Category: A Moment with the Master

In Acts 19, we read about a fascinating event that took place during Paul’s time in Ephesus. The Bible says God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, which included the casting out of evil spirits. There were seven sons of a Jewish priest who had heard about Paul’s miracles. They apparently hadn’t converted to Christianity, but they tried to use the Lord’s power. To one possessed individual, they said, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” But the evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” The evil spirit then proceeded to beat the men.[1]

What an interesting question, though—“Who are you?” The men tried to use Jesus’ name without actually following Him. But Jesus is not some talisman. He is Lord. Just as those Jewish exorcists had no power without following Jesus, so we have no peace and hope unless we serve Him. So who are you? Are you serving Jesus or just using His name?

[1] Acts 19:13-16

It’s easy to place too much stock in other people. Sometimes, we seek in others what can only be found in God. In Numbers 22, the Moabite king Balak summoned the prophet Balaam to come and curse the nation of Israel. But Balaam delayed because the Lord initially prohibited him. When Balaam did end up going, the king met him and said, “Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?”[1]

Balak believed that, because of his wealth and status as king, he could give Balaam great honor, riches, and blessings. And Balaam believed that too. And sure, as a king, Balak could probably give Balaam a great deal of money or access to pleasure. But how long would that last? What honor would it really give? Compared to the blessings God promises, what are the gifts of men? Don’t be like Balaam—don’t reject the eternal blessings of God for the fleeting honor of men.

[1] Numbers 22:37

In First Corinthians 2:12 the Apostle Paul writes, “…we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God….” Paul contrasts two different spirits, and these spirits are an either/or scenario. We cannot receive the spirit of the world and the spirit of God. So, which spirit have you received? Well, how can we know? We can know by looking at our life.

Paul expounds on this concept in Galatians five in slightly different terms. There instead of the “spirit of the world,” he speaks of the “works of the flesh,” which are things like, “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife jealousy, …anger…envy, and…drunkenness.”[1] On the other hand, those who “walk in step with the Spirit” of God bear fruit like “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”[2] Which of those lists more aptly describes your life? That’s a great indicator of which spirit you possess.

[1] Cf. Galatians 5:19-21

[2] Galatians 5:22-23

We learn early in  Joseph’s story that his brothers hated him. This was not typical sibling rivalry or squabbling. It was true hatred. Genesis 37 records that a time came when the brothers acted on their hatred. Joseph had been sent to check on them far away from their father’s camp. When they saw him coming, they plotted against him. They were dissuaded from killing Joseph, but instead, they ambushed him, took away his robe, and threw him into a pit.

Verse 25 says, “Then they sat down to eat…” What a strange next step! They had considered murder, roughed up their brother, thrown him in a pit, and would soon sell him into slavery, but they stop to eat as if nothing is wrong. Hatred and sin can do that. Are there things in our lives that should appall us but don’t? Do we sin against our fellow man or God and then, like Joseph’s brothers, simply “sit down to eat?” Lord, forbid that  we grow so callous to sin.

Yesterday, we considered Proverbs 9:9 and the fact that even when we are wise, we can still receive beneficial instruction. There is, however, another side to that coin. While we should always be humble and correctible, we should not make learning an end in and of itself. Sometimes people go down the road of academia to such lengths that the goal becomes learning, not knowledge. Ironically, when this happens, more learning can somehow lead to less knowledge! In 2 Timothy 3:7, the Bible warns against people who are “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” Some people are puffed up with all of their learning even though all they possess are questions. In spiritual matters, this can be devastating.

So, there must be a balance. We must always be humble and correctible and grow in our knowledge. But we must also see that God has provided truth, and we can know the truth that is needed to save our souls.

Have you ever known someone who was a “know-it-all?” No one enjoys being around such a person. And hopefully, we aren’t that person. Not only is it annoying and off-putting to act like a “know-it-all,” it’s also, ironically, foolish and ignorant. If we ever feel like we know everything we need to know, then what we reveal is how little we actually understand. See, we often treat knowledge and wisdom like a goal that can be achieved in full. But that simply is not the case. Proverbs 9:9 says, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” We might think that a wise, learned person doesn’t need any instruction. But that simply isn’t the case, especially spiritually. As we grow in knowledge of God’s Word, we must realize there is still instruction we can receive. To receive instruction doesn’t prove ignorance. As Solomon says, it just makes wisdom increase.

Preachers often warn against “false teachers,” but are they really that bad? Well, yes. Under the Law of Moses, false teaching was considered so heinous that it could incur the death penalty. Deuteronomy 13:8 says that when anyone tried to entice Israel to go after other gods, “you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him.”

Even under the New Testament, that’s good advice. When someone persists in teaching false doctrine, we should not give in to their falsehood, listen to their false advice, or try to hide their false teachings from others. Falsehood is too dangerous. False teachers should be corrected and rebuked, but if they persist in teaching false doctrine, then as Paul says, “reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition.”[1] False doctrine can destroy souls, and we cannot yield to it, listen to it, or conceal it.

[1] Titus 3:10

In Judges 5:20-21, Deborah and Barak’s song of deliverance says, “From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might!” Saying the stars fought is a poetic way of saying God fought for Israel. God used His creation against Sisera and the chariots, and it was He who routed the Canaanite army. Sisera’s army was much greater than Israel’s, but God fought for Israel. Thus Deborah cries out, “March on my soul in might!”

Let’s be honest—life contains big challenges. Not just big challenges, but insurmountable ones. We have an enemy who hates us and is much stronger than we. But that’s ok. Why? Because the stars fight for us. Our enemy may be greater than us, but He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world![1] So let us press on boldly, and sing always “march on my soul in might!”

[1] 1 John 4:4

Is it important to do things just the way God instructs? A lot of folks operate under the assumption that if their motives are right, then what they do doesn’t really matter. Maybe their practices are different from God’s pattern, but is that a big deal? Maybe their doctrine differs slightly from the Bible, but is it really important? In 2 John 9 the Bible says, “Anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”[1]

What we do and how we do it matters! When we start creating our own ways of worship, ethics, and doctrine, we no longer abide in Christ. God has provided the pattern we should follow. He’s given us all that pertains to life and godliness.[2] Don’t go too far and leave Christ behind. Hold to His Word and abide in Him

[1] NASB20

[2] 2 Pet. 1:3

Humanity’s ingratitude can be pretty stunning. We tend to get dissatisfied and to grow tired of even the greatest blessings. When Israel was saved from slavery, God guided, protected, and provided for them. When they couldn’t provide or find food for themselves, God miraculously gave manna each day so they could survive. At first, the Israelites were impressed and thankful. But listen to them later: in Numbers 21:5, they say, “…Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” The people called manna—food that was provided graciously and miraculously—worthless food!

How do we treat God’s provision and blessing? Are we thankful? Are we content? Even when our lot seems mundane and simple, are we grateful? Or do we grumble, complain, and always seek more and better? Do we ever count God’s incredible blessings as worthless food?