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Jump Start # 2849

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2849

1 Kings 4:1 “Now King Solomon was king over all Israel.”

King Solomon—what a title. What an honor. What a responsibility. What a privilege. What a blessing. When We think of Solomon, most often one of three thoughts quickly come to our minds. He was the temple builder. He was the writer of Ecclesiastes, Proverbs and Song of Solomon. His heart was led away by the many foreign wives he married and he introduced idolatry into the nation.

Have you given much thought as to how Solomon started as a king? So much was done by David, his father. The capitol was settled in Jerusalem. The king’s palace was built. The kingdom was wealthy. The nation was at peace. All of this was through the leadership and work of David. When David handed the keys over to Solomon, the nation was hitting on all cylinders. It was good times. So many leaders must start from the bottom. David did. He had to unify the nation that was torn between allegiance to Saul’s family and those who supported him. The Philistines were a constant harassment to the nation. David took care of that. There really wasn’t a seat of government or a capitol. David established that.

But, more than that, Solomon grew up with a father being the king. And, not just any king, but the one who set the bar and the standard very high. Kings after him would always be compared to “David.” Being a child of the king, Solomon would have had opportunity to see things, learn things and ask questions.

But, more than that, Solomon grew up with a father who had a heart that was devoted to God. Yes, there were mistakes in David’s life, as there are in mine and yours, but his heart was forever pointed to the Lord. It’s one thing to learn from others, but if the “others,” do not have a noble and compassionate character, you will likely turn out like they are. David was the best. He showed grace to Saul’s grandson. He showed mercy to Shimei, who had rebuked David and threw dust on him. And with that, David was showing Solomon how you treat your enemies and those who may not like you. Ruling with an iron fist or a heart of compassion makes all the difference.

Would it had been better if Solomon didn’t have all those things handed to him? Was he a spoiled, rich kid who never had to deal with troubles in his life?

Here are a few things to consider:

First, within our congregations, we want to make things easier, smoother and better for the next generation. Some of us have stood with David in having to unify people, fight enemies, and bring peace. Some of our congregations have been small and struggling. Some could not financially support their own preacher. Some have been torn with internal fighting. These have been our wars and our struggles. We want to leave the congregation better than we found it. We want the congregation to be stronger, more unified and more active than it ever has been. That’s how I think. I fear far too many don’t give those things much thought. It’s just week to week, day after day. Little is changed. Little is improved upon. And, when it’s time for the next generation, the same battles, the same divided spirits will continue on.

It’s through the teaching of God’s word that a congregation gets stronger. It’s focusing upon what we have in common in the Lord that pulls our hearts together. Unity comes from hearts that are all seeking the Lord first.

Second, handing a golden egg to the next generation, without responsibility nor teaching them to use things wisely can be a great curse rather than a blessing. This is so true in our homes. As parents become wealthy, their children can easily become spoiled, selfish and indifferent to others. We want our kids to do well and we want them not to have to struggle, however, without good guidance, many a young person has ruined his life because of the generous blessings given to him by his parents.

We see this down side spiritually as the book of Judges opens. Joshua’s generation was faithful to the Lord. The next generation did not know the Lord. The following generation brought in idols and departed from the Lord. Joshua’s generation were the children in the wilderness. They crossed the Jordan River into the promise land. The next generation only knew those things as stories. They didn’t know the Lord. They didn’t walk with the Lord.

This lesson is repeated in restoration history. Those first generations were so eager to get back to the Bible and just do what the Bible taught. The following generation took things for granted. They went the other way and soon came more problems and more innovations that are not Bible based.

Third, we must impress upon everyone that each generation has battles and each generation must be true to the Lord. King Saul was killed by the Philistines. David subdued the Philistines. Solomon didn’t have to worry much about Philistines. However, Solomon had other battles that he didn’t realize. There is never a time to take our foot off the accelerator of the Lord. There is never a time to coast. There is never a time to take our eyes off the Lord.

Now Solomon was king…Now you may preach. Now you may lead God’s people. Now you may serve God’s people. Work hard. Do your best. Stand upon the blessings and opportunities given to you. Try to make things easier for those who follow. Teach them what you have learned. The battles change, but they continue on until the Lord calls us home.

Roger

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Jump Start # 2848

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2848

Mark 4:41 “And they became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Just who is Jesus? Our verse is the reaction the disciples had when Jesus calmed the sea. Wet, scared, thinking death was imminent, they witness Jesus stopping the storm. No one can do that. No one can control the weather. We can predict the weather. We can endure the weather. But no one can change the weather. Jesus did.

And, what is fascinating about this question they ask, “Who then is this…” is who answers it for them. It wasn’t Jesus. He didn’t say, “I’m God.” As that boat landed upon the shore, and we flip to the next chapter in Mark, coming running and screaming at Jesus is a demon possessed man. He must have been frightful to see. Bloodied from cutting himself with stones, naked, possibly dangling chains that he had broken, it is this demon possessed man who answers the question.

He cries out with a loud voice, “What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me.” And, with those words, the disciples have their answer. Who is Jesus?

First, this demon possessed man knew Jesus’ name. It is very likely that this was the first time they met. The demon knew.

Second, this demon possessed man knew who Jesus was. He was the Son of the Most High God. He is God’s son. Is it any wonder that He can change the weather, raise the dead, cure the leper and in a moment, cast these demons out. He’s God.

Third, this demon possessed man knew what Jesus could do. He not only could cast the demons out, but He had the authority and power to cast those demons into torment. The demons were no match for Jesus. They plead for sympathy. They gladly would rather be in pigs than in torment. But they can’t get into the pigs without Jesus’ permission.

Who then is this? This is Jesus. Right before them, the apostles got the answer to their question. It came from a most unusual source. It was rightly spoken.

And, all of that reminds us of some lessons:

First, truth is truth, no matter who says it. Sometimes truth is spoken from very unlikely sources, like our demon possessed man in Mark 5. Sometimes things are rightly said by those who are not living rightly. Sometimes things are spoken true by those who do not believe in truth. Sometimes it is our children who remind us of how we ought to behave. The frightened disciples were astonished at what Jesus could do. The demons were not. They knew.

Second, we can discount and ignore what is said because of who says it. How easily these disciples could have thought, ‘What does a demon know about Jesus?’ But the demons know. The demons believe. The same could be said of us. We may not pay attention to what someone says because of who they are. What do they know, we think? Yet, they may know exactly what we don’t. We do not have a corner on truth. We are not the only ones who understand the principles of God.

Third, God reveals Himself through nature and a number of means. Paul in Romans 1 says that God’s eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen in the world. The birds, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6, remind us of God’s divine care. The flowers, also in Matthew 6, reminds us of God’s creative beauty. We must have the Bible to learn the principles of righteous living, but God is not confined in a book. All around us, from the songbird, to the rainbow, to the gentle rain, God’s presence and hands are seen.

Fourth, as the fifth chapter of Mark unfolds, the disciples question, “Who then is this” gets answered over and over again. Three rapid miracles fill Mark five. Demons. Disease. Death. And, what we see is that Jesus continually redefines the impossible. No one could control the demon possessed man. Jesus cast the demons out. The woman with the issue of blood could not be cured. Jesus did. And, the little girl who died at the end of the chapter was raised by Jesus. He showed that He was the Lord of Heaven and Earth. He showed compassion in all three miracles. Jesus does care. He showed that He has all authority. He showed that He was greater than Satan. Death, Satan’s greatest tool, destroyed by Jesus. Disease, sent by Satan, cured. Unclean spirits, went fleeing by the power of God.

Who is this? This is Jesus. This is the one who can turn your life around. This is the one who can forgive your sins. This is the one who can fill your heart with hope and goodness. This is the one that you need to bow to and submit your will to. This is the one you need to follow. His name is Jesus.

Roger

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Jump Start # 2847a

Posted on May 19, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2847

Acts 5:11 “And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.”

  They are called “Yogisms.” They are the colorful, odd and backward sayings of Yankee great Yogi Berra. He had a bunch of them. He said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” One of my favorites is: “We don’t want to lose by making the wrong mistakes.” You have to think about that one for a moment. Is there such a thing as “Right mistakes?”

  Our verse today might rightly be called losing by making the wrong mistakes. Things were going well for that first church in Jerusalem. They were growing, united and taking care of each other. But when we come to the fifth chapter, we fly right into a problem. It was an internal problem. It was a problem among the members.

  Carrying over from the fourth chapter, where wealthy brethren were selling property and giving the money to the apostles so the needy among them could be taken care of, Ananias and Sapphira want to join in on this. No one told them that they had to do this. They sold some property, gave the money to the apostles, and they also gave them a lie. That lie ruined the good that they were doing. That lie was like a major tremor rumbling through the congregation. They seemed to want the emphasis upon the giver and not the gift. They seemed to have trouble taking their fingers off of the money. They wanted to look good to the brethren while still padding their own pockets.

  Their scheme failed. Peter knew. God knew. Peter rebuked Ananias directly. This was not kept secret from the church. God struck Ananias dead. Three hours later, the same thing happened to his wife. She carried on the lie. She too, lost her life in disobedience and disgrace.

  This is where our verse comes in. Fear, great fear, came upon the whole church. The God who pardons and offered salvation also took the life of those who were disobedient.

  Now a few thoughts for us:

  First, the purity and the integrity of the church was at stake. Had God looked the other way, deception may have filtered into the makeup of His kingdom. The first step of discipleship is to deny yourself. Ananias violated that. He thought more of himself. God could not have that continue. In cold reality, based upon Scriptures, the fist Christians to die, did not die by the hands of Jewish or Roman persecutors. The first to die were not martyrs. The first to die, were struck down by God in disobedience. God had tolerated a weak and uncommitted people for centuries in the Old Testament. But now, God was expecting holiness and purity.

  Second, this reminds us that God does not overlook wrong because there was some good. Certainly, for whatever money Ananias gave, some brethren were benefitted. That was good. That made a difference. But we are not in a balance scale and as long as we have more good than bad, everything works out. We can justify the bad because we’ve done some good. That’s the way we think. It’s not the way God thinks. Our bad is not equaled out by our good. Sin can only be removed by the blood of Jesus, not our good deeds. All the good that we do will not give us a pass on the sins in our lives. We must confess those. We must seek the mercy of God for those things. Very easily and very quickly, we can turn our salvation into a system of works by believing the more good we do will take care of the bad that we do. That leaves no room for Jesus and for grace. That idea just doesn’t fit in with what the Scriptures teach. There is no encouragement to stop the wrong. Just make sure you do more right than wrong. We must be doing good. Not to get a better seat in Heaven and not to overcome the bad we do. We must do good because the Lord wants us to. We must do good because we love the Lord.

  Third, this story reminds us that God does not play favorites. When Peter did wrong, Paul confronted him. No one gets to bend the rules. There are no double standards with God. The kids of the preacher are just as accountable as the kids of the janitor. And, the kids of the preacher should not be expected to do any more than the kids of the janitor are expected to do. God killed Ananias. God didn’t use that as a warning for the wife to change. When given the opportunity to be honest, she chose to be dishonest. When given the opportunity to come clean, she kept the lie going. It wasn’t all Ananias. She was just as involved. She was eating the forbidden fruit right along with him. God was consistent. God was just.

  Fourth, great fear came upon the whole church. Rightly so. They had never seen anything like this. God struck down his own people. And among the church, there would be a great resolve to be honest and to draw closer to the Lord. Imagine someone among them who was thinking of doing the same thing. Imagine among them someone who had recently lied. What fear and what cleansing of the soul they must have had.

  We don’t have great fear in the church these days. In fact, it’s just the opposite. People hear of others getting away with murder, so they do the same. Tolerating sin only weakens the message, pollutes the church and drains commitment. Nothing to fear. Nothing will happen. So, without accountability, members keep a foot in the world. Their hearts are not pure. They are not dedicated. They are not fully committed. And, why should they be? Nothing will happen.

  This fear factor comes up again in the New Testament. In writing to Timothy, Paul told the preacher to rebuke sinful elders before all. The outcome of doing that would make others fearful of sinning. If an elder doesn’t get a pass, you know you and I won’t get one. If an elder is rebuked before everyone, likely the same will happen to us if we do not change our ways.

  Fearful of sinning…great fear came upon the whole church. It’s sad that it takes dealing with wrong for that to happen, but a purer, more connected and more faithful church is the outcome.

  Roger

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Jump Start # 2846

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2846

2 Timothy 3:1 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.”

As Paul instructs the young Timothy, he doesn’t paint a make-believe, everyone lives happily ever after picture. That wouldn’t be helpful for Timothy. Had Paul said that, Timothy might become disillusioned wondering when the “happily ever after” part starts. Instead, Paul tells Timothy the truth. It won’t be easy. Our verse uses the expression, “Difficult times.” Other versions use: terrible times or even dangerous times.

And, what follows is a careful, descriptive image of what makes those final days troublesome. It’s not aliens invading the planet. It’s not volcanos and earthquakes causing massive destruction. It’s people. It’s godliness that becomes widespread. Paul lists a series of twenty sinful attitudes and behaviors. Among them are the “un” words: ungrateful, unholy and unloving. That follows with the “lovers” list: lovers of self, lovers of money and lovers of pleasure.

Characteristic of these characteristics is a selfish spirit that believes the universe revolves around me. It’s interesting to see this attitude reflected in the progressive nature of popular magazines. Years ago there was LIFE Magazine. It was about LIFE. Then, along came PEOPLE Magazine. Shortly after that, was US magazine. US is about us and not them. That led to SELF magazine. It’s not you, it’s about self. And, of course the obvious magazine to follow is called ME. All about me. From LIFE to ME—lovers of self is what Paul said.

Another common characteristic of this selfish spirit is that it centers upon things. How big is your house? How wide is your TV screen? How many cars do you have? What brand labels are on your jeans? Status. Image. Trying to impress others.

And, with that comes an obsession about NOW. No looking down the road. No thought about the eternal. Let’s do what we feel like now. We will worry about the consequences later.

The picture isn’t pretty. These are the times we live in. Empty lives trying to find happiness in fad after fad. However, in the flow of these verses we find that Timothy was different. He was not like this selfish spirit. Paul says, “But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions and sufferings.” A selfish community has no tolerance for those things. A little inconvenience and a selfish society starts screaming. “But you,” Paul says. You are different.

Now, some thoughts:

First, now maybe more than ever, our world needs Jesus. The selfishness of our times is ruining all things good. It even creeps into our fellowship and our worship. If I can’t have it my way, then I’m out of here. Unless there is something in it for me, why should I help someone else? What’s missing is Biblical love and Biblical serving. What’s missing are hearts devoted to Jesus. Instead of things getting better, Paul tells us that things are going to get worse. The great ending of fairy tales, is not found here. The Lord will come and many will not be ready.

Second, it will be challenging to connect with selfish hearts. That’s the task before us today. Finding ways to grab the attention and teach others the way of Christ. Selfish people want a church that serves them and makes them feel happy. Starting conversations will be hard. Getting people to the Bible will be hard. Finding starting places will be hard. But an empty and vain world offers nothing to fill the hole that is in the hearts of most people. They need to know that God loves them. God can help them. And, that they need God. We are seeing a shift in the way funerals are conducted. It’s been gradual, but it’s there. Less Bible and more laughter. Less preaching and more celebrating. Less eternity and more partying. Many, many funeral homes now have liquor licenses. The crashing reality of death is one area that a selfish society cannot deal with. So, they must find a way to change the scene. However, death still hovers over them. Their coming death, although ignored and never talked about, is still there. And, moments like this, is a great opportunity to talk about Jesus.

Third, Timothy was different. He was not caught up in that godless, selfish moment. The “but you,” shows that Timothy had a heart that remained true to the Lord. For us, that’s encouragement and hope. Not everyone is going down the drain. Not everyone has lost their senses. There are righteous people in Sodom. There are righteous people in the final days. There are righteous people who are making godly choices and are leaving footprints of compassion, fairness, and hope for others to see. That’s where you and I come in. We are lights of the world. We illustrate Jesus for others to see. We show others that there is a better way. Loving God is a great choice. It is the best choice.

Difficult times will require great faith and patience. You and I can do this because we have the Lord to help us.

Roger

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Jump Start # 2845

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2845

Psalms 115:8 “Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them.”

Most often when we read about idols in the Scriptures, it comes from the Prophets. Much of their work was rebuking God’s people for the folly of chasing after idolatry. But here in the Psalms, we find a powerful statement about idols.

The Psalmist illustrates the worthlessness of these man made idols. They have mouths, but they can’t speak. They have eyes, but they can’t see. They have ears, but they can’t hear. They have noses, but they can’t smell. They have feet, but they can’t walk. They are fake. They are dead. They are lifeless. They serve no purpose. Why pray to an idol, if it cannot hear? Why burn incense to an idol if it cannot smell. Why bow down before an idol if it cannot see. It cannot receive the praise of the worshipper. It cannot help the worshipper. It is worthless, useless and lifeless.

Then comes our verse. Those that make the idols and those that trust in the idols become like the idols. They become useless and lifeless. There is no reasoning, because they cannot hear. There is no justification to support and defend the idols because they cannot speak. These people occur space, but they are no longer are reasonable, approachable or helpful. Like the lifeless idol they made, they have become the same.

Some thoughts for us:

First, not just with idols, but with all gods, including Jehovah, the worshipper takes on the qualities of what  he worships. For the idolater, it was becoming like the idol. For worshippers of Jehovah, we become like God. That thought is echoed throughout the N.T. We are to have the mind of Christ (Phil 2:5). We are to be conformed to the image of Jesus (Rom 8:29). We are to forgive as God forgives (Eph 4:32). We are to love as God loves (Eph 5:2). We are to be holy as He is holy (1 Pet 1:16).

A transformation takes place as the worshipper becomes like the one he worships. A lifeless god turns people into lifeless followers. Worshipping an evil god makes the followers become violent and evil. Serving a compassionate and holy God, as we do, changes us into a people of compassion and holiness.

Second, what a blessing that our God sees, hears and speaks. He is the living God. He sees what you go through. He knows when you are in the valleys of life. He hears your cries and your pleas. The cries out of Egypt were heard and God delivered them. And, our God speaks. He speaks through Jesus. His message is recorded, plain and available to all.

We must utilize this blessing. We must be talking to God as well as listening to Him as we read His word. God is there. He is alive. And, it is life that Jesus gave. He gave it abundantly. This life is eternal. This life is not bound by the material world. This life is a reflection of God. You are never alone. You are never on your own. You have a God that not only sees, hears and speaks, but a God that cares. He is defined as being full of compassion. The throne is pictured as a throne of grace. Abundant are the blessings of the Lord.

Third, our times are filled with people who have become like the idols they worship. In our minds, idols seem like wooden or metal objects that sit on a stand and people bow before them. That is still true in some parts of the world. But there are many different forms of idols. Money is an idol and those that worship it become like it. It’s all they know, care about and talk about. For others, it’s sports. Sports can be a game or it can become a life. People watch sport shows all the time. They eat and breathe sports. They know all the players, all the coaches and all the ins and outs of what is going on around their favorite team. Obsessed, far too many have turned sports into idolatry. And, like the idol they worship, they become like that. For others, it’s drinking. For others, it’s pleasure. These modern idolaters never realize that they have become like their idols. One can talk to them, because they cannot hear. There is no reasoning, because they have become like their idol.

Psalms 115, where our verse is taken from, ends with a declaration of how great God is. The idols are useless. Ears, but can’t hear. Eyes, but can’t see. Mouth, but can’t speak. Our God is a shield and help. Our God is mindful of us. Our God blesses us. Our God gives increase. You won’t find the idols doing any of those things. Those who trust in idols are on their own. They have no one to help them. They have no one to bless them.

The chapter ends with this statement: “Praise the Lord!” And, thus we must always do.

Roger