Christians Face Three Obstacles and Have Three Helps

At this moment in time are we facing greater challenges than in times past? Or, does it just seem like the challenges are greater today than ever before? To say the least, our future is painted as bleak and perilous by all the news media, social engineers, and most preachers. I think we can definitely say that the foundations of our society are crumbling. We can definitely also say that our God does not change.

Recently I read a sermon by Spurgeon ( http://spurgeongems.org/vols1-3/chs72.pdf ) about the escape of the Israelites from Egypt. His sermon covered the following items:

3 difficulties of the Israelites then and Christians today
1. The Red sea in front of them - today there are stumbling blocks in front of Christians
2. the Egyptians behind them – today Christians have sins, failures, sorrows of the past pursuing them
3. faint hearts – Christians today can easily be overwhelmed by events

3 helps for the Israelites then and Christians today

1. Providence leading them and helping them - Providence led them to the red sea -
2. knowledge - that they were the chosen people of God - as the saved know they are the children of God
3. Intercessor - they had Moses - but WE have Jesus Christ

Good gracious! Spurgeon was good! That sermon was more than 2000 years after the Israelites’ great escape. Yet, it related well to the people to whom Spurgeon was preaching. It relates equally well to us today.
In facing the new year – we will have stumbling blocks in front of us. It may be the same stumbling blocks as last year, or it may be new and even more seemingly insurmountable problems.
All the rotten stuff from our past will pursue us. Every time we glance back we will see the enemy hot on our trails. It could be likened to a roaring lion that is trying to swallow us whole. We should take a lesson from Lot’s wife and not look back.
It is easy to faint in our faith with all the overwhelming events surrounding us.

Thankfully, just like Spurgeon said, we have three helps.

Just as God led the Israelites, so will He lead us. Where God leads us, God will help us to pass on through the barriers and brick walls that we face.

We have all the knowledge that God has given us in the Bible. We have example after example of the faithfulness of God.

And, we have an intercessor even greater than Moses. We have Jesus Christ the Lord.
Of our three helps, the one most neglected is knowledge. A great many of the people who call themselves Christians have no idea of what the Bible actually says about anything. One thing the Bible says is, ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee; that thou shalt be no priests to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.’
This verse states the problem and the consequences. John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes explains the verse like this:
[6] My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Destroyed — Many were already cut off by Pul king of Assyria, and many destroyed by the bloody tyranny of Menahem.
Of knowledge — Of God, his law, his providence, his holy nature, his hatred of sin and power to punish it.
Because thou — The prophet now turns from the people to the priests, to whom he speaks as to one person.
Rejected knowledge — Art and wilt be ignorant.
Seeing thou — O Israel, and you O priests, you have broken all the precepts of it.
Thy children — The people of Israel, the whole kingdom of the ten tribes.
This is too horrible to contemplate. The people in general and the priests (preachers) broke all the laws of God and rejected the knowledge of righteous behavior that was available to them. They were ignorant, and they were going to stay that way.

This is where the world is today for the very most part. Preachers reject the hard parts of the gospel. They don’t preach it. Christian congregations are for the most part happy with that. They don’t want to hear it anyway. That is at least in part why preachers don’t preach it. Itching ears want to hear only the easy stuff. Preachers are too willing to go along with it. You have ignorant preachers, ignorant congregations, and they are all going to stay that way!

But, the individual Christian doesn’t have to live like that. The individual Christian can take matters into his or her own hands. We can make use of the three helps mentioned by Spurgeon.

We can acknowledge that God is with us wherever we go. God is with us when we see His face, when we ‘feel’ like He is with us, and we ‘feel’ like He has left us alone. God is not scared of a fight. An obstacle or ‘red sea’ in our paths may cause us to panic, but God stays calm.

We can make use of the knowledge that God has provided. We can hide His word in our hearts. We can study to show ourselves approved.

And, we can go to the One who lives eternally to make intercession for His saints. John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on Hebrews 7:25 says:
[25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost — From all the guilt, power, root, and consequence of sin.
Them who come — By faith.
To God through him — As their priest.
Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession — That is, he ever lives and intercedes. He died once; he intercedes perpetually.

All this does not prevent us from facing stumbling blocks or Red Seas in the first place. It does provide us with instructions regarding how we are supposed to get through the sea. Just like the Israelites who cried to Moses, we are to cry to our intercessor. Moses was only a man. True, he was a mighty man, but just a mortal man. Our intercessor is Christ the Lord. He lives eternally. He never sleeps. He is always there to petition God the Father on our behalf.

I thank God for our three helps. They make our three obstacles seem much less frightening.

So, here we are, facing the new year. We have little knowledge of what will actually happen this year, but the forecast is grim.

I think we can say with certainty that we will all face a stumbling block that can only be crossed with divine help. We will be blessed if we only have one big obstacle this year.

We know that the hurt, terrors and enemies from our past will be following close on our heels.

We know that our Intercessor, the Lord Jesus Christ, ‘ever liveth to make intercession for His saints’. (Hebrews 7:25) Jesus Christ, the Barrister of barristers, never sleeps. He is never too busy to speak to the Father on our behalf. He will more than ‘speak’ for us. He will intercede for us. He will intervene for us. He will plead for us. He is our mediator between God and man. (1 Timothy 2:5)

In Matthew chapter 14 the disciples were caught in a great storm. Being out on the water, they were in danger of the boat sinking and drowning. Just like at the Israelites at the Red Sea, their help came in an unexpected way. Christ walked to them across the water. They were not only afraid of the storm, but apparently seeing Christ walking on water also frightened them. Christ reassured them immediately. Verse 27 says, ‘But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.’ In verse 32 we are told the wind ceased. In between verse 27 and 32 is the famous account of Peter walking on water, sinking, and being saved by Jesus.

Don’t you think the Israelites were frightened by the way of their salvation from the Egyptian army? I mean, even if the water was standing up like a wall, it probably took courage to walk down into the valley between the walls of water. But, it was God’s way of salvation, and their way of escape from the trouble behind them.

When the disciples were in the boat, their help came in the Person of Christ, but it frightened them when He walked across the storm to them.

Our help in whatever trials we face may at first appear frightening in itself just as it was to the disciples and the Israelites. A very real danger would be to turn back to the past in fear instead of going forward through the way of escape that God provides. It is to our great benefit to remember that it is God who leads us and allows obstacles to stand in our paths. Remember that God is with us. Remember our Intercessor, our Mediator, our Helper, Jesus Christ. If we do these things faithfully, we will we will be on our way to a victorious new year.

By the way, I don’t know why the Israelites doubted and grumbled after their great escape. We just need to be careful not to do that. If I were to be so bold as to add a fourth help to Spurgeon’s three helps, it would be ‘thanksgiving’. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, ‘In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ It is God’s will that we remain thankful for His wonderful goodness. I don’t think it is His will that we thank Him that someone is sick, or someone died, or for a divorce, or job loss, or family disputes. We should thank Him for His goodness, for our eternal security and our home in heaven, in the midst of trouble.

A really good song for this article and for a theme song for 2010 is “He is Able to Deliver Thee’. If you haven’t already memorized this song, this is the day to do it.

’Tis the grandest theme through the ages rung;
’Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue;
’Tis the grandest theme that the world e’er sung,
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”
Refrain
He is able to deliver thee,
He is able to deliver thee;
Though by sin oppressed, go to Him for rest;
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”
’Tis the grandest theme in the earth or main;
’Tis the grandest theme for a mortal strain;
’Tis the grandest theme, tell the world again,
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”
Refrain
’Tis the grandest theme, let the tidings roll,
To the guilty heart, to the sinful soul;
Look to God in faith, He will make thee whole,
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”
Refrain
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/e/heisable.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmuwY6gr9QY&list=PLIDf0UG1VOUolQMDeOiBDYrKfiMSHVUuy&index=2

Barbara Henderson

Into the New Year

Happy New Year! Now What?
By Barbara Henderson

Wow! It’s 2010. That makes me --- like ancient! I have learned that new years soon turn into the past. Still, at the first of any new year it seems pretty natural to take stock in what happened last year, and what we expect to happen in the coming year. A new year is always filled with uncertainties. But, this year seems to have more obvious uncertainties than ever before.

Our government is uncertain. We have a man in the Whitehouse who does not love America. He wishes to make it over in his liberal image. A majority of elected officials share his view points. The liberal news media and liberal organizations all over the United States and the world agree with him also.

The economy is about as stable as a bowl of Jello. Those who own property wonder if the fair market value of their property is going to be anywhere near what they are actually paying for it. Those without property are still appalled at the inflated price of housing, and wonder if the prices will drop lower. Should they buy now, or should they wait and see?

Religion is in turmoil as well. The foundations of Christianity are being assaulted at an ever alarming rate from those who are supposed to protect and defend the faith.

Physical safety is no longer something anyone can claim as a certainty.

In all this uncertainty and turmoil, Christians have something the rest of the world does not have. We have assurance of a bright and wonderful future. We have instructions on how to live today. Christians are supposed to:

• Be content
• Take it one day at a time
• Stand within the walls of God’s Word

Christians are to be content. Yes, even in times like these, we are supposed to be content. Philippians 4:11 says, ‘Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.’ Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary says, ‘Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always.’

Hebrews 13:5 says, ‘Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’

To be content is really a state of mind based on faith in our God, who has promised to never leave us. Lacking something you want is not the real reason for lack of contentment.

We have ample proof that possessions, locations, and positions do not provide contentment. Adam and Eve were not content in the perfect garden in which God placed them.
One third of the angels were not content in heaven with God.
Lucifer, though he was in heaven in a position of high authority, was not content.
The rich man of Luke 12:18 was not satisfied to have his barns full. He decided to build even greater storehouses for all his goods.
True and lasting contentment is only found in a true relationship with God Almighty through Jesus Christ.

In times of turmoil it more common to seek the company and wisdom given to us in the Bible. If you are someone who has fled to the Bible for comfort during these troubled times, then the evil of the day has already worked some good in your life. Drawing closer to God of the Bible is always good.

To be content with what we have is the solution. Something to remember in being content is that the circumstances with which you are content today are not likely to be the same circumstances with which you must be content tomorrow. This leads us to a key element in being content.

The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:34, ‘Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.’

Deal with what you must deal with today, but don’t fret about tomorrow. I know, that is much easier to say than to do. It is made easier when we consider diligently the care of souls much more than the care of our bodies and our possessions. Give the Lord today. Look for His hand of fellowship extended to you. Don’t miss the joy of today because of the worry about tomorrow.

In facing an uncertain future, we have covered:
Be content.
Take it one day at a time.

However, there are still 24 hours in a day. What is a Christian supposed to do to fill up those hours? The mind seems to run to a fro like a roaring lion, seeking something to cause one discontent and worry about tomorrow. In the midst of contentment and living in the moment, the Christian must do something else. They must stand!

That’s right. The Christian must stand.

We are facing a foe in this world that is undefeatable by any mortal. That is the devil, and all the witless and/or willing souls who follow him. Fortunately, we know the end of the story. God wins. And before the final victory, there are many smaller victories like the one in Exodus 9:12. ‘And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.’ If ever there was time to remember that our helps comes from the Lord, that time is now. (Psalm 121:2) Let every Christian place themselves and their families under God’s protection right now. Acknowledge Him as Lord over your life, and follow His commandments. According to Leviticus 26:37 the disobedient have no power to stand before their enemies. But, the obedient can just stand still and watch for the salvation of the Lord to come to them.

In Nehemiah 9:5 the Israelites are instructed to ‘Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever:’. We should also stand up and bless our God.

Stand in awe of God. Awe of God will encourage you not to sin. (Psalm 4:4) I don’t know about you, but I am sick of the worldly image of God as a somewhat misguided and ineffective being. We ought not to think of the God of creation and the God of our salvation as anything less than omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. This means our God really is awesome. The more Christians get to know our God, the better able we are to be content and take it one day at a time.

Unfortunately, most Christians cannot stand in the Lord because they really don’t know anything about him. I think I will illustrate that point with a corny joke. (stop me if you already heard this one)
A preacher visited one of his Sunday school classes.
He asked the children, ‘Who broke down the walls of Jericho?’
A skinny little red headed boy replied, ‘I don’t know who did it, but I want to make it clear that it was not me!’

The preacher looked at the teacher questioningly.
The teacher said, ‘Little Jimmy is a good boy who tells the truth. I am sure he did not tear down the walls of Jericho.’

The preacher sent a letter explaining the incident to his board of deacons and asked them to take the situation under consideration, and come up with a plan regarding how to proceed.

The deacon board replied to the preacher, ‘We really don’t know who tore down the walls of Jericho, but we agree to pay a reasonable amount to rebuild the walls.’

I know, that joke is a hundred years old and very corny besides. But, it does illustrate the situation in which the church finds itself today. We are in the same situation in which the people of God found themselves in Hosea 4:6a which says, ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.’ Christian churches are not preaching the things in the Bible. Christians have no knowledge of the things of Christ. Like the deacon board in the joke, the proper solution to anything is deemed to be ‘just throw some money at it’.

A working knowledge of Bible doctrine is the beginning of the solution to the problems faced by an individual, a family, a church, a nation, and the entire world.

Ignorance of Bible doctrine cannot be corrected in one day, or even one year. But, each Christian can start to make corrections in his or her own life.
If you want to do something constructive and really helpful to you, your family, your church, your country, and the entire world, set out to learn more of what the Bible teaches this year.
Learn Bible doctrine.
Apply Bible doctrine to personal actions.

Bible study is not for cowards. It requires a courage and bravery to follow through with a goal of learning more about God and growing close to Him. The person trying to grow closer to God has to face a dreadful giant. It is the giant of the sin in his or her own life. Isaiah tells us about it in Isaiah chapter 6 verse 5. Isaiah says he is ‘undone’. Matthew Henry explains that Isaiah, after having seen the glory of God, is entirely overwhelmed by his own vile and sinful life. It is much easier to only take the very easy doctrines of the Bible, or stay ignorant of everything all together. That way, you are not confronted with the choice of changing your ways to suit God, or living in your comfort zone.

So, let us all face the new year with a question.

‘Will I follow Christ out of my comfort zone?’

Will I take hold of His strength that I may be content today with whatever circumstances today may bring?

Will I live my life one day at a time without worrying about tomorrow?

Will I stand inside the boundaries set for me in the Bible?

Will I stand in believing that the Lord will fight for me? Or will I accept defeat because the giants I see are much greater than anything I can defeat on my own?

Will I stand up and bless the Lord?

I think you get the picture. We have a choice in how we live this year. Our choices will determine whether this is a good year, a bad year, or a lukewarm year.

Let’s make this year an action based year. Let each Christian purpose in his or her heart to:
Be content
Live our lives in the moment, enjoying the blessings of the day
Stand up for Jesus
Strengthen ourselves in the Lord through learning more about Him.

It is a simple plan. It only requires that we consistently follow our plan.

God bless you and I pray for you a blessed and productive new year.

Barbara Henderson
http://tobarbara.blogspot.com
http://askbh.com

This is my mom’s web page.
http://chirpyscats.com
She has 2 Siberian kittens ready to go. Visit her site and just look around.

Mom is a very interesting person. When I was about 5 years old I watched my mom and dad wade out into the icy waters of an Alaskan lake and get baptized. They never wavered in their decision to follow Jesus. I could never be thankful enough for such godly parents.

When my dad died in February of 2009 mom needed a way to make a little extra money. At age 77, she didn’t have very many business opportunities. The Lord gave her two Siberian cats at very little personal expense. Please pray that mom is able to sell the remaining two kittens.
Please take a minute to drop mom an email note and tell her that you are praying for her. And – wish her a happy birthday. Mom will be 78 on January 10th. tochirpy@yahoo.com

Visit my mom’s Siberian cat group on facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=115206992464

Will you say a prayer for my mom?

My mom needs a little help.
She needs your prayers that her new business will prosper.
Mom will be 78 this week, and she started a business raising registered Siberian cats to earn a little money after my dad died in February of 2009.
She has show quality pets at a pet price.
The problem is that mom is not a salesman. In fact - in my entire family there is not a real salesman in the bunch.
I am not asking any of you to buy a cat.
I am asking you to please pray that the Lord will send buyers for the two kittens mom has now, and people for the waiting list for her next litter.

Also, I am so thankful that the Lord cares about the things that are important to us, but may seem small to the rest of the world.

If you have time, please take a minute to email mom and just tell her that you are praying for her. tochirpy@yahoo.com

Here is a little about mom - you can read it here or visit her web page. http://chirpyscats.com

Thank you so very much.
Barbara

Meet Our Mom – Chirpy Wright – owner of Midnite Sun Cattery.

Mom was born in 1932. She married our dad when she was just seventeen. Together they raised six children and had many adventures together. They were very happily married until dad passed away in February of 2009. Mom cared for dad during a lengthy battle with lung cancer.

After dad died mom had two problems.
First, she had never lived in a house alone her entire life. She was lonely.
Second, she lost part of her income when dad died, so she really needed a way to make a little money. Now, there aren’t too many jobs or business opportunities available for a woman in mom’s age bracket.

Then mom met my cat Sofie. Sofie is a Siberian cat, who actually did come from Siberia! Mom is normally allergic to cats, but she had no reaction to Sofie. Then she fell in love with Sofie and decided to start a business raising Siberian cats. We were all shocked. ‘We’ being me and my three brothers and one remaining sister.

After quite a bit of searching mom was able to obtain both a male and female Siberian from Vickie, a lady in Louisiana who raises Siberians for show. ( http://sibirskiy.com/home )

You can see the photos of Opal and Sunny on mom’s home page. ( http://chirpyscats.com )

That is how mom’s excellent adventure raising Siberian cats began.

Mom’s strong faith in the God of the Bible has helped her cope with life without our dad. Dad always liked cats, but with mom’s allergies to them, they were not able to have a cat. Mom wishes they had known about them while dad was living as it would have been such a pleasure to dad to have had a cat during his last two years as he was housebound most of the time.

So, that is a little about our mom. I wish everyone had a mom like ours. We all thank God for her, and for her example to us.

tochirpy@yahoo.com Use large print if you email mom because she is vision impaired.

Thank you all.