Present day "men of God"

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Kings 8:1–9:13 
Acts 16:16-40 
Psalm 143:1-12 
Proverbs 17:26

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

2 Kings 8:11 "Then he stared steadily at him until he was ashamed. The man of God wept,"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Ok. I realize that the Verse for Today that I have chosen is a little unusual. But, I want you to reflect on a phrase that appears in it.

"The man of God"

As we read 2 Kings 8 and come across verse 11, we realize that the designation, "man of God," is referring to Elisha. He is God's prophet and was set apart by God to speak to God's people on His behalf. 

Elisha, in that role, got a title: "man of God."

But, as we read elsewhere in the Old Testament, we realize that this title is used of other men that God chose to speak and lead on His behalf. 

The official title, "man of God," is used 78 times in the English Standard Version of the Bible (KJV - 78; NIV - 82; HCSB - 83). It is used to speak of the men who God set apart to speak to His people and lead them. 

An overwhelming majority of the time, it was used to refer to Moses and Elijah as in the following verses:

Moses:
"This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death." (Deuteronomy 33:1)

Elijah:
"And she said to Elijah, 'What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!'" (1 Kings 17:18)

The title, "man of God," does not mean that these men were sinless. The flaws of the men who wore this official title are well documented in Scripture. It did, however, acknowledge that these men were set apart by God for a special task. They were to speak to God's people on His behalf and lead them in the ways of the Lord.

When we come to the New Testament, in a new era, where we are told that everyone of us is on equal footing at the cross (Galatians 3:28), we may think that the phrase, "man of God," would no longer apply and wouldn't be appropriate. 

But, that conclusion would be wrong. Read the following two references in the New Testament as the Apostle Paul wrote to Pastor Timothy:

"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11)

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

In these two texts, the Apostle Paul was calling Pastor Timothy a "man of God." It was fitting because Timothy was called by God to speak to God's people on His behalf and to lead them. However, since it was the New Testament era, Timothy wasn't a prophet - he was a pastor.

From these two verses, we realize the the phrase, "man of God," is still used in the church age. Men who have been called by God to pastor God's churches wear the title just as the prophets of old did. Pastor / preachers get this designation.

While present day "men of God" sin like Moses and the rest of the Old Testament prophets did, it is also true that they are set apart by God for a special purpose. No man should go into the pastoral ministry unless there is a clear calling upon his life from God.

When these "men of God" are in sin, they need to be confronted. If the sin continues and they do not respond with repentance when taken through the steps of discipline found in Matthew 18:15-17, they need to be rebuked publicly in a church setting (see 1 Timothy 5:19-20).

When these "men of God" preach, those who listen need to search the Scriptures to see if the things being said align with the truth of the Bible (see Acts 17:11).

But, if there is no big sin to confront and these men are faithfully preaching God's Word and leading in a way consistent with Scriptural principles, then their position as a "man of God" needs to be taken seriously. 

This does not mean that there are special privileges for these men or anything of the sort. It does not mean that they are better than any other follower of Jesus. It simply means that they have a calling upon their life to teach and lead God's people on His behalf.

They are "men of God."

Are we under God's authority?

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 22:21-23:30

Luke 1:57-80

Psalm 58:1-11

Proverbs 11:12-13

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Numbers 22:38 "Balaam replied, 'Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In Numbers 22, the leaders of Moab hired a prophet. They wanted him to pronounce a curse upon the Israelites believing it would undermine the strength of God's people.

Yet, the prophet (Balaam) told them that they (and he) had no authority to determine what he would say over the Israelites. He was under God's authority and could only say what God told him to say.

I wonder if a mighty movement of God could begin and sweep across our land if God's spokesmen, pastor/preachers, would take this verse to heart.

Why Pastors Should Exercise

I took this picture of the Withlacoochie Bike Trail
on yesterday's ride.

I went out on a bike ride yesterday and enjoyed a little more than four hours of prayer and reflection.  As I rode down the Withlacoochie Bike Trail in central Florida, I was captivated by God's creation and by my growing ability to enjoy it on a bike.
 
You see, yesterday's bike ride was 57.72 miles long. A few years ago, a ride this long would have been unthinkable! Yet, after a few years of focusing on physical fitness, my body was able to manage that kind of mileage. I had worked hard at getting physically fit. Yesterday, I enjoyed the benefits of being physically fit.
 
Not too long ago, I was overweight, I was under-motivated, my ability to think clearly was hampered, my stress level was high, etc. Then, I began to focus on walking about 6 years ago and then biking and running almost 2 years ago. I feel certain that the benefits I am experiencing as a result of improved fitness will keep me motivated to exercise well into my senior years.
 
As I write this specifically to pastors, let me assure my brothers in the ministry that the thoughts I am about to share are meant to encourage you. I am a fellow pastor who has discovered the benefits of exercise and want to encourage you to enjoy those same benefits.
 
The results are in and we all know that exercise is good and something we should do. The problem is that most of us simply lack the motivation to get started. Let me share with you just a few of the benefits I have discovered in hopes that something I say will motivate you to get started and experience the joys of exercise.
 
Benefit #1: To honor God by taking care of His temple
In the Old Testament, the omnipresent God dwelt in the tabernacle and then the temple. Even though He resided completely everywhere at all times, in a very special way He resided among His people in their place of worship.
 
In the New Testament, the temple/building was done away with. God came to dwell inside the bodies of those who were followers of Christ.
 
"Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16)
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?" (1 Corinthians 6:19) 

Think about that. Our body is where God is living right now. If we pursue physical fitness, we can do so with a desire to honor God by giving Him a body/temple that is in shape. The only other option is to show Him dishonor by providing Him a body that is uncared for. 
 
Benefit #2: To follow Jesus more completely
How did Jesus get from one place to another? He didn't have a car or truck. He didn't take the train or plane. In fact, except for the time He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey's colt, we are led to believe that He walked wherever He went.
 
If you track Jesus' ministry and His journey from city to city, you realize that He would have logged many, many miles in His lifetime. He would have called it 'traveling' rather than 'exercising' but the results were the same. Jesus would have been slim and trim from the exercise.
 
If we are to become more and more like Jesus, we must not only develop a godly mind and godly behaviors but a fit body.
 
Benefit #3: To better handle the demands of ministry
Simply put, the stresses of ministry got me walking and then running! Whether it is the daily stresses of phone calls, counseling, confronting those in sin, hospital visits, preparing for sermons, the feeling that you are never truly 'off the clock,' trying to lead and inspire volunteers, etc. or whether it is a major storm that you have to navigate your congregation through, pastoring is stressful!
 
If we don't have some way of getting rid of that stress, we may increase our risk of heart disease, cancer and everything in between. We've simply got to find a way of releasing the tension in a creative, constructive way.
 
For me, going out for a bike ride or a run often does the trick. I may pray during the exercise or I may just try to focus on the scenery around me as I exercise. Either way, after I have significantly elevated my heart rate for about 30 or more minutes, I feel MUCH better.

Benefit #4: To have a lift in attitude
I'm not a negative person but if my personality has a tendency, it more naturally moves toward melancholia than I would like. Not only is that undesirable for me as an individual, it is completely anathema in regard to my role as a pastor. As I relate to others, I need to have an aura of joy. Anything less will inhibit the vitality of the church God has called me to lead.
 
Exercising (specifically aerobic exercising that elevates the heart rate for about 30 or more minutes at a time) helps to lift the mood. Just do an internet search on the relationship that exercise has with the release of endorphins into your brain. Runners, bikers, swimmers, etc. usually aren't glass-half-empty sort of folks. Regular exercise tends to keep their attitudes positive and healthy.
 
Benefit #5: To process and think through problems
There have been plenty of times when I have been confronted with a problem that I could not resolve. Sometimes the problem had to do with an issue that was going to create some friction on a business meeting floor. Other times, I simply could not develop the outline and points of a sermon as Sunday approached. On many of those occasions, I spent time in prayer and yet the problem remained.
 
Then, I took off for a run or went for a bike ride. As I got my mind off of the problem, elevated my heart rate and allowed the endorphins to do their trick, the solution came to mind. I thanked the Lord and then used the rest of my exercise time to solidify the solution in my mind.
 
Benefit #6: To have more energy!
I used to feel pretty sluggish as I went about my daily activities. I just didn't have the energy that I used to have and assumed that there wasn't much I could do about it. I thought that it was due to the fact that I was just growing older and not much could be done about it.
 
Then, I realized that God made our bodies with the ability to create the energy it needs. Simply put, if a 'couch potato' is told that he must run a marathon the next day, he may give it a try but in just a few minutes, only a few yards from the start line, he'll give out. Why? Because he hasn't trained. He hasn't told his body he needs that much energy. He's been convincing his body that he hardly needs any energy whatsoever. So, his body provides him with the amount he needs ... hardly any at all.
 
Yet, when a marathoner approaches race day, they know they will have the energy required because they have been training. The training has been conveying to their body that they need much more energy than the average person. So, their body complied. Their body produced the energy as they trained harder and longer.
 
We need energy to be a pastor. We won't get the energy we need by sitting behind a desk reading a book or typing on a computer. The way to increase our energy is to exercise and convince our body that we need more. After only a few weeks, we'll begin to notice the difference.
 
Benefit #7: To influence others toward better health
Pastoring is leading in its purest form. Most of the people we will lead aren't paid. We can't coerce them. We can't threaten to fire them if they don't do their job. They are volunteers and our ability to lead them depends upon many elements - one of which is integrity.
 
We know that people these days are more skeptical of leaders. Many of them will size us up for a period of time to see if we are someone they believe they can listen to and follow. I am convinced that one of the first things they'll notice is our waistline. If it is too large, they may assume we are self-indulgent and lack personal discipline. Maybe our overweight problem is due to some medical issue but my point is that our outer appearance speaks loud and clear to those who are observing us. If our waistline shows that we overindulge in the area of food, they may wonder what other areas we overindulge in.
 
If we want to lead people, we must convince them that we are a self-disciplined man of integrity. This requires many specific actions but those actions must include exercise and proper diet. Besides, if our bodies testify to the fact that we are honoring God's temple, we just might motivate others to take care of their bodies as well. This is no small matter in a society that is getting lazy, self-indulgent, and much heavier.

Benefit #8: To enjoy the benefits of goal setting and reward

I enjoy setting goals and then working with a team to accomplish those goals. Pastoring enables us to do that. Yet, there are going to be times when, for one reason or another, our goals aren't going to be met. Maybe we're working with a lethargic bunch of folks who just don't see the need. They're perfectly content in remaining mediocre at best.

 

While we still must work to lead our congregation, we can satisfy our desire for goal setting and achieving rewards by leading ourselves. The whole process of going from walking to running and then to racing in local 5K races (or other length races) is exhilarating to say the least. And further, I've noticed that if I become effective at leading myself, it is much easier to lead others.

 

 

These are just a few of the benefits that came to my mind during yesterday's bike ride. I hope that if you aren't presently in an exercise program, that at least one of the above mentioned benefits will motivate you to take care of God's temple as you get fit for Heaven.

Sermon (video): Jesus, Our Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6)

When you think of God, who do you think of? 'God the Father' is probably your answer. Yet, Jesus (Who is the second person of the Godhead) is just as equally God.

In this sermon, we consider Jesus' infinite power and two very important responses we must have to the fact that Jesus is our Mighty God.

To view the sermon, click here.

Church, State, and Truth-telling

I was recently in a conversation with a well-intentioned Christian. We were talking about a potential moral dilemma that, if a reality, should be addressed by the Christian community at large. However, he informed me that I was forbidden by the U.S. government from talking about the issue from the pulpit. I bristled.

Why? Because I firmly believe that the pulpit is the place where I get to proclaim the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If the government can silence me and I will allow myself to be silenced, then the whole process of truth-telling is undermined.

The reality of the matter is that American preachers are allowed by government to address moral issues, not candidates, if they want to keep their tax exempt status. In the following post (dated September 28, 2008), I share my motivation for "complying" with this law and how I believe my compliance does not even remotely undermine my ability to be a truth-teller.

"Why I won't advocate a presidential candidate today"

Today, September 28, is a day that pastors across our country are being asked to exercise their first amendment rights. At www.alliancedefensefund.org, it states: "Pastors participating in the Alliance Defense Fund’s “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” will preach from their pulpits Sept. 28 about the moral qualifications of candidates seeking political office. The pastors will exercise their First Amendment right to preach on the subject, despite federal tax regulations that prohibit intervening or participating in a political campaign."

While I believe the men and women of the Alliance Defense Fund are good people and have helped to serve the Christian cause for many years, it is my humble opinion that they are out of step in regard to this issue. The following brief points are the reasons why I won't participate:

1. First, it's not because I'm afraid of losing our tax exempt status - although I'm concerned that many pastors who take on the IRS will more than likely lose their case. Almost certainly, churches and pastors will get hurt as the IRS flexes it arms and exercises the laws on its books. But this isn't the reason why I won't advocate a presidential candidate from the pulpit. In my lifetime, there almost certainly will come a time when pastors will be told not to preach on certain issues (e.g. homosexuality, etc.). At that point, pastors will have to determine to serve God rather than man and take the consequences. But that's not the issue here.

2. I won't because I am convinced by unquestionable data that clearly reveals that no national, American revival has ever originated in the White House. At some point in the past, it seems that the U.S. government looked to the local churches to point the way to truth and righteousness. Now, it seems that many Christians are looking out their church windows to the Capital for the same reason.

3. I won't because the pulpit should be the place where unadulterated truth is spoken. While folks are encouraged to make certain that what they hear from the preacher is true, they should constantly be brought to the conclusion that what he has said is correct. Advocating one candidate over another crosses the line. That changes the conversation. The foundation upon which the message rests moves from the Bible to the candidate. He (or she) is set up as the one who embodies the qualities of a "God-approved" leader ... which brings up all sorts of questions in the listener's minds - and rightfully so. (It is amazing that candidates who are usually no better than nominal Christians [at best] are esteemed so highly when they are candidates for high office. It is also frustrating to hear folks who claim to be Christians talk of "Jesus" less and less and speak generically of "God" more and more the higher the office they aspire to.) Should we really be advocating such folks and behavior from our pulpits?

So what is there to do? Should we have a que sera sera attitude or do we have a responsibility and civic duty?

First, pastors, stick to God's word as your authority. Engage the culture through the paradigm of Scripture. Don't point people to mankind. Point mankind to Jesus. Encourage them on their path to holiness and show them how this plays out in their lives and daily decisions.

Second, encourage your folks to be "salt!" As I understand the purpose of salt to be holding back decay, I believe that in our society, that means among many things that Christians are to exercise their civic duty and vote. We are to strive to put the right people in office and the right laws on the books. But ultimately, we are resting in the fact that our Sovereign Lord, who works all things after the council of His own will (Eph. 1:11) is working out His plan. When November 5 rolls around, we will continue to do whatever it takes to win our communities for Christ no matter who was selected the previous day. Let's never look to Washington D.C. to do what God has delegated to us.