ARCC Sermons

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April 29th

We are reading in 1 Chronicles chapters 7-10 today.

Chapter 9 especially arrested my attention. And I must/ we must credit the Holy Spirit because that is what He does. He guides believers into all truth...truth about God...truth from God...and especially the truth that is God...in Jesus Christ.

“Holy Spirit give us “heart” eyes to see and “spiritual” ears to hear...You...teaching us.

“So “all” Israel was recorded in genealogies...” The northern 10 tribes of Israel, as a whole, never returned from their Assyrian captivity. But the few who did in the years after migrated into Judah.

Therefore, when Judah was captured by the Babylonians, people of every tribe was represented in Babylonian captivity for 70 years. So Ezra’s prophesy came true. “There will be a day when the divided kingdom of Judah and Israel will be brought together as one back in the land of promise”. And that’s exactly what happened as the exiles returned home.

What a God thing. And listen to another. “And Judah was taken into exile in the first place because of their “breach” of faith.”

What was the God thing? “God using Babylon” to remove the free Israel into bondage...from “free” to “bound”! Were His people alone in Babylonian bondage. Did God leave them alone? No, remember Ezekiel’s prophesy?...the “God cloud” left the Tabernacle and went all the way to the foreign land with them.

To judge them? No...To bring them back to Him...to to break their stubborn will and bring them to repentance and restored fellowship with Him.

“O, Lord...Holy Spirit...restoring and reviving our spirit of worship of God...that’s what You do because You love us...so sometimes love leads us through trial all the way back to Him! Praise You, Lord!

These were the people of promise. These were the promised land people. These were the “Covenant” people of God...“You will be my people and I will be Your God!”...The Covenant relationship was still intact. But the breach of trust had to be restored and God chose a foreign place to do it. So be it!

“Now the first to dwell in their cities again...were the Israelites...” What a strange fact to record. But not really. The southern kingdom of Judah was no more. The northern and southern kingdoms were one kingdom again. The exiles returned home “Israelites”.

One day, “all believers” will have “one” name...”His”...and be all together in “one” glorious place...new heaven and a new earth.

Another God thing...“The first to dwell in their cities again...included the “priests..” This was a praise to the priests. And who should lead in a spiritual work in the land?...the spiritual leaders in the renewed nation...The priests.

This was also a praise to the people coming home...to bring the priests with them...who better to encourage and inspire their moving forward in spiritual growth. God things recognized! Thanks, Lord...we are excited about what You are going to do in our lives moving forward.

Enjoy the rest of the story

Have a great day

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April 28

Our Bible reading today is in the book of songs and prayers...Psalms 81,88,92,93.

God gave these songs and prayers for the good benefit of believers in Him. And there are 150 of them...some short some long. But all of them are God-breathed to our souls.

Because...God wants to deepen, widen, and fill up our understanding of worshipping Him. Let us not miss this. “Our worship of God is not just God-ordained, it’s God-given...God empowered...and we will see that today.

When our prayers seem dry and emotionless, God beckons us to the sights and sounds of beautiful spiritual waters flowing in and through the Psalms. When our singing is labored...when our singing is just going through the motions...when our voices are locked down...deep... until we are happy...it is then that God calls “to us” in our joylessness to meet with Him in the Psalms...and there He lifts us up...to sing with Him...to the heights of eagles’ wings and great mountain summits of renewed spiritual perspectives and passions.

“Lord that is the worship You deserve...that is the worship we want to give to You. Help us Lord.”

To the text...In Ps. 93:1 Begins with "The Lord reigns”...This songwriter had a conviction...a strong belief that he wanted to proclaim. That is...The covenant God of Israel was infinitely high and above every idol and every so-called god-king clammering for the throne of human affection and allegiance.

Perhaps the writer was one of the returning exiles from Babylon. So many good things to be grateful for were being replaced by the worries and fears of coming home to Persian rule. And so the songwriter sang...perhaps with this probable context...”Persia may sit on earthly thrones and seek to rule over us.

But...Fear not...Our God reigns...our God...the One who delivered our forefathers from Egyptian bondage and kept His promise and gave us a land. He reigns...Our faith and our reverence is not in Persia...but in our great God Who will forever reign over us! Let us Worship Him with all of our hearts.”

Friends, Remember this part of the Lord’s prayer? “Thy kingdom come...” That is another way of saying that we believe that our God reigns. His kingdom is above all kingdoms. And His sovereign will reigns and rules... “Even when it doesn't seem like it is.”

No one...nothing...will ever change that for the people of faith in Him. Our God reigns...He is King over all the earth...He is wise and strong enough to establish and sustain it until He is ready to make all things new...

“O Lord, rule in the affairs of men in such a way that Your people will recognize You at work and praise You freely. Lord, rule in the affairs of earth so that the world will recognize Your Gospel of power and justice, and love and grace and mercy...and turn in repentance and faith to You, Jesus...King of all Kings.”

“Your decrees are “very” trustworthy. Help us trust You more. You know the end from the beginning. You know it all...Help us to always believe Your Words. And You are mightier than the thunder of many waters...mightier than all the waves of all the seas. Why would I ever hesitate to come humbly but boldly into your presence my King, to ask your help in matters of all kinds. Do I really think that my influence and my persuasiveness and my intellect and my experience is more powerful than you O Lord in changing things for Your glory? Lord forgive me! “You reign in power to work Your will on earth as it is in heaven! You reign not me!”

Friends, whatever is happening in my world...whatever is happening in your world...let us take heart...“God is happening”. Let us trust Him who reigns over all and simply seek to calm those about us with our testimony of Christ’s faithfulness...from the cross and resurrection to this very hour...OUR GOD REIGNS!

Have a great day

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April 27th

The Bible reading for today is in 1 Chronicles chapter 6...the genealogy of the Levites.

I figure the Levites were particularly interested, if not concerned about the Chronicler’s record of descendants after the 70 years of Babylonian captivity.

Let us remember that Joshua and Aaron’s son Eleazer “divied up” the “land of promise” among the sons of Jacob. Moses had assigned 2 1/2 tribes to the land east of the Jordan River. And Joshua divided up the land of conquered Canaan among the rest of the tribes...except for the “Levites”.

Their inheritance their portion...was the Lord...and leading the nation in the worship of Him as priests and servants of the Tabernacle. The Levite tribe was divided up among the provinces and given certain cities and pasturelands within the province selected.

This way there would be spiritual leadership spread across the new nation.

But let us remember...God gave Moses a most important message to parents in Israel...but especially to the husbands and fathers. Dad’s were to be the spiritual leaders of their own homes...a trust from God...and accountable to God for such service to the family.

The Levitical priesthood was an important piece of spiritual leadership in the new nation. But father’s were intended to be the most important role model for spiritual life in the family...same to this very day.

“Lord, bless each family in your forever family...especially the dads...make them mighty and mightier in Spirit each day. So they can lead their families to know You and do life with You in these days...with great passion and courage!

Now back to the text...The other tribes coming home from Babylon had a whole province and a choice of places within the province to resettle if need be. Not so with the Levitical tribe.

They had to legitimately prove their descent because all of their privileges and honors were tied to that official chronicle record. No wonder this chapter was so important to them.

Today, the Holy Spirit calls ministers to serve churches. The Levites were divinely called to their ministries also. The difference?... God calls ministers today to serve churches “without” any limit as to the family which they have come from. The Levites were limited by their “family tree”.

One more thing that ministers and believers today have in common with the Levitical priests and servants in the day of our reading. Though Gospel ministers today and Levitical priests of another day have been used by God in serving those who believe God, none but the Great High Priest can atone for sin...Jesus...the Messiah they looked forward to...the Savior we look back at.

His sacrificial atoning death for our sin, His burial, and His resurrection that proved that the cross of Jesus Christ was eternally sufficient to save believers from the penalty of their sin. And assure us of eternal life!!!

Praise God...And thanks, Lord, for giving us our Pastors...serving You by serving us and equipping us to fruitful labors in Your kingdom building. Bless them 4 fold for the blessing they are to us.

Have a great day

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April 26th

Psalms 73,77,78 will be our reading today.

Each of these songs today are attributed to Asaph. He was one of the musicians of King David. Some students of scripture have “reason” to think that David was the writer and Asaph was the singer. However, the weight of tradition gives credit to Asaph for the verse and the music.

So we won't fret. We know that the songs were “God-breathed” from heaven just for us who believe Him. Thanks, Asaph...thank You, Lord, of the Song!

To the text..“Truly God is good to Israel; to those who are pure in heart...” Asaph could have been remembering what Moses wrote 400 years before. “The Lord, the Lord God, is merciful and gracious, longsuffering and “abounding” in goodness” and truth.” Ex. 34

Moses lumped merciful, gracious, longsuffering, abounding, and truth all around “God’s goodness”. Whatever goodness means, it includes an unlimited amount of mercy and grace A more than generous amount of patience and truth that sets people free.

God was “this” to Israel...God was “this” to Asaph. Asaph put his feet firmly on that truth of “God’s goodness”. Truly God “is” good! Meaning...God can never be unjust. But things happen that shake that belief.

Oh, friends, we have all had occasion to ask God the “why” question. Storms in life have had their effects upon us. Things have happened to us that we just can't understand or reconcile. I may not understand why God causes some things to happen, but I know that God is good no matter what.

Asaph almost stumbled..almost slipped from faith trying to reconcile the suffering of the righteous and the prospering of the wicked. But he didn't because of a solid scriptural truth he stood on and held to...”Truly God is good...generously good

...especially to his children...whatever that might look like.

Listen to the expansion of Asaph’s conviction of God’s goodness that protected him from the temptation to stray away from God. “Whom have I in heaven but you...there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail...but God is the “strength of my heart” and “my portion” FOREVER!”

How good was God to Asaph? God was heaven for Asaph. God was strength for Asaph’s failing health. God was Asaph’s “portion” forever...that is...God’s presence and fellowship especially in the darkest and scariest of times of life.

Yes, God is good...very good all the time...especially when life gets hard.

And as Asaph sang, “for me, for us, it is good to be near God...that we may tell of all of your good works...

Sounds like a plan...Sounds just like the gospel of Jesus Christ...our Savior for heaven...our comfort in sickness...our “everything we need” for our darkest hours...Come, Lord Jesus!

Have a great day

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April 25

Our Bible reading today is in 1 Chronicle 3-5.

The Chronicler, by the Holy Spirit, continues to record genealogy listings for the purpose of reminding the returning Babylonian exiles that God has been in control even up to and through their capture by Nebuchadnezzar.

When Israel returned to bleak circumstances in Judah and Jerusalem, God reminded them from whence they had come...the great King David...their forefathers, Jacob, Isaac, and Father Abraham all the way back to Noah and the great flood and Seth and Adam from the beginning of mankind.

God was telling His children of faith that they had noble roots...deep and long roots. They were not an afterthought to God’s planning. They “were” God’s plan... from the beginning...a people of His pleasure and for His glory...a land that would cradle the nation that would bring forth the King of all Kings...the Lord of all Lords...Messiah...JESUS.

Today’s reading begins with the genealogy of David’s kin. He had 19 sons. Not all were upstanding citizens...not all were spiritual men. His firstborn, Amnon, raped his sister. Absolom, David’s third born, murdered his rapist brother and led a revolt against his father the king. He wound up hanging in a tree by his hair with three of his uncle’s spears taking his life during the rebellion.

David’s home life was filled with heartache. Can you imagine your favorite son breaking your trust with a murderous rebellion? David still grieved Absolom’s death greatly with a Father’s love. Wow.

And it was Solomon who succeeded his father David as King of Israel upon David’s death. For all the wisdom that God gave to Solomon, his disregard for God’s plan for marriage, as laid out in the Law of Moses, is infamous...famous in a bad way...700 wives and 300 concubines. So God ripped the Kingdom of Israel in two and gave the larger part to one of Solomon’s servants.

One more time we see God’s mercy collide with God’s justice...reminds me of the cross of Christ...Jesus taking God’s judgment on sin upon his own body on the tree...all the way to death...while colliding with God’s mercy and grace bestowed upon guilty sinners who believe Jesus. Praise your Name, Jesus!

I'm going to wind up this short podcast today with a name: Nathan, one of David’s final three sons. Perhaps David named him after the prophet Nathan the friend who held David accountable for his sinning.

Wow...that is friendship...telling one another the truth from God...which leads to repentance and renewed faith in the Savior.

Perhaps when young Nathan grew old enough to ask about his name...David could answer...everytime I call your name I remember the goodness of God toward me by giving me a friend that took the risk to love me when it was hard...that day my guilt-laden conscience was cleared!

My Beverly and Jesus ...they were my Nathan 50 years ago...friend enough to tell me the truth that led me to eternal life then now and forever...I'm eternally grateful... my love...my Savior.

Have a great day

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April 24th

Our reading is in the Psalms today...Ps 43-45, 49, 84,85, 87.

Sons of Korah penned all of the songs we read today. This is interesting to me.

In the book of Numbers, we read about “Korah” leading a rebellion against his cousin Moses. Apparently Korah felt like he had been passed over for leadership in the tribe of Levi. His pride led to his demise.

God judged Korah for refusing to come under the God-ordained authority of Moses. Remember how the earth opened and swallowed up Korah and his 250 fellow dissidents? Israelites won't ever forget that story of shame. Just like we won't forget the American history story of Benedict Arnold.

The interesting part?... God raised up sons of shame to servants of fame. God does that quite often you know...another episode of the grace of God in action.

A son of Korah tells the story of his own journey from spiritual depression to a procession of spiritual praise to His Lord.

“Send out YOUR light and YOUR truth and YOU lead me...” The son of Korah was in a dark place of confusion and fear. He honestly approached his Lord and told him that he felt lost and abandoned. Then the Korahthite son says,”I will hope in God and sing praises to Him.”

How did he get from depression to praise? The young man prayed to God, and the Lord sent light and truth...light to dispel the darkness and truth to set him free from the lies of his enemies.

Wow...that’s our testimony friends. “Jesus” is light and truth for us... every day all day! “Lord...You light our way and You warm our cold souls and give us confidence in Your promises to replace our confusion and fears.

In Psalm 84 we hear the son of Korah refer to a “loveliness” of the place where God dwells...the Tabernacle in his day...

I've often wondered...just what made the place “lovely”? It was a tent unlike any other tent, Ill give you that...but it was still a tent...not Solomon’s stately Temple...so what made the sight of it beautiful? Then it dawns upon me...Him...only Him...His presence...His eternal magnificent unrivaled glory!...the everlasting life of Jesus made it beautiful.

So it wasn't the curtains and the skilled crafted furnishings that caused the songwriter to long for the courts of the Lord. It was the presence of God there and the subsequent worshipping with God’s people... praising their Savior...that was it...that’s what the young servant of God

Lord, You make where you are beautiful...heaven...and in us we believe You!

Enjoy the rest of the songs.

Have a great day

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April 23rd

Our Bible reading today is in 1 Chronicles chapters 1,2.

Most Jewish theologians name Ezra as the “chronicler” of our reading. He was the priest of Judah during the 70 years of Babylonian captivity. He was also the spiritual leader of Judah upon their return to Jerusalem. He inspired and influenced the rebuilding of the Jewish community around the Torah...the written Word of God.

More background...When the Jews returned to their land from Babylon, (present-day, Iraq), there was no Hebrew King...just a pagan Persian Governor. There was no wall of security for the city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah had to rebuild that. There was no temple, so Zerubbabel constructed a rude replica of Solomon’s magnificent structure.

All so sad for God’s chosen people. Those who began the return to their once “promised land” would certainly have been worried about their homes and lands that they had to leave behind.

Would it be their land and their houses to occupy as their parents and grandparents did 70 years before? Those things would have been a natural concern.

But I wonder how many of those 50,000 Jews that returned to Judah truly understood the spiritual concern that they would face.

As prophesied by Ezekiel...“God’s divine presence no longer resided in Jerusalem.”

The vision of the “cherubim throne chariot” with firey wheels within the wheels, surrounded by the cloud of God’s presence, lifted up off the Temple, out of the Holy of Holies, and moved outside the gates of Jerusalem was God’s message to rebellious, unfaithful, idolatrous Judah through Ezekiel.

I wonder how many of the returning exiles came back as repentant believers...when so many that left as captives shouted down Jeremiah’s warnings of the coming destruction of Jerusalem...as God’s judgment against their spiritual whoring with other gods.

The corrupt priests would say things like, “God doesn't care anymore...He cant see what we are doing...and on top of that, “He dwells here in Jerusalem and He can't leave the Temple...therefore, no one can destroy us here, because they can't destroy him.”

Sad and convicting. Oh, what men will do to excuse their unbelief. All of which brings us to our reading in 1&2 Chronicles.

Chapters 1&2 begin God’s words of “hope and faith” for the returning exiled believers. Words of hope for the true believers in the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Words of courage and determination for the true believers in Adonai who promised a land for them forever. .Words for renewed faith for the true believers in Yahweh who promised to make them a nation with the faith of Abraham forever.

God would use the chronicler to give His returning people a new expectation and desire for the God who promised them a King in the line of David whose throne would never be usurped...ever.

That’s Jesus our Savior...praise His Name!

Words of a selective genealogy for His encouraging purpose...such as: Noah’s grandson Madai whose descendants became the Persians. Who let them go from Babylonian captivity? Wow...God arranged that just for His treasured ones...including you and me.

Noah’s grandson Mizraim whose descendants became the Canaanites whom God used to build the cities and the fortresses and to develop the land of milk and honey for His promised land people.

O my...God set it up 1700 years before for His kids...including you and me, friends. Amazing love...amazing grace...and we are the recipients to this day! And on and on the chronicler records...words that reminded the people that they were a part of God’s story...a grand story of life and live with Him...His story...not their own.

So worship Him...only!

Have a great day

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April 22

Our Bible reading today is in Ps. 6,8-10,14,16,19,21...all but Psalm 10 seem to be authored by David.

Words in these songs identify contrasting moods in David’s life. Such as...Languishing sickness and strength in the Lord...troubled soul and gladness in the Lord...wearied in resolve and enduring in the Lord...enemies in body soul and spirit versus the majesty and glory of the eternal Lord.

Weeping in the night and singing unto the Lord. Lost in living and on the path of life in the Lord. Over and over in these songs of David,

written at different times and in different seasons of life, the one Word that is repeated most often is LORD.

Translated and spoken by the Hebrew people: “Adonai”...it’s close, but not the actual name. God’s people thought it was too sacred and too holy to be spoken, so they used “Adonai” in their prayers, songs, conversations, and sermons...when addressing or speaking of God...“Lord”...over all things in the heavens and on the earth...all things in nature...all things human...all things spiritual...all things in life and death...all things...period...Adonai...Jesus is Lord!

No wonder David began one song with “How “Majestic” is Your Name! O, Lord.”...How “Kingly” is Your Name O Lord...How “Sovereign” is Your Name O Lord!

Let’s look at one mood of David as expressed before the Lord in Ps 6.

“O Lord...(my translation: “all-knowing “Lord” who knows my beginning and my end and everything in between...” all-powerful Lord” who is wise to decide and powerful to carry out those decrees... “everywhere present Lord”...from eternity past to eternity future “You who sees and directs my path.

“O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me O Lord...I am languishing...my body is troubled...my soul is greatly troubled...”

David is obviously under conviction for his sinning. Wow...the man after God’s own heart troubled with sinning? There is hope for us church.

His soul is greatly troubled, vexed, weighed down with sorrow and remorse. He weeps until his bedding is drenched with tears...he moans over his sense of guilt before his Lord. Charles Spurgeon prayed that God would break his heart over that which drew the blood of Christ on the cross.

Did you notice how David prayed...”Rebuke me O Lord...but not in your anger...discipline me, but not in Your wrath...” David was a child of the promise and he sinned. All of us who are in the Lord by grace and faith sin. But God’s Spirit won't let us get away with a thing.

What strikes me to the core is David’s understanding of God’s way of disciplining his kids physically and spiritually to remove them from the miry pits of spiritual complacency and revive them to the spiritual high places of God Himself.

Even David’s body was affected by his confession of sin and his pleading for God’s grace to right his course for the glory of God.

Wow...David knew that his trouble in his bones was grace from God that lead him to spiritual renewal.

Reminds me of the first great awakening that swept Great Britain and their Thirteen Colonies in the 1730s-1740s.

A series of evangelical revival meetings turned into a spiritual movement of God that was documented by unusual “repentance of sin” and “new dedication” to Christ for His work in the church and His mission beyond...for the sake of the gospel.

George Whitfield of England and Jonathan Edwards and David Brainard of the colonies were major contributors to this spiritual movement.

The Holy Spirit “induced sobs of conviction”, we are told, were so intense in these meetings, that they turned into “guttural” sounds of “moaning” and beseeching of God for forgiveness of sin and the cleansing of all unrighteousness.

This revival of “repentance” changed the course of the American church for 200 years.

May the Lord do it again.

Have a great day

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April 21st

Our Bible reading today is in 2 Samuel chapters 1,2,3,4.

We ended our 1 Samuel reading with David and his small army fighting the Philistines at Ziklag, and Saul and his army engaged in a larger battle with the Philistines at Gilboa.

David and his men had been betrayed by the Philistines. There was a truce made between David and the Philistine king, Achish.

But Achish’s army didn't abide by the truce. Instead, while David and his men were doing a job for Achish, Philistine soldiers burned their town of Ziklag and stole their wives and children.

When David and his men returned home, their hearts melted with grief. Anger and hatred toward David rose among the men. They spoke of killing David for bringing them and their families into Gath in the first place.

They all, including David, feared the death of their loved ones. To say the obvious, they were all “down” emotionally and spiritually. The Bible “record” says that David led his men to retrieve their families and strike down the raiders.

Question. What turned the tide back toward David? One minute the army was looking to execute David. The next, they're following David into battle...at the risk of their own lives and perhaps their families’.

The Bible says...a distraught and discouraged David “strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

HOW? Maybe Deuteronomy 31:6...(one of the last verses my 13-year-old Grandson, Warren, noted in his spiritual journal before his death six years ago)...that word may have been a Torah selection that David had meditated upon as a child...and perhaps now the Spirit brought to his remembrance. “Be strong and courageous...do not be in dread of your enemies. For the Lord your God goes with you...and He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut 31:6

Perhaps God had that word for David’s heart...just like He did for our Warren...and just like He did for his family.

So David was strengthened. And his men were too.

Lord, when we are discouraged, remind us to strengthen ourselves “in You” and “Your promises”.

We begin our reading today with David and his men reunited with their wives and children who had been stolen by the Philistines.

In the midst of their celebrating...bad news came. Saul and Jonathan were dead. Killed in action. Now, remember this is the same Saul who had been chasing David for ten years...chasing him to kill him.

Two things strike me in this story.

Jonathon died in battle fighting alongside his dad.

Now Jonathan was best friends with David. Jonathan did not agree with his dad’s hatred for David. But Saul was his father...to love and respect and serve...even unto death.

One more thing...When David heard the news he dropped to his hands and knees and began to sob. In those tears he praised Saul...he praised the one who hated him.

Reminds me of the heart of my Savior...”Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”

Enjoy the rest of the story...

Have a great day