Numbers 7 would normally have “For God’s Eyes Only” stamped in red across it, for it records the offerings of 12 men. Yet God reveals to the world what these “leaders,” “heads of fathers’ households,” gave to the furnishing of the tabernacle.
68 times in this chapter, we read in our English Bibles “offering,” the translation of five different Hebrew words for the kinds of offerings made. 89 verses to record the specific offerings of 12 guys . . . and they all offered the same things! The Text could have saved time and space by noting that each man gave “one silver dish whose weight was 130 shekels, etc. . . .” all the way down to “five male lambs, one year old.” But each man’s sacrifices were recorded to show God’s delight in what they had done and His desire to use the generosity of those leaders as an example for others.
God sees every sacrifice His children make for Him. Whether the offering is in the form of a check in the offering plate or time in the church nursery; whether it’s mission service in New Orleans or Nogales or maintenance work at a Christian camp; whether it’s not compromising morals in business or sacrificially loving your wife, God sees it; He knows it; He delights in it. He may even record it somewhere for future reference! (say, when He rewards faithfulness – II Corinthians 5:10).
“Accept these things” God told Moses in v.5, “that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting . . .”
Our sacrifices for Him, done with a desire to please Him, will be similarly accepted and noted by Him.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The Word of God
Knowing, living, and teaching the Bible, God’s Word (as Ezra did in Ezra 7:10) is absolutely imperative and non-negotiable at Eastmont!
The most recent Barna polls reveal that in 2009, only 9% of American adults have a “Biblical worldview” (as simply defined by Barna), down slightly from 11% in 2005. Only 46% of born again Christians believe in absolute moral Truth! In other words, more than half of the born-again Christians in this country would not identify Biblical morals as right for everyone, all the time. Less than ½ of 1% of Americans ages 18-23, Barna notes, have a Biblical worldview! Barna points out that one’s worldview dramatically influences their daily choices and traces this “to matters of media use, profanity, gambling, alcohol use, honesty, civility, and sexual choices.” Ronald Gleason notes in his recent book Reforming or Conforming that the emergent church movement, which denies Biblical inerrancy, grew out of megachurches that had “hoopla and (an) impersonal nature” but not solid, Biblical practice.
We have nothing if we don’t have the Word of God. The foundation for churches, for lives, can’t be the shifting sand of people’s ideas. We, at Eastmont, must be, as Jesus says in Matthew 7:24, like “those who hear these Words of Mine and act on them, (being) compared to a wise man who builds his house on the Rock.”
The Bible IS God’s Word. God has provided many proofs for It. Let us unwaveringly stand by It, on It, and in It.
The most recent Barna polls reveal that in 2009, only 9% of American adults have a “Biblical worldview” (as simply defined by Barna), down slightly from 11% in 2005. Only 46% of born again Christians believe in absolute moral Truth! In other words, more than half of the born-again Christians in this country would not identify Biblical morals as right for everyone, all the time. Less than ½ of 1% of Americans ages 18-23, Barna notes, have a Biblical worldview! Barna points out that one’s worldview dramatically influences their daily choices and traces this “to matters of media use, profanity, gambling, alcohol use, honesty, civility, and sexual choices.” Ronald Gleason notes in his recent book Reforming or Conforming that the emergent church movement, which denies Biblical inerrancy, grew out of megachurches that had “hoopla and (an) impersonal nature” but not solid, Biblical practice.
We have nothing if we don’t have the Word of God. The foundation for churches, for lives, can’t be the shifting sand of people’s ideas. We, at Eastmont, must be, as Jesus says in Matthew 7:24, like “those who hear these Words of Mine and act on them, (being) compared to a wise man who builds his house on the Rock.”
The Bible IS God’s Word. God has provided many proofs for It. Let us unwaveringly stand by It, on It, and in It.
Friday, February 27, 2009
What makes churches strong?
The strength of the United States of America never originated from our military might, economic structure, educational institutions, entertainment industry, or even our “American ingenuity.”
Our country has enjoyed strength as a nation because of our ideals, our values that have been traditionally and carefully taught in our churches over the 3+ centuries of our occupancy of this land.
The key to a strong America today is strong churches. We must never let go of the arsenal that makes churches strong! What makes churches strong?
1. The Truth as revealed in the Bible, God’s inerrant Word. God’s Word strengthens people (Joshua 1:7-9; Psalm 119:28; Ephesians 6:17). We must never compromise our commitment to know and apply God’s Holy Word.
2. The Lord Himself. We can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). The Lord, the living, true God, gives us strength (Psalm 18:1, 28:7-8; Isaiah 41:10; Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:13; I Thessalonians 2:16-17).
3. Our love for God and each other. The blessings to people who fear God are listed in Psalm 112. These bless nations. Jesus says in John 13:35 that our influence for Him can be staggering – “all men will know that we are His” – if we love one another. Chords of love are not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Love makes churches strong.
4. The Gospel. We must never dilute, deemphasize or disavow the eternal Gospel message! (Galatians 1:6-11) The Gospel transforms people while every other message is therapy. The Gospel is “the power of God.” (Romans 1:16)
5. Prayer. What a resource the Lord has given us in prayer?! James 5:16 tells us that the prayers of “the righteous can accomplish much.” The book of Acts reveals strong churches being devoted to prayer (Acts 2:42, 13:1-3, 20:36).
These are strength-essentials for churches. These are essential for Eastmont’s strength. Not only for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom but for the sake of our nation, we must be strong by holding fast to these essentials.
Our country has enjoyed strength as a nation because of our ideals, our values that have been traditionally and carefully taught in our churches over the 3+ centuries of our occupancy of this land.
The key to a strong America today is strong churches. We must never let go of the arsenal that makes churches strong! What makes churches strong?
1. The Truth as revealed in the Bible, God’s inerrant Word. God’s Word strengthens people (Joshua 1:7-9; Psalm 119:28; Ephesians 6:17). We must never compromise our commitment to know and apply God’s Holy Word.
2. The Lord Himself. We can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). The Lord, the living, true God, gives us strength (Psalm 18:1, 28:7-8; Isaiah 41:10; Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:13; I Thessalonians 2:16-17).
3. Our love for God and each other. The blessings to people who fear God are listed in Psalm 112. These bless nations. Jesus says in John 13:35 that our influence for Him can be staggering – “all men will know that we are His” – if we love one another. Chords of love are not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Love makes churches strong.
4. The Gospel. We must never dilute, deemphasize or disavow the eternal Gospel message! (Galatians 1:6-11) The Gospel transforms people while every other message is therapy. The Gospel is “the power of God.” (Romans 1:16)
5. Prayer. What a resource the Lord has given us in prayer?! James 5:16 tells us that the prayers of “the righteous can accomplish much.” The book of Acts reveals strong churches being devoted to prayer (Acts 2:42, 13:1-3, 20:36).
These are strength-essentials for churches. These are essential for Eastmont’s strength. Not only for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom but for the sake of our nation, we must be strong by holding fast to these essentials.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Soak in God's Word
I recently saw in our copy room one of our teachers for the children that come with their moms to our Women’s Bible Study on Tuesday mornings. I asked her how her ministry to the kids was going and she said “Oh, great! I love watching the children soak in God’s Word. It makes me want to be like that.”
Her comment made me want to be like that as well. Jesus says in Matthew 18:4 “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Our Lord encourages us to be eager to learn, ready to act, open, trusting, unashamedly acknowledging our dependence on Him – like children.
Let us be like the Tuesday morning kids who soak in the Word and like the everyday mature believers who live It out, being not just hearers but doers. (James 1:22)
Thursday, January 1, 2009
got worry? get worship! Facing Life by Facing God
God puts high priority on our worship of Him. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 in Luke 4:8 when He resisted satan: "You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." The first four of the Ten Commandments mandate worshipful reverence for God. Psalm 95:6 invites us, "Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the lord, our Maker." The capstone of depravity, Romans 1:21 says is "to not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him"; Herod suffered quick judgement "because he did not give God the glory." (Acts 12:23) From the first pages of Genesis (2:15 - "cultivate" is the same Hebrew word for rendering worshipful service to God, 4:3-4 - Cain and Abel) to the last prayer of Revelation (22:9), people are commanded to "Worship God". Jesus says in John 4:23 that God "seeks worshippers," people "who worship in Spirirt and Truth." At Eastmont, worship is a top priority. God deserves our regular worship. Our weekly worship services are designed to facilitate worship, to help people honor God, connect with God, and know God better.We want you to make attendance at worship services a high priority in 2009. Our goal is to average 2/3 of our body in attendance in worship services. Currently, about 930 people consider Eastmont their church. This means our goal is to have in attendance on weekends an average of 620 people. That's about 120 more than we're averaging right now. However, we can reach this goal over the next three months if each of us make worshipping God, with God's people, with "our church" a priority. Of course, attendance doesn't guarantee worship. God wants us to come with sincere hearts and an intention to focus on Him. Hopefully, our worship services will help us be sincere, to focus, to worship according to His Spirit and in harmony with His Word, the Truth. Won't you, with me, make worshipping God "in the great congregation" (Psalm 35:18) a 2009 priority? What a difference it might make for you, your loved ones, and God's kingdom?
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