Running from a LEAF

Scripture:

Leviticus 26:36-37 "'As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a wind-blown leaf will put them to flight. They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them.

Observation:

The list of curses for disobedience (Leviticus 26:14-15) is more than three times as long as the blessings for obedience. In a fallen and broken world, our proclivity toward disobedience seems to exceed our bent to obedience. Persistence in disobedience and violation of the covenant will be met with emotional and physical disease and the loss of their crops to their enemies who will conquer them (Leviticus 26:16-17). In contrast to the promised blessing, they will flee even when no one is pursuing them.

Our verse today shows one of the things that will happen as a consequence of disobedience. They would be so fearful that "sound of a windblown LEAF will put them to flight..." That's being pretty nervous isn't it? A rustling leaf will send them running as if they are fleeing from the sword, even though NO ONE is pursuing them. Paranoia is rampant in our great country. Everybody thinks someone is out to get them. We here "rustling leaf's" all the time. Constant fear, and very little of God's peace. That needs to change! That is not how God intended for us to live our lives!

Application:

Are you feeling afraid today? If so, listen to these words from the God who loves you beyond expression, protects you around the clock, and blesses everything you put your hand to.

When there seems to be no way out, He says to you, "… fear not: stand still [firm, confident, undismayed] and see the salvation [deliverance] of the Lord, which He will work for you today… (Exodus 14:13 AMP).

When the problem looks too big, He says to you, "Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6AMP).

When you feel like you just can't cope anymore, He says to you, "… do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with my [victorious] right hand… (Isaiah 41:10 AMP).

When you long for peace of mind, He says to you, "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance… continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace… which transcends all understanding, shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds… (Philippians 4:6-7 AMP).

According to Author Bob Gass: Worry is something you permit; peace is something you pursue. Jesus said in John 14:27, "Do not permit yourselves to be fearful." That means you can take control of what goes on in your mind. How? By doing three things:

(1) By filling it with God's Word. Not just the Word you read casually, but the Word you process mentally, apply to each circumstance, and stand on in times of crisis.

(2) By placing each situation into God's hands, and leaving it there with confidence.

(3) By allowing the "Soldier of peace" to stand at guard of your heart and mind.

Phippians 4:7 And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

"Lord, everything's in a panic! Even the sound of a LEAF will cause me to run in terror. There's far too much to do and never enough hours to do it. My head is clogged with all kinds of junk and my heart is ready to break. Lord, where are You? I feel like the disciples when the storm came up and the winds and waves rocked their boat. My cry is the same as theirs, 'Somebody go get Jesus - I'm about to drown out here!' The storms of my life have all but sunk my boat - I can't take much more. Prince of Peace I need You. Father, who never slumbers nor sleeps, take charge. I need the comfort and courage that comes from Your Spirit. Speak Lord, for the wind still remembers the sound of Your voice. Let me find in You a quiet place, a place where I can pillow my head on Your breast, hear Your heartbeat, and feel secure. In Jesus name, Amen."

Prince of Peace

Scripture:

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Observation:

In a time of great darkness, God promised to send a light who would shine on everyone living in the shadow of death. He is both "Wonderful Counselor" and "Mighty God." This message of hope was fulfilled in the birth of Christ and the establishment of his eternal Kingdom. He came to deliver all people from their slavery to sin.

This child, who would become their deliverer, is the Messiah, Jesus. Matthew quotes these verses in describing Christ's ministry (Matthew 4:15-16). The territories of Zebulun and Naphtali represent the northern kingdom as a whole. These were also the territories where Jesus grew up and often ministered; this is why they would see "a great light."

Application:

Ira Sankey provided the music for D. L. Moody's evangelistic meetings. One night after singing a solo called "The Shepherd's Song" a stranger asked him, "Did you serve in the Union Army?" When he said he had, the man asked, "Were you on picket duty one bright moonlit night in1860?" When Sankey said yes, the man continued: "Me too. But I was in the Confederate Army, and when I saw you I decided to kill you. Then you started singing that song, so I took my finger off the trigger, thinking, 'I'll let him sing then I'll shoot him." But you stirred up so many childhood memories of my Godly mother that it was impossible for me to follow through. That night when I thought of the God who saved you from certain death, my arm went limp."

Such stories aren't unusual. One Christmas during WW1 as Americans and Germans were in their bunkers, somebody started singing, "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Immediately men who'd been shooting at each another started singing in German and English, "O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas Angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord, Emmanuel." Jesus is "The Prince of Peace," (Isaiah 9:6), and the Bible says, "Of… his government and peace there will be no end." Where Christ rules, there's peace. Whether it's a sniper preparing to pick off a sentry, or a spouse planning to explode in anger, Jesus can change hearts and bring peace - if you let Him!

Worry is something you permit; peace is something you pursue. Jesus said, "Do not permit yourselves to be fearful." That means you can take control of what goes on in your mind. How? By doing two things:

(1) By filling it with God's Word. Not just the Word you read casually, but the Word you process mentally, apply to each circumstance, and stand on in times of crisis.

(2) By placing each situation into God's hands, and leaving it there with confidence. Here's a prayer to help you do just that:

Prayer:

"Lord, everything's in a panic! Everybody wants a piece of me. There's far too much to do and never enough hours to do it. My head is clogged with all kinds of junk and my heart is ready to break. Lord, where are You? I feel like the disciples when the storm came up and the winds and waves rocked their boat. My cry is the same as theirs, 'Somebody go get Jesus - I'm about to drown out here!' The storms of my life have all but sunk my boat - I can't take much more. Prince of Peace I need You. Father, who never slumbers nor sleeps, take charge. I need the comfort and courage that comes from Your Spirit. Speak Lord, for the wind still remembers the sound of Your voice. Let me find in You a quiet place, a place where I can pillow my head on Your chest, hear Your heartbeat, and feel secure. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Release it!

DAILY: Have you ever seen a dog that loves to run and enjoy freedom, have a chair around his neck that jerks him back into reality as he tries to run free? Well, bitterness is like a chain around the neck of your potential; choking the life out of your freedom and joy, and making even the sweet taste of success turn sour in your mouth. Maybe you’ve been hurt, and you’re saying, “I’ll never forgive them unless they admit what they’ve done, and ask for forgiveness.” What if they never do? Why should your happiness depend on their ability to do what’s right, especially if they’re not in the habit of doing it? You’re giving them too much power! Jesus said, “the thief cometh to steal, to kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Notice, he’s a THIEF. Unforgiveness is the window through which he enters, and you are the only one who can close it. When Jesus was on the cross, He defeated His enemies by refusing to hold a grudge. He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Once He said those words, He moved to a different realm, and you can too! The word forgive literally means “to get it out.” It has nothing to do with the other person. It’s a decision YOU make; like expelling carbon dioxide from your body, because you know that holding on to it will only hurt you. Release it! Blessings

Arranging my Mind!

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Observation:

Paul had faced suffering, trials, and distress as he preached the Good News. But he knew that they would one day be over, and he would obtain God's rest and rewards. As we face great troubles, it's easy to focus on the pain rather than on our ultimate goal. Just as athletes concentrate on the finish line and ignore their discomfort, we, too, must focus on the reward for our faith and the joy that lasts forever. No matter what happens to us in this life, we have the assurance of eternal life, when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away.

It is easy to lose heart and quit. We all have faced problems in our relationships or in our work that have caused us to think about giving up. Rather than quitting when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on the inner strength that came from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16). Don't let fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job. Renew your commitment to serving Christ. Don't forsake your eternal reward because of the intensity of today's pain. Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment.

Application:

A 90-year-old widow was moving to a nursing home because she was legally blind. On the elevator when a nurse began to describe her new room, the elderly lady exclaimed, "I love it!" "But you haven't even seen it yet," said the nurse. "That doesn't matter," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide ahead of time! Whether or not I like it doesn't depend on how the furniture's arranged. It's how I arrange my mind that's important, and I've already decided to love it. Every morning when I wake I can choose to dwell on the parts of my body that no longer work, or give thanks for the ones that do! Every day is a gift, so as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the blessings of each new day, and all the great memories I've stored away." What an attitude!

Old age is sort of like a bank account; you get out only what you deposit. In fact, all stages of life are like a deposit. If you deposit lots of good stuff early on, you'll be able to withdraw it later when you need it.So - what are you depositing today?

Read again Paul's words from today's text: So we do not lose heart.Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Prayer:

"Lord, I love the attitude of the 90 year old lady. She had already decided that she would enjoy her new room even before she had seen it. Why? Because she started out the day DECIDING and DETERMINING to enjoy whatever that day brought. She savored every moment that she had. Oh God, please help me to do the same thing. Please forgive me for the days that I have allowed to pass me by without savoring the moments. I am a blessed man, and I take so much for granted. Today, I determine that I will bask in and savor each moment. I deposit memories of blessings, even the seemingly small things. I will draw from those memories in days to come. When I go through a struggle, help me to remember what I am depositing today. In Jesus' name, amen!"

The Obsession of Porn

Scripture:

(Ezekiel 20:7 NLT) Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, for I am the Lord your God.’

Observation:

Ezekiel, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, warns God's people over and over again about turning their hearts from Him towards other gods, and the rituals, and obsessions of their culture. They do not heed His warning, and they pay dire consequences. Generations after them paid as well.

Application:

Verse 7 is a direct command, and warning, "Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are obsessed with."

America is obsessed with pornography. Look at some of the most current stats:

90% of children ages 8-16 have viewed porn. The largest consumers of pornography are 12 to 17 year old boys. 70% of men ages 18 to 34 visit a porn site in a typical month. 1 in 6 women struggle with porn. $10 to $14 billion is spent on porn annually, the same amount the US government spends on foreign aid. 25% of search engine requests are for porn. 50% of pastors regularly look at porn. 38% of adults say porn is morally acceptable.

These stats are overwhelming to me. There is no doubt that America idolizes porn. We must hear again, the Words from the Spirit of God to His children:

"Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, for I am the Lord your God." 

Listen to this warning from God:

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord."(Joshua 24:14 ESV)

The next generation is watching us. Don't kid yourself into believing that this "obsession" will not affect your kids. It has, it will, and will continue until you STOP and remove this idol from your life. Become obsessed with Jesus. Fill your mind with the truth from His Word!

Fix Your Thoughts on Jesus 

When you are tempted, do whatever is necessary to turn your attention to something else.

Satan can't get your attention when your mind is preoccupied with something else. That's why the Bible teaches us to fix our thoughts on Jesus (Hebrews 3:1) and to fill our minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable." (Philippians 4:8 TEV)

When we're serious about defeating temptation, we will manage our thoughts and monitor our media intake. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived warned: "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." (Proverbs 4:23 TEV)

Don't allow thoughts to run indiscriminately in your mind. Be selective. Choose carefully what you think about. Follow Paul's model: "We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5 NCV)

This takes a lifetime of practice, but with the help of the Holy Spirit you can discipline the way you think.

Prayer:

"Lord, You know the obsessions that so easily become idols in our life. We can find our self worshipping, thinking about, spending money on, wasting time with, things that are so detrimental to our Christian walk. Help us to return YOU to the rightful place in our life...sitting on the throne and directing our every step, passion, word, and decisions. Help us to be obsessed with You. In Jesus' name amen!"

Resist the tempter

DAILY: You may sometimes feel that a temptation is too overpowering for you to bear, but that's a lie from Satan. God has promised never to allow more on you than he puts within you to handle it. He will not permit any temptation that you could not overcome. However, you must do your part too by practicing biblical methods for defeating temptation. Sometimes we put all of our time, sweat and prayers into resisting temptation when we would be better off to resist the tempter. We're told to "resist the devil," and he will run from us. (James 4:7) The battle for sin is won or lost in your mind. Whatever gets your attention will get you. That's why Job said, "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman." (Job 31:1 NLT) And David prayed, "Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless." (Psalm 119:3a TEV). Blessings

Beware of "bad company"

DAILY: Be careful who your closest associates are. Paul warns us that "bad company corrupts good character" (1 Cor 15:33). This is not just for young people but for adults also. Anyone who tries to pull you away from your spouse is bad company. Anyone who attempts to talk you into something that is contrary to God's Word, bad company. Anyone who when you spend time with them pushes you further from Jesus, bad company. Anyone who constantly tears down people, bad company. Anyone who constantly tears down your church and leadership, bad company. Anyone who leaves you feeling dirty when they leave, bad company. Anyone who texts, emails, or uses any social media to make contact with you behind your spouses back, bad company. Anyone, other than your spouse, who is constantly on your mind in a romantic or sexual way, bad company! Anyone, I don't care how long they have been a "friend", who pushes you further from your spouse when you guys talk, bad company. "Holy Spirit, help me to be sensitive to Your warnings today!" Blessings!