When Israel lost faith at Marah and here at Sin, it was thirsty and hungry. When Israel recognized that God is her Healer and Provider there was plenty, instead of need. Our faith in Jesus means we can have abundant joy. We don’t have to focus on problems.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas found themselves stripped, beaten with rods,  and imprisoned with their feet in stocks.

Acts 16:25 (NKJV) But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

There is a notion these days that obedience to God somehow hampers life.  ”You can’t be a Christian and have fun” some might say or “Christianity is boring.” Yet God is the Giver of life … in fact, abundant life …

John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

So how is it that others can point to Christians and say that their faith robs them of life? It has a lot to do with the way some Christians talk and act. We are being watched. If you follow Jesus, people are watching you to see what you do. Some want to know what life is like for a Jesus follower … Is it miserable? Is it hard? What do you show them? Do you walk around with a smile? Are you joyful? Or … do you go around like you’ve been baptized in vinegar.

Nehemiah 8:10c (NKJV) Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy in the life of Christians is important. In fact, many Christians are weakened by their lack of joy. The Joy of the Lord is strength! When challenges hit, rejoice in the Lord and you will find God has strengthened you. When a trial comes, rejoice in God and your strength will be quickened. Jesus promised there would be trials and the Bible tells us:

Philippians 4:4 (NKJV) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Rejoice when? Always! Rejoice in the Lord when things are working out the way you planned them. Rejoice when the good times are rolling, AND rejoice when trials are at hand, when trouble is around the corner. God says rejoice always in Him. Have your joy in the Lord today and everyday … and the joy of the Lord will be strength.

Paul and Silas found their strength in the joy of the Lord. As they sang joyfully to God, the earth shook and the jail doors opened. But the story doesn’t end there … that joy was contagious. When the jailor discovered the prison doors burst open, he drew his sword to kill himself, but Paul called out to him … nobody had left! But wait … there’s more:

Acts 16:34 Now when he [the jailor] had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

There is a hidden picture within this verse.  Jesus is headed to Jerusalem … Yerushalayim in Hebrew. It means city of peace. The first time we see it mentioned in scripture is in Genesis after Abraham’s defeat of Chedorleomar and his rescue of Lot, when Melech Tzedek, King of Righteousness from the City of Shalom broke bread with him. The city of peace … and yet it is hardly that today, is it?

When will Jerusalem be a city of peace? Not until the King of Peace, Jesus, is on the throne. Similarly, many Christians today, who should be enjoying peace are instead at war within themselves. All because they have given the throne of their hearts to something else.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace.   The idea of Shalom is an all encompassing peace in life … health, love, peace, prosperity … satisfaction with contentment. Shalom is not something we find in anything or anyone but Jesus. Shalom is not found in the home we live in or the job or the bank account. Shalom is only in Jesus. Shalom from Jesus is a promise. Shalom from anyone else is just a wish.

John 14:27 (NKJV) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Who or what is seated on the throne of your heart? If it’s your family, your job, your bank account, your title … even your church or your ministry then you will not have peace. If it’s Jesus, then peace is promised.

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This summer, give your kids an opportunity to grow in their love for Jesus with “SonWorld Adventure Park” Vacation Bible School for children ages 5 years old to 10 years old. Through creative crafts and skits your children will learn just how deep Gods love is for them. SonWorld Adventure Park is June 16th from 9am to 11am and June 17th from 10am to 12pm. VBS is free to all children 5 to 10 years old. Register your kids by clicking on the “register” link above or below. Space is limited, so register soon!

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God created marriage and marriage is a living illustration of our relationship with God. So, while we are speaking of the marriage of men and women here, we are also looking at the relationship of ourselves to God. Certainly let us take heed in our marriage … but what should we take heed of in regards to our marriage? Is it the date nights or the valentines day celebrations or the anniversaries that are most important? What about the size of the rock on the ring? Or maybe it’s the perfect honeymoon? Well, sure some of these things are important, but they are not most important. The most important thing is God, and our relationship with Him. The most important relationship and the springboard for all other relationships is your relationship with Jesus. I can work hard to give my wife and kids all the riches and comfort and education in the world but without a relationship with Christ its as if I’m building castles of sand that will inevitably be destroyed by incoming tides and storms.

Matthew 7:24–25 (NKJV) “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

We read that and picture the physical structure of a house, but house here is more than just the structure … it’s the family. If you build your whole house upon your relationship with God, then the foundation will be solid, a foundation that will hold and protect your marriage and your family through all the storms that are sure to come.

Millstones ranged in size from convenient in-home models to much larger industrial strength models that required the strength of a mule to use. Jesus is referring to the industrial sized millstone … very big and very heavy … you don’t want to go swimming with a millstone necklace.

It seems that with every passing day the news is filled more and more with news of children kidnapped and murdered or abused.  I have a hard time watching any movie or television program, reading any news articles about children being hurt. It’s because I have kids and I love them dearly.  I don’t know what I would do to anyone who intentionally harmed them … but it might involve a millstone necklace.

What do my own personal feelings of love and protection toward my own children have to do with what Jesus is teaching in Mark 9? Well, if I love my children that much … and my love is imperfect, how much more must God, in His perfect love, care for His children?

Our God is jealous for us … He wants our affections. I love the song “How He Loves” … the lyrics are:

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy. When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, And I realize just how beautiful You are, And how great Your affections are for me.

1 John 4:9-10 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God wants our affections and is provoked by anyone or anything that would seek to usurp them. God looks at you – His beloved child – and says to those who would harm you or lead you into temptation … “I’ve got a pair of cement shoes for you if you hurt my beloved child …” “You lay one finger on her and you will be swimming with the fishes.”

God is protective of His children.

When we’ve been wronged, our place is not to seek out vengeance. We don’t have to fire off angry emails or concoct our revenge. God’s got it … we don’t have to.

Yet sometimes we don’t feel protected. That’s because we don’t see what God sees. You may remember from 2 Kings how the King of Syria was making war with Israel and whenever he would plot and scheme, Israel was always a step ahead. The King of Syria was concerned that there was a leak of information  and someone in his kingdom then remembered that Elisha, a prophet of God, was in Israel.  The King asked where in Israel and the servant replied “Dothan.” So the King of Syria sent an army to try to kill Elisha. The army surrounded the city where Elisha and his servant saw the army and was freaked out, but Elisha said to him, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” The servant looked around and saw only he and Elisha. Elisha, knowing the bewilderment of his servant prayed, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kings 6).

God’s got you covered. You don’t have to worry or fret.

When I was a kid, I went to a football game and was excited because I got to sit down close to the field. I soon realized that a seat on the level of the field was not the best point of view except for what’s going on directly in front of you. Later in life, I watched a game from higher up in the seats and had a much better view of the whole field.  You know, God built the thing … He’s the Creator and He’s got the VIP booth looking down at the whole thing  … He’s got the better view.

If you are God’s kid, you don’t have to worry because God has the best – His best – in store for you … whatever that may hold, it is best … yes, whatever that may hold.

Those who are willing to sacrifice their time to teach and train our children in the ways of the Lord are making a difference … they are changing this world. Conversely, those who “just don’t have the time” to spend with children make a much smaller splash. The world is indoctrinating our children into it’s ways at an early age. A representative for The German National Socialist Regime once stated, “Give me a child of six to educate and he will belong to me for life.” This is serious stuff … it’s been said that 85% of one’s adult personality is formed before the age of six.

The education of our children in the love of God is of utmost importance. In the May 28, 1998, edition of USA Today, the following appeared among the letters to the editor:

Will somebody help me save my son? My son is two years old and is a reflection of complete innocence. His vulnerability to this harsh, violent, ignorant and uncaring world just rips my heart apart. He knows nothing of the killing within the schools that are supposed to prepare children for the world. He knows nothing of the abuse that happens within the homes of children just his age. As he plays with his toys, he is oblivious to the tragedies that occur every day across the country. And as he clutches his blanket, sleeping soundly, dreaming of the mommy and daddy who love him, he has no idea of the complete social and moral decay of our country. Does anyone care anymore? Will someone please, please help me save my son?

Are we willing to answer that letter? Are we willing to help save his son? What about our own children? I know, I know … we spend most of the week with our own children and by the time church rolls around we’re just ready to occupy a seat and be filled. Let someone else take care of teaching the kids. The Children’s Ministry at any church is a challenging place to serve, but we cannot change this world without placing one another’s children as priorities. Children are important and those who minister to the children are doing a divine work. Be sure to tell those precious people who teach your children in church just how much you appreciate them.

Many years ago a Scottish pastor stood before his congregation and resigned, saying, “In the past two years, I have only seen one conversion in this congregation, little Bobby Moffatt. With such little fruit, I can no longer serve in this ministry.” And he walked away from the pulpit. Little did he know that little Bobby Moffatt grew up to be the missionary who opened the entire continent of Africa to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Our children are packages of potential wrapped up tightly in humble frames. Those who serve in the children’s ministry have a huge impact on the world. As pastor, I may lead an adult to Christ, but generally they have less than half a lifetime in which to serve God and influence the world. Children, however, have many more years in which they may have a huge impact on the world. If we are going to change the world, we must place a high priority on raising our children up to love God.

But church is only part of the picture. The other part … the greater part is parents.

Proverbs 20:7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.

If you are willing to compromise in your Christianity, so will your children. Our kids watch us to see if we live out what we say we believe. Children can discern insincerity. Did you know that the word sincerity came from two Latin words that meant “without wax.” You see, there was a time when unscrupulous sculptors would cover up cracks in their sculptures with wax. But once those sculptures were purchased and placed in gardens where the sun could hit them, the wax would melt and the cracks would appear. Children are not fooled by empty words. If you are willing to skip church, don’t think you will have children that will grow up with a love for the church. If you are willing to skip prayer or devotion time, don’t expect your children to read their Bibles and pray. If you are willing to compromise in your love of the Lord, know that your children are going to do the same. Conversely, if you live out your faith, your children will do the same.

There were many different types of unclean animals but God is very specific here in these verses … talking about a donkey. In scripture, the donkey – an unclean animal – is a picture of man … perhaps you can think of a few reasons … what’s the old saying, “Stubborn as a mule?” I think God is telling us something here … in the same scripture, God mentions redeeming donkeys and redeeming people.

According to God, donkeys were unclean animals and because it was unclean, the firstborn of a donkey could not be sacrificed to God, so it was redeemed by a lamb. If the donkey could not be redeemed through the sacrifice of a lamb, then it had to be killed.  God is painting us a picture that we’ve seen several times in scripture up to this point:

• God made Adam and Eve coverings of animal skins.
• God provided a substitute for Issac on Mt. Moriah.
• God instructed Israel to sacrifice a lamb and put the blood on their doors “and the Lord will pass over and not allow the destroyer to come into your house to strike you.”

All of these things were a foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Now, consider that the sacrifice to redeem the donkey did not have to be done … the owner of the donkey had the choice to make. He could either destroy the donkey or sacrifice the lamb.

John 3:16–17 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

God chose to save the donkey. 

God chose to sacrifice The Lamb.

Jesus went to the cross because He loves you. He didn’t go to the cross because you were good enough or you had worked hard enough … you were a stubborn donkey. But God loves you and so He chose to “provide Himself a lamb” (Genesis 22). God loves you. Let that be the foundation of every new day and the fuel behind every move you make. You are beloved of God. What else could possibly matter? What problem or pain could possibly overshadow that? What fear could cause you to forget it? God loves you.

Romans 5:7–8 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I’ve said before that the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself. This is one of the reasons why I love to teach the Bible in an expository fashion. I believe that when we study the Bible together God’s word changes us. God says:

Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

When we gather together, as we did Sunday morning, and we hear together the teaching of the Bible, God uses His Word to do a work in us.  The Bible does more than inform us, it transforms us.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Bible reads us and rights us, so to speak. Have you ever looked back at old photographs of yourself and thought, if I had only known then what I know now … Well, the Bible shows us a current picture of ourselves and gives us an honest and trustworthy evaluation. Quite literally, God knows where we are and what we need to receive from His Word. It’s the only book you will read where the Author is always present when you read it. He knows our problems, troubles, trials, struggles, and His Word will speak to them. The Bible is simple, living and powerful and will always change your life without fail. Yet the Bible is often so neglected. I’ve known so many Christians who have read the whole left behind series but have never read the Bible from cover to cover. Do it and you will be blessed beyond what you can imagine. A lot of the issues we see in Christianity are because of the failure to study God’s Word. A Bible in the hand is worth two on the shelf. God’s Word, studied within the context of itself reaches beyond the pages and into our lives, affecting change in areas we didn’t even know about. God’s Word will always elicit some response. It may challenge you and it may convict you. It may encourage you. Are you willing to start your day out following Jesus? I want to encourage you to spend time every morning reading the Bible and praying … before breakfast – before work. Start the day in personal, private time with Jesus.

The disciples were disciples not because they fancied the title, had a special suit or wore colored hats, but because they made the decision to follow Jesus. They were not disqualified from being disciples when they spoke wrongly. They were not more qualified when they spoke rightly. They were simply disciples because of Jesus. There were people who came to Jesus for healing and received it, but they left. There were people who asked to be disciples, but wanted to do so on a part time basis, dividing their allegiance between God and the world … and they went home. There were multitudes who wanted to follow Jesus but who left when the teachings got personal. Those who are now known as His disciples made the decision every morning to follow Jesus.

Mark 9:17-18  Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

One Sunday morning, a young pastor thrilled his new congregation with a sermon about showing the love of Christ to others. The very next Sunday morning, the congregation was a little taken back when the pastor delivered the exact same sermon. Then, the very next Sunday, the congregation heard the exact same message from this young pastor. A spokesman for the congregation came forward and asked, “Don’t you have any more sermons?” “Yes,” he said, “I have quite a few. But you haven’t done anything with the first one yet.”

Too often church goers assume the hearing of the message is the means to an end and so they hang out on the mountain top of the message but never descend to put the message into practice.

When Jesus led His disciples back down the mountain, they encountered a multitude of people. Where was the multitude? Here’s a hint … They were not on top of the mountain. What if Jesus had remained on the mountain top in a special tabernacle built by Peter? Had He done that, the multitudes would not have seen Him.

David wrote in Psalm 23:

Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. NKJV

What a great picture … Lying in the cool, green grass … plenty of food and water.  It’s a time of refreshing. But wait … there are paths of righteousness that we are being led on … I wonder where they will take us?

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. NKJV

Yep … the mountain tops do not have a monopoly on the paths of righteousness. Jesus certainly walked those paths and was not only on mountains, but in valleys … safe places and dangerous places … life and death. Jesus will take us to the mountain tops and into the valleys because there is value in both places.

There are times to be alone with God in personal study and private devotion. That is not all the time. Jesus did not come to stay up on the mountain, but to descend the mountain and be among the multitude, even though represented among that multitude are the contentious, the angry, the hateful … the argumentative.

What have been your mountain top experiences? Have they been times of accomplishment in ministry or family success? Maybe you start each morning on a spiritual mountain top of quiet time with the Lord. The mountain top is great and we all need that time of refreshing and being poured into, but the time comes when we must depart from the mountain tops and minister in the valley of human need.

Barak is the Hebrew word for kneeling or being on your knees. It’s interesting that it’s also the Hebrew word for blessing.  It’s a good reminder for us that blessings flow from God and not from ourselves.  God desires to show us favor; He wants to lavish upon His kids.  Sometimes, though, we get cocky and begin to think the blessings are here to stay. We might even allow the gifts to become a distraction from God and soon our hearts have been won over.  Many years before, God placed Joseph in Egypt to spare the world through a great famine, and Egypt enjoyed the flow of God’s blessing.  And for a while, Joseph and Israel were honored within Egypt. But successive Pharaohs began to believe that their false gods were the source of the blessing they had enjoyed, and all of Egypt would suffer the consequences. When we are on our knees before the Lord, we will be blessed, and those blessings with flow out to family and friends. If we take our eyes off of God and place them on blessings, we soon grow prideful … Then, we come off of our knees and believe we can stand before the Lord. When that happens, God, in His mercy, may discontinue the flow of blessings to get us back on our knees.