12 Leaders On A Mission

Numbers 13:1-3 ¶ And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2* “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” 3 So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.

It was not like that game we used to play as children where would line up and the leader would select the two teams this way and that way/ one-two-one-two!  Moses by the instructions of the Lord chose leaders who were heads of the children of Israel.  A leader's influence has a big impact on what the outcome of the led will be! 

The Assignment is outlined in Numbers 13:17-20.  Same opportunity, same assignment - ten leaders saw it as impossible while two saw it as possible.  What you see is what you get! The 10 leaders said we are not able to go and possess the land Numbers 13:31. We are like grasshoppers.  Indeed their confession and surely they did not get to go to the promised land.

Caleb and Joshua had a different spirit within them. They saw opportunity - Their thoughts were with resolve! Numbers 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

My point! God is pleased and will always reward faith - Hebrews 11:6 Paul testifies in Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

If you see impossibilities those are what will follow! If you see possibilities the likewise will you see them! May God reward us as we faithfully trust him upon his word! 

Reasons NOT To Practice Church Discipline

We are in the environment of sin! We need deliverance from the allure of sin and the things that it brings.  We all need the grace and pardon of God. Our Our Lord Jesus is our High Priest and He is touched by the feeling of our failings. - Hebrews 4:14,15

Mark Dever in his book nine marks of a healthy church says:
(1) We certainly should not practice church discipline to be vindictive. - Romans 12:19
(2) Corrective church discipline is never to be done out of meanness of spirit but  only out of a love for the offending party and the members of the church individually, and ultimately out of our love for God Himself.
(3) Discipline should never be meant to take place out the mistaken notion that we have the final word from God on a person's eternal fate.

Instead, we are to practice church discipline because with humility and love, we want to see good come out of this ministry.

Therefore as the  leadership serves the members in the Church many Biblical exhortations are to come into play. Here are just a few:

1. A Spirit of meekness Galatians 6:1
2. Self-evaluation - You are no better except by the grace of God. That will lead you to tamper your exhortation correctly. - Galatians 6:1,3
3. Embrace the law of Christ which is Love.  Do to others as you would want them to do to you! Galatians 6:2
4. The right timing - 1 Corinthians 13:4; Proverbs 25:11
5. Speak the truth & impart grace - Ephesians 4:15,29

May God help us to lovingly restore and support.

Zaccheaus' Triumph

Our former Pastor recently shared a message on Zaccheaus  entitled the Tax Collectors Triumph.  He highlights some fundamental truths from this Sunday School story. Zaccheaus met with Jesus and he was no longer the same again.

Zaccheaus Tree

From this story we learn that:
1) God sees us (verse 5)
  God saw me even before my physical birth, yea even before my form in my mother's womb. Psalm 139:14-16
He sees us, even when our choices are for Him and when we are prone to wander!
Proverbs 5:21; Proverbs 15:3
2) God knows us (verse 5)
He knew Zaccheaus by name.  He called out his name and told him he would be a guest in his house. Psalms 139:1,2
God is touched by the feeling our our weaknesses.  Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 5:7
 Lastly and not least
3) God needs us!
He needs our testimony. This meeting that Jesus had with Zaccheaus brought tremendous change in this disliked wee little man! Our testimony speaks of what God has done in our lives.