God Will Not Fail You

I was young when I watched "Star Wars" for the first time, and my favourite character was the villain Darth Vader.  Dressed in black with his distinct helmet, flowing cape, mechanical breathing, and red light saber, he captured my imagination.  His powers and persona were far greater than any clean-cut uniformed imperial officer or the expendable Stormtroopers.  As the saga of films continued, each installment revealed additional powers and abilities never seen before.  Darth Vader's supernatural abilities in "Empire Strikes Back" were tempered by his seemingly incompetent Admirals whom he dispatched with force-chokes.  He famously said as Admiral Ozzel breathed his last, "You have failed me for the last time."  Definitely not the kind of monster anyone wants as their superior!

What prompted me to consider Vader's warnings of his men "failing" him was a verse I read this morning in the book of Joshua.  This verse shows the grace and power of God, and revealed that for all his supernatural powers and knowledge, Darth Vader was a weak leader.  When Darth Vader's admirals failed, he also failed.  His plans were thwarted by their poor judgments and incompetence.  There were no learning moments, and no room for error:  in the end all Vader could do was kill those he viewed as failures and install a weaker leader in their place, thus perpetuating the cycle of failure.  Their efforts or profession of loyalty meant nothing, for Vader had no loyalty to those he ruled with fear.

When Joshua was called and established by God to lead the people of Israel after the death of Moses, God encouraged him with promises.  God did not "swear in" Joshua concerning his personal loyalty or make a promise to do his best:  God was the One who made promises to Joshua!  God said in Joshua 1:5, "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  What a contrast!  Darth Vader said menacingly to his underlings "Do not fail me," but God said, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  What confidence Joshua could have in a God who had called him and promised not to fail him!  The NKJV rendering of "fail" is "leave," and God's presence would remain with Joshua to guide and help him.  How wonderful it is to have a God who will not fail us.

Isn't it amazing God would say to a humble servant, "I will not fail you?"  God takes born failures, common sinners who have no ability in our flesh to accomplish His will, and He promises not to fail us.  This world, governments, policies, businesses, money, and all that is in this world will eventually fail us.  Only in God is there salvation, redemption, and eternal life.  God's love never fails, and He has promised to never leave or forsake us.  When man promises he will not fail it means nothing, but when God says it we can count on His goodness, grace, and power forever.  Like it or not, we fail.  But God did not fail Joshua, and He will not fail me, you, or anyone who places their trust in Him.

Bread of Revival

When praying about revival this morning, an Old Testament passage popped into my mind.  It concerned the Egyptian servant David and his men found near death in a field whilst pursuing the band who plundered and burned Ziklag.  The men mourned the loss of their wives and children taken captive by the Amalekite raiders.  After David inquired of God, He bid them to pursue and overtake their enemy and they would recover all.

As David and his 400 men pursued the troop, we read in 1 Samuel 30:11-12, "Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water. ¹² And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights."  The KJV describes the effect of eating and drinking in this way:  "...and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him."  In other words, eating bread and drinking water revived the man.  The cake of figs and clusters of raisins caused the man's strength to come back to him.  Without adequate food the strength of the Egyptian waned, and what is true in the physical realm in this case is true spiritually.  Feeding on the Word of God has the capacity to revive our weary souls.

I remember a t-shirt in the 80's which read something like, "7 days without reading the Bible makes one weak."  This is certainly true and the sentiment is appreciated by lovers of puns, yet we must do more than read the Bible like we would other books.  We must come to the scripture empty and hungry, expecting to receive something from the LORD.  Our souls must be engaged with this spiritually discerned book with the intent to obey, and this is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Even as the Egyptian was too weak to help himself, so we need to submit to God's power to nourish us.  Genuine revival cannot happen without God, prayer, and the Word of God.  Only God has the words of life and can raise the dead to life.

An additional principle on this theme can be gleaned from the passage.  Once the Egyptian's strength returned to him, he agreed to lead David and his men to his former master under one condition.  His master had abandoned him and left him to die due to illness, and he said in 1 Samuel 30:15, "...Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop."  This Egyptian had been treated as expendable once and valued his life.  As bad as death would be for David to deliver him to his previous master!  When our spirits are revived, we ought to use our newfound strength to shift our allegiances from the old life to a new one.  Having been delivered from a sinful malaise, those who are quickened by the Holy Spirit will despise and avoid the old life devoid of love or compassion which held us in bondage.

The first thing mentioned the man was given to eat was bread, and this is suggestive.  It reminds me how Jesus Christ is the Living Bread come down from heaven, the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us.  Those who partake of Him by faith will live forever!  After eating bread the Egyptian was given water to drink, and Jesus is the One who sends the Holy Spirit as Living Water which refreshes our souls.  Instead of skimming the scriptures, how important it is to be immersed in them.  What we read we also should put into practice.  It's amazing how we become alive to the scriptures when we do this!  Praise God for the richness of His Word and the soul-sustaining truth provided therein.  Feeling weak?  Open the scriptures with a hungry heart and receive all God says.

Meekness of Wisdom

"Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom."

James 3:11-13

God's wisdom is in utter contrast to the wisdom of the world.  We are naturally devoid of God's wisdom, and having been born again through faith in Christ we can walk in God's wisdom.  The truth is our attitudes and choices do not always line up with the wisdom revealed in Jesus Christ.  Just like a fig tree bears figs and a fresh spring provides fresh water, the wisdom of God is marked by meekness.  There ought to be agreement between our words and deeds according to God's standard of righteousness.

A fellow believer pointed out this connection to me this morning, that good conduct reveals our works are "done in the meekness of wisdom."  God's wisdom appears foolish to men.  Jesus came with all authority in heaven and earth and He willingly humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation, and was the servant of all.  He is Wisdom for us from God (1 Cor. 1:30), and He was revealed in meekness.  He was not boastful, arrogant, or threaten His enemies but prayed for them and served them.  He did not raise His voice on the streets to attract followers or likes.  He was content to do the will of the Father without fanfare or recognition.  Even His brothers criticised Jesus in this area, how He seemed reluctant to reveal Himself to the world or garner attention (John 7:1-13).  This wisdom is demonstrated in meekness by faith in God - something the world perceives as weak and useless.

If we were unsure of the difference between the wisdom of God and man, James provides details in the following verses.  James 3:14-17 says, "But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."  The wisdom of the world says we need to look out for self, promote self, and protect self.  When we feel our needs are going unmet or our efforts have not been recognised, envy and self-seeking move us to assert ourselves rather than trust God.  The wisdom of man says it is fine to lie as long as I benefit and no harm is done to others.  Satan is the father of lies, and this kind of "wisdom" is evil and comes from him.

God's wisdom stands in stark contrast to this and is described as "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, without partiality and without hypocrisy."  This is a very good working description of "the meekness of wisdom."  Instead of being fuelled by selfish ambition or envy, wisdom from God exudes grace and compassion towards others.  It is pure and righteous, without favouritism or hypocrisy.  There should be agreement between the way we are thinking, feeling, and acting.  The world angles for personal advantage, recognition, and reward, yet the wisdom of God bring rest and comfort to our hearts because we realise God is sovereign and in control.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and God's wisdom is demonstrated in meekness because we know God who is the Almighty, a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Sanctified and Useful

"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." ²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honour and some for dishonour. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."

2 Timothy 2:19-21

It's safe to say since immigrating to Australia I drink a lot more tea and coffee than I did previously.  It may be my imagination, but it seems the amount of mugs we store in the cupboard has proportionately grown as well!  Laura and I enjoy and have grown accustomed to welcome visitors into our home with the familiar question:  "Tea or coffee?"  Not everyone drinks tea or coffee of course, but it is a hospitable and often appreciated offer.

When I read this passage in preparation for an upcoming Bible study, an illustration popped into my head.  Paul had exhorted Timothy to avoid foolish debates, vain babblings, and later would tell him to flee fornication.  In context these are some of the sins which Timothy needed to ensure were not part of his life to be useful in God's hands.  For those who drink tea or coffee, we might have a cupboard full of mugs but we typically have our preferred ones.  My preferred mug at the moment is a magenta mug Laura gave me to commemorate our wedding anniversary with pink flamingos and hearts.  Having just finished a coffee, this is what it looks like right now.

I took a picture of the mug in its used and dirty state as an illustration.  If I received a visitor into my house, I would not offer them a hot beverage in a mug with coffee scum caked on it.  I would put this mug in the sink, switch on the kettle, and pull a clean mug out of the cupboard to prepare the tea or coffee.  Paul said in a great house there are many vessels composed of various materials for different uses.  The master of the house would know which vessels were his and their proper function.  If Timothy wanted to be a vessel of honour, "sanctified and useful for the Master," his life would need to be cleansed of sin.

You might say, "Wait a second.  God does the cleansing of our sin for us, right?"  This is true.  When we are born again and made a new creation, our sins are atoned for and we are forgiven.  But like my favourite mug is dirty after use, even Christians can sin after being born again and wilfully continue in it.  Should my mug be dirty when guests arrive, it cannot be a vessel of honour and profitable for use.  An vessel which honours the Master is a clean one.  To offer tea in a filthy mug would bring dishonour on me!  The exhortation is when we realise we are in sin we must repent, put away the sin, and thus sanctify ourselves.  A mug has no power of its own to be clean or dirty, and we must choose to put sin far from our lives so we might be set apart and ready for God's use.  A child of God in sin is still God's child, even like my mug in an unclean state is still mine and favoured.  When it comes to being used profitably however, only a clean mug will do.

You've probably found mugs which were left behind by the user which after awhile began to grow mould and smell horrible.  That is just a hint of the revolting nature of sin which can grow in our hearts when we practice sin without repentance.  Our usefulness by God will be negatively and dramatically affected until we are cleansed.  Once we humble ourselves and submit to God's cleansing in repentance, we are compared to a clean vessel "prepared for every good work."  I don't know any sane person who would prefer to be a vessel of dishonour, one over whom God wrinkles His nose and sets aside until the person choose to be cleansed inside and out.  Let us be those who are cleansed from sin and graciously sanctified for the use of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Only then will we realise our purpose as useful vessels in God's hands for His glory.