A Word about Multiplying Leaders

 

Today I want to share a word about multiplying leaders, as I comment on 1 Kings 19: 15 & 16 and 19-21. This passage reads:

Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back again; for what have I done to you? “ He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant. 

One reality that I often remind church members about is the fact that the church is only one generation away from extinction. Until that day when our Lord returns for us, all of us in the church will sooner or later face death. No one lives forever on this earth, and since local churches consist of people who will pass away, our congregations must have new blood to be able to continue to exist and minister for the cause of Christ. A church that does not replace those who have passed on will soon pass on itself. The same is true about the leadership of God’s people. Leaders also have to be replaced, and that is the focus of our Bible passage for today.

Elijah was an anointed man of God whom He used to confront the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Elijah was a powerful preacher, and he was used of God in mighty ways, but God knew that Elijah’s time of ministry on earth was finite. In fact, God had plans to bring Elijah home to heaven sooner, rather than later. Thus, God directed Elijah to call Elisha to be his apprentice, and he did so. We can learn some lessons from his obedience in this matter.

The Importance of Obedience:

First, we need to understand just how important obedience is to God. We know that God is love, and that He is gracious, but we also must remember that He is the Sovereign Lord. He deserves to be obeyed, and He requires obedience from His people. Samuel rebuked Saul’s disobedience by telling him that “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” and Jesus told us, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” 

We cannot know what would have happened had Elijah disobeyed God, but we do know what happened when the northern kingdom of Israel disobeyed God: they were taken into captivity by the Assyrians and they disappeared into the mists of time, never to be a nation again. Last week we saw that Moses disobeyed God and struck the rock instead of speaking to it, and as a result he was banned from the Promised Land. We need to determine in our hearts to obey our Lord and ask the for the Spirit’s help to do just that.

The Importance of a Clear Vision:

Second, we need to embrace God’s vision for our service to Him instead of our own. Yes, we must have a sense of ownership in our ministries, but our ownership must be from the perspective of a steward, not from the perspective of the master, for we are not. We are not the masters of our fate, and all that we have has been given to us by the grace of God. 

We need to remember that no one is irreplaceable, and indeed, one day we all will be replaced. We must not cling to the imaginary power we think we have, nor should we worry about our legacy here on earth. The only one we need to please, in the end, is God, and the way we do that is to embrace His vision, not ours. Peter found out this truth when he tried to rebuke Jesus but instead, he was the one brought up short and compared to Satan! We must hold the reins of our ministry firmly, but also willingly and graciously relinquish those reins when God calls another to take them.

The Importance of Multiplication:

Finally, we must intentionally multiply ourselves through investing in others, which is exactly what Paul taught Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 

Sometimes these leaders will rise to the top and are apparent for all to see, like Joshua and Caleb were for Moses, and Timothy and Titus were for Paul. Other times, we have to seek them out, the way that Samuel had to seek out David. In our example today, God told Elijah to seek out Elisha, and He will do the same thing for us today. If we seek wisdom from God, He will provide it, and we certainly need to exercise great wisdom in the multiplication of leaders. 

Elijah and Elisha are Good Role Models:

Regardless of the details, we must make the effort to find the people whom God will use to lead the church when we are long gone. And remember, none of us will live forever. 

We need to be like Elijah and be sensitive to God’s leading. We also need to be like Elijah and obey God when He does lead us. Finally, when the mantle is passed, it must to be received with whole-hearted obedience, which is something we will look at the next time we get together.

Every blessing, 

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about Errant Blows

 

Today I want to share a word about errant blows, as I comment on Numbers 20:7-12. This passage reads:

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

The Good Idea Fairy:

My wife and I live in the country, and in recent weeks I have occupied myself  from time to time on Saturdays by clearing a fence line. We have a small fenced pasture in the front of our home, and a larger pasture in the rear. Our neighbors to the south have a fence along our shared property line, and so the only section of our land that is without a fence is our northern property line between the two pastures. The “good idea fairy” visited me some weeks ago, and convinced me that I needed to erect a fence along that line, and so I have been making the necessary preparations.

The problem was that the good idea fairy didn’t  realized that the new fence line would run through terrain that is essentially jungle. I was able to use a chain saw to begin the task of clearing the fence line, but because the tops of the trees and shrubs were intertwined and bound together by vines, the chain saw work resulted in what resembled a green tunnel that was not tall enough to stand in, much less built a fence under. So, I had to go old school, and I assembled various hand tools from which I could attack the green tunnel from within.

One of the tools I used was a small axe, larger than a hatchet, but smaller than the full-sized tool. I have never been good with an axe, and that was still true as I worked to open the top of the green tunnel. 

The key in using an axe is to strike the same two places over and over again. One stroke to score the log, and a second to cut out the wood leaving a notch, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat. Soon you need to switch the the other side of the tree, take a stroke to score the log, then a second to cut out the wood leaving a notch, then rinse and repeat; you get the picture. If done properly, the tree or limb will soon be severed, leaving a clean stump and an arrow-shaped log. That is, if you hit the same two places time and again. Sadly, I often can’t.

Errant Blows:

I often found myself making errant strokes, hitting the tree in question in multiple places without effectively notching out the opposing sides of the tree. It was the logging equivalent of a death of a thousand cuts, and it frequently made a mess of the process. I have found that a few precise blows were worth much more than a flurry of wild, uncoordinated strokes. Not only does the tree get cut more quickly, it is also much less tiring for me as well. 

In the midst of my exertions in the green tunnel, God brought to mind a simple, but I think profound truth: A errant blow is a wasted blow. Flailing away at a problem or situation is no more effective and efficient than it was when I was flailing away at the undergrowth in the green tunnel. This is a lesson we can also learn from our focal passage for today.

Moses, apparently frustrated because the Children of Israel were vociferously complaining of their extreme thirst, didn’t listen when God gave him instructions to speak to the rock. Instead, he struck the rock with his staff, not just once, but twice. He didn’t miss the rock, the way I missed my mark with cutting trees, but still he made two errant blows on the rock, and significant consequences followed.

Note that God, in His mercy, provided water for the Israelites despite the errant blows. He had every right to withhold the water because Moses disobeyed, but, since we know God is love, He nurtured His people. So, Moses disobeyed, stuck his errant blows, and it was all good, right? Uh . . . no! Not at all!

Costly Blows:

God’s justice demanded that Moses and Aaron be held accountable for their disobedience, and both were banned from the Promised Land. These consequences were severe for a seemingly minor lapse. After all, the Israelites were getting on his very last nerve, so it was natural that Moses was distracted. Yet, errant blows are dangerous and we need to avoid them.

An errant blow with an axe can be dangerous and many toes have been severed  in such a manner. A errant blow in spiritual matters may lead others astray or present a bad witness for the cause of Christ. 

An errant blow with an axe can be very tiring, but an errant blow in spiritual matters may cause us to strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.

A errant blow with an axe is a wasted blow, but an errant blow spiritually is disobedience. 

The Need for Focus:

One of the most important safety factors in using any tool is to stay focused. Someone who is distracted can strike an errant blow with an axe or some other tool and cause irreparable damage to themselves or to another person. Losing our focus spiritually can also result in delivering errant blows, with untold consequences.

We need to maintain our focus and our spiritual poise. We need to maintain our trust in God and in His guidance and instructions us. God can strike a straight blow with a crooked stick, but we don’t have His supernatural powers. Let us guard our hearts and strike solid blows in faith for the cause of Christ!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about Suffering

Today I want to share a word about suffering, as I comment on James 1:2-8. This passage reads:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Confession Time:

Today I have a confession to make. It is hard to admit it, but, yes, when I was younger and living at home, my family often watched “Hee-Haw” together.

For those of you unfamiliar with this television variety show, let me say that while it did showcase a great deal of talented country and western performers, it also offered an excessive amount of low-brow, hillbilly humor, which ranged from Junior Samples’ car lot gag (the phone number was “BR549”) to the cast inquiring of Grandpa, “What’s for supper?” 

One of the most popular sketches dealt humorously with the troubles of life. This segment began with a song, which had these lyrics:

Gloom, despair, and agony on me,

Deep dark depression, excessive misery.

If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all,

Gloom, despair, and agony on me.

Be careful, that little bit of doggerel will stick in your head and bedevil you all day, if you aren’t careful!

Truth be told, we tend to make light of trials, troubles and suffering because they are all too common in our day-to-day existence. A flat tire, a missed flight, or a malfunctioning home appliance can ruin our day. Sickness, the death of a loved one, a failed relationship, and financial woes can, if we allow them, ruin our entire lives. Sometimes we all can feel like, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.” This is especially true in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the social unrest of the past two years, and our current economic challenges. 

Accept the Reality of Suffering:

James gave us great guidance about how to respond to suffering in our focal passage for today. He began by telling us we must accept the reality of suffering.

The Bible is full of the stories of real people who had real difficulties living a real life on this real earth. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul taught us that trials and trouble are common to all people, and we know from 1 Peter 2:18-25, that just people can suffer in this imperfect world that was marred by human sin. Suffering is real; when it comes into our lives, what should we do?

Adjust to the State of Suffering:

James went on to teach us that we must adjust to the state of suffering. We need to learn to be steadfast. The common human responses to a threat are to fight, flee, or freeze. None of those will work well with suffering because we usually have no access to the source of our troubles. If we did, we’d be able to mitigate them. Instead, James tells us to be steadfast, that is to endure our suffering. Endurance is hard for most people, that’s why there are so few marathon runners. Employers in some industries try to hire college graduates, not because they have the skills which will be needed, but because they had the endurance to complete a multi-year college degree. Skills can be taught, but not endurance and determination.

Fortunately for us, we have help with our endurance. We can be steadfast because we know God is on our side, and that He loves us and is with us. He also has prepared a “table for us in the presence of our enemies,” and He has prepared a home for us in Heaven when our suffer days are over. We need to yield to God and allow Him to help us endure.

Have a Good Attitude about Suffering:

Next, James taught that we must develop a good attitude in our trials and difficulties. We must realize that our faith is like a muscle, and that it cannot get stronger unless it is exercised and tested. This is one dimension of the truth that Paul taught in Romans 8:28, 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

I remember clearly how my muscles ached after that first high school football practice after a summer of sloth, and sleeping-in. By the end of the season, however, after many practices, my muscles no longer ached. I was still as slow as molasses in wintertime, but I was stronger and healthier. If I had quit after that first practice, I would never have enjoyed the blessing of that came from the testing of my body. The same is true of the spiritual, psychological, emotional, and relational aspects of our lives when we are steadfast ins suffering and troubles.

Accelerate Forward Through Suffering:

Finally, James insisted that we must accelerate forward; that is, don’t wallow in our troubles. As baseball great Satchel Paige reportedly said, “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you!” 

Too often we let our memories of past events and troubles haunt us. Complicated grief is a real thing, and people trapped in it need professional help. That said, God’s plan is moving forward, and we need to move forward in our lives as well. We simply can’t move forward while looking back!

Additional Confessions:

As I close, let me admit something else. Today I am really preaching to myself. As I have often said, “I don’t do suffering well.” I suppose that few people do. Still, God can take the reality of suffering in this imperfect, sin-marred world and make something good in our lives. Let’s be steadfast and look to God for our help and our growth as we negotiate this troubled world!

Every blessing, 

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about Memories

Today I want to share a word about memories, as I comment on Psalm 77. This passage reads:

I cried out to God with my voice—to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah

You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.VWill the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah

And I said, “This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You, they were afraid; the depths also trembled. The clouds poured out water; the skies sent out a sound; your arrows also flashed about. The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

INTRODUCTION: 

One of Israel’s major problems was a bad memory. Of course, sometimes our memory isn't as good as it should be either.  

Did you hear about the absent-minded professor who came back from lunch and saw the sign on his door that said “Back in 30 Minutes” and then sat down to wait for himself?

Once, my son came to me for help because had forgotten where he'd put his glasses; he was holding them in his hand!   

Have you ever had an important document that you put in a safe place, but forgot where that was?

A deacon in my home church, who had a lot of “senior moments” once said: “My rememberer is getting bad, and my forgetterer is getting good!”

The Psalmist had a good memory, however.  He remembered some things about his God in times of trouble, and they're things we should remember, too!

THE PSALMIST REMEMBERED PAST CONCERNS;

Popular theology can't handle difficulty. It says that obedient people will always prosper. It says that disobedient people will always suffer. This isn't necessarily true! For example, I know about a young Bible college student  and his wife who were in a stalled car on a railroad crossing and were hit and killed bye a train and also of the members of more than one church youth group who died in a van wreck.  We must remember that righteous people can suffer:

• Abraham, Job, and Daniel in the Old Testament.
• Peter, John, and Paul in the New Testament.
• The thousands of martyrs in the church age.
• Of course, we must not forget Jesus.

Like us, the Psalmist had troubles. We know that many of the Psalms of David express his fear, anguish and doubts. David, who may have influenced this Psalm, was persecuted by Saul, and later by his own son. Regardless, we can look at the text and see doubt, fear, frustration, and agony!

The Psalmist is not alone; we all recently have had troubles!

• Covid-19
• Confusion in society
• Conflict internationally, nationally, locally, and in our homes
• Cash crunch with the shutdown and then the inflation that followed it
• Crime

These are just a few of the things that have bedeviled us in recent years, and are visible evidence of the truth of the Scriptures that tell us:

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10

Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. Job 14:1

THE PSALMIST REMEMBERED PRESENT COMFORT:

Even in the midst of his sorrow, the Psalmist knew that God was with him. He was like Paul, a man acquainted with troubles, but one who had confidence in God as he taught in I Corinthians 10:13 which says, 

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Our God is the I Am God. He isn't the I Was God, even though He's always been. He also isn't the I Will Be God, even though He holds the future. He Is!  He is for us and with us and in us.

His presence makes all the difference in our lives When He is present, He brings immediate power. This power is available to us now!  Not in the future. We only need to turn to Him, and He will give us comfort. What will He do?

• He will give us His mercy, the ability to endure this imperfect life.
• He might deliver us from our temporal problems.
• He might want to use us to be witnesses in the midst of our troubles like Paul and Silas singing in jail in Philippi.

If we trust Him, we can sing in our difficult times!

THE PSALMIST REMEMBERED FUTURE CONFIDENCE: 

The I Am God is as much a God of tomorrow as He is of today. He is the eternal God; our troubles never will outlast Him. He is the immutable God; His love never changes. He is the redeeming God; His arm will never be shortened. We can rely upon Him for tomorrow the way we can for today.

So, how do we know, or predict what God will do? The same way a hunter locates his prey; we look back and follow His tracks. We can do this best by beginning with His word. Only after looking at His record should we view our own experiences. 

The Psalmist knew God's record:

• He knew how God had created the world.
• He knew how God had worked with the O.T. Patriarchs.
• He knew how God had worked with the Children of Israel.

Because the Psalmist been taught the past, he knew the future.

THE PSALMIST REMEMBERED ETERNAL CHARACTERISTICS:

The Psalmist knew from the Scriptures that our God is Sovereign. A king is sovereign over his nation, but some, like Herod, were subordinate to another king or emperor. Yahweh God is superior to all rulers. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords:

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Romans 13:1

God created this world, and He also sustains it. He owns the world; we are merely His stewards.

The Psalmist also knew from the Scriptures that our God is omnipotent. God is all powerful; there is nothing greater than He! God uses His power to build and create, not to tear down and destroy and He uses His amazing power to bless His people. Again, Paul clearly knew these same things as he wrote on Romans 8:31-38:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In addition, the Psalmist knew from the Scriptures that Our God is omnipresent. In the ancient world, people believed in territorial gods; the gods of the land were not gods of the ocean, etc. For example, the people of Jericho heard of how powerful Yahweh was, and trembled, but only Rahab would bow to Him because He was not their god.

Our God is God everywhere but the most important place that God is, for us at least, is with His people.  Jesus promised never to leave us or forsake us and He sent the Holy Spirit to empower and equip us. Again, as Paul taught in Romans 8,

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Along with these things, the Psalmist knew from the Scriptures that Our God is omniscient. People are not as smart as they think that they are, like the old joke: Those of you who think you know it all really irritate those of us who do . . .

Paul even admitted that sometimes we don’t even know how to pray! God knows all, even the hearts of men as Jesus said in Luke 16, and Proverbs 15:11 says, 

Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

Finally, the Psalmist knew from the Scriptures that Our God Our God Is Omni-Benevolent. God is love and He cares for His people, and He is the model of a father and a shepherd. He chastens those whom He loves, and He gives them all their needs as well. The 23rd Psalm says this better than almost any other passage of Scripture, 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters; He restores my soul.  He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Conclusion:

If we are going to have any taste of the abundant life that Christ promised us on this earth, we need to follow the lead of the Psalmist. When we are forced to remember the troubles of this life, let us also remember the love, power, and presence of our God, who is our Present Help in times of trouble. If we turn to Him, armed with the Word and empowered by His Spirit, we can triumph over our troubles! 

Every blessing, 

Dr. Otis Corbitt