Marching Orders

Based on Psalm 81

What does it really mean to be dependent on God? We have heard it said that other gods are things other than God that we get our security and purpose from. Money, government and family are some good examples. But is there more to it?
In our methods as a church, are we dependent on God's counsel or our own reasoning?
Why is the church not ready for Jesus' return yet? What have we been doing wrong? Not the right doctrine? Not enough effort? Not the right methods? These are probably true, but are they the root problem?
What is God's solution?

I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Verse 10)
God is his own solution. We are not going to do this work by anything like our own righteousness, efforts or ideas. It will be obviously the victory of Jesus.
Alexander of Macedon is remembered as a great general because he was able to defeat great armies with his small army. If Alexander had a greater army, it would be thought that his superior army won him the victory.
In the same way, we know that Jesus will get the glory for his victory; so the source of the victory cannot be ourselves. We do not need to think up better doctrines, we need to be faithful to what Jesus has revealed. We do not need to mandate effort from our members, we need to change our lifestyles to match Jesus' counsel and our profession of faith in his coming. We do not need to think of new methods to do the work, we need to follow the methods that Jesus has given us.
As a people we have not done all these things in the past. It is not your responsibility or mine to make everyone do what is right, but to do what is right ourselves. Our generation may pass away without Jesus' coming, but if you have been faithful you will be saved. Our generation may witness Jesus' coming, but if you have not been among the faithful you will be lost. The second coming is conditional on the faithfulness of a group. Your salvation is conditional on your faithfulness as an individual.
Jesus will win the victory, he has sent you your marching orders: Have you read them? Have you obeyed them?
Take up the full armour of God and prepare for battle.

Decadence and Politics

Based on Psalm 80

The sins of the nation cause God to turn his face away. The absence of God's protection leads to national crises. Although God can judge a nation with disaster - and he sometimes does - his displeasure is most often felt in the withdrawal of his protection. There are many forces with Satan behind the scenes waiting to destroy our nations, if we turn our back on God we invite Satan and his disasters in the door.
But what is the solution? It is in this Psalm. Is the solution to national apostasy national religious laws? No.
The solution is prayer. Asking God to change people and restore them so the nation can be healed. We are too quick to impose on others and too slow to pray for them. Prayer is the Biblical alternative to politics.

Church Invasion

Based on Psalm 79

Asaph witnessed the conquest of Jerusalem by the Pharaoh of Egypt and the looting of the temple, and this psalm must surely be a response to that.

How do we respond when the church is being filled with the unconverted and becoming corrupt? What should we do? Well of course, make sure your church has the right message, if her core teachings are contrary to the Bible then you ought to leave. But if you are part of God's remnant church, what then? What does Asaph do?

He mourns the destruction of God's institutions and asks why God does not bring the punishment to an end. He pleads with God to forgive the past corporate sins and to stop their fall into more sin. He appeals to God's reputation which is closely linked to the reputation of his people. Save your reputation by saving your people.
Save your people who are dying spiritually, defeat our enemies so they never recover and prepare us to worship you for eternity. This is my prayer for this time at the end of history.

The Y Generation

Based on Psalm 78

The stories of the exodus are parables and mysteries for the younger generation of all ages to become better than the one before it. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: (verse 7) is the challenge in which every generation has failed in.
That means obeying God's counsel even when it doesn't seem to make sense.
Please help me to play my part in global revival and reformation in my young generation.

I Cannot

For Psalm 77

Why is it that we sin when we know it is wrong? Why is it that we cannot be the holy person we want to be? Why does our character not improve, no matter how hard we try? The Bible says:


I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

Do you believe it?