune has faded away from the ears. For Nehemiah and his people, the wall they rebuilt was secondary in priorities. Worship was primary. The need for the wall symbolized their helpless vulnerability apart from the protection and providence of God. The strength of God and His plan of community was lived out in their worship experience. All our joy flows from a right worship relationship with God. Significant in a previous verse of this passage is a reference to the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Had these things survived the progression of time even through the exile? Who had them? Where were they? Had they been silent till now? It would be truly significant if these things had been preserved. But more significant is the preservation of the presence of joy in the people of God. This is a timeless aspect to true worship. Sometimes we think we can't worship if we don't use the same musical instruments that our forefathers used. The things that make the music are not as critical as the sound of the music. Does it sound like joy? The joy of the Lord, found in the worship of God, is a tune that never goes out of tune…and always living beyond its time. <br />
<br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-88359966648063881242012-11-02T06:44:00.001-07:002012-11-02T06:44:13.287-07:00Tough Man...Tough Mission<i><b>For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you… (Titus 1:5)</b></i><br />
<br />
It takes a tough man for a tough mission field. This is why Paul left Titus in Crete. To put in order what remains…this can be a hard task, almost overwhelming at times. Sometimes to put something in order you have to dismantle what is out of order. In ministry, this can be a daunting task. Sometimes we have to face tough opposition that may have been entrenched in false teaching and family idolatry. In the contest of the text, Titus is warned that many others would resist the sound teaching. But Titus is also to make disciples, to train leaders, in the midst of this fight. This is the key to building churches. Learn how to refute and answer ungodly opposition while earning the respect and trust of those coming into the faith. For the false teacher will always siphon off the new lamb in the fold…seeking to build his flock. Titus is told in effect to man up and raise up godly men! This is the way of the Lord. We are always fighting to gain and hold ground, advancing the kingdom, until the King returns to reign. The war never goes away until Jesus brings peace to earth and in heaven. Come quickly, Lord Jesus! <br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-38077082362996030932012-11-01T07:46:00.000-07:002012-11-01T07:46:24.443-07:00Singing Servants<b><i>Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God. (Nehemiah 11:22)</i></b><br />
<br />
Security and songs were necessary parts of this worship experience. Often we think we are safe when we come worship together. And when we come to worship as a ho-hum humdrum experience, we probably are. The enemy is not too worried about a lethargic worship experience. But one that is vital and committed to pursue God is a threat to his disorder. So one of the ways that we attack the enemy stronghold is to become strong in our worship of God. We need to be as vigilant as the people of Nehemiah's day. Look out for opposition and have in place a first line of defense. Have someone watch the gates. Spiritually and physically. Some of these people were chosen to live in Jerusalem. They, in effect, were offered for service. The sons of Asaph were known as singers of psalms. The song is a driving point in worship, even in our day. More conflict will come over music in our churches, even to the point of division. It should not be so. In Nehemiah's day these things were regulated and put in order. There’s an old saying I’ve heard that when the devil fell from Heaven, he fell into the choir loft! Sadly, this seems to have legitimacy in some of our church experience, doesn’t it? More segregated services today seem to cater over music styles. Contemporary, traditional, and blended seem to be the catch phrases. Kind of like a smorgasbord of what we would like…wonder what kind of music the Lord likes? Freedom in worship music is often hard to find. And in America, the length of the song seems to be a guiding principle. It must fit the order of worship. But the Lord will not be boxed into our design. Am I too caught up in this mindset of management to be real when I worship? Do we sing long enough to hear God praised? Or do we sing so long as to be vainly repetitious? Don’t get so caught up with meaningless controversy that we miss the meaning of worship. The One we worship determines the method of worship. Selah…meditate on that for a while…True godly worship truly pleases God. So who are we really trying to please? Who are we serving when we are singing?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-27386861130061741792012-10-29T05:08:00.002-07:002012-10-29T05:08:23.297-07:00Community Commitment<b><i>Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given through Moses, God's servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes; (Nehemiah 10:28-29)<br />
</i></b><br />
<br />
The covenant that is ratified here spelled out the details of the worship experience. They were to be faithful in their marital dealings with their daughters. They are not to be married to those outside the family of Israel. Their sons were not to marry daughters of pagans. Here is where God’s people had gotten into trouble. The people of God were not distinguishable among the nations that surrounded them. There was no uniqueness among them. So steps were taken to insure this. Agreement to be a set apart people was necessary to establish themselves as a unique nation once again. The danger in doing this is that it can foster racial discrimination when it reality it is spiritual discrimination. The admonition to have believers equally yoked can be applied here. When two people see the world through a different lens, then their purpose will not be a cohesive one. They will not travel life's road together. Their spiritual agendas and allegiances will be different. Their worship will be compromised because their gods are different. So here the people are restoring purity to their lives as it applies to worship. The Sabbath observance is next. Interesting that the domestic unity was brought forth first. Then the Sabbath. Because the Sabbath is only understood from the perspective of God's people. For example, when two people of unlike faith are joined together, the unbeliever will not stop selling merchandise to observe the Sabbath or the Lord’s Day. That’s not where the priority lies. More likely than not, the believer will stop observing the Sabbath to sell. It’s kind of like what happens when spotless white gloves that cover the hands are dipped into a bucket of mud. The result is muddy gloves instead of glovey mud. There is a commitment to giving as part of their worship experience. Unless we realize that we will not experience the fullness of worship. You can give without worship but you can’t worship without giving. Even in Nehemiah's day this was a reality. The context of this passage tells us even the details of the wood that was to be burned are spelled out. The supply of wood was a physical requirement and not to be overlooked. Kind of like heating and cooling in our buildings. These details are often elevated to a place where they should not be. But they are often overlooked and trivialized as well. Without wood, there would be no worship. What good would it be to bring a burnt offering when there was no provision for the burning? The giving of the firstfruits are highlighted here. We do well to remember that this is a personal requirement of worship. To freely worship the Living God, it should cost us something. We must let go of that which our hands tend to cling in order to open them to God and receive His blessing. Everyone had something to give, whether they could support the temple budget or not. The tithe is not to be forgotten. When God's people tithe, then they will support the worship of the house of God. In these ways, God's house is not neglected. But the house that we often get bound up in is made of bricks and sticks. The spiritual house of God, built on the foundation of the worship of God, is the House that God builds. And His people are engaged. The pattern I see here is the (1)dedication of our family structure is primary. It is hard to worship different gods. The unified worship in each family is brought together. They bring the desire to see the one true God worshipped as one committed people group. They give God their families. (2) Then they give God His Sabbath day. The setting apart of God's people precede the setting aside the time and manner of worship. Holy days are revered and observed once again. The purpose of God's people is being realized. Worship is central to their existence. (3) Then they give to fund the faithful worship of God. Their money is released as a resource. They realize that it is God's money after all. Once released in serious worship, people find that money does not hold power over them. (4) The commitment to attend to the physical aspects of worship is necessary. We need to make our physical facilities and trappings as functional as possible. Changing blown out light bulbs and cleaning the restrooms are things that are needful. (5) Regular first fruit giving and tithing are crucial to the spiritual life of God's people. It is here that the most are the least spiritually mature. The growth in a disciple is most likely stunted here. Do we worship God with our bank accounts? Ongoing ministry needs are met when people give in their worship experience. The house of God is not neglected when there is a healthy adoption of these 5 principles. They are critical to the worship experience within the family of God. The restoration of the house of God and the people of God continued in Jerusalem. The good news is that restoration is still possible today…in the house of God…wherever people have a desire to see God glorified. It works every time it’s tried.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-26661449790546748022012-10-25T05:14:00.000-07:002012-10-25T05:16:15.106-07:00Crime Scene<b><i>They finished investigating all the men who had married foreign wives by the first day of the first month. (Ezra 10:17)</i></b><br />
<br />
Have you ever passed by a place with the crime scene tape encircling the scene of the crime? I always wonder what might have taken place there, thinking about the change in the lives of the victims as well as the perpetrators. In the passage before us, we get a biblical drive-by observation of the aftermath of a spiritual crime scene. Much damage was done to God's people by generations of intermarriage. The restoration depended upon a heart-breaking remedy. Ezra grieved over what must be done. The men who had foreign wives must put them away or be excluded from the nation. As the investigation continued, the intermarriage seemed to be pervasive and common to all groups. The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the congregation of Israel were all affected. Families were affected. But the action was taken nonetheless. There was too much at stake not to act. To compromise and allow this behavior to remain, or to “grandfather” them in and only decree that it would no longer be tolerated, was not an option. The transgressors were not allowed to ignore this remedy. To put away their foreign wives would endeavor to undo what had been done wrong...at least as much as possible. This is the way of sin. Even when we undo what should not have been done in the first place, people are still hurt and the damage is great and longlasting. The families that had been produced from these ungodly unions were devastated in the remedy. The high cost of sin is compounded and magnified in the lives of others that we never anticipated. Sin is a condition that keeps on giving out what no one bargained for. Sin takes in life and gives out death, destruction, and disorder. Here is another example of a godly man doing what God requires…and grieving over the devastation. God is at war with sin and His remedy is to restore His people and deliver them from its influence. Ezra points us to our Great High Priest…who never compromises with sin…and picks up the pieces of His people's lives to restore them in right relationship with God. <br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-27364585418552441652012-10-24T05:56:00.001-07:002012-10-24T05:56:53.235-07:00Remorse, Repentance, and Restoration<i><b>But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God; and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. (Ezra 9:5-6)</b></i><br />
<br />
Repentance always comes before restoration. Repentance is the place where the Lord leads His people because His desire is to restore our ruination. How can we repent if we do not know where we are? Repentance is the place where the kindness of God leads a man. Ezra is overwhelmed with the grace of God, allowing them to return to rebuild Jerusalem and a godly culture. But the Ezra's realization was how can the Lord lead them into restoration while the people are in such a sinful condition? The prohibition of marrying outside of the faith had been ignored for generations. This was not a racial admonition, but a spiritual one. For how does a family worship the Living God when the family devotes themselves to the worship of idols? This kind of spiritually mixed marriage is fractured in their godly pursuits and the cause of many heartaches even in our day. Ezra knew their fallen condition. So did the Lord. But how about the people? Ezra’s struggle with the restoration is how would the people respond to the truth? How the Lord’s people deals with their sin is crucial to their restoration both in Ezra’s day and ours. Knowing the wrong, we must turn to the right. The grace of God is truly our guide. God reveals sin so we can repent. We can repent or change our life direction when we truly experience the kindness of God that leads us to godly sorrow. Restoration is only possible when repentance is practiced. When we become aware of the sin…and it grieves us because we sin against this Most Kind and Most High God, we are truly made aware of our constant failing and His consistent faithfulness. For God’s people of any age to move into real and meaningful restoration, repentance must be authentic. Repentance must be practiced. Repentance truly is a vital change of direction and our great hope for restoration. <br />
<br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-67669161484401641292012-10-23T07:00:00.002-07:002012-10-23T07:00:21.701-07:00Wisdom Works <b><i>The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. (Proverbs 8:22-23)</i></b><br />
<br />
Wisdom is the oldest thing in the universe but it never goes out of date. We need wisdom as much as any human ever has. And the Lord knows this. The Lord is timeless…and when He began His work of creation, He already had wisdom with Him. When we think that we have discovered wisdom, that it is some new thing, it is only new to us who are finite. Wisdom itself has an infinite history. It has been with the Lord all along. What are we to make of this? Do we not know that in the beginning there was only God? So what was wisdom doing there? If I read this chapter rightly beyond the text before us, Wisdom is the Agent of Creation. This passage declares that Wisdom is a Master Workman...a Maker of Wise Creatures, delighting in the sons of men. Wisdom is a Person. Wisdom is the Creator…God the Son…actively making the world and man in His image. This is the preincarnate Christ. This could be the One who walked with Man in the Garden. One who created the Man in His image. This God-Man was there in the Garden to warn about wise and foolish choices. This One would become a man who walked this fallen earth to restore the right image of God in man. Here we see Wisdom walking…in Eden…and we see Him through time walking in Jerusalem. So is He walking with me today? Is Wisdom my constant walking Companion? Has Wisdom possessed you at the beginning of your way? If we seek wisdom, if we seek Jesus …He will make Himself known to us. He will be manifested to man once again. When foolish people are born again…we have been breathed into spiritual life by the Wisdom and the Word of God. I have not found Wisdom as much as Wisdom has found me! Is your life a testimony that you are becoming a work of Wisdom? Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-38849011008991330132012-10-22T04:53:00.000-07:002012-10-22T04:53:02.065-07:00God's Housekeepers<b><i>Now I assembled them at the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days; and when I observed the people and the priests, I did not find any Levites there. (Ezra 8:15)</i></b><br />
<br />
Ezra looked for the Levites. He saw the people, he saw the priests, but he saw no Levites. Why was he concerned about this? This tribe was assigned the task of taking care of the house of worship. If the house was to be restored, the Levites were to be involved. If they were being activated, they needed to be trained again in the mission that had fallen by the wayside. Their national identity of being the people of Yahweh was at risk. The Levites were the Lord’s housekeepers. This is a lesson for our day. Pastors and ministry leaders are not to forget the housekeepers in the congregation. They are an integral part. These people are the ones who quietly serve in the small places that escape the limelight. True godly men and women know the value of the housekeepers. And I am not only talking about custodial stuff and custodial staff. I am talking about the people who keep the house…preserve its integrity…looking out for the things that are out of order and being willing to do something about the disorder. They are the ones who pray and have a burden to serve the Lord by serving His people. They are the ones who have a spirit like Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement, who was a Levite and had a heart to give. The New Testament writer describes him as one of these housekeepers. God is orderly and His authority rests in the orderly worship in the midst of His people. We need to be like Ezra. Take a look around for those that are missing in our midst. Are there any housekeepers missing from the house? Look around for the housekeepers. Know their value. Encourage them to serve. Give thanks for their gifts and encouragement. And don’t leave on mission to restore God's house without them! <br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-34830776410434892392012-10-19T04:19:00.000-07:002012-10-19T04:19:41.559-07:00War On The Home Front<i><b>On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him. (Esther 1:10-12)</b></i><br />
<br />
Domestic disputes occur even in the houses of kings. Here we have the ultimate clashing of desires. The king desiring to put the beauty of the queen on display. And the queen desiring not to do what the king wants her to do. We don't know the reason for the queen's refusal…only that she did not come. She refused the king's command. Interestingly, we are given the king's motivation. I wonder how the writer of Esther knew this. The wise men interpret that the queen's behavior will spark similar activities in households across the kingdom. Something must be done to act as a deterrent. Banishing the queen from the king's presence and selection of another is chosen as the course of action. So much for equal rights. The reality is that the rule of the king is absolute. The queen does not share the authority. The queen serves at the pleasure of the king. At least that’s the king’s understanding, The king's edict is sent to all the kingdom. The message is that every man should be the master in his own house and the speaker for his people. Every man is to be the king in his castle, so to speak. The story of Esther is about the sovereign rule of Almighty God, the King of all kings. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Almighty. So events such as this one is under the sovereign authority of God. How God does what He does is a marvelous thing. He uses the obstinate attitude of Vashti to create a selection process to place one of His people in a critical place at a crucial time. It is often said that the Lord will not overrule our will…that we have the ability to choose our acceptance of His way or reject it. Maybe so…maybe not. But I see in this passage what the Lord will do with our will. He will use even the stubborn and rebellious will of men and women to accomplish His purposes. Our rebellion does not thwart the work of God. The Lord can actually use the rebellious will of humanity to accomplish His sovereign plan. And He is still in the process of daily arranging the affairs of kings, queens, people and peasants to fulfill His purpose.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-22428674190866029102012-10-18T04:56:00.001-07:002012-10-18T05:00:31.235-07:00Preach To Me<i><b>Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1 Tim 4:16)</b></i><br />
<br />
Preach to yourself…and the Lord's message will be more relevant to others. It will be more real and not some abstract theory if you are part of the process. It will be more practical if we are seen practicing the truths of the faith. For how will we teach others about pursuing godliness unless we are pursuing it ourselves? This young preacher is warned about false teachers teaching demonic doctrines. The power of godly teaching that effects transformation will always be opposed by spiritual forces bent on our destruction and the attempt to diminish God's message into irrelevance. To be the most effective teacher, I must communicate a firm belief in what I believe. One thing I believe is that the Lord is able to transform us into the image of Christ when we learn to live within the authority of His word...practicing His teaching...practicing what we preach. I must preach to myself. Godliness is the goal. Teaching godliness requires that I am becoming more godly and the example of my life will confirm this for all to see. When I do not practice what I preach I can become one of those false teachers…teaching doctrines of demons…one of them being that God is not true to His word. Doctrines of demons consist of any teaching not grounded in the truth of God's word. This truth will set us free to serve the Lord and free from slavery to sin. When we are living God's word and learning how to worship Him rightly there should be progress toward Christlikeness. People should be able to see my spiritual progression…not regression. I don’t want to go backward from where I’ve come. Forward…godliness...is the goal. When I preach to me it is because I always need to be reminded of my destiny...and since I am going to be with Jesus it is required that I am to be more like Jesus.<br />
Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-69344354098270404362012-10-17T04:37:00.000-07:002012-10-17T04:37:09.918-07:00His Hand Upon Us<b><i>Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to adorn the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king's mighty princes. Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the Lord my God upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. (Ezra 7:27-28)</i></b><br />
<br />
Even the king could see it. It was hard to miss. The hand of the Lord God was upon Ezra the scribe. What does this look like? Often it is a generational thing…the hand of the Lord was upon Ezra and a long lineage of ancestors, all the way back to Aaron, the brother of Moses, and High Priest of Israel. Imagine being in Babylonian captivity at this time of the history of God’s people and being privileged to return to restore the worship of God in Jerusalem. Imagine going back to lead the people in spiritual worship and teaching of the word of the Lord and not knowing how. The Lord prepares those that He will use. He begins with a heart to know God. Ezra had set his heart to learning the law…so he could practice the law…so he could teach the law of the Lord. He had not abandoned his priestly lineage as some did. He set his heart on doing what the Lord wanted him to do…never dreaming how God would work it out in his life. God was known in Ezra’s heart before he knew God’s hand was upon him. This is a lesson for us. We should set our hearts on knowing God and practicing His ways. And perhaps someday, the hand of the Lord will be upon us, and we will be mightily used beyond our capacity. When the hand of the Lord is upon us, it can be plainly seen. And the hand of the Lord is placed upon those whose hearts are set diligently upon Him. His hand is upon us to steady us as we study Him.Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757451102921420765.post-70505871024265585782012-10-16T08:02:00.002-07:002012-10-17T15:37:56.156-07:00Danger...Ambush Ahead!<i><b>Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men. (Proverbs 4:14)</b></i><br />
<br />
The path is where temptation is more likely to be encountered. Traps are set on the path that the prey travels upon. Any hunter worth his salt scouts the landscape and sets up a blind from which to shoot ducks or places a tree stand along the path of the deer’s daily journey. The path is where danger lies in waiting. The threat of death or capture lurks in the shadows of the path of the wicked. So the wise counsel is resist temptation by staying off the wicked path and remaining on the path of the righteous. When we move off the righteous path and walk in the way of evil men, we should expect to encounter the snares of the enemy. We are his prey when we are in his domain. We have a trapper who has been at this a long time, studying the habits of the creatures called humans. But consider that when we walk in the righteous way, we are the hunters. The hunted has become the hunter. As we pursue righteousness, traveling the path of the righteous, any evil thing that is encountered, within or without, is to be vanquished. Righteous living begins with righteous thinking. Keeping our mind fixed upon the Person of Christ enables us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. When our minds dwell on that which does not honor Christ, we are travelling the path of the wicked. The first place we are trapped is in the mind. It is always about what we think about God and about man that puts us at risk. The safest place for the godly person to be is wherever we are when our minds are encountering the ways or the paths of godliness. Think about it! Sam Gorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01187773532291840830noreply@blogger.com0