“See this alone I found, that God made man upright but they have sought out many schemes” (Ecclesiastes 7:29). 

This morning we begin a new series of messages entitled, “What the Bible Says About…” Over the course of the next six weeks, we will examine what the Bible says about sin, salvation, sanctification, security, prayer and the church. Each of these topics is important for us in our day. 

As I prepared this series of messages, it struck me that many Christians today do not possess an understandable and applicable base of information about these topics. I trust that each topic will inform and challenge you to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

In that light, the passage I cited above is quite instructive for us as we seek to understand how we were originally created, and what’s gone wrong since then. King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, made it clear that at the time of creation men were created “upright.” The word literally means “straight, correct or level.” However, due to Adam’s sin against God, man’s nature was radically changed, corrupted. The result is that ever since Adam’s sin, mankind has sought its own way, devoid of seeking God. Men have invented devices or schemes of one sort or another to substitute for a relationship with the true God. Because of Adam’s sin, men have forfeited any hope of reconciling with God based on their own merit or worthiness. What a dilemma; would you agree?

Yet God, in his mercy and love for his creation, has created a way for men to be reconciled to God. That means is through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus. Once so reconciled to God through Christ, men are free to live in a manner that is set apart (sanctified and holy). A sanctified relationship with God through Christ is secure. Nothing can take it away from us. And as a means of growing deeper in our relationship with God, he has given us the freedom to interact with him whenever we desire (prayer). Further, he has created a living entity (the church) to serve as the vehicle through which the manifold wisdom of God is made known to the entire world. 

Can you see the wonderful wisdom in God’s plan? Man is sinful, utterly separated from God, totally helpless. God has taken the initiative by making a way for men to be saved. Once saved in Christ, God makes his children holy (sanctified) in his sight. This newfound relationship with God is protected by God. It is safe and secure. Further, God invites us to interact with him regularly through prayer as we join with others in worship, learning and witnessing of the gospel (church). If we understand “what the Bible says about” these topics, our lives will be enriched, Christ will be exalted and our joy will be magnified. I’m looking forward to this series of messages. I trust you are also!

“And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away” (Nehemiah 12:43).

The story of how God used Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore the people to obedience is instructive for us in many ways. Throughout the process of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah proved himself to be a man of courage, determination, passion and faith. He was the right man, at the right time, for the right job. Under his leadership, the people of Israel regained their sense of God’s purposes for them as they followed Nehemiah’s leadership and rebuilt the walls.

Once the wall was completed and their enemies thwarted, Nehemiah dedicated the walls to the Lord. This was no small accomplishment and was possible only as God enabled them and as Nehemiah led them. The result of their accomplishment is recorded in the verse cited above. Their joy was so outrageous that the sound of joy was “heard far away.” 

Now on the surface, it appears that their joy was based solely on the completion of the walls. But I wonder if there was more to it than that. Yes of course they were joyful that their task was completed, but the completion of the task proves something equally important. You see, God blesses his people when they follow his designated leaders. That is to say that God leads through his leaders; thus when God’s people follow God’s leaders, the result is joy. In that light, I believe part of their joy was due to the fact that they faithfully followed Nehemiah’s leadership. 

With that observation in mind, the question arises, “How does that apply for us in our day?” Well, one of the things I’ve come to see, particularly in the context of the church, is that God blesses his people proportionally to the degree to which they submit to the leaders God places in their midst. I speak to far too many people who have had difficult church experiences somewhere in their past. And although I am not in a position to judge, in many instances the fault lies with the leader and/or the people. Churches seldom struggle due to outside influences. Rather, churches struggle because they do not have the right leader, or else the people are unwilling to follow. 

What’s apparent in Nehemiah’s story is that God blessed the people because he was God’s chosen leader and the people followed faithfully. In that light, I must tell you that you as a congregation have been faithfully submissive to the leaders God has placed in our midst. It is no small blessing to be part of a local church characterized by God’s leaders leading God’s people. I believe that what we are experiencing in our midst is quite similar to the people in Nehemiah’s day, with one minor difference. “And the joy of [Wausau Alliance Church] was heard far away.”

“Listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you and do them. Take care and keep your soul diligently. Watch yourselves very carefully lest you act corruptly” (Deuteronomy 4: 1, 9, 15).

Without doubt, Moses is one of the greatest leaders in human history. The story of his life, from his birth until the Lord himself buried him in Moab, is filled with examples of Moses’ faith, obedience, courage and leadership over God’s people. As I’ve read and re-read Moses’ story, one of the things that always impressed me is his desire that the Hebrew people remain faithful to the Lord’s commands. After all, it was Moses to whom the Ten Commandments and all of God’s law were delivered. As a result, his passion was that God’s people remain faithful to God’s law. 

There are many examples of Moses reminding the people of the need to remain obedient and faithful. In the passage of scripture cited above, Moses once again encouraged the people to obey. His words contain several things that I believe are equally instructive for us in our day as well. 

Note the very first word in the text; “listen.” In the original language, the word means to hear and to perceive. In that sense, the listening Moses had in mind involved more than the operation of the ear as a means of getting sound to the brain. It involved understanding and perceiving what was being said. Lots of people hear; fewer perceive. But he went further. Not only did he desire that the people perceive, as proof of their full understanding, he commanded them to obey what they perceived. 

Pay attention to the words he used in commanding them to obey. He used the following words and phrases:  do; take care; keep your soul diligently; and watch yourself. Those are strong and directive, are they not? I believe Moses was intent on communicating to the people that the proof that they truly listened was the degree to which they were intentional, active and consistent in obeying what they perceived to be God’s law.

I have a quote in my personal journal that says, “True learning does not occur until there has been a change in my behavior.” As Christians, listening to God’s truth is not enough. It is important to be sure, but it is not enough. The truest measure of listening is the degree to which we focus on paying attention to what God says so that we might do what he instructs us to do.

Are you a listener, a perceiver or a doer? My prayer is that I may be a doer as opposed to a listener. Join me in “keeping your soul diligently” as an obedient follower of Jesus Christ.

“The Lord God has given me a tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught” (Isaiah 50:4).

What gets you out of bed each morning?  Is it your alarm, your kids, your internal clock or something else? Well, for the prophet Isaiah it appears that he was awakened each day by the Lord. But there is more. Not only did God awaken him from sleep, it was for a specific purpose; “to hear as those who are taught.”

Now I know that some of us are morning people and some are not. I happen to be a morning person, so getting up in the morning is not a difficult thing for me. I feel most alert, energetic and motivated during the morning hours. I get my best work done early. I suppose that’s a good thing (at least for other morning people.) But I want you to see what took place in Isaiah’s life, how his morning routine operated.

It appears that Isaiah understood that the purpose for which the Lord woke him early was so that he might be taught by the Lord in order to “sustain with a word him who is weary.” In other words, the Lord got Isaiah out of bed so that he might learn something to use in sustaining others. That’s quite instructive, don’t you think?

That observation leads me to a simple question. How do you spend your early hours? How do you invest your time at the start of your day? Is it in a semi-alert state as you seek to fully waken? Or have you sought to be as alert as possible so that you might listen to the voice of God, thereby enriching your heart, thus giving you a word to “sustain the weary”? 

One of the things I am more and more convicted about is how I use my time, and particularly how much time I waste. I’m certain each of us can relate to how frustrated we become due to our unwise use of time. Now I am not suggesting that we monitor every second of the day seeking to determine if we are using it wisely (although some measure of that might be helpful). But in line with what we have read about Isaiah, I am suggesting that perhaps selected segments of our day should be targeted, focused and devoted to things that better equip us to speak into the lives of others. 

For Isaiah, that targeted time was early in the morning. His posture was that of a learner; his teacher was the Lord. God cared so much about Isaiah that he woke him daily to teach him. Perhaps we might get ourselves out of bed at an early hour so that we might be similarly taught. From personal experience, I can tell you it works. Try it!

“And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great” (Job 2:13).

No doubt one of the hardest lessons for us to learn is when to speak and when not to speak. Each of us has learned from situations when we said something we should not have said, or when we have not said something we should have. For me, it’s always a challenge to know the right words to say when someone is struggling with the hard things of life. That’s when what we read about Job’s friends is instructive to us. Let me explain.

By the time we are at the end of the second chapter of Job, he has learned of the death of his sons and daughters. He has also lost most of his livestock and the majority of his servants. And if that’s not enough, he’s been struck with “loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.”  I’d say Job is in a world of hurt as a result of his circumstances. Oh, and if that’s not enough, in Job 2:9 we read, “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die’ ” (not the best thing to say to someone in utter anguish, would you agree?).

Now what lessons might we learn from what was said and what was not said to Job? Well, as I’ve considered the entirety of Job’s story and the many things that were said to him, I’ve come to several conclusions.

First, calamity comes apart from anything done by the one experiencing it. Job was an upright man. He walked closely with the Lord, yet he knew great anguish, loss and suffering. Later in the book, his friends suggested that what he was experiencing was his fault, due to his sin or pride or something. That’s clearly not the right thing to say. Later, in response to their semi-accusations, Job told them to “mock on.” In essence, he’s telling them that suggesting that what he’s experiencing is his fault is the same as mocking his pain. How unfair!

Second, in the midst of such pain, the only things worth saying are things that come from the heart of God. Nothing provides the comfort needed by those in pain more than words of scripture.

Then finally, there is nothing wrong with silence. There are situations when no words are suitable or needed. Initially, Job’s friends sat with him in silence for an entire week. Have you ever just sat alongside someone who was in extreme pain and suffering? In such instances the presence of another person in far more comforting than the words that might be spoken. 

Friends, you and I will likely have an opportunity to be used by God in the life of someone in pain in the year ahead. There are things not to say, just as there are things to say. But perhaps best of all may be to sit in silence as we bring solace to those who are suffering. 

“He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (I Peter 1:3-4).

I’m certain that for many of us, the end of the year is a time to reflect upon the past and look ahead to the coming year. Now I have absolutely no idea what lies ahead in 2012. But there is no uncertainty about what lies ahead for us in eternity. Peter outlines what we have to look forward to. 

First, he tells us that we have an inheritance awaiting us. When we think of inheriting something, the first thing that comes to mind is that a relative has left something to us. The Bible tells us that’s not a bad analogy because Paul calls us “sons of God” in Galatians 3:26. As such, our heavenly Father has left us an inheritance. The word “inheritance” means something received as a birthright, something not earned. Isn’t that exactly what God’s gift of eternal life is; a gift not earned by us, but earned for us by Christ? 

Then he goes on to tell us that our inheritance is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. These are powerful words. Taken together, they mean that our inheritance can never decay because it’s uncontaminated and will never pass away or diminish in any manner. And further, our inheritance is kept for us by God himself. It’s reserved, guarded from loss, and held fast by God’s never-fading care and concern. Now, that’s something to look forward to, don’t you think?

Let me tell you how these thoughts should bless our hearts as we meditate on our inheritance. There are no doubt stretching times ahead. I don’t know what the next year might bring our way. However, I do know that God is sovereign, and whatever comes will have passed through His hand of goodness and grace. And if what lies ahead causes us tears and sorrow, it’s important to recall our inheritance kept safely in heaven for us. This means that as we think of our inheritance, the things of this world will assume their proper place in God’s providence and plan.

How much time do you spend thinking about your heavenly inheritance? No matter what your answer, you would benefit from more time considering all that God has planned for you; don’t you agree? I’ve determined to meditate and think deeply about heaven during 2012. Ask me how it’s going. My hope is that you will do the same. 

The hymn writer wrote, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” That’s what heaven is, the unveiled glory and grace of Jesus Christ, and it’s waiting there for you.

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.” (Micah 5:2)

There have been people who, the minute they were born, were destined for greatness. For example, in 1500 A.D. a baby was born that everyone expected great things from. His name was Charles. His father was Duke Philip, his mother was Joanna, the daughter of Queen Ferdinand of Spain, and he belonged to the famous Hapsburg family who ruled the German Empire. So when Charles was only a day old, he was a very powerful and famous person. On the day he was born, he became the future ruler of part of France, most of Germany, some of Italy, and all of Spain. This Charles became Charles V, one of the most powerful rulers in Europe. But this did not surprise anyone, because ever since his birth everyone expected him to become great.

There was another baby who was destined for greatness the moment he was born. When Jesus was born of Mary, not only did the world know that he was going to be great, but the world also knew many of the details of his life. That is because God caused these details to be recorded in the Old Testament.

There are incredible differences between Jesus and Charles. Charles was born into wealth; Jesus was born into poverty. Charles’ parents were powerful; Mary and Joseph were simple. Charles was born in a palace; Jesus was born in a stable. Charles’ birth was announced to the rulers of the world; Jesus’ birth was announced to shepherds. Charles was wrapped in fine silk; Jesus was wrapped in plain cloth. Charles was greeted by important people; Jesus was greeted by animals in a manger. Charles was born into safety; Jesus had to flee to Egypt. 

Charles ruled by might; Jesus ruled by example. Charles was born in a famous city; Jesus was born in a small village. Charles lived in opulence and splendor; Jesus lived in poverty without a permanent home. Charles was surrounded by servants; Jesus came to serve. Charles died rich and famous; Jesus died as a criminal. Charles was born to rule; Jesus was born to die. Charles died for himself; Jesus died for you and for me.

But beyond all of these comparisons, there is one that must be stressed above all others. Charles is dead; Jesus is ALIVE! This is the perfect time of year to recall the full meaning and significance of Jesus’ birth. Let me encourage you to ask yourself a crucially important question. This Jesus is more than a baby; he is a king. And because he is a king, he demands our allegiance. Have you come under the kingdom of Jesus Christ? If not, it is a simple thing to do. 

First, acknowledge that you are a sinner and in need of a savior. Second, ask Jesus Christ to become your Savior and King, and place your faith in him who died in your place. Third, thank him for what he has done in dying for you. And finally, live for him and joyfully submit yourself to his rule and dominion. If you do, this will become the best Christmas of your life!

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)

It’s very strange, especially the week before Christmas, to consider the content of the verse cited above. After all, Christmas should bring us joyful thoughts. It’s supposed to be the most joyous time of the year! Why think of a verse that reminds us of our inborn wickedness, our bent toward evil? Those were the thoughts I dealt with as I meditated on the above verse this past week. 

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Christmas joy is magnified to an even greater degree if we understand why it was necessary. And further, our joy is intensified as we realize that God did not have to do what he did to rescue us from the wickedness and evil of our hearts. That’s a staggering thought. 

You see, if we take God at his word, then he knows better than we do that every part of our hearts, our intentions and our thoughts are evil; not some of the time, but all of the time. In that light, why would a perfectly holy God devise a plan in eternity past to set in motion a series of events for the purpose of rescuing those whose hearts are continually wretched, wicked, worthless and vile? 

Well, I believe the answer to that question is found, at least in part, in Jesus’ prayer in John 17. He prayed, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You.” 

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus’ birth was part of the eternal and predetermined plan of God. The purpose of his birth was so that he might become a man and live a holy and sinless life, thereby making him the perfect sacrifice for the sin of mankind. But, according to Jesus’ prayer, what was the purpose of his sinless life and death? Well, the purpose his birth, death and resurrection was for the glory of the Father; “…glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify You.” So the birth of Christ was for the purpose of bringing a sinless sacrifice to the cross in order to glorify the Father. Thus, the cross was all about God’s glory and not primarily man’s salvation. Yet having said that, we must not forget that whenever God works for his glory it is always for the good of man. 

I don’t know about you, but my joy at Christmas is way over the top when I consider the wickedness and evil of my heart and the birth of the One who acted for the Father’s glory in making a way for the salvation of lost sinners. As Christmas Eve approaches, would you take a minute to consider that the birth of Christ is part of God’s redemptive plan for you? If that does not bring you joy, I am not sure what will!

“Because your heart was penitent and you humbled yourself before the Lord …I also have heard you” (II Kings 22:19).

One of the many lessons I have learned about the Lord is that if he does anything well, it’s that he forgives us when we mess up. That’s just another way of saying that the Lord longs to show us grace, to forgive us when we sin against him. Anyone who desires to walk closely with Christ comes to realize that, among other things, God is truly a forgiving God. I count on that every day.

Yet as much as God longs to pour out forgiving grace upon us, his grace does not come without the necessary heart attitude on our part. That’s where the passage cited above speaks to each of us. I see two key words in the verse, words that set the tone for us to be on the receiving end of God’s forgiveness. Take a look.

The first word is “penitent.” In the original language, the word means “soft, weak or tender.” In other words, one thing the Lord looks for as we seek his forgiveness is the degree to which our hearts are not hard, defensive, closed or otherwise rebellious against him. Can you see that such attitudes preclude God’s forgiveness? He wants us to be soft towards him as we come to him to be forgiven.  

But note as well the word “humbled.” It means “to be subdued or brought low.” That’s simply suggests that a proud or haughty spirit does not find itself on the receiving end of forgiving grace. Put all of that together now. The verse tells us that God hears us when we have soft and subdued hearts as we seek his forgiving grace.

Let’s now make that practical for us. My guess is that many of us have something for which God’s forgiving grace is needed. And further, you may not have evidenced the attitudes of heart that God listens for as it relates to being on the receiving end of his forgiveness. As a result, you may find yourself sensing a degree of distance from God. What can you do to restore the close fellowship with God that he desires?

The answer is contained in the verse cited above. First, check your heart. In other words, make certain that your heart is soft and responsive to the Lord and what you know to be right. Don’t be defensive or rebellious. Let that go! Second, go to the Lord with genuine humility and lowliness of spirit. Such a posture on our part guarantees a listening ear on his part. 

I don’t know about you, but my spirit is always unsettled when there is something that I know I should take to the Lord, yet delay in doing so. If that describes you, act now. Check your heart and make the necessary adjustments so that the Lord might say to you, “I also have heard you.”

“How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him” (I Kings 18:21).

The above question was posed by the Prophet Elijah to all the leaders of Israel. It’s hard to imagine a more devastating question posed to a rebellious king and his people. Yet the question needed to be asked. Immediately following his question, Elijah summoned all the priests of Baal to the top of Mount Carmel, where the Lord showed the entire nation and its leaders that he was the true God, not the image of Baal they had been worshipping. God took extraordinary means to prove himself to his people.

As I have considered Elijah’s question, it struck me that what he asked many centuries ago is equally relevant in our day. Let me explain. There is barely a week that passes without my interacting with someone who seems to be “limping between two opinions.” In our day, the two competing opinions may not be the Lord God and Baal, but rather between following Christ or embracing the values and mindset of the world. There is a sense in which we all are dealing with “two different opinions.” The question is not whether they exist, but rather which one we follow.

Now as I have thought about Elijah’s question, there is one word that struck me. It’s the word “limping.” I think the prophet used that word for a specific purpose. In the original language, the word means to be lame or to move in a halting manner. Thus, there is something unhealthy about the individual who seeks to entertain Christ and the world at the same time. Walking the line between Christ and the world makes one unhealthy and halting. Jesus put it another way when he said that a man cannot serve two masters. It’s the same idea.  

Here now is where this applies to each of us on a day in and day out basis. I am certain that if we were totally honest, each of us could identify areas in our lives where we are not following Christ as closely as we know we should. We’ve made compromises of one sort and to one degree or another. It’s our everyday battle, the never-ending contrast between our old nature and our new. Yet Elijah framed it for what it is. We say we love Christ, but do we live accordingly? Do we limp along as Christians because we are drawn by the lame allure of the world? 

What I find quite interesting is how the people responded to his question. The end of verse 21 reads, “And the people did not answer him a word.” They knew they were wrong. They had no answer. They knew that Baal had consumed them, not the Lord God. They were speechless. Are you? Are you limping along as a Christian because you are seeking to entertain two “opinions” - the Lord’s and Baal?