How Is The Christian To Live In This World?

KINGDOM CHARACTER 

(Written by Kevin A. Hall   07.2017)

In search of instructions for my walk with Christ, I came across these powerful texts during Bible study. I had a few questions going into this search of scripture: How should I live in a world gone absolutely crazy? What will happen to me if I live like the world? Is the Christian walk supposed to be easy? What of the trend these days to deny what Scripture says about sin by placing more tolerant labels on our actions? Does God even care about my lifestyle?

 In light of all these questions…How should I walk?

The lure of sin is ever so close since globalization (the world at our fingertips and voice commands) and we can expect the pressure to live a compromised life to increase. Take courage my friend, God has a rhema word for us:

Believing God For A Change - The Account Of A Blind Man And His Friend

KINGDOM CULTURE:  The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus And His Friend

(Written by Kevin A. Hall   08.2016)

CAN GOD GIVE YOU SIGHT? CAN GOD PROVIDE AN ANSWER FOR MY NEED?

The story of blind Bartimaeus is a moving account of personal faith. What do you do when all the odds are against you? What do you do when no one else can believe with you for your breakthrough? What do you do when no one else embraces your vision or your dream? If you are a leader, this can be very frustrating. Ever wondered “These people just can’t seem to get it”. Well my friend, Bartimaeus has walked in your shoe.

Some background on this story. The setting is the city of Jericho. Jericho is located fifteen miles north east of Jerusalem. It is one of the major stops on the trade route to Arabia. It was nearing the time of the Passover Feast. Countless of people would pass this way toward the city of Jerusalem. Imagine the hustle and bustle. Imagine Bartimaeus ramping up his efforts to ask for money.
This was his way of earning a living. In fact, he was not by himself. There was another blind man with him, so this was one of their spots along the trade route. Matthew mentions the other man in chapter 20. Bartimaeus was no doubt the more vocal of the two. Let’s look at their story from all the gospel accounts:

Is There A Need Need For Organization In The Church?

Considerations for getting organized

(Written by Kevin A. Hall    04.2017)

There are some things that we take for granted when it comes to the operation of ministry. According to Getz there are 6 focus areas that church leadership can place an intentional effort in order to achieve their desired purpose and objectives - Evangelism, Edification, Leadership, Communication, Administration and Organization. In all these areas a few key questions should be asked to assess effectiveness: (1) How can biblical principles be translated into purpose? (2)  How can the goals, objectives and standards be formulated for the local church? As we make these assessments in all areas of the ministry, we cannot afford to allow ourselves to be in bondage to the culture and we definitely should not be separated from it. Every consideration we make should be done in light of scripture with the intent to build bridges.

As we consider the impact of culture, the church needs to look at her place within that culture. How does culture impact the worldview of its members? How does the church impact society? We need to provide outlets for the church to be incarnated into the society; adapting yet not compromising. This means ensuring our reach extends beyond the four walls to influence activities within the government, businesses, schools, the arts, our church programs and especially our homes.

Regarding Evangelism, we need to consider our role in contributing toward the Great Commission. Does the mission of the church extend into the local community and beyond? Is there an effort to encourage corporate witnessing? Is the church just a “Saving Station” or is it a “Place of Empowerment – A Bridge to the World”? How are we doing in reaching families, households and single individuals? Are we actively seeking to identify, develop and to deploy our members’ gifts? How about our New Convert Care – what happens after we have made converts? Is there a strategy in place to “disciple” our brothers and sisters?

Covenant Theology

 Covenant Theology

(Written by Kevin A. Hall  04.2017)

One thing is clear, the Lord made covenants with man throughout history. We can call them reminders of God’s gracious promises. The first time I notice the word being used is during the time of Noah where God declared “I will establish my Covenant with you, and you shall go into the ark – you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you” … We call this the Noahic covenant. Ketcherside states that God has chosen to relate to man on the basis of covenants. 

In the case of the Nohaic covenant, we see the God – man stipulations: God sets the conditions; He gives the terms; He signs the covenant. 

This approach is repeated throughout human history in a series of other covenants -The Abrahamic, the Mosaic, the Davidic and the New Covenant.

The Mosaic covenant is called the First covenant. It is also called the Covenant of Law or the Mosaic Law. Deuteronomy 4:11-13 attests to that. There is enough evidence to support the argument that the Law is not simply the first 39 books of the Bible.  One example is reference to Jeremiah 31:31 which proves that the people had already broken the First Covenant and 31:32 which states that the first covenant was made when “God took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

The Law was considered faulty (Hebrews 8:7). We could not be justified by it (Galatians 3:10). The Law itself was not weak, but man was as he was, was not able to keep it perfectly (Romans 8:1-3). The Law itself could not give life, nor could it effect the forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 10:4).  Man was aware that he needed something more. Even though “he went away from the worship services having met its requirements, he was conscious that it could not fully meet the needs (Reese, 150). Therefore, the Lord sought a more excellent way. This was prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34. The benefits of this New Covenant would include (1) The Forgiveness of sins; (2) Direct and personal access to Almighty God; (3) Reconciliation – God makes the promise that He will be our God as we become His people; (4) The Ministry of the Indwelling Holy Spirit that will govern us from the inside. This is the source of our Christian Liberty.

I Refuse To Be Like My Father! - King Hezekiah

Along The Way:  King Hezekiah - A Different Path

(Written by Kevin A. Hall     07.04.17)

To be or not to be like my father – That is the question Hezekiah must have asked himself many times. His father was King Ahaz, one of the most evil kings of Judah. Hezekiah must have been aware that his father sacrificed his brother to a heathen god. His father made sacrifices and burnt offering in high places “on the hills and under every green tree” (2 Kings 16:4). His father introduced pagan customs and made major changes to the house of God for his personal benefit. 

Under his father, “Judah’s religious system became shambles” (Nasb). His father was also weak; so was the high priest (Urijah) during his reign (2 Kings 16:16). The nation followed his father’s lead.

At some point, Hezekiah chose not to follow his earthy father’s example, but to embrace his heavenly father as his model for living. We too, can choose our own path. Hezekiah did not have the privilege of the indwelling Spirit, but he chose to follow God. We have God’s Spirit as guide if we submit.  

Pride Will Ruin Your Life! - King Uzziah

Along The Way: Pride Will Ruin Your Life!

 (Written By Kevin A. Hall   07.03.17)

“He was marvelously helped until he became strong”!

Imagine this statement being written on our tombstone. We ran well until… This story is repeated over and over in the human experience without fail, but should not be the story of our lives as children of God.   This statement was made of King Uzziah:

 He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him (2 Chronicles. 26:15).

 He was 16 when he began to reign with his father King Amaziah, taking full control after his father’s death. His great dedication to God included a deep respect for and partnership with the prophet Zechariah. As long as he remained connected to God and His servant, he was blessed. There's an abiding principle here regarding one's relationship to the church.

Like Uzziah, believers can hold on to God’s promise – “I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We are blessed if we endure. However, blessings should never be defined by things or accomplishments. Uzziah was blessed but missed the mark – he became strong or very proud and corrupt. He achieved prosperity, influence, power, wealth and fame.

God Has My Hand, But Not My Heart - King Jehu

Along The Way: God Has My Hand, But My Heart?

 (Written By Kevin A. Hall  07.01.17)

The newly appointed King Jehu was zealous for God.  He assassinates King Joram (2 King 9:24); then King Ahaziah (1 Kings 9:27). He confronts Jezebel; encouraging loyalists to throw her from the window. He tramples her with his horse and carriage (2 Kings 9:33). He commanded the “slaughter of the 70 sons of Ahab” (2 Kings 10:7). The fear of the new king was upon the entire nation. No one dared oppose him. Along the way, he slaughters family members, wives, princes and princess of Ahab’s household. Finally, he assembles all the priests of Baal and kills them in one sitting, destroying the Baal pillars, altars and house. King Jehu “eradicated Baal out of Israel” (2 Kings 10:28) and he was faithful to kill “all who remained to Ahab” (2 Kings 10:17). In other words, he was faithful to do “according to the word of the Lord which He spoke to Elijah” (2 Kings 10:17b).
Even though he carried out God’s commands, “he was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord” for himself (2 Kings 10:31).  We can be faithful to works, yet be far from God. I struggled with Jehu's story for a while because he was appointed by God to fulfill this task. Let me go back for a little..What was his task?

Caring For Those We Work With - The Prophet Elisha

Along The Way: Leaders Who Care –Elisha

(Written By Kevin A. Hall   06.30.17)

Throughout Elisha’s ministry, we see the heart of a man who cares much for the basic needs his ministry partners. We should practice his servant leadership. He prayed to God for the deepest desire of the Shunammite woman – God gave her a son (2 Kings 4:17). When there was a famine in Gilgal, he was instrumental in providing a large pot of stew for the men at the School of the Prophets (2 Kings 4:38-41). When a stranger brought food to the school, he prayed and God miraculously stretched the food to feed everyone with leftovers (2 Kings 4:42-44). When the School outgrew its space, he agreed to supervise the work at a new location by the River Jordan (2 Kings 6:1-3). He was engaged and involved at all levels. How else will a leader get to know his people? We must enter their world. When the axe head fell in the river, Elisha was concerned and through another miracle, retrieved the borrowed axe head (2 Kings 6:5-7). There was no concern too small for him to take to God.

If Only I Could Punish My Enemies! - The Prophet Elijah

Along The Way: Desiring The Ministry Of Elijah?

(Written By Kevin A. Hall   06.20.17)

At first glance we see power on display – Elijah calls down fire from heaven to consume two units of 50 soldiers of the Baal influenced King Ahaziah

Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’”  Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.  So he again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he said to him, “O man of God, thus says the king, ‘Come down quickly.’”  Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty (2 Kings 1: 9-12)

Matthew Henry shares a powerful perspective on the confrontation: "Come down quickly, and do not trifle, the king’s business requires haste; come down, or I will fetch thee down.’’ Elijah relents not, but calls for another flash of lightning, which instantly lays this captain and his fifty dead upon the spot. Those that will sin like others must expect to suffer like them; God is inflexibly just”.

  A third commander showed humility to Elijah, bowing before him, asking “Please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight…” (1: 13b).There is no winning when we fight against God and His servants. Effective living begins with a right attitude toward God (Nasb). This third commander was wise enough to respectfully approach the man of God.  In this account we can learn two things: (1) God always protects His name and His people and (2) God responds to those who show humility.

Motivation For Christian Ministry - The Apostle Paul

 Along The Way: The Apostle Paul’s Motivation Project

(Written by Kevin A. Hall 07.25.16)

The Apostle Paul settled his identity in Christ.

Here’s a man who  knew his calling and so developed his Philosophy of Ministry. He considered himself a servant/bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ – Romans 1: 1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. He spoke often about his calling and commission during his ministry. In his letter to the Galatians he stated that the Gospel for the uncircumcised was committed to him (2:7) and many times in his defense, he repeated his commission from the Lord during his conversion – “He is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). In this he was confident.  His use of the titles servant/bondservant depicted a person dedicated to the cause of his master.

Because he was confident of his calling, commission and source, he easily declared the “true Gospel”. He could proudly declare his message without regards of opposers – “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10). “He did not act in obedience to men, but to God, who had called him to this work and office. He did not seek to accommodate himself to the humors of persons, either to gain their affection or to avoid their resentment; but his care was to approve himself to God” (Matthew Henry).