31

Jump Start # 3379

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3379

2 Corinthians 2:11 “so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”

I don’t know if I remember any period in my life when I have seen so many congregations under attack. Troubles about leadership, misunderstandings, hurt feelings, accusations, slander, marriage issues—the list is long and the pain is great. Brethren are hurting. Satan seems to be running free among God’s people. And, in the course of these things, some are becoming discouraged. Some are confused. Some are leaving. Some are quitting for good. The war is definitely on.

Paul recognized the great power of Satan. He understood that Satan could easily get the upper hand. He wanted Satan to have no advantage over God’s people. Paul knew that Satan had many weapons and plans. We are not ignorant of his schemes, the apostle told the Corinthians.

Like a batter facing a Major League pitcher, he knows what he is capable of throwing. He has watched films. He has studied him. Slider. Fastball. Sinker. He knows. He’s ready. And, so it must be for the people of God today, especially shepherds.

If Satan gets the upper hand, if Satan takes an advantage, there will be destruction that follows. Getting a foothold in a congregation is what Satan would love. Having someone do this dirty work. Find a puppet which Satan can pull the strings. He’ll use slander and malice to splinter our fellowship. He’ll introduce false ideas through the pulpit. When he gets the church fighting each other, the lost will have an excuse to remain lost. God will not be glorified and Satan will smile.

Some lessons for us:

First, times change and so do the tactics of Satan. Those who are stuck in the past will not even notice Satan walking right past them. The “isms” of long ago, Calvinism, Premillennialism, Atheism, Deism, Humanism—the stuff of great lectureships are not the tools of the devil today. No one stays awake thinking about those things. Satan has moved on to other attacks. Have we noticed?

Second, getting a church stuck on autopilot is a sure way to grab them without anyone noticing. Little alertness. No watching. No steadfastness. Asleep at the wheel, complacent, going through the motions, and Satan can have a hay day. We need to be challenged. We need to be busy in the Lord’s work. We need to be involved in each other’s lives. We need to remember our purpose and our mission.

Third, thinking more of self than the Lord is another way Satan can have his way with us. What do I get out of this? What’s in it for me? Why should I? Me. Me. Me. When that is the focus of our lives, Satan has already hung curtains in our heart. It’s not about me. It’s not about what I feel. It’s not about what I think. It’s all about the Lord. It’s always about the Lord. Here’s what I think, doesn’t count. Here’s what the Bible says ought to be the words from our lips.

Fourth, resisting the Devil still works. Satan will run if we put up a fight through the Lord. Satan only gets an advantage when we allow that. When we drink deeply from worldliness and the culture of today, Satan gains a foothold. But when we draw a line, stand with Christ with conviction, courage and faith, Satan doesn’t have a chance.

Yes, churches have troubles. They have troubles, because people have troubles. As long as we keep seeking the will of God, Satan will be kept outside where he belongs. Patience. Love. Communication. Open Bibles. Those are the tools that will get us through tough times.

In the end, God wins. We know how this will turn out. Will we be with God? That’s the question.

Roger

28

Jump Start # 3378

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3378

Galatians 5:15 “But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another.”

I grew up watching some great boxing matches. Ali was the greatest, at least he thought so. But outside the boxing arena, fighting is ugly. We see this in politics with name-calling, character assassinations and mud slinging. Much too often we see this in the home. Instead of peace, there is turmoil. Instead of a haven of rest, it’s a battle for survival. Dysfunctional and wicked hearts can say the cruelest things to one another.

Our verse today takes fighting to let another place, among the brethren of God. I see in this verse the images of zombies who bite and eat the living. I doubt the Holy Spirit had that in mind. Rather than fighting the enemy, the Galatians had turned on each other. All the enemy had to do was sit back and watch the churches fall apart.

I have seen the spirit that wants to destroy each other. Usually folks leave, and they leave upset and angry. Often, another congregation is formed. The two congregations do not acknowledge one another nor will they have anything to do with each other. Some would rather see a person return to the world than to go and worship with “the other group,” as they refer to it.

Some thoughts:

First, the differences that caused the differences is lost in the emotions of trying to hurt the other person. Biting and devouring are not love taps. They are intended to destroy. Why can’t brethren sit down and talk? Why is it that pride keeps us from apologizing? Why is it that with an open Bible we can’t set before us what the Lord would want us to do?

Second, when there is a civil war taking place within the congregation, focus, energy and other efforts are all centered on defending your position. Evangelism halts. The glory of the Lord is forgotten. Worship becomes tense and stressful. Shepherds become weary. Preachers get discouraged. Sadly, when we turn on each other, we tend to toss God’s word out the window. Gossip, slander, malice and evil surmising is justified because of what the other side said. Deeper and deeper we sink in the pit of trouble.

Third, calm voices need to be spoken and a reliance upon what the Lord would have us to do must be uttered. There comes times when a stake must be put into the ground. Here is the hill that we will die on if necessary. We stand with the Lord.

In the home, when the kids are fighting, it’s time for dad to step in, break it up, practice discipline and get everyone calmed down. In the church, when we get out of line, we may need to be disciplined. Certain things are not acceptable in the home and certain things are not acceptable among brethren. We would not tolerate any deviation in worship, yet, much too often, we look the other way to the slanderous things brethren say to one another. That should not allowed.

Lincoln was killed just days after the American Civil War ended. But he was asked how he planned to treat the South. His response, “As if they never left.” Olive branches, love, forgiveness and grace gets one through those tough periods of fighting. Families go through it. Congregations go through it. Stay the course with the Lord.

Fourth, the only one who wins when we devour one another is the Devil. He loves it when we do his work for him. The enemy is Satan. He seeks to kill and destroy, the Lord said in John 10. Keeping that before us ought to help us in how we treat one another.

There are sprinkled throughout the country small struggling congregations that ought to consider merging with a nearby congregation. But decades ago, something happened. People left. And, now in the same small community, two struggling congregations, trying to heat and cool separate buildings, and with every funeral they become smaller and smaller. Maybe it’s time to get out the peace pipe and come together and become one larger congregation.

The biting and devouring has generational consequences, that can lead to eternal consequences. Maybe it’s time we locked arms and went after the real enemy, the devil.

Roger

27

Jump Start book on Jimi

Posted on July 27, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Our latest Jump Start book, number 28, entitled, “The Story of Jimi” is now available. It contains the articles I wrote about Jimi as well as the words of Sarah Gregory, the granddaughter of the victim who forgave Jimi,  on her last visit with Jimi and the day of his execution.

These are free.

If you would like a copy, email me at: Rogshouse@aol.com

27

Jump Start # 3377

Posted on July 27, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3377

Deuteronomy 13:8 “You shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him.”

In this section of Deuteronomy, the Lord is placing the high importance of serving no other gods but Him. This was the hallmark of the Ten Commandments. As Israel would enter the promise land, there would be evidence of idolatry and paganism everywhere they looked. Like a kid in a candy store, the Lord was trying to keep Israel away from those things.

What leads up to our verse and what follows are verse are some very emotional and heartfelt statements. Before our verse: “If your brother, your mother’s son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, ’Let us go and serve other gods’…” (6).

Look at those powerful relationships the Lord puts before their eyes. Your brother. Your children. Your wife that you love. Your friend that is a kindred spirit. We love those people. Those people mean everything to us. Even those so dear to our hearts should try to lead us to other gods, we are not to listen or follow.

What follows our verse: “But you shall kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people” (9). The “him” in this passage refers to verse six. Your brother. Your children. Your wife. Your close friend. They have tried to lead you away from the Lord secretly, and now, the secret is revealed. You have revealed it. You have drawn a line in the sand with the Lord. You are to be the first to throw a rock at them. This is so hard for us to understand. We are thankful that this was under the Old law and for Israel.

Now some observations:

First, the Lord comes first and not just first, but His ways are not to be compromised, deviated from or changed. Idolatry is wrong. God will not tolerate it. Not then and not now. In the Gospels, the Lord said that he that loves father or mother more than Me, cannot be my disciple. There is a tie that is stronger than blood and that is Jesus. There is a time when one may have to part with family because family is not doing right.

Second, what a powerful temptation there would be to look the other way because of our love for these people. Your own wife. The wife that you cherish. It’s not the ex-wife. It’s not the wife that you wish you had never married. You cherish this woman. Job told his wife that she spoke like a foolish one when she recommended Job to curse God and die.

Much too often, I have seen brethren side with family over the Lord. A grown child is not walking right with the Lord and rather than stand with God and encourage him to repent or be disciplined, the family sides with the one who is wrong. The family throws darts at the people who are trying to follow the Bible. The family leaves and the one doing wrong, continues in his sin.

Is this any different than the instructions in Deuteronomy? How many lives might be saved, had a father or mother said to their child, you must do what the Lord says. Stop this foolishness and get back to the Lord.

Third, hearts that were not committed to the Lord would never do what this passage commands. In Israel’s history, this passage was ignored. Kings introduced idolatry. Parents sacrificed their own children on the altars of false gods. Between husband and wife, secrets about idolatry were kept secret. This passage was ignored and souls were doomed.

One day I hope disciples will realize that there is nothing worth losing my soul over. I hope disciples will realize that nothing stands between me and the cross of Christ. I hope disciples will put the Lord first in all that they do.

The days of ’playing church’ are over. The hour of half hearted weak faith are over. The season of dead churches has past. It’s time for Christians to put the Lord first in all things. Above friends. Above family. Above all things, comes the Lord.

Put yourself in our Deuteronomy passage. Could you throw the first rock at one of your children? Could you throw it at your best friend? Had they tried to lead you away from the Lord, you were to do that.

God first, last and always. This is serious stuff!

Roger

26

Jump Start # 3376

Posted on July 26, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3376

Matthew 5:39 “But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Let’s be honest, Christianity is not convenient, easy or simple. Those who try to make it that way, miss the message, and blend in too much with the world. Being a light in a dark world, draws attention. Swimming upstream in a downstream flowing culture is not easy. We are presented with pressures at work, in the family and just trying to quietly live our lives.

I want to focus upon the inconvenient aspect of Christianity. It’s not convenient being a Christian. For instance, Jesus said, from our verse today, ‘whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.’ That’s not easy physically. That’s not easy emotionally or mentally. When slapped, our hand naturally closes into a fist. We are ready to defend. The Rambo mentality comes out of us. The Lord said, ‘turn the other cheek.’ Man, that’s hard.

It’s easy being a sinner. It’s easy being lost. Just do whatever you feel like doing without any thought about others, consequences or even tomorrow. But a disciple doesn’t live like a sinner. He’s thinking about tomorrow. He’s thinking about consequences, influences and what the Lord wants him to do.

In many ways it reminds me of golf lessons. You’d think, just grab a club and smack the ball. Seems simple. Try it. It’s not. Your feet must be positioned just right. Your knees bent, just right. Your arms straight. Your grip, just right. Running through your head are all those thoughts. Is my back straight? Keep you head down. Keep your eyes on the ball. So many thoughts…

The disciple has many thoughts running through his mind. His example. His obedience. His attitude. His words. His actions. All of that can make a person so paranoid of making a mistake or getting something wrong that he doesn’t enjoy life, as is with the golfer. Remembering all those things can take the fun out of the game. Golf becomes a chore, something you have to do, like going to the dentist. Christianity can become that way for us. And, the awe of worship, the enjoyment of His word, the blessings of fellowship can all disappear because one is so focused on getting everything just right.

And, here are some things we need to keep in mind about the inconvenient religion:

First, the child of God will do what is right, not what is necessarily legal, easy or even cheaper. I live right on the Kentucky line. Car tags are more expensive in Indiana than Kentucky. There are many who have found a way to cheat the system and drive with KY plates, even though they live in Indiana. That may save someone a few dollars, but is that the way Christ wants us to be?

As a couple advances in age, some consider getting a divorce to save on insurance or social security. We’ll still live together, they say, but this is more convenient and cheaper. Christianity isn’t about what is convenient or cheaper. It’s about following Christ. We must do what is right, even if it means, turning our cheek to get slapped.

Second, going to worship after you have worked all day is not convenient. Often, it’s not easy. But, neither is carrying our cross, standing for the Lord, or doing what is right. It wasn’t convenient for the Jewish young men to stand when everyone else bowed to Babylon’s idol. So, we will take our tired bodies to worship, knowing that our soul and our spirit needs to be fed and connected with the people of God. Easy? Not always. Convenient? Probably not. But, it is the right thing to do.

Third, the people of God have never found it convenient to follow God. Do you think it was convenient for Noah to build that massive ark? How about Israel having to walk about and pick up manna every day? How about Paul preaching when the audience was sneering at him? How about Jesus and the nails?

Our times does not have much patience for inconveniences. We sigh when we have to wait. We complain when there is a line. We get bothered by stopped traffic. As a result, the modern church has formed a nice and convenient religion where one doesn’t have to commit, come, or even change. It’s all ok. The church will cater to your every whim. If it bothers you, you don’t have to do it. The problem with that is simply you don’t read that in your Bible. Books like, “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” sells millions and promotes a false idea and theology. We ought to sweat the small stuff as well as the big stuff. If it is too hard, too inconvenient, too much out of our way, one must ask, “Where is your faith?”

Finding a cheaper way, is not always the best way. Finding an easier way, is not always the best way. Even though others are doing it and even boasting about it, does not make it right nor good for the child of God.

Bending the rules to save more money is a price too high for anyone to pay.

Roger