At the command of the LORD the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the LORD they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. (Numbers 9:18)

According to God’s providence, Israel was delivered from slavery in Egypt.  Moses, their fearless leader, was leading them toward the Promised Land.  An assurance of God’s presence was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night that appeared above the tabernacle.  When the cloud lifted each tribe, according to God’s orders, would set out to march.  When the cloud rested they would make camp according to God’s instruction.  The journey of Israel is a parable of the life of the Christian as he travels from the bondage of sin, through this world, toward the heavenly home.

First, observe that it was God who clearly determined their route.   At the command of the LORD the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the LORD they would camp.  The mapping out of our lives is God’s job and not ours.  This may require abandoning the plans we have made, or the plans friends and relatives have made for our lives.  We must yield to God!

Second, note the path is clearly marked.  God gave Israel a clear, visible sign of his intentions.  Today, God provides a simple pattern to follow that is revealed in the New Testament.  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, (2 Peter 1:2-3).  He left us a blueprint for our daily lives, and gave the local church a pattern to follow in our collective work.  Like Israel, we must respect and follow our Lord’s marching orders.

Third, when Israel failed to follow their guide the result (Numbers 14:44, 45) was disastrous. We must never presume to follow our notions rather than the Lord’s commands.  Our greatest need is redemption from sin.  This salvation is only possible by the work of Jesus.  However, Jesus will present us blameless before God only if we continue in the faith.  (Colossians 1:22,23) God will approve of no life unless it is ordered by the gospel.  

Is not our life like a journey across a wilderness with the Promised Land as our goal?  Along the way do not forget to give glory to God, acknowledge his ruling hand, and commit your way to Him for the time to come.

By George Slover

 

Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, (Luke 19:4)

Luke records the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. (Luke 19:28-44)  The Lord rode into the city on a colt.  The disciples spread their clothes on the road and lavish Him with praises “saying:" 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:38)  One would think such an occasion would bring happiness, but instead it invoked tears from the Savior.

We are often touched when others cry –the tears of a child or of a grieving mother or wife.  But, when a man of strength, power, and conviction cries, we know we are in the presence of deep emotion.  Why did Jesus weep?

Jesus wept out of sympathy for human suffering and sorrow.  He predicts troublesome days for Jerusalem.  (Luke 19:41-44)  In chapter 23 Luke again records Jesus:  "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' (Luke 23:28-29)  This he said foreseeing the destruction of Jerusalem that would come in 70 AD.  It was compassion for the human race that motivated him to become poor that we might be rich. (II Corinthians 8:9)  It was compassion that prompted him in his tireless ministry to the lepers, lame, blind, hurting mothers, and sorrowful fathers.  It is this compassion that draws the hardened sinner to him today.  This is what makes Jesus so dear to his disciples. 

Jesus wept out of regret for those who are in the wrong.  Jesus promised God would punish Jerusalem "because you did not know the time of your visitation." (Luke 19:44)  God was in their midst and they rejected him!  Are we also affected by sin in the same way?  Do the foolish drunkard, foul-mouthed fool, the negligent parent, and the fool who espouses error leave us with a feeling of contempt and sorrow?  They should, because this is how Jesus felt!

Thus, as Jesus proceeds toward Jerusalem for one final confrontation with its religious leaders, he is overwhelmed with grief and tears.  His tears break into a passionate lamentation, for God had been in their midst and they did not acknowledge him.

Jesus must feel the same way toward a society like ours.  His word is found in almost every home in America, but it is virtually ignored.

By George Slover
 

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

This sermon clearly reveals the striking simplicity of the gospel message.  The banner of the gospel is the name of Jesus.  The great cause of the gospel is our salvation!  The proof of its validity is the known facts of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

The gospel of Christ cuts through all of the speculation and gets to the root of problem.   Man is lost in sin and separated from God.  He needs a savior.  This is the deepest need of every soul.  Man’s most important question is:  “What must I do to be saved?”

Salvation from sin is by a name.  A name stands for whatever rights, power, or authority that one may possess.  The name of Jesus is sufficient to secure pardon.  By his sacrificial death, he forever satisfied the justice of God (Romans 3:26-28), and the conscience of man (Hebrews 10:1,2).  Because of who he is and what he has done, Jesus has a name that is above every name. (Philippians 2:9,10)  

Salvation from sin is by only one name.  This is exclusive.  The apostle did not wave the banner of any religious party whether Confucius, Mohammed, Buddha, Luther, Calvin, or Smith.  Jesus is the only one who can secure salvation.  Many will try to add someone else’s name with Christ’s name.  Only Jesus Christ possesses all rights and power for salvation.  We must not substitute man made rituals, traditions, or heroes for simple obedience to Christ.  He has “a name that is above all names” and must be accepted as such.

Salvation from sin by the name of Jesus Christ is for all of mankind.  It is an invitation “given among men”.  Pardon is the inward yearning of all.  Health, love, knowledge, and human acceptance pale in comparison to man’s need for fellowship with God.  The free gift of God is offered to anyone who will accept it!

Many paths lead to various places, but only one road leads to the fulfillment of man’s greatest need.  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)  Will you accept Jesus as your Savior?  Will you wave the banner for His cause?

By George Slover
 

And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. (Ezekiel 36:23)

The 70 year captivity served a purpose in punishing Judah for her wickedness.  Yet, the captivity would prompt charges from the heathen nations that Jehovah was feeble.  Thus, God reveals a much nobler purpose in all of His working – i.e.  Jehovah’s name would be sanctified.  To accomplish this task we read of four things God would do for Judah.

"For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24)  He would remove them from heathen influences and give them the land.  God’s name is sanctified today by those who refuse to ally with the defilements of the world.  Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)  Such a change is a sign of genuine conversion.

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. (Ezekiel 36:25)  The law required the mixing of water with the ashes of a heifer for moral purification. (Num. 19:17-19)  Today, the sinner is cleansed by the blood of Jesus (Eph. 5:25-27) when he yields to the command of immersion in water. (I Pt. 3:20,21)  This is a necessary step to one’s being right with God.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)  God would remove the old unreceptive heart and give them a heart of flesh.  This Old Testament utterance anticipates one of the richest truths of the New Testament.  Folks sometime view salvation as purely a change of the soul’s destiny, but fail to see that real conversion involves a change in one’s nature.  By the power of the gospel, pride, and stubbornness are broken down.  The renewed heart is ready to receive the call of God.

"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezekiel 36:27)  The renewed heart produces a new kind of walk.  It is manifested by a life devoted to keeping God’s judgments.  Peter says, “for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2) 

It is remarkable to find in Ezekiel’s prophecies an anticipation of the promises the New Covenant.  We live by the gracious assurance that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

By George Slover
 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

In George Reavis’  “Animal School”, the animals decide to organize a school.  They adopt an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming, and flying.  To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals take all of the subjects. The duck is great at swimming, but a poor runner. The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but dropped out because of the make-up work in swimming.  The squirrel was an excellent climber, but was frustrated with his flying lessons.  The eagle was a problem child, because in climbing class he insisted on using his own way to get to the top of the tree.  The prairie dogs stayed out of school because there were no classes in digging and burrowing.  What is the moral of this fable?  Do you see any similarities between the fable and the passage above?

In the context Paul is speaking of the body of Christ. (vs.4) The members of the body must not argue with each other, nor envy each other over their relative importance.  Each part has a function no matter how prominent or hidden they may be.  An honest assessment of self, and recognition of the importance of others will hold vain pride in check. 

No matter what the gift, each one must recognize that such gifts come from God.  One may be quite gifted in public speaking, another in quickly making acquaintances, another in leading; others have a special touch with those who are hurting.  But each gift comes from God.  There is no room for pride or arrogance.  God wants each one to use their gift out of a sense of mutual service.  Our focus must be on meeting the needs of the body “for we are members one of another”.

Furthermore, our worth in the body must be solely viewed through the grace of God.  Without Christ we are worthless, hell bound sinners.  That applies to every one of us.  A reminder of our common dependence in the same Savior will promote humility rather that pride and arrogance.

Instead of thinking so much of your own worth, turn your attention to the ministry of your brother.  Acknowledge his efforts and see to his needs. “There is room in the kingdom of God, my brother for the small things that you can do; Just a small kindly deed that may cheer another is the work God has planned for you.”

By George Slover