SCRIPTURE: Numbers 22 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: At first glance, Balaam seems to be on the right track. When asked to put a curse on Israel, he heeds God’s warning and refuses. When enticed with wealth, he still refuses: “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small…
resisting or resting
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 21 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: What happens when we go against God? We go against life! All of creation, all of life, is shaped towards God. Resisting God is like spitting in the wind, it will come back in our face. This is what Arad, Sihon and Og discovered. This is also what a wise Jewish leader…
responding like Jesus
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 20 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: How do we handle criticism, opposition, disagreement? How we respond can help or hinder our testimony to Jesus. Anger, revenge, bitterness are not healthy responses to opposition. Jesus teaches, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray…
prayer walking
Today I went prayer walking in the Falby Court area. This is the area that we are looking to relocate our services at Crossroads. Its south of the 401, Harwood and Bayly. At first it was nothing deep or profound… until I asked the Spirit to pray through me [Romans 8:26]. I really had no clear thoughts…
fire and water
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 19 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The symbolism of the red heifer, its burned ashes kept outside the camp and mixed with water, relates to the cleansing benefit of Jesus’ death for sinners, to make them clean [1 John 1:7-9]. Once again the goriness of the ritual can distract us from the grace and blessing the Lord offers His people….
am I God’s gift to Jesus?
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 18 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The tabernacle is the center of the Israelite existence, and the priests, levites, tithes and offerings are set up to maintain its central place. God gives the Levites to the priests, and the offerings to them all, to provide for the work. Their task is to offer their best to the Lord…
His power through me
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 17 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: No matter what our status may be, no matter how many gifts or skills or how many people vote for us, our leadership authority is nothing unless the Lord is with us. If God was democratic, Jesus would have lost, for there were more against Him than for Him. The same for…
ode to joy
For those who remember the muppets, and especially Beeker… Enjoy this special rendition of Beethoven’s Ode To Joy.
freedom day!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. [Galatians 5:1]
the cost of betrayal
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 16 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Can you feel the sense of betrayal? Here we have fellow leaders, Levites who shared in the calling and blessing of the Lord’s work, opposing Moses and Aaron. And listen to Dathan and Abiram, they describe their bondage in Egypt as a land flowing with milk and honey. Do they honestly think…