TAKING A LOOK AT EPHESIANS 5 part 1

Back in the summer of 2012, I found myself having quite a bit of time on my hands. So what did I do with that time? A chunk of it was spent with my kids obviously. But with the kids going back and forth between their mom’s house and mine, I found myself also with a great deal of alone time. It was in these times I made it my goal to limit my television usage, and open the Bible more. So I did. I opened and began to study one of my favorite books of the Bible, Ephesians. As I was studying, I began to focus in specifically to chapter 5.
I remember during my junior year of college one of the guys in my class came up to me and told me that he had a word for me. I was a little hesitant as to what he may say, but I listened. His words were simple. “God wants you to read and live Ephesians 5.” A little perplexed, I went back to the dorm that night and skimmed through it. Of all the verses that I saw on the page, my eyes landed on the part concerning a husband and wife and right away I thought he had missed it. How could it apply to me since I was not married, or even dating anyone at that time. Over the course of my life since then, my eyes have read the words of Ephesians 5 so many times that I probably could quote it. And following my divorce I have read it even more. There are so many truths within just this chapter beyond that of marriage, and so many lessons we should learn when deciding to do what Jesus would do.
Wow, I had so much to learn back then. I would like to think I have learned it all now, but the great thing about God’s Word is that because it is living and active, we can never get enough. It gets in us, to the core, changes us if we allow it to, and then comes back to do the process all over. So with this background, and in humility myself, I submit to you what God has shown me, verse my verse, from Ephesians 5.

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“So imitate God, as his dear children…”
Ephesians 5:1

Consider this, Jesus is the standard, not the exception. Therefore His ways are the ways we should follow instead of avoid. In John 5:19, Jesus spoke that He did only as He saw His Father doing. “…Whatever the Father does, the Son does too.” In Ephesians 5:1, Paul then encourages us to do likewise and follow in the ways that we see the Father doing as well. So then in order for us to do what Jesus would do, we need to seek Him and ask Him what He would do. I know this principle goes a little off course in some circles, but this is the path to blessing.
And consider also the fact that our previous timeline in God’s kingdom doesn’t prove we know what we are doing. What I mean by this is that just because we may have been raised in the church doesn’t mean that every action we do is right. Look at Isaiah 56:1-2 as an example. The passage starts out stating to observe justice and do what is right. Then in verse 2 it tells us one of the things that is right according to God, which is the keeping of the Sabbath. When was the last time you kept the Sabbath? Guess what, I’m Jewish and I still struggle with keeping the Sabbath correctly. The Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest and recollection of the awesomeness of God, yet I find myself struggling to keep from using it to get my week’s grocery shopping done. So then if I ask myself the question of what would Jesus do on the Sabbath, I am pretty sure I would not hear Him answer, “Go shopping.” I would hear Him answer to reflect on Him, study His Word, and bathe in His presence. That is what Jesus did.
To imitate God in a world and time that seems to be so far from knowing God’s true will takes us asking Him exactly what it is He wants us to do. We are to measure ourselves based on His Word, get back to His statutes, and perform according to His morals. But in a time when even “Christians” are giving over to premarital sex, affairs, drunkenness, pride, and idol worship, I venture to say we have no idea what it means to be a God-follower. Quite honestly, I am sick of this being the way my life goes. I am sick of saying one thing and living another. Jesus did what He saw the Father do. Jesus lived out love, lived out obedience, and lived out the morals and standards that His Father put in place. That is the life I want to live going forward. And that is the life we are all encouraged to live based on Ephesians 5:10. It is time to return to what pleases Him.
It was in 1897 that Charles M. Sheldon wrote the book, In His Steps. At its time, the book began to change the world of its readers, forcing them to question with the characters, what would Jesus do? Doing what Jesus would do will not make us popular, nor will it make us even liked in many cases. But it will make us think and hopefully change our ways if we allow it. Should you come along in this concept, I cannot tell you what Jesus would counsel you in your position, nor can you in mine. Yet be sure that we each will have a cross to bear in this decision. Many will take challenge of asking this question and then soon give up. Some will last a week; a few maybe the month. Jesus lived this as a lifestyle, not a fad. I pray that we too will be those who embrace the question of what would Jesus do.

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“…and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance.”
Ephesians 5:2

In Ephesians 5:2, we see that one of the ways we can imitate Him and do what He would do is in love. We are to live a life of love and imitate His actions. This one can be hard because as a human I do not always want to love people. Truth be told, I am in a constant battle against my lack of desire to be an extrovert. Having been hurt and rejected by people who I trusted, it is easier for me to put up walls and live my hermit lifestyle. But this is one area specifically where I find myself asking, “What would Jesus do?” Yes there are scriptures that point to Jesus secluding Himself, but in each of those instances it was to get away for times of refreshing and prayer. His reason for being alone is not the same reason I do it. And if I want to follow His example, I feel I must work to step outside of my fears.
I must give myself as an offering to Him. I must be willing to invest myself in the pattern of what He would do. I am reminded of the banner in a church I once saw that read, “Invest, Invite, Include.” It is a simple message. It is a message stating exactly what Jesus did. And it is a message that challenges me if I want to walk in His ways. I must love others enough to invest myself in them and Christ did, giving of Himself constantly. I must love others enough to invite them into my home, to my church, to my friendship, just as Christ did. And I must love them enough to include them in the patterns and steps of the Father, again as Christ did.
So concerning the way I act, in asking “What would Jesus do,” I am confident that He would love others. And Does not I John 4:18 remind us that there is no fear in love, for perfect love drives out fear? Jesus would, and did, live a life of love. This is the lifestyle I want to mimic.

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“Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed; these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people.”
Ephesians 5:3

To be honest with you, one of the greatest challenges for many in answering a question such as what Jesus would do is based on Ephesians 5:3-5. The challenge is for there not to be even a mention of sexually immorality. The NIV states a hint of. The word in the Greek is ONOMAZO, meaning the naming of or to be given name to. As ones who follow in the steps of God, as His imitators, we are not to let there be the name of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed of any amount in our lives. Additionally, as we will see, there is to not be obscenity, stupid talk, or course language flowing from us as these habits too are not the way of God.
But what exactly do these traits encompass? Let us work to define the three traits in Ephesians 5:3. Sexual immorality is the Greek word PORNEIA. Guess what word we get today from this Greek root. Pornography. Defined more directly, this word includes illicit sexual intercourse, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, and any act of sex done unto a pagan god or idol. This seems pretty cut and dry, yes? Yet how many churches have opened their doors to ministers and staff who publically admit this as their lifestyle? No offense, but I do not want to attend a church where my pastor is gay. I have a strong feeling that God’s hand of blessing is not on that church. Now I am not saying that church should not welcome these people in, as we all need Jesus, but I am saying I would not want this hint leading me in my walk with Christ and encouraging me to be like God.
Additionally, we are not to let there be any kind of impurity. In the Greek this is the word AKATHARSIA, meaning uncleanness of body, but also impurity of lustful, luxurious, or profligate living of impure motives. In Romans 1:24 this same word is used when Paul writes that God gave the unclean over to their impurities of lust within their hearts. If we fail to get the impurity out now, as Jesus would do, then our fate too can be sealed in our being given over to our flesh.
Greed is the third named character here that there should not be a hint of in our lives as people who imitate God and do as Jesus would do. Greed is the Greek word PLEONEXIA, and is more rightly defined as covetousness or the deep desire to have more. Greed is what got David in trouble with Bathsheba as his desire was for her. Greed birthed the actions of taking what was not his and killing her husband to make it right. Greed is what gets so many of us in trouble still as it paves the way for us to reason why we should have what others have. Looking at Romans 1:29-32, greed is one of the named evil traits that is worthy of death.
I want to do as Jesus would do. I want to be an imitator of God. I want to be a fragrant offering unto Him. But I cannot be this if I allow the name of such sins to spot my life. I cannot be fully walking in His ways if my name is still on the party list with sexual immorality, impurity, and greed. These things must be banished from our lives. If they were no part of Jesus’ life, then why should we allow them to be part of ours? Let us divorce these traits, once and for all! I am pretty sure that is what Jesus would do.

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“Also out of place are obscenity and stupid talk or coarse language; instead, you should be giving thanks. For of this you can be sure: every sexually immoral, impure or greedy person – that is, every idol worshipper – has no share in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God.”
Ephesians 5:4-5

So we have looked at the terms in verse 3, which I believe were well needed definitions as we have tended to conform our personal definitions to that of our rational. But if we are going to do as Jesus did and walk in His way, then we must understand the terms and boundaries according to Him. We must stop trying to fit God in our box and instead place ourselves within His freedoms. I understand it may sound strange to equate His ways with freedom, but only in Him do we have all we need. Only in walking in His steps will we find the fullness of life that we search for. And so, Ephesians 5:4-5 continues from where we left off in helping us to see what traits we need to delete from our current lifestyle.
The passage continues on with next telling us that obscenity is out of place. Obscenity in the Greek is AISCHROTES and means filth. Filth is out of place in the Kingdom. As one who has moved from one apartment complex to another in times past, I can attest to the fact that my units had filth. Now when the furniture was in its place, the unit looked clean. But as I moved the furniture from the unit into the truck, I began to find the trash and overall junk that was tucked and hidden in between the furniture and walls. I was amazed at how much filth there was. And I am just as amazed at how much filth I find when I begin to ask Jesus what He would do in my situations. For so long I have been trained in thinking that my ways were right. While they didn’t hurt anyone, they also weren’t the true version of what God commands. The filth found needs to be removed, and fast!
Stupid talk and course joking are named as well. MOROLOGIA, or foolish talking, and EUTRAPELIA, which is facetious humor and the trying to be funny, are also characteristics that Paul warns us against. These are not the behaviors that God is involved in and should not be the behaviors that we too are involved in. Instead He urges us to live in a place of giving thanks. This word in the Greek is EUCHARISTIA, which we derive the word Eucharist from. The Eucharist is also commonly known as the Communion, which in and of itself is the giving of thanks for the sacrifice of Christ. So instead of all this pointless and degrading talk, we are to fill our words with thanks.
In putting it all together starting from the beginning of Ephesians 5, we see we are to mimic God as children who love their parents do. We are to live a life of love and let this be our trademark. We are to do away with the sexually immoral behavior, the impurities, the greed, and the inappropriate talk that comes from our mouths. Instead we are to speak thanksgiving to our Father. All these other sins and behaviors lead only to one thing – idol worship. Too many already worship the body, worship the profligate living of impure motives, and worship what they feel they need. But Paul writes that in the Kingdom of God this bowing down unto idols of any sort has no place.

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“Let no one deceive you with empty talk; for it is because of these things that God’s judgment is coming on those who disobey Him. So don’t become partners with them!”
Ephesians 5:6-7

Have you ever stopped to think of how many partnerships you are involved in at one time? As I walk through my duties of the day I am reminded that I am a partner with my wife and children, with my bank, with my employer, with my school, and with my dog. To each of them I have made a commitment. To my wife and children the partnership reads that I will love and protect them, help them grow in God, and meet their needs. To my bank the partnership includes paying my bills only when there is enough cash in my account. To my employer I have agreed to show up to work on time, do a job far exceeding that of my pay, and represent the company name well. To my school the partnership states that I will come to class, ready to learn, and show respect to my fellow students. And to my dog, the partnership includes me feeding him and being there to pet him when needed. Granted in all these there is more to the partnership than what is on the surface, but I am sure you can relate with what I am saying.
Of course there are other partnerships one enters in life. As such, sometimes we enter into a partnership with reasoning and deliberation, and other times in haste. But despite how we enter into it, the question is if we are entering into the right relationship. In these verses I find a warning given by Paul concerning partnerships. We have already seen the danger of partnering with sexually immorality, impurity, greed, filth, and stupid talk. Here, though, we see another area where we are cautioned to partner, that being in empty talk.
As we have looked at the Greek in all the other warnings found in Ephesians 5 so far, we look here as well. Empty talk is KENOS in the Greek. Further defined, ‘kenos’ is anything that is devoid of truth. Paul used this same word in I Corinthians 15:14 when he spoke that if Christ had not truly risen from the dead, then all the preaching he had done so far would have been just empty of truth. But the truth was Jesus did rise from the grave. Paul’s speech then was founded on truth and not lies. So here also Paul is saying that every word that proceeds from our mouth should be founded on truth. We are not to be cheated and beguiled with these empty words, which lead to God’s judgment, but rather are to be built up with true words.
Paul’s final warning as found in verse 7 is not to be partners with those who fit the description of the terms found in verses 3 thru 6. We are not to join in with the sin of sexual immorality. We are not to sign a contract with the sin of impurity. We are not to shake hands with greed. We are not to collaborate with filth and stupid talk. And we are not to associate with empty, truth-lacking words. Being in agreement with these things only brings about God’s ORGE, His temper, for these things are sin. These things steal us away from Him, the Truth, and connect us with sin, which is disobedience.
We are to be imitators of God, connecting and partnering with truth instead of lies. Far too many of us for far too long have forsaken what Jesus would do for what we want to do. How can we call ourselves Christ followers if we are not following His example? Nowhere in the Bible does it say “Be an imitator of yourself,” because left to yourself you fall into sin. Let us draw the line in the sand, divorcing our partnership with sin and re-entering into a partnership with God. Let us imitate Him only.

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“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…”
Ephesians 5:8

My personal testimony is not a secret to many, nor do I want it to be. I want people to know that the same God who lifted me out of my addiction can also rescue them. It was while going through my struggles that I was hooked up with a counselor named John. John had a way of getting me to open up and think about what I was doing, how it was hurting people, and how to refrain from continuing. In one of our sessions he pointedly questioned, “When do you find yourself acting in this behavior?” I didn’t have to think long since I knew the answer. In my case, I almost always acted out when I was either alone or when it was dark. Like a roach sneaking out in the shadows, I would dig in my trash so confident that no one would see me.
It is in Ephesians 5:8 that I see who I was – one in darkness. For far too many years than I want to remember, I lived in darkness. But this word means more than just living with the lights off. Darkness, SKOTOS in the Greek, means the night, but also a blindness or ignorance of the divine things. This word is usually always connected with ungodliness or immorality. In my case it most definitely was. I was living as one embracing the darkness, bowing down to my idols, and willingly surrendering to sin. In no way was I doing what Jesus was saying. In fact, I was blatantly turning my back on Him.
What happens to the roach when the light is turned on? It is exposed. It normally tries to run for cover. I too was exposed in time. It took a few major personal earthquakes to get my attention. A miscarriage, a lost job, and finally a separation later, I was left alone because of my exposure. Bored out of my mind I began to read anything I could get my hands on and in that action I began to have the lights turned on in other areas as well. It was because of these lights that I sought counsel from John and began to see more of how much I had deceived myself. The darkness did nothing for me except ruin my eyesight. But as the lights were physically, and spiritually, turned on again I saw what I had been trying to hide. I began to stare deep into the light until finally I walked once more in the light. I became again one who was united with the Lord and was walking in His PHOS, His glow, His fire, and His emission of truth.
If we want to do as Jesus did, then we must grab hold of what Paul is saying in Ephesians 5:8. We must come out of the blind ignorance that we have allowed ourselves to be captive to, and walk in His emission of truth and light. Our life must be defined by our walk that we are to be imitating. Our walk is to be one that progresses in His ways, is regulated according to His standards, and is conducted according to His disciplines. In order to be His TEKNON, His intimate children and offspring, we must be children of the light! Jesus walked this pattern, and with His help we can as well. With His help we can be children of the light.

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“…for the fruit of the light is in every kind of goodness, rightness and truth – try to determine what will please the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:9-10

Are you a lover of fruit? I am. There are not many fruits that I will not eat, but I will say my favorites happen to be berries. There is nothing like a fruit salad of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, dusted with a little bit of sugar, to make my day. The problem is, I also like donuts and bagels and cinnamon rolls, and more often will eat those for breakfast instead of the healthy items. Maybe that partially explains why I still need to lose a few pounds. But if we take this same concept of my breakfast menu, and look at it with spiritual eyes, we may find a parallel truth in Paul’s words.
In Ephesians 5:8, we see Paul encourages us to be children of the light. In verse 9, he continues this thought by encouraging us in the fruit of the light. Now we defined from the Greek the word light as PHOS, meaning a glow, a fire, and an emission of truth. So if we understand what light is, then let us make sure we understand what fruit is. The word is KARPOS and means literal edible fruit, but also the fruit of one’s loins, the offspring that originates from something, and the praises which are presented to God as an offering. I believe it is safe to say that all four of these definitions fit here. The edible or physical fruit of God is goodness, rightness, and truth. The fruit of His loins is the same. The offspring of God again is goodness, rightness, and truth. And finally, our praise as offered to God should be the return of goodness, rightness, and truth.
But what are goodness, rightness, and truth? The fruit of goodness, or AGATHOSUNE in the Greek, is the upright manner of heart and life. We have before us the task of living an example of Christ before others, and showing them the same goodness that Christ showed to us. This is how we do what Jesus would do. When we determine what pleases the Lord, and walk it out, we are walking in the uprightness of heart and life as defined in this fruit. Rightness, or DIKAIOSUNE, is the state of integrity, virtue, correct thinking and acting, and purity of life. This clearly defines the example that Christ saw in His Father and lived out. This also is the model that we are to follow after. We are to walk in this pure state since we have been challenged to imitate God. And lastly, let us define the fruit of truth. ALETHEUO, meaning to be and speak only what is valid truth. When was the last time we went a full day walking in 100% truth?
To be children of the light we must walk in these fruit of the light as our example did. But how? I know you may be thinking as even I am, “I know I can’t do it so why even try?” Let us not give up. Honestly, I cannot live a life of goodness, rightness, and truth…without His help. I think that is where verse 10 comes into play. We are to determine what pleases God. We are to DOKIMAZO, to examine and scrutinize what is acceptable in God’s view. And how do we do that? Easy. We ask Him. Remember, Jesus did only what He saw the Father do. He knew His Father that well. We too know some of what God expects of us, but in the areas we are unsure we are to ask Him.

God, help us not to be too proud or self-reliant that we do not ask You what You would do. We want to please you and live a life worthy of being called a God-Follower. Help us then to walk in the ways of goodness, rightness, and truth, the fruit of light.

BELIEVE YOU RECEIVE

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Mark 11:24

I must admit that lately I have been awestruck with details I have been learning about the late George Mueller. Mueller was born in 1805 and passed in 1898, at the age of 92. He saw the great awakening first hand in 1859, worked alongside such ministers as D. L. Moody and Charles Spurgeon, and is said to be the inspiration for the missionary Hudson Taylor. However, what Mueller is best known for is the details of his life in Bristol, England, and the work he accomplished with the orphans there. It is said that he built five large orphan houses that accommodated for well over 10,000 orphans throughout his entire life. According to sources, Mueller stopped receiving a salary in the final 68 years of his life, praying that God would supply both his needs and for the needs of the orphanages. Converting currency, it is estimated that the equivalent of millions in today’s currency were prayed in for the needs, as he never took out a loan, and neither he nor the orphans were ever in lack.
Previous to my recent research on Mueller, I knew very little about this man of God. In reading about him and in pieces of his autobiography, it is said that Mueller shared his needs with no one but God, thus allowing his faith to grow in God’s provision. Still, it was only while reading through a study early this week that I read an account that challenged me in my faith, and I would like to share it with you.

“On another occasion, so the story goes, George Mueller was on his way to Canada to keep an appointment he was sure was in God’s will. As the ship which was bringing him from England entered the St. Lawrence River it ran into a heavy fog. George Mueller went to see the captain, a Christian friend of his. ‘Tell me, Captain,’ he said, ‘will we arrive in time for my meeting?’ The captain, looking out at the fog from the bridge, replied, ‘Not unless the weather clears at once.’ George Mueller was a man who knew how to talk to God so he suggested that they pray. In simple terms he reminded the Lord of his appointment, of his assurance that the appointment had been in the will of God; he then requested that the fog be removed. When he had finished, the captain was about to pray when he felt a hand on his arm. ‘Don’t you pray, Captain,’ said George Mueller. The captain looked up in astonishment. ‘Why not?’ he exclaimed. ‘For two reasons,’ said George Mueller. ‘In the first place you do not really believe God is going to take away the fog and in the second place it has already gone.’”

So I must admit again that while reading this story, I was challenged. The line that got me was, “…you do not really believe God is going to take away the fog…” I began to contemplate, how many times have I prayed, but not really expected God to do what I prayed for? This answer would be more than I care to admit. When I pray for my sick children, do I really believe the fever will just leave? When I pray for funds in order to pay that one last dangling utility bill, do I honestly expect that provision will come from God rather than my getting a second job? When I pray even for the needs of others, do I find myself praying just to say I prayed, or do I have faith to know with all certainty that God will answer?
The Bible is clear in how we are to pray. We are to believe. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). Believe here in the Greek is the word PISTEUO, meaning to have faith, give credit to, or entrust. This is the same word used in John 11:25, where Jesus, comforting the sisters of Lazarus, states that He is the resurrection and the life, and “…he that PISTEUO in (Him), though he were dead, yet shall he live.” It is only in having this belief in Christ that things prayed for can be received.
Another instance of this word is found in John 3:16. While this is a verse we probably all know, let us take a moment still to look at it with our new found understanding. We read that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever PISTEUO in the Son will have eternal life. Again we see this concept of believe and receive. When we have faith, or entrust our lives to the Son, then we receive the gift of eternal life.
If Mark records Jesus telling us to believe so we will receive, then why is it still so hard for me at times? Let’s dig a little deeper. The word PISTEUO is derived from the word PISTIS, which we may be more familiar with. We read of PISTIS in Ephesians 6:16, where we read of taking up the shield of faith. Is it safe to assume that there are times when I have dropped my shield? I know that sounds a little odd, but it is an honest question. Are the times when I pray and do not honestly expect an answer to come not only in times when I am going through the motions, but also in times when I have actually dropped my faith, my belief that God will do what I am praying for?
Only in our belief do we receive. But please do not read into this that I am suggesting God is our own personal vending machine. What I am suggesting is that we have a faith like that found in the example of George Mueller. His needs were met as a result of his strong faith in knowing God would provide. So should it be for us, that our faith rests in God to provide. God may chose to use an outside source, a second job, or even a raven to provide, but the receiving must begin with the believing.

I WILL RESCUE HIM

“’Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.’”
Psalm 91:14-16

About four years back now my kids and I were in the car, driving from getting breakfast to going to get haircuts. We were enjoying ourselves, talking, and singing with the radio. I watched as the light at the intersection turned yellow and I began to slow down knowing red was soon to come. However, the truck behind me failed to see the color change and when he did, found it too late to hit his brakes fully. From behind we were hit, pushing our car fully through the intersection. As we later found out, the man in the truck was watching activity on the side of the road and not in front of him. And by God’s protection, no one was coming as we hurled through the intersection. While the event scared both my kids and I, we were safe, protected, and thankful. In that moment, even while shaking a bit from the collision, we knew God had rescued us from something far worse.
The truth is God protects us more than we probably realize. As we read in Psalm 91, when we stay in His shelter and under His covering, He upholds His promise of protection. But today, let us define further our protection. And what better a way to do so than with a promise from God that we will be protected. It is in the final three verses of Psalm 91 that we read, “’Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.’”
There are so many words in this section that we could define, but I promise I will only hit the words that call out the loudest. The first of those is ‘love’. This word in the Hebrew is CHASHAQ. It is not the gushy puppy love feeling, but rather is defined as being attached to or long for. This is a love that comes over the course of time, and my first thought of this expressed in reality is of my parents who, through all life served them, stayed together for 39 years before dad passed away. The greatest testament of their love was seeing mom care for him the final few years of his life while he battled ALS. I can almost see God looking at us and seeing that same depth, and as such, vowing to protect and care for us as well. It is because of this love that God determines He will deliver us and answer us when we cry out to Him.
But notice how God says that He will deliver and honor those who call on Him in trouble. The word for ‘deliver’ is CHALATS, meaning to remove and to equip. Likewise, the word ‘honor’ is the word KABAD, meaning to be made abundant and glorified. In troubled times when we call out, God promises to equip us with what we need while the removal is being done, and then glorify us both in and after the battle. With long life we are ‘satisfied’, SABA’, fulfilled to the fullest capacity, and shown salvation.
This act is more than just a military action where the goal is to rescue the POW. This act is far greater than simply a plan. This act is a promise, and it is a promise from the One who knows no limits. In listening to a Newsong song recently, I heard the words, “Who can do the things that You can? / If it’s impossible, Lord You know the way.” In our moments of entrapment by the enemy, it is God who finds a way to rescue us. Let us then be those who love God, fall under His protection, and reside in His shelter.
I pray the truth of these verses will change your life as it has been doing in mine recently.

SPIRITUAL HEALING

I want to draw you attention today to two specific chapters in the Book of Matthew. As I was studying the Bible this week in Matthew, I was amazed by what I saw; actually surprised I had never seen it before. It was in my reading of chapters 8 and 9 that I began to see myself in a whole new light. It was here that I saw myself first as a leper, but in the end as something far greater. Within chapter 8 and 9 we read the accounts of Jesus’ power over leprosy, paralysis, fever, the storm, demon-possession, a hemorrhage, and finally blindness. While we read of these ailments as physical conditions, I saw these ailments for the first time as definitions of our spiritual condition at times.
What do I mean? Well let us look first at Matthew 8:1-4. The account shares that a man with leprosy came to Jesus, knelt before Him, and spoke, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus responded that He was indeed willing, touched the man, said “Be clean,” and in an instant the man was free from the disease. But let us not speed read through what has just happened here. Leprosy in Jesus’ time was fatal disease. Furthermore, it was so bad that colonies were set up for lepers, away from other ‘clean’ people, so that the clean would not become infected. The leper had to stay a distance away from others, and call out ‘unclean’ when others were within a certain radius. What does all this remind you of? Does it perhaps remind you of sin?
How so, you ask. What is the one thing we learn early on about our sin? While I am sure answers flood your mind, I think we can all agree that we have learned that sin will separate us from God. Much like the leper, we become unclean when we sin. We may not have to call out that we are unclean in our situation, but we are unclean. And just like the leper, we are separated from the relationship we desire with God. The redeeming fact is, though, that just as this leper came to Jesus, so we can come to Him also. Just asked he questioned if Jesus was willing to make him clean, so we can ask Jesus to make us clean. And just as Jesus said He was willing, so He is willing to make us clean also, forgiving us of the sin that has caused the separation.
In reading these two chapters we find other relations between the physical and spiritual. The centurion’s servant suffered from paralysis, which in many ways can relate to helplessness. To this Jesus spoke and the disease obeyed Christ’s command. Jesus healed the mother-in-law of Peter who suffered a fever. The fever can relate to restlessness. When she was healed she arose and began serving Jesus. So to when we are calmed of our restlessness, we find we can serve Jesus with clear mind.
Jesus showed His power over the wind and waves of the storm that came in the night. But is it not true that Jesus also calms the turbulence of our life, when the waves of fret, worry, and stress come to swallow us up? And then we read of the demoniacs, whose details match those of control. The demons knew the control Jesus had, but they wanted to control things themselves. Please note, I am not saying you have control issues, but what is controlling your life? If it is not Jesus now, then let it become Jesus by letting Him cast off that spirit of control holding you back from giving your all to Him.
In chapter 9 we read of a hemorrhaging woman who relates to the defilements that hemorrhage from us. Notice that she was ill for twelve years. May I ask how long you have been hemorrhaging and ill; how long have you been defiled. Jesus healed her, and He can heal you. And finally we read of His healing of the blind, which we read as physical but can easily relate to blindness of spiritual truth. Spiritually blind cannot lead, just as a blind person does not make for a good choice to follow. But take heart, for Jesus wants to heal your blindness as He did those who called out, “Son of David, have mercy on us.”
So what is it you need from Him? I guarantee you He is willing to heal you. He does not want you to suffer or live with your disease any longer. Call out to Him, allow His touch, and find as I am finding, that He is willing. His love for you is greater than the ocean, deeper that any person can dig. Come to Him and let Him restore you, let His power over your spiritual disease wash over you now.

THE GIFT OF PENTECOST

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Please follow here, launch the sermon player, and listen to "The Gift of Pentecost"
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3000 LOST, 3000 SAVED

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
Acts 2:41

I realize I have shared this post before, but in light of Pentecost coming this Sunday, I felt inclined to share it once more.

Between the time when Jesus ascended to heaven and when the Holy Spirit fell in the Upper Room, but I felt inclined to share some today concerning events that happened around this time. The Festival of Weeks is first named in Exodus 34:22, with a command given to celebrate with the first fruits of the wheat harvest. It is actually one of three times on the Jewish calendar when men were required to go to Jerusalem to celebrate and pay tithes. Following the timeframe of fifty days from the start of Passover, Jews and Christians alike celebrate and remember what we have come to know as Pentecost. But to gain a little more understanding behind this celebration, I want us to draw our attention today to Exodus 32:28. It is here that we read of more than just an agricultural significance to this festival, but rather are able to relate Pentecost to a commemorating of the giving of the Law, the Torah, to Moses. Let us start our journey then for today.
Starting a few verses earlier in Exodus 32:25, we read of Moses coming down from Mount Sinai to the sights and sounds of the Israelites worshipping the golden calf. The Bible describes that the people had allowed themselves to becoming the laughingstock of their enemies based on this action. So then, Moses took a stand. Standing physically at the entrance to the camp he said, “’Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.’” This decision shot to the hearts of the people and it is recorded that all the Levites rallied to him (v26) as well as others. Moses then turned to those who had come to him and gave the command of God, to strap a sword to the side and go throughout the camp killing those who had not chosen to follow God (v27). When the Levites had completed this command, three thousand people lay dead. Now right away one could argue that God’s ways seemed extreme, but does not Romans 6:23 tell us that the wages of sin is death? For these Israelites that chose not to follow after God and obey Him, they found death to be their punishment. For the remainder that had sinned, Moses sought the LORD’s forgiveness, begging that He forgive them or wipe Moses’ name out of the book.
In order to catch the relationship from this action then to Pentecost, we now need to skip ahead in time to Acts 2. It is here that we see another aspect of God’s redeeming qualities. To quote the former pastor of the church I attend, Don Finto, “On Pentecost fifteen hundred years earlier, when the Law was given on Sinai, three thousand died because of rebellion. On this Pentecost three thousand became the first fruits of new life in the Spirit.” After the Holy Spirit fell on the people in the Upper Room and empowered them with boldness, among other characteristics, Peter addressed the crowd that had gathered around mocking them. He explained that although they looked physically drunk they were indeed not, but rather drunk in the Spirit. Then, starting with a verse in the book of Joel, Peter preached one of the best salvation messages ever recorded (Acts 2:14-41). In the end, when the simple fisherman under the influence of the Holy Spirit had completed his message, he gave an altar call. And here’s the awesome part. “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
In one day, three thousand were slain because they chose to rebel against God and His commands. Years later, three thousand came into a relationship with God because their eyes and hearts were opened to who God was and they wanted to follow Him. The question beckons then, which one are you? Be careful to answer, though. I know personally that I have at times declared to God that I will follow Him and then shortly following found myself worshipping my own golden calf. If not for the grace of God, I too would face the Romans 6:23 penalty of death for my sins. God is looking for people who are sold out for Him so that He can pour His Spirit out on them. I pray this is not only the cry of our hearts, but also the way of our actions.

REFLECTING ON HOSEA

So today, instead of posting a blog for you to read, I want to engage your response. I have decided to go back to school, and have been in session for about a month already doing both a grad program and some counseling classes on the side. This week, though, a question was posed in my Biblical Counseling class that, well honestly, I had a hard time answering. The session revolved around the story of Hosea and Gomer, and took a deep look into love that Hosea shared as an example of the love God has for us. After thinking on it for some time, I gave my honest answer, which was supposed to have included an account from my life of how I either showed this unconditional Hosea-type love to someone, or had it shown to me. As I formulated my answer, though, not using family or God accounts, I could not think of a time where I had shown this type of love. How sad.

So my mission today is to pose the same question to you. Feel free to answer on the Vanguard Facebook page, or email me personally at account4dan@yahoo.com if you do not want others to read. But I wonder if others are perhaps in the same spot as I. Anyways, here is the question for you to ponder:

Reflect upon a circumstance where you have shown passionate and determined love to someone in a bad situation (or you have been the recipient of such love). Briefly discuss this circumstance and describe how this love modeled God's love as shown in the book of Hosea.

My answer follows; interested to hear yours.

Upfront, I cannot think of a circumstance where I have given a love as deep as Hosea's to Gomer to anyone. Looking back I have been one of those who gives in order to get. Please don't be mistaken, I am capable of loving others, but cannot think of a time when I went against my human nature to marry (love) one I did not want to, have them refuse my love, and then go after them with tenacity in the effort of rescuing them from the trouble they were in. I am disappointed to share this truth.

I think this shows two things about myself. First, I have been too consumed with myself. Ironic how just recently I posted that all sin derives from pride, but really looking in my own mirror I see how I have been proud, and selfish. I can see where there have been times when God has nudged me, but I have reasoned my way out of obedience to help, love, and rescue because I saw no benefit. I think to how I reacted with my first wife. Our whole relationship was based on what we could get from each other. It was the "I'll scratch your back if your scratch mine." As long as we both benefitted we were happy. But the moment the other didn't scratch, things went sour and the wedge got wider. Not so much with my own kids, but I see it with my step-boys too. I will show you a version, shallow as it is, of love if your show me respect. It is built on what I can gain.

Secondly, this reality shows me that I have a distance to go if I plan to help others. From the age of 9 it was prophesied over me that I would be a pastor. I went to bible school, did missionary work, did internships in the church, and her I am at age 40 and God has never released me yet. Prophecies continue to come that it will happen and not to lose heart, but I question when. I think I have learned more about myself in this course than I ever expected to. Mostly I have learned that I have more to learn. How can I be a help to someone when I cannot answer when was the last time I showed a Hosea type love to another person, or any love without benefits. God has used this course to open my eyes and show me I am not standing as tall as I think. The good thing, though, is He will not leave me here. Now having the opened eyes, He will continue my own healing so that when He deems it right, I can work with Him to heal others.

So I am sorry I cannot give an honest story from my past for this question right now. But there will be a day. Who knows, with this reality now, it may be closer than I think.