Num. 34, 35 [The Message]

For most of my life, I have served in full-time ministerial capacities. Most of the time was as a worship leader/pastor. When I started out, I figured I’d never own a home or have much material wealth since I worked for The Church. A lot o people now make in a month what I was paid for a year. I’m not complaining. It’s has been my highest honor to serve the Lord and His People.

God told me, “If you give ME a place to live, I will give you a place to live.” He has been faithful. We have always been blessed to live comfortably. God has been good to us.

The Levites were allocated special cities to live in. As long as they served faithfully in the Tabernacle, they were well taken care of. To me the distinction is what your goal is. If you live to serve the Lord’s purposes rather than amassing a strong financial portfolio, your fall into the category of “Priest unto God.” He offers a wonderful benefit package!

Num. 33 [The Message]

Why in the world would God lead the Children of Israel to camp at Rephidim where there was no water to drink? Surely God didn’t want His People to be dehydrated. Because of this camping fiasco, the people began to murmur and complain against Moses.

Does life sometimes do you like this? You are led by God DIRECTLY into a big problem. You begin questioning God about His direction in your life. Welcome to the club. So, what’s the answer? Their big need was a glorious opportunity for God to do a miracle. It was here He instructed Moses to strike the rock and water would come forth.

When life is perfect and has no troubles, we become complacent and think we don’t NEED God. When we become so thirsty for lack of something, we begin calling out to Him and set the stage for a MIRACLE.

Which life brings God more glory? Complacency or one needing and experiencing miracles.

Lord, forgive us for our complaining.

Num. 32 [The Message]

We are at war … against cancer, broken relationships, poverty, moral impurity etc. God doesn’t want us to fight these battles alone. When we are members of the “Body of Christ,” we have other Body members who should and will jump into the trenches and do spiritual warfare with us. It’s what healthy Christians do … they bear one another’s burdens. [Gal. 6:2]

When Joshua was allocating the sections of the Promised Land to the different tribes, Reuben and Gad preferred to settle east of the Jordan river where there was much grazing land suitable for their livestock. Joshua finally agreed, but held them to the commitment to send warriors to help the other tribes when they engaged in military struggles.

Regardless of where you are settled in this life, Christ wants you to be a prayer and ministry support to other members of His Body when they are hurting. Always have your radar on and be quick to jump in to help.

Num. 31 [The Message]

After the Hebrew men went to war with the Midianites, it was reported to Moses that “Not a man is missing.” There were no casualties from this war. This can only be the hand of God protecting them.

I was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam war. I was assigned to infantry. Normally, all infantry went straight to Vietnam to fight the Viet Cong in the jungles. President Nixon had just announced military cutbacks. Half of my training company went to Vietnam and half of us went to the Panama Canal Zone. Guess where God sent me. Yup … Canal Zone, where our daughter Julie was born. God protected me.

I had a Christian buddy who went to Vietnam and carried a machine gun for 18 months. Normally, the machine gunner was a prime target for the Viet Cong. God brought him back without a scratch.

Num. 28-30 [The Message]

When Patty and I watch a cop show on TV, she almost becomes livid when the police say, “I promise.” How can they make that commitment when they really don’t know how their case is going to turn out? She, like most women, get very serious about the commitments men make. Guys, we don’t have a great track record on keeping our promises.That’s probably why there was a whole Christian men’s movement called “Promise Keepers.”

God is also very serious about the promises we make. Great care should be taken when verbal commitments are made. One of the big ones is the marriage vow. Sadly, way too many spouses break their vows and destroy their relationships.

Christ Jesus is the bridegroom to the Church. He is the Ultimate Promise Keeper. He said, “I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.” Even when earthly relationships fail, we can count on the Lord to make up the difference and keep His commitment to us. He is the great ALL IN ALL.

Num. 28-30 [The Message]

When Patty and I watch a cop show on TV, she almost becomes livid when the police say, “I promise.” How can they make that commitment when they really don’t know how their case is going to turn out? She, like most women, get very serious about the commitments men make. Guys, we don’t have a great track record on keeping our promises.That’s probably why there was a whole Christian men’s movement called “Promise Keepers.”

God is also very serious about the promises we make. Great care should be taken when verbal commitments are made. One of the big ones is the marriage vow. Sadly, way too many spouses break their vows and destroy their relationships.

Christ Jesus is the bridegroom to the Church. He is the Ultimate Promise Keeper. He said, “I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.” Even when earthly relationships fail, we can count on the Lord to make up the difference and keep His commitment to us. He is the great ALL IN ALL.

Num. 25-27 [The Message]

Moses exhibited a lack of faith when he smote the rock at Meribah instead of speaking to it. The result of his action kept him out of the Promised Land. The works of our flesh can only take us so far … whereas the fruitful actions prompted by our faith qualify us for God’s best.

Faith is not just wishful thinking or hoping. It is acting upon what God has said. Faith to enter into God’s best comes from hearing, knowing, and acting upon The Word. Jesus IS The Word. Trust and faith in Christ is the core and foundation of the supernatural life God wants us to have.

What challenge are you facing right now? Talk to Jesus about it. He has your answer. Include Him in EVERY decision you make. He will give you the faith to make the right choices and take the right steps.

November 13, 2022

Num. 24, 25 [The Message]

The Hebrew men were allured into a sex orgy by the Moabite women. God’s wrath was kindled by their forsaking of His standards of moral purity. He sent a plague among them and demanded that the leaders involved be hanged to death. The plague was finally stopped by the act of Phinehas, the son of a priest, who drove a spear through the bodies of two immoral guilty participants. His deed stopped the plague which had already killed 24,000.

The influence of moral impurity must be mortified. In the way Phinehas put a death strike through the flesh of a moral downfall, so must we deal mercilessly with the sinful nature which only leads to our spiritual decay. Kill it or it will kill you.

Gratefully, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

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Num. 22, 23 [The Message]

Three of my children have dogs. I have observed how they become a part of the family. Do dogs see or know things that the humans don’t? Good question.

Balaam had a trusted donkey upon which he rode when summoned by Balak, king of the Amorites, to curse God’s people. The Lord allowed the donkey to see what Balaam should have understood … don’t come against the work of God. God put His angel in the path of the donkey to stop Balaam. Why wasn’t Balaam obedient to God Who had already told him, “Don’t go.”

I guess we can learn and receive from animals, especially when they provide loyalty and obedience that humans sometimes fail at.

Num. 19, 20 [The Message]

Being a leader is not a picnic. The Hebrews were majorly griping and complaining to Moses about having no water to drink. God instructed Moses to “speak” to a large rock at Kadesh in the desert of Zin and water would be supplied. Moses, in his frustration with the discontent of the Hebrews, took his rod and smote the rock. Water DID come out, but God reproved Moses for his disobedience in not merely speaking to the rock. This act of failure to specifically follow God’s instructions was punished by keeping Moses out of the Promised land. God would let him see it from the top of a mountain, but he was disallowed to enter it himself.

Leaders put up with a lot.