Forced Disconnection

In the Gospels we read about Jesus’ need to withdraw from the crowds, daily life activities and the demands of ministry – those times when he got away to a “quiet place” to commune with His Father.  “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16).  If the Son of Man had to get away from it all, how much more do we?

I’m concerned.

It appears to me that life is too hectic and that many of us are experiencing emotional and mental burnout.  Many too, are forfeiting precious time in the Lord’s life-sustaining presence.  Someone aptly said, “If we don’t come apart and rest awhile, we will surely come apart!” 

My wife and I were discussing this concern the other day when Lori asked, “Why does it seem that some people find it easier to connect with God than others?”  Lori then said, “God’s presence seems to intensify when we experience a 'forced disconnection.'”

What is a “forced disconnection?” 

Whenever we purposefully set aside time to experience the Lord’s presence, and we refuse to allow distractions of any kind, we are practicing a “forced disconnection.”

Going to church with the express intention of worshipping God and listening to the preached Word without interruptions is an example of “forced disconnection.”  When we refuse to allow the concerns and drama of life to distract our worship, we are practicing “forced disconnection.”  Time spent in the Lord’s presence releases the hold that stress tends to exact on our minds.

I loved going to church camp as a kid.  And I remember thinking, “Wow, the presence of God is so much stronger at camp than in my home church.”  In retrospect, this was not true.  The truth was that when I went to camp I experienced a “forced disconnection.”  My heart became tender toward the moving of the Spirit because I was forced to focus on spiritual matters all day, every day.  I experienced the necessity of a “forced disconnection.”  I more easily sensed God’s presence because I did not have outside interruptions.

 Now let’s apply the necessity of “forced disconnection” to our every day life.  Are we turning off the television, withholding commands for “Alexa,” putting our laptop computer on the shelf, silencing our cell phone and getting away from the noise of the day to meet with God?

The Scriptures give this promise:  “Call on Me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart, I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord…” (Jeremiah 29:13-14).

As I write this, my heart yearns for His deeper presence in my life.  Perhaps like you, I have allowed the cares of life to squeeze out precious time with Him.  The very presence that longs to sustain me, many times is pushed aside for lesser pursuits.  I plan to pursue His presence through “forced disconnection” in the days ahead!

Lead Me to the Rock

Life has a way of pulling us down. Downward spirals into discouragement, depression and even despondency result when we fail to keep “looking up.”  The enemy of our soul wants to ground us.  He whispers, “I will use your circumstances to destroy you.” But he cannot as long as we look to the “Rock!”

David, the psalmist-king of Israel, wrote in Psalm 61:1-3, “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.  From the ends of the earth I call to you.  I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.”

David was heart broken.  His son Absalom had staged a coup to overthrow him as king.  Like his father, the son was handsome and charismatic but Absalom was spoiled – a narcissist.  We read about him in 2 Samuel 15-17. 

Because he listened to the wrong advice from self-seeking friends, he plotted against his father to take away the throne.  His plot was well executed.  He used his position as prince to win the hearts of the people by subtly undermining the authority and favor of the king.

By most casual observers, Absalom would have made an excellent king, and the people loved him, but he lacked the inner character and self-control needed to be a good leader.  His appearance, skill and position did not make up for his lack of personal integrity.

Can you imagine David’s inner turmoil as he fled the palace to find refuge from his dearly loved son?  Absalom had gathered enough public support to potentially overthrow David.  However, David mustered adequate military support to defeat Absalom’s troops, and 20,000 men lost their lives in battle. Think about it.  One man’s self-love and rebellion led to the destruction of thousands!

When the battle turned and Israel’s impending victory became evident, Absalom fled from the chaos.  His long hair became entangled in the low branch of an oak tree, pulling him off his donkey. 

As the would-be-king struggled mid air to free himself, he was killed by Joab, Commander in Chief of David’s army.  Upon hearing the news of Absalom’s death, a grief-stricken father cried, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son” 2 Samuel 19:33)!

It was against this backdrop that David wrote, “Lead me to a rock that is higher than I.”  When hidden away in the desert, David must surely have seen the majestic rock formations around him.  He perhaps felt despondent about the rebellious intentions of his son, while noting the safety of his position – surrounded by a natural rock fortress. 

David’s words remind us of our Rock – the one we hold to during the overwhelming and seemingly helpless circumstances of life.  Our Rock is Jesus!  He is our refuge.  He is our strong tower in the day of trouble.  We can run to Him and find safety.

David said, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

I’m so thankful that Jesus towers above the difficulties of our lives.  He is the “Rock of our salvation, “ and as we run to Him He lifts us above those things that threaten to destroy us.  In David’s case, it was his precious son.  Imagine the mixed emotions of the king. 

We too go through extremely difficult days when we can run to the Rock and find peace and protection.  Run to the Rock today!

The Giants Won (Part 2)

(CONTINUED FROM MY LAST BLOG)

I previously discussed the power of negativity, based on a story found in Numbers 13 when Moses sent 12 men to spy out the land of Canaan.  Let’s continue.

What these ten spies reported were the facts.  There was milk and honey.  There was abundant fruit.  And the people who lived there were powerful.  The descendants of Anak were giants.  The Amalekites, Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites were all fierce tribesmen who were brutal.  They were warriors! 

These ten spies were absolutely correct.  Ten of the spies reported on both the positive and the negative, but they got hung up on the negative!  They were amazed over the size of the grapes, but even more, they could not get over the size and power of their enemies!

The real problem here is that Israel chose to keep their eyes on the negative.  They allowed their anxieties to paralyze them.  When they heard the report from the ten, they were moved to fear.

Joshua and Caleb tried their best to curtail the negative report, but to no avail.  Fear triumphed.  “The men who had gone up with him (Caleb) said, ‘We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.’  And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored.  They said, ‘The land we explored devours those living in it.  All the people we saw there are of great size…” (verses 31-32).

Then fear, like a wild fire, spread quickly throughout the camp. “That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud” (Numbers 14:1).  While the ten were saying, “Did you see the size of those giants?”  Joshua and Caleb were saying, “Yes, but did you see the size of those grapes?”  Faith moves past the legitimate problems of life and causes us to claim the promises of God.

I don’t have time this morning to dissect all of Numbers 13 and 14, so I’ll pull what I believe the Lord is saying to us.

Negativity which leads to fear is dreadfully contagious.  The entire nation of Israel took the low road when faced with their enemies..  They chose to react in fear instead of act on God’s promises.  Their fear overrode their faith.  Have you ever noticed that negative reports still move people?  I’ve noticed in particular that one negative report about someone has the power to trump anything good he or she ever did?  We have the power with our words and our influence to move people into a fear mode.  And to make them focus on the negative instead of moving them toward righteous resolves. 

I’m amazed at the national fury I see in this account.  I see the same dynamic at work in our nation today.  Negative people pouring out their venom from the White House to the church house to your house! 

Our difficulties can make us feel sorry for ourselves.  And to see ourselves as less than what God created us t be.  “If only we had died in Egypt!  Or in this wilderness (Numbers 14:2b)! Or what about the assessment of the ten in 13:33:  “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” What happens is this:  We start focusing not only our problems, but the problems of others – in the wrong way.  My friends, it is one thing to encourage others in their trials and difficult circumstances; but it an entirely different matter to allow their problems to move you from faith to fear to anger, then to rebellion.   Moses warned the people, “Do not rebel against the Lord” (14:9).   Their fear-based concerns led them to blame Moses for what was out of his control. 

When problems come into our lives, we need to bind together with the community of faith like never before.  During these times, there’s nothing wrong with the church; we all face a formidable foe who has been defeated through the blood of Jesus and when God’s people bind together in faith!  There comes a time when we must elevate the promises over the problems.  Saints, let’s not fall into the same trap that Israel did.  We are stronger together than when we stand alone!  Encouragement goes much further than when we aide and abet in the negative realm.

We literally have the influence to lead one another toward fear!  And then everyone’s in a mess!  We allow fear to make us focus on the “what if’s.”  The people started borrowing trouble.  Go to the second part of verse 3:  “Our wives and children will be taken as plunder.”  They borrowed trouble!  They allowed fear to completely annihilate their faith.  They reacted instead of acted!

Sometimes we blame the Lord for what is happening in our lives – or we blame the church.  Go to verse 3.  “Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?”  The Lord often allows circumstances to come into our lives, but never for the purpose of destroying us.  Always to reveal His glory and to perfect our good.  The people soon turned the tables and began to blame Joshua and Caleb.  Brothers and sisters, we cannot allow negativity energy to enter the house of God or our individual homes or within ourselves.  Let’s determine to build one another up in our most holy faith.  Let’s determine to make this place a house of affirmation, love, honor and faith.  We’re not perfect, but we’re in process.

Negative thinking leads only to fear and defeat.  We are “more than conquerors”

Negativity comes when we talk more about what’s wrong than we do about what’s right.  Because of this truth, the giants discussed in Numbers 13 won 10-2!

Negativity hurts marriages, churches, relationships in general.  Determine not to live in a negative vein.  Stay positive!

The Giants Won (part 1)

Today I want to discuss a story found in Numbers 13.  It’s a story about giants.  But first…

On October 3, 1951, third baseman Bobby Thomson hit a one-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the National League pennant for the New York Giants.  Thomson’s homer wrapped up an amazing come-from-behind run for the Giants and knocked the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Giant’s hated inter-borough rival, out of their spot in the World Series.  The Giants went on to lose the Series to the Yankees, but Thomson’s miraculous homer remains one of the most memorable moments in sports history.

“The Giants win the pennant!” radio announcer Russ Hodges howled.  “The Giants win the pennant!” “The Giants win the pennant!” He kept screaming until he lost his voice. Meanwhile, inside the Polo Grounds, pandemonium reigned.  Fans flooded the field.  Thomson took curtain call after curtain call.  People in Manhattan and Brooklyn made so many phone calls in the half-hour after Thomson’s homer that the New York Telephone nearly lost service in the two boroughs.

That happened in 1951.  The Giants also won in approximately 1440 B.C. One story was positive and revolved around sports history. The other revolved around a negative event in Biblical history. In the first story the Giants won the pennant.  In the second story, the Giants won, 10-2.  I want to talk about the power of negativity.

Background:  Moses sends out 12 spies—leaders in Israel—to explore the land of Canaan.  They are sent on a fact-finding mission.  Their orders were explicit:  “See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many.  What kind of land do they live in?  Is it good or bad?  What kind of towns do they live in?  Are they unwalled or fortified?  How is the soil?  Is it fertile or poor?  Are there trees in it or not?  Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.  So they went up…” (Numbers 13:18-21a).    The 12 spies returned to Moses following a 40-day exploration.

In verses 26-38 these men deliver their report.  The vote was 10-2.  Ten were negative and fearful and only two responded in faith.  Ten were moved by what they saw and their responses spilled over into the entire nation.  Confusion and pandemonium broke out in the camp because of the power of a negative report (evil in KJV).  It reached epic proportions in nothing flat.  Fear, brought on by negativity, swept through the camp like a wild fire in drought-ridden California. 

I believe the enemy still uses negative people and negative reports in today’s world – even in churches – to thwart the move of God.  In today’s story, negative reports caused the nation of Israel to render null and void the promises of God.  The people became reactive instead of proactive.

Go ahead saints.  Listen to the news.  Be informed.  But pull back when your spirit becomes heavy.   Don’t allow the influx of negative reporting to rob you of your faith and to move you into the arena of fear.  The cause and effect of negativity can produce a ground swell of emotion that produces spiritual setback and loss.

I spend my days listening to people.  Some time ago, I sat in a room where several siblings took turns editorializing on current events and the news of the day.  They were all Christ-followers.  But the longer it went on, the more negative it became.  By the end of the conversation, everyone in that room lost their faith and in conclusion one said, “Where is God in all of this mess?”  They literally talked themselves into defeat!

Do you understand their progression from faith to fear?  Six family members sitting around the bedside of their loved one, who literally participated in a feeding frenzy, where faith was replaced with fear.  And then I heard, “Where’s our church is all this mess?” Negative thinking usually leads us to question the wrong source.  The enemy of our soul wants us to turn our thoughts in the wrong directions.

Let me remind you:  We live in a fallen world where “negativity” gets the press! Let’s determine to join ranks with the Joshua and Caleb generation!  “And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them.  Their protection is gone but the Lord is with us.  Do not be afraid of them” (14:9).

If we understand what a negative perspective of life does to us, we will most assuredly want to join ranks with those who refuse to be pulled into the arena of negative living.  Perspective is everything!

Here’s the report brought to Moses by ten of the spies.  Remember, God’s will is not necessarily revealed by majority vote.  Here’s what they reported:

“The ten gave Moses this account:  We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey.  Here is its fruit.  But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.  We even saw descendants of Anak there.  The Amalekites…Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites…and the Canaanites live there…” (verses 27-29) 

 Understand something.  The problem here is not their assessment of the situation.  They reported what they saw. They did not exaggerate the situation.  My friends, Faith never denies reality.  Faith never harbors a delusion.  Faith hits reality head on!  Faith wins the victory over fear!  Remember, you do not have to pray for victory.  In Christ Jesus, you already have victory.  Saints, let’s determine to walk in the victory that’s already ours!

(TO BE CONTINUED)