Strongholds or Tents

In Numbers 13 Moses sent out twelve spies and gave them specific instructions including this paraphrase, "...see whether they dwell in tents or strongholds." That specific phrase sparked a thought in my mind regarding ministry that has consumed me for the last couple of days. I've asked myself this question and now let me ask you: Do you dwell in a tent or a stronghold?

What's the difference in dwelling in a tent versus a stronghold?

1. Tents are portable; strongholds are permanent.
2. Tents are easier to put up; strongholds take much more time to build.
3. Tents provide partial shelter; strongholds provide complete safety.
4. Tents can be easily destroyed; strongholds are created to endure.

I think one of the biggest problems I see with many ministers is they have become tent dwellers. Tent dwellers don't stay in a place long enough to see long-term results. As my friend Herbert Cooper says, "We over-estimate what we can do in the short-term and under-estimate what God can do in the long-term."

Here's an example. The reason that the enemy has such strongholds in my city is because he's never left. Satan has built strongholds in Pontiac and continued to wreak havoc for years on end while many of our churches and ministers have come and gone with the wind. They've pitched their tents and moved on while the enemy has built strongholds of fornication, alcoholism, drug addiction, violence, etc.

If we want to bind up the strongman and see lasting results we have to commit to build strongholds for God in our cities. We must dig deep roots and commit ourselves for the long haul. Anyone can put up a tent, but strongholds take time and perseverance. It's much easier, and cheaper, to pitch a tent rather than building a stronghold day by day and brick by brick.

You see tents provide temporary shelter from the elements but do not serve as a place of complete safety. Our churches and ministries should provide more than temporary shelter. They should be fortresses where the lost and hurting can run and find peace. If you're on the run and you see a tent on one side and a stronghold on the other which will you choose for safety and security? A stronghold. Exactly! Then why should we expect hurting people to run and dwell in our tents?

Finally, strongholds are made to withstand and endure battles. Ministry is full of battles. The enemy engages us from every side. When you have a tent the only option is to run. When you have a stronghold you can stay and fight. I'm tired of the enemy having the strongholds in our cities. It's time to plant ourselves, build our strongholds and fight for our cities.

Will you join me in building strongholds for the kingdom of God?

Peace vs. Panic

Matthew and Luke record the same story found in Mark 4. Jesus tells the disciples to get into the boat and then a storm comes that strikes panic in the hearts of the disciples. You probably remember what happened next. They woke Jesus up from his nap and he said to the wind and the waves, "Peace! Be Still!" They obeyed!

It's interesting to contrast the different reactions in this story. The disciples are filled with panic; the Lord is filled with peace. After all, they had to wake him up from a peaceful power nap in their panic stricken state of mind. Then Jesus speaks peace to their situation which is what most people tend to focus on in this story.

Of course, that makes sense. Jesus can calm the storms in our lives whether they are financial, relational, emotional or situational. Jesus brings peace to our storm. But I think there's another point that we sometimes miss. Not only can Jesus bring peace to our storm, but he can also bring peace to us during our storm.

Let's not forget that Jesus sent them into the storm. He told them to get in the boat and head to the other side. He led them into a storm. Sometimes we get ourselves in a mess, but this time Jesus directed them into a tough situation. I think he still does that with our lives. He allows us, even directs us, into a variety of storms. The question is why?

I think the answer is two-fold. First of all, it brings glory to his name when he speaks peace to the storm. When Jesus provides a way out there is no doubt that he can still calm the winds and waves in our lives. But I believe he also speaks peace during the storm. If he directs us into a storm then he'll give us the peace to weather it.

Everything God allows has purpose. If God allows you to enter a storm then He has a lesson for you to learn. So the next time you're in one of life's storms ask God to speak peace to you before you ask Him to speak peace to the storm. After all, He may have directed you into the storm for a reason.

Will the storm ever cease? Yes, in God's time He will calm the storm. In the meantime, He can calm your spirit and give you His peace which transcends all human understanding. So what will it be? Peace or panic?

The Battle Belongs to the Lord - part 3

The Battle Belongs to the Lord - cont.

Let me wrap up some thoughts from last week. Here's the quick recap. The first principle to winning life's battles is to acknowledge God as your Commander in Chief. To lose life's battles you simply need to acknowledge that you are the Commander in Chief. The next principle in winning life's battles is to shout to the Lord in victory. However, to lose life's battles you simply shout at the Lord in defeat.

The final principle is to experience victory through obedience. The obvious alternative is to experience defeat through disobedience. If you remember the story in Joshua 6 Israel was outnumbered and Jericho was well fortified. On paper Israel didn't have a chance. But God gave them instructions and obedience led to them to victory. And it still does!

There is no substitute for obedience. Skills, talents and even charisma will never serve as an alternative to obedience. God means what he says! Partial obedience is disobedience. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Israel experienced victory at Jericho because they completely obeyed. However, turn to the next chapter and the consequence of their disobedience was defeat. And it still is!

To sum it up Achan takes some of the devoted things and God allows Israel to lose an easy battle at Ai. On paper the Israelites had an easy victory. But disobedience always leads to defeat. Obedience is the only option to pleasing the Lord, and the result of obeying God is winning victories in the battles of life. Obedience or disobedience? Victory or defeat? Blessings or curses? Winning or losing?

I think I'll obey!

The Battle Belongs to the Lord - part 2

The Battle Belongs to the Lord (cont.)

There's another principle identified in Joshua 6-7 regarding life's battles. It's the shouting principle. The Israelites were commanded by God to shout before the walls came down. Shouting was to precede victory instead of simply following it. After all, anyone can shout after the miracle takes place. The question is, "Can we shout before the walls fall down?".

I'm reminded of Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They made a conscious decision to shout in praise while being wrongfully imprisoned in a jail cell. Think about the dynamics. It's midnight. I'm sure they're extremely exhausted and sore from the beating they had endured earlier in the day. They're probably hungry and thirsty for not only freedom but basic food and water. And what do they do? They sing songs of praise? They shout to God in victory? Yes!

They shouted before they were free and freedom was the result (including salvation for the jail guard and his family). Honestly, I'm not sure that I'm that close to God. I can picture myself complaining to God and feeling sorry for myself. I can hear myself shouting at God instead of shouting with God. I can actually picture myself giving a similar response to the one that Joshua gives in Joshua 7:-7-9.

After winning at Jericho the Israelites have lost an easy battle at Ai (pronounced "I") because of their disobedience (and usually the "I" battles are lost because we're fighting them instead of God). Then Joshua, the leader, starts shouting at God in defeat. The same guy that shouted with God in victory has turned the tables. Now he's upset with God and he doesn't even ask God why they lost?

Let's bring it home. It's easy for us to shout at God when we don't understand or even like the situations we're in instead of trusting God to bring us through. As a matter of fact, many times we get ourselves in bad situations and then shout at God as if it's His fault (i.e. finances). It was Israel's fault they lost the battle, but God became the scapegoat. They shouted, but it was the wrong kind of shout!

My challenge is this: Shout to God for victory instead of shouting at God in defeat. Now remember, many times the shouts will be shouts of faith because you haven't seen your miracle take place yet. But shout to God in victory and let God fight your battles. After all, God always wins! Now SHOUT!

to be continued...

The Battle Belongs to the Lord - part 1

This past Sunday I preached a stand alone message entitled "The Battle Belongs to the Lord" from Joshua 6-7. Here's a synopsis of the sermon:

Joshua chapter 6 is the story of the Battle of Jericho. The Israelites were instructed to march around the fortified city (with walls thick enough to race chariots on top) once each day and then seven times on the seventh day. They obeyed and marched in silence (which is a miracle by itself) until the end of the final lap. At that point the trumpets sounded according to plan and the Israelites shouted in victory.

You probably remember what happened next. The walls of Jericho collapsed as God promised and God's people walked right in to conquer the unconquerable city. So far so good. Then it happens. Obedience turns to disobedience. Achan, one of the Israelites, decided to take a few things from the plunder. After all, to the victor goes the spoils. Right?

Yes, that's right, but Israel was not really the victor. God commanded the Israelites to refrain from taking any of Jericho's material possessions (gold, silver, bronze, etc.) because God was going to be the victor in this battle. To the victor goes the spoils and God was victorious. All Israel had to do was obey. The commands were simple: walking without talking, then stopping and shouting. This victory obviously belonged to the Lord because that battle plan made no human sense.

Of course, we all have battles in our lives and that brings me to my first question regarding our battles. Who's the boss? That question extends far beyond an 80's TV show and demands an answer from each Christ follower. Who's really in charge? I think you can sum it up like this. To win life's battles you must acknowledge your Commander in Chief. To lose life's battles you simply acknowledge that you are the Commander in Chief. Victory starts with acknowledging who's in charge!

to be continued...