Devotions

In Deuteronomy 11 we find Israel at the Jordan River about to cross over into the Promised Land.

Before God’s people went into Canaan, Moses called them together for a special message from the Lord. Remember, this wasn’t the generation that was doomed to die in the wilderness for their acts of disobedience. Rather, this was the generation that followed those faithless ones. When their fathers crossed the Red Sea, these people were still young, ranging in age from infancy to twenty years old. Now many of them were over fifty, and their own children comprised the third generation.

LISTEN TO ME

Moses began his exhortation to this “middle generation” with the following words:

“Know ye this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm” (Deuteronomy 11:2).

Moses made it clear: “The message I am about to speak to you is not directed to your children. It is not meant for those who haven’t seen the miracles you’ve seen. It is not for those who haven’t known the discipline of the Lord. And it is not for the untested, those who haven’t experienced God’s awesome might in the midst of their trials.”

A CLEAR MANDATE

God was telling this middle generation, in so many words: “Here is your full-time calling as My servants. You are to be steadfast always, never wavering in your trust in Me. In this way, your children will see My mighty hand at work in your life. They will be emboldened by the peace you have in the midst of your afflictions.”

The writer of Hebrews says to his readers, “By this time you ought to be teachers” (Hebrews 5:12, my paraphrase). These are strong, bold words. Who exactly is the writer addressing here? The book of Hebrews shows us he is speaking to believers who have been well schooled in biblical truth. In other words, those reading his letter had been sitting under powerful preaching by many anointed ministers.

Now, in chapter 5, the writer says to his readers:

“After all of this teaching, still you are dull of hearing. By this time, with all your Bible knowledge, you ought to be teachers. But it is clear you need someone to teach you the elementary principles of God all over again. You still need milk, when you ought to be feeding on meat” (see 5:11–12).

Think about what the writer is saying here. He’s telling his readers, in short, “By now you should be steadfast examples to your children. Your faith should be unwavering. You should no longer be murmuring or complaining in your afflictions, but instead be willing partakers of Christ’s sufferings. You ought not to be hot one moment and then suddenly cold when the enemy comes in like a flood.”

SERMON TASTERS ONLY

Does this word apply to you? How many sermons have we heard that challenge us to trust the Lord in all things? How many times have we heard God’s incredible promises preached to us? How many faith-stirring sermons have we taken in? How often have we been blessed by a message about God’s faithfulness? And yet how often are we quickly deflated when a trial comes?

Multitudes in the church today are well taught, full of biblical truth, experienced sermon tasters. Indeed, we are the ones the writer of Hebrews is addressing in this letter. And he is telling us, “By this time you ought to be teachers by your example. But, instead, your faith still wavers in times of battle.”

“When [Jesus] ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8, ESV).

Think of it! When we surrendered our lives to Jesus and to the work He did for us on the cross, He gave us gifts — every single one of us. So what is accessed at the cross is not just for our forgiveness or our righteousness or our acceptance into the family of God. These gifts from Jesus to His church are empowered gifts — amazing and powerful.

1 Corinthians 12:7 talks about the different manifestations of the Spirit:

“To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Isn’t this a good verse? It says, “To each one.” He has given you personally the power to function in the gifts.

GIFTS THAT PROFIT

There is going to be a greater manifestation of the Holy Spirit “for the common good.” This means that these empowered gifts were given so that everyone who comes in contact with you will profit from them in your life.

Ephesians 4:8 said, “He gave” when speaking of the gifts, so it is past tense. You are to employ the gift He has put within you. You may not know what it is, but He is going to unfold it to you. This power is going to come in a greater fashion in your life and He will develop it and cause it to increase in you.

After a recent Tuesday night prayer meeting at Brooklyn Tabernacle, I was introduced to a pastor who was visiting with a small group of leaders from his church. I welcomed him and asked where he was from.

“Kentucky” he answered.

“That’s quite far from New York City,” I replied. “How long will you be here?”

“We are heading back tonight. I left at dawn this morning just to be in the prayer meeting.”

I was shocked. “Really? All that way for just one service?”

“Brother, I’m thirsty for God.” he said with all seriousness. “I can’t go on anymore. I’m worn out and burned out. I’m desperate for something from God’s Spirit.”

DON’T GIVE UP

As the pastor spoke, I couldn’t help but think of David’s plea:

You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
(Psalm 63:1)

Have you ever felt dried out and run down in your Christian life? When that happens a lot of us just keep plugging away until we reach the point of spiritual exhaustion. Some folks give up and play the hypocrite, pretending to be someone they aren’t.

THERE IS REFRESHING

There is an old saying that is absolutely true: 

“If you run around, you run down, and then you want to run away.”

But there is a remedy to those dry periods when we have run around too much. It is found in what the apostle Peter called “times of refreshing” coming from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).

Jim Cymbala began the Brooklyn Tabernacle with less than twenty members in a small, rundown building in a difficult part of the city. A native of Brooklyn, he is a longtime friend of both David and Gary Wilkerson. 

Some months after 9/11, a New York City newspaper ran this headline: “CITY OF JITTERS.” The Department of Homeland Security had warned that a planned terrorist strike had been uncovered, and the terror alert had been raised to code orange.

HIDDEN FEARS

That same day, a New York City police officer spoke to me about the uncertainty and alarm within the police force and fire departments. Their macho exteriors hid secret fears because most of them had lost friends during the 9/11 attacks.

Even now, years later, each time some New Yorkers travel through tunnels and over bridges they hold their breath and pray for protection. A stalled vehicle can cause panic. The greatest fear that haunts this city is a suitcase bomb, carrying nuclear or germ capabilities. Many people began carrying small gas masks. The citizenry seem to be resigned to the inevitable, believing an attack of major proportions will eventually strike. No one knows when, but the thought hangs heavily over the populace.

A SOURCE OF HELP

Yet there is not fear among true believers. Instead, we want to be available should an attack come, to help in the time of crisis. This is how our church has prepared our people. In the midst of these apprehensive times, the Spirit of God is moving in a marvelous way. Many are coming to Christ throughout New York City, and there is an increasing hunger for God among young people.

May this be the heart attitude of all God’s servants in these days of apprehension and fear. The Lord has removed all fear from His people, that they may be a source of help to the world in a time of trouble.