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Jump Start # 354

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 354 

Revelation 21:4 “And He will wipe every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 

  The apostle John who is shown the vision within the book of Revelation is describing for us “the new heaven and a new earth” that he sees. The first verse of this chapter says that the “first heaven and the first earth passed away.” Our verse today says “the first things have passed away.”

  John is identifying new things. These are not things we would find around us now, but in the future, after the passing away of these things. One of the “new things” he sees is a time and a world without sorrow and pain. That is hard for us to believe. We are surrounded with sorrow and pain. Turn on the newscast and you’ll hear about crime, disasters and death. Many of us start the day in pain. Our bones hurt. Our muscles hurt. For some, getting out of bed is painful. And there is the crying and mourning. Funeral homes, cemeteries, broken hearts and broken promises are a part of the landscape of our lives.

  There may be some depth to our verses that we don’t often explore. Our verse today is often looked upon as simply the absence of bad news. Heaven is viewed as a wonderful world of bliss, which it is. However, each of the emotions that John sees going away, “crying, mourning, sorrow and pain” all have a spiritual tie to sin. Before Adam and Eve sinned there would have been no reason for them to cry, mourn, have sorrow or pain. It was a perfect world. Then sin entered by their disobedience to God. God sent curses upon His creation. The result of these curses is what we are talking about: crying, sorrow, death, mourning and pain. All of those are connected to sin. Broken lives, guilt, shame, hurting other people, punishment are bring about these things in our verses. Sin doesn’t bring joy, just the opposite, sorrow. Sin doesn’t lead to life, just the opposite, death, especially spiritual death.

  John is describing for us what the “new heaven and new earth” will be like. He uses the negatives in our verse to tell us what is missing, what won’t be there. In doing this, John is telling us that there won’t be any sin. Sin is the cause of all those things that John says will be gone. A world without sin. The only picture we have of that is at the front of our Bibles when God first made mankind. The garden of Eden, paradise, was a world without sin. It was perfect. Man enjoyed a wonderful relationship with God. There was nothing to fear and nothing to be ashamed of. All of that changed after Adam and Eve sinned.

  To have a perfect world in which there would never be sin nor the consequences we would have to remove temptation and the influence of temptation, Satan. That is the sequence within Revelation. In chapter 20, Satan is sent to the lake of fire to be tormented forever. His absence removes the influence of temptation. It is like Eden before the serpent came and deceived.

   Can you imagine a world without temptation and sin? No apologies, because there is nothing to apologize for. No sin takes place. A world without guilt. A world without regret. A world without realizing I wish I hadn’t said that, or, I need to break these bad habits of mine.

  God is showing John that Heaven will not be like the world we are used to. It will be different. It will be a “new heaven and a new earth.” Sin will not dominate our lives. We won’t worry about doing the right thing nor fear doing the wrong thing. Satan will be out of our lives forever. Temptation will cease. All the ugliness associated with sin will be gone.

  It’s hard to believe that such a world could exist. It’ hard to realize that God would do this for us, His children. It makes you want to go there now.

  We sing, “How beautiful Heaven must be…” Indeed!

Roger

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Jump Start # 353

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 353 

Ezekiel 34:6 “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand.” 

  We looked at this verse yesterday and talked there about the idea of a sentry looking over the walls of the city. While everyone is busy down below going about life, there is a sense of security because the sentry, or watchman, is at his post. When he sees advancing armies, he blows the trumpet, much like a tornado siren alerts us today. The city stops what it is doing. Men grab weapons and race to the walls. Women grab children and run for cover. An invasion is turned because the watchman warned the city of coming danger. Great concept and principle for us spiritually.

  Yesterday, we considered the role of dads in the home. He is the watchman of the family. He warns and protects the family.

  Today, we look at another set of watchmen. These watch over the congregation or church. These are elders, or bishops. The word for bishop is “overseer” – the idea of the watchman. Elders, bishops, pastors, or shepherds are the same group of people in the N.T. 1 Peter 5 and Acts 20 uses a combination of these words within the same sentences to define the roles and work of these men. God’s shepherds today look over the church where they are members. They do not oversee or are involved in other churches. There is not a pyramid organizational structure with levels and levels or organization. Not in God’s church. Not in the Bible. Each church in the N.T. is independent. Money does not flow to a higher organization. There is no board above the local congregation. There are no delegates, or annual council meetings. I know for some of our readers this may seem very strange. Look at Phil. 1:1 or Acts 20:28-30. The modern church has structured itself after the business model and not the N.T. Too many have given up on God’s plan of things.

  Our shepherds today are responsible for helping us grow and protecting us. They are watchman upon the walls. Just as a shepherd watching over a group of sheep in the hills of Judea, that’s what God’s shepherds do today. The old shepherd would notice if the sheep were eating or not. He’d look at them and see if some are looking sickly or seem to be troubled. He knew lurking in the shadows were predators who would love to eat the sheep. David, when he approached King Saul about fighting Goliath, told of killing a lion and a bear. David was not on a hunting trip when that happened. He was a shepherd, a watchman. The lion came near and David sprang into action and killed it. That’s what watchmen do.

  God’s shepherds today, looking over the church, must be sharp. There are a lot of funny stuff being put out in books these days. Some are claiming that Hell doesn’t exist. Others are claiming that they died went to Heaven for a while and some how came back. I guess to write a book and make millions. Others are claiming that there is no Heaven. Some are saying that the world ends tomorrow. Lots of ideas that are not true to the Scriptures. Watchmen must recognize this stuff. They must be willing to blow the trumpet. Error often comes wrapped in a pretty package and seems quite innocent.

  Satan wants the church. He wants to split it, divide it, and destroy it. He’ll use false teaching. He’ll use discouragement. He’ll use friction among the members. He’ll use people. He doesn’t play by the rules and he doesn’t care. Watchmen are ready. They are at the walls and they have trumpets in their hand. There is a sense of security when Godly men are watching God’s church. They want it to survive. They want it to thrive. They want it to make an impact in this generation.

  Some of the greatest threats today come from members. Members who have not studied nor grown in the word of God as they should. They don’t understand things so they don’t know why the church can’t engage in business, why it can’t have a circus, why it can’t be like an amusement park. They want these things and the watchmen must remind them and teach them the ways of God. The kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of earth. God’s church is a spiritual haven. It’s purpose is to praise God and get people ready for Heaven.

  Watchmen are important. Without them we can’t go about our business. Fear of what might happen cripples us. Watchmen sets us at ease.

  God bless our watchmen, the shepherds, elders of the church. They do a wonderful work of keeping us together, keeping us settled down, and keeping us safe. We tend to wander off to places that are dangerous. They bring us back. We tend to be careless. They are careful. We tend to fuss. They calm us down. What a powerful work they do for us!

Roger

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Jump Start # 352

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 352 

Ezekiel 33:6 “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand.” 

  Ezekiel writes about the watchman of the city. Earlier, in the third chapter he says similar things. We get the image of a sentry peering over the city walls, looking on the horizon for rising dust, the sign of approaching armies. Every day this is his job. The city puts it’s safety in his hands. He is trusted. On one day, the enemies advance. The watchman sees. But for some reason, he doesn’t blow his trumpet. The city is unprepared. They are caught off guard. The city is taken and many are killed. It may have happened anyway, but had the watchman done his job, some resistance may have taken place and some may have had time to flee. A disaster took place that didn’t have to. Someone didn’t do their job. They were asleep at the helm and the ship crashed.

  This passage reminds us that we not only need each other, but that we count upon each other. This is true in the family and this is true in the church. We have different roles and different responsibilities and when everyone is busy doing what they are supposed to, things function well. When they are not, it’s a mess. Ask any parent of a teenager who seems to have forgotten that he has a closet for his clothes. The floor is cluttered with stuff and it’s a disaster to the eyes of a parent. We all have roles and functions.

  The important role of the watchman falls especially to two unique groups of people.

  In the family, it is the role of dad. That is why he is called the head. Not so much because he is the boss, nor that he gets his way, but more so, because he is the leader. The feet don’t move unless the head sends impulses that direction. It is dad’s role to see that the family is growing, maturing and getting closer to God. This has been a major letdown for generations. I’ll see Mom and the kids at the church house and dad is either asleep in bed or he’s out fishing. He works hard and deserves his time off, Mom says. Don’t we all? He took on the role of the leader when he said, “I do,” in a marriage. He is the watchman. He is responsible. Does he know what the kids are watching on TV? Does he know what they are texting to their friends? Does he even know who their friends are? The enemy is advancing, and dad is asleep on the couch. The enemy is not a foreign nation, but Satan. He wants to lead those young and tender hearts away from God. Satan will tempt teenagers to be sexually impure in thought, dress and attitude. Is the watchman aware that the enemy is near? Satan will chip away at the marriage. Does the watchman know that. If this watchman falls asleep at the helm of the ship, the family will drift into bad attitudes, selfish ways and destruct into dysfunction. The family needs Jesus. The family needs direction. The family needs someone who is watching. Too often, mom has to do it because dad won’t. That’s not God’s design. Step up men. It’s your time for guard duty. Take your trumpet in hand and climb the ladder and watch over the walls of your family’s heart. If the enemy takes over and you have not blown the warning sound of the trumpet, you shall be guilty. God bless the many dads you are involved, connected and caring enough to warn their family. The warning trumpet often sounds like a word, and that word is “NO.” No you can’t wear that…no you can’t stay out that late…no you can’t say those words…no you can’t skip church…No. And dad knows why. The enemy is advancing and he is trying to save the family.

  Saying no won’t win you the father of the year award, but that’s ok. You have a greater image that you want and that is for your children to grow up godly, decent and productive in this world. Children need direction. They need instruction. Your children will learn, either the right way from you, or the wrong way from influences of friends or TV. They will learn about love—either the right way and that love is a gift and it is about pleasing others, or they will learn from friends and that love takes and cares only about making self happy. They will learn about God, either from you and that He is awesome, loving and wants the best for you, or they will learn about God from science class and that is He doesn’t exist. They’ll learn about the church, money, sex, responsibility—either the right way from you or the wrong way from others. Watchman, your task is heavy. People are counting upon you. God is counting upon you.

  Dad’s who are too busy with themselves will regret that someday when they learn that God wanted them to sound the trumpet but they weren’t even on the wall watching.

  We will continue these thoughts tomorrow with the watchmen of the church.

  To the walls, Dads. The sound of approaching hoof beats can be heard. The family needs you.

Roger

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Jump Start # 351

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 351 

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” 

  Paul’s instructions to the Galatians is very helpful for us. It reminds us that in all that we do we need to make time to do good for others. The next verse in this passage says, “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

  Christians are those that do good. In Titus we read that we are to be engaged in doing good deeds. Christianity is a roll up your sleeves and do good for others. This demonstrates our love for them and it shows that we are compassionate and care about others. I fear that many have turned Christianity into a thinking religion, where we talk and speculate and discuss and debate but in the end nothing much is accomplished. Doing good doesn’t have to be big and fancy. It can be helping an older Christian out of their car. It can be sharing your umbrella with someone as you walk into a building. It can be baking some cookies and taking them to a neighbor. It can be helping someone move by loading boxes in a truck. It can be taking a college kid out to eat. It can be visiting a patient in the hospital during your lunch break. It can be buying a Bible for someone who doesn’t have their own. The list of good that can be done is long.

  But in all of this we must realize that there is a proper way of doing good to others. First, when someone does good for another, they don’t have to tell others what they did. That’s bragging and that kills the spirit of doing good. Secondly, the person that you did good to should not feel like they are in debt to you now. The payment is a “thank you.” Thirdly, the motive of doing good, is simply to help. Jesus did good, and so should His people. Fourthly, do good on your own. Some can’t seem to do anything without getting a group involved, making announcements in church and making a big thing about it. Just go and do good on your own. Don’t ask the church to repay you for your expenses, that’s tacky and in some ways not even Biblical.

  Doing good takes time, money and effort on your part. It means I have to not be so busy with my life that I can help others. Most won’t ask, which means you have to have open eyes to see the good deeds that can be done. Some will walk right by things and others will see a need and get about it. Most of us have had others help us out some where along the way. And even if we haven’t, this is what God wants, and this is what Paul is writing.

  Now, there is one more aspect of doing good that Paul addresses in our verse today. Do not lose heart, later he states, do not grow weary. Both of those expressions carry the idea of being tired. Not tired from physical work, but tired on the inside. Emotionally drained. Discouraged. Jesus told the disciples not to lose heart and to pray instead (Lk 18:1). The good that we do can be ruined by the spirit we do it in. Some complain while doing good. Some want to give the person they’re helping a sermon, and generally it’s not a nice sermon. When that happens, the person has become weary. They need to stop, refocus, get their attitude in shape, pray to the Lord and then get back at it. Some get so weary that they quit. “I always do it,” they say, “and now I’m not doing any more. Someone else can.” That’s the voice of a weary person.

  Paul says don’t do that. We can be overcome by trying to do it all. No one can. We can take on too much and feel our selves pulled in many directions. But the heart of a church is the care, compassion and the good that is done by the members. This is how we feel connected. We need each other. We help each other. We are there for each other. It may be our turn to help this time. The next time, they may be coming to help me. That’s how it works.

  The Galatians needed to be reminded of these things. Don’t forget is what the apostle is telling them. There are things you can do. People need you. Get about it and do it with the right spirit.

  We, too, need to be reminded of these things. The ole’ selfish spirit rises up in us from time to time and we want to be served instead of serving. We must fight that. We must realize that the folks need me and I need to get busy at those things.

Roger

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Jump Start # 350

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 350

Genesis 1:11-13 “Then God said, ‘Let the earth sprout vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them’; and it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a third day.”

  Creation—God’s first miracles and the origin of life. Many doubt these pages of the Bible. Many want to place this in the area of an allegory. Some cannot see science and Biblical faith as being compatible. Some view science as an assault upon faith and others that thoughts of creation belong in Sunday school and not science class.

  The only one that was there to know what happened was God. He knows. He witnessed and now He is telling all mankind what happened.

  Our verses today are in the midst of the creation account. This is not the only passages in the Bible that tells us that God created. Sprinkled all over the Bible, both O.T. and N.T. and references to God’s creation. In Hebrews 11 we find, “…what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” Our passage today takes place on the third day, which would have been a Tuesday. ‘How do you know that?’ you might ask?  In Exodus 20, when God establishes the Sabbath day, he defines for us a week. There it says, “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” The Sabbath day was the last day, the seventh day. It was Saturday. We are looking at the third day, a Tuesday.

  Three simply thoughts for you to think about today.

  • God placed within the earth the mechanisms to grow vegetation. The “earth sprout” is what the passage says. To do that, God had to make the soil rich enough to grow things. Interestingly, God does not make the sun until the next day, day four. We’d tend to think that the sun ought to be made first, then the plants. Not according to the creation model. There are those who want each day of creation to represent thousands or even millions of years. They do that to try to justify the age of rocks. Yet, if each day is millions of years old, how did these plants survive that long without the sun? Now if they are only one day old as Genesis tells us, and the sun comes the next day, not a problem.

 

  • In the creation account, God placed boundaries and order.  The earth brought forth vegetation “after their kind,” fruit trees did the same, “after their kind.” Grass is not like trees. Trees are not like green beans. There are differences. Evolution would teach that long ago they all came from the same “mother plant” and through time evolved to what we have today. That’s not what the Bible says. From the start they were different. God made them to continue on, that is, they had seed within them. This would continue the process of bringing forth many more. Another thought here, we are looking at day three. On day six comes man. If man is to survive he has to eat. These trees could not have been little saplings that in a few years would have fruit on them. Adam would have starved by then. They had to have fruit on them at the beginning, which means they began as mature trees. To look at one, we might think the tree was 15 years old, when in reality it was only three days old. Our system of dating things may be off because of such things.

 

  • The earth obeyed God. God said, “let the earth bring forth…” (v. 11). The next verse states, “The earth brought forth…” (v. 12). The earth was exactly what God wanted. He stated and it was so.

  Now comes one of the greatest mysteries of what happened on the third day, Can you and I believe it as God said it? Is it possible for God to do just what happened here? Could it be that God started everything suddenly. Evolutionists what a “big bang.” I’d rather have a “big God.” They want you to believe that matter has always been. I’d rather accept that God has always been. They want you to know that without any reason, some molecules started moving. They bumped into one another and produced a primeval soup from which all life came from. Everything living, they’d tell you, is related to each other. Time and chance and error has brought us to the final product. Now there’s no evidence for this theory, other than it just did. Through the years this theory has “changed” and ideas dropped and news added. And the bottom line, the only reason your feet are not where your ears happen to be is by chance. Talk about a leap in the dark and a system of faith!

  I accept what God says. Now you ask, how come? Because the truthfulness of the Bible. Fulfilled prophecies, historically accurate, scientifically correct, consistent unity of thought throughout. There is no other book like the Bible. If man wrote this, why can’t he write another like it? He can’t. Not by one person, but forty. Not in one lifetime but covering over 1,500 years, on three different continents and involving three different languages. We can’t agree on who shot JFK– let alone compile a masterpiece like the Bible.

  Proof of creation—the Bible. There are others, but this is the greatest. If you cannot accept the first page of the Bible, can you accept the last page? Can you accept any page? Those that discount the first page, take away God, His power and what He is able to do. Bottom line here, if God cannot create this world, how do I know that He can save my soul?

   The first page of the Bible ties into everything else. Believe it!

Roger