Kindling Ministries, Ron Allen's Blog

Triumphant Living, part 3, Feast of Tabernacles, Through Testing to Blessing

My message from Oct. 4 is outlined below. The podcast can be found at www.hccfw.com. 

The Feast of Tabernacles was the final and most important holiday of the year. The importance of this festival is indicated by the statement, “This is to be a lasting ordinance.” The divine pronouncement, “I am the Lord your God,” concludes this section on the holidays of the seventh month. The Feast of Tabernacles begins five days after Yom Kippur on the fifteenth of Tishri (September or October). It is a drastic change from one of the most solemn holidays in our year to one of the most joyous. The word Sukkoth means “booths,” and refers to the temporary dwellings that Jews are commanded to live in during this holiday, just as the Jews did in the wilderness. The Feast of Tabernacles lasts for seven days and ends on the twenty-first day (3x7) of the Hebrew month of Tishri, which is Israel’s seventh month.

This holiday has a dual significance: historical and agricultural (just as Passover and Pentecost). Historically, it was to be kept in remembrance of the dwelling in tents in the wilderness for the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert.

It is expounded in Leviticus 23:43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

What were they to remember?

Matthew Henry’s commentary explains,

1.) The meanness of their beginning, and the low and desolate state out of which God advanced that people. Note: Those that are comfortably fixed ought often to call to mind their former unsettled state, when they were but little in their own eyes. 2.) The mercy of God to them, that, when they dwelt in tabernacles, God not only set up a tabernacle for Himself among them, but, with the utmost care and tenderness imaginable, hung a canopy over them, even the cloud that sheltered them from the heat of the sun. God’s former mercies to us and our fathers ought to be kept in everlasting remembrance. The eighth day was the great day of this holiday, because then they returned to their own houses again, and remembered how, after they had long dwelt in tents in the wilderness, at length they came to a happy settlement in the land of promise, where they dwelt in goodly houses. And they would the more sensibly value and be thankful for the comforts and conveniences of their houses when they had been seven days dwelling in booths. It is good for those that have ease and plenty sometimes to learn what it is to endure hardness.

They were to keep this holiday in thankfulness to God for all the increase of the year; however, the emphasis is that Israel’s life rested upon redemption which in its ultimate meaning is the forgiveness of sin. This fact separates this holiday from the harvest festivals of the neighboring nations whose roots lay in the mythological activity of the gods.

Isaiah 61:7  Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy will go on forever.

No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

No matter what, we are not going to give up. We are going to keep pressing forward. We have a holy determination.

THE PEOPLE WHO SUCCEED IN LIFE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE WHO ARE THE MOST TALENTED. BUT SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE HAVE THIS IN COMMON. THEY ARE ALL DETERMINED. THEY PERSEVERE.

We walk in the midst of warfare. We are all facing opposition and obstacles. Life is a battle. We have to have a warrior mentality.

A person who continues to have faith in God is positioned for victory. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. We therefore have staying power, keep on keeping on power.

God only permits in our lives that which will be redemptive for us.

Shake off self-pity and discouragement. God will not only bring you through, but He will bring you through to a better place than where you were in Him.

EVERY SET BACK IS A SET UP FOR A GREATER COME BACK.

We walk by faith, not by sight.

Our latter days will be greater than our former days.

LOSERS FOCUS ON WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH, WINNERS FOCUS ON WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO. 

 

Triumphant Living, part 2, Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.

Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar is also call the day of atonement. It is time for introspection, prayer, reflection, repentance, and self-correction. For Christians it is a celebration that we are no longer bound by the law. Jesus Christ is our once and for all sacrifice for our sins. He is our salvation. We have failed to save ourselves by keeping the law, and have come at His invitation to utterly rely on Calvary and Jesus Christ paying the debt of our sin. 

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ.It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself for me."

1. It is the relinquished life.  In identifying with Christ's death on the cross, I am dead to sin and alive to God. 

2. It is the exchanged life.  Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit lives His life through me.

3. It is the trusting life. We trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.

I am wholly available to God and totally unavailable to the enemy. My yes to God is so big and complete there is no room for any conversation with the evil one.  

Hope that doesn't disappoint. Romans 5:5

Here is the outline from my message at Heartland Church on August 30.

ABOUND IN HOPE!


Romans 15:13. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

WHERE DOES HOPE COME FROM?

Psalm 39:7. “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.”


Ephesians 2:12. “. . . remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

WHAT IS HOPE? JOY AND PEACE, NOT SORROW AND STRESS!

Proverbs 13:12. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”


Romans 8:23-25. “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”


Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”


1 Peter 3:15-16. ". . . but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”


1 Corinthians 15:19. “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

HOW DO WE GET HOPE?

1. By Believing Patiently.

Hebrews 6:11-20. “And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may  not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

2. By the Word.

Romans 15:4. “. . . through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

3. By the Holy Spirit. (5:13 itself)

HOW MUCH HOPE IS ENOUGH?

Ephesians 3:20. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us ...”

WHAT DOES HOPE LOOK LIKE?

2 Corinthians 3:12. “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” 

Revisiting an important truth.

I am posting once again an article I first wrote in November, 2008...

The Maturity of the Church is Measured by Our Ability to Restore

Galatians 6:1,2  “Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

There are some Christians who have the uncanny ability to turn on their brother or sister at the very time support and encouragement are most needed. John Wimber used to say, “The army of God is the only army in the world that shoots it’s own wounded.” We need to heed the counsel of scripture when a member of the Body of Christ sins.

Matthew 11:28-30  “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The Pharisees imposed burdens, Jesus came lifting burdens. Are we lifting burdens or imposing them?

In Galatians 6, Paul is telling the church that when a saint sins, their job is not to punish and be vindictive, but to forgive, heal, and restore.

It was the church’s responsibility corporately to be redemptive in their ministry to the fallen.

While the sin is undefined and unexpected, it was not habitual, but an unexpected moral failure. So the church had an assignment to proactively redemptively help. This was not a license for the saint to be a busybody or validate their nosiness. But the concern was that the sinner not be overwhelmed by guilt and lost forever, or not be so intimidated by the power of sin as not to deal with it. The church is to help the fallen do what they cannot do by themselves.

The word “restore” means to mend a net or to set broken bones for healing to begin. It is in the present imperative tense. This means it is a mandate, and it is an ongoing process. It is the same word used in Ephesians 4:12 as the word “equip.” It clearly means creating a climate for repentance, forgiveness, healing, and restoration. 

Restoration is to be carried out in a spirit of gentleness. This means the church must be careful not to cause further injury. This is not because we are to be soft on sin, but because we are to rescue the sinner. It’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

We are not guaranteed a sin free life as saints. 1 John 1, makes that clear. But we are promised grace for the trial and cleansing for the repentant. That is also why Paul gives a warning to the those who are restoring to be careful. No one is ever as vulnerable to the evil one as when they think they are above sinning themselves. Spiritual pride opens the door to failure. Those who are “spiritual,” are those who walk in humility, obedience, and love before God and before other saints. They say, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” They are willing to give the same grace to others, that God has extended to them. 

Matthew 7:1-5  “Do not judge so you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge, you will be judged, and the measure you use, will be the measure you receive. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own eye.? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye,” while there is a beam in your own? You hypocrite, first remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck in your brother’s eye.”

Judging is a boomerang. What goes around, comes around. It’s the law of sowing and reaping. Let’s live life on God’s terms. God’s way is the best way. We are free to choose any way we want. But we are not free to avoid the consequences of what we chose. If we have made bad choices and we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May the church always be a safe haven for the fallen and be proven in maturity by our ability to restore the fallen.

Lessons in Forgiveness

What follows is a summary of what I shared at Heartland this morning. You can download the podcast at www.hccfw.com  

Matt. 6:9ff "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." If we hold on to an offense it will eventually turn into hate. Then, we are in real trouble. 

Three Reasons to Forgive.

1.  Because God has forgiven me. Col. 3:13 "Be ready to forgive, never hold a grudge. Remember God forgave you, so you must forgive others." God will never ask me to forgive others more than He has forgiven me. 

2.  Because resentment doesn't work. Job 5:2 "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do." It's not what has been done to us that is determinative, but how we respond to what has been done.

3.  Because I'll need forgiveness in the future. Mark 11:25 When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too." Refusing to forgive burns the very bridge I need to cross over to get into the Kingdom of God.

How do I get over a hurt?

1.  Never retaliate. Prov. 20:22 "Don't take it on yourself to repay a wrong. Trust the Lord and He will make it right."  

2.  Deal with it quickly. Eph. 4:28 "Don sin by nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun go down with you still angry. Get over it quickly."

3.  Forgive whether on not people apologize. Eph. 4:32 "Forgive each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ."

God allows us to be hurt to teach us how to respond like Jesus. 

Luke 6:27-28,35 "Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. You will have great reward."

Finish the hurt, feed the healing.

Reflections on Chip's message to Heartland Church

What’s on the heart of God right now? You. There are three areas of thinking that determine how I am viewing life.  1. How am I seeing God?  2. How am I viewing myself?  3. What do I think I have to do to please God and get my needs met? Luke 15, the story of the prodigal son captures the shift in thinking I need to make.  In order for Jesus to get what He paid for on the cross, I have to get what he paid for.  Can I locate myself in the story Jesus told? Jesus was talking to two groups, the sinners and tax collector who pressed close and the Pharisees and religious leaders who stood back in criticism. So Jesus told a story about two brothers. Both brothers were wrong. The younger said, “I want.”  And the older brother said, “I should.” The younger son had too much bad, and the older not enough good. Both avoided intimacy. Both declared their independence. Both lived life on their own terms.  The younger finally got it and got in. The older didn’t get it and was left out. The one trying the hardest got left out. The cross slashes the throat of pride. Both postures were equally wrong, but not equally dangerous. “I want.” “I should.” The way to miss the Father’s best for me is to succumb to religion. Religion is man’s substitute for biblical faith, deciding for my self how life ought to go. It is the opposite of trusting God. “I want,” will seek to self medicate. “I should,” will seek to control with self imposed rules. Both are sin. We can repent and rest in the Father’s love. Resting is not vegging out, but putting our full confidence in God and in His provision. For the full podcast of Chip’s message visit, www.hccfw.com    

A Letter to Heartland Church

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thess. 5:18

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I have been thanking God for His goodness and blessings this morning in my devotions. I want to thank you for your incredible grace and faithfulness to Him and to Heartland Church in this difficult season. Your partnerships in faith and ministry have enabled us to continue to serve God and others in ways we could not have done alone. I value your words of encouragement, your hugs, your prayers, your attendance at various gatherings, your financial support, your optimism and confidence that God is continuing to bless and anoint us with His Kingdom purpose and provision. We are blessed to be a blessing. And we are called to embrace and extend God’s Kingdom rule in and through our lives. I believe there is a renewed sense of hope and clarity of focus as we continue together to be Heartland Church and make our unique contribution to our city and region. The new vigor on the various task forces is more evident every day. I am greatly encouraged about children’s ministries, Jr. High, and Sr. High. Sunday morning services have been wonderful. And we continue to send out mission teams across the land. I know that many are going through personally challenging situations. I pray for you about your health issues, family difficulties, financial pressures, job uncertainty, and the struggles in your own faith walk. God is using hardship to teach us that we can rely on Him more than on anyone or anything else. Your response to my sermon series on overcoming adversity has been gratifying. Let us not grow weary in well doing. Let us not pull back from the opportunities before us. Let us continue to do together what we cannot do alone. We have a better day before us. Let us continue to pursue the face of God and walk in fellowship with Him and each other.

Thank you,

Ron Allen, for the ministry coaches. 

Lessons Learned in Adversity

This is the last sermon in my series on overcoming through adversity. I shared this on Sunday morning, January 25.

I Pet. 4:12, 19 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trials you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you… Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

There are five ways God uses problems in our lives.

I.          GOD USES PROBLEMS TO DIRECT ME.

“Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” Pr.20:30

Prodigal son, came to his senses, Lk.15:15ff

Jonah, go spit out in the right direction, Jo

Elijah, he had to move because the brook dried up. 1 Kg 17:7

ASK: “Where is this problem pointing me?” (Pain is God’s megaphone.)

II.         GOD USES PROBLEMS TO INSPECT ME.

“The Lord God led you all the way in the desert these 40 years…to test you in order to know what was in your heart…” Dt.8:2

“Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance…so you may be mature and complete..” Jas.1:2-4

People are like tea bags, a little hot water reveals what’s inside.

“I the Lord, have tested you in the fire of suffering, as silver is refined in a furnace.” Is.48:10

ASK:  “What does this problem reveal about me?”

(victim or pilgrim?)

III.        GOD USES PROBLEMS TO CORRECT ME.

“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your statutes.” Ps.119:71 “…it taught me to pay attention to your laws.”

“Let God train you, for He is doing what any loving father does for his children. Whoever heard of a son who was never corrected.” Heb.12:7

ASK: “What is this problem teaching me?” (Not “why” but “what”)

We resist learning the truth about ourselves.

IV.       GOD USES PROBLEMS TO PROTECT ME.

1 Pe.3:17 “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good, than for doing evil.” Ex. Joseph “You meant it for evil, God meant it for good.” Gen.50:20

Ro. 8:28 God’s purpose is greater than our problems.

ASK: “How is this problem benefiting me?” God never wastes anything given to Him, even our hurts and sins.

V.        GOD USES PROBLEMS TO PERFECT ME.

“We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for us, they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it…” Ro.5:3-4

ASK: “How is this problem making us more like Jesus?”

A person fully submitted to God is never diminished, only enhanced.

Heb.2:10 “bring many sons to glory, perfected through sufferings…

           

Trusting God through Adversity

This is a summary of my message at Heartland Church, January 18, 2009. For the testimonies and stories that accompanied this message from Dan Utz, Terry Wildman, Nick Robison, and Sheila Telando, you can downland the podcast at www.hccfw.com.

"My God will supply all that you need from His glorious resources in Christ Jesus," Phillipians 4:19 When the Apostle Paul shared this truth he was not saying we would never have opportunity to doubt the truth of this verse. We all wonder at times as we face unrelenting difficulty if God was really telling the truth. But the testimonies this morning all affirm that God is trustworthy and even when we may be impatient or disappointed, that does not negate the fact the God is always up to something redemptive.

It does seem in the short term that God is neglecting to act on His promises. We need to remember as Christians that we are not promised exception from tests. Hardship in the school of the Holy Spirit is to teach us to rely on no one or no thing other than God Himself. "These trials are to test your faith, to prove you strong and true in trusting God." 1 Peter 1:7 "According to your faith, be it done unto you." Matthew 9:29

There are at least four tests in life to help us prove our faith. 1.  There is the pressure test. "How will I handle stress?"  "I want you to trust Me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory." Psalms 50:15  2. There is the people test. "How will I handle disappointment?"  "You should stop trusting in people to save you, because people are only human." Isaiah 2:22  If we trust others to do for us what only God can do, we will always disappointed. 3. The persistence test. "Will I keep my commitments?" "The wise person will find a time and a way to do what he has purposed to do." Ecclesiastes 8:5 4. The priorities test. "What or who will be first in my life?" "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His rule, and all things necessary will be given to you." Matthew 6:33  What is first in my thoughts, time, and money? Those who trust in the Lord will never be disappointed.