Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Our Stronghold.


Imagine you are traveling during biblical times, or you are a warrior in David’s army, you notice an overwhelming force coming at you. You see the army of your enemy coming down on you right where you are with such anger, hate, and violence. You are all alone—you look around and see that you stand in the path of this terrible force—you have no chance of survival. What can you do except stand and fight and be surely killed?
During biblical times there were fortresses, castles, or strongholds where the king and his army would, if necessary, retreat and be able to defend from within the walls of their refuge. When a king received news that an opposing army was marching to attack and plunder his kingdom, he would send out word for all of his subjects to retreat to within the walls of the fortress. When the word spread of this oncoming attack, the people would then pack all of their valuables and hightail it to the fortress in the hopes of making it on time, before being overtaken by the aggressing army, to take refuge within its walls.
Some strongholds had a fortress within a fortress. It was a place where the king and his army would make their last stand if the outside walls of the stronghold had been breached. These strongholds served to give people hope that they would be able to withstand an attack on their kingdom. It gave them a sense of security to know that they could always retreat within the walls of the fortress. All through the land fortresses could be seen from great distances because of their immense size.
Some of these fortresses were carved into a mountain or sometimes they were a cave where the king would hide, such as in the case of David when he was hiding from King Saul. Saul was seeking to kill David, so David would hide by day and travel at night to stay out of sight. David hid in the caves of the mountain ranges in the En-gedi, such as Wady Charitun, which at one time sheltered thirty thousand warriors from their enemy. Fortresses served as places of protection and hope.
Now imagine you are going about your day in your normal life and your phone rings. It’s your wife; she tells you that the bank has sent notice that they are going to foreclose on your home because you have missed a few payments. We all know that the economy is taking its toll on our finances. Imagine your wife tells you that the doctor said that you two will never be able to have a baby and start a family of your own.
Imagine that your car has broken down and you have no money to fix it; it is your only transportation. You ask your friend for a ride every morning to work but he is unreliable and sometimes you are late, or you just do not have a way into work. Your boss is tired of this problem and he lets you go, he fires you. Now you cannot pay your bills because you do not have a job, and you cannot fix your car to go look for a job. This is not really too big of a deal for those of us who live in a city where there is a public transportation system, but it could spell real trouble for someone in a rural area.
You are being overwhelmed and you do not know if you can take it anymore. You need somewhere that you can retreat and call your stronghold to help you face your problems head on. So today we are going to be looking at Psalm 62, more specifically verses 5-6, to see what we can learn that will help us in our daily struggles.
It is important for us to understand the type of literature that the verses we are studying come from. We read a newspaper differently than we do a novel. When we read a history book, we do not approach it as if we were reading a poem. So we must first present what type of literature Psalm 62 is.
The Psalms in general are poetic writings, or hymns. They represent the way that the Hebrews worshiped God. They can be seen today as a modern hymnal. Knowing this aids us in understanding what the author is presenting to the reader.
So now we know not to approach the psalms as a history book, for example, because the author does not intend for us to discover historical facts within the verses, but instead worship that is given to God. In general the psalms can be broken down into psalms of lament and psalms of praise.
This particular psalm would fall under the lament category of psalms, but to do it justice this psalm is served better by calling it a psalm of confidence. This psalm was written at the time when Absalom, David’s son, had rebelled against his father the King and had taken Jerusalem from his father and driven David out of the city. In this psalm David is speaking metaphorically when he calls God his rock, his stronghold, and his refuge. We will be focusing on God as a stronghold in this study, because at times in our lives we need to know that we have hope and protection.
What does David mean when he calls God his stronghold? From the beginning of his rule as the King of Israel, from the time that Samuel had anointed David as the King, he has had to be on the run from King Saul. Saul wanted to kill David out of jealousy. However, at the time that David is writing this psalm, Psalm 62, he is running from his oldest son, Absalom. David calls God his stronghold for a very good reason. When we look in the Bible at the word “stronghold” as it is used here in Psalm 62 we begin to see what David means by this metaphor.
In second Samuel, David wrote a psalm of deliverance wherein he says that God is his rock, his fortress, his deliverer in who he takes refuge (2Sam 22:2-3a). He goes on to say that God is his shield, the horn of his salvation, his stronghold, and his refuge (2Sam 22:3b). He ends verse three by calling God his savior, who saved him from violence (2Sam 22:3c). In verse one of this same chapter of second Samuel, it is explained that David wrote this psalm the day that the Lord saved him from all of his enemies including King Saul. Here we see the acknowledgement that God is in control and He delivers those that are His from all of their enemies.
David also says that God is a stronghold for those who are oppressed, and in times of trouble He delivers His people (Psalm 9:9). In Psalm 9 David is thankful for God’s judgment against his enemies and he writes that God can be trusted because He is a stronghold for the oppressed and He is a stronghold in times of trouble.
Furthermore, David writes that God is a stronghold and a refuge in the day of his distress (Psalm 59:16). In Psalm 59 David is asking for deliverance from his enemies and concludes the psalm with the proclamation that he will sing praises to God for being his stronghold. In Psalm 144 David says that God is his lovingkindness, his fortress, his stronghold, his deliverer, his shield, and the one in who he takes refuge (Psalm 144:2).
We get the idea that God is where we should turn in times of trouble and distress. Times where we do not know what to do and have no clue how we are going to make it through any of our problems. God is the stronghold we can run to when attacked. He is the fortress that the army seeks shelter in during a war, so to speak.
In Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary the definition for stronghold is: a fortified place, a place of security or survival. From our study here we come up with a similar definition, except our stronghold is not a place; our stronghold is God. God provides us with security and the means of survival in the world by His constant watch over us. God as our stronghold sustains us from all kinds of evil and attacks that can be hurled at us by the world. His high impregnable walls surround us day and night. We can find safety inside of His walls, safety from the arrows that are launched at us by the enemy.
In applying what we have learned to our lives, we need to remember three things. The first thing to remember is that God is in control. In other words God is sovereign. This means that God is King; He is the supreme ruler and lawgiver of the entire universe. Nothing happens without God’s knowledge.  The Bible says that God is the ruler over the kingdoms of men and that He does with it as He pleases (Dan 4:17). Knowing this, we can be assured that whatever happens to us, God knows it and sees it.
The second thing to remember is that God is merciful. This means that although we do not deserve His mercy, God has compassion on us and extends His mercy towards us anyway. Because God is merciful, He will ensure that there will be justice for those that are His; for the oppressed and the persecuted.
The third and last thing to remember is that God loves us. This one goes kind of hand in hand with merciful. Because God loves us he has compassion to extend His mercy towards us. God will not deny us protection or provision if we are His children. John writes in the New Testament that God’s love made it possible for God to present His son as an atoning sacrifice for us (1John 4:10). If God’s love for us allowed Him to do that for us, then we can be sure that He will be our stronghold.
Remembering these three things aids us in applying our lesson, for it is because of these three things that we make God our stronghold and why David can metaphorically call Him his stronghold. God is God and there is no other; He is in control and nothing can harm Him. He is the fortress of all fortresses that stands in the way of the arrows that the enemy throws at us; a fortress that is an impregnable force in which we can hide and seek security when attacked by the enemy. 
This does not mean that nothing will happen to you when you turn to God for protection. The Bible never says that we will not be harmed by the enemy, but actually it tells us to expect to be harmed. When we obey God’s Word and dedicate our lives to Him, the enemy attacks full force. The fiery arrows that the enemy throws our way come fast and are many.
In ancient times when armies attacked a fortress and the people poured into the gates of the fortress for safety (due to the tall, strong walls), there were still some that were wounded and even died. In the same sense, we can expect to be wounded by the enemy. However, God always stands as our stronghold; He has His plan that we all must live by. Although we may get wounded, He is always there to heal us and protect us according to His plan.
When the King sent out word for the people to retreat to the fortress to prepare for the oncoming attack by an aggressing army, the people ran for safety inside of the fortress. In the same way we must turn to God and trust Him for our protection when we come under attack.
When your wife calls you and tells you that the bank is going to foreclose on your home, remember that God will work it out according to His plan and provide the safety that you need from this problem in your life. When the doctor tells you and your wife that you two will never have a baby of your own, remember that your stronghold, which is God, will provide the security that you need. This is not to say that God will stop these things from happening, but He will provide you with the strength to overcome these things and to bounce back from them.
When you pray it would be right to acknowledge God as your stronghold in your prayers. God was David’s stronghold in David’s time and He is our stronghold in our time. So acknowledging that He is our stronghold is the right thing to do. God does not leave you alone to handle troubled times on your own. He is there providing you with the strength to overcome by being your stronghold who you can retreat into for security. Pray to God and acknowledge Him as your stronghold, because He is.
In ancient days as armies retreated into their fortress they had trust and confidence that they would survive the onslaught that the aggressing army was about to unleash. Today as we go through our daily struggles of disappointments, temptations, and attacks, we can retreat into our fortress (God) because He sustains us and keeps us secure from harm according to His plan.
David, in this same psalm, also writes in verse eight to trust in God at all times and that God is a refuge for us. The word refuge means shelter; similar to stronghold. So whatever ails us, whatever is happening in our lives, no matter the attack coming from the enemy, we have a stronghold that we can retreat into. God our stronghold is always there, Amen.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Black Robed Regiment

This describes the character of the ministers of God at the time of the American Revolution.

"Mighty men they were, of iron nerve and strong hand and unblanched cheek and heart of flame. God needed not reeds shaken by the wind, not men clothed in soft raiment [Matthew 11:7-8], but heroes of hardihood and lofty courage. . . . And such were the sons of the mighty who responded to the Divine call." Charles B. Galloway

Visit the Wallbuilders website for more information on the black robed regiment. http://brr.wallbuilders.com/

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Saturday, September 10, 2011

The Pulpit Is Responsible For It!

Prophetic indeed!

"If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it." ~ Rev. Charles Finney


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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Is preaching the primary task of a pastor?

I believe that preaching is the primary task of the pastor.  Jesus focused on preaching the Good News (Matthew 4:23), and Paul told Timothy to preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-2).  I strongly agree with what Charles Jefferson (author of The Minster s Shepherd) said: "In a sermon he can warn, protect, guide, heal, rescue, and nourish".  These are exactly the things that Jesus and Paul did when they preached to the people.  Pastors can do the same when they get behind the pulpit and preach the Word.  They can tell their people about the dangers of following what the world says about happiness or the meaning of life.  All of these things, when not grounded in Scripture, lead to empty feelings and destructive behavior.  So the pastor, through preaching, leads the sheep to eternal life, which is the ultimate duty for a pastor, in my opinion.

Not only that, but Jesus said that the reason that He was born was to testify to the truth (John 18:37).  The truth is Jesus (John 14:6), He is the Word (John 1:1) and the way (John 14:6).  This truth is contained within the pages of the whole Bible, not just the New Testament.  By preaching the Word, a pastor is also testifying to the same truth that Jesus was born to testify to.

What are the top five tasks of a Pastor?

Preaching the Word - 2Tim 4:1-2: We all know that a pastor is to preach the Word. However, visit a couple of churches and you will soon discover that just the surface is touched, and there is no depth in the preaching. There is no sound preaching on the holiness of God or what it truly means to claim Jesus as Lord over your life. I understand that some church models use the Sunday morning worship service to reach the unchurched, and that can be one reason why the preaching is shallow. They do not want to go too deep for fear of losing the sinner because they cannot understand the theological lingo. These churches claim that they use another day during the week for the teaching of the believers, but even then the preaching is shallow. I believe that you can preach with theological words as long as you remember that there are lost people sitting in the pews that might not understand, and so you take time to explain those words to your audience. So preaching is one of the top five tasks.
Shepherding the flock - Acts 20:28, 1Pet 5:2: Here we have another task that should go without saying. The Scriptures that I have identified here say it all. A pastor should shepherd his flock. A shepherd takes care of his sheep even to the point of risking his life. That is something to ponder, is it not?
Studying the Word - 2Tim 2:15: This sort of goes hand in hand with preaching the Word. The thing about studying the Word is that it is the truth from God. It is the truth about life and our relationship with Him. That also includes the truth about eternity. There are many pastors who have twisted Scripture to mean something more than, less than, or other than what it is meant to be. So it is important that the pastor study the Word in truth so that he will lead his people in truth and guards himself from leading them into damnation because of the wrong interpretation of Scripture.
Evangelizing - Matt 28:19-20, Acts 5:42:  This goes without saying for the simple reason that we are all commanded to evangelize and the pastor should lead by example. 
Prayer - 1Tim 2:1-8: Prayer is of the utmost importance not just for the lost, but for his flock and for himself. A pastor should always pray to watch over his heart and the hearts of his flock, for the enemy is always on the attack.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

The role of Apologetics in Christianity

The role of apologetics in Christianity is one of strengthening the faith of the Church and to evangelize the lost.  How does one gain faith in something without knowing a little something about it?  How can you just say, “I have faith in you,” to someone if you have never seen them in action?  Having faith in them is not that you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they can perform a specific task but that you have observed them doing related tasks with positive results.  So the evidence is there that this person will succeed, and that you can safely have faith that they will succeed, so it is with our faith.  Through the evidence all around us, whether that be material or experiential, comes our faith in Jesus as the Son of God.  We looked at the evidence for Christianity and made a decision to give our lives over to Jesus.  We may not understand why certain things are the way that they are but nonetheless we accepted that they just are.  Apologetics points out these evidences and lays them out logically in a way that can be understood, much like systematic theology.  Apologetics uses logic and reason to accomplish it’s goal, which is to lead the lost to Christ and to strengthen the faith of believers.  Many people spend most of their lives in the Church and cannot tell you, logically, why they believe in what they believe.  Apologetics helps these people see the reasons behind the faith and in this way strengthens the Church.  Someone who knows the reasons why they do what they do will be bold in defending their faith when questioned and apologetics gives us the understanding to be able to be bold in defending and sharing our faith.  Apologetics prepares us to deflect the many criticisms against Christianity.  Christianity is under attack more and more as we become more and more tolerant of other religions in this country.  There is a double standard in our country against Christianity and a growing anti-Semitism in the world.  Christianity is seen as a religion of haters and racists because of what is taught in the Bible.  In order to evangelize we must be able to answer the questions and rejections given to us by the nonbelievers.  Apologetics gives us the tools to do that with.  Although the responsibility to win people to Christ is the Holy Spirit’s we still are expected to play a part in evangelizing the lost.  The better prepared we are through the discipline of Apologetics the deeper the seed can be planted and prayerfully not be uprooted.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Rep Weiner says that he will not resign

Rep. Weiner admitted sending disgusting lewd picture of himself to a woman that he is not married to. He also admitted to having inappropriate conversations with six other women. These conversations took place over three years and continued after he got married in 2010.

Rep. Weiner lied to his family and those he serves when the story broke and he denied the accusations. “This was me doing a dumb thing and doing it repeatedly and then lying about it,” Weiner said. “And that’s all there is.”

Rep. Weiner says that he will not resign and hopes to regain the trust of those he serves. A man with that type of character should not be in the position that he holds. A man’s character comes from his heart. If a man’s wife cannot trust him, how can anyone else?

Just my opinion!

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/06/rep-weiner-to-address-media-following-new-reports-revealing-images/#ixzz1OXIyrUwm

Home Depot and the Homosexual Agenda

On June 3, Home Depot held their shareholders meeting.  During that time, AFA (American Family Association) delivered 474,161 petitions to Home Depot chairman Blake signed by those concerned about Home Depot’s support for the homosexual agenda.  During the shareholders meeting, AFA Vice-president Buddy Smith asked chairman Blake to reconsider Home Depot’s support of the homosexual agenda and to take a neutral position in the culture wars.

Home Depot sponsors events where children are exposed to nudity, sexual immorality, homosexuality, transgenders, and drag queens.  Chairman Blake quickly dismissed the petitions and AFA Vice-president Smith’s request by reaffirming Home Depot’s support of the homosexual agenda.  Chairman Blake said, “I hope all of our shareholders understand that we’re a company that respects the diversity of our associates, our customers, and the communities where we do business.”

What about those who do not agree with the homosexual agenda?  They are a part of the diversity that chairman Blake claims to respect.  Chairman Blake is not asked to take their side; he is being asked to take a neutral position.  But obviously, chairman Blake has expressed his desire to take sides.  The side of the homosexual agenda!

Visit the American Family Association website for more information: http://www.afa.net/

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Once Saved Always Saved

This topic causes a lot of discussion that leaves people wondering whether we really understand what the Bible says about works and salvation. For example, many people today claim to be Christian yet live like the opposite of what a person would live like if they truly were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Now here comes the good part. “Once saved, always saved.” Yes, “once saved, always saved,” but truly saved is where we have the disconnect. You see, many “Christians” say that after they were saved they turned back to a life of sin for awhile and then turned back to God, and they claim “once saved, always saved.” However, if we look at what 1 John 3:9 says, we see that if we are born of God (saved and regenerated) then we will not sin, because the Holy Spirit abides in us and as a result we cannot sin. Now, we are still sinners because the sin nature is never completely destroyed until we are resurrected. However, when we sin, we know it, because the Spirit convicts us immediately and we repent (sometimes not immediately). That is what it means when the verse says that because we have the Spirit in us, we cannot sin; it’s not that we will not sin at all, for there is only one who is perfect and that is Jesus Christ. The way that I have heard this verse justified to fit the “once saved, always saved” concept is that this verse is talking about blaspheming the Holy Spirit by denying the existence of God and that is the only sin that cannot be forgiven. In other words, if you are saved you will not blaspheme the Spirit (I agree). However, that is not the only thing that it is talking about. So when it comes to salvation and works and the relation between the two, it is plain throughout the Bible that if a person is “truly” saved, then he or she will demonstrate a change in their lives by doing good works out of love for the Lord, because the Holy Spirit has filled them with His presence--instead of just saying a prayer and going about life as though nothing has happened (because nothing did).

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Engage the culture

To win a war you have to always be on the offensive. You go to the defensive position only for a temporary amount of time. So the church should engage culture and come out of the defensive posture. The church has been in the defensive much too long. What about that these things have been prophesied and we could very well be in the end times? What if we are wrong, just like all of the generations who have thought the same thing before us? This makes me think about the verse that says that the gates of hell will not be able to stand against the Kingdom of God. That means that the Kingdom of God is on the offensive. Anyway, if we fail to be on the offensive now, then what type of world will our children inherit from us? I shudder to think.


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