God Who Heals Us

Yesterday I was given the opportunity to deliver the message at Jericho Road Christian Fellowship.  The text the LORD placed on my heart was Exodus 15 which begins with the song of Moses celebrating God's power and deliverance from the  pursuing Egyptian army.  Three days after God brought the people through the Red Sea, however, they complained because they did not find fresh water.  One might imagine a series of obvious miracles and the physical presence of God before the eyes would endow people with unshakable faith and resolve, but this passage shows otherwise.  Bitter water brought out the bitterness in people towards Moses and ultimately God.

God graciously healed the waters of Marah, a picture of what He delighted to do within them.  They had been oppressed in Egypt for 400 years as slaves, and there was a lot of bitterness, resentment, and hurts.  God made a covenant with the people and said, "I am the God who heals you."  When people think about miraculous healing it is likely physical healing like Jesus or His disciples performed.  But that is not the only kind of healing God does:  He can heal us body, mind, and soul.  He delivers us from the poison of lust and greed, of bitterness and unbelief.  A withered hand is not much use for picking up objects, yet a hard heart or seared conscience has far worse long-term spiritual implications.

I am convinced God does not heal us for our convenience but out of His goodness and grace.  The mighty works Jesus and disciples did were similar to what God did in miraculously delivering the Hebrews out of Egypt:  to confirm the truth of the Gospel and covenant God makes with those who trust in Him.  Consider what Jesus said and did after the death of Lazarus.  After Jesus came to the grave of Lazarus, John 11:39-45 reads, "Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." ⁴  Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" ⁴¹ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." ⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." ⁴⁵ Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him."  It seems Lazarus was not resurrected for Lazarus' own sake, but so people could see the glory of God, believe on Jesus, and be saved.

I am blessed God has provided Exodus 15, but we do not need this passage to know beyond a doubt God's people can be bitter (sharp, angry, hurt or resentful) because the capacity and tendency is in all of us.  We have thought of the glory God would receive from miraculously healing a person physically, but isn't He also glorified when we ask to be healed from our bitterness?  Being bitter is not a personality trait but is a sin to be repented of because God has placed within believers the Living Water of the Holy Spirit who brings new life, refreshment, and comfort.  Just like the bitterness of the water was exposed when people tasted and refused to drink it, bitterness in us is distasteful to others and especially the God who knows our hearts.

Praise the LORD He is the one who offers to heal us of bitterness, filling our hearts instead with gratefulness and thanksgiving to God.  Through us He dispenses the fragrance and flavour of grace to the world that He might be glorified.

Management or Ministry?

Something my mum said about children's ministry provoked good thought, that there is a difference between management and ministry.  Sitting the kids in front of a TV or allowing them to play on their devices in class may manage their behaviour, but it won't minister to their souls.  A manager conjures up images for me of a hireling, but a minister is a servant of all.  In a Sunday School lesson, the end does not justify the means--especially when our ends do not line up with God's.  Do we tolerate people or do we love them?  To love others requires an investment of time and effort which benefits others.

Jehosheba and the high priest Jehoiada provide a good illustration of the conduct fitting of God's faithful ministers.  2 Kings 11:1-3 reads, "When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs. ² But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed. ³ So he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land."  Joash was a vulnerable infant facing death when Jehosheba bravely stole him away from his murderous grandmother and hid him in the Temple.  For six years he lived in the house of God.

Whilst kept in the house of God, the high priest Jehoiada made preparations for the day Joash would ascend to the throne and be made king.  Not only did Jehoiada speak with rulers and captains of the guard to prepare for the coronation, but Jehoiada taught Joash about God, His laws, and his responsibilities as king.  Without a godly father to teach him of God and his ways, priest Jehoiada prepared the child to rule righteously.  Now most of the kids who attend church are not facing an immediate threat to their lives, but they all have a desperate need to know God and to learn to trust Him.  Joash was threatened by Athalia, and this world will stop at nothing to steal their formative years, deceive, kill and destroy.  Joash was the rightful king Jehoiada took under his wing, and we have an incredible opportunity to teach kids about our good God who desires for all people believe on Him and be saved.

Jehoiada wasn't just interested in feeding, clothing, and keeping Joash quiet and well-behaved, but to prepare him to answer the call God had placed upon His life.  God had a calling upon Jehosheba, Jehoiada and Joash, and He also has a call upon our lives and the souls of those precious little ones God brings to church.  We have the opportunity to minister to these children, not just manage them.  A manager is more concerned about kids being low-maintenance and well-behaved in class, whilst a minister seeks to communicate God's love, how to walk with Him, and to inspire a child to enter into the bright future God has for those who trust Jesus Christ.  Raising infants, toddlers, and kids filled with energy will be messy business, yet God enables us by His grace to be their ministers as unto the LORD.  When we feel like we can't manage, God ministers to and through us.

Brought Through

God's word is profound and enduring, and even portions of scripture which seem mundane or repetitive can be treasures hidden in plain sight for those who seek God by reading them.  Instead of looking at reading the Bible as a task to be endured it is better to view it as an intentional opportunity to hear God speak into our lives today.  I discovered such a passage today in the book of Ezekiel as the prophet described a vision he saw.

Ezekiel 47:2-4 reads, "He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. ³ And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. ⁴ Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist."  Ezekiel accompanied a man who measured the depth of living water which flowed from the temple.  After 500 yards the water reached up to his ankles, and 500 yards later the water came to his knees.  It must have taken a good while to wade through the water which grew in volume as it flowed towards the east and revived the Dead Sea.

During this passage Ezekiel often repeated the man he followed "brought me through."  How well this statement relates to the life of a child of God!  We have come to Jesus Christ through faith and He is the one who leads us through all seasons of life by the Holy Spirit.  It didn't matter if the waters were to his ankles or knees:  Ezekiel was brought through them--even when walking became more difficult as the water grew deeper.  Looking back, we can affirm it is God who brought us through trials which seemed to go on forever, through seasons of depression and weariness.  Many times we have lost all sense of direction and a Christ-centered perspective, but Jesus brought us through.

How many times does scripture illustrate the faithfulness of God to bring His people through difficulties to a place of deeper and greater blessing by His grace.  God did not only bring His people to the edge of the Red Sea or Promised land but caused them to enter and He brought them through even in the midst of their enemies and idols.  Moses was brought to the boundary of Canaan, and though he was not permitted to physically enter God brought him through to eternal life in paradise.  Jesus did not leave His disciples perpetually toiling at the oars on the Sea of Galilee but brought them through to arrive at His intended destination.  God brought them through, and He will bring you through too.

Isn't it strange Ezekiel would walk in the stream which became a great river when he could have walked on the bank?  Most of us would have tried to avoid being wet, but Ezekiel was brought through in the midst of the stream.  We often attempt to skirt or avoid any difficulties--even ones God has determined to bring us through for the glory of His name and the strengthening of our faith.  This testimony of how Ezekiel was brought through teaches me I can trust God's leading in the present difficulty which feels like it will sweep me off my feet.  Trials and pressures of life that even look like are heading for disaster are carefully measured in depth and duration by the One who leads us.  Remember we can always trust Jesus Christ who will surely bring us through, and in the process we will grow in love and adoration for Him.

Surrender to God's Will

People struggle with the unknown.  We like to plan, prepare, and strategise.  We all have expectations we hope are met.  Fluid situations, changed conditions, and chaos cause us to feel unsettled and can produce stress.  Fundamentally we prefer to be in control or at least have a sense of control of our lives.  There are aspects of life we do have a degree of control over, but even the most controlling realise there are things beyond us, things which are “out of our hands.”

Knowing God is sovereign and reigns over all is quite comforting when it seems the world has gone mad.  We rest in God’s hands as His beloved people, yet He is not in any way controlled by or dependent on people.  Our prayers might be hindered but His arms are not shortened that He cannot save.  He will accomplish His will regardless of the schemes of Satan or perceived ineptitude of His people.  Knowing God’s will is different than my will helps in trusting Him, for even Jesus said to His Father, “Not My will, but yours be done.”  The Father was intent on saving the lost, and Jesus shared this exact desire.  It was the way the Father determined which caused Jesus to pray fervently and sweat blood in anticipation.

D.L. Moody wrote this concerning the will of God in his book Men of the Bible:  “A great many people are afraid of the will of God, and yet I believe that one of the sweetest lessons that we can learn in the school of Christ is the surrender of our wills to God, letting Him plan for us and rule our lives.  If I know my own mind, if an angel should come from the throne of God and tell me that I could have my will done the rest of my days on earth, and that everything I wished should be carried out, or that I might refer it back to God, and let God’s will be done in me and through me, I think in an instant I would say:  “Let the will of God be done.”  I cannot look into the future.  I do not know what is going to happen tomorrow; in fact, I do not know what may happen before night; so I cannot choose for myself as well as God can choose for me, and it is better to surrender my will to God’s will.”  [Moody, Men of the Bible, The Bible Institute Colportage Association, 1898, pg. 7]

God’s ways are higher than ours and His thoughts are not ours.  It follows that God’s will is far better than ours because He knows all, will accomplish all, and He is faithful.  There is much we know and more we do not know, and our knowledge, experience, and troubling unknowns can move us to make excuses for not surrendering to God today.  God’s will shall be performed according to His Word, not according to our preferences or expectations.  If we kick at the goads worry and bitterness will be our companions; if we attempt to leverage words to goad God to do our will frustration and disillusionment will follow.  Knowing God is good and makes infinitely better choices for us, we can confidently choose His way.

Choosing God is to embrace His will, knowing He does all things well—even when life seems futile and a hopeless disaster. Surrender to God and to His will, for having done the first it only follows.  The One who has saved and redeemed us is also able to guide, protect, and provide for us all by grace.

Marvelous Transformation

Today at Calvary Chapel Santee a message was preached on Acts 4 and focused on the transforming effect of a relationship with Jesus.  Through the name of Jesus Christ spoken by Peter a lame man was miraculously healed before many witnesses.  The only explanation for the man previously lame suddenly walking, leaping, and praising God was the power of God through Jesus' name.  The physical healing of the lame man provided an opportunity for Peter to preach the Word to an intrigued and engaged audience.

Religious leaders who did not believe Jesus was the Son of God or in the resurrection from the dead took offense to the preaching of Peter and other Christians and brought them before the Sanhedrin, rulers of the Jews.  Acts 4:8-10 says, "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: ⁹ If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole."  A marked change was seen in the lame man who stood before the elders, but a more profound and enduring transformation was demonstrated in Peter (who previously denied Jesus three times) because he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter had been transformed through faith in Jesus and his relationship with Him--something the religious leaders themselves concluded.  Acts 4:13 says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."  Pastor James made a great observation:  these rulers were correct in their assessment, but not entirely.  It was true they had been with Jesus while He remained on earth, but they continued to walk with Him.  They were filled with the Holy Spirit in their time of need and guided to answer wisely because of their current relationship with Jesus.

This passage provides hope for healing and transformation for people physically but also for those who lack boldness, have denied Christ with their words or deeds, and played the fool.  The hope, healing, and deliverance Jesus provides is not just for people new to the faith but to those who have walked with Jesus a long time.  This truth is a blessing to my heart and to all those who are burdened with their own failures and sin.  Jesus Christ is a Saviour of Jew and Gentile, to believers new and old.  He brings the refreshment of Living Water to all who seek and abide in Him by His grace.

Downs and Ups

In the Disney cartoon Robin Hood, the minstrel rooster sang of the depressed state of Nottingham and the overtaxed inhabitants under the rule of Prince John:  "Sometimes ups outnumber the downs, but not in Nottingham."  In life there will always be ups and downs which can ebb and flow as the tide.  Calm and serenity can be suddenly overwhelmed with a tsunami of negative emotions.  Unexpected trials and tragedies can knock us off our feet like little children happily playing on the shore as we are having the time of our lives.  Praise the LORD we are not at the mercy of the wind and the waves because God is with us, for us, and helps us.

Life brings with it pains and struggles all people must face, and God provides much more than positive thinking or a means of coping.  He provides comfort, hope, and salvation far beyond our ability to claim or grasp because He is good and with us.  God takes a continual interest in us due to His gracious love for us--not because we have somehow earned it.  Psalm 37:23-24 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand."  Those who walk with Jesus are not impervious to falling because we are walking.  It is the upright man who can fall, yet God upholds us.  We may be cast down, and God allows this so we might realise afresh our desperate need for Him and choose to seek Him fervently again.

Even when the "downs" seem to outnumber the "ups" when we look up to Jesus we find hope and rest beyond our strength and circumstances.  The goodness of our glorious God alone makes all darkness flee and lifts us from the pit like an eagle in full flight.  David mused in Psalm 42:5, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance."  In the light of God's goodness, love, and grace there is no cause for worry or fear.  We sometimes are downcast and even fall, but we shall not be utterly cast down.  God does not cast us off for our weakness or failures, but our need ought to move us to admit them and look to Jesus.  Consider all He endured and the glory revealed in Him as He persevered in faith and love:  such is the future for all those who trust in Him.

"What goes up must come down," the saying goes, and this is true in the natural realm where gravity wins.  We walk during the day and lay down at night to rest; we live our lives and when we breath our last we descend to the grave.  Yet God in His mercy miraculously empowers us to never be at the mercy of gravity or death.  As Christians we have answered an upward call with eyes lifted up and fixed upon Christ.  Our future is not to descend to hell but to ascend to heaven where Jesus and righteousness dwell forever.  Being cast down is a reminder of our need to look up.  Even when we have no strength in ourselves to rise it is God who lift us up because He upholds us.

The Justifier

Last night I read Psalm 143:1-2, "Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. ² And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified."  David made his appeal for God to take heed due to His faithfulness and righteousness, for David could not rightly claim these qualities for himself.  David believed in God and laboured to honour and glorify God, yet he was far from perfect.  His sins were ever before him.  There is no way justification could come by attempts to keep God's law.

Paul confirmed this in Romans 3:19-20, "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."  The Law of God brought the knowledge of sin, a revelation of God's divine standards.  What God intended to reveal sin and move to repentance man leveraged to justify himself.  Man sidestepped the spirit of the Law to assert his own righteousness because of effort made to keep it--whilst judging others who didn't measure up.

Enter the grace of God:  what man could not do for himself through effort our righteous, faithful, and just God provided the means for justification and salvation through Jesus Christ.  Romans 3:21-26 explained, "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, ²² even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, ²⁶ to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."  We have all fallen short of God's righteousness, but we have been justified freely by His grace through faith in Jesus.  God's hearing of our prayers therefore does not depend upon our efforts to measure up but God's grace to listen to undeserving sinners.  He is faithful, and when we place our faith in Jesus He is just and our Justifier.

Sovereign and Good

Knowing a thing is from the LORD impacts our perspective.  To fight against what is from the LORD is to fight against Him.  Realising God is good and sovereign over all provides rest for our souls even when circumstances are out of our control.  By God's grace we can seek Him and the God who breaks can also make whole.

When it was revealed to King Hezekiah he would surely die, he prayed earnestly to the LORD with weeping.  He asked God to remember the good things he had done for God's glory.  In his sickness he mused, "How can I praise and honour you in the grave?  It is the living that will praise God!"  God graciously caused Hezekiah to recover and added 15 years to his life.  God even provided a miraculous sign that Hezekiah would be restored and go up again to worship in the house of the LORD by causing the sundial to reverse 10 degrees.

After Hezekiah recovered of his grave illness, a delegation from Babylon came with a gift.  King Hezekiah proudly showed off all the riches of his kingdom to friendly men from a far-off land.  Isaiah 39:5-8 reads, "Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: ⁶  'Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,' says the LORD. 'And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.' " ⁸ So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "At least there will be peace and truth in my days."  Upon hearing the revelation from Isaiah the prophet, Hezekiah's response is not what I would expect of any king or caring dad.

Let me say right off I cannot say exactly why Hezekiah would respond in such a manner, nor do I feel compelled to justify his remarks.  The good king recently experience a very near brush with death and was delighted to be spared by God's grace.  It may be nothing at the time could have derailed his euphoric happiness.  I think it highly unlikely his seemingly carefree response was due to him not believing the word of the LORD, for he celebrated the good news spoken by the prophet:  there would be peace in Hezekiah's days which were extended 15 years.  Hearing all he and his fathers had been accumulated would be taken along with his sons who would be made eunuchs in captivity didn't seem to phase Hezekiah.  His words have a similar ring to the words of Eli the high priest after hearing God would severely judge his house and vile sons in 1 Samuel 3:18,  "It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him."

Acknowledging the sovereignty and goodness of God in faith could be the explanation behind Hezekiah's indifference:  God has the power to kill and make alive, to wound and to heal.  What does it profit a man to fight against what is from the LORD?  The irony in this is Hezekiah wept over his own impending death, yet he behaved quite differently concerning the future of his children and people.  The reality is Eli nor Hezekiah could change their children, nor cause them to fear God and walk in His ways.  Instead of placing himself under this unbearable burden, Hezekiah praised and rejoiced in the goodness of God towards him.  When God allowed David's infant son to become deathly ill, whilst he lived David fasted and mourned.  However after it was confirmed he had passed away, David rose from the ground, washed, went to the house of God and worshipped, then ate food.  His counsellors were confused by this behaviour.  David's response was, "While he lived there was a chance God would heal him, but since he is dead what can I do to change it?"

To those who criticise or condemn Hezekiah for his response (praising the LORD over present good instead of mourning over future evil which was out of his hands), who are we to judge another man's servant?  It is before his own master a servant stands or falls.  I am no one to judge him, for I have celebrated what I ought to have mourned and mourned when I should have rejoiced.  Again, I can't say why Hezekiah acted or spoke the way we did because I am not God who alone knows the hearts of men.  What I can say is faith in God as our sovereign LORD leads to contentment and rest in Him even as days grow darker.  There is always cause to praise and worship God even in the face of doom or death.  Should our thanksgiving and joy in the LORD be tempered because of what might or will happen in the future?  Hezekiah prayed to the LORD and God heard him and preserved his life:  couldn't Hezekiah's children petition the LORD as well for a stay of their judgment?  Wasn't it their own responsibility before God to repent?  Hezekiah could pray for his sons and people, but he could not repent for them.

Between Sheep and Sheep

God had strong words for the negligent and greedy shepherds of Israel, those God had appointed to guide, protect, and instruct God's people.  It would not be a stretch at all to compare the roles of the priests and Levites to the role of ministers in the church today which provides valuable personal application.  Instead of lording over people, the sanctified priests were to serve God and the people faithfully.  A shepherd was responsible to lead sheep to good and safe pasture, and pastors are to present the wholesome Word of God to strengthen and nourish the sheep of God's pasture.

A couple of times in the passage God told the ministers He would judge between sheep and sheep, between cattle and cattle (depending on the translation).  Instead of having many shepherds, one shepherd (the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ) would be placed over them all.  See what is written in Ezekiel 34:20-22:  "'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD to them: "Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. ²¹ Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, ²² therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep."

Christians are all sheep of God's pasture, and in Christ's fold are sheep of all kinds:  sheep which are fat and healthy, sheep which are lean, weak, and sickly.  A shepherd took extra care with unhealthy sheep, but the issue God had was with the stronger sheep pushing against and butting the weakened sheep to scatter them.  These sheep were not hopeless because God would save them, but the sheep who were doing the butting and preying on the weak He would judge.  Instead of driving away the weak and sickly from fellowship, we ought to provide patient, long-suffering, and gracious care.

To apply this to pastoral leadership, I am reminded of a verse in the Law which held owners responsible for not taking action to correct violent tendencies of their animals.  Whilst ministers are not responsible to answer for the actions of others, there is a principle held forth those prone to do damage should be marked and adequate protection provided for others.  Exodus 21:28-29 says, "If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted. ²⁹ But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and it has been made known to his owner, and he has not kept it confined, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death."  God held owners of oxen accountable for what they knew:  if an owner realised his ox tended towards violence, he was responsible to keep it in a paddock to protect others.

The application is similar for Christians in leadership who have learned over time the character of their fellow believers.  Paul wrote in Romans 16:17, "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them."  We have a responsibility before God to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God, and should we notice butting and conflict amongst us we should protect the weak.  Those who expend a great deal of energy on the lookout for potential troublemakers may themselves be the fat and aggressive rams they are looking for.  I am eternally grateful Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, and all in His fold are under His loving and righteous authority.  Having a healthy relationship with our Good Shepherd helps guide our words and conduct between sheep and sheep.