A favorite song of mine from back in the day when I had long hair (I know, you are trying to imagine it!), and my taste in music was a little more secular was "Patience" by Guns 'N Roses. While I do not endorse the band, the song is really good. It is about a person who is in a relationship and wants to see it evolve and grow, but struggles against their lack of patience and self-control in seeing it happen.
As I was reading 1 Samuel 13 that song came to my mind. Saul has been made king by God through the prophet Samuel. He is early in his reign (two years) when he undertakes an ill-advised attack on the Philistines, along with his son Jonathan. Now keep in mind, God did not command Saul to do this. As a matter of fact, the Bible explicitly states that this was Saul's decision. It does not mention anything about God directing him.
That was Saul's first mistake-he ventured out on his own in a dangerous and risky proposition that not only affected him, but the entire nation of Israel. Remember this: when you go out on your own apart from the leading of the Holy Spirit, you are setting yourself and those around you up for failure and defeat.
Well, Saul "stirred up a hornet's nest" as we like to say in South Carolina. The Philistines quickly gathered their army together. 1 Samuel 13:3 says that the army was, "thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude." Whoa. Talk about an intimidating sight. When the people of Israel saw that massive army encamped against them, ready to butcher them, they did what just about anyone would do-they ran and hid. Verse 6 of 1 Samuel 13 says, "When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits."
Here is another important spiritual principle: When you venture out on your own apart from the guidance and empowering of the Lord, you will fall victim to fear and confusion.
Now comes the culmination of Saul's impatience and independence from God. Samuel specifically told Saul that he would return in seven days to Gilgal to offer the sacrifices for Israel. Well, on the seventh day at the 11th hour there was still no Samuel. So, Saul called for the sacrifices to be brought and he offered them on behalf of Israel. Sounds like no big deal right? Wrong! Saul offered the sacrifices even though he was neither priest nor prophet.
As it turns out, just as he is finished, Samuel comes and Saul goes out to meet him. Samuel scolds Saul for his foolish behavior, but Saul places the blame on Samuel and those around him! He said in vv.11-12, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the appointed time...I felt compelled and offered a burnt offering."
Notice that Saul said he "felt compelled." Here is a final truth I want you to consider: Saul allows the circumstances of the moment to cloud his vision of what God has in store for him.
Saul was anointed as the prince who will deliver Israel from the power of this long-standing enemy (1 Sam. 9:16). It is for just a time as this that Saul has been made king. However, instead of trusting God to make him victorious, he takes matters into his own hands.The results are devasting.
In verse 13-14 of 1 Samuel 13 the prophet Samuel tells Saul that his reign as king will come to an end because of his disobedience. I want to leave you today with a final thought: failure to trust God and be obedient to Him always brings disastrous results.
Do not be like Saul. Wait on God, even when it seems like He has forgotten you and your circumstances are about to overwhelm you. Trust in His provision, love, and soverienty for you life. He will come through for you!
Serving Christ, Loving Others, & Growing Together,
Pastor Bryan
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Should a Christian Go See "Heaven is For Real?"
There has been a great deal of speculation and questioning over the movie "Heaven is For Real." Many prominent pastors, including David Platt have weighed in on the issue. You can watch Platt's scathing critique of the book and movie here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2014/04/16/david-platt-on-why-you-should-not-believe-heaven-is-for-real/.
I respect David Platt's ministry and his scholarship a great deal. I even agree with his argument. His main concern is that Christians not elevate "experiential" episodes like those in "Heaven is for Real" above the authoritative Scriptures. I agree with Platt that this is a legitimate concern. It is natural for many people to be drawn to seemingly supernatural phenomenon. The danger here is that believers fail to rely on the Bible for their understanding of theological issues, such as the theology of heaven. Instead, they get caught up in someone's "experience" which may or may not be a legitimate expression of God's revelation.
However, I feel Platt and others have gone to the extreme in this situation. The Bible indicates that God revealed His will to selected people through dreams or visions in Scriptures such as Genesis 37:5-10; 1 Kings 3:5-15; Daniel, chapters 2 and 7; Matthew 1:20; 2:13,19; and Acts 10:9-16; 16:9.
God may communicate through dreams or visions even today, but we need to carefully check any such guidance we receive with Scripture and godly counsel to be sure it is from the Lord. Anything which contradicts Scripture is not from God. Our minds and even Satan are capable of producing great deception in such subjective areas.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 shows that God has revealed His will to us primarily through His Word. It says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
What does this mean for Christians going to see movies like "Heaven is For Real?" Is it wrong for believers to see such movies? No, as long as they do not elevate it above the authority of Scripture and compare the contents of the movie to what the Bible says about the particular subject, in this case, heaven.
Can God use a movie like "Heaven is For Real" to lead people to a saving faith in Christ? Absolutely. God can use anything He desires to accomplish His purposes. Someone far away from God may not set foot inside a church, but they might be willing to go see a movie like "Heaven is For Real." God may use that movie to begin to bring eternal questions to the mind of the unbeliever, which could lead to them investigating deeper by attending a church service. The unbeliever, under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God could be brought to a saving knowledge of Christ.
So, while I urge caution in reading these books, and watching these movies, I do not condemn it. Let us rely on the Bible and not our experiences.
Serving Christ, Loving Other, & Growing Together,
Bryan
I respect David Platt's ministry and his scholarship a great deal. I even agree with his argument. His main concern is that Christians not elevate "experiential" episodes like those in "Heaven is for Real" above the authoritative Scriptures. I agree with Platt that this is a legitimate concern. It is natural for many people to be drawn to seemingly supernatural phenomenon. The danger here is that believers fail to rely on the Bible for their understanding of theological issues, such as the theology of heaven. Instead, they get caught up in someone's "experience" which may or may not be a legitimate expression of God's revelation.
However, I feel Platt and others have gone to the extreme in this situation. The Bible indicates that God revealed His will to selected people through dreams or visions in Scriptures such as Genesis 37:5-10; 1 Kings 3:5-15; Daniel, chapters 2 and 7; Matthew 1:20; 2:13,19; and Acts 10:9-16; 16:9.
God may communicate through dreams or visions even today, but we need to carefully check any such guidance we receive with Scripture and godly counsel to be sure it is from the Lord. Anything which contradicts Scripture is not from God. Our minds and even Satan are capable of producing great deception in such subjective areas.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 shows that God has revealed His will to us primarily through His Word. It says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
What does this mean for Christians going to see movies like "Heaven is For Real?" Is it wrong for believers to see such movies? No, as long as they do not elevate it above the authority of Scripture and compare the contents of the movie to what the Bible says about the particular subject, in this case, heaven.
Can God use a movie like "Heaven is For Real" to lead people to a saving faith in Christ? Absolutely. God can use anything He desires to accomplish His purposes. Someone far away from God may not set foot inside a church, but they might be willing to go see a movie like "Heaven is For Real." God may use that movie to begin to bring eternal questions to the mind of the unbeliever, which could lead to them investigating deeper by attending a church service. The unbeliever, under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God could be brought to a saving knowledge of Christ.
So, while I urge caution in reading these books, and watching these movies, I do not condemn it. Let us rely on the Bible and not our experiences.
Serving Christ, Loving Other, & Growing Together,
Bryan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)