Sunday Reflections

We had a very special day on Sunday. Judd and his team led us through some great hymns. Stephen Humphries, who won the national competition for hammer dulcimer added a great dynamic to the acoustical guitars. Jeremy preached a challenging message on “Obey.”

Let’s be honest… when we read some of the stories of the Old Testament, they can challenge us in our faith and our understanding of God. The passage that Jeremy used in 1 Samuel 15 would cause some to question, “Why is God so cruel in demanding complete annihilation of the Amalekite nation?”

Here are a few observations:

• God does not have to explain Himself. He answers to no one. He does not have an advisory team. He is not part of an accountability team. He is GOD!
• When the Bible does not make sense to us, there is usually more to the story. Jeremy helped us to see the real history of the Amalekites. They were vicious, blood-thirsty and ruthless to their core.
• Maybe God had already sent many prophets to the Amalekites to call them to repentance. We know from Jonah’s story that God sent Jonah to Nineveh to preach repentance… and they had a similar reputation of cruelty as the Amalekites.
• In fact, God had actually waited for many centuries for the Amalekites to get the act together. One author states it this way, “God never acted precipitously against them (the Amalekites); his grace and mercy waited to see if they would repent and turn from their headlong plummet into self-destruction.” (See a more complete quote at the bottom of this blog)
• A question I must ask myself, “Does God have the right to do as He pleases; as He sees fit?” Simple answer: Absolutely! God is holy and righteous. God is just.
• The bottom line question that I took away from Jeremy’s message, “Am I obedient to God’s commands no matter what the cost?” God is not asking for my approval or even for my understanding. He is, however, expecting my obedience.

“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NLT)

What has God been asking of you lately? What area are you not obeying?

If you missed Sunday, go to www.gatewaybc.com and listen to Jeremy’s message!


Additional Quote:
Why was God so opposed to the Amalekites? When the Israelites were struggling through the desert toward Canaan, the Amalekites picked off the weak, sick and elderly at the end of the line of marchers and brutally murdered these stragglers. Warned Moses, “Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God” (Deut 25:17–18).

Some commentators note that the Amalekites were not merely plundering or disputing who owned what territories; they were attacking God’s chosen people to discredit the living God. Some trace the Amalekites’ adamant hostility all through the Old Testament, including the most savage butchery of all in Haman’s proclamation that all Jews throughout the Persian Empire could be massacred on a certain day (Esther 3:8–11). Many make a case that Haman was an Amalekite. His actions then would ultimately reveal this nation’s deep hatred for God, manifested toward the people through whom God had chosen to bless the whole world. (Hard Sayings of the Bible: Kaiser, Davids, Bruce, Brauch, p. 206)

Counting Straws - Part 4

Let’s look at verse 24 again.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

I’m assuming you have already sought the Kingdom of God by asking Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior. I’m assuming that you have a personal relationship with Jesus. You are now a citizen of Heaven!

Another aspect of the Kingdom of God is found in the word kingdom. Another word for kingdom is the word realm. A simple definition for realm is “A royal jurisdiction or domain; a region which is under the dominion of a king; a kingdom.” Of course the kingdom we are talking about is the Kingdom of God. In his Kingdom, Jesus rules.

In one of his last conversations with his disciples, Jesus said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” Jesus was saying, “I’m the King and all that there is, is my Kingdom, my realm.” As King, Jesus has the authority and right to tell us what to do as his subjects in his realm!

If indeed Jesus is the King, then it is only right for him to claim that he has all authority. His realm extends from heaven to the earth… and everything in between. And if you are still uncertain of the extent of his realm… it includes everything he made… which is everything that is.

God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. John 1:3 (NLT)

Here is the kicker – as His subject, I am responsible to do His bidding, His will. When I am obedient, then He will act in my life and circumstances. When I do things my way, then I forfeit His power in my life.

When I was 12 years old, my Dad sat down with me and shared some important thoughts. He told me what I needed to know as I prepared to enter my teenage years. Little did I know that it would be the last conversation I would ever have with my Dad. But I think he knew. He knew that death was near… that the cancer was winning. If you knew that you were about to have one last conversation with someone you loved very deeply, you would choose your words very carefully.

When Jesus had one of his last conversations with his disciples here on earth, He shared very important words. He told us what we were to do with our lives.

Jesus came and told his disciples, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

Here are a few essential ways by which we live for what is right:

• Seek to please Jesus rather than people. Why is this important? Only Jesus is King.
• Trust Jesus completely to meet all your needs. He has promised to do His part.
• Express your trust and faith in God by praying.
• Study, act upon, and obey the words of Jesus… even when they make no sense to you… even when it goes against “common sense.”

The key phrase in the Great Commission is “make disciples.” That is a command for all believers, not just ministers.

As you develop a Christ-honoring lifestyle, then you will experience the presence and the power of God!