31

Jump Start # 2910

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2910

1 Corinthians 5:6 “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?”

A word that has come out of this pandemic is “quarantine.” I have known several that were “quarantined.” They were exposed to someone who had the virus, and even though they did not have any symptoms and even felt fine, to be safe, they quarantined themselves for several days.

Quarantine is not a new concept. Generations ago it was used to slow the spread of tuberculosis and small pox. In the Bible, lepers were isolated away from everyone to slow the spread of that contagious disease. Medically, we understand these things.

Spiritually, there is concept of quarantining to protect others. We don’t call it “quarantine.” Our expression is withdrawing fellowship. And, here in 1 Corinthians 5 Paul makes that concept very clear. The apostle tells the church to:

  • Remove him from your midst (2)
  • Deliver such a one to Satan (5)
  • Clean out the old leaven (7)
  • Not to associate with (11)
  • Remove the wicked man from among yourselves (13)

Tough language. Few churches follow those words today. It seems too mean and insensitive. Some would say, “You are kicking someone out.” Others borrow language from other faiths such as the Amish “shunning,” or the Catholic “excommunication.” Some will declare it never works. Some fear reprisals and lawsuits.

However our verse today gives us some background context to why spiritual discipline is necessary. Borrowing an idea from the kitchen, Paul uses the concept of making bread. This was something that nearly every household understood back then. To make bread rise, some leaven was needed. Not much. Just a little bit. Just a tad of leaven works through the whole lump.

Got it when it comes to bread. What is he driving at spiritually? The leaven represents influence. When that leaven or influence is not good, it changes and impacts the entire congregation. It doesn’t take much to turn things inside out and upside down.

Specifically in this Corinthian chapter, someone was living immorally. It wasn’t a secret. It seems everyone knew about it and worse, nothing was being done about it. Now, here is how that leaven works. If that person can do that and get away with it, why can’t I? Or, if he can live immorally, why can’t I get drunk? Someone else, influenced by that leaven, may conclude that he can cheat and be dishonest. Once the door was opened, there was no closing it. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. And, the result is a church that looks like the world and not like Christ. It results in revealing that the Bible doesn’t mean what it says. One doesn’t have to be holy as Peter said. One doesn’t have to put aside the old man as the Ephesians were told. One can dance with the devil and still go to Heaven. That’s what leaven does. It changes things. And, when that leaven is not good, it changes things for the bad, not the good.

So, to stop the spread of spiritual poison, the ungodly brother was to be “removed.” Isolated. We might say, “quarantine” him. He will no longer be considered walking with the Lord. His fellowship with God ended when he made his immoral choices and now his fellowship with God’s people ends. Is this a permanent, life long sentence? It is, as long as he remains out of step with God. Walk in the light again, and fellowship is restored with God and His people.

Now some thoughts:

First, this is hard. It’s hard to draw lines where God draws them. When we mix emotions, family connections, friendships into all of this, some no longer see clearly. They’d rather side with the immoral than with God. This happens—it happens far too many times. As the immoral is removed, so goes the family that support him. They love their little darling more than they love the Lord. But God’s people cannot be moved, nor fearful of what others might say. Doing nothing means the whole lump will be leavened. Doing nothing means the church is changing and it’s not changing for the better.

Second, to make this work, it must be consistently practiced both within worship and outside the church building as well. It does little good to pretend discipline has taken place if others continue to eat, play, hang out with and vacation with those who are not in step with Jesus. This is intended to be shocking. This is shameful. This ought to open one’s eyes as to how serious their sinful choices have been. There is a two fold purpose of this: first to protect the church. To keep the leaven from leavening the whole lump. And, secondly, to awaken this person to the promise and commitment he made to the Lord.

Much too often a letter is sent and there has been so little contact and fellowship that it means nothing. The letter is tossed in the trash and everything is forgotten and everyone continues on their own way. Maybe a better way would be to meet with this person face to face. Maybe it would be good to remind them why they were first baptized. Maybe one on one, more good could be accomplished.

Third, we are to protect the church of our Lord. We wouldn’t allow anyone to stand behind the pulpit and preach anything they wanted. Yet, why would we allow someone who refuses to change their sinful ways to be named and numbered among us? We would not dare drink a cup of water if we knew someone had put just a couple drops of poison in it. No. Foolish. Risky. Why? Why pretend everything is fine when it is not?

Fourth, our verse today, leaven and lump of dough shows that each of us impacts and makes a difference in the lives of others. The leaven leavens. You and I influence others. People notice. People see. They see you sing. They see when you come in. They see if you are engaged and participating. They see if you are sleeping. They watch. They notice. They are influenced by you. Your words. Your attitude. Your behavior. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Some may be shocked by the spirit of indifference some carry. Others will be encouraged by the love for the Lord that is demonstrated throughout their worship. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

It’s good to think about these things. It’s better still to do what God wants us to do.

Roger

30

Jump Start # 2909

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2909

Nehemiah 1:4 “Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of Heaven.”

There is a time reference in our verse today. It’s easy to slide over it and not give it much thought. News came to Nehemiah about the beloved city of God. It remained in ruins. The Babylonian period of seventy years was over. Yet the city had no protective walls. The Persians were in power, yet Jerusalem was vulnerable to roving bands of trouble makers. The people would never be safe without the walls. Imagine having no front door on your house. The opening is there. There ought to be a door, but there is not. Any critter, creature or bad person could walk right in. You’d never feel safe. You’d never be at ease. Even awake, you’d wonder if someone or something is coming through that opening. That was Jerusalem. No walls. No gates. No safety. No security.

And, making matters worse, why weren’t the people there doing something about it? Word reaches Nehemiah and he leads a powerful campaign to rebuild the walls and then to rebuild the hearts of the people.

But there is that time reference in our verse. Nehemiah wept and mourned “for days.” It wasn’t a passing thought and he had other things to do. It wasn’t, “Well, that’s too bad.” He sat down. He wept. He mourned. He fasted. He prayed. Are you seeing these action words? And he did that “for days.”

Now some thoughts from this:

First, some problems do not go away quickly. Some require more than just one mention to God. There will be times when for days and days the darkness of troubles, the sadness of grief and the heartache of pain stays with us. In our fast moving times, where thirty seconds seems like forever, especially at a traffic light or waiting in line at the check out, “for days,” seems unbelievable to us. This ought to remind us that there will be people in our lives that are stuck in the period of “for days,” as they work through grief, pain and hardships. The pain of a divorce. The sorrow of death. Those events can fill the mind “for days.”

Second, Nehemiah used those “days” wisely. It doesn’t seem like he just stayed in bed and cried. He was fasting, praying, and thinking. He wasn’t doing foolish things like drinking. He wasn’t talking to others first. He went to the Lord. He put some time into this.

Third, plans developed and led by God he knew what to do. He was going to Jerusalem. He was going to lead the people in rebuilding the walls. A scouting report was necessary. A plan of action was necessary. His mind was moving quickly over all that needed to be done. And, he needed God’s help. He fasted. He thought. He prayed. This took place “for days.” Nehemiah didn’t hop on a horse and head to Jerusalem the moment he first heard the news. He spent “days” in prayer and thought. Sometimes we move to action without thinking things out and definitely without seeking the Lord in prayer. Some never move to action and others move too quickly.

Fourth, by the time Nehemiah first reached Jerusalem, he had prayed this thing over and over and the Lord had filled his heart with what to do. When Moses died, the nation mourned for thirty days. The same happened when some of the first kings of Israel died. National mourning was coupled with praying and seeking the Lord.

I’d like to see congregations put “days” into their plans and “prayers” into their actions. Nehemiah was bothered. He was upset. He cried for days. How easily someone could say, “Just don’t think about that.” Or, “It’ll get better, I know it will.” Or, “Things could be worse.” Those cute little statements do not really help. They are not thought out and they tend to lessen the seriousness of what is going on.

It’s also refreshing to see a man crying and upset over spiritual matters. That doesn’t happen much these days. We cry if there is a scratch on our car. We get upset if a weather bulletin interrupts the ballgame we are watching. We can be so shallow and indifferent to the spiritual nature of God’s people today. Someone announces an engagement and everyone is so happy. Yet the young Christian is engaged to someone who has no spiritual interest in the Lord. How can that be a happy occasion? It is very likely that the Christian will become weaker. Is anyone weeping? Is anyone mourning? Is anyone concerned? Is anyone trying to connect with the unbeliever?

Does anyone cry over the lost? Does anyone shed tears over the lack of leaders in a congregation?

For days. Nehemiah wasn’t crying because of walls, but because of the people and what that meant. It sure would be nice to have some old fashioned crying now and then about the spiritual plight of God’s people today.

Roger

27

Jump Start # 2908

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2908

Proverbs 11:25 “The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.”

This is the story of two Christians. They were well liked by everyone in the congregation, but deep inside they are very different. One was very generous. That was just the way he was raised and he kicked it up a few more notches when He learned how generous the Lord had been to him. His weekly contribution demonstrated his generosity. But beyond that, he was always there to help others out. He loaned his truck to someone who needed it to move. He was known to hand a struggling family a few twenties after services. If there was a special need, he’d be one of the first to help out or fund it. This man often said, “You can’t take it with you,” so he was delighted to help others any way he could.

The other Christian made a lot more than the first one in this story. But he was very tight with his money. He rarely did anything beyond giving a few dollars to the collection basket on Sunday. He worked hard and felt it was his and that’s how he viewed things. He didn’t make the connection to his blessings and the generosity of God. This man rarely gave something away. He’d sell to you and you can be sure he got top dollar for it as well. That’ just the way he was. If he could get someone to do something for free, he’d work his way until that was accomplished. Even though he could have easily paid, he wouldn’t do that.

Through the years a huge difference between the way these two viewed life and their possessions became evident. The first man touched so many lives. He enjoyed giving about as much as the people he helped enjoyed receiving. The second man kept storing up and storing up his wealth. He bought things for himself and that was about all. This man was always worried about running out of money someday.

Such it is in many congregations: the generous spirit and the tightwad. Often it is not based upon how much they make or have but rather their inner spirit and their faith. Many times, it is the one who doesn’t have much that has that generous spirit. And, as our verse expresses it so well, “he who waters will himself be watered.” In helping others and being a blessing to them, they became a blessing to him. The fellowship and the connections were tighter and tighter. A bond was established and it was strong and enduring. That comes from being generous.

Some lessons we learn from this:

First, it’s hard for some to let go of things and be generous. They pay taxes because they have to. They pay this fee and that fee. But to go out of their way and on their own to give someone something, that’s just not in their nature and it’s hard. Lessons on giving makes this sort of spirit uncomfortable. When in the leadership position, it is this kind of heart that builds massive bank accounts for the church, while the church building looks like a dump and brethren are struggling.

Second, the generous spirit is contagious. Once one has been a recipient of someone’s kindness and generosity it’s much easier for you to be that same way. The idea of “paying forward” catches on much easier when on has seen what it has done for them. It doesn’t have to be large amounts. A simple gift card to a college student, a book for a young preacher, little acts of kindness that reflect that your heart has been touched by someone who was generous to you.

Third, God has been more than generous to us. That’s the point of the parable about the laborers in the vineyard. The man that worked just one hour received the same as those who worked all day. It wasn’t about equality, but generosity. Look at your life and how God has blessed you. There are no price tags on many things that are so dear to us such as health, family, truth, salvation, hope, love. If a price tag was put on those things, they would be out of reach for most of us. God sends rain and sunshine. We have been blessed by our wonderful Lord. When we do not do the same and do not share, especially outside of our family, it certainly makes us look spoiled. I wonder if the Lord ever thinks about cutting off our blessings just to teach us some lessons.

Fourth, one day all of the things we have will be gone. They will be gone because we will be gone. We can’t take them with us. They will be left to other people. And, those others may not cherish these things as you do. Out to a garage sale or the dump will many of the things we treasure go someday. And, of course, the Lord is coming and when He does all these things will be burned up. They won’t last. I have some arrowheads. They are old, very old. But they won’t last. Nothing will. We hold on to things and often cannot give to others because we want and we want, but in the end, they will be taken away.

Generous or stingy? Giver or a tightwad? Being a blessing to others or being selfish? Helping others or making others wonder what’s going on in our hearts?

Two Christians—one is a blessing to everyone around him. He gives. He shares. He helps. The other is all talk. He keeps his wallet closed. He doesn’t think about sharing. He believes it is all his and that’s the way it will stay.

Which one would you rather be around? Which one are you?

Roger

26

Jump Start # 2907

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2907

Psalms 55:17 “Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, and He will hear my voice.”

For the past six years our congregation has held what we call our “Summer Series.” We invite preachers from all around the country to come and preach one sermon on a Wednesday evening. Our series is themed, based upon one of our hymns. Many of the specific lessons are lines taken directly from the chosen hymn. It’s been a wonderful, wonderful experience. For nine weeks in the summer, a different preacher each Wednesday.

Our theme this year is the old hymn, “How Firm a Foundation.” Great song. The guys this year have been incredible. The topics and the presentations have been amazing. It’s been so good for our people. But just about every year we have done this, something comes up and we have to make an adjustment with one of our speakers. This happened last week. Due to health issue, L.A. Stauffer couldn’t be with us. His topic, from that hymn, was “Even down to my old age I will prove your love.” We had to find a substitute. Not every preacher fits that topic. It’s not right for a young preacher to fill that slot. We called upon our dear Paul Earnhart, who at age 90 came and delivered one of the best sermons ever. His kind and gentle wisdom had young and old listening to every word he said.

As he talked about older Christians, one of the things he said was “Don’t be a critic.” Powerful stuff. Go to our website and listen to that lesson. It’ll help all of us, no matter what your age.

But there is something about getting older that makes some feel that they have the right to be grumpy. And, instead of being a sweet, sweet saint, they turn into a mean, complaining, against everything grump. Now, there may be reasons for that.

First, many older people do not feel well. And, it’s hard to be sweet when you hurt, feel lousy and just never seem to have a good day health wise.

Second, the world is changing fast. It’s hard to survive these days without a smart phone. Technology is blazing fast. And, for many of us, trying to figure out how to turn the TV on with the remote is a major challenge. Churches are using all of this fancy technology with cameras, lights, livestreaming, podcasts and things are not the way they once were. Everything has an app and everything is on line. It’s hard to talk to a real person when you call a business. And, for many older people, this world is moving too fast. They get frustrated. They don’t understand things. And, that makes them grumpy.

Third, our world caters to youth. And, when you are no longer young, it seems that you are in the way. It seems that you are forgotten. Sometimes even our family is just too busy for the older folks. You get the impression that society just wants to stick you in a home and forget about you. Even in the church, it seems that everyone who serves are the younger people. What good is an old person these days? Boy, that’s enough to make one grumpy.

Our verse today is about complaining. Complaining all day long—evening, morning and noon is what the text says. Now, David who wrote this, wasn’t complaining about technology, being too old or those sort of things. He was being oppressed. He says that his soul is among the lions (4). His enemies have dug a pit for him (6). David was being squeezed by the enemy. He was reaching out to God. He was praying to God. He was complaining to God. The walls were closing in and David was needing help.

But that expression, “evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur,” sounds like too many people today. They are not being chased as David was. They are not praying to God. They are gripping to whoever will hear them and often, it’s to those who really do not want to hear them at all. Sour grapes. Bitter hearts. Unhappy. Not content. Things not the way they once were. Things not the way that they want them to be. Put all of that in a pot, stir three times and sprinkle on top a sleepless night and you’ll have complaining that has no end.

Here are a few thoughts to remember:

First, no one likes the sound of complaining. It’s no ones favorite song. Whether it’s a complaining child, co-worker, church member, or spouse, the results are the same. It’s like fingernails going down a chalkboard. And, the whining, nagging, and complaining wears others down. This is why parents too often cave in to a complaining child. They give in just to get the kid to be quiet. That’s not the best parenting skill to have. Complaining isn’t effective, yet we go there. Better would be to come up with some ideas to be part of the solution. Better would be to offer to help fix things. Better would be to find positive ways to make things right.

We remember that God doesn’t like murmuring either. Ancient Israel was crushed because they complained and complained to God while in the wilderness. Nothing to eat. Nothing to drink. This wasn’t right. That wasn’t right. That really upset the Lord. They were not thankful, appreciative nor godly towards the Lord.

Second, we didn’t always do things right when we were younger. We spilled milk, wrecked cars, overslept, forgot homework projects until late at night, lost keys and forgot to let the dog out. Oh we did all of those things. Yep, that’s us. And, our parents complained to us. And, now, here we are complaining about the next generation. Be patient with all is what Paul told the Thessalonians. People are on a journey and give them some space and time and most will do ok. Stop expecting perfection. Realize often there is more than one way to do things, and that may include doing things differently than the way we do them.

Third, getting older doesn’t give you the right nor the permission to be grumpy. For some, that’s how we will be remembered. Some are set to leave this planet miserable and unhappy. And, it seems that their goal in life is to make everyone around them miserable and unhappy. Don’t be that way. Be the one that people love to be around. Be the one that lifts the shades of darkness and brings sunlight into a person’s heart. Don’t let your age be a ticket to be mean. Kindness and gentleness, spoken throughout the N.T. are not qualities only for the young. They are for all of us, including senior saints.

I believe one reason why so many love bro. Earnhart is not just because he can preach like no one else, but out of the pulpit, even at age 90, he is a gentleman who is kind to the core. His wonderful smile warms those who are around him. He is an example of what an older Christian ought to be. He is working until the Lord calls him home.

Do you find yourself complaining more than complimenting? Listen to your self. Are you more miserable than you are happy? Do you justify that because of your age? Is that how the Lord wants you to be? Morning, noon and night—are you a complainer or a blessing?

Sure makes us hit the pause button and think, doesn’t it?

Roger

25

Jump Start # 2906

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2906

Acts 1:23 “So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.”

Judas was dead. He committed suicide. It was time to choose a new apostle. Here in this setting we find that process. There were was qualifications or credentials that were necessary. They had seen Jesus. They had followed Jesus. They were in the multitudes as the Lord taught. They had witnessed His resurrection.

Two names are submitted, Justus, who has two other names, and Matthias. The apostles thought well of both men. In their book, either could have been chosen. They prayed. They wanted the Lord to determine. Lots were chosen and Matthias was the one. And, for most of us this is the end of the story.

But what about ole’ Justus? He wasn’t chosen. And, it wasn’t that the apostles didn’t choose him, God didn’t. Matthias is in and Justus is out. Matthias would be one of the twelve. We don’t have any books of the Bible written by Matthias. There are no Biblically recorded miracles by Matthias. We really do not know much about him, other than he beat out Justus.

How did Justus feel going home that day? One wonders why the Lord put those two through that? Why didn’t the Lord just pick Matthias. Why have Justus get his hopes up? Why the process and why the rejection?

And, although we don’t get to follow Justus home and know any more about his story, maybe, just maybe God has this in there for the rest of us who have been rejected. Sure there has been jobs that we didn’t get. There has been teams we didn’t make. Some sat on the bench and watched everyone else play. There were dates that were either stood up or never happened. We place all of those in the folder called “Life.” Those things happen. We learn. We move on.

But, it’s different here. It’s different with Justus. This wasn’t a job, a date or a spot on the team. This was working in the kingdom. This was being gifted with the Holy Spirit and preaching the word everywhere. This was to be known as “one of the twelve.” God didn’t choose Justus.

Do you think he went the rest of his life with that tag upon him? “Justus, weren’t you the guy that wasn’t chosen to be an apostle?” “Hey, you’re the one that wasn’t good enough?” It’s enough to go home and put the covers over your head.

And, that may be where some of us are. The young preacher who tries out at a church to be the next preacher there. The phone call comes and the church has decided to pass on him. Why, he wonders? Several names are put forth to be shepherds in a congregation. One of them is not chosen. It’s not a matter of not being qualified, otherwise his name would not have been put forth. Why? Rejected. Is it because I’m not good enough? Is it because they don’t want me? Is it because they see something in me that I don’t see? How does one go on after he was overlooked and not chosen?

Here are a few things that can happen:

First, one can get jealous and become a real thorn in the flesh to the one who was chosen. Every step of the way, the jealous one makes things difficult. He questions every decision. He challenges every idea. He’s not over the fact that he was not chosen. Rejected, he has become bitter and now mean. I don’t see Justus doing that. I don’t think that was in his heart.

Second, some decide to leave the congregation. They feel that they are no longer appreciated or wanted. They didn’t get the role that they wanted, so they no longer have any interests in being around those people. Again, I don’t see Justus doing that. He probably prayed for Mathias. He likely continued to serve the Lord as he was before his name came up.

Third, some go so far as quitting all together. They just give up. They want nothing to do with the kingdom any more. And what shows so clearly here is a spirit of pride and selfishness. If I don’t get my way, then I’ll go home and you won’t have me around any more. That attitude does not belong in the service of God or His people. That illustrates a total misunderstanding of humility, service and love.

So, what happened to ole’ Justus? We don’t know. Likely, very likely, he continued to serve the Lord as he could. As the disciples spread out because of the Jerusalem persecution, it is very likely that he moved on to a new place. I want to think that he served the Lord the rest of his life. I want to believe that he prayed very deeply for the apostles and as he heard about their arrests, beatings and death, that he was deeply touched and moved by those things. I want to think that Justus is awaiting you and I in that Heavenly rest promised by the Lord.

One can serve without a title. One can be beneficial without having stood behind a pulpit. One can make a huge impact by faithfully doing whatever he can for the Lord. Not all of us get our prayers answered the way we would like. The day that the new apostle was chosen would have begun with much anticipation, thought and prayer. As that day closed, I want to believe that Justus looked Mathias in the eyes, with a deep, deep smile, say to him, “You’ll help us so much. I am thankful the Lord chose you.”

There is more about Justus that we do not know than what we do know. But this story is given to us. It’s there to help those who may have felt left out, neglected, overlooked to realize there is still room in the kingdom and there is a powerful work that we all can do. It was the Lord’s will that Mathias was chosen. It was the Lord’s will that only one, not both be chosen. It was the Lord’s desire that Justus continue to walk, serve and honor the Lord with his talents.

Justus isn’t the only one like this in the Bible. What about Peter’s brother, Andrew. He was never included in that inner circle. It was always Peter, James and John. James and John were brothers. Why couldn’t Peter’s brother be there? And, then there is the runt David. When Samuel came to Jesse’s home, all the sons were invited in. David wasn’t even included. He was left out.

Justus…an incredible story for us to think about. What do you think you would have done, had you been in his shoes?

Roger