Intent And Effect (Nah. 1:2-6)

Read Nahum 1:2-6.

Don't confuse God's intent with the effects of His actions.  When God, in a self-controlled manner, releases a judgment or a remedial discomfort, people do suffer.  That is the effect, but watching people suffer is not God's intent -- that is, if you believe "The Lord is good" (Nah. 1:7).

What is God's intent?  That mankind should repent (2 Pet. 3:9)), that they would return to Him. God's taking pleasure in the negative effects of His intent is ruled out (Ezek. 18:23 - The question demands a "no" answer.).  See also Ezek. 18:32.

Now, About The Sparrows (Mt. 10:29; Lu. 12:6) (Part 4)

3. THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION

EXPLANATION

• The grammatical construction that begins with the words “are not” is written to invoke an affirmative answer.  The yes answer is obvious enough that it doesn't need to be stated.

ILLUSTRATION

• “You are going to the party, right?” What answer are you expecting? You are expecting the answer to be either “yes” or “right.”
• “Isn't two plus two still four?” What answer are you expecting? You are expecting the answer to be either “yes” or “no duh.”

APPLICATION

• What we have here is an a minori ad maius argument. (You didn't know you were going to brush up on your Latin today, did you?)
• A minori ad maius means that the writer or speaker crafts an argument in such a way that what is true about the smaller or lesser must be all the more true about the larger or greater.
• What is true about the Father's care for the birds must also be true about His care for you.
• Since God perfectly governs and cares for each small bird, you can trust Him to govern and provide for you.
• What can you conclude from today's verses, based upon this kind of argumentation?
• Yes, the Father is aware of every threat, shortage or need in your life.
• Yes, the Father is sovereign over every detail in your life (Rom. 8:28).
• Yes, the Father is attentive to every tear that you shed and every fall that you take.
• Yes, the Father is present in every circumstance of life.
• Yes, the Father is good and only gives good gifts (Mt. 7:9-11).
• Yes, the Father does care for you.

When Jesus Stopped (Mk. 10:46-52) (Part 5)

6. FAITH THAT WILL NOT STOP ASKS FOR THE THING THAT MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER

IMPROBABLE. “ . . . Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” (Mk. 10:51).

Bartimaeus swung for the grandstands, didn't he? Evidently, there was a time when he could see.

• We're not told how he lost his sight.
• We're not told when he lost his sight.
• We're not told how long he lived with his blindness.
• We're not told how he heard that Jesus can heal.
• We're not told how faith became activated in his spirit.
• We're only told what it is that he wanted Jesus to do more than anything else.

What is it that you want Jesus to do more than anything else? Don't devise an answer that you and Jesus both know isn't true. Be audacious! Think big! We serve a mighty God! Don't settle for less than the best Jesus is capable of and willing to give you.

“Well, Pastor, God is sovereign. What if I ask and that's not what He wants to do?” How is it that you play the “sovereignty of God” card negatively, in order not to be disappointed, but won't play that card positively in order to receive what you need most from Him?

• Jesus is not toying with you! How interested He is in you!
• Jesus is not out to devastate or crush you! How tender He will be with you!

As Pentecostals, we have been around the block a few times when it comes to discussions about divine healing. We would never suggest something inappropriate such as, “That's impossible!” Why? Because we know better! Some of you are rehearsing the verses right now.

• Mt. 17:20 > “ . . .if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
• Mt. 19:26 > “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
• Mk. 10:27 > “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
• Lu. 1:37 > “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
• Lu. 18:27 > “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
• Mk. 9:23 > “All things are possible to him who believes.”
• Jer. 32:17 > “Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You . . .”
• Jer. 32:27 > “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” (obvious answer: no)

The problem isn't that we believe something is impossible; the problem is that we think something is improbable.  We allow that it can happen; we just don't allow that it will happen. We allow that it can happen to someone else, some place else; we just don't allow that it can happen to us, right here, right now. Are we playing the odds instead of standing on the promises? Since when have we become such expert gamblers, placing bets on what God will or will not do?

Do It Again, Lord (Psa. 44:1-26)

Read Psalm 44.

• Inspiration.  Look at what the Lord already did.  Listen to the elders' testimonies about God's mighty work.  What did He do?  How did He do it?  Are there patterns?  What can be learned?  God doesn't change.  What He has done, He will do again.  Today is tomorrow's fuel for faith.  Today you earn interest on yesterday's faithfulness.
• Desperation.  You can't fool God, so you might as well be honest before Him.  What He did yesterday, what He did for others is inspiring, but you need Him to intervene for you right now.  Tell Him that.  He's big enough to handle it.  "Do it again, Lord!  Do it for me!"  The posture of desperation is honesty.  Desperate people talk differently to God.  They retain reverence, but push the envelope.  You know what you want God to do.  Does how you pray reflect that?
• Preservation.  Let's stay on the honesty train for another minute.  It's a natural tendency to suggest you're suffering due to no fault of your own.  That very well might be true.  Maybe it isn't.  It's easier to preserve self and accuse God of abandonment than it is to embrace responsibility.  Before you pull the "God isn't fair" card, consider your current situation could be His discipline.  Before your rule out His interest, rule out your own irresponsibility.  Honesty demands it.
• Resignation.  Having ruled out that your behavior or lack of it isn't the cause for your predicament, resign yourself to the sovereignty of God.  It's the pressure relief valve.  It's the admitting of humanity, finiteness and perspective.  It's a position of continued trust in spite of the unanswered questions that assault you.

All Things Are God's Servants (Psa. 119:91)

"For all things are Your servants." (Psa. 119:91, NASB)

These six words are full of artistry.  God uses "all things" (Rom. 8:28) as the raw material to scupt you.  After all, you are His workmanship! (Read Eph. 2:10.)  Picture the worst thing you can imagine. God can use it, though He may not have authored it. Consider the most difficult, abrasive person you know. He/she can be used by God for your welfare.

"All" -- what a comprehensive word!  Every person and every thing is under God's mastery.  People and things serve His purposes. It's not a matter of whether a person belongs to God.  Every person is owned because he is a unique creation (Psa. 24:1).  Where there is ownership, there is an Owner.  The final authority is God, not people or things.

Live today knowing that your Owner and Father knows you, loves you and provides for you.  Don't be afraid.  The day is all planned out for you.  Nothing will happen coincidentally.  God is in control.  All things are His servants.