I Kings 5:9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.

Doing Salomon’s desire with the timber would cause his desire to be accomplished in feeding his family. That is exactly how it works in the things of God. We do His desire in serving Him, giving, evangelizing the world, etc. and He accomplishes our desire of meeting our needs, giving us a life of purpose and passion, and allowing us to participate in His great work.

Faith promise mission works much the same way. Our giving meets God’s desire and the missionary’s desire and burden to get the gospel to the world while accomplishing our desire to have God meet our needs, bless our church, and use us for eternal purposes. He gives us great joy in serving Him.

II Samuel 16:3 And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

Much of what is happening to David right now could have likely been avoided had he handled a family problem right and at the right moment. Since he didn’t things have only proceeded to get worse. A much smaller issue left unattended has caused the rebellion and now Ziba rebels against his master also. Every leader must consider dealing with the little foxes before they get big enough to do so much harm. Jesus said that if you were being taken to court you should fix it on the way to court if at all possible. Matthew 5:25

II Samuel 17:10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

An amazing commentary is given here about David and his men. They know that David is a mighty man and they know that those that are with him are also mighty men. Everyone should question what is known about us. What reputation or testimony do you have? Are you a mighty man? Do you surround yourself with mighty men? There is a leadership principle that says; “If he is not strong enough to hurt you if he would neither is he strong to help you if he will.” Too often we surround ourselves with weak “yes men” who are unable to help us. Let everyone know that God is doing a work in your life and ministry and that many mighty men are with you.

II Samuel 18:15 And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

Joab had ten young men as armor bearers. Joab was a great man of war and general. Imagine the training that these young men received. Imagine the men that they had the opportunity to see and hear just from being so close to Joab. They start as young armor bearers that will later be valiant men. Discipleship is all through the Bible. As they carried the armor and prepared things they would see how Joab fought from dressing himself, preparations he made for the battle, how he ordered his men, how set the battle, how he cared for his weapons and many other things that would prepare them for leadership.

II Samuel 20:6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

Leadership principle. David did not fight to save his kingdom when Abaslom raised himself up but now he is quick to send his men to seek the head of Sheba. It is not clear why David would react differently on two different occasions. Obviously we will need to be careful not to draw a hard and fast conclusion when David does not defend his kingdom with Absalom. There must be times to stand and fight and other times when we should not defend ourselves. Both are tragedies and I do not presume to say what should be the way we handle an attack but we do need balance in what we do under these severe attacks.

II Samuel 21:16 And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

Amazing what a new sword can do for a man! In this story it can get a man killed. Having a new sword or a strong arm is no guarantee that you will win the battle obviously. But maybe we could motivate our people to do great battles as we train our disciples in how to use a sword and then provide them with new and good tools to do the battle with. It is amazing what will happen when you motivate a man to do something with his life.

II Samuel 21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

Giant killers didn’t hardly exist before David killed Goliath but now even his nephew and one of his right hand men is killing giants. Men will do what they see you do. This giant had a new sword and carried spear that weighed about 9.5 pounds. He came from a family of giants. He had no idea that a little man like Abishai could defeat him. Satan can not comprehend what God can do with men who have been trained, motivated, and Spirit empowered. Let’s train men.

II Samuel 21:22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Four giant killers in a row. From no giant killers to a giant killer roll what a transformation. Could it be that the world could be transformed and His name lifted high if we would but become giant killer trainers? We must train leaders of leaders. We must make it the object of our life to find and train men for His honor and glory. For too long we have done our ministry and tried to develop ourselves into a world class leader but have not concerned ourselves with the preparation of others. Joab had 10 armor bearers learning every move from him. How many do you have? How many are you preparing to go further than you ever have? How much have you invested into the lives of others, no so much in money but in TIME?

II Samuel 23:10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

Hold on to your sword. You might get tired in the work but never of the work. Hold on to your sword and he will win a great victory. Use all your strength. Work until you are tired.

II Samuel 23:37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

Naharai the armor bearer gets into the list of the mighty men. He has been Joab’s armor bearer. Although Joab is not in the list of mighty men one of his men does make the list. Joab has hurt himself with some of his foolishness but is able to lift a man above himself. Joab had ten armor bearers. There are only thirty something men in the list yet one of Joab’s men could become so great a man of war that he could make this hall of fame. That is the result of true discipleship. Teach a man. Train him to become more than you are. Get him to the right trainers. Let him make the list even if you can’t. Who are you investing time and life into right now?

II Samuel 15:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

How not to raise or create an Absalom!
1. Take a stand against and discipline sin when you see it 2 Samuel 13:22 Ecclesiastes 8:11
2. Don’t allow a wall or division even if there has been a failure 2 Samuel 13:37
3. Express what you feel, your love 2 Samuel 13:39
4. Don’t make the discipline too hard 2 Samuel 14:24
5. Praise character not physical characteristics 2 Samuel 14:25
6. Keep open lines of communication 2 Samuel 14:32
7. Don’t wait too late to kiss 2 Samuel 14:33
8. Forgive and teach to forgive so that the root of bitterness doesn’t spring up and defile many
9. Don’t wait too late to deal gently 2 Samuel 18:5

II Samuel 12:20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

Worship is not something that we do when all is going well. We are to worship in the good times as well as the bad times. David has just lost his child. He has asked God to save his son but God has refused. Can it be real worship if you only magnify the Lord when He does what you want? We must prostrate ourselves before Him in the good as well as the bad. That is true worship. After having begged God for a week with fasting and prayer David first went to the house of the Lord and worshipped which almost assuredly means that he gave an offering, praised the Lord, and thanked Him. As a missionary you are going to find that many things just do not work out the way you wanted them to or had figured them to work out. There will be no church meetings to encourage you. You must know how to worship God before you start out or you will never make it. Learn to give thanks in all things now. Learn to love and serve Him no matter how things turn out. He is God you are but the servant.

I Samuel 22:2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

The question is often asked “where can I find disciples?” The people who ask this question are most often looking for men or women who are in good shape and have tons of potential. Maybe we are looking in the wrong place. David is going to build a great kingdom and accomplish great things for God but the men that he is going to use will come from this group. Look at the description. The Bible says that “everyone” was in distress, debt and / or discontent.

The men that will soon rule the world and win battle after battle were men who had no where else to go. They were defeated men. They ran to David in the wilderness. They gave up what little they had to be used of God and serve with David. Later we will read about a group of mighty men that serve with David. Where did they come? Could it be that there is a mighty man underneath all that mess? Could it be that inside the discontented, in distress, and in debt there is the potential to be a leader of leaders. Have double vision. See deeper than others see. Meet their needs and give them something to do and the rest will be history.

I Samuel 22:22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house.

Doeg the Edomite
1. He was a man of responsibility 1Samuel 21:7
a. Saul’s chief herdsman
b. He is at least some what religious because he has stopped to worship.
2. He is loyal to the wrong king to a fault 1Samuel 22:9
a. It is one thing to obey the king and even inform the king
b. He will end up being so loyal to the king that he will lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed
3. Doeg kills the men of God. 1Samuel 22:18
a. When no one else will raise their hand against the Lord’s anointed Doeg does so. Everyone else knows that you are not to raise your hand against the Lord’s anointed no matter what. 1Chronicles 16:22 Psalm 105:15
b. He kills 85 of God’s men
c. David would not harm the man of God even to protect or better his life. 1Samuel 24:6, 1Samuel 26:9; 2Samuel 1:14
4. David saw something in Doeg that let him know about his character
a. Maybe it was that he was associated with Saul.
b. Maybe it was his reputation

The thought of going down in the history books as a wicked man that would want prominence enough to kill 85 innocent men of God would destroy me. Each day we are all writing history. What will you have accomplished in your lifetime? How will you be known when they write your life story? Doeg had a position. He had power and influence. He preferred to be approved by an earthly king than by the heavenly king. He wasn’t wise in making choices because I feel sure that he helped Saul because he wanted a secure future. I think that he thought he was moving on up in relationship with the king and the kingdom but what he didn’t realize was that he was destroying his life, his family, his future, and his reputation.

I Samuel 23:17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

What kind of character did Jonathan have to have to be willing to step down from the position of leader, future king of Israel, to allow David to lead? His father is afraid of losing his position but Jonathan willing gives up his position. Jonathan was much more likely to have a position by surrendering his position and trusting God than Saul was. Saul fights to keep what God is taking from him while Jonathan gains by giving up his position.

Here is a tremendous message for families and the relationship between a man and his wife. The wife like Jonathan is of no lesser value, importance, intelligence etc. Jonathan was born to be a king. He was trained to be a king but realized that God had someone else in mind to lead and was willing to submit to him. Interestingly David never asks him to submit. Jonathan submits because he sees that it is the will of God for his life. A good family message can be developed from this verse and Biblical principle.

Jonathan’s willingness to step down is also a major leadership lesson. He realized that to accomplish God’s will for the kingdom he would have to give up what was his. He was willing to put aside his name, his goals, and his own good for the good of the kingdom.

Another principle to consider is that Jonathan could submit because he had seen the power of God exhibited in the life of David. I doubt that he could have or would have been willing to submit to a regular person but then David was a giant killer. David was a man that obviously had the power of God on his life.

Please remember that Jonathan is a real man’s man. He is no weakling. He has won a great victory for the cause of Christ in Israel. His willingness to step down is not an indication of weakness but strength and maturity.

I Samuel 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Do you seek to have a disciple that you can teach and train? Something will have to be done that will cause the one that you will teach to desire to allow you to teach them.

You have to earn the right to teach them. It is not just a normal and natural thing that they would allow you to disciple them. They are looking for someone that will be able to really help them.

In this Bible story Jonathan is the prince. He knows that he is the man. Who could lead him? Who can teach him? The answer is the one that brings the giant’s head in his hand when even his dad was unable to win the battle. You can win his heart and love but you must prove your spiritual walk, power and victory before they will want to follow you.

Do you have the victory in your spiritual life? Is God blessing you in a visible way? He will be willing to acknowledge your ability and wisdom when he sees God’s hand on your life.

I Samuel 18:9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

What a horrible way to live! Always afraid that David would get his spot. Hurting every time he heard someone brag on David or congratulate him. If you intend to disciple others you must remember that your goal will be to make them a success. Your goal will be to promote them to a position higher than your own. Obviously God is going to use this attitude to remove Saul from his position and to train David to withstand criticism etc but as a discipler you must learn a different attitude.

David seems to have had a different attitude. He sat at the table with other leaders and men who had done as great a work as he had or even greater. Of his mighty men we find stories that rival the killing of the giant with even greater exploits yet David is able to work with them and trust them.

Remember if he is not strong enough to hurt you if will, then he is not strong to help you if he will. If you are to put II Timothy 2:2 into practice then you must be willing to see men surpass you in ministry and influence. John the Baptist said that he must decrease so that the one who followed him could increase. John 3:30. Can you deal with such a blow to your pride. If you can then God can use to make a major difference in other people’s lives and in World Evangelism.

I Samuel 13:19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

The Philistines got rid of the smiths so that the Israelites could not make swords or spears. Satan has effectively done the same thing to the church of God today.

Pastors, missionaries and other leaders refuse to mentor or disciple young men today. There is little or no life on life discipleship taking place around the world.

Therefore very few know how to use their sword today which is the Word of God. We have become helpless before our enemy. We do not know how to train our young. 2 Timothy 2:2 has become a strange doctrine and an even stranger practice in our churches.

We wonder why the work of God does not go forward but we have forgotten His greatest teaching which is that to carry on the gospel we must teach others to observe whatsoever He has commanded us. Matthew 28:19-20.

If the Israelites want to effectively do battle with the Philistines and other enemies in the future they will need to get some smiths again.

If we truly desire to evangelize the world in our generation we will have to develop life on life disciplers and mentors once again.

I Samuel 4:7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

What an accusation! God is come into the camp and there hath not been such a thing heretofore. I am afraid that this is the condition of much of the work we are doing around the world today. We are busy. Things are happening but is God in the camp. Are we doing it in the flesh or in the spirit. Do we have God’s power or is it our ability? Amazingly when the Philistines knew that God was in the camp they were afraid. I believe even Satan will tremble when he knows that God is in the camp. We can stop the forward spread of the Muslim religion but we must have God in the camp. We will be able to see the world evangelized in our generation but we must have God in the camp.

To get God in the camp they went and brought the ark to themselves. We must be careful that we do not try to use God or His power for our own intents and purposes. Symbols and show will not suffice. He must really be in the camp. How much time do we spend with Him in Bible study and prayer? In this story the Ark doesn’t make the difference. They lose the battle and the ark. I want to know that I am God’s man and that I do have His power so that the demons of Hell know both Paul, Jesus and me. Acts 19:15

I Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

In the days of Samuel there was no open vision and the Word of the Lord was precious or scarce because God had not given it all and was not giving it at the time. God needed a man or wanted to use a man to get His Word to the people. I now say to you that the vision is sill not open or at least not much and it is still precious and scarce.

When you consider that 40% of the world has no way of hearing the Word and 65% of the world doesn’t know you will realize that things are scarce. What are we to do. God is still looking for a man. God is still looking for someone to take His Word to the world. Will He have to get rid of the old men who have gotten off track before He can do something. Will we have to wait until Samuel is born and raised to proceed. I hope not.

Will you step forward and say Lord here am I send me? That is the question why is the world still without the Gospel? It is because we will not yield ourselves to be used?

The fear is that men step forward to PREACH but that they do not preach the WORD!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to my dearest friend. Thank you for the last 40 years. Thank you for all the hard days and nights of work as you raised 4 wonderful children. Thank you for having the tenderest heart, the sweetest tears, the kindest words, and the deepest love in this world. Thank you for loving and raising such wonderful children.

As I sit here thinking of all these years I am blessed. I am blessed to have watched you all these years. I am blessed to have been allowed to share these years with you! I dreamed of days like this when I would think back on all the great things that God has done in our lives.

I have watched you pack up your house to move from the USA to Mexico, from Mexico to Peru, from Peru to the USA. You have been great at it every time.

I have watched you love a bunch of people that we get to call friends and be mom to Peruvian Pastors and American missionaries. I have watched you be a great grandmother to your grandchildren.

I just want you to know that I love you and wish you a very special Happy Mother’s Day.

I also want to wish Happy Mother’s Day to Stephanie Young, Joy Soncco, Andria Gardner, Katie Gardner, and to our moms, Evelyn Ferguson and Carolyn Gardner. I love you all!

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Isn’t it about time that we begin to do what is right in His eyes instead of the way we see it. I am afraid that Christianity today has been so watered down that we do what we think is right with little consultation with Him. Isn’t it time that we begin digging into the Word of God to see what we can find there so that we are able to know and do what is right in His heart? I wonder how many missionaries and how much money would be given if we were truly committed to doing what is in His heart?

I wonder how faithful we would be to the Word of God, prayer, worship services etc if we really considered what is right in His eyes?

Judges 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

A great discipleship principle! God sees Gideon as he is and as he will be. The principle of “double vision.” As you disciple you must see what the person can become not just what he is. As you see what he will be then help that person to see what God can do in his life. Give him a vision. Help him to dream of being a mighty man of valor.

Judges 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

God wants man to know that it is His power that does the work. our God is a miracle working God. He wants man to realize his great need of Him. This encourages our hearts to know that what God wants is our obedience and faith. There are and will be great battles on the field where God calls you. Remember that the victory is the Lord’s. The battle doesn’t go to the many or the mighty. It goes to those who trust in Him and are willing to do battle His way.

Judges 7:3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

Fear is contagious. Numbers do not impress. It is better to have fewer but faithful and fearless than many with fear. The faithless and fearful will destroy the ministry. Do not try to talk them into service. This is a discipleship and leader training principle. It must be in their heart. You have to constantly beg them then they are not leadership material.

Judges 7:4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

There must be barriers to leadership training. First the cowards went home and then the careless. Those who can be trained for leadership will be comparatively few. Maybe all could go on but not all will. Some will be afraid. Others will want to do battle their way. Others will be careless but some will keep coming back for more. These you can train.

Judges 8:4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

They were faint, tired, and weak but still pursuing. God is looking for some who can and will keep going even when they get tired. Determination and diligence get the ministry done. Gideon’s men had fought for hours. They had dealt with their critics but nothing stopped them. They were tired in the battle or service but not of the battle nor the service.

Judges 8:6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

Amazingly no one wants to help until they know you have won the battle. You will be alone and lonely much of the time. You will be criticized by those more successful and bigger than you are Don’t be discouraged when you are misunderstood and falsely accused . Just do the job He called you to do and when He is ready he will promote you and vindicate you.

Judges 8:20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.

We can’t expect our children to do what we have not trained them to do. They may act the part by wearing the sword but not have it in their hearts. We can’t live out our ministry and our love for God through our children. We must give them the example and then teach them out to do it.

They must have experience or they will fail at that crucial moment. The disciple must start with the smallest homework. As he gets comfortable in his personal walk with God, his Bible reading and prayer then he can move along to bigger and better things. Do not fall into the trap of moving your disciple forward too quickly. There are no shortcuts. All you will be doing is setting him up to fail. Do not embarrass him, rather prepare and train him. It isn’t his lack of love for God or lack of hatred for sin that causes his failure rather his faulty preparation or maybe our zeal to produce without proper preparation.

Judges 9:17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

What a beautiful word. He “adventured” his life. Do you dream of adventure. It only comes by finding a cause or purpose greater than yourself and then risking your life, your future, your all to accomplish the task.

How did he adventure his life?
1. He believed that God could use him when there was no earthly reason to believe except God’s word.
2. He publicly stepped out by faith to do what God wanted him to do.
3. He threw all human rational thought to the winds when he decided to believe God and do things his way
4. He didn’t quit when he got tired or criticized.
5. He didn’t take credit for the victory

Judges 12:3 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

I want you to notice the phrase “I put my life in my hands”. What does he mean by that? 1Sa_19:5; 1Sa_28:21. He had risked his life and for a good cause. I wonder when the last time is that the people of God have risked their lives for one of His causes. Not that we are not willing to risk our lives as firemen, policemen, soldiers, but my question is do we risk our lives giving an amount that could put us in danger for His causes. Do we step out and speak up for Him to the point that it could even risk our friendships and popularity? Will we get on an airplane and fly to a country and preach and teach the gospel. Much of the religious freedom that is enjoyed in Peru today is due to the willingness that Fransico Penzotti felt to take his life in his hand. He preached when it was against the law. He spent eight months in the prison at Callao for preaching. Somebody will have to take a risk for the cause of Jesus Christ or the Muslims will soon take over the world with a false religion.

Judges 5:2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, When the people willingly offered themselves.

What a novel idea. Most Christians today say they are willing if He calls them but they are not going to just “give” themselves. The worst thing about this story is that we preachers have taught them this attitude. We are afraid that people will get ahead of the Lord., Out of his will we say.

In this Bible story there was a need. The people saw the need & rose to the occasion. With so many dying without Christ isn’t it time we saw the need & willingly offered ourselves.

Judges 5:18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death In the high places of the field.

They risked their lives. And the annals of history, the very Word of God records their story. You will not accomplish much with your life in the comfort of your home. If security is what you are looking for then do not expect to do much for the cause of heaven. You won’t be able to give for fear that you won’t have enough for yourself. You won’t be able to witness for him for fear that someone might laugh or slam the door in your face. You won’t preach for fear of failure. You are afraid of deputation or the language so you condemn yourself to a live of mediocrity.

Fear is the tool of the devil. God has not given us the spirit of fear. Risk your life. Do something that will make a difference. Step out on nothing by faith and see what God will do with your life.

Judges 5:23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; Because they came not to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the mighty.

The Angel of the Lord curses them for not coming to the aid of the Lord in His purpose. There was a battle against the mighty-Satan. Today there is a battle against him also. Then it was over a country and land Today it is over the souls of mankind. Today how many are concerned about the Lord’s purposes. Since we seem to think that God is here for our purposes we rarely seek to get involved in His fight. Can you hear the curse from the very Angel of the Lord.

Judges 2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

God would not drive out their enemies from before them and they would deal with the consequences from then on. This had to be a terrible thing to hear. It is the same today in our world. If you do not step out and take the victory that God has given you over sin then you will deal with the consequences all your life.

The sin will be like a thorn in your side and a snare or trap for you! We have been given victory and all we need to live above sin. It is time to simply by faith step out and accept who we are and who God made us to be!

Judges 3:4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

He left nations there to prove them. God is testing us so much of the time. He could solve the problem. He has the answer but we must realize what His goal is in our life. Will we obey or not? Will we do right and what He commands us even if others do not and it isn’t popular.

What has He commanded those of us who live in the church age. We are to take the gospel to the world. How seriously do we take this command. Not much more seriously than the Israelites took the Lord’s commands.

Will you prove your love and obedience or your rebellion, your laziness, your selfishness.

Joshua 17:17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: 18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.

The house of Joseph had come to Joshua saying that they were greatly blessed of God and needed more land. He tells them that he agrees that they are greatly blessed and have great power so they should climb up in the mountains and take the land of the Canaanites. They should be making excuses about their chariots or strength since they are so strong.

So often we feel like we are special and deserve more than we are willing to work for. That needs to change. God does have great things for you but we need to work to get them. God just doesn’t drop things out of heaven into our life.

Live up to who He made you to be. Enjoy all His blessings by really getting involved in the work!

Joshua 21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

What a wonderful precedent! Not one of the promises of God failed that the Lord had spoken. We have great and wonderful promises as we go about World Evangelism. I can promise you that not one of them will fail. You and I have guaranteed success. We can have the promises fulfilled of the Great Commission.
1. His power Acts 1:8
2. His presence Matthew 28:20
3. His protection Mark 16:17-18
4. His peace John 20:21
5. The Person of the Holy Spirit Luke 24:49

Joshua 15:63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

All of God’s people were promised victory. It was theirs for the having but often they were not committed and would not go out and get what was theirs. Here the people of Jerusalem will live with people that they could have defeated. They dwell with them to this day the verse says when they could have had victory. They were supposed to have victory.

Just because it is promised does not mean that you will get it. You must act on the promises. You have victory. You can defeat sin but that doesn’t mean that you will. It does mean that you could. You must yield yourself. You must give yourself to God and His Word and act on it.

If not you will live with your failures staring you in the face!

Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

How many times do we get in trouble because we do not ask the Lord’s counsel. So many times we rationally think it out. We do what we have heard others tell us would be good but we do not consult with God.

How do we ask God what to do? First we do not pray, we get in the Word of God and see what the Bible teaches that we should do. After much time in the Word we pray spiritually and with wisdom of what the Word of God teaches. This way God can direct our paths.

Too many times men say that God has led them but the direction was based on emotions and arriving on the mission field the emotions quickly disappear. The missionary can’t stay on the field because he has not gotten direction from God but from his emotions. Don’t make a move until you consult with the Lord or you will pay the price for many years.

Joshua 8:35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

Joshua stopped the people and read all of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy or at least all the parts that had the commandments and rules in them. They included the children in the reading, the strangers that were with them, and all of their people.

Knowing what God says is important. We should be reading and studying His Word. We know God through the Word of God. I would challenge you to become a Bible reading and studying person. Read it all. Read it till you get very familiar with it and then keep on reading it! Read it alone. Read it with your family. Read it in public. Read it with the church. Read it period!

I personally believe that a great weakness in the church and around the world is the lack of Bible reading, Bible studying and Bible believing among those that claim to be God’s people!

Joshua 3:13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.

Often God tells His people that He will move when they move! Step out and the waters will part.

The waters were going to be cut off when the soles of the feet of the priests rested in the waters of Jordan. 
God was going to move. Often we want God to make our way super clear. He wants us to believe Him.

If we were to see it so clearly it wouldn’t be faith. Faith is believing Him and His Word even when you do not see it. They had His Word. The waters would open up when they stepped out.
 Is there something that God has been dealing with you about that hasn’t happened? Have you been waiting for it to be so super clear that there would be no doubts about it? 
Could it be time for you to just move because you know that is what God wants and just wait on Him to move when you step out by faith?

Deuteronomy 2:14 And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.

Imagine the Bible terms that you find in this verse. They were “men of war” and they were “wasted out” from among the host.

I ask myself how many of the men of God, men of war, in the church of Jesus Christ are wasted out. This story is the story of being wasted because of sin but isn’t that the same story today. Do not men decide to not believe God today. Do they not decide not to step forward in faith to fulfill with their lives what He has for them. So their lives are wasted out.

How many churches and families wander around in a spiritual wilderness because they have yet to hear the Great Commission to go into all the world. Matthew 28:18-20.

For some reason they believe church is about improving their quality of life and that of their children. They desire to raise a good family. They desire to have God’s blessing on their lives but little realize that although he will give you shoes, clothes, and food while you wander in the wilderness waiting to die you will never know the rich blessings of victory that God made you to enjoy.

Rise up on Church of God. Decide now to live the life God calls you to and commands you to have. Do not be satisfied with wandering, wasting, waiting, weeping , and passing that same life on to your children.

Deuteronomy 32:46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

They were told to set their heart to the Words of God. They were to listen to them, love them, believe them, and command their children to do what God had said in His Word.

By setting their heart to His Word they were going to get great value. It would not be a waste. They would have much more successful and happy lives. They would see God’s blessings. They would live longer lives. They would enjoy what God had prepared for them in Jordan.

The Word of God is of great value to us. We need His Word. We should set our hearts to His Word. We should be in the Bible, reading it, learning it, obeying it, teaching it, and certainly teaching our children and commanding them to do what it says.

Just notice the interesting terms in the verse:

Set your hearts!
It is not a vain thing for you!
It is your life!
It will prolong your days!

I don’t know how we can read that without realizing that we really want to get into the Word of God and get it into us!

Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. 16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; 17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; 18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.

This is sure the gossip cure. You have to tell the truth when you speak against someone and you have to be willing to have your testimony examined before God and a court.

You are not to accept accusations against someone without clear evidence and that means more than one witness.

If you are not telling the truth but trying to be a witness in the trial you will receive the punishment that was intended for the accused.

I can only imagine that this would cut down on the false witnesses, accusers, gossiping that we all do! What if your gossip had to stand the test of examination? What if the damage you give to another had to be put on you unless you were telling the truth!

God taught His people how to deal with accusations and being witnesses in a case against another!

Something to consider!

Deuteronomy 12:19 Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.

God established 12 tribes in Israel. He left one tribe (the thirteenth tribe, the extra tribe) without an inheritance except Him. They were not to have fields that they worked or flocks that they kept. They were to depend on the sacrifices and offerings of the 12 tribes.

To be a Levite was a sacrifice. It meant giving up what you could have accomplished with your life, the money you could have earned, the 100 to 1 harvests that you could have had. It meant living knowing that all were to think of you and take care of you and that you were not to take care of yourself. Kind of humbling way to live.

The other tribes might also just get tired of that tribe. After all, they were not to forget them. They were to think of them in their harvests, their good times, their jobs, all their life. They were to take care of them.

This is the life that God has called His men to even in this generation. The missionaries, pastors, staff members, Christian School teachers, etc. live this life. They give up the jobs, the security, the income that they might have made to depend on others to think of them and meet their needs.

Do you take time to remember the men of God or do you consider them a nuisance?

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

The Word of God is to be in our heart! We are to study and learn all that we can. We are to talk about the Word of God. Notice we talk about it every where we go. God’s Word should be a topic of conversation that tends to dominate our talk.

We are to talk of it to our children and in our home. But think about it, if it is in your heart will it only be limited to ministry opportunities or will it just spill out at all times.

God’s Word should be front and center in our thinking, our speech, our actions, and our life.

God gave us something to talk about and it is what He has done and said!

Deuteronomy 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

As God instituted judges in Israel He gave them strict instructions to hear and treat all the same. They were to all get justices. They were to treat the foreigner with the same respect they treated those from their own nation.

They were to treat rich and poor alike. They were not to be impressed or intimidated by the big name guys.

I have always found it intimidating when I am around people with more money. They cause me to want to be a man pleaser. You may have that problem as well. The truth is that we are to treat all people with the same respect.

God is a God of justice and expects us to learn from that great truth!

Numbers 33:4 For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

Egypt no doubt thought that they were stronger than and above the God of Israel. They obviously thought their gods were superior but now God has worked His plagues. The firstborn are dead and they are burying them.

God is the only God. There are no other true gods. It is a sobering reminder to see that God carried out what He promised at the expense of so many! All we have is to believe Him. There is nothing else. No other gods, no other belief system that truly works.

God showed that all the false gods were exactly that.

You can believe Him when He says anything. His promises are true!

Numbers 32:21 And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,

In the story they promise to go over armed and ready to fight. They will do battle with their brothers but the interesting thing is that they realize that it is God that will drive out the enemies before Himself.

I get ready to fight, I go to war but I do not win the war, He does.

That is hard to balance. I often think it is me. I think that I must but it is Him. I think it depends on me but basically they just showed up ready and God did the work.

Isn’t that a wonderful truth! We go armed but He drives the enemy out before Himself!

Numbers 23:23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, Neither is there any divination against Israel: According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

My heart and hunger is that God would so do a work in our midst that all would know that what happens is something only He can do! I do not want to be part of a ministry that is within the realm of what we can do!

The church is His! He will build His church! World Evangelism is His ministry! I want to see Him do what He will do for His honor and glory. I want to know that I have only been along for the ride!

He is a great God and He does great works.

No matter what Balaam did he couldn’t curse Israel. They belonged to God. God had done the great work.

I pray that someday people will have to say about Vision that it was God that did it all! It was more than could ever be attributed to a pastor, staff, men, money or anything else!

Numbers 18:20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

As I read this passage of Scripture I thought about how much I worry about having stuff. Aaron was told that he would have nothing but the Lord. I always seem to be wanting. I want things. I want toys. I want security in money, retirement, etc. I have a real problem with this.

Yet as I read this verse I realize that God told Aaron that he would have nothing but the Lord. That should be more than enough for me. I need to die to myself. I need to quit wanting stuff. I always look around, compare my salary to others. I think of what I am going to do to take care of myself and my wife when I get old.

I am convicted today. I am greedy. I am covetous. I am ashamed of my strong link to the things of this world.

Evening Ceremony on the Ganges | Pastor Austin Gardner from Trent Cornwell on Vimeo.

A great team of friends is putting together a documentary on the need there and you can see it here. Click now!

Numbers 14:9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

As the nation of Israel stood on the banks of the Jordan River they decided not to obey God and take His promise to heart. They were afraid. This fear caused them to rebel against God. The fear was a sign that they didn’t believe God. They will end up suffering for over 40 years because of this mistake.

It makes me think of our missionaries and others as they see what God could do and then allow fear to take over and control their lives. They allow fear to make them unfaithful to the Lord, they rebel against God.

How many of us do not honor God with our money due to fear? How many are afraid to trust God with their future, their children, their lives? This fear causes us to be the worse we can be.

Trust God. Step out by faith and live out who you are!

Numbers 9:14 And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.

I love it that God allowed the stranger that was living with them to have access to the offering that would save them from death. God made it available and all the stranger had to do was follow God’s instructions on how to participate in the Passover service.

Even here you see God’s missionary heart. He loved everyone. He was making provision for all. The stranger simply had to do what the Word of God said do just like He does now!

God is a missionary God. He wants the world to know that there is forgiveness in the death of the Lamb. He wants them all to know that He has paid the penalty for sin and all can be saved!

Numbers 6:24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

As the men of God prayed for Israel I want to pray for each of you from Vision and all others that love the Lord Jesus. I pray God will bless you and keep you. I pray that the Lord will shine His face of grace on you and be super gracious to you. I pray you will have peace.

This the heart of God and the heart of His men that love His people. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for loving Jesus. Thank you for allowing Him to work in and through you! I know that He has already done all in this verse to us in Jesus and that He keeps on doing so everyday!

Numbers 3:9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.

God made Aaron and his family the priests. He gave the Levites to Aaron to help him accomplish the work that he was to do. They would move the Tabernacle. They would set it up and take it down. They would help with the sacrifices.

That is much what God did in the New Testament when He gave the church those first deacons. They were there to help the pastors, teachers, elders give themselves totally to the Word of God and prayer. They would protect the pastor and allow him to do the work that God had called him to do.

God has been great to the church to provide for every area of service!

Levitiucs 25:35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. 36 Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

If he is in trouble you should relieve him. You are to relieve your brother an even the stranger and the guy just traveling through. You should not see a guy down on his luck, things not working out, in trouble and try to take advantage of him. You want to take care of others. You want to be a giver.

What a great lesson. The grace of God that causes Him to be so good to the undeserving calls on us to be good to them to. We are to live out what we have experienced in Christ.