Job 41-42; Acts 16:22-40

 “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes…”

 For 4 Chapters now God has been taking Job over the coals – A 4-chapter seminar on the subject, “I’m GOD, and you’re NOT.”

 Job’s response was the right one. When God takes you to the woodshed, it’s not the time to complain about how you’ve been treated. Plain and simple: He’s GOD, and we’re NOT.

 But Job’s response to God was more than an admission of wrong. It was a declaration of God’s right to lead our lives, and it was also the beginning of amazing healing and restoration for Job. Once Job let go of his understandable frustration and anger over undeserved suffering, God vindicated him – first to his misguided friends – and then to everyone else. And Job began a season of incredible prosperity and blessing.

 I’m impressed with the idea that when it’s MY turn to suffer, God isn’t looking for me to vindicate myself. He isn’t looking for me to shoulder the weight of injustice. All He’s looking for from me – is to exalt Him as the rightful Leader of my life – no matter what. Then – I can trust Him to do the vindicating and the restoring. What a weight off!

Have a GREAT Tuesday!

While babysitting, I read a children’s book about counting sheep to fall asleep. For many of us, these recent years have been challenging. Maybe you’ve been kept up at night with thoughts of financial, family, or health problems. Counting sheep just can’t disolve the restless tension you feel.

I can relate…so could Job. The pain, frustration, confusion, and grief are very real and we feel it…now. Take a few minutes to read God’s response to Job in chapters 38-40, and let it really sink in.

Don’t we feel small and insignificant in light of God’s huge-ness? Job did, too, when he said in verse 4, “Behold, I am of small account…” When we see God’s power and control–even in our fallen world–it puts our problems in perspective, too. I am encouraged when I remember God’s plans to restore and empower us to display His love and power. (Remember…God does the same for Job before his story’s over!)

“and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61;3

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13

Job 36-37; Acts 15:22-41

It wasn’t FAIR!

Job really struggled with that. He Lived for God – and his life was a DISASTER. His friends weren’t any help. There was NO LIGHT at the end of the tunnel. And all Job could do – was wait.

God gives US seasons like that – probably not as severe as Job – but seasons of open-ended hurt and uncertainty. But unlike Job, God has given us PROMISES in Scripture (it wasn’t written in Job’s time), and He also gives us His SPIRIT. Job faced his pain – virtually alone. We don’t have to. Job was about to get in trouble for asking “Why?” We – on the other hand – have God’s explanation for why we may suffer unjustly.

 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”                                            James 1:2-4

 Job had a special relationship with God – and God was about to do some amazing things for Job. But if I had the choice of whether to live in Job’s day or now – with God’s Word and His Spirit – I’m glad I get to live now…

 Have a Wonderful Sunday!

Job 34-35; Acts 15:1-21

The MESSAGE of Jesus really messed with Jewish leaders.

Their authority and control over people came from the RULES they enforced. But the message of Jesus changed that. It simply declared that people become right with God through faith in Jesus’ Sacrifice and Resurrection. No rules – no religious rituals and requirements – just faith. That was the essential conclusion of the Apostles and Elders at the council at Jerusalem.

2000 Years later – not much has changed. Today’s religious leaders often resort to the same tactics to control people: Faith in Jesus – PLUS rules, rituals, and requirements – that empower and enrich the religious elite. But Jesus’ Message also remains the same: Relationship with God by GRACE alone, through FAITH alone, plus NOTHING.

How cool is that? Do you suppose that’s why the Message is called… “GOOD NEWS?”

 See you Tomorrow!

Job 32-33; Acts 14

Sharing the GOOD NEWS is a volatile business. It elicits extreme responses:

• Through it the Holy Spirit empowers some to believe and become children of God;
• Others will exalt the messenger rather than receive the message;
• Still others will aggressively oppose the message even to the point of violence. Paul was declared a god in derbe, and stoned in Lystra.

3 Thoughts hit me from this passage. First, don’t underestimate the power of the Message to change people’s lives in all circumstances. God’s Word simply does what He sent it to do. Second, don’t be surprised by the power of the opposition. The enemy will go to great lengths – including violence – to neutralize both message and messengers. Third, God wins. The immediate outcome may look bad, even fatal. But in the end, God, His Message, and His Messengers are unstoppable.

 Have an Excellent weekend!

Job 30-31; Acts 13:26-52 

 The Message of Jesus Christ is UNIQUE to all other religions – because the CENTER of the Message – is an EMPTY GRAVE.

The Message of Jesus’ resurrection made His followers BOLD. And the bold declaration of the risen Jesus captured whole city of Antioch.

 It’s the same, central issue with us today. All other issues aside, there’s simply no rebuttal for an empty grave. It’s the center of our message, and it’s the source of our power. As Paul wrote to the believers at Ephesus:

 “I pray…that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead”

 Have a GREAT Thursday!

Job 28-29; Acts 13:1-25 

There’s a WISDOM people seek to get ahead in life;

Downtown, they call it “street smarts.”

On the Job, they call it “know-how.”

In the Marketplace, they call it “business acumen.”

 Then – there’s a wisdom that positions a person for eternal success.

Job says that it’s exceedingly rare, and can only be found in one place. He describes it this way:

       “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,

         and to shun evil is understanding. “

Eternal wisdom may not get you ahead in a cutthroat culture.

In fact, if you look at people like Job – it can lead to some real problems. But the dividends are spectacular.

Here on Earth, we consider a person successful if they work hard for 40 years, then – health permitting – do what they want for 20 years or so. GOD, on the other hand, says “Live for me instead of yourself for 70-90 years, and I will give you unimaginable joy and wealth – forever.”

Earthly wisdom (the honest kind) has its place. But the wisdom that pays best – and the kind most worth pursuing – is fearing (carefully following) God, and saying “no” to evil. That’s the best investment advice in any market!

 See you Tomorrow.

Job 25-27; Acts 12 

It was New Year’s eve at our church in San Bernardino – and

Our assistant pastor, STAN – was praying us into the New Year.

He started praying at 11:58 PM – and near the stroke of midnight –

a sizeable EARTHQUAKE shook the church. As the wooden beams creaked and the light fixtures swayed – Stan calmly continued his prayer until an old air-raid siren sounded in the New Year.

After the service, several men approached Stan, complimenting him on his composure during the quake. “Oh – that’s to be expected” – Stan replied – “when I pray, I get RESULTS!”

Most of us don’t expect the Earth to move when we pray.  The original believers didn’t. So when they prayed earnestly for Peter’s release from prison, and he’s standing at their door after God sent an angel to rescue him, check out what happened:

“Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.”

Last night I shared 10 astonishing answers to my prayers over the last 5 months – and I’m embarrassed to admit – I was shocked by them. So  MY RESPONSE to this Scripture is a personal resolution:

Next time God sends an astonishing answer to my prayers, I’m “GOING STAN” on it. I’m going to expect RESULTS.

Have a GREAT Tuesday!

Job 22-24; Acts 11 

 “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

Just like that – the Jewish believers LET GO of something they held ferociously all their lives. The cultural and spiritual wall between Jews and Gentiles came tumbling down – because Jewish believers were submitted to the Word of God.

God continues to speak fresh truth into OUR ferocious beliefs and biases. And when that confrontation happens to us – our spiritual progress will depend on our ability to submit our pride, scruples, and conventional wisdom to the Word of God. Thoughts?

Have an Excellent Monday!

Has the Holy Spirit ever spoken to you in an extremely clear manner? I have had a few times in my life where I knew the Holy Spirit was speaking to me clearly, and I moved quickly to do what I understood Him to be saying. Many times I have had a sense that I was to take a step in a certain direction, and had it confirmed, but only a few times have I heard LOUD and CLEAR what the Lord wanted me to do.

In Acts 10:31-32, Cornelius heard from the Lord that he was to send for Peter, who was staying with Simon the tanner. (It was interesting that Peter, being a Jew, would stay with a tanner who was considered ritually unclean because of his occupation.) In Acts 10:19, Peter also hears from the Lord to go with three men who were looking for him at that exact moment.

Having experiences like this seems kind of…mystical. But while God’s people have at times had these experiences, such experiences are never sought. This distinguishes Christian mysticism from New Age mysticism, which encourages its followers to pursue paranormal activity.