Here's the short version of one part of a study I've been doing on my Biblical mentor, Joshua:
At our Minister’s meeting last Tuesday, Pastor wrote some Biblical names on the board and we had a discussion on them. Four of them were great leaders who reached their destiny because they had a mentor and then there were three who reached their fate because they chose to get from under covering. At the end of the conversation Pastor asked each of us how we were going to take that information and apply it to our lives. My answer was that I would not allow my mentor’s weaknesses to be my weaknesses. E has begun to refer to me as Joshua and I’ve always admired Joshua and I have deemed him my Biblical mentor. As I was studying him over the last few days, I was reminded of what I told Pastor, “not allow my mentor’s weaknesses to be my weaknesses”. In order for that to happen, I had to first discover what Joshua’s weakness was, because prior to that I didn’t see him having any. That journey lead to the discovery of his temporary weakness, he had trouble following the “system”. The system that Moses set in place was that nothing was done without God’s approval. Every time Moses did something, he inquired of God or God told him to do such and such.
Up until the battle of Ai, Joshua had never experienced defeat, then came that day. He sent up part of his army and was quickly defeated. Distraught, he went before God discouraged and ready to throw in the towel. God, with very little pity told him to get up and get right. Joshua did not seek God and God did not speak before that battle, Joshua took the advice of the people around him. Moses never did, he always went to the Lord. At the battle of Jericho, God told Joshua exactly what to do and he succeeded. After Joshua got right and followed the system, he easily defeated the Amorites.
The next instance was with the Gibeonites. They heard what happen to the Amorites and thought of a clever way to save themselves by deceiving Joshua and saying they came from a long way when they were actually neighboring cities. It says in 9:14 that Joshua and his men did not inquire of the Lord. Therefore, they made a peace treaty with them and once they found out they were a neighboring city they could do nothing. This lead to Joshua and his people having to fight a battle for the Gibeonites that I don’t think they were ever suppose to fight. I say that because (Joshua 10:11,13) 1) God wound up killing more of them with the hailstorm then the fighting men and 2) Joshua had to stop time in order to complete the battle; he caused the sun to stand still.
But, Joshua learned and got back on the system and went on a rampage defeating and destroying everyone and everything. (Joshua 10:40,42) The only exception was with Gibeon (Joshua 11:19).
So Joshua realized his weakness, it may have taken a couple of defeats, but when he learned the importance of the system he was able to turn it around and go on to greatness. Now I must look at this and not allow it to be my weakness. I must look at my successes and failures and see what the differences were, was it because I did not follow the system that lead to success in other cases? There is a system to everything. Learn from other's mistakes so they don't become your mistakes, too!!
God's grace
May 19, 2008
May 15, 2008
Tye Tribbett
Random thoughts: Today I came across a few messages from Tye Tribbett on various websites and saw the part of his ministry that is often overlooked, the man has a message! After listening to what he had to say, my mind drifted to his fans. I see those who have picked up his dress, dance, and style but wonder if they've picked up his spirit. His messages are uncompromising, pulling no punches, and most importantly Bible based. I'm nervous his fans are caught up in a "Christian culture" and not a "Christian lifestyle". *(By no means do I place the blame on Tye because like I said he's putting the message out there, it's up to us to take heed) Looking at what I've taken note of, I see people who love his music, his style, etc but then turn around and surround themselves with things that go against the Kingdom i.e. secular music, gossip, cursing, sexual perversion, etc. It's evident that it's had a cultural impact but not so evident that it's had an impact where it matters, change in the lives of those who listen. THIS IS NOT A CULTURE, IT'S A LIFESTYLE.
I can say that I'm a fan of Tye, maybe not his dress but definately his message. No compromise! I pray we would wake up and not only hear and enjoy what these artists and preachers are saying but begin to allow what they're saying to transform our lives. I love Tye's first track on his new cd entitled, "Stand Out" because it talks about this very thing. It's time out for blending in and straddling the fence. We're called to Stand Out!!
Links to 2 of his messages:
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=8942395
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=8600869 (4 part series, watch all 4!!!)
I can say that I'm a fan of Tye, maybe not his dress but definately his message. No compromise! I pray we would wake up and not only hear and enjoy what these artists and preachers are saying but begin to allow what they're saying to transform our lives. I love Tye's first track on his new cd entitled, "Stand Out" because it talks about this very thing. It's time out for blending in and straddling the fence. We're called to Stand Out!!
Links to 2 of his messages:
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=8942395
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=8600869 (4 part series, watch all 4!!!)
May 1, 2008
Do you see yourself?
This book is kicking my butt and forcing me to repent. Notes:
Exerts from Chapter 6 of “Engaging the soul of youth culture” –Walt Mueller
Alienation/ Self-containment/ cultural Christians: a form of Christian alienation where we have established a distinctly separate Christian culture that runs parallel to the mainstream culture, and we assume that living in the parallel culture will shelter and protect us from the world. A sin in the eyes of Christ. Its sign is the barren fig tree (Mark 11:12-14), heavy with leaves for its own self-beautification, but sterile and without fruit. When Jesus saw it, he cursed it. He compares this lifestyle to that of the Pharisees who were preoccupied with keeping outward appearances and keeping away from those activities that would compromise their “purity”. Jesus said it’s the things that come from the heart that make a person unclean. (Mat 15:16-20). He made it clear that true righteousness consists of inward conformity to God’s will.
Accommodation- simply chooses to do as the world pleases or listening to the world more than to the Word. A Christian culture- claiming to be followers of Christ but the culture it represents is indistinguishable from the world it seeks, “to save”. In an effort to be influential, Christians have been trying to buy their own legitimacy from the surrounding culture by compromising the Christian world and life view.
Our call is infiltration and transformation, it’s the hardest of the three but it most mirrors the ministry of Jesus Christ and his will; it requires diligence, wisdom, and hard work.
“double refusal”: we refuse to become either so absorbed in the Word, that we escape into it and fail to let it confront the world, or so absorbed in the world, that we conform to it and fail to subject it to the judgment of the Word.
John 17. Jesus wants his followers to infiltrate the world, living in it as a transforming and redemptive presence, while maintaining their distinct identity; being spiritually distinct but not socially segregated.
As I was reading, I couldn’t help but feel convicted because I was choosing to follow the alienation route. Choosing to minimize my association with sinners and their world but that was the life of Christ, going in to their world. Being in the world but not of the world. Is it because I doubt God’s power to convert their soul or his power to keep my own? How are we to find a point to connect just as Christ did with those he converted if we are not willing to get in their midst and see what has their attention? We cannot alienate ourselves from the very ones we’re sent to convert.
Where do you stand?
Exerts from Chapter 6 of “Engaging the soul of youth culture” –Walt Mueller
Alienation/ Self-containment/ cultural Christians: a form of Christian alienation where we have established a distinctly separate Christian culture that runs parallel to the mainstream culture, and we assume that living in the parallel culture will shelter and protect us from the world. A sin in the eyes of Christ. Its sign is the barren fig tree (Mark 11:12-14), heavy with leaves for its own self-beautification, but sterile and without fruit. When Jesus saw it, he cursed it. He compares this lifestyle to that of the Pharisees who were preoccupied with keeping outward appearances and keeping away from those activities that would compromise their “purity”. Jesus said it’s the things that come from the heart that make a person unclean. (Mat 15:16-20). He made it clear that true righteousness consists of inward conformity to God’s will.
Accommodation- simply chooses to do as the world pleases or listening to the world more than to the Word. A Christian culture- claiming to be followers of Christ but the culture it represents is indistinguishable from the world it seeks, “to save”. In an effort to be influential, Christians have been trying to buy their own legitimacy from the surrounding culture by compromising the Christian world and life view.
Our call is infiltration and transformation, it’s the hardest of the three but it most mirrors the ministry of Jesus Christ and his will; it requires diligence, wisdom, and hard work.
“double refusal”: we refuse to become either so absorbed in the Word, that we escape into it and fail to let it confront the world, or so absorbed in the world, that we conform to it and fail to subject it to the judgment of the Word.
John 17. Jesus wants his followers to infiltrate the world, living in it as a transforming and redemptive presence, while maintaining their distinct identity; being spiritually distinct but not socially segregated.
As I was reading, I couldn’t help but feel convicted because I was choosing to follow the alienation route. Choosing to minimize my association with sinners and their world but that was the life of Christ, going in to their world. Being in the world but not of the world. Is it because I doubt God’s power to convert their soul or his power to keep my own? How are we to find a point to connect just as Christ did with those he converted if we are not willing to get in their midst and see what has their attention? We cannot alienate ourselves from the very ones we’re sent to convert.
Where do you stand?
Let's Talk Music
Hello everyone, I pray you are all doing well. A number of young people, as well as older, have often questioned the impact or acceptance of secular music into their Christian lifestyles. I am in the process of doing some research on this topic and with that I would like your feedback on the subject.The main question that I will be investigating is, "Is it alright for Followers of Christ to listen to secular music?" I don't mean hearing it every once in a while, I'm talking about consistently buying, downloading, listening to secular music. Are there exceptions? Under what circumstances is it acceptable? Any insight you may have on this topic would be greatly appreciated (thoughts, books, scriptures, articles, etc.)Thanks in advance for your help. I'll be sure to post my findings at the conclusion.
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