Intervention!

"You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother." 

Deuteronomy 22:1-2 

 

Our natural tendency is to avoid involving ourselves in other people's business.  Just like the story of the Good Samaritan, when we see trouble our instincts tell us to pass on the other side.  The Priest and Levite would have known Deuteronomy 22:4 which read, "You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fall down along the road, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely help him lift them up again."  While they obeyed the letter of the Law, they ignored the implications of the Law.  A man is certainly of more value than a donkey or ox!

 

There is this perception in many Christians that the role of correction or confrontation of sin falls only to the pastor.  This is not true!  As children of God, we all have the freedom and responsibility to seek to restore one who has fallen into sin with meekness.  I once had a situation in ministry when an adult called me on the phone after service and reported that two students of high school age were kissing on the playground.  I perceived from her tone she believed their conduct was inappropriate.  I asked, "Did you talk to them directly?"  She had not.  As a mature believer, the right thing to do would be to approach those who err personally, immediately, and privately as Jesus directed (Matt. 18:15).  This is a very common response in people today because confrontation makes us uncomfortable.  We have been conditioned by this world that we have no right to interfere with someone else's life.

God has made it plain that it is our right and duty to intervene in love when we see someone heading to their own destruction.  If we are to regard the life of our brother's ox or sheep, should we not also regard the life of our brother's teenage son?  It is easy to turn a blind eye to actual sin and justify our inaction by thinking, "Not my son, not my problem."  I'm so glad Jesus did not look at sinful man this way!  He could have remained in heavenly glory and said, "Gentiles?  Not my people, not my problem."  But He humbled Himself as a man, became a suffering servant, and gave His life for the sins of the whole world!  As children of God He has given us authority to seek and save the lost.  We are not called to "come down" on others, but seek to lift them up and exhort them with words of grace and love.

Your duty to lead and instruct young people or encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ does not end when you leave a church building.  That same power of love, grace, gentleness, and meekness rests upon you in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Galatians 6:1 reads, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."  Our job is not to become the spiritual police of our churches, making sure no kids run in the sanctuary, that skirts extend beyond the knee, and absolutely forbidding all public displays of affection.  But as led by the Holy Spirit with a heart of love to restore, we ought to take action when overt sin comes to our attention.  Don't hide yourself when God commands to intervene!

Called to Teach Kids?

We have an amazing capacity to complicate what God has made simple.  Take the call of God, for instance.  There are certain things every believer is called to do without exception:  abide in the Vine, share the Gospel, to teach new believers, pray without ceasing, to love one another as Christ loves us, and to live for the glory of God to name a few.  What often trips people up is defining their personal role in the Body of Christ.  Because the clouds have not parted with a beam of light, no lightning has struck their path, or the risen LORD has not appeared to them in a vision, they waffle and remain uncertain concerning what they are to do.  And most often, unfortunately, use their freedom in Christ to do little or nothing.

One of the roles most neglected in the Body of Christ is the teaching of children.  I was told early in ministry that "10% of the people in church do 90% of the work," and there is much evidence to support this.  This may or not be the case, but it should never be the case!  Every single person is critical to make the Body of Christ function as intended by God.  Ephesians 4:15-16 says, "...But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head --Christ-- ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."  Every true believer has been born again of the same Spirit, and as a living member of the church serves a purpose and function. There is no escaping this reality.  God has freed us from sin and death but we are also to actively glorify Him by our lives.  The first qualification for teaching children is being born again through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you wonder if you have been called to teach children.  Let me put it very simply:  if God by his grace has given you children, you are called to teach children.  Period!  This does not eliminate anyone young or old, single or married from serving in formal ministry to children.  But if you have children, you are clearly called to teach children.  Deuteronomy 6:4-7 reads, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD one!  ⁵ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ⁶ And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."  Jesus allowed the little children to come unto Him, and He did nothing to dissuade them.  It was the disciples who were prone to think of ministry to children as insignificant.  Your age or single marital status is no disqualification to service, in fact unmarried and widowed people often have greater freedom to serve!

Some of the great ministers to children did not have a natural child, but many adopted and spiritual children through the love of Christ.  Gladys Aylward was an English missionary to China, where she bought and accepted many orphaned and abandoned children.  Though these children were not biologically hers, she was directed by God to provide for their bodies and save their souls.  Shouldn't that same love and desire for the souls of children be found in us as well?  But you don't understand, you might be thinking.  I have nothing in common with the children of today!  The first qualification for teaching Sunday School is being born again, and the second is having been a child.  If you have been a child, you have vast experience and wisdom to give children as they face the challenges of following Jesus in a fallen world.

Let us put aside all excuses and selfish reasons for not serving the children and youth of our fellowships, especially if your children are numbered among them!  You will make time in your life for whatever is a priority.  If we can schedule sporting events, family functions, and leisure activities, why can't we set aside time to nurture and train children in the admonition of the LORD?  May God make us fruitful in and outside of the four walls of a church building, that the name of Jesus be lifted up among all ages!

All for Good?

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." 

Romans 8:28

There are few verses as loaded as this to blast our doubts concerning the sovereignty of God.  Countless books have been written on the subject, and more sermons preached besides.  Because of the prolific and often flippant use of this scripture, we can be numb to the reality of the promise contained within.  It is one thing to quote this verse:  do we actually believe it is true?

The Bible teaches us that we do not see things as God sees.  We are limited in sight.  We cannot see the good in a 20-year-old man who lost limbs in war and is now confined to a chair.  We mourn with those who suffer debilitating illness, and shake our heads over the pain of separation of parents as they bury their only child.  There are many things we can see no good in, and frankly there is no good in them.  Death and all causes of it are due to sin being in this world, and sin is pure evil.  But we know for certain that God makes all things work together for good, for that is a promise in God's Word.  It does not say "God is able to make things work for good:" the Bibles clearly states that "All things work together for good."

God rules above all things and graciously allows both good and evil to work for good.  We can struggle to believe this is true when painful events occur in our lives.  We are so caught up in our suffering that we cannot see any good.  This "good" is not like the "Pollyanna Glad Game" of trying to put a positive spin on everything.  It is a profound, purposed good that only God can do.  Man in his short-sighted wisdom makes disaster when he tries to make good.  He sets up a charity to help starvation and many take advantage of the situation to steal.  Years ago cane toads were imported from Hawaii to Australia to rid the cane fields of a devastating beetle.  This proved to be both ineffective and disastrous!  Without a natural predator, cane toads have increased exponentially and become a terrible pest and destroyer of native wildlife.  They have poisonous glands on their bodies which are dangerous to animals and people alike.   Only God can make good out of man's mistakes.  It is not like the cliche "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" but more like the tale of Rumpelstiltskin who made spun gold from straw.

"...We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  Many people, believers in Christ or not, are quick to say, "I know that everything happens for a reason..."  This is a misunderstanding which sells scripture short.  Things do not just "happen."  God allows all things to fulfill His purposes.  He employs both good and bad things to work together for good.  The word "reason" has a much different meaning than "purpose."  A reason can be an excuse or an opinion.  But God has a purpose for all things.  The word in the Greek for "purpose" means "intention, proposal."  A proposal in today's use would be a contract drawn up for approval.  It is concrete, not abstract.  God's purposes always align with His righteous judgments, holiness, and perfect will.  We have been created by God for God that we might bring Him glory.

God uses all things to work together in my life for good.  When Job was smitten by Satan, God used that terrible circumstance and loss for great good and gain.  When Jesus died on the cross by the hands of sinful men, through His death all people can be born again through repentance and faith in Him and live forever.  If God can use the death of His only Son to bring life to others and greater glory for Himself, won't He also be faithful to use the circumstances of my life?  Even Pharaoh who hated God was used for God's supreme purposes.  King Nebuchadnezzar was called "my servant" by God before he even knew God!  With God there are no accidents.  Everything occurs according to His divine plan either by decreeing or allowing things to occur.

Some have found fault with God over this and in doing so fight against Him.  They cannot see the good so they deny good could exist.  There are also some who feel released from all responsibility to do good because God can make all things work for good.  These views are false and twisted.  Neither of these extremes are based upon faith in God and faithfulness to actively honor Him.  We must cling to what we know to be true no matter what, that God makes all things work together for good!  We might not be able to explain with our mouths the process start to finish, but we can rest in the character and holiness of our Savior.  Besides, who can know their life from start to end?  God has a purpose for each one of us.  He does not delight in the death of the wicked but is long-suffering towards us all, not willing that any should perish. 

Victory Contingency

^"So the LORD was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron."

Judges 1:19

 

This verse is intriguing because it points to man's failure in spite of God's power, authority, and sovereignty.  Are chariots too hard for God to destroy?  The LORD was with Judah but they remained incapable of complete victory over their enemies.  God made the wheels of the Egyptian chariots fall off as their army pursued Israel through the Red. Sea.  God made Sisera's 900 chariots as nothing and killed every man of his army with the sword.  Joshua told the children of Joseph to drive out the Canaanites, but the people complained that their enemies had chariots of iron.  Joshua 17:18 reads, "...but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong."  The chariots were not the issue.  The issues were obedience, trust, and willingness.

Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God."  God commanded the Israelites to drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan He had promised to them and their fathers.  If they were obedient, they would be victorious.  God would give the victory, but they would be required to fight.  They did not walk in obedience to God, and therefore could not drive out the well-established people of the land.  Because they did not believe they could succeed they did not obey.  And because they did not obey, they did not succeed.

The disciples were faced with a demon they could not cast out of a child.  Though Jesus had given them all authority over evil spirits, they were unable to drive the demon out.  When the child was brought to Jesus, He rebuked the demon and it left.  The disciples approached Jesus in Matthew 17:19-21:  "Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" ²⁰ So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. ²¹ However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." There must be faith coupled with works of obedience to walk in the victory Christ gives.  When we do not walk in obedience to God in prayer, we forfeit authoirty granted us by the grace of God.  Though God is able, we can remain unable.

 

Lack of faith and disobedience disables us from walking in victory.  Victory is contingent upon our obedience.  The more we are yielded to God, the greater capacity is available for God to work in and through us.  God will make the iron chariots of our enemies as stubble if we will be obedient, trust, and remain willing.  Isaiah 1:19-20 teaches us, "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; ²⁰ But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

 

Let us again bring to mind the truths of Isaiah 59:1-2 to bear upon us in times of spiritual and moral failure:  "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. ² But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."  God is only and always victorious.  How wonderful to know that God is always strong and able to save.  We need not be slaves to the cruel master of sin, though he rides upon chariots of iron.  God is able to shut the mouth of the lion; He is able to keep the flames of the furnace from scorching us, though others fall by the thousands; He is able to part the Sea so we might walk upon dry ground.  He is able to save to the utmost all who come to Him in faith.  Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ!  May we be willing and obedient that we might glorify our LORD by walking in this victory!