12

Jump Start # 3698

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3698

Daniel 3:12 “There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods, or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

Like an old movie that we’ve seen a dozen times, this remarkable story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego is something dear to our hearts. Courage. Conviction. Faith. With an element of fear, death and consequences. Remember, this was not placed in our Bibles so we’d have something to talk about in VBS to the kids. This is a real story. This really happened. It is revealed to show the power of faith and the power of our God.

Away from home, in a foreign and hostile land, these Jewish believers made a difference. Remember, they weren’t foreign exchange students visiting Europe. They were taken against their will. They were kidnapped, as the beloved city of Jerusalem was torched. The temple was robbed and the walls around the city crumbled.

One of the first things that take place was that Babylon tried to brainwash and reprogram these Jewish captives. And, right here, we see the textbook way in which Satan tries to change the culture of believers. They were taught the language and literature of Babylon. They were given foods that Babylonians eat. They were given new names. They were forced to worship Babylonian gods.

The names Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego all had connections to Babylonian deities. Blasphemous. Mocking. Insulting. That’s what those names were intended to do.

Within this, we find powerful lessons for us:

First, our culture tries to change us. Rather than conforming to the Word of God, our culture wants to change the message. It’s easier, some think, to change the word than to change yourself.

The first step is in renaming and rebranding. Harsh reality of sin is softened by acceptable words. Curse words are repeated in so many avenues that few are offended by them. Fearful of judging, the voice of the righteous becomes quiet. And, culture has the first step into our hearts and homes.

The second step is to tame us. Everyone was bowing before the statue except these three Jewish men. It can’t be wrong if so many are doing it, becomes the standard. Look how popular this is. Wrong takes on a different shade. Now, it’s “I wouldn’t do it, but I can’t tell someone else that they shouldn’t.” Choice. Rights. Freedom. Mix all those in a bowl and abortion doesn’t seem so bad. Legalizing drugs, not so bad. I wouldn’t do, but if someone else wants to, that’s their choice. Tamed. Tamed and didn’t even see it coming. Tamed and didn’t even know it.

The third step is that our culture claims us. Rename– tame– claim. One-two-three. Christians that live and act no different than the world. Christians that get into the gutter of sin and think nothing about it. Notice how many young Christians are seeing nothing wrong with social drinking. Twisting Scriptures, finding loop holes, these young hearts do not realize that they have been tamed and claimed by our culture today. Giving up on God’s authority. Justifying divorce for any reason. Renamed. Tamed. Claimed.

So, what’s the answer? The answer is found in Daniel.

First, make up your mind that you will not be changed. Daniel refused to eat the king’s food. Away from home and in a foreign land, Daniel could have found a lot of ways to justify it. He didn’t. His mind was made up. When you haven’t made your mind up, culture will do it for you.

Second, stand. That’s what the three Jewish men did when everyone else was bowing down. They made a decision on whose side they were on. If you haven’t decided and if you are uncommitted, culture will claim you. They were noticed. There were consequences. They made a difference. You may be the only one who stands up at work. You may be the only one who stands up in the congregation. You may be the only one who stands up at home. People will talk about you. They will tell others about you. You might get in trouble. But God also notices. And, God sees that you were not changed by the culture around you.

We live in Babylon. This is not our home. We are often forced by pressure to accept, ago along with and even participate in things that just are not right. For the sake of a job, a reputation, or out of fear, we might bow to the pressures of culture. But, those of faith, have made their minds up. Their minds were shaped by the will of God. And, when told to bow, these believers will stand. When told, you’ll get in trouble, they know God will provide.

The Corinthians were told to be steadfast and unmovable. Our times are trying to move you. Hold fast. Dig in. Stand your ground. Don’t give the devil an inch.

Roger

11

Jump Start # 3697

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3697

1 Corinthians 11:23 “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread”

 

  Our verse today is about the Lord’s Supper. Paul quotes Jesus. Paul was not in the room when Jesus said those words. Paul was not a disciple when this took place. Built within this passage is the concept of legacy. Handing something down to someone else. One generation passes the baton on to the next generation. We find the words, ‘receive,’ and ‘delivered,’ used here. This carries the idea of a rely race.

 

  Four guys running, one at a time, as fast as they can. The first person carries a baton in his hand. He hands it to the second person, who takes off as if the devil were chasing him. He hands the baton to the third person. He runs as fast as he can and gives the baton to the fourth person. High school track has rely races. That’s where I first ran the rely. Some get to do this in college. A few, very few, go on to the Olympics.

 

  Four runners. One baton. And, that instant when one passes it on to the next person, is the critical part of the race. The runners can literally trip over each other. They can drop the baton. One can take off running and he doesn’t have the baton in his hand. The race can be won or lost in that moment of passing of the baton.

 

 This verse today sounds very much like a rely race. Jesus starts it. He hands not the baton, but the Gospel to Paul. Paul then delivers it to the Corinthians. In time, they were to pass the Gospel message on to others. Across oceans, and here we are today, walking by that old, old Gospel. We stand upon the shoulders of many faithful men and women who gave heart and service to the kingdom.

 

  Legacy is something that isn’t talked about as much as it ought to be. It takes a bit of vision, planning an gumption to develop a legacy plan. Who will be the next shepherds? Any thought given to that? When one looks at the churches in Revelation 2-3, it is easy to see that some batons were dropped. Ephesus, the loveless church, left their first love. No one starts a church like that. They begin because they are passionate about the Lord. But in time, that passion wasn’t carried on. The baton was dropped. Sardis, the lifeless church, declared dead by the Lord. No one begins with death. It takes energy, desire, goals and plans to start a congregation. But the baton was dropped. Sardis died. Laodicea, the lukewarm church. No church begins that way. It takes people who are on the ball, dependable and will sacrifice to get things rolling. Lukewarm simply won’t do that. The baton was dropped.

 

  In a recent podcast at home and in a shepherding class on the road, I talked about the “Principle of the Baton.” There are three steps:

 

  First, before the race begins, there has to be an understanding, practice, training to pass the baton. I remember spending tons of hours, not running around the track, we had that down, but in exchanging the baton. Making it smooth. Understanding how far the runners could run, knowing which hand to put the baton in, and getting out of the way so no one falls down. Practice. Practice. Practice. Spiritually, it’s mentoring, showing, teaching.

 

 No one comes out of the stands and fills in. It looks easy, but it’s not.

 

  Second, there has to be a trust factor among the team. One handing must trust the one who is receiving. The Lord trusted Paul. Paul trusted the Corinthians. Receiving and delivering. Passing the Gospel. Passing the baton. In the high school days, it was worked out which person ran which leg of the rely. Did he start? Was he in the second slot? Third? Was he the one finishing? Once that was figured out, we never changed positions. I knew who was handing it to me and I knew who I was giving it to. We learned how the next person wanted the baton placed in their hands. We worked and worked until we knew each other. There was a trust factor among us. And, in developing the legacy model, the same is necessary. One generation trusts, respects and has compassion for the next generation. If the older generation resents the younger generation, then they won’t pass the baton. They will keep it for as long as they can. If the younger generation doesn’t want anything to do with the older generation, the baton will fall.

 

  Third, one must let go of the baton when it is passed on. The handing of the baton should not be a tug of war between the two runners. Disaster will happen, if that happens. A smooth transition, one giving and one taking. Paul received and Paul delivered.

 

  There are two models that every church is given. One is the Biblical model. That’s what we find in the word of God. That cannot be changed. We worship on Sunday. There are specifics that God expects to be done. Generation upon generation, that Biblical model remains the same. But there is also a generational model. The generational model is how the Biblical model is carried out. We worship on Sunday. What time? How often? Bible classes? Bible class first? Last? Those are generational models that can be tweaked and adjusted for each generation.

 

  There were congregations holding Sunday evening services in the 1800s. Not many, but a few. But with World War II, so many brethren were shift workers in plants and couldn’t get off on Sunday mornings. Congregation made adjustments and held Sunday evening services. That was a generational adjustment to fit a need.

 

  Those passing on the baton must realize that the next generation may do things differently. As long as the Biblical model is in tact, it’s ok. In fact, the next generation may do things better and more efficiently than the previous generation. That can be hard to take, but one generation must let go of the baton so the next generation can run. That’s the way it is in the home. That’s the way it is in business. And, that’s the way it must be in the congregation.

 

  But before that baton is passed on, there are steps, principles that can make the process smooth, good and right.

 

  I received…I delivered…

 

  Roger

 

08

Jump Start # 3696

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3696

Daniel 9:23 “At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.”

There are places in both Job and Psalms where the silence of God is bothersome. Prayers are uttered and nothing. Just silence. The Psalms and Job question whether God is a stranger. We build upon those passages to help us understand that our prayers may not bring an immediate response from Heaven. In His time, we tell each other.

But, how rarely do we consider the other side of that topic. Our verse bears that out. Rather than silence, before the prayer is finished, God has sent an answer. Notice the expressions in our verse today. At the beginning of your supplications…not at the end. At the beginning, as you started praying, the command was issued. God responded immediately.

Another example of a rapid and quick response to prayer is in the example of Hezekiah. In 2 Kings 20, the prophet Isaiah is sent to tell the king to get his house in order because he is going to die. Hezekiah turns to the wall and prays. Before Isaiah left the palace, the Lord told the prophet to turn around and go back and speak to the king again. “I have heard your prayer and I have seen your tears; behold I will heal you.” An immediate response to prayer.

Some thoughts for us:

First, the response time to a prayer is up to God. Why did Daniel and Hezekiah get such quick answers from Heaven and at times the Psalmist waited and waited for a response? There are things we simply do not know. I don’t think it is about what was prayed. Some things take a higher priority than other things, that may be how we operate down here, but God is capable of answering all prayers immediately.

Now ought we to think that God favors some or some are in better standing than others. Are we to think that Daniel was more righteous than Job? Both are illustrated in Ezekiel 14 along with Noah as being very righteous. God said that there was no one on the face of the earth like Job. We cannot conclude that the more righteous one is, the faster his prayers are answered.

Second, as a parent teaches a child patience by making them wait, it may well be that the Lord does the same to us. While we wait, we are to trust. While we wait, we look to the Lord and not the problems and trials. God made a promise to Abraham that was not fulfilled for more than two decades.

While we wait for God to answer our prayer, do we become discouraged? Do we get angry with the Lord? Do we stop worshipping? We like an immediate response, but waiting may be better for our character and faith.

Third, in His grand sermon, Jesus reminds us, “your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” So, God doesn’t have to hear all the prayer before He knows what He should do. In fact, God knows before we ask. The question arises, if God knows, then why even pray? He knows. The answer to that is that the Lord wants us to pray. Prayer shows our dependence upon Him. Prayer reminds us that He is in control, not us. Prayer teaches that God is greater than we are and God is greater than any of our troubles.

At the beginning of the prayer, the command was issued. God moved quickly. God sent Gabriel to deliver a message to Daniel. That transition is amazing to us. We send a text or an email and we wait. Texts and email are much faster than writing and mailing a letter. The person receiving may be busy at the moment and not see our message for a while. They may have to think about how they will respond to us.

Daniel prayed. At the start of his prayer, a command was issue and Gabriel was sent. I don’t know where Heaven is at. I cannot even guess, using earth measurements of miles, how far Heaven is from earth. Our words reach Heaven immediately. And, immediately, an angel is sent. Faster than you can drive to a store, fly to another city, Gabriel was there. The next verse reads, “while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel…came to me” (21). The prayer wasn’t finished. Daniel was still praying and Gabriel showed up.

Heaven can be quick.

Something to think about as you pray.

Roger

07

Jump Start # 3695

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3695

John 10:13 “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.”

The past two Saturday mornings found me teaching about shepherding and leading. Two Saturdays ago I was in Texas and the discussion was about Legacy in leadership. Love that topic. This past Saturday it was with several from my home congregation as we held a leadership workshop. One of the special things that comes out of that workshop are the breakout sessions between the lessons. The men are divided up and they go into different classrooms and I give them a scenario, most times, something that really happened. They have to discuss the matter, come up with a Biblical answer and then we share that among each other. This is a good exercise for those who are not shepherds to see some of the things that elders have come across their tables and it illustrates how we must work together. I might have an answer, but someone else brings up a perspective that I didn’t think about. Working together. Working as a team.

Saturdays mornings and leadership. I love it that more and more congregations are putting thought into things like this. For too long, the only time the discussion of elders came up was when there was a crisis. One of the elders moves or one passes away. All panic. The preacher preaches on the qualifications and a couple of names are put before the congregation. They are appointed and every breathes a giant sigh of relief and all is put back on the shelf until the next time a crisis arises. Not really a good plan and model to follow.

Getting disciples to see that all of us are leaders is important. You are the light of the world, Jesus said. Not, you ought to be. I hope you will be. But, rather, YOU ARE. And, every dad is a shepherd. His flock is his family. He does at home what the shepherds in the church do. He guides. He nourishes. He spiritually feeds. He sees that his little flock is Heaven bound. And, in time, if this man has made the right choices and grows, all God does is give him more children, the congregation.

Who are going to be the next shepherds? Has any thought been given to that? Has any steps been made to prepare for that? That’s the value of shepherding classes and workshops.

Our verse today shows the contrast from the hired hand and the good shepherd. The hired hand is in it for a paycheck. It’s all a job to him. He has no passion or skin in the game. When the wolf appears, as our verse indicates, the hired hand is gone. He’s not risking his neck for a bunch of sheep. He doesn’t care. The passage states plainly, “he is not concerned about the sheep.” The hired hand is only concerned about himself.

In contrast, the good shepherd loves the sheep. His heart is in what he does. When the wolf shows up, the good shepherd stands the ground between the wolf and the sheep. He’ll fight to the death because he wants no harm to come to the sheep. The sheep are safe with the good shepherd near by. The hired hand is a threat to the sheep. He’ll leave them when they need him the most.

Some thoughts for us:

First, you want someone watching you who will stay in the game. Does he get scared? Probably. Does he get tired? Certainly. But his heart is with those sheep. And, in God’s church, we need men who will stand up to wolves and fight for the safety of the sheep. David fought a lion and a bear while protecting his father’s sheep. And, shepherds today fight modern wolves who want to endanger the people of God.

Second, the revealing word in our passage today is “concerned.” The hired hand doesn’t care. Not his problem, he thinks. But, the good shepherd does care. He always cares. He’ll stay with the sheep until he is no longer needed. One can teach the basics of watching sheep. But this “heart” stuff, either you have it or you don’t. It is sad to appoint men as leaders who are not concerned. Some like the position, but not the work. Some believe it gives them power, which it really doesn’t. The shepherd didn’t begin to care when he picked up the staff and started watching sheep. It began long ago. He has always cared. He has gone out of his way to encourage. He has been a friend to the people of God. Appointing such a person is simple and easy. He cares and it shows.

Third, leaders must continue to grow and learn. In both Saturday morning sessions, in Texas and at home in Indiana, multiple shepherds were in the audience. They came. They took notes. They asked questions. They shared insights. Pity the man who thinks that he has learned all there is to know about leading just because long ago he was appointed a shepherd. Such a man becomes stale, stagnate and stuck. Growing shepherds will create a healthy culture in which others will want to lead as well.

Leading the people of God…what a privilege and an honor. Leading people all the way to Heaven. Maybe it’s time to get the men in your congregation together on a Saturday morning to talk about these things.

Roger

06

Jump Start # 3694

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3694

Jeremiah 29:7  Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’

I write this last Friday. Yesterday was election day. And, today, if the results are known and final, there will be a mixture of emotions racing through the nation. Some will be dancing with delight. Others will be in despair. Some will claim the results were fixed and rigged. Millions and millions of dollars have poured into this election, buying ads to convince us who to vote for. For the candidates that lost, it will seem like a lot of money that went down the drain. For the winners, it will seem like money well spent.

And, now it is over. Will anything change? Will we even notice a difference? The national election has been billed as the election of a lifetime. Some have viewed it as the most important election in the country’s history.

Some perspectives for us:

First, as we read about the role that the Christian has to the government, especially Paul’s words in Romans and Peter’s words in his first letter, remember, the government they knew didn’t allow citizens to vote for the ruler. God’s people have seen oppressive rulers and difficult times. Egypt. Assyria. Babylon. Rome. The people of God have cried to the Lord because of the hardships that they endured. Persecuted. Driven from homes. Abused. Killed. God’s people have experienced the worst of rulers. Keep that in mind.

Second, when God sent Judah into Babylon as a form of punishment, God didn’t leave them alone. It wasn’t like being sent to your room for a while. God had instructions for them. Jeremiah wrote a letter to those exiled in Babylon. The words were not, “good luck, you are on your own now.” Rather, as our verse says so well, Judah was to seek the welfare of Babylon. They were to pray for Babylon’s welfare.

A hostile nation. Pagan. Offering foods that Judah could not eat. Given new names that were blasphemous and offensive. Forced to bow before idols. Threatened with death if they did not go along. These enemies were the ones who robbed God’s holy temple. They destroyed the city of David. They killed many. And, God was using them as punishers for His people.

And, what did God expect Judah to do while in captivity? Wait for a chance to break free? Nope. Overthrow the capital? No. Kill the king. Never. Judah was to be a blessing while there. They were to plant gardens, build houses and seek the welfare of the city. Three times in our verse today the word ‘welfare’ is used. The Hebrew is SHALOM—peace.

When the history of Babylon was written, one of the highlights would be the time Judah was there. Judah made Babylon better. The Babylonians did not have to keep an eye on Judah. They didn’t have to set more guards around them. Judah was a blessing. Among the enemy. A different culture. A different language. Judah was to pray and seek the welfare of this foreign place.

Should it be any different for us? We live in a world whose culture is so different than ours. While we may all speak English, we are not facing the same direction. There are things that are offensive to us here. There are things that are blasphemous. Are we to rebel? Are we to break free? Are we to riot? Instead, like Judah of old, God expects us to be a blessing to this land. We are to live, seeking the welfare of this country. We are to pray for the welfare of the land. And, when the history of this country is written, it ought to be said, that the time Christians were among us, was one of the best times. The Christians made this country a better place.

Now, are we seeking the welfare of this land, when we complain and post negative things on social media? If God expected more from His people in Babylon, what do you think He expects of us? Maybe we ought to pray more and gripe less. Maybe we ought to think how we can be a blessing to this place?

Our times need to see examples of marriages that thrive. People understand hatred and ugliness. They need to be shown grace, compassion and forgiveness. People live with dysfunction. They need to see how things work right. Unity, love and hope is something that God’s people can bring even in a culture that is so different.

The interesting flow in Jeremiah 29, is that God promises to bring His people back home to Judah. Be a blessing there, but don’t forget where your real home is. And, it’s no different for us. Be a blessing here, but don’t forget that our real home is in Heaven with God.

The election is over…but our work and our responsibilities have just begun.

Roger