Tag: work

MIGHT & POWER VS. SPIRIT

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

When Solomon built the first Hebrew temple which the Babylonians destroyed (586 BC – See 2 Kings 25:8–10), he had almost unlimited resources at his disposal since his father, King David, had fought many battles and collected huge spoils of war to be used in building God’s original temple. (See 1 Chronicles 26:20, 27-28) King Solomon was a powerful monarch with a vast kingdom, even ruling over some Gentile populated regions, but the Jews in the days of Zerubbabel and the prophet Zechariah had no such power, authority, or wealth!

In 538 BC, Zerubbabel, a leader from the tribe of Judah, was allowed to return to Jerusalem with other Jewish captives. (See Ezra 1:1-4) The Persian king appointed Zerubbabel as governor of Judah (See Haggai 1:1), and he began rebuilding the temple with the help of Jeshua, the high priest. (See Ezra 3:2-3, 8)

It took Zerubbabel two years to rebuild the Temple’s foundation. Construction was then delayed due to hostile opposition (See Ezra 4:1–5) and as a result, Persia withdrew its support.  For seventeen years the temple construction remained unfinished. (See Ezra 4:21) 

Nonetheless, while undoubtedly many had given up on the project, our Lord had a different / superior plan for His temple.  God then spoke to the remnant of His people in Jerusalem through His prophet in Zechariah 4:6-7:

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”

Here in this text, the word “might” is referring to military strength, what people can do together as an army … but the remnant had no soldiers. “Power” refers to the strength of a commanding individual, but Zerubbabel’s abilities were no doubt limited, nothing like that of King Solomon! The idea of not being discouraged and trusting the Lord was at the heart of the prophet’s message.  Is it possible that the Spirit of God would enable them to accomplish something even in their apparent weakness?

There are three ways we can attempt to do the work of God:

1) We can trust our own strength and wisdom.

2) We can borrow the resources of the world.

3) We can depend on the power of God, the Almighty (omnipotent).

The first two approaches may usually appear to succeed, but the true work of the Lord is not accomplished in that manner! Only work done through the power of God’s Holy Spirit will glorify Him and endure the fires of His judgment. (See 1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

With limited resources, completing the temple looked to those Jews as impossible as moving a mountain! However, God told Zerubbabel that he would, by the power of God’s Spirit, level the mountain and make it a plain! In a similar manner, Jesus told His disciples that simple faith like a mustard seed (small but alive) could move mountains. (See Matthew 17:20; 21:21).

How often do we say that we are depending on God’s Holy Spirit? Revivalist Vance Havner (1901-1986), in commenting in that context on the methods of the modern-day church, stated:

But actually we are so wired up with our own devices that if the fire does not fall from heaven, we can turn on a switch and produce false fire of our own. If there is no sound of a rushing mighty wind, we have the furnace all set to blow hot air instead. God save us from a synthetic Pentecost!

God finishes His work! (See Zechariah 4:7b-10) God assured Zerubbabel that he would complete the rebuilding of the temple and the people would rejoice. The Lord gave a clear promise that Zerubbabel would complete the temple! (See Zechariah 4:9)

Shouldn’t this remind us of God’s promise and the true working of His Holy Spirit in us?

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (See Philippians 1:6)     

Are you serving and living in the strength our Lord supplies through the presence of His Holy Spirit? (See I Peter 4:11)  

Think about it, pray about it!                                                    

His & Yours, PF

OCCUPATION

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Biblically, the record of agricultural pursuits begins with our Lord’s mandate to humanity in Genesis 2:15:

Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

Adam was charged initially with two responsibilities … 1) cultivating the garden and 2) keeping the garden. In addition, we know that the immediate post-Edenic situation featured both the agricultural and the herdsman way of life as represented by Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:2:

And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Before long came Enoch who built a city in Genesis 4:17, musicians in Genesis 4:21, and Tubal-Cain, a forger of all implements in bronze and iron in Genesis 4:22.

E.K.V. Pearce, in his work, “Who Was Adam?”  suggests that this period represents that era known to anthropologists as the “New Stone Age Revolution,” introducing farming and horticulture into human society with archaeological evidence of early farming being found in the lower Jordan River Valley around Jericho. However, there is no biblical evidence demanding a separation of the age of hunter-gatherers and the age of farmers-herdsmen.  Apparently, God established the latter at the outset of His creation even though modern day anthropologists, not unsurprisingly, take a contrarian view in opposition to the divine revelation of scripture, holding that the hunter-gatherers had to come first.

It’s also interesting to note that rudimentary agricultural tools, flint sickle and hoe blade, were discovered in the Carmel caves (located on Mt. Carmel of the biblical text in Israel some 20 kilometers from the City of Haifa), which obviously depicts the on-going responsibilities of cultivating and/or keeping/maintaining crops/gardens.  Nonetheless, the biblical account indicates that farming was not the prominent profession of Seth and the chosen bloodline . . . Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all being herdsmen.  However, Lot seems to have preferred the settled life of a Jordan Valley farmer according to Genesis 13:10-13:

Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the Valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere … like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the Valley of the Jordan, … Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom.   

It’s too often said of Adam and Eve that in their pre-sin/pre-fallen state they didn’t or weren’t required to work.  While it is absolutely true that they didn’t have to eat bread by the sweat  of their face as described in Genesis 4:19, work itself was originally ordained by God Himself for all humanity with God being the initial, leading, ultimate, perfect, and prime example!  Accordingly:

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.  By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (see Genesis 2:1-3)  

Sounds like God was busy at work, establishing the opportunity to work/labor as a God-ordained task and vehicle of blessing for all human beings. Perhaps that’s why Paul’s address to the Thessalonians is so blunt:

If anyone is not willing to work, then he/she is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.  But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. (See II Thessalonians 3:10-13)

Now Labor Day, when Americans pay tribute to the those in the work force, has come and gone, but that shouldn’t stifle gratitude for our Lord’s marvelous design … work! Let’s be thankful for the opportunities afforded us of gainful employment, always remembering the admonition found in Colossians 3:23-24:

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Therefore, here’s my somewhat difficult challenge for those desiring to be imitators of Christ.  Today, will you take a moment and thank God for your job, even if it’s not so perfect and even if you’re totally disgruntled and unfulfilled?  You are fulfilling His design and purposes, accomplishing that which can glorify Him and bring blessings to your life.  He has placed you right there, right now, so even if you hate it, seek to know Him deeper and more completely in and through your current situation/opportunity!   

Think about it, Pastor Frank aka PF             

VISION II

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Last week, I challenged every believer to recognize the need for and the power of “vision;” vision from God in their individual lives, family, and ministry; by reflecting on some principles revealed in the first few chapters of Nehemiah. His life was dynamically changed and impacted by his willingness to; 1) believe God, 2) embrace God’s vision, 3) actively participate in the vision, and 4) pass it on to God’s people. Nehemiah provides an excellent example for every believer as God entrusts him (as He does us) with many opportunities. His clarity of vision, commitment, and faith is directly linked to success —

“The God of heaven will give us success (after all, it’s His purpose and vision conveyed to His people for His glory and their blessing/benefit); therefore we His servants (God’s athletes, builders, stewards, soldiers, workmen) will arise (by faith – trust and obey) and build, but you (cynics and hecklers) have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.”

As with any true vision from God, Nehemiah faced opposition and attacks from the enemy. That’s true in our lives as well. If God is with you, and for you, you can usually count on someone or something rising-up against you, even though the enemy is powerless against the hand of our Lord! Nehemiah faced overt opposition numerous times in Chapters 4-6:14.

In Chapter 4, the initial attack comes from those on the outside, who openly ridicule the Jewish people, their abilities, craftsmanship, and even their God. Tobiah says, “What they are building – if a fox should jump/climb upon it, he will break their stone wall down.” I find it interesting that this cynic/heckler can make this statement without even evaluating the wall, its design or structural integrity! Nehemiah and God’s people simply cry out to God concerning this attack (vs. 4-5) and continue steadfast and immovable with their faith and trust in God – “So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work!”

Next, the enemies of God’s people form an allegiance and threaten to launch a military campaign against Jerusalem which is intended as a distraction to ultimately stop the wall reconstruction project. Once again, God’s people “prayed” (vs9), however they were also compelled (by God’s Holy Spirit as he directed Nehemiah) to post guards and develop military strategies to effectively respond to an enemy attack (vs. 13-23). It’s interesting how forces which normally can’t agree on anything, unite together against a common enemy -– in this case the work of God.

Christ experienced the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other Jewish leaders (Sanhedrin & Chief Priests– who disagreed and constantly fought with each other over spiritual and political issues) coming together in unity, jointly conspiring to eliminate Jesus Christ, as well as Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead (John 11:45-12:11). As believers, we must recognize, and stand firm against, the “schemes (devices/wiles) of the devil” (Eph. 6:11) who is a thief and a liar. We must prepare and post our guards while continuing the work, being adequately equipped in the full armor of God!

The next difficulty faced by Nehemiah (Chapter 5) comes from within, as God’s people fail to live righteously and violate one another by refusing to honor the truths and values established in God’s Word. Satan’s obvious attempt is to stir up strife and divide the body. Many, many times, the enemy is given a foothold in an effective ministry or church, simply because God’s people fail to obey the Word in dealing with one another. This sin was a form of extortion, “Exacting usury each from his brother” (vs7). In verse 6 we learn that this injustice makes Nehemiah “very angry” and according to God’s wisdom and instruction he institutes complete economic reform which brings relief for God’s people.

Nehemiah faces three more onslaughts from the enemy in Chapter 6. The first is through compromise, when Sanballat and Geshem try to set up a meeting with Nehemiah in the “plain of Ono” to talk things over. I love Nehemiah’s response in verses 3-4 as he says O NO, “Why should the work (of God) stop” for me to come down and meet with you? Once again God’s Spirit is directing Nehemiah because they were planning to “do Him harm” (vs2). In verses 5-9 the enemy tries slander against Nehemiah, but his character is true and he trusts God to defend his name.

Next the enemy conspired to entrap Nehemiah (vs10-14) but once again, God’s Holy Spirit leads Nehemiah, providing discernment, and he remains above reproach. You may recall several attempts like this made against Christ in the Gospels. Nehemiah and God’s people find victory, triumph, and success – the wall is completed in 52 days (vs15) and the enemy was completely defeated (vs16)! This type of conquest requires faith, discipline, hard work, and commitment. But, without a clear vision, the project could have been delayed or even dismantled by the enemy’s attacks. Nehemiah continued steadfast, refusing to be sidetracked, and resisting every form of attack (“Resist the devil and he will flee”).

How often is the enemy successful not because we fall into some gross sin, but simply because we get sidetracked and fail to achieve the vision(s) and life purpose(s) God has entrusted to us? Can we trust and obey our Lord, Jesus Christ, believing He wants to accomplish His vision(s) and purpose(s) in us and through us, both personally and as a body, united together in the ministry of West Oaks Fellowship?

Just think about it. –Pastor Frank